Corporate Issue III
Title | Corporate Issue III |
---|---|
Number | Undetermined, plus various Board Quests, and Free RP #138 |
Date | * UP1: 2 September 2013 * AA1: 7 September 2013 * UP2: 8 September 2013 * UP3: 8 & 9 April 2014 * AA2: 30 April 2014 * UP4: 2 May 2014 * AA3: 16 & 17 May 2014 * AA4: 21 & 22 July 2015 * UP5: 25 July 2015 |
Players | Greg (GM), Kevin2 (UP1 - UP2), Jared (UP1 - UP5, AA4), Clara (UP1 - UP4), Kevin1 (UP1, UP5), Isabel (AA1 - AA4), DS (AA1 - AA4), Katie (UP3 - UP4), Alicia (AA2 - AA3) (All as of UP5 and AA4) |
Characters | General Medke (UP1 - 3), Gin (UP1 - UP2, RP138), Narla (UP1 - UP5, BQs, RP138), Roxy (UP1 - UP4, RP138), Kulimar (UP1, UP5), Ariel Paniagua (AA1 - AA2, BQs), Enos (AA1 - AA4, BQs, RP138), Laelia (AA1 - AA4), Esther (UP3 - UP4), John (UP3, UP5), Myers (UP3), Fowler (UP3), Hartwell (UP3), Kid (AA2, AA4, BQs), Luci (AA2 - AA3, RP138), Samudio (AA2 - AA4, BQs), Leros (AA3, RP138), Russell (AA3), Nexathul (AA4), Lucas (BQs), Holly (RP138) (All as of UP5 and AA4) |
Setting | * UP1 - UP3, UP5: Liberty's Reach * AA1 - AA3: Vigilant Sentinel * UP3 - UP4, AA4: Near Scholar's Watch, Eurydice * AA4: Outer Space |
Timeline Summary
Backstory
An excerpt from an informational article on the internet catches your eye. It's related to the combat in space you've been hearing so much about.
Recent trends in the global arms race has seen a surge in mobile suit, or mecha, production. The popularity of these weapons appears to be related to their overall superiority in space combat, being far more functional and diverse than standard fighter planes.
In most countries, it is illegal to possess a mecha on Disparatus soil without a license sanctioned by the government. Only a few companies have this license as they are directly responsible for arming the local military.
It is however legal to own a suit in space, and many adventurers sell their skills as mercenary pilots in an ever more violent conflict over different mining colonies throughout the solar system. This "conflict" has not yet spurred a declaration of outright war, but peace advocates throughout the world worry about the increasing scale of battles in space, arguing that it is just a matter of time before an impatient government starts sacking munition factories here on the ground.
In response to these worries, certain laws of war have been accepted internationally to limit the amount of destruction such a military action might cause. Similarly to the way nuclear attacks are strictly forbidden, suits outfitted for space or that exceed a certain size are illegal outside of the compound they are manufactured in. Of course, in times of global war, proponents respond, people don't typically follow all the rules.
DISCLAIMER PROVIDED BY THE ARENAN ALLIANCE AND AFFILIATES
SUMMARY: Recently our resource mining facilities and settlements on Eurydice and surrounding space colonies have been under direct and malicious attack by subsidiaries of the United Provinces government. Directly spearheaded by corporate powerhouse and arms dealer TTT, these attacks have increased in frequency and in scale while avoiding breaking international laws that would lead to all out war.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this disclaimer is to hire any able bodied soldiers or pilots from the general populace interested in fighting for the Arenan Alliance, directly contracted through the Machinist Corporation during our time of need.
DISCLAIMER PROVIDED BY "Tomorrow's Technology Today" OR "TTT"
SUMMARY: According to reliable, confirmed intelligence, the "Machinist Corporation" has recently began new research on the surface of Eurydice based on ancient alien technology. This alien technology, which should have been released to the general public and world abroad for fair use, has been kept completely secret. They are using this technology to manufacture a new and powerful weapon. A weapon we believe will be used to monopolize all trade and trafficking in space, as well as gain international superiority. Although the Arenan's have thus far denied these allegations, evidence has prompted the United Provinces to conduct additional investigations. Investigative teams surrounding the area have encountered a number of hostile forces, placed strategically around the new research center. Since then it has become an all out battle.
PURPOSE: To purchase the services of skilled soldiers and mecha pilots to assist in uncovering this nefarious plot by the Machinist Corporation.
Xenogenesis
- (This is a related Board Quest, and not part of the main saga.)
On 28 June 2325, Enos recieves a text supposedly from Alexander asking to meet at the city library. It turns out not to be Alexander, but a group of deep cover operatives associated with him who are investigating Eurydice, led by Victor Crane. They ask him to come into space with them. While he remains wary, he agrees. They explain that their goal is to eliminate the Eurocid threat on Disparatus, especially in light of the events in Hammond. They believe SAHBER succeeded in the Vector project and is supplying Eurocid super-soldiers to TTT. In addition, from finds on Eurydice's surface, they believe that there was once a civilization there which the Eurocids ended up destroying, rather than creating by themselves, and that the Keystones on the planet are all dead. They reached their ship and took off to meet with a few ships and then go toward Polaris. As the ship is running slow to conserve Aether and the flight will take a few days, Enos runs through some mech simulations.
Family Issue III
- (This is a related Free RP, and not part of the main saga.)
On August 19th, on Polaris, mercenaries gather to sign up for the mission on Eurydice, including Narla Zedirov, Enos, Gin, Luci, Leros, Holly, and Roxy.
The Valkyrie
- (This is a related Board Quest, and not part of the main saga.)
Two days later, Narla pilots the Valkyrie in a mission out near Eurydice. Her team gets a surprise attack on the Arenans, and achieve an easy victory. Although Narla is not told what, something "amazing" is found on the ship they captured. Ignoring orders, she leaves her mech and enters the ship herself and learns the find is blueprints for a mech rifle too large to be carried by any mech they know of. She gets caught and yelled at, but otherwise is just let off with a warning.
UP Quest 1 - Mecha Rising Part 1
On September 2nd, Gin, Narla, Roxy, and Kulimar arrive on Liberty's Reach. They're shown around a bit and settle in before heading to look at the mech suits. They test them out and get used to the controls. General Medke has them train in simulators for the next few hours.
A Boy Apart
- (This is a related Board Quest, and not part of the main saga.)
Three days later, Kid and Lucas awaken in cells on a prison ship en route to Liberty's Reach. While being escorted out, Kid stages an attack on the guards he knows he can't win so he can bend Lucas' bars enough for him to escape. Lucas gets out and locates Alphonse and his gear while Kid is restrained and tested. Lucas uses a flashbang to stun the guards and free Kid. As they begin to escape, the gravity is shut off to slow their progress. They reach the emergency shuttles as the guards catch them. Lucas shoves Kid in alone, reasoning that the guards wanted him alive and Kid dead anyway. Lucas manages to elude the guards as they get to Liberty's Reach and goes into hiding. He sends Alphonse to find Roxy. Meanwhile, Kid's shuttle is located by the Vigilant Sentinel and towed to safety.
AA Quest 1 - Eurocids vs. Solitaire
Two days later, Enos and Laelia arrive on the Vigilant Sentinel and meet with Dr. Ariel Paniagua. He speaks with Enos about the Eurocid still in his head. Paniagua is rather shocked by this. Enos fills him in on the events of Corporate Issue II. Laelia plays Solitaire.
UP Quest 2 - A General Threat (Mecha Rising Part 2)
The next day, Gin and Narla meet with General Medke, when Roxy bursts in. Off the record, the General notes his distaste for the UP's military business being outsourced to TTT, and that he believes much of the base has already been compromised by Eurocids due to both TTT and SAHBER's actions. He says the entire reason for this conflict as that they believe the Arenans have a way to remove the Eurocids from people and aren't granting them access to it. He needs their team to accomplish tasks without attracting TTT and SAHBER's attention. With this out of the way, attention is turned to Roxy, who says that she joined to prevent Lucas from being dragged in, and now she's recieved evidence that he's been taken here against his will.
The Iron Man
- (This is a related Board Quest, and not part of the main saga.)
The next day, Kid remains locked up on Vigilant Sentinel, due to his suspicious arrival on a UP prison ship he was escaping from. He speaks with Ariel Paniagua, who says he doesn't have the autority to accept Kid's story on face value. He mentions that there will be a tribunal for Kid in a few weeks.
On the 26th, Kid's hearing takes place on Vigilant Sentinel. Commander Domingo Samudio allows Kid his freedom in exchange for joining the defensive patrols around the station. Kid trains in mech simulators. On October 8th, he successfully bypasses his mech's security perimeters, and waits.
Interlude
After a tense lull in the combat over Eurydice, pretentions of peace were once again shattered recently as a small group of Arenan agents, disguised as Armored Suit technicians, infiltrated Liberty's Reach and attempted to steal confidential information from TTT. In retaliation, all three of the agents were shot, and plans to renew a focused attack on Centinela Vigilante appear under way. At a recent press release in the Provinces, a high echelon representative of TTT had these words to shine some light on the frightening situation.
"These continued terrorist actions against the sovereign interests of the United Provinces, in international space above the planet Eurydice, will be handled swiftly... and justly. Those agents of the Machinist Corporation who choose to incite war will suffer the full wrath of this proud nations mighty and uncontestable military forces. The operations on the alien planets surface, to murder, sabotage, and pillage... to undermine the free trade in space over Disparatus, will be put to an immediate stop. This play for power the Arenans are making will be shown for the folly it truly is."
Escape
- (This is a related Board Quest, and not part of the main saga.)
On 26 February 2326, after months of training on Vigilant Sentinel, Kid makes his escape attempt as hostilities between the UP and AA resume. He begins his slow mech's long flight home, having stored plenty of supplies. On March 9th, Kid's mech lands back on Disparatus, in the ocean near Svaldon.
Break the Line
- (This is a related Board Quest, and not part of the main saga.)
On March 21st, Narla arrives on Liberty's Reach for a meeting. The people there ask if she thinks her Lehk'zhulian partners will be willing to do some raids for them. They mention they plan to attack the main Machinist Corp. base on Eurydice. Narla is eager.
Two days after that, Narla is contacted by Klarn Defstoff, head of the Lehk'zhulian chapter of the M.E.C.H.A. Federation for the past two years, during a discussion regarding Narla and her sisters, Aliz Jameson and Kat Farec. They discuss her mission to attack a Machinist Corp. ship called the Apollo while pretending to work for the Provinces.
Hours later, Narla's team reaches the Apollo and attacks it. They deal with some mechs, and Narla orders them to change the objective to instead capture the Apollo and its captain. Once onboard, she takes out its last line of defense and the team heads for the bridge. She orders them to kill the crew, save for the captain, as they'll die of oxygen deprivation soon otherwise. They capture the captain and head out for Polaris.
Narla's team reaches Polaris the next day, from which she plans to report back to her superiors and then head for Liberty's Reach again.
UP Quest 3 - Assault on Eurydice
- Takes place at roughly the same time as AA Quest 2.
On May 22nd, Roxy, Narla, and Esther run into each other on Liberty's Reach. They chat for a bit, and Narla sees John Wonder. They get called for a meeting with General Medke. He explains the current situation with the war, and says their next target is Scholar's Watch on Eurydice. Corporal Myers informs Narla he's been added to her squad. Russel Fowler arrives on stage to give further mission details, and then talks with Don Hartwell of SAHBER. Narla's squad looks over the area map and forms a plan of attack before heading out onto Eurydice in their mechs. Myers' suit is crippled by mines almost immediately after entering the area, and he's unable to eject. Esther tries to walk him through manual escape, but his suit completely explodes before he can get out. Arenan mechs spot the explosion and head their way.
AA Quest 2 - Skeleton Crew
- Takes place at roughly the same time as UP Quest 3.
A small group of mercenaries, including Kid, Laelia, Luci, and Enos, take a shuttle to Vigilant Sentinel. Kid discusses his previous time here. Laelia realizes she's the only one here who was hired normally. Commander Samudio greets them and sends them to their quarters. Enos makes a sex motion with his hands. Everyone goofs off in low gravity. Enos rolls a 100 and does a circus act. A mechanic tells them the station is operating on a skeleton crew at the moment. Kid investigates the mech simulator computer while everyone continues to have fun. Ariel Paniagua shows up, and Enos acts rude to him. Luci, Enos, and Laelia head to the medical bay. They talk to a pilot who brings up the Provinces' recent attacks on ships, which the AA thinks are distractions. Enos wants to blow up Eurydice. He knocks the pilot over, and they get kicked out.
UP Quest 4 - Assault on Eurydice 2
- Takes place at roughly the same time as AA Quest 3.
The United Provinces' assault on Scholar's Watch commences. Narla, Esther, and Roxy lead the attack. Esther acts quite cocky as she tanks damage. Narla protects her waifu, and goes out of her way to kill an enemy pilot. They take down the enemy mechs, allowing the Provinces' forces access to the base. Suddenly, an emergency withdrawal warning is issued, and more powerful mechs arrive to defend the base from the UP. Narla, Esther, and Roxy quickly retreat.
AA Quest 3 - Pilots Blast Off
- Takes place at roughly the same time as UP Quest 3.
Luci wants to see Paniagua, so Enos accosts a robot, while Laelia just plays cards. None of this helps her. Enos quibbles with guards about clowns as they go to see Commander Samudio. They find him in his office, speaking with Leros. Samuido says their only advantage is that the UP can't break into Scholar's Watch. They discuss Enos' Eurocid. The three enter their mechs to rendezvous with a suit carrier, piloted by Ensign Russell, only to be informed their intended destination at the supply ship was already under attack. They activate friendship and head out into space, prepared to fight off the enemy mechs attacking their supply line.
AA Quest 4 - Pilots Blast Off 2
- Takes place at roughly the same time as UP Quest 4.
Luci's mech jams in the docking bay, so Enos and Laelia are forced to head out without her. Kid soon joins them as they reach the supply ship. Mechs fly out to defend it. Their leader freaks out over Enos' Kugai, and has his team gang up on it. They take out the mechs together, but Enos is forced to evacuate his own in the process. The last Lehk'zhulian pilot surrenders, and is taken with them onto the abandoned supply ship. He gives them a pre-memorized line, which Enos quickly realizes is a lie. He admits his name is actually Nexathul Jeremek. He informs them of the attack on Eurydice. Kid contacts home base to confirm this, and after knocking Jeremek out, the group is sent down to Eurydice as backup. With their help, Narla and the rest of the UP's forces retreat.
UP Quest 5 - Narla's Black Hole
Narla and Kulimar take a two-man flight from Polaris to Liberty's Reach. The pair catch up with each other, and meet with John Wonder on arrival. He explains they've cut back on staff due to problems with spies and buffed security. They discuss a virus going around on Polaris, and a vaccine being developed here. Narla reveals that John is possessed by a Eurocid, and attacks him with Kulimar's help. They try to force information out of him, but are unsuccessful, and Kulimar mercy-kills him. Narla tries to break them out of there, and ends up creating a black hole. They escape into the maintenance corridor.
Notes
- Greg later clarified that he mixed up some of the base names during AA Quest 2 by mistake. Scholar's Watch is the base on Eurydice, while Vigilant Sentinel / Centinela Vigilante is the space station.
- The presence of Leros in AA Quest 3, which takes place on the same day as UP3, UP4, and AA2, means this must take place after For Whoever Owns This Soil, where Leros was freed from Promethean, and then stayed with Luci to recover until at least the middle of May. Additionally, in AA2, Kid is looking into using the mech simulator's computer to investigate the copy of his head implant that he got in Introspection, set in late April. Thus, to resolve timeline conflicts, these events were moved forward to May 22nd, when they were previously listed as April 8th.
- A fourteen month gap seperated AA Quests 3 and 4 in real life, although they take place on the same day.
- Jared participated as the NPCs in AA Quest 4.