>>31787207
>Let him fume, as long as you get paid.

>>31787207
> Let him fume, as long as you get paid.

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>>31787344
>>31787369

>Let him fume, as long as you get paid.

You’ve been in the business long enough to not be bothered much when people bad mouth mercenaries. At the end of the day, it’s a job and you need to get paid. So you let him throw his little fit. Your contract only lasts a week anyway.

“Can’t believe it. The entire structure was destroyed.” He sure does seem to enjoy going on about it though. He looks up at you again, though with less rage than before. “Chamberlain, the Institute does not have infinite resources. We need to defend what we have, which is why we hire mercenaries like you. So when we tell you to defend the compound, we need you to defend it.” He hunches over a bit, his hands gesturing to emphasize his words. “Not jump on top of the damn roof and invite the enemy to plow into it!”

>INPUT:
>You were more focused on trying to save your teammate
>You were more focused on trying to survive
>You didn’t think the other mech would go kamikaze on the building
>____[Write-in]

>>31787663
> You were more focused on trying to save your teammate
> You didn’t think the other mech would go kamikaze on the building

>>31787663
>You didn’t think the other mech would go kamikaze on the building
It was pretty dumb of him.

>>31787663
>>You didn’t think the other mech would go kamikaze on the building
Even the japs gave that up years ago

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>>31787685
>>31787779
>>31787886

>You didn’t think the other mech would go kamikaze on the building

“Invite the enemy to plow into it?” You practically throw up your arms. “What kind of idiot uses his own mech as a projectile?” You scoff. “I didn’t realize the ISF was implementing kamikaze into it’s tactics.”

Matthews growls, but hesitates a moment. “That’s because they are intent on damaging this facility.” He sighs in frustration, as if he doesn’t want to be saying this out loud. “This facility is high up on the ISF’s shitlist. But they know better than to divert enough forces to make sure it gets wiped off the moon. They simply don’t have the reach to send a solid force out this far from their borders.”

“They know where we are, but the best they can do is send their rabble on a suicide mission to make sure they fuck up as much of it as possible.”

You eye the man. You know you aren’t getting the full story. You’re a mercenary, you’re a liability. You could even be an ISF spy for all he knows. But something seems off here.

>INPUT:
>Ask where the kid is.
>Call bullshit, if the ISF wanted something destroyed they’d just bombard the place
>Ask if we’re done here.
>____[Write-in]

>>31788126
> Call bullshit, if the ISF wanted something destroyed they’d just bombard the place

>>31788126
>>Call bullshit, if the ISF wanted something destroyed they’d just bombard the place

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>>31788174
>>31788277

>Call bullshit, if the ISF wanted something destroyed they’d just bombard the place

“That’s bullshit!” You point, making Matthews adjust in his seat slightly. “If the ISF wanted this place destroyed they’d just nuke the place from orbit.”

He folds his hands in front of his face, leaning over the desk. “And yet they have not,” he says flatly. “We hired you to protect this facility. The contract is still in force, but should you decide you cannot continue working for us until we supply you with information that you do not need, we will cancel the contract and hire someone else.”

As if remembering something, he moves his hands, leaning back in his chair again. “Which reminds me, we still need more than two mechs on guard. If you happen to know anyone who’d like the job we’ll give them an offer.”

“We’ll even give you a small bonus if they prove satisfactory.” His voice has reverted to a sort of unenthused tone that let’s you know it’s most likely some sort of policy that he’d rather not employ in this particular situation.

INPUT [1]:
>Quit the job.
>Stay on.

INPUT [2]:
>Recommend someone for the job.
>Ask where the kid is.
>Excuse yourself.
>____[Write-in]

>>31788601
> Stay on.
> Recommend someone for the job.
They pay, that's all that matters.

>>31788601
>Stay on.
>Ask where the kid is.
Ah, whatever. What should we care for their secrets and schemes? It's just a job.

>>31788633
>>31788701

>Stay on.
>Recommend someone for the job.
>Ask where the kid is.


No reason to rock the boat. A job is a job. You’ve had worse. At least now you know you’ll be dealing with ISF boys attacking for the whole week. Though, hopefully, they won’t bother attacking so soon after their first attempt. Shouldn’t be until later in the week that they send another strike force. That is, if Matthews is telling the truth and they don’t just nuke the whole damn facility.

You know a few fellow mercs though. They might be busy right now, but you figure you might as well mention them. You wouldn’t mind having them watch your back for you either. Certainly better than the now dead greenhorns these guys managed to find.

You give him the names you can remember, and he enters them into his terminal.

Matthews gives a sigh. “Alright Chamberlain. We’re done here.”

You get up to leave, but then remember something. “Actually, just remembered. Where’s the kid?”

He looks up at you curiously. “Who?”

“The only other guy that lived.”

“Oh, Bolton? He’s in medical, had to make sure he didn’t sustain any injuries.”

You leave the office. Finally.

INPUT:
>Check on Bolton.
>Check on your mech.
>Get something to eat in the cafeteria
>___[Write-in]

>>31789208
> Check on Bolton.

>>31789208
>Check on Bolton.
We went through the trouble of saving him, might as well.

>>31789208
>Check on Bolton
He's going to be our only team member until other merca get hired. Better go check on him.

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>>31789244
>>31789307
>>31789355

>Check on Bolton.

You walk through the metal corridors towards the medbay. Luckily for you, the building isn’t very large and it doesn’t take too much time. The powered door slides into the wall with a smooth woosh. Stepping through, you see Bolton, holding his head.

“Hey, how’re you holding up?”

He looks up, and you get a good look at his face. Already you can tell from his expression, before he says anything. You knew he was green, but you didn’t think he was *that* green. Hell, this might have been his first sortie.

“N-not well,” he stutters before looking away.

Hoo boy.

INPUT:
>Don’t really have time for this, better to leave him.
>He’s having a breakdown of some kind alright, see if you can help him.
>___[Write-in]

>>31789649
>He’s having a breakdown of some kind alright, see if you can help him.
Eh.

>>31789649
> He’s having a breakdown of some kind alright, see if you can help him.

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>>31789740
>>31789761

>He’s having a breakdown of some kind alright, see if you can help him.

You sigh. It had to be rookies. “Look, kid. I dunno what you thought you were getting yourself into, but there’s no use worryin’ about it now. You should consider yourself lucky, ya know? You’re alive.”

He looks back at you. You think you see his eyes starting to water. To his credit, he seems to be trying really hard to fight it back. “I’m alive and they’re dead.” His voice cracks. “My friends… they’re all dead!”

You sigh again. “Those others who signed up with you, they were all your pals?”

His face contorts a bit, but he nods shakily. You hold your hands at your side. “Sorry about that,” you say.

INPUT:
>”Be glad it wasn’t you.”
>”But there’s nothin’ you can do.”
>”Losin’ friends is always tough.”
>___[Write-in]

>>31790168
>>”Losin’ friends is always tough.”
Poor guy.

>>31790168
>”Losin’ friends is always tough.”
Just you watch, this kid's gonna grow up to be a protagonist with plot armor out the ass. Our only hope is to become his Quattro while we still can.

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>>31790224
>>31790407

>”Losin’ friends is always tough.”

He looks down a bit at your words. “Listen,” you continue, “I know what you’re goin’ through. It ain’t easy. It’s never easy. But you *will* get through it. And that doesn’t mean you forget your friends ever existed…” You take another breath, shaking your head. “It means you never forget ‘em. They’ll always be apart of you, in some small way.”

He hasn’t moved his head, and it’s hard to tell from this angle if any of this is getting through to him. You hope it is. You’d rather not have the kid freeze up mid-combat. You pause, unsure of whether your should say something else. Before you can, you hear a voice from the other room.

“That was very heart-felt.”

A woman enters the room, her golden curls bouncing as she makes her way over to the two of you. Judging from her attire and the clipboard in her hands, shes most likely the doctor.

“Are you the other pilot? I was wondering when they’d send you my way.”

INPUT [1]:
>Introduce yourself.
>Let her know you weren’t told to stop by.
>Ask if Bolton had any physical injuries.
>___[Write-in]

INPUT [2]:
>Be professional.
>Turn on the charm.

>>31790977
>Introduce yourself.
>Be professional.
Not really the time to flirt, ya?

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>>31791037

>Introduce yourself
>Be professional.

“Jacob Chamberlain.” You extend a hand in greeting. “Pleasure to meet’chya.”

She smiles, shaking your hand. “Likewise. I’m Dr. Tracy Huntsman.” She turns to the kid. “I was just finishing Mr. Bolton’s checkup. Mr. Bolton, everything checks out. You’re free to leave as you like.” She’s nothing if not professional. Her smile fades. “Again, I am deeply sorry about your friends.”

Bolton nods as he looks up at her, giving a weak smile. “It’s… I’ll be fine, I just…” He begins, unsure of how to proceed.

A few awkward moments pass. The doctor glances at you before clearing her throat. “Well, Mr. Chamberlain, are you here for a checkup as well?”

INPUT:
>Get a checkup.
>Take Bolton to the cafeteria.
>Take Bolton to his bed.
>Check on your mech.
>___[Write-in]

>>31792091
>Get a checkup.

>>31790977
Introduce yourself, be professional, ask if the kid's gonna have any physical scars on top of the psychological, excuse yourself and get your mech prepped; see about finding the kid his junker or something more survivable in the salvage

>>31792141
>>31792248
Whoops, little late - we're probably fine, doublecheck the kid's condition with the doc and then head to the mechbay

Rolled 1

Just gonna roll for which of these two. 1 for >>31792141 and 2 for >>31792344

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>>31792141

>Get a checkup.

Sure, why the hell not. As long as it’s free.

“It’s free, right?”

She smiles wide, nodding her head. You think she’s suppressing a laugh. “Yes, it’s free Mr. Chamberlain.”

Bolton stands up, his suit making it rather noisy. “I’ll get out of your way then. Thank you, doctor.” He somberly leaves the room, the door sliding shut behind him.

“It’s times like these I wish I were a psychologist,” she sighs. “I feel terrible, but I don’t know if I can help him.” Her eyes stare sadly at the door before moving up to meet yours. “I think you’ll be able to help much more than I.” She turns, flipping a paper over on her clipboard. Her eyes scan over it really quick before she smiles back at you. “Please, take a seat.” She gestures to the padded table Bolton was just sitting on.

You plop down with a crinkle of sanitary paper. A few minutes pass as she checks over you with instruments that you don’t know the name of, asking you a few questions about the battle. Luckily, this debrief is significantly more relaxed than your previous one. You answer them to the best of your ability.

“Well Mr. Chamberlain, it looks like I can give you a clean bill of health.” She puts her documentation down, sitting down in a chair she pulled up earlier. She gives another smile, but this one a bit playful. “From the sound of things, you must be a skilled pilot. Or very, very lucky.”

INPUT:
>Be flirty.
>Be friendly.
>Be professional.

>>31792981
>>Be flirty.

>>31792981
>>31793136
Professional, she's a smart girl and she'll take it if she wants it, besides how angry is she gonna be if we hook up only to leave a couple days later - better to just focus on the job and pick up some young thing at the bar for a night's fling

Rolled 2

Flippin again, 1 for >>31793136 2 for >>31793299

>>31793299

>Be professional.

You give a small smile back. “Anybody who comes away the victor is one or both of those things.” You offer your hand to the doctor, which she accepts as you both shake. “Thanks for the check-up, doctor.”

She smiles again. “Any time, Mr. Chamberlain. Have a good day!”

You make your way out of medical.

INPUT:
>Head to your mech.
>Head to the cafeteria.
>___[Write-in]

>>31793592
>Write-in
Check in on rookie, see how he's holdin up.

>>31793592

>>31793634
>>Head to the cafeteria.
He might be in the cafeteria. We don't really know where he is in the first place.

>>31793634

You don't know where he is exactly, but you figure you might as well-

>>31793684

>Head to the cafeteria.

You may have a clean bill of health, but you’re getting pretty hungry. You make your way through the cramped metal hallways towards the cafeteria. The eating area is rather small, maybe a couple dozen feet on each side. You suppose it’s a little better than it is on a space station, and at least everything is relatively new.

You see a few people eating, but there’s plenty of space for you to sit down. You don’t spot Bolton’s enviro-suit among them.

The food isn’t great, but it’s not terrible. Probably high in nutrients and all, but you don’t really care about that sort of thing.

>Head to your mech.
>Head to the barracks.
>___[Write-in]

>>31793902
>Head to your mech.
Just this before we turn in.

>>31794036

>Head to your mech.

Another trek through the hallways before you reach the airlocks. You take your helmet from the rack and seal it over your head. It takes a moment for your suit to give the okay that it’s ready to go.

You step into the airlock, and wait for it to filter out all the air. A horrendously loud vacuum powers up. After far too long, the thing powers down and the doors to the outside open up with a dulled scraping. You step out onto the surface and find your mech right where you left it.

>INPUT:
>Inspect the damage.
>Hop in.
>___[Write-in]

>>31794036
Agreed, maybe see if we can't get bolton an upgrade or two from the salvage

>>31794176
>>Inspect the damage.

>>31794176
>>31794196
Late again, inspect ours and bolton's mechs, check out what salvage their is from the mission kills

>>31794241
>>31794247

>Inspect the damage.

Your mech isn’t too badly damaged. The guns of the Yiks never even pierced your Stonewall’s armor plating. Mostly superficial, but it’s been weakened none-the-less. Wouldn’t cost too much to repair, but somehow you think the mechanics will be busy working on Bolton’s mech.

You look around for it, but it looks like they’ve already hauled it to the repair bay. At least these guys are quick. Still, you wanted to take a closer look at it. You suppose you could head to the repair bay and check it out. Or you could inspect the wreckage of the Yiks, see if there’s anything salvageable in there. Not that you’d be able to do anything with it. You’d have to call in your friend Barny for scrap retrieval. And he’d want a cut.

INPUT:
>Head to the repair bay.
>Hop in your mech.
>Get in contact with Barny.
>Head back to the barracks.
>___[Write-in]

>>31794513
Call up barney while you head to the repair bay, tell to leave some choice bits for yourself and a rookie who might shape up well; paying it forward, as you like

>>31794556
Sounds good.

>>31794513
So why they're yiks anyway?

>>31794556

>Call up Barny while you head to the repair bay.

Ah, the wonders of technology. You put in his info into your suit's com unit, and within seconds it establishes a connection.

"Jacob, my friend, how are you doing?" Despite his name, Barny has a very thick accent. You aren't sure exactly, but you think it's called 'Arab'.

"Doin' great, Barny. Had a bit of a disagreement with some ISF boys though."

He gives a hearty laugh. "My friend, you are fighting with ISF? You are too much, you know. You better not be asking me for what I think you are going to ask me for."

You shake your head slightly as if he can see the gesture. "No, no, Barny, nothin' like that. Just wanted to ask if you could pick up some of the scrap those ISF boys turned into."

Another laugh. You swear, the guy is eternally jovial. "Of course, of course. Well, where are you, my friend? And how much scrap are we talking about, ehh?"

"Small station on Ganymede. As for how much scrap, well, I don't know how much exactly, but about four or five Yiks worth."

"Ehh? What was that?"

Well, maybe the technology isn't so wonderful after all. You repeat yourself.

"Ah, forgive me, forgive me, my speaker gives out sometimes. Well, Yiks are always in high demand, but usually by the ISF, eh? Hahhahah! Not really something I'm interested in if it came off of them in the first place, I like to keep my nose clean. But I'll tell you what my friend, I'll make you a deal."

"Alright, lay it on me."

(Continued)

>>31795024

"It will take me about a week to get there. You will be done with your contract by then, yes? So I pick up the scrap, and pick you up as well. I will *buy* all of the scrap off of you, but in exchange, I need you to be bodyguard for me at the next sale I make."

"Bodyguard? What do you need a bodyguard for with that cruiser of yours?"

"Ah, my friend, this sale, the buyer wants to make it in person! He says he doesn't trust me. Can you believe that? *He* doesn't trust *me*!"

"So, when you say in person, do you mean *in person*?"

"Of course I mean in person! What else would I mean when I say 'in person'? 'In person' is in person! If I didn't mean in person I would not have said 'in person' would I?"

"Alright, alright, I get it, Barny."

"So what do you say, my friend? Deal?"

INPUT:
>Yes.
>No.

>>31795059
Sounds like we have our next gig

>>31795059
>Yes.
Pretty sweet deal.

>>31795142
>>31795147

>Yes.

"You got yourself a deal, Barny."

"Ahhah, wonderful! I'll be in touch. Is there anything else you needed, my friend?"

"I think that's it. Talk to ya soon, Barny."

"Of course, of course. See you then!"

The communication closes. You already made it to the repair bay while you were finishing up the call. Now that you're here, you can see Bolton's mech, just as blasted and mangled as when you last saw it. Looks like they've only just started up repairs.

You don't see Bolton here, either.

INPUT:
>Head back to the barracks.
>___[Write-in]

>>31795439
>>Head back to the barracks.

>>31795529

>Head back to the barracks.

About fifteen minutes later, you've made your way back to the barracks. It's not much. Really, it's more of a room with bunks in it, eight beds in all. You see Bolton sleeping on his. At least he's sleeping. Poor kid probably needs it more than you do. Which is a lot, because you are tired as hell.

You crawl into your bed. You didn't realize how much the fight today took out of you. At least you can be guaranteed a day's rest. A thought tries to intrude into your head, wondering if the ISF will even bother sending a task force next time. It would make far more sense for them to just turn this place into a crater.

You push it from your mind. Even if it does happen, you probably won't feel a thing anyway.

-- To Be Continued --

>>31795790

Sorry about the abrupt end, but I think this might be a bad time of day to run, or there just isn't enough interest period. We'll see next time. That's all for now, though!

>>31795806
Thank you for running!

I know some people think it's the worst thing you can do, but if there's a Quest Thread General up next time you run it wouldn't hurt to let people know. I think your quest is really good, people might think so too if the checked it out.