Lucius sets his sights on the bird-shaped mech (which, increasing the oddness of its shape, seems entirely land-bound using its wings solely as a weapons platform) in retaliation for the rocket attack. The powerful shot zips through the air, cracking into the target's left wing with a large *clang!*! The wing tumbles off to the side, hitting the ground and making several turns before the munitions within detonate in a large explosion. Unfortunately, it seems to have hit no enemy targets, and the mech itself is still functional (if severely damaged). Lucius quickly goes for the next shot, but doesn't have enough time in the turn for it to happen at this moment.
Alphonse, satisfied with the Gate's defenses, goes to the aid of the garrisoned soldiers. The icy sandbags sparkle with blue lightning, jumping out several feat forward and up like a tesla coil throughout a large part of the wall. When incoming projectiles inter the tendrils, a chunk of the wall breaks off, moving down the spark to intercept the attack, allowing the wall to protect those it would have otherwise missed. The practical effects can be seen later. (Note: You can fluff your armor skill however you want. I just did this based off of your "chain lightning" attack, though it turned out a little weird
.)
The artisan nature of mechs has always made determining the location of enemy cockpits difficult. One may have it placed in the head or close too it, reasoning what nature has showed is is the most efficient. Others may put it in the most well-armored portion of the mech, the thick belly of the machine protecting the vulnerable pilot from harm. It isn't unheard of for a alchemist thinking himself clever to put the cockpit in a strange location, such as the foot or leg, in order to keep the pilot safe through misdirection. That isn't even getting into what novice alchemists have done through inexperience or incompetence. Still, veteran soldiers tend to gain an instinct for the weak-points of their enemy, and Maxine and her men are certainly accomplished veterans. Here, they prove this once again, concentrated sniper fire (including that of Maxine herself) pops into the tripod mech one after another sending up yellow sparks. A second ticks by and a series of explosions lights up the front of the tripod, which remains stationary as the go silent. It appears as though the pilot has been taken out!
Meanwhile, Issac scopes out the wall as quickly as he can manage with his single arm, shooting at designated intervals as he was ordered too. Several moments later, he gives his report quietly. "
"It looks like there are three fortified sections. One near the center is the largest, with two smaller sections closer to the edges. More time is necessary for a more thorough report."With the assistance of the gunfire and explosions, and a suit designed for recon work, it would naturally be simple for Dustan Hache to sneak by the trench even despite it being created specifically to stop anyone from advancing past it. Even with that in consideration he did exceptionally well, moving past the trench and through the snow in a manner even Fish Stabber would be proud of, leaving hardly a splash or footprint to give away his location. He continues, making a B-line to the likely location of the artillery mech. He once again does exceptionally well, speeding under and through the snow at a breakneck pace he usually only manages in road conditions. Everything went right. The target comes into his sensors. The first impression is that it is massive, barely hiding under the tops of the trees and not yet reaching its full height. The second thought is that it is...a rather absurd design. It is roughly the shape of a bullfrog, with a large rounded belly and four long limbs with a sloped design again akin to a frog, with its massive gun sticking out of the front like a tongue. It was covered in blue and white arctic camouflage, and appears to have had massive spikes under its webbed feat. Despite how silly the enemy appears, it is clear that it is a well armored and well armed foe that will be a potent threat even at close range.
Just as it comes into Dustan's sights, the artillery mech unleashes another thunderous shot at the base. The force of the shot sends the branches anywhere near the end of the barrel dancing as if they where caught in a hurricane while kicking around the snow in a disk in front of it. Dustan himself was almost pushed over by the sheer force of the cannon. Of course, the fort suffers the effects much worse. In a word, it was a direct hit, if by luck or simply sighting in the last shot. The massive shell crashes directly towards the gates. The blue runes light up momentarily, and a massive snowflake-like sidgel appears before the shell like a hologram, shining its soft blue light over the battlefield. The shell appears to slow down significantly to the point it appears it will stop altogether, yet in the end it makes contact with the gate sending up a second thunderous explosion. Cracks appear throughout the gate, like an egg thrown against the ground, as parts and pieces break off tumbling down the chasm in front of the fortress. If it had not been reinforced prior to this, the effects would have been total and immediate destruction, as it stands the gate is most likely destroyed. (Sorry guys, the badguys got two good rolls and the fortress bombed its roll to stop it :-/.) Fortunately, due to the layout of the gate and Alphonse's armor absorbing much of the shrapnel, nobody was injured.
In retaliation for Lucius's retaliation, the bird-mech unleashes a second wave of missiles with its remaining wing. Despite their pinpoint accuracy and the mobility damage, Lucius manages to dodge the incoming swarm with a quick burst of his jet thrusters, leaving them to crash against the pyramid where he once stood. The tripod remains motionless, the pilot having been removed earlier. The cannoneer, apparently satisfied with the state of the gate, aims for the men on the walls. An explosion hits the sandbags, sending two of Maxine's men flying to either side. The infantry men, apparently having their moral raised by the artillery hit, pepper the defenders with rifle fire to little effect. They seem to be preparing to advance once the wall falls.
(More notes! Yay! The badguys got some really good rolls this time. They where not supposed to be this competent
. As a note for officers, troops getting taken out doesn't necessarily mean they are dead. Some lucky ones will survive the fight, depending on a dice roll and the severity to which they where hit. The next round might take some time [well, even more time] since finals are coming up and I really should do something about that
. Thanks for sticking with this bizarre and erratic schedule!)
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Topic: Alchemech Blessed^3 IC: World's Slowest Game 2016! (Read 4263 times)