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M206 - End arc
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
- Messages
- 14,693
- Likes received
- 480,971
The incident didn't end when Lilly managed to finish the monster pretending to be a mech. The major and easily identifiable enemies were gone. The less identifiable enemies still lingered. It became a sort of quagmire that took several weeks to sort out. Most of this was due to sabotage and the paranoia the sabotage caused. They'd eliminate a hotspot only for another place to flare up, and it was not uncommon for people to suddenly betray their allies with no warning.
Most of this ended up being traced to a set of drugs and various other 'brainwashing' techniques used by a few agents rather than any sort of deep cover operatives. The largest break was a Wrench Rat attempting some sabotage but getting tackled by his fellows and subdued before being dragged into a medical station. There a fast-acting and subtle toxin had been discovered, and they'd followed up from there.
According to the medical reports, the custom toxin allowed for some very particular suggestions to take in very specific situations. It also dissolved quickly and left no traces after the effect. The man who'd gotten hit didn't remember acting strangely, and his recollection of the events had been completely contradictory to his behavior.
Bolt considered it a good reminder of the Five Scrolls Compact's danger. The organization had left very few traces in their assaults. The few things that people could find could be all explained through mundane means. The 'Crown Terrorists' had struck again in the public eyes and while they were new, they were a explainable issue. He did wonder why they bothered going along with the masquerade, but he could venture a few guesses. Really the only thing that made him certain that they were involved was the monster in front of him. Even the agents had destroyed themselves quite thoroughly rather than get captured.
What was worse was that there was really still no physical evidence even with the massive monster that Lilly had downed. The thing they'd dragged to the bay looked like a mech that had been fried. The armor was some expensive almost First Rate alloy. The innards aligned with what a mech would be. Even the pilot cockpit looked like someone had died in it.
If Bolt were not an expert in salvage, and if he didn't have experience in spiritual matters he wouldn't have known a thing. As it was, it made him sick. Literally ill. He'd been forced to spend a few hours centering himself after he'd figured it out.
The senseless killing of the local population wasn't actually senseless. They'd ground up people and poured the bodies over the armor. That alone was sickening. Several thousand people had been killed for this. What was worse was that something had been done with their souls too. The mech still screamed faintly to Bolt's senses, and Lilly couldn't stand being in the same room as it. Most people couldn't. They either become disturbed or fascinated. (The latter was fixed by removing the from the room and dunking their head in cold water.)
Really Bolt was so utterly disgusted by it that he couldn't be happy at the moment. It really drove home how abhorrent this entire philosophy was. Sure, just massacre a few thousand people for power. It wasn't like they meant anything. Utterly disgusting. It distracted him, and made him step away from a lot of the cleanup.
He was going to do something about that. He couldn't do it alone though. It would require far more access than he had. He did have an idea that could give him that access. His little instructional book on spiritual matters that was supposed to accompany the Heart System would have that access. He could use that to add a sort of... What?
The reason sacrifice of people, and apparently their souls too, was useful was because it gave power. So long as it gave power someone would use it. This was why it persisted. People would gladly pay the price if it wasn't them paying it.
Preventing it was impossible. The MTA and the CFA had both failed. Crushing the knowledge just didn't work. The very reality they lived in permitted it, and if it was permitted someone would rediscover it eventually. Bolt had to make it not worth it.
That would take some thinking. Until he had a proper idea he should probably handle a few other things. Or at least keeping up to date.
"Everyone on their way out?" Bolt asked Phillipe.
"Oui. They were not happy they had to re-vet their security detail. Most of them were third and lower heirs so there were probably corners cut somewhere and they are paying for it now." The young man noted.
"It turned out to be lucky getting you all working fer us." Bolt said back with a small chuckle.
"Well, it turned out to be lucky for us too. Ze work is fulfilling and the pay is good." The man teased back.
The banter broke some of his malaise and the designer nodded. "It's good to know that some things have gone right." He said before a priority message made him look at his comm.
A beat passed and Phillipe sighed. "That iz not good news is it?"
"It's... Strange news." Bolt replied with mild confusion. "The military contract we have has been severed in good order, and we're being politely requested to return home. They've also completed our removal from the noble line."
"Wasn't that going to take years?" The young head of security asked.
"It was. Someone pushed hard for this. Politically... I have no idea." Bolt closed his eyes and thought. "Thoughts?"
"Politically it could be seen as distancing themselves from you, but based on the information we have there was no real motion for that. That sort of pressure would have been to our sources." Phillipe reasoned out and rubbed at his chin. "Perhaps they are scared? Are there any statements on your military contracts?"
"A polite statement that they won't be needing more mech designs and a firm addendum that all my current contracts are unchanged. There's even a note that consulting might still be requested." Bolt said as he scrolled through his messages.
"My best thought is that it's a polite 'leave now please.'" Phillipe concluded after some thought. "You should see about more feelers. Is that apprenticeship still on?"
"Nothing about that in my messages. Might take some time for the news to travel."
Several days later they had no other conclusions. Most of the nobles still on the planet and in contact were as confused as him. Even the Gaugers weren't really certain, and Bolt was quite sure that they'd have been ecstatic at the news. The best guess people had was that some very high up officials had quietly applied pressure in certain areas to have this happen. His prospective student was still going to become his student, so he wasn't being cut out. It was quite strange.
Ultimately all that mattered was that Bolt and Lilly could go home and not have to deal with pressure from the Friday Coalition. They missed their children.
---
AN: Arch done, and a small break from me. Combo of work and me needing a small break haha. Expect a resumption Monday.
Most of this ended up being traced to a set of drugs and various other 'brainwashing' techniques used by a few agents rather than any sort of deep cover operatives. The largest break was a Wrench Rat attempting some sabotage but getting tackled by his fellows and subdued before being dragged into a medical station. There a fast-acting and subtle toxin had been discovered, and they'd followed up from there.
According to the medical reports, the custom toxin allowed for some very particular suggestions to take in very specific situations. It also dissolved quickly and left no traces after the effect. The man who'd gotten hit didn't remember acting strangely, and his recollection of the events had been completely contradictory to his behavior.
Bolt considered it a good reminder of the Five Scrolls Compact's danger. The organization had left very few traces in their assaults. The few things that people could find could be all explained through mundane means. The 'Crown Terrorists' had struck again in the public eyes and while they were new, they were a explainable issue. He did wonder why they bothered going along with the masquerade, but he could venture a few guesses. Really the only thing that made him certain that they were involved was the monster in front of him. Even the agents had destroyed themselves quite thoroughly rather than get captured.
What was worse was that there was really still no physical evidence even with the massive monster that Lilly had downed. The thing they'd dragged to the bay looked like a mech that had been fried. The armor was some expensive almost First Rate alloy. The innards aligned with what a mech would be. Even the pilot cockpit looked like someone had died in it.
If Bolt were not an expert in salvage, and if he didn't have experience in spiritual matters he wouldn't have known a thing. As it was, it made him sick. Literally ill. He'd been forced to spend a few hours centering himself after he'd figured it out.
The senseless killing of the local population wasn't actually senseless. They'd ground up people and poured the bodies over the armor. That alone was sickening. Several thousand people had been killed for this. What was worse was that something had been done with their souls too. The mech still screamed faintly to Bolt's senses, and Lilly couldn't stand being in the same room as it. Most people couldn't. They either become disturbed or fascinated. (The latter was fixed by removing the from the room and dunking their head in cold water.)
Really Bolt was so utterly disgusted by it that he couldn't be happy at the moment. It really drove home how abhorrent this entire philosophy was. Sure, just massacre a few thousand people for power. It wasn't like they meant anything. Utterly disgusting. It distracted him, and made him step away from a lot of the cleanup.
He was going to do something about that. He couldn't do it alone though. It would require far more access than he had. He did have an idea that could give him that access. His little instructional book on spiritual matters that was supposed to accompany the Heart System would have that access. He could use that to add a sort of... What?
The reason sacrifice of people, and apparently their souls too, was useful was because it gave power. So long as it gave power someone would use it. This was why it persisted. People would gladly pay the price if it wasn't them paying it.
Preventing it was impossible. The MTA and the CFA had both failed. Crushing the knowledge just didn't work. The very reality they lived in permitted it, and if it was permitted someone would rediscover it eventually. Bolt had to make it not worth it.
That would take some thinking. Until he had a proper idea he should probably handle a few other things. Or at least keeping up to date.
"Everyone on their way out?" Bolt asked Phillipe.
"Oui. They were not happy they had to re-vet their security detail. Most of them were third and lower heirs so there were probably corners cut somewhere and they are paying for it now." The young man noted.
"It turned out to be lucky getting you all working fer us." Bolt said back with a small chuckle.
"Well, it turned out to be lucky for us too. Ze work is fulfilling and the pay is good." The man teased back.
The banter broke some of his malaise and the designer nodded. "It's good to know that some things have gone right." He said before a priority message made him look at his comm.
A beat passed and Phillipe sighed. "That iz not good news is it?"
"It's... Strange news." Bolt replied with mild confusion. "The military contract we have has been severed in good order, and we're being politely requested to return home. They've also completed our removal from the noble line."
"Wasn't that going to take years?" The young head of security asked.
"It was. Someone pushed hard for this. Politically... I have no idea." Bolt closed his eyes and thought. "Thoughts?"
"Politically it could be seen as distancing themselves from you, but based on the information we have there was no real motion for that. That sort of pressure would have been to our sources." Phillipe reasoned out and rubbed at his chin. "Perhaps they are scared? Are there any statements on your military contracts?"
"A polite statement that they won't be needing more mech designs and a firm addendum that all my current contracts are unchanged. There's even a note that consulting might still be requested." Bolt said as he scrolled through his messages.
"My best thought is that it's a polite 'leave now please.'" Phillipe concluded after some thought. "You should see about more feelers. Is that apprenticeship still on?"
"Nothing about that in my messages. Might take some time for the news to travel."
Several days later they had no other conclusions. Most of the nobles still on the planet and in contact were as confused as him. Even the Gaugers weren't really certain, and Bolt was quite sure that they'd have been ecstatic at the news. The best guess people had was that some very high up officials had quietly applied pressure in certain areas to have this happen. His prospective student was still going to become his student, so he wasn't being cut out. It was quite strange.
Ultimately all that mattered was that Bolt and Lilly could go home and not have to deal with pressure from the Friday Coalition. They missed their children.
---
AN: Arch done, and a small break from me. Combo of work and me needing a small break haha. Expect a resumption Monday.
Variant name: Son of War
Base model: Banner-Man
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Support
Armor: B
Carrying Capacity: B+
Aesthetics: A (Assuming optimal conditions.)
Endurance: B
Energy Efficiency: A
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: C+
Integrity: B-
Mobility: B
Spotting: C+
X-Factor: A+ (Assuming optimal conditions.)
Overall Evaluation: A mech with a deliberately simple and focused design to allow for easy war deployment. This mech is designed to embody the spirit of the unit it's assigned to. Unfortunately this makes it impossible to evaluate it with standard metrics. In optimal conditions it is a battlefield multiplier capable of matching any other morale boosting X-Factor. In suboptimal conditions it is a slightly above average mech with a medium to close range focus and a better than normal endurance. The X-Factor is explicitly dependent on the unit it is assigned to and their enthusiasm in decorating it. (Which is is also why the aesthetics are variable.)
Variant name: Hoarfrost Prototype
Base model: Hoarfrost
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Lancer
Armor: D (B-)
Carrying Capacity: D+
Aesthetics: A+
Endurance: C+
Energy Efficiency: A
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: A-
Integrity: B-
Mobility: A-
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A lancer mech with several unusual and atypical choices. The armor in particular deserves special attention as it is a layered composite, with the first layer being a regenerative ice-analog. While it lacks the traditional explosive lancer power, its weaponry is exotic enough that most mechs are not designed to resist it. The combination with the X-Factor provokes an unusual effect when more are used at once, altering the environment and creating a blizzard like effect upon charging.
Variant name: Yuki-onna
Base model: Hoarfrost
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Lancer
Armor: D (C+)
Carrying Capacity: C
Aesthetics: A-
Endurance: B
Energy Efficiency: A
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: B+
Integrity: B-
Mobility: A-
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A variation of the Hoarfrost mech, refined for mass production. The use of lesser exotics give it less overall performance but allows for cheaper creation, which is considered a worthwhile trade. The blizzard-like effect has been refined and it has the addition of an adjustable dial which causes a inflicts a chilling mental status to the user, granting them resistance to mental effects at a cost of mental stamina.
Variant name: Cheshire
Base Model: Cheshire
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Scout
Armor: F
Carrying Capacity: D
Aesthetics: B
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C
Flexibility: F
Firepower: F
Integrity: D
Mobility: C+
Spotting: C+
X-Factor: B
Overall Evaluation: A mech without weapons and with light armor. If it did not have a near perfect stealth field and the ability to run invisible for hours it'd be considered a toy in the shape of a mech. As is it has some use as a scout should the pilot be willing to risk themselves in something with minimal armor.
Variant name: Cheshire Expert
Base Model: Cheshire
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Sapper / Sabateur
Armor: C
Carrying Capacity: D
Aesthetics: B+
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C
Flexibility: C
Firepower: C
Integrity: C+
Mobility: B
Spotting: B
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A stealth expert mech that is focused on remaining hidden at all costs. It is a ghost on the battlefield, and its exotic backed x-factor weapon causes debilitating back luck to any mechs afflicted with it. Due to the nature of its weaponry and design it cannot be located in battle, but will most certainly be felt.
Variant name: Forgotten Soldier
Base model: Forgotten Soldier
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Rifleman
Armor: C
Carrying Capacity: A
Aesthetics: B+
Endurance: A
Energy Efficiency: C+
Flexibility: B+
Firepower: B
Integrity: C
Mobility: B
Spotting: B-
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: An extremely solid rifleman that is capable of brief bursts of invisibility and movement. Using the two together makes the mech seem as if it is teleporting to those unfamiliar with the mech. The X-Factor gifts it supernatural teamwork and makes it a viable mech useful in every team as supplemental firepower.
Variant name: Valefar
Base model: Valefar
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Swordsman
Armor: B+
Carrying Capacity: C+
Aesthetics: A
Endurance: Pilot specific
Energy Efficiency: C+
Flexibility: D
Firepower: A
Integrity: B+
Mobility: B+
Spotting: B-
X-Factor: B-
Overall Evaluation: A swordsman with a refined and efficient construction worthy of being considered a mech. It will likely be considered a favorite of sword purists and have a lifetime far beyond standard mechs due to its ability to increase its performance through X-Factor mechanics. The X-Factor 'steals' the fate of the enemies it defeats and it uses that potential to increase its own performance. Since the X-Factor is tied to nanomachine and tied to the concept of self improvement, the mech has no theoretical limit.
Practically most mechs will fail over time due to various reasons. The improvement is based off how significant the victory is. Only the greatest pilots would be able to realize the potential of the mech, and most will be forced to change mechs for various reasons. This would probably be considered a bonus to many rather than a bane. The path of the sword is not for everyone and requires dedication many would consider obscene.
Variant name: Little Witch (Third Rate V1)
Base model: Little Witch
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Rifleman
Armor: D
Carrying Capacity: D
Aesthetics: B+
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C+
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: B-
Integrity: C
Mobility: C
Spotting: B
X-Factor: B
Overall Evaluation: A first attempt of a novice just starting their journey. It shows a firm grasp of the basics and a hint of passion but is otherwise below average for a mech at it's tech level. The X-Factor has been unusually aligned with the weapon, an energy weapon in the shape of a wand. This allows it to shoot small stars that can curve unnaturally through the air. This provides a mildly novel feature that combined with the appearance may appear to some people.
Variant name: Einherjar Berserker
Base model: Bloody Berserker
Weight Classification: Heavy
Recommended Role: Heavy Shocktroop
Armor: A-
Carrying Capacity: B
Aesthetics: B-
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C-
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: B+
Integrity: A+
Mobility: B
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A mech that will always be first on the battlefield. Capable of immense surges of movement due to the Star-Shifter Device, it would be a true monster if it had unlimited power. Since it is still bound by some laws of physics, it is still only an immensely deadly shocktroop style mech. Armed with Twin axes and a missile launcher, it will appear next to its target and act with berserk fury before just as suddenly moving to the next victim. The armor also deserves a special mention as being optimized for quick repair, therefore removing one of the larger issues shocktroops typically have in that repair time typically exceeds operational time.
Variant name: Typhoon
Base model: Typhoon
Weight Classification: Heavy
Recommended Role: Expert Artillary
Armor: A
Carrying Capacity: A
Aesthetics: A
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C-
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: A+
Integrity: B-
Mobility: C
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: An expert heavy designed to function as a centerpoint a group builds around. When coordinating with other mechs it is capable of creating a literally lightning storm that damages enemies, redirects ranged attacks, and alters the very space around itself. Unfortunately, the Star-Shifter variant, Storm-Shifter is an enormous energy hog. This combined with the standard heavy flaws make it a rather expensive to run and gives it less endurance than what would be considered optimal. Were the offense less this would be a massive flaw. As is the mech is best operated in short bursts of deadly activity and long periods of careful observation.
Base model: Banner-Man
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Support
Armor: B
Carrying Capacity: B+
Aesthetics: A (Assuming optimal conditions.)
Endurance: B
Energy Efficiency: A
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: C+
Integrity: B-
Mobility: B
Spotting: C+
X-Factor: A+ (Assuming optimal conditions.)
Overall Evaluation: A mech with a deliberately simple and focused design to allow for easy war deployment. This mech is designed to embody the spirit of the unit it's assigned to. Unfortunately this makes it impossible to evaluate it with standard metrics. In optimal conditions it is a battlefield multiplier capable of matching any other morale boosting X-Factor. In suboptimal conditions it is a slightly above average mech with a medium to close range focus and a better than normal endurance. The X-Factor is explicitly dependent on the unit it is assigned to and their enthusiasm in decorating it. (Which is is also why the aesthetics are variable.)
Variant name: Hoarfrost Prototype
Base model: Hoarfrost
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Lancer
Armor: D (B-)
Carrying Capacity: D+
Aesthetics: A+
Endurance: C+
Energy Efficiency: A
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: A-
Integrity: B-
Mobility: A-
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A lancer mech with several unusual and atypical choices. The armor in particular deserves special attention as it is a layered composite, with the first layer being a regenerative ice-analog. While it lacks the traditional explosive lancer power, its weaponry is exotic enough that most mechs are not designed to resist it. The combination with the X-Factor provokes an unusual effect when more are used at once, altering the environment and creating a blizzard like effect upon charging.
Variant name: Yuki-onna
Base model: Hoarfrost
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Lancer
Armor: D (C+)
Carrying Capacity: C
Aesthetics: A-
Endurance: B
Energy Efficiency: A
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: B+
Integrity: B-
Mobility: A-
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A variation of the Hoarfrost mech, refined for mass production. The use of lesser exotics give it less overall performance but allows for cheaper creation, which is considered a worthwhile trade. The blizzard-like effect has been refined and it has the addition of an adjustable dial which causes a inflicts a chilling mental status to the user, granting them resistance to mental effects at a cost of mental stamina.
Variant name: Cheshire
Base Model: Cheshire
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Scout
Armor: F
Carrying Capacity: D
Aesthetics: B
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C
Flexibility: F
Firepower: F
Integrity: D
Mobility: C+
Spotting: C+
X-Factor: B
Overall Evaluation: A mech without weapons and with light armor. If it did not have a near perfect stealth field and the ability to run invisible for hours it'd be considered a toy in the shape of a mech. As is it has some use as a scout should the pilot be willing to risk themselves in something with minimal armor.
Variant name: Cheshire Expert
Base Model: Cheshire
Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Sapper / Sabateur
Armor: C
Carrying Capacity: D
Aesthetics: B+
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C
Flexibility: C
Firepower: C
Integrity: C+
Mobility: B
Spotting: B
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A stealth expert mech that is focused on remaining hidden at all costs. It is a ghost on the battlefield, and its exotic backed x-factor weapon causes debilitating back luck to any mechs afflicted with it. Due to the nature of its weaponry and design it cannot be located in battle, but will most certainly be felt.
Variant name: Forgotten Soldier
Base model: Forgotten Soldier
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Rifleman
Armor: C
Carrying Capacity: A
Aesthetics: B+
Endurance: A
Energy Efficiency: C+
Flexibility: B+
Firepower: B
Integrity: C
Mobility: B
Spotting: B-
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: An extremely solid rifleman that is capable of brief bursts of invisibility and movement. Using the two together makes the mech seem as if it is teleporting to those unfamiliar with the mech. The X-Factor gifts it supernatural teamwork and makes it a viable mech useful in every team as supplemental firepower.
Variant name: Valefar
Base model: Valefar
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Swordsman
Armor: B+
Carrying Capacity: C+
Aesthetics: A
Endurance: Pilot specific
Energy Efficiency: C+
Flexibility: D
Firepower: A
Integrity: B+
Mobility: B+
Spotting: B-
X-Factor: B-
Overall Evaluation: A swordsman with a refined and efficient construction worthy of being considered a mech. It will likely be considered a favorite of sword purists and have a lifetime far beyond standard mechs due to its ability to increase its performance through X-Factor mechanics. The X-Factor 'steals' the fate of the enemies it defeats and it uses that potential to increase its own performance. Since the X-Factor is tied to nanomachine and tied to the concept of self improvement, the mech has no theoretical limit.
Practically most mechs will fail over time due to various reasons. The improvement is based off how significant the victory is. Only the greatest pilots would be able to realize the potential of the mech, and most will be forced to change mechs for various reasons. This would probably be considered a bonus to many rather than a bane. The path of the sword is not for everyone and requires dedication many would consider obscene.
Variant name: Little Witch (Third Rate V1)
Base model: Little Witch
Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Rifleman
Armor: D
Carrying Capacity: D
Aesthetics: B+
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C+
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: B-
Integrity: C
Mobility: C
Spotting: B
X-Factor: B
Overall Evaluation: A first attempt of a novice just starting their journey. It shows a firm grasp of the basics and a hint of passion but is otherwise below average for a mech at it's tech level. The X-Factor has been unusually aligned with the weapon, an energy weapon in the shape of a wand. This allows it to shoot small stars that can curve unnaturally through the air. This provides a mildly novel feature that combined with the appearance may appear to some people.
Variant name: Einherjar Berserker
Base model: Bloody Berserker
Weight Classification: Heavy
Recommended Role: Heavy Shocktroop
Armor: A-
Carrying Capacity: B
Aesthetics: B-
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C-
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: B+
Integrity: A+
Mobility: B
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: A mech that will always be first on the battlefield. Capable of immense surges of movement due to the Star-Shifter Device, it would be a true monster if it had unlimited power. Since it is still bound by some laws of physics, it is still only an immensely deadly shocktroop style mech. Armed with Twin axes and a missile launcher, it will appear next to its target and act with berserk fury before just as suddenly moving to the next victim. The armor also deserves a special mention as being optimized for quick repair, therefore removing one of the larger issues shocktroops typically have in that repair time typically exceeds operational time.
Variant name: Typhoon
Base model: Typhoon
Weight Classification: Heavy
Recommended Role: Expert Artillary
Armor: A
Carrying Capacity: A
Aesthetics: A
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: C-
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: A+
Integrity: B-
Mobility: C
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A
Overall Evaluation: An expert heavy designed to function as a centerpoint a group builds around. When coordinating with other mechs it is capable of creating a literally lightning storm that damages enemies, redirects ranged attacks, and alters the very space around itself. Unfortunately, the Star-Shifter variant, Storm-Shifter is an enormous energy hog. This combined with the standard heavy flaws make it a rather expensive to run and gives it less endurance than what would be considered optimal. Were the offense less this would be a massive flaw. As is the mech is best operated in short bursts of deadly activity and long periods of careful observation.
M207
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
- Messages
- 14,693
- Likes received
- 480,971
There was a trite saying out there. You could never go home again. It had a lot of meanings based on the person. Some could probably consider it a profound truth. Bolt rather felt like the saying didn't apply to him at all really. His home had always been with his family. Olympus was a refuge in his eyes. It was still a welcome one. Watching it loom in the distance as he approached gave him an indescribable sensation of relief and joy.
"Thinking I needed this more than I realized." Bolt muttered quietly.
"Hah. I can't wait to see our kids again." Lilly agreed with a breath before she closed her eyes. "We got everything set? If I get interrupted I ain't gonna be happy."
"Close as it's gonna get." The man replied.
Most of their recruited men weren't going to enter the mountain. There were a variety of reasons for this. Some were going to head back to the war immediately solo. Others were just going to find a different place to retire. Those that had made the decision to separate would be able to leave with everyone's blessing. Many were actually staying though. They had a very good ship and proven group after all. It would be a shame to have them just linger in the area on guard duty, so they'd come up with a fairly obvious alternative.
Ark Larkinson would be taking the ship out shortly to do more mercenary work after some organization and rearrangement. Naoto would be joining him. Two experts and some add-ons was an extremely strong mercenary group and it made for a rather potent source of income and experience. Even if they just broke even it was worth having them out and about.
That had been the easiest decision of the after contract wrap up. The rest of it was just sorting things out logistically. Bolt's duties to the contestant winners could be done remotely when they decided to call in the rewards. Herald would likely stay in orbit once he arranged things on his end. Sami would come down with Willow discretely later. It was complicated, but ultimately not really that much of a hassle.
All taken together it was a surprisingly neat and tidy conclusion to their war contribution. Both parents were glad for it. They were understandably distracted by more personal matters. The main reason was waiting for them at the entrance.
Two children stood there with Bolt's mother and father. At their side they had a pair of stuffed animals. Ruckus, their son, was holding a small wooden sword with one hand and the toy with the other. Bunny was just holding her doll.
As their parents stepped out the two stared at them. Bolt winced internally before kneeling down. "Hey boyo. Remember us?" He'd been gone for awhile and Ruckus had been young.
The young boy toddled up to his father and peered at him suspiciously. He then poked at Bolt with his sword. Bolt chuckled and gave the weapon a little wiggle. The little boy's eyes narrowed before he aimed his stuffed toy Bolt's way. The security device disguised as a toy gave a happy beep of recognition. Bolt approved of the caution.
"Hmmm." Ruckus made a great show of pondering. "You owe me dessert every night for leaving!" His conclusion was both surprising and not.
Bolt chuckled and carefully reached out. "Sorry, how about a shoulder ride and a few stories."
"Adventure stories?" Ruckus asked and met the other man's arms.
"Yeah, adventure stories." Bolt responded and pulled his kid up to his shoulders.
Lilly meanwhile had managed to get Bunny. Sort of. The little girl was cuddling with her stuffed rabbit and letting herself be held. Her face was hidden in the doll and she was slightly tense, though the tension was rapidly dropping.
"Adventures await Bun!" Ruckus proclaimed from his father's shoulders. "Poppa has returned!"
Bunny didn't give any response.
"She still quiet?" Lilly asked her parent-in-laws in a low tone.
"Not inclined to chatter. She tends to clam up in new situations as well." Bolt's mother informed her in an equally low voice. "She does have a set o' lungs though. Ya missed the terrible twos."
"Almost sad about that." Lilly noted with a half joking grin as she cuddled the girl. "So, still adventure boy?"
"Very much so."
"Onwards!" Ruckus said and pointed his little sword in towards the mountain.
"Yes, onwards!" Bolt agreed and his wife laughed.
What followed next was a lot of kid things that the new parents gladly went along with. Ruckus wanted to show them all his favorite spots with all the exuberance of the young. The kid had a lot of them, mostly innocent places where he could stand and climb. He apparently made a habit of trying to explore everywhere. Fortunately he was mostly limited to children playpen areas, otherwise Bolt was actually fairly concerned his son would have found a way of hurting himself. As it was, the boy loved climbing and had found a way to get partially into a few of the vents. Fortunately they were childproof, but the dedication the young lad had for finding places he shouldn't get into was extreme enough to be a bit alarming.
Bunny in contrast just wanted cuddles and hugs. She was perfectly content to be held and carried. In point of fact she'd decided to be very clingy once she'd familiarized herself with her mother again. Lilly was extremely happy to indulge that. Putting her down ended up getting a rather high pitched whine though, and this could mean bad things if it persisted. For now the kids were getting used to their parents again and Bolt and Lilly were likewise doing the same thing. This meant that a little bit of clinginess was perfectly fine.
Such simple concerns were a balm that Bolt hadn't realized he'd needed. It was all well and good to think about mechs and wars and politics, but ultimately this was very important as well. Getting his kids and watching them grow. It was what it meant to be human. If he lost sight of that he'd become just another one of those monsters that littered the galaxy.
The adventures couldn't last though. Eventually the two kids did get tired out and started to fight yawns. Getting them put into their beds was a small and new struggle, but the parents managed it with some effort, some play, and many promises that they'd be there in the morning. After they finally got to sleep Bolt spent a few minutes watching them.
This was like nothing he'd had growing up. He loved his parents dearly, but a safe and clean room without a hint of battle had not been one of the things he'd been given. He'd always had the hint of oil or rust. The scent of battle had been omnipresent. Even in the safest room the best he'd had was warm blankets and thick walls. He didn't begrudge his parents. It was only now that he'd realized how far he'd come.
He also felt a burning anger resurging into his heart. Those cultists would have no trouble grinding up people like his children just for a little bit more. People considered he and his expendable. Today he felt like he could break that completely. He would, most certainly. He couldn't remove war from the galaxy, but he could certainly murder a few ideas that should stay dead.
Bolt was home. He wasn't going to rest, and it was time to start trying to act rather than react.
"Thinking I needed this more than I realized." Bolt muttered quietly.
"Hah. I can't wait to see our kids again." Lilly agreed with a breath before she closed her eyes. "We got everything set? If I get interrupted I ain't gonna be happy."
"Close as it's gonna get." The man replied.
Most of their recruited men weren't going to enter the mountain. There were a variety of reasons for this. Some were going to head back to the war immediately solo. Others were just going to find a different place to retire. Those that had made the decision to separate would be able to leave with everyone's blessing. Many were actually staying though. They had a very good ship and proven group after all. It would be a shame to have them just linger in the area on guard duty, so they'd come up with a fairly obvious alternative.
Ark Larkinson would be taking the ship out shortly to do more mercenary work after some organization and rearrangement. Naoto would be joining him. Two experts and some add-ons was an extremely strong mercenary group and it made for a rather potent source of income and experience. Even if they just broke even it was worth having them out and about.
That had been the easiest decision of the after contract wrap up. The rest of it was just sorting things out logistically. Bolt's duties to the contestant winners could be done remotely when they decided to call in the rewards. Herald would likely stay in orbit once he arranged things on his end. Sami would come down with Willow discretely later. It was complicated, but ultimately not really that much of a hassle.
All taken together it was a surprisingly neat and tidy conclusion to their war contribution. Both parents were glad for it. They were understandably distracted by more personal matters. The main reason was waiting for them at the entrance.
Two children stood there with Bolt's mother and father. At their side they had a pair of stuffed animals. Ruckus, their son, was holding a small wooden sword with one hand and the toy with the other. Bunny was just holding her doll.
As their parents stepped out the two stared at them. Bolt winced internally before kneeling down. "Hey boyo. Remember us?" He'd been gone for awhile and Ruckus had been young.
The young boy toddled up to his father and peered at him suspiciously. He then poked at Bolt with his sword. Bolt chuckled and gave the weapon a little wiggle. The little boy's eyes narrowed before he aimed his stuffed toy Bolt's way. The security device disguised as a toy gave a happy beep of recognition. Bolt approved of the caution.
"Hmmm." Ruckus made a great show of pondering. "You owe me dessert every night for leaving!" His conclusion was both surprising and not.
Bolt chuckled and carefully reached out. "Sorry, how about a shoulder ride and a few stories."
"Adventure stories?" Ruckus asked and met the other man's arms.
"Yeah, adventure stories." Bolt responded and pulled his kid up to his shoulders.
Lilly meanwhile had managed to get Bunny. Sort of. The little girl was cuddling with her stuffed rabbit and letting herself be held. Her face was hidden in the doll and she was slightly tense, though the tension was rapidly dropping.
"Adventures await Bun!" Ruckus proclaimed from his father's shoulders. "Poppa has returned!"
Bunny didn't give any response.
"She still quiet?" Lilly asked her parent-in-laws in a low tone.
"Not inclined to chatter. She tends to clam up in new situations as well." Bolt's mother informed her in an equally low voice. "She does have a set o' lungs though. Ya missed the terrible twos."
"Almost sad about that." Lilly noted with a half joking grin as she cuddled the girl. "So, still adventure boy?"
"Very much so."
"Onwards!" Ruckus said and pointed his little sword in towards the mountain.
"Yes, onwards!" Bolt agreed and his wife laughed.
What followed next was a lot of kid things that the new parents gladly went along with. Ruckus wanted to show them all his favorite spots with all the exuberance of the young. The kid had a lot of them, mostly innocent places where he could stand and climb. He apparently made a habit of trying to explore everywhere. Fortunately he was mostly limited to children playpen areas, otherwise Bolt was actually fairly concerned his son would have found a way of hurting himself. As it was, the boy loved climbing and had found a way to get partially into a few of the vents. Fortunately they were childproof, but the dedication the young lad had for finding places he shouldn't get into was extreme enough to be a bit alarming.
Bunny in contrast just wanted cuddles and hugs. She was perfectly content to be held and carried. In point of fact she'd decided to be very clingy once she'd familiarized herself with her mother again. Lilly was extremely happy to indulge that. Putting her down ended up getting a rather high pitched whine though, and this could mean bad things if it persisted. For now the kids were getting used to their parents again and Bolt and Lilly were likewise doing the same thing. This meant that a little bit of clinginess was perfectly fine.
Such simple concerns were a balm that Bolt hadn't realized he'd needed. It was all well and good to think about mechs and wars and politics, but ultimately this was very important as well. Getting his kids and watching them grow. It was what it meant to be human. If he lost sight of that he'd become just another one of those monsters that littered the galaxy.
The adventures couldn't last though. Eventually the two kids did get tired out and started to fight yawns. Getting them put into their beds was a small and new struggle, but the parents managed it with some effort, some play, and many promises that they'd be there in the morning. After they finally got to sleep Bolt spent a few minutes watching them.
This was like nothing he'd had growing up. He loved his parents dearly, but a safe and clean room without a hint of battle had not been one of the things he'd been given. He'd always had the hint of oil or rust. The scent of battle had been omnipresent. Even in the safest room the best he'd had was warm blankets and thick walls. He didn't begrudge his parents. It was only now that he'd realized how far he'd come.
He also felt a burning anger resurging into his heart. Those cultists would have no trouble grinding up people like his children just for a little bit more. People considered he and his expendable. Today he felt like he could break that completely. He would, most certainly. He couldn't remove war from the galaxy, but he could certainly murder a few ideas that should stay dead.
Bolt was home. He wasn't going to rest, and it was time to start trying to act rather than react.
lurkingkraken
Experienced.
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I feel like Bolt is going to do something that is akin to the elves of Terry Pratchett, something wonderful to cause wonder, marvelous to create marvels, fantastic and glamorous and enchanting and using his knowledge of spiritual mechanics to play with glamours and enchantments and fantasies, and most of all terrific, and bring terror to those who would use the darkest of arts.
But it'll be fun to see him do his best, and find out what happens when a good man goes to war.
I'm really looking forward to the next arc.
But it'll be fun to see him do his best, and find out what happens when a good man goes to war.
I'm really looking forward to the next arc.
Last edited:
Pyro Hawk
Unsure if Phoenix or Kitsune
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Assembler: and this is why I felt so comfortable making the risk on him developing Spiritual Design and sharing it!
I074
New
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Ves couldn't say he was happy at the moment. How could he be? His rivalry had been interrupted by politics of all things! The gall of those arrogant Friday men! All his enthusiasm was gone now. Admittedly it hadn't been high in the first place. His contacts with the Hexxers had informed him that the manufacturing base on their end was starting to fracture. It wasn't going to be much of a contest anymore with the lack of forces on his end.
The designer wasn't going to let himself get too emotional about the poor ending though. He was almost out of the galaxy by this point. His company and mechs in the Komodo sector would still run thanks to a few MTA purchases, but he'd have to prioritize things around him more. Even if Bolt could maintain the rivalry on his end, Ves couldn't. Hell, the only reason he could pay attention was the fact that things had been very peaceful on the last stretch. After the chaos of his last few decisions it was rather welcome truthfully.
A chirp from his comm made him pull it up, and his eyes widened at the message he'd gotten. A request had come in from the very person he'd been thinking of. He flipped through the details and found himself genuinely impressed and intrigued. He accepted it with a flick and then sent out a few messages to his allies before picking up his cat.
"Meow?" The robotic animal asked.
"I got an unusual commission." Ves informed his pet. "You're coming with to help keep me safe."
"Mow." Lucky's ears flattened.
"There's only a chance of danger. Better safe than sorry." The man said, and a few minutes later he was being teleported.
As an organization the MTA offered a variety of services in exchange for credits. One of them was a priority transportation service. With enough credits you could move halfway across the galaxy in a matter of hours instead of months. It was genuinely pricy and rather rare to use.
Bolt had offered Ves a round trip along with a commision.
It had to be said again that this was expensive! Furthermore, it required a fair amount of respect from the MTA! Ves couldn't imagine why his rival would have bothered to do something like this really. You didn't do this just because you just needed a designer's expertise. You could do collaborations remotely with relative ease. This request therefore required his physical presence, and furthermore it came with an expectation of privacy and safety, backed by several very serious MTA officials. Ves was both flattered and curious as to why.
A day later Ves was inside the mountain. He only knew this because that was where he'd been told he was. Teleportation was disorientating in the best of times. On a priority transport it was close to harsh. He was recovering quickly, but he had a new appreciation to the ground.
"Ves Larkinson. Pleased to meet you." Bolt looked larger and more dangerous in the flesh. Ves had to crane his head up to look the man in the face.
"Bolt Silica." Ves offered a hand without a trace of fear in his heart. At his feet Lucky flopped to the ground with mild annoyance.
The other man shook the hand with a small smile that dropped. "Forgive me for being a bit abrubt. I'm not in the best mood." He said before holding up a box. "Consider this the down payment for your consultation." He handed it over.
Ves raised an eyebrow and took the box before opening it. The blare of spiritual power almost made him drop it, and he stared briefly at the fragmented copy of the water scroll before snapping the box shut immediately. His mind raced at the possible implications. Giving this was a serious statement of intent, and he knew for a fact that Bolt understood how valuable this was.
"If you need to add additional security precautions before we speak you can." Bolt offered placidly as he put his hands behind his back. "I am authorized by the MTA to speak on matters related to things like what I just gave you."
"They know about this?" Ves asked.
"Reported it tha second I got em. I can't trust all of the organization, but I do got a few people there that got my back." Bolt confirmed with a nod.
Ves still pulled out his comm and activated the privacy field in it. "This is a fragmented copy of something some very dangerous people would want." He informed the other man, trying to convey how dangerous it was with as few words as possible.
"Got another one if ya want it." Bolt replied with a shrug that didn't conceal how serious he was. "Ya can't tell me you couldn't use it. I know I could do a lot, and you could likely do more."
That was something he couldn't argue with. Ves looked at the box and took a deep breath before straightening himself. "I won't accept this until you tell me what you want to do."
"Two things related to one goal. First, is more a consult." Bolt pulled a booklet out of his pocket. "Right now I list you as the foremost expert but I'd like to put ya down as co-author."
Ves took the booklet and leafed through it.
His first thought was anger. This was trying to replicate his work! After the initial page that anger cooled though, and looking through it made him frown instead. It actually couldn't replicate his work as it was. It actually couldn't do much at all. It was baby's first steps into spiritual work. It had a series of exercises and tools to theoretically develop a personal style. He would have loved this starting out, but there were several later steps that didn't exist and even if you were trying to deliberately restrict it, the leaps of thought were too disjointed.
"It's flawed." Ves concluded. "You don't have enough here, and it has some incorrect assumptions." He flicked to one particular exercise. "Also, I don't understand why you had this so prominent."
The exercise involved something called 'affirmation.' It didn't do much. It seemed to be something that would slightly alter the soul of someone. This wasn't necessary to work with spiritual matters.
"Let me show you something." Bolt said instead of answering and turned around.
Ves deactivated his comm, nudged his cat and made to follow. The bay they were in was typical of most mech bays. Standard configuration and setup for assembling a mech. Ves knew the setup like the back of his own hand. The next room was a more secured area but still the same sort of thing. This one held a mech...
Only his long experience concealing his emotions kept him from shouting in surprise once he studied the thing more. Whatever that object was, it wasn't a mech. He channeled spiritual power to his eyes and blinked at what it revealed to him.
His first thought was confusion. Why would someone do this? Why would you fuse a few thousand people into this and make it look like a mech? It was so inefficient. Then he identified the children and he had to turn off his spiritual sight. It was one thing to use pilots. They knew the risks. They put their lives on the line. Ves would gladly use anyone that attacked him as fuel for his creations. This sort of thing? Cramming civilians and children into a tormented mess in some attempt at power?
"Made me ill when I figured out what it was." Bolt drawled out as he stared at it. "The thing tried to kill my wife and now I'm left with trying to keep it from happening again."
"The affirmation process is meant to make something like this harder." Ves stopped channeling to his eyes and rubbed at them with a small wince. "You can't stop people from killing, but you can make it inefficient to do this."
"You got it quick. Only reason I thought o' it is cause I know salvage." Bolt confirmed. "Add resistance and make in inefficient and people won't bother."
Ves nodded back. "I think you can improve upon that idea with my help." The designer said. "It wouldn't be enough, even if you spread it across the galaxy."
"I'll be sending it out with the Heart System. That's been added to the next generation MTA catalog." Bolt admitted with a slightly embarrassed expression. "Ya don't think that will be enough?"
Surprise hit Ves. For a moment he didn't know what to say. Jealousy hit him next, but he suppressed it. He was being offered a name on that pamphlet. It was free advertising! And it wouldn't put only him in the crosshairs. He got the prestige, and he kept his secrets! (Also he was very glad he was leaving the galaxy, because that was still going to put a big target on him.)
"Only designers would read this, and I'd guess maybe a quarter would try it at first. Even if every one of them tries it that wouldn't be enough. You'd need a stick." The designer held the box. "You have another one of these?" He asked and got a nod. "We use them to make a big stick."
They were mech designers. When it came to problems, the optimal solution was mechs!
The designer wasn't going to let himself get too emotional about the poor ending though. He was almost out of the galaxy by this point. His company and mechs in the Komodo sector would still run thanks to a few MTA purchases, but he'd have to prioritize things around him more. Even if Bolt could maintain the rivalry on his end, Ves couldn't. Hell, the only reason he could pay attention was the fact that things had been very peaceful on the last stretch. After the chaos of his last few decisions it was rather welcome truthfully.
A chirp from his comm made him pull it up, and his eyes widened at the message he'd gotten. A request had come in from the very person he'd been thinking of. He flipped through the details and found himself genuinely impressed and intrigued. He accepted it with a flick and then sent out a few messages to his allies before picking up his cat.
"Meow?" The robotic animal asked.
"I got an unusual commission." Ves informed his pet. "You're coming with to help keep me safe."
"Mow." Lucky's ears flattened.
"There's only a chance of danger. Better safe than sorry." The man said, and a few minutes later he was being teleported.
As an organization the MTA offered a variety of services in exchange for credits. One of them was a priority transportation service. With enough credits you could move halfway across the galaxy in a matter of hours instead of months. It was genuinely pricy and rather rare to use.
Bolt had offered Ves a round trip along with a commision.
It had to be said again that this was expensive! Furthermore, it required a fair amount of respect from the MTA! Ves couldn't imagine why his rival would have bothered to do something like this really. You didn't do this just because you just needed a designer's expertise. You could do collaborations remotely with relative ease. This request therefore required his physical presence, and furthermore it came with an expectation of privacy and safety, backed by several very serious MTA officials. Ves was both flattered and curious as to why.
A day later Ves was inside the mountain. He only knew this because that was where he'd been told he was. Teleportation was disorientating in the best of times. On a priority transport it was close to harsh. He was recovering quickly, but he had a new appreciation to the ground.
"Ves Larkinson. Pleased to meet you." Bolt looked larger and more dangerous in the flesh. Ves had to crane his head up to look the man in the face.
"Bolt Silica." Ves offered a hand without a trace of fear in his heart. At his feet Lucky flopped to the ground with mild annoyance.
The other man shook the hand with a small smile that dropped. "Forgive me for being a bit abrubt. I'm not in the best mood." He said before holding up a box. "Consider this the down payment for your consultation." He handed it over.
Ves raised an eyebrow and took the box before opening it. The blare of spiritual power almost made him drop it, and he stared briefly at the fragmented copy of the water scroll before snapping the box shut immediately. His mind raced at the possible implications. Giving this was a serious statement of intent, and he knew for a fact that Bolt understood how valuable this was.
"If you need to add additional security precautions before we speak you can." Bolt offered placidly as he put his hands behind his back. "I am authorized by the MTA to speak on matters related to things like what I just gave you."
"They know about this?" Ves asked.
"Reported it tha second I got em. I can't trust all of the organization, but I do got a few people there that got my back." Bolt confirmed with a nod.
Ves still pulled out his comm and activated the privacy field in it. "This is a fragmented copy of something some very dangerous people would want." He informed the other man, trying to convey how dangerous it was with as few words as possible.
"Got another one if ya want it." Bolt replied with a shrug that didn't conceal how serious he was. "Ya can't tell me you couldn't use it. I know I could do a lot, and you could likely do more."
That was something he couldn't argue with. Ves looked at the box and took a deep breath before straightening himself. "I won't accept this until you tell me what you want to do."
"Two things related to one goal. First, is more a consult." Bolt pulled a booklet out of his pocket. "Right now I list you as the foremost expert but I'd like to put ya down as co-author."
Ves took the booklet and leafed through it.
His first thought was anger. This was trying to replicate his work! After the initial page that anger cooled though, and looking through it made him frown instead. It actually couldn't replicate his work as it was. It actually couldn't do much at all. It was baby's first steps into spiritual work. It had a series of exercises and tools to theoretically develop a personal style. He would have loved this starting out, but there were several later steps that didn't exist and even if you were trying to deliberately restrict it, the leaps of thought were too disjointed.
"It's flawed." Ves concluded. "You don't have enough here, and it has some incorrect assumptions." He flicked to one particular exercise. "Also, I don't understand why you had this so prominent."
The exercise involved something called 'affirmation.' It didn't do much. It seemed to be something that would slightly alter the soul of someone. This wasn't necessary to work with spiritual matters.
"Let me show you something." Bolt said instead of answering and turned around.
Ves deactivated his comm, nudged his cat and made to follow. The bay they were in was typical of most mech bays. Standard configuration and setup for assembling a mech. Ves knew the setup like the back of his own hand. The next room was a more secured area but still the same sort of thing. This one held a mech...
Only his long experience concealing his emotions kept him from shouting in surprise once he studied the thing more. Whatever that object was, it wasn't a mech. He channeled spiritual power to his eyes and blinked at what it revealed to him.
His first thought was confusion. Why would someone do this? Why would you fuse a few thousand people into this and make it look like a mech? It was so inefficient. Then he identified the children and he had to turn off his spiritual sight. It was one thing to use pilots. They knew the risks. They put their lives on the line. Ves would gladly use anyone that attacked him as fuel for his creations. This sort of thing? Cramming civilians and children into a tormented mess in some attempt at power?
"Made me ill when I figured out what it was." Bolt drawled out as he stared at it. "The thing tried to kill my wife and now I'm left with trying to keep it from happening again."
"The affirmation process is meant to make something like this harder." Ves stopped channeling to his eyes and rubbed at them with a small wince. "You can't stop people from killing, but you can make it inefficient to do this."
"You got it quick. Only reason I thought o' it is cause I know salvage." Bolt confirmed. "Add resistance and make in inefficient and people won't bother."
Ves nodded back. "I think you can improve upon that idea with my help." The designer said. "It wouldn't be enough, even if you spread it across the galaxy."
"I'll be sending it out with the Heart System. That's been added to the next generation MTA catalog." Bolt admitted with a slightly embarrassed expression. "Ya don't think that will be enough?"
Surprise hit Ves. For a moment he didn't know what to say. Jealousy hit him next, but he suppressed it. He was being offered a name on that pamphlet. It was free advertising! And it wouldn't put only him in the crosshairs. He got the prestige, and he kept his secrets! (Also he was very glad he was leaving the galaxy, because that was still going to put a big target on him.)
"Only designers would read this, and I'd guess maybe a quarter would try it at first. Even if every one of them tries it that wouldn't be enough. You'd need a stick." The designer held the box. "You have another one of these?" He asked and got a nod. "We use them to make a big stick."
They were mech designers. When it came to problems, the optimal solution was mechs!
Luker number 5
Experienced.
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Holy shit, Ves is actually going to help prevent demonic cultivation and go down as one of the official founders of the Glow movement.
john doe 777
Not too sore, are you?
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Honestly This was the idea I had right after the last chapter. Time to Use Ves's Protagonist powers to go after demonic cultivators on a galactic scale. Also like the Xanxia Protag morality.
ThirtySecondStep
Getting out there.
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Ves making actually ethical decisions might be the least realistic part of this fic.
TheDerangedOne
As stated on the tin, mildy insane.
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Pretty sure Ves draws a hard line at mass human sacrifice. Small scale Human Experimentation to work the kinks out fast is all well and good, but sacrificing hundreds+ of people for dubious rewards... not so much.
Emptiness
That which encompasses reality
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Ooh, a collaboration!
The spirits of the lost are restless, their blood cries up from the earth against the crimes they were subjected to. My guess that they will make a Mech based on Archangel Raguel.
The spirits of the lost are restless, their blood cries up from the earth against the crimes they were subjected to. My guess that they will make a Mech based on Archangel Raguel.
I075
New
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Working with Bolt was different than Ves had expected. The man had absolutely no ego in designing. He would poke and prod at your design certainly, but he would easily concede to any changes if you explained them. It was one of the most alien attitudes he'd ever encountered. Even his wife got pushy on her designs! The attitude made him twitchy enough that he had trouble concentrating.
Eventually it became too much. "Where is your pride?!" Ves finally said, mid brainstorming.
"Huh?" Bolt looked up from his design station with confusion. "Pride?"
"I've done plenty of designing contests and worked with many designers. Even the novice assistants I have try to support their own ideas more than you are!" Ves didn't shout, but he was close.
"Ah." The other designer tapped at the table. "I was trying to be polite. Might o' overdone it. Could you initiate your privacy filter again?"
Ves did so out of mild confusion more than anything else. "It's on." He said.
"So, I know 'bout the spirit thing." Bolt informed Ves bluntly.
"Spirit thing?" Ves repeated and clamped down on any reactions.
"You should see about adding some encryption or filters to keep someone from identifying the connection. I sussed it out really early and have been keeping an eye on it. There's a few flaws that I can see right off." Bolt said conversationally. "Like for instance, the entity you setup with the Hexxers is fairly strong and I've seen a few hints of intelligence, but a lot of what it does is just feed power into the mech on what amounts to an automated process. If I had been feeling mean I might have managed to do something to it with a few of the captured mechs before it could react and hurt everything your side."
His mind started to race and consider the angles immediately. Ves had a lot of secrets. The spirits that backed his mechs were some of his largest ones. Yet Bolt had not even touched them. He'd even taken the time to warn Ves in a controlled way. The very thought was almost inconceivable. It was a form of respect that he hadn't expected to experience, and quite foolish in a way. Ves wouldn't have hesitated to do something to Bolt's mechs. It highlighted the differences between them.
Very slowly the spirtual designer nodded. "Thank you for telling me that." His voice was a bit faint. "I will see about getting a security system in place." Really he should have done so before! He was kicking himself for getting so caught up in the idea to realize that there could be ways of sabotaging the connection.
"So, ah I obviously got a lotta secrets myself, but one of em that's relevant here is that I can sorta reinforce another designer's work. I figure we do that here. Treat me as an aide and we can boost up your spiritual stuff better." Bolt concluded with a nod.
Ves frowned at the designer desk and then got up as he made a decision. "If we are going to do that, we're going to do that all the way. Let's go back to that abomination. We'll use that to fuel the rest."
"I will have to object if you want to use the souls in there for something. I wanted to see about laying them to rest." Bolt got up behind him casually, but there was steel in that statement.
Despite himself Ves felt his mouth quirk into a smile. He had thought about that, but if anything this was better. He was feeling inspired. There were principles and then there were principles. Bolt held the latter. Ves would do anything to live. He knew it. His rival wouldn't, and that made everything better.
The secured bay was as still and silent as it had been on his last visit. Ves could still almost hear the screaming. He objected to the work in front of him in many ways even after thinking about it. Not because of morals. He acknowledged that if he was pushed enough he might do just as ugly. It simply a crude and sadistic piece of work that indulged in too much sadism. The pain gave the monster power, but that was like using sludge to power an engine. If Ves ever had to do something like this he'd never make it scream. Not that he had a desire to.
Privately Ves vowed that he'd gain enough power never to be pushed into a corner where something like this became ana necessary option. He traveled dark places. He had already killed many people. He would kill more. He would not do it for pleasure. He would do it to live and to spite those that would kill him. This creation, this monstrosity pretending to be a mech was something only failures would use, and he would remember that.
Ves placed his hand at the armor of the thing and then reached out with his spiritual power. He grabbed at one of the fused souls and pulled. The spiritual object screamed and tried to lash out at him.
"You're going to be better at this than me!" Ves had to yell to be hard even if there wasn't physical sound. "Destroying it would put them to rest, but we can do that and use the pain and anger to form a foundation! Hell, I'm certain that if we physically damaged it, it'd be even worse!"
Bolt reached out. His work was like a scalpel to Ves' grab. The souls screamed at Ves. They were almost quite around Bolt. Both pulled the souls away, and then Ves showed him how to give them all a small push away and to peace rather than the endless agony they'd been twisted into.
He didn't know where the souls would go after this. They might dissolve. They might reach paradise. He didn't care. What he cared about was that this was better than the torment, and that they left remains. These remains weren't really ghosts. Specters was perhaps a better word for it. Whatever they were, they were fuel too. Bolt quickly figured out that he was better at extracting that energy and purifying it into something usable. Ves could then take that and feed it into his spiritual ideal.
This one was a guardian. A vengeful thing. An angel. It would protect souls like this and hate, hate, hate those that would defile them. The process was far different than his other spirits. Those had been done through ritual or mental exercises. This was the two of them working together in a place that felt more spirit than reality. There was so much power being released in this process that Ves could see only see through his spiritual sight. His eyes and ears were being obscured by distorted power.
"You know, your designing soul looks like a metal snake with no mouth and very sharp spikes." Ves commented as they worked.
"Hah! Lilly called it an Orobous." Bolt replied with a bark of laughter before pulling out another soul. "Poor thing. You were like what, two?"
"Disgusting." Ves had no other words for it. It didn't even give power. It was there to torment the family.
"Yours is a tree with bloody roots by the way." The other designer said quietly.
"I won't lie and say my hands are clean. I'll promise you now that I'll never do this." Ves gestured to the mech-adjacent monstrosity.
An odd effect was happening as they worked. Not only was the room being drenched with spiritual power, the monster was starting to dissolve sans sense. Before it had been a mass of metal. Now it was half metal and half dust. Ves approved. He was finding this thing uglier by the minute.
"That's all I feel like I could ask." Bolt said quietly. "What spirit will come from this?"
"After I add the scroll fragments, I'm thinking one named Metatron. It will be a stick that you can use with my blessing." Ves already had the image in his head and it was filling out quickly due to the glut of power.
To his entertainment Bolt's contribution was changing it immensely. The man's hatred wasn't reaching his face or his actions, but it was in his soul. This was the first time Ves had willingly worked with someone else on a designer spirit, and it felt interesting. Metatron was brilliant even half formed.
Ves was going to love his glow.
Eventually it became too much. "Where is your pride?!" Ves finally said, mid brainstorming.
"Huh?" Bolt looked up from his design station with confusion. "Pride?"
"I've done plenty of designing contests and worked with many designers. Even the novice assistants I have try to support their own ideas more than you are!" Ves didn't shout, but he was close.
"Ah." The other designer tapped at the table. "I was trying to be polite. Might o' overdone it. Could you initiate your privacy filter again?"
Ves did so out of mild confusion more than anything else. "It's on." He said.
"So, I know 'bout the spirit thing." Bolt informed Ves bluntly.
"Spirit thing?" Ves repeated and clamped down on any reactions.
"You should see about adding some encryption or filters to keep someone from identifying the connection. I sussed it out really early and have been keeping an eye on it. There's a few flaws that I can see right off." Bolt said conversationally. "Like for instance, the entity you setup with the Hexxers is fairly strong and I've seen a few hints of intelligence, but a lot of what it does is just feed power into the mech on what amounts to an automated process. If I had been feeling mean I might have managed to do something to it with a few of the captured mechs before it could react and hurt everything your side."
His mind started to race and consider the angles immediately. Ves had a lot of secrets. The spirits that backed his mechs were some of his largest ones. Yet Bolt had not even touched them. He'd even taken the time to warn Ves in a controlled way. The very thought was almost inconceivable. It was a form of respect that he hadn't expected to experience, and quite foolish in a way. Ves wouldn't have hesitated to do something to Bolt's mechs. It highlighted the differences between them.
Very slowly the spirtual designer nodded. "Thank you for telling me that." His voice was a bit faint. "I will see about getting a security system in place." Really he should have done so before! He was kicking himself for getting so caught up in the idea to realize that there could be ways of sabotaging the connection.
"So, ah I obviously got a lotta secrets myself, but one of em that's relevant here is that I can sorta reinforce another designer's work. I figure we do that here. Treat me as an aide and we can boost up your spiritual stuff better." Bolt concluded with a nod.
Ves frowned at the designer desk and then got up as he made a decision. "If we are going to do that, we're going to do that all the way. Let's go back to that abomination. We'll use that to fuel the rest."
"I will have to object if you want to use the souls in there for something. I wanted to see about laying them to rest." Bolt got up behind him casually, but there was steel in that statement.
Despite himself Ves felt his mouth quirk into a smile. He had thought about that, but if anything this was better. He was feeling inspired. There were principles and then there were principles. Bolt held the latter. Ves would do anything to live. He knew it. His rival wouldn't, and that made everything better.
The secured bay was as still and silent as it had been on his last visit. Ves could still almost hear the screaming. He objected to the work in front of him in many ways even after thinking about it. Not because of morals. He acknowledged that if he was pushed enough he might do just as ugly. It simply a crude and sadistic piece of work that indulged in too much sadism. The pain gave the monster power, but that was like using sludge to power an engine. If Ves ever had to do something like this he'd never make it scream. Not that he had a desire to.
Privately Ves vowed that he'd gain enough power never to be pushed into a corner where something like this became ana necessary option. He traveled dark places. He had already killed many people. He would kill more. He would not do it for pleasure. He would do it to live and to spite those that would kill him. This creation, this monstrosity pretending to be a mech was something only failures would use, and he would remember that.
Ves placed his hand at the armor of the thing and then reached out with his spiritual power. He grabbed at one of the fused souls and pulled. The spiritual object screamed and tried to lash out at him.
"You're going to be better at this than me!" Ves had to yell to be hard even if there wasn't physical sound. "Destroying it would put them to rest, but we can do that and use the pain and anger to form a foundation! Hell, I'm certain that if we physically damaged it, it'd be even worse!"
Bolt reached out. His work was like a scalpel to Ves' grab. The souls screamed at Ves. They were almost quite around Bolt. Both pulled the souls away, and then Ves showed him how to give them all a small push away and to peace rather than the endless agony they'd been twisted into.
He didn't know where the souls would go after this. They might dissolve. They might reach paradise. He didn't care. What he cared about was that this was better than the torment, and that they left remains. These remains weren't really ghosts. Specters was perhaps a better word for it. Whatever they were, they were fuel too. Bolt quickly figured out that he was better at extracting that energy and purifying it into something usable. Ves could then take that and feed it into his spiritual ideal.
This one was a guardian. A vengeful thing. An angel. It would protect souls like this and hate, hate, hate those that would defile them. The process was far different than his other spirits. Those had been done through ritual or mental exercises. This was the two of them working together in a place that felt more spirit than reality. There was so much power being released in this process that Ves could see only see through his spiritual sight. His eyes and ears were being obscured by distorted power.
"You know, your designing soul looks like a metal snake with no mouth and very sharp spikes." Ves commented as they worked.
"Hah! Lilly called it an Orobous." Bolt replied with a bark of laughter before pulling out another soul. "Poor thing. You were like what, two?"
"Disgusting." Ves had no other words for it. It didn't even give power. It was there to torment the family.
"Yours is a tree with bloody roots by the way." The other designer said quietly.
"I won't lie and say my hands are clean. I'll promise you now that I'll never do this." Ves gestured to the mech-adjacent monstrosity.
An odd effect was happening as they worked. Not only was the room being drenched with spiritual power, the monster was starting to dissolve sans sense. Before it had been a mass of metal. Now it was half metal and half dust. Ves approved. He was finding this thing uglier by the minute.
"That's all I feel like I could ask." Bolt said quietly. "What spirit will come from this?"
"After I add the scroll fragments, I'm thinking one named Metatron. It will be a stick that you can use with my blessing." Ves already had the image in his head and it was filling out quickly due to the glut of power.
To his entertainment Bolt's contribution was changing it immensely. The man's hatred wasn't reaching his face or his actions, but it was in his soul. This was the first time Ves had willingly worked with someone else on a designer spirit, and it felt interesting. Metatron was brilliant even half formed.
Ves was going to love his glow.
EternitynChaos
Once there was a Maiden...
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The Compact is going to be in a lot of trouble if Metatron isn't just running off the Foundation of that one mech, but the remains of every example of the practice out there, since to do what they want it to do, it already has to be linked to that whole foundation and practice
Sunhawk
Versed in the lewd.
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Interesting that Ves has decided that ultimately Bolt isn't really a threat to him; that because the latter is unwilling to cross certain lines, he doesn't need to feel quite so paranoid and wary of the other man.
Hmmm... potentially giving the Kingdom of Mechs a route towards doing some really potent things against this kind of artifice if this foundation is built upon. Full Buddhist-type karmic attacks, leading the tormented dead to rest and punishing the wicked that caused their suffering.
Well, his vow to himself to make sure he never gets backed enough into a corner might do a lot towards preventing temptation from taking hold... and the early revulsion of just what the result is will too.
To draw a parallel that came to mind, think of the Lord of the Rings and the One Ring. There's plenty of talk about how this character or that character succumbed to the temptations of the Ring... but one key factor for several characters is that they resolved from the start to avoid temptation. Gandalf is extremely careful to never touch it and never take possession of it, even "just for a moment", while Aragorn too (if I recall right) takes similar care. Boromir ultimately gets tempted momentarily because he is desperate, his people are desperate - and even that's only for a moment.
So if Ves gains some extra caution, perhaps it might drive him to develop contingencies so he doesn't find himself needing to resort to this kind of cruelty. Especially if it becomes pinned to his pride as a designer - "I don't need to do this" - or if part of his designer legacy is things like Metatron.
Hmmm... potentially giving the Kingdom of Mechs a route towards doing some really potent things against this kind of artifice if this foundation is built upon. Full Buddhist-type karmic attacks, leading the tormented dead to rest and punishing the wicked that caused their suffering.
Well, his vow to himself to make sure he never gets backed enough into a corner might do a lot towards preventing temptation from taking hold... and the early revulsion of just what the result is will too.
To draw a parallel that came to mind, think of the Lord of the Rings and the One Ring. There's plenty of talk about how this character or that character succumbed to the temptations of the Ring... but one key factor for several characters is that they resolved from the start to avoid temptation. Gandalf is extremely careful to never touch it and never take possession of it, even "just for a moment", while Aragorn too (if I recall right) takes similar care. Boromir ultimately gets tempted momentarily because he is desperate, his people are desperate - and even that's only for a moment.
So if Ves gains some extra caution, perhaps it might drive him to develop contingencies so he doesn't find himself needing to resort to this kind of cruelty. Especially if it becomes pinned to his pride as a designer - "I don't need to do this" - or if part of his designer legacy is things like Metatron.
Xicree
Destroy and Rejoice!
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It also helps that he's LITERALLY Building the path to making doing something like this Monstrosity COMPLETELY USELESS.
He doesn't mind sacrifice.
He doesn't mind Sacrificing Pilots and other Designers... they're basically Fair Game in his eyes.
He DOES mind grinding down a thousand innocents to just for 1 more INCH of power... and Metatron is being made ensure to that that is NOT WORTH IT.
He doesn't mind sacrifice.
He doesn't mind Sacrificing Pilots and other Designers... they're basically Fair Game in his eyes.
He DOES mind grinding down a thousand innocents to just for 1 more INCH of power... and Metatron is being made ensure to that that is NOT WORTH IT.
Pyro Hawk
Unsure if Phoenix or Kitsune
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There's also another really funny results from all this: just how much Cultivation Progress do you think what Ves is doing here is worth? How much he's refining himself, and even in an interesting direction because what Ves has learned from this event as far as I can tell is the following:
A) There are things out there that are horrors yet powerful, things he needs to be prepared to encounter
B) There are horrors out there that are horrors because of pointlessness, waste and inefficiency. Not because those grant more power, and he hates those because the point is to make a point of the pointless overindulgence, rather than survival, progress or power.
C) There are mighty people out there who can look at someone like Ves and work with him, accept him even if they dislike some of the measures he will go to.
D) There are people out there with Principles and Principles, even mighty people, and if he can get them on his side or at least aligned against his foes, then if he approaches things with care then they can remain helping him even after he does his normal bastardry to survive so long as he doesn't infringe upon those Principles.
E) If he can find the right allies, then he can create wonders, nightmares and things that will bring him ever greater glory, wealth, power and security even as he is even more shielded from his foes by those allies than he would be if he used them as disposable patsies and cannonfodder.
Oh, and also if he makes the right allies, friends, rivals or even foes in some ways then they will seek him out in ways that improve his situation. Or they'll act to protect and respect him even without him forcing it.
In short, this has kind of refined Ves' paranoia and the devilish will to survive he has between learning what that Bolt was doing with that book on Spiritual Design, how much Bolt was supporting him (labelling him the foremost expert on the matter without any action from Ves and actively desiring to upgrade that to Co-Author of what had been purely his own work), that Bolt already knew at least one of his biggest secrets, that Bolt was willing to be generous even with true treasures if it got what Bolt favoured more and... Look, it's a whole mess of things and if I had to summarise what comes of this?
Ves is the Devil Tongue. But I think this moment, this act of co-operate and learning, is going to ensure that Ves remains (and if we're being fair, deepens due to how great the threat he's received forewarning of are) a Devil. But he won't fall into the depths of horror and return a Demon.
... Both are Evil, but one is far more compatible with Civilisation, Order and forging unlikely alliances against a greater for. Even if those very same compatibilities mean they are likely to create even greater horrors in the fullness of time.
Oh, and then there's that minor question of: just how many Karma Points do you think this is giving Ves? Because we know in canon that it's Karma Points that are what cripple Ves' advancement to Senior for such a long time until he finds a way to chest around the repercussions of his own actions. But this here... Even if the Kingdom of Mechs dislike the depths Ves' will reach for, I feel like it will recognise his hardening stance about which depths he will reach for and what the purpose of this creation is and give him a lot of brownie points for what he does here. Maybe not enough to see Ves advance earlier but I can definitely see them reducing any backlash for Ves' using the workaround he uses in canon. If said workaround even comes in the same form it does here that is, rather than a refined, gentler or otherwise better method.
A) There are things out there that are horrors yet powerful, things he needs to be prepared to encounter
B) There are horrors out there that are horrors because of pointlessness, waste and inefficiency. Not because those grant more power, and he hates those because the point is to make a point of the pointless overindulgence, rather than survival, progress or power.
C) There are mighty people out there who can look at someone like Ves and work with him, accept him even if they dislike some of the measures he will go to.
D) There are people out there with Principles and Principles, even mighty people, and if he can get them on his side or at least aligned against his foes, then if he approaches things with care then they can remain helping him even after he does his normal bastardry to survive so long as he doesn't infringe upon those Principles.
E) If he can find the right allies, then he can create wonders, nightmares and things that will bring him ever greater glory, wealth, power and security even as he is even more shielded from his foes by those allies than he would be if he used them as disposable patsies and cannonfodder.
Oh, and also if he makes the right allies, friends, rivals or even foes in some ways then they will seek him out in ways that improve his situation. Or they'll act to protect and respect him even without him forcing it.
In short, this has kind of refined Ves' paranoia and the devilish will to survive he has between learning what that Bolt was doing with that book on Spiritual Design, how much Bolt was supporting him (labelling him the foremost expert on the matter without any action from Ves and actively desiring to upgrade that to Co-Author of what had been purely his own work), that Bolt already knew at least one of his biggest secrets, that Bolt was willing to be generous even with true treasures if it got what Bolt favoured more and... Look, it's a whole mess of things and if I had to summarise what comes of this?
Ves is the Devil Tongue. But I think this moment, this act of co-operate and learning, is going to ensure that Ves remains (and if we're being fair, deepens due to how great the threat he's received forewarning of are) a Devil. But he won't fall into the depths of horror and return a Demon.
... Both are Evil, but one is far more compatible with Civilisation, Order and forging unlikely alliances against a greater for. Even if those very same compatibilities mean they are likely to create even greater horrors in the fullness of time.
Oh, and then there's that minor question of: just how many Karma Points do you think this is giving Ves? Because we know in canon that it's Karma Points that are what cripple Ves' advancement to Senior for such a long time until he finds a way to chest around the repercussions of his own actions. But this here... Even if the Kingdom of Mechs dislike the depths Ves' will reach for, I feel like it will recognise his hardening stance about which depths he will reach for and what the purpose of this creation is and give him a lot of brownie points for what he does here. Maybe not enough to see Ves advance earlier but I can definitely see them reducing any backlash for Ves' using the workaround he uses in canon. If said workaround even comes in the same form it does here that is, rather than a refined, gentler or otherwise better method.
Red_Faux
Don't let this guy fool ya. He's an idiot.
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I wander what the Metal Scroll calling itself the "Mech Designer System" thinks of Bolt.
I also have a feeling that principles are rather important to true Cultivation, you know, the all about enlightenment actually taoist way.
I also have a feeling that principles are rather important to true Cultivation, you know, the all about enlightenment actually taoist way.
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I076
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
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Bolt had to bow out of further designing after they'd dissolved the construct. Ves hadn't even been aware that it was possible to strain spiritual power enough to display the symptoms the man had been displaying. The affects did look rather unpleasantly harsh, and it made him very aware of his own strength now that he had a peer to compare himself to. Bolt had been working for years in spiritual matters by this point and he'd almost injured himself doing what they did. By contrast Ves could probably have gone for another few days. He left secured are contemplating that.
This was the point where he met Lilly. The tiny expert was like none he'd ever seen before. All of the ones he'd seen previously had a burning will and a sense of rigid iron in their makeup. Cultivating willpower meant that they were opinionated, stubborn, and frequently difficult for Ves to get around. Lilly barely had any presence at all. She was like the wind. (This made Ves more wary rather than less. Anyone that thought wind was harmless was a moron.)
"Ya remind me of a few of the nastier folks I've met. The ones that'd backstab ya fer a coin." Lilly led off with as she met him at the entrance.
Ves frowned. "I wouldn't backstab you for a coin."
"For an MTA cred you probably would, but I can't say it's the worst thing I've dealt with. Try to lie to me as little as possible and we're good." Lilly grinned slightly. "Now lemmie bring ya to your family. They're waiting to meet you."
Ves stared at the tiny woman before he shook his head. The opinionated part was there obviously, but the flexibility was different. No expert he'd met would be so willing to let a first opinion like that go without some serious motivation. A suspicion hit him.
"Did you try your husband's affirmation technique?" The designer asked.
"Ya mean that little mental exercise in the book? We went over that a lot when he was tryin to hit Journeyman. It's based off what we learned." The expert responded with a bit of curiousity in her voice while they moved through the mountain.
"I wonder if that means it'd help with gaining expert." Ves mused and felt small thrill as an idea came to him. "If we market that with the rest of the exercises, everyone would want to do it."
Lilly paused mid step and visibly thought on the idea. "It could. I'll talk it over with our other experts and see what they think. At the bare minimum I think it'd make experts more stable when they ascend. If we think it's ok we'll write something up."
Ves did admit that'd be a good thing. He was more thinking about how much money he could make if the instructional booklet had more customers though. As a co-author he'd get a small cut. Not much. The pricing wouldn't be high for just a small book. It would still be bought around the galaxy. He'd be rolling in credits!
It was on those pleasant thoughts that Ves walked into the hall that contained his family. There were more than a few people there to his surprise. These were the family members that had decided to stay around rather than risk the travel to the Red Galaxy. He'd expected maybe a few of the more friendly family members. Instead the room was filled.
"Ves!" His grandfather drew his attention with the call and Ves stared at him a moment.
"You look... Very good." The man breathed out.
"Got a few things that agree with me here, and a few secrets we can't tell." The old patriarch of the family said with a wink. "But this isn't about me. You look good too." He moved for a hug that Ves gladly returned.
"Bolt did something." Ves noted and held up a hand to stop any talking. "Don't tell me what."
Secrets were important, and he didn't want to endanger himself or them with them. He was just glad his family was doing well. They all were. There were laughs and smiles and congratulations, all of it lined with an undercurrent of confidence. These people felt valued and important.
"This isn't what we left, but it's still something we can live with." His grandfather said as he took a seat after some introductions and trivial conversations.
"Hey, did I miss it?" A familiar voice made Ves look up to see his cousin come in.
Of all the changes Melinda was apparently one of the largest ones. She didn't look physically different. Everything else was different. She was more grounded in a way that was hard to explain.
"You didn't." The elder Larkinson said as he waved the woman in. "May I introduce our newest head of security for the planet?"
"Assistant head." The woman corrected and grabbed Ves in a hug. "Look at you. I remember when you were a weedy boy trying to make a girly-mech in a video game!"
"Haha." Ves got out a small laugh. He'd rather forget about those older days. Especially the more... Experimental mechs. (The butt escape pod still made him cringe.) "It's good to see you cousin. Head security?"
"Assistant. I couldn't stand the hours that'd come with the head stuff." Melinda said with a small groan of pain. "Got enough of that with Lilly dragging me all the way around the sector! That woman is a maniac!"
"You know I didn't really get a feel for her." Ves noted out loud. His concentration had been mostly on Bolt and a single conversation wasn't enough to evaluation someone.
"Maniac. Never seen a woman so good at piloting, even for an expert. She's also really scary in how she can read someone." The woman said with a small and fake shudder. "She just set me up on a blind date too."
"That's your own fault." Ves' grandfather said with a small grin. "Would you believe she's been fighting with one of the locals for the past month until Lilly locked them both into a closet?"
Ves stifled a laugh at the betrayed look the woman shot their mutual family member. "Putting aside future failures, how are the mechs like? You're probably one of the few people that can contrast them. Nothing secret, just what you can tell me." He was very curious.
"Hey!" Melinda shook a hand in mock anger before she frowned and tried to think of how to reply. "If we're talking about Glows, his are like braces or armor. It's a weapon that feels comfortable in your hand, but maybe in a different style. Like the Hoarfrost feels cold. My favored one is the Torment Guard, and sometimes it's like I'm not piloting the mech. I am the mech."
Ves nodded slowly. That was contrary to his mechs. Very much so. They were meant to be companions, not equipment. "Is that better or worse for you. Honest answer. I'm a mech designer and if my mechs aren't working for you then I need to know." Designers were meant to serve pilots, not the other way around!
Melinda frowned and took a seat. "No? Yes? Your mechs have opinions. That's the best way to describe it. They're comfortable, but all of them have wills, and if you synch with them it's better. If you don't, it's another fight. I never had trouble with the latter because of your words about living mechs, but some people probably did."
"There are people who have trouble with Bolt's mechs too. It's most obvious with the Berserker line." The elder Larkinson gave his input.
Ves nodded slowly. "That's valuable input."
He'd not considered the compatibility problem. It had not come up in when speaking with the pilots who piloted the mechs in his fleet. It might have come up in company reviews, but those had been so jammed with people complaining about his Hexxer support he couldn't say.
That brought up another issue. His company in this sector needed either more support, someone to manage it, or he needed to sell it. It was a welcome source of income that was rapidly going to become useless due to currency exchange rates.
Ves exhaled and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. He'd consider that later. Right now family time.
This was the point where he met Lilly. The tiny expert was like none he'd ever seen before. All of the ones he'd seen previously had a burning will and a sense of rigid iron in their makeup. Cultivating willpower meant that they were opinionated, stubborn, and frequently difficult for Ves to get around. Lilly barely had any presence at all. She was like the wind. (This made Ves more wary rather than less. Anyone that thought wind was harmless was a moron.)
"Ya remind me of a few of the nastier folks I've met. The ones that'd backstab ya fer a coin." Lilly led off with as she met him at the entrance.
Ves frowned. "I wouldn't backstab you for a coin."
"For an MTA cred you probably would, but I can't say it's the worst thing I've dealt with. Try to lie to me as little as possible and we're good." Lilly grinned slightly. "Now lemmie bring ya to your family. They're waiting to meet you."
Ves stared at the tiny woman before he shook his head. The opinionated part was there obviously, but the flexibility was different. No expert he'd met would be so willing to let a first opinion like that go without some serious motivation. A suspicion hit him.
"Did you try your husband's affirmation technique?" The designer asked.
"Ya mean that little mental exercise in the book? We went over that a lot when he was tryin to hit Journeyman. It's based off what we learned." The expert responded with a bit of curiousity in her voice while they moved through the mountain.
"I wonder if that means it'd help with gaining expert." Ves mused and felt small thrill as an idea came to him. "If we market that with the rest of the exercises, everyone would want to do it."
Lilly paused mid step and visibly thought on the idea. "It could. I'll talk it over with our other experts and see what they think. At the bare minimum I think it'd make experts more stable when they ascend. If we think it's ok we'll write something up."
Ves did admit that'd be a good thing. He was more thinking about how much money he could make if the instructional booklet had more customers though. As a co-author he'd get a small cut. Not much. The pricing wouldn't be high for just a small book. It would still be bought around the galaxy. He'd be rolling in credits!
It was on those pleasant thoughts that Ves walked into the hall that contained his family. There were more than a few people there to his surprise. These were the family members that had decided to stay around rather than risk the travel to the Red Galaxy. He'd expected maybe a few of the more friendly family members. Instead the room was filled.
"Ves!" His grandfather drew his attention with the call and Ves stared at him a moment.
"You look... Very good." The man breathed out.
"Got a few things that agree with me here, and a few secrets we can't tell." The old patriarch of the family said with a wink. "But this isn't about me. You look good too." He moved for a hug that Ves gladly returned.
"Bolt did something." Ves noted and held up a hand to stop any talking. "Don't tell me what."
Secrets were important, and he didn't want to endanger himself or them with them. He was just glad his family was doing well. They all were. There were laughs and smiles and congratulations, all of it lined with an undercurrent of confidence. These people felt valued and important.
"This isn't what we left, but it's still something we can live with." His grandfather said as he took a seat after some introductions and trivial conversations.
"Hey, did I miss it?" A familiar voice made Ves look up to see his cousin come in.
Of all the changes Melinda was apparently one of the largest ones. She didn't look physically different. Everything else was different. She was more grounded in a way that was hard to explain.
"You didn't." The elder Larkinson said as he waved the woman in. "May I introduce our newest head of security for the planet?"
"Assistant head." The woman corrected and grabbed Ves in a hug. "Look at you. I remember when you were a weedy boy trying to make a girly-mech in a video game!"
"Haha." Ves got out a small laugh. He'd rather forget about those older days. Especially the more... Experimental mechs. (The butt escape pod still made him cringe.) "It's good to see you cousin. Head security?"
"Assistant. I couldn't stand the hours that'd come with the head stuff." Melinda said with a small groan of pain. "Got enough of that with Lilly dragging me all the way around the sector! That woman is a maniac!"
"You know I didn't really get a feel for her." Ves noted out loud. His concentration had been mostly on Bolt and a single conversation wasn't enough to evaluation someone.
"Maniac. Never seen a woman so good at piloting, even for an expert. She's also really scary in how she can read someone." The woman said with a small and fake shudder. "She just set me up on a blind date too."
"That's your own fault." Ves' grandfather said with a small grin. "Would you believe she's been fighting with one of the locals for the past month until Lilly locked them both into a closet?"
Ves stifled a laugh at the betrayed look the woman shot their mutual family member. "Putting aside future failures, how are the mechs like? You're probably one of the few people that can contrast them. Nothing secret, just what you can tell me." He was very curious.
"Hey!" Melinda shook a hand in mock anger before she frowned and tried to think of how to reply. "If we're talking about Glows, his are like braces or armor. It's a weapon that feels comfortable in your hand, but maybe in a different style. Like the Hoarfrost feels cold. My favored one is the Torment Guard, and sometimes it's like I'm not piloting the mech. I am the mech."
Ves nodded slowly. That was contrary to his mechs. Very much so. They were meant to be companions, not equipment. "Is that better or worse for you. Honest answer. I'm a mech designer and if my mechs aren't working for you then I need to know." Designers were meant to serve pilots, not the other way around!
Melinda frowned and took a seat. "No? Yes? Your mechs have opinions. That's the best way to describe it. They're comfortable, but all of them have wills, and if you synch with them it's better. If you don't, it's another fight. I never had trouble with the latter because of your words about living mechs, but some people probably did."
"There are people who have trouble with Bolt's mechs too. It's most obvious with the Berserker line." The elder Larkinson gave his input.
Ves nodded slowly. "That's valuable input."
He'd not considered the compatibility problem. It had not come up in when speaking with the pilots who piloted the mechs in his fleet. It might have come up in company reviews, but those had been so jammed with people complaining about his Hexxer support he couldn't say.
That brought up another issue. His company in this sector needed either more support, someone to manage it, or he needed to sell it. It was a welcome source of income that was rapidly going to become useless due to currency exchange rates.
Ves exhaled and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. He'd consider that later. Right now family time.