Mission #4: Claw’s Intentions:< The door of the Command Node slides open, and Grisson is dragged out by two fully suited runners and thrown to the floor. He looks up, only to see a gun pointed right in his face. Flanked by two more Command Guards, Instructor Iris struts in >
Iris: “We pass judgement on you Grisson, and yet here you are carrying on like it never occurred. And you were such a promising student too…”
Grisson: “Come out and say it Iris, you’ve been after me since the beginning.”
Iris: “I’m not after
you Grisson, I’m merely trying to preserve the order of things the way they should be. Runners belong on the ground, fighting for us in whatever warzone we see fit. They
do not belong behind the seat of a Commanders Chair where speed and recklessness have no place.”
< Iris smiles with her victory, and nods to the guards on either side of her >
Iris: “Strip him off his treestars, and take him to the Command deck. Before the day is done he will be out the door and hopefully into a prison cell.”
…
< Grisson is aggressively thrown to the floor again, this time right in front of Longtail in his office. Leaning back in his stand (for longnecks can’t sit in normal chairs) the Major General waves away the guards >
Longtail: “You two are dismissed. Now Instructor, will you kindly tell me why one of our best is being roughed up by the buildings protectors?”
Iris: “I caught him in a Commander’s node… likely using it to contact his Claw allies and marshal a force to undermine us.”
< Longtail levels his gaze at her >
Longtail: Were you not aware that Commander Grisson was cleared this morning? Our investigation found nothing worth less then commendation, even according to his rank and file.
Iris: “Wha…what? Why was I not involved in this inquiry?”
Longtail: “Inquiries are always conducted by Intelligence Instructor… speaking of which I believe we have another matter to discuss. Your pupil Melphon has received his final grade, and it was nothing short of disappointing. I’m afraid he is simply too reckless with the lives of those under his command to be considered worthy of his treestars at this time.”
< Iris shifts from a look of rage, to one of embarrassment >
Iris: “Of course sir, I will speak to him right away.”
< Without another word Iris leaves >
Longtail: “Well boy that was some fine work… now that at least one source has been cut off we can proceed with the next phase of this operation to seek out the others.”
Grisson: “Sir, something has come up repeatedly in my assignments that I think you need to be aware of. I have come across Claw forces operating within our borders more than once, and they appear to be engaged in either looting or instigating the attacks.”
Longtail: “Claw… <sighs> when will those sharpteeth ever learn.”
< With a buzz Longtail gets ALI to place a call into the quarters of the Claw Ambassador, and it goes through after the fourth ring >
Runner Attendant: “Claw Embassy receiver here… please state your business with the Ambassador now or risk being brutally torn to pieces… verbally that is.”
Longtail: “Get me Hasta and make it quick… this is official business.”
Attendant: “I’ll connect you now VDF Major General.”
< Longtail turns to Grisson >
Longtail: “Hah, sharpteeth are all about rank… at least they know some discipline.”
< Hasta comes on and speaks through a translator, so the mouth movements notably don’t match >
Hasta: Hasta here… what do you want alpha leaf-eater?
Longtail: VDF Command has recently come across Claw military forces operating illegally within our borders. The sightings have been confirmed and we are prepared to act so it is worthless to deny our intelligence. Do you have any information you would like the VDF to know?
Hasta: There are no packs of the sort prowling with our blessing. The Great Alpha is mighty, but he only has so much control over the will and acts of other Corporations, illegal or legal as they may be.
Longtail: Interesting, so are you saying these are mercenaries or independents and we are free to exterminate them as per military regulation?
< Hasta hesitates for a moment, and looks to the side briefly >
Hasta: You are may act as you see fit leaf-eater.
Longtail: Good.
< The link closes >
Longtail: Knowing the sharpteeth, it was likely done with at least Theta’s knowledge as a means to get a hold of our technology.
Grisson: “What would you suggest we do sir?”
Longtail: “Hmm… if the teeth are after our tech, then it’s a very good guess they will plan a raid at Tail Bay Harbour where all our Twilight War equipment salvage yards are. You will be dispatched there in 0800 hours… ALI will fill you in on anything else you need to know.
< Grisson salutes, and grabs his treestars off Longtail’s desk before departing >
Longtail: “I take care of my own runner… remember that.”
…
ALI: “Establishing battlefield control… standby.”
The mission begins as a VDF Submarine Battleship emerges from underwater. Three large and heavily armoured boats emerge, and surrounded by combat swimmers they proceed towards the shore.
Longtail: “Welcome to Tail Bay Harbour Grisson. Make sure you set up near the Protium mines away from the town centre, we don’t want to alarm the populace too much if the teeth never show up.”
The three boats hit the shore, and a Constructodon and 3 Rigs emerge along with a few starting forces. The Arborium Rig, Logistics Rig, and Barracks Rig all unpack of their own accord, and three Runner Ranger squads with two Railsnipers and Exo-Spiketails assume defensive positions.
Civilian Spiketail: “VDF regulars! Lets get outta here… we gotta let the boss know.”
ALI: “Satellite auto-feed coming over now. Observing standard combat noise above certain sectors of the city.”
< The screen pans to what is clearly an ill-equipped but deadly Claw force advancing through the city. Suddenly a few groups of Spiketails with obsolete Rockets and Mortars emerge from the buildings and engage them resulting in a firefight. As it escalates, more modern units like Interceptors and upgraded Thumper Cannons join the fray >
Spiketail: “This territory belongs to the Iron Tails Gang. You sharpteeth are going to be mashed into chops for even thinking of coming in here.”
ALI: “The area appears to be dominated by Spiketail only Street Gang called the ëIron Tails. Records show that the local police forces and government are suspected to under their sway. Receiving incoming transmission.”
Scar Faced Spiketail: “Well well if it isn’t the so called Valley Defence Forces… you have a lot of nerve showing up now expecting our support. We needed you during the Twilight War and you never came. If you set foot in our city will put you down just like the teeth.”
ALI: “Battle control online.”
…
Objectives:
- Clear out the north, south, and east Salvage yards and deny them from Claw
- Destroy the Claw base to the north
Optional Objectives:
- Recruit or subjugate the Spiketails into your army
Units Available for Construction:
(Infantry Barracks)
- Runner Rangers
- Exo-Spiketails
- Devestator Teams
- Railsniper Teams
(Armour Facility)
- Leaper
- Interceptor (if acquired)
- Scanner
Available Upgrades:
(Tactical Command)
- Duraplate Armour (boosts Runner, Spiketail, and Swimmer health by 20%)
- Thumper Cannons (gives Devestator Teams a light artillery mode)
(Nano-Hospital)
- Specialists: Medicator (allows you to buy Swimmer Medics individually for each squad @$300 that boost group health regeneration and lower ability cool down times)
You proceed to build up your base as per routine, upgrading the Logistics Centre to gather resources and deploying production structures and tech buildings. After laying down your Tactical Command, Bigmouth comes up again.
Bigmouth: “I have a few new options for you Commander. You may now construct a Nano-hospital to replenish and heal your troops, and new upgrades are available on the Tactical Command… courtesy of Bigmouth’s Armoury of course.”
You continue to play the mission, setting up defences and building up a small force. Facing only a small amount of resistance, you easily clear out the South Salvage Yard and kill the Claw Troops there. Shortly after completing that particular objective, a portrait opens up and a new face appears.
Roughhide: “I’m Roughhide, the Spiketail High Commissioner. I have some connections within the Iron Tails, and I believe with a small credit donation we can amend past wrongs and bring them over to our side.”
Longtail: “Fat chance. Grisson we can just steamroll through and teach these spiketails to obstruct their protectors. Being that you’re the officer in on the ground though, I’ll let you choose how to proceed.”
1) Buy the Loyalty of the Iron Tails for $5000 Credits
2) Roll through and teach the lawless Gang bangers to defy military justice.
Being a nice commander (you don’t have to be though) you choose the first option.
Bigmouth: “Commander if you intend to buy your way into their good graces, might I recommend taking advantage of the Fuel Deposits to the north.”
< The Screen pans upwards to a set of two empty looking clumps of black dirt >
Bigmouth: “I’m forwarding plans for a Fuel Extractor into your Logistics Centre… it should greatly speed up resource collection and make fulfilling the quota easier.”
Having filled both your slots on your current Logistics Centre with Protium Mines, you build another one, deploy it, and a single Rigosaur pops out. You command the vehicle to take over the Fuel Deposit, which it does providing a lot more credits to your bank. Adding a second Fuel Extractor, you take over the second Fuel Deposit. After a minute you reach $5000 credits and the Spiketails are bought into service.
Scarred Spiketail: “Wow that’s a lot of money… you keep us safe from the teeth and we will fight with you guys.”
ALI: “New Units acquired. New technology acquired.”
…
Using the spiffy new units you carry on and conquer the north Salvage Yard, prompting a hateful transmission from the Claw Commander.
ALI: Receiving Incoming Transmission.
Warlord Ripfiend: “Vile dirt munchers… these machines don’t belong to you anymore and are ripe for our taking. Move aside or we will cull you as with all our prey.”
Grisson: “Yeah, we’ll see about that sharptooth.”
Interceptors loaded with Railsnipers and Exo-spiketails prove to be your most powerful weapon, as they cut through the Claw infantry and armour with ease as you leap-frog them towards the base. Ripfiend proves to be a crafty opponent however and attacks your base several times with stealthed Sky Hunter Tanks and Skybreaker Choppers in your vulnerable flanks. Eventually you break through and take down the Claw base with a combination of upgraded Infantry and creeping defences. Seeing the day is lost, Ripfiend sounds the retreat.
Grisson: “And don’t come back…”
ALI: “Warning… massive Dirge Assault Force detected and closing on your position.”
Suddenly a huge swarm of black carapaced beasts of all sides comes up from the south, totalling your defences at the Salvage Yard there and then proceeding towards your base. Battle control goes off line, and a brief cutscene plays were a bloody battle takes place as Devestators and Garrisoned Interceptors rip masses of Dirge to pieces, but still they keep coming.
ALI: “Receiving incoming transmission.”
< A black-scaled figure appears on the screen. He looks something like a giant black beetle with a face, and his yellow eyes are piercing yet distant. He speaks in an ethereal yet wispy voice that booms with eternal force. >
Icarus the Creator: “Ah. I smell the offspring of one of my greatest foes… the taste of your family’s blood still lingers upon my lips, and it is most delectable.”
Grisson: “Who are you alien?”
Icarus the Creator: “I am all who are, and all who will be. I am the grand architect of an aspiring yet fatal design. You indigenous mortals know me as Icarus the Creator.”
Grisson: “Icarus! You are the one behind the original invasion, the Dirge who started the war and is responsible for countless lives lost. I read that you were defeated and burned in the wreckage of your own ship.”
< The battle continues to rage into a stalemate >
Icarus: “Indeed such times come and pass, but to one such as I there is no death… only an eternity of creation. Now I am back, and I have the means to return your kin to their rightful place in the ground.”
Grisson: “Not on my watch monster! My mother gave her life to beat you and I will not have her sacrifice be in vain!”
Icarus: “Grr, you have killed many of my children, but the death you have wrought will soon be your own.”
ALI: “Warning, a Polymorpher has been activated.”
All of a sudden the mass of Dirge attacking your base morph into their combined forms, overpowering and destroying your defences with ease.
Runner: “They’ve broken through.. fall back, FALL BACK!”
< The Survivors and your Constructodon retreat onto the boats as the last of your base is raised to the ground >
Grisson: “This is not over.”
< A rotating silver VDF symbol appears on the screen >
ALI: “We are victorious.”
VDF Victory Beat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT1H-18HwYU...next=1&index=24