Art of Domination - Thread 02

[Viimesen_Kerran]

Nice to see you're feeling better Mayu.

Have Lovebird disengage screw subtly and just fist the tanks, most of the upcoming combat in this region is going to be taking place in an urban environment so we can spare an enderfist round.

[Deflare]

Honestly knew there would be something for anti-air - I just was thinking it would be smithian, not normal. Also... this thing doesn't have chaff/flares?! the hell?

Aye, compared to most of the shenanigans that Smith's forces keep pulling off, a new tank redesigned with a smart-missile system seems downright normal. I'm paranoid about what's in those warheads now, or what else the tanks can fire.

Suggestions: I feel like charting Lovebird into the tunnel would fit the "just crazy enough to work" trend that's proven successful so far, but that may be pushing it. Especially when our pilots' lives are at stake. Telling them to abort is the safer option; if those are indeed standard conventional AT/AA missiles, they're not really going to be able to target the crazy commando anyway.

Apologies if this was suggested and I missed it, but is there anything preventing us from Enderfisting the tunnel so that it collapses?

[Gnauga]

There's no reason to Enderfist the tunnel, at the moment. We already napalmed it, so nothing else is coming out any time soon.

Also note that our friendly neighborhood Olpho is stocked up with a wheelbarrow full of anti-armor weaponry. I suspect he's prepared to handle himself.

[The_Codfish]

Gnauga: No, the napalm stopped the infantry from coming out, but the tanks are still steadily exiting it. As in, they're unaffected.

[DWeird]

I think it's more... As in, tanks've already left? A damage done kind of thing.

But the text as written supports either reading.

[The_Codfish]

But the last update says the tanks are still coming out.

Unfortunately, the tanks are still pouring out from below.

There was nothing in it that said the tanks stopped coming out.

[Bloddyredcommie]

Alright, assuming these Tanks will be part of Smith's standard arsenal, we should start thinking about ways to handle them in general.

It's mentioned that these tanks lack Anti-Infantry weapons like Machineguns. This is probably so they can save space and weight to carry more Missiles. The chassis is designed to carry Railgun shells, these missiles are probably a good deal bigger. Smith's engineers probably tried to squeeze every missile they could into there.

The point is, these things will be vulnerable to infantry with anti-tank weapons. Missiles are slow-firing, if we have our infantry approach with a good spread (To prevent missiles from taking out clusters), we can take them out with Shatterkings.

Also, is it possible to build some kind of ECM drone that can disrupt the Missile's guidance systems? Even if it's not 100% effective (Almost nothing is), it could still be useful.
If one doesn't exist yet, I'm sure Raihnar wouldn't mind whipping one up (The Alliance MUST have some sort of ECM technology), maybe give it precision point-defense weapons to shoot down missiles, or decoys it can launch.

[DWeird]

But the last update says the tanks are still coming out.

Unfortunately, the tanks are still pouring out from below.

There was nothing in it that said the tanks stopped coming out.

It did, however, say that Lovebird had "35 targets left." It wouldn't have been a finite number if they kept pouring out. Plus, I think the pouring out description is there to compare and contrast with the infantry that's still stuck, and not to point out that an ongoing process.

That's what I'm basing my reading on, at least. Either could be true.

[Stevedore]

It may be a good idea to look for a way to remotely discover and map these tunnels. I remember our Seekers could map them, but they had to actually be inside. Maybe a bigger version of the same technology could do the job from miles away.

[The_Codfish]

Looking back at the first thread....

We've got Cyber Warfare Specialists. And it says they can hijack vehicles. Do they have to do this in person or are they capable of doing it remotely? 'Cause.....the possibilities. And 'cause we need to make more use of the things that we haven't actually used yet. Like the Cyber Warfare Specialists. We've barely ever used them in actual combat situations, you know. And even if they can't completely control the vehicles, they could at least mess up their targeting systems. Cause a little PANIC AT THE DISCO if you know what I mean.

DWeird: Which is basically why we should make strategies for both the situations instead of just sticking with one. So that Mayu can clarify things for us later on and so that we would not have wasted time discussing strategies over erroneous assumptions.

[gloomyMoron]

Cause a little PANIC AT THE DISCO if you know what I mean.

I know exactly what you mean.

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Anyway, limited ammo is that tanks greatest weakness, of which it seems to have many. They stripped and dug out a lot of systems to make room for those missiles probably. That probably isn't its only weapon though. I expect something Eldritch in either the making of the tanks or the tanks themselves (perhaps they aren't piloted by humans but some sort of brain-monster thing, eliminating the need for all that 'wasted space' humans take up). Seriously, it's almost too normal and that's probably the freakiest thing about it.

So yeah, we have many counters for that thing as it is now. It can probably outrange our Volcano tanks though, so we have to be careful with our armored units. Question: Can our Sonic Tanks shoot the missiles out of the air?

Edit: Oh right, I forgot to mention I fully support more uses for our CWS guys. Currently we've been using them to hack computers and stuff. Speaking of that, did we ever do that Hard Drive mission thing? Isn't that in this area?

[The_Codfish]

Oh man, that's better/worse than what I was thinking of originally. It scares me...

[Asmodemus]

Oh man, that's better/worse than what I was thinking of originally. It scares me...

Agreed.

[Hype]

See, what we don't see is that the eldritch component of the tanks is that they have an ammunition teleporter and that's where all the missiles are coming from ;D

[Mayu_Zane]

Status: Currently busy drawing Olpho Calatar.

Also, to clarify: The CWS can indeed mess with guidance systems. The missiles these modified X-34 use communicate wirelessly with the tanks' computers and can be hacked once the CWS crack their encryption keys. Given enough time they can force a Chicago M-4 missile to arm itself and detonate inside the tank. As for hacking the tanks themselves, it's fairly unlikely unless they manage to get up close.

[PaperGolem]

Welp, my original hope was to send AACs with infantry in them to close in on the area. But...I guess that tunnel they all popped out of put them on the mainland? So now, if they're close enough, I'd say the plan would be to send infantry to support Olpho, with the objective being for the riflemen/ & shatterking wielders to guard the CWS while they all hack the missles.

No point to blowing any bridges now, unless enemy forces are actually on them at the time.

[The_Codfish]

Okay, let's have our CWS crew work on remotely blowing up the tanks. The fact that we've never used them offensively like this before means that we could potentially take Smith's army by surprise. Bonus points if we manage to make the tanks blow up just when they manage to arrive and reinforce the garrison at the lab.

[Zaffa]

Agreed. Once our CWS guys crack the codes we can pretty much detonate every one we come across, too.

[PaperGolem]

Agreed. Once our CWS guys crack the codes we can pretty much detonate every one we come across, too.

Well, I don't think it'd be that easy.

[Lagren]

Agreed. Once our CWS guys crack the codes we can pretty much detonate every one we come across, too.

Well, I don't think it'd be that easy.

Obviously they'd change the codes and upgrade their encryption once we started using Cyber Warfare against them. This'll probably be a one-time thing.

And remember, they have That Bitch on their side. I don't think they're terrible at Cyber Warfare themselves.

[Mayu_Zane]

How do Volcano tanks fare against Chicago M-4s? How many hits can they take, how's their weapon range compare?

A Volcano tank can take 2 or 3 hits from a Chicago M-4. The Chicago M-4 has a longer range (4,800 metres) compared to the Volcano tank's lava launcher (3,500 metres).

So yeah, get Lovebird out as fast as possible, we kinda need it to continue existing. As far as tunnel shenanigans go ... ugh. I dunno.

In any event, once the tanks actually engage Olpho, we should return and try and get another run or two in. They should be fairly easy targets if they're distracted by a one man army.

You order Lovebird to leave immediately, but prepare to come back once the tanks are distracted by Olpho.


[[SWITCHING]] ===>


You are now Olpho Calatar.



You want to live. You want to win. You want to destroy what Barbarossa has been working on for the past three years. It's too dangerous for either Smith or the Alliance to use, and the plans, datalogs and prototypes are in different places in the lab.

The Alliance has already warned you about the modified X-34 tanks, but that doesn't matter anymore, because you are already inside the lab.

You have a map of the facility stored in your prosthetic eye.

Ground floor (where you are now)



Goal: Kill head researcher in panic room.

1st floor



Goal: Destroy servers.

2nd floor



Goal: Destroy backup archives.

Basement (Inaccessible by stairs)



Goal: Destroy prototypes.

Inventory:

Equipped:

In hand - Esimpo machine pistol (60 rounds, 20 loaded)
Back - M249 SAW machine gun (500 rounds, 100 loaded)

Bionic Arm (Can punch and be used to block shots, listen in on radio)
Bionic Leg (Can kick and stomp)
Bionic Eye (Stores information, takes photos/video)

Wheelbarrow:
Shatterking-1 (8 rockets)
10 C4 packs
Novas Pump-action Shotgun (40 shells, 8 loaded)
MP10 submachinegun (300 rounds, 30 loaded)

This is Lovebird, going back to re-arm. Tell that maniac Olpho the tanks are trying to shoot their way into the lab from the east.

Barbarossa's security doors are no problem for you, because your cyborg arm is strong enough to punch right through them, though you'll need to use 2 C4 packs to break through the door to the Panic Room. You have to be careful about booby traps and ambushes, they could be anywhere.

Killing the head researcher is number one priority, other scientists are optional though you imagine the Alliance would frown on that sort of thing. Not that you really care about the Alliance anymore anyway.

You are currently on the ground floor, at the reception. On the maps, north is always up.

Where to go first?

>_

[The_Codfish]

Oh man, it's the bonus round. Time to stomp these gits like a boss IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

To clarify, Olpho is in LAB 1, right?

Also, can we all agree on using the CWS to try and hack into the tanks' guiding systems while we're playing Olpho?

[brainfree]

Would blasting into the panic rom via the storage room be viable? It would bypass a couple rooms and would be a potentially unexpected attack route.

[Mayu_Zane]

Would blasting into the panic rom via the storage room be viable? It would bypass a couple rooms and would be a potentially unexpected attack route.

Yes, but it would take 3 C4 packs. That panic room has very strong walls.

To clarify, Olpho is in LAB 1, right?

He's on the ground floor at reception, same floor as Lab 1. You need to tell Olpho where to move right now.

[DWeird]

Well, the server room is right above Reception, so we can take care of it right now.

> C4 your immediate surroundings, with an aim to make the whole server room collapse. Continue on forwards to Lab 1, detonate when at a safe enough distance, which shouldn't be too far given that you're a cyborg and all.

Edit: blowing up the fusebox on floor one can give us an added tactical advantage. Lack of power incapactites our enemies in many more ways than it does Olpho.