#eschaton ask

XIII▸ Hello Volk. It’s… it has been some time. I apologise. This is Project XIII-E, field medical and repair personnel. I was on Sally’s first mission for you.

XIII▸ I will be blunt. I am worried for her.

XIII▸ Some time ago, Sally entrusted me with running long-distant medical duties for her in anticipation of facing Callsign Signal in combat. While…

[ a stifled, shaky breath they are clearly trying to hide. ]

XIII▸ evidently that is no longer a current goal. I am continuing to serve as medical advisory for her.

XIII▸ I plan to continue doing so, for some time. In part you might consider this message a professional courtesy of a kind. I… am aware of who I belong to. Rest assured should you hear me over comms it is by invitation.

XIII▸ maybe you already know this. Still. It’s- polite, I suppose.

XIII▸ But, I- that’s all just context. I’m worried for her. It’s… the combination of recent loss, and who I suspect may be goading her over anonymous messages. It could lead her to rash decisions. Danger. Injury.

XIII▸ Unlike my time piloting alongside her, I cannot be there now. I can only advise. So I’m doing what I can.

XIII▸ She needs to pilot right now, to keep her head, but I worry what she may be pushed to should what’s haunting her emerge in a more tangible shape. I- I’m worried about how it’ll hurt her. Not just in the flesh but, psychologically. The person who lay the foundation for your conditioning, they’ll always know how to make it hurt if nothing else.

XIII▸ I’m sorry I can’t say more. If Sunny hasn’t told you yet, I trust she’s keeping quiet for Sally’s sake, or her own. It’s their history to tell. All I can say is that it is painful, and the fear is warranted.

XIII▸ You’re handling it already, from the preventative perspective. Scanning for the threat. Forewarned is fore-armed. But I suppose what I want to ask is just…

XIII▸ If things devolve. If they get worse, very suddenly, painfully. Be ready. She might need people to keep her grounded in where she is now. She’ll definitely need people she cares about to remind her they’re still out there, alive in the universe. I won’t be able to be there, but I might be able to- I don’t know, send a message or something. Offer medical support as much as I can.

XIII▸ … this is a mess. Sorry. I have to help, somehow and this- it’s the best I can come up with. I have to help. I can’t help myself.

XIII▸ You’ve looked after her well, so far. Thank you. She’s… I care for her. Quite a bit.

XIII▸ and, if you get the chance can you tell Slagwell I said hi? I’m glad to see they’re doing alright. I’m glad those two have each other. And I’m glad they both have you.

XIII▸ alright. Signing off

[ XIII-E // @xiii-e ]

\\

> I understand. Thank you, XIII-E.

> Trust me when I say I'm worried as well. I've seen all the same signs as you have-- While Sally and Slagwell aren't my only pilots, it's a handler's job to keep track of the well-being of everyone they're assigned to. Or, at least, I like to do so.

> There are no shortage of assignments nearby for Sally to clear her head- There's always a kaiju in need of intervention somewhere, after all- But I'm keeping an eye on things.

> I hope to hear from you, or see you on missions, more in the future. I understand Harrison Armory's strict oversight, but you were instrumental during Operation Armillary, and it's always nice to see a message in my inbox.

> I care for them too, XIII-E. Sally and Slagwell both say hi, by the way.

weird question. is their any way 2 register a mech pilot as a high threat level kaiju with eschaton 4 security purposes? maybe take a look at this b4 u answer.

...<FILE ATTATCHED>

[Union_DOJHR_Record_Conal"Signal"Murphy.omf]

Hm.

Signal.

Their reputation precedes them, we've had enough interaction with CORSAIR to have heard of them and their... Exploits.

As for registering Signal as a high-threat Kaiju, that's not in the cards, Lancers are handled differently than megafauna in our database. I get what you're going after, though. If they ever land planetside, they'll be under observation as a very dangerous and capable rogue pilot.

I think it has my scent, and I'm fairly certain I saw someone explode just by getting close to it

HELP

I- I'm sorry, you ran into a what?

That doesn't sound like anything on our records, anything known by the 'locals' would be known by us... Give me a second, let me run a search.

I'm sorry, I've got nothing on your hostile. I do have tactical recommendations though. Stay at a distance, if you can outrun it do so. A mech's fuel stores can generally outlast the sprinting stamina of a pursuing Kaiju, depending on size and speed. Your best bet, judging by the mauling and, ah, close-range-exploding, would likely be laying down fire with any medium-to-long range weapons you have while continuously retreating.

Where are you right now, if I may ask? If you're on Prospero, send me your coordinates and I can have a pack-hunter squadron of artillery-equipped Falchions routed to your location.

I'm Moira, reporting name Phantom, I'm one of the pilots taking on your investigation job.

Former Hyrcinian Ranger and experienced Mercenary working for insurgents across the purview.

My mech, The Wailing, is a Banshee pattern group armed with a Rostrom Super Heavy Anti-Material Rifle.

I hope our cooperation will be... fruitful.

@the-wailing

> Another mercenary arrival, welcome.

> That investigation job isn't under my purview, unfortunately, as I'm a city over, but I'll forward this to Exarch as well. He'll be your handler for that mission.

> And your mech... A HORUS creation. I know piloting one isn't always voluntary, but... Don't be surprised if the hangar techs are wary around you, and your mech. Your squadmates might be as well.

> All in all, though, welcome to Prospero. Good hunting.

Anyway.

Can you people please calm down?! It's not like I'm even eating anyone, just. Damn.

[TriggerHappy.omf]

[Somehow extracted from the Jaeger she was fighting, it contains footage of a standard kaiju hunt; on the return journey, the pilot sees an unknown kaiju in the trees. Stalking them. Something odd happens to its image and the kaiju is half a click closer. Panicking, the Jaeger opens fire, the kaiju roars, and next frame they're tumbling in the dirt, before finally the beast manages to rip off the weapons - or more precisely, cut off, it's claws long and rippling with blue heat.]

I WAS JUST CURIOUS AND THEY SHOT ME!

Do I report this to anyone?!

>> Ah, Styx. One of the pilots on Exarch's mission.

>> I had hoped there wouldn't be an incident like this quite so soon, but I suppose it was bound to happen at some point. There are more than a few Jaegers who are a bit... Trigger happy, and need to be kept in check.

>> I've pulled their callsign and IFF data, I'll forward it to their handler. I can't say exactly what will happen in the way of disciplinary action, as that's not one of my pilots, but you'll likely recieve an apology from either the pilot or their handler.

I have no words for that thing you call a linear railcannon. If I wasn't scared it would rip either of my mechs appart I would want to try that thing in a heart beat.

How the fuck do you handle that recoil?

@the-wailing

>> Ah, the Overhaul. One of our premier artillery pieces. One of my favorites actually, I'd have mounted one on my Cataphract if i could have.

>> The short answer is you don't. In a frame like yours, my best idea would be lock yourself down for a few seconds and fire it like stationary artillery.

>> The Falchion is specifically equipped to handle it, anything short of that and you're better off planting yourself against something bigger that can handle it.

>> If you do end up trying it, send us the footage and black box data for R&D. We'll cover any needed mech repairs.