"I pride myself on knowing everyone on this world. And I don't know you. You're with the collection team then, I presume? Either that or you're one deeply unlucky trespasser."
I'm just here for coffee. Black, two sugars, please."Hmm. Deflection. Lovely. Nervous, then? I certainly wouldn't blame you. Well, perhaps I'll just get my answer from them instead."
I'm with the collection team."Then you're in the right place. Ah. And what do we have here?"
Captain (Name). UC Vanguard. You're expecting me."Vanguard, eh? Brief said you were an... eclectic group. You must've really shined out on the fringe to get assigned a task like this. Ah. Then this must be the rest of your outfit."
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After the introduction:
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"Now, Londinion is one of the most dangerous places in the Milky Way. It's with good reason my soldiers and I do everything we can to avoid entering the city. Terrormorphs are omnipresent and the structural damage left behind when... ...when Major Sanon's father bombed its spaceport, has turned large swathes of the metropolis into a decaying labyrinth. As such, we'll be providing you all with gear, information, and uploading municipal unlock codes to your robot. Every tool you could need to succeed out there. Every tool we have at our disposal. Except one. Once you're on the other side of those barriers, you will be on your own. If you get into trouble, my people will not be coming. Do we understand each other?"
Vae Victis bombed this place? Why would he do that?"The initial Terrormorph outbreak that overran Londinion during the tail end of the Colony War came as a complete shock. Waves of the creatures appeared out of nowhere, and the city was quickly overwhelmed. There were some attempts at evacuation, but Vae Victis decided more definitive action was merited. He ordered the spaceport be bombed, ensuring no other ships could leave the city... ... halting the spread of the outbreak but leaving large sections in ruins and condemning countless lives. And the intervening 20 years have only made Londinion more hostile, not less. So my people will not be coming for you out there. Understood?"
You wouldn't even send a rescue party?"We are unwanted guests on this planet and, as a rule, I don't put my people in any more risk than is absolutely necessary. We've got it hard enough out here. So, no, there will be no cavalry sweeping in to the rescue."
Can you tell us what we're going to face out there?"Terrormorphs, and plenty of them. Outside our little sanctuary here, much of the planet is theirs. For that reason, we keep our trips into the city to a minimum. That also means our intel becomes largely historical once you go much beyond the defenses. It's also why I want to make sure I am being crystal clear: out there, you're on your own."
Sure, sure. Now I'll take your heaviest ordnance, please."Hmm. We'll do our best."
"I'll leave you to your preparations, then. You can find your equipment in our armory. Base of the tower just outside. And I do believe there's someone waiting for you there, Captain. And I have someone monitoring the barriers 31 hours a day. If you need a resupply, we're here. Now, once you're outside the base, it's my personal suggestion you make a bee-line to the nearby Aceles plant. It contains one of our field caches... ... though I can't guarantee it won't contain anything else. I hope you all find what you're looking for out there. Robot, you're coming with me."
Major Hadrian Sanon:"Commander Hatoum, I'm--" Hatoum:"No need for introductions, Major Sanon. Doctor Walker. Your reputations precede you. Can I also presume he's with you?" Major Hadrian Sanon:"Oh, uh, the Captain? Yes, ma'am. Couldn't do this without him." Hatoum:"Hmm. Then let's not waste anymore time."
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After speaking to the Commander:
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Hatoum:"Transfer's complete. Those codes will allow you to temporarily restore power to most facilities in the city. Systems should shut themselves back down automatically." Kaiser:"Duly noted, Commander."
Quotes[]
"You can find your gear in the armory.
"Our municipal codes should allow you to access most facilities in the city."
"Our equipment's well maintained. We're sending you out there with some of the best we've got."
"I believe there's someone waiting for you in the armory. Wouldn't say who he was, but his clearance checked out."
"There's a field cache in the Aceles plant just outside the barriers, if you need a quick resupply."
"Someone's always watching the gate. You can come and go as needed."
"My soldiers and I would appreciate it if you try not to draw too much attention to yourselves out there."
