Rhona W

Mobile Suit Gundam: Another Universal Century

The Gundam franchise shouldn't need too much of an introduction: The grand-daddy of the 'Real Robot' mech anime sub-genre, it spawned a whole slew of imitators, as well as a huge empire of merchandise, sequels, side-quels, prequels and alternate universes.
The major characteristics of a Gundam series are the focus on giant robot combat in space and on earth in a near-ish future setting, against a backdrop of emotional and personal drama, often focused on the idea that war is hell, and that no-one who goes through it comes out all right, and that everyone is someone's villain or hero. All things that have gone on to define the mecha anime genre over the years that have followed.

My particular favourite Gundam setting is the Universal Century, as I like its' level of technology, continuity, and the general 'feel' it has compared to some of the less 'grounded' (comparatively speaking; we're still dealing with giant robots here) parallel continuities. However, for the RP I'd like to run, I'll probably eject continuity after a certain point to avoid getting caught up in things, or at least not be beholden to it too strictly, so that we can run our own story.

The RP will follow a small group of Earth Federation mobile suit pilots on a ship outside of the regular area seen in the show, perhaps in the Asteroid belt, carrying out various missions and patrols against Zeon remnants or other hostile forces in support of asteroid mining colonies and resources. Players will be able to pick their own mobile suits (from within a certain part of the timeline, and Universal Century only to avoid things being too overpowered or mixed up), and there won't be any canon characters making more than cameo appearances and mentions.
The idea will to be try and stay true to the 'spirit' and feel of the shows and universe, balancing high-action and exciting action with some elements of relative realism (again, anime giant robot show) against the character drama and relationships, and not getting too mired down in the details and specifics in favour of fun, excitement, and moving the plot forward, as well as the characters getting to do cool things and be Big Damn Heroes.

Aiming to make this a casual RP, potentially even advanced. I'm fairly relaxed about posting rates and such as well, so looking for one post a week from each player would be fine.
You won't have to know masses and masses about Gundam or the Universal Century, but at least having seen, read, or otherwise knowing something about it would be ideal. As it is, there's loads of resources and info online I'll be using rather than writing out reams and reams of lore - why not take advantage of what's there already, after all.

Looking for a minimum of three players + myself to get started, and probably a maximum of no more than six in total.
Also, players will be restricted to playing Mobile Suit pilots, and for the Federation only; no enemy characters and no support personnel, as it's really hard as a GM to balance everything and keep giving people to do, in my personal experience.

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

Silverwind slid and climbed down from his perch atop his GEAR to speak with Max as the lion made his way over. He nodded at the lion's advice and cast a glance over the two teams as they made their way aboard, the GEARs strapping down into position.
"While I can't say what it's gonna be like once we're in the field with the Resistance, I can imagine that we're gonna need to be fightin' in support of Viper as an advance team, and resistance infantry as well. Seizing HVT's or intel will likely be our priority, with Viper bein' the boots on the ground to get in and get the materials or the individuals after the GEARs break the doors down - literally or figuratively - and keep the heat off while they work." He shook his head and shrugged. "Droppin' into a civil war; it's a changable situation, but we got the benefit of experience, hindsight and a steady feed of info from assets in the area already. It's just the specifics of what and where we'll get once we get on the ground and linked up".
The foxes' words were cut off by the groan of hydraulics as the transports' ramp moved up into the closed position, and the noise of engines that had already pervaded the planes' interior climbed in pitch and intensity.
"Reckon it's about time we took our seats, looks like this bird's gettin' ready to make a move". He nodded to Max and called out to Python team to sit down and strap in.

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

(Random question (may have been covered already)- what sort of terrain are they dropping into? And just for clarity, what sort of support vehicle is it?)

@kingkonrad

Makes sense to reply in the OOC for this ^^
Terrain wise for the initial drop; it'll be farming fields; mostly open and gently rolling terrain with a few outbuildings and dwellings etc here and there. Then the resistance will meet us and guide us into the city - in theory...

As for the vehicle:



I'll get a reply up in a little while too :)

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

Silverwind had mounted up in his GEAR in no short order, with Python following suit. The maintenance crews had fussed and bustled - as was their way, and a necessity - and checked over and confabbed with the pilots on the attachment of the GFDS packs and external carriage pods for the remaining ground-teams' gear and supplies. Banter and small-talk were exchanged liberally on all sides, and the wily old fox grinned as he saw the good-natured back and forth.
As the recon team moved out, the techs secured the last of the pilots and GEARs, and Silverwind punched in the activation codes for his machine, and it came to life with the familiar pleasant rumbling whine. The Machine gently shivered as power flowed into its' artificial muscles and taking a grip on the controls Silverwind couldn't help but grin as he pressed booted paws on the pedals and the machine rose, shedding umbilical cables. The glowing light of holographic displays surrounded him as he gave a casual touch of the brow with the machines' hand to the onlooking tech crew as a goodbye, and stepped out into the middle of the hangar, beckoning the others to follow and moving into line with Max.
With a combination of glances, gestures and fingertip controls on the GEARs' sticks, he opened a personal channel to Max, the lion's face appearing on a small hovering holographic window.
"Never gets old, strappin' on several tonnes of armour and robotics an' goin' fer a walk," he said with a grin as he saw that Max, too, had the look of someone who was enjoying what he did as they marched out of the hangar and onto the apron outside.
"Good to see the kids gettin' along," he said with a chuckled and one eyebrow raising, jerking his head back toward the hangar and the good-natured interactions between viper and python teams.
His attention was diverted as the Stealth Transport came into view, waiting on the tarmac ahead. It's appearance with the dark shadows under its' broad wings and the cluster of support vehicles beneath almost looked like some enormous bird of prey, sheltering its' brood from the bright sun overhead.
"Well, there's our ride," he murmured with some admiration. "Looks like it's up ta the job, that's for sure..."
Under direction from a baton-waving ground crewman, he walked the GEAR aboard, and to a tie-down point. He set the machine into a one-kneed crouch, and shut it down, the moment feeling all-too-soon for his liking, before he made his way out, sitting on the back of the GEAR as it was strapped into position for the drop.

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

As Python team entered the armoury, they were greeted enthusiastically by Viper. Smiles and greetings abounded from the GEAR pilots as they were introduced to their comrades in arms.
Catriona, the towering and full-figured highland cow answered back first, as she went to the weapon racks and started picking out her own weapons, the rest of the pilots doing the same, and checking through them with efficient and practiced movements.
"Thanks for the introduction, Corporal. An' looking forward to workin' with you all in the field too. Be good tae have some eyes down in the places we canna reach. An' dinnae hesitate ta call on us for your support neither."
The big woman opened the feed cover of the M99 she'd picked out and examined its' internals, leaving Case to pick up the thread of conversation as Maxine interjected. "Well, much the same with our little group too," the kangaroo replied to her with a grin as he picked an M280 off of the rack and pulled the bolt back, examining the chamber before releasing the bolt and starting to strip the PDW. "We're from all over the place, and just sort of... smooshed together," he said with a shrug as he gave a sideways look and a grin.
Max walked in before the 'roo could say more, and the rest of the Python team looked over at his words.
"Not scared us too much yet, sir". Alisha replied with a smile. "In fact, pretty welcoming, and good to get to know everyone a little more too, since we're all going to be working together". The porcupine had picked out an M280 as well, examining in much the same manner as Case was. The GEAR team gave a light round of chuckles at Max's good humour, before listening intently to his words regarding the employment of the GFDS and his insight on how to use the system effectively, looks of concentration settling on their faces.
Silverwind had quietly slid in while Max was walking - much as the lion had done himself - and had let his 2IC give his expertise to the team. His words were sage and valuable advice, and he could use them as much as anyone. The silver fox had picked out his normal go-to for weapons; an M23 in battle-rifle form with a short-range scope, tactical light, and underslung shotgun along with an M61 revolver as a sidearm. The revolver had a holographic sight added to the top rail, and an underslung light/laser combo. A combat knife and a special operations machete rounded out his personal gear, along with some miscellaneous grenades and sundries.
Spinning the M2 blade around the forefinger of his cybernetic hand as Max finished speaking, the fox turned around.
"Wise words, Bastion, an' ones we all need to take note of. As good as our gear - pun not intended - is, and as much as it can do, we need to stay alert and rely on our own wits an' skills as much as always. Not that I need to remind any of y'all about that". He gave a small smile that turned up the corner of his muzzle and nodded to the group. "Well, looks like we all got our luggage sorted for this little trip. We got enough time to load everything up, and then get ourselves onboard too. Let's get movin' folks"

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

Made a Silverwind post, much like Max's one of just loading up, or at least confirming loading up. Wanted to do more, but was a bit lacking, and also pressed for time. It's not much, but adds a little. I'll probably do another with the rest of the python team coming to the armoury so everyone can chat to one another, unless you want to get another post up first.
Took me longer than I wanted to reply; it just took a bit to get my brain firing on all cylinders, and get myself in the RP headspace - though, been looking forward to carrying on, and still keen to do so.

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

While Max organised Viper and got them kitted out for their ground op, Silver was checking through and signing off on the loadouts for Pythons' GEARs. The rest of the team were taking care of the rest of the logistics and gear, and heading to the armoury to requisition their own small-arms. DiMarco had her team working hard on finishing the overhauls on the team's Harguns that had been prompted by the results from the first operation and feedback from systems analysts and design team. The changes were minor, but Jesse DiMarco was nothing if not professional and thorough, and had stripped the machines down in anticipation of the mission in a hostile territory and without support. Giving them as much of a fighting chance as possible was the least she could do.
All that Silverwind had floating through his mind, but the fox shook his head and turned his attention away from the spectacle and noise of the GEAR hangar. Sitting one a pile of tyres stacked alongside the bases' motor pool building, he swiped the pebble stored on the back of his cybernetic hand. Holographic screens sprang into life around him and he set to work reviewing and assigning the loadouts for the team.

[b][i]Specialist Catriona 'Burner' Burnside[/b]
"Heavy Weapon/Support"
-20mm Rotary Cannon - Hand Held, Ammo Drum on rear waist hardpoint.

-Anti-Armour Cannon - L/Shoulder hardpoint

-Rocket pod - R/Shoulder hardpoint

-Anti-Armour missile pod - L/Forearm

-Combat Knife on L/Hip hardpoint

-2 x Thermite Grenades on R/Hip hardpoint

GFDS-

Additional Equipment: External stowage boxes for field gear

Specialist Rarden 'Lowdown' Wyden

- Hand-held Shotgun/Rear waist hardpoint

- Pile-bunker R/Arm hardpoint

- Utility tool pod L/Arm hardpoint

- Rocket Anchor R/Shoulder hardpoint

- Auto-grenade launcher L/Shoulder hardpoint

- Shotgun & Pile-bunker reloads L/Hip

- Combat Axe R/hip

- Limpet mines/charges under shoulder shield

GFDS-

- Additional Equipment: External storage containers for infantry/field gear and equipment

Corporal Case 'Red' Redditch

- 20mm Assault Rifle w/underbarrel flamethrower handheld/rear waist hardpoint

- Anti-armour missile pod L/arm hardpoint

- ECM Pod R/arm hardpoint

- ELINT Pod R/Shoulder hardpoint

- Overwatch C3i Suite L/Shoulder hardpoint

- Combat knife on R/hip hardpoint

- Spare rifle magazines L/hip hardpoint

- 3 x frag, 3 x chaff grenade under shoulder shield

GFDS-

- Additional Equipment: external storage containers for field equipment/infantry supplies

Alisha 'Riser' Prosch

-20mm Assault Rifle w/underbarrel chainsaw handheld/rear waist hardpoint

-Auto Shotgun L/arm hardpoint

-Anti-armour missile pod R/arm hardpoint

-Anti-air missile pod R/shoulder hardpoint

-Advanced Sensor Suite L/Shoulder hardpoint

-Frag/Thermite grenades L/Hip hardpoint

-Smoke grenades R/Hip hardpoint

-20mm magazines under shoulder shield

GFDS-

-Additional equipment: External storage modules for infantry/field equipment

[/i]

Silver rechecked the loadouts. It was a good spread, and it seemed clear that the Python pilots had taken to heart the lessons taught by their exercises and drawn on their own talents and experience to plan their loadouts and maximise on their differing abilities and expertise, and take to mind the prospective range of situations they might be facing, as well as the urban environment they'd be fighting through, as well as the need to support Viper and the resistance fighters as need be. He cleared the loadouts and confirmed the requests to have them uploaded to the GEARs, as well as signing off on other work orders for DiMarco's team and other admin tasks.
Their loadouts confirmed, he turned his attention to his own GEAR. He was confident enough and experienced in his own abilities, and was capable with almost any of the Harguns' weaponry, but had his own favourite and familiar go-to's, and they'd round out the units' well enough. His decisions made, the fox nodded to himself with a murmur, and with his tongue sticking out of one corner of his muzzle, swiped and tapped at the holographic icons.

[b][i]Colonel Silverwind Blade[/b]

-20mm Assault Rifle W/Underbarrel Grenade Launcher Handheld/Rear Waist hardpoint

-Auto-Shotgun R/Arm hardpoint

-Pile-Bunker L/Arm hardpoint

-Anti-Armour missile pod R/shoulder hardpoint

-Breech-loading Mortar L/shoulder hardpoint

-5 x rifle magazine on L/Hip hardpoint

-2 x frag, 3 x thermite grenade on R/Hip hardpoint

-Combat knife under L/Arm shield

GFS-

-Additional equipment: External storage pods for Infantry/field equipment
[/i]

He checked off his own loadout, and reviewed the rest of the TO&E for the op. They'd have a pallet of additional containers dropped, which would be split-loaded once they were on the ground between the GEAR's external storage pods (which always reminded him of something like webbing pouches, when he thought about them) and a small two-wheeled trailer for the ground vehicle. That would carry reloads for other GEAR weapons. The resistance would also receive materiel and supplies from the drop, as well as sharing some of their own supplies and gear with the Ghosts once they had made it to a safe location. At least that meant that they wouldn't have to be lugging everything on their GEARs or their backs.
He checked the time on the holo displays. A short while left to go. More than enough time, though, to grab himself some chow, pack the last of his personal gear and effects, and snatch a short power-nap... and then sign out his personal weapons from the armoury. Feeling accomplished with the few minutes work, and with an itinerary to complete, the fox strode onward.

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

I didn't want to linger too much on the briefing, but if we want the characters to chat more, there's more than enough opportunities for them to do that. Same with the various 'individual tasks' they were given, figure we're both savvy and knowledgable enough to have our characters go and take of things and know what needs doing, or can discuss it here and buddy characters up if wanted, etc.

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

Silverwind grinned at Max's initial reply and nodded, before his expression turned to one of thought with the lion's follow up.
"Wingpacks seems like it'd be the most efficient way of doin' it, and keepin' the team together too. We can mount extra cargo and equipment containers on the GEARs for the additional gear for Viper, and have everyone with IR beacons active so we don't get separated too much in the drop, with coded signal beacons so we can find one another once we're on the ground - though, we should be able to get pretty close, since we have landing co-ordinates already. We'll see about getting a utility vehicle palletised for an airdrop too".
He nodded to all assembled. "Duty rosters have been updated, and any tasks or jobs that need doin' have been sent to yer pebbles. We'll be loading up in eight hours; any other questions, well, I'll do my best ta answer 'em, but I've given y'all what I know. Specifics we'll be dealin' with once we're in the area. Anythin' else I'll try to brief on in flight, since we got an eight-hour flight to sit back an' enjoy too". He shrugged and spread his arms as he leaned back from the desk. "Dismissed".

GEARS: Silent Line Redux (Silverwind Blade & KingKonrad)

Silverwind smiled as Max came in with the rest of Viper and gave a casual wave to the new arrivals to the room.
"Hey there, Max. Viper; nice to meet y'all properly. Seen you all in passing, naturally, but good to get a better meeting with everyone. Please; stand at ease and try to relax a little. I'm not one ta stand too much on ceremony or procedure outside of combat. Rank and discipline has it's place and it's uses, but seems to me like if y'all are experienced or skilled enough to be here in the first place, then yer intelligent and experienced enough to know how to act, behave, and show respect for each other." He looked over the arrayed faces looking back at him, before looking back at the door as the rest of the units' personnel filtered in. The new pilots greeted Silverwind, and he nodded back. "I suppose it's my turn to handle some introductions. Again, sure we've all met in passin' if nothin' else. But this is Python, the new GEAR pilots who're making up the rest of our new formation. I've been training with them and evaluatin' their progress over the last few weeks, and I've got no doubt that we'll all be fine in the field - and their service records hold up to it too. No doubt we'll all get to know each other better in future too.
Python team took a seat, and Silverwind studied the faces in front of him for a moment, before he spoke up and launched into the mission briefing.
"We're all aware why we're here: the intel recovered from the first mission was a huge coup for us. We got a whole sweep of info we weren't expectin'. An' most importantly, we got some leads on who's been co-ordinatin' the kidnappings and abductions of personnel." He held on that to let it sink in, before grimacing and walking around the desk to lean over it, pressing his palms flat against the cool, dark-wood surface and his single eye roaming over their faces as he continued.
"Unfortunately, it ain't exactly in the most convenient place fer us all. The movements of the particular sack of crap we're lookin' for have been traced to the formerly-lovely an' now not-at-all appealing or welcomin' nation of Arbrentia, where our man seems to be thoroughly mired in supply, supervision, training and most likely fighting in their ongoing Civil War on the side of th' coup. ANL Special Force and Intelligence Operatives have been active in the war, assistin' loyalist resistance forces, as they're strugglin' without much in th' way of warfightin' tech or infrastructure, which is where we got the bead on this guy. But we're still goin' to be goin' right into an active warzone with ongoing combat.
"This is our MO: We'll be shipping out in a few hours, enough time for y'all ta pack a change of socks and yer toothbrushes. We'll be flown out of base on a long-range stealth transport. The bird will be met and escorted into the hot zone by Equerian fighters for escort. We paradop in over Arbrentia. A resistance unit will have a GPS transmitter for us to home on, along with IR strobes, so we can all - hopefully - land at the same point. The jets bug out and back to friendly territory, standing by for our word. We head on with the Resistance, where we'll get further intel about our targets' position; they'll have been monitoring his position. An op will be launched to bring our firepower to bear to help out the Resistance, while also gettin' our collective paws on the Tango, and any intel he has on the whereabouts of the missing folks, and what they're workin' on".
He let out a breath and stood straight behind the desk at the head of the room, and gave a shrug, raising one eyebrow.
"Almost sounds simple, don't it?"