Chapter 3: Mission AE4714-JGV

## Mission AE4714-JGV - Reploid Sparks

*Greetings Iron Clads. Unknown foreign entities have created an ambush blockade surrounding T-1251. This planet has extreme significance to the USF, due to the fact that Reploid Sparks are harvested from the unique bioelectric lifeforms that can only survive on this planet. Reports have confirmed that 2 shipments of sparks were commandeered leaving the planet, and the USF will not allow any more Reploid Sparks to fall into the hands of unknown weapon dealers or self serving entities. As you know, being former Rust Rats, Reploid Sparks are the key component to the creation of a Reploid Core, and their theft could lead to unregistered, spaceborn Schneiders that are outside the jurisdiction of the USF. The world itself is protected by Nihlathak the Negator, a Truth Speaker, however, his range of ability is limited to the world he is on, and he cannot protect shipments outside T-1251’s upper atmosphere.*

* *Your team will be given only 2 functioning Reploid cores for this mission. The reasoning behind this is because we have intelligence that indicates the ambushers have scanners to detect functioning Reploid Cores, and we do not want them to detect your Schneiders on your landing, which may prevent them from exposing themselves when you leave.*
* *You are to rendezvous with Nihlathak, the Truth Speaker, and present him the standard documents to pick up the latest crop of Reploid Sparks.*
* *You are to bait the ambushers with a fully stocked carrier of Sparks, and once they engage, you are to exterminate all enemies with extreme prejudice.*
* *Once the ambushers engage, you will need to convert a few Sparks into Cores to power up your additional Schneiders, so that they can join the fight to defend the carrier. Converting the sparks prior to the ambush may lead the enemies to remain hidden, and not reveal themselves.*
* *We have intelligence that there are 3 Schneiders amongst the enemy combatants. All 3 are expected to be destroyed on this mission, both as a safety precaution for future shipments, and as a show of the USF's superior military might.*

*While on this mission, you must recognize that Nihlathak is an important ally to the USF, and all interactions with him will require appropriate levels of reverence and obedience. Should there be any relationship strains with the USF alliance with Nihlathak, this mission will be deemed a complete disaster, and you shall be immediately and dishonorably discharged from the USF; or executed if your transgressions were severe.*

The party was flown out to T-1251, a swamp world where Reploid Sparks, the power source for Schneiders, were created out of Paradoxium tech. In addition to the standard crew, 2 twin engineers joined the party, named with beautiful Old-Earth names, Honda and Nabisco to facilitate the conversion of Sparks into Cores once the ambush was drawn out. When the party landed, they were greeted by a truth speaker, Nihlathak. His power was staggering and surprising, bringing a mystic element forth in this universe the party had never experienced - by using a special term or word in a statement, he could warp the very reality around him to match his “truth.” He demonstrated this ability by granting the ability to understand him, even though they could not speak his language, “Not a soul on this world misunderstands my spoken word” - which caused the very air of the world around them to ripple with the words leaving his mouth.

The party worked with the keepers of Nihlathak, his Eldyr worshippers, to retrieve and harvest the sparks. Flying out on skiffs, the party learned that reploid sparks were grown under Nihlathak’s watch, and were grown off of Salashocks, bioelectric lifeforms native to T-1251. The party was instructed to harvest the sparks without killing the salashocks, as growing them back to size was a costly endeavor. The harvest went smoothly, and the party was able to gather sparks, and work with the engineers to get them fitted into their inert Schneider mecha.

On their way off world, the party was able to draw out the ambushing blockade. They dispatched the fighters as well as the stealth oriented Schneiders they had built with previously-stolen sparks. This was not without problem, however, and the close to planetary combat caused the Schneiders to go into gravitational free fall. When all hope seemed lost, the Schneiders were caught in an invisible barrier around the planet, and were unable to make planet fall. The mecha and their pilots hung above the planet’s surface, suspended in seemingly nothingness. The party later learned this was due to the protection of Nihlathak, who had shielded the world with a truth that “Not a single craft can land on my world without my blessing” - thus holding them aloft in the air.

The party abandoned their floating vessels, and descended into the swamps below. Pok was badly injured in the process, his legs still unable to function properly, and was unable to use his wheelchair.

Going from bad to worse, the party was set upon by a pack of Apetu, who had taken exception to the large, invasive mecha looming in the sky near their tribal territories. They attacked the party with spears and crude clubs. During this assault, the party was eventually able to repel the hefty creatures with their modern weapons, however, not without Pok taking a fatal spear to the stomach.

Mourning the loss of their friend (Mak went as far as to take a wheel from Pok’s chair to forever remember him by), the party worked their way back towards Nihlathak’s camp, and were rescued when Honda and Nabisco informed the Eldyr of the events off world. With the help of Nihlathak, their mecha were recovered back to the camp. They returned back to Nexus Haven, the mission a success, but at a great cost.