The Deal Chapter 12

Woody begins to wake up and says, “Woodman … you won’t believe the strange dream I had last night.” As Woody opens his eyes and adjusts to the light, he realizes he’s not at home and that it wasn’t a dream. “Hey bud … the shower’s over there. You might want to wash up first,” Woodman says to Woody. “Thanks man,” Woody replies as he moves off to the shower. As Woodman looks out the window, his nose catches a scent of something good coming from the kitchen. He goes to investigate. As he enters the kitchen, he sees a young beautiful native girl cooking.

 “Good morning! I’m Woodman.” The young woman only replies, “I was sent over by Tobar to take care of you. Sit and eat,” as she points to the table covered with food. “Thanks,” Woodman replies as he sits and begins to eat. Shortly after, Woody enters. “Warrior Woody – I have prepared your morning meal. Here … sit.” the young tribal girl says. “So what’s your name,” Woody says as he sits down. “I am Silverwing, youngest sister to chief Tobar.” “Well thank you – The food is delicious Silverwing,” Woody says. “Tobar will be here as soon as he is done at the pow wow with the other warriors,” Silverwing says. As the boys finish up their meal, Tobar returns.

“Greeting brothers,” Tobar says. “How are things going?” Woody asks. “My advisors tell me it will take several months to rebuild our village and Mechs,” Tobar replies. “Tobar … Allow us to help. I have an idea that will help you and your people,” Woody says. “Ok – Tell me of this idea.” Tobar says. “I was thinking, now that Exile knows that the other tribes are joining clans, they’re going to want your tribe to join them.” Tobar interrupts Woody, “You can be our tribe’s representative, brother. You are tribal. My people will accept this. You’ve fought by their side as a fellow warrior and fought with honor. I trust you and I know you will do what is best for our tribe,” Tobar says. “For MY tribe?” Woody questions. “Yes brother. You are an honored member of this tribe. It was voted on this morning. Everyone is excited to hear from our brother and hear stories of our ancestors,” Tobar concludes. “I am honored chief Tobar. With the help of Clan Exile, the tribe’s village and Mechs should be repaired in two weeks. I will also push for an early warning system to protect the tribe from another sneak attack and work on a direct communication system that will not allow communications to be blocked,” Woody explains.

 “Sounds good my friend,” Tobar says. Woody and Woodman leave the village to return to Exile’s base. They then seek out the Commander and broker an official deal between the clan and tribe. They return to the tribe and give the news to chief Tobar in person. The workers from Exile arrive at the village and begin to rebuild it. By evening the boys are exhausted and flake out for the night.

Submitted by Woodman1201#832644

The Sneak Attack Chapter 11

The boys run to the Mechs and power up. “WOW! Nice Mech!” Woodman says to Woody over the com. “K buddy … this is the real deal. Stick together and we might make it out of this in one piece.” “ Roger Coyote.” Just as they pull out, “What the heck is that Coyote?” “Oh my … it’s a Nifthel Roadrunner and look who’s inside … It’s Tobar!” Tobar says to the boys over the com, “Follow me.” The boys take up a wedge formation with Tobar as they come up from the bunker. Tobar quickly identifies the enemy as a mix of a rival tribe “The Death Eaters” and some unknown group. “The others are from Clan Highlanders. The Death Eaters must have joined up with them when they heard you were joining Clan Exile.” They will all die at our hands. Come.” Tobar says as he quickly targets the closest enemy and fires. Two bright beams shoot forth from Tobar’s Mech. This is the first time the boys see a cold weapon beam fired. They both quickly shoot at the same target and it blows up into pieces.

Tobar turns and fires again at a new target – The boys do the same and another Mech is destroyed. Tobar yells out, “They’re trying to kill our warriors before they can get to their Mechs. We must get between them so they have a chance. Tobar places himself so his warriors have a safe route to their Mechs. Woody yells, “Roadrunner! …Three o’clock!” just as he fires. Roadrunner sidesteps out of the fire of an enemy Holmes and fires back. Tobar finishes it off with a salvo of rockets. Roadrunner yells out, “Tobar! Ten o’clock!” as he fires. Woody fires as well and gets a lucky shot hitting its power supply. The Mech shuts down. Tobar quickly moves behind it, using it as a shield. Just then Tobar sees three Mechs moving in on his father’s position but before he can say anything, his father’s Mech ignites in flames. Tobar cries out, “FATHER!!!” then quickly shouts, “Keep fighting warriors until they’re all dead. “

As he fires at the lead Mech that destroyed his father’s Mech, the boys move into position to do the same. As both boys fire, they cripple the enemy Mech. Tobar fires a single shot – his second shot freezes the Mech and the boys finish the job. Just then at least a dozen Mechs emerge from one of the hangers. “Some of our warriors made it!” yells Tobar as they move up to support Tobar and the boys. Woody notices one of Tobar’s tribe Mechs that has just been sitting in one place and not firing. All of a sudden, it powers up and Woodman sees Makar in the pilot seat. It quickly points its weapons at Tobar. Woody instinctively yells to Tobar, “Six o’clock!” as he runs and jumps in front of the blast. As his Mech flies through the air, he hits the eject button – His cockpit flies up as his Mech explodes into pieces. “Woody!” yells Woodman as he unloads on the Mech. Makar’s Mech is completely disabled and on fire. Tobar yells, “Why brother???” “With both you and father alive I would never be chief so I made a deal with the Death Eaters.” Makar says. “You dishonor our family and so you will die with no honor,” Tobar says as he destroys his brother’s Mech. “I now claim the throne in honor of my ancestors and the right as eldest son!” Tobar yells out over the com for all to hear. More and more of the tribe’s warriors are able to get to their Mechs. ‘The tribe has many more than the twenty Mechs that Song was led to believe.’

Woody thinks to himself as he scrambles across the battlefield and back to the hangers. He finds himself another empty Holmes and gets back into the battle. “Hey Roadrunner! Miss me? I’m coming up on your six o’clock.” “Woody! You made it you tough son of a bitch!” Woodman yells. As Woody pulls back into formation the three with the other warriors push forward and after an hour of heavy fighting, the enemy begins to retreat. Tobar orders his warriors to pursue the cowards and the retreating Mechs are easily picked off. As Tobar and the boys return to camp, the women look for and treat the survivors. The warriors stand guard for several hours before returning to camp. Just to be sure there isn’t a second wave on the horizon, the surviving warriors begin to gather the dead. Woody and Woodman help as best they can. Shortly after the battle has ended, Clan Exile arrives to assist in defending and also to provide the injured badly needed medical assistance. The girls soon arrive and find the boys. “Oh my God! … you’re ok!” Kalli says to Woody as she hugs him. “Your helicopter pilot leaked the battle over the net hoping Exile would see it. They had someone jamming all the radio transmissions somewhere between the tribe and Exile’s base. It was quick thinking on his part – We got here as quickly as we could.” “Please tell our people to stay outside of the tribe’s camp. Only let the medical teams set up a medical field tent. You’ll have to go – I’ll explain later.” Woody says. “Oh ok,” Kalli replies. Minutes later Exile forces are on the outskirts of the tribe. After about ten minutes, the medical tent is up and running. The boys join Tobar and start assembling the ceremonial deathbeds.

 Woody explains to Woodman that these people are much like the native people of his planet. “I’m beginning to think that they were brought here long ago -There are many similarities. These beds are where the warriors are going to be cremated and released to the heavens to become one with the planet again.” Tobar looks at Woody and says, “You know much of our ways – Why is that?” “I think we were distant brothers my friend. Some of my ancestors were tribal warriors on my planet.” Woody explains. Tobar says, “The elders pass down a story of strange beings bringing our people here many generations ago – So long ago that it became an old myth the woman would tell the children when they did not listen.” After the warriors’ death ritual, Tobar invited the boys back to his home where they all rested. All three slept until the following morning.

Submitted by Woodman1201#832644

The Challenge Chapter 10

The next morning comes all too soon for the boys. They’re woken up by the sound of the door buzzer repeatedly sounding. Bzzzz Bzzzz Bzzzzzzzz…. “OK!!! OK!!! Keep your socks on!” Woody yells as he makes his way down the stairs to the door. As he opens the door, a pilot asks, “Are you Woody or Woodman?” “Yeah.” Woody answers. “Please sign here…thanks. By the way, good luck today sir. All of us guys in Communications are rooting for ya.” “Thanks man,” Woody replies as he closes the door. “What is it bud?” Woodman yells down. “Another hand delivered envelope is all,” Woody answers back. Woodman scrambles out of bed and down the stairs to Woody who is sitting on the couch. “Well open it up!” Woodman exclaims. “It says it’s from Tobar…” Woody says and begins reading it to Woodman.
To the warriors, Woody and Woodman: Please accept a personal invitation to our traditional Feast of Battle where we celebrate each other as fellow warriors. It allows us to face each other not as enemies but as brothers and it is a chance to honor one another as warriors. Songs will be sung about our coming battle and our names will forever be remembered. I guarantee your safety and we will not harm you – I give you my word.
Tobar
PS: Please be here for noon.

“Well… What do you think bud?” Woodman asks. “I think it’s a good idea – We can check them out and if we win we’ll have to get to know our people since we’ll become their new princes. We have to show them that we’re not weak or afraid.” Woody explains. “Agreed.” Woodman says. The boys get ready for the big day and make arrangements with the Commander to get a helicopter to fly them there and back. Later that morning, they board the helicopter with a Clan Song representative to ensure there was no sabotage involved from either side. It was a long two hour flight to the tribe’s base. There were three large airplane like hangers and several smaller ones.

There were approximately a hundred smaller buildings that looked like dwellings with a larger one in the middle. As the helicopter lands they see a large group of people ready to greet them. The boys step out and move towards the group. They come across a man wearing a bear-like head dress and fur – He greets them first. “Welcome warriors Woody and Woodman. I am chief Takooma and this is my eldest. Tobar.” A large fellow steps forward – he is almost as big as his father and is wearing a wolf-like fur over his shoulder. “Welcome warriors Woody and Woodman – It is an honor to meet you and thank you for joining us for this feast.” As he steps back the chief says “This is my youngest son, Makar.” A smaller fellow steps forward but they realize he isn’t wearing an animal hide. “Welcome warriors Woody and Woodman.” He steps back as well. Woody replies, “Thank you for the honor of battling such great warriors – We are thankful to sit at your table and share your feast.” The chief smiles and says ”This way to the great hall.” As they are led to the hall the chief has a table set up at the front of the hall in a stage-like area.

The chief and his sons as well as several elders gather and sit at the head table. The chief then turns and says “Come … join us as our guests of honor.” Woody and Woodman sit. The chief then stands and shouts out, “Let the feast begin!” It was soon observed that there were only men present at this event when all of a sudden women begin bringing large platters of food out and place them on the tables. “Wow … what a spread,” Woodman whispers to Woody. Once the food is placed on the tables, the chief stands again holding a cup in the air. He says, “To all the warriors that have come and gone before us – we drink to their victories. To my sons, I drink to your past and future victories. To our guest warriors, we celebrate your past victories.” As the chief drinks from his cup everyone else follows suit. The chief then yells out, “Enjoy and eat!” The whole place begins to eat and chatter amongst themselves and the boys indulge. They stuff themselves to the gills.

 A half hour into the feast, there is the sound of a large explosion and the ground shakes. Someone comes running out into the hall yelling, “We’re under attack!” Just then the far end of the building explodes sending bodies flying. The head table and everyone at it is thrown from the blast. Through the dust and debris the boys get up quickly checking themselves for injuries. “Woodman … you alright?” Woody asks. Woodman replies, “Yep – I’m good.” The boys notice that Song’s rep has a large piece of wood sticking out through his neck. The chief then yells out, “To your Mechs!” Many of the men at the far end of the hall are dead or dying and several others are injured. Tobar yells to the boys “This way! Come quickly!!!” The boys follow him through a door and down a long tunnel. After about five minutes of running down the tunnel, there is a junction. Tobar instructs, “Keep going this way! … It will lead you out of camp to safety.” Woody replies, “No thanks – you lost a lot of warriors and could use everyone you have. We fight with you.” “Ok then hurry!” as the boys follow Tobar to a bunker. He points to two Holmes. “You can use these,” he says. Woody smiles at Woodman and says, “This is why I joined – It’s the thrill of battle my friend. Let’s do this.”

Submitted by Woodman1201#832644

To Catch A Cosmic Beetle (Conclusion)

That was how I became acquainted with Coleopteron.  He is something of a philosopher.  I think, were he and Quanta, my Nakshi, to get over their ages old species rivalry, they might have quite a lot to talk about.  He agreed to join my formation in that it sounded a good deal more interesting than continuing to sit around in that asteroid field leeching energy from passing mecha and ships.

From what I understand Coleopteron has been piloted before, he explained to me that it was ages ago though, while he was still a pupa.  Like most beetles, Jadoon apparently undergo an incomplete metamorphosis. That is, they do not have a cocoon stage to transform from an adolescent to their adult form but rather moult instead, in several stages.  As has been noted before, Jadoon are a type of social insect.  His first pilot was a Forerunner.  This just keeps getting more interesting.

What were this Jadoon and his hive mates doing out in this asteroid field for entire epochs?  Apparently they hid from the extinction event where many Jadoon were purged during their conflicts with elite Beast Mecha.
Coleopteron, though not familiar with the concept of Beast Mastery took it on and caught up with it quickly.  He does think the idea of a human thinking he or she can CONTROL much larger and deadlier animals than him or herself to be somewhat silly, but also intriguing.  He explained to me being a larva while the dinosaurs still roamed Old Earth.  Just how ancient are Jadoon anyway?

Submitted by Mycobacter #712744

Catching A Cosmic Beetle: A Perilous Predicament

He'd felt I was a businessman playing at warrior. The leader of the clan I was in. It had been a long time since I had taken on something this directly dangerous, and on my own, without help.

There was a being speaking to me now.  A huge, 90 ton being BFM whose territory I had trespassed on, in a tiny and piddling 35 ton medium mecha, equipped as it was with two Black Ice, Potatoes and Bacon as well as some crystal lasers and projectiles.  Woefully inadequate.

This is it Myco, you didn't just let your whole clan down (again), as well as your friends... this time you're going to get your dumb ass handed to you, by a massive space bug.

My aural implant was causing my head to pound, the ringing changing its pitch. The beetle that was a wild Jadoon, this particular one black in color as opposed to the more accustomed red, was laughing a booming laugh.  I fired bacon at it. This made it laugh even harder.

YOU AMUSE ME.  NOT SINCE I WAS A TERTIARY INSTAR HAVE I BEEN THUSLY TREATED.
It gnawed on the piece of fire bacon with its mandibles. Or rather, siphoned the energy from it.

I AM CALLED COLEOPTERON.  MY COLORATION CONFUSES YOU?
He shifted to the customary shade of red.

I didn't know Jadoon could change color... this mecha is full of surprises.

Deadly, capable of spewing ignitable acid from jets on the end of nacelles at the tips of the legs.  Crystals arranged to form focusing lenses capable of producing offensive lasers also stud the mammoth insect.
Well, that it hadn't killed me outright, knowing full well that it could was something.  Not taming it, yet, but an initial good sign.










Submitted by Mycobacter #712744

Beast Mastery: To Catch A Cosmic Beetle

I had disgraced my battle brothers. My experiments tore me away from them during the heat of battle at a crucial raid for new tech and weapons then (CW XIX).  After that, my lack of strategy contributed in our losing the second round of CW XX to 82nd Omicron, a group we could easily enough have otherwise taken.  Three points that were my fault. An unacceptable and noobish error in judgment.

I've scrubbed the tell-tale kabuto decals from the hulls of my mecha and drop ship that identify me as a member of Samurai Mecha.  They no longer bear the grinning metallic faceplate with its coarse shocks of tufted beard and mustache.  I feel after having been dressed down by my leader that I do not deserve them. Not yet.

To quit or not to quit... Perhaps though, in all this exploring I will have opportunity to redeem myself though.  I have heard pirates tell of an asteroid field, wherein that rarity of rarities, a small hive of still free roaming wild Jadoon have downed smaller mecha whose pilots are foolish enough to wander over there in those few unfortunate convoys.  No one is willing to take me to it no matter how much I offer to pay.  They feel the sector is bad luck and that the sanest bet and guarantee toward having the longest life is to avoid the area altogether. I will have to ferry myself then.

Well, hey, I'm bad luck too. Maybe the two bad lucks will neutralize each other.  That part of me that is the explorer and the treasure hunter, it tells me that the secrets of this part of space may be quite useful to me as a pilot.  So, now to just find one of these wild Jadoon which they seem to be so afraid of.  And to tame it.  By myself.  Without the assistance of TcTt's aid or Drake's technological artifices as crutches.  Quanta warped me as close to the space island as she could stand, Zadok in tow.  During a space walk things are hauntingly too quiet.  That and the immense stretching void pinpricked with far off stars remind you how truly alone we really are, and that our conflicts, both personal and not, are truly small in comparison to the vastness of all the rest of this stuff in the cosmos.

Much more fundamentally so and in a simpler and more profound way than visiting another dimension or parallel universe. There are many things we still don't understand about our own universe.  In all of our exploration, we still don't know all there is to know about the Forerunners, for example.  Or the Triax.  Let alone what the beast mecha society of Giguses and Skriags was like all that much from before the Forebearers modified them into gigantic war machines.  We may never know too much about that one, which seems unfortunate.

It was then that suddenly a sort of buzzing hum went from being unheard to barely audible in my aural implant.  This was the signal I had been waiting for. The Scrub Grub, Multifuel Turbine and Turbine Engines pushed the Zadok along as I scrabbled it to traverse the rocky outcropping of this asteroid.

LITTLE ONE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO AUDACIOUSLY IMITATE US.

Oh, they meant my choice of an insect looking mecha.
<i>So what?</i>

YOU ARE EITHER VERY BRAVE OR VERY RECKLESS. COME CLOSER...

Well, I thought, things are about to get interesting. That or I'm about to get very dead...
To Be Continued.

]

Submitted by Mycobacter #712744

A Little Humility is Good

I thought I knew what I was doing, up until last Clan War.  The 19th one I realized, no... I don't. I'm an explorer more than a strategist. Lost battles to some way lower tonnage formations than mine.  There is a heckuva lot I still have to learn about optimizing formations.  Considering retiring from it after Clan Wars XX.  Feel like I may be holding the rest of the clan I'm in back from winning more, due to that weakness.  The best course of action may be to train in solo in order to iron out my weaknesses.

Inventors and explorers don't always make the best strategists.  Duels are different than battles. In battle, during wars, you have to keep your eyes on the long term and bigger picture, how parts operate together as a whole.

There is some danger that in trying to focus on cleaning up specific particular weak areas in defenses too much I could wind up entirely neglecting others, again.  It cost us a clan raid in XIX (trouble balancing double duties as inventor and a fighter), and may have been a determining factor in what cost us a silver medal this time breaking our recent gold streak.

I need to re-examine how I fight and work some of that out. I scored some pretty nice kit during my travels and some impressive mecha during those voyages.  The question is how to utilize it all most effectively...

I'm not a military man.  Winning battles through sheer dumb luck is okay when you are lower level, but I looked at the roster, and on reaching level 72 went, you know dammit, there's got to be a better way.  I'm a hobbyist, somebody who discovered mecha through leisure and business rather than necessity or out of some type of nationalist duty toward serving a space power.

Am I going to come out of retirement? Well yeah, at most it'll likely be only temporary.  Not sure for how long though. Looking for a sign. Going to have to go on a personal quest this time, to see if I've got what it takes to deserve to bear the standard and adorning identifications on my mecha hulls.

It's a big Mecha Galaxy out there.  I want to become a true beast master of kaiju and bug.  Speaking of bugs, just because I'll be briefly in retirement, doesn't mean I won't keep going with my exploration.  The next mecha to unlock is the Jadoon.  I've seen what a fully trained one can do. I've become... familiar of a few of their idiosyncrasies in personality from observing Patrick's Apocalyptor.  Rumor has it there may be some sleeping in an asteroid field. "wild" ones.  Quanta isn't going to like this much.  I may have to have her just warp me to some rock and do a spacewalk unaided in my Zadok... hope I can find one and it doesn't roast me to death with its Chem Throwers immediately before I get a chance to hail it... since I've not tried bug whispering before.

Submitted by Mycobacter #712744

Injection Beam Weapon Review

A lower level weapon the majority of us are very familiar with, this laser has a minimum level of 23 on it. The price for getting one from the shop is 345 Ferrite, 161 Bioptics, and 20 Niodes. A bulk buy of 5 will cost you 80 Niodes. It has straight damage of 36, with a speed of 100, and an ability of 3x damage at 12%.

As usual you can further augment this weapon with equipment load out and proper mech build specs. The speed is pretty average for a laser, the damage is decent for the level, and the ability is solid for the price. These should be familiar to many as they are given out a lot as prizes for various activities (KOTM, Wars, Raids) so they are pretty common. They are solid and reliable lasers that have seen use in many battles throughout Mecha Galaxy. You really can't go wrong with such an old standby.

.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Post Round 2 Interview Inside Zeon

Good day mecha fans the world over. This is Steve Ross#162076 bringing you a post-round 2 interview with Don Alligood#201365 from here inside the ZEON gates. How's it going Don?

Donald A Alligood - Its going pretty good.  just going over battles to see how I can improve.

Steve Ross - A shrewd policy to be sure. Round 3 is around the corner and match ups have been announced. I believe the ZEON camp has drawn the Slaughterhouse 5 boys. How do you guys feel about these as your possible barrier for silver?

Donald A Alligood - We'll slaughter them,  not even a decent pothole.

Steve Ross - lol Confidence over-flowing for certain there. It was not such a case in the second round however wouldn't you agree? There are those who have aired surprise at ZEON having being placed as highly as division 3, although you acquitted yourselves well in the first. With such a crushing defeat at the hands of the Red Comet would you suggest it points to your clan punching above their weight somewhat?

Donald A Alligood - MMI has an amazing clan.  looking forward to competing with them in the future.  They did a great job and made us look how we make most other clans look.

Steve Ross - Agreed, they did a splendid job and displayed fine form as is their reputation. They seemed to lean towards the 10 ton specialist class. Do you think this was the tactic that pretty much sealed the deal, or do you think there would have been similar results if the specialists weren't in play? Could ZEON have done anything different with the gift of hindsight to counter such a defeat?

Donald A Alligood - The 10 ton spec was an interesting concept, but I think the outcome would have been similar without the specialist.  They are good players, I think as they level differences between clans get closer, the closer the fights will become.  Both clans field excellent pilots and mech set ups

Steve Ross - As the fans have seen over the past wars. Now, ZEON is rolling on a lot of reputation and is a firm fan favorite within their divisions. How do you find the clan as a team when it comes to contests and tournaments? Is there a great deal of behind the scenes preparation for these events or, like some other clans, are the members just left to themselves to play things by ear?

Donald A Alligood - We dont attack each other without permision in kotms,  but generally we do a great job working together.  The feel in clan is more of close friend/family than anything.  We are always working to be prepared for any formation we may face and always testing out versus each other to see where we can improve.

Steve Ross - Sounds like the very model of all the best clans we have seen throughout the galaxy. It's always heartening to hear how well the clans work themselves. Now, we have a number of clans who appear to be part of much larger families. The AFF clans are possibly the biggest example of such a venture. Has ZEON any such designs in this system? Are we likely to see a mini-Zeon causing mayhem in the lower leagues any time soon? What's the family feel in this respect?

Donald A Alligood - I don't think T.J. wants to directly run more than just zeon, but there are clans some of us consider family/friends.

Steve Ross - I see. Keeping those cards close to your chests then. No problem. Well, with the third round upon as, as we have already indicated, do you yourself have any tips or shareable tactics you can throw out to our fan base? Anything you can give our viewers to whet their appetites before the eleventh hour?

Donald A Alligood - For example, I am very partial to the black star clans, especially considering my mom and dad are members of the lycan rangers and during the faction war a few of us went over to help them out, some went to the storm, some took a vacation.

Steve Ross - Indeed. I myself joined in on that one. A very enjoyable experience and a great bunch of guys too. Can you see a similar unification when the next Faction wars comes around? And lastly, before we wrap things up, can you give any advice to the aspiring new talents aiming for future glory in the galaxy?

Donald A Alligood - Well, just keep improving and working on the set ups. like most things success comes with effort and knowledge.  As far as round 3,  tonight we dine on slaughterhouse5  and I'm kinda hungry

Steve Ross - Hhahahaha! That confident beast raises it's head once more. Well, I'm sure the ZEON fans will be watching with unwavering interest. Thanks very much for your time today Don, and I'll see you in the hangers as we warm up the war machines. Good hunting brother.

Donald A Alligood - You too brother.

Submitted by Steve Ross/Donald Alligood #162076/#201365

Delta Dart Weapon Review

This Niode missile system is for minimum levels of 11. It will cost you 380 Ferrite, 290 Bioptics, and 18 Niodes. Bulk buy is an option also with 5 for 72 niodes, at the time of this writing there are 233 left of 250. It has a damage of 36, a speed of 99 and has the abilities of Crit-kill at 2% as well as Splash at 3%.

Given the Advanced Fury Rack is a level 15 weapon and only does 18 damage straight up this isn't too bad. The Niode fury rack also has a peed of 91 compared to this weapons 99, really the only advantage the Adv. Fury Rack has is Fork at 60%. As a comparison basis however there are 4 levels difference between the two weapons. but as this illustration shows  the lower level Niode weapon has the higher level one on everything but abilities. So is it worth it for straight damage, speed, nd abilities you can improve upon with build and proper equipment load out? You be the judge and give it a go.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Giga Rex The Gigus A Missile Flinging, Fire Throwing Berserker

I often, especially lately hear people once in awhile gripe about the low speed of a Gigus.  At +9, Giga Rex will never exactly be a speed demon but what he lacks in speed he makes up with in pure firepower.

Four Smelters, two Diablis Nozzles, a Rage Pulsar, two Plutocracy Missiles, twin Rupture Shots, five Death Heads, a Hornet's Nest, and two Arctic Gales make up his arsenal.

The particular equipment load out I've set him with provides the following stat bonuses:

Fire Damage + 50% <- This may not sound like alot as compared to some other, more expensive mecha that boast higher damage boosts but when combined with high output fire weapons is plenty deadly enough.

Missile Damage + 37% <- The secondary weapon employed by Giguses, missiles, receives an understandibly smaller boost than that of the primary weapon, but this is still nothing to sneeze at.

Laser Damage + 10% <- Just for kicks

Ice Damage + 10% <- No one expects a fire mecha to shoot ice beams.

Speed + 9

Fork 8% <- Not terrible but not exactly worth writing home about.

3X Damage 3%

Splash 14% <- This is decent.

Trample 20% <- Goes off 1/5 of the time, which isn't bad.

2X Damage 3%

Crit-Kill 6% <- the small double, triple damage chance increases and crit-kill % are pure gravy.

Precision (28) <- not terrible and it's higher than a buchis to be sure, but there are more precise builds and mecha out there.

Freeze 19% <- Not too shabby, considering this isn't really an ice nor a laser focused mecha.

Dodge (41) <- To be honest, I'd like to do something to increase this with further mods at later levels.

Slow (8) <- Slow is derided as not that useful compared to the other abilities like burn or freeze but it certainly doesn't hurt when the mecha with slow ability also is one that has low overall speed; Forcing an enemy mech to decelerate can potentially even the table.

Auto Repair (6) <- Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Shield (111) <- not too bad.

Fire Shield (20)

Proj. Shield 3% <- Pew pew! Ping ping! Secondary shielding is laughable at best most of the time but it can help in some instances

Ice Shield 26% <- Neither rain nor sleet,

Fire Shield 29% <-  nor rampaging inferno...

Missile Shield 33%  <- Yeah, you aren't going to make a substantial dent in his defenses by firing a rocket.

Laser Shield 4% <- More secondary minor shielding.

Cockpit: Neural Recalibrator, Hawkeye Marksman, Long Range Sensors and a Betrus Processor.  Just because the fire and missile weapons have a tendency to do Area of Effect damage when it comes to things like splash and fork doesn't mean you can't also be throwing them around with precision while doing so.

Chassis:  Coolant System, Magnetic Connectors, Shear Thickening Fluid, Magnetic Aura, Muon Junction and Trilerian Sprockets.  <- This is to provide significant Shielding and dodge boosts (You've got a huge equip bay chassis section on a Gigus, so you may as well take full advantage of this!).

Engines: Dark Matter Converter, Indefinite Singularity and Caged Singularity.  <- the trifecta of huge heavy duty engines.  It isn't about speed as much as it is about combat advantages, giving the Auto Repair and some further shield effects, plus damage effects.

Shielding: Three deltas: Caudata for protection against fire, Thiokol for protection against missiles, and Arctic for Protection against ice.










Submitted by Mycobacter #712744