I. A Message [audio]

[ningwofuren]

[ Ever since that brief meeting within the courtyard, several questions plagued Cao Cao's mind. He had hoped to find the information on his own with the Initiative's help, but they weren't very...helpful in his opinion. Besides the whole notion of them using sorcery to unravel the United Earth's influences through a series of smaller skirmishes, Cao Cao wasn't certain as of how this war could possibly be won. From what little he's managed to understand, the enemy outnumbers them greatly and there's great dissent amongst the transports here.

Still trying to understand his role in all this, the King of Wei decided to act. He never used such a device before. These "tablets" as they call them were nearly two-thousand years ahead of his time. Though with some luck and minor concentration, he managed to operate one. He was still far from proficient with this odd device, but at least he got it work.

Now staring into the blank screen of the tablet, Cao Cao speaks. ]

Just how many generals sit amongst us? How many soldiers and how many strategists? If this is a war, then shouldn't we treat it as such?

[ He paused momentarily in hopes of hearing an answer, but nothing was said. So he continued. ]

I've won wars before but nothing resembling this kind of scale. Gathering the information necessary about my foes was never so daunting as this. Virtually nothing is known about the United Earth or their method of combat. I'm aware that they hold the most influence in this realm, but how so?

[ Mengde wondered if their were other factions out there who hoped to rebel against their federation. He wouldn't be surprised if there were, but they assist them? Surely this war doesn't fall upon the shoulders of a wayward few.

That would be suicide. ]

In truth, I see no victory in sight but I refuse to die a martyr's death.

Comments

[goinbust]

"Bout 200 years before I was even a twinkle in my old man's eyes Earth sent a lot of its dirty laundry off to where I'm from. Dominion space. Every couple of decades they send a fleet to keep us in line and all but really we got almost no contact with them. That and history never really was my strong suit back in school."

He grins a little and raises a glass of something.

"Some of it. Can't say its exactly the same as home but a gun's a gun and a tank's a tank. They fly and fall in the same way most of the time."

He rubs his chin and lets out a breath.

"Lotta people ain't too savy with firearms. Was thinkin' of offerin' lessons on how to use one and not get hurt, but things have been a bit too nuts to set up a proper range for things like that. Don't want to get the kids shot up too bad again. Not after that last mess."

[ningwofuren]

Then perhaps it's time to brush up on your lessons. [ Of course he meant that teasingly if anything. Mengde is still appalled that that Jim never heard of China, but at least he can find some humor in it. ]

Firearms? [ A slightly pensive gaze filtered into Cao Cao's gaze he tried to look up the meaning of that word. ]

What exactly happened last time? I'm certain there's a way to work around our limited resources here.

[goinbust]

"Ah, never had much time fer it on the farm really."

He nodded a bit and his face turned grim.

"Firearms.. Guns. Guessin you ain't a big user of them either. As for what happened last time, other side attacked a whole world. Sent us in, and a lot of good kids died a lot of times. Worse or better, not sure which, the guys here have ways to keep bringin people back from the dead. Don't know how much damage was done but bunch of the people here are kids and ain't hardened soldiers. I can only imagine what that did to their heads."

[ningwofuren]

[ Cao Cao gave a slight nod. He never heard of 'firearms' until today and to be honest, he' curious about them. ]

I take it that firearms are the standard weaponry of our adversaries. If so, then we must take the time to introduce some kind of weapon training before the next mission.

[ But only if there's enough time to do so. ]

I can imagine that the morale within the Hold isn't very high since that expedition.

[goinbust]

"Between that, the bombings and the damn virus they let loose no. Morale ain't something that I would rate as all that high. Firearms are. Know what? Meet me at the firing range at the hold and I'll show you a standard pulse rifle. Its what I was trained on. As for the other side, yeah they use a form of them too but its one I ain't all that familiar with. Standard gun but don't know the inner workings."

[ningwofuren]

[ Mengde's gaze narrowed once Jim mentioned the bombings. He heard from Giovanni earlier that the bombings catastrophically decimated their numbers by tenfold. These weren't your standard firecrackers or explosives either. Judging from how both men described the horror of the last mission, Cao Cao must steel his fortitude and try to diverse a plan to outwit the Federation if he can't outgun them. ]

A demonstration? Very well, I shall attend. We need to understand what we'll be facing on the battlefield before its too late.

[ If a nearly two thousand year old warlord from ancient China could possibly make sense out of firearms, then so could everyone else! ]


(ooc: hoho! this will be interesting, we can log this later, yes? i must run off to work. )

[goinbust]

Jim nodded, the man looked like the serious general type and they were useful at motivation if not a bit stuffy.

"Lemme finish my drink here and I'll head down there. Half a dozen people can point ya in the direction of the firing range. Look for the 3 meter tall jet black power armor and that'll be me. Rifle has a bit of a kick to it and demonstrations look better when its at 100% as opposed to just shootin from the hip."

((ooc: Totally cool with a log later, just shoot me the link))