Mission 02

Mission Two: Survival on Thea

M2:C1 | Old Gardens

• Combat in the Gardens:
  • The squad is pursued by corrupted mechs, once ordinary machines now infused with flesh-like components. Some bear the insignia of the Cult of Set, while others appear unaffiliated.
  • They fight through waves of these hostile entities while awaiting an elevator’s descent to escape. The elevator provides only temporary respite as they can hear enemies following them through the walls.

• Establishing Contact:

  • The squad reaches a radio station and patches into their ally, Val. Through him, they contact the Harlegand. The ship’s AI, GILGAMESH, establishes a connection to Commander Oshiro Williams, now acting CO of the Harlegand.

  • Oshiro, visibly exhausted and under great strain, provides new mission directives:

    1. Survive.
    2. Gather intelligence about Thea and its locals.
    3. Establish a mobile HQ and secure communications.
    4. Regroup and rebuild Genesis forces.
    5. Establish diplomatic connections with local factions.

  • Before she can provide further details, the feed cuts out due to an explosion on the Harlegand.

  • Mysterious Transmission:
  • As the squad regains their bearings, a strange, dusty voice comes over the radio, offering cryptic warnings about the Iterator and encouraging them to “dream of home.”

M2:C2 | Kajime and Sohko

• Meeting New Allies:
  • The squad encounters Kajime, an older man on a pilgrimage, and his son Sohko. They arrive in a sandcrawler equipped with mech support and other industrial tools.
  • Kajime, though naïve in his trust, expresses a deep belief in helping the squad, suggesting their meeting was fated. He advises them to avoid the Cult of Set’s northern lands and instead head toward Messummur, the “jewel of the desert.”
• Journey to Aranoth Hold:
  • En route, the squad has strange dreams, hinting at the psionic influence of the desert. They arrive at Aranoth Hold, a settlement under the governance of House Mirel.
  • Marty retrieves his missing Minotaur mech from a local garage, where he learns the mechanics had planned to use it to rescue family members held hostage by raiders. The squad agrees to help in exchange for the safe return of the mech.
• Raid on the Hiigarian Raiders:
  • The raiders turn out to be Hiigarian soldiers who blame Genesis for the events of Balkor. The squad defeats them and rescues the hostages, including an enigmatic woman named Theren.
  • Theren, pale-skinned and with pure white eyes, is revealed to be an Iterator spawn, a being regarded with suspicion and fear. She offers to stay with the squad temporarily, sharing her knowledge of Thea.

M2:C3 | Messummur

• The Jewel of the Desert:
  • The squad reaches Messummur, a massive city with over a million residents. Kajime provides a detailed explanation of the city’s districts, political structure, and cultural values.
  • Messummur values strength, resilience, and cunning but detests unnecessary brutality. Assassinations between noble houses are common but are carefully executed to avoid civilian casualties.
• Setting Up in the City:
  • Kajime leads the squad to his residence in the Sunken Quarters, a large, fortified estate that he offers as a safe base of operations.
  • He provides valuable resources, including a tube of gems, and explains his divine duty to assist the squad. He warns them to avoid the city’s upper-class areas for now but suggests exploring other districts.
• Reuniting with “Double D” Squad:
  • The squad tracks a Genesis signal to the Great Bazaar and finds members of the Double D Squad, who also survived the Jaunt. They share details of their survival and the disappearance of their psionic-pilot, Emily, who was abducted by a subaltern.
• Arena Battle:
  • The squad participates in Messummur’s arena to gain the attention of Magenta Red, leader of the Magenta Syndicate in the Oasis End district.
  • After a series of intense battles, they face the arena champion, Brutus, and defeat him in a single devastating attack. Their victory causes a sensation, securing their reputation in Messummur.

Mission Two Key Takeaways

1. Messummur’s Strategic Importance:

   • Messummur is revealed as the central hub for the squad’s survival and influence on Thea. Its complex political and cultural systems offer opportunities and risks.

2. Kajime’s Role:

   • Kajime’s deep knowledge of Messummur and his unwavering loyalty to the squad position him as a crucial ally, though his divine motivations remain mysterious.

3. Theren’s Significance:

   • As an Iterator spawn, Theren provides insight into Thea’s mysteries, but her presence could draw hostility due to local superstitions.

4. Genesis Forces on Thea:

   • Reuniting with Double D Squad highlights the scattered state of Genesis survivors. Their information about Emily’s abduction points to larger conspiracies involving psionic pilots and subalterns.

5. The Cult of Set’s Influence:

   • The Cult’s connection to the corrupted mechs and their control over northern lands underscores their role as both adversaries and potential keys to understanding Thea’s cycles.