Chapter - 2
Dammit I missed them again, I glared at the ground while glancing at the Clone commander unit. They are usually nearly impossible to find in a crowd of other clones if you aren't a part of the faction. The key difference between a clone and a commander was the augments and the general aura around them. I'm saying this like I've met dozens of them, while I've met like 3. Most of them are in this exact situation of me asking for directions.
The noises of heavy artilleries being fired into orbit overtakes the atmosphere for the moment. Three massive 4 story launchers explode into action with them firing their bus sized rounds.
I’m honestly glad I got that plugin for hearing decrease. The massive phoenix launchers firing is honestly something I nearly would lose my hearing to watch, almost. The commander really is going all out, I have heard a few things on the net that he was a passive commander and yet here he is sending out self-replicating magma against mere rebels.
I wonder why, from what I have heard, most commanders are heartless and destroy everything in their path to achieve objective completion. However, from what I have seen, it's brutal across all fronts.
A ping appears across my HUD and a marker is moved to an infantry transport carrier landing and clone pilots disembarking for triple-R. I can see a ton of logistic drones moving in sync to complete the refuel, repair, and rearm procedure. The voice behind me remarks so loving heartlessly, “you'll be with Mika squad for the time being until you link up with your battalion.”
I turn around seeing the pale face commander with white hair and translucent eyes. It would've been interesting to finally see a clone helmetless if it wasn't for every other clone on this planet having that face as default. Clones are made difficult to tell apart and ambiguous about details from a distance.
However, some clones actually have a personality built into them, including all commanders and this one is no different with his obvious dislike of me, which isn't uncommon.
“Yes Commander 10-2” I responded putting my fist in a ball near my chest in a salute. “You are dismissed private”, he said before turning to look at a holographic map with markers only he can see.
“Yes, sir” I said under my breath, it seems I'm going to have to get along with some more clones. It saddens me only a tiny bit to have to create a new relationship, but I'm also hopeful I might be able to see my old clonie buddies at the FOB when I get back. In the meantime, however, I mentally send a signal opening up my points menu.
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Name/Rank: Private Doxen O. Kery
Class/Specialization: NOT MET LEVEL REQUIREMENT
Level: 5 (-1 Death penalty canceled for heroic sacrifice)
Points: 2
Stats:
-Physical
–Agility: 6/10
–Strength: 3/10
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*Buy Menu*
Weapons
*Commodities* NEW!
Armor
Misc.
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Damn, heroic sacrifice might be a stretch but hey I'll take my wins when I can. My first death and a level penalty for dying is something to be concerned about, though. I could always get more anyways, but they’re risky. But commodities are new, what even are commodities? Do they mean things like hygiene or cool artifacts or something? I tap the floating screen in front of my eyes and a new tab appears.
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Commodities
-Personal hygiene NEW
-Food NEW
-Medicine NEW
-Boosters NEW
-Augments NOT MET LEVEL REQUIREMENT
-Explosives NOT MET CLASS REQUIREMENT
-Reinforcements NOT MET LEVEL/CLASS REQUIREMENT
-RESTRICTED NOT AVAILABLE
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Very interesting, I haven't seen some of these talked about before. Especially reinforcements, I mean that's gotta be crazy good to be locked behind level and a specific class. Wait, why'd they even show me this? Stupid mega-corps probably having it locked behind a grind or paywall, getting me all excited. Anyways some of this stuff is super interesting, and yes, the last one I am definitely not skipping, however, its better to just leave it alone for now.
I would be lying if I didn't think about what it is. But, no point getting all ruffled up and hyped up more over something unknown right?
Anyways, good to know that my last death was not in vain at least with some points to spend on some cool stuff, however, here comes the hardest part and the reason I love playing in these sims.
Decisions, specifically decisions on what to get since points are limited to either stats or getting cool stuff. I made the mistake early game of putting everything into agility hoping I could become this cool stealth sniper with my sneaky rail gun.
Unfortunately, my sneakiness, or lack thereof, led me to nearly dying immediately when we were ambushed. I did take down a few before perishing in the crossfire. I hope Skate doesn't feel too bad I died, I mean most clones don't care however, the sentiments are still there.
Anyways, time to make the big decision… I have no clue what to get. Usually, I would check the net, but we are locked out until the mission is completed or next time I exit the game, which is rare. So, I'm going purely based on my own judgment.
I would put more into agility till nearly max but it's a bad idea to min/max at this point. If the last battle was a sign of anything, it was to get better equipment. An armor piece specifically would be especially helpful, but I don't want anything that'll hinder my movement nor something that's practically exo-cardboard.
A ping breaks my concentration as the update says it's time to head off. I jumped off the crate I was sitting on and headed towards the large transport craft meant to house up to 40 clone soldiers. Of course, it will be packed with it being filled with redeploying bodies, and of course I am one of them.
Hopefully, it'll be relatively empty with the few clone bodies moving towards the aircraft it seems. I enter the backdoor while nodding towards the arriving pilots and sit at my designated pinged seat and the magnetic locks on my armor.
After about another minute of waiting, we lifted off and I glanced around at my new temporary squad I'll be working and fighting with for hopefully not too long. Also, contradicting my last thought, it was in fact not packed and about 19 people in total all around me were wearing a variety of symbols of their respective armies.
Probably clones or sims in the same situation of redeploying. The current people around me were Mika squad with about 8 people including me taking up a row of seats near the back of the shuttle that opened when it would land. By the looks of their equipment, probably a basic rifle squad and difficult to say which battalion they're in, it does rule out a few though.