Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
https://forum.questionablequesting....si-thread-fourteen.8938/page-993#post-3722505Can I get a link to the first post for this sidestory?
Do wish we could have a separate set of threadmarks to follow each sidestory.
A bullet punches through the wooden wall and slams into his forehead!
*Stares very hard at Mr Zoat*The bullet flattens against the part of the environmental shield covering his forehead, penetrating just enough to embed into it and delivering just enough kinetic force to knock him back a step. Construct armour snapping into place around his body, he raises his hand to check for blood even as he braces himself.
This was bad... And this Paul should feel bad about making a joke that bad...Yeah. Want to know why Japanese men are all thin? It's because last time they had a fat man, a city vanished.
It wasn't the American's, it was the Chinese pretending to be Americans.Obligatiry oil goblin joke: Empire was doomed as soon as the Americans found out there is oil in their land.
But think about how many calories burned away - shocking amount of instant weight loss. Should have called it Mr.Slim 9000This was bad... And this Paul should feel bad about making a joke that bad...
Don't worry Vae, keep trying and I'm sure eventually you'll understand a sentence.
I don't think that can be true. Between fracking and tar sands, the US has plenty of production capacity, and they choose not to use it.Obligatiry oil goblin joke: Empire was doomed as soon as the Americans found out there is oil in their land.
I don't think that can be true. Between fracking and tar sands, the US has plenty of production capacity, and they choose not to use it.
Don't worry Vae, keep trying and I'm sure eventually you'll understand a sentence.
I don't think that can be true. Between fracking and tar sands, the US has plenty of production capacity, and they choose not to use it.
21st August 2015
21:08 Japan Time
"-easy-going!"
The bullet flattens against the part of the environmental shield covering his forehead, penetrating just enough to embed into it and delivering just enough kinetic force to knock him back a step. Construct armour snapping into place around his body, he raises his hand to check for blood even as he braces himself.
Ironically, that concept of a bullet, the stone from a sling, is the root notion of the gun-fired projectile. Wouldn't be surprised if his shields flickered in the brief moment of fear, though. Sloppy.His hand finds the bullet and for a moment he's more confused than anything else. He's mentally off balance and it's not an immediately familiar object. Most bullets around Alnus Hill didn't hit anything that hard and so didn't deform quite as much, and the word he hears for 'bullet' refers to stones use in slings.
Then he realises what it is, and throws himself through the door.
Wow, seriously? Talk about informal surroundings. I'm guessing they transported Diabo to a hot springs resort or similar to continue negotiations, since I doubt the politicians would be willing to hang about on the far side of the gate."Guards!"
The lieutenant and one of the other male soldiers are already running towards us, also dressed is yukata but with their sidearms at the ready.
Heck of a memento, though, even if you might have to explain to Imperials what it is."Prince Diabo, are you okay!?"
"Someone shot me in the head!" He holds out the flattened bullet as proof of his injury. "See!"
Yes, very good question. Keep on that tack, folks.The soldier looks Diabo over. "It doesn't look like you're bleeding, your highness."
Diabo isn't reassured. "Who's attacking us?!"
I doubt the walls are any sturdier deeper in.The lieutenant looks a little awkward. "We don't know, but the perimeter security should be all over them. It was probably just a stray bullet rather than one that was aimed at you specifically. We should move further towards the middle of the resort."
He gestures down the left hand corridor, and Diabo follows his direction.
Well, this is all just a fustercluck, then."Were any of your people injured, Lieutenant?"
"No." He takes the lead as we come to an intersection, checking both directions with his gun ready before stepping forward. "Our radio operator is trying to contact our command, and the rest are getting their equipment."
Well, tell them first, and make sure they understand this isn't a knock against them specifically.Diabo, we could resolve this ourselves.
That would make them think that we think that they're incompetent.
On the up side, you can be sure this is enemy action, as guns aren't exactly common in Japan.You did get shot in the head in the middle of their sea-bounded country. At a certain point it's something they thank you for doing to save them the embarrassment.
He slows down, looking at me on his left hand and nearly having the soldier on rearguard walk into him.
Boy, you're an Orange Lantern now. You have a duty to resolve situations like this.I know that you're used to being relatively powerless, but the image of strength-.
Alnus Hill was different! I had to do it there! I have guards here!
Heh. Yeah, I doubt you have time to explain what a record is, and how it can be broken.I hate to sound like a-. Person who repeats themselves, but I'm forced to ask once again: what would the Diabo you want to be do?
He'd be surrounded by loyal guards who would put themselves between him and people who could kill him!
Honestly, no. Not short of very obvious heavy weaponry. Most of which need line of sight for effective use.Have you seen your shield?
He stops completely, causing the Lieutenant to give him an interrogative look.
Are you certain that they don't have anything that can hurt me?
Any attacker would probably assume he's an ordinary man, and planned accordingly.Am I? His construct armour is reasonable. Good, even, for someone who has been using a ring for only a few days. Repeated anti-material rifle shots would go through it, but would anyone have actually brought one of those? Regular sniper rifles wouldn't even penetrate his environmental shield thanks to his underlying need for personal safety. I haven't seen any weapon lasers or exotic weapons. A suitcase nuke would kill him, but the chance of someone bringing one of those…
While I can't promise that for certain, the chance of them having anything that can hurt you while you maintain your focus is vanishingly small. Use this ring to expand your awareness if you want to be certain.
"Ah, your highness? We should move."
Yes, not many countries with an interest in Japanese affairs, especially in this story's setting. It's Team America!Knowing wouldn't hurt, I suppose.
His eyes glow orange as he turns in a circle, trying to see who it is outside the spa resort. I see… Asian faces with… No unit patches, obviously, but overwhelmingly carrying genes from China. The other side in the gunfight appear to come from a more mixed background, which doesn't actually narrow it down. Very few places have special forces soldiers from a single ethnic background; they could come from just about any former European colony. Though given that this is Japan-
Or are taking the room temperature challenge. And winning...Diabo blinks as he focuses on the Lieutenant.
"The Japanese guards have vanished."
...Gee, you think?-I would guess they're America. They're all using NATO equipment, but for the Chinese that's probably because they copied it.
The Lieutenant nods. "That explains why we can't reach them."
...Not going by post-war relations.Diabo, the fight outside appears to be between Chinese and American soldiers. China is a strategic enemy of Japan while Japan and America have been allied for seventy years. Given that the only obvious reason for the absence of the Japanese soldiers is their deaths, I would guess that the Americans are answering their call for help.
Are America and Japan equals?
Oof. Yeah, sometimes it's better not to ask things like that...Oh gosh no. America has more than twice as many people, a far larger military and strategic nuclear weapons.
What are-? Oh.
Good on OL for trying to lighten the tone with black humour, but I don't think anyone is in the mood.Yeah. Want to know why Japanese men are all thin? It's because last time they had a fat man, a city vanished.
"Lieutenant, I… I think I should go outside and help your allies."
And to be fair, Diabo is quite a bit tougher than you right now, LT."Ah… Well, we hit you with everything we had when you landed on your dragon, and you didn't get hurt. But we're supposed to keep you safe."
"I appreciate that." Diabo takes a moment to get himself-. He's thinking of himself as emperor, how that will make him safe both physically and socially. "But I've got a god in a ring on my finger and you don't. Thank you for your trouble."
Like he has time to learn how to shoot a gun, or is in the mood for destruction pulses?Diabo hasn't got the hang of transmission, but the idea that being an apostle means that he should be able to move faster than a normal man is a far easier one to grasp. The wood-panelled walls blur past us as he runs, a construct sword-
Really?
Yup. 'Silencers' are a movie myth. A suppressed weapon is still fairly loud, if not deafening anymore. Never mind trying to suppress the noise of supersonic ammo or shotgun rounds...I know how to use it.
-appearing in his right hand. And then we're outside, flickers of light and bursts of sound echoing from the woodland surrounding us. The gunmen are using suppressors, but all that does is muffle the noise a little.
Sadly, I doubt they're so foolish as to be wearing unit patches or flags.The ones who look like the Japanese, but with rounder faces?
Check that their equipment matches, because there are ethnic Chinese and Japanese in America.
Alright. I see… There.
Like a fucking blender. Nice.The wood blurs past, and I see through his eyes as he bursts through a bush into a Chinese fire team. They don't have time to reposition themselves before he's among them, sword stabbing through necks and eyes. As they fall he checks again and dashes towards the other cluster of Chinese survivors. This time one is facing the right way to see the oncoming orange glow and gets a volley off with his automatic rifle, but Diabo's armour construct is easily up to the task of stopping it. And stopping the blood spray as he slashes with his sword, sending the man's head flying.
...Not that it'll do more than surprise him, given the environmental shields.Diabo checks his surroundings, sword at the ready and breathing far harder than his level of exertion really warrants.
"American soldiers! The Chinese are dead! I thank you for your assistance! If you have injuries, I am willing to offer my aid!"
And then the flashbang goes off.
...also dressed in yukata but with their sidearms at the ready....also dressed is yukata but with their sidearms at the ready.
Broken tags there following the link, though it may already have been fixed...; they could come from just about any former European colony. Though given that this is Japan-[/i][/COLOR]
'Emperor' or 'an emperor', I think.
Actually nowadays the USA could be self sufficient but shipping costs keep that from happening. Also fracking is a money losing business unless the petrol oil barrel price is over a hundred dollars in price.
Diabo, the fight outside appears to be between Chinese and American soldiers. China is a strategic enemy of Japan while Japan and America have been allied for seventy years. Given that the only obvious reason for the absence of the Japanese soldiers is their deaths, I would guess that the Americans are answering their call for help.
Thank you, corrected....also dressed in yukata but with their sidearms at the ready.
Broken tags there following the link, though it may already have been fixed...
'Emperor' or 'an emperor', I think.
Could you please narrow it down?
Gone now
You'd think that after seeing an orange buzzsaw cut through your opposition, you might hesitate before engaging your target."American soldiers! The Chinese are dead! I thank you for your assistance! If you have injuries, I am willing to offer my aid!"
And then the flashbang goes off.
The gods closed the portal.Obligatiry oil goblin joke: Empire was doomed as soon as the Americans found out there is oil in their land.
"American soldiers! The Chinese are dead! I thank you for your assistance! If you have injuries, I am willing to offer my aid!"
And then the flashbang goes off.
Yeah. Want to know why Japanese men are all thin? It's because last time they had a fat man, a city vanished.
Gate is weird Japanese militarism propaganda, in this universe the America is cartoonishly evil.m gonna chalk this up to poor timing rather than malicious action. If he's been moving through an active combat zone theirs a high chance that due to the lack of coordination, he'd get hit by something meant for the Chinese.
I'm gonna chalk this up to poor timing rather than malicious action. If he's been moving through an active combat zone theirs a high chance that due to the lack of coordination, he'd get hit by something meant for the Chinese.
Gate is weird Japanese militarism propaganda, in this universe the America is cartoonishly evil.
In short if Mr. Zoat hasn't changed the original narrative the Japanese soldiers killed in this encounter likely died with NATO bullet holes on their backs and the lesser Chinese men tried to use the opportunity created by the US troops as the lesser scoundrels they are.
Yeah the guy who wrote Gate comes across as the type who is disappointed that the future isn't going to be a cyberpunk dystopia where Sony-Mitsubishi rules the world.
No, it's the same as the canon explanation: America blackmailed the Japanese Prime Minister with evidence of corruption and the soldiers got called off.In short if Mr. Zoat hasn't changed the original narrative the Japanese soldiers killed in this encounter likely died with NATO bullet holes on their backs and the lesser Chinese men tried to use the opportunity created by the US troops as the lesser scoundrels they are.
Wait, are you saying they actually want a tribute in flour?Wow that is a weird view to take on history and geopolitics. Japan is heavily reliant on import food to sustain their population. So a theoretical Superpower Japan either needs a lot more territory, alternative trade alliances, or futuristic farming technology. I say alternative because apparently the UN, USA and China are all hostile forces. Then you have to remember a lot of 1st world countries use American weapons systems, which implies this Japan is either sourcing them illegally or has been making their own equivalents, which is difficult to effectively do for any single nation.
So basically everyone else is stupid evil, and Gate! Japan are the "good guys" because it's modern japan with 1940 views. When I first read Zoat's Gate chapters, I thought Japan was a standin for America or something.