fandomhigh | Battle Tactics and Strategy; Thursday, Fourth Period [02/22].

"There are a few principles," Ignis, as usual, wasted no time in getting things started, once everyone arrived at the Danger Shop, where they were set up in front of a large, fairly nondescript fortress that, fittingly enough, seemed to share more in common with an unassuming warehouse than anything else, "I'd like to delve into next, but they'll be in several parts, and so, instead of having the school trip next week break up the retaining of that knowledge, I figured today might be a good day to try and put some of our tactical minds to work by applying them to an actual scenario.

"This," he now gestured to his guest for the day, standing beside him and bouncing a little on his feet as he lifted a hand and waved, "if you don't already know him, is my friend and colleague Prompto Argrentum, who helped me out today with creating a replication of an enemy fortress. Our reconnaissance," the word was emphasized as a way to jog memories regarding last week's topic, "has informed us that our enemies are in the process of developing a secret weapon inside these fortress walls. And it is up to you all to formulate a plan on how to retrieve that weapon from their hands, into ours, where we can either destroy it or perhaps use it to our benefit.

"Normally," he continued, "we would brief you on the information we know that may assist in this extraction. However, since this is a learning experience, I want to know what questions you believe would be important. What information do you feel would be necessary in crafting a plan of attack in this instance? We will have a Q&A session to reveal the facts of the matter, and then you will work together to enact it. Or at the very least attempt to. We will," he nodded to Prompto, who then started to hand out papers, "provide you with a schematic of the base's design and structure as a good jumping off point, and then, it's all entirely in your hands to figure out our next steps."

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"The Rules of Engagement," Ignis offered, "are whatever you, as a team, decide they are. What are you willing to do? What are you willing to allow your teammates to do? Your enemy is not inclined to surrender--"

Prompto interrupted with a snort. "That's for sure!"

"--or deem any methods of attack inappropriate, though, so perhaps keep that in mind, as well."

Edited 2024-02-22 14:32 (UTC)

Did you hear that classmates? It was up to you to stop a simulated war crime.

"My, that does make things much easier," Liliana said with a perfectly normal amount of amusement for the topic.

And then sat back to listen to what questions her classmates were asking.

"Magitek armor, by the way," said Prompto, after a moment, because he did remember that question, "refers broadly to the types of units and the protection they're outfitted with that the Nifs use. It uses both magic and technology, thus the name magitek, right? It's everything from the cybernetic soldiers they, uh..." A bit of nervousness started to take over, and he ducked his head, rubbing the back of his neck, "bred, specifically as infantry, to the large mech that need to be piloted by an officer.."

His eyes then bounced over to Ignis, curiously, if there was anything else he wanted to add and maybe to wonder a little if he'd left that hanging specifically for Prompto to answer, but his face was impassive and revealed nothing.

"So, yeah," he concluded, "basically robotic humanoids infused with magic." He chuckled a little, holding up both his thumbs. "Super fun stuff!"

And maybe even right up Liliana's alley; they were, after all,basically their world's version of a soulless zombie army, right?

Edited 2024-02-22 15:15 (UTC)

"Oh!" Liliana said. "Like artifact creatures! And armor. Hmm. Black mana isn't good at pure artifact removal--" which was why she'd needed Thalia's help destroying the Helvault and the woman had played her part beautifully, "--but if they're artifact creatures, then they're just as susceptible to general destruction spells as anything else. Unless they are indestructible." She made a moue of distaste. "Or have protection from black."

Rude to necromancers, both of those things. Though protection didn't prevent against area of effect death spells, which she had a number of...

"Which brings us to new questions, darling, doesn't it?" She eyed Prompto, noting his discomfort, eyes narrowed. Not that class would be an appropriate time to ask him about it. Still. Noted. "If you've fought these creatures before, you must have some idea of their strengths, their weaknesses, their vulnerabilities. Where are the weak parts of this armor, these mechas? What are the best places to target? Do they have a habit of fighting in a particular style? Do they fall into patterns? Are they adaptable? What's the ratio of infantry to mechas?"

Poor Prompto. He'd never dealt with Liliana when she was in 'rapid-fire questions mode' and she was willing to bet Ignis hadn't warned him about it, either.

"Are the people within the mechas and armor organic? Do either of the armor or mechas have organic parts? Are either of them airtight? Wait, how do they have magic, they're not of the royal line of Lucis, are they? Are they using god magic? Or is this Starscourge? Or something completely different?"

Prompto, the longer it took you to answer, the more questions she was going to come up with.

Well, okay, she was going to come up with new ones regardless.

Edited 2024-02-22 15:40 (UTC)

Ignis had not warned Prompto, no, but he was definitely willing to (finally) come to the poor man's rescue, especially when he could practically feel the winces everytime Liliana used the word creatures, much less the gawking at her just casually throwing in considerations to royal lines,god magic, and Starscourge.

"The magitek soldiers," he answered, "are organic. The mechs are not and are piloted by..." There was a hesitation, at the word choice, "human soldiers. They do derive their magical properties from magitek cores derived from the miasma created by the Starscourge, and, interestingly enough, are quite vulnerable to elemancy, especially lightning attacks, as they'll short-circuit the tek as well as the magi, although ice and fire can do some good damage there, too. They are very prone to patterns and repetition, often sticking to their orders or programmed path unless distracted from it. In the field, they tend to attack in clusters, but within the walls of a fortress, they are more individualized and mostly defensive. In more direct contact, focus on the joints, where there are likely to be gaps in the armor. They prefer shooting at a distance, and while they are not great shots, they are a far better hand at it than your typical stormtrooper. They also may be equipped with electrical devices meant to incapacitate or stun an enemy."

"Oh!" Prompto chimed in, sounding glad to have not only caught up, but also contribute. "And if you take down a mech, watch out, because they will explode."

"Indeed they will," Ignis confirmed, vaguely smirking with amusement. "I think that covered a good portion of it, no?"

Edited 2024-02-22 17:52 (UTC)

Sorry Prompto, but Liliana hadn't unlocked your tragic backstory yet and creature type was a big deal in her corner of the Multiverse. If it helped, she was a creature, too! Her type was just "Legendary Planeswalker" because she was a special bitch. But it used to be Legendary Creature - Human Cleric! See? Totally normal!

Also, c'mon, darling. She'd been [Verb Choice Locked] Ignis for going on six months now. Why wouldn't she casually be tossing in references to the Starscourge and god magic? Had you missed that she was a giant nerd? Especially about magic?

Liliana didn't pout at the mention of lightning and elemental magic, because that suggested she was anything less than dignified. But it was certainly bullshit that red mana mages would be more useful than she would. Hmph.

"So it seems like we should make note of their patterns and repetition and, if possible, lure mechas into strategic locations right before they explode. Other groups of mechas for example, or a good way to get through walls, or even just a diversion. The lack of organic parts is personally rude to me, but that's something that can be worked around. I know my first move would be to either send spirits in to spy for me to get specifics, or..." She paused and eyed both of them, Prompto in particular. "Well, I don't know if anybody here is skilled in illusions enough to pretend to be a soldier."

Which was always what she'd been about to say and certainly nothing about using lethemancy to get the information she wanted.

Battle Tactics and Strategy; Thursday, Fourth Period [02/22].

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