01x02 - Fuel Cells and Mech Warriors

[bunniefuu]

Our galaxy...

Humankind colonized space
so long ago

that no one remembers
which came first,

civilization,
or the corporations.

But a centuries-old conflict
between the Grotto Corporation

and our mortal enemy,
the mega-corporation

known as Helion,
has lead to endless wars

and broken planets,
making life

for most on Grotto planets,
known as Homeworlds

a living Hell
of indentured servitude.

And I was no different.

My only way out was to join
Grotto's army, the Reapers.

The Resource Exploration And
Procurement Engineer Regiment,

also known as Salvage Marines,
where the hazard pay is high,

but the survival rate is low.

This is the job.

And people,
when you provide a service

to the Grotto Corporation
you are the hope--

I'll just pass it on to my kid,

like my father did to me.

That's just how these things
tend to go, Mr. Hyst.

There was always another way.

If I was willing
to take the risk...

..Reaper.

We need this.

I want our son to know
a better world than this.

And I want our son
to know his father.

It's two years, Sura.

At my current rate, I'll never

be able to pay off my life debt.

Did you ever stop to think why
it pays so well?

Or you're the government.

You come to Grotto
'cause this is what it is.

This where we
sign our life away?

It's time to see what
you're made of, Reapers.

This is the job!
-< This is the job!

This is the job!
-< This is the job!

Tyrol Giaus.

Thank you for the introduction,
Boss Marsters.

A Grotto drone of the highest
order, he gives me the creeps.

I apologize,

but any previously scheduled
shore leave is now canceled.

This guy sounds like
a real stick-in-the-sludge!

Almost show time, people!

This is the job!

Tango platoon,
prepare for mission launch.

You need perfect seals,

unless you want to experience

expl*sive decompression.

Hey Boss, can I ask you

a question before we board

the death trap?
We've all heard the rumors

and we're just curious
to know is it true?

That there've been reports

of big insectoid creatures
aboard derelict ships?

Yeah, yeah! They infest them
with their nests.

Make a bunch of bug babies.

Yeah, of course it's true.

See?

What did I tell you?

You asked if it were true
that there had been reports.

Yes, there have been reports.
Beyond that, I couldn't say,

as Grotto has yet to make

an official statement
on the matter.

-Still, there have been reports.
-Alright people, listen up.

Your weapons have been equipped
with recoil dampeners.

That should help
with accuracy issues.

In addition to that, Grotto
has been kind enough to gift us

new shielding for your suits,

making them heavier,
so pace yourselves!

Gauge your energy output.

Alright, Reapers!

Move out!

Yes, everything
is going well.

I really believe
that this salvage

is gonnae be
quite, quite lucrative.

What about the new Reapers?

They should do well
or they will die.

I don't think
that really matters does it?

I mean, we always have more
to replace the ones we expend.

And the squad leaders staying
loyal to the corporation?

Yes, I've carefully those
who will be

handling the new recruits,
and I don't believe we have

any on deck with
any pro-unionist leanings.

Citizen Marsters?

He's stayin' in line?

< Oh, yeah. I've got him

on a VERY, VERY tight leash.

Platoons Tango
and G12, please make your way

to your designated
dispatch bay.

We're catching
the scavengers off guard,

so we will have some time
after the breach

to confirm coordinates
on our salvage objective.

Once you're inside,
be extremely careful

what you sh**t at.
You don't wanna

rupture a fuel line
or gas pocket.

Triggered explosions
are the second leading cause

of death among
boarding parties.

What's the first leading cause?

Being gunned down the second
you enter an enemy ship.

Perfect.

Tango Reapers,
prepare for breach and board.

Prepare for contact.

Impact in three...two...one!

Alright, Reapers!

We're goin' in hot,
so safetys off

Go! Go! Go!

Eyes open!

Protect the lines.

Sam, can't believe
you got us into this, buddy!

I'm with you, Tak.

Aagh!

Ooof!

Move! Move! Move!

Open 'em up!

sh*t! Sam!

You gotta move fast!

Sam! Sam! You with me?

Sam?

Sam are you with me?

Sam!
-Yeah, I'm alright.

Since you're good...
you better move your a*s!

I'm with you, Tak.

Ok, let's move!

-You good?
-I'm alright.

-Can you still fire a weapon?
-Yeah.

What's wrong with it?

Come on, you sons of b*tches!
Let's see what you've got.

Tyrol to Squad Taggart, report.

Tyrol to Squad Taggart,
please report.

Changing mag.

What's your current complement,
Squad Taggart?

We're taking
too much fire to report.

I'm issuing
your squad new orders.

< We don't just have
ANY power cell.

Scans have indicated
a Class 9 Advanced power cell

emanating from
a hold in that ship.

< Which accounts for why our
coordinates were off.

Your fire squad will
lay claim to that salvage.

I'm transmitting you
the new coordinates now.

You'll radio the new
coordinates to the others?

Of course I will.

We still have
a job to do, Reapers.

The tug will recover us
if we clear this ship.

So fight, damn you! Fight!

< Get shot. f*cking get shot!

Let's go!

< Gaius?
-Anointed One.

You honor me with your presence.

Well, you honor
the Grotto Corporation

with your service.
Then you report.

Sector 56-33 salvage operation
is well in hand.

The Reapers have encountered

SLIGHTLY greater resistance
than expected.

-And our losses? Significant?
-Oh, no.

Well within our margin
of profitability of course.

I bet. And our main objective?
The power cell?

About that...
I have detected an unusual

power source coming
from the bowels of that ship.

A power cell, yes,
but a Class 9 power cell.

Now, I have sent in
a detachment of Reapers

to recover what I believe to be

a power cell
of considerable value.

Let me guess, you just
discovered that now?

Oh, the Anointed One
is forever wise!

Well done, Commander.

-I salute you.
-And I salute you too.

Check your down range
before you fire.

Whatever comes round
these corners

give it to 'em thick and fast,
you hear me?

What is it?

-On three, Sam?
-Yeah.

Right, one, two, three!

Go! Go! Go!

Dude, they're flanking us Sam!

Don't stop! Don't stop!
Keep firing!

Aagh!

Jada!

Are you shot again?

Do have nine lives or somethin'?

-You're gonna be fine.
-I can't catch my breath, Sam.

Stay with me.
You're gonna be fine.

You're stable, but you're
done for the day, Reaper.

Stay alert, we'll be back
to pick you up.

< Alright, listen up.
If we can hold this airlock

until Squad Ulanti arrives
to give support,

then we can dive into
the depths of this beast.

Mar, you're with me.
We're joining up with Ulanti.

The rest of you, continue with
your secondary objective.

Ah!

The power source
is just ahead

in a compartment to the right.

Everybody, get down!

Find cover!

-I got eyes on the power source.
-Yeah, that's it!

Hyst, I want you to
follow my lead, no matter what.

Copy?

-What are you doing?
-Surprise, surprise!

There's a punchline here!

She never armed the grenade.

That's why she's in charge, Sam.

Stay alert, Reapers.

Confirmation -
it's a Class 9 power cell.

Bag it!

-Salvage complete.
-Sam!

-Medical trauma team on standby.
-Sam!

Shot twice in one mission?
Well done, Hyst.

How is she?

I'll tell you one thing...

..Jada Sek is
one hell of a warrior.

And she's not done fighting,
not by a long shot.

They'll be three hours
taking out her damaged lung

and putting in one of Nu-flesh.

I figured
they would've installed

one of those auto-inflators
and called it a day!

Standard Reaper policy
doesn't cover Nu-flesh.

No, it doesn't.

Nu-flesh will add a mountain of
debt to her life bond.

And in case you're wondering,
I authorized the procedure.

So...so you decided
to have her incur more debt

that she can't pay off
without signing up

for another term of service?

What are the chances she can
complete that contract

without incurring
even more life debt?

Jada would choose
debt over death any day.

We all knew
what we signed up for.

What I did for her,
I would do for you

and any of you,
without hesitation.

First thing in the morning,
we're picking up

new recruits
to replace our losses.

Get some sleep.

I told you.

You better pull through, Jada.

Yep.

What a hunk of junk, right?

It's the one covered

by the universal triage plan.

-I've seen better arms
on labor droids.

I get not wantin'
to go more into debt but--

But nothing! I've already paid
off a life bond for my son

and my future grandkids.

I'm just a few short cycles
from paying off my own.

As long as I can stay out of any
more of Grotto's death traps,

I'll actually retire with enough
credits to have a real life.

The longer I'm here, the less
I know about any of this.

Marster's put Jada
deeper into debt

and I understand why, I...
I still don't like it.

To the company,
you're just another resource.

No different than...ships,
steel...shields.

Just do your job.
Don't sustain

any serious injuries.

And don't for one second...

..forget that you

are completely alone.

Eh, maybe don't beat yourself up
about Jada too much.

Nah, I...Marsters
knows what's best.

No, I'm not talkin' about that.

Soldiers fight and die
a long way from home.

Sometimes it's nice to feel
something other than this.

I'm not saying
it's right or wrong.

Just that it happens.

Besides, you were
hardly the only one.

I mean...

Enjoy your day off.

We reach Tetra Prime in a couple
of weeks,

so we're back at it tomorrow.
Got new recruits flying in.

I want you to supervise.

It's a piece of sh*t.

I know.

< FTO speed completed.

SO there we are

on some busted-down
mining colony.

Boss Taggart's arm's
been torn off.

She's bleedin' out -
sorry Boss T!

And this...this...

I don't know!

This THING is charging
straight at Jada.

That's when
my man Prybar over here

whips out his salvage tool

and goes down like
a savage on this thing.

He's screamin', it's dyin'.
It's total chaos.

-To Prybar!
-To Prybar!

That's not my name!

It is now, big hero.

I can't.
I'm already halfway drunk.

Then you're only halfway home.

Ok, listen.
Do you really wanna wake up

in the middle of the night

having nightmares about today?

Or do you wanna wake up
in the middle of the night

hungover as hell, next to me.

Are those my only options?

Drink up.

Ok, Reapers,
our ally for this mission

is Folken warrior Imago.

He has the intel, so listen up.

This is
a two-stage salvage operation

Stage One: Neutralize
the small Helion security force,

lightly armed but dangerous.
They can deploy

counter-measures against
our long-range scanners.

This prevents us from being able

to pinpoint
our primary objective -

the currently functioning
gas turbines.

Once we take out
the security force,

we will locate the turbines

and commence Stage Two:
turbine requisition

and salvage. Stay on the
offensive.

What he's saying, folks,
is be ready - this is the job.

You are Reaper Hyst Samgir

of Platoon Tango, are you not?

Roger that. I'm a Reaper
named Samuel Hyst.

Squad Taggart, Platoon Tango.

Forgive my speaking,
Reaper Hyst Samgir.

There are elements
of your Grotto speech

that are difficult
to proper form

with this arrow-like tongue.
I mean no offense.

No worries, no offense taken.

Wargir, you must forgive Hyst
for his curiosity.

The Reapers are carrion birds,
unaccustomed to frontline duty,

and certainly not
in the habit of being

in the presence
of independent elite.

Taggart Magir

if we are to fight and perhaps
die together today,

I would remind your soldiers
that we are merely

human beings
underneath all this armor.

Despite any appearance
to the contrary.

Our employers have

determined that we inflict
far too much

collateral damage, and must
be reined in by the Reapers.

To my thinking,
that makes us equals in this.

These Reapers are a good bunch,

but they'll likely
fall behind your advance.

My advice is,
if it looks expensive,

try to avoid destroying it.

You are a straight speaker,

Taggart Magir.
It is appreciated.

It's hard to believe that only
a hundred years ago this planet

was a vast ocean
with only a few islands.

Rubicon used
to export the water

but not to the detriment
of the indigenous marine life.

Within a century of Grotto
taking over, it became this.

And with no water left, now
they want the gas.

Nice to have a Reaper aboard
that pays attention, Kade.

Hey.

New girl on Sam's squad.

Sure seems like
she knows everything.

I think her name's Bianca.

She had a high job placement
back on Baen 4.

Wonder what she did
to end up here?

Must have been bad
to lose that lifestyle.

No, she might just be like me.

She wanted more to life
than being stuck

with arrogant pricks
in high placement.

This place was abandoned
and re-settled by Red Listers?

Why would people
with no corporation

move all the way out here with
no supply lines, no protection?

The intel said the people
of RLC5611 had settled

on the planet
for reasons unknown.

But in the process
of establishing

their colony, they discovered
microdeposits of nefadrite ore,

which gives off
the high-energy gas.

So...we're here to take back
what's "rightfully" Grotto's?

Same sh*t, different planet.

If only it were that easy.

Helion forces stormed the place

and took over,
that's why we're here.

Grotto might've been fine

letting a few scavengers live
off the land

but now that Helion wants it,
we fight.

This is the job!

Tango Reaper,
prepare for contact.

Tango Reaper's contact zone
is too hot for touch down.

I repeat,
too hot for touch down.

I'm gonna have to skim
the surface and drop you in.

Prepare for rapid
combat insertion.

Luck in battle, comrades.

Alright, everybody.

Get ready to tuck, roll,
and come up sh**ting.

Is this a bad time to point out
we haven't actually been trained

for rapid combat insertion?

Squad Taggart! On me!

Stay on the offensive.

They're in here thick.
Take cover.

Everybody get down! Go! Go! Go!

Get down! Find cover!

It will be done.

-Alright, move out!
-Keep firing!

I got your back.
Go! Go! Go! Go!

Sam, get your a*s back here!

Negative, I got this.

Damn it, Prybar!
Let the Folken do what they do,

while we advance and hold.

Come on, you sons of b*tches!

Fire in the hole!

Let's go!

Stay with me.
This'll work.

What are you
waiting for? Take 'em out!

Heads down!
Comin' in live.

Cover!

Impressive. Thank you.

Ok, folks.
Imago's pressing forward solo.

Hyst, Takeda, back him up!

We're on it.

Squad Taggart! On me!

sn*pers on the 2nd floor!

I'll give them fire,
you cover Imago.

Sam! You ok?

Yeah, too close for comfort.

This guy's a maniac.

He's goin' in.

Roger that, let's move!

This is why we have to--
Up here.

Clear!

Contact!

Well done...go help
your comrades downstairs.

Get ready to move, Marsters.
I'm goin' to beam you down

the schematics
for the old Tetra Prime build.

Sir, it is a Red List compound.
It's a pre-fab

but clearly
they've done some retro-fit.

Check the overlay for the Red
List mods.

When the Helions are defeated,

our scanners can confirm
location of the turbines.

Better to shell it
from space, Sir.

It'll cost way too many
lives to purge,

especially if the machines
are still functional.

< Negative, Reaper.

We're still within

our acceptable loss threshold.

< Get it done.

There's a fortune
waitin' for us down there.

Yes, Sir.

Come on, you sons of b*tches!

Son of a b*tch!

Patrick, take over watch.
Tak, collect some a*mo.

We're movin' out in five.

Boss and I took several hits.

Oh, Mag...

Get on with it, marine.
Drop me over.

You got a concussion,

and you're all messed up inside.

Hit me with a double.
We'll finish this fight.

That's an order.

This Helion troop's ammunition -
same mil-spec as ours.

They sold the same a*mo
to both sides.

This is the job, right?

What did you see
when you were up there?

There's an MP Helion g*n nest.
Looked pretty stout.

That's our play then.
Patrick!

You take point.
Let's move out.

Cap Comm, we are 100 meters
and approaching.

Prepare for contact.

Enemy devices
still being detected.

The plan's a bust.
Looks like Helion troopers

already
recaptured the nest.

Boss, me and Tak

will rush the nest,
move fast enough

to get a few shots out before
Helion knows we flanked 'em.

Son of a b*tch, Sam,
you decide to step up,

you don't mess around.
I'm in.

-Your funeral.
-What about us?

Bianca, Patrick, you maintain
position here.

Once the boys secure the nest,
I want you on over watch

in case anyone flanks them.
I'll move to the outside.

Assuming you can get
that g*n ready,

I'll drop anyone
who tries to escape, ok?

Move out.

It's ours!

Well done, marines.

Phase One of mission objective
accomplished.

Stand by for Phase Two.

Imago.

Looks like we won.
Good day for Grotto.

Bad day for Helion.

A lot of bodies out there.

Good percentage
of them belong to us.

You must learn, Hyst Samgir

that when removed from ideology,

w*r is nothing more,
and nothing less

than the violent
redistribution of wealth.

Anyone who tells you otherwise

is just trying
to lower your rate.

As children we...
we imagine what w*r is like.

We daydream
about becoming soldiers.

Our earlier reconnaissance
indicated

that the colony
that was once here

had a small militia
protecting them.

Helion rolled over them
in a matter of minutes

because it was decided
by someone far away

that their resources
were worth the minimal cost

necessary to conquer
and occupy this place.

It is no different on our side.

Good people died here today.

A lot of them were my friends.

I'm sure a lot of Helion forces
feel the same way.

Your unit didn't
go unscathed either.

When the Folken fight

it is because
we are being paid to do so.

There is no ideology
in our hearts or minds,

only the contract
to be ex*cuted.

You misunderstand my meaning,
Hyst Samgir,

so I show you my face that
you might know me as a friend.

Everybody make it out.

Bianca's getting
medical attention.

Alright, Phase One's completed.

Orders are orders, boys.
Helmets up.

We're not off the clock yet.

Let's go team! Phase Two!

Alright, I've got the waypoint.
Looks like we're two clicks out.

Let's go, boys.

Ok, listen up! Squad Ulanti's in
there now, they're pinned down

and we've no idea
how many gunners we're facing.

We could've sent in the Folken
Elite, but the turbines

are protected by a Mech Warrior,
and if those two go at it,

this place'll be decimated,
and we need those turbines.

So it's up to us.
We're gonna go in there

and flank whatever we see.

Do NOT fire upon those turbines.

Are we clear? Alright.

Move out.

Do you wanna
just buy replacements?

This colony is a BIG win.

They'll be swimmin' in cash
once it's liquidated.

Administrators
want this place back up

to full production
as soon as possible.

They're only going to liquidate
the salvaged Helion assets.

Replacement turbines would
delay this process by months.

We're the cheaper option,
brother.

Aagh!

Everybody get down.
Find cover!

Mech on the move!

< Take that, you son of a b*tch!

Stand down!
With a Mech in here,

if we try
to take these turbines now,

they'll be damaged with g*nf*re.

IMD mark has been
filled with flak.

We're going to lose
the turbines AND the men.

I'm not seeing anything wrong
with the turbines.

-What is your position?
-I've got a clear line of sight.

If they're not damaged now,
they WILL be.

So instead of getting k*lled

for a lost cause,

let's just END this fight!

Boss Ulanti, what
is that Reaper mumbling about?

Just let me remind you

that our priority lies
with recovering the salvage

that Grotto
deems most worthy.

I'm not seeing anything wrong
with the turbine.

Those turbines are worth more

than ALL of you
make in one year.

Recover them
at ALL cost.

It's chaos down there Gaius.
Maybe he sees something

you can't - being safe
up there in orbit

like you are.

Hyst, our mission is to
preserve the turbines.

From what I see,
none are damaged.

You are stepping
out of rank, Reaper.

Prybar's right!
This place is lost!

We can take cover
behind the turbines

once they're
reclassified as scrap.

I don't see anything
from here, Marsters. Your call.

If management
wants to hang someone

out to dry, it won't be me.

Marsters,

if we have missed
an opportunity,

it is YOUR neck on the line.

Alright Sir,
we'll do our best.

But no guarantees.

Tango Platoon! Fire. At. Will.

< This is the job!

What're you lookin' at?

How're we doin', Tak?

I'd say about the same
as usual, my friend.

-That good, huh?
-This is the job, right?

Alright, let's whack this Mech!

Alright, enough already!

Come on, you Mech b*stard!

Somebody get a detonator
on this thing, NOW!

I repeat, NOW!!

Taggart, get clear!

Sam, look out!

Taggart!!

Sam.

Sam.

-Are you there?
Hyst!

-I want you to follow my lead.
-Sam!

We need you, Sam.

Looks like we found
our new squad commander.

We miss you, Sam.

Come home.

-Please.

This is why you gotta
take care of your body.

Hey, maybe when you're older
you can join me.

Remember,
Grotto may grind you down,

they might even own your life,
but they will never own YOU.

Stick with us, buddy.

You're gonna be alright, Sam.

We're not losin' you today,
Reaper.

You still owe me a few shots.
...not losing you today.

Sam.

Sam, come home.

Sam.