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''Wait for enemy to make a mistake. Die. Stand by for Ghost Resurrection. Repeat as necessary.'' | ''Wait for enemy to make a mistake. Die. Stand by for Ghost Resurrection. Repeat as necessary.'' | ||
"Good evening, Banshee-44!" | |||
"Howdy." | |||
"Doing well, thank you. ...Actually, I had a bit of difficulty today." | |||
"Uh..." | |||
"The problem with a historical engram is, even if I can figure out when the engram was encoded, that still doesn't tell me when the contents were written. Or even when the events described by the writer take place." | |||
"Uh huh." | |||
"This particular engram is heavily degraded. Encoded Mid-Golden Age, allegedly written by someone named Plutarch, a historian who in turn is writing about someone named Fabius Maximus. But who were they? When did they live? In what kind of warfare was this 'Fabian Strategy' applied?" | |||
"The whatnow strategy?" | |||
"Fabian Strategy. It apparently involves attrition tactics and avoiding direct conflict until an enemy makes a mistake." | |||
"...Huh." | |||
"'Huh' indeed!" | |||
"...But with Ghost res—" | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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Like many weapons of the Dark Age, the Jade Rabbit was created from hastily reassembled—and often poorly understood—Golden Age technology: in this case, kinetic low-atmosphere propulsion systems in use on Luna settlements. Even the weapon's casing is cut from the plasteel bulwarks of the First Light installation. | Like many weapons of the Dark Age, the Jade Rabbit was created from hastily reassembled—and often poorly understood—Golden Age technology: in this case, kinetic low-atmosphere propulsion systems in use on Luna settlements. Even the weapon's casing is cut from the plasteel bulwarks of the First Light installation. | ||
The significance of the markings: 玉兔, or | The significance of the markings: 玉兔, or "Jade Rabbit," are unfortunately lost to history. | ||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Release the storm. Hold nothing back.'' | ''Release the storm. Hold nothing back.'' | ||
"Master Rey." | |||
"Gunsmith... What brings you here?" | |||
"Workin' on a custom piece." | |||
"Are you?" | |||
"Yep. For a Warlock." | |||
"Mm. And how are you finding the work?" | |||
"You know. It goes and comes. Memory ain't what it was." | |||
"Yes." | |||
"Good to be back in the shop, though." | |||
"I'm glad of it. Well, then, I suspect you'll find some of my recent research quite interesting." | |||
"S'why I'm here." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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The other spoke... | The other spoke... | ||
"Been awhile." | |||
I gave no reply. | I gave no reply. | ||
"The gunslinger's sword... his cannon. That was a gift." | |||
My silence held as my thumb caressed the perfectly worn hammer at my hip. | My silence held as my thumb caressed the perfectly worn hammer at my hip. | ||
"An offering from me... to you." | |||
The heat grew. Centered in my chest. | The heat grew. Centered in my chest. | ||
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The other probed... | The other probed... | ||
"Nothing to say?" | |||
He let the words hang. | He let the words hang. | ||
"I've been waiting for you. For this day." | |||
His attempt at conversation felt mundane when judged against all that had come before. | His attempt at conversation felt mundane when judged against all that had come before. | ||
"Many times I thought you'd faltered. Given up..." | |||
All I'd lost, all who'd suffered, flashed rapid through my mind, intercut with a dark silhouette walking toward a frightened, weak, coward of a boy. | All I'd lost, all who'd suffered, flashed rapid through my mind, intercut with a dark silhouette walking toward a frightened, weak, coward of a boy. | ||
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The other continued... | The other continued... | ||
"But here you are. This is truly an end..." | |||
As his tongue slipped between syllables my gun hand moved as if of its own will. | As his tongue slipped between syllables my gun hand moved as if of its own will. | ||
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Leveling my cannon at the dead man's helm, I paid one final tribute to my mentor, my savior, my father and my friend... | Leveling my cannon at the dead man's helm, I paid one final tribute to my mentor, my savior, my father and my friend... | ||
"Yours... Not mine." | |||
...as I closed my grip, allowing Jaren's cannon, now my own, to have the last, loud word. | ...as I closed my grip, allowing Jaren's cannon, now my own, to have the last, loud word. | ||
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[u.2:3.8] Yet you disagree so thoroughly with my change in perspective. | [u.2:3.8] Yet you disagree so thoroughly with my change in perspective. | ||
[u.1:3.8] If only the change was simply one of perspective. You're | [u.1:3.8] If only the change was simply one of perspective. You're "evolution" was no choice. This is not you having come to an understanding after | ||
careful considered thought. This is corruption. | careful considered thought. This is corruption. | ||
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[u.2:6.0] Maybe so. But I gotta tell ya... I tend to like my odds. | [u.2:6.0] Maybe so. But I gotta tell ya... I tend to like my odds. | ||
[u.1:5.8] Your tainted | [u.1:5.8] Your tainted "Rose" will not always save you. | ||
[u.2:6.1] Old friend... It already has. | [u.2:6.1] Old friend... It already has. | ||
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[u.1:2.3] Why? | [u.1:2.3] Why? | ||
[u.2:2.6] Give the apprentice his master's | [u.2:2.6] Give the apprentice his master's "sword." It is a gift. | ||
[u.1:2.4] You cannot have him. | [u.1:2.4] You cannot have him. | ||
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[u.2:3.1] There is no man here, I am now, and for the rest of time, only Dredgen Yor. | [u.2:3.1] There is no man here, I am now, and for the rest of time, only Dredgen Yor. | ||
[u.1:2.9] | [u.1:2.9] "The Eternal Abyss?" | ||
[u.2:3.2] So, not all the forgotten languages are dead. | [u.2:3.2] So, not all the forgotten languages are dead. | ||
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''Don't play your hand unless you're sure you have that ace in the hole.'' | ''Don't play your hand unless you're sure you have that ace in the hole.'' | ||
"Heeeeeeey there, Banshee!" | |||
"Whaddya want, Cayde?" | |||
"Just checking in on that thing I asked you to do." | |||
"I told you, my smuggling days are over—" | |||
"No no shhh no not that! The other thing—" | |||
"What other thing?" | |||
"The custom piece! For—" | |||
"Oh right. Right. Course I'm doing that." | |||
"Yeah? How's it looking?" | |||
"Did all the design myself. So it's looking good." | |||
"Is that... an ace of spades?" | |||
"Yep." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 1'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 1'' | ||
Scrawled in the margins are numerous notes: | Scrawled in the margins are numerous notes: "Vasili, this man is not fit to write an instruction manual for a garden trowel. Do not worry. I have used my time well, and updated this <untranslatable> with notes that will help you every single day. You are welcome. —Your friend, Dmitri" | ||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 15'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 15'' | ||
"You want feedback, you <untranslatable> goat? Your machine technique for barrel rifling is inconsistent, the trigger assembly hasn't been updated in years, and the weapon shell has all the design aesthetic of a Lenin-era post office." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 17'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 17'' | ||
"This is the folly of modern combat thinking, Vasili. We are safe, right? We have no need for soldiers; not anymore! And if we ever do again, they will think clearing a jam in an hour acceptable because a book told them so. That is why I am here. I will tell you different." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 26'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 26'' | ||
"Vasili, do not do what this page says. When you see this, cut it out of the manual and throw it into a fire." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 33'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 33'' | ||
"When you are trying to field strip your weapon, Vasili, you should use a cleaner of my own design. Recipe follows. DO NOT GET ON SKIN." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 38'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 38'' | ||
"And the generals ask why the soldiers no longer have fighting spirit. What spirit can we have when this is what we work with? I make changes, here. Follow." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 54'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 54'' | ||
"I've been toying with a new design for firing pin interface. See sketch below." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 67'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 67'' | ||
"If Ivonovich gives you trouble, remind him who still has a picture of him in a bear suit. He will know." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 74'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 74'' | ||
"Upper receiver assembly is over-engineered. Khvostov rifles are not art. They are tools! We can do better. See here. | "Upper receiver assembly is over-engineered. Khvostov rifles are not art. They are tools! We can do better. See here." | ||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 78'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 78'' | ||
"Lower extension assembly is surprisingly good design. Still think we can improve maintenance. Follow directions below." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 85'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 85'' | ||
"Trigger assembly is a mess. Who thought this was a good idea? Use this design, use custom cleaning solution. See huge benefit, overnight. No questions asked!" | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 86'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 86'' | ||
"Auxiliary inspection points here, here, and here. Follow lines. Make sure you follow line 3 very closely. Does not go where you think." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 90'' | ''Khvostov Field Manual, pg. 90'' | ||
"Best advice a manual will give you: tell the people you love that you love them. There. Now you are ready to carry a Khvostov." | |||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
==Khvostov 7G-0X== | ==Khvostov 7G-0X== | ||
[[File:Grimoire Khvostov 7G-0X.jpg|right|150px]] | [[File:Grimoire Khvostov 7G-0X.jpg|right|150px]] | ||
{{quote| | {{quote|"In battle, you can only count on two things: your comrades and your Khvostov.|unattributed, Golden Age Russian saying}} | ||
The Khvostov 7G0X was the brainchild of two eras: the Golden Age and the City Age. Shiro-4 used the design schematics for the Khvostov series and a little Guardian ingenuity to craft a modern take on a legendary classic weapon. A fitting tribute to those old weaponsmiths and the newest Iron Lord. | The Khvostov 7G0X was the brainchild of two eras: the Golden Age and the City Age. Shiro-4 used the design schematics for the Khvostov series and a little Guardian ingenuity to craft a modern take on a legendary classic weapon. A fitting tribute to those old weaponsmiths and the newest Iron Lord. |