Episode 112: Onslaught
Takes place 20-26 August 2012.
Short version
Paul stops some Reach fleets composed of mind-controlled species that were believed to be already extinct, and discovers that they are starting to deploy highly effective construct-disrupting technology.
Longer version
Paul checks in with Lantern Xor and assists him in taking down the Alignment government, then goes back to report to Maltus and brings Thaddeus Jr. and Georgia Sivana with him. Dox tells Paul that the Reach is sending fleets manned by species that were once thought to have been annihilated by the Reach long ago (and are now brainwashed into complete puppets). Seeing a chance to bring back some of these species, Paul decides to try to genetic samples of them to do so.
He comes across one and takes care of it soon enough. However, the second fleet proves to be much tougher, especially due to the Scarab Warriors that accompany it. Most concerning of all, the ships are armed with an anti-construct weapon apparently acquired from the Free Lancers, allowing them to knock out a construct in a single shot. Paul is able to disable several of them, with great difficulty, before the rest flee. The various alien fleets then attack a number of NEMO worlds, but are beaten back and destroyed.
The title likely refers to the Reach assault.
- Combat Compliment: Paul continues to encounter the Reach commander who previously killed him with qwa-matter, and who is quite willing to chat.Reach: That was a rather impressive display.
Paul: Me or them?
Reach: Oh, both. If you were a Scarab Warrior your creativity and speed would put you in the top hexile, at the very least. - Curb-Stomp Battle: Paul and Xor are able to dodge or shrug off the fire of an incoming fleet, knock out most of their shields with Crumbler shots, then teleport onto the bridge of the flagship and use it to shoot up the rest.
- Extra-Dimensional Shortcut: The younger Sivana children take the opportunity to go through the Honden of Avarice with Paul. Previously he's only tried that with a Maltusian or with magically shielded passengers. The trip destroys their equipment, and they can't just access the Honden at will even after that demonstration, but they do survive with their minds intact.
- Intimidation Demonstration: The Alignment fleet starts surrendering after Paul begins casually crushing battleships within giant orange hands.
- Killed Mid-Sentence: Paul pulls this on a Juluuni captain who is turning down the opportunity to surrender.Juluuni: True to the Writ we live. True to the Writ-
Track transmission and fire.
Compliance.
Juluuni: -we-
That battleship gets cut in half lengthwise.
Paul: Die, yes. Anyone else? - Superpower Lottery: Deconstructed by the Renegade — specifically, he presents a lecture pointing out the flaws in the Equestrian cutie mark system. Marks don't grant special talents, since those exist before the mark appears, but they do create an extra point of vulnerability — meaning that they're an evolutionary disadvantage, and therefore might actually exist for other reasons, eg as some kind of magical parasite. Most of his audience have a Freak Out.
- Villain Respect: The Reach in charge of the fleet that Paul fights is impressed with how the Lantern was able to fight both the fleet and Scarab Warriors.
- Worthy Opponent: Paul is mildly impressed by the Juluuni marines who make it far enough to bounce a shot off his faceplate. They're still totally outclassed, but he makes a point of capturing them instead of just annihilating them.My railgun shots cripple their arms and legs, then I grab their weapons and destroy them before shoving the marines into my containment unit. They earned that.
