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CHAPTER 06 . COUNTERATTACK: Difference between revisions
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==Added Value== | ==Added Value== | ||
;The raid | ;The raid | ||
*[[Konoko]]'s diary and the initial mission objective note three important things about the raid: the attack is taking place during the [[wikipedia: | *[[Konoko]]'s diary and the initial mission objective note three important things about the raid: the attack is taking place during the [[wikipedia:Graveyard shift|graveyard shift]], whereby the defenders are outnumbered over 3 to 1; neither the helicopters nor the van were detected by the network of drones patrolling the city; the attackers quickly brought down the static defenses by deactivating the power substations. Apparently the lockdown triggered by the van was also part of the plan. All this intelligence can be explained by [[Muro]] having some informants/agents at the TCTF (or in other relevant branches of the WCG) and/or by the superior hacking skills of Muro's men: [[Mukade]] and the [[Comguy]]s come to mind, all the more so as the raid seems to be coordinated by [[Kojiro|Muro's "personal comguy"]]. | ||
*The attack starts simultaneously at the top and at the bottom of the building. A van crashes into the lobby, triggering a lockdown: from then on, neither side can expect external backup from the ground level. Apparently the lockdown has no effect at the top of the building, and the Strikers seem to rely on an improbable [[wikipedia: | *The attack starts simultaneously at the top and at the bottom of the building. A van crashes into the lobby, triggering a lockdown: from then on, neither side can expect external backup from the ground level. Apparently the lockdown has no effect at the top of the building, and the Strikers seem to rely on an improbable [[wikipedia:Air supremacy|air superiority]]: airborne backup for the TCTF is unlikely, whereas the Syndicate helicopters can shuttle a large number of Strikers from nearby rooftops, even if there are only two of them. Thus the attackers come essentially from the top: the van could only carry about two dozen troops, the mission of which was to trigger the lockdown, secure the few bottom floors adjacent to the car park and blast doors, and possibly to try and disable the power substations. | ||
*The chronology and topology of the raid is a bit tricky. Shinatama seems to be the main (and only?) target of the raid: her seat is at the top of [[Damocles]], at the center of what seems to be the Command Chambers. She is eventually captured by [[Barabas]] and taken to the roof, but not before the "Syndicate Henchman" known as Kojiro shuts down the power on the level below and orders "all units" to "converge". It would seem that the static defenses were holding off Barabas and most of the Strikers just above the Command Chambers, and that Kojiro somehow made it through to the power substations with a few Strikers to cover him. It is not clear if Kojiro's team reached the substations from the top (through the Command Chambers and past Shinatama) or from the bottom (past active SMG and Mercury Bow turrets): since several Strikers are seen wearing force shields, it is definitely not impossible for a small team to break through either way. | *The chronology and topology of the raid is a bit tricky. Shinatama seems to be the main (and only?) target of the raid: her seat is at the top of [[Damocles]], at the center of what seems to be the Command Chambers. She is eventually captured by [[Barabas]] and taken to the roof, but not before the "Syndicate Henchman" known as Kojiro shuts down the power on the level below and orders "all units" to "converge". It would seem that the static defenses were holding off Barabas and most of the Strikers just above the Command Chambers, and that Kojiro somehow made it through to the power substations with a few Strikers to cover him. It is not clear if Kojiro's team reached the substations from the top (through the Command Chambers and past Shinatama) or from the bottom (past active SMG and Mercury Bow turrets): since several Strikers are seen wearing force shields, it is definitely not impossible for a small team to break through either way. | ||
*When Shinatama is taken away, the other helicopter is nowhere to see. It has apparently left earlier, with Kojiro on board (unless he is in the cabin of the one carrying Shinatama). The helicopters are headed for the [[ACC|Atmospheric Conversion Center]] and are successfully tracked by the TCTF, even though they failed to be detected earlier. | *When Shinatama is taken away, the other helicopter is nowhere to see. It has apparently left earlier, with Kojiro on board (unless he is in the cabin of the one carrying Shinatama). The helicopters are headed for the [[ACC|Atmospheric Conversion Center]] and are successfully tracked by the TCTF, even though they failed to be detected earlier. | ||
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;The ecstasy | ;The ecstasy | ||
*In this chapter, we see [[Konoko]] experiencing her first "ecstasy" (or "powerup") upon beating [[Barabas]], of a total of three. The second one occurs at the end of {{C|7}} after Konoko defeats a [[Fury]] and her two [[Striker]] sidekicks (arguably a boss fight). That second ecstasy is described as "consistent with the waveforms of a [[Daodan#Daodan spike|Daodan spike]], but far more powerful". The final ecstasy takes place after Konoko beats [[Muro]] in {{C|14}}, and this time it is powerful enough to knock back bystanders or even kill them. | *In this chapter, we see [[Konoko]] experiencing her first "ecstasy" (or "powerup") upon beating [[Barabas]], of a total of three. The second one occurs at the end of {{C|7}} after Konoko defeats a [[Fury]] and her two [[Striker]] sidekicks (arguably a boss fight). That second ecstasy is described as "consistent with the waveforms of a [[Daodan#Daodan spike|Daodan spike]], but far more powerful". The final ecstasy takes place after Konoko beats [[Muro]] in {{C|14}}, and this time it is powerful enough to knock back bystanders or even kill them. | ||
*It is unclear what triggers the ecstasy exactly, but there seems to be some sort of feedback between Konoko's emotions (or "hormones") and the [[Chrysalis]] inside her (which neither Konoko nor the player knows about as of {{C|6}} ; the Daodan terminology used by [[Shinatama]] & [[Kerr]] and hinted at by Muro is still cryptic at this point). The first idea is a particularly high peak of [[wikipedia: | *It is unclear what triggers the ecstasy exactly, but there seems to be some sort of feedback between Konoko's emotions (or "hormones") and the [[Chrysalis]] inside her (which neither Konoko nor the player knows about as of {{C|6}} ; the Daodan terminology used by [[Shinatama]] & [[Kerr]] and hinted at by Muro is still cryptic at this point). The first idea is a particularly high peak of [[wikipedia:Adrenaline|adrenaline]]. Then again, if Konoko should feel stress or anger, it is ''during'' the fight or before it, with effects similar to [[wikipedia:Fight-or-flight response|fight-or-flight response]] or [[wikipedia:Second wind|second wind]]. What makes the most sense ''afterwards'' is a sort of triumphant relief, most similar to a [[wikipedia:Runner's high|runner's high]] or an [[wikipedia:Orgasm|orgasm]] (it sounds a lot like the latter, too). Konoko raises her arms in an uncontrolled spasm, and also becomes oblivious to her surroundings (notably, she never seems to remember going through the spasms herself), which further characterizes her state as an ecstatic [[wikipedia:Trance|trance]]. | ||
*It is possible that the Chrysalis is using the immediate aftermath of an intense fight as an opportunity to "come forward" and "grow" significantly, responding to physical damage ''and'' taking advantage of momentary psychological weakness. If the host is to stay unaware of the symbiosis, major physiological upgrades can only take place during a trance, or maybe while the host is asleep (although anesthesia may be necessary, as was the case during the invasive surgery experiments mentioned in {{C|12}}). See the [[Daodan]] article for more facts and speculations on the process. | *It is possible that the Chrysalis is using the immediate aftermath of an intense fight as an opportunity to "come forward" and "grow" significantly, responding to physical damage ''and'' taking advantage of momentary psychological weakness. If the host is to stay unaware of the symbiosis, major physiological upgrades can only take place during a trance, or maybe while the host is asleep (although anesthesia may be necessary, as was the case during the invasive surgery experiments mentioned in {{C|12}}). See the [[Daodan]] article for more facts and speculations on the process. | ||
[[Category:Events]][[Category:Added value]] | [[Category:Events]][[Category:Added value]] | ||