The Horrors of the State-Empire

From the desk of Brother Smoke, Diplomatic Delegate

Esteemed Mr. Wu,

Have you ever heard of the dicrocoelium dendriticum, more commonly known as lancet liver fluke? It is a truly horrifying little piece of biology. You see, this pernicious little bugger makes its way into an unsuspecting ant and overrides its normal thought process, making it run head-first into assured destruction for the benefit of its uninvited guest. Needless to say, the thought of being effectively hijacked by a foreign body and driven to certain doom sends chills down my spine. Does it do so to yours as well?
Then please, tell me, what exactly are Kuang Shi?
I will tell you what they are. Kuang Shi are nothing short of an abomination and a complete lack of humanity. They are living testament of the fact that some human beings are little better than animals and parasites.
We know about your facility. We have extensive evidence of your dealings in creating these monstruous things, and as we speak, there is a team of O-12 officers raiding your compound.
I expect there will be resistance, but will the State-Empire officers that protect you by the sword stand by you when all is revealed? Will they cover your actions with the pen and defend them against an investigation by our people? Or will they leave you out to dry, distancing themselves from any proof of your existence?
Think on these things, and repent, for justice is coming.

Yours in good health,

Brother Smoke
O-12 Diplomatic Delegate
Novyy Bangkok Special Commission

O-12 Turn 1

The fray began with Hyppolita and the Varangians moving forward and taking positions alongside the door. The Amazon leader used her explosive sword to breach and the mercenaries poured in behind her to plunder the panoplies. The Gangbuster moved forward and placed his madtraps inside the room and to the side, and the Sirius team took the opportunity to advance. The Siriusbot turned the corner and attempted to glue what seemed to be a trio of Zhanshi, also clipping a camouflaged figure up on a ledge. In a blur of motion, the Kanren that had been disguised up to now dodged out of the way, as did the marker, revealing itself to be a Daoying. The Siriusbot surged to the side and attempted to glue the enemy one more time, but the kanren was too fast, and the bot ended up itself glued due to one of the enemy madtraps.

Yu Jing Turn 1

A Shaolin monk moved forward and laid down smoke, while a group of Kuang Shi advanced in a mad dash. With smoke cover, the Kanren moved forward and opened the armory doors. A Quang Shi moved in and detonated, clipping Hyppolita and two Varangians, two dodges and some sturdy armor prevented any casualties, though everyone in the room was thoroughly pelted by guts and gore from the unfortunate prisoner. A second victim of the State-Empire ran through the side of the building and laid two Ariadnans low with his chainrifle, but was himself obliterated by return fire. A Mowang began ponderously advancing through the flank and took a shot at the Sirius trooper. She attempted to return fire but the Mowang was mightier. The armor she had obtained from a panoply saved her life, and she decided she would live to fight another day, ducking back into cover.

O-12 Turn 2

From her new position, the Sirius trooper opened fore on the Mowang, this time with advantage, and managed to wound the mighty warrior, whom also decided he would be better off behind heavier cover and backed down. The Cyberghost used this chance and the repeater provided by the glued, yet still functional, Siriusbot, to lay down a blanket of white noise over the enemy Hsien, effectively blinding him. Hyppolita darted out from the side and shot the Shaolin monk dead, and moving with the speed and ferocity of one of the furies, she made short work of one more Kuang Shi and the Hsien. She moved forward and turned her breaker rifle upon the Mowang, whose bio-tech shield failed, ending his life.

Yu Jing Turn 2

The last remaining Kuang Shi dashed forward toward the Amazon and attempted several times to eliminate her with his chainrifle. She dodged every time and ended behind cover. The Daoying came down from his perch and attempted to enter the armory, but was laid low by the Sirius trooper. Leaderless and decimated, the remaining Yujingese retreated.