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post archive character threads / richard
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Nekosmash 20-Jul-20 08:03 PM
Dr. Richard Newman , one of many experts working under the famed Dr. Barrata is hard at work when his communications terminal lights up. It usually does, one of hundreds of emails that come in per day, all marked priority- which means none of them are. This one however is a bit different, sent by Barrata himself, and marked as PRIORITY ASSIGNMENT
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Cedoc 20-Jul-20 08:10 PM
Seeing the marking of PRIORITY ASSIGNMENT from my supervisor, I quickly rub my hands together in anticipation. "Finally," I think to myself, "maybe this is the chance I have been asking for to get me out into the field!" I've been itching to get out of the office and take a more hands-on approach to our studies and to do my part for the Cooperative for what feels like ages now. It's taken months of badgering, but it looks like things may be taking a good turn! I quickly click and open up the message, reading the message with anticipation.
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Cedoc 20-Jul-20 10:49 PM
(Added some personal goals to my character sheet on roll20 for you to peruse whenever you get the chance!)
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Nekosmash 21-Jul-20 12:54 AM
DR NEWMAN- ASSIGNMENT TO THE PLANET GROA. ROBOT REVOLUTION IS AT A TRUCE. TECHNOLOGICAL FINDS NEED ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS
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Cedoc 21-Jul-20 01:18 AM
As I finish the message a large grin of satisfaction and excitement spreads across my face, and my mind immediately starts to go over everything I will need to pack for my first chance to actually land on another planet. After a few moments I focus back on the screen in front of me and type up a quick reply: ---- DR BARRATA- ASSIGNMENT ACKNOWLEDGED. I WILL BE EN ROUTE BEFORE THE DAY IS OUT. REQUESTING ANY AVAILABLE INFORMATION FOR PLANET-SIDE LOCATIONS OF POTENTIAL HIGH-VALUE FINDS. ---- Once the message is sent, I jump onto the local net to pull up and download to my dataslab any freely available information on Groa - planetary surveys, maps, known threats such as local fauna and piracy reports, the sites of major battles during the revolution, and any publicly available info on research, development, and production sites. Muttering softly, I say to myself "I'll want quick access if needed, no telling whether such a place will even have a global net..." Quickly devouring the last of my sandwich lunch, I grab my tools and head home to pack before heading to the spaceport, all the while monitoring my dataslab for any reply and follow up information from Dr Barrata. "Good, good," I say to myself in anticipation as I walk out my office door, "this is exactly what I needed! I've never studied a robot before... I wonder how they're put together?" I chuckle softly to myself, "There was just that war, I'm sure there will be lots of broken down bots to scavenge and study!"
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Cedoc 21-Jul-20 02:19 AM
(Hmm, do I have like an expense account with Dr Barrata's lab or was I provided with a ticket for transportation to Groa? Just realized I definitely do not have the 500 credits per hex fee for a trip to Groa!)
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Nekosmash 21-Jul-20 03:29 AM
(there's no cost to travel since you're doing polity business)
03:29
(they're not going to hire you and then fine you, and transport will be on an NMC naval vessel)
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Cedoc 21-Jul-20 03:34 AM
(Excellent. Assumed so, but didn't want to be caught unawares if I was wrong!)
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Nekosmash 21-Jul-20 02:43 PM
The ship set aside for you is a Free Merchant, called Farscape, and it has been kept relatively empty to ensure enough capacity for hauling salvage. Groa is in a state of truce right now, but it is not clear if it will hold. Several warnings indicate combat equipment might be needed or necessary, though there is an armory aboard the vessel if needed
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Cedoc 21-Jul-20 06:12 PM
Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I set out for the spaceport and the waiting ship. As I approach I hail the Farscape over coms, "Dr. Newman to Free Merchant Farscape, reporting as ordered. Permission to come aboard?"
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Cedoc 21-Jul-20 07:01 PM
(Can I get a general synopsis of the look and feel of the city and spaceport as I travel through them? Like, what's the prosperity of the citizens, are there much homeless, are there areas that feel unsafe to travel through, is the city clean? Stuff like that)
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Propheteer 21-Jul-20 07:03 PM
(Yo @Nekosmash the Farscape is Jaxton's ship) (edited)
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Nekosmash 21-Jul-20 07:11 PM
(Ah its on the main registry> well, there are enough patrol boats and other things around)
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Propheteer 21-Jul-20 07:11 PM
(lol You told me to post it there. At least, I thought you did) (edited)
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Cedoc 21-Jul-20 07:15 PM
(Man was just looking through that registry, a lot of ships out there!)
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Nekosmash 21-Jul-20 07:24 PM
(there's a decent description of Jagrati and a map of the planet on the world anvil)
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Cedoc 21-Jul-20 07:38 PM
(Ah I see, that's cool. Well I head to and hail whatever ship I am redirected to then)
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Nekosmash 22-Jul-20 12:18 AM
The patrol boat is floating on the water, it’s iron wood flanks are clean and it’s mast is lowered right now. The solar sails will extend once you’re in space powering toward the system edge. Several small brown water launches are ferrying passengers and cargo out to it. Marines on the deck and wharf keep watch on the harbor and surround. One of them comes over as he sees you wandering around , trying to direct traffic
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Cedoc 22-Jul-20 12:24 AM
Staring out at the gleaming ship, I picture it in it's full glory with solar sails fully extended and I smile in pride and approval at such a fine display of tech produced in our own shipyards. Seeing the approaching marine, I step forward and give him a lazy salute, my eyes still mostly admiring the boat. "Good afternoon to you, marine. Dr. Richard Newman, I've been ordered aboard your fine looking boat there headed for Groa." I reach into a pocket of my lab coat and pull out my ID, handing it over to the man. "How long until we are ready to ship off?"
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Nekosmash 22-Jul-20 05:48 PM
"Once you're aboard we will be ready to leave. It seems the last of the cargo is ahead of us. "
17:48
Out in the bay, several overburdened launch boats struggle in the waves to get the heavy pallets out to the ship, but the porters aboard seem unconcerned
17:49
"Best do this sooner if you don't want to get wet, looks like we have rain coming in"
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Cedoc 22-Jul-20 10:06 PM
"I best head on over then and we can be on our way." Giving a nod of thanks, I look over to the shore and make my way to the nearest launch boat, climbing aboard and finding a seat out of the way of the crew. Pulling my coat tight against the wind, I keep my gaze fixed on the ship that will take me off the planet. (edited)
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Nekosmash 23-Jul-20 02:40 PM
The storm blows in as your launch is being hauled up onto the deck, and the crew flip to be stored in a sealed compartment for space travel. small lights and gentle alarms begin sounding, as the last of the boats is hauled up, and the patrol boat's main engines begin powering on, moving it out into the bay, away from the city for its ascent into orbit. The main hatch is open yet, since there is some time before space. The captain and two other officers are just inside, supervising the deck crews
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Cedoc 23-Jul-20 07:05 PM
I gaze around at the bustle of working sailors as I take a moment to stretch with my arms up above my head. This is it, I'm on my way to a new world. I can't believe it's finally happening... I better not mess this up, I couldn't stand going back to working behind a desk everyday! Ah, but my first assignment to be off planet, and on Groa at that! There'll be so much to discover, so much to take apart and understand.... Once again quickly rubbing my hands together in excitement, I make my way over to the officers, eyeing the Captain to try and get a sense of the man as I approach. "Captain, gentlemen, I'm Dr. Richard Newman. Thank you for the transportation, this is an opportunity to study the unique tech on Groa that we just can't pass up!"
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Nekosmash 23-Jul-20 07:34 PM
"It may be the key to getting The Cooperative back to where we deserve to be. We're going to have to do this a bit on the sly, as I'm sure the the robots there would consider the theft of their dead enough to break the truce. It's a risk we need to take all the same"
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Cedoc 23-Jul-20 07:39 PM
Nodding my head in acknowledgement, "Yes it is. We must do our part in restoring the Cooperative, and this has too much potential of giving us the edge we need to pass up! What aid will you be able to provide during this mission, Captain?
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Nekosmash 24-Jul-20 03:14 AM
“Transit to and from the planet , and a small technical crew. I have a compliment of soldiers aboard as well but their main duty is to protect the ship, and ensure we have a way to get home”
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Cedoc 24-Jul-20 04:25 AM
"Very well, let me know if you need anything from me, I'll be sure to pull my weight on this one. If you'll direct me to my bunk I'll let you get back to work as I settle in."
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Nekosmash 25-Jul-20 07:41 PM
One of the armsmen brings you to a small cabin near the officer section of the ship, and you're given some time to secure your gear. in the hallway, a short tone signals the ship is preparing to lift off, and outside you hear the grinding machinery of the transit engines coming online
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Cedoc 25-Jul-20 08:30 PM
Quickly stowing my equipment in one of the lockers, I secure myself for takeoff. As I feel the rumble of machinery from deep within the ship, I can't help but be filled with awe at this exquisite combination of technology and innovations that allow us to take to the stars. Hundreds of thousands of small parts all working together to create this mighty display of NMC power and skill. And we're on our way to add another small part to that prestige, just two short hops away on Groa - a planet filled with technology and robots that I've yet to have the chance to take apart and examine. As soon as we leave the atmosphere and achieve orbit, I leave my cabin and set about exploring and familiarizing myself with the ship and it's layout. Eventually I'd find my way down into the Engineering Department, fascinated by seeing the inner workings of the ship, hovering behind the engineers as they do their duties. As I watch them work, I try to match up what they are doing with my theoretical knowledge of what is needed for such a ship to run smoothly, absorbing an mentally filing away everything that I see.
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Nekosmash 26-Jul-20 01:53 AM
(2 days of downtime from here to Groa, there's a roll20 handout that says what you can do during that time, which I see you were settng yourself up for here)
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Cedoc 26-Jul-20 02:04 AM
(Yeah, for this time I think I would likely be volunteering my assistance down in the Engineering department so I could turn my theoretical knowledge to hands on knowledge. You said earlier that there's a ship armory if necessary, would I have the authority to requisition some basic supplies? Like simple armor, rations, or Binoculars for example)
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Nekosmash 26-Jul-20 02:08 AM
(there's a locker and armory you can requisition what you need from it as long as its not in mass quantities )
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Cedoc 26-Jul-20 03:10 AM
(Alright, sweet. In that case I'd requisition the following: Armor: Secured Clothing Weapons: Grenade x3 Equipment: Backpack, Binoculars, 20 rounds ammo, Rations x5, Rope 20m, Spare Parts, medkit, and a Survival Kit. And then like I said, I'd spend the rest of the downtime helping out in the Engineering department)
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Nekosmash 26-Jul-20 06:30 PM
(2/90 fix by time we get to Groa then along with your gear)
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Cedoc 26-Jul-20 06:31 PM
(Well I've already got Fix-0, so it can't actually give more right? Helping them out more for RP-wise than for any skill really)
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Nekosmash 26-Jul-20 07:57 PM
(ah right)
20:00
Arriving on Groa, you can see a world still stained with heavy smoke it its atmosphere. Fighting has died down for the most part, though there are occasional skirmishes in the countryside where there are fewer prying eyes to see old rivalries brought to their fitting conclusions. Most of the fighting had taken place in disputed territory, lining up almost exactly down the north-south line of the planet, and it is somewhere in here that the survey team is hoping to find some examples of technology that the Zero Foundation was using once they threw off NMC service.
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Cedoc 26-Jul-20 10:53 PM
Standing on the bridge looking at the displayed planet below, I consult my dataslab and the information I had downloaded on Jagrati, matching it up to the display in front of me. "Captain, what can your sensors pick up in these areas?" I ask, highlighting the display in front of us. "We have little information on the Zero Foundation, but there was intense fighting here, perhaps they were defending something of importance. Any ZF troop movements in the area? Any visible power signatures?"
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Nekosmash 27-Jul-20 02:43 PM
(program/int)
14:43
(add a +2 since the ship has survey scanners)
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Cedoc 27-Jul-20 06:49 PM
(Okay, that's a 15)
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Cedoc 27-Jul-20 06:59 PM
(An auspicious start! Always like when a character gets a good first roll)
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Nekosmash 27-Jul-20 07:36 PM
Troop movements have largely stopped, as per the cease fire. The RLM Occupied city, the disputed town which is no longer named, and Drares all have significant Zero Foundation presence, along with the countryside. Power exists all over the planet as human and robot alike are both using them
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Cedoc 27-Jul-20 07:53 PM
(Were there any battles outside of the cities that I could start my search at, someplace with less of a Zero Foundation presence to try and work around?)
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Nekosmash 27-Jul-20 09:10 PM
(the town would have a smaller human footprint, so you could reason a lower robot footprint as well, alng with a lot more countryside around it)
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Cedoc 27-Jul-20 09:44 PM
"Okay Captain, looks like our best bet is this town here," I point to the display in front of us, "Can you set me down out of sight in the countryside nearby? That way hopefully we'll not draw any attention and I can take my time and survey the area, working my way inwards towards the town looking for any left behind tech."
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Nekosmash 28-Jul-20 04:08 PM
"Alright, landing in 20 minutes, requisition what you need if you didn't already, and I'll be sending two marines with you, along with a small grav-speeder"
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Cedoc 28-Jul-20 07:07 PM
Nodding my head in acknowledgment, I reply "Thank you Captain, I'll go get ready now and head down to landing bay." Heading to my room I swiftly check and pack my gear. Pausing for a moment in thought, I quickly jog over to the Ship's Locker and pick up a Survey Scanner to add to my supplies before heading down to the landing bay. I approach the grav speeder and the two marines with a wave. "Gentlemen, I appreciate your assistance in this." I give them an anticipatory grin, "Now, let's procure us some ZF tech!"
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Nekosmash 28-Jul-20 07:19 PM
(Not sure what specifically is on your sheet, but the ship also has an armory, if you need a gun, there are some available)
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Cedoc 28-Jul-20 07:21 PM
(I bought a semi-auto pistol during character creation, so I have that. Plus the 3 grenades I snagged from the armory earlier)
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Nekosmash 28-Jul-20 09:22 PM
The ship sets down in the countryside, flattening grass and scattering birds with the force of its passage. The cargo ramp is already lowering before the ship even touches the ground, and the rover rolls out onto the grassy field. There is a crackle as the ship radio chimes in We're going to move back to orbit. We're very big, and visible, and we dont want to call undue attention to the area- more than we have already
21:22
We'll be closeby if you get into trouble, or find something worthwhile
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Cedoc 28-Jul-20 09:40 PM
"Acknowledged. We'll keep you updated on our progress." I look around at the idyllic countryside around me, settling down again now that the ship has taken off. Can't really tell that a desperate war took place here, I think to myself, but I'm sure we'll see the signs soon enough. Turning to the two marines beside me, I walk up to the closest one and reach out to shake his hand. "Well marines, I haven't had the opportunity of getting to know you yet. I'm Doctor Richard Newman, as I am sure you are aware of. Who do I have the pleasure of sharing this expedition with?"
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Nekosmash 29-Jul-20 01:45 AM
"I'm Abel, and this is Beevil , NMC privates, both of us first class. Hopefully this doesnt come down to us actually needing to use our training"
01:46
"Anyway, if you've got a gun, keep it handy, we can't be sure how the locals will respond either this far away from the population centers"
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Cedoc 29-Jul-20 01:54 AM
At their words I check the pistol on my belt to make sure it's ready if we need it, then look back up and reply, "Agreed, we will avoid the locals if at all possible. No need to invite any trouble. Abel why don't you take the pilots seat, Beevil and I will stay on lookout." So saying I climb onto the grav speeder and pull out my dataslab to review the map of the area. "Let's get a few clicks away from here in case we drew any attention landing. Circle around wide that way Abel, then we'll take a look around and carefully move towards the battle sites and the town." As I'm saying this, I show him the map and mark out the path I wish him to take.
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Nekosmash 29-Jul-20 02:06 PM
(lets get a notice/wis)
14:06
(but they'll do what you're asking, thatpart is fine)
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Cedoc 29-Jul-20 06:52 PM
(Oof, that's a 4)
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Nekosmash 29-Jul-20 07:18 PM
(you do get an expert re-roll, once per scene which you can use here if you'd like)
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Cedoc 29-Jul-20 07:19 PM
(What's a scene defined as? Like, realistically how often can I use that re-roll?)
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Nekosmash 29-Jul-20 07:29 PM
(Generally its about once a mission, Scenes are a little different in this setting)
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Cedoc 29-Jul-20 07:31 PM
(Sure, let's try a re-roll on this one. Don't need to be stumbling onto hostiles or something this early in the mission!)
19:31
(Okay, re-roll is an 8)
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Nekosmash 30-Jul-20 02:51 PM
There is a glint of glass from a woodline 300m away before it suddenly snuffs out. There is no accompanying shot or anything with it , though someone or something was clearly watching the rover move away.
14:52
The survey scanner mounted to the rover frame pings, stating that there is some sort of metallic object 500m away, bringing you close to where the observers had been watching from
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Cedoc 30-Jul-20 06:50 PM
I quickly pull out my binoculars and scan the woodline, while speaking to my companions. "There was a glint of something over there. Beevil, keep a close eye on that woodline as we are checking out what pinged on the scanner, it would be too easy to get jumped by someone hiding in there. Abel, take us in." (edited)
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Nekosmash 30-Jul-20 07:48 PM
approaching the woodline, you can see the bodies of two robots broken apart on the game trail going through the woods. A shot rings out, striking the armored side plate of the vehicle, and beevil slams on the accelerator, training taking over as he tries to get you out of the killbox
19:48
"If anyone has a gun! start shooting that treeline!" he shouts over the loud hum of the vehicle engine
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Cedoc 30-Jul-20 07:58 PM
Cursing under my breath and ducking my head, I glare at the treeline before pulling out my pistol and sending a few bullets into the nearest trees, trying to figure out where the shots came from. "Get us out of sight, Beevil! We need to regroup!" (Does it sound like shots from multiple locations / guns? Or just the one source?)
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Nekosmash 30-Jul-20 08:04 PM
(just one shot, from the rough area you saw the glint)
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Cedoc 30-Jul-20 10:31 PM
"We need that tech, and by the sounds of it there's only one of them. Abel, let's you and I jump off and flank him. We will provide suppression fire while Beevil loads up the tech. If we disable that bot firing at us, fine and we can nab it too, but all we need to do is keep its head down until Beevil loads up those two robots then we can all bug out of here. Between the two of us we should be able to force it behind cover and to stop firing. Sound good? Any suggestions?"
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Nekosmash 31-Jul-20 04:37 AM
(Let’s jump into initiative just so we can keep track of who is doing what when)
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 04:48 AM
(Sounds good. I rolled a 9)
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Nekosmash 31-Jul-20 03:01 PM
(4 for me) Beevil accelerates the rover, closing to 100m and the flank of the woods. The robot bodies are a short distance from him, and he will be busying himself with that assuming you're able to suppress the shooter. The trees are dense here, and you have a general direction, but no longer a visual
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 07:01 PM
"Abel, let's leap frog forward. You move up to that tree there and I'll cover you. Once you make it and are behind cover I'll move up while you cover me. Once we see or hear it, we'll start our suppressive fire. And keep an eye on our flanks, it's possible he may be moving to get at us from another angle." So saying I lean against the closest tree for cover and aim my pistol forward, scanning the woods and ready to fire at the first sign of trouble while Abel moves forward.
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Nekosmash 31-Jul-20 08:19 PM
Abel moves 20m forward keeping low, and dives as a shot rings out and blows a tree trunk behind him to splinters
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 08:20 PM
As soon as the shot rings out I adjust to the direction of the sound and try to spot our assailant while opening fire in its direction.
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Nekosmash 31-Jul-20 08:21 PM
The woods are dense, and it is difficult to see much. Abel does not see him either.
20:21
(Are you just trying to lay down some fire ?)
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 08:22 PM
(Yeah, suppressive fire in its direction to hopefully keep it down)
20:22
"You okay there Abel?" I shout out to him while poking around my tree to fire at our assailant. (edited)
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 08:31 PM
(Can I get any sense of roughly how far from us the shots are coming from?)
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Nekosmash 31-Jul-20 08:54 PM
(About 75m or so based on this last shot)
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 09:01 PM
"Lay down that suppressive fire and let's give Beevil a chance to grab the goods, then we'll bug out of here!" Once Abel starts laying down suppressive fire, I quickly dash forward, staying low and behind trees when I can, until I have moved up 20m like Abel.
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Nekosmash 31-Jul-20 10:02 PM
(i think we should record a use of ammo for each of these suppression shots even though you're not trying to hit, just so we know whats left in the gun when you do make contact, and we dont have a hollywood full 50 round mag in a handgun type thing)
22:03
As Abel moves forward, he calls out, and fires a shot that knocks a branch down,
Image attachment
22:03
The robotic sniper is revealed, curled into the root system of a tree and using the fallen foliage as excellent cover, utnil a moment ago
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 10:09 PM
(Yeah for sure. Probably shot like 3 shots at the treeline when we were first shot at, then 3 more when I was covering Abel. So that will leave me with half a clip left, 6 more shots before I have to reload.)
22:15
Taking in my first sight of one the robotic creatures, I stare for a brief moment in wonder at its sleek lines of shining steel, thinking to myself "Now ain't that a thing of beauty... I want it!" With a covetous grin, I take aim at the robot and start firing my pistol, attempting to disable it. "Abel, there it is! Take it out!" (Now that I can see it, I assume an attack roll is in order, so I'll go roll that)
22:17
(Rolled a 19, and if that's a hit I rolled 8 damage)
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Cedoc 31-Jul-20 10:27 PM
(Natural 20 though, so crit. Only rolled a 1 for bonus damage, so total damage is 9) (edited)
22:29
(Love that picture btw, the robots look cool)
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Nekosmash 01-Aug-20 04:51 PM
There is a shower of sparks, and the robot's head jerks back. It drops the rifle and falls into the brush, a weak arm trying to get it to rise again, though it seems too damaged
16:51
(its technically mortally wounded, even if its not alive)
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Cedoc 01-Aug-20 07:44 PM
I dash towards the damaged robot and shout out to Abel and Beevil, "It's down! I think we're safe, but keep your eyes open!" I crouch down beside the robot, pushing its weapon out of its reach. "Ahh, there's so much I could learn from this one.... hmm, perhaps I could do something here...." (Can I do an Int/Fix to 'stabilize' it and capture it still operational?)
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Nekosmash 02-Aug-20 01:33 AM
(Sure we can try it)
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 01:34 AM
(Oof, that's a 6)
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Nekosmash 02-Aug-20 01:41 AM
The damage is too heavy and the systems too foreign for you to make an effective fix in time, especially given the serious head wound but the body itself is far more intact than the two robots downed on the trail Beevil is fussing with
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 01:45 AM
Sighing in frustration, I grab the fallen rifle, then start dragging the robot over to Beevil and the grav flyer. "Abel, can you give me a hand with this? Let's load up and continue on. Those shots may have attracted attention." (I'm gonna add a new personal goal - capture a still operation Groa robot) (edited)
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Nekosmash 02-Aug-20 02:19 AM
(Sure thing. Make sure it’s on your sheet)
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 02:24 AM
(Yup! Added it to my other goals) Once we've loaded up the three robots, I say "Alright Beevil, let's continue on. We'll stick with the same planned route, circling inwards as we cover the area. Clearly the bots are still hostile, so we've got to keep a good watch as we travel Abel." As I settle into the grav flyer I reload my pistol then check out the rifle dropped by the robot and familiarize myself with it (what kind of rifle is it?). Once Beevil has us on our way, I then pull out my binoculars and scan the area around us as we travel.
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Nekosmash 02-Aug-20 04:56 PM
THere is a short ping, as another NMC vessel has entered the area, a security reinforcement team under the command of Brandon Knorr. They have thus far not made contact as they sail in from the system edge
16:56
The rifle is a standard sniper rifle, finely made, but not different than the thousand of other mass produced rifles like it
16:57
(the cargo lighter just dropped you off. Your ground vehicle is basically a little land speeder with a bit of space in it for hauling, not a plane)
16:57
(think like one of those 3x3 gators that people use down south or in the country)
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 07:48 PM
(Ah okay, I see. There's not much room in one of these is there then? I imagine once we acquire another find we'll have to call the ship to pickup the tech we've already acquired to make room for more) (If I want to make contact with Brandon Knorr, should I just pop over to his channel and make comm contact there?)
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Nekosmash 02-Aug-20 07:50 PM
(you can leave him a message there, that's fine. And it has 1200kg of cargo space)
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 07:56 PM
As Beevil is driving us looking for more tech to requisition, I see my datapad ping the incoming ship containing Brandon Knorr and his team. Seeing them en-route to the nearby town, I think to myself "I didn't hear anything about another team coming in here! They better not stir up the ZF, it's going to be difficult enough to secure the tech without security goons tramping around kicking up a hornets nest.... sigh, I better make contact and figure out their intentions..."
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 09:44 PM
(While I'm on the comms to Brandon Knorr, we'd still be driving and searching for more tech to acquire, moving in a wide circle around the city)
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Nekosmash 02-Aug-20 09:47 PM
(so we have just the sniper robot body, or all 3?)
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 09:48 PM
(All 3 for now. If we really need the space we could ditch the 2 more broken bodies later)
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Nekosmash 02-Aug-20 10:44 PM
Nothing obvious in the immediate area sticks out after the bodies are recovered. "We may need to break our non-contact, talk to some of the villagers here. This side of the planet was human controlled, and thats whats re-settled here. Someone might know something"
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 11:00 PM
"You may be right. Let's do one loop around the city and see if our sensors pick up any tech or we run into any locals we can talk to. If nothing comes up we will head towards the city and question someone there."
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Cedoc 02-Aug-20 11:41 PM
Hanging up the comms to Mr. Knorr, I say to my companions "Well gentlemen, looks like another team has landed in the city. If things get too out of control at least we will have some backup nearby."
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Nekosmash 03-Aug-20 04:53 AM
On a wide loop of the town, nothing sticks out as noteworthy, certainly not as noteworthy as your initial encounter on landing. there is evidence of skirmishing in the countryside with burned groves, trampled fields, and shell pocked dirt roadways, but it seems both sides have been able to recover their dead
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Cedoc 03-Aug-20 06:01 AM
Sighing at the realization that there's nothing to be found out here, I give in to the inevitable. "Looks like there's nothing out here, we'll have to head into the city and question the locals, see what they know and if they can direct us in the right direction. Take us in Beevil." As Beevil takes us to the city, I take some time to cover the salvage we've already recovered to hide them from civilian sight and avoid any awkward questions.
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Nekosmash 03-Aug-20 03:22 PM
The small town here is once again in human control. Two Zero Foundation robotic bodies are hung from a tall scaffold in the town square, though the bots clearly have no life left in them. The chains clank as the wind blows, and each robot hung by the legs knocks against the other, like a set of macabre windchimes. Villagers seem to pay them little mind now, the spectacle long past. The village itself is large, most of the buildings recent rebuilds, or in the first stages of being cleared for rebuilding. The elegant lines and victorian architecture are being replaced with the blocky, slab sided habitation and manufacturing facilities that speak of prefab necessity, and not a proper artisans care.
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Cedoc 03-Aug-20 07:36 PM
Looking around at the slowly rebuilding town, I shake my head at it all."What have we come to when a tool turns on its masters," I think to myself, "Someone seriously screwed up with the workbots programming to allows something like this to happen." We find a place out of the way in the town square to park, leaving Abel to guard our ride. "Alright Beevil, let's take a walk around town and see if we can learn anything. Hopefully someone here will know of an abandoned ZF factory or R&D lab or something that we can investigate." I pause, again taking in the ruined buildings still under repair and reconstruction. "We can't afford to fail at our mission - look what those bots have done here, and this is just one village! Let's head out." (We will be walking around the village, questioning the locals. I would make a point to talk to those who are repairing their homes or look like they have lost something to the Zero Foundation bots (someone grieving from a lost family member or someone who lost a limb for example) - people who would be the most enthusiastic about giving any information that could hurt the bots)
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Nekosmash 04-Aug-20 03:06 AM
(lets get a connect/cha as we ask around for some of that info)
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Cedoc 04-Aug-20 03:10 AM
(That's a 5)
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Nekosmash 04-Aug-20 03:13 AM
There aren't any manufacturing areas nearby, as this far out into the countryside they'd be noticed, but there are some bombed out ruins in the dunes to the southeast, where bitter fighting between humans and Zero Foundation robots clashed often, as they tried to keep the ZF from making it to town
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Cedoc 04-Aug-20 03:29 AM
Disappointed at not finding a high value target, I sigh then grudgingly say, "Well Beevil, it's not much but at least we have some sort of starting point. Let's head to those ruins, and hopefully we will find something of direct use, or perhaps something that can direct us further in our investigation."
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Nekosmash 04-Aug-20 05:38 PM
"We'll be getting there tonight if we leave now, we're going to need to set up camp fast when we get there. That something we think we can do?"
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Cedoc 04-Aug-20 06:34 PM
"Good point, we don't want to be traipsing around after dark in a potentially hostile area. Let's head about half way there then find a place to hunker down. Should leave us enough time to set up camp and take a better look at the bots we've already acquired."
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Nekosmash 04-Aug-20 09:35 PM
(d10 if you please, sir)
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Cedoc 04-Aug-20 09:38 PM
(That's a 9)
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Nekosmash 05-Aug-20 02:22 PM
The land changes from scrubland and loose trees to the beginnings of open desert. The buggy rides on throughout the day, and the first rays of late afternoon shine over the dunes as you come across something like a travelers wayshrine. The sandstone obelisk is tall, carved with the distances to the nearby town, and the ruins of what was once a city.
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Cedoc 05-Aug-20 06:57 PM
"This seems like a good enough spot to stop and make camp, let's get ourselves some rest." Getting up out of the buggy I stretch and wander over to the wayshrine, curiously looking it over. As I'm inspecting the shrine, I ask my companions, "So Abel, Beevil, what's your thoughts on the bots and what's going on here? I've learned that opinions on them are rather split. Some are actually claiming they are 'intelligent' and 'alive' and not just malfunctioning toolboxes." As I ask this, I can't help but let a small amount of disbelief and scorn creep into my voice, making clear what I think about such claims.
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Nekosmash 05-Aug-20 08:08 PM
Abel thinks for a long moment before replying. "I think anything that can think on its own probably is intelligent. Alive is just a process working, so i guess they're both." Beevil thinks too, but doesnt really have a conclusive answer and mentally doesnt seem up to the conversation
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Cedoc 05-Aug-20 09:53 PM
"Can they really think on their own when their responses have been programmed, no matter how elaborate that programming is?" I ask, curious about his response. "And you have no qualms about our mission then Abel?" I say, gesturing to the bot bodies on the buggy, "By your definition then, we are hauling around their corpses for study."
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Nekosmash 06-Aug-20 07:14 PM
"They'd be doing the same to us if the situation was the other way around"
19:14
"It's not my taste, but I understand the necessity of it"
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Cedoc 06-Aug-20 07:29 PM
"Exactly. Regardless of whether they can be considered sapient or not, they are a current and direct threat to NMC citizens." I reply, nodding my head at his response. Turning back to the obelisk, I note the distance to the ruined city and checking if any other locations are carved into it. Afterwards, I pull out the most intact robot body and start my own inspection of it, attempting to learn what I can of their physical construction and how they are put together. (If nothing happens, I would spend a few hours studying the bot, sleep, then head out in the morning for the ruins) (edited)
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Nekosmash 09-Aug-20 01:43 AM
(We can get a fix/int if you want to do something like a field dissection or a know/int if you’re trying to do a less invasive surface level inspection
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Cedoc 09-Aug-20 02:00 AM
(I'd be trying for more like a field dissection, being fascinated with this novel piece of machinery)
02:00
(That's a 4)
02:03
(This wouldn't happen to be considered a new scene yet for me to use my Expert re-roll eh?)
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Nekosmash 09-Aug-20 01:39 PM
(We can. That’s fine)
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Cedoc 09-Aug-20 05:43 PM
(Sweet! I'll do that then!)
17:43
(Okay, the re-roll is an 8)
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Nekosmash 09-Aug-20 09:32 PM
Some imaginative use of cutting tools has you cracking open the chest of the robot and admiring how closely the servos, gears and wires mimic the human frame on a clunkier and more boxy model. The placement of everything is oddly exact, if up sized. It’s difficult to get at the central power unit, as it’s covered in thick armor and a layer of metal rad shielding
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Cedoc 10-Aug-20 02:06 AM
I run my hands along the smooth curves of the bot, occasionally stopping and tinkering with a small gear, servo, or circuit board. "Ah, this is truly a thing of beauty. Look how the engineer seamlessly connected the arm here." I say as I point and trace out the connection points. I'm speaking mostly to myself, but am clearly audible if Abel or Beevil pay even slight attention to what I'm doing. "Ah! And here, these wires running along the spine and towards the head must be mimicking the central nervous system... Fascinating, truly fascinating the detail that went into this creation." I sit back on my haunches, staring at the opened up body in thought. "I best not touch that power unit, at least not until I'm back in the lab with proper tools." I sigh forlornly, dearly wishing I had the equipment to do a full analysis of the bot. Taking out my dataslab I start rapidly filling out my notes with observations and diagrams of what I can see and have learned from this experiment. Afterwards I take out my Survey Scanner, using it to analyze the material composition of the bots body and inner workings, as well as to take detailed video recordings of the bot, saving the results in my dataslab with the rest of my notes. Rubbing my hands together in excitement, I speak to the broken bot, "I'll have to get my hands on a still functioning sample, imagine what I could learn from that!" Once finished, I carefully put the bot back together as I found it and pack it away on the grav buggy. "We best make sure we are rested up for tomorrow, who knows how many chances we'll get to rest with hostile bots roaming these parts." So saying, I get into the buggy, claiming the passenger seat and recline it back to get some sleep.
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Nekosmash 10-Aug-20 03:48 AM
(whats the camping arrangements like for night time, are you setting a watch, and for how long?)
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Cedoc 10-Aug-20 04:22 AM
(I honestly don't think it would be something that Richard would think of. Although he was technically in the space navy, he was always planet-side doing R&D and such. So unless Abel or Beevil bring up having watches, Richard would just go to sleep. If they do bring it up he would follow their recommendations, since they are the marines and know better how to keep us alive out here)
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Nekosmash 10-Aug-20 02:45 PM
(Gotcha) beevil takes first watch, and reports nothing, waking you up for yours after 3 hours for your own shift, with Abel taking sunrise, where any diurnal predators' are likely to make their move.
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Cedoc 10-Aug-20 06:15 PM
Stretching in the early morning sunrise, I set about making breakfast for us, nodding to Abel in greeting when I see him. As I'm eating, I review my research notes from the previous nice and compile them into a report which I send to the ship waiting in orbit above us, along with our search plans for the day. Packing up our gear, I look to the others, "Well, let's get a move on and check out those ruins. Hopefully there will be something around, perhaps even an active bot or two that we can question."
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Nekosmash 11-Aug-20 03:53 AM
"I hope there isn't, its probably going to shoot at us. I'm a little unnerved by what we heard" Abel says , folding in the pressure tent from the night's camp "I'd expect the truce has failed out here too, especially over so bitterly contested ground like this"
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Cedoc 11-Aug-20 04:44 AM
"Yeah, I don't particularly want to get shot at either. Hopefully we can avoid it. But we need something to be there if we are to complete our mission. If we do run into some active bots, we really need to get our hands on one that is still operation. We can question them, and there is so much more we can learn about how their tech works when we have something that is still functional!" As we talk I gesture Abel to the wheel of the buggy and opening up a map on my dataslab I start directing him towards the ruins. I pause in thought at his last comment, then nod my head in agreement. "It does sound like the truce has failed out here. Between that sniper opening up on us and those hung bots in town, war may break out sooner than anyone hopes. That makes capturing one and our job even more important in order to ensure we have the information we need to protect the NMC citizens here planetside. I have a feeling that we only have a small window to get it done."
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Nekosmash 11-Aug-20 04:50 AM
"I wouldn't want to be here if heavier fighting breaks out. Especially with it just being the 3 of us. so we should discuss this now before we run into something and make mistakes, how do we intend to capture one of these bots"
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Cedoc 11-Aug-20 04:54 AM
"Agreed, I wouldn't either. If things start getting too hairy around here, we will pull out before we get caught in something we can't handle. As for how to capture one, that will likely depend on the situation we find ourselves in." Looking thoughtful for a moment, I glance to the back seat where the sniper rifle we acquired sat. "How good are you two with that sniper rifle there? Could you take out the leg of one of the bots from a safe distance? Might be the easiest way to disable one but still leave it operational."
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Nekosmash 11-Aug-20 04:58 AM
"Even if we do, its weapon arms might still be functional, or something worse. Shooting it to pieces is going to make it no better than our other dead friends here"
04:58
(also with the sniper special rule, if its an execution attack like you're describing, anything failing the save is killed instead of mortally wounded)
04:59
(thats why the mag size is so small)
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Cedoc 11-Aug-20 05:08 AM
(Ahh, okay then) "Hmm, it does make it more difficult. I wonder how high a priority the bots programming places on preserving their own 'life.' We may be able to encourage one to surrender if we can isolate it from its allies and show it that it has little hope of escape. I don't want us to unduly risk our own lives, but if we see the chance to acquire one at a minimal increase in risk, I want us to take it."
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Nekosmash 11-Aug-20 04:21 PM
"We'll need to keep our eyes open for an opportunity then. Well, looks like we're packed. Looks like one of the hab towers is still standing too, we might be able to get up to a higher floor and get an idea of the layout of the city"
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Cedoc 11-Aug-20 06:15 PM
"Good idea. Let's get up there and see what we can see. We've got all day, so let's not rush. Take our time and make sure we don't miss anything or stumble unawares into any hostiles." As we approach the city and the hab tower, I continually scan the area around us, slightly nervous at the prospect of another sniper opening fire on us. Pulling out my binoculars, I scan the hab tower windows, ensuring that they are empty.
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Nekosmash 11-Aug-20 07:34 PM
Taking your time, and really looking at the windows, you see a dead Zero Foundation sniper, and a few dead human ones in various windows, as it seems many people had the idea of using the building as a base for your exact idea over the course of the fighting . Outside the building, around the front, a pair of burned out human scout jeeps are blackened, paint scorched, with melted skeletons fused to the steering wheels and passenger compartments. the blowing sand has abraded much of the paint from the wrecks. (edited)
19:35
at the end of the road, a tank with a missing turret that looks Foundation in origin whistles, as the wind blows through it
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Cedoc 11-Aug-20 07:44 PM
Looking around at the carnage surrounding us, I sigh at the senseless loss of life. This is awful, those poor people... And it's looking like it may be starting up again too. Bloody bots.... Rousing myself from my thoughts, I look to the others, "Let's get up in that tower and do a survey of the area. Looks to be some destroyed bots up there, snipers during the battle. If anyone see's one with an undamaged head, grab it - the one we got has a bullet hole in it. After we survey the area and make sure its safe, I'll want to start with that tank and see what we can learn from it and salvage any potentially useful parts. While we are up there, let's also see if we can spot any other salvage while we have the height advantage."
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Nekosmash 11-Aug-20 10:36 PM
Beevil takes something out of his pack, which looks like a da-vinci era wingsuit, with actual sailcloth between the arms, legs, and sides. "Well doc, I have this grav harness, you'll be able to zoom right up there once we get inside, we can crack open the elevator shaft. Abel and I have climbing gear, andd we'll be right behind you"
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Cedoc 11-Aug-20 10:50 PM
Eyes lighting up at the sight of the grav harness, I give a wide grin at the opportunity. "Beevil, you know just how to make a guy happy!" I hurriedly get into the harness, awkwardly adjusting the straps until it fits properly. Not having used one before, I familiarize myself with the controls as I move towards the elevator shaft. Helping Abel and Beevil to pry open the elevator doors, I activate the harness, and float into the shaft. Struggling a bit at first to keep my balance, I wobble in the air. "Now ain't this an experience!" I exclaim, as I float up and down a few metres experimentally. "I've gotta get myself one of these!" After letting myself enjoy the new experience for a few minutes, I finally suppress my excitement at the new toy a bit, although I can't keep a slight grin off my face. "Right, I guess we best get moving. Let's head up to the level where I saw that sniper hanging out the window. As good as a place to start as any."
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Nekosmash 12-Aug-20 02:37 AM
Richard is able to bound up the elevator shaft with a single leap, and the grav nodes take over, effortlessly floating you up to the trade office that once occupied this floor of the building. Furniture has been smashed , chairs overturned, and papers scattered everywhere, though there are no bodies on this level aside from the dead robot in the window (edited)
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Cedoc 12-Aug-20 03:03 AM
Enjoying the effortless trip up, I land on the trade floor with a sigh, the flight too short for my liking. I take a couple steps towards dead robot, then stop and step back. Uh oh, careful there Richard. Can't be too eager. Standing at the top of the shaft, I draw my pistol and wait until Abel and Beevil reach the landing. "Right, let's do a quick search of the floor to make sure we are alone then we can take some time to get a feel for the lay of the city. Should be a good view from up here."
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Nekosmash 12-Aug-20 03:14 PM
Image attachment
15:14
(the yellow is where you are)
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Nekosmash 12-Aug-20 04:12 PM
(But the rest of the filled in spots would be you observing for a couple hours and sort of assigning some general ideas to the buildings around you, for what they probably were)
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Cedoc 12-Aug-20 06:12 PM
(Ooh, nice. Appreciate the visual aid!) After taking our survey of the surrounding city and entering the data into my dataslab, I stop off at the dead robot sniper and salvage whatever parts I can from it - especially the head if it is undamaged and the core. "It was definitely a solid plan to come up here first, this gives me a good idea of where we should be focusing our search. Let's eat a quick lunch then be on our way. We'll stop at that ruined ZF tank first and see if there's any useful tech left inside, then move on to the Commercial Cybernetics building just north of us. Other high priority areas would be that Industrial area and the Auto / Robotics Repair building in the far north. There's a few other places I'd like us to check out if we have time, but those are not as high priority." Quickly eating our simple lunch rations, we head back to the elevator shaft where I once again take a leap and start my float down. As before, the flight leaves a childlike grin of glee on my face as I make my way. Ah, far too short of a trip. I need to get my hands on one of these for myself! I nod at Abel and Beevil as they make their way to the bottom floor. "Right, boys, let's check out that tank."
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Nekosmash 12-Aug-20 06:17 PM
The head is undamaged but it seems the core has been taken, though no indication by who.
18:18
(also you can keep the suit, he gave it to you)
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Cedoc 12-Aug-20 06:18 PM
(Awww yeah! Hit the jackpot, lol)
18:24
(I'll take the head then and leave the rest of the bot. Between this head and the other snipers body I should have an intact sample of every part of a ZF bot now) When I go to return the suit and Beevil indicates that I can keep it my face lights up in excitement and I do a short little dance, giving him a quick spontaneous hug in the middle of it. Swiftly rubbing my hands together to let off some of my excited energy, I say to Beevil "Well you've just made my year Beevil! I've never had such a fine piece of tech!"
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Nekosmash 12-Aug-20 06:32 PM
"My father used to make them by the hundred in better days, back on Jagrati. I hope one day more of the special operations groups will be using them. Grav harnesses are very special. Man has always wanted to fly, and looked up at the sky with wonder. For a little bit, we get to be part of a world we have never been able to reach on our own"
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Cedoc 12-Aug-20 06:39 PM
"Yes! You understand! Tech like this allows us to live out those dreams! It's why I do what I do Beevil. I want to bring more and better tech to the average citizens of the Cooperative. It can improve their lives in so many ways! The people like your father who create such things are the real heroes of our society!"
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Nekosmash 13-Aug-20 03:24 AM
"And we will again. I believe in you Doc. So lets see about this tank. Let's approach careful, never know what might be going on in there"
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Cedoc 13-Aug-20 04:14 AM
"Agreed, we will approach slow and carefully. Let's do this." I reply as I nod my head. We slowly approach the tank with our weapons drawn, staying close to the sides of the street and using what cover we can. As we move forward, I pay particular attention to the surrounding buildings and glance from window to window, the thought of more snipers still in my mind.
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Nekosmash 13-Aug-20 02:23 PM
The town seems empty around you still, and the wind whistles as it winds through holes and rest in the vehicle armor. Approaching the turret, you see something like a heavy railgun was mounted on it, though most of it is not functional anymore, the complex array of grav and magnetic plates out of alignment, or broken
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Cedoc 13-Aug-20 06:05 PM
"Keep an eye out while I check this thing over." I say to Abel and Beevil. Working quickly, I climb into the broken down tank and start quickly checking it over top to bottom to see if there is any remaining ZF tech that I can salvage. Feel too exposed out here, I better get this part done fast. Let's see.... railgun, grav plates.....
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Nekosmash 13-Aug-20 07:08 PM
It looks like with some work, and a few spare parts, the bottom section of the tank can move again, but the turret is far too damage to be re-attached, the terminal shot taking most of the fittings and rotational ring with it
19:08
(basically would be a ground-truck, stats wise, if you fix it since its just the tractor bottom)
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Cedoc 13-Aug-20 07:10 PM
(Nothing new tech wise that the NMC couldn't build itself then it sounds like)
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Nekosmash 13-Aug-20 07:14 PM
(i wouldn't assume that)
19:14
(a field assessment is always going to pale in comparison to recovery, and a more detailed attempt at reverse engineering later, really getting to see how someone else does something)
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Cedoc 13-Aug-20 07:15 PM
(Riiight, okay. That makes sense)
19:18
Carefully going over the remains of the tank in detail, I call out to my companions. "Looks like I can likely get this thing running. Turret is toast, but I can get the main lower section moving again. Why don't you two set up a perimeter and I will get to work getting this hunk of metal moving." Taking a moment to stretch and get a drink of water, I pull out my tools and get to work on the tank.
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Nekosmash 13-Aug-20 07:19 PM
(We don't need a fix if you've got 3 pieces of spare parts)
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Cedoc 13-Aug-20 07:20 PM
(I've unfortunately only got 1 piece of spare parts. There's that industrial complex just north of us, would that be a place I could salvage some more parts? Or are they more specialized than that?)
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Nekosmash 13-Aug-20 07:32 PM
(you could do that!)
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Cedoc 13-Aug-20 07:46 PM
Starting the repairs, I quickly realize that I don't have everything I need to get it up and going. "It's even more damaged than I first thought, this isn't going to work. We're going to have to go salvage some parts to get this thing moving again. Let's head to that Industrial Complex, a place like that is bound to have what I need." I climb out of the tank, my lab coat already covered in numerous grease stains from my attempts at getting the vehicle moving again. Wiping my hands clean onto the coat - adding another smear of grease - I gather up my tools and start moving. "Let's head out."
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Nekosmash 14-Aug-20 03:20 PM
"Alright doc, well, you're able to fly in that thing, think you can give us a leap and glide, see if there;s anything in the streets around here between us and them?"
15:21
"Hate to use you as a living drone like this, but you're going to see anything way before it sees you, and you can get down to us if it looks dangerous"
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Cedoc 14-Aug-20 08:22 PM
The excitement at the prospect of using the harness to fly out in the open air overrules my nervousness at potential hostile ZF forces, and flashing a quick smile I launch myself into the air. "You got it, how can I resist such a request?" I call back, already getting some height over their heads. As a nod to the paranoid voice in my head, I do hug the sides of buildings as much as possible as I go up and scout, to try and limit the amount of silhouette I make against the sky. As I gain some height I feel the increased breeze against my face and I pause to spin around and take in the vista my vantage point gives me. Everyone should get to experience this. Never felt quite so free as I do now! I let myself enjoy the experience for a minute, but then quickly get to my job, scouting the way forward and keeping my eyes peeled for any hostiles or potential ambush points.
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Nekosmash 15-Aug-20 01:32 PM
You don’t see anything in the streets from your vantage point , but it may just be an illusion of safety rather than safety itself. The wind continues blowing and you pass nothing but bot bodies, human skeletons , and burned out wrecks of small vehicles in the streets from both sides
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Cedoc 15-Aug-20 06:30 PM
Radioing down to my companions to inform them, I say "I don't see anything, but there's enough debris and vantage points out there that there's the potential bots may be hiding. Lots of wrecked bot bodies out there as well, keep an eye on them as you pass in case some are playing possum." After another glance around, I hop back down to the buggy and pull out the sniper rifle from the back seat. "I'll cover you two from above as you advance. We can bunny hop forward. I'll find a vantage point and provide overwatch coverage while you advance. We have all day, so no need to rush."
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Nekosmash 15-Aug-20 08:30 PM
The kit is handed out and a pressurized snap locks the rifle to a small clam under the left arm so it’s free while you climb. It is still heavy and you have to throw more balance to the right to stay level. “It takes some getting used to but if nobody comes home from this in a box it’s worth it “
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Cedoc 15-Aug-20 08:46 PM
"It sure does, give me a minute here to get setup then you two can start moving." Awkwardly holding the rifle and swerving a bit in the air until I get used to the added weight, I make my way up to the roof of the building with a view of the path Abel and Beevil will take. Settling down, I look through the snipers scope and follow Abel and Beevil's progress, periodically scanning the area around them and the other rooftops. (How much ammo did we find with the sniper rifle?)
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Nekosmash 17-Aug-20 03:26 AM
(Theyre one shot mags but you’ve got four rounds )
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Cedoc 17-Aug-20 03:29 AM
(Okay, cool. We'll leap frog covering each other until we get to the industrial complex or run into hostiles then)
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Nekosmash 17-Aug-20 03:55 PM
Heading toward the ruins, you are a short way ahead of your friends on the street with something rattles in a junk pile, 300m from your position. something like a mechanical box, only a meter tall, with a pair of manipulator arms rushes from the piile, trying to pull a robot body with it
15:55
(think like a mouse droid with arms, for a lack of a better way to describe it)
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Cedoc 19-Aug-20 01:43 AM
I immediately activate my comms and contact my companions. "We have contact, about 300m ahead. Looks like some sort of scavenger or reclamation droid. You two approach it from this side, I'll fly around and cut off its escape. Let's take this one still operational! Between the three of us should be able to muscle it down long enough for me to jam its legs, its not that big. Try to sneak as close as we can before it notices us." As I speak I'm staring at the bot with avarice in my eyes. Then I turn and start circling around to block the escape of the bot.
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Nekosmash 19-Aug-20 01:46 AM
(Are you flying around like a mechanical crow? Haha) Your companions move low and slow, trained scouts and professionals despite your opinions of their mental abilities they are impressive soldiers. Swinging around from the north , you have but to swoop in and cut off its escape”
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Cedoc 19-Aug-20 01:59 AM
(Haha, maybe a little! But I'd continue to hug close to buildings to reduce my silhouette) Seeing their skilled movement, i attempt to do my part in setting up the ambush, although I know the only reason I'm able to be even slightly silent is because I'm not actually touching the ground!
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Nekosmash 19-Aug-20 08:24 PM
(and a pilot/dex. or int, for swooping in on this thing, might be able to knock it out safely as is)
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Cedoc 19-Aug-20 09:39 PM
(That's a 6)
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Nekosmash 20-Aug-20 02:52 AM
(and a +2 from your allies) You swoop in to complete the box trap as your companions spring into action from the other end of the road. You wrestle the bot to the ground, as Beevil leaps forward with a metatool, snapping the power cell out of the struggling machine.
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Cedoc 20-Aug-20 03:10 AM
"Hah! Well done gents! This is a good find.... a still operational bot is something we can learn a lot about." I rub my hands in excitement as I look down at the bot before me. I run a hand slowly across the smooth curves of its frame before gently picking it up and loading it into the buggy. Smiling at my companions, I dust off my hands and say "We are putting together a decent pile of tech here. After we get that tank operational it may be time to call down the ship to pickup what we've acquired so far, before something unexpected happens. I would hate to lose what we've gathered!" As I finish speaking I glance down at what the mouse-bot was attempting to remove form the pile of scrap. (Is the robot body it was pulling the same as the others we have already scavenged?)
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Cedoc 20-Aug-20 03:22 AM
"Let's get to that industrial complex and back as quick as possible. Where there's one bot, there's likely to be others. It was taking that wrecked bot somewhere." (If that wrecked bot is pulling is different, I'll load that up then head out, otherwise just head straight to the industrial complex. Same formation as before.)
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Nekosmash 20-Aug-20 06:42 PM
(Yeah it’s the same as the ones you have)
18:42
There doesn’t seem to be any other movement and the recovery bot is thrown into the back of your vehicle , which is now getting quite heavy with cargo
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Cedoc 20-Aug-20 07:19 PM
Looking at the heavily laden buggy, I know that we can't fit much more and need to finish up here to get it all transported off-world. Leaving the bot that the scavenger was pulling, we head to the industrial complex and I start searching for the parts that I will need to repair the ZF tank.
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Nekosmash 20-Aug-20 11:58 PM
The building is a large multi smokestacked assembly plant that was once responsible for the manufacture of farming equipment, back when this area was far more verdant. Several incomplete examples of tractors hang on racks, waiting for suspensions, wheels, and other assemblies along the lower body of the vehicle frame
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Cedoc 21-Aug-20 01:22 AM
"This should do." I say, nodding as I look around at all the farm equipment. "Let's do a quick check and see what inventory there is left behind, then any other parts that we need I'll get by stripping down these tractors."
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Nekosmash 24-Aug-20 05:45 PM
(and a fix/int for that. You'll get what you need,but you might get a little extra)
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Cedoc 24-Aug-20 08:56 PM
(That's an 8)
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Nekosmash 24-Aug-20 09:16 PM
You're able to quickly take the struts and support pieces needed for it, along with a few extra spare parts.
21:17
the automated field navigation system on a completed model in the testing room is highly advanced and you are able to retrieve that as well (1 pretech component as well, for use on whatever you wish)
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Cedoc 24-Aug-20 09:38 PM
(Ooooh, sweet! Birthday came early!) I very carefully and lovingly disconnect Automated Field Navigation System, and gently load it into the buggy wrapped in my coat to provide it with some cushioning and protection. With focused determination, I quickly retrieve the other components and direct Abel and Beevil to take us back to the ZF tank, eager to repair it and finish our mission so I can study our finds.
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Nekosmash 25-Aug-20 01:47 AM
The tank is fixed as the afternoon sun begins dipping low in the sky. There is a throaty belch as black smoke rises into the sky before the engine equals out and runs clean. It vibrates gently but the controls now are working fine
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Cedoc 25-Aug-20 05:49 AM
Nodding in satisfaction, I dust myself off and look to my companions. "Listen to it purr, that's the sound of power! Good work gents, let's call the ship and get this stuff loaded." So saying, I open up a comm link to the ship. "Dr. Richard Newman reporting in, we are ready for pickup."
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Nekosmash 25-Aug-20 06:25 PM
The cargo lighter makes its approach, setting down into the sand outside the city with its ramp down. two soldiers, and a cargo crew chief come out with ear and eye protection on, waving you inside
18:25
(3xp, 5000 credits )
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Cedoc 25-Aug-20 07:12 PM
As the cargo crew approaches, I oversee the loading of the ZF tech to ensure that none of it is damaged. "Ahh, you folks are a good sight! Carefully with this equipment here, we can't risk damage to any of it! It's valuable cargo needed for study back the University." I personally unload the Automated Field Navigation System and keep it in my possession, and once the unloading is complete I take it back to my cabin with me. I then take some time to write up a report for Dr. Barrata, going into detail on our finds, everything from physical descriptions, to where they were found, and what I learned so far in personal study of the tech. (Awesome, level 2! Now that we are safe back aboard the ship, a couple questions on my goals. First, for my goal "Capture a still operational Groa robot," does capturing that ZF mouse robot count as completing it? And second, for my goal "Acquire a sample of pretech technology for personal study," does the pretech component 'Automated Field Navigation System' count as completing that goal?)
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Nekosmash 25-Aug-20 07:16 PM
(first goal is complete, and second goal is also complete, you wont be able to duplicate it or anything since we are counting it as a pre-tech component, but i dont see why fiddling with it in your spare time as part of however you spend it doesnt count)
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Cedoc 25-Aug-20 07:18 PM
(Okay cool. That will bring me to level 3 then. And yeah, that makes sense that I wouldn't be able to duplicate it. I'd totally fiddle with it in my spare time just trying to broaden my knowledge until I figure out how I want to spend the component)
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Cedoc 25-Aug-20 07:27 PM
(Level 1 -> 2 Hit Points: Rolled 6 + 3 = 9 Hit Points Attack Bonus: Advances from 0 to 1 Saving Throws: Lowers to 14 Skill Points: 4 Fix-0 to Fix-1 (2 skill points) Shoot to Shoot-0 (1 skill point) Notice to Notice-0 (1 skill point) New Foci: Specialist (Fix) -> Advances Fix from Fix-1 to Fix-2, and I now roll 3d6 drop lowest for Fix rolls) (edited)
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Cedoc 25-Aug-20 08:15 PM
(Level 2 -> 3 Hit Points: Rolled 3 + 5 + 4 = 12 Hit Points Attack Bonus: 1.5, so stays at 1 Saving Throws: Lowers to 13 Skill Points: 4 Notice-0 to Notice-1 (2 skill points) Program-0 to Program-1 (2 skill points) No new Foci. I think I did that all right and didn't miss anything, but let me know if I did!) (edited)
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Nekosmash 26-Aug-20 03:02 PM
(Everything looks correct to me)
15:02
(I'm certainly more than ready to pull off the training wheels, if you have your own direction now lets do it up)
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Cedoc 26-Aug-20 08:25 PM
(Sweet, yup let's rip those training wheels off! In the short term I'd like to help with NMC Endeavors since they are the things that help the polity grow. I'd be particularly interested in helping with any science based ones. Right now the only one that looks feasible for me to actually help with is the last Cunning endeavor, to "Recover a technology or pre-tech salvage from a former NMC world." The other available endeavors seem like things beyond my reach, influence, or expertise. I also want to continue my relationship with Dr. Barrata and the University of Jagrati, as being involved with them and advancing research there both helps the NMC, and furthers Richard's own desires to learn, experiment, and develop new tech for himself and the Cooperative. My long-term direction and goal is currently to head up the development of a "Science Vessel" for research and studies of new systems, planets, and any other anomalies we encounter out in the great black. That's a pretty long-term and far away goal though, not something I imagine will be anytime in the immediate future.) (edited)
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Cedoc 26-Aug-20 09:03 PM
(3 SP from Wealth Endeavor: Know-1 -> Know-2)
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Nekosmash 26-Aug-20 09:43 PM
(Alright, sounds good, so it almost sounds like a trip to Jagrati to check in with him might be in order)
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Cedoc 26-Aug-20 09:51 PM
(Yeah for sure. Definitely want to get closure on this current arc by heading back to the University and checking in, before moving on to the next bit. I've also dropped a message in the NMC-Public-Assembly channel requesting info on current Endeavors and how I can help out on those) Settling into my cabin and finally showering and laundering my clothes, I log onto the ships computer and check the schedule and when the ship will be returning to Jagrati. Once that is done (and assuming this ship is actually heading back to Jagrati), I spend my time studying the ZF bots that we captured. Particularly, I attempt to download any programming loaded onto the bots, as well as drawing up schematics on how to physically build the bots bodies - both the humanoid bots and the mouse bot.
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Nekosmash 26-Aug-20 11:05 PM
(yeah we're going back when you want to, which is now, hold full of materials)
23:06
In the two days of journey you're able to get a heavily fragmented program pulled from a combination of the broken bot bodies, along with a likewise heavily drafted copy of a robot body plan. An intact version would be needed to perfect each, possibly several intact specimens.
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Cedoc 26-Aug-20 11:17 PM
Including a copy of the schematics into my report for Dr. Barrata, I gather all of my equipment for departure. Stepping off the ship into a landing boat I take a deep breath of air, enjoying the salty ocean smell of home. Directing the cargo crew, I escort the ZF tech to the University for my report to the Doctor. "Dr. Barrata," I say with a wide smile, "I return with plenty of new toys for us to tinker with!" Rubbing my hands in excitement I continue, "I've already put together a preliminary report of my findings," I fiddle with my dataslab for a moment, "You should have it now."
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Nekosmash 27-Aug-20 02:28 PM
There is a corresponding beep as it comes in, and he looks down at his pad "Quite a file, aside from what you've actually brought back. That is great work. How were things on Groa? I understand you'd been met with some violence on the way down to the surface"
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Cedoc 27-Aug-20 05:40 PM
"Things are a little... tense, on Groa. We were jumped by a ZF sniper shortly after landing, thankfully it missed, but it almost took down one of the marines with me. That was the only opposition we met ourselves, but from the looks of it the peace isn't going to last much longer. Either a skilled diplomat or some sort of military presence will have to be sent in if war is to be avoided." I pause and shrug my shoulders. "But that's the politicians problem, the tech is ours. Hopefully you will be able to learn something useful from what I retrieved here in a proper lab."
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Nekosmash 27-Aug-20 06:55 PM
"I intend to begin work on understanding it almost right away. Iv'e seen some gaps in the research as you have too no doubt, but science is as much discovering totally new things as it is refining old ones. Your scientific discovery mandate is fairly open. Where do you see yourself heading next?"
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Cedoc 27-Aug-20 07:11 PM
"I spoke with Mr. Buchannon at the Assembly the other day and inquired about where someone of my skills would be needed to best serve the Cooperative. The Assembly is in need of someone to recover technology and pre-tech salvage from our former worlds, and he has suggested an expedition to Benavides would be beneficial." (Last cunning endeavor) I pull up a map of the planet with some notes scrawled along the margins, displaying it for us to view. "The planet was ravaged by the Shaper incursion and it is covered in wreckage from the battles there. However, there are reports of hostile and unnatural wildlife, so it isn't likely the safest place. But if proper precautions are taken there should be plenty there to discover if I am willing to take the risk." Pausing in thought for a moment, I then speak softly, mostly to myself, "Perhaps I could request a marine to escort me, maybe even Abel or Beevil. They were quite skilled and know how I work...."
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Nekosmash 27-Aug-20 07:59 PM
"You can take the two of them again, certainly. We believe that there are still technological remains within the shaped zone, which would be desert to your perception of the map here. Anything you can recover should be enough for us to push our knowledge to the next level
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Cedoc 27-Aug-20 08:03 PM
"Excellent, that's good to hear. I'll feel better having those two at my back. Have you heard anything on these 'unnatural' wildlife that the locals speak of?"
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Nekosmash 27-Aug-20 10:13 PM
"We had one report, some crab like creatures at a fishing village on the edge of the shaped zone. We haven't seen anything else "
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Cedoc 27-Aug-20 10:55 PM
"Hmm, interesting. I'm sure I'll have a chance to see some of the unique native fauna while I'm there. If there's nothing else you need, I'll go load up on supplies and book myself on the next flight there. Please keep me updated on your findings with the ZF tech, I still feel there is plenty to learn there and would appreciate being kept in the loop." (I'll check for any ships heading to Benavides. Hopefully there is a navy ship stopping there or passing by that I can catch a ride with, otherwise I will have to pay my way on some private ship. I'll pick up some equipment before I leave as well. -It sounds like I might need a bigger gun than my pistol with the crazy shaper mutated wildlife there. So I'll pick up a NMC Las-Lock Rifle (-175 Credits) -Spare Parts x3 (-150 Credits) -Type A Power Cell x3 (-30 Credits) -I also think a drone would be of great help for the kind of missions I'm doing. So I'll grab a Ghostwalker Drone (-3000 Credits) with the Observation Suite (-250 Credits) and the Stationkeeping (-1000 Credits) fittings. That's a total of 4635 Credits and leaves me with 380 Credits. I'll also drop off at the nearest Navy armory the Sniper Rifle we found, the semi-auto pistol I was using, the ammo for both as I won't be needing them anymore.) (edited)
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Nekosmash 27-Aug-20 11:17 PM
(You'll get the credits back for those)
23:17
(and i know there's a tab on the character sheet for a drone)
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Cedoc 27-Aug-20 11:18 PM
(Oh cool! With the extra credits that will give me I will also pick up a solar recharger as well. Ah yeah I see the Drone tab, that'll make it easier. I'll get that all updated then)
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Nekosmash 27-Aug-20 11:22 PM
(its really nice and it can track more than one if you end up being able to do that at some point in the future)
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Cedoc 27-Aug-20 11:24 PM
(Nice! I do like the look of drones, so I may one day end up with multiple and that controller cybernetics)
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Nekosmash 27-Aug-20 11:26 PM
(Once you're all tidied up, it sounds like we're off for benavides then)
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Cedoc 27-Aug-20 11:27 PM
(Yup! That's the plan. Gotta make sure to gather up Abel and Beevil first though. I will update it in about an hour, gotta do some stuff first)
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Cedoc 28-Aug-20 12:55 AM
(Okay, all tidied up and Drone tab filled out. That leaves me with 370 Credits after selling those weapons and buying a solar recharger) Finished with my outfitting, I activate my comms and contact Abel and Beevil in a group call, "Hello again gentlemen! How would you two like to join me on another expedition? This time I'm heading to Benavides on request of the assembly to see what can be recovered there after the Shaper invasion. There are reports of unnatural wildlife being spotted by the locals, and both of your assistance would be a great help! I've already received permission from the higher ups for you two to join me if this is something you are willing to do."
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Nekosmash 28-Aug-20 02:05 PM
Abel and Beevil are prepared to leave right away, eager for more time on the frontier. Both have been given promotions into special departments, allowing them more privileges' than the common enlisted man would get, and they are eager to push their station, if nothing else.
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Cedoc 28-Aug-20 06:06 PM
Giving them both a data dump of everything we know of the planet so they can gather whatever supplies they need, I inform them we will be leaving first thing in the morning. Come dawn, the three of us meet at the docks, gazing at the sleek lines and sails of our nations ships. With a grin, I speak to the two men beside me, "Time for a trip somewhere completely new gents." I rub my hands in excitement, "I believe this is going to be quite the new and enlightening experience for all three of us if what the reports say are true!" (If nothing else comes up, we board the ship and get on our way to Benavides. During the trip I'd tinker with that pretech Automated Field Navigation System, learning what I could from it)
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Nekosmash 28-Aug-20 07:05 PM
(4 days total of downtime between Jagrati and benavides)
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Cedoc 28-Aug-20 07:59 PM
(Can I build and install the "Extended Magazine" mod on the NMC Las-Lock Rifle so that I get 2 shots before I have to reload?)
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Nekosmash 28-Aug-20 08:15 PM
(yes you can)
20:15
(i think it takes a week per minimum skill level needed to install, so we would be some of the way toward doing it)
20:16
(but if we're assuming its for downtime, and all you're doing is working on this, along with Beevil's help, 4 days is enough time)
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Cedoc 28-Aug-20 08:30 PM
(Okay, let's do that then. I'll enlist Beevil's help to install the mod during downtime here. 1 shot before reload just makes me a tad uncomfortable, lol. -250 Credits instead of -500 because I have Tinker-2 Foci) (edited)
20:36
Once we reach Benavides, I head to the bridge, giving a nod to the Captain as I arrive. "Captain. Thank you for the lift, it's greatly appreciated." I look over to the display showing the planet below before continuing, "Could I make use of your ships scanners to find an optimal landing site within the Shaped Zone?" (Assuming permission granted, I'd search for an area high in wreckage to improve our odds of finding something useful)
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Nekosmash 28-Aug-20 08:47 PM
(program/int, at +2 since the ship is equipped with survey scanners)
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Cedoc 28-Aug-20 08:48 PM
(Rolled a 10)
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Nekosmash 28-Aug-20 09:50 PM
There is one site, to the west of an island near the town of Milford. There used to be another community there, but the shaper horde cleansed it before the final moments of the space battle. The town was centered around the manufacture of high tech drones, and other autonomous devices, and the facility, and those living in the settlement around it, was partially evacuated in haste.
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Cedoc 28-Aug-20 09:57 PM
Perfect. This is exactly what I need. Should be lots to find and salvage here. "Set us down outside the ruined town west of Milford, we'll head in on our own from there." (Do we have access to a buggy like on Groa to carry anything we find?)
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Nekosmash 29-Aug-20 12:03 AM
(the ship is actually going to be able to set right down since its right on the water)
00:03
(or it can follow the coast, if you like)
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Cedoc 29-Aug-20 12:29 AM
(Ah okay, on the water is fine) After we set down on the water and the three of us board the landing boat, I stand and gaze towards the shore and town. (What sort of impression do I get looking towards shore? What kind of terrain is it? Besides being in ruin, does anything look odd with the town?)
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Nekosmash 29-Aug-20 02:30 PM
(ah alright, so we're passing milford, and looking at the entire island?)
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Cedoc 29-Aug-20 05:26 PM
(Hmm, it might actually be a good idea to get some info before heading to the ruins. Can we do a flyover of the island to get a general impression of it then land at Milford to talk to the locals and see what they know of the area and its dangers?)
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Nekosmash 30-Aug-20 01:29 AM
Sure!
01:33
The island is almost cut in half between shaper cleansed zone and the emerald green of rolling woodlands. The village is small, abutting the sea, and it’s ships have once again been brought out to fish. A small battle had been fought here between mutated ocean creatures and NMC explorers that saw the village freed from@their grasp
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Cedoc 30-Aug-20 01:41 AM
(Mutated ocean creatures.... that sounds terrifying! Normal ocean creatures can be scary enough, lol) Seeing the shaper devastation and hearing of the mutated ocean creatures, I feel that familiar itch of wanting to learn more and experiment. But I know that studying living things - hostile living things - is much more difficult than studying the usually inert tech that I am most familiar with - besides, I do have a job to do acquiring the tech that's been lost here. Entering the town of Millford, I speak to the local fisherman and question them about the mutated creatures. Specifically, how active they currently are and if the fishermen know of any creatures being spotted on land recently? Are there any known dangers to the west towards the ruined town?
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Nekosmash 30-Aug-20 02:43 PM
There were six, and then their queen (for a total of 7). There have not been any sightings of them on land or in the water since they were bated to shore and fought. West of the city the terrain is harsh and the woods are thick but the animals there tend to leave people alone.
14:44
They’re unsure what might be taking residence in the ruins now, but the townsfolk are working on two wooden watch towers to keep an eye on the horizon for whatever could possibly be lurking there
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Cedoc 30-Aug-20 05:51 PM
Feeling both relieved that there's been no recent sightings too interrupt our mission, and a little disappointed that I missed out on seeing such unique creatures, I signal to Abel and Beevil that it's time to move out towards the ruins. "Seems the locals here haven't had any recent troubles, but we'll still want to keep an eye out. Who knows what surprises the Shapers left behind."
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Cedoc 30-Aug-20 08:52 PM
(Oh, since we've landed and this is a Shaper devastated planet, would it fulfil my personal goal of "Set foot on a planet that is substantially different than my homeworld Jagrati (uncolonized, primitive, alien, etc)"?)
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Nekosmash 30-Aug-20 09:03 PM
(Id day so)
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Cedoc 30-Aug-20 09:08 PM
(Sweet, that's +3 experience, bringing me to 12 total and level 4. Will do that quickly before we move on and out to danger!)
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Cedoc 30-Aug-20 09:19 PM
(Level: 3 -> 4 Attack Bonus: 1.5 -> 2 Saving Throws: 13 -> 12 4 Skill Points: Constitution 13 -> 14 (First Attribute Boost: 1 SP) Program-1 -> Program-2 (3 SP) New Foci: None Hit Points roll: 4d6+4 = 2 + 6 + 3 + 2 + 4 = 17)
21:19
(If that's all good, then I'm ready to start making our way to the ruined town to the west)
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Nekosmash 31-Aug-20 03:05 AM
The terrain splits almost evenly, going from rich forest to the endless sands of Shaper territory, where even the soil has been baked away to worthless (to the shapers) bare mineral components. Sandy breeze carries even out to sea where your ship sails, and crews are constantly beating clinging ochre grit from the solar sailcloth, for fear it will obscure the power draw from the local sun.
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 03:15 AM
As we reach the Shaper territory, I call a halt as I send up my new Ghostwalker drone to scan the area for dangers. Flying it up a kilometer high, I ensure the video feed is sent to my dataslab and recording. I turn the dataslab so both Abel and Beevil can see the vid feed as well. I circle our position with the drone, scanning around us before sending the drone ahead on our intended path to scan for dangers. (edited)
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 03:23 AM
(let's just send it 2km ahead for now, then bring it back and down to conserve battery. I will periodically send it back up to do another scan of the area around and ahead of us)
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Nekosmash 31-Aug-20 02:38 PM
The drone sees the large skeletons of sea creatures intentionally beached and killed by the shapers, along with endless dunes of sweeping sand. There are no birds, insects, or fish in the waters nearby. The shapers employed continental drag-nets, pulling fish from the ocean, birds from the sky, and gobbling up any humans or creatures on land too slow to get out of the way
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 06:34 PM
"Looks like it's clear around us for now. The Shapers really did a number to this planet though, they could of easily wiped all life from this place and left it a husk! I still have a vague sense of uneasiness about this though, so let's keep our eyes sharp." If the shapers have left any surprises behind, it could be bad for us. They are clearly adept at wholesale destruction... Re-stowing our gear, I look to Abel and Beevil then continue our trek through the Shaper created desert.
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Nekosmash 31-Aug-20 07:10 PM
(how close did you want the ship to get to the ruins?)
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 07:13 PM
(Not too close, let's set down about 5 clicks out. We can circle the ruins on foot and come in from another direction to try and avoid attracting attention if there is any hostiles inhabiting the ruins)
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Nekosmash 31-Aug-20 07:33 PM
The ship anchors itself 5km off from the coast, with the ruined down barely visible. There is some sort of dust storm or sand carrying wind event on land right now, as the small launch boat is prepared for you, along with the buggy, and your two chosen marine escorts. The last of the equipment is loaded, and the ship loadmaster signals safe for splashdown
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 07:51 PM
As we hit the ocean in the launch boat, the familiar ocean scent reminds me of home on Jagrati as I easily stand and sway with the boat on the waves. The sea spray is refreshing, but as we get closer to shore more and more I get a bit of grit and sand in my face, a reminder that this isn't actually anything like home. I direct the sailor to drop us off a couple clicks up the coast from the ruins and we will ease in on land from there. (edited)
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Nekosmash 31-Aug-20 09:44 PM
The sand dunes conceal your approach, and you're forced to come in close to the skeletons of two of the local variant of whale, dragged to shore and harvested while suffocating. The remains of the unshaped bones stick out from the sand like broken ivory fenceposts, buried near the base by the endless abrading flow of the former soil. the area itself is quiet, there is no evidence of other people, other animals, or even plants
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 09:58 PM
I stop by the huge whale bones to take some videos and some small samples for my survey scanner to analyze, not expecting to find anything unusual but doing my due diligence in case whatever methods the Shapers used left anything behind. I then take a few minutes to walk through the bones and marvel at the rather rare sight of the remains of such large creatures on land. Continuing on, as we approach within a couple hundred meters of the ruins, I stop the group and once again send up the drone. I do a high flyover of the ruins, both looking for any threats and to see if I can pinpoint the location of the high-tech drone factories that the report said should be here.
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Nekosmash 31-Aug-20 10:04 PM
The entire ruin seems to be centered around one large building, and you can see the cracked remains of the takeoff and landing strips around it for the large models they used to service here. six hangars made of metal half pipe are still standing. Two have been flattened. The control tower has fallen onto its side, but the main fabrication plant looks mostly intact aside from the corner where the tower has fallen into it. The homes around the factory were destroyed by fire, but the generous fire break around the building itself prevented the flames from spreading too close.
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 10:10 PM
I set the drone into stationkeeping mode 1 km above the central fabrication plant and set it to ping me if it detects any movement besides ours in the area. "Right, just the large fabrication plant in the center remaining. I don't detect any movement or hostiles yet, but I've set the drone to keep a look out just in case. The central tower has punched a hole into the side of the plant, so we can possibly enter the building from there so we don't have to take the main entrance. Do either of you have any alternate thoughts?"
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Nekosmash 31-Aug-20 10:25 PM
"Probably best way to do it. Automated security inside possibly too, so we need to sweep for that when we get closer. Wouldnt expect to shut it all down in one go either"
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Cedoc 31-Aug-20 10:33 PM
"Good point, automated security didn't occur to me. We'll have to go real slow and be very thorough. I would hate to be caught by it." I give him an appreciative nod then turn to look towards our target. We approach the fabrication plant on the direction of the fallen control tower. I scan the sides of the buildings for any external security such as cameras or sensors as we slowly and carefully approach the hole in the side of the plant.
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Nekosmash 01-Sep-20 03:02 AM
There is nothing external that looks functional now but you see several ports where torn wires signify equipment was shorn away by the impact or looting efforts later. You still have not seen any people, or any life in general. The hangars are also closeby, their doors are mostly closed, though remain slightly cracked open in the middle. They can be moved, but as is are not wide enough to see inside
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Cedoc 01-Sep-20 03:13 AM
(Using my metatool and dataslab, can I patch into those exposed wires and attempt to hack into the fabrication buildings network? I'd be interested in the "Get General Information [Difficulty 10]" hacking action, specifically to get all information about security systems [page 55])
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Nekosmash 01-Sep-20 03:17 AM
(The camera ports would be incredibly high off the ground, you'd need some way to get up there)
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Cedoc 01-Sep-20 03:26 AM
(I have the Grav Harness, but that only has 5 minutes of power. An off the cuff hack takes 10 minutes, but if I take an hour preparing, it says I can do it in a Main Action. So if that's allowed then I'd find us cover in some rubble and spend the hour preparing the hack - writing up a variety of programs to attempt different angles of attack on the system, then don my grav harness and fly up to attempt the hack) (edited)
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Nekosmash 01-Sep-20 04:12 AM
(works for me! and we would need the program/int then to get the info)
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Cedoc 01-Sep-20 04:17 AM
(7. I'm going to use my re-roll)
04:17
(Well isn't that abysmal luck. An 8. I've got +4 on program too, lol)
04:18
After taking time to prep the hack and donning my grav harness, I fly up to the exposed wires and carefully attach them to my dataslab and commit to the hack. But try as I might, I just can't seem to find any way through, getting blocked no matter what I try.
04:19
(Any consequences to the fail?)
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Nekosmash 01-Sep-20 04:19 AM
(No consequences aside from you don't get the thing you want)
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Cedoc 01-Sep-20 04:26 AM
I land and repack the grav harness when it's clear this systems security is beyond me. Shaking my head, I whisper to my companions, "Systems locked up too tight, we're going to have to go in blind. But carefully, very carefully." I move over to the hanger doors and carefully peak through the gap, trying to get any indication of what lies within.
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Nekosmash 01-Sep-20 04:21 PM
A massive V winged drone is sitting underneath some sort of tarp inside, the wings more metal skeleton and woven canvas than metal.
16:21
Large glass camera bulbs hang from the bottom, in a cluster of 3
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Cedoc 01-Sep-20 08:21 PM
"That's definitely our target. Can't just nab it and go though. We will have to get access to their servers for a database dump - We want full schematics and technical documents to take home with us." I take a moment to check the feed from the drone up above and make sure we are still clear, not wanting to completely rely on the automated sensor pings. (If nothing wrong in drone feed then I continue) "We are going to have to open these hanger doors, but it does risk activating any remaining security. Unless either of you have a better idea, let's get them open and keep our eyes peeled for any threat."
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Nekosmash 01-Sep-20 08:25 PM
(Nothing's wrong on the drone, and the hangars here dont seem to have any of their own security, they resemble temporary buildings)
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Cedoc 01-Sep-20 08:27 PM
(Whew. Are the hangers connected to the main fabrication plant or are they completely separate?)
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Nekosmash 01-Sep-20 09:13 PM
(entirely separate. techs would have to walk from the factory across the tarmac and runways to the hangars)
21:13
(Its on factory campus grounds, but they are separate structures, like out buildings)
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Cedoc 01-Sep-20 10:00 PM
"Okay, lets give this hanger a complete search. In particular, keep an eye out for the drone control unit. If we are very lucky the drone will still be operational and I'll be able to fly this back to our ship from here and we can continue on with our search."
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Nekosmash 02-Sep-20 03:41 PM
There is a control unit on the table here- a massive, boxy set of controls with rubberized switches. Delta-NMC is emblazoned on the top of the box in raised gold lettering, and faux ironwood panels fit around the smooth controls.
15:41
There is a pitch and yaw stick, along with several programmable buttons for different drone functions. The four under-wing hardpoints give little mystery as to what some possible uses for this might be.
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Cedoc 02-Sep-20 05:14 PM
Well, ain't this a beauty. The army folks are going to love getting their hands on this. I take the time to carefully go over both the control unit and the drone itself, making sure there are no obvious defects or damage that would hinder its operation. While doing so I keep an eye out for any access ports that would let me hook in and download the drones programming for analysis.
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Nekosmash 02-Sep-20 08:23 PM
(a research project is going to be added to the galatea institute for this massive drone)
20:23
There are a few program ports in the vehicle, and more importantly, it looks still airworthy. The battery reserve has a few hours of flight left, and the controls look intact.
20:23
The station keeping software also looks intact, so it can fly itself with some simple directions from you, if you are unable to keep direct control
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Cedoc 02-Sep-20 10:08 PM
Almost giddy at the new toy I've found, I plug into the drone and begin a database dump if its programming for my personal records. I then enable the station keeping software and carefully navigate all five drones back to the ship one at a time. Opening a comm link I inform the ship of the incoming drones. "Dr. Newman here, five large drones incoming, they are ours, please open a cargo bay for retrieval." (edited)
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Cedoc 03-Sep-20 12:52 AM
(Not nearly done here, still haven't even checked out the actual fabrication plant, but does recovering these Delta Hawk Drones fulfil the NMC Cunning Endeavor to "Recover a technology or pre-tech salvage from a former NMC world?")
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Nekosmash 03-Sep-20 01:24 AM
(If the council adopts it. Right now we still have a lot to do. You might find something else)
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Cedoc 03-Sep-20 01:35 AM
(Ahh I see. They have to do the research bit on their end as well for it to count)
01:40
Once I finish sending the drones to the ship, I gather my companions and leave the hanger, looking towards the fabrication plant. "Alright, now for the difficult part. Security is likely active in there, we'll have to take it slow." I gesture at the fallen control tower, "Let's head over there and see if we can make our way in through the hole the tower made as it fell. Perhaps we can bypass some of the security that way."
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Nekosmash 03-Sep-20 02:12 AM
(I'll snag a map for the inside)
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Cedoc 03-Sep-20 02:13 AM
(Ooh, I like maps)
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Nekosmash 03-Sep-20 04:51 AM
(tower is the giant dirt path in the southwest)
Image attachment
04:51
(its super hard to find good maps)
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Cedoc 03-Sep-20 07:38 AM
(I bet it is! Finding one that is kinda what you are looking for and also a well made map would be tough. Most maps I bet are more fantasy based as well)
07:39
Image attachment
07:40
(Are you meaning this grey path is where the control tower crashed into the fabrication plant?)
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Nekosmash 03-Sep-20 02:36 PM
(yeah(
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Cedoc 03-Sep-20 05:35 PM
Crawling over the massive pile of rubble and through the hole in the side if the building, we finally set foot inside the fabrication plant. "Right, lets get this search going. I'd expect most schematics and technical documents would be stored electronically, so we'll need access to the servers at some point. But we can't disregard the potential of hard copies, so we'll have to go through every filling cabinet and binder we come across. There's also likely to be some at least partially complete projects lying around, so don't disregard anything - who knows what secrets it could hold." (What does this first room appear to be used for?)
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Nekosmash 03-Sep-20 07:26 PM
The first room you enter has several work benches laid out, with scattered tools covered in dust by the control tower falling in and collapsingpart of the roof.
19:26
There are no bodies or signs anyone was caught unaware here
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Cedoc 03-Sep-20 09:19 PM
I take a quick look through the work benches for any interesting projects or pieces of tech lying around, before then moving towards the door at the north end of the room. I look back to ensure Abel and Beevil are ready, and upon seeing them with their weapons up, I pull open the door and quickly step to the side out of the line of fire and bring up my own rifle in case of any surprises.
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Nekosmash 03-Sep-20 10:51 PM
They both nod ready as you open the door, and as soon as you do both of them throw themselves flat and sent a bolt through the open door. something hits the floor with a heavy metal thud on the other side, and there is a hiss as the smell of ozone fills your nostrils
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Cedoc 03-Sep-20 11:02 PM
As they drop and the hiss of hot plasma passes no more than a meter in front of me, my heart seems to jump up into my throat as I instinctively take several steps back and hold my rifle up rigid in front of. After a few moments of silence I let out a long exhalation of breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Bloody hell, wasn't quite ready for that.... "Um, right," I start, a bit of a shake in my voice, "Good job you two, nice reactions." I inch towards the door and poke my head around the corner briefly to take in what lies beyond, ready to pull back at the first sign of movement.
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Nekosmash 04-Sep-20 05:34 AM
A security bot has been carved full of two neat holes as it’s bipedal and boxy form writhes on the ground. It’s internal power supply has been shattered and in this faux death it resembles something almost human before its internal circuitry shuts down
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Cedoc 04-Sep-20 06:16 AM
I watch closely until the security bot stills, making sure it stays down. Once sure tkhat it is actually down I proceed and Inch a bit further into the doorway - gun first and forward - to do a broader scan of the next room.
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Nekosmash 04-Sep-20 02:54 PM
Image attachment
14:54
The two front legs extend, as it tries to right itself from its rearing position, but the power finally fails
14:54
The next room is a control bank for the factory where the drone control programs were written, tested, and later installed.
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Cedoc 04-Sep-20 07:21 PM
(That is an awesome looking security bot. I kinda want it, lol. Is that something standard issue or something that was custom made here for this facility?)
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Cedoc 04-Sep-20 07:28 PM
I tense as the front legs extend, almost pulling the trigger on the bot before it finally fails for good. "Tenacious little guy, ain't it?" I prod the security bot with my rifle, then look up and start walking around the room. "Keep an eye on those doors will you?" I ask as I gesture to the northern doors, "I'm going to need to spend some time in here before we move on." I move over to the control bank and attempt to access the systems and their drone control programs.
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Nekosmash 04-Sep-20 08:51 PM
(Something custom made for here, and you can take the body if you want)
20:51
(and a program/int for the hack/collection of data)
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Cedoc 04-Sep-20 08:53 PM
(Okay, we will definitely be taking the body then. That's a 9 on my Program)
20:53
(I definitely wanna grab Specialist Program for my next foci! Having specialist in both Program and Fix will be really nice)
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Nekosmash 04-Sep-20 09:09 PM
(Same deal here, can ask questions of the database, and anything but the most heavily protected data you can get now, sicne your check was good)
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Cedoc 04-Sep-20 09:27 PM
(My list of priorities while in the system is to: 1. Retrieve a list of current projects and where they are stored, including the locations of any other facilities on the planet. 2. Download all the programs and schematics that aren't too heavily protected for me to access, particularly for any projects that are on the project list above. 3. Gather information on active security protocols of the fabrication plant. I'd go down the priority list getting as much as I can before I'm locked out)
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Nekosmash 05-Sep-20 06:53 PM
The facility was dedicated entirely to the drone program and ensuring it runs properly
18:54
The base schematics and the program needed for station keeping to work without totaling the airframe is also downloaded before the connection terminates
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Cedoc 05-Sep-20 07:29 PM
Hmm, this could be useful. With these schematics we could build a similar facility back on Jagrati. After gathering what I could, I step back from the computer and head towards Abel and Beevil. "That's all I can get out of the computers here. Let's check what's in the room over there." I point towards the side-room to the west. "Same formation as before." Going to the western door, I wait until Abel and Beevil are ready, then pull open the door and step quickly to the side.
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Nekosmash 06-Sep-20 02:36 AM
Pinned a message.
02:37
Conveyor belts bring ingots to stamping machines where the parts for drones could be hammered out, welded, and fitted. You’re reminded of a car factory though the tooling is for aircraft now
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Cedoc 06-Sep-20 03:10 AM
Using my datapad, I take video of the conveyer belts and the factory setup we've seen up to this point in order to have a visual representation of the factory schematics I downloaded earlier. While there, if possible I remove the stamp stencils to take with us, as well as any drone parts that are available and put them in a pile next to the downed security bot to take with us when we leave. I quickly move to and investigate the other side-room to the north of the main area.
03:11
Image attachment
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Nekosmash 06-Sep-20 02:56 PM
This appears to be the reactor room and power generation for the factory. The design isn’t especially noteworthy or different than what’s in current NMC Service now but it is a high yield design meant to keep this place running with only yearly refuels of water
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Cedoc 06-Sep-20 06:07 PM
I step out of the reactor room and move to the northern door. Using the same procedure as before and with a nod to Abel and Beevil once they are ready, I pull open the door and step to the side, raising my rifle.
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Nekosmash 06-Sep-20 07:41 PM
There is no accompanying blitz of fire this time, as the two of them sweep ahead, finding only an empty access hallway with a small breakfast nook tucked into the side of the room. Two tables have pre-packaged meals on them that are sealed and before their use-by date. Beevil immediately claims eggs and bacon for himself, stuffing it into a utility pouch on his webbing.
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Cedoc 06-Sep-20 07:56 PM
Raising an eyebrow at Beevil for a moment, I then shrug and grab one for myself, opening it and taking a bite. "Not a bad idea." I speak up as a swallow, inwardly appreciating the normalcy of eating a sandwich - each door we breach causing my heart to thump way too hard in the excitement of discovery and the anticipation of incoming fire. Once the sandwich is polished off, I move to the door on the east side of the access hallway. "The schematics show more of the factory floor beyond this door, so careful as usual." Once ready, I open it in the usual manner, inwardly bracing myself.
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Nekosmash 06-Sep-20 08:17 PM
"Eat and rest when you can in the field. It's a lesson I learned in training camp,a nd its something I never stopped doing"
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Cedoc 06-Sep-20 08:30 PM
"Good advice, perhaps we should take a moment before moving to the next room. I admit my adrenaline is spiking rather high going through each door." I step back from the eastern doorway and find a chair to slump into in the breakfast nook, pulling out my canteen of water and taking a long draught. With a sigh I sit back and close my eyes for a moment as I allow myself to relax a bit. "So Beevil, back on Groa you told me how your father used to produce and sell these magnificent Grav Harnesses. What caused all that to shut down?"
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Nekosmash 06-Sep-20 10:38 PM
"The cooperative simply put ran out of room to expand. Our main customer was the military, and when we started butting up against other governments that survived The Scream, and then the shapers- he threw in the towel"
22:39
"I can't say I blame him. We had a lot of wealth and status for a long time, and he was ruined almost overnight. It hurt him to send all those people home without jobs or any way to provide for themselves. "
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Cedoc 07-Sep-20 12:52 AM
"That is a bit much to easily survive, a tough situation to swallow too. I imagine that if he was up and running today it would be better though. The Cooperative is expanding again, and we have peace and trade with the other polities through Galeta, so more customers from that... possible additional markets to explore - search & rescue, as equipment for remote location construction, tours for locals and tourists alike, as well as the standard military contracts you had before... I think there's a lot of potential there. What would it take to get you guys back up and running?"
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Nekosmash 07-Sep-20 03:41 PM
“I couldn’t even begin. I think the only thing left is the shell of the building , all the equipment and everything else was sold off to settle some of the accounts ta
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Cedoc 07-Sep-20 05:52 PM
I slowly nod my head, settling deep into my thoughts for a few moments. (New goal: Help Beevil re-establish his families Grav-Harness production business) After we've rested for a while, I finally get up and start gathering my gear. "Well, let's continue. We've got a bit more to do here." I head to and open the east door once Abel and Beevil are ready, dodging to the side as usual. (edited)
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Nekosmash 08-Sep-20 01:40 AM
There is no gunfire this time either as you enter the part stamping plant and Raw materials storage room. There are the remains of a security camera in the ceiling that are short circuiting now.
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Cedoc 08-Sep-20 03:23 AM
I again take a copy of each stamp template and put it with the others, then do a search of the room for any other useful parts.
03:29
(If there's nothing of interest, we'll just head to the northern door and final room)
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Nekosmash 08-Sep-20 02:58 PM
(Same formation for opening?)
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Cedoc 08-Sep-20 05:03 PM
(Yup, it seems to be working well so far)
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Nekosmash 08-Sep-20 05:37 PM
The door opens and a pair of bolts once again sizzle into the room narrowly missing everyone. Abel and Beevil hastily fire return shots, the steam from the energy cell expenditure filling the room as their chambers cycle. "Another guard drone!"
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Cedoc 08-Sep-20 05:52 PM
Cursing as the heated plasma flies passed me, I throw myself against the wall and taking a deep breath to slow my shaking body. After another deep breath, I swiftly stick just enough of myself around the corner to see and aim my rifle, then quickly fire a shot of plasma towards the guard drone. (edited)
17:53
(23/14)
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Nekosmash 08-Sep-20 08:53 PM
its head snaps backwards as Abel and Beevil fire again and miss. (20/9 on richard) the light railgun built into its back howls as it fires another sawing blast of magnetic charged projectiles back at you
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Cedoc 08-Sep-20 09:07 PM
I howl in agony as the projectile slams into my chest, ripping apart my clothing and leaving a hole in my armor, scorched flesh exposed underneath. (HP: 8/17) I reflexively take another shot at the guard drone, before ducking back around the corner out of sight of the bot and clutching my burned chest. (Shoot: 6/6)
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Nekosmash 08-Sep-20 09:22 PM
Abel levels his musket coolly, and fires, the shot severing the power cables in the guard drone's throat and dropping it to the floor with a screech of scraping metal.
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Cedoc 08-Sep-20 09:33 PM
As I hear the screech of metal indicating the drone was destroyed, I slide down the wall into a sitting position, still clutching my chest and taking shallow breaths in an attempt not to aggravate the injury. "Damnit that hurts!" I croak out as I toss my rifle to the ground beside me and close my eyes to rest. "You two okay over there?" I ask after a moment.
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Nekosmash 08-Sep-20 09:34 PM
"good!" Beevil says, shoving Abel out of the way so he can reload his gun, while the drone is covered by one ready for use. "You gonna live doc?"
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Cedoc 08-Sep-20 09:43 PM
I nod my head, then speak up seeing his eyes still on the drone, "Yeah I'll live. First time being shot though, bloody hurts! Doesn't seem to have hit anything vital at least." Seeing Beevil's actions I pick up my rifle and climb slowly to my feet, taking time to reload. I'm a bit clumsy, it being many years since I went through basic, not to mention my hands shaking from the adrenaline, but after a few moments the gun is reloaded and ready to fire again. "Let's make sure that room is clear." I slowly peak my head around the corner and scan what I can see of the room, ready to pull my head back at a moments notice.
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Nekosmash 09-Sep-20 02:16 AM
The room is filled with large computer data banks more impressive than the ones in the last room along with what appears to be a miniature lab space where an advanced pre tech component has been left out on the workbench
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Cedoc 09-Sep-20 03:09 AM
After ensuring that the room is clear I pull a chair away from one of the computers and drop down into it. "Nice work you two." I let out with a sigh. Pulling off my coat, shirt, and armor, I take my canteen and carefully pour water onto my wound, cleaning it as best I can in the circumstances. "This bloody thing is going to hurt for days, and I left my medkit on the ship! Not going to make that mistake again...." sigh "That should do for now." After a few minutes of rest and cleaning my wound, I redress and take stock of the room. Fixing my eyes on the pre-tech component, I smile to myself as I pick it up and carefully wrap it in fabric and store it away in my pack with a satisfied smile on my face. Painful, but worth it just for this gem. Finally, I sit myself down next to the databanks and assess how to best access the data I need. After several minutes of though, I hook into the system via my dataslab and attempt gather the data we need. (I guess I'd basically want to download the entire database if possible at this point)
03:11
(Program roll of 8. Has it been long enough to use my Expert re-roll here? I used it once before during this mission attempting to hack the security system outside of the factory)
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Nekosmash 09-Sep-20 04:59 PM
(you can use it again)
16:59
(its been enough time since outside)
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Cedoc 09-Sep-20 07:27 PM
(Re-roll got me an 11)
🔥 2
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Nekosmash 09-Sep-20 09:36 PM
The cfontents of the database are downloaded but are too exhaustive to be reviewed on site. You can see that the files are large, providing a healthy boost to current research materials out there
21:36
(we might have enough to vote on something now, standby)
🔥 2
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 12:05 AM
(Awesome, standing by)
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Nekosmash 10-Sep-20 03:00 AM
“Alright boss. We look clear here. Download is complete “
03:00
“Good work. I Can’t believe we survived that”
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 03:10 AM
"You're telling me. Those dog drones are magnificent. Terrifying, but magnificent." I give them a wide grin, holding up and shaking my dataslab, "And I can bet you we got their schematics in here somewhere." Stretching, then immediately wincing at my forgotten burns, I start packing up my gear and the parts we accumulated (stamping stencils and bodies of the two dog drones) into the buggy. "Let's get back to the ship, I could really use a shower after that."
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Nekosmash 10-Sep-20 03:25 AM
“Let’s make sure we get you to a doctor too. What’s our heading once aboard ?”
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 03:32 AM
"A doctor for sure, and a day or two of rest. But then we should probably do another scan of the planet using the ships survey scanners, see what else is out there. We don't know how much survived the Shaper's incursion, nor what may be out there in the Shaped territories."
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Nekosmash 10-Sep-20 03:56 AM
(6xp, 10,000 credits)
03:56
(Plus that one pretech)
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 03:59 AM
(Oh yeah, ding! Gonna need to think about this level. I'm really stuck between getting the Hacker focus or Specialist Program for more general usefulness)
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 04:50 AM
(Level: 4 -> 5 Hit Points: 17 -> 23 Attack Bonus: 2 -> 2.5 Saving Throws: 12 -> 11 New Focus: Specialist [Program]* *Program gets 3 SP towards level 3, need 1 more to advance once I am level 6. Skill Points: 4 Pilot -1 -> 1 = 3 SP Banking 1 SP for Program at next level up)
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Nekosmash 10-Sep-20 04:57 AM
(oh one of those drones was intact as well as you saw, so one of those is on the ship for use, once we get it fitted)
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 05:01 AM
(Oh nice! I actually didn't process that part, but yeah you did say just the throat power cables. I was actually just plotting how I'd build my own dog drone bot, lol. Looks too awesome to not have at my side!) (edited)
05:07
I speak up to Abel and Beevil as we step foot back on the ship. "Thanks for having my back again, let's take two days to rest and recover. I'll see the doc after we unpack and then do some more scans of the planet tomorrow to see if there's anything else out there."
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Nekosmash 10-Sep-20 05:52 AM
“Diving into more ruins already. This world and this doctor will be the death of us yet” Abel says, clapping you on the shoulder with a friendly pat, heading for the refresher
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 06:12 AM
"Well we are already here, plus look at all these new toys!" I call out to him as he walks off, gesturing broadly to the Delta Hawk Drones and the Dog Drones, with a please smile on my face. "Get a meal and some rest Beevil, I'll catch you later." I say as I head off to the doc to get patched up, and perhaps a little something for the constant low level burning pain in my chest.
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Nekosmash 10-Sep-20 02:42 PM
Lift is not in supply any longer, but some healing powders are aboard in the ship infirmary (d6 healing, the dex penalty would wear off by time you get into an adventure)
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 05:58 PM
(Rolled a 2, bringing me to 16/23) I thank the doc and go back to my room to rest. I spend the next two days scanning the planet for any more sites, as well as working on the dog drone, hoping to get it up and active and reprogrammed before we need to head out if we find anything planetside.
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Nekosmash 10-Sep-20 07:58 PM
(you'd be at full then, healing 5 per day)
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Cedoc 10-Sep-20 08:36 PM
(Excellent) Heading up to the bridge, I smile a greeting, "Good morning Captain. All been well with you and your crew so far this mission?"
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Nekosmash 11-Sep-20 02:16 AM
"As well as can be expected, No space battles to worry about, and now here weve been has had enemy ships. Long as we keep you safe, I'd say we keep riding this wave of success
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Cedoc 11-Sep-20 02:33 AM
"Wonderful, that's what I like to hear. We've had plenty of success here already - that fabrication plant was a treasure trove! But before we head back to Jagrati, we should take this opportunity to see if the shapers left anything behind out in the Shaped Zones. We still know far too little about them, so anything we can find can only help."
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Nekosmash 11-Sep-20 02:27 PM
(did you have any specific locations in mind, i know theres some map icons that arent labeled)
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Cedoc 11-Sep-20 06:08 PM
(Yeah, the area in the southwest of the map interests me. There's ruins of some sort there, as well as the remains of some kind of truly massive creature - a Fleshshaper I assume? Or one of their creations? I'd like to scan there - the ruins, mountains, and around the remains - to see if we pick up anything interesting. This time I am particularly interested in anything that might have been left behind by the Shapers - tech, biosamples, mutated wildlife and such, anything to give insight into them) (edited)
18:08
Image attachment
18:15
(Program/Int roll with +2 because of ships survey scanners: rolled a 12)
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Nekosmash 12-Sep-20 04:08 PM
The Southwest shows the ruins of two bioships- both battleships in size at least that were brought down by the orbital defense gun there. The gun crews were all killed in the assault as survivors from the crashed ships tried to storm the defense bastion, and as the shapers had taken it, they were simply too far from the front line to re deploy.
16:08
It’s assumed they are dead now , though the bones of the former capital ships and the ruins of the defense battery still stand
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Cedoc 12-Sep-20 06:23 PM
"Well would you look at that... Captain, did you have your command during the war? Is there anything you can tell me about what I should expect or lookout for in those ships? Never was on the front lines myself, was down in the R&D labs the whole time." (edited)
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Nekosmash 13-Sep-20 02:29 PM
"I have no idea whatt hey might be like now that they're not in space. They formed weapons they needed, and they favored boarding to try to get at the crews of our ships for more shaping materials. That's about all I really know or can say"
14:30
"If they got close enough to send boarding pods out, it was already too latE"
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Cedoc 13-Sep-20 08:27 PM
"Lovely. Will just have to hope none are alive down there, but prepare in case some are. I'll send you a message when we are ready to land. Thanks for your help Captain." (A couple questions before landing. Am I able to get that guard dog drone working for this excursion? And is the doctor on board the ship able to install cyberware in me - specifically the Drone Control Link?)
20:31
(I'm also going to head to the Ship's Armory and purchase better armor - an Icarus Harness if it's available)
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Nekosmash 14-Sep-20 02:21 AM
(the doctor can install cyberware, its a day of recovery per point of strain where no other downtime activities can be done. As far as the guard dog, it would have the same stats as one of the greystar fungal hounds with an inbuilt laser rifle)
🔥 2
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Cedoc 14-Sep-20 03:11 AM
(Okay sweet! I'll take the day to get that Drone Control Link [Strain 1] installed on me, and I'll be taking that guard dog drone) Once I get the cyberware installed and the guard dog operational I send a message to the Captain that my team is ready to land and explore the bioships. (edited)
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Nekosmash 14-Sep-20 02:32 PM
The ship begins making its descent, passing through the atmosphere once again, and a medic finishes spraying the last of a container of wound sealant on your arm, giving you a pat on the back and a thumbs up. Setting down 500m from the wrecks and ruins of the defense tower, the landing skids crunch into the ground as there is no water close by.
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Cedoc 14-Sep-20 05:54 PM
Standing up, I stretch and nod my head at the medic, "Thanks doc." Heading down to the airlock - my dog drone pacing beside me and Ghostwalker drone floating above and to the other side - I give Abel and Beevil a grin, "Ready for another adventure gentlement?" I rub my hands together with nervous excitement, "A bioship! Now this is something new!" As the door opens revealing the sand and wrecks, the ghostwalker drone zips out and flies up high into the sky, scanning for threats. I roll my shoulders to settle my new Icarus Harness better onto my body, still unused to how it fits. "Shall we?"
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Nekosmash 14-Sep-20 06:28 PM
The two of them fit atmofilters right away, as even in the dry air, the smell of rotting flesh pervades the entire area. Any carrion eating animals that would normally be devouring a scene like this had all been caught in the continental drag nets and shaped into horrifying things already, likely part of the ships themselves. As a result, most of the ships are rotting in the sun, bleached bone poking through in a few places where support beams might be placed on an ordinary starship
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Cedoc 14-Sep-20 08:30 PM
Stepping out into the sands, I quickly stop and gag. "Oh no..." I choke out and quickly cover my mouth and nose with a cloth, glancing enviously at Abel and Beevils atmo filters. "My inexperience in the field showing through here eh. Ugh, this stench, awful!" (edited)
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Nekosmash 15-Sep-20 02:54 PM
One of them opens a portable emergency box on the side of the ramp, and throws you an emergency filter
14:54
Beevil helps you set the small filtration unit against the small of your back, clipping to your thick belt to help you better take the weight
14:54
"You're going to sweat like a bitch back there. Swamp ass for days, but you'll be able to breathe"
14:54
"Probably safer for everyone if we button up the ship and get them out of here while we're poking around. This can't be good to suck in long term:
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Cedoc 15-Sep-20 06:06 PM
"Ah, thank you." I say, sighing with relief. "I think I'll take the sweat over whatever that might do to me long-term. And you're right, we better let them get out of here." I take a few deep breaths of the filtered - but clean - air. Once we get a safe distance from the ship, I open my comms and give them the all clear to take off. "Well let's get moving, I don't think we want to linger too long." As we start walking towards the bioships, I send my Ghostwalker Drone buzzing ahead to scan the area for any visible dangers.
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Nekosmash 15-Sep-20 06:16 PM
The drone finds nothing but sand and some small insects that seem to be returning to the area. Ahead, you begin to fall into the shadow of the looming organic battleship. Some of the sand is clingy from fluids that had ruptured out of it on impact though a few more weeks in the desert sun should finish concealing the evidence of them. A broken boarding tube port seems to be the closest ground level way in
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Cedoc 15-Sep-20 08:08 PM
I put the drone into stationkeeping mode high above us, and set it to alert me if anything approaches the bioships and our location. Pulling on some bright blue lab gloves, I approach the broken boarding tube and take a few samples of the fleshy bioship - the leaking fluids, some of the flesh, bone samples if I can - and place them one at a time into my survey scanner for analysis. (I'm not entering the ship at this point, just getting what samples I can from the outside) (Am I able to tell from what living creatures they made their ships out of? Was it one large creature, is there signs of it being an amalgamation of many creatures processed into this large bioship? Do the bio samples match living things that we know of? Would be trying to figure out stuff like that)
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Nekosmash 16-Sep-20 02:16 AM
(You could probably find like a chunk and it would say. X % this material. Ect for each animal. Is that what you’re asking )
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Cedoc 16-Sep-20 02:40 AM
(Yeah exactly! Richard is trying you figure out the exact biological makeup of the ship. As a player I don't need to know like every single animal that makes it up, perhaps just if there are unknown animals or something completely alien that we have no record of)
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Nekosmash 16-Sep-20 04:10 AM
48% of the biomass here comes from creatures not of this world, who are also not human or humanoid. The rest of the material was human once.
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Cedoc 16-Sep-20 08:15 AM
I stare at the results in sadness and disgust, knowing that many of those humans must be NMC citizens. I sigh and record the results in my notes, then turn to my companions. "Lets get this grisly work started. We will need to find whatever serves as the different departments in these ships - engineering, the bridge, communications, power." Talking a streadying breath, I start up the boarding tube, one hand on the dog drones back as it walks beside me.
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Nekosmash 16-Sep-20 06:21 PM
(Oh I ve got a great map for this. Standby
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Nekosmash 16-Sep-20 06:30 PM
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Cedoc 16-Sep-20 08:07 PM
(That is horrifically awesome. I love it)
20:08
(I assume that tube on the right side is where I'm coming in?)
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Nekosmash 16-Sep-20 08:08 PM
(Yessir)
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Cedoc 16-Sep-20 08:27 PM
Keeping my survey scanner out, I activate its video and audio feeds, recording everything and keeping a running commentary as we advance up the boarding tube. "Dr. Newman and marines Abel and Beevil advancing into a Shaper bioship crashed on Benavides. Initial chemical composition from external samples show 52% of the biomass was once human, with the remaining 48% being unknown creatures not of this world and likely not humanoid. The ship is rotting and gives off an unbearable stench, atmo filters are a necessity. The ship seems to be exclusively made of this biomass, fluids, and bone for support. There seems to be fluid sacs and some sort of vein like structures transporting it in the walls, which are now leaking out onto the main walkway. These are perhaps in lieu of traditional power or data lines. The initial boarding tube appears now to be widening to a larger room..."
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Nekosmash 17-Sep-20 03:40 AM
The room is made of a muscled floor resembling some kind of stomach or digestion area. Bones moulder here , left to rot when they could not be shaped into anything of value in time
03:40
they are whale in size, though may not necessarily be of this world
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Cedoc 17-Sep-20 03:59 AM
"This is new, floor seems to be made of muscle, bones littering the area. Perhaps a storage room for spare parts?" I pause and take a deep steadying breath, then continue my commentary in an attempt to detach myself from the realities of the situation. "I'm taking samples of both muscle and bone for later analysis. There appear to be three other passageways from here from the north, northwest, and west - not including the one we came in from." I pan around the room with the scanner to get a clear video of everything. "We are now moving to the exit to the north of us. It appears to be another long hallway, hopefully leading to something that will reveal more about their purpose and methods...." (edited)
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Nekosmash 17-Sep-20 03:19 PM
Pinned a message.
15:20
North leads to something like the throat, and you can see faint light up ahead as sunlight coming in through the broken boarding jaws lends some of its illumination to your surroundings. Shaper warriors would have passed through here on their way to an enemy ship if this was still active, or in wartime
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Cedoc 18-Sep-20 01:28 AM
I stop a moment to take in the sight before, almost able to picture the Shaper Warriors swarming through the toothy maw. "The boarding jaws sit open, I'm taking a sample of the teeth to add to the collection. I see another short path to the northeast that opens up into another room, heading there now...." Nothing but blood and bone and.... fluids... in every direction. How could they stand living here? What drove them to such lengths?
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Nekosmash 18-Sep-20 01:56 AM
The teeth such as they are range from short frontal teeth as long as your arm for leverage on the surface of the enemy ship, to large crushing molars as big as a ground car meant to smash bulkheads and crush armor plates of enemy ships to allow a breach
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Cedoc 18-Sep-20 02:39 AM
I shake my head at the sight before me. "Is this really the most effective method of space travel and combat they could come up with? At first glance it just looks needlessly complicated. But perhaps there is some benefit that I've yet to see." I continue my exploration to the next area.
02:39
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Nekosmash 18-Sep-20 02:31 PM
Ahead, there is a wall of bone that seems to block your path into whatever gland is beyond. It is cracked in a few places due to the impact with the ground but otherwise appears solid. Cutting tools or some sort of bulkhead charge would be needed to get through.
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Cedoc 18-Sep-20 10:22 PM
"Doesn't look like we are going to get through here. We may have to make a supply run to the ship later for cutting tools." My face twists to a look of disgust, "I'm not looking forward to cutting through that. Messy." Shaking my head we turn around and head back into the jaws then out the way we came, taking the first immediate right to the next chamber.
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Nekosmash 19-Sep-20 02:05 AM
A secondary throat pouch is stored in this room where the broken pieces of enemy ship would be stored to not interfere with the passage of warriors up the throat. Broken sections of ship would be crunched and usable sections of it would be digested from here
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Cedoc 20-Sep-20 05:46 PM
I carefully video this room, and poke through a few scraps of ships, before sighing and moving back to the hallway and taking the next passageway south.
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Nekosmash 20-Sep-20 07:43 PM
There is an airway and a second tube leading to the digestion region, both heading into the literal guts of the ship
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Cedoc 22-Sep-20 06:10 AM
Looking down each tube carefully and realizing I have no way to know where each will lead, I shake my head and follow the airway. "Will have to go each way eventually..."
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Nekosmash 22-Sep-20 12:56 PM
The airway is empty of debris and leads to the lungs where you can see there is evidence of them being scorched or burned. Weapons fire from the ground or NMC combat spacecraft have made their mark here and one shaft of sunlight from the outside shows where some sort of weapon punches directly through the hull skin to make its way in here. This might have been the blow that killed it
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Cedoc 24-Sep-20 12:04 AM
Taking a close look at the hole in the hull skin, I try to determine what weapon was used to take this beast down. Hmm, is it vulnerable to a specific type of weaponry? Or was this a lucky shot?
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Nekosmash 24-Sep-20 12:07 AM
The burns would be either high explosive shells, or an energy weapon, and you can take some samples here to analyze later and get a true answer
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Cedoc 24-Sep-20 12:15 AM
Carefully cutting out a piece of the burned hull, I insert it into a sample jar and tuck it away. I then walk around the room, trying to get a sense of its purpose? (Is it literally acting as lungs, as if this ship was one single living creature?)
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Nekosmash 24-Sep-20 12:16 AM
(it is literally acting as lungs)
00:17
(the ship was a living creature with the individual shapers inside it acting as its cells, essentially)
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Cedoc 24-Sep-20 12:51 AM
I look to Abel and Beevil shaking my head. "I don't know what to think of this place. It's fascinating and... disgusting... but, flesh? How do they do spike drills? How do they power this thing? Food? That's incredibly inefficient!"
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Nekosmash 24-Sep-20 02:39 AM
"Some kinda brain cluster maybe? we know they had psychcics too, for the whole flesh bending shit"
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Nekosmash 25-Sep-20 03:46 AM
"but i suppose for now we might not know. Wouldn't want to meet one in person anyway doc"
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Cedoc 25-Sep-20 09:53 PM
"Hmm, true enough, true enough. Although if we are very lucky, there might be a dead brain cluster to study and bring back....." At that thought I start moving towards the next passageway to the east, sending the dog drone a few paces ahead. "Let's see if we can find it!"
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Nekosmash 25-Sep-20 10:45 PM
Something like a hind brain is found after the lungs, and behind the stomach, where short crackles of electricity still arc and gently fizzle out. The dog is very concerned, pawing at the ground
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Cedoc 27-Sep-20 03:40 AM
"Now now now, what do we have here? Just what we were talking about!" I walk into the room, stopping beside the dog and looking down to see if its sensors found something.
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Nekosmash 27-Sep-20 04:09 AM
There are four bodies in this room, elongated shaper forms with swollen head sections, and dangling sets of tentacles that dragged on the ground in life. These forms have never been seen before in actual battle , and likely were some sort of leadership or support form in life
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Cedoc 29-Sep-20 12:08 AM
"Oh!" I exclaim in surprise as I see the shaper forms. I quickly get closer and video the bodies from every direction, speaking aloud as I do so. "We'll definitely have to take these back with us! This is a wonderful discovery, no one has seen a form like this before! We will learn much of Shaper biology from these!" Glancing up, I shuffle a bit across the room, "and this! A hind brain? Hmm, this electricity, is it still alive?" I closely inspect the hindbrain, looking for any signs of life remaining within it.
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Nekosmash 29-Sep-20 01:51 AM
The life within it is present but faint , and there is a short crackle of electricity before it fades out leaving your hair standing on end. The room seems charged in some way, like it’s on the verge of sprinting into action and is waiting for some sort of unseen hand to move things in that direction, but for now you’re left with this intangible feeling of tension (edited)
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Cedoc 30-Sep-20 08:00 PM
"It's still alive..." I say as I look over to my companions. I circle the brain, trying to see where any connections to it may be leading. (How large is this brain?)
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Nekosmash 30-Sep-20 08:26 PM
(About the size of a grav car)
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Nekosmash 02-Oct-20 04:55 PM
It quivers gently as you get close to it, almost as though it can sense you drawing near
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Cedoc 02-Oct-20 05:26 PM
Approaching closer almost as if in a trance, I slowly reach out and place my hand on the large brain, moving it slowly across the ridged surface. "Now ain't you a beauty... what are we going to do with you?"
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Nekosmash 02-Oct-20 05:34 PM
There is a gentle buzz of electricity as your hand connects with it, making your hair stand on end down your arms and up your neck
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Nekosmash 03-Oct-20 05:29 AM
Something gently stirs beneath the brain tissue, like a mass of wriggling black worms before it is once again subsumed below the strange membrane
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Cedoc 05-Oct-20 04:00 AM
I remove my hand and lean close to the brain, attempting to see what made the wriggling feeling. After a few moments, I look over at the leader shapers then back to the brain. "I wonder... there are likely to be similarities." Sighing I shake my head and step back. "What I wouldn't give to have these bodies and this hindbrain back in a lab still functioning! You two wouldn't have any ideas on this eh?" (How does the brain appear to be connected to the rest of the ship?)
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Nekosmash 05-Oct-20 04:02 AM
The brain appears to be connected to the rest of the ship through incandescent filaments woven through the body and flesh, like a brain would be connected to the body on any other organism.
04:03
"Towing the entire ship back through spike is probably impossible given its size and the fact its on the ground already. Maybe coming back with a bioscopic to keep it alive?" (edited)
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Cedoc 06-Oct-20 10:00 PM
(What's a bioscopic?)
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Nekosmash 06-Oct-20 10:01 PM
(a psychic with the healing tree, they have some techniques that can keep injecting some life into this thing to move it)
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Cedoc 06-Oct-20 10:25 PM
(Does the NMC have access to psychics and bioscopics? Or would I have to make a request through that player psychic polity?)
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Nekosmash 07-Oct-20 12:30 AM
(You could do either approach honestly )
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Nekosmash 09-Oct-20 02:45 AM
"Academy could probably help, I know some of our own psychics came back from the UNW a couple months ago too. Probably pretty close, world or two away"
02:45
"Could be here tomorrow if we call em"
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Cedoc 09-Oct-20 05:51 PM
"Good plan, we can't miss this opportunity." Pulling out my communicator I contact the ship to forward a message for us. "Dr. Richard Newman here, requesting communications to be forwarded out of system. First message to the Academy as follows: Message start. This is Dr. Richard Newman of the NMC, planet-side on Benavides. I have been investigating the remains of Shaper bioships and have discovered a still alive and active control brain for the Shaper bioship. See attached video (video shows a gravcar sized hindbrain with arcing lightning across its surface, incandescent filaments connecting it to the ship). I am requesting the services of a bioscopic to keep the brain alive so further study can be initiated to further our understanding of the Shapers and their creations. Time is of the essence for this request - we don't know how much longer it will survive in its current state. I eagerly await your response, Dr. Richard Newman Message End. Secondly, I request an additional request be forward to NMC command. We will need a team of Xenobiologists, equipment for a field lab, and a marine guard for them to commence with study of the active Shaper hindbrain. See attached video and report. A request has further been sent to the Academy for a bioscopic to assist in keeping it alive for study. Dr. Newman out." (Should I be posting my request in the Psionic-Academy channel then, or is this a type of request that NPCs would be dealing with?)
17:55
(Also, sorry about the slow responses lately. Been a bit more busy and feeling unwell lately. Will try to keep up at least a message a day)
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Nekosmash 09-Oct-20 10:53 PM
Dr Barata and a large team will be dispatched to investigate this, and your request has also been sent to the academy for assistance. Either way, it seems for the moment the investigations here are as far as you can take them with the knowledge and tools at hand. Verethragna is in orbit with a rescued sailor and some supplies and is requesting a meeting with you
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EvilKoala 10-Oct-20 06:17 PM
Dr Newman, I was informed you are studying a Fleshshaper ship. I am a fellow scientist, currently part of the void warden expedition into the shaper home space. I also recently boarded a shaper warship. Unfortunately it was near death, but I was able to take some readings before it died. By the time you receive this message, our expedition of the sector will likely be long concluded, and I’m not sure if you’ll still be studying your ship. But just in case, I’m attaching all my notes and readings to date. Sadly, my specialty is botany, not xenobiology, so these notes may not be the best—but hopefully they are of some use to you. Best of luck in your studies! Warmest regards, Catherine Fraiser [scanned copies of all hand written notes, files from all bioscsnner readings, and videos attached. Along with a draft copy of the journal article “Anatomy of a Fleshshaper Warship” for peer review.] (edited)
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Cedoc 11-Oct-20 03:44 AM
After sending out the communications and receiving back confirmations, I take a few minutes to reply to the unexpected message from Catherine Fraiser (see her channel for reply). "Well well, we aren't the only ones interested in the Shaper remains. These notes and readings will be a great help to giving a jumpstart for Dr. Barata and the incoming team." Flipping through the data I pause as an incoming message from Verethragna comes in. Sighing, I glance back up to my companions, "Looks like we have run out of time. We have received a request from a Ms. Verethragna for assistance. Let's head back to the ship and see how we can help." (edited)
03:49
I open my communicator as we are walking and send a call to Verethragna. (See her channel)
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Cedoc 12-Oct-20 03:42 AM
(What's the defense fort on the surface that you mentioned in Verethragna's channel? I don't recall anything about that)
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Nekosmash 12-Oct-20 05:14 AM
(The defense cannon here that brought these two shaper ships down)
05:14
(The fort built to protect the orbital defense gun)
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Cedoc 12-Oct-20 10:44 PM
(Ah okay, thanks)
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Cedoc 11-Nov-20 03:11 AM
(At this point I'll be waiting until Dr. Baratta arrives to escort him into the bioship and show him the brain)
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Nekosmash 11-Nov-20 03:44 AM
Dr .Baratta arrives close to early afternoon, his ship completing the long system burn in. Two members of the NMC branch of the psionic academy are aboard, along with a marine compliment, and a few members of his personal science team. His ship begins transmitting a greeting, and is awaiting your preliminary analyses of the area so he can brief his unit.
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Cedoc 11-Nov-20 05:18 PM
I send over a greeting and my report of the bioship - the chemical analysis of the ships structure, the videos of my walkthrough and the control brain, as well as an additional report on the Shaper-human hybrids that we found in the nearby fort.
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Nekosmash 11-Nov-20 05:50 PM
A landing site close to the ships is plotted out with enough room for both vessels to set down ,leaving the Bad Magistrate in space to ensure the work below isnt disturbed by anyone. Twenty minutes of atmospheric burn- in has everyone back on the ground under a desert sun, as workers begin setting up a temporary camp and lab for the initial research on the brain
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Cedoc 11-Nov-20 10:35 PM
I approach my mentor with a smile, "Dr. Baratta! Wonderful to see you again. This is quite the exciting find, is it not?" I say as I rub my hands in excitement. "This could give us insight into a as of yet unknown path of technological development!"
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Nekosmash 12-Nov-20 02:35 PM
"If we're careful" he agrees. "And who is your friend, I do not believe I've had the pleasure, and I know most of the NMC ship captains"
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Noel [Aminatah] 12-Nov-20 07:29 PM
"Well, I'm a recent acquisition, I suppose. The name's Verethragna, I used to be a fairly minor scrapper but got an invitation to run a bigger ship for the NMC." She smirks as she says scrapper, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
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Nekosmash 12-Nov-20 07:37 PM
"Ah, say no more" he says, understanding your meaning. "Never the less, you and your ship are appreciated, especially on a project as sensitive as this
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Noel [Aminatah] 12-Nov-20 08:17 PM
She nods "The Bad Magistrate is designed to disable ships, as well. So if someone shows up unexpectedly, to cash in on the bio-ship we may just find ourselves awash with shiny new equipment!" Verethragna chuckles to herself.
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Nekosmash 12-Nov-20 08:35 PM
"that wou;ld mean there is a leak in my office to criminal elements. Let's hope that's not the case. Well then, if everyone is ready, it seems we can head aboard and begin cutting the brain out for transport"
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Cedoc 13-Nov-20 03:39 AM
"Let's hope not indeed. Ms. Verethragna was of great help in neutralising the Shaper hybrid infestation." Nodding in acknowledgment, I reply "Yes, let's get that brain."
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Noel [Aminatah] 13-Nov-20 06:29 AM
She gives a single, brief nod, looking around and making sure there's nothing odd going on.
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Nekosmash 13-Nov-20 02:55 PM
The team seems ordinary. Skill,ed but ordinary. Everyone begins heading aboard the shaper ship with their protective gear on. The ship has not changed at all in the couple days you've been elsewhere on the planet, aside from the smell being maybe a bit worse. Winding through the mapped passageways, it is a cautious walk of a half hour before you come to the brain chamber, where Dr. Baratta and his team begin setting up lights, tools, and the gravity assisted platform that will transport the cutting out
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Noel [Aminatah] 13-Nov-20 06:03 PM
"Point of Curiosity, I've seen what happens when living things...uhm. Have a not so friendly brush with space. How do these things... avoid ending up like that?" Vere asks, poking at some of the walls and fussing with the ship with more than a little morbid curiosity.
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Nekosmash 13-Nov-20 08:07 PM
"The shapers use a perverted form of Bioscopics to make these flesh/machine hybrids. It's not a type of psionic power that comes easily to humans, and I don't know of any who can use or could hae mastered it like this. We don't have any fear in that regard, but we need to remain cautious when dealing with the brain"
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Cedoc 14-Nov-20 03:05 AM
Nodding, I add in. "Indeed, we can't risk losing this sample. These leadership Shapers could provides insight into the Shapers as well if a thorough study is done." I point towards the corpses on the ground near the brain.
03:07
"Let's be very careful removing this brain. It's possible they may have some sort of automated defenses to prevent tampering. They've shown they are sophisticated enough in their biotech, I wouldn't be too surprised at such a thing."
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Noel [Aminatah] 14-Nov-20 11:03 PM
"I am not very well versed in these things, so just tell me what I need to do."
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Nekosmash 15-Nov-20 01:48 AM
(Did we want to do a skills contest for this? )
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Cedoc 15-Nov-20 05:27 AM
(Sure. I'm honestly not really sure how to proceed in this situation. I do no know nearly enough about biology to know how to proceed in safely relocating this brain to a research lab, haha)
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Nekosmash 15-Nov-20 07:33 PM
(So with a skills contest , each skill can only be used once, so if doc uses heal for example, vere can’t use heal since our best attempt at is has been tried in the scene Any skill can work if you can rationalize how you’d use it in a helpful matter. You want to roll 5 successful checks before getting 3 failed ones, and with skilled npcs here there would be bonuses to certain ones)
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Noel [Aminatah] 15-Nov-20 08:16 PM
(I can Dex+Sneak to try and disable any traps, assuming that's the skill for it. Cha+Lead to relay orders clearly and concisely...)
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Nekosmash 15-Nov-20 11:29 PM
(yeah exactly, so you've got the right idea. I'm all for it, but it has to be fun for you guys too, lemme know)
23:29
(we'll resolve the scene somehow either way)
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Cedoc 16-Nov-20 03:33 AM
(Ahh, I see. Cool, lets do that. Could I use Int+Know with the other scientists then to try and figure out what the brain needs to survive when we move it to a lab? Like how it gets any nutrients and which nutrients it needs?)
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Noel [Aminatah] 16-Nov-20 03:53 AM
(Also, Shall we roll now, and tally the results?)
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Nekosmash 16-Nov-20 04:14 AM
(Yeah describe in scene and then we'll roll, and ill keep track of what we've used and pass.fails)
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Cedoc 16-Nov-20 04:21 AM
I approach Dr. Barrata and the other scientists. "Well, I think first we should figure out how to feed this thing for once we get it back into a lab. It must be getting nutrients from somewhere..." I fall into discussion with the other scientists, looking attentive every time my mentor speaks up. We are soon carefully searching the brain for connections to the rest of the ship and tracing those back, looking for nutrient sources, occasionally stopping to take samples and chemical analysis with survey scanners. (Int/Know: 11)
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Noel [Aminatah] 16-Nov-20 04:23 AM
Vere almost immediately begins a very hands on approach to finding and disabling whatever Nasty surprises might pop up from tampering with the brain, tapping the whole of her expert knowledge of manual security systems to dismantle the fleshy conundrum... Being careful to try and avoid any of the connections the scientists note as potentially being important. (Dex/Stealth: 10).
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Nekosmash 16-Nov-20 04:56 AM
(2 successes, 0 failures, Know and Sneak both used so far)
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Noel [Aminatah] 16-Nov-20 05:01 AM
After listening to the Scientists talk and getting a vague feel for the Technicalities involved, as well as the intricacies, Vere begins barking out orders and monitoring the workers and helpers... making sure that talented people are working on the more difficult tasks, and those not necessarily suited for this are helping out in other ways. (Cha/Lead: 6)
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Nekosmash 16-Nov-20 06:17 AM
(2 successes , one failure. Know, sneak and lead have been used
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Nekosmash 17-Nov-20 04:09 AM
(Good work so far though. Let’s keep it rolling when you guys are ready)
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Noel [Aminatah] 17-Nov-20 04:12 AM
(I'm giving Dr. Newman a Chance before I suggest my third Skill, cause the easiest one I have to slot in, I'm pretty sure he is better at it than Vere.)
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Cedoc 17-Nov-20 05:01 AM
After identifying all the connections entering the brain and the many different nutrients it will need to continue to function in the lab, I begin constructing the cradle that will hold the Shaper brain and transport it to the ship. Soon there is a steady stream of technicians moving between the ship and bioship, transporting specialty parts and materials as needed. (Int/Fix: 13)
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Nekosmash 17-Nov-20 05:06 AM
(3 success, 1 failure, Know, sneak, lead and fix have been used)
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Noel [Aminatah] 17-Nov-20 05:12 AM
(The best I've got is Cha+Perform to try and Trick the Brain into thinking we're shapers and actually helping us however briefly I can, if that doesn't work, then it's all Dr. Newman's show. Idk if it's even possible to trick this thing like that. xP) (edited)
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Nekosmash 17-Nov-20 04:12 PM
(you could use it to boost the morale of your science team and ensure they're in good spirits through the long hours of work)
16:12
(We;re passing through this kind of quickly but i think with the complexity of what you're doing its safe to say hours are passing as we use different skills)
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Noel [Aminatah] 17-Nov-20 07:26 PM
(I'll roll it when I get home from work)
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Noel [Aminatah] 18-Nov-20 12:44 AM
(If Richard has anything he can roll before then, I'm all for letting him do so, for what it's worth.)
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Cedoc 18-Nov-20 01:35 AM
(Yeah, I expect this whole operation may span a couple days to ensure that the brain is safely moved)
01:39
As we're working, I keep a close eye on all of the scurrying technicians, scientists, and marine guards to ensure that no fatal mistake is made and no important steps are skipped. (Wis/Notice: 4. Going to use my Expert re-roll. Reroll Wis/Notice: 9)
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Noel [Aminatah] 18-Nov-20 03:44 AM
Noting the exhaustion and stress on everyone's shoulders, Vere begins trying to ease the mood and increase Morale by cracking jokes, teaching people some Shanties and work songs, and quoting relevant Poetry or literature. (Cha/Perform: 12.)
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Nekosmash 18-Nov-20 02:34 PM
(brings us to 5)
14:35
It's light, but a day later once you emerge from the complicated surgery. The brain is intact, save for a few smaller pieces near the bottom where the nerve endings had to be stripped from their protein coats. Electrical conductors and other sensors will be hooked to these in time. Bioscopics are currently channeling healing energies into it, enough to keep it alive, without causing it to regrow, or become strong enough to exert will once again. The guards are wary, snapped to adrenaline fueled awareness after almost a day of utter bordeom.
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Nekosmash 18-Nov-20 04:40 PM
(3xp, 5000 credits, as well)
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Cedoc 19-Nov-20 02:01 AM
(Sweet! Is this the first Shaper Brain that has been discovered and studied? Would this count for my personal goal of "Discover a previously undiscovered lifeform?")
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Nekosmash 19-Nov-20 02:22 AM
)this counts and I believe finished and NMC endeavor as well)
02:23
)I’ll check)
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Cedoc 19-Nov-20 03:25 AM
(Level up: 5 -> 6 HP: 23 -> 28 BAB: 2 -> 3 Saves: 11 -> 10 Skill Points: 1 -> 5 Program-2 -> Program-3 [Skill Points: 5 -> 1] Heal -> Heal-0 [Skill Points: 1 -> 0])
03:25
(Awesome! Endeavor completion is always nice)
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Noel [Aminatah] 19-Nov-20 04:23 AM
"Now, if you figure out how to get a big bio-organic ship to fly around, and play nice for a human captain and all that, I want one. Not gonna go out on a limb and say I deserve one, but I definitely want one."
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Nekosmash 19-Nov-20 01:32 PM
“The brain is going to be destroyed once we study it. The shapers are too dangerous to leave any chance at all for them to return. If you’ve seen what a fully cleansed world looks like, you’d agree.
13:33
“This is nothing compared to the red groves , or the horrors of the western frontier “
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Cedoc 20-Nov-20 03:27 AM
"Heh, I understand the desire for some new and shiny tech, but this," I poke the squishy wall that is slowly leaking fluids, "is definitely anything but shiny. I'll have to agree with Dr. Baratta there after seeing those Shaper-human hybrids.... we will squeeze this brain for everything it can give us then destroy it. I cannot abide such threats to our citizens."
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Noel [Aminatah] 20-Nov-20 04:37 AM
"Look, Y'all are the ones that know what's possible and what isn't. I'm just a Girl with a Gun and a lot of Lofty Ideas." She shrugs "Whatever furthers the Cooperative, I'm all for it. Simple as that."
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Nekosmash 20-Nov-20 03:21 PM
(this is essentially the end of that arc, ifwe want to split into other things we can, or there's the option to get more directly involved with the research which i know isnt everyones direct skillset)
15:21
(I'm adaptable to what you want to do)
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Noel [Aminatah] 21-Nov-20 04:45 AM
(Sounds good to me, I'm ready to get back to Space Pirating.) (edited)
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Cedoc 21-Nov-20 07:48 PM
(Sounds good here as well. I think I might want to make my way back to Groa. I've been wanting to figure out the mystery of the bots breaking free from their programming for a while. Plus it sounds like they are getting rather uppity again.)
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Nekosmash 21-Nov-20 07:49 PM
(Okay we can link with iracus
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Cedoc 22-Nov-20 02:18 AM
(That's a good idea. I think I'd first like to head back to Jagrati so I can outfit my Delta Hawk Drone. I have a sneaking suspicion the extra firepower may be needed on Groa)
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Nekosmash 22-Nov-20 02:55 AM
(5 days back to jagrati if I recall the map correctly )
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Nekosmash 24-Nov-20 12:19 AM
The ship with the codes skimmed from the Zero Foundation has also made the trip back to Jagrati, with its own research team aboard
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Cedoc 24-Nov-20 05:06 AM
On the flight back to Jagrati, I build and install the Exoskeleton modification into my Icarus armor. (1 week build time, so I use the option to work extended hours to get it done in time). When we arrive at Jagrati I purchase the following fittings for my Delta Hawk Drone: 2x Weapon Fittings: Shear Rifle 1x Ammo Unit. 1x Reinforced Structure. 1x Environmental Power: Sunlight. 1x Racing Gravitics. Compact Component: 1x Bomber: Scrambler Grenades
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Nekosmash 24-Nov-20 05:43 AM
(Shopping list and mods look good)
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Iracus Varanu | Rayan 24-Nov-20 06:33 AM
Dr. Newman Pleasure to make your acquaintance, it would seem we share an interest in how these robots have obtained this supposed sentience. Now my grasp of the local conditions is constrained to the control node that was discovered. But based on the available data, it doesn't seem like there are any other control nodes on the planet, at least active ones. From what I have learned so far, it would seem the discovered node was only communicating with a site in the desert, the war host previously reported about, and Drares, a contested city that has now become a demilitarized zone. Now while I have a mighty interest in securing the location where the communications are being broadcast from, the impending conflict will likely make that a real challenge, for now. However, I did uncover something that might be of interest. I still need to conduct further analysis, but it would seem some hidden signal was being embedded within the communications. And it seems to be coming from something not human manufactured and not something like I have encountered before. I have recently arrived back on Jagrati to have access to some better equipped labs. If you would like to join me, I'd be more than happy to have another set of eyes over this. I plan to try and get to the bottom of the mystery for as long as time allows and will be at the (Insert Science Lab Name here) for the foreseeable future, if you wish to join me. Perhaps your previous research might be applicable to diving deeper into this mystery. If you are off to Groa however, then I wish you the best of luck on your journey and please let me know if you there might be any additional information of which I can provide you. Warm Regards, Dr. Iracus Varanu (edited)
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Nekosmash 24-Dec-20 06:13 AM
(I’m good for whatever comes next unless you’re stumped )
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Cedoc 24-Dec-20 08:46 PM
(Okay. I had two goals related to this Groa business. 1. Complete the full body schematic of Zero Foundation robots & complete the fragmented ZF robot program. 2. Learn how the robots on Groa gained sentience. I assume I can mark those completed?)
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Nekosmash 26-Dec-20 06:13 PM
(Complete, and take the xp for them)
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Cedoc 26-Dec-20 10:49 PM
(Level up! Level: 6 -> 7 Hit Points: 28 -> 29 Attack Bonus: 3 -> 3.5 Skill Points: 4 Foci: Specialist (Know) Know-2 -> Know-3 (1 skill point + 3 skill points from specialist) Connect -> Connect-0 (1 skill point) Connect-0 -> Connect-1 (2 skill points))
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Nekosmash 27-Dec-20 04:41 AM
(Awesome! I’m good for whatever)
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Cedoc 28-Dec-20 06:19 AM
(I think I want to head back to Jagrati and hook up with Beevil. See if we can get his families Grav-Harness Production business back up and going)
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Nekosmash 28-Dec-20 06:41 AM
Beevil was eager to be away from fighting or the front lines and got his wish after being injured. He’s mobile again now and has been seeing a bioscopic regularly to ensure there’s no infections and otherwise is in good spirits. His wounding had come with a significant tick up in pay
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Cedoc 28-Dec-20 06:55 PM
"Beevil! How's that battle wound healing? No complications I hope?"
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Nekosmash 28-Dec-20 10:38 PM
"None. None they're telling me about at least" He tries to laugh but doubles over, and his sides hurt
22:40
'Good to see you though. I heard you were on Groa. Got a taste for the violent life now have we?"
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Cedoc 29-Dec-20 07:30 AM
Watching Beevil with concern in my eyes, I help him sit back down. "Science requires risks and action, my friend!" I pull up a chair and sit across Beevil, "I'm glad you're doing well. You staying on Jagrati while you heal?"
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Nekosmash 29-Dec-20 12:50 PM
“Perhaps even longer. The king has offered me the chance to retire from the army at two ranks higher for the pension and benefits. Debating it. Especially if you’re back in the picture”
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Cedoc 30-Dec-20 07:31 PM
Nodding as he talks, I smile at hearing the news. "That sounds like an excellent deal Beevil! I think you should take it. There could be an opportunity here too. Your families old Grav Harness business could be of great help to the Cooperative, not to mention make you and your family a good amount of credits. With all the good that it could do, both for the military and for civilian projects, I'd like to help you get that back up and going!"
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Nekosmash 31-Dec-20 02:04 AM
"Oh yeah? Can't say I can imagine why, but I appreciate it anyway. Well, i suppose we should go see what's left of the old factory then right? See if its even still standing?"
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Cedoc 31-Dec-20 06:26 PM
"You've saved my butt more than once out there Beevil, that alone earns you my gratitude. Combine that with the benefit that getting your Grav Harness production up and going can provide to our fellow citizens, and it's something that I must help you with! That does sound like a good start, let's go check it out."
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Nekosmash 31-Dec-20 09:32 PM
The trip is about a day overland from Jagrati's capital. Beevil tries to get a few other former factory employees to accompany you, but as the night drags on, it seems like no one is going to be willing to make the trip until there is somerthing of value at the site
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Cedoc 01-Jan-21 07:55 PM
"Can't really blame them wanting some reassurance. We can do a once over of the factory if it's still standing and see what needs to be done to get it back up to shape. Once we have more info 'm sure we can get some of them to come back."
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Nekosmash 01-Jan-21 08:45 PM
(If you don’t have a vehicle beevil can procure one)
20:45
(Otherwise we will be off)
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Cedoc 01-Jan-21 10:08 PM
(I don't have one)
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Nekosmash 02-Jan-21 03:27 PM
Beevil thinks for a few moments before making some calls. An hour later a helicopter lands close to his home, and with some hastily packed bags you begin heading out toward the chopper. The pilot waves to both of you as the side doors open
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Cedoc 03-Jan-21 04:42 AM
I climb on board and settle in before turning back to Beevil. "Do you still own the factory and land, or is that something we will have to work out?"
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Nekosmash 03-Jan-21 05:46 AM
“I own the land and the building but it’s probably a wreck by now. I don’t know what was sold off to creditors and what might be needed to get it running again
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Cedoc 03-Jan-21 09:49 PM
"Guess we'll just have to wait and see then. We'll get it working though."
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Nekosmash 04-Jan-21 09:14 PM
Image attachment
21:16
Things could be better, you see, as the aircraft circles the facility. Every iota of glass in the place has been smashed, and the brickwork is defaced by competing taggers worth of graffiti. Rusting catwalks and ductwork cling to the building but just barely . You can only imagine what the fasteners must look like. Plants are dug in fast on the roof, along with a few skinny saplings that are enjoying the rocks and debris keeping their roots protected. Beevil looks noticeably downtrodden.
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Cedoc 07-Jan-21 04:29 AM
"Well that's a bit rough looking." I look at the building consideringly for a minute. "If the main structure is sound though, it would still save us a lot refurbishing rather than starting over from scratch. Let's take a walk through and check on the structure and insides." I gesture to the pilot to set us down in an open area next to the building.
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Nekosmash 07-Jan-21 06:03 AM
Beevil is first out of the hatch and begins making his way over to a side door. A heavy ring of keys in his hand jingle as he works fo figure out the lock. He doesn’t pick the right one the first two times. Eventually the corroded door opens, and you're able to get into the factory office that has been entirely trashed by looters and time. (edited)
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Cedoc 07-Jan-21 11:48 PM
We take our time moving through the old factory, starting the inspection with the structure of the building before moving on to see if there is any usable equipment left over.
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Nekosmash 08-Jan-21 05:50 AM
(I’ll get a proper interior map up for this)
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Cedoc 08-Jan-21 07:40 PM
(Sounds good)
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Nekosmash 08-Jan-21 08:23 PM
Image attachment
20:24
(We would be in the bottom left room)
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Cedoc 11-Jan-21 03:31 AM
"Right! Let's get started!" I pull out my dataslab to start taking notes as we begin. "What can you tell me about the machinery you have here Beevil?"
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Nekosmash 11-Jan-21 04:10 AM
“The majority of the work boils down to two stations, the actual weaving of the light weight fabrics and polymers and then the assembly of the grav harnesses themselves. The two major components are then worked into suits and distributed to the army, alpine search and rescue units, and some for the civilian population when emergency procurement orders aren’t in effect
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Cedoc 11-Jan-21 05:08 AM
Nodding as Beevil explains, I walk through the east door and move to inspect the machinery, looking to see if any of it is salvageable.
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Nekosmash 11-Jan-21 02:59 PM
The machinery itself is rusted but intact. Looters were only able to escape with small components and little pieces of fittings. Those can all be re-cast, or re-made, especially now that beevil has the facility blueprints, and his family still retains the factory's proprietary information.
14:59
Interestingly enough, a massive ground truck is also still in the loading dock, with crates and boxes aboard
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Cedoc 12-Jan-21 07:05 PM
I take the time to carefully record the different small components and small fittings that we need to re-cast or re-make, then lead Beevil over to the ground truck. "I wonder what we have here. Give me a hand with this one." I gesture to the closest crate, shifting it so we can pry open the top of it.
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Nekosmash 12-Jan-21 08:04 PM
(fix/int)
20:04
The container is tamper proof but you think you might be able to work it open without triggering one of the seals
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Cedoc 13-Jan-21 06:02 AM
(That's a 10)
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Nekosmash 13-Jan-21 06:03 AM
Inside the crate you find a flight suit that’s your size. The owners manual, carrying case and some replacement parts for it are also included. The lot number shows this as the last shipment the factory ever made and this is the last suit in that production line
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Cedoc 13-Jan-21 06:09 AM
"Huh, the final shipment, never even got sent out eh. Selling these might give you a bit more seed money for as we are setting up again." After we both had a chance to get a look at it, I pack it back up. Moving to the loading bay entrance, I glance outside. "What are these outbuildings here for?"
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Nekosmash 13-Jan-21 01:56 PM
Pinned a message.
13:57
“Security station on the north side. The others are power sub stations and we had an on site clinic in case of an injury with the machines”
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Cedoc 13-Jan-21 09:59 PM
"Let's check those out as well then, see what they will need to be put back into operation." I start walking towards the security station to check it out first.
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Nekosmash 14-Jan-21 02:59 AM
The security station is a battered building with the glass broken, phone and terminal all missing no doubt now in the hands of looters or in a pawn shop back in one of the civilized areas. Graffiti and images of genetalia have been sprayed all over the inside and outside of the shack. Some of it has an anti monarchy message to it showing the king mouth open underneath a particularly enormous specimen
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Cedoc 17-Jan-21 04:02 AM
Grimacing at the display, I shake my head and walk out of the building. "Going to need to get a good cleaning company to go through here as well...." I move to the power sub stations, hoping that these are at least in half decent shape.
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Nekosmash 17-Jan-21 06:31 PM
The sub stations are better the idea of power current inside them has kept casual scavengers back from@the site. They’ll provide power without much more than a scrubbing and cleaning
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Cedoc 17-Jan-21 08:12 PM
After we finish, I turn to question Beevil. "Doesn't look too bad to me, I think we can get this place back up and going. What do you think? Did we miss anything?"
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Nekosmash 17-Jan-21 09:45 PM
“No. Just hard to see the place like this, but you’re helping me and who knows. Maybe we can grow the business into a true conglomerate”
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Cedoc 18-Jan-21 02:58 AM
"Well, let's figure out a ballpark figure for this.... we'll need to get a cleaning company through here. Get those catwalks fixed.... new windows... some new components and fittings for the machinery....a new paintjob inside and out.... new computers and lines for them plus phones.... security cameras..." As I'm speaking I'm taking notes on my dataslab, as well as looking up what prices I can find for the different services and components we will need. (Am I able to figure out a rough estimate of the cost to get the factory back up in good shape?)
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Nekosmash 18-Jan-21 05:44 AM
(We can figure that out yeah. ) It would take 1.5 million to restore the grounds and machinery of this mega production center to perfect working order again (edited)
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Cedoc 22-Jan-21 02:13 AM
"Beevil, what can you tell me about how many employees the factory will provide jobs for? What kind of monthly production numbers are we looking at?"
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Cedoc 22-Jan-21 02:26 AM
"Ah! Good news Beevil, we have been able to gather the funds needed to get this production center back to perfect working order! You and your family are back in business producing Grav Harnesses once again!"
02:27
(Total funding contributions: I will contribute 750k, Verethragna is contributing 250k, Henri is contributing 100k, and the crown is contributing 400k)
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Nekosmash 22-Jan-21 02:50 AM
"Between farming the textiles, mining the ores needed, transportation, the actual manufacturing itself, and the production of all the electronic components, over a million people could be employed by this factory alone, and its related businesses"
🥳 2
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Cedoc 22-Jan-21 02:53 AM
I smile widely at this news. "Excellent! That is far more than I would have imagined. I'm glad this will be such a boon to so many of our citizens! Now that the credits to get back up and running are coming in, what's the next step - what do you need to get going?"
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Nekosmash 22-Jan-21 03:11 AM
"I think for now I just need to wait and see how things come together, and address any problems as they come up. You've already helped me beyond words with everything you'd just done"
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Nekosmash 25-Jan-21 05:46 PM
"But for now, we've done quite a bit. The NMC no doubt has you back-logged on jobs from here until eternity. Probably beyond that too"
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Cedoc 25-Jan-21 11:27 PM
"Keep me updated as you go forward Beevil, I'll stop by to visit whenever I'm here on Jagrati." Giving him a friendly clap on the shoulder, I make my way out and back to the University and seek out Dr. Barrata. "Dr. Barrata! I hope all is going well with you. Just thought I'd check in while planet-side here and see how that research into the Shaper brain we captured is going?" (Oh and that should complete my personal goal of "Help Beevil re-establish his families Grav Harness production business")
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Nekosmash 25-Jan-21 11:40 PM
(it sure does!)
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Nekosmash 25-Jan-21 11:50 PM
Research into the shaper brain is complicated, and a delicate affair. Nerve endings are clustered around nodes and neural regions we cannot identify and exist in no known other patterns of creature. The psychics have identified channels that are similar to the ones burned into their own minds when learning to safely harness their powers- similar to bioscopic MES expressions if the headmaster is to be believed, but through the lens of the shaper brain this has given them their moulding and changing abilities. The issue is currently, do we attempt to send bioscopic energy through it? And if we do, what is a suitable test without running into some sort of ethical boundary (edited)
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Cedoc 26-Jan-21 10:49 PM
"Any sort of ethical boundary was destroyed when the Shapers tried to eliminate or assimilate all non-Shaper life. If the Shapers ever rise again to threaten our people, we need every edge we can get. I strongly approve of any plan to use bioscopic energy in any way possible to learn the most possible from the opportunity this Shaper brain presents us."
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Nekosmash 27-Jan-21 02:32 AM
(Would a mission to convince the NMC ethics board to allow the project feel like a chore mission to you?)
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Cedoc 27-Jan-21 05:06 AM
(Not at all. Not Richards strong area at all, but he can give it his best shot)
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Nekosmash 27-Jan-21 03:21 PM
The return to Jagrati's capital city is a momentous one. You'll be caught up in other political events days later, but for today, your concern is the university and its board of directors. The shaper research is controversial, and its going to take a significant amount of convincing to ensure the group approves funding for it, and some sort of containment method to ensure the byproducts aren't released.
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Cedoc 27-Jan-21 06:41 PM
I start off by pulling up my dataslab and doing some initial research on the Ethics Board, trying to find out how many members there are, who the members are, and who might be sympathetic to my point of view on this. (For example, did any of the board members lose anyone close to them in the Shaper wars? Are any business men / women on the board who suffered significant losses to their businesses due to the Shapers ravaging planets?)
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Nekosmash 27-Jan-21 07:27 PM
(admin/int)
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Cedoc 27-Jan-21 07:32 PM
(That's a 5)
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Nekosmash 28-Jan-21 05:35 AM
The board has five members and all of them have lost at least one relative to the shapers but the relation and number are not able to be found
05:36
You’d expect there will be at least two who will start the hearing adamantly opposed
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Cedoc 30-Jan-21 02:40 AM
(How many votes do I need of the 5?)
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Nekosmash 30-Jan-21 05:46 PM
(A majority. Just 3)
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Cedoc 31-Jan-21 07:21 PM
I approach Dr. Barrata to see what information I can gather from him. "Ah, Dr, there you are. I am preparing for my meeting with the Ethics Committee regarding the Shaper brain here. You've had several encounters with them before, what can you tell me about its members?"
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Nekosmash 31-Jan-21 11:34 PM
“You’ve got a hard task in front of you. The shaper war was hard in everyone and anything to do with them or their technology , you’ve got your work cut out.
23:40
“Two members might be Easy to sway. Theyve got interests in medical and might be willing to allow you to experiment. The rest represent a combination of military and civilian economic interests and have memories of their business destroyed by the shapers. They’ll be hard to talk to “
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Cedoc 03-Feb-21 09:42 PM
(The noble sweep bumped me a level. Should I wait until the end of this mission to level? I was planning to bump up some of my more social skills, but I don't think I should get that bump in the middle of a social mission like this. Also, did I read that Force Endeavor post right that I gain 2.5 million credits??)
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Nekosmash 03-Feb-21 09:43 PM
(yessir)
21:44
(We didn't really dive into the meat of it, if you want to level now you can)
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Cedoc 03-Feb-21 09:47 PM
(That is a ton of cash! Good timing after I blew everything on the Grav Harness production, lol. I will figure out my level then before continuing. Putting my skill from the Force Endeavor into shoot bringing me to Shoot-1)
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Cedoc 03-Feb-21 11:00 PM
(Level up! 7 -> 8 HP: 29 -> 33 Attack Bonus: 3 -> 4 Saving Throws: 9 -> 8 Skill Points: 4 Talk -> Talk-0 (1 SP) Pilot-1 -> Pilot-2 (3 SP - better get that up if I'm going to be flying out there!) That should cover it!)
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Cedoc 04-Feb-21 12:27 AM
"Hmm, well I best meet with the two that are more amenable first. Can you send me their info? I'll give them a call to sound them out."
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Nekosmash 04-Feb-21 02:21 PM
Dr. Yellow, and Dr. Green are both members of the board that will be more amenable to your cause. Both of them were previously involved in high-risk research, hence the code names, and will likely be a more sympathetic ear for where you are coming from.
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Cedoc 06-Feb-21 07:11 PM
I send out an email to both Dr. Green and Dr. Yellow, requesting a joint meeting to discuss further research into the held Shaper brain.
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Nekosmash 07-Feb-21 02:28 AM
The two of them will be by your residence for dinner tonight to discuss this. A conversation like this is best had in person
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Cedoc 07-Feb-21 07:42 PM
A few hours later I open the door to my house to their knocking. "Welcome! Thank you for coming. Come in, come in." I gesture them in, indicating where to hang their coats. Leading them to the dining room, I take a seat and wait for them to settle and engage in some small talk as we eat our meal.
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Nekosmash 07-Feb-21 11:42 PM
One man and one woman have arrived and the topic quickly shifts to the upcoming vote as you finish the meal. “Dr. Newman” green asks in his somewhat screechy voice. “What applications do you foresee through this research that we don’t already accomplish through bioscopics?”
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Cedoc 10-Feb-21 06:01 AM
"That's the rub isn't it? It's hard to say before the research has been done, as is the nature of such cutting edge research. But there is great potential here. Preliminary investigations show that the Shaper brain has similar channels similar to the ones burned into our own psychics. This could potentially lead to finding ways for us to counteract their moulding and changing abilities. There are also many nerve endings, nodes, and neural regions that are a complete mystery to us. Discovering more about these could teach us about how they think and perhaps discover further weaknesses to prepare us for the day they eventually return. Holding back at this point due to ethical concerns for a species that has tried to eliminate all of us, our people, and all other people in this and nearby sectors seems the height of folly."
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Nekosmash 10-Feb-21 06:26 PM
“And what safeguards do you propose for this , in the event of a breach or some sort of uncontrolled psionic event? Assuming funds and facilities are all available. This is purely theoretical , how would you secure this?”
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Cedoc 13-Feb-21 07:07 PM
"I think the best solution here is isolation. We clearly don't want to do such research on Jagrati. We would be doing this to help preserve our citizens, not put them in further danger. If the research is done in a facility up in the black in one of the many abandoned facilities, it would eliminate the risk for collateral damage. Perhaps bringing in a few more psionic specialists who's sole job is to provide monitoring for such an event would be useful as well. Of course, should we get approval I would also request a security advisor from the navy to provide a security analysis and proposal before research begins. Always best to get advice from the experts in the field."
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Nekosmash 14-Feb-21 01:26 AM
"Perhaps a facility on one fo the dead worlds we used to control, keep it off the books, aside from the academy"
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Cedoc 14-Feb-21 03:31 AM
I nod at these words. "Whatever it takes. We can't hesitate when it comes to the safety of our people."
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Nekosmash 14-Feb-21 03:49 AM
“Now begs the question, do we think there would be sympathetic voices within the Academy”
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Cedoc 14-Feb-21 09:22 PM
"Dr. Barrata will be on our side for this. He has quite a bit of influence and should be able to get things going on that end. As long as we get approval from your board, I don't foresee any insurmountable issues with the Academy."
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Nekosmash 15-Feb-21 03:35 AM
“A short list of candidates who are willing to guarantee the safety of the installation would go a long way toward selling it”
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Cedoc 15-Feb-21 04:00 AM
"I'll make sure to have a chat with Dr. Barrata and get that. I have a marine in mind that may be available to head up security on site as well. Is there anything in particular that you foresee your fellow board members being concerned about with this project?"
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Nekosmash 15-Feb-21 10:06 PM
“The ethical implications , not to mention how any tests are carried out. More than that , containment and disclosure which we have touched on a bit already”
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Cedoc 17-Feb-21 06:01 PM
"I will figure out the containment, security, and safety issues before the hearing. That should really only leave any ethical concerns they might have, which I honestly don't understand why they would protest. The Shapers seek nothing less than our complete destruction. It is foolish not to do whatever it takes to protect our people."
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Nekosmash 17-Feb-21 06:02 PM
"We're here at this dinner because we are of one mind on the issue, if you sort those issues, and present an argument with those holes plugged, you'll find a way to convince the others"
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Cedoc 17-Feb-21 06:05 PM
"Thank you for having this meeting with me, with this we will get permission and be able to make good progress towards the safety of our people." (Unless either of them bring something else up, I'd move the conversation to some small talk until they are ready to leave)
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Nekosmash 17-Feb-21 09:28 PM
(3xp, 5000 credits. Main thing was you know what they need to do to pass the project)
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Cedoc 19-Feb-21 11:53 PM
(Excellent) The next morning, Richard heads back to the Academy to meet up again with Dr. Barrata. "Good morning doctor. The meeting last night with Dr. Yellow and Dr. Green went well, and I believe with the right preparations we will be able to gain permission from the board for you to continue your research with the brain."
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Nekosmash 20-Feb-21 06:18 AM
“Permission from the board” he laughs. “How did they tell you to go about securing it?”
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Cedoc 23-Feb-21 12:42 AM
"They suggested a facility on one of the dead worlds that we used to control. They also suggested limiting access and keeping it on a need to know basis. If we can gather a list of those here - like yourself - who would support the research and be willing to ensure the safety of it, we will have a much greater chance at getting this going. I'd also suggest a small marine contingent for on site security, and bringing in psionic specialists to monitor for any uncontrolled psionic events."
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Nekosmash 23-Feb-21 02:15 AM
“You’ve really thought this out. Did you have a world in mind? I might be able to help you sell this if we place it right”
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Cedoc 25-Feb-21 09:56 PM
"Hmm, it depends on how accessible we want the facility. Benavides is half lifeless desert from the Shaper wars, so we could place it deep in the desert away from any civilization, but close enough for easy resupply. Or alternatively, we could focus completely on safety and place the facility on a dead world like Lianos. No inhabitants there but still a breathable atmosphere, would be a safe location, but likely have a higher cost for resupply." (Also, I just finished a few big projects, so I should be more consistently able to respond now and not have nearly as many 2-3 day gaps in responses.)
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Nekosmash 25-Feb-21 11:29 PM
"A containment breach would be an even higher cost. Lianos might be our final destination here. Do you think you could survey a site so we have something tangible to show the committee?"
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Cedoc 26-Feb-21 01:28 AM
"That's a good idea. The more we can have this planned out and show them it will work, the better. I'll do that. Do you have any special requirements for such a location? Some water would be good..... some cover from the elements..."
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Nekosmash 26-Feb-21 03:46 AM
“Those two. I would say either lots of open land around it or somewhere where there are only a few ways in or out. We need to plan for the contingency that something escapes “
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Cedoc 26-Feb-21 04:12 AM
"Clear line of sights or choke points, makes sense. I'll head over and check it out. While I'm gone, see if you can think of anyone else at the Academy that may be willing to throw their support in with us."
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Nekosmash 26-Feb-21 01:53 PM
"We'll pull a list together. We sent many of our own to the Academy, and they've also recently returned. It might be high time to enlist some of them into Cooperative Service"
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Cedoc 26-Feb-21 06:03 PM
"Thank you. Right, I best head off to Lianos then. I'll find a good location and be back and we can sort out the rest of this. Good luck Doctor." As he walks out of the building, Richard rubs his hands together in excitement. Time to check out my new science vessel! (I'll need to hire at least 2 other pilots to assist me in piloting through spike drills, correct?)
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Nekosmash 26-Feb-21 08:11 PM
(a ship needs at least two pilots, and an electronics officer to be able to fly, unless its a fighter)
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Cedoc 26-Feb-21 09:57 PM
Richard heads towards the docks, intending to give a once over of the Magellan and make sure it is ship-shape before hiring any crew.
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Nekosmash 27-Feb-21 02:15 AM
(If you’ve got art for it post it up for sure)
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Cedoc 27-Feb-21 07:21 PM
Science Vessel Magellan
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19:24
Richard approaches his new ship and excitedly climbs on board. Top of the line space-faring tech, a complete lab, fully functional survey scanners... and it's all mine. Moving from room to room, Richard can't help but grin at the potential this ship gives him.
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Cedoc 27-Feb-21 07:39 PM
(Do I need to do anything to hire those pilots and electronics officer? What sort of cost am I looking at?)
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Nekosmash 27-Feb-21 07:40 PM
(They’re just part of ship upkeep)
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Cedoc 01-Mar-21 04:29 AM
After inspecting the ship and ensuring it is ready to fly, Richard calls in the hired crew. "Good afternoon, I am Dr. Richard Newman and this is the Science Vessel Magellan. Our primary purpose is research and exploration - this isn't a ship of war. Our first mission is a short hop over to Lianos, and we will be leaving tomorrow morning at dawn. I'm looking forward to working with each of you." With a smile, Richard then walks forward to shake hands and greet each of the three crew individually.
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Nekosmash 01-Mar-21 02:54 PM
They’re all eager to be on the first of what they hope will be many NMC science vessels in this post scream era. The universe has unquestionably changed and old scientific theories are undoubtedly different now. Rebuilding what was lost in a new age and understanding the mysteries of the universe as is, is something theyre all deeply committed to doing
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Cedoc 01-Mar-21 11:07 PM
"I'm glad to hear all three of you are as excited about this as I am. On this first shakedown cruise we won't be taking on any additional researchers, but expect to do so in future runs. Feel free to head home or stay on board to get settled, but remember to be back for take-off at dawn." Richard spends the evening doing system checks, loading provision, getting his Delta Hawk and Observation drones loaded into storage, and purchasing a gravcar for planetside exploration. (Can I specify that the Gravcar is more like a gravtruck, so it can transport my Delta Hawk drone if needed?)
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Nekosmash 02-Mar-21 03:14 AM
(A grav truck is it’s own vehicle with its own stat line but a car should be able to handle it
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Cedoc 02-Mar-21 03:17 AM
(Ah okay, I only looked in the Core book for vehicles. If the car works though I'll stick with that.) Come the dawn, we are all loaded into the Magellan and I begin the procedures necessary to start up the ship and set sail for Lianos.
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Cedoc 02-Mar-21 04:54 AM
(I assume we need a Pilot/Int roll for this?)
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Nekosmash 02-Mar-21 02:31 PM
(Nope, we don't roll for spike jumps unless there's some environmental hazard or something going wrong inside your ship)
14:32
(4 days of total downtime)
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Cedoc 03-Mar-21 06:24 AM
Now that he's got a crew to look after, Richard spends the time reading articles on how to be a good leader so he can hopefully avoid any blatant mistakes. (Lead 4/90 days) When coming out of the spike jump, Richard immediately activates the scanners and searches the system for other ships and any potential hostiles.
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Nekosmash 03-Mar-21 03:05 PM
(program/int)
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Cedoc 03-Mar-21 08:13 PM
(13)
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Nekosmash 03-Mar-21 08:33 PM
A vessel has entered the system just moments after you, and your scanners are quick to locus lock the alien spike drive signature @Garion
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Garion 03-Mar-21 08:52 PM
Aboard the run down merchant ship Horatio sits in the captains chair. His face set not knowing what to expect, half believing he spikes into shaper controlled space. "All hands to stations!" He sees the ship on his scope and tenses before his comm officer confirms the drive. Quickly Horatio signals to hail the ship.
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Cedoc 03-Mar-21 09:30 PM
Seeing the unknown ship on the sensors, Richard tenses and speaks quickly to the crew. "Prepare the spike drive and get ready to get out of here if this turn hostile." Flicking on the comms, Richard calls out to the other vessel. "This is the NMC Science Vessel Magellan, hailing unknown ship. Please identify yourself."
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Garion 03-Mar-21 09:38 PM
There's a short pause before a response, Horatio's deep voice sounds back. "Magellan, this is Horatio Percival, aboard the Merchant Runner - Greyhound. We are unarmed and seek no quarrel."
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Cedoc 03-Mar-21 09:46 PM
"Anyone here heard of the Greyhound before?" Richard asks his crew. "Someone check the ship registry and see if they can find them." Turning back to the comms, Richard responds. "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Percival, I'm Dr. Richard Newman. From what port do you hail?"
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Nekosmash 03-Mar-21 09:59 PM
There is no ID on the Greyhound, and no ship with this name was ever part of the Cooperative ship register. This search includes historical records.
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Cedoc 03-Mar-21 10:09 PM
(Is it possible to like scan their ship for weapons using my Survey Sensor Array?)
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Garion 03-Mar-21 10:09 PM
"The colony of Teucer. You might have issues, we eerrr... You are our first contact for some years now. We didn't even know the NMC still stood, last we heard there was a swarm of shapers heading toward the core."
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Cedoc 03-Mar-21 10:56 PM
"Ah I see. The Shaper wars ravaged many planets in the sector, but they have been driven off and mostly eliminated - the New Moon Cooperative still stands. There is currently a major effort in going out and re-establishing contact and helping the worlds that we have lost contact with. I imagine it wouldn't be too long before scouts would be sent to Teucer to check up on you folks. What is your mission heading out this way Mr. Percival?"
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Garion 03-Mar-21 11:18 PM
"That is a blessing by the Void! It is good to hear the Cooperative still stands. My mission is to re establish contact and seek help for the colony from what remains of the NMC. The colony has barely survived this long but now we are attempting to fix issues which are impossible without wider help. As you'll see we had to jury rig this intersystem merchant to accommodate a salvaged alien drive just to get this far."
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Nekosmash 04-Mar-21 02:29 AM
(it would be an opposed program/int, but yes)
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Cedoc 04-Mar-21 05:11 AM
Still cautious on his first interaction up in the black, Richard initiates a scan for weapons aboard the Greyhound while continuing to speak with Horatio. (Program/Int 15) "I'm glad to hear that you and your people are managing to survive at least. What sort of issues are you running into on your colony? Is your mission time sensitive - are any critical systems such as life support at risk of failing back on Teucer?"
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Garion 04-Mar-21 06:53 AM
(no way I'm beating that but it's good, the Greyhound isn't armed, it's a wonder it's in space) "Life support, food, water, space, local wildlife. The usual colonial issues, it is being dealt with but my mission is time sensitive to an extent I need to gather as much information as possible and speak with some kind of authority on Jagrati, if it still stands as the capital." There's a short but odd pause" What of the Royals? Who leads?"
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Cedoc 05-Mar-21 01:07 AM
"King Deveers still leads the Cooperative from Jagrati, no change there. I'm sure they will be quite happy to hear from you and your people. You haven't sounded too confident in your vessels capabilities, will you be able to reach Jagrati safely? Depending on your spike drive, it could be as much as 4 jumps away for you."
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Garion 05-Mar-21 02:50 AM
"Aye the Hound will get us there, being that we don't hit anyone unfriendly. As a bit of a military man I don't like travelling without the certainty of armament but I'll forgo asking for escorts along the way if I can. Is the space secure between here and the capital after conflict? Being that you said that others have been cut off I can imagine there has been fair share of strife across the NMC since the shapers passed through. Would I be right?"
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Cedoc 05-Mar-21 02:58 AM
"Unfortunately we wouldn't do too well as an escort for you, as I said earlier we are a research vessel and not equipped for war. I doubt many could catch us though." Richard replies with a grin. "NMC space has been fairly quiet as far as I'm aware. There has been some conflict with other colonies, particularly an uprising by the bots on Groa. Hasn't escalated to full war thankfully. I doubt you will have any issue in your trip to Jagrati. Lianos here isn't yet back under control of the Cooperative, but from your next system on you will be back in secured space." Pausing for a moment in thought, Richard asks another question in a concerned voice. "Does the Greyhound have at least a Spike-2 drive? A Spike-1 won't be enough to cross the black to the next system."
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Garion 05-Mar-21 03:02 AM
"This drive I'm told is equivalent to spike-3 so we shouldn't have those issues. If we don't run into trouble we should be there. Fuel may be an issue but if we're hitting friendly space after here we can refuel on the way. I'll have to use my considerable charm no doubt. Thank you for your help sir, I don't believe I ever caught your name. I would assume being a research vessel I'm talking to a doctor of something." There's a light chuckle on the static as Horatio loosens up.
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Cedoc 05-Mar-21 03:12 AM
"Ah of course, yes I'm Dr. Richard Newman. Good to hear, a spike-3 will be more than enough. If you need any technical assistance with getting your colony secure and repaired, be sure to send me message." As he says that, Richard sends over his contact information. "It's always good to help and reconnect with more of our lost people, as well as getting one step closer to bringing the Cooperative back to its' former glory."
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Garion 05-Mar-21 03:26 AM
Horatio sends back his own. Under NMC listings in the database you'd see at some point he served in the NMC military as an Officer of Marines before the shaper war. "A pleasure Doctor Newman. Depending on your field of interest I'd recommend going to Teucer to see what you may be able to find, there is a veritable trove of alien artefacts for those willing to look. Indeed there is a manufactured ring we are currently attempting to settle, made by some precursor race. As well as such specimebs that created this drive, though we have only found there dead."
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Cedoc 05-Mar-21 03:35 AM
"I think I will do just that once I've completed my current mission, thank you for the information Mr. Precival. I wish you and yours well on your mission."
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Garion 05-Mar-21 03:43 AM
"And you and yours likewise Dr. Newman, you've given us some good news today. We were half expecting to spike into shaper space. But it seems, that the NMC has lived to see another day. My thanks, if you find yourself in Teucer tell them that you've seen me and they should warm to you. I warn you that being alone in space with such little water has made the colony... Musty and some manners have become lax. But all should be well! We'll be sailing to depart now. Onward and upward as it were, good day." (think we have fuel for more than one jump at a time?)
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Nekosmash 05-Mar-21 02:27 PM
(Ships only carry enough for one jump, unless you've got fuel bunkers. We didnt include a plan since your ship is a flying wreck. You have a scoop, you'd have to scoop here at the star before jumping)
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Nekosmash 05-Mar-21 05:56 PM
(We can split back up then as it were, too)
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Cedoc 05-Mar-21 07:08 PM
"Good day to you as well." Closing the comms, Richard turns back to his crew. "Right let's get over Lianos. We will start with a survey scan from orbit, searching for a good location. It requires fresh water of course. Ideal would be in a valley to provide some shelter from the elements and have controllable entry and exit points. Otherwise, something on plains with a clear view of all approach lanes."
19:11
(Oh also, with this ship I accomplished my personal goal of "Develop a Science Vessel for research in the great black." I've also added another personal goal of: "Discover the identity of the precursor civilization in Teucer.")
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Nekosmash 05-Mar-21 08:26 PM
(Yes you did! and ill get XP on the second one)
20:30
(I will draw up a map, the scan also wouild have revealed the surface-in addition to Horatio's ship)
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Cedoc 05-Mar-21 08:39 PM
(Sweet!)
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Nekosmash 05-Mar-21 10:33 PM
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Cedoc 06-Mar-21 12:38 AM
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00:38
"Right, I see three potential locations. Let's check site 1 first, looks like a valley nestled between three mountains. Should provide lots of cover, easily defensible."
00:41
"Site 2 looks similar, just not quite as well protected. And site 3 goes the other direction, completely open for clear lines of sight. Site 1 would be ideal though." Stretching, Richard walks back over to the command chair. "I'm taking us in close, let's find a spot to land."
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Nekosmash 06-Mar-21 01:15 AM
The site below tou is a series of brown mountains that never have seen snow and only had trickles of other moisture in the lone Egons of its lifetime. The shapers removed all offending biomass from the planet and its sides are little more than pristine wind smoothed rock. Nothing grows here anymore. Even the microbes are gone.
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Cedoc 06-Mar-21 01:21 AM
They really did a number on the place... Richard shakes his head, then slowly takes the Magellan down and lands in the valley. "Right, I'll take a look around, you three stay on board and keep the ship locked up tight." Richard calls Dog to follow, then goes down to storage to unload the small Observation Drone. As he and dog step outside, Richard tosses the drone up into the air. Searching both on foot and with the drones, Richard seeks out anything of note in the valley - water sources, caves, ruins, any signs of life.
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Nekosmash 06-Mar-21 11:34 PM
The navcomp on the ship will need several hours to put a comprehensive picture together. There’s no water to speak of aside from the oceans. Nothing inland could be used or taken
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Cedoc 07-Mar-21 09:21 PM
(How defensible does this valley look? Does it have easily defensible choke points?)
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Nekosmash 08-Mar-21 02:33 AM
The valley is not defensible beyond the hilltop they’re on now. Otherwise it’s very open
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Cedoc 08-Mar-21 11:59 PM
Richard stays long enough for the navcomp to finish its comprehensive picture of the area. If it shows nothing of particular interest or note, he would then proceed to site 2 and repeat the procedure, aiming to get comprehensive maps and scanner information on each site.
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Nekosmash 09-Mar-21 03:16 AM
2 is a valley between several large hills. It’s defensible but anyone trying to siege the place or any escapees would easily have the high ground
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Cedoc 10-Mar-21 09:17 PM
Hmm, definitely not the spot. The first was better, at least we had the high ground and good lines of sight. "Let's head off and check the final site. Hopefully it looks better than these two."
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Nekosmash 11-Mar-21 01:31 AM
3 is against the ocean, and is flat in all directions where we are not bordering the sea. You're not expecting a threat to come in that direction, and anything escaping containment has several dozen kilometres in only two directions to travel, across open ground, before it can escape into a forest or other terrain feature. The land doesnt offer anything special in the way of a defensive advantage aside from the uninterrupted sight-lines
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Cedoc 11-Mar-21 05:39 PM
This is probably the best spot... limited directions of approach and escape and great lines of sight. "Right, this looks like the best location for a research facility. I don't think there's much more we can do here to prepare. Let's head back to Jagrati, this has been a good shake-down cruise. Good job everyone."
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Nekosmash 11-Mar-21 10:57 PM
Drone images, video of the flight over, and some other weather information is loaded- and can be reviewed by the board upon your return. With a location in mind, security, skilled help, and psionic assistance are the remaining parts of this puzzle.
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Cedoc 13-Mar-21 06:27 PM
Richard sets off back to Jagrati with the Magellan to work out the remaining parts. I wonder if Abel would be interested in heading security for the facility... (I'd spend the time traveling back to Jagrati continuing to work on the Lead skill)
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Nekosmash 14-Mar-21 03:29 PM
(I’ve got 5 days for downtime on the way back)
15:30
The site is chosen , the physical security measures have been pondered and you’ve got support of 2/5 council members already.
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Nekosmash 23-Mar-21 08:29 PM
(moving to retired until you return)
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Richard Idus 14-Aug-22 12:31 AM
(10)
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Nekosmash 14-Aug-22 01:34 AM
(This is an old character thread. Yours is still in #richard
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