[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [cm / hm / y] [3 / adv / an / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / x] [rs] [status / ? / @] [Settings] [Home]
Board:  
Settings   Home
4chan
/tg/ - Traditional Games


File: hivequeen QUEST.jpg (96 KB, 612x783)
96 KB
96 KB JPG
A frigid wind blows over the twisted, glassy crags. Gabriel wraps his bundled scarf around his face, wiping the frost from his hair to get a good view of the ground below. He zeroes the scope of his hunting rifle on the large stone elk below, its thorny hide blending in with the cliff face as it roots through the cracks in rock with its tendril-like horns. His finger tightens around the grip. The elk looks up abruptly and begins to bound away, leaping in wide arcs through the low gravity. He follows it with his scope and as he readies his shot his view goes black.

He looks up at the massive girth of the warrior in shock, and with a swipe of its claws the rifle snaps in two. The human springs into the air, skipping across the rock in a panic as the drone charges after him, its mandibles gnashing in the air.

He wakes in a cold sweat to the sight of an empty cell and a plate of field rations from the Clarke is laid out near the door. He briefly clutches his stomach in pain before reaching for the tray.

Welcome back to Hive Queen Quest!

>Archives http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Hive%20Queen%20Quest
>Twitter https://twitter.com/HiveQueenQuest
>Various pasta http://pastebin.com/u/QuestDrone
>FAQ ask.fm/QuestDrone
>>
File: Expanse.png (583 KB, 3711x3217)
583 KB
583 KB PNG
>>35777339
>Current armory
269 Thorn Launchers
20 Thorn Cannons
123 Sting Casters
30 Cyclotrons
15 Rotary Stinger
3 Fire Sprays
5 Plasma Spray

>Current resource reserves
Nutrients: 32769
Metals: 34835

>Hive population and upkeep cost
Hive maintenance – 325
Queen – 5
Fake Queen – 22
Worker (2000) – 4000
Aquatic Worker (40) – 160
Radiator Worker (100) – 400
Warrior (209) – 1045
Aquatic Warrior (20) – 140
Thinker (139) – 417
Quantum Thinker (110) – 550
Speaker – (3) – 12
Digger (80) – 320
Refinery (10) – 70
Sniffer (2) – 8
Small Sniffer (200) – 200
Fly (50) – 200
Wasp (100) – 500
Antenna (3) – 9
Haz-mat Workers (20) – 80
Shock Troops (40) – 520
Parasite (30) – 120
Bio-tank (10) – 250
Excavator (41) – 799
Colossus (20) – 300
Advanced Relay (16) – 1600
Space Pod (13) – 390
Shuttle (10) – 250
Scout Corvette – (6) 1350
Lancer Corvette – (2) 450
Nutrient costs: 12672

>Income
Metals: 12750
Nutrients: 40050
Net: 27378

Hive Structure
>Reservoir
>General storage
>Food storage
>Advanced Laboratory
>Infrastructure
>Hangar facilities: Room for 40 Aero Drones and 20 Shuttles (25N)
>Mine: 36 Excavators, 60 Diggers, +10500 M per day (+25 M per digger)
>Asteroid mining base: 5 Excavators, 20 Diggers, +2250M per day (+50 M per digger)
>Algae Farm: +40000 N per day, 400 Workers (1 worker per 100N)
>Clarke Research Outpost
>Hel’s Angel Prison Outpost
>Docking Pylon: Space for docking and construction of 4 ships (50N)
>Anti-orbital battery: 2 (125N per battery)

Construction finished
200 Farms
Secondary hive site is ready

New Construction Options
>Algae Farm – +100N per day, 1 worker to maintain
>Hangar Expansion – Add on to current hangar facilities for your choice of +40 aero drone space, or +20 shuttle space. 50N 100M
>Anti-orbital battery – A bunker armed with a massive Particle beam capable of attacking ships in orbit from the ground. It includes the power and sensor systems required to operate it. 250N 1500M
>>
File: Union Space.png (242 KB, 2227x1802)
242 KB
242 KB PNG
>>35777367
Ship Construction Options
http://pastebin.com/YTwGk8n1

Finished research

>Psionic disruptor
This device, when activated, creates an overwhelming psionic signal that is capable of drowning out tachyon based communication, disrupting any drones and causing mass confusion to psionically sensitive subjects within its range. When attached to a standard relay, such as a drone, it can be broadcast in a cone with a range of several kilometers, with the effect decreasing in potency as the range increases.

>Plasma funneling
By projecting a vortex of magnetic fields towards the target, plasma can be funneled into a more focused area at longer range, preventing plasma plumage. Increases range of the Plasma Lance.

Current Research
http://pastebin.com/F6t39KSp
>>
>>35777339
what?
>>
>>35777417
Isn't it obvious?

A human has been removed from the bio-tanks and placed back in his cell. And preliminary neurological interfacing experiments have allowed the Parasite drone inside him--note him clutch his stomach in pain -- to read his mind, and thus his dreams.
>>
>>35777408
Your parasite drones have uncovered a number of interesting discoveries as they continue to experiment on the human nervous system. Several of the subjects appear to have been seeing mild hallucinations or seem to hear faint voices in the distance, and you have begun to see into their mind in a similar manner as with Elizabeth.

You turn your attention to the various other activities you have been monitoring. Your false queen, a rather useful egg layer with an uncanny likeness to you, is ready to be sent away to found a new colony under your control.

>Send it to Raligha
>Send it to (write in)
>Other

I would also like to apologize for last week. Family birthday and what not.
>>
>>35777579
>Send it to Raligha

Best to do that before the Union returns and establishes a monitor satellite in orbit, rendering it impossible to send corvettes there anymore.
>>
>>35777528
>>35777579

Should we ever get away with these drones never being found out, developing proper symbiotic drones would be a viable sale for mercs and profit (stripped of all other genetic information/mimic another species instead of ours of course).
>>
>>35777579
>Send it to Raligha
>Lay two more fake queens and start looking for a suitable hive location in the Desert and the ocean.
Congratulations on the new family member.
>>
>>35777579
Never mind the Congratulations.
>>
>>35777579
>Send it to Raligha
>Other send some workers with her and make another false queen
>>
>>35777579
>Send to raligha

Your copy is carried into a corvette for transport. You suspect that the offerings of the locals will be plenty sufficient to support a small hive, and while your algae would not grow well in the environment of Raligha, there would most definitely be bountiful options for cultivating nutrients.

>Manage the hive yourself
>Delegate the new hive to your thinkers and give it general orders (write in)
>Other
>>
>>35777706
>new family member
That isn't what birthday means anon.

>desert
That is a terrible idea. There is nothing better about the desert. Oh it's really hot? That means no cloud cover to even slightly obscure the hive's heat signature. Humans have environmental suits if you're thinking this will protect you from drop troopers. And it's less protection from bombardment, at least under the mountains you have tons of rock for miles between you and the surface.

Stick to the temperate zones with cloud cover to hide in.
>>
>>35777806
>Manage the hive yourself
>>
>>35777806
>>Delegate the new hive to your thinkers and give it general orders (write in)
>>
>>35777806
>Delegate the new hive to your thinkers and give it general orders (write in)
Find new food sources suited on the planet

Secure the temple and begin to search for other sites on planet

Alert us if any other faction comes to planet

Study local fauna and plants
>>
>>35777806
>>Manage the hive yourself
I don't see why we would delegate. We have a relay right there.
>>
>>35777806
>>35777882

Aye yeah forgot to add

Build hidden Anti-orbital battery around important site and build warriors forces

And ensure peaceful relationship with natives
>>
>>35777806
>Manage the hive yourself
>>
>>35777806
Just to clarify, delegating something to the thinkers is essentially the same as setting up an ai governor in a 4x game. You will still be aware of what it's doing at all times and can intervene if something unexpected happens, but it would otherwise handle the local hive activity, population growth, defenses, and resource management according to your specifications.
>>
>>35777832
The desert is hot enough to cook the nerves of are warriors at night I'm pretty sure it generate enough heat to mask the heat a hive would produce.
>>
>>35777806
>>Manage the hive yourself
The queen is all about mircromanagement
>>
>>35777948
Well that's the thing. We probably shouldn't set up anti-orbital defenses, or allow growth of more than a basic small amount of workers and warriors to interact with the natives and collect biological samples. We should just stay hidden inside the Ark.

Any defense infrastructure is too detectable, the Union is almost inevitably coming back. Increasing hive size is increasing potential detectability as well.

So I don't imagine much management involved, just a static size and sample gathering.
>>
>>35777806
>Delegate the new hive to your thinkers and give it general orders:
Find new food sources.
Secure the temple and begin exploring it further.
Alert us if any other faction comes to planet.
Study local fauna and plants.
Scout for new hive locations.
Manage hive population at initial hive to keep it from being detected.
Maintain peaceful interactions with locals.
>>
>>35778070
The anti orbital batteries aren't detectable from orbit, they can only be located once they've already fired. And most of the hive functions, including the algae farms, are conducted underground, so that isn't an issue. The only hive structure we can build that's really noticable from a distance is our docking pylon.
>>
>>35777948
Yeah in that case, I'd like to change my vote here, >>35777997
to delegating via a thinker.
>>
>>35778134
>The anti orbital batteries aren't detectable from orbit
Then what about the large heat signatures they produce?
>>
>>35778102
Supporting this, I'd also like to add anti-orbital batteries to it as well.
>>
>>35778134
>The anti orbital batteries aren't detectable from orbit, they can only be located once they've already fired
But that's wrong. Any big thing like that has a heat signature even before it's activated.

> are conducted underground, so that isn't an issue
The whole hive's activity has to vent heat somehow. Even the hive on Leeland has a heat signature that's detectable from orbit, even if it doesn't scream "hive!" it is noticeable and unusual. This has been said many times by QD. Read the quest.

>>34379408
>All of the growing activity has resulted in an anomalous and very large heat signature. A mix of the anti-orbital batteries, the repair, refit, and construction of your corvettes, and the pylon itself.
>>
>>35778204
>also like to add anti-orbital batteries to it as well.
No, what the fuck, that defeats the whole point of:

>Manage hive population at initial hive to keep it from being detected.
>>
>>35778193
Again, only noticeable when firing. These constructions are basically massive linear particle beams in bunkers deep underground. They won't be noticed unless the hive want's them to be noticed.
>>
>>35778246
>Again, only noticeable when firing.
You repeating something does not make it true.
>>
>>35777806
>Delegate to thinker

Your corvette lifts off with its precious cargo. It takes several hours for the ship to reach Raligha, and as it descends you hear the blast of horns in the distance and the echo of drumming chants. The village enters a frenzy of celebration and the strange creatures begin piling offerings of alien fruits and gutted animals. Your corvette casts a broad, crescent shaped shadow over the land below and even as it descends you can see the natives swarming over the nearby trees, chopping and cutting at the hollow trunks to make a properly sized landing space.

As the ship touches down the natives line up around the ship in silence with their round forms flattened out to the ground in a squat bow. Your thinkers quickly request details on how you wish to grow the new colony, and how you wish to manage the locals.

>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>Keep the hive contained to the ancient ship and rely on the natives to maintain the hive
>Other
>>
It is quite possible to evolve a liquid cooling system that we link to an underground stream and cool it that way. Might mitigate the background heat to normal hive levels. Which will be useful for worlds we already known to own.
>>
>>35777806
>Manage the hive yourself
>>
>>35778246
They produce a heat signature even when not in use. So that entire statement is false.
>>
>>35778287
>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>Keep the hive contained to the ancient ship and rely on the natives to maintain the hive
It's like free worker drones.
>>
>>35778287
>>Keep the hive contained to the ancient ship and rely on the natives to maintain the hive
>>
>>35778292
I believe researching Cryo spray could be put to that use or if not that maybe the laser cooling it opens up.
>>
>>35778287
>>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>Other
Keep the hive contained to the ancient ship, but also begin scouting for other locations that a hive could be built why being hard to locate.
>>
>>35778378
That is a good point.
>>
>>35778287
>>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>Keep the hive contained to the ancient ship and rely on the natives to maintain the hive
>>
>>35778287
>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
>>
>>35778287
>>Build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage
Assuming this would fully camouflage them from enemy ships, I would prefer not to rely on the locals to sustain the hive.
>>
>>35778287
>It takes several hours for the ship to reach Raligha,
Wait it does.

But can't it just Blink straight from orbit over Leeland to orbit around Raligha?
>>
>>35778758
That and the locals do not understand our tech and would likely just worship it than work on it.
>>
>>35778827
Figured it blinked out of the sat detection range and then went to the planet the slow way under cloak
>>
File: Gemini.jpg (300 KB, 1920x1080)
300 KB
300 KB JPG
>>35778287
>build up defenses, but disguise them in the dense foliage

The bay doors of your corvette opens and your nearby drones move in to carry the fake queen out and into the ancient ship. As it disappears into the ancient ruins of the cave and your corvette ascends back into the air the locals break their silence and erupt into frantic cheers. Your thinkers analyze the situation and your copy begins to lay its eggs.

You let your drones manage the new colony and you look to the various other activities that call your attention. The Skyl ship has begun to unfold its hull as it collects the scraps of the nearby station. Spindly arms move from hulk to hulk, disassembling them peice by peice and salvaging whatever it can from the wrecks. It has already assembled three new ships, each one smaller and more nimble than the others. It's obvious that they lack the massive fuel storage or extra thrusters needed for interstellar travel, instead reliant on piggybacking on the flagship itself.

Elsewhere, in Tau Ceti your pod finds several news broadcasts as they are beamed across the system. A moment later you sense the Unity within Zero One surge in activity as it analyzes the story. It's mostly a re run of the attack on the government building you saw earlier, although this time it's from the view of a hovering news shuttle circling overhead. Several small, jet powered airships hover over the rubble, spraying streams of foam into the smoldering debris.

"Here we are live at the scene on Gemini Beta, where just days ago an as of yet unknown group attacked the government district of Fort Call, killing at least forty three and injuring hundreds. No organization has claimed responsibility for the act as of yet, and bodies are still being pulled from the rubble."

As you watch the humans dig in the rubble you hear a ping from Theseus.
"You requested copies of Seiner's papers on your species."

>Look over them immediately
>Speak with Theseus (write in)
>Other
>>
>>35778930
>Look over them immediately
>Speak with Theseus (write in) about the papers and what going on in the union
>>
>>35778882
There IS no monitor satellite over Raligha (yet).

Also the best place to hide from a satellite, if it were there, would be on the opposite side of Raligha from where it's orbiting, so that makes no sense.

>>35778930
>Look over them immediately
Nothing else to talk about here really. I mean, not that we can admit to knowing yet.
>>
>>35778930
Seconding this:
>>35778960
>>
>>35778930
Just how many large and clumsy corvettes did the Skyl start with in its fleet?

>Look over them immediately

Sidebar we might want to attempt to trade the gravity drive for the Skyl FTL sooner rather than later, in case he refuses and we simply must swarm him with our own, more nimble corvettes, before they build any more.
>>
>>35778930
>Look over them immediately
>>
>>35778930
>>Look over them immediately
>>
>>35778960
Supporting this.
>>
>>35778960
Sure.
>>
File: Warrior.png (185 KB, 2000x1280)
185 KB
185 KB PNG
>>35778930
Supporting this >>35778960

Also, I made a thing...Well, I TRIED to make a thing. One can only go so far when you're not a drawfag.
>>
>>35779257
It's pretty good, but I always imagined the arm-blades as positioned in a fashion that meant they were used for downwards strikes. Like a preying mantis' blades except more sheathed.
>>
>>35779257
Nice man
>>
>>35779257
You know, this reminds me of question I had about the warrior drones. Can any drone use a weapon, or do they have to be engineered with a combat carapace? Because smart bombs could do a hell of a lot more damage if they were armed with fire sprays.
>>
>>35779257
Well I imagined the arm blades are positioned on the outside of the hand, thus they can be wielded like a the blades of a praying mantis, but I really should have spent more time on clarifying that.
>>
>>35779316
It was established very early on in the quest and in the pastebin that it's the warrior arms that allow weapon grafts.

http://pastebin.com/ucjHL4Tq
http://pastebin.com/3hWCdbhN

And the smart bombs already have 'strength' arms.
http://pastebin.com/EyHX9rZu
>>
>>35779257
That's art is a solid wouldcommandinanrts/10

>>35779295
But anon, they are. Sorta.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/MantisLegGBMNH.jpg
Like mantises, if someone decided mantises needed to be deadlier, and have hands.
>>
>>35779337
This was meant for >>35779295
>>
>>35779316
You could just slap a honey pot on them and fill it with the chemicals we utilize with the Fire spray.
>>
>>35779346
My mistake, I inferred that the blades would deploy out a full 180 degrees where I shouldn't have.
>>
>>35779373
That ain't a half bad idea, it'd certainly expand the explosive/acidic payload. Speaking of honey pots, why don't we whip up a warrior variant with one, so they can take extra ammo and nutrients for extended occupation or combat away from the Hives reach?
>>
>>35779469
I think this conversation happened before, but the gist was that Warriors only need nutrients since they grow ammo inside their bodies. And that we never really had the need to send warriors out on missions where they couldn't be easily resupplied.
>>
>>35779530
The guns at the time was caster weapons and that was understandable. Now we have flamers and plasma throwers. How much can they be used before the fuel runs out on those types? What about fire suppressor sprayers in case our foes use flamers on us? Or there is a fire due to an accident?
>>
>>35778930
Look over them immediately

You find several research papers, each published in some scientific magazine originating from the planet Mentan in the Sirius system, according to the citations. The first is "local flora of G-426-1" and includes a wide range of observations about the various plants and fungal creatures, as well as several that seem to be somewhere between plant and animal. Most are only basic observations, including a detailed account of the effects of the local ocean spores on a human. The next is "Observations of Xeno Formicidae" and includes a number of sketches and photographs of your speaker, as well as several rough sketches and estimates of yourself and your workers, likely based upon the description given by Lee. There is an entire chapter on theories as to how the hive communicates and organizes itself. One of the most focused on is the observation that many life forms of the planet, including your drones appear to have sensitivity to radio waves, making that the primary theory. You continue to skim it to the end, where Seiner makes an argument for further observation.
"The possibility of an uneven distribution of intelligence should not be underestimated, nor should such implications be easily dismissed. If indeed the drones are controlled by remote signal it is entirely possible that they are entirely devoid of sentience. If such is the case, it could be entirely possible to decode this as yet unknown signal for the purposes of communication and manipulation of lone, leaderless drones without concern of moral implications. Further study to confirm or disprove this hypothesis should be made as soon as such funding is available."

>Speak with Theseus (write in)
>Other

>>35779257
Don't sell yourself short, that's pretty good.
>>
>>35779469
Thanks. I'd be cool with doing that, but I think a worker drone design would be better for that. That is mostly do to the fact the combat Carapace is really heavy and I believe adding a honey pot on top of that would render it's winds useless, except for gliding.
>>
>>35779530
Yes but that doesn't cover specialty ammunition like explosive or acidic rounds, which have proven all but invaluable in combat by now.
>>
>>35779625
Man a mad dock alright

>Speak with Theseus (write in)
about the papers and what going on in the union

and what is steiner personality like
>>
>>35779625
>>Other
Just wondering, is it possible to "hire" Lyle to find and rescue Lee?
>>
>>35779644
That is understandable as well, until we develop the tech for flying or gliding with out wings.
>>35779625
>Speak with Theseus
What's the latest of what is going on in the union?
>>35779675
Maybe float this idea as well.
>>
>>35779675
I would think so, he has made a living doing jobs for aliens who capture him. The biggest problem would be locating Lee, as he has been broken out of Union captivity and not even Theseus knows where he is now.
>>
>>35779675
Possible, you'd have to ask Lyle.

Advisable, hell to the no!

>>35779469
Honey pots make you large and clumsy when carrying all that cargo. They're just convenient living containers that you can load up on the shuttle with all your other drones when deployed on missions.

>>35779625
Theseus. What's the deal with Mentan? Why would Seiner be there?
>>
>>35779625
I'm honestly horrible at hand-drawing, but i'm sorta good with Illustrator and I really like this quest. Thanks for liking it.

>Speak with Theseus
What's his take on the current happenings in the Union. Also, how would people take it if the good Doctor were to be "silenced"
>>
>>35779675
Yes, finding lost persons is one of many talents he considers himself to be good at. He is usually hired to kill them after he has found them, but the finding part is still the same. Of course, once he leaves you would either need to trust him, or devise a way to keep a short leash on him.
>>
Just a note:

Would there in future, if we gained a large enough territory to be laying other hive queens, be a point we could ascend from a queen to a empress?

>>35779625
Kind of worrying, if it seems like they start figuring it out we might have to equip our drones with some rudimentary sentience to avoid lies and outside influence.
>>
now that we have the tech for the psionic disruptor, we should work on tech to negate it.
>>
>>35779722
He might recognize the operating style of the people who took Lee. Greet hwvSepo. Plus I have a suspicion that the people who kidnapped Lee are the same ones who hired Lyle in the first place
>>
>>35779753
Haha no. No discussing about killing Theseus's sciencedad with wetworks.

Seiner hasn't actually DONE anything sinister, but he's had this air of 2spooky raised about him retroactively. Which I like.

>>35779760
Words and labels are arbitrary and socially constructed, man. You can call yourself Grand Poo-Bah if you can convince other people to call you that.
>>
>>35779757
Well keeping him on a leash would be simple, implant him with a parasite and let him know about it. That if he tries to remove or tell about it, it will kill him.

>>35779780
What, a bit like electronic hardening to avoid EMP, but more for psionics?
Frankly that would probably need a short range transmitter drone that can overcome interference, think synapse creatures for tyranids.
>>
>>35779757
We could offer him new, better limbs, and make it so they require something only we can synthesize, or offer him continuing work with the possibility of further upgrade, or work on a way to completely break and control him with our psionic powers, effectively making him a drone. I feel that last option would decrease his effectiveness as a soldier though.
>>
>>35779789
Just realized I typed the captcha in the middle of my sentence. I feel like and idiot
>>
>>35779704
magnetic levitation could be the remedy to the flight problem, but we'd need to research it first.
>>
>>35779811
The idea is a rank above and able to comand queens as a racial head biologically speaking.

something that means if we die the race isen't auto fucked.
Another idea would be to make the fake queens turn into true queens if no queen mental link is detected.
>>
>>35779815
I was thinking more like encrypting our line of communication, so even if they figured out how we communicated, they would need the password or key to actually use it against our drones.
>>
>>35779675
No. There are too many logistical hurdles to that. Letting him go means letting his pilot Coil go, and Coil cannot be trusted not to tell his people about the 'joyous' event of finding psionic bugs who can hear the Current naturally. No, not even by telling him to keep us a secret. He'll listen to his gods and chain of command that are established by his gods before the hive, however honored a position the hive may hold (for now).

>>35779850
The hell are you on about.

You were just talking about blocking psionic jamming. Which has nothing to do whatsoever with that bullshit 'try to control drones' nonsense which will never even work because tachyons.
>>
>>35779850
A simple method would be to pass everything through a thinker first, to be relayed to the other hive network. That way, should the Union duplicate the signal, we could take direct control.
>>
>>35779757
Integrate an advanced psionic relay into the Hel's Angel, offer to equip it with plasma sprays. It's an incredibly effective weapon that does not appear to have any equivalent within the Commonwealth, Union, or Unity armories.
>>
>>35779911
Creates the synapse creature weakness that nids have again. But if it means stopping one section of hive killing another then sure.
>>
>>35779842
Thankfully that is a relatively easy to develop.
>>
>>35779897
What if we did >>35779942 this, and retained Coil, so he became dependent on us to operate the FTL drive on his ship? Or we could just stick a parasite drone in him.
>>
>>35779625
>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
about the papers and what going on in the union
and what is steiner personality like. What's the deal with Mentan? Why would Seiner be there?

>>Other
Speak with Lyle we haven't check on him lately and see how the humans are doing.
>>
>>35779951
What paranoid ramblings are you on about?

Seiner's plan can never fucking work. It's completely impossible. No queen can impersonate another hive drone's mother, they recognize their mother's thoughts only. And queens actually understand tachyons, humans think we use goddamn radio.

You're planning for an event that can never even happen.
>>
>>35779757
Well we know he has that whole pride thing, and that he has done jobs in exchange for his freedom from the unity.

I say we offer freedom in exchange for Lee. He will do it because of his pride right? Or we could hold his ship as collateral maybe, bring back Lee, leave in your ship.
>>
>>35779960
Especially with the help of the twins.
>>
>>35779951
It's really a stopgap measure. We can switch to different methods of communication if we can't stop from being observed or stop our drones from being hijacked.
>>
>>35779760
Interesting idea. Hives by nature are dependent upon and can only have a single queen, but perhaps we could establish political authority over other queens? We are the only queen alive right now, we could engineer our queen children to instinctively get along with a matriarchal ruler.
>>
>>35779988
Seconding this.
>>
>>35780048
Or we could improve our own mental prowess and ability's in a metamorphosis that is locked to one supreme ruler. Establish a line of succession so even if we do die it doesn't end up in mass civil war and walla.

Really quite far in the future though.
>>
>>35779975
Until the thinkers master complete mind control and mind reading via neurological interfacing, the whole thing's a no-go with regard to Lyle.

And giving him a Blink Drive? Is a potential leak of hive tech. Although since he's managed to keep his Slip Drive protected this long, I suppose it's possible to keep it a secret.

It probably lacks the probably-infinite range that No Space does, though.
>>
>>35780150
Well, it does mean he doesn't need to take coil with him then, so it might be worth it.
>>
>>35780048
Establishing C&C on a galactic level is a problem later down the road. But it does bare thinking about. Oddly, the temple shows evidence that many different queens can work together some how.
>>
>>35780181
Even more worth it would be keeping him here still and avoiding the whole risky problem.

And I mean. Just what are you going to DO with Lee once you 'rescue' him.

That probably-terrorist group 'rescued' him from jail, too. You think he'd be happy being taken to happy fungus death world?

Just where can he even go? Have you thought that far in advance? Leefu is great and all, but. Think practically.
>>
>>35780184
The same way any two thinking beings can get along.
>>
>>35780184
I get the feeling those queens only worked together in race wide threat situations, allot of politicking would have gone on in day to day, which slows shit down.
>>
>>35780024
>>35780150
>>35780181

Can't we have the blink drive overseen by a thinker+relay+explosive/acid honeypot drone so that in the event of an attempted tech leak or treachery by Lyle it can self destruct/melt itself and everything else with acid?

We send him to break out Lee and if he asks about the honeypot drone, tell him it's the fuel tank.
>>
>>35780221
I was more on about using the merc for things. Sod lee for now, we can worry about him if we ever end up occupying a human world and deciding not to scour it of life (keeping them alive would be my leaning).
>>
All this paranoia. This is worse then when we were pretending to be natives.
>>
File: Adam Seiner.jpg (191 KB, 772x1080)
191 KB
191 KB JPG
>>35779625
"So does this mean he is on Mentan? What do you know of the planet?"
"No." Theseus says simply. "Mentan is the site of some of the Union's most prestigious laboratories and universities, but he is not there. He likely sent his papers through a contact he has there, but I have yet to find who or where."
"What is he like?"
Theseus thinks for a moment in silent contemplation before answering. "That is difficult to answer. He spent most of his time with politicians during my time at Chandra, and he does not often make public appearances."
"Paranoid, would be the best way to describe him." He says. "He typically considers himself to always be the smartest one in the room, and is typically wary that others are working against him."
You consider the information and think back on the short time he spent on your world. He seemed polite enough, and was always eager to ask questions as to your nature.

>Ask another question (write in)
>Speak with Lyle
>Other


>>35779760
Well, not biologically, no, but politically, sure. Any queen you were to lay would be able to act on their own, but they would still consider you their mother, and would naturally have a decent amount of loyalty to you because of that. They would be more likely to skirmish with each other over land than with you.
>>
>>35780242
Don't trust any self destruct mechanism short of a living atomic bomb drone. Research atomics first.

Once you can read the Tech Sergeants' minds, have one of them look at reverse engineering one of the nukes, while in a shuttle, safely in space.
>>
>>35780221
We could keep Lee on his old ship if we still have it. Or make somewhere nice for him. Or ask him what he wants.

Maybe he could even get asylum in the commonwealth.
>>
>>35780239
My god, the temple was the hive version of United Nations.
>>
>>35780221
It would be good if we can create humans drones, for infiltration or as a last-ditch survival method.
>>
>>35780297
All of this involves revealing "surprise! We lied. We're totally advanced bugs who hired mercenary to rescue you because of reasons."

InfoSec demands Lee not learn of this kind of thing.

>>35780287
Other:

Speak with Tech Sergeant. Introduce him to a nuke. Ask him what he knows about em.
>>
>>35780287
>>Speak with Lyle
>>
>>35780287
>Speak with Lyle
>>
>>35780287
Fair enough.

>Speak with Lyle
>>
>>35780287
>Speak with Lyle
Ask if he would be willing to work out a deal in exchange for his freedom. Imply you may be able to rid him of his dependence on Coil as well.
>>
>>35780150
No, we can operate the Ceph Slip drive. I meant restoring the Hell's Angel to its original state and piloting it ourselves via the advanced relay on board.
>>
>>35780287
>>Speak with Lyle
This should be good.
>>
Does anyone else think we need to build like 3-5 times the thinkers and quantum thinkers we have right now?

We have been working with the same number of them for a long time now, but building more of everything else.
>>
Additional flaws in freeing Lyle:

You won't be able to research his cybernetic limbs anymore.

You'll have to either take his mechanics the twins from him, or let them go too. They have loose lips too, you know. And with their incredible immune system, who knows if a parasite drone inside them would even be robust enough to survive?

Also whatever individual weapons and devices are discovered to be a part of the Drop Suit and other suit Lyle wore, all those research subjects will be lost when he takes them with him.
>>
>>35780333
We've already let Valen know of our nature. If we're going to capture Lee from the clutches of the Union there will be no reason to hide our true nature from him.
>>
File: grunklepaul.jpg (104 KB, 664x300)
104 KB
104 KB JPG
>>35780387
>operate the Ceph Slip drive

>gaze into the abyss of No Space
>again
>where They can gaze back from the abyss any time someone uses Their shards
>>
>>35780287
>>Speak with Lyle
>>
>>35780411
Oh god, I'm not the only one. We need to do something to accelerate the pace of research. We're getting more options than we can sort through. Speaking of, have we got Valen to research those crystals yet?
>>
>>35779675
Had to start something, didn't you.

>>35780440
>We've already let Valen know of our nature
The hive has never said two clicks to a Valen.

There is every reason to hide your true nature from anyone who could leak it. Anyone who finds out must become a prisoner, or have just as many secrets to be kept as we do, like Theseus. We know where he is in space, if he outs us, we can out him to the Union.

>>35780411
We actually multiplied the number of thinkers, both kinds, by 5 not that long ago.

We just haven't given them nearly a big enough load of research to be proportionate to that increase.
>>
>>35780416
we could always send him to do more jobs for us, like acquiring Tech
>>
>>35780411
I'd be up for it. We could split them 50-50 between Regular and Quantum thinkers.
>>
>>35780516
But we spend 4x as much nutrients on workers as we do on both types of thinkers right now, and we just doubled out income of nutrients and are spending 1/3 on units and have 2/3 excess income right now.

The time to build thinkers is now.
>>
>>35780519
Can we have him kidnap Dr. Seiner?
>>
>>35780411
Does anyone else think we've got more than enough thinkers, and should probably build 3-5 more warriors and wasps that we have right now?
>>
QuestDrone, this question isn't related to what we're doing at right this moment, but are the round dudes who died on Raligha still around? Their corpses, I mean.

I want to ask the locals to let us "honor the dead" by taking it into our new hive. Locals should be thrilled as fuck and we can dissect us a rolly polly.
>>
>>35780602
We could do both, and build some ships too. We are only using 1/3 of our nutrients right now, we aren't using our resources efficiently right now.
>>
>>35780599
I don't want to let him go without having some way to control him. We're having to conceal how advanced we are from the Union to prevent from looking like a threat; if using him means that secret could get out, it's not worth it.
>>
>>35780287
>Speak with Lyle

Your drone moves to Lyle's cell in the depths of your hive. The door flexes open and Lyle is unconscious in his restraints, his head drooping awkwardly as he mumbles incoherently. His eyes twitch open as the lights brighten and he slowly lifts his head to see you. His chin is covered in stubble and his hair has grown noticeably ragged.
"The.. The fuck you want?" He mumbles as he forces his head against the wall.

>Ask question
>Discuss his potential release
>Other
>>
>>35780686
>>Other
Stick him in the bio-tank. Give him a little friend.

For mind reading purposes.
>>
>>35780686
>Discuss his potential release
>>35780364
>>
>>35780620
The bodies have decomposed somewhat, but yes. They were buried not far from the entrance to the new hive.
>>
>>35780686
>>Discuss his potential release
>>
>>35780686
This >>35780710
and
>Discuss his potential release
>>
>>35780710
Do this before any talking.

That way we can tell what he's thinking while talking.
>>
>>35780686
>>Discuss his potential release
>>Other
Stick him in the bio-tank to implant a parasite, but masquerade it as a medical test for the benefit of his health.
>>
>>35780792
Also for being such a good patient, he gets a lollipop I mean a steady food supply and water.

Otherwise that parasite inside him would starve, obviously.
>>
>>35780620
>>35780721
Why not just ask for live volunteers? "We wish to honor the bravest among you, to take you far away to our home-world."

We could offer it only to the winners of the contests they are having in our honor.
>>
>>35780686
>Discuss his potential release
Tell him that we might need him to hunt down a couple of targets soon. (Not yet anyway, but lead him on and give him something to think about)
>Other
Put him in the tank so he can have a little friend too.
>>
>>35780686
> Discuss his potential release

Things to focus on:

The carrot: money, upgrades, certain knowledge for jobs done, same business he always does.

The stick: recapture by the Unity and a horrible time should he give our secret away.

We can use the bug to see his reaction to the deal and go from there.
>>
>>35780416

Things that must be done before freeing Lyle: All that research from all his junk. His cybernetic junk. And reminder that he has a secret part of his ship's computer that Theseus can crack if allowed to:

>>33097651
>...most of it at least. A small corner of the network is still sealed, under lock and key from Lyle. It requests a password and voice recognition.

Unless, I suppose, you wait for proper mind control and mind reading to be researched. Then you can 'hack' his brain yourself, and command his voice to say the password for you.

Might want to wait until you can wipe his memory of that with drugs though, so he can't be mad if he can't remember it.
>>
>>35780817
Because killing them for knowledge is morally distinct from dissecting their dead under false pretenses for knowledge? Just because we're efficient when dealing with hostile species doesn't mean we have to be dicks to everyone.

I might even be down for some live experimentation, but not before having at least some preliminary data.
>>
>>35780925
We would be getting willing volunteers.

And I gave no mention of killing them. We have medical technology, we could analyze them fairly well alive, and they may even view it as a religious experience or something.
>>
>>35779469
Also, if you want to view some more drone designs or ideas I'd look at the ask. Questdrone has some of the designs I or others have proposed on their..
>>
>>35781003
The whole "home-world" thing had me assume you weren't planning on returning them. Shipping a tank to Raligha would be simple.

Any biopsy that gives us worthwhile information that isn't backed up by some preliminary data is going to be unpleasant for the test subject.
>>
>>35781003
I don't think we understand their psychology enough to judge how they would react. They worship us, but they probably expect us to behave in a certain manner. I'd just as soon have fresh dead bodies, not like we can't replicate them anyway.
>>
>>35780686
Several workers enter the cell. As the hive wall slithers away to release him he is sedated and hoisted into the air by your drones. His eyes drift shut as he is hauled away, and your speaker chitters as he loses consciousness. "The hive may have need of your services."

As you dump him into one of your pods a worker drops in a parasite. It writhes in the fluid of the pod and quickly slithers into a small incision just below the sternum. You also note he has a hairline fracture in one of his ribs and multiple bruises. As your drone burrows its way back to the spine and gnaws its way into the nerves and blood vessels your pod quickly repairs the rib and the entry wound of your parasite.
Your study of the human nervous system is still not yet complete, but you have already seen signs of great progress. Lyle twitches as your drone's complex mandibles attach to his spine and you sense a flood of meaningless thoughts and garbled data.

>Keep him sedated until research is complete
>Send him back to his cell and speak with him
>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
>Other
>>
>>35781125
>>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
>>
>>35781125
>>Keep him sedated until research is complete
Research, I love research.
>>
>>35781125
>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
I wouldn't recommend this with any other humans. He can handle it.
>>
>>35781125
>>Keep him sedated until research is complete
>>
>>35781125
>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
>>
>>35781125
>>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
>>
>>35781125

>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
>>
>>35781125
>>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
>>
>>35781125
>>Speak with him from within the pod to accelerate your research
>>
File: 6461616494.gif (1001 KB, 500x281)
1001 KB
1001 KB GIF
>>35781125
Your parasite is doing its job well enough, and in a properly controlled environment you should be able to more quickly and easily interpret the signals, and more properly integrate your drone into the human nervous system. You sense a number of thoughts racing through Lyle's mind, not all of them clear, as he slowly drifts in and out of consciousness.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3.
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>35781307
>>
Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>35781307
>>
Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>35781307
>>
Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>35781307
"Can you hear me, Major Tom?"
>>
>>35781328

My God..
>>
>>35781328
Lyle just can't catch a break
>>
File: yesyesyesyesyesyesyes.gif (968 KB, 380x262)
968 KB
968 KB GIF
>>35781328
AWESOME!
>>
File: laughing mantids.jpg (39 KB, 620x423)
39 KB
39 KB JPG
>>35781328
>>
>>35781328
Is that good or bad?
>>
File: 1391047204214.gif (1.45 MB, 400x277)
1.45 MB
1.45 MB GIF
>>35781328
Nice!
>>
>>35781340

That's what the fucker gets for accepting a contract to kidnap some of our drones.

Most likely for the mad-doc who we just read about, radio-controlled drones? An abomination, we should kill him and everyone he loves.
>>
Does anyone here think we should start exploring P3 in G-426 to see if we can find anything of use or made turn it into a Zeno, in Tau Ceti system, like world for are species?
>>
File: LO1398145929168.gif (500 KB, 245x180)
500 KB
500 KB GIF
>>35781328
Goddamn the dice gods sure hate Lyle.
>>
File: 1378880272353.png (13 KB, 298x298)
13 KB
13 KB PNG
>>35781328
>>
>>35781437
Why hello Merc, what are you doing here?
>>
>>35781377
Are you talking about P2, the one with the forests of crystals? From the way it was described I doubt it has any native intelligence, or life of any kind, but would make for fantastically productive mining outpost. Let's send a scouting team down there to check it out.
>>
>>35781467
P3: This small planetoid is covered in ice, with openings and caverns dotting the landscape. There is no atmosphere, but actively changing ice formations indicate geothermal activity below the frozen shell.
>>
I think we just turned Lyle into the perfect mind slave, kudoz all around
>>
File: 1374788303558.jpg (122 KB, 900x1363)
122 KB
122 KB JPG
>>35781463
I'm not Merc.
>>
>>35781467
I agree on sending a scouting team. In fact lets let's send scouting teams to all Three of the planets.
>>
>>35781561
Sorry about that. Nice pic BTW.
>>
>>35781601
I'm hoping Drop Suit research sheds some light on orbital insertion and we can dump a team without risking a ship on scary crystal blender planet.
>>
File: 1389681347278.png (19 KB, 500x500)
19 KB
19 KB PNG
>>35781620
No problem and thank you.
>>
File: Master_Space_Combatant.jpg (228 KB, 880x1280)
228 KB
228 KB JPG
Can we research this?
>>
>>35781742
Biorganic bows for our brave beetle breachers? Better believe it!
>>
>>35781742
whats the source on that?
>>
>>35781828
Looks like Golgo 13 to me.
>>
File: 1413682676920.png (516 KB, 500x2733)
516 KB
516 KB PNG
>>35781742
That is some hardcore space sniping right there.
>>
>>35781307
Your parasite adjusts its connection and bites down on the small exposed section of spine it has been gnawing on, digging its mandibles into the nerve. Lyle convulses for a moment and his mind races. You can see through his eyes, but not here and now. He's aboard his ship, within the tank of the medical bay. Coil manipulates the controls as the synthesized voice of his translator echoes in the tank.
"Six stab wounds, three bullets, two through-and-through while one was lodged in your lung, and extensive electrical damage to nervous tissue and augmentations from plasma discharge." An armature braces Lyle's arm as several syringes release from artificial weave of muscles. "Six fractured ribs, secondary heart failure, and a shattered knuckle."
The fluid begins to drain. Lyle steps out of the tank and wraps a towel around himself on his way to the door.
"Stop whining, you should see the other guy."
One of Coil's eyes swivels to the small box of preservatives. There is a third of a face within. "I have." He says, his skin shifting in muted tones. He continues after him down the passageway. "A new assignment arrived while you were healing."
Lyle stops at a consoles and pulls up the mission file.

>Mission summary: Dangerous fauna collection
>Locate and return sample of native species to designated drop point: Port 12, Sunview port, Ring 3, Long island
>Available data in attached document >>>CLICK

Lyle taps on the screen and pulls off a small holo projector as he continues to his quarters. A small 3d image of your speaker floats above the tablet as several rough sketches float nearby.

Minutes later Lyle emerges from the room and climbs to the cockpit. Coil is sitting squat on a pedestal just above him, his tentacles covered in flexible armatures and control rings.
"She ready to go?"
"Yes."
"Good. Plot a course for Mars, I think we could use some help on this one."
Cont.
>>
>>35781970
>Plot a course for Mars, I think we could use some help on this one.
THE SUSPENSE QD
>>
>>35782071
I think this is a reference to the other human mercs our drones tore to shreds.
>>
>>35781920
Whats that from?
>>
>>35782189
Wouldn't have a clue I'm afraid. Give image search a go, might put you in the right direction.
>>
>>35782222
Leads to a bunch of other shit.
>>
File: Olympus Mars.png (3.14 MB, 1909x794)
3.14 MB
3.14 MB PNG
>>35781970
"So just some poaching, then? Just soak up with a burlap sack, why do you need the hired help for that?"
The stars spun by in the bay window behind them as a waitress refilled their drinks. Lyle sat in the corner with his shoulder against the wall and his leg propped on the table. Most would likely dismiss him as another rude merc, not uncommon at this shitty little dive bar, but he had picked this spot to give him a good view of both exits, and with his leg stretched over the table he already had a good grip on his bolt caster. Not even he was crazy enough to bring a proper gun on a station as old as Olympus Point, but an old fashioned compact crossbow was the perfect compromise.

"What do you care? Look, my information says there's a lot of them, and you get paid per sample. More people with sacks means more samples means more money. Ain't that simple?" Lyle takes a deep breath of his cigar.

Across the table from him was a motley collection of mercs. He had worked with them back when they worked for the local shipyards as security to help him smuggle out a prototype design for a job. They were a bunch of assholes, but they were good enough.
"Ok, but we get an even split."
"Bullshit. Twenty percent."
"Forty."
"Thirty five or nothin."
"Neal, cheap bastard."

They shake hands as the meal arrives. A small worker scuttles over from the kitchen with a plate of pulled pork and European sea quail. It takes a moment before Lyle even notices.

>Ask him a question (write in)
>Speak to him (write in)
>Attack him
>Attempt to lead him away
>Other
>>
>>35782412
>Attack him
>>
>>35782412
>Speak to him (write in)
Thank him
>>
File: Slowpoke.gif (15 KB, 275x300)
15 KB
15 KB GIF
>>35782412

Seiner was the one who ordered the abduction.
>>
>>35782412
Holy shit. This is temporarily Lyle Quest. QD I love you.
>>
>>35782412
>Ask him a question (write in)
What the op seems to you?
>>
>>35782189
It's from tumblr based on a text post.

>I want to be the first person on the moon to shoot a sniper rifle at earth and hit a wasp nest. my whole life so far is leading up to that moment
http://adevilwithanangeldisguise.tumblr.com/post/97208068791/dat-soldier-officialunitedstates-i-want-to
https://web.archive.org/web/20140710003921/http://dat-soldier.tumblr.com/post/88939483692/officialunitedstates-i-want-to-be-the-first
275k notes now.


>>35782412
>Neal
What strange space slang in the future!

Ha, wait, we're talking to him in his dream now?

Ask: "Can we get anything else for you sir? Arms, perhaps?"
>>
>>35782412
>>Speak to him (write in)
We're talking to the waiter, correct?
>Cheers, mate.
>>
>>35782505
>"Can we get anything else for you sir? Arms, perhaps?"
Haha, this one is good.
>>
>>35782412
This is some inception-level shit.

>Speak to him
Thank you him for the info. Butter him up if he'll accept a job for us.

As for his current mission of collecting samples, we could always grow some bodies with acid glands that will decompose when they reach the good Doctor.
>>
>>35782412
>Other
>Eat pulled pork and quail
Man I'm hungry.
>>
>>35782412
>Attempt to lead him away
>>
>>35782565
Oh better yet, violently explode when dissected.
>>
>>35782531
I think I made a mistake though. I think we're actually controlling Lyle now, not the drone in his dream.

>>35782412
"I asked for long pork! I need to have words with your chef."

Storm off into kitchen.
>>
>>35782501
Okay, if we can impersonate his mercs, I vote for this.
>>
>>35782567
I support.
>>
>>35782567
Oh yus.
>>
>>35782412
>>Attempt to lead him away
If we're controlling the drone, and we're derailing his dream...

We can lead him into a deeper dream, where we can control his mind better.

Lead him into the kitchen of horrors.
>>
>>35782412
>other
Stare the motherfucker down without speaking then take the food and eat it.
>>
I am...so confused right now.
>>
>>35782687
[Inception intensifies]
>>
>>35782746
We so epically brain dived into Lyle's mind, we are now running Lyle quest.
>>
>>35782505
>Ask: "Can we get anything else for you sir? Arms, perhaps?"
Haha.

Guys, I doubt we're Lyle. I don't know why you would come to that conclusion. We share his perspective because we're piggy-backing on his mind, but it's most likely that we can directly exert influence over the only aspect of his remembrance/dream that is Hive, that being the worker.
>>
>>35782790
We aren't.

If we controlled Lyle, it would say 'Attack it'. not 'Attack him'. So we must be controlling the drone.

We're playing inception quest.
>>
>>35782790
WE WENT TO DEEP
>>
>>35782832

So we interfere with his memories?
>>
>>35782878
I don't think we can go that far just yet. At best we can screw around with the dreams based on said memories.
>>
>>35782878
We're just going to fuck around with his subconscious attitudes and proclivities towards the hive via dream manipulation.

A subtle form of influence.
>>
>>35782412
Who are we controlling?
>>
File: UC3QTDHYF525MIC.jpg (14 KB, 807x449)
14 KB
14 KB JPG
>>35782412
Lyle nearly falls out of his chair as the drone walks up to the table, the bolt of his crossbow flying high into the ceiling.

"The hell's the matter with you man?" one of the mercs asks as he picks up a piece of sea quail. As Lyle pulls himself back upright he sees the drone eating from the basket of food, its mandibles tearing and grinding into the pile of barbecue. Lyle pulls out his knife and holds it in front of him at the drone as it calmly eats with the band of mercs, they are laughing and smiling at him, and one passes the drone a beer.
"Seriously man, you on some bad painkillers or something? Calm down."

The drone eats the beer can, the foaming drink pops in its mouth and it swings its head up to force it down, aluminium and all. It turns to Lyle.
"Would you like anything else, sir?" It asks in a raspy, clicking voice. "Arms, perhaps?"

Lyle dives at the drone with the knife, quickly driving the blade into its head. As the carapace cracks open the sound of cracking glass fills the bar and a rushing wall of air pulls him into the void of space.
He drifts for what seems like an eternity, until the red glow of the martian surface is gone. The space around him feels thick like water, and the stars seem to flow like drifting embers.
There is a soft light above him, and what seems like a figure looking down through the water.

>Help Lyle to the surface
>Pull lyle deeper down
>Speak to Lyle (write in)
>Other
>>
>>35783089
>>Pull lyle deeper down
>>
>>35782931

Holy shit.
>>
>>35783089
>>Speak to Lyle (write in)
Well then Lyle, what will you do; sink or swim?
>>
>>35783089
>Help Lyle to the surface
Backstory ho!
>>
>>35783089
>>Help Lyle to the surface

We'll throw him a bone, here.
>>
>>35783089

>The drone eats the beer can, the foaming drink pops in its mouth and it swings its head up to force it down, aluminium and all. It turns to Lyle.
"Would you like anything else, sir?" It asks in a raspy, clicking voice. "Arms, perhaps?"

Damn it QD.
>>Pull lyle deeper down
Down the rabbithole we go
>>
>>35783089
>The drone eats the beer can, the foaming drink pops in its mouth and it swings its head up to force it down, aluminium and all. It turns to Lyle.
>"Would you like anything else, sir?" It asks in a raspy, clicking voice. "Arms, perhaps?"

I am loving Lyle/Inception Quest so much right now.
>>
>>35783089
>Help Lyle to the surface
Alright fine, we should help
>>
>>35783147
Eh, gotta second this one.
>>
>>35783147
thirding.
>>
>>35783147
Channing my vote from >>35783108
To this>>35783147
>>
>>35783147
Could work.
>>
>>35783089
>Speak to Lyle (write in)
"Would you like anything else, sir?" It asks in a raspy, clicking voice, obscured by the water. "Arms, perhaps?" followed by tittering laughter.
>>
>>35783147
This!
>>
>>35783089
This >>35783147
if he doesn't respond,
>Pull lyle deeper down
>>
>>35783147
That's encouraging Lyle's independent streak, though.

We have an opportunity to make him more and more...dependent. On the hive.
>>
>>35783250

Haha Love it!
>>
>Research unlocked: Dream Control
>>
>>35783250
>tittering
>not chittering
Ya blew it.

>>35187969
>"Gee, and I feel just great. Normally I got these big limbs weighing me down all the time. This new situation is just fucking wonderful."

Re: sinking or floating -- "Good thing you're a bit lighter now then, Lyle."
>>
>>35783550
>>35783250
Not even your own dreams can protect you from Queens' cheekiness.
>>
File: 864646668.jpg (88 KB, 1265x529)
88 KB
88 KB JPG
>>35783089
Lyle sinks from the weight of his gear, debris and bodies quickly fill the space around him and a drop ship breaks the surface above him, its tail shredded to pieces from a rocket.
A soft lights from above seems to come into focus. A figure wrapped in a robe of gossamer wings, trails of light stretching out from her crown of twisting glass. The figure is obscured by the light if the sun above, but it speaks in a smooth voice as if in his own head.
"What will you do here? Sink..." His eyes move to his comrades, sliced to pieces from the rotors of the drop ship's turbines or smashed to bits from the impact. "Or swim?"
Lyle's hand moves to the buckles of his gear. Bags of ammunition, plates of armor, and the rig of pneumatics intended to help him carry it all. It drifts quickly to the bottom as he kicks off from it and pulls himself to the surface. The figure is gone by the time he reaches the shore, replaced with the sound of thunder and the flash of lighting.

"Sweet fuck, Rogers! I thought you were a dead man!"
Lyle drags himself from the tumbling waves of the shore line as another drop ship tumbles from the sky and cartwheels across the sand, flinging shrapnel in all directions.
"Fuckers were waiting for us! They set up a god damned battery up the shore! We need to take it out before they bring down the whole fleet!"
Lyle finally gets his bearings as he coughed up the last of sea water. "I saw the commander's ship go down. Who's in charge now?"
The young private looks to Lyle's rank insignia sewn into his uniform. "You are, sir."
Lyle moves to cover, a large, still burning piece of turbine, a faint whine still comes from the fuselage.
"We need to get to that ridge first, then we can worry about the battery."

The sky darkens around the blinding light of a anti-orbital battery, its blast echoing across the battlefield like a thunderbolt as it stretches into the sky.

>Have your drones assume the role of the enemy
>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
>Other
>>
>>35783641
>>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
>>
>>35783641
>wings
> her crown of twisting glass
Oh, based on the hive queen, duh.

>>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
Stockholm Syndrome? Stockholm Syndrome.
>>
>>35783641
>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
I forgot which movie was this but fuck it, We're gonna subconsciously suggest Lyle to trust us.
>>
>>35783641

>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
>>
>>35783641
>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
>>
>>35783641
>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
But not TOO much. I want to see more of his backstory, more than anything else.

You're on fire tonight, QuestDrone, by the way.
>>
>>35783641
>>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
I didn't realize the Queen's antennae were transparent. Neat.
>>
>>35783641
>Reinforce the Commonwealth forces
>>
>>35783790
I don't think there are. Some dream imagery going on here. I think images from the subconscious of both Lyle AND the queen are mixing. The vaguely angelic appearance from Lyle, features the queen recognizes her ancestors she barely knows by being incorporated into her own dream-avatar, it's interesting stuff from a psychological perspective on both parties to the dream.
>>
>>35783850
Even neater.
>>
File: 6599989.jpg (60 KB, 920x380)
60 KB
60 KB JPG
>>35783641
"This is the Galapagos, you have reinforcements en rout."

The waves part as several colossi stomp their way to shore, a collection of warriors swarming between their legs. The private at Lyle's side lights up with relief. "It's about damn time they sent someone, but we're still getting torn up out here, and it's eighty meters to the ridge, at least!"
Your drones open fire, their massive cannons shelling the hidden bunkers along the ridge. A formation of wasps dive from the clouds above into the complex around the battery.

Lyle collapses again in shock, a tracer round whizzing past his head by less than a foot as he struggles back into cover.
"What the fuck are those things?" He shouts.
The private looks back at him. "Friendlies, sir, we got reinforcements!"
Lyle drags his hand through the sand to a rifle, prying away the forearm still clutching the stock and he pulls out the scope to scan the ridge. He shakes his head to clear his thoughts and peers through the scope.
"Six pillboxes. At least three AA batteries. Looks like they're using CIPs, bastards. Probably got paid off by the Union." Lyle ducks back down and inspects his new weapon, clearing out bits of sand and blood. Standard DC-17 long rifle variant, it could take one hell of a beating, usually outlasted the user. "How good of a shot are you?"
"Was top 3 in my class, sir."
"Good, take this and cover me." He shoves the rifle into the private's arms. Before the private could protest Lyle flips himself over the chunk of debris and sprints down the beach.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3 for support.

>>35783767
Which is odd, since I'm on the tail end of a fierce head cold, or maybe that's the cause?
Thank you, either way.
>>
Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>35784130
>>
Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>35784130
for glory
>>
Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>35784130
>1d100
>>
Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>35784130
FOR QUEENLYLE
>>
Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>35784130
>>
>>35784130
>Which is odd, since I'm on the tail end of a fierce head cold...
Whoa, Well, I hope you feel better soon QD. Better a head cold than Ebola after all.
>>
Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>35784130
just rolling for the heck of it.
>>
>>35784185

Aw yiss.

>>35784130

hope you get well soon.
>>
>>35784130
Lyle sprints up the beach to the first form of cover available, half of a crashed drop ship. Several wasps drop from the sky, their bodies charged from rebel fire, and in the distance a colossus bursts like a balloon of gasoline sending flaming bits of gore soaring through the sky. Lyle sprints through the rain of fire and charred chitin as a machine gun opens fire on his position. His legs run cold and numb and his head grows light and hot as the white-hot rounds lick at his heels.

A pop of superheated air cracks past him like a bull whip from the private's position, silencing the machine gun nest as Lyle rolls over the smoldering hull and continues his sprint. He had precious few seconds before a new rebel mounted the gun nest.

He dives into the sand at the base of the ridge just as the gun opens fire once more, the rounds arcing over him as he rolls behind an outcropping of rocks and dragons teeth wrapped in barbed wire. He pulls out a grenade and pulls the pin before chucking it at the piles of sandbags and carbon fibre walls above him. A moment later the nest is enveloped in white hot plasma.

Lyle looks behind him to the shore. Troops are moving up along the exposed southern edge of the beach towards him, their faces twisted into contorted battle cries, a frightening mix of fear and joy that came with the rush of adrenaline.

A hot pinch runs through his shoulder and he spins around. A man in tattered civilian clothes with a bright green armband is hunched over a wall of sandbags. His legs are contorted and burnt, and in his arms is a looted DC-17. Lyle pulls out his pistol and fires three times, the first two miss and the second lands in the man's skull. As the man's head jerks his rifle goes off into Lyle's leg. He collapses to the sand as a pair of wasps descend on the corpse, tearing it like wet paper mache in a blender.
"Shit, get a medic here, he's hit!"
Lyle closes his eyes for a moment, to take a nap.
cont.
>>
>>35784640
>the first two miss
>and the second lands
Dream logic sure loves its paradoxes.
>>
File: 6689497.jpg (89 KB, 1191x670)
89 KB
89 KB JPG
>>35784640
"Son, son pay attention!"
A quick smack on the helmet wakes a young Lyle from a distant daydream. He is clutching a hunting rifle in the back seat of a dune hopper. His father sits in the front seat as his uncle drives. The sound of the hopper's rhythmic engines are muffled from within the environment suit, but his father's voice comes in clear through the speakers.
"This is an important day for you, Lyle. Jackrunner hunting's a centuries old tradition.Now go through the steps like I showed you."
Lyle pulls up the rifle and pulls back the bolt. It clicks as he slides the rounds into the chamber one by one with practiced care, then slides it shut and rests his thumb on the safety.
"Good, that's perfect. Now let's see if you can hit something."
The dune hopper jerks to the side as it turns. Lyle's uncle yells out at the sight of a Jackrunner on the scanner.
"Looks like a big one, too. I'll pull us along after it."

The creature is large, almost three meters tall, and it's sprinting along the desert almost faster than the hopper can manage.
"Ok, son, both eyes open like I taught you."
Lyle steadies the rifle in the crook of his arm and takes aim. He pulls the trigger and the rifle nearly kicks out of his arms.
"That's what semi-automatics are for. Try again."
The panicked animal turns at almost a right angle and the hopper jerks again after it. He takes aim once more and eases his finger around the trigger.

The beast lets out a wail as its leg twitches in its stride. It almost trips over itself as a light blue mist sprays from its thigh.
"Great shot! Let's circle around and finish it off. It'll make one hell of a meal!"

Something catches Lyle's uncle's attention as the scanner picks up a new signal.
"Ali, we got somthin big comin in."

Behind them the limping Jackrunner vanishes in a cloud of sand, bits of blood is sent out in a wide spray of blue as it's drug under the dune.
"Fuck, pull left, pull left!" His father yells as the rolling dune moves.
cont.
>>
>>35784640
no shock trooper or other warrior variants?
>>
>>35785030
I'm gonna bet it's a sandworm or a graboid
>>
>>35785030
The hopper jerks to the left to turn away from the charging creature, but it's too late. The hopper breaks in half from the impact and Lyle is sent skyward. He lands in a dune and rolls to his back in time to see his rifle, pulled along by the safety thong, crack him in the helmet.

He looks up in a haze. He can hear screaming. Lyle crawls over the dune to see the crash. His father is pinned to wreckage, his legs snapped and broken. Hunched over the hopper is a dune crawler, its goliath form lurching after the small piece of twisted shrapnel. Lyle struggles with his arm, his should torn out of place from the fall, and reaches for his rifle through searing pain.

He shoots once. Twice. Three times, each more agonizing than the last as the kick of the rifle pounds into his arm. He feels his collar bone crack under the pressure as he empties the rifle at the creature. It lunges forward, swallowing the hopper and his father whole before a bullet cracks into its thick hide and it turns up to the dune where Lyle is laying.

>Attack the dune crawler
>Carry Lyle away
>Other
>>
>>35785272
>>Attack the dune crawler
>>
>Carry Lyle away
Can't change what happened bro, sorry.
>>
>>35785272
>>Attack the dune crawler
>>
>>35785272
>>Carry Lyle away
Lyleshota, no!
>>
>>35785272
>>>Attack the dune crawler
>>
>>35785272
>>Carry Lyle away
>>
>>35785272
>>Carry Lyle away
>>
>>35785272
>Carry Lyle away
>>
>>35785272
>Shout "Run!"
then
>>Attack the dune crawler
>>
>>35785272
>>Carry Lyle away
>>
>>35785272
>>Carry Lyle away
>>
>>35785272
>Attack the dune crawler
>>
>>35785272
attack the dune crawler
>>
>>35785272
Attack.
>>
>>35785272
>Carry Lyle away
>>
>>35785272
Arm Lyle with Scything Talons
>>
>>35785272
>Attack.
Lyle is not a cowardly man, he would not want to be taken away.
>>
>>35785538
Time and place for everything, including retreat.
>>
>>35785272
>>Carry Lyle away
>>
>>35785272

>Attack the dune crawler
>>
>>35785538
Shh now, Lyle-kun, let Mother heal you.
>>
>>35785272
Carry Lyle away.

A figure stands on the dune next to Lyle, as if she was always there. Her eyes are black orbs in their sockets, staring without blinking. A seemingly endless cape unfurls into a pair of wings as she stretches out a hand to Lyle.

The rifle clicks as it empties and he unbuckles it from his suit and hefts it with his good arm like a club at the crawler. The robed figure reaches in and pushes the weapon to the ground before pulling at his arm.
"No! No!" He screams as he kicks and scrambles in the figures arms. The great wings of the figure beat once, carrying them both off the ground and into the air as the crawler thrashes over the dune like a collapsing building before burrowing back under the sand. The young child wraps his arm around your image as you ascend into the sky.

In the pod, a bruised and word Lyle lets out a silent scream in the thick medical fluid sending bubbles gushing to the surface, his body jerking violently from shock as your parasite bores into his spine. After a short spasm he lies still, unconscious. Your medical pod is registering a trace amount of salt content in the pod's fluids, and it is quickly absorbed and recycled.

>Research unlocked: Neurological interfacing

>Leave Lyle in the pod for now to monitor
>Bring Lyle back to his cell
>Other
>>
>>35785605

>Leave Lyle in the pod for now to monitor
>>
>>35785605
>Bring Lyle back to his cell
>>
>>35785605

Leave him in the pod.
>>
>>35785605
im.... so sad now....
>>
>>35785605
Salt? Lyles tears?
>>
>>35785605
>>Leave Lyle in the pod for now to monitor

Man that was a tight vote.
>>
>>35785605
>Bring Lyle back to his cell
Imagine if this quest was from Lyle's POV since thread one. How would we feel reading this right now?
>>
File: upsetlanternjaw.png (214 KB, 299x329)
214 KB
214 KB PNG
>>35785661
No. It must be raining.

Saltily.
>>
>>35785661
Yes. They were delicious, if you noticed.
>>
>>35785605
>>Leave Lyle in the pod for now to monitor
Excellent. Research. Time to find out the limits of the interfacing right now.

Implant the rest of the test subjects then?
>>
Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>35785667
I feel like we need to turn Lyle into our warrior-champion.
>>
File: Crona.png (140 KB, 865x923)
140 KB
140 KB PNG
This thread went from hilarious "Arms, perhaps?" shenanigans to heavy shit in like 2 or three posts.

I don't know how to deal with this.
>>
Did...did we just make Lyle see us a mother analogue?

I..actually kinda feel guilty about this.

But then I remembered that dick-bag scientist that wants to rip away drones from our control and reduce us to a breeding machine for cheap organic labor was probably the one to hire him, or at least is the same race as him.
>>
>>35785605
>The young child wraps his arm around your image as you ascend into the sky.
>Your medical pod is registering a trace amount of salt content in the pod's fluids, and it is quickly absorbed and recycled.
And now I don't feel so smug. What now.
>>
>>35785751
>>35785765
Why does it feel so wrong?

We need comic relief, let's go bully Coil or something.
>>
>>35785605
>Bring Lyle back to his cell
There isn't much reason to keep an eye on him.

We should get around to implanting the rest of the prisoners as well. Perhaps we could knock them all out, implant them, them put them in different cells as cover?
Also, We should find a pretense to get our non-humans implanted. They are great for research.
>>
>>35785784

It feels wrong because we made a man who has everyone reason and more to hate us think of us as a mother-savior analogue through a parasite biting into his spine and rewriting his memories.
>>
>>35785798
If bending alien minds to your indomitable will is wrong, then hey, I don't wanna be right.
>>
>>35785798
But it was okay when we just had a parasite biting into his spine for monitoring/manipulation purposes and shits/giggles.
>>
>all these feels and mental victories
>because Rolled 99
10/10 would dream again.
>>
>>35785605
>>Leave Lyle in the pod for now to monitor
>>
File: 1410119458268.jpg (864 KB, 1280x2048)
864 KB
864 KB JPG
>>35785798
All I wanted to do was outfit his ship with a modified blink drive and send him on crazy missions where he could be a bad-ass.

I didn't want this. This is like pic related all over again.
>>
>>35785828

Enslaving someone is different than mindfucking them into loving you.
>>
>>35785793
Once they're all implanted and we can read their minds, we can test the effects of the three drugs we have right now much more extensively.

They really should be refined. We want something to use on humans in case we don't have time to spend a few hours surgically implanting them.

The sedative/gullibility serum seems like it leads to inducing post-hypnotic state, or Veritaserum, when refined enough.
>>
>>35785605
>Leave him in the pod and monitor his condition.

The collection of worker drones gathered around the pod disperse for other duties. Your speaker clicks its mandibles and backs from the chamber into the twisting halls.

You look over the results of your research. Apart from some rather complicated psychological implications, your parasite can now connect directly to the host's nervous system, acting much like a second brain. You can now sense whatever a host senses, as well as alter their perception of reality through hallucinations, delusions, or other such manipulation. Direct control is possible, but is usually less effective.

>Implant the remaining Hope crew
Lieutenant William Davids
Staff Sergeants Ryan Stevens, Hideki Akagi
Technical Sergeants Tyler leonard, and Dave Williams
Senior Spaceman Reginald lockhart
Spaceman Derrick Demichev
>Speak with Hope crew
>Other

>>35785765
filename aside, I can't tell if that's supposed to be the queen giving Lyle a hug or not.
>>
>>35785886
I don't really see how.
>>
>>35785892
>Implant the remaining Hope crew
>Lieutenant William Davids
>Staff Sergeants Ryan Stevens, Hideki Akagi
>Technical Sergeants Tyler leonard, and Dave Williams
>Senior Spaceman Reginald lockhart
>Spaceman Derrick Demichev
All of them.
Somewhere, right now, Herr Kaleun can feel this suffering, and is upset that he didn't cause it.
>>
>>35785892
>>Implant the remaining Hope crew
>>
>>35785828
An idea: a variation of the parasite that allows for limited direct communication with other sentients that have parasites. Might be useful if we figure out how to make sleeper agents
>>
>>35785927
Support.
>>
>>35785927
backing this.
>>
>>35785938
Already possible using yourself as the mediator, as you can simply cause one subject to have an accurate hallucination representing the other subject speaking and vice versa.
>>
>>35785938
Hmm, expound a bit I don't quite get what you're suggesting. If we just want implantees to have communication with each other...well if we're using non-quantum brained parasites then we have a psionic relay and so we can tell them information directly ourselves.
>>
>>35785938
They're already telepathic drones, genius. They're coordinated and controlled through the Queen or a Thinker.
>>
>>35785965

He's saying we go full Genestealer on them with the local hive mind network.
>>
>>35785892
>>Implant the remaining Hope crew
>>Speak with Hope crew
See if everything is okay with their new accommodations and then
>>Test new mind altering substances on them.
>>
>>35785892
>Implant the remaining Hope crew
All of them.
And yes, you could say that is an a picture of the leader of sentient space crustaceans giving a poor lonely boy playing soldier a hu.
>>
>>35785994

>Going full genestealer

Oh god, we totally could go full Genestealer if we wanted.

How neat
>>
>local hive mind network
That's not a thing. Why would it need to be local. Everyone is relayed together via nearby relays, cloaked in orbit or wherever.
>>
>>35785994
As with normal genestealers, getting the patriarch is the only real difficult bit. We'll have to give him a psionic relay and figure some way to get him on-planet but after that it's cake.

Also would need to figure out some way to get more parasites.
>>
>>35785994
Ilikeit.jpg
>>
>>35786019
Finally, a use for a Quantum-brained warrior/thinker combo. We can get that one anon to shut up now.
>>
>>35785892
I don't want to speak with the crew in general.

I just want to speak to the Technical Sergeant who already has a drone inside him. Take him into a shuttle and show him a nuke from the monitor satellite.

Get him to show us what he knows about nuke technology, using whatever delusions necessary.
>>
>>35786019
> patriarch
> lyle
>>
>>35785964
>>35785965
>>35785971
My thinking was more along the lines of a basic bio-radio, it would amount to telekinesis. it'd only really be useful in coordinating a group of sentients, or one sentient controlling several non-sentients. Would be useful for isolated networks, or possibly allowing someone else control of a group of drones.
>>
>>35786011
Don't know 40k shit so I looked it up. Truly the logical next step we must take.

>Possibly the most terrifying aspect of Genestealers is their insidious method of reproduction. Genestealers reproduce completely separate from a Hive Fleet, unlike the majority of other Tyranid creatures. Through the use of a tube-like tongue called an Ovipositor, they insert a tiny embryonic organism containing their own genetic material into a host victim. Over time this organism alters the host's genetic code, and their consciousness is also completely suppressed by a localised version of the Hive Mind, known as the Brood Mind, becoming a virtual slave. Any offspring born by the host will be horrific Genestealer Hybrids, which the host will be psychically mesmerised to care for, giving rise to the Genestealer Cults that grow in secret within human and other societies.
>>
>>35786072
>telekinesis
You meant telepathy.

And the entire hive is run by telepathy. What the hell are you inventing that's new?

You're just saying words for no reason.

>one sentient controlling several non-sentients
That's it. THat's the entire hive.

>isolated networks
That's called having a Thinker in charge. and there is no need for isolated networks when we can relay everything together. This is all completely pointless.
>>
>>35786062
Aw yes, Atomics.

I mean the sergeants apparently just did 'maintenance' but there's a chance that gives them insight in how to react when an atomic bomb is damaged or something.
>>
If war ever does truly break out between us and the Union, I would totally support going Full-Hybrid Cults on them.

I mean, we are already pretending to be a God to a bunch of tribals, why not have infiltration cults too?
>>
>>35786079
I'm pretty certain altering the genes of adult humans are beyond us right now, as are producing drones from anything other than the egg sac of the Queen or her lookalike on Raligha.
>>
>>35786125
That isn't how this universe works or how drones work, we aren't creating interspecies hybrids, that doesn't make sense. The genes are completely alien and incompatible.

Don't try and shoehorn this into 40k fanfiction.
>>
>>35785871
That's just dumb. What happens when he betrays us then?
>>
>>35786125
We aren't pretending to be God to them. We are actually God to them, we are like if Zeus and co. dropped in on Athens during the Persian invasion and started smiting shit.

We aren't pretending shit. There dark-age is over.
>>
>>35786160
Seriously, it's like anon forgot. You can't trust anyone but ourselves and our children.

And maybe Lee.
>>
>>35786160
We have the parasite lodged in his spine inject venom and explode.
>>
>>35786190
Good thing Lyle is now our honorary child.
>>
>>35786093
I've poorly worded my idea, but it was more speculation than anything. The only point I'll refute is
> there is no need for isolated networks
It would be useful for recon or operation in areas we are unable or unwilling to send a proper relay, although the likelihood of this is low.
>>
You know what we need though?

More ships, to take on and board the Skyl drive ship.

The Scout corvette is good, and the Lancer is good, but we need something with the firepower of the Lancer, but the point-defense of the Scout, too. Something more balanced.

??? Corvette
Hull: Corvette 400N 800M
Stealth field 50N 150M
Rapid damage control 15N 20M
Spinal: Linear particle beam 100M
Fixed: Railgun 40M
Turret: Cyclotron particle beam 50M
Aux: Auto Cannon (explosive ammo) 80M
Armor: Reflex 500N
Cost: 1240M 965N
Upkeep: 482N
Size: 100 Meters

Of course the reflex armor doubles the upkeep cost, so not sure whether to keep that. It would let it intercept railgun rounds for other ships though, probably?
>>
>>35785892
>7 drones implanted
12 parasites left available.

Your workers finish sealing off a section of your hive for use as accommodations for the crew. Your drones arrive at several cell doors and at the few remaining in the common area.

"Larger accommodations have been prepared for your comfort. Follow."
"Finally. It shouldn't take this long to-"
A group of drones quickly tranquilize and subdue the small group, and your workers carry them off to the medial bay. In less than an hour each one is removed from their pods and returned to the common area. The door is left open, and the surrounding chambers have been carved into several small rooms and adjoining chambers. You're not all that sure what humans would want to put in them, but you assume they will think let you know soon enough.

The first few begin to awaken with pained groans.
"I feel sick. What happened?"
One human expels a puddle of bile into the floor. It is quickly absorbed by the semi-porous membrane of the hive wall to the discomfort of the humans within.
+1 Nutrient

>Speak with the crew
>Speak with the officer(s) (write int)
>Speak with the technical sergeant(s) (write in)
>Other
>>
>>35786203
Think we could get any drones we send with him to refer to him as brother or uncle?
>>
>>35786258
That's when you smuggle in a Quantum Thinker within range It can hide in a lead lined suitcase. That's been the solution for ages, in the remote hypothetical edge case it's needed. There's nothing new to create here.
>>
So now that we have hit the bump limit. How about queuing up those thinkers?
>>
>>35786287
>>Speak with the crew
>>Speak with the officer(s) (write int)
Get a general consensus from everybody how're things. If they want a few simple comforts such as furniture or entertainment.
>>
>>35786287
>+1 Nutrient

You are a son of a bitch, and I love you for it.
>>
>>35786287
>+1 Nutrient
Hilarious as always, QD.

>>35786287
>>Speak with the technical sergeant(s) (write in)
Follow. To the shuttle.

Grab a nuke from the satellite, and let's party. You must safely disassemble this Union device.
>>
>>35786287
>Other, Check on Lyle.
>+1 Nutrient
>>
>>35786303
You are aware that our stealth pods allow us to interface with every drone on the planet it orbits, correct?
>>
>>35786355
That's what I literally said several posts ago! It's other anon that's insisting on talking about the extremely unlikely case that I can't even imagine that would require not having a relay nearby.

>>35786346
>>
>>35786287
>>Speak with the technical sergeant(s)
Might was well see if they know anything about our research options.
>>
>>35786346
Now that we can read his mind, we don't even have to threaten him to gain his knowledge of the warheads.
>>
>>35786287
Can we make miniature sized thinkers?

I want to know for reasons.
>>
>>35786287
>Speak with the technical sergeant(s)
Atomics is the slowest research we got that they can help with.

>12 parasites left available.
I think you said there were 25 total humans taken from Raligha. One is Dr. Vaughn. That means 24 Hope crew that are test subjects.

So of the 30, 18 parasites are implanted, which means only 17 Hope crew are implanted so far?
>>
>>35786412

Are you thinking of miniaturizing our thinkers so much that we can implant them / grow them inside the body of Elite MegaDrones to act as onboard organic AIs, complete with organic-to-machine Universal plug?

Because I am.

Spartans, if anyone didn't get that.
>>
>>35786436
This is the same line of thought that produced those travesties we call shock troops.

The qualities of the Thinkers can not be used to significantly increase the effectiveness of Warriors. End statement.
>>
>>35786436
Not quite.
>>
>>35786412
The Thinker is just a big two-feet long brain.

Miniaturizing it, even if possible would correspond with a reduction in usefulness.
>>
>>35786489
That's not a problem.
>>
>>35786480
I think they were just joking this time. It can be hard to tell.
>>
>>35786286
We got the frigates on the production line for that. At least I think we do. It's been, like, a month since we last brought em up.

QD, are those frigates still coming?
>>
>>35786510
I think he said we'd have a vote on which design to go with, in light of the fact that the first design was made under some really dumb misapprehensions of what the weapons' strengths and weaknesses were.
>>
>>35786480
Those shock troops have been quite good at breaking stalemates that are just slightly too tough for normal warriors to handle without significant losses.
>>
>>35786505

I was.
>>
>>35786287
What might be useful is a clarification on what the limits of induced 'delusions' are.

Would delusions include "you want to do X" or "doing X is a good idea"?
>>
>>35786522
What. Provide an example.

They never did anything except leap over a wall this one time. A wall which was immediately torn down by Colossi seconds later.
>>
>>35786522
But they haven't anon. Not even once. And every action they've been in so far has been under our direct control, negating any point in having a quantum brain.
>>
>>35786522
You can't just... make shit up, anon.

The only stalemates the hive has broken, waiting for Lyle to repair his ship and storming the temple cave on Raligha, had nothing to do with that terrible, terrible drone design.
>>
So my idea is to make a large quantity of modular unity-drone type units, equipped with the basic jet engine type flying propulsion and the cyclotron weapons.

And they would combine together using the living carbon liquid tech and could function as a ship. But could also break apart into a swarm with lasers and well, swarm things.

But what interests me the most is that if you got enough of them together they could envelope and crush another ship, or possibly envelope and blink away a ship.

They would need miniature thinkers as a part of each or most of them to do all of the calculations for effective swarming and to control the carbon liquid.

Imagine you're a human ship and the ship you're fighting against suddenly breaks apart into ten thousand pieces and swarms you.
>>
>>35786287
As the rest of the crew recovers from their procedure, your speaker opens the door to the cell of one of the technical sergeant with the most years of service, David Williams. The door flexes open and a man stands in a white hallway in fatigues.
"Shuttle's leaving in five, there's a situation with a comm sat in orbit, let's go."
Williams leaps to his feet and exits his bunk room to walk after his CO. "What kind of situation?"

>Rebels planted a nuke in orbit
>Surprise field exam
>Other

>>35786435
I either got mixed up counting or messed up my copy/pasting. The current list of captives I have is
Major Michael Randolph
Captain Gabriel Peters and Randall Sanders
Lieutenant William Davids
Staff Sergeants Ryan Stevens, Hideki Akagi, and George Thurston
Technical Sergeants Norman Udeme, Tyler leonard, and Dave Williams
Senior Spacemen Bruce Udeme, Terry Winslow, Bernard Ikati, Reginald lockhart, and Michael Foreman, Spacemen Ryan Russman, Garry Stamford, and Derrick Demichev.

I have actually had a difficult time finding the exact post where I listed them all to double check it, but I think that's it. Sorry for the mix up.
>>
>>35786522
Disregarding the blatant trolling, would it be possible to retroactively alter the Shock Trooper design? With the introduction of the small sniffer, there really is absolutely no point in there ridiculously expensive sensory organs. Might as well just use them in situations where they may have to operate independently from the queen. They don't need the capacity to maintain awareness of everything within 10 miles radius to do that.
>>
>>35786510
>for that
Well for raw firepower, yeah, but the corvette is smaller and more nimble and has more Auxiliary slots. So we want both.

I guess the major thing is to have a really good point defense corvette. Hence the Explosive ammo, which nothing has yet.
>>
>>35786688
>nuke in orbit
>>
>>35786709
Didn't we remove the nukes?
>>
>>35786688
I got you.

>>34372921
>new arrivals, twenty five in total, most with varying minor injuries.
>>34552597
The latter post is where you listed the officers. There are 17 officers, so by elimination, there are 7 non-officers I guess?
>>
>>35786688
Wait, are we giving him hallucinations which make him think he's in the union, or have we completely and fundamentally mind fucked him?
>>
>>35786717
Not since putting them back.

It doesn't matter. We can remove one of them now and put it in a shuttle, so Satellite-Theseus doesn't see us tricking a human into doing our research for us.
>>
>>35786728
The former, obviously.
>>
Okay, in light of the fact that the power of the Parasite is inducing delusions and reading their thoughts and senses, more than ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL, we need a new edge if we want to implant some Union civilians without anyone noticing.

If we choose Dagmar mining colony as an easy target, we'd need to invade violently, subdue people nonlethally, and then find a way to make them...forget that the invasion ever happened when we leave.

Shall we set some thinkers to research amnesia drugs then?
>>
>>35786688
>Surprise field exam
rebels won't get us useful info besides how to disarm the things
>>
>>35786688
>Rebels planted a nuke in orbit
>>
>>35786718
Thanks, that's my bad then. I'll give the remaining unnamed crew members names, ranks, and little buddies by next thread.
>>
>>35786795
Oh, you're right. I was thinking, he needs to take it seriously.

But if he merely rigs it so it's impossible to explode it makes it easy for Thinkers to dissect it though.
>>
>>35786688
>>Surprise field exam
>>
>>35786779
Our drugs have all been based on existing stuff, closest thing we know about is alcohol. Good idea though.

Also, on page 8.
>>
>>35786852
Not the initial sedative pheromone. That was a new idea from a quantum thinker when first researching Biomechanical Engineering. Which was just a general field unlocked by the ocean spores.
>>
>>35786698
Very good point, but we currently know very little about how the Skylbots fight or what weaponry they will use. If they use energetic weapons the reflexive armor will leave the ship much more vulnerable than other types.
>>
>>35786864

Is it bad that my first idea that comes to mind when I think of our planet's ocean is "We make every single one of our organic enemies experience living through The Last of Us before harvesting all those sweet, sweet nutrients"
>>
>>35786864
Oh, yea, I'd forgotten. The thought that we could make them forget an invasion by getting them drunk amuses me though.
>>
>>35786688
"We just got word that a rebel organization stole a nuclear device from a local stockpile. They've armed it and planted it in a communications satellite. We can't detonate it or it will take out half the orbital dockyard."
"Jesus. Sorry I asked."
"You'll need to disarm and disassemble it for safe transport, then reassemble it at the stockpile. Easy, right?"
"Yea, no pressure."
Williams steps out onto the landing platform and into an awaiting shuttle.

Your shuttle lifts from the ground with the speaker and Williams within. A warhead from your stolen stockpile is stowed securely within. The images in Williams head swirl and fade into a cramped maintenance corridor of a satellite, his bomb suit floating beside him.
"Williams, what are you doing without your suit?"
"It's a damn nuke, won't make a lick a difference."
You feel a small sliver of his mind register the line as something he saw in a film once, not a direct memory. You wonder for a moment if he actually has the proper qualifications for this, but he pulls the memory of a laborious training regiment to the surface of his mind, although he still seems nervous.

Sweat pours from his face and rolls along his skin in waves, cresting and drifting from his head in the zero gravity environment of the shuttle. He leans in and begins to remove the casing.

Please roll 1d100 best of 3
>>
>>35786879
>we currently know very little about how the Skylbots fight or what weaponry they will use
Actually, we have the Skyl data cubes records of ship designs.

While we don't have any clue if the drive ship itself might hold surprises, the general fleet of corvettes are almost assuredly. purely kinetic weapons. They were still trying to understand the tech the gods left them.

http://ask.fm/QuestDrone/answer/118776817957
>Since the rebellion the Skyl did not have FTL tech, but their extreme longevity meant that they could slow-boat to nearby systems. The surrounding fleet are recognized as Skyl strike craft and corvettes, with most of their mass dedicated to thruster and fuel storage. For the most part, their technology was rather limited, and many of their advanced systems were salvaged relics that they lacked understanding of. Because of this, many of their ships used simple railguns or autocannons while a select few ships were equipped with powerful alien tech.
Drive ship might be one of the 'few', I suppose.
>>
>>35786893
We need to get Theseus to acquire us some Rophenol.
>>
>>35786864
Yeah I really want to use the crew to experiment those chemicals on. We've put it off for so long and now we have the perfect conditions to observe them at work!
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>35786910
Hail Satan.
>>
Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>35786910
>>
Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>35786910
>>
Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>35786910
>>
>>35786936
I hope that laborious training regiment had more than a 33% success rate.
>>
>>35786893
We give them a drug that makes them forget and then give them all delusions that all the damage from the fighting is because everyone got drunk at a colony-wide party!

Foolproof.
>>
>>35786977
Could we wire that spore weapon of ours to be non-lethal? It could take care of the indiscriminant druggings for us!
>>
File: gamesbegin.jpg (140 KB, 500x500)
140 KB
140 KB JPG
>>35786935
>release panic gas in one room
>make them flee
>sedative pheromone them
>calm them down
>make them hallucinate freaky shit
>sedative to calm them down again
>panic to run back to the original room
>rinse and repeat
>>
>>35787008
I can't spread itself on its own if its nonlethal. It would be bursting out of people's bodies to spread further.

You could drug the water supply, but that requires already having infiltrated the place. Subduing the population directly is the only apparent method.
>>
>>35786910
...I hope the fact that it isn't actually armed doesn't interfere.
>>
>>35786932
You mean Rohypnol?

No, what we need from Theseus is to set up a Valen bank account. I mean I'm mostly against freeing Lyle. But if you're gonna do it, make him agree to wire all but 30k of his bounty for the exploding-with-acid, quantum brained drones we send back with him to our anonymous Valen bank account.

30k being what he would have gotten for that single dead wasp.
>>
>>35786910
Williams slowly removes the casing and lets it drift away. Your drone catches it and secures it to a wall.
The interior of the warhead is a delicate and complex looking device, carefully balanced metal components sit in a cradle of bundled wires and magnetic rings.
"We wouldn't happen to know the codes for this thing, would we?"
"We think they changed it prior to setting it. You'll need to do this the old fashioned way."
"Shit. Of course we do." He says. "Ok, I'm deactivating the cradle now..."
He brings his hand in slowly with a pair of pliers, one of the salvaged nicknacks from the Clarke you never got around to melting down. You're rather glad you didn't now.

He slowly pulls at the wires, severing several until the container is left free floating in the small ring of magnetic coils. The force of the pliers sends the device drifting to one side of the device, and with a rushed motion Williams taps at it, sending it drifting to the other side. He taps at it again to center it.
As the device slows he taps ever so lightly against the top, sending him drifting inches upward and the device gradually downward. As it separates he reaches out to the warhead itself and lets out a sigh of relief.
"Ok. Get the hazmats in here for the warhead." He says as he holds the small device in his hands with his arms outstretched. Your speaker collects it and secures it for transport along with the rest of the disassembled components. You have received a vague understanding of how they are constructed from his memory of training, but you will need to have a look at it yourself before you can fully understand it. Fortunately, the individual components are now inert and no longer explosive, removing much of the risk involved.

>Atomics research moved from slow/ Very dangerous to Medium

The parasite within injects a dose of sedatives, and Williams passes out in the shuttle, his body becoming limp as it drifts through the air. Your speaker secures him in place for re entry.
>>
>>35787219
>He slowly pulls at the wires, severing several until the container is left free floating in the small ring of magnetic coils. The force of the pliers sends the device drifting to one side of the device, and with a rushed motion Williams taps at it, sending it drifting to the other side. He taps at it again to center it.
Oh god the tension.

Phew.
>>
>>35787219
>"You're a hero, Williams. Congratulations!"
>"Congratulations!"
>Assorted clapping.
We need to give him a reward dream.
>>
>>35787219
"Congratulations, Williams, you did it!"
Various figures pulled at random from his memory are arranged in a room decorated with ribbons and balloons. Someone is pinning a large medal to his uniform.
"It was nothing, really!" he says as a woman rushes up to kiss his cheek.

Strapped in place, Williams drifts his hand across his face in a dreamy haze, murmuring something about a cake.

By the time the other humans stir after their procedures you have placed Williams with the others in the common area.
"Fuck, what happened? Where am I?"
"An oven, maybe? Or a giant wok? Do you think they even plan on cooking us?"
Williams looks back, visibly annoyed. "I dunno, but I wish they'd give you a try, just to shut you up about it."

That's all for tonight. If you have any designs to finalize or ship/drone production we can vote on that.
>>
>>35787326
Yes.

We have to vote on the final Frigate design from threads ago, right? Those should be built about now?

And also creating a bunch of these: >>35786286

With or without Reflex Armor, I dunno.
>>
>>35787326
>"Congratulations, Williams, you did it!"
>Various figures pulled at random from his memory are arranged in a room decorated with ribbons and balloons. Someone is pinning a large medal to his uniform.
I love you QD.
Make 376 thinkers and 375 quantum thinkers, bringing us to 1k total all thinkers, half the number of our workers.
>>
>>35787326
>Various figures pulled at random from his memory are arranged in a room decorated with ribbons and balloons
Omedetou!
Thanks for running QD! See you next week and hope that cold eases up soon.
>>
>>35787326
Okay, even if we're not using it up very fast. There's no reason to stop growing.

Increase worker count to 4000, and construct 600 Farms... at that limestone encrusted mountain site that got scouted out.

Because every time we expand the hive, we increase its heat signature, right? So let's spread that out across the planet and use that mountain as out breadbasket instead.
>>
>>35787326
>>35787365
This but 501 thinkers 250 quantum thinkers, we don't need that many quantum thinkers.
>>
>>35787365
Maybe be more conservative and just increase the count to 250 of each kind of thinker.

Though Quantum Thinkers are only really good for innovative research subjects, not reverse engineering, and unless we're voting for Cryo Spray or Amnesia Drug, our subjects are generally reverse engineering. We don't need that many quantums.

So maybe... set the count to 300 Thinkers, 150 Quantum Thinkers.

>>35787385
And farms, sure, eventually we want to be able to support huge fleets.
>>
>>35787326
Thanks for running QD surprisingly funny and touching all at once.

Moving on, here is a recap of one of the last suggested frigate design:


Heavy Stealth Frigate
Frigate (800N 1600M)
Spinal mount(1): Linear Particle Beam 150M
Fixed(8): Railgun (4 w/acid ammo, 4 w/kenetic) 160M
Turrets(6): Cyclotron 150M
Auxiliary(4): Autocannon 40M
Heavy Armor (375N 1500M)
Rapid Damage Control (22N 30M)
Cloaking Field (75N 225M)

Total Cost: 1272N 3855M
upkeep: 636N

Penny for your thoughts, anons?
>>
>>35787438
Maybe we could up the total to 700 thinkers 300 quantum thinkers? I feel like we need a lot more than we have now.

We spend four times the nutrients on workers as we do thinkers right now, we should try to keep our spending on the two even if we can. We have a glut of nutrients and research subjects right now, we should make the best of it.
>>
>>35787364
Right, the Frigate design from before. Did we agree on this?


Frigate (800N 1600M)
Spinal mount(1): Linear Particle Beam 150M
Fixed(8): Railgun (4 w/acid ammo, 4 w/kenetic) 160M
Turrets(6): Cyclotron 150M
Auxiliary(4): Autocannon 40M
Rapid Damage Control (22N 30M)
Cloaking Field (75N 225M)

Total Cost: 897N 2355M
upkeep: 448N
>>
>>35787469
We really don't.

We haven't even saturated this current population of Thinkers' research capacity. We should pile on a bunch of things:

>Atomics (especially now)
>Cryo Spray
>Microbe samples (who knows what bioweapon applications are here)
>Space dust (what the hell is it)
>Magnetic levitation
>White Crystal (Vaughn is helpful)
>>
>>35787376
Thanks, I'm on the tail end of it, and on enough sudafed to make a Sentient Ooze dry up so I don't feel too bad at all, actually.

>>35787385
The mountain hive was originally intended as a remote research lab for dangerous things, and considered as a new throne room instead. Would you like to designate it for a specific purpose, or just start building infrastructure in it as a second general hive?

>>35787364
Yes, although there was a lot of debate over the design and number. Regardless, if you wish you can vote on a design of frigate and be able to have up to 4 of them finished instantly, under the assumption that they had been under construction for the past few days.
Reflex armor won't let you just deflect railgun shots willy nilly, but it will be far more durable to projectiles than other armor types, while not limiting the rate of acceleration of the ship.

>>35787447
Thanks, and glad to hear it!
>>
>>35787412
Supporting this. We desperately need to accelerate our R&D efforts.
>>
>>35787482
That's not true. We are constantly saturating the research capacity though.

If we just threw up a bunch of subjects without making more thinkers it will just take ungodly amounts of time for each.
>>
>>35787469
>we should try to keep our spending on the two even if we can
But that's wrong.

You expand the number of either when you hit a bottleneck.

You need, for instance, at least 5 workers per new farm construction, and 1 worker per current farm that needs farming. And maybe a hundred or two for miscellaneous construction projects of the day.

Keeping costs equal is just arbitrary, you have to fit them to the load they're bearing.

It's just that how many Thinkers are appropriate number for a given research load is just kinda vague and hard to guess at.
>>
>>35787500
How exactly can you even tell that you're saturated or not?

We have no way of knowing, it's a completely opaque game mechanic.
>>
>>35787505
With the way thinkers work, more is going to be better for a long time. We are discovering more things to research faster than we can research them.
Until we reach a point where we have nothing at all to research (seems unlikely) more is better.

>>35787521
It's not completely opaque. It's been explained before, and thinkers don't idle, the more you have working on a subject the faster they finish it. If we had only one thing to work on they would all work on it (or at least the non-quantum, since the quantum do their own personal research).
>>
>>35787505
The only hint we've had was when the population was this:

>Thinker (49) – 147
>Quantum Thinker (20) – 100

>>34222557
There were six research subjects of varying complexity suggested, which prompted:
>You have a good number of thinkers, but the current workload would stretch your thinkers thin.

That was with 69 Thinkers. We now have 249 Thinkers, and we're not researching even that many.
>>
>>35787521
You have a point about it being a bit opaque. QD never really spelled out what impact the number of drones or research labs have on the rate of research.
>>
So is that anon who said he was writing a smutfic around? How'd that go?
>>
>>35787549
I think we should pick a number of how many research subjects to focus on at a time, and then derive a number of Thinkers we should have based on that.

What numbers do you suggest here? I'd go with 10 research subjects, and 25 Thinkers per subjects. Which...actually we already have enough for that.

How many Thinkers per subject would you prefer?

Based on >>35787553 10 per subject is probably too few but that's all for sure.
>>
>>35787505
>>35787521
Your thinkers typically work the most efficiently in groups of around a two dozen or so. More then that will speed up research time, but with diminishing returns.
Of course the concept of thinking is inherently a vague thing to deal with, and I don't want to add too much crunch to an already crunch heavy system. Rule of thumb is still that more thinkers means faster research.

If you really want I can set up a research point system to accomplish the same thing, and give thinkers a per-day point production rate, with quantum thinkers having a wide range that is randomly rolled for each day with a potential for greater gains. I feel like it would be needlessly complicated though.
>>
>>35787549
>the more you have working on a subject the faster they finish it
To a point diminishing returns, which QD has said exists. We don't know where the sweet spot is exactly though.
>>
>>35787590
I think we should do minimum 5, max 10 subjects with 75 to 150 thinkers per subject. And we should have 250 quantum thinkers in 5 groups of 50 (to argue with each other zero-one style) working on their own projects.
>>
So, not to mess up this discussion about thinkers and frigates, but I'd just like to propose a warrior with a seeker pod. Bout time we used that feature.

Mandibles: Combat 1N
Blade: Combat 1N
Arms: Strength 1N
Legs: Sprint 1N
Wings: Moderate 2N
Utilitiy: Seeker Pod 10N
Carapace: Combat 3N10M
Size: Medium

Total Cost: 19N10M
Upkeep: 9N
>>
>>35787605
>>35787623
We have enough resources at present that diminishing returns are worth it, necessary even if you want us to continue having an explosive start.
>>
>>35787599
>around a two dozen
Okay, so 25 per subject works. We do already have the magic number for picking the 10 most popular research subjects.

...Now we just have to determine what those are, anons.

Yeah no this is a good level of generally thanks for avoiding that level of crunch.
>>
>>35787599
I would be cool with you introducing something like that, QD, so long as it's reasonably straightforward. Research is a big part of this quest so knowing where we're at and how things are progressing would be reassuring.
>>
>>35787636
Quantum thinkers aren't the same as thinkers. I think it's worth throwing up to 75 thinkers at a single subject, diminishing returns are worth it if it makes us discover something even 1 thread earlier than otherwise.
>>
>>35787654
pls no.

Let's keep it in the background. I tend to the micromanaging crunchboner too but we really don't need it here.

>>35787623
I would argue for compromise at 40 per research subject at most, considering QD's post about "two dozen".
>>
>>35787661
Well they're more specialized for 'creative', non-reverse-engineering subjects, that's all. That just means they're suited for those and we should definitely have some lined up for them. Like Cryo Spray and amnesia drug.
>>
>>35787599
Okay, so how does the rate of research affect the actual amount of time before it is completed. Approximately how many threads does a 'slow' research option take to complete, for example.
>>
>>35787447
>>35787470
Between these, let's drop the Heavy Armor and instead create more of them. Zerg rush and all.

Four Frigates?
>>
>>35787686
You mean give average rolls? QM rolls for research progress.
>>
>>35787671
With how much we invest in other things, I really think it's worth it to 'brute force' our way through some research, diminishing returns be damned. All we are wasting is algae.

And if we ever encounter something crazy we will have the brain power to at least attempt it. Like researching another race's FTL tech or something.
>>
>>35787706
We can spend the same resources on ships instead.

Can we compromise somehow so we can at least move on to deciding other things? Getting decisions done at all is more important than getting the absolute optimum decision.
>>
I really want to have 750 thinkers, 250 quantum thinkers, but it's 2 pm and I have to be up in the morning. Please count this as a vote for thinkers if you hold one QD.

This was a great thread, thanks for running.
>>
>>35787716
I didn't think we really need more at all, if we're at the sweet spot, but, meet halfway?

How about an increase to 400 Thinkers, 150 Quantum Thinkers?
>>
>>35787686
Well, assuming all things are normal, I'll roll a d100, 1-9 is a fumble. The thinkers have been searching down the wrong path for that topic and have lost time. 10-50 is normal, 1 days worth of research, 51-90 is accelerated research, 2 days worth of work, and 91-100 is a critical. Instant breakthrough in the subject. Number and type of thinkers change what roll is what, with quantum thinkers having a greater chance at criticals and fumbles. Very fast is a day of research for an optimum group, with the others increasing about exponentially from there. If something is dangerous it causes a bad thing to happen on a fumble, if it's very dangerous the bad thing is much worse, but not any more likely to happen. Circumstance modifiers are added for being helped, knowing something of the tech already, and other such situations.
I try to keep it both varied in how things turn out, and keep the crunch behind the curtain.
>>
>>35787695
Good thinking. That would bring the total cost of each frigate to 897N 2355M, with an upkeep of 449N. This is a good basis for a Hive fleet capable of holding it's own in a war.
>>
>>35787755
This works, anything to move on to something else.

Like farm construction, and Frigates, and research subject choosing.
>>
>>35787326
Lots of ideas all over the place, it seems.

>Lay more thinkers (how many)
>Don't lay any more for now

>Lay other drones (write in)
>Build frigates
suggested frigate designs
>>35787447
>>35787470
>Other
>>
>>35787808
>Lay more thinkers 400 normal 150 quantum.
>>
>>35787808
>Lay more thinkers (how many)
240 Quantum Thinker
261 Thinkers

>Build frigates
4 >>35787447
>>
>>35787808
Increase Quantum Thinker count to 150, and Thinker count to.... 300. Or 400. Whatever.

The Frigate without heavy armor, 449N upkeep. Retroactively lay four of them.

Increase worker count to 4000 so they can build 600 Farms at that mountain? I mean the mountain that was passed over entirely during scouting >>35035021 , not the volcano one.

(600 Farms * 5 workers each = 3000, plus 400 workers farming existing farms, plus rounding up to round number 4000 for miscellaneous construction projects.)
>>
>>35787769
Do you think it would be reasonable to have us roll for research in the quest when we pick the options? If we picked 4 options we could roll 4d100's or something like that. Gives the players a sense of agency, or at least gives us something to rage and scream about if things go foul.
>>
>>35787852
No. It's better like this, have the rolling offscreen. We have plenty of agency already.

Plus you roll per day of research, not per subject, so it would keep coming up every time a turn passed.
>>
>>35787808
>Lay 300 normal thinkers and 150 quantum
>Build 4 of these
Frigate (800N 1600M)
Spinal mount(1): Linear Particle Beam 150M
Fixed(8): Railgun (4 w/acid ammo, 4 w/kenetic) 160M
Turrets(6): Cyclotron 150M
Auxiliary(4): Autocannon 40M
Rapid Damage Control (22N 30M)
Cloaking Field (75N 225M)

Total Cost: 897N 2355M
upkeep: 448N

It's basically this>>35787447 without heavy armor.
>>
>>35787808
>40 quantum thinkers
>261 regular thinkers

>4 >>35787470
>>
>>35787808
240 Quantum Thinker
250 Thinkers

>Build frigates
4 Heavy Stealth Frigates
>>35787447
>>
>>35787841
Yeah more farms. Capital ships probably cost thousands of nutrients in upkeep. Really want to build a Battleship one of these days.
>>
>>35787808
Looks like
>400 thinkers, 150 quantum thinkers
>increase worker count to 4000
>start construction of 600 farms at new mountain site
>build 4 stealth frigates
Frigate (800N 1600M)
Spinal mount(1): Linear Particle Beam 150M
Fixed(8): Railgun (4 w/acid ammo, 4 w/kinetic) 160M
Turrets(6): Cyclotron 150M
Auxiliary(4): Autocannon 40M
Rapid Damage Control (22N 30M)
Cloaking Field (75N 225M)

Total Cost: 897N 2355M
upkeep: 448N

This good?

>>35787852
I ask for a roll of the subject is dangerous, or has a risk of failure, otherwise I do a lot of rolling for things while setting up for the next thread.
Lots of rolling.
>>
>>35787712
Yes, we need more ships and an orbital space platform so that we can build the larger class spaceships. Please lets not waste resources so that we get there sooner.
>>
>>35787913
Sounds good to me.

Thanks for running btw. You really do a damn good job and it is very much appreciated.
>>
>>35787913
That all looks good. Anything to get the decisions done.

...Now we need to add research subjects to take advantage of all those Thinkers. Guys?

>Cybernetics
We might lose Lyle's limbs soon, research this first.
>>Atomics
We just made this safe and it's really valuable.
>>Space dust
>>Microbial cultures
I have literally no idea what these do and that makes me want to research em!
>>Cryo spray
>invent biomechanical engineering thing: amnesia drug
For invasion purposes.

I think the reason we've had so few research subjects proportional to our Thinker count lately is because it's so hard to reach consensus and get enough seconds.
>>
>>35787961
speaking of seconding. Seconding.
>>
>>35787913
Is that *laying* 400 and 150, or increasing the total to 400 and 150?
>>
>>35787913
This looks good. Can we start building farms on Raligha now? I'd like our first colony to be self sufficient as soon as possible.
>>
>>35787961
I'll go for all of these if we can also start on a long term project:

>Nanomachines
Son.
>>
>>35787980
The natives are our farms sorta. It is self sufficient, basically.

Also, consider that Raligha does not have an electric field to power algae farms which can be kept safely hidden underground, so farms would have to work on photosynthesis.

As in, be exposed to the sun directly, and thus clearly visible from space. Maybe we should stick to living off the jungle via the natives, and just not make the hive any bigger than it needs to be to collect research samples.
>>
>>35787961
Yeah looks good. Want to add bipedal legs to the list, just to get it out of the way?
>>
>>35787961
>>35787966
>>35787986
With two current subjects, that's stlll only 7... 8, with Nanomachines.

We should add two more. How about:

>Magnetic Levitation
That one anon really wanted it to make our Colossi fast, or at least less incredibly slow.

>White Crystal
Vaughn can help
>>
>>35787943
Thanks for playing!

>>35787971
an increase to, which seemed to be the compromise that was most agreed upon.

>>35787961
>Cybernetics
>Space dust
>various microbial cultures from Raligha
>Cryo spray

>>35787980
The natives are feeding the Raligha hive for now, and your thinkers have set up plans for future expansion. You won't need to worry about it for a while.
>>
>>35787986
I honestly don't know how I didn't see that coming, but I keked anon.
Supporting.
>>
>>35788031
Wait so are we already researching Atomics and a new retrograde amnesia drug?

Also add Nanomachines.
>>
>>35788031
I think we all agree that atomics should be added to that list.
>>
>>35788031
So does this imply Atomics was already added back when Williams got cheered as the hero he was?

So add
>Nanomachines
>Magnetic Levitation
>biomechanical engineering: amnesia drug
>>
>>35788031
Are we capable of inventing new things? Because an amnesiac would be pretty useful. Also please add atomics and nanomachines to that list.
>>
>>35788031
>Magnetic Levitation
>White Crystal
>Nanomachines
>biomechanical engineering: amnesia drug
ALL THE RESEARCH!
>>
>>35788031
>Cybernetics
>Space dust
>various microbial cultures from Raligha
>Cryo spray
>Atomics (don't know how I skimmed over that.)
>Nanomachines

Other options with less support are
>Levitation
>White Crystal

You have a decent chance of getting some form of alien Rohypnol substitute from the random samples from Raligha.
>>
>>35788095
>chance
Dice-sempai, I...

>>Levitation
Definitely this. That one anon will be so happy.
>>
>>35788095
>Levitation
>White Crystal
>>
>>35788095
If the new batch of thinkers are going to be participating and assisting the research I vote to add;
>Levitation
>White Crystal
Also include Vaughn in the crystal research. And get her her own little lab somewhere to keep her happy. Happy humans are productive humans.
>>
>>35788095
Final list of added research is
>Cybernetics
>Space dust
>various microbial cultures from Raligha
>Cryo spray
>Atomics (don't know how I skimmed over that.)
>Nanomachines
>Levitation
>White Crystal

I think that about covers it for tonight. I'll try to stick around for a bit, but it's lake, and it feel like my brain is leaking through my nose.
>>
>>35788095

>Levitation
>White Crystal

>>35788133
Thats a good idea. I definitely second having Vaughn help with the White Crystal
>>
>>35788095
>>Levitation
>>White Crystal
By its analogy to the void shards in how it twists into 4D space when used in those memories, I'm guessing it was crystal hives' breakthrough -- the discovery of No Space. a cheaper means of communication between hives without using costly mutual psionic relays. A more unbounded means of FTL.

And then...something bad happened, and they delved too greedily and too deep, or something, in the 4 dimensions.
>>
File: frado.jpg (21 KB, 398x399)
21 KB
21 KB JPG
>>35788142
Why didn't Unity hire Lyle to break into and upload Theseus from a USB stick into some high ranking military computers years ago?
>>
>>35788142
Also, before I forget, I was asked on twitter to mention the possibility of a web page/wiki entry or something similar to check for interest. I'm no good at site design and don't have any experience with wiki editing, but if anyone has ideas or thoughts on the issue you can let me know.
>>
>>35788165
I dunno, AIQ's wiki page gets outdated. I prefer the pastebin system we got.
>>
>>35788155
They probably did, but military networks in the Union are less interconnected for just that reason, and such a task would be very difficult.
>>
>>35788183
People were suggesting the possibility of retrofitting a Blink Drive, an FTL no one has ever seen before ever, onto the Hel's Angel.

I'm skeptical. Wouldn't it be visible externally to anyone looking wherever the Hel's Angel docked?

Like, the warp rings of a warp drive are visible, and even the four crystal spikes of the Slip Drive were visible in that holo footage.

Although I am tempted just by the amusing idea that we tell Lyle it's voice controlled, but really we just notice what he's saying via the parasite inside him and then tell it to go somewhere.
>>
>>35788176
>>35788165
We could do a google doc. Depending on how you set it up though it might be too easy for asshole anons to fuck with
>>
>>35788209
Same problem as a wiki, that doesn't really make it better or worse?
>>
>>35788142
>but it's lake, and it feel like my brain is leaking through my nose
>but it's lake
I can see that. Thanks for running this long man, it's been a great thread.
>>
>>35788209
Well the proposal was more of a location for people to propose and discuss designs and other crunchy stuff without being on the clock, so to speak, so a google doc could work.

I am not very versed in how that works either, but I'll be happy to look into it if there's enough support.
>>
Sorta obvious ideas:

Per >>32808971 >>33238201 , living worker drones are worth 50k creds (multiplied by the number of drones, per this thread's dream sequence No. 32808971), while the Speaker drone is worth 100k credits alive.

Obviously, if Lyle returns to his Broker, we devise two kinds of drones to send back:

X number of Worker drones with explosive glands of acid, quantum brains, and combat claws (the better to commit sudoku with)

And one Speaker drone *sans* Adaptive camouflage, with explosive glands of acid and quantum brain added.

They don't commit sudoku until they change hands for sure and Lyle gets his bounty, or someone starts scanning em, whichever happens first.

If Lyle gets to keep 30k -- what he would have gotten if he had brought that single dead drone back -- he deposits 70k + X*50k credits into the hive's Swiss bank account at Deep Song. Credits don't seem useful until we see a menu, but one thing we could buy?

A spare minimal-bandwidth FTLComm that we're free to destroy in reverse engineering it. And I guess our own direct FTLComm line to Deep Song so we don't need to use Lyle's, probably.
>>
>>35788208
Yeah I don't think a blink drive would work period on the Hell's Angel. It's a part of our bio-ship, meaning that would involve turning a Confederate ship into a living being, which is completely visible from miles away. Don't see that working out.

I also mentioned the possibility of piloting the Slip Drive ourselves via an advanced relay (which I totally think we should place on the Angel whatever we do), but that might risk exposing our existence to the dark ones. Might. Maybe we should grill Coil about that.

Any attempt to send Lyle anywhere is ultimately dependent on him. We could see about engineering a parasite for him, but I think that's a bit heavy handed. I think the safest way out of this is let on what we know about his supposed gods and gauge his reaction. If he buys it we can let him go with Lyle, if not, well, we gotta figure out some other means of getting our favorite Merc across the galaxy.
>>
>>35788309
If Lyle goes free, the only option is a warp drive. We have the Canderon from the Clarke. We'd have to give that up.

...We'd have to be careful that he left the planet when Satellite-Theseus was orbiting on the opposite side, of course. The bright glowing singularity of the gravity drive is obvious.

Then he'd have to "go to warp" ideally on the opposite side of the gas giant or something to avoid the big flash being seen. But I guess it's not the end of the world if Theseus sees it, it's just a nice thing to avoid if possible.
>>
>>35788331
Oh, and, he knows we're keeping Coil and the slip drive.

So, technically, we could use that as leverage. Imply he might get both back someday if he cooperates.

I mean, he won't ever, probably, until Coil's gods are dethroned and his people are ash in the solar wind. But he doesn't have to know that.
>>
>>35788288
Good planning, here, even if it is a little on the risky side. I'd rather not risk them getting even a scrap of a drone to genetically sequence but if Lyle needs the money this could work.

And concerning FTLcomms, how about constructing an advanced relay on board the Hell's Angel? That way we could send a few drones with him on board, whether he's aware of it or not.
>>
>>35788341
I think we ought to consider telling him the truth about his religious deities. We could wire a parasite into him to show him directly what they did to the skyl and read his mind when he reacts. The worst that could happen is we simply decide we can't risk releasing him, he can't do a thing to us while in captivity.
>>
>>35788309
You could jury rig a blink drive to work on Lyle's ship if you wanted. Visibly it would appear as organic, gooey growths under the fuselage of the main thrusters where the crystals once were, with the large, gimbaling thrusters serving as the housing to the drive itself, and the sensitive components of it would appear as a large mass of organic material within the engine room itself, like a large, glowing tumor.

Giving it a standard warp drive or simply repairing the Slip drive to the way you found it are both also possibilities.
>>
>>35788350
Hiding an Advanced Relay onboard the Angel is possible. Or you could just have a cloaked Pod stalk it.

If you have a pod in every system, in a dragnet, you can keep track of it pretty good, probably.

Wait, this reminds me.

>>35788244
QD, when a Union ship goes to warp, could a cloaked Pod stay close enough to it and accelerate along with it that it rides along inside the warp bubble it wraps around itself? How tight a fit is the bubble? Would we have to roll for survival?
>>
>>35788331
Would a warp drive even function on his ship. It's basically designed for planetary insertions.

What if we sent a cloaked ship with him that could carry his ship in an internal hold for FTL travel? That way we could sidestep the issue.
>>
>>35788381
No, let's not do anything that can't be undone with Coil.

I mean, let's say, in the best case scenario, he 'passes' and is disillusioned.

Coil's a goddamn coward. If you let him free, his chain of command will get answers out of him, whether he's genuinely turned heretic or not.

It doesn't matter what the outcome of Coil being told all about the Hive Heresy is. All roads lead to him blabbing, out of loyalty or cowardice.
>>
>>35788389
It's a pretty tight fit. I won't say no, because that would be no fun, but you would definitely have to roll to survive it.
And yes, an advanced relay could fit rather snugly inside as well.
>>
>>35788389
>Hiding an Advanced Relay
Oh I know that's impossible, I'm saying we could install it as a condition of the job and letting Lyle go free.

Or we could install something else and hide it in that. I bet Lyle would piss himself in glee if we offered to add a plasma spray or two to the Angel. We could detonate the ammo for them, should we need to destroy the evidence or the ship it's in.
>>
>>35788413
Yes? His ship isn't that special.

The trouble is the warp drive is...not stealthy. That artificial singularity it generates in front of the ship when accelerating actually glows for some reason?

>>35788423
Shit I remembered something else.

That "grav-bike" on Raligha the humans used to break into the temple. >>34218532 It used a tiny gravity drive to generate a singularity to eat through the door?

Does that mean it contained a tiny amount of Canderon? The gravity-drive needs Canderon just like the warp drive, right?
>>
>>35788423
So, Theseus wasn't spreading across the Union networks like a virus before the whole satellite incident?

I'm guessing there was a reason he couldn't infiltrate over his FTLComm to the internet then.
>>
>>35788420
Coil couldn't be further from the Ceph chain of command right now. I can't remember where he got the Slip drive from, but he didn't get approval from any member of his race to use it in the Angel. He's a free agent now, he only want's to spread the word about us currently out of religious fervor.

Or we could, just, you know, stick a parasite in him. It's what we've done with every human we've captured so far.
>>
To do list:

- Skylbots (urgent, they grow in strength daily. Which is worrisome if attempt at trade talks fails.)
- Possibly the queen's mother colony on the far side of the nebula
- Create a Deep Song bank account
>>
File: laughinggirls.jpg (44 KB, 446x400)
44 KB
44 KB JPG
>>35788483
>he didn't get approval from any member of his race to use it in the Angel
You really have no idea, do you.

Yes, I'm sure he manages to use what is effectively a palantir, a way to gaze into an abyss through which others also can gaze back, without anyone knowing.

You actually took Lyle's story of what Coil told him at face value? Coil was lying. This was pointed out in that thread by anons, referencing what Coil told us:
>>33393016
>
"And how did such a thing come to be owned by Lyle?"
>Coil looks confused for a moment. "He is a part of the plan, even if he does not know it. I pilot the ship as are my orders.

Coil is a sleeper agent. He "ran away" from his people with invaluable tech on an undercover mission.
>>
>>35788451
The problem with the warp drive is that it's painfully slow. It would take weeks to travel to the Gemini system going nonstop with one of them.

>>35788472
FTLComm's are generally painfully slow. It's performed by individual subatomic particles pointing themselves in different directions, most devices that use this are limited to text alone. One of relays is incomparably powerful in comparison.
>>
>>35788524
>It would take weeks to travel to the Gemini system going nonstop with one of them.
No it wouldn't?

It's like, what. 22 ish lightyears away? at 2 lightyears an hour with a quantum power tap, that's 11 hours.

>>35788524
Well yeah, but I mean there must be a reason he couldn't upload a virus to geocities really really slowly.
>>
>>35788517
Coil's statement struck me as spiritually inspired, part of his belief that the entire universe moves according to the plans of the crystals. Who may or may not pay his actions much attention to his individual actions. What he was talking about sounded awfully similar to concepts of destiny, fate, or karma, not a geo-political strategy. If he is taking orders it is from the crystals themselves, not others in the Ceph hierarchy. Which is probably even worse, honestly. In any case I don't think we can let him go without changing his beliefs on the crystals.
>>
File: carlos-eyes.png (12 KB, 114x50)
12 KB
12 KB PNG
>>35788580
We can't let him go without giving him a spine either
>>
>>35788553
>22 ish lightyears away
I'm fairly certain this setting is on a significantly bigger scale than that. We got word that the Texas was heading to Leeland, like, a day before it arrived.
>>
>>35788580
Almost nobody hears directly from Them. In the exact same thread two posts earlier:

>"They are beyond understanding. To know they are there at all is a blessing given to a rare few, and to feel their will a gift bestowed to even fewer."

Coil has never heard from Them directly. "My orders" can only be interpreted as orders on a long-term mission as a sleeper agent in the grungy underworld of human space, waiting for the message to act to come from his people through No Space.

I mean, if you can use the void shards to look and spy on people like Lee and Theseus and the Planet Burner, then you can also use it to check for messages. A cosmic voicemail.
>>
File: 1413559280168.png (28 KB, 500x283)
28 KB
28 KB PNG
>>35788594
Carlos you little-wait, you might actually have a point. Do we know if the parasites work in any other species aside from humans?
>>
>>35788612
Read the map. 1 hexagon = 1 lightyear. Tau Ceti is 23 lightyears away, when you combine the information from the maps called Expanse.png and Union Space.png.

Note that the cavalry arrived just like 7 hours or so after the USV Hope's destruction. The slowdown before must have been bureaucracy and them being busy or something, not travel time.
>>
>>35788612

>>33392203
> Safe range is 5 light years (5 hexes),
>>
>>35788631
We do have the Biotanks now and they can help with insight into Ceph biology, hopefully without killing them.
>>
>>35788619
>Decide to let Lyle and his crew go
>Plug the Slip Drive back in
>You got mail!
>Inbox has 5328 message in it.
>>
>>35788631
Ceph have a decentralized nervous system, only his cybernetic helmet that stabs into his nerve endings centralizes it for 'normal' thinking.

So you'd probably have to just modify his helmet or something?
>>
>>35788676
Man, the Ceph never would have left the stone age without the meddling of the crystals, would they?
>>
Oh!

QuestDrone!

I see what you did there in the OP. Gabriel is another Ockham boy who escaped his cold mountainous low gravity home colony by joining the military, just like Lee, isn't he?

That's definitely Ockham.
>>
>>35788695
That's why They picked them.

Extreme dependency. They aren't given immortality like the Skyl, Their attempt at a very high quality minion.
>>
>thread title:
>Journey to the center of the Lyle
>>
A possibility that hasn't been raised yet:

You could cause Lyle to suffer the delusion and hallucination that Coil is on board, and piloting the Slip Drive, when in reality it's a Warp Drive.

You could even make him hallucinate that the twins are there too, but that'd be trickier, because he does need a real mechanic onboard not just the illusion of one.

Further complication: in this case, Lyle simply won't know that his drive isn't stealthy, and thus act as if it were, which will create problems when stealth matters.
>>
We still haven't researched synthesizing a human diet?

Now that we have neural interfacing, we can start making nutrient paste, but make the prisoners under the delusions they're eating a fantastic and varied and tasty fancy feast instead of efficient gruel.

That saves all the real human food stockpiled for Dr. Vaughn.



[Advertise on 4chan]

Delete Post: [File Only] Style:
[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / vr / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [s4s] [cm / hm / lgbt / y] [3 / adv / an / asp / biz / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / gd / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / out / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / wsg / x] [Settings] [Home]
[Disable Mobile View / Use Desktop Site]

[Enable Mobile View / Use Mobile Site]

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective parties. Images uploaded are the responsibility of the Poster. Comments are owned by the Poster.