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Elizabeth is slumped over the small, freshly grown desk beside the strange white crystal. Your speaker arrives with a plate of rations and nudges her awake with a tap of its claw. She yawns deeply and rubs her eyes as she leans back in her chair, also newly grown, and takes the tray.
“Thank you.” She says simply as she unwraps a pink brick of processed protein with the word “brisket” stamped on the side. “This thing is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’m still not quite sure what to make of it.” She says as she wipes her hair out of her eyes, combing it with her fingers.

“Have you made any progress?” You say, your speaker’s beak-like mandibles clacking. She exhales and turns to the crystal.
“A bit, at first, I thought it was something similar in function to these little cuties.” She lightly scratches the soft head of the nearest thinker as it chitters softly. “But now I’m not so sure. Honestly I’m not entirely sure how to properly study it, but it seems to function using similar technological principals as you. It… speaks, I suppose would be the most apt description, but I can’t seem to manage to detect any measurable emissions from it.” She takes a quick bite of the pink protein brick and grimaces before continuing. “It all feels a bit too esoteric for my tastes. I feel like I may as well start chanting and set out some incense.”

You can sense it as well, but only faintly. The crystal seems to be emitting a faint psionic signal of some kind. Elizabeth drops the brick of food back on the tray with an unappetizing thud and pinches the bridge of her nose. “I need a shower.”

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
>>
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>>36064826
>Current armory
269 Thorn Launchers
20 Thorn Cannons
123 Sting Casters
30 Cyclotrons
15 Rotary Stingers
3 Fire Sprays
5 Plasma Spray

>Current resource reserves
Nutrients: 77651
Metals: 47675
Credits: ₡2326
Credits in Lyle’s account: ₡577,622

>Hive population and upkeep cost
Hive maintenance – 334
Queen – 5
Fake Queen – 22
Worker (4000) – 8000
Aquatic Worker (40) – 160
Radiator Worker (100) – 400
Warrior (209) – 1045
Aquatic Warrior (20) – 140
Thinker (400) – 1200
Quantum Thinker (150) – 750
Speaker – (3) – 12
Digger (80) – 320
Refinery (10) – 70
Sniffer (2) – 8
Small Sniffer (200) – 200
Fly (50) – 200
Wasp (100) – 500
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
17015N

>Hive fleet
Space Pod (18) – 540
Shuttle (10) – 250
Scout Corvette – (6) 1350
Lancer Corvette – (2) 450
Fleet Corvette – (4) 900
Stealth Frigate – (4) 1952
5442N

Clone upkeep/special projects and expenses
25 Human captives of the USV Hope – 750
3 Human hybrid clones in production – 180
Lyle Rogers – 47
977N

Total upkeep
Nutrient costs: 23434

>Income
Metals: 62395
Nutrients: 100050
Net: 76616

Hive Structure
G-426
>Asteroid mining base: 5 Excavators, 20 Diggers, +2250M per day (+50 M per digger)
Leeland
>Spring mountain hive
>Hangar facilities: Room for 40 Aero Drones and 20 Shuttles (25N)
>Docking Pylon: Space for docking and construction of 4 ships (50N)
>Mine: 36 Excavators, 60 Diggers, +10500 M per day (+25 M per digger)
>Clarke Research Outpost
>Hel’s Angel Prison Outpost
>Mountain farm complex
>Algae Farm: +100000 N per day, 1000 Workers (1 worker per 100N)
>Anti-orbital battery: 2 (125N per battery)
M-662
Raligha
>Automated Raligha colony
>>
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>>36064851
Construction finished
600 Farms

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

Ship Construction Options
http://pastebin.com/YTwGk8n1
>>
>>36064873
Op how the fuck does the Metal-nutrient conversion work?
>>
>>36064933
Shh don't question it.
>>36064873
Funny enough i was in the process of making 1-3 new drones, any chance of another late session?
>>
>>36064933
Specialized metabolism that takes pure metals and turns them into 'nutrients'
Quite allot of biology involves metal ions, we found a rare little microbe that's figured out how to get said ions from solid metal/rock/ores, instead of from other processes like dissolving/erosion. Its just very inefficient.
>>
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>>36064873
Finished Research

>Magnetic Levitation
These powerful magnetic pads use an intense electromagnetic field to ionize the surrounding air and provide thrust, allowing it to levitate just above the ground.

>Ceph thought shell
This complex device contains a bundle of nerves running into the higher brain of the host Ceph and into a large central processor. The processor itself is mostly organic, and combines the sensory input of all the small brains within the Ceph body into a single consciousness. There are also several oddities within the shell. Your scans detect a tiny implant of unknown composition within the “brain” of the shell that seems to give off very low tachyon emissions. The shell itself is not all that dissimilar to the design of your own parasite, and you think that you could have a parasite drone fulfill the duties of the central brain of the shell without too much trouble.

>Microbial cultures
These samples were taken from the jungles of Raligha, and contain a wide range of chemical compounds from a wide range of flora and fauna alike. Many are inert, or at least do little to help or harm, but several show great promise for future use.

[Unlocked bioweapons]

http://pastebin.com/z4yZdEbK

>>36064933
You can just select how much you want to process whenever you want, and it will be broken down using the alien space spores collected by your exploration ships. No additional infrastructure construction is needed.
>>
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>>36064989
New Research Unlocked

>Drop pod
Medium
An aerodynamic heat shield equipped with a mixture of disposable retro rockets and airbrakes designed to allow a drone to survive being dropped from orbit to a planet bellow. Each pod is a single use, and is fired from a dedicated pod bay within the parent ship.

>Missiles
Slow
These powerful guided missiles can be loaded with a wide range of deadly warheads.

>Ultrasonic Sledgehammer
Slow
Designed to be used to breach doorways and walls, this fist-mounted device uses a burst of ultrasound to annihilate a physical object. While it is intended for use in demolition, it is frighteningly effective against live foes as well.

>Compact hull design
Fast
The same principles of the multilayered carapace, but on a larger scale. This will allow your ships to be equipped with up to two armor types at once.

>Grenade launcher
Fast
This simple yet effective weapon system contains two components, an explosive device that can fit in the hand or claw, and a tube that can launch it reliably at a distance. The grenade can be thrown, tossed, rolled, or simply placed as opposed to shot from the launcher if needed. The grenade deals explosive damage, as well as an additional damage type depending on the type of grenade.

http://pastebin.com/F6t39KSp
>>
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>>36065022
Current research

>Atomics
Medium
While the concept of nuclear fusion is understood by you, the method is costly and dangerous. Disassembly of the human warheads should let you use them freely, any may offer insight into methods of producing your own such warheads in a more feasible and cost effective manner.

>Cryo spray
Slow
A stroke of inspiration has taken one of your quantum thinkers and you have been presented with the theory of applying the mechanics of your fire spray in reverse, using cryonics to create a pair of chemicals that, when mixed together and shot from a nozzle, would rapidly flash-freeze almost anything it touches. [Unlocks laser cooling]

>White Crystal
Very slow
This strange crystal gives off a slight glow, and a sense of warmth. It seems to react to your presence, although you can’t be sure. Sending it through a series of tests may yield some level of understanding, or at the very least give you an idea of what it is.

>Nanomachines
Very slow
Your research indicates that the advanced technology that gave the Skyl their individual immortality was entirely alien to them; however, in the extensive time they had at their disposal they dedicated an enormous amount of effort into unlocking this advanced technology. They left extensive notes on the subject, giving you a tremendous head start on it, although it would still be a daunting research project.
>>
>>36065040
Welcome back QD!
>>
>>36064986
There are bacteria that eat and shit electricity but still require carbon to function. Where does the carbon come from?
>>
>>36065040
Did you forget that we also tried to study the ceph or did i miss an update?
Also add this to the research que since the others are pretty slow.
>Ion thrusters-Slow
>Reactive armor-Slow
>Bipedal legs-Very fast
>Thermal Blade-Medium
>Vibroblade-Fast
>>
>>36065040
“What in the hell is this?”
“Efficient nutrients for human consumption.” Your speaker stairs down a number of humans as they look back and forth between your drone and the bowls of thick green paste your workers just brought in with a look of confusion and disgust. Your drones leave before they can protest further.

“I bet it’s seasoning.”
“God damn will you shut up about that! It’s been weeks, they’re not going to eat us.”
“Actually guys, this stuff is pretty good! It’s like the filling in those crème eggs, or sweet grits, hard to nail it down exactly.” Several of the humans are visibly disturbed as one of them drinks from his bowl of nutrient paste. Most of the others leave the room, leaving several of the bowls behind. You watch from the eyes in the walls as the human finishes his bowl alone, and then grabs another. “More for me, then.”


“I think a quick break should help.” Elizabeth gets up from the chair and stretches her arms. "Speaking of which, I've been so busy with all this ancient alien research and astral horrors that I completely forgot about everyone else. They're probably worried about me. I should probably go see them and let them know I'm not dead."

>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
>Refuse (write in)
>Other
>>
>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
Avoid telling them anything unnecessary.
>>
>>36065163
>>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
>>
>>36065157
>or did i miss an update?
You did. It was finished very quickly, last thread.

>>36065163
>Refuse (write in)
"The others are sleeping."

[cue Parasites injecting sedatives to make everyone drowsy.]
>>
>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
>>
>>36065157
Yes, and it was completed in thread 2 of that night, due to critical success, but just about everyone was asleep by then.

From 28.2
>Ceph biology
Your study of Coil's biology is going surprisingly well, and after several quick scans you are able to make several interesting observations. Despite the large head of the Ceph, there is actually no real brain, instead the Ceph possesses a distributed nervous system made of small clusters of nerves within most of the major organs. What's more is that each cluster is itself sentient to some small degree, and is aware of itself and the other clusters. The head contains three such clusters, one controlling the skin pigmentation, the other internal buoyancy organs and water jets, and the last possessing the greatest amount of higher reasoning. The third cluster is attached directly to a series of porous plugs that seem to be used to interface with the shell.
>>
>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area

I think it's time we learned how to grow new crops/hydroponics tech that humans use.
>>
>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
>>
>>36065211
>>36065206
Thanks for the update.
>>
>>36065163
>>Refuse

But, if you guys insist on letting them see each other.

Insist she tell them nothing except that she was recovering from a medical issue all this time.

Also, aren't you guys a little worried she might hear about the weird knocking-them-out for medicine stuff, or she might overhear the psychic parasites inside them?
>>
>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
>>
>>36065264
We only took the injured and a loud asshole.
>>
>>36065281
That is blatantly wrong.

There was a second round where everyone else was knocked out and parasited. Pay attention m8.
>>
>>36065264
We can easily cover your first point by saying that we took them to get healed and the second point can easily be skirted around with, that she is still new to her powers so it will be some time before she can even tell.
>>
>>36065281
No, We later infested everyone else.

>>36065264
I'l agree with asking her to keep quiet about some things. She is a unique case, and all.
>>
>>36065319
>>36065308
If we knocked them out, how can they know about the surgeries?
>>
>>36065344
That's a good point, they might just have blanked out, or we could have injected some memories.
>>
>>36064826
>even trying to test magic crystals with normal particles
Man, such tunnel vision. I guess you can't blame a human for assuming that things that move at the speed of light or slower were gonna be useful, but the QUeen really should have a guess at that. Might as well just skip that step.
>>
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>>36065163

Your speaker gives a slight bow. "Your assistance to the hive should remain secret."
She seems almost insulted. "Of course!" She quickly eyes up the rest of the crowded lab as workers crawl over various projects under the direction of the surrounding audience of thinkers. "I doubt they would understand, and besides, I'd get in as much trouble as you would."


"It's like they're trying to poison us!" Major Randolph looks at the bowl of green paste the young spaceman is waving before him as he yells in a panic. "This stuff can't be edible, lord knows what they put in it! They could be feeding us us!"

Randolph cuts him off. "Not much else on the menu. If you don't like it, don't eat it, otherwise, pinch your nose and think of Gemini, because it's all you're getting."

The door to the small room flexes open and another human runs in. "It's Vaughn! She's back!" She shouts and quickly turns on her heel. The others follow.

"You are popular." Your speaker says as the various humans run out to greet her. Your drone backs away to give them room.

"What happened? Those bugs said-"
"That 'bug' is standing right there, you know." She interrupts. "Mabey try not to insult them so flippantly while we're in the middle of a hive."

The human gives your speaker a quick nervous glance before he speaks again, the others shuffle awkwardly in silence. "Well, they said you were injured, but it was so long. What happened?"

"I was injured." She says as she crosses her arms. "And thanks to them I'm in perfect health now."

The others give her an awkward look of apprehension. "So, what, does that mean we get to go home now?"

Elizabeth looks over the crowd. "No. You see, it turns out we did we were trespassing in their space. They're still trying to determine if it was an act of aggression or innocent curiosity."

"What are you talking about! The Hope was a survey vessel, not a warship!"

Elizabeth shrugs with a sly smile. "Had an awful lot of nukes for a survey ship."
cont.
>>
>>36065680
>Green paste
>"They could be feeding us us!"
These humans have been watching to many holovids. What even is soylent anyway?
>>
>>36065680
There is a mix of frustration and concern in the crowd. Your parasites administer a mild sedative to several of the most panicked or aggressive of them.

"This is bullshit, they can't just keep us here forever." The spaceman, a Paul Anderson according to his nametag, turns to your speaker near the exit to the rest of the hive. "People will look for us, you can't just hide us in these damn tunnels!"

>They have already tried
>Say other
>Offer to negotiate their release (write in)
>Have your speaker leave
>Other
>>
>>36065759
>They have already tried
>>
>>36065759
>They have already tried
>>
>>36065759
>Unlikely considering they don't care.
>>
>>36065759
>>Have your speaker leave
>>
>>36065759
>They have already tried. They were not friendly.
We aren't the bad guys here.
>>
>>36065759
>>36065835
Backing
>>
>>36065734
We could be feeding them worse things, like soy burgers.
>>36065759
>They have already tried
>>
>>36065759
>>Other
"They have already declared you dead, and are starting to use your disappearance to build up for a war against the other Humans"
>>
>>36066023
What?
why tip them off that we know how things are going with their government?
>>
>>36066061
Or just say they are putting the blame on Unity. Unity seems to be a common scape goat for the Union's problems. Besides, it's not like they are going to get away from us anyway.
>>
>>36065759
Your drone looks at the human and chitters, "They have looked, and failed. They have shown only an intent to violence."

The color washes from the human's face and his hand starts to shake. Your parasite administers another small dose of soothing drugs.

"It's ok, it's just going to take a little while longer, and you need to stop acting like a bunch of insane jarheads long enough to convince them human's don't communicate solely through threats and atomic warfare." Elizabeth waves her hand as if to dismiss the tension and changes the subject."Is there a shower around here?" As she walks away one of the humans points out one of the alcoves. "Not quite, but we found some... I want to say pipes but that wouldn't be right. Works as well as a faucet in any case." She leaves as the other humans slowly scatter about the common chamber. Murmurs of rescue and distant homeworlds quickly fill the discussion as the Major returns to his de facto office.

>Speak with the Major
>Speak with other (write in)
>Launch your idle space pods (where)
>Other
>>
>>36065022
Yo we need to get on copact hull design ASAP
>>
>>36066113
>Speak with the Major
>Other
Question QD, how much would it take to complete a planetary defense grid of Anti-orbital Batterys for Leeland?
>>
>>36066113
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
Virgo.

And those crystal hive star systems on the far side of the nebula.

How many systems are there?
>>
>>36066155
that and Missiles, CIP weapons, and Ultrasonic Sledgehammer too.
>>
>>36066113
>>Speak with the Major
Why not. Maybe we can convince him we aren't the villains of one of their human stories.
>>
>>36066225
No. It's more fun letting him stew thinking that. Their fear is delicious.
>>
>>36066237
I suppose, and it makes the humans look bad...
>>
>>36066113
>Other
Check on lyle and the clones
>>
>>36065022
Add Research:

Missiles - we have the tech base that we could eventually create FTL torpedoes.

Vibroblade- befits our warriors, and possibly our mining operations as well.

Ion Thrusters- supplementary space engines
>>
>>36066187
35 to totally cover the surface of the planet. 20 for moons and especially small worlds.
>>
>>36066113
Man I wish we could leave research debates for after bump limit.

BUT everyone wants to do that now. So if we're doing it. Compact Hull , Missiles, Grenade Launcher for sure.
>>
>>36066294
Does our asteroid-mine count as a moon/small world?
>>
>>36066113
Question: How many humans did we kill when we assaulted the Temple and the camp? Do we have genetic samples of them to clone them?
>>
>>36066274
And add CIP weapons to that. I hope we can scale it up to Ship sized weapon systems.
>>
>>36066113
>Add research: missiles

>CIP weapons
>Sledgehammer
>Vibroblade
>Ion thrusters
>Other
>>
>>36066359
That can be answered by checking the thread, I think.

>>34045421
>You counted another eleven in the lab, and the bodies of seven others litter the camp.
Seven died in the assault on the camp.

>>34218867
> Including the doctor, nine humans managed to escape through the hole, while the room is littered with bodies, both human and drone. You count twelve humans dead, three wounded, and the captain, alive but bleeding.

Another eleven in the initial cave assault.

>>34220370
>Most of the humans are dead, either by your drones, or by the explosion, but in the center you see the doctor unconscious in the center of the room.
An unclear number of the 9 who made it inside the temple died. But by the math, 11+6 humans were captured in the camp, 4 were alive from the first cave assault, and 25 humans were captured alive total... so 9 - (25-11-6-4) = 5 humans died inside the temple.

So: 23?
>>
>>36066457
can you add reactive armour?
>>
>>36066457
>Missles
>CIP weapons
>Vibroblades
>>
>>36066482
>eleven
Dammit. No. Twelve.

6 humans died in the temple, 24 humans died total on Raligha's surface.

Plus we have the two bodies of the marines that were searching the jungle.
>>
>>36066457
>other
Compact hull design.
>>
>>36066457
Add compact hulls to that list too.
>>
So, if we want to infiltrate, I have a plan:
Step 1
We create Hybrids based on the medically trained prisoners- take some of their medical memories too. The prototypes will help with research, but we will be making more copies later.

Step 2
Use pods to deposit aquatic versions of the fake queen into the oceans of human worlds, build up hidden bade

step 3
spawn mobile regeneration tank bugs with mimetic skin and camouflage.

step 4
use regeneration tank bugs to create medic hybrids with some copies of the muscle to protect them. Have the pod people set up illegal clinic using the pod bugs disguised as technology.

step 5
Use illegal clinics to implant Parasite, creating sleeper agents.
>>
>>36066457

Thermal Imaging
Flak Jacket
Vibroblade
Thermal Blade
Grenade launcher
Missiles
>>
>>36066457
>Ion thrusters-Slow
>Reactive armor-Slow
>Bipedal legs-Very fast
>Thermal Blade-Medium
>Vibroblade-Fast
>thermal imaging
>>
>>36066593
oh yeah seconding all that
>>
>>36066457
>>CIP weapons

>Other: Compact Hull

CIP means we get to make another Technical Sergeant hallucinate and take one apart for us! That was fun last time.
>>
Hey, uh, guys? The more stuff we research at a time, the longer it's going to take.

>>36066536
>Step 2
This'll be the hard part, re-entry is not subtle.
>>
>>36066519
So 26. Okay.
>>36066457
I'd like to lay 19 more pods and begin utilizing them to clone the humans we killed. Then insert them back into the group by saying they we're in critical condition and have memory except for little tidbits we take take from the others and modified to be from their point of view.
>>
>>36066677
Cloning sounds like a good idea, I'l support that.
>>
>>36066658
Not really the fastest finish first espcially considering we have around 600 thinkers.
>>
>>36066593
Add CIP pistols, then you get my vote.
>>
>>36066677
memory loss*
>>
>>36066457
Looks like it's the buffet for the thinkers today.

>Missiles
>CIP weapons
>Sledgehammer
>Vibroblade
>Ion thrusters
>Compact hull
>Reactive armor

Meanwhile, on Raligha your thinkers have sent out patrols of the first batch of drones to scout for build sites for anti-orbital batteries. In the process they have encountered a number of potential food sources.

>Bloodroot - The translated name given by the locals for a rather large tree due to the strange color of its roots. The roots themselves contain nutritious sap that could be harvested, but the trees are slow to grow and require a large amount of surface land.

>Gray stalk - A customary food source among the natives, this stalk can be easily made into a crop, but it is prone to pests, and requires large amounts of sunlight.

>Greenwall - This aggressive vine is infamous in the jungle for overrunning villages in the night, strangling natives in their sleep. You're not sure how much of it is truth or local myth, but with some modifications you may be able to get it to grow food. It feeds on anything and everything, spreading roots into other trees, corpses, and even live animals too slow or too wounded to escape in time. It may offer a high yield crop, but the crop would be as likely to eat your drones as your drones would be to eat it.

>None, continue to live on native tribute.
>Other
>>
>>36066758
>>None, continue to live on native tribute.
But, if people really insist, I guess Bloodroot. We aren't in a hurry here.
>>
>>36066758
>Greenwall
Sweet baby jesus. I want to see if we weaponize that. Taming it for food might be a good start.
>>
>>36066758
>Greenwall -
>>
>>36066758
>Greenwall
>>
>>36066758
>Other
Experiment with the three options, see if they can be useful. But in the mean time rely on the tributes.
>>
>>36066758
>Gray stalk - A customary food source among the natives, this stalk can be easily made into a crop, but it is prone to pests, and requires large amounts of sunlight.
>>
>>36066758
>greenwall
>>
>>36066758
>Greenwall
This reminds me of us.
>>
>>36066758
Hmm, none of these are what we're looking for really. Greenwall sounds like it would weaponize nicely.
>Bloodroot
Not in a rush for crops
>>
>>36066758
All three.
How do the natives deal with the pest that effect Gray stalk?
>>
>>36066758
>Greenwall
Sounds hilarious, lets do this. Cryo sprays would definitely help contain it, only a matter of time.

>Bloodroot
We should be able to at least supplement our diet with existing sources of this, however.
>>
>>36066758
>Gray stalk
A little genetic tampering, I'm sure we could make them more pest resistance.
Take samples of all three.

>Greenwall
Play with fire, you're gonna get burned.
>>
>>36066871
Depending on the type of pest, we might be able to develop a predator to drive them away.
>>
>>36066936
Fuck it, fire is fun.
>>
>>36066758
>Greenwall
You direct the thinkers in charge of Raligha to focus on taming the Greenwall for use as a crop, and you make sure they keep their options open with regards to potential weaponization of the strange plant.

In the meantime, your thinkers will continue to have the hive feed on the tribute of the natives, along with what they can manage to collect.
>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot
>Focus on the tasks at hand
>Other

In addition, your thinkers report the sighting of a ruin in the distance. Your patrols have recently found what appears to be the shattered remains of a hive's ventilation tower. You scold the thinker for not mentioning it first.

>Send a group of drones to investigate
>Leave it alone for now
>Other

>>36066871
They don't. They are hunter/gatherers, and so simply collect it where they can find it.
>>
>>36067030
>>Focus on the tasks at hand

Oh boy.

>>36067030
>>Send a group of drones to investigate
Also, you said we were getting the "entire" oral history from that village elder?

Did he really have no story at all that elaborated on the day the black stars fell?
>>
>>36067030
>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot
and
>Send a group of drones to investigate
>>
>>36067030
>>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot
>Send a group of drones to investigate
>>
>>36067030
>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot

>Send a group of drones to investigate
>>
>>36067056
None that made sense, but from what you managed to get from it, it sounded like an orbital bombardment of some kind. They described it as the sky literally falling to the ground, as if the stars were fruit that had become rotten and fell from the sky.
>>
>>36067030
>Focus on the tasks at hand
Wait-what's the current tasks at hand? Taming Greenwall?

>Send a group of drones to investigate
How many drones do we have on Raligha?
>>
>>36067030
>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot
>Send a group of drones to investigate
We should replace that thinker with a quantum thinker.
>>
>>36067030
"New hive will build! Build and make proud!" The thinkers assemble the plans of a small farm to harvest the naturally occurring bloodroot until the Greenwall can be properly tamed. As well, you reach out and take command of a patrol of wasps as they navigate the jungle. You take account of the new hive and what the thinkers have done so far. The Raligha hive has a small but bustling population of 200 workers, 60 warriors, and 25 wasps, as well as another 100 small sniffers buzzing at random through the canopy of the jungle.

You command 10 of the wasps to investigate the strange ruins and they quickly dive into the air.
"We will find!"

From the sky you can see the remains of the ventilations tower sticking up from the canopy. Vines and trees grow in and around the ancient chitin and stone, and several large pieces have caved in.

>Send in the wasps to storm the place
>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully
>Other
>>
>>36067313
>>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully
>>
>>36067313
>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully
>>
>>36067313
>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully
>>
>>36067313

>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully

Lets scan what else could be living in there
>>
>>36067313
>>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully
>>
>>36067313
how well would Gray stalk handle cultivation in a space station?
>>
>>36067313
You feel that you have seen enough traps and ancient weapons to consider caution to be worth while. You have your wasps hang back and send your sniffers into the ruin, slowly, to see if they can detect anything. They move in and begin to map the ancient hive's interior.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3.
>>
>>36067390
Do you not read?
>Gray stalk - A customary food source among the natives, this stalk can be easily made into a crop, but it is prone to pests, and requires large amounts of sunlight.
It seems like it can't survive with out an atmosphere.
>>
>>36067390
Just needs uv light from the light source
>>
Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>36067438
Here we go
>>
Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>36067438
>>
Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>36067438
buzz buzz
>>
>>36067390
>>36067440
You obviously put an atmosphere inside the space station, genius.
>>
>>36067483
Fuck yeah, Sniffers!
>>
>>36067483
noice.
>>
>>36067495
or we vacummed sealed our drones.
>>
>>36067455
Yeah and by growing it in a space station we can guarantee pests won't destroy the harvest.
>>
>>36067572
Or in a bunker
>>
>>36067661
It needs sunlight, though?
>>
>>36067743
We make a clear dome on the station and get lots of that from the local star.
>>
>>36067743
Install uv lights then
That's how it done
>>
>>36067743

Then we research bioluminescence to an obscene degree.
>>
>>36067438
Your sniffers move in. The hive is ancient. Most of the organic tissue has fossilized around you, but much of the lower levels are still intact, somewhat.

It is not long before you find the first body. A hollow shell of fossilized carapace you recognize as a worker. It is huddled at its station, its arms locked in a death grip around a long eroded item. You find several more not far from it, each arranged in a line as if carrying something heavy. The warriors are not far below, each one standing in a silent vigil in an alcove as workers stand frozen in time around them. None of them are wounded. It's as if they simply went to sleep as the hive collapsed around them.

Your sniffers go deeper, finding honeycombed chambers and empty storage vats. The tunnels begin to taper as you reach the bottom of the hive, and they slowly merge into several small tunnels, eventually ending in a wide antechamber. The light from above is visible, reflected on countless mirrors and through labyrinthine reflective piping like a shattered chandelier. The space is empty save for a single large stone figure standing in the center. There is something inside. A petrified figure slumped over to the side as if asleep. As if any moment it could wake up to greet you.

It is a queen. The carapace is a light yellow with speckled green stripes. It's claw is outstretched in desperation to a small white crystal that lay on the floor, inches out of reach.

>Take the crystal
>Leave the crystal
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
>Other
>>
>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery

I want to read the awe / terror / sympathy she'll respond with.
>>
>>36067814
They were clearly replying to the dumb anon who is saying "bunker", not space station, jesus use your reading comprehension.

>>36067822
>Install uv lights then
That is not how farming works, dumbass. You spend more energy than you get back that way.
>>
>>36067832

>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery

Never hurts to have a second opinion before we go dicking around with magic space crystals that may or may not be true fae and may or may not have eaten the souls of our race.
>>
>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
>>
>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
>other
Inspect the 'Stone Queen', see if she really is dead or in ultra deep hibernation. Or something to that effect.
>>
>>36067832
>>Take the crystal
So can we have the stalk in the asteroid?
>>
>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
>Take the crystal
We're a hivemind, we can multitask
>>
>>36067875
And if you read from whom that anon was replying too, it was about a space station, I was talking about that.
>>
>>36067875
Ever heard the term "hydroponic system" for growing things underground?

>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
>>
>>36067832
>>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
Telepathically, obviously. Finish that shower, Vaughn.

Ha, I suspected they would have their own white crystal.

But I really thought the enemy would have destroyed, stolen, or corrupted it. But apparently they didn't even bother sending troops down.

This should accelerate research now that we have two of them to walkie-talkie each other with.
>>
Now I'm a bit paranoid about what that crystal does...
>>
>>36067944
Which is only converting energy you already have stored into another, inevitably losing some in the conversion process to entropy.

Humans do use electricity to turn into light to nurture crops to turn into food. It's inefficient but necessary for survival or getting high sometimes, when electricity is plentiful.

The hive is a bio-engineered superorganism whose unit of energy isn't electricity, it is food. So the process is completely wasteful, turning food into energy into light into...equal or less food than what you started with.

>>36068125
Phone home.
>>
>>36068178

Our FTL uses nutrients for fuel.

It's not a hard fucking science setting, quit being a bastard about it.
>>
>>36067832
Elizabeth has found the makeshift shower, a series of flexible piping coming from the ceiling of one of the rooms, and is in the middle of the odd hygiene ritual when you transmit the images of the hive. She nearly trips to the ground, catching herself on the wall.

Millions, likely more. The queen you found was old. From the ancient temple ship itself. Vaughn finds memories from her dynasty surfacing unbidden. She was the simply known as the Gardener, she was one of many lesser queens under the greater dynasties that once existed, and she was celebrated for her skills at making once barren worlds flourish with life. She chokes back tears as she returns her thoughts.
"Who did this, why?"
You are not sure on either count, but you suspect it was the same beings that control the Ceph, and the Skyl before them.
"You should bring back the crystal, they may be designed to interact with each other."
You concur, and your sniffers approach the dead queen to take the crystal, but as they do they catch sight of a strange object. Not far from the throne, on the far side of a tiny alcove is a console built like a small circle with a post of buttons and dials suspended in the center. It is identical in design to a Skyl computer.

Your sniffers move in carefully and surround the console. They find a small chamber built with Skyl architecture in mind. In the center is a skeleton, its arms splayed out and its beaked head open in a silent scream. The bones of its limbs are worn and chipped, and it is surrounded in scratches and tears in the fossilized structure around it.

You check the skull for the implants and control chips, but find none. A small lump of fossilized chitin sits where the chip should be, its innards long eroded.

>Take the remains
>Take the console
>Take both
>leave them
>Other
>>
>>36068214
>It's not a hard fucking science setting
That doesn't invalidate logic.
>>
>>36068244
>Take both
>>
>>36068251

Logic goes out the window when people are being assholes.

If you want to have some explanation for it, just go with biomagiscience photosynthesis to fuel the energy required to illuminate the food that is growing or some other shit.
>>
>>36068244
>>Take both
My gues is that she was able to stop the mind control, but was too late.
>>
>>36068244
>Take both
>>
>>36068244
>Take both
>Other
Send in a bigger probe team in here and scour everything! This place might be a nice little tech jackpot.
The Skyl are EVERYWHERE!
>>
>>36068244
>Take remains
>>
>>36068244
>Take both
>>
>>36068297
We might as make it so the ship is capable of photosynthesis dumbass.
>>
>>36068308
It seems like a lone suicide mission.
>>
>>36068356
>>36068297
Just ask the QM, and stop wasting post.
>>
>>36068356

He's arguing that since it's not a hard-science setting, people shouldn't get their panties in a twist when talking about biological hydroponics and how inefficient, if not detrimental entirely, it would ultimately be in a hard-science setting.
>>
>>36068214
>being a bastard

>>36068297
>being assholes.
Wow yes, heaven forfend someone point out a glaring flaw in a nonsensical non-plan. It's hurting someone's precious anonymous feelings.

The conservation of energy and basic laws of logic hold, except where specified otherwise. That's how scifi works, mate. You can't just start assuming things run on Aristotlean physics for literally no reason except "my plan depends on it!"

Growing crops isn't one of the magic things that break physics.
>>
>>36068366
Could have been, But until we perform extensive work here, we may never know.
>>
>>36068394
nah fuck you
>>
>>36068394
Fucking autistic hard-ass
>>
>>36068394

Tachyon-based hive minded hyper-evolution bugs that were destroyed by black space crystals that are also maybe tachyon based and have a habit of enslaving aliens.

And you fucks are arguing about efficiency of space-based organic-constructed hydroponics.
>>
>>36068432
>>36068454
You seem to be a munchkin with no respect for science fiction.
>>
>>36068487


>>>/lit/
>>>/sci/
>>
>>36068487
You seem to be an autistic cunt.
>>
>all this room wasted when people could have just straight up asked the QM.
>>
>>36068483
Consistency anon. The laws of physics don't simply bend because you want them to.
Hell I'm the person that suggested that the cyro spray should work by using an endothermic reaction the supercool to -100 C.
>>
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33 KB JPG
>>36068483
Where do you think we are?
>>
>>36068244
>Take both
Also take the Queen's remains as well as the worker and warriors for study/dissection.
>>
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87 KB
87 KB JPG
>>36068244
"Where you think you're going?"

"Just out for a little walk." Elizabeth is walking down the hall in a fresh pair of fatigues, nearly shoving a crewmate out of her way as she rushes to the door.

"Well good luck with that. They won't-"
She moves to the door without breaking her stride, and the door flexes open just in time to pass through, snapping shut behind her.
"Hey! Hey, come on, what the hell?" The human bangs on the door several times in frustration. "Are we picking favorites now? I'd like a walk too, you know!"

Elizabeth rushes back to the lab as your workers haul in the crystal, as well as the corpse and the console.
"Is that what I think it is?"

Your speaker nods the affirmative. "Most likely."

She holds out her hand expectantly and a worker places a small scanner in her palm. She raises it to the console, then to the Skyl body, and back to the new crystal.

"You're starting to get quite a collection of these things." She says, "I can... sense something coming from the crystals, but I'm not sure how to measure, or even classify it. What about you?"

You are indeed sensing some psionic energy.

>Inform her of the details of psionics
>Answer truthfully, but as vaguely as possible
>Other
>>
>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics


Meh, I like her, I believe her to be trustworthy.

She's basically a demi-queen at this point, not truly there or likely to ever be there, but close enough.
>>
>>36068646
>>Inform her of the details of psionics
>>
>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics
She is already psychic anyway and the memories
>>
>>36068646

>Inform her of the details of psionics
The things we do for Science.

Man. Another valuable tech. She really can't be allowed to leave, can she.
>>
>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics
>>
>>36068704

If she leaves and we let her, she'll be incarcerated in some black ops facility and experimented on, ultimately ending up with her brain being scooped out and studied.
>>
>>36068748
We don't let her leave.
>>
>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics
>>
The already has it.

>inform her of the details of psionics.
>>
>>36067875
>You spend more energy than you get back that way.
Power Tap anon. Practically limitless energy. Power is really not an issue.
>>
>>36069037
That thing is impossibly expensive and unstable.
>>
>>36068646
Your telepathic communication comes so naturally to you that you forget how alien it is to other creatures. You walk Elizabeth through a basic understanding of psionics.

"That's... that's so far beyond Union technology, but it makes sense." She looks over the crystal inquisitively. "It raises more questions, though. Why, or how, would you leave a device that would give that sense away?"
She thinks for a long moment. "It makes my theory make even more sense."

"What is your theory?"

She holds out the small scanner and a worker takes it, placing back on the table. "I think it may be a kind of recording device, or a communication device. Maybe a prototype for future relays, or maybe a different kind of relay altogether. I'm still not sure, but maybe it will help lead us to other hives? We know they were working on a weapon of some kind..." She trails off, her gaze never leaving the small crystal. She eventually shrugs. "Or maybe it's a recording device, or something completely different. Like I said, it's a theory so far, and it's based almost solely on the weird feeling I get when I'm around it. It's not quite a voice, but it's definitely data of some kind."

Eventually she looks to the Skyl console. "I'd love to take a look at that thing too, but if you want be to focus on these crystals, I'll understand.

>Split your attention how you wish
>Focus on the crystals
>Other
>>
>>36069091
>That thing is impossibly expensive and unstable.

Better to put it deep in a bunker than on a space-ship then.
>>
>>36069108
>>Split your attention how you wish
She's respectable, not just some thinker we can boss around. Let her do what she wishes.
>>
>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish
we will focus on the crystal
The doc on the tech
>>
>>36069108
>>Split your attention how you wish
>>
>>36069108
>>Focus on the crystals

Looking at how the white crystal in her ancient memory reacted when used, it resembled a void shard twisting into No Space a lot. So this is a priority.
>>
>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish
>>
>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish
>>
>>36069091
>impossibly expensive
Ah you are absolutely correct. That must be why every single human ship with a warp drive has a Quantum power tap. And we both know how careless humans are, using ships that just randomly explode due to how unstable they are. Stop being a fucking retard. They are blatantly affordable and stable enough to use in spaceships I'm sure it would be perfectly fine in a space station, baring attack obviously.
>>
>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish
>>
>>36069108
Dont we already have massive amounts of data about the Skyl from the data cubes?
> also since the cube is already blank why not use it for trade with our AI pals?
>>
>>36069216
look at the research agian.
>>
>>36069137
Has Fusion reactors ever crossed your damn mind? They're literally powered by water.
It's like people here know nothing about science.
>>36069192
1 kg of Canderon costs 500000 and it takes 100 kg to create a power tap.
>>
>>36069192

Considering they are used on WARSHIPS that get swatted aside like flies, they are probably not only really stable for what they are, but if they do go out of control, peter out in an acceptable time frame.
>>
>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish
>>
>>36069256
Shields bro.
>>
>>36069323

And?
>>
>>36069240
Fusion reactors would probably be a better idea. Also, why the hell would you pay for Canderon? It'd be easier just steal some. Hell iirc we are already looking into taking control of the Canderon mine if only to prevent the Union from having access to it.
>>
>>36069419
>It'd be easier just steal some.
Not anymore it isn't since the Union is on high alert.
>>
>>36069494
Again, Unity might have suppliers or their own mines
Maybe a little more give in our give and take relationship with them next time around.
>>
>>36069573
>or their own mines
They don't anon. The only known mine is in the Wolf system.
>>
>>36069108
"As you feel appropriate."
She quickly cracks her fingers as she moves over to the console. "I'll get right on it then."

She moves to the console with a worker and it begins to rip into one of the loose panels at her request. The interior is covered in rows of glass and sheets of rows of crystalline circuit boards. She turns back to your drone as she begins to work. "I think I'm a bit more well suited to this, but if you think you know where you could find more of those crystals, I would advise a scouting expedition." She leans into the bowels of the console, leaving you wondering about the the nature of these devices, and where you could find more.

>Launch your idle space pods (where)
>Speak with Theseus (write in)
>Speak with the humans (write in)
>Other

Sorry, had connection issues, should be better now.
>>
>>36069494
>implying the hostile takeover of their only known source of Canderon wasn't going to result in a hostile response.
>>
>>36069573
One way or another, they had some for sale last time we checked, it's what's powering the Clarke. We also have whatever we initially took from the Clarke before we fixed it.
>>
>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
You heard Vaughn.

To those hive systems on the far side of the nebula the Star Chart in the temple pointed to!
>>
>>36069658
Has someone got an up-to-date starmap?
>>
>>36069658
> speak with Theseus (Hey buddy ol' pal, how about some technology.
How about that plague like plant?
>>
Guys, the dead queen was trying to reach the crystal. We should use the crystal ourselves (as the queen) maybe only Queens can activate it?
>>
>>36069658
>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
Mention the skyl ship.
They already know about the skyl.
>>
>>36069658
>Launch your idle space pods
Time to poke though the nebula
>>
>>36069707
Yup, voting.
>>
>>36069717
We have an anctient star map, which is better.
>>
>>36069658
>Launch your idle space pods
We need to start going towards the nebula, or at least update the map in the direction of the nebula.
>>
>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
Sirius --- science capital, sounds interesting.
Chandra --- Let's see what damage Theseus's birthing pains involved
Transnebula hive stars -- for more white crystals.
Virgo, Eridanus, Gliese -- Because maybe one of these has a damn Valen gate to sneak through.

Do the lightday-away trick again this time.

>>36069727
Scroll to the top of the thread anon. It's in the same place every week.
>>
>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
P1, P2, and P3
they are right in our system, might as well take a look at them
>>
>>36069658
Good idea. I'll second this >>36069767
>>
>>36069658\
>Launch your idle space pods (into systems on the ancient Star Chart)
>Speak with Theseus (mention Skyl ship)
>>
>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (here >>36069767)
>>Speak with Theseus (either trade tech or talk about skyl)
>>
>>36069787
Don't tell Theseus things except in exchange for other things.

And we don't need anything from him urgently just now, because now we can order Shield Tech off the internet.
>>
>>36069732
Well, there's a thought.
>>
>>36069707

I'll support that.
>>
>>36069752
Meant the image file.
>>
>>36069658
You have 5 space pods standing by and ready for instruction.

Proposed locations
>Sirius
>Chandra
>Virgo
>Eridanus
>Gliese
>The nebula
>Other
>>
>>36069732
>>36069825
Good thing the human gained our ability.
>>
Guys, we have four frigates and 12 corvettes now.

I think we now have the firepower to take on 15 clumsy inferior corvettes and 3 normal corvettes, and disable the Skyl battlecruiser.
>>
>>36069885
No talking to the AI?
Also do Sirius,Transnebula hive stars
>>
>>36069885
>The nebula
>>
>>36069885
>Sirius
>Chandra
>Virgo
>Eridanus
>Gliese
>>
>>36069885
>>Sirius
>>Virgo
>>Eridanus
>>Gliese
>>The nebula
Sorry Chandra you can wait.
>>
>>36069897
Or we could clone some Skyl.
>>
>>36069885
>The nebula
>>
>>36069936
>>36069897
Or we can try communicating first.
>>
>>36069936
Yes. Let's try and do that.
>>
>>36069948
Well that first yeah. Trading the gravity drive to them for it.

But the point is to only attempt communication when your Plan B can actually WORK.
>>
>>36069897
we should try talking first, but if they try to jump out we might be able to take them.
>>
>>36069936
I really wouldn't advise trying to take on a battleship with our forces right now. Especially not the Skyl drive ship.
>>
>>36069964
Although we might want to wait until Atomics is unlocked for more serious firepower.

They'll never see that coming.
>>
>>36069936
We'd need to use the ones that we "saved" on their homeworld.
using the other ones is pretty much at war with us
>>
Ya know, I wonder if Elizabeth would be receptive to having a parasite. We'd have to ask first, she'd almost certainly be able to sense it. But we might get some insight into her unique condition and she might get some use out of the drugs it makes.
>>
>>36070063
I wonder if we can get away with a "Blue and orange" morality excuse if she freaks out at the parasites.
"...Is there something wrong with my creation?"
>>
>>36070106

Probably can get away with it.

We can tell her it was to ensure that they didn't harm themselves or each other.
>>
>>36070159
>>36070106
That might be pushing it a bit, even for a xeno-lover like her, naivete only goes so far. At most we should stick her in a regen tank for a bit.
>>
>>36070159
>>36070106
>>36070063
Rather not risk it honestly.
>>
>>36070159
Also, say that it dramatically increased their health.
>>
>>36069897
>Sirius, Virgo, Eridanus, Gliese, the Nebula
Seems to be the general consensus.

Your pods move out of their parking orbits and blink away, appearing on the edges of their destination systems.

In the Union systems you sense the signals of commerce and mass transit, as well as the constant drone of mass media, reprocessed and regurgitated across each system.

As your pod passes the nebula, however, you sense... something familiar.

"Queen, Queen! Know place!" You feel the single voice coming from your very first thinker as he sheepishly nudges at your pod. "Not good to be here." It thinks nervously. The hesitation is unlike a drone, and upon questioning you find that while the thinker hatched in the pod some light years within the nebula already, it had very simple orders from its own queen.

"Go far away."


You adjust the pod's sensors and zoom in on the planets within. A gas giant with ice rings, and a single rocky world beyond covered in what appears to be a rich ring of ore. You do not detect any signs of life.

>Blink to the planet
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>Other
>>
>>36070159
>>36070203
>>36070207
I was thinking that, if she reacts negatively to it, we could tell her that we honestly didn't know that shoving parasites in people were considered wrong by humans. I mean, look at the twins. Their species loves the hell out of parasites.

But yeah, it's risky as hell. Better just leave it.
>>
>>36070250
>>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>>
>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>>
>>36070063
I think we could probably work it. Hell she'd probably understand from the perspective of, "while you are going along with this, we do need some sort of insurance."
Additionally, she is incredibly valuable so it would be good to make sure we can keep her alive.
>>
>>36070250
Huh. Turns out keeping our first thinker was a good idea.
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>>
>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked
Bad vibes man
>>
>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>>
>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>Other
Ask the first thinker. What does it remember of it's Queen. Can it recall it's life before it was sent out with our egg?
>>
We should have layed a tychon blocker for the pod going into this place.
>>
>>36070327
Read the damn post. It was hatched in deep space with a single order.

This was asked many many threads ago too, with the same answer. It knows nothing of the mother hive, it was hatched solely to pilot the Pod.
>>
>>36070257
Speaking of the twins and parasites, we don't know much about their species do we? I suggest we put them in the tanks a bit to get a right understanding of their biology, then give them parasites (assuming they are compatible)
>>
>>36070360
Then why is it saying "Not good to be here"? Did the old queen tell it why or only "Go far away"? If the later, then why did it say that? It wouldn't know why it's not good other wise.
>>
>>36070250
Your pod accelerates while under its cloak, moving in to the small rocky world. It will take some time before it reaches its destination, as will your other pods.

In Sirius, your pod detects three planets, each shows signs of habitation. The furthest from the sun is Leto, a frozen world with signs of geothermal activity beneath the surface. Domed cities mark the frozen landscape, each one mounted on thousands of tiny legs that adjust to the shifting ice as needed. Further in is a planet titled Arnim. It is a lush world covered in farmland. Crisscrossing rivers cut through the widespread marshes as rainstorms churn over the surface. Finally is the planet Mentan, on the inner edge of the habitable zone of the star. There is a Union battleship, the USV Kilimanjaro, flanked by the frigates the USV Norman, and the USV Winslow. Strike craft run patrols around their orbits.
cont.
>>
>>36070446
it does not need to know why it is a drone
>>
>>36070327
Supporting. See whatever scraps of info the first thinker has on our origins
>>
>>36070327
>and upon questioning you find that while the thinker hatched in the pod some light years within the nebula already
>>
>>36070501
Again, then why did it say that? It's not a quantum thinker. However, if the old queen added in that command to warn us about that place, that's fine.
>>36070552
The drone doesn't have to be in the old hive, just what ever communications it had with the old queen.
>>
>>36070577
it's communications with the old queen was go far away that is all
>>
>>36070577
It was not directly informed of these things by the queen that laid it but was biologically programmed with this knowledge. It couldn't have communicated directly with her as it hatched in deep space and can only mark a single queen as mother in its life, and that's us.

Still we could learn much indirectly from its preprogrammed instruction, such as how far our pod flew and for how long.
>>
>>36070474
In Virgo you detect two planets. The furthest from the sun is a mild world named Path. It's continents bustle with activity as the lights of endless cities shine through the dense smog. Further in is Talgo and its two small but habitable moons, the low gravity jungle of towering trees, and the sparkling oceanic water world of Coral. You see massive amounts of activity in orbit of Path, with hoards of commercial vessels moving in and out of port. The Battlecruiser USV Shenzhou and the frigates the USV Tiangong and Hakudo Maru sit in orbit.
>>
>>36070677
>can only mark a single queen as mother
Not true. It's not imprint on hatching, the imprinting is in their DNA, so it knows who its literal Mother was. But there's a loophole. Said in thread 14:

>>33234683
>The drones can tell the difference between their mother and a strange queen. The thoughts of foreign queens would invoke natural hostility as a precaution against just such things. Queens that are related directly, however, could "inherit" drones, however, if they are familiar enough.
>>
>>36070677
That works for me.
>>36070686
>>36070474
Nice battleships there. I hope we'll match them soon.
>>
>>36070397
Check the ask.fm. the twins would love to have parasites implanted in them and would be jealous of Lyle and Ceph if they found out they had parasites implanted.
>>
>>36070686
Eridanus is a crowded system, all things considered, but only a few of its worlds are naturally habitable. The farthest out is a barren rock with hardly an atmosphere named Eridani. You detect the signs of widespread infrastructure on the planet, and the marks of several large craters. The shattered domes of long abandoned colonies and several small enclosed settlements are all that remain. It's moon, Corbin, fares slightly better, with several large cities visible along the equator. Further in is Huron, a deep blue jewel of deep oceans and thin island chains. Several massive hurricanes twist over the ocean surface, covering much of the northern hemisphere. Farthest in is Graystone, a harsh, rocky landscape covered in industrial complexes and mineral mines. Several frigates, the Donovan, the Alabaster, and the DuPont drift between the planet in a lazy patrol pattern, followed by the Corvettes the Stiletto and the Dirk.
>>
>>36070804
Seeing all those ships in one place makes me wonder what the respective aggregate strength of the union and commonwealth fleets are. Can't be that hard to find out, should be on the FTL Wikipedia.
>>
>>36070804
Finally, your last pod appears on the edge of the Gliese system, near a gas giant. A large station orbits it covered in merchant vessels. You detect a radio signal coming from it declaring itself Exon Station, offering a blanket welcome to any and all nearby trade ships. Further in is the habitable but harsh world Tadega, and its barren moon of Tori. Trade ships move to and from the moon, with a single, large trade station making up the only notable location on its airless surface. Farther into the system is the temperate world of Mercy, covered in small, clean cities and wide spread suburban sprawls around them. Orbiting the world is the frigate the USV Sulaco and the corvettes McCormick and the Steele. Several others sit anchored to several orbiting stations, half finished and unnamed.
>>
>>36070769
Huh. we should get on that then. Might even get some data on the diseases already in their systems.
>>
>>36070921
Finally, a gas giant to refuel pods at when no one is looking!

Now we have a place for a pit stop in order to go even further beyond.

Although say, if Coil is still in the regen tank, we can dive into his memories through that. Try and get a sense of the names of systems that have the gates to Ceph space, even if he doesn't know the coordinates.

Maybe get a glimpse of his origin story too.
>>
>>36070921
>welcoming all trade ships
Time to sell shells and shell-related accessories.

Also why are we not getting Queen to poke the newest crystal? It seems to be a Queen-tool of some sort.
>>
>>36070921
As your pods drift further into their respective systems they slowly take a greater account of the systems and their contents. As they drift in you look to the other pods you have spread across the region.

"Something here? Something!"
A thinker points to an empty spot in space in the Dagmar system. One of the stars appeared to have bent, for just a moment. The humans within the system have shown no signs of detecting it, and the supply ship, the Jeremiah O'Brien has returned, and is commencing its docking procedures with Kaltara station. Perhaps your thinker was mistaken.

>Move your pod closer to investigate
>Move your pod away from the system
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.
>Other
>>
>>36071007
>Move your pod closer to investigate
I trust the thinkers.
>>
>>36071007
Probably Ceph raiders, those fucks.
>>
>>36071007
>Move your pod away from the system
I would vote to look, but we need to upgrade our shit with tachyon blocking now, or we can be traced back.
>>
>>36071007
>>Move your pod away from the system
Oh fuck. It's Ceph.

They're probably here looking for US, but they don't know which system to look in yet.
>>
>>36071007
>Move your pod closer to investigate
At a healthy distance though. This smacks of a Ceph raid.
>>
>>36071007
>move the pod closer
>and if it looks like they're going to capture our pod
>send it straight to hell
>>
>>36071007
>Move your pod away from the system
>>
>>36071007
Aren't we cloaked already? Observe. Observe the hell of what's going on. Get a feed to Theseus in case something interesting happens, share popcorn with him if something interesting did happen.
>>
>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.

Play like a debris floating by.
>>
>>36071005
That involves possible direct danger to the queen. 'S the sort of thing that'll take some sort of vote.
>>
>>36071007
>>Move your pod closer to investigate
Schmuck bait
>>
>>36071035
>>36071040
Just to remind you, we're cloaked ourselves and tiny. The Ceph have no known way of finding us under stealth.
>>
>>36071072
Yes, but if the pod gets hit by accident in the crossfire, a stray energy beam or physical shrapnel, the cloaking effect will end.
>>
>>36071077
I'll second.
>>
>>36071086
Tachyon mother fuckers, we can sense the chick i don't doubt that they or what ever is controlling them can't sense us.
>>
>>36071086
Also remember that our stealth tech is stolen from the Ceph, they would know how to detect it, still, they probably won't know we're there.
>>
>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.
>>
>>36071035
Psionic disruptor: A set of advanced organs capable of transmitting a powerful psionic static, blocking transmission within its range.
Basic: Releases a quick burst of static in a radius of 15 meters in all directions lasting for several seconds. (50N)
Moderate: A powerful organ capable of broadcasting a powerful jamming signal in a 20 meter cone. The drone does not affect itself. (100N 50M)
Advanced: A large disruptor that broadcasts static with a radius of roughly 50 kilometers. If grafted to an advanced relay, the signal can be made to propagate along the relay’s own network. (250N 150M)
We mus upgrade our pods, to make tracking impossible, but also good against crippling the ceph.
>>
>>36071072
Don't just give it to him, use it as currency for an info trade. He would digitally cream himself if offered live footage of a Ceph attack in action.
>>
>>36071007
>>Move your pod closer to investigate
>>
>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit
>>
>>36071100
>they would know how to detect it
Then so would we? We both understand the technology.

The only answers are "wait until they have to vent heat" and "fill the space with shrapnel until it hits something and makes it visible".

Cloaked v. cloaked ships is a very long game of chicken to see who will decloak to fire the first shot.
>>
>>36071112
Psionic disruptor is not a stealth technology you fool. It is exactly the opposite.

It's jamming. You know what jamming is? It's screaming real loud, so that no one else can hear anything except you.
>>
>>36071007
>>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.
>>
>>36071116
This could work. Or you could turn said movie night into an improptu barter session, you know.
>>
>>36071135
Its a good weapon to use on the ceph who are controlled through tachyon.
>>
>>36071158
No it fucking isn't.

They aren't "controlled" through tachyons. They are very hands-off, they speak directly to the Ceph extremely rarely.

It would, however, make it probably impossible to use the void shards and escape from the system, since they won't be able to be heard over the noise.
>>
>>36071158
>>36071135
That reminds me, didn't the slip drive work by having the Ceph form Psionic connections with the Crystals? If the Disruptor could block that too, we could effectively leave the Ceph ships dead in the water, If we can somehow expand the effective range of the Disruptor.
>>
>>36071209
We know we can make an organ to project the field.
It's likely we can make it ship-mounted.
>>
>>36071144
This could be fun. Both of our hive minds have a superb capacity for multitasking and watching squishy humans for entertainment.
>>
I'd like to request a more through look at the other planets in our system as possible expansions. If one or more is suitable, a suggested colonizing group might be:
1 Egg Sac
20 Workers
2 Warriers
1 Thinker (Quantum?)

Cost: 230N 10M
(if my math is right.)

That's fairly cheap considering our income. It seems like a good investment.
>>
>>36071007
>>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.

I think this breaks the 5-3-5 tie?

We don't want to end up in the crossfire between humans and Ceph and get caught with our pants down. But we don't want to not catch the show.
>>
>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.
>>
File: Ceph void cutter.jpg (336 KB, 1920x1080)
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>>36071007
Under the cover of its cloak, your pod drifts, and watches.

There is is a gain. A slight bending of the light in front of Kaltara. And another, and another. Before long a segment of space shimmers as if underwater, and you sense alarms go off within the station as the supply ship's gravity drive engages reverse thrust.

At least a dozen small craft, each no larger than your pod, drop their cloaks. Black crystallized wings sprout from their hulls and they scatter like dust motes in a maelstrom, spinning and swirling in complex, ever changing formations. Several impact the station at high speed, their obsidian wings slicing through the hull and igniting the gasses within. Another moves in a spiraling arc around it, sending several volleys of an invisible energy beam cutting into the armored hull. It boils at the touch, and the station starts to fall apart as secondary explosions rip it apart at the seams and send its fleet of mining drones scattering like shrapnel.

The small cloud of ships shift together like an ocean tide, turning back on the fleeing human vessel.

>Have your pod flee the system
>Continue to watch
>Send in your ships to assist (write in)
>Other
>>
>>36071331
>>Continue to watch
Fleeing would only give away our stealth with the Blink Drive flash.

But, uh. Back away. quickly.
>>
>>36071331
>>Continue to watch
>Other
The AI,
>>
>>36071331
Would our ships even be able to do anything?
I don't recall them possessing any armament meant to fuck with the Ceph.

Therefor:
>Continue to watch
>>
>>36071331
>Have your pod flee the system
>>
>>36071331
>Continue to watch
Keep some distance between us and the raiders
Also, ready the corvettes for salvaging
>>
>>36071331
>Continue to watch
>>
>>36071331
>At least a dozen small craft, each no larger than your pod, drop their cloaks.
They're so tiny. Were these the equivalent of a small fighter swarm, that rode here on a bigger Ceph carrier that remains cloaked still?
>>
>>36071245
I'm pretty sure the other planets in our system are all but totally uninhabitable. Some of these unoccupied planets in union space, however...
>>
>>36071382
Most likely they are specialized raiding vessels. They seem to have their own slip-drive and are too small to carry any loot.
>>
>>36071331
>Continue to watch
For god's sake, we must not move now!
>>
File: Cosmicrustspores.jpg (118 KB, 540x360)
118 KB
118 KB JPG
What if we took the metal eating space dust... and made a bioweapon out of it?
>>
>>36071331
>Continue to watch
Prepare a few scout corvettes to salvage the Station and the mining equipment.
>>
>>36071382
Oh shit, I just realized these are described exactly like the ships that blew up that Skyl ship 70,000 years ago.
>>
>>36071439
I noticed that too.

I thought those winged things were an incarnation of Them into reality, taking a winged form that mocked the Skyl.

That seems...unlikely now.
>>
>>36071331
>>Continue to watch
>Other
Prep our ships that have cargo room to go looting
>>
>>36071433
Some sort of biological metal-eating acid?
That could work, if we can engineer them to eat metal at a faster rate

>>36071439
Holy shit they are
>>
>>36071331
>>Continue to watch
>Other
Fill in the AI
>>
>>36071433
A bio weapon that consumes metal but doesn't touch organic material? Perfect for crippling the human fleets and taking their occupants prisoner.
>>
>>36071433
Even if we can't up the speed, it would still be good for sabotage and the like
>>
>>36071383
Expansion time, friends.

Also, three ideas:

>We make a Raligha-native speaker; and open up conversations with them.
This could help us pin down exactly what happened to the Gardener.

>Contact/fuck with the Commonwealth.
I really want to know how their FTL works. And if they'd make decent allies.

>Build more spaceships; mount one or more thinkers in each, and cut down on the number of ADV. relays used in our fleet.
Just some streamlining. We only really need one or two mounted in the biggest and toughest ships for us to be able to have direct control. The thinkers are there for bonuses and fightan if the command ships die.
And, of course, masses of boarding drones.

>>36071477
Don't forget we also use metal. Just not as much.
>>
>>36071439

For those with poor memories:
>>33554154
>"Home." It thinks simply. The hologram expands in its scale, to reveal the two suns and the small roasted planet beside it.
>"They found us, shaped us, but we grew too powerful, and eventually, they destroyed us."
>The hologram fizzles out, and is replaced with a recording from the bow of a starship. Small streaking vessels can be seen chased by hundreds of black phantoms, each with pulsing wings.
>>
>>36071502
>>We make a Raligha-native speaker
We already talked to them, genius, and milked their legends for all they were worth. We didn't need a custom adaptation to do it. We just need a stick.

The Commonwealth obviously uses the same FTL as all humans, seeing as how it was discovered and used long before the Colony Wars. I mean there's a reason they're still on terse speaking terms with the Union, they obviously need the Canderon.
>>
>>36071502
>boarding drones.
I was wondering, do we have boarding pods or do the drones just to to jump?
>>
>>36071502
The commonwealth presumably uses the same FTL as the Union, though with total Union control of the only known source of Canderon, the Commonwealth are probably looking for a different form of FTL.
>>
>>36071536
At the moment, we can bring a corvette in to latch onto the enemy's hull and bore its way inside to let them in.

Dedicated ammo for the Railgun that caries drones inside it probably requires further research subjects.
>>
I'm seeing a future where we have to ally with the Unity and all the humans to fight our ancient enemy.
>>
>>36071559
No need to ally when you can expand and make all the humans' war resources into your own instead.
>>
Hey everyone, I just checked the map and realized Dagmar happens to be the closest union held system to our home world. Maybe we should start checking with our prisoners/allies as to how frequent and targeted Ceph raids in the union are.
>>
>>36071331
The O'Brien continues to accelerate backwards out of the system, all the while firing salvo after salvo of railgun slugs and missiles alike. One of the warheads detonates near the center of the approaching formation and they spread out at once as if riding the shockwave. One of the ships spirals out of its position from the blast, and you watch as its wings expand, then fold inward on themselves. The space around the tiny craft twists, and it is gone. The rest of them quickly catch up to the sluggish supply ship, and with a quick salvo of their beams the hull of the O'Brian bubbles and billows like boiling plastic, swelling with tumors of bubbling liquid metal before detonating like a tiny star.

The small black craft scatter in all directions as they bring back their cloaks, and you quickly lose track of them. You see no sign of their FTLs, nor did you detect their arrival...

As you watch the chaos conclude over Gibson, your pod orbits Kaltara slowly. You hear the blaring of distress signals below as the small population of the mining colony rushes to bunkers and shelters. The raid is complete before they manage to sound their alarms.

>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
>Have your pod leave the system and return to the hive
>Send other ships (write in)
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>Other
>>
>>36071588
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>>
>>36071588
>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>>
>>36071588
We can't salvage when all those people could see us do so, surely?
>>
>>36071588
>>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
>>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>>
>>36071552
HQ answered a question about this on his ask page, we'd have to completely cripple a ship before we could board it with our current resources.
>>
>>36071588
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
>>
>>36071559
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
Trade him for info of course
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>Other
Keep watching, prep the corvettes for salvage ops but wait until they leave the system, if they haven't already
>>
>>36071509
Could just be the Ceph are.. I don't know the word, but appearing as their masters as an homage or something.
Like in the same way you'd wear a mask when going to war.

>>36071533
Wouldn't hurt to be able to communicate in a way capable of communicating advanced concepts and ideas.

>>36071542
Fair enough.
>>
>>36071552
Hmm, If we work at making this viable, We could wind up with a lot of ships for relatively little effort and materials
>>
>>36071588
>and you quickly lose track of them. You see no sign of their FTLs, nor did you detect their arrival...

...They're still here. They might be waiting to ambush whoever comes here next to salvage or rescue.
>>
>>36071588
>>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
>>Send other ships (other ships so that the colony can be salvaged as well.)
>>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>>
>>36071588
>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>>
Heavy Warrior
Olfactory: Basic 0N
Acoustic: Basic 0N
Radio: Basic 1N
Psionic: Basic 0N
Mandibles: Combat 1N
Blade: Combat 1N
Arms: Str 1N
Legs: Sprint 1N or Hover 10N 15M
Wings: Moderate 2N if hover is chosen could be not needed
Explosive Glands 2N
Ramjet 16N6M it could work with hover and replace wings
Carapace: Heavy 5N 20M
Size: Medium
Cost: 12N 20M with out wings or hover/ramjet Upkeep:6N
14N 20M WITH WINGS NO HOVER/RAMJET Upkeep:7N
24N 35M No Wings No Ramjet Upkeep:12N
40N 41M NO WINGS Upkeep:20N
42N 41M with wings Upkeep:21N

Warrior
Olfactory: Basic 0
Acoustic: Basic 0
Radio: Basic 1
Psionic: Basic 0
Mandibles: Combat 1
Blade: Combat 1
Arms: Str 1
Legs: Sprint 1
Wings: Moderate 2
Carapace: Combat 3N 10M, Conductive 4N 15M
Size: Medium
Cost: 14N 25M
Upkeep: 7N
A warroir that has good defense agianst lazer weapons as well.
>>
>>36071631
>Wouldn't hurt to be able to communicate in a way capable of communicating advanced concepts and ideas.

...We are. Their language is drum language, we played a drum language. Come on. Pay attention.

>>36071588
No salvage no salvage, whatever else is done.
>>
>>36071588
>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>>
>>36071588
>>Bring in your scout corvettes to salvage
After they finish their work
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
>>
>>36071559
>Unity
Hivemind bros 4 life
>Union
Fuck them, if we can convince them to be meatshields against the Crystals then good
>Commonwealth
No idea what's up with them
>Valen
Same
>Ceph
Their leadership and planet must be purged
>>
>>36071588
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
No way to 'salvaging'! There's nothing there of interest since the Ceph ship that was damaged fled the system. There is only risk.
>>
>>36071615
full text

Q
>How big are the USV Clarke and USV Hope in relation to our hive ships? How difficult would it be to forcibly board them?

A
>Ship classification is based on the average length of the hull, so the clarke is a corvette and is roughly 100 meters in length from the end of its sensor array atop its shield cap to the stern. The Hope was a cruiser clocking in at 200 meters. Boarding a Union ship would require first disabling its gravity drive and shields before you were to send over boarding parties. Once inside, a Union vessel is designed with its inner hull being a zero gravity environment containing cargo bays, weapons, medical facilities, and the bridge, with many of the cargo space in the form of modular pods attached to the exterior, which can be replaced with shuttle or fighter bays, disposable missile racks, drop pod launchers, or other utilities. It can also jettison damaged or otherwise dangerous utility compartments in an emergency.
>At the front of the ship is the shield cap, which is a large umbrella-like shield of armor plating containing a tank of heavy water, which is used as reaction mass for maneuvering thrusters, fuel for emergency auxiliary power generators, drinking water (after being filtered), and as additional radiation shielding. Tucked just beneath the cap is the bridge, the computer core within a jettisonable pod holding the black box, an auxiliary computer system built with obsolete technology, and the primary habitation ring. Corvettes hold only one habitation ring on average, while larger ships may have more, the Hope had two, for example. The rings contain gym facilities for the crew, the mess hall, and officer quarters, and it rotates fast enough on average (depending on the size of the ship) to grant .25Gs.


1/2
>>
>>36071672
>After the hab rings is the drive ring, which is centered around the engineering deck near the middle of the main hull. The rest of the ship behind the drive ring tapers off into a thin tail of communication equipment, docking clamps, and modular scaffolding to hold cargo pods and other utilities. The ships themselves are often rather top heavy because of this, and when they enter an atmosphere will usually drag themselves along with their cap hanging underneath by the drive ring. They land in a similar fashion, with landing struts built into the shield cap.
>The Hive's ships are comparable in length, but not much else. They are often as wide as they are long with the drive wings spreading outwards to either side, and the interior is a complex and cramped network of chambers and tunnels, with no discernable pattern or standard arrangement between your ships. Near the middle, between the drive wings is what could be called a bridge, containing either the thinker or relay of the ship, as well as the central nervous system of the ship itself. The drive wings are spread out at rest, and when initiating a blink they flex inward. At the very back of the ship is a series of thermal vents that vent excess heat into space during operation.
>For reference. >http://img.4plebs.org/boards/tg/image/1411/37/1411376312312.jpg
>Sorry for the wall of text.

2/2
>>
>>36071641
>>36071641
>>36071641
Don't forget this risk, salvagers.

The O'Brien 'detonated' already, so presumably the power tap and all the canderon is already lost.
>>
>>36071657
Any opinions on these guys?
Also any thing you think should be improved?
Also the second one is a proposed upgrade for all of our warriors, since they can wear two types of armour and being laser proof sounds good.
>>
Wait, can we also load up our ships with the many forms of mind altering gas we've recently produced? That should help keep the humans out of the way of our salvaging op and help cover our tracks.
>>
>>36071657
Looks good to me. I'm thinking having some heavy ramjet warriors could be quite useful as interdiction craft if we are invaded.
>>
>>36071588
>>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
In exchange for something maybe.

Don't risk salvaging.
>>
>>36071721
Yeah, but i was wonderinh what to do with them since i figured the heavy warroris would be slow so giving them hover and ram jet would give them speed, but than, should we remove the wings and all that jazz.
>>
>>36071714
or even better, bring along a few parasites for any injured but alive humans. Also, we might collect some fresh DNA samples while we're here.
>>
>>36071706
Ramjet doesn't really work on non-aerodynamic drone chasis and I don't think that a blanket conductive armor addition is economical considering the relative rarity of energy weapons among opposed ground forces.

I do have a heavy armor/conductive armor warrior design kicking around for boarding actions, but I've been holding off for when we've got thermal blades for proper breaching ability.
>>
>>36071706
Expecting it get off the ground in any way is retarded. The ramjets are exclusively applicable to aerodynamic drones and wings won't get a normal warrior drone to do more than hover for a bit. It won't do anything for a heavy warrior.
>>
>>36071706
>since they can wear two types of armour and being laser proof sounds good.
Don't use Combat armor then, it's heavy.

Use a combination of Reactive Armor and Conductive. But we haven't researched combined carapaces yet, let alone reactive armor.
>>
>>36071756
Good thinking, why don't we send a few of our bio tanks along with some of that ,mid altering gas of ours. We can knock me out and implant a few of their workers while were there.
>>
>>36071757
>>36071758
The only reason i have the ramjets its because of Hover 10N 15M, since its the only way i can see them being able to keep up, but it does give up the drones jumping ability.
>>36071757
Yeah it can be a better combo with another armor type.
>>36071772
Armour combinations were unlocked last thread i believe.
>>
>>36071714
And do what, gas... space? If you're suggesting raiding the settlement for resources, better to kill everyone and everything. Which is dumb. There is meaningful profit to be had here.
>>
>>36071588
>Contact Theseus and inform him of the event
>Inform Elizabeth of the raid
Don't salvage, they'll see us
>>
>>36071785
I really don't think right after the destruction of an FTLcomm-carrying ship.

In a system practically next-door to Koenig.

Is a good time to start raiding. The Union will be here within an extremely short time.
>>
>>36071758
>>36071757
>>36071793
Forgot to add, that the ram jets/hover shit is optional its why i have so many different cost/upkeep.
In case people just want warriors with heavy armour.
>>
>>36071794
NO meaningful profit, rather. Darn keys and puny earthling fingers.
>>
>>36071706
Upgrading ALL of our warriors with laser proof carapace would be not only prohibitively expensive but pointless as the only faction that uses energy weapons in an infantry role would be the unity, aside from a handful of union troops. If you want to do that, make a new warrior variant.
>>
>>36071706
You should do this at the end of a thread. You'll get a better response.
>>
>>36071826
true, just throwing out the idea, was mainly banking for a possible heavy warrior variant of our normal warriors, that maybe uses the hover legs+ramjets to travel around.
>>
I've been thinking for a while now we don't really have very good troop/drone movement options. If a drone is at the main hive and needs to get to the prison, It either walks or waits for a shuttle. No air travel, no rapid ground or water. If we created some specialty drones intended for ferrying other drones around should increase productivity. Also, they'd be good for scouting and raiding parties. Right now they land, get kicked off the ship, and have to walk wherever.
>>
>>36071828
True, but i figured we can iron out things while we wait for QM.
>>
>>36071847
They're a lot faster than human legs though.
>>
>>36071808
Just drop the ramjets and wings altogether. You're trying to get tanks to fly. The entire point of heavy armor is that it is by definition vastly inhibiting of any movement, and drones with it move at a snails pace in exchange for enhanced resilience.
>>
File: Diagnosis: Everything.jpg (32 KB, 440x334)
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>tfw you realize Taidarens
>whose males come in come in triplets of comically bickering brothers
>are an elaborate Simpsons reference

QUESTDRONNNNNNE
>>
>>36071808
I don't think hover legs are generally worth it for medium drones. They're only really worth the cost for heavy armored drones because they benefit the most from the speed/mobility boost. However, most circumstances where they could be deployed, it would be better to deploy heavily armored Large drones who benefit even MORE from hover legs.

Heavy armored medium drones seem best suited to CQC in tunnels, boarding ships, breaching bunkers. General assaults against entrenched foes in tight spaces or with collateral objectives that would make large drone deployment unsatisfactory. In those circumstances, the mobility enhancement from hover legs is probably not worth the cost, especially as they increase vulnerability to explosives among other attack vectors.
>>
>>36071847
Walking is no big issue for our drones. They don't suffer fatigue, and are combat-ready even after a 12 hour march.
If we wanted a public-transit system in our hive, we could just make a water-carrying vein thing that drones can get swept into ,and be carried to a destination.
>>
>>36071847
I assume that's what we're researching magnetic levitation for.
>>
>>36071588
A speaker skurries over to where Elizabeth is working on the Skyl console. Several wires and diamond slabs are scattered around her as she guts the destroyed components, which are, unfortunately, many.

"Are you familiar with the location called Gibson station, and the ship Jeremiah O'Brien?" It asks, butchering the pronunciation of the ship's name. She stops her work to look back at your drone.

"Yea, I rode in on the O'Brien on my way to the Clark's port. Why?" After a short moment she adds, "And how do you know them?"

Your speaker says simply, "An attack was witnessed, both were destroyed. They appeared to be Ceph vessels."

Her face hardens as she hears the news. "They weren't the first, and they won't be the last. This is just more proof that we have an enemy in common." She turns back to the console. "Thank you for letting me know." She continues her work, but the joy of discovery is gone.

>Inform Theseus of the raid
>Attempt to sell Theseus the details of the raid
>Other
>>
>>36071875
True, will do.
After looking over ram jets i noticed that they wouldn't be stable with hover so here is the new design.
Heavy Warrior
Olfactory: Basic 0N
Acoustic: Basic 0N
Radio: Basic 1N
Psionic: Basic 0N
Mandibles: Combat 1N
Blade: Combat 1N
Arms: Str 1N
Legs: Hover 10N 15M
Explosive Glands 2N
Carapace: Heavy 5N 20M
Size: Medium
24N 20M
>>
>>36071847
The shuttles seem entirely satisfactory to me so far. What's your problem with them?
>>
>>36071907
>>Inform Theseus of the raid
>>
>>36071907
>>Attempt to sell Theseus the details of the raid
Can we get Shield data maybe?
>>
>>36071907
>Attempt to sell Theseus the details of the raid
>>
>>36071887
Yeah I agree. They're a best fit for a Colossi variant.
>>
>>36071907
>Inform Theseus
>>
>>36071559
Forgot to mention that we might be able to ally with the Skyl as well.

Our enemies must be damn powerful. They destroyed our ancestors when they were at the hight of the power, so we'll definitely need allies.

QM also said in an ask.fm that the humans would be open to trade if they knew we were an advanced civilization, so they might not be as bad as we think. Just got off to a wrong start.
>>
>>36071861
>>36071889
The idea here is Drones can spend less time walking to and fro and more time actually doing stuff.
>>
>>36071912
It should be noted that the hover legs would be able to lift a heavy drone, or even a large heavy drone, but it would be rather slow. Essentially a hover tank.
>>
>>36071887
Well lets give our heavy drones the hover legs than and just have a wingless heavy warrior drone.why do we have a scorpion tale as an option again?
>>
>>36071922
That might cost too much. I guess the value of this depends on: has Unity seen recordings of Ceph raids before?

We can ask him for data on locations of Valen jump gates.
>>
>>36071912
Boom.

Boarder
Olfactory: Basic 0
Acoustic: Basic 0
Radio: Basic 1
Psionic: Basic 0
Mandibles: Combat 1
Blade: Combat 1
Arms: Str 1
Legs: Sprint 1
Carapace: Heavy 5N 20M
Carapace2: Conductive 4N 15M
Oxygen Recycler: 8N
Size: Medium
Cost: 22N 35M
Upkeep: 11N
>>
>>36071879
I thought they were a donald duck reference.
>>
>>36071944
Would it be faster than sprint/endurance legs?
>>
>>36071944
Slower than the current legs, though? This is all speaking relatively.
>>
>>36071907
>Attempt to sell Theseus the details of the raid
Let him know it happened then offer the footage or other details, for a price.
>>
>>36071907
>Attempt to sell Theseus the details of the raid
>>
>>36071907
>Inform Theseus of the raid
>Other
Sell Bio-data we have built up to Theseus. If Theseus wants details, we can try to sell those too.
>>
>>36071907
>Inform theseus of the basics, and offer to sell him details.
>>
>>36071921
>>36071922
>>36071929
>>36071939
No, guys, this is a bad idea.
He'll inevitably ask "how come your ship wasn't destroyed?"
And then he may realize we have cloaking or a cloaking-like system.

>>36071943
In that case, why don't we just lay more drones?
The Ancient Hives were all about having literal billions of drones.

>>36071955
Colossi can have hover legs, although I don't see why.
As long as our Shocktroopers still exist, a heavy armor drone is fine.
And scorpion tails exist because we wanted extra weapon mounts.
>>
>>36071879
what dude the reference is older then the simpsons
>>
>>36071944
This is why I want ion thrusters. A combination should be fairly nimble even for big heavy things.
>>
>>36071922
>>36071929
These are pretty much our greatest allies here. Don't you think trying to sell the information of a raid they probably already know about reflect negatively on us?
>>
>>36071907
>Inform Theseus of the raid
No need to try and sell everything. Quid pro quo can be info exchange as well. We inform him of events, he informs us.
>>
>>36071994
Isn't Theseus our ally?
>>
>>36071972
Yes, hover legs on a large heavy drone would still be faster than other large heavy drones, especially over rough terrain, which hover legs completely ignore. They would not be as fast as, say, a lightly armored large drone with sprinting legs on an open plain in optimum running conditions.
>>
>>36071915
Namely that Surface-to-Orbit ships are our only means of rapidly moving large numbers of drones and materials. We can make cheaper drones that don't need to get to orbit.
>>
>>36071955
Let's not, they're weaker to incoming fire than the other leg models and thus make the design of a walking tank warrior vastly weaker.
>>
>>36072019
Yes, but we want to hide our cloaking power level, if possible.
If he knows we have cloaking, he might start to get rightly paranoid.
And we don't want that.
>>
Now that m00t has added the number of unique IPs per thread in the Thread Statistics, I'm pleasantly surprised that this quest has 52 unique posters. I honestly expected 2 dozen at most.
>>
>>36072019
People refuse to trust him in any capacity.

I still hold hope that one day we can merge with Theseus.
>>
>>36072027
I'm not certain of that. Certainly not with our current thruster technology. Our shuttles are impressively inexpensive for what they are, as it is.
>>
>>36071992
I'll back this
>>
>>36071994
Dude, He saw us torch the Hope on the raid on Raligha.

We were cloaked then. He knows about the cloaking. Obviously.
>>
>>36072052
I for one just don't want to give him stuff for free when he still has info that we can get like Sheild tech and other things whatnot.
>>
>>36072052
It's called Hive Queen Quest, not synthesis quest.

The royal will is pure and inviolable.
>>
>>36072019
That he is. You know, HQ mentioned he's much slower than us at analyzing alien life, but much faster at interacting with human tech. Perhaps we could establish a more stable trading arrangement based in this? It would make sense for allies to play off their respective strengths.
>>
>>36072093
We won't merge with them, obviously. They merge with us!
>>
>>36072110
>HQ
You mean QD?
>>
>>36072075
Not super related, but I have all of the boners over our plasma lance's increased range.
>>
>>36072110
>HQ
That's at least the second time you called him that. >>36071615
>>
>>36072110
Stop reading my mind. I was considering extending an offer to analyze any biological samples he has on hand.

It would work the same as his offer to accelerate our research. We do it in exchange for seeing the results ourselves. The potential gain is seeing new drone adaptations.
>>
>>36072119
>>36072135
Yes shit you're right. My laptop is out so I'm using an iPad right now. I keep screwing up my posts on this thing.
>>
>>36071907
You send out a ping to Theseus and he quickly responds.
"Would you be interested in the details of a Ceph raid on a Union station?"

Theseus sits for a moment before responding. "Yes. Tactical data is always appreciated." He pauses another moment as he waits for information from Zero One. "I would be willing to share some of our own technical data on what we know of their ship designs in exchange."

>Agree
>Alter offer
>Refuse
>Other

>>36072044
Same here, actually. I was expecting around 26 or so at most.
>>
>>36072155
I'm not so sure we ought to show him how our drones work or are designed, but an exchange of info into human tech like shields or quantum threads could make things much, much easier for us in the long run.
>>
>>36072198
>>Agree
Eh, we can always order shields online.
>>
>>36072198
>>Agree
>>
>>36072198
>>Agree
Whats this thread statistic stuff?
>>
>>36072198
>Agree
>>
>>36072198
>>Agree
Just what we wanted anyway.

Has the Union obtained salvaged Ceph vessels?
>>
>>36072198
>>Agree
>>
>>36072198
>Agree
>>
>>36072198
>>Agree

>>36072225
they've added some more stats to the bottom right of a page when viewing a thread. Mouse-over to see what's what.
>>
>>36072110
Let's go full Babylon 5. Build a massive space station for trade and diplomacy. Everyone welcome, Unity, Union, Commonwealth, Valen, Skyl, Ceph refugees, Taidaran, anyone else. Offer home for any other refugees. Create an alliance. Build massive alliance fleet to take on Ceph and black crystal aliens. Search the galaxy for more allies against evil black crystal menace.
>>
>>36072198
>>Agree
>>
>>36072248
Let's not.
>>
>>36072264
I like your style, kid.
>>
>>36072248
Perhaps save that for later. We still haven't really come out in the public eye of most of those races. If things turn out okay then yeah maybe. Otherwise no. Not right now.
>>
>>36072248
One step at a time anon.
>>
>>36072248
Only if it's shaped like a massive penis.
>>
>>36072061
Here's what I got for a simple troop mover:
Hovercraft
=======
Olfactory Basic 0
Acoustic Basic 0
Radio None 0
Psionic Basic 0
Mandible None 0
Arm None 0
Legs Hover 10 15
Utility Honey Pot 4
Carapace Basic 0
Chassis Single Purpose 0
Size Large X2
Cost 28N 15M
Upkeep 14N

A shuttle is 50N and 150M with upkeep 25N. While not a significant improvement, an improvement none the less.
>>
>>36072198
> Agree
know thine enemy.
"Have you developed ways to detect them?
Wouldn't we have ways to figure out the cloaking fields? We reverse engineered them, so we should know/be able to figure out what it Doesnt cloak. Some sort of heat reading or subtle ions the field emits we could adjust our sensors to read...
>>
>>36072198
>Same here, actually. I was expecting around 26 or so at most.
It doesn't even count lurkers. It just gets the people that make a post.
>>
>>36072198
>Agree

You are better than you think QD
>>
>>36072298
There is none except shoot a million bullets until you hit something and break their stealth.

Or waiting until they're forced to vent heat or take damage.
>>
>>36072198
"Acceptable. Have you managed to acquire a Ceph vessel?"

"No, have you?" He asks eagerly. "Even Rogers has managed to keep his Ceph drive away from us. It is quite frustrating. It would be worth a great amount.

>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
>No, the drive was never recovered
>Other
>>
>>36072281
The matter of capacity must be considered. Shuttles can carry more than double the drones.
>>
>>36072281
Can we even design single use chassis like that? Even if we can I don't think there's much need for a vehicle for drones right now, they're legs are just that good. Maybe as a truck for moving ammo or resources would work, though.
>>
>>36072330
>>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
what would you give us for the data
>>
>>36072330
>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
>>
>>36072312
Maybe we just need to look over our cloaking fields more closely, something that we've missed.
>>
>>36072330
>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
>>
>>36072330
>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
"We suspect it to be too dangerous to use."

>>36072345
We're not trading it. By supply and demand, it's far far too valuable. He'd have to give us, like, everything he knows.
>>
>>36072330
>No, the drive was never recovered
I love you Theseus, but until we can impress upon you the dangers of the Crystals, no looky.
On the other hand, we could let the Unity do the dangerous experimenting and they would be the ones who'll attract the Cyrstal's ire.
>>
>>36072330
>Other
"It is not feasible. Or safe."
>>
>>36072330
>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
>>
>>36072330
>>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
But it is not for sale. The hive thinks it is best used as the engine for the Angel.

Best not tell him about the Them just yet.
>>
>>36072330
> Other
it works but brings with it a great danger that destroyed sentient life 70,000 years ago and even before.

Tell them of the Crystal monsters, dont need to go too in-depth
>>
>>36072334
You've got me there. Shuttles are 30 meters, large drones are 20. It might still be worth considering for raiding / scouting, but it'd need some tweaking.
>>
>>36072330
>>No, the drive was never recovered

>>36072368
In order to experiment on the slip drive, Theseus would first need to master psionics, which we'd have to trade to him first.

I don't think we should do any of those things just yet. I mean we gotta save these valuable technologies for a rainy day fund, I mean what if we really need Unity to risk their neck for us? Only the most exotic of tech will make them agree.
>>
>>36072368
Neat idea, but Theseus would have to know about tachyons to actually do any real experimentation on the Ceph drive, and we've been deliberately keeping that tech out of everyone's hands as much as possible.

For good reason.
>>
>>36072330
>>No, the drive was never recovered
We have no way to replicate the crystals. You know he'll want at least one
>>
>>36072330
>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
>>
>>36072413
He doesn't know there are such a thing as void shards in the slip drive, going by what QD said in the thread where they were introduced.
>>
>>36072330
>>No, the drive was never recovered
>>
>>36072368

Here's the order of revelations we should do, because otherwise he'd be able to figure out things himself. He knows the Skyl were uplifted by the void shards.

If he finds out Ceph slip drive is powered by them, he can rapidly infer that the Ceph too were uplifted by the same dark intelligence.

So, we trade him knowledge of Ceph society first. Which we can delve into Coil's memories for.
>>
>>36072330
>Yes, the hive has acquired a slip drive
>>
>>36072431
Sure, but there's no point in telling him we have a slip drive if we aren't willing to use it in tech trading.
>>
>>36072330
>No, the drive was never recovered
>>
>>36072365
>>36072392
Good idea. We should warn him.
>>
>>36072472
The point is to not lie to him, apparently.

Because we sure aren't gonna trade it to him yet.
>>
>>36072472
We should offer a joint research venture to examine and figure out the drive in neutral territory.
>>
>>36072501
We already figured out the drive.

The research subject is done. Fin. End of line.
>>
>>36072514
To add: We also know it's way 2spooky.
I almost think we should throw the things into a sun, or deep space.
>>
>>36072501

We already know everything we need to know about the drive.

Don't fucking touch the drive, or giant rape crystals will devour your planet.
>>
>>36072514
Theseus may offer us a new angle of input on the subject, and it would allow us to keep tabs on the drive rather than handing it over, even if we don't learn anything. Even having Theseus come to the same conclusions as us would be helpful, peer review is important and all.
>>
>>36072528
They're fine if they're not used, probably. We might be able to learn more about them and No Space by starting the Broken Crystal research.
>>
>>36072501
It's fucking dangerous, especially to us. It's literally anathema to us. We should not be using it, and neither should anyone else. Literally playing with fire.

>>36072528
That might even make it worse!
>>
>>36072546

Rule 1 of dealing with anything alien.

Kill it and dissect it before you do try anything with a live one.
>>
>>36072538
No he won't. He is even less qualified to research the void shards than the hive.

>peer review
...This is a game. Research is a mechanic. When the bar fills up and it switches to 'unlocked' status, that's it. It's a binary state. There's no chance to get anything wrong.
>>
>>36072538
Simply interacting with the drive requires the manipulation of tachyons, which Theseus cannot.
>>
>>36072312
Why not puff a bunch of teeny tiny spores that cling to solid stuff? So instead of trying to see where the invisible man is, just do a Mr. Bean style paint bomb. Shit gets more visible then.
>>
>>36072546
>probably
It's rattlin me bones, over here.

Although, I'm not sure how much the White Crystals could tell us about The Threat or No Space.
That said, it's good to catch up on spooky tech.

>>36072552
>might make it even worse
I feel pretty confident in the 'shoot it into space' plan.

>>36072572
He can't yet.
And we don't want him to.
>>
>>36072574
That won't work with the distances and sizes involved in open space.
>>
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>>36072528
Pic related.
Also, that will likely make it so much worse.
>>
>>36072574
Creating what is effectively an artificial nebula would require an extremely vast amount of mass.
>>
>>36072563
>>36072572

OK. Look at it like this, we show him the drive offering to research it jointly. He has no idea what he's looking at, we pretend to have no idea what it is either. We help up our end, and we just misdirected him and he may later miss out on the correlation between our psionic communication and these crystals when shit hits the fan in 20 threads.
>>
>>36072574
Space is, like, really big.
>>
>>36072612
That sounds like he'd offer absolutely nothing of value to that joint research effort. Yay.
>>
>>36072612
But to what purpose?

...Actually, I wonder if any of Theseus's sensors can even tell a void shard exists. All our sensors agree there's nothing there, except for our own eyes.
>>
>>36072633
He just said
>It would be worth a great amount
I'm sure he would be willing to to offer us something good for the privileged of examining it. Hell this is the most excited he has been in a long time.
>>
>>36072612
No, that's stupid. There's a threat to all life on the horizon, and the sooner Theseus knows that this is coming the better.

We should use his question about the drive to tell him that yes we have it and no he can't look at it (he will be incapable of detecting it), and that it is literally capable of destroying planets if used incorrectly or turned against its users by its creators.
>>
>>36072611
>>36072599
We don't need anything that extensive. More like a space dust cloud.
...wait, gives me an idea. Miniature disposable drones the size of micrometeorites, designed to only transmit their whereabouts. We spew a hundred of these, track their locations, and see if any of them bounce off solid stuff we didn't pick up on our sensors. Maybe make them sticky as well.
Of course, this is designed for a close-range detection system, so you can't use this method to detect a cloaked Ceph from, say, a planet's distance.
But if we have seen their tell-tale distortion, we can saturate an area with these mini tracking spores to make them not so invisible.
>>
>>36072675
You are, really, really, really underestimating the size of space. Or your post is b8.
>>
>>36072675
Consider the scale of space battles mate.

how much would it take to even cover a single cubic kilometer?
>>
>>36072675
Like throwing a bag of flour in a dungeon, brilliantly simple. But wouldn't that risk invalidating the advantage of our own cloaks?
>>
>>36072675
Anon, space is REALLY, REALLY , REALLY big. The mass of microdrones required for thousand cubic kilometers would be about the size of our entire hive. And in the scale of space engagements, a thousand kilometers^3 is nothing.
>>
>>36072330
"Yes." You say, and before you finish the pod over Zero One senses it explode in activity. "But it is not available for trade." Once again Zero One erupts into a frenzy.

"I implore you to reconsider-"

"It is highly unstable, unpredictable, and excessively dangerous. Initial testing nearly destroyed the hive. It is too dangerous to use."

A panel in the Clarke blows a fuse. "More so than a Power tap?"

"It is far more volatile."

"Very well. That is unfortunate, but understandable."

Theseus sends you the requested data, and you in turn transmit the recording of the raid. He seems satisfied enough as you look through the files.

The Ceph are a rather mysterious race, due in large part to their incredibly fluid culture, changing in its structure continuously. Leaders change titles on a daily basis and intelligence becomes obsolete within hours. The only thing that seems to have any consistency is their ships, which have never seen any recorded variation in design or loadout. The ships themselves, commonly known as Void Cutters, or directly translated as "sabres of nothing" are among the smallest space craft to be documented. They are capable of cloaking themselves for an unknown period of time, potentially indefinitely, and judging by observations of the Hel's Angel, has an interstellar speed between six, and forty seven light years per day, with seemingly random variations in travel time. Of the few who have traveled in the craft with Lyle, willingly or otherwise, of those who were interviewed all reported disorientation, migraines, and the "feeling of being watched."

External observations of Ceph craft indicate that the drive is composed of between two and four black crystalline wings that appear to range in width between a planck and ten meters, and range in length between one meter to over five hundred kilometers in the most extreme recorded case. The size and shape of the wings appear to be related to the velocity of the craft.
cont.
>>
>>36072712
>>36072694
>>36072686
Seems like you guys didn't read the second part of that post.
>Of course, this is designed for a close-range detection system, so you can't use this method to detect a cloaked Ceph from, say, a planet's distance.

>>36072709
Of course there is that option. But the spores are small enough to hopefully slip through their sensors - the act of releasing them is a cloak-breaker deal though.
>>
>>36072730
>an interstellar speed between six, and forty seven light years per day,
Aha. So not nearly as instantaneous after all.

In fact even at 47 lightyears a day, it's actually slower than the Warp Drive.
>>
>>36072686
>>36072694
>>36072712
If we can detect their relative location in the sky by the slightest distortion of starlight, perhaps we could use something like this to find larger Ceph vessels. But not full drones, that'd just be to expensive, but maybe some kind of highly radar visible inanimate matter would work.
>>
>>36072730
>A panel in the Clarke blows a fuse. "More so than a Power tap?"
Oh Theseus, you and your practical demonstrations.
>>
>>36072749
It would make more sense to pulse a magnetic field or something than to throw drones about the place.
>>
What are the speeds of the Warp and Blink drives?
>>
>>36072772
>implying they aren't planning on stealing it now.
>>
>>36072762
>location in the sky by the slightest distortion of starlight,

I think that lensing effect might have only occurred when they initially slipped into the system. It was a product of the slip drive, rather than of a cloaked ship that is already in the system.
>>
>>36072788
Read the pastebin.
http://pastebin.com/z4yZdEbK
The Blink drive speed is infinite.

The warp drive speed varies with the ship. The Clarke travels 2 lightyears per hour.
>>
>>36072749
>a planets distance
Define what you mean.
Do you mean the radius of a planet? Within its orbit? Because both are really big.
The only reason NASA and the like are having issues with space junk is because that shit occupies prime real estate, and the things involved can't change course and leave the gravity well casually.

Detecting Ceph by pulling the 'sand and invisibleguy' trick is just not worth it. We're far better off detecting shimmers, and preparing our anuses.

>>36072788
Our Blink Drive is instant.
You just get a Bugautist to do the calculations, acquire Helium3, and bam, you're 5 lightyears away.

>>36072789
We should try to figure out how to impress upon him the danger of the slip drives.
>>
>>36072789

Nah, Theseus acknowledges the fact that when we say shit is too dangerous to work with, knowing full well that he is an AI, it's far too god damn dangerous to work with.

At most, he'll approach us about it later after having built a specialized facility to contain it should something happen, it wouldn't be enough mind you, but that's what'll probably happen maybe.
>>
>>36072810
>Helium3
Hydrogen-3.
>>
Who here thins we should make a tachyon disrupter and aim it at the slip drive to see what happens?
>>
>>36072775
Doesn't the cloak operate by mimicking every kind of EM radiation around it? If we could find some exception to that rule we should exploit the hell out of it, of course.
>>
>>36072807
>>36072810
Blink has to have an effective maximum speed value. There's no way it can indefinitely continuously port infinite distances.
>>
>>36072839
I didn't say infinite distances. I said infinite speed.
>>
>>36072839

The faster it goes, the harder it is to calculate where you end up.

That's the limitation.

5-10 light years? No problem, 10-20? Bit difficult but okay, past that? It gets really hard to figure out exactly how far you have gone in the finger snap.
>>
>>36072825
Why give away our capabilities?
>>
>>36072839
>>36072845

Wasn't it like instantaneous and relatively accurate for 25 light years, at which point, you start doing rolls? It's still instant but the accuracy becomes worse past 25LY
>>
Hive Queen Quest is so damn awesome.
>>
>>36072869
To whom, the Crystals? It is to be believed that the Skyl already tried deploying these things against them.
>>
>>36072839
This:
>>36072845

From a purely physics point of view, the Blink Drive achieves greater than C velocity in less than a millisecond, and then drops down to a velocity that is appropriate for the local part of the galaxy, again in less than a millisecond.

The distances are kind of infinite, but it's like firing a FTL shotgun, so we're limited to jumps of certain distance for practical reasons.

>>36072871
I thought it was 5.

Either way, it's 5 of the hexes.
>>
>>36072730
And their weapon loadout? Pure energy beams and using the blade wings as melee weapons?
>>
>>36072730
The primary, and as yet recorded only weapon of the Void Cutter is a single projected energy beam mounted to the nose of the Cutter's small hull. While no sample has been obtained, its observed effects are consistent with a concentrated neutrino beam. Shields have been observed to have minimal effect, while armor shows little to no mitigating effects against it. From collected battle data, it has shown to never exceed a firing rate of one three second beam being fired every ten seconds, and an effective range of fifty thousand kilometers. It is unknown if the beam itself is capable of harming a target beyond this range, but it has never been observed as being fired past it.

No recognizable armor is apparent on the hull itself, however no matter how damaged the ship appears to be, it is always observed engaging its drive moments after receiving damage, even if the damage appears to have caused critical damage, or even destroyed the hull itself. It is believed the drive itself contains a failsafe to accomplish this.

The true speed of the Void Cutter is unknown, but it has never been observed performing a maneuver of less than 50,000 gravities, or more than 150,000. Similarly, its estimated interstellar speed limitations are based solely on the observations of the Hel's Angel, and are to be considered suspect.


It is an interesting read, and includes numerous pictures and videos of encounters with Ceph raiders, most of which appear to have been pilfered from Union databases.


Elsewhere, the Skyl fleet has increased its numbers, improving the remaining ships to the newer version, and increasing its numbers to 32 ships. Your pod watches the last of the salvageable resources vanish into the flagship, and you detect a buildup of energy within it.

>Attempt contact (how)
>Blink your fleet in
>Do nothing
>Other
>>
>>36072901
>Attempt Contact
>radio
>"Skyl fleet; the Hive wishes to speak."
>>
>>36072901
>Attempt contact
>>
>>36072901
>Attempt contact (how)
through Thesus
>>
>>36072901
>>Attempt contact
>>Try to get the pod to get close
>>
>>36072901
>>Attempt contact (how)
By doing this:
>>Blink your fleet in
>>
>>36072894
They might have come up with countermeasures, its been 70000 years afterall. Better play it safe than be sorry. We need to observe what thet do, investigate their capabilities, design countermeasures, build up a proper fleet, and then you can start doing new weapons testing against them.
>>
>>36072901
>>Attempt contact (how)
>>
>>36072901
>>Attempt contact (how)
>>Blink your fleet in
Don't reveal the Pod is in the system. Only communicate by radio transmission from the other ships.

The Pod should sneak closer to be sure it can pursue them through the wormhole if they flee.
>>
>>36072916
Backing.
You know, the Skyl fleet kind of reminds me of us.
>>
>>36072901
>>Attempt contact (how)
jump something that isn't the pod in uncloaked, don't want to give it away
friendly, curious tone
>>
>>36072916
We shouldn't break the Pod's stealth if we want to be able to stalk them if they go "screw you guys I'm going home".

They might blast the Pod out of the sky if they know it's there.
>>
>>36072901
>Attempt contact
Hive wishes to make an offer.
>>
>>36072916
Supporting this.
Get our fleet on standby to blink in should they not respond amicably, then repeat when they get there.
>>
>>36072949
>jump something that isn't the pod in uncloaked
Yeah this.

...the rest of the fleet should stay pre-spooled up just in case they need to join it.

Although they already saw the corvettes cloak back in the original system.
>>
>>36072901
Wait, 32? That's a lot up from 20.
>>
>>36072901
>Attempt contact (how)
Send them images of Ceph raid.
>>
>>36072977
this
>>
>>36072977
If this doesn't get their attention nothing will.
>>
>>36072901
this >>36072916
and >>36072977
>>
>>36072977
Oh what the hell, it will get a better reception than just talking to us.
>>
>>36072901
>>Blink your fleet in
Don't forget to load 200 warriors on a corvette in case we want to board. and the wasps on another corvette.
>>
>>36072901
Several of your idle ships blink into the nearby space and attempt radio contact.

"The hive wishes to speak with you."

The surrounding fleet fire maneuvering thrusters and spread out, their hulls reorienting to point themselves outwards in a defensive sphere around the flagship. The energy continues to build.

The fleet does not fire, but they do not reply. You transmit the images of the Ceph raid you had just witnessed.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3.
>>
>>36072977
Amend that, blink in a Corvette then send images. Keep pod hidden. Then try to negotiate for info on enemies. Offer aid in destroying black crystal shard menace.
>>
Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>36073027
>>
Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>36073027
Hi guys.
>>
Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>36073027
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>36073027
>>
Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>36073027
>>
>>36073040
Welp.
>>
>>36073040
>>36073038
>>36073039
>>36073041
>>36073042
shit
>>
Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>36073027
>100
>>
On noes
>>
>>36073039
Why would you delete this, it doesn't even make the roll better.
>>
Please don't tell they'll shoot the messenger
Or go into a rampage in Dagmar
>>
>>36073027
Writing.
>>
>>36073082
We're fucked aren't we?
>>
>>36073079
They don't even know where that is.
>>
Shit
>>
>>36073082
Man I hope those images we transmitted had clever filenames relating to Mutual Foe
>>
>>36072977
>>
>>36073085
Worst case scenario, we lose a few ships. Hey, they're replaceable, right?
>>
Warm up the fleet boys, this is about to get messy.
>>
We're not their enemy so we should be ok. I hope.
>>
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This suspense is killing me
>>
Hello? Where is every one?
>>
>>36073213
Sudoku'd after making such horrible rolls
>>
>>36073213
waiting faggot
>>
>>36073213
>>36073221
Shh, Maybe if we're really quiet nothing bad will happen!
>>
>>36073213
They're cloaked.

You are already surrounded.
>>
File: committing sudoku.png (50 KB, 145x200)
50 KB
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>>36073213
Waiting
>>
File: 6461616494.gif (1001 KB, 500x281)
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>>36073027
As you broadcast the signal to the Skyl fleet the ships the fleet begins sending its own signal, another military code, followed by a series of multifrequency scans.

And then your double over in agony. Your ships flicker in and out before you can no longer feel their thoughts. You writhe in agony in your throne from what feels like white hot knives piercing your mind.

In M-199, amid the debris of the shattered world, your pod detects a tear in space forming not far from its location. As the shapes emerge your pod is hit with a wailing cry of mental anguish, and you quickly lose sight of its thoughts. As it is lost, the small fleet your deployed begin to report in once more. They realign their formations and attempt to tell you what had happened. All their simple minds can determine is that they were in agonizing pain, and that they were alone. Their minds cling to yours in terror, and you feel they wish to return home. You have them perform a quick scan of the sunless world and detect no Skyl ships or usable resources, and so you oblige their request.

Through the searing pain of the pod in M-199 you try to make out the events unfolding. You feel the pod careening through the debris until it winks out of your perception, its fate unknown.

>Send a pod with a thinker to M-199
>Send other ships with thinkers (write in)
>Send nothing
>Other
>>
>>36073236
>Send a pod with a thinker to M-199
Oh fucking god
>>
>>36073236
>>Send a pod with a thinker to M-199
They jammed us
>>
>>36073236
>send a pod with a thinker to M-199
>tell the thinker:
>"Don't fuck this up."

But wow, psionic jamming is some hardcore shit.
>>
>>36073236
Jesus christ. Alone? This is terrifying. I was really hoping we could be friendly with them.
>Send a pod with a thinker to M-199
Perhaps we should try to condition him to being alone.
>>
>>36073236
>Send a pod with a thinker to M-199
>>
>>36073273
We should seriously consider popping hybrid humans out of tubes to serve as scout crews for us.
They're probably less likely to get BTFO when hit with jamming, and more likely to be able to take independent action when SHTF.
>>
>>36073289
That isn't any better than Quantum Thinkers whatsoever.
>>
>>36073303
Human minds might be more adjusted to individuality?
>>
QD never said what that Skyl machine that Vaughn is now tearing apart is actually called, research subject-wise.

What's the name of the research subject and how fast is it, with and without Vaughn?

If it's just Skyl computers, I guess it could help her write a disabling virus.
>>
>>36073236
>Send a pod with a thinker

You quickly have your pod return and tow it from orbit with a shuttle. It arrives in your hangar as a worker carries one of your thinkers into the waiting pod. You can feel its terror as its coming mission becomes clear, but it is still more than willing to fulfill its orders.

>Order it to find and bring back its brother pod
>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
>Other
>>
>>36073289
downside: would require much larger ships
upside: would have a much wider range of autonomy and functions.
>>
>>36073338
>>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
Go brave one, for the Hive!
>>
[desire to nuke the skyle intensifies]
>>
>>36073338
>Order it to find and bring back its brother pod
>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
Both, in this order.
>>
>>36073338
>>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
Brave little one.
>>
>>36073236
>Send a pod with a thinker to M-199
>>
>>36073338
>order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
>and if it sees its brother pod, tell us
>>
>>36073338
>>Order it to find and bring back its brother pod
>>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
>>
>>36073338
>Order it to find and bring back its brother pod
>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
This order.
>>
>>36073338
>>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
after gathering what info it can
>Order it to find and bring back its brother pod
pods are expendable, that info is extremely important
>>
>>36073338
>Order it to find and bring back its brother pod
>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
Both
>>
>>36073393
Counterpoint: an inactive pod is a liability, information can be gained from later scouting missions.
>>
>>36073338
priority:
>Order it to observe and report on the Skyl fleet
if it doesn't involve risk
>Order it to find and bring back its brother pod
>>
How would we protect against psionic jamming?
>>
>>36073352
Nukes might be unlocked next thread.

Still, we need that drive ship mostly intact.
>>
>>36073416
No apparent method. You can't.

You can only trust your ships and the Thinkers onboard to follow your orders in your absence.
>>
>>36073338
"Will leave mother... Will come back! Return soon to mother!"

As you tow the pod back to orbit you sooth its mind with your thoughts.

You give it its command. Remain hidden, and observe the Skyl fleet. Attempt to find its brother and return it home if possible.

It leaps to the task. "Will find brother! Return soon!"
It blinks away, out of your sight.

You find it odd that the things you have no control over are things you most worry over, but you still have many other tasks to do before the day is done, and worrying over your lost pod will do nothing to aid it.

>Design drone/ship
>Lay drone/ship
>Initiate construction of orbital pylon (where)
>Other
>>
>>36073429
>>36073416
Quantum communications
>>
>>36073433
D'aww. Our children are so adorable.
>>
>>36073433
So, methinks building more fleet is a good idea. We don't have any Cruisers yet and they aren't that much more expensive. anyone wanna take a stab at designing one?

also page 9 warning
>>
>>36073448
Didn't someone submit designs for cruisers last thread, we should dig that one up
>>
>>36073433
Yo.

??? Cruiser
Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Armor: Standard
Spinal: Linear particle beam 400M
Fixed: Railgun 200M
Turret: Cyclotron 150M [xxx: replace with nukes when atomics is researched?]
Rapid damage control 30N 40M
Swarm x1: 600N 300M
Stealth field 100N 300M
Cost: 3390M 1930N
Upkeep: 965N

With Armor: Heavy --
Cost: 5390M 2430N
Upkeep: 1215N

With Armor: Reflex --
Cost: 3390M 2930N
Upkeep: 1465N

We can afford to queue up bunch of one of these.

I say Reflex armor.
>>
>>36073441
except that's what we're doing with out psionic communication. Uses Tachyons. And the Skyl jams that. Unless there's another method of quantum communications.
>>
>>36073467
Quantum comms uses quantum entanglement not tachyons
>>
>>36073465
Sure. I'll second
>>
>>36073467
Union FTLcomm doesn't use tachyons.
>>
>>36073457
here they are: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/35922149/#p35923663
>>
>>36073433
Inform Theseus about the Skyl. Trade for stuff.

>>Lay drone/ship
More pods. Enough for a all the coordinates beyond the nebula. We really need to find out what's going on there asap. Also more pods for every human system not yet covered, both Union and Commonwealth.
A few corvettes for standby in home system in case of attack?

>>Initiate construction of orbital pylon (where)
Not sure where but we need this. I'm thinking a different system to our home system so that we try to remain hidden there.
>>
>>36073448
>>36073457
wait found it

Comand Cruiser
Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Rapid Damage Control 30N 40M
Swarm 600N 300M
Heavy Armor 500N 2000M
Spinal: 2 Linear Particle Beam 400M
Fixed: 6 Linear Particl Beam, 4 Rail Gun 200M
Turrets: Cyclitron Particle Beam 150M
Relay 200N 250M
1 X Quantum Thinker 10N
4 X Thinker 24N
Standard Compliment
1 X Shock Trooper (Sting Caster) 27N 28M
10 X Warrior (Sting Caster) 100N 250M
10 X Warrior (Fire Spray) 100N 250M
40 X Warrior 400M 400M
10 X Wasp (Sting Caster) 100N 150M
Cost
Subtotal 2764N 5340M (1382 upkeep)
Standard Comliment 727N 1078M (313 Upkeep)
Total 3491N 6418M

Fleet Cruiser
Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Rapid Damage Control 30N 40M
Swarm 600N 300M
Heavy Armor 500N 2000M
Spinal: 2 Linear Particle Beam 400M
Fixed: 6 Linear Particl Beam, 4 Rail Gun 200M
Turrets: Cyclitron Particle Beam 150M
1 X Quantum Thinker 10N
Standard Comliment
10 X Warrior (Sting Caster) 100N 250M
40 X Warrior 400M 400M
10 X Wasp (Sting Caster) 100N 150M
Cost
Subtotal 2540N 5190M (1270 upkeep)
Standard Comliment 600N 800M (300 Upkeep)
Total 3140N 5990M
>>
>>36073478
Ah yeah, quantum entanglement.
What are the pros and cons of this method of communications?
>>
>>36073494
Fragile and slow and low on bandwidth. Destroy one end and the other becomes useless
>>
>>36073494
Pro's are that it wouldn't be jammed.
Con's are that it's fragile, and that it only works in pairs.
>>
>>36073494
It's useless to us.
>>
>>36073433
>>36073489
2 Command Cruisers
4 Fleet Cruisers

that'll give us what we need as a base of 1 CC and 2 FC
>>
>>36073465
It would likely make more sense to replace fixed mounts with missile weapons than turrets.

>>36073494
Pro is it's impossible to intercept (so far as we know). Con is it's apparently expensive.
>>
>>36073494
Haven't you... read the quest?
>>
>>36073433
Lay:
10 Assassins
19 Healing tanks
-Clone some Skyl and some humans killed in the assault on the temple
50 Excavators
20 Space pods
Build:
33 Orbital batteries
Pylon (in the system where we first found the skyl ship)
>>
I'm a bit confused. These Skyl are no longer under the control of the black crystals, right?
>>
>>36073530
It's robots, mate.
>>
>>36073489
Didn't QD have a policy against splitting weapon mount classes up between different weapons?
>>
>>36073530
They developed the psionic jamming after they got free to fight against our race.
>>
>>36073433

Seconded >>36073525
>>
>>36073530
No, these Skyl ships are controlled by a tightass Skyl AI who still thinks the war is going on
>>
>>36073524
A d-grade is, but the higher one could be used as a fallback system.
>>
>>36073530
How are you confused?

Didn't you read when we met this drive ship?
>>
>>36073527
He does this all the time, but at least he doesn't often advance retarded ideas.
>>
>>36073489
Seconding this.
>>
>>36073525
our current total upkeep is ~2k. Each cruiser's is ~1.2k. our income is significantly positive though. I'd say 1 Command 3 Fleet or just 3 fleet for now.
>>
>>36073534
Probably to make the crunching easier,hold on we'll see if we can modify the design.
>>
>>36073489
What the hell is this "standard compliment" cuft.

That isn't part of the ship design dude.

These ships are effectively identical.

And you aren't allowed to 'split' mounts. This is nonsense.
>>
>>36073534
Correct, I just think it would cause ship design to quickly spiral out of control while not adding much fun to it.
>>
>>36073546
Yeah, I thought they broke free and were fighting the black crystals, not us.
>>
>>36073534
he did. those designs are nonsensical.

let's just go with >>36073465
>>
>>36073433
1 command cruiser, with a deactivatable relay. We can't afford to risk our entire hive being paralyzed.
>>
>>36073568
The drive ship extremely clearly identified hive corvettes as enemy ships. He said it right to us.
>>
>>36073433
we need more warriors, 100-200 or so
>>
>>36073561
He's just forwarding from the last thread. You're right though, ships don't need standard compliment, and the command only has 4 regular thinkers and a relay as difference.
>>
>>36073588
Probably because niggers spat images of its enemy at them, and we weren't broadcasting the security codes we had.
>>
>>36073588
Then why did we try to communicate with it then? That's what confuses me.
>>
>>36073489

This is more legal with the quest mechanics:

Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Armor: Heavy 500N 2000M
Spinal: Linear particle beam 400M
Fixed: Railgun 200M
Turret: Cyclotron 150M
Rapid damage control 30N 40M
Swarm x1: 600N 300M
Stealth field 100N 300M
Cost: 5390M 2430N
Upkeep: 1215N
>>
>>36073465
How about we give this ship heavy armor, it will certainly be given a beating in its service to the hive.
>>
>>36073433
Clone Skyl.
>>
>>36073603
Supporting this.
>>
>>36073433
Looks like one of the biggest supported designs so far is.
??? Cruiser
Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Armor: Standard
Spinal: Linear particle beam 400M
Fixed: Railgun 200M
Turret: Cyclotron 150M [xxx: replace with nukes when atomics is researched?]
Rapid damage control 30N 40M
Swarm x1: 600N 300M
Stealth field 100N 300M
Cost: 3390M 1930N
Upkeep: 965N

With Armor: Heavy --
Cost: 5390M 2430N
Upkeep: 1215N

With Armor: Reflex --
Cost: 3390M 2930N
Upkeep: 1465N

>Add standard
>Add heavy
>Add reflex
>Add other (write in)

As well as some support for
Heavy Cruiser
Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Armor: Heavy 500N 2000M
Spinal: Linear particle beam 400M
Fixed: Railgun 200M
Turret: Cyclotron 150M
Rapid damage control 30N 40M
Swarm x1: 600N 300M
Stealth field 100N 300M
Cost: 5390M 2430N
Upkeep: 1215N
>>
>>36073603
does it need stealth? Cruisers are intended to be the non-capital heavy hitting ships.
>>
>>36073603
Supporting this.
>>
>>36073614
looks like the only difference between the two is the armor. Don't think they need stealth though.
>>
>>36073615
The stealth is extremely cheap, we might as well. It's less than 5% of the drone cost. If it helps it get into position for a surprise attack better, great.

>>36073614
>Add heavy
Isn't the 'add heavy' option the same as that Heavy cruiser there?
>>
>>36073596
Anon means earlier, in previous threads.
>>
>>36073596
>the security codes we had
We never had any such thing.
>>
>>36073614
Two Cruisers
Take away the stealth field
Add heavy armor
And we're game

On the same tangent, can we retroactively upgrade all our existing ships with compact hulls when we finish researching it?
>>
We need to find a way of safety engaging the Skyl without risking the rest of the hive. Is there anyway we could research shielding against psionic disruption? Perhaps containing the effect within a fleet or bio ship by blocking the signal from ships nearby the Skyl fleet?
>>
>>36073603
Looks good. Supporting
>>
>>36073615
It is worth having, I think. Cruisers likely can't cloak for long, but even a few minutes could be highly useful in the right circumstances. Good for ambushes at least.
>>
>>36073603
this
>>
>>36073650
Yes, once compact hulls finish researching you can upgrade your ships with an additional hull layer as you see fit.
>>
>>36073614
Yes to both and add reflex
>>
>>36073614
>Add heavy
Build one.
>>
>>36073673
We know that stealth on Cruisers isn't as cost effective as in smaller ships, but we don't really expect them to go skulking around enemy lines, how long would a Stealthed Cruise remain hidden before it need to dump heat?
>>
We're going to need some way to control these. Should we just send pods with relays or should one of them have a relay? Or just send them off with thinkers in charge?
>>
>>36073694
I was hoping that we could also send a pod far-away enough to remain unaffected by the Disruptor but close enough to observe so that we can at least see what's going on.
>>
>>36073684
We need to build a lot of ships fast. We can afford 4 Cruisers.

We need to build a number of docking pylons spread out across Leeland, you can only build 4 ships per docking pylon per day. We can up our productivity to 32 a day or so with 8 pylons.

They need to be on Leeland because the cloud cover conveniently provides low discoverability. They need to be spread out to minimize the concentration of giant heat singatures.
>>
>>36073614
Looks like most of the support is for

Heavy Cruiser
Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Armor: Heavy 500N 2000M
Spinal: Linear particle beam 400M
Fixed: Railgun 200M
Turret: Cyclotron 150M
Rapid damage control 30N 40M
Swarm x1: 600N 300M
Stealth field 100N 300M
Cost: 5390M 2430N
Upkeep: 1215N

>How many

>>36073687
Depends on how active it is. If the cruiser shut down most of its systems it could remain cloaked for most of the day, while if it was actively moving around while cloaked, probably an hour.

It would also be easier to spot the slight lensing effect of the cloak, due to the much larger size of the hull.
>>
>>36073694
All ships are capable of autonomy already. That's why the ships could report to us, above, instead of simply falling into a coma when they were cut off.

You can put Quantum Thinker on each ship for bonuses though.
>>
>>36073714
Supporting this
>>
>>36073713
Build 2.
>>
>>36073713
Lay 8.

Build 7 docking pylons across the planet.
>>
>>36073694
Presumably one or more ships will possess relays.

>>36073713
>how many
2 or 3?

We should also consider building some point defence corvettes, and general purpose frigates, too.
>>
>>36073713
Could we also clone some Skyl?
>>
>>36073713
4
>>
>>36073728
That, and we also need to expand our production capacity to catch up with the Skylbot fleet. Hence, spreading out across the planet with more docking pylons.
>>
>>36073713
>how many
4
>>
>>36073713
>>How many
4
max out that pylon
>>
>>36073727
You are aware that such things require resources to construct, right?
>>
>>36073755
The ships and docking pylons both, yeah. And?

We have a lot of resources now. Farm construction got finished. Now the bottleneck isn't our upkeep costs, it's our production capacity.
>>
>>36073713
4
Also, clone some skyl.
>>
>>36073713
>4 Heavy cruisers

There is also mixed support for building additional pylons. To clarify, capital ships are too large to enter or leave an atmosphere under their own power, and must be constructed in space. A pylon can either build up to 4 sub capital ships at once, or a single capital.

Capital ship stats have been added here. http://pastebin.com/YTwGk8n1

>>36073732
Yes, a Skyl cloning project will cost 50N per day for 10 days. They will not have any memories or experienced from the lives of the Skyl you clone, however.
>>
>>36073789
>They will not have any memories or experienced from the lives of the Skyl you clone, however.
So we'll basically be stuck with Skyl infants?
>>
>>36073789
Well we need a lot more smaller subcapitals right now anyway, to complement the new Cruisers. So a lot more hidden planetside pylons makes sense.
>>
>>36073789
Build an two additional Pylons on the surface.
>>
>>36073800
The Skyl ships might be more receptive if we have one of their creators speak for us.
>>
>>36073800
not really because we can insert any memories we want into them. If we wanted to we could give them all the memories of a dingo(if we had one).
>>
>>36073789
>They will not have any memories or experienced from the lives of the Skyl you clone, however.
We could use information from the cubes to fabricate memories?
>>
>>36073789
Build 7 pylons.
>>
>>36073789
Lets build 2 more pylons on our planet and one in space. We need to get started with the capitals
>>
>>36073789
2 on Leeland (Maybe under the sea)
1 in the debris field from the skyl project or on are mining colony
>>
>>36073818
You could indeed, I'm just making sure you know the limitations before purchasing. Unless you have access to the original, you can't give the clone the original's memories or experiences, but you can always fake them. Mileage may vary.
>>
>>36073825
>>36073789
Seconding
>>
>>36073789
clone 4 Skyl.
>>
>>36073822
Where in space though? Not our home system because we'll give away our presence there. An empty resource rich systems would be best.
>>
>>36073848
there works >>36073825
>>
>>36073789
Build one in a system the Union is unaware of, like that planet that got split in half. There will be an extreme density of metals near the core we can use to build ships for the hive.
>>
Are our ships completely helpless under psionic jamming or can they retaliate and act independently under jamming?
>>
>>36073861
Ok, I'll second debris field from skyl project for our space pylon.
>>
>>36073775
For example:

Current daily metals income pulls in enough metal to construct 11 new Heavy Cruisers a day, if you used it all for that. A lot more if you made the smaller ships.

You'd run out of upkeep though in 3 days that way, because there's only enough net nutrients to support 31 new Heavy Cruisers. But, again, a lot more for the smaller ships.

>>36073862
>like that planet that got split in half
....the one the Skyl fleet are in right this now?

Also, the Union will inevitably scout out that system, odds are it won't be that long.
>>
Sticking railguns on a Hive Ship's spinal mounts and pushing around enemy capital ships tickles me pink.
>>
>>36073865
They can if we give them orders beforehand. Probably better chances of surviving if they gave them Quantum thinkers.
>>
>>36073825
The debris field the drive ship originated from might get scouted out by the Union any day now.

This IS all still part of the human manfest destiny Frontier Expanse.
>>
>>36073884
>>36073872
Well if actually reveal ourselves to be an intelligent specieas, which is safer now since we're building a respectable fleet, I'm sure we can strongarm them into an agreement
>>
>>36073876
So then we should preprogram all ships with defense and other strategies while we can and install quantum thinkers as well.
>>
>>36073789
Last vote on the pylons

>2 On Leeland
>1 in the ring debris at M-323
>1 in the asteroid mining base
>None
>Other
>>
>>36073913
>>2 On Leeland
>>
>>36073906
In the ask.fm QM says humans are open to trade if they knew we were an advanced civilization.
>>
>>36073913
Do not put anything in the asteroid mining base. Otherwise yes.
>>
>>36073913
Yes.
>>
>>36073913
>2 On Leeland
>1 in the ring debris at M-323
>>
>>36073913
>>2 On Leeland
>>1 in the ring debris at M-323
>>
>>36073913
Yes on all three.
>>
>>36073913
>Other
On the ruined core of the split planet in system M-199
>>
>>36073920
Exactly, now that we're building a fleet and are no longer completely defenceless, its no longer a complete disaster if the Union discovers us.

Still, it would be better if we were to keep up for as long as possible.
>>
Also the Skyl fleet is clearly salvaging whatever metals they can find.

They might return to their origin system, rich in metals to build their fleet with.

>>36073938
Dude the skyl are right there.
>>
>>36073913
>2 On Leeland
>>1 in the ring debris at M-323
>>1 in the asteroid mining base
All 3, but asteroid only if it's still hidden or can be cloaked.
>>
>>36073913
>2 On Leeland
>1 in the ring debris at M-323
>>
>>36073913
>>Other
The Skyl have abandoned it.

Build all the docking pylons in orbit of that starless planet in the nebula!
>>
>>36073913
>2 On Leeland
>1 in the ring debris at M-323
>>
We have to make sure that the humans never get their hands on a Skyl ship or they'll be able to research psionic jamming as well.
>>
>>36073949
But they are not. They established themselves on an unnamed planet in the heart of the nearby nebulae, and when last seen appeared to be spooling their FTL drive for a jump. For all we know they've already abandoned their last known location.
>>
>>36073913
>2 pylons on Leeland, 1 in the ring debris of M-323

Several of your ships depart for M-323 after collecting the needed materials.

As your ships blink away and begin construction, you ponder the nature of politics with the Union. Your fleet is growing into a sizable force, and you are starting to think you may be able to hold your own against any would be invaders.

>Speak with Elizabeth about Union policies (write in)
>Speak with the Major of the Hope (write in)
>Other
>>
>>36073978
>>Other
Tell thesus about skyl ships.
>>
>>36073972
That, or/and also come up with some highly reliable countermeasure that renders it moot. First preventative measures are of course greatly superior.
>>
>>36073978
>Speak with Elizabeth about Union policies (write in)
Let's talk to her first. Bring up the subject of potentially reaching out to the union diplomatically.
>>
>>36073978
Not interested in either, here.

>>36073977
We literally saw them come to M-199, pay attention. Why do you think that lost pod got post?
>>
>>36073978
>>Speak with Elizabeth about Union policies
>>
>>36073986
I'll second
>>
>>36073978
>Other
It's farm building time again.

1000 Farms
Increase worker count to 7000

But, really, doing anything with the Union but glorious conquest would be almost like betraying Theseus.
>>
>>36073978
>Speak with Elizabeth about Union policies (write in)
>Speak with the Major of the Hope (write in)
Both. First speak to Elizabeth to get an understanding amd her opinion and then speak to the major.
>>
Did we ever loot that station that got smashed?
>>
>>36073978
Oh man I thought we were done for the night because we started talking about constructing and designing things.

You aren't considering a second thread, are you?
>>
>>36073998
Or we could ask him what he thinks.
And hey, if we get more diplomatic with the Union, more opportunities for him to infiltrate their systems.
>>
>>36073998
We aren't doing anything yet, simply thinking about it. We can of course bring it up with theseus.
>>
>>36073981
Seconded.
>>
>>36074004
We couldn't, the survivors are holed up in the station and they would see us. Also, the Ceph destroyed an FTL comm capable ship and that would surely tip the Union off that something's up.
>>
>>36074004
No
>>
>>36073978
>>Speak with Elizabeth about Union policies (write in)

>>other
Build 1000 farms
Increase workers to 7000
Lay 100 Excavators
clone 6 skyl
Contact Theseus and ask his council on if the hive revealing itself to the union would be a good idea.
>>
>>36073978
Man, fuck the Union.

Remember Canians? Remember?
>>
>>36073978
looks good. I'll second all of >>36074024
and
>Tell thesus about skyl ships.
>>
>>36073978
>Tell thesus about skyl ships.
>Speak with Elizabeth about Union policies
>Build 1000 farms
>Increase workers to 7000
>Lay 100 Excavators
>clone 6 skyl
>Talk to Thesus about the dark crystals and the destruction 70000 years ago
>>
>>36074024
First speak to Elizabeth.
Seconding getting Theseus opinion. Also inform him of the skyl.
Then speak to major.
>>
top of 10 warning
>>
>>36073978
Elizabeth is still hunched over the ancient Skyl console when your speaker enters.

"Doctor Vaughn."

She hits her head on the interior of the casing, then crawls out of the machine to look at your drone. "Yes?" She asks while rubbing the top of her head.

>How would the hive go about first contact with the Union?
>What are the Union's policies with other races?
>Ask (write in)
>Other
>>
>>36074041
Seconding.
>>
>>36074048
>>What are the Union's policies with other races?
Start out with this. We'll ask about first contact after this.
>>
>>36074048
>>What are the Union's policies with other races?
>How would the hive go about first contact with the Union?
>>
>>36074047
And over 700 posts. Hell, yeah, we're on the roll.
>>
>>36074048
>How would the hive go about first contact with the Union?
>What are the Union's policies with other races?
>Inform her of what we do knw of the Union's policies and the nuclear payload in the satellite.
>>
>>36074048
>What are the Union's policies with other races?
>>
>>36074048
>>What are the Union's policies with other races?
Answer: They're pretty racist
>>
>>36074048
>What are the Union's policies with other races?
>>
>>36074048
>>How would the hive go about first contact with the Union?
>>What are the Union's policies with other races?
>>
>>36074063
Actually change my vote to this. Just explain the whole situation to her and get her opinion.
>>
>>36074048
>>How would the hive go about first contact with the Union?
>>What are the Union's policies with other races?
>>
>>36074063
Agree with this.
>>
Hmm. Fiddling with some designs, a double armored Battleship runs about 10k nutrients and 30k metals.

Maxing out swarm bays on it brings it up to almost 40k nutrients and a bit over 40k metals. 2050 drones though, which is hilarious.
>>
>>36074063
Supporting
>>
>>36074063
Seconding.
>>
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>>36074084
>>36074091
>>36074103
>>36074112
That feel when people like your idea
>>
>>36074041
No. Revealing the skyl to Theseus runs the risk of him learning of tachyons and how to control them. We can't have anyone learning how disrupt the hives psionics.
>>
>>36074094
>2050 drones
We will cloud their sensors with our corpses.
>>
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>>36074094
Fucking yes.
>>
>>36074094
How is the maximum number of swarm bays for any given hull design calculated?
>>
>>36074048
"How much do you know of the Union's policies?"

"What, like, foreign policy?" Your speaker nods. Elizabeth scoots herself away from the console and stands up. "Well, in short, they get a raw deal. It depends on how advanced they are, though. The only other races that are at a level of development that allows them to actually bargain with the Union would be the Valen trade worlds, and the Ceph. The Valen are perfectly happy living under Union rule, because they see it as them allowing the Union to feel in control in exchange for actual benefit. Their notion of government is... strange, and you and I both know how well the Ceph play with others."

Your speaker tilts its head inquisitively as it responds. "How would the hive go about making proper first contact, and how would the Union respond?"

Elizabeth almost chokes. "Seriously? Well, I mean..." she pauses to give it some serious thought. "Well, first thing's first, you would need a human representative. Officially, their job is to ensure there are no translation errors or cultural debacles during negotiations, but in practice, their just handlers. A new race can get one in two ways, either they can be represented by a human citizen of their government, or they are assigned one." She gives a quick smile. "It's a loophole originally intended to apply to other human governments, but it was never taken out of law. After that, they alien and human representatives would be allowed to live on Gemini, and attend relevant meetings. Any particular reason you're so curious?"

>Speak (write in)
>Other
>>
>>36074172
It was added recently, along with shuttle bays. 1 bay per 50 meters of ship hull.
>>
About halfway down page 10. I can start another thread if you guys are up for it. Things usually slow down quite a bit though.
>>
>>36074187
I'm always up for it QD
>>
>>36074174
We may have to initiate contact with them down the line,

>>36074195
Sure QD, hopefully this time I'll stay awake til the end.
>>
>>36074187
I'm not. Can you really go for another 6 hours?
>>
>>36074174
>"The Hive always wishes to expand its knowledge and abilities."
>"Now, what would the best way for the Hive to initiate contact be?"
>>
>>36074174
Call it idle curiosity.
>>
>>36074174
Hm. We could claim Lyle or Elizabeth is a "Citizen" of us, if we ever chose to make first contact. (Well. Second. third. Whose counting?)
>>
>>36074174
>It may be best to make allies rather than enemies at this moment.
other

>Could we request a specific human?
>What would be the best way to deal with discussing the satellite with the nuclear payload they placed in orbit? Which we promptly disabled.
>>
>>36074195
>>36074202
>>36074205
You you guys, always.

I'll start writing up the OP for part to then. Will post here if we don't drop off, otherwise I'll just link in twitter.
>>
>>36074187
I'm cool to keep going. Even if there's slowdown, I'm enjoying fiddling with the new ships.
>>
>>36074187
Hell yes QD I'm all for it. Can we pick some new research options first though? We've recently finished a bunch and opened up many more
>>
>>36074221
We need to kidnap our Lee back. Imagine how the Union government would react if their scapegoat reappears from being disappeared as the official dignitary of Leeland?

They'll think him some kind of genius manipulator just playing dumb.
>>
>>36074224
Come on QD, You know how it is around here, you post good shit and we love you for it.

Also this is one of those few regular original sci-fi quests and I fucking love those things
>>
>>36074174
And what do you know of "full mods"?
>>
>>36074224
You da best Quest.
>>
>>36074241
"What's that on your flag?"
"That is the lighter the human lee gave us on first contact."
"And uh. What's your capital called?"
"Leeland."
"Alright, okay. Who's your human representative?"
"Lee."
>>
>>36074174
>Speak (write in)
"Avoiding notice will only work for so long, forcing contact on my terms may be safer than hoping for the best after being exposed."

Have we told her about the satellite situation? She may not have had occasion to have heard about it in the field.

Also, if she had fresh fatigues to change into, does that mean our worker drones are doing their laundry? I hope so.
>>
>>36074241
Oh god yes let's do this. If he actually convinces us to ally with the union against the commonwealth we can name our armada of bio ships after him.
>>
>>36074187
I can keep going.
>>
>>36074288
Our capital is already named after him. The lighter he gave us is some sort of major symbol. Humans will look upon us for generations trying to figure out why we're so damn obsessed with him.
>>
>>36074288
We can name them Lee's Seed. Because they will sow peace and order wherever they travel, you see.
>>
>>36074306
>Lee's Seed
Th-that's lewd anon.
>>
>>36074280
After long enough working for the hive there will be an entire contingent of workers running errands for the human prisoners.

Workers doing laundry, workers installing holo decks, workers cooking meals. They won't want to leave by the end of it I tell you.
>>
>>36074174
>>36074280
Thats a very good response. Seconding
>>
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>>36074306
>Lee's Seed
They're going to get the wrong idea anon...
>>
>>36074273
That.... that's just gold. Let's go with this.
>>
>>36074316
That one guy seems to like the food, at least.
>>
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>>36074273
>>36074306
>>
>>36074333
The others will come around to it eventually!
>>
>>36074306
We shall anoint the first hive ship, the flagship of the last and first queen, with guns 6 kilometers long, Lee's Seed. Just to see the faces of humans everywhere when they hear it, it would be worth it.
>>
>>36074174
Ask Elizabeth if she wants to be a citizen.
>>
>>36074366
Why not just make our own hybrid 'citizen'?
A perfectly loyal entity.
>>
I've been thinking about what our explanation should be for the hive on Leeland if we come forward to the Union.

Best I can come up with is claiming it as a nursery planet and that the hive the union ran across was in its infancy and not fully educated, explaining its primitive seeming disposition. When we discovered the human tampering, we were quite distressed at the violation of our rearing practices, but we understand the circumstances were largely involuntary. We are nothing if not understanding.
>>
>>36074359
I'm pretty sure it won't take the humans very long to figure out that the hive is nothing but a front for the /tg/ hivenind.
>>
>>36074174
seconding this:
>>36074280
with a run down of the current situation and how we wish to insure the safety of the Raligha natives.
>>
>>36074371
Would they still count as human to the humans?
>>
>>36074390
Well they wouldn't know about it!
>>
>>36074339
In all seriousness though, it's basically pure sugar. Sweet, but lacking in a dearth of nutrients fragile humans require, and the rations from the Clarke can't last forever. Maybe we could use Lyles bank account to order pizza?
>>
>>36074390
Why would you tell them.

If you ever bothered with this elaborate scenario instead of just taking what's yours anyway.
>>
>>36074376
Explain nothing. Feign incomprehension at any such inquiries.
>>
>>36074399
Isn't the green stuff we made optimized for human consumption?
>>
>>36074371
I imagine an emissary hanging around on the political planet would be subjected to 'routine' medical exams and bullcrap like that. Hybrids are obvious under medical scrutiny. Vaughn is probably a bad idea given her involuntary brain mods. Straight up clones I have some doubts on, but it might work.
>>
>>36074390
>>36074398
They'll be extremely suspicious. Seiner might even figure it out. Stranger humans represent an alien bug species. Who wouldn't suspect something weird going on?
>>
>>36074409
Clearly Ryan Lee is the optimal choice then.
>>
>>36074407
It is, Anon is confusing the food we process for ourselves.

>>36074403
That's not really feasible while opening official diplomatic channels. They'll have questions and not answering them at all is a poor choice. Spinning things to our advantage is, well, to our advantage.

It's not even that untrue. It was an infant hive and apparently our people do shoot babies off into space to raise themselves in ignorance.
>>
>>36074428
Now I'm imagining that one guy who liked our paste asking us to bottle a whole bunch for him, if he ever leaves. Imagine some guy you work with just drinking this nasty looking green stuff out of a water bottle.
>>
>>36074399
That isn't the sugary stuff. That is human synthesized diet.
>>
>>36074426
There was never any other real option, anon.
>>
>>36074428
One queen did one time, because the hive was about to be wiped out completely.

It's typical Krypton strategy.
>>
>>36074428
Well, ok, you've convinced me with damn good arguments. I second your ideas.
>>
>>36074399
Uhm, hello, I'd like to order 30 boxes of Meat Lover's special, just drop them off at the yellowish fungus planet, thank you.
Oh and we tip really good too.
>>
>>36074452
"Yes, Just drop that in deep space. At those co-ordinates, yes. Protection? No, It'll be fine."
>>
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>>36074456
New thread
>>
>>36074438
We could open a restaurant chain on human worlds. Ties in very well with our weird Lee obsession. Humans will think we're nutters as a species.
>>
>>36074428
The idea of anything but hostility for the civilization that sends killer cyborgs and bounty hunters after the hive baffles me.

But if you did, playing ignorant miscommunication isn't really that infeasible. Aliens are weird and alien.
>>
>>36074461
"Welcome to hive-paste, can this one take your order?"
"Yeah, I'd like some of that purple stuff."



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