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For House & Dominion: Building Better Worlds (2)

http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/House_%26_Dominion_Complete_Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dominion+quest

https://twitter.com/ThatSlowTypingG


You are Sonia Reynard, Viscount of Rioja and a member of House Jerik-Dremine!

Following your expedition to the Dyson Sphere, and ensuing absence, you've returned home. Arriving on Dreminth to a heartfelt reunion with friends and family members, you caught up and enjoyed the holidays. It was good to spend time away from everything catching up after what for them was more than 3 years away.

The new year ushered in a great deal of work. Discussing your deployment with the Count and the protection of your holdings. Your political enemies within the House have been blocked from attacking you by the Count but that protection will not last forever. With this in mind it was decided it might be wise to arrange a political marriage to strengthen ties to the House and, just as importantly, to the established nobility.

For a number of compelling reasons, personal, political and financial, you decided to ask Troy Harmen. One of the leading heirs to the powerful Harmen family of Loran II, the Harmen family control HTF, the largest and most powerful terraforming company among the Run Alliance. You're also one of the few people outside their family that controls a good sized stake in the company. Something they very much want back eventually.

With the terraforming data you now possessed there was little chance the Harmen family would turn down the offer. Fortunately you asked Troy before his parents or he might have turned you down.

On January 28, 4039 Viscount Sonia Reynard formally wed Troy Harmen.
A celebratory ball was held allowing you to meet and catch up with some of your long time friends, as well as new allies. Quite a few of them also brought gifts.

Even Duncan turned out wearing a disguise. He gifted a new holo-camo system to Troy, wishing him luck in keeping up with you.
Şivan Berwari gave you a copy of data related to you Mother's side of the family. It has been locked away for a very long time. Others who showed up included Levi Nxesi and even Svidur.


Arrival on Rioja was met with celebrations both for your safe return and for the wedding. a parade into the capital was followed by festivals held in every city across the planet.

Rioja has changed since you first became it's Baron. Terraforming grasses stretch across much of its surface. Productive farmland extends out from Rioja city and Strymon, swaths of green now easily visible from orbit. People can walk outside without need of suits or masks and the sky is largely clear.
All easily visible signs of the hard work the planet living on your world have put in.
>>
>>2550168
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION
>>
All easily visible signs of the hard work the people living on your world have put in.
>>
>>2550168
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION! RIOJA IS MAKING MONEY AT LAST!
>>
>>2550168
For House and Dominion! We are broke again edition!
>>
>>2550197
If you consider having nearly Billion S still in the bank broke, then yes.
>>
I fucking caught up

I did it

It took a whole goddamn year but I did it
>>
>>2550213
Wow, congrats.
>>
>>2550213
Absolute Unit.
Thoughts?
>>
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>>2550213

Congratulations you survived!
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>>2550280
Many. Putting them down on paper will be an essay and a half but a very short version is 'I wish there was more'.

For example, the promised Bekka thread and the promised sequel to Rioja Five-oh. I was really looking forward to both, you know?

I also cannot understand how any of you can keep all the ships and weapons and their stats in your head, I gave up on even trying back in Wing Commander
>>
>>2550299
Oh it's easy! Seven years and I still can't remember what Phase and Pulse cannons had that made them different.

The Wiki really helps
>>
>>2550299
If it says 'Plasma' on the can then it's probably gonna kill things real fast.
>>
With plenty of time ahead until being needed on the front lines again, you began to give serious thought to potential heirs. While Troy had no interest in pressuring you into it, the same couldn't be said for each of your parents. A Reynard-Harmen heir could unite the financial and industrial power of both.
The plan to have children may have been carefully thought out, but the actual act was anything but. Both of you were too drunk from the cross planet festivities to remember much of anything.

With further minor medical assistance twins are expected in early November 4039. The doctors have cautioned against any Recon suit actions or high-g maneuver flying in the later half of the year. Not that you should be running around performing special forces work anyways given your position authority.

After settling in you've been busy helping out friends and allies.

With your support the Krath infiltrator Jarato Eldal has negotiated a settlement of sorts with his government. He'll become a free agent and they'll no longer pursue him, though he'll need to check in with them every so often. Also as part of the agreement he'll need to change his identity. Towards that end he's following some of your advice and taking acting classes.
You hope he'll lean a few things that help him decide who to be.

Former Shallan Admiral Mezan and a number of political prisoners were freed from the Shallan State thanks to your money and intervention. Now interested in starting up a mercenary company you've provided Mezan substantial loan of 500 million. The Admiral also has been given permission to buy the next Eclipse II out of Rioja's shipyard.
She plans to combine this with a typical startup loan from the PCCG for new Mercenary outfits. This will afford some legitimacy and allow her to begin building up a more serious fleet. Some day it might be needed to support efforts to restore the Shallan Federation's government.
Mezan has already warned the government in exile that it will be necessary.

Working to strengthen ties with other members of the Run Alliance you've formed an industry agreement with the Factions Alliance. They wish to construct a new mobile fleet base in the Run given it's a safe area. In return they'll have to purchase some of the materials from the Houses in the Run. This will help to provide jobs to the region and taxes.

The Alliance was not entirely happy with the proposal. Apparently they'd hoped to cut costs considerably by carrying out the mining and fabrication themselves with a Foundry ship. At the same time they can't really fault your requests. They wanted to build the ship farther from the Neeran front in more protected space and this would seem to be the cost of doing business.
>>
>>2550349

>The Alliance was not entirely happy with the proposal. Apparently they'd hoped to cut costs considerably by carrying out the mining and fabrication themselves with a Foundry ship. At the same time they can't really fault your requests. They wanted to build the ship farther from the Neeran front in more protected space and this would seem to be the cost of doing business.

With as much tension that I feel is being built up over the idea that the Alliance is planning on building these from the factions themselves. They could be at least a little more happy we are letting them build it within Dominion territory and so close to many Houses who may feel threatened at the idea of such a thing existing/ being built so close to them. All without the Great Houses or the Ruling House coming down on us (The Run Alliance) for letting the Alliance build it without consulting them first. Sure other factions would likely let them build the ship within their boarders with similar agreements of the such.

Ah well, I guess we don't have to tell Vanderwall that it would be awfully convient for the Dominion to get a hold of the schematics/ data on how to build one of those things for the benefit of the Dominion, right?
>>
>>2550388
>I guess we don't have to tell Vanderwall that it would be awfully convient for the Dominion to get a hold of the schematics/ data on how to build one of those things for the benefit of the Dominion, right?
No you don't have to tell him that.

Setting down to actually look at your finances you were faced with how best to spend the many billions that had been saved up over the years. That money hadn't sat idle. Some had gone to the company to continue expansion, other amounts to Verilis to look after Rioja, as wrell as family and friends. Many of those that received money sent quite a bit of it back as thanks. A few of them were not as fortunate and you forgave anything they might owe you in return for gifts to Rioja.

Considerable resources have been invested into an R&D program with the Alliance. The idea being to locate emergency teleporter capsules that have failed to reach their destination. You've provided them with a hardened station for better protection, along with logistics craft and funding.

With input from the Governor investments in Rioja's industry, urban development and agriculture continue. With the planet now able to provide tax money much of your investments are being directed back into expansion of RSS.

With your approval you've funded an operation to purchase land and salvage rights on a world called Karakum. Described as a Death World, the inhabitants have mostly fled. RSS will salvage what it can from the surface and HTF will restore the worlds terraforming.
You've cautioned against attempts by the House to seize the planet through underhanded methods. Instead its land should be sold once it is in a livable condition.

RSS will also acquire a Heavy Carrier variant from House Ceres designed specifically for salvage operations. Once it is completed the company should also be able to produce it from the Surakeh Heavy Cruiser shipyards. It's a hefty investment but one that will be necessary for upcoming hazard salvage.

Having invested more money into Fast Super development you decided it was time to visit the shipyard. Located in former Che'len space the yard is preparing to put the design into mass production. Testing is being carried out to confirm if the latest structural upgrades are sufficient. If they are two or three of the ships might be complete before the end of the year.
While there you were even able to witness a test of the antimatter afterburner system. It still has minor problems but you've seen the Dominion field warships in far worse shape.
>>
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Alex is pushing ahead with his mobile shipyard concept. At your suggestion he's approached a number of the major Houses in the hopes of offsetting concerns they might have about allowing its production. He's seeing some success, though results may still take time.

Your additional engineering support and a 500 million investment should help things along on the development side.

An R&D facility has been set up to reverse engineer the weather control system data you recovered from the sphere. The team is reportedly making considerable progress thanks to the wealth of data available, compared to having to simply duplicate a device.
Early test prototypes should be ready in another month.

Heavy shield breaker torpedoes are now being produced at a facility in the Kaptlyn system. Baron Avun has ensured that the platform is well protected. Stockpiles are being assembled at either of your fleet bases.

You've arranged for two production lines suitable for siege weapon construction to be built. One will be in the territory of Baron Daska Rna in South Reach. Your long time subordinate is more than happy to ensure such a production line is built in a protected location.
It will be responsible for building Gatling Light Siege cannon turrets. Their long range and high rate of fire make then an ideal weapon for faster ships or defensive installations.

Another production line will be installed in the "Plasma moon" munitions facility. You've yet to decide on which one.

>Dominion variant R2.Heavy plasma cannon
This is a Dominion plasma weapon based to some extent on Republic Iron plasma weaponry. It is larger and more powerful than the Republic's heavy plasma cannon, but only 1 of them can be fit to a turret.
Tech wise these are more in line with the main guns used by the ACS.

>Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon (large 1 gun turret) [4 month delay]
This is an upgraded version of the Fusion siege cannon. It uses technology based on Neeran phased plasma weaponry. Being a more complicated weapon it has seen some delays. It is anticipated to be much more powerful than it's predecessor.

Both have their merits but in terms of Rioja's available facilities there can be only one.

A) Dominion variant R2.Heavy plasma cannon
B) Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon
>>
>>2550520
>B) Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon

Also Duncan said we must go to the dagobah system. Was that a joke or should we actually do it?
>>
>>2550520

>Plasma Cannon
B) Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon
>>
>>2550457
>You've cautioned against attempts by the House to seize the planet through underhanded methods. Instead its land should be sold once it is in a livable condition.
Boooooh.

>Early test prototypes should be ready in another month.
Neat. Didn't except results so soon.

>Both have their merits but in terms of Rioja's available facilities there can be only one.
Hard choice. The regular plasma ones seems more reliable and the safer option. The soon to be Phased Fusion Siege one promises to be good but that remains to the seen. I also suspect a number of these cannons will go into the new Fast Supers. With that in mind I am a bit hesitant about equipping them with Fusion canons and strain their fuel storage further.

None the less I am going to go for.

B) Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon

I am sure the retrofitted Dominion Megas could make good use of these guns.
>>
>>2550520
>A) Dominion variant R2.Heavy plasma cannon
Perfect for the Moon, given that it's dedicated to building Dominion copies of the original Plasma Weapons. We even have the Republic Heavy version stored so maybe the engineers can do a comparison between the two?
>>
>>2550520
>B) Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon
>>
You purchase the production license for the Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon.
While your manufacturing facilities have developed a good understanding of Republic weaponry, Neeran based tech has a number of advantages. Your House isn't inexperienced with maintaining them and the Helios weapon should only improve that.

Crews ensure that they'll be ready to get the weapons into production once Helios gets the last bugs worked out.

A few days later Svidur arrives on Rioja along with his Alliance escort. He's eager to see the planet you and your people have struggled to tame.

"I must say the weather is considerably nicer than how it was previously described to me."

What all did you want to show him on the grand tour?
>>
>>2550752
The Vineyards we set up, the capital, the weather control system? Maybe even the University.

Mainly I wanted to talk to him about the Defence system on the Sphere, and the location of the Builder planet facility we discovered in the archives.
>>
>>2550752
Maybe show him around our holdings? Such as Rioja city and the capital. Maybe even take him to the resort area.

We also need to tell him our full story of our trip through the sphere. As well as our discovery of another sphere builder location that we are heading to.
>>
It's decided to take Svidur out to a few places you haven't been to yourself since returning. Heading north the first stop is at the vineyards. They've still protected by the domes that were built years ago, though access ways are open to the outside now weather permitting.

"I was really wondering if this was going to work." you tell him, gesturing to your surroundings.
"Hard to believe how much it all changed in just a few short years."

Svidur pauses to look around.
"You may be close to understanding what it can be like for some of us. I can't simply stay in one place to ensure things go well. In many cases all I can do is help where I can in the hope things will turn out right in my absence."

"And if things don't turn out?"
"Then at least I tried, and I allowed those I helped the chance to stand on their own. The Empire has allowed the nations and people they control to depend on them. Depending on the benefit of wisdom and experience that one tends to accumulate over several centuries. I'm not sure how well they will stand on their own once they've removed that crutch."

The old wizard glances down at the cane he's been using.
"Speaking of which. It's difficult to break some habits. I really don't need this but it's reassuring to have."

Next stop is the weather control R&D labs. Security and the techs aren't thrilled to have you there let alone Svidur. Apparently they've been making a great deal of progress simply because you've left them to their work.
Svidur promises not to read anyone's minds or pull any parlour tricks. He seems rather surprised the Caretakers allowed you to leave with this technology.
"I do recognise some of this."

"Please don't say from where. I'm not even supposed to tell the staff here where I got it." you tell him.

"Rest assured, most of your secrets are safe. I think your security should be adequate."

The facility director turns down your request for a systems test informing you that it's not ready.
"Early prototypes should be ready next month, not before. We have a great deal of work to do before then."

You are able to see some of the simulations. There are a few places where the tech overlaps with similar Faction systems which normally don't mesh together well. It's definitely possible to build. They may require no fly zones when in operation for safety's sake.

Next up is the university. Most people on campus give you and your party little more than a second glance before going about their business. A few others take pictures.
"This is quite the school you've built. All of this was your idea?"

"Learning is important. Plus with all of my crazy Research ideas I knew I would need a lot of help."

>Cont.
>>
During an aerocar tour of the rest of Strymon and then Rioja City you catch Svidur up on the adventures on the sphere. He admits that he was responsible for wiping out the Hazard team.
"Fools meddling with powers they could barely comprehend, all of them. There's no telling what damage they might have done to the sphere if given time.
And there was no time. No time to call for help or ways to subdue them without running the risk of escape or leaving them to die from lack of food and water. It might have taken me days or weeks to return for them.
I wasn't happy with my solution, though the other caretakers accepted it readily enough. I was guilty enough about it that I turned off the local decontamination systems. Those systems would have removed all trace of them in time. Better that they be left alone."

Later on you stop at one of the resorts for something to eat and while out on the beach tell the old wizard about the other facility.
"It's in the Empire's territory. They may not even know about it."

"I suspect you're right, though there is another possibility."
"Such as?"
"Someone may know where it is, but it could be located in a rival's territory. I suspect that's unlikely. Their leadership would offer a considerable reward for any help locating a sphere builder structure."

"Provided you can get clearance, did you want to come along once we have a chance to go looking for it?" you ask.

"I would be delighted to. Though I can't say how much help I would be. Most of what I was best at can be maddeningly difficult with this body. I would still be willing to try."

Another thing springs to mind.
"Svidur, the defense system on the sphere."

"I don't think I could apologise enough for not realising precisely what it was."

>>2550790
>Mainly I wanted to talk to him about the Defence system on the Sphere
What did you want to ask about it?
>>
>>2551192

Not that anon, but if we have some secure area. Talk to him about ideas on how to protect the sphere. Should the Empire Neeran stationed there become radicalized and desperate enough to damage the sphere before they leave its space.
>>
>>2551192
>What did you want to ask about it?
Mainly just wanted to discuss the revelation that it's a preservation system and not a true defense system. Other than that maybe our ideas that we gave to the Caretakers for an actual system?

>>2551192
>meddling with powers they could barely comprehend
Kind of like giving an up-and-coming wing commander a bunch of incomprehensible artifacts?
>>
"I certainly wouldn't have guessed it was a preservation system and not a true defense system."

"I should have been able to guess it. They've collected so many wonders, of course they would want a way to preserve some of it. It seems blatantly obvious now. No wonder they didn't want to turn it on."

"They said they could adjust the length of time the field was active. It was just the required charging time was going to be decades."

Once in a secure area you mention some of the countermeasures and plans you'd shared with the Caretakers. Svidur guesses they would not have been terribly happy to turn the sphere into a weapon system.

"They're not but it seems like they're verging on desperation now so who knows.
Speaking of meddling with powers people could barely comprehend."

"Yes?"

"Isn't that a bit like giving an up-and-coming wing commander a bunch of incomprehensible artifacts?"

"There were worse options. Not that giving them to you was towards that end of the spectrum. I needed to keep them away from Baldr. He wasn't prepared. If the artifacts had gone to him he'd have relied upon them too heavily. Instead he was forced to take on the many burdens he faced without them and as a result has grown stronger and smarter because of it.
I still had much to teach him but it was a worse case scenario."
>>
I found this old site again.
Behold the "Enter Name Here" class blockade runner.

http://ship.shapewright.com/?name=Enter+Name+Here
>>
>>2550213
Dude.

Now make it into an E-book.

>>2550278

How much would we need to raise on Kickstarter to turn this into an ebook?
>>
>>2550457
Can we use the Deathworld like as a space Australia for difficult prisoners we have? Like, they can pay their way free by working there?
>>
>>2550520
> B) Helios Phased Fusion siege cannon
>>
>>2551459
I think one of the other QM's made theirs into an ebook but made it free? I don't really know. I'm not sure where to start looking on that front. Also need to see how 2nd person works in an ebook format.
A writer I briefly talked to had never encountered 2nd person before and wanted to know who the narrator would be.

>>2551466
>Can we use the Deathworld like as a space Australia for difficult prisoners we have? Like, they can pay their way free by working there?
Use it as a penal colony? That's going to have a significant impact on the morale RSS personnel working the site. And not in a good way.

I suppose it could be done. The main body of RSS crews work in orbit while prison crews work on the surface in the more dangerous conditions. If the prisoners don't get paid anything at the end o it aside from their freedom it would classify as a form of indentured servitude which many players have been against.

You'd need to discuss it with the Count since obviously Rioja alone doesn't have a large prisoner population. Also security would remain an issue.
Do so?
>>
>>2551501

>Do so?
Nay, no need to hurt company moral. And no need for indentured servants.
>>
>>2551501
>Do so?
I'm pretty sure if we wanted to make an effective prison we'd just build something on an atmosphere-less world.
>>
>>2551501
Nah we would pay them. And also charge them for room and board and the transfer fee for flying there of course.

But they could either be paid in a free space flight to anywhere else or in land on the planet.
>>
>>2551565
Wait I forgot land = nobility never mind.
>>
Did the 250m we put into Plasma Corvette go anywhere?
>>
>>2551565
>they could either be paid in a free space flight to anywhere else
That means they still have no money when they get there and they quickly becomes someone else's problem. Someone who may object.
What if they ask for transport to Rioja?

There are a number of problems that need looking after when setting up a deal like that.

I need to stop here for the night. I'll be running Saturday through monday. Got a crazy long day tomorrow.
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>>2551580
Added this yesterday.
http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/Fury_Class
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>>2551652
Oh nice, it's happening.
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>>2551388
Oh yeah. I remember this. Shit was tons of fun

>>2551652
My body is ready.
>>
>>2550213
Speaking of catching up, I had to drop quests in general many moons ago due to life and work and other stuff. It's been so long that I can't remember which thread I left off. The last thing I recall was us getting a planet to be our Barony, and deciding whether to build some kind of planetary fortress/hive city to serve as the capitol, or go full dorf and hollow out a hyper-mountain to be like the Fang from 40k. Does that ring a bell?
>>
>>2552119
Sounds like the first threads of Homefront 4
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/41157784
>>
>>2552119
That sure was a long time ago. Like pre civil war and eye of the storm. Want me to catch you up?
>>
>>2552198
>>2552282
>I'm 33 months behind
WHELP. I'd better get started. Thanks for the offer but it would be best if I read through it myself.
>>
>>2552287
Good luck man. See you in 4 months
>>
>>2552287
I am sort of envious. I still remember when I played catch up way back during the first parts of the Neeran war. Good times. Just thread after thread of quests until I caught up and had to wait for it like the rest.
>>
>>2551387
How did Svid go from caretaker to isolationist?

Do we have any cool shark species in Rioja's waters yet?
>>
Neither of you nor Svidur come up with any new plans for protecting the sphere aside from dropping an Alliance fleet into the system. The old wizard does promise to look into finding more options.

>>2553533
>How did Svid go from caretaker to isolationist?

As Svidur explains he was born aboard one of the city ships that reside in their territory within the Republic's borders. Eventually he felt the need to leave and in time went on pilgrimage to the sphere. He remained there for nearly a century learning much.
After killing the hazard team he decided it was time to depart the sphere and left, taking with him a number of artifacts.

Since then he returned to isolationist territory, learning of their involvement in the Faction Wars and the Empire's renewed search for them. His experiences on the sphere ensured he stood apart from the rest of his people. At the same it earned him a measure of respect.

Svidur and those who trusted him would search Faction space for signs of the Empire's handiwork, serving the isolationists as an early warning system. They also assisted efforts to resolve the Republic's lengthy civil war.
>>
Resuming tomorrow.
>>
Family needs help with some stuff. Resuming 3PM EST
>>
Halide usually gets a lot of flak for their "based on a true story" movies. People are understandably surprised when the movie focused largely on Shelby and her team is released. It's far from the usual overly dramatized B movie fare that people were expecting from them.

You're of course invited to the opening screening. Usually these movies are very light and actiony but this one is comparatively grim as it deals with the marine's struggle to survive in a biosphere that doesn't provide then many edible resources.

Years are spent trying to survive and raise families. Breathtaking scenery, faint often subdued music and a minimalist script help the movie further stand out from its peers. It ends with your convoy of buggies coming into view at the entrance of the valley.

A few of the other movies you helped finance have received positive reviews. This is one of the first Halide films to receive a standing ovation.
Shelby and the others may not have wanted much attention for their exploits but they're bound to have it now.
>>
>>2556100
>clapping

Thousands of years into the future and a whole different universe and thousands of AU away from Terran space but Americans still clap in theatres.
>>
>>2556113
I was thinking more of the Cannes film festival desu.
>>
With the Dominion's increasing operations against the Neeran, new body armor has entered mass production. The earlier versions of the hard plate armor your people used during the dyson sphere expedition have seen minor revisions since then before finally being approved for general deployment. Because of this the previous Marine grade body armor is now considered obsolete.

As part of military spending Verilis made sure that some of the new armor was made available to special forces while you were gone. Right now there is only enough to equip 10% of Rioja's special forces. Not enough for all of your marines, but enough that everyone has been able to get some training with it.

Did you want to see about purchasing enough for the special forces? That plus extra for the ground forces? Or would you rather just set up your own production?

>1) Initial purchase for immediate use
1a) Equip half (or less) of SF this year, half next year
1b) Enough for SF use
1c) Enough for SF and some of the Army
1d) Re-equip Rioja SF and Army

>2) Set up production?
2a) Low level production (10% of SF per year)
2b) Mid level production (Enough to fit entire SF per year)
2c) High level production (Re-equip Rioja SF and Army within 2.5 years)
>>
>>2556287
>1d) Re-equip Rioja SF and Army
>2c) High level production (Re-equip Rioja SF and Army within 2.5 years)
>>
>>2556100

People are going to be disapointed by the return to form for the next movie, aren't they?

>>2556287
>1) Initial purchase for immediate use
1c) Enough for SF and some of the Army

>2) Set up production?
2b) Mid level production (Enough to fit entire SF per year)
>>
>>2556287
>1b) Enough for SF use
>2b) Mid level production (Enough to fit entire SF per year)
>>
>>2556287
>1) Initial purchase for immediate use
1c) Enough for SF and some of the Army

>2) Set up production?
2b) Mid level production (Enough to fit entire SF per year)
>>
>>2556306
>People are going to be disapointed by the return to form for the next movie, aren't they?
Probably.
>>
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Enough will be purchased immediately to finish outfitting the SF and some of the Army.

While that's going on mid level production will be set up with enough output to fit entire SF per year. That should be enough to more slowly phase out the suits used by the army over the next several years. Enough time for Army training to catch up.

All of this should cost around 50 million.

Marine grade armor is already being produced in Strymon. Putting more suit production there might be seen as excessive. Did you want to put the new production in one of the other cities to provide jobs there? You could also put it in Strymon and move marine grade production elsewhere.

[ ] Strymon
[ ] Barkhan
[ ] Rioja City
[ ] Capital district
[ ] West Cities
[ ] Garzweile / South City

Your orders?
>>
>>2556443

Which of the cities could use the extra jobs provided by the production facilities, the most?
>>
>>2556443
>[ ] Garzweile / South City
Want to keep that filthy pollution near the wastelands where nothing grows anyways.
>>
>>2556443
>[ ] Barkhan
>>
>>2556450
>Which of the cities could use the extra jobs provided by the production facilities, the most?
Probably the western cities seeing as they've had less development, or Garzweile to cut down on some of the production costs.
>>
>>2556443
>[ ] West Cities
>>
>>2556443
>>2556498

Then I vote for
>[ ] West Cities
>>
>>2556443
>>[ ] West Cities
>>
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Looks like west cities it is.
Engineering teams will have a site up and running in a couple of weeks.

The crew of a refugee transport is appealing to the local government for aid. Its an old ship with a spin gravity section and the crew can no longer afford to maintain it. They'd like to sell the ship and move to Rioja or another world in the Run. Unfortunately no one is interested in purchasing such an outdated vessel.

Did you or RSS want to take the ship off their hands? And if so how generous would you be in terms of a purchase price compared to its actual value?
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>>2556589
Just how old and rare is this model? Maybe we can buy and rent it out to that museum like we did with some old ships all those aeons ago.

Pay enough that all of them can afford an apartment and have time to find a job, that shouldn't be a lot of money for us.
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>>2556686
>Just how old and rare is this model?
Old enough that its original registry can't be determined. Probably built in the expeditionary wars 800 years ago when shortages forced some builders to build spin gravity ships due to lack of artificial gravity systems.

Vessels similar to it are occasionally seen in the Run and South Reach so they're not exactly rare. This one is heavily patched together. If it were scrapped you might get 7-8 million in materials and FTL systems for it.
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>>2556589
>>2556741

How much are they looking to sell it for? We can help get the people transported to any world in the Run. If Baron of said world they go to is willing to take them in. After they get the proper paper work all sorted out and stuff like that.
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>>2556759
>How much are they looking to sell it for?
Nobody wants to buy the whole ship.
Most of the companies in the Run that have even listened to them have only offered half a million for the FTL components. None of them are interested in the trouble of scrapping the old ship.

They're kinda desperate. If they could get even 30% of its materials cost it would be something.
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>>2556791

Sure lets buy it. I'm fine with 1-2mil, if other anons have other amounts. Especially if we can get profit off it to make up for purchasing it. Still think we should work the refugees and personnel worked through the system properly so people don't get lost or disappear.
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>>2556759
>>2556791
Also they're not allowed to just sell the FTL and leave the ship drifting because then it would create a hazard for the planet's orbital space and shipping lanes.
A couple of refugee transports have tried abandoning ships in orbit and their crews were arrested.

>>2556809
The refugees were already offloaded at the processing facility. It's just the crew left. Those that haven't quit yet because that haven't been paid.
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>>2556809
>>2556686

[ ] 1m (14% materials value) Would let them pay off the crew wages.
[ ] 2m (28% value) Crew paid off & basic rent money
[ ] 3m (42%)
[ ] 5m (71%)
[ ] 7m (100% value)
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>>2556915
>>[ ] 3m (42%)
>>
>>2556915
>3m (42%)
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>>2556915
>[ ] 3m (42%)
>>
>>2556915
>[ ] 5m (71%)
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>>2556915
>[ ] 2m (28% value) Crew paid off & basic rent money
>>
You decide to buy out the ship for 3 million. It's a better offer than they'll get from anyone else. Each of the crew members should have enough money to keep them afloat long enough to find a job. With the continued expansion of RSS there's a good chance some of them might be hired on.

Now the question is what to do with the ship. It really is quite the wreck. probably a good thing you didnt spend any more on it really. Fixing it would cost enough that it was be far far easier to scrap it and start over.

Maybe it could be turned into a museum ship like a few older vessels you own? Making it mobile enough to serve in that regard would still cost millions. It might be better to set up a museum installation where several vessels could be docked.
Rioja's trailing L5 Trojans include a few low density asteroids that aren't considered valuable enough to mine. They could serve as the starting point for a small station. It would also keep the rust bucket out of way of Rioja's busy shipping lanes and free up valuable docking space from the civilian stations.
On the other hand setting up a station would cost a bit more.

[ ] Scrap it
[ ] Museum (Rioja orbit/station dock) 4m
[ ] Museum (L5 asteroid station) 10m
[ ] Mobile museum / Return to operation 20m
[ ] Other?
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>>2557044
>[ ] Museum (L5 asteroid station) 10m
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>>2557044
>[ ] Museum (L5 asteroid station) 10m
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>>2557044
>[ ] Museum (L5 asteroid station) 10m
>>
>>2557044
>[ ] Museum (L5 asteroid station) 10m
>>
Adding a museum station where it wont get in the way of shipping traffic should allow plenty of room for later expansion. Your other museum ships can also use it as a home port. The basic starting equipment should provide more than enough defense for the time being. If any pirates did attack the place it wouldn't take them long to figure out there isn't anything of value there.

With the navigators getting ready to green light salvage expeditions near the nav hazards some really old ships may turn up. Did you want to set aside any money to buy prized ships for the museum?
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>>2557184

Not really, not unless there is something super special we find. In which case it'll be RSS that finds it and brings it in. A museum is gonna have a small display. While it would be hilarious to have a fleet of old ships to be used as a museum. I would prefer not to have a mothball fleet next to Rioja.
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>>2557254
Pretty much. Don't we have the rights to a lot of these zones too? The lion's share will go to us either way.
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>>2557254
>>2557263
Basically bring them to your attention if they find anything neat. Got it.

The R&D lab have conducted their first tests of the prototype weather control system. It seems to bw working wonderfully. The only problem they're having is turning it off when they need to. That still takes a little while. More than they're comfortable with before moving to scale tests.

They hope to have the problem solved within a month. Two at most.

Do you want to pass on this report to the Harmen family? Or would you rather keep quiet on development until they begin atmospheric tests?
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>>2557304

I'm sure if they knew they would inform their investors and then there would be an investor panic... so no?

I'm of the mind of not telling them unless they ask. I'm sure Troy would be able to confirm on which option would be better. Better in the way to keep investors placated and HTF informed and not worried.
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>>2557354
>I'm sure Troy would be able to confirm on which option would be better. Better in the way to keep investors placated and HTF informed and not worried.
Troy believes telling them now would only increase expectations if the techs have managed to get a prototype working this quickly.
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>>2557304
Oh can we invest more in this? Maybe through our friends?
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>>2557573
I mean it's your project, you can dump more money into it if you want. At the current rate of development money alone wont speed things up. Even if you did find someone else to help it would probably be disruptive to add them to the team that has been working together for months now.
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>>2557304
>>2557545

Alright, then tell the scientist to take the two months to make sure they can get it to a point that they will be comfortable in giving a full sized test.

Then have them perform a closed, scale test and from there to iron out whatever bugs might have cropped up. Once the head researcher or the person in charge of the R&D site says they have a solid working prototype, send a message to HTF that we have a working prototype. And they we should be able to arrange a 'viewing' if they have trusted investors who may want to watch.
>>
For now no info will be sent to the Harmen family. They'll find out when it's done. The engineers and technicians are told to take an extra month if they feel they need it and make sure it's done right.

Eldal has decided it's past time he changed his name and identity. He may change it again later but for now he's decided to go with a human ID for simplicity's sake. As for a name he plans to go with either Jan Alleman or Jan Novák.

Opinions?
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>>2557670
That is my middle name so I'm fine with either.

Can you answer if what Duncan said at the wedding was a request or a joke?
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>>2557670
Jan Novák

It's my first name so I'm fine with either.
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>>2557755
Dad?
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>>2557724
>Can you answer if what Duncan said at the wedding was a request or a joke?
Probably a joke.
>>
Eldal request a pair of ID's as Jan Novák. Or if your people can make one, and ID that will change appearance on exposure to certain chemicals. Intel might be able to work something out with that and you did promise Eldal/Jan that you'd get him whatever ID he needed.

Did you want to restrict the number of potential ID's "Jan" can use?
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>>2557848
A) 2 max
B) Less than 5
C) Less than 10
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>>2557848

>Did you want to restrict the number of potential ID's "Jan" can use?

>B) Less than 5
>>
"Try to keep it to less than 5 ID's please?"

Jan promises not to overdo it.

Heavy Cruiser shipyard.

In the previous thread we discussed possibly replacing Anon's Gunship with anothr design, or possibly upgrading it. Unfortunately this was side tracked by discussion about Aries and Alex's plans.

What was decided upon was the purchase a heavy carrier type salvage ship from Ceres for RSS. Once the salvage ship is completed you'll have access to the design data and be able to produce it yourself. So the question then is do you want to produce more of these ships for sale? Upgrade the gunship, or keep it as is?

Regardless of what you pick there will still be buyers. At least one of the Alliance fleet commanders like the Gunship enough to request more.
Either of the engine block upgrades will result in orders from different Houses of the Dominion.
Exodus may prefer to produce their own designs, but they need Heavy construction ships and not enough are being built. So they'll certainly buy some of the salvage ship design for their own use.

There are other options but these are by far the cheapest.

[ ] Stick with Anon's Gunship
[ ] Upgrade Anon's Gunship (Modified Talos engine block)
[ ] Upgrade to half Inexorable class (Inexorable engine block)
[ ] Ceres Heavy salvage ship
[ ] Wait for Helios Heavy Cruiser
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>>2558419
>[ ] Wait for Helios Heavy Cruiser
>>
>>2558419
>[ ] Upgrade Anon's Gunship (Modified Talos engine block)
Maybe it's time to get a Talos PL? It's being used in a lot of Dominion designs now.
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>>2558419

[ ] Upgrade Anon's Gunship (Modified Talos engine block)

Get the Alliance and Houses of the Dominion.
>>
Probably taking the modified engine block unless there are more votes between now and the morning.

>>2558479
>Maybe it's time to get a Talos PL? It's being used in a lot of Dominion designs now.
You do have 1/3 of the design data for the Talos iirc, though it's for their carrier bays rather than the frequently important engines.

They might be willing to trade a limited use PL in return for you offloading that data.

Resuming tomorrow.
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>>2557304
How small can the weather control systems be made? Enough that you could mount it on a land vehicle and use it in ground operations to create cover?
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>>2558419
>[ ] Upgrade Anon's Gunship (Modified Talos engine block)
>>
>>2558419
[ ] Upgrade Anons gunship

>>2558672
I am all for trading in that data for a limited PL for the engines
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>>2558672
Can we pay to change it to a full PL instead while trading the data for it?
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>>2557771
No Jan.
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>>2558419
> [ ] Upgrade Anon's Gunship (Modified Talos engine block)
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>>2559685
Yes, though you can always wait until the following year for that if you want.

Getting the upgraded engine block for the Gunship is really quite cheap since the Dominion wants to improve uniformity. About 50-100m for the design changes. Your Engineering team is busy helping Alex otherwise you'd be able to get it done for the cheaper end for that range.

A full PL while trading in the data will be 500m.

1) Get the Talos PL now or wait until next year?
1a) Limited PL with Trade (Max use: 5)
1b) Full PL with Trade (500m)(10 year PL)
1c) Wait until next year

2) Roll 1d100 for design change costs
>>
Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>2559996

>1) Get the Talos PL now or wait until next year?
1c) Wait until next year

>2) Roll 1d100 for design change costs
Lets see how well our engineers do without the brains of the bunch.
>>
Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>2559996
>1c) Wait until next year
>>
>>2558864
>How small can the weather control systems be made? Enough that you could mount it on a land vehicle and use it in ground operations to create cover?
You'd need a large vehicle since it's really meant as an installation. The storms or cloud cover it generates wouldn't do much to block sensors from orbit without additional heavy jamming.

There was the old Kavarian shroud generator which works very well, but has adverse effects on a planet's atmosphere.
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>>2560027
>There was the old Kavarian shroud generator which works very well, but has adverse effects on a planet's atmosphere.

Could we in anyway improve upon it with the tech we got from the sphere?
>>
Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>2559996
>1c) Wait until next year
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>>2560050
Not really. It's an atmospheric phased particle scattering system. By dumping quantities of phased particles into the upper atmosphere it creates a charged cloud bank that sensors cant penetrate. Problem is it's more or less creating radioactive fallout in the process.
It's very effective but at a cost.

Some modern high output sensors can get around this but are themselves a bit harmful in the process.
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>>2560065
>Rolled 50
75m engine bank upgrade!
Could have been worse.
>>
Will post a followup Gunship update later. My computer starts acting weird when I turn on autocad lately.

Vanderwal makes you aware of a job offer that has come through Ferigold's black market connections. There are very few details other than that it's incredibly dangerous and would involve stealing something from one of the other Factions. You're amazed they've even admitted to that much.

Pay for the job would be substantial. On the order of a billion S or it's equivalent value in smuggling jobs or black market merchandise.

You're personally rather... preoccupied, so that means you wouldn't personally be going. You do have substantial amounts of special forces available some of which might volunteer.

Do you want to allow some of your people the chance to assist or ignore the offer?
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>>2560123
If they want to go on vacation who are we to deny them? Just remind them to take plenty of pictures to show us later. Wink wink. Nudge nudge
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>>2560123
As long as they're aware that if anything happens, we will throw them under the bus without a second thought.
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>>2560123
I'd rather not upset the other factions, but if our SF's feel they can get it done. We're not going to stop them and cannot official support them or their actions. The normal dealings of denying all attachments to having sent them out there in the first place.
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>>2560123
Pass it on to the most promising of our troops. We can take a page from the Terran blackops and declare them as AWOL whilst setting them up with some shuttles and equipment.
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>>2560148
>I'd rather not upset the other factions
Then don't tell your people about the mission offer?

>but if our SF's feel they can get it done.
Given the amount of money being offered probability of casualties is high. That doesn't mean they wouldn't be up for the challenge.

>>2560143
>>2560132
>>2560187
Looks like the info is being passed on.

Vanderwal points out that he did offer to trade favours with Krath intel in return for ignoring their operations on Rioja. He could use that favour to ensure any volunteers have access to emergency extraction. That could reduce the chance of losses.
Do so or save it?
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>>2560246
Hmmmmmm. Yeah. Let's do it. Would be better if this operation went cleanly.
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>>2560246
Sounds like he had this all figured out in advance huh
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>>2560246
>Do so or save it?
Do it
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>>2560246
>Do so or save it?
Let's DO IT.

Vanderwal values his information, and we didn't get him anything from the Sphere. I think we should tell him about the Republic's origin story, as our own form of gift to him.
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>>2560246

>Do so or save it?
Do it
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>>2560246
Actually I kind of don't want to do this anymore since this is exactly how the animosity between the Terrans and the Dominion started if I remember correctly.
>>
"Sounds like you had this all figured out in advance huh?"

The old man shrugs. "Hardly. I knew that favour would come in handy some day, but I never knew what I'd use it for. I expected we'd need it for information on political enemies on the planet."

You agree to making the offer available to the special forces. They won't be told about the Krath backup until after they volunteer. No reason to let them think this will be any easier.

5 people volunteer. They're informed that their actions cannot and will not be supported officially and that they'll be reported as either missing or AWOL. Depending on how the mission goes they may need to spend some time under house arrest when they get back. In expansive high priced mansions if they're successful.

Helpfully they're to be provided with equipment for the mission off the black market. Trying to trace its point of origin will be nearly pointless if they get caught. You're not able to be told anything else.

"I wished them luck before they set off." Vanderwal informs you.
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>>2560375
>this is exactly how the animosity between the Terrans and the Dominion started if I remember correctly.
Between the Terrans and the Dominion, or the Terrans and the players?
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>>2560397
I haven't done a re-read in a while, but I remember something like Kharbos? having technology from the Terran stolen, leading to one of the Faction Wars.
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>>2560405
Not in the faction Wars.
There was the Terran civil war when their government and the ruling house were going to ally into a new empire. Only most of the Terran military objected and they had guns.

The Kavarians stole a ton of Dominion tech when they broke away and declared independence.

Aries got in a lot of trouble when they stole tech from the Iratar Exiles and then sold one of their resulting Battleship designs to the Dominion.
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>>2560434
>The Kavarians stole a ton of Dominion tech when they broke away and declared independence.
Oh that's the one I was thinking of.
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Levi Nxesi has arrivred in the system. The Dominion's power armor projects have all reached a suitable level that he can now taking a break from it to work on projects for the House.

Wanting to keep his skills up with a challenge he'd like to build a suit of custom power armor for you or your guard. It could be a conventional suit, jump jet, Recon, Heavy, he's even learned how to construct Kavarian Bioform Armor.
Did you have any particular projects in mind?
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>>2560512
Spiderman or Batman suit for Ecord
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>>2560512
Could he create a Jump Jet suit with a somewhat silent jet part and integrated stealth?
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>>2560512
We have a lot of PA so maybe a custom build for Rufaro or Valeri?
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>>2560517
I could see it.

>>2560533
>Could he create a Jump Jet suit with a somewhat silent jet part and integrated stealth?
Possibly, though it would require a larger backpack.

>>2560534
>maybe a custom build for Rufaro or Valeri?
Good idea. I have to find the name of your new bodyguard.
Rufaro has transferred to your personal guard, no longer running around as one of your close bodyguards. A more general purpose suit of power armor would probably work best for her. Though there is always room for additional specialization.
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>>2560574
Power Armor with a slot for an Amplifier Crystal to supercharge it?
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>>2560584
He could try it, though he's not entirely certain about it's properties. It might take longer as he'll need to study your suits from the sphere a bit more.
>>
"Vigilante" suit
Stealth jump jet suit
Guards Commander suit
Power plus / Neeran Buster suit

Any others?
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>>2560652
Nxesi Special? The guy is an artisan after all, let him go nuts?
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>>2560693
He already did. He made the Medium jump jet armor and its derivatives.
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>>2560652
Can you tell us about the Vigilante and Power plus/neeran buster armor
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"Vigilante" suit - Spiderman or Batman suit for Ecord.
Light power armor trying to combine elements that would assist in non-lethal take downs of criminals and combatants. Could be equipped with a variety of loadouts.

Power plus / Neeran Buster suit - Power Armor with a slot for an Amplifier Crystal to supercharge it
This would try to copy elements of the sphere armor. Power and motive systems would be reinforced to survive sudden power surges. Would primarily feature tougher armor. Some minimal jump capability.
Can still make use of conventional weapons.
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>>2560652
Something Lightning gun?
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>>2560783
There is a lightning gauntlet attachment that can be equipped to most of your suits. This requires using one off your artifacts.
At the moment the Factions cant construct man portable versions.
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>>2560512

Give him more time with the Sphere Suit. And a reminder not to open the power pack on planet or around any living person. And especially not with him near it when messing with it.
>>
At any rate Mr Nxesi will be on the planet for awhile giving you time to make up your mind. Until then you'll let him look over the sphere suit a bit more. Again with strong warnings not to open the power module.

Rufaro introduces your new bodyguard, Sandhya Ruiz. She's had plenty of training and has volunteered for augmentations allowing her to keep up with you and Valeri.

"We've helped teach her everything she'll need to help keep you alive."

"Everything?"

"Well, almost everything."

You welcome the young lady aboard and apologise that shadowing you around may not be the most glamorous job.
"It's still a job that needs doing sir."

Anything you want to warn the new girl about?
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>>2560908
Has she served on ships, and for extended periods of time before? Spending half a year behind enemy lines is not really a stress free environment and much less so when Sonia is at the helm.

Our day to day is exciting enough, active duty is probably much worse than reflected in the reports and the classified stuff is really above and beyond. How much has she been shown and told by Rufaro?
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>>2560908

We tend to put ourselves into the line of fire and endanger ourselves quite often. Despite what our body guards warn us about of course that should have already been abundantly clear. Also we tend to become interested in our body guards families.
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>>2560928
>Has she served on ships, and for extended periods of time before? Spending half a year behind enemy lines is not really a stress free environment and much less so when Sonia is at the helm.
>Our day to day is exciting enough, active duty is probably much worse than reflected in the reports and the classified stuff is really above and beyond. How much has she been shown and told by Rufaro?
She's 23 and has been in the military for 5 years now. Didn't see any action in the civil war, but has deployed with the fleet into Shallan space twice. Served with the marines during both tours. Familiar enough with zero-g combat in addition to boarding actions and surface fighting. She hasn't spent any lengthy periods completely cut off from allies before, but her stress testing indicates she should do fine.

Rufaro showed her some of the combat footage from the Dominion Capital. There was also the attack on Rioja's admiralty and the arcology by enemy special forces. Valeri insisted on putting her through a number of simulations that were similar to previous assassination attempts on you, but different enough to see how she'd react before being shown the real thing.

There are some operations, including the ones on the sphere, they haven't shown her yet. Her security clearance is quite high but it's best if some things not be passed on.

>>2560956
>We tend to put ourselves into the line of fire and endanger ourselves quite often. Despite what our body guards warn us about of course that should have already been abundantly clear.
"They did warn me you might not listen to reason when it comes to charging into danger sir."

>Also we tend to become interested in our body guards families.
"Don't be creeped out if I ask how your family is doing or if there are any problems I can try to help with. I just care what happens to friends and relatives of the people who work for me."

"Got it sir. Everyone is doing okay? They're considering moving to Rioja."
"That's good to hear."
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>>2561057
Why did she want to become a bodyguard? It's really up there in the list of the most dangerous jobs available.

It's one hell of a career choice to get paid to bite the bullet for someone else
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>>2561081
>Why did she want to become a bodyguard?
"I saw one of our allied units fall apart when their commanding officer was killed. I don't know if it was a result of morale or an unclear chain of command, but it was enough get me thinking.
Rioja didn't fall apart with you gone, but if you had been killed it might have been different. Better to err on the side of caution and keep the important people alive."
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The Terraforming system prototype was delayed an additional 2 weeks beyond the month they originally believed. Guess it's a good thing you were ok with them taking 2 months. It's now showing better results than last time. Shut down is working correctly and they're proceeding to atmospheric testing in the northern hemisphere.

Their first test has produced results. They're not quite as powerful as they'd hoped for but it is working. Modification of local wind currents is working perfectly. It has more difficulty dispersing existing severe storm fronts but it does have an impact on them.

Do you want the team to move on to a full size prototype or wait until they've refined the system more?
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>>2561315
>Do you want the team to move on to a full size prototype or wait until they've refined the system more?
do it
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>>2561315

Maybe if they go full size they'll get it to work properly. Still think they need to get it right before moving on but hey, they've spent long enough with prototype time to move on to first generation. Just feels like they've only managed to get to the current state of current weather control technology.
>>
With the larger full sized system the development team believes they'll be able to manipulate weather patterns over an area an order of magnitude larger than the initial prototype. Simulations show that fine control should now be increased, improving in most areas that it was having more difficulty.

It's larger than the control pillar you helped sabotage. Mostly a result of your tech being less efficient and because the techs wanted more safety systems and backups.

While work on that is ongoing Rufaro is helping out Mr Nxesi in learning more about the suits from the sphere and seeing them in operation with different artifacts.

>Levi Nxesi is taken by a fey mood!

Rufaro contacts you letting you know that Mr Nxesi is asking, well actually demanding, access to a power armor workshop that can be sealed off from external networks. He also wants a substantial amount of materials.

>Supply these Y/N? (Lose 20 million S)
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>>2561636

>Rufaro contacts you letting you know that Mr Nxesi is asking, well actually demanding, access to a power armor workshop that can be sealed off from external networks. He also wants a substantial amount of materials.

A power armor workshop in space. Away from civilization. But yeah I am good loaning him the supplies. Also he has to promise that if he is going to take that power pack apart he is off the station and a good distance away from it should it explode or somehow turn into an anti-matter generator of micro size. Or that it has a mini-sun inside it.
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>>2561677
>Also he has to promise that if he is going to take that power pack apart he is off the station and a good distance away from it should it explode or somehow turn into an anti-matter generator of micro size.
He doesn't need any of the sphere artifacts just a suitable workshop and some rather expensive materials.
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>>2561687

I'm just worried if he opens the power case. I know he said he wouldn't, but curiosity killed the cat.
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>>2560393
>Vanderwal
He has seriously been a hero and a relentless defender of our interests.

Can we reward him somehow?
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>>2561724
>Can we reward him somehow?
What exactly do you get for an old spymaster?
A get of out jail free card for 1 war crime?
>>
[ ] Get Nxesi a workshop & materials (-20m)
[ ] Provide him a secure station workshop (-25m)
[ ] Have intel provide a secret workshop (-21m)
[ ] Assign an R&D team against his express wishes
[ ] Refuse
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>>2561947
> [ ] Have intel provide a secret workshop (-21m)
>>
>>2561947
[ X] Provide him a secure station workshop (-25m)
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>>2561947
>[ ] Provide him a secure station workshop (-25m)
>>
>>2561947
[ ] Provide him a secure station workshop (-25m)
>>
Mr Nxesi is not pleased at being effectively kicked off the planet. You counter this by warning that whatever mad project he has in mind it shouldn't be done on Rioja the same time you have weather control R&D happening. You don't mention that you're more worried he's going to create a nuclear explosion by mistake.

While he's working away at whatever wonder is about to spring from his brow, your technicians on the planet are getting ready. They're slowly working their way up to operational levels with the full scale device but there are still a couple "minor" problems. Minor in that efforts to disrupt or stop storms in their tracks still isn't living up to expectations. If anything the problem has gotten worse.

It may be too early to say for certain but a few people inside the program suspect sabotage.

"You can't just assume sabotage. This is a new technology after all isn't it?" asks Fadila.

"It is." you agree.

Troy notes that you're getting into August now. In order to firmly beat competitors that could benefit from the Alliance's data, production should begin before the end of the year.

[ ] Bring in people to check for sabotage
[ ] Explore alternatives to flush out spys
[ ] Give them time to fix it (How much?)
>>
>>2562224

We tried to play nice. Time to bring in house intel and to get on Alliance's ass to cut their shit out or else.

>[ ] Bring in people to check for sabotage
>[ ] Explore alternatives to flush out spys
>>
>>2562224
>[ ] Bring in people to check for sabotage
>[ ] Explore alternatives to flush out spys

Do both of these. I feel personally insulted.
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>>2562261
This. Also how swell is the belly by now? Any back pains, cramps or other complications?
>>
>>2562371
Quickly approaching the point of "this was a terrible idea."
>>
Troy asks for Rob Ecord's help and heads our to pick up a number of trusted specialists from among his own contacts. They requisition a ship and use it to visit a few terraforming operations in the Run.

Vanderwal meanwhile sends some additional people to the labs and test site to say hello. They're not going to do anything immediately. Not until Troy's people get back. What they will do is make sure additional security feeds are in place to catch anyone in the act if they react to the security check.
If that doesn't turn up any leads they'll move on to other options.

Troy returns 2 days later having rounded up a few trusted individuals that should have a rough idea of what they're looking for. They're not the best or they'd already be working on the project. The HTF people already on the project team are only good in a few areas, specifically the ones you're not having problems with.

Roll 3d100
>>
Rolled 94, 13, 67 = 174 (3d100)

>>2562634
>Roll 3d100

Sonia smash some faces with the legal hammer of destruction. Failing that saboteurs need to disappear.
>>
Rolled 78, 78, 43 = 199 (3d100)

>>2562634
>>
Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>2562634
Let's get HackerGirl in to help?
>>
Rolled 34, 62 = 96 (2d100)

>>2562763
I'm dumb, other two dice.
>>
>>2562763
>Let's get HackerGirl in to help?
There's an idea. She may not know what she's looking for but she might be able to help narrow things down.
>>
>>2562797

Every bit helps.
>>
>>2562413
Just a few months left.
What can go wrong
>>
Persephone Sarkisyan is contacted and asked if she'd like a bonus for checking out and R&D lab for signs of sabotage. She agrees to take a look at the very least. She's picked up by Troy's people before they head in.

Persephone isn't sure what data is supposed to be present. What she does find is evidence of people transferring data through sections they're not supposed to be able to. It starts to build up a clear picture of several people who might be responsible.

Having a rough idea of what was accessed, Troy's people get to work seeing if they can resolve the sabotaged designs. Intel also looks at the other connections. Persephone eventually realises that she's following a false trail leading to several people. Intel takes over at this point and quickly determines that one of a small number may be responsible.

Vanderwal has a plan to put some of the suspects in peril if they don't undo the sabotage. Specifically turning the system on and conjuring up a powerful storm with them outside the control system. He'll have people standing by to cut the power along with guards and medics in power cell armor.

Approve this plan? Or wait to see if Troy's specialists can fix the problem?
>>
Will try to resume tomorrow. Not sure, have to deal with errors in my taxes.
>>
>>2562870
>Approve this plan? Or wait to see if Troy's specialists can fix the problem?

Both, go with both. We've been nice, they've decided to fuck us. Nice gloves come off.
>>
>>2562870
Isolate them if possible, have Troy's people fix the problem, and then enact Vanderwal's plan.
>>
>>2562870
Can we somehow make it look like we didn't catch them, then use them to feed false information? The more dangerous the better?

If they get it from multiple sources, it'll seem more reliable.
>>
We should feed false data to whoever was in charge of the sabotage, and make it so that any Weather systems they build with the leaked data explode on activation.
>>
>>2562870
You know, I was willing to accept that these scientists would be sneaking out info. Or making copies of data that they were not supposed to make. I was certain that they would most definitly do that and I was fine with it.

But out right sabotaging our project? Making development and research delay because they want to delay us? I say no, F*** them. They've betrayed our trust and good will, if after Vanderwall catches them. We should give him instructions that those involved be put in old gen stasis pods because it would be so terrible for them if the stasis pod were to experince a failure. Killing its occupent because it was an older gen and not yet phased out.

Or better yet interrogate them, learn all that they did and then unscrew their mess. Learn who their superiors are and hold the researchers as blackmail against the rival houses and factions. For interfearing and sabotaging one of our programs.
>>
>>2563087
That's the kind of false information I was thinking about.

We can always round them all up at the end.
>>
>>2562877
>>2562914
>>2563087
If the person(s) in question end up fixing the system to save their own skin it's going to be fairly obvious you've caught them.
>>
>>2563247
Try to fix it ourselves first then I say. We do hire the most competent people.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBLOvSb56Vc [ ME2 The Illusive Man]

As Troy's people continue to look for quick fixes, the intel team catch one of the scientists in the act of trying to hide something. Within less than a minute troops storm the room and hold the doctor at gun point while an officer recovers a data storage device.

"Contract or not I still have rights!" the Hune woman declares.

She's taken to a temporary holding cell and scanned for other hidden devices tat might be on her person. The storage device that was recovered is found to contain pornographic material, some of which is of a type illegal in the Dominion. Reason enough to hide it.
Searching deeper techs manage to determine that the illegal material is just a screen for collected data. She was clearly planning to smuggle it out in the future.

Vanderwal orders his people to keep looking. A data thief wouldn't endanger their operation by sabotaging the system.

Troy's team manages to figure out a few basic fixes that could get the system up and running at 100%, though it would compromise the added safety systems.

Given the nature of the sabotage there are now 3 suspects.

[ ] Let intel do their little test with each of them
[ ] Remove those 3 from the project. Try to finish without them
[ ] Remove the added safety systems
>>
Have been called into work later so I'll be stopping around 4:30 PM.
Will be running tuesday night and through the day wednesday.
>>
>>2563834

>Given the nature of the sabotage there are now 3 suspects.

>[ ] Remove those 3 from the project. Try to finish without them

Only with the added modification that they all be held for blackmail and use as barganing chips/ tools against their employers for f*****g us.

Take them out to the barn for to be interrogated on how to fix their mess. Then drop them off on a deserted world or a death world far away from civilization. The more compliant ones get to stay in a stasis pod to be used against their houses/ factions.
>>
>>2563834
>[ ] Let intel do their little test with each of them
>>
>>2563887
>>2563924
Just waiting on a tie breaker.
>>
>>2563834
>[ ] Let intel do their little test with each of them
>>
Each of the 3 scientists are put outside in an exposed control room along with a couple of their peers that have already been cleared of suspicion. The guards and one specialist wearing power cell armor then activate the device.

"Necessity is the mother of invention." Vanderwal tells you. "Even if this plan doesn't work someone may yet come up with a better solution."

"If there are casualties as a result of this I'm going to be rather annoyed." you tell him.

It turns out all 3 of the suspected scientists are able to solve the problem. Or at least get the system into the needed operational range to halt the storm. It seems the added redundant safety systems not called for in the original design had actually been sabotaged. Disabling them allowed the control system to work as intended.

The second of the three is almost certainly not the spy. Things were getting a little too dangerous to have risked their own life like that. They had also been against adding the redundant systems normally required by the industry.

Both of the remaining suspects managed to solve the problem very quickly. They're either brilliant or responsible for the sabotage.

One of the suspects are a Rovinar, the other a Dro'all from another House.
Do you want both of them removed from the project until and held until after the system has entered mass production?
>>
>>2564138
>One of the suspects are a Rovinar, the other a Dro'all from another House.
>Do you want both of them removed from the project until and held until after the system has entered mass production?

Yes and be used against their houses.
>>
>>2564138
Remove and interrogate.
>>
>>2564138
Removed, jailed and interrogated. Leave it to Vanderwal
>>
"Remove both of them from the project and lock them up. Deal with them as you see fit until you find out who was the saboteur, just keep them alive."

Vlanderwal promises his people will investigate both of them thoroughly. The other scientists of course soon want to know what happened to their missing co-workers. They're informed that 3 of their number were arrested for espionage.

A few protest it being unlikely a Rovinar would conduct espionage, but others disagree. If it would help the Federation they probably wouldn't hesitate to do so. They also suspect their Dro'all counterpart won't be in prison for longer than a year or two given the likelihood of their House paying a ransom for them.

Regardless of the fallout the project is back on the rails and approaching completion.

Did you want to perform a grand unveiling for the completed system as a few suggested?

See you later!
>>
>>2564293
>Did you want to perform a grand unveiling for the completed system as a few suggested?
sure
>>
>>2564293
>Did you want to perform a grand unveiling for the completed system as a few suggested?
As long as we perform test runs beforehand so we are not embarrassed by it failing to work the first time we try it out properly. Otherwise a grand unveiling should be GREAT for boosting sales when it hits the market.
>>
>>2564293
>Did you want to perform a grand unveiling for the completed system as a few suggested?
Hell yeah a song and dance. You know what would be fun to taunt the Terrans? Announce some new Democratic reforms, citizens are now allowed to vote on what weather they want once a month.
>>
>>2564293
Yeah, after a real test run so that we know for certain that it will work
>>
>>2564293

>A few protest it being unlikely a Rovinar would conduct espionage, but others disagree. If it would help the Federation they probably wouldn't hesitate to do so. They also suspect their Dro'all counterpart won't be in prison for longer than a year or two given the likelihood of their House paying a ransom for them.

Why do I smell a heaping pile of bull shit from these people? They don't seem to know what the Rovinar are capable of and what they would and would not be willing to do to get ahead. As for the Dro'all, oh he is being used for political black mail.

>Did you want to perform a grand unveiling for the completed system as a few suggested?

Yes
>>
>>2564319
>They don't seem to know what the Rovinar are capable of
Of course not. They haven't done special forces work for them before. I should point out that none of the movies you've done with Halide have ever touched on work you've done for the Rovinar.
>>
>>2566647
Weave an overarching plot line of Rogue Rovinar baddies into the Halide cinematic universe?
>>
I've been meaning to ask this for a while. About farming. It was early mentioned when we bough out Rioja that we got some of the best land for ourself. That includes prime farming land for our agriculture. That got me thinking about the advent of vertical farming that is currently happening here. Much of the problem with vertical farming today comes down to it not being cost efficient energy wise and that lamps to provide artificial sunlight are not good enough.

Now considering the kinds of generators and the like which we got going for us right now and the general advanced state of the universe at large how viable would it be to set up massive multilevel buildings on worlds which are less habitable for the purpose of creating food? Is vertical farming viable and efficient?
>>
>>2567243
> Much of the problem with vertical farming today comes down to it not being cost efficient energy wise
This reminds me I haven't been giving a lot of thought to power grid infrastructure. Fortunately that's part of the planetary governor's job.
>and that lamps to provide artificial sunlight are not good enough.
Part of that can be solved by sufficient light piping / light tubes to direct sun light through an entire building. We could theoretically do this today but it's complicated to get all the reflection systems working right and would be expensive to design a vertical farm building around it.

With Rioja's atmosphere now clear these low power vertical farms could work and I'm willing to say there should already be a few scattered around Strymon.

>Now considering the kinds of generators and the like which we got going for us right now and the general advanced state of the universe at large how viable would it be to set up massive multilevel buildings on worlds which are less habitable for the purpose of creating food? Is vertical farming viable and efficient?
I'm going to say that yes it is viable. Not ideal for certain crops but yes it can be done. (I think that's what I said previously.) You're not going to make as much of a profit because of your power bills and initial construction cost.
Obviously that's less of a concern if you're on a planet that has little or no alternatives.
>>
The loss of 2 prominent scientists from the project does result in some slowdowns. Fortunately the hardest part is already done. Now's it's just a matter of trimming the overly redundant "safety" systems that were added and replacing them with far more simple remote and manual shutdown options. These technically fit the requirements HTF first wanted, even if they're not as expansive as they would have liked.

Really the sphere builders knew what they were doing. Renewed tests with the second prototype show that there are additional safeties built in, they just dont seem to be related systems at first glance.

There was no immediate reaction from the Rovinar Embassy but it doesn't take too long. They want to know what evidence you have against one of their citizens. If there is to be no trial they want to know how long they'll be imprisoned.
Fortunately there are lawyers on the case and the scientist in question did sign the lengthy NDA. If they are guilty you can hold them for a very long time, though not indefinitely.

For now all their embassy is willing to do is submit a written protest about the nebulous nature of the charges. They intend to wait until after your system enters production. If there has still been no evidence brought against their citizen within 3 months of product launch they will be very displeased. They'll even send your House a letter saying how displeased they are.

So there's that to look forward to. Intel will keep trying to get info out of both of them.

Throughout the remainder of August the team puts the system through its paces. From extreme weather to minor variances in local wind patterns, it doesn't take very long to work out the remaining kinks and bugs. The region might need a bit of landscaping work as a result of heavy storm activity.

As far as you're concerned the system is at 100% when the guests arrive in the first few days of September for the grand unveiling.

Did you have a speech in mind for the guests?
>>
>>2567978

>Rovinar Embassy
I feel sabotage falls under illegal activity. And intent to break their NDA should also fall under illegal activity as well.

>Speech
Nothing really comes to mind. Other then that this should be tech to revolutionize or reinvigorate weather control tech. Failing that, ask Troy for a joint speech.
>>
>>2568086
>I feel sabotage falls under illegal activity.
At the moment you only have circumstantial evidence that they were responsible. Mind you they're one of only 2 suspects.
>>
Guests are flown out to a temporary structure with observation platforms situated 40km from the completed weather control system. Plenty of scale models of the device are present for people to look at. Which isn't much you have to admit. It's little more than a solid looking squarish pylon with rounded bits bulging out in places.

The skies are blue and partly cloudy. The perfect afternoon weather. As the guests assemble you step up behind a podium, all the better to conceal your dredded maternity uniform. Troy is nearby but this is your project and your show.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you're here to see the latest technology to revolutionize or reinvigorate weather control systems. Rugged, reliable and able to affect weather systems big and small over a wide area. These systems can dissipate dangerous weather phenomena before they cause property damage, or funnel moisture laden air to regions suffering droughts.

Less than 40 of these devices are necessary to provide complete coverage to most habitable worlds. We hope to be able to use them in conjunction with atmospheric processors to speed terraforming efforts. That particular use has yet to see testing, but even in its base form the potential of this system should be evident."

Next you ask the guests if any of them would prefer a change of scenery as a demonstration. A lord from House Ceres asks for a small lightning storm. You make the call for one storm to be built up near the device. Much as you saw on the sphere it doesn't take long for clouds to begin to form then turn dark. Within 5 minutes lightning begins to arc through the clouds.

A few others ask if the storm can be moved and it's directed away to the north before another asks that it be dissipated.

A Terran business woman asks what makes your system better than existing technology. You're aware that there are weather control grids on some well off worlds, though they require many more emplacements at regular intervals and don't work nearly as quickly.

>What say?
>>
>>2568215

I am sure our scientist/ engineers gave us notes on what improvements our system has over existing technologies right?

Also is it cheaper/ more efficient to build our systems over current existing systems?

Are our systems more or less complex then existing weather control technology.

Also upkeep, what is the upkeep cost for our system compared to existing technology.

Unlike existing technology ours has the potential to turn a simple rain storm into a near apocalyptic level storm in a few minutes. Should the safeties be breached.
>>
>>2568227
>Also is it cheaper/ more efficient to build our systems over current existing systems?
1 device instead of tens of thousands for an equivalent area?

>Are our systems more or less complex then existing weather control technology.
Probably more complex, but as previously stated rugged and reliable.

>Also upkeep, what is the upkeep cost for our system compared to existing technology.
That's a bit harder to factor in at this stage. It hasn't been in operation long enough to know how quickly parts will break and which are more prone to failure. Might be a good idea to have a replacement contract or warranty until that can be figured out.

Energy requirements would be variable depending on how much work it needed to do. Severe environments would need more.

>apocalyptic level storm in a few minutes. Should the safeties be breached.
Well don't say that.
Actually maybe say that if you're marketing it to Planetary Governors as a potential augmentation to their defense systems.
>>
>>2568244
>1 device instead of tens of thousands for an equivalent area?
That sounds like ours is by far the more cheaper option. Plus instead of dedicating a lot of land or whatever is needed to make the current practice work. You can use that extra space for other constructs.

>Might be a good idea to have a replacement contract or warranty until that can be figured out.
Yeah that would be fair to offer. Have the first generation with such warranty.

>Power
Having a single device rather than thousands drawing upon a power grid seems like you would have to deal with less drain/ stress on the power grid.

I'd rather it not be made a widely known thing at a public showing. Maybe have it be on the warning label with a disclaimer that void of warranty should safeties be breached and absolves RSS if someone weaponizes them.

Still not entirely sure what to say to claim ours is better then existing tech, other then whatever notes our scientists/ engineers probably gave us before hand.
>>
>>2567978
"Wow, look at those cloud patterns folks, isn't that amazing? A few years ago this was a barren hellrock, now look at what we've done. It's just fantastic, and these new systems are going to make it even more fantastic. Believe me - these systems are just the best, and you won't find another one like it."
>>
>>2568268
>Having a single device rather than thousands drawing upon a power grid seems like you would have to deal with less drain/ stress on the power grid.
You make sure to play up this point. Even if it may use more power in certain instances it's going to put less strain on infrastructure to do so.
>>
>>2568215
"The technology we've developed here is particularly unique - it's incredibly efficient and can handle much larger areas with much greater ease. It's a bridge between some of the existing Faction terraforming technology, and you could say it took 4 years to finalise it."

Are there any types of weather that the control grids already in use struggle to create? Something like snow? Maybe make it snow at the very limit of the tower's range.
>>
You call up the system operators.
"Think you could manage snow?"

"Maybe sir. It's rather hard to manage at this altitude. Odds are it'll just turn to rain because of local atmospheric temperature. We could try a few things to make it colder but there could be side effects"

Try anyways?
>>
>>2568306
I'm up for it if other posters want to try it, even hailstones would be cool.
>>
>>2568306

"What kind of side effects?"

It seems there needs to be more field tests in different environments. To get the full range of possibilities down correctly.
>>
>>2568316
"What kind of side effects?"
"We'd be bringing in a cold air mass into an area of warmer air. Could spawn tornadoes. Then we'd have to stop everything to dissipate them."
>>
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>>2568328

>Tornados
Now if it was an already existing tornado. I'd say show them how we can turn tornadoes and dangerous weather phenomenon into calm clouds.

So no thanks on the displaying the tornado creation. I can hear the PR out cry from the public just from showing this to a Terran.
>>
"The technology we've developed here is particularly unique - it's incredibly efficient and can handle much larger areas with much greater ease. It's a bridge between some of the existing Faction terraforming technology, and you could say it took 4 years to finalise it.

A few years ago this was a dust bowl, now look at what we've done. It's just fantastic, and these new systems are going to make it even more fantastic. Believe me when I say that these are just the best, and you won't find another one like it."

"At least not until someone tries to copy it and you sue them into the ground!" A wealthy Kavarian gentleman points out.
>>
>>2568393

>Kavarian statement

I'm not a lawyer, so the closest I can get to figuring out copyright, is with Wikipedia and a five minute google search. But so long as their tech is dissimilar enough to ours, we cannot sue them. But if there is enough of a similarity we can sue them copyright infringement. Of course it will be up to the courts to determine if there is a sufficient level of similarity between ours and there's and how good a case we can provide.

Which is why getting this out there NOW is so important. Because in a few months the Alliance is handing the tech out to all the factions and I can bet there will be countless lawsuits happening.

Oh dear god, we're going to have to either pay London more or hire a new branch of RSS just to deal with the lawsuits that will arise very soon. If we don't have a branch of lawyers on hand already.
>>
>>2568408
This company was set up separately from RSS. It does have the benefit of legal experts from RSS, but also from the Harmen family and the other expedition members who have shares.

There are a few other weather requests from the assembled guests including one considering snow. You have to let them down that weather experts far more experienced than yourself have told you that's a bad idea at this latitude. You do intend to try it at another location.

Many of the guests still have their doubts but enough are willing to give it a try that several planets worth of systems are pre-sold. These early models will have a more robust warranty system covering replacement should any issues develop.

Troy's parents have made the trip to Rioja and approach once most of the guests begin to disperse. They congratulate you on getting the system into production so quickly. Also that you seem to be looking quite healthy with the twins on the way.

"How are you holding up?" Troy's mother asks.

[ ] "Screaming internally."
[ ] "As well as could be expected." [Screams internally]
>>
>>2568393
>"At least not until someone tries to copy it and you sue them into the ground!" A wealthy Kavarian gentleman points out.
You. I like you.
>>
>>2568485
[ ] "Screaming internally."
>>
>>2568485
>[ ] "As well as could be expected." [Screams internally]

>>2568393
>someone tries to copy it and you sue them into the ground!
Nonsense, we just buy them outright if they're making a better or more competitive version.
>>
>>2568485

"How are you holding up?" Troy's mother asks.

>[ ] "Screaming internally."
"And my mother did this three times."
>>
>>2568485
>[X] "As well as could be expected." [Screams internally]

Normally I would say we should be honest, but these are the in-laws we're talking about. Troy is a decent guy but that seems to be more in spite of his parents than because of them. We're allies now, we should be polite, but they've been playing the backstabbing nobility game longer than we've been alive. We shouldn't write them off, but we shouldn't let them get too close.
>>
Didn't realise the time. Resuming tomorrow. We'll see if there is a tiebreaker by then.
>>
>>2567978
> They'll even send your House a letter saying how displeased they are.

Offer to return their scientist . . . As a favour.

Also we're copying their brains right?
>>
File: tenor.gif (1.48 MB, 264x320)
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>>2568485
> Look around

> Pic related

> Calmly state "About as well as can be expected"
>>
>>2568485
>>2568702
I like the idea of screaming externally. I feel like Troy's mom could relate to that.
>>
>>2568576
Define "Tomorrow" pls why is working nights suffering.
>>
>>2568485
>[X] "Screaming internally."
This is worse than getting shot at
>>
>>2568485
>[ ] "Screaming internally."
Is it time to lie in bed and do nothing yet? Managing the whole feast without fainting must be hard.
>>
No love for external screaming whomp whomp.
>>
>>2568485
"I've made a terrible mistake."
>>
"Oh, screaming internally. It's hard to believe my mother did this three times."

"Well yes it can be a bit overwhelming." The Lady Harmen admits, glancing around to see who might overhear your conversation.
"The important thing is to make do without letting the rank and file see any signs of weakness as a result of it. Take time out of the public spotlight if you need to."

You admit to doing a bit less public events over the past couple of months for those reasons. The weather control system was important enough that you had to look after it and appear in person.

"That's good. Maintaining some appearances to give the impression you're carrying on is also a good thing. With Troy's sisters I almost had to stop public appearances altogether."

"But not with Troy?" you ask, glancing in your husband's direction. He's clearly not amused by this line of questioning.

"Oh no. I was determined to play the part of the proud first time mother. I frequently had medics standing by out of sight. I nearly fainted once."

"I did warn you not to over do it." Lord Harmen points out.
"And I decided to follow your advice with the other two."

Troy is eager to move the conversation along before things end up in uncomfortable territory. One of his sisters is to be married soon but they may delay until the new year. The youngest sister is also seeing someone but she wont even discuss marriage until her older sister has been married off. Troy quietly informs you she's a bit of a brat.

"You'll have to share some embarrassing stories about Troy with me when we're in a less public venue."

Lady Harmen thinks it over then shakes her head. "No I don't think so. He already knows what he's done. That should be embarrassment enough."

"Mother..."

It isn't long after that the Harmens and the guests begin to depart. You as well head back to the capital after wishing the crews well and thanking them for their hard work and dedication.

Most of the engineers and technicians that worked on the project have done an excellent job. Finishing everything at a rapid pace few would believe possible they've delivered an operational system with time to spare.
Did you wish to pay them a bonus?
>>
>>2569252
Bonus: Yes
>>
>>2569252
Naturally yes bonuses for hard work.
>>
Linda arrives at Rioja on vacation and showboating in her expensive racing yacht. Apparently there is supposed to be a regional race in a couple of months time. She and her copilot want to get some practice in. In between she's more than happy to help out as you deal with the various challenges of your condition.

"Have you had a baby shower yet?"
"No? They haven't been born yet." you reply.
"Oh right. Some of the places I've been hanging out do things a bit differently."

Linda ask how things have been going. When you seem reluctant to tell her she insists.
"Isn't motherhood supposed to be this amazing thing?"

"This has been a nightmare. My back hurts, so do my legs and... actually everything but my arms hurt. Even then my wrist is bothering me a bit."
Your one original non-replacement wrist.
"I've got swelling all over the place, it feels like I need a wardrobe change every week, and my tits are even bigger than Bekka's now."

Linda tries not to smirk at that last bit and fails miserably.
"I don't know if everyone would find increased cup size to be a problem."

"It is when they hurt!" you retort.

"Were the mood swings bad early on?"
"I've been mad enough to kill people before and been under crazy stress during some deployments. I think I was able to cope well enough."
"That's good."

Glancing down she notices a kick.
"A lot of movement?"

"Yes. I can barely sleep most nights now. Linda, what was I thinking? Twins?! Most people have a hard enough time with one baby, not two. This is harder than... well I'm having trouble thinking of a mission I've been on that was really difficult over a long period of time. Maybe the Warlords campaign? Harder than that.
Lately it feels like I'm just hanging on for dear life."

"You only have a month or two left right? That's not too long."
"Yeah "only" a month and a half. I'm beginning to understand why my mom can be so short tempered with my and my siblings."
"Sonia I don't think your mom's temper is related to having had kids, but because she still deals with three."
>>
Linda leaves you some music and a few different kinds of teas she's heard are supposed to help during pregnancy. Mom already sent you some of both. Given the way things have been going you decide you might as well make use of them. One of the maids brew up some of the tea and returns with it.

Before you can try any the cup rockets upwards and out of your hands, flying across the room to shatter against the far wall. One of your suits of Recon armor turns visible, gun pointed at the maid.

Rufaro? No, right it's the new girl, Sandhya Ruiz.

"Hands where I can see them! Down on the ground!" she shouts at the other woman.

Valeri rushes in from one of the adjoining rooms, scooping you up and evacuating you to a safer location. Dave, Emor and one of Troy's own bodyguards arrive at the safe room escorting your husband not long after.

Within the hour you're talking to Vanderwal.

"What just happened?"
"One of the maids tried to poison you." the spook replies, not sounding his usual cheerfully vindictive self.

"How did she get through screening? Who hired her?"
"...I hired her." Vanderwal finally admits. "She was from my family's old estate and wanted to start over again away from the former Erid worlds. She also briefly worked for my nephew Baron Ukalah. Apparently it wasn't brief enough.
I'm sorry to have placed you in danger. I promise to make sure this is taken care of."

[ ] What do you intend to do with her?
[ ] I don't want to know the details
[ ] Someone else will take care of this
>>
>>2569357

"Vanderwal, if she is related to you in any way. I expect you to take care of your family matter. If not, stasis pod until I'm not filled with hormones and liable to kill someone."
>>
>>2569357
>>2569369
Also I have an idea to play this up a little and let Vanderwall and us get more info on whoever paid her to do this or connections with those allied against us.

I trust Vanderwall. He may have made an accident in hiring her but beyond this one mistake he has been true to us for several years now. So either have a letter sent to him or a conversation with him telling him we trust him, but if there was a way that we (him and us) could use this to our advantage in some way...
>>
>>2569357
Well don't just stand there, find out who made her do it. Do whatever you need.
>>
>>2569403
This.
Grumpy pregnant woman intensifies.

I wonder who did it or is it implied to be the former baron?
>>
>>2569369
"Vanderwal, if she is related to you in any way, I expect you to take care of your family matter."

"I wouldn't employ one of my own family members as a maid, I still have some sense of decency. She's from a middle class family that have served my own, very capably I might add, for a very long time. They've been loyal to us and we have looked after them.
Half my family lost their holdings when they sided with Ukalah and his Aries company backers. There was bound to be some collateral in terms of job losses among the servants and maids."

"So did anyone else make her do it?"
"If they did it would mean executing some of my remaining family members I'm still on speaking terms with.
In all likelihood this was done on her own. She wouldn't have risked endangering the rest of her family if they could be tied to it. I intend to make certain before this is resolved."

>Your orders?
>>
>>2569455
Be very certain then. As for the maid, space her. pregnancy hormones intensifies
>>
>>2569455
>Your orders?
Ensure she did actually poison it. If confirmed then execute. Be mindful she was okay with killing our still be born children. No mercy.
>>
>>2569455

Find out what you must and deal with as appropriate.
>>
>>2569455
"I trust you Vanderwal. Do your job, and if the evidence does point to her family, or yours, don't go soft on me."
>>
>>2569455
Put her in the brain scrambler.
>>
"Be certain, then do what needs to be done. If she really did just try to poison me..."

"If she did then I'll take care of it."

You don't see Vanderwal again until two days later. He confirms that she did act alone and had recently updated her will. Nevertheless her immediate family has been placed under surveillance. The young woman herself won't be bothering anyone ever again.

On to more positive news.
The museum ship/station is up and running. A few exhibits have been opened covering elements of the expeditionary wars and settlement of the J-D homeworlds, as well as DRH 1 Relay. The spin gravity section is currently disabled for lengthy repairs, though parts of it have been equipped with more conventional artificial gravity systems so people can look around. They've even lowered the gravity at different levels.

Kids that have been through the museum seem quite fascinated by the different issues the passengers would have to deal with. Especially during acceleration for jump.

Up at the moon base the test team have finished their analysis of the Kharbos built KV Vulture. It performs well as an attack ship, at least as well as the older attack cruisers you used back when you first started out. By current standards they're a bit under gunned compared to larger attack cruisers but are cheaper to build and slightly harder to hit due to their smaller size.

They conclude that it would make for a good cheap alternative for Houses wanting to modernise that couldn't afford attack cruisers. For everyone else if would probably make more sense as a post-war option.
>>
>>2569738
Wait. She tried to kill us because she lost her job? BS. Especially after we gave her a new one.

Well it's buried now, but what changes did she make to her will?
>>
>>2569738

So she for no reason at all decided to try and kill us? That seems suspicious, but whatever she is gone. On to more pleasant things.
>>
>>2569786
>>2569791
If Sonia was stripped of her lands, money and thrown in prison for the rest of her life, how do you think the people that were loyal to her might respond?
Even if they were offered another job?
>>
>>2569837
I would hope a mass Unabomber style insurgency, constantly terrorising the established governments every month or so with increasingly advanced bomb designs.
>>
>>2569892
Set aside seed money for Project Avenger?
>>
>>2569908
Just like the secret police fund, it will come back to save us eventually. Yes, fund it.
>>
>>2569837
Huh. How did they have such loyal people when they were such utter fuckups.

And honestly I would assume all the people loyal to us would join us in becoming a pirate scourge of the stars.
>>
>>2569837
Point taken.

>>2569908
fund it
>>
Construction at the capital moving swiftly. Underground connections to the mass transit systems are completed and a custom built arcology is nearly ready to be shipped from the J-D homeworlds. A number of local businesses are already submitting applications for space at the food court.

With the demonstration of the weather control system there is a new urgency to get the building completed and offices in place. People would rather not travel out to Rioja and the widest possible customer base is available on the capital thanks to the hundreds of embassies only a few minutes flight away.

A con artist has already been arrested supposedly negotiating office sales at the entrance to the site. Between the time of the first complaints made against him and the police arriving he'd moved on to selling fake weather control systems.

On Rioja the first large shipments of the new hard plate body armor has arrived. Local production has started but they're still getting up to speed. Army drills have started with it and General Rna is eager to conduct a full scale exercise.

The Alliance has issued a warning to all Factions that a large scale Neeran offensive is imminent. The buildup they've been monitoring has now surpassed original size estimates. The fleets are still out of position for an attack on Shallan space but there are signs of movement.
Reserve forces should be prepared to mobilize within 48 hours of an alert going out.
>>
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Terraforming operations to stabilise the orbit of the House Nirium world in the Run have been completed. Its orbit is for the moment a bit elliptical but it will keep it in the habitable range of its star near indefinitely.

The gravity well generator has been moved back to House Pantaq space where the techs and scientists are preparing for the orbital capture maneuver. A few have asked if it might be possible to arrange for a planetary scale demonstration of the new weather control system. The idea being to bring the planet to habitable status more quickly, while also showing off its full capabilities.
House Pantaq would be willing to pay a premium for this.

HTF warns that with this being the first full sized planet moved into the habitable zone of a star by gravwell they would prefer a more cautious approach. This would allow them to look more closely at any potential long term issues as a result of the gravity shift.

[ ] If they're paying the premium we can deliver
[ ] Stick to conventional methods for the 1st time
>>
>>2570086
> [ ] Stick to conventional methods for the 1st time
>>
>>2570086
>[ ] Stick to conventional methods for the 1st time
>>
>>2570086
>[ ] Stick to conventional methods for the 1st time
>>
>>2570086

>[ ] Stick to conventional methods for the 1st time

Once HTF and our scientists/ engineers are certain the planet is safely in the habitable zone. Then go ahead and place the weather control devices in place. We want to make sure our ally in the Run Alliance has a habitable world for their people as much as they do. But if the experts say that they want to see how this plays out before introducing new variables to the equation. Then it would be wise to do so.
>>
For now you decline House Pantaq's offer as there are still too many unknown variables. Best to leave that up to the experts you insist. When HTF give the OK they can put as many on planet as they want.

Intel informs you that Levi Nxesi was found passed out in his workshop next to a strange suit of custom power armor he must have just completed. According to the medics he wasn't in great shape though he's expected to make a full recovery.

You make a point to visit when he regains consciousness. The old tech is clearly a little disoriented still, trying to make sense of how he ended up in a hospital.
"You were working on a suit of power armor."

"Young lady, you just described half my life."

You show him a picture of the suit he built and ask if he remembers anything.
"I don't remember building anything like that but it certainly looks familiar."

You ask the officers that were monitoring the station if they had any video of his constructing the suit. They're sorry to report that what video they do have is largely useless. He insisted in working in isolation and was the only one who knew where everything in the workshop was kept. It seems he'd also made modifications to the internal scanners.

"I know how to keep ghosts from spying on my workshops. That I remember."

A few days later when he's feeling better Mr Nxesi inspects his handiwork. The bulky looking suit of armor is among the larger medium suits you've seen before. Large angular plates of dark armor material make it looks like it's been carved out of charcoal. A few pieces seem familiar to you.

"I know what this is." says Nxesi after about a minute.
"You remember?"
"No."

He points to a few pieces around the helmet and neck.
"I copied part of this from that Neeran armor you recovered aboard the Vieona. This is an absorber armor, but more advanced."

Manipulating one of the arms he locates a slot.
"Do you have one of your artifacts with you?"

You hand him the converter you're been carrying around with you ever since the expedition. Sure enough it fits into the slot perfectly. There's an identical slot on the other arm.
"One for a converter, the other for the amplifier. This is supposed to function like your sword! This suit is a masterpiece."

"That certainly is a feat of engineering." you agree. "Congratulations."

The old man has a sudden moment of realisation. "I'll never be able to top this."

"Why not?"
"I don't remember how I did it. This is a priceless work of art. Promise me you won't break it trying to figure out how to duplicate it."

>What say?
>>
>>2570328

"I'll do my best. But if it gets damaged while in use and needs parts repaired or swapped out. It'll be difficult, but I can promise to not take it apart to duplicate it."

I feel bad for him. He just made what would probably be his Magnum Opus and he cannot remember how he did it.
>>
You promise not take it apart to duplicate it. If it get's damaged in combat however fixing it could be an issue.

When both of you are sure it's not going to be a safety issue on its own you have it relocated to the armory. Mr Nxesi is allowed to stop by whenever he wants to take scans or test if it he likes.

>Nxesi Pattern Relic Armor acquired!


Elsewhere in the Dominion the new Fast Super has finally been given the green light to move into mass production. The second ship should be completed in a few short weeks followed by a third before the end of the year. Production is expected to ramp up over the next year or so.

The prototype is now considered complete following a final refit after its FTL trials. With that done it has been called to the capital where the Emperor has commissioned it as Sovereign.

Sovereign is called on to perform a number of public spectacles in the first two days of operation, including speed trials where it out performs quite a few Heavy Cruisers. Just in these events it proves itself the fastest Super in production in Faction space by far. Given the importance of this event you're rather surprised you weren't invited by the Ruling House.

By the end of the second day Fadila informs you that a message has arrived from the Ruling House. It turns out to be a letter from the Emperor. In it he apologises for not having invited you to the grand unveiling but there wasn't time. Events were moved up and the planned circumnavigation of the Dominion has been canceled. There would not have been time for you to make the trip from Rioja.

Sovereign has been rushed into service 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Currently they intend to use it to immediately reinforce the Dominion territories in danger of another Neeran attack. A number of elite units are going with it and will depart before the end of the week.
>>
>>2570555
>With that done it has been called to the capital where the Emperor has commissioned it as Sovereign.

So long as it doesn't gain sentience and proclaim itself the vangaurd of some robotic species from dark space that will harvest all sufficiently advance life in the galaxy.

>Letter from the Emperor.
If the time schedule was that tight. Then it is understandable, but can we get a holo or something? Of its first flight/ race against existing heavies.

Or just send a thank you note in return saying we understand and hope it helps to protect the Dominion in the coming battles.
>>
Everybody out watching Deadpool?

>>2570574
>can we get a holo or something? Of its first flight/ race against existing heavies.
Yes. They're going to be selling or giving away commemorative recordings and probably models in the next few days and weeks. A set will be sent to you.

>send a thank you note in return saying we understand and hope it helps to protect the Dominion in the coming battles.
Would probably be appreciated.


Mezan's Mercs now have their medium cruiser. They were able to negotiate with a client that was to get the ship ahead of theirs. The crew are beginning a shakedown training exercise with the Eclipse II in another part of the Run.
The Admiral refuses to take them anywhere near a potential combat scenario without see how the crew handles the possibility of the ship falling apart around them. Fortunately she has a solid core of experienced personnel to act as the officers because everyone else recruited so far is terrible.

"We have a long way to go." she admits to you. "I might need to make use of your refit yards between campaigns because I'm not confident this ship will hold together if just my crew are fixing it."
>>
>>2570668

>deadpool movie
I wouldn't count the possibility out.

>Mezan, using RSS refit yards
She can use them, but there will still be the usual cost of using them. But if she is worried about her FNG's screwing things up. Would she be opposed to putting her crews into a simulation where the ship is falling apart around them and they need to keep it together? Or maybe temporarily have some experienced crews assisting until the new guys are as familiar with the ship design as they are?
>>
>>2570695
>there will still be the usual cost of using them.
Well yes.

>Would she be opposed to putting her crews into a simulation where the ship is falling apart around them and they need to keep it together?
That is actually what she'd decided to do. This has worked out with some people but not so well with others.

>Or maybe temporarily have some experienced crews assisting until the new guys are as familiar with the ship design as they are?
Couldn't hurt. If you could spare some crews she would pay them to help out whenever they're in dock.
>>
>>2570727

>Couldn't hurt. If you could spare some crews she would pay them to help out whenever they're in dock.
If we got the crews and they are willing to help train some green crews. I'm okay with that.
>>
>>2570555
In exchange for keeping his armor intact, since it's his pinnacle piece, he should start teaching armourers st pue University.

We can "donate" the armour when we aren't using it for his students to study.

It could even result in him having another breakthrough and surpassing himself in the future. Also it's a nice guarantee of his legacy.
>>
>>2570727
>>2570782
I'll second this.
>>
Last minute preparation for the Yacht races in the Run are underway. You once allowed Rioja to act as a check-in and refueling point for one of the big races that went across all of Faction space. These ones are only local short range but far more ships and crews are turning out. There are sublight events being held in multiple systems and as a result docking capacity in the region is being pushed to the limits.

Fortunately the race organizers have brought in a few dedicated platforms but they're only for the yachts themselves. Station control ends up reserving several smaller upper docking rings just for ships related to the race with strict instructions that they only have limited windows in dock. Parking orbits are soon host to nearly 700 civilian and privately owned vessels unrelated to the usual cargo and refugee traffic.

With the added traffic comes an influx of attempts at illegal landings. You thought you had your hands full with the original wave of refugees eight years ago. Then they had to at least bring sealed habitats and breathing gear. Now with Rioja's clear atmosphere people can safely set down almost anywhere.

The Governor is requesting assistance in stemming the flow of illegal landing attempts. Raising the planetary shields for the next few days except for above the main spaceports would create a bottleneck and give the PDF a chance. It could also increase the risk of collisions and would reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the surface.

Scrambling some of the fleet and initiating a blockade would certainly provide enough ships to perform intercept work. It would also crowd the orbital space and make traffic control very difficult.

Another option would be to institute a planet wide no fly zone except for the spaceports or local air traffic. The cargo ships from the southern hemisphere make regular materials deliveries to the other cities so they would need to be exempt. PDF starfighters are already up helping with spotting inside the atmosphere. No fly zones would allow them to be a little more proactive. With warning shots.

Or did you have another idea?
>>
>>2570826
> Or did you have another idea?

Illegal landings will be deemed as emergencies and if they leave their ships it's legitimate salvage.

Alternatively we can charge them an emergency rescue fee.

TL;DR let them land them fine the shit out of them. We have ground troops for a reason.
>>
>>2570826
>Illigeal refugee landings
Motherless son of a...

How many more times are we going to have to deal with this crap?

Alright, so all those things that were suggested? Do them, except for the fleet mobilization. Keep them close and active in case we need them to respond and assist in anything happens.

We invested 1.2 billion back into the Riojas economy. Time to make that 1.2 billion work. Overtime and hazard pay for all PDF and SF and security forces to remain active during this little fiasco.
>>
>>2570831
The army does have enough LST's and shuttles for this. They also have access to Frigates and newer Assault Transports if they have trouble with a larger vessel that has shields and/or resists.

Do this?
>>
>>2570328
>This suit is a masterpiece.
Oh my goooooood.
>Promise me you won't break it trying to figure out how to duplicate it.
Promised.

>>2570826
>Or did you have another idea?
Several set routes and approach paths for all ships. Deviation from these paths results in immediate interception by the fleet, and if they make it down, practice deploying the PDF as rapidly as possible with coordination from space assets.
>>
>>2570851
>Do this?

ye
>>
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>>2570850
>How many more times are we going to have to deal with this crap?
>looks at US immigration issues
How long has that been a thing? Long before this I know.

As for a real answer to when it will stop; when the war is over.
>>
>>2570826
A no fly zone, restrict all traffic to spaceports. Any unidentified ships get shot.
BUILD THE WALL
>>
>>2570851
Yes do this.
>>
>>2570851
Supporting.

Might as well use our reputation!

>>2570855
>>2570873
All these people wanting to damage our salvage WTF.
>>
The fleet deploys a couple squadrons of ships in low orbit, mostly as a deterrent. They'll also help with the military communications networks if someone smart tries jamming.

PDF stafighters act as primary interception forces following ships on the way down and warning them off. They certainly have their hands full. Every PDF starfighter squadron is recalled to active duty to allow for round the clock

Army LST and shuttle teams capture, commandeer and impound vehicles and vessels landing illegally. Though of course they'll be asked to treat the vehicles on coms as though they're in distress. So they'll be very polite about salvaging them.
If they actually are in distress the medics will be there to sort them out. If not the medics will be there to help deal with anyone who acts belligerent and gets stunned.

Roll 4d20 for Salvage/ impound awaiting payment
>>
Rolled 11, 1, 8, 13 = 33 (4d20)

>>2570941

Land your ships on our turf, why thank you for the generous donation to our salvage fund.
>>
Rolled 10, 6, 8, 1 = 25 (4d20)

>>2570941
>>
Rolled 20, 18, 1, 8 = 47 (4d20)

>>2570941
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2570941
>>
The smallest craft of those who are intercepted set off for the surface in private shuttles launched from vessels in orbit. Some are luxury craft that have flown down from one or more of the liners, others are rough pieces of machinery that hitched aboard transports. The Army and PDF manage to track down and impound 20 of these trying to land outside the cities.

Others have traveled here in older light transports and cargo ships. There's even a repurposed shallan evacuation transport, though it's clearly been seeing a different life for some years now.
One of the racing yacht pilots makes the mistake of showing off how versatile their craft is by setting down in a grassy field for a picknick. They're arrested for the very serious crime of unlicensed transportation of antimatter within a habitable world's atmosphere.

A military grade LST get's the army's attention once the starfighters properly ID it. In response a newer model Frigate is brought in to ensure they don't cause any trouble for the boarding and impound crews.
31 light craft are impounded in total.

More difficult to deal with are the 8 corvette sized ships that make landings. Some of them are carrying prefab habitats, others camo netting for their passengers to avoid orbital surveillance. All of them are in big trouble.
General Rna believes two of the landing corvettes could be useful to the army with only a little work. If they don't manage to pay their fines of course.

The arrested racer seems incredibly apologetic about the whole multiple kilograms of antimatter fuel sitting on their ship. They're understandably anxious about the upcoming race and the potential of missing it. Those racing yachts aren't cheap it build or keep fueled so it's necessary to earn money frequently via races to pay them off.

Did you want to offer them some sort of deal?
>>
I'm looking at my schedule coming up and I'm probably not going to be able to post much until sunday night.
I'll be running through the day monday and tuesday hopefully.
>>
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>>2571096
>>
>>2571096

I'm imagining that there is enough anti-matter in those ships to render a good portion of a world if not an entire world uninhabitable.

There is a reason Anti-matter ships are turned over to local authorities/ planetary governors when in orbit or around their general vicinity. And him landing such a ship with anti-matter on a world with life?

Fuck you my dude. We've invested to much into this world for one hot shot racer to show off his ride and risk causing a world to become uninhabitable. You can petition the Count to get your ship back for risking a world after a dumb ass stunt like that.
>>
>>2571096
> Did you want to offer them some sort of deal?

Sure. We take their ship and the anti-matter and they get to enroll in the military. If they perform well we can put them in an afterburner unit training pilots if they're chickens.

Alternatively they get the chance to earn back their ship during their service if they choose to do a combat tour.

If they aren't smart enough to handle anti-matter responsibly, we'll train them.

If they decline our offer of military training, then we can take their ship and throw them in jail.

As a gesture of good faith, though, we'll offer to let them still compete in this race. Of course, to ensure they don't run away, we'll put explosives on their ship.

If that makes them nervous, then they'll understand how the people on the planet felt.

Alternatively we can have a call in televised vote for the people of Rioja to determine their fate for bringing antimatter into their planet.
>>
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>>2571120
>I'm imagining that there is enough anti-matter in those ships to render a good portion of a world if not an entire world uninhabitable.
If I calculated this right it should be about this much.


>>2571135
>they get to enroll in the military. If they perform well we can put them in an afterburner unit training pilots if they're chickens.
>Alternatively they get the chance to earn back their ship during their service if they choose to do a combat tour.
Interesting ideas.

Keep in mind it wouldn't take much to increase the media exposure of the arrest. Good or bad. For now all the media would know is that they have been arrested and may not appear in the race as a result.
>>
>>2571149

Yeah no. He can petition the Count to get his ship back.
>>
>>2571149
I like the idea of giving them the choice.

Offer them a secret deal to join the military "Of their own free will" and they get to compete in the race still, otherwise confiscate their racer and toss 'em in jail.

>>2571150

Why would the Count even be involved in this, they aren't anyone that important. It's OUR world, OUR responsibility. Feudalism in SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE.
>>
>>2571251

Because he's the only one who can tell us to give the racers ship back. Because I refuse to give it back for anything less then the count telling us to give it back. Since this dumb ass endangered OUR world.
>>
>>2571255
Oh you meant it sarcastically.

Because I'm pretty sure that while the Count could MAKE us give it back by indirect means, I don't know if he actually has the legal standing to make a ruling here.
>>
>>2571255
I'd rather give the person the chance to buy it back. Makes it look like we're exceedingly fair if he chooses cowardice over duty, good PR for us no matter what choice he makes.
>>
>>2571096
They have to race for Rioja and help found a Rioja racing team if they want out.
>>
>>2571260
They have to race but let Becka drive!

IDK it doesn't have quite the same martial theme going on.

Remember we're expecting a big Neeran push right now. Joining the Military is extra dangerous right now - as much as it is also extra shameful to avoid it.
>>
>>2571256

Yeah sorry about that.

He probably has some standing, I think? I mean he is our boss and if he thinks we're being to harsh. Could tell us to give it back. (Of course I think he wouldn't care what we do. So long as he doesn't get to many nobles complaining to him about our actions.)

>>2571257
I don't think this guy has the money to buy it back. If he does it is probably from his backers/ sponsors. Who will likely be the most pissed at him/ us.

Also I'd rather not have another Windsor in our house military in any capacity but if that is the way things roll. Then hey maybe we can finally get someone to humble Windsor.

But PR wise, yeah I can see having him earn it back through military service would be good.
>>
>>2571272
Well that's why I said IF they perform well, with the option to join a training squadron because I assume they are good at maneuvering.

Whereas buying it back would be if they saw combat and collected salvage, the same way we clawed our way up from being a commoner. Can't be more fair than that!

Also while the racing yacht is expensive sure, we don't need it and selling it off would be in . . . Poor taste.

Maybe we could have it be used by the Riojan Racers while dumbass is working off his debt.

And if he chooses to NOT join the military to earn his racer back, clearly it didn't mean that much to him. Racers are supposed to be brave in the face of danger anyways.
>>
Yeah nah. He can suck a bag of dicks for bringing enough anti matter planetside to fuck up a massive area and potentially the entire fragile eco system. Not to mention that I do not know what a hole that large suddenly appearing in the planet would do.
>>
>>2571276

[insert stupid brain rant here]

I just think the dude is a dumb ass and I do not like him and hope he has the hardest time ever for endangering our world and its people.

Whatever the dude does to try and earn it back. If it happens it happens.

Side thought, is this how most noble families come to hate each other? Over interactions such as this? If he joins the military and becomes a noble of note. And decides we were bitter old hags and wants revenge for ending his racing career?
>>
>>2571298
I mean. We would be interrupting his racing career.

And the whole point of giving him choices is that he can't claim we were unfair to other people.

The problem is that it's politics, so even if we're untouchable by him, our opponents could still use him to point at us and say that we don't treat a fellow noble with appropriate respect over a matter of mere high spirits with no harm no foul.

Alternatively if we are too easy on him, then they could claim we aren't a strong enough protector of our domain and that we weren't living up to our position as a noble.

If we tell him to take it up with the Count, then we look like we rely on the Count to dictate our internal affairs and aren't really in charge.

If we refuse to listen to pleas for clemency or make a deal, we look like we aren't "playing the game" which excludes us from future backroom deals.

That's before we even get into issues of personal property and emotional value etc.

Dominion values place military service EXTREMELY high up, along with personal responsibility.

By giving the pilot a choice when we don't have to it shows that we are reasonable regarding the issue of it being negligent not malicious behaviour.

By offering military service as an alternative to jail, we make it impossible to claim that it's excessive or only a token gesture because it's a known value and an expected obligation of noble families anyways.

By offering to sell the yacht back to the pilot of the earn the money, it shows that it isn't merely us taking the opportunity to sieze the yacht - especially given our current aggressive "salvaging" of other craft.

By letting him continue to race if he takes the military service deal we don't ruin the race (and any bets) whereas if he does refuse the deal, well, we can't be expected to let criminals race that would sully the noble spirit of the competition.

Most importantly, the pilot would be implied to have accepted the consequences as Just by having chosen their own punishment.
>>
>>2571298
>And decides we were bitter old hags and wants revenge for ending his racing career?
Then we just kill him

He has literally no ground to stand on, he endangered our planet through pride and stupidity, he needs to understand that and pay for his stupidity.

So he now belongs to us, races for us and works towards not fucking up planets for us.

Also im all for sonia delivering this news to him in person, in full hormonal mode, and if we were wearing our old arm, crackling lightning.
>>
>>2571298
Also why throw away a good pilot when there's a war coming. If he makes stupid decisions in combat then his XO can just shoot him. If he even makes it past the training.
>>
>>2571305

I 100% oppose killing him. It would ruin the race and make us look like a psychopath since nobody was actually hurt and there wasn't any willful malice.

And presumably the pilot IS a noble or backed by some. You can't just off other nobles even legally without consequences.

>>2571149
Could we please get some in-game opinions frok our advisors about the ideas so far?
>>
I don't think people appreciating the scale of destruction here. We are talking about sphere between 450 and 500 kilometers in diameter where everything is just gone. Potentially millions dead. A hole deep enough it almost reaches the lower mantle of the planets insides. Now I am no geologist but that seems to me like it could seriously fuck up a planet and what ever life lives on it.
>>
>>2571308
The killing him was replying to the anon saying what if in the future he wants to get revenge on us down the track
>>
>>2571311
That is a planet ending event, breakup and eco death depends on the size but its dead either way.
>>
>>2571304

I think your idea is a good idea.

I just believe the dude deserves little to no lieniency. For the matter he endangered millions of lives.

You bring up valid points. About our rivals possibly seeing this as some sort of opportunity. To be used against us in some shape or form.

Let him choose how he earns his ship back. But he is not going to be getting any breaks anytime soon.

>>2571311
That is why I dont think the guy deserves leniency.

Even if that probability of his ship going critical was infitismally small. If it went, we would be dealing with a crisis that we are ill prepared for.
>>
>>2570555
I hope the Alliance has been raiding the Neeran buildup area. Suicide Veckron Drones when?
>>
>>2571320
But it didn't, and he's not just some schmuck. Also we have pushed hard for antimatter use in the past and been a little risque ourselves with AM wash and planets so getting on a high horse about the danger of AM might not be the best plan.

Different laws for different folks, just how the Dominion works.
>>
>>2571360
>>2571320
To be clear, the only way he is getting his ship back is by placing himself directly in danger by making money in the military, which normal pay won't cut.
>>
>>2571364
Well yeah, but there's a difference between having an afterburner equipped ship moving near stations and other ships and parking one on a planet without letting people know. Assuming the person doing so is careless in either case. Given that involves irradiating some people from the afterwash and being blown to kingdom come and taking a large chunk of a habitable world with it.
>>
Though let me clarify abit after looking at the discussion a bit better. While I do think the guy is a colossal idiot for parking his ship on a habitable planet for no good reason that doesn't mean he deserves to die for it. Besides there will still be repercussions for whatever choice we make with this. So let's try not to go too extreme with this issue and just go a more moderate action. I mean I do like the idea of just tossing him in prison for a while and repossess his ship.
>>
>>2571376
Yeah but at the same time he's part of the race.

If he joins the military he can work with us to kind of semi-brush the scandal under the rug.

After all, people might ask how he managed to get down to the surface in the first place and WHAT IF HE WAS A TERRORIST? Which could lead to awkward answers on our end.

It's nicer if everyone gets along.

Like. We did just make a bunch of shady salvage/rescue claims.

So we aren't "confiscating" his ship, we're "salvaging" it after an "unscheduled landing" because of "tachyon waves in the shield emitter creating resonant echoes" or other plausible star trek babble.

Coincidentally the Pilot is moved by our troops response to join the fight.
>>
>>2571381
I mean we could just say that he was arrested due to bringing antimatter on a planet. That and we could tell the press that he managed to come in due to his racer status and it not being a good idea on raising the planetary shields on the planet due to the ecosystem still being relatively new again. Plus it would be the truth. Though yeah it should be done afterwards I think. Although better announce it before we let him back on the race. Because it would look shady as hell on just doing what we want to after letting him race again.
>>
>>2571376
Nokia one has been advocating for his death except for in the extreme situation of him turning out to be a noble with significant power who ends up hating and actively woring against us.

This is a simple case of gross negligence while recklessly handling EXTREMELY hazardous material willfully and taking no consideration of the consequences of these actions. All for the sake of some frivolous act of show off. This is made gross by the fact that the potential results of his negligence can affect the lives of millions and the destruction of multiple billions of S in land value and property.

He knew the rules while getting ahold of this hazardous material for the sake of racing. This makes the actime malicious in nature and he should be punished accordingly by AT LEAST confiscating his ship and hazardous material.

If he was not aware of the ramifications if a potential anti matter explosion on the planet and landed with night malice as defined above then he is not educated in handling any ship carrying such a drive and has done so illegally. Something which should be punishable by AT LEAST the confiscation of his ship and hazardous material.

The fact that nothing did happen I this case is irrelevant to begin with. Lack of effect due to action is still action. A geoss Neglectful action with or without malice is still a gross neglectful action.

So no. He should not be killed but his ship should be forfit regardless of intent.
>>
>>2571391
I thought that the idea of killing him came about form him joining the military and gain his nobility through it? It doesn't look like he's a powerful noble given that >>2571096 this post seems to imply he's most likely just barely keeping up with the expenses from the ship.
>>
>>2571096
I'll vote to offer the racer a deal. Don't want drama from it coming back at us. Forget justice, this is politics.
>>
>>2571391
I thought we were still confiscating his ship, but holding on to it until he's done in the military before selling it?

I mean we do need talented pilots for the war right? And if he makes another mistake like this in the military we can always just refuse to give him back the ship later.
>>
>>2571466
This is hardly politics. He is a professional racer with no real influence or power. Or he would not be worried about losing this as he needs the money. And even if he was that conscriptibad him into the navy is hardly the way to go about it.

And our manpower is not such a problem that we need every single pilot we can get. Remember that we personally comman's over 10 wings in just our fleet and with the recent rewards from the civil war our land and man power had increased a lot. So I really do not see the point in this. It's like that time people wanted to reward those. ... thieves? By giving them starfighters or something
>>
>>2571479
Fame = influence = power.

Besides we don't even k ow who he really is yet.
>>
>>2571509
Yet you assume he is famous enough to sway the people of entire worlds.
>>
>>2571466
This is a fuckload more than politics, and if you want politics then lets go talk to the emperor...
>>
I want to wear Nxesi's masterwork to a formal event.
>>
>>2571866
Thank God we moved on to a new topic.

Also yes, we gotta show that pimp suit off.
>>
>>2571509
>we don't even know who he really is yet.
Luc Bouchard. Technically a terran citizen despite not being born on any of their worlds. He has been with traveling race teams for most of his life having seen some minor success with starfighters. It's only been in the past few years that he's gone into yacht racing. A team having needed a good race pilot after theirs left to join the war effort, they tried out a number from the lower leagues.

He is known for his devil-may-care attitude and is willing to take risks. His safety record is spotty and he's been flagged by race organizers several times on minor incidents.

Apparently at the time of his arrest he is quoted as having said; "I landed on planets in South Reach and they never made a big deal about it."

Fortunately for you he is not among the top 10% of racers. If there is an outcry over the arrest it will be from a much smaller fan base.

You put the question to your advisers. After finding out how much antimatter that thing had aboard most feel you should lock him up and throw away the key. Fadila sighs in frustration at the others lack of foresight.

"Your ideas to force them to choose between jail time, conscription or serving as an indentured racer do have some merit. I would suggest that whatever we do the race should be used to ensure he makes a public service announcement on the dangers of the yacht's fuel system. That should make the reasoning for our followup decision a bit more clear to people."

Worth considering.

"Other things we could do include asking the league to strip him of his racing license and asking them to institute an official zero tolerance policy on these incidents."

"So you don't think he should be allowed to race?" you ask.

"No, but there are certainly ways we could use it to our advantage if you did allow it."
>>
>>2572676
>Thank God we moved on to a new topic.
Oops.

Might be able to post later on tomorrow evening. Depends if I need to stay late at work again.
>>
>>2572679
Yes to all, give him the choice, make him do the PSA and petition the league
>>
>>2572679
>>2573200

I second all of this. Again. Lol. Give the dude a choice of jail with his ship being sold off, or the military with us holding the ship until his end of service with the opportunity for him to buy it back if he makes enough money (maybe have a Rioja team still use it in the meantime) or he can choose to let it be sold off for a non-combat posting.

Have him do a PSA if he joins the Military, with the league banning him until he finishes his service and then being able to review the issue and decide then whether or not to reinstate him.

Finally TELLING the League that all racers will have to prove they understand the risks associated with anti-matter and will have to register any anti-matter carried and that there is a zero-tolerance policy for it in the future. No more deals if someone is caught doing this again, they'll have no excuse after all.

Hopefully the other guys come back if we have to re-vote.
>>
>>2574234
I like this plan because the whole thing was unacceptable. The guy risked the life of tons of people just to show boat.
>>
>>2572679

>He is a Terran citizen
I hadn't even considered that. But now that I know that he is. That cuts out any option of pressing him into service within the Dominion. Not without pissing off the Terrans.

>PSA
Yeah make him do a PSA and he can get out of his jail time. But he can consult his local Terran Embassy for his ship back. Of course we can let them known before hand that one of their citizens decided to land an anti-matter laden yacht on our planet without clearance or permission and that we will be holding on to said vessel. We will be releasing their citizen after they've done a PSA about the dangers of anti-matter in racing yachts.
>>
Have been back for a bit. Currently working on a post.

>>2574911
>He is a Terran citizen
Only by way of technicality that both of his parents were.

>That cuts out any option of pressing him into service within the Dominion.
Fortunately you're not the only military around. The Alliance is an option if you want to use it.
>>
>>2574541
True, but I don't want people to know that we weren't prepared to host the race. At best Rioja looks bad, at worst we look bad. We WERE just missing for 3 years after all, and our reputation and status are built on military success and what definitely isn't (but definitely more people belie is) unrestrained greed verging on predatory investments and salvaging creating our significant wealth.

We're fairly new still in a political position, not just personally but we came from the middle class, we have pirate ancestors, pirate friends, terrorist allies, lots of Terrans on Rioja, a history of tolerance for limited democratic reforms, and a bad relationship with the Old Guard of established nobility within J-D.

So we're actually most vulnerable to scandals and rumors in general, and especially right now after our return.

So I would definitely prefer to make it look like the Yacht landing with AM being an accident or emergency that we quickly resolved without problem instead of a glaring lack of oversight originally followed by an insufficient response to try and avoid damaging our reputation or just simple incompetence, doesn't matter, regardless anti-matter reached the planet.

So I would *prefer* to have the pilot quietly punished in a way that we can either bury or spin positively, the race goes on as normal, nobody looks further into our "rescue" operations, and nothing ruins our return to Rioja.

>>2572683
Quick question, who currently is actually aware of what happened with the pilot and the anti-matter?
>>
>>2575123
>who currently is actually aware of what happened with the pilot and the anti-matter?
The Government, anyone with access to police records, his race team and the racing league all know he's been arrested.
The league may not know why. The team probably won't be inclined to share that information with them unless they have to.
>>
>>2574937
Wait, the Dominion doesn't allow foreigners to join the military? So, if he DID become an official citizen why would the Terrans be upset anyways, especially since his citizenship is a technicality?

>That cuts out any option of pressing him into service within the Dominion.
> The Alliance is an option if you want to use it.

Hrm. Hrmmmmmm. I mean, I wonder if we should approach the Terrans with this first and lean heavily on the recent agitation of Rioja's Terran refugees making it *very inconvenient* that a Terran brought Anti-matter down on to our planet. In fact he also has a self-admitted history of unofficially landing on planets in the South Reach frequently too.

Of course, WE know that it's ridiculous to assume there's any connection between them and the pilot, and Terran SF would never be that sloppy.

But it does kind of look like there might be more to it than just arrogance and carelessness. Not that we think there is, but if it had to go to trial publicly it could look pretty similar to smuggling. After all, racing is quite expensive.

Just sort of see if they have any concern over how we might handle it. Maybe they have a preference for a specific resolution, maybe we could do them a favor and work with them.

Or maybe they want to revoke his citizenship and let us have free reign.
>>
>>2575152
You say "the Government". So our people. That means we can bury the anti-matter aspect yes?
>>
>>2575123
>glaring lack of oversight originally followed by an insufficient response
So like any of those times ABC news smuggled depleted uranium into the U.S. to prove they could do it?

>>2575153
>why would the Terrans be upset anyways, especially since his citizenship is a technicality?
If he had dual citizenship there's not much they could get upset over.

Really he's closer to being a stateless person, though he could easily qualify for full Terran citizenship if he were to bother. There's always the chance someone could get upset over it, but people get upset over anything.

>lean heavily on the recent agitation of Rioja's Terran refugees making it *very inconvenient* that a Terran brought Anti-matter down on to our planet.
You could do this to force the Terrans to jail or conscript him.
>Or maybe they want to revoke his citizenship and let us have free reign.
That too.

>>2575162
>That means we can bury the anti-matter aspect yes?
Yes.
>>
Members of your PR branch are present and recording when Luc Bouchard is brought in. They'll be ready to support whatever response you deem suitable for the

Upon seeing you and a number of other nobles you asked to be present he seems somewhat relieved.

"Finally. Am I going to get a lawyer now?"

"That remains to be seen." you reply. "One may not even be necessary."

"Uh, I hope that's good?"

Picking up a pad you check the surprisingly short list of items the young man can actually be charged with. Making up for it is the fact that they're all quite serious.
"Are you fully aware of the current charges against you?"

"Look, I am really sorry. I'll find a way to pay whatever fine you think is fair."

"Mister Bouchard, the charges of unlicensed transportation of antimatter within a habitable world's atmosphere is not something one can just laugh off. It also carries potential terrorism charges."

"Terrorism? That's bogus, you've gotta be making that up."

You look down to the pad and read the following section.
"As specified by the Factions Treaty devices with an explosive yield in excess of ten kilotons are considered weapons of mass destruction. Common fusion reactors have emergency shutdowns and safety systems to prevent a detonation in atmosphere. They also need to be operated by a licensed professional.
Your yacht's fuel tanks don't have a means of safely disposing of antimatter if breached inside of an atmosphere. You're also not licensed, is that correct?"

"Well no I'm- it was, it was a mistake. Look I'm not a terrorist."

You raise a hand to silence him.
"Do you know the equivalent explosive yield of the antimatter that was still in your tanks?"

Bouchard seems to give it some careful though but can't come up with a number.
"Uh not off the top of my head? No?"

"More than one gigaton."
This draws more than a few gasps as well as causing Bouchard himself to exclaim; "Holy shit!"

"Your fuel tanks weren't full. They only had approximately 13% of their maximum."

"Oh my god... so that's why they don't like us to fly with them full."
This revelation has clearly shaken the racer.

"Mister Bouchard I do believe that you are not a terrorist. I'm responsible for the safety of nearly a quarter of a billion people. Intentional or not your negligence has threatened the lives of everyone on this planet."

[ ] Offer choice (Jail or Alliance)
[ ] Keep it quiet (No PSA) (Jail, Buy Team silence with threat of conspiracy )
[ ] Make him the Terrans problem (Jail or Terran conscription)
>>
>>2575292
>[ ] Make him the Terrans problem (Jail or Terran conscription)
Useless idiot, he's not our problem.
>>
>>2575292
>[ ] Offer choice (Jail or Alliance)

I'll go with this choice, but I really don't care what happens to him either way. So if my choice causes a tie, then go ahead and hand him to the Terrans to deal with. Just so long as he is out of our hair and not about to accidentally blow up out world due to his stupidity.
>>
Setting some things on fire tomorrow morning followed by standing around for the better part of 9 hours getting sunburned.
See you Sunday!
>>
>>2575292
>[ ] Offer choice (Jail or Alliance)

Well at least the guy knows now on how stupid he was. The racing league really needs to up their safety lectures to prevent this from happening again.
>>
>>2575292
>[ ] Offer choice (Jail or Alliance)
>>
>>2575292
> [ ] Offer choice (Jail or Alliance)

We're confiscating the ship yes?

Also was the suspicion of him smuggling or anything a real concern or just something
>>2575153
was saying we could accuse him of as an excuse to . . . Extort the Terrans? Crack down on Riojan Terran immigrants?
>>
>>2575292
>[ ] Make him the Terrans problem (Jail or Terran conscription)
>>
>>2575292
>[ ] Offer choice (Jail or Alliance)
>>
>>2575740
>We're confiscating the ship yes?
Yes. It's already impounded.
Unless several people wish otherwise?

>Also was the suspicion of him smuggling or anything a real concern or just something (Anon) was saying[...]?
Little to no suspicion of him smuggling.
Would have been a good idea for a ruse to get the Terrans to cooperate though.
>>
Rioja annual power-armor show? Invite a bunch of nobles we know who have an interest, get Dante onboard with some cool displays.
>>
>>2580023
Would be cool, set up courses and trials for them to run too
>>
>>2575292
"...which is why I'm giving you a choice. As this is war time and there is an ever present shortage of pilots you would be permitted to sign on with the Alliance military. Or you can go to prison and serve your sentence there.
Either way your racing license will be revoked and the yacht confiscated."

"Hold on, would there even be a trial?"

"If you don't join the Alliance? Yes. Though I really doubt any lawyer would be able to get you off the hook. If you feel you need to discuss your options with legal counsel so be it. This offer stands. You'll remain in custody until you've made your decision."

Bouchard decides that talking to a lawyer first would probably be a good idea and is shown out. After 2 days he decides on signing up with the Alliance. As part of the contract allowing his release he agrees to filming the planned PSA targeted mostly towards other racers.

Given the seriousness of this event the league admits that they do need to increase safety measures. Racers will be fined for previous landing events in South Reach and any future incidents will from now on result in immediate dismissal.

As a result of this some are wondering if antimatter should be banned from use on planets entirely. Various research and medical institutes are known to use very small quantities of it. Even your university. The military as well as intel have been known to on occasion have some on bases on planets. It's never been very much because of the risk of accidents or advanced Terran weapon systems.

[ ] Ban it
[ ] More heavily restrict it
[ ] Cap maximum limit - in line with Factions treaty
>>
>>2580829
>[ ] Cap maximum limit - in line with Factions treaty

Anti-matter in the amounts of what was on ship in one location is bad. I don't think civilians get much access to anti-matter to begin with. So long as the amounts present do not surpass what is allowable by the factions treaty I do not feel it will be bad. And if our house military base has a surplus on it, I would imagine House Intel likely already has back up plans to get it off world without fuss or anyone noticing.

This of course will mean anyone who uses/ stores any anti-matter on planet. Will need to register it with us or the planetary governor if not both of us in the future.
>>
>>2580829
>[ ] Cap maximum limit - in line with Factions treaty
And make sure every ship with anti matter is licensed to do so.
>>
The maximum limit of how much antimatter is permitted in planet bound facilities is clarified in Rioja's laws. It is now capped in line with the Factions Treaty. Universities and research centers on the planet will be informed of the changes. A request has been sent to the military and intel to ensure their antimatter stores can be safely removed from the surface in the event of an emergency.

Additional checks will be conducted to be sure ships with antimatter stores or generators have sufficiently trained and licensed crews.

Despite the trouble all of this has caused the races kick off without any more major snags. Salvage and recovery crews are standing by to render assistance. Even a few ships from RSS are placed at regular intervals throughout the Run.

For the entire week most of the media is focused on the ongoing race events. It's hard to go anywhere without seeing a display here or there with live footage. Bandwidth is in such high demand that the racing league have fitted some of their larger vessels as com transceiver ships.

There have been a few people trying to disrupt the race. Protestors are trying to distract as many from it as they can. More rarely pirates are trying to capture valuable ships and hostages. Baron Kelly has to dispatch a quick response unit to go after vessels either trying to block the yachts or fire on them.

There are plenty of spectacular sights as ships cut through the rings of gas giants to reach markers, or slingshot around moons and minor planets for additional speed. Money is changing hands among betting pools and bars are seeing their highest attendance since the fleet's return following the civil war.

Only a few people are killed in crashes or accidents. Generally older craft being pushed to the limit, though many of the newer ones suffer failures. Linda's ship manages to get through unscathed. Not posting the best time but still keeping up with the main pack. A few A-list pilots and teams finished farther down than expected, being tuned better for longer distances.

You're not obligated to do so but the racing teams would look favourably upon you if you were to offer awards to the top teams.
Did you want to offer any prizes?
>>
>>2581195

Hm, what are some suggestions from the League and from Fadila, also Linda. She may not be in the top teams, but she is still part of the racing scene she might know some good ideas for prizes.
>>
>>2581195
Give a token reward and present it yourself.
>>
>>2581195

Also, could we quietly fund Linda's group so they get a super souped up racing yatch? Courtesy of RSS yards.
>>
>>2581222
The league isn't asking or expecting anything from you. It would be a surprise.
>Sonia surprise!
Wait, maybe this was a bad idea.

>Fadila, also Linda
Fadila suggests small amounts of money. Small by your standards at least.

Linda suggests a trophy. Maybe a luxury cruise.

>>2581297
>could we quietly fund Linda's group so they get a super souped up racing yatch?
Her ship is already quite good, though it could always be better. The team itself could use more funding.
>>
>>2581195
>>2581304

Then give a suitable prize money amount. 1 mil to be broken to respective amounts among the top ten? Or is that to little?

Also an free luxury cruise ride.

>Sonia Surprise
If they don't already use them, an AB? Or maybe some improved systems to add to their ship?
>>
>>2581297
>Courtesy of RSS yards.
Sorry long day brain is running slow.
RSS doesn't have the technical specialty to properly fix let alone build the high end race yachts. Fortunately you don't have to as there are companies who focus just on that.

But if you wanted to not-as-quietly fund Linda you could go full on sponsorship. That could get RSS some advertisement.

>>2581409
>1 mil to be broken to respective amounts among the top ten?
>Or is that to little?
That should be plenty.
>>
>>2581426

>High End Parts not part of RSS
Then maybe a coupon/ gift card to one of such companies? For purchase of one such part by the winner of the race.

>Sponsor Linda
I don't remember, did she ask previously for us to sponsor her? If not and if other anons are okay with it I would not mind seeing if she and her team would like the sponsorship.
>>
>>2581446
>did she ask previously for us to sponsor her?
No. She does have some money as a result of the various high paying jobs you've dragged her in on. It's not unusual for the crews to be well off individuals funding themselves.

>If not and if other anons are okay with it I would not mind seeing if she and her team would like the sponsorship.
She wouldn't be against it. Some parts are a bit pricey even for her.
Thoughts?


See you tomorrow!
>>
>>2581195
Are we rich to, in the case of someone actually getting kidnapped, to offer to pay the crew out to instead kill their captain and bring back the Hostage?

Save us from having to take the time to hunt them all down, and hey! One pirate Captain dead. We can even handle the rest of the pirates localized investments as payment in return so they don't return to Piracy.

And if they do, THEN we hunt them down and kill them and get our loot back.

Should keep all but the most personally likeable and popular Captains choosing to try it again.
>>
>>2581900
That would be incredibly situationally dependent. Theoretically yes.

>Should keep all but the most personally likeable and popular Captains choosing to try it again.
That's the main problem, how popular is the captain with their crew? And do they trust you to actually pay them instead of throwing them in prison?
>>
>>2581502
[ ] Offer Linda's team RSS sponsorship
[ ] Don't
[ ] Quietly fund Linda's group
>>
>>2582174
>[ ] Quietly fund Linda's group
>>
Presently the South Reach League is managing to make a profit off of trade with the Dominion. Specifically by selling them super heavy cruiser hulls and offering discreet mercenary contracts. The SRL has been using most of that income to continue building up its industrial base. Thanks to this the former pirates are slowly becoming more civilized.

With an eye towards the future the Warlords have started development of a number of vessels they hope will aid in their ongoing advancement. There are rumors about a vessel in development using a pair of Sledge medium cruiser hulls but intel isn't certain it's even real.

The Sledge itself is seeing a number of optional upgrades thanks to a deal with a minor House. They perform the actual upgrade rather than give the newer weapons to the pirates. This has further increased the popularity of the design. The PCCG are contemplating adopting the Sledge as their closer range focused Medium cruiser design. These would augment the primarily long range focused Monitor.

One of the first new ships to result from SRL R&D is the Stalker, a multi-mission Light Cruiser. It's rather underwhelming in terms of performance and has earned them quite a bit of derision. Nevertheless the ship can be easily reconfigured for different mission types. From escort, long range patrol and fire support, to boarding actions and landing planetary assault troops.

Size wise they're much closer to a destroyer rather than a light cruiser, though it is quite bulky. At a mere 12 million in cost they are also quite cheap.

Did you wish to purchase any Stalkers for evaluation?
>>
>>2582321
Sure would be nice to see on what's different with this design. Can we still get a Sledge for evaluation at this point? If we can, how much would it set us back for?
>>
>>2582343
You can either buy one for about 200-210m, or send a team to South Reach where they can perform an evaluation at the refit shipyard.

Structurally it is supposed to have been further improved and the armor system has been upgraded to reduce spread of internal damage. It should be quite tough now, though it's not quite as fast.

Still taking votes on Linda's race team.
>>
>>2582321
>Did you wish to purchase any Stalkers for evaluation?

Pass
>>
>>2582174
>[ ] Quietly fund Linda's group
>>2582321
maybe a couple for exercises and target practice
>>
>>2582321
>[ ] Quietly fund Linda's group
Did you wish to purchase any Stalkers for evaluation?
>yes (2)
>>
>>2582174
[ ] Quietly fund Linda's group
Woop

>>2582321
Did you wish to purchase any Stalkers for evaluation?
No. No real interest. We already have two mainline Light Cruisers in the Dusk II and the EC-X. Adding a third entirely new model to our build seems kind redundant at this point. More so since cheap and plenty is not really our tactic of fewer elite forces.
>>
>>2582174
>>2582321
I vote for Linda to know, but she doesn't have to slap our logo on everything.
>>
Wanting to support Linda without a full on sponsorship you offer to quietly provide money for her team. She's a bit wary of taking money without being up front about it but she does admit the team could benefit from it.
"I'd still like receipts so I don't end up under investigation later. Other than that I can still keep quiet about where the money is coming from."

That's good enough you suppose.

You make sure that that top scoring teams of the various races in the Run are awarded prize money and gift cards for companies that provide parts. That should be more than enough. The league certainly weren't expecting this act and it helps with any hard feelings people might have had as a result of the antimatter issue.

As racing teams clear out and depart the region, a number of groups are trying to pay of landing fines to get vehicles out of impound. Illegals are deported or sent to refugee processing. A few take out temporary loans to get their ships out of impound and then sell them. Some crews are sent to prison for smuggling refugees.

Those ships that are left over are purchased by the Governor, RLS, the occasional noble and in a few cases the army.
>>
>>2582147
Excuse me, we always pay our debts.

I mean, if they don't take the offer we just slowly chase them down and kill a couple them in between our other Duties and adventure.

They'll be walking down the street in a group, and suddenly explosions.

Okay I guess it tell them we're going to take our time with it so they'll never know who we are going to pick next, but actually just kill them all as soon as possible because we are busy.
>>
The Republic and a number of Houses have been collaborating on smaller scale plasma weapons for some time now. Houses have been installing them in tanks since the early days of the civil war.

New versions have just been released that can be used as point defense systems. Lighter fast firing quad gun turrets have much better range and accuracy compared to early attempts at them earlier in the war.
There is also a heavier single gun turret that would normally be better equipped to a heavy tank. They have superior range and damage but don't have nearly as fast tracking as the lighter weapons. At present their effectiveness against torpedoes has not yet been fully determined.

Due to power requirements and space needed for support systems they can't be mounted on smaller point defense gunships. They need to be mounted on starships. Their support systems also make them a bit expensive.

Did you want to buy any of these systems?
>>
>>2582691
>Did you want to buy any of these systems?

Pass
>>
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Primary construction has completed on your land on the Dominion's capital. The mini arcology has been landed and secured following a short security inspection by the Royal Guard. Most utilities are already hooked up or are nearly so. Crews have started work on finishing the interior with priority given to the floors the terraforming companies will be occupying.

Some of the outer buildings on the site are already open with air traffic now being cleared for landings. Work is still being done on the security barracks but they should be finished soon as well. Underground mass transit connections to the main building are still closed until all security measures are in place.

With buildings in place planting is being started for parts of the gardens. They're staying away from the areas near the buildings until they're completed.
>>
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Troy has been looking for the ideal site for a proposed mansion or manor and believes he has found one. There had previously been discussion about having it near a waterfall. Troy was also looking for one that included areas with grasslands.

He's now looking for your input.
>>
>>2583038

How many acre's is this? Also what are some building ideas that he would like to have put on it? If he hasn't we could suggest a ranch, for if he wants to bring in some horses either from his ranch on Lorran or from another world. Also ask if he wants a garage to work on a custom ride of his own?

Also we need a shooting range and subterranean base/ shuttle escape route.
>>
>>2583081
>How many acre's is this?
You own the northern hemisphere of the planet. A lot.

I guess the image would be... 19k acres / 7700 Hectares?
I need to re-scale that waterfall because that would make it twice the width of width of niagara falls. Please treat the waterfall as being at exaggerated scale.

>Also what are some building ideas that he would like to have put on it?
Well a mansion and some supporting out buildings for starters. Also a stable because let's face it, he's going to bring horses out there.

>Also ask if he wants a garage to work on a custom ride of his own?
Probably a good idea.

>a shooting range and subterranean base/ shuttle escape route.
Shooting range is possible yes. The landing pad could easily have an elevator into underground areas. It wouldn't be surprising to anyone.

As for an escape route, a deep tunnel into the mountains is possible.
>>
>>2583140

A silly idea, but how about an escape route through the mountains big enough to fit the bittenfield? Or a corvette or frigate sized vessel.
>>
>>2583167
A corvette isn't out of the question if you wanted a buried slipway on the other side of the mountains. Probably not a good idea having it on the same side as the mansion.
>>
>>2582691
>Did you want to buy any of these systems?
yes for testing, figure out if they're effective against torpedos

>>2583188
do it
>>
Going to need confirmation for the buried slipway.

>1)Slipway & Emergency escape vessel
1a) Modded Corvette and slipway
1b) FTL equipped LST, smaller slipway
1c) Gunship / Non FTL escape craft
1d) None / basic escape tunnel

>2) Manor site
2a) No additions to plan at this time, begin construction now
2b) Wait until more site planning is done
>>
>>2583372
>1b) FTL equipped LST, smaller slipway
>2a) No additions to plan at this time, begin construction now
>>
>>2583372

>1)
I wanna go with the Modded Corvette slip way, but if it comes down to a tie/ draw I cant complain about having an FTL equipped LST slipway instead

>2)
2a) No additions to plan at this time, begin construction now
We have enough space, if other ideas crop up we got plenty of land to build on later and expand into.
>>
>>2583038
I like it, especially the lake.

Could we build an underground Holo-dome for large scale training and activities?
>>
>>2583372
>1a) Modded Corvette and slipway
>>2583372
>2b) Wait until more site planning is done
>>
>>2583038
Micro weather control tower so we can make it christmas every day if we wanted?
>>
>>2583428
>Could we build an underground Holo-dome for large scale training and activities?
How big are we talking here? Because if we're getting into geofront territory that would be extremely difficult to keep secret.

>>2583456
That would be easy mode by comparison.
>>
>>2583479
>How big are we talking here?
vast-pleasure-dome tier
>>
>>2583519
Possible? Could take time to construct.
Then the question is, secret or not.
>>
You give Troy the okay to begin work using the current plans for the manor. There's plenty of room if you want to add anything later. The main mansion is going to use a fairly standard construction style commonly used among House nobles. A sturdy interior structure that's easy to reinforce with an exterior that can then be customised for different appearances.

"I accidentally tore the facade off one of my relatives mansions when I was little." He explains when asked of how much he knows about these sort of structures.

"How did you manage that?"
"I shorted out the control system of a damaged aerocar my cousin was working on. I'm still amazed no one outside was hurt. My parents were actually considering having me pick up all of the destroyed masonry."

"Manual labour, how horrifying!" you joke.

Excavation for the underground levels doesn't take very long and within 2 weeks the foundations for the mansion and out buildings are finished. The largest and deepest floors are connected to the landing pad and underground garage. From there equipment can be brought in to dig even deeper levels as well as the escape tunnel.

On the other side of the mountains holographic camouflage is set up to disguise the work site for the corvette slipway. Only a small team of trusted engineers are staying on site to work on it. When it's completed a heavy armored door will protect the entrance and vibration dampeners will ensure its difficult to locate via sonar.

Troy is of the opinion that if a starship is needed to escape the manor or the planet even a corvette might not be enough. He does agree that it's a valuable fall back option though. There are some things that can't be planned for but the ship is certainly a step towards being prepared for it.

Did you have any ideas for the ship?

Heavily modded standard corvette, built like an armored brick with rockets strapped to it? Or something lighter and even faster like a scaled up racing yacht?
>>
>>2583622

Something fast and stealthy/ quiet.
>>
>>2583648
I'll have to find it but the Republic used to have a largely unarmed stealth corvette. They're badly outdated but you might be able to acquire one and refit it with the newer Aries stealth coating and some system upgrades.
Acquire one of these?

My computer is suddenly making very bad noises. Going to shut it down for a bit and see if that help.s
>>
>>2583680
Make an underground bombardment proof launch pad for it
>>
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>>2583736
You can armor it and add shield generators. Keep in mind SP Kinetic bombardment can still do quite a bit of damage if they can find the door.
>>
Wanting to avoid a paper trail as much as possible you make use of black market contacts to purchase a very old Republic stealth corvette. It turns out that the Republic stopped building these ships during the Faction Wars and mothballed them because they couldn't fit a small enough cloak to them at the time.

Upgrading it properly is going to require quite an investment for a ship it's size, but with the new coating it should be very hard to detect then, even without a cloak. Most of the other expenses are with the FTL and the engines. Also some of the structure isn't that great, the Republic did have much weaker materials back then.
As the list of things needing work keeps getting higher the lead engineer orders expenses capped at 10 million or they'd just keep going up. There are reasons ships like the Nocturn are so expensive.

It should be possible with some additional modification to fit one of the newer advanced cloaking shields the House produces. Mind you those are really, really expensive. It might be best to wait until next year when you have a bit more money available to get one.
Alternatively the Rovinar probably have older cloaks intended for their light attack ships. The corvette is quite a bit bit bigger, but it should be possible to extend its coverage enough to work.

[ ] Wait for a better cloak
[ ] Get a smaller Rovianr cloak
[ ] It doesn't need one / use holographics
>>
>>2583825

Go with what the lead engineer has suggested and cap it at 10 mil for this ship. I don't plan on it being super stealthy. Just stealthy enough to get us off planet and out of the system before any invading force can trap us on planet and prevent us from linking up with our fleet.

Also waiting for revenue for next year is also a good idea.
>>
>>2583833
This
>>
>>2583882
>>2583833
They'll finish it out for now. Any other upgrades to the ship will be conducted next year.

Towards the end of October things are becoming nearly unbearable in terms of the pregnancy. Because of the twins the medical staff are all but certain there will be an early birth.

Over the past 8 months you've been attending exercise classes, and following all of the important steps to get ready. As the due date approaches you're still growing more and more concerned. Will everything turn out okay?

This doesn't feel like your usual paranoia. Physically you and the babies are perfectly healthy. Doubts continue to linger however.

[ ] Natural birth, you've made it this far
[ ] C-section at the first sign of risk
>>
>>2583900

>[ ] Natural birth, you've made it this far

And of course, if science is as advanced as I believe it is. They got enough drugs that are advance enough Sonia should be able to get through it fine. But as always, lets keep the scientist on the burner waiting to get things done right. Also, make sure these are doctors loyal to us and House J-D. I cant think of anything more humiliating then someone kidnapping Sonia's newly born child out of the hospital. Or screwing up the names and placement of the kids, so we go home with someone elses kid because some doctor/ nurse screwed up or decided to take bribe from our enemies.
>>
>>2583825

[ ] Natural birth, you've made it this far
>>
>>2583900
>[ ] Natural birth, you've made it this far
It's they can create twins, they should be able to take care of any complications.
>>
>>2583900
>[ ] C-section at the first sign of risk
Eh. C-section is not that dangerous. Plus it's faster.
>>
With increasing signs that you might be going into labour soon you don't stray far from offices with quick access to a lift or a medbay. Mom, Linda and even Bekka have sent you encouraging letters. Well, Bekka tried at least and that's something.

You're expecting to be woken in the middle of the night or some inconvenient hour when the big day comes. So it's quite a shock when you very suddenly go into labour in the middle of the afternoon. Very sudden seems to be quite apt as these kids clearly want out.

After "only" a couple hours of the most intense pain you've ever gone through in your life, everything is over. Two healthy babies, one boy, one girl, are exercising their most definitely functional lungs. Most everyone you know are surprised everything went so quickly. One of the doctors informs you that's not uncommon with twin births.

Both of them have calmed down by the time Troy arrives. Having been overseeing some work out at the manor he didn't even have time to get back before it was all over.

"We're going to need a couple names." you inform him.
>>
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>>2584150
Achievement Unlocked: Sonia a mom?!
Mother's endurance Lvl.1 gained

>It's character generation time!
1) Roll 2d5

2) Name suggestions

3) Hair and eye colour. They're fraternal twins not identical so not necessarily the same. Were they gifted with the blond hair many players suggest Sonia has? Or the deep red common to the Harmen family?
>>
See you tomorrow! May start a little late, have to make a grocery run early on.
>>
Rolled 5, 5 = 10 (2d5)

>>2584158
Leon Harmen-Reynard - blond haired
Eleanor Harmen-Reynard - redhead
>>
Rolled 1, 4 = 5 (2d5)

>>2584158

>1)
See dice

>2/3) Names, hair and eyes

Common Name Suggestions
David Harmen-Reynard (boy) (blond hair; blue eyes)
April Harmen-Reynard (girl) (red hair; green eyes)

Uncommon Name Suggestions
Hildebrand Harmen-Reynard (boy) (red hair; hazel eyes)
Adalicia Harmen-Reynard (girl) (blond hair; blue eyes)

Off the Wall Name Suggestions
Rodolfo Harmen-Reynard (blond hair; grey eyes)
Nyssa Harmen-Reynard (blond hair; hazel eyes)
>>
>>2584158
Sonia genes are superior! Both should be blond buthe withave different eye colors. I am thinking ice blue and like.... hazel/amber for the girl and boy respectively. Now for names. I have always been favorable towards Cornelia and Franceska when it comes to girl names. Boy I am thinking Hildebrand like other anon suggested or Philip.
>>
Rolled 5, 5 = 10 (2d5)

>>2584158
Can't beat double fives, but rolling to finish the third set.

I like all the names and colour combinations suggested so far.
>>
>>2583758
Why not have 2 doors?
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>>2584175
>>2584158
Supporting
>>
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>>2584441
>Can't beat double fives
You can if you're not rolling for highest or lowest numbers.

>>2584555
>Why not have 2 doors?
Structural strength and harder to keep both hidden.
Were you thinking more like this?
>>
Baby names SURVEY!

surveymonkey com/r/ X8YSBMM

Link is up on the wiki and twitter.
>>
>>2584650
Nah, two tunnels branching off in different directions with the ship able to rotate to choose one or the other.
>>
>>2584763
Eh. Sounds needlessly complicated considering if they know where the ship will come out and can seriously threaten it then we're already fucked if we use it.
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>>2584847
Fair enough.
>>
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I'd just made this up.
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>>2584906
Stick with A. If we're looking to escape there's no need to make it complicated
>>
>>2584906
A

Smaller footprint means less chance of detection
>>
The two of you toss a few name ideas around but decide to leave it for tomorrow as you are exhausted.
As you're quick to realise sleep is now a bit rarer of a commodity than it was before. You do manage to make it through to the morning without having to rely on the maids. In the future with the rather important nature of your job it's probably going to be necessary to delegate more and more time looking after the babies to the maids.

By sunrise the two of you have decided to name the red headed, hazel eyed girl Eleanor. The blond haired blue eyed boy will probably be named Leon. That or Hildebrand.

"Hildebrand?"
"It's a boy's name." Troy confirms.
"Really? Huh, didn't know that."

Eleanor Reynard-Harmen and Leon Reynard-Harmen. It'll do for now. Maybe make Hildebrand his middle name?

"I swear if they end up trying to kill each other over inheritance I'll... I don't know, bury each of them in a separate underground city."
"That's very specific?" says Troy.
"Or strand them on the Dyson sphere."
"Please don't do that."

One thing is for sure, you're not going to let them come to any harm. Even if they're trying to harm each other. Is this what it's like for your mother?
>>
>>2585002
Leon for me

I don't know? aren't twins supposed to have this special connection with each other or something.
>>
>>2585002

>One thing is for sure, you're not going to let them come to any harm. Even if they're trying to harm each other. Is this what it's like for your mother?

I'm sure even when Sonia and Bekka were at their worst to each other as kids they didn't actively want to kill each other. Of course as kids Sonia and Bekka didn't have an inheritance worth billions and a whole world to gain. That they would have to share with their sibling. So gotta keep that in mind and try to raise them as normal kids and do everything possible to make sure that while competitive they don't actively hate each other an attempt to off the other later on.

Sometime in the distant future, one of them misbehaves we punish them by putting them on the Dyson Sphere in the care of the Caretaker Neeran/ Humans for a short time. Wait, this isn't a punishment at all!
>>
>>2585002
>Tfw no Franceska
Sad

>Is this what it's like for your mother?
More like trying to keep either Bekka or Sonia from doing stupid shit that got themselves killed rather than each other.

On the bright side we now got fresh victims to expose to The Look.
>>
The next week is spent on maternity leave as you adjust to all of the changes. You also spend a good deal of time talking to your Mother for advice and general complaints.

"How did you get through all of this? I have help and it's still a nightmare."

Mom's smug laughter in response is not at all helpful. Fortunately she does eventually give you useful tips after she's had a chance to see the twins.
"Also good luck losing the baby weight."

You frown.
"I'm going to have to lose it to use my power armor without major adjustments."

"Of course. Let me know how that turns out?"

You're now growing increasingly worried this may not be as easy as you'd hoped.

Roll 1d100
>>
Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>2585147
STRONGIA
>>
Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>2585147

Sonia has an amazing ability to bounce back after almost anything. Also, SCIENCE!
>>
Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>2585147
Bitch Sonia STRONK and FIT! If nothing else the power of money solves all problems.
>>
Working to burn off the excess pounds you're quickly back in top form in a couple of weeks. Although you lose quite a bit of weight this doesn't change the fact that you're not quite the same shape anymore in a few places.

"That's not going to fit sir." Ruiz warns as you try several times to suit up in your recon armor.
"I can make it fit. I just need to exhale a bit first."
Unfortunately that doesn't work even with all the excess pounds you've shed.

"Sir, please stop until the techs have had a chance to refit your armor."
"Rufaro! Your replacement is giving me sass!"

Much to your annoyance Rufaro confirms you're not going to fit into the armor at present. As an intermediate option she suggests compression undergarments which do help, but not quite enough.

[ ] Refit the armor
[ ] Minor reduction surgery
>>
>>2585292

>[ ] Minor reduction surgery

Refitting all our armor seems like it would be an expensive and labor intensive ordeal. And getting surgery to look how we want does not seem to far fetched an idea for a noble.
>>
>>2585292
[ ] Minor reduction surgery
Shut up Ruiz. We will MAKE our body fit and that's that.
>>
>>2585292
>[ ] Minor reduction surgery
>>
>>2585292
>[ ] Refit the armor
>>
Fucking tax fraud assholes keep phoning me. Had to go through the procedure to report them.
>>
"That's it, I'm going for some reduction surgery."

"It's not by very much that you don't fit." Rufaro points out.

"Fine then, minor reduction surgery. I want to be able to use my armor dammit."

"If it doesn't work out you could always model for new mother magazine!" Rufaro shouts after you as you depart.

"Ruiz!"
"Yes sir?"
"She can get away with back talking me a bit because we've served together for a very long time. If you get like that I'm going to fire you."
"Aye sir!"

Your husband is a little disappointed that you'll be dropping a cup size or two but knows better than to get in your way.
"You're looking great by the way."
"Thank you, but I'm still having it done."

The next day you have the procedure done. The day after that, thanks to advanced medical tech, you're back in fighting form and able to suit up once again. You don't bother telling Rufaro that you still need to use some of the compression undergarments in places.
Also Mom doesn't need to know the length's you've gone to in order to once again fit.

A few days later is the opening of the next Halide film focusing on your teams exploits rescuing survivors of the first film. After this they set out to sabotage an enemy super weapon that can distort time and space.
This distortion of course is how you ended up missing for what seemed like 3 years. It also allows the usual actress who plays you to have her minor facelift explained away.

Predictably the writing has suffered compared to the previous outing. Action seems to be the main defining feature and they've done a good job of keeping it mostly realistic. It still plays rather over the top in some people's eyes. So all of the critics.

You getting your arm crippled mid fight wasn't considered good for maintaining the pace of the big fight scene so its exterior ends up shredded. Battling it out with melee weapons and an arm reduced to a burning metal frame, all to harsh sounding music. It certainly appeals to the audience members that are a bit more in line with twelve year olds.

Your fingers are crossed that they don't have a corny ending. Troy's character does make some off hand joke once the battle is won and your character replies that she thinks she's starting to like him. The rest after that is returning to the fleet and finding out how much time has passed. It easily sets up for another film about the ongoing war efforts against the Neeran.

Predictably the critics don't care for it, though it still does much better than most Halide films.
>>
>>2585706
Cheesy, I like it.
>>
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With you getting the hang of spending time with the kids balanced with other work you start to wonder if it might be time to hold a ball. Specifically one for nobles with power armor. A big gala event. You could show off some of your suits, like the new one that Mr Nxesi made, or some of the anti-Kythera ones.

It would probably improve the morale of Rioja's nobility to know they and their fellows could handle themselves in an emergency. Also show off the strength of the Dominion to the various Terran and Kavarian business owners that have relocated here thinking they're hot stuff.

Linda will also be back in a week or two and will want to throw a baby shower. Have to remember that.

Entering the office to discuss business with your advisers you see that Admiral Tama, Verilis and Commander Nel'odym are hard at work requesting updates. Actually they seem to be focusing quite intently on the Alliance feeds.

"Good morning? What's everyone looking at?"

"This."
Tama sends command data to the room's main display. It resolves into a map of Faction space. Ghostly lines indicating possible and confirmed FTL sensor traces indicate multiple Neeran fleets incoming towards Nav Relays closest to their territory.

"The Alliance is tracking at least 16 main fleet groups crossing this area here known as the Crystal Sea. It's supposed to be impassable according to the guild. Natural distortions are known to render navigational instruments next to useless in the region. Or so we've been told. It's also farther across than any ship can travel in a single jump."

"Which mean they need to drop to real space which will screw up their FTL and navigation even more." Verilis concludes.

Clearly that's not happening in this case.

Additional contacts have been detected closing in on the relays themselves only hours out. Six advance forces. They probably have better cloaking tech or the deep space network would have detected them like the main fleets.

"Have we been asked to mobilize?"

"Not yet." replies Nel'odym.

[ ] Mobilize the fleet now
[ ] Alert all personnel to be on standby (Reduced mobilization time)
[ ] Contact the Count for orders
[ ] Other
>>
>>2585819
>[ ] Alert all personnel to be on standby (Reduced mobilization time)

Get the fleet ready and inform our allies in the Run Alliance of our intent to get our fleet in the case the Neeran make it here. That it may be a good idea to get their fleet ready as well, should the Neeran some how make to the Run. Also get in touch with our friends and start coordinating with them. Then get in touch with the Count to see if he wants to get the rest of the House mobilized fully or on stand by.

We should already be getting in touch with the governor about getting all our people secured. And if we haven't already, get contingency plans in place to have places for civilians to get to to avoid any Neeran invasion.
>>
>>2585819
>[ ] Alert all personnel to be on standby (Reduced mobilization time)
>>
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>>2585819
Changing my vote.

If they haven't had to revert then who knows what they've been cooking up? Drew the FTL lines out a bit, maybe most of them will hit the front lines but a few will bypass and hit rear territories?

In any case, [x] Mobilize the fleet now.
>>
>>2585819
>>2586002

Considering what anon said... yeah change to mobilization.
>>
>>2585832
>>2586002
>>2586005
Considering your options you come to a decision, then immediately decide that isn't adequate enough.
"Alert all personnel. We're mobilizing the fleet I want it ready when our orders come in."

The previous Alliance warning to be prepared for mobilization in 48 hours notice was issued months ago. It's not really possible to remain at full readiness that long. Because of this it's going to take a bit longer to recall everyone.

Meanwhile the heavier fleet assets that take longer to get ready are given priority. Even before you contact her Baron Avun has ordered Righteous Intent to prepare for launch. The Talos Heavy Carrier spends much of its time when not conducting exercised docked safely inside Rioja's moon base. Once clear her crew begin a slow economical burn out of the gravity well, making for Avun's home system of Kaptlyn.

Contacting your allies in the Run Alliance you inform them of your intent to have your own fleet ready and waiting should the Neeran make it past the Alliance positions at the front. Most of the others that have been keeping an eye on the situation agree that they should begin readying part of their fleets. Allies in the rest of the Relay begin doing much the same.

Contacting your friends and allies elsewhere you see that most of them are keeping an eye on the unfolding situation as well. Alex reports that the Zeus class Anvil Crawler is still in the middle of a refit cycle meaning his fleet will probably be stuck with the task of defending the Erid territories.

Winifred and Daska are preparing their forces. Most of the LRBS II's and other hgh FTL capable ships in their fleets are being sent to the Pandora cluster to reinforce the House forces and shipyards there.

Katherine Drake reports that she and L'ak Tenni are stuck in place due to the unstable nature of their holdings. Their fleets are effectively pinned down and unable to relocate. If necessary they can send small units.

When you're finally able to get through to the Governor they report that the PDF is now beginning preparations to ready emergency shelters should they be needed. Not that they'd help much if the Neeran bombarded the planet. Some extra PDF shifts have been put on and the others warned they could be recalled to duty at any time. This should give them time to prepare without overly worrying the civilian populace. Mind you a good portion of Rioja's populace has relatives in the military. Especially among the J-D colonists.

In the event of a Neeran invasion the planetary shields are not expected to hold up to a Scorcher attack. In some ways this makes it more likely they'd land troops to secure the primary population centers. There are only a few big cities on Rioja rather than a decentralized populace like on older more established worlds. Underground shelters common to Dominion infrastructure construction should protect most of the civilians during a planetary assault.
>>
>>2586127
what were the 2d5's for?
>>
>>2586127
Sounds like everyone's preparing for round 2.
>>
>contingency plans
>cont.
In a worst case scenario there would not be time to conduct an evacuation of the populace. At best your fleet could evacuate the Army, some of the PDF and perhaps one million civilians. The local civilian starships could perhaps get another million or two off if given enough time.

It takes longer than you would have liked but you do eventually get through to the Count. He's reluctant to fully mobilize the entire House fleet but is seeing about readying multiple taskforces.
"It is imperative that we still have enough forces left to defend out territory in the event the Neeran get through. No more than three fleets are to be sent. One from the homeworlds, another from your relay and the third from South Reach.
Select a Knight Commander to lead forces that you and Baron Avun feel you afford to part with. I'm authorizing you to send one of our heavy assets with them if you feel they can make the most of them."

"What forces are the homeworlds deploying?" you ask.

"The Barons are still split between Majestic or Qlippoth. Whatever is selected be prepared to send reinforcements on short notice. The Alliance is already requesting assault corvettes to equip some of their super carrier groups that are running light.
Inform me once you've made your decision Viscount, I have other matters to attend to."

"Aye sir."

Closing the channel you get to it.

Knight Commander Nel'odym seems the obvious choice to lead the fleet sent from the Run. He's been training for this for some time in efforts to become Baron of Magdalena. While he could attain that position without this particular deployment this could make it certain. At the same time do you really trust them yet with big ships like Forbearance or Righteous Intent?

Your 3 raider fleet commanders that racked up impressive salvage totals in the Civil War are also looking for a chance at advancement. Hera Boosalis and Phas Rah'ne are long time rivals and have spent most of this decade trying to outdo one another. Their mobile tactics are quite good and they've had the past 4 years to brush up on other areas they were weaker in.

The same is true for Lyas Cinayk, the first Kavarian to be Knighted by your House. They've been solid all around. Acting as commander of Rioja's big fleet base in your absence, they've learned to balance mobile tactics with proper large fleet actions thanks to Admiral Tama.

1) Who will be your fleet's Knight commander?
Knight Commander Nel'odym [Dro'all]
Hera Boosalis [Human Female]
Phas Rah'ne [Dro'all]
Lyas Cinayk [Kavarian Male?]

2) What heavy ship asset will you assign to their fleet?
2A) Forbearance (Mark 0 Fast Super)
2B) Righteous Intent (Talos Heavy Carrier)
2C) Hire Bernard Foss and his Super
>>
>>2586199
To see what they'd be more likely to excel in.
With 5's being the most frequent roll they'll both be fast learners. As opposed to say, Bekka's high Martial attributes.
>>
>>2586236

>1) Who will be your fleet's Knight commander?
All of them I would be fine putting as the Knight Commander in charge, but I imagine nobles would be pissed about Lyas being made the Knight Commander. So that leaves Nel'odym, Hera and Phas, unless we want to say screw the other nobles and put Lyas Cinayk.

Order of which I'd prefer:
Phas
Hera
Nel'odym
Lyas


>2) What heavy ship asset will you assign to their fleet?
2C) Hire Bernard Foss and his Super

Keep the Foreberance at the homeworlds to protect them.
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Survey time again?

surveymonkey com/r/ HYP5NMC
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>>2586236
>>2586373
Just about an hour and 20 minutes later still only 1 vote.
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>>2586494
I guess it being close to the bottom people are waiting/ don't want to push off the board. So maybe call it here and leave poll up until the next game?
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Foss' prices have gone up a bit. Mind you his ship is powerful. He's asking for 500 million up front along with a percentage of the salvage rights.

At the same time he's prepared to pay back a rental fee if he can borrow more powerful guns for his Super. The 4 gun light siege cannon turrets are rather good but they could be better.
Your House has a small surplus of weapons intended for Forbearance. Weapons that, with the new Helios guns now entering production may become out dated. Mind you a few could be upgraded later.

Loan him the Iratar Guns, the Helios Fusion siege cannons, or turn him down?
Rioja has also picked up a few of the 5 gun Gatling light siege cannon turrets as part of the lunar defenses. They could also be temporarily traded.

3rd question now added to the survey.
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>>2586525
It means I probably wont resume until Saturday it looks like.
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The Alliance has sent a priority intelligence update on the newly observed Neeran Supers that are being deployed in force. Newer ships with the reporting name Executioner are confirmed to be equipped with 4 spinal mount siege weapons. There are similar weapons to the single gun ships that have been seen throughout the war constructed from other types of crippled supers. Those were already a threat to Factions Supers.

Krath intel also reports that some of them at least are equipped with gravity well generators. A Krath fleet destroyed twelve of these ships with Veckron weapon strikes at their launch point. Vanderwal suspects that the Krath probably learned about the gravity well generators the hard way.

"If they do have gravity well generators all they need to do is have one ship stop half way to allow an entire fleet a place to recharge their drives. Provided they found a way to deal with the other problems in that stretch of space."

Given the danger these new ships pose the Alliance is advising forces engaging them to either remain at extreme range supporting corvette attacks, or overwhelm them with siege cannon fire from multiple supers. In theory the new ACS class with its many more big guns should be on a level playing field with them.

All of the Alliance Capital Ships that were being reserved for the invasion of the Empire are now being activated. There has been a request for additional ship crews. House J-D does keep a reserve of trained personnel for Forbearance. Did you want to request permission from the Count to send them?

4A) Send reserve
4B) Send reserve + anyone Forbearance can spare
4C) Hold them back for assignment to next Fast Super
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>>2586780
>>2586236
>Knight Commander Nel'odym [Dro'all]

>2B) Righteous Intent (Talos Heavy Carrier)

>4C) Hold them back for assignment to next Fast Super
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>>2586780
4A) Send reserve
Getting them live action experience aboard a Super in real combat should prepare them for assignment to a Fast Super.

>>2586236
>Knight Commander Nel'odym [Dro'all]
This is what a Knight Commander is for after all and we do need more Barons in the run.

>2C) Hire Bernard Foss and his Super
With hiring Foss we will not have a problem with trusting him with a big ship since it's not even ours to begin with.

>>2586558
>5 gun Gatling light siege cannon
I want to see how it works in action.

Does anyone else feel like this is going to be rather bloody?
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>>2587134
>Does anyone else feel like this is going to be rather bloody?
In agreement there. If each of those fleets is centered around a command ship, then we're in for some trouble I would imagine. Even with the ACS and Fast Super putting the hurt on the Neeran supers, we don't really have a counter for the command ships beyond 'Spam Supers'

Maybe it's time to start investing in superweapon development?
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>>2584906
Yeah that was it. If we used different methods to hide the exits IDK why there would be a problem.
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>>2587377
>Maybe it's time to start investing in superweapon development?
>RSS, salvaging galaxies with a single button press.

Im all for this.
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>>2586946
>>2586780
Supporting this.
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>>2587377
Well we did have that fused mass of Supers during the Bonrah invasion of DRH1. That thing had a range like you wouldn't believe and dropped ships quickly. Plus it's was good for more than just shooting big targets. I just can't recall what it was called... That aside I do wonder how Anti matter torps are working against the Neeran City Ships. Cause I mean those must pretty much ignore shields and treat them as anything else from the material realm.That is, it deletes them
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>>2587633
The array was just a weaker scorcher, I'm thinking bigger and better, like a K-Dream scale plasma cannon firing SP rounds.
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Wow I wasn't expecting the thread to still be here even if this board does move really slow at times.

>>2587377
>Maybe it's time to start investing in superweapon development?
The Alliance Admiralty have decided that when there is an opportunity to kill a Command ship it's acceptable to spam it with V-Torps. Obviously they prefer to avoid engaging them in particular areas. Near major industrial systems, or the Sphere for instance.
Outside of those they've been leaning more towards giving the all clear to light them up and resolve fleet battles more quickly. The Shallan State has been taking great efforts to classify which systems are or are not V-Torp free fire zones.

>>2587633
Siege array / Siege formation.
As pointed out, yes they're a weaker Scorcher, though you can continue to scale it up by adding more Supers to the formation. Pushing the plasma towards the target then begins to become an issue as the pusher ship at the back is limited.

The Dominion does have a potentially much better platform however with the Avalanche mobile fortress. They can be customized and they have a lot more tonnage to work with in terms of equipment they can carry.
Mini Death Star with multi-linked phase weapons? That's one of the few Dominion specialised weapons I can think of.

Have to head back out soon. Will be making a new thread Saturday.
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>>2588238
How many Fast Super engine blocks would it take to move Rioja's plasma moon?
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>>2589454
>How many Fast Super engine blocks would it take to move Rioja's plasma moon?
In theory only one, it would just take time. If you wanted it out of the Rioja system however you'd need the FTL from a Ceres heavy asteroid Tug.
Maybe 2 Drive blocks or 3-4 Asteroid tugs to get it out of the system in a reasonable period of time.

It could be done with just 1, or with modifications to the Heavy Salvage ship being built, it would just take more effort. A lot more fuel and possibly a slingshot maneuver.
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We're still tied on What heavy ship asset will you assign to their fleet?
Predictably, it's the only question people have skipped.




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