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>>32206764
>Current armory
3 Thorn Launchers
2 Sting Casters

>Current resource reserves
Nutrients: 207
Metals: 35

>Hive population and upkeep cost
Queen – 5
Worker (17) – 34
Warrior (5) – 20
Thinker (6) – 18
Speaker – 3
Digger (3) – 12
Nutrient costs: 92

>Income
Nutrients: 50
Net: -42

Hive Structure
>Reservoir
>General storage
>Food storage
>Laboratory
>Infrastructure

Hive construction underway
>Algae farm

>Research underway
Unity Tech Interfacing 3/5
Human Tech Interfacing 1/5
Flyer dissection 2/5

Available research options
>Lightning gun
Very slow, potential of failure and destruction of sample device
>Human environment suit
Very Slow, a bulky looking, yet light weight suit composed of tightly woven fabric and small metallic plating covering the chest and forearms. The suit seems to react to injury to the user, and contains a number of devices the humans use to make up for their frail physical structure and sensitive biology. Study of this technology could offer insight into any number of research fields.
>Human technology interfacing
You have determined that the small device you retrieved from the human camp is some kind of artificial data storage. Physically it is worthless, but if you were to spend the time to develop a way to interface your thinkers with it the data within may prove well worth the effort.
>Unity Drone salvage
The physical components of the drone are quite interesting. Opening it up and taking a closer look would give you a much better idea of how the device works (grants small bonus against Unity drones, and unlocks weapon, armor, and propulsion research options)

>>32206764
>>32206776

Yay!

Tell the humans they are brave to lure so much food towards them at once.

>>32206935
hah, seconded

I want to make a suggestion for a list of possible developments for our hive:

Harvester Sacks - A drone climbs in and is slowly digested, netting back a large lump sum of nutrients, and thus making recycling drones and dead workers much more efficient by gaining back more of the resources used to create them.

Leaches - Medical units that latch on to expensive and irreplaceable units. Leaches draw out impurities, poisons, and even hunt parasites with their 'tongues'. They close up when full, and become, essentially, bio-waste trash bags, which are difficult to puncture, and can be thrown away for safety.

General - A warrior implanted with the genetic material of an advanced thinker, giving it the ability to lead long distance scouting and hunting parties.

Electromagnetic Drone - Through a clever use of bio-electricity, this drone is able to detect metal minerals in rock and soil, letting you know where to dig for buried resources. Upon physical contact with a vein, they can tell how large it is, and in what directions it spreads, increasing mining efficiency.

>>32206935
Ha.

But nah let's just save Lee at the last second. We can carve out a cave somewhere a bit distant from our hive to keep him safe and fed until rescue.

>>32206976

Metal Supports/Shielding - By using an almost negligible amount of metal, you can line specific parts of your warriors claws with metal to act as supports against stress. These metal strips and linings aren't to make the warrior more deadly, or to give them sharper claws, but to prevent exoskeletal cracking should they have to block an attack with their claws, or strike an opponent with a shell harder then theirs.

Medic Drone - The medic drone contains internal pouches of fluids of varying viscosity that can be smeared through an aperture in it's claws, or injected through a proboscis. These pastes and liquids serve as anesthetics, antimicrobial medicine, hemostatic gauze paste, silk for tourniquets, and hardening cast pastes. It also has detachable spines that can be used as splints. The Medic Drones claws have been retrofitted for injecting and smearing paste rather than the scything and clubbing that it's contemporaries claws are designed to do. This drone is not without defenses though, as an overdose of anesthetics in an opponent would be lethal, and the pastes in it's sacs would harden and lock a predators jaws shut.

>>32206976
Anon, we have to find something existing already in nature to research and/or mimic it.

>sticking Thinkers into ordinary drones.
Man why. Why why why. Do you even specialization?

Why put Thinker brains on the frontlines where they can die when they can add their brains to the warriors from a safe distance as a separate drone? Stupid.

>>32206984

I'm down for waiting until it is inevitable that most of the camp will be thrashed so we can loot it. but we're not going to let them all get killed.

>>32206776
At the human camp your speaker drone goes largely unnoticed. The humans appear to acclimate to new things quite quickly. You see Commander Grey for a moment discussing something with Lee, his arm draped across Lee's shoulders. Lee looks slightly uncomfortable, although his leg is still wounded, so you have a hard time determining a baseline.

>Inform Grey of the approaching stampede
>Say nothing
>Attempt to power down the fence yourself
>Speak with Grey or Lee (write in)
>Other

>>32207017
Because brains are stationary, and this will extend their range.

>>32206976
Please no. Let's keep the Specialization debates until after PLOT happens.

I missed the chance last week to suggest maxing out that Olfactory antennae adaptation for some worker models, so at least have the same patience I have.

>>32207056

>Inform Grey of the approaching stampede

>>32207056
>>Inform Grey of the approaching stampede

>>32207056
>Inform Grey of the approaching stampede
and
>www.orionsarm.com/eg-article/460d99f6a63c4
Could we this?

>>32207056
>Say nothing
Please.

At least wait a little bit until it's closer.

>>32207068
>Do not suggest things! I didn't, so you shouldn't either!

NO.

Also: we should be careful how we tell the bipeds about the stampede. We shouldn't give away just how many powers we have.

>>32207064
Do you have any idea how vast telepathy range is already? Not to mention ignoring the fact that we can relocate the Thinkers as we please to far off bases. Or set up telepathy relays for us all.

We do not need Overlords.

>>32206976

-The electro magnetic drone is good, though the planet's (apparently very strong) electromag field would present difficulties in development.
-The Leaches are unnecessary, our biologies have already adapted to the environmental hazards here.
-Harvester sacks aren't necessary because we don't recycle drones that much
-Generals can be done better by just building a psionic relay

>>32207006
-Metal supports are...redundant.

-Medic drone is good, but you're not thinking alien enough with it. Give it flash-cloning/building chambers so it can eat the damaged limbs (or battlefield charnel) off of our bugs and then clone a new one to graft on.

>>32206976
>Harvester Sacks
we're already pretty efficient without those, but why not?

>Leeches
Launch them at foes as bioweapons

>General
nah

>EMD
I don't think that's how bio-electricity works. You want prospector drones, don't fluff it that way.

>>32207006
>Metal Integration
we already do that, although further research to increase efficiency might be possible.

>Medic Drone
not as useful, since drones and broken chitin are so easily consumed and replaced. Maybe a drone that can release anaesthetics, stimulants, and antimicrobial paste?

>>32207064
not necessarily. Like with that time I argued for putting range extenders on Furnace Drones, the sheer range is simply so large, there's no need to add the extenders onto other units.

>>32207056
>Inform Grey of the approaching stampede

>>32207150
I'm saying don't slow down the goddamn thread with that when we have PLOT.

I want the same thing you do but use some sense.

>>32207056

Inform grey of the approaching stampede.

>>32207056
>Speak with Lee
Humans should consume the electric worms, they're an efficient source of nutrients.

>>32207177
>>32207150

Really now man, start up a new thread "Hive Queen Quest Discussion" and post them there. It's good to come up with ideas, but it does really bog us down.

>>32207092
>>32207095
>>32207108
Why should we though?

>>32207229
Why not?

>>32207229
so that we don't get caught up in the stampede?

although the stampede itself and the trampling of mushroom forest might be a boon...

>>32207022
you're voting for not telling them then right?

>>32207160
>-The electro magnetic drone is good, though the planet's (apparently very strong) electromag field would present difficulties in development.

What difficulties? Says who?


>-The Leaches are unnecessary, our biologies have already adapted to the environmental hazards here.

Except for the cordicepts fungus that has already claimed one worker...


>-Harvester sacks aren't necessary because we don't recycle drones that much

Um... Care to count how many we already have? Think again.

>-Generals can be done better by just building a psionic relay

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS.

>>32207056
>Inform Grey of the stampede

>>32207264
We are not in danger of the stampede. at all.

terrible reason. they're ignoring us completely.

>>32207257
It is to our benefit that there be a bunch of unused human technology we can loot.

>>32207169
>>Leeches
>Launch them at foes as bioweapons

YES.

>>32207273
Why not just move a thinker so its in range.
>>32207225
I don't see that going down well with the anti quest portion of /tg/.

>>32207273

Alright, if you're going to be like that then I'll cease to entertain you in polite conversation.

>>32207273
Oh my god shut up with your stupid snowflake ideas already.

First, Thinker brains is not the same as a psionic relay.

And second, you don't put your psionic relay units into the same body as battle units.

>>32207297
Not really. The bugs will probably trample all the equipment to bits.

>>32207297
>It is to our benefit that there be a bunch of unused human technology we can loot.
Most of which will probably get crushed by the beasties.

>>32207056
As you move to speak with the humans you can't help but look at their camp. Even in a trampled state, much of it may be of some use. You weigh the risks...
>Wait to tell them until they are almost here
>Tell them now

>>32207347
>>32207357
Okay, there is that not insignificant risk.

Man I really wish Unity had left some human corpses behind instead of vaporizing. All we have is bones, nothing interesting to dissect.

>>32207369
>>Tell them now

>>32207369
Tell them now

>>32207056
>Inform Grey of the approaching stampede

Preferably in a sorta joking manner like >>32206935
suggests.

>>32207369
Oh so trampling won't be that disastrous! good.
>Wait to tell them until they are almost here

>>32207369
It will take them a while to believe us so
>Tell them now

>>32207056
>>32207369

>Tell them now
>Speak with Grey or Lee

>Lee or Grey
"Your kin is very brave to bring so many food to yourselves at once. Perhaps you will share the secret of this fence with us?"

>>32207369
I want to maintain them as allies, but I REALLY want human anatomy research...

>Wait to tell them until they are almost here

>>32207369
>Tell them now

I honestly would prefer these guys in our debt.

>>32207225
I try to stay after the session is over until the thread 404s for meta discussion, questions and the like.

>>32207369
>>Tell them now
Dont want their sensitive (and probably cool) shit to get stomped.

>>32207169
>not as useful, since drones and broken chitin are so easily consumed and replaced.

This has nothing to do with that. What happens if we send out five or more drones to kill something and bring it back, and all but one of them are too wounded to carry it? Consuming or recycling them won't be efficient.

>>32207225
>Really now man, start up a new thread "Hive Queen Quest Discussion" and post them there. It's good to come up with ideas, but it does really bog us down.

No, we already have a thread for discussing Hive Quest; THE HIVE QUEST THREAD. We need to think of technologies now, and come up with a plan of what we want in the future and start making them before it's too late. Our offspring take time to hatch, if we only make them when we need them we'll be too late to use them. That's like waiting until your house is on fire to go out and buy a fire extinguisher.

>>32207369
>The hive, which is totally trustworthy, and which you are 99% sure secretly took out at least 2 Unity drones and is lying to your face a bout this, after which you immediately erected this electric fence which you never had around your camp before this, is now suggesting you have to turn off your electric fence.

I can't wait to roll for diplomacy.

Also I see Grey is trying to feed his suspicions into Lee, turn him against us right under our antennae! Ballsy.

>>32207369
>Tell them now

>>32207398
At worst, you could scrap it for metals, although you hope something would survive.
(I'll roll for damage)

>>32207446
Actually we're suggesting they move AND turn off the electric fence. Since I doubt the bugs will just stop outright once the fence is off.

>>32207177
>>32207443

We basically want to avoid what AI Quest has devolved into.

Catching up on this week's thread, there was literally zero plot progression because it was all discussion about possible upgrades and progressions.

We should try to keep this streamlined and focus on the plot when there's plot

>>32207369
>Tell them now
Jesus guys, let's NOT be a dick to our (sort-of) friends.

>>32207446
They had a camp with buildings before so they didn't need a fence anon. Really if they do think we took out the drones what do they think a fence is going to do to us?

>>32207518
>Jesus guys, let's NOT be a dick to our (sort-of) friends.

>friends
That's stupid.

Not telling them has its advantages. "Being a dick" isn't really a relevant concern.

>>32207443
>Consuming or recycling them won't be efficient.
Battle units don't need to return to base to replace their armor chitin, they just eat the broken pieces and grow new ones.

As for wounded limbs and such, I'm not sure if those regenerate, or if there's anything in particular a medic can do about that in the field.

There was the cloning thing here >>32207160, but otherwise medical pastes are all we've got.

Last post from me about this, though. This can wait until the thread ends.

>>32207522

They set up the fence because they're in the jungle now (because they think that there's still a Unity drone wandering around). Before they were out on the plains, which had few/no predators aside from the Flying Wings of Death.

>>32207369
>Tell them now
You decide it best to err on the side of caution. Your speaker walks up to the two humans.
"You are attracting danger."
Grey looks at you, startled for a moment.
"What? What do you mean?"
Hmm... how do you explain the situation to the Commander?

>>32207584
>>32206935

I still like this

>>32207559
That is also a better reason for the fence then thinking it would stop us.

>>32207595

Me too.

Wait... Why do we want them to turn off their fence?

>>32207595
thirded

>>32207584
Well, I was hoping we'd go for the 'Way to be ballsy' approach so ....

If that's off the table, then I guess we inform them of the large number of regular bugs throwing themselves onto the fence and the ground shaking first.

>>32207584
Yes go with, >>32206935

Might add an addendum about how they plan to kill then store so much of it.

>>32207584
Let's point out how the worms are being drawn to the fence.

>>32207584
I support this >>32206935 with adding there is basically a stampede coming through here.

>>32207649

The wildlife is attracted to electricity, so it's drawing a stampede because it's a sci-fi grade electric fence of death.

>>32207649
it attracts the wildlife because they all sense/eat electricity.

>>32207584
Your lure-fence has attracted too many prey. The hive is curious of the secret behind such a potent trap.

>>32207663
>>32207691
>>32207661

Yeah, supplement it with these.

>>32207704
>>32207665

This, mention the worms. Make them understand that these organisms do not work the same way the do. Electricity might not be the deterrent that they hope it is.

>>32207746
Nah, don't bother with the details. Let them believe us or not.

>>32207777
Yeah, fuck 'em and all, but, won't we need them to turn it off if we want our speaker to get out of dodge in time?

>>32207746
>>32207777
We can point out their fence is luring worms which are luring bigger predators who are stampeding their way.

>>32207777
>Grey won't believe us
>Lee will

>mutinous schism in the camp as we try and flee the stubborn camp with Lee and whoever he tries to convince with the word of the Cassandra bug at his side

>>32207584
"You lure much, much food all at once! It would be far too much for the hive to hunt."
"I'm still not following. How are we attracting-"
The zap of the fence frying yet another creature makes Trevor jump slightly. He turns to the fence, and the pile of writhing worms and small creatures reaching up in an effort to grasp the wires.
"Oh shit."
"Your weapons must be quite powerful to deal with so many. There is a large herd heading this way."
The two look at each other briefly before Grey slaps Lee on the back. "Remember what I told you, and keep Junior here out of danger." He turns to the others "Incoming! Get to your stations, and shut down the damn fence!"

>>32207777

I concur. If they don't trust us...eh.

>>32207811
Our Speaker can be reborn.

We can get Lee to open a gate for us anyway.

Lee would never betray us.

>>32207829
hahahah!, time to hunt!

>>32207829
>. "Remember what I told you,
"What was he saying?"

>>32207850
Actually how have our Speaker's legs healed so far with the human splints on them?

>>32207876
>>32207829

We didn't hear.

Damn I'm wishing we sent those spy-flies along with the Speaker. Any chance we could hatch some, QM?

>>32207829
"I suggest you leave this place before the herd arrives. The hive can provide short-term shelter."

>>32207906
>We didn't hear.
That's.... the point anon.

That is why those four words were in quotation marks. So that the Speaker would ask Lee them.

>>32207876

We can speculate that he wants to keep the Speaker safe from danger since its the only viable contact the humans have to a friendly radio-capable race

>>32207876
>>32207906
>>32207829

What if they're actually talking about us in a wholly benevolent fashion?

Like "Isn't that guy fucking great? Got us out of a sticky situation, he's like a native guide! Let's be sure to keep him the fuck alive."

>>32207906
I am all for, ASAP, laying a clutch of tiny spy flies to deliver to where the Speaker can pick up the eggs and bring them into camp.

It's not like we'll have to feed them since we can't control them anyway, they'll just run about until they starve.

>>32207921
While keeping Lee in a cave of his own / metaphorical doghouse as a pet is appealing, let's wait on that.

>>32207921

No, we can't compromise the safety of the hive.

>>32207829
Lee looks at you nervously as he takes out his pistol.
"Do you know what exactly they are?"
"Very big, and many of them!"
"Ok... well stay close to me." Lee moves back to one of the small tents, inside you note many more gravely wounded humans. Lee leans against a nearby tree, taking the weight off his leg.

The humming of the fence stops suddenly, and you note several of the rampaging creatures waver in their course. Two stop outright and begin to lumber about in a daze before slowly moving back out to the mossy plains. Most of them, however, seem to stay their course. You wonder of they know what they are even chasing now. Likely the ones behind are following the ones in front are running from whatever imaginary thing could be chasing the ones behind. It hardly matters. Nearly a dozen are left and will arrive at the camp very soon. Should you wish to prepare, or offer assistance now would be the time.

>Have warriors help defend the camp
>Offer advice (write in)
>Other

>>32208059
Which is way more advanced than just dwelling in a cave like when Lee was there last.

Let's not reveal we have Creep/squishy walls/Infrastructure.

>>32208073
>Warrior defense!

>>32208073
No risking our precious children.

>>32208073

Offer warrior defense in exchange for some of those funny looking human technology.

High-pressure salesmanship is a go

>>32208073
>Have warriors help defend the camp

Preferably from out of site, but defense is top priority. We'll hopefully be able to get some nice samples from these things.

>>32208073
>Have warriors help defend the camp

>>32208093
>revealing our mastering of projectile weaponry
NO.

>>32208073

>Other

Use the warriors/drones we dispatched to try to cause the horde to splinter or redirect its course. Have the warriors attack one side so they lean away from them, while the workers have dug a ditch (or some other obstacle) that the horde wants to avoid to push them further off course.

>>32208120
>defense is top priority
...how so?

They'll be fine. They have lightning guns.

If we do get a few human corpses out of the deal it's actually a good thing.

>>32208073

Alternatively, send in few workers to quickly loot any technology from any humans who get trampled or killed while the remaining humans are distracted.

We could have them be accompanied by warriors if need be to "help out"

>>32208136

I have to agree with overly-paranoid anon here. This: >>32208159
would be good so long as we don't do any of it in sight of the humans.

>>32208073
>Other
Ask for a power generator of theirs.

So we can lure some of them elsewhere. (And study it.)

Do NOT let them see our warriors.

>>32208136
Who said anything about using our weapons?

>>32208073
Have our warriors turn up with no weapons and declare our intent to die helping our friends. Hopefully they'll hand us some spare weapons out of pity.

Naturally said weapons will disappear in the confusion of battle.

>>32208186
Yes, they'll definitely lend us weapons we have no training in and can't actually hold.

>>32208186
Warriors are equipped with weapons, would you just have them disarm themselves at the hive before going out?

Also risking our children at all for random xenos is also a poor move anyway.

>>32208073
You decide it best to help the humans, or at the very least, attempt to mitigate the damage.

>Send warriors to help directly
>Use the drones already out to try to divert the stampede
>Other

>>32208231
>>32208234
Fair enough.

>>32208073
>Have warriors help defend the camp

Either A) With no weapons or B) Try to pick some of them off from a distance.

We can send out the drones to retrieve the corpses of the creatures for study/food afterwords.

>>32208243
>Other

Get power sources from the humans and attract the stampede elsewhere!

>>32208243
>>Use the drones already out to try to divert the stampede

>>32208243
>Use the drones already out to try to divert the stampede

>>32208265
Probably dont have time.

>>32208288
Surely if we have time to send warriors to arrive at the camp, we have time to take a power generator a moderate distance.

Maybe not with the Speaker, but Speaker can deliver it to a worker that's out and about.

>>32208243
>Use the drones already out to try to divert the stampede

>>32208243

>Use the drones already out to try to divert the stampede.

Send warriors to assist...if they'll get there in time.

>>32208243
I don't care what we do as long as we don't send warriors to defend directly.

>>32208317
If we have time to move the generators why don't we just get them to move their camp out of the way?

>>32208346
Worker drones are stronger and faster than a large group of humans carrying heavy equipment. Duh.

>>32208073
>Have warriors help defend the camp

>>32208243
>>Use the drones already out to try to divert the stampede

>>32208346
I'm assuming because it would take too long to move their wounded.

>>32208243
>Send warriors to help directly

>>32208073
whynotboth.png
send the drones to divert the stampede but move in the warriors to be in place to quickly defend the camp if that fails

>>32208243
You already have a small squad of drones that you had sent out to scout the area. You don't have time to send any others out, so you will just have to make due. They run after the massive, lumbering creatures and catch up to them soon enough. They move quite fast, but your two warriors easily out run them, leaving your small squad of workers in the dust.

>Attack the creatures head on
>Shoot them from the side
>Attempt to tackle one

>>32208395
>>Attempt to tackle one
I want to dissect it anyway. Only need one.

>>32208395
>>Shoot them from the side

Assuming humans can't see us, if they do, fuck using warriors.

>>32208364
Maybe the humans dont have extra generators to be throwing away.

>>32208419
Maybe their lives are more important than power generators.

This is the one chance we have to get them to give us one willingly really. Since it helps save their lives.

Too late now I guess though.

>>32208395

>Attempt to tackle one

Haha, just for the hilarity.

Then we shall ride it to direct the charge elsewhere. (Perhaps to around our mountain so we have all the resources we need for quite a while.)

>>32208395
>Shoot them from the side

>>32206776
>Net: -42
We really need to send a huge hunting/foraging party next chance we get.

>>32208395
>>Attempt to tackle one

>>32208395
>Shoot them from the side

Just need to lure a couple off and point them away from the humans.

>>32208395
>>Shoot them from the side

Why would we even tackle them when we have shooting claw things

>>32208468

We have farms in the process of being carved out as we speak.

>>32208468
I get the feeling we're about to see a decent surge in available food. These big things are probably tasty.

>>32208395
>>Shoot them from the side

>>32208486
And we don't know their daily output yet or when they'll be done.

Better to have more than 5 days' worth of food if we want to keep growing, since that'll quickly become 2 days' worth.

>>32208395
>>Shoot them from the side
Shoot ONE from the side

>>32208439
They would probably die without electricity, at least in their own heads. I doubt they want to shack up with giant bugs.

>>32208512
damn, you should've voted for tackle then.

>>32208395
>Shoot them from the side
Your warriors move to the flank and take aim. Hopefully you can scare them into turning away from the camp.

Roll 1 d100, best of 3

>>32208516
In the heat of the moment they could consent, given we promise to bring it back the next day.

We might meet some delays on that front.

>>32208516
>I doubt they want to shack up with giant bugs
You never know maybe they are fa/tg/uys

>>32208073
>Offer advice (write in)

Erect a fence elsewhere have our drones and diggers dig a hole turnthe stampede falls into hole we close it off they die of starvation we fucking profit

Rolled 70

>>32208551

Rolled 82

>>32208551

Rolled 19

>>32208551
Here we go!

Rolled 14

>>32208551

>>32208560
I doubt it would survive in the first place seeing as all these monsters are going hell for leather after it.

Rolled 87

>>32208551
I hope we don't scare them off at all though.

I hope we just catch one or two to eat and/or dissect.

Cool, i haven't caught one of these since the first thread.

Something VERY IMPORTANT that seems to have been overlooked.

It is entireley possible that ocean-fungus will have a 'budding season'. If those spores become airborne, we're fucked.

Every drone that goes outside becomes a timebomb.

The thinkers developed that filter lung, but that's not enough.

We need some sort of filter-gland to make us immune, even if they do get in our system.

>>32208613
>turn on device
>run like hell, perpendicular to the herd's charge
>turn off device after they change course enough
>keep running, change direction
One drone has more mobility than a camp with wounded humans.

>>32208647
>It is entireley possible that ocean-fungus will have a 'budding season'. If those spores become airborne, we're fucked.
I thought the same thing ever since the first Cordyceps drone exploded. When are those spores getting released? Probably during the global summer that's coming up.

...and that filter lung *is* enough, if we equip it on every drone that goes outside during that time. But that makes them so squishy and vulnerable.

>>32208647

That's quite easy to do, just have to invest in research.

The more pressing issue is hiding/disguising/withdrawing our radio-antenna drone before we get somebody from space snooping around.

>>32208649
>implying the generator doesn't need to be stationary
>implying one drone can out run the bugs
>implying it doesn't get attacked by other smaller but still nasty bugs that are nearby.

>>32208647
>We need some sort of filter-gland to make us immune, even if they do get in our system.
No, we just have to have the hive seal the doors and lay low and live off our stockpiles/underground farms until the threat literally blows over. Like hibernation but as a hive.

>>32208667

Only the lung itself is squishy and vulnerable.

>>32208551
Your warriors open fire, placing a volley of chitinous rounds into the side of the closest two creatures. They let out a deep howl and shift their weight into the next in the herd with a thunderous crash. Several of the rounds simply bounce off, but you note some damage done to at least one of them. As they try to turn away from your warriors they bump and tackle each other in a mad melee. Several of the creatures eventually turn away, while one bounces off of the others and turns in the direction of your warriors!

Roll 1d100, best of 3

Rolled 38

>>32208752

Rolled 26

>>32208752

Rolled 79

>>32208752

Hah! Eat hot chitin, motherfucker!

What's up with everything here having armor that can shrug off rifle-equivalent round?

Rolled 88

>>32208752

>>32208771
You mean the Enormous bugs and the mechs? The only other thing we shot with them got fucked up.

>>32208771
These guys are supposed to shrug of flying death wasps without missing a beat.

>>32208667
>...and that filter lung *is* enough, if we equip it on every drone that goes outside during that time. But that makes them so squishy and vulnerable.

A Set of external lungs grafted on the outside.... yeah, i don't need to list all the risks with that.

Even if the lungs are improved, if the spores get in a cut, or one swallows something...

We need some sort of gland to purge the spores from our system.

[X] vote to breed team of thinkers and dedicate them to this.

>>32208896
>We need some sort of gland to purge the spores from our system.
That is probably impossible.

>>32208752
You are caught off guard as the creature lunges toward your warriors. Is it just panicked or is it actually attacking? Regardless, the beast slams into one of your warriors with a loud crunch. Your drone just manages to grasp a piece of its thick shell before it falls off and under foot. You try to maintain your grip, but as you make to climb over the creature it slams into a tree, and your warrior with it. Your drone bounces off the thick trunk and falls to the dirt, rolling a short distance before coming to a stop in a bloodied heap. You can feel its thoughts drifting slowly about, alive but barley.
"H-hurt..."

The creature is turning around for another pass, but there are at least six from the herd that are still heading to the camp. Your injured warrior can hardly move, let alone stand and fight.

>Stay and protect the injured warrior
>Abandon the warrior and chase after the rest of the herd

>>32208896
Game balance isn't easily circumvented with "i wish we could do this" ideas. I prefer to work with the building blocks we've been given.

>>32208950
>>Stay and protect the injured warrior
Gotta protect our kids!

And dissect that elephant thing.

>>32208950

>Stay and protect the injured warrior.

We don't want the humans seeing our warriors and their weapons anyway.

>>32208958
You mean the blocks of "your tech is largely determined by your imagination"?

>>32208950
>>Stay and protect the injured warrior
Targets: Eyes, Ears/antennae, Bottom of feet

>>32208996
We can't invent poisons, we have to study something poisonous.

To create better filter organs, we probably need to study more infectious spores.

We need a concrete research path to follow. Researching one kind of spores got us the filter lungs. We need more data to upgrade it.

Rolled 65

>>32208950
>>Stay and protect the injured warrior

If the humans can't take down 6 of the herd, then they weren't going to go very far on this planet anyway

>>32208928
We have insane biotech that can create organic fusion reactors and living space ships.

If we can't develop a chemical that kills spores and a gland to produce it, fucking laugh.

>>32208950
>>Stay and protect the injured warrior

>>32209027
I'm not saying that we don't. Maybe we just have to get the lungs to unlock the next level of lung upgrade.

>>32209042

Are you special snowflake anon from earlier?

Anyway, we just need to research the spores first. Once we research a wide enough variety of spores to a sufficiently detailed extent we'll probably unlock a 'universal key' that'll grant us immunity to most of the toxins on the planet.

We can't just magic up an immunity gland without research though.

>>32209089
More importantly, we can't just tell the Thinkers "we want this!" and get it.

we have to have a research subject, new spore varieties.

>>32208950
>Stay and protect the injured warrior
You have helped enough already, you do not intend to sacrifice one of your precious children so easily. Your warrior raises its weapons and takes aim.

Roll 1d100, best of 3

Rolled 56

>>32209127

>>32209042
>We have insane biotech that can create organic fusion reactors and living space ships.
>If we can't develop a chemical that kills spores and a gland to produce it, fucking laugh.
Note these are completely unrelated. Our ability to create reactors has no effect on our ability to create glands.

Rolled 99

>>32209127
shoot the soles!

Rolled 82

>>32209127

>>32209167
Based warrior.

Rolled 1

>>32209127

Rolled 33

>>32209187

I do hope that crits don't override outside the voting window.

>>32209145
Not him, but I understand where he's coming from.

If your genetic memory gives you the ability to create organic fusion reactors and living space ships, why haven't we also been given the capacity for high-performance filtration?

>>32209089
>Are you special snowflake anon from earlier?
What?

>We can't just magic up an immunity gland without research though.

yep, that's why i said [x]vote to breed team of thinkers and dedicate them to the problem.

The basic Idea should be simple enough. Expose spore samples to every chemicle/horemone we can produce until we have a mix we can use.

Something the spores hate, that we can handle

>>32209209

For game balance man, geeze. Also maybe the genetic memory included space ships because those are important but not filters because our home planet doesn't have many airborne pathogens?

>>32209209
>organic fusion reactors
He made that up.

That was a misunderstanding clarified near the end of last thread. We don't have fusion at all.

>>32209209
can we even access that tech right now?

Also, we need to figure out the practicals of constant filtration: maintaining the filter, ejecting filtrates, adjusting the filter to suit the environment, and figuring out a protocol for when the filters are breached. We can do it, it just takes time.

>>32209253
>[x]vote to breed team of thinkers and dedicate them to the problem.
That isn't going to work. Just keep studying samples of infectious things when we get the chance. We don't have any more right now. We exhausted all research into the ocean fungus itself.

>>32209145
We create fusion with modafied glands and organs. They are very related.

>>32209286
We can have it though.

>>32209338
You mean the giant stomach?

File: 468476416.jpg (34 KB, 300x200)

34 KB JPG

>>32209127
Standing over the injured warrior, your drone takes aim as the creature charges. A tree is uprooted and split into pieces as the massive beast tramples it underfoot, its numerous legs clawing at the ground as it carries its armored mass directly at you. You open fire in response, puncturing several of the eyes. The creature lets out a howl of pain and rears up, its carapace straining from the stress of its own weight and revealing a soft, exposed underbelly. You litter it with chitinous slugs, shredding the beast's belly and spilling its contents across the ground. It continues to lunge back, and eventually turns over, slumping to its back in a thrashing rage that soon withers into still silence.

The beast is dead, and your warrior is saved. The workers have nearly caught up and move to assist the warrior back to the hive.

1/2

>>32209338

Fusion would be a very difficult thing to do with organic materials...

>>32209399

Drag the corpse too!! Soooo many nutrients!

>>32209349
There is no indication nuclear fusion is possible with biological organs. We don't even know nuclear fusion exists as far as I can tell.

>>32209338
Different tech trees entirely.

Also, we don't, in fact, do any fusion whatsoever, organically or otherwise.

>>32209439
By that logic there's no indication nuclear fusion is possible with mechanical components either.

>>32209309
>That isn't going to work.

What's the problem?

-get sample of spores.
-Store in secure lab.
-Expose to different substances and test results.
-Repeat until we get results or find something better.

Why are you even objecting. This is something important we need, with an obvious and simple sloution.

>>32209566
Not that anon, but I'm pretty sure he's talking about your 'Get a group of thinkers and tell them to figure something out' idea.

>>32209564

I'm not sure you understand nuclear fusion.

>>32209566
>with an obvious and simple sloution.
There is none

>>32209405
>>32209439
We used something to power faster than light travel. Also QuestDrone totally said we can make some sort of giant nuclear stomach thing last thread.

>>32209664
It was just a giant stomach.

You guys know it's not an either/or deal with the material base of our technology, right? Even our basic infantry weapons include inorganic materials, simply manipulated using organic means.

I suspect that as we rise through tech trees, things will become increasingly metalo-organic.

>>32209633
I'm certain you don't.

>>32209695
This.
So much this.
The line between organism and machine will begin to increasingly blur as we get more and more capabilities to expand and empower both.

>>32209693
Well hell it doesn't matter if it was nuclear or not, if it can produce the same power that's pretty damn impressive.

>>32209633
And I'm not quite sure you understand biology.

>>32209664
For the last time, I already said that was a misunderstanding that was clarified last thread. You should have kept reading. >>32076425

>>32209566
That's a nice goal. It's not reaaaally a plan. It's something that requires multiple steps over a prolonged amount of time, too. It's ALSO something that doesn't appear to be incredibly pressing this very moment.

Definitely a priority is to increase knowledge of the ecosystem and its dangers. It's something we're all keeping in mind, I'm sure.

>>32209622
Yes, i voted to breed a group of thinkers and dedicate them to this project.... why is that a problem?

I really don't get what people are objecting to here.

>>32209742
Could have missed it. it was a while ago and I have been doing a bunch of tests.

>>32209751
You don't have a plan. You have a goal. We are already laying Thinkers once in a while to increase our research pool.

You see a research subject available that looks like it contributes to your goal, vote for it. Repeating your goal over and over right now accomplishes nothing.

I swear conversations like this almost make me stop liking open ended quests.

>>32209751
It would be a waste of time and resources at this point.

>>32209751
All you were originally saying is that we get a group of thinkers and tell them we want a solution. That is not how any of our tech has worked so far. We need to give them some specific material to research, then they'll give us results.

>>32209399
The humans have set themselves up along the edge of the fence, lightning guns at the ready. As the howling in the distance becomes louder you note many begin to waver in their aim, including Lee, who is shaking slightly in his suit.

The treeline breaks, and a number of small creatures leap the fence, bounding in all directions as they flee the stampede. A moment later the perimeter explodes as the massive shell of one of the herd rips the cables from their anchors with a loud twang. The creature is met with a dozen arcing tendrils of lighting searing into its front and it promptly leaps to the side, annihilating several empty tents and a flood light before slamming into a small, dug out shelter carved into the trunk of a tree. It shakes back and forth violently in a vain effort to shake off the bubbling flesh covering its face. Several more tendrils leap into its side, slicing deep, burning gashes into its armor. Two more appear from the treeline, and a human disappears under one as it advances. A small crunch and muffled scream is all that would indicate if it has run over anything at all, and the two are quickly covered in arcing plasma.

Lee lets loose several bursts from his own pistol, and you note he is screaming in panic as he does so. His first shot arcs through the air before turning sharply and evaporating a large chunk of a tree, while the next slices off several legs from one of the advancing creatures. Another two enter the camp, mowing over more of the camp and several of the remaining humans before meeting the same fate.

By the time the last has fallen still in the clearing, you count seven out of twelve of the humans, not counting the wounded still in the tent Lee had been defending.

>Salvage the creature you killed in the woods (requires the help of all workers)
>Leave it, it's too big to deal with right now

>>32209895
>Salvage the creature you killed in the woods (requires the help of all workers)

>>32209895
>>Salvage the creature you killed in the woods (requires the help of all workers)
speaker can...observe the wreakage?

>>32209895
>>Leave it, it's too big to deal with right now
Well.

I hope the body will be there later.

I'd like to subtly retrieve a human corpse while they're distracted.

>>32209895

>Salvage the creature you killed in the woods.

Let's try to study that armor before we eat it.

>>32209748
>That's a nice goal. It's not reaaaally a plan.

It's a solid start. Get samples. Test samples. Repeat as needed. If you want more, i think that'll have to wait for the first stage to testing to open more options.

It's ALSO something that doesn't appear to be incredibly pressing this very moment.

For all we know, the spores will go airborne in two weeks.

Of course, it might not happen this year, but we can't risk it.

Inaction could fuck us.

>>32209985
>Repeat as needed.
Game mechanics do not seem to allow this. For game balance reasons.

We have exhausted all research subjects related to the ocean spores. Period. There is no more spore research until we get a new and more interesting sample unlike what we've found before.

>>32209895
>>Salvage the creature you killed in the woods (requires the help of all workers)

>>32209895
>>Salvage the creature you killed in the woods (requires the help of all workers)

>>32210000
Hail the wisdom of the quads!

>>32207904
So are our Speaker drone's splint-ed up legs healed yet?

>>32209985
We don't even know that sporing seasons are even a thing with the ocean. General ecological research might tell us that, and covers many more potential threats. Focusing just on the one because it's spooky that a worker got taken over is understandable, but rash.

>>32210000

To be fair, we could choose the action "Collect interesting samples of local fungi."

But...we don't seem to have 'turns' where we can choose our own actions all that often.

>>32210100
I don't see how that's a "To be fair". That is only adding to my point.

Go, do that. This guy can just stop whining about how his idea of how the research mechanic works should be how it works, instead of how it has actually seemed to.

>>32210074
Yes, sorry I keep forgetting to answer that...
>>32209895
>Salvage the creature
You send out your workers and they quickly move to the dead creature. Your warrior helps up his wounded brother and together with the workers, who even with their number struggle to carry the massive weight of the still bleeding beast. It takes several hours to get the corpse back to the hive, in the mean time the humans attempt to recover from the attack.
"The hell were those things?"
"What does it matter, just so long as they stay dead."
"God! Stevens!"
Several of the humans collect what little remains of there killed crew, and the rest replace the cables of the fence.
The fence remains powered off.

>>32210100
We're caught up with the humans making a mess of things right now.

Searching for delicious researches is something I'd support. Man it's really piling up though, huh?

>>32210000
>We have exhausted all research subjects related to the ocean spores. Period. There is no more spore research until we get a new and more interesting sample unlike what we've found before.

Has QuestDrone actually said this?

Is something stopping us from collecting spores and testing them?

Good chance some of the local creatures will have some sort or resistance. If possible, i'd expose the spores to samples taken from them. See if we get any results.

>>32210186
Look at the available research subjects for research.

Do you see ocean fungus anymore?

No?

Jesus use your goddamn eyes.

>>32210151
>+XXX Nutrients?
>new research subject?

>>32210219
Yes, because the listed options are the ONLY options.

Other important or interesting things could never come up.

>>32210249

Slow down man, he's obviously writing.

>>32210186
More likely the local creatures learned not to eat the ocean.

>>32210151
>Several of the humans collect what little remains of there killed crew,
note to self: remember if/where they buried those.

>>32210151
The day continues, quietly and slowly at the human camp, quickly and without incident in your hive. As night falls you note the humans don't seem to get much sleep. Lee approaches your drone with a small, half eaten brick of bland nutrients and sits on the ground.
"So how you holding up?" He asks.
"Acceptable."
"So what were those things, exactly?" Lee takes a bite out of his nutrient brick, breaks off a piece and offers it to you. "Some kind of pack animal or something?"

>>32210321
"We do not know. This is the first time we have seen such large prey. We normally stay within the forest, but these beasts came from the plains."

>>32210301
They're the only ones currently available yes. The only time research options have appeared is when we've acquired new material.

>>32210321
Shiiiit. Our non nativeness is suspected by Grey and company ain't it.

How to answer...

"Yes. We have seldom hunted them."

>>32210321

"Explain: Pack Animal.

Yes, they are "pack animal." Wander [where we saw them before, I think the plains], very dangerous. The hive does not hunt them, why did you?"

>>32210321
"Yes, they roam in packs on the plains. They have formidable armor and are best avoided."

>>32210378
>>32210387

Seconding.

>>32210321
To be clear, these creatures were large enough to fit being the same as those big shapes we saw on the plains, right?

>>32210406

While it's not been stated, yeah. That's an acceptable leap of logic.

>>32210321
"Dangerous. They come from the plains. The Hive does not hunt them. They hunt... disturbances. Your lightning guns are powerful."

>>32210436
>>32210387
>>32210378

All good.

Be sure to include the question.

>>32210378
Maybe a little followup.

"A lure like you used, if smaller, would be very useful in attracting prey."

hint hint nudge nudge Lee

>>32210462

Yes, that too.

>>32210154
>Searching for delicious researches is something I'd support.
Let's try something we might have a limited time window on though, rather than ecology --

send workers to scout for the humans' life ships. Lee said the original camp wasn't far from where they touched down.

>>32210462

Let's not ask them for that just yet. Or at least not so bluntly, be more sly about it.

We've got Unity Drone tech to acquire, I'm sure they include a generator.

>>32210406
Yes, and judging by the direction they came from, they had originated near the plains.

>>32210321
"Pack...animal?"
"Yea. You know, like domestication or something. I mean, those looked wild but I figured you would have used some of them to carry stuff."
"No. They are dangerous and have thick armor. The hive has not ventured past the Jungle."
"Seriously? Never?" Lee seems genuinely surprised. "How long have you been living in this jungle?"

>>32210506
>The hive has not ventured past the Jungle."
Damn it...

>>32210506
Long enough to know not to venture past the jungle.

>>32210506
The hive is young. The jungle provides all nourishment we require.

>>32210506

"As long as I can remember"

>>32210506
"We have hidden from those flying things for many generations, and the plains are far too advantagous for them."

>>32210506
>The hive has not ventured past the Jungle."
fuck, anon, you shouldn't have said that.

"Why would we venture beyond the Jungle?"

>>32210506
"Open air brings high danger. The jungle is sanctuary."

Also: >>32210533

>>32210506
Couple days

>>32210506

>>32210528
I like this one.

>>32210536
>>32210546
>>32210577

Yes.

File: 1368820849457.gif (88 KB, 457x402)

88 KB GIF

>>32210506
>The hive has not ventured past the Jungle.
Why would you say this?

>>32210349
Youuuuuuu

You did this!

>>32210546
I would vote for this.

>>32210524
>>32210546
>>32210615
>>32210634
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was trying to imply that we stick to forests, not that we've never been to the plains

>>32210615

Eh, plenty of species don't expand beyond their native biome.

It is, in fact, a mark of advanc(ed/ing) civilization for a species to extend beyond its native biome. This slip up will probably serve to convince them that we're primitive.

>>32210651
It's all good, Especially if thats the meaning. Just, you know, read the paranoia in the air.

>>32210533
"As long as we have walked."
Would be more truthful.

>>32210699
They called me mad. But it was they who were mad!

Mad about shadowruns.

>>32210707

That's a good one, I like it.

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152 KB GIF

>>32210506
"As long as the hive can remember. The places past the jungle are too dangerous."
Lee takes another bite of his nutrient brick. "Well it doesn't seem much better here." He leans back against the soft trunk of a mushroom tree and absently looks up, as if looking for stars. With the power shut off the dim glow of the tree's soft fins are clearly visible in the night. "You know, when it isn't actively trying to kill you, this planet is kinda pretty.

"Lee!"
Lee looks back over to the harsh light of a lamp shining in a tent. Commander Grey is leaning out of the shutter. "I need to talk to you!"
"Damn, so much for that. I'll see ya in the morning, Junior."

...Junior?

>>32210749

Time for espionage!

>>32210749
Damn. We really need those spy flies. Probably more about us.

Well, next turn time! Allocate workers to life pods retrieval?

>>32210749
I hope Lee has good luck with his Queen's mating advances. They must replenish their numbers quickly.

>>32210788
Funny.

But our species clearly does not have sexual reproduction.

>>32210749
Time for a new turn.

>>32210785

We'll advocate them to searching for them. Perhaps we should research the Unity weapons first (We have a mostly intact drone that we're interfacing with actually) and use them to destroy any pods we don't steal. Alternately, perform field research...steal important/complicated bits, then blast the rest.

To cover our tracks, you see?

>>32210749
Lee walks over to the tent and crawls inside. You note several shadows within, although you cannot hear them from this distance.
You note that most of the other humans are either drifting to sleep in their own tents and carved out shelters, or are on watch at the perimeter fence, which seems farther away than the humans seem to be able to see in the dark.

>>32210844
>destroy any pods we don't steal.
but Metals!

>>32210844

Allocate*

>>32210870
We're starting up a mine, covering our tracks is more important.

>>32210860
>farther away than the humans seem to be able to see in the dark.
As if we have the opportunity to....

sneak closer and eavesdrop with our sensitive antennae.

I mean we heard that rumbling long before the humans noticed it. Our range should be large.

>>32210870
destroy them by eating them.

>>32210886
It may be possible...
They seem to have already started a discussion about something.

>>32210886

I would approve. Get the nutrient brick (or a worm) to nibble on. If anyone asks, we just wished to be near our hive-comrade Lee!

>>32210886
I 100% support this action.

>>32210907
I'm realizing belatedly that one of our digger drones with their sonar-tier echolocation sensitivity would be good for eavesdropping at great distances too.

Something to consider for later. If no spy flies.

>>32210886
I'll second this

>>32210860
>Attempt to sneak to the tent and eavesdrop
>Don't, it's too risky (progress to next day)