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

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

>Hive population and upkeep cost
Hive maintenance – 334
Queen – 5
Fake Queen – 22
Worker (4000) – 8000
Aquatic Worker (40) – 160
Radiator Worker (100) – 400
Warrior (209) – 1045
Aquatic Warrior (20) – 140
Thinker (400) – 1200
Quantum Thinker (150) – 750
Speaker – (3) – 12
Digger (80) – 320
Refinery (10) – 70
Sniffer (2) – 8
Small Sniffer (200) – 200
Fly (50) – 200
Wasp (100) – 500
Haz-mat Workers (20) – 80
Shock Troops (40) – 520
Parasite (30) – 120
Bio-tank (10) – 250
Excavator (41) – 799
Colossus (20) – 300
Advanced Relay (16) – 1600
17015N

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

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

Total upkeep
Nutrient costs: 23434

>Income
Metals: 62395
Nutrients: 100050
Net: 76616

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

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>>36064851
Construction finished
600 Farms

New Construction Options
>Algae Farm – +100N per day, 1 worker to maintain
>Hangar Expansion – Add on to current hangar facilities for your choice of +40 aero drone space, or +20 shuttle space. 50N 100M
>Anti-orbital battery – A bunker armed with a massive Particle beam capable of attacking ships in orbit from the ground. It includes the power and sensor systems required to operate it. 250N 1500M

Ship Construction Options
http://pastebin.com/YTwGk8n1

>>36064873
Op how the fuck does the Metal-nutrient conversion work?

>>36064933
Shh don't question it.
>>36064873
Funny enough i was in the process of making 1-3 new drones, any chance of another late session?

>>36064933
Specialized metabolism that takes pure metals and turns them into 'nutrients'
Quite allot of biology involves metal ions, we found a rare little microbe that's figured out how to get said ions from solid metal/rock/ores, instead of from other processes like dissolving/erosion. Its just very inefficient.

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>>36064873
Finished Research

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

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

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

[Unlocked bioweapons]

http://pastebin.com/z4yZdEbK

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

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>>36064989
New Research Unlocked

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

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

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

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

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

http://pastebin.com/F6t39KSp

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>>36065022
Current research

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

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

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

>Nanomachines
Very slow
Your research indicates that the advanced technology that gave the Skyl their individual immortality was entirely alien to them; however, in the extensive time they had at their disposal they dedicated an enormous amount of effort into unlocking this advanced technology. They left extensive notes on the subject, giving you a tremendous head start on it, although it would still be a daunting research project.

>>36065040
Welcome back QD!

>>36064986
There are bacteria that eat and shit electricity but still require carbon to function. Where does the carbon come from?

>>36065040
Did you forget that we also tried to study the ceph or did i miss an update?
Also add this to the research que since the others are pretty slow.
>Ion thrusters-Slow
>Reactive armor-Slow
>Bipedal legs-Very fast
>Thermal Blade-Medium
>Vibroblade-Fast

>>36065040
“What in the hell is this?”
“Efficient nutrients for human consumption.” Your speaker stairs down a number of humans as they look back and forth between your drone and the bowls of thick green paste your workers just brought in with a look of confusion and disgust. Your drones leave before they can protest further.

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


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

>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
>Refuse (write in)
>Other

>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area
Avoid telling them anything unnecessary.

>>36065163
>>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area

>>36065157
>or did i miss an update?
You did. It was finished very quickly, last thread.

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

[cue Parasites injecting sedatives to make everyone drowsy.]

>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area

>>36065157
Yes, and it was completed in thread 2 of that night, due to critical success, but just about everyone was asleep by then.

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

>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area

I think it's time we learned how to grow new crops/hydroponics tech that humans use.

>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area

>>36065211
>>36065206
Thanks for the update.

>>36065163
>>Refuse

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

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

Also, aren't you guys a little worried she might hear about the weird knocking-them-out for medicine stuff, or she might overhear the psychic parasites inside them?

>>36065163
>Agree and have a speaker guide her to the prisoner living area

>>36065264
We only took the injured and a loud asshole.

>>36065281
That is blatantly wrong.

There was a second round where everyone else was knocked out and parasited. Pay attention m8.

>>36065264
We can easily cover your first point by saying that we took them to get healed and the second point can easily be skirted around with, that she is still new to her powers so it will be some time before she can even tell.

>>36065281
No, We later infested everyone else.

>>36065264
I'l agree with asking her to keep quiet about some things. She is a unique case, and all.

>>36065319
>>36065308
If we knocked them out, how can they know about the surgeries?

>>36065344
That's a good point, they might just have blanked out, or we could have injected some memories.

>>36064826
>even trying to test magic crystals with normal particles
Man, such tunnel vision. I guess you can't blame a human for assuming that things that move at the speed of light or slower were gonna be useful, but the QUeen really should have a guess at that. Might as well just skip that step.

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>>36065163

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elizabeth shrugs with a sly smile. "Had an awful lot of nukes for a survey ship."
cont.

>>36065680
>Green paste
>"They could be feeding us us!"
These humans have been watching to many holovids. What even is soylent anyway?

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>>36065680
There is a mix of frustration and concern in the crowd. Your parasites administer a mild sedative to several of the most panicked or aggressive of them.

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

>They have already tried
>Say other
>Offer to negotiate their release (write in)
>Have your speaker leave
>Other

>>36065759
>They have already tried

>>36065759
>They have already tried

>>36065759
>Unlikely considering they don't care.

>>36065759
>>Have your speaker leave

>>36065759
>They have already tried. They were not friendly.
We aren't the bad guys here.

>>36065759
>>36065835
Backing

>>36065734
We could be feeding them worse things, like soy burgers.
>>36065759
>They have already tried

>>36065759
>>Other
"They have already declared you dead, and are starting to use your disappearance to build up for a war against the other Humans"

>>36066023
What?
why tip them off that we know how things are going with their government?

>>36066061
Or just say they are putting the blame on Unity. Unity seems to be a common scape goat for the Union's problems. Besides, it's not like they are going to get away from us anyway.

>>36065759
Your drone looks at the human and chitters, "They have looked, and failed. They have shown only an intent to violence."

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

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

>Speak with the Major
>Speak with other (write in)
>Launch your idle space pods (where)
>Other

>>36065022
Yo we need to get on copact hull design ASAP

>>36066113
>Speak with the Major
>Other
Question QD, how much would it take to complete a planetary defense grid of Anti-orbital Batterys for Leeland?

>>36066113
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
Virgo.

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

How many systems are there?

>>36066155
that and Missiles, CIP weapons, and Ultrasonic Sledgehammer too.

>>36066113
>>Speak with the Major
Why not. Maybe we can convince him we aren't the villains of one of their human stories.

>>36066225
No. It's more fun letting him stew thinking that. Their fear is delicious.

>>36066237
I suppose, and it makes the humans look bad...

>>36066113
>Other
Check on lyle and the clones

>>36065022
Add Research:

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

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

Ion Thrusters- supplementary space engines

>>36066187
35 to totally cover the surface of the planet. 20 for moons and especially small worlds.

>>36066113
Man I wish we could leave research debates for after bump limit.

BUT everyone wants to do that now. So if we're doing it. Compact Hull , Missiles, Grenade Launcher for sure.

>>36066294
Does our asteroid-mine count as a moon/small world?

>>36066113
Question: How many humans did we kill when we assaulted the Temple and the camp? Do we have genetic samples of them to clone them?

>>36066274
And add CIP weapons to that. I hope we can scale it up to Ship sized weapon systems.

>>36066113
>Add research: missiles

>CIP weapons
>Sledgehammer
>Vibroblade
>Ion thrusters
>Other

>>36066359
That can be answered by checking the thread, I think.

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

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

Another eleven in the initial cave assault.

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

So: 23?

>>36066457
can you add reactive armour?

>>36066457
>Missles
>CIP weapons
>Vibroblades

>>36066482
>eleven
Dammit. No. Twelve.

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

Plus we have the two bodies of the marines that were searching the jungle.

>>36066457
>other
Compact hull design.

>>36066457
Add compact hulls to that list too.

So, if we want to infiltrate, I have a plan:
Step 1
We create Hybrids based on the medically trained prisoners- take some of their medical memories too. The prototypes will help with research, but we will be making more copies later.

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

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

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

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

>>36066457

Thermal Imaging
Flak Jacket
Vibroblade
Thermal Blade
Grenade launcher
Missiles

>>36066457
>Ion thrusters-Slow
>Reactive armor-Slow
>Bipedal legs-Very fast
>Thermal Blade-Medium
>Vibroblade-Fast
>thermal imaging

>>36066593
oh yeah seconding all that

>>36066457
>>CIP weapons

>Other: Compact Hull

CIP means we get to make another Technical Sergeant hallucinate and take one apart for us! That was fun last time.

Hey, uh, guys? The more stuff we research at a time, the longer it's going to take.

>>36066536
>Step 2
This'll be the hard part, re-entry is not subtle.

>>36066519
So 26. Okay.
>>36066457
I'd like to lay 19 more pods and begin utilizing them to clone the humans we killed. Then insert them back into the group by saying they we're in critical condition and have memory except for little tidbits we take take from the others and modified to be from their point of view.

>>36066677
Cloning sounds like a good idea, I'l support that.

>>36066658
Not really the fastest finish first espcially considering we have around 600 thinkers.

>>36066593
Add CIP pistols, then you get my vote.

>>36066677
memory loss*

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>>36066457
Looks like it's the buffet for the thinkers today.

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

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

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

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

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

>None, continue to live on native tribute.
>Other

>>36066758
>>None, continue to live on native tribute.
But, if people really insist, I guess Bloodroot. We aren't in a hurry here.

>>36066758
>Greenwall
Sweet baby jesus. I want to see if we weaponize that. Taming it for food might be a good start.

>>36066758
>Greenwall -

>>36066758
>Greenwall

>>36066758
>Other
Experiment with the three options, see if they can be useful. But in the mean time rely on the tributes.

>>36066758
>Gray stalk - A customary food source among the natives, this stalk can be easily made into a crop, but it is prone to pests, and requires large amounts of sunlight.

>>36066758
>greenwall

>>36066758
>Greenwall
This reminds me of us.

>>36066758
Hmm, none of these are what we're looking for really. Greenwall sounds like it would weaponize nicely.
>Bloodroot
Not in a rush for crops

>>36066758
All three.
How do the natives deal with the pest that effect Gray stalk?

>>36066758
>Greenwall
Sounds hilarious, lets do this. Cryo sprays would definitely help contain it, only a matter of time.

>Bloodroot
We should be able to at least supplement our diet with existing sources of this, however.

>>36066758
>Gray stalk
A little genetic tampering, I'm sure we could make them more pest resistance.
Take samples of all three.

>Greenwall
Play with fire, you're gonna get burned.

>>36066871
Depending on the type of pest, we might be able to develop a predator to drive them away.

>>36066936
Fuck it, fire is fun.

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>>36066758
>Greenwall
You direct the thinkers in charge of Raligha to focus on taming the Greenwall for use as a crop, and you make sure they keep their options open with regards to potential weaponization of the strange plant.

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

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

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

>>36066871
They don't. They are hunter/gatherers, and so simply collect it where they can find it.

>>36067030
>>Focus on the tasks at hand

Oh boy.

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

Did he really have no story at all that elaborated on the day the black stars fell?

>>36067030
>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot
and
>Send a group of drones to investigate

>>36067030
>>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot
>Send a group of drones to investigate

>>36067030
>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot

>Send a group of drones to investigate

>>36067056
None that made sense, but from what you managed to get from it, it sounded like an orbital bombardment of some kind. They described it as the sky literally falling to the ground, as if the stars were fruit that had become rotten and fell from the sky.

>>36067030
>Focus on the tasks at hand
Wait-what's the current tasks at hand? Taming Greenwall?

>Send a group of drones to investigate
How many drones do we have on Raligha?

>>36067030
>Build supplementary farm to harvest existing bloodroot
>Send a group of drones to investigate
We should replace that thinker with a quantum thinker.

>>36067030
"New hive will build! Build and make proud!" The thinkers assemble the plans of a small farm to harvest the naturally occurring bloodroot until the Greenwall can be properly tamed. As well, you reach out and take command of a patrol of wasps as they navigate the jungle. You take account of the new hive and what the thinkers have done so far. The Raligha hive has a small but bustling population of 200 workers, 60 warriors, and 25 wasps, as well as another 100 small sniffers buzzing at random through the canopy of the jungle.

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

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

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

>>36067313
>>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully

>>36067313
>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully

>>36067313
>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully

>>36067313

>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully

Lets scan what else could be living in there

>>36067313
>>Have the sniffers comb the area slowly and carefully

>>36067313
how well would Gray stalk handle cultivation in a space station?

>>36067313
You feel that you have seen enough traps and ancient weapons to consider caution to be worth while. You have your wasps hang back and send your sniffers into the ruin, slowly, to see if they can detect anything. They move in and begin to map the ancient hive's interior.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3.

>>36067390
Do you not read?
>Gray stalk - A customary food source among the natives, this stalk can be easily made into a crop, but it is prone to pests, and requires large amounts of sunlight.
It seems like it can't survive with out an atmosphere.

>>36067390
Just needs uv light from the light source

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>36067438
Here we go

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>36067438

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>36067438
buzz buzz

>>36067390
>>36067440
You obviously put an atmosphere inside the space station, genius.

>>36067483
Fuck yeah, Sniffers!

>>36067483
noice.

>>36067495
or we vacummed sealed our drones.

>>36067455
Yeah and by growing it in a space station we can guarantee pests won't destroy the harvest.

>>36067572
Or in a bunker

>>36067661
It needs sunlight, though?

>>36067743
We make a clear dome on the station and get lots of that from the local star.

>>36067743
Install uv lights then
That's how it done

>>36067743

Then we research bioluminescence to an obscene degree.

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>>36067438
Your sniffers move in. The hive is ancient. Most of the organic tissue has fossilized around you, but much of the lower levels are still intact, somewhat.

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

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

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

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

>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery

I want to read the awe / terror / sympathy she'll respond with.

>>36067814
They were clearly replying to the dumb anon who is saying "bunker", not space station, jesus use your reading comprehension.

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

>>36067832

>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery

Never hurts to have a second opinion before we go dicking around with magic space crystals that may or may not be true fae and may or may not have eaten the souls of our race.

>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery

>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
>other
Inspect the 'Stone Queen', see if she really is dead or in ultra deep hibernation. Or something to that effect.

>>36067832
>>Take the crystal
So can we have the stalk in the asteroid?

>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery
>Take the crystal
We're a hivemind, we can multitask

>>36067875
And if you read from whom that anon was replying too, it was about a space station, I was talking about that.

>>36067875
Ever heard the term "hydroponic system" for growing things underground?

>>36067832
>Inform Elizabeth of the discovery

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

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

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

This should accelerate research now that we have two of them to walkie-talkie each other with.

Now I'm a bit paranoid about what that crystal does...

>>36067944
Which is only converting energy you already have stored into another, inevitably losing some in the conversion process to entropy.

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

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

>>36068125
Phone home.

>>36068178

Our FTL uses nutrients for fuel.

It's not a hard fucking science setting, quit being a bastard about it.

>>36067832
Elizabeth has found the makeshift shower, a series of flexible piping coming from the ceiling of one of the rooms, and is in the middle of the odd hygiene ritual when you transmit the images of the hive. She nearly trips to the ground, catching herself on the wall.

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

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

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

>Take the remains
>Take the console
>Take both
>leave them
>Other

>>36068214
>It's not a hard fucking science setting
That doesn't invalidate logic.

>>36068244
>Take both

>>36068251

Logic goes out the window when people are being assholes.

If you want to have some explanation for it, just go with biomagiscience photosynthesis to fuel the energy required to illuminate the food that is growing or some other shit.

>>36068244
>>Take both
My gues is that she was able to stop the mind control, but was too late.

>>36068244
>Take both

>>36068244
>Take both
>Other
Send in a bigger probe team in here and scour everything! This place might be a nice little tech jackpot.
The Skyl are EVERYWHERE!

>>36068244
>Take remains

>>36068244
>Take both

>>36068297
We might as make it so the ship is capable of photosynthesis dumbass.

>>36068308
It seems like a lone suicide mission.

>>36068356
>>36068297
Just ask the QM, and stop wasting post.

>>36068356

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

>>36068214
>being a bastard

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

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

Growing crops isn't one of the magic things that break physics.

>>36068366
Could have been, But until we perform extensive work here, we may never know.

>>36068394
nah fuck you

>>36068394
Fucking autistic hard-ass

>>36068394

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

And you fucks are arguing about efficiency of space-based organic-constructed hydroponics.

>>36068432
>>36068454
You seem to be a munchkin with no respect for science fiction.

>>36068487


>>>/lit/
>>>/sci/

>>36068487
You seem to be an autistic cunt.

>all this room wasted when people could have just straight up asked the QM.

>>36068483
Consistency anon. The laws of physics don't simply bend because you want them to.
Hell I'm the person that suggested that the cyro spray should work by using an endothermic reaction the supercool to -100 C.

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>>36068483
Where do you think we are?

>>36068244
>Take both
Also take the Queen's remains as well as the worker and warriors for study/dissection.

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>>36068244
"Where you think you're going?"

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

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

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

Your speaker nods the affirmative. "Most likely."

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

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

You are indeed sensing some psionic energy.

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

>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics


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

She's basically a demi-queen at this point, not truly there or likely to ever be there, but close enough.

>>36068646
>>Inform her of the details of psionics

>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics
She is already psychic anyway and the memories

>>36068646

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

Man. Another valuable tech. She really can't be allowed to leave, can she.

>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics

>>36068704

If she leaves and we let her, she'll be incarcerated in some black ops facility and experimented on, ultimately ending up with her brain being scooped out and studied.

>>36068748
We don't let her leave.

>>36068646
>Inform her of the details of psionics

The already has it.

>inform her of the details of psionics.

>>36067875
>You spend more energy than you get back that way.
Power Tap anon. Practically limitless energy. Power is really not an issue.

>>36069037
That thing is impossibly expensive and unstable.

>>36068646
Your telepathic communication comes so naturally to you that you forget how alien it is to other creatures. You walk Elizabeth through a basic understanding of psionics.

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

"What is your theory?"

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

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

>Split your attention how you wish
>Focus on the crystals
>Other

>>36069091
>That thing is impossibly expensive and unstable.

Better to put it deep in a bunker than on a space-ship then.

>>36069108
>>Split your attention how you wish
She's respectable, not just some thinker we can boss around. Let her do what she wishes.

>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish
we will focus on the crystal
The doc on the tech

>>36069108
>>Split your attention how you wish

>>36069108
>>Focus on the crystals

Looking at how the white crystal in her ancient memory reacted when used, it resembled a void shard twisting into No Space a lot. So this is a priority.

>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish

>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish

>>36069091
>impossibly expensive
Ah you are absolutely correct. That must be why every single human ship with a warp drive has a Quantum power tap. And we both know how careless humans are, using ships that just randomly explode due to how unstable they are. Stop being a fucking retard. They are blatantly affordable and stable enough to use in spaceships I'm sure it would be perfectly fine in a space station, baring attack obviously.

>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish

>>36069108
Dont we already have massive amounts of data about the Skyl from the data cubes?
> also since the cube is already blank why not use it for trade with our AI pals?

>>36069216
look at the research agian.

>>36069137
Has Fusion reactors ever crossed your damn mind? They're literally powered by water.
It's like people here know nothing about science.
>>36069192
1 kg of Canderon costs 500000 and it takes 100 kg to create a power tap.

>>36069192

Considering they are used on WARSHIPS that get swatted aside like flies, they are probably not only really stable for what they are, but if they do go out of control, peter out in an acceptable time frame.

>>36069108
>Split your attention how you wish

>>36069256
Shields bro.

>>36069323

And?

>>36069240
Fusion reactors would probably be a better idea. Also, why the hell would you pay for Canderon? It'd be easier just steal some. Hell iirc we are already looking into taking control of the Canderon mine if only to prevent the Union from having access to it.

>>36069419
>It'd be easier just steal some.
Not anymore it isn't since the Union is on high alert.

>>36069494
Again, Unity might have suppliers or their own mines
Maybe a little more give in our give and take relationship with them next time around.

>>36069573
>or their own mines
They don't anon. The only known mine is in the Wolf system.

>>36069108
"As you feel appropriate."
She quickly cracks her fingers as she moves over to the console. "I'll get right on it then."

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

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

Sorry, had connection issues, should be better now.

>>36069494
>implying the hostile takeover of their only known source of Canderon wasn't going to result in a hostile response.

>>36069573
One way or another, they had some for sale last time we checked, it's what's powering the Clarke. We also have whatever we initially took from the Clarke before we fixed it.

>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
You heard Vaughn.

To those hive systems on the far side of the nebula the Star Chart in the temple pointed to!

>>36069658
Has someone got an up-to-date starmap?

>>36069658
> speak with Theseus (Hey buddy ol' pal, how about some technology.
How about that plague like plant?

Guys, the dead queen was trying to reach the crystal. We should use the crystal ourselves (as the queen) maybe only Queens can activate it?

>>36069658
>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
Mention the skyl ship.
They already know about the skyl.

>>36069658
>Launch your idle space pods
Time to poke though the nebula

>>36069707
Yup, voting.

>>36069717
We have an anctient star map, which is better.

>>36069658
>Launch your idle space pods
We need to start going towards the nebula, or at least update the map in the direction of the nebula.

>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
Sirius --- science capital, sounds interesting.
Chandra --- Let's see what damage Theseus's birthing pains involved
Transnebula hive stars -- for more white crystals.
Virgo, Eridanus, Gliese -- Because maybe one of these has a damn Valen gate to sneak through.

Do the lightday-away trick again this time.

>>36069727
Scroll to the top of the thread anon. It's in the same place every week.

>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (where)
P1, P2, and P3
they are right in our system, might as well take a look at them

>>36069658
Good idea. I'll second this >>36069767

>>36069658\
>Launch your idle space pods (into systems on the ancient Star Chart)
>Speak with Theseus (mention Skyl ship)

>>36069658
>>Launch your idle space pods (here >>36069767)
>>Speak with Theseus (either trade tech or talk about skyl)

>>36069787
Don't tell Theseus things except in exchange for other things.

And we don't need anything from him urgently just now, because now we can order Shield Tech off the internet.

>>36069732
Well, there's a thought.

>>36069707

I'll support that.

>>36069752
Meant the image file.

>>36069658
You have 5 space pods standing by and ready for instruction.

Proposed locations
>Sirius
>Chandra
>Virgo
>Eridanus
>Gliese
>The nebula
>Other

>>36069732
>>36069825
Good thing the human gained our ability.

Guys, we have four frigates and 12 corvettes now.

I think we now have the firepower to take on 15 clumsy inferior corvettes and 3 normal corvettes, and disable the Skyl battlecruiser.

>>36069885
No talking to the AI?
Also do Sirius,Transnebula hive stars

>>36069885
>The nebula

>>36069885
>Sirius
>Chandra
>Virgo
>Eridanus
>Gliese

>>36069885
>>Sirius
>>Virgo
>>Eridanus
>>Gliese
>>The nebula
Sorry Chandra you can wait.

>>36069897
Or we could clone some Skyl.

>>36069885
>The nebula

>>36069936
>>36069897
Or we can try communicating first.

>>36069936
Yes. Let's try and do that.

>>36069948
Well that first yeah. Trading the gravity drive to them for it.

But the point is to only attempt communication when your Plan B can actually WORK.

>>36069897
we should try talking first, but if they try to jump out we might be able to take them.

>>36069936
I really wouldn't advise trying to take on a battleship with our forces right now. Especially not the Skyl drive ship.

>>36069964
Although we might want to wait until Atomics is unlocked for more serious firepower.

They'll never see that coming.

>>36069936
We'd need to use the ones that we "saved" on their homeworld.
using the other ones is pretty much at war with us

Ya know, I wonder if Elizabeth would be receptive to having a parasite. We'd have to ask first, she'd almost certainly be able to sense it. But we might get some insight into her unique condition and she might get some use out of the drugs it makes.

>>36070063
I wonder if we can get away with a "Blue and orange" morality excuse if she freaks out at the parasites.
"...Is there something wrong with my creation?"

>>36070106

Probably can get away with it.

We can tell her it was to ensure that they didn't harm themselves or each other.

>>36070159
>>36070106
That might be pushing it a bit, even for a xeno-lover like her, naivete only goes so far. At most we should stick her in a regen tank for a bit.

>>36070159
>>36070106
>>36070063
Rather not risk it honestly.

>>36070159
Also, say that it dramatically increased their health.

>>36069897
>Sirius, Virgo, Eridanus, Gliese, the Nebula
Seems to be the general consensus.

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

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

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

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

"Go far away."


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

>Blink to the planet
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>Other

>>36070159
>>36070203
>>36070207
I was thinking that, if she reacts negatively to it, we could tell her that we honestly didn't know that shoving parasites in people were considered wrong by humans. I mean, look at the twins. Their species loves the hell out of parasites.

But yeah, it's risky as hell. Better just leave it.

>>36070250
>>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)

>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)

>>36070063
I think we could probably work it. Hell she'd probably understand from the perspective of, "while you are going along with this, we do need some sort of insurance."
Additionally, she is incredibly valuable so it would be good to make sure we can keep her alive.

>>36070250
Huh. Turns out keeping our first thinker was a good idea.
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)

>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked
Bad vibes man

>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)

>>36070250
>cruise to the planet under cloaked (will take a day)
>Other
Ask the first thinker. What does it remember of it's Queen. Can it recall it's life before it was sent out with our egg?

We should have layed a tychon blocker for the pod going into this place.

>>36070327
Read the damn post. It was hatched in deep space with a single order.

This was asked many many threads ago too, with the same answer. It knows nothing of the mother hive, it was hatched solely to pilot the Pod.

>>36070257
Speaking of the twins and parasites, we don't know much about their species do we? I suggest we put them in the tanks a bit to get a right understanding of their biology, then give them parasites (assuming they are compatible)

>>36070360
Then why is it saying "Not good to be here"? Did the old queen tell it why or only "Go far away"? If the later, then why did it say that? It wouldn't know why it's not good other wise.

>>36070250
Your pod accelerates while under its cloak, moving in to the small rocky world. It will take some time before it reaches its destination, as will your other pods.

In Sirius, your pod detects three planets, each shows signs of habitation. The furthest from the sun is Leto, a frozen world with signs of geothermal activity beneath the surface. Domed cities mark the frozen landscape, each one mounted on thousands of tiny legs that adjust to the shifting ice as needed. Further in is a planet titled Arnim. It is a lush world covered in farmland. Crisscrossing rivers cut through the widespread marshes as rainstorms churn over the surface. Finally is the planet Mentan, on the inner edge of the habitable zone of the star. There is a Union battleship, the USV Kilimanjaro, flanked by the frigates the USV Norman, and the USV Winslow. Strike craft run patrols around their orbits.
cont.

>>36070446
it does not need to know why it is a drone

>>36070327
Supporting. See whatever scraps of info the first thinker has on our origins

>>36070327
>and upon questioning you find that while the thinker hatched in the pod some light years within the nebula already

>>36070501
Again, then why did it say that? It's not a quantum thinker. However, if the old queen added in that command to warn us about that place, that's fine.
>>36070552
The drone doesn't have to be in the old hive, just what ever communications it had with the old queen.

>>36070577
it's communications with the old queen was go far away that is all

>>36070577
It was not directly informed of these things by the queen that laid it but was biologically programmed with this knowledge. It couldn't have communicated directly with her as it hatched in deep space and can only mark a single queen as mother in its life, and that's us.

Still we could learn much indirectly from its preprogrammed instruction, such as how far our pod flew and for how long.

>>36070474
In Virgo you detect two planets. The furthest from the sun is a mild world named Path. It's continents bustle with activity as the lights of endless cities shine through the dense smog. Further in is Talgo and its two small but habitable moons, the low gravity jungle of towering trees, and the sparkling oceanic water world of Coral. You see massive amounts of activity in orbit of Path, with hoards of commercial vessels moving in and out of port. The Battlecruiser USV Shenzhou and the frigates the USV Tiangong and Hakudo Maru sit in orbit.

>>36070677
>can only mark a single queen as mother
Not true. It's not imprint on hatching, the imprinting is in their DNA, so it knows who its literal Mother was. But there's a loophole. Said in thread 14:

>>33234683
>The drones can tell the difference between their mother and a strange queen. The thoughts of foreign queens would invoke natural hostility as a precaution against just such things. Queens that are related directly, however, could "inherit" drones, however, if they are familiar enough.

>>36070677
That works for me.
>>36070686
>>36070474
Nice battleships there. I hope we'll match them soon.

>>36070397
Check the ask.fm. the twins would love to have parasites implanted in them and would be jealous of Lyle and Ceph if they found out they had parasites implanted.

>>36070686
Eridanus is a crowded system, all things considered, but only a few of its worlds are naturally habitable. The farthest out is a barren rock with hardly an atmosphere named Eridani. You detect the signs of widespread infrastructure on the planet, and the marks of several large craters. The shattered domes of long abandoned colonies and several small enclosed settlements are all that remain. It's moon, Corbin, fares slightly better, with several large cities visible along the equator. Further in is Huron, a deep blue jewel of deep oceans and thin island chains. Several massive hurricanes twist over the ocean surface, covering much of the northern hemisphere. Farthest in is Graystone, a harsh, rocky landscape covered in industrial complexes and mineral mines. Several frigates, the Donovan, the Alabaster, and the DuPont drift between the planet in a lazy patrol pattern, followed by the Corvettes the Stiletto and the Dirk.

>>36070804
Seeing all those ships in one place makes me wonder what the respective aggregate strength of the union and commonwealth fleets are. Can't be that hard to find out, should be on the FTL Wikipedia.

>>36070804
Finally, your last pod appears on the edge of the Gliese system, near a gas giant. A large station orbits it covered in merchant vessels. You detect a radio signal coming from it declaring itself Exon Station, offering a blanket welcome to any and all nearby trade ships. Further in is the habitable but harsh world Tadega, and its barren moon of Tori. Trade ships move to and from the moon, with a single, large trade station making up the only notable location on its airless surface. Farther into the system is the temperate world of Mercy, covered in small, clean cities and wide spread suburban sprawls around them. Orbiting the world is the frigate the USV Sulaco and the corvettes McCormick and the Steele. Several others sit anchored to several orbiting stations, half finished and unnamed.

>>36070769
Huh. we should get on that then. Might even get some data on the diseases already in their systems.

>>36070921
Finally, a gas giant to refuel pods at when no one is looking!

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

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

Maybe get a glimpse of his origin story too.

>>36070921
>welcoming all trade ships
Time to sell shells and shell-related accessories.

Also why are we not getting Queen to poke the newest crystal? It seems to be a Queen-tool of some sort.

>>36070921
As your pods drift further into their respective systems they slowly take a greater account of the systems and their contents. As they drift in you look to the other pods you have spread across the region.

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

>Move your pod closer to investigate
>Move your pod away from the system
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.
>Other

>>36071007
>Move your pod closer to investigate
I trust the thinkers.

>>36071007
Probably Ceph raiders, those fucks.

>>36071007
>Move your pod away from the system
I would vote to look, but we need to upgrade our shit with tachyon blocking now, or we can be traced back.

>>36071007
>>Move your pod away from the system
Oh fuck. It's Ceph.

They're probably here looking for US, but they don't know which system to look in yet.

>>36071007
>Move your pod closer to investigate
At a healthy distance though. This smacks of a Ceph raid.

>>36071007
>move the pod closer
>and if it looks like they're going to capture our pod
>send it straight to hell

>>36071007
>Move your pod away from the system

>>36071007
Aren't we cloaked already? Observe. Observe the hell of what's going on. Get a feed to Theseus in case something interesting happens, share popcorn with him if something interesting did happen.

>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.

Play like a debris floating by.

>>36071005
That involves possible direct danger to the queen. 'S the sort of thing that'll take some sort of vote.

>>36071007
>>Move your pod closer to investigate
Schmuck bait

>>36071035
>>36071040
Just to remind you, we're cloaked ourselves and tiny. The Ceph have no known way of finding us under stealth.

>>36071072
Yes, but if the pod gets hit by accident in the crossfire, a stray energy beam or physical shrapnel, the cloaking effect will end.

>>36071077
I'll second.

>>36071086
Tachyon mother fuckers, we can sense the chick i don't doubt that they or what ever is controlling them can't sense us.

>>36071086
Also remember that our stealth tech is stolen from the Ceph, they would know how to detect it, still, they probably won't know we're there.

>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.

>>36071035
Psionic disruptor: A set of advanced organs capable of transmitting a powerful psionic static, blocking transmission within its range.
Basic: Releases a quick burst of static in a radius of 15 meters in all directions lasting for several seconds. (50N)
Moderate: A powerful organ capable of broadcasting a powerful jamming signal in a 20 meter cone. The drone does not affect itself. (100N 50M)
Advanced: A large disruptor that broadcasts static with a radius of roughly 50 kilometers. If grafted to an advanced relay, the signal can be made to propagate along the relay’s own network. (250N 150M)
We mus upgrade our pods, to make tracking impossible, but also good against crippling the ceph.

>>36071072
Don't just give it to him, use it as currency for an info trade. He would digitally cream himself if offered live footage of a Ceph attack in action.

>>36071007
>>Move your pod closer to investigate

>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit

>>36071100
>they would know how to detect it
Then so would we? We both understand the technology.

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

Cloaked v. cloaked ships is a very long game of chicken to see who will decloak to fire the first shot.

>>36071112
Psionic disruptor is not a stealth technology you fool. It is exactly the opposite.

It's jamming. You know what jamming is? It's screaming real loud, so that no one else can hear anything except you.

>>36071007
>>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.

>>36071116
This could work. Or you could turn said movie night into an improptu barter session, you know.

>>36071135
Its a good weapon to use on the ceph who are controlled through tachyon.

>>36071158
No it fucking isn't.

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

It would, however, make it probably impossible to use the void shards and escape from the system, since they won't be able to be heard over the noise.

>>36071158
>>36071135
That reminds me, didn't the slip drive work by having the Ceph form Psionic connections with the Crystals? If the Disruptor could block that too, we could effectively leave the Ceph ships dead in the water, If we can somehow expand the effective range of the Disruptor.

>>36071209
We know we can make an organ to project the field.
It's likely we can make it ship-mounted.

>>36071144
This could be fun. Both of our hive minds have a superb capacity for multitasking and watching squishy humans for entertainment.

I'd like to request a more through look at the other planets in our system as possible expansions. If one or more is suitable, a suggested colonizing group might be:
1 Egg Sac
20 Workers
2 Warriers
1 Thinker (Quantum?)

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

That's fairly cheap considering our income. It seems like a good investment.

>>36071007
>>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.

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

We don't want to end up in the crossfire between humans and Ceph and get caught with our pants down. But we don't want to not catch the show.

>>36071007
>Do nothing, and continue to let your pod drift in Kaltara orbit.

File: Ceph void cutter.jpg (336 KB, 1920x1080)

336 KB JPG

>>36071007
Under the cover of its cloak, your pod drifts, and watches.

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

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

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

>Have your pod flee the system
>Continue to watch
>Send in your ships to assist (write in)
>Other

>>36071331
>>Continue to watch
Fleeing would only give away our stealth with the Blink Drive flash.

But, uh. Back away. quickly.

>>36071331
>>Continue to watch
>Other
The AI,

>>36071331
Would our ships even be able to do anything?
I don't recall them possessing any armament meant to fuck with the Ceph.

Therefor:
>Continue to watch

>>36071331
>Have your pod flee the system

>>36071331
>Continue to watch
Keep some distance between us and the raiders
Also, ready the corvettes for salvaging

>>36071331
>Continue to watch

>>36071331
>At least a dozen small craft, each no larger than your pod, drop their cloaks.
They're so tiny. Were these the equivalent of a small fighter swarm, that rode here on a bigger Ceph carrier that remains cloaked still?

>>36071245
I'm pretty sure the other planets in our system are all but totally uninhabitable. Some of these unoccupied planets in union space, however...

>>36071382
Most likely they are specialized raiding vessels. They seem to have their own slip-drive and are too small to carry any loot.

>>36071331
>Continue to watch
For god's sake, we must not move now!