FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION

I'm unconvinced that there is a safe distance to be when mom finds that out.

The simple diplomatic mission to Watcher space has turned out to be a bit more complicated than advertised. The first thing that tipped you off was the presence of 60 super heavy cruisers guarding the local nav station's landing zone for FTL arrivals.

It seems the Alliance and the Kavarian Iratar government are not just negotiating with the Watchers for navigation data and passage through their space, but also with remnants of the long destroyed Kavarian Union.

The same Union that formed after Kavarians everywhere rebelled against Dominion rule at the start of the Faction wars. The Ruling House at the time had been weakened by their attempts to suppress the Terran civil war. The other major Houses and their allies took the opportunity to grab for power and within a few weeks the now poorly defended outer colonies with their fleets largely absent took the opportunity to revolt. Multiple Houses were destroyed in less than a month.

Between their manufacturing prowess and stolen cloning technology the Kavarian Union became the greatest threat of the Faction Wars. When the wars ended the Iratar led puppet state that replaced them was effectively hobbled by strict manufacturing quotas that were not to be exceeded. Their major shipyards that survived were occupied by Terran, Rovinar and Republic troops. While most Hune had left by the time of the Warlords campaign the others remain.

The Dominion has never truly recovered from the loss of so much territory and much of the weakness of the current Ruling House is often blamed in part on it.

Now it seems some of the Union fleets escaped at the end of the wars and survived, though there is much you don't know about the specifics. With permission from the Watchers they've settled a number of worlds in their territory that fall beyond the range of the local's ability to safely inhabit.

Mr Kasak, the lead diplomat for the alliance mission here isn't currently aware how many planets the remnants hold but it's clear they haven't taken control of Watcher space.


Failed to post in time before the end of the last thread:
>>36572742
>Can we request that RSS/J-D be allowed to establish relations with the Remnants?
At the moment you're restricted to you Holoplex business ventures. Eventually they will probably be open to more general business ventures. You're getting a good deal with as much business there as you are.

>that Kavarian security person for antics.
Beryl the somewhat androgynous Kavarian?

>>36573133
>We should send a science ship. We name it "Event Horizon", and the entire crew should be made up of blind people.
The guild calls that region the Crystal Sea and they have sent ships, losing most of them. This isn't that uncommon when doing the sort of mapping work they do. The TAC 2 Relay may actually be around the far edge of it.

The Guild and Explorer Corps hope the Watchers superior charts will help determine possible routes through or around it.

This new captcha system is mildly annoying. Not a lot, just a little bit.

>>36572402
>Can we put on an environment suit or our power armor and visit the Watcher part of the station?
>Tourism before we go! See if we can get any pieces of Watcher art to bring back and show off to impress other nobles. Stuff like that.

You talk to the diplomats about this. It will take 2 or 3 days for preparations for the return trip to be completed so it does seem that there is time. They'll talk to a few of the locals and see if it might be possible for a small group.

Before that takes place you secure the vital piece of evidence you traded for. A camouflaged drone attempted to infiltrate the talks, or perhaps was just looking around the station you're not sure which. The only piece of its construction that could tie it to a particular group has a marking identical to a Rovinar device you once used. Not trusting the Alliance crew you have the carrying case locked in secure storage and guarded by some of your Marines, some of them in Power Cell armor. If anyone tries to get in they'll regret it.

Eventually there's a response on the tourist trip. Your armor can survive many environments but it would not be ideal for visiting one of the worlds the Watchers live on. The Kavarians who live in the region can provide pressure suits designed specifically for those environments. You'd also be provided a suitably rated stun pistol just in case.

Taking your plasma pistol is too dangerous. If anything were to go wrong it could damage your suit or severely injure those nearby.

>Play tourist and visit the surface? Y/N?

>>36664842
Yes, please.

>>36664842
>Play tourist and visit the surface? Y/N?
Y. Let's see what this new world has to offer. Besides ice that is.

Eh, okay

>>36664842

>Play tourist?
Yes.

Have a portable stasis unit or two with us, just in case.

>>36664913
Maybe some incredible logic puzzles to placate mom...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJgLhTSG4Qk

Hydrocarbon based life tends to require two things, a high pressure atmosphere and severely cold surface temperatures. The world you're visiting tends to average in the 105 kelvin range. Even the Watchers find it a tiny bit on the cold side.
The pressure suit you've been given is industrial grade. Reinforced for heavy work where the danger of a suit puncture is a very real one. You estimate it as comparable to Marine armor in terms of resistance to small arms fire though much bulkier and clumsier. Marine armor could do the job but wear would cut its service life.

>Have a portable stasis unit or two with us, just in case.
Done.

Your visit to the surface is aboard a ship that resembles a Heavy Lift Vehicle. It drops from orbit and lands at a space port, ground side tractor beams and repulsors guiding the cargo craft down into a berth lined with accelerators.

The Kavarian guide assigned to your group explains that the extra boost at launch will ensure that the ship won't need to use Fusion drives within the atmosphere. Doing so other than in an emergency is a serious crime.

Adjusting your visor settings to moire easily see through the thick atmosphere it doesn't take long to spot the spires of nearby cities. A short trip to a residential area under construction gives you a good look at the world's architecture.

Buildings are shaped like cones or upside down funnels, usually with a steep slope to their outer walls. Some buildings are more dome shaped, but they seem to be a minority. The interior of most house sized structures are more often than not a single open room. This may be part of that suspected claustrophobia issue. Large buildings tend to have multiple floors, each about the size of those you encountered on the station. Every building seems to have a central air shaft running to the top of the spire. The larger towers tend to have elevators mounted in these open spaces.

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The few Watchers you encounter simply ignore you and go about their business, though a few make comments about tourists. There aren't many people around you note and ask the guide about it.

"Most of their worlds have a low population density. Much lesser than most Factions prefer in their cities. Local governments will decide upon population controls based on public opinion and if there are too many on the planet many will often volunteer to go elsewhere."

You point out that there cant be many suitable candidates for colonisation. The guide doesn't know all of the details. Orbital habitats are increasingly common in some systems while there are next to none in others. Its speculated that part of the reason they travel so far afield is to find other suitable worlds they could use some day. Or it could be just out of curiosity.

Finding gifts and souvenirs proves to be a bit difficult. Ideally you want one that won't melt or sublimate at room temperature. It takes time but your guide is eventually able to find you a few items.
A few digital forms of mathematical puzzles are the best Mom will be able to use. You've picked up a physical copy but it will have to remain sealed as a display form or it might break.

The other major item you pick up is a statue of a "Lirat beast," one of the few other large life forms to originate on the Watcher homeworld. From what the guide tells you they're small but ferocious predators with six limbs, a wide mouth filled with sharp teeth and a preference for staying out of sight using crevices or other tight spaces to hide their movements.

This is believed to have played a part in Watcher architecture. Large open rooms give Lirat no place to hide and the slope of the outer walls of a residence are too steep or slippery for them to climb.

It seems Watchers are excellent shots with thrown projectiles and can usually kill a Lirat beast with a single stone.

>>36665969
Neat, could we pick up some classic Watcher literature as well?

>>36665512
>Hydrocarbon based life tends to require two things, a high pressure atmosphere and severely cold surface temperatures. The world you're visiting tends to average in the 105 kelvin range. Even the Watchers find it a tiny bit on the cold side.
>You point out that there cant be many suitable candidates for colonisation. The guide doesn't know all of the details.

How does their terraforming technology compare to the Factions?

>>36666228
Lower quality and it's unlikely your own tech could be easily converted to help them.

>>36666106
>Neat, could we pick up some classic Watcher literature as well?
You pick up some works but they'll all need to be properly translated first since there are some things that aren't picked up.

Most of the art pieces you've seen while touring around seem fairly bland until you realise they're only visible in a spectrum beyond your own. Even using infrared you're told that your augmented vision cant do them justice.

Returning to the spaceport you watch habitat spheres for use in space being loaded onto other ships. Each sphere is similar to the smaller buildings on the surface you've seen. A single open space providing plenty of room which will be connected to larger structures.

Spotting a crew of suited up Kavarian workers passing by you ask if they know a good place to get a drink in the hopes of expanding your rare collection.

Your suit translator isn't able to make sense of their response. You have to ask the guide who in turn asks someone else in order to work out what they said as:
"Lady I'm just here to work."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfSnaY1Wp_U

"Right. Is that a local dialect some of your colonies out here have picked up?" You ask the guide.

"More accurately it would be all of them." he explains.
It turns out all of the guards assigned to the station the talks were held at were selected specifically because it would be easier for the representatives to converse with them.

One of the lower ranked diplomats in your party reacts badly to this news.

"W-we have to delay the treaty agreement." he attempts to convince you and the others on the way into orbit.
"They must not have established proper language laws to prevent drift over time."
"It's been four centuries, things can change quite a bit over such a long period of time." You point out.

"Even under the Dominion, while there might have been some changes, the Kavarian language family remained largely the same thanks to stringent enforcement. This is as serious as the language degradation threat the exiles faced when living among the Terrans!"

"We'll calm him down once we're in orbit and can safely get the suits off." One of the others whispers to you.
"It'll probably just mean some extra work to re-tune translation gear. Please ignore him."

>Anything you want to say to the distraught diplomat?

>>36666782
>Anything you want to say to the distraught diplomat?

It's kinda hard to find an appropriate reply to this without knowing what the treaty agreement looks like, and why they're so worried about language degradation.

Do they only have one language? No dialects? I can't really imagine how that would work.

>>36666782
Well if they are going to rejoin the Kavarians proper then one would assume they would share in their education system and laws and as such would once more have a understandable language.

Sorry guys. captcha expired. posted this 10-15 minutes ago.

>>36666992
>Do they only have one language? No dialects?
They have dialects but they're much more controlled. Think language laws in some countries where it takes years or decades for any new word to be added.

The Union's language has gone the way English has in some places with it morphing considerably over time influenced by region and relations with the Watchers. Or like Quebecois french in some ways though that might not be the best example.


You're able to talk to Mr Kasak before departure for the local nav station.

In your time on the surface you've picked up additional information regarding goods that the Watchers may be willing to trade on a regular basis should freighters willing to make the trip become available.

>Superconductors and cooling systems.
Superconductors are not new and without them FTL systems would not be powerful enough to allow transit between galaxies. Those used by the Watchers when combined with their necessary cooling technology could be useful for various weapons programs.

>Low Friction materials
The exteriors of many buildings you encountered while on your tour are coated with low friction materials to reduce wind resistance and to make it impossible for feral Lirat to climb their walls. These could be put to use in a number of industries in faction space.

>Sonic devices
In the denser atmospheres of Watcher worlds sonic weapons and other devices are much more effective. They may have advances in areas the Factions lack.

>Shape-memory alloy
While hardly unique the locals here seem to produce plenty of these alloys which could be useful to the war effort.

>>36663956
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION:

I forgot it was Tuesday edition?!?

TSTG, is that type of transport Dad was so impressed by among the blueprints we managed to capture? If so, would the drives be able to make the jump to watcher space?

>Sorry guys. captcha expired. posted this 10-15 minutes ago.

New captcha is a shit

>>36668065
>Superconductors and cooling systems.
>combined with their necessary cooling technology could be useful for various weapons programs.

Now if only we knew of people who could use this...i'm sure there is no one experiencing cooling issues with some new technology they are using.

>Sonic devices
Oh.....oh My. I'm sure we/someone could find uses for these.

>>36668462
An interesting question.

>>36668065
>>36668065
Could those low friction materials be used to help the loading problem on the HAG? Or have I misremembered the issue it had?

>>36668462
>is that type of transport Dad was so impressed by among the blueprints we managed to capture?
No, but people are trying to reverse engineer them. With full production data for the Neeran carrier I'm going to say that they're nearly done. They're based off the same hull with some minor modifications.
If work hasn't started on a more easily produced Faction equivalent yet it will soon.

>If so, would the drives be able to make the jump to watcher space?
Maybe. It may need modification to carry more capacitors and power systems.

>>36668065
After going over the data you respond that some of it could be interesting but you plan to leave it up to the diplomats.

On your arrival at the Nav station you find that a small fleet is there to greet you. Two Mega class supers have been modified with additional drive plate assemblies attached to the dorsal and ventral surfaces. Other than that they're visually identical to others you've seen but the lead diplomat assures you that this is a locally produced version that may have a number of differences. Ones the Iratar yards are eager to take a look at.

"Commander, while you were looking into Watcher settlements it came to my attention that we may have a number of "special interest groups" that could be aboard this ship or the two Supers."

"As though the drone incident wasn't enough." you mutter.

"Most of the other Factions will want to asses the Union as a threat. The drone was a good example. There may be resistance within the Kavarian Imperium as people worry about a return to an age of conquest.
A great deal of data will be released by the Alliance to the various Faction governments in the future but not immediately. We need to prevent any leaks, at least until these ships reach the safety of the shipyards or groups may try to waylay us.

This agreement and these ships are of great importance to the Alliance.

Can I count on you and your troops to help complete this mission?"

>>36668934
"Of course."

>>36668934
>Transports
Excellent, what ships would be adequate escorts, considering we'd have to fly through warlord territory?

>Can I count on you and your troops to help complete this mission?"
Oh god, he really is a diplomat. Politely ask him what exactly he wants us to do.

>>36668934

"I take it that you've been briefed on how members of the Dominion typically respond to such requests?"

Like what we're getting in exchange that we can't normally get our hands on. Something Kavarians may be known for.

If we're putting our people in a situation where they're in danger, we need to know the risk is worth something, after all.

So what is our silence worth, to start. And what is our loyalty to this mission worth, if it comes down to bloodshed?

>>36668934
"I will certainly do what I can."

>>36669142
>ask him what exactly he wants us to do.
This, does he wants us to run escort with our single BC? Garrison on the ship?

>>36668719
>Could those low friction materials be used to help the loading problem on the HAG? Or have I misremembered the issue it had?
They could help.

It was a problem with the autoloaders on the turrets. The turrets were quite small for the size of the weapons and as a result tended to jam.
It was partly to do with the company's inexperience with that type of weapon system since they're not the most common. You currently have contacts with another company to build the loaders and a license for the design is going to be bought for the latest HAG upgrade.

>>36668750
>Get a Watcher Logic puzzle for mom.
Well some puzzles were got.


>Politely ask him what exactly he wants us to do.
>does he wants us to run escort with our single BC? Garrison on the ship?
"We'll be putting a few Alliance crew on each of the ships as observers and to send and receive clearance for our jumps to the Centri cluster. Those who will be stationed on the bridge I can kept a close watch on. That isn't the case with everyone and I don't trust that half of the Alliance crew that took this assignment won't turn out to be agents working for their Factions."

"Aren't you doing that?" You ask.
"Well of course I am but at least I'm open about it. I need someone reliable to guard key areas of at least one ship."

"I take it that you've been briefed on how members of the Dominion typically respond to such requests?"
"Yes, and you've proven it on this mission thus far. You are a known variable and thus moderately predictable. If something goes wrong its likely your business plans for Watcher space will likewise fail so you'll be inclined to help me."

While you consider this point he presses on.

"The few House marines you brought are undoubtedly loyal to you more than your House. As long as I can count on you I can count on them. Wouldn't you agree?"

>>36668934
We are fucking Dominion. If we do not have conniptions about the Kavarian Union coming back, i think most people should not have it.

In fact we are uncertain why most people do not have those conniptions about the sheer size of the Neeran Imperium, and its obvious desire to subjugate everyone in their path.


Anyway i am certain we can help out to get more people into the fight, perhaps getting them some advanced intel and prearranged meetups with impromptu escorts by using our former wing mates if they are in the path.

We can make one mean looking convoy escort bridge for them.

Hell if we manage to do that it might even fall to Alliance to safeguard diplomatic endeavors from 'pirates', 'raiders', 'dissidents' and other such disavow able bullshit.

>>36669972
well he does not want what >>36669974 said but if we could do it regardless on a moments notice it would be something of a mobilization demonstration and a powerful precedent, right?

I mean it was the Alliance that Escorted the Watchers and the lost Kavarians back in. (With a Dominion Officers as CO and main force of course)

So every diplomat or diplomatic endeavor of note will want the same service, further entrenching Alliance.

>>36669974

Our actions as Sonia aren't exactly a baseline for the Dominion at large.

>>36669972
I guess this brings up what size force we have that is loyal to us aboard. I imagine the fact that we didn't make plans to remove the personal SP stockpiles on this ship kind of increase those numbers, even if they're RTS rather than Marines.

And what sort of numbers we may in theory need to suppress.

... I still think we should be given a bit more encouragement than the speculative Watcher space business plans. Even if these vessels make it safely, we could be denied those plans. (like by say the formation of an Alliance panel/company/group with exclusively handles anything with Watchers)

And the House could really use a Mega in the near future.

>>36670235
>And the House could really use a Mega in the near future.
No, it really couldn't unfortunately. Basically, the House already has a three heavy warships, and while a fourth would be nice, it would tie up too much funding and manpower that we need for smaller ships. Doesn't Iratar sell something that allows atmosphere to be retained in worlds that are currently undergoing the terriforming process?

>>36670402
The House only has 2 heavy warships, both currently still being repaired. (Forbearance and the Heavy Carrier RSS salvaged)
There is the Neeran Heavy Tanker, but that isn't really a functioning ship IIRC. Something about being studied and used to train boarding teams. And not letting TSTG forget about it.

A new-production Mega would be a pain for the House to actually crew instantly, but it would without a doubt be a damned fine asset for the Home Fleet in the long term.

or RSS could turn it into a combat salvage ship for the sheer absurdity of having the unquestionably largest ship in J-D. Why settle for just having the first functional Heavy Cruiser in the House? (in recent history, at least)

It would also be a very good opening demand to any bartering.

>>36670891
>There is the Neeran Heavy Tanker, but that isn't really a functioning ship IIRC. Something about being studied and used to train boarding teams. And not letting TSTG forget about it.
We salvaged a Neeran Heavy carrier recently, then salvaged two more for parts.

>>36670891
I should add that we also have quite a number of Medium Cruisers in J-D, but by 'Heavy Warships' I'm going with 'Heavy Cruiser+'.

pulled this from TSTG's reply to an earlier flawed assessment of J-D's Heavy Cruiser+ ships, here: suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/35959412/#p35987349

>>36670981

Rechecked that, and it looks like the ship in question was a Heavy Cruiser, not specifically a Heavy Carrier.

I wonder if the House has it functional yet, or if someone traded it off to R&D or get cash for the House while we weren't looking.

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>>36669974
>We can make one mean looking convoy escort bridge for them.
Were this to be needed it would mean things were going very wrong.

>>36670402
>Doesn't Iratar sell something that allows atmosphere to be retained in worlds that are currently undergoing the terriforming process?
Yes it does. I didn't get back to some people on how much they cost. They're roughly equal in value to planetary shield generators. 1 can cover a circular area 4km in diameter. About the size of Heathrow or JFK. It can be expanded depending on density or composition of the atmosphere.

>>36670235
>I guess this brings up what size force we have that is loyal to us aboard.

2 Men at arms with power armor
20 with power cell armor
180 House Marines
80 RTS security personnel with marine armor. (Some of which are former marines while others are former mercs who served with the House.)

120 Alliance Marines
(If including the Alliance Marines you have enough troops to man your full assault shuttle compliment.)

>And what sort of numbers we may in theory need to suppress.
Kasak doesn't have the slightest idea. "If you need to hold off the entire crew then we've lost. Most key databanks are located near either Bridge. There is also your own ship which could have valuable data aboard from your tourist trip."

"Those are just clips of civilian areas on the Watcher colony." you point out.

"Will everyone know that?"

You next point out that your business plans could be denied by the formation of an alliance backed company that handles all cargo transfer with Watcher Space.
"My House could use a Mega of its own in the future."

"Your House it too small to support it, though I don't doubt your ability to find some way around that."

You want some sort of compensation, but realistically that might be a bit much.

[ ] Large sublight drives for Forbearance or Heavy Cruiser
[ ] Atmospheric Containment Field
[ ] Armor/materials
[ ] Attack Ships, Cruisers / Frigates
[ ] Other?

>>36671423
>[ ] Other?
Let's survive this first and then just see what our House wants.

>New captcha still a shit

>>36671423
>[X] Large sublight drives for Forbearance or Heavy Cruiser

Wasn't that like the one core equipment we where missing for the Forbearance? Cause if we could get the Heavy and the Super operational then we would be ready for the civil war.

>>36670981
>>36670985
>>36671255
>it looks like the ship in question was a Heavy Cruiser, not specifically a Heavy Carrier.
Yes, they were Heavy Cruisers you salvaged. Nearly enough to fully rebuild one. The sublight drives you and everyone else did such a good job of destroying are in short supply.
>I wonder if the House has it functional yet, or if someone traded it off to R&D or get cash for the House while we weren't looking.
It's mostly repaired but the issue of sublight drives remains. It's a heavy ship and the number of smaller conventional drives needed to move it would be enough for an attack wing.

The drives used on Kavarian Supers or Terran Jupiter class transports would be ideal but that would mean pulling salvage assets away from the Forbearance or the Heavy Carrier that Reynard Logistcs is working on rebuilding. (Which is also nearing completion.)

>>36671423
>[ ] Large sublight drives for Forbearance or Heavy Cruiser
>[ ] Atmospheric Containment Field
The atmospheric containment field would allow us to greatly enhance the value of our land by ensuring that a piece of our property is built up first, becoming a major city if not the capitol

>>36671423
>[ ] Large sublight drives for Forbearance or Heavy Cruiser
>[ ] Atmospheric Containment Field

>>36671423
>[X] Large sublight drives for Forbearance or Heavy Cruiser
>[X] Atmospheric Containment Field

>>36671423

[x] Other: Compensation up to X% of the value of a Mega class SHC, to be itemized after successful mission.
[x] Clause that guarantees payment is still owed to Sonia/RSS/J-D in the event of the death of either or both signing parties.

I'd say start at 100% value, focus on the mission at hand, and then fret over details later.

As for the 'data' on our ship, would it be possible for us to put that into a data pad and delete any other 'known' copies? We then back up the info using that trick Duncan taught us with the phase rifle power packs, and have the data pad as a decoy. Possibly full of encrypted lolcat photos or something that the spy can't crack until back at a major computer bank with their handlers. Oh, oh! Lolvinar.

And then we can focus entirely upon the security of things other than our tourist photos.

>>36671547
>Wasn't that like the one core equipment we where missing for the Forbearance?
No, you salvaged enough old drives in South Reach to solve that problem. They were sitting in space for 4 centuries but after being refurbished with parts from the Smugglers Run they're nearly good as new. There are a few spares.
Newer drives would have better performance. Reliability too.

"I'm tempted to just wait until we've survived this but better to press the advantage while I have it. Some sublight drives for a Kavarian super heavy and if it's not too hard some atmospheric containment fields for use on worlds undergoing terraforming would be good."

"I'll see what I can do, but I cant promise absurdly large quantities."

"And a clause that guarantees payment in the event of the death of either or both signing parties."
"You are not making my life easy."

With that out of the way how do you want to distribute your troops for the return trip? Will you keep any in reserve to respond to emergencies or conduct patrols?

You can also take command of Union troops stationed in parts of the ship in emergencies.

>>36672041
I like the idea of using the data pad as a decoy.

>>36672041
Keep about 80 of the marines on our own ship for safety reasons. 40 marines along with the power cell and the Men at arms can serve as a reaction force in case of while the rest are split between the two bridges where they can send out patrols from. to keep check on the area surrounding either bridge.

>>36672041
>"You are not making my life easy."

"You can thank the Shallans for that lesson."

Is it possible for us to sabotage the EXCAL's communications so that we can garble any long-range communications at will? Or, preferably, garble everything and allow us to transmit in the clear when we specifically select to do so? Actually, we could basically force a hard encryption/cipher and transmit our own, specific J-D/Loyalist stuff by transmitting so the cipher encrypts our stuff unencoded.

That prevents anyone from our ship piggybacking route information out via the EXCAL (and possibly the Kavarian-types?)

not really sure what we're protecting or from who, as far as the rest goes. Is our priority defending the information on the Mega from Factions idiots? Or stopping someone from the Union from starting a war?

Because we can't really deploy off our ship in the case of the latter.

>>36672041
>With that out of the way how do you want to distribute your troops for the return trip?

What are likely targets for sabotage or attacks?

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Datapad decoy planted, though you won't be able to hide your souvenirs and gifts. Screw it, they're wrapped for delivery. How many spies are gifted when it comes to physically unsealing and resealed wrapped gifts these days?

>>36672475
>Is it possible for us to sabotage the EXCAL's communications so that we can garble any long-range communications at will? Or, preferably, garble everything and allow us to transmit in the clear when we specifically select to do so?
Aboard your ship yes, that's easy enough to do. Jamming the Super's coms would be more difficult.
For 5 days out of the 7 day flight to South Reach jamming will be largely unnecessary as you'll be out of communications range.

>Is our priority defending the information on the Mega from Factions idiots? Or stopping someone from the Union from starting a war?
Kasak seems mostly concerned about information but the second one shouldn't be ruled out.

>>36672477
>What are likely targets for sabotage or attacks?
Either bridge, your ship, or the diplomats if someone is after information. The Iratar and Alliance diplomats are largely staying in the officers quarters near the aft bridge.
If someone were to sabotage the FTL systems that would be bad too, but that would be as likely to kill the saboteur.

Any changes?

>>36672843
>Any changes?
Can Sonia keep an eye on the FTL system in recon armour?

>>36672843
Perhaps adding a few units to the FTL and the communication units would be a good idea? Other than that I think we are good.

>>36672843
Maybe 5 power cell armor marines to the forward bridge.

Rolled 5, 3 = 8 (2d6)

>>36672929
You can't be everywhere at once. You could patrol near them, just expect to get plenty of time on the trams.

Do you want to maintain your holographic disguise?

>>36672954
>Perhaps adding a few units to the FTL and the communication units would be a good idea?
Squad size? Did you want them pulled from your ship, the reaction force or one of the teams guarding either bridge?

>>36673081
Objections to this?

>>36673306
I was thinking a total of perhaps 40 marines from the our ship. Just so we have someone in place that can quickly inform us if shit is going down.

>Objections to this?
None from me.

>>36673306
>Objections to this?
Nope.

>Squad size?
10 AM and 5 each RTS and M per per FTL system? (There's 4 of them, right?

>You could patrol near them, just expect to get plenty of time on the trams.
Well, we should spend some time patrolling. If there are targets where we'd have less downtime, then cover those instead.

>Do you want to maintain your holographic disguise?
Sure, setting the camo to marine armour should work nicely.

>>36672843
>Jamming the Super's coms would be more difficult

Could we quietly pass the suggestion to the Super's Captain(s) either personally or by the Diplomat?

It shouldn't be much more difficult than putting a simple cipher module or similar functioning device right before or into the communications systems (and one in the bridge), and would be much easier to ensure that it wasn't hacked, as you'd need to physically remove the device. Hell, a locked out datapad without wireless would work, just program in a basic 'change input to output' cipher.

Barring someone with the correct cipher knowledge piggybacking something out, it should prevent any spies/agents from sending anything out, and could also detect a similar set up already in place by a spy/agent. (data pad in communications programmed to piggyback stuff out).

It kind of also prevents one of several thousand hacking points from being used across the ship, and the bridge is much more difficult to take and hack.

Trust not the navigator's guild in Warlord Space.

You ensure that the long range communications systems aboard your Excalibur are sabotaged after docking on the outer hull of a Mega before transferring over. You really hope your presents for the family aren't disturbed.

You set up teams spread through the ship, to protect the control centers and other vital points.

After the first day's patrols you work with the diplomat and the captain in an attempt to have them cut or limit communications off the ship. You're worried someone might try to hack into the computers.
The Captain assures you that communications and the computers are secure. This is first and foremost a warship and the two are kept separate whenever possible. As a precaution he does agree to additional security interlocks on the long range coms.
"Not that we will need it. We are nearly out of range of Union and Watcher communication range and we'll only be able to reach the Alliance navigator outpost at the 23-18 hour range."

You return to patrols and tell everyone to keep an eye out. It's going to be a long week, hopefully several long weeks back to the Centri cluster. Most of your veterans are prepared for this eventuality.

The next two days any time you pass near the aft bridge you regret it. A number of the lower ranked Iratar diplomats are arguing unceasingly about problems involved in any sort of unification with the remnant. Everything from the language differences to education, culture and the dangers that some will want to return to the days of actual imperialism.
"We're an Imperium in name only. The title was only adopted out of a desire for legitimacy."
"It's still a financial empire."

Kasak has been staying out of it all.

Oh and names. Most people from the Union tend not to use "proper" Kavarian names.
"What are they going to argue about next sir?" Asks one of your people when passing through. "What shade of gold their hull armor is?"

"I think Iratar armor looks a bit more tarnished." Jokes one.

>Tell them to knock it off? Y/N?

>>36674273
>>Tell them to knock it off? Y/N?

Tell them to stop with the jokes while on duty, they're professionals. And these are diplomats, we don't want them to get upset about something this insignificant. Because if there's one thing diplomats love, then it's getting upset about irrelevant things.

Also, double their pay for the shifts they have to spend close to these guys.

>>36674273
"Try to avoid those comments when near any of them. I would rather avoid any conflict on this ship and you should probably to."

As long as they aren't becoming giant dicks by telling them these jokes to their faces I am okay with them having their fun. But we should make sure it does not develop into actual insults and racism.

Am I the only one who thinks this new captcha is dildos?

I wasn't around to comment but the trade deal we have with the Union/Watchers definitely opens the door. I'm okay with selling them holo tech to form a franchise because it's not like we can ship in employees and they have no real reason not to buy their movies and stuff from us.

How exactly is the Union/Watchers going to trade with the rest of the factions? They have been off the financial grid for quite a while and the watchers may not have an equivalent currency. I'm guessing most trading will involve goods and services, at least at first.

>>36674495
>Am I the only one who thinks this new captcha is dildos?
Nope, see:
>>36671524
>>36668462
>>36664482

File: Return flight03.gif (9 KB, 1168x402)

9 KB GIF

>>36674495
>Am I the only one who thinks this new captcha is dildos?
No. What I really wonder is if it effects the 4chan pass. Mine expired about a week ago, just in time for this new and wonderful experiment.
>How exactly is the Union/Watchers going to trade with the rest of the factions?
The diplomats and economists will work something out. Worst case scenario they can always default to other acceptable mediums for trade.

>>36674361
>>36674376
"Try to avoid those comments when near any of them or while on duty. I would rather avoid any conflict on this ship and you should probably to."
"Yes sir!"
"If there's one thing diplomats love, then it's getting upset about irrelevant things."

"Noted sir."

"Oh, and try to keep track of how long you have to spend putting up with them. I'll find a way to make up for it."

Late in the third day is the first real incident since the start of the flight.

"Bridge to Reynard."
"Go ahead."
"We've lost contact with a section near your battlecruiser's docking pad. Security has locked down the surrounding sections. How do you want to proceed?"

>Your orders?

>>36674729
>>Your orders?
Ask their security what excatly happened before the lockdown was initiated.

Send our Men at Arms, 10 power cell guys, and 20 marines from the reaction force to investigate.

>>36674729
Does the Super have any fighters or ships it can send out to watch over the docking pad?

>>36674729
>>36674780
Supporting, guns locked and loaded.

>>36668065
>Sonic devices

I could swear those are the type of weapons that get ban by everyone and their mother.

Head count of all known crew on our ship. By our marines.

Suggest that all guests are physically counted and verified, including our deployed marines.

If no one is missing, we likely have a recon PA or other holographic camo agent.

Wait, are we shielded from ftl radiation by a docking bay or exposed?

We may want to physically deadbolt ways in/out of the Excalibur where possible, if we're shielded. If not, they can only get back inside via shuttle, unless they want a fatal dose of ftl radiation?

>>36674780
>>36675308

Supporting these two.

>>36674925
>I could swear those are the type of weapons that get ban by everyone and their mother.
I'm sure once you guys start exploiting the hell out of them I'll quickly realise why they do that.

>>36674780
>Ask their security what exactly happened before the lockdown was initiated.
"We had crewmen passing through the area on their way to routine duty assignments then the data links started to go out. Given how unusual it was and the current situation we locked down the compartments as a precaution. We're still determining who was in the section. It's close enough to the battlecruiser that there may be Alliance personnel in the area."

After a quick head count 2 Alliance officers are counted among the missing, a Rovinar and a Dro'all.

>>36674834
>Does the Super have any fighters or ships it can send out to watch over the docking pad?
Not safely. The shields are down to conserve power and it isnt possible for the Excalibur to extend shields far enough to protect a launch bay or lift.

>>36674780
>>36674844
Your team enters and has ship security lock the door behind them. They have all the best gear. Fusion guns, anti-tank plasma, a couple have the newer version of your mass driver rifle.
They maintain contact at all times, giving regular updates every few seconds.

"We have multiple crew that don't seem to know what's going on. They're being moved to a secure room in this section.
Signs of weapon impacts on some walls. Phase rifle maybe."

"Encountered first possible fatality. No large remains but there's more than enough of what looks to be blood here to account for most single humanoids. Floors, walls, everywhere. I've never seen anything like this sir."

The rest of the search turns up no other remains, just the one hallway and its alcove covered with blood.

"Requesting instructions sir."

>See you tomorrow! I wont be able to resume until the afternoon.

>>36675408
It's time to go full-on military on this one, this looks bad.

Any idea who's blood it is? Internal tracking systems? Ship security should also be alarmed.

Collect samples for analysis. I'm tempted to say krath infiltrator went and assumed an identity or self terminated due to discovery. Everyone in that section probably needs to stay locked down.

And it's probably time to conduct searches of quarters, specifically of the Rovinar aboard and anyone associated with the missing dro'all.

The two missing folks probably need to sit in the brig, if they were found.

We may also want to check out any cargo the Excalibur may have had loaded by non-JD folks, or that doesn't quite seem to be listed.

> It seems Watchers are excellent shots with thrown projectiles and can usually kill a Lirat beast with a single stone.

Goddamnit, I got here late. But we should totally import Baseball to these guys. Cultural imports are important, think Japan and America.

>>36675408

Well, we should get geared up in our recon armour and go hunting while we leave a defended communication team on the bridge.

Also, keep in mind that this could be a distraction since it's so freaking weird & flashy, so lets get a report on anything vital around the area and make sure that we have communication with the rest of the key parts of the ship.

Worst case scenario is that they let something IN to the ship, but we're already going heavy so that's good. Once we recon it then we can do an alpha strike on any fortified positions they've made, or catch up if they're planning a hit & run.

>>36675408
>"Requesting instructions sir."
Don't split into groups smaller than 5 soldiers, keep visual contact.

We should also inform the bridge crew and diplomats about this.

Can we get anybody to analyze this blood?

>>36675408
Remember last week when I joked about it being a feral Krath, yea......

Have them assume Neeren Infiltrators. Remember when they hit that Neeren Super and their was blood and body parts everywhere.

Also have them deploy sensors and monitoring devices and proceed to do systematic sweep of the entire area including ventilation ducts, maintenance ducts and large cabling panels

>>36676669
So, are we having fire-teams sweep the area? Should we set up check-points and go in slow, or should we race to find the enemy (who may not be the missing men, after all.)

Someone might be trying to recover the spy-bot we caught. Someone had to release it in the first place. Could be more spy-bots, too.

Should we change our course, or drop out of hyperspace until we solve this problem?

>>36675408
Have the marines do a thorough search of everything, we can join in and use are suit sensors if needed otherwise see if we can get sonar/radar equipment brought in.

Also locate the nearest security terminal in this area. Wouldnt want anyone venting/turning off oxygen.

>>36676713
Dropping out of hyperspace in deep space is doubleplusungood.

>>36676713
I get the feeling if we drop out of hyperspace itll be the last anyone ever hears of us and in some distant future some poor exploration crew will come aboard ship to find a giant pile of Kavarian bones and at the top a lone suit of recon armor.

Lets see:

- Discovered and captured covert drone of Rovinar make
- Lose contact with section of ship, Rovinar and Droall officers missing
- Sporadic gunfire marks
- Lots of blood but no bodies

Smells like a Krath. Probably an invisible one too.

If this really is the Rovinar and Krath at work it might be that someone is trying to replace one of our men in an effort to infiltrate our ship and find any evidence. We would have been the last person seen from the drone's perspective.

Could it be one of those Lirat beasts? They were said to be very good at hiding.

>>36677030
Yeah. We haven't really tinkered with the drone since we got it have we. I assume it's still being held in a stasis unit under guard?

>>36677030

So how do we handle a krath infiltrator? Hope they can't mimic a Kavarian's weird racial resistance to vacuum?

Do we round up the Rovinar on the Excal and stun/brig them for possibly being part of an espionage team? Search quarters/ship for espionage gear?

Shoot up everyone in that section with adrenaline?

If we're dealing with a cloak/camo user, can we set up some sort of multi-lock system when we bring 'cleared' people/things out? Preferably using a pair of weak repulsor units and a smoke grenade to have a sort of smoke 'scan' to foil any escape attempt? iirc, smoke causes camo systems to freak out a bit, and is a bit more practical than lighting the atmosphere on fire in a section. Not sure the Kavarians have portable sensors strong enough to do that pulse trick to disable camo.

Love the discussion, excellent ideas guys!

>>36675408
>Employ Krath-infiltration protocol
1) If they encounter someone, even if they know them, they are assumed to be suspect.
2) Don’t come too close, assume they are always armed.
3) Use transportable stasis projectors to contain them, normal shackles etc won”t work.

We don’t know if it’s a Krath, but we should prepare for the chance.

If this is a Krath we should watch everyone in the mess halls and see who's only eating fruits.

God damn I keep forgetting we have that super powerful arm sensor. Use that on max power to see if there's someone cloaked nearby

>>36679658
>>36678959
Sonia's been around recons, krath and recon krath enough to know how to handle infiltrators at this point. We probably brought one with us, or there could have been a Krath operative in the Union remnants all along. Maybe the Rovinar drone was attempting to make contact with them. inb4 it's Eldal

Going over the list again:

- We captured that drone which almost certainly put the Rovinar's panties in a knot. They'll want to cover their tracks if nothing else which puts them and the Krath a little higher on the suspect list.
- The second half of this diplomatic mission is all about information control. It will get out eventually, but not too soon if we do our job right. Anything the troublemakers do is likely aimed at stealing info or releasing it before the diplomats can do their thing. This doesn't rule out outright sabotage of course.
- We lost contact with a section of the ship so something or someone must have messed with it locally. There could be security footage of potential network access sites or sensor records if it was something else like a jammer.
- We have missing persons and now blood all over the walls. We should get the blood tested to see who it belongs to and figure out which Alliance and Union crew are still missing.
- Occam's razor says it's probably a krath, a recon or both. Worst case it's a neeran commando or something we've never encountered.
- Nothing gets in or out of lockdown unless first placed in stasis and scanned with enough power to cook a chicken.

Something else occurred to me. The victims we found were... juiced for lack of a better term. We've handled plenty of weapons capable of turning humanoids into a fine mist, but they all leave massive scorch marks or other obvious evidence. Our men said they've never seen anything like it and they have all Seen Some Shit, so I believe them.

What kind of weapon would do this? E-beams? Or maybe sonic weapons?

>>36680760
>sonic weapons
Good catch. Didn’t think of that and just chalked it up to either crazy Krath going for overkill so that analysis is harder (especially if brain-scan has been attempted) or crazy beast working itself into a fenzy.

After identifying the crew that are still in that section the Bridge determines that 3 people among the Union crew are also missing. They've been flagged to set off any secure scanners they pass through.

"Collect samples of the blood for analysis. We need to know whose it is immediately. We also need medics and an airlock set up outside that section for quarantine and decontamination checks. I have some ideas for things to look for."

"Decontamination? Well, if you feel that's necessary."

"I also want teams to check the quarters of both missing Alliance crew and a search of anything they may have brought aboard."

Next you head for your ship claiming you want better armor and weapons. Its a good cover for switching off your disguise. Some quick maintenance, refueling your suit and you're ready to head out again, now with a bag full of weapons to choose from. Extra fuel cells for your plasma pistol are a must.

By the time that's done your people have been able to perform some checks. The blood belongs to the Dro'all crewman, or most of it does. The rest cant be easily identified as it is rapidly breaking down.
The Dro'all crewman's quarters seem odd though nothing is really out of place. It's almost as if it were unlived in, like a display model.

There is no sign of the Rovinar but a check of the quarters and the logs of gear brought aboard shows that there were carrying cases. They're appropriately sized to store body armor.
Half the cases were brought aboard by another Rovinar officer among the Alliance Marines.
Do you want to throw them in the brig or have your people question them first?

>>36683232
Have them question him, in the brig

>>36683232
>The rest cant be easily identified as it is rapidly breaking down.
Well, the blood of which factions species tends to do that?

>Do you want to throw them in the brig or have your people question them first?
Question them in a secure location.

>>36683232
Question then brig under good lockdown.

>>36683438
>Well, the blood of which factions species tends to do that?
None of the ones in your records do. Ask to look through the Union records?

>>36680760
>>36680814
"Could sonic weapons have done this?" You ask, considering the sonic tech the Watchers may have access to.

"Not to my knowledge sir. There would have still been a body, or considerably more mass."

The rovinar officer is questioned in the brig but won't provide anything but their name rank and serial number. Their Federation military service number, not their Alliance one.

>Arm sensor.
Do you want to scan down the crew are they're going through "decontamination" proceedures to be let out of the sealed section?

Also will they still be kept in isolation or allowed to return to their duties?

>>36683781
Sure, do we have enough adrenaline to provide them with a small cocktail ostensibly for medical reasons?

>>36683781
>None of the ones in your records do. Ask to look through the Union records?
Can't hurt, I guess.

>Do you want to scan down the crew are they're going through "decontamination" proceedures to be let out of the sealed section?
Sure.

>Also will they still be kept in isolation or allowed to return to their duties?
Let's keep them in isolation for now.

> Their Federation military service number, not their Alliance one.
Well, fuck. This means we're almost certainly guaranteed Krath troubles.

>>36676669
>>36676713
>no groups smaller than fire teams
This has been put in place.

>>36676775
>I get the feeling if we drop out of hyperspace itll be the last anyone ever hears of us and in some distant future some poor exploration crew will come aboard ship to find a giant pile of Kavarian bones and at the top a lone suit of recon armor.
This just gave me an idea, but not for right now.

>>36677581
>Could it be one of those Lirat beasts? They were said to be very good at hiding.
Wouldn't be able to survive outside its native environment.
Unless someone were to fit it with a pressure suit but that would be impractical.

>>36678647
The few components you took are locked up. Station security took the rest of the drone apart. It's unlikely to be able to communicate.

>>36683881
>Sure
This is in response to the arm sensor I'm guessing?

>do we have enough adrenaline to provide them with a small cocktail ostensibly for medical reasons?
You could get some easily enough. It will take a few hours for medics to come up with a dosage safe for Kavarians.
Do so?

[ ] Arm scanning (Roll 1d100)
[ ] Scanning plus injections (Roll 2d100)

Rolled 88, 48 = 136 (2d100)

>>36684231
>[ ] Scanning plus injections (Roll 2d100)

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>36684231
>[ ] Arm scanning (Roll 1d100)
Simply keep everybody in stasis afterwards.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>36684231
>Arm scan.

>>36683781
I'd just like to point out that spies, saboteurs, and anyone either out of a uniform or wearing the wrong uniform technically lose their protected status as prisoners of war and such.

This should technically apply for the Rovinar in question, as we can argue they were false flagging as a member of the Alliance when they're clearly identifying as Federation.

We may wish to make this very clear, and see how the Kavarians feel about alternate interrogation techniques.

The Unionists may want to have a word with him.

Rolled 96, 26 = 122 (2d100)

>>36684231
>[ ] Scanning plus injections (Roll 2d100)

Rolled 37, 32 = 69 (2d100)

>>36684231
>[ ] Scanning plus injections (Roll 2d100)

Rolled 88, 98 = 186 (2d100)

>>36684231
>[X] Scanning plus injections (Roll 2d100)

>>36684940
Almost exactly 15 minutes too late.

>>36684599
>I'd just like to point out that spies, saboteurs, and anyone either out of a uniform or wearing the wrong uniform technically lose their protected status as prisoners of war and such.
>This should technically apply for the Rovinar in question, as we can argue they were false flagging as a member of the Alliance when they're clearly identifying as Federation.
This would be correct but since they did transfer to the Alliance (via the Federation government) they're allowed to be tried by court martial like any Alliance officer. Treason would be difficult to stick them with. Espionage on the other hand seems the better bet along with ties to a possible murder.
>We may wish to make this very clear, and see how the Kavarians feel about alternate interrogation techniques.
>The Unionists may want to have a word with him.
You could deffer jurisdiction to the Union crew but the officer is aboard your ship.

>>36684273
>>36684634
>>36684750
Scanning goes well. There are no signs of holographic camouflage for any of the crew. One crew member stands out as their scan readings are a bit off. The Kavarian claims to have a medical condition which is backed up by their records.

Records show that he had a bone marrow transplant several years ago along with a few other abnormalities that he's undergoing long term treatment for.
The injection doesn't seem to bother him any more than the other crew.

Transfer him to isolation with the others? Keep an eye on him? Or do something else?

>>36685070
>Or do something else?
Put him in stasis.

>>36685070
Stasis him, if he shows resistance then stun him. No chances with the possibility of Krath infiltrators.

File: Return flight04.gif (8 KB, 1168x402)

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Once he's into another room you contact the others.
"We're not taking any chances. Put him in stasis. If he shows resistance then stun him."

Two of your people in Power Cell armor direct the crewman to lay down on the floor and that they'll most likely be brought out of stasis in a medical bay.

After being told that no the washroom break can wait they successfully get the crewman into stasis and secured.

"One problem down. Now what sir?"

You have a number of other areas to check with your scanner. If the Rovinar is actually running around in camo they're not in this compartment.

Scanning everywhere will take time and there's no garuntee that they won't just wait until you're elsewhere.

You contact the Bridge. "Does this ship have any way of detecting people in holographic camouflage? Any kind of high output scanner?"

"Will a phase weapon shot disrupt it?" Asks the operations officer.
You're not sure. Maybe, but then it only needs to be a flicker.
"I believe our engineers could modify a micro phase cannon from a starfighter. Reduce it down to just the carrier beam. That shouldn't cause excessive damage to the ship interior, though it will badly burn anyone not wearing armor that is caught in it."

"How long would it take to modify one?"
"Six hours if it is to be done right."

[ ] Try it
[ ] Use a different device (Suggestion?)
[ ] Just lock down either bridge section

What areas do you want to patrol first while scanning? Or will you stick to one particular area until the engineers can prepare something?

>>36685792
>What areas do you want to patrol first while scanning?
There area the diplomat's are staying in.

>[ ] Try it
>[ ] Just lock down either bridge section
Don't risk any more lives. Krath mean business.

>>36685792
>[x] Just lock down either bridge section

Is it worth looking for someone who /should/ have a medical condition but doesn't?

Dammit it didn't post. I'm still used to it posting when hitting enter after the captcha.

"Lock down either bridge. I'm suggesting you stay that way for the rest of the flight. My heavier teams will conduct sweeps of both locations and then exit using an airlock setup like we did for the other section."

"Commander, do you really intend to keep the important areas of the ship locked down all the way to the Centri Cluster?"
"I'm worried more about finishing this current jump." You reply.

Roll 2d100 for scanning down either bridge security zone.

Rolled 75, 86 = 161 (2d100)

>>36686336

Rolled 45, 89 = 134 (2d100)

>>36686336
Roll

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>36686336
>2d100
1

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>36686460
2

>>36685792

Well, first thing is first.

This agent likely has the Alliance frequencies/encryptions, and can listen in on the Unionists.

We need to switch J-D forces over to a J-D encryption and secure the Alliance/Unionist Coms. Does the diplomat have access to secure comms that the Super's security can be upgraded to?

Can't catch someone when they know what you're doing before you're in place.

>Is it worth looking for someone who /should/ have a medical condition but doesn't?
Is this question for the other anons?

>>36686553
>This agent likely has the Alliance frequencies/encryptions, and can listen in on the Unionists.
>We need to switch J-D forces over to a J-D encryption and secure the Alliance/Unionist Coms. Does the diplomat have access to secure comms that the Super's security can be upgraded to?
Nothing that Rovinar Intel wouldn't know how to break.

All of your people are switched over to your most secure frequencies. many of these were developed as a result of reverse engineering encryption in the war and the Warlord campaign so there's a chance it could be broken as well. If it isn't it may buy you some time.

Scans of both locations come up clean. Mostly. Some things don't seem quite right. Near the aft bridge your teams eventually find evidence that someone was trying to tap the hardline connections. A wireless router has been put into place to send or receive data from another location outside the security cordon. It wouldn't be able to hijack the ship, or get through your added coms security measures but it might have been able to false flag security system reports or cover some up.

Some of your Marines quickly locate where the signal is supposed to be sent to and locate another device.
"How the hell did this happen?" You ask.

The Captain and command crew are also pissed. They'll get the engineers to keep working on that modified cannon if only so that they have another option should anything happen to your teams. Additional security protocols are being put into place.

Double checking the forward bridge shows that a router has not yet been planted.
After switching off him coms and taking off his helmet one of your people make a suggestion.
"We could leave a hole in the security net of the forward bridge as a trap. The Long range com arrays could work too."

>Your orders?

>>36687109
>>Your orders?
"Do you think it would have a realistic chance to work against professional infiltrators?"

>>36687109

Use one of the captured wireless routers to flood the network with nonsense data. Should effectively jam any signals and lock out the agent from the deployed ones. Ship security can deploy a squad or platoon to hunt down the various links, using the nonsense data to locate them.

Remove the agent's ground work already in place, then set up an obvious trap that looks to be concealing a weakness in the security net?

>>36687109
"I think that would be too obvious. We need a trap within a trap."

Trying to think up a multi-trap but I don't really have any ideas.

>>36687245
Obvious vulnerability concealing an apparently much more hidden vulnerability?

>>36687315
Yeah, that sounds good.

Maybe make it seem like we're moving troops off the aft bridge, try and bait him into it.

>>36687228
>Use one of the captured wireless routers to flood the network with nonsense data. Should effectively jam any signals and lock out the agent from the deployed ones.
Still want to do this part?

>>36687245
>>36687315
>>36687355
Create the obvious hole in the security systems, then fake secretly moving crew out of the forward bridge to the aft bridge?
One of the tramways could be locked out of regular use which would be necessary if you wanted to actually move people quietly.

And your teams would be posted where? Within the bridge complex? In the surrounding sections?

>>36687618
>Create the obvious hole in the security systems, then fake secretly moving crew out of the forward bridge to the aft bridge?
>Within the bridge complex? In the surrounding sections?
Yes, yes, and yes.

Also any likely interception points along the tram-line in case they try something

>>36687618
Sounds like a plan to me.

All this cloaker hunting is making me wish we had some kind of silly string grenade we could toss into a room to smoke out invisible things. We know recons can be invisible, silent and even fly on occasion. But cloaking fields have limits and remaining unseen is going to be impossible if you are tangled up in a hundred metres of neon spaghetti.

That Droall is definitely suspicious, the untouched room could mean a Krath disguised as a Droall. Or at the very least whoever it was didn't spend much time in their quarters because they were busy sneaking around planting routers and stuff. Given the blood and other remains we know something killed a Droall... or wants us to think a Droall was killed leaving someone off the grid. And now the Rovinar are clamming up too, which pretty much guarantees some kind of recon and or krath on the loose.

>>36688797
>silly string grenade
That's the dumbest idea I've heard in a while.

But it's literally the best way to detect cloaked people.

Rolled 57, 94 = 151 (2d100)

Sorry for the delay. Wrote a few paragraphs for the opposition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE0-N53JHDY

You carry out the lockdowns of one tram way. Seal it and get security monitoring set up so that you'll know if anyone breaches it. Increased atmospheric pressure will make that easier.

A few of your response teams carry out the false move of personnel to the other bridge.

The Captain is arguing with out about the use of shutting down the other command center. Even if it's fake the drop in resultant commands to secondary systems from there increases over all work for the main bridge crew. Especially when there is little initial sign that of anyone taking the bait.

File: Spoiler Image (30 KB, 742x408)

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>>36688797
>>36688854
>silly string grenade
>That's the dumbest idea I've heard in a while.
>But it's literally the best way to detect cloaked people.
Or the other way?

A day since the first incident and subsequent lockdowns ship security followed by your teams aboard the Excalibur report an incident. One or more persons tried to gain access to your ship and ended up fighting one another. Sensors in the corridor were knocked out early in the fight but neither seemed to be Rovinar. There are signs of monoblade, phase weapon and acid damage. Three Union security officers were incapacitated early on and one of the two individuals that were fighting are believed dead.

Do you want some of your reaction force to help secure the area or pull Marines from another location? Or will you have your people maintain position in the hopes of catching the Rovinar agent?

>>36689388
>Do you want some of your reaction force to help secure the area or pull Marines from another location?

Send the same force as last time from the reaction team.

>>36689388

At this point, i'm wondering if the Kavarians shouldn't just flood everywhere with something toxic to anything that isn't a kavarian.

>>36689796
unfortunatly they probably have pressure suits.

>>36689482
Those not in place as part of the trap will head over to take a look and help secure the area.

By the time they arrive you get word from the Captain. One of the missing Union officers has turned himself in at a nearby security checkpoint for dereliction of duty and assault on a fellow crewman. He claims to have killed an intruder attempting to gain access to your ship and is requesting protection.

The Captain is inclined to grant it until all of this is sorted out.

Do you want to stay with your team lying in wait around the forward bridge or go question the prisoner?
If the latter then what say?

>>36689904
>Do you want to stay with your team lying in wait around the forward bridge or go question the prisoner?
Countinue waiting, have him put in stasis and guarded until we can question him.

>>36689904
We remain at the bait. Put the officer in stasis under heavy guard. Under no circumstances do we let an unknown onto our ship. My spider sense is all over the place.

>>36689904
Put him in stasis in a separate location from the other prisoner and post guards there. Make sure to include hidden cameras in case the other sensors fail.

>>36689904
Wait.

This shit is like a stakeout now.

You recommend that the prisoner be thrown in stasis as well. This one you know for sure is dangerous. The captain protests that the crewman is wounded but eventually relents. Some of your people are stationed nearby as an additional guard detail.
So far there have been no incidents aboard your own ship and the Rovinar prisoner there remains secure.

On day 5 a secondary backup alarm your people hid in one of the tramways into the forward bridge is triggered. Someone is breaking into the section and avoiding the opening you left. None of your other detection gear is able to pick them up beyond that point so you'll just have to time it and estimate their rate of advance.

Do you want to try and wait until they're deeper inside the section to try and ping them with your sensor or as soon as you figure they're close enough for your first team to go after them?

Roll 1d100

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>36690654

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>36690654

>>36690654

Wait until they're deeper inside the section.

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>36690654
Wait for it... Wait for it.... WAIT FOR IT! If they try to access anything we strike immediately.

Rolled 10, 11, 16 = 37 (3d20)

"Wait for it... Wait for it..."

Someone on your team gives the signal and you crank your active sensor array up to full output.

Your marines block the corridors they're stationed near and begin shouting orders for the officer to surrender.
Charging from your fairly central location you head in the direction of the squad that reported contact. Sticking your arm around the corner it seems to be enough for your people to finish pinpointing their quarry.

"There! On the ceiling!"
"Down! Get down on the ground!"
"Drop your weapons and surrender!"

The person in what must be a Rovinar model of Recon armor drops down to the decking as ordered, and begins to slowly put their rifle off to the side.

Roll 1d20 for Marine rear guard

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>36691039
MARINES
Note for diary: Buy all our marines a round of drinks.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>36691039

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>36691039
>1d20
Rolling.

>>36691139
Based save roll, thanks Anon.

You catch one Marine demand very clearly; "Stop or I'll shoot." Which doesn't seem to be in keeping with the others.

Then a side corridor behind the others light up with flame like only a Fusion gun can cause. A spherical object sails out of the same corridor and bounces off the far wall.

"Stun grenade!"
Warns one of the power cell troopers, doing their best to drop on it to shield the others.

The pulse from the stun grenade momentarily knocks out your sensor.
Looking out from cover you see the Rovinar making a break for it, leaping through the opening created by your downed Marine. It's camo is also down from the pulse but you know from experience that it will finish it's restart eventually.

The rest of the marines recover quickly, though not before the agent has flashed past them. There are a few bursts of weapons fire as you sprint towards and then past them in pursuit.

"One enemy down. One is escaping." The marine on rear guard confirms, trying to shake off the still burning remains of a body while surrounded by an inferno.

What is your weapons loadout?

HF-Blade (Default)
Plasma pistol (Default)
Smart Grapple (Default)

Plasma Anti-tank Gun
Shallan Fusion Gun
RPG
4 barrel Box Missile launcher
Heavy MG*

X-Ray laser+GL
Sniper Rifle* (20mm)
Mass Driver Rifle* (Reynard Custom)
Mass Driver Rifle
Phase rifle
Silenced Carbine*
Shotgun* (Grenades, AP Slug, Flechettes, Incendiaries, other)

* = Can fire splinter ammo

>Grenades
High explosives
Frag grenades
Stunpulse grenades
Flashbangs
Half moon (Breaching charge)
Claymore mines
GP mine
Shard Missiles

Rovinar search drone

>>36691603
In addition to our default loadout:
>Phase rifle
>Stunpulse grenades

These guys are worth so much if we capture them alive, so I'd prefer to go with a non-lethal loadout.

>>36691603
>Plasma Pistol + HF Blade

>Mass Driver Rifle (Reynard Custom)

>HE Explosives
>Stunpulse
>Halfmoon

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>36691603
Shallan Fusion Gun
Mass driver Rifle (Reynard Custom)
even split of stunpulse, FB, & Half Moon grenades.
+defaults.

Remove the Rovinar's leg(s) with an anti-Neeran round or six?

HF-Blade (Default)
Plasma pistol (Default)
Smart Grapple (Default)
Mass Driver Rifle* (Reynard Custom)
Shallan Fusion Gun
Stunpulse grenades
Flashbangs
Half moon (Breaching charge)

>>36691677
>>36691687
>>36691722
Yeah I agree. Our best bet is to deal crippling damage then bombard them with stun grenades until we can capture them in stasis. The mass rifle with splinter ammo is our best bet for this, the other weapons would roast em maybe too much or wouldn't reliably cripple through power armour. Even stun pulse grenades aren't completely effective, we've been on both ends of those many times.

>>36691825
>mass rifle with splinter ammo
We should make it known to the assailant we're going to be using that. See if we can scare him into stopping.

"Stop or I'll Splinter you!"

>>36691661
HF-Blade (Default)
Plasma pistol (Default)
Smart Grapple (Default)

Mass Driver Rifle* (Reynard Custom)
Phase rifle
Stunpulse grenades
Flashbangs
High explosives

Rovinar search drone

>"One enemy down. One is escaping." The marine on rear guard confirms, trying to shake off the still burning remains of a body while surrounded by an inferno.
I think he is going to remember that. I wonder how much flak the Rovinar will get for this? Or if they will just go into full denial lockdown.

>>36691854
>"Stop or I'll Splinter you!"
surrender now or revive an amazing has-Ann special on splinter ammo

File: Abra100x100Avatar.png (14 KB, 100x100)

14 KB PNG

You know, I have no clue where I fell off with this quest and that's 97% of the reason I haven't read more of the archives.

I'll try to get back into it friends.

>>36691964
What's the last thing you remember?
I'd be willing to type a few paragraphs up if you wanted to get back into it right now.

Rolled 3, 17, 12, 13 = 45 (4d20)

You make sure to get through the corridor quickly enough that flames can't damage any of your gear. The phase rifle can stay sling you're not going to take the chance that it won't penetrate armor equal in quality to your own. Your mass rifle will have to do the job, even if that means taking out the other agent's legs.

Maybe stun grenades would be effective at close range? If things get really desperate you'll switch to the usual mixed bag of high explosives.

"Stop and surrender." You shout through your suit speakers. "Or you're going to get a free demonstration of 20mm splinter ammo."

Roll 2d20

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>36692116
>Roll 2d20
1

File: Spoiler Image (537 KB, 1190x1610)

537 KB JPG

>>36692088
First season like 15th episode. I'm pretty strictly an archive reader since participating takes dedicated attention and a lot of time.

Its strange being on the site that creates all of the content that I consume after bouncing from archive to archive.

Rolled 6, 2 = 8 (2d20)

>>36692116
Well, let's see how rusty our diplomacy skills are...

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>36692147
2

>The new captcha system is really shit
>shit
>shit
>shit

Rolled 10, 1 = 11 (2d20)

>>36692116
Shit is about to go down.

Rolled 20, 16 = 36 (2d20)

>>36692116

use the smaller mass driver rounds to sight our heavy shots in, like some tanks did with smaller co-axial guns.

>>36692211
44 seconds too late.

>>36692155
>First season like 15th episode
Shit, back when we were in the smugglers run?

>>36692283
No, FIRST season. Like back in 2012.

2012-03-28

>>36692463
Yeah, I think we were still in the smuggler's run campaign then.

>>36692283
Sounds more like your first mission with Sylvan, before the Smugglers Run even. Capture of a Navigator scanning station a few missions before the battle of Gesaur. First combat with the Bittenfeld.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJcfyyC75Yg

"Or I can test it's effectiveness against Faction equipment, your choice."
Most of your heavier shots miss the legs though there are a few that nick the side of the armor.

Switching to smaller caliber rounds you fire away on full automatic before deciding that short bursts really are better, especially with a target doing their best to dodge to the side every so often.
"Free samples!" You belatedly add.

You definitely wounded it but not enough to disable. Center of mass is beginning to look like a more reliable target by the moment.

The agent launches a small missile that punches a hole through a blast door. Diving through after you find that it was the entrance to a vertical shaft the larger trams use.

"Oh shit!" Flailing in mid air you max out the tractor emitter on your suit, cartwheeling into the opposite wall.

Good news, no trams or lifts moving around. Bad news the Rovinar was obviously more prepared for that entrance than you because they're headed up the shaft using a smart grapple.
"This is Reynard. The spy is in vertical shaft 422 and ascending."
Slinging your rifle you get oriented and take aim with your own grapple, pulling yourself up to a higher level, then passing through a set of doors your quarry forced open.

"Reynard come in, this is the Bridge. We had reports of weapons fire in the section you just entered."
"Your security?"
"No, they're still maneuvering."

With your feet on the deck once more you follow the trail of blood. There isn't much but its enough to track.

Rounding a corner you spot a Kavarian grappling with what must be the invisible Rovinar before he rips something away and the armor becomes visible again. In return the officer is slammed against a wall with enough force to dent the metal pannels. The Kavarian dodges the follow up jab that would have taken his head off and instead punctures the wall.

As you close in on them the two attempt to trade blows but most miss or are deflected. After taking a punch that would have shattered the shoulder of most Faction species you begin to suspect that isn't a Kavarian the Rovinar is fighting.

The Rovinar seems to realise you're closing in and increases the intensity of their attacks to try and get free.

[ ] Phase rifle
[ ] Stun pulse grenade
[ ] Mass driver rifle (Shoot to disable)
[ ] Mass driver rifle (Aim for center of mass)
[ ] Tackle Rovinar

>>36693215

[x] Mass driver rifle (aim for center of mass)

take them both out. Looks like we have a Krath posing as a Kavarian.

>>36693215
"For fuck's sake, just surrender!"
I can't remember, how well did stund grenades work against our armour? If they did decently well:
>[X] Stun pulse grenade
All of them.

If they didn't work:
>[ ] Mass driver rifle (Shoot to disable)

>>36693215
[X] plasma pistol

>>36693215
>[ ] Mass driver rifle (Aim for center of mass)

Call for backup obviously. Then leg em both with the mass rifle. Stun em for good measure afterwards.

If we stun them first and one is more stunned than the other he might kill the other guy. We want them both alive.

>>36693281
It is pretty strange these two are fighting, I would expect a Krath to work with the Rovinar.

>>36693215
[x] Stun pulse grenade

>>36693215
>[X] Stun pulse grenade
If that doesn't work
[X] Mass driver rifle (Shoot to disable)

>>36693460
>It is pretty strange these two are fighting, I would expect a Krath to work with the Rovinar
Agreed, something really fishy is going on.

>>36693645
>Agreed, something really fishy is going on.

Yeah, for example, why did the guy we BBQ'd throw a stun grenade instead of something more lethal?

>>36693684
Yeah and that one rovinar we got the drop on surrendered right away, so they are probably not here to eliminate US. They might have been just hunting for the krath. But on the other hand who would tap into comms all over the ship and why would the rovinar make a move on the bridge? Neither one has a clear motive so we must treat them all as hostile for now.

It's also worth noting that the Warlords have krath in their ranks too.

"I need backup at my position ASAP."

Pulling out a stun pulse grenade you pause and realise that it might not get through the Rovinar's armor in places.

"For fuck's sake, just surrender!" Your tell tell them while switching the rifle to small rounds and maximum rate of fire.
You spray both of their legs as though the gun were a literal bullet hose. Once both of them have collapsed you then get ready to stun pulse grenade their asses.

"And if stunning doesn't work after this I'm just going to go for groupings in the center of mass. I don't know too many things that will take three 20mm splinter ammo shots but I'm willing to test that to expand the knowledge of my manufacturers guide."

"Don't kill the Rovinar you fool." Mutters the other.

"Weren't you two just fighting a second ago?" you point out to the faux Kavarian. Maybe you should just shoot it now to make your decision on who to throw into stasis easier.

"To stop it from escaping with data on the Union and the Watchers."

You have 1 portable stasis unit on you. Who are you going to use it on first?

[ ] Rovinar
[ ] Kavarian (Krath?)
[ ] Wait until backup arrives

See you in the morning.

>>36693987
>[x] Rovinar
I think that guy is already wounded and probably a lot easier to kill than the Krath, so put him into stasis first.

"I keep a stash of fresh fruit on my ship just for awkward situations like this so, please, no crazy escape attempts."

>>36693987
Stun 'em both anyways.

The Kavarian/Krath/Changeling is clearly tougher than it looks, so even though we kneecapped him he should last long enough for backup to arrive with another stasis unit.

I would still stun them both, just to prevent suicide if nothing else.

>>36693987
>[X] Rovinar

So...We have a Kavarian (Krath?) that is actually "maybe" working to protect/keep information about the Union and the Watchers safe?

Well now. This keeps getting more and more interesting.

>>36693987
"Is that you * insert injoke between us and edal*?

>>36696144
I think Edal wouldn't call Sonia a fool.

>>36696202
Yeah agree.

>>36693987
>Stasis who?
[X] Rovinar

Make sure he is good and stunned, though. I'd rather not have to use the HF blade to disable his arms or something.

to Kavarian:

"You some Union super soldier I've never heard of or are you going to ask me for some adrenaline like the first one I worked with?"

And do we need to use our smart grapple to slow his bleeding.

bump

Putting your other weapons out of the way you stun the Rovinar then throw them in stasis, keeping the other covered at all times.

"Please, no crazy escape attempts. I doubt you're some Union super soldier I've never heard of so while we're waiting I can play good cop or bad cop. I keep a fruit basket on my ship for awkward situations like these. Or are you going to ask me for some adrenaline?"

"I begin to wonder if the Rovinar agent attempting escape had other motives for avoiding you."

"Identify yourself."

"Kerim Jorek. Security Attaché."
The wounds have stopped bleeding and despite appearing immobilised with both legs sawed off he doesn't seem much the worse for wear.
"There may be someone else trying to help the Rovinar." he warns you.

As teams close in on your position you contact the marines still near the bridge and ask for a status report on the person that attacked them. The one who threw the stun grenade.

"Dead for sure. They'll be difficult to identify due to the incineration. Not much left sir."

Your prisoner is requesting protective custody.

For the moment now that some of your people have caught up you plan to throw him in stasis as well.

Do you want to question him first? Or throw him in the brig and sort things out there?

>>36700237
>"I begin to wonder if the Rovinar agent attempting escape had other motives for avoiding you."
Wow, rude.
I think.

>"Dead for sure. They'll be difficult to identify due to the incineration. Not much left sir."

"I still can't understand why an unarmored person would do that..."

>Do you want to question him first? Or throw him in the brig and sort things out there?

Let's get him to a secure place before we ask any further questions.

>>36700237
Give him the rwynard special interrogation before the lockup.

>>36700237

What Factions do we have people from besides Rovinar, Terran, Hune and Dominion?


Did the incinerated guy's gear survive for possible identification?

Or at least enough for us to recover some holographic camo parts from his back half?

Call in that we've got two corpses prepared for transport. Another Faction's agents are probably going to exploit this excitement. Be on alert.

Do we have anyone capable of removing the Rovinar's armor and possibly the holographic camo system as well? It could be useful.

Question him after we've 'secured the remains' and can deploy our little anti-listening-device-device. And can get him some medical attention/food.

>>36700237
We should probably get confirmation this guy is Krath.

>>36700283
>Let's get him to a secure place before we ask any further questions.

>>36700403
>Give him the rwynard special interrogation before the lockup.
There are many things you could mean by that. Which do you mean?

>>36700444
>What Factions do we have people from besides Rovinar, Terran, Hune and Dominion?
Those and Kavarian Imperium, mostly the diplomats but a few are Alliance officers. There are no Shallan or Norune. No Krath were assigned openly.

>Did the incinerated guy's gear survive for possible identification?
He apparently had none. No armor or gear whatsoever save for a uniform.

>Call in that we've got two corpses prepared for transport. Another Faction's agents are probably going to exploit this excitement. Be on alert.
>Do we have anyone capable of removing the Rovinar's armor and possibly the holographic camo system as well? It could be useful.
A medic and a technician could remove the armor.
The holographic camo unit was ripped off the suit while they were in melee revealing the Rovinar.

>Question him after we've 'secured the remains' and can deploy our little anti-listening-device-device. And can get him some medical attention/food.
Move him to a brig but report over regular networks that he's dead.

>>36700513
"Are you Krath or not?"

"Provide a promise of protection from both you and the captain and I will answer any questions of yours I'm able to. Is that acceptable?"

>>36700606

"As far as anyone else is concerned, you're dead. I'll protect you, but I reserve the right to be angry at your superiors. Deal?"

>holographic camo unit ripped off the suit
Sounds like its ours, now.

Get this guy somewhere secure and then we can talk. Everyone else on alert. Shit, there is probably a Royal House Intel bastard running around here as well. They'll have our codes cracked.

>>36700735
I'm okay with this.

>>36700735
I'm game for this.

I would really like to know who the incinerated guy was.

Now would be a good time to interrogate all three officers we have in custody and get to the bottom of this. We have the Rovinar, who probably won't talk. We have the Union crewman who claims someone tried to break into our ship. And now we have a Krath who claims the Rovinar are up to no good, which is easy to believe.

The Krath said the Rovinar are trying to leak data, but he probably doesn't know about the drone and this could be what the Rovinar are after too. They might also be trying to recover data in the first place since they didn't get much from the drone.

"As far as anyone else is concerned, you're dead. I'll protect you, but I reserve the right to be angry at your superiors. Deal?"

"We'll call it a tentative agreement, but I will not leave this ship without the captain knowing about it."

"Why is the Captain special?" you ask.

"He's the ranking Union officer aboard this ship."

You talk to a few of your people who report in about the bodies being moved and then switch off their coms. The -most likely- Krath agent is thrown in stasis as well and moved to a brig separate from the one the Rovinar is put into.

Turning the device off you retreat from the holding cell and lock it down to prevent any chance of escape.
The officer sits up as well as they can manage with most of their legs cut off.

"What do you wish to know? Ask your questions."

>>36701207
"Do you need anything for, you know, your legs?"

+Anyway, ask him if he has a clue how many different groups are currently operating on this ship and what their goals are.

+Wouldn't it have been easier to tell us? I'm sure Sonia's file says she tends to stay loyal unless people are trying to do something horrible.

>>36701207

What are you? What do you need for your wounds?

Who deployed you?

Are there others with you, or are you alone?

Are you following orders or your own judgement?

Information on suspected agents? What Factions, estimated numbers, specific/suspected objectives, etc.

What can they tell us of the blood hallway? (show images/data, if needed)

What skills can they still offer to our mission?

>>36701207
Why not tell us about his mission? I assume he came aboard our ship?

Who was doing this?

What are their goals?

Apologise for the legs of course.
Did the alliance warn him we were going to be present? It's not like we get out a lot anymore and this is probably our excitement for the year.

"What are you?"
"I'm an officer in the Kavarian Union's space forces." You're about to make a quip about your ability to vent this compartment when he continues.
"You may call me Kerim Jorek which is my legal name. I was assigned to this ship to assist in counterintelligence. My species is what you would probably classify as Krath."

"Do you need anything for, you know, your legs?"
"Ten kilograms of food. Preferably with a higher protein content but it's not essential."

"Do you know how many different groups are currently operating on this ship and what their goals are? Estimated numbers, specific or suspected objectives, etc."
"Our, or the Union's, space forces and their intelligence assets. Rovinar apparently, Krath from Faction space, the Factions Alliance, yourself and the Iratar corporation.
I would estimate that the Rovinar have been dealt with but we lacked some data on your crew size and composition. There may be others that have been using the confusion generated by the Rovinar and Krath to avoid attention."

>Wouldn't it have been easier to tell us? I'm sure Sonia's file says she tends to stay loyal unless people are trying to do something horrible.
>Why not tell us about his mission?
"My group did not have access to your files and was unable to determine if you were working for the Alliance, Iratar or yourself. At any rate you appeared to be working against the Rovinar. Plans were made to contact you but this proved difficult due to apparent weaknesses in the com network. Approaching you directly was no longer possible once you locked down the forward bridge and prepared your trap. Instead I attempted to find and intercept anyone that might try to foil it."

"Are there others with you, or are you alone?"
"There were others aboard this ship. I know that one was injured while looking for movement on or off your ship and then surrendered to the crew shortly after."

"Are you following orders or your own judgement?"
"Both."

>What can they tell us of the blood hallway? (show images/data, if needed)
"A Faction operative was attempting to steal data from the ship's networks but was unable to get through security protocols or get the data back to your ship. They succeeded in stealing some information, what I am unaware, at which point one of our operatives ambushed and likely killed them. I would say that the person killed was another Krath. From your data it looks like they were posing as a Dro'all and was carrying blood for the use of covering up their identity."

>Who was doing this?
"All of you it seems like."

>What are their goals?
"To prevent unauthorized breach of security until the final segments of the treaty are agreed to. There were additional stipulations regarding recognition of citizenship status and immunity from crimes committed in the Faction Wars that need approval."

"Apologies for the legs."
"It happens, but thank you."

>Did the alliance warn him we were going to be present? It's not like we get out a lot anymore and this is probably our excitement for the year.
"I have never had contact with the Factions Alliance before this flight."

>>36702146

"You want protection, but I must admit that I'm not certain of your intentions for that after this information. Do you want me to get you away from the Union? Back to the Krath? Or something else?"


Did we pick up the other Krath operative and put him in stasis? Or do we have to come up with an excuse to get him 'for testing'?


How did he even get here?

And why did he want the Rovinar alive? Forceful extraction of information?

How long would his legs take, after getting him some food?

And is there any way to contact the others with him?

>>36702146
"So, what's next? What do we do now? You're in my brig and so is a Rovinar, along with a few other suspects.

>>36702146
>My species is what you would probably classify as Krath.
"Are you guys less secretive than our Krath?"

>>36702434
I really hope we have multiple brigs/secure rooms and didn't just have this conversation in front of people we now need to kill.

Wait so is this guy a krath working for the Union? The Union remnants have been out of the loop for a very long time and this guy obviously doesn't know how much contact with krath we've already had.

Anyhow don't forget the diplomats hired us to run security, they want the treaty signed without interference or "insider trading". In that regard the Union has basically the same goal, so we should work with this guy, and the other agent we picked up.

We also know there are more Krath on the ship. The big droall bloodstain is almost certainly a dead krath plus some blood he was using as a disguise. We should track the "droall's" movement and see if we can find a pattern. He didn't spend much time in his room so he must have stashed his stuff elsewhere.

>>36702396
"I protection from Faction agents."

>Did we pick up the other Krath operative and put him in stasis? Or do we have to come up with an excuse to get him 'for testing'?
He's in stasis as well. The Captain did agree to it. See:
>>36690654
>You recommend that the prisoner be thrown in stasis as well. This one you know for sure is dangerous. The captain protests that the crewman is wounded but eventually relents. Some of your people are stationed nearby as an additional guard detail.

>How did he even get here?
He was assigned to this ship.

>And why did he want the Rovinar alive?
"To find out if they had recovered any information. If data was taken its important to find out what it was."
Well you intercepted them at the forward bridge so nothing was gained there.

>How long would his legs take, after getting him some food?
"Less than a day."

"Is there any way to contact the others with you?"
"No."

>>36702434
"So, what's next? What do we do now? You're in my brig and so is a Rovinar, along with a few other suspects.
"I'm in a brig, aboard a Union ship. As for what to do next I'm wounded and can't assist in heading off other infiltrators. That is apparently your job now."

"Are you guys less secretive than our Krath?"
"That depends, have they publicly admitted to committing genocide since the Faction War?"
Not really to your knowledge no.

>>36702531
Yes. You guys asked to have them taken to separate brigs. See:
>>36701207
>Krath agent is thrown in stasis as well and moved to a brig separate from the one the Rovinar is put into.

Medics and technicians under guard are going to work on getting the armor off the Rovinar unless there are any objections.

Do you have anything else to ask at this time?

>>36702672
Does the Union know about you? And the Captain?

>He was assigned to this ship.
I probably should have been a bit clearer on that question, but I assume the answer would just be "long story" to Sonia rambling on about how Krath are apparently still alive or breeding on Union Remnant ships. Plus or minus a small panic attack.


>removing PA from Rovinar

First thing first. re-stun under guard and disable/remove the micro fusion reactor ASAP. And sedate the fuck out of the subject.

>>36702672
>Do you have anything else to ask at this time?
>"That depends, have they publicly admitted to committing genocide since the Faction War?"

Facepalm.
"I'm going to regret taking this assignment, ain't I?"

Is there any way to contact the remaining intelligence forces of the Union?

How long until he's operational again?

Also, get the not Krath the food he wanted.

>>36702672
"How do I get in contact with 'your people'?"

We had trouble catching just this dude, we'll definitely need help identifying the BAD DUDES on this ship.

>>36702672
First of all: get him some food. Fruit, protein bars, meat.

>"That depends, have they publicly admitted to committing genocide since the Faction War?"
Uh oh. I wonder if these guys are the so called "feral krath" the other krath are going on about that Beryl met and Sonia doesn't know about.

>Does the Union know about you? And the Captain?
"Yes. Though the captain would not know the specifics of any team, only that a counter intelligence team would be aboard."

>I assume the answer would just be "long story" to Sonia rambling on about how Krath are apparently still alive or breeding on Union Remnant ships. Plus or minus a small panic attack.
"It would be best not to talk about numbers until the treaty is signed.
Suffice it to say some of our people tried to help the Kavarian Union in return for territory of our own. To increase their numbers some less desirable elements of Krath society were recruited by our ancestors. These elements quickly became the majority.
When they became an uncontrollable menace the main body of the Krath people decided it would be best to exterminate them and cleanse the species of its... skin of evil. Not everyone was quite so guilty but regardless they fled with the Union ships."

>First thing first. re-stun under guard and disable/remove the micro fusion reactor ASAP. And sedate the fuck out of the subject.
The medic is deeply concerned you'll kill the patient but agrees to do so carefully.

>Facepalm.
"I'm going to regret taking this assignment, ain't I?"
"That was a rhetorical question correct?"

>How long until he's operational again?
"As I said, less than a day."

He thanks you for the food.

"How do I get in contact with 'your people'?"
"You don't, not until the treaty is signed, or you would be risking many lives. I'm willing to remain in confinement."

>>36703690
Back to security detail for us then. Wish Mr Jorek and his folks good luck, then leave him to recuperate.

>>36703690
Give him a stun grenade, just in case.

Time for another physical head count on all the Factions folks. Maybe even make this an Hourly thing, verified by 2 people per section/area?

>>36703690
>krath stuff
"Wow, that sounds ugly."

>>36703690
"Well, okay then. We'll do our best. Any intel you have would be helpful though, even code words that would let me know when to not shoot your own infiltrators."

"Wow, that sounds ugly."
"I imagine it was if the extent of my combat training was any indication."

>>36704070
"Once exposed they should surrender. Eventually. Until then they'll continue to act their part."

Before departing Jorek warns you. "If I really wanted to escape from this cell I would be able to do so. I felt you might want to know."

Great.

You leave the Krath to recover and return to guard duty, rotating out security crews and watching for anyone else that might cause trouble The union crew is well trained enough. It's hard to tell if they've seen combat before. It seems unlikely but not impossible.

There are a few minor incidents with the diplomats going stir crazy. none of them need to be stunned though the medics have to give some mild sedatives in one case.

On the 7th day the pair of Supers drop back to sublight right on target. Two Iratar built Supers with Alliance IFF's are waiting to provide escort.

A few medium cruisers from other Factions are in parking orbits closer to the station. Two of them are armed with Veckron launchers. One Helios is present as well.

There are two Alliance Admirals and a General on station here. Do you want to transfer the Rovinar prisoners into their custody to face a court martial or military tribunal? Or keep the ships in isolation until you arrive at the shipyards? So far they've been uncooperative, though the wounded one with the power armor has spent most of the time unconscious.

[ ] Drop them here (Leaving some of your people to guard them is optional)
[ ] Wait until the shipyards

>>36704413
>[X] Wait until the shipyards

Got to keep the ship contained and if we keep these prisoners around when we get to talk to a Rovinar ambassador for extra leverage.

>>36704413

[x] Wait until the shipyards
[x] Report that several Factions personnel are dead after failed espionage attempts, and were killed by Factions personnel. They will not be transferred due to additional agents being known to exist.
[x] Request that Terrans, Dominion, Rovinar, Hune and Krath all provide orders for any and all agents to cease any and all operations and surrender immediately.

And we should probably place all suspects in stasis.

>>36704617
I'll support this.

>>36704617
Seconded.

>"If I really wanted to escape from this cell I would be able to do so. I felt you might want to know."

Have the cells on our private ships upgraded to be Krath and Neeran proof.

>>36704413
>"If I really wanted to escape from this cell I would be able to do so. I felt you might want to know."
"If I really wanted I'd have shot you with my plasma pistol."

File: Return flightMAP.gif (20 KB, 986x590)

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Heading to the bridge you're scanned through by your team and begin to send over your report. The first transmission asks for the three ranking officers to look over your report and for confirmation to make sure that no one is piggybacking your transmission with one of their own.

This gets their attention. That or its because you're wearing Recon armor on the bridge of a ship with a helmet under one arm while giving it.

They seem a bit shocked by what you tell them. The Hune General commanding the local strike wings is livid and criticises Alliance preparedness and security measures. The Terran and Rovinar Admirals are also displeased by the news and promise to look into it.

Reviewing your flight plan you'll be taking some more long jumps, though they're not nearly as dangerous as the one you just completed. These are well charted. The final leg you'll be pass through neutral sections of the Centri Cluster.

Roll 4d100 for incidents.

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>36705290
>Roll 4d100 for incidents.
1

>I'm not a robot and I'm terribly annoyed, thanks captcha...

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>36705359
2

Rolled 64, 11, 84, 39 = 198 (4d100)

>>36705290

Rolled 97, 74, 42, 79 = 292 (4d100)

>>36705290
oh, great. We're headed to Rovinar and then Krath space.

The two most likely factions to try and land forces using a cloaked ship.

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>36705397
3

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>36705456
4

97, 82, 84, 98.

breddy guud

>>36705427
Thankfully Krath territory does not encompass the Nav station in that part of the Centri cluster. It's slightly below the plane you'll be traveling along.

After the report and your hurry to depart you're almost not given the latest news. The old Warlord is dead. He'd been cheating it the past few years by staying in stasis for longer jumps but it eventually caught up with him. The South Reach League is now leaderless.

They haven't started fighting each other yet and several of the more powerful ones are continuing their campaigns up at the front. Smaller bands are breaking up. Some joining PCCG mercenary groups, others are going rogue. Business for bounty hunters and convoy escorts is increasing as the larger Warlords want rogue pirates dealt with to keep up their bargain with the Alliance.

The Terrans are supposed to be working on a modification of the Lance class by combining it with elements of the Rovinar fleet tenders. The Rovinar are now selling their older escort tenders to trusted clients and have begun producing newer models upgraded with more weapons thanks to tech upgrades earlier in the war.
You expect that both RTS and that kids Merc company will both have enough business now that they won't need to worry about competing with one another.

Through the course of the jumps you're able to pick up more news. A joint project has apparently been underway to integrate tech from the Terran Polaris class into other ships to increase automation and reduce crew requirements in the field. You expect future models of assault corvettes and other attack craft will include them. A good thing too because most regular crew aboard the newer corvettes just spend the entire battle strapped in trying not to black out from the G forces of hard maneuvers.
Improvements in inertial compensators do seem to help on that front, but at the same time you know everyone will be working on more powerful engines.

The first jump is smooth with no real problems. Your captured wounded are healed up. The Rovinar don't cause any problems for you.
In the second one you spot plenty of Rovinar trade ships on their way back to their space. You're a little worried some of them might be after you but its hard to tell and you may be over reacting.

It's at the Rovinar controlled Relay where you're really worried. They've built shipyards a short distance away from the guild station. Probably making use of the trade passing through to provide repairs to transports, ships to companies or take advantage of parts and raw materials passing through.

A Rovinar heavy cruiser hails your fleet and asks if you'd consider handing over the Rovinar prisoners for prosecution.

The fleet is not authorised to reply and when you jump there are definitely a pair of light cruisers rigged for faster FTL speeds in pursuit. The Iratar built escorts are too slow at FTL for them to keep up should you increase speed. Eventually the Rovinar ships pass you by without any other incident.

Arriving in the Centri cluster you're a little worried by the lack of anyone near your reversion point. It's isolated and that can work both ways. Once you're in FTL long range sensors detect someone keeping pace with you by the readings are indistinct.
Krath can partially mask their drive flare at FTL but it becomes more difficult at high speed. This would seem to match your previous encounters with them.

A quick drop back to real space to align for Kavarian territory doesn't give any pursuers time to get near you. The closer you get to your final destination the more the signal fades out until it's eventually lost completely.

>>36706190
speaking of the kid, how has large has his merc company grown?

The Krath we've met so far are pretty nice for a species that has reason to be regularly named in the same sentence as the words "mind rape tentacles".

>Also, I just realised we're the highest ranking FA and Dominion officer aboard. And we're on our own ship on top of that.
>Hooray.

Smaller short range jumps bring you inside the galaxy the main shipyard is located in and then you're there. A gas giant swirling with faint yellows and browns surrounded by multiple sets of rings. At the outer edge of the ring orbits a somewhat boxy and unimpressive looking station until you get closer and see the multiple smaller complexes surrounding it. Even with those the main platform is still a bit smaller than you expected.

In a trailing orbit are smaller refit yards working on repairing older vessels while ahead in the orbit are newly completed ships undergoing final checks and outfitting. There are 40 Mega class supers just sharing the orbit with the station.
Elsewhere in the system are weapons testing ranges and you think one of the AEC ships conducting exercises. Other platforms with heat shields are being built much closer to the system's star.

The fleet moves into their assigned parking orbit under the watch of 4 Republic heavy orbital defense guns. After seeing the battle recordings you don't expect these Union ships to take many hits from those no matter what upgrades are on them.

The Captain makes an announcement to all hands that they've arrived safely.
"This is probably the part where the Terrans, Rovinar, Hune, and maybe the Krath expect me to order everyone to equip small arms and conduct a boarding assault on the station."

The silence after this statement drags on just a bit too long to be comfortable.

"Just conduct yourselves professionally while the treaties are being signed and the ships undergo their inspections. This has been a tumultuous month and you will all be given leave once proper agreements are in order."

You exhale the breath you didn't realise you were holding and release your vice grip on the plasma pistol.

>>36707825
>speaking of the kid, how has large has his merc company grown?
About 2 full squadrons. Getting there.

Not sure if I should go off on another tech babble tangent.
The captain points to the structures in the inner system, lighting them up on the displays and enlarging them.
"Do your yards have a lot of those?"

You don't know what they are so probably not.

"Stellar matter harvester. We studied the concept in engineering class but have never had any need for them."
"You can build those?"
"In theory, we've never tried. The old Union built one for their main shipyard but it was destroyed in a Veckron attack by long range torpedo ships."

You'll have to look into those later.

Is there anything you want to look into or take care of before you're transferred off the ship?

Oh yes, bugging the ambassador about your payment.

>>36708920
bugging the ambassador about our payment, arranging the transfer of the prisoners, letting that one suspected krath that actually wasn't a krath out of stasis, checking up on our company, checking up on that terriforming deal we had with Veritas, seeing to resupply of our ship, and after we've run out of excuses, seeing what our mom had to say about the movie.

>>36708920
Anti-recon armor defenses/scanners similar to what the Neeren's had.

>>36708920
>Is there anything you want to look into or take care of before you're transferred off the ship?

Can we get a copy of the Union's history after they left Faction space once the treaty has been signed?

See if we can get a tour of the station.

Ask our not-Krath if there are any fruits the Union or the watchers cultivate that are considered especially good in his society.

>>36709095
What about them?
>>36708920
>About 2 full squadrons. Getting there.
Of what though? 2 squadrons of corvettes is a whole different matter from two squadrons of battlecruisers.

>>36708920
We need to chat with the Diplomat about how to handle the infiltrators. I believe that we get jurisdiction first due to espionage activities upon our ship?

Who is going to pay more for the Rovinar we've captured? Kavarians or Rovinar?

likely time to summon a Rovinar Ambassador to us, rather than visiting their turf. And they need to come alone.

Oh, and uhh... 'surprise! boarding drill!' time on the 'extra' Alliance folks on the Excalibur? It would certainly give us access to all their stuff.

>>36709313
No, no and no

>>36709126
Implementing them into our ships or at least main ship.
>>36709313
The captives should go to the alliance. We were on this mission for the alliance. If we go through that it will only lead to aggravating the situation and worsening relations between Rovinar and Dominion. We don't want that especially during the ceasefire making the alliance seem weaker to the Neeren.

>>36709346
>>36709445

So that brings up an issue. We can't exactly use the drone bits to get anything from the Rovinar if we turn over their agents for prosecution.

And we should damned sure keep the Rovinar's Recon Armor and holographic cloak, regardless. (And anything else that Dominion Intel would be interested in studying, like hacking modules and other devices)

>>36709536
I wouldn't really mind returning their agents to the Rovinar.

They didn't kill anybody, and I'm sure the FA would drop charges at some point as well if the Rovinar pledge more ships to the front, or something.

I'm pretty sure they'll contact us soon enough.

>>36709536
Definitely we should be able to keep the armor. Just showing it as evidence should be enough and they wouldn't forcibly take it from us. We could still use the drone bit as leverage as it shows that the Rovinar actually tried to enter Watcher territory which could lead to war rather than just stealing information from us.

>>36709644
a Rovinar drone is jack squat leverage against a living, captured espionage agent (two, in fact) being paraded and prosecuted.

>>36709747
The agents only acted on our ship rather than on Watcher territory we have full control here. But the drone was found out on the Watcher ship and they still have evidence of the drone and can use that as leverage over us to gain better conditions. Small international issues are more problematic.

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>bugging the ambassador about our payment

You have 14 resource points to spend on sublight drives or atmospheric containment fields. Each is worth 1 point.
How much of each do you want?
[ ] SHC Sublight drives
[ ] Containment Field


>letting that one suspected krath that actually wasn't a krath out of stasis,
"Sorry."
"S'aright"

>seeing to resupply of our ship
You were fueled up in watcher space just in case but as an added precaution everything is checked, the tanks emptied and refilled and supplies for the crew are topped up.

>>36709095
>Anti-recon armor defenses/scanners similar to what the Neeren's had.
If you could point out what thread they were in last this would help immensely.

>>36709107
>Can we get a copy of the Union's history after they left Faction space once the treaty has been signed?
This will have a to wait a couple of months but yes.

>See if we can get a tour of the station.
The station is one step down from maximum security alert but you're able to get a limited tour. The main complex is similar to a smaller Level 3 yard. Major components and sections are built separately while the primary skeleton is assembled then everything is brought together piece by piece and locked into place.

"How fast can you build these things?"
"Now that we're up to speed a matter of days. Final finishing actually takes much longer than the actual construction."
"It's really that fast?"
"It has to be, this is the only yard that's capable of building them like this. We're still working on development of newer ones that will take over primary construction duties. We have been able to set up secondary yards but they're all low tech and take a couple months to do the same thing.
There's a reason the other Factions didn't have this yard disassembled like the others after the Faction Wars, it's the best Kavarians ever built, though it was hardly the biggest."


Lot of discussion going on for the prisoners, only 1 of which were captured aboard your Excalibur.

>>36710246
How many drives does our house want?

>>36710246
How much would one of those Stellar Harvesters cost?

And what do they actually do? Can we use one on our yards?
I'm guessing it strips the Iron layer from a star or something?

>>36710246
>You have 14 resource points to spend on sublight drives or atmospheric containment fields. Each is worth 1 point.

How many sublight drives would the ships our House and RSS have need?

How many of those containment fields would our recently acquired planet need?

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>>36710333
>>36710791
10 or more would be ideal for the Heavy Cruiser.

>How many of those containment fields would our recently acquired planet need?
To cover the entire planet?
Each one can cover a circular area 4km across, that's about a 12 square km habitable area on the surface you'd get with each one.

You'd need approximately half a million of them.

They're not meant to be used to terraform an entire planet, just patches or key areas. Someone suggested building a city within the effective range of one. Here is London to give a rough example.


Drone core evidence - Captured on Watcher station
Rovinar officer - Captured on Excalibur and was apparently involved in smuggling aboard Recon armor
Rovinar Recon trooper - Captured on Union Mega
3 apparently dead Krath operatives - blood/cellular samples from 2, charred remains from 1. All incidents took place on the Mega, though 1 attempted to gain entrance to your Excalibur.

Jorek and his fellow Krath with the Union space forces have described the 3 killed as "Inexperienced children more dedicated to their mission than surviving it to ensure completion."
That or they just suck when it comes to a straight up fight.

The prisoners seem to be the priority at the moment. You're keeping the armor which is in stasis

Will you be turning them over to the Alliance or the Rovinar? It seems like some people would like to do the latter.

>>36711246
>"Inexperienced children more dedicated to their mission than surviving it to ensure completion."

Wouldn't disabling these guys have been more appropriate than killing them if that's case?

>Will you be turning them over to the Alliance or the Rovinar?
What are the likely going to face depending on who gets them? Would the Rovinar just buy them back from the FA?

>>36711246
>You'd need approximately half a million of them.
yeah 14 Drivers sounds real good to me.

>"Sorry."
>"S'aright"
Every Krath ever is a bro.

>Will you be turning them over to the Alliance or the Rovinar?
I think we may want to have a chat with the Rovinar first to see if they can convince with a carrot.

>>36711246
>Rovinar
Drone core evidence
Rovinar officer

>Alliance
Rovinar Recon trooper
Krath bits and pieces

>Nai genetics lab
Samples from the Krath, under the stipulation they share any research with us.

>>36711246
>Sonia
10 Drivers
4 Fields
The recon armor and any other equipment leftover from their operation.

>Rovinar
Drone core evidence
Rovinar officer

>Alliance
Rovinar Recon trooper
Dead Krath operatives

>>36711246

>Prisoners

Has a head count shown which ships specifically the various agents came from? I know 1 of the Krath was from our ship (exploded Dro'all), along with the two Rovinar?

I'm tempted to hit the Rovinar/Krath with a lawsuit for conducting espionage actions from our ship, recklessly placing the ship, Sonia (net worth), J-D Marines, and RSS employees in undue danger. Or at least have the paperwork filed saying we will, when we blackmail them with the drone core.

There has to be some sort of reckless endangerment via espionage law or general 'conducting espionage from/on/using our stuff' we can threaten that they'll want to quietly settle.

>>36711473

I'm with Madman on the Rovinar Officer. Unless the Rovinar are willing to pay for his release, they can get him back (at a likely higher cost) from the Faction Alliance.

Intel agents doing unapproved ops on our shit don't get any friend status.

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>>36711346
>Wouldn't disabling these guys have been more appropriate than killing them if that's case?
That would have been harder to do.

>What are the likely going to face depending on who gets them? Would the Rovinar just buy them back from the FA?
Well the Rovinar would be charged with espionage which would be the main thing.
>lawsuit for conducting espionage actions from our ship, recklessly placing the ship, Sonia (net worth), J-D Marines, and RSS employees in undue danger. Or at least have the paperwork filed saying we will, when we blackmail them with the drone core.
Any of these are also options.

You're not sure how their government would treat them if you gave them back. You don't hear too much about treatment of failed spies once they'd been returned home.

>>36711473
>I think we may want to have a chat with the Rovinar first to see if they can convince with a carrot.
Their government?
What would you say to them regarding the prisoners?
(The drone parts can be handled separately or at the same time if you guys really want.)

On that front did you have any plans for the drone part specifically? Just another option for them to owe you? A trade of some kind?

>>36711824
>You're not sure how their government would treat them if you gave them back. You don't hear too much about treatment of failed spies once they'd been returned home.

We could ask them what they would prefer.

There's little sense handing them back to the Rovinar thinking we're doing them a favor, and all it actually does is bringing their families shame and getting the operatives sent to Space Siberia.

>>36711824
>Their government?
Ya.

"I have two undercover Rovinar agents in my possession who have been caught performing a black operation on a Faction Alliance ship. I am willing to hand them over to you for processing, if you can convince me that is."

As for the drone I think we could trade as well. Throw it in with the prisoners as premium package.

>>36711824
>Just another option for them to owe you?
I think that was the goal.

>>36711824
"We have uncovered that a Rovinar officer supplied an agent recon armor, we are willingly to hand him over to you to handle this issue due to our friendship. We wish to continue to enjoy such connections for the long term."
The other agent definitely goes to the alliance as he was captured on the Mega and not our ship. As for the drone, a separate discussion would be needed.

Wait, before we hand over anyone to the Rovinar, wasn't the Excal flying a Faction Alliance IFF? That could kind of force our hand in terms of who we give anyone to.

And we need to actually get something from the Rovinar when we deal with them on this.

A yay/nay on the lawsuit threat idea would also be nice, guys. Especially if it holds water and we can threaten to go for Sonia's net worth + other things, that is a lot of haggle down room.

>We could ask them what they would prefer.

You search out the nearest Rovinar ambassador once they're no longer busy with proceedings and ask about the prisoners you've captured and if it would be easier to transfer one of them to their custody. This ambassador has the appearance of someone that should have retired years ago. The usual brightly coloured tuft of hair or mohawk is white with age and his green flesh has darkened.

"The -fallout is the word?- of such a situation is never pleasant. They will of course be charged for their crimes and my government apologizes for the danger your people were exposed to as a result of this regrettable... incident."

You suspect he was about to say misunderstanding but that wouldn't exactly the case.

"We plan to obey any charges the Alliance lays out for these officers regardless of who they are given to. We can not allow this event to become a precedent and let others escape prosecution in the future. If you feel it is appropriate that the Alliance takes custody of one or even both of them than that is what should happen."

Well, so much for that. They're trying to play it safe politically it seems now that it's too late. This should throw him for a loop.
"I plan to keep the agent's Recon armor."
"Would the Alliance not wish to take custody of it as a piece of evidence?"
That could delay things. Still you should be able to get it eventually. Right? It'll probably work out.

>>36712560
>wasn't the Excal flying a Faction Alliance IFF?
Technically yes. You probably would have been shot by those 60 Supers when you arrived otherwise.
>That could kind of force our hand in terms of who we give anyone to.

>lawsuit threat idea
It would be an idle threat. Do MP's get to file a lawsuit whenever a soldier, or spy resists arrest? At most you'll get hazardous duty pay.
The part about them endangering you and your people however would definitely still be added to the charges against them.

What do you plan to say about the drone?

>>36712905
Nothing until we get into a secure room. I don't want to expose that the drone was theirs where someone may be watching.