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>>41641753
The membrane of your medical pod pulses with pressure as its inhabitant stirs. A hand moves across the surface from the other side, pressing against the surface, and a spike drives through the thin layer of skin, rupturing the pod and spilling its contents. Elizabeth Falls forward, her new limbs breaking her fall as she lands on the ground, coughing up the contents of her lungs.

She opens her eyes, and you can see through them as she traces the strange new lines of the flesh of her hands, following the greenish muscle to the claws lining the ends of her fingers. Her new limbs test themselves, stretching out and feeling the ground around her before hoisting herself into the air and setting herself gently down on her feet. She looks over her back to the chitinous spider-like limbs protruding from her back and runs her hand down to feel the stinger embedded in the end.

She takes a deep breath, her arms flexing and reaching out to their full length before retracting with a quick collection of cracks as the tiny bones realign. The limbs along her back reach out and plant themselves in the walls, and she pulls herself into a tunnel in the ceiling.

>>41641753
>As the clouds of Gehenna churn, you detect a quick, soft blip of a radio signal that is almost instantly smothered in the white noise of the planet. It is an automated distress beacon.
>From the USV Mirage.
Jesus christ they really improved on black box tech in the future.

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>>41641762
At least she isn't going to be all edgy and angsty.

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>>41641753
>From the USV Mirage.

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>>41641753
>From the USV Mirage.

>designing your super secret ship with a standard black box

>>41641845
I'm too tired for shadowruns.... Christ

>>41641762
Jackob sits in his seat, breathing slowly as Dillon and Lyle discuss the various rumors and legends surrounding drop trooper culture. A peculiar sub-culture of self-isolationists that you still find a bit odd, but Lyle has thought of or spoken of nothing but his excitement and outright joy that a member of the Iron Strikers would want him dead.
All in all, he seems to be taking it quite well.

"I think I'm feeling a lot better now. I don't know but that thing hit me hard. You know, I bet I wouldn't feel so shit if I didn't see the damn thing. I didn't need to know it looked like the ass end of a crawdad, after all."

"Ah quit yer bitchin." Lyle says as he finishes off a bottle of beer. "We're out of booze." He announces, and shatters the bottle on the wall behind him. It is quickly absorbed and disposed of by the walls. "Now that's something to bitch about."

>Speak with Lyle and the others
>Speak with Elizabeth (write in)
>Speak with Lee (write in)
>Other

>>41641881
>>Speak with Lyle and the others
Formulate a plan on how to shake ourselve's off Killinger's investigation.

>>41641881
>Speak with Lyle and the others
Where do you want Lyle's ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny to happen?

I'm not asking you Lyle. I want the least disastrous outcome, not the most fun one.

Dillon, can you make the fight embarrassing for the Union?

>>41641881
>>Speak with Lyle and the others
I'll repost what I put up earlier then

-Stock the angel with 3 of each medium sized weapons modified for human use, alt ammo for all of them
-Stock the angel with grenades of every variety
-Send Huey and Dewy back to the Angel as tech crew
-Ask Lyle if he would like any modifications to the Angel

Ask him if he'd like free missiles, if our swarm launcher is compatible with the Angel's design.

Oh, and
>Begin brewing alcohol for the humans.
This is a joke.

>>41641898
This is good

>>41641881
Produce a biological vial of fluids, and dare him to try it.

Followed by
>Speak with Lyle and the others
ask him whether he wants any upgrades to the drop suit, what with it being so inefficient. Ask if he wants a plasma cannon mounted,that should strike his fancy

>>41641910
this as well as>>41641898

>>41641881
Officially, Lyle was not hired by us.

We need to create an arrangement where Lee's dissident internet buddies hired Lyle. Perhaps their motive was not friendship, but the offline backup of the leaked photos from Darwin in Lee's possession?

>>41641916
Lace that vial with hallucinogens and I'll support this all the way!

>>41641934
"Perhaps you prefer something stronger?"

Mother gets her children high so the grownups can talk in peace.

>>41641898
Replace "embarrassing" with

"Make the Union readjust their cost/benefit analysis of 'hunt these four traitors to the ends of the galaxy' to tilt towards the 'cost' side."

Political cost, bad publicity cost.... property damage cost.

The Strikers are, after all, official Union soldiers, right.

If Lyle wins, they may escalate and send a Smith. If we publicly battle a Smith, it will be even worse for them to reveal the existence of illegal full mods in a publicly recorded manner.

It shouldn't be us recording of course. It should be civilians.

>>41641881
>>Other
Discuss with Theseus how to use Lee's internet associates that Killinger's mole was going to infiltrate as fall guys.

Discuss with him how to fabricate a digital trail that will lead the Union to believe Lyle was hired by them.

Show Theseus the contents of Lee's backup disk, and query if it's possible this could be sufficient motive for them to hire Lee's rescue, to obtain this disk. Also, did you leak these originally?

>>41641975
I'd love to get our hands an a 'live' smith. Or at least intact enough. We'd need something to prevent its self-destruct I think.

>>41641975
but anon, we can be the civilians. all we need is to use doctors to seed parasites throughout union space

>>41641975
The problem with any plan aiming to shame Killinger with public leaks is directly linking it him. If we can make him personally culpable for the actions of pissed drop trooper or a smith that would be great, but I'd bet my bottom dollar on him having multiple fall guys in the event of their actions becoming widely known. I mean, it's not like they're well known for self control or indiscretion.

Above all else we need a way of linking Killinger directly to the collateral damage his agents cause. We might need to have a word with Theseus about this.

>>41642006
You think a bunch of EMP grenades could do it?

>>41642041
It doesn't matter. The target isn't Killinger, it's Tories as a whole. They're the ones in charge, thy're the ones who are the Advisory Council.

Ultimately it's taking down Windsor. One down, four to go. You don't go straight to the final boss.

Weakening the Tories weakens Killinger. Remind the people national security types can't be trusted to follow their own laws.

>>41641881
Your speaker chitters as it enters. It speaks for the benefit the Dillon and Lee.

"The hive is tracking those that are searching for you, and can lead them into an appropriate location for staged conflict." It says. "The crew can also be returned, and weapons provided if needed."

"I've been dry on missiles for a good while now, if you could stock her up it would help out for sure." Lyle says. "And yea, those two chucklefucks could be useful. Coil, eh." He wobbles his hand as if unsure. "He's a decent pilot, slip drive or not. I can take him or leave him."

"The Lyle is still angry?" Your speaker asks, although you already know the answer.

"Goddamn right I am. That fucker was supposed to cover me with the turrets, but he goes and fuckin hides. He's lucky I was put under before I blew the whole damn jungle up. Fuckin' coward."

Your speaker moves over to Dillon as Lyle continues to mutter curses under his breath.
"What would be the most recommended locations for the hive to lead those hunting you?" It says. Dillon takes a seat at the table and thinks.

"I mean, no colony in the expanse is very heavily populated. A few even have breathable atmospheres so there's no life support to worry about. Maybe even some place far from Union reinforcements. Aral maybe, or at least one of the shake and bake colonies, I can't imagine a lot of people live on Acheron, it would make for a decent place." He says.

>Agree with Acheron
>Agree with Aral
>Recommend other

>>41642062
Wait, didn't last thread just indicate Killinger's making his own party? Or was that some other Union politician?

>>41642073
>>Agree with Aral
Can we mention the new drop suit options available to him? it might be a personal thing, to beat another drop trooper in his usual suit.

Will we get to elizabeth before you pass out?

>>41642073
I'm not really sure.
Aral would bring too much attention on the planet and there are likely to be a couple of Skyl artifacts still hiding there.
Acheron in the Koenig system on the other hand is where the a Union Fleet is based at IIRC.

I'm going to have to go with
>Agree with Acheron

>>41642077
You sure are dumb at reading. No shit it was the rival politician. The clean one.

>>41642073
...Maybe Aral?

Send note to Theseus:
"Can this battle be made politically toxic for the Tories to see one of their loyal soldiers publicly and verifiably cause so much collateral damage? Where would be optimal for that?"

Since Dillon is being mr. "I value human life and want to minimize property damage" party pooper.

>>41642073
>>Agree with Acheron
But we should probably run this by Theseus in a bit.

>>41642124
Theseus is better at manipulating public opinion, need his input more than these guys.

>>41642118
Only if you stick to human-mimicking metal tech only.

If if's harmful to the Union to get this on the news, we don't also want to get a weird bio suit on the news at the same time.

>>41642151
Speaking of which, I'd like to check out zero-one again sometime soon, along with Huron.

Those nice new lifeforms to study.

>>41642073
>>Agree with Aral
FOR NOW.

This is a good excuse to get tons of flies down onto Aral through the Angel.

Stock up that Angel with flies baby. Mother needs some new Valen children.

>>41642073
"Aral seems acceptable. The fight must cause a mess for the Killinger. Politically damaging."

"You want to get rid of those agents and get egg on Killinger's face all at once?" Lee says. Huh, well in that case I guess it depends on what kind of egg you want to throw. Aral is a part of some important treaties. Very strict rules against Union presence. Union warp tugs and the occasional freighter, sure, but defense would be handled by the Valen, the Valen of the hypergate builders at that." He says. "Acheron would be right in plain sight of Union civilians, but I think it would be a bit easier to spin. Union troopers on a Union world, after all, but I guess it could spiral out of hand if things go a certain way."

"So Aral it is, then." Dillon says. Lyle nods.

"Could touch down under cloak on the far side. Hell, I hope they don't get intercepted by the pickets." He says. "What's the fun in that?"

"The hive also can provide the humans with new armor." Your speaker says. "New, fixed, better suit for the Lyle, and versions for other humans. Have placed them in the Lyle's ship."

"Yea, nice to replace the one you fuckin ate." Lyle says. "Not that it was all that good anyhow. Old back market tech, almost two generations behind, but it's all you can get without a direct military source." He says.

>Speak with Theseus (write in)
>Speak with Lee (write in)
>Speak with Elizabeth (write in)
>Have Lyle, Dillon, and Jackob prepare to leave for Aral
>Other

>>41642286
>Speak with Elizabeth (write in)
Inquire into her wellbeing.

Did we end up giving her a parasite? If so, how is she enjoying her little snuggle buddy and its impressive array of functions?

>>41642286
>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
We need to track down Lee's internet friends.

Some of our agents need to meet with them. And make arrangements for them to take responsibility for rescuing Lee.

Lee had in his possession offline backups of the Darwin leaks. Would this be a sufficiently convincing motive for the Union to believe they ordered Lee's rescue?

>>41642286

>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
"We seek to publicly Killinger's credibility through the destructive actions of his agents on Aral. Do you have any advise on how to accomplish this?"
Mention our recent breakthrough in quantum tuning, see if he's willing to trade for it.

>>41642286
ask if lyle and the gang want any backup nearby or onboard.

>>41642321
He almost certainly already has the quantum tech tree fully unlocked. That's silly. His whole existence is quantum. He lives and breathes quantum.

>>41642286
>>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
We need the Union to believe someone else hired Lyle. Whom should we frame?

>>41642286
>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
Like this >>41642321

>>41642286
>>Speak with Theseus (write in)
"The Union funds its illicit black ops with loans from Valen banks, does it not? What would it take to cut off the Union's line of credit, and make the Valen consider them no longer worth lending any more credits to?"

I'm imaging Lyle's new suit as a Red Vanu-style Exosuit.

The Hive may have primarily organic tech, but not everything is organic, that's inefficient even if they can heal minor injuries.

>>41642334
Seriously? You do realize I'm talking about our new breakthrough in altering preexisting quantum threads.
>Quantum Tuning
>By utilizing new advancements in quantum science, you can alter the particles of pre-existing hive made quantum relays to have them attune to another when it is within close proximity, allowing you to reuse relays that have been damaged or had their companion lost. While you feel this is not the greatest of technologies for the hive, you suspect it would be of great worth to any non-psionic life.

This is an absolutely huge technological breakthrough with major implications for Theseus. QD has been hinting ever since it came up that it would be literally priceless to him. That's literally the entire purpose of researching it in the first place.

>>41642346
Actually wait, maybe this one is more a strategy question for Lee.
>Speak with Lee (write in)
Is there any condition that will ever make the bottomless well of Valen generosity unwilling to lend more money to the government?

>>41642365
New for the hive. Not mankind. You think no one else has done that before?

Because the Queen suspects mankind already has, and if they have it, Theseus has it.

>>39452000
>By experimenting with the basic nature of quantum entanglement your thinkers have been able to unlock a more advanced understanding of the technology that holds together the fabric of local alien society, human and otherwise. While you suspect you are still catching up to some of the most advanced technology known to mankind, you have already surpassed what is widely available.


>you suspect you are still catching up to some of the most advanced technology known to mankind

Theseus already explained the quantum scrambler to us several threads back, meaning he has it. Quantum scrambler is a more advanced application of quantum tuning. It's further along the tech tree.

Of course he has tuning, by logical extension. A scrambler is effectively a weaponized tuner.

>>41642390
We could make sure by asking. Just a simple 'Hey we just figured out Quantum Tuning. Do you already have that?'.

>>41642365
>That's literally the entire purpose of researching it in the first place.
No it isn't.

>>41642390
No, the scrambler is specialized electromagnetic pulse weapon, as Theseus himself explained it, and it is quite limited in its applicability in a field of battle, what with it's tiny range. What we're talking about is something entirely new. We're talking about a means of interfering with already aligned quantum entanglements, something that has long been assumed fundamentally impossible by all the Unity and the Union alike. It's infinitely easier to destroy something as fragile as a quantum thread than it is to alter it without destroying it. Hell, when QD first put up the option he specifically stated that the Queen thought her allies (Theseus) would find the tech invaluable. The entire appeal of this research option was in it's trade value to the Unity.

>>41642416
This is what QD wrote for the subject in every thread header he posted for the last three months

>>Quantum Tuning
>Medium
>While current quantum computing technology requires the relays be built to accommodate one another, this technology should allow you to quickly attune pre-existing devices for one another when in proximity. Your thinkers suspect more opportunities to open up after further research is done. You suspect Theseus would greatly appreciate such a technology, if he does not already poses it.

Do you even read these threads?

>>41642430
>No, the scrambler is specialized electromagnetic pulse weapon, as Theseus himself explained it,
Wrong.

>What we're talking about is something entirely new.
Unlikely speculation.

> We're talking about a means of interfering with already aligned quantum entanglements,
Which is what the scrambler does.

> something that has long been assumed fundamentally impossible by all the Unity and the Union alike.
Shit you just made up.

> specifically stated that the Queen thought her allies (Theseus) would find the tech invaluable.
There was a big giant "if" anon. It said "if" he does not already have it. Which is extremely likely, which is all I'm saying.

What theseus actually said.
>>40171841
>Essentially an advanced EMP device, it disrupts the quantum states of entangled particles, disabling quantum comms and quantum computers, however it holds an incredibly limited range,

It's an "advanced EMP" by analogy, like a nuclear bomb is "advanced TNT". It's specifically a QUANTUM scrambler. It interferes with already aligned quantum entanglements.

This was bleedingly obvious long before Theseus' explanation just from the name "quantum scrambler" alone.

>>41642455
>one possible, hypothetical purpose, qualified by an if
>the entire purpose

It's not the entire purpose at all. It was one possible purpose that might not even pan out. The main purpose would be actually using it, or unlocking tech further in the quantum tech tree based on tuning. Which also never panned out.

>>41642464
See>>41642455

And by "means of interfering with already aligned quantum entanglements", I was implying it was a way of altering such delicate things without permanently destroying them, which I assumed was obvious from the context.

But in any case I see no reason to just ask Theseus about and bypass our pointless flaming.

>>41642286
You quickly contact Theseus, and he replies with a signature ping.

"I have continues to shore up at-risk systems with the help of the alien intelligence. I must thank you again for arranging introductions." He says. "In addition, I may have made some progress into the development of a biological agent designed to target the hostile hive's genetic markers." He says, and sends you a copy of the prototype pathogen.

It is a rather rudimentary agent, incapable of targeting multiple species, with even some different drone types having varying reactions. You suspect if it were used against you it would take less then an hour to devise a proper immunity.

"A modest substance. It would be usable for a single assault, if needed, but such an attack would need to be swift to make use of such a small window before it would become useless against them." Theses briefly becomes silent.

"never mind, then. Did you require something?"

You transmit a number of news reports and collected data on the attack against the facility where Lee was held. The entire event was quite unexpected, and even now no organization has taken responsibility, with the government claiming only that it was a group of nebulous terrorists.

"These individuals, are you aware of how to locate them?" You ask plainly. Theseus processes the data for a moment, collating relevant information before spiting out a detailed and extensive report.

"In short, no, however, I may be able to contact them, or at least convince them to contact one of my plants within Union communication lines. They seem to want to contact or retrieve Lee, should I claim to have him in custody to attempt to make such a deal?"

>Yes
>No
>Attempt to use the data Lee recovered instead
>Other

>>41642500
>>Attempt to use the data Lee recovered instead
Since that's probably what they were after in the first place.

>>41642500
>Attempt to use the data Lee recovered instead

>>41642500
>>Yes
Hell, if they want him we could always just give a a random clone reconstructive surgery to look like him.

>>41642500
>Attempt to use the data Lee recovered instead
>Other
"I've recently made a break through in Quantum Tuning. Are you interested, or do you already possess this technology?"

Just to put this argument to rest.

>>41642497
If this is what you call flaming I don't know what part of the internet you frequent.

>>41642500
Idea?

Just do exactly what Killinger was going to do.

Jackob, you have a mission: Impersonate Lee and infiltrate the notorious Internet Hate Machine.

The trouble is, is it possible to do what Killinger was gonna do when the Union cameras are also looking for Lee.

>41642500
>Attempt to use the data Lee recovered instead

>>41642500
>Attempt to use the data Lee recovered instead
Supporting:
>>41642523

>>41642500
>or at least convince them to contact one of my plants within Union communication lines.
Wait. Yes.

>Yes

We can send our own Fake Lee to meet with them!

And then parasite them all so that they take responsibility for hiring Lyle in the first place.

It's important that we meet these radicals in person so we can infiltrate them and coordinate their actions to align with our agenda of "blame anyone but me."

>>41642497
>See
I already read that and that quote doesn't contradict a single thing I said.

>>41642500
You transmit the files and images from Lee's data disc, leaving out the action-packed pathian holo-series.

"This data is likely highly desired by them." You add. Theseus agrees.

"Most likely, although Lee has become a folk hero of sorts for those with anti-Tory sentiments. I will attempt to use the data as a lure."

"In addition, the hive has developed a new technology capable of adjusting quantum connections." You say, as if holding a candy in front of a child. Zero-One churns for a moment.

"This technology is mostly theoretical, or exists only in laboratory conditions within the Union, and I have had similar misfortune myself, I suspect mostly due to the recent destruction of several laboratory outposts from recent attacks. A trade would be most agreeable."

>Make request (write in)
>Other

>>41642500
>They seem to want to contact or retrieve Lee, should I claim to have him in custody to attempt to make such a deal?"
>>Yes

Unless you see another way to motivate them? We want to arrange some kind of in-person meeting.

Like, let's say the data is too sensitive to send over the network. It has to be an in person drop.

>>41642581
>>Make request (write in)
Oh man I've never been so glad to be wrong.

Give us Singularity Projector. A unique tech for a unique tech.

That or the Fold Drive. What other unique tech does he have that the Union lacks?

>>41642581
>>Make request (write in)
Singularity Projectors. Mention we can sweeten the deal if that's too much.

>>41642581
>>Make request (write in)
What unique technologies have you developed since splitting from the Union, not derived from their tech trees?

>>41642581
>Make request (write in)
Inquire into unique valuable tech, possibly trade for Singularity Projector

>>41642581
>Request Singularity Projectors
>Request Space Fold Drive
>Request Quantum Scrambler
>Other

>>41642634
>>Request Singularity Projectors

We can BUY a quantum scrambler warhead to reverse engineer.

Alway stick to truly Theseus exclusives.

>>41642634
>>Request Singularity Projectors

>>41642634
>Request Singularity Projectors
Seems to be the best option.

>>41642634
Also, ask him about space fold in a general way just for curiosity's sake.

He said something about "refueling". What's its idiosyncratic drawbacks and advantages compared to the Warp Drive?

>>41642634
>>Request Singularity Projectors

>>41642634
>>Request Singularity Projectors
We don't really have an urgent need the Space Fold drive outside of maybe unlocking new tech paths.

>>41642581
can i just add that we request him to talk to us before doing something like talking to another Obsidian Queen? that shit was retarded

>>41642684
I wanted to sell Theseus the star map data of the spinward space and tell him BEWARE THERE BE DRAGONS or at least hostile aliens, don't go that way.

But nooo, people said not to. And now look at the consequences of not warning him.

>>41642684
We've already been over this with him. And he only got a little defensive, we hadn't exactly explained the threat she presented by then, or where her forces were located.

Do we need to annoy every instance of Theseus? 'Cause that's how you annoy a billion instances of Theseus.

Okay, let's outfit our hybrids on Gemini with Semi-fluid tissue.

One of them can turn into Lee's face for the meeting with the Internet terrorists.

Then we adopt them.

>>41642721
Should we have one member we parasite say that he "went rogue" and hired Lyle on his own, and didn't inform the others because of reasons, can't trust anybody?

>>41642634
You exchange the data in a matter of seconds, and the trade is complete. You look over the data, and it is truly a complex scientific marvel, requiring a vast amount of space and resources. You may require some time to translate the data from the purely mechanical systems to your own, especially due to your radically different ship designs. You suspect Theseus will require time to do the same.

[New Research Unlocked]
>Singularity Projector
Fast
A tremendously powerful weapon capable of literally annihilating anything within range, devouring it within the event horizon of an artificial black hole. The weapon lacks in range, but is so devastating in its function that it is as much a deterrent as it is an actual weapon, forcing enemy ships to flee from any ship known to have such a device. Can only be equipped to a battleship or Hive ship sized hull, and requires canderon to function properly.
Canderon not included.

>Add to research
>Wait for now

>Speak with Lee (write in)
>Speak with Elizabeth (write in)
>Other

>>41642782
>>Other
Pods. We've been neglecting them.

Load 40 flies onto Hel's Angel.

>>41642782
>Add to research
Reupping
>>41642305
>Speak with Elizabeth (write in)
Inquire into her wellbeing.

Did we end up giving her a parasite? If so, how is she enjoying her little snuggle buddy and its impressive array of functions?

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>>41642782
>>Add to research

>Speak with Lee
What would it take to get the Valen to stop giving the Union money to torture people in laboratories?

>>41642782
Great, how the fuck are we supposed to get Canderon?

>>41642782
>>Add to research

>>41642782
>>Other
Are they at Namek.

I mean Deep Song yet?

Relatedly, >>41642818

>>41642782
>>Add to research
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Holy shit I can't wait to see our hive ship with this in action!

>Speak with Elizabeth (write in)
See how she's getting used to her new improvements. Then let's talk about how feasible giving Lee psionic implants are at this stage, and how plausible she thinks it is to simply repair his current ones before he goes brain dead.

>>41642823
I suppose we'll have to meet some Canians and learn how to mine our stars and such. Maybe even study them to see if that'll help.

Or we buy some off the Valens.

>>41642823
Through Theseus or Deep Song, or we could just use the supply of it we haven't used yet, although I doubt we've got enough to build more then one projector.

>>41642823
Parasite rich people on vacation.

>>41642782
>Add to research

Elizabeth leverages her new limbs against the walls of the tunnel and lowers herself from the ceiling into the open hallway bellow. She flips herself over and slowly plants herself onto the ground. The door flexes open and she glides into the lab, the arms on her back feeling the walls around the doorway as she enters. Coil flashes a bright yellow and lunges back, leaving a large black ink stain on the ground beneath him as he dives behind the table.

"Relax, Coil, it's only me." She says as the spines along her scalp adjust themselves within her hair. Coil peeks over the chitin counter with a single eye stalk.

"Coil, It's only me, Elizabeth. What's wrong?" She repeats as she moves to the table. Her limbs extend over the table, nudging samples into place and taking blood samples from small cultures of cloned tissue. Coil slowly floats up from beneath the table, flashing patterns of concern.

"Oh don't be such a prude." She says. Your mind skims over her own, and she splits her attention between you and Coil.

"I thought I was well connected before, but this is truly astounding!" She thinks. "I can't imagine what it's like to command the entirety of the hive. It seemed chaotic before, but now it's almost, harmonious."

>Ask a question (write in)
>Discuss other subject (write in)
>Other

>>41643084
>>Ask a question (write in)
How is she enjoying the new augments.

>>41643084
She's certainly happy to have been improved.

>Ask a question
The white crystal in your memories. Can you focus on how it was used to fold into a four-dimensional object? Are there details? Your memories are improving with time, right?


>>Other
We should manage our clones. Can they deliver a couple hundred more parasites to the Taidarens?

>>41643122
...Why? We could actually, like...

accomplish something for the hive.

Instead of playing Talk To All Our Best Friends And Ask How They're Feeling Quest.

>>41643084
>It is wonderful that you have adapted so quickly to your improvements. How do they feel? I understand many humans worry over their "humanity." What are your thoughts on this?
>Ask a question (write in)
We have recently acquired new tech (Singularity Projector). Perhaps you might know of different ways we can acquire Canderon. Has there ever been success in synthesizing it?

>>41643084
Seconding this >>41643143

>>41643084
>>41643131

>>35038790
>They are arranged around a strange device of moving crystal. You feel them think to the device, projecting their will all at once, and the crystal turns inwards on itself and expands into unnatural shapes. The crystal twists and controls, twitching into knots of spacetime.


White remote viewing crystal balls.

>>41643084
Wait, can't we dive all of Vaughn's memories since she was in the bio-tank. And because she has a parasite now?

Does that include the implanted memories? Do we even understand where those memories are stored in the nanomachines, the process isn't even done yet is it?

>>41643084
>>Ask a question
Would you, as a doctor, recommend we give Lee the advanced psionic gene therapy, given his situation? How likely would well do you think you would be able to repair him if given access to Skyl artifacts, and how might the hive pursue such artifacts?

Let's not let the obvious plot hook escape us, we should be pursuing those things, and Lee is on borrowed time.

>>41643257
We have like 30 threads to solve it, no research subject is that difficult at our pace. The implants should be fine.

>>41643288
The good doctor sort of stated that Lee's health would steadily decline as time progressed, I'd rather address the issue sooner rather than later.

In any case these are probably the same 'research specimens' that got poached from that doctor we parasited lab. If that isn't a clear indication of black ops spooky shit on Killinger's part, likely in an effort to research psionics, I don't know what is.

>>41643084
"You have adapted quickly."

"Yes, I suppose so. It all feels, rather natural, actually. I'm a bit surprised I don't feel more strange."

"It is good, there is much to do. Have your implanted memories improved?" You ask. She draws your mind in to the memories in question.

"That is something I have given a great deal of thought about, but no, in short nothing has become any clearer. I have a few leads, but nothing conclusive, or even really anything worth mentioning at the moment." The vague memories of ancient hives fills her thoughts for a moment. "I do wonder about the relationship between the old hives and the crystal technology. We know the Skyl used similar technology, as do the Ceph. Do you think you are another rebel species? Maybe even the reason they started tightening their leash on future slave races?" She continues to think, and you follow the train of thought through various dead ends.

"Of course, it could be a conflict that's even older. Who knows what they were before they started posing as gods."

She sits in silence for a moment, mulling over theories. A limb taps against the counter in idle thought as two others reach out to support her as she leans back, as if sitting on a chair that isn't there.

"The hive also has developed a new need for canderon."

"Oh, well that's easy enough to get. You could buy it from just about any star port. It's costly though, and regulated if you're trying to buy it in Union space. Valen sources would be the safest bet I think. Speaking of which, were you planning on bringing the hive into the spotlight, so to speak? A proper introduction would go a long way, I think."

cont.

It'll be when our "diplomatic" vessel finishes construction, I'd bet.

>>41643366
>were you planning on bringing the hive into the spotlight
Soon™
Though i don't know if doing so would impede or improve our ability to conduct secret ops in Union Space.

>>41643366
"Open diplomacy with the Union?"

"Or the Valen. There's no rules saying you have to be friendly to both, and I think you'd be able to be reasonably assured that the Valen would at least try to keep you a secret if you wished. The promise of a trade monopoly is a tempting thing, and they wouldn't be in a hurry to drive your business away, that's for sure. Of course I don't see any harm in introducing yourself to the Union either at this point. You can't keep growing at this rate and stay hidden. I'd say it would be best to make first contact on your terms instead of theirs." She nods slightly as she manages several samples with her new limbs, her arms crossed as she crosses her legs and leans back against the lower limbs. She sets another pair down to the ground to steady herself.

>Discuss first contact with the Union
>Discuss first contact with the Valen
>Other

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Union

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Valen
>Discuss first contact with the Commonwealth.

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Union

>>41643403
Very much impede.

>>41643410
>>Other
No, we have proxies to work through.

There is very much harm, as the situation is politically volatile. The hive would be easy political ammunition by the Tories.

And of course the revelation of the hive's advancement would mean Killinger would instantly realize how much we were actually responsible for, particularly through Lyle.

It is not a good thing.

>>41643410
>>Discuss first contact with the Commonwealth
One step at a time, I say. These guys have done far less to piss us off and I suppose we kind of owe them a formal 'hello' after saving their fleet like that.

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Union
>Discuss first contact with the Valen

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Union
>Discuss first contact with the Valen

>>41643410
>>Discuss first contact with the Union
>>Discuss first contact with the Valen

>>41643410
>>Discuss first contact with the Union

>>41643410
fuck the Union.

fuck humans in general but especially the union.

And you can't trust a valen as far as you can throw him.

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>>41643437
Look, your grammar has been all over the place all night, but at this point I can barely make out what you're trying to say anon.

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Union
>Discuss first contact with the Valen

>>41643410
>Discuss First Contact with the Commonwealth
They're neither turbojews, nor the toy we've decided to play with.
May as well say hello. And tell them to stay the fuck off our lawn.

>>41643410
>>Discuss first contact with the Union
>>Discuss first contact with the Valen
>>Discuss first contact with the Commonwealth

I like the commies, we should make fc with them too

>>41643410
>Other

Commonwealth dogs.

>>41643410
Don't be ridiculous.

We're growing in the direction of the Obsidian Queen. We will consume our rival's hives, the growth is irrelevant.

>>41643516
I think OQ is going full China on her hives.
May not be much left to scrape off them when she's done.

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Union
>Discuss first contact with the Valen

Going to happen eventually.

File: 1438060436644.gif (961 KB, 245x250)

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God dammit finally catched up.
YAY HQQ!

>>41643410
>>Discuss first contact with the Valen

It's too 8am for this shit.

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Valen
>Discuss first contact with the Commonwealth.

>>41643524
One would have to wonder if there's anything left of the planets' original ecosystems. It's a damn shame to just consume like that, instead of integrating yourself into the top spot.

>>41643410
>>Discuss first contact with the Valen

>>41643550
we've already had first contact with the commonwealth

>>41643570
Not diplomatic contact though.

>not wanting to remain the shadowy unconfirmed rumor of local space until the very endgame when you can finally say IT WAS ME DIO

>>41643437
Hope this goes through this time, we talk about first contact a lot but we've never went through with it.

>>41643570
>>41643579
Lizzie should get a kick out of our Commonwealth encounter, don't think she knows about that yet.

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>>41643601
IT WAS ME BARRY

I BLEW UP TREVOR

>>41643410
>Discuss first contact with the Valen
>Discuss first contact with the Commonwealth.

>>41643410
>>Discuss first contact with the Commonwealth.

Speaking of which.

Pods. We were exploring more systems we sent out freakin' weeks ago that got interrupted by a certain goddamn intercivilization incident.

I forget, which system did the Canians live in again?

>>41643410
"There are many methods of manipulation that could be harmed by introductions."

"Proxy war or not, you're difficult to miss at this point." She says. "It's by simple dumb luck nobody's come out here yet, but it's only a matter of time. A pirate ship looking to refuel, or an automated probe patrolling the area, or just a maintenance crew to maintain that monitor."

"Such introductions would potentially aid in certain political situations within the Union as well." You add. Elizabeth harrumphs.

"They could crown an emperor tomorrow and it wouldn't change the facts of the hive's existence. Internal politics are small change at this point, don't you think? If you were to go public, relations would be less a matter of negotiating with the Union and more a matter of announcing what you're going to do and asking if anyone is willing to do anything about it."

"There is also possibilities with the Commonwealth. They seem less politically messy."

"Huh." She says, pausing for thought as recent events flow through her mind. "I hadn't actually thought much about them. You're right, I suppose. They do seem to be tied up in fewer strings. And you've already made quite an entrance. The kind that certainly won't stay secret for long. They're probably trying to figure out where you are already, actually. It may be worth it to make contact with them. As the Valen would say, the best time to make a friend is when he's losing against an enemy." She clicks her teeth as she finishes the testing of her collection of cell cultures and looks over them with some satisfaction.

cont.

>>41643666
"And of course the Valen themselves could potentially help any future clandestine efforts. They are not a homogeneous species. You can almost always find someone with a similar goal as you, no matter what you goal happens to be. Either way, I think you should give it some serious thought, if only to control the way in which you introduce yourself."

>Agree to arrange for first contact with the Union
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Valen
>Refuse for now
>Other

>>41643663
Wolf.
Get it? Canians, wolf? It's a truly atrocious pun.

>>41643683
>>Refuse for now

It's not really a pun anymore than Ceph is.

And oh god QD what have you donnnnne you know exactly what you've done don't you.

>>41643683
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth
They are the easiest option thus far, and the only ones that actually know of us as a spacefaring species. Let's get them out of the way first.

>>41643683
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth

>>41643683
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth
Well they seem to be an okay bunch, and we do have to do something about Scavs eventually.

Also QD I thought you were better than that.

>>41643683
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth
Easiest ones to speak to, I would imagine.

>>41643683
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth

With the Valen soon afterward, probably.

(I feel like Elizabeth is just paying lip service to the whole 'primarily helping humanity' thing as of now. She's Hive, helping humans is just gravy.)

>>41643683
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Valen

>>41643683
>Agree to arrange for first contact with the Union
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth

if we go to one first the other might get word of it and think we're plotting against them

>>41643683
>>Agree to arrange for first contact with the Union
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Valen

>>41643683
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Valen

>>41643683
>>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth

But only after

>send Pods to all remaining Commonwealth star systems.

Of course we could still arrange contacts in such a way that we never let them see us use our Blink Drive. Easy enough.

Aquarius, krasnodar, hypron, lorens, lionon, lanstrom. boros, kalidesh.

Stars we still don't know anything about that need pods in 'em.

>>41643683
>Agree to arrange for first contact with the Union
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth

>>41643683
>Agree to arrange first contact with the Commonwealth

Okay, so a couple requirements.

- You can't reveal that you have copied Ceph cloaking technology
- You can't reveal what the blink drive looks like

So, gotta give them coordinates to meet a corvette at a point in deep space between Commonwealth and Scavenger space. Where a corvette will always be waiting to rendesvous with them. Just waiting there. Never using FTL.

Have them drop off an FTLComm with that corvette for future contact to alert of Scavenger problems.

>>41643683
>Arrange for first contact with the Commonwealth

"What would be the most effective method of contacting the Commonwealth?" The thought rings in her mind as she guides you through her memories of political science, a dull topic by all her accounts.

"On an interstellar level, everything is managed by the Admiralty board. They don't publicly deal with non-human governments but that's mostly because they don't have any major borders with any, at least not until recently. If you were to arrive along some border system and introduce yourself they wouldn't really have any options. Hel would be a decent location, I think. It's not defended enough for them to start shooting in a panic. What do you think?"

>Write in

>>41643851
No, I think the original system we fought Scavengers at is better.

>>41643851

>'Sounds as good as any other. We will begin making preparations.'

>>41643851
Send a single ship or a small flotilla back to the system were we fought with them against the Scavs.

>>41643851
Sounds reasonable to me. No need to over complicate things. Also should probably ask Thesius and Heretic if they want to send representatives and introduce ourselves as an alliance.
>>41643841
We jumped a fucking fleet into their system. They know what a blink drive discharge looks like.

>>41643851
Meeting the commonwealth in hel.
I can see the headlines already
"BUGS FROM HELL!"

>>41643879
They don't because we blinked behind a star.

>>41643841
That's a little paranoid, don't you think? I think we can afford to use our blink drives in front of them, it's not like they'll ever get a chance to reverse engineer them. But what I think would be a wise course of action is to copy the 'behind the sun' trick we used when we first showed ourselves to the Commonwealth. That way they will think that the blink drive is limited to teleporting a ship within close proximity to a star, and won't fully expect us to blink in anywhere else. If we're lucky they won't even recognize that those deep space gamma bursts they've been detecting were in fact our ships blinking into space.

>>41643851
>send in a few evenly balanced fleets to begin conversation
No need to bring ALL the guns, like last time. Just enough that they won't try to dissect our vessels.

>>41643879
I imagine asking Theseus and Heretic to join would overcomplicate things. We can include them in the negotiations later.
It's one more thing we can drop on them for kicks.
Also, we hid our entrance into the system. They have yet to draw the connection between blink drive discharge and us. Yet.

>>41643879
No they don't dumbass.

Read the thread.
>>40319072
>>Have your fleet blink in on the far side of the star and charge in

The blink drive was hidden on the far side of the star. All the ships were at one planet, no one saw it. That was the entire goddamn point of that vote.

Hide what blink flashes look like so no one can know what to look for when you're blinking things in subtly, so no one starts thinking all those supernovae aren't novae.

>>41643892
>>41643879
But given the fact that this was apparently a First Contact with a powerful alien species, they will likely scrutinize every detail regarding our appearance in that system, they might have noticed that the star was giving off weird radiation signatures cause by our massive armada blink in the lead up to our appearance.

>>41643851
We will meet them in the same star system we fought the Scavs in. It might help appeal to a sense of a common enemy, and we won't let on that we already are fully aware of their borders or have infiltrated them already. That probably wouldn't be conducive to diplomatic negotiations.

>>41643915
They don't have anything to connect that shit to us since it's a circumstantial.

>>41643921
We could also continue to pretend to simply BE our ships.

Which isn't far from the truth. The ships are alive.

Instead of speaking to a speaker, just have them radio the ship at the rendezvous point in deep space.

Which we convey with a short transmission from a lightday away in the system where we defended them from Scavs. Make it a radio transmission to the system. to have "Leaders please rendesvous at XYZ coordinates in 20 hours."

>>41643851
>I think. It's not defended enough for them to start shooting in a panic. What do you think?"

"There will be no need for fear of shooting if we never enter within range in the first place."

Just send a message to arrange a meeting and then leave before the message even reaches them.

>>41643851
Just set up a randevous point via radio. Wait for them with a big fleet, and throw them a relay. A class, not-hive tech, with the relay planted on a cloaked ship near a star far away from our homeland/at leeland.

>>41644001
We should probably tell them to send the relay instead.

>>41644014
You do realize they can bug the relay.

>>41644001
>>41644014
You are aware relays are human tech, right?

>>41643959
>>41643982
As far as they're aware, we don't use the same conventions for anything they do.
It might be weird if we make relatively intellectual demands using human language. (At least, without a hefty dose of mistranslation or dogma)

>>41643851
"Winsor would be best." You say. "Where the scavengers were driven away."

"Good point. It seems like an appropriate location if ever there was one. I suppose all that's left is to get a representative. A speaker, perhaps, or at least one meant for more high stakes communication. I could go too, to offer some kind of human face to things if you'd like."

"You do not seem suitable for such a task." You say simply.

"It's nothing that can't be hidden." She says, her limbs tucking in to hug around her torso. The quills on her scalp tuck in beneath her hair and she runs her hand over it, feeling the rigid bumps and spines.

"Just walk in, say high, walk out. Make things go a bit smoother for everyone involved."

>Agree
>Refuse
>Other

>>41644035
I don't mean to ask for a relay right off the bat.

I mean set up a rendesvous in simple human language and mathematical coordinates, then at the meeting later, if they bring up relays then we arrange that.

>>41644029
As long as we just keep it aboard the ship in its esophagus and don't bring any drones near it I don't see the difference.

Just have a USB-clam nearby sticking out of the ship's wall to slither into the relay's data port. A bio-digital interface carefully only-just-reverse-engineered from the data exchange (son) interface we request at the meeting.

>>41644057
>>Refuse
Eh... Elizabeth I don't think cosplaying as Kerrigan would be beneficial for diplomacy.

>>41644057
>>Refuse
You are too valuable to risk. And it raises questions we would rather they not think about.

>>41644057
>Refuse

At least for initial contact.

When we have an 'official' meeting then sure.

>>41644057
>>Refuse
Our ships can speak just fine on their own. Hello, alien shiny metal ships.

>>41644086
Lee was for circumventing the Union policy of not allowing alien representatives, that won't matter if we're dealing with the Commonwealth.

>>41644057
>Refuse
Spaceships only.
It's not first contact if the humans aren't shitting themselves.

>>41644057
>Refuse
I don't think this is going to be good.
We should at least have a favade of "WHOA MOMMA NEW SPECIES" deal going on for now, and start showing human allies when the dust settles.

>>41644057
>>Refuse
No Elizabeth, you're the mad scientist that stays in the fortified bunker. If we need a public face for interspecies relations we use Lee.

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>>41644114
>favade
I meant facade. Dammit.

Also, do we have anything like a missile battlecruiser? Like a ship fully loaded with missiles.

>>41644105
>tfw pretending not to understand there are humans inside the ships in charge

Should we pretend our radio silence yet being coordinated in battle is very elaborate pre-arranged strategic responses every ship understands ahead of time?

>>41644117
>lee
>Not moth speaker

Its like you don't want to be disconcertingly cute and fluffy.

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>>41644105
Kek

>>41644057
>Refuse
"Too Valuable"

"You have been culling the vermin who desecrated the ancestral spawning grounds. We also cull them. They are overpopulated."

>>41644130
They would be disturbingly cute.

Seriously though, we might as well whip up something a bit more flash than our ordinary speakers. I haven't looked at the wiki page recently, but would something along these lines work for us?


Ambassador
Psionic: Moderate 50N
Mandible: Vocalizer 2N
Arm: Dexterity 1N
Blade: none 0
Legs: Bipedal 4N 2M
Utility: Acid glands 1N
Carapace: Peacock
Carapace: Mimetic Skin 2N
Total Cost: 60N 2M

>>41644057
"No, you are too important."

"I'm flattered. Well, they don't have any loopholes like the Union so it doesn't matter anyways."

>Have a fleet (write in) blink to Winsor
>Have a lone ship (write in) blink to Winsor

>Broadcast the location of a meeting location (write in)
>Attempt to make first contact in Winsor
>Other

>>41644128
That would be the obvious explanation.
We can, after all, pretend to simply be incredibly efficient monarchists.

But it might be more fun to let them wonder.

>>41644130
Perhaps we should bring a speaker, juuust in case.
I mean, we'll take every reasonable precaution to avoid using him ("you are mammals; you must stink! we no talk you in person!"). But just in case.

>>41644197
>>Have a lone ship (write in) blink to Winsor
Don't let the ship even be seen. Blink in far away enough that they don't detect it, but they can hear the radio message once it arrives.


>>Broadcast the location of a meeting location (write in)
Two lightyears coreward of Winsor.

>>41644197

>>Have a lone ship (write in) blink to Winsor
>>Broadcast the location of a meeting location (write in)

Near Windsor, but not right on top of it.

>>41644197
Supporting >>41644209
>>41644221

>>41644197
>>Have a lone ship (heavy battle-cruiser) blink to Winsor
>>Attempt to make first contact in Winsor
Realistically speaking we have nothing to gain by avoiding them and playing hide and go seek aside to generally put them on edge, which sort of defeats the purpose. They've seen our entire fleet, nothing to be lost by using one to make first contact now.

>>41644197
>Have a fleet (write in) blink to Winsor
either heavy or light fleet works for me
>Attempt to make first contact in Winsor
do send a warning first

>>41644232
It's not hiding from THEM.

It's hiding from all the random soldiers that will gossip and let the Union know more.

We talk to the Admiralty, we don't let the rank and file leak all over the Union spies in their midst.

>>41644197
>have a fleet (4 light fleets) blink in to winsor

>attempt to make first contact in winsor

The reason I say 4 light fleets is because they expect a lot of ships, and our drones have four fingers (last I recall), so it won't seem a weird number later on, if they see our drones.

>>41644197
This >>41644209 >>41644221

>>41644197
>Have a lone ship (write in) blink to Winsor
A stealth frigate. Cloaked
Supporting >>41644209 or >>41644221

Is it happening?

>>41644232
We're not really avoiding them, just trying to mitigate the possibility of public panic.

We should find an excuse to get a sample of a human's DNA.

Like, some custom.

"And now, the exchange of bodily fluids." Just spray some very mild acid in their direction. See if we can get some human saliva or blood or something.

>>41644245
I'm pretty sure after sending hundreds of ships into their system, that particular cat is already out of the bag.

Random note: Elizabeth clicks her teeth a lot, I noticed. I wonder if she had that tic before she was changed or not. Hell, I wonder if she notices she does it. Might be a very small element of her being more Hive-like.

>>41644297
There's obviously more than one cat in the bag. We are adding all sorts of cats to that bag just with more interactions.

>>41644291
Nigga we got fucking tonnes of humie DNA, we can effectively make randomly generated humans like when we made those flash clones in New Prescott.

>>41644262
NO STEALTH SHIPS BY GOD NO STEALTH SHIPS.

Our cloaking ability is one ability of the hives we cannot afford to let loose right now.

>>41644324
Seconded

>>41644324
This.
Even if we pussy out and ask to meet somewhere (showing our hand language/math wise), letting them even think we have stealth vessels is absolutely retarded.

>>41644197
>>41644232
Supporting

>>41644197
>Send a lone ship to Winsor
(write in which ship to send)

>Attempt first contact in Winsor

You also have the option of your speakers. A new drone egg could be carried in the ship and have hatched by the time the ship were to take on visitors, if it were to do so.

>Lay Ambassador
Psionic: Moderate 50N
Mandible: Vocalizer 2N
Arm: Dexterity 1N
Blade: none 0
Legs: Bipedal 4N 2M
Utility: Acid glands 1N
Carapace: Peacock
Carapace: Mimetic Skin 2N
Total Cost: 60N 2M

>Lay other
>Send normal speaker
>Send no drones

>>41644324
way to valuable to give up

>>41644365
A Carrier Battlecruiser
>Lay Ambassador
>Send Warrior guards

>>41644365
No speakers. Ship is speaker!

Just a simple Heavy Corvette.

And uh. Wait I thought broadcast won.

>>41644365
send a battleship
>Lay Ambassador

>>41644365
>>41644380
This

>>41644365
>Lay Ambassador
>Send Honorguard
>Send Battleship

>>41644365
>Send a normal speaker
>But DO NOT use the speaker unless absolutely forced to

Broadcast
>>41644209
>>41644221
>>41644226
>>41644256
>>41644262


>>41644232
>>41644239
>>41644246
>>41644360

Doing it in sight of Winsor

Broadcasting rendesvous won.

Are we going with the Commonwealth just as a middle finger to the Union?

Maybe mention that Killingers plot where he bugnapped the drones

>>41644414
God no. No blurting that out.

>>41644365
>(write in which ship to send)
Just a corvette. We only need one.

Same corvette that goes to the rendesvous point we specify

.>>41644365
>>Send no drones

>>41644414
I am wondering if we should mention that the current conflict with the Union is a due to a misunderstanding and interference from a third party (other than us), and that we were just observing at the time that it happened.

We should definitely warn them that there is at least one other Hive out there and that it is highly hostile to other beings.

>>41644365
>Lay Ambassador drone
Seems to be the consensus

>Send Carrier Battlecuiser
>Send Battleship
>Other

>>41644403
Huh, I always get thrown off by the multi-linking votes. Thanks.

>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Windsor
>Transmit a rendezvous location in hive space (write in)
>Other

>>41644450
>>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Windsor

>>41644365
>>Lay Ambassador
And we're going to want to send him in on the biggest, most heavily armed ship we've got.

>>41644450
>>Send Carrier Battlecuiser

>>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Windsor

>>41644450
>>Send Battleship

>>41644450
>>Send Battleship
>>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Windsor

>>41644450
>>Send Carrier Battlecuiser

>>41644450
>Send Battleship

>>41644450

Okay is it Winsor or Windsor.

I thought WIndsor was the cabinet member and Winsor was the star.

>>41644450
>>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Windsor

>>41644535

Forgot to add other vote, my bad.

>>41644450
>Send a Battleship
>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Winsor

While I hate to end on such a blatant cliffhanger, I think we're running out of steam for this week. I'll try to stick around for any questions and feedback until we either fall off or I collapse, whichever comes first.

>>41644450
>send battleship

>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Windsor

>>41644554
So the Taidarens' parasiting is really, really... slow?

>>41644554
Tanks for running QD and thanks for getting us to something besides spending another full thread in ONLY Gemini Hive

>>41644554
upload of hexographer map when.

Did you try upping the maximum memory when you first start it.

>>41644554
Thanks for running QD, even if I will be hanging on baited breath for the next thread all week.

Now that we've researched the variable strike weapon we can load all our projectile weapons with 3 different alt types of ammo, right? Could we give our warriors acid and cryo ammo for their firesprays, they do count as projectile weapons, right?

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>>41644554
Aww, at least we have a HAPPENING to look forward to next week.
Thanks for the thread QD.

>>41644554
Say, QD, about how big are the super massive capital ships of the Union and Commonwealth, respectively? How do they stack up to that hive ship we're constructing?

>>41644633
We've never seen something bigger than a battleship.

Nothing bigger is practical in battle, server ships and hive ships are more logistics than battle optimized.

>>41644586
Well, there are a lot of things to do on Gemini, so it's understandable.

>>41644592
>>41644597
and thanks for playing!

>>41644580
There are lots of taidarens, and few medics. It is a steady process.

>>41644590
I did, and I have an updated launcher that uses a different script so it doesn't need pre-allotted memory. Neither worked. I suspect it has something to do with the map simply being really, really big.

>>41644633
The Hive ship is on par with a Server ship. No human faction has a ship that properly matches it in either pure size or its utility role. Human ship classes, for the most part, end at battleship for all intents and purposes, although their ship classes can differ from yours in some ways due to differences in ship design philosophy.

>>41644554
Thanks for running boss. I already cant wait for next week.

>>41644661
Do you have any hard numbers on ship sizes?

>>41644682
They're in the pastebin.

And the quest, for describing the enemy.

Human battleship was 2 kilometers just like hive battleship.

Server ships are likewise the size of hive ships.

They've all seemingly done convergent evolution.

>>41644661
Oh neat, I had the idea in my head that Server ships were nearly 20 kilometers long, nice to know our railgun will have just as much punch as the Unity's. Thanks again OP, as excellent a thread as ever.

>>41644661
The fish that Valen eat alive. Are they very large?

They swallow them whole so they're still alive on the way down to their stomach without chewing? It was said they swallowed whole shrimp platters whole so I imagine they have a pretty high threshold for 'needs to be chewed'.

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>>41644554
There goes the happening.

>>41644682
Your own ship hulls have their lengths listed in the pastebin, but as for other faction ships, it's mostly just ranges and generalizations, but for the most part they are similar in size.

>>41644706
Sort of. It's more of a case of being named to fit. Your battleship is called a battleship because it's the size of one, not because it's built to be one. It's all just meant to be a quick and easy way to classify ships.

>>41644711
They are. Your Hive ships are still smaller, but they're much closer in function to a server ship then anything the other factions have due to both of them having a very strong logistical role.

Don't underestimate a Hive ship's spinal railgun though. It packs one hell of a punch.

>>41644766
Due to the shape of their mouths, Valen can't really "chew" so much as "shred and tear like a whirligig of knives and giant teeth" with an esophagus lined with backward facing spikes somewhat similar to the throat of a penguin. They swallow just about anything they eat "whole" but it is vary rarely ever alive by the time it's actually swallowed. As for the limits of their abilities, they could swallow a grown tuna with about the same level of discomfort as swallowing one of those giant all-natural vitamin pills.

It's always like 6am where the crazy votes that can make the quest turn one way or the other happen.

"Bring Lee to Leeland?" "Interfere with the Commonwealth Scavs fight?" "Play into Killinger's hands with a futile suicide bombing y/n"

>>41644874
"Destroy Hope" was also a 3am HAPPENING.

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>>41644874
>>41644906
These HAPPENINGs are really big I guess.

>captcha: select wheelchair
>Select what is apparently a dronecoptor that resembles a fancy chair
>captcha goes through
Wat

>>41644874
By then all the boring players are asleep or at work so we can actually PROGRESS AT ALL

Great it's still here, now I can see if we fucked up.

Did we decide whether we wanted to let Hereric and Theseus in on this? If we will, then I vote that we represent them as intermediariea. No sense letting the humans know that our most trusted allies are AI hiveminds.

>>41645219
Why would we do that?

>>41644554
Great thread QD, thankyou.

>>41645284
Why would you do this without letting Theseus and Heretic know?

>>41644450
>Send Battleship
>Transmit a rendezvous location several lightyears out of Windsor

probably late, also great threat as always

>>41644874
And it still all works out in the end. One of things I love about this quest to be honest.

>>41645336
They don't want to be involved in this.

>>41645336
Theseus already told us to announce ourselves ages ago and Heretic won't give a shit. I suppose Theseus may want to open relations with the Commonwealth at some point but it's hardly a good idea to do it together.

Besides, we don't owe them shit with regards to this, it doesn't concern them in the least.

>>41645336
Because it's not going to affect them either way.Heretic doesn't give a shit about humans and Theseus knows that the Commonwealth knows about what he did at Chandra.

We are going to become best buddies with the Commonwealth and rape the Union together.

And then the Obsidian Queen with Heretic and Theseus as well. We'll be one big happy family.

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>>41645491
>commonwealth and unity
I don't think it works that way anon.
If anything it will be a shaky relationship that crumbles once the whole 'dark evul forces' shit ends.
Also remaining union civs would hate our guts if we steamroll them into sibmissiom via force.

>>41645669
The Unity has been fucking up the Union, I don't see why the Commonwealth would be so adverse to a partnership with them.
Especially since it would give them an edge against the Union.

>>41645441
>>41645424
Good to know your take on 'alliance' means 'fuck you guys', anons.

>>41645745
Uh, I'm not those two anons, but then what should we do? Ask them about it?

>>41645745
They're our allies in our war against OD and we're on friendly terms with both of them, this doesn't mean we're joined at the hip. We keep secrets from one another and they don't include us in their non OQ related decision making for the most, us doing likewise unless we want advice and it's absolutely fine because we're all grown-ups.

This is all moot anyway since we've already talked to Theseus about it, he has given his opinion on the subject. Heretic will ask if they're willing to go to war with crystalline entities and lose interest when we tell him probably not.

>>41645837
>Heretic will ask if they're willing to go to war with crystalline entities and lose interest when we tell him probably not.
And this is why Heretic is great.

>>41645871
I love the fact that Heresy and Research are synonymous in the Skyl language

>>41645899
So heretic is synonymous with researcher?

>>41645719
But the Commonwealth doesn't know that, all it knows is that the Union's AI research went Skynet, fled to unknown space and periodically sends raids against Union systems.
They probably think that Unity wants to kill all organic life and that's what Theseus wants them to think.

>>41644874
You sound like anti-fun person who'd rather stagnate and do nothing at all.

>>41645933
Yes, because research was forbidden or something to that effect for Skyl.

>>41645933
Pretty much. The Void Gods hated technological advancement intheir minions

>>41645018
Thank god you are here to look at us and point our mistakes o' great and wise anon.
Fucking jackass

We should ask Theseus if he'd pay us in credits for the service of manipulating the weather around the Zero One server city to his benefit. It would make whatever upkeep it requires much less costly and we could certainly do with the credits now that we're coming out and need to buy canderon.

>>41646448
Or we could get some tech, either or.
A good idea anon.

>>41646474
Canderon mining tech comes to mind, though I imagine he'd just ask for a straight up tech swap at that point as opposed to continuous payment for services rendered.

>>41644856
Didn't we send the salvaged union ship we have to make contact with the valen last thread?

>>41646587
I'm always up for mutually beneficial trade.

As for not being reliant on someone else for Canderon, we would need to either figure out how to synthesize it which may or may not require being able to turn matter into any other matter and knowledge of the atomic/energetic composition of Canderon, or talk to some Canians on how to mine a star for it. Maybe we could one day talk to some of the activists on Wolf.

I can only assume that studying them will not be easy. We'd need specialized equipment to even approach them, like a shield generator on anti-grav legs and some cryo-tech, and we can't learn their language from looking into their mind so we'll have to do what our first thinker did with the humans: figure it out from observation. I'm sure we could do it eventually, but it'll probably involve some trial and error to figure out an efficient method to study their 'biology'.

Oh right guys, speaking of plans.
We should capture mirage wreck, might even get a survivor or two.

>>41646958
How long ago was that by now? And I think what's left is in Union or Commonwealth hands by now.

Making a few Pirate vessels in case we need to capture an enemy ship would be nice though, but it might be better to wait until all research relating to the Scavanger Gunship are finished so we can update the design.

>>41647034
No actually, they're still posturing around the wreck, but no one is taking any action. Check OP.

>As the clouds of Gehenna churn, you detect a quick, soft blip of a radio signal that is almost instantly smothered in the white noise of the planet. It is an automated distress beacon.
This implies that only we know where it is precisely. We could send in a cloaked task force for retrieval of it right this moment and sneak it from under their noses.

>>41647100
Well in that case, yeah. Sending a cloaked corvette will be on the to-do list for next thread then.

>>41646958
>>41647034
>>41647100
I thought it was more of a plane's black box flight recorder than a survivor's distress beacon.

>>41647158
Either or, we get it all. Interesting tech, information to use whenever we want and a very very small possibility of survivor. Using it as blackmail material alone is worth it.

>>41647174
Besides I just can't help but think that QD would dangle the captain as being the survivor in front of us for those saucy plot hooks.

>>41647158
The mirage is somehow still alive, possibly being run by a smith, since i dont see something biological surviving being nuked and dead/nonresponsive for two days. If we can get the black box, we can completely ruin the Killinger political situation, since he will be recorded as giving the order to kill commonwealth envoys as well as his political rival in order to start a war.

I don't see any future in helping out either of the human factions, since while the Union is a shitty, bureaucratic shitfight, the commonwealth seems to be a semi-feudalistic 15th century HRE-an incredibly decentralised kinda-nation composed of independent monarchies, despots and tiny republics, paying lip service and occasionally some taxes, barely held together by the threat of outside force. Just now its Ceph, Union and Scavs, rather than the poles, turks and french. Neither side has much to offer us, and other than clearly delineating borders and leaving an ambassador to tell them to back off or we start dropping spores, i say we leave them alone. Any attempt to fix the situation of any faction will result in major public backlash from civvies who see us as the bugs from space, although we could invite refugees to come live in hive space, i guess. Thoughts?

>>41647289
>poles
>ever a major threat in history
I sort of agree. My idea behind coming out and talking to them is telling them about OQ and the dangers she poses. So that we have:
-A chance of another ally in fight against her
-Or just them not having hard feelings towards us if she ever decides to dick them
Otherwise nothing'd ever change. It also depends on how we make first contact, we could either just introduce ourselves and say that we'll do as we want(as what you seem to be implying), or get some different kind of agreement.
I guess what I am getting at is that we'll see when it comes to hammering out what we want out of that contact precisely.

>>41647289
I never cared about 'fixing' any faction. They're more likely to come up with interesting things for us to steal learn if they retain most autonomy anyhow. I care mostly about them not being nuisances at least. Help against our endgame foe will likely be welcome though.

>>41647388
Just take in a bunch of refugees, adopt them into the hive, and give them to the thinkers university so as to do the research for us. Nurture beating nature.
>>41647381
>poles
>largest single kingdom in the area
>not being a regional power til the sejm fucked everything forever

They have no reason to join our fight, will feel threatened by us, and we'll probably have one or two anti-xeno terrorist groups dedicate their lives to clipping our toenails with suicide bombings or something equally stupid. Because human. Honestly, just let them know we exist, we claim this area of space, there is a member of our race who is more insane than the ceph so watch out for her, and any refugees from their bizarre political system is welcome to find refuge or adoption under the hive.

>>41647485
>Honestly, just let them know we exist, we claim this area of space, there is a member of our race who is more insane than the ceph so watch out for her, and any refugees from their bizarre political system is welcome to find refuge or adoption under the hive.
Hey man, I'm with you on that.
Except for poland ever being a threat
fuck poland, destroyed itself

>>41646787
I think we're going to be mining it from stars and buying it for the foreseeable future once we figure out the mining tech, maybe Theseus knows how to do it. Making it ourselves is endgame shit if it's possible at all.

I'm right on board with studying some Canians whenever we get the chance, I remember the Union promised to relocate those guys with the intent of stringing them along to get all dat Canderon, something we can capitalise on perhaps. In any case we need to be very careful about alienating the Union in all our future dealings otherwise we won't get anywhere near their Canderon jackpot star.

>>41647289
I think the Commonwealth is a much more attractive ally due to their military being allowed to do whatever the fuck they want instead of being constrained by the political cesspit of a federal republic, we're much less likely to be fucked over or maliciously lied to or any number of politically motivated stupid shit. I'm optimistic about this.

>barely held together by the threat of outside force

Right on point, if they're ever left without a strong existential threat then there's a good chance of them splitting apart, though we probably qualify as a strong existential threat so who the fuck knows. Anyway the best outcome of this interfering with the humans business will be that the human factions stop fighting and retain their strength for outside threats and the final battle with the void gods though this will very likely not happen. I'm happy to meet up with CW and just see what happens.

>>41647533
That it did. Pre-PLC, though, it was srs bsns
>>41647545
the commonwealth is a single leadership of lots of tiny little states, each with their own agenda. this decentralization means its much more liable to infighting than even the union, but the infighting consists of killing each other rather than yelling in a parliament. Honestly, i feel they're going to try to use us to retake their rebelling colonies (union) like a germanic UK. Any alliance does little for us while they get a giant biological hammer to swing around.

>>41647651
They get the hammer only if we give it to them. I've no plans of parting with the hammer.
That and their military is separate from all other state governments, and we'd be interacting with the military which is their central government. Not with the states. If they want us to help with consolidating them, tough, we don't care.

>>41647696
then we both get nothing out of an alliance, and we're both sitting on our hands until some commonwealth religious nut blows himself up on our ship or something. They have nothing to offer us, and other than maybe giving them an embassy and delineating boundaries, i see no reason to deal with the feudalistic buggers

>>41647754
Other than them knowing that OQ is not us. And to not confuse her with us.
And preparing them for threats from OQ and Void gods.
And maybe they decide to help us against her if they consider it threat enough.
NOTHING USEFUL
In the end, status quo is preserved and we get some minor improvements. We lose nothing.

>>41647793
>Other than them knowing that OQ is not us. And to not confuse her with us.
Hence the embassy idea
>And preparing them for threats from OQ and Void gods.
We are between them and her, and they won't want to be dying for us even if we do convince them that spooky crystal elder gods are coming for their biomass.
>And maybe they decide to help us against her if they consider it threat enough.
Thats not going to happen unless we subjugate the union for them
So yes, nothing useful other than letting them know we exist, which is all i want to give them

>>41647793
>>41647754
We could clue them in on shit if it's beneficial to us. For example the scav home fleet location, the OQ territory/MO as mentioned or maybe even some of the Union info we've been gathering.

>>41647856
So we're in agreement then.
Though
>Thats not going to happen unless we subjugate the union for them
We'll see when it happens I guess. Worth a try asking anyway. I personally think they'd rather get rid of scavs though.
>>41647875
And it opens further possibilities.

Honor Guard Hybrids wearing the new carapaces when?

>>41647875
Its beneficial to us to have the Union and Commonwealth at each others throats, with neither side having any advantage.
>>41647899
i just doubt that they will be willing to fight on our side unless we take the leap of faith and help them out, and the only enemy of size they have that we know of is the Union.

I will concede they would love to know where the Scav home fleet is, and that maybe we could start a beneficial relationship by a joint-project slaughtering

>>41647920
Probably only after we get some refugee populations to explain thehumans wearing Hive tech and augments

>>41647930
Slaughtering of scavs is always good.
Space war now
>>41647961
They'd not know there'd be a hybrid under the carapace. Unless they studied a dead one. Which is highly unlikely for honor guard who I assume would get acid glands as well. Since hybrids.

>>41647991
Yeah hybrids appear as a normal member of the base race with subtle Hiver anatomy. But yes Acid Glands are mandatory for all Hive Forces

>>41644365
The ambassador should be created so it looks similar to how we appear in human minds. Because when we mindfuck them we automatically take on a form that is best at negotiating with them and they are most comfortable with. Perfect for an ambassador.