-[X] Imperial Academy Research Centers (1 RP)
-- [X] Natural Warp Effect (Field Manipulation) Roll 96 + 10 (Level) = 106, [DC 60/100, 2/2]
After intensive study and a high number of Dimension Breakers tests on asteroids without strategic importance, a notable breakthrough in Warp studies has been realized: the discovery of the Membrane.
A Warp Effect is a hole between our dimension and the Warp dimension, a narrow point where otherworldly physical laws can take effect, and need extremely strict conditions to be created and maintained. Natural Warp Effects are Warp Effects created by the transition of an object from our dimension to the Warp Dimension, and then back to our, creating a stable connection between the dimensions : if an artificial Warp Effect is a wound, a natural Warp Effect is a scar.
The Membrane is the energy field that is perforated by Warp Effect, a stabilizing force that produces Warp Field and reacts to an excess of Warp Effect in the same spot by ejecting objects into the other side of itself.
This is the greatest recent discovery in Warp Physic, the explanation of how Warp Effect works.
Discovery of mechanisms governing Warp Effect and Warp Field ! Membrane discovered !
Project modified, Mass Testing become Mass Warp Effect Production (Industry, Field Manipulation) [0/8]
Projects unlocked, Experimental Membrane Drive (Field Manipulation) [0/6], Gaz Giant Warp Seeding (Field Manipulation) [???]
[X]Department of Ecological Restoration (1RP)
-- [X] Warped Bacteria Cultivation (Biology) Roll 65+10(Level X Specialty)=75 [70, 2/2]
Chartered Minister Kolinsky,
As Order demand, receive the rapport of the Department of Ecological Restoration for the Second Olympian Quarter of the First Year of Exploration.
Now that the cultures have been set up, properly sealed, and the security warheads armed, and after preliminary studies, my department must admit that long term observation is the only viable road to studying the Warped Bacteria.
In the current time span of research, no viable structure of their effect has been discovered, what we once thought as new species born of the effect of Warp Exposure related as the effect of integrated materials into the bacteria structures.
As far as we understand, exposure to Warped Materials can cause a breakdown in the genetic structure of a bacteria, causing an unexplained chain reaction where, in blatant violation of the laws of thermodynamics, the bacteria generate new Warped Material at a high rate before bursting open.
After this burst, the neighboring bacteria either die, or grow tolerant to the Warped Materials and begin to integrate them into their structures, giving them unique properties but creating a risk for them to suffer the Warp breakdown. As such, the properties of the Warped Bacteria depend only on the new materials producible by organisms, which will need to be cataloged in the long term.
However, serendipity as given us a new tool. One of the cultures was accidentally contaminated with
bacteriophage, virus that specifically targets bacteria for their reproduction. After a few generations, the bacteriophage had evolved to specifically target Warped Bacteria, and ignore every other cell type. As such, by cultivating this new class of bacteriophage, the
Mutavirales , the Empire can develop phage therapies against the effect of Warped Bacteria, alleviating the effects of Warp Exposure.
Ongoing background research on Warped Bacteria, prerequisite for new Projects. Experimental therapy for effects of Warp Exposure on human beings.
-[X]Oracles Circle (1 RP)
-- [X] Adaptive Auxiliary Computing Core (Computing) [2/6]
As always, the Oracles are a secretive order, and beyond a constant stream of data requests from all over the Empire for their studies, there is no news of progress on their works in producing polyvalent computing cores. For any other group, you would be worried. But the Household is known both for secrecy and efficacy.
2 Progress on the research
-[X]Association for Historical Preservation (1 RP)
-- [X] Reassemble the Past (Archaeostudies) [2/8]
During this half year, the Association go to work, slowly amassing and cataloging every bits of data on the history and tech base of the Antedeluvians Empire, and in particular shifting through the impressive number of weird theories developed on Earth from the news that there an ancient advanced civilization on Earth thousand of years ago.
If your archeologists read another report on Atlantis, they are going to explode.
2 Progress on the research
[X]Formalize scavenging (-2 RP) (33)
In an ideal world, you could have wiped out a whole new department for the Academy in half a year from one of your favorite activities. But this is not an ideal world. Like every Imperial institution, you simply lack the qualified manpower to create miracles. So you adapt, you regularize, build up headquarters and acquire stable, reliable equipment.
At the end of the reforms, an almost self-funded corps of scavengers is now at your command. They can still be made better, but they are already quite upgraded.
Enhanced results for scavenging. One slot for a free ongoing scavenging action. Scavenging actions will unlock new research and perks.
Tantalus Dome
-[X] The Central Spire
It is hard work, but most of the basics work is finished. Tantalus Dome is airtight again, the rubble has been cleaned up, the main facilities (power plant, life support, main research and teaching halls, administrative buildings) restored, with the appropriate personnel moving in. And most importantly, the Central Spire has been restored.
Now, from the computers cores, data treatments and communications systems of the Spire flow a constant stream of data on every action and department of the Academy. Every data analyzed, every action compared and archived. All of this at your fingertips, and even before the true dig into the old databases has begun.
This feeling of control, is it what the Oracles feel ? What the Imperator feel ?
Vladimir's Academy clock at 2/3. Obtained Central Academy Command. Obtained Comparative Data Analysis Centers (+1 to a random activated Research Project each turn)
[X] Obtain the True Predictions (-5 Influence)
The Predictions are far more than the musing of Oracles, but the result of constant, tireless data analysis and simulation with some of the most advanced computer cores in existence, and done by people specifically conditioned and trained to be the perfect analysts for the Empire.
As such, by getting access to the Predictions, you can now see the potential crisis of the Empire in real time, and more importantly, see how your actions shall impact them.
It is a quite humbling experience, to realize that one error at the lower level of rulership could cause thousands of deaths decades on, and that the Oracles can barely keep up with their tasks of preventing such errors.
As long as the Academy has access to the Predictions, you will have information on the ongoing Crisis clocks of the Empire and the impact of the Academy's actions on the clocks.
Ongoing potential Crisis :
- Economic Collapse (4/10) (Caused by long-term economical distortions caused by the Reconstruction of Earth) : Stabilized by the current state of the Jovian rush, long-term problems of a need of constant growth of the Imperial Economy.
- Elites shortage (6/20, +1 per Turn) (Caused by a lack of elites and Warped technologies to rule effectively the Empire) : Increasing issues, more and more visible by the transformation of Earth from a backwater in reconstruction to an integral part of the Imperial system.
- Factionalism (3/15, +1 per Turn) (Caused by increasing polarization of Olympian society and the number of extremists on Earth) : Increasing rapidly with new political tensions.
- [X] To Export Troubles
One of the most irrational parts of the Olympian psyche is an immense phobia of Chaos. When the Olympians see something that they consider as a potential source of Chaos, they react with extreme, excessive violence. This is why ethical guidelines were developed, a way to control the fearful Olympian urge to annihilate danger. And this is why the Household cannot deal with non-violent extremists.
The religious group that does not want to share with others beliefs systems. The various segregationists groups that want to live only with people of the same skin colors. A thousand political groups each dreaming of their own little utopias. And countless others that simply cannot be integrated into the Olympian system, but cannot ether be eliminated, creating a constant source of conflicts in the Empire.
Which is why, taking examples from the history of Earth, the problem is exported. Like the criminals sent to Australia and the Puritans to North America, the Household pushed with methods both covert and overt the Troubles to seek a new life in the Jovian Belt, were they would be able to earn a living far from the Imperator's Eyes. And thousands begin to leave, seeking new lives in the Belt, and stopping to cause problems back on Earth.
Of course, if left to their own devices, they will probably just create new problems on the Belt. After all, even on the Belt, they will not be free of Imperial control. Especially since most of their equipment is actually rented Household properties.
+ 1 Academy Share per turn, +1 Household Share per turn.
As long as To Export Troubles is active, -1 to Factionalism clock per Turn, Activate clock Jovian Belt Insurgency (1/5, +1 per turn).
- [X] Expand the Station (-3 RP)
- [X] Scions of Tantalus
So the Academy uses another example from Earth history. No matter how rebellious and divergent from the main culture of an empire, distant settlements cannot revolt if their vital needs depend upon the empire. So the Station is extended, with new orbital industries, docking bays and picket vessels, and members of the Gens (with now sympathies for dissidence) are invited to build a vast hydroponics bay on orbit.
Soon, there is a city floating in the void, where merchants come to easily buy precious raw resources without having to risk the might of Jupiter's gravity or negotiating with countless mining settlements. And from the city come supplies, spare parts, food, and everything else needed for a mining communities. No one come to the miners, but the Academy vessels. Without us, they shall starve. And so, our control over the Jovian Belt strengthen.
+ 1 Academy Share per Turn, +1 Gens Share.
Logistical control of the Jovian Belt, increased independence from planet bound industries. Due to control over vital supplies lines for the Jovian communities, the Jovian Belt Insurgency become (1/10, +1 per turn).
[X] A Meeting with the Past (81)
Once upon a time, a young Vladimir Kolinsky and Augustina Aelius Clemens worked together to reconstruct Earth, and Augustina promised that one day Vladimir could visit her ancestral home, a doomed city near the Imperial Palace on Olympus Mount.
This was a time of hope, where you looked at Augustina as a mentor and a leader. Until you realized how conservative she was. How she took Earthers could not be trusted until at least 5 to 8 generations under Olympian rule. Until you realized that she would never consider Earth as a true part of the Empire, and always privilege Olympia. So, no matter how brilliant she was, no matter how many charities and good work she did on Earth, you betrayed her. You took all you could, and watched impassively as she and her conservative friends left Earth, unable to understand how you convinced true Olympians to help you in striking her down.
Now, as an old man, you are finally walking the streets of Urbs Aelius, and admiring its renowned gardens, after a short and tense meeting with Augustina. In many ways, the Polis reflect the goals of the conservatives amongst the Gens. Turning Olympia into a perfect garden for a perfect society. And for that goal, even a woman who (somewhat rightfully) hates you is ready to bargain.
The Gens do not want to deal with Earth, or Earthers, do not want their carefully organized society to be perturbed in the slightest way. But they are desperate for the resources needed to turn Olympia into a garden of Elysium. They are ready to work with the Academy for this goal. Even if they will never stop to consider the societies and cultures of Earth with scorns.
[] Accept : 1 relation with the Gens, unlocked Gens actions, lessened tension. Olympian economic prosperity will bring bonus RP like Earth's prosperity. Obtain Research Asset Augustina Aelius Clemens (1 RP) : Level 1 (Statecraft,New World), Connected : +5 influence when completing a Project
Gens Influence over the Academy, Promise to work every turn on Project Elysium-related projects.
[] Refuse