Well, I gave that hint because I thought you were looking in the wrong places, but given the man minutes that's clearly been put into this, that seems unlikely. Let me say then that it's a reference to something that never actually appears in the strip itself, but is still in-universe.
Shepard Quest Mk V, Base of Operations (ME/MCU)
- Thread starter Esbilon
- Start date
- Location
- Dual citizen of SV&SB
The seventy maxims of maximally effective mercenaries, #24?
If so, the last hint was a tad much.
Edit: 14 and 34 might also work.
If so, the last hint was a tad much.
Edit: 14 and 34 might also work.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ummm... if we patent, the GM has said that they won't move against us so long as we ramp up production to meet demand. That makes us the number one supplier of arc technology in Citadel space, the wealthiest galactic market. Not only would we be swimming in levels of money that make Scrooge McDuck's vault look like a piggy bank, but the amount of political capital we would have would be... well, huge.
The Council is obviously looking out for their constituents, and pissing off a rising power whose existence is a stabilizing influence on the Traverse as well as being a major contributor of cutting edge technology is not in their best interests.
They're not a bunch of moustache twirling evil bureaucrats you know.
Maxim #24 clearly appears in the strip.
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
You do realize that "not worth it" didn't mean "they weren't sure they could win," right? Because they could. They so totally could. They had every single advantage that mattered: numbers, logistics, and technology. The only reason they didn't was because even if the Alliance couldn't win, they'd sure as sh*t have done a whole mess of damage before they were taken out. The arc reactor does not noticeably change that balance of power in any way that isn't good for us; even if we give them some of our tech, including the arc reactors, humanity still has the technological advantage by simple virtue of having this universe's Tony Stark on their side. So they could flood us with cheaper units, fine. They'd lose a sh*tload more people than us. That part hasn't changed and has in fact gone in our favor even if we give them some of our tech.
And even if you discount that, the Citadel Council isn't some tyrannical dictatorship that can just declare war on one of its constituents for no reason other than "because we can" or even "because you have what we want." For one, they're a coalition of several different races, many of whom would start to become very leery of those in charge if they just started ham-fistedly grasping for power by rolling over anyone weaker than them, and several of those races are a vital part of keeping the Citadel's society running (the volus, for example, are so influential in economic and banking fields that many find it in accurate assessment to say they basically run the Council's economy). Not to mention all the benefits the Alliance has brought to the Citadel, namely their hand in stabilizing a very lawless sector of space for little cost to the Council themselves, as well as their invention of some very useful things like medi-gel and carriers. And now Revy Shepard comes along and basically invents f*cking space magic. By this point humanity and especially Revy Shepard are the goose that lays the goddamn golden eggs, and nobody in their right minds is going to slit the goose's throat and cook it while it's still laying solid gold f*cking eggs.
[X] Building Better Babies. Distribute your new procedures as widely as you can, making Humanity stronger, faster, smarter and prettier. Also pissing off the companies that are making a killing doing this for the rich and powerful.
-[X] Provide free treatment to cure genetic disease in children.
--[X] Work with those of alliance governments who have free medical care and mandatory inoculations to spread your advancements as far as possible (and for political capital)
---[X] See if you can involve Sirta Foundation. This sort of thing is their specialty and it would be nice to have a working relationship.
[X] File. Let them see what we can do, and let them then shut up and give us their money.
-[X] But have your people go over any changes in Citadel patent law first. Hire a specialist if needs be.
[X] Hire on five new security teams.
- [X]Prioritize Marines but if we have to take on more LEOs or mercs to have them on time then so be it.
Research
[X] Advanced Fire Control VI (400)
60d10 + 120 = 98.85% chance of completion
[X] Advanced Black boxing/FRM (439/800)
60d10 + 70 = 96.21 % chance of completion
[X] Peak Human (400)
20D10+20+Overflow
Spare time
[X] Have your own advanced implant (Magi) installed.
-[X] Ask if Rahna would be willing to be hired as your tutor for you.
-[X] Offer at cost replacements for all L2 Biotics. Have Rahna as a spokes person if she agrees.
[X] Spend time with family and Brian.
-[X] Hellish as it was fighting to beat Mum's challenges with Brian was fun, maybe you can do some more of that.
--[X] Bring some of what you've learned to the Security Teams training.
-[X] Provide free treatment to cure genetic disease in children.
--[X] Work with those of alliance governments who have free medical care and mandatory inoculations to spread your advancements as far as possible (and for political capital)
---[X] See if you can involve Sirta Foundation. This sort of thing is their specialty and it would be nice to have a working relationship.
[X] File. Let them see what we can do, and let them then shut up and give us their money.
-[X] But have your people go over any changes in Citadel patent law first. Hire a specialist if needs be.
[X] Hire on five new security teams.
- [X]Prioritize Marines but if we have to take on more LEOs or mercs to have them on time then so be it.
Research
[X] Advanced Fire Control VI (400)
60d10 + 120 = 98.85% chance of completion
[X] Advanced Black boxing/FRM (439/800)
60d10 + 70 = 96.21 % chance of completion
[X] Peak Human (400)
20D10+20+Overflow
Spare time
[X] Have your own advanced implant (Magi) installed.
-[X] Ask if Rahna would be willing to be hired as your tutor for you.
-[X] Offer at cost replacements for all L2 Biotics. Have Rahna as a spokes person if she agrees.
[X] Spend time with family and Brian.
-[X] Hellish as it was fighting to beat Mum's challenges with Brian was fun, maybe you can do some more of that.
--[X] Bring some of what you've learned to the Security Teams training.
Van Ropen
Angry, angry about elves.
No, he doesn't know. Every argument is predicated on the idea of the Citadel treating the Alliance like a foreign entity they want to destroy, instead of a minor constituent they want to benefit from.
The mind boggles.
By the way; didn't we start building on a new Basic Research Laboratory a turn or two ago?
Van Ropen
Angry, angry about elves.
So, 50 more bonus points...excellent! Sadly, still too far short of Miniaturized Lasers, so no laser point defense system in time for the contest. In that case, switching to Peak Human.
Business
[X] Building Better Babies. Distribute your new procedures as widely as you can, making Humanity stronger, faster, smarter and prettier. Also pissing off the companies that are making a killing doing this for the rich and powerful.
-[X] Provide free treatment to cure genetic disease in children.
--[X] Work with those of alliance governments who have free medical care and mandatory inoculations to spread your advancements as far as possible (and for political capital)
---[X] See if you can involve Sirta Foundation. This sort of thing is their specialty and it would be nice to have a working relationship.
[X] File. Let them see what we can do, and let them then shut up and give us their money.
-[X] But have your people go over any changes in Citadel patent law first. Hire a specialist if needs be.
[X] Hire on five new security teams.
- [X]Prioritize Marines but if we have to take on more LEOs or mercs to have them on time then so be it.
[X] Build Basic Lab II
-[X] Hire Research Teams at our usual salary
Research
[X] Advanced Fire Control VI (0/400)
60d10 + 120 = 98.85% chance of completion
[X] Advanced Black boxing/FRM (439/800)
60d10 + 70 = 96.21 % chance of completion
[X] Peak Human (0/400)
20D10+70+Overflow
Spare time
[X] Have your own advanced implant (Magi) installed.
-[X] Ask if Rahna would be willing to be hired as your tutor for you
[X] Spend time with family and Brian.
-[X] Hellish as it was fighting to beat Mum's challenges with Brian was fun, maybe you can do some more of that
--[X] Bring some of what you've learned to the Security Teams training
Business
[X] Building Better Babies. Distribute your new procedures as widely as you can, making Humanity stronger, faster, smarter and prettier. Also pissing off the companies that are making a killing doing this for the rich and powerful.
-[X] Provide free treatment to cure genetic disease in children.
--[X] Work with those of alliance governments who have free medical care and mandatory inoculations to spread your advancements as far as possible (and for political capital)
---[X] See if you can involve Sirta Foundation. This sort of thing is their specialty and it would be nice to have a working relationship.
[X] File. Let them see what we can do, and let them then shut up and give us their money.
-[X] But have your people go over any changes in Citadel patent law first. Hire a specialist if needs be.
[X] Hire on five new security teams.
- [X]Prioritize Marines but if we have to take on more LEOs or mercs to have them on time then so be it.
[X] Build Basic Lab II
-[X] Hire Research Teams at our usual salary
Research
[X] Advanced Fire Control VI (0/400)
60d10 + 120 = 98.85% chance of completion
[X] Advanced Black boxing/FRM (439/800)
60d10 + 70 = 96.21 % chance of completion
[X] Peak Human (0/400)
20D10+70+Overflow
Spare time
[X] Have your own advanced implant (Magi) installed.
-[X] Ask if Rahna would be willing to be hired as your tutor for you
[X] Spend time with family and Brian.
-[X] Hellish as it was fighting to beat Mum's challenges with Brian was fun, maybe you can do some more of that
--[X] Bring some of what you've learned to the Security Teams training
Last edited:
Wasn't that the research department we are building for the contact we got at party in chapter 28?
Yeah, and we can expand it like our other laboratories as well.
Ie, right now we have a Tier 1 Basic Research Lab, and we could upgrade it to Tier 2 or 3, giving us an additional 50/70 points per turn, respectively.
Van Ropen
Angry, angry about elves.
Hmm? In response to that, we built a Basic Lab - but those come in grades too, I-II-III. We built Basic Lab I, but I don't think we ever upgraded it. The upgrade was discussed, but I think we didn't have the cash on hand between Factory IIi and Lab III.
We have the cash now, yes? In that case guys, add:
[?] Build Basic Lab II
-[?] Hire Research Teams at our usual salary
under the business section.
Edit - Ninja'd.
Last edited:
Van Ropen
Angry, angry about elves.
Ours is better. The L4 was a minor improvement over the L3, but didn't match the L2. We surpassed the L2. The only things that probably match ours at this point are the custom-made L5's they stuck in Shepard and other such specialty implants.
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
As I recall, the L4 implants granted something like a 10-15% increase in biotic power over the L2 with no observed side-effects. Judging from the description, I'd say we've at the very least matched it and quite likely exceeded it by at least a little.
Van Ropen
Angry, angry about elves.
Nope, just double checked the wiki - it was a 10-15% increase over the L3's, which were notably weaker than the L2s. We topped it.
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
Yep. Just finished looking that up myself, actually. Mea culpa.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Heck, I wouldn't even call it a minor constituent. It's solidly mid tier from what I can tell.
It's Maxim 35: 'That which does not kill you has made a tactical error.' which only appears on a Schlock T-shirt. The reference is oblique from Brian when he says:
Schlock Mercenary - Check
Not in comic - Check
Subtle - Check
Schlock Mercenary - Check
Not in comic - Check
Subtle - Check
Shouldn't we have the money that we can directly build a Tier 3 Basic Research Lab?
Van Ropen
Angry, angry about elves.
A bit higher than that - they have been clearly marked as a favorite and given privileges other species have had to struggle for hundreds of years to attain. The Batarians, a Citadel species for centuries, were pretty much immediately thrown out on their ass in favor of the Humans. They know the Alliance is a potential power, and want to cultivate/harness/direct.
Speaking of, thoughts like that should really preclude him from serving in the army. Dude needs counseling and no sane government / organization would want a soldier who wants to start a war as anything but a deniable asset.
Van Ropen
Angry, angry about elves.
I figured we have to build a Tier II first - while factories were ruled to be separable, I don't think Labs were. It was a balance thing?
Then again, we started multiple tiers at the same time before. Maybe we can start Tier II and III? @Ebsilon, is that okay?