[X] Mechanical Engineers – a pair of EUDF mechanical engineers have been highlighted as candidates from the 15th EUDF Motorized Division based in California. A First Lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class come with conflicting reports. On the one hand, superiors have cited them for their miraculous ability to repair broken down vehicles so long as they are given free reign in the scrap yard and left-over parts. On the other hand, they have a reputation for manic 'experimentation,' with those same superiors frustrated over how 'they bust almost more vehicles that they repair.' They are apparently attempting to experiment with creating what they call 'variable configurations' to allow vehicles to change form for different purposes. Left alone, the idea is likely to fizzle out. Given official support, however…
[X] Computer Engineers – a defense contractor company based in Novgorod, Russia was identified as a potential recruiting option for Engineering. They are manufacturers of military computer systems that supplement EUDF vehicles. Anything from fighter jets to main battle tanks, some of their hardware has likely found their way into the cockpits, all the while complying with the main manufacturer's software requirements. Lately, they have been attempting to push into developing super computers for use in combat vehicles. Thus far, few in the EUDF command or civilian agencies have been interested, as the company is relatively unproven in such an endeavor. Perhaps they simply haven't met the right customer…
That can be avoided by framing the votes this way:
[ ] This-and-that Engineers
Do this-and-that
It excludes the lengthy description from the vote.
Also, even the forum tally has the option to manage votes and reduce the clutter significantly:
[] Mechanical Engineers – a pair of EUDF mechanical engineers have been highlighted as candidates from the 15th EUDF Motorized Division based in California. A First Lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class come with conflicting reports. On the one hand, superiors have cited them for their miraculous ability to repair broken down vehicles so long as they are given free reign in the scrap yard and left-over parts. On the other hand, they have a reputation for manic 'experimentation,' with those same superiors frustrated over how 'they bust almost more vehicles that they repair.' They are apparently attempting to experiment with creating what they call 'variable configurations' to allow vehicles to change form for different purposes. Left alone, the idea is likely to fizzle out. Given official support, however… Number of voters: 8 veekie, wingstrike96, QueenPally, Lord Ultimus, LinkOnScepter, ConfusedPotato, Metrux,Pred1059
[] Materials Engineers – a civilian company based in Nova Scotia, Canada has been tapped as a recruitment possibility. Responsible for fabricating supplemental armor plating for infantry and combat vehicles, they have lately been experimenting with new alloy mixtures. Nothing has borne fruit yet, as the EUDF has greater demand for their usual products, but they seem unsatisfied with the effectiveness of armor against the EUDF's latest foes. Number of voters: 6 Vanestus, KnightDisciple, JMHthe3rd, Zaealix, meganeshounen, Imaflatsquid
[] Computer Engineers – a defense contractor company based in Novgorod, Russia was identified as a potential recruiting option for Engineering. They are manufacturers of military computer systems that supplement EUDF vehicles. Anything from fighter jets to main battle tanks, some of their hardware has likely found their way into the cockpits, all the while complying with the main manufacturer's software requirements. Lately, they have been attempting to push into developing super computers for use in combat vehicles. Thus far, few in the EUDF command or civilian agencies have been interested, as the company is relatively unproven in such an endeavor. Perhaps they simply haven't met the right customer… Number of voters: 6 veekie, wingstrike96, Zaealix, meganeshounen, Imaflatsquid, ConfusedPotato
[] Weapons Engineers – a group of weapons engineers establishing their own business has been identified as potential recruits. Veterans of arms development, they are intimately familiar with weapons ranging from small arms to naval cannons. However, they are attempting to become pioneers in laser technology, by turning them into weapons instead of just industrial tools. The EUDF has barely taken note of them, and it is uncertain whether they will succeed or not. Number of voters: 5 Lord Ultimus, LinkOnScepter, JMHthe3rd, Metrux, Nevill
[] Mechatronics Engineers – a small industrial automation firm based in Bremen, Germany has been noted as a potential candidate for recruitment. The head of the company, an old, wily inventor, has been responsible for manufacturing many of the automated servos used by assembly lines in automobile firms. Lately, however, the company head seems to have been inspired by the hulking robotic frames cobbled together recently by the Westphalian separatists and is attempting to pursue the idea independently. Results are mixed, but this is very likely because this is a side project and not a source of serious investment. Given time and resources, however…
Number of voters: 4 Vanestus, KnightDisciple, Nevill, Pred1059
Welp, close enough to that time. Now let's take another look at the voting. Filtered, this time!
Adhoc vote count started by Basarin on Apr 27, 2018 at 12:54 PM, finished with 32 posts and 16 votes.
[X] Mechanical Engineers – a pair of EUDF mechanical engineers have been highlighted as candidates from the 15th EUDF Motorized Division based in California. A First Lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class come with conflicting reports. On the one hand, superiors have cited them for their miraculous ability to repair broken down vehicles so long as they are given free reign in the scrap yard and left-over parts. On the other hand, they have a reputation for manic 'experimentation,' with those same superiors frustrated over how 'they bust almost more vehicles that they repair.' They are apparently attempting to experiment with creating what they call 'variable configurations' to allow vehicles to change form for different purposes. Left alone, the idea is likely to fizzle out. Given official support, however…
[X] Computer Engineers – a defense contractor company based in Novgorod, Russia was identified as a potential recruiting option for Engineering. They are manufacturers of military computer systems that supplement EUDF vehicles. Anything from fighter jets to main battle tanks, some of their hardware has likely found their way into the cockpits, all the while complying with the main manufacturer's software requirements. Lately, they have been attempting to push into developing super computers for use in combat vehicles. Thus far, few in the EUDF command or civilian agencies have been interested, as the company is relatively unproven in such an endeavor. Perhaps they simply haven't met the right customer…
[X] Materials Engineers – a civilian company based in Nova Scotia, Canada has been tapped as a recruitment possibility. Responsible for fabricating supplemental armor plating for infantry and combat vehicles, they have lately been experimenting with new alloy mixtures. Nothing has borne fruit yet, as the EUDF has greater demand for their usual products, but they seem unsatisfied with the effectiveness of armor against the EUDF's latest foes.
[X] Weapons Engineers – a group of weapons engineers establishing their own business has been identified as potential recruits. Veterans of arms development, they are intimately familiar with weapons ranging from small arms to naval cannons. However, they are attempting to become pioneers in laser technology, by turning them into weapons instead of just industrial tools. The EUDF has barely taken note of them, and it is uncertain whether they will succeed or not.
[X] Mechatronics Engineers – a small industrial automation firm based in Bremen, Germany has been noted as a potential candidate for recruitment. The head of the company, an old, wily inventor, has been responsible for manufacturing many of the automated servos used by assembly lines in automobile firms. Lately, however, the company head seems to have been inspired by the hulking robotic frames cobbled together recently by the Westphalian separatists and is attempting to pursue the idea independently. Results are mixed, but this is very likely because this is a side project and not a source of serious investment. Given time and resources, however…
I probably should have specified by plan, huh? The tally system is going to be a mite confused by this layout.
Yeah, inserted a tally. Looks about what I thought.
Tell you all what. Extending votes until late afternoon/evening. If you would, please reorganize your votes into plans (along the lines of the Plan Z that was posted); it'll make tallying for me easier.
EDIT: In the event that I don't see plans and still see the old format, I will tally it as best I can. That said, I can't guarantee ideal results from that.
Don't worry too much, but plan voting is usually better left for when a choice affects another, when they are separate choices voting by line is most of the time better ;3
Adhoc vote count started by Basarin on Apr 27, 2018 at 12:54 PM, finished with 32 posts and 16 votes.
[X] Mechanical Engineers – a pair of EUDF mechanical engineers have been highlighted as candidates from the 15th EUDF Motorized Division based in California. A First Lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class come with conflicting reports. On the one hand, superiors have cited them for their miraculous ability to repair broken down vehicles so long as they are given free reign in the scrap yard and left-over parts. On the other hand, they have a reputation for manic 'experimentation,' with those same superiors frustrated over how 'they bust almost more vehicles that they repair.' They are apparently attempting to experiment with creating what they call 'variable configurations' to allow vehicles to change form for different purposes. Left alone, the idea is likely to fizzle out. Given official support, however…
[X] Computer Engineers – a defense contractor company based in Novgorod, Russia was identified as a potential recruiting option for Engineering. They are manufacturers of military computer systems that supplement EUDF vehicles. Anything from fighter jets to main battle tanks, some of their hardware has likely found their way into the cockpits, all the while complying with the main manufacturer's software requirements. Lately, they have been attempting to push into developing super computers for use in combat vehicles. Thus far, few in the EUDF command or civilian agencies have been interested, as the company is relatively unproven in such an endeavor. Perhaps they simply haven't met the right customer…
[X] Materials Engineers – a civilian company based in Nova Scotia, Canada has been tapped as a recruitment possibility. Responsible for fabricating supplemental armor plating for infantry and combat vehicles, they have lately been experimenting with new alloy mixtures. Nothing has borne fruit yet, as the EUDF has greater demand for their usual products, but they seem unsatisfied with the effectiveness of armor against the EUDF's latest foes.
[X] Weapons Engineers – a group of weapons engineers establishing their own business has been identified as potential recruits. Veterans of arms development, they are intimately familiar with weapons ranging from small arms to naval cannons. However, they are attempting to become pioneers in laser technology, by turning them into weapons instead of just industrial tools. The EUDF has barely taken note of them, and it is uncertain whether they will succeed or not.
[X] Mechatronics Engineers – a small industrial automation firm based in Bremen, Germany has been noted as a potential candidate for recruitment. The head of the company, an old, wily inventor, has been responsible for manufacturing many of the automated servos used by assembly lines in automobile firms. Lately, however, the company head seems to have been inspired by the hulking robotic frames cobbled together recently by the Westphalian separatists and is attempting to pursue the idea independently. Results are mixed, but this is very likely because this is a side project and not a source of serious investment. Given time and resources, however…
Like I said, new to running a quest, so please just bear with me through technical embarrassments like that.
But otherwise, still looks like a winner for Mechanical and Computer, even with the plans factored in.
Post will come this afternoon, aiming to sneak this in before the scheduled maintenance downtime hits.
Next turn will wrap up the 'setup prologue,' and soon you will enter the game proper. Your upcoming choice will be selecting your base of operations. Where will the Defense Force Research Institute set up shop?
Like I said, new to running a quest, so please just bear with me through technical embarrassments like that.
But otherwise, still looks like a winner for Mechanical and Computer, even with the plans factored in.
Post will come this afternoon, aiming to sneak this in before the scheduled maintenance downtime hits.
Next turn will wrap up the 'setup prologue,' and soon you will enter the game proper. Your upcoming choice will be selecting your base of operations. Where will the Defense Force Research Institute set up shop?
1536, 6 January, A.D. 2070
Landing Pad 5B-2
Unity Station
You try not to sigh as you watch the assorted Soldiers assigned to you load onto the Stork-class aerial transport, the Yuri Gagarin. The assorted officers and Soldiers were slowly – but surely, you try to console yourself – loading the laboratory equipment onto the hulking aerial transport. The vehicle looked so much like a nesting bird with its wings folded inwards, if one didn't mind the steady stream of Soldiers going in and out of the vehicle via the loading ramp in the rear.
Really, you try not to hold it against them. It's not their fault, and certainly isn't Sasaki's. She has her hands full simply organizing and requisitioning everything you will need to get on your feet. It certainly helps that the Brigadier gave you essentially carte blanche to grab what you wanted…within reason. She has things as well in hand as she can, given what you must work with.
But couldn't they have assigned you actual Logistical Soldiers? You looked over the personnel rosters, and many of them were drawn from combat units. It's logical; most of them are likely to serve as facility security, along with a cadre of maintenance, engineers and test pilots. And any Soldier will tell you, no matter the time or place, that Soldiers are always used to having to load things.
But your old Soldiers in your last post…they at least knew how to do things right without you having to hold their hands. The officers all knew how to do what you wanted; you just had to give them direction, and they and their sergeants could deal with the rest.
You sigh. You miss those simpler days already.
"…telling you, he's over here!" you hear a voice echo from the warehouse behind you.
"That's what you said the last few warehouses, LT," another voice said. Compared to the first voice, which sounded energetic and excitable, the second voice was deep, monotone, and…not much else.
"Oh, come on," the first voice insisted. He sounded much closer now. "Who the heck transports a giant refrigeration unit like that?"
"The Quartermasters."
"Details!"
Turning around, you see a very mismatched pair approaching in…is that a power-loader truck? The profile is all off.
A First Lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class are approaching you while animatedly talking to each other in the open-topped driver's compartment. The lieutenant has a shock of yellow hair and the five 'o clock shadow of someone who hadn't had a chance to shave in some time, likely from a long plane flight. The NCO, on the other hand, sat stoically beside the officer, his EUDF Regulars black beret still hanging on his head over a squat pair of glasses.
You'd served in plenty of EUDF formations, but most still retained the uniforms of their national origins. Apparently, they were being serious about starting a pure EUDF integrated force from the ground-up; the light green digital camouflage patterns bore only an American flag patch on their right shoulders, situated over the globe and shield of the EUDF.
You glance back at the transport, then back at the pair. You were not expecting 1LT Wilde and SFC Henry to arrive so quickly. Even when over the phone, their Battalion Commander had all but signed the transfer orders verbally, and flat out begged you to take them off her hands. Her loss. You think.
"Sir!" With a wide, happy grin, Wilde sketches a salute towards you. Henry does the same, but much more solemnly. "Lieutenant Adam Wilde, checking in as ordered!"
"Sergeant First Class James Henry, Sir," came the monotone of the NCO.
You return a salute just as brief as theirs. "Major John Devin. Heard some interesting things about you two," you greet them.
"We deny everything, Sir," Henry responded.
Wilde jabs him in the ribs, then shakes his arm in an exaggerated fashion when it utterly fails to faze Henry. "We're not that bad, Sir," he says. The grin has yet to fade from his face. "But…uh, what did you hear about us?"
"Something about 'variable configurations,' I think were your BC's words," you say dryly.
"Oh, yeah! Those!" Excitedly, Wilde engages a few levers that you can't see. You automatically take a few steps back as the back of the truck seems to fall apart. But the pair stubbornly refuse to be fazed, and still sit calmly in the driver's seats. Instead of falling apart, the back of the truck has two giant claw manipulator arms hovering menacingly over the flatbed. "We figured, why wait for a power loader truck when we can make a power loader truck out of any truck?"
You absentmindedly wave a hand at the Soldiers behind you taking cover to stand down. They were clearly as shocked as you were. "…did you get one of these trucks from here?" you hazard to ask.
"It was scheduled for turn-in for scrap, Sir," Henry says with a shrug. "They didn't care what we did with it."
"Fair enough." Turning around, you see the Soldiers slowly begin to get back to work. An evil thought crosses your mind as you turn back to them. "Well, welcome board, gents," you say. "As of now, as per your transfer orders uploaded to Unity Station, you're part of the Defense Force Research Institute." Immediately, the rank badges on all three of your uniforms chirp with a soft chime. Voice recognition of the lawful transfer had been recognized. "I'd normally let you get settled in, but…" You gesture towards the troops, who suddenly seem to have a sense of dread. "Take charge of getting our gear and Soldiers stowed away. I want all of this stowed away and ready to go by 1200 tomorrow."
The pair glance at each other. Wilde is now smiling even more, while you see a suggestion of a grin on Henry's face. "We're on it, Sir!" With that, the truck trundles on towards the unstowed gear.
You chuckle a bit as you see the manipulator claws simply grab all the gear and throw them onto the flatbed. Wilde hops out of the driver's seat to immediately gather all the NCOs to put some sense of order into the loading process while Henry continues to load things onto the truck at a more sedate pace than his superior.
"Lively pair, aren't they?" a deep, bass voice says curiously from behind you. Turning around, you see an older man staring at the truck with some measure of fascination. "Interesting. Defense Force training normally calls for slow methodical movements with guidance from Soldiers on the ground. Movements on a control scheme such as that would require a significant amount of thoughts and calculations per second. Even with an onboard computing suite."
"You're…not wrong," you say. "But I believe they created a custom framework for this one. That isn't standard issue."
"All the same, it is impressive," the man says. "I would very much like to speak with them later." Turning fully towards you, you see the man up close for the first time. A head shorter than you, the man has a well-trimmed beard that juts out past his chin. His hair, while brown, has already begun to bleach into gray. He wears a simple business suit, with a Unity Station pass clipped to his lapel.
He holds out a hand to you. "Dr. Boris Ignatov, Novgorod Computing Solutions. I understand from the communique from General Peters that I am to work with you?"
"Major John Devin. Good to have you, doctor," you greet as you firmly return his handshake. Despite his age, he still has a strong handshake. "I understand you want to branch out into supercomputers."
"Not just branch out, young man," he huffs in amusement. "I want to make supercomputers our business." He nods to the staff trailing behind him as they add their cargo to the now rapidly shrinking pile left to load onto the Gagarin. "And this project of yours…I do believe we can assemble something of worth for you."
"Don't sell yourself short, doctor," you chuckle. "I'll be blunt with you. BG Peters wants our very own Super Robot. I haven't fully taken stock of our options yet, but I will take any advantages you have to offer us."
You can see a small twinkle in the man's eyes. "Music to my ears, tovarisch," he says with a smile. It puts you in mind the image of a grandfather doting on a grandson. "We will do this for you. You give us the means, we will give you the ends."
8 January comes very quickly.
As you sit in the guest room of the lodging that had become your office over the past few days, you glance at the figures sitting around you. Very quickly, even without it becoming formal yet, you have a 'staff' that you see will be helping you in the future.
Captain Sasaki, your Defense Force coordinator, your executive officer, and unofficially your 'minder.'
Dr. Sam Carlson, your chief of mad Science.
SCIENCE!
…weren't the windows closed?
Dr. Boris Ignatov, your chief Engineer. To his side is the excitable Lieutenant Wilde and the somber Sergeant Henry.
Together, you all had one charge. Create the Earth Union's own Super Robot. Then, when that happened, do it again.
All that was left was to take final stock of where you all will be setting down roots. Though Brigadier Peters had promised you an 'adequate' facility, both of you knew that it was likely going to be run down, in poor condition, and not entirely suited for what you need. But it does come with the advantage that there will be something that can help you, and as you will be signing for the land, you have full control over any renovations you initiate.
All you must do is provide results.
No pressure.
What facility did Peters manage to acquire for you?
[] An abandoned missile silo complex. Long abandoned after the Unification Wars, the facilities are surprisingly intact for their age. Obviously, the missiles have been removed, but the silos can be repurposed to whatever you want. In fact, most Old-World bases were quite modular; with a little work, what started as a missile silo can turn into something quite different. Lieutenant Wilde and Sergeant Henry are quite excited, as they can see opportunities to expand the base to be a paradise for building and testing prototypes. (+ Bonus to Engineer Actions, + requires relatively little renovation, - what you see is what you get, ???)
[] An abandoned series of oil derrick platforms. Formerly owned by a Westphalian-aligned warlord fighting for the return of national borders, it has long been abandoned after he was decisively defeated by Special Operations teams. The platforms once held a small nation of Soldiers and could easily be repurposed for a Defense Force presence. However, the location is well-known and infamous. (+ Bonus to Defense Force Actions, + defensible location, + military facilities for testing purposes ready to go with some repairs, - not particularly suited for Super Robot development and will require extensive renovations for the purpose, - well-known location, enemies could easily locate you if they were inclined, ???)
[] A destroyed university campus. The campus management was unable to afford reconstruction fees after it was caught as part of a kaiju raid last year, and ultimately opted to move to a new location. However, it still has plenty of excellent research facilities (if in need of repairs), and plenty of facilities for offices and housing for personnel. (+ Bonus to Science Research Actions, + ready-made facilities, - requires comprehensive renovation, ???)
We have now reached the end of the prologue. Soon, you will begin Turn 1! Exciting!
I'll likely count the votes sometime tomorrow early afternoon or early morning depending. But before I post turn one, you will all get an interlude of things happening. In future, you will get your choice of what interludes you want to see, but this one is already pre-planned.
[X] An abandoned series of oil derrick platforms. Formerly owned by a Westphalian-aligned warlord fighting for the return of national borders, it has long been abandoned after he was decisively defeated by Special Operations teams. The platforms once held a small nation of Soldiers and could easily be repurposed for a Defense Force presence. However, the location is well-known and infamous. (+ Bonus to Defense Force Actions, + defensible location, + military facilities for testing purposes ready to go with some repairs, - not particularly suited for Super Robot development and will require extensive renovations for the purpose, - well-known location, enemies could easily locate you if they were inclined, ???)
We Motherbase now.
Also, we need to get someone like Fudou Gen from Aquarion in here.
"At night the moon shines with daylight. Our dreams are an ocean… each wave is the dream of an individual. The tide is controlled by the pull of the moon… it illuminates our dreams. If you open the moon, you will discover the path to dreams. When one finds death, they are submerged in the ocean of dreams. At the end of life's path is a door that leads us to this ocean. Our dreams transcend the self to reach this sea… connecting us all within its lunar tide."
[X] A destroyed university campus. The campus management was unable to afford reconstruction fees after it was caught as part of a kaiju raid last year, and ultimately opted to move to a new location. However, it still has plenty of excellent research facilities (if in need of repairs), and plenty of facilities for offices and housing for personnel. (+ Bonus to Science Research Actions, + ready-made facilities, - requires comprehensive renovation, ???)
[X] A destroyed university campus. The campus management was unable to afford reconstruction fees after it was caught as part of a kaiju raid last year, and ultimately opted to move to a new location. However, it still has plenty of excellent research facilities (if in need of repairs), and plenty of facilities for offices and housing for personnel. (+ Bonus to Science Research Actions, + ready-made facilities, - requires comprehensive renovation, ???)
[X] An abandoned missile silo complex. Long abandoned after the Unification Wars, the facilities are surprisingly intact for their age. Obviously, the missiles have been removed, but the silos can be repurposed to whatever you want. In fact, most Old-World bases were quite modular; with a little work, what started as a missile silo can turn into something quite different. Lieutenant Wilde and Sergeant Henry are quite excited, as they can see opportunities to expand the base to be a paradise for building and testing prototypes. (+ Bonus to Engineer Actions, + requires relatively little renovation, - what you see is what you get, ???)
Way I see it, these almost seem like difficulty sliders.
This one I like because 1. the modularity should let us adapt to whatever we actually need. 2. Engineering is really what we want, since what we want is to make a Super Robot. Then naturally we're going to want to maintain the thing so it doesn't end up being a glorified parade float or PR item.
And frankly...As far as innovating, we can leave that to the civvies-our job is to leverage our funding to create a solid, dependable production-class Giant Mecha, as opposed to some sort of prototype wunderkind that's the only one possible to create.
our job is to leverage our funding to create a solid, dependable production-class Giant Mecha, as opposed to some sort of prototype wunderkind that's the only one possible to create.
And inside is the base, where we make others super robots!
