Are you assuming he always was a way-too-busy only-sane-man way-too-deep in Important Stuff? Because I want to imply that he, at the very least, read things as a kid, teenager, and maybe a student, too.
I kind of sort of settled in at this point, so I'll try to get the next turn up and running this weekend. Sorry for the delays, all!
1439, 28 February A.D. 2072
Carlson Laboratories, Dr. Carlson's Office
"Sam here. Please tell me I don't have to remind you chuckleheads to not tamper with the acidic buildup from the Dragon's Horn. Seriously – I know it's similar enough in composition to Sample Zero, but this is Kaiju Bullshit Science – for all we know it'll turn you into a piñata. If that happens, I will do a coinflip between finding a way to undo that, or holding an office party at the last minute! Now get to it!"
Sam flipped off the switch, his nonplussed mood immediately lifting as he turned towards his next priority. "Alright, Ivanna, got anything new?"
"Sadly no, Dr. Carlson." Sam grumbled inwardly, but he let it slide; not once had he managed to get Ivanna to refer to him by first name. Then again, neither had Max, so eh. His assistant's avatar materialized on his terminal with a readout of the latest testing results. "Unfortunately, the Transmutation project has been seeing…" Two fingers tapped each other as she thought about the words. "…diminishing results, it looks like. We are getting results, just not to the level we're expecting."
"Show me." Immediately samples of the K-Class Materials – all harvested from Sample Zero, the original secured frozen one – are shown being subjected to small-scale tests, all while hooked up to various testing staff and volunteers through the MMI systems. "Weight reduction, composition alteration, increased conductivity," Sam mumbled as he glanced through and absorbed all the information rapidly. "…huh. Not exactly matching up to the hypotheses, are we?"
"Could very well be?" Ivanna also seemed to be at a loss to describe this. "I'm honestly unsure if this is because the materials are resisting the Transmutations, or if there's something else entirely that we aren't finding." The reports fade away, to be replaced by Ivanna's own investigations into it. Sam nodded in approval; it really was nice having an assistant who went back and double-checked everything as he moved on. "Mind you, Dr. Carlson, I am finding additional effects that are taking place from the experimentation. However, that was not initially the focus of the tests, so those were not as closely recorded."
"Yeah, yeah," Sam nodded as he dismissed that, "No sweat off your back, Ivanna. We had an original hypothesis and we were focusing on that. That's just good Science."
"Science."
"So tell you what," Sam continued, taking his staff's rallying cry in stride – as always. Good people, them. If stupid sometimes. "Let's just take this from the top again. Same tests, same hypotheses. Only now – " Sam's hands flew across the keyboard as he began inputting his own requirements for the tests into the experiments, " – let's focus on the additional effects you're recording. Entirely possible that the K-Class is doing something else that we didn't exactly plan for."
"You seem rather nonchalant about this," Ivanna commented with a raised eyebrow. "Shouldn't we be concerned that this is not producing the results just yet?"
"Ivanna," Sam chuckled as he finished uploading his personal adjustments to the next batch of experiments, "In this line of work, nothing is guaranteed to produce results when you want it. It sure as hell isn't going to produce it when your bosses want it either." He paused. "Make that especially when your bosses want it. Scientific discovery is just that – you're trying to find out if something will do something, you go and try it with what you've got, and then you record what actually happened, and how it happened." He shrugged. "Whether or not it actually happened the way you wanted it to is entirely incidental."
Ivanna still looked unconvinced, so Sam tried a different tact. "Put it this way: over half of everything that went into the Super Robots weren't exactly planned. Take K-Class, for example. Yeah, we wanted to use Kaiju bits as building blocks, but did we know it was gonna turn out this way? Hell no we didn't! Now we have a super flexible and tough building material that can go toe-to-toe with Kaiju! And-"
"Dr. Carlson, you're doing it again," Ivanna cut in smoothly.
"Huh?" Sam blinked, then found he was standing atop of his terminal with his fist raised into the sky. "Oh, monologuing again. Damnit."
"Got it out of your system, Sir?"
"Reckon so. Thanks, Ivanna." Jumping off of the terminal and sitting back down as if nothing happened, he insisted, "But you get my point, though?"
"Even the byproducts can become breakthroughs of their own?"
"Exactly so." Sam paused. "Hmm, should maybe put that on a poster sometime."
"I can schedule one to be produced for next week?"
"Yeah, let's go with that. Anyways, back to testing!"
"…you…may want to divert attention to Sample Zero, Sir."
"What?" Sam glanced at one of the cameras. "PAUL! PUT THE AIR FRYER DOWN!"
Fairly certain I might have missed a few things here and there, but bear with me. I'll leave voting up until tomorrow or Monday or so.
1149, 3 March A.D. 2072
Command Center Bridge
"Wait, me?"
You nod, already prepared for the 'Wat' reaction from Satsuma. "Yup. You." You nod to the Regent, having now been established in the Command Center - still isolated somewhat, but it was comfortable with that. "Turns out a sentient alien intelligence bound to a crystal is saying you've got the chops to become a Champion of Varulne."
God bless your briefing instructors. You were able to say this with a straight face.
"I understand this is somewhat abrupt, Jessica Satsuma," the Regent adds in a gentle tone. "But I have been observing you. You possess the right amount of conviction, courage, and compassion to wield the C-Crystal."
"I, uh..." Satsuma just sort of blanches. "Okay, this is kind of a lot to take in, y'know? I thought meeting Cav and the Legion was weird enough for my life as it is."
"You would be surprised," the Regent replies in a dry tone. Story of your life, really. "Still. I will empower you as our Champion, and along with Major Devin's forces, you will help to bring peace to the Earth Union."
"And a trip to your home planet, yeah?" she asks.
You take this moment to interject. "We made it clear that we're sending folks with you to help, and to bring you back home when that job's done." You were very adamant about that point. While the Regent has been cooperative, you've always lived by the idea of 'trust but verify.' "We're not sending you out anywhere without making sure you're ready."
"...well, when do I start?" You blink. Satsuma sees the vague surprise passing your face. "Well, at the very least, Sir, I wanna be there to punch Tyrannous in the face for everything he's done. And we can use all the help we can get, right?"
"I told you, Major," the Regent says, in a somewhat smug voice.
"Yeah, yeah," you grumble.
Satsuma and the Valkyrie are unavailable for the next four turns as they acclimate to the acquisition of the C-Crystal.
Resource Point Income: 19 + 2 (Landing Pad) + 2 (EUGDF Commission, Four Turns Remaining) - 8 RP (Locked Actions - Mechanical Men, Zulu, Security Net, Seeker, Security!!!, Transmutation, Zirvitium Refinement) = 15 RP Total
Special Actions
Katarina's Support: You may add +1d6 to any Action this turn. This can only be applied to one Action. This will refresh next turn.
Streamlined Resource Flow: For One Action this turn, you may discount the Cost by -1 RP (you cannot reduce a Cost to 0 or below). This will refresh the next turn.
Robot Retrofit - The Perseus will be ready to go by the end of the month, thankfully. Strange facial scar notwithstanding, there have been blessedly few complications. The Anti-Gravity Treatments have taken well within projections. All that's left is adding in the 'bulk' to really bring the Perseus up to what you consider to be roughly on par with the Beowulf.
Duration: 1 Turns
We're the Mechanical Men - Ignatov is hard at work to creating the backup team to the Perseus. He thankfully is reporting that so far, it's very doable, it's just resource and time-consuming. With the added support of the Sisters to double check their work, it's even less likely that anything would go wrong, but it's best to make sure that they're doing it properly.
Which means not rushing through it.
We're the Mechanical Men
Cost: 2 RP Locked (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3 Turns
Will establish two-to-four new AI personalities, dedicated support to the Perseus
Zulu - Having Ichiro talk to Zulu has been...an experience. Ichiro notes just how weird the experience is, and Zulu is still convinced that Ichiro is some off-shoot version of a Kaus. So far, things have been going okay, but Ichiro will keep you posted.
Cost: 1 RP Locked (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Super Robot Construction - If you want to start in on a new Super Robot or bring one up to code, you know how by now.
Super Robot Construction
Cost: Variable (how much do you want?)
Duration: 3 Turns
Over There - Colonel Bernard reached out not long ago. Though his technicians are already here working with Lana to establish the new model, he's interested in sending not only pilots to the Pilot Exchange Program, but he's also willing to detach some of his Marines to serve along your formations. Officially, their job would be to assist as training cadre for the Exchange Program. Unofficially, he's not going to say no to you deploying them in active combat 'if you think it necessary.'
[] Over There
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Can raise a new Support Formation
The Oracle of Gasparton - There is no rush on this, but Galbinus and his command team have presented to you an offer. They've seen the effectiveness of Katarina and her Sisters. While Tyrannous clearly has one of his own in his flagship, Galbinus and the Legion do not. If you are willing to expend some effort to assist, Galbinus is more than willing to make it worth your time.
This is also a good reminder to you that they are still actively going out in the world fighting against the Free Brothers where they can, even as they try to stay hidden from the public eye. They are going to need every advantage they can get to level the playing field, even if the Enclave already goes some way to doing so.
The Oracle of Gasparton
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 4 Turns
Chance for Breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 4-6)
Upon completion, Galbinus will offer you a selection of boons to call upon
Defense Force Actions
Diana's Creativity: You may reduce the Success Threshold of any one Defense Force Action by -1.
Security Net - Heavy Investment
Cost: 1 RP Locked (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Reaction Force - Now fully operational, and with a Super Robot ready to go, you are in a prime position to start scanning the world for any potential hotspot to intervene in. Brigadier General Peters has assured you that there will be no conflict of jurisdiction; you are only going to be diverted to an area which really needs a Super Robot that no one is going to complain.
At least, not as much as the Naval Defense Force asshats.
Reaction Force
Cost: N/A
Chance for detecting something of worth (1d6, Threshold Unknown)
Pilot Training - The Pilot Exchange Program is now up and running. This month it's going to start accepting the new pilots from different commands (with Armistead's noticeable exception, but you expect that by now). Now it's time to put them through their paces and see what the new guys are made of.
That said, you're also not expecting greatness right out the gate. You have everything you need from the simulators to live fire versions ready to go, and all stock items on inventory - the Jackals, the TMUs, the Centurions, heck even the Shade and Steeds for the IS agents that are inevitably going to sneak in - are prepared. Even if they're not up to your standards by the time they're done, they are going to make their respective commands quite pleased when they go home.
You may choose one, plus the specific project. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] Pilot Training - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Pilot Training - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Pilot Training - Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Now Taking Auditions - For the actual purpose for making this: seeing if there's any type of talent worth poaching with this particular batch.
Chances are: Not Really. But you never know, you might be surprised.
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at severe Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 6)
Chance to find new Pilot
Security Net – Now that you've established your paranoia is firmly justified, and with Diana already having started the initial work on shoring up security, you've been able to relax a bit.
A bit.
You may choose one. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] Security Net - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Security Net - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Security Net - Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Engineering Actions
Stubborn Lana: Rolling a 1 on any dice will prompt a Re-Roll of that particular dice. This applies to all Engineering Actions taken this turn, but will only take place once per Action.
Building a Seeker - "Lana here."
Look, Major, I'll be blunt here; we have a chance to really make this into something unique if we push hard enough on this. But if we finished right now? We have a good platform to further development, just not the best if you wanted something with three forms. As it is, you've either got a transforming fighter jet, or a transforming helicopter thingy, just not both at the same time."
"Which is honestly not bad, but with just a bit more of a push I think we can really crank this thing up to eleven. Working on twelve, though. Simulations don't really like that for some reason."
Cost: 1 RP Locked
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for Breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6+1d6, Maritime Expeditionary Corps Commission), Threshold of 5-6)
Security!!! - Word has already gone around the senior leaders that the newest AI Sister in development is based on the Defense Force Leader. More than a few have gotten a little twitchy at the idea. Sasaki is honestly confused as to why this might be the case.
Serves them all right, you think.
Cost: 1 RP Locked (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Develop a new AI Personality focused purely on Security. [Based on CPT Sasaki Haruko. The Almighty have mercy upon you all.]
Variable Configuration – There is a lot of ground to cover here. Wilde and Henry have created all sorts of new designs, but they haven't exactly been tested properly yet. Before properly handing them over to the test pilots, they want to run some additional tests, and they certainly would like to see if they can come up with something new.
Wilde also has a few specific projects he thinks requires your attention and approval. Though the Beowulf is now fully online and active, it's still missing one feature, something they're not sure they can reliably activate just yet.
You may choose one, plus the specific projects listed below. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] Variable Configuration - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Variable Configuration - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Variable Configuration - Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Wilde and Henry are advising you now on holding off from pursuing this idea until Lana's Seeker Project is finished. The main reason is that with whatever new designs come out of that, they can start incorporating them into their Triple Combination idea. And if the new technology that the Regent gave to the Xenotechnology Laboratory bears fruit, they really be able to make the Beowulf's combination into a real monster.
[] San-Ki Gattai / Triple Combination
Cost: 4 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)]
Duration: 3 2 Turns (Thanks, Lana!)
Beowulf will be able to call on a theoretical final formation, to be summoned in times of dire emergencies.
Supercomputer AI – Still plenty to be done going around. Supercomputer development can still be pushed, though admittedly with the Mechanical Men Project and the Security AI Development already ongoing, Ignatov admits that his team has plenty enough on their plates.
You may choose one. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] Supercomputer AI - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Supercomputer AI - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Supercomputer AI - Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Experimental Projects – You're noticing a fair number more experiments running through the Engineering Bay, only to find it's testing all sorts of weird stuff (and that's by the DFRI standards, which should tell you something). For one thing, the failed Psychic Enhancing of the K-Scale has given some strange ideas to Wilde and Henry, and they want to try testing out if you can weaponize that particular failure. They also wouldn't say no to additional resources to try...well, whatever you could think of. They don't guarantee it'd work, but it'd be good engineering!
QM NOTE: I will allow you to add a preference towards which bit of science you want to lean towards as a preference, but that's no guarantee that the results will come out that way.
You may choose one, plus the specific project listed. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] Experimental Projects - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Experimental Projects - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Experimental Projects - Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Chalk it up to Sam's boys for their mess up to become a potential idea. Wilde and Henry noticed that the K-Scale remained fairly sharp when it shattered. Thankfully no one got hurt too badly (though Paul's going to have an interesting scar), but this does give food for thought. What if you managed to insert a charge into an enemy, then intentionally shattered it while it was inside?
No idea, but they want to find out.
K-Frag!
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Chance for new weapon
Science Actions
Calm - Ivanna's help enables you to re-roll one failed Science Action Test this turn.
Transmutation - It's working, but not exactly in the way Sam had predicted initially. He's not sure what's going on, but he's going to repeat the experiments with a wider angle for reporting in unusual and unpredicted effects.
Cost: 1 RP Locked (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Xenotechnology - Zirvitium Refinement - Whatever it is that Max is doing in the labs is something you really don't have the time or headache capacity to deal with right now. All you know is that anything involving refining Zirvitium Alloy and the sounds of chainsaws is something you really don't want to be dealing with right now.
Either that, or she's just doing that to mess with you.
Cost: 1 RP Locked (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
ESP Theory - Sam is ecstatic, since Psychic Energy now has the potential to alter the composition of materials. Granted, it's probably a hell of a lot easier to do with K-Class for whatever reason than with standard building materials, but that gives Sam an idea.
So psychic energy, you've established, can already link with computer systems through the MMI. Heck, psychic energy interacts with standard materials ALL THE TIME anyway, but only if they're considered 'part of the wider machine' by the user. So what if you tried to alter some of the machine?
What if you wanted to try and supercharge the machine?
You may choose one, plus the specific project. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] ESP Theory - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] ESP Theory - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] ESP Theory - Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
So it's really difficult - but possible - to make small temporary changes to the machine's basic materials. Honestly, Sam really has no idea where this is going, but he considers this still a vital step towards making K-Class Materials more malleable via psychic energy. If you get the principles of it - whatever they may be - down here, it'll be much easier when trying K-Class.
Doing this, however, is going to require a lot of resources. Both standard materials, and food and fluids for the testers. Using psychic energy burns calories like you wouldn't believe.
[] Stress Testing
Cost: 3 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 4-6)
Kaiju Biotechnology – The Dragon's Horn seems to have fully drained all of its acidic buildup (after melting half of a laboratory down). Just to be safe, Sam's ordered that it be kept in deep freeze at all times, even if this does seem a bit like shutting the corral doors after the horses have long-since made their getaways. But at the very least, you now have a new research project to pursue.
You may choose one, plus the specified project. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] Kaiju Biotechnology - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Kaiju Biotechnology - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Kaiju Biotechnology - Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Sam is fairly certain the Dragon's Horn is now safe to really study in detail. He's confident that it has the same basic design principles as all the other kaiju the Earth Union has run into thus far. But he's got no idea if this means you can do anything different specifically with the Horn.
Time to find out!
Cost: 3 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Xenotechnology Research - Max is a little twitchy around the Regent, but she's keeping a respectful distance so far. She's been fairly quiet recently, but that's largely due to resources being directed elsewhere, and that she's been busy studying the battle data from fighting the Dragon. She doesn't have anything specific yet, but along with her original idea with the Dispersion Field, there's still plenty to try out with the Xenotech you've received from the Legion.
You may choose one, plus the specific project listed below. If you have an investment project ongoing, you may still choose one and run concurrently.
[] Xenotechnology - Light Investment
Cost: 2 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Xenotechnology - Medium Investment
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 2-4 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Heavy Investment
Cost: 4 RP (1-2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3-5 Turns
Chance for breakthrough at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6)
So apparently the nonstop laughter you heard from the other side of campus the other week was Max having a breakthrough on a shoestring (by your standards anyway) budget. With a little help and coaxing from Ivanna, you were able to get Max to calm down long enough to explain what was going on.
In effect, the Dispersion Field simply denies energy outside of its radius the ability to have any sort of impact past a certain radius, but it takes a ridiculous amount of energy investment in proportion. So, she reasoned, it takes a lot of energy invested into it to maintain that sort of field as a semi-physical barrier. But what if you sprayed it in the air like a demented version of an aerosol spray can?
She declined to answer why her train of thought hit that particular line.
Regardless of reasoning, the result on a small-scale test is that the Dispersion Field effect lingers. Granted, her test had it so that it was only for a short while, but she wants to try a 1:1 test. Complete with testing the Beowulf's Combination with the Foxhound and the Timberwolf, with paint rounds. Maybe even live ammunition if it turns out to work. Since you know by now that the Combine Configuration process is a moment of vulnerability, you agree that this is definitely something worth investing into.
Downside? Well, "it's a freaking Dispersion Field! You know by now that these things aren't cheap to recreate!"
[] Combine Configuration Shield
Cost: 4 RP (One Time Investment)
Duration: 1 Turn
Chance for Breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6); You may invest an additional 2 RP to add +1d6 OR Reduce the Threshold by -1.
You have quite the wealth of technological options to pursue thanks to your negotiations with the Regent. The only question is which one to pursue first.
Max is very blunt with you when you ask about her chances of success with the new technology. "This is literally alien space magic. Space Flight is honestly going to be the most familiar ground we're dealing with here; we at least started in the past hundred years on it."
Fair point. You suppose you've been spoiled by your team on how they've made the impossible happen before.
[] Gifts of the Regent - C-Crystal Development - A red jewel the size of your fist, the Regent claims that this will serve as a 'Master Crystal' that will create new C-Crystals and maintain them. It's already explained all the principles to you, but it is otherwise leaving it for you to discover the rest on your own. 'Just because it works in a specific manner for Varulne, there may be differences in your own development,' it explained when you asked.
At least the basic 'good character' clause is intrinsic.
Cost: 4 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 4 Turns
Chance for Breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 4-6)
[] Gifts of the Regent - Early Space Flight - Exactly as it sounds. It boils down to basic design principles for space-worthy vessels - engine designs, stress tolerances, even some pointers on how to ensure survival in the eventuality of void combat. Max really can't comment much more on it until she's given the time and resources to really dig into it, but from everything she's seeing, she should be able to make something out of this.
You are flabbergasted by the amount of resources Max is asking for, but she just gives you a flat stare whenever you bring it up. "Super Robots are expensive as it is, now you're asking us to tack on a Space Program. From scratch."
Well, when she puts it that way...
Cost: 5 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3 Turns
Chance for Breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Gifts of the Regent - Empathic Focuser - You refuse to hold a discussion on this with neither Sam nor Max until you see some results. Especially after how crazy they were during the discussions. You could theoretically link this to the MMI, but first you have to figure out if you can even get this to work with the human psyche. The Regent certainly wasn't sure if it was a viable option or not, but it was very curious to see if the laboratories could make it work.
Guess the Institute is just a pioneer in about everything these days.
Cost: 4 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 4 Turns
Chance for Breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 5-6)
[] Gifts of the Regent - C-Crystal Development - A red jewel the size of your fist, the Regent claims that this will serve as a 'Master Crystal' that will create new C-Crystals and maintain them. It's already explained all the principles to you, but it is otherwise leaving it for you to discover the rest on your own. 'Just because it works in a specific manner for Varulne, there may be differences in your own development,' it explained when you asked.
At least the basic 'good character' clause is intrinsic.
Cost: 4 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 4 Turns
Chance for Breakthrough at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 4-6)
Well drat, she better performs a full transformation sequence as a compensation for how long this will take. Usually magical girls from good shows learn everything in their first attempts without having to sacrifice their soul or something equally inane.
Over There - Colonel Bernard reached out not long ago. Though his technicians are already here working with Lana to establish the new model, he's interested in sending not only pilots to the Pilot Exchange Program, but he's also willing to detach some of his Marines to serve along your formations. Officially, their job would be to assist as training cadre for the Exchange Program. Unofficially, he's not going to say no to you deploying them in active combat 'if you think it necessary.'
he Oracle of Gasparton
Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 4 Turns
Chance for Breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 4-6)
Upon completion, Galbinus will offer you a selection of boons to call upon
Security!!! - Word has already gone around the senior leaders that the newest AI Sister in development is based on the Defense Force Leader. More than a few have gotten a little twitchy at the idea.
Wilde also has a few specific projects he thinks requires your attention and approval. Though the Beowulf is now fully online and active, it's still missing one feature, something they're not sure they can reliably activate just yet.
Wilde and Henry are advising you now on holding off from pursuing this idea until Lana's Seeker Project is finished. The main reason is that with whatever new designs come out of that, they can start incorporating them into their Triple Combination idea. And if the new technology that the Regent gave to the Xenotechnology Laboratory bears fruit, they really be able to make the Beowulf's combination into a real monster.
Supercomputer AI – Still plenty to be done going around. Supercomputer development can still be pushed, though admittedly with the Mechanical Men Project and the Security AI Development already ongoing, Ignatov admits that his team has plenty enough on their plates.
Chalk it up to Sam's boys for their mess up to become a potential idea. Wilde and Henry noticed that the K-Scale remained fairly sharp when it shattered. Thankfully no one got hurt too badly (though Paul's going to have an interesting scar), but this does give food for thought. What if you managed to insert a charge into an enemy, then intentionally shattered it while it was inside?
Sam is fairly certain the Dragon's Horn is now safe to really study in detail. He's confident that it has the same basic design principles as all the other kaiju the Earth Union has run into thus far. But he's got no idea if this means you can do anything different specifically with the Horn.
Time to find out!
Cost: 3 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
Duration: 3 Turns
Chance for breakthrough (2d6, Threshold of 5-6)
Max is very blunt with you when you ask about her chances of success with the new technology. "This is literally alien space magic. Space Flight is honestly going to be the most familiar ground we're dealing with here; we at least started in the past hundred years on it."
[] Gifts of the Regent - C-Crystal Development - A red jewel the size of your fist, the Regent claims that this will serve as a 'Master Crystal' that will create new C-Crystals and maintain them. It's already explained all the principles to you, but it is otherwise leaving it for you to discover the rest on your own. 'Just because it works in a specific manner for Varulne, there may be differences in your own development,' it explained when you asked.
At least the basic 'good character' clause is intrinsic.
The not-J Jewel! But it requires the pilot to not to be a prick. What happens if he has "bad thoughts" at some point due emotional distress and the like though?
] Gifts of the Regent - Empathic Focuser - You refuse to hold a discussion on this with neither Sam nor Max until you see some results. Especially after how crazy they were during the discussions. You could theoretically link this to the MMI, but first you have to figure out if you can even get this to work with the human psyche. The Regent certainly wasn't sure if it was a viable option or not, but it was very curious to see if the laboratories could make it work.
Guess the Institute is just a pioneer in about everything these days.
[X] Plan Transforming Power Girl.
-[X] Over There Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
-[X] The Oracle of Gasparton Cost: 3 RP (1 RP Locked Next Turn)
-[X] Stress Testing Cost: 3 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
-[X] Dragon Horn Cost: 3 RP (2 RP Locked Next Turn)
-[X] Combine Configuration Shield Cost: 4 RP (One Time Investment)
--[X] Katarina's Support: You may add +1d6 to any Action this turn. This can only be applied to one Action. This will refresh next turn.
--[X] Calm - Ivanna's help enables you to re-roll one failed Science Action Test this turn.
--[X] Streamlined Resource Flow: For One Action this turn, you may discount the Cost by -1 RP (you cannot reduce a Cost to 0 or below). This will refresh the next turn.
Adhoc vote count started by Thors_Alumni on Aug 4, 2018 at 1:58 PM, finished with 5 posts and 2 votes.
--[X] Streamlined Resource Flow: For One Action this turn, you may discount the Cost by -1 RP (you cannot reduce a Cost to 0 or below). This will refresh the next turn.
[X] Science!
-[X] Kaiju Biotechnology - The Dragon's Horn (3 RP)
-[X] Gifts of the Regent - C-Crystal Development (4 RP) --[X] Katarina's Support
-[X] Gifts of the Regent - Early Space Flight (5-1=4 RP) --[X] Streamlined Resource Flow
-[X] Gifts of the Regent - Empathic Focuser (4 RP)
--[X] Calm
[X] Clearing The Backlog
-[X] The Oracle of Gasparton (3 RP)
-[X] Now Taking Auditions (Attempt to find a Tillerson Copilot) (2 RP)
--[X] Katarina's Support
--[X] Diana's Support
-[X] K-Frag! (2 RP)
-[X] The Dragon's Horn (3 RP)
-[X] Gifts of the Regent - C-Crystal Development (4 RP)
--[X] Ivanna's Support
--[X] Streamlined Resource Flow (RP cost reduced to 3)
Let's see about clearing our plate of Special Actions before we move along with the new stuff. We could also definitely use some new and powerful weapons in the future.
The big focus right now is trying to get Tillerson a good co-pilot, so I dumped a lot of our buffs on that to bring it to a reasonable 2d6 Threshold 5 roll.
I'm picking this cause I agree with Alectai. Nothing sucks more than moving on to new shit and having a backlog of old shit you either forgot about or left in the dust.
The big focus right now is trying to get Tillerson a good co-pilot, so I dumped a lot of our buffs on that to bring it to a reasonable 2d6 Threshold 5 roll.
[X] Clearing The Backlog
-[X] Now Taking Auditions (Attempt to find a Tillerson Copilot) (2 RP)
--[X] Katarina's Support
--[X] Ivanna's Support
-[X] San-Ki Gattai / Triple Combination (4 RP)
-[X] K-Frag! (2 RP)
-[X] The Dragon's Horn (3 RP)
-[X] Gifts of the Regent - C-Crystal Development (4 RP)
--[X] Ivanna's Support
--[X] Streamlined Resource Flow (RP cost reduced to 3)
Let's see about clearing our plate of Special Actions before we move along with the new stuff. We could also definitely use some new and powerful weapons in the future.
The big focus right now is trying to get Tillerson a good co-pilot, so I dumped a lot of our buffs on that to bring it to a reasonable 2d6 Threshold 5 roll.
Why is it supposed to focus on clearing the backlog yet The Oracle of Gasparton is not taken? Worse, the triple combination is taken despite Wilde and Henry explict suggestions to wait.
@Basarin you should put a threadmark in the information tab about the TV tropes Page. That way people can access it without having to look for it by using the search bar.
This better be a freaking Symbiotic Titan Expy for taking four freaking months. ... Wait a minute... Varulne ... isn't that the name of the planet in Symbiotic Titan? (I honestly don't remember, and am too lazy to look it up)
This better be a freaking Symbiotic Titan Expy for taking four freaking months. ... Wait a minute... Varulne ... isn't that the name of the planet in Symbiotic Titan? (I honestly don't remember, and am too lazy to look it up)
The time is mostly in-character with MAJ Devin. While you COULD do as in the shows and just throw them into the next emergency, the Institute has a Super Robot to fight right now. If he can give Satsuma time to train, then he will.
Of course, if they're indisposed, and an emergency shows up anyway, well, it worked on TV, right?
As for Varulne...I dunno. I made up the name on the spot.
