Strategic Genius: Once per structured encounter, Sam can create a piece of the environment that is in her favor as a sticky spark. Roll a d3 for its value.
Empathetic: upon meeting an NPC, learn their motivation!
Legendary Commander: Gain 4 Command sparks at the beginning of each mission/combat. Command sparks may be spent to give NPCs orders, which they may either obey or refuse to obey (doing nothing instead.) Command sparks may not be regained via skills or powers.
Hunted: Something wants her - but for what? +1 Danger to all scenes
SKILLS
CLOSE COMBAT (2): Brawling, Edged Weapons
PERSONAL (2): Awareness, Resilience
SOCIAL (4): Charm, Empathy, Leadership, Taunt
MASTERY
ACU Pilot (2): Nanofabrication [Mass], ObSat Operations [Range]
The Hilt (4): Biomorphic Spawning (People), Regeneration (Durability), Physical Perfection (Speed), Telepathic Dominion (Range)
POWERS
The Living Swarm
Vent: 4-0
Effect: Gain 1 Living Swarm spark, +1 per vent reduction.
The Living Swarm: While this swarm exists, move in three dimensions and through anything smaller than a keyhole, reforming at will. You may expend these sparks to cause 3 Hit Sparks in a Area 2 radius.
Area Upgrade: +1 to Area Characteristic
Biomorphic Reinforcement
Vent: 4-0
Effect: Create 1 Biomorphic Reinforcement spark, +1 per vent reduction, which can be given out to anyone within Range 2, or to yourself
Biomorphic Reinforcement: +1 to Damage or Mass characteristic for the purpose of raw physical strength/feats.
Back to Back
Vent: 4-0
Effect: Choose 1 ally (+1 per vent reduction), within Range 1. Each can take one action using one of your skills, any of them that you wish. Once they have done so, you may make a free attack with your melee weapon, getting +1 to your skill per ally that acted.
Adaptation
Vent: 4-0
Effect: Create a number of sparks equal to the enemy's difficulty, narratively based on turning their abilities against them. Works on enemies of Diff 2>, +2 per vent reduction.
Just as Planned…
Vent: 6-0
Effect: Vent 6 heat and create 1 Planning Spark for her or an ally, +1 Spark per vent reduction.
Planning: The person holding this Spark can expend this to get +1 to a skill check as a free action. Using this Stack counts as you are helping for the purpose of relationships.
Shadowstep (3): Can expend as a free action to move without crossing intervening space.
Guarded Space (3): Can expend to use Damage as a secondary characteristic for Durability, reducing incoming Damage characteristics.
GALACTIC WAR
Victory Points: 5
RESOURCES
TERRAN DOMINION [Background] (1)
The men and material of the Dominion - limited, but they're mustering as we speak.
ALLIANCE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES [Mastery] (1)
While you have access to several ACUs of every faction, they lack economic and technological support to be fully effective.
ZERG HIVE [Mastery] (1)
The scant few Zerg you control that are free of Amon's influence. Mostly Zerglings.
AEON FLEET [Background] (1)
While half a dozen CZARs seem impressive, they're not actually well made for ship to ship combat.
ALLIED COHESION [Motivation] (1)
The alliance is fragile and weak.
FRONTS
Trade Sector-34-51 [Pirate Activity]
Pirates Raiding 6 (Supply Lines in Disarray 1)
COMMAND: Jim Raynor | ARMY: Raynor's Raiders
RESULTS: Pending
Braxis [Zerg Invasion]
Borealis Siege 6 (Zerg Rampage1)
COMMAND: General Samantha Clarke | ARMY: Brood Clarke
RESULTS: Pending
So a bit more seriously, what exactly is the situation that's going to erupt if "Hydralisks are for hugging" wins, because while I'm not against Clarke ending up kidnapped, I'm really not for the zerg going on a rampage aboard the Expedition 1 when we have a ton of civilians aboard including children when no one is at a ready state.
I'm pretty sure hiding behind a bulkhead or running to the ACU are options that aren't going to be available at the start of the encounter, because as I understand it the way the plan is set up any fight is going to start off with Clarke already captured if not physically restrained. She's going to need to break out first before either of those are going to be an option.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonCobolt on Nov 5, 2023 at 12:35 AM, finished with 33 posts and 16 votes.
[X] Plan: Hydralisks are for hugging
-[X] Perception diff 10 - notice the bars twisted out of shape by superhuman strength (gain 8 heat, putting you at 12/6 overheat)
--[X] Precarious (you are captured by Kerrigan - but remain conscious. A Hit Spark 10 is created - can you beat it before she escapes with you?)
--[X] Real Bad News (Every Zerg spark becomes XP value for a combat encounter.)
-[X] "...do you want breakfast? We can, uh, go get it?" (get sticky spark Colonial Girlfriend 4, lose your Shaken (∞) spark)
[X] Plan: Get Laid
-[X] Fail perception check, set heat to 0
-[X] "...do you want breakfast? We can, uh, go get it?" (get sticky spark Colonial Girlfriend 4, lose your Shaken (∞) spark)
[X] Plan: Situation Normal All Fucked Up
-[X] Perception diff 10 - notice the bars twisted out of shape by superhuman strength (gain 8 heat, putting you at 12/6 overheat)
--[X] ACU Destroyed (in the excitement, the ACU in this cargo hold is destroyed.
--[X] Precarious (you are captured by Kerrigan - but remain conscious. A Hit Spark 10 is created - can you beat it before she escapes with you?)
So a bit more seriously, what exactly is the situation that's going to erupt if "Hydralisks are for hugging" wins, because while I'm not against Clarke ending up kidnapped, I'm really not for the zerg going on a rampage aboard the Expedition 1 when we have a ton of civilians aboard including children when no one is at a ready state.
These predictions are, of course, not accurate due to freedom of choice but the ship is designed to resist boarding and has defenses built around the Zerg. They will most likely provide a distraction for Kerrigan and Duran (who is ALSO ON THE SHIP, remember) to get up to mischief!
It was really tempting to push the vote back towards "hydralisks are for hugging" but being oblivious to the cute redhead being a super human zerg queen just sounds fun.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonCobolt on Nov 5, 2023 at 4:30 PM, finished with 44 posts and 21 votes.
[X] Plan: Get Laid
-[X] Fail perception check, set heat to 0
-[X] "...do you want breakfast? We can, uh, go get it?" (get sticky spark Colonial Girlfriend 4, lose your Shaken (∞) spark)
[X] Plan: Hydralisks are for hugging
-[X] Perception diff 10 - notice the bars twisted out of shape by superhuman strength (gain 8 heat, putting you at 12/6 overheat)
--[X] Precarious (you are captured by Kerrigan - but remain conscious. A Hit Spark 10 is created - can you beat it before she escapes with you?)
--[X] Real Bad News (Every Zerg spark becomes XP value for a combat encounter.)
-[X] "...do you want breakfast? We can, uh, go get it?" (get sticky spark Colonial Girlfriend 4, lose your Shaken (∞) spark)
[X] Plan: Situation Normal All Fucked Up
-[X] Perception diff 10 - notice the bars twisted out of shape by superhuman strength (gain 8 heat, putting you at 12/6 overheat)
--[X] ACU Destroyed (in the excitement, the ACU in this cargo hold is destroyed.
--[X] Precarious (you are captured by Kerrigan - but remain conscious. A Hit Spark 10 is created - can you beat it before she escapes with you?)
Sarah's eyes were really the most arresting shade of green you'd ever seen. Your cheeks flushed and you quashed a faintly panicky voice that muttered things like she's a bit young, isn't she?
She looked thirty. You weren't...
Twenty years.
...that much older. When you considered medtech life extension. And all that. You looked aside, blushing and adjusting your collar with one finger. For some reason, every twinge you felt racking up over the past thirty years hitting you all at once. "Do you want breakfast?" you asked, gruffly. "We can, uh-"
"We sure can," she said, sliding her arm through your arm, grinning as she tugged you off. You allowed her to pull you along - and tried to not feel like you were acting a fool.
The technician that came afterwards, a few hours later, frowned as he ran his hand along the metal that had warped and twisted like water, dimpling with the touch of fingers. Softly, he muttered. "What in the goddamn?" He didn't take too long trying to figure it out - strange things happened in a ship full of robotic strength enhancement and bored soldier-technicians. He just did his duty.
And he fixed it.
***
The door hissed shut behind you and you said, hurriedly. "You know this is just for-"
Sarah stepped up onto her tip toes and made you very quiet. Her lips pressed to yours, warm and soft and moist. Your eyes slowly closed as your hands gently reached down to her shoulders, holding her in place. Her hands went to your hips, delicate. She released you, slowly, drawing back. Her breath smelled like perfume.
"There," she said, quietly.
"I, uh..." You chuckle. "I wasn't sure if you-"
"Sam, I wanted to kiss you from the moment i saw you impressing Clarence DuFree over the com," she said, quietly. "We were sitting there, terrified about the Protoss showing up and slashing us to pieces and you showed up in the nick of time. It's not something we colonials get used to seeing that often." She paused, then stood up on her tip toes, kissing your nose, gently. "It didn't hurt that when you got out of the big ACU you were tall then too."
"You like, uh, tall girls?" you asked.
"Mmmhmm," she said. "And girls in uniforms."
"Heh." Your cheeks heated. "Are you sure you're not..." Her fingers gently tugged at your collar - then down to your button. "I mean...I'm older than you."
"Pff, you..." She stepped back, looking up at you, her brow furrowing as she looked into your eyes. "You're thirty, right?"
"Forty nine," you said, grinning slightly. "Earth medical technology is pretty, uh, impressive."
"Damn," Sarah said, drawing away fully now, leaving your jacket hanging open, your white shirt underneath as crisp and new as it had been fabricated this morning. "How do you guys manage that?" She asked. You chuckled, softly.
"R-Right, uh, nanotechnology. The distinction between nano and bio gets quite fuzzy. And, uh..." You paused, blinking.
Her hands were on her own top, sliding suspenders over her shoulders, letting her pants puddle around her ankles.
"And, uh..." you blinked.
Sarah arched an eyebrow.
"...I'll explain later..."
Sarah and Samantha share an intimate moment
You stepped forward and your worries were dropped away as you leaned in, kissing her mouth. She was oh so very eager this time, her mouth opening as her hands snaked around your neck, fingers interlocking through your blond hair. She squeezed and kept you in the kiss, leaning up, tilting her head back, devouring your mouth with hers. Her tongue was playful, darting...she tasted sweet. Your eyes closed and you leaned into the kiss more. When she did draw back, you panted, and her teeth tugged slowly on your lower lip.
"Oh I needed that," you whispered. Your hands went to what was left of her clothes - the simple cloth homespun she had underneath. Her buttons were heavy and plastic. You tugged one and it pinged off, coming free. She giggled quietly.
"Excited, aren't we?"
"Your clothes are garbage...we should recycle them and replace them," you said, chuckling.
"Yes, GEneral."
Your cheeks heated. "You can call me Sam, heh..." Your fingers undid the last button. Her shirt now hung around her shoulders, leaving a pale slit of exposed skin between rough cloth. Her belly button was the most kissable thing you'd ever seen, nestled among sleek muscles - the belly of a gymnast.
"I can. But you kinda like General, don't you?" her voice was playful. Her fingers tugged, slowly, at the center of that curtain - drawing it wider. Her breasts, perky and full, tipped with rosy red nipples, came into view as her last article of clothes puddled around her ankles and she stepped from it, her hips graceful. "Kinda overdressed now, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
Her fingers - warm, delicate fingers, swept under your undershirt and your own top skimmed over your shoulders. You lifted your arms, tossed it aside. Her eyes widened as those delicate, delicate fingers skipped over your chest to slide along your shoulder, finding one of the small sockets for your ACU hook up. "What are these?" she asked. "Power armor hookup?"
"For the ACU. The nanolathe system is...it requires a deep and complete genecode, uh, sample, taken from the-" you realized you were babbling. "Yeah."
Her lips touched the socket. Her tongue swept along the join of flesh and machine and the groan that wrung itself from your throat was the most hungry noise you had ever made. Her eyes closed and she whispered, softly. "You're...part machine?" She kissed up to your ear, gently. Nibbled. Your hands, feeling like you were completely out of your depth, reached around, found her hips. Squeezed. Her skin felt too perfect to be real.
"Yeah," you said, huskily. "Proudest day of my life was getting that hooked in."
Her fingers swept along your sides, to your hands. She traced over invisible scars, scars that she would never know about, scars that had been fixed. But she seemed to almost feel them, her fingers slowing. Her voice was soft. "You've been at war your whole life?" She kissed from your plug to your neck. She tasted the thundering of your heart with her tongue.
"Yeah..." you whispered. Your hands slid back. Her ass - peach taut and sweet - dimpled against your fingers. You leaned forward, kissing her fiercely on the mouth. This was the devouring, hungry kiss of someone who knew that war could sweep you apart at any time. Your tongue and hers met together and you pushed her back into the bed. The frame squeaked - almost as loud as her - as she lifted her thighs up and snaked her legs behind your back, hooking ankle over ankle. She leaned in more, nibbling your lower lip as your hands took advantage of the fact she was hooking herself to you with her legs.
Your pants hit the ground. You kicked the last off, pushed her back, pinning her into the bed.
Every contact point between yourself and her was like fire - hip to thigh, heel to buttocks, breast to breast, belly to belly, cunt to pelvis. She was so wet. So hot. Your mouth broke contact and you panted heavily while she whispered quietly. "Oh General..."
Your hands grabbed her hands, pinning them above her head. You grinned at her. "Quiet, soldier."
"Mmm..."
Your mouth and hers met again. Then, this time, you started to explore. Your lips slid along her throat, feeling the rabbit fast thumpthumpthump of her heartbeat. Your lips grazed along her collar bone. Down to her breast. Her nipple was hard and when you locked your teeth around her and used just enough pressure, she bit her own knuckle to keep from being too loud. Her legs writhed against you and her hips bucked subtly as your hands grabbed onto her hips, holding her down. You kissed that belly button. You kissed that tiny thatch of brilliant red pubic hair, your nose flaring.
"Sam..."
Her voice is desperate.
You kiss her clit. Suck. Slide forward. Your tongue thrust into her sex as your hands cradled that perfect ass of hers, lifting her up and off the bed. You had kissed her eagerly - now you showed her what real hunger was. Your tongue thrust into her cunt, crooking up, finding the spot that made her mewl and squirm and kick one leg. Her hands reached up, squeezing onto the headboard of your cot as you pushed yourself against her sex, squeezing her ass and drinking her juices desperately. She gasped and bucked her hips, her moan tightening as her thighs scissored around your head, holding you close.
"Sam...Sam! Sammmmmm!"
She gripped your hair with one hand.
You tasted her flood, and then drew away as she panted heavily.
"Fuck..." She whispered, her eyes half closed. "You're...good at that."
"UEF, Sarah. Excellence in all things." You said. Now, you had your fingers against her sex. Thrusting two into her, you watched her face twisting with pleasure. You worked your fingers in her as her hips bucked, taking a raw, fierce pleasure in how much joy you were bringing her. She moaned your name and your rank in equal measures, her youthful hips twitching around you hand as you used your thumb on her clit. She crested, climaxed, plataued, crested again - her voice growing hoarse. She ducked her head forward, eyes closing.
"S-Samm...Sammm!" She moaned. Her hips twitched again as you leaned forward, kissing her neck, her ear. She gasped and whimpered and was putty in your hands. Tears of pleasure dripped along her cheeks as she gasped softly. Then, as she quivered with another climax, her hand went to your wrist, holding you in place. She tugged your hand away, gasping. "S-Stop, god, you're...going to fucking kill me..." She laughed. "I surrender. You have me. Ah. Jesus." Her eyes closed.
You leaned in, voice quiet. "Sarah..."
"Shh..." She laid back again. Her finger crooked. "Sit here."
Her tongue darted along her lips. Her eyes glittered.
You were wetter than you had been in a goddamn long, long time. You shivered, then crawled atop her. Her hands guided you down, caressing your ass. You tried to not compare your own battered, sagging form to her gymnastic perfection - and the way she touched you? The way her lips kissed along your inner thighs?
It was easy.
It was so damn easy.
You sat on Sarah's face and placed your hands on the wall, panting huskily as her tongue slowly, gently, began to lap at you. She had the cautious, slow eagerness of someone who hadn't...been with many girls. But she made up for it with raw passion. Her tongue lapped along you again and again and again and her hands cradled your ass. She thrust her tongue into you and you were so wired up, so eager, so fucking pent that you found your hips rocking against her as brilliant white heat burned through your spine, up into your mind. Your body quivered and you cried out - husky and eager. "Fuck...Sarah! Sarah!" Your hips rocked against her as she tentatively added a finger.
By luck or skill...she found your G-spot.
"Sarah!"
Your spine arched as she drank you and tongued you...
You swear, your fingers left dimples in the walls
***
Afterwards, you laid with her in bed, your breasts pillowed under you, your arms under your head. Sarah's finger slid along one of your shoulders. "You're muscular as hell, you know..." She whispered, quietly. "Like a woman if she was a siege tank."
You snorted. "Not like you," you murmured. "You're-"
"Shh," she put her finger on your lip. "You're beautiful, Sam. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
You rolled onto your side, narrowing your eyes at her.
"Would I lie?" she asked, grinning impishly. "Just cause you control the food, water, armed forces currently conquering the sector-"
"Liberating," you said, flushing.
"Mmmm, sure," she said, playfully, tweaking your nose gently. "That's why you pinned-"
"Ahem!" you coughed. She giggled.
Your communicator blatted, jerking your attention around. "General," Matt said, sounding as chipper as you felt. "We're ready for the intelligence briefing."
"She'll-" Sarah started. You clapped your hand over her mouth, her eyes sparkling with malicious pleasure. You flushed and glared at the communicator. Matt's voice came from it.
"...General?" he asked.
"I'll be right there!" you said - as Sarah wriggled like a bag of cats. She licked your palm and you jerked away from her, laughing.
"She'll need a shower first!" Sarah called out.
"W-Who is that?" Matt asked.
"Com off!" you snapped.
Sarah's grin was pure, malicious evil. Then she twigged on something that would spare her little neck.
"...I can scrub your back?" she said, fluttering her eye lashes.
You snorted. Then leaned in and found her mouth again. You pushed out of bed and felt like you were a twenty year old cadet again as you sauntered to the adjoining shower. Sarah laid on the bed, watching you go. She bit her lip, then looked away. Her face fell, and she sighed, softly.
Then she stood, and joined you.
She scrubbed your back real well.
***
Matt Horner's expression was studiously neutral, but his eyes were delighted as you entered into the room. "Good morning, General," he said, brightly.
"Major," you said, nodding to him.
"...so..." He said, slowly.
"It's private," you said, flatly.
"Understood, General," he said, nodding. You glared past him and at the information briefing package that was being assembled. The techs were at work assembling information on a few planets. Matt still sounded pleased as he said. "We've intercepted a very interesting set of transmissions - the Dominion has reclaimed Tarsonis, and they're claiming...they did it."
You glanced at him. "This, I need to see."
General Edmund Duke looked like as much like a smug prick in a red dress uniform as he did in his red power armor. He smiled genially at the female news reporter, who was taking his answers as cameras filmed him - the whole holo having been shot in the smoldering wastelands of a Tarsonis city, the background highlighted by countless charred Zerg corpses. "-as you can see, we've secured New Gettysburg and the majority of other Tarsonis planetary cities - and have cleared out all them nasty Zerg critters."
"But, general, why have similar actions in the outer reaches met with such remarkable failures, such as your defeat and retreat from the planet of Char?" The reporter asked.
Duke's face grew quite fixed. "Well, uh...I was never...defeated nor...did I ever retreat from Char. My scouting mission-"
"According to navy insiders, you left with six battlecruisers and three platoons of marines, not to mention siege tanks, wraith fighters and other assorted forces, but returned only with the Norad III. Is this not a defeat?" the reporter asked, brightly.
Duke's face colored. "Now, listen here, the reason why the Zerg on this here world have been destroyed is because of Dominion steel and skill. The Dominion has never been defeated in the field by Zerg when we choose to put boots on the ground, you can take that to the bank!"
"But is it true that the Zerg here were merely feral remnants and not controlled by the so called Queen of Blades?" The reporter asked.
"This interview is over," the General said, firmly - and several Marines stepped between him and the reporter.
"General Duke, wait, Gen-" The holovid cut off.
You turned to Matt, frowning. "So, it seems they're keeping our rumored arrival on the downlow, but it still pisses me off that they're taking credit for my hard work."
"Indeed," Matt said. "But there's something else. The intelligence team has found that there's a growing insurrection in the outlands, centered around a world called Mar Sara - the world that we got our first message from. They've stated to rebuild after the Great War, and the Dominion is leaving them out to dry. Then there's the Adjutant we recovered - studying it has determined that the Terran Dominion has all the weaknesses that Dr. Brackman once exploited to build his Cybran terrorist network. There's some old data in there pointing to some secure communications, but this particular Adjutant never picked any of them up."
You grunted. Out of the corner of your eyes, you saw that Tosh was watching you intently. You wondered if he had heard the little...communication slip up...
Dr. Hanson entered into the room, brightening. "Oh! General, fantastic!" she said, brightly. "Before we determine your next target, I've found some possibilities for upgrading our ACUs before sending them into the field, using what I've learned from the Terran, Protoss and Zerg we've studied so far!"
Now that?
That was something to listen too.
--- Time to spend some sticky sparks! Turning all the collected sparks for Terran, Protoss and Zerg research into a total of +16, which combines with your skill for a total "Value" of 18! You also have up to 6 heat to spend to add to the "check" - giving you in total, 24 "money" to spend! You CAN buy multiple things, but each one you buy after the first is +1 Cost!
Some things have a cost of X - meaning they provide "X" and then cost as much X as you want them to have. This is how you can clear up gaps in your expenditures! ...cause...anything not spent is lost!
[ ] Scythe Class Gatling Laser - using zerg derived biological fluid managements system, your ACU's arm mounted vehicular weapon becomes more accurate, faster firing, and harder hitting. Does periodically need to recharge. (2[1] Damage[Reliability], 1 Range, +1 Add for Vehicular weapons - total cost: 15)
[ ] Ifrit Pattern Point to Point Quantum Transmat System - using Protoss based crystal-focusing for quantum tunneling events, the Ifrit P2P Tunneler allows for transporting yourself on the ground several kilometers at once. Does periodically need to recharge. (3[1] Range[Reliability] - total cost: 18)
[ ] Regenerative AGT Shielding System - while seemingly primitive, certain advancements in micronized fusion power technology has driven Terran technology beyond our own. This enhances defensive shielding for cheap. [2 Durability - cost 12]
[ ] T2-X Fabricator - a synthesis of Terran construction systems, Earth based nanolathe, and utilizing bioplymers derived from Zerg lifeforms, the T2-X Fabricator is capable of mass production at incredible speed and range. [1 Mass, 2 Range - cost 18]
[ ] ISO-Metric HUD Scanner Array - using reverse engineered Protoss sense equipment, the ACU's scan and detection system can be vastly improved [X ISO-Metric Sparks - these sparks can be spent to learn one fact about the enemy within your line of sight - Cost X)
[ ] Enhanced Fusion Systems - combining Zerg bioform bioelectric systems with nutrient baths provides a significant edge in power generation. [+X Fusion Reactor Sparks - Cost X]
They can be nested into other sparks to create resource sticky sparks for building buildings in conflict, can be spent to bolster your attacks, spent to power unpowered things, and so on!
Go Kate! Duke that dummkopf, we really should make an effort to keep him alive so that he can keep bumbling like that. Also, a rebellion on Mar Sara eh? I wonder if it's Jimmy boy out there or the Magistrate. As for upgrades I'm leaning towards one of these two setups:
[ ] Plan: Telefrag
- [ ] Ifrit Pattern Point to Point Quantum Transmat System [cost 18]
- [ ] Enhanced Fusion Systems (x5) [cost 6]
Clarke can always build up units and defenses to pick up the slack and even with the combat upgrades there are things out in the Koprulu sector that an ACU can't face off against. Additionally being able to make tactical teleports to anywhere on the battlefield is a way more versatile move than being able to shoot better.
I'm leaning towards Gatling Laser because I like the sound of gatling laser, and because our ACU keeps getting into combat. We may be able to flood the area with units given time, but we are still vulnerable during build up.
[] Plan Firepower
-[] Scythe Class Gatling Laser [cost 15]
-[] Enhanced Fusion Systems (x8) [cost 9]
I would argue part of the reason why Clarke keeps getting into brawls is because she isn't able to build up fast enough and that improving her ACU's direct combat ability is treating a symptom and not the cause. Bumping up her industrial capacity would cut down on the need for her to keep deploying her ACU as a centerpiece unit if she could snowball faster and push out T2, T3 units, or even an experimental or two.
She's really channeling her old self there. Hilarious.
As for the options.. our main problem last time was that we needed to get past the enemy to the point we wanted, and they get time to build up every time we do more or less. Once we're at a place though we can just tank whatever most of the time, being super armored and able to build more defenses quick.
By getting teleporter, we can skip directly to targets we require alive and provide our ACU's bulk as defense they gotta get past. For this system that's quite a boon.
So long as we're gonna have local civvie targets we're going after to protect, which we're likely gonna given our focus is the human element, recruiting it to our cause, quick easy teleportation helps us more than straight up engineering upgrade. For now.
So plan telefrag's got my vote.
Naturally building faster is what we should go after if we're gonna go more aggressive strategically, going for missions where we don't need to divert for secondary targets to protect, only attack. But I think we're gonna be on the responsive side for a bit as we get more locals for our team.
[x] Plan: Power Overwhelming!
-[x] Enhanced Fusion Systems - combining Zerg bioform bioelectric systems with nutrient baths provides a significant edge in power generation. [+24 Fusion Reactor Sparks - Cost 24]
Honestly, teleportation's probably the best choice for an aggressive posture too, as it allows Clarke to pop up all over the battlefield and set up bases and attacks from any direction. It might even be a better choice if we want to go industry heavy as it let's Clarke immediately jump to another mineral field within a few kilometers and set up a resourcing operation there to speed up base construction.
Point to point teleportation is also a thing that none of Clarke's units can achieve either, it'd be an ability completely unique to her ACU and add a dimension to arsenal that she hadn't had before compared to the other upgrades which are flat boosts to her ACU's statline.
I say combat upgrades aren't as important because they can be compensated for with more units but strictly speaking that's also true for construction since engineering units exist. The same isn't true for tactical teleporters though.
Right, I think that settles it for me.
[X] Plan: Telefrag
- [X] Ifrit Pattern Point to Point Quantum Transmat System [cost 18]
- [X] Enhanced Fusion Systems (x5) [cost 6]
As an aside, out of curiosity, does the T2-X Fabricator upgrade compensate for the severe drop-off in performance that nanolathes from the quest suffer from when used to fabricate things in open space and if so to what degree?
