THE INFINITE BROOD (Starcraft/Supreme Commander Crossover Quest!)

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THE SWARM SHEET
  • Informational
    • The Brood of Blades
    ​
    Cerebrate Prime: Samantha Clarke
    LEVEL: 5
    XP: 205/210
    TRAITS
    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.​

    GEAR
    Zeratul's Psi-Blades
    Adds: +0 (Edged Weapons) | Characteristics: Damage [Speed] (4)[1]​
    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

    Typhan II [Active Xel'Naga ACU]
    Typhan II Occupied 6 (Xel'Naga ACU Spotted 1)
    COMMAND: Lt. Colonel Mathew Horner | ARMY: UEF Armored Command Unit
    RESULTS: Pending

    Deep Space Sector 981 [Hive Fleet Identified]
    Zerg Hive Fleet Spotted 6 (Kerrigan? 1)
    COMMAND: Citizen-Commander Dostya | ARMY: CN Armored Command Unit
    RESULTS: Pending
    ​
    ENEMY ASSETS (Currently Known)
    ​
    THE GOLDEN ARMADA
    ACTIVITY: Unknown | Threat Level: 6​
     
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  • Informational
    • Avangelion said:
    Oh the irony in the propaganda, lmao
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    It's far, far worse. To be frank, her problems with the UEF are actually far more dire than her issues with Sarah, because it not only is a far greater betrayal, but the brutal truth undermines her entire identity and life from the root. Clarke was basically the poster child of the UEF, living her entire life dedicated to it from 16 to present, an extremely loyal service member that volunteered for the crappiest jobs, all without even the slightest clue, even as she became general. How many Cybrans has she helped enslaved? How many innocents did she kill? Are the Aeon the monsterous cultists that she was told as well, or is that just another lie? She no longer knows truth from falsehood, or if there was even anything that was true in the beginning with the UEF. She doesn't even where she can even belong at this point. Even if she returned to the UEF and her crew, so what, few would even believe the truth, believing her to be brainwashed and the many who do know will try to kill her, like Tosh, even the moreso as a Zerg.

    That isn't even mentioning the whole 'no longer human' aspect. While this probably isn't even an issue for her, it adds to the confusion of her self-identity, which is going to be utterly fucked for a while until she can figure out who and what she wants to be and do.

    Their shared pain of literally having nowhere to go, being backstabbed by their mutual bosses, and both seeing themselves as monsters will all help to mend fences with Kerrigan. Enemies of the world, back to back.
     
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    How the fuck did a fucking general not know about basic infrastructure? What is this the fucking imperium?
     
    [X] Kill her (well, try at least.)
    [X] "Take me to the Cybran. Now."

    The mission always comes first - betrayal of the UEF's ideals by its leaders or not, those ideals are still worth defending. Even - especially - since it's not like Sam can get back to being a jackboot.

    Better to take this opportunity to figure out what's going on than to sign up with another close friend who just needs her to get her hands a little dirty for "a better tomorrow". (tbh not sure the Sarah/Riley parallels are particularly close but that's what I'm sticking with)
     
    w34v3r said:
    How the fuck did a fucking general not know about basic infrastructure? What is this the fucking imperium?
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    Eh, even in our history we have plenty of that sort of obfuscation, not to mention that due to the nature of ACU-based warfare and an effectively post-scarcity society, you really don't need to know it, especially since it's a loyalty program, not anything physical. Also UEF are not exactly great as a civ, probably the worst of the three, by far.

    The UEF rulers are expansive, aggressive and authoritarian. They believe that this is necessary to ensure galactic order and the common good. They are attempting to rebuild the Empire that fell at the onset of the Infinite War and with memories of such dark times still present all around them, UEF leaders can be driven to justify extreme measures.

    Their main focus is their military might and their prime virtue is order. They see nothing wrong with utilizing technology, including genetic engineering, to help achieve that lauded goal. In fact, the vast majority of the UEF's citizenry are directly descended from cloned or genetically enhanced colonists, as are the Aeon and Cybran populations. Unlike the other two factions however, the UEF employs wide-scale genetic modification programs among their own populace designed to help 'facilitate' order and control, a holdover from the old Earth Empire's policy. Some of there ACU pilots are also heavily genetically engineered, with complex skills embedded in their genes from birth and a strong focus on unthinking loyalty. But the most visible sign of the UEF's tampering with nature can be seen with the use of Symbionts, humans with cybernetic implants and twined with a sophisticated symbiotic AI. These Symbionts are integral to a colony's survival and perform a variety of roles.

    The Symbiont program operates on a volunteer-only basis, with all UEF citizenry eligible for the process. Thousands of applicants apply each year, eager to do their part to help the UEF and their local community. What they are not told however is that all Symbionts are subject to a hidden loyalty program, designed to still free will and ensure perfect loyalty to the UEF. This is the primary reason for the continued conflict between the Cybran Nation and the UEF. To Cybrans, the use of the loyalty programming to force these symbionts to perform mental tasks for the UEF is tantamount to slavery, and this fuels the animosity between the two sides.

    Great care has been taken by UEF propagandists to hide the existence of the loyalty program from the public and discredit Cybran claims to the contrary. Dr. Gustav Brackman|Brackman]] is painted as a power-mad dictator, using viruses to corrupt and control normal Symbionts, claiming that he is the one to use a loyalty program, not them, and that the UEF war effort against the Cybrans is an attempt to rescue friends and family members from his clutches, as well as liberate the countless generations of brainwashed symbionts born and raised in the Cybran Nation.
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    Basically, XCOM 2-lite if humans were the aliens.

    Kon9181 said:
    betrayal of the UEF's ideals by its leaders or not, those ideals are still worth defending
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    Lel. Read above, the UEF aren't that great, and it isn't a betrayal of the UEF's ideals, they are exemplars of them. They're 30k's Imperium mixed with a post-scarcity society and the USA half a century ago. Honestly, transmitting the truth about all that was lied about via the Black Sun would be catastrophic for the UEF.
     
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    DragonCobolt said:
    "Do you know why Arcturus left me on Tarsonis? Why he let me...become this?" she asked, her eyes flashing. "It's simple, Sam. Your precious Sarah Kerrigan, without hesitating for a second...cut...his family...apart. With two other ghosts, we came into the Mengsk home and we butchered them. I killed his sister and his father and his mother. I decapitated Angus Mengsk with a fucking machete because he dared to speak out against the fucking Confederacy."
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    Also I dont' see any comments on this, so I may I just say: hmm! Hmmmm!!!
     
    [X] "Take me to the Cybran. Now."
    [X] "We have to talk"

    Her entire worldview was just flipped on its head and curb stomped. I think Clarke deserves some more answers.

    Edit: I also kinda want to suggest doing all 4 options in the following order.

    [X] "Take me to the Cybran. Now."
    [X] Kill her (well, try at least.)
    [X] Kiss her
    [X] "We have to talk"

    Just imagine the moodswings Samantha is going through right now; confirm the truth, get angry/instinctual, try to kill The Queen, attempt becomes the gayest foreplay, before ending with a needing to talk to her.
     
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    [X]Dostya Doesn't Need to See this
    -[X] "Take me to the Cybran. Now."
    -[X] Kill her (well, try at least.)
    -[X] Kiss her
    -[X] "We have to talk"
     
    DragonCobolt said:
    that is an acceptable plan vote we'll call it "Dostya Doesn't Need to See this"
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    perfect zmxcnczx
    Selpathor said:
    Just imagine the moodswings Samantha is going through right now; confirm the truth, get angry/instinctual, try to kill The Queen, attempt becomes the gayest foreplay, before ending with a needing to talk to her.
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    yesyesyesyesyes zxmnxzzcx

    [X]Dostya Doesn't Need to See this
    -[X] "Take me to the Cybran. Now."
    -[X] Kill her (well, try at least.)
    -[X] Kiss her
    -[X] "We have to talk"

    MOAR
    >:3

    EDIT:
    gay~
    And also learning more info lmao


    EDIT:
    Putting these up too just in case

    [X] Kiss her
    [X] "We have to talk"
     
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    Right now three options (cybran, kill, talk) are all at 11/10/10 votes because of switched votes. Dostya is at 6.

    Do note this when switching that an otherwise less popular option may win instead. Approval voting is the way.
     
    So something interesting is that Sarah would have never sided with the UEF no matter what we did given she has access to a Cybran's memories. The only option in Act 1 with sarah was how much humanity she retains as opposed to something else.
     
    I love the gay foreplay setup with the Dostya plan. Also we are going to be having words I think regardless of anything because we do at some point need to know what Sarah's goals are before we can do anything whether by setting up a betrayal or helping her reluctantly
     
    Evillevi said:
    So something interesting is that Sarah would have never sided with the UEF no matter what we did given she has access to a Cybran's memories. The only option in Act 1 with sarah was how much humanity she retains as opposed to something else.
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    Not exactly. We're basically Sarah's morality pet so our presence is key, and honestly, I think she'll wind up Clarke's morality pet as well. Kerrigan has done a lot of dark black ops stuff, so killing or infecting Valerian wouldn't even register humanity-wise. Kerrigan even detailed a bit of the inhuman stuff the confeds had her do, there's really only up from there.

    If we saved Stukov, I think Valerian would have been captured and zergified, while Clarke would have either stayed with the UEF, or be rescued/captured by the Cybrans.
     
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    DragonCobolt said:
    "They were scouting near the Koprulu Sector. They managed to breach the barrier, just as your UEF did, though a lot more subtly. And Comrade-Commander Ivana Dostya found her way to Char. She was overwhelmed and made a part of us."
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    I just realized something, we've had the option to meet a Cybran Commander before this way back in mission 3
    DragonCobolt said:
    [ ] Real Bad News - you stumble on something very bad...something very unexpected: A Cybran ACU.
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    It's fully likely that this ACU would have been piloted by Ivana
     
    Evillevi said:
    I love the gay foreplay setup with the Dostya plan. Also we are going to be having words I think regardless of anything because we do at some point need to know what Sarah's goals are before we can do anything whether by setting up a betrayal or helping her reluctantly
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    You know the rules, be gay, do crime. Honestly, betrayal is not the way we want to play this unless we want to turn this into a complete and utter tragedy. Kerrigan is extremely delicate emotionally right now, Clarke, even moreso given the triple whammy, so going full sieg hiel now of all times is very OOC after having her entire self uprooted along with her chaotic feelings for Sarah, and is lacking foresight or even basic intelligence. Kerrigan is being hoodwinked by Duran, yes, but it's better to try to unveil his true colours to her than to go full saboteur and break her trust completely. That's when she loses the rest of her humanity, becomes Duran's tool, and goes full Protoss vision bad end, which cannot happen no matter the cost.

    Even from a cold logical standpoint, right now, Kerrigan hasn't lost the entirety of her humanity, since we're by her side, and so long as we remain in her good graces, we have massive amounts of influence over one of the most powerful women in the entire goddamn galaxy and can be a positive net influence on her, even if it means dirtying our hands or fighting the UEF. The Zerg being free and aligned with Sarah is also absolutely necessary to prevent the literal apocalypse, and even with SupCom in the mix, I don't think it'd change too much, so this is actually the best possible situation for us to be in and we shouldn't go anywhere in the long-term.

    it's even more stupid considering right now we have literally nowhere else to go that would actually accept us. So yeah, the whole 'fufill the mission' ridiculous nonsense a dude was spouting earlier is incomprehensible with even a second of thought. The UEF are going to be hostile the moment they see 'infested Clarke', let alone if she says the truth about literally anything. Her hypothetical future as a labrat in the best case scenario sure is great, in the worst case we'll get the loyalty treatment.
     
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