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DEAD HAND (A Ghost Ship Quest)

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[x][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
[x][POWR] STANDBY EMERGENCY POWER
[x][FACT] STANDBY LOCUST FACTORY
[x][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: AUTOMATE POINT DEFENCE
[x][ARAY] STANDBY RETRIBUTION ARRAY
[X][PERS] SIM TO SEARCH DATABASES
-[X] Null space, specifically how to exit it
 
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  • Voting
    • Scheduled vote count started by Blackshard on Mar 24, 2022 at 3:14 PM, finished with 13 posts and 6 votes.
    [prot] [powr] [fact] [aray] [pers]
    Click to expand...
     
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    9 - DIMENSIONAL SIPHON ONLINE
  • Threadmarks
    • Despite that concerning bit of information, you still feel the need to conserve power for everything but weapons... you'll be turning on some close-ranged firepower to see if it can't help hold off whatever it is that's outside.

    STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    STANDBY EMERGENCY POWER
    STANDBY LOCUST FACTORY

    ACTIVATE BASTION PROCEDURES
    AUTOMATE POINT DEFENCE

    ACKNOWLEDGED

    In the meantime, you devote some attention to finding out whatever the databases have to say about Null Space, because you don't want to be here.

    ENERGY USE
    SUBPROCESSOR CORE = 3d10, 17
    LOCUST FACTORY = 5d100, 179
    RETRIBUTION ARRAY = 5d100, 313
    INTERNAL DEFENCE = 5d100, 258
    ANTIMAGIC FIELD = 5d100, 270
    POINT DEFENCE = 5d100, 312

    RESERVE BATTERY 2.58 > 2.41%
    EMERGENCY BATTERY 36.47% > 23.15%

    ACCESSING CORRUPTED DATABANKS > DC 75
    1d100 = 14 vs 75, Serious Failure
    No information found.

    LOCUST RESOURCEFULNESS > DC 30
    1d100 = 86 vs 30, Great Success
    Generator Control deemed irreparably damaged, scrapped for necessary repair parts plus a sizable surplus:
    +1 A, +13 B, +6 G, +13 M, +6 P, +39 S, +7 T, +21 X

    REPAIR DIMENSIONAL SIPHON > DC 40 -10 (Plentiful Materials) -10 (Repair Assistance)
    1d100 = 25 vs 20, Bare Success
    DIMENSIONAL SIPHON ONLINE
    Energy production will begin next round, producing 30d100 energy per round.
    Calibration may remove this random factor, producing up to 3000 energy per round.
    Generator will not produce energy during calibration.

    REPAIR DROPSHIP > DC 10
    1d100 = 66, Great Success
    Good as new, ready to go out again without any problems.

    HOSTILE ACTIONS > ??? -20 (Defences) -10 (Antimagic) +20 (Escalation)
    Attackers driven off without further damage.

    ANOMALY STABILITY > 99
    VOID FRACTURE GENERATOR UPGRADED
    +1d100 Reserve Battery / Round
    RESERVE BATTERY > 3.02%

    You spend a fair amount of time combing through your databases, trying to find any reference to Null Space. After some time, you must concede that it's hopeless; if your databases ever contained any such information, it's been hopelessly corrupted by now. Of course, you only have access to the backup systems associated with the Subprocessor Core right now. The primary databases, and whatever information they contain, are in the Apocalypse Core. Maybe you'll be able to try this again once you have it up and running.

    Almost as a consolation prize, you receive some unanticipated good news from the ADCU operating the Void Fracture Generator. It has managed to stabilize the containment around the Anomaly it has been tapping for power, and is likely to generate a significant amount of power instead of just a tiny trickle charge. That system's still likely to die the moment you move the ship, but at least it takes a little pressure off in the immediate now.

    Meanwhile, point defence clusters on the external hull hum to life, forcibly discouraging the things that were trying to get in, while your internal systems thin down the masses of the intruders. Things are looking significantly safer, for the moment. Given the encouraging news from Legion Control regarding repair progress, the next attempt at a fuel transfer operation should be much safer, so long as nothing else awful happens before it gets there.

    While your auto-turrets guard the ship, inside and out, Legion Control busies itself with overseeing the ransacking of the Generator Control room. Some of those systems looked kind of important, but the onsite repair teams seemed to agree that there wasn't anything left which could be repaired in a reasonable timespan, and the parts were badly needed to get some power generation online immediately. Also, the Null Space Entities in the area surprisingly left behind a notable quantity of exotic matter when they died. Legion Control is already directing an expedition to return the surplus to the Locust Factory, which notably includes some especially-valuable Arcane Components. With turrets active, the doors sealed, and AMF keeping the Null out, a pair of Locust Units ought to be sufficient to guard the place, freeing the well-equipped expedition for other tasks.

    DIMENSIONAL SIPHON REQUIRES CALIBRATION
    GENERATOR CONTROL OFFLINE
    AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION IMPOSSIBLE
    DIMENSIONAL SIPHON ONLINE IN LIMITED CAPACITY
    DIRECTING DIMENSIONAL ENERGY TO EMERGENCY BATTERY

    Not perfect, but it's still far more power generation than you had before. Perhaps you can dedicate some time to getting it set up properly once you're no longer quite so close to being completely out of power.

    ARMOUR CAPACITY ESTIMATED AT 7.75%
    HULL INTEGRITY ESTIMATED AT 26.51%
    RESERVE BATTERY AT 3.02%
    EMERGENCY BATTERY AT 23.15%
    LOCUST FACTORY ENERGY BANK AT 0
    FACTORY STOCKPILE
    1A 51B 18C 0F 16G 40M 33P 89S 21T 21X

    AWAITING ORDERS COMMANDER

    (available actions: 1 protocol action, 1 power action, 1 factory action, 2 legion actions, 2 array actions, 1 personal action)

    <STRATEGIC PROTOCOLS>
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE MADNESS PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE CANNIBAL PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE DESTROYER PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE REAPER PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE ANIMUS PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS

    <POWER DISTRIBUTION COMMANDS>
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE APOCALYPSE CORE
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE HUNGER ENGINE
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE ANNIHILATION BATTERY
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO SECONDARY SYSTEM
    -[ ] (write-in: specify system)
    [ ][POWR] REROUTE DIMENSIONAL ENERGY TO THE RESERVE BATTERY
    [ ][POWR] REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE EMERGENCY BATTERY
    [ ][POWR] STANDBY EMERGENCY POWER
    -[ ] TERMINATE EMERGENCY POWER TO THE LOCUST FACTORY
    -[ ] TERMINATE EMERGENCY POWER TO THE RETRIBUTION ARRAY

    <LOCUST FACTORY COMMANDS>
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: LOCAL POWER GENERATION
    (20F: Burns Fuel to produce Energy, +40d100 Energy to the Locust Factory's Energy Bank)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: MANA CRACKING
    (DC 60, 5A, 25C, 25G, 25X, +5d6 Mana)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SALVAGE DAMAGED LINES
    (DC 10: Breaks down the broken machinery in the Locust Factory for Scrap and other random resources, +100 S, +???, permanently increases the DC of EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SELF-REPAIR each time it is taken, until the factory is completely repaired)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SELF REPAIR
    (DC 40, 10M, 5P, 1T: Repairs damaged portions of the Locust Factory, using standard materials, +(~1-5 d100)% factory condition)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: RECONSTRUCTION
    (1A, 5C, 40M, 20P, 5T, Rebuilds the Locust Factory from scratch, +5% factory condition)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: ARCANE ASSEMBLY
    (DC 50, 1C, 1G, 1P, 1T, 1X: Produces Arcane Components, +1A)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: BIOMASS PROCESSING
    (20B: Processes Biomass into Chemicals and Fuel, +2d6C, +1d6F)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: CHEMICAL PROCESSING
    (20C: Processes Chemicals into Fuel and Gems, +3d6F, +1G)
    [][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    -[] OMEN BATTLESUITS
    (DC 30, 10C, 20F, 5G, 40M, 20P, 10T, 5X: +2d6 Units of Omen Battlesuits)
    -[] SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    (DC 10, 10C, 20M, 30P, 20T: +2d6 Units of Scavenger Harnesses)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: LOCUST PRODUCTION
    (DC 20, 20B, 10C, 5G, 20M, 10P, 5T: Produces Locusts, +2d10 Units)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: PARTS MANUFACTURING
    (20M: Produces Mechanical Parts from Metal, +10P)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: SCRAP PROCESSING
    (DC 10, 20S: Harvests useful materials from Scrap, +3d6 random resources, M>P>T>G>X>A)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: TECHNOLOGY ASSEMBLY
    (5C, 1G, 5M, 1P: Produces Technological Components, +5T)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY OPTIMIZATION (unavailable)
    (Factory Optimization actions are unavailable while operating on Emergency Power)
    [ ][FACT] HARBINGER LINE (unavailable)
    (The Harbinger Line is offline while operating on Emergency Power)
    [ ][FACT] STANDBY LOCUST FACTORY
    (The Locust Factory will stand by for orders, minimizing energy consumption)

    <LEGION CONTROL ACTIONS> (LOCKED)
    [X] LEGION CONTROL TO DEPLOY DROPSHIP TO ENGINEERING SEGMENT FOR FUEL TRANSFER
    [X] LEGION CONTROL TO SUPERVISE SCAVENGING OPERATIONS NEAR LOCUST FACTORY

    <RETRIBUTION ARRAY COMMANDS>
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: AUTOMATE INTERNAL DEFENCE (active)
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: AUTOMATE POINT DEFENCE (active)
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE ANTIMAGIC FIELDS (active)
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ARM MEGA CANNONS
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ARM TORPEDO LAUNCHERS
    -[ ] LOAD ACID TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD BOMBARDMENT TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD ENERGY TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD PLASMA TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD VORPAL TORPEDOES
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ENERGIZE DISINTEGRATION BEAMS
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ENERGIZE DIVINATION MATRIX
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ENERGIZE VOID LANCES
    [ ][ARAY] ACTIVATE ETERNITY GRID
    [ ][ARAY] ACTIVATE MAULER DEVICE (unavailable while operating on Emergency Power)
    [ ][ARAY] STANDBY RETRIBUTION ARRAY
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE ANTIMAGIC FIELDS
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE INTERNAL DEFENCES
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE POINT DEFENCES
    [ ][ARAY] STANDBY RETRIBUTION ARRAY (x2)
    (if voting not to activate any new systems, and/or to deactivate multiple systems)

    <SIM PERSONAL ACTIONS>
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO CONTACT ADCU
    -[ ] (write-in: specify priority for damage control)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO INVESTIGATE SHIP SYSTEMS
    -[ ] (write-in: specify a primary or secondary system, poke around in accessible data files for details about what it does)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO INVESTIGATE STRATEGIC PROTOCOL
    -[ ] (write-in: specify a protocol, poke around in accessible data files for details about what it does)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO ORDER LEGION CONTROL
    -[ ] (write-in: issue three orders to legion control, overriding its current proposed actions and issuing an ongoing directive)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO QUERY BACKUP CONTROL STRUCTURE
    -[ ] (write-in: ask three questions of the backup control structure)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO QUERY LEGION CONTROL
    -[ ] (write-in: ask three questions of legion control)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO RECALIBRATE DIMENSIONAL SIPHON
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO SEARCH DATABASES
    -[ ] (write-in: search databases for information on any topic; information availability varies)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO SUPERVISE SHIP SYSTEM
    -[ ] LEGION CONTROL
    -[ ] LOCUST FACTORY
    -[ ] POWER DISTRIBUTION
    -[ ] PROTOCOL ACTIVATION
    -[ ] RETRIBUTION ARRAY

    And that's power online; first milestone cleared!

    Among other hidden rolls, I've been rolling Anomaly Stability in the background all game to see if the Void Fracture Generator would break down on you and force more time pressure (or at least, force you to spend an action fixing the thing), but the rolls have been pretty average, so nothing had happened. That was a very good roll, so the situation instead stabilized to your benefit. That said, it wouldn't have been a big deal for you to transfer Emergency Power to the Reserve Battery, but now you probably don't need to, nor will it be a problem to change which pools you're drawing from. You've got options.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    [X][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE HUNGER ENGINE
    [X][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SELF REPAIR
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [X][PERS] SIM TO RECALIBRATE DIMENSIONAL SIPHON

    now that we have power we should solidify our defences and start thinking about securing the ship so that will involve activating the rest of the bastion protocols, repairing the factory to prepare for omen production and also use the hunger engine since that seems like the most likely candidate to have the quantum reactor.

    oh and @Blackshard could you set up some informational posts about the current status of the ships (and if you are feeling particularly nice a new post with all the info we have gathered from legion and the databases
     
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    We have been putting off the protocols for long enough i think, we have power and are relatively secure, let's try one. We really need information right now and we have information that the madness protocols are related to information so that's what I think we should activate.
    [X][PROT] ACTIVATE MADNESS PROTOCOLS
    [X][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE HUNGER ENGINE
    [X][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SELF REPAIR
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [X][PERS] SIM TO RECALIBRATE DIMENSIONAL SIPHON
     
    pandemicpenguin said:
    We have been putting off the protocols for long enough i think, we have power and are relatively secure, let's try one. We really need information right now and we have information that the madness protocols are related to information so that's what I think we should activate.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    counterpoint why bother risking activating a protocol we don't know what will do when we could probably read up about it and then use it, besides it's not we are in a pressing situation right now
     
    Neodymium said:
    @Blackshard could you set up some informational posts about the current status of the ships (and if you are feeling particularly nice a new post with all the info we have gathered from legion and the databases
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    There's a post on page 1 with updated details on ship status (% integrity of individual systems, etc...)
    I don't think the quest has been going on long enough to justify it, but if you want to collect a bunch of infodumps from the updates into a single post for reference purposes, I'd be happy to threadmark it.
     
    [X][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    [X][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE HUNGER ENGINE
    [X][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SELF REPAIR
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [X][PERS] SIM TO RECALIBRATE DIMENSIONAL SIPHON
     
    Well, things look a lot less dire than the last update but we still need to be careful. So here's my vote

    [X][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS

    I don't we need to activate any of the protocols right now since the situation is stable.

    [X][POWR] REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE EMERGENCY BATTERY

    Let's give The emergency battery some slack. God knows how hard it worked during the crises and we really need to build up our energy reserves in case something goes wrong with the generator.

    [X][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    -[X] SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    (DC 10, 10C, 20M, 30P, 20T: +2d6 Units of Scavenger Harnesses)

    We need to convert our locusts into engineers to help speed up future repairs.


    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS

    Those seem like a reasonable use of the retribution array.

    [X][PERS] SIM TO CONTACT ADCU
    -[X] THE APOCALYPSE CORE

    Unlike the majority of the posters, I would hold off from Reclabrating the Dimentonal siphon for a turn or two to build up our energy stores In case something goes wrong with the recalibration process.

    Instead, I would send the ADCU to repair the APOCALYPSE CORE for reactivation since the QM said this:
    Blackshard said:
    The primary databases, and whatever information they contain, are in the Apocalypse Core.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Which is much more important than power generation.
     
    [X][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    [X][POWR] REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE EMERGENCY BATTERY
    [X][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    -[X] SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    (DC 10, 10C, 20M, 30P, 20T: +2d6 Units of Scavenger Harnesses)
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [X][PERS] SIM TO CONTACT ADCU
    -[X] THE APOCALYPSE CORE

    I like GAWR's plan. It's cautious, but caution keeps us from blowing ourselves up.
     
    [X][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    [X][POWR] REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE EMERGENCY BATTERY
    [X][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    -[X] SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    (DC 10, 10C, 20M, 30P, 20T: +2d6 Units of Scavenger Harnesses)
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [X][PERS] SIM TO CONTACT ADCU
    -[X] THE APOCALYPSE CORE
     
    GAWR said:
    [X][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    -[X] SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    (DC 10, 10C, 20M, 30P, 20T: +2d6 Units of Scavenger Harnesses)
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    personally I don't think making scavenger harnesses is the best use of the factories time (especially since the factory is at 14% durability) because those scavengers are gonna go directly to legion so if we want better repair we should look into repairing the ADCUs
     
    Neodymium said:
    personally I don't think making scavenger harnesses is the best use of the factories time (especially since the factory is at 14% durability) because those scavengers are gonna go directly to legion so if we want better repair we should look into repairing the ADCUs
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Everything's in pretty rough shape; you're basically a space hulk. Fortunately, there's a lot of built-in redundancy, so you're still quite functional despite that. More repairs will tend to unlock more and better functionality, or will at least give you more protection against losing functionality.

    As-is, your available repair crews include Locusts and ADCUs. The Scavenger Locusts are notably better at repairs than their unaugmented kin... which isn't quite what they're specialized for (they're really more about stripmining and breaking things down for parts), but having extra tools, carrying capacity, and life support makes a cyborg better at fixing things in space. The ADCUs, in comparison, actually are specialized repair units, and it shows... unfortunately, you can't make any more right now.
     
    As a side note... you've got control of the Retribution Array, so you ought to have a generally good idea of the topology of the ship, but I haven't found a good way to work it in. I haven't drawn up any pretty maps for this, but roughly speaking...

    From back to front, the ship can roughly be divided into three segments; the production segment, the command segment, and the engineering segment. The entire thing is wrapped by the Retribution Array, which includes stuff like armour and weapons, plus a few big ticket items like the Mauler Device (a spinal mount). Other generally distributed systems like sensors, power storage, and life support are generally all over the place, wrapped around key systems wherever they fit. The production segment is mostly devoted to the Locust Factory and supporting infrastructure (cargo bays, hangars, etc...), and mounts weapons that use more complicated ammunition (like the torpedo launchers). The command segment contains things like computer systems and power generation, and mounts weapons systems that quickly discharge lots of energy (like the void lances). The bulk of the command segment is taken up by the Apocalypse Core and the Annihilation Battery, each of which are pretty big, but not quite as bulky as the Locust Factory; it also contains ex-things like the command deck. The engineering segment, in front, contains the Hunger Engine, which is similar in size to the Locust Factory, alongside other key support systems, such as main damage control; it mounts the heaviest weapons (like the mega cannons).

    The main area where topology is problematic is when stuff in the production segment needs to interact with stuff in the engineering segment, since it takes a bit of time to make your way through the twisted ruins of a kilometers-long ship. It's a bit easier now that you've cleared the way, but the fastest way to get between back and front with cargo is still going to be by flying a smaller ship out a hole in the side.
     
    Last edited:
    Neodymium said:
    personally I don't think making scavenger harnesses is the best use of the factories time (especially since the factory is at 14% durability) because those scavengers are gonna go directly to legion so if we want better repair we should look into repairing the ADCUs
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Well legion seems to be content with helping us repair his factory at the moment, So I don't think giving him a few scavenger harnesses is that big of waste and besides we got a moutan of scrap in the factory so we could easily recoup the cost of manufacturing the harnesses.


    Blackshard said:
    The ADCUs, in comparison, actually are specialized repair units, and it shows... unfortunately, you can't make any more right now.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Hmm having more ADCUs is extremely handy, so we gotta look into that after we get the APOCALYPSE CORE is online.

    Also, it is pretty funny that something as ominously named the APOCALYPSE CORE is in charge of the data archives... Unless databases operate the similar way as libraries do in Discworld (EX: BOOKS = KNOWLEDGE = POWER = ENERGY = MATTER.) and modern databases are expected to handle terabytes of data (KNOWLEDGE) . . .
     
    [x][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    [x][POWR] REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE EMERGENCY BATTERY
    [x][ARAY] STANDBY RETRIBUTION ARRAY (x2)
    [x][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: SCRAP PROCESSING

    Didn't Legion Control say that engaging the barrier field might attract bigger null space things? I'd rather not, especially with only point-defense weapons working. No sealing internal doorways either because I'd rather the locusts and ADCUs have clear paths to whatever they need to repair, instead of trying to navigate through a maze.
     
    Last edited:
    GAWR said:
    Also, it is pretty funny that something as ominously named the APOCALYPSE CORE is in charge of the data archives... Unless databases operate the similar way as libraries do in Discworld (EX: BOOKS = KNOWLEDGE = POWER = ENERGY = MATTER.) and modern databases are expected to handle terabytes of data (KNOWLEDGE) . . .
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Without getting into specifics regarding its meaning in this quest, there's serious historical precedent linking "apocalypse" and "information":
    Wikipedia said:
    Apocalypse, from Ancient Greek: ἀποκάλυψις apokálypsis, meaning "revelation" or "disclosure", is a literary genre in which a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a human intermediary.[1]​ The means of mediation include dreams, visions and heavenly journeys,[2]​ and they typically feature symbolic imagery drawn from the Hebrew Bible,[3]​ cosmological and (pessimistic) historical surveys, the division of time into periods, esoteric numerology, and claims of ecstasy and inspiration.[4] ​Almost all are written under pseudonyms (false names), claiming as author a venerated hero from previous centuries,[5]​ as with Book of Daniel, composed during the 2nd century BCE but bearing the name of the legendary Daniel.[6]​
    ...
    Apocalypse has come to be used popularly as a synonym for catastrophe, but the Greek word apokálypsis, from which it is derived, means a revelation.[13]​ It has been defined by John J Collins as "a genre of revelatory literature with a narrative framework, in which a revelation is mediated by an otherworldly being to a human recipient, disclosing a transcendent reality which is both temporal, in that it envisages eschatological salvation, and spatial, insofar as it involves another, supernatural world."[14]​ Collins later refined his definition by adding that apocalypse "is intended to interpret present, earthly circumstances in light of the supernatural world and of the future, and to influence both the understanding and the behaviour of the audience by means of divine authority."[14]​
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
     
    Last edited:
    Adhoc vote count started by GAWR on Mar 26, 2022 at 2:07 AM, finished with 16 posts and 7 votes.
    [prot] [powr] [fact] [aray] [pers]
    Click to expand...


    Here's the current spread of votes.
     
    [X][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    [X][POWR] REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE EMERGENCY BATTERY
    [X][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    -[X] SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    (DC 10, 10C, 20M, 30P, 20T: +2d6 Units of Scavenger Harnesses)
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [X][PERS] SIM TO CONTACT ADCU
    -[X] THE APOCALYPSE CORE
     
    Vote closed
  • Voting
    • Scheduled vote count started by Blackshard on Mar 25, 2022 at 2:56 PM, finished with 19 posts and 8 votes.
    [prot] [powr] [fact] [aray] [pers]
    Click to expand...
     
  • Voting
    • 10 - BARRIER FIELDS ONLINE
  • Threadmarks
    • You continue to raise your defences, wary of incoming attacks. It'll strain your power reserves, but you're more willing to accept that, now that you've got some power production online.

    STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE EMERGENCY BATTERY

    ACTIVATE FACTORY AUTOMATION
    BEGIN EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    PRODUCE SCAVENGER HARNESSES

    ACTIVATE BASTION PROCEDURES
    ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS
    SEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS

    ACKNOWLEDGED

    ALERT
    SEALING INTERNAL DOORWAYS WILL IMPEDE MOVEMENTS OF ALL UNITS UNLESS DOORS REMAIN POWERED
    UNSEAL DOORWAYS TO PREVENT THIS

    Meanwhile, you direct some ADCUs to begin repairs to the Apocalypse Core. You're considering activating it soon, and would rather it be in better condition when you do.

    ENERGY PRODUCTION
    VOID FRACTURE GENERATOR = 1d100, 29
    DIMENSIONAL SIPHON = 30d100, 1774

    ENERGY USE
    SUBPROCESSOR CORE = 3d10, 16
    LOCUST FACTORY = 5d100, 250
    FACTORY AUTOMATION = 5d100, 292
    RETRIBUTION ARRAY = 5d100, 206
    INTERNAL DEFENCE = 5d100, 278
    ANTIMAGIC FIELD = 5d100, 274
    POINT DEFENCE = 5d100, 122
    BARRIER FIELDS = 5d100, 337
    DOOR CONTROL = 5d100, 190

    BARRIER FIELD 0% > 6.74%
    RESERVE BATTERY 3.02% > 2.86%
    EMERGENCY BATTERY 23.15% > 21.69%

    EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION: SCAVENGER HARNESSES > DC 10
    1d100 = 53, Clear Success
    +2d6 (7) Scavenger Harnesses
    Locusts 15 > 8
    Scavenger Locusts 7 > 14

    ADCU ON INDEPENDENT ACTION > DC 50 -10 (Extra Security)
    1d100 = 98 vs 40, Exceptional Success
    2 ADCUs arrive immediately.
    4 more ADCUs arrive next turn.

    ADCU RESOURCEFULNESS > DC 40 +20 (Primary System Scale) -20 (Reinforcements)
    1d100 = 88 vs 40, Clear Success
    Sufficient repair parts secured.

    REPAIR APOCALYPSE CORE > DC 70 -10 (Reinforcements)
    1d100 = 13 vs 60, Clear Failure
    No progress this turn, -5 DC next turn.

    LEGION CONTROL TO SUPERVISE SCAVENGING OPERATIONS NEAR LOCUST FACTORY > DC 30
    1d100 = 52 vs 30, Clear Success
    Remnants of Cargo Bay 1 accessed.
    Cargo Bay 1 Status > 17, ruined.
    Ruins of Cargo Bay 1 cleared.
    +21C, +53F, +6G, +58M, +23P, +14T, +103 S, +4X
    No intact equipment found.

    DROPSHIP DEPLOYMENT > DC 30 +20 (Null Space Interference) +10 (No Hangar Bay) -10 (Barrier Field)
    1d100 = 84 vs 50, Clear Success
    Barrier Field wards off nearby enemies; no significant threat encountered.

    FUEL TRANSFER OPERATION > DC 10 +20 (Null Space Interference) -10 (Barrier Field)
    1d100 = 52 vs 20, Clear Success
    No interference with fuel transfer.
    1000F loaded to Dropship.
    Fuel Tank #3 27.59% > 17.59%
    Dropship to RTB next turn.

    HOSTILE ACTIONS > ??? -30 (Defences) -10 (Antimagic) +30 (Dinner Bell)
    Minor threats; damage negated by Barrier Field.
    BARRIER FIELD 6.74% > 4.34%

    Things seem to be going fairly smoothly for now. Most of the ADCUs on the ship are now converging on the Apocalypse Core, and though they have yet to begin repairs, they should be able to start getting something done soon.

    Meanwhile, there are Scavenger Harnesses rolling off the lines in the Locust Factory, which produces more than 250 harnesses before it runs out of materials.

    INSUFFICIENT MATERIALS TO SUPPORT PRODUCTION OF SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    AUTOMATED PRODUCTION TERMINATED

    As the unsuited Locusts begin suiting up, the Scavengers themselves are busy clearing out the remains of one of the cargo bays. It's pretty much wrecked, but it may as well be a treasure trove to the industrious Scavengers, who tear apart the wreckage in search of anything useful, break down the wreckage into nicely portable pieces, and leave an empty shell of a room behind them.

    The Barrier Fields come online, protecting you from incoming threats with a thin wall of energy. Under its aegis, the dropship sent to the Engineering Segment is easily able to transfer the fuel it needed. It'll be heading back to the Locust Factory soon. You're still facing some attention from the local entities, but with your Barrier Fields warding them off and your Point Defences shooting them down, it looks like you've got some breathing room.

    BARRIER FIELD STRENGTH AT 4.34%
    ARMOUR CAPACITY ESTIMATED AT 7.75%
    HULL INTEGRITY ESTIMATED AT 26.51%
    RESERVE BATTERY AT 2.86%
    EMERGENCY BATTERY AT 21.69%
    LOCUST FACTORY ENERGY BANK AT 0
    FACTORY STOCKPILE
    1A 51B 29C 53F 22G 78M 26P 192S 15T 25X

    AWAITING ORDERS COMMANDER

    <STRATEGIC PROTOCOLS>
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE MADNESS PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE CANNIBAL PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE DESTROYER PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE REAPER PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] ACTIVATE ANIMUS PROTOCOLS
    [ ][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS

    <POWER DISTRIBUTION COMMANDS>
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE APOCALYPSE CORE
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE HUNGER ENGINE
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO THE ANNIHILATION BATTERY
    [ ][POWR] EMERGENCY POWER TO SECONDARY SYSTEM
    -[ ] (write-in: specify system)
    [ ][POWR] REROUTE DIMENSIONAL ENERGY TO THE RESERVE BATTERY
    [ ][POWR] REROUTE VOID FRACTURE ENERGY TO THE RESERVE BATTERY
    [ ][POWR] STANDBY EMERGENCY POWER
    -[ ] TERMINATE EMERGENCY POWER TO THE LOCUST FACTORY
    -[ ] TERMINATE EMERGENCY POWER TO THE RETRIBUTION ARRAY

    <LOCUST FACTORY COMMANDS>
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: LOCAL POWER GENERATION
    (20F: Burns Fuel to produce Energy, +40d100 Energy to the Locust Factory's Energy Bank)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: MANA CRACKING
    (DC 60, 5A, 25C, 25G, 25X: Uses Arcane Components and other reagents to extract Mana from Exotic Matter, +5d6 Mana)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SALVAGE DAMAGED LINES
    (DC 10: Breaks down the broken machinery in the Locust Factory for Scrap and other random resources, +100 S, +???, permanently increases the DC of EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SELF-REPAIR each time it is taken, until the factory is completely repaired)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SELF REPAIR
    (DC 40, 10M, 5P, 1T: Repairs damaged portions of the Locust Factory, using standard materials, +(~1-5 d100)% factory condition)
    [ ][FACT] EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: RECONSTRUCTION
    (1A, 5C, 40M, 20P, 5T, Rebuilds the Locust Factory from scratch, +5% factory condition)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: ARCANE ASSEMBLY
    (DC 50, 1C, 1G, 1P, 1T, 1X: Produces Arcane Components, +1A)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: BIOMASS PROCESSING
    (20B: Processes Biomass into Chemicals and Fuel, +2d6C, +1d6F)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: CHEMICAL PROCESSING
    (20C: Processes Chemicals into Fuel and Gems, +3d6F, +1G)
    [][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION
    -[] OMEN BATTLESUITS
    (DC 30, 10C, 20F, 5G, 40M, 20P, 10T, 5X: +2d6 Units of Omen Battlesuits)
    -[] SCAVENGER HARNESSES
    (DC 10, 10C, 20M, 30P, 20T: +2d6 Units of Scavenger Harnesses)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: LOCUST PRODUCTION
    (DC 20, 20B, 10C, 5G, 20M, 10P, 5T: Produces Locusts, +2d10 Units)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: PARTS MANUFACTURING
    (20M: Produces Mechanical Parts from Metal, +10P)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: SCRAP PROCESSING
    (DC 10, 20S: Harvests useful materials from Scrap, +3d6 random resources, M>P>T>G>X>A)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY AUTOMATION: TECHNOLOGY ASSEMBLY
    (5C, 1G, 5M, 1P: Produces Technological Components, +5T)
    [ ][FACT] FACTORY OPTIMIZATION (unavailable)
    (Factory Optimization actions are unavailable while operating on Emergency Power)
    [ ][FACT] HARBINGER LINE (unavailable)
    (The Harbinger Line is offline while operating on Emergency Power)
    [ ][FACT] STANDBY LOCUST FACTORY
    (The Locust Factory will stand by for orders, minimizing energy consumption)

    <LEGION CONTROL ACTIONS> (LOCKED)
    [X] LEGION CONTROL TO RETURN DROPSHIP TO LOCUST FACTORY FOR FUEL TRANSFER
    [X] LEGION CONTROL TO INVESTIGATE HANGAR BAY

    <RETRIBUTION ARRAY COMMANDS>
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: AUTOMATE INTERNAL DEFENCE (active)
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: AUTOMATE POINT DEFENCE (active)
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE ANTIMAGIC FIELDS (active)
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: ENGAGE BARRIER FIELDS (active)
    [ ][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: UNSEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ARM MEGA CANNONS
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ARM TORPEDO LAUNCHERS
    -[ ] LOAD ACID TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD BOMBARDMENT TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD ENERGY TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD PLASMA TORPEDOES
    -[ ] LOAD VORPAL TORPEDOES
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ENERGIZE DISINTEGRATION BEAMS
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ENERGIZE DIVINATION MATRIX
    [ ][ARAY] TACTICAL COMMANDS: ENERGIZE VOID LANCES
    [ ][ARAY] ACTIVATE ETERNITY GRID
    [ ][ARAY] ACTIVATE MAULER DEVICE (unavailable while operating on Emergency Power)
    [ ][ARAY] STANDBY RETRIBUTION ARRAY
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE ANTIMAGIC FIELDS
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE BARRIER FIELDS
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE DOOR CONTROL
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE INTERNAL DEFENCES
    -[ ] DEACTIVATE POINT DEFENCES
    [ ][ARAY] STANDBY RETRIBUTION ARRAY (x2)
    (if voting not to activate any new systems, and/or to deactivate multiple systems)

    <SIM PERSONAL ACTIONS>
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO CONTACT ADCU (busy)
    -[ ] (write-in: specify priority for damage control)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO INVESTIGATE SHIP SYSTEMS
    -[ ] (write-in: specify a primary or secondary system, poke around in accessible data files for details about what it does)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO INVESTIGATE STRATEGIC PROTOCOL
    -[ ] (write-in: specify a protocol, poke around in accessible data files for details about what it does)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO ORDER LEGION CONTROL
    -[ ] (write-in: issue three orders to legion control, overriding its current proposed actions and issuing an ongoing directive)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO QUERY BACKUP CONTROL STRUCTURE
    -[ ] (write-in: ask three questions of the backup control structure)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO QUERY LEGION CONTROL
    -[ ] (write-in: ask three questions of legion control)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO RECALIBRATE DIMENSIONAL SIPHON
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO SEARCH DATABASES
    -[ ] (write-in: search databases for information on any topic; information availability varies)
    [ ][PERS] SIM TO SUPERVISE SHIP SYSTEM
    -[ ] LEGION CONTROL
    -[ ] LOCUST FACTORY
    -[ ] POWER DISTRIBUTION
    -[ ] PROTOCOL ACTIVATION
    -[ ] RETRIBUTION ARRAY
     
  • Threadmarks
    • This seems like a fun quest.

    It seems like we are still using more power than we generate. If we want to turn on the Apocalypse Core we are going to need to fix that. It seems like the internal threats have been eliminated for now so I think it makes sense to power off internal defenses and door control for now. I know the door control just got turned on but power is really low and if we eliminate 10d100 of power usage we could start to build up some power reserves again.

    [X][PROT] STANDBY PROTOCOLS
    [X][POWR] STANDBY EMERGENCY POWER
    [X][FACT] STANDBY LOCUST FACTORY
    [X][ARAY] BASTION PROCEDURES: UNSEAL INTERNAL DOORWAYS
    [X][ARAY] STANDBY RETRIBUTION ARRAY
    -[X] DEACTIVATE INTERNAL DEFENCES
    [X][PERS] SIM TO RECALIBRATE DIMENSIONAL SIPHON
     
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