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Department of Starship Design (Trek-ish)

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Mechanis said:
Just to clarify, you already know B is functioning, though it seems to be getting close to the end of that--I didn't especially feel any need to have a vote about getting there when every option would do so.
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So it's really a case of if we're willing to press on with the assumption worst case we'll find another booster or if we want to leave this section with our existing gains.
 
I'm not crazy about using a failing booster.

[X] Continue on to a different point of interest - (5A) or (4B), whichever passage looks more stable
 
[X] Continue on to a different point of interest (5A)
 
It seems like we are going to be under time pressure for this part of the maze, so we need to pick what route through the nebula we think has the most interesting things. Backtracking to 4A on the left or anything above 1C on the right seems likely to cost us time we would rather spend exploring things at the bottom of the map. I want to check out the big hex surrounded by boosters and the spiral at the bottom, so the question is what route to take to the hex. We could take:
  1. 3B
  2. 3A
  3. Booster D
  4. the curve of locations below 6
The other main option is the curve of circles with X's on the right, but that seems less varied and interesting. This is all assuming we don't run into closed off paths that prevent some of those options.
 
The hexagon isn't a bad option if the way from 3B or even 3A is open to it. Clearly central and important facility, ringed by booster stations such that we can probably find a way out around there.

Plus, I figure if any part of this nebula sector was further reinforced/maintained to prevent collapse- it's probably going to be that part.
 
Since we are closer to the edge of the nebula, I suspect the spiral symbol at the bottom may represent the primary entrance, and the 5 symbols near it may be defenses that we could slip past while cloaked. There are 4 Anchorages on the map, with the only unlabeled one at the chokepoint controlling access to the spiral.

We should also decide if we want to visit Anchorage 1B and 1C.
 
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LawsOfRobotics said:
Since we are closer to the edge of the nebula, I suspect the spiral symbol at the bottom may represent the primary entrance, and the 5 symbols near it may be defenses that we could slip past while cloaked. There are 4 Anchorages on the map, with the only unlabeled one at the chokepoint controlling access to the spiral.

We should also decide if we want to visit Anchorage 1B and 1C.
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A reasonable theory, though it does raise the question if those half solid diamonds are defensive batteries, why are they pointing different directions?

Same with the half filled squares we see in the North I guess. Maybe belonging to different factions? Our current map should post date the civil war by a long time.
 
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The Paths of Medusa : Part I (34)
  • Threadmarks
    • > Head to 5A
    This bubble is distended into a disc shape, a conical pit about twice the Star Seeker's length orbiting rapidly along the edge—the remains of the other exit, you suspect. It seems whatever mechanism was responsible for maintaining the tunnels has gone rather badly wrong, and you suspect that this bubble is going to collapse eventually, once it is stretched beyond its breaking point. Not soon, but perhaps within the next two or three years¹.

    The centerpiece, however, is the almost-skeletal remains of what was, by its design, some manner of spaceborn fortress built around a truly colossal weapon of some kind, if the size of the ball-shaped turret is any indication—the weapon itself, and most of the other functional components of the station, is and are long gone, and only the hollowed hulk remains. Some small samples are gathered that seem to have escaped being stripped (or, perhaps, stripped yet) but otherwise there is little to be found.
    Where next?
    [ ] Leave via Booster B
    [ ] Investigate (Write-in option)
    Already Investigated: 1A, 5A, B & C

    1: 10-15 Terran years
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Karugus said:
    A reasonable theory, though it does raise the question if those half solid diamonds are defensive batteries, why are they pointing different directions?
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    I think Mech is just using different unicode symbols, and the orientation doesn't necessarily mean anything other than that they are not identical except for the ones on each end.

    [X] Investigate 1B
    [X] Investigate 3A

    Either of these seems interesting.
     
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    The Paths of Medusa : Part I (35)
  • Threadmarks
    • > Investigate 3A
    The passage to 3A looks fine, as you round the vertical curve leading to it, but before the Star Seeker can actually enter, the entire passage, completely without warning, blinks off, crackling nebula rushing into the space. Three ticks later, the dangerous clouds are shoved aside as the passage reestablishes itself—for all of five ticks, before it collapses again. Even at maximum impulse the passage is far too long to pass through before it collapses—the ship cannot pass this way. And that assumes it remains of predictable periodicy, which is by no means certain.
    [ ] Divert to 1B
    [ ] Backtrack to 4A or 4B (Write in which)
    [ ] Leave via Booster B
    [ ] Investigate somewhere else (Write in)
    Already Investigated: 1A, 5B, B & C
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Leave via Booster B

    These failing passages are giving me bad feelings. Might be better to try to bail out of here.
     
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