- Location
- USA
Yes, but obviously it's risky.
Slayer Command: XCOM with Monsters and Mecha
- Thread starter ShieldCrown
- Start date
- Original
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
I've almost got a plan together, with the focus on trying to increase our Funding as much as we can while still using all of our actions and not missing out on synergies (Josephine is such a godsend for this), but I have some quick questions about how Twilight's Mission Multitasking works. Does its trigger condition mean that we have to use all of our different departments' action slots in the turn to activate it, or just all of the Intrigue action slots? And when we trigger it, does that mean it just gives him/the Intrigue department a third action, or is it an extra general action we can use anywhere? I assume the former in both cases, but I want to make sure.
- Location
- USA
If you have all your Intrigue action slots filled, you can still do an Action for Intrigue.
Example, you choose two intrigue actions that take multiple turns to complete. On the next Turn, you can take one extra action thanks to Twilight.
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
Alright then, here's my plan. The core of it is money, because actually using all our action slots consumes almost all of our savings and income. So if we want to be able to keep being productive with our turns, we need more cash coming in. So Diplomacy's Get More Funding!, plus A Fleshed-Out Crew to improve their success chances for Propaganda Machine next turn for that chance of donations each turn (which should be taken with Recruitment Drive). Research's Chroming Up so we can start selling medical cybernetics for our own independent revenue. Plus Twilight just stealing us some more money, because even if it's not the most important use of his time, we frankly still need it to fund the next turn.
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
-[X] Martial
--[X] Armor Acquisition: "Director, we have only one tank unit. While the Slayers are certainly big and armored, they're meant to take on Titans. I recommend we acquire additional armored units before we end up needing them and not having them." (Cost: 200. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: More Tanks, along with a few other vehicles.)
--[X] Bluecap Improvement, Infiltration: "Director, with the Bluecaps being supplemented with our soldiers, I'd like to start training them further in how to detect and deal with infiltrators. Maybe you can convince that new spook of ours to lend a hand? " (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Base Security Improved. Blue Caps can now detect and react to Infiltrators.)
-[X] Research
--[X] Chroming Up, The Basics: "While not my preference, these cybernetic implants seem to hold great potential. I can definitely see how this could be of use to our forces, Director." (Cost: 150. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 40. Reward: You can produce Medical Grade Cyberware for your Troops or for sale, Unlock additional Cyberware Actions.)
--[X] Small Samples: "I suppose we could find other uses for the specimen; I will try my best to not compromise the specimen too much in my studies, Director." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Biomorphic Data, Basic Understanding of Titans, Titan Corpse is not fully consumed, ???)
Industry
-[X] Diplomacy
--[X] A Fleshed-Out Crew: "I know you see me as a miracle worker, but I'm going to need more than just a skeleton crew to run my department. I know some people I can call in a few favors from to put some meat on these bones." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Diplomatic Department fully staffed, DC on Diplomatic Actions Decreased.)
--[X] Get More Funding!: "Honestly, they expect you to run something like this on a shoestring budget? Don't worry, I'll get those suits to empty their wallets for us a bit more, you can count me, just like old times." (Cost: 50. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Monthly Funding increased to +600 for 3 Turns.)
-[X] Intrigue
--[X] Age of the Geek: "In this age, digital security is paramount in protecting secrets and information, as I understand we've already suffered a setback in. I would like to set up an E-War Division within my department so we can both protect ourselves from and employ hacking in our operations." (Cost: 150. Turns: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Digital Division set up, +10 to Intel gathering and counterintelligence.)
--[X] A Thief In The Night: "Director, sometimes people will hold onto something that could be of better use in other hands. If you wish to acquire something but feel the other party will be unreasonable, I can arrange for an operation to acquire it." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: ???. Reward: ???. Each Sub-Vote Counts as an Action.)
---[X] Money (DC: 50. Reward: +500 Credits.)
-[X] Personal
--[X] Get to know someone: You're going to be working with them, you might as well learn more about your subordinates and co-workers. (Cost: 0. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50)
---[X] (Department Head) Emily Chambers
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
-[X] Martial
--[X] Armor Acquisition: "Director, we have only one tank unit. While the Slayers are certainly big and armored, they're meant to take on Titans. I recommend we acquire additional armored units before we end up needing them and not having them." (Cost: 200. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: More Tanks, along with a few other vehicles.)
--[X] Bluecap Improvement, Infiltration: "Director, with the Bluecaps being supplemented with our soldiers, I'd like to start training them further in how to detect and deal with infiltrators. Maybe you can convince that new spook of ours to lend a hand? " (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Base Security Improved. Blue Caps can now detect and react to Infiltrators.)
-[X] Research
--[X] Chroming Up, The Basics: "While not my preference, these cybernetic implants seem to hold great potential. I can definitely see how this could be of use to our forces, Director." (Cost: 150. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 40. Reward: You can produce Medical Grade Cyberware for your Troops or for sale, Unlock additional Cyberware Actions.)
--[X] Small Samples: "I suppose we could find other uses for the specimen; I will try my best to not compromise the specimen too much in my studies, Director." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Biomorphic Data, Basic Understanding of Titans, Titan Corpse is not fully consumed, ???)
Industry
-[X] Diplomacy
--[X] A Fleshed-Out Crew: "I know you see me as a miracle worker, but I'm going to need more than just a skeleton crew to run my department. I know some people I can call in a few favors from to put some meat on these bones." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Diplomatic Department fully staffed, DC on Diplomatic Actions Decreased.)
--[X] Get More Funding!: "Honestly, they expect you to run something like this on a shoestring budget? Don't worry, I'll get those suits to empty their wallets for us a bit more, you can count me, just like old times." (Cost: 50. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Monthly Funding increased to +600 for 3 Turns.)
-[X] Intrigue
--[X] Age of the Geek: "In this age, digital security is paramount in protecting secrets and information, as I understand we've already suffered a setback in. I would like to set up an E-War Division within my department so we can both protect ourselves from and employ hacking in our operations." (Cost: 150. Turns: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Digital Division set up, +10 to Intel gathering and counterintelligence.)
--[X] A Thief In The Night: "Director, sometimes people will hold onto something that could be of better use in other hands. If you wish to acquire something but feel the other party will be unreasonable, I can arrange for an operation to acquire it." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: ???. Reward: ???. Each Sub-Vote Counts as an Action.)
---[X] Money (DC: 50. Reward: +500 Credits.)
-[X] Personal
--[X] Get to know someone: You're going to be working with them, you might as well learn more about your subordinates and co-workers. (Cost: 0. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50)
---[X] (Department Head) Emily Chambers
- Location
- USA
So, should both actions involving the acquisition of Funds pass, you should have around… 1,150 Funding next Turn, after taking Josephine's boost and the Debt from the plan into account
- Location
- New England
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
Gimme the casssshhhhh
Gimme the casssshhhhh
Warmach1ne32
Machine of War and Quests
- Location
- Indonesia
@NaanContributor I think your plan is great but I think replacing the Small Samples with The Corpse of Giants is better as it frees up having to do a 2nd research action to exhaust the Titan corpse as well as save up 50 Credits as well as not needing to do another roll for a lot of Titan info.
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
Hmm, @ShieldCrown do we get more Data overall if we do Small Samples in addition to The Corpses of Giants? Or is it solely a risk management concern, and Small Samples would be made redundant as long as Corpses rolls successfully?
- Location
- USA
There may be some use in Biomorphic materials you'll discover, and you might enjoy having some on hand already when you discover it.
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
Gotcha. Yeah, I don't mind seeing what else we can make use of with the corpse instead of consuming all of it right now for raw data, and then not having anything to craft with from that knowledge until we manage to preserve another Titan.
Warmach1ne32
Machine of War and Quests
- Location
- Indonesia
To be fair, we can get more corpses when we get a Breach event.
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
Considering that it was a special Chargen boon, I doubt it'll be so easy as us getting some for free any time we kill Titans in Breach events. More likely the straightforward act of violently killing Titans with giant robots and tanks renders the bodies too damaged for most high-quality research and material. And the only way we'll reliably preserve more intact bodies besides this one we've started with thanks to narrative/sheer luck, is to purposely develop the proper tools and procedure to do it (building a Slayer-scale freeze ray or something). Something that requires time and effort from us, like building the Slayer factory or designing the next-gen Slayer model.
- Location
- Arizona
- Pronouns
- Him/His
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
- Location
- MSC
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
Turn 2 Results
- Location
- USA
[X] Plan Will Slay for $$$
-[X] Martial
--[X] Armor Acquisition: "Director, we have only one tank unit. While the Slayers are certainly big and armored, they're meant to take on Titans. I recommend we acquire additional armored units before we end up needing them and not having them." (Cost: 200. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: More Tanks, along with a few other vehicles.)
--[X] Bluecap Improvement, Infiltration: "Director, with the Bluecaps being supplemented with our soldiers, I'd like to start training them further in how to detect and deal with infiltrators. Maybe you can convince that new spook of ours to lend a hand? " (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Base Security Improved. Blue Caps can now detect and react to Infiltrators.)
-[X] Research
--[X] Chroming Up, The Basics: "While not my preference, these cybernetic implants seem to hold great potential. I can definitely see how this could be of use to our forces, Director." (Cost: 150. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 40. Reward: You can produce Medical Grade Cyberware for your Troops or for sale, Unlock additional Cyberware Actions.)
--[X] Small Samples: "I suppose we could find other uses for the specimen; I will try my best to not compromise the specimen too much in my studies, Director." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Biomorphic Data, Basic Understanding of Titans, Titan Corpse is not fully consumed, ???)
Industry
-[X] Diplomacy
--[X] A Fleshed-Out Crew: "I know you see me as a miracle worker, but I'm going to need more than just a skeleton crew to run my department. I know some people I can call in a few favors from to put some meat on these bones." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Diplomatic Department fully staffed, DC on Diplomatic Actions Decreased.)
--[X] Get More Funding!: "Honestly, they expect you to run something like this on a shoestring budget? Don't worry, I'll get those suits to empty their wallets for us a bit more, you can count me, just like old times." (Cost: 50. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Monthly Funding increased to +600 for 3 Turns.)
-[X] Intrigue
--[X] Age of the Geek: "In this age, digital security is paramount in protecting secrets and information, as I understand we've already suffered a setback in. I would like to set up an E-War Division within my department so we can both protect ourselves from and employ hacking in our operations." (Cost: 150. Turns: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Digital Division set up, +10 to Intel gathering and counterintelligence.)
--[X] A Thief In The Night: "Director, sometimes people will hold onto something that could be of better use in other hands. If you wish to acquire something but feel the other party will be unreasonable, I can arrange for an operation to acquire it." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: ???. Reward: ???. Each Sub-Vote Counts as an Action.)
---[X] Money (DC: 50. Reward: +500 Credits.)
-[X] Personal
--[X] Get to know someone: You're going to be working with them, you might as well learn more about your subordinates and co-workers. (Cost: 0. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50)
---[X] (Department Head) Emily Chambers
-[X] Martial
--[X] Armor Acquisition: "Director, we have only one tank unit. While the Slayers are certainly big and armored, they're meant to take on Titans. I recommend we acquire additional armored units before we end up needing them and not having them." (Cost: 200. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: More Tanks, along with a few other vehicles.)
--[X] Bluecap Improvement, Infiltration: "Director, with the Bluecaps being supplemented with our soldiers, I'd like to start training them further in how to detect and deal with infiltrators. Maybe you can convince that new spook of ours to lend a hand? " (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Base Security Improved. Blue Caps can now detect and react to Infiltrators.)
-[X] Research
--[X] Chroming Up, The Basics: "While not my preference, these cybernetic implants seem to hold great potential. I can definitely see how this could be of use to our forces, Director." (Cost: 150. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 40. Reward: You can produce Medical Grade Cyberware for your Troops or for sale, Unlock additional Cyberware Actions.)
--[X] Small Samples: "I suppose we could find other uses for the specimen; I will try my best to not compromise the specimen too much in my studies, Director." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Biomorphic Data, Basic Understanding of Titans, Titan Corpse is not fully consumed, ???)
Industry
-[X] Diplomacy
--[X] A Fleshed-Out Crew: "I know you see me as a miracle worker, but I'm going to need more than just a skeleton crew to run my department. I know some people I can call in a few favors from to put some meat on these bones." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Diplomatic Department fully staffed, DC on Diplomatic Actions Decreased.)
--[X] Get More Funding!: "Honestly, they expect you to run something like this on a shoestring budget? Don't worry, I'll get those suits to empty their wallets for us a bit more, you can count me, just like old times." (Cost: 50. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Monthly Funding increased to +600 for 3 Turns.)
-[X] Intrigue
--[X] Age of the Geek: "In this age, digital security is paramount in protecting secrets and information, as I understand we've already suffered a setback in. I would like to set up an E-War Division within my department so we can both protect ourselves from and employ hacking in our operations." (Cost: 150. Turns: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Digital Division set up, +10 to Intel gathering and counterintelligence.)
--[X] A Thief In The Night: "Director, sometimes people will hold onto something that could be of better use in other hands. If you wish to acquire something but feel the other party will be unreasonable, I can arrange for an operation to acquire it." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: ???. Reward: ???. Each Sub-Vote Counts as an Action.)
---[X] Money (DC: 50. Reward: +500 Credits.)
-[X] Personal
--[X] Get to know someone: You're going to be working with them, you might as well learn more about your subordinates and co-workers. (Cost: 0. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50)
---[X] (Department Head) Emily Chambers
"Well, another mixed bag of failure and success this month." You said as you looked over the summary reports that detailed the monthly operations that you had approved of. You had already spoken directly with everyone, but looking over reports was part of your jobs and it was always possible someone remembered a detail or found something a bit later to add in.
As for what actually did happen…
Martial
[X] Armor Acquisition: "Director, we have only one tank unit. While the Slayers are certainly big and armored, they're meant to take on Titans. I recommend we acquire additional armored units before we end up needing them and not having them." (Cost: 200. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: More Tanks, along with a few other vehicles.)
(Roll: 18 vs DC: 50. FAIL)
"What do you mean we aren't getting any tanks?" You looked over to Commander Adams as he barked into the phone. "We are at the metaphorical and possibly literal gate of Hell, and you can't send us any armor support? I understand that militaries are building up local defenses, but… yes… I see… very well then, good day." Adams hung up the call and looked infuriated beyond belief. "Pencil pushing jackass…"
"Problems, Commander?" You asked, getting Adams attention. He stood up and composed himself in short order.
"Director, we may have run into an issue with acquiring ourselves some extra vehicles, the Americans have decided they can't afford to send any of their tanks our way to build up our forces at this time."
"Well… what about the Europeans?" You suggested, tilting your head. "It might cost more, but Josephine is working on that front, so we should be able to work something out."
"At least you aren't suggesting we grab some Russian tanks, though we could probably buy them for cheap." Adams said, which did give you an idea.
"Well, I'm sure our engineering department could get even mass produced and cheap tanks into proper shape given enough time. So, it might work out… it'll just be a longer-term investment."
[ ] Accept a Delay
[ ] Try to get the new European Tank: Cost increased to 250, gain 3 Experimental Tank Units.
[ ] Buy some Russian Surplus: Cost reduced to 100, gain 6 Units of Outdated Tanks.
[X] Bluecap Improvement, Infiltration: "Director, with the Bluecaps being supplemented with our soldiers, I'd like to start training them further in how to detect and deal with infiltrators. Maybe you can convince that new spook of ours to lend a hand? " (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Base Security Improved. Blue Caps can now detect and react to Infiltrators.)
(Roll: 92 vs DC: 50. PASS)
First you were put through an extensive list of scanners and sensor equipment that honestly felt like it should be in one of the labs with how powerful and efficient they were, multiple background checks were made, and medical data was brought up and compared to your current state to check of inconsistencies and possible implanted listening devices or gadgets hidden in the body. Then you were escorted by a squad of five Bluecaps through the halls and lead to a briefing room where Adams was sitting down.
"Were the dozen metal detectors each attuned to specific ranges of metals really necessary?" You asked him as you sat down. "Or whatever scanner set up used that made my teeth feel tingly?"
Adams said nothing, actually he didn't even seem to be breathing. Before you could start to feel alarm, the door you came in through opened and another Adams walked in! "Good to see the decoy is more effective." He said, moving over and casually popping the head off the now revealed fake. "Still a prototype though, figuring out how to simulate normal breathing and allowing for remote communication without giving the game away is still causing trouble."
"Well, I see you've been thorough." You remark, doing your best not to look at the detached decoy head that was just a little too lifelike for your comfort. "And this is just for checking for infiltrators going in for a meeting, I assume procedures for when one is found and tries to escape are more… physical."
Adams nodded. "Not that my men have been able to catch our Head Spook whenever he gets involved directly with the tests. To be honest, I wasn't sure he was the real deal until I saw him in action, Director."
"You know Twilight, Commander?" You asked him, and the man sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Only rumours, he's a bit of a 'legend' in the intelligence world and you end up hearing about those kinds of folk when you get higher up the chain of command. The fact he's here just ends up reinforcing how bad the situation is given how he's one of the best in the business."
"You make him sound like a regular James Bond." You remarked, looking at the commander.
"Not far off, but with a bit more fake names and faces instead of gadgets and secret bases." Adams said with a shrug. "Thankfully not everyone is a real-life super spy, and the regular agents are easier to catch with the new protocols and training the Bluecaps got. Naturally the forty soldiers that were part of the training know it too, so it might help in case they get deployed and have to spot some hostile who know how to be stealthy."
"Hopefully not the kind that can go invisible…" you added, before wondering if you just jinxed yourself.
(Reward: Base Security Improved. Blue Caps can now detect and react to Infiltrators.)
Research
[X] Chroming Up, The Basics: "While not my preference, these cybernetic implants seem to hold great potential. I can definitely see how this could be of use to our forces, Director." (Cost: 150. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 40. Reward: You can produce Medical Grade Cyberware for your Troops or for sale, Unlock additional Cyberware Actions.)
(Roll: 76+10=86 vs DC: 40. PASS)
"Whoever came up with these is a genius… and probably a paranoid wreck of a human being." You couldn't help but say as you looked over the data that. As it turned out, had far more in it than initially expected, but all under some of the heaviest encryption you had ever seen.
"I can't help but concur, Director. I only discovered this after going over the basic prosthetic designs. Even with just those, a full tactile sensory array allowing for accurate touch-based sense, without any noticeable degradation…" Vahlen said as she pulled up the data. "Artificial eyes with full range of motion and sight, prosthetic noses with complete olfactory receptors, even tongues that would allow someone to be able to taste things as well as anyone else. This is miraculous technology."
"Not the mention, these designs would allow for no real difference between a prosthetic and the real deal. No lag, no desynchronized movements, and look at this!" You pulled up a file that showed off the schematics. "It's all completely waterproof! You could take a shower with this stuff still attached and not get shocked!"
"And this is all from unencrypted files that still needed a month to sort through and reorganize into something that makes sense." Vahlen said. "What could lay just beyond the encryption, what else has this mind come up with?"
"And why haven't we heard so much as a whisper about this stuff?" You couldn't help but think out loud. "This is the kind of stuff that would revolutionize the medical scene, get your name forever engraved in the history of scientific achievement… yet we don't know who came up with it."
Looks like you had a mystery on your hands. At least the very least, we could sell what we learned to help alleviate our money problems.
(Reward: Unlock Basic Medical Cyberware, Unlock Advanced Cyberware Research, & Additional Cyberware Options)
[X] Small Samples: "I suppose we could find other uses for the specimen; I will try my best to not compromise the specimen too much in my studies, Director." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Biomorphic Data, Basic Understanding of Titans, Titan Corpse is not fully consumed, ???)
(Roll: 74+10+20=104 vs DC: 60. Artificial CRIT!)
"What. The. Fuck." You said as you looked over the data Vahlen managed to extract from the samples taken from the Titan. You then looked up at her and repeated yourself. "What the fuck."
"I was surprised as well, though my reaction was not quite so… crude." Dr. Vahlen said as she looked at her data pad. "These Biomorphs are truly fascinating creatures, and to think they held such potential with their genetic structure. It's magnificent."
Magnificent was one way to put it, standing in defiance of your understanding of what is biologically possible is another! If what you were seeing was correct, then this Titan not only had the genetic information of itself, but also every other Biomorph you have on record, and more that you don't! Not only that, but it was apparently completely possible to use Biomorph biomass and genetic information to augment human beings, creating a form of bio-engineered super-soldier that could be modified and given more enhancements… theoretically at least.
"So, we have the genetic library of every Biomorph strain they currently have as well as a way to augment people into super soldiers because Biomorph cells are want to assimilate to every living tissue." As you looked over the database of various strains of Biomorphs that have been identified and had their genetic makeup mapped out.
"Correct. With the right stimulation of their cells, we could coax it to take whatever form we want, implant the desired augmentation into a host, and then the cells would do it's best to integrate itself." Vahlen commented while she is looking through a microscope.
"How likely are the cells to take over the host? I've seen enough sci-fi horror movies to not dismiss that risk." You want super soldiers as much as the next military organization, but if they lost control and attacked their allies then they are detriment and would make your job a lot harder than it needed to be that you might as well not bother.
"So long as the host is still alive and the augment received enough nutrients to sustain itself, it should stay docile." Vahlen still haven't taken her eyes of her microscope like it wasn't even worth her full attention.
I can guess what would have happened if the Biomorph cells decided to take over. I decided to change the subject before you lose my appetite. "So, that genetic library, do you think you can grow more Biomorph cells?"
"Not without a dedicated facility and a large amount of safety precautions but it should be theoretically possible; however, we would need living Biomorphs first to harvest live samples from to do it. The dead Titan doesn't have any living cells to multiply."
"Then how did you find out that Biomorph cells can assimilate with any biological tissue if they aren't alive?"
"Oh, I grafted a few milligrams of Biomorph tissue on some lab rats. The tissue integrated itself very well and so far, there haven't any adverse effect on the mice."
You just stand there and gaped at how dangerous it would have been if we had a runaway Biomorphic mouse that could have been as dangerous as that killer rabbit in the Monty Python movie. "Should I post a few guards in case the mice become too Biomorph-y?"
"That won't be necessary, all of the experimented mice have been put on autopsy tables and incinerated." Well, that's one worry dealt with.
You look over at the Titan remains nearby and ask a very important question. "We still have some parts of the Titan still in the freezer. Any plans on what you would use them for?"
"Mostly identifying the genetic markers of potential augments. Once we know what each genetic sequence does, we should be able to select which augment to give our soldiers." Here's hoping that it doesn't turn our own troops into Biomorphs. With nothing left to discuss you left Vahlen to do her thing.
(Reward: Unlock Biomorphic Augmentation Research & Biomorph Adaptability Research)
Industry
[X] Secondary Laboratories: "The room itself is built so all that's left is to bring in the various lab equipment." (Cost: 200. Time: 2 Turns. DC: 50. Reward: Secondary Labs Built, +5 to Research Actions and +1 Re-Roll on Failed Research Actions.)
"Ah, that wonderful sound can only be the rumble of scientific triumph!" You declare as the secondary laboratories are all brought online, resisting the urge to cackle in jubilation as your scientists went to work immediately to get acquainted with the facilities. Instead, you choose to bask in the feeling of having such facilities set up and ready for your use in aiding the unstoppable march of progress and knowledge. It was incredible, splendid, and dare you even say…
"You uh… doing okay there, Director-?" Emily started to ask before you erupted with joy and exhilaration.
"IT'S MAGNIFICENT!"
(Reward: Secondary Labs Built, +5 to Research Actions and +1 Re-Roll on Failed Research Actions.)
[X] Secondary Workshops: "Thanks to the idiot we have to start all over. The other engineers weren't happy either so he'll be getting his pay cut until he can pay back the damages his accident caused." (Cost: 200. Time: 2 Turns. DC: 50. Reward: Secondary Workshops Built, +5 to Industrial Actions and +1 Re-Roll on Failed Industrial Actions.)
"Finally got some progress going with this, will still take another month before it's fully finished, but at least it will get done." Emily said after recovering from when your little outburst had given her a shock and a fall on the rear. You apologized, remembering Josephine's words on what to do when someone was surprised by your moments of excitement and lost their footing and fell over.
It happens with a confusing amount of regularity, but you don't understand why.
"That's good to hear, I'm sure your teams will be just as glad as Vahlen's people about having access to these facilities." You said, before peeking up as a thought crossed your mind. "Hey, are you free later today? We can get some coffee in my office."
Emily gave you a look while having a blush… strange, what was with that expression she was making? Did you say something weird? You had a coffee maker in your office, build yourself in fact! Makes a good drink out of even subpar materials…Josephine probably hoarding all the good stuff.
(Will Complete Next Turn)
Diplomacy
[X] A Fleshed-Out Crew: "I know you see me as a miracle worker, but I'm going to need more than just a skeleton crew to run my department. I know some people I can call in a few favors from to put some meat on these bones." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50. Reward: Diplomatic Department fully staffed, DC on Diplomatic Actions Decreased.)
(Roll: 14, Trait Activated. 66+10=76 vs DC: 50. Pass)
"Well, that nearly ended in disaster, but I managed to clear things up and get it all sorted." Josephine said as she took a sip from her mug, and as you expected it was some fancy coffee she managed to hoard to herself. "Now I have proper team, it should be a simple matter of handling future operations in the battlefield of words and politics."
"The pen is mightier than the sword, and all that stuff." You said, while glaring at the mug of coffee she held. "So, what happened that nearly, as you put it, ended in disaster."
Josephine sighed. "One of the skeleton crew that was part of the assignment may have used some… unflattering language and a number of faux pas that would have caused some issues for us in the future. But don't fret, I took care of it after I caught it before the message could be sent out."
"And the idiot who nearly screwed up everything?" You asked.
"Oh, I've made my displeasure and disappointment quite well known to him, believe me." Josephine said, and a shiver went down your spine when you saw the glint in her eye.
Your friend can be scary when she wants to be.
(Reward: Diplomatic Department fully staffed, DC on Diplomatic Actions Decreased.)
[X] Get More Funding!: "Honestly, they expect you to run something like this on a shoestring budget? Don't worry, I'll get those suits to empty their wallets for us a bit more, you can count me, just like old times." (Cost: 50. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Monthly Funding increased to +600 for 3 Turns.)
(Roll: 80+20=100 vs DC: 60. Artificial CRIT!)
"And another successful negotiation to get you more cash, really I have to wonder how this keeps happening." Josephine teased you after coming back from the meeting.
"So, how many months did you manage to get out of them?" You asked, looking away from the smug look on your friend's face, the aura it emitted mocking you.
"You've got four months of increased funding, so we can hopefully stay in the black for a while long enough to find some alternative sources of income." Josephine said.
Money, it makes the world go round… well, not literally, but you get the idea.
(Reward: Monthly Funding increased to +600 for 4 Turns.)
Intrigue
[X] Age of the Geek: "In this age, digital security is paramount in protecting secrets and information, as I understand we've already suffered a setback in. I would like to set up an E-War Division within my department so we can both protect ourselves from and employ hacking in our operations." (Cost: 150. Turns: 1 Turn. DC: 60. Reward: Digital Division set up, +10 to Intel gathering and counterintelligence.)
(Roll: 97 vs DC: 60. CRIT)
"Twilight." You looked at the man with a blank expression on your face as you said his code name.
"Director." The super spy said with a nod and cool expression that didn't betray a single thought.
"Why is there a child in the base?" You decided to address the metaphorical elephant in the room, glancing over to the… girl? You think they're a girl, currently making the rest of the nearly formed Cyber-Warfare Sub-Division gawk at the code wizardry they were performing. Even you had to admit that you were impressed by the talent on display.
"That's Ed, they're part of Cyber-Warfare." Twilight answered, and part of you wanted to throttle the man even if you knew he could probably break you in half and turn you into a pretzel if you tried that.
"Where did you even find him?"
"Actually, he found us. He sent us an application as well as overhauling our entire Cyber-security twice from outside the base. I had one of my agents pick him up at Melbourne Airport after I read his application."
You had no words. You knew that your Cyber-Security is garbage, but you didn't know someone as young as him is able to overhaul it twice without us noticing.
"What do we have on him anyway?"
"Nothing, he doesn't have a digital record anywhere but when asked he said he was an orphan and was part of a human experiment, but he refused to elaborate further, likely to have severe trauma from his time as a guinea pig."
You stayed silent as we both watched him write code with his feet while the rest of the Cyber-Warfare division watched in awe. "Keep an eye out for any more unethical human experiments and shut it down if you find them. No human being deserves to be treated like a lab rat."
Twilight merely nodded as you both continued to observe Ed.
(Reward: Cyber-Warfare Section Staffed, Cyber-Warfare Hero Recruited, Reduced DC on all Cyber-Warfare Actions)
Traits: Cyber Savant: +15 to Cyber-Warfare Rolls
???
[X] A Thief In The Night: "Director, sometimes people will hold onto something that could be of better use in other hands. If you wish to acquire something but feel the other party will be unreasonable, I can arrange for an operation to acquire it." (Cost: 100. Time: 1 Turn. DC: ???. Reward: ???. Each Sub-Vote Counts as an Action.)
-[X] Money (DC: 50. Reward: +500 Credits.)
(Roll: 45 vs DC: 50. FAIL)
"What the Hell happened?" You asked, looking at the agents who came back with more dirt than cash from the operation.
"An unexpected complication in the form of a Metahuman attacking the cartel we were targeting for the heist. A powerful geokinetic from the reports they gave on the way back." Twilight said, and you think you detected the faint tone of frustration from the man. Makes sense though, having a third party show up and throw everything into disarray was always an annoying problem, especially when you couldn't see it coming.
Ah well, good thing Josephine got you some extra cash legally!
(Failure…)
Personal
[X] Get to know someone: You're going to be working with them, you might as well learn more about your subordinates and co-workers. (Cost: 0. Time: 1 Turn. DC: 50)
-[X] (Department Head) Emily Chambers
(Roll: 65 vs DC: 50. PASS)
"You know, when you invited me for coffee, I was a little worried you meant something else." Emily said as you both sat down in your office with a mug of hot coffee in your hands. Yours has plenty of creamer in it, because you will not stand having black bitter coffee when you can have something more tasteful!
"What else could I have meant?" You asked, giving Emily a raised eyebrow before taking a sip from your mug.
"Oh, nothing important!" Emily said, somewhat like she was trying to hide something she thought embarrassing.
"I admit that I don't know you very well and seeing as we're going to be working together to keep mankind from kicking the bucket for the foreseeable future, I thought to correct that." You said, leaning back in your chair and looking at Emily. "So, any hobbies or particular ambitions you feel like sharing?"
"Well, I like to tinker with machines even as a kid I'd play with electric motors than doll houses. My dad own a repair shop and I spent a lot of days watching him fix cars. It's why I wanted to work on the Slayers in the first place, they are just soo cool. I mean, when I got my mechanical engineering degree, I thought the coolest thing I'd work on are jet engines at Lockheed or something, but when you revealed the Slayers I was like, 'Whoa I want to work on that'. I mean how could I say no to giant fighting robots?"
You chuckled as Emily gushed over your baby. "So, what do you think of my babies? Did they meet your expectations?"
"Honestly, I'm surprised everything runs smoothly with how a lot of the internal components were from off the shelf parts of various industrial equipment."
"Unfortunately, we didn't have the time and resources to build a Slayer from scratch with the Breach and Titans, so I had to spend a couple of months asking around for specifications of various parts and redesigning my Slayer so that all of the parts fit and that it actually works with the stuff on hand."
"That must have been torture."
"It was. Luckily, I had a bunch of assistants to compile a list of parts and put them into 3D models so I can tinker around with it. After we got a working design and the simulation testing ran smoothly, we had to build the thing and it was whole different can of worms. But now that we aren't under a strict deadline now that we have 3 Slayers operational, we can take our time to design Mk2 to be more streamlined and less cobbled together."
"Ooh I have a few ideas I came up with when I reviewed the Slayer's blueprints and I wanted to run it by you first, is that okay?"
"By all means." As you let her talk about the various upgrades and improvements to give to you Slayers, you find you do enjoy your time together as she is a great person to bounce ideas with. Eventually you both returned to your respective stations with a promise to talk again once you have some free time.
(Reward: Emily Chambers Traits revealed.)
Traits: Mechanical Engineer: +10 to Vehicles and Slayer Industrial Rolls
Tinkerer: +10 to In-House Industrial Projects (Can Stack with other Traits)
QM Note: Once more, big thanks to my Beta, without whom this would likely have never come out.
Warmach1ne32
Machine of War and Quests
- Location
- Indonesia
Happy to help buddy
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
*Waggles Hand* Twilight failing to get those 500 Funds means our budget concerns aren't as solved as I was hoping, we're going to have to spend a bunch of our income again next turn to make full use of our action slots. While it's true that a mere +50 Funds cost isn't that big of a deal compared to what we're already spending, don't forget that buying the cheap Russian tanks gets us double the number of Tank Units as well as being less than half the cost.
Assuming that the follow up action to overhaul them has the standard time and money costs (1 turn, 100 Funds), then we'd be getting 6 Upgraded Tank Units for 2 turns and 200 Funds. Whereas purchasing another set of 3 Experimentals would get us 6 Experimental Tank Units for 2 turns and 500 Funds. If the upgraded tanks are more or less equivalent to the Experimental Tank Units then that's a pretty hefty bang for our buck, especially since we just revealed that Emily would give a +25 to the roll for tinkering with them after the Workshops are done, plus a reroll, which gives decent odds of critting on upgrading them.
[X] Buy some Russian Surplus: Cost reduced to 100, gain 6 Units of Outdated Tanks.
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Counter point we still got 600 monthly funds from the diplomatic roll so it still evens out.
[X] Try to get the new European Tank: Cost increased to 250, gain 3 Experimental Tank Units.
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
No it doesn't, I was already counting on both the diplomacy and Intrigue Fund actions when making the plan. With the failure of the Intrigue action we're going to start with only 650 Funds next turn as per the QM's calculations, so we are going to have to dip heavily into next turn's income too for all our action slots. Which means even less starting Funds for the next turn, which necessitates spending even more of the income, and so on and so forth, which is why we need to invest into more sources of funding.
World News/Rumor Mill Turn 2
- Location
- USA
World News/Rumor Mill
Africa: Situation Normal, Nothing to really report.
Asia: China selling Anti-Titan Missile System to allied nations!
Europe: Germany unveiling experimental Tank called the Crusader! A highly improved model of tank, it carries several features such as enhanced armor plating, a remote controlled machine-gun turret, and efficient Rapid Auto-Loaders for the main gun.
North America: US government officials have announced it will alter the proposed Meta-Registration Law, leading to a decline of protests until the revised version is seen.
South America: The South American governments have hit a stalemate with the cultist forces that attempted coups in multiple countries. Insurgency has turned into bloody attrition between them.
WARNING, WARNING! MAJOR BREACH DETECTED IN MEXICO! TITANS DETECTED! LARGE GATHERING OF BIOMORPHIC SIGNATURES DETECTED! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! DIRECTOR THOMPSON REPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTER!
"Ah, crap baskets."
Africa: Situation Normal, Nothing to really report.
Asia: China selling Anti-Titan Missile System to allied nations!
Europe: Germany unveiling experimental Tank called the Crusader! A highly improved model of tank, it carries several features such as enhanced armor plating, a remote controlled machine-gun turret, and efficient Rapid Auto-Loaders for the main gun.
North America: US government officials have announced it will alter the proposed Meta-Registration Law, leading to a decline of protests until the revised version is seen.
South America: The South American governments have hit a stalemate with the cultist forces that attempted coups in multiple countries. Insurgency has turned into bloody attrition between them.
WARNING, WARNING! MAJOR BREACH DETECTED IN MEXICO! TITANS DETECTED! LARGE GATHERING OF BIOMORPHIC SIGNATURES DETECTED! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! DIRECTOR THOMPSON REPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTER!
"Ah, crap baskets."