The Grand Solar Rush - Asteroid colony management quest
- Thread starter Karf
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi
Sure, I don't see why not.
[X] Plan: Hospital, Easing Tensions and Checking for Red Flags
- Pronouns
- He
[X] Plan: Focused Investment
- Location
- Queensland, Australia
Might have missed people discussing this, but I'd just like to note that we just had it confirmed. The way to gaining our additional action in each action category is by resolving the personal complications of our senior staff. Or at least, that's what it looks like now that curing our Chief Scientist means we've now got two learning Actions each turn.
- Location
- Canada
- Pronouns
- He/Him
*whistles* Oh, now that's s pay-off. I think we should save this for a DC 90+ diplomacy action.
This woman is raising more red flags for me than a parade through Moscow in 1970.
TimEd
Meteor maker
That, or help us whenever we want to buy (probably military) ships.
Also yeah, the red flags were so numerous that despite the crunch for higher education, I would rather prefer we check how bad this situation actually is.
[X] Plan: Hospital, Easing Tensions and Checking for Red Flags
So i typed this up before i go a chance to read the thread (im in a low mobile signal area) ill read all the currently submitted plans before casting my vote. I attatched the baseline reasoning behind each choice to the plan.
[X]Plan: dispel dissent
-[X] [Diplomacy] Reach out to a mister Roland Prescott regarding sports
Amidst all the other scheming on New Ireland, it seemed like at least one genuine offer of cooperation also came your way. Mr. Prescott wanted to organize a tennis league between your two outposts; how pleasantly innocent and pure. Perhaps set things in motion, life in Little Klondike tends to swing between terribly dull and terribly stressful, a little spice in between the extremes is sure to raise morale. DC 30
--nice and easy option that pairs well with the stadium. Also helps set the foundation for us as a cultural hub of the region. On a more personal note, i wonder if squash would be more interesting then tennis in low g environments, perhaps an exhibition?
-[X] [Security] Drones *Updated*
Just imagining combat inside a spaceship gives you the chills. Information is worth more than bullets in many cases and a tiny camera can't be too hard to stick on some legs. The classic flying approach from Earth doesn't work without an atmosphere, but some skittering spiderbots should be within your means of development and production. Now if only you could get them to work at reflex speeds, supplementing and improving the awareness of a soldier instead of distracting them. In fact, by now its personal. You will get the SPIDERs operational, come hell or high water. DC 25 20
--skilled personal are expensive and time consuming to train, anything that keeps them out of harms way is worthwhile
-[X][Engineering] Church
You might keep your religious beliefs close to chest, but having a place of worship for others could be important. It'd also show your nominal overlords breathing down your neck that you're an important cultural center and a quick hostile takeover is out of the question. DC 20
-- i see cults spreading, we need to intoduce competition for peoples religous outlets. Also should help make us more attractive to families and religous hires
--[X] [Engineering] Stadium
There are gyms and resistance equipment scattered throughout your colony to help stave off muscle atrophy and brittle bones, but nothing even the size of a basketball court. You've heard that sport is a common leisure activity and a great propaganda tool both for recruitment as well as demonizing your enemies. Not that you'd ever do that, you just wanted to play some ball. DC 20
--a rise in crime means people need an outlet. As a bonus this stadium means we can devlop a regional sportz league and get people supporting our teams. That just gets them used to identifying with us
Internal affairs
-[X] [Internal affairs] Schooling expansion
A glorified kindergarten is fine and all, but being a center of learning in the New Belt could certainly be beneficial. Having access to more scientists, not having to send your brightest off the base and getting that sweet influx of new taxpayers and customers for your businesses. Still, you've taken baby steps, now you'll need to walk before running. Set up a general-purpose high school focused on university preparation for the students. DC 45
-- bit of a no brainer to be honest, we need an educated populace, and educated people want their childre to be educated. Build this now to avoid brain drain.
-[X] [Research] Mineral surveys
The general readings claim that your rock should have a good balance of light and heavy metals, silicates and oxygen rich rock, and who knows what else. You've gone over the surrounding top soil, for lack of a better term, but there's more to the asteroid both in depth as well as further out, keep looking for more minerals. DC 40
-- we need an economic expansion soon so this is laying the groundwork
-[X] [Research] Aerogel armor
Those ceramics in your light power armor you wanted to upgrade? Well, this could be it. The gel doesn't shatter on impact like normal silicates do, it's probably possible to make it bendy by doping it with normal fibers, it's not air-permeable and can totally withstand the pressures. And it's lighter than any other armor, or clothing for that matter, so you might even be able to sell it to planetary markets. DC 60
--[x] applied intelligence
-- rising interstellar tensions, and a unique mineral that fills a power armour niche, we'd be crazy not to develop this idea. Personally i reckon we follow this up next turn with the favor on the boarding action to devlop mean power armoured marines. Also we can sell the excess power armour
[X]Plan: dispel dissent
-[X] [Diplomacy] Reach out to a mister Roland Prescott regarding sports
Amidst all the other scheming on New Ireland, it seemed like at least one genuine offer of cooperation also came your way. Mr. Prescott wanted to organize a tennis league between your two outposts; how pleasantly innocent and pure. Perhaps set things in motion, life in Little Klondike tends to swing between terribly dull and terribly stressful, a little spice in between the extremes is sure to raise morale. DC 30
--nice and easy option that pairs well with the stadium. Also helps set the foundation for us as a cultural hub of the region. On a more personal note, i wonder if squash would be more interesting then tennis in low g environments, perhaps an exhibition?
-[X] [Security] Drones *Updated*
Just imagining combat inside a spaceship gives you the chills. Information is worth more than bullets in many cases and a tiny camera can't be too hard to stick on some legs. The classic flying approach from Earth doesn't work without an atmosphere, but some skittering spiderbots should be within your means of development and production. Now if only you could get them to work at reflex speeds, supplementing and improving the awareness of a soldier instead of distracting them. In fact, by now its personal. You will get the SPIDERs operational, come hell or high water. DC 25 20
--skilled personal are expensive and time consuming to train, anything that keeps them out of harms way is worthwhile
-[X][Engineering] Church
You might keep your religious beliefs close to chest, but having a place of worship for others could be important. It'd also show your nominal overlords breathing down your neck that you're an important cultural center and a quick hostile takeover is out of the question. DC 20
-- i see cults spreading, we need to intoduce competition for peoples religous outlets. Also should help make us more attractive to families and religous hires
--[X] [Engineering] Stadium
There are gyms and resistance equipment scattered throughout your colony to help stave off muscle atrophy and brittle bones, but nothing even the size of a basketball court. You've heard that sport is a common leisure activity and a great propaganda tool both for recruitment as well as demonizing your enemies. Not that you'd ever do that, you just wanted to play some ball. DC 20
--a rise in crime means people need an outlet. As a bonus this stadium means we can devlop a regional sportz league and get people supporting our teams. That just gets them used to identifying with us
Internal affairs
-[X] [Internal affairs] Schooling expansion
A glorified kindergarten is fine and all, but being a center of learning in the New Belt could certainly be beneficial. Having access to more scientists, not having to send your brightest off the base and getting that sweet influx of new taxpayers and customers for your businesses. Still, you've taken baby steps, now you'll need to walk before running. Set up a general-purpose high school focused on university preparation for the students. DC 45
-- bit of a no brainer to be honest, we need an educated populace, and educated people want their childre to be educated. Build this now to avoid brain drain.
-[X] [Research] Mineral surveys
The general readings claim that your rock should have a good balance of light and heavy metals, silicates and oxygen rich rock, and who knows what else. You've gone over the surrounding top soil, for lack of a better term, but there's more to the asteroid both in depth as well as further out, keep looking for more minerals. DC 40
-- we need an economic expansion soon so this is laying the groundwork
-[X] [Research] Aerogel armor
Those ceramics in your light power armor you wanted to upgrade? Well, this could be it. The gel doesn't shatter on impact like normal silicates do, it's probably possible to make it bendy by doping it with normal fibers, it's not air-permeable and can totally withstand the pressures. And it's lighter than any other armor, or clothing for that matter, so you might even be able to sell it to planetary markets. DC 60
--[x] applied intelligence
-- rising interstellar tensions, and a unique mineral that fills a power armour niche, we'd be crazy not to develop this idea. Personally i reckon we follow this up next turn with the favor on the boarding action to devlop mean power armoured marines. Also we can sell the excess power armour
[X] Plan: Hospital, Easing Tensions and Checking for Red Flags
Maybe use it to find out what's going on at the black site/anomaly, so we know whether to arm up.
There's the itty bitty problem that the blacksite is currently the site of two military fleets staring at each other menacingly. Oh and with their fingers on the fire button.
We are not touching the blacksite.
Stellarengine676
To eternity we shall ride
- Pronouns
- He
[X] Plan: Hospital, Easing Tensions and Checking for Red Flags
So I noticed we don't have the option to make more power storage anymore? Is that on purpose?
It's not, thanks for pointing that out. The battery project slipped into the cracks of refractoring the voting blocks on turn 11 and will make an appearance in the next one.
Also closing vote.
Now that I am looking the food options have also disappeared.
Turn 14.1 - 2183 - On the precipice
(Roll, hospital concessions, required 50: 16)Winner said:
(Roll, oncology ward, required 40: 87)
The first project you tackle is the expansion of your hospital. Between nanomachines, access – by proxy at least – to radiation experts, a sterile environment, Lena Weissmeier and literal centuries of refinement on anti-cancer medicine, there wasn't ever a doubt in your mind about the success of the project. And your scientist delivers with aplomb.
The branch of the complex you consider the hospital receives a new wing, split between five floors, each with a specific purpose. The first two are dedicated to detection, with simpler procedures on the ground floor. Drawing blood, ultrasound machines, and a laboratory to run tests use up most of the space. Your own biannual checkup takes place here, granting you a clean bill of health. In contrast to the constantly busy first floor, the second is much quieter. Here, you'd find the more dangerous or invasive procedures, from x-rays to biopsy rooms to the first full theater for exploratory surgery.
The next floor is a long-term ward, with stringent measures to ensure sterility and more comfortable lodgings than the recovery rooms of the trauma wing.
The top two are for treatments. Medical solutions are first, and also the first notable difference from regular hospitals. Whereas head and brain cancer patients usually wouldn't have a place on this floor, your nanites can deliver the chemotherapy drugs to places normally considered ineffective. There's also some empty room left aside in case it turns out that you need to install the theoretical nano-forges on site. The fifth and final floor is for advanced cases where therapy can no longer help. Another surgical robot and the accompanying control room dominate half the space and the black-on-yellow triple triangle of radiation covers several doors of the other half: facilities for surgical removal of the tumors and radiation treatment.
The project is well underway, and you've got backup budgets in case the EU doesn't come through, but there's no harm in trying anyways. Getting a face-to-face meeting with Rousseau still takes your embassy workers nearly a week, but eventually you're staring at the screen displaying her face.
Out of kindness you don't comment on it, but she looks horrible. There are dark, heavy bags under her eyes from long sleep deprivation. Her hair manages to be both dully limp and frazzled at the same time, strands escaping from the bun she favors. Even her nerves are visibly frayed, her body language twitchy as she keeps glancing to the side at something off-screen.
"Mr. O'Rielly, I apologize about the delay. What did you wish to discuss?"
"Not like you to apologize, ambassador," you shoot her a disarming smile.
"You're right," she narrows her eyes, a spark returning to her, "It's your fault that I'm stuck with this job. What do you want?"
"I'm sure you've been informed of the hospital expansion I've undertaken. I recall that the last time we met in person, you mentioned that the Union would be interested in providing additional incentives to the maintenance of a stocked facility. Seeing as I now consider mine up to my standards, I thought I'd check to see what concrete measures we can negotiate."
For a moment she remains silent, her expression somewhere between resigned and boggled. "I'd almost laugh, but that would be needlessly rude, and I suppose you don't have the full picture to appreciate the situation. I applaud the initiative you've shown, but there won't be any concessions coming on that front in the foreseeable future, much as I, personally, would like to send something your way."
She trails off, but doesn't signal that she's finished talking over the light-lag, leaving you to sense a 'but'.
"In fact, the delay in our meeting was related to you. The talks between the carrier groups are breaking down, and no one is willing to extend any trust. I hope I've gotten the two admirals to agree to a final meeting, this time face to face, but they'll only do so on neutral ground," she scoffs, "As if they were important enough to assassinate, the idiots have seen too many movies. Still, neither they nor their handlers are willing to budge, so they can't meet on either carrier. Venus Station is too far, according to them."
Your stomach gives its best impression of heavy gravity as it starts to sink.
"I and Choi have offered New Ireland, but my presence here has tainted our neutrality, even if the EU has basically no say on the station. To the Americans this is the last resort, and there is another viable alternative."
"Little Klondike," you sigh, feeling yet another migraine forming.
"Right in one, and judging by your expression, you can tell what a headache it can be."
She's right, and you lean back in silence, rubbing your eyes.
"You'll receive the official missive from the UN sometime next week. I actually don't have any recommendations for you. On the one hand, I'd love to wash my hands of it all and leave it to you. On the other hand, there are stakes here. As much as it pains me to say so, you'd have a better chance at success than I would. Between the shitstorm that's Mars and Wraith's sycophantic paranoia, the Lunar IF leadership acting like a toddler who's found a colorful house of cards and now Rayleigh taking the reins… powder keg doesn't begin to describe the situation."
"And I'm sure you're entirely innocent in the whole affair," you snipe at her, regretting the words as soon as you said them.
Rather than get upset, she just laughs, although there's little humor in it, "I'm up to my twentieth draft of a resignation so far. The sole reason I haven't submitted it is that the replacement might fuck things up worse. Looking back, the writing's on the wall indeed, bloody Iffies got that right at least. The Milton Convictions are the most obvious first pebble, and who else but Lavra drafted the key propaganda to push them through. He's even more of a nationalist than Riley, and that's a low bar to crawl under. The Rousseau Incident," her voice drips saccharine sweetness, "has half my bosses convinced you're a US plant, and only the fact that the Americans sit back in glee whenever they discuss blowing you to dust has me convinced that you're not. Keeping them from unleashing nuclear Armageddon – and worse, a diplomatic incident – has kept me up more nights than I can count. Really, you should have at least taken me out to dinner first," another laugh, this time bordering on the hysterical, "Even before that, with the STT, a treaty that no one intended to honor, only wield as a baton to hamper the colonial drive anyone with two braincells could see coming as soon as Lucifer smashed Venus. Space trash cleanup my ass!"
As her tirade builds, you're left feeling off balance yourself, not knowing whether to let her vent or remind her who she's talking to.
"Ambassador… Lisette?"
"It's like some perfect storm, almost enough to make me believe the technophobes who think an AI has taken over the Freemasons to manipulate the world, but don't worry, the racists have nearly as compelling arguments to show how the Chinese are behind it all instead. Then there's the mark two version: racist technophobes, who think the AI is Chinese…"
She trails off as your words reach her speakers before groaning and burying her head in her hands.
"…How about a pinky promise not to spread your recording of this around. I'll buy you a coffee from the café at the end of the world when world war three finishes."
"Yeah. When was the last time you slept?"
"There's a gap somewhere between yesterday night and the day before that," she glances to the side, a glow of a monitor leaving her already pallid face ghostly white, "or was that two days ago?"
"You might want to take a break. And thanks for the heads-up."
"Cute," she mutters, pressing a button on her desk, "I've got to go. Good luck, you'll need it. One way or another."
-.-
True to her words, a week later Hailey delivers the final confirmation in the form of a letter from the Security Council's office.
"From the august body of the UNSC, to the leadership of the settlement Little Klondike – that's you, boss! Blah, blah, haven't failed to prevent a global war in two centuries, blah, blah, taking more credit from Lucy, blah, blah, host peace talks."
Well, she paraphrases it, but the gist of it is there. The two admirals in charge of the carrier groups have agreed to a meeting on neutral ground and apparently, you're on top of the short list of locations they're amenable to. They've also been granted emergency powers to make decisions by the respective governments. You'd think that choices that could literally affect billions of people would have bigger assemblies to make them, but between treading entirely new ground for modern politics, the failure of other talks and the light-lag, coupled with another quiet season soon reaching you, they're granted unprecedented power.
They'd be arriving on shuttles a ten-day hence, escorted by a single half-squad each, and they've agreed to leave firearms on their rides for the duration. Beyond that, the details would be up to you, and you'd also be serving as a moderator. A daunting task, but one you'll have to rise to, if you accept, as waiting for actual career diplomats from Earth would take most of the year. As for the exact nature and cause of the conflict at hand – the black site, or so you believe – you're still kept in the dark about, if the UN actually has any data shared by its members at all. Apparently, they're operating on a need-to-know basis, and until you accept, you don't need to know.
Of your assembled councilors, Ken and Lena look worried, but otherwise they don't have a reason to get involved; that they don't speaks well of you, as you've picked smart people to surround yourself with. Amanda is only tangentially related to the affair, the security she would provide largely superfluous. Just because the marines don't have guns doesn't mean that the armor they come with isn't to yours what yours is to a Kevlar vest… or pajamas. Ragnar is likewise mostly neutral. You've tasked him with digging up the background for the two admirals, and he'll have as comprehensive a report as possible ready in a few days, but for now he has little but their names and the broadest strokes. Hailey would serve as your secretary slash assistant for the meet, her unique talents included, although she might need to be a bit more subtle in her wording, because you don't know the capabilities of the armor, plus whatever else they might have up their literal sleeves.
Should you say no, then New Ireland will be used as a venue. You're not sure whether the angle of agreeing to meet on what's perceived to be EU turf is 'magnanimous gesture' or 'sign of weakness' for either party, just that both are set to oppose the other just for obstinance' sake.
You open your eyes to five sets expectantly staring back at you. Somewhere deep within you is a piece that's ranting and raving that this is definitely not what you signed up for all those years ago. It's buried deep with long practice.
"We will…"
[ ] Host the talks
[ ] Decline to host the talks
-.-
This is kind of important to how the turn goes, so the rest of the choices are on hold, even if chronologically they might have already happened. I'll answer any questions William or the councilors might know the answer to, @ me if you want to be certain.
- Location
- va
[X] Host the talks
might as well keep our hand in seeing as they are casually talking about blowing us all away.
might as well keep our hand in seeing as they are casually talking about blowing us all away.
Legion0047
Retired Shadowrunner.
- Location
- Austria
- Pronouns
- God Emperor
[X] Host the talks