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

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THE SWARM SHEET
  • Informational
    • The Brood of Blades
    ​
    Cerebrate Prime: Samantha Clarke
    LEVEL: 5
    XP: 205/210
    TRAITS
    Strategic Genius: Once per structured encounter, Sam can create a piece of the environment that is in her favor as a sticky spark. Roll a d3 for its value.
    Empathetic: upon meeting an NPC, learn their motivation!
    Legendary Commander: Gain 4 Command sparks at the beginning of each mission/combat. Command sparks may be spent to give NPCs orders, which they may either obey or refuse to obey (doing nothing instead.) Command sparks may not be regained via skills or powers.
    Hunted: Something wants her - but for what? +1 Danger to all scenes​
    SKILLS
    CLOSE COMBAT (2): Brawling, Edged Weapons
    PERSONAL (2): Awareness, Resilience
    SOCIAL (4): Charm, Empathy, Leadership, Taunt​
    MASTERY
    ACU Pilot (2): Nanofabrication [Mass], ObSat Operations [Range]
    The Hilt (4): Biomorphic Spawning (People), Regeneration (Durability), Physical Perfection (Speed), Telepathic Dominion (Range)​

    POWERS
    The Living Swarm
    Vent: 4-0
    Effect: Gain 1 Living Swarm spark, +1 per vent reduction.​
    The Living Swarm: While this swarm exists, move in three dimensions and through anything smaller than a keyhole, reforming at will. You may expend these sparks to cause 3 Hit Sparks in a Area 2 radius.​
    Area Upgrade: +1 to Area Characteristic​

    Biomorphic Reinforcement
    Vent: 4-0
    Effect: Create 1 Biomorphic Reinforcement spark, +1 per vent reduction, which can be given out to anyone within Range 2, or to yourself
    Biomorphic Reinforcement: +1 to Damage or Mass characteristic for the purpose of raw physical strength/feats.

    Back to Back
    Vent: 4-0
    Effect: Choose 1 ally (+1 per vent reduction), within Range 1. Each can take one action using one of your skills, any of them that you wish. Once they have done so, you may make a free attack with your melee weapon, getting +1 to your skill per ally that acted.​

    Adaptation
    Vent: 4-0
    Effect: Create a number of sparks equal to the enemy's difficulty, narratively based on turning their abilities against them. Works on enemies of Diff 2>, +2 per vent reduction.​

    Just as Planned…
    Vent: 6-0
    Effect: Vent 6 heat and create 1 Planning Spark for her or an ally, +1 Spark per vent reduction.​
    Planning: The person holding this Spark can expend this to get +1 to a skill check as a free action. Using this Stack counts as you are helping for the purpose of relationships.​

    GEAR
    Zeratul's Psi-Blades
    Adds: +0 (Edged Weapons) | Characteristics: Damage [Speed] (4)[1]​
    Shadowstep (3): Can expend as a free action to move without crossing intervening space.
    Guarded Space (3): Can expend to use Damage as a secondary characteristic for Durability, reducing incoming Damage characteristics.​

    GALACTIC WAR
    Victory Points: 5    ​
    RESOURCES​
    TERRAN DOMINION [Background] (1)​
    The men and material of the Dominion - limited, but they're mustering as we speak. ​
    ALLIANCE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES [Mastery] (1)​
    While you have access to several ACUs of every faction, they lack economic and technological support to be fully effective. ​
    ZERG HIVE [Mastery] (1)​
    The scant few Zerg you control that are free of Amon's influence. Mostly Zerglings. ​
    AEON FLEET [Background] (1)​
    While half a dozen CZARs seem impressive, they're not actually well made for ship to ship combat. ​
    ALLIED COHESION [Motivation] (1)​
    The alliance is fragile and weak.​

    FRONTS​
    Trade Sector-34-51 [Pirate Activity]
    Pirates Raiding 6 (Supply Lines in Disarray 1)
    COMMAND: Jim Raynor | ARMY: Raynor's Raiders
    RESULTS: Pending

    Braxis [Zerg Invasion]
    Borealis Siege 6 (Zerg Rampage1)
    COMMAND: General Samantha Clarke | ARMY: Brood Clarke
    RESULTS: Pending

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

    Deep Space Sector 981 [Hive Fleet Identified]
    Zerg Hive Fleet Spotted 6 (Kerrigan? 1)
    COMMAND: Citizen-Commander Dostya | ARMY: CN Armored Command Unit
    RESULTS: Pending
    ​
    ENEMY ASSETS (Currently Known)
    ​
    THE GOLDEN ARMADA
    ACTIVITY: Unknown | Threat Level: 6​
     
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  • Informational
    • The President did end the war with decisive military victories, you have to hand it to him.

    Unfortunately, he did so by ignoring the advice of his command staff and ordering ACU commanders deployed to defend or retake every front at once instead of consolidating, thus allowing the Aeon to achieve said decisive victories.
     
    Draz said:
    Our "CURRENT INTELLIGENCE" section above is empty because we don't know shit about this sector. We don't know anything about how the Tal'darim decide what to do or who is in charge, or their history, or really anything about the refugees except that some local Tal'darim are currently violently opposed to the refugees being here.

    We won't know if there's anyone worth talking to until we try, but it seems a bit silly to assume that they're all like this local military leader and very silly to put the UEF on a war footing with an alien race we met for the first time a few hours ago.
    Click to expand...
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    Based on the messages received during mission selection, what Duran said, and what the Tal'Darim said, I'm going to say that we can assume that the Tal'darim are both a hornet's nest & not easy to placate. While I think offering diplomacy is important, I don't think it's successful based on how they've acted.
     
    Mailstrome said:
    Based on the messages received during mission selection, what Duran said, and what the Tal'Darim said, I'm going to say that we can assume that the Tal'darim are both a hornet's nest & not easy to placate. While I think offering diplomacy is important, I don't think it's successful based on how they've acted.
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    A minor note but we shouldn't make a habit of taking Duran at his word. Even in the little time Clarke's spent talking to him he's made a couple of significant lies of omission, such as the fact that the Terran worlds burned by the protoss were done so to stifle zerg infestations and that the protoss present here are tal'darim. The latter are as distinct from Khalai protoss as the Illuminate and Cybrans are from the UEF.

    Granted a terran might not know these little details, but then Duran's not terran. He's an ancient alien shapeshifter in the service of a godlike malevolent entity responsible for the destruction of the xel'naga, worshiped by the tal'darim as a dark deity, has enslaved the zerg, and is seeking to create a perfect hybrid organism that is half zerg and half protoss.
     
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    Spart117MC said:
    Granted a terran might not know these little details, but then Duran's not terran. He's an ancient alien shapeshifter in the service of a godlike malevolent entity responsible for the destruction of the xel'naga, worshiped by the tal'darim as a dark deity, has enslaved the zerg, and is seeking to create a perfect hybrid organism that is half zerg and half protoss.
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    True, but, Clarke doesn't know that and it's gonna be really funny watching everyone squirm
     
    Adhoc vote count started by DragonCobolt on Oct 4, 2023 at 12:15 PM, finished with 47 posts and 19 votes.
    • [X] Plan: No Rest for the Wicked
      -[X] Apologize and say you need to deal with the Protoss permanently (start the Danger 15 attack)
      -[X] Deploy Tosh to gather intelligence here from Duran and the Confederates while you focus on the attack.
      [X] Plan: Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number. Call me maybe?
      - [X] Apologize and say you have more pressing tasks at the moment.
      - [X] But perhaps you'd like to speak to my colleague, Tosh.
      - [X] Build what's needed to immediately start treating the wounded and injured.
      - [X] Contact Relashem and try to get a ceasefire and an agreement for initial talks. The UEF wants a ceasefire with the Tal'darim. We're not the Terrans, we're another human civilization from a very long way away. We're on this planet to respond to a refugee crisis, not to colonize or invade and we have no pre-existing dispute with the Tal'darim. We can probably both get what we want if we talk.
      [X] Plan: Forged Alliance
      - [X] Apologize and say you have more pressing tasks at the moment.
      - [X] Build what's needed to immediately start treating the wounded and injured.
      - [X] Secure additional minerals. Transitioning from the inflow rates based economy to the finite resources based one requires a serious paradigm shift.
      - [X] Build some sensors and scouts - let's see the big picture before we commit to something specific.
      - [X] Contact Relashem. You're not here to despoil the sacred place, you're here to save lives. You're not a Terrain, you're a new force to be reckoned with, but, unlike Zerg, you can be reasoned with. Would he rather have a powerful ally, or a fearsome enemy? If you're bad at diplomacy, patch in your HQ to help.
      [X] Plan: Reading up for the Next Fight
      -[X] Sure! You want to check this place out. Some diplomacy might go well for these folks. (take an hour long RP break to reset heat to 0 - Protoss may get more dangerous.)
      -[X] Deploy Tosh to gather intelligence here from Duran and the Confederates while you focus on the attack.
      -[X] Before you do, offer your services - what does this place need built?
      --[X] Built their basics and some defenses (1 heat)
    Click to expand...


    Huh!

    A tie!

    Fortunately, today is the day i usually take off since instead of writing quests, I'm Gming for my sexy girlfriend...so there remains time...
     
    [X] Plan: Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number. Call me maybe?

    It might not work, but I don't see why we shouldn't try.
     
    [X] Plan: Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number. Call me maybe?

    In vacuum I'd rather go gun blazing, but since the previous vote went with deescalation, let's try diplomancy instead.
     
    ACT ONE, MISSION TWO: First Strike (0.4)
  • Threadmarks
    • "Sorry, Mr. DuFree," you said, already beginning to que up your options. Your eyes flicked up to your intake and outflow and you were fairly sure that you had enough for what you were planning. "I have some pressing tasks...but, my political officer is on hand for diplomatic talks. He'll be managing your introduction into the UEF and transition from being colonial auxiliaries to being actual citizens. There's going to be a few tests it's...not too hard." You tapped in the last switch, adding. "But there's one thing I can do before I head out."

    "Am I to understand you've decided I'm going to be a diplomat now?" Tosh's voice came over the line.

    You grinned slightly, switching to his channel. "Isn't that your job?"

    "Oh yes, very amusing..."

    As his voice tailed off, everyone in the crowd gasped as you aimed your arm at the camp - and then the nanofabber started to hiss. Several people screamed and dove for cover and you realized that maybe you should have warned them. You were so fucking used to this technology - the idea of people not knowing what it was, not knowing that it wasn't anything to be afraid of? It was...almost as surreal as using actual people in combat. But fortunately, civilian structures weren't made of the same hyper-dense materials of combat capable structures. They were, in effect, just normal buildings and only took a small amount of materials...comparatively...

    People started to get up from where they were cowering about thirty seconds later, once you had finished the medical facility. You lowered your arm. "The autodocs in there aren't anything special. They can't do genetics or rejuvenation treatments - they're mostly burn and gross trauma replacement. Not sure what your medtech is like around here."

    "Anything like the A-9 medical nanobot and laser suture model?" Clarence asked.

    "Checking records..." Stukov sounded impressed. "There's...nothing in the data banks, but they're using their own terminology. If I was to guess, I'd say it might be based on the pre-Infinite combat systems used by the Earth Empire marine corps. Crude, but effectively identical to modern autodoctor technology."

    You translated: "Yes."

    Clarence turned to the confused and shocked people. He started to wave his hands. "Get everyone in the...magic new building, folks!"

    You?

    You turned your ACU and frowned. This was following a pattern...and it wasn't one you particularly liked. Modern Aeon were fanatics. Maniacs who'd murder anyone in their way to spread their xenophilic ideology - and you were sure that it had just as much distortion and disruption to its original fabric as any religion or ideological system would have after a thousand years of history and war. But it didn't take much thought and introspection to see that the Aeon's modern fanaticism was born in the actions of one old Earth Empire asshole: Commander Trent Smith. He had reacted to the discover of an alien species known as the Xel'Naga with violent horror. His journals were still kept in double lockup for PR purposes - no one wanted the general public to read unhinged rants about a dark god that might incite completely unfounded Aeon sympathies in modern UED citizenry.

    What had he called it? ...it wasn't Anubis...it started with an A.

    It didn't matter.

    He had been a lunatic and he had responded to aliens with violence and thermonuclear fire - then, when that failed, biological warfare. Easy, when you had nanotechnology.

    "We don't need another fucking front," you grumbled under your breath.

    "General?" Stukov asked. "Also, Tosh is preparing for quantum teleporting. If you could establish a sub-gate before he arrives, it'll be a lot easier on our systems."

    "Of course, of course," you said. "First, I want you to connect me to the Tal'Darim commander."

    "...General?"

    "They use people as infantry, Lieutenant. We have a crushing battlefield advantage - I want to see if we can use that for a diplomatic one. After all..." You shifted back in your seat. "Imagine what those Aeon Illuminate maniacs might think if we showed up with our own aliens."

    "Understood. Opening channels." Stukov sounded confident.

    You waited.

    Waited.

    Then the picture in picture flashed on. Relashem, the alien commander, appeared in his ornate headgear. Somehow, without lips, he still managed to convey a sense that he was frowning intensely. It was possibly entirely in the glowing red eyes. "Speak, Terran."

    "Firstly, I'm not Terran. I'm not from the Koprulu Sector. We're from Earth, the homeworld of humanity. We're not here to despoil your sacred relics. We're here to save the lives of the humans that live here - and I think you'd much prefer us as an ally, or at least a friend...rather than an enemy." You leaned forward, slightly, watching the alien's face, waiting for a reaction.

    ---
    Current Heat: 3/6

    So, that's a charm check and I'm pegging it at diff 5. You got two choices in how Relashem responds!

    [ ] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.
    [ ] "Hmm...you do possess a remarkable strength. Strength allows you to claim what normally you would not. We demand only that the Breath of Creation, what you know as Terrazine, to be kept from your people's hands. You do not understand its true value." - Succeed by taking 5 heat - putting you at 2 Overheat, which allows success with consequence. In this case...Tosh will be unhappy.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.

    The Tal'Darim are allied with the Dark God Amon, and will remain so even if we "ally" with them unless we or a non-insane member like Alarak go through the whole "murder everyone stronger than you" system of promotion to become their new leader.

    DragonCobolt said:
    no one wanted the general public to read unhinged rants about a dark god that might incite completely unfounded Aeon sympathies in modern UED citizenry.

    What had he called it? ...it wasn't Anubis...it started with an A.
    Click to expand...
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    Ah yes, Amon. Definitely not something we need to worry about for another year or so. Maybe. If we're lucky. At this stage I don't think anyone actually knows anything about Amon aside from Duran, it wasn't until after the Brood War that Zeratul did the whole prophecy thing (and then it took until well into SC2 for anyone else to learn, when Zeratul gives you/Raynor the Crystal)
     
    [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.
     
    [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.
     
    Is the deal that we not collect terrazine on this planet or that we not collect terrazine anywhere?

    If it's the former then I think it's rational for us to take the deal and evacuate the refugees. The sector is lousy with terrazine and we can collect it elsewhere.

    If we'd be agreeing not to collect terrazine anywhere, then that's a decision above Clarke's pay grade, I think. And even if it weren't, I don't think the UEF's pride would allow it to be dictated to.

    We could still agree (very common for imperialists to make deals that they later break), but we'd look weaker and less reliable to all of the local factions and give the local human rulers an angle to attack us with.

    So, I think it's fine for us to just kill this guy, then hopefully leave with the refugees. And maybe the next alien leader we face will be less of a prat.

    [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.
     
    [X] "Hmm...you do possess a remarkable strength. Strength allows you to claim what normally you would not. We demand only that the Breath of Creation, what you know as Terrazine, to be kept from your people's hands. You do not understand its true value." - Succeed by taking 5 heat - putting you at 2 Overheat, which allows success with consequence. In this case...Tosh will be unhappy.
     
    [X] "Hmm...you do possess a remarkable strength. Strength allows you to claim what normally you would not. We demand only that the Breath of Creation, what you know as Terrazine, to be kept from your people's hands. You do not understand its true value." - Succeed by taking 5 heat - putting you at 2 Overheat, which allows success with consequence. In this case...Tosh will be unhappy.

    Also the crimes against humanity per unit of Terrazine is terrifyingly high. Keeping that out of UEF's warcrime labs is actually a good thing, that Tosh will be unhappy is a freaking bonus.
     
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    [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.
     
    DragonCobolt said:
    Commander Trent Smith. He had reacted to the discover of an alien species known as the Xel'Naga with violent horror. His journals were still kept in double lockup for PR purposes - no one wanted the general public to read unhinged rants about a dark god that might incite completely unfounded Aeon sympathies in modern UED citizenry.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    So from our POV, Trent was a hero.

    DragonCobolt said:
    What had he called it? ...it wasn't Anubis...it started with an A.
    Click to expand...
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    I would not be surprised if Amon was Anubis in the past as well.


    [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.
     
    [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.

    While I would be entirely happy with the other option winning I don't feel that Clarke is yet ready to turn her back on the UEF MIC at this point. Tosh's political and industrial backers want the oil terrazine here and so they will have it. but I'm glad we made the attempt.
     
    [X] "The Chain of Ascension is clear. Our master does not brook allies like yours. We will see your base broken, your people slaughtered, and your profane technology reduced to their component atoms. For we are the Forged. The Tal'Darim. And we do not falter." - You Fail, and start at 0 Heat for combat.
     
    It was good to give it a shot. Surprising move from a UEF commander.

    And with this not being a 'accept the deal' choice but 'they don't offer a deal' or 'they do offer a deal' choice, can still kill them while maintaining moral high ground.

    Imagining them calling out hostile other Protoss as Tal'Darim, funny reactions likely.
     
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