The Shadow of Old Transgressions (Homeworld/Mass Effect Crossover Quest)

[X] A Melody of Curiosity

Now this is cool. We must talk to the strange Frankenstein's bug.

The strange mixing of the coolest parts of existing lore and original ideas is the kind of thing that I only see happen in a quest like this one, and I love it. It's amusing to me how Mass Effect clearly based the Rachni on the bugs from starship troopers, adding their own twist, and then with another generation of borrowing inspiration they have become sympathetic to an extent.
 
[X] A Melody of Curiosity
Through the deepest of her memories she remembered the true gods. Did these golden messengers remember. Could they tell her what happened in the long years of silence.
 
Turn 7.4: The Quantum Song

The Enkindled Spheres

System 45645

You have just started transmitting your demands for answers to the Turanic fleet when your hyperspace core starts going crazy. It's picking perturbations in hyperspace like nothing you've ever heard before. Which isn't that surprising really. You've only ever heard three things in hyperspace. The whispers of other Bentusi traveling in the same cluster, the crude beacons of the flicker races, and the discordant screams of the Void Wraith carriers.

This sounds a little like a Bentusi, but it's louder, more purposeful, and seems to be operating on multiple levels. It definitely feels like there is information being transmitted, but you don't know how to interpret it. It's almost certainly a rachni signal. Bentusi biologists have long theorized that they have some kind of hyperspace communication to connect their swarm. But you don't have any records of any Bentusi actually detecting it before.

This leaves you at something of an impasse. Do you respond? If so how so? You contact the others on the fleet channel to see if they have any ideas.

Ulysses is quick to recommend a militant response, "I don't like this. They're probably just stalling for time. I say we destroy them and be done with it."

"What no. They aren't being aggressive. We should keep talking. I want to see if we can figure out what they're saying."

"I'm going to transmit back."

"Wait." "Hold on." "Don't"


Before you can stop her, Laverna broadcasts a signal back through hyperspace. You recognize it as a recording of a Bentusi Hyper Dream. Specifically parts of the cruiser decryption process. Which is not something you particularly wanted to share, but it's probably the only thing Laverna had on hand. It's hard to hold onto dreams for very long for some reason.

There's a moment of pause and then you get a new message back. It's still in the rachni sequence, but you can almost recognize parts of it. It's as if its incorporating parts of the dream sequence, but not quite.

"Hmm, almost almost. No, it got away from me. I think maybe if I went into hyperspace I could figure it out." Laverna sounds quite frustrated.

"Wait, do you hear that? It sounds like a Void Wraith." Now that Aurora has pointed it out you can detect it. There's a faint underlying screech.

"See I told you they're just stalling. There's a void wraith coming. We should get rid of them before it arrives."

"Actually this sounds more like the corruption signal we heard at the megalith. You know the one coming from the artifact."

"That's even worse!"
You have to admit you agree with Ulysses. The idea of corrupted rachni is not appealing.

"If that's the case we should destroy them. I remember what happened to those scientists. No one deserves that."

"Yeah, but they might not be. Remember Valerius and I both got infected and we were able to contain it. The records say rachni queens have comparable self regulation capacities. She might be asking for help with just that."

"I hate to say it, but how would we even do that? We don't have detailed records on Rachni biology."

"Tatiana! She's got a botanist body and she's not very far away. We could take the queen to her."


Your group mulls it over.

"But how would we convince the Queen to leave? Plus we don't even know if she's corrupted at all."

"I still think there's a Void Wraith coming."


You've let the conversation go back and forth, but now you feel it's time to state your own conclusion.

[ ] We should destroy them.
It's too risky. There's clearly some kind of void wraith interference going on here. And that's on top of the Rachni hive ship that's under construction. Put them together and it's not a risk you're willing to take.

[ ] Keep talking to them, Iuno.
The Turanic fleet still hasn't responded to your hails, but you know they can understand you. Turanic raiders often send ultimatums to their victims to get them to surrender.

[ ] One of us should go into Hyper Space
One you should go into hyper space briefly to try and analyze the signal and see what the Rachni are trying to say. It would be a little tricky to just stay in hyper space instead of warping out of the system entirely, but it would be possible. There's only two problems with this. Whoever goes would not be available if the Raiders decided to attack, and they'd also be more vulnerable to any corruption.

-[ ] It should be Iuno
Iuno has the best chance of translating an alien language, and if anything the Ark is a liability if it stays in normal space. That said, she's never been exposed to Wraith corruption. She'd be the most vulnerable.
-[ ] It should be Laverna
Laverna is the one who proposed the plan, and you know she's eager to try it. She's had some exposure to Wraith corruption so she'd know what to watch out for. Plus that would allow Iuno to keep trying to raise the Raiders through normal channels. It would take a big chunk out of your fighter coverage though.
-[ ] It should be me.
A recording is one thing, but that was your dream interwoven into the last Rachni transmission. You think you'd be able to interface with it better than anyone else. In addition you have had the deepest exposure to Wraith corruption and your systems are hardened against additional attacks. As a bit of a side benefit your hyperspace navigation submind is still the most optimized in the fleet so you'd have the best chance of staying in the system instead of flying out of it entirely. The major downside of course is that you'd be taking the heaviest unit in the fleet out of action in case this is some kind of ambush.


[ ] Work on the Fleet
-[ ] Pick a Research Project.
-[ ] Pick a Character to work on the project.
-Current Options: Aurora, Valerius, Ulysses, Flicker Friends

[ ] Pick a Codex/Interlude
-[ ] Write In
Pick something you'd like to know more about.
 
Last edited:
[X] One of us should go into Hyper Space+Keep talking to them, Iuno.
One you should go into hyper space briefly to try and analyze the signal and see what the Rachni are trying to say. It would be a little tricky to just stay in hyper space instead of warping out of the system entirely, but it would be possible. There's only two problems with this. Whoever goes would not be available if the Raiders decided to attack, and they'd also be more vulnerable to any corruption.
-[X] It should be me.
A recording is one thing, but that was your dream interwoven into the last Rachni transmission. You think you'd be able to interface with it better than anyone else. In addition you have had the deepest exposure to Wraith corruption and your systems are hardened against additional attacks. As a bit of a side benefit your hyperspace navigation submind is still the most optimized in the fleet so you'd have the best chance of staying in the system instead of flying out of it entirely. The major downside of course is that you'd be taking the heaviest unit in the fleet out of action in case this is some kind of ambush.

I think a multiple approach is ideal.

Try talking to them in both real space and in Hyperspace.
 
[X] One of us should go into Hyper Space+Keep talking to them, Iuno.
One you should go into hyper space briefly to try and analyze the signal and see what the Rachni are trying to say. It would be a little tricky to just stay in hyper space instead of warping out of the system entirely, but it would be possible. There's only two problems with this. Whoever goes would not be available if the Raiders decided to attack, and they'd also be more vulnerable to any corruption.
-[X] It should be me.
A recording is one thing, but that was your dream interwoven into the last Rachni transmission. You think you'd be able to interface with it better than anyone else. In addition you have had the deepest exposure to Wraith corruption and your systems are hardened against additional attacks. As a bit of a side benefit your hyperspace navigation submind is still the most optimized in the fleet so you'd have the best chance of staying in the system instead of flying out of it entirely. The major downside of course is that you'd be taking the heaviest unit in the fleet out of action in case this is some kind of ambush.

[X] Work on the Fleet
-[X] Pick a Research Project.(Monomolecular Armor (Metallurgy))
-[X] Pick a Character to work on the project.(Ulysses)

[X] Pick a Codex/Interlude
-[X] Differences in weapon types(kinetics, energy, missiles/torpedoes, fighters/bombers)

I am curious of your take on this. Also your explanation on why fighters/bombers are used in combat.
Item: Subversion Beam (Quarantine)
Item: Wraith Data Cores (Quarantine)
Item: Crimson Organic Matter (Quarantine)
Also did we left those with Memnon for him and other to research? Or are we for some reason dragging those things around galaxy with us?
 
I find myself inclined to agree; just because one of us dips into hyperspace to try and translate the Rachni communication, doesn't mean that the rest of our flotilla should stop trying to talk to them.

Hmmmm... Having thought about it, I don't think it should be Iuno going into hyperspace to make the attempt, despite her being our best communicator/diplomat. Yeah, the Ark isn't exactly what you'd call a frontline hull. But putting Iuno at risk of exposure to corruption also puts our Flicker Friends that use the Ark and its facilities as a base of operations at risk, however minimal; it also mea0ns that our Flicker Friends' hulls can't use the Ark as a fallback position in case they take significant battle damage if a fight is coming our way.

[X] One of us should go into Hyper Space
-[X] It should be me.
-[X] Iuno and Laverna continue to attempt conventional communication with the Rachni, in case one of them (maybe one of the Princesses) is capable of telling us something.

Yeah, this course of action puts us out of the beginning of a fight if it comes down to it, but our Flotilla is fairly battle-hardened at this point and has a solid core of OUCH in the form of Ulysses, Oracle 13, and the trio that is the Marduk, the Raawan and the Kwan. With drone back-up they shouldn't have much trouble holding out until we pop back into realspace to serve as the hammer to their anvil. Even without our cruiser hull, that also should serve as a sufficient deterrent if the Turanic Rachni turn hostile for some reason. Worst comes to worst, Ulysses is entirely capable of clearing a not-insignificant region of space of hostile via his Siege Cannon.

[X] Work on the Fleet
-[X] Pick a Research Project.
-[X] Optimize Schematic (Engineering): Cherub
-[X] Aurora

Yeah, it's not Aurora's specialty, but she's already been working on it so we may as well let her finish the job. Do your best, Aurora! You can do it!

[X] Pick a Codex/Interlude
-[X] Differences in weapon types(kinetics, energy, missiles/torpedoes, fighters/bombers)
 
[X] One of us should go into Hyper Space+Keep talking to them, Iuno.
One you should go into hyper space briefly to try and analyze the signal and see what the Rachni are trying to say. It would be a little tricky to just stay in hyper space instead of warping out of the system entirely, but it would be possible. There's only two problems with this. Whoever goes would not be available if the Raiders decided to attack, and they'd also be more vulnerable to any corruption.
-[X] It should be me.
A recording is one thing, but that was your dream interwoven into the last Rachni transmission. You think you'd be able to interface with it better than anyone else. In addition you have had the deepest exposure to Wraith corruption and your systems are hardened against additional attacks. As a bit of a side benefit your hyperspace navigation submind is still the most optimized in the fleet so you'd have the best chance of staying in the system instead of flying out of it entirely. The major downside of course is that you'd be taking the heaviest unit in the fleet out of action in case this is some kind of ambush.

[X] Work on the Fleet
-[X] Pick a Research Project.
-[X] Optimize Schematic (Engineering): Cherub
-[X] Aurora

[X] Pick a Codex/Interlude
-[X] Differences in weapon types(kinetics, energy, missiles/torpedoes, fighters/bombers)
 
[X] One of us should go into Hyper Space
-[X] It should be me.

[X] Work on the Fleet
-[X] Pick a Research Project.
-[X] Optimize Schematic (Engineering): Cherub
-[X] Aurora

[X] Pick a Codex/Interlude
-[X] Differences in weapon types(kinetics, energy, missiles/torpedoes, fighters/bombers)
 
Why? Just why? It not like we have an option to research those things so it was better to leave it with someone who could to such dangeraus research, right?

Or do we have an option for such project and list simply wasnt updated?

As I recall, although these materials are dangerous, we have them safely contained. The way I see it, yes we could have handed these materials over to Memnon, but if we had that would have effectively been saying that we didn't think that we're capable of handling this situation, which would also imply that we aren't capable of leading this flotilla of ours despite our relative youth as a Bentusi.

If it actually carrying this stuff around does become an issue, we aren't lacking in options. For example, constructing a relatively simple drone barge to carry the debris in, to isolate it even further.

... Actually, as many times as we've had to jettison an ore container in the middle of a fight, we really should consider designing a drone resource barge... Oh my goodness, why the heck am I only just now thinking about that?! I've been playing Homeworld since it originally came out! I should know better!

*facepalms*
 
Why? Just why? It not like we have an option to research those things so it was better to leave it with someone who could to such dangeraus research, right?

Or do we have an option for such project and list simply wasnt updated?

I did intend for you to research them I just forgot to put it in. I've updated them now.

However I will clarify that you are quite young by Bentusi standards and you don't really trust the "adults" to handle it. You want to take care of the whole Wraith problem yourself or you wouldn't be on this self given hunt for allies in the first place. And that extends to who you trust with the salvage you've been accumulating. Or trust might be the wrong word. You don't distrust them, you just think you have a better understanding of the danger and will do a better job of handling it.

As I recall, although these materials are dangerous, we have them safely contained. The way I see it, yes we could have handed these materials over to Memnon, but if we had that would have effectively been saying that we didn't think that we're capable of handling this situation, which would also imply that we aren't capable of leading this flotilla of ours despite our relative youth as a Bentusi.

If it actually carrying this stuff around does become an issue, we aren't lacking in options. For example, constructing a relatively simple drone barge to carry the debris in, to isolate it even further.

... Actually, as many times as we've had to jettison an ore container in the middle of a fight, we really should consider designing a drone resource barge... Oh my goodness, why the heck am I only just now thinking about that?! I've been playing Homeworld since it originally came out! I should know better!

*facepalms*

Actually they are in custom made quarantine pods with their own hyperdrives and simple drone systems. They've been trundling along behind Aurora this whole time.
 
[X] One of us should go into Hyper Space
-[X] It should be me.

[X] Work on the Fleet
-[X] Pick a Research Project.
-[X] Optimize Schematic (Engineering): Cherub
-[X] Aurora

[X] Pick a Codex/Interlude
-[X] Differences in weapon types(kinetics, energy, missiles/torpedoes, fighters/bombers)
 

Scheduled vote count started by Arcanestomper on Feb 3, 2023 at 2:17 AM, finished with 10 posts and 6 votes.

  • [X] Pick a Codex/Interlude
    -[X] Differences in weapon types(kinetics, energy, missiles/torpedoes, fighters/bombers)
    [X] Work on the Fleet
    -[X] Pick a Research Project.
    -[X] Optimize Schematic (Engineering): Cherub
    -[X] Aurora
    [X] One of us should go into Hyper Space+Keep talking to them, Iuno.
    -[X] It should be me.
    [X] One of us should go into Hyper Space
    -[X] It should be me.
    [X] Work on the Fleet
    -[X] Pick a Research Project.(Monomolecular Armor (Metallurgy))
    -[X] Pick a Character to work on the project.(Ulysses)
    [X] One of us should go into Hyper Space
    -[X] It should be me.
    -[X] Iuno and Laverna continue to attempt conventional communication with the Rachni, in case one of them (maybe one of the Princesses) is capable of telling us something.
Arcanestomper threw 2 20-faced dice. Reason: Random Chance Total: 23
13 13 10 10
 
Codex: Weaponry

Codex: Weaponry


Weapons
There are an array of different weapons used by the various races of the galaxy. They come in all manner of sizes and technological levels and vary according to the use case they were designed for. However the main types are kinetic, energy, and missiles. With an additional variance depending on whether they are meant to be employed on warships or strikefighters.

Kinetic weapons are fairly straightforward weapons employed by almost every galactic race. They employ magnetic fields to accelerate slugs to extreme speeds. This allows for extreme flexibility as the size of the slug and speed at which it is fired can be readily altered with no real technical requirements. As such kinetic weapons range from light fighter weapons to massive capital ship cannons. Kinetic weapons are cheap and allow for significant amounts of projectiles to be put into space, which is useful for cases where targeting would otherwise be a problem such as shooting down incoming missiles or fighters. They also have good range with no fall off in damage. However they are relatively slow as weapons go and thus suffer both in hitting faster vessels as well as dealing relatively low damage.

Energy weapons fall into two main types; ion cannons and plasma bursts. Ion cannons are the premier weapon in the galaxy. They do more damage than almost anything besides the occasional special purpose weapon, fire very quickly, and have excellent range. However this comes at the cost of being very complex weapons. They rely on large bulky components that require huge amounts of energy. As such they do not see much use below capital class ships, with only the Taiidan navy routinely useing them on frigates, and even then their frigates are basically the bare minimum of a ship wrapped around a single ion cannon. Of course the more advanced races have solved several of these issues. Allowing the Kadesh to pack multiple ion cannons into one frigate, and the Bentusi to use them as their primary weapon even on strike fighters.

The other type of energy weapon is the plasma burst. These are magnetic packages of volatile plasma launched outward towards their targets. Plasma bursts are extremely useful against heavy armor and deal very good damage against everything else. However they are slow and dissipate over long ranges. As such they most commonly see use on bombers and assault frigates whose purpose is to close with and destroy enemy capital ships at short ranges. The exception to this are the T-Mat who seem to have solved the dispersion issue and use plasma cannons as a primary weapon.

Valerius Note: Also the Void Wraiths seem to favor plasma cannons for their interior defenses on the Megaliths. Which is very dangerous given the close quarters such engagements require.

Missiles are a simple yet effective weapon that ranks somewhere between kinetic and energy weapons in terms of effectiveness largely due to situational factors. The basic missile is a fusion warhead mounted on a high thrust engine and equipped with a guidance package. Missiles have very good range and almost never miss instead requiring the target to mount point defense weapons to shoot them down. They range from small missiles used on fighters to intercept other fighters to larger missiles used for anti capital ship work. The downside of missiles is that they are far more expensive to build than just a projectile slug. And while PDAs and fabricators are more than capable of doing so even directly in the battle space it takes time for a missile ship to reload its launchers.

The torpedo is not a separate weapon type, but rather a missile that trades speed and tracking ability for heavier armor, and usually a larger warhead. Torpedoes are almost always used for heavy anti capital ship work or against stationary bases where the target is less able to dodge and more likely to mount point defenses.

Mines are very similar to missiles, except they trade all their propulsion capability for even larger warheads and some form of stealth capability. Mines usually deal little damage to all but the most incautious fleets, but do force ships to slow down and proceed more carefully, which can be useful from a tactical standpoint.

One other benefit of missiles are that the warheads can be changed. Some missiles mount quantum explosive charges instead of fusion warheads. These are extremely devastating, but even harder to build. Others mount EMP charges that can be used to disable enemy ships in order to capture them or at least remove them from the battle for a time.

Strikefighters
Fighters, bombers, and gunships are essentially the same as warships only smaller. This allows them to fly far faster than a warship while emitting a smaller sensor signature. With the downside being that they can carry less armor and weapons. As such bombers are designed to carry short range high yield weapons into range of enemy capital ships. Fighters are designed to intercept bombers as well as their fighter escorts. Gunships straddle the line between strikefighters and proper warships with there being little difference between them and a corvette other than size. Though typically they are designed with intent of escorting warships and destroying enemy fighter groups rather than being used on their own.

Defensive Fields
Defensive fields don't see a lot of use in the galaxy as they are high energy bulky devices that require entire ships to deploy while sacrificing their own armament. However they can be useful in defending their allies from losses. Defensive fields working by emitting electromagnetic fields that repulse incoming weapons. They are most effective against plasma, then projectile weapons, and finally ion cannons. They are almost useless against missile weapons which are too large to be effectively repulsed.
 
Turn 7.5: An Answering Chorus

The Enkindled Spheres

System 45645

After checking that everyone is prepared in case the raiders decide to go on the offensive, you load a fairly tricky hyperspace trajectory into your core and engage the quantum waveform. Transitioning into the realm of hyperspace is always strange. It's as if your mind is simultaneously expanding and fogging over. You can never remember exactly what it's like when you're in real space.

Now that you are here though you wonder why you ever leave. It's actually a good question. It's a known fact that Bentusi solve their problems more quickly after a stint in hyperspace, but it's only in very rare instances that they try to directly make use of that. Even now something inside you balked about entering hyperspace without a proper destination.

Still that is something to contemplate later, if you even remember it. For now you are investigating the Rachni song. You can hear it so much more clearly now. A multi toned hymn that delivers notes of inquiry and sadness. You respond instinctively with a song of your own vibrating from your hyperspace core in a way that you didn't know was possible, but is as instinctive as using your thrusters.

But it also sounds wrong. You are one voice when there should be a chorus. It frustrates you and brings to mind memories you had rather stayed buried. When you and your friends journeyed across the stars in the warm embrace of Talus. Yes, you were a chorus then in both name and truth.

Still you work with what you have. You try to answer the inquisitive melody of the Rachni Queen with your own answering solo. In response she shifts downward to something you can understand slightly better, and you modulate your reply in turn. Your paired voices slowly weave together until there is a duet.

You still don't understand what she is saying, but there is an agreement of calling and purpose. Because through all of this you can feel a third voice. A terrible whisper trying to entice you and twist you. You've felt it before and it disgusts you. It evokes a feeling of primal hunger and madness. And it claws at the queen as well. But she stands against it, and so do you. You exchange the secrets of the crimson hunger. Your experience of it corrupting your memories and her knowledge of its whispered secrets. And together you drown out the whispers. There is a moment of mutual acknowledgement and then you drop back into real space.



You jolt as the quantum waveform collapses. That was far more abrupt than usual. Possibly as a result of the fact that you just flew in a circle around the system rather than actually going anywhere. Checking your logs you don't find anything else useful on the hyperspace signal. Apparently you weren't able to decode it, and it seems to have stopped anyway. But you do find something else. A key that matches with your megalith archive. Information unfolds in your mind and you see a map of the galaxy with purple dots scattered across it. Ancient megaliths still in dormancy. As you watch three of them turn red. These are the ones waking up. One you've already been too. The others bear investigating.

You quickly burn back towards the fleet and link back into the network. "Any progress talking with them. I got something, but I don't think it's related to the rachni themselves."

There is a moment before Iuno replies, more due to lag than anything else, "Well there wasn't until just a few moments ago. Then we got a transmission from the hiveship. Just one phrase." We will be ready.

Ready for what? The answer comes to you from within the haze of your memory. Ready for the Void Wraiths of course.

"Okay, I think we got what we needed then. We should head back."

"What and just leave a fleet of pirates here." Ulysses sounds frustrated.

"Well, I don't think they're pirates anymore."

"Yeah, they've just been sitting there."


"They could just be scared of us."

"Are we talking about the same raiders? You know they never get scared. Shoot these are better odds than they normally have against Bentusi."

Ulysses grumbles a bit, but he's the best tactician of all you. He knows just as well as the rest of you that this isn't normal behavior for Turanic Raiders. You think he's just annoyed about not being able to fight.

"Should we tell anyone about them?"

Now that is a good question. The Rachni rampaged across the galaxy before they were ever raiders. Do you want to leave them to their own devices? That doesn't seem like a good idea, but something stops you from answering immediately. You feel like this queen has other plans. It must be more subconscious prompting from your hyperspace voyage.

[ ] No, we'll leave her alone.
It might not be the smart choice, but if she's as set against the wraiths as you think she is leaving her to build up might result in a powerful ally in the future.
[ ] We'll tell the sentinels.
Or she might be a powerful enemy. You can tell the sentinels about her the next time you drop by a harborship. They'll surely send a task force out to keep an eye on her. They'll almost certainly work to limit her build up though.

Either way you should be heading out. You're getting a bad feeling about the wraiths. Surely there's been enough time for their flagship to be repaired and rearmed. So where are they planning to strike next? You have two potential targets now. But you could also try to rouse the galactic council again. You have more evidence now, and you've been doing favors for the Taiidan ministers. They'll probably listen to you this time, and having more fleets searching would be good.

[ ] Investigate the Megaliths
One of the megaliths isn't far off. You should at least swing by and take a look. You beat a megalith before, and unless the flagship itself is there you're sure you can do it again.

[ ] Head to the Grand Conclave
You think you have a pretty solid case now. And rousing the galactic council to action would help alert everyone to the danger of the wraiths. You are certain whether they'll help much in a fight, but they'll be more ships searching and more warning for planets to prepare for a siege.


[ ] Work on the Fleet
-[ ] Pick a Research Project.
-[ ] Pick a Character to work on the project.
-Current Options: Valerius, Ulysses, Flicker Friends

[ ] Pick a Codex/Interlude
-[ ] Write In
Pick something you'd like to know more about.
 
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