- Pronouns
- He/Him
Agreed, HSI is <3
Vox Vitae: Warhammer AI quest
- Thread starter Neablis
- Start date
- Mature Sci-Fi
HSI makes sense after this pre-req. We ought to also get Machine Spirit Design before we get back to Denva—if we can use their manufacturing power to build some specialised ships, we might be able to fill one with manufactoring and free up space in the Spark for labs and research Spirits.
- Location
- Sydney,Australia
Ehh bongos fine we got demonology as a research so he can become our
I kind of hope we can take the Bongo Vault out of the Spark intact.
I don't think we want to tie up that much hull space with it.
But it's also very, very expensive and quite good at what it does.
meianmaru
The Devourer of Fiction
For 40k flavour, we have our own fun stuff. Volkite weapons are noted in High-energy Physics, and Nova Cannons are a thing we can explicitly research too. If those aren't enough, Vortex Weapons.
Dmol8
The Undead Unhinged Lunatic of the Web
- Location
- Belgrade,Serbia
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Uh...never build anything that can result in "your moon is now pretzel-shaped" in an inhabited system if you don't have to. The NIMBYs alone would start a war over something like that.
That is debatable. While our Scrapcode Generator OublietteTM is in fact taking up a lot of space we don't know how much space we will need to bind Bongo properly and to our liking.
Omniphage Swarms are an option in 40k, but I don't know how far down which tech tree they are. Just be aware that they are a massive trauma button for any human leadership that still remembers the Cybernetic Revolt. Including our Tech-Priests.
Edit:
Turn event incoming:
We got all our Research for this turn already complete:
Let's see how eventful is eventful.
Edit 2:
I now know why this post was rated funny by @Neablis:
Prepare for nonsense not usually seen in fiction where the author is in full control of their writing. Anybody here have a Western Military background and a willingness to make donkey noises?
Last edited:
Turn 23
[X] Plan: Blessed Shields and Holy Relics (Are For Trading)
-[X][FREE] Fix Psi-Shields (Repair Bay covers this)
-[X][FREE] Database Dive: What are the Space Nuns anyway? Seriously?
-[X] Construction (350 VBP/1000 LC)
--[X] 300 BP Reserved for trade at maximum (subject to what the locals are able to / willing to offer), with 50 BP for making personal void shields for our Crew, and after that our little-c crew. Trade goods offered: civilian trade goods, repair materials (tech-priest assistance included), personal void shields. If the deal doesn't go through, switch production to Eldar trade goods.
-[X] Diplomacy:
--[X] Introduce yourself as an aspiring Rogue Trader sponsor of an Explorator Survey Expedition, using an archaeotech ship design rebuilt with your resources. You aim to secure a Warrant of Trade but, given recent warnings from the Knights of the Crimson Vigil, you seek to survey this system to assess any rising threats. Offer your Tech-Priests' expertise and your onboard manufactories to assist in repairs or produce hard-to-obtain goods. In exchange, request permission to explore the system unhindered, emphasizing your goodwill and willingness to learn more of their faith. After the initial peace offering, profess your interest to trade for things like holy texts, blessed symbols and weapons, maybe even minor holy relics (read: faith-related research samples). Approach also the Adminstratum about trading for records on their stellar neighborhood and any ships that have passed through. Your hope is to establish a peaceful, productive arrangement that benefits all parties.
-[X] Research (200 + 65 Anexa RP)
--[X] Tiny In-Atmosphere Void Shields (100 RP)
--[X] Advanced Neural Implants (150 RP; 85 RP + 65 Anexa RP)
--[X] Ok, maybe there's a point to medical school (30/50 RP -> 45/50 RP)
-[X][VICTAN] Help with the Diplomacy
-[X][ANEXA] Advanced Neural Implants
-[X][CIA] Active Training (We've got a hefty shield specifically for her lab, she is free to push the envelope a little bit)
-[X] Denva: Technology Request (General Design / Industry focus)
-[X][FREE] Fix Psi-Shields (Repair Bay covers this)
-[X][FREE] Database Dive: What are the Space Nuns anyway? Seriously?
-[X] Construction (350 VBP/1000 LC)
--[X] 300 BP Reserved for trade at maximum (subject to what the locals are able to / willing to offer), with 50 BP for making personal void shields for our Crew, and after that our little-c crew. Trade goods offered: civilian trade goods, repair materials (tech-priest assistance included), personal void shields. If the deal doesn't go through, switch production to Eldar trade goods.
-[X] Diplomacy:
--[X] Introduce yourself as an aspiring Rogue Trader sponsor of an Explorator Survey Expedition, using an archaeotech ship design rebuilt with your resources. You aim to secure a Warrant of Trade but, given recent warnings from the Knights of the Crimson Vigil, you seek to survey this system to assess any rising threats. Offer your Tech-Priests' expertise and your onboard manufactories to assist in repairs or produce hard-to-obtain goods. In exchange, request permission to explore the system unhindered, emphasizing your goodwill and willingness to learn more of their faith. After the initial peace offering, profess your interest to trade for things like holy texts, blessed symbols and weapons, maybe even minor holy relics (read: faith-related research samples). Approach also the Adminstratum about trading for records on their stellar neighborhood and any ships that have passed through. Your hope is to establish a peaceful, productive arrangement that benefits all parties.
-[X] Research (200 + 65 Anexa RP)
--[X] Tiny In-Atmosphere Void Shields (100 RP)
--[X] Advanced Neural Implants (150 RP; 85 RP + 65 Anexa RP)
--[X] Ok, maybe there's a point to medical school (30/50 RP -> 45/50 RP)
-[X][VICTAN] Help with the Diplomacy
-[X][ANEXA] Advanced Neural Implants
-[X][CIA] Active Training (We've got a hefty shield specifically for her lab, she is free to push the envelope a little bit)
-[X] Denva: Technology Request (General Design / Industry focus)
Once more you conference in your crew for a quick discussion on what to do.
> (Vita) So, do we talk with a bunch of zealots and bureaucrats?[Legitimately unsure]
> (Victan) It would be nice to try and talk. At the very least it would be good to have some more information on one of Denva's neighbors. [Supportive]
> (Anexa) And they definitely have some good technology. I'm looking at the armor they're training in, and it's the good stuff. [Pleased]
> (Cia) The Holy Order of the Penitent Flame! We learned about them at the Monastary! They're the bastion of the Emporer's Faith in the Zantris subsector!" [Thrilled]
> (Vita) Ok, I guess we're talking to the nuns. [Mildly resigned]
> (Victan) We should talk to the Administratum and Ministorum too. I think if we just talked to the Sororitas it would piss the other two factions off.
> (Vita) Aren't the Sororitas part of the Ecclisarchy? [Confused]
> (Victan) Technically, but not usually. Military orders have power, and it's hard to keep that kind of power subservient. Even if they technically bow the knee they definitely are treated carefully. If they decide they're being treated badly then they can demand better terms at bolter-point. [Logical]
> (Vita) Huh. I think I need to read up on this before we actually have the conversation. We need to make a game-plan that's more detailed than just "Say hi." [Focused]
> (Cia) Can we afford to leave them hanging for a while? [Concerned]
> (Victan) I think so. It might help if we swung back around to the gas giant or at least a little farther out so they don't get concerned, but we're the ones who control the pace of this dialogue. [Tentative suggestion]
> (Anexa) Great, that's you and Victan. What about Cia and I. Are we going to look for the waygate inside the moons of Oladeer? [Suggestive]
> (Vita) No, I don't think so. Maybe we'll do it later, but for now I'd like to keep our options open. For now, why don't we get cracking on the advanced neural implants. And Cia, you're free to start practicing with your powers. [Decisive]
> (Cia) I won't let you down. [Mildly despairing determination]
You're concerned about her, but you also don't know what to do. She's been stalled on developing her powers for more than a decade even as Anexa and Victan go from success to success. You know that she's starting to feel useless, but you can't help her unless she opens up about it. You just hope that her frustration doesn't literally boil over in a way that harms her.
You swing The Spark of the Ancients on a grand tour of the system while Victan leads you through several files on the Adeptas Sororitas. It's a topic you'd skimmed before, but not in any great detail. You discover that Nuns with Guns is very much an oversimplification, as the Adeptas Sororitas cover a broad range of specialties, including medical care, education, linguistics, history and yes, combat.
The latter was the most famous, of course. The "Sisters of Battle" were famous for their zeal and spiritual purity. Of especial interest are the notes in the inquistorial manual you have praising the Sisters of Battle and naming them steadfast allies, especially against the ruinous powers.
Interesting. A good example of faith being an effective shield against Chaos.
You note down the potential of getting some holy artifacts of some kind from them to help your study of how to protect against Chaos. But eventually, you bring up the question of how to initiate diplomatic contact, and how to make it go well. Your avatar joins Victan in person for this one, settling down in the observation lounge and looking out over the beautiful striped backdrop of Oladeer as its rings sparkle in reflected sunlight.
"So, they're still zealously faithful to the Imperial Cult." You start. "That constrains our options. We have to be something acceptable within the confines of the Imperium. And that's hard, given that our ship doesn't look Imperial."
"But it does look fairly human." Victan points out, sipping from a mug of coffee. "We can say it's archaeotech that we found, and we're still loyal servants of the Imperium." He says the last words with a hefty dose of sarcasm. "We could say we're explorators, you could use the old tech-priest avatar."
You consider that, then frown. "That's hard to make it into a good story. The mechanicus is not usually the most friendly group of people, and if we pretend to be them then we'll need to operate under fairly specific guidelines. Maybe a rogue trader?"
He shakes his head. "Rogue traders are usually quite well known in their local sector and beyond, and if anybody has exhaustive records on them then it would be the Adeptus Administratum. We'd get caught in the lie for sure."
"Then what?" You ask, not really expecting an answer as you crunch through the data. "Something that explains us being friendly, and maybe even imbalanced in their favor in trades. Maybe an Aspiring rogue trader?"
Victan takes a moment to inhale steam from his coffee, then nods. "That could work. It would explain the friendliness, and make it appear as if we're seeking allies and political support. Then we could say that this is an explorator ship that we're sponsoring. They'd be less likely to physically trust us, but more likely to give us information. I like it."
You smile, pleased with your idea. "Now we just need to figure out what we can give them that they'll like. The space marines seemed to like the plasma guns."
Victan snaps his fingers. "Ah, about that. Here." He flips you a file.
You skim through it, then burst out laughing. It's an old historical file on the apocryphal origins of the Sororitas. But it's from the Inquisitorial Archives, and it lists an old legend explaining how the Sororitas were won over by demonstration and subsequent gifts of something called a "Rosarius." Which as far as you can tell, is just a personal energy shield. The file further notes that if an Inquisitor requires the aid of a group of Sororitas that is not forthcoming upon a request, the gift of a Rosarius is especially meaningful to them.
"Can you make those?" Victan asks as your laughter tails down.
You wipe a synthetic tear from one eye. "Not yet, but it can't be too hard to figure it out, and it'll be useful to be able to build shields that small. I can give Cia one if she ever has to fight anybody. I'll work on it."
He purses his lips and nods. "Sounds good. Then let's head back, offer some repairs and Rosarius-es?" He grimaces, trying to work out the plural.
"Rosariuses." You confirm. "And in studying the armor we'll get some great tech information. Then we'll ask for open ports, information and political support. And maybe some holy artifacts if they have any they're willing to give up. I'm very curious to study a 'purity seal' or something similarly blessed to see if I can understand how it works."
Victan grins at you, then raises his mug. "To diplomacy with the most ardent of zealots."
You start bringing your ship back towards Ascalon Primus, but in the meantime it's time to figure out the personal shielding. If you're going to successfully woo the nuns it's going to be with technological artifacts beyond their ability to manufacture that they associate with divine intervention.
I wonder what that says about me, that I can just churn them out.
You dive into the technological details of void shields, and what would be necessary to miniaturize them down to something wearable on a person - ideally something that will fit within a chunky amulet that says more "bling" than "item of worship." Still, even with the extra weight and space it's not simple. Void shields are complicated, and making them small and mobile and able to function without things like shield projectors is... hard.
Miniaturizing the shield generator, power source and more is more of a matter of design configurations than totally new science, but the projectors do require you to invent some new physics-based math to figure it all out. Still, you get there at the end of the day, and are quite pleased with your new capability.
Better, working on such a new method of projection has given you some ideas about how you might potentially layer multiple shields inside each other without disruption, and working on cramming so many components into such a small space has suggested some alternate ways to make shields that might be cheaper on the materials and production side.
Researched Tiny In-Atmosphere Void Shields 39+20=59. Success.
Unlocked new Export Goods blueprint - Personal Void Shields (5 bp/person)
Unlocked new Technology - Void Shield Layering (400 RP)
Unlocked new technology - Void Shield Discounts (300 RP)
Research discounted - Heavy Void shields discounted by 50 RP
Now it's time to actually make some shield generators that can act as Rosariuses, and you take a moment to study Imperial Iconography and design them. You're not planning on giving away a lot at first - maybe just one or two - but you think it'll be a welcome gift, and probably really help get your foot in the door. And you might as well make a couple and distribute them to your crew. No reason for them not to have the best protection you have available.
With that in mind you approach Ascalon again, and send your pitch, towards the antennas you know will be receiving you. Your image displays your older body, the one you first used to communicate with Denva. "Hail to Cannoness Sylia of the Order of the Penitent Flame. I am Trader Vita, sponsoring an explorator mission aboard this ship, the Spark of the Ancients. I seek to earn my Warrant of Trade through service to the Imperium of Mankind. I spoke recently with representatives from the Knights of the Crimson Vigil, and was warned of the many dangers of this Sector. Now I seek to survey the stars for threats and assist the forces of the God-Emperor however I may, to help in my bid for the status of Rogue Trader."
Your avatar pauses a beat to convey the sincerity of your words. "To that end, I offer you the expertise of my tech-priests and the products of my ship's manufactories to assist you with repairs or key sufficiencies. If allowed, I will approach Ascalon Primus and offer gifts commensurate to my desired station."
There's no response for a worryingly long time, but just when you were starting to get antsy and wonder if maybe it was time to start looking into hacking their systems you receive a communication.
It's from the same scarred and white-haired woman as before, Canoness Sylia of the Order of the Penitent Flame. She stares into the pickup with eyes like baleful flame, judgmental and derisive. "Aspirant Vita, you may enter orbit of Ascalon Primus. Communicate with the Holy Bishop Encelcius and the Adeptus Administratum. Once you negotiate your status with them, I will recieve your gifts here at the Abby of the Penitent Flame."
She signs off with nearly shocking abruptness and you blink at the empty screen, then note the file attached. It's communication details for the Administratum and Ecclisarchy, along with communication guidelines. You grimace as you page through the requirements.
And why do I need to fill out a sixty-page form declaring my status and bloodline before I am even allowed to speak to the Administatum?
> (Vita) Hey Victan, I've got a project for you. [Resigned]
> (Victan) What is it? The Canoness' message seemed promising. [Concerned]
> (Vita) You didn't get to the attachement. Here, fill this out. [Cruel Amusement]
> (Victan) What is this? Oh, you must be kidding. [Aghast]
You chuckle darkly, then cut the connection and leave him to his fate. Well, not entirely. You'll help him fill the forms out, but he's going to have to decide how to navigate the absolute maze that is the paperwork that's been sent your way. It's worse than the protocol guide on the Ministorium that was attached, but not by a lot.
Are they trying to bury us in paperwork?
Maybe they are, but you've successfully foisted that paperwork off an on underling and now you're going to focus on Anexa, and see what you two can do with neural implants. The research lab and nearby medical bay are abuzz with excitement from the tech-priests, who watch Anexa with almost manic focus, determined not to miss a single move.
She's by parts pleased, disturbed and overwhelmed by the attention, and the two of you do your best to ignore it as you work through improving the neural implants you can produce and implant. You're not trying to improve a single aspect of them, but you're starting to reach the limit of what your current technology is capable of, and you need to improve the capabilities of your implants across the board.
That means their data storage and computation abilities, their power supplies, the number of parts of the brain they can reach, and more. You need to pack more into a smaller space, and figure out how to do more radical implantation procedures. Along the way you figure out how to interface them with various sensory systems, though not perfectly, and you're starting to run into the barriers on what you can do with your current understanding of biology.
Researched Advanced Neural Implants 20+30=50. Success.
Your implants are generally more powerful and humans with your implants will be capable of greater control and interaction. +10 to the capacity of organic-machine control per human.
No Anexa level-up.
Unlocked technology - Human Simulation Implants (150 RP)
Unlocked New technology - Basic Cognition Filter (300 RP)
Unlocked New technology - Companion Cogitators (500 RP)
Unlocked New technology - Mood regulators (200 RP)
Unlocked New technology - Pain Controller (200 RP)
Research discounted - Improved Organic Machine Control discounted by 50 RP
You can tell Anexa's somewhat dissatisfied with her output, and to be honest you're feeling similarly. There's definitely more potential for advancements here, and what you've acheived is certainly acceptable but nowhere near the heights of genius you've both experienced perfectly.
The tech-priests around don't seem to agree, and are busy examining the new implants from every angle and clamoring to be the first ones to receive it, as well as appreciating the smoothness and aesthetics of the design. Most of them haven't moved away from the dark metal and red robes of the Imperial aesthetic, but a few have started to embrace Anexa's gold-and-silver art-deco style, and with these new implants you only see that trend continuing.
With that out of the way, you walk your avatar up through the crew quarters, dodging past a pair of whispering tech-priests. You're still not quite used to having them around, but around they are and you're going to get used to it.
You knock on Victan's door. You're familiar in the abstract with what he's gotten done, and it's about time to chat about the next phase. The door slides open, and the face that greets you is a baggy-eyed wreck compared to how you last saw him.
He smiles ruefully at you. "I'd rather go hand-to-hand against a Knight of the Crimson Vigil than cross pens with the scribes of Ascalon again. They're a nasty bunch." He shivers. "And vindictive. But I think we're finally done."
"We have an agreement to use Ascalon as a friendly port?" You ask, surprised.
He looks at you in confusion, then barks a laugh. "No. You're officially recognized as sub-provost of the Outer Void Marches and thereby have the status to command a ship of the void and treat with the rulers of the system."
"So..." you draw him on leadingly. "What does that mean?"
He closes his eyes and rubs the brow of his nose. "It means that you can resume negotiations. And land without being immediately declared as apart from the Emperor's Grace and thereby not deserving of his mercy."
You put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Thank you. I'll organize things, you can rest."
He nods tiredly, and goes to lie down.
You call up the Order of the Penitent Flame to organize your visit, and do some initial negotiation. It's much more straightforward than Victan's harrowing experience, but you're dealing with Sororitas who want something, and they're not inclined to be as squirrely as the Administratum or Ecclesiarchy.
In the last few months they've had a chance to think about what services they want from you, and reading between the lines you parse out that they want you to repair several sets of damaged armor, dozens of chainswords and supply an enormous quantity of bolter ammunition. They want almost no non-military support. At first that's a bit surprising, but you're happy to provide - especially because it'll give you a chance to examine their armor up close.
And from orbit it certainly looks impressive. Not quite as massive as the Space Marines, but similar technology.
They won't let you take any of it away from the convent, but they'll let your tech-priests scan the damaged suits on the ground so that you can fabricate parts in orbit and ship them to the ground for the repairs. They also hint that they're willing to provide the location of a planet that can trade adamantium, in return for you returning with it and synthesizing pieces such as replacement chainsword armor. They don't outright say that they're hoping for more suits of armor, but the subtext is there.
That's when you first start to have hope that this partnership can actually succeed. They are giving you some small tasks first with limited trust, but you can tell their hopes are high. They've been without advanced technological support for a long time, and it shows in their eagerness to take full advantage when possible.
You organize the first physical exchange, where you will personally land with a single shuttle in their shuttleport to exchange greetings. There you'll exchange gifts, which will be three rosariuses on your part and a holy artifact on theirs - supposedly a version of the Lectitio Divinitatus that was cried upon by a famous saint.
Which - I guess makes it holy or something. I'd like to get it in a full-spectrum scanner and see if I can get any whiffs of warp-activity coming off it. Probably need better warp sensors for that first.
With you in the assault shuttle are five tech-priests with fully old-style implants, ready and willing to pretend to be completely orthodox members of the mechanicus. They'll assemble the scanning armature around the armor that the Sororitas will provide while you chat with the Canoness. You also pack away sixty heavily-armed combat bots. Most of them will stay in the shuttle, but you're meeting fanatical nuns of a religion that believes you to be abominable evil. You're going to do it with armed guards.
You land in the hanger before a line of power armor, all painted black with stylized markings of the aquila on the breastplates - really the boobplates - and stylized depictions of the pillar-and-flame on the shoulders. The sororitas before you are wearing helmets so you can't judge their expressions, but their postures are certainly ready for battle. For a moment you consider if they're preparing to storm the ship, but then you relax. If they do - that will be a valuable data point.
Though the tech-priests aren't actually disposable.
They remain stock-still as the ramp lowers and your avatar disembarks, the tech-priests following close behind with a small guard of combat bots.
The line of sororitas splits evenly to reveal the canoness standing behind them, in full armor herself but with her helmet held under one arm.
She nods at your personal appearance as if satisfied, and examines your guards with equanimity before speaking. "Aspiring Trader Vita. Or sub-provost, as the bishop would have me say." She speaks the last words as if they are sour. "I am glad you have come to us, and shown faith in the Emperor's protection. We must discuss your status in this Sector. But first, I believe we shall exchange gifts?"
You nod, and reach inside your pockets for a slim case. It's not very large for the size of the jewelry it contains, and a normal human body wouldn't be able to maneuver the weight easily - but they're expecting you to be engineered. You flip it open for her inspection to reveal three chunky amulets, each in the shape of a twin-headed eagle. They're each strung on a heavy chain which is in fact essential to the function of the device, and have been carefully manufactured to appear ancient, as well as covered with minor scrapes and dings that come from millennia of existence.
You're pretending to be capable of decent manufacturing, not able to make a product that few forge worlds this side of Mars can boast.
She steps forward and examines them closely, running a gauntleted finger over one of the devices, then giving a decisive nod. "An incredible gift that proves the generosity of our Emperor."
At an unseen command another old woman walks forward with faltering steps. This one isn't dressed in power armor but in a simple shift, and she carries in spindly arms a massive tome that seems to bow her back with its weight.
"As promised, the twenty-first Tome of Saint Agatha, blessed as the Saint of Burning Tears. She was not of our order, but for five years, five months, five days and five hours did she grace this convent with her presence..."
You reach out to take the book, eager to relieve the old woman of her burden. As you do, you note strange energy readings from the planet below - unfamiliar ones. You don't know what they mean, but the energy levels are high enough to be consistent with weapons fire.
Down on the moon of Ascalon Primus, in the convent of the Penitent Flame, your avatar freezes, unsure what to say. What can you say here?
Excuse me, but I think the planet below is being attacked. Maybe we should deal with that. Honestly, that's not a bad idea.
You open your mouth to say just that, but Canoness Sylia is already listening to something through her earbud, and her eyes narrow and swing to you full of fury.
"Treachery." She says the word quietly under he breath, but a moment later bellow it loud. "Treachery! We are betrayed! Capture them, slay any that resist!" She reaches to her belt and draws a blade that crackles with blueish power, leveling it at you.
You have to admit you're curious about that sword - but not curious enough to find out what it'll do in person. You're already sprinting back towards the shuttle as fast as your robotic legs can take you, your bots advancing to provide covering fire. One of the tech-priests goes down with a bolter round to the central torso that sends guts and cybernetics flying, but the rest manage to make it aboard the shuttle. They cross paths with the combat bots advancing to provide shields and stave off the armored sisters of battle.
Your combat bots are built for war and guided by machine spirits designed for that purpose, but they're not matches for the sororitas. Power-armored figures drop your bots with precise shots and their armor shrugs off glancing blows while they slam into your bots with holy fervor, taking them apart in close-combat that they aren't really designed for
Your avatar is struck almost a dozen times by bolter and lasgun fire, but your personal void shield holds and you make it aboard, sending the command to close the hatch and take off. You detonate the charges buried inside every one of the bots that remained behind, the resulting blastwave lifting the shuttle higher into the air.
That probably killed some of the sororitas, but I'd prefer not to leave behind too much evidence. I think our diplomacy might be shot for now anyway.
Your assault shuttle climbs frantically away from the convent, blasting through an airlock keeping you from the void. You set course to the Spark of the Ancients, even as the primary sensors detect several small and spiky craft closing in on your ship, far closer than should be possible.
Do any Elder come out of the Webgate? - Rolled 2. Dark Eldar enter without detection.
On the convent below several decorative statues swing open to reveal weaponry of various scales, and it all pivots to aim at your shuttle. You do your best to dodge and pivot around the fire, but a single shuttle can't survive long against weaponry designed to destroy dozens of ships and it vanishes in a puff of flame.
-1 Mechanicus-disguised Shuttle (5 CP)
-Adult human woman Avatar
-5 Tech priests
-80 Heavy Combat Bots
Meanwhile, you've got bigger problems. You have no idea how the spiked ships maneuvered so close without you spotting them, but they were completely powered down and coasting until the exact moment you spotted weapons fire on the surface, and used your moment of distraction examining those readings to get even closer. Now they're basically inside the range of most of your weapons, though your point defenses manage to hit two of them before final boarding actions. Still, the remaining six dock with your hull and your sensors detect the presence of powerful cutting torches as the spearlike tips of the ships drive into your armor.
They're boarding me, they're actually boarding me.
You slam hatches and engaging boarding preparations across the ship, waking combat bots and directing them to swarm through the internal passageways. But then your attention is dragged away yet again as energy signatures wake below the convent of the Penitent Flame.
Uh oh.
Several more giant statues open up, and the revealed anti-orbital weaponry opens up on you even as heavy void shields power up. Your shields still aren't up, and the weapons cut cruel lines across your hull but fail to breach.
Hull damaged but not penetrated. 300 bp of damage.
You wrench the ship out of orbit, spinning it like a top and accelerating away from the planet as quickly as possible even as you attempt to bring the shield back online. Another salvo reaches out for you, and your frantic manuvering has thrown it off somewhat. This time one of the heavy lances pierces your armor but only serves to damage a macrocannon battery.
Hull further damaged. Medium Macrocannon damaged. 800 total BP of damage
Finally, finally your shields snap to life and you turn your attention inwards, investigating just what is going on within your hull. the borders aren't very numerous, and your first thought is that they're Eldar like Nyon-Kroh, but they're... different. His armor was blue and his skin nearly white. These aliens are are almost grey of skin, and their armor is black, spiky and leave significant sections of their bodies bare.
Drukhari? Dark Eldar? I think that's what they were called. Insane.
But they move with fluid grace, and only your defensive boarding preparations slows them down significantly, having to cut through bulkhead after bulkhead while avoiding or destroying automated turrets. They bypass your automated defenses with frustrating ease, though it seems to be more an incredible amount of skill on their part than any shortfall on yours.
You watch through dozens of sensors as the first unit of combat bots meets with a force of the dark eldar. The fight is weird - the enemy dodge like their bodies are made of vapor, and their return fire is precise and devastating. But their weapons seem strangely ineffective against your combat bots. Darts burrow through armor and inject toxins into... empty chests, and poisonous gases dissapates harmlessly against metallic faceplates.
And even if they dodge perfectly there's only so much room in most of the hallways - and the drukhari start falling, plucked from the air like gymnasts swatted by a giant flyswatter, or vaporized against the bulkheads by plasma blasts.
They still tear through the squad of combat bots, but you've got more on the way, and are reinforcing key intersections. They won't be able to make it to your core.
But one party does make it to the crew quarters, and falls upon a few tech-priests with savage glee. You'd ordered a shelter command, but a few of them are caught out in the open and torn apart with a savagery that makes you sick.
-3 Tech-priests
Then one door slides open, and you speak urgently into Cia's implant.
> (Vita) No, Cia. Don't do this. They're beyond you. I've got combat bots on the way. They can keep you safe. Go back inside. [Pleading]
She speaks her response aloud as the force sword in her hands hums to life. "No. It's my duty to protect you. This is what I can do, so let me do it!"
Then a contingent of three Dark Eldar race around the corner ahead of her, and your metaphorical heart leaps to your throat as they cackle with laughter. These have the most well-decorated armor of the Drukhari you've seen, and you think that means they're elite. One raises a rifle and fires a stream of poisoned needles - that bounce off Cia's void shield.
She raises her hands and howls a wordless challenge, and the Eldar answer with their own cries, drawing weapons as they close.
Cia crosses blades with the lead fighter once, twice. Then he kicks her ankle out from under her with a sneer, blade flicking out to sever the wrist holding her blade.
Your combat bots are still a minute away, and you watch in despair as Cia screams in agony, writhing on the floor and clutching the smoking stump of her arm.
The dark elder reaches down to grab her, already motioning his companions back down the hall and wearing a vicious grin.
Then Cia's head snaps down to lock onto the Eldar, an expression of pure fury on her face. She doesn't say anything, merely gritting her teeth as her eyes are replaced with bottomless wells of flame. The smoking stump of her hand ignites into flame, searing the smoking flesh. Between one moment and the next all three Eldar become bonfires, heat crackling off of them as every inch of them ignites into raging flame.
Cia Active Psykana Study - rolled 92, 52
+2 Cia levels.
The bots arrive shortly thereafter and have nothing left to do except carry Cia to the medical lab. There's not much left of the attackers except charred armor and greasy stains on the deck.
Across the ship the dark Eldar are in retreat, fleeing before your advancing bots. They've tried to take a few as trophies and quickly figured out that was a terrible idea when you detonated them, but generally they're managing to stay in front of the wave of advancing combat bots. Some of them make it to their boarding craft and escape.
Still, your defenses take your toll on them, and if the ratio is drastically in their favor that's fine - you have thousands of bots to throw at the problem, and you push forwards and manage to cut the retreating groups off from one of the boarding craft. The other groups manage to get to their boarding craft and escape, detaching to flee.
Dozens of bots swarm aboard aboard the single craft you've reached, racing through the hole cut in your hull. A few groups of fleeing eldar are caught in a pincer, trapped in a dead-end hallway with no escape. They take down dozens of bots, but there are always more and eventually they fall.
Defending yourself from the Drukhari boarding action - 68. Good Success.
You still take casualties, but most of them happen among the combat bots, and you're able to capture several bodies, weapons and a single boarding craft.
-230 heavy combat bots
Gained Small collection of Dark Eldar Weaponry
New Physics research - Dark Eldar Weaponry (150 RP)
Gained A few Dark Eldar bodies
New biology research - Dubious Dark Eldar Dissections
Gained Dark Eldar Boarding Craft
New Stealth research - Examine the Dark Eldar Craft (200 RP)
The remaining boarding craft accelerate away, punching through your void shields from the inside and vanishing into a field of shifting stealth right as you start to draw a bead on them. You let them go, suddenly aware that something else is projecting that field of shifting holograms. It's another Eldar ship, and once more you can't get a good lock on it despite it being within long-weapons range. You'd guess it to be about in the light-cruiser range, but it's hard to say for certain through their stealth.
Time to see how a fight goes.
But then a channel opens, and you receive a communication even as the other ship starts pulling away. With a start you realize this is being broadcast across the system, both to you and to Ascalon. The holographic image is of a spectacularly lean Eldar, dressed in what appears to be spiderweb stretched taught across pale skin.
She gives a high giggle, her expression is a picture of glee as she looks out of the hologram. "Truly a moment to cherish. I thank you for the assistance, Explorer Vita, and I thank Ascalon for the treasure. What a wonderous haul we have gained. The bishop's screams will lull me to sleep for the next year, and these Psalms will serve as wonderful toilet paper." She picks up another book of loose-leaf paper that looks truly ancient and waves it at the viewer, then the communication ends.
Then a second message pops up, this one directed just towards you. "My fondest greetings, Explorer Vita. I must introduce my own esteemed presence. Xylaris Moiryth, Weaver of the Bleeding Web. You have Nyon-Kroh to thank for the pleasure of my presence." Her grin sharpens into something truly vulpine, dozens of sharpened teeth showing. "Give him my best wishes when you next meet."
Then the message cuts off, and you're left staring impotently at a ship accelerating away more than twice as fast as your own ship can give chase. It's headed towards the gas giant of Oladeer, which isn't surprising at all.
"Bitch."
Then you direct your avatar to the medical bay, where Anexa's looking over Cia's prone form carefully. You enter quietly and make an effort not to startle her. "How is she?"
Anexa sighs, stopping her examination. "fine, I think. There was something strange about that weapon - it sensitized the nerve endings. But Cia burned them away. I'm trying to decide if it's better to regrow the hand or replace it with a prosthetic."
Cia mumbles something, then shifts and repeats herself, slurring her words. "Reegrow it. Need... flesh." Then she subsides, and you share a look with Anexa.
She shrugs. "Ok. I'll do that. It'll go better with a better surgery suite. You think we can handle that?"
You nod. "We'll make sure of it."
If you want Cia to recover fully, be sure to complete Ok, maybe there's a point to medical school
Your next stop is Victan, who seems to have slept through the whole incident. Including the wailing alarm klaxon. He seems chagrined by it, but you're just as happy he didn't manage to blunder into the middle of things. You catch him up on what's happened and he shifts from shocked to resigned to downright depressed.
"Do you think we can salvage it?" you ask him.
he shakes his haid despairingly. "Probably not. They almost certainly think we were in league with the Xenos, serving as a distraction while they attacked the planet.
You sigh. "Still, I'd like to try to explain."
He shrugs. "Go ahead. I'm going back to bed. Tell me how it goes"
You suppose that's fair after the trick he played on you, and you send a communnication request back to the monastary. You're not really expecting an answer, but you get one. After a moment of thought you put your green-haired avatar on screen.
Canoness Sylia stares at you for a moment. "Xenos-consorting scum. We should never have trusted you. Know you are the enemies of His Empire, and you will be hunted to the ends of the Galaxy by the faithful. Now state your name, so I may know whom to enter into the books of judgement."
You blink at her, then respond slowly. "This is trader Vita - and you killed my mother." You're acting a kind of grieving shock, putting on a bit of a show for her. "But those Xenos - we weren't working with them! They attacked this ship too, and we lost much in driving them off. Surely you could see that! We must be united against our common enemy."
She snarls at you. "Xenos and heretical tricks. If you do not lie, bring me the head of the Xenos witch who led the attack, and retrieve that which they stole! Deliver those back to me and I might consider your story." With one last hiss she slams a button and the communication goes dark.
Ascalon Diplomacy - Rolled 1. Failure.
You stare down at the screen. "Well. That could have gone better."
Current capabilities:
Command Points 1900/13,340Flagship: Spark of the Ancients, 1700 CP cost
800 bp damaged, can be fixed by repair bay. Repair bay can be used for refits.
Ground Build Capacity: 0
Lift Capacity: 1000 (converts between ground and void BP)
Void Build Capacity: 350
Research Capacity: 200
Psychic Shielding: Outer Hull 240/240 HP, Vita Core 135 HP, Crew Quarters 135 HP, Basic Psychic Experimentation Lab 135 HP, Bongo Oubliette 540/540 HP (repair for 5 BP/point, can be repaired by repair bay)
Juvenat usage: 3/50 people's worth (cannot be stockpiled)
Shipbuilding capacity: 0 ship construction slots (treat it as capacity. You can only be building ships that fit within your construction slots)
Available ships:
none, beyond your flagship.
Available ground forces:
2000 Light Machine-spirit humanized infantry bots (2x20 = 40 CP)
1000 Medium Machine-spirit humanized Infantry Bots (20 CP)
3000 Heavy Machine-spirit humanized Infantry Bots with Machine Spirit Jammers (3x20 = 60 CP)
3690 Heavy Machine-spirit Infantry Bots (4x20 = 80 CP)
CP costs for infantry bots work as breakpoints in increments of 1000. So 50 or 500 or 1000 bots all cost 20 CP, and 1001 costs 40 CP. Abstraction, y'all.
Misc assets:
A Void Abacus, Psytech Samples, A Navigator Fetus, A Scrapcode generator named Bongo. Dark Eldar Weaponry, A few Dark Eldar bodies, Dark Eldar Boarding Craft.
250 BP worth of trade goods.
Avatars:
Original Avatar, young human woman with green hair
Female tech priest with some augmentations.
Current Installations:
none
Military:
none
In progress construction:
none
In progress research:
Ok, maybe there's a point to medical school (45/50)
Actions (choose 4 of the below, can choose the same action multiple times):
[] [Free] Poke around some more in the databases, looking for anything in particular.
[] Orders: Command existing units in a given theater of operations.
[] Travel/Explore: Pick a system on the Map to travel to/explore. Currently you may travel 1 system as part of an explore action, or 3 systems if you don't explore. Current location: Ascalon
You can explore a place you've already explored, or focus your exploration on a specific feature of a place you've already explored. Or explore two systems next turn and then the turn after go back for specific POIs without costing an action. Jumping a single system over as part of an action is free, a number which will increase with better navigation.
[] Diplomacy/Subversion: Talk to people. (Write-in goal & method)
It's probably not worth talking to Ascalon anymore. They hate your guts. Conquering them would be more effective.
[] Construction: Gain build points equal to your build capacity, write in what you spend them on.
- Installations
- Void Installations
- Ships
- Units
- Export Goods
[] Research: Gain research points equal to your research capacity, to be spent designing new blueprints or researching projects. Write in what you spend them on.
Ground Blueprint Design:
To design ground installations & non-combat units, suggest them in the thread and I'll add them here if they're valid, along with RP cost to design them. This includes bunkers, anti-orbital defenses, ground units, etc. You'll unlock more things with more technology.Some things are impossible without the correct research - for example, heavy tanks will require you to research heavy armor first. Other things will be very cheap if you already have most of the design - for example if you research a better weapon it will be relatively cheap to just swap that out on the tanks.
Designable Blueprints:
- Ground Forces
- Small Craft
- Defensive Installations
- Utility
Void Blueprint design:
To design void blueprints, follow these steps:- Choose a starting hull from the list of available void chassis below
- Choose the number of Build Points to be spent on the base hull. This corresponds to overall size of the ship - a destroyer with 200 bp will be 1200x200 meters, while a 500 bp base destroyer will be 1600x400 meters. This will set the "hp" of the design as well as determine the total amount of space inside the ship, which is represented by the number of BP spent on the hull. That's your "Budget"
- Pick the speed, shields and armor of the design. Shields are recharging temp HP, while armor is damage reduction. Speed is self-explanatory. These do not count towards cramming.
- Pick hull equipment to go onto the ship. These do not count towards cramming.
- Choose weapons, combat equipment & noncombat equipment to add to the ship. Your budget for these things is the base BP spent on size before you start to get into cramming. You can cram more stuff in, but there will be penalties to maneuvering, maintenance, etc. As an example, if you build a destroyer with a base hull cost of 400, then you have a budget of 400 to spend on weapons/equipment before penalties start kicking in.
- Have a vote win which spends the necessary RP to design the planned ship.
(Basic Defense Satellite) Light defense Platform. Base 100 Bp (200x200 meters). No engines, Light shields for 50 bp, light armor for 50 bp. 1x light lance battery for 100 bp. Total is 100+50+50+100 = 300. Weapons+equipment is 100, within the base BP of 100, so no cramming penalty.
(Basic System Monitor) Destroyer chassis. Base BP 350 (1500x300 meters) Engines: 7 gravities for 100 BP. Light Shields for 50 BP. Medium armor for 100 BP. 2x Light Macrocannon batteries for 200 bp, 1x Light Lance battery for 100 bp, High maneuverability thrusters for (1/10 base, round up to nearest 50 =) 50 bp. Total is 350+100+50+100+200+100+50 = 950. Weapons + equipment is 350, within the base BP of 350, so no cramming penalty.
(Basic System Monitor) Destroyer chassis. Base BP 350 (1500x300 meters) Engines: 7 gravities for 100 BP. Light Shields for 50 BP. Medium armor for 100 BP. 2x Light Macrocannon batteries for 200 bp, 1x Light Lance battery for 100 bp, High maneuverability thrusters for (1/10 base, round up to nearest 50 =) 50 bp. Total is 350+100+50+100+200+100+50 = 950. Weapons + equipment is 350, within the base BP of 350, so no cramming penalty.
Light defense Platform, 25 RP, 10 CP, (100-400 BP, 200x200-500x500 meters.) Engines: (none) for (0). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/50/100) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/50/100)
Destroyer, 50 RP, 50 CP, 1 ship construction slots (200-500 BP, 1200x200-1600x400 meters) Engines: (6/7/8 gravities) for (50/100/150 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/50/100) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/50/100)
Frigate, 100 RP, 100 CP, 2 ship construction slots (500-1000 BP, 1600x400-2200x600 meters) Engines: (5/6/7 gravities) for (75/150/225 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/75/150) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/75/150)
Light Cruiser, 150 RP, 200 CP, 8 ship construction slots (1000-2000 BP, 3500x400-4400x800 meters) Engines: (3/4/5 gravities) for (100/200/300 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/150/300) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/100/200)
Heavy Cruiser, 200 RP, 300 CP, 32 ship construction slots (2000-6000 BP, 4500x600-6000x1200 meters) Engines: (2/3/4 gravities) for (300/400/500 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/200/400) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/200/400)
Destroyer, 50 RP, 50 CP, 1 ship construction slots (200-500 BP, 1200x200-1600x400 meters) Engines: (6/7/8 gravities) for (50/100/150 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/50/100) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/50/100)
Frigate, 100 RP, 100 CP, 2 ship construction slots (500-1000 BP, 1600x400-2200x600 meters) Engines: (5/6/7 gravities) for (75/150/225 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/75/150) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/75/150)
Light Cruiser, 150 RP, 200 CP, 8 ship construction slots (1000-2000 BP, 3500x400-4400x800 meters) Engines: (3/4/5 gravities) for (100/200/300 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/150/300) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/100/200)
Heavy Cruiser, 200 RP, 300 CP, 32 ship construction slots (2000-6000 BP, 4500x600-6000x1200 meters) Engines: (2/3/4 gravities) for (300/400/500 BP). Shields: (none/light/medium) for (0/200/400) Armor: (none/light/medium) for (0/200/400)
Available Hull Equipment:
These do not count towards hull cramming.
Living Space (1/5 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship is built to be run and operated by humans. It will require a crew but will not cost CP to command.
Warp Drive (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to nearest 50) This ship can jump to the warp. Navigation systems sold separately.
Void Abacus (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to nearest 50) This ship can navigate through the warp slowly, at a rate of 3 systems per action. Requires Abacus Manufacturing technology.
Psychic Shielding (Between 1/10 or 1/5 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to nearest 50) This ship has a neural network integrated throughout the whole thing, that thinks "no" as hard as possible, answering the question for any warp-corruption for any beings or objects within the hull. HP of the shield is 1 HP per 5 BP spent on it.
Living Space (1/5 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship is built to be run and operated by humans. It will require a crew but will not cost CP to command.
Warp Drive (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to nearest 50) This ship can jump to the warp. Navigation systems sold separately.
Void Abacus (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to nearest 50) This ship can navigate through the warp slowly, at a rate of 3 systems per action. Requires Abacus Manufacturing technology.
Psychic Shielding (Between 1/10 or 1/5 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to nearest 50) This ship has a neural network integrated throughout the whole thing, that thinks "no" as hard as possible, answering the question for any warp-corruption for any beings or objects within the hull. HP of the shield is 1 HP per 5 BP spent on it.
Available Weapons:
These do count towards hull cramming.Multiple the final weapon cost by 0.9 before applying it to ship designs. So if you have 500 BP of weapons, it only counts as 450 for the purposes of ship packing. But it'll count as 500 for final ship cost.
Prow Ram 50 bp. This ship is built to run into things, and hurt them more than it gets hurt.
Light Macrocannons 100 bp. Medium range, projectile weapons built for sustained barrage.
Medium Macrocannons 200 bp. Medium range, projectile weapons built for sustained barrage.
Heavy Macrocannons 400 bp. Medium range, projectile weapons built for sustained barrage.
Light Lances 100 BP. Long range, hitscan burst weapons. Not excellent at sustained fire.
Medium Lances 200 BP. Long range, hitscan burst weapons. Not excellent at sustained fire.
Heavy Lances 400 BP. Long range, hitscan burst weapons. Not excellent at sustained fire.
Light Missiles 50 BP short range, limited ammo, vulnerable to enemy point defense but very good burst damage. Limited ammo. Decent anti-fighter/bomber weapon.
Medium Missiles 100 BP short range, limited ammo, vulnerable to enemy point defense but very good burst damage. Limited ammo. Decent anti-fighter/bomber weapon.
Heavy Missiles 200 BP short range, limited ammo, vulnerable to enemy point defense but very good burst damage. Limited ammo. Decent anti-fighter/bomber weapon.
Light Plasma Cannon 250 BP, Medium range, high-fire rate with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against shields.
Medium Plasma Cannon 500 BP, Medium range, high-fire rate with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against shields, less effective against armor.
Heavy Plasma Cannon 1000 BP, Medium range, high-fire rate with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against shields, less effective against armor.
Light Melta cannon 200 BP, Very short range, medium-fire rate but with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against armor.
Medium Melta cannon 400 BP, Very short range, medium-fire rate but with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against armor.
Heavy Melta cannon 800 BP, Very short range, medium-fire rate but with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against armor.
Fighters 100 BP, 50 CP. Parasite craft with short-ranged guns and some missile capability. Basic stealth automatically applied.
Shuttles 100 BP, 50 CP. 10 Shuttlecraft, combined capacity of 500 lift to or from a planet.
Assault Shuttles 150 BP, 50 CP. 10 Assault shuttles, with combined capacity of 1000 troops or 10 tanks in one trip. asic stealth automatically applied.
Point Defense 50 BP. A series of turrets on the hull to shoot down enemy fighters, missiles and torpedoes.
Small Torpedoes 150 BP. A payload of straight-flying armored torpedoes, sized to give destroyers a bad day, hurt frigates and prick cruisers.
Medium Torpedoes 300 BP. A payload of straight-flying armored torpedoes, sized to wreck frigates, hurt cruisers and make grand cruisers know they've been touched.
Large Torpedoes 600 BP. A payload of straight-flying armored torpedoes, sized to wreck cruisers, hurt grand cruisers and make battleships cruisers know they've been touched.
Light Teleportarium 100 bp. Can teleport a small number of organics or robots onto enemy ships from close range. Enemy shields must be down.
Medium Teleportarium 200 bp. Can teleport a medium number of organics or robots onto enemy ships from medium-close. Enemy shields must be down.
Heavy Teleportarium 400 bp. Can teleport a large number of organics or robots onto enemy ships from long range. Enemy shields must be down.
Light Macrocannons 100 bp. Medium range, projectile weapons built for sustained barrage.
Medium Macrocannons 200 bp. Medium range, projectile weapons built for sustained barrage.
Heavy Macrocannons 400 bp. Medium range, projectile weapons built for sustained barrage.
Light Lances 100 BP. Long range, hitscan burst weapons. Not excellent at sustained fire.
Medium Lances 200 BP. Long range, hitscan burst weapons. Not excellent at sustained fire.
Heavy Lances 400 BP. Long range, hitscan burst weapons. Not excellent at sustained fire.
Light Missiles 50 BP short range, limited ammo, vulnerable to enemy point defense but very good burst damage. Limited ammo. Decent anti-fighter/bomber weapon.
Medium Missiles 100 BP short range, limited ammo, vulnerable to enemy point defense but very good burst damage. Limited ammo. Decent anti-fighter/bomber weapon.
Heavy Missiles 200 BP short range, limited ammo, vulnerable to enemy point defense but very good burst damage. Limited ammo. Decent anti-fighter/bomber weapon.
Light Plasma Cannon 250 BP, Medium range, high-fire rate with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against shields.
Medium Plasma Cannon 500 BP, Medium range, high-fire rate with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against shields, less effective against armor.
Heavy Plasma Cannon 1000 BP, Medium range, high-fire rate with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against shields, less effective against armor.
Light Melta cannon 200 BP, Very short range, medium-fire rate but with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against armor.
Medium Melta cannon 400 BP, Very short range, medium-fire rate but with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against armor.
Heavy Melta cannon 800 BP, Very short range, medium-fire rate but with incredible damage potential. Extremely effective against armor.
Fighters 100 BP, 50 CP. Parasite craft with short-ranged guns and some missile capability. Basic stealth automatically applied.
Shuttles 100 BP, 50 CP. 10 Shuttlecraft, combined capacity of 500 lift to or from a planet.
Assault Shuttles 150 BP, 50 CP. 10 Assault shuttles, with combined capacity of 1000 troops or 10 tanks in one trip. asic stealth automatically applied.
Point Defense 50 BP. A series of turrets on the hull to shoot down enemy fighters, missiles and torpedoes.
Small Torpedoes 150 BP. A payload of straight-flying armored torpedoes, sized to give destroyers a bad day, hurt frigates and prick cruisers.
Medium Torpedoes 300 BP. A payload of straight-flying armored torpedoes, sized to wreck frigates, hurt cruisers and make grand cruisers know they've been touched.
Large Torpedoes 600 BP. A payload of straight-flying armored torpedoes, sized to wreck cruisers, hurt grand cruisers and make battleships cruisers know they've been touched.
Light Teleportarium 100 bp. Can teleport a small number of organics or robots onto enemy ships from close range. Enemy shields must be down.
Medium Teleportarium 200 bp. Can teleport a medium number of organics or robots onto enemy ships from medium-close. Enemy shields must be down.
Heavy Teleportarium 400 bp. Can teleport a large number of organics or robots onto enemy ships from long range. Enemy shields must be down.
Available Equipment:
These do count towards hull cramming.
Low-emission Systems (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship has been tuned to reduce overall emissions, making it stealthier. Not stealthy. Stealthier.
High-maneuverability thrusters (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship is more maneuverable, able to flip, spin and dodge more quickly. This lets it maneuver well through dense asteroid clusters and dodge/ram more effectively in combat.
Plasma payloads (choose missile warheads or Macro cannon warheads) (1/20 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship can load and fire plasma-warhead ammunition, which has a flat damage increase.
Melta payloads (choose missile warheads, Macrocannon warheads or torpedoes) (1/20 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship can load and fire melta-warhead ammunition, which is especially effective against enemy armor and hulls.
Tuned Shields Costs the same as the chosen armor cost, and additionally counts towards cramming (not the total cost, just the extra cost for tuned shields, so if shields costs 100 bp, then tuned shields cost 100 bp and 100 bp is counted against cramming). These shields recharge significantly faster, but when taken down all the way take slightly longer to reboot.
Alloyed Armor Costs the same as the chosen armor cost, and additionally counts towards cramming (not the total cost, just the extra cost for alloyed armor, so if armor costs 100 bp, then alloyed armor costs 100 bp and 100 bp is counted against cramming). Armor is much tougher but is harder to repair.
Light Boarding preparations (1/20 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) Bulkheads are reinforced, extra hatches seal all decks and turrets guard key chokepoints, making boarding annoying.
Medium Boarding preparations (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) The ship layout is designed to funnel borders into kill-zones in front of armored bunkers, and any borders will take heavy casualties.
Heavy Boarding preparations (1/5 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship as essentially a flying dungeon, filled with escherian mazes, hidden turrets, crushing-hallways and other deathtraps.
Light Machine Spirit Jammers (1/20 of the base cost of hull, rounded up to nearest 50) Banks of cogitators with code to disable machine spirits. Enough to cause significant degradation in an enemy ship's sensors, maneuvering and targeting. Primarily effective against ships of the same weight class.
Medium Machine Spirit Jammers (1/10 of the base cost of hull, rounded up to nearest 50) Banks of cogitators with code to disable machine spirits. Same as light jammers, plus will also effect total thrust, weapons firing rate. Primarily effective against ships of the same weight class.
Heavy Machine Spirit Jammers (1/5 of the base cost of hull, rounded up to nearest 50) Banks of cogitators with code to disable machine spirits. Same effect as medium, but may also effect friend-foe designation and reactor stability. Primarily effective against ships of the same weight class.
Low-emission Systems (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship has been tuned to reduce overall emissions, making it stealthier. Not stealthy. Stealthier.
High-maneuverability thrusters (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship is more maneuverable, able to flip, spin and dodge more quickly. This lets it maneuver well through dense asteroid clusters and dodge/ram more effectively in combat.
Plasma payloads (choose missile warheads or Macro cannon warheads) (1/20 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship can load and fire plasma-warhead ammunition, which has a flat damage increase.
Melta payloads (choose missile warheads, Macrocannon warheads or torpedoes) (1/20 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship can load and fire melta-warhead ammunition, which is especially effective against enemy armor and hulls.
Tuned Shields Costs the same as the chosen armor cost, and additionally counts towards cramming (not the total cost, just the extra cost for tuned shields, so if shields costs 100 bp, then tuned shields cost 100 bp and 100 bp is counted against cramming). These shields recharge significantly faster, but when taken down all the way take slightly longer to reboot.
Alloyed Armor Costs the same as the chosen armor cost, and additionally counts towards cramming (not the total cost, just the extra cost for alloyed armor, so if armor costs 100 bp, then alloyed armor costs 100 bp and 100 bp is counted against cramming). Armor is much tougher but is harder to repair.
Light Boarding preparations (1/20 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) Bulkheads are reinforced, extra hatches seal all decks and turrets guard key chokepoints, making boarding annoying.
Medium Boarding preparations (1/10 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) The ship layout is designed to funnel borders into kill-zones in front of armored bunkers, and any borders will take heavy casualties.
Heavy Boarding preparations (1/5 of the base cost of the hull, rounded up to the nearest 50) This ship as essentially a flying dungeon, filled with escherian mazes, hidden turrets, crushing-hallways and other deathtraps.
Light Machine Spirit Jammers (1/20 of the base cost of hull, rounded up to nearest 50) Banks of cogitators with code to disable machine spirits. Enough to cause significant degradation in an enemy ship's sensors, maneuvering and targeting. Primarily effective against ships of the same weight class.
Medium Machine Spirit Jammers (1/10 of the base cost of hull, rounded up to nearest 50) Banks of cogitators with code to disable machine spirits. Same as light jammers, plus will also effect total thrust, weapons firing rate. Primarily effective against ships of the same weight class.
Heavy Machine Spirit Jammers (1/5 of the base cost of hull, rounded up to nearest 50) Banks of cogitators with code to disable machine spirits. Same effect as medium, but may also effect friend-foe designation and reactor stability. Primarily effective against ships of the same weight class.
These do count towards hull cramming.
Troop compartment (50 BP) Can carry 10,000 soldiers or 500 medium tanks across the stars.
Medical bay (25 BP) Can treat 1000 severely injured people at once.
Manufactory (Any cost up to base cost of hull) Generates void BP equivalent to 1/10 of its cost.
Cargo Bay (No cost, free. Designate an amount of BP to fill for cramming purposes) Allows transport of an amount of BP equivalent to the cramming amount from one system to another.
Repair Bay (Any cost up to base cost of hull). Repairs damage across friendly ships equal to its cost. Can be used to refit the ships as well with a +50% markup. Cannot be used to make new ships, bots, manufactories.
Troop compartment (50 BP) Can carry 10,000 soldiers or 500 medium tanks across the stars.
Medical bay (25 BP) Can treat 1000 severely injured people at once.
Manufactory (Any cost up to base cost of hull) Generates void BP equivalent to 1/10 of its cost.
Cargo Bay (No cost, free. Designate an amount of BP to fill for cramming purposes) Allows transport of an amount of BP equivalent to the cramming amount from one system to another.
Repair Bay (Any cost up to base cost of hull). Repairs damage across friendly ships equal to its cost. Can be used to refit the ships as well with a +50% markup. Cannot be used to make new ships, bots, manufactories.
The ways to get new research options are to:
- Do research. That'll unlock more research.
- Build appropriate installations & potentially acquire samples to research in them (samples could be anything from 'a human' to 'a Norn queen' in rarity).
- Ask for them. Often I'll tell you what you need to do to unlock specific research options,
- Ship Design
- General Design
- Stealth
- Shields
- Materials & Armor
- Robotics
- AI research
- Psychic Shielding
- The Warp
- Psytech
- Physics
- Machine Spirits
- Biology
- Cybernetics
- Hacking
Crew :
Anexa Ifina, Magos Errant, Master of Many Talents.Level 13
-[] Anexa active Action: Research - assists a research action you take, granting +5xLevel RP to the action. Will level on successful roll, scaled by the importance of the tech.
-[] Anexa passive action: Exploratory Research - Roll to discount a random tech from one of her specialties. Will receive the specialty bonus, and crits will result in a level and bonus technology.
Specialties (3/4): Machine Spirits. The Warp, Cybernetics. Grants a +10 bonus when doing research rolls in the relevant category.
Has a staff of 42 tech-priests of the Cogitare Exploratium, which provide +840 CP.
Victan Thallos, Diplomat-Spy
Level 14
-[] Victan active action: Diplomat-Spy - assists any diplomacy action you take, granting +Level to the dice to the action. Will level on successful roll, scaled by the significance of the action.
-[] Victan passive action: Counterespionage & Alliance-building - Defends against hostile covert action and improves relations with existing allies, as well as gathering information for making new allies. Will only level if something interesting happens.
Cia Steblin, Pyromancer Psyker
Level 5
-[] Active Psyker improvement: Cia will actively attempt to practice her powers. Roll two d100s. Take the higher roll for determining level-up, but take the lower for perils of the warp. (DCs are unknown but context-dependent. They are currently favorable and will get less favorable as she levels)
-[] Passive Psyker improvement: Cia will take lower-risk actions to improve herself, including meditation, study and augmentation. A single level-up roll, with only a very low roll resulting in perils of the warp.
Focus: Combat. Cia is currently dedicating herself to learning how to fight, and will weave her psykana into her style as it develops. She's getting competent and has started to realize that pain helps her focus her powers.
So. That was fun.
A few comments on the dice. There was a nat 1 and a 2 in this turn. That's going to make some weird things happen. This is my attempt to reconcile that. The Dark Eldar tried to board you because they couldn't fight you straight-up, and they managed it because you rolled a 2. And they did it during your diplomatic summit because they're devious and you rolled a 1 on that.
But then the fact that you had good anti-boarding defenses, thousands of combat bots and rolled a 68 meant they couldn't really get anything done. Oh. And Cia's crit.
The diplomacy was probably going to work with the write-in you gave and the bribes you prepared, but - well. Nat 1, they think you were part of a plot that kidnapped the bishop. Now they hate you, and the only way to stop that is to hunt down one particular Drukhari raiding party. The first step there is probably to investigate the gate, and maybe bring it up to any other Eldar you find. If you roll well you might get a pointer.
We're gonna do 36 hours of Moratorium on this one, and then the vote will be at least 12 hours, but I won't set a definite end time. I'll close it when I have time to think.
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- Location
- Earth
Ah, Dark Eldar. Truly the worst.
I dunno I'd be tempted to try and track them down and blend them all, but if we can't do that we could just leave, I guess?
I dunno I'd be tempted to try and track them down and blend them all, but if we can't do that we could just leave, I guess?
- Location
- Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Oh. Joy.
Well this whole system was a waste.
Well this whole system was a waste.
- Location
- Earth
I mean, the Drukhari lied about us helping them raid the planet, so they could also be lying about the other Eldar selling us out to poison that well.
Asheram
Not quite altogether
- Location
- Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground
I'll hesitate to call it a complete waste. Drukhari stealth tech is still a pretty nice find.
I still want to talk to the Eldar, to to otherwise would be to er... trust the Drukari about who sold us out and that is almost axiomatically absurd. Obviously they were lying to us too.
- Location
- Somewhere on Earth
I mean this isn't really the fault of the entire Aeldari race. Also, like, this is the Drukhari we're talking about, motherfuckers will absolutely go out of their way to be as cruel and petty as they can possibly be, there's every chance they're deliberately twisting the truth to make it sound like the Corsair tried to make this happen. Let's repair this damage, consider researching better anti-boarding measures, and then go get some better answers.
We could also overthrow the Government of the planet, I mean if they are going to be hostile no reason not to loot them, there is ample reason to what with them being the space fascists and profiting on untold human suffering.
Probably best to just get some eldar trading done and leave though, just offering the option.
Probably best to just get some eldar trading done and leave though, just offering the option.
- Location
- Somewhere on Earth
It's not really worth it, moral issues aside, we don't have the forces to really raid a heavily defended planet on such high guard. Like you say, let's just check in with the webway gate, get some answers, then boogie on out of here.
Asheram
Not quite altogether
- Location
- Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground
Oh, it's 100% in the Drukhari's interest to gloat, and there's a good chance that the Corsair sold us out anyhow. He couldn't pillage us due to the differences in ship size and the fact that he made a deal with us, so what better than to sell the information to someone else for a fraction of the spoils?
This is a hive, we definitely do, just orbital bombard the spire a bit and you cut the brain out of the place, we are also absurdly good at hacking and they have no ad mech
Sure there's a good chance, but there isn't any better of a chance due to the Drukari saying so, indeed it anything there's a worse one because we know the Drukari would have an active interest in lying if the corsair is innocent, we just saw them frame someone, us.
- Location
- Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Not even our first exploration mission and I'm already tired of Imperials, can we just go back to Denva? There's no reason to stay here any longer, Wayfarer's done and dusted and frankly there's better things we can do other than play nice with people who will hate us out of the gate.
We've got our fill, leave them to rot.
We've got our fill, leave them to rot.
We still need at a minimum better Gellar Drives and Void Abacus manufacturing before we can go back.
Also if someone does want to chase down those Drukari we would have to talk to the Corsairs, they are the only people who could even begin to give us answers but... it's not like they are going to give us an in to use the Webway.
I think our best bet is to do something like
- Research x2
- Find the Webway
- Eldar Diplomacy (If Webway action fails use this action to warp away)
- Location
- Australia
Thanks for the chapter! Also, sorry to be a bother, but I think this is meant to be "Ecclesiarchy" instead of "Ccclisarchy".