Space recoils around the Cortez as you examine the status of your agent. The ship scans the system, finding only the Valen activity as construction of the local hypergate continues. The ship begins to accelerate into the system through the thick debris fields as a leisurely pace. Commander Grey clicks the intercom at the side of her chair.
"Overwrite the safeties and begin pressurizing cargo bays twelve and thirteen." She says. There is an abrupt response from Calhoun.
"You do remember those are the ones with the breaches, commander?"
"Yes, exactly. I want the damage to this ship to look as severe as possible. Get us venting atmosphere as we approach the planet. We're an unscheduled arrival in a very sensitive system. We can claim we require air and water to top off our reserves, and a dock to perform repairs."
"Aye, I can heat up the thermal ducts in the cap too, get the water tanks bleeding a bit."
"Anything to make us look worse than we are." Grey says. "What is the status of that pod?"
"Loaded and ready to drop, although if I may ask.... why?" Calhoun says cautiously.
"You may not ask." Grey replies, and cuts off the channel. She turns to agent Devon sitting strapped in a seat by a terminal on the far way. "You may observe from here, but we will be leaving the dirty work to the ground team. Once we get close we can orbit around and perform a long range drop and let Mauser drift in from orbit while we coast through high orbit to the docks and launch a shuttle from the far side of the planet. We should easily be able to pose as a ship losing power, have Mauser land planetside to do his job while Calhoun keeps a holding pattern in the shuttle."
Welcome back to Hive Queen Quest!
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>>47985936
"A foolproof plan captain. You are oh so very cunning. I'm sure you will easily outsmart our foes."
>>47985936
PREPARE THE FLY!
>>47985936
Oh boy, it's almost time for the dropsuitbowl. Get hype!
>>47985936
Which begs the question, how was she supposed to approach Tannhauser without arousing attention in the first place?
>>47985936
"So what exactly is this extra cargo you're dropping in?" Devon asks. Grey looks back at the navigation display briefly.
"Insurance. The Council offered discretionary privileges, and if Lyle is out in the empty desert it is quit likely we will be able to engage him openly without risk of detection or collateral damage. If that's the case, I would recommend we pull out all of the assets we have available. We will continue scanning for any hint at his location on the surface as we approach, but if he's not within sensor range of the valen settlement we should deploy everything we have."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I would think you would know the answer." Grey says. "I was given access to Lyle's files just as you were. Lyle has experience fighting the best the Union has to offer, but last time he fought one on one and nearly died. This time, Mauser will be there for backup."
"You need council approval to do that." Devon says. Grey smirks as she clicks through various system diagnostics.
"I already have it. The only council members to vote no did so conditionally. Besides, we're broadcasting everything we're seeing directly to BFIHQ, relayed directly to the secretaries' terminals. If any of them wish to rescind their clearance they are free to do so at any point." She looks back at Devon from her console. "We won't be in orbit for several hours. Please, feel free to get some rest. I'll be sure to alert you if anything happens." She says, and Devon begrudgingly makes his way out of the bridge, having nothing to do there but sit quietly anyways, at least until they deployed.
Cont.
>>47985991
There are five flies on the Cortez. They should be hatched about now...
Is Decker keeping Coco contained?
Time for Michael to have tech support issues.
>>47985998
Would be a shame if that Q-COM broadcast was interrupted by someone.
>>47985998
I uh, I think they brought some fully modded soldiers.
Shit
>>47985993
Why doesn't Lyle just demand trial by combat for his crimes?
>>47985998
Oh shit, they have a Smith
>>47986030
Lyle and crew have hive tech, they're fine.
>>47986038
Fuck, did we send warriors with them?
>>47985998
>>39862942
Devon didn't ask what his boss's condition for deploying the Smith was?
I hope we packed the Angel full of hovering holo-cameras to capture this scandalous footage blackmail when the Terminator loses his skin.
>>47986019
And rob Lyle of his fair and visceral fight that he was so excited about? You are a terrible mother.
>>47986060
Terminator VS the Manbug
That'll get some good ratings
>>47986075
I'm all for keeping the smiths out though, fucking hell
>>47986075
I never said anything about Mauser.
Even if he did get adopted, which he won't, he'll drop too soon from now--he would still have to play his part.
>>47986053
If we send backup image hope we send the wasp with the broken jaw you know because it gutted Lyle just to troll him
>>47985998
A smith is being deployed on a Valen-Union joint controlled world, oh joy. This is going to be a fuckup of unbelievable proportions diplomatically.
Let's also put a few (dozen) cloaked ships in orbit as our own form of "insurance"
>>47986060
That would be absolutely sure to fuck up Killinger's plans, and completely wreck any ties between the Union and the Valen. Let's do it!
>>47986094
Fool. Topple Killinger, and an even crazier and more dangerous man just takes his place in Union politics.
What we need is enough blackmail to threaten to topple Killinger, and thereby get him into our debt and under our claw, scummy Valen-style.
Maybe we can make him desperate enough to force him to make a deal in person and get treacherously implanted, but that's a pipe dream.
>>47986113
>What we need is enough blackmail to threaten to topple Killinger, and thereby get him into our debt and under our claw, scummy Valen-style.
When in doubt, do as the space jews do.
We are no longer space goyim
>>47986113
>Implying we haven't been dreaming about crashing and burning Killinger's career since he was introduced as a character.
>>47986113
I agree... partially.
We already have info to blackmail Killinger (kidnapping hive diplomatic representatives, attempting to kill his chief political rival to start a war, etc). What we lack is proof that will be satisfying to those other than us, especially considering Killinger's influence in the media.
Long term, he is too untrustworthy to live. He has insulted us, attempted to enslave us, and made an enemy of the hive. We may be able to find use for him as he is driven to desperation, but Killinger must die. That being said, he could be a very useful tool indeed if he is properly controlled under circumstances of our choosing...
>>47986138
Crushing him underfoot and enslaving his spine to the hive and turning him into our puppet is far sweeter a victory.
Destroy him, and a worse evil takes his place. You can trust a selfish, corrupt man to be selfish, the corrupt can be bargained with, by definition. But a selfless man? A faithful believer? You can't trust them to do anything sane.
Geez. Every time I think we've got the upper hand and it's easy street, they do something that reminds me 'oh yeah, we have to sweat for this.'
We need to do something about their 'insurance'. Preferably with our own 'insurance' that doesn't reveal who we are on a bad note.
>>47985998
The twins rush back and forth from the ship to the large construction project set up along the sand dunes nearby, their environment suits protecting them from the heat that would likely kill them in a matter of hours. They drag a large conduit along the sand as the finishing piece, hoisting it up in the air as they stand one atop the other to reach the slot it goes in. Lyle is right behind them, a smile on his face as he drags a flimsy looking lawn chair with one hand and holds a glass of... something in the other. It smells like a mixture of motor oil and alcohol, and bubbles softly as a wafting smoke pours over the rim of the glass. A home-made substance made from a mix of common mechanical chemicals combined in a sink, toilet, or any other convenient water source known only on Helviti as Tartarus Whisky, and everywhere else as toxic waste.
He unfolds the chair with a quick flick of his forearm and plants it in the sand, taking a seat calmly near the large cylindrical device. Jackob and Dillon walk out in their suits as Lyle calls his own to stand close enough to give him shade.
"Kinda reminds me of home." Lyle says as he looks at the horizon.
"This place is a shithole." Jackob says.
"Yea, that's why." Lyle replies. He takes a swig of his drink and a deep panic runs through your parasite as it fights against the potent toxins.
"So what is this thing, anyways?" Jackob asks.
"Looks like a rocket launcher. Is this your brilliant trap? I thought you wanted to fight that drop trooper." Dillon asks. Lyle laughs.
"Na mate, this thing's too old and too clumsy to take down a pod. We're here to make a scene, so I thought I'd get some fireworks ready."
"This isn't what I think it is..." Dillon says with a sudden realization. "My god, how old is this thing?"
cont.
>>47986160
Agreed. Last time it took multiple point blank plasma blasts from a Colossus before we killed a smith. We need to be ready to provide at least equivalent firepower in support of Lyle and Co.
>>47986184
Ugh, don't remind me. Okay, people, we need a main plan, a plan B, and a PANIC button plan. any ideas?
>>47986184
We get caught up in our superiority complexes quite a bit, we tend to forget that humans play fucking dirty and use full mods when shit hits the fan.
>>47986150
Too untrustworthy to live, but too useful to die.
We'll never have another politician as uniquely exploitable as he is. It's our only real opportunity.
>>47986175
>He takes a swig of his drink and a deep panic runs through your parasite as it fights against the potent toxins.
>>47986204
If there's anything that'd put us on the bad end of a typical alien invasion storyline, it's that nasty habit of ours.
>>47986175
You know what would make this better?
If we opened communications with the union while this was broadcasting, or maybe after.
Oh if we're doing stealth hives now.
Don't forget we need to do some [Covert Infiltration] of some planet's PDF. We want at least some glimpses into the recruiting process of Parliamentary security forces that guard the representatives.
...Okay, no matter how this ends, we NEED to introduce ourselves to the Union YESTERDAY.
>>47986175
Are they charging up the weapons on the derelict Skyl ship we found earlier in the quest?
You know, I hope we find more living dead Skyl on this world or others at some point, if only so we can see the look on their face when we show them that their race has been revived and is now completely free from the taint of the Crystals.
>>47986232
Agreed, but do it in a way to fuck with them>>47986222
>>47986236
I think the ship blew up, thought there might be a crater left which we could use.
>>47986236
That ship consumed itself.
And I can't believe we didn't capture them and the crystal for study to find out how to kill them without destroying the crystal, and how it was keeping them alive despite their best efforts.
>>47986175
Ohhh what is it?
>>47986175
"Colony war era surplus." Lyle says. "Earth Confederacy mobile planetary defence launcher. It came with the original munition too. One-fifty kilos of badass strapped to an anti-matter rocket. Guidance is shit cuz of all the shielding it needs, the rocket's all muscle, one of the least efficient thrusters ever made, and just standing near the launch can fry ya like an egg." He says.
"Jesus fuck, man, so why are you setting up this antique death trap next to us?" Dillon shouts.
"Launches by rail. Sends the missile a good six, seven kilometers away before the thrusters fire." Lyle replies. Dillon looks over the launcher dumbstruck.
"You've been carrying around a century old nuclear warhead, strapped to an anti-matter goddamn thruster, and you're going to shoot it out of a fucking rail cannon? My god, you're fucking insane!"
The local star begins to turn a slight shade of purple, and wobbles slightly like spinning pizza dough as Lyle takes another long drink of the sludge he claims is a beverage. "Yea." He says. There is a loud beep as the twins get the launcher operational and the machine begins tracking the Cortez as it slowly approaches the upper atmosphere of the planet. Lyle pulls out a set of welding goggles and puts them on, grinning like a child as the launcher begins slowly turning to track its target.
A moment later there is a loud bang, and a telephone pole sized chunk of metal flies from the launcher like a blurred streak only visible to the finely tuned sensors of your suits and the ship itself. Dillon dives behind a dune as the missile quickly becomes a small dot on the horizon.
Cont.
>>47986232
Yeah, with OQ knocking at their back door as soon as this fight concludes (and has it's 20min of fame on air) we can introduce ourselves. We'll have to take some acknowledgement for the fight, however. If we play it right we can spin the aftermath very effectively. Otherwise, news of our arrival could very well completely overshadow and make irrelevant anything that happens in upcoming battle. We need this dirt to stick to Killinger.
>>47986261
Can't stop laughing
>>47986261
>You've been carrying around a century old nuclear warhead, strapped to an anti-matter goddamn thruster, and you're going to shoot it out of a fucking rail cannon?
Yup, that's Lyle
>>47986261
That better not destroy the cortez in one shot.
>>47986261
Lyle you glorious fucking lunatic!
>>47986261
Dillon, jumping isn't going to save you if it were dangerous.
Let alone jumping behind SAND.
The toughest substance known to man, surely.
>>47986261
>...and welcome to JACKASS!
>>47986288
The cortez does not have stealth tech, i am retarded.
>>47986261
Holo-vid recorders where? Twins please record this. For posterity. Lyle will want these memories preserved for all time.
>>47986261
We should have seen this coming.
>>47986319
We literally did, we are inside Lyle's head.
Why would we ever want to stop it?
>>47986261
I can just imagine the queen laughing then saying oh by the way they brought a smith
>>47986261
Say, have we warned Lyle about the smith yet? Given his past history, he may have his own personal insurance policy for such a repeat occurrence...
>>47986336
Warn lyle bout that smith backup.
THESEUS GET THE CAMERAS!
IT"S SHOWTIME!
We are recording this and broadcasting it, right?
>>47986332
>>47986336
Yeah...yeah we should do this soon.
>>47986346
>>47986348
>soon.
>not now.
>>47986346
LYLE's HIVEVENTURES
rated R, starts Friday
I'd watch it.
>>47986201
PANIC button is we nuke the site from orbit and/or drop a nano-disassembler warhead or any of our other superweapons on the site. Union takes the blame for the fallout, and we reconstruct Lyle and his mates back at the hive with all memories intact. Except for Dillon. Poor guy didn't get a parasite, so any body we recreate won't have his full psychological profile. Damn shame.
>>47986305
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlxmKsTvcLg
>>47986369
IN TODAY'S EPISODE OF LYLE'S HIVEVENTURES!
LYLE VS THE CRYSTAL GOD!
LYLE, PEST EXTERMINATOR!(OQ)
LYLE, ANNIHILATOR OF SCAVS!
>>47986261
A new sun appears in the sky, casting harsh shadows along the dunes as the rocket's matter-antimatter reaction suddenly and completely annihilates itself in a controlled reaction like a miniature big band directed out the back of the ancient anti-orbital missile. A shockwave hits the ground, obliterating a formation of dunes several kilometers away and quickly approaching the launcher. The wall of whipping wind and sand impacts, only slightly dimming the artificial star of antimatter in the sky above as it slowly fades back to normal. The sound of the missile shattering the sound barrier as it climbs into orbit is drowned out by the screams of the universe as the rocket obliterates its fuel reserve with as much totality as is physically possible.
"Sensor Spike!" Mordey shouts from his terminal as Devon tries to make his way back to the bridge at the behest of Commander Grey. The ship lurches hard to the side in response. "I'm picking up hard radiation across the spectrum, it's loaded with antimatter, commander!"
"Zero in on that location and launch the pods!" Grey shouts. "Calhoun! Get the shuttle out before that missile gets in range, I want you clear of the blast zone before we open up with PD!"
cont.
>>47986428
>like a miniature big band
And I thought I was the only one who played Captain Blood!
>>47986428
"What in the hell is going on?" Devon says. Grey snaps back to him.
"Get into a seat, right now, and get ready for evasive maneuvers. We have an incoming missile." The ship lurches again as the shuttle launches and two drop pods free themselves from the hull of the ship. The Cortez then swings hard to the side, sending Devon's face whipping into a wall and cracking something in his nose.
"Readings are... unusual. This thing's unstable."
"Just like the man who fired it at us." Grey mumbles. "Lead it away from the pods and the shuttle, and then open up on it. Agent Devon, I'd recommend you man a PD console." Devon turns around and shimmies his way into a seat, his hand cupping his nose as blood flings from it in the zero gravity with each course adjustment.
"What were you saying about keeping things nice and quiet?" Devon asks.
"Not now! You can comment on the attention we get once we're not about to die." Grey snaps back. "Mordey, bring us about and keep us drifting, I want the cap taking the brunt of the radiation." The ship jerks sharply again, pulling Devon almost out of his seat as the ship flips over to point at the incoming missile.
"It's still accelerating. Commander if we keep moving at at least one-fifty gravities we can pull around it."
"And it will catch us in the blast. This is a short range anti-orbit missile. Colony war model if my guess is right. The warhead is almost just a delivery system. Any fuel it has left will be sent flying after us, that's a high orbit anti-matter dispersal. Shields or no, I doubt this ship could survive that." Grey says as she clicks through several consoles at her seat. Weapons come online and the sensors target the incoming missile.
cont.
We really should take over desmond and a-295 before the humans set bases there.
Tannhauser as well, but make it hidden and wait till the Valen have a fully functional gateway there and build up there so that when we take it over it's ours, or at least within our control.
>>47986565
Man how do we not have more antimatter tech if we had a sample aboard the Angel all along?
Something a little smaller scale than the Immolator might be nice.
>>47986565
I really like to think that we're sending these visions from Devon to Lyle on the planet, who's just giggling like retard like the rest of us as he watches the mayhem his POS missile is causing.
>>47986582
and expand coreward as well, before the Scanvengers take everything.
>>47986565
"Fire at will!" She says, and the auxiliary turrets of the Cortez shake the ship's hull until Devon is sure it's about to break apart. A buzz of the comm distracts him for a moment as Jacquees shouts over the sound of rotary cannons buzzing the hull's structure.
"Commander, we have guns running hot! The power system's still damaged, it can't keep us going like this for long."
"We won't be running for long." She replies. "One way, or the other."
A vibrant star erupts into existence in the sky, dimming Aral's natural stars for a short moment as the planet is bathed in hard radiation.
"Was it a hit?" Jackob asks. Lyle shrugs.
"Don't much care. Didn't need to hit 'em, just make a mess." He says. A moment later there is a buzz of static as Coil's synthetic voice comes through the raido.
"There are multiple incoming objects." He says. Lyle lifts his welding goggles and looks up as the missile's glow fades, squinting as if trying to see the objects in question.
"How many?"
"At least three."
"Debris?" Jackob asks. Dillon shakes his head.
"Not this quickly, no way. Must have been launched from the ship.
"Detecting one shuttle, and two drop pods breaking low atmosphere." Coil says.
"Wasn't there supposed to be one drop trooper?" Dillon asks. Jackob seals his suit and stretches his arms.
"Well, now it's more of a fair fight, ain't it?"
>Have them intercept where the pods land
>Wait for them to arrive and set an ambush
>Other (write in)
>>47986629
>>Other (write in)
Have Lyle take point, he's pretty good at this whole 'murder' thing
>>47986629
>Wait for them to arrive and set an ambush
>>47986629
>>Wait for them to arrive and set an ambush
If at all possible nearby some Valen structures to cause maximum collateral damage to them. I want to make this really hurt Valen-Union diplomatic ties.
>>47986629
>Other (tell them about the smith)
>>47986645
Near a settlement?
Sure, it'll put them more in the Valen's debt... but some Valen might start interfering with the battle on either side and put somebody into their debt that way, with the gift of supporting fire.
>>47986629
>Wait for them to arrive and set an ambush
>>47986645
>>47986659
No, leave the Valen out of this. I'd much rather they build up the gateway infrastructure for us, since we'll be taking it, of course.
>>47986629
>>Wait for them to arrive and set an ambush
>>47986629
>>Wait for them to arrive and set an ambush
>>47986629
>A vibrant star erupts into existence in the sky, dimming Aral's natural stars for a short moment as the planet is bathed in hard radiation.
Ah, no perspective from the Cortez!
Damn your dramatic scene transitions.
Do you roll for the impact this is having on the ship?
Might it knock out the A-class relay with radiation? Are they vulnerable to that?
>>47986629
>>Wait for them to arrive and set an ambush
>>47986677
The gateway is in orbit. I'm talking about mining infrastructure or habitation, like that artificial lake we saw them building when we first scoped our Aral.
>>47986629
But how did our small egglayer and its children in MIchael's room handle the G-forces?
>>47986702
Could set up a secret base on the planet and then make it official when we open up diplomatic relations with the Valen.
>>47986629
"Coil! Take her up and out, keep my baby out of the fight unless we need her." Lyle shouts as he stumbles out of the half-sunken lawn chair and hauls himself into his suit. It quickly envelops him as he tosses the goggles and his empty glass into the sand. The Hel's Angel dicks up sand as the Huey and dewey leap up the loading ramp and the ship descends into the air, its hull shimmering until it becomes a spectral ghost, its figure betrayed by the heat and the swirling sand making it seem like a thick silhouette of heat rays and dust floating into the sky.
You send the knowledge of what you have seen from the Cortez, and Lyle tenses.
"They got more than just a drop trooper coming." He says. "Get up on that rock formation, we can set up a good position there for an ambush." He points to the small rocky formation behind them and with a mighty buzzing of his suits wings he is sent into the air, landing firmly on the top of the formation. The other two enter a sprint, hurling themselves through the air with speed far beyond the potential of any human, augments or not.
Some time later, there are two loud booms above, and two lines of contrails streak down from the sky, their braking thrusters firing as they come down nearby. A moment later, one explodes, segments flying in all directions.
"You see that?" Jackob says. Lyle nods and plants his feet in the rock.
"Mid-air drop. They can be tricky to pull off. You pull the pins on the pod before you land and use the jump jets to go in hot." He says, and the rocket pods along his shoulders unfold as the weapons in his arms prime to fire.
>Fire missiles and force him out of the sky
>Target the second drop pod before it deploys
>Focus fire on Mauser as he approaches from above
>Other
>>47986774
I would wholeheartedly agree to such a plan. But for now, one of the major objectives of this fiasco is to get the Valen as pissed off at the Union as possible. What better way to do that than to have Mauser or one of their deranged full mods cause untold amounts of property damage to their holdings in half assed attempt to wrangle a wanted fugitive? This is one of the reasons we decided to have this showdown on this particular planet, remember.
>>47986800
>The Hel's Angel dicks up sand
l-lewd...
>>47986800
>Target the second drop pod before it deploys
The less support the Smith has the better.
>>47986800
>>Fire missiles and force him out of the sky
This sounds safer than letting him strafe our boys and I want the full mod intact so we can dissect it, so let's do this.
>>47986800
>let Lyle do what he thinks is best
He IS the professional.
>>47986800
>Fire missiles and force him out of the sky
>>47986800
>>Fire missiles and force him out of the sky
The smith...blowing it up now, would lose out the fun footage of it we could get up close.
>>47986800
>let Lyle do what he thinks is best
>>47986800
>>Fire missiles and force him out of the sky
>>47986800
>Fire missiles and force him out of the sky
>>47986848
Good point
>>47986803
I actually agree, but it could backfire, and we are making enough of ruckus as it is, so I'd wait to see how this goes first.
>>47986800
>Fire missiles and force him out of the sky
Please roll 1d100, best of 3.
It's already 4:30 for me and I have work in the morning, so I think I will need to end it on a cliffhanger for now. Hopefully I should be able to get a short 55.3 thread set up this week before the next proper thread, otherwise we will resume right here next week.
I'll try to get one up on friday if I can.
This is a friendly reminder before it gets too late:
1. We need stealth colonies in a bunch of places.
2. We need our patrol corvettes with G-sensors actively hunting out the nigger queen.
3. We need to expand our colonies, particularly at Farcast and Wonder (I believe it's wonder, the Builder's big space city)
4. Scout new planets with pods.
Rolled 12 (1d100)
>>47986883
Go!
Rolled 24 (1d100)
>>47986883
For Mother!
Rolled 93 (1d100)
>>47986883
FOR MOTHER
>>47986883
Oh, of we end before we handle crunch... every time
Rolled 84 (1d100)
>>47986883
For Mother!
>>47986893
You see folks, the trick is to yell it out with all your might.
>>47986883
So no chance to vote on where to queue up sending more pods, or which planets to start a stealth hive?
All time sensitive, but the most time sensitive of all is sending out patrol corvettes.
>>47986889
Don't forget the raiding fleet.
>>47986883
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but what's the cost of Photon Blade for drone design?
>>47986896
This is how we ended up often doing the crunch at the end of the first thread.
I told y'all.
>>47986910
Anon.
Do you know the costs of ANY of our claw-held weapons?
Aren't they all the same?
A photon blade is redundant anyway if you already have a big bulky claw that cuts even better than it can.
>>47986883
Curse your inevitable cliffhangers QD! Ah well, as long as we're wrapping up here I'll repost the fast assault fleet for discussion before I post it on the wiki. Feedback is welcome.
====Light Gunship====
Hull: Gunship 60N 250M
Size: 30 Meters
Fixed (x1): LPB 20M
Auxiliary (x2): Autocannon 20M
Utility: Defensive Shields 15N 45M
Total Cost: 75N 335M
Upkeep: 37N
====Fast Assault Corvette====
Hull: Corvette 400N 800M
Size: 100 Meters
Module Limit: 2
Spinal Mounts (x1): Linear Particle Beam 100M
Turret (x2): Cyclotron 50M
Fixed (x2): Railgun 40M
Auxiliary (x8): Plasma Lance 80M
Armor: Standard
Power: Fusion Core 130N 650M
Utility: Multi-layered shielding 100N 300M
Utility: Rapid Damage Control 15N 20M
Total Cost: 595N 1890M
Upkeep: 297N
====Fast Assault Frigate====
Hull: Frigate 800N 1600M
Size: 150 Meters
Module Limit: 3
Spinal Mounts (x1): Linear Particle Beam 150M
Turret (x6): Cyclotron 150M
Fixed (x8): Railguns 160M
Auxiliary (x4): Autocannons 40M
Armor: Standard
Power: Fusion Core 190N 950M
Utility: Multi-layered shielding 150N 450M
Utility: Rapid Damage Control 22N 30M
Total Cost: 1162N 3530M
Upkeep: 581N
====Fast Assault Cruiser====
Hull: Cruiser 1200N 2000M
Size: 200 Meters
Module Limit: 4
Spinal Mounts (x2): Railgun 400M
Turret (x6): Linear Particle Beam 150M
Fixed (x10): Cyclotron 200M
Armor: Standard
Power: Fusion Core 180N 900M
Utility: Multi-layered shielding 200N 600M
Utility: Rapid Damage Control 30N 40M
Module: Swarm Hangar (x2) 1200N 600M
Module: Docking Bay 100N 50M
Module: Boarding Pod launcher 50N 100M
Total Cost: 2960N 5040M
Upkeep: 1480N
>>47986923
====Fast Assault Battlecruiser====
Hull: Battlecruiser 2000N 2500M
Size: 300 Meters
Module Limit: 6
Spinal Mounts (x4): Railgun 1200M
Turrets (x8): Cyclotron 200M
Fixed (x16): Linear Particle Beams 320M
Auxiliary (x10): Auto Cannon (exp) 100M
Armor: Standard
Power: Fusion Core: 380N 1900M
Utility: Multi-layered shielding 300N 900M
Utility: Rapid Damage Control 45N 60M
Module: Swarm Hangar 600N 300M
Module: Docking bay (x2) 200N 100M
Module: Boarding pod launcher 50N 100M
Module: Drop pod launcher 50N 100M
Total Cost: 3625N 7780M
Upkeep: 1812N
====Fast Battlecarrier====
Hull: Battlecruiser 2000N 2500M
Size: 300 Meters
Module Limit: 6
Spinal Mounts: Railgun (x3) 900M
Turrets: Blaster (x8) 200M
Fixed: LPB (x16) 320M
Auxiliary: Autocannon (explosive) (x10) 160M
Utility: Multi-layer shields 150N 450M
Utility: Rapid damage control 45N 60M
Utility: Spinal Hanger 10800N 5400M (30 shuttles 90 fighters)
Utility: Microfactory 100N 300M
Module: Swarm hangar (x2) 1200N 600M
Module: Drop Pod Launcher (x2) 100N 200M
Module: Drop Pod Launcher (x2) 100N 200M
Total Cost: 13295N 10690M
====Fast Assault Fleet====
100 Fast Assault Covettes: 59500N 189000M
50 Fast Assault Frigates: 58100N 176500M
30 Fast Assault Crusiers (30 shuttles 90 fighters): 88800N 151200M
10 Fast Assault Battlecruisers (20 shuttles 60 fighters): 36250N 77800M
5 Fast Carriers (150 shuttles 450 fighters): 66475N 53450M
600 fighters 200 gunships
200 shielded fighters: 11000N 21000M
200 shielded LPB fighters: 11000N 21000M
50 Escort Boats: 5250N 5250M
50 Stealth Plasma boats: 3500N 8250M
50 Ambush fighters: 2750N 5250M
100 light fleet gunships: 7500N 33500M
20 heavy fleet gunships: 5400N 9700M
20 fireships: 4500N 6700M
20 moth insertion craft: 1300N 3900M
10 stealth bombers: 2450N 5900M
10 stealth torpedo boats: 2700N 6150M
Total Cost: 366,475N 774,550M
>>47986923
Gunships should have only autocannons.
>>47986918
There isn't a blade version to graft onto drones? I thought there was. In any case, it's missing from the Hive Technology pastebin.
>>47986929
There's no point in reposting. You can just link your original posts.
>>47986883
I don't think you're around to answer right now, but how have we not got [RESEARCH UNLOCKED] from obtaining that holo-printer on Gemini?
>>47986932
Why so? I like to think their ability to soften up armor would stack well with armor piercing rounds of the autocannons.
Might as well post my own gimmicky ship design.
Armor-break Support Frigate
Hull: Frigate 800N 1600M
Capacity: 150/15
Size: 150 meters
Module Limit: 3
Spinal Mount: Railgun Alt. Ammo (Acid) 150M
Turret (x6): Linear Particle Beam 150M
Fixed (x8): Blaster 160M
Auxiliary (x4): Auto Cannon Alt. Ammo (Acid) 40M
Armor: Combat 225N 900M
Power: Fusion Core 190N 950M
Utility: Defensive Shield 75N 225M
Utility Rapid Damage Control 15N 20M
Module: Swarm Launcher 400N 200M
Module: Bulkhead (x2) 1000M
Cost: 1705N 5395M
Upkeep: 857N
A military vessel designed to support other warships by weakening and striping off enemy armour. Heavy Fleet version may use Heavy armor, Fusion Core, Multi-layer shields. etc.
But yeah, it's basically made help take out tanky ships.
>>47986910
If I don't answer, it's probably because I'm terrible and didn't notice you, so yea, don't worry about asking again.
I honestly didn't really give it a cost, just like grenades, small arms, and other minor equipment used by non-hive agents, the photon blade is essentially just a tool that can be used by clones or agents. Your drones have access to the larger and more damaging upgraded thermal enhanced vibroblades, and their biology negates the disadvantages of carrying around what is otherwise a heavy and bulky melee weapon, while, conversely, the major advantages of the photon blade is that it is lightweight and easy to carry and conceal. Issues only present with non-hive clones and agents, but overall deals slightly less damage.
Because of that I didn't really stat them out with the intention of them being equipped to drones, but if you'd like I'd be more than happy to give them a cost and a drone adaptation.
>>47986967
....I wanna build shit QD
>>47986967
The real question is if we can equip it on SMALL drones.
>>47986883
Thank you for running QD, this quest is always a blast.
>>47986957
Might I recommend using multi-layered shields instead of standard shields? If you're going to invest the resources needed to make combat armor and a fusion core, you might as well.
>>47986967
Well okay then. That explains that.
You don't have to stat it. The ambassador drone will simply hide it on their person.
>>47986967
Did you explore the whole Crusader system already?
Is there not much content? I haven't got it yet.
>>47986967
>didn't really give it a cost
HA HA TIME TO LOAD A DRONE WITH PHOTON BLADES
ALL THE PHOTON BLADES
Like, its shell is made of photon blades, millions of teeny tiny photon blades
It would just barrel through some enemy like a hyper-energized cheese grater
And, get this
We MINIATURIZE them
So we make a swarm of them
And just swiss cheese everything that looks at us funny
>>47986947
they could be salvaged for tech and their size prevents self destruction capabilities, although you could replace the autocannons with plasma lancers and have them burn any dead gunships while in battle.
>>47986957
Can you replace Auto cannons with plasma lance?
>>47986986
That would be an issue of power efficiency.
I will say yes, however the damage is reduced as it's scaled down to fit. It would still be potentially deadly, but it would not be as effective at cutting through armored targets, and would require much more time to cut through material the larger version would chop through handedly.
Ok so currently queued pods are merely
>Mufrid
>Cygni
>Tiberion
So to that we add, send pods back to Jewel and First Landing on a permanent basis, and also start scouting out
Graythrone
The Twins
Distance
Turmoil
The Sisterworlds
Haven
The Commons
Tempest
Strife
Unknown Yellow Star
Unknown Red Dwarf
>Barnard
>Hydra
>Wolf
>Lalande
>Procyon
>Chandra
>Lulal
Helik Thar
Kalidesh
>>47987024
No, because the whole gimmick here is tearing off and weakening armour. Critical systems and crew can be left to other ships whose goal will be taking down the big tank while being supported by this ship.
>>47987044
That's great, now we just need to Build stuff, make raiding fleets , and stealth colonies.
>>47987012
Good point, I'll swap the LPB out. I figure acid rounds would help replace that anti armor capability, sound good to you?
>>47987052
That and station Patrol corvettes on the outskirts of all systems in the Expanse, all stars in Unity territory, the four stars in the Scavengers area, Virgo, Chandra, Lula, Procyon, Hydra, Wolf, Lalande, Toliman, Proxima, Sol, Barnard, Draco, Hel, Aquila, Godard.
>>47987027
So, even an Advanced Relay, if it activated psionic cloaking, would be unable to speak to all the other advanced relays?
While we're on the topic of design would like to offer some upgrades for our warrior drones since a kamikaze force is pretty bad for a front line I would like to remove acid glands from all but our special operation forces and add a redundant brain along the spine so drones won't die out right if thier heads get blowin off.
Next as a replacement to the acid glands I suggest making a Lazarus gland a sack full of nutrients and medical gel when a Drone dies the sack ruptures and the medical gel consumes the nutrients to rapidly fix critically damaged organs and systems while kick starting the drones metabolism bering it back to life the drones is then able to cannibalize broken limbs, carapace, and other forms of nutrition and metal to heal non-vital areas before the healing effects were off
>>47987044
I am saving this list so we can bother QD about them later. Maybe he could pre-write the details of all these systems, so we can save time when we get to them?
If we ever need to make a high profile heist, here's a corvette who's gimmick is snatch-and-grab.
Hull: Corvette 400N 800M
Capacity: 200/20
Size: 100 meters
Module Limit: 2
Spinal Mount: Consumption Beam
Turret (x2): Plasma Lance 50M
Fixed (x2): Auto Cannon 40M
Auxiliary (x8): Linear Particle Beam 80M
Armor: Ballistic 500N 250M
Power: Fusion Core 130N 650M
Utility: Cloaking Field 50N 150M
Module: Swarm Launcher 400N 200M
Module: Harpoon Launcher 10N 200M
Cost: 1490N 2420M
Upkeep: 745N
A light ship designed for hit and run strikes with the goal of securing a small target and escaping. May be supported by other types of ships. Can also be used for grabbing a ground target. Decided to go with Ballistic armour instead of combat because I think it would help the ship more with escaping. Uses high RoF weapons because it’s goal isn’t the destroy the enemy but to distract them long enough.
>>47987072
But plasma lances offer very high damage, and if you allow >>47986957 into your fleet the need for anti armor on gunships isn't needed anymore.
>>47987085
Correct. Psionic cloaking is total radio silence. It cannot be seen, but cannot communicate mentally in any way.
>>47987088
I mean honestly, there is no in-universe reason we would not simply send a pod to every known named star on the map.
But for meta reasons we sorta cripple ourselves to match the snail's pace of writing so much.
>>47987121
Think we could try and convince QD to write up a description for each system during the week?
>>47987121
This would be the 20 remaining unscouted locations after that previous list.
Patherfound
1-3
Teegarden
Groombridge
Andromeda
Aquarius
Lanstrom
Lionon
Boros
Koloban
Lorens
Hypron
Krasnodar
Balkilare
Nekilem
Tuluu
Alikesh Alin Krorkra
Nehiko Ta'har
Nex
Nowhere
Oh, and we'd still be missing an active pod at Cluster, but as soon as we blink in there, the OQ will notice, since there isn't any star's radiation to hide with.
>>47987155
We've...uh...convinced him to do that. Many times before.
We should see about equipping Theseus and Heretics' ships with drones that are, essentially, just Psionic Cloaks.
So they can help us out when we fight OQ.
>>47987107
So, if a drone activates psionic cloaking, while a smaller drone is clinging on top of it, or implanted inside of it...
Would that smaller drone also be cut off?
Is it a small area of effect that can silence even that which isn't voluntarily silenced?
>>47987182
Genius, we can have them help with raiding.
>>47987182
It's not clear how large an area of effect each individual relay can have yet.
The Phantoms, collectively, have blotted out a large area of the planet in which the Barren one is hiding, but there are a lot of them.
Actually, we could let our own ships use psionic cloaking, we just would have to let them do their own thing independently, while communicating with us manually over a quantum relay.
Assuming a ship doesn't need telepathy to coordinate itself, being composed of drones like a man-o-war,, since they can have direct nerve-to-nerve connection.
Oh fuck, you know what psionic cloaking is gonna be best for.
Dropping a pod onto OQ's worlds and SNEAKING UP on her fucking advanced relays. Or at least searching her planets to find where they're hid.
...Wait, but we could actually track the Phantom once we saw one for the first time. So it is possible to break through the illusion.
>>47987228
I think the psionic cloaking would be broken by the time the ships actually start shooting. Because by then the OQ knows that something is up and ships have sensors that don't exclusively rely on psionics.
>>47987191
That's the idea.
>>47987228
Our drones will need (and operate under) thinker brain power when under the effects of the cloak. It's better to let our allies take the cloak, so our forces fight more effectively.
>>47987270
Our senses don't reply on psionics, we have fucking eyes.
But we still couldn't find the area the Barren Queen was in. It just didn't exist in our brains at all, the evidence went in one antenna and out the other.
>>47987284
Ships don't need Thinkers, they have their own sub-Thinkers. Brains. Things.
And if we did want a Thinker to control them, it doesn't need to control them with psionics. It has little noodly appendages to plug into the ship's brain like a USB port instead.
Either way, whether with a Thinker or not, the ship can follow orders to interpret orders from an A-class relay.
>>47987296
Our ships are actually all equipped with quantum thinkers of their own.
>>47987296
Ships brains ARE thinkers. They are just counted as parts of the ships rather than a mass of separate thinkers.
>>47987308
I know, I remember that vote, they're just optional.
And they will still be able to control the ships even if under psionic cloak, if they have a direct biological connection.
>>47987285
>But we still couldn't find the area the Barren Queen was in. It just didn't exist in our brains
That was before we realized that there was something there, at which point we could see it just fine. It would be the same for the OQ when she realizes that something is shooting at her ships and start looking.
Basically the Psionic cloaking is a OP if used to sneak up on things but would it would just hmaper our ships if kept on when a fight has already started.
>>47987072
Shit, didn't read correctly due to sleep deprivation.
Yea sounds good.
>>47987318
They're not literally the same as Thinkers.
That's why they're CALLED "sub-Thinkers."
>QuestDrone !!tu02dh0DlTY Sun 20 Jul 2014 20:36:50 No.33544585
>(450N 950M) + 200N 250M if you wish to add a relay. It is capable of operating on its own for simple missions like a thinker otherwise.
>QuestDrone !!tu02dh0DlTY Mon 07 Sep 2015 23:46:28 No.42368537 ViewReport
>The door shatters and your drones pour in. The chamber is a large circular room with pylons of bone reaching up and out like a web around the chamber. Above you, by the wall facing the thermal vents at the rear of the ship, is a tremendous brain, covered in nerve clusters and webs of capillaries. Sub-thinkers are spread out around it, churning in silence as they frustratingly work to operate a ship that no longer functions. You can hear the murmuring of numbers and trajectories, and lists of damage and resource requests.
>>42369351
>The relay fires a globule and your drones scatter, dodging the ichor as it hits the wall and cascades over the bone pylons. You can hear the ship's mind react to the pain. Its sub brains compartmentalizing the countless damaged systems.
>>47987349
>It is capable of operating on its own for simple missions like a thinker otherwise.
Says right there that its the same as a thinker.
In the Hive, anything brainy that isn't the Queen is a thinker plugged into something.
> their limbs have been adapted into bundles of nervous tissue that can be plugged into the bio-mechanical infrastructure of the hive, ships, specialty drones and other such things.
Hey, wait, this finally makes Thinkers' noodly appendages make sense!
Why would Thinkers ever need to be plugged in when they're psychic and all their equipment is also psychic? I was always wondering why the fuck they were that way.
This is why. Wily Old Queens.
>>47987360
It's LIKE a Thinker in that it's capable of independent missions. That doesn't make the entire ship 'a Thinker', or any individual component one.
If something is like something, that's a comparison. If they were the same, they would use the same term all the time.
It's like saying a quantum-brained warrior is a Thinker. It's not except for the independent action part.
>>47987378
>It's like saying a quantum-brained warrior is a Thinker.
No it isn't. That's just a slightly enhanced drone.
Ships have built-in Thinkers.
Can i get a post of what we agreed to do?
>>47987325
It won't do much harm if we remain in contact with FTLComms. It won't help much, except when we move from where we were.
At lightseconds-distances in a space battle, that might actually be useful. Not sure.
But yes, sneaking up on things is the ideal usage.
Send a pod down to a planet carrying a quantum-brained drone on hover legs with a psionic jammer and a FTLComm to sniff out a relay, for instance.
>>47987325
You know the Phantoms seemed to have to deliberately LOWER their cloak before things became see-able, and we had to be deliberately led to the village by an uncloaked Phantom?
>Something flashes from the forest, and one of your wasps is tackled from its flight over the canopy. It's image is blurry, as if attacked by a shadow, out of focus like looking through a muddy lense.
It was cloaked. Once we were forced to perceive 'something' existed there, we were, like a human would, unable to make out any actual features still.
> looks down on your drone, its face clearing into a crisp image.
Then it lowered its cloak. It let us follow it into an area that was impossible to navigate otherwise without a guide through the haze.
>>47639903
>The creature lets out an echoing call again, its throat puffing up like a balloon. Others call back, until there is a cacophony of screeching calls that drowns out the sounds of the forest, and a moment later the mountains begin to grow clear and crisp.
He had to call out to his brother Phantoms to lower their collective cloak over the village before the effect on our mind ended. Which confirms that earlier, when its features became clear, was not a result of our own piercing his cloak, but him allowing it to fall.
This is a few threads too early since cloaking isn't finished yet, but I wonder, if we did try to send a jammer drone in under psionic cloaking. How would we design it best to find the relay on its own, and defend itself when shit goes down.
Psionic: Moderate 50N
Acoustic: Advanced 2N
Electrical: Advanced 3N 2M
Olfactory: Advanced 2N
Psionic disruptor: Advanced: 250N 150M
Mandible: Siren 15N
Arms: Strength 1N
Legs: Hover 10N 15M
Wings: Gravity Foil 8N 10M
Utility: Explosive glands 2N
Utility: Honey Pot 4N
Utility: Oxygen Recycler 8N
Utility: Quantum brain 4N
Carapace: Reactive 4N 15M
Size: Large 2x
...It has to be large, because ideally it could actually carry the Advanced Relay out of there at a decent speed while jamming it, to nope the fuck out of there before OQ sends Thinker-controlled ships to glass the planet from orbit.
...It could fit the Advanced Relay inside its colossal honey pot maybe?
It might have to wait out for when the hive doors open and close on their own when the native drones have to pass through. Relays have to be fed Nutrients daily, after all.
>>47987568
On the way out it can use the Plasma Assault Cannon just to create its own exit by blasting through to the surface and flying out to rendesvous with the pod. Much faster than on the way in.
>>47987161
Forgot Godard, Hel, and Draco.
>>47987753
Just gonna go ahead and add those to the list.
>>47987831
For the record, the star map has 87 stars and 4 non-star locations (Cluster, Drift, Advance Waystation 30, and Nowhere). We've sent pods to 45 of them.
Sol, for some reason, is still not in the pastebin. Neither is Lanway, even though we've been to Lanway, since it's where Deep Song is.
Adding those two unlisted but charted stars, we've scouted 13/13 of the original Expanse region stars (the Expanse borders have since been shrunk from 13 to 9), 5/6 Unity stars, 7/16 Union stars, 1/1 Toliman, have sent pods to 8/21 Commonwealth systems (but 3 of those are still queued up for being viewed later), charted 2/4 Scavenger-region stars, 2/10 Valen systems, and 7/16 Hive stars (counting both OQ territory and Patherfound, Refuge, Wonder, and Farcast).
>>47988018
Sharp eye anon, I suspect QD is having a bit of difficulty finding the time to update the pastebins. There are a few other things in the other files missing, and I can't remember the last time he updated the research pastebin.
Where abouts is advance waystation 30? I can't recall that one.
>>47987188
What's the point then, if the small drone can be seen
>>47988121
He updated it literally today. Yesterday, now.
Not by actually ADDING to it but he removed things.
>>47987366
Well there's also the question of bandwidth. If you pile enough drones in the same place and have them all communicating rapidly like you would in a combat situation, there's going to be a shitload of tachyons flying around. Maybe command signals are robust enough that they won't be corrupted or blurred into static by all the ambient transmissions, but very rapid very precise information like the targeting data for an entire Hive Ship's worth of PD might be better handled via physical links.
Kind of like how every soldier might get a radio, but the command center will have wired lines as well.
>>47986261
>>47986261
I love you lyle. so much.
>>47988710
Truly, he represents the greatest of his species.
>>47988710
To think people still think we should've killed him.
What fucking morons
>>47989393
Meanwhile, in a parallel universe, people are saying the same thing about Agent Yune, Seiner, and John Smith.
>>47989967
Look, I am sure we would very much like having a literal Terminator but alas, too hard to capture.
HIVE QUEST
Did I make it in time
>>47990766
No, though QD mentioned trying to some point mid-week.
>>47991821
Don't give us false hope
>>47980959
>>civilians are shitty loadmasters
QD knows our pain from experience.
>>47993377
>From experience.
Wait, what experience is that? Had he said anything about that?
>>47994545
IIRC, he works as a quality control tester for aircraft parts. Probably knows a few friends inside the industry.
>>47995092
He's a manager for some sort of aircraft part testing deal iirc.
I imagine he has to deal with a lot of stupid shit.
>>47995181
He's not a manager, he just works in shipping and receiving.
Might not be too late for crunch votes/porpositions though.
>Buildings
-Cap out Leeland system's gas giant with Orbital Hydroponics
-Construct 4 (Max) Capillary Towers on Leeland
>Drones
-Officially accept "Wraith Beetle" design
-Update Ghost Beetles with Grav Foil Wings
>Ships
-Update all Heavy Fleet designs with Multi-Layer Shields
-Add Gravity Plating and Microfactories to Heavy Fleet Battleships
>Fleets
-5 Obsidian Queen Raiding Fleet from scratch
-10 Anti-Scav Sub-Capital Fleets
-10 Planetary Raiding Fleets
-15 Small Heavy Defense Fleets
-10 Stealth CQC Light Fleets
-1 Fast Assault Fleet
>>47995092
>>47995181
>>47995215
Actually, I just do shipping and receiving at a small resale warehouse that specializes in exhaust parts for prop planes and helicopters, although I do see some stupid shit. Years ago, we complained to a supplier of non-fitting parts, and they sent us a hammer. Just last week a pallet of boxes filled with mufflers arrived compacted like an accordion to half its normal height. We don't have any welding tools, and don't want to deal with the paperwork of becoming licensed to "fix" parts, but as far as the law is concerned, "fix" seems to not include "hit it with a mallet until it fits" which is essentially what we need to do for almost half of what we get in stock.
At any rate, I'll just got home and found the thread still up and active, so I figured I'd check in on any crunch votes people wanted to make official or answer any questions anyone had.
>>47997030
Since we're still not at the bump limit, can we move to vote for things like rolls for scouting, colonization and making those raiding fleets?
>>47997030
We going to switch swarmers from auto-cannons to blasters?
>>47996817
>Might not be too late
But it's been over twelve hours--
>>47997030
Whoa you were actually right.
Yes, maybe we can queue up hives at least for the important worlds like Mentan, Talgo, Mercy, Coral, and the Deep Song planet.
Send Patrol Corvettes to the systems mentioned earlier.
And queue up pods to some more stars in case something suddenly happens in them to draw our attention like happened with Toliman?
>>47997030
I guess we don't really vote to lay drones anymore exactly, but we do need to approve at least one design with a moderate relay for our new powers don't we?
Psionic: Moderate 50N
Sight: Thermal Pits 2N
Acoustic: Advanced 2N
Olfactory: Basic
Mandible: Combat 1N
Blade: Combat 1N
Arms: Dexterity 1N
Legs: Sprint 1N
Wings: Gravity Foil 8N 10M
Utility: Quantum brain 4N
Utility: Acid glands 1N
Carapace: Mimetic skin 2N
Carapace: Adaptive camouflage 8N
Size: Medium
Chassis: Basic 0
Cost: 81N 10M
Gravity foils for all-essential silent movement in between camouflaged hiding spots--at a meter in size it couldn't ever pretend to be a natural insect with normal wings anyway. And if someone sees it, it can pull that Dream Catchers Jedi mind trick on them later. Quantum brain so that the drone can still control itself if we have to send it into deep stealth with Psionic cloaking until it can return to a hive.
>>47997030
I did like the Fast fleet designs from earlier. >>47986923
And producing Swarm Corvettes from the wiki also.
>>47997310
If you want to make an official list of planets to start infiltrating, feel free, however since each one does run the risk of bad things happening, I'll wait to hold the confirming yes/no vote for the next thread and just offer up whatever list of planets you'd like to include.
>>47997213
There does seem to be some support for that, and the individual swarmers would indeed start to stack the buff effect of the blaster when they swarm over a target.
>Yes
>No
>Other
Just to be official.
>>47997366
Correct. I will have your hives produce and maintain appropriate populations of drones of your design, and have them fill the roles you give them. Something like the Whisperer drone, for instance, would only be produced by infiltrating hives on other worlds in any decent number, since they are so specialized in their function (and quite spooky at that), while infiltrated city centers would have the things floating around all over the place in the middle of the night. Likewise, infiltration hives would avoid producing large drones and the like.
This design would be able to function quite well at stealth, gliding through the air and sneaking into homes to use its potent psionic abilities to observe or manipulate locals during espionage efforts. With its combat blades, it would be quite a potent ambush attacker, even with its frail armor, although it does also have a lot in common with the Ghost Beetle, which is currently a cheaper and slightly less stealthy and more durable version without the mental abilities, in case you wanted to fine tune either design.
>>47997030
Wait, QD.
>Smart mine mantle excavation: Calculates development stat 3 times for metal income
Isn't that Metal income on Farcast glassed hive world...not tripled?
>M 100
>100KM
Actually the math on all of this doesn't make sense to me.
>(Nutrient stat + structures) * 1k * dev score + modifiers = Nutrient income total
>(Metal stat + structures) * dev score + modifiers = Metal income total
Leeland has
>M 45
>Development 50
which produces
>162.5KM
How. 45*50 = 2250.
>>47997612
Worlds that offer potentially unique opportunities to start. A shorter list like this might be more likely to get confirmed next thread.
>Mentan
>Talgo
>Mercy
>Coral
>the Deep Song water planet
We at least might want to have some drones make sweeps around Talgo listening for crystals while under a psionic cloak, so that the crystals don't detect -our- presence at the same time we sense theirs.
>>47997030
Psionics is said to affect organic brains. It clearly doesn't seem to work on quantum computers so far, even when they are literally sapient, for some reason. Despite that they're made out of matter, too, and tachyons seem to be able to effect matter indiscriminately in other applications like Telekinesis and the blink drive.
Would it probably not work on the silicon-based lifeforms on Coral either?
>>47997612
>>Yes
I'll allow it.
Uh, can we queue up. A lot of pods this time?
Barnard
Kalidesh
Aquarius
Lanstrom
Lionon
Boros
Koloban
Lorens
Hypron
Krasnodar
Graythrone
The Twins
Distance
Turmoil
The Sisterworlds
Haven
The Commons
Tempest
Strife
Unknown Yellow Star
Unknown Red Dwarf
>>47997612
>Yes
>>47997612
What about Patrol Corvettes watching from the outskirts of nearby systems?
All the systems in the expanse and on the spinward border of the Union, for starters.
>>47997612
What would it take to be able to take home a disabled Scav ship with a mostly intact Flicker Drive, or a somewhat-intact Obsidian Queen spongy corvette?
Just a hangar bay? What fits a corvette-sized cargo for transporting it back home for Mother?
...Do we gotta unlock Rip Drive and just drag it through the wormhole on tractor beams.
>>47997813
As it is, you're not sure why it doesn't or does work on certain things, and as far as you know it could be because you simply don't have experience doing it yet, or perhaps it could be due to some discrepancy on the quantum level rendering psionics ineffective. As you continue to rediscover and master the various uses for advanced psionics, this may become more clear.
>>47997956
You would first need to disable the ship, and then have it dock with a larger ship, using cables to connect the hulls as close as possible. The blink itself would require longer to perform, and the entire thing would not be something that could be done in hostile space.
The tachyonic bubble surrounding a ship during a blink does extend past the hull, much like the warp bubble of human ships, and it is possible to extend that bubble around another craft being towed, much like the warp tugs used by Valen ships, however the process of hitching up ships for towing a craft through FTL is a delicate and lengthy process that can easily go very, very wrong if things are rushed.
>>47997612
>Something like the Whisperer drone, for instance, would only be produced by infiltrating hives on other worlds in any decent number, since they are so specialized in their function (and quite spooky at that), while infiltrated city centers would have the things floating around all over the place in the middle of the night.
I get the sense that with Advanced Psionic Imprinting and gravity foils for floating up to upper storey windows we can now recreate this.
Also Dracula, but parasites instead of fangs.
>>47998048
Would it take hours? If it were a conflict happening light-hours away from the nearest hostile, hours before the light from the incident reaches them, that would buy at least some time.
It would only really occur when ambushing an enemy that is trying to sneak in on a third enemy.
>>47996817
I'd support that, if QD put it to vote anyway.
>>47997612
>Yes
>>47997868
Also supporting sending pods.
>>47997612
>infiltrated city centers would have the things floating around all over the place in the middle of the night.
"Obviously a weather balloon."
>>47996817
I can mostly get behind that, any expansion of our forces is good expansion.
>>47998052
I hadn't even really thought about the applications of psionic imprinting combined with parasites. It'd be piss-easy to get drunkards to wander into alleys filled with the motherfuckers.
>>47998261
Too late, I think QD's gone again.
>>47998642
Well if enough votes get put forth it'll either get an official one next thread (possibly with retroactive construction progress) or...well it doesn't really cost anything for me to voice support anyway.
>>47998713
I was more talking about the pods.
He never seems to get around to replying to the pods suggestions after offering to add to them.
>>47998782
Maybe it's because that's a whole shitton of writing to do if he accepts it. I can understand his hesitancy.
>>47997612
Not expecting a reply at this point but just how long does it take for a hive to upgrade itself by a tier in the espionage crunch. To advance from [Maintain Concealment] to [Passive Observation].
>>47998642
I've got the systems added to a list and will work to get them charted out in the pastebin. The actual descriptions of them in-thread can happen over time, but at the very least II'll try to get them all in the pastebin.
Also, the swarmers will be retrofitted with blasters from now on. They should offer a rather unpleasant surprise for any who run across them.
>>47998838
I am still not sure. The way I see it, it could either be a passive process, or maybe involved a more risk-reward kind of system where you can determine the speed in exchange for greater risks of detection. Going from Concealment to Passive Observation would not take long at all, however.
Kinda want to bring those Hope colonists out of the freezer and just let them hang out in their own personal holo-suites for the time being
>>47998942
So an infiltration hive growing faster would produce several generations of flash clones for its initial supply? We could set a threshold of quality for the clones at which they would be recycled, or risk letting more obvious mutants into the population by lowering standards but increasing the number faster.
>>47998942
So Sol and Lanway will be added to the pastebin too?
>>47998942
What about more indirect routes of establishing concealment hives, via immigration.
Could we set an Operation for one hive to start producing immigrants that will passively travel to new worlds to start a hive as couple of chimera?
A kind of... Diaspora Operation.
>>47998942
If a Phantom steps onto hive Infrastructure, does it make a sound?
I mean can the hive notice if they're directly touching.
>>47999122
A very important question indeed. I want my Wraith Beetle to be viable.
>>47999020
Mutant clones would either be recycled, or if their mutations are within the realm of naturally occurring genetic defects, could simply pose as homeless people and serve as disposable agents for low level actions.
>>47999031
Yes, I have those systems in my list of things to chart as well.
>>47999065
That is an interesting idea. It would require more time than just dropping a pod from orbit, but yea, that could potentially work so long as the infiltrated planet has a convenient network of civilian travel with the target planet.
>>47999122
Yes, if it is obvious they are there you do detect them, but find it difficult to discern details. A Phantom within your hive would feel like a discrepancy in your hive's sensation. It would know something is there, but be unable to offer details such as the exact location or what the intruder is. The hive would be able to eventually get a decent idea of where it is and how to direct drones to intercept it, but it would still be difficult for the drones themselves to actually engage it.
Take pic related. Immagine looking into it, without blinking, right in the center, and at some point somebody tells you that there is a single dot somewhere in the image.
That is more or less the sensation of trying to look directly at a Phantom.
>>47999273
So it would be conceivable for Phantom drones to infiltrate Obsidian Queen hives to destroy or capture high value targets if the hive was distracted by, say, a full out frontal assault?
>>47999349
We don't need that.
Just create a drone with Hover Legs, and it will never touch the living breathing floor.
A drone with psionic cloaking, hover legs, and an advanced psi jammer.
>>47999374
I don't really think it's quite that simple Anon. The Hive detects using more than just contact nerves.
>>47999398
None of those senses revealed the Phantom to us until it was literally pinning our wasp, at which point it was a confusing shadowy blur.
>>47999273
Hey QD, can we do some of that colony crunch now?
We need to start building up our infrastructure.
>>47999273
Wait so is the holo-printer not a research subject yet.
Or are we actually going to start using it. And wait until Complex Matter Reconstruction is unlocked before taking it apart.
>>47999273
>so long as the infiltrated planet has a convenient network of civilian travel with the target planet.
And with a stop at a Valen system, even visiting a Commonwealth world can become convenient for the right price, right?
>>47999273
The Taidaren noted a scarcity of raw materials for ID-printing.
Could we take apart Lyle's old ID--- the one of the burned identity the Union already knows about now--- or hell, use some of Pinkleton's papers.
I mean, should we take them apart to figure out what blank IDs are made of, and complex-matter-reconstruct them to the other hives?
Just to get some of this out of the way.
We need to start ramping up production. Raligha can stay how it is for the time being, we don't want to destroy the native's home too badly.
G-426
We should probably build the other three capillary towers we can. On the main planet.
Asteroid base:
We should probably build more pylons here, and maybe some fusion based fungal farms in some of the sealed areas of the base proper, since a lot of it is hollowed out now.
M-323
We should probably start increasing our mining operation here, maybe even start to claim the skyl megastructure.
Wonder
Simlar to M-323 we need to start reclaiming the megastructure and start building either photosynthetic stations in some of its habs, or fusion powered fungus farms. We can also get it's shipyard back in order.
Farcast
We need to get development to 100% and build all of the available defensive structures and all of the capillary towers and pylons we can. Mining is already starting there, but we could also start building covered farms as well to get the most out of the planet.
>>47999701
And he's gone as soon as I write out the big list.
Alas.
Anybody have anything to add to the big list of colony stuff here?
>>47999466
>>47999466
I have been trying to work over the colony management system to make that more simple, actually. Essentially, there won't be any more "build up" as the buildings will mostly be made into planetary or otherwise large scale facilities instead of simply individual buildings. Instead of building a bunch of anti-orbital batteries, for instance, you would just build the full grid as if it were a single project. Farms are built as massive factory farms run by local workers instead of being built as individual plots of land, and as the planet development rises there are more drones and more settled space to expand them. At least, that's how the crunch represents the fluff at the moment.
I'm still working on the details, but I figure the new list of construction options will list all the available buildings as singular items, with a special construction project for expanding a planet's development.
>>47999837
Well thanks for answering.
What about our "colonies" on the Megastructures? Will we be given options for those?
I know you're trying to cut down on the numbers and everything, but I can't calm my OCD about running out of nutrients and metals.
>>47999914
I fully understand, yes.
Exoplanets and deep space structures are an issue. In the end I decided to just make such sources of income an after-mods bonus to the closest colony, but for structures that don't have a colony I'm not entirely sure.
Of course, large stations could serve to essentially make these deep space or planet-less structures colonizable, at least by enough drones to facilitate resource extraction. For instance, a large station in the Skyl relic ring to refine and teleport metals to the rest of the hive. If that were the case, it would largely render mining ships slightly redundant, as they would be managed by dedicated stations similar to how non-combat drones are organized by hives, so non-combat ships would go a similar route.
You all alright with that idea?
>>48000039
I'm completely fine with that idea.
I figured though with mega structures like the Wonder one, you could just treat it as a colony on a planet, but with a smaller multiplier for the development stat.
iirc Wonder was mostly a shipyard and research station, but I figured some of its habs/modules could be filled with some farms.
>>47999802
Start mantle mining metals from the Waystation.
Which we for some reason have not.
>>47999273
>Yes, if it is obvious they are there you do detect them, but find it difficult to discern details,
I think the real question is what is sufficient to make it obvious they're there.
What if they avoid directly coming into contact with drones and don't touch anything but themselves? How close can they get?
>>48000093
This as well, the main issue is apparently that QD has been working on the new mechanics.
I honestly think the best idea now would just have a vote for some of this stuff at the start of the thread he finished everything.
That way we could get it all out of the way.
>>48000150
That depends on a wide range of potential variables, all added together with a simple roll for stealth.
The Hive, both your own and others, are incredibly vulnerable to psionic cloaking due to your potent psionic abilities, however entering another queen's hive is still a frighteningly formidable challenge.
>>48000092
Space city sized structures like that would indeed count as their own colonies, yes. I was thinking of something like a modular planet that could be built like a ship, with space dedicated to military, industrial, or economic facilities, but the details of that is on the back burner until I can get the rest of the mess sorted out, like the missing techs and other such nonsense that's still not in proper order since the hiatus.
>>48000308
>Space city sized structures like that would indeed count as their own colonies, yes. I was thinking of something like a modular planet that could be built like a ship, with space dedicated to military, industrial, or economic facilities, but the details of that is on the back burner until I can get the rest of the mess sorted out, like the missing techs and other such nonsense that's still not in proper order since the hiatus.
Oh for sure, I'm just being paranoid again. We accomplished quite a bit of story stuff in the last few threads and I'm worried we won't be able to make the same pace with crunch.
>>48000308
So specialized hive ships?
>>48000373
Bigger and not movable is what I gathered.
>>48000308
What are the effects of wide-area-psionic-jamming on Thinkers, Advanced Relays, and drones with moderate relays, compared to regular drones?
Does it just drastically shorten the range at which Thinkers can command drones? Since when boarding the OQ's hive ship, sending in Thinkers commanding drones was an option.
Would that jamming have debilitated the giant relay bug itself, or would it still be able to function as a dungeon boss?
>>48000308
Well that's an improvement over the 6 rolls required to storm a hive ship and bruteforce your way to the chewy center of the tootsie pop.
Actually.
This is a case where multiple rolls is only in our favor.
Once we've used psionic cloaking, the OQ will develop measures to make future attempts far more difficult, so we only have one shot that's our best shot.
So we should do it as many times simultaneously as possible, if we do it. Because we only need a single one of the attempts to succeed in jamming a relay and escaping with it. Then the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards.
Checkmate.
>>48000330
I understand, but don't worry too much. I won't slap you guys with something that you were unable to prepare for due to any lacking on my part. The hiatus started because my computer got fried, and I lost a lot of details regarding what was being built and how much, so the crunch and industrial aspects of the hive took the biggest hit regarding the hiatus. I'm not just working the kinks out of the new system, but also implementing it on the other factions as well. I do my best to keep everything fair at the very least.
>>48000373
>>48000441
Correct. Think the Starbases from Sins of a Solar Empire. A space city could be built into a massive space fortress dedicated to locking down a system, or a trading post for other factions to buy and sell goods and make you credits, or as a massive center of industry and factory scale farming, or some balanced combination. As I said, I'm still working on the details, but that's the gist of what I'm leaning towards at the moment.
>>48000486
A drone activating its own psionic cloak is more or less akin to activating the Orb of Confusion. The drone goes totally silent. You can't hear it, it can't hear you. To a drone, this is a thoroughly terrifying experience. Without a thinker, the drone will quickly slip into a comatose state, the cloak with deactivate, and it will reconnect to the hive. With a thinker a drone will be able to continue under its own cloak and function perfectly fine alone, but it will not be able to communicate at all with any other drones. Even its brothers nearby will be affected by the cloak, and will have no knowledge of its mission or presence.
>>48000682
I was asking about jamming, not cloaking.
>Advanced: A large disruptor that broadcasts static with a radius of roughly 50 kilometers.
>>48000682
>Correct. Think the Starbases from Sins of a Solar Empire. A space city could be built into a massive space fortress dedicated to locking down a system, or a trading post for other factions to buy and sell goods and make you credits, or as a massive center of industry and factory scale farming, or some balanced combination. As I said, I'm still working on the details, but that's the gist of what I'm leaning towards at the moment.
If you had an industry base, could you still slap some big defensive weapons on it?
>>48000682
On the topic of cloaking, given gravity foils and a honeypot, what is the larger class of FTLComm a medium or large drone could carry, respectively, and what would be the best way for such a drone to keep in contact through the quantum string while cloaked?
Holy shit this thread is still going?
>>48000723
Ah, my bad.
Jamming will cut off drones from other drones and the hive network at large, but drones capable of some independent function will still be capable of performing their mission and reacting to threats. Thinkers are able to command drones to a very, very limited extent while being jammed, and such commands are iffy and unreliable at best as it essentially just tries to shout over the jammer at the other drones, typically with mixed results. Moderate relays will have greater success, but are limited to tactical range, essentially, and can only effectively communicate with drones within the immediate area. Advanced relays become largely non-functional, and essentially shut down to avoid spreading the jamming signal to the rest of the hive. The only real way of getting around this protective reflex is by plugging the jammer physically into the relay, which then propagates the signal across the entire network.
>>48000827
QComs tend to be large and bulky, and offer little in the way of bandwidth. Are you asking about the potential of having a drone be commanded by the hive via Qcom relay instead of psionic relay? In such a case, the drone would need to have a quantum thinker, as a standard drone is entirely reliant on the mental signal of the hive itself to function. Such a drone would be unable to verify that it is the hive sending it orders, and as such would refuse and ignore any commands sent by Qcom. A thinker, however, could be commanded to use a Qcom relay to accept amendments to its orders, but would still require reconnecting to the hive in order to be filled in on the details of a new mission. Such orders or simple info like "kill x person near you" or "y group is aware of your presence" or simply "abort, return to hive/self destruct" could be sent via Qcom.
>>48001027
Human Qcom tech is currently rather limited by its large and bulky size and weight, so a medium drone would be unable to lug one around. So far, the field of quantum communications has offered little to the hive, so I haven't planned out much in the way of tech unlocks for that field of research. If you'd like, you can have your thinkers look into it, and I can work on offering some improved techs to be researched for it, although you may need to ask Theseus for some assistance in the field, as even with your research of quantum computing and related techs, he still has a more intimate understanding of the general science of it, much like how the bio-tech you find painfully mundane is shocking and revolutionary to his own research efforts.
>>48001087
It dovetails with psionic cloaking extremely well.
What's the largest size of relay a Pod could house inside it? It could give us a video feed fed to us by Thinker to keep us abreast.
Some really slow relays were small enough to hide inside of a Smith, weren't they? Even a small amount of bandwidth for checkins every 30 minutes of 'where the fuck are you now' might be worthwhile.
And maybe occasional singular images, generated based on what the Thinker has mapped out of enemy territory so far.
>>34550529
>"Impossible to know for sure. It is possible to conceal a quantum communications device within such a body, although it would be capable of only the most rudimentary of communication. Low definition still pictures would be the limit, and it would take a short time to finish transmission.
>>48001183
Something you could hide within a body would be only capable of basic text communication, transmitting bit by bit worth of data, and would still be too heavy and bulky to be considered convenient by most. Essentially on par with a bulky 80s brick phone, but that is only capable of texting, and only to one number.
You would need to research it further to get it to a point where a drone could communicate useful data back and forth mid-mission, and Theseus would be the guy to help you out with such research, which I would be more than happy to stat out if you wish to go down that route.
>>48001449
Sure, that sounds sensible. Quantum miniaturization?
>>48001027
> Advanced relays become largely non-functional, and essentially shut down to avoid spreading the jamming signal to the rest of the hive.
So wait.
>>42364534
>>Activate your psionic disruptor and send in ghost beetles under thinker command
This would have been a far easier and faster choice, because the relay drone would have fallen into a coma and been completely vulnerable, like every other drone onboard the enemy ship?
No downside beyond having to wait in silence for the Thinkers to succeed on their own?
Can we begin construction of 5 fast assault fleets?>>47986923 >>47986929
