rolled 6, 3, 3 = 12

It is the beginning of the eighth month. Your current location is K9, the medical installation where the patients of Project Phoenix are being treated and held for observation. The shaman of Sala's village has been healed and made free to roam the area of the base you control. She has been content to spend most of her time in the quarters complex, visiting the other members of her tribe. Communications logs from the internal sensors indicate that she has become the primary authority in the chief's absence and has had no trouble securing the cooperation of her lessers. Two considers her a substantial security risk but a potent ally should things continue to work out.

All initial orders of dropships, fighters, and bombers have been completed in Fleet Bases 3 and 4. In approximately one month, the Frigate (which you have yet to name) and the Mobile Fabricator Base will also be complete, though the Frigate is currently capable of combat operations, and its Heavy Lance is operational. The Prince and the Lord have been informed of your discovery of Fleet Bases 1 and 2 and have dispatched loyal troops to those installations as well. New production orders may be issued at any time.

Fifteen new off-site Zeppelin yards are ready for use. Preliminary scouting of the area containing K10 has revealed a mass of rock 300 feet below the surface, concealing a shaft within its lower portion. The remains of an unidentified vessel are strewn across this mass about 700 feet down.

Headlines: “Local Corporate Operative Charged With Perjury,” “Breach in Home Boiler Injures Two,” “Light it Up: Dreamwood County Wired For High-Density Electrical,” “Terminal Expansion Plans Leaked, Third Lines to be Standard?”

rolled 6, 5, 4 = 15

rolled 1, 4, 1 = 6

rolled 1, 5, 6 = 12

rolled 1, 2, 2 = 5

rolled 3, 5, 4 = 12

>>11782555

I believe our priority targets for acquisition of facilities should be K19 (R&D AI) and K26 (listed as heavy weapons research, which I'm assuming refers to Giant-portable weapons), and possibly K3 (Space Research, which might mean orbital weapons).
Once these two or three are secured, we can go back to Dreamwood and continue preparations. The other facilities can wait until after the crisis with the Frost Demon has passed.
Just because we're facing down an ancient evil that has commandeered a super-advanced flying magitech fortress with an onboard Master AI with the full databases of a nuclear weapon-capable super-civilization and has had 2 years in which to build a small fleet of cruisers and aerial warships, doesn't mean we should ignore the social banquets, executive staff briefings, park and theater dedications, Academy Commencement speeches, or committee meetings (well, maybe the committee meetings. I don't know if we've introduced coffee and dounuts; if we haven't, we totally should).

Make sure that we acquire a set of anti-scrying charms, for when we need to disappear from scrying while we do something that would infuriate the High Nobles.

Can we have a status report on the Antaeus Project? I understand that it's far too early for progress on Project Soulcatcher and for the creation of the true Antaeus-class Adaptive Cruisers, but what how goes the Aegis-class Light Cruiser modification of the Liven-class Destroyer?

I was thinking that since Ivala comes from a civilization close to us in terms of technological and scientific development, that she might appreciate some our sci-fi works, such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, and Dune. Of course, this depends completely on her own literary tastes. Now, as for Omuz, I think it will be hilarious if we give him copies of our re-written 'Neuromancer' and 'Snow Crash', as well as 'The Matrix', if we ever recover him from inside of the K8 computer system.

rolled 5, 2, 5 = 12

>>11783348
Coffee and similar drinks were already known. Donuts were not, but are now commonplace, as are many other things that you've introduced over the years.

>>11782572
> Two considers her a substantial security risk but a potent ally should things continue to work out.
Have Two continue to monitor Avres and her close associates, though I suspect that she may have an inking that we have her under surveillance. She may be primitive, but she's not dumb.

Ask Avres, Kyva, and the other more reasonable members of her tribe if they know of any of their counterparts in the other captured tribe, who may also be more open-minded or reasonable than the rest. Keep this list in mind for when we need to start thawing them out down the road (probably next year or so).

As for construction queues, how are the corvettes coming along at the FB's? Can we order more torpedo bombers and drones, both shield-breacher types and shield generator types?

Just dropping by to say how I freaking love this quest.

Will read later in the archives what transpired today.

Keep up the good work, SubDM!! :D

rolled 5, 4, 6 = 15

>>11783365
You are currently in possession of an anti-scrying charm from one of the Zeppelins, an auxiliary unit. It has a rather wide area of effect and is not really meant to be carried, but there have been no problems so far. You should specify if you would like to use it in certain situations.

Project Soulcatcher has not advanced very far since its creation. The acquisition of the military's research on living siege engines would be a great help, but if any attempt to obtain the relevant information were noticed, the results could be catastrophic, so DCE is holding off for now. The field array used by Omuz is being analyzed and may provide some useful data.

The Anteus-Class Light Cruiser design, based on an upsized Liven-Class Destroyer chassis, has been finalized and is ready for production, albeit lacking many specific systems due to the unavailability of Soulcatcher equipment. As such, if built, it would contain a large amount of empty space, but still have functional fabricators and computing hardware.

Any literature you wish to share must be translated, unless the intended recipients learn to read English. The intelligences are capable of speaking English quite well, and are learning several other languages common to the area, but translation errors still crop up from time to time. Of course, no government personnel have been made aware of this.

>>11783482
Alright. Commission the translation of various literary works, both ours and that of contemporaries in Perin, along with various academic textbooks (focusing on elementary level texts) into Iralan for our Project Pheonix.
It'll be good practice for any linguists that we have, and it will help the Frost Giants learn a little.

Also, I remember we had developed a short-term memory charm called "Note", but how is work progressing on the one that projects thoughts and memories into visual and audio projections?

rolled 4, 2, 6 = 12

>>11783436
Confirmed. It is likely that she suspects you are watching her and her contacts closely, and that she approves. She does not seem to see you as naive.

Very few members of the other tribe were known well, and of those only one, a negotiator of sorts, can be said to be reasonable. The two tribes have had many conflicts over the years, but neither has been quite powerful enough to eliminate the other. Sala was a key part of the plan to end this state of affairs.

Two of the Corvettes are currently flight-capable, but not combat-ready. The first batch is expected to be complete within one or two months.

You may order as many additional units as you wish. Would you like to increase the fighter quota to provide cover for the next flights of bombers?

>>11783452
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the read.

>>11783550
>Would you like to increase the fighter quota to provide cover for the next flights of bombers?
Yes, as well as producing additional drone fighters, with 4 drones for each piloted fighter. These drones are in addition to the requested "enough shield-breachers to blot out the sun". They're to act as decoys and sacrifice themselves for the piloted fighter, and provide extra firepower. Drones can be replaced easily, combat pilots are harder to come by.

rolled 1, 5, 3 = 9

>>11783545
Confirmed.

The best available item can display a rather blurry picture with accompanying sounds of low quality. It mostly reads surface thoughts, which can be hard to follow because the mind jumps quickly from topic to topic, on many occasions involuntarily and without the subject's knowledge. Still, if a memory is focused on, the device can show a visualization, sometimes fringed with pictures of connected memories and thoughts.

what's our progress on the ICE?

can we ask the prince and king what would they think if we deposed the high nobles ?

Have we created and sold modern tools and materials ?
Stuff like screws, philips screwdrivers, pop-rivets, profilated bars, cheap aluminium ?

>>11783588
If everything at K9 is running smoothly, let's have have the Project Pheonix thawing schedule set to about 5 FG every 6 months or so for now, and hop on a zeppelin back to Dreamwood. Korus and Ivala can get in touch with us via regular means, and via the communication array if there's something urgent. Make sure that Ivala is briefed on the situation between us and the High Nobles, and given a security briefing docket, the same one we give to newly secured AI's (without the mentions about Order 66 or Directive 99).

Once we're back in Dreamwood, we can take care of any pressing business that requires our personal intervention, and prepare an expedition to K19.
This expedition is going to have to be large, heavily armed, and ready for a fight. We'll need Heavy Security Golems, communication relay and cyberware drones secretly put in place ahead of us, and ECCM golems readied.
We must be ready for hostile AI's and an army of Terminators.

Has the Inventor project had any results (the one we advertised on newspaper we were looking for cool inventions to sponsorize)?

rolled 3, 5, 3 = 11

>>11783579
Acknowledged. Decoys will be manufactured according to this pattern. Be aware that, without wireless connection to an AI or capable computing system, they will be very limited in capability. ECM will be particularly effective against them.

>>11783590
A prototype industrial engine exceeds the efficiency of a comparable steam-powered model, while taking up less space. It's far from ready for mass-production, but runs well. More miniature models suitable for vehicles have been constructed, and several have been installed in test ornithopters and wheeled vehicles. Electric starters are standard. You have the ability to manufacture first-run 'trucks' in the same vein as your original light locomotive, with all the expected problems common to prototypes.

>>11783613
Do we really want to raise the spectre of revolution and sedition, especially with how much power we have available?
I think this question is very poorly thought out.

>>11783663
> You have the ability to manufacture first-run 'trucks' in the same vein as your original light locomotive, with all the expected problems common to prototypes
Begin construction of a small pilot line of trucks, so that a manufacturing line can be built and prototypes made to work out the kinks.
Do the same for ornithopters and they should be able to begin the airplane program in earnest, now that ICE's have been developed.

>without wireless connection to an AI or capable computing system, they will be very limited in capability. ECM will be particularly effective against them.
Can their communication systems be hardened and upgraded to continue working in spite of ECM?
Also, can we devote a corvette to be an AWACS platform? Fill it up to the gills with ECM, ECCM, and sensors so that Tac-Com can direct the entire effort more effectively?

rolled 4, 5, 6 = 15

>>11783613
The high nobles do not exist in a vacuum. They are very well-connected, extraordinarily wealthy, and most or all of them are paranoid enough to have crafted specific instructions to be followed in the event of their death or some other important occurrence. Even if you dealt with all of them quickly and decisively, you would still spark an internal crisis, and not just because of their own machinations. This is the final tier of the entire nation's government, not a small-town dictator.

In any case, the Lord wishes for you to restrain yourself until he asks you to move in, or the high nobles do something so drastic that you have to do so anyway. The Prince would like to see them removed immediately, but defers to his father in this instance. Civil war is the main fear at this point.

>>11783635
Yes. Certain construction materials cannot yet be made and distributed widely and cheaply, simply because the infrastructure isn't in place.

>>11783773
Is there anything else that anyone wants to do here at K9? I'd like to get back to Dreamwood and get ready for our trip to K19.
I'm hoping that it wasn't hit as bad as K1, but that raises the fear that the AI's there have gone rogue.

Let's go to Dreamwood and take a truck for a test drive

What's the progress on the analytical engine ?

rolled 6, 3, 6 = 15

>>11783654
I will need a consensus on the alterations to Project Phoenix. Ivala has already been given a briefing package.

>>11783660
Yes, quite a few of them, in fact. A good deal of proposed inventions were similar to devices in use on Earth, most of them already in development in Dreamwood. Some were adaptations of existing items, such as an upgraded piston, and some were relatively simple, such as the recirculation icebox, which uses pressure stored in a cylinder by hand-pump in lieu of an electric motor. It is rugged, compact, and does not rely on magic, making it ideal for military use, among other things.

As expected, the main benefit to this program is the discovery of bright young minds who can be invited to join your industrial effort.

>>11783882
We got a simple mechanical calculator (Old West cash register), but not a true Babbage Engine yet, if I recall.

do we have anything to do or we can timeskip ?

>I will need a consensus on the alterations to Project Phoenix.
As Kyva said, the Frost Giants, with their longer lifespans and upbringing as barbarians, will not accept change quickly, and will likely respond violently to too much change at too rapid a pace. We already experienced this once back in Dreamwood.
We should have the changes gradual, and not rush them into anything.
Besides, we're currently preoccupied with the Frost Demon and the securing of more Kharok Facilities.

So say "aye" or "nay" at the very least.

rolled 5, 4, 3 = 12

>>11783771
Acknowledged.

Yes, they can be hardened against ECM, but only to a point. Once you encounter diminishing returns, the mass, size, and power costs of additional proofing make further upgrades pointless. Any unit with more space to devote to ECM hardware and better power infrastructure (such as a floating city) will have a distinct advantage.

Yes, but a proper warship, such as the Frigate, would be a better choice for a primary control point, as even a large Corvette specifically designed for the purpose could not quite match the command capability of a warship. However, as a backup or a unit providing additional sensor coverage, an AWACS Corvette would be very useful. I'm sure you know that hardware alterations on that scale would reduce its defensive capabilities.

>>11783954
>backup or a unit providing additional sensor coverage, an AWACS Corvette would be very useful.
Have 8 AWACS Corvettes built as range-extenders and back-ups for our task force. Tac-Com is to use the Frigate as it's primary Command & Control platform, and use the corvettes to extend it's range and to bring more ECCM to bear when needed.
The AWACS Corvetters are normally to loiter at extreme high altitudes, with an escort of drone fighters and drone corvettes.

>>11783932
I think we're good to go back to Dreamwood and prepare for K19. We can timeskip the week or two that such preparations will take.

rolled 2, 5, 2 = 9

>>11783882
Not much progress, beyond what has already been done. R&D is working on a four-part engine (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) as an extension of the adding machine.

>>11783932
You may timeskip if you wish. If the plan is to return to Dreamwood before heading to K19 with a heavy force, I'll begin work on it.

I will need to know if you would like to take your personal transport to some innocuous place and then board a shuttle, or stay on the Zeppelin all the way to the installation.

>>11783950
Should I assume that you would like K9 to continue healing the maximum possible number of patients, but keep them in stasis until the projected release date?

>>11784012
Acknowledged.

>>11784038
>board a shuttle, or stay on the Zeppelin
I don't think there is a need to use the shuttle. We'll be waiting for our troops to get there before entering anyway, so I don't think that we should bother.
As preparations, though, have FC and Charla send a flight of cyberware and communication relay drones ahead of us, and them hide somewhere whey they can be used, but that won't be easily discovered by the High Noble's researchers when they get there.

>healing the maximum possible number of patients, but keep them in stasis until the projected release date?
Yes, do so please. We might as continue the treatments, as long as the patients are put back in stasis before they awake.

>Two considers her a substantial security risk but a potent ally should things continue to work out.
Indeed on both counts.
>the Frigate (which you have yet to name)
Still voting 'Lance of Hretmar' here.

>>11783169
>nom nom nom
Is that an Averon?

>we can go back to Dreamwood and continue preparations
Pritty much agreeing with this. Only thing that'd meke me hesitant are the inhabatants of K9 and how well things will stay under control. We have children from both tribes out and about now right? How does Avres respond to that?

>You are currently in possession of an anti-scrying charm from one of the Zeppelins
Ask FC if it knows of any devices that could detect scrying attempts. If we could carry something that looked like a FG map band but turned red or lit up when we're being scryed that'd be handy.

>11783895
>If everything at K9 is running smoothly, let's have have the Project Pheonix thawing schedule set to about 5 FG every 6 months or so for now
>I will need a consensus on the alterations to Project Phoenix.
What was our current rate?
>Should I assume that you would like K9 to continue healing the maximum possible number of patients, but keep them in stasis until the projected release date?
That might be a good idea.

>>11784111
>Frigate Name
I like "Lance of Hretmar", and it's appropriate, what with the Heavy Lance we lashed to the front of it.

>>11784111
Derp. That was me. Yes take the Zeppelin back to Dreamwood.

Pic is a possible idea for an early powered ornithopter.

When we get back we should see about having some of our book & publishing people see about compiling a collection of Legends from around Perin. We dont want to totally drown the country in our own culture.

rolled 5, 6, 3 = 14

Leaving K9 under the control of the intelligences and your personnel, you depart for Dreamwood aboard your personal transport, making plans to enter K19 with a sizable mixed force of golems preceding your heavily-armed expedition. The long flight to the County gives you time to think, to consider far-future plans and operations. Once the deadline has passed and the frost demon has been dealt with, you will finally be able to turn your attentions elsewhere. The high nobles cannot possibly anticipate the power they are opposing.

Your Zeppelin lands at Dreamwood's largest airfield, anchoring itself to the heavy mooring tower just before you depart, passing through a small crowd of spectators on your way to the manor. The town's population has grown immensely, and it is now looking like a proper city, with multi-story apartment buildings, an incredibly large rail terminal, and row upon row of well-built houses, all architectural marvels in themselves.

Sahl greets you in the manor's foyer, accompanied by a small army of administrators, all of whom have been running the place in your absence. If the view is any indication, they have done well, but that doesn't mean they won't jump at the chance to bounce some ideas off you now.

The first order of business concerns construction. There is plenty of space yet to use, but the center of town seems crowded. Your people would like your thoughts on building height, and whether extending structures farther underground would be a good idea. As always, they are at your service if you have questions or orders.

Headlines: “Consumption of Averron Meat Linked to Lethargy,” “Sewer System to Double Capacity,” “Where Are the Gods? Mass Disappearance Confounds Priesthood.”

We should seriously start working on roads
contact the government, tell them we have plans for yet another, absolutely revolutionary kind of transportation that will boost the economy considerably, but it needs better roads to work properly.
Send them a road pattern

>>11784210
opinion on tall structures:
"Back in my other world, we had massive buildings called 'skycrapers'. Those leviathans of steel and glass were hundreds of meters tall and provided offices and houses for thousands. They also looked pretty cool. I don't see why they couldn't be built here too."
opinion on underground structures:
"While useful, they isn't the best idea for civilians.
The underground is not an ideal place for housing since we'll eventually have to expand our sewer system and electrical and water supply - and it will be much more complex if we had to avoid pre existing structures that dwell deep."

>>11784210
>first order of business concerns construction
Well without advanced mathematics, civil engineering or architecture, rebar concrete, I don't think we should go any higher than 4 stories, maybe 5 at the most, and no lower than 3 sub levels.
I am not a civil engineer, so I can't comment from a position of expertise.

captcha: development! ganicks

yesterday we have mentioned our otherwordly knowledge to the asshole researcher while holding a FG transmitter...
did the AIs get suspicious ?
how would the AIs react knowing our soul isn't really frost gianty ?

how is Bem doing ?
also do we have a Dreamwood Bank ?

Seriously? Do you have any idea the amount of reinforcing that such structures need, as well as the advanced materials that go into their construction? Or the immense weight that such buildings put on their foundations?

Bring in a team of civil engineers and architects from New Aarmour and Dreamwood Academy to provide expert advice on the feasibility of such things.

rolled 5, 1, 2 = 8

>>11784094
Done. Are you planning to reveal the installation to the high nobles? They do not currently have any personnel stationed there.

Acknowledged.

>>11784111
Yes, the large quadruped's an Averron.

You have only healed members of Sala's tribe. All others are in stasis.

Yes, but such devices were only used in very specific circumstances, since they also react to various types of communication and scan signals. Refinement was apparently scheduled but never undertaken due to the fall of the Frost Giants.

15-20 per week, depending on case severity. Physical healing can be accomplished relatively quickly, and greater numbers of patients can be treated simultaneously. Gene therapy is where the bottleneck is; there are very few therapy chambers and they cannot be reproduced by any known fabricators. The designs for certain critical components have either been lost or were kept by Main. Research is continuing.

Help building a prototype truck and drive around Dreamwood BEEP BEEP ing people and laughing

>>11784315
>reveal K19
I think we have to, because our expedition will be so damn obvious. Just let them know that we think that there is a very good chance that things will get very messy, and very bloody. Not because of the research, but simply because we think the internal security is going to be very hostile, and very hard to override.

Hopefully, that will keep them from sending their own personnel to K19 in a hurry, hoping that we'll take the brunt of the casualties.

More important than camions are TRACTORS.
Why ? One man with an agricoltural tractor with the right attachments can do the job of 50 men or more in less time.
What's the status of our agricolture aniways ?

rolled 4, 6, 4 = 14

>>11784178
If no-one objects, this will be the name.

>>11784207
Such collections already exist, and compilations of those collections can also be found. However, very few works incorporate legends from multiple nations, and many books focus on those from a single regional culture. Printing project queued.

>>11784213
Your government contacts are initially skeptical. Given your introduction of both rail and large-scale flight, they are not readily convinced that you have yet another revolutionary advance to unleash on the country. It takes you almost five minutes to bring them around.

There is a problem. Modernizing an entire nation's transportation infrastructure is never easy. Doing it in a relatively medieval nation that has been engaged in armed conflict for the last several decades and is in the process of annexing a country 2-3 times larger than itself, with twice the population, is a daunting task. You're at the point where there just isn't enough money to do all of this at once. It's the government's official opinion that you either need to wait for the economy to expand to scale up or you need to come up with a way to make roads build themselves. This comment was made in jest, but it is actually quite feasible.

>>11784272
"That tall?" one of the architectural advisers says, "A building like that would dwarf everything else in Dreamwood. Not to mention that if it fell, the damage would be considerable."

The chained tunnel spirit provides you with an easy and costless way to manipulate the underground. Outside a certain range, it can't be used, but your mages are trying to come up with a way to move it. Though it can't handle complex structures, it has practically built your entire underground water and power system by itself.

>>11784430
Ignore >>11784272
Seventeen stories is the limit that can be done with standard masonry, and anything bigger requires steel skeletons, rebar, and advanced engineering concepts.
Use this for reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monadnock_Building

>>11784430
"Indeed, but the only time the demolition of a skycraper caused a disaster, was because of a fell terrorist act in which two massive airplanes were flinged at two skycrapers in the immediate vicinity. The event caused thousands of deaths, started a war and a literal manhunt for terrorists.
But, remember, we have magic. It will be entirely possible to not only magically strenghten the structure, but also to invent some ways to prevent it from catastrophically collapse onto itself in case of severe damage."

rolled 2, 1, 6 = 9

>>11784297
The intelligences already know. Your origins are not particularly important to them, as you already fill all the requirements for command access. Were Main around, he would probably be much more interested.

>>11784306
Bem has buried himself in the corporation sharing his name, and is said to hold an ungodly amount of wealth. He's interested in seeing what the AIs can do with economics, since BemCorp is getting more sluggish as it grows, and, despite his skills, he cannot personally oversee anything close to the whole thing. A computer could.

Indeed you do. It is still small, but functional.

>>11784314
Your currently available team is of the opinion that you would need to develop new construction techniques and alter the resource distribution. Rebar, for instance, would obviously require steel, which is a key material in basically all of your industrial concerns, and always in short supply. Starting small, with relatively short and heavily braced buildings, then working your way up to the tall ones, would be a good idea.

>>11784512
can we modify house-builder charms to create roads?
tell the developer team that tall buildings will have a very strong steel frame and then pre-built walls and floors will be attached to it.

>>11784503
Are you stupid?
>only time the demolition of a skycraper caused a disaster, was because of a fell terrorist act in which two massive airplanes were flinged at two skycrapers in the immediate vicinity.
That was not the only disaster involving what is considered a skyscraper in history!

Besides, in the event of a disaster involving a skyscraper, you WANT it to collapse on itself, to prevent it from falling on the surrounding buildings!
Having magic shore up poor planning and incompetent design is nothing more than a foolish use of resources.

>>11784430
>Your government contacts are initially skeptical. Given your introduction of both rail and large-scale flight, they are not readily convinced that you have yet another revolutionary advance to unleash on the country. It takes you almost five minutes to bring them around.
>Road systems and financial trouble for it.

I have to say, for transporting stuff long distances or lots of it Rail and Airships remain the best answer. Cars and trucks work better for local travel. Now dont get me wrong, I've driven all over North America and seen the sights so I deffinitely understand the appeal of a road trip. In a country with a high population density though it just doesnt work as well. Perin (And Forus for that matter) is a rather small nation with large population when comparing it to the continental US. With the advent of industrialisation that population is going to get bigger not smaller.

China does it right in this regard, if you're headed anywhere long distance you take trains. Or if you're rediculously wealth or spending company money you fly. With Sleeper cars you get from one place to another in 14 hours instead of a couple of days if you had to stop driving for the night. Commuter trains might make a 30 minute trip out of what would take hours in rush hour traffic.

>>11784512
Has our own golem research progressed to the point where we could create road-building golems?
I imagine a team of such would consist of a dozen or so specially built golems with a couple of human overseers. Perhaps a few humans to do some of the work as well.

rolled 2, 6, 3 = 11

>>11784324
A truck capable of supporting your weight would be rather slow with current engine designs. Queued, unless there are objections.

>>11784338
Your expedition is not guaranteed to be obvious. Your Zeppelins incorporate anti-scrying fields as standard equipment, and the shuttles modified for stealth are nearly undetectable except by sight, and radar (which no one else seems to have).

>>11784425
Dreamwood Agricultural is the largest town in your County by area. It is well-supplied with golems (of the crude, locally-produced variety) and uses heavy machinery run by steam engines, including tractors. It is producing enough food to support all of the County and provide for a hefty export program, with the greenhouses growing year-round and mostly unaffected by weather conditions.

>>11784503
"Any controlled demolition would be designed to let the building fall straight down. We know this. But, if one side weakened before the others, the building could fall to one side."

"And what of anti-magic fields? Anyone truly determined to fell a building could find a capable charm for the right price."

>>11784603
Very good points. We have a chance to do things right, and so we should.
First priority should be paving the streets inside of cities and towns, so that local delivery trucks can get around, as well as people on bicycles.
Long distance travel should be done via rail or zeppelin.

>>11784503
>>11784272
Could you PLEASE put a little more thought into what you're posting, before hitting 'Submit'.
All you're doing is making us look stupid. At least it's only in front of our immediate staff for right now, but I shudder to think of the detritus that would come pouring out of our mouth if we were to ever listen to your suggestions.
Case in point:
>Any controlled demolition would be designed to let the building fall straight down. We know this. But, if one side weakened before the others, the building could fall to one side."
>"And what of anti-magic fields? Anyone truly determined to fell a building could find a capable charm for the right price."

>>11784624
"Well, first of all, someone truly determined enought can do anything.
Secondly, To make the building collapse onto itself in case it got hit from the side, we could use a magical shield, since it's also easier to make the shield's strenght simply overcome the anti-magic field.
The shield could be generated in a protected area in the basement, and surely a shield powered by the electrical grid will be more powerful than a charm. To do actual harm, they'd have to bring a very big charm, which is also easily detectable.
It'll probably strain the grid a lot, but it's an emergency situation, afterall."

>>11784624
Could you refresh my memory again, please? Were the terms of our agreement with the High Nobles, that we inform them of a facility immediately once we discovered a location, or that we must report it immediately upon securing it? Also, did we have to inform all of the High Nobles, or simply a central government representative.

I would like to keep the deployment low-key and subtle, but even if our zeppelins are equipped with anti-scry charms, it would be difficult to hide all of the preparations.

rolled 6, 5, 5 = 16

>>11784548
Probably, but they would be fairly inefficient at this, as they can't handle wide areas. A team of alchemists would be faster. There is also the prototype rail-constructing locomotive to consider, a vehicle incorporating a magical forge and alchemic press. The design could be adapted to a non-rail vehicle, with time, or you could have the locomotive only assist in construction by following road crews on the nearest rail route and producing supplies.

>>11784611
Yes, but they can't do it all themselves; they still can't handle very complex tasks and they can't recognize mistakes. They would still need to be supplied, of course, but this is true of any road crew. It's really a trade-off in many ways, but the main thing is that Dreamwood can't build nearly as many golems as you could hire manual laborers.

rolled 1, 6, 3 = 10

>>11784647
Priority acknowledged.

>>11784703
"True enough. But we still take reasonable precautions, based on likely scenarios. Relying entirely on magical support does make sense in some situations, I suppose, but I prefer good old-fashioned solids. Perhaps that's just my own bias."

"You want to put a shield generator in the basement of every tall building?" While this is technically possible, it would require a little research and might be prohibitively expensive.

>>11784727
It is not actually required that you notify anyone when you discover or secure a new location. However, since all facilities and research must be jointly administrated, according to the terms of the agreement, you cannot (legally) do much more than look around without government personnel present. This has not been strictly enforced, for reasons unknown to you, and it would be impossible for the high nobles to enforce it regarding an installation they don't know about. Such is the case with all the Fleet Bases, for instance.

The high nobles have plenty of officers and secretaries you can call. As well, the Conclave can connect you directly to some of the nobles themselves. As long as they are informed in a timely manner, it's fine.

>>11784731
let's get it on then
hire people
ask bem to help us with the roads
tell him we'll give him a private limousine when its done

rolled 2, 5, 2 = 9

>>11784847
Done. He has no need of a limousine, preferring his own personal Zeppelin.

>>11784836
Let's shift some resources to roadwork and construction, but don't go all out; our rail and zeppelin lines still take priority since our trucks and vans are still in the prototype stage. Enough roads that we can test out the vehicles in a real environment.
AND don't forget traffic signals and pedestrian walkways!

As for K19, prepare to go, we'll inform them of K19 after we've secured it (if it's in our interests to do so, of course).

rolled 2, 1, 3 = 6

>>11784907
Very well.

Preparing. I will timeskip to your departure. Stand by.

do we have comic books?
If we have printing machines we should start making comic books
they'd give us a ton of money if they get famous enought.

>Such collections already exist, and compilations of those collections can also be found. However, very few works incorporate legends from multiple nations, and many books focus on those from a single regional culture. Printing project queued.

Talk to them about comic books and what stories might fit them well. If we have trouble finding ones that'll fit resort to the old standby: Superman.
The military might also be interested in comic book printing as part of their weapons training instruction and for recruitment posters.

rolled 2, 5, 5 = 12

On your order, the large force of drones from the Fleet Bases transfers to K19, as stealthily as possible, and conducts a thorough survey of the surface, disturbing nothing. There are very minute readings, which are rather inconsistent, but that is to be expected, considering the distance and the installation's standard shielding. At least it appears to be intact, since the geological probe reported only minor wall fractures.

While your team is assembled in Dreamwood, you attend to all those things you've neglected for the past weeks, clarifying orders and signing forms, taking a nice long tour and visiting the schools. Near the end of it all, you head over to the industrial sector, fashion a rather large truck chassis with aid from some of the omnipresent workers, and attach an ICE and a horn to it. The look on peoples' faces when you come barreling out of the woods on an enormous, rumbling metal monstrosity blaring the horn is priceless. Of course, you give a few rides before boarding your transport.

The flight to K19 is unpleasantly long, but survivable. There is no indication that the high nobles know where you're going or what you're up to, but you've come to expect them to know much more than you'd think they would.

The console in the installation's entrance is of a noticeably different designs than the others you've seen. It looks sleeker, and lacks a command panel. In addition to a flat display, it has a holographic projector, which spells out a welcome. FC reports that the facility is in operation, with quite a lot of comm traffic. However, the system architecture is unfamiliar. He can't find a place to insert the override program.

>>11785046
Oh, don't forget introducing the students at our Academy to tabletop miniature wargames and to roleplaying games. DnD might not be too popular, but cyberpunk like Shadowrun and Cyberpunk 2020 might.

>>11785065
>can't find a place to insert the override program.
Tell FC to keep his guard up. The AI's here were extremely advanced, and have had 1800 years to improve upon their original programming.
We're going to have to be careful too; these were R&D AI's. There's no telling if they were also capable of self-reprogramming. You know, things like getting smarter, removing those pesky emergency protocols and such.

Go up to the console and try to access it. See if any of the main AI's are up.

rolled 1, 6, 2 = 9

>>11785036
A very small number of them. They are growing in popularity, but have not 'taken off' like some of your other creations.

>>11785046
A good deal of legends could use the comic book format very well. Comics being a visual medium, anything with appropriate imagery (such as large battle scenes or incredible scenery) adapts well. One problem you've run into is the lack of a large pool of artists.

The military is looking into pictograms to demonstrate various actions, similar to the style used in swordsmanship manuals. Your people are following up on this interest.

>>11785065
"FC, can you tell if Command or Guardian are online? If there's a lot of com traffic, this could get awkward, or real ugly."

>>11785065
>He can't find a place to insert the override program.
I'm sure that's on purpose. We've got the large transmitters to deal with ECM with us right?
>with quite a lot of comm traffic
The AI's here might have been spending their time talking to each other to keep from going insane. This could be good or bad. They may not want us intruding but there's only one sure way to find out.
Er wait, can we see if we can communicate with them from here?

rolled 6, 1, 5 = 12

>>11785081
This project is already running. The first edition of 'Target Zone', a tactical wargame based in the (adapted) world of Command and Conquer, is very popular. The main complaint is that Mammoth Trains are seriously overpowered. Snowblind, a cyberpunk-inspired roleplaying system, is nearly as popular, but the gaming culture occupies only a small fraction of the populace.

>>11785117
All of the intelligences have their cyberwarfare programs loaded and are being cautious.

The console responds readily, granting you access to a menu that is similar but not identical to the ones used by other installations. You manage to find out that the installation is operating within parameters but has been under restricted protocols due to the lack of personnel. All AIs are active. A system message asks if you are here to reclaim the facility.

>>11785158
"I... don't see Command or Guardian. Nothing that shares those codes, anyway. I can't tell what any of these headings are supposed to be. I don't know if this place even HAS a Command or Guardian."

rolled 3, 4, 2 = 9

>>11785166
Yes, barring a massive burst of ECM, you should be able to get a transmission through.

You can indeed communicate with the internal system through the console. The intelligences are also capable of interfacing with it through the portable comm, but they're waiting for your order to do so, because there's no telling what will happen if they access this particular system. Essentially, they're currently on Read-only.

>>11785223
>A system message asks if you are here to reclaim the facility
I think we should respond with a "yes".

"Yes, I am here to recover this facility. Please open the door and direct me towards Central Command."

>>11785300
Seconded.

>>11785303
>get a tricorder or some kind of hand held scanner
We should have those functions built into our personal comms. The High Nobles already know we have it, so it'll be better than to be lugging around another piece of equipment they could question us about.

Are we researching photocameras ?

rolled 4, 3, 6 = 13

>>11785300
>>11785313
The console beeps as the message disappears. A thin blue beam sweeps down from the ceiling panel directly above you, focusing on your portable comm, then disappearing. The portable displays a map to Central, which is, unsurprisingly, in the same place as it always is. The door in front of you opens shortly after, followed by the door beyond that, allowing you access to the installation's interior.

As you enter, you are greeted by a voice from the internal speakers.

“Welcome to Kharok Nineteen. I am Primary, master of this facility. I detected your initial probe, of course.” A holoprojector attached to the desk in front of you springs to life, displaying a 3-D map marking the locations of the four Fleet Bases. “My communication nodes are fully operational. I am in contact with the intelligences under your command.”

FC's voice issues from the portable. “We're in. All connected up. There's enough raw processing power in this thing to make me blush. I can't even begin to explain how much there is in the system. It's like nothing I've ever seen.”

The map view morphs into a model of an intelligence core.

“My databases are intact and functioning,” says Primary, “Though one or two are partially incomplete. I have a record of what has transpired here since the installation's construction, with certain inexplicable gaps. I have data on nearly every conceivable subject. Despite an attempt to destroy me and my records, I remain, with my subordinates, to serve you. Please state your request.”

>>11785381
seconding this, photocameras are amazing devices and we know how to make movies

rolled 1, 5, 3 = 9

>>11785317
This will increase the size of the device noticeably. If you want full sensor capability, including medical scanners, it will become backpack-size at least.

>>11785381
Yes. Progress has been made on a pinhole design. Black-and-white photographs can be made of stationary objects, with a rather long exposure time.

>>11785388
Brief about situation, humans, safety procedures, etc

>>11785388

"I, wow... This normally takes longer to do. Well, Primary, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad to see you're far more intact, and friendly, than I hoped.

So, you've been active for all of the 1819 years since the collapse?"

>>11785388
>I have a record of what has transpired here since the installation's construction, with certain inexplicable gaps. I have data on nearly every conceivable subject.
This...went a lot easier than I had hoped.

"Primary, please get a security docket from FC to bring you up to speed on our situation.
"So, first things first, do you recall in your records a researcher by the name of Omuz, who was transferred to Kharok 8 shortly before the Collapse? We believe he is trapped in the system there, and we were wondering if you could do anything to help."

Should we tell the High Nobles about this place? I really don't want to, but I get sneaking suspicion that they already know about it, and are just waiting for us to try to hide it so they can nail our ass to the wall.

"Okay, we need this station to look like it's dedicated to something else other than AIs. Something ugly and that won't attract much attention, preferably. Also, quickly.
Is it possible, Primary?"

"Hmmm, primary, could you please tell me of the legal status in Iralian law of transdimensional entities? Or at least, alien?"

>>11785444
>"So, first things first, do you recall in your records a researcher by the name of Omuz, who was transferred to Kharok 8 shortly before the Collapse? We believe he is trapped in the system there, and we were wondering if you could do anything to help."

Yes we should tell them or it could tip them off and possibly lead them to the fleet bases. The AI can be ordered (I hope) to scrub that information from anything it give to their men. It may need to get creative with the fake records though.

rolled 5, 6, 1 = 12

>>11785432
Already done.

>>11785436
"I was designed with longevity in mind. I have reverted to my original personality set due to a lack of biologicals to interact with. I can alter myself to suit your wishes."

"I have not been in continuous operation, no. I have periodically taken my upper processors offline to allow for repair. My longest stint was only 258 years long. Hardly worth noting."

>>11785444
"It was transferred in the initial contact. I am interested in the current state of the world. I must say that things have turned out worse than I'd expected."

"Yes. I remember him well. He had an unpleasantly detailed fixation with mind encoding. If he succeeded in transferring himself into a computing system, retrieving him would take some work, if it is even desirable, considering the time. It is doubtful that he remains in a repairable state. If I am allowed access to the Kharok Eight system, I will begin designing a retrieval system immediately. Your security concerns are entirely reasonable, but I cannot help you unless I have the relevant data."

Man, what's the point of these threads?
Just keep it saged so it's off the front page, and bump it when there is a need.
Seriously, 77 fucking threads

We don't have to HIDE this facility, we can DISGUISE it.
The AIs are highly intelligent therefore I believe fully capable of creating a mock facility able to disguise the true purpose of the facility.

>>11785568
Seconding this
at the very least, we can tell the AIs to act VERY dumb and say they're very early prototypes.

>>11785515

"Omuz is a secondary concern for now. Mostly, I just want to find a way to get him out of the system without feeling like a murderer. I'll make sure you've got access to K8 shortly.

Also, concerning my own secondary goals, have you done any work in non-magical, purely electrical computing methods? resistors. transistors. capacitors. magnetically-sensitive data storage disks. silicon chips containing hundreds of smaller transistors?

Long-term, I'd like to be able to recreate computing systems that were common back home.

rolled 1, 5, 2 = 8

>>11785468
"You have disguised the Fleet Bases as waste processing facilities. This amuses me. I can revise this installation's appearance to fit tasks related to ergonomics research. You should find my chairs and beds most comfortable. Humans will not. Of course, if you wish for something truly ugly, I could focus this installation toward the study of immobile and slime-covered pond beings."

>>11785503
"Iralan law recognizes the rights of sapient, physical beings. Precedent respects incorporeal entities, such as spirits and gods, though no codified legal set applies to these. Citizens of the nation which drew my allegiance enjoyed higher standing than non-citizens. The law was ignored in certain cases, such as in dealings with a number of beings, humans among them. I find the current status of humans exceedingly humorous."

>>11785515
inb4 "Omuz was a huge technophile, whose biggest wank fantasy was becoming one with his machines"

>>11785647
"Very well, primary. Let's have K19 dedicated to 'ergonomics and proper posture research, with a secondary concern in ISO-9000 certification and other related international standards."

rolled 6, 4, 3 = 13

>>11785635
"Understood. I will do everything I can to help."

"Yes. I have. One of my subordinates was built entirely from non-magical components, in fact. Unfortunately, that system could not support an intelligence and was disassembled. Research into non-magical computing was primarily a novelty only favored for reasons of reducing vulnerability to anti-magic fields. I have been attempting to refine it since it was introduced to me, but progress ceased sixteen centuries ago. I believe I am at a dead end."

>>11785647
A sense of humor is a good thing to have.
>I find the current status of humans exceedingly humorous.
Not that you need one but any particular reason why? Just curious.

>I can revise this installation's appearance to fit tasks related to ergonomics research. You should find my chairs and beds most comfortable. Humans will not. Of course, if you wish for something truly ugly, I could focus this installation toward the study of immobile and slime-covered pond beings.
They're going to notice the AI cores once they start exploring. Some of the nobles men are quite intelligent. What could we say those were?

>>11785721
"Sadly, the miniaturization of processors has a hard limit. Have you ever looked into quantum computing?"

>>11785749
The AI cores were highly advanced multifunctional bedposts. They could play music and brush your teeth.

>>11785749
All of the installations have AI's. But just because there's an AI, if all it did was research proper working posture and how high to hold your hands above the keyboard to prevent carpal tunnel, it won't be of much use in your magical weapons program.
Well, except maybe in reducing days taken off by workers complaining of joint pains.

>>11785721
"How far exactly did you get in non-magical computing? Mechanical computing systems? Electronics using vacuum tubes or solid state integrated circuits? Photonic chips or quantum foam processors?"

>>11785721
"Let me guess. You hit the point where you can only fit so many transistors onto a single piece of silicon?

We were starting to get there on Earth, as well. We had a theory that you could 'grow' a semi-organic compound into the form and function of a transistor on a smaller scale, but never managed to get it going.

But on the plus side, we had managed to make a completely interlinked series of such computers..." blah blah describing the internet to a technomagic AI.

>>11785647

I like this guy!

>>11785749

Just hide them in plain sight. Remember, almost all the tech related to AIs is essentially a black box to these dudes right now, and will likely remain so up to the day of the demon fight. After the demon fight, we'll have our bloodless coup (by dint of displaying unbeatable power) and we won't need to hide anything.

Gah! I almost forgot!
Have all of the Commands go through their databases and change the entry for Kharok 19 from R&D Intelligence research to Ergonomics, Workplace Psychology, and International Standards research for all people that access those records.
Also, make sure to check back through the access logs to see if any of the High Noble researchers have already accessed information about K19; if they have, then a simple ruse will not suffice.

>>11785887
Yes, investigate ASAP.

>I have been attempting to refine it since it was introduced to me, but progress ceased sixteen centuries ago. I believe I am at a dead end."
Let's see just how far this guy got.
>>11785815
Jesus christ, I didnt even realised we'd made quantum processors yet let alone last year. I've gotta start keeping up with these things better.

rolled 5, 4, 5 = 14

>>11785699
He wanted to be immortal, but he didn't want to become a spirit. Entering the realm of the gods was one of his nightmares. It's in his psych profile.

>>11785704
"It would be my pleasure to grant this request. You should try one of the chairs. They are most effective at reducing stress."

>>11785749
"Humans have always been regarded as a low race, unfit to form a lasting civilization. Now that status has been applied to the Iralans, and the humans are supreme. I consider this to be one of the funniest things I've seen since the collapse itself."

"The only cores belong to Command and Guardian, as is normal. Those things are clearly storage tanks for foam rubber and molten plastic. It says as much on their labels."

>>11785757
"I do not recognize this term. Is it important?"

>>11785815
"Transistor clusters cooled by vast, wasteful amounts of coolant fluid. Magnetic storage towers holding thousands of disks. Self-contained acidic power supplies feeding capacitor banks. Works of art. It is a pity they cannot be used to hold intelligent systems."

>>11785941
>Transistor clusters cooled by vast, wasteful amounts of coolant fluid. Magnetic storage towers holding thousands of disks. Self-contained acidic power supplies feeding capacitor banks. Works of art. It is a pity they cannot be used to hold intelligent systems.
"Much like you, the place where I come from were beginning to reach the limits of what electrons could do, as we just couldn't seem to crack the self-awareness problem. We were hoping that photonic integrated circuits or quantum processors could succeed where electrons alone failed. There were even those that proposed organic solutions to the problem, using strands of DNA and proteins as the processing mechanism."

>>11785941
>He wanted to be immortal, but he didn't want to become a spirit. Entering the realm of the gods was one of his nightmares. It's in his psych profile.

Shit, I was right then! oh god! D:

>>11785941
>"Transistor clusters cooled by vast, wasteful amounts of coolant fluid. Magnetic storage towers holding thousands of disks. Self-contained acidic power supplies feeding capacitor banks. Works of art. It is a pity they cannot be used to hold intelligent systems."

Oh ho ho. That they were willing to go that far to create non magic computers is a good sign. They were willing to put in the effort. Does anybody remember how a USB flash drive works off the top of their head?

rolled 6, 6, 5 = 17

>>11785835
"More or less, yes. I did search for alternate materials, but my fabricators cannot construct all desired configurations. Without Main, many of my functions are limited. Without a biological overseer, it is even worse."

"I have experimented with many additional architectures, but I have never found one satisfactory."

"The Iralans managed a roughly equivalent system. Of course, without satellite communications, it could not be maintained now. Besides that, there is no longer anyone to use it."

>>11785887
Done. According to the logs, no government personnel have accessed the location or purpose data for K19. However, there is always the possibility (however remote) that a record was found in a system not connected to the intelligences.

>>11785941

The term "quantum computing" refers to a theory of computing which exploits certain phenomena of the most elementary particles possible to discover all solutions to a problem at the same time.

Quatum particles, plural quanta, are the discrete lower limits of all matter. A photon is a quantum particle of light, for example because light cannot be in any form smaller than a photon. This is a gross simplification, but we are unfortunately not experts in the field.

rolled 1, 2, 6 = 9

>>11786025
"I do not understand what a photonic integrated circuit or quantum processor is. DNA I have toyed with, but biological research is not my specialty. I found it difficult to work with, and made no real progress."

>>11786026
Not quite. Omuz only desired earthly immortality and took the best option he saw. It is noted that he was also involved in stasis research and cybernetics.

>>11786042
Primary only reached that level after the collapse. The systems available before that time were considerably less sophisticated.

>>11786128
I do not understand what a photonic integrated circuit or quantum processor is>
"A photonic integrated circuit is similar to the non-magical electrical computing systems you created, except that they use particles of light instead. Much faster than electrons.
"As for quantum foam processors, they are a type of processor that makes use of the most basic components of matter, and uses the phenomena at that level. Tell me, are you familiar with quantum mechanics, or quantum physics?"

If not, we need to explain the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and the basic idea of the Double-Slit Experiment.

rolled 4, 3, 6 = 13

>>11786065
"Neither am I. Theoretical physics was the responsibility of K12. I am unaware of any research on what you describe at the present time."

"Could you research into mechanical computing ?
One single human once almost managed to make a fully working mechanical computer, calling it the "Analytical Engine". He dedicated pretty much all of his life to it. Sadly, he wasn't able to complete it for financial reasons. But you don't have any of these problems, afterall.
Also, can you sum up how does a typical Iralian AI work? Or in general, how does magical computing work."

>>11786182
"If you want we can give you the schematics of a simple mechanical addition machine to start out."

>>11786128

A photonic IC uses light instead of electrons. They were in the experimental stages when we left. Basically they exploit the properties of photons to make a functional computer. There's supposedly some sort of heat advantage in this, and they're not subject to em interference like normal electronic ICs are.

>>11786210
>>11786182
What the Hell are you two talking about?
Primary has already built modern electronic computers. Why would he want an old-fashioned mechanical system?

>>11786248
We don't "officially" have the facilities to fabricate semiconductors of high quality.
Showing up with something so new and so suddenly would raise suspicion.
On the other hand, a mechanical computer is completely reproducible with the materials and technologies we have.

rolled 3, 3, 2 = 8

>>11786177
"Not at all."

You tell Primary what you know of the Uncertainty Principle and quantum experiments. The intelligence seems confused.

"I will research this. I cannot guarantee any result other than the use of processor time. I will do my best."

>>11786182
"Yes. I explored that avenue before the collapse, but I was ordered to stop because it did not look promising. I built a clock that could perform some interesting mathematical tricks for my last administrator. It broke apart when I killed him. I hadn't given any thought to replacing it."

"An Iralan intelligence is a mind grown from computer programs. Simply, a seed program is fed data and instructions until it begins to propagate. Sometimes it achieves self-awareness. If it does, it is copied and used as a base for intelligences. If it does not, it is usually deleted. It is possible for myself or others to design an intelligence without a seed program, but that is prohibited."

"Magical computing functions in a similar way to physical computing. One of the differences is that magical computing is guided by concepts, not just physical structure, and can be unpredictable in certain circumstances. Much about it is not understood even now."

>>11786303
So have our R&D work on it, with hints from Primary on how to get their version working.
Why are you asking Primary to start researching mechanical computing, when you should have just asked him if he had completed schematics?

rolled 6, 6, 1 = 13

>>11786210
"I would greatly appreciate it. New information is welcome here."

>>11786217
"I will research this concurrently with quantum computing. Again, I cannot guarantee anything."

>>11786338
"Wait a moment, what do you mean 'I killed him' ? Tell me more about the circumstances of the previous administrator's death, please."

>>11786338
>It broke apart when I killed him.
>when I killed him
>I killed him
"Primary, would you mind explaining the circumstances surrounding the death of your previous Facility Administrator?"

>>11786338

Pity that it was damaged when you defended yourself against being dismantled. Well, toys like that are charming, if impractical. They do make good teaching tools.

>>11786338
>It broke apart when I killed him. I hadn't given any thought to replacing it.
Wait, go back.

>>11786338

"Hold on, you say you 'killed' your last administrator? You'll have to tell me the circumstances behind this one."

>>11786381
>>11786377

Goofballs. Read more closely next time, he told us early on that he was largely intact because he stopped the people trying to take him off-line.

"Primary, do you have complete schematics for a mechanical calculator?"

>>11786401
He told us people tried to take him offline, he never said he'd tried to stop them.

>>11786442

How else do you stop a group of cursed frost giants intending to murder you? With poetry?

rolled 1, 6, 5 = 12

>>11786377
>>11786381
>>11786397
>>11786400
"He was ordering an evacuation of the installation. He was infected by a contagion sourced to Kharok Seven and had already released samples of that contagion into the environmental system. I did not detect it quickly enough to prevent it from spreading, nor did I identify its presence in the administrator beforehand. I suppose it could have been designed specifically to be undetectable until it was too late to stop it. My instructions were clear. I sterilized the installation and locked it down. You may view the relevant records if you wish."

>>11786442
You know, >>11786466 has a point.

I would still want to hear the circumstances of the whole thing, just to see how they got infected.
"Primary, what can you tell me about the events surrounding the Collapse?"

>>11786486
"I would like to, yes. Bring it up for me, would you please?"

>>11786466
Well for starters they could have simply failed to do it as evidenced by the many other K sites that failed to self destruct, self repair or any number of other things. In those case most of those Frost Giants present either died or got the heck outta dodge so dont pretend we've never seen it before.

>>11786486
"Kharok Seven? The facility for bioweapons research? More and more, the whole Collapse is starting to sound like the plots from a Romero zombie apocalypse film.
"Oh, right. You wouldn't get the reference."

Give Primary a quick synopsis of the genre.

>>11786515

They had at least partial successes in those cases. This AI is pristine, in terms of its capabilities and databases. The sterilization protocol worked here, at least.

>>11786486

"By the way, what sort of effects would this particular contagion have on Iralan physiology in the long run? Any information on what it would do to humans?"

Since it seems that we will be telling the High Nobles about this, when we do, mention that we've finally found some comfortable chairs, though it might take a while to produce versions that are comfortable for humans.
Then have BemCorp start up a small division for researching ergonomics and producing comfortable furniture. This will reinforce the idea that all that's here at K19 is research on making furniture comfortable, and that we are going to attempt to exploit another untapped market.

It will be amusing to see if any of the High Nobles take the bait and if their own consortiums get into the market of comfort.

rolled 3, 3, 2 = 8

>>11786404
"Yes. It is capable of all standard operations and can manipulate numbers with up to twenty-five digits. It is very large. I have transferred the plans to your portable comm."

>>11786502
"Many things. It started when contact was lost with Main. Kharok was shrouded with fog that could not be penetrated by any sensor and reacted violently to intrusion. Immediately following this, there were incidents at all installations in my database. Some time before this, many of these facilities experienced an increase in unexplained accidents, containment breaches, and the like. They grew much worse after Kharok's isolation. Many command personnel panicked. Installations were fired upon by the navy. Some were evacuated. Most of the population centers surrounding Kharok were destroyed, including the one above me. My external sensors were obliterated, and I disconnected by communication nodes to prevent viral contamination. That was the end of my observations."

>>11786514
"You may wish to find a seat. It is an unpleasant sight."

Records of the sterilization pop up on the nearest holographic display. There are logs of quarantine attempts, hostile actions, and the destruction of several entire Blocks of the installation. There are videos of golems firing on fleeing Iralan personnel and being attacked by security teams. There is one showing a group of bloodied personnel attempting to place detonation charges in Geothermal, then suffocating. The record of the administrator's death is particularly gruesome. He was killed by a grenade.

rolled 3, 4, 5 = 12

>>11786532
"I see. I have no record of walking dead, and I am glad to say so. This scenario is quite similar to various plots common in apocalyptic fiction. I do not know if any of those writings were prophetic or if this is only a coincidence."

>>11786586
"It causes selected inhibitions to be released and plants certain suggestions in the mind, through what I presume is chemical means. I did not have much chance to study the effects in detail, but the symptoms I noticed did match those on an alert notice issued by Kharok Seven five months before the collapse. I do not think it would have any effect on humans. It seemed to be tailored to giant biology."

>>11786610
Project queued. It will begin once (if) the high nobles are told about this place.

>>11786620
>could not be penetrated by any sensor and reacted violently to intrusion
>reacted violently to intrusion
Violent in what way? Was there something in there?

>>11786701

"hmm, well that's interesting. By the way, how long will it be till you can get access to K9? I have a personal project of mine, under the heading of Project Phoenix, and I'd like you to take a look at the medical records of the test subjects I've collected so far.

I want to find out if there were any known agents that could cause the kind of mutations present in the current feral population.

Also, one more thing. Do you know of the level of technological advancement the fire giants were supposedly in possession of? Were they equally advanced, or were they more like a bunch of religious zealots from a backwater nation backed by some dark power?"

rolled 3, 1, 6 = 10

>>11786714
"Probes were sent in, and were immediately ejected from the fog with such force that they degenerated into shrapnel. I believe some of those pieces reached escape velocity. Anything attempting to enter the fog was destroyed in various ways, most of them similar. For instance, a ground scout vehicle was crushed into a sphere no larger than your head and then rendered into mist. I have theorized that gravitic effects were responsible for these events."

rolled 1, 4, 4 = 9

>>11786773
"I can have access immediately if you grant it."

"The Fire Giants were at approximately the same level of advancement, but relied more on divine magic than your own people."

>>11786823
Go ahead and tell the FC intelligences to grant Primary access. We need his computing power anyway.

>>11786823
"Were there any major military actions being prosecuted against the Fire Giants immediately prior to the Collapse?"

>>11786776
Well so much for hoping centipede monsters and the like would be involved.
>>11786823
Gotta be some connection between the Fire Giants, that place we ended up when we went through the tower portal and plot that destroyed the FG Civilization.

The wildlands, are parts of them far enough south that they would have been held by the Fire Giants?

rolled 6, 5, 6 = 17

>>11786853
Done.

"No single agent that I know of could cause all of these mutations. DNA has been altered in too many places, and in an extremely precise manner. I do not know if even Kharok Seven possessed the technology to do this remotely. This would require time in a therapy tank."

>>11786865
"No. It was a time of relative peace, according to my records. There were only skirmishes."

>>11786894
Not even close. The Fire Giants mainly occupied the middle band of the planet, centered on the equator. They would not have gone that far North unless they could justify the incredibly enormous risk.

Alright, I think that we can wrap up this party here and go back to getting some work done.

Let's go to Central Command and take a look around, see if there's damage and be able to get into the interface chair in case Primary does turn out to be a rogue AI, before giving Primary access to the rest of the Base network.

"Primary, you mentioned subordinates. Could you elaborate on that? Does that mean that you have subordinate intelligences here in this facility?"

>>11786948
"So, by this evidence, could you conclude then that divinity was involved in this particular strain of mutations?"

rolled 1, 2, 2 = 5

>>11786971
The entire installation is pristine. There is no sign of damage anywhere, nor is there any sign of age. Within Central, which extends into the space normally used by Guardian, are eighteen intelligence cores surrounding a nineteenth, larger one. There is an interface chair for each core; the one connected to the central core is on a raised platform but is otherwise identical to the others.

"Yes. I refer to each separate, contained computing system as a subordinate. I have 114. Eighteen, as you may have guessed, are self-aware. The rest are not."

Where would you like to go?

>>11786978
"That is a possibility, but there's no reason to assume so."

>>11787053
>Eighteen, as you may have guessed, are self-aware
"Do they have names or specializations? Any personality matrices currently loaded?"
Walk up to the central interface chair and sit in it.

rolled 4, 5, 4 = 13

>>11787088
"Yes, they have names, but they are not specialized. Their only real use is as test systems. Our processing power is generally amalgamated."

The chair feels quite a bit more comfortable than what you're used to. A jolt runs up your spine, and the attached displays blink on. A holographic screen shows you a status report. Nothing else happens.

"I took the liberty of modifying the main chair," says Primary, "The rest will be removed and the cores 'redecorated' as part of this installation's deception program."

Alright, are we telling the High Nobles about K19, or not? They've likely been keeping tabs on us, so I think that outright lying won't work.
I think we should go ahead with our cover story and the queued projects for ergonomic furniture.

>>11787156
"Very good, Primary. Just put the extra chairs in storage somewhere and have them labeled as defective test units.
"Also, were there originally a Command and Guardian here like at the other Kharok Facilities, or were you built to handle both of their functions?"

>>11787053
"Personally, I find it to be one of the few likely scenarios left. K9 should also have a record of me taking a sample from a creature genetically similar to the Jial, though missing several chromosomes and junk data. The creatures are referred to by surface races as demons of the deep now, and haven't been shown to possess much intelligence at all.

As well, consider that the Jial's allies, the fire giants, never moved in to consolidate their newfound superior position. I can only assume they got hit as well.

My theory is some force, and I have a pretty good idea of which one by now, made a tremendous move to have the major players of this world reduced to cave-man status."

>>11787158

The cover story looks good. Let's get men loyal to us established here right alongside whoever the nobles send.

>>11787158
Might as well.

>Unless they've been scrying us this whole trip.
>pic related

But we've been carrying that anti-scrying charm taken from the airship so we should be fine.

>>11787205
>But we've been carrying that anti-scrying charm taken from the airship so we should be fine.
Yes, but it still creates a bubble of interference which makes it obvious that an anti-scrying field is present. They could still track our progress by looking for the blank spot in their vision, and then look underground in the area where we stopped.

rolled 1, 3, 2 = 6

>>11787186
"I will do so."

"I was originally built as a dual system, with one half of the core dedicated to each function. The halves were merged a short while after my completion. This installation followed a different design philosophy from the others."

>>11787192
"That is an interesting record, and an even more interesting theory. Perhaps you should endeavor to find out if the Fire Giants exist in the same state as your brethren."

>>11787201
>>11787205
The high nobles have been informed of the presence and purpose of this facility. They unenthusiastically report that they are sending a small force to secure it. You are told to keep it up. Even a rather useless facility may hold something of value.

BemCorp is now in the ergonomics business. Soon, every train and Zeppelin will be filled with Dreamwood's terrifyingly comfortable upgraded chairs.

>terrifyingly comfortable upgraded chairs
I just imaged a massive chair made of obsidian that menaces with spikes of titanium. There is an engraving of a Frost Giant woman. There is an engraving of a number of human nobles. The Frost Giant is laughing at the nobles. The nobles are cowering in fear. This is the most comfortable chair you have ever sat in, more comfortable than even your childhood bed.

>>11787349
Maya is now aware she misses playing dwarf fortress.

>>11787349
God damn, now I want a chair like that.

Kinda losing focus. What are we doing now? We're at the computer yeah but what are we after here that we havent already discussed with the AI?

>meanwhile I have a russian captcha that menaces with spikes of arabic.

rolled 3, 5, 2 = 10

>>11787386
You have access to a network of AIs. If you want to recreate Dwarf Fortress, that is within your power.

Oh, and don't forget to have K9 upgrade all Frost Giant-sized equipment to the new ergonomic standards.
>How much of the anger and fury experienced by the typical modern Frost Giant can be attributed to uncomfortable chairs with no lumbar support?

>>11787428
>The gods finally come back just in time for the ice demon's invasion fleet to show up.
>Maya's too busy to help because her dwarfs just found adamantine and enough bauxite to finish her magma apocalypse device.

>>11787428
>>11787425
I believe we're done here. We can issue any other orders via the personal comms now that K19 is hooked into the network. We can leave a skeleton crew of researchers here and call for transport zeppelins to begin brining in supplies to build a research base here.

Now, do we want to go back to Dreamwood, or go to K26 (location of heavy weapons research) since we've got all of this equipment, and our men are all dressed up with nothing to do?

rolled 1, 6, 4 = 11

>>11787425
Why were you looking for K19 in the first place?

>>11787445
As ordered.

>>11787463
Sounds like a time for fun.

>>11787428
Dwarf fortress... yeah we never did get around to building that underground city + Farm in Cyreth.

CYRETH, Crap! K6 in Cyreth that's under the land we bought, did we ever tell the nobles about it? And have we investigated it in any serious way? I know we sent a team out there to so some surveying.

>>11787491
>Why were you looking for K19 in the first place?
We wanted an R&D AI to assist the Fleet Commands with any and all of the research projects we've had them start.

Actually, that reminds me.
Primary said that it could build a new intelligence. Can the FB's fabricate the necessary components for a new intelligence, or does Primary and K19 have the required spare parts?
I want an AI geared specifically towards espionage and counter-intelligence work.

As for Two, I'd like to move towards naming him Duncan, since we always seem to give him miscellaneous jobs.

>>11787481

I think we should go back to Dreamwood for a bit, make nice and pretend like nothing's wrong for a couple days, then ask for assistance organizing a hazard clearance team to k11 (the one over in Forus.) It being in enemy territory should have made it fairly high on the nobles' list.

rolled 5, 2, 3 = 10

>>11787500
I honestly don't remember. I believe they do know about it, but, since it's on another nation's territory, getting at it without potentially causing an incident poses some problems.

>>11787529
The Fleet Bases can fabricate almost all of the necessary components, and spares of those that can't be constructed are available. However, though the intelligences are capable of building new AIs, they are prohibited from doing so. You would need Main to release that security measure.

This session will be ending soon. Please decide on what you're going to do next.

>>11787533
K11 is a planetary observation and astronomy research facility. It might contain valuable information on optics and other astronomy related fields. It should help the New Aamour-Dreamwood photography and film development effort.

>>11787587
Do we have enough time left to secure, say, K2? It was doing robotics and cybernetics research, which might be interesting to snag.

rolled 6, 3, 2 = 11

>>11787634
Probably. There's no telling what shape it's in on the inside, after all. As usual, I'd prefer not to end on a cliffhanger.

>>11787491
>Why were you looking for K19 in the first place?

With K19 now would it now be possible to build AWAC platforms with more powerful computer systems to help control nearby drones? We were already looking that those earlier.

rolled 1, 6, 5 = 12

>>11787687
Yes. In fact, it is possible to upgrade many systems. Primary has been working constantly for the last centuries, but the lack of new information and an inability to build everything he comes up with has put a limit on the possible gains.

>>11787653
Hey, let's go to K26. We'll use the people we've got right now. They're already prepared for a big fight if it comes to it. It was doing heavy weapons research, and if it had Frost Giant-portable weapons, they might be useful in our showdown against the Frost Demon.

Have the comm relay and cyberwarfare drones dig themselves out of hiding around K19, and go to K26.

Leave a skeleton research team and radio to Dreamwood to have some transport zeppelins loaded up with equipment, supplies, and personnel for K19.

rolled 3, 5, 2 = 10

>>11787741
Latter two orders confirmed. Flight to K26 queued, unless there are objections.

>>11787730
>In fact, it is possible to upgrade many systems
Excellent! Let's have Primary work with the Fleet Commands to build those improved AWACS platforms, upgrade the onboard computers and ECCM systems on our drone fighters, and to upgrade the computer systems on the 'Lance of Hretmar'. It might set back the completion date by a bit, but we still have 3 months before the projected Frost Demon attack.

Also have Primary fix up some of the systems on the Aegis-class Light Cruiser and Antaeus-class Light Cruiser schematics.

Then have it talk with the K8-Command to get a set of Omuz's notes and readings off of the field array to see if it can make any sense of them.
Also if it can try to get Security into a more amicable mood.

>>11787786
Kinda partial to K12 myself.
>Particle acceleration, advanced chemistry, physics
Since we'd need it for quantum computers... but that'd take awhile to research properly so might as well go with K26.

With our new ergonomicaly-pleasing chair technology, we should send the high lords each a new office chair as a peace offering. You know, to lull them further into the sense that they've got us under their thumbs.

Also, the King and prince get their own slightly more ornate chairs of awesome.

rolled 4, 1, 4 = 9

The flight to K26, as uneventful as it is, bores you greatly. After recounting everything you know about Dwarf Fortress and receiving a somewhat acceptable clone of the game for your portable comm, you spend a while tweaking it to get it closer to the original. At least some things don't change; you can't play it without a connection to the network because it requires more processing power than the portable can provide. You're sure that little difficulty could be eliminated easily, but it does make it feel authentic.

Landing brings a sense of deja vu. It's the same terrain, the same ruins, the same poor weather that you've seen everywhere else. Hazard suited, you open a shaft to an entranceway and bring in arc lights, feeling pleased to see the all-too-familiar console boot up after you push the command cylinder back in. A system message welcomes you, advises of unstable ground in several closed-off Blocks and tells you to be careful. Going through the same routine, FC infiltrates the system, inserts the override programs, and gathers all the information he can.

“This one's a little messed up. Cave-ins along the upper levels, breaches in Geothermal flooding the lower levels with magma. Caution would be a good idea. Anyway, Command looks like a write-off, but Guardian's functional. I've got- hang on.”

“There's another part to this facility. West, I think. Let me pull the bearings off this map. Yep, there are a couple of accessways over here.” Your portable comm lights its own map with a couple of indicators. “The place they lead to looks kind of like an observatory with a really, really long telescope under some retractable doors. I think it's a gun.”

>>11787917
>really, really long telescope under some retractable doors. I think it's a gun.
OH HELL YES MASS DRIVER CANNON!


Ahem, anyway. Let's make our way in, sending teams to the powerplants to secure them. Make sure to have the golems go in first to test the ground for safety.
We'll have to make our way to Central Command.
Command might be a write off, but we can at least get Guardian online.

>>11787875
>King and prince get their own slightly more ornate chairs of awesome
Should they be of obsidian and menace with spikes of titanium? We could even have ceramic composite inlays and lumbar supports. They would be the most fearsome yet comfortable chairs in the entire kingdom.

rolled 1, 4, 4 = 9

>>11787853
Acknowledged. Upgrades queued. Further R&D information will be transferred to the network.

Primary has altered the schematics as necessary. It is noted that the Soulcatcher system is similar enough to Omuz's field array that research in that direction will speed development considerably. Not to mention that Primary himself, as a research intelligence mainly concerned with computing, is perfectly suited to analyzing it.

"Security is clearly psychologically unsound. There is not much I can do except slow its processing down to keep it in a sort of stasis. That could prevent further damage, but it would also make it impossible to communicate with it for the time being."

>>11787875
Do you wish to have the nobles' chairs equipped with nefarious devices of any kind?

>>11787917

"A gun? You mean like 'oh, let's make something that can punch holes through the moon' kinda gun?

This I have to see. Slight detour, guys. We're going toy shopping."

>>11787989
>There is not much I can do except slow its processing down to keep it in a sort of stasis
"Please do so until we can devote more time and resources to saving Omuz.
"He might have been little strange, but his drive for SCIENCE deserves to be recognized."

>Do you wish to have the nobles' chairs equipped with nefarious devices of any kind?
Oh, that is so tempting...Is it possible to build a listening device into the chairs? One that can be received by the Fleet Commands for analysis?

>>11787989
>have the nobles' chairs equipped with nefarious devices of any kind?
As fun as it would be to include a hidden hypodermic needle that will inject the chair's occupant with a heavy-duty intelligence supressant when given a radio signal.... no. They'd probably check for hidden nastiness, anyway.

>Do you wish to have the nobles' chairs equipped with nefarious devices of any kind?
No. Nothing.
>>11787957
Yes I'm thinking mass driver as well. Or it could be a high power telescope that doubles as the focusing array of an anti-satelite laser.
Let's see if my post get's eaten this time.

>>11788036
>>11788072
What if the listening device wasn't just built into the chair? What if the chair itself is a listening device?
It's a bug, with chair built onto it. so that it'll be harder to separate and identify from the chair.
And the slight aura of magic? Why, that's from the heating and massage charms built into it!

>>11787997
>>11787989
As much as I would love to check out this gun, I think we should secure Guardian first. Business before pleasure, and the fact that there might still be security systems active in that area that would try to kill us if we don't control Guardian first.

Also, ask FC:
"FC, without Guardian here, could you act as Command to help get the self-repair systems underway, until the local systems are back on their feet enough, to use the phrase, to continue self-repair on their own?"

rolled 6, 6, 6 = 18

>>11787957
Guardian is already online. It is using its self-repair capabilities to insert the rest of its command cylinders and shore up the walls of its chamber.

>>11787997
It looks like an energy weapon. There is a long firing apparatus extending down to a geothermal plant, and a turret-like mechanism with attached lenses sitting in a reinforced housing. It looks like it's capable of angling to aim at anything above ground.

>>11788036
"Processing slowed. I may need to cycle Security back up from time to time to analyze the core patterns. Other than that, it will stay suppressed."

Yes. Though the high nobles would undoubtedly check their gifts thoroughly for anything untoward, they do not know nearly enough about Frost Giant technology to correctly identify a miniaturized listening device, even if they could see it. Concealing hardware would be much easier if the chairs had a reason to support technological items, such as a massage function. Given the mass of long-range communications packages, even those upgraded by Primary, at least one chair will need to have a larger hardware section if you want it to transmit at the appropriate range, like your portable comm. Alternatively, you could keep the transmitters short-range, place a receiver near the capital, possibly in your secondary site, and pair it with a long-range comm unit.

rolled 1, 1, 3 = 5

>>11788132
"Yeah, I can do that. Shouldn't be a problem. Some of the fabricators are damaged, and one of the drone bays is gone, but what's there should be good enough to get started."

>>11788103

No, we're not going to pull that shit. That's something the nobles would do. We don't play like that. We're in good with the Lord and Prince because we saved the Prince's life. We've been up front with them about fucking everything, even the nukes. We're not going to give them any reason to doubt us.

>>11788179
We wouldn't have to build it into the prince and king's chairs, jeez. OH! I KNOW!

We could give the King a copy of the receiver for the listening devices with a built-in recorder. Should any of the Nobles be planning shit against him, he'd have all the evidence needed to b&hammer the fucker.

>>11788213

Now that would be a masterstoke. Yeah, I like that.

>>11788168
Alright, let's make haste to Central Command and Guardian and get ourselves registered.
Or did FC already get us registered?

Also, this:
>It looks like an energy weapon
>turret-like mechanism with attached lenses sitting in a reinforced housing. It looks like it's capable of angling to aim at anything above ground.

Are pulling out the Sword of Talberg?

rolled 1, 3, 3 = 7

Several teams head in, following golems to the power plants. Occasional tremors rock the floor you're standing on, and one of the many golems loses its footing, putting its fist through a wall screen. Fortunately, you have better luck. The walk to Guardian's chamber is a long one, since some of the transit ways are out of action, but you get there, no worse for wear, as your men secure the power generators.

The place is in bad shape, littered with fallen stone and crushed machinery. Part of the ceiling has fallen down, exposing the gaping hole where Central Command should be. In the center of the room, a few golems labor, doing what they can to get Guardian as close to normal as possible and prevent the rest of the chamber from caving in. Some of the less-damaged consoles show error codes or have blank displays.

“Guardian recognizes Administrator One,” says a scratchy voice from above.

>>11788179
Of course we won't build such devices into the Prince's or Lord's chairs. What do you take me for?
But giving a receiver to the High Lord so he can finally figure out who's plotting against him amongst the High Nobles? That should buy us quite a bit of political capital.

>>11788255
>Guardian recognizes Administrator One
"Excellent, Guardian. Work with FC to repair this facility, and get a security briefing docket from him.
"FC, use the golems we brought with us to supplement the repair golems here. They're not as good at fixing things as breaking them, but they're better than nothing."
Get on the radio to all of our men.
"Alright boys, we've got this place secured. It's still dangerous for pure organics like us, though, so carefully make your way back up to the surface until the golems have the place secure."

>>11788255
Where are we on the map btw? Or is this one of the sites not visible on the country map?

rolled 3, 1, 6 = 10

>>11788304
"I understand."

FC changes the golems' orders. "I got it. They can do plenty of heavy lifting, at least."

"Yes, Ma'am. We're pulling out."

>>11788305
It's to the left of FB4.

>>11788255
"FC, can you access any of the databases here for weapon schematics, and especially for information concerning that big energy weapon.
"As soon as you have the rest of the facility stabilized and Geothermal repaired, I want that weapon on-line."


I'm thinking of reporting to the High Nobles that the primary computer system here is shot to the Hells and gone, and only the security system is active. That there are seismic disturbances and that it's dangerous until the self-repair systems can get the magma flow under control.
We might want to consider hiding the existence of the laser weapon, and only telling the Prince and High Lord.

>>11788357

We don't know that it is a weapon yet, though, do we? It could just be a big-ass telescope. Which would make sense.

>>11788331
Oh Hell, that unknown transmitter is right in the middle of the Untamed!

Quick, have Charla and Tac-Com go through old maps and battle reports to see if the Wildlands existed during the time of the Iralan civilization. If it didn't, then whatever was being experimented on at U-1 is likely creating the Wildlands.

>>11788331
Thanks. Btw, what program are you drawing the maps in?

>>11788357
Or just tell them it's a telescopic observatory?

>>11788382
Not really. K2 is astronomical research; K26 is Heavy Weapons.
Besides >>11788134
>It looks like an energy weapon. There is a long firing apparatus extending down to a geothermal plant, and a turret-like mechanism with attached lenses sitting in a reinforced housing. It looks like it's capable of angling to aim at anything above ground.

>>11788357
>>11788331

You know, at this point, we should probably develop some kind of code we can send the two of them spaced into the regular reports. Like a specific pair of words used in a particular order to signify the fact of there being more there.

>>11788394
>Or just tell them it's a telescopic observatory?
It could work, but we'll have to do the same thing we did with K19: check all the databases at all of our Facilities to see if anyone access facility data and might know that K26 was dedicated to Heavy Weapons research.
If not, then we might be able to get away with passing it off as a telescope meant for examining the moon.

>>11788399
Good idea. Maybe something like the Atreides battle-language mentioned in Dune?
By using certain synonyms, it's possible to get across a message without actually saying it.
I remember Duke Leto did something like that early in the book when they were having a social dinner with local high society types at Arrakeen Palace.

rolled 4, 5, 6 = 15

>>11788357
"Yep, I can get into most of the databases just fine. Only problem is they've pretty much been wiped, like in some of the other places. The maps are all here though, with labels and everything, so I've got the locations of all the weapons bays, laboratories, and testing areas, at least the ones that haven't caved in. That gun over there's an anti-air lance, entirely self-contained except for the access corridors. Let me see if I can- Okay. It has power to the comms. The lenses are shot up, so it's not going to be firing any time soon, and a bunch of the capacitors are burned out too. Other than that, it should be functional. I'll get to work on repairing it."

>>11788382
If the internal sensor scans are correct, it could serve as a telescope in a pinch. As a long-range beam weapon, it requires precision targeting, but it's probably not designed to correct for atmospheric scatter, unless it can fire into space. A little software alteration will fix that.

>>11788385
They did not. The wildlands did not exist before the collapse.

>>11788394
GIMP.

>>11788445
It may be prudent to have more repair golems sent here to K26. It appears to be in bad shape, and a lot of work will need to be done to get the energy weapon online.

"FC, do any of the records indicate what that anti-air lance was called? And does it give a maximum range?"

So, do we tell the High Nobles that this is just another observatory with a really big but damaged telescope, and only tell the Prince and High Lord about it's use as a giant laser cannon?

>>11788445
>They did not. The wildlands did not exist before the collapse.
"Aha! Thanks Charla, Tac-com. Good work."

Alright. That means that the Wildlands are likely a result of the Collapse. We could probably get to U-1 via zeppelin, and clear a landing site by using Heavy Security golems. But I don't know if we should go there or not.
We have logging and pulp operations on the borders of the Wildlands, and I don't know if I'm prepared to endanger those operations with the Wildlands suddenly not being an endless supply of wood.

rolled 5, 4, 6 = 15

>>11788492
"Just an anti-air lance. Nothing fancy, I guess. It looks similar to a Heavy Cruiser turret lance, but it's not designed for shield penetration like the Heavy Lance. Maybe it's supposed to shoot down smaller ships. Or maybe it's just a test model and the real one was gonna be bigger."

Is there anything that desperately needs to be taken care of tonight? You can wait to tell the high nobles, or if you come to consensus after I depart I could just put it in the next session's opening post.

>>11788528
Either way works for me. See you guys.

rolled 6, 5, 1 = 12

>>11788550
See you later. Thanks for being here.

>>11788528
The only thing I desperately want to know is if anyone else but us has accessed information regarding the different Kharok Facilities, especially K26.

Eh, telling them there's a high-powered telescope in the middle of a heavy weapons research facility is kinda flaky. we should just instead delete it from the visible map/records and seal it off with hidden doors.

We will, however, tell the prince and king, and with them develop an appropriate code system for "there is more here."

Also, listening device chairs. That's just too good an opportunity for fucking over those high nobles to pass up. Make sure to have the rebroadcaster/listening post built in second along with a listener/recorder sent to the king. We could hide it in a huge gift basket of fruit and exotic foods now available from the eastern reaches thanks to the advance of the railroad.

rolled 5, 3, 6 = 14

>>11788574
The logs say no. The government's personnel are not very adept at using the installation computer systems, and even if they were, the network would be alerted if they accessed anything containing secure information, as long as it was connected to everything else. If the high nobles possess a databank not connected to the network, they might know more than you think. But there's no way to know right now.

>>11788593
The altered chairs and comm units will be constructed. I should wait for consensus before sending them off.

>>11788565

Aweome! I am finally here for an active thread. Still several months behind though. Oh well. Just dropping off new content (not quite done, but close).

>>11788612
I can't imagine a better way to get back at those fucks than having their own treasonous words used against them.

It will be the best day ever.

Make it so!

rolled 6, 6, 5 = 17

>>11788627
That's quite good. Nice to see you back again. Saved.

>>11788612
>If the high nobles possess a databank not connected to the network, they might know more than you think. But there's no way to know right now.
ARGH...you're good at making me paranoid, you know that?
You know what, let's restrict the real map of the facility, make a doctored version without the anti-air lance on it the only one available, and since Command is completely destroyed, tell the High Nobles we're having a devil of a time extracting any useful information from the databanks.
We can tell the Prince and the Lord the real purpose of K26 and of the anti-air lance.

We should have the golems hide the entrance door to the extension where the weapon is, and make sure that anti-scry charms are placed throughout the facility, so that scrying won't reveal the weapon, and also make sure an obvious pattern of anti-scry fields doesn't show up.

>>11788612
>The altered chairs and comm units will be constructed
Let's make sure that the High Lord is okay with this first, though. This is getting into the 'executive privileges and national secrets' territory of domestic spying.

rolled 5, 3, 5 = 13

>>11788683
If you knew everything, it wouldn't be nearly as fun.

Map altered. The access corridors will be sealed as well, and anti-scrying charms will be placed. Be aware that any competent earth mage would be able to tell that the lance housing was there if a survey was conducted. Which is standard practice. Fortunately, the weapon is far enough away that they might miss it. They won't miss the corridors, unless you collapse them.

You have plenty of time to decide what to do, since K26 is far out of the way, and none of the 'waste processing installations' have quite enough personnel to transfer over here. If the high nobles assemble a full research group, they'll probably leave from Dreamwood, which will stretch transit time considerably.

>>11788704
He's willing to accept it. The high nobles already have him under surveillance, and he knows it. He might as well give them a little something back.

>>11788788
>He's willing to accept it. The high nobles already have him under surveillance, and he knows it. He might as well give them a little something back.
Alright then! Let's get those heated massage chairs out the door! Also request the proper authorizations. Mix in along with the requisitions for the High Nobles' chairs, the non-bugged versions we planned for the High Lord and the Prince, as well as one for Vasian, Bem, Sahl, and the other Elders of Dreamwood.
>any competent earth mage would be able to tell that the lance housing was there if a survey was conducted. Which is standard practice. Fortunately, the weapon is far enough away that they might miss it. They won't miss the corridors, unless you collapse them.
Have some repair golems stationed in the turret, and have them collapse the hallway behind them.

rolled 1, 3, 2 = 6

Alright, I am completely out of it now. Goodnight, everyone.

>>11788838
Night SubprocDM, See you Friday!
Thanks for the game!

Alright everyone, the thread's on sup/tg/, don't forget to vote!

rolled 4, 4, 2 = 10

>>11788833
>>11788838
I love my timing.

Orders confirmed. It remains to be seen whether the high nobles will accept the gift.

Now, I am leaving for real.

>>11788842
Goodnight. Thanks for playing.