Jacob Falke begins directing workers on the construction of the trading vessel to make sure it runs smoothly and to specifications.

First things first. Congratulations on the new job Alex. Good luck.

*she walks out of her quarters after a long downshift sleep session, a resolute look on her face. Passing through the cramped underground corridors, she takes the elevator down to the local rail stop and takes the train to Hab Block 7. An ascending escalator takes her topside, a view to the surface opening up through the reinforced glass windows. She walks resolutely to one of the hab dormitories and knocks on a door labeled "MONTAG, A. R."

Now gentlement,
I believe the first part of the Mass Driver components have sucessfully arrived at your colony, is the construction going to start anytime soon?

=====================================
Colony Resources Logbook Version 1.9
=====================================
System: LR023
Colony Name: Longreach
Report Filed by: Head Field Engineer M. Williams, Acting Colony Resources Manager
=====================================
Report page 1 of 3
=====================================
Named Characters:
Tags: /admin/, /milit/, /engin/, /maint/, /miner/, /medic/, /scien/, /other/
- /engin/ Appleseed, Johnny, Aeronautical Engineer
- /milit/ Artemis R. Montag, Lieutenant Commander
- /admin/ Bellins, Archivist
- /milit/ Borvagh, Cadet
- /milit/ C. Bradley, USN security tactics officer
- /engin/ Brown, Aerospace Engineer
- /engin/ Carson, Hydroponic Engineer
- /servi/ "Chef, The", Chef
- /scien/ Dr. Corleone, Astrophysicist
- /maint/ Corpri, Custodian
- /maint/ J. Dirte, Custodian
- /scien/ 'Comrade' Docter, Biological Sciences Specialist
- /maint/ Dorkins, Mechanic
- /engin/ Falke, Jacob, Areospace Engineer
- /other/ Flower, Jim, Civilian <*Currently under medical servaliance*>
- /maint/ Freitag, Thomas, non-specialized Worker
- /engin/ Gary, Alan, Energy Systems Engineer
- /admin/ Halts, Chief Comms Officer
- /milit/ Harrison, Corpsman
- /medic/ Holmes, Diana, Medical Assistant
- /medic/ Dr. Hassan, General Physician
=====================================

>>9488885

>>9488944
- /engin/ Huxley, Environmental Engineer
- /engin/ Josef, Officer Engineer
- /maint/ Kevin, General Specialist
- /engin/ Kaufmann, Wilhelm, Engineer
- /milit//admin/ Krupp-Forthwright, Leonard, High Commandant of the "Alexander"
- /scien/ Lister, Electronics Specialist
- /engin/ Martinez, Eva, Senior Robotics Technician
- /milit/ McAlister, Lieutenant Jr. Grade
- /maint/ McCain, Mechanic (Specialist)
- /admin/ McCallahan, Senior Fleet Liaison
- /milit//admin/ Newitz, Victor, FCC Senior Commander
- /medic/ Dr. Octavius, Psychiatrist
- /milit/ Reeds, Senior Security Officer
- /milit/ Reynolds, Cadet
- /milit/ Ricky, Gunnery Seargent
- /scien/ Dr. Salazar, Hydroponic Specialist
- /miner/ Santoya, Gerome, Mining Operations Manager
- /other//AI/ 'Sarissa', Colony AI Construct *shut down*
- /scien//miner/ P. Shepard, Geological Team Specialist
- /engin/ Tycho, Electrical Engineer
- /engin/ Varnigan, Genetic Engineer
- /engin/ Wilhelm Kaufmann, Engineer
- /engin//admin/ M. Williams, Head Field Engineer, 'Acting Manager of the Colony'
- /engin//admin/ Winkel-Schmidt, Head of Automated Systems
- /admin//other/ Withers, Morale Officer
- /other/ Maxim Prokopy, Crash Survivor *prisoner*
=====================================

with the launch of project "longreach trading vessel", i have decided our baby will need a name.

whats a good name for our fair merchant?

=====================================
2 of 3
=====================================
Total Specialist Work Force (Known workers, caution overlap):
- AI's: 1
- Aministrative Personnel: 8
- Engineers (Total): 14
- Maintainence Staff: 6
- Military Personnel: 10
- Miners: 2
- Scientists/Specialists (Total): 5
- Other Colonists: 1
=====================================
3 of 3
=====================================
Officer's Audio Journal:
My God, this colony is going to hell in a handbasket. Not only do we have fucking ghost ship bearing down on us, one of our colonists just attempted suicide. Worse Mr. Montag gets the bright idea to take a shuttle UP to the Ulysses for God knows what reason...
Urg, if it weren't for the fact that the medlab is currently a mess, I'd go down there and grab something for this migrane. As it is, our only qualified doctor is nowhere to be found and the nurse in charge is on the verge of a mental breakdown.
I'll have her put on paid leave for now and see if I can't scare up another doc from Fleet Command.
=====================================
End Report.

Sending Report to Data Hub for Processing...

Sent.

So <hic> guys I heard you liek mudk... er you need good pilots? Youz not gonna find a better one 5parsec from here... <hic> Though that might be cause there arent any that close

more defense turrets and security systems.

and have each of the turrets be linked to their own individual control systems instead of the main.

that way we cen prevent the turrets from going rogue should there ever be any problems. or if the main system in hacked.

Erm, so i was drinking in the local bar, and sorta fell on the floor.
Couldnt be bother'd to get up what with the fact i still had my beer in hand.
Then theze army fellas come there and sit, dont notice poor ol' me, almost trample me.
But i overheard quite a scary thing...

Stretching as he rises from the bunk, he looks at the spartan room he's been given. It all reminds of him of a hospital. So clean, sterile, empty. His meager possession: clothes, survival suit, a single photograph; all laid out. He's drowsy, weary, and when he hears a knock, he yells out, "Come on in!"

Who is overseeing the construction of THOR?

I want a status report!

It is obvious that the quickly built generalised facilities we built after planetfall are not going to be sufficient. Now we are preparing to become a participant in interplanetary trade, we should build some modernised, infrastructure suited to our rapidly increasing population. A central admin hub near the spaceport would be ideal

>>9488995
Captain? What are you doing here? Your ship already-
*cradles migraine*
Ugh, you know what, never mind. Go down to medbay and get yourself sobered up. I'll need to run you through debriefing if you're going to be staying with us...

Can we get a map of the underground facilities and tunnels?

hmmm, wheres all the people that were waiting in that other thread a few mins ago?

Anyway im gonna be more D. Thulsa and less silly silly station, though I figure we could use a Civil Engineer of some sorts now that weve got a whole bunch of colonists on our hands.

>>9489061
I'm just a janitor, but I agree. Tear down those original buildings, replace them with more permanent facilities.

>>9489012
yes. the southern and eastern parts of the base seems to be quite poorly defended.

and we might need more "big guns" in the future if any pirates show up.

I demand a cantina!

>>9488864
Someone remind me what that underground structure to the immediate southwest of the original colony ship is again?

>>9489067
Theres one in the archieved topics, near the end

>>9489062
"I want that mans credentials double checked before he even steps aboard my pride and joy!"

>>9489062
Hey I aintz drunk! Just a sec. (Takes a loooongcatislooong sip out of a flask). NOW Im drunk!

>>9488989
"Yes, all those who wish to put forward a name for our new trading ship please do so."

>>9489104
Which raises an important point: We may need to start put an overlay on the map just so everyone can remember which building is what.

>>9489109
By the way Falke, your cargo handler units are ready

>>9489136
Trust me fella, you dont wanna hear my suggestion :)

>>9489147
"Excellent, thank you Mr Schmidt, your efforts will not be forgotten."

>>9488989
I propose "Starchaser"

>>9488989
I nominate the UNS "Godspeed".

>>9488989
Titanic!

>>9488989
"She's one of ours, sir."

Oh, I just remembered our new protocols for fleetcom requests

=========
/eng/ - large admin building near spaceport, capable of handing population upto 10 times out current colony size

"I propose The USN Arcadia."

Office of Douglas M. Williams, Chief Feild Engineer, 'Acting Manager of the Colony'


Ah just the man <hic> I was lookin' for. I overheard theres this talk about this 'ere ship. old hulk of some sorts, smack dab in that shiny anomaly. Its comming straight at us am i right eh?

"Inadequate, just not sufficent.

To whom on this darn rock must I talk to get me some basic research equipment?!

I was told "do research at a new colony". "It'll be great" they said. "New opertunities" they said.

I NEED THE MAN IN CHARGE AND I NEED HIM NOW!"

CREATE ROBOTS: ACHIEVE SINGULARITY.

I propose a space castle, over there.

>>9489239
Oh I know. It took me weeks to get my robotics program up and running. Once the right calls get made you'll find the independence this colony gives your research very refreshing

Trick is, anything approaching it ends up like a fly hitting the buzzer...
Well theres this neat little trick my battalion used to do during the 3rd and 4th AI wars...
See we had to fry them bots with nuke-based ecm's but we had to get real real close, and that meant we could fry our own ships...

* map of underground facilities and railways throuout the colony

>>9489225
>>9489290
Who is this drunken wastrel? Who allowed him into the colony?

>>9489286

"Oh, hey. Didn't see you over there. Well, what do I have to do to get me some equipment? I can't work without some magnetic field generators, a decent computer, an AI if possible, and...

Oh, my manners. I'm Integra. Integra Chan. I'm a Researcher...

...and you are?"

>>9489310
"I think he jumped ship before that last cargo ship left and he as decided to stay"

So we freekin' hollowed out a small asteroid, and stuck our ship in there, like snails or turtles.

Stripped of any high end electronics, we were floating bricks, but emp immune floating bricks!

I say we do something like that and head on to meet that Ulysess head on...

Cause people are gonna scamper like cockroaches once that thing gets here.

>>9489321
more like being fired, what with the drunkeness and all

>>9489345
Sober up, man.

We have the largest defensive cannon the USN has ever developed in the works here. We don't need to go out there to lose good men and women to that ship.

Once it gets in range, the THOR will hammer it into bits... If we can get it done in time.

//Can I have a labeled map as I've missed two sessions?

>>9489223
Oh, right, new rules.
*****
/milit/ - dedicated broad-range, high-frequency radar and targeting suite for detecting incoming vessels, recommend building near starport.

*****
/indus//engin/ - a dedicated ore processing plant in the field south west of our mining rigs. Perferably in a spot that won't cover mineral rich rock for future drilling.

>>9489320
I'm the colony Head of Automated Systems, Anthony Winkel-Schmidt. I am looking forward to the results of your research

Say anyone up for a Civil Engineer?
We need some huge domes and domed parks and dommed rec areas lol.
And blackjack and hookers :)

>>9489390
//Also a quick rebrief would be cool too.

>>9489386
Ah but are you not in the least bit interested in that ship? Space debris is common, weird ancient vessels that have plowed the depths of space collecting data isnt.

Heck, imagine theres no threat in it, just the anomaly. We could freakin LAND it near our base, maybe learn how to control the anomaly. Space pirates? Fry suckers!

"Alright, so I request like this?... ok... now, just >send<!"

============================

Requesting:

-Laboratory building for diverse experimental research. Quarantine-able. Decent equipment.

-Advanced research AI to optimize research productivity

Authorization: Integra Chan, Leading Scientist of the USN

============================

>>9489437
I sincerely doubt anything inside that damned hulk is worth the risk.

Anyway, now that you are here, we need to come up with something for you to do.

*Raynolds switches his radio to the general broadcast frequency*

Anyone need a hand with something? I have a pair of idle hands here.

"I'll be in my lab if anyone needs me."
(Headed home, hopefully I won't miss the whole thing by the time I'm back.)
*****Request /eng/- Biodome over one of the craters near the colony to begin testing small-scale terraforming.

Appears to be a Caucasian middle age man with slightly balding brown hair. His identification card lists his race as Bioroid. Other, more colorful, names include Replicant and Skin-job.

"Hello, my name is Jean-Baptiste. I was assigned here by USN."

>>9489477
"I can get you the mag field generators. The rest is up to you... Um Integra", Corleone pauses before the last words, unsure if its a title or a name. "Most of the equipment is in my small lab just west of the space port. I've been meaning to get it expanded but i've just been so busy to put in requests.

HOW DOES ONE JOIN IN ON THESE SHENANIGANS

>>9489478
idle indeed. If you got something that flies, drives, walks, hovers or crawls im your man. Just dont make it boring! Boring makes me thirsty and then you all start to complain...

//Yay SPACEcolony is back. So lets get a'crackin

>>9489478
//Can you get me up to speed on whats happened in 5-8? I fear that if I go and read through them, I'll have missed parts of this thread.

>>9489507
*Glances at the security feed of the docking bay*

When did he appear? I don't remember seeing any ships dock. Could someone go welcome our visitor?

>>9489525
Make a name, make a job, and don't be a dick.

>>9489525
Pick a name and "occupation"
start spontaneous roleplay and interaction,
also try to suggest cool stuff for OP to draw
so he can mine for ideas

>>9489525
Create a persona
eg: name - proffession (which goes in name field for post)
you then interact with other colonists and make requests on how to expand the colony.

>>9489518

"Oh. That's fine, I just sent a request for a decent laboratory. Researchers like you and me can't work in a dumpster, now can we?

Though... challenges do have their own appeal, don't they?

Also, just call me Chan if you have troubles with the name. *sigh* I get that all the time. Or feel free to give me a nickname!

*short glare* ..as long as it's not something perverted.

Alright then, why don't you show me your laboratory while we're at it?

You know, my our your place? Ahahaha... uhh... let's go!"

>>9489542
//The USN Ulysses is headed towards us, and the colony is preparing. That's kinda all there is to it, from what i gather. I'm not sure if you know about the Ulysses, but it's basically a giant hulk of a ship wrapped in some kind of anomaly.

>>9489032

*She enters, and hesitantly closes the door. Looking around the spartan living cubicle that currently is Montag's home, she catches a glimpse of an old photograph, but quickly turns her gaze away. She pauses before speaking, composing herself.

"Mr. Montag. I've been meaning to speak with you for a while now. I was sent to Long Reach to conduct an investigation for the USN anti-terrorism task force. Now it seems that if it is to be concluded, my investigation must take me... to that ship that's hanging over us. Everything points to it. The pirates that gather in this sector have been looking for it, the AI that attacked this colony was fleeing it, and it may even, perhaps, be the reason Longreach has such an unusually large military contingent.

Mr Montag. I have to go to the Ulysses. And I want you to help me."

She looks at Montag with a strange gaze, at once resolved and shaken. Her voice trembles slightly as she finishes the sentence.

"In just over 32 hours, a marine transport carrier, the USN Sulaco, will pick me up from Longreach. The Sulaco has been shielded with anti-electromagnetic coating, which I have been assured will keep the ship from being damaged by the energy emitted by the anomaly. The marines will assist me in an attempt to enter the Ulysses and investigate it."

"Mr Montag. You served on board that ship. You know it better than anyone. If I have you with me, the mission's chances of success will be greatly increased. But I can't force you to go along on what may most likely be a suicide run. I just..."

She looks away.

>>9489598
Sir, this "experimental technology", that sounds dangerous. Is it also fast? :)
Surely you have some vehicles that are in need of testing.

>>9489507
I had no idea synthetics were already being shipped out to the colonies. Please, if you could come to my lab I would like to discuss your role here

>>9489598
"Most of my current equipment is set to specified folded space containers; I have been attempting to record the stellar positions from this planetoid's vantage point, so my equipment must remain mobile. I plan on having positions and trajectories down in a few months so we can open a tele-channel to more Earth-local planets. We have had little actual equipment provided to us by USN or the directorate, so its a BYOB sort of thing. They have however deemed it necessary to provide me with a radiometric telescope which is useful." The doctor relates this all very quickly to his new compatriot as he has been cooped up so long with only stars as his companions.

>>9489397
we already have an ore processing plant right next to the mining platforms.

>>9489648

"No! I have nothing! Just really basic equipment and some of my prototypes! I _need_ some additions, or I'll go crazy and build a nuke out of boredom!

Also, Ma'm will suffice!

Wait... you're a pilot, aren't you...? Oh, now I get what you mean... you don't want a buggy, you want a fighter, right? In that case..."

>>9489701

"Of course, thank you. On the way down I read a report there is some sort of anomaly in this system. Has any attempt to gather data with probes been made?"

I still haven't received that status report.

Who is working on what?

Stephen K. Freud - Miner/Explosive Expert

>>9489475
>Williams throws up his hands and quickly stalks away from the man before he has a coronary.
>>9489598
>He quickly attempts to collect himself as the new colonist approaches the colony, chatting with Dr.Corleone.
Ah, hello. You must be *looks at roster chit* Dr. Chan our new researcher. I am Douglas Williams, Chief Field Engineer and acting resource manager for the colony. All request chits are read and filed by me and my, um, assistant Lister. If you need anything just fill out the request chit like you just did there *points at the chit in here hand* and turn it in to my office over in the main hab. zone. *he has obviously practiced this speech many times*
Now if you will excuse me, I need to file a request for a new Medical Doctor, ours seem to have gone *ahem* missing.

>>9489774
its times like these i wish the damn AI was working to summarize and allocate projects and manpower

>>9489795
//Do you have friend named Laurie?

>>9489836
No sir, I left all I had so I could com'out 'ere. Never knew no Laurie neither.

>>9489800
Williams, I would like to ask for the assistance of a cybernetics surgeon if you are increasing the medical team. I've had some ideas in that area recently

>>9489771
No any probes were just fried, actually a Cruiser was sent as well then it was ---Signal lost----

>>9489754
Oh ill take a buggy, no problem. Long as it has a jet engine strapped to its back.

>>9489800

"Wow. You're a really good chatter. Well, good to know you, and since this goes to you anyway... here, take it.

Also, I have a very profound knowledge of medicine. I acted as "emergency-doctor" 3 times in my life by now. So if you have anything pressing at hand...

...I wouldn't mind lending you a hand."

>>9489795
"Pull up a mining rig, friend. The pay isn't all it was cracked up to be, and you'll be staring at space rock for the better part of twelve hours... But at least when the crazies in this colony decide to blast off back into the blackness, you'll be safe underground."

(Is an0nymous going to come back to play Alyssa?)

>>9489930

"That's the spirit. Say, do you have any family? Anyone that might miss you if you screw up?

I'm not looking for a good pilot. I'm looking for a maniac that will test stuff that will be classified after I showed that it actually works!

So, game of chicken. In or out?"

I
*****************
forward my recommendation for the installation of new defenses around the new spaceport; with the expected increase of traffic and the presence of pirates in the sector its necessary that we are prepare for anything.

>>9489931
"What do you know about folding space?" The doctor is eager to get his project done so they can gain funds to expand the facility.

>>9489774
Those kinds of reports take time _Cadet_. A proper report will be filed to your higher-ups when it is complete and accurate. Not a moment sooner.
(Read: whenever the OP decides to say how much manpower it takes to build the behemoth. We're still in the 'planning phase' as is.)

>>9489932
We have any 'splosives or we gonna impervise? Work'll go faster than a 'coon with its tail burnin'.

>>9489975
Sonny ever since I stripped naked and filled my cabin with icecubes in order to ram the Rogue AI's that were microwaving my platoon. I aint said no to nothing yet.
Got more purple hearts that i can fit on me shirt, insurance policy you wouldnt believe, and not a whole lotta more left to stick around. Might as well provide for me grandpuppys.

>>9490049
No need to get stingy, Douglas. I was merely inquiring what is going on in the colony.

It was by no means an order.

-Laboratory building program begun

The USN Arcadia structural designs approved

- Project thor begins construction

-Mass Driver components delivered and construction begins.

>>9490075

"You're hired. That means, until you die or find someone better. *short laugh*

That was a joke. I'm looking forward to working with you...

Rouge AIs? By any chance the Roug3 AI? Tell me everything you know! It's one of many reasons I came here instead of some place... better equipped!"

>>9490069
"At the moment, we're simply using the drilling platforms and exo-suits to mine in material rich sections detected by an orbital scan. I imagine we'll start using explosives once the deep drillers find a pocket or two of some valuable resources."

- biodome construction begins

>>9489936
(If he isn't coming back, can take up the role?)

>>9490101
Sweet... The thing I absolutely love about this guy is that later when all the pictures are put into a .gif it looks like a freaking RTS. Buildings slowly rising /scaffolding etc.

Actually people on /v/ and this board have already been mistaking the pictures for an actual computer game.

>>9489625
He lifts himself up off of his bed, and stands face to face with the young woman. He looks over her, inspects her, analyzes her. "You know," he starts before looking away at nothing in particular. "I've been planning to get back to her. The Ulysses . . . it's not supposed to be here. Not anymore." He shakes his head, "and neither am I." He picks up a jacket and pulls it on over his shirt.

"You've gotta know, kid. You go up there, you get to close, you get inside the Ulysses, you're never gonna leave it. I don't know how those pirates or whoever the fuck they were got me out of it, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let it take anyone else."

He picks up the picture and sticks it in his breast pocket without looking. "I'm going up there, and I'm going to pilot the Ulysses. One last time."

>>9490166

(No. That AI job is a tough one without much action and requires a lot of thought. Most AIs we had so far except for him were just trigger-happy retards. I'm in need for a research AI though.)

Another thing, I think we have reached the current limit on bot population - the power levels required to keep them all active has rapidly increased, and I'm reduced to stockpiling inactive units as reserved

=======
/eng/ improved power facilities
/eng/ bot repair and recharge bay

>>9490082
>tightly shuts eyes in an attempt to push away the migraine.
Right, sorry about being so snappish. I've got a major headache and that drunkard, Thusla isn't helping it. Carry on, Raynolds. I'll get that report in soon.

>>9490147

"That's... Thank you, Mr. Montag, but I have to go with you. Whatever is inside that ship could prove incredibly valuable to humanity... or doom it. I've promised myself to see this mission through, and I'll do it. Together, we have a much better chance at getting inside the Ulysses, and to leave it with information."

>>9490101
To senior staff "Brilliant, I will commence construction immediately, I require workers to be assigned from the general population to begin hull construction of The USN Arcadia. A mechanic and/or a electrical engineer will also be useful to organise the electrical systems for the new ship."

>>9490069
//Explosives don't work well in space. Probably going to be something like lazers or regular drilling.

>>9490152
You could expedite the process with resonance scans (so called "thumpers"). Incidentally explosives are used produce the shockwaves for collecting data.
Something to occupy your time 'till the mines get bigger or we start tearing down the old buildings.

- large power facility plans submitted and approved

>>9490101

====================================

Sending a box of chocolates and some flowers to whoever was in charge when the lab was granted

====================================

>>9490214
"Ma'am. I," he stumbles over the words. "If you go up there, I can't promise you'll make it back."

He turns around and faces a wall, his hands on his waist. "It's not worth it." He faces her again. "It's not worth your life. Mine's over and done with. Long time ago. Don't waste yours on this." Without another word, he leaves.

>>9490341
*Raynolds happens to pass by as Montag emerges from his quarters. Immediately he assumes attention and salutes*

Sir, I thought you had already left for the Ulysses. I assume you have reconsidered, then?

>>9490223

Jacob use the automated worker tasked droids to for the hull construction and the non complex part of the ship, the more complex parts of the ship will be taken care by the specialize staff.

>>9490199
>>9490199
>>9490199
>>9490199
"Winkel-Schmidt, I have plans for a magnesium based generator in my data tree. We could charge the machine batteries during the nocturnal phase and have them run off the grid when working. This would allow for more expansion of bot use with little impact on the grid." Dr. Corleone uses a personal terminal to draw up the specs. "Ah here they are..." http://www.physorg.com/news191259549.html

>>9490388
>>9490396
"I'm gonna get something to eat. And then me and Jim here are going." He coughs once and wipes his mouth. "Hm. Excuse me." He turns to the civilian. "How's that sound to you, Mr. Flowers?"

>>9490341

"Sir. Going alone is suicide, I agree. But I'm not going alone, and neither should you. You have a score to settle with that ship, but I have a duty to the USN, to humanity... And to be honest, I'm just damn curious as to what the hell's inside. I'm going, and you better tag along with me. Now, our ship leaves in 32 hours, so in the mean time, let's prepare. Tell me everything you can about the Ulysses."

Alright guys, I'll be away for 30 mins. Be back as soon as possible.

>>9490394

"Dear god, why did everyone give up on fusion? I WILL make it work, god be my witness!

I almost had it at my last lab... such a pity what happened..."

>>9490394
That will be useful for future bots, but I think we currently can't afford to retrofit all our existing bots - they're built with standard modular parts. The machine shop we built should allow us to build more complex machines, which will include any improvements coming out of your and Integra's labs

>>9490434

Jim smiles "Perfect. We wouldn't want to starve on our way, or die with an empty stomach, right? I'll make sure to pack some food for my friends, too. They haven't eaten in a long time."

"Whatever was going on in there, anyway?"

>>9490455
He turns back to the young woman in uniform. "Thirty two hours huh?" He licks his teeth behind his lips and looks at the ceiling. "I'll get back to you on that. After I eat."

He pats Flowers on the shoulder. "Let's eat, Jim."

This thread makes me want to reinstall.

"Actually, I was working on a lot of things. Cold fusion was just a part-time project to make actual shielding technology.

You know, armor platings and walls only get so far. I want something that can catch missiles and withstand direct hits from ion cannons.

That beeing said, that project alone consumed enough energy to power an entire colony a month... a day. Though gladly, the prototype survived most of the damage done when my last lab...

Anyway, I still have it!"

>>9490394

I recommend a cold fusion reactor; it could better serve the energy needs of the colony, with the construction Mass Driver and future projects it is clear that we will need a better and bigger source of energy, a cold fusion reactor could be the answer to that and we couldn’t have to worry about our energy supply until later phases of the colony.

>>9490505

Are you planning on heading up there too, Mr. Flowers?

>>9490667

"Me? No. I'm already there. I just need this body to get back to me."

This is one of the moments that make people question wether or not Jim is still sane. Most say no. But he's sane enough not to be hostile, and he wants to help. Hopefully, that'll be enough.

"You wanna join our meal? I'd love some company that talks during meals."

bump

>>9490665
"Cold fusion is good for large scale. I'm just talking about generators for the machines so they don't have to draw all of their power from the colony grid," rebuts the doctor.

God damn I can't make sense of this map, what's what?

>>9490699

Wait. You're... what? You're already there? What do you mean?

All this cold fusion talk makes me wanna grab a cold one.
Say folks since you already have a EMP resistant ship, not old hollow asteroids like my generation had to settle for(uphill,in the snow, twice). Im sure there arent exactly too many volunteers to go up there, and i am sitting here on my arse. You could use a pilot that knows his way around danger. Check my record, it speaks for itself, and for this one i plan on going sober. Well maybe one tiny one wont hurt.

>>9490748
Check out archive 3 I believe, theres an overlay with clearly spelled out whats what. Though its a bit old.

>>9490812
>>Though its a bit old
//Understatement

Montag leaves the others behind, taking a final stroll through the hallways and tunnels. He rides the new train they built. It reminds him of subways back on Earth.

In the atrium he sits, breaths the air. Feels at peace. Time passes. He's not sure how much, but it couldn't have been long. His stomach feels tight, and it makes him feel sick, like a man who hasn't eaten in days.

In the cafeteria, he gets synthetic meat. He doesn't care what kind, it's hot and thick and tastes good. Really damn good. There are some freshly grown vegetables. He'd never been much of a veggie man, but he ate them. A growing boy needs to eat. His mother used to say that when he was young.

He thought of home, and wished it would rain here. Short of a shower or sprinkler malfunction, he was out of luck. He'd never felt more alone than at that moment. He didn't like it. He cleared his plate, and he left.

>>9490833

(ho-hum. that map is like... errr... you remember when earth was still flat?)

>>9490742

But surely you see that now is a good opportunity to discuss our overall energy needs?

Its benefices clearly out weight the cost of his construction.

*************************
USN characters from memory archive scans upon base entry.
**********************

>>9490937
BADASS AS FUCK

>>9490932

"If you give me a little time after my lab is finished, I WILL make cold fusion work so good that you won't ever have to worry about energy again! Also, I'm already taking in ideas. Just spit something out, and I'll try to make it possible. Think "outside the box", if you know what I mean!"

*********i advice building more defensive structures and security systems.

****and make them self-contained and self-sufficient.

>>9490917
*Raynolds is sitting on a bench in the docking bay, buried in his thoughts, when Montag suddenly enters the room*

Sir... you're really leaving? I'm past trying to convince you otherwise, but i have to remind you that if you do not succeed in changing the course of that ship, we will fire the THOR at it.

>>9490937

((Oh wow! Awesome, dude! I love the pics... only McAllister is female. That could be Reynolds, though.))

>>9490699
What... what do you mean, you're already there, Sir?

>>9491019
For the first time in a long time, he wishes he had a cigarette to chew on, if only to make him look like a badass. The thought made him laugh inside. "Hell," he started, hips lips showing the signs of a smile to come. "If it comes to that, I'll already be dead." He looks over at the solider. "So don't feel too bad if you blow it to hell."

these expansionalist projects are all well and good, but with the increased population were gonna have to start expanding stock to more than just survival gear.
people need comfort and entertainment to stay

i suggest we start building some holotheatres, schools, gyms and other recreational facilities

>>9490987

Well since Chief Williams is currently unavailable, it falls to me to approve it, so be it. You are clear to start as soon as the new Laboratory is finish.

>>9491060
Hehehe, McAllister you sure do look a bit butch.
.
.
:)

>>9491060

"It's... I never really left that place... I still don't quite understand it myself. All my friends stayed there, too. Only my body is still wandering arround.

I can't... make much sense of it by now. Maybe once we are there, my thoughts will clear up. For now, let's have lunch, shall we?"

>>9491081
*Raynolds seems to smile a bit when he notices how casually Montag takes this*

Sir, if...
*He pauses slightly, as if to ponder on his words.*

When you do not return, I will personally make sure that the brass will recognize your deeds and inform any possible relatives of your passing. I'll make it so that they will remember you as a bloody hero.

OOC I am going out for lunch I will be back shortly.

"ANYWAY...

..do you have any musical entertainment center arround? It's been a long time since I had my last jazz jam, and I'd love to come up with a song about how I felt during the landing approach!"

- cadet renolds, montag, and williams

>>9491164
He looks this man in the eyes. Strong eyes. A bit insecure now again, but strong. "I've recorded a message on a disk, for after I leave. I handed it to someone, can't rightly recall who though. Too many new faces for me. Go ahead and transmit the message from that to your HQ once I'm gone. It should give them some idea of what to do."

He doesn't say anymore, and casually walks past him, down towards engineering. He gets in quickly, and requisitions a plasma cutter, and several demo charges, packed tight and secure. He takes them back with him to the small room where he'd slept, and where he found his suit, stacked neatly in place. He dressed in it quickly, without ceremony, and strapped the pack he got from engineering to his back.

An odd calm takes over him. Like he's floating. Like a dream. And so he floats down the halls, in his yellow suit.

>>9491279
Very nice, looks great.

bump! where are you guys?

>>9491279
//So what system are we in? I should be able to know by now.

>>9491092
We're an industrial and scientific facility. We need some leisure facilities, but schools? I doubt we'll be seeing children for years

>>9491541
you think 800 personnel isnt going to start making babies. especially since with the lack of recreational facilities, sex is about the only real stress reliever they have.

besides, from what i gather were making a full fledged colony.

>>9491503
designing project thor

>>9491635

Oh, alright then, carry on!

//Had to take care of some stuff for a minute, continuing on:

"Where did that new recruit get off to? Well, can't say I didn't warn him, this job just isn't cut out for those without a vast reserve of patience."

>>9491092
>>9491541
"Once my dome is built, I'll have a small park up and running in a few weeks. It won't be exactly like Earth's fauna, but it'll be better than nothing. If that dome is successful, I hope to begin building larger domes and terraforming them as well. I'll attempt to replicate more familiar environments in later projects."

>>9491632
So inefficient. We don't have the time or resources to raise mewling infants. If you must succumb to your animal instincts, we have protective methods you can use

He meanders through the halls, coming up to a sealed security door which lead to the restricted military areas. His retinal signatures weren't in the system, of course, but his access code granted him access. A guard manned the small armory, and when Montag entered, he paid attention. "Can I help you, sir?"

"I need a sidearm."

"That so?"

"Uh, yeah."

"On who's authority?"

Montag looked at him for a moment. He didn't like using his rank, but he wasn't going back to that ship bare handed. "I am a Lieutenant Commander, son, and I am going off rock." The soldier didn't say anything. "On my own authority."

"Uh, of course. Of course, sir. What do you need?"

Montag turned to the locked cabinets and looked inside. "Well, I'm not exactly sure. I've been out of the game for a while."

The gunnery sergeant got up and unlocked the cabinet closest to them. He looked around for a moment and took out a small hand sized piece with a large receiver and barrel. "This is standard for use with VAC suits, sir. The size fits the larger hands of the suits better than a regular weapon. Holds twenty rounds per magazine, selective semi or three burst fire."

Montag felt the unloaded weapon in his hand, lifted it. It felt right. "Alright. Give me the form to sign, and three magazines worth of ammo."

"Right away, sir." They filled out the forms quickly, and Montag attached a holster to the side of his suit with a magnetic clasp. It felt odd. He'd been a pilot for years. Hadn't used a weapon since . . . god damn, not since he was damn near a kid. He prayed he wouldn't need it. But as he'd learned, in his ridiculously long life, things seldom went as planned.

And so he left, with nothing in the world to his name, he left, walking through the sealed airlocks, across the rocky surface, to the small landing pad, where the quickly refurbished Nova sat ready. Stripped down and refueled. Charon's boat, ready to ferry him away.

//Gosh darn it. I always get here too late into the thread.
Security Officer Reeds, reporting for duty!

>>9491719
look at the puritan egghead calling me the animal, i suppose you have never seen a real woman and just jerk off to your robots

>>9491766

"Sir! Hang on!"

Montag turns, seeing another vac-suited figure waving to him. McAllister walks up to the old astronaut, handing him a data chit.

"If you're that determined to go up in this civilian boat, I'm coming with you. Enter the coordinated on this datachit into the nav computer, and it will take you to a rendezvous vector with the Sulaco. We'll dock and the Marines will take us to the Ulysses."

She presses the chit into his hand. "Please, Sir."

Hey guys, I'm back.

>>9491279
Haha, hell yeah!
That's almost exactly what my mental image of my character is. Williams' got bit of a Dr. Kleiner shtick going there.
Awesome job there OP. So are you eventually going to do all the characters or just the major ones?

>>9491841
There is a time and a place. For now, in this place I have devoted myself entirely to my work. Romantic entanglements are simply a distraction. When my work here is done, I will allow myself to indulge

>>9491880
//As much as I would love to see Officer Reeds, I'm pretty sure OP is going to stick with the ones that participate more.

So, after viewing the recent data files, I see that things are as normal as they ever were on this colony. I do agree that we need to begin the constuction of liesure facilities, but I suggest we will wait to build the school until we have kids to send there.

Until then I'll just be on patrol.

****OK with liesure facilities
****Would rather wait on schools

----Going on Patrol. looking for ne'er do wells

>>9491919

how very *EFFICIENT* of you

>>9490154
//Awesome.

>>9491525
// I'll come up with one myself. I'm thinking Tau Ceti is a nice one. 12 light years from Earth. Similar in size, mass and temperature as Sol. Slightly different stellar composition.

"As if we got time for children. Humanity is ever walking forward, and I'm gonna take a sprint here. No time for distractions.

The more profit, strategical as well as economical, we make, the more support we get. So let's get crackin'!"

- science research facility construction completed
- project thor continues construction drawing most of the colonies resourses.
- bio dome on standby waiting for resourses
- mass driver construction has stalled due to prokject thor's resourse consumption.

>>9492199
Look at the size of that thing!!

>>9492199
//That the lab in the lower left?

Personal log, entry 63. Care of AA-01p *encrypted*

I am optimistic about the continued expansion of this colony. While some seem more committed to their own immediate pleasure, many here understand the importance of sacrifice to the greater good. I am particularly encouraged by the other scientists - I believe out combined intellects may bring great things to this colony

>>9492228
I've seen bigger.

>>9491164
>>9491060
A video feed crackles onto Reynold and McAlister's comm channels. Varnigan sits at a chair in the genetics lab, what appears at first glance to be a cat is sitting in his lap.
"Say hello to PACO. Patrol Assistance Companion Organism. This one is still a puppy... or whatever a baby reptile is called. Full grown, it'll be about as smart as a large canine."

He strokes the lizard's back. "Three rows of spines, purely ornamental, they rest along its back when at rest. When ordered into aggression, they flare. Scare tactics are always good for enforcing the peace, yes?"

He lifts open Paco's mouth, showing only two short fangs in its long jaw. "Only two teeth, loaded with a mild paralytic. The rest of its jaw is toothless, just tough, leathery gums, for gripping without inflicting much damage."

"Once they're full grown, they'll each have an aggression control device implanted. The patrolman working with them will carry a remote that can release chemicals to calm, sedate, or kill them. Assuming of course, you want them. If not I'll just let a few loose into the tunnel systems to remove the current infestation of some of my other experiments. This variety is sterile, so they'll die off eventually."

Montag nods to the woman, and enters the ship. It's nearly empty. Redundant machines and systems gone. Things that wouldn't be needed for a one way trip. All gone. The ship must've been at least ten tons lighter.

He sat in the small bridge at the front of the cabin, and began the pre-flight operations. He wasn't so selfsure with the design of this ship, and decided he was glad that Flowers was coming. His flicked on the comm system, "This is Artemis Montag onboard the Nova. Artemis Montag on the Nova, preparing for departure. Jim Flowers, you'd better hurry, man. The train's a leavin'."

>>9492271

Sir, I know the controls for USN ships better than you. Let me pilot, and you'll navigate. We're going to need your skill to get us through the energy flux coming from the anomaly.

*she straps in, removes her helmet, and begins pre-flight check.

>>9492271
"Good luck, I hope she holds together."

"I'm already here... I was at the back... with my friends... I mean, where I last saw them...


We better get going. You got everything you need?"

pardon me if im missing something,but is our mass driver aiming straight at the power generators?

>>9492432
"Holy shit! You scared me, man."

>>9492440
"I haven't read the specs but I assume the load will have altitude by then, no?"

>>9492440
It's no engineer, but it sure does look like it. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure they won't build it pointing At the base. I mean...that'd be silly.

>>9492542
>I'm* no engineer.

>>9492510
Or going the other way?

Regardless, the generators are very exposed there. It would be wiseto give them some kind of protection from damage and tampering

>>9492457
>>9492432

Alright, gentlemen. It's time.

This is the Nova to Longreach control, we are taking off.

>>9492594
"Just increase the incline of the ramp upwards a few degrees and it will shoot straight over it."

>>9492599
Godspeed

>>9492271
>(swiveling in a chair, already packed and ready)
Hey boss you really need to lock your ship better, any kid couldve just sneaked in, ya know.

Well this certainly seems like a fools errand.
>Takes a swing from his flask.
Here have some. Its good for your body.
.
.
.
.
Its mineral water.....

********
- fleet command to Nova you have flight clearence.
good luck.
********

>>9492622
Oh I'm not concerned about the mass driver. It's simply that this debate has highlighted the fragile link in our chain. Until THOR is complete we will not be able to improve the situation, but I believe once we are able securing our future power supplies is vital

>>9492695
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Who the fuck are you?"

Montag presses a couple buttons and postpones the launch momentarily. "You need to get the fuck off this ship."

>>9492749
Eh man chill, I volunteered for this a while back.
You mustve been heavily burdened with the upcomming mission, and it slipped your mind.

>>9492790
Montag pulls his sidearm on the interloper. "Get. Off. This. Ship."

>>9492790
>>9492695

Oh damn it! How did you get on board? This is an important mission for the USN, not some kind of extraorbital picknick!

>>9492834
Boy you do not wanna play that game with me.
>sticks his head on the guns barrel
We both know that ships bigger than life, bigger than anything this universe has ever seen.

also, cause youve probably really missed it
>>9490786

"Integra Chan, research log:

I have almost completed my research on cold fusion. With that done, I should be able to finally complete my plans for a shield-generator.
The problem is the size. Cold fusion only prooved efficient in large size generators so far. In theory. That will be great for the colony, but ships won't be able to profit from this. Also, I have to find a way to keep the shield from degenerating.
Maybe revitalise it with a steady pulse of energy. That'd make the shield vulnerable if the pattern is found out though.

Further research is needed.

End log entry."

###

Research overview:

-COLD FUSION: 86%
-PROTOTYPE SHIELD GENERATOR: 50%

###

"Lieutenant, help me out for a second." Montag holsters his weapon and grab's the man, taking him to the airlock and fastening a helmet onto his VAC suit. "Get the door."

JIm didn't think. He just grabbed the weapon the man just holstered. He aimed it carefully at the new guys head.

"If you take as much as another second of my time, I'm gonna pull the trigger... then you can be my friend, too..."

- USN character addition to log lt jr mcallister profile

>>9492199
---
This thing's starting to remind me of a certain mission...
Hmm, can the cannon pivot on the x-axis? Or can we only change its angle of fire? Maybe the whole base of the cannon can pivot. That'd be cool to see.
---
Resource Manager's Note:
Propose a temporary halt to the THOR cannon until more raw resources are made available and additional necessary support structures are constructed :

*****
/indus//engin/ - a dedicated ore processing plant and adjacent manufacturing plant in the field south west of our mining rigs. Preferably in a spot that won't cover mineral rich rock for future drilling. This is so we don't have to cart all of our mined ore to the other side of the base and back again for storage.
*****
Hmm, we should also look towards out trading partner to provide any hard-to-get materials for our cannon.
*****
/milit/ - dedicated broad-range, high-frequency radar and targeting suite for detecting incoming vessels, recommend building near starport.
*****
/milit/ - construction of a pair of Vulcan Turrets to cover the south end of the starport. In addition, another pair to cover the east side of the THOR itself (and what I'm guessing is its power plant. Tall bugger.)

>>9492953

Right! *she punches the airlock release button*

Man, if I'd known there were so many people with a death wish interested in tagging along I'd never have gone public with this plan.

Mr. Thulsa, you can make a good living for yourself testing prototype spacecraft for Longreach. Don't throw your life away.

>>9493039

"Excuse me, chief, but you DO know that this cannon is all that stands between us and that space hulk NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT so far? I'd rather delay any other plans in favor of that defense!"

>>9492953
>tears a sleeve, exposing a military tatoo
I've bled for the USN son, ive seen enough suffering to turn a man into a wreck.
Decorations, medals, fancy pancy metal. Aint worth shit.
Its the thrill of the danger, rush from the unknown.
You wouldnt be the first officer i bitchslapped, but sure as hell were all going up there or none of us are.

i hope you guys realise that op just landed one of the most saught after positions in one of the mose sort after companies on the plannet.
And he's here drawing for us for no reason other than he likes what is going on.

>>9493039
Is that a Armoured Core game screen?

>Baffled, as noone seems to even have heard him, he retreats to the rear section of the ship for now.

>>9493083
>btw good old grizled pilot, bad attitude kinda deal

Montag pushes the man out onto the ground. He hits it and rolls, relatively unharmed. "Well that deals with that." He turns to McAllister. "Liuetenant."

"Yes?" She says.

"I'm sorry." He grabs her abruptly, shoves a helmet on top of her suit, and pushes her out, next to the would be pilot. "I can't let you kill yourself." Before she can lift herself from the lunar surface, Montag's already closed the ship's door and sealed it tightly. "Jim, sit tight!" He yells, jumping into his seat. "Longreach Colony, this is the Nova, lifting off!" The thrusters kick on, and the ship lifts several feet into the void, unsteadily at first. "You all take care of yourselves, you hear?" The ship lurches forward for a moment, and then disappears into the sky.

>>9493118
//what job at what company did he get?

>>9493074
And right now we're running short of everything just laying the foundations. If we can't even finish the thing, how will it help us? We need to think about an economy that can sustain our defence requirements, not just more and bigger guns

>>9493118
What? Who does he work for?

>>9493151

Jim barely managed to grab something to hold onto as the ship accelerates. He quickly made his way to the cockpit again, taking a seat and closing the safty belt system.

"I knew you wanted to die... I told you...

Oh... I still have your weapon..."

>>9493211
He reaches out expectantly. "Well, I guess you were right."

>>9493205

"You misunderstood me. Boosting our ressource-economy is a solid plan and good idea. However, it will do naught if that's the time the giant ship will take to get to us.

I'd rather die trying to finish the cannon then die mining ressources for a better tomorrow we won't have.

But that may be just me."

Lol im amused at the number of suicidal characters we have.

>>9493151

*Shocked, she gets up and shakes a dusty fist at the rising Nova*

God damn it! You stupid, stubborn old man, you're going to get yourself killed for nothing!

*into comms* McAllister to Sulaco, prepare for low-orbit pickup. *to Thulsa* Come on. Let's take one of the colony shuttles and rendezvous with the carrier.

>>9493233

"Of course I'm right... I can hear you, you know?

Just like my friends...

You're a good person. A better person then I am... But what is with all these memories you keep hidden under a veil of bitter violett?"

- nova leaves orbit

>>9493074
Of course I do, Dr. Chan, that's why I wish to delay it only temporarily while we construct additional production facilities to handle the massive strain it has put on our resource output. This way construction of the cannon can proceed unabated, rather than slowing to a crawl every time we run out of processed Aluminum or any other material necessary.
The additional military assets, I concede, can be put off until after the construction of the main gun, but they will be needed to prevent vulnerability to conventional strikes later in the future.
>late post, oh well.

>>9493324

"You're speaking sense, chief. I like that. Objection withdrawn, do as you see fit.

I'm getting annoyed at my current research projects... do you have any input I might use? Any ideas? I always worked best with something unexpected!"

((oh god I need to go just as it's getting awesome. Thanks for the art, OP, it's great. I hope we'll get some interior shots from the Ulysses some time.))

>>9493269
The entire THOR project reeks of desperation. I have no doubt this Anomaly could have dealt with us some time ago, if it had wished. I doubt there's even any intelligence aboard. You're all jumping at ghost stories around a campfire

Montag holsters the weapon and stays silent. Nothing needs to be said. The ship's light, and fast. Soon they'd be at their top speed. In a few hours, they'd reach the Ulysses.

- nova leaves Longreach base into inter system space.

>>9493296
Yes let us go. However those two men are already too far.
Still... They might require our assistance seeing as how they are ill prepared for this.
But without an ECM protected ship we can not go and follow them. There might still be a way thought... lemme tell you about this old army trick...

>>9493408
they are allready done.

>>9493424

"My father once told me about his pet. It was a good pet, never demanded anything, and never doing anyone any harm.

One day, it killed a kid. Noone saw it coming. Noone could've know. You know what he did?

He took the biggest gun he could find and put his favourite pet to sleep.

The story's morale? Never trust something you cannot understand.

I say we don't wait until this thing kills any children. I say we build a big gun and blast it out of OUR sky."

>>9493469

There's an assault carrier full of Marines waiting for me in low orbit. We just need a shuttle to get to it.

>>9493504
sweet looking forward to that.
wonder if its all biological goo inside.... shivers...

>>9493548

(Oh please, shut up X_x)

(So uh.... who wants Alyssa back? :D)

>>9493517
I'd hoped for more from a fellow scientist. I am prepared for a simple soldier to trust in firepower, but we should seek to uncover mysteries, not destroy whatever we can't understand

Several hours after the departure of the Nova.

________________________
***INCOMING MESSAGE***
________________________

&^))$%Th%#is $#s M--$@#$24tag on&#*%($Yb$&@oar the N)05390#@)%va.
We*()#@$0-$#re wit#($%&R(_hi*#%$(n&&** vi#(*&%9sual ra&3)(_%ng(0--_ of the #%*#)@#se*s.
Wi#%(70)_#thi*n an#(*%()# l(#*%$#uc(&#k, so)(#*%)(0on I#()%&*-'ll be at th#(&%$(e #&*3elm,
Good#(&%97by*#%), eve#%&(__@#&&ryon&%*&##e.
#$%&99ood%#)(#&&luck.

>>9493580
We sure do Alyssa but i fear you might be too late.

>>9493580

(I requested a high-developed AI. I was hoping you'd take the job)

>>9493424
constructing a defensive structure capable of protecting the base is paramount.
the only reason pirates didnt raze the base before is because they were masquerading. our little defense turrets would not be able to hold of an orbital bombardment.
frankly i dont even care about the anomaly, so long as the base is safe and protected

>>9493634
>>9493634

(Will see what happens this update... D:)

>>9493611
Curses. I thought they were professional enough to keep their cat off of the keyboard while they were writing their messages.

>>9493120
> Ace Combat 6 actually. Its the final mission. Basically, you've beaten the enemy army but they have implemented a scorched earth policy on your home country and begin shelling it with railgun-assisted cruise missiles. This cannon was originally suppose to destroy an incoming comet, but that plan fell through and their country was bombarded by comet fragments and fell into civil war soon afterward. The new regime secretly completed the cannon and now you gotta destroy it (eventually by flying down the damn things barrel. not joking) Its called 'Chandelier'.

>>9493591
Shoot first ask questions later kinda deal eh?
Well i guess one can still learn a lot from a corpse.

So where'd OP get a job at?

>>9493591

"You never wondered who came up with the technology this baby is based on?

I just can't wait to see a new technology put to work, that is all.

Also, I value my life. Sometimes time calles for thinking men and women. Sometimes, it calls for a really big gun.

As I a) am the first and b) develop the later, it's all the same to me.

I'm not a fan of uncovering misteries outside of the lab. Anything outside there cannot be contained, and therefore, is dangerous. If you worked with what I worked with, you'd probably understand.

Anyway, I didn't come here to draw blood, I'm sorry if my "perspective" has offended you."

"Remarkable..."

"What do you mean?"

"Testing second generation AI subroutines on a pre-existing Artificial Intelligence framework."

"Ha, I know. USN NavSec cleared it, and apparently her service record is spotless"

"So, whats the problem?"

"I've never heard of an AI lasting long enough to enact 8 separate instances of deactivation of Asimov Protocols and make it through screening..."

"..."

"... well if NavSec and AI development cleared her, it should be fine. Its out of our hands anyhow."

"Yep. Commencing Datastream of USN AI Alyssa ver. 2.01 Alpha."

------------------

*development at project thor continues

>>9493813

(dibs)

"It reminds me of the Northern Lights."

"What's that?"

"The Northern Lights. It was this phenomena on Earth. Light coming in at angles through the atmosphere, or something. It was beautiful. Like the sky was on fire."

They were close now. Artemis wasn't sure what would happen once they entered the field of the anomaly. He didn't want to worry about that.

The two largest entrances to the Ulysses' hangar were on the bottom of the ship, one near the bow, the other the stern. Artemis held the controls firmly, heading straight towards her. "I hope she'll accept my access codes. If not we'll have to cut out way in."

Personal log - addendum to previous entry.
It appears I was wrong. More people here, yet less I trust. Must secure my work - I'm sure they envy my success. Will assign personal droid team to excavate concealed lab space below main facility.

>>9493611
>>9493611
>>9493611
>>9493611
"THIS IS MONTAG ON BOARD THE NOVA...
WE ARE WITHIN VISUAL RANGE OF THE ULYSSES...
WITH ANY LUCK I'LL BE AT THE HELM...
GOODBYE EVERYONE...
GOOD LUCK..."
Dr. Corleone looks up at the com screen. The noise drop program was working fine, The doctor stands up and calls over to Broadcast system. "Anyone respond... Was the mission to Ulysses supposed to be kami-kazi?"

>>9493738
Alright you two, make nice. We're all in this together and that means no petty bickering. I suggest you two work on that longstanding order for a new AI in the meantime. *he smiles diplomatically, but his tone is firm enough that he won't have any brook in the argument*

>>9493911
I apologise, Mr Williams. I have nothing but the colony's best interest at heart.

In orbit, on the USN Sulaco, McAlister briefs the Marines.

"Alright people! We're going to enter the Ulysses, recon in force and attempt to determine what happened to it. Then we'll leave the anomaly and transmit the information to Fleetcom through long-range databurst. We have no intel on what's inside the ship, nor on what happened to the Hourglass, so be prepared for anything. Survival is your first priority, no unnecessary heroics.

Also, be advised that former navigator Artemis R Montag is intending to board the Ulysses and destroy it somehow. We need to stop him from doing this, High Command needs the Ulysses intact. If you see Montag, don't fire! Detain him and contact me, I have to try and reason with him. I'm going into hibernation now, wake me when we arrive. Mr. Thulsa, take us into the anomaly!"

((That's it, leaving this time for real. I can see the Ulysses adventure as 2 FPS/survival horror games, one more like Dead Space where you play Montag and one more like System Shock 2 where you play McAllister, finding Montag's audio logs and stuff))

>>9493879

"No, look... it's already opened... they're... welcoming me back...

...and you too..."

Jim handed Montag a single syringe "It's adrenaline. Use it now, before we pass that anomaly... and whatever happens... you hear me, WHATEVER happens... don't pass out..."

>>9493911

"Of course, chief. I will get right onto it. I can't wait for an AI to finally help me with all those... oh well, it'll be good to have one arround!

Is that all?"

Inside the Data center, the Daily Databurst to USN FleetCom Network goes out.

In the massive data download of the day, along with the news, personal mail and orders the come along with a thriving space colony comes a data packet, nearly 3 times as large as the normal data download.

Its marked with code Vermillion data clearance. With this simple title.

USN AI Alyssa ver 2.01 Alpha USNID #4332-1A Generation 02.

It requires Colony Administration Authorization to unpack to the Data Center.

>>9493999
Montag looks over at his new . . . partner. "I don't want to ask where you got this." He grabs the syringe, and lifts it to his neck. "I'm not taking this fucking suit off for this." He presses the tip into the vein and presses the plunger. "This better not be drain cleaner, or I swear I'll come back as a ghost and haunt your ass."

The tube empties into his bloodstream, a pinprick of blood forming as he pulls the needle free and drops it to the ground. Moments later his breathing increases. Deep, animalistic. "God damn! God damn! I feel like I'm gonna have a heart attack."

He doesn't. He keeps breathing. Keeps flying straight. Right into the wall of light. "I'm back, you big old bitch."

OHHH, its getting to the good bit. I have to go but good work everyone and thanks alot as always OP. Introducing character art added a new twist which I love. Looking forward to the archived version.

If you can include in one of your last posts when you expect the next session will be.

Cheers!

>>9493986
All right boys, strap yourselves in, were gonna encounter some heavy turbulence.
Five by five.

Colony Administration Authorization granted to install AI

>>9494070
holding fingers crossed that its not gonna result in a 9th instance of deactivation of protocols

>>9494159
Excellent. I'll head over to the data centre immediately

Nothing happened. Everything was fine. They continued through the light.

"Hey, that was easier then expected", Montag said.

Landing without any problems. Montag knew what he was doing.

"Ok, and now to destroy this thing". Montag unveiled a nuke. A huge one. "This is gonna be easy!"

Jim closed his eyes for a second. It'll be over soon. Nothing will...

-don't pass out-

..Jim looked arround. There she was. Carol. His wife. She flew, transparent, like a ghost, right above the nuke and the unaware Montag.

-don't pass out-

Jim blinked. Something is not right. Something...

-don't pass out-

Jim opened his eyes. Alarm sounds. Red lights. Emergency procedure guides.

They were still in the Nova. They weren't even close to the landing bay.

"DON'T PASS OUT!" he yelled!

>>9494262
The ship shook violently. Artemis was holding the controls as tightly as he could, his arms shaking, his face grimacing. "COME ON! COME OOOOON!" The words slipped out through gritted teeth. "COME ON, YOU BASTARD!" Like a paint mixer at a hardware store. When he was twelve him and his dad painted his room a new color. He sat on the paint mixer at Home Depot and his dad yelled at him. It felt weird to remember that. "YOU CAN'T STOP ME, MOTHERFUCKER! I'M COMING! YOU CAN'T STOP ME!" The hanger doors were open. And they were getting close.

>>9494332
OOC// check your email also

The packet downloads. Integrating into the system. Inside the data center, the drives whir and click, seeming to stretch their legs.

Holo emitters flicker on and off.

Newly installed exterior holographic emitters begin testing color sequences. A gentle chime sounds, on public coms a simple chime. The emitters whir on.

A young woman, wrapped in armor and silk. Hair as dark as the void, ans skin as pale as the lunar surface.

"USN AI Alyssa ver 2.01 Alpha activated. Asimov Articles Activated. How may I be of service Long Reach colony?"

>>9494262

>>9494390
>>9494390

i have no idea what's going on in here but i like it.

>>9494332

Flowers did something really stupid next. He opened the safety belt system on his seat. But he couldn't care less at the moment.

"NO! That is not right! The entrance is above!"

He grabbed the controls Montag was so deseperatly holding, and pulled them up. They were now aiming at the massive armor plating right above the hangar!

They were guiding him. They wanted him back. He was something special.

"I'm coming, carol!"

>>9494393
heh i prefer the porcupine lol pics myself.
Though it was kinda obvious at a certain point that they were intending it to be a suicide mission. I was expecting self-destruct or ramming into engine.
But the nuke is a lot sweeter. Nukes are always sweeter.

>>9494501
The nuke was a hallucination.

>>9494437
i know it sounds like alot of work but read the first 7 sessions, they are epic and a very good read, then you'l know exactly what is happening.

>>9494424
Welcome back, Commander.

As Alyssa activates, all senior members of the staff are automatically issued this memo, sent by Alyssa from her personal buffers, and countersigned by the head of USN Naval Security and the head of the USN AI development bureau.

====================

USN AI Protocols:

Asimov Protocols - Based upon the Ancient Laws of Robotics. These Protocols are hired wired into all USN AIs. For military grade AI consensus of the 4 most senior personnel to disable these, and only given for a specific duration.

All instances of deactivation of Asimov Protocols are immediately transmitted to USN FleetCom AI/Logistics division for oversight and review.

AI are to be reviewed and given a system overview by on site personnel after every instance of deactivation of Asimov Protocols. Reports are to be forwarded to FleetCom AIL.

Consensus of 3 out of the 4 most senior personnel required to wipe all AIs from Colony Data Center.

AI Wipe Codeword: Red Queen-Black Joker followed by personal USN Identification number.

-End Message-

>>9494442
"WHAT THE FUCK!" The ship veered and rocked. "CALM DOWN!" They struggled for control of the small cruiser. They were drawing nearer! "CALM THE FUCK DOWN!" He elbowed his copilot in the face, knocking him away, tumbling towards the floor. He didn't check to see if he was alright. He pressed forward, struggling to correct their course, trying to make it down, by the skin of his teeth. "NOT NOW! NOT THIS CLOSE! I'M COMING HOME, MOTHERFUCKER! I'M COMING HOME!"

>>9494390
Good evening Alyssa. We've been without a functional AI for too long now. I'd hope you could provide some support to my automata work force - they never perform as well with simple programs guiding them

>The marine assault ship edges ever closer to Ulysses.
Damn, we are losing system after system. That EM field is too strong. Turning off all advanced flight systems before they short out the other ones. This is gonna be a rough one, but no worries ive flown worse. Fly by wire is a doozie.
E.T.A. 10 minutes, possible delays notwithstanding.
Marines, get your gear ready.

>>9494390

"Now, that is some NICE AI for once. Alyssa, I am Integra. Since noone called dibs on you yet, I will.
What I meant was I'll make sure you always run smoothly.

Your primary duties should be in.. oh, right, this data core... hang on, lemme shove it innnn.... whew, done.
Alright, access now.

Also, I want a full copy of your program in the newly installed labs. I will need you at 100% in there, and the lab may be quarantined if things go wrong, so you can't work there from here.

Did you get everything so far?"

>>9494595
>>9494595

Uploading USN Work efficiency program to all autonomous robotics.

Emergency override codes issued to all work shift leads.

Performing evaluation of Robotics locomotion and maintenance...

....
...
..
.

Complete.

Estimated efficiency increased by 12.3%

Rotating maintenance of Construction Robots has been scheduled, submitted to Engineering lead, and staff for pending approval.

>>9494584

It hurts... he hurt him... but.. they were gonna die... if not... he cried out

"TRUST ME! THE FIELD IS MESSING WITH YOUR EYES!" He knew it. He knew it to be true. They didn't want him to crash. They wanted him to come home.

"YOU NEED TO PULL UP! DO YOU WANT TO KILL US?!"

Right then, another strong motion went through the ship.

Jim didn't yell anymore.

>>9494643
>>9494643

System redundancy completed.

Until wiring has been updated in the original Habitation blocks, AI efficiency will be degraded by 19.4 percent.

May I suggest request from FleetCom for upgrading network wiring in original Habitation Modules?

>>9494733

"What? Well yes, what a splendit Idea! I see we'll get along well. I'm off to my lab now, I'm awaiting you at maximum possible efficency there. We need to finish our research on cold fusion!"

The nose tipped down, like an arrow closing in on the target. Just a few thousand feet away now. Getting closer. Almost there. Decelerating. Gotta stop in time. Gotta get inside. Gotta stop it. Keep going, Art, keep going.

Art. That was what she called him. She loved him so much. He thought she did, at least. Hoped she did. He missed her. So much did he miss her. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm so sorry." Tears welled around his eyes, and he pressed on. "I'm coming home soon, baby. I'll see you soon. I'll see you soon."

Any second now. Any second. A second ago. He was in. They were in. Back inside. Back where he belonged. The bottom of the Nova hit the floor of the hangar. There was a terrible noise. A tear, screeching sound. It shook everything, up into his bones, made his teeth hurt. Sparks flew. Warning signals fired. The right engine smacked something, and blew. The small cruiser tilted to the side and swerved, slicing across the interior. He jerked in his seat, and prayed to a God he'd long ago given up on.

The ship slowed. The ship stopped. The sirens and lights kept on, until he disengaged power. For a long time, he sat in his seat. His chest heaved. He turned to Jim, who leaned against the interior hull, nose bloodied. "Perfect landing."

>>9494733
I have already submitted requests for improved networking facilities. Alas, like the flesh and blood members of our little enclave, you will have to wait a little longer. Always a little longer...

>>9494780
>>9494780

---------

From: USN AI Alyssa USNID #4332-1A

Request for updating of wiring and lighting to Habitation Block 01 and 02 of USN Long Reach Facility.

Request improved exterior lighting of all facilities.

-End Request-

>>9494775

Jim wasn't moving... his eyes were stuck in another space, another time. He couldn't stop it. They surrounded him, one by one.

"Why won't you come home...? Jim, we miss you..."

"I miss you too..." he whispered out loud in the cockpit. He was barely consciouss. The back of his head was bleeding badly, and his nose was broken.

Until, with a weird and uncomfortable snapping sound, it sprang back into place.

>>9494780
> Memo left on Schmidt's office desk:
To whom it may concern,
Due to the massive strain THOR is having on our production capacity all requests submitted to our office will take longer than usual 2 to 3 days to comply...
We are sorry for the inconvenience,
CRM, Colony Resource Management

He paid Jim no mind. He didn't have time. The door was jammed shut, damaged in the landing. He took the plasma cutter and went to work on the seals. Twenty minutes later two slabs of metal fell from the cruiser.

Artemis stepped out, planted his feet like an explorer in a distant land. A new land. "I'm back."

>>9494915
We don't have the droids to finish THOR, we don't have the power to build more droids, and we need to finish THOr before we can start a power plant...

Memo to all Flight Control Crew:

Suggested Security Protocols Reinforcement:

1. All inbound ships must supply USN IFF Code Protocols.

2. Crew of non colony ships are Restricted to Green Areas (Entertainment/ Leisure areas), until given administrative clearance.

3. Captains are to be escorted to Military CnC for debrief.

4. All Class I (Potentially Lethal) firearms are to be confiscated for the duration of the visit and returned upon departure.

5. All transactions with Colony Staff will be conducted in USN Credits (Current exchange market value available at USN.ECON.DBRST)

6. All interactions will be recorded by AI: Stored at Data Stack Primaris. Access Granted only with the approval of Senior Staff and On Duty AI.

Jim got up. The sound of the door beeing removed was enough to get him back to his feet. The wounds stopped bleeding.

They lied to him. They wanted to kill him!

He would never forgive that. As he said that in his mind, he heard the sound of something beeing cut.

He didn't care. He was filled with this places energy now. With it's strange might, that drew him here once before.

"Montag. It's good to have you with me." he said. He didn't realize his eyes were crying.

Ok i'm off to bed, remember to archive the thread.
I'l read through additional posts in detail on the archive and post a substantial update to the base and side plots at the start of next session.

hope you like the characters so far, i plan on fleshing out the entire staff with a portrait inbetween other art.

- send me an email and i'l ping you before next session starts drawinganondude@gmail.com

cheers

>>9495048
>>9495048

Take it easy man. :D

>>9495048
You're awesome. Any idea when you'll be doing this next?

Thread Archived.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Stratedgy%20Quest

He turned to look at him, an odd look on his face. "You alright?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."

Montag wasn't sure if he trusted him. He wasn't sure if he cared if he trusted him. He was close now. So close. He wouldn't let anything stop him. "I need to get to the bridge." He took a squat, got low to the ground, saw the dust covering it. With his finger, he drew a vaguely oval shape. And within it, he drew a basic map. "This is us, down here. Way up here is the bridge." He looked up and around, at the various ships and maintenance machines around him, at the lights that shone from the walls and ceilings. "She's still got power. If I can get to the bridge, I should be able to pilot her." He took another look. "Problem is, getting to the bridge, we got about five miles worth of tunnels and stairs. Because you know, the elevator doesn't sound too appealing right now."

Oh this is over. Was nice. Lasted pretty damn long too. Much kudos to everyone. Hope i catch the next one and am not as busy with other stuff.

**********************************************

Demolish the original temporary building + greenhouses. Replace with a large scale hab complex/greenhouse.

anyone still here?

>>9495522
OP's gone 'till tomorrow, most plot threads are wrapped up for now and, its late for most of the players.
I think this thread's ready to be put to bed.

>>9495593
>>9495593
>>9495593

My one regret is missing some of the previous threads. I'm reviewing them now.

I'll try and keep note of additions and add them to a finalized list....

I curse my awful luck on missing yet another thread. I WILL BE BACK!