“And so we give her spirit unto the void, her valiant soul and intrepid will. In death she blazed the trail for the lives of others to be saved. Thus she will be remembered, we are forever in her debt.” you finish, concluding the ceremony. A trigger to missile tube 84 and its payload is released, the pod launching from the tube directly below the observation platform. A glittering trial spirals behind it, the container holding what few personal effects Erella had amassed in her time onboard. A memorial in absentia for the woman who lost her life on that bleak moon.

The ceremony ends and the assembled crew mills about briefly before departing. The scientists for the most part disperse, though you notice four of them form a group and together move off toward one of the lower decks. Your military crew, all clad in dress uniform, head back to their own rooms chatting amongst themselves; no doubt they are going to change and get back to either duty or making use of their off-time. And of course your command staff: Rinn heavily decked in medals, looking somber and thoughtful as he gazes after the funerary pod. Ivanova already heading for the mess halls. Tynes and Dai both heading back to their respective portions of the ship due to being on-duty; Tynes the bridge, Dai the reactor. You also notice Fie talking softly with Tremko off to the side, both sitting in observation chairs and gazing out into the starry expanse as they speak.

>Wat do?

>Void Quest
>Playing a spaceship, not a void
I still can't get over this.

==Map Legend==
Green Dotted Arrow: Current Jump
Yellow Dotted Arrow: Last Jump
Orange Dotted Arrow: Last minus 1 Jump
Red Dotted Arrow: Prior jumps.
Green dot: Current position.
Yellow Square: Your awakening position
Teal dotted zone: Hundred Systems Territory (Hundred Worlds Rebellion)

==Command Staff==
Lieutenant Kateryna Ivanova - Executive Officer
>Second Lieutenant Dray Parson - Intelligence Officer (Cryo)
Second Lieutenant Robert Tynes - Steward
Chun-Fan Dai - Chief Engineer
Third Lieutenant Mardigan “Guns” Rinn - Weapons Officer
Dr. Christof Burr - Physician

==Junior Officers==
Ensign Fie - Communictions Officer
Ensign DuBois - Staff officer
Ensign Tremko - Staff officer
Ensign Rao - Staff officer

==Persons of Note==
>Dr. Eliphim Ketro -- Civilian Scientist (Cryo)

I thought u died again dude.

Head for the Changeover Station we heard about. We need to get a move on.

Previous Threads:

1: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15474877/
2: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15527576/
3: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15547424/
4: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15558914/
5: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15581324/
6: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15603188/
7: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15626860/
8: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15671288/
9: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15681393/
10: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15702140/
11: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15725852/
12: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15749179/
13: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15760403/
13-2: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15765549/
14: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15783485/
15: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15807704/
16: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15856771/
17: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15880596/
18: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15904452/
19: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15916825/
20: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15949806/
20-2: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15954334/

>Also, when archiving make sure to include the thread number in the title and a "Void Quest" tag.

1. Finish salvaging what is useful from the rest of the system.
2. See if we cant find anymore gatemaps or whatever.
3. Head to the Gate Station we heard about.

Yay!!! The map's back.

Head for the purple dot, im assuming thats the gate station right?

We go back into the station! There must be something down there!
Nah seriously, I don't really know, go to the other precursor system or proceed on our path to earth, not much else to do.

Not really much to do. Keep the psychiatrist/whoever on notice obviously.

We'll chat with Ivanova when she's done resting. Specifically, I'd like to know why she led us to that system, and if she knew anything about what was there.

Also, let's talk with Dai. Since we'll be heading to a system that presumably has Imperial assets, we should get a list of what we most need for salvage. What parts he would most like to see, etc.

Check on the four scientists going to the lower decks.

Let's continue to the other "precursor" system.

Ah, good day.

I too say: Proceed to the nearest other precursor system, that's probably consensus now, eh?

Before proceeding to the system where we all want to go, follow the four scientists to the lower decks.

I can't really suggest what to say before we see the situation.

I guess if they are just talking or chilling out, tell them that we think that despite us not seeing eye-to-eye on certain matters, we value each and every one of them as an individual.

>>15994994
Good to have you back.

>namtar antidote
Do we have anything of it left? Or a sample to analyse, a record of how it neutralised the agent after we released it?

>Rinn
Ask him if he knew her well. It is always good to know the crew.

>Fie & Tremko
Ask if we may join them? If they knew about Erella, ask them to tell us about her. Preserve the memory of her beyond whatever is in our files.

>four scientists
Keep a close eye on them, if possible without alerting them to it.

>Ivanova
I think she needs a real hug this time. We should also ask her, indirectly of course and after her leave is over, how one might notice certain blocks and programmed conditions.
I'd hate for us to do something we don't want to, and we've less left of our original form than she does. I think.

Hmmm.

Well, I was writing departure and arrival since nobody seemed to want to talk to any crew but it seems a couple do.

So what's the verdict? Chat up dudes or head out?

>>15995718
Why not do both? I mean, you can probably put the whole conversation before leaving.

I see no conflict there.

>>15995718
>Chat up dudes or head out?

Well, I guess it is more work for you to write it, but I would love to have some conversations with the crew. The first real - preventable - loss since we came back should stir things up a bit.
To rationalise it; the more we know about our limited resources, the better we can employ them.

>1 vote for Chat up dudes

>Chat up dudes or head out?
>>15995588 here
I vote to chat them up, obviously.

Also, still hold to that old suggestion of "create a 'suggestion box for captain's consideration" where the crew can place notes anonymously that they feel like they can't tell us personally. Stuff like making requests or suggestions.

Mostly to seem more approachable and to see what the crew cares about or not. Check it once a week or something.

>>15995750

There's what, a week until jump?

We're going to do NOTHING for that whole week?

Didn't we have a big hissyfit over that last few threads?

Of course chat up the crew.

So, who do you chat up? If multiples, in what order? What do you discuss? Ect.

Come on, you guys should know the drill by now.

>>15995892
>follow the four scientists to the lower decks.

>I can't really suggest what to say before we see the situation.

>I guess if they are just talking or chilling out, tell them that we think that despite us not seeing eye-to-eye on certain matters, we value each and every one of them as an individual.

>>15995892
If it is nothing bad they're up to - smalltalk, friendly banter, that kind of stuff.

Nothing fancy, nothing that is really of relevance - such was the aim of my previous post. I apologize, if I did not spell it out in a sufficient manner for you to understand.

>>15995892
Ivanova: After giving her time to recover, see what she knew beforehand about that facility and why she directed us to the system. What did she want from us?

Dai: If there's any specific pieces or parts we should look for, any systems notable for their production or shipyards (outside Sol, of course)

Civilian scientists: If they feel they're being well treated, how they're handling Ketro's absence, is there anything they need to help them fit in.

Doctors: Any updates on the biowarfare stuff. Recommendations to burn it, save it, etc.

>>15995921
If you want me to elaborate, the general trend of this conversation would be "I feel bad for what happened to Erella, and I understand you probably hold me to blame for it, but I want us to be able to trust each other because if we don't, may we all die in the void."

If they really don't want to work for us and are stirring up rebellion or something, tell them that it helps absolutely nobody, and they always have the option of quitting: either being dropped off on some habitable world (they choose) or to wait around under monitoring or in cryo until a suitable world has been found.

>>15995963
>Ivanova: snip

Let's be careful here, we don't want to fry her brain and she seemed to have been rather displeased by the events groundside.
Poor unisteel rail.

Talk to the scientists. We need to improve our relationship with them. Apologize for what happened.

>>15996132
Apologizing implies something to apologize for. We did what we thought was best at the time.

Also uh... these guys are basically enlisted right? We're not really supposed to be talking to them directly in the first place.

>>15996162
>Also uh... these guys are basically enlisted right? We're not really supposed to be talking to them directly in the first place.

I think normal military protocol is suspended.

>>15996162
There are lots of things we've done so far that we're not supposed to do in the first place, see: still.

At this point, we're operating in military fashion because it gets us results faster, but that doesn't mean people have to like us for it. We're just trying to make sure the civvies don't get too upset, because they still constitute about 30% of our crew.

>>15996184
No it isn't. And if it we choose to do so then what is the point of being a "military" ship in the first place? You are delusional if you think it will ever get re-implemented.afterward.

You don't apologize because you're wrong, You apologize because you value your relationship more than you ego.
Also, we're responsible because we ordered her there and because we'e the captain.

>>15996213
Sorry, I worded that incorrectly. We have certainly already relaxed the protocol. We accepted the existance of a still on board and didn't punish the person setting it up.
We also didn't intervene when we discovered the relationship between the neutered engineer and his girlfriend.

>>15996221
>we're responsible because we ordered her there and because we're the captain.
great power, great responsibility, etc. It's true.

Apologizing undermines your authority.

>>15996429
I don't think so, I think it strengthens our authority by showing that we feel responsible for those under us, as opposed to seeing them as things to be discarded as needed which the scientists may vey well feel.

>>15996598
That is increasing their loyalty or feeling of being valued.

It still undermines our authority to apologize and do so.

Hey, Voidquest!
I just finished reading chapter 20. No comment.

>wat do?
Do we have that last hole in our hull fixed up yet? I forget. We should use this week of recharging to do that.

Otherwise I'm gonna go and make a Cast_Roll_Call.jpeg so I can stop forgetting who all we have in terms of crew and such.

>>15996632
Do you think we have more or less authority over those who are loyal?

>>15996715
You mean like what's in >>15995010 ?

Thanks for re-adding the map, Vedibere.

If we don't talk to the civilian scientists, at least monitor the group of 4 that left together.

You pay brief visits to both Burr and Dai, asking them about progress on the bioweapons and notable shipyards, respectively. Burr gives you an exasperated sigh, quickly controlled, before answering that he already told you there’s probably nothing he can do with the data. He has neither the expertise nor the facilities. Understanding that it’s patently ludicrous to ask a ship’s doctor and one assistant to unravel, without research facilities, something that took hundreds of experts years to formulate you instead turn to your Chief Engineer.

“Captain on deck!” One of the engineers announces as you arrive, causing one of the others to snap to attention and salute. His partner, head inside the console, is not so lucky and slams the back of his head into the steel casing with a ringing thud before swearing and straightening properly.

You nod, “At ease. Where is Chief Dai, Officer Uralinaki?”

The grey-skinned engineer (a result of his homeworld according to records) salutes again before grimacing and wiping his grease-covered hand on his dark blue coveralls, “He’s down on level three linked to the core, sir. Calibrations for the next jump, I think.”

“Very well. As you were. You might want to have that checked out by Doctor Burr, too.” you say, walking away.

“Not that bad, Sir. Happens all the time.” he replies, still rubbing the area as you maneuver your body down an access ladder.

############

You float easily through the reactor’s inner datasphere, searching for Dai. Turns out the man was linked to ship systems after all and there was no need to come down here physically... but it’s the thought that counts, right? Regardless, you make your way among the towering datastructures to each side, their dark blue security sheathes glittering menacingly even as bursts of data flick between them like electrical discharges. Onward and downward you plunge, through highways of data transfer or the bustle of busy subroutines tasked with maintaining the systems... to the bright towering beam where you detect your head engineer.

You arrive, slowing to a stop and floating easily once more as you take in the sight. Dai hovers near the pulsing column of incandescent light that is the main reactor processing controller, dozens of data streams reaching from his glowing, slightly-transparent ethereal body into the very core. Even as you watch systems are being tuned back from skewed settings, artifacts of systems that failed and shattered under the stresses of the last transition and took their settings with them.

You don’t have much time to watch, however, before he notices you and breaks off. The ribbons of communication and modification evaporate and he turns, floating over to you. “Something wrong, captain?”

“No, nothing like that. I was hoping to get your opinion on some things, though.”

He nods, immediately logging out. Surprised, you follow and within a few nanoseconds are once again standing next to the humming and shimmering reactor core.

>>15996772
>monitor the group of 4 that left together.
This. Civilians can't be trusted to not be seditious. Use the onboard cameras to track them, and they go out of sight, have a drone or two set to whatever passes for 'stealth mode', if they have it, and continue listening in/following.

>You also notice Fie talking softly with Tremko off to the side.
Enhance and focus the onboard aural sensors towards them. No need to interrupt, but rather than dragging their feelings out of them, let's make like a tree an spy on them.

Both of the above are because of learned lessons from PARSONS.

>Vedibere: Who to chat with?
Maj. Rinn was in the base too, yeah? Let's give him a penny for his thoughts, and try to probe the conversation towards his thoughts on the Armada being Spooky and playing with micro-organic fire. Be nice to know his stance on such gravity-cloak-and-nanobot-dagger stuff.

After Rinn we'll check with Dai, and see about the condition of the ship and ask for his objective view on the civilians current and recent behavior.

Can't think of a reason to talk with Tynes.

We'll personally visit Ivanova a few hours after her 48 hours are up, then she if she has anything she wants to vent, and ask if there's anything else she can get away with talking about, anything to help keep her sane and alive.

Also somewhere in there ask Burr about their progress, and get her personal opinions on the whole 'doomsday weapon' and 'immortality agent' mess. Also, ask her if she has any concerns about the civilian crew, any indications of sedition or depression. I know she's been busy, but she's still a psych doctor and she'll have a few observations in her head to share.

On a somewhat sillier note, set up a side program to calculate how often we could unfreeze and refreeze Parsons to use as a punching bag.

Anyone disagree or support?

>>15995796
Also, vedibere, every thread so far you've used that picard_facepalm.jpeg image.
Just pointing that out.

“Is there something wrong, Dai?” you inquire, concerned about the man’s sudden retreat, but he simply grunts as he tramps over to a bench and sits.

“Nah. Been logged in for hours, need break. Was taking soon anyway, might as well do it now. What do you need advice on?”

“I see. Well, I would like two things: One, I need to know if there are any specific parts you need for the ship so you can enact repairs. And two, I would like to know about any famous shipyards or, well, even not-famous ones we could visit that would be able to repair my systems.”

“Mmm.” he growls, nodding while drinking from a water bottle. “Parts either covered from salvage or custom-made. Need facilities more. As far as can go with field repairs. Shipyards...”

He frowns, trailing off and taking another drink, “Home systems all have large shipyards. Only about a dozen that could construct Harbinger from nothing. Sol, DSS-1... think you call it FarCom, Centauri, Pax Majoris, Karelian, Vanis, Majesty, Ration Kes, Parsimony, Bastion, Armada Command, and Telion Vaes. Worked on ships at them all at one time or another. Some other yards too. Secret, of course. Classified location, things like that. Worked on a few, never knew where they were. What do you want to know?”

>>15996908
FUCK I took too long to type that out.
Have mercy!

>>15996908
>Also, vedibere, every thread so far you've used that picard_facepalm.jpeg image.
That is because I have facepalmed at least once every thread.

>>15996929
"When you have the time, please create a list of the required components needed to make additional repairs and upload them to the system. Hopefully we'll be able to crosscheck it against any supplies we find in the future."

Say nothing for a few minutes and then pat him on the back. "Good work, Dai. Really. You've come through for us all. Keep it up."

Return to our . . . sleep chamber, or whatever it was. Then look for and monitor the scientist group that went off alone.

>>15996921
What DO we want to know?

I suppose we could go with >>15996972
And also query about the reactor and Intersteller Sensors, and bout how difficult it might be to find what we'd need to fix them should there really be almost nothing left behind by the Ophidians. be nice to know how hopeful we should be.

Where the hell is everyone? It's like there's only three or four guys here, not including Vedibere.

>>15997085
Either the thread is filled entirely with bitching or it is empty. There is no middle ground.

Hey, less people seems to equal no arguing.

>>15997104
I for one feel no need to chime in when the suggestions, if not exactly what I'd suggest are more or less along the same lines.

>>15997104
Exactly.

So yeah, finish up our chat with Dai with what's posted above, then do a quick little scan of the ship to make sure nothing's amiss.

I do want to check in on those four scientists. I'm not saying they're doing anything. But I mean, they might. They got thrust into being under our command. Their leader was frozen. They just lost a friend. I suspect they may be less than happy with how things are going.

So if we can find them, go and speak to them personally. Ask how they're handling things. Tell them we wish things were looking better than they are right now, but that we're the only humans we know of, and we have to keep moving forward.

>>15997140
I do this too. If someone's already suggested an idea I agree with, I usually keep quiet.

Dai's acting a little funny, is anyone against pressing the issue to try and uncover why?

>>15997200
Nah. Let's just keep an eye on him. If there's something amiss we'll probably notice it, or he'll say something.

But honestly, I think you're looking too deeply.

>>15997217
Alright then, it's just that he only speaks in that strange clipped way when he's bothered.

I was wondering if maybe some of that damage he was looking at was worth knowing about.

But again, it's likely I AM looking too deeply into it.

Vedi, which of those shipyards is nearest, and how far away is it?

>>15997085
It's friday, they are probably partying or playing Magic.

Go with
>>15996972

After we make the jump to that waystation, set a course to the nearest home world. As long as they are more or less on the same route, I would want to visit Sol and Armada Command, with Sol being the ultimate destination.

>>15997240
Nah, Dai is always clippy. He's like an old sailor who's seen too much shit to bother wasting words that aren't about sailing.

>>15997156
>>15997140
I get you guys, but you know what would be better? Saying "I support this guys plan" occasionally.

Reason being is that Vedibere is looking for a 'concensus', which means there has to be a suggestion or two that have the majority of 'votes'. If you don't vote, Vedibere gets stuck.

Am I right or wrong Vedi?

>>15997288
Seconded.

>>15997288
you realize that sol is almost halfway across the galaxy from our current position, right? and that a direct route would take you straight through the core which seems to have been avoided for the most part?

>>15997304
That only matters if the suggestions are contradictory, if they aren't i see no need to waste effort typing a response.

>>15997320
>>15997310
>>15997288
Planning a little too far ahead there. We're going to the layover station/planet first. Sol is the endgame, and we don't want to go anywhere near such important places ntil our systems are back in fighting condition, especially our interstellar comms and reactor. We want to know what we are about to jump into, and we want to know we can jump out at a moments notice, rather than running and hiding for a week.

>>15997262
The nearest Home System is Elysium; 27,000 LY away, and the nearest of the shipyards Dai mentioned specifically is Armada Far Arm Command at 33,000 LY away... though that is sort of in the opposite direction from Sol and the human territories.

Some of Ketro's people are still working with the engineers right? We could ask Dai what his impressions of them are now that he has had time to observe them?

>>15997542
great suggestion, too bad it slipped my mind earlier.

>>15997496
>nearest of the shipyards
> Armada Far Arm Command at 33,000 LY
>opposite direction from Sol
Nnnggh.
I suppose we should make this our long/term plan.
If Humanity is alive, then Sol is where they would be. However, we don't want to go rushing in blind.

Who agrees with:
>Priority One: Fix the ship into combat readiness.

>>15997496
Hmm... Rather too far away at the moment. Thanks for the info.
>>15997464
Yeah, heading to Sol is still a medium to long term goal. We need to fix more of our shit first.
>>15997542
Yeah, good idea. Ask Dai about the scientists before we go talk to them.

Fixing the ship to 100% should be of higher priority than returning to Sol. If it managed to survive this long another decade or so won't make much difference.

Plus the point is to find the rest of humanity, going to a home system might accomplish that.

The list of ship names we recovered. Were any of the ships known to operate in space that lies in the opposite direction of Sol? We should certainly look into them before making such a long trip.

>>15997608

You have my support.

>>15997608
Seconding, also vedibere can we get the list of ships that are "waiting" for us again?

Plus whatever we know about them. Sorry, fishing through the archive woulds take a bit.

>>15997726
And you think it wouldn't for vedibere? I'll give you a tip:
>go to archive
>enter in Void Quest in search engine
>look for correct description
>ctrl-f
>Vedibere
>keep hitting down
>Tada!

Actually, gime a sec and I'll find it for you.

>Goooo then, Harbinger. Maestro, Hydra, Centauri, and Dreadnought wait still, maaaaybe.

>>15997658
>Were any of the ships known to operate in space that lies in the opposite direction of Sol?
All but Dreadnought could be operating at any part of the galaxy at any given time. Majora Centauri, however, could have operated in the far reaches for longer periods due to being a long-range destroyer. Such ships were generally used for wide area patrol or long-term missions with indefinite or flexible objectives. Such ships often were assigned to the far reaches where Empire control was less complete.

>>15997821
>Centauri, Dreadnought, Hydra, and Maestro

>Still, you console yourself with long overdue work, namely searching your databases fro the ships Centauri, Dreadnought, Hydra, and Maestro. Hydra is of course the easiest, and you know much about it already. Ex-fleet flagship. Captain, formerly High Admiral Aurora Shael. Listed as in-between captains on your roster at the time you departed port at Sol. A very powerful ship second only to you and battlestations, the first of the Hydra class of Heavy Cruiser.

>Dreadnought is easy as well, a ship that every student in the Academy already knows. Well, not ship exactly. The OIS Dreadnought is the main defensive battlestation over Earth and key to the entire defense network of Sol. Captained by Rear Admiral Serg Iridan Mastok, one of the most highly decorated officers in the Armada, it is an invincible bulwark capable of destroying entire strike forces of normal ships and projecting its personal shield around the entire planet Earth as a defensive measure. You’ve met Admiral Mastok several times, he was good friends with your mentor Admiral Shael, and he seemed to like you well enough. Indeed, you were actually quite surprised that he knew you at all the first time you met as you were a mere Ensign at the time and no-one of note.

>>15997850
>Maestro requires a brief search, but you are surprised to find that it’s the Atar-class Fast Command Cruiser Maestro, piloted by none other than Charles Urwright, a close friend of yours from the academy. You still remember the long nights studying and running battle drills with the man on the academy combat sims, competing to be first in class... and then were both assigned to the Hydra afterward. You give a silent mental chuckle... oh my, the two of you got so positively /smashed/ graduation night. You are still amazed to this day the Armada Police didn’t arrest you for shooting empty liquor bottles out disposal ports, attempting to hit the room windows of instructors you didn’t like across the station.

>Finally, Centauri. This one takes a very long time to track down, actually. There are several dozen ships with Centauri in the name, after all, and sorting through them gives you very little. Eventually, though, you run across the Majora Centauri, a Keter-class long-range destroyer. It’s actually rather odd... the captain is someone named Olianas Paxil and his designation is dual-commissioned. Very rare, and when you look to see that he was commissioned both as an Armada officer and an Intel operative your metaphorical eyes go wide. Not just rare, but positively unique. You didn’t even know that was possible. As for why he would be waiting for you... you can’t even begin to guess.

>>15997842
Hrmm. And what was the max distance for a single jump on our drive's current strength?

>>15997859
I think it was 5k lightbeards.

>>15997855
Finding centuri could be the means we require for making the deathmoon less killy. Could also be the end of Ivonova working for us too. Order 66 and all...

That we may run into it out there makes my palms itch.

>>15997869
I thought 5k as well, but I didn't know if it had been improved upon.

So if it is 5k, and the closest shipyard that he mentioned is 33k lightyears away, it'd take us 7 weeks of jumps and repairs just to get to where the shipyard is supposed to be. This assumes that the shipyard is still there or intact.

Then it would take another 7 weeks to get back to here. Of course, we could always go someplace else once we got there. Still 7 weeks isn't too long considering how much food we have. Which is plenty.

I vote we go to the stopover location that's nearby, then plot a course for the shipyard. Hopefully we'll find other ships. Maybe other humans or intelligence. Maybe parts to aid in repairs.

Anyway, that's my vote.

>>15997910
I support this plan.
Also I thought we were already going over to the stopover?.

hey, Vedi. One day, will you tell us just how deeply an how far in advance you try to plan these things out? You have me convinced that you spend hours on writing not because you're planning the next step, but because you have a distinct personality for each character you are making pains to adhere to.

>>15997910
I support this notion, simply for doing something.
A good night to everyone :)

>>15997910
Of course, this also assumes we don't bump into anything else along the way, which given the state of things, seems unlikely. But still, I still vote that this be our plan of action.

>>15997910
I am also in support.
Somehow I had imagined that disappearing for 3 hours to grab some food and drink some beers would result in me getting to read new writefaggotry upon return - I have proven wrong sadly.


Unless Vedibere is writing already

>>15997933
>hey, Vedi. One day, will you tell us just how deeply an how far in advance you try to plan these things out? You have me convinced that you spend hours on writing not because you're planning the next step, but because you have a distinct personality for each character you are making pains to adhere to.
A bit of both. As for how far they're planned out? Well, I still have plans running from the very first thread and stuff happening off in other parts of the galaxy simultaneously.

>>15997954
Oh wait.


Why are we braindead appearently? We could be considereably faster if we were to use the gatenetwork for parts of the travel, would we not?

Is that workeable, Vedibere?

>>15997968
You are right.
Only problem is finding a local gate from the layover point.

You can do that for us, right vedi?

>>15997968
We'd have to contend with others using the gates, and find a complete enough section to travel along.

I don't see why it wouldn't be possible, considering we did that already.

>>15997976
> local gate from the layover point.
Dammit, i meant the NEAREST local gate from the layover planet.

We'll just gently bump our way to the front of the line repeatedly.

BTW, does anyone else think that maybe aliens have figured out how to reactivate the gates? I was thinking that more gates than we've seen would have been found deactivated by the xenos and figured out.

>>15997988
Ah, and of course, for the final bit I'd rather we use our own jump rather than a gate, so as to not leave a trail, as it were.

This of course assumes we can map out a plausible pathway using gates and jumps to make our way around.

>>15997976
I was under the impression that the layover point already had a gate, but wasn't accessible because of the defenses in the system.

In addition: I'm kind of hoping Ketro's prediction that our jump drive may explode doesn't come true. Vedi's probably rolling a d100 and waiting for a 1 or 2 to turn up or something every time we jump.

Ketro knows things too, but I'm pretty sure we don't want to wake him because his stipulation that he kill dai is completely unacceptable to us.

>>15997992
I'd assume not, otherwise we wouldn't have come across deactivated gates.

Maybe there are some groups off in the distance, thousands and thousands of light years away who have, but none that we have met. Likely, at least.

If we do use gates (Which seems like a really swell plan), then if we come across a system that's inhabited. We should sit back in the corner, visible, but not threatening, with our shields up. Pick up their signals, decode their language as best as we can, and then broadcast messages saying that we are the owners of the gates and that we are going to use one and that the other ships had better get out of the way."

At least that way we give a fair warning.

>>15998014
>broadcast messages saying that we are the owners of the gates and that we are going to use one and that the other ships had better get out of the way.

Fair enough.

More or less, "hey guys, we're going to use these gates, move out of the way. I'm not paying customs, deal with it."

>Sigh.

So now you guys are wanting to stop the conversing and go to Armada Far Command?

I mean, I've started writing twice and then just had to stop because you guys have ADD or something. I'm considering just letting you guys talk it out for however long and then running an extra thread Sunday with the OP as whatever you decide.

>>15998036
These plans are for after we're done conversing. We're just planning ahead while you write.

>>15998036
>wanting to stop the conversing and go to Armada Far Command?

No, we're talking about wanting to go to Armada Far Command or wherever else while we wait for the conversation to progress.

>>15998047
This.

C'mon Ved, we're trying to be considerate and get our arguments out of the way BEFORE you start having to write for them.

>>15998036

You know the drill, any discussion will continue forever and go off on tangents. That's how it is. Just pick the first more or less consensus we reach and go with it. Everything else can still be picked up later, if the idea was good.

>>15998036
>>15998047
Yeah. And no offense, man, but you do take a while to write. The quality shows that. But it does provide us a lot of opportunity to plan ahead in the mean time.

>>15998063
>>15998058
>>15998054
>>15998050
>>15998047

Holy crap, is the first immediate consensus that we've ever had?

>>15998047
>>15998050
>>15998054
>>15998063
>>15998058

All of these go in the same direction: We're already planning for AFTER your next writefaggotry

Main problem of every other thread:
Not enough agreement among the players.

Main problem of this thread:
Too much agreement among the players.

>>15998081
Indeed.

>>15998087
:D It's like we just agree on too much stuff too fast. I could live with that...

>>15998083
See Vedibere? Honestly, we try to do something RIGHT for once and we find out we're ruining your work?

I wish you'd tell us things like that.

Plan
>Chat according to all above suggestions
>check out suspicious civilians
>get list of stuffs from Dai (you don't have to write it, just say its so.)
>Jump to layover point.

Everything not about that is us planning ahead for once.

>>15997910
Another vote for this.

And yeah, we're justr planning while you write, not trying to change direction out of nowhere.

>>15998114
I hope you saved your rough drafts Vedibere, or have semi-photographic memory.

>>15998047
Sounds good. Talking to people then going places? Right on.

You thank Dai for the information and ask him to make a report of all the critical parts he might need, just in case. He grunts assent and you turn to leave before stopping mid-stride and wheeling back, “Oh, and by the way. What do you think of the scientists who used to work under Ketro? Have they been turning out well?”

“Pfah.” he scoffs, “Lazy. Impractical too. Keep suggesting things beyond our means. Theoretical improvements, ideal values. Like I didn’t think of them already. No way to implement, should work on real problems rather than flighty concepts. When told they clam up and go back to taking excessive amounts of time to do simple work.” He shrugs “Work with what you have though. Terrible at repairs so have them calibrating. Slightly better at that, at least.”

“Right. Well, don’t come down on them too hard. They are civilians, you know.”

He scowls, “Me too. Don’t see me slacking.”

Sigh.

“Okay. Just don’t assign them busywork like you did Ketro.”

He shrugs and nods before sending and heading back to the core, leaving you to make your way back up to the main decks.

##################

You leave engineering and make a circuit of your metallic form with your mortal one, ostensibly on inspection. In realith, however, you are following the four scientists as they move through the lower decks via cameras; eventually they stop in one of the lower observation rooms and sit, chatter slowly turning from smalltalk to the funerary service earlier. While it starts as a conversation on Erella the topic eventually meanders into a quite different area... you, or more accurately muttered comments about how the only one to die on the expedition was one of the civilians. From that it morphs into discussing how quickly you put Ketro in freeze, your clear favoritism of Dai, and how this sort of thing isn’t at all what they-- At this point one of them shushes the others, frowning and shaking his head while stealthily pointing to one of the speakers. The others frown before quickly moving on to other topics once again.

Their chatter quickly dies away, however, when you enter the deck yourself. “Hello, gentlemen.”

They nod and mutter responses, shooting brief glances to each other. The silence drags and you give a bit of a smile while walking over, simultaneously querying your database for their names and professions. Raul, Cain, Yarrow, and Estarol, Weapons, Reactor, Weapons, and Materials Science specialists, respectively. “You seem to have an interesting conversation going, mind if I join?”

The silence stretches again before Raul clears his throat, “Is there something you needed from us, Captain Stahr?”

"Im just going around and making sure everything is alright with everyone on board. After all the loss of one of our own is a hard thing on everyone, impossibly moreso when there are so few of us remaining."

>>15998337
Sure. Giving advice in /adv/, providing rational explanations in /x/, infodumps in /b/, fulfilling requests in /r/, there's lots to do while Ved is writing.

For god's sake, don't be confontational. We want to patch up things with these guys, not have to stick them in cryo because they mutinied.

>>15998389
This.

Make sure they feel welcome and safe on this ship. They're human, we value them.

>>15998342

your accusations, gentlemen. Let's have them.

Do try to keep them partially grounded in the reality of our situation, if you would.

"This is against regulations, but I wanted to know if you'd like to talk about what happened down there."

Take responsibility, that as captain the lives of our crew are our responsibility, and we've failed them by sending a civilian into a situation like that without first checking making sure they understood proper protocol.

First Ketro, now this.. we aren't well equipted to handle civilians. Especially not now, we need to work together. To find ways to avoid this in the future. We need one of you to take on the role of liaison, and work with us to make sure that not only are your skills being properly used but also that you all stay on the same page as us military folk. To make sure there are less misunderstandings.

>>15998416
Maybe we should say something about how the ( rather foolish) actions of Erella's handling and accidental sacrifice of the hazardous material potentially saved the lives of everyone on board, including them?

Or is that too much info?

>>15998457
Only if a few others agree, I'd rather them not know how close we were.

>>15998399
>They're human, we value them.
Let's ask them if they care about lancing /genociding Xenos from orbit if they try to attack us.
I'd like to know if they harbor any xenos sympathies. I know they shouldn't but it'd be an interesting conversation topic.

Oh, and I'm really not trying to cause issues here, I just feel that we should know if any of our crew is gonna get all seditious if we have to go blasting all guns again. Who knows what info they could beam away in a fit of sympathetic guilt?

During my time with the military, good Officers always stood out in a couple of ways
a) they knew exactly when to be strict and when to be lenient,
b) they were taking care of their subordinates very good
c) they were schooled in psychology and public speaking / finding the right words for everything


As we, as the Harbinger and it's captain, are obviously a quite good Officer, I suggest we use those skills, we sit down and talk to them.
We are honest, we let them know upfront that we overheard their conversation, we explain our reasons, and we explain a little of the experience we have collected in our time as a commanding officer responsible for the humans under his command.


None of the players here, me included, will have the skill to really put into words or formulate the right way of going about this, but we as the Harbinger should be easily capable of doing this.

Even if it's just a first step, we can build trust and loyalty this way.

>>15998478
Ehhh, that would be a little too oddly specific.

>talking shit about the captain, realize he can hear you
>captain comes in
"SO HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT XENO SCUM?"

During my time with the military, good Officers always stood out in a couple of ways
a) they knew exactly when to be strict and when to be lenient,
b) they were taking care of their subordinates very good
c) they were schooled in psychology and public speaking / finding the right words for everything


As we, as the Harbinger and it's captain, are obviously a quite good Officer, I suggest we use those skills, we sit down and talk to them.
We are honest, we let them know upfront that we overheard their conversation, we explain our reasons, and we explain a little of the experience we have collected in our time as a commanding officer responsible for the humans under his command.


None of the players here, me included, will have the skill to really put into words or formulate the right way of going about this, but we as the Harbinger should be easily capable of doing this.

Even if it's just a first step, we can build trust and loyalty this way.
BTW: is anyone else experiencing captchas that seem to almost never work?

>>15998389
Supporting this.

>>15998342
THEY ARE PLOTTING.
FREEZE THEM ALL.
(No, the all-caps is me joking.)

Say something like: "I was just in Engineering and was talking to Dai. He" --and then a pause-- "commended your work on the calibration he has assigned you."

Don't wait for them, and cut them off if they start to say something.

"What happened with Erella was horrible and unforgivable. After surviving 64 thousand years...to find her demise on some no-name moon to a biological weapon of genocide, she deserved something better. Not only that, but during those 64 thousand years she was in a decaying orbit inside the corona of a star with an armed clustereater inside of the core of a wiped warship EI.

Gentlemen, as commander of a Ophridian warship, my first duty is to the Empire. The current state of it is questionable, at best. Therefore, my duty falls to Humanity.

At this moment, Humanity is those on this ship. Erella's death is effectively 4% of the known human population gone. Do not think I take it lightly.

I understand you may have some _problem_ with me, or the rest of the crew. I understand Dai is not great with people, and that you are researchers, not military engineers. You feel conscripted. Your idolized leader lies in cryo, and, by a twist of fate, you now serve under his hated rival.

[cont]

>>15998535
I'm liking this so far.

>>15998535
Oh man, this is way better than what I was writing up.

>>15998535
This has my support.

Okay, I'm going to see the new Conan now, I sure hope that when I come back there's some new stuff to read.

Don't be too hard on Vedi and plot too far ahead...

>>15998535
KEEP WRITING, YOU BEAUTIFUL VEDIBERE-CLONE BASTARD.

Also yes, i DO now use Vedibere as a standard to compare all other writefaggotry to.

>>15998545
So, after we've restored the Ophidian Empire to greatness, I was thinking...

>>15998557
TOO LATE, WE FOUND THE PORTAL TO CJOPAZE IN THE HEART OF SOL.
TOO BAD WE USED UP THAT CLUSTEREATER ON THAT XENOS HARBINGER CLASS SHIP.
AND FUCKING KETRO HAS GONE ONE-WINGED ANGEL WHILE PARSON'S IS NOW A PORKY EXPY.

>>15998535

[cont]

You know Dr. Ketro better than I do. I presume you know how politically savvy he is. I talked to Dr. Ketro when he was in the brig for fighting on-board this ship. He told me that all of you were working on something highly classified, and that only he knew the details. He promised me secrets of the gate network that only he knew. In return, he asked of me something I will never be prepared to accept."

(pause, if they ask what it is, play back our recording of him wanting to kill Dai. Tell them "I don't expect you to believe me.")

then, take a seat, and ask:
"Are there things we should talk about? How to best work together?"

>>15998342
"I wanted to talk to you about Erellas death, about the role of everybody on-board the ship, especially you civilians since you aren't used to the rigors of military life.


Erella dying was unfortunate, I wish it hadn't happened, but i also wish that humanity as a whole was still around and we know how that went...

The situation in that base was dangerous, and we had only one person we could expect to understand and deal with it, that is why she was down on the surface, unfortunately she payed the ultimate price for it.

I would have you know that i did not throw her life away, did not just find a former human installation and charge in heedless of the danger, i knew that it could be dangerous yes, but i also knew that there were humans down there, trapped in cryo-sleep slowly fading into death and i could not stand that thought.

Had i known just how much danger there was no-one would have gone down there, but none of us knew, and saving humanity, all that i can find of it is the only thing I or my crew can do to serve now.

All I ask is that you aid us in whatever manner you can in our journey to try and find some remnant of humanity, and to save those trapped as you once were.

You are not slaves, you are not military personnel, you do not have to go into danger, Just please, help us save what we can.

Guys, I think perhaps we should try to take this as a first step into making our New Ophidian Empire a military dictatorship. If we are smooth enough (as writefag anon is being) we might well be able to turn these guys into the first converts like Ketro was saying he could do for us.

We don't need ketro, we have the power of AWESOME!

>>15998615
>>15998615
Also add in something like:

"I'm a military commander. I've served in the Armada most of my, admittedly long life. I'm not used to working with civilians. Not used to working outside of the system. But that system is gone now, for the most part. All we have, all that humanity has, is on this ship. Right here, right now. And I am captain of this ship. And you are all a part of my crew. And it's a captain's job to protect his crew, and hope that they'll do the same."

>>15998615
You have my approval.

>>15998615
>(pause, if they ask what it is, play back our recording of him wanting to kill Dai. Tell them "I don't expect you to believe me.")

I fully expect that this will result in one or two of them attempting to assasinate Dai.
IN KETRO'S NAME!

>>15998647
I doubt they'd succeed. I'm more worried about the damage Dai would do to the ship in the process of beating them to death with lasers.

>>15998342
>Raul, Cain, Yarrow, and Estarol, Weapons, Reactor, Weapons, and Materials Science specialists, respectively.

I'm think ing Vedibere mentioned this for a reason. How can we use this detailed information to woo these fellows?
(no not into bed, but I do wonder...)

Vedibere, is our body still capable of sex?
Do we have a Kama Sutra for EI's in our databanks? Because I can see using our human frame in conjunction with the powers of the Harbinger to really make things awesome.

>>15998661
If all else fails we can always bring out the vibrating drones.

>>15998680
Don't forget o soehow include Parson into the mix! I'm certain we could use his pain to enhance our pleasure.
What's more exciting and romantic than making it so that, with every thrust you take, a traitor is horribly violated at the same time?

Ok, I've gone too far.

>>15998615
Their already "against us" and possibly feeling a bit paranoid. I really don't think badmouthing Ketro (irregardless of whether he deserves it) is a good idea a this moment. I don't think we should mention Ketro at all unless they ask first. They were talking about Ketro before we came down and we don't want them thinking we are spying on them (Erella's "safe" topic given her recent funeral)

>>15998700
Very good point.

>>15998694
You've given me an IDEA!

Wire the ships thrusters into your hips, so the ship moves with the force of your PELVIC THRUSTS.

That way entire star systems will know of your sexual prowess.

>>15998716
"That strange alien starship is moving rapidly back and forth."

"Odd."

"It has now stopped moving- And is firing all forward weapons."

"We didn't need that planet anyway."

>>15998680

SUMMON HUGGLES THE VIBRATING LOVE-DRONE! DAI HAS GIVEN HIM LUBRICAN APPLICATORS(THESE VIBRATE TOO), FROM WHICH HE EJECTS A WARM, CHERRY-SCENTED LUBRICANT! HIS MANY VIBRATING PROTUBERANCES AND APPENDAGES SHALL PACIFY ALL ABOARD THE HARBINGER!

...
>>15998416
Weld this
>>15998627
>>15998615
>>15998535

To these. Manly tears, anonybros. Manly tears indeed.

>Vedibere, is our body still capable of sex?
Sure, why not.

>speechification
Mention Ketro, Y/N?
Try to set up groundwork for Military Dictatorship(TM)?
Details on Erella or just keep it vague and restricted?fr

>>15998750
FRIDAY NIGHT VOIDQUEST IS BEST VOIDQUEST.
NO EXCLAMATION MARK NEEDED, IT IS NOW FACT.

>>15998627
>>15998640
Support these (I wrote the bit with the continued)

In retrospect, bringing up ketro first might not be a good idea, but should they bring him up, tell them why he was put in cryo because part of his proposed exchange was unacceptable.

If they ask what the unacceptable part of his proposal was, just play the recording, and comment that we don't expect them to believe us.

Tricking them is not something we want to do, because we want them to
>please, help us save what we can.

>>15998760
No to Ketro, but don't avoid it if it gets brought up.
No Military Dictatorship
Details on Erella

We need to foster trust and loyalty here, otherwise we'll just have a mutiny.

>>15998760
No on Ketro, but I'm willingly to let it go if that's what's popular.
yes on groundwork
Just give them basics on Erella's death.

>>15998763

Right you are, Ken!

>>15998760
1) Yes, but bring them down gently. Transparency builds trust.
2) NO.
3)I don't remember this well enough to voice an opinion.

>>15998760
>mention Ketro
No. If they ask, we'll tel them of course, but they bring it up, not us.

>Groundwork for military dictatorship?
Yes? I assume you mean to make it clear that we're bad enough dudes to rescue the empire from xenos scum.

>Details on Erella?
Yes. Make it clear about the dangers, and the unexpected benefits of her actions.

>>15998786
Second.

>>15998802
third

>>15998802

On second thought, I second this second.

>>15998760
No and no. Mention Erella but in a vague manner. It's tragic what happened to her. And we wish it hadn't happened, etc.

>We need to foster trust and loyalty here
Dear god, and you want to tell them details about how Erella died? Fuck THAT.

"Oh hey yeah she died because we totally sent her into something we knew damn well was a deathtrap because lulz."

That will really go over well.

Some things are on a need to know basis. This is one of them and they do NOT need to know.

>>15998812
Maybe we should also offer the option of allowig them to go into cryo? an alternative to suicide or crippling depression.

>>15998823
WE didn't know it was a deathtrap, and it saved everyone's livs in the end, remember? As soon as they went in they were contaminated, and we only noticed because it ate throgh her suit first because of higher oncentration.

Blast, I'm late again.

Suggestion: Gently bump all namefags (except Vedibere) off the quest. :)

>>15998823
The two aren't mutually exclusive, we just have to phrase it properly.

>>15998838
We should offer all crew members the opportunity to go into cryo, but I think only as a last resort. There's counseling available, you know.

>>15998845
We don't have any.
Also, read through the thread tonights been awesome.
We agreed so fast and completely we confused Vedibere.

>>15998838
Yes, we actually did. We watched a guy vomit blood and talk about how the virus ate right through their superseals and shit.

So, I guess what I am saying is we SHOULD have known and would have if we were competent rather than being controlled by idiots at the time.

Also yes to laying the groundwork let's try to start this shit up. People keep saying OH MAN WE GOTTA PLAY NICE ECT but that can only go so far. Eventually we're just going to have to give them a rank and put them through Modified Basic onboard the ship or something. Best start working on that now.

>>15998823

Deep breaths anon. If you leave them in the dark, they'll come to their own conclusions, which will be incorrect. Remember, they already think not at all well of us. It is better they know the truth.

It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.

>>15998786
Sounds good.

One vote on "no" about Erella's death, but it's looking like the "yes" side is winning.

>>15998857
No, just the civilians.
The military guys are trained for this. This group isn't.

IDEA! During the whole Trip To Armada HQ shhipyards we have the ofiicers and enlisted train the civilians!

>>15998871
YOur point is fair, I satnd corrected.

>>15998872
>It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.
Uh... no, it really isn't.

>>15998887
>It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.
That only works on women.
Sorry.

Perhaps we should remind them that we would have accepted a "no" from Erella. We didn't force her to go down there, or to do the things that she did. And had we known of the danger, neither her nor anyone else would have set foot on that accursed place.

>>15998887

In the long run it is.

>>15998881
>The military guys are trained for this

We're way outside the parameters the military trains for. The civilians may be more psychologically vulnerable, in general, but that doesn't mean the other personnel are immune. I'd rather have "Wake me up when we get to Earth" be an open option than have to deal with finding a weapons tech hanging himself in the bathroom because he'll never see his family again.

>>15998917
I agree, but remember the last time we had to deal with "EVERYON TO BATTLESTATIONS" and the civilians just panicked? We need to fix that.

>>15998901
That is the most retarded idea yet. If we say that it's giving permission for anyone to just refuse an order at any time.

Do you really want people to start being like "Nope.jpg" to orders they don't like? Hell, that's half the reason we need to start up our little dictatorship, control and getting all our stuff in line.

Unless you want 10 mini-ketros running around loling at us and refusing missions.

>>15998926
I agree, but it's going to take some time to train them, and many things could go wrong.

Still, we don't have much of a choice at the moment if we want to run this place like a warship.

>>15998939
We allow the civilians to say "no" to potential suicide missions. They didn't sign on for that shit.

>>15998939
>Do you really want people to start being like "Nope.jpg" to orders they don't like? Hell, that's half the reason we need to start up our little dictatorship, control and getting all our stuff in line.
Less dictator, more executive officer. We need to be gentle with civilians after all.

>10 mini-ketros running around loling at us
the_horror.gif

>>15998947
Don't worry, it'll take a couple months from now to the armada shipyards to train them, and that's including gate travel. Heck we can start training them on the layover planet.
Or is it station? Forgot.

Anyways, we have the most powerful ship in the galaxy, plenty of food, bitches, booze, and all the time in the universe. We can handle a few civilians.

>>15998968
And who decides what a "suicide mission" is exactly? The butt-tarded anons who sent the team down didn't think it was a suicide mission, did they? The crew has shown they all have minds of their own too. What if we have a mission that MUST get done and then suddenly eveyrone's like "nope too dangerous" and we all die?

In short your idea that they should be allowed to tell the captain no is retarded.

>>15998972
Hey look, Captcha drew me a landscape!

>>15998972
>We can handle a few civilians

If this were a comedy, immediately after you said that we'd cut to the civvies running around covered in warpaint and jabbing the drones with spears, while Dai continues working feverishly on the jump drive despite being on fire.

>>15999025
>Dai continues working feverishly on the jump drive despite being on fire.
And this is different from normal... how?

>the civvies running around covered in warpaint and jabbing the drones with spears
Don't forget they'll also have the cryopod containing Ketro up on a pedestal, with the enlisted men as blood sacrifices on the alter below it.

>We can handle a few civilians

Oh god

I can already see vedi rubbing his hands together and cackling

Put them through boot camp
harbinger.jpg
establish dictatorship

That's my vote at least

>>15998997
Stop being a mouth-breathing retard and read the goddamn post.

Civilians get to say no. Military personnel do not get to say no. The next time you ignore this and say "everyone" I will call you a retard for the rest of the quest.

The civilians are researchers, and can do their jobs from the ship 99% of the time. The last mission was one of the 1% they couldn't.

Suicide missions are ones that have a projected survival rate of less than 20%.

>>15999025
>>15999025
>>15999025
>>15999025

I fuckin' LOLED. From your keyboard to Vedi's screen, anon.

>>15999046
>And this is different from normal... how?

You got me there.

>>15999053
supporting the spirit of this, not the rudeness.
Civilians are civilians. Hell, Vedibere, how old are these guys? not counting cryo-years.
I expect they've put in an extra century on their lifespan spent enitrly on their major area of study.
THAT'S dedication.

>>15999083
You're right about the rudeness, I'm sorry. I just got frustrated with the apparent lack of comprehension.

>>15999053
>Stop being a mouth-breathing retard and read the goddamn post.
No u

>Civilians get to say no.
Nobody gets to say no. This is a survival situation and we are the one in charge. That means everyone does what we tell them when we tell them. Including the civvies.

Of course after we get done putting them through boot camp they won't be civvies anymore so it's a moot point.

>>15999052
Idea! We can inform them that they have an option, as a group, to go through Modified Boot Camp, and we let them hash it out among themselves.
The upsides to going through it: Greater sense of familiarity with and friendliness from the crew, generally being more trustworthy overall.

Vedibere, are we making you have to re-write everything again?

Also, what vidya are you playing now?

>>15999135
World of Tanks.

>>15999147
Good game, haven't played it myself.

>>15999165
Eh, it's alright. Devs are Russian and biased, making the USSR tanks super overpowered at the same time as using Soviet propaganda numbers for the German tanks.

But I'm a man and play German anyway. Because that's how I roll.

>>15999188

On steel treads forged by the master race! Tiger IIs all the way down.

>Voidquest
>199 replies
>no arguments whatsoever.

This miracle deserves musical accompaniment in the same vein.
From shit to stardom, quest and song!
http://www.youtube.com/user/dummeh#p/u/18/KiKPgmN5jTg

you are writing, yeah?

>>15999279

This is the new battle anthem of the Harbinger. It will be the most cheerful slaughter of xenos ever.

>>15999316
We'll broadcast it on all frequencies next time we glass a planet.

>>15999316
Speaking of Anthems, we really need to find a good one for the Ophidian Empire.
Suggestions box is now open. I'll be looking for a good example myself.

>>15999387
I suggest >>15999279

>>15999387
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3sTDf81ghE

>>15999387

voting for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9DO1U1U5Rc

I think it's obvious; Vedi's obviously a fan of their work and...c'mon, the TITLE!

>>15999397
I was the guy who posted that. We need somethig more imperial, more... Evil Empire-ish. Like the Imperial March, but better and somehwat more futuristic and darker. WE do rule a galaxy with an iron fist after all.
I'm thinking a mix of Two Steps from Hell with Soviet Union's Anthem.

>>15999279
>DAT MUSIC
Oh gods why do my insides feels so fucking good right now?

>>15999508
Because you listened to it in 720dp HQ.
You did, do that right? You are missing out if you didn't.

>>15999508

...because your guts are turning into pop-tart filling?

Seriously, if you start shooting rainbows out of your ass...call a physician. Or, you know, fly off into space. Whatever!

>>15999567
>>15999559
>>15999508
Guys, guys, I know this is /tg/, but let us get back on topic here.
The topic being: Where is Vedibere? The plan is done, the next step is wholly his now. All we can do is make sure the thread survives till his return.

>>15999628
He's currently hiding from an IS7 and won't be with us for anohter hour or so.

>>15999642
Muhahahahaha!

I have captured Vedibere and demand the sum of $5 for every post on this thread before i release him to continue his writefaggotry, I will be monitoring this thread to wait for you to give in to the inevitable and decide to pay me.

*twirls his finger in his mustache*

>>15999730
I'm willing to gather my meido outfit and sexually service you instead.

Good enough?

>>15999730
Damn! All I have are these useless Euros!

I don't actually HAVE money. I have a lot of other people who owe me money.

>>15999814
...So? That just means you can trade your friends for the monetary value owed and we get Vedibere back.
Sounds like a fair trade to me!

So....anyone doing anything interesting? Listening to music? Trolling other threads? Reading a book? Fapping? I am currently listening to In Flames: Reroute to Remain and loving it for some reason, While reading Sookie Stackhouse.

Polite Sage for off-topic dribble.

>>15999869
Importing some tea, and exchanging emails with a printing service, nothing too interesting.

>>15999869
chillin' out on IRC, sharin' music, twiddlin' thumbs and waiting for an update.

>>15999869 Cruising /s/ & /tg/, buying textbooks and new clothes. Oh, and listening to VNV Nation, Deadmau5 and a few other electronic artists.

>>15999869
Checkin out other threads on /tg/ and /v/. Here's something I found interesting.
>You are a wizard now. For each year you have lived, you receive 1 skill point.
Spells work in trees, meaning to get to Frozen Circle you need at least 1 point in Fireball.
You improve spells by spending more points in them. Max point for each skill is 6 points.
How do you allocate your points to live in a world full of dangerous /v/ wizards?

No DB Quest, no Boardquest, No Dragon Quest, and now Vedibere is gone.

I'm just going to sob for a bit /tg/. I'll be back before the next update.

So... How about an argument?

>>15999947
Nah. I got some actually good /v/ humor I could share.

Also, we still need a proper Ophidian Empire anthem. We have a few options, but not enough for a proper ballot.

>>15999956
Eh, I like it better unconfirmed.

>>15999962
Meh. I thought tonight's crowd would be a good one for that sort of thing.

Also, I realize I forgot to take into account the 'atmosphere' music that Vedibere used to put up. So we need a way to remix Two Steps from hell, the Soviet Union Anthem, and the spooky void music into one epic song worthy enough for a truly galactic empire.

>>15999977
From what I gather, it'd be mostly about snakes and in a language we can't understand.

Which is pretty neat in it's own right.

>>15999977
Anthems are almost invariable martial in nature to at least some extent.

>>15999956
How about this one?
http://youtu.be/mRYlcv6CXG4

>>15999783
Male or female, and how short is the skirt.

also, if male, are you going to shave off all your body hair??

>>16000058
>Implying I haven't already.

The feel of shaved legs in nice nylons is absolute sex. Like an orgasm everytime I move or feel a slight breeze.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvlv81DubpA&feature=related

GUIDE ME!

>Atmosphere:
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB8i8HqlHpo

"Yes, I was hoping to talk with you. First, I was just in Engineering and was talking to Dai. He commended your work on the system calibrations assigned to you. But that’s not the main reason I’d like to talk with you." You walk forward, circling around to stand in front of the window looking out into the void. And something else, a slight course adjustment... a rotation of the ship.

You take a breath, nodding solemnly, "What happened with Erella was horrible and tragic. Surviving so long, only for a lost remnant of the Empire to reach out and take her life. She deserved better, as do you and the rest of the crew. And it is my responsibility to make sure you get it. As commander of a Ophridian warship, my first duty is to the Empire. The current state of it is questionable, at best. Therefore, my duty falls to Humanity. To you, and all the others.”

One opens his mouth to speak but you hold up a hand, directing a look of command his way. “I understand you may have some sort of _problem_ with me, and perhaps with the rest of the crew. I understand Dai is not great with people and that you are researchers not engineers. I understand these things and I acknowledge them. What I can not acknowledge, though, and will never acknowledge is the thought that the outcome of our mission -- our mission to find and perhaps restore Humanity to its rightful place -- is anything but complete success.”

You turn and walk near the window, remaining silent for several seconds. Soon... soon... now!

You turn back, clasping your hands behind your back and raising your head high just as the star Inarius, central to the system, comes into view behind you. It flashes bright for a moment before the photocells in the window compensate, causing the crew to raise their hands against the brilliance before lowering them to gaze upon your silhouette, “I am the captain of this ship, and now through circumstances and fate you are my crew. It is my task and responsibility to protect you. Though at times the situation will be so dire that I might not always succeed, nothing -- nothing! -- will stop me from trying my utmost to do so. And I do this secure in the knowledge that no matter what nothing will stop them, stop you, from doing your best as well.”

You sweep your hooded gaze across the men, now all staring at you in rapt attention. “At times you might falter, the burdens weighing on you heavily. But I know in my heart, artificial and mechanical yet human still, you will return my efforts with the best you can give as well. No matter the hardship, no matter the strain. I know that you feel the future of the human race weighing upon you just as I do.”

A thin smile, a slow nod, “And I know, gentlemen, that you will rise to the occasion.”

Silence descends upon the room as you finish, your final words dying away. Inarus rotates up and around, leaving view, and you halt the ship’s rotation even as you step forward and unclasp your hands. “Now, we are heading for a strategic center soon. It will take weeks to arrive, and in that time you will be undergoing training with Lieutenant Rinn. Basic training, to hone your skills for the long journey ahead. No longer will you be outcast or apart, but rather a formal part of the crew. One of us, with rank, task, and brotherhood. A place you belong, a position you deserve after all the trials you have been through.”

You stride through the middle of the group, stopping at the door out and turning back with a somber visage. “And I know, gentlemen. I know that you will rise to the occasion as you always have. For our future, and for the Empire we will either reclaim or reconstruct together.”

Then a final nod, “I suggest you get some sleep.”

You walk from the room and off toward the upper decks, monitoring the lounge remotely to see the effects. All of them stand staring at the door for a time, one or two with mouths slightly agape before turning to each other and simply staring. Eventually one stands slowly, before scratching his head and shrugging, “I guess we go to bed?”

A chorus of muttered assent follows, the men slowly filing out and heading for their rooms as a smile steals onto your face. Excellent.

Just as planned.

#################

>>16000102
This reminds me. Wy MUST encouter a glassed planet by the name of Kharakh, and this music MUST be played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIUxwEJ-GXI

You jauntily walk to the officer’s mess, still grinning and whistling an upbeat tune. The ship might never need to be refueled, after all, but your artificial stomach still needs material to process and fuel your fleshparts. A turn of the handle and... it’s locked. Huh. Well, regardless, you unlock it and stride in, making a beeline for the fresh game hunted recently on the planet below.

Only to find it’s all gone.

“Wha hash you in shuch a gud mood Ghed?” you hear from behind you, turning slowly to see Kateryna at one of the tables, food laid out upon it. Or more accurately two tables pulled together and /covered/ in a plethora of food. Completely packed, in fact, though half of the plates are empty now.

Your XO swallows mightily and puts down a roast she was gnawing on, furrowing her brow at you, “What?”

You’re left without words for a moment before collecting yourself, “Is that /ALL/ the food in here?”

“Yes. There is also some from the store room. Why?”

You shake your head, flabbergasted, while walking over, “Have you no shame? You do have a reputation to maintain, after all.”

She flicks her hand dismissively before reaching back down and seizing another enormous helping, “The door was locked, you were the only one who could enter.”

“Oh, so you only care about your reputation with other people then?”

She rolls her eyes, swallowing again and coughing a couple times before seizing a glass of water and gulping it down, “You already know worse anyway. Is there something you need?”

Guess I just traded my anal virginity for that update.

Welcome back Vedibere!

>>16000150
is this a 'what say?' moment?
I figured we already covered this in the earlier posts.

>>16000157
To Snidely Whiplash no less.

>>16000150

:|

Guys? Any ideas? She isn't eating the crew yet, but how do you ask her if there's something wrong diplomatically?

>>16000150
Well......ummm wow i now feel rather intimidated.

>>16000150
So I'm thinking we should enter you in an eating competition, I'll make a killing on the bets.

>>16000167
No, there's no need to ask or wonder. She's a super-super soldier with a body to match. Obviously she's replacing a LOT of lost ntrients and such.

The only thing to do now is join her in the feast. If she tells us to get our own, remind her who is the captain on the ship.

>>16000166
....r-right.. could be worse though, right?

I just hope you take responsibility Mr. Whiplash.

>>16000176
Nah.... But arranging an eating competition with the enlisted men might be interesting.
No, enlisted versus civilian! Show them the sort of 'guts' they'll need in the hard life of the military!
Once we've restocked the game lockers of course.

>>16000177

Hell yes, let's fuck up some groceries with our XO!

Also, if you're going to plumb SINS for music, you shoulda chosen The Fallen Empire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzNIxeccPYY

>>16000180
Oh I'm responsible for all sorts of things.

Look, she's just hungry.

But we're hungry too, so we're going to join her.

I don't think we have anything to actually ask her. Maybe tell her we're working on integrating the scientists into our crew.

Perhaps ask her if she has any suggestions for any long-term locations to aim for. Tell her we've been considering Sol and some other core worlds.

Interesting. Ivanova can obviously store more calories and burn more calories before eating or sleeping than a normal human.

But even if she has an industrial grade nanite stomach... where does all the mass go?

>>16000230
Don't look under the table or open any unmarked buckets.

>>16000150

>'Wat say?'
Here is everything from earlier posts that we wanted to chat with her about.
>>15995647
>We should also ask her, indirectly of course and after her leave is over, how one might notice certain blocks and programmed conditions.
>also, hug.
>>15995963
>why she directed us to the system. What did she want from us?
>>15996908
she if she has anything she wants to vent, and ask if there's anything else she can get away with talking about, anything to help keep her sane and alive.
>>16000177
>join her in the feast. If she tells us to get our own, remind her who is the captain on the ship.
>>16000220
>ask her if she has any suggestions for any long-term locations to aim for.

>>16000230
>where does all the mass go?

Dat Ass.

"I think I may have just solved our issues with the scientists."
Also, drop a note to Tynes to restock the officer's mess.

>>16000230
>But even if she has an industrial grade nanite stomach... where does all the mass go?
Do you have any idea how DENSE unisteel is?
Okay, so you do? Good.
Now realize her body and 'skin' are MADE of the stuff.
An alloy of it at least.
Shit's so tuff Narmat(?) couldn't even touch it.

That's where it's all going.

>>16000239
>>16000239

That.

>>16000242

Yezzirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
>>16000242

>>16000254
I think someone just went a little too far with their unisteel fetish there.

>>16000109
>>16000102
God damn it, this was not quite what I was hoping for. I can't help but wonder if they went back to their quarters thinking we were a screwball with delusions of grandeur. From that speech there is something that can be interpreted as a lack of remorse for the situation leading to Erellas death. This could bite us in the ass later.

>>16000250
supporting this. If Tynes asks why, tell him...
Tell him a Ghost ate it.

This satisfactory?

>>16000253

Wat

>>16000263
Fine, fine unisteel.

By the way, do we have any left over from the repairs or did we eat through it all? If so we best lift some plates from this hellhole or the station or something. I don't like being without.

>>16000263
>unisteel fetish
You know, I do browse /d/, but I've never been really into metal/robo-girls...
I suppose I should reconsider my fetishes?

>>16000276
OOOOoooooOOOOoooOOO

Hui, back from a mediocre movie and already smelling us sexing up our XO.

Because why not have a feast and also have some fun?
In all seriousness though, sensibly try to approach her about... all the stuff that the other people already suggested.

>>16000279
>DAT ASS is code for Data Store Sections
DATAS(torage)S(ections)

>>16000298
EXCELLENT.
Perfect space for storage too.
I mean, why wouldn't the neckbeard scientists and sexist generals make their female supersoldier also sexily 'upgradable'?

>>16000298

Are you the anon that made that post? If so that is fucking hilarious for some reason.

>Is there something you need?

Well I was going to raid the mess for a snack... *gesture to the remaining spread* You going to finish that?

>>16000310
No sir I don't want more data storage space, my butt is too big already!

>>15999279
I...

I can't stop listening.

What is wrong with me?

>>16000298
So if keeping this in mind
>>16000310
with this, what would be the acronym/name for the other secondary sexual characteristics?

>>16000310

Ivonova is now Chii from CHOBITS running Ghost Recon 3

>>16000323
Absolutley nothing dear friend.
Oh, and DO make sure it's on max HQ. You are missing out otherwise.

What you are experiencing is the result of memetic compulsion combined with professional quality.
It's the MLP of music.

>>16000323

see

>>15999567

>>16000323
Thats what i said.

>>16000326
TITS
Titanium inc.: Torso shielding

>>16000323
>>16000347
SO should I repost this at the start of every Voidquest thread to get people in the right mood?

>>15999279
Is it odd that I'm such a weeaboo that I can't enjoy this as it's shamelessly stolen from the original?

...myon...

Wow, I had no idea people would actually enjoy the comment I made at

>>16000253

now i'm slightly worried it will spawn more silly ideas.

>>16000352
I figured that if we had DATA.S.S, we would have DEM TITS.
Alternatively, B.O.O.B.IE.S
I'm thinking Ballistic Obfusction and something something Intelligence Enhancing Systems.

>>16000366
who could forget adviceharbinger.png?

>>16000368
Delta Emicron Motors: Torsoincorporated Titaniumshielding.... or somesuch. Is Vedi yet writing about our feast with the XO?

>>16000379
it's more like;

>crew unhappy?
adviceharbinger.jpeg
>space/freeze/punch/rub Parson

>>16000379

I also had a (prototype) for DEM TITS

Dermal Enhancing Membrane Tracking Interface Team System

So basically an implant that enhances the dermal membranes and just happens to be a tracking device for spec ops. Again, sorry if this spawns any more silly ideas and acronyms.

>>16000386
No, hes busy flying around space cuz of the nayacat music posted earlier. I should know i just got back.

>>16000386
Have we given Vedi anything to write about in regards to the "feast", or did we just say "FEAST" and then start talking about unrelated crap?

Ballastic
Obliquation
Orbs
Bathykolpian
IE
S

that's about as far as I got

>>16000426
No he's got material, see:
>>16000239

>>16000426
I believe the general direction was:

>bonding by feasting
>get her opinion on possibly interesting next stops
>gently probe for info, probably discuss a safeword of somesort wich she can use in the future as to alarm us and facilitate interaction with sensible material
>bonding by feasting
>bonding by feasting
>sex up the XO
>????
>PROFIT!

>>16000452

...I wonder how much time we've got. I want to run to Taco Bell but I don't want to miss anything!

>>16000433
Iconolagnic
Ecdysiastic
Servers

>>16000471
Vedi's been compelled by the nyancat music. You've got an hour or so.

>>16000485
I like my Intelligence Enhancment Systems idea, though.
They say intelligence is sexy.
They say big boobs are sexy.
DOUBEL THE SEXINESS!

Any comments on demeanor?

>>16000538
Be polite and friendly of course.

>>16000538
Picture VERY related. We are wearing velour, aren't we?

>>16000548
GODDAMNIT I read it in his voice

>>16000551
...and now my inner monologue is The Zapper.

>>16000545
Oh, and also concerned. we do care about her after all. how much so personally, can't really decide, but it is obvious that she is in constant peril thanks to the psionic-cyber-bomb in her head

>>16000552
You can't resist the velour fog!

>>16000552
>>16000588
>>16000551
>>16000548
I don't get Futurama where I live. i only know of it via internet.

>>16000606
http://futurama-stream.com/

Alright, let's not come on TOO strongly.

Flirty, but professional. I mean, seriously. We're the EI of a ship speaking through a resurrected corpse, she's the heavily-augmented super-soldier who also serves as our XO.

Together, we fight crime!

>>16000625
Together, we murder xenos!

>>16000625
I hope the half-ironie or half-seriousness of my greentext was understood.


I think she's important to us, but more important as a friend, as someone we can trust and rely on. Thus, she is someone we will want to take care of, someone we are concerned about.

Romance is probably of secondary relevance, a "nice to have, but no necessity"

>>16000638
At the same time, crime is at an all-time low of 0%!

We rock so hard!

>>16000625
>>16000638
GO TEAM VENTURE!

>/tg/
>strong, intelligent woman with a mysterious background
>begin creating sexual anagrams from presumed uses for her body parts

never change.

>>16000548

you know, I've always pictured us as a freakish hybrid of Zapp's voice and Batou's(from GITS S.A.C.) body.

>>16000681
I can't unhear it.

>>16000659
SO i'm about to archive the thread, how's this for a description?
>After narrowly escaping certain death from an ancient immortal doomsday weapon, we give Erella a void burial, successfully use our collective charisma to prevent sedition, induct the civilians into modified Basic Training, and join our XO in devouring the entire meat locker. Features the miracle of absolutely no arguments, proving Friday to be the best day, and confusing Vedibere repeatedly by being so agreeable. Also Nyan Cat Orchestrated."

>>16000706
Is this one done already?
I had a feeling we would be getting one last writefaggotry, as Vedi has not yet declared an end

>>16000746

Dunno. I hope we've got some more coming our way.

For the record, it has been awesome having just 5 or 7 guys here tonight. I guess Captain Ged's meds kicked in and he was lucid for a while.

Yes, there is more coming.

>>16000851
You're one of the best, man.
Though your audience is getting thinner and thinner this time around.

>>16000912
bump for bumpity sake

Alice baump

Schrödingers Thread now, eh?

Hmmm.

Okay, here's a question guys. If there's a romantic moment and she tries dodging the issue do you press or let it slide.

We're autosaging, bumps won't work.

Incidentally, we're also archived. Don't forget to vote.

>>16001515
Let it slide. We've got time, and coming on too strong might ruin things.

>>16001515
Press that shit. It's been months ingame, we've got a great relationship, she's interested, and you gotta seize the moment.

>>16001515
Let it slide, though hint at interest. If she doesn't want to talk about it now, we're fine with that and we'll let it slide. But we would like to talk about it if (when?) she's comfortable with doing so.

Press. If you don't take it when you can then you are destined for the friendzone and someone else will move in.

And I wouldn't put it past vedi to put us in the friendzone with Ivanova if we play our cards like some uberbeta.

>>16001515
Let it slide. She is clearly uncomfortable with a lot of things regarding herself at the moment.

>>16001515

Do it. We wussed out in the paintball match and you don't get many chances.

>>16001556
>>16001578
>>16001589
>>16001619
>>16001651
>>16001676
>Slide
>Press
>Slide
>Press
>Slide
>Press

Honi soit qui mal y pense.

>>16001619
>>16001676
This isn't about alpha and beta, it's much more complicated than that. Remember that at the end of the day, Harbinger is still a warship and she is still our XO. This sort of thing is going to take time for her to get used to, even setting aside everything that intel did to her. Years upon years of military training and conditioning aren't so easy to plow through.

“Well,” you begin, sitting and grabbing one of the forks laid out for different dishes, “I came for some food. Since you seem to have commandeered it all, I’ll have to take some of yours.”

Ivanova tilts her head and gives you an appraising look, scanning you from head to toe, “Well, I guess you would not be able to eat -that- much. Door.”

You click the door shut and nod, digging in. After five minutes, though, it’s all you can do to not stare as your second scarfs down food at a rate to put champion eaters to shame. Eventually she takes a brief respite from inelegantly ripping into a leg of... well, you’re not sure what the creature is called but it tastes good... to gulp down a glass of liquid, though, so you also break from your meal.

“So, you asked what I was so happy about earlier. I have -- hopefully -- solved the civilian problem. By eliminating the civilians.”

Ivanova chokes mid-gulp, immediately sitting her drink back on the table and hacking painfully. “What?!” she exclaims, looking up, “Why did you do that?! I didn’t particularly like them but--”

You give a mock frown as if offended, “My, my. I thought putting them through boot camp with Rinn and giving them a rank was one of my better ideas, too. I’m sorry that you disapprove.”

You pick up another fork-full of vegetables with a smile as your XO breathes out a huge sigh, “Oh.” She looks up and frowns before resuming her drink, “You did that on purpose. But yes, it is a good idea. Rinn is a good man for the job and it may help with their unity. I just hope it does not make them feel even more conscripted.”

You shrug, “Well, the facts of the matter are that they have been conscripted and are part of the crew now. We can’t afford idle hands.”

“Yesh, ah ahgree.” she swallows, “I was simply pointing out possible problems with the course of action.”

“Right. And speaking of courses, I’ve been wondering something. Why did you direct us here? What did you want from me or hope for us to find?”

“Find?” She looks over and scowls, “I didn’t want to find anything, Ged. I just told you what I knew. I had no idea what was inside, this location was imply information that I... had access to. When I saw the system on the list of gates with active defenses I thought it best to inform you.”

“Oh.” you stare down at bone in your hand, gnawed clean, then back up at the eighth of the table remaining with food. Slight queasyness overtakes you at the thought before you shut off your stomach and lay it down, watching your XO continue to feast. “Well, what about destinations in the future. Do you have any good feelings or ideas about any specific place.”

The next time she surfaces for breath she shrugs, “I don not know anything in particular. I have already said that Sol is probably a place we should check, as well as Armada Command. Both would be final holdouts. There are... likely other places that would be secret retreats, unknown to even many in the Armada or the government. But I am afraid they are...” her mouth twists, “classified.”

You sit back in your seat and nod, “Don’t worry about it. I’ve charted a course for FarCom after we check out this second anomaly. Opinions?”

She nods thoughtfully, moving on to the final plate on the table, “A good choice. It is in deep space and heavily defended in addition to being out of the way. Nothing much to fight over either except xenos and raw resources one can find anywhere.”

“Good,” you say, rising, “I’m glad you agree.” You take a few steps but are stopped cold by Ivanova’s gaze. “What?”

“You ate. I shared my food. Are you not going to aid in cleaning up as well?”

“Technically that was all my food.” you point out, “And you need not fear, fair maiden. I need to visit the little cyborgs room before returning for the task.”

The cleanup goes quickly with both of you splitting the workload. Well, ‘cleanup’ is too liberal a word, you decide. Rather than washing and putting the dishes away Ivanova simply ferries them to the now-empty buffet and dumps them into the various trays. When questioned she comments that cleaning them is something “for enlisted” and, when pressed further, admits washing dishes has always been one of her least favorite chores.

At last, though, the tables are separated and the two of you dump the final load of dirty plates into the receptacle. “There. Done. I hope you’re not expecting dessert too.”

Ivanova smiles, “No, I always run after dinner.”

“Wait.” you hold up a hand, putting your other’s fingers to yoru temples, “You go /running/ after dinner?”

“Well, of course.” She crosses her arms, “What is wrong with that? I assume by this point you have noticed I have cybernetics. Considering your modifications as well you should also know it is not a problem to do so with the proper ones.”

“Right, right. Let’s go then.” Your reach over and use one of your fingers to catch a small speck of mashed potatoes from the edge of her lips and pop it into your mouth, turning away and walking toward the door. Turning back you see your second standing where she was and crack a bit of a smile, “What? Is there something wrong? Do I have something on my face? Hurry up, you’ll get left behind.”

“I...” she begins then shakes her head before wiping at her mouth with a sleeve, “No, nothing. I was just giving you a head start. I think you will need it.”

################

An hour later you call a halt to the incessant laps around the ship, stopping outside the forward observation lounge. Both of you are breathing heavily from the exertion, quickly collapsing onto the sofa.

“Getting slow without the armor, Kateryna.”

“Fast enough... to beat you.” she snipes back between gasps, sinking back into the cushions. The two of you stare out into the void for a time, recovering, before you speak again.

“I admit, you are faster than I thought. But I seem to remember you going even faster when we had our little match. How much of that is the armor?”

She grimaces, “I am afraid I can not say.”

“I see. What about all the food, that was a lot I have to admit. Where /does/ it all go?”

A sigh escapes her lips and she looks away, “I can not say.”

“Ah. And any abilities like hacking or secret passcodes?”

She glances over now, scowling. “You know I can not say anything.” Her voice is sharp and her green eyes search yours, “What is this?”

You let out a slow breath and shake your head, giving her a soft smile, “A question, and hopefully an answer. One you don’t need to give if you can’t or even don’t want to. A search for a way to know when something must be left unsaid. Rules, limits, the edges and just where they are. The limits of common ground.”

The life in her face and sparkle that was in her eyes fades away as you watch, replaced by... something else. Sadness, maybe? Despair? Resignation? Or perhaps some mixture of the three and more. Her voice comes soft, but cold, “I can not say. Not because I am unable. But because I do not know. Not the full extent.”

“You can’t give any guidelines? Nothing?”

She stands, turning away and walking to the refrigerator set into the bar and grabbing a bottle of water. “Some. My modifications, my past work. Much of my history, any classified information from my past work. Abilities, knowledge, some of that too.” She finishes drinking, placing the bottle in the sink before leaning on the counter. You see her shoulders shaking as she continues, “To find out, without warning, that you can not do something you thought you could.” her voice drops to a whisper, only audible through ship receptors, “Or must do something you thought you would not, like protect files with secrets sixty thousand years dead.”

You stand, “You haven’t harmed anyone, Kateryna, nor done anything wrong. Don’t blame yourself for wild unknown possibilities that might never happen.”

“Possibilities.” she mutters, shaking her head. “Ones that turn more and more into realities each day. To watch as you take actions you did not know you would...”

You catch her shoulder, having closed the distance, and turn her around. She only manages a startled, “Wha--?” before your arms close around her, drawing her into an embrace. Her body goes rigid but you continue, reaching up to stroke her black hair with one hand. “It wasn’t programming that showed us the way here or ran out of the room without stopping me from unlocking the cases. That was you, controlling your own fate.”

She doesn’t respond and, for a moment, you wonder if you made a huge mistake... but slowly, ever so slowly, she relaxes again. You stand together for a time, the minutes lost in count even to you, with her warm body pressed against yours and hair tickling your cheek as she rests her head upon your shoulder. Not speaking or struggling, just returning your embrace. Standing silently in your arms, her shaking gradually subsiding.

Eventually, some time later, she slowly pulls away and straightens. “Thank you,” she says softly, “I am fine now.”

You nod, looking to catch her eyes, but though she stands nearly the same height you cannot manage it, her gaze studiously turned away instead of meeting yours. She steps back and, taking a deep breath, turns away and moves to the door.

“Kateryna.”

She stops, resting her hand on the door frame, before responding. “Yes?”

You steel yourself, taking a breath. “That wasn’t a friendly gesture, or one for a comrade. It was because, for better or worse, I’ve come to care about you. To pretend it was something else would be a disservice to both of us.”

You see her shoulders slump slightly, as if deflating, and her voice comes back weak, “You are my commander and my friend. As your subordinate it is improper, and as your friend I know you can do better. Can find someone who you can talk with freely or will not attack you for touching the wrong things. I am sorry.”

“No.”

“What?”

“I said no. That is not acceptable. Look at me.”

Your second straightens and looks back, frowning, before turning, “What are you talking about? I--”

You simply shake your head, “No. Not good enough. Superior officer? Fine, as the highest authority in the Empire I hereby revoke that prohibition. I can find someone better, as a friend? That’s an excuse. I don’t want something better. If you don’t feel anything then fine. That is a reason, and I’ll accept it. But that is the only reason, anything else can be fixed -- even if it takes time to do so.”

You cross your arms, looking at her averted eyes once more, “So if that’s it then look me in the eyes and tell me so. That will be the end, you’ll never hear another word about it. That’s all it takes. Or you can tell me you do feel something, and we’ll take it one step at a time from there.”

As you finish your second-in-command looks up, her green eyes meeting yours, “I...” she begins, taking a breath. The silence draws out, the seconds ticking by slowly, before she finally breaks contact and turns away. “I have to go get ready for my shift on the bridge, it starts in two hours.” she mutters, slipping out without waiting for a reply.

You sink back onto the counter, letting out your own breath. Well, better than you had feared but worse than you had hoped.

You stretch languidly, an involuntary smile coming to your face. “Well, it is what it is. The dice are in the air. And I’ve got nothing but time to make sure they land right.”

>That’s it for me.
>Next thread either Sunday or Monday at 18:00
>God damn that was a long ass update.

HNNNNNNNG

>>16002042
ALPHA AS FUCK

also, Knowingyou Vedibere...
>The dice are in the air. And I’ve got nothing but time to make sure they land right.
DUN DUN DUNNNNN.

So I guess that next time's opening post will be about us arriving at the planet, eh?
I guess I'll make a summary for other people's sake.

>Gave Erella a void burial.
>Follwed some scientists, used charisma to make them stop being seditious.
>Civilians are now being put through official military training/modified boot camp to fix verious issues.
>Had a feast with Ivanova, and made our move on her LIKE A BOSS.
>Outlook good.
>No arguments whatsoever!

rolled 41 = 41

As for next OP one thing must be included:
us monitoring her through the cameras to see what her immediate reaction to our move will be.
Gotta try to read he by her expression

>>16003179
>remotely monitor Ivanova
Remember how much that didn't work last time?

>>16003179
We'd just get a technical difficulties screen, or a live feed on Parson's naked frozen body instead.

Give the woman some space, we're a smooth operator afterall.

>>16003245
>Parson's naked frozen body
But i thought you could go into cry clothed?

>>16003253
Normally, you do.

rolled 87 = 87

Eh
I am not saying to peep on her while she is on a freaking toilet but to pay attention to her as she is leaving the room and walking through corridor. Her guard will probably be down abd we will catch a glimpse of her face.