Despite the best attempts of my boss, Elesh Phryx's management skills will be put to the test once more!We'll begin in about 45 minutes, once I've checked out my notes.
Heh, I was wondering if you were going to break your promise or not.
Yay! My favorite quest!
no sleep today then!
You are Elesh Phryx, rogue techpriest and captain of the Sword class frigate 'Sword of the Omnissiah'. Technically, you're probably some sort of civilian Admiral due to commanding the Vagabond transport 'Zephyr Spirit' and Mining vessel 'Heavenly Forge'. Nursing heavy damage, 'Sword of the Omnissiah' and 'Zephyr Spirit' linger around the hidden system's lonely planet as your expedition works to ferry the last fractions of an ancient supply cache aboard the crippled transport. Even as your growing pilot corps go about a flurry of missions, 'Sword's spirit alerts you to the augers as a ship exits the warp beyond the system's third debris sphere. 'Heavenly Forge' has arrived. >roll 1D20 for supply cache! high is good>orders?>things will be slow even by my standards at first, just a warning.
rolled 7 = 7>>19755432Let's get in contact with the Forge and see what news they have of where ever they were at.
Even as you contemplate your first actions, one of your servo skulls dances about before your eyes. A half dozen fine manipulator arms dance about with writing implements, filling a sheet of parchment that it attempts to smother you with.[To-do-list!]-deal with 'Zephyr Spirit's dwindling life support [current ice mining operations are sub-par]-deal with 'Sword of the Omnissiah's strained life support [not an immediate concern, but to be noted]-deal with faltering morale among crews-Consult Artisan Vorth on Space Station design-Name to-do-list skull and unequipped servo skull-Naaaaaaammmmessss
>previous threadhttp://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/19727808/>Archivehttp://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Privateer%20Quest
>>19755534Hmm. Out of that list, we best deal with the Spirits life support first. Letting that get too far behind will be poor.
>>19755534>Consult Artisan Vorth on Space Station designSounds like a good idea to me. If we can get a station up and running, we might just have a job for all those slaves that won't involve them suffocating.And let's get a report from Advi about what adventures she's had since we parted ways.I'll leave naming our adorable scribe-skull to someone who wouldn't name it in binary.
>>19755534In order:Take newly discovered space station's life support, use it to help repair the Zephyr's, and the Sword's if possible.See aboveHold massive hoedowns in the cargo holds, complete with free drinks.Contemplate making the space station a repair station; we'll probably be needing repairs more than just this once, and not having to pay for them like we might at another port of call would be useful.Dewy and Lewy.
>>19755625the station's life support is 100% hardware, while both ships are suffering from dwindling resources, not hardware failure [your ship has nearly x3 her normal crew aboard, while Zephyr has a whole bunch of slaves]
>>19755674Do servitors breathe?
>>19755674Ohhhh. Seems I and the anon who initially suggested this last thread misunderstood the problem then. Um..... get the slaves to help harvest ice? They're slaves, they should be used to hard labor! Or, wait, they're meant to be crew for the Forge right? Now that it's in-system, let's just transfer them over, then transfer some of the passengers to the Zephyr to ease our own life support.
>>19755685yes, but not as much as people.If anyone had plans for a station they thought of in their mind, now would be the time to put it in thread.>typing station propositions from NPC
>>19755703crew for your mining vessel are aboard your frigate.The slaves just happened to have been Spirit's cargo during the escape.
>>19755718I'd imagine that given our current situation, a repair dock would probably be the most immediately useful sort of station.
>>19755734Oh. Herped a bit there, I did. So, transport them over, then maybe transport some of the slaves over to the Sword? Alternately, put them to work harvesting ice. Hell, working to do something that directly effects their ability to stay alive should give them something to be happy about if anything.Also, I'd like to bring back up the lottery from last thread; offer them the opportunity to eenter a lottery. One out of 5-10 entrant get to be freed upon the planet below, the losers get taken and euthenised and turned into servitors.
>>19755534>Name to-do-list skull and unequipped servo skullDo we know who the skulls belonged to in life?
Artisan Vorth and Techpriest Advi are both quickly ferried over to 'Sword of the Omnissiah' after your summons. Both techpriests carry a small multitude of large scrolls from the void shuttle as their mechadendrites struggle to prevent any of the parchment from escaping the hurried figures. Claiming a few of the more rogue rolls, you lead the duo to the bridge's massive planning room as greetings are exchanged."Priority shall be given to the station plans, then I'd like a report of your adventures.""Nothing I couldn't handle, Captain Phryx." states Advi."And they whisper that I'm strange!" exclaims Artisan Vorth, before breaking into a small fit of what passes for laughter for a techpriest.Wearily leaning over your great plotting table and the centimeters of unfurled scrolls that cover it, your patience wears thin. "Artisan Vorth, please cease with your tirades over rounded structures. Build the stations square if you wish! I simply need repair facilities for at least a light cruiser sized vessel and a station capable of docking at least three ships!">cont
"Square isn't good either! We've been tryin-""FINE! Whatever shape you want! Just give me the optimal design for my function requirements!" you groan. You're quite sure that Advi has enjoyed watching you suffer these past hours."Optimal? Well then we give you a choice, Magos! We have several designs using the repair facilities as the station's core; quite compact, quickly built, and minimal resources used. More difficult to expand the repair facility in the future and will only fit a single ship. Other option is to build a core station with a repair facility located as a modular expansion; larger, longer to build, more resources. On other mechadendrite, easier expansions and will make full use of the life support systems you've located." Your raised hand silences the Artisan before he can launch into some rant about how spinning stations are wasteful and unpleasant for space squids or some other pointless banter.>Repair facility as core?>Repair facility as module?>other design? [suggest!]>'Heavenly Forge' has no lack of building supplies...
>>19756071Repair facility as module sounds best in my mind.
>>19756071Could we build it onto the ruins of the station we discovered earlier, using the ruined station's life support section as the core?
>>19756071What about repair station ore AND repair module?
>>19756141*core
>>19756131"The station you located isn't worth scrapping, beyond the intact life support components. Your adept was right to call it 'more useless rock than anything'.">>19756141unfortunately, you only have enough Industrial Starter Kits to build one or the other.
>>19756184Then I say we go for the repair module, so that we can easily expand the station at a later date when we have more building materials.
>>19756184Are there any asteroids suitable to building the station on/in, or will this be a big free-floating structure in space?
>>19756184Ah, okay. In that case, Module. Though if you could tell us what the theoretical effects would be for repair core AND repair module, I'd be a happy anon.
>>19756204free floating. Easier to build the station around the light cruiser hulk near the planet than to tow either to the other.
>>19756206You'd need an additional 2 ISK available to make a new repair module or station core, plus Adamantium and Metal cargos.'Heavenly Forge' currently hosts enough Adamantium to build any station design, provide for your frigate's adamantium needs, and possibly begin repairs on the light cruiser.
>>19756366Cool. But like, what would the repair capacity/abilities be of the station if it had both a repair ore and a repair module? Just for curiosity's sake.
>>19756419I'd imagine we'd run into issues expanding the station, since one side of the core would have to be left open to space so that ships could reach the docks.
>>19756419without additional expansions or modifications?two light cruiser sized ships could be repaired in tandem.>update incoming
>>19756679Thank you very much! My pseudo-ocd is placated.
"Separate the core and repair facilities, Artisan. It would be foolish to expect only a single ship to need repairs at any one time."Vorth's head nods forward politely as mechadendrites carefully begin gathering the scattered designs."I shall give my report then, Captain." Advi adjusts her posture before delivering her tale. "During the opening attacks of the war, Saregin's Path was targeted by a half dozen renegade cruisers and perhaps three score of escort vessels. The Dictator class cruiser 'Veriathia' and the ships surrounding us were caught off guard by the attack, and I was forced to place 'Heavenly Forge' in the path of a second torpedo wave directed upon the cruiser. We were struck by a trio of boarding torpedoes, but our action bought 'Veriathia's fighter and bomber wings time to launch. Boarders were eventually repelled, but I had to slay the enemy commander personally.""Personally?" Advi had her moments during the Labado escape, but you recall her attacks being rather sloppy and dependent upon surprise.>cont
"I must thank you for the multimelta, Captain. The renegade's power armor only protected him long enough to view his end." Advi's mechadendrites flirt about her robed form as she seems to savor the memory of her victory. If the techpriest wasn't heavily augmented, you'd chide her for indulging her flesh. "The event did help me understand several of the battle sisters that were under my command, Omnissiah forgive their souls. Though casualties were severe, the Navy saw victory with only minor losses thanks to the nova cannon of Captain Beriaun's 'Lord Nethia'. All of the enemy's cruisers were hulked or had their reactors go critical. Our augers were damaged, though Beriaun kindly saw them replaced with higher grade components. After assisting the Navy with repairs and receiving our own, we set course for Serentus while attempting to contact you with no success.""And then?">cont
"Serentus was hit quite hard by an attack as well, Captain. From what I gathered, Aegis Squadron and Quein's ship attempted to delay a renegade cruiser and escorts while the remainder of the defenders rallied. Only Quein's ship survived the run, but was nearly crippled by enemy bomber wings.""Quein did -what-?" your eyes threaten to permanently cross as you process Quein's apparent suicide attempt."Quein didn't lead fire ships toward slaughter-class cruisers." deadpans Advi. "But that is another story. Serentus eventually drove off the attacking force by launching 'Righteous Flame' into battle, but burned out her plasma reactors from the strain. Magos Grumman was quite glad to receive the drives we'd captured.">orders?>How did you know about the fire ships?>ignore it and it will go away!>other?
>>19756871>How did you know about the fire ships?Have our crazy exploits have become known throughout the sector? Fuck yes.
>>19756916"The Vesoni Dynasty's Lunar cruisers managed to escape to Serentus and hailed us. They were hoping you'd made it out, Captain."
>>19756916Yeah, I want to know how they found that out. And Quein's actions sound just as suicidal as ours if only he barely survived.
>>19756871>How did you know about the fire ships?Also fuck yeah, our actions have benefited an entire system! (getting the battlecruiser and handing it over to Grumman). Glad he got the drives he needed. So, how fares Tortuga?
"My exploits are the talk of the sector, then? Perhaps I'll need to augment myself further to avoid recognition." For a moment you allow yourself to bask in your own glory, grinning at Advi. "Tell me then, how was the battle?"The techpriestess turns rigid at your reaction, the soft glow of her true eyes locked upon you. "Captain, I request that you summon the bridge officers.">summon bridge officers?>just tell me!
>>19757191Hmm. This sounds dangerous, especially with morale issues being a problem. As much as I think we should say just tell me, I think we should summon them and give the officers a chance to say things if they feel it necessary.
>>19757284Agreed.Advi has won a great victory herself. It would be improper for us to deny her request to address the officers.
Your bridge officers quickly respond to your summons, surrounding the plotting table in a shockingly short period of time as Advi continues to sit rigid."There was no battle in Tortuga, only a slaughter. Supposedly one of the lesser dynasties attempted to make their escape instead of fighting and the formation went with them. I've only been able to confirm a pair of Vesoni dynasty sprint traders and their Lunar cruisers as surviving ships. They said your fire ships only managed to destroy one of the target slaughter cruisers."The chamber is nearly silent as the news sinks into your officers and yourself. Julin and Teris both bow their heads in silence as Athe sullenly speaks up. "Gerin? Magos Banks?""Gerin is believed to have made his escape in his own sprint trader, and Magos Banks was last seen attempting to reach the system's edge to make good his ship's escape. It is believed that Tortuga is now a renegade staging system." The techpriestess' mechadendrites all lurk below and behind her mass as she delivers the last bit of news. "Dark times are upon the sector, Captain. What will we do?"Athe's hand envelops your own and her knuckles soon turn white from her hold. For a moment, you're unable to discern which of you is trembling...>orders?
>>19757555"I highly doubt we can do anything at this point. We have ships that need repairs badly and even then, it's not like our ships would turn the tide. All we can do is hope the navy is able to respond to the renegade incursion and lend a hand here and there I imagine."
>>19757555So we risked our ship and the lives of our crew, only to have the other traders abandon the fight at the very moment they could have pressed the advantage against the heretics?Emprah damn the Vesoni dynasty. To-do-list Skull, put them first on our list of targets for piracy once we get ship in fighting condition again.
>>19757639The Vesoni Dynasty attempted to fight, but one of several lesser Dynasties present attempted to flee. The formation fell apart when that happened, and the battle was lost.
>>19757682Well then put the lesser dynasty on our list. They'll be easier to prey upon anyway.Also, I suppose this puts added urgency on establishing our base in this system, since Tortuga is no longer available to us.
>>19757639Fucken this.>>19757622>Not like our ships would turn the tideThat kind of thinking applied to all the other pirates and ships of the sector will mean that nothing gets done and no one stands up to the invasion group in Tortuga. Now, we ALONE are no match, but if we could manage to rally, to get the rest of the pirates who fled to make an attack to retake it.... perhaps lead by Grumman's battlecruiser? I mean, we can't just let them have the system, damn it! And the Navy's stretched thin as it is. I say we try contacting the various dynasties and remaining pirates to band together and take back our system!>But they made one mistake;>They attacked MY home planet!
"I dislike the idea of cowards throwing away a chance we risked all for. I want the name of the Dynasty that fled and every bit of information we can gather on their ships. We'll take everything we hold dear." Your rage-induced rumbling voice feels alien as it escapes your lips, though your officers seem to appreciate the unusual emotion in your voice. "For now, we rebuild in this system and nurse our wounds. We'll offer support when we can, and hopefully be present to help liberate Tortuga. Dismissed."Your officers seem to have recovered themselves during your orders, as they all murmur in agreement before moving off to tend to their duties. All save Athe, who still grips your hand tightly. "I've been tracking down malcontents in the crew and cutting out the rot of upstart demagogues before it spreads among the crew since we arrived in the system, Elesh. Tortuga won't go over well with them now, but declaring war on a trader dynasty?" Your XO's green eyes struggle to meet your own as she stumbles over her words. "How w- You're jus- Crazy."Slowly, your friend manages a smile and moves toward the exit. "Your quarters, ten minutes. That is an order, Elesh.">I'm afraid my brain has been quite fried tonight. Apologies for the lack of anything really interesting.>Next thread on MONDAY or TUESDAY @ 8:00 PM EST.>Q&A if you like, I'll be around and archiving for ~20 minutes>good night
>>19758064>dat AtheI can't help but feel like we're being manipulated by an obvious agent of the Inquisition to destroy disloyal elements among the sector's traders. But somehow, I'm okay with that.
>>19758105I know, we're being manipulated into doing what we want to do... but thats ok for now I suppose. So glad that this is back, will see you gentlecogs next week!
>>19757555>They said your fire ships only managed to destroy one of the target slaughter cruisersDidn't we roll really well for that? By how much did we miss?
>>19758475If I recall correctly, we only ever expected to cripple the cruisers, not destroy them outright.
>>19758475>>19758547your fire ships managed to destroy one of the cruisers, while the other managed to avoid all but one fire ship
