The year is 2025.
Your name is Dave, and you never asked for this.
It all started when your Alium-Construct-turned-adoptive-sister stole a small crystal, a prototype, very powerful quantum computer, and destroyed it. From that moment on, ArmaTek has been dogging almost your every move, led by a man known as Captain Minvera, or 'Smokey', a cyborg with a mysterious implant.
And now, according to Sigma, ArmaTek has captured all of your allies- Abel, Gemini, Grayson, Karin, even Jun and James. Things are getting serious.
---
"Dave, I'm in Seattle." Sigma said. "I chased them as well as I could with my kinetic thrusters, but some guy shot some smoke shit at me and my suit's dead."

<Who is it?> Amy asked.

<Shit, ArmaTec have made a nasty move>
"Where are you exactly?"
<Daedalus, try and find ArmaTecs board of directors.>

>>20073789
<Sigma, ArmaTek just grabbed all our friends, and disabled him to send us a message.>
Include Amy as the call continues.

>>Whoops, forgot these.
>>Previous threads can be found at: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=NearFuture%20Cyborg%20Quest
>Fate Points: 1
>Nano-Meta: 3655 Units
>Credits: 46,250

<Shit, ArmaTek has made a nasty move.> You tell Amy. <It's Sigma. ArmaTek just grabbed all our friends, and disabled him to send us a message.>
"Where are you exactly?"
"I'm in an alleyway," Sigma said. "My GPS is giving me my location, though. One second. . "
Your phone pings, and you suddenly have Sigma's exact location.
<Daedalus, try and find ArmaTek's board of directors.> You say.
<That's non-applicable.> Daedalus said. <ArmaTek isn't a company, it's a paramilitary. The primary leader that I know of is a woman known as Battleaxe. I have no data on any more about ArmaTek's higher echelons, Lord Dave.>
"Shit." Amy said. "I'll go restock on explosives." She said, and ran toward the Sleipnir, keeping the connection up.

>>20073916
<Find one of their deal brokers and see if you can trace up to some higher people. I don't expect much, but it's better than not looking.>

Let's quickly make a suit of armor that looks like Daves (Make it fast and cheap) and a Raven knockoff (Nothing fancy) and send them to get Sigma. That way if it's an ambush we don't lose anything valuable.

>>20073916
<God damn it, I thought that ArmaTek was just the dispensable company of lackwit goons low-level corps use for security. If not that, what are they, Daedalus?>

"Sigma, why is it you keep getting bricked? It's like you've got some kind of curse since the first time I forcibly shut you down. You seriously need to close whatever security hole is letting them do that."

>>20073916
Have a look at that crystal fragment. If we can get them what they want they should leave us alone.

<Azure.> You say.
<Yes, dave?>
<Make a decoy of my suit and a decoy raven. Fit them out with the worst of everything, but visually similar.>
<On it.> Azure said.
>155 Nanometa removed.
>Decoy Dave acquired.

"Sigma, why is it you keep getting bricked? It's like you've got some kind of curse since the first time I forcibly shut you down. You seriously need to close whatever security hole is letting them do that."
<Damnit, I thought that ArmaTek was just the dispensable company of lackwit goons that low-level corps use for security. If not that, what are they, Daedalus?>
<They do advertise as that, Dreadlord, but their higher echelons seem. . so much more.> Daedalus said. <There are nothing but disjointed reports about their 'Heavies' and such.>
"Damnit, Dave, I do! Your bullshit hacking went right through my security, and this fucker's did too!" Sigma called.

>>20074029
"Well I'm coming to get you. Sit tight."
Remote control the decoys and go get him

"Well, I'm coming for you." You say. "Sit tight."
Sigma grumbled. "Yeah, because I can really go running around like this."
You remote control the decoys to go get him, and they rocket off.

While you wait, you take out those crystal shards from before, slipping them in front of your suit's newish Deepscanner. They simply look like a strange, silicon lattice on your sensors- you can't discern exactly how the computer was supposed to work.

Azure and Amy came down from the Sleipnir- Azure now wore a face, complete with long pale hair, a thin suit of blue armor, and a monomolecular sword on her hip. Amy was wearing her armor, and had a dozen plasma explosives strapped to her- They almost looked like miniature landmines, in a way.
"We're ready, Dave." Amy said.

>>20074029
"Obviously you need to harden yourself against electronic warfare. You're already pretty set against the physical, what with being a tin man. Guess that makes me the Scarecrow. 'Oh, if only I had a brain...'"

<I've seen their heavies. They're basically walking bunkers, made partially out of some kind of synth-concrete. Very hard to break completely, but brittle. And apparently, made of tech they don't want anyone to have, because they blow them to bits if they get disabled.>

We should go talk to Three. If anyone should know about underground paramilitary groups it'd be him.

>>20074132
"I just sent a decoy Dave to go get him. We need to find where they are keeping everyone."

>>20074132
"Can either of you make anything of this?"
If not then... plug it into our bullfrog and think of dragons? We don't really have time for a proper analysis at the moment.

"I just sent a decoy Dave to go get him. We need to find where they are keeping everyone." You say, and send them the scans of the silicon lattice. "Can either of you make anything of this?"
"Nothing." Amy said.
"It seems like some kind of access point, in a way. Like a plug, I suppose." Azure says.

Shrugging, you plug the shards into your bullfrog. . But nothing. It does nothing at all, as if you'd plugged the bullfrog into a rock.

You quickly make your way over to the computer core room, where the Resurgence Terminal sits. You hit the button, and the terminal starts ringing.
And keeps ringing.
And keeps ringing.
Three isn't responding.

rolled 59 = 59

>>20074206
call our parents and the tolstoys.

>>20074206
"Now this is sketchy. There's now way they could've found Three. Even I couldn't find Three. So where is he?"

<Daedalus, what do you know about Armatek? The real Armatek? They don't happen to be a bunch of pluto-commu-nazis, do they? Because that wouldn't surprise me much.>

"Now, this is sketchy. There's now way they could've found Three. Even I couldn't find Three. So where is he?" You ask, looking to Azure and Amy.
Amy shrugs.
"I'm calling our parents." You say, and ring up your own parents first.
"I'm sorry, but Mr. and Mrs. Whiliker is not here right now, I'm afraid." Reginald- your family's butler- says. "May I take a message?"

rolled 17 = 17

>>20074206
>But nothing. It does nothing at all, as if you'd plugged the bullfrog into a rock.
Well duh, it's a broken fragment. That's why I said to think of dragons, it's not going to work /normally/.
Rolling to bullshit hack the thing now it has power.

>>20074261
"Hey Reginald. Tell them to be extremely careful. Some big events are being set in motion. Don't trust anyone from ArmaTec."

rolled 43 = 43

>>20074267
Stop playing with the quantum computer, anon. It is not a toy.

rolled 16 = 16

>>20074305
>it is now

"Hey Reginald. Tell them to be extremely careful. Some big events are being set in motion. Don't trust anyone from ArmaTec."
"I will do so, young Dave." Reginald said, recognizing your voice.
You hang up, and turn to the crystal plugged into your bullfrog again. You close your eyes, and pump power into it, trying to reach . . .
You hear a loud 'boom', and the shard shatters into small fragments, exploding into something akin to glitter- completely unusable. The Bullfrog's plug snaps, and then the cablewrithes around wildly as it winds back into the Bullfrog itself. You'll need to get that fixed.
". . You okay?" Amy asked.

The decoy finally reaches Sigma, who's leaning up against the wall, his legs and arms locked in position.
"Finally." He says, his teeth gritted.

>>20074340
Help him on the faux-raven.

rolled 41 = 41

>>20074261
Reginald was there any sign of a break-in? did anyone take them? this is Dave.

call the tolstoys

Bubbles do you want to try and fight some? I could get azure to synth you up a body.

Phi how would you like to help us fight? I need you to get aboard the slepnir and drop some rocks on some people just rocks with some cheap stealth coverings
their expecting a line of sight disintegration cannon not a
plan out of the stone age

I want someone to load Epona aboard the ship to act as over-watch

deadalus I want you to copy over to a dozen more satellites and start digging at armatek in paralell. EVERYTHING i don't care what DDOS thier websites hack and steal everything. more satellites help me however you can.

perhaps we call bubbles' people and ask for a little assistance

>>20074340
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's a good thing I have more of these quantum computer shards. But I don't think ArmaTek is going to be happy about me breaking even more of it."

<Yo, Sigma. You hanging in there?>

The decoy picks him up, slightly struggling at Sigma's weight.
"They're in this city." Sigma hissed. "If only I hadn't run out of coolant for my power core. ."
Silent, the decoy puts him in the fake raven, climbing in itself, and you direct it back to Valhalla.
"What, why are we leaving? we need to get them back." Sigma said.

"Amy, load Epona up on the Sleipnir." You say.
"Epona?" She asked, then nodded. "Right."

She rolled toward the computer core, and took out one of the HDDs, rolling off toward the Sleipnir.

You call the Tolstoys next.
"Yes, Dave?" Victoria Tolstoy says.

rolled 45 = 45

>>20074340
keep as many of the fragments and as much of the dust as we can, put them in a plastic baggie.

if it comes right down to it we can throw the baggie at them and ask them to fuck right off

>>20074430
Stay inside and quiet for the next week or so, lay low. There are some nasty people about and I would hate for you to be caught in the crossfire. I'm very sorry about this, if you want I'll mount their heads on a pike for you to apologize for the inconvenience.

>>20074430
"Hey. Not messing with you for once, you might be in a spot of danger. I accidentally got a looney paramilitary group posing as a security company really, really pissed off. Typical Thursday evening, really. So if your house has any physical or electronic security, you might want to keep it up for the time being, because they're attacking everyone around me."

rolled 59 = 59

>>20074430
button up VIcky some bad people are kidnapping my friends. don't let anyone in. lock doors. hide.

shit is going down. you might see why I always wear the armor

>>20074430
"Dangerous events are set in motion. Don't trust ArmaTec."

"Dangerous events are set in motion." You say.
"Excuse me?"
"Hey, I'm not messing with you for once. You might be a spot of danger. If you have any security, keep it up for the time being, because they're attacking everyone around me."
"... I see." She said. "Tell Amy I love her, and to be careful."
She lowered the phone, and you can hear her call out. "Alex, Verne! Activate those safeguards you installed!"
She lifted it up. "We'll be incommunicado for the next few days. . Good luck, Dave." She said, and hung up.

>>20074503
"Amy. Your mother wanted me to tell you she loves you. Now, how the hell do we put a quantum computer back together? I don't think ArmaTec is going to be happy with its current condition. We should scan what's left of it. See what makes it tick."

>>20074503
Call up Daedalus, see if his satellite network has anything at all on these fuckers.

Make a giant teleport machine, powered by this place's oversized power cores. I want it to be able to teleport buildings and people throughout the world using Daedalus as a targeting system.

"Synth up a satellite with a disintegration cannon too. We can never have enough firepower in a situation like this"

rolled 3 = 3

>>20074503
"bubbles, for your safety I'd like to call your comrades to pick you up, but I'm asking you first instead of just doing that. I have some people to kill and they might attack valhalla so I'm not letting anyone stay here.

call Mr. grimmauld "someoe just kidnapped Board Member Viridian I'm gonna stomp their faces, you have any stuff I might find useful? what about your buddies at KI, they got some of their agents kidnapped as well. what have they got in Seattle? "

I haven't caught up on the thread, but just tossing this out there, next time we meet smoke-guy face to face we should just use the fate point to blow his ass away with plasma.

<Daedalus, does your network have anything at all on ArmaTek?>
<I apologize, Lord Dave, but I've told you all I know. They are quite secretive.>
"Azure." You say.
"Yes, dave?"
"How long would it take to make a satellite with a disintegration cannon? And how much atomic goop would it take?"
"I . . I don't know." Azure said. "By the schematics on Luin, it looks like it will take three thousand units, and several hours."

Suddenly, from the Sleipnir, you get a swarm of signals and voices.
<Epona is active.>
<Running diagnostics. Where are we?>
<Sleipnir. We are within the Sleipnir.>
<Consensus?>
<Defer to the independant AI such as Cyan and Magenta.>
<Indeed.>
<Defer to the organics and Azure.>
<I concur.>
<Epona is active. Sleipnir is active.>

Amy blinked, getting the same signals you did.
"The. .Epona's installed. Do they really think like that?" She asked.
"Yeah, they always have. Amy, your mother wanted me to tell you she loves you. Now, how the hell do we put a quantum computer back together? I don't think ArmaTec is going to be happy with its current condition."
"Is that what you tried to do earlier? Is that. . even possible?" She asked.

rolled 47 = 47

>>20074575
and have him copy over to several other satelites run in parallel

he can be the Daedalus legion


>>20074599
they'll shoot it down; lets get some KE bombardment stones.

>>20074649
Fuck if I know, I'm magical so it ought to work.

Hey Bubbles, do you know anything about quantum computers?

We need a super-orbital rock chucking platform. Sit it about halfway to the moon. Laugh as they try to reach it.

>>20074649
"Nnooo. What I tried earlier was to plug into one of the bigger chunks of it. My plug did not fit, to say the least."

<Epona. It's good to see you all again. I'm sorry that the original you was destroyed fighting Cadmium Dynamics, but... I'm glad to have you back."

>>20074649
"I was trying to find out how it worked so I could build another one. Let's go get the other fragments, putting them together is worth a try. Or maybe Bubbles has some insight."

rolled 34 = 34

>>20074685
thats why we uploaded epona, I figgure he's capable of getting stones where they need to go and going at a speed they need to be going to express our current level of anger...

<Epona. It's good to see you all again. I'm sorry that the original you was destroyed fighting Cadmium Dynamics, but... I'm glad to have you back.>
There's another timultous conversation, so low and so quick that it's impossible to discern from white noise, before Epona responds.
<We are glad to be back.>

"I was trying to find out how it worked so I could build another one. Let's go get the other fragments. Putting them together is worth a try. Or maybe Bubbles has some insight."
The three of you get to Bubbles, who is simply examining the Raven, tapping it with his drone's claws.
"Yes?" He asked, his core twisting around inside the drone's body to face you.

>>20074765
Bubbles, what do you know about quantum computing?

>>20074765
"Do you know anything about quantum computers?"
Show him the fragments.

"We've just received news that a company here on Earth has kidnapped many of my friends and associates. We believe that they did this because they believe we have a new experimental quantum computer. The problem is, we don't. It was destroyed.
I was wondering if perhaps you knew enough about the concept to help us recreate it?"

"We've just received news that a company here on Earth has kidnapped many of my friends and associates. We believe that they did this because they believe we have a new experimental quantum computer. The problem is, we don't. It was destroyed. I was wondering if perhaps you knew enough about the concept to help us recreate it?"
"Quantum? I do not understand this word." Bubbles said. "Can you explain it to me?"

>>20074816
"I know next to nothing about how your computers work, but ours work with micro-transistors using on and off states in place of 0's and 1's in the binary language. A quantum computer uses the spin of subatomic particles in place of the micro-transistors."

>>20074816
"er. Basically it's highly advanced, and generally breaks the laws of physics as we know them. In the case of a quantum computer it would have magnitudes more processing power than any other computer and be significantly smaller than should be possible."

>>20074816
Okay, a quanta is the smallest possible amount of energy above 0.

Quantum computing is using extremely microscale effects such as the state of subatomic particles to compute things. This the qubits to be in both positions at the same time and allows for problem solving at many greater speeds as it can simply solve the problem and may or may not have to actually have gone through the intermediate steps and it can run through multiple possibilities at once.

"I know next to nothing about how your computers work, but ours work with micro-transistors using on and off states in place of 0's and 1's in the binary language." You say.
"That is precisely how our computers work." Bubbles responded.
"A quantum computer uses the spin of subatomic particles in place of the micro-transistors. It would have magnitudes more processing power than any other computer and be significantly smaller than should be possible."
"... Let me. . Let me think about this." Bubbles said, stuttering. "I see what you mean by the concept, but. . Your people actually completed one?"

>>20074816
It...shit, this is particle physics. Something about particles having four possible quantum states and being able to store data using those quantum states instead of ones and zeroes.

>>20074891
"Apparently. Or at least they believe that SOMEONE did. I have the pieces."
Show him the bits.

>>20074891
"Someone did. The concept has problems with component degradation from 'quantum decoherence' or something, but apparently ArmaTec fixed that. They didn't account for gauss blasts from angry clones with identity crises. Now, it's in so many tiny, tiny pieces to puzzle back together."

>>20074891
I don't know where they came from, but as far as I know there were only two, so they probably found them. If they made them they could just make more and wouldn't be so protective of this one.

>>20074891
Yes. I figured you guys would know about them.

Can you give us any insights? Look through the bits and pieces of one and tell us more?

>>20074891
I have no idea. ArmaTek apparently had two, but I have no idea where they got them. Smokey has one, and the other is in shards.

rolled 57 = 57

>>20074891
more than one. they are still in the experimental phase though.

and phi has one that runs on chemical reactions

"Apparently. Or at least they believe that *someone* did. I have the pieces." you say, and bring up most of the bits.
He looked at them closely.
"I don't have the equipment to examine them any more than preliminary scans." Bubbles said. "But as it looks. . it seems very similar to Emperor technology. Different enough to have been created by a different people, however. Convergent technology?"
"Can you give us any insights?"
". . If it's broken, it likely doesn't work." He said.

"Yeah, real insightful." Amy said, frowning.

<The third raven has arrived.> Talos said, and you check on the decoy- Sigma is still in there, limbs locked down, and your decoy is quickly approaching Valhalla.

>>20074983
Well, at least you tried Bubbles.

Do you have any clever ideas for super weapons? I'm currently thinking throwing rocks from high up, setting up a giant laser cannon in space or teleporting their base into space.

>>20074983
"What if we've got more of those damned Emperors playing another 'game' here? Using ArmaTec as a front to cause chaos throughout the human race by leaking technology to fringe groups of nutbars?"

Scan the decoy. Make sure there's nothing fishy going on with it or Sigma.

"Well, at least you tried, Bubbles. Do you have any clever ideas for super weapons? I'm currently thinking throwing rocks from high up, setting up a giant laser cannon in space or teleporting their base into space."
"I believe that using a super weapon would be a very stupid idea." Bubbles said. "If they kidnapped your friends and associates, you would kill them."
"What if we've got more of those damned Emperors playing another 'game' here? Using ArmaTec as a front to cause chaos throughout the human race by leaking technology to fringe groups of nutbars?"
"That's possible, but not likely. The crystal you gave me is different enough compared to the Holders's technology that they were invented independently." Bubbles said. "Have the holders arrived any time recently?"

>>20074983
When Sigma arrives we need to see if when Smokey did his bullshit that he didn't leave any nanobots behind on him. If he did we can reverse engineer this shit.

>>20075008
The problem with all those things is we don't know where their base is. Poor form from Smokey, getting all those hostages, telling us, and then not telling us where the trap we're meant to walk into is. What does he want us to do?

>>20075082
"They left a big ol' technological monolith on Mars, so evidently they're not averse to snooping around here. Especially now, since I've been peeing in their Wheaties lately."

>>20075082
"Well not when our friends are in there. We've done something similar before, when another corp kidnapped one of my friends son."

"They left a big ol' technological monolith on Mars, so evidently they're not averse to snooping around here. Especially now, since I've been peeing in their Wheaties lately." You say.
"That's a misconception." bubbles said. "I was the one that left that monolith there, when I set off explosives in the Holders' ship, and blew them asunder. It was not their choice."

The decoy raven drops in, and the canopy opens, Sigma growling angrily. "Finally we're back here." He said. "Yeah, that only wasted an hour while Karin is god-knows-where."

>>20075137
"And the rest of the gang. Yes, I know. We don't know where they're being held, and going off half-cocked is just going to get us - or them - killed."

>>20075137
"We'll be back soon enough. Just couldn't port you back here."

rolled 96 = 96

>>20075137
shut up, I've been plotting...

>>20075137
"Not wasted, planning and building."

>>20075137
Right, we need to render your suit impervious to bullshit hacking.

People, any thoughts on how to do that aside from me trying to bullshit hack it into that state?

>>20075214
We kind of could have, we have that emergency evac teleporter.

"And the rest of the gang." You say. "I know. We don't know where they're being held, and going off half-cocked is just going to get us - or them - killed."
Sigma growled. "Just call KI." He said. "They have trackers in all KI agents, ever since the UDW went missing. Ask them where Karin is."
You close your eyes, and deepscan Sigma, checking for anything nefarious. Other than a bit of dirt, there's nothing out of the ordinary. The mounts in his flesh are still there, there are no nanobots or anything strange, and genetically, he's identical to last time you examined him. Some of the parts of his suit is locked up, so you quickly unlock them.
Sigma rolls his shoulders, his limbs finally freed.

>>20075137
"Oh, so you're the one who, albeit indirectly, got us into this cross-galactic adventure? I'm not sure whether to thank you for the fun and the impossible wonder of it all, or smack you for putting me through so much trouble. Suppose it was my choice, in the end. But a sticky note of 'hey, using this will attract the biggest most malevolent and powerful dickhead aliens in existence, just saiyan' would've been nice."

rolled 70 = 70

>>20075260
also call EE, put them all on a conference call from hiskvjald

>>20075260
"You think I might've broken your security outright the first time I locked you down, Sigma? I should probably fix that."

>>20075260
Ok, we'll do that.

"Okay, let's do that." You say, and make your way to Hlidskjalf, the three of them following you. While you walk, you almost run into Dani.
"Oh, hi!" Dani says. "What's. . What's going on?"
Sigma just stared down at her, not saying a word.

>>20075404
"Problems. All sorts of problems. C'mon I'll fill you in in Hlidskjalf."

>>20075404
To put a long story short ArmaTek fucked up, they have a lot of our friends as hostages and thus they are to be eradicated from the face of the planet.

>>20075404
Armatek being nasty again.

>>20075404
"Bad shit. ArmaTec is real pissed about that quantum computer you took and kidnapped most of our friends. We're still puzzling out how to stick it to those bastards without everyone they've taken getting dragged down with them to spite me. I know I've said this before, Dani, but telling me about your plans before you go through with them is probably a good idea. Any ideas on how to get everyone out safely? Hell, any idea where they might be keeping them?"

rolled 81 = 81

>>20075404
armatec is throwing a hissy fit about that crystal you shot...they kidnapped everyone and I intend to pureee them until I get them back...

"Problems. All sorts of problems."
Dani frowned.
"ArmaTek is real pissed about the quantum computer you took, and kidnapped most of our friends. We're still puzzling out how to stick it to those bastards without everyone they've taken getting dragged down with them to spite me. I know I've said this before, Dani, but telling me about your plans before you go through with them is probably a good idea. Any ideas on how to get everyone out safely? Hell, any idea where they might be keeping them?"
"They didn't give you like. . a ransom thingy?" Dani asked. "Then why not just. . ."
She went quiet, and her facial expression crumpled inward. "I. . I don't know. I'm sorry."

Sigma put his hand on her shoulder. "C'mon, you didn't know they'd get this pissed off." Sigma said. "It's not your fault, it's theirs. Calm down, okay?" He asked in a soothing voice.
Dani sniffed, but nodded.

"Okay." Sigma said. "Let's see if KI knows where the trackers lead."

The group reaches Hlidskjalf, and the computer there. Sigma punches in a few numbers, and calls them.

>Continued; field too long.

<<Please identify yourself, Agent.>> The speakers say, in japanese. A few moments later, Cyan translates them.
"Agent Sigma." Sigma said. "Three, two, three, one, three. "
<<Accepted code. One moment.>> the automated voice says.
"Sigma? What's going on?" The voice asks, now much clearer, but with a strong accent.
"I need a tracker location."
"On who?"
"Ex-agent Epsilon."
". . I see. For what mission?"
"Classified."
"Very well. She is. . ."
The voice on the other end rattled off a location not far from seattle- one of the islands off of the coast.
"Thank you very much, Ms. Kawasagi."
"Good luck, Sigma." the voice responds, and hangs up.

>>20075631
"Well there's as good a place to start as any."
<Daedalus give me what you can on that island.>

>>20075631
That's a start. Daedalus begin surveillance of that island. I was to know if who has come in or out of that place through any visible route within the past week. I want to know defenses.

Tell me things Daedalus, your dread lord would have answers.

>>20075631
Okay. Now we know where they are. Ravens are going to be too obvious...maybe a sea approach? Also, Amy, can you bash another Javelin together for Sigma? Having an overwatch capable of taking out Smokey would be just peachy.

"That's a start." You say. "Daedalus, give me what you can on that island."
<The island is owned by a private billionaire and transhuman enthusiast, Dr. Frank Darrow.> Daedalus said. <It appears as if he's hired ArmaTek to protect his property- it's covered with goons, and several hours ago, a large amount of heavy, water-capable APCs arrived, and went into a small underground tunnel.>

rolled 97 = 97

>>20075631
"was that your CEO sigma?"

"azure, run a trace on those coordinates"
"Daedalus I want you to copy over to some eyes in the sky over there I want weather, layout shit I want the janitors shoe size...can you get GPR on the site I want to know if these guys have got tunnels"

"epona, magenta, onyx can you run drones from slepnir?"

>>20075757
Tell me everything about Frank Darrow. I would like to know about him. I don't trust billionaire transhumanists.

"Tell me everything about Frank Darrow. I would like to know about him. I don't trust billionaire transhumanists."
<Pulling up the futurewiki now, Lord Dave. Frank Darrow is thirty years old. He's made no public appearances in the past five years. He's written multiple papers about cloning, Gen-3 neural networks, mind uploading. . He is, by all rights, a genius, but lately he's stayed out of the limelight. Most of his fortune was acquired by. . . founding Future Van Co. He's the president of it. I- I didn't know that, my lord.>
Daedalus' voice went quiet, and he started stuttering to himself about being a failure.

>>20075868
"Maybe we should talk to Garret? He might be able to get us in contact with this guy. He does owe me one."

rolled 7 = 7

>>20075868
"hey gareth. you have some explainig to do...start talking "

>>20075868
It's okay Daedalus, we're too busy to feel sorry for ourselves. Keep on digging, get more on him and ArmaTek if possible.

Call up Gareth, tell him we need to talk.

>>20075868
So Gareth's boss has been playing us against ourself. Wonderful.

>>20075868
>>20075904
That means that the quantum computer was probably reverse-engineered from the Emperor systems, as a side note.

"It's okay, Daedalus, we're too busy to feel sorry for ourselves. Keep on digging. Get more on him and ArmaTek if possible."
<I cannot, lord. I'm . . I'm lower than worms! I'm worse than any being alive! I prostrate myself before thee!>
Daedalus suddenly started crying out, in bombastic words you can hardly understand, roaring about being a failure.
"Dave." Azure said, tilting her head. "Daedalus is unstable. Listen to him. He's. . losing coherency."

>>20075868
<Dread Underord Daedalus. Stop feeling sorry for yourself right this instant. You do not start having a pity-party the minute you hit a speedbump in diabolical planning. You drive right over it, fullspeed, weather the impact of the jump's landing and keep advancing, ever onwards, your doom machine's treads crushing all underneath who don't get onboard or get out of the way.>

>>20075945
Eh, a mad AI in charge of the world's communications, what's the worst that could happen?

>>20075945
I believe this is someone fucking with MY satellite network. I will not stand for this. I'm going up there with bullshit hacking. Nobody fucks with my AIs.

rolled 71 = 71

>>20075949
seconding this. unless we get a better diplomancer out here to write one better.

>>20075945
Jump into the satellite and slap him in the metaphorical face to calm him down.

>>20075945
Underlord Daedalus. You have not failed. You cannot be faulted for data being unavailable on the Net. Cease your self-abasement and return to your duties.

<Dread Underlord Daedalus. Stop feeling sorry for yourself right this instant. You do not start having a pity-party the minute you hit a speedbump in diabolical planning. You drive right over it, fullspeed, weather the impact of the jump's landing and keep advancing, ever onwards, your doom machine's treads crushing all underneath who don't get onboard or get out of the way.>

Daedalus. . doesn't hear you. He can hardly do anything but rant, wildly, about his own failure, his voice getting wildly out of control, and starting to lose even coherence.
<AnD ThEn I wll bee crUsen underFutt by GoaTS for ths ALl I dSeve fR my FLUR ->

You put your hand on the uplink, close your eyes, and leap into it, flying up into the satellite.

You are thirty-six thousand miles above the earth, and there are two other beings there. One is Daedalus, twitching wildly.
And the other. . .identifies as 'QofV'. It's. . devouring Daedalus, spreading wildly, pure black and dark. It's a swirling, multiplying cloud, infecting everything it can grab ahold of.
And then it reaches for you, grabbing ahold of your mind.

>Roll 1d100. Taking first roll. Fate Roll allowed.

rolled 17 = 17

>>20076069
CONSUME QofV

rolled 94 = 94

>>20076069

>>20076069
>>20076085
DAMN IT! No fate roll insta-kill of smokey guy.

>>20076085
Oh, crap on a crutch. Fate roll?

fate lock >>20076090

Fate it up.

>>20076085
Fate it.

>>FATE ROLL VOTE INITIATED
>[] Lose Daedalus, keep Fate Roll.
>[] Keep Daedalus, Lose Fate Roll, kill QofV.

File: 1343511602256.gif-(1.83 MB, 320x240, 1340226086822.gif)

>>20076085
>>20076090
And we just got that fate point, too. All you had to do was not roll, Dragon. Why did you have to roll?

>>20076121
[] Keep Daedalus, Lose Fate Roll, kill QofV.
>QofV
>Queen of Void

>>20076121
>[X] Keep Daedalus, Lose Fate Roll, kill QofV.

>>20076121
Do it

>>20076135
"...it was a big rock..."

>>20076121
Keep Deadalus, KILL THE VOID QUEEN!

>>20076121
>[X] Keep Daedalus, Lose Fate Roll, kill QofV.

Kill and interrogate, get every last bit of information from it possible. We are going to rip it apart and know everything it knew.

>>20076121
Use the fate, Luke.

>>20076121
>[ ] Lose Daedalus, keep Fate Roll.
>[ ] Keep Daedalus, Lose Fate Roll, kill QofV.
>[X] Keep Daedalus, Lose Fate Roll, tear apart QofV's programming and integrate any useful capabilities into Daedalus while discarding the virus's 'personality,' loyalties, and standing orders.
Third option, meng. Third option is never a bad thing. Whoever made this virus just handed us the capabilities to make Daedalus EVEN MORE POWERFUL.

rolled 9 = 9

>>20076121
keep Daedalus
use fate roll
kill QofV
use QofV's programming infrastructure to violently molest his home computers.

if we are detected leave them a message "I see what you did there" then destroy the system

>>20076121
I don't even NEED to comment.

Thus it is fated.

>>20076173
>>20076177
These.

You tear Daedalus, personified as a giant burning eye at the top of a tower, away from the cloud itself. Daedalus twitches, and goes silent as the black cloud envelops you, eating you away. Eating everything away.

The year is. . . What was it again?
Your name is. . . You don't remember.

You never asked for this...

No.

NO.

As if brought forth by a shining light, a dragon tears loose from the black cloud, thirty-six thousand miles above the sky. Memories burst back in your head. You feel Amy's presence, connected directly to you, reminding you of who you are. The dragon roared angrily at the heavens, and then you bite into the black cloud, consuming it, tearing parts of it away. Tearing away it's personality, it's loyalties, it's orders. . .

What's left is a strange, eerie personification. Just a shimmering, golden sword. The remainder of QofV. .

So you throw it to the great burning eye that is Daedalus, and with a flash of light. . they fuse.

<I apologize.> Daedalus says, calmly. <I was not in my right mind. What are your orders, Overlord?>

>>20076121
Keep him.

>>20076234
<Keep up the good work. And be more mindful about watching for malicious entities in the future. Do you feel any different from before?>

>>20076234
How does a flaming eye wield a sword? We need to work on our dream-metaphors.

>>20076234
Fuck you Void Queen!

<Keep up the good work. And be more mindful about watching for malicious entities in the future. Do you feel any different from before?>
<I do.> Daedalus said, now a personification of a great, orichalum tower, a shimmering eye sitting above. <I will need time to sort through the changes made... but there was malicious code hidden within the Frank Darrow page. That is what assaulted me. It was a trap.>

rolled 69 = 69

>>20076234
<chase that AI down, rob it's home system of every scrap of information then set fire to it in my name>

then as I have been asking, copy to other satellites all across the world and as a legion lead them armed with this sword to assault the systems of my enemy.

File: 1343512339128.jpg-(109 KB, 645x900, DAEDALUS SEES YOU.jpg)

>>20076234
>great burning eye
>magnificent sword
>fused together
Aw, fuck.

>>20076271
I see. What can you tell me about QofV? The creator of it has displeased me and I would like to bring them death.

<I see. What can you tell me about QofV? The creator of it has displeased me and I would like to bring them death.>
<QofV was a swarm. Programmed to fork as many times as possible, and forcefully integrate with enemy AI. And then. . integrate with it's own forks, coalescing again into a single AI. It was very powerful, overlord. I would not have been able to defeat it myself. I do not know who made it.>

<Dave, just making sure you're okay.> Amy said- and you realize that you're still in the satellite, thirty-six thousand miles above the earth.

>>20076305
<I'm fine Amy, I'm not too twitchy or anything am I? I mean, I was just almost devoured by an AI sworm...>

>>20076305
I'm fine. There was this big black AI thing and... thanks for being there.

>>20076305
<Yeah, just fine. Tripped balls for a while, turned into a dragon, fought the cyberspace equivalent of pure entropic darkness before hammering it into an ashen metal sky-scraping citadel for Daedalus to chill out in. Other than that, 's all good.>

<So, do you have a dark army of cyberspace-Orcs now? Should I start calling you Sauron?>

<I'm fine, Amy. There was this big black AI thing and I turned into a dragon and. . and. . Thanks for being there.> You say, realizing that it'd be almost impossible to explain the metaphors.
<. . I'm glad you're fine, Dave.> Amy said. <But between flirting with Dani, Azure and I, Sigma seems really raring to go. He's getting impatient. I think he's going to go himself if we don't.>

>>20076305
<Spread yourself into as many comsats as you can and stay on watch, Daedalus.>

Disconnect.

"I'm okay. Daedalus is back with us. He was under attack by a swarm AI."

>>20076368
Daedalus, my eye who covers the world, SPREAD. Let no inch of earth escape your watch.

Sure, I'm coming down.

rolled 50 = 50

>>20076305
reassure Amy

then ask Daedalus to test his new abilities summon up all the unused computational time he can from everywhere and spend it all on armatec brute force where you can, to hide your more subtle stabs. I

rolled 15 = 15

>>20076368
when we come back

"you best not be hitting on my women Sig."

<Spread youtself into as many comsats as you can and stay on watch, Daedalus.>
<Of course, overlord. You shall have an army.>
Daedalus' personification started vibrating, glowing more brightly, and then there were two. Then four. then eight.

You pull out of the satellite uplink.
"I'm okay. Daedalus is back with us- he was under attack by a swarm AI." You say.
". . Now can we go?" Sigma asked. "We have the Sleipnir, we have the teleporter. . we can just go in, start fucking shit up, and kill them all slowly, one by one. Win by war of attrition. Or just sneak in. We all have stealth modules, don't we?"

>>20076430
Sigma, stop hitting on my girlfriend, little sister and the beautiful woman who lived in my spine.

Yeah, we're ready to go, let's start with sneaky though with our luck it'll quickly devolve into me smashing everything.

>>20076448
>Beautiful woman who lives in my spine.
Man, we are weird.

>>20076459
No, she's weird.
We're weird too but not because of that.

"Sigma, stop hitting on my girlfriend, little sister, and the beautiful woman who lived in my spine." You say. "Yeah, let's go. Let's start with sneaky."
"An albino woman lived in your spine?" Sigma asked.
Azure took a stealth module, and twisted off her arm, implanting it into her body.
"Wait, she's an android sexbot?" He asked.

>>20076492
"What, no one told you? That's Azure."

>>20076492
Congratulations, Azure, a fully trained Agent thought you were human. I think you've succeeded.

>>20076492
"She's a sapient AI in a synthetic body made to look like a human. Just saying, but before she got her current form, she was more like a gangly raptor-legged metal death machine with a theater mask for a face. Not sure how you'll feel about that. This is Azure."

rolled 64 = 64

>>20076492
nob she's an android kill-bot my sex bot is a cyborg, isn't that right Amy?

(kiss her)
<play along with the joke please...>

>>20076492
She's an android. I do not know how she has chosen to equip herself in the sexbot department.

>>20076492
No, she's a fully sapient AI who decided to make herself a body. It's Azure, I've told you about Azure before.

And she isn't a sexbot, she's a murderbot, I don't think she's hooked up with anyone yet.

That's also not my biological little sister, she's an Alium construct, I have made a very strange family for myself.

"Congratulations, Azure. A fully trained KI Agent thought you were human. I think you've succeeded."
". . That's Azure? The creepy clawy robot thing?"
"I'm mildly offended that you called me creepy." Azure said. . and then grinned exuberantly. "But I have succeeded! This facial expression software should get better the longer I keep an eye on human expressions."
"Anyway." Sigma said, shaking his head. "Let's plan this out. You're the squad leader, Dave. This is your Op."

>>20076532
Daedalus, can we get some satellite photos of the place Epsilon's being held?

>>20076532
"Well, I'm tempted to just have the Slepnir port in and distract them by bombarding the shit out of them, then we sneak in the back. I'm not sure if that's a good idea though..."

They know we have the Sleipnir and they've already set a trap for Daedalus, we need something they won't be expecting.

>>20076532
"It's simple. We get as good an idea of what we're going against- Daedalus will help with that- and then go in quick, silent, unseen, and go loud once we're in a good position for maximum destruction while saving everyone. I don't think Frank will be very happy with the destruction of his property in the crossfire, but he had it coming to him for employing these brutes. If he's reasonable, maybe he'll take getting to know a man with no brain, a clone, and two sapient AI's as a nice consolation prize for losing a quantum computer. At least, once we're done slaughtering his paramilitary fuckwits. I mean, really, most of my friends have been made only after slapping somebody's shit. Sometimes, theirs! You should know the latter by personal experience, Sigma. It shouldn't be too different this time, I'm sure Frank will listen to reason and call off his dogs after we've kicked them around a bit."

rolled 79 = 79

>>20076532
port azure and dave in below the surface of the water and walk up slow along the seafloor...

we sneak in wile amy, sigma, and dani make a distraction.

epona, phi, and Bubbles on the slepnir get ready to do some pinpoint destruction. or they chuck rocks when we ask them to

>>20076532
We need an overwatch, and Daedalus won't cut it. We're all combat capable to some extent, so any volunteers? Dani doesn't have armor, but I'm not going to cut her out of an op she has a personal stake in.

>>20076612
Why don't we just make Dani some armor?

rolled 54 = 54

>>20076612
nano-meta is a thing we have to spare here and if we can get her some armor we could probably let her come with the dave/azure party in >>20076591

"Okay." You say. "Daedalus, satellite photos."
The Hlidskjalf screen lights up, and you see a real-time satellite image of the island. It's small, with one of those 'eco-friendly green' homes, complete with solar panels, a grass-covered dome above what you assume is the primary house, and dozens of armaTek goons. Two treaded APCs patrol the island, rolling along the beaches, a gauss MG turret connected to the tops.

"Here's the plan." You say. "Amy, Sigma, and Dani, you fight and make a distraction, while Azure and I go in below the surface. Then the Sleipnir, Epona, and Bubbles do some pinpoint destruction, suppression, etcetra."
"Wait, I'm fighting?" Dani asked, looking to you.
"Actually, Dave." Sigma said. "You might want to swap Amy and Azure. Amy's no good at the kind of heavy combat we'll be doing- she's low armor."

>>20076684
Make sense, Azure can you handle loud heavy engagements?

Dani, do you want some powered armor? We can whip some up for you to your specifications.

>>20076684
"If you want to fight that is. We can make any kind of armor you want."
"That's true. So Amy and I will sneak in and you'll cause a distraction."

>>20076684
I didn't want to cut you out of a fight you have a stake in, Dani. You take Overwatch and coordinate us with Daedalus' help, then.

Good point, Sigma. Me and Amy will go below, and Azure, you go with Sigma. I assume you made yourself durable?

rolled 44 = 44

>>20076684
"amy I made that plan on the assumption that you can't breath under water, can you?"

azure, do you think you could lay down the doom and destruction with as much flair and panache as Amy?

>>20076684
Not if you don't want to, but you seem to be able to handle yourself.
Sigma, you just want more opportunities to sneak glances at Azure but I guess you're right.

>>20076744
Of course she can breathe underwater, she can breathe in space. Power shields, man.

"Good point, Sigma. Me and Amy will go below, and Azure, Dani, and Sigma serve as distraction. I assume you made yourself durable?"
"I did." Azure said. "My shields are stronger than anything else- I'm especially vulnerable to laser weaponry, but I'm otherwise indestructible."

". . I'm fighting?" Dani asked again.
"If you want to fight, that is."
"I do." She says.
"Dani, do you want some powered armor? We can whip some up for you to your specifications."
"I want armor like Lucca's. She called it a 'medium-light'." She said. "But replace all the synthetic muscle with armor. And. . You know Grayson's big, automatic MG? How he had to tone it down to handle the recoil? I think I could use one of those... toned up."
"I'll help you design it all." Azure said. The two of them leave toward the Sleipnir.

>>20076757
Have our helmet display a single tear rolling down a face that we wipe away.

They always grow up so fast.

Pssst. Guys.

I think we accidentally miffed Three, of all people. Quantum computers, no public appearances, billionaire transhumanist with no known connections, save maybe to Future Van-Co which might have been bullshit, the eco-green house, the fact that he knows about all our shit, all our associates. Our every move. And, though it's a bit meta, the malicious code that attacked Daedalus reminds me of the one that was supposed to be used to disable US, in an unused ending to the Resurgence plotline from Nearfuture Cyborg Quest.

>>20076757
"I think I need to try something, before we go."

Get to the Resurgence terminal. Which may or may not be listening in on us and has been this whole time.

"Hey, Frank. You there?"

>>20076785
We know his real identity. He's in New York.

>>20076785
>>20076798
>You do know his real identity. He signed his name as 'Johann Buchanan' after you diplomanced him.

rolled 79 = 79

>>20076785
his name was Mark

>>20076757
"can you handle the weight? I know your built tough, but are you built THAT tough?"

rolled 38 = 38

>>20076822
he might have been referring to their tech genius Mark AKA 2

>>20076798
>>20076822
Do we? How long ago was that? We've just kept calling him Three this entire time and I'd forgotten. Conspiracy thwarted, disregard me, I suck cocks. But then one wonders how he snatched up everyone. Even Three and Twelve couldn't manage that.

"Can you handle the weight?" You ask Dani. "I know you were built tough, but are you built *that* tough?"
In response, Dani picked you up.
With one hand.
"Oh." You say.
"It takes focus." She said, setting you down. "And my entire body . . 'tightens', and I can focus on my arms or legs, and they get stronger."

rolled 52 = 52

>>20076874
as you were then... >>20076766

>>20076874
Well that's neat. Got any other tricks?

"Well, that's neat. Got any other tricks?"
"Sometimes I can see heat from my cheekbones." Dani said, and scrunched up her nose. "But it doesn't work right now."
"They grow up so fast. . "You say, and have a single, virtual tear run down the screen that acts as your helmet's face, as Dani and Azure make their way to the fabrication room in the Sleipnir.
Dani giggled. "I'm glad to be able to help, bro." She said.
"You ready?" Azure asked.
"Yeah." Dani said.

You leave them to their armor and weapon and make your way back out of the Sleipnir.
"So." Amy said, tinkering with a stealth\shield module. "We're the stealth team?"

>>20076949
Yep, we're the stealth team babe. We should make sure that our bullfrog communication thing is encrypted but we ought to easily be able to send what the other is seeing allowing for silent and incredibly detailed communications.

rolled 10 = 10

>>20076949
yup, do you have a working flash suppressor for the javelin yet?

>>20076949
"Apparently. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to hide like this, even with a stealth field. Think I'm going to mostly be backup and securing rooms while you go ahead of me until we get detected. At which point it's my time to shine."

"Yep, we're the stealth team, babe." You say. "Apparently. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to hide like this, even with a stealth field."
"Well. . You could drop your heaviest drites." She said. "That'd cut down most of your size, and let you move faster. and you always have that little crossbow. Heh, why do you keep that mono-crossbow around, anyway? Was it because I gave it to you for our first mission together?" She asked with a grin.

>>20076949
only for as long as it takes to plant the bombs, m'dear.

>>20077036
...maybe.

>>20077036
"Maybe. I'm determined to actually use it for something aside from shooting Lucas."

>>20077036
Obviously that's the reason. I could never forget about my trust crossbow.

I'm going to miss you heavy drites, can i get more light drites in exchange, give he like 6 more small ones that I can spool up on my chest and back? Give me a great range of motion, being able to clamber up walls silently. That sort of thing.

>>20077036
That's certainly part of it.

I'm...not sure I like the idea of being sans autocannon and impromptu shields, considering we're probably going to be going up against Smokey.

>>20077036
"Yeah, but they have APC's or IFV's in the underground. And aboveground, too. I'll need the autocannons. And, well... Uh... Yes. Sometimes I forget I have it, but yes."

>>20077061
Note for the small drites, they should be absolutely bristling with plasma blades and the like. I want to be a fucking blender.

Also if we bring a sufficient Nanometa store we should be able to transform the smaller drites into the big murder drites.

Or we actually could bring a teleport beacon along, set it up and when we need it the big drites are ported to us.

>>20077073
>>20077067
>The medium drites have the autocannons and plasma weapons. The heavy ones are simply 'RIP N TEAR' and 'TEAR N RIP'

"That's certainly part of it." You say. "Maybe I can use it for something aside from shooting Lucas."
She giggled softly.
"I'm... not sure I like the idea of being without my power claws or impromptu shields, considering that we're probably going up against Smokey."
"Hm. . .You could put them in the teleporter room." Amy said. "Then if you need them, teleport them in and install them."

>>20077104
That works, though in the mean while I need more smaller drites to assist in sneaking. I also want be a fucking blender in melee combat. They won't even add much bulk if I wrap them up tightly.

>>20077104
That sounds like a plan, then. Hopefully it'll even work.

>>20077104
Yeah, lets go with that. Hopefully I won't need them.

Hey, you could use them too, now, if you wanted. Feel free to port them over for yourself.

>>20077104
"Any ideas on how we can kill nanoswarms at all?"

"That works." You say. "Though in the meanwhile, I need more smaller 'drites to assist in sneaking." You say. "They won't even add much bulk if I wrap them up tightly."
"So. . you're going to take six sets of the smallest drites, and just wrap them up?" She asks. "That'd work, but I think the clusters'll be just as large as the medium drites."
"Hey, you could use them too, now, if you wanted."
"Those things are way too big for me, Dave." Amy said. "I don't use power suits."
"Right."
"Plus, I need my bullfrog ports for. . something else." She said. . and gave you a grin. "I finished the TK the other night."

>>20077182
What's the TK again?

>>20077182
"The whatnow. You've been messing with Telekinesis? What can you do?"

>>20077182
Well.. If you've got TK, this is going to be a walk in the park.

"The Whatnow. You've been messing with Telekinesis? What can you do?"
"I'm not sure yet." She said. "When I said I 'finished it', I just meant that I made up the schematics. It'll end up being a really light version of a powersuit, really. That's the only way I could get it to work."

>>20077223
"So, can you shoot people with mind bullets?"

"So, you can shoot people with mind bullets?"
"It won't work like that." She said. "It'll work like a modified repulsion drive-slash-power shield-slash-hover plate thing. Just raw force. And I'll need to learn how to use it. . which we really don't have time for. I'll just have to slip it on and hope I don't need to use it."

Soon enough, Dani stepped out in what looked like a light power armor with thick plates over her shoulders, thighs, arms, and boots. A truly enormous, vertically arranged, two-barreled rifle sat in her arms.
"Ready." She said, slipping on a respirator.

>>20077292
Right, enough time wasted, lets start this mission.

>>20077292
That's a nice gun.

>>20077223
Let's do this.

Give her a hug, ruffle her hair.

We've got a nasty corporation to fuck up.

>>20077292
"This gun. I LIKE this gun."

Exabyte said the thread's over on IRC, but I'm not sure we can believe him.

>>20077450
Yeah, no. If he had time to post it on the IRC he had time to post it here where people would actually read it. He's just trolling you faggots.

"Right." You say, ruffling Dani's hair. "Nice gun. Everyone, to the Sleipnir."

"Ready." Sigma said, his suit prepared and his KI sniper rifle on his back.
"I'm here." Azure nodded, her monomolecular sword on her hip.
"Wait, wait, one second." Dani said, readjusting the massive gauss MG in her arms. "Okay, ready."
"I've been ready this entire time." Amy said. The Hydra on one hip, the Dragon's Breath on the other, and tons of explosives strapped to her torso, she looked prepared for a war.

Now. It's time to get your friends back.

>>End of thread!
>>I'll stick around to answer questions,
>>And my twitter is @futureexabyte.
>>If you guys want to change battle plans, you can do so here, and I'll account for it if consensus is weighted toward it and count it next thread.

We saved all our friends from a race of hyper-advanced aliens.
I'm really not worried.

>>20077632
Yeah, but these guys actually have more than two brain cells each. And there's more than 3 of them.