Yay for H&D, boo for Monday threads.

>>27990336
Captain reporting in FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION!

>>27990467
Not ideal, I know

After returning from your battle aboard a hijacked Isolationist Neeran Super Heavy Cruiser, you set about analyzing the contents of a safety deposit box left for you by Svidur. Included in it was a letter that was marked "Open only in the event of my death" which you've delayed opening until now. The other items and technical diagrams included with it were advanced enough that your own ship's engineer could only decipher some of them.

After briefing Commander Winifred on your find and your battles aboard the captured ship her best people are now looking over it all in secure sections of the ship. With them are the bodies of several dead Neeran your Marines secured along with the hand weapons the Isolationist security troops were equipped with.
You're glad not to be in the attached medical bays as you saw enough alien blood and gore on that vessel to last a lifetime.

Part of you wants to open the letter to see if it sheds any light on the equipment in the box, but at the same time you hope the old wizard is still alive out there somewhere.

Your curiosity gets the better of you at last on the long voyage back to the Centri Cluster.


"If you're reading this it means I've met my fate a few years sooner than I had hoped. By now you've no doubt looked over the contents of the box I left for you and may have figured out that some of them are weapons systems. They're all artifacts I brought back with me from my various expeditions and each fills a unique role.

I wanted a fall back plan should Shallan Space and the Republic fall. I suspect you'll be planning to transport everything towards a safe location to conduct research, such as your homeworld far from the front lines. This is a good thing. In the right or wrong hands some of these devices are far more dangerous than others. Do not allow them to fall into the hands of the enemy."

>Cont.

>>27990655
I guess it can't be helped. Just drag every
important decision into an overnight survey, please.
:P

>>27990336
is it monday?

did I timewarp?

>>27990655
>conduct reasearch, such as your homeworld
>such as your homeworld.
>Homeworld.

YEP! Time for Operation: Underground research base! Also, we can add other things such as recreational facilities. Workout room, underground (heh) pool, those simulators, a dedicated armory & workshop for our power armor.

Also, don't forget those guard posts that the construction people recomended.

>>27990655
Svidur confirmed for greatest wizard.

>>27991009
Confirmed to be the greatest of wizards. If he is still alive somehow I am going to be overjoyed, but when/if he passes away he should have a place of honor in Sonia's War Museum....We could have a statue of him built to be placed at the front of the building with a sign telling his story.

>>27991111
>Svidur statue
It has my vote already.

"The Factions Alliance may yet be your best hope for some day using them. However I have yet to formulate an opinion of the Alliance. Far too many variables at the moment and for now they are more interested in solving the war with direct force.

If the war does not stop soon the Neeran Empire will eventually occupy space surrounding the Dyson sphere, if only to ensure there will be no interference by previously neutral parties. Ultimately I suspect they'll try to acquire weapons and technology there to aid their war effort. Not that they don't have plenty of their own yet to reveal.

In the event you visit the Dyson sphere in search of more powerful weapons know this; any technology within 120km of the inner surface will suffer an energy drain. Ships, weapons, equipment, all of it will be useless to you in short order should you land. Your people nearly learned this the hard way when they discovered it. The crew of the TCS Sidewinder fought the survivors of a Neeran Carrier for 3 days on the surface to recover parts needed to repair their ship and escape before reserves could run too low.

The Factions know of this, all to well I'm afraid. They have a science outpost in orbit and have been trying to determine a way to reach the control center for decades. You now have part of the key to reach it, though even with your penchant for treasure hunting it will not be enough. Should the worst happen you must find someone for whom it IS enough. Until then keep it safe for others may be looking for it."

Last week I was expecting you all to run back into Shallan space with the artifacts in tow and result in a Grail Diary moment when you got there.
"Why do you think I sent it home in the first place?"

Well... that doesn't give you as much info on what everything is as you'd hoped. Heading to the secure sections you see how things are going with the Commander's science team. Winifred is nearby when you arrive.

"Captain your timing is excellent. It seems my over payed doctors and scientists have stopped arguing long enough to get results."

She hands you a readout of one of the plates with the technical diagrams. "The engineers kept insisting this particular entry should be looked over by the medical personnel, while our doctors said much the opposite."

"What happened?"

"One of the engineers went into the autopsy room to prove the medics wrong."

You page down until you see an image of the insides of a dead Neeran with one organ circled in yellow marker in the image. "TOLD YOU SO" is scrawled on the side.

"So what is it?"

"The engineers believe it's a biological reactor system and that's as far as their understanding goes."

>What say?

>>27991521
>biological reactor system
>Neeran live a long fucking time

...Is...that that what I think it is? Maybe it's also why those three Neeran were super strong.

As for what we say? No idea.

Did we "give" them the technical diagrams or are we letting them "borrow" them?

>>27991642
Then again we do trust the Commander so I wouldn't mind working with her to keep this secret.

Though maybe bring up the point that those Neeran we did fight could have adapted such a organ to make them super soldiers.

>>27991521
"Where can I get my own over-payed doctors and scientists?"

>>27991521
"What do they mean, a biological reactor system? What does it do?"

>>27991918
What is the reactor connected to? Maybe that would shed some light on the subject.

>>27991642
>Did we "give" them the technical diagrams or are we letting them "borrow" them?
I was under the impression that they would be borrowing them for an extended period as "sharing them with House R&D" won the vote.

>>27991677
"Where can I get my own over-payed doctors and scientists?"
Is the only thing you can think to say

"The private sector. The less you discriminate the more applicants you'll find, but expect to encounter plenty that are not worth the effort."

>Though maybe bring up the point that those Neeran we did fight could have adapted such a organ to make them super soldiers.
"What do they mean, a biological reactor system? What does it do, and what is it connected to?"
You ask.

"Come with me." You follow the older woman to one of the other rooms where the team has set up a number of projectors showing recordings taken from you and the Marines that went up against any of the three Neeran encountered aboard the ship. Walking up to the image of largest one you fought, its been frozen at a few milliseconds before the Ultralight struck it.

"Light it up." Orders Winifred.

The 3D projection turns transparent and lights up various lumps and bloated areas located beneath several layers of skin and tissue.

One of the doctors walks over.
"These locations are all consistent with the energy level spikes picked up by your suit sensors. They're also the same size as the organ found in the Neeran corpes, but this one has dozens of them."
Next he calls up the image of a more normal one. "Its probable that it harvested these organs from other dead Neeran and implanted them. According to your scans just one of these organs has more power output than a suit of recon armor."

>>27992157
What do the Neeran taste like? Is that considered cannibalism?

>>27992157
"Or they cloned organs. I'd imagine there is less chance of rejection that way. A DNA scan could tell you one way or another."

>>27992157
I don't even know where to start with this.

What's she planning to do with them next?

>>27992157
>One of them has more power output than a suit of recon armor.

Do we know how the reactors start up? And if they have biological reactors that might be how they power their armor.

We had dealing with a archive aboard that ship and it seemed there were some problems connecting to it due to different physiology. Would it possible to adapt it to better accept human?

>>27992354
Hell, would it be possible to implant such a reactor into a human?

So, I had a cool idea based on something from a game I GM'd, for a ceremonial sword.

It was an average sword, a bit on the blunt side, but it had embedded in the hilt, a small FTL engine that shifted the edge of the blade into the FTL medium (basically subspace). It kind of made the blade act like a blender, but only worked for a short time.

So, would something similar be possible? Or horribly impractical?

>>27990897
We did a jump to the left,
And then a step to the right,
We put our hands on or hips,
And brought our knees in tight,
After a pelvic thrust,
We ended up a day early and still happy to see House and Dominion quest!

>>27992478
>a small FTL engine
>In the hilt of a sword

Pretty sure we haven't gotten "that" far in miniaturization

>>27992557
But we're about to give tech-diving in the dyson sphere built to contain a rampant technological singularity.

>>27992478
Remember most of our ships are engines and drive plates for ftl. I doubt we can get something like that... it would probably be more rare than the super awesome personal teleport necklaces.

>>27992607
We "would" be doing that if not for that fact we are going home.

>>27992206
Paramedic: That's a Neeran snake.
Snake: Hmm...
Paramedic: What is it snake?
Snake: What do they taste like?

>Is that considered cannibalism?
About as much as with any other sentient I imagine. Not really socially acceptable.

>We ended up a day early and still happy to see House and Dominion quest!
Whoops, I didn't put quest in the subject field.


"Or they cloned organs. I'd imagine there is less chance of rejection that way. A DNA scan could tell you one way or another."
"We only have the dead bodies your team brought back. Their parts all seem to match the respective body. Or the surrounding tissue does. We didn't see any of the usual signs of degradation associated with cloning."

"Do we know how the reactors start up?" is the next question on your list.

"We don't know how they work yet. Hell they could use Cellular fission for all we know. We lack the facilities aboard for this kind of work and honestly our people are reluctant to just crack one open without safeguards in place that would take a week to prepare."

"I'll just keep on going with the questions then if you don't mind. Would it be possible to implant such a reactor into a human?"

"Captain." Says Winifred in a warning tone.
"Absolutely not!" Exclaims the Doctor. "A Human body or any other species from the Factions would reject it. Then there's what happens if you actually succeed! It could fry your nervous system, or turn you into a walking static generator."

"That would be kind of cool." you mumble.

"The point is Neeran seem to be built to handle this and could in theory move ridiculous amounts of power to different parts of their body. Excuse me I need to go calm down." The doctor walks off into another room.

"Captain if that has satisfied your curiosity for the day?" Asks the Commander.

>>27992664
Jokingly ask the commander how long it'll be before we can shoot lightning from our hands.

>>27992664
No it hasn't. . . My curiosity is never sated... but moving along, what's our next move?

>>27992664
For now, yes.

We should invite the commander to our estate one day; share a few drinks maybe.

>>27992157

>Sharing them with R&D

We did negotiate something that ensures we get a cut of all sales [not revenue, sales] from any of this tech, right? I know I mentioned doing so in the last thread.

Will we have to cut the commander in on this, now that her science crew went at the schematics?

>>27992664
...I wonder if it would be possible to adapt a person's nervous system to be like a Neerans....

>>27992664
Can they bottle the organ and use it as an alternative power source? So instead of power cells, organ cells.

>>27992890
I'm going to say that this is on the "Black project" list that we have going on with the commander.

>>27992664

>hold onto this one until R&D stuff is concluded

"Any chance you'd like to invest in my solution to the mess of salvage I leave in my wake?"

>>27992979

We're giving R&D tech schematics of tech that the Neeran are apparently keeping -from- the Factions.

Once we start producing this stuff, it is going to sell like hotcakes and be worth insane amounts of money.

>sheckel Karchan

Captcha smells profits

>>27993116
>Wizard tell us not to let them fall into the wrong hands.
>Selling them.

Yeah....I'm going to have to say selling them sounds like the worst idea possible.

>>27992478
Sounds cool, but sorry no. Even if you could get parts small enough all you'd be doing is irradiating everyone within a hundred meters of you.

>>27992557
>>27992615
>Pretty sure we haven't gotten "that" far in miniaturization

I believe there was someone at the Ball at Loran II that was talking about miniaturised FTL drive systems. They're tying to develop one small enough that it could be fitted to a specially built shuttle and someday perhaps to starfighters.

>>27992695
"When I can shoot lightning out of my eyes at subordinates is what I would like to say, but someone had to go and make an eye implant capable of doing just that."

>>27992744
"Now that regular traffic has resumed between the various relays its possible to conduct long range communications while on longer jumps. Bandwidth is still limited however. Conduct any business you wish taken care of before we return home. Finish paperwork, do whatever it is you usually get up to while in transit for these longer jumps."

>>27993005
"Any chance you'd like to invest in my solution to the mess of salvage I leave in my wake sir?"

"Now this should be interesting."

"I'm looking at starting up a Salvage company. As few loans as possible, though enough to help get the necessary ships and crews started off."

"Just how much money are you putting into this venture Captain?"

"Just over thirty million to start off with so that I still have options."

Roll 3d100

Rolled 28, 54, 74 = 156

>>27993211
Cmon commander.

Rolled 14, 83, 76 = 173

>>27993211

Rolled 85, 8, 55 = 148

>>27993211

House and Dominion: Shark Tank Edition

>>27993211
......WAIT! Do we want to use that free 100?

Vote for that now!

>>27993240
>>27993244
>>27993276
Decent rolls. Do you guys want to use your >>27993303
yes that. And if so for which one of the 3?
Yes it does make a difference.

>>27993303

While the Commander's support/investment would be nice, I don't feel like it is any kind of critical. [this is without the rolls considered]

I vote No. Let's not waste that pocket ace on a little boost

>>27993311
I vote Yes and to use it on the first dice.

>>27993311
85, 83, 74.

Hmmm. I'm on the fence at the moment about using the 100.

>>27993311
I say we should use the 100 as we have had it for quite a while and it's really only usefully for situations where we are gaining something.

This is a chance to use it get kick off the greatest salvage company the universe has ever known!

On a side note I find it interesting that we have this kind of relationship with the commander where we share secrets & buisness opportunities.

As for what dice? The first one I guess since the others seem to be good.

>>27993440
Wish we could know what each roll is for.... but right now I'm fine with the rolls we have. I think we should save it.

>>27993440
How I see it a 100 means something pretty sweet will happen and it's going to be used to add to our money making system.

So looks like 2 yes, 2 no and 1 maybe.

>Wish we could know what each roll is for
If I told you that it would ruin the surprise.

I dunno, the worst that could happen is we make slightly less money. I would prefer to save the roll for something else like not dying horribly.

>>27993440
Hmm....looking at these rolls maybe we should save the 100.

Wait! We could say it for when we are recruiting scientist so we could find our very own Rodney McKay.

I switch my vote to Nay.

>>27992922

well, we DO know they're ~partially~ compatable, enough to use the archive room on the ship.

I'd imagine its possible, but is going to entail a lot of biological/genetic upgrades to the host to accomodate.

>>27993842

If we want to use the 100, we should use it on our R&D roll to crack open high-tier tech.

>>27993843
True, but no doubt once the technique is perfected it would be worth it.

>>27993842
This is undoubtedly the greatest use of the 100.

File: 1383008256384.png-(11 KB, 1150x630, HnDTransports.png)

11 KB PNG

>>27993700

calling it now.
>Convince to Invest, Investment, Expected Return

While we wait on deadlock, might I get a few little questions in on the Y-type transport?

Where does the '1 km cargo block' end in the back portion?

The 'clamp' design on the top/sides/back makes me think it can swap out cargo modules somehow, and the ship is actually more of a facet that propels cargo blocks. Is this in any way correct?

What are the little corner nubs on the front corners supposed to be?

>thanks for making crazy ships to satisfy my random 'make shit in 3d program' cravings

File: 1383009259947.gif-(7 KB, 867x589, Scraps.gif)

7 KB GIF

"There is a Moliminous class transport and a pair of Y-type transports that are still damaged and among the salvage from South Reach. They could be bought cheaply and repaired." Says Winifred.

"Are there any mining barges sir?"

"None that would be suitable for salvage work I'm afraid. Still I believe it might be possible for you to get a small discount on construction of one thanks to your contacts in the PCCG. As for an answer... a small investment. I offer to pay the repair costs on two of your ships."
>>27993924
>Where does the '1 km cargo block' end in the back portion?
Pic related. They use a lot of smaller engines rather than a few big ones so that they fit.

>>27993924
>The 'clamp' design on the top/sides/back makes me think it can swap out cargo modules somehow, and the ship is actually more of a facet that propels cargo blocks. Is this in any way correct?
Essentially yes. Some are built to be permanent, most can disengage from their cargo blocks to take on other ones.

>What are the little corner nubs on the front corners supposed to be?
Just added structural reinforcement. The blocks are built out of a few big flat pieces, they need all the support they can get, though not all of them need them. Depending on what a customer is doing with them the interior could be vacant or filled with equipment or structural upgrades.
Also those bits are more likely to take damage before the cargo block in a low speed collision.

>>27994214
This was supposed to be in there.

>a small investment. I offer to pay the repair costs on two of your ships."
>Accept Y/N?


Is there anything you want to take care of on the flight back to the Homeworlds? Keep in mind you're aboard the Command ship, not the EX-K.

>>27994280
What does Commander want in return for the investment? Use of ships in future? Company profit? Shares?

>>27994214

>answers on Y-type
Thank you sir! Construction commencing...

>Commander's info on Moli & Y-types

"Would I be able to look into ship purchases through you, Commander? Or do you have a suggestion as to who I should seek out for such things due to a possible conflict of interest from my question?"

>Investment

"An 'investment' with no stated expected return? I've been around too many traps lately, Commander."
>Other

"If I may also ask a bit of advice? The thought of purchasing a pair of standard corvettes from the House, considering their age and price, crossed my mind. We had some luck in the smuggler's run using smaller ships to spot choice salvage among debris fields and as scouts, or I could simply resell them to other groups if the war raises prices enough."

>>27994280
Accept: Y
Add that if she is ever building something and is looking for investors in the future that there will no doubt be a salvage fanatic that is interested in helping out.

Also, ask what she plans to do once we are back? If she ever feels like dropping by when we are back feel free to.

Contact the family to inform them that we are comming home. I wonder if dad is as well.

>>27994483
Our house does have that discount through that one fat and jolly merchant so we could buy transports through him cheaper than normal.

>>27994600
Speeking of him: We should contact him to see how he is doing. No doubt he will want to chat a bit and then we can talk about ship prices.

>>27994600
Question: Is there a reason why we shouldn't try to use our active sensor while on the ship?

>>27994677
This might be the perfect place to test it though.

See how well the scanners can pick up all the Neeran items and compare the scans with what the scientists have taken. Could be a good test, probably best to ask Commander first.

>>27994396
Shares equivalent to what she's payed for the repairs. (Which are a pittance since she can get repairs done on the cheap thanks to setting up much of the administration in South Reach.) Though you can make her another offer.

>"Would I be able to look into ship purchases through you, Commander? Or do you have a suggestion as to who I should seek out for such things due to a possible conflict of interest from my question?"
"You should be able to buy some through the House as more ships are salvaged from various graveyards we own the rights to. Other than that you would have to look to the open market for used vessels or buy them directly from the corporations."

>>27994600
>Our house does have that discount through that one fat and jolly merchant
"Oh yes, that's also an option." The Commander frowns. "I don't trust him though."

>>27994483
>purchasing a pair of standard corvettes from the House
Those got remarkably little support in the survey. Only 2 people voted for them.

>I could simply resell them to other groups if the war raises prices enough."
"The House was preparing to begin a mass recycling and sell off program had the war with the pirates simply ended. Right now most are remaining in reserve for worst case scenarios. If you do plan to buy some don't make a habit of simply selling them off at higher prices or you'll be locked out from additional purchases. They do keep track of war profiteering if it threatens our reserves."

>>27994677
>Question: Is there a reason why we shouldn't try to use our active sensor while on the ship?
Roll 1d100 -10

Rolled 13 + 10

>>27994904
Before we go scanning things, can we ask the commander if it's okay?

Rolled 49

>>27994904

Rolled 36

>>27994904
This should be good.

>See how well the scanners can pick up all the Neeran items and compare the scans with what the scientists have taken.

>probably best to ask Commander first.
>can we ask the commander if it's okay?
"Remain outside the restricted areas, medbays and anywhere with sensitive equipment."

>Where on the ship are you going to test it?

>>27995029
Fuck, why not try the starfighter hangar bays?

>>27995080
and have the commander beat us for ruining some star fighters?
how about just the normal cargo bay or the mess hall.

>>27995113
Mess hall area is a good one.

>>27995113
I don't see how a small arm-mounted sensor will ruin any part of a starfighter but cargo bay is also fine.

>>27995131
You know what? Cargo bays sounds good so i'm switching to that.

You head to a cargo bay filled with mostly inert components and test out your new sensor.

The first thing that happens is your eye implants turn off then perform a quick reboot.

>Reinitialising.
>Compensating for broad spectrum EM output...
>Completed

All right! Not bad at all. you do a quick circuit of the cargo bay checking contents of some crates. Everything seems to be either inert or stowed well enough here to protect against damage. The ship's main systems don't seem to be effected in the slightest so that's good. Still it would be a good idea to turn it off when walking down the hall, or at least turn down the intensity of the scans. Good thing you went for that extra EM shielding on the arm too!

>>27995415
Let's go test it in the mess hall!

>>27994904

>corvettes got little support in survey

Damn, did the survey mean we don't get any sort of list to pick from of damaged or repaired ships from the House vs the funds we were prepared to spend?

>House's rights to ship graveyards in smuggler's run

You know, we probably need to look into what we'd be required to give up if we went with that Smuggler's Run Graveyard salvaging route...

Was the Run fully mapped/secured? My love of the exploration bits from then makes me wonder if securing a few corvettes and using them to search for more ship graveyards along the Navigation Hazards would give us some nifty salvage/rights on graveyards...

>Commander's offer
Accept, happily

File: 1383014254643.png-(Spoiler Image, 70 KB, 1011x512)

70 KB PNG

And for a laugh at the blocked-out Y-type [and possible future advertisement!]

>>27995415
Wait so our arm emits EM radiation? What kind of sensors are these?!

>>27995802
You ever driven a car near a radar dome? I know it's an oversimplification but same idea.

>>27995600
Well the survey was for what kind of ships people wanted to start up the company with. Seeing as 3 of the largest types were made the priority there wont be much cash left around for buying more smaller ones.

>Was the Run fully mapped/secured?
Yes, and there are now navigation and sensor buoys all over the place.
The Guild is continuing work on more detailed scans of the limits of the hazard zones, hence why they had a medium cruiser in the region working on just that. Its an ongoing process. The coalition of Houses that secured the Run and continue to hold worlds there will be informed when new regions are safe to traverse again.


Your attempts to contact Lord Ferrigold directly are met with failure, as he's been unusually busy with business meetings. Probably to do with the war and helping himself to the logistics business.
It turns out to be easier to trade messages. At the moment the merchant cant part with any ships that can move cargo as material losses in Shallan Space demand all the transport capacity his company can muster.

"That's one of the great problems with wars, they're wonderful for business in some ways and terrible in others. When things quiet down a bit I'll let you know about any ships looking for a new home. You understand I cant make any promises about their condition however. But dont worry about that, the mark downs will more than adequately compensate you, even with the current run on drive plates."

>anything else you want to tell him via message?

So we have sensors embedded in our arm that are powerful enough to make nearby electronics reboot, including itself if it hadn't been shielded against itself...

So how do we exploit this for maximum chaos?

>>27995984
Sounds about it for now.

>>27995984

>Guild Mapping edges of Nav Hazards in the Run

Does J&D get claim on space next to ours, or do we have to get ships out there first?

I bet our salvage company could make a killing if we secured rights from the House to salvage a graveyard or two of driveplates, reactors, and other ship systems...

>Make salvage company
>Salvage the ships we didn't tell our house about

This is going to be good.

>>27996388
Oh yeah, I'd completely forgotten about that cruiser we'd set drifting, waiting for a pickup.

>>27995984
>Radar-dome arm.

Excellence.

File: 1383018353467.gif-(43 KB, 1770x1276, 3rd Wing.gif)

43 KB GIF

>Also, ask what she plans to do once we are back?
"Work unfortunately. I'll either be grated a new title as a result of my command of the Expeditionary Fleet thus far or be transferred to one of the reserve units defending the home worlds. Either will mean a great deal more work for me. One of those may result in several people meeting unfortunate ends."

>If she ever feels like dropping by when we are back feel free to.
"I'll consider it Captain."

Things on the command ship take on a more hurried pace once the fleet reaches the Centri cluster.

"Captain Reynard, return to your ship while our drives are recharging." Orders the Commander "Prepare your wing for return to Dreminth. I expect the final leg in will be a bit slow, it will give everyone time to organise their units. I expect your wing to be in Parade Formation on final approach."

"Yes sir!"
Taking a shuttle over to the EX-K you try to decide on how best to make your mishmash of ship types look like anything other than what they are.

>How do you plan to organise your Wing? By squadrons, size, type, those piloted by Knights?

No, you don't have to move all the ships around on the image, just give me a rough idea of what sort of formations you want to deploy the wing in.

>>27996874
Wing leader out front with his our her squad flanking, followed by all flights and squadrons. Knights based on rank leading the other squadrons in each flight. Each group by number order. This is mathematical, not favoritism.

>>27997026
I was typing something but this is better, so, seconding.

>>27997026
Bleh, screwed up terms. Us out front with our squadron, 1-6 in order with squadron leader out front, then flights arranged by knights ranking. After 6th squad we have the auxiliary forces. Carriers etc. Let or house gap in horror at the absurd tonnage we have in this wing.

>>27996874
Leave it exactly the way it is except with one ECM ship on each side of the carriers and we will be leading right infront of 2nd Squadron. As we get closer we should have our knights fall in beside us but slightly behind.

>>27997091
Sounds good to me.

>>27996874

I'm thinking we reorganize into 2-flight groups, pairing ships up with Knights leading each group. Pair ship-types where possible based on Cruiser/frig/corvette

Mike's unit will be his 6 Cruisers

ECM/Command squad will flight up

Carriers will pair up and formation as a group, as well.

Get permission from the Commander to deploy some starfighters in formation as well, along with permission for starfighters and our ships [probably not carriers, though] to do a 'missing man' to honor our dead crews, pilots, and starfighter jockies

>>27997183
Out of curiosity how many pilots did we actually lose? I know it's crazy small compared to the damage we did, but it would still be nice to have a memorial service for them. (And to deal with our ptsd)

>>27997245
And so we can make sure to add their names to the war Museum!

>>27997245

I believe that we only have 3 ship pilots confirmed KIA or something absurdly low due to Emergency Teleporters. But I think the Wing had more casualties than that before we took command, and it was technically on this deployment.

>>27997270
...Thinking about this....we have been through a lot havn't we? I wonder how much Sonia has changed looks wise since all this started. We have the new arm, our eyes have that glow if I remember correctly, we are most likely more fit than when we left, and we might have some scar tissue to show off.

File: 1383020351349.gif-(3 KB, 312x592, 3rd Wing - Parade Org-1.gif)

3 KB GIF

>>27997091
Is this approximately what you meant?

>>27997183
>Get permission from the Commander to deploy some starfighters in formation as well,
Granted.
(Starfighters not pictured)

>along with permission for starfighters and our ships [probably not carriers, though] to do a 'missing man' to honor our dead crews, pilots, and starfighter jockies
Not granted at this time. Memorial services are held separately, usually the next day or within the week of the units return.

>>27997301
For pilots this is true but because you were using larger ships on average it was equivalent to Sylvan losing 3-4 corvette crews every time one of your cruisers was destroyed. That' with emergency teleporters in most cases. It not possible to install enough stations to get the entire crew out, especially when you factor in damage control teams who are usually on the move.

>>27997443
When we meet with our parents we HAVE TO wear a hood that covers our face and big flowing robes that cover our body. They will see the glow of our eyes and a quick glimpse of the shark skin arm and freak out thinking we've been borged.

Sister may find it to be pretty awesome we've got shark skin arm now. Watch her and make sure she doesn't cut off a limb to do the same.

>>27997504
Almost exactly it. I was envisioning the squadrons being more V-shaped with the ranking knights in each squadron holding the forward positions. Still that one works out find.

>>27997515
It's going to be even better when we get to talking to them since i'm pretty sure we have transformed from being quite a normal person to a crazy noble knight.

>>27997656
And then we have to introduce them to our bodyguard to make sure there isn't any misunderstandings. We could even invite our body double to the hunting lodge!.....Yeah, she is never going to be able to get rid of us.

>>27997656
Fencing lessons for our sister... by us... glorious!

Buy her the best tutors we can find so she doesn't have to keep getting into trouble at school. We are going to make a family of knights now that we are home and can direct it.

>>27997736
Well, she has to get her degree in space diamonds. So get her the tutors as well. Bring em all to the lodge so we can smoke cigars, sip space bourbon, and hunt big game.

The approach to the home galaxy is a relatively quick one compared to your departure. Rather than play escort to a series of convoys bouncing from one region to another the fleet clones in from above the plane of the galaxy for a direct line towards House space. The stellar clouds in your home galaxy are dense though and it still takes several course corrections with the fleet dropping back to real space to align. Compared to things when you left this is child's play for your navigators.

"Charging for final jump to Dreminth. All Wings and Squadrons assume parade formation and jump to the provided coordinates when signaled."

"Data cross checked for collision avoidance. It looks clear." Reports Linda.

3rd Wing changes course and lines up behind you, each squadron just slightly below the one in front of it to avoid engine wash.

"This is the Command ship, you are all cleared to deploy starfighter formations after jump in."

You send a message over requesting permission to perform a 'missing man' to honor the dead crews, pilots, and starfighter jockies.

"Negative Captain. Memorial services are always held separately, usually the next day or within the week of the units return. It's unlikely it will be tomorrow though."

The Command ship jumps first followed by the remaining Light Cruiser and Frigate squadrons. Usually the corvette squadrons would jump in next but those in 1st and 3rd Wings have largely been supplanted by heavier attack ships making things a bit unorthodox.
Rather than the usual progression downwards in tonnage of ships it begins to go the other way. After your unit deploys starfighters the remaining Carriers jump in and deploy theirs. This is followed by the Battlecruisers, Battleships, and Medium cruisers the House captured on deployment.

In orbit sit formations of newly painted corvettes, most of them older standard corvettes, but they're there just to look nice rather than act as any sort of deterrent today. In the middle the main station has been outfitted with observation decks appropriately placed to watch the flyby of the returning Expeditionary Force.

Your squadrons may be full of ships that don't match up that well visually but with the way your formation is deployed it sure seems like you have a lot of them. That has to count for something.

After passing the station on the initial approach each fleet unit performs an orbit of Dreminth, reducing speed in time to return to the station and begin docking. It looks like things are going to be a bit close in terms of available docking locations. The station that seemed so big when you first left seems like just another modular station now, albeit one that's been heavily upgraded. Manufacturing centers weapon arrays are clearly visible to your now trained eye where before they blended in.

"Dockside crews standing by to guide us in with tractor beams."
"Just give me the dock number and orientation." You respond. "I can sure as hell land a ship in the right bay without assistance."
You bring the EX-K in smooth as glass as the saying goes.

"Securing for hard dock... station clamps now engaged." reports Kavos.

As expected there's enough space for every ship to dock as the Commander would have called ahead to ensure as much. The awards and parades shouldn't be until tomorrow and they'll be held groundside.

[ ] Go aboard station in full dress
[ ] Go aboard in duty uniform (With updated ribbons)

>>27998521
[x] Duty Uniform

Best not to get our nice dress uniform dirty or something!

>>27998521
We are back home, we can afford some pomp and circumstance... Full Uniform with saber and hold out pistol well hidden of course.

Also, nice white silk gloves over our cybernetic arm. This isn't a time to show off our eccentricities.

>>27998521
[ ] Go aboard in duty uniform (With updated ribbons) Is this the one with the spot for the hold out weapon? only because the last time we did this, the clones thought they were people and we had to play Rambo

>>27998606
Ahh correction. I thought we were picking uniform for the ceremony. Change to duty uniform with ribbons. Still think we should carry the saber and hold out. Maybe even the plasma pistol to show off the bling.

But tomorrow we NEED to wear the gloves.

>>27998521
>[X] Go aboard in duty uniform (With updated ribbons)

Got to save the our nice uniform for the parades and what not.

>>27998609
>Is this the one with the spot for the hold out weapon?
By this point all your clothes with few exceptions have a holster for your holdout. Spending time on a pirate ship then later getting stabbed in the back, and the entire thing with the Coup attempt made sure you go nowhere without one.

Thought I posted a different music link there.>>27998521

Open to alternate music suggestions for your return home and resultant revelry. I'll see you guys tomorrow!

Dress uniform only makes sense if everyone else is doing it. Still can't believe we got the shark skin, I guess it will make more sense once our ship becomes better known.

Speaking of the arm, how are the sensors going to work if we are wearing power armour? The armour is probably quite hardened versus EM shenanigans. I guess we could always just take a glove off, it's not like vaccum is going to hurt that hand now.

>>27999025
Speaking of the ship isn't it pretty much confirmed that we are going to name it "The Great Devourer" in referance to it being a shark and what they just so happen to call us behind our backs?

>>27999122
Though..now we have a ship of our very own and it now comes down to trying to get a crew for her. I wonder how many people we can snag from our ship that would be willing to go on Sonia's wild ride.

>Speaking of the arm, how are the sensors going to work if we are wearing power armour?
I have no idea.jpg

>>27998737
I thought it was still a tossup between that and the other one. Which for the life of me I cant remember.
I've got "Inequality of Bargaining Power" but I know that wasn't it. It was similar though.

I'm sure I'll remember it in an hour or two.

>>27999309
My vote is still on Great Devourer, its too fitting to pass up.

Also, what the heck kind of sensors are these? I thought we were going to end up with passive sonar or something subtle like that. They seem to be rather powerful so we should figure out a way to make them more focused instead of blasting EM everywhere. I'm sure this will come in useful at some point, and since were at home we can experiment a little with different designs.

>>27998737
>Open to alternate music suggestions for your return home and resultant revelry. I'll see you guys tomorrow!

I've been liking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0IWB6qEn9o
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaA6eplF2JE

after catching them in a tg music thread.

Given our penchant for looting the crap out of things, as well as stealing everything that isn't nailed down.... and a Festive song?
how about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjVYWl-jKCw

Bump

Here were the others left over from naming the Unnamed Guard.
Dominionator
The Serial Peacemaker
The Continuation Of Diplomacy By Other Means
Distinctly Unreliable

>>28002757

The lack of 'Winnifred's Headache' makes me sad.

... We could always name it 'A Wizard Did It' or something small to remember Svidur

or 'Unnamed Guard's Brother' or something...

Did we ever put in that request to the ruling House to actually find out that Guard Captain's name?

>>28002930
>Did we ever put in that request to the ruling House to actually find out that Guard Captain's name?
Yes but they don't usually like to circulate information on members of the royal guard so as to protect their families. They've been called upon to execute high ranking members of other Houses at times making this a necessary precaution.

At your repeated requests they eventually release the name to you provided you keep it quiet.

Lambert Rezník
Species Human
Age 38
Height 2.2m

Look up meaning of Rezník. HAHAHA! Oh wow, that totally wasn't intentional.

Just taking care of some things before I start for the day. I was sort of expecting some guys to arrive with my sofa by now.

After making sure that your duty uniform is up to date and the unit patches are all in place you secure your weapons and disembark. Stepping through the airlock doors you find that several hundred people have made it there first, some of them crew from your ship, others are dock workers and locals from the station. Everyone is cheering shouting or yelling. Banners and pennants have been hung from the upper levels and you can see more crews pouring aboard the station from the other ships.

MP's are out in force but are largely hanging back as the crews don't seem to be getting too out of control. Before you know it you must have shaken the hands of a hundred people. You don't know where they came from but soon there are bottles of champagne being passed around. Its all cheap stuff, but who cares.

A few people make a game of firing off the corks over the crowd with a group of starfighter pilots and Marines seeing who can catch them in mid air.

"We made it!" Says Alex when you run into him. "I didn't think we were going to a few times but here we are."

>What do?

>>28004027

[x] Shake up a bottle of champagne and spray him [and everyone around us] with it, using our thumb to focus the pressure

"Let's see if we can't find Mike and have a drink!"

>>28004181
Supporting this.

Maybe invite all our named pilots too?

>>28004027
>>What do?
See what our bridge crew is doing. If we see a familiar face, spend some time with them.

Shouldn't our family be here as well.

You grab one of the bottles from nearby being handed out and shake it up. Alex is just starting to say something when he words are drowned out in a torrent of champagne. For good measure you make sure to hit everyone else nearby as well. When your old wingman finally clears his throat he laughs it off.
"You watch your back, there's plenty of bottles around still." He warns you.

"Bring it on! Now let's find Mike and as many of the others as we can and go get a real drink."

>bridge crew
You've lost sight of most of them. Linda is off talking with a few people you dont recognise, some of them who must be station locals going by their dress.

>If we see a familiar face, spend some time with them.
You spot several Marines and shuttle pilots around that you recognise, a few of your starship pilots and lastly engineers as they start to appear. It takes a bit of time to make the rounds and wish everyone well but it's worth it, you've worked along these people for months on end after all.

"Linda, we're going for drinks, are you coming?"

"No this champagne is more than enough thanks. I don't want to overdo it on the first day back. Good luck and have fun!"

>Shouldn't our family be here as well.
The station wouldn't be able to handle all of the crews of the returning fleet if everyone sent their family up.

Heading towards the station core you grab a few of the pilots that Alex missed. You and Sam grab Cristina Pozzi and tow her along, though she isn't looking very well at the moment.
"You okay?"
"Just the noise sir, it really loud."
"Drop the Sir for a few hours, we're off duty." You advise, then head for the bars.

Roll 1d100 for fortitude

Rolled 48

>>28004612

Rolled 27

>>28004612
>Roll 1d100 for fortitude

Rolling.

Rolled 35

>>28004612

Bring it on, booze!

inb4 Intel grabs drunk Sonia about that spy...

>>28004612
I think we should use the 100 for our fortitude.

>>28004732
Nah, a 48 is okay. We're down one arm, after all.

>>28004612
>"Just the noise sir, it really loud."

I guess that won't get much better in whatever bar we'll end up in. Can we stop at a med bay on the way to get her some ear plugs?

>>28004825
Sure.

>>28004665
"Bring it on, booze!"

Well, you didn't pass out and didn't throw up. Things are a little hazy at points admittedly but you made it through without making too much of a fool of yourself. You think.

Conversations afterwards reveal that you had Mike in a headlock for awhile and called him the "brother you always wish you had" much to his discomfort. A few others eventually pried you off him. It's a good thing your new arm has safety settings.

All your offers to arm wrestle people were rebuffed.

You also may have pissed off Daska at one point, you're not sure.

"Pills." Insists one of your medics flanked by MP's at the door when its time to leave. You're handed a small package of sobriety pills.

"Really?"
"Yes sir. Big day tomorrow."

Thank everything for sleep headsets, they're a big help for dealing with desynchronosis. By the time you wake up the alcohol has been cleared from your system, though you still feel a little off. Not that unusual considering.

Grabbing your dress uniform and making sure you have a set of nice gloves to cover the remainder of your new hand you get ready for the days events. A shuttle will be heading down to the surface in a few hours.
Is there anything you want to take care of before heading to the surface?

>>28004936
>Is there anything you want to take care of before heading to the surface?

See if any of our men ended up in jail after last night. Bail them out if they didn't do anything particularly terrible.

Can't think of anything else.

>You also may have pissed off Daska at one point, you're not sure.

Apologies are necessary if we did something stupid.

>>28004936
Go find Daska and find out what we did.

Hopefully she doesn't remember.

>>28004936

Can we fire off a quick inquiry to the Commander/House about the status of those shipyard workers that stole what I recall was a medium cruiser to 'see the universe'?

They seemed like good people when we were undercover and looking to recover our pilot on the world they were guarding, and also seemed to take the fact that we blew them up later fairly well, after we rescued the survivors.

They might be a good source of specialists for our Salvage Company, if they haven't been snatched up by someone else already. And I believe we offered to pay for the wounded Captain's prosthetic/cloned limbs [We went to visit him, at least]

And we should fire off a quick message to Knight Dayton and the pilots of our old 4th Training Squadron. See if we can't gather everyone together for a day or two and have a little toast to Sonteb, Kell, Peggy & Zhane.

>>28005015
>Go find Daska and find out what we did.
We used our holdout pistol's lowest setting to tattoo "Sonia was here, Daska is a loser" on her forehead.

Step one is to make sure that the MP's dont have any of your people locked up.

It seems Javier Adega, Katherine Drake's wingman was arrested so you get him out and over to one of the medbays to get his black eye looked after in time for departure. Kat eventually catches up with you about the time his medical proceedure is finished.
"Thank you sir." Say both of them before heading off to get their dress uniforms ready.

Next is dealing with Daska.

"Look I dont quite remember what I did but if it was something stupid I want to apologise."

"It's okay sir, it doesnt matter." She assures you when she steps out of her quarters.

"No I really want to know." you insist. "What did I do?"

"This time you mean? Sir?" She sighs. "Permission to speak freely?"

"Go for it."

"You're an impediment to my advancement. Last night you went out of your way to remind me of that."

>What say?

>>28005262
"Oh jeez. Sorry, Daska. Now that we're back I'll see what I can do about that."

>>28005262
I knew you are an ambitious and talented pilot, but I would have never guessed you'd be so upset about your current position.

Anyway, my apologies for not noticing this before. I'd like to discuss this with you once the celebrations are over. I'm sure we can come up with something that'll solve this. And if we can't, then I'm sure the commander will be able to figure this out.
Of course, only if you're okay with it.

Also, I'm sorry for being an ass about it.

>>28005262
Any way I can make it up to you?

>but I would have never guessed you'd be so upset about your current position.
"I'm patient enough sir, but that doesn't mean I like being reminded of my inability to surpass you."

"Oh jeez. Sorry, Daska. Now that we're back I'll see what I can do about that. I'm sure we can come up with something that'll solve this. And if we can't, then I'm sure the commander will be able to figure this out. Is there any way I can make it up to you?" You ask.

"You could recommend me for my own Wing sir. Now that we're back the units will likely be reorganised once everyone returns from leave."

"I'll think about it." You promise her. "Also, I'm sorry for being an ass about it."

"Thank you."

>status of those shipyard workers that stole what I recall was a medium cruiser to 'see the universe'?
A battlecruiser. Most of them have been paroled with a good number of them now working in security or systems analysis.

>They might be a good source of specialists for our Salvage Company
>if they haven't been snatched up by someone else already.
You can still send them job offers, they're civilian contractors.

>And I believe we offered to pay for the wounded Captain's prosthetic/cloned limbs [We went to visit him, at least]
You did.

>And we should fire off a quick message to Knight Dayton and the pilots of our old 4th Training Squadron. See if we can't gather everyone together for a day or two and have a little toast to Sonteb, Kell, Peggy & Zhane.
Dayton will see you later on in the day, the others either joined one of the Wings that are now in Shallan Space or are heading up training units in South Reach.

>>28005262

"For my actions last night, I offer what apologies I can."

Well, we knew this conversation was coming.

Lets hear Daska's list of grievances, as I assume that is next

>>28005676

> Gentlemen of the Battlecruiser
We should at least send out a few messages to them asking if they'd be interested in such work, especially the Captain. From there, we'll make job offers.

File: 1383077339301.gif-(60 KB, 800x400, Dreminth worldgen.cgi.gif)

60 KB GIF

Heading to the shuttles on time you take your reserved seat. A few of the others have made it here before you.

"Where is Ecord? He's a Knight now, he should be headed down with us."

"The Marines are separate." States Arthur. "And the army and other ground troops are separate from them even."

The cabin has no windows but there is the option to display the exterior view on the surfaces to see what's going on. You can also have the same video sent to your HUD implants if the sight bothers the rest of your people. With reentry you decide it's best not to disturb the other Knights present.

Your hometown is one of the major cities on the coast, near the capital but still separate from it. The atmospheric shuttles bleed off speed then comes in over the larger ocean towards one of the spaceports that dot the areas to the east. The cabin displays activate at lower altitudes allowing you to see the algae farms and fishing ships at work while on final approach.

The shuttle decelerates and descends onto a mobile landing pad at the spaceport. There is a few second delay to check that it's secure then the pad begins moving closer to the spaceport entrance. A few open topped repulsor vehicles drive up onto the pad and the landing ramp descends to allow you off the ship. Once everyone is loaded into the cars they get clear and the pad with the shuttle descends beneath surface level.

Even with the open top, none of you are bothered by wind in the stretch limo. Probably outfitted with the same air stream shaping systems that repulsor bikes use to keep their pilots from being buffeted while in flight.

After entering the city itself you begin to see the crowds. Police and the army have set up barricades to keep everyone a safe distance from the parade that shaping up.

"I hope your dress boots are in good shape, we have to walk the last two kilometers to the palace." Says Verilis.

The vehicles slow down to match the speed of those in front and soon you're at walking speed, the noise of the crowds cheering now clearly audible. Standing up and looking behind you there are numerous ground vehicles and tanks farther back, freshly painted and matching speed as troops in their dress uniforms take up formation with them.

"Are they including every last person from the fleet in this parade? That has to be close to a quarter million!"

"Closer to half if you count the Infantry." Adds Alex. Everyone else's reactions are drowned out by a flight of starfighters flying past overhead.

"Incoming." Warns Drake before the parade route is blanketed by the first wave of confetti.

>Wave to the crowds? Do something else?
>Your orders?

>>28006523
[x] Wave to the crowds
[x] Have a minor PTSD moment

>>28006523
[x] Wave to the crowds
[x] Keep looking for snipers
[x] See if we spot anybody we know in the crowd

>>28006523

"I'm not the only one wondering when yet another nice thing is going to devolve into an ambush, am I?"

>>28006523
The tanks, keep an eye on them. It'd take one shot to annihilate our entire squadron.

>>28006523
Suddenly I wish our recon armor was close by for some reason.

>>28006523
...I wonder if we can scan the crowd without knocking out our vehicle..

>>28006523
"I'm taking bets. What will it be this time? Another clone uprising? Hostile nobles ambushing us? Swift extermination by those tanks behind us because the nobles back home are scared of us?"

Don't forget to continue smiling and waving to the crowds.

"I'm not the only one wondering when yet another nice thing is going to devolve into an ambush, am I?"

"Sir, don't even joke about that." Says Edah.

"I'm not joking." you state, hand instinctively going to the spot on your lower ribs where you were shot and likely would have died if you hadn't received first aid to seal the wound.
The graze to your forehead was nothing but a sunburn by comparison, easily taken care of in the days after. It's difficult to even spot the change in your hairline where you were hit.

"I'm probably just overreacting." You stand and wave to the crowds. Every time you look back though you keep a close eye on the tanks and their movements. Just one shot from their particle beam could rip through your car and the one in front of it.

>>28006735
>...I wonder if we can scan the crowd without knocking out our vehicle..
At lower intensity you certainly could. What are you looking for?

>>28006771

"Just do my paranoia a favor and keep an eye out. I can replace a lost limb. Good pilots not so much."

Cameras maybe? It's good to know who is paying attention to us.

>>28006771
Anything that seems out of the "ordinary" for a military parade. Large energy signatures within the crowd, any groups that are not part of the military that seem to be carrying guns, snipers, random Neeran tech.

You know, "strange" things.

>>28006771
>What are you looking for?

Krath, or communists, for example. Everything that's not supposed to be here.

>>28006937
Especially communists.

>>28006990
Imagine:
We just point at a random face we don't like, scream "He's a Krath communist, I can tell from my implants and from seeing quite a few of them in the field!" and then chuckle as he gets bludgeoned to death by the enraged crowd.

>>28007094
To be fair the Krath we have met have been pretty nice I have to say. (At least the ones we know of)

>>28007094
I like the way you think.

>>28007119
To us. Threatening the poor medic with his mind rape tentacles was pretty mean.

>>28007172
True, but that's exactly why it's better to have them on our side. Still think it would be interesting to have one as a crewmember.

>>28007232
Requesting some exchange officers would be pretty interesting, but with all those... shenanigans we end up doing, having somebody who's not bound to our house on the ship might be problematic.

>Cameras maybe? It's good to know who is paying attention to us.
You combine the sensor systems of your eye and arm implants to try and find anything that could be a threat. Firstly determining the number of cameras and sensor systems that could be keeping an eye on you.

Well traffic security systems certainly know they've been scanned right away drawing more attention to yourself for a moment. Then there's a few tens of thousands of people with personal recording devices, police, troops. Oh god they're everywhere.

Turning off the active sensor you sit down and start reviewing the rest of the data. There are a few energy signatures that dont make sense. And the tanks with the new paint jobs, anyone could be using those. The uniforms, they're easy enough to fake, anyone could march in formation. The cameras, could be used to watch and wait for just the right moment.
There could be vehicles behind the crowd where the energy signatures are located, or micro fusion reactors prepared as bombs, or, or, or...

"Snap out of it!" Yells Daska, grabbing your jacket collar. "You're freaking people the fuck out."

"Is everything okay here?" Asks someone in an House intelligence uniform. "We detected a sensor burst from this vehicle."

Everyone looks at you.

"That would be me." You admit.

"Okay. Well try to keep it to a minimum, we get a little jumpy when things like that go off near the palace."

A few minutes later everyone disembarks from their vehicles and are directed into formations before heading the rest of the way to the palace on foot. Way up ahead is the Knight Commander and her Admirals followed by the Knights from the Light Cruiser units. If a sniper wanted a target she would be an easy one right now.

>>28007349
Shall we add "Huge" crowds to the phobia list?

>>28007432
It's like a candy store of crippling psychological disabilities, and all we have to do is choose :D

>>28007349
It might be bad but I genuinely do worry when we're in crowds like this.

Congratulations, TSTG, you've built up an unhealthy paranoia in me.

>>28007465
Only the paranoid survive!

>>28007465

inb4 our sensor burst distracted intel and the sniper that kills the Commander escapes due to it

>>28007578
I hope we brought our plasma pistol.

>>28007628
If we didn't bring our weapon of choice I would be suprised.

>>28007628
You did.

Outside the palace walls display screens activate, showing the interior and the larger halls within.

Somehow you pass through the gates and make it inside the palace without incident. Three wide halls with marble columns run paralel to each other towards the great dome. There are cross connecting passages between each hall allowing easy access between them all. The vaulted ceilings are all decorated with stone mosaics, likely taken from every world the House once occupied.

Entering the main hall you see that the pillars here stretch upwards into the ceiling of the dome where they connect with an opening that allows natural light in. The back of the room have been brought forward with a wall added afterwards in front of which the throne of the House is located. Additional seats to either side are filled with advisors.

Earl Gernot Sigurd Jerik and his wife remain seated as Knights and officers file in and take their places at marks indicated on the floor. Those on the right side of the dome are all Knights or in rare instances pilots, while those on the left are all members of the Admiralty along with officers from the navy and army. A few Knights are included among the ground forces present but most of those are wearing their usual green uniforms updated with heraldry a Knight would usually wear.

Once the space inside the dome is filled the three main halls are used next for the lower ranking House personnel.

Once everyone is ready Earl Jerik is given the signal and stands to make his speech.

"Where to begin? Our House has faced many hardships in its life. It is not the oldest or the youngest, certainly far from largest but not the smallest either. That we continue to survive and even thrive is testament to our resolve, our drive, the skills of our people as much as our will to do so. We, all of us, owe our successes this past year to those of you standing before us, and those who are no longer with us."

"Tomorrow we will grieve for those lost, but today we honor those who are still with us! Those who have proven what they can do for the House and for the greater Dominion! We will give them the tools to ensure our successes are not fleeting.

Knight Commander Abigale Winifred, step forward!"

Your superior breaks rank and steps towards the designated point in front of the Earl.

"You have proven your mettle time and again in the past decades, now you have shown that you can navigate the politics that keep Houses like ours from being crushed underfoot. It is my pleasure to elevate your title to that of Baron!

Hail Abigale Winifred, Baron of Surakeh!" the Earl calls out, echoed in turn by everyone present.

Rather than returning to her place in the ranks she steps off to the side along with two other Barons present, one of whom you note is Baron Archivald.

"Those of you here know better than anyone of the enemy we now face. To prepare for the future we must meet this threat in space. Not in two generations has our House been more ready.
Our dead number in the thousands already but they might yet be ten times that were it not for the skill and fortitude of those leading our brave men and women."

"Didn't he already say that?" You whisper to Alex.
"It means he's doing things by the book. Lots of repetition to get the point across." he answers.

The next several hours consist of nearly everyone in attendance being called forward to be given some new medal, award or promotion. More than a dozen of your pilots are Knighted. It seems you didn't really keep up on that.
Many are given land in the newly conquered territories, along with parcels of land on the homeworld considerably smaller than yours.

I seriously suggest we consider getting a proper replacement for our arm.

We are already a 'character', lets not reinforce that wit ha sharkskin coated robot arm, when the socio normative option would be a biological replacement.

If we want extra options we could have it grown and interwoven with cyber enhancements along the bones and muscles.

Also let's keep the PTSD and LoL induced manias to a minimum. That Daska had to snap us back to reality again is enough of a disgrace to the uniform for today.

>>28008714
>speech
I cry errytime
>All these new Knights
Is there knightly hazing rituals

File: 1383088192437.jpg-(237 KB, 1128x610, 1329446250189.jpg)

237 KB JPG

>>28008714
> Knighted

Well we did not really get the whole criteria.

That and this may be a calculated political move to get support to the established home administration from the former expeditionary fleet.


Also, what happens to our own circle when they get called up? More Promotions?

What are our next orders? Dominion version of Sea Patrol, only with us as HQ? We need some orders man. Two or three days without orders in a outfit still on war footing and war mentality is bad for the troops. We should have orders for either X set time for R&R or something, after teh ceremony.

>>28008751
I find it almost amusing that all of the shit we've been through is both the reason we have PTSD and the reason we can't do much about it. Too many secrets we gotta keep.

Anyhow the first vote was a little more pressing because we needed an arm to make up for the fact that we didn't have one. Now that we have some time off we can think of other improvements that would be more practical. Getting a modular arm for instance so we can switch out for specific things. We definitely want to make a "formal" arm for events like this but we didn't have the time.

>>28008921
Not sure how long RnR usually lasts but we have been deployed and redeployed for a long damn time. Our orders are probably "relax oh god please relax, stop doing crazy things".

>>28008921
Yeah, what do we/our circle of close supporters get?

>>28009424
>>28009168
>>28008921
>>28008714

We should consider organizing a private party for the freshly knighted, and perhaps make it a support society. formed of course from people we know of and our former command that got knighted, this war and such. Our wing, the other wing... you know...


A society with various clubs of appreciation for various things, be they hunting, haberdashery, cigars, gambling or psychotic and hazardous sports that all regularly meet and exchange a few stories about their current situation aside from the main topic.

This way we could form a core of people that do wield some social power even if they are newly minted upstarts in the nobility.

>>28009479
I couldn't second this more strongly.

We've done well thus far militarily and financially, but our political approach has been somewhat lacking. With the Commander leaving the homeworlds to take up her new Baron post, we can step into her shoes and take the political lead of the 'new' military aristocracy.

In particular I think we should focus on our close circle, and new knights who have been granted the largest landed holdings on the Honeworld.

When you're called up the Earl congratulates you for everything you've done and that yours is one of several Knights careers that will be watched closely. He personally awards you your latest updated medals save for your combat bars which havent been tallied.

NEW MEDALS!
* Medal of Valor ( Assault on captured Iso-Super )
* Medal of Bravery (Attack on Super Heavy/Shallan Space)

*Joint operations medal (PCCG)
*Joint operations medal (Factions Alliance)
* Silver citation star (Heroic service)
* Expeditionary Medal (Factions Alliance)

* House Citation ( Pandora Cluster )
* House Citation ( Shallan Space )
* Noble Citation (Secured production for DHI)
* Noble Citation (Secured modular station for House/DHI)
* Hostile Acquisitions Medal (Pandora Cluster)
* Wounded in Action ( Assault on captured Iso-Super )

"Knight Captain Reynard, I'm afraid we don't have many openings for additional Knight Commanders to lead entire fleets at this time." The Earl says with a rather jovial tone. "But if it pleases you command of your Third Attack Wing will be available to you when you return to duty. Enjoy what your rank and privilege have earned you while you're on leave. The House will still be around in a few months time and I suspect we'll have need of you then. As will the Factions Alliance since you've decided to join in their admirable cause.

Remember, your actions with them bring recognition to you and your House, but your failings can also. Now, enjoy your time off! You've risen in rank faster than many and the flame that burns twice as bright lasts half as long."

>>28009577
Paranoia intensifying

>>28009577
Ha! We still have our job at least and I have to say I quite like the Earl and after that speech I feel like aiming for the Commander's job as a sort of long term goal as no doubt we will have to do quite a lot to get there.

>>28009667
Nah, there is nothing behind it. We simply lack the political gravitas to gain such a position. At our level, merit starts becoming far less important when compared to money and connections.

>>28009712
No I mean the burning half as long bit

>>28009738
Oh yeah, that stuck out a bit to me as well...

On an unrelated note, updated our medal tally. I wish we gained some more landed titles though, dam shame.

>>28009791
TSTG, could we get an update to how Sonia is viewed by the various factions in the galaxy and our own House now that we're no longer on the frontlines?

>>28009712

it could also simply be a case of having more people qualified to be Knight Commanders than fleets, and we're just in a position of 'on the list'

>>28009577
Missed one.
* Special Operations Service Medal (PCCG)

>>28008752
>Is there knightly hazing rituals
It varies between each Baron/CO usually. Some do, some don't. Some someone with numerous newly minted Knights under their command you could certainly come up with some, though your subordinates may have different ideas about it.
Winifred didn't bother with them as each branch of the service normally has enough stuff going on.

>Well we did not really get the whole criteria.
Skill, gallantry. Your people are largely an elite unit with plenty of cruisers in the mix. In most Houses Cruisers are reserved for Knights. It would have just been a matter of taking the time to see that prospective pilots received training like the Commander did for you.
>That and this may be a calculated political move to get support to the established home administration from the former expeditionary fleet.
You think?

>What are our next orders?
R&R Or knowing you guys R&D

>Two or three days without orders in a outfit still on war footing and war mentality is bad for the troops. We should have orders for either X set time for R&R or something, after teh ceremony.
That does remind me, I had planned to have most of the troops semi-restricted to base for the first couple of weeks like some countries do now for troops returning from overseas. As it is you still need to go for your full mandatory psych evaluation before you're cut loose, but you can still visit places a bit.

>what do we/our circle of close supporters get?
All the squadron commanders were promoted to Knight Lieutenant since they have multiple knights serving under them now.

>Not sure how long RnR usually lasts
It is currently January 5, 4025.
You have 6 months leave from the Factions Alliance starting December 6th 4024.
Its expected that you'll be assembling a unit to set out for the front 1 month before you're to return to active service with the Alliance at the latest.

>>28009930
Or it could be because we're batshit fucking crazy and the first page of our psych profile says 'NOT TO BE PLACED IN HIGH COMMAND' in bright red block capitals

When thinking of our RnR and the things we can do...almost all of them seem to have traveling in mind.

>>28009964
Well, once this is over we should probably see our family.

>>28009577
Obviously this isn't a time to joke, but it would be fun to comment about how our current rate of combat damage and cybernetics gives us about 5 more years before we fully decide the flesh is weak and go full cybernetic. Maybe we can integrate a friendly ai into our systems.

>>28009964
Didn't we build that hunting lodge?

Going hunting would be a cool thing to do. We might be able to fully test our sensor suite.

>>28010052
>full mandatory psych evaluation

Oh boy, this is going to be fu.

>>28010052
Indeed we did, it would also be an excellent base for our new 'service club' of newly aristocratic officers.

>>28010095
fun*

As for what to do while we are here I would say see if our family made it for the parade.

>>28009964
>R&D

You know us so well TSTG.

>>28010052
Suddenly all wildlife runs from cover after receiving an em burst. It's just like duck hunting! Shoot as much as you can carry (or have the plebs carry back)

Since we are probably the only knight whose had the time and money to establish something on our holding I suggest we hold a party for the wing at our lodge one we are all cleared by the evaluations. Our hazing ritual can be making the new knights get really drunk in celebration.

>>28010133
Starting a new money country club is a great way to earn the scorn of the established aristocracy.

We need to get an in to a social club that already exists if anything.

>>28010052
>A scenic mountain range with a several acres of pristine redwood forests located roughly two day's travel by road from the nearest city. Desiring to get more out of this land than simply an exquisite view, Sonia has decided to commission the construction of a small hunting lodge complex within the forest. The complex consists of two small storage buildings and a central lodge, which stands two stories high. Beneath the lodge is a reinforced military-grade shelter with enough arms, ammunition and supplies for roughly two weeks. Due to the fact that the lodge has a low profile when compared to the surrounding forest, in addition to the fact that some of the timber obtained from the cleared redwoods has been incorporated into all three structures, the entire complex is fairly well camouflaged.

>>28010181
Yep that sounds like a hunting lodge all right.

>>28010171
>We need to get an in to a social club that already exists if anything.
Assuming that such a club already exists (which is likely I grant you that), I'm not sure if we could get all of our new Knights into it.

Even if we could, doing so would dilute our influence by adding in older/more powerful members of the aristocracy.

Our social club is not so much for 'new money', as it is for veterans of our Expeditionary Force. Furthermore, I don't think we are a darling of the established aristocracy already, given that we were born to a middle class family and have risen to such a high noble rank already.

We should see Intel about that spy that was killed when he attempted to escape, before they decide to call us in.

Wouldn't want them thinking we're avoiding them...

>>28009712
>>28009930
>it could also simply be a case of having more people qualified to be Knight Commanders than fleets, and we're just in a position of 'on the list'
Essentially this.
The J-D military is divided into the Home defense fleet, the occupation fleets, the 1st Expeditionary and 2nd Expeditionary.

Each of those 4 positions would normally fall under the command of either a Baron or a Knight Commander, though an Admiral could do so as well.
There's about 20 people in the House with the military requirements to fill those positions. You could even do it in a pinch. However the political requirements are also quite high and you don't have any real record other than a few R&D or salvage deals with other Houses.
No you don't want the Free Planets League listed on your resume.

>>28009479
>>28009557
Interesting.
1st Exp. Fleet Social Club added to the things to do list.
Alternatively a "New money club"

>>28009861
>TSTG, could we get an update to how Sonia is viewed by the various factions in the galaxy and our own House now that we're no longer on the frontlines?
People in other Factions and Houses are now far less concerned about what damage you can do in the short term.
You will find out about people in your own House shortly.

>>28009974
>and the first page of our psych profile says 'NOT TO BE PLACED IN HIGH COMMAND AT THIS TIME' in bright red block capitals

>>28010039
>our current rate of combat damage and cybernetics gives us about 5 more years before we fully decide the flesh is weak and go full cybernetic
And we come back to the flame burning twice as bright.

>>28010235
>Furthermore, I don't think we are a darling of the established aristocracy already, given that we were born to a middle class family and have risen to such a high noble rank already.
If anything your association with Winifred or Mike would be more damaging than coming from middle class if you were to follow that line. You commanded starships already when you were Knighted.

>>28010428
>People in other Factions and Houses are now far less concerned about what damage you can do in the short term.
I guess the ongoing war might have something to do with that...

>>28010428
You know...the first things we should do the mandatory psych evaluation just so we can get it out of the way.

I'm sure we all know what it's going to say, but better to get it out of the way.

>>28010689
It says "not fit for reentry to society, lock up and throw away the key. Side note: prevent all interaction or requests for interaction with sharks"

File: 1383096139404.jpg-(173 KB, 821x796, House & Dominion-Ballroom.jpg)

173 KB JPG

At last the final medals are handed out for the day.

"And with that we conclude the formal proceedings for the day, long live House Jerik-Dremine!"

"Hip hip hooray!" Calls out one of the older officers which soon sets off everyone else in the halls.

"I would be remiss as a host were I not to treat my returned war heroes. A feast has been prepared in your honor!"

With that bodyguard appear near the Earl to keep unsolicited persons back as the rows of Knights and officers dissolve into a loose crowd. As food and tables are brought out the nearest thing you can compare it to is the last Ball you attended. Which doesn't bring back the greatest memories to be honest.

Wines and champagne are brought out as well, though everyone is careful not to go overboard like what happened on the station yesterday.

"Hecklers at 9 o'clock, closing fast." warns Turner as he passes you, headed for one of the tables.

You look over in time to see a pair of older men in business suits making their way in your direction.

"Captain Reynard correct?" Says the shorter one of them. "Walter Kappel, I'm with GE marketing. I was hoping to discuss the possibility of you endorsing our products. As the commanding officer of a starship Wing your opinion could carry a lot of weight, not just within your House."

"Don't listen to him." Says the second one extending his hand. "Jordi Nguyen with Aries. Whatever he's offering my people can beat it, no problem."

>What say?

File: 1383096709168.jpg-(320 KB, 1448x1183, 1352593621069.jpg)

320 KB JPG

>>28011221
"What exactly do you want me to endorse and for what? Just so we are in the clear..."

>>28011221
Send me the contracts and I and my lawyers will look over them.

>>28011221
We need a wiki page with all the major companies and their standings with us.

Anyway, are Aries and GE people we regularly deal with? Do I remember correctly in that GE made the afterburners?

File: 1383096838094.jpg-(569 KB, 1736x1578, 1352593583431.jpg)

569 KB JPG

>>28011221
Also, finally we see the second thread starter! I hope we get to see it the next week in its proper place of OP pic.

>>28011398 annon here samefagging.

Also the Aries Attack Cruiser was a darling of mine if i recall the spaceship profiles correctly. Sadly it was way to pricey back then

>>28011221

[x] Shake both of their hands politely, it is a pleasure to make both of their acquaintance

"Unfortunately you've both caught me in quite a crossfire, gentlemen. I'm a fan of both of your companies' products, particularly when I'm not being shot at by them."

Now then... I believe we ended up being a main consumer of DHI products during our deployment, which were a domestic [for the House] GE equiv/compatible choice? I don't particularly recall any specific Aries choices we bought.

>>28011429
We really do. There is one for the major factions, but the closet to a corporate reputation outline is our financial page. (http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/Reynard_Holdings_and_Finances)

File: 1383097278086.jpg-(560 KB, 1407x871, 1286404946782.jpg)

560 KB JPG

>>28011429
This one has it. Lawyers! We should compliment them, and acknowledge their products impression on us, however at this time we can not commit, as it is a time for pleasant conversation and reconnection with the people from home and not cutthroat wheeling and dealing.

>>28011479
There is the Megacorp page
http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/Megacorps

Shake both ot their hands and a combo of >>28011398 and >>28011451 and >>28011427
to finish it off

>>28011398
"Well GE primarily produces fusion reactors and sublight drive systems an addition to other parts. We also produce shuttles but otherwise try to stay out of the starship industry unlike our... competition." He holds out a hand to forestall comment by his rival.
"Our systems are also some of the most reliable in Faction space with a safety record that cant be beat."

"Aries builds engines for the fastest ships out there."
>Do I remember correctly in that GE made the afterburners?
"No that was us. Aries attack cruisers were the first privately available warships capable of mounting afterburners. They're light, fast and tough for what they do. I understand your unit employs at least one of them."

On that point Sylvan's Aries is still counted among the Wing, having been moved over to Mike's squadron after Edah gave up command of it. Your House bought up several at the start of the campaign as for use as corvette wing command ships and was blocked from buying more until recently.

You shake both of their hands in order of introduction.
"Unfortunately you've both caught me in quite a crossfire, gentlemen. I'm a fan of both of your companies' products, particularly when I'm not being shot at by them."

>>28011429
>>28011479
Noted.

"I think I'll need my lawyers to look over any contracts in detail before I think about signing anything." You tell them.

Mr. Nguyen hands you his card, made out of a tough material you'd need to use your HF-blade in order to cut. "Here's my Card and contact information. You can reach me almost any time of the day. We're sorry we had to cut your House off before but other people we owed contracts to were giving us a hard time you understand. We're committed not just to our bottom line but to making the fastest flying ships out there."

Walter hands over his as well. "Don't forget, while we don't produce ships ourselves we have plenty of subsidiaries, some of which like Newport Fleet Systems can produce Assault Corvettes."

>>28011866
Really want to mock him with "uooohhh, assault corvette.... haven't flown one for almost a year, too small and weak. Damn near worthless. Gimme a fat arsed cruiser with triple shielding, after burners, and lightning canons and then we can talk."

Of course I'd rather Sonia mentally think this instead of voicing it since its rude.

File: 1383099115935.gif-(20 KB, 883x781, GE vs Aries.gif)

20 KB GIF

It seems that solicitors from mega corporations are not the only people that want to get your attention.

After grabbing some more food and wine you're approached by a nobleman. Some lesser lordling probably, though it might not be the best idea to judge by appearances.

"Madam, it has come to the attention of several interested parties that you posses certain... items that would make it easier for someone to gain access to places that would otherwise be difficult to reach."

He offers you a fragile looking data card.

"I've you're interested in a business opportunity simply show up at those coordinates."

>What do?

>>28012162

Not even a name or a time/date? How rude.

[x] Continue enjoying the party

Rolled 69

>>28012162
Take the data card and for his name.

Then thank him for bringing this to our attention.

File: 1383099928398.jpg-(203 KB, 2000x3011, in_the_name_of_the_king_a(...).jpg)

203 KB JPG

>>28012162
Smile. Be gracious and elegant. Look good and dignified. We are at a party, and we are not going to be making any commitments, however we do take to conversation and nothing is discounted.

>>28012438
Ask for his name*

All of these business cards are bugged

>>28012747
Did you expect anything else?

>>28012438
"First what's your name?"

"Joseph Smith." he responds at length.

"Really? Well thank you for bringing this to my attention."

>>28012462
>and nothing is discounted.
So I'm going to assume thats a 2nd vote for take the datacard for the moment at the very least.

>All of these business cards are bugged
You're tempted to toss all three cards into the nearest open flame, or just put them in your glove and crank up the arm sensor high enough to fry unshielded electronics.

There are numerous nobles and fellow officers present. Do you want to try to find any other investors for your salvage company? Or at least advertise it so as to get a better chance at securing a contract with the House for Salvage work?

>put them in your glove and crank up the arm sensor high enough to fry unshielded electronics.
As cathartic as that would be, using the sensors inside the palace would be a bad idea. Just record the contact info and discard the cards at the soonest opportunity. Especially before we start doing business talks.

>>28012925
We must now make the rounds and talk to other nobles and officers. We shall always have a tale about the mountains of salvage we have seen and how we are making a salvage company to help out our house.

Also make the story different every time, but maby keep the part where there was so much salvage that our commander ordered us to stop capturing things.

>>28013032
Second, input their numbers and names into our cerebral processing unit then discard the out dated medium of business cards... what we don't have computers in our head? What's the good up?

Seriously though, the one guy made his super strong to resist hf blades. You don't use a card to block a sword, there is something wrong with that card. Or his ego is very large and he used ship grade armor production to make a run of business cards.

File: 1383102307831.jpg-(55 KB, 640x421, credit card knife for cra(...).jpg)

55 KB JPG

>>28011866
>tough material business card

A thought occurs along the lines of our obsession with always being armed: Can we get a Crazy Has-Ann business card that is also a knife?

Also I really empathize with Aries corp and their dedication to going fast above all else.

>>28013151
Clearly we should take a page out of his book and make business cards out of the SP armor that House Posat makes.

>>28012925

Lets go congratulate Baron Winnifred on her promotion.

Then we'll find out who is in charge of the smuggler's run, if they are here or have a representative, and chat with them about possible employment for our company. Or is Commander Winnifred still in charge of the Smuggler's Run?

It might also be helpful to talk to candidates for the next Expeditionary Fleet Commander, as well.

As we already have Commander Winnifred investing, I'm reluctant to gather too many investors for the salvage company. We should aim to keep a hefty majority control while it is private, giving us room to wheel and deal in the future.

We can likely obtain some stuff for the Company from GE or Aries, as well.

>>28013151
I've gotten some crazy business cards at engineering fairs.

Coolest one was on really thin PCB material with the name and contact info lithographed on it

>>28013255
Sounds good to me and I have to agree on the salvage company thing as the goal isn't to get more investors but to get the word out that Salvage Sonia is living up to her name.

File: 1383103418941.jpg-(26 KB, 429x458, Spy check.jpg)

26 KB JPG

>>28006937
>Look for Krath
Here we go. I've been looking for this for awhile.

>>28013151
>Or his ego is very large and he used ship grade armor production to make a run of business cards.
The guy works for Aries so it would make sense. I should note that he was wearing a much sharper/more in style business suit compared to his competitor and the card more or less matched it visually.
>>28013229
Oh wow. I want one of those now. Though it would likely get me in more trouble boarding planes than my previous incident with the obscenely tough constructed large metal pen I'd been missing for a few months.
"Sir, could you come over here for a moment please? We need to ask you some questions about your carry on."

While the party is still in full swing you make the rounds exploring the halls and trading stories about the near mythical South Reach Salvage Shoot, though you try to downplay parts of it.

>Lets go congratulate Baron Winnifred on her promotion.
"Thank you Captain, I appreciate it."

>Or is Commander Winnifred still in charge of the Smuggler's Run?
Winifred is in charge of the territories in South Reach. The occupation forces in the Smugglers Run are now technically under the command of the Home Feet but are effectively semi-autonomous, being looked after by the Smugglers Run coalition. A Few Knight Captains are looking after the House assets in the region, though some of those present here will be headed out there to relieve them in a month or two.

>We can likely obtain some stuff for the Company from GE or Aries, as well.
You can do so through the open market like anyone unless you wanted to directly trade endorsements for equipment which I'm sure either of those guys would be more than happy to negotiate on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O36AL6TKDBs

>>28012925
Talking to our former Commander and congratulating her on her new title seems prudent.

Schmoozing with the lower nobility is also probably a good use of our time, along with putting the idea into the heads of all of the new Knights in our Wing that we may have several social gatherings over the next few months.

>>28013581
Since we promised Daska, can we recommend her for her own wing to the commander?

>>28013581
RnR Sonia could also beef up her reputation among the military aristocracy by writing and publishing several academic articles on military topics. I am sure there are a dozen or so topics that she could provide an interesting perspective on, especially in terms of dealing with Neerans.

If everything else fails, we might be able to nab a teaching position at a military academic when/if we retire from active duty.

>>28013706
Why are we going out of our way to help her again? She just seems jealous of our success...

>>28013744
Because by any conventional standard she's a better officer than we are and we're basically Double Sylvan on her path to advancement and recognition.

>>28013744
Because Daska gets shit done and would make a great leader? We also said we would put in a word for her.

>>28013806
Let her take the commander position since its all piloting a desk and ball point pen. We can always take a baron title later and just demote ourselves back to wing leader.

>>28013978
By the time we are able to take over the commander's position we will most likely not mind such a thing and it might even have it's advantages.

No need to worry about that since it's a long ways off.

>>28014091
At this point I think it might be worth expanding more into civilian sector and moving horizontally rather than vertically. We lose so much of what made Sonia herself if we take a desk. No more loot, no more stealthy things, no more interacting with strange new species and technology, no more boldly going where no house has gone before! Just miles and miles of paperwork stacked up. I'd rather we go knights errant than take the commanders job and let some other up start take our place as psycho wing leader.

>>28014186
And I've been waiting for a commander's job ever since thread 1.

Before you go back about your business you make a suggestion to the Commander, er Baron, about Knight Lieutenant Daska Rna.
"Yes her name has come up before, why?"

"I said I would put in a good word for her. If she could get command of her own Wing I'm sure she wouldn't disappoint."

Winifred stares at you for a moment unblinking. "That is something I did not expect from you. I'll consider it Captain."

>>28013799
Admittedly she might not have been as good an officer if she hadn't had to work to try and surpass you this whole time. She did have a run of bad luck in the early days in the Smugglers Run.

>along with putting the idea into the heads of all of the new Knights in our Wing that we may have several social gatherings over the next few months.
You do so.

>writing and publishing several academic articles on military topics
>write papers on Neeran
Added to the to do list.

With things winding down transportation is being made available, either back to the spaceport, the local military base where barracks are set up for the returning crews, or to head to other locations. There's also your ship in orbit.
Note that you'll need to report in to one of the bases within 24 hours or have shore patrol and the MP's looking for you since you haven't been cleared for extended leave yet.

>Your orders?

>>28014220
Well...I wonder if we can get that bloody test out of the way.

>>28014220

Did we end up buying out the Bittenfeld? I recall some people saying we should either way the vote to search for Svidur went.

Voting to report to our sharkship, if it is orbit. If not, return to the EX-K

>>28014393
If our new ship is in orbit I would agree.

I'm pretty sure many people expressed interest in buying it no matter what we did.

>>28014220

>Winifred stares at you for a moment unblinking. "That is something I did not expect from you. I'll consider it Captain."

"Neither did I. It kind of feels as a betrayal to my subordinates, since she is my first choice to take over when i go MIA or KIA. Saves me a lot of head and heart ache knowing there is someone able to make it work without troubles."

"Now I am going to go grey far faster."

>"Now I am going to go grey far faster."
"The responsibilities of Command."

>>28014393
>Did we end up buying out the Bittenfeld?

7 people wanted to buy the Bittenfeld if we were going back.
6 also voted to spend our favour to get a Rovinar ship in the same event.
6 people did not vote.

So I have no idea how many people still want to do so now that you haven't gone back. I'll put up another survey at some point to address that.

You hitch a ride with a few others headed back to the spaceport. From there you wait for the next shuttle launch to return you to the station. Most of the signs of the station wide party are cleaned up, though many of the decorative banners are still in place.

After talking to the station crew you secure a shuttle to head over to your ship which has been sitting in a parking orbit the past few months.
TO DO LIST: Name your Shark Ship

You're welcomed aboard by a Dro'all officer, Lieutenant Cyana Tes'us who originally hails from House Tujen who currently operates the shipyard where your vessel was built. Her record shows that she spent six years serving with House Helios as part of a military exchange program, so she's not without experience.
You have the option with the Lt and much of the crew to have them replaced with your own people if you want or to keep them on.

Currently at 257 posts so we'll be able to run most of tomorrow. I have to take care of some things in the morning so with much resuming around noon if possible.

>>28015300
But TSTG! You already know the name we are going to pick: Great Devourer

>>28015300
>You have the option with the Lt and much of the crew to have them replaced with your own people if you want or to keep them on.
Replace them with our people, unless our crew lacks specialty skills needed or if there are simply not enough of them to fill all the available positions.

If that's the case, then keep the relevant people on.

>>28015300
>You have the option with the Lt and much of the crew to have them replaced with your own people if you want or to keep them on.
are there any potential (long term wise) conflicts of interest or other political oddness that might come up from having these crew members?

>>28015300
I say lets keep most of the crew but bring in a few of our own people. Linda, Kavos ect. People who have been with us.

Now it's time to add the Lieutenant to the list of people we will effect with our craziness.

Most crews tend to stay with a particular ship right? Well we definitely want to keep our main staff, and anyone else who wants to come with us.

Is the ships current crew all drawn from other houses or is it all JD crew? I'm wondering if that would cause an issue down the road with divided loyalties.

>>28015300
We should no doubt keep most of the crew and only bring a few people with us.

>spent six years serving with House Helios as part of a military exchange program

I think we just found our First Officer.

>>28015300
>>28016433
Hasn't Kavos been promoted to that position?

By the way, has he finally been knighted? Or would we lose him if that happened?

Did Linda get any promotions so far?

>>28015300
I'm up for buying the ship, trading the favor since its just sitting there, and transferring key personnel to the Great Devourer.

Let's see about getting the stealth missile boat equipped with silent emission sensors and integrate it similar to our ecm ships. But also use it for recon.

Bump.

File: 1383146181260.gif-(10 KB, 771x577, Tender.gif)

10 KB GIF

Alternate ships to consider for the Rovinar favour. I'll be posting the survey when I get back. (Hopefully 1 hour from now.)

Other than the Silent Hunter you could instead get a Light Cruiser/Attack Cruiser.
Or, a pair of convoy tenders normally used by Rovinar escort companies.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QNBV3RZ

>I have to take care of some things in the morning so with much resuming around noon if possible.
Wow, I wrote that like I was drunk

>Great Devourer
Is it? I mean yeah sure it makes sense but no reason not to let everyone have a say.
I've added an other option to the survey so we may need a redo.

>Replace them with our people, unless our crew lacks specialty skills needed or if there are simply not enough of them to fill all the available positions.
>If that's the case, then keep the relevant people on.
>are there any potential conflicts of interest?

You have a 1,200m long Battlecruiser with specialist weaponry. The crew requirements are far from minimal. The current crew numbers around 800 with many of them having worked in the shipyard when the ship was built.
The plasma weapon specialists have taken up well paying part time jobs with the House helping with refurbishing cannons brought back from the Smugglers Run. Lt Tes'us has been known to head up OPFOR units for the local training squadrons on occasion at mercenary pay rates.

Traditionally there have been few conflicts of interest as any House selected to build these ships are minor and/or fairly neutral. Or neutral as far as the Seven Major Houses are concerned, their standing with the Ruling House is usually another story.

>>28013151
You at last deal with the data card the mystery contact gave you. It lists off a string of coordinates out in the middle of nowhere on the surface of Dreminth.
"Go to the provided location if you're looking for work. There are two types of jobs; those that observe unfortunate accidents and those that don't.
Observer payouts are always at a premium.
This message will self destruct."
The datacard crumbles into dust a few seconds later, but you still have the location.

>>28021687
>This message will self destruct

This is some secret spy shit right here and the fact that we are the one they contacted makes me think this is worth checking out.

http://lordess-alicia.deviantart.com/art/Mass-Effect-Name-Generator-367877785
I've taken to mixing Asari and Salarian names for Dro'all now. It seems to fit well enough and saves me a lot of trouble since I'm terrible with names on a good day. Thoughts?

>>28016022
>Most crews tend to stay with a particular ship right? Well we definitely want to keep our main staff, and anyone else who wants to come with us.
You can certainly have your key personnel transferred over (I would assume mostly bridge crew, but Marines as well) but keep in mind that many of the people from your House are now going on extended leave.
Getting hold of a garrison of Marines for your ship would be easy enough, just don't expect your Elite troops for a few weeks. The same goes for the rest of the crew if you wanted them switched out for those from the EX-K.

>Is the ships current crew all drawn from other houses or is it all JD crew? I'm wondering if that would cause an issue down the road with divided loyalties.
All from House Tujen for the most part.
There are a few J-D crew members that have been stationed aboard since the ship's arrival. A handful of officers and technicians have been inspecting the ship, taking scans, generally double checking that it isn't a deathtrap and keeping in contact with the orbital forces to ensure it stays in a safe place.

Many Errant Knights will bring aboard crew recruited from their former Houses, or even hire on civilian workers over time. It varies with the individual.

>Are we even allowed to do... "contract work" while we're serving in the military?
If you're on leave would it really matter if you were using your own equipment?

Oh before I forget, your quarters aboard while not as opulently appointed as the Unnamed Guard are around the same size so lots of space. There is no hot tub but that could be remedied easily enough.

Crew quarters are average size, not as cramped as they were aboard the Guard cruiser.

>>28022260
We can always take this crew for a test run to see how they do and we can make the transfers after our people have had some time to get some R&R.

Getting a batch of normal Marines should be good enough for now though how is our power armor looking? Still banged up after we lost our arm?

>>28022366
>Getting a batch of normal Marines should be good enough for now though how is our power armor looking? Still banged up after we lost our arm?
The repairs were finished on the way back. The biggest problem was finding an entire replacement arm but it's now operational again as is the camouflage.


After spending the night aboard ship you return to base to get your psych evaluation taken care of. Better to get it out of the way so you can sooner get back out there or so you have more time to plan an escape.
Speaking of which, hide two halves of a stun pulse grenade on you?

Do you provide them your copy of the notes taken by the Alliance doctor?

>>28022507
Stun grenade is kind of tempting but they've probably seen people try similar stuff before.

Let's keep our other notes to ourselves so we can get an unbiased second opinion.