>>32068560
>Current armory
3 Thorn Launchers
2 Sting Casters

>Current resource reserves
Nutrients: 234
Metals: 68

>Hive population and upkeep cost
Queen – 5
Worker (17) – 34
Warrior (2) – 8
Thinker (6) – 18
Speaker – 3
Nutrient costs: 68

>Income
Nutrients: 50
Net: -18

>Research underway – Local fauna 3/6 thinkers.

Available research options
>Lightning gun
Very slow, potential of failure and destruction of sample device
>Human environment suit
Very Slow, a bulky looking, yet light weight suit composed of tightly woven fabric and small metallic plating covering the chest and forearms. The suit seems to react to injury to the user, and contains a number of devices the humans use to make up for their frail physical structure and sensitive biology. Study of this technology could offer insight into any number of research fields.
>Human technology interfacing
You have determined that the small device you retrieved from the human camp is some kind of artificial data storage. Physically it is worthless, but if you were to spend the time to develop a way to interface your thinkers with it the data within may prove well worth the effort.
>Unity Drone salvage
The physical components of the drone are quite interesting. Opening it up and taking a closer look would give you a much better idea of how the device works (grants small bonus against Unity drones, and unlocks weapon, armor, and propulsion research options)
>Unity technology interfacing
The drone itself appears to hold only a rudimentary intelligence, a study of how and where it received commands could help unlock the secrets to its behavior, and offer insight into the nature of the Unity

>>32068573
awwww yisss

>>32068573
So, if the planet is getting closer to its star, then I guess we're in for a really hot summer.

As for research, I'd say:
>Unity Drone salvage
just in case the Unity sends more drones. Stick our other 3 thinkers on it.

>>32068573
Personally, I want to research the Unity junk later, after Fauna is done.

File: mymap.png (1024 KB, 3374x2705)

1024 KB PNG

>>32068573
Your speaker makes note of Trevor and his squad returning. The commander seems troubled by something, although you are unsure what, and soon the humans set up a perimeter fence surrounding the camp using small metal cables they unravel from several small bags. The wires hum with an electric current, and violent zap a small winged creature that attempts to land on one.

Your workers have completed installing the infrastructure in your hive and are ready to begin new construction. In addition your radio antenna is ready to be set up...wait, in the heat of the moment you seem to have forgotten if you produced one or not.
>Yes (-6N and -3M)
>No
>Radio antenna cannot move on its own, but can pick up radio signals with great accuracy and range. Can be used as limited radar.

>>32068834
>yes
>research unity drone salvage

>>32068834

>Yes

>>32068828
>>32068816
current research is being done with 3 thinkers, you have several new thinkers that have just hatched, and can be assigned to boost the current research rate, or can research their own subject. An idle thinker will give a small passive bonus to drones.

>>32068828
We have 3 idle Thinkers right now, might as well do some dual research.

>>32068834
>>Radio antenna cannot move on its own, but can pick up radio signals with great accuracy and range. Can be used as limited radar.

>>32068834
Yes. Hell yes.

Did not realize metals would enhance it once we have EM antennae biologically. But worth it.

>>32068884
Wait, was that last bit a vote to change it to immobile, or were you just informing us that it was?

>>32068573
Put the thinkers on the Unity tech interfacing since I think that would make the unity salvage go easier.

>>32068872
In that case
>Send new three thinkers to get that boost against Unity Drones research
I have a feeling they'll be back soon.

Also
>yes
Sensors are important

>>32068834
Yes

>>32068834
Of course! How silly of you, it had simply rolled behind one of the warrior eggs. You quickly have your workers set it up outside atop your mountain. It may need a guard to be posted nearby, but for now you will be able to get at least some information on what is going on around you.

new drones to research Unity seems to be the consensus, please confirm
>Tech interfacing
>hardware salvage

>>32068910
I was informing you it was not mobile. Last thread there was a request to make one but I didn't see it, so I promised to deal with it at the start of the next one.

You bring the radio sensor online, and attempt to peirce the thick clouds and peer beyond it.
Roll 1d100, best of three.

>>32068899
*since we have EM

Fucking autocorrect

Rolled 80

>>32069018
>Tech interfacing

Rolled 92

>>32069018
I am 100% okay with the other thinkers researching the Unity systems.

>>32068899
The EM antennae are more like a Geiger counter. It only reads intensity and a vague sense of frequency. Its use as communication would be limited to Morse code.

>>32069073
QM needs a vote for one of the two options still that was a question not a description.


Voting for interfacing

Rolled 71

>>32069018
>Tech interfacing

and, Here we go!

>>32069018
>hardware salvage

>>32069018
>Tech interfacing

>>32069113
Forgot to say which one I was going for.

>>32069018
Writing, will count the vote afterwards.

>>32069149
You focus your mind into the new sensor systems, and at first you only pick up the same static of the thick atmosphere that your warriors have long since tuned out, but soon you manage to filter through it and make out a faint signal. It repeats itself every few minuets, and it seems too faint to be in orbit. It must be far out in the system by your guess.

"SAR automated probe six-eight-nine-nine of the USS Virtue of the Texas Battle group responding to distress. Please respond."

>Tech interfacing
Your thinkers contemplate on this problem. They assure you you shall soon know the drone's secrets.
You you like to keep one thinker idle to boost your drones?

>>32069307
no

>>32069307
Nah

Not when there's SCIENCE to do!

>>32069307
I think we should keep at least one Thinker idle so that our drones always have a boost.

Rolled 33

>>32069307
What are the drones doing now? If they're out and about, keep a thinker idle to boost em. If idle, then fuck it go full science.

But remember that this is a deathworld and we need to keep our drones in tip top so they don't get snagged by predators.

>>32068573
So what was the exact plus to metals from 2 Unity drones?

>>32069307
Eh, let's keep the one on.

>>32069307
Your antenna does not detect much else in the system, although you can make out the strong signal of a gas giant. As you listen, however, the probe seems to be moving. Its signal moving from place to place in the system.
A star system is a big place to search. You wonder if you could broadcast a signal strong enough for the probe to detect. Perhaps you should inform the humans, although you doubt your charade of being a primitive race would hold up if they knew you were picking up signals from space.

>>32069494
+60 metals

>>32069479
your workers have just completed installing infrastructure, and are ready for a new project.

Infrastructure required a Thinker to become dedicated to it, no?

Do we now have only 5 allocatable?

>>32069571
we can tease them into asking us for it. Say that odd "sounds" are coming from the sky, especially from the "floating dangerous machines". Manipulate them to ask us to further investigate these odd sounds and see if we can pinpoint anything.

>>32069571
Survey for minerals to farm jelly mold?

They know an automated probe is here already. Hence they beacon.

Mention nada.

>>32069571
Your hive is growing in size and complexity. You have completed:
>Reservoir
>General storage
>Food storage
>Laboratory
>Infrastructure

Recommended projects
>Mining survey
>Hunting mission
>Egg nursery
>Armory
>Other (write in)

>>32069633
That's right. Two are working on the Unity drone, three are testing local life samples, and are almost finished, the last is keeping the hive nice and comfortable.

>>32069666
Or send em all to forage for a big stockpile of Nutrients for the day.

>>32069720
Can't believe that reservoir idea broke our stealth. Tricksy.

Let's hunt.

>>32069720
I say we continue to expand the hive with a Egg nursery.

>>32069776
It didn't. The drone was looking for potential food sources.

>>32069780
>Nursery
Primarily intended to further fortify and defend the future of the hive, the nursery is an easily defended room built deep in the hive that is held at a constant temperature and humidity. Will prevent damage to eggs in the event of an attack on the hive.

>Nursery
>Hunting
>Mining survey
>Other

>>32069748
You do realize that we'll need to be able to turtle as soon as possible.

>>32069896
>Mining survey

>>32069896
I'd prioritize, in order,

>Nursery
>Mining survey
>Hunting

>>32069805
The drone was by the river because it was a source of water.

But it paid special mind because of manipulation of it.

>>32069896
Actually...we do have those miners on the way don't we? It might be a good idea to do a Mining survey before they hatch and then we can work on the Nursery.

>>32069896
Anything but nursery. Not yet.

>>32069896
>Mining survey

>>32069896
>Mining survey
Is my priority, then the nursery. We should be good on food for a couple days.

>>32069975
Yes, you have 3 diggers, and 3 more warriors about to hatch very soon.

>>32069974
It would have followed the river one way or another.

>>32070014
Thought so.
Voting for Mining Survey in that case.

>>32069720
It looks like mining survey is the consensus.
Would you like to send a warrior as escort?
>Y
>N

>>32070063
>Y

>>32070063
>Y

>>32070063

>Y

>>32070063
Y

>>32070009
Nursery is very low in its benefits.

Would rather have a bigger stockpile buffer for hatching new mouths to feed.

>>32070063
Your workers and one of your warriors move out to survey the mountainous valley in search of a place you can construct a mine. With your workers working in tandem, you expect they will be able to cover the area by tomorrow.

Please roll 1d100, best of three to survey the area.

Meanwhile, you have a conundrum. How will you deal with this new information regarding the probe? You doubt the humans have anything left that could get through the planet's atmosphere, and you can't guess as to how long it will take for the probe to find them on its own, if it ever does.

>Tell the human commander of the signal
>Don't tell them
>Attempt to respond to the signal
>Write in

Rolled 53

>>32070277

>Tell the human commander of the signal

Rolled 12

>>32070277
Here we go!

>Tell the human commander of the signal
We could probably spin it as simply detecting these sort of things naturally, which isn't much of a lie.

Rolled 77

>>32070277
>Don't tell

Rolled 4

>>32070277
>Tell the human commander of the signal

In such a way that let's them know we have found something while also seeming slightly primitive. Like >>32069644 suggestion.

>>32070277
Don't tell.

>>32070277
Don't, didn't they say they already expected a probe must have responded by now? This won't help them. Or us.

>>32070277
Didn'tt we have some sort of ancestral memory ingrained hatred episode upon seeing the human's structures?

Tell them, but make us still seem primitive. They know we're here so we might as well go all in.

>>32070391
Except, they have no way to respond to it right now. I'm pretty sure they're just hoping it will find them soon.

>>32070414
The fuck are you talking?

>>3207041
What do you mean all in?

What's the profit for us or them in this?

>>32070440
Good.

If they're stranded forever we remain a secret for longer, until we extend beyond this planet.

>>32070277
>Tell the commander of the signal

>>32070414
No, you have no knowledge of human encounters with your kind before now

Your speaker walks over to Commander Grey, who is discussing something quietly with his officers. You make sure to stay clear of the electric fence as it hums and cackles with the moist air.

If you wish to add in any other statements or questions, please do so.

>>32070576
We are being vague and "primitive" in the way we're telling him right?

>>32070637
We hear.... Something like you. From beyond the sphere. Repeating.

>>32070576

Hmm, no I don't think there are any other statements or questions that we can make without revealing too much.

>>32070576
Let's start by asking what is wrong because something is clearly up. Then let's tell him we can hear something speaking from from the sky.
>>32070657
Like this.

>>32070704

I can support this.

They're likely talking about us. We did take down 3 drones when one was sufficient to smack their shit seven ways to sunday.

>>32070637
can we actually not be vague and primitive? thanks

>>32070738

You want these guys to know that we're a spacefaring race? Look at their relations with the other spacefaring race we've encountered that (we can make an educated guess) has a society organized vaguely like ours.

>>32070738
I thought we wanted to not draw attention to ourselves too early?

We got like 30 or so bugs in the hive.

>>32070738
Fuck no.

The vote to even tell them at all was a tie. Minimal disclosure.

>>32070704
Yeah if they ask how we detected this signal..


We never listened to things beyond the sky before. Quite true.

>>32070704
I like this idea.

>>32070817
I voted against telling them, but if we're telling them we may as well not intentionally sound stupid. That's like the worst of both worlds.

>>32070800
k
they mentioned a union, that kinda sounds peaceful and not the kill and maim that you're implying

Rolled 85

>>32070902

Not even taking a side in the large debate, but a nation's name is not an accurate reflection of its actions for obvious reasons.

Nations generally don't name themselves, "Kill and Maim Everyone Republic" even if that's what they do

>>32070576
"Has Lee said anything?"
"Do you think he would notice anything?"
"Don't know, but he seems to be the closest to- Ah!" Trevor looks up to your speaker from his circle of officers. You see three others. Doctor Seiner is on the left, drinking a soupy substance from a bag through a straw stuck in his helmet. The bag is labeled "Steak". On the right is a small female you remember the Commander calling Zoe, and closest to you, sliding on the small stump to look at you, is a tall pale man with several metallic devices protruding from the side of his skull. His suit is labeled "Staff Sargent Gustav Reynolds".
"You said you had called for help, yes?" You ask.
Trevor raises an eyebrow at your question. "Yes, but nothing we have down here can get through the clouds."
"We think the Ionosphere of the planet is-" Seiner starts, but is waved off by the commander.
"Why do you ask?" He continues
"The hive can hear it."
Reynolds and Seiner both speak up at once.
"You're receiving a signal?"
"You can hear radio transmission?"
You nod to them, and Seiner quickly goes into a fit of discovery.
"Natural radio sensitivity? We saw this before in the airborne creatures, but its amazing you can pick up such faint signals. Are you capable of...broadcasting in this manner?"

You can, but you are unsure if you should tell them that...
>[Y]
>[N]

Please only respond with >[Y]
or >[N]

>>32070902

Well the humans are at war with the Unity, the Unity uses a central controlling unit for its drones at at least solar system scale. The Unity seems to hate the Humans enough that they have kill-on-sight orders for them.

Not saying that the Humans necessarily did anything wrong, just that we don't know who started those aggressions and why so we should probably keep our cards close to our chests.

>>32070962
>[Y]

>>32070902
We can bother with this union after we get squishy FTL space bugships.

>>32070962

>[Y]

>>32070962
>[N]

>>32070962
>[N]

>>32070962
>[Y]

>>32070962
>[Y]

>>32070962
N

>>32070962
>[N]

>>32070972
Seiner claimed that the Union created the Unity, and that they are a "Mistake". While you don't know the full scope of this conflict, they clearly hold a good deal of animosity towards each other.

>>32070962
>>[Y]

>>32071045

Aah, alright.

>>32070962
>[N]

>>32070962
>[Y]

>>32070962
>[Y]

>>32070962
Can we say that we "might" be able but we have never tried before.

>>32070962
>Say yes
Writing

>>32070962
>[N]

Damn divisive votes

>>32071111
Do we actually have that ability or are we lying to them?

>>32071155
It said in the post we have the ability.

>>32071155
read>>32070962
>You can, but you are unsure if you should tell them that...

>>32071155

We have the ability to take a stab at it. Chances of success are less clear.

>>32070962
"The hive has never attempted this, but it may be possible. What would you wish to say?"
Trevor immediately leaps to his feet and pulls out a small device mounted on his wrist. "Well anything will get them interested, but we need to give them one of our IF signals to let them know it's us. Here, if you can send them this signal they should be here to pick us up within the week." He hands you a small device, at the push of a button it lets out a small but complex signal, afterwards there is a string of text in the human language.
"Unity presence detected, suspect server ship in system. First contact protocol broken on friendly terms, classification unknown. Request immediate extraction. Colony not recommended."
You look back at the commander. "The hive will try this."

You have already recorded the signal and can broadcast it whenever you wish.
>Broadcast the signal as it is.
>Broadcast the signal, but attempt to edit it.
>Don't broadcast the signal.
>Other

>>32071348
>Broadcast the signal as it is.

>>32071348
>Broadcast the signal as it is.

>>32071348
>>Broadcast the signal, but attempt to edit it.
Edit out that they made first contact.

>>32071348
>Broadcast as in
Better they leave us alone

>>32071348
>Broadcast the signal as it is.

>>32071348
>Broadcast the signal as it is.

>>32071348
Roll 1d100, best of 3

>>32071348

>Colony not recommended.

Yiss.

>Broadcast the signal as is.

Rolled 56

>>32071499

Rolled 58

>>32071499

Rolled 20

>>32071499
oah boy

Rolled 68

>>32071499

I was kind of hoping we would be able to get the unity and the humans to piss off and leave us alone so we could quietly grow. So we could, you know, not end up getting researched or shot up by whoever happens to fly by with a ship.
Probably going to be pretty hard to grow quickly now without sounding alarms.

>>32071593
>these assumptions
>I don't even know where to start

>>32071528
Hope this was a high DC then.

>>32071593

Well they're not going to colonize the planet, and we're an interesting life form...but we haven't revealed that we're spacefaring (or even industrial) to them. Meanwhile they have a war going on.

We're probably a low priority and will get checked on infrequently at best.

File: such sights to show you.jpg (460 KB, 1498x1289)

460 KB JPG

>>32071348
You take the signal and broadcast it from your antenna atop your hive. You can hear the signal bouncing off the clouds, and you are unsure if any is making it through. Several hours of this pass as you repeat the transmission hoping for a break in the clouds when you suddenly hear a reply! Three rapid bursts of radio waves, followed by a burst of three more. Odd... it seems to be coming from within the atmosphere.
Your warrior detects it too, and readies its Thorn launcher. Two large organic wings emerge from the clouds, circling the antenna. Each one peppers the area with a burst of radio waves. They must have heard your transmission!

>Attack (write in how for potential bonus)
>Attempt to run
>Other

>>32071746
Dang, these guys are annoying.
Well, we got the thorn launcher for a reason.

>Use signal to lure beast in closer, without tree(mushroom) cover to hide it
>Prepare to hit it with all warrior fire at once
>Burst fire, and wait for it to possibly dive.
>Try to pin to ground if possible.

>>32071746
>Attack (write in how for potential bonus)
Blast radio at it and then open fire on it. Go for the flappy parts or even better, the venty parts at the front of the wings.

>>32071746

Aah, one of these faggots again.

>Attack
Pepper it with a few shots from the Thorn Launcher to get its attention drawn to the warrior then wait for it to initiate its attack run.

When its attack dive takes it within effective range of the Thorn Launcher have our Radio Drone blast it with as much power as it can muster to hopefully stun the thing. Then, if it crashes have the warrior disable it. Otherwise just have the warrior kill the shit out of it.

>>32071746
You let out a burst of radio waves at the circling creatures, and your warrior takes aim.

Roll 2 d100, best of 3 for each. First for radio distraction, (debuffs them) second for warrior's attack.

>>32071746
Stupid local florauna.

>Attack

>Bait it into diving a 'vulnerable' target
>Wait until it gets within firing range of equipped warriors
>Surprise burst of fire at its midsection
>Target it was aiming at dodges
>Hopefully rupture enough organs for it to crash and burn

>>32071746
>>Attack (write in how for potential bonus)
Snipe it with the thorn launcher. If it gets close use the sting caster.

Rolled 100, 10 = 110

>>32071889

Rolled 11, 46 = 57

>>32071889

Rolled 47, 91 = 138

>>32071889

Rolled 43, 65 = 108

>>32071889
You think bugs sacrifice to the dice gods?

Rolled 64, 76 = 140

>>32071889

>>32071919
>100
>91

Yes.

>>32071913

Nice.

Mind, we want to capture it intact if possible.

Rolled 93, 82 = 175

>>32071913
Our noise is a dreadful thing.

>>32071889
>>32071919
I don't know, but they clearly love alien crustaceans.
Writing.

>>32071746
Hell yes.

I wanted to hunt these infrasonic blind fuckers to study anyway!

Also glad we can't contact the probe.

>>32072018

We could harness them as pack animals too.

Sure we're infinitely mutable bugs, but that doesn't mean we can't domesticate animals too. After all that's resources we don't have to spend.

Rolled 89, 81 = 170

>>32072018
I wouldn't say that just yet anon, unless the radio breaks the message is going to keep being sent. For all we know it's already been received.

>>32072055
>using them as pack animals
>not using them as winged mounts

>>32072055
Domestication requires certain traits. That I suspect they lack entirely.

Also how would we feed them. We'd have a net loss of nutrients. We do not require a diverse diet.

>>32072076

That too, of course.

>>32071889
The flying creatures shake in the air, swerving from side to side in a panic. The first one pulls off, leaping into the air as it barrel rolls across the sky in agony while the other lunges toward your position with a mighty burst of air from its jets. The cone shaped head splits open like a flower lined with teeth, and as it does your warrior places a bolt of chitin squarely in its mouth. The creature jerks upwards far too sharply and looses its lift, tumbling downwards towards your warrior. You swiftly roll to the side, letting loose another bolt into its wings as it thrashes about in an effort to get back into the air.
The first one has finally doubled back after hearing the death cries of its partner, although its flight is still clearly impaired. Your warrior quickly places several bolts into a number of locations that you guess could hold a brain and eventually the wounded beast stops its thrashing, but you still have one more to deal with. It has already entered a dive towards you, more of a fall than an attack.

Roll 1d100, best of 3

>>32072055
Yes it does. Units require resources. Spending on non mindslave units is stupid.

Rolled 13

>>32072144

Rolled 56

>>32072144

Rolled 12

>>32072144

Rolled 8

>>32072144

Rolled 54

>>32072144

Rolled 99

>>32072144

Here you go.

>>32072151
>>32072107
I was thinking of running them in a slightly different way, where we subdue a a given nest/hive so that we can use them whenever we want but they mostly tend towards themselves.

>>32072057
Nope. We tried and that's it. It's a foolish risk to keep taking as a favor to some xenos who will never hand over the tech secrets we covet.

>>32072144
The creature slides across the mountain, scraping your warrior off as it falls off the cliff and back into the air, with the warrior in tow. You look around to try and get your bearings. The creature is snapping its mouth at your drone as it holds on for dear life, its claws sunken deep into its wing. The creature is gaining altitude, thrashing from side to side as it tries to shake your warrior off.

>Keep shooting it
>Attempt to force it back down
>Other

Rolled 36

>>32072212

Anon, if they're aware of us then we'll come into contact with them. If we come into contact with them then the possibility of surreptitious acquisitions exist.

Like our Speaker drone and the mini-bugs we planned for it to have. It'd be easy as pie to analyze their systems so long as their around for us to do so with.

That is provided they're friendly with us, of course. That way we're not subject to ultra-intense scrutiny.

Rolled 10

>>32072303
>Attempt to force it back down
>With chitin spikes

>>32070962
No one noticing that the electriux fence is probably meant for us? That they're afraid of us now?

That they suspect based on battle location it was we who killed the drones?

>>32072303

Attempt to force it back down.

>>32072303
>>Keep shooting it

>>32072303
>Attempt to force it back down
WE WILL RIDE THIS BEAST

>>32072332
Its probably meant for all the horrible jungle fauna that killed several of their people before we met them.

>>32072303
>Attempt to force it back down

>>32072332

I thought it was for the jungle fauna and also the Unity drones.

They didn't deploy before they detected the Unity...but they did afterwards.

>>32072303
>attempt to force it back down
Please roll 1d100, best of 3

>>32072057
Space is big, depending on how far away the probe is it may take many hours for the signal to reach it, if it managed to get through to clouds that is.

Rolled 71

>>32072435

Rolled 72

>>32072435

Rolled 68

>>32072435
ROLLING FOR GREAT JUSTICE

Rolled 41

>>32072435
QUICK TIME EVENTS ARE BEST EVENTS

>>32072372
But also for us. They're quite afraid and paranoid.

Rolled 92

>>32072435

Rolled 71

>>32072435
Here we go!

>>32072484
No, I don't see any reason to think they are afraid of us. They are pretty friendly to our speaker. Maybe they are afraid of whatever mysterious creature attacked and killed the drones though.

Rolled 33

>>32072435

>>32072435
Writing
>>32072483
could it be called a quick time event in a text based game? It isn't very quick after all.

>>32072484

Is that why they gave us one of their IFF tags and let our Speaker live among them?

They definitely have their...questions about us, given. Otherwise they wouldn't have been talking about asking Lee something.

>>32072484
>But also for us. They're quite afraid and paranoid
I'm pretty sure you're the only one who's afraid and paranoid bud. If they were would they really have let one of our drones into their camp and let us see everything they do? I don't think so, and if you put a little thought into it I don't think you will either.

>>32072484
Maybe. Still it would be dumb for them not to set up a fence like that.

>>32072309
They aren't stupid.

Stealing from castaways.... We still have to scout for their life boats-- is probably the only chance of seeing them with their guard down.

It's better if this world kills them and we remain in shadows until our ascension to the heavens.

>>32072525
I'm pretty happy that this combat is going quick actually. It helps alot that we have at least 5 people paying good attention.

>>32072539

On a semi-related note does anyone want to make our next Speaker unnecessarily horrifying?

It might just be me but when the Commander let out a little shout of alarm when he saw our Speaker approach the meeting I was like "Now what if we did that all the time for no real reason."

>>32072519
>>32072530
They're watching us. Just as we're watching them.

Did you even read the dialogue there? The dialog of suspicious people suspecting suspicions?

>>32072559
This anon gets it. I'll admit that we decided to sort of help them a while ago, and decided to not kill them all a while further back. I wouldn't call for a re-vote unless our situation changes.

>>32072559

Yeah they aren't stupid, but neither are we, and we can approach the issue from avenues that they wouldn't expect.

>>32072620
>The dialog of suspicious people suspecting suspicions?
you're not even making sense anymore
calm those shadowruns the fuck down, they're outta control

>>32072620
Let them be suspicious. Wont make a difference. Not like we are dumb enough to get hit by the fence.

>>32072620

And so? Of course they're watching us, just like we are them. They'd have to be stone-cold retarded not to. We've been nothing but friendly though, and they're not going to start hostilities if they can avoid it.

>>32072620
We should put up radio jammers in a 200m spread around our land so that those birds can't spy on our queen.
Hopefully our tinfoil mine gets done soon...

>>32072677

What birds? The native fauna that are clearly non-sentient predators?

>>3207262 w have a good honest reason not to retransmit anymore at least.

It attracts hostiles.

>>32072435
Your worker stabs its claws deep into the creature's back, slicing into the firm, bone like wing. The creature lets out a burst of radio static as it enters a spin, and your warrior throws itself to the side, forcing the beast to turn into the dirt. As its belly grinds into the gravel and sand of the river's shore your warrior plunges its head into the ground, sheering off most of its jaw and flipping the beast to its back. Your warrior manages to leap from the crash and rolls to the side as it flops to the ground, dead. The few workers you have as a skeleton crew moves out to retrieve the bodies. Each one is quite large, but your workers will be able to manage the job by sundown.

Your warrior takes up position between the antenna and the workers as they move the bodies of the strange beasts.

>Keep the warrior posted by the antenna, and have it keep an eye out for signals
>Bring the antenna into the hive (cannot broadcast or receive through the rock)

>>32072736
>Keep the warrior posted by the antenna, and have it keep an eye out for signals
Need to be on the look out for more robots

>>32072736

>Keep the warrior posted by the antenna and have it keep an eye out for signals
Send another warrior or two with ranged weapons up there too though. Don't want to just have one.

>>32072736
>Keep the warrior posted by the antenna, and have it keep an eye out for signals
Maybe having the thinkers study the asshole flying things would make for good radio improvement.

>>32072796

We'll add it to the list I guess.

>>32072736
>Keep the warrior posted by the antenna, and have it keep an eye out for signals
Would it be possible to boost the power of the antenna with a dedicated thinker?

Also, is anyone imagining the Unity as the Unity from Sins of a Solar Empire?

>>32072777
I think that one warrior is our last one anon.

>>32072736
>>Keep the warrior posted by the antenna, and have it keep an eye out for signals

>>32072736
Well as long as no voters are dumb enough to transmit anything later...

Cuz next time it might be a robot hearing us.

Guard it.

>>32072736
>>Bring the antenna into the hive (cannot broadcast or receive through the rock)

>>32072736
Can we upgrade that warrior with any resources?

>>32072813
I got the feeling they were some sort of AI myself.
>suspect server ship in system.
Server ship implys AI

>>32072815

Oh really? We made 2, at first right? with 2x Thorn Launchers/Sting things apiece?

Did I miss a thread where we lost one?

>>32072852

>>32072855
In the fight with the drones.

>>32072852

Yeah, I'm with anon. They're definitely AI, especially with the backstory Hive Drone provided.

>>32072875

Aah, I thought that one just got its chest plate damaged. My bad.

>>32072881
No. Really.

I don't think this was ever even a question once the scientist doctor described them,

>>32072813
A thinker would give a bonus to interpreting data using it, and it would be effected by an idle thinker's passive bonus, which is essentially the thinker micromanaging everything to be more efficient when it doesn't have anything to do, because it wants to be helpful.

>>32072815
one is escorting the survey team, the other is guarding the antenna, three more will hatch tomorrow, but you already made plenty of weapons to arm them.

>>32072904
Yes, he later ate the damaged plate to regrow it, he's all better now.

>>32072848
It has already been upgraded with metal in its carapace, making it much tougher than normal.

>>32072955
Right, I forgot about the one who healed up.

>>32072736
Your workers pull the corpses of the two creatures into your hive, you think it best not to eat them, but study them. At first glance it appears the creature has a natural ram jet as its method of propulsion, with the wings used only for lift and maneuvering. You add it to your list of things to study, and check on your survey team. They are returning to the hive, and have found signs of metal deposits in the river valley just to the north. You could build a mine immediatly if you wished, although drones would be vulnerable as they moved from the mine to your hive. Your diggers will hatch tomorrow, and should be able to dig a tunnel to the site within two days, if you so choose.

>Build the mine on the surface
>Dig a tunnel to the mine underground
>Other

>>32072672
I never said there was a problem.

I am asserting they're afraid of us. Letting the Speaker remain ijs not contradictory to that.

>>32073049
>Dig a tunnel to the mine underground
Far safer this way. And it's not like we're in a rush on the metal thing.

>>32073049
Tunnel bitches,

>>32073049
>Dig a tunnel to the mine underground

>>32073049

>Dig a tunnel to the mine underground

Can we check up on that research on local flora/fauna? We're running a nutrient deficit and I'd like to fix that.

>>32073049
Can we do a detailed search for any underground dwelling creatures and or flora between here and the mine?

Gotta be prepared

>Dig a tunnel to the mine underground

>>32073121
Tomorrow, we hunt.

Need to hatch some extra enhanced olfactory drones still to help with that.

>>32073049
>Dig a tunnel to the mine underground

>>32073049
>Dig to the site and make the mine underground
Roll 1d100, best of three for effectiveness and efficiency.
Writing up for the next day.

>>32073121
Will be done next day...so now, actually.

>>32073127
The area in question is very rocky, you doubt a natural creature could live tunneling through that terrain, and if it did you suspect the soil would be much looser as a result.

Rolled 71

>>32073216

Rolled 34

Maybe we should do something about our food?
>>32073216

Rolled 96

>>32073216

Rolled 46

>>32073216

Rolled 54

>>32073216

>>32073235

That's what the local flora/fauna research is for. We have a sufficient stash saved up so that we should be able to initiate further production before problems arise though.

>>32073235
Once our thinkers are finished with our research i'm sure we might be able to do something about that or research something that might help with that.

>>32073235
We should make some drones that filter the sea water into nutrients. We could set them up along the shore.

Rolled 40

>>32073241
The gods continue to bless us in our quest. We must not stray.

>>32073286

We'd need to secure them first. I'd like to find a fungus that we can cultivate in cave-farms myself. We have nutrient-rich water to feed them with, after all. After that, any crop that we can use for agriculture is fine, even if it requires large farms in the mountain's vicinity.

>>32073286
Mimic the ocean squatter?

We'd have to then remove vast swathes of it to take over its niche.

Why didn't I think of it earlier?
We could make diamond armor.

>>32073410

Well, provided we find enough diamonds.

Rolled 56

>>32073410
Diamond isn't really that resistant to damage. Yeah, they don't get scratched, but you can smash them with hammers easy.

>>32073410
why would we want diamond armor?

>>32073216
As the sun sets you make note of the humans carving holes into the trunks of the mushroom trees. Commander Grey walks up to your speaker. "Were you able to get a response?" He asks.
"No." You say simply. He glances the ground for a moment before looking back to you.
"Well, thank's for the effort." He walks back to one of the mushroom trees and plunges a stick into the trunk, then another, until eventually there is a makeshift ladder. Through the night they take shifts, with some sleeping while others work or keep watch. You can hear something in the distance, a faint rumbling, but none of the humans seem to notice.

Your thinkers announce they have completed work on the samples you have taken from the jungle. Most are strange weeds or wild creatures, but several interesting specimens were uncovered.
The first is a small bush covered in what at first glance appears to be a kind of berry, however upon ripening the berries unfold into small, leathery bird like creatures and take flight. The small bird holds no digestive organs, but seems chemically attracted to other birds from other bushes. After finding a mate, the creature dies and becomes a seed for a new bush.

The second is a bulbous fruit filled with a highly volatile substance that bursts when handled roughly or pierced. The seeds are small, sharp thorns embedded within that fly outwards like shrapnel when the fruit bursts. The fruit grows on a vine, apparently sucking nutrients directly from a host, and the seed seems to rapidly root itself in nearly anything it becomes embedded in.

>>32073439
Diamonds also just turn into graphite if burned.

>>32073439
>>32073453
Not that Anon, but Minecraft Joke.

>>32073508
The last is a small, thick algae that you have seen growing almost everywhere, regardless of sunlight. Your thinkers have found that the algae contains incredibly deep roots, going as far as six to seven feet into the soil. The roots are highly conductive, and respond to magnetic fields, while the soft mossy layer above ground is filled with nutrients in the form of tiny spores. The spores are perfectly non-toxic and edible, and when mixed with water become a thick nutrient rich paste. Your thinkers have come to the conclusion that the roots gain energy bu absorbing electrical currents in the ground, possibly caused by the same phenomenon that blocks the human's transmissions.

All three could be made into an excellent crop, but each would need a very different environment. You will only be able to build the infrastructure of one, at least for now.

>>32073508
>The seeds are small, sharp thorns embedded within that fly outwards like shrapnel when the fruit bursts. The fruit grows on a vine, apparently sucking nutrients directly from a host, and the seed seems to rapidly root itself in nearly anything it becomes embedded in.

Ohhh, Bio-grenades. That could be interesting.

>>32073508
>Natural grenades

Sounds useful. We should grow some.

>>32073631
We need to grow this last one, more nutrient generation.

>>32073631
I like the electroalgae. It could also lead to research into bio-batteries and growing better conductive material, as well as communications shielding.

>>32073631
Grow pomegrenades since they can double as weapons.

>>32073631

>All three could be made into an excellent crop.
>The seeds are small, sharp thorns embedded within that fly outwards like shrapnel when the fruit burst....sucking nutrients directly from a host.

wut.

Anyway, for the moment let's go for the algae. We can diversify our crops later.

>>32073631
I like the last one.

>>32073631
That algae.

>>32073631
I like the algae.

We can grow it underground just as well as above yeah? Electric phenomenon is everywhere?

>>32073631
As a crop to grow for food, I like the last one. The second seems more weaponish. Especially if we can make bombs that can be dropped, possibly by something we evolve from the native flyers.

>>32073631
>Mix the first two together
>Enemy comes into our territory
>Suddenly exploding shrapnel birds swarm them

>>32073631
>Bush berries that can fly
>paracitic vines
>moss carpet that doesn't need sunlight
Seems like the carpet will give us more food and be less of a pain to manage, especially if we can get it growing in three dimensions.

>>32073508
>>32073631

Props on your imagination, OP. You're good at this.

>>32073631
Let's put the algae in a cave down where things can't get to it.

>>32073631
Looks like the algae is the winner. You and your thinkers believe that you could hollow out a cavern to grow the substance in a few days

>>32073674
The fruits themselves are quite large and sweet, and it is clear that it has developed its seeds to prevent animals from trying to eat it.

Rolled 54

>>32073761

Get work started on it.

>>32073761
The next day dawns, and with it your new drones.
Warriors +3
Diggers +3

>resources
Nutrients: 204
Metals: 5

Your diggers immediately strike the stone of the hive wall, burrowing through it with ease. In two days they should reach the site of your soon-to-be mine, and by then the refinery drones will be ready and waiting. Your workers, meanwhile, start work on your new algae farm. With a quick survey from one of the diggers you find that the deeper you go, the more of a natural current exists. You quickly make plans for the farm, and your workers leap to the task.

Your thinkers beam with pride, and wonder what their purpose should be now?

Available research options
>Lightning gun
Very slow, potential of failure and destruction of sample device
>Human environment suit
Very Slow, a bulky looking, yet light weight suit composed of tightly woven fabric and small metallic plating covering the chest and forearms. The suit seems to react to injury to the user, and contains a number of devices the humans use to make up for their frail physical structure and sensitive biology. Study of this technology could offer insight into any number of research fields.
>Human technology interfacing
You have determined that the small device you retrieved from the human camp is some kind of artificial data storage. Physically it is worthless, but if you were to spend the time to develop a way to interface your thinkers with it the data within may prove well worth the effort.
>Unity Drone salvage
The physical components of the drone are quite interesting. Opening it up and taking a closer look would give you a much better idea of how the device works (grants small bonus against Unity drones, and unlocks weapon, armor, and propulsion research options)
>Flyer dissection
The strange flying predator uses a form of natural jet propulsion, and seems to hunt by using a natural radar system. Dissecting it could prove quite useful in understanding how these creatures function.

Contact with Guild when?

>>32073919
>Flyer dissection
We shall rule the skies!

>>32073919
>Flyer dissection

>>32073919
Half work on the lightning gun, half on the flyer.

>>32073919
I'll put my vote for either
>Lightning Gun
or
>Human Environment Suit
or
>Unity Drone Salvage

We need something to level the playing field in terms of arms.

>>32073919
>Flyer dissection

>>32073754
Thank's
>>32073938
Heh. Well you need to get to space first.

>>32073955
Agreed

>>32073919
>Unity drone salvage

>>32073919
>Human technology interfacing
It might help us make contact with their probe in space.

>>32073955
I'm this anon, not voting, just explaining my position.

In the fight with the Unity drones, our Thorn Launchers only dented armor and we only took them down from shots to unarmored parts. And I'm thinking those aren't even the worst that may come. Chitin won't really cut it, the way I see it.

>>32073919
The vote appears to be for the Flyer. You have two thinkers working on Unity tech interfacing, and you have three thinkers available to research, would you like all three to work on Flyer research, or split them up? If so, how?

>>32074040
2 on Flyer
1 on Human Tech interface

>>32074040
Two flyer, and one lightning gun?

>>32073919
>>Unity Drone salvage

>>32073919
Human technology interfacing.

Hope it's a star map or something.

>>32074040
How long will the flyer take?

>>32074070
This gets my vote.

>>32074040
Two on the fliers, the third helps with the unity interface.

>>32074040

Just put them all on the Flyer, there's no reason to further sub-divide our researchers.

>>32074040
All 3.

>>32074108

Why would you sub-divide the already divided researchers? That one Thinker alone ain't gonna get much done.

>>32074134
We might as well get started. The interface doesn't have a risk of blowing up in our face, which is why I didn't choose lightning gun, and the Flyer should be relatively quick.

>>32074040
Vote seems to be 2 thinkers to study the flyer, and one for Human tech interfacing

>>32074038
Actually you did a lore more damage than the lighting gun did to them. That much you can tell from watching them fight. Different armor will respond better or worse to different weapons.

>>32074098
Two or three days. I actually roll for each day to give it a little bit of variation, with crits being instant research and crit fails being either totally stumped for the day, or damaging the sample. I try to keep the crunch behind the curtain though.
>>32074084
My god, it's full of stars

At least we got Infrastructure going before elliptic orbit based global summer hit.

How short are the years of this world from when Thinker scxaned it?

>>32074198
Plamsa based weapons are pretty weak in atmospheric conditions.

>>32074200
You estimate the year to last nearly four hundred days, with each day lasting roughly 27 hours. You estimate that it will get much, much hotter before the end of summer, although you don't have a precedent to use to predict with any accuracy. Because most of the year is spent moving away or coming close to the star, most of the year is spent in winter, although the atmosphere keeps in a lot of the heat, so you doubt it will ever be extremely cold.

>>32074198
As the day moves on you suspect you may actually have a quiet and uneventful moment. You can hear the distant calls of the flyers as they screech at the ground on the southern side of the jungle, likely tormenting some herd of creatures, and the humans are making good progress on their camp site, although the distant rumbling has become slightly louder, as if something is demolishing the jungle. Even still, things remain relatively peaceful as your speaker listens to the hum of the fence's electric current. You have noticed the ground moving ever so slightly as small creatures writhe in the current, with several decent sized worms coiling themselves long roots and branches that have come in contact with the fence. A few even try to get at the source, but are quickly fried for their trouble. Your speaker makes a meal out of the ones that had proven themselves just a little too brave.

>>32074362
We should offer the humans refuge in our hive. We can feed them, hopefully.

>>32074362
Again, the distant rumbling can be heard deep within the jungle, this time it looks like some of the humans hear it, although they seem to dismiss it as simple ambiance.

Suddenly you feel your antenna's sudden fright as it is startled by an unexpected signal.

"Sig..eak...ease repeat las.....attle group Texas re........say again."

Well maybe tomorrow can be boring. The human commander will want to hear this, but do you want him to know?

>[Y]
>[N]

>>32074362
Man,

Guess we should send a foraging party that also scouts that rumbling.

>>32074455
>[Y]

>>32074455
>[Y]

>>32074455
>[Y]
No real reason not to tell him.

>>32074455
Y

>>32074455
>[Y]

>>32074455
Yes. Tell him about the signal. Including repeating exactly what we heard.
But warn that the hive is not entirely sure if it's the Unit pretending, or actual human aid.