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>>34213389
>Current armory
41 Thorn Launchers
2 Thorn Cannons
23 Sting Casters
1 Rotary Stinger
3 Fire Sprays
1 Plasma Spray

>Current resource reserves
Nutrients: 2969
Metals: 14730

>Hive population and upkeep cost
Hive maintenance – 75
Queen – 5
Worker (480) – 960
Radiator Worker (40) – 160
Warrior (109) – 436
Thinker (49) – 147
Quantum Thinker (20) – 100
Speaker – (1) – 4
Digger (30) – 120
Refinery (10) – 70
Sniffer (2) – 8
Small Sniffer (40) – 40
Fly (10) – 40
Wasp (59) – 295
Antenna (3) – 9
Haz-mat Workers (20) – 80
Shock Troops (15) – 195
Excavator (9) – 171
Colossus (2) – 30
Advanced Relay (6) – 600
Space Pod (3) – 90
Shuttle (2) – 50
Scout Corvette – 325
Lancer Corvette – 200
Nutrient costs: 3685

>Income
Metals: 2500
Nutrients: 4050
Net: 365

Hive Structure
>Reservoir
>General storage
>Food storage
>Advanced Laboratory
>Infrastructure
>Hangar facilities: Room for 40 Aero Drones and 20 Shuttles (25N)
>Mine: +250 M per day (+25 M per digger)
>Algae Farm: +4000 N per day, 40 Workers (1 worker per 100N)
>Clarke Research Outpost
>Hel’s Angel Prison Outpost
>Docking Pylon: Space for docking and construction of 4 ships (50N)

Current Construction Projects
40 Algae Farms (+4000N, 40 workers)

New Construction Options
>Algae Farm – +100N per day, 1 worker to maintain
>Hangar Expansion – Add on to current hangar facilities for your choice of +40 aero drone space, or +20 shuttle space. 50N 100M
>Anti-orbital battery – A bunker armed with a massive Particle beam capable of attacking ships in orbit from the ground. It includes the power and sensor systems required to operate it. 250N 1500M

Ship Construction Options
http://pastebin.com/a7Q1shZe
http://pastebin.com/YTwGk8n1

>>34213389
>three corvettes and a cruiser have released from their docks and are accelerating outwards towards the edge of the system.
We need to hurry.
>>34213425
>http://pastebin.com/a7Q1shZe
Why are you still posting this?

>>34213425
>Available research options
http://pastebin.com/F6t39KSp

>>34213457
Why indeed. I forgot to remove it from the document I use to keep track of everything. My bad.

>>34213389
I think the first order of business is to load 40-50 warriors in our corvette at homebase and ship them out to the frontlines. As soon as it gets there, pull back our Scout Corvette for repairs.

Stealth isn't an issue at the moment, time is and we need all the bugs on the ground and functional ships as possible for contingencies.

>>34213618
We'll need a 100 of Workers to carry stuff around too.

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>>34213512
What few drones remain on the planet's surface surround the artificial cave entrance. The humans within are clamoring within the antechamber in a panic. You cannot tell with certainty how many humans there are left, but you know you were able to at least injure several in your assault.
"Medic! He's been hit!"
Several humans huddle around their injured as they drag them deeper into the antechamber.

The humans you hold captive within your damaged corvette have been secured in the cargo area.

>Use your lancer corvette to bring reinforcements
>Retreat from the planet

>Send your scout corvette back to the hive
>Use your scout corvette to patrol the system
>Other

>>34213707
>Use your lancer corvette to bring reinforcements
>Send your scout corvette back to the hive

Are Unity still in-system? They could help with the patrolling.

>>34213707
scout corvette patrol. it does not need to engage while unity's here.

bring reinforcement but send it back to hide after.

demand surrender from the cave dwellers. We have held back from more lethal bioweapons, it's in their interest to cooperate.

>>34213738
The server ship is still visible high above you in orbit, but seems more intent on gathering local specimens before a response from the Union arrives.

>>34213618
Agreed, but bring some mini-sniffers too. In the mean time let's have workers start digging holding cells, scout the main ruins with are second sniffer and some workers, have are thinkers start decoding the markings in the ruin, and maybe search for the source of drumming from earlier.

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>>34213389
Oh boy!
My favorite quest of the week!

>Use your lancer corvette to bring reinforcements
>Use your scout corvette to patrol the system

Also something I did on a whim, Its horrible I know

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>>34213389
I haven't had time to catch up, but I DID find this:

>>34213707
>Use your lancer corvette to bring reinforcements
>Send your scout corvette back to the hive

>>34213707
>Use your lancer corvette to bring reinforcements
>Send your scout corvette back to the hive

>>34213787
"It is in your best interests to surrender. Your comrades are alive. Even the human Malik. The violence have been unfortunate, but we have only done what was necessary to prevent disaster. For your own survival, surrender."

>>34213707
>Use your lancer corvette to bring reinforcements
>Send your scout corvette back to the hive

Our lack of tactical flexibility is a bit of a pity, but nothing to be done for that at the moment.

>>34213827
>I DID find this:
Get on my level.
>ahaas.deviantart.com/gallery/

>>34213860
This might be a good idea to try but without reinforcements we don't have the firepower to try again, though the humans dont know that yet.
We can have the collosi threaten to level the whole place.

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>>34213707
>Use lancer corvette to bring reinforcements
>Send scout corvette back to the hive

Your ship rises into the air with a shudder, jolting its human passengers. As it reaches the depths of space beyond it blinks out of existence for a brief moment and back again. You note several of the humans have become ill.

Your lancer moves down to your hive and opens itself for your drones.
Which and how many drones do you wish to reinforce with?

>>34213821
That's adorable, I love it.

>>34213827
>>34213894
Very fitting.

>>34213995
as many warriors as possible
wait have any of them hatched yet?

>>34213995
50 warriors (Equip with whatever we have laying around)
5 Diggers (To help us, well, dig out the ruins.)
1 Excavator (Ditto.)

>>34213995
all warriors and wasps and 5 spy flies.

though we never armed
them yet. should be all thorn launchers for warriors, half cyclotron half sting caster for wasps.

>>34213995
>Warrior (50)
>Wasps (30)
>Small Sniffer (10)
>Worker (15)

>>34213995
>Which and how many drones do you wish to reinforce with?
100 warriors
50 workers
20 Small Sniffers

>>34214093
Yes. Check the population list.

>>34213995
Send in all the flies, half the mini-sniffers, and as many warriors as possible.

>>34213995
wait bring some of the knockout spores

Smoke the bastard out

>>34214094
>>34214108
Why not these two?

Also we may want the stealth corvette repaired ASAP.

>>34214108
>Worker (15)
We'll need more than that. Especially if you want to gather samples of the local wildlife.

>>34214108
I like this but up the Workers to (30).

I also want a decent number of fire sprays on hand in case we run out of time and have to burn everything to clean up.

>>34214163
bring an egg layer and just make a colony then

>>34213995
We should get our Speaker to yell into the cave:
"Humans. Surrender now. The Hive does not revel in cruelty. You will be treated fairly as prisoners."

>>34214108
>>34214175
This sounds good to me.

>>34214141
It takes about a day to make a new one.
>>34214179
We should locate the ocean first.

>>34214179
We can't, this was a Union colony and they're bound to check on it once they realize that the FTLcomm went dead.

>>34214108
Seconding this loadout, manufacture additional weaponry for them

>>34214230
The FTLcomm wasn't up when we attacked.
But your point stands. They'll come by and check it out, and we don't want to be here when they do.

>>34214230
>Union colony
No it wasn't. It was just a research outpost. They were never going to set up a colony here.

>>34214230
yea and there gonna wonder where they bugs coming from?

We nailed the ones who saw our ship and pinned it on the unity but on the ground?

better set up a good base there unless you want to risk shipping troops there for ever

>>34214265
The FTLcomm was actively in use when we attacked, it was just stuck receiving. They definitely noticed when the ship got destroyed and the data stream got cut off.

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>>34213995
Looks like the consensus is
>50 warriors
>30 wasps
>10 small sniffers
>15 workers

With your great number of new drones you no longer have enough weapons to go around.
80 warriors and 30 wasps are without weapons.

>>34214325
Looks like it's time for honorabu melee combat!

>>34214325
there going first wave then

>>34214304
We're going to wipe out/abduct everyone on the ground in the next few days, hopefully. There weren't many, it was in the very preliminary stages.

>>34214270
A research outpost in preparation for colonization efforts. It's a garden planet, unless they find something super deadly, they're gonna want to settle on it.

>>34214325
Can we send the resources to construct weapons on site/in transit?

>>34214325
Then we'll make more Spike Rifles. In the meantime
>Have the ones with guns engage at range and provide covering fire for the charging horde of warriors and their 5-foot long blades.

>>34214397
Hive Queen Quest is the story of a bug queen and how it interacts with the other major space faring races through its seven foot tall, reinforced carapace and arm-bladed intermediaries.

>>34214357
>It's a garden planet
Where everything is poisonous. Which was said so when they landed.
>>34214325
Cyclotrons for all Wasps.

>>34214357
ya and what not explore that site then

leave to the union? maybe we get lucky and it self destructs again?

I'd like to look into the local intelligent life to see how far along they are. Maybe get some dna for cloning or get them to masquerade as stone smashers, get the planet shutdown for colonization, then hijack the satellite (if they leave one), and set up a colony.

>>34214325
We have a massive stock pile of metals, We should start building an armory of pre-made and ready to go guns for your fighters of all types. As soon as they hatch, they can go get armed and run off to fight.

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>>34214325
You have the option of making more weapons if you so choose.

>Build more thron launchers for your warriors and sting casters for your wasps
>Other
weapon options can be found here http://pastebin.com/z4yZdEbK

>>34214467
>Other
Make Cyclotrons for the Wasps.

>>34214467
>Build more weapons; as listed by QM

>>34214436
We could coordinate with Unity on this.

>>34214467
build more weapons and some of the plasma sprayers too

>>34214467
>Build more weapons
100 Thorn Launchers and 50 Sting Casters for the moment

>>34214502
Why use weapons that their armor is designed to protect against.

>>34214357
>days
6.5 hours, optimistically assuming they're only as fast as the Clarke. if those ships were coming here anyway.

do not reveal to unity that we are spying at Koenig though.

The Union arriving and finding a server ship here is the best outcome, no suspicion on us.

>>34214467
>Build more thron launchers for your warriors and sting casters for your wasps

>>34214436
or you know we accept that at some point we gonna have to show our hands when it comes to space travel?

instead of this obsession with pretending to be primitive to a point we aren't even trying to build up the real hardware?

>>34214467
50 Thorn Launcher
50 Sting Caster
50 Cyclotron Particle Beam

Should we make some of the special ammos?

>>34214514
Yes we could.

Guys, you seem to forget that this was supposed to be just a quick raid to prevent the Union from finding the secrets of the temple and hopefull glassing the place before they notice that something was wrong.

>>34214584
Except the secrets are useless unless we have them.
We need those secrets, then we can glass the temple.

>>34214467
>Thorn launchers and sting casters
Equipping your current force of drones costs 1650 M
13080 Metals remaining.

>>34214566
A drone can equipped a limited supply of a single alternate ammunition. All you need to do is designate which you would like to use.

>>34214539
>>34214524
>>34214502
What are you guy thinking? Their armor is highly resistant against those weapons.

>>34214467
Could we make some Sedative pheromones in grenade form?

>>34214558
Or we could build are tech, colonize worlds in secret, and only reveal are intelligence when it's no longer possible to hide it.

>>34214467
>Thorn launcher for your warriors and cyclotrons for your wasps
>15 Fire Sprays

>>34214609
Can we equip our guys with acid?
To counter their armor?

>>34214609
>Y

>>34214607
Well duh, that is obviously a given

>>34214610
iirc, their main enemy is the Unity, which use Cyclotrons rather than projectiles.

>>34214655
They cyclotrons because their armor does not protect against it. QD said this very early on we took down two unity drones.

Just hurry and unload the prisoners and salvage from the cloaked scout so it can return and take the UNcloaked ship's place.

Have said noncloaking ship hide docked at the docking pylon in case they're stopping at home world on the way. Someone in Union intelligence might be justifiably paranoid.

>>34214709
How does whether or not cyclotrons work on humans apply to drones?
First off, Unity drones are built to withstand electrical attacks, like those the Union prizes. We took them down with our kinetic attacks, which they didn't have the armor for.
If the humans expect to fight the Unity, they'll come geared to protect against Cyclotrons, not bullets.

>>34214609
Some acid rounds for some of the thorn launchers should fix any "armor" problem.

>>34214733
Seconding for smarts.

>>34214609
let's make a surplus of all of the ammo, but equipped them with acid ammo and sedative darts

>>34214637
yet no one wants to risk setting up a colony

or really building up our fleet to a capable level in secret

and our status quo is to launch high risk raids and keep pretending to be primitive at all costs?

its alright if we really started to build our defenses and ships you know but we aren't doing that we just keep sticking to building farms and researching tech with nothing to place it on,

its a good strategy but if we don't actually build up then whats the point?

>>34214655
Their armor is designed to protect against melee and ballistic weapons because they are to protect against primitive lifeforms. These guys have nothing to protect them from a cyclotron.
>>34214746
QD said we won because their weapon were designed to fight humans not us. Cyclotrons are way better against human armor.

>>34214798
Building farms is sort of incredibly instrumental to building up fleets. We're working on it.

>>34214798
I want to set up colonies and I want to attempted to do it stealthily.

>>34214733

For max paranoia, explore strange new worlds in uncharted space in the Clarke.

because it gives off a massive energy signature from its quantum power tap.

exploring those systems beyond human borders is a good excuse to keep it from spoiling our home world stealth.

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>>34214609
>Distribute acid and sedative darts to your drones
>Other (write in)

Your corvette quickly makes its way into orbit, passing your scout on its way. In a moment you are looking down at Raligha, drifting past the server ship as cruisers stream in and out of its vast hull.

Your corvette touches down in the small clearing of the ruins and your drones fan out.

57 Warriors
36 Wasps
5 Shock troops
2 Colossi
2 Sniffers
10 Small sniffers
30 Workers

>>34214798
Ideally the whole exponential worker growth with the farms idea is what will support the kind of massive buildup you're aiming for, and that's what we've been doing.
I also like the idea of starting hidden proxy colonies on other worlds though, since its our advantages that allow settling worlds quickly, so long as we dig in quietly.

I'd like to have half of our thinkers working with the twins to decrease the research time of the subjects listed below, while leaving the other half to translate the markings in the ruins, or to micromanage our drones as we assault the remaining humans and explorer the ruins.
research made simpler by working with Huey and Dewey:
Regeneration Tank
Drop Suit
Lyle’s Combat armor
Magnetic Levitation
Net gun
Cybernetics (I think)

>>34214916
Call for the humans to surrender and guarantee their survival (not really, since we still have dissections to do) and leaving the research data on the temple intact (in a way)

>>34214862
Also, We should look into farming other types of food stock we can farm on other worlds in case the fungus we have been eating gets wiped out some how. It never hurts to diversify the food production.

>>34214977
If we had another human there we could probably get them to yell into the cave to convince them of that. I don't think they'd believe it otherwise.

>>34214977
>not really, since we still have dissections to do
We already done that. We need them for mind control weapons

>>34214916
>Distribute Acid and sedative darts.

And:
>>34214977
This. We should talk to them.
"The Hive's component beings do not value their lives. Whether they die in an accident or from gun fire matters not. But the Hive believes you'd much rather not be torn to pieces by our claws. Surrender, and we can guarantee you die of age instead of violence."

>>34214862
>>34214877
>>34214926

yet and the chance to set up our drydocks and build up or fleet from just recon ships is ignored

we ignore building our ground troops to a point we sent them all on this raid and just layed some after

i mean i get what you guys are saying but we are doing actions that are going to expose us very quickly and pretty much make no sense with what we got?

frak and lets not even talk about the players you just keep tossing designs every time

>>34214916
Do we even HAVE sedative darts? We haven't researched any, so I can only assume we'll be killing 80% of everyone we try whatever improv compound we're using on.

>>34214916
>Distribute acid and sedative darts to your drones

>>34215079
We researched them.
It'll be fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow84xSOUH7k
Here is a present.

>>34215115
No, ya didnt.

that was just next on the list of obvious ideas.

quit making shit up that never happened.

>>34215075
I'm waiting for the asteroid to get mined out to build the capital shipyard. There's really no hurry on that when we don't have the resources to field even a fleet of sub-capital ships.

You want to build more docking pylons and get some frigates or cruisers? I'll back that. A lot of people will. In the last few threads, there's been significant support and chatter for maintaining standing military too.

The reason we launched this raid now is that it wasn't an opportunity that would come up again. The risk isn't actually all that high, all we /have/ to accomplish is killing the humans.

Your concerns have merit, but you seem to think you're the only one with them and that we aren't already taking steps to address them, but that isn't true.

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>>34214916
Your wasps take to the air and quickly make their way to the cave entrance where your other drones are waiting. Your warriors are not far behind and your sniffers quickly fill the air around the clearing.

>Charge in
>Attempt to speak (write in)
>Look for an alternate way in
>Other

>>34215177
>pastebin.com/z4yZdEbK
At the bottom
>Sedative pheromone: This mild mind altering substance is designed to block the chemical impulses that often result in a violent fight-or-flight response, easing panic and helping to calm the subject. While it is most effective on humans, it should show some limited effect in other life forms, although it remains untested. Symptoms include fatigue, drowsiness, increased gullibility and bloodshot eyes.

>>34215211
Are our guys equipped with acid shots?
Also:
>Attempt to speak, see:
>>34215055

>>34214916
>Distribute acid and sedative darts to your drones

Try to avoid using the acid too much, though - we want prisoners, not corpses.

>>34215211
>>Attempt to speak
with this >>34215055

>>34215211
>Look for an alternate way in

then
>Charge in

>>34215177
Apparently we did because we're doing it now.

>>34215211
>Attempt to speak (write in) >>34213860

>>34215211
>>Attempt to speak (write in)
>>Look for an alternate way in
Distact

>>34215055
>>34214916

seconding this dialogue

>>34215211
OP could devote all our Thinkers to boosting our warriors rolls?

>>34215211
>Look for an alternate way in
>Attempt to speak (write in)

Attempt to get them to surrender. The other humans from the camp did so and it would be wise for them to lay down their arms.

>>34215227
I'd strongly prefer a combat-effective tranquilizer agent.

>Attempt to speak (write in)
"You have not asked to enter, we demand your surrender immediately."

They can come to their own conclusions, but it'll shake up cohesion between them. Especially with that civvie in there.

>>34215301
I second this.

>>34215211
>Attempt to speak with this >>34215055

>>34215301
Probably only a handful are necessary, but it's something I've wanted implemented as standard practice for a while now. We might want to devote a core of Quantum Thinkers to train for it even. Hunting excursions, mock combat, that sort of thing.

>>34215301
the shock troopers are the officers they do that if we mix them in with the warriors

>>34215211
>Attempt to speak (write in)
"You have Intruded on our temple! Surrender now, and you will be spared and treated as a prisoner of war."

>>34215403
They provide bonuses via their advanced sensory capabilities which is a different and stacking bonus to direct Thinker support.

>>34215403
They really don't. Only Thinker can be used like this.

>>34215211
>>Attempt to speak (write in)
>>34215055

At the same time,
>Look for an alternate way in

Just in case.

>>34215211
>Attempt to speak (use >>34215055)

If that doesn't work:
>Look for an alternate way in
>Charge in

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>>34215211
Your speaker slowly inches itself to the mouth of the cave, keeping itself just out of view.
"You are individual. We are not. Surrender immediately and you will be unharmed."
Your sniffers inch up to the cave, listening for any response.
"Doctor, can you tell me what the hell is going on?"
"I- how did they learn our language? Captain, if I could speak wi-"
"You are not. Those things have made it plenty clear that their hostile."
"But what if we are the trespassers? If this is their territory we at least need to know more."
>speak (write in)
>Other

Your small sniffers scatter across the valley in search of an alternate entrance.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3 for search.

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>34215601
Sniffer, I choose you!

>>34215601
>>speak
Pretend to be the chosen ones of the temple or some shit like that

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>34215601

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>34215601

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>34215601

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>34215601

>>34215601
>speak
"Even if you do manage to enter those ruins you be endangering your entire race as well as our own."

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>>34215701
WHERE WERE YOU ANON?

>>34215729
*you will be

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>34215601
>>34215641
>"Why have you come here? Why do you defile our temple? You bring fire to the sky and war to this planet that hasn't seen it for millions of cycles, pain we haven't felt since the masters left us here! Why?"

Or some shit like that.

>>34215601
Get the fuck out of our tombs

>>34215601
>speak (write in)
"You do not listen to your wise component. This is why we cannot allow you to violate this place. Surrender to our custody and none shall suffer further violence."

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>34215601
>mix

Some form of warning - gas, flame burst past the cave opening, whatever - and repeat a demand for surrender. Let them know we'll get them out of the cave eventually anyway, best they do so alive.

>>34215772
I'll second this since it doesn't involve bullshit about masters or endangering our species, and it actually makes sense.

>>34215772
agree

So why haven't we used space Amazon?
We should have decent amount of money and our scavenging this place should bring up more money.

>>34215772
This.

We should also move up our fire-shooting guys, so we can bake them out of the cave if we have to.

>>34215922
We need to learn more about space Swiss Banks first.

>>34215772
Agree.

>>34215772
This sounds good to me.

>>34215951
We have unity for that.

>>34215601
Your sniffers begin to search the valley, scattering in all directions as they take to the air.

You sense the female move forward for a moment as she calls out through the cave.
"Who are you? Why are you here? We-" The other human tackles her to the ground.
"What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to get us all killed?"
Your speaker interrupts. "This is our temple. Why have you come here?"
You hear the woman speak again. "Captain, I possess a dozen xenological degrees. If you don't let me at least try to open a dialog with them then we can just sit here and starve. I don't see a better option, do you?"
"Fine. See if you can talk your way out, but if things go south, we're doing this my way."
"Fine."

The human woman rises to her feet and slowly closes in on the far side of the cave. "We're explorers. We found this place and didn't know it was... inhabited. We're human, my name is Elizabeth Vaughn, who are you?"

>Speak (write in)
>Other

>>34216001
As long as we're not letting them handle our banking themselves, for obvious reasons. The banks seem pretty neutral though, just gotta figure out how to start an account.

>>34216082
We are the caretakers of this place

>>34216082
>Speak (write in)
That does not matter

get out of our temple our die

>>34216082
"We are the Red Hive."

>>34216082
Your hosts, or your executioners. Your choice.

I like not outright lying.

>>34216082
>Speak
"We are the Hive. We already know that you are humans. We have already encountered your kind. Surrender and you will be treated fairly as our prisoners."

>>34216082
We are the red hive

>>34216082
"We are Mother's Children. We request that you leave this temple and surrender yourselves to us. We will guarantee your safety as we had with your comrades at your main camp. The alternative is extermination"

>>34216082
>Speak (write in)
"We are. Distinction is crude, Elizabeth Vaughn human. We ask that you surrender your weapons and come out. You will not be hurt."

>>34216082
Human obsession with names does not need to be indulged.

We offer you survival. Malik and your comrades at camp are alive as our guests. Come politely or come violently.

Should we tell them we ate similar to their human ants, Lee did tell us that.

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>>34216082
We are the Hive. Exit and surrender at once, Elizabeth Vaughn.
You hear a whisper. They clearly underestimate the sensitivity of your sniffers.
"Doctor, they blew up the Hope, and burned base camp to the ground, and their working with the damn Unity."
"Um, we had a ship in orbit. Why did you attack it? How do you know the... machines above us in orbit?"
You detect several humans moving further back, just beyond the range of your sniffers senses.
>Speak (write in)
>Other

Your other sniffers think they have found something deep in the jungle, but it appears to be covered in some form of activity. A strange howling and drumming.
>Investigate
>Avoid the area and keep looking for another way in

>>34216082
I'm reading the archives and I just got to the part with the throne room, and I want to say that shut was glorious.

Spear
tell them that the hive does not appreciate having nuclear delivery systems put in orbit of the homeworld

>>34216416
>Investigate

>>34216416
>>Investigate
Tell her that they betrayed us

>>34216468
But they know we attacked all their shit.
>>34216416
I may have missed something but is there any reason we cant just gas them?

>>34216416
>>Investigate
Oh boy, what are the natives up to now?

>>34216416
Tell her that we do not appreciate manipulation of underdeveloped sapient civilizations and threatening them with nukes in orbit. But would she know about that part?

>>34215641
Duck that noise, they already know about unity.

>>34216416
"The machines offered to help us reclaim our temple. They said we had to first ensure that we could not be, in their words 'bathed in atomic fire'. The machines are blind to the Hive's actions and thoughts. Now surrender, Elizabeth Vaughn-human. The Hive grows impatient."

>investigate

>>34216416
They are curious and inquisitive beings, who wished to learn from us. They did not try to plunder the temple, and agreed to help remove the ones who did.

The ship was an armed threat. As are you. Unless you disarm and surrender.

>>34216514
Its a last resort, same with shooting them.

>>34216416
>Speak (write in)
"Machines have not interfered with the Hive. They are of no concern to us. The temple must remain un...explored by outsiders. Destruction was an unfortunate necessity.

>>34216552
This works for me.

>>34216514
I'm not sure we have an adequate gas delivery method on hand. The colossi can probably delivery a decent amount, but they're artillery. Cant really shoot into the cave.

>>34216416
the machine told us of what you do

Investigate the drumming

>>34216527
support

>>34216416
we do not appreciate manipulation of underdeveloped sapient civilizations and exterminating the one viewed as dangerous.

>>34216416
We have deadlier weapons than projectiles, humans. We have not used them. Do not make us by trying our patience.

>>34216416
We found nukes hovering over our planet, unity took them away.

>>34216664
That is a lie, we could Cate less, the thing we didn't like is the nukes hovering above us.

>>34216664
>>34216666
>letsjustrevealeverything.jpg

>>34216416
The machine rained down in bright red fire. Crippled and dying. One was saved. The stars seen again. The guardians lay dead upon the holy site. The hive returns.

>>34216712
they arent going to live through it

>>34216552
This works, it doesn't reveal too much and it's not preachy or viewed as hostile.

>>34216712
We're intending to use them for experiments.

>>34216731
Sure they are. They're intelligent professionals, at the very least we should know what they know.

>>34216731
>>34216751
>letsassumeeverythinggoesasplanned.jpg

>>34216724
>>34216552
A combo of these two.

>>34216724
I like this.

>>34216600
Seekers?

>>34216773
>Implying they'll get away.

>>34216816
>implying humans aren't total motherfuckers

>>34216810
They could only carry spore grenades, unless we make a special position drone full of spores and poison gas.

>>34216724
Tells them what they know without giving too much away so I like this.

>>34216816
Lee could get away, and the Tucker has no arms and legs, short of amputation them, the same could be said about them.

>>34216851
just make a banling variant then

>>34216851
They can carry any chemical payload we have. Including the poison gas.

>>34216416
"They fell from the sky and were willing to assist us. You have proven to be a threat, disarm yourselves and surrender now."

Your sniffers move in and the noise quickly stops. You find a number of small, hollow spheres covered in holes hanging from the trees in small clusters. You can detect movement inside. As your sniffers approach the small structures you hear a horn blast from within a tree, its hollow roots filling the air with a deep howl. Several round shapes spin along the vines overhead, each one a round, bloated cylinder with ten limbs on either end. It rolls under the vines like a wheel as several of its limbs beat against bloated air filled membranes along its sides like drums. One of them stops briefly, hanging from a tree by a slender arm as is looks to one of your drones. You can't find any eyes, but you feel as if it is looking at your drone with some sense.
Just beyond the village is another artificial cave, covered in the colors of smeared fruits and wreaths of vines. At the mouth of the cave is a crude statue of woven foliage of a six limbed creature. It is too simple in its design to make out any details.

"Doctor!"
Elizabeth quickly glances behind her and back to the cave. "I'm sure more of our kind are on the way to find out what happened to our ship. We would be more than willing to leave with them and never return here." She pauses, then continues, "But I would hope we could learn more about each other."

>>34216953
We know of your FTL communication and that it is disabled, surrender now or face death.

>>34216953
Convince them to leave the cave, then when they're in the open, tranq them (we do have tranquilizers right?)

>>34216953
"Your kind will not be coming. The Unity has made sure of that."

>>34216953
"Time is of the essence, Elizabeth Vaughn-human. The Hive is more than willing to speak to you as an individual once you as a group have surrendered, as we do not pride ourselves on cruelty."
Have our speaker pause for a moment, and approach a little closer.
"The Hive has decided that you have been given enough time. You will come out in thirty moments, or the Hive will come in."

>>34216953
Learning more is precisely what is forbidden.

>>34216953
>First contact protocol
Series of laws to prohibit unintended rebellion or violence on newly annexed worlds. Discovering commanders are required to adhere to these protocols or forfeit all charter rights and dividend payments. All new sentient races MUST be classified as one of the following.
0- pre-history. No development or invention. Avoid contact.
1- pre-industry. Tendency towards tech worship and sudden acts of violence. Avoid contact.
2- industrial. First contact is recommended. Introduction of new manufacturing processes to produce dependency recommended prior to annexation.
3- post industrial. First contact must be performed at once. Prevent further development. Introduction of quantum computer processes to operate infrastructure to develop dependency is recommended prior to annexation.
4- pre-FTL. Classified as the moment a member of their species breaks orbit.First contact recommended. Halt development via commodity and commerce based dependency prior to annexation.
5- FTL. Avoid direct contact. Alert Parliament immediately and await further instruction.

>>34217107
sure why not

say the machines told us

>>34216953
"We lied, we are not from here and whatever is here is starting to move. We do not want you to die unnecessary and i can guarantee you that we will not harm you if you come peacefully. We can not say the same for what is in this temple."

So did we meet the natives or drones from another hive?

>>34217077
Ultimatum yes. This distraction is tiresome. All it's good for is preventing them from spending time trying to enter.

Make the time limit 10 minutes.

"We have learned all we care to know of humanity. Theseus has had much to say."

>>34216911
They can, but we don't have any. Seeker-carrying drones, that is.

>>34217219
>"We have learned all we care to know of humanity. Theseus has had much to say."
No on that part, we should remain looking neutral.

>>34217219
I was thinking 30 moments as 30 seconds.
I think they're planning to blow an entrance into the temple, so we need to get them to surrender ASAP.

>>34216953
>At the mouth of the cave is a crude statue of woven foliage of a six limbed creature.
It's a temple to a hive and these are intelligent lifeforms.

>>34217272
Yeah.
We should really investigate further with our sniffers.

>>34217219
Let's not tell them we're /that/ sympathetic to their enemy.

>>34217272
Or drones of of a queen thought be dead.

>>34216953
Combine quoting parts of this >>34217107 With

Threat too great. Outsiders may not know too much. Would Elizabeth like to know more?

>>34217272
or these are a remnant of the local hives

>>34217345
>Or drones of of a queen thought be dead.
That's impossible.
Drones without are brain dead corpses.

>>34217272
>master of the obvious.jpg
If I weren't away from home I'd post that.

Time for Ewoks to meet their golden god, yes. With their divine, alien bilateral symmetry.

>>34217270
Oh I misread moments as minutes, sorry. Were speaking English though we can say 30 seconds.

>>34217414
Not if they have thinkers around.
Although it is conceivable a thinker would die of depression if its queen died, leaving it the sole survivor.

>>34217405
>these are a remnant of the local hives
That is impossible. Would have heard them talking by now.

>>34217414
More like coma patients. Not that they'd live long without eating. Also, Thinkers can direct drones at a vary basic level. They wouldn't be doing all this tribal crap though.

Do we know how old this temple is?
If not then it could be pretty recent and belong to family.
>>34217414
Could be a new adaption.

>>34217451
I was thinking we should give off a little of a primitive vibe, or one of not knowing a whole lot about humans/humanity.
So that instead of turning themselves into the bugaliens who're allied with Skynet, they're turning themselves into the bugaliens who are new to this whole spaceships thing.

>>34217462
Maybe they have De-evolved from being able to use telepathy? OR we are seeing another race altogether?

>>34217479
True.

Hey, QM, if Queen were to die, would her thinkers default to depression then suicide, or try to hatch a new Queen (assuming egg-layer is around)?

>>34217451
>master of the obvious.jpg
Not all the people here are smart enough to figure it out.

>>34216953
Your speaker turns the corner to look at the human, startling her for a moment. "We know much of humans already. You have wasted enough time. Surrender now. We will not ask again."
Your drones begin to move into position around the cave and you see Elizabeth duck back away from the cave entrance to the other human.
"I think your negotiations broke down."
"The site is clearly important to them, but they already know enough about us to negotiate."
"You think we should surrender?"
"I don't think we should sit in here and die, which is the only other option I can see, captain."
"I think we've found a third option, actually. Smith," He whispers even lower, "You done? Get the grav bike set up, hurry."
"You wouldn't! We have no idea as to the cultural importance of this place!"
"Yea, and now you'll have plenty of time to write about it once we get out of here."

The small creatures are each almost a meter long, with twenty limbs in total, each curled inward towards their bulbous bodies. Several of them quickly reach the ground and slowly approach your sniffers, rolling along the ground like living wheels. Each one seems to keep several limbs close to its body, lightly drumming its knuckles against its swollen, red cheeks.

>>34217527
I guess that's feasible now that quantum thinkers are a thing. Heck, maybe they organize the species to not need a queen.

>>34217602
Shit.

Storm the place.

>>34217602
Burn them.

>>34217602
fuck this shit

crush them

>>34217602
Oh hell no. Charging time. No blowing up walls!

>>34217602
Shout at them in a calm voice.
"I WOULD NOT DO THAT IF I WERE YOU"

>>34217602
Storm the place, get the wasps in the air. If they try to fly out, we shoot them the fuck down. If they try to break in to the temple, we shoot them in the back.
"We heard that. Time is up. If you surrender, lay on the ground."

Have our sniffers avoid getting into grappling range of the natives (without hurting the natives), but try to discern details of them.

>>34217602
See if the good doctor makes out alive, every one else is good as dead.

>>34217602
Have the speaker call out to the doctor chick. Something like: "Any individual surrender will be respected, come out now!"

It'd be a pity to lose her in a number of ways.

>weird round things
Uh, try to have the sniffers look impressive? accentuate their six-limbedness.

>>34217602
>Charge in
Please roll 1d100, best of 3 to attack.

>>34217602
kill them, try to capture the obvious science people.

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>34217769
goggog

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>34217769
Try to make sure the scientist stays alive.

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>34217769
FOR MOTHER AND HIVE.

>>34217769

>>34217804
fuck

>>34217769
Also have Thinker add their bonus.

>>34217602
Storm the place. Utilizing acid ammo to destroy there devices and armor. Utilize the sedative dart to capture them.

>>34217749
This.
>>34217810
This.

File: ImOut.jpg (55 KB, 598x449)

55 KB JPG

>>34217789
>>34217799
>>34217804

>>34217769
Writing, in the meantime, please add in any actions you would like to specify with the locals.

>>34217859
Are you adding the Thinker bonus?

>>34217769
We are utilize are thinkers to boost.

>>34217859
just observe the locals

>>34217859
Do:
>>34217767

Also have our sniffers move towards the statue.

>>34217880
>>34217888
I always assume you are adding the bonus if you have free thinkers.

>>34217913
They are wearing reactive armor?

>>34217859
Task several Thinkers to start analyzing their drumbeat language.

Back up slowly to stand in front of the statue.

>>34217859
I want the sniffers to act, uh, regal? They should emphasize their 6 limbs in the way they stand if they can. Maybe buzz their wings a bit, but not aggressively or as though nervous.

Accept the approach of the creatures, basically.

>>34217956
Most likely, but we are utilizing acid ammo to deal with it.

>>34217809
I'm guessing a bad roll mostly means they get their explosives off in time.

>>34218003
The Cyclotrons have bigger bonus when used against that kind of armor.

>>34218041
I know, I suggest building some.

>>34218041
Not sure cyclotrons are really rugged enough for close quarters combat. The rate of fire isn't great either.

>>34218124
The Cyclotrons on the Scout Corvette are still working after all it went through.

>>34218169
It suffered a single hit that obviously didn't strike either of the cyclotrons.

Well each roll keeps showing how bad a decision this was

>>34218124
And one hit is all they need to stop a human and they are very accurate which
>>34218203
It was also in the blast radius of the nuke.

>>34218216
That's backwards logic and you know it.

File: 1400185435762.jpg (109 KB, 500x499)

109 KB JPG

>>34217769
You hear the roar of a machine coming to life and your drones swarm into the cave entrance. Immediately two humans lean out from cover and open fire, cutting into your advancing warriors. A chitin slug impacts one of the soldiers, bursting open with acid and covering the human with caustic chemicals. He screams as his body becomes clouded with a wispy smoke and the smell of cooking flesh. The other human rolls a grenade down the cave and leaps out of the way. Several of your wasps leap through the cave as it goes off, engulfing several warriors and peppering them with shrapnel. You see a small metal object hovering in the air, behind it is a large sphere, and in front of it is a glowing orb of light. Bits of welded metal are quickly pulled into the glowing sphere as the bike rams into the far wall, slowly tearing into the alien surface of an ornately carved doorway.
Lighting licks at your wasps as they dive into the next line of humans. Acid filled slugs burn into the armor as your wasps close in with their claws. You feel several wink out of your mind as bolts of plasma sear into their carapaces and metal slugs shred them to pieces.
"They just keep coming!"
"Need a reload!"
The bike breaks through, flying into the carved hole and impacting with a grinding bang on the far side of the wall.
"Fall back! You first, doctor." The human leader says as he pushes against the doctor's back. She quickly moves to the small hole and crawls through, followed by another human.
"Let's go, people!"
Your warriors break through the hail of fire, pouring through the bottleneck. The humans spread their fire in desperation.
"I'm out!" One yells as he backs towards the hole in the wall. You see several humans dragging wounded away from your advancing drones.
"How many are there?"
"Just fall back! Wounded first!"
The Union troops hoist up several bleeding soldiers and toss them through the hole. As they start to scramble through themselves your warriors close into melee.
1/2

>>34218532
Avoid killing incapacitated guys!
We need captives!

>>34218532
Could we use their CIP pistols against them?

>>34218701
Claws, we need special versions for us.

>>34218694
We have captives.

>>34218739
The more the better

>>34218754
At this point I stopped caring about taking captives.

>>34218780
yeah me too, we have lost too many warriors trying to take these humans captive.

>>34218780
You can never have too many. And you should care, They have value, either has hostages, or test subjects.

I wonder if they would shut themselves once they see our shock troopers or large drones.

>>34218532
You hear a click from their leader's weapon. He throws it at the nearest warrior and pulls out a knife as the last soldier makes it through. A warrior moves in and he rolls to the side, planting the small blade into the joint of a leg. He pulls it out, sending a thin stream of blood arcing into the air and a blade pierces through his shoulder from behind and sending him face first into the ground and his knife sliding across the floor.

You take a quick account of the scene. Including the doctor, nine humans managed to escape through the hole, while the room is littered with bodies, both human and drone. You count twelve humans dead, three wounded, and the captain, alive but bleeding.
>Drag them back to your corvette
>Kill them and continue your charge
>Other

At the small village you hear a tremendous noise echoing from the cave, sending the locals into a panic. They spin in reverse, rolling up the trees with impossible speed and grace and go spiraling through the vines.
Inside the artificial cave you hear what sounds like stone grinding on stone, and several of the carved patterns begin to light up with a soft glow on the walls.
>Enter the cave
>Avoid the cave
>Follow the natives
>Other

You have
41 Warriors
13 Wasps
5 Shock troops
2 Colossi
2 Sniffers
10 Small sniffers
30 Workers
remaining on the planet.

>>34218822
Eh they are easily replaced.

>>34218780
The more we have, the more aggressive testing is on the table as an option.

>>34218822
I'm not sure we really have. At the times that capture was emphasized as a priority, we steamrolled them with minimal losses. We lost a lot of drones because an entrenched enemy had a chokepoint.

>>34218867
>Continue charge, but have workers come in to secure the captives to the ground, and/or bind their injuries.

>Enter the cave.

>>34218867

>Kill them and continue your charge
>Enter the cave

>>34218867
Can we continue the charge and let the workers drag them out?

>>34218867
>Drag them back to your corvette
Try to not let them bleed out.
>Follow the natives
When in Rome.

>>34218867
>Have workers drag them back to your corvette
>Continue your charge
and
>Other
Split the sniffers. Follow the natives and enter the cave.

>>34218867
>>Kill them and continue your charge

Kill all of them except the captain.

>>34218946
>>34218915
Seconding these.

>>34218923
This.

>>34218930
Our workers can handle them, and we have sniffers to spare. Lets investigate.

>>34218946
Second

>>34218867
>Drag them back to your corvette: Workers
>continue your charge

>Enter the cave
>Follow the natives

>>34218867
One warrior stays and guards these four.

Rest, charge.

Check out what the cave's security system says, sniffers.

Send a tachyon query to it maybe.

>>34218867
>Drag them back to your corvette with workers and continue onward with soldiers.

>Enter the cave
>Follow the natives

If sniffers are split, focus on the cave. I only want one to go with the natives so they're easier to find later if there's time or opportunity.

>>34218867
>Have workers take injured to the corvette
>Continue your charge

Please roll 1d100, best of 3 for attack.

>Split sniffers

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>34219076

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>34219076

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>34219076

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>34219076

>>34219097
>>34219109
>>34219113
Like I said before,
>assuming humans aren't total motherfuckers

>>34219097
>>34219109
>>34219113
These fucking rolls.
I really wish I could change out my BC dicebot with the /tg/ one.

>>34219097
>>34219109
>>34219113
The dice are not with us today.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>34219076

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>34219076
damn it

>>34219097
>>34219109
>>34219113
Okay I'm done with taking the humans alive.

>>34219097
>>34219109
>>34219113
It's a good thing our drones are entirely interchangeable entities with no hopes, dreams, desires, or even thoughts besides serving as instruments of our will or I would feel bad for them.

>>34219149
They haunt been with us since the start of the attacks.>>34219159
Only 9 left and they are scientist I think we killed them by accident.

>>34219159
Who said we're trying to? If it happens, it happens. The only one I'm invested in capturing is the doctor, and she's unlikely to even attempt violent action so there's no reasonable expectation of her resisting to the point that lethal or even particularly violent measures would need to be taken to capture her alive.

The dc should no low for this especially, considering the ones left are mostly cities and shouldn't have armour.

>>34219205
Ancient temple must be interfering with us at this point. Curses of the meta-temple!

>>34219354
>>34219205
They're at least mostly injured, not sure if there's civvies besides the doctor. Should be easy to track them down by scent if they're bleeding all over the place anyway.

The real danger is the random bullshit found in ancient temples.

Great. Did it again. Rushed headlong into bump limit early, once again vastly reducing our once weekly play time. gg guys.

>>34219482
Dude, what is it you think we're supposed to do besides what we've done? No drone designs were discussed, there were almost no dumb redundant questions, and arguments were short and to the point.

>>34219482
OP will create another thread if it's not past 12.

>>34219076
"Captain!" You hear from the other side of the wall as the captured leader is hoisted into the air by your warrior's blade and tossed to the surging tide of workers as they fill the room, silently gathering discarded gear, corpses, and wounded alike and dragging them back into the jungle.
Your drones move to the wall, and are immediately hit with a hail of lead and lightning.
"Get going! Find another way out!" A human shouts as he opens fire while leaning on the wall. Another tosses him a small bundle of ammunition.
"Give 'em hell." He says as the others run down the hallway. It is poorly lit, but you can see it continues on for some distance before splitting into a labyrinth of hexagonal tunnels. Your drones begin to crawl through as the human lays down a wall of fire, stopping only to reload. A wasp gets through the hole and takes flight, then another as he solder adjusts his aim. Several warriors shimmy through the cramped space and the injured human spreads his fire in wide arcs, peppering your drones as they rush in from all directions. He lets out a single, stifled yelp as your drones roll over him and continue on their way.

Your drones fan out. You can sense that most of the tunnels are interconnected, moving in spiraling patterns for miles in either direction, while a main hall moves directly across the mountain side to the cave on the far side near the village. Your drones can't make out the entire temple, but it appears to taper slightly along its axis.

>Charge them down
>Follow them from the darkness
>Other

>>34219594
>Charge them down

>>34218532
>>34218867
>posting multi part updates not one minute apart

QM please don't do this. Best to get it all in one shot than piecemeal.

>>34219594
...

Is this temple actually a sunken ship?

>>34219594
>Charge them down

>>34219594
>>Charge them down
Our shock troopers can easily track them down.

>>34219594
>Charge them down

>>34219649
I thought so for a while. We could probably take the entire ship with us.

>>34219594
>Follow them from the darkness

>>34219725
What are the Shock troops specs again?

>>34219594
Attempt telepathy on temple. Or something.

>>34219594
Outside half of your sniffers follow the native creatures as they spiral and roll in the air through the vines while the other half move in on the cave. As you follow the natives you notice the size and shape of the mountain range. It is unusually uniform in height, gradually decreasing to a large waterfall where a lake has formed near a massive overhang. A small collection of settlements have formed in the shadow of the mountain surrounding the lake and you see the creatures drumming increases as they approach, triggering the sound of horns and deep bellowing from the collection of villages.

Your other drones move into the cave and quickly spot the crashed bike, snapped in half and half-buried in a crater as it chewed through the doorway. What remains of the door is spinning and slowly separating in rings, folding aside peice by peice.

>Charge them down
Please roll 1d100, best of 3

>>34219648
Sorry, I just ran out of space is all.

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>34219796

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>34219796

File: 1327472397427.jpg (289 KB, 714x700)

289 KB JPG

>>34219804

>>34219768
Basically a warrior with wings, exploding glands, and various sensory capabilities.

File: 1406399658377.jpg (46 KB, 640x480)

46 KB JPG

>>34219804

Hahaha, first roll in few weeks too.

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>34219796
yes