>>36393659
Been awhile man

>>36393659
It's time for HOUSE AND DOMINION!

>>36393659
It's mofo House and Dominion! Time for the salvage and cash madness to begin!

File: Station.gif (7 KB, 467x211)

7 KB GIF

Most technical difficulties now resolved. Not all.

>Cont.
It is likely the Dominion as a whole will remain in a state of turmoil for some time.

You may have your hands full with your assignment. While you've decided to pick up extra equipment the base will need using some personal funds there are some things that cant be rushed. The new trainees will be learning to pilot Dominion and Terran built Assault corvettes which you personally only have a couple hours practice time with. Thankfully you'll have some backup in the form of your subordinate trainers, and plenty of time to practice with the actual ships while the rookies are in the simulators.

The first batch are not what you'd been hoping for. Some are experienced personnel from the Houses in the region no longer directly contributing, you're sure they'll do fine, it's the others you're worried about. Many of them were only tested for the basic entry requirements to the pilot corps or OCS before those who wanted to volunteer to join the Alliance were thrown onto a shuttle and sent your way. It seems their Houses don't want to waste training resources if they can get someone else to do it for them.

Some of these irregulars are going to wash out. There's no doubt that you'll have some fail grades for the assault corvette training but some of those with duller reflexes might still suitable of get jobs as helmsmen aboard larger starships where maneuvers are more about punching in roll and pitch on a display pad.

Your trainers will begin initial assessments to determine necessary levels of memory imprinting.

How many of your pilots are you willing to fail out? A fixed percentage, say the worst 10% to encourage competition? On a case by case basis more dependent on minimum grades?
Or would you prefer to try to find alternate positions for those who don't make the grade?
You could even decide to keep on some of those who are remedial longer than is normally permitted.
>Your orders?

>>36394370
>How many of your pilots are you willing to fail out?
Everybody who might prove dangerous to their allies if we let them fly combat missions?

>Or would you prefer to try to find alternate positions for those who don't make the grade?
Well, we could at least take a look at their file and talk to them to see if the alliance could make use of their talents elsewhere.

>>36394370
>How many of your pilots are you willing to fail out?
Every single one that is not able to fly the ship after training is done. I don't want to send out pilots that are only able to operate half the systems on the ship that they are suppose to. They must show that they are capable of flying it to graduate. If they show any potential for other roles such as helmsmen or gunners or the like then we can put a note on their file and send them along to more fitting training exercise.

>>36394465
>Unrelated stuff
I think we should make inaugural visits to the surrounding factions. Bring some gifts, learn the names of important people.

>Training pilots
What happened to that noble who didn't make the grade last time we were training pilots?

>>36394370

Are our orders to produce strike wing pilots or pilots in general?

The first thing we do is group our experienced personnel separate from inexperienced, at the very least on paper. Ideally, split them into different training groups and look for volunteers among the veterans that might want to earn some leadership notations for helping out the new guys.

If our orders are to produce -strike- units, we fail anyone and everyone that doesn't make our cut.

Would we have the authority to send back reports on training results to the sources of our recruits? No personal info, but say wash-out rates based by House or even planets within a House. Something that rivals might be able to use to discredit Houses/Barons trying to shovel bottom of the barrel onto us.

>>36393659
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION

>>36394584
>>36394840
Wanted to get a general idea of the ruthlessness of your training.

>>36394840
>What happened to that noble who didn't make the grade last time we were training pilots?
Threw a fit. Complained to the Baron you'd done the work for. When that went nowhere, complained to parents about it. After looking into it and finding out their kid had effectively been blacklisted from flying they started looking into alternate postings and the possibility of appealing it or getting him a ship elsewhere.

Then those other trainees you'd held back pulled their stunt by deserting and signing on with mercs only to have a couple of them killed in action. After that the parents have withdrawn their appeal of your decision.

...and they've apparently sent you a gift basket. Testing has shown that its not poisoned.

>>36394946
Strike wing pilots, good ones, but its unlikely the Alliance would turn down other pilots or helmsmen.


The engineers from your ships are using the down time and equipment supplied by the base administrator to repair some of the landing pads on the surface of the asteroid. Base commander Gurin has offered to pay the crews for any additional pads they repair after the first two.

Andrina Ixeini, your Shallan second in command is a little disappointed after finding out most of the asteroid interior will be used for cargo storage. She's hoping to convince you to reserve some of it for advanced training.
"The tunnels are large enough for starships to pass through them, I was hoping it might be a good example for the top tier pilots should any of them try to fight their way inside a Neeran Super Carrier. It's rare but I know a few Terran pilots have done it before."

You've seen Windsor pull of that trick in a simulator but encouraging such a crazy stunt is likely to just get people killed. On the other hand knowing that it is an option could be useful in a bad situation.

>Do your pilots need to know about this trick?

>>36395284
>>Do your pilots need to know about this trick?
Can we let Andriana fly that maneuver in one of the simulators? If she still thinks it's worth teaching we can talk about reserving some of the tunnels for flight training.

>>36395284
>...and they've apparently sent you a gift basket. Testing has shown that its not poisoned.
Heh...

>Do your pilots need to know about this trick?
Well it would be nifty if they got to learn that but could they not just do that in simulations rather than risking actual ships? But if she insists then sure, reserved space for the awesome suicide maneuver. Who knows, maybe this will become the go to maneuver to dealing with Super Carriers!

>Wanted to get a general idea of the ruthlessness of your training.
Work them to the bones! Got to make quality pilots and since they are not all naturally skilled then they have to compensate with hard work.

>>36395284
>Do your pilots need to know about this trick?
Yes, classified as a kamikaze/suicide/death or glory strategy. Holobooth simulations for it will be available later during training.

>gift basket from noble brat's parents

We should send them a quick thanks.

>Something from the end of last thread

I brought up the idea of procuring those Gamma-class ACRVs salvaged from the front for RSS, and using them as loaners/aggressors in exchange for getting a small group of RSS/RTS (Aaron, too?) pilots put through the program using the craft. They'd then also double as instructors before RSS/RTS for a few training cycles?

I see it as a chance to get some extra training and potentially elite pilots/instructors among the RSS escorts/scouts, or a core group of instructors for future company pilots. would anyone care to support or shoot this down?

>Well it would be nifty if they got to learn that but could they not just do that in simulations rather than risking actual ships?
Simulators can certainly work. Veteran pilots will on occasion claim that the real thing can be far different from the simulators as they often won't feel the same fear of death, or responsibility for losing a valuable ship.
The simulators also don't accurately portray how strong the gravity is in some turns with the new high maneuver drives unless the safeties are turned off or scaled back.

>Can we let Andriana fly that maneuver in one of the simulators? If she still thinks it's worth teaching we can talk about reserving some of the tunnels for flight training.
The smaller woman immediately becomes nervous.
"Yes sir!"

"Have you actually done it before?" You ask as the two of you head for the simulators.
"I wouldn't have asked about instructing the recruits on it if I dind't know the basics sir. I just haven't done it many times."

Roll 2d20

Rolled 1, 13 = 14 (2d20)

>>36395723
Rolling!

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>36395723
>Roll 2d20
1

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>36395748
2

Rolled 20, 12 = 32 (2d20)

>>36395723

>>36395785
Oh, thank god for that 20.

I felt so bad after rolling the one.

>>36395284
>>Do your pilots need to know about this trick?
I don't think so, it's incredibly risky and likely to get them killed, it's also way too tempting for the gloryhounds among them. I don't think it's required

Things have to be set up just right for this trick to be pulled off properly, and one of them is an SP Torpedo barrage large enough and accurate enough to cut a path through the shields. This part is useful for your people to learn even without plans to attack the ship interior. You've seen Dominion Attack corvette squadrons do considerable damage to the weapon emplacements of super carriers like this before by flying beneath their shields. It's possible some of the more ambitious pilots might figure out the other half of the trick on their own.

After getting under the shield the difficult part is finding a bay with its armored doors still open. Andrina manages to find one despite begining to accumulate minor damage. Once inside things go right to hell. You're not sure how realistic the sim was set at but there isnt a lot of room to dodge inside of a larger ship. The Shallan somehow makes it to the aft sections near the main drives, despite losing an engine and depleting most of her SP magazine on the way there. This means that it takes much longer to do serious damage to the reactors.

The simulation ends when the trainer's Gamma class is swept over by a wave of escaping drive plasma.

"That... was not my best sir." admits the junior officer after stepping out of the simulator.
The attack run did do quit a bit of damage you have to admit and the initial attack run breaking through the shields is something everyone should learn at some point.

>>36395393
>If she still thinks it's worth teaching we can talk about reserving some of the tunnels for flight training.

>>36395648
>kamikaze/suicide/death or glory strategy
>Holobooth simulations for it will be available later during training.

>>36395906
>it's incredibly risky and likely to get them killed, it's also way too tempting for the gloryhounds among them. I don't think it's required

Do you want to make simulations of it available to the top pilots late in training or keep it from them?

>>36395723
Save it for advanced training, or to spring on over-cocky recruits.

Lurk in there yourself to wreck 'em hard the first time.

>>36396288
Might as well make it available in late training, or as an example. It'll probably keep them from trying it IRL once they see how often they die.

Maybe offer it as an optional challenge, with some sort of light punishment for failure, extra PT or something. Or making them attend their own funeral. Or making them be a ghost, and not letting anyone in their squad talk to them, or let them open any doors etc.

>>36396288
>Do you want to make simulations of it available to the top pilots late in training or keep it from them?
Sounds reasonable, kinda like an advanced class. If they prove capable in simulations we could probably move it up to real ships.

>>36396288
>"That... was not my best sir.
"It's still impressive. We can count the pilots who performed that maneuver in actual combat and survived on one hand. I doubt more than ten thousand pilots will have managed it in simulations."

>>36396304
Sounds good to me.

>>36395723
>The simulators also don't accurately portray how strong the gravity is in some turns with the new high maneuver drives unless the safeties are turned off or scaled back.
Well we can't just turn them off and throw them into the deep end of the pool to make a point. Keep the safeties on but have the walls of the bridge bleed or something equally dramatic. That should get the point across.

Rolled 5, 4 = 9 (2d10)

>>36393659
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION!

"It's still impressive. We can count the pilots who performed that maneuver in actual combat and survived on one hand. I doubt more than ten thousand pilots will have managed it in simulations."
After thanking you for the compliment everyone gets back to work.

The pilots are put through rigorous training. You all want to make the most of the memory imprinting they've received to make sure everything stays fresh in their minds.

The more experienced pilots from the other Houses are among the first batch thrown into the assault corvette training. At your request they also help the less experienced pilots when they have time. A few seem to be of the opinion that they're better than everyone else and want to be graduated early rather than be held back by the junior pilots.
They haven't finished your curriculum yet by a long shot, including what could be one of the most important sections of all.
Anti-boarding drills and survival training.

Just because it would be difficult for a ship like a corvette to be tacked and brought down doesn't meant couldn't happen, and you've seen enough action on stations for one lifetime.

One of your subordinates is a newly Knighted pilot from your attack wings that was assigned here along with you. Knight Irving Whitaker suggests not even giving them a chance the first time and just rolling stun pulse grenades into the barracks while they're asleep.
That may be overkill for these recruits.

How extreme do you want to make the drills and survival training?

>>36396288

You know what lets start first with some heavy brutal under the shield manouvering training like the Dominion Attack wings did.

>95% Success/survival rating required to pass.
> Class I "Shield Raider"


Then Skindancing maneuvers to dance on the skin of a larger ship and hunt turrets while they can not aim at you properly more than one or two at a time in less then one or two seconds to reposition from a wildly different angle (in other words no time at all to shoot you down)
In conjunction with coordination on how it should be done so the whole wing spreads out right so they get optimal damage on turrets stripped from the hull.

>90% Success/survival rating required to pass.
> Class II "Skindancer"

And then we go with flying inside a enemy ship and loosing some guns in them, not the whole deal just fucking up launch and retrieval bays to force them into interoperability, or fucking up
engine exhausts and other large openings.


>80% Success/survival rating required to pass.
> Class III " Bay Hunter"

Once they can reliably get in the bays and such
the fourth stage would be proper death tunnel navigation and getting out with more than a solid chance of survival. They also have to know how and when to punch out of the Corvette if they crash it inside and have decent Ship Boarding and Personal Combat training so they can fight their way to a boarding team or a enemy evacuation bod, shuttle, fighter or corvette and know how to abscond with it.


>70% Success/survival rating required to pass.
> Class IV "Ship Invader"

>>36397503
Like we were planing the Assault. Actually lets have Knight Irwing Whitaker do it, while we do the whole visit some locals.

He is to be given the necessary troops to invade the station and then proceed to invade it, whenever and however he feels like it, as long as there is negligible property damage and no fatalities.

Sure stun grenades in the barracks when sleeping are nasty and something that might and should happen but a fixed test is something that just brings a defeatist attitude.

We are here to show them how to become elite or nearly elite units that in one or two battles get to be elite. Some situations might have only 1% chance of a perfect success and sometimes if they are not prepared the will loose utterly. They need to see examples of their own that success can be had and the work needed to go into it.

So not outright fixing it for a loss, but we can easily go with the best possible simulation of what the enemy or we would do or can imagine to make it even worse.

>>36397503
Extreme, cross reference with our own experiences.

>>36397503
>How extreme do you want to make the drills and survival training?

Stun grenades for those who get a bit too cocky?

We shouldn't overdo things for the rest. I would guess being a great pilot does not necessarily require the psychological profile necessary to make it through hard mode training without permanent PTSD problems.

I would also emphasize survival training over anti-boarding drills.

>>36397503
>How extreme do you want to make the drills and survival training?
Rough but not impossible or sadistic. We want them to reflect upon the lesson and learn from it so they can improve themselves. Not fear it's coming and despite us for putting them though it. We start moderately hard and move up from there.

>36397503
Roll in stun grenades the second time, not the first.

>>36397503

Start them off with a warning like Kavos managed to get off during the Lat'tham coup.

>>36397639
>Actually lets have Knight Irwing Whitaker do it
Let the XO be the focus of ire while the CO looks good? Or second officer in this case.

>while we do the whole visit some locals.
Visit a world belonging to one of the surrounding Houses or just people on the station?

>He is to be given the necessary troops to invade the station and then proceed to invade it, whenever and however he feels like it, as long as there is negligible property damage and no fatalities.
The base commander isn't thrilled about a major disruption of operations and instead offers a compromise. Move your people to one wing of the station once the latest repairs are finished which can then be cut off from the remainder during the drill.
"The moment people begin shooting -preferably just before- you'll need to announce that a boarding drill is taking place in those sections or you'll risk people getting killed. Some of your rookies include those with criminal records. One of your Marines could be seriously hurt if one of them pulled a mono blade and tried to slice their throat."
You promise it will be done carefully.

>>36397675
>We shouldn't overdo things for the rest.
>I would also emphasize survival training over anti-boarding drills.
Understood, though there will definitely be at least one drill by the looks of things.

>>36397696
>Rough but not impossible or sadistic.
>>36397821
>Roll in stun grenades the second time, not the first.
Noted.

>>36398058
>Start them off with a warning like Kavos managed to get off during the Lat'tham coup.

Mixed support on immediate stun grenade use. As that would make things horribly unbalanced they'll be held in reserve for anyone crazy.

After repairs are completed the pilots are shuffled to a different wing. One where there are more training weapons in many of the small arms lockers, and the live munitions are locked up and secured near the Marine barracks.

A few days later Whitaker launches the drill at 0400.

Roll 8d20

Rolled 6, 4, 17, 4, 15, 6, 4, 3 = 59 (8d20)

>>36398409

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>36398409
>Roll 8d20
1

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>36398500
2

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>36398512
3

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>36398540
4

Rolled 12, 19, 15, 10, 1, 13, 11, 4 = 85 (8d20)

>>36398409

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>36398582
5

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>36398603
6

Rolled 8, 8, 12, 17, 12, 5, 13, 15 = 90 (8d20)

>>36398409
Let the games begin. After the Drill, a immediate call to ships for a surprise attack on the station. The Neeran are attacking the station simulation, just after they boarded with infiltrators.

Readines MK2 dril.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>36398626
7

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>36398647
8

>>36398637
No.

Of your 8 squadrons of trainees, 3, 4, 5 and 8 do well enough in repelling the invading marines to pass. 6 and 7th are just below a pass while the remainder are worse.

Of the 4 marine squads sent against them only one team had any real trouble and were forced to retreat. The stun pulse grenades were only used in a few instances, taking out pilots that hadn't really used any cover when trying to go after the retreating squad.

The pilots are tired and sore but while close to half their numbers ended up stunned, those who made it through are happy enough with their performance. Their good luck doesn't protect them against the inevitable. Those who are still awake are ordered by Whitaker to get their fellows to the medbays.

>>36398637
>After the Drill, a immediate call to ships for a surprise attack on the station. The Neeran are attacking the station simulation
>>36398666
>No.

Do you guys want to have them do a simulation once the stunned pilots are revived, suggest some range time or give them the rest of the day off?

>>36399065

Mandatory range time and an intro to anti-boarding drills and 'where to shoot Neeran', then the rest of the day off.

>>36399065
Range drills followed by a lecture on how to combat neeren power suits.

>>36399065
Give them the rest of the day off. Personally, I would kind of like to have them fight the Neeran blind just to see what kind of techniques they come up with. Then we can teach them what we have found to work as well.

Hey, we could be surprised.

>>36395648
>I brought up the idea of procuring those Gamma-class ACRVs salvaged from the front for RSS, and using them as loaners/aggressors in exchange for getting a small group of RSS/RTS (Aaron, too?) pilots put through the program using the craft. They'd then also double as instructors before RSS/RTS for a few training cycles?
>I see it as a chance to get some extra training and potentially elite pilots/instructors among the RSS escorts/scouts, or a core group of instructors for future company pilots. would anyone care to support or shoot this down?

You should be able to get Arron transferred to your staff at which point you can assign him a ship if you're having some from RSS brought in. Also I spelled his name wrong in the survey.

After a couple of weeks the ships and personnel arrive and are added to your unit. Gurin is annoyed your company will be taking advantage of the Alliance to get some of your pilots trained. Arron quickly responds that he's technically a consultant helping to train the rookies.
His skill level may not rank him as a true ace pilot but he is experienced at keeping an eye on things that seem out of place on sensors.
He helps the trainers set up simulations for pilots and crews to scan for anomalies in the form of cloaked enemy ships.

>>36399410
>>36399538
Once everyone is back on their feet, your trainers get the crews to the weapons range and get them plinking targets.

Later in the day you lead a briefing on Neeran, their personal armor, weak points and the various other species that make up their empire. You relate what you can about those you've encountered and tricks and weapons that seem to be effective.

Given the resistance of Neeran absorber armor to phase weaponry, a few pilots ask why the Alliance is continuing to keep large stockpiles of energy based rifles and pistols.
"Shouldn't we be switching to specialised weapons specifically to fight them?"

>What say?

>>36400018
"You have a point."

>>36400018
>"Shouldn't we be switching to specialised weapons specifically to fight them?"
Yeah! About that...

WELCOME TO CRAZY HAS-ANNES ELEPHANT GUN EMPORIUM. NEERAN TROOPS GETTING YOU DOWN? GIVE THEM A HEADACHE THEY WILL NEVER FORGET WITH MY MEGALODON MASS RIFLE. WHEN YOU SEE THE WOUND CHANNELS YOU CAN INFLICT WITH 11.11 GIGAWATTS OF REPULSOR POWER THE ONLY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND WILL BE, WILL IT MEND?

(The answer is no)

>>36400018
>What say?
"Very true that however the question remains about logistics and availability. Neeran armor has shown a willingness to submit to anti-tank class weapons such as the Republic plasma pistol. Now those guns are not easy to get a hold of anywhere. However several new designs should begin to be introduced to the fighting. One of my own designs is about ready to hit the market and has proven itself very capable of taking on Neeran armor while being compatible with the wants and needs of the logistics guys. Anyways point is that yes, newer weapons are needed to deal with the Neeran forces."

Did we ever get anywhere on selling rifle licenses or are we leaving that for a rainy day?

>>36400418
Add in:
"Furthemore the Neeran employ a large number of standard sized alien species they have conquered, subsumed or are allies with. I have not been able to determine much of a distinction. Expect to encounter Neeran Powerarmored Troops twice to five times more than in a Dominion fight, it makes standard armaments more challenging but not completely obsolete"

>>36400018
>Gurin is annoyed

Didn't we shell out for holobooths and we're certainly not going to get back a few million in inflated price for this facility?

I'm actually a bit curious if Gurin has actual objections to the idea of getting civilians that are likely to work on the front good training, or just the fact that we're not willing to cut our purse strings and bleed financially into the Alliance selflessly. Or if this is some sort of anti-Dominion 'nobles exploiting everyone' sentiment...

Regardless, if he feels that the idea to have the best (or the ones that pass our muster) RSS folks trained here act as extra instructors/mentors to the next groups... We're open to ideas to improve the concept for the benefit of our objectives and charges.

>"Shouldn't we be switching to specialised weapons specifically to fight them?"

Zorg.jpg

"Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, you are not going to fight only Neeran. Their client races seem to make up a good deal of their crew and military forces, with Neeran acting as overseers and officers. There are weapons seeing production for the purpose of giving Neeran specifically bad days, however. I will see to it that holobooth data is made available for as many as can be located, and if possible, physical examples."

We'll probably just so happen to have people lining up to fire our pistol and what RSS repulsor rifles we have available...

File: billy-mays-092909-lg.jpg (47 KB, 300x679)

47 KB JPG

"You have a point about that..."

"However the question remains about logistics and availability. Neeran armor has shown a willingness to submit to Republic plasma based anti-tank guns and similar weapons such as the plasma pistol."
You unholster your pistol momentarily, just long enough for them to see it before putting it away again.
"Now those pistols are not easy to get a hold of anywhere and anti tank weapons are unwieldy."

You momentarily get a crazy gleam in your eye, causing a few in the front rows to wonder if you're okay.

"However there are several new weapon designs being introduced for the purpose of giving Neeran specifically bad days. One of my own designs is about ready to hit the market and has proven itself very capable of taking on Neeran armor while being compatible with the wants and needs of the logistics guys.
I will see to it that holobooth data is made available for as many as can be located, and if possible, physical examples."

"Excuse me sir, but isn't that conflict of interest?" Asks one of pilots.
Thinking fast you reply that your weapons are not the only ones being produced for a similar role. There was that Terran small arms manufacturer that you signed a petition for.

"Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, you are not going to fight only Neeran. They employ a large number of more standard sized alien species they have conquered, subsumed or are allies with. I have not been able to determine much of a distinction.
Their client races seem to make up a good deal of their crew and military forces, with Neeran acting as overseers and officers. Conventional weapons are effective against these client races. Because of the presence of Neeran troops along side them it makes using standard armaments more challenging but not completely obsolete."

>>36400645
There's no guarantee that RSS will continue to do salvage work at the front. If such was the case, and if your people were not helping train the rookies as 'consultants' as Arron put it then you'd be mooching off the Alliance.
Think the first Rogue Squadron novel where Horn gets in shit from logistics because he still owns his fighter when needing spare parts.

At any rate you and they will be fine as long as a few contracts are signed saying they're effectively acting as mercenaries. That should clear everything up and keep the budget on target.

>>36400418
>Did we ever get anywhere on selling rifle licenses or are we leaving that for a rainy day?
Its on the list I have drawn up of RSS expansions that will need approval.

Aside from the early wakeup call, range time and lectures it's the next best thing to a day off for the pilots before they get back at it.

Using Arron's experience with enemy readings you're able to mix up the simulations for the pilots, throwing unexpected attacks at them, but giving them some warning if they're paying attention to lessons about sensors.

You have to remind your people on occasion that they're there to teach the recruits when fighting them in the simulator's not just to kick their asses. Its a little difficult to get that point across at times. Perhaps you can use that?

How do you want the recruits to react when encountering enemy elite units? Press harder to try and wipe them out? Pull back and regroup? Go for reinforcements?

In the field you've generally used overwhelming force and SP warheads to take down any serious threat. You've rarely put yourselves in a situation where the fleet needed to run for it.

>>36401720
>How do you want the recruits to react when encountering enemy elite units?
Depends on enemy to allies ratio, current objective for the simulation and the skill level of the pilots. They need to read into the situation and react accordingly depending on how the nature of the fight flows. For example if they are on a raid and a unit of elites jump in then maybe it's time to bail. Where as if they are running a convoy escort instead then they need to be able to take them out asap while shielding the transports. Formations and mass unit fire should help with that. But really if they lack any clear advantage over the enemy or if they are not forced to stay in combat then they should probably avoid the elites since it would just result in more deaths if they tried to take them out. If they can't bail from the fight because of reasons they should probably try to swarm the elite force and break their formations and then pick apart lone ships one by one in groups.

>>36401720
As long as our people are trying to act like Neeren pilots when in the simulator they are free to kick the rookies asses all day long. Better they experience it now than later.

As for the reaction to elite units. Focus on survival and situational awareness. Throw them into multiple simulations with varying states and a mix of random reinforcements. This would let them realize when to play it safe or aggressive.

>>36401720

>dealing with enemy elites

They need to react based upon the situation. Spring elites on them during attacks, hopefully encouraging them to withdraw and preserve their forces. Spring elites on their simulated allies during larger battles. Will they use their allies as a sacrifice to hit their target? Or will they abort to try and drive off or destroy the enemy elites?

in the end, there is no correct answer. Only what the situation dictates in the opinion of the commander in the field. We're identifying competent leadership just as much as we're training pilots.

>>36401268
"Excuse me sir, but isn't that conflict of interest?" Asks one of pilots.

The fuck? We are dominion.

Our personal interest are the main drive we have, and a major part of that is the welfare of our house, then the welfare of the dominion and then the welfare of the alliance.

Is the fucker clueless or something or is he unaware of how the Dominion works.

Plus fuck yes we are going to be biased for our own shit or shit we know, and of course we bring the same personal focus to everywhere we go. Its part of the reason this station got such a major influx from our own funds.

And probably why RSS might collaborate with this station on a semi regular basis by default if not more, and why cadets here might get shit we get on the market as first dibs.

I think this whole thing was understood by all people involved.

Now the 2nd in Command has qualms about stuff and pilots expect full on separation from what we are instead of wanting us to bring our resources to the pool?

Did these people fail their history and sociology claces and did not lear about neofeudalism?

>>36393659
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION!
I've been waiting for the next thread since I caught up with the archive. Took me nearly a month to get through all those threads.

>>36402038
>The fuck? We are dominion.
And some Houses actually have laws. So does the Alliance. Though if your gun works better than those produced by other people its not a problem.

>>36401927
>Depends on enemy to allies ratio, current objective for the simulation and the skill level of the pilots. They need to read into the situation and react accordingly
>>36401943
>Focus on survival and situational awareness. Throw them into multiple simulations with varying states and a mix of random reinforcements. This would let them realize when to play it safe or aggressive.
>>36401956
>in the end, there is no correct answer. Only what the situation dictates in the opinion of the commander in the field. We're identifying competent leadership just as much as we're training pilots.

Getting your best people together to act as opposition forces, you start to throw in simulations with enemy elite units. The damage ratings the sims are giving the new enemy weapons seem to be consistent with what you saw in the field.

"Evade like hell if you want to live." seems to be the general consensus on how to better survive these engagements. Pushing them into situations were they have to learn to retreat, press their advantage or hold fast to protect convoys takes time. Some people start to use sleep headsets between some of the more intense sessions.

You take not of people who have a good idea of when and how to deploy their units. Everyone gets a chance to command small units just in case something should happen in the field but those who are better at it are soon picked out for higher rank once they graduate.

Before long a good number of them are ready to begin training on the real thing and are put in the available assault corvettes a few at a time.

10% of the trainees are well behind the rest and need quite a bit more work. As many as 40% have begun to consider the possibility of attacking into the landing bays of super carriers in the sims, 1 has attempted it.

Roll 2d20

Rolled 1, 20 = 21 (2d20)

>>36402682
Now this is Podracing!

>>36402038

I believe that Gurin is both the Station Commander and a Terran. His annoyance/concern is valid, but it also gives us a chance to get better at working with non-HeroMode Terrans.

The pilot's concern about conflict of interest is also valid. A political entity can't blatantly exploit the FA or the military and expect to not piss people off.

Luckily, in this case we didn't go full retard and only present the RSS product as a solution. We're honest about who produces the product and offering to locate equivalent products to be compared.

Rolled 20, 19 = 39 (2d20)

>>36402682

Rolled 13, 2 = 15 (2d20)

>>36402682
Dicing.

Rolled 11, 19 = 30 (2d20)

>>36402682
they see me rolling...

>VF-Zero.mp3

In the sim one of the hotshots takes their DHI Mk 3 into an open bay, just barely avoiding losing an engine on the way in.

"Someone is going for it." Announces Andrina just in case you weren't watching.

The pilot goes in much faster than others you've seen attempt the maneuver, knocks out their shields pulling a 90 degree turn but it kills momentum enough for it to be surviveable. Blazing through the interior they keep extranous movement to a minimum and only use SP's to break through the larger bulkheads.

At the end of the dizzying flight the corvette crew dumps 20 remaining SP's into the drive section then gets the hell out, possibly in a more effecient manner than Windsor did. After bailing out it takes awhile to escake from underneath the shield which hasnt entirely collapsed.

"Get me the name of that pilot." You tell Arron.

"Telya Qiuud from House Astalen. Dro'all. Probably the best Dro'all pilot I've ever seen."

What do you plan to do about the rogue pilot publicly? Give her hell for breaking off from the rest of her unit?

What about out of the simulators? Drink? Promotion?

>>36403374
Well obviously we tell her what she did right and what she did wrong. Encourage her to train her flying skill even more, that raw potential of hers could become even better with plenty of training. Also need to encourage more team play. Ditching your wingmen like that is really kinda shity and we need to curbstomp that kind of behavior quickly before she becomes a self entitled prick like Windsor is. Hopefully this will encourage others into putting more effort into the training.

>How do you want the recruits to react when encountering enemy elite units?
She get's a gold star on her file.

>>36402283
Also welcome to the salvage hunt mate! To the left you can pick up your standard shark mug with shark energy drink.

>>36403374
>rake her over the coals for breaking formation
>but that was some goddamn piloting

>take her out for a drink
>fast track her training and start knighthood investing in her future knighthood

>>36403728
>fast track her training/knighthood
That is for her House to decide, if she isn't going full FA. We could send a heads up to the Astalen noble that arranged marines as the point team for power cell armor deployment/testing, though. I don't think we ever got their name stated, though.

>>36403374
Chew her out, publicly.

Privately, commend her on the run and tell her that we hope her initiative isn't just simulator bravery or hot shotting.

Then review her ratings without her there. We may have a Windsor on our hands, or a Mike.

>>36403728
I like this, but maybe call the Pilot of our "office" for that drink and talk of Promotion.

With the Raking of the coals it will look like we are calling them in for disciplinary action but instead it will be something else.

File: flourescent drink.jpg (13 KB, 454x328)

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Once everyone is out of the simulators for that particular round you order everyone to stop where they as you march over to where the ace pilot of the round is.

"Pilot Telya Qiuud, you broke formation without the approval of your commanding officer or even informing them of your intent. Ditching your wingmen like that is something that can get all of them killed, not just you and your crew. What if they had tried to turn back in an attempt to catch up with you? Or if the others had split off to try the same after seeing your stunt?
A pilot's real strength is their ability to work as part of a team. I've met plenty of excellent pilots, officers and Knights in my career, and not all of them seem to get that. I've watched a few of them die or get everyone else around them killed because of that kind of thinking."

You glance around the room.

"Do I need to worry about you going off on a jaunt by yourself in future missions?"

"No sir."

"Good."

"I was going to put a note in your file if you got yourself blown up, but since you didn't I'll have to put two in there. I'll see you in my office after the next round of sims. Take fifteen everyone!"


Three hours later Telya Qiuud reports in. You tell her that you hope she remembers your conversation earlier and will continue to think it over.

Next you tell the Dro'all you're giving her a commendation and will be talking to members of her House about possibly nominating her for Knighthood in the future.

"Sir?"
"You're one hell of a pilot. Some day I hope you'll be able to lead others and not just yourself. Now, how about I buy you a drink?"

File: 1349558464646.jpg (193 KB, 1467x797)

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Due to the lack of holobooths at the moment, the survival training still needed to compliment the anti-boarding drills conducted so far have run into some complications.

Additional EVA training is easy enough with the station and access to the asteroid for similar sorts or survival situations. It would be easy enough to get permission to conduct survival training on worlds belonging to nearby Houses.
Another option would simply be to fly the crews to a large population center that has a holoplex you can rent out.
You may have paid to get holobooths early but this particular class is going to graduate before those get here.

[ ] Book reservations with a civilian holoplex
[ ] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets
[ ] Other

See you in the morning.

>>36404752
>[ ] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets

What could go wrong?

>>36404752
>[ ] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets

Make sure it has hostile life-forms, and that we have a squad of soldiers equipped with our rifles.

>>36404752
[X] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets

This class are the lucky ones. They get the "real" simulation. Though i'm sure the others with go from Holobooth to real.

>>36404752
>[ ] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets
Surprise boarding drill with stun grenades during transport?

>>36404752
>[ ] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets
Go big or go home. Let's use the paintball drone this time.

>>36404752
[ ] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets

bump

>>36404752
I would prefer
>[X] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets
but only do that if we have enough people who have some experience organising that kind of training session.

If we don't, go with the holoplex.

File: ReynardPatch_SalvageEater_01.png (80 KB, 402x397)

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On the topic of patches from the last thread

>WorldEaters.jpg
>Something similar to that, without the spikes on the outside and bigger teeth on the inside was what I had in my mind's eye.

Too big on the teeth? And I guess the ship/salvage in the center needs to be determined.

>Lots of lightning bolts.

Is there any more direction on this one? Just throwing a dozen or so lightning bolts onto a circle seemed like a cop out.

>A grinning maw, kind of like a stylized shark.
>Or perhaps more subtle, jagged spikes that form a maw only to those who know how Sonia thinks.

Had an idea on this. What about a stylized maelstrom galaxy made to look like a jack-o lantern's mouth? Some 'teeth' could make it look like a crazy, twisted grin.

more mock ups later tonight

>>36404752
[X] Get permission to do so real survival training on a couple of planets

bump

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>>36409114
>What about a stylized maelstrom galaxy made to look like a jack-o lantern's mouth? Some 'teeth' could make it look like a crazy, twisted grin.
Could work.

Placing some calls you manage to get permission for your people to be dropped on a series of worlds with a mix of extreme environments.

After the EVA and asteroid training, you move on to hostile environments. Places where it's necessary to keep their suits on at all times for one reason or another, be it low pressure, high pressure, temperature or toxic atmosphere.
Due to safety concerns, everyone is equipped with a medical stasis kit. Rescue ships will be stationed nearby should anything go wrong but the shuttles might not get to the surface quickly enough. Everyone will be deployed in teams so that someone will have time to put others in stasis to buy time for rescue.

A few recruits balk at the idea of visiting places that are so dangerous. You inform them that people visit worlds like this every day. Just because emergency teleporters will drop you on worlds that are habitable doesn't mean their ship won't be crippled or crash somewhere else.

A few remain unconvinced. Looking through the psych profiles it seems a couple people have deep seated fears of being poisoned by the very air while trapped in a suit. How they made it through EVA training without incident you have no idea.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>36410797
>Roll 1d20
Oh boy...

>>36410857
Awesome <3

>>36410797
How many rolls we need? 1 enought?

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Only one of the more troublesome recruits outright fails the hostile environment training. After freaking out the others are forced to restrain the pilot at which point he demands to be put in the stasis field until pickup.

Perhaps it had something to do with a trainers comment about exposure to the atmosphere resulting in an "unsatisfactory" mark on their official testing record, followed by death. Really they should be fine for a few seconds, perhaps even half a minute provided they get prompt medical treatment after.
You'll need to talk to Knight Sirco about those jokes, they could be a problem.

Next up the recruits are landed on a more habitable world, but you make sure its one with higher than average gravity and some minor atmospheric quirks that will require they keep their suits on more often than not. Based on your own experience, not every habitable planet is one you want to be stuck on.

They're landed out in the wilderness and are informed that they have to make their way to a friendly outpost. Also that "enemy" search teams will be looking for them. They'll have to cross more than 200km on foot over rough terrain.

>Let's use the paintball drone this time.
To keep things fair you'll equip it with a low powered stun setting. Strong enough that they really wont want to get shot but if they do their team mates can wake them up or help them to the next area.
They won't be under constant harassment, just in certain regions.

Did you want to include a fire base they have to avoid or are a few drone attacks enough?

>>36411381
I think the drones are enough for our trainees.

Shuttles drop escape pods with gear in them then the trainees. They're told to find a way off the planet and have some data on the world they're supposed to be on and locations of possible friendlies. In their mission data they find that the world is in contested territory so there could be an enemy response if they simply light off their beacon. All but 2 of the teams think it's worth the risk and activate the beacon.

At which point a few drones go after them.

They're set to attack at intervals, returning to an enemy base to recharge then resume attacking. There should be more than enough time between waves for them to abandon the escape pods and head out.

Roll 6d20 to see how they fared in the opening stage.

Rolled 13, 3, 9, 5, 7, 20 = 57 (6d20)

>>36411669

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>36411669
>6d20
1

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>36411746
2

Rolled 11, 18, 4, 13, 14, 12 = 72 (6d20)

>>36411669
Rollin'

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>36411761
3

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>36411784
4

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>36411806
5

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>36411822
6

If you weren't impressed by the decision to activate their beacons you're not happy at all with most of the teams performance against the drones. A couple of teams do quite well, though people still get stunned.

Thankfully even the teams that really dont seem to have a clue get it through their heads that it might be best to relocate. Everyone sets out in the general direction of the nearest friendly forces, taking as many supplies as they can with them. A few individuals seem ready to give up once realising how far they have to travel but their team mates are less interested in giving up and force them to move as well.

One officer candidate's solution to an uncooperative teammate is to shout "DANCE!" and begin shooting the ground progressively closer to their feet until they move.

Once they've finally setting out it appears most of the teams are divided into 4 different groups in terms of the speed at which they're progressing.

Roll 4d100 to see how fast they make it in.

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>36412220
>Roll 4d100
1

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>36412259
2

Rolled 52, 29, 85, 14 = 180 (4d100)

>>36412220

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>36412319
3

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>36412384
4

The best performing teams arrive within the third day. Given how rough the terrain is that's very good time for tghe distance covered.
Others take longer. They're under constant surviellance to make sure nothing is going wrong. Some are just taking a bit longer than others.
One group in particular is a cause for concern. After failing to make much progress some of them decide to light off their rescue beacon again which results in another drone attack.

Things break down among the worst group and eventually they simply split up and go their own ways.
This is not good.

Do you want to intervene or wait to see if it looks like any of them plan to desert or give up?

>>36412571
>Do you want to intervene or wait to see if it looks like any of them plan to desert or give up?

Just pick them up. If they want to try again the can at the end of their training.

>>36412669
>Just pick them up. If they want to try again the can at the end of their training.
You give them some more time but not too much, then contact everyone who has split up and tell them to proceed to the nearest clearing for pickup. The shuttles collect everyone then return to base.

Everyone involved are informed about the option to try again later but for now their survival training is marked as incomplete, or unsatisfactory for a few of the real trouble makers.

You return to the more regular training, rotating pilots through the Assault corvettes at the station to give everyone experience. The aggressor craft on hand don't quite match the real thing in terms of performance but they're close.

Once enough of them are ready the corvette squadrons begin to perform deployments to other systems. On occasion you meet up with Alliance squadrons from other bases for combined sessions. Some are large scale raids, others are mock response drills, preparing for the eventuality of a House deciding to remove a training base.

These larger missions slowly increase in size until near the end of training a modified Super heavy is brought into the region to practice live docking operations. It's not one of the new ACC class ships but it has been modified to act in a similar role.
The combined drills are a big help for getting your people used to operating with other units and to make sure they follow proper instructions when undocking while there are a hundred other corvettes present.

Each group of pilots rotates through the live combat training, getting as many sorties as possible before the Alliance needs to move the Super elsewhere to conduct drills in other regions.

Was there anything extra you wanted to take care of in the last weeks of training?

>>36413104
>Was there anything extra you wanted to take care of in the last weeks of training?

Spend one day per faction to teach people about their ships, tactics, and quirks?

>>36413104
mixed unit tactics mainly. How to support BC squadrons or medium cruisers, defenend the superheavy, ect.

>>36413104

Can we ask one of the local Houses to rotate some special forces or experienced survival instructors through for a lecture or basic instruction? Emergency teleporters are expensive and a large chunk of FA upgrade budget, iirc. It is almost criminal to allow their ability to preserve veteran crews to be impaired because those crews light themselves up to the Neeran when trying to be recovered.

>Spend one day per faction to teach people about their ships, tactics, and quirks?
This seems like an excellent idea. You start with the Shallan military, then the Republic since it's less likely you people will have run into them locally and they'll be seeing plenty of them up at the front.
Rovinar and Krath are next, in teaching how to operate along side cloaked allies.
Terran, Kavarian, Norune, and Mercs make up the remainder, with a few lessons thrown in on supporting allies that are using captured craft.

>mixed unit tactics mainly. How to support BC squadrons or medium cruisers, defenend the superheavy, ect.
Much of this are included when learning about how to support allies from other Factions, but you do make sure to set aside some time for more support actions.

>Can we ask one of the local Houses to rotate some special forces or experienced survival instructors through for a lecture or basic instruction? Emergency teleporters are expensive and a large chunk of FA upgrade budget, iirc. It is almost criminal to allow their ability to preserve veteran crews to be impaired because those crews light themselves up to the Neeran when trying to be recovered.
Normally activating the beacon would be the correct move. Less so when they have intel reports that there could be enemies nearby. You make sure that everyone, but especially those who are having trouble, get some time learning from experienced veterans and experts. Those who attempt to protest are asked if they'd like to pay for their own emergency teleporters. This gets a tiny bit more cooperation out of them.

Some will be going back out into the field at a different location for another survival training test.

It was predicted that not all of your pilots would make the grade. The Alliance hoped that you'd be able to get a full 6 squadrons worth of crews out of 100 recruits. It looks like you'll have done better than that, though the inclusion of some veterans certainly bumped up that number you're sure.

13 initially did poorly on the survival training. Out of those 5 will not be graduating the program as qualified attack pilots due to poor scores in several areas or because of lack of good reflexes.

Provided that their general skill and knowledge levels are acceptable do you want to recommend those with the appropriate talent for positions as helmsmen or other duties?

One or two seem to have signed on with the expectation that this would be something of a free ride, or keep them from being dragged into their own House military for a few months. Will these be given the boot or given one last chance to shape up?

>>36413744
give them the boot

>>36413744
>Provided that their general skill and knowledge levels are acceptable do you want to recommend those with the appropriate talent for positions as helmsmen or other duties?

Sure. Doing otherwise seems like a waste of resources to me.

>Will these be given the boot or given one last chance to shape up?
If their instructors think these guys are talented and lazy, they can have another chance. Otherwise, let them go.

>>36413744

I'm not comfortable recommending anyone that failed for alternate positions, but I'd be fine with making a note of why they we failed them and forwarding them for someone else to review.

We're here to make strike wing pilots, not find helmsmen.

>free ride/draft dodgers
Tempted to call them into the office and ask how they feel about the infantry, but we've better things to do.

Give them the boot, see if either attempts to contest it or ask for a chance to shape up. If they want it, they can have it. If not, goodbye.

>>36413851
>Sure. Doing otherwise seems like a waste of resources to me.
>>36413933
>I'm not comfortable recommending anyone that failed for alternate positions, but I'd be fine with making a note of why they we failed them and forwarding them for someone else to review.
>We're here to make strike wing pilots, not find helmsmen.
Combining these you send the records off to be looked over by the fleet arm. If they can find a position for them they'll do so. It's no longer your problem.

Of the other two, one of them is tossed on a shuttle never to be seen again on the recommendations of the training officers.

>If their instructors think these guys are talented and lazy, they can have another chance.
>see if either attempts to contest it or ask for a chance to shape up. If they want it, they can have it.
The other one isn't very good but has potential. The others think he could get up to average levels.

When he arrives at your office the trainee doesn't ask for another chance so much as asks for a job as one of the staff. He'd like to volunteer as a spare aggressor pilot much like Arron is doing. The thing is Arron is a better pilot than him and someone who has consistently put more effort into things.

[ ] Tell him to get out
[ ] Give him 2 weeks, blacklist him if he doesn't put more effort in.
[ ] Other

>>36414253
>[ ] Give him 2 weeks, blacklist him if he doesn't put more effort in.

>>36414253

[x] Other: "Why shouldn't I send you home with a note that you're qualified to act as cover for a unit attempting a [10km Kestrel Run, was it?]?"

[x] Other: Offer to let him repeat training or a trip home.

We don't take wash outs and put them in charge of training elites. If he wants an instructor position, he will at the very least qualify as an elite.

>>36414253
Hmm, I'm not really sure about that. It seems like a rather desirable position for people who want to stay away from the fighting.

I'd love to come up with a smart solution for this situation that avoids kicking him out entirely as even an average attack wing pilot should still be a good pilot by most standards.

>>36414400
>"Why shouldn't I send you home with a note that you're qualified to act as cover for a unit attempting a [10km Kestrel Run, was it?]?"
>1k kestral. The name was intended as a joke.

"I suppose there would be questions from my House about why I was sent back rather than admitted to the Alliance strike wings, though I'm sure I could come up with something.
I think I could make a good trainer some day. Not yet of course, but until then I think I could give the other trainees a challenge in the simulators piloting enemy ships. Most of the other trainers are such good shots that when they show up as elite units they have to pull their punches a bit to keep from wiping out the training squadrons in some battles. They'll have to face some decent pilots that aren't just aces so good they're impossible to kill."
>Anything else to add?

>[x] Other: Offer to let him repeat training or a trip home.
If you choose to do this he could potentially be here for months slacking off, or taking up simulator space and time another pilot could be using.

>>36414404
>It seems like a rather desirable position for people who want to stay away from the fighting.
>I'd love to come up with a smart solution for this situation that avoids kicking him out entirely as even an average attack wing pilot should still be a good pilot by most standards.
Open to suggestions.

The remainder of your pilots are graduated from training and you make sure to give each of them a training unit patch.
"Reynard Salvage Eaters sir?" Asks Andrina.
"I have a tendency to try and salvage any ship I cripple. I may change the patch for future classes, in which case these ones will become collectibles!"

After a brief graduation ceremony you promote the real team leaders to the rank of Lieutenant. Everyone else are commissioned as flight officers. There are drinks and celebrations and before you know it they're shipping out for their first assignment.

>>36414857

His logic is sound. A shame it has to come from someone that failed out due to his own slacking and probably desire to avoid the front.

>>36414400
samefag, gonna have to go full [X] Tell him to get out.

We can always contact J-D or a House/Faction we have connections with and see if they can't find a few squadrons of trained, average pilots that could rotate in for a bit.

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The station is quiet. It will be days before the next batch of trainees arrive. In the future the station should have enough units undergoing training simultaniously that this will happen less often. Or that's the plan.

You and the other unit commanders will have your work cut out for you, but at the same time you'll have more regularily scheduled time to work on the other projects you're interested in when not personally overseeing training.

Now is the perfect time to get to work on your own plans.

>"Stay in the fight!"
How much money would you like to contribute towards funding a movie along these lines? Your personal funds are quite substantial at the moment.

The Vieona movie will be coming up eventually and some preparations will need to be made before hand. Did you want to talk to your House about the possibility of using Comet, the medium cruiser you recovered behind enemy lines to film the movie aboard? Or do you want to talk to the Terrans about providing a ship?

>>36415148
Talk to the house I think.

>>36415148
>The Vieona movie

I'd be willing to trade the movie rights to the Terrans if they keep Versa and the other AIs off the front lines in return...

>>36415241
That's a terrible idea.

>>36415241

That is absurd on so many levels. Mostly the one where we attempt to influence Terran Alliance military deployment of a valuable front-line asset. Versa is the native AI of her ship.

>>36415148
Try J-D first.
And I'd also like to request that Vieona movie downplay the part holographic camo played. Say by the Terran sentry guns going 'oh, Terran spy IFF piggypack' or some other handwavium. (or ignoring that we smashed sentry guns completely). Say its for dramatic effect if needed, but we don't need to make a big deal of the camo system (in case people start trying to connect us to mysterious stuff), perhaps by saying the one used was faulty and only worked for a few minutes. (dramatic effect)

>stay in the fight

A quarter of our personal funds, maybe? Bonus points if they make a decent script that involves Rival Domionion Houses/Knights forced to work together and the audience has to wonder what their last words actually were between each other.

>that is what the Lance Class looks like

Holy hell. Someone feed that ship some salvage, its so skinny!

>>36415616
>A quarter of our personal funds, maybe?
There might be a point at which throwing more money just doesn't do anything. Especially since we don't have enough material for multiple movies.

>>36415148
We'll ask the House if we can borrow the Comet for it I'd say. As for price that depends as always. What's the standard price for a standard movie in the far future? Cause I think putting up a budget with a similar amount would be good.

>>36415680
the goal of 'stay in the fight' isn't to make money. The goal is for the movie to light a fire under the asses of the Houses that want to pull out of the fight, and hopefully stall or reverse their withdrawal.

A rallying cry, if you will. [preferably, 'fuck the neeran bastards!']

>>36415241
>I'd be willing to trade the movie rights to the Terrans if they keep Versa and the other AIs off the front lines in return...
It is incredibly unlikely that they would negotiate on this.

>>36415206
>>36415702

2 for getting House assistance on the Vieona movie.

>>36415616
>>stay in the fight
>A quarter of our personal funds, maybe?
You could pay for many such movies at that point.
Really, 10 million might be enough since others would be funding it also. more than that would just be going to advertising campaigns. Which given the reason for the movie existing could be helpful.

>What's the standard price for a standard movie in the far future?
Millions but not huge amounts. Most of it is spent on distribution, advertising and getting permission to film in particular locations. Regular movies rarely go over 10 million in cost but it happens, especially if there are big budget actors involved.

Maybe I should add the movie choices to a survey? A more important question when it comes to the Vieona movie is if you want to hire the same actor that played Sonia in Heroes of Gesuar and in some recruitment videos and propaganda, or have Sonia film and voice some of the scenes herself?

Provided it didn't interfere with your Alliance training.

>>36415776
You know what I think would be hilarious? If we were the actor's stunt double for a few scenes.

>>36415776
>Maybe I should add the movie choices to a survey?
Probably a good idea.

>>36415771
>The goal is for the movie to light a fire under the asses of the Houses that want to pull out of the fight, and hopefully stall or reverse their withdrawal.
Don't remember anything about that from the survey.

>>36415776
Well I'd say that 15 millions is a good price because then we can get a proper script writer for it and hire some actors that know what the hell they are doing. And sure we can get that woman to play us in the movie if she knows how to act. Hopefully more people will see it as opposed to Heroes. Then again this movie probably wont put the Ruling House in a bad light.

>>36415776
>>36415808
>have Sonia film and voice some of the scenes herself?
Sonia being her "own" stunt double would be cool.

We could have a scene where Sonia smart grapples onto the Neeran before shanking him in the neck! We trained to do that but never had a chance to try it.

>>36415808
>>36416291
>If we were the actor's stunt double for a few scenes.
>Those explosions.
I dunno. While they would be stunts and not the same blasts you faced in real life I'm not sure your lawyers or the technicians that look after your armor would appreciate it.
Still if you guys really want to do it go for it.

Your Anchorage has been on loan to exodus for a couple of months now, working away at construction of a new station after a brief overhaul. The Exodus people were impressed your company had rebuilt the ship but it still needed work done on it in few places.
Some of your crew are on contract to help look after the ship while the remainder have been shuffled to other RSS operations.
Once the main station contract is finished you'll have access to production licenses for a number of station designs in addition to other gear before then. If Exodus has a license for it you may be able to get it.

On that front and construction in general Mr London has some proposals for expansion that need your approval and may require some of your personal funds.
In his opinion the Battlecruiser yard should be upgraded to Level 3 to speed up production and increase overall efficiency. The current level 2 just cant build ships fast enough, especially if some are diverted to special projects or being bought by Logistics.
This will cost some 200 million but he plans for it to take place over an extended period so that the yard doesn't need to be shut down.

The weapons factory on Surakeh also looks like it won't be able to keep up with any serious orders. He'd like to expand the mining and terraforming outpost on Frostback to include a new factory and support facilities.
That or add a production module to one of the stations.

>>36416512
I'll approve those.

>>36416512
>This will cost some 200 million but he plans for it to take place over an extended period so that the yard doesn't need to be shut down.

I'm down for expanding the yard to a rapid assembly line. Only reason we did not do it before was lack of money at time. Even if we had like 700 million.

>He'd like to expand the mining and terraforming outpost on Frostback

Done and done. More expansion on Frostback will only be good for us in the long term as it will bring more civilization, and more rent, to our holdings there.

>you'll have access to production licenses for a number of station designs
So we can construct station cores now like the one we have our yards at?

>Still if you guys really want to do it go for it.
Somehow it does not feel proper to me that we should run around and risk hurting ourselves just because we can.

>>36416291
Eh, if we're going to add in scenes that didn't happen, having our rifle penetrate neeran armor would be a good idea.

>>36416512
>Once the main station contract is finished you'll have access to production licenses for a number of station designs in addition to other gear before then. If Exodus has a license for it you may be able to get it.

Given how expensive modular space stations are to set up, is there some kind of budget space station design for newly colonised worlds available?

>>36416512
We've got enough crew on the Anchorage to actually gain some useable experience in construction, right?

>battlecruiser expansion

I'm all for it.

>weapons factory

Well, I guess we need to talk to Alex and Mike about this. While RSS/Sonia technically seems to hold the rifle/special ammo patents, our wingmen are also equal partners in the factory itself.

At the very least, we should probably coordinate with Alex if we are looking to expand to Frostback. I recall he technically has the premier population center and looks to be aiming for setting himself up with a healthy claim to Planetary Governor/Baron position for Frostback.

There is also the security concern of the weapons/ammo being stolen or the facility being robbed.

Unless London is suggesting we compete with the weapons factory on Surakeh by opening another company/facility without the other share holders.

>>36416512
I agree with the frostback suggestions. It's got too much promise for us to just leave it as it is.

If anyone IC or out has ideas for it lets do some real work to it.

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>>36415893
>Don't remember anything about that from the survey.
It was discussed in thread and seemed to be a less controversial approach than some others suggested. Like running around and shouting it while at the party.

>>36416814
>Given how expensive modular space stations are to set up, is there some kind of budget space station design for newly colonised worlds available?
The best options for them are landing fields and spaceports on the surface, or to put an asteroid in orbit and hollow out sections of it. Small docking arms could be attached to it.
They could also repurpose an old freighter or transport.

There is a company that's working to create their own competitor to the modular station. It's supposed to be for the Alliance mobile/modular forward base program. They should be slightly cheaper to build than the regular modular stations.
The Celes shipyard company, a relatively small corp, has begun production of them.


>>36416817
>Well, I guess we need to talk to Alex and Mike about this.
Alex agrees that its a good idea if the factory is starting to sell weapons. Due to recent developments he's a bit short on cash at the moment and wonders if you would agree to a loan. He's adamant that he wants to pay it back as soon as possible using his share of any potential profits.
"Funding the start up of an arcology is not cheap. I expect to be paying off the loans for another year or two."

Mike, who has been hoarding most of his cash or investing it into his home town quickly agrees as well. He's much better set financially for this venture than Alex is.

>>36417255
>The Celes shipyard company, a relatively small corp, has begun production of them.

I would like to suggest having somebody keep an eye on them. If it looks like this new station is a good product, try to invest in the company.

>>36417255
I'm cool with loaning it to him.

>>36417255
Get Mr London to invest in Celes and continue observations on their progress.

As for Alex, give him the loan.

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>>36417574
>>36417683
loan approved barring any subsequent objections.

Survey for the movies and such will be put up when I stop for the night.

You make sure to briefly check how things are going with the House Posat, no, with Aegis Armoring you remind yourself. With the influx of support thanks to the merger R&D is driving forward again, albeit slowly. They'll certainly finish development of the current project in an acceptable period of time but not the fastest. You want that armor before you have to return to the front.

You also spend some time visiting the homeworlds for a few days and dropping in on the family.

Bekka surprisingly got into something of a fight initiated by another student. It was more like a duel that she was challenged to, but not unlike your own preference for solving such a fight quickly, she took similar measures.
It turns out to have been a good thing. Bekka's practice weapon was sabotaged and failed in the opening of the duel. evading the first few swings she kicked the legs out from underneath her opponent then used the holo sword's basket hilt to break both the other girl's wrists.
An instructor just happened to be in a nearby study hall and intervened.

Other than that the family is doing well.

I just realised that this will be the first time Sonia could be home for the holidays in the entire run of the quest!
Do you have any special plans? Perhaps paying off the weather service to have it snow on your property?
Yes this is a thing. Nobles pay for it, though the temperature won't get cold enough for it to stay on the ground for long.

>>36417713
Just a simple celebration with the family would be fine. Get a personalized training holosword for Bekka as a gift.

No to the snow. It might cause too much of a hassle for our property. I don't want mudslides to just suddenly happen.

>>36417713
>Do you have any special plans? Perhaps paying off the weather service to have it snow on your property?
Yes! Also, we should probably go to at least one party. Has Sonya ever worn a dress?
Random questions: Did the house ever decide what to do with those heavy neeran plasma guns we recovered?

>>36417255
Ofcourse he gets a loan! It's mofo Alex we are talking about!

>>36417713
Good job Bekka, you make me proud. However which family did that girl belong to? Dueling is one thing and is to be expected, can even be fun at times! Rigging a duel on the other hand is something entirely different and I do not like it.

>Perhaps paying off the weather service to have it snow on your property?
W-wat?
>Yes this is a thing.
Really? Heh... Sure, let's play god with the weather.

>Do you have any special plans?
Cozy time with family at the mansion. Perhaps attend a holiday ball/party?

>Just a simple celebration with the family would be fine.
>Cozy time with family at the mansion.
The lodge? It's big, especially with the sub basement levels. I suppose it could be classified as such.

Sonia's father may not be able to make it back in time, even if you were to bribe someone.

2 for snow, 1 against.

>I don't want mudslides to just suddenly happen.
This is unlikely with the heavy tree cover but not impossible.

>Redwood tree roots are very shallow, often only five or six feet deep.
Oh. That is not so good.
>But they make up for it in width, sometimes extending up to 100 feet from the trunk. They thrive in thick groves, where the roots can intertwine and even fuse together. This gives them tremendous strength against the forces of nature. This way they can withstand high winds and raging floods.
Well that's a bonus.


>Really?
There isn't full control of the weather around the planet but the ability to induce rainfall over agricultural areas can be vital to crop yield.

>Perhaps attend a holiday ball/party?
>we should probably go to at least one party.
Attending a holiday party looks like it will be added to the list.

>Has Sonya ever worn a dress?
Years ago.

>Did the house ever decide what to do with those heavy neeran plasma guns we recovered?
They're hanging onto them for the moment or conducting tests. It could be some time before they return to the front. There is talk of testing the shields on Forbearance to be sure they hold up before it deploys anywhere.

>However which family did that girl belong to? Dueling is one thing and is to be expected, can even be fun at times! Rigging a duel on the other hand is something entirely different and I do not like it.
The other girl is from a lesser noble family and claims to have no prior knowledge of the sabotage. It's currently under investigation by the school. Bekka can get you the name of the family and your intel people could keep an eye on their finances for anything suspicious if you'd like.

>>36418306
>The other girl is from a lesser noble family and claims to have no prior knowledge of the sabotage. It's currently under investigation by the school. Bekka can get you the name of the family and your intel people could keep an eye on their finances for anything suspicious if you'd like.
Sure

>>36418306
Yes to the snow. We're never home, let's celebrate! Try to get dad back as well.

>Bekka can get you the name of the family and your intel people could keep an eye on their finances for anything suspicious if you'd like.
That would likely be for the best. I doubt that the family would try anything, but the girl who fought Bekka might.

How respected are they / what do their holdings consist of?

>>36418624
>How respected are they / what do their holdings consist of?
Minor nobles with only a small amount of land and little wealth compared to many.
They're part of an old noble family so they're respected well enough, but their lack of wealth has likely hurt their standing.


You set some things in place for the family get together that will be coming up then pay a visit Duncan, officially to offer him an invitation since you rarely see him compared to most people you know from back in your first tour.
Unofficially it's to ask about getting things in place to start up one of the black projects. You cant get a secure enough line to Winifred who is currently in South Reach to chance it.

"There were accidents and explosions as bases where other Houses tried to work on similar projects." You're reminded.

"What? No, the other one. The one our House actually has the tech base to work on now."

Duncan slaps his forehead. "Oooh. Right, that one. This area is secure, just turn off your HUD to be sure."
Soon he's pulling up displays on the current cloaking shield tech the House has available.
We can reproduce cloaks for battlecruisers now, though they're expensive and don't work quite as well. You could buy some off the House those Aries transports you had modified."

"How do you know about those?" you ask.
"Winifred sent me a note about them. Sorry, Baron Winifred. She said that once you salvaged a cloak or bought one your asteroid R&D base might serve as a good decoy for any real black project. Especially once you finish off that gunship project. People will think you're working on something else in there since you probably will be. Meanwhile the real base will be..."

"Will be where?"

"I don't know, elsewhere. Can you make one of your cloaked transports available for a cargo drop every so often? Also the Baron mentioned funding. People are watching her money and yours but you might know places to get funds that cant be tracked easily."

>>36419220
"Sure, and yeah, I know a few places to get funding."

>>36419220
>"Can you make one of your cloaked transports available for a cargo drop every so often?

Ofcourse we can.

>Also the Baron mentioned funding.

"Problematic that part. I know a place or two that may get us a little untraceable money but we need a steady source of it. I don't suppose we could just make transactions from our accounts and bribe people into not writing it down or deleting the data of such a transaction?"

I honestly have no idea how we are to trace R&D money that is untraceable. I mean the phone both will offer us some money but it wont be nearly enough for our needs I suspect. Anyways I need to sleep since I am almost falling over here.

You currently have 2,885,000 in untraceable hard currency thanks to your 2 phone booth missions and stealing from the Triads.

Did you want to check the phone booth for any missions in the future?

>>36419334
"Sure, and yeah, I know a few places to get funding." you reply.

"Good, that would speed things up."

"I can get us a little untraceable money but we need a steady source of it. I don't suppose we could just make transactions from our accounts and bribe people into not writing it down or deleting the data of such a transaction?"

"Banking isn't my specialty." He pauses to think then shakes his head. "The less I think about the idea of stealing money from people the better. I might actually try to follow through with it.
You probably know more about that than I do. You've met people from all over the place."

>>36419563
We could probably do some renegotiation with the Knights Errant due to our new control over the Armor Company. They'd likely be a decent way to locate hard-to-trace hard currency due to their travels.

>>36420028
That's a better idea than anything I've though up.

You know plenty of people that could deal in questionable funding.

>We could probably do some renegotiation with the Knights Errant due to our new control over the Armor Company. They'd likely be a decent way to locate hard-to-trace hard currency due to their travels.
They would likely want that to be an official agreement, but it doesn't need to be. They did set you up with a hacker for the Triads job so it's not out of the question that they could launder money for you.
You currently get 15 million a year from them just to let them get access to that armor.

There are bound to be people on Tourta that could trade funds or materials.
The Rovinar would likely be heppy to give you cash to pay opff their debt to you, though seeing as the project is to duplicate some of their best tech it may not be wise to ask them on this occasion.
You've also made friends in the Pandora Cluster and Smuggler's Run that could be of use.

Then there are other Houses you have dealings with and physical resources.

>I mean the phone both will offer us some money but it wont be nearly enough for our needs I suspect.
This is probably true.

>>36420139
Fair point. One of the easiest ways is to offer mercs a chance to jump the Que a bit if they pay partailly in untraceable hard currency.

>>36420139
>official agreement
I thought it was supposed to be a quiet dealing.

I was thinking we could probably afford to drop the 'official' cost to 10 million a year and get 2-3 million in untraceable cash. Maybe even see if they can't enrich themselves and add to our untraceable income by some quiet, additional sales to the Royal House? In exchange, we give them access to new armor types for minimal or no increase in 'access' cost?

>>36420208
>One of the easiest ways is to offer mercs a chance to jump the Que a bit if they pay partailly in untraceable hard currency.
For the new armor when it comes out?

>>36420498
>I thought it was supposed to be a quiet dealing.
It would be idea for what you want the money fore. If you offered them an official deal though they would likely be more than happy to take it.

You tell Duncan it will take you some time to get the money together. Meanwhile he should see if its possible to get everything else rolling for it. Whatever Winifred needs to do on her end should be in place when your funding arrives.

Returning to the training base you kick things off and get the new batch of trainees started out on their new career path. Assessments, memory imprinting, you want all of it done quickly and ramp up everyone's training. There are less veterans this time as you suspected and it may require more hard work than before. If necessary additional attempts at memory imprinting can be attempted later but it would be best to hold off on additional rounds until they need the survival training.
After a couple weeks things are well enough underway that you're able to take time to go pick up the Devourer. You make sure to let the R&D teams know that if they need anything to help out the project to let you know. Guns, salvage, anything you'll get it for them to help move development along so that the Dominion can get some decent plasma weapons.

You have some time on your way back to base. Would you like to schedule a meeting with the Knights when you get a moment? Ask one of them to visit the training base or take a hop over to their home system to talk things over?

>>36420591
Personally I feel that with the recent takeover of the armor company due to the books being cooked, using the company for laundering money is kind of a Bad Idea. Instead we should Better Call Saul, and by that I mean see if we can't find a criminal lawyer that knows how to do it.

>>36420735
I meant the salvage company actually. Alternatively, we can pad their merc pay bills when we hire mercs to hide money transfers that way.

>>36420735
Could we try asking Mike if he has any untraceable cash? Over a secure line of course.

Sorry about that last post. It got ate then I didnt realise part of it hadn't been retyped.

>>36420835
A legitimate concern.
>see if we can't find a criminal lawyer that knows how to do it.
You can have your intel people try to find one, or you could ask the info brokers on Tourta to find one for you.

>>36420906
This is an option.

>>36420981
Mike says that he doesn't keep much, just a few hundred thousand for spending around his home town.
He could get more for you but it would only be once, after that he wouldn't have any more contacts that could do so.

>>36421070
>You can have your intel people try to find one, or you could ask the info brokers on Tourta to find one for you.
Yeah, let's Do that, maybe see if we can find someone that profited from our anti-Triad activity and as such would be well disposed towards us.

>>36421070
As far as currency goes, we have enough to get somethings started. 2 mil isn't a lot when it comes to black project R&D from what I've gathered, but it's not a laughable sum either.

I think our best bet would be to get as much of the stuff we need using traceable currency when we upgrade our shipyards. Pretty sure one anon suggested that in the past. We should be able to get a good amount of standard stuff we'd need to get our research base operational, and then we can use our hard currency for things we can't pass off as shipyard parts.

Granted we can't do this all at once, because it would looks suspicious if we orders way more parts and such than we needed to upgrade the yards, but it will help us get some of the basic stuff out of the way if nothing else.

I'm kinda against going to the phone booth actually, we do get untraceable currency from it, but iirc they payouts weren't especially large. I'd be more interested in what Mike's contacts can get. We should probably pursue the Torta angle as well, I mean, half the reason why we bought property on that planet was to gain access to resources like this.

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SURVEY!!!<<<<<<<<<<

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RFDVHG8

I may have hit the limit on the number of free surveys I can keep saved.

>>36422894
Done.

>>36422545
>I'm kinda against going to the phone booth actually, we do get untraceable currency from it, but iirc they payouts weren't especially large
They're not, especially when compared to buying and selling dozens of starships at a time or setting up stations, that sort of thing. Its personal scale economics vs corporate scale economics at that point.


>Laundering funds
>As well as Errant Knights
I'm sorry I cant tell what the other thing was you voted for.

Company expansion suggestions
>Holoplex!
Oh yes I forgot about that.

>Dedicated base of operations in the Pandora Cluster Expand RTS to include policing actions on Dominion/House worlds in the Run and Reach
Is anyone else interested in expanding RTS/mercenary operations into those regions?

See you in the morning.

>>36419220
Our asteroid base really is the perfect cover. It's a very active dropship factory with a vehicle RnD lab upstairs. If you dig a little deeper you'll find a genetics lab, which is odd but explainable. Between all three of those you could deliver almost any kind of equipment or raw material and not seem strange.

>>36422894
>I may have hit the limit on the number of free surveys I can keep saved.

Just start a new account?

>>36417713
We should invite Linda over for Christmas. Even enduring Sonia's family is better than spending the holidays all alone in her castle.

>>36422894
>I may have hit the limit on the number of free surveys I can keep saved.
THE END OF HOUSE & SURVEY QUEST

>>36425429
AND THE START OF UNLIMITED STRAWPOLL QUEST

Or some other poll/survery site.

Bump

>>36423589
>Is anyone else interested in expanding RTS/mercenary operations into those regions?

I'm a bit on the fence with that. We've had enough incidents in the Run to give us a history of bad blood with the locals, and that may attract unwanted attention to anything with 'Reynard' in the company name, especially if it gets further associated with unpopular policing actions.

The Pandora Cluster is another potential bag of worms. Won't we have to join the Mercenary Guild deal if we start doing work around there? That said, I wouldn't mind slowly building up an RTS squadron of something roughly standardized (Frigate range?) that could help guard the DHI/RSS facility(ies?) and possibly act as a 'deputy' reserve for Firth's people. Or they could just scout around for more lost wrecks. That Neeran offensive had to be at least Faction Wars tier running combat for a while.

And that brings up another question. What was the result from the survey on Foreign-Faction Investment vs. Foreign-Faction RSS Division?

I recall suggesting that the Pandora Cluster or the Rovinar were likely our two best bets for where to start with that, and the former might allow us to circumvent that issue of Firth getting too entangled with Dominion folks. "What? We're totally a Pandora Cluster company. And we found 6 'black' sites that are on no maps and no one has claimed since the Neeran scoured them. Dibs"

>Stay in the Fight
>Make sure it is somewhat believable, not just over the top clichée propaganda that every even slightly informed person knows is unrealistic.
They should have fairly famous crew for it all.

>We want merchandising rights, and to be portrayed as dashing and mysterious raiders. Shit, we've had enough crazy successes that they might have to tone it down.
You're not even going to be in that one. Some merchandising rights couldn't hurt though.

>Vieona movie
>How good is the actor?
She's okay. Some reviewers criticise her acting as a bit flat at times. Considering that it was a war/propaganda movie that's not such a bad thing.

>Same-actor but not specified as the same character?
Who else might you want the character to be other than Sonia Reynard?

>Sonia does the commentary if that option is enabled.
Added.


>Almost forgot, make sure Saputo knows and has a chance to input on some of the stuff we're hiding, like the truth behind the injections. He's probably better suited than anyone else we know to help with the Vieona legend/myth stuff.
He's initially concerned about the whole thing but soon agrees the movie could be put to good use.
"The motivation for finding the should should still be the shielding injection I agree but the fountain of youth aspect should turn out to be false once our characters talk to that doctor. I know you made out with a bag full of those injections, even if the House used most of them, and we don't want more people after our shit.
Have her say the life extension properties were from another project. A counter nanite program, but they didn't work right and if they're removed the body will break down.
Do you think that could be workable?"
>What say?

An item that has come up: Do you want to continue to propagate the myth that Neeran absorber armor is actually power armor? It has come up in some of your boarding drill briefings.


>>36427368
>Won't we have to join the Mercenary Guild deal if we start doing work around there?
Most Mercenary work yes, though you could get some security work from the House much more easily. The House can just fine your corporation if anything goes wrong. It's much harder to go after mercs from other regions that's why many prefer to go through the guild. A House or other group that's screwed over by breach of contract can make this known through the guild, downgrading their rating and potentially freezing assets in escrow.

The Guild effectively acts as the equivalent to the MRBC. You don't need to be a member to get work but most people feel safer if the group they're hiring is registered.

>What was the result from the survey on Foreign-Faction Investment vs. Foreign-Faction RSS Division?
The winner was the latter, Foreign-Faction RSS Division(s).

>>36425140
Good idea. Actually, does Linda have an active social life? I don't remember ever interacting her with anyone other than Sonia, but that might be just because of our perspective.

>>36427570
Yeah, that works. Putting in the myth of those extremely long-lived engineers and making it a sort of holy-grail hunt, that turns out to be false, would make for an interesting addition to the plot.

Saputo got the idea because his grandfather had been searching for the Viona or something like that, right? How much of that does he want to include in the movie?

>>36427749
Are we allowed to tell the the truth about the armor? Does knowing the truth change how they are supposed to act in a combat situation? If both answers are yes, then we should tell the the truth.

>>36427768
>because his grandfather had been searching for the Viona or something like that, right?
Yes.
>How much of that does he want to include in the movie?
He's fine with all of it because at the end of the day he got what he really wanted. He's the one getting the last laugh.

>>36427768
>Actually, does Linda have an active social life? [..] that might be just because of our perspective.
Yes. Perspective and a result of being aboard ship. There are the people she knows aboard your ships and among the fleet, then her other friends back home.

She'll be stopping in at the party.

>Are we allowed to tell the the truth about the armor?
Yes. Ground troops fight these guys all the time.
>Does knowing the truth change how they are supposed to act in a combat situation?
It might, it might not. Neeran are strong enough it might not make much of a difference. If someone gets a bright idea to try and disable their armor via hacking or a specialised EMP they'll find that it will fail.

>>36423738
>If you dig a little deeper you'll find a genetics lab, which is odd but explainable.
There are only 2 facilities inside the asteroid base. The lab the Nai are setting up is a remote facility elsewhere to reduce damage in the event of an accident.

>>36428129
>Perspective and a result of being aboard ship
I'm relieved. I know what some

>It might, it might not
Well, tell them then.

>Nai lab
Are they afraid that the genetics lab will damage the surroundings, or that the other facilities will damage the lab?

>>36427570
>Some reviewers criticise her acting as a bit flat at times.
as longs as it is only her acting that is flat...

>Snow
>How would the neighbors react to a yes answer?
By arranging it through the weather service they'll have ample warning and time to protest it if it will damage any of the crops in the nearby lowlands.
Given the size of the human population in your House it won't be the first time this has happened.

And it looks like snow is in the forecast.

>>36428271
>Are they afraid that the genetics lab will damage the surroundings, or that the other facilities will damage the lab?
All of the above. You have an open invitation to visit the lab btw to see what they're working on.

Stay in the Fight is going to be getting 10 million in funding.

For the Vieona movie you'll talk to the House about making use of Comet.
It will also be getting 10 million from you, plus whatever else the studio invests.
The actor from the previous film will be hired, though you could still do a couple of the stunts.

Looks like a few people would like to visit the phone booth for the hell of it.

Equal support for laundering funds via a Lawyer or the Knights Errant. Go for a bit of both?

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>>36427570
>who else might the character be
Honestly, I suggested it on the concern of 'are we changing names to protect anyone from direct connection to this?'

>What say to Saputo?
"You're the one with a history degree on the subject, Saputo. If there are alternate theories on how Vieona did what it did, we should probably mix them all into it to a degree."

Also, should probably consult him on the "injections were all fake/poison due to doctor's quick thinking" and 'Terrans never give up secrets' betrayal/renege on the secret at the end. Possibly resulting in a follow up 'but I do owe you' deal for equipment or something, breaking the 'Terrans are assholes' trope?

Just throwing out ideas to obscure sensitive stuff again. Don't want another stabbed in the back while running deal.

>>36427749
>propagate the myth
Wait, it isn't a Neeran-equivalent PA? I guess we need to investigate if this is just mistake or purposeful myth.

>Merc Guild
Might be worth getting at least part of RTS registered with them, if expanding operations.

>Foreign-Faction RSS Divisions won
Well that sounds like more business-based debate. And a chance to set up diplomatic back-channels between J-D and other Factions.

>other:
Was there any successful recovery of those Kavarian long-range scanner platforms/scanners in South Reach?

The thought just occurred to me that one of them might be extremely useful for advanced FA training. With both sides diverting resources into fortification, anti-sensor training and evasion are likely going to be a big skill. And one that should in theory help seek and destroy enemy forces doing the same.

If we're spending this much dough on films can we hire a researcher to see if adding ftl drive material to plasma cannon shots would do anything? It could be cool.

>>36428544
>open invitation
I am curious. Actually, what was their reason for building the lab? Something about them being far more short-lived than others or not having hands or something?

>Go for a bit of both
Yes, please.


>>36428796
I'm not sure how hiring a single researcher would help find that out. It's probably be easier to ask an existing research facility or acadamy to look into it and give them a donation. Or offer a prize for research on the topic.

Not that I think making plasma from exotic material will produce anything interesting. Isn't plasma pretty much the same no matter what the material previously was?

>>36428885
No plasma is just when the electrons in a gas can move freely iirc. It could be the start of Veckron Beams!

>>36428796
Do you have an actual theory on the possible results that I've missed?

I'm all for ideas that have something beyond "just do it and see what happens". But FTL drive material is both expensive and an important thing to have for the war. How much are you thinking of adding and for what results? Also, the possibility of destroying or damaging the plasma cannon in question.

Having the Devourer present at the training base proves to be a minor sensation. A number of the trainees want to know more about your shit for the next couple of days than about the ones you're training them for. As added incentive you tell them that the top performing pilots in each subject for the next week or two will get a tour of the ship.
This improves the grades of a few that had been flagging slightly. At the same time you start to pinpoint those who could be troublesome and may be better to kick out sooner rather than later. If nothing can convince them to put more effort in there's no point in wasting a couple months on them.

The tours of your ship go well enough though you're not letting them sit in your command chair.
"That's reserved." You inform them. "Survive your first tour out on the front lines and we'll talk."
In another week you give permission for everyone to take shore leave for the holidays. Commander Gurin is less than pleased given that "war waits for no one" but you've by now come to the conclusion that the Rovinar is just a stick in the mud.
You head home at top speed in time for the family get together.

>>36428718
>Wait, it isn't a Neeran-equivalent PA?
No, it isn't. I've only said it many times. Just about every thread where it has come up.
>I guess we need to investigate if this is just mistake or purposeful myth.
That's what I'm wondering. Is it a purposeful myth that you guys keep repeating? Because if so I'll stop pointing it out.

>>36428796
>hire a researcher to see if adding ftl drive material to plasma cannon shots would do anything?
>>36428885
>It's probably be easier to ask an existing research facility or acadamy to look into it and give them a donation. Or offer a prize for research on the topic.
It's predicted to do nothing but it's your money.
Do you want to provide some SP Torpedoes for comparative testing?

>>36428993
I remember way back when we grabbed that scan of the SP torp manufacturing rig that a lot of it was said to be made of the FTL drive material. I figure maybe we'll see some preliminary shield penetration qualities which can possibly be developed.

>>36428920
Oh, I thought plasma was when everything was floating freely, making it a proton-electron soup.

In that case, testing plasma made of different material could be interesting.
>>36429047
Or not. Let's not do that.

>>36429047
How much would it cost to even fill a small plasma round for testing? I didn't mean pack an entire thing with it, but mix in small amounts with the iron plasma that's already standard use.

>>36429047
>no, it isn't
Whoops.jpg

Most certainly need to stop with the myth, then. Don't want people getting killed because we gave them bad info.

>research on drive material into plasma weapons
>>36428920
>It could be the start of Veckron Beams!
>start of Veckron Beams!
>Veckron
>Beams

I don't have words or a reaction image for how much "NO" I wish to convey.

Just the idea of Veckron Beams and how far the Navigator Guild will be up Sonia's ass if they discover that was even a passing thought on the possible result of such research...

>>36429047
>Commander Gurin
I have the strange urge to do something nice for the Commander. Like, he is the scrooge that must learn the meaning of Christmas.

Like when we get back throw a "small" party for the Commander. Bring the Cheer to him whether he likes it or not. Get him a snow-globe with the base inside of it.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN7LW0Y00kE

To cut down on excessive parking you make a few trips with the aerocar, picking up most of the family on your first trip out, then swinging by Linda's place and the location Duncan gave you on the second trip.

Right on time the snow starts to come down and you make sure the car is moved into the garage so that you don't have to worry about ice forming on anything while it's powered down.

Dad couldn't make it away from his duties long enough for the flight back but you're able to record video of everything going on to send later and set up an audio stream, though it's going to cost an arm and a leg.

There's a "Thunk" noise from outside and you notice the remains of a snowball falling off the window.

"Snowball fight!" Shouts Bekka loudly enough to be heard. Linda is out the door in a flash, yelling over her shoulder "I'm on her team!"

Mom keeps Ethan well out of range while he investigates his first snowfall. He'll be fine.

Roll 2d20 for snowball fight!

Rolled 20, 16 = 36 (2d20)

>>36429524

At some point, give Ethan a tiny snowball.

Rolled 5, 10 = 15 (2d20)

>>36429524
Snowball PTSD

Rolled 3, 11 = 14 (2d20)

>>36429524

Everyone starts throwing snow balls as soon as they're out the doors. Duncan hangs back, a little uncertain at first until Linda gets a couple of solid hits in.

You dodge one of Bekka's throws then take aim, hitting your sister then Linda in the back of the head.

"Ahh! Oh! Shit, it went down my neck!" The blond haired woman runs off trying desperately to shake the snow out of her coat.

"Wait! Hey no fair, two against one." Says Bekka as you and Duncan pelt her with snowballs. After a minute of that she gives up.

Once that's over your mother gets your attention.
"Why don't you help your brother make a snowman?"

"Good idea." no sooner are the words out of your mouth then the smaller Reynard turns towards you and you're hit in the eye with a small snowball.
"Ow."

"ETHAN!" Shouts mom.
That sets off a while chain of events, but an hour later the two of you are finally able to roll together a small snowman.

Back inside mom turns on the audio link and tells dad what's been going on. After dinner gifts are handed out to everyone.

You're given a few hard copy novels and a few programs for use in the holobooths. Linda and Duncan each got you some drinks.

"Did you ever get around to looking at your gift from last year?" mom asks.
"Which one?" It's been a busy year.

"The one your father got you. Complete collection of Romance of the Three Kingdoms series."


>Also, what gifts did you get everyone else?
Bekka was getting a new holosword I believe.

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>>36428129
>The lab the Nai are setting up is a remote facility elsewhere to reduce damage in the event of an accident.
Given how common nanotechnology and cloning is in the far future "in case of zombies break glass" emergency shotguns are probably set up next to the eyewash stations.

Anyhow as long as the stuff we order for them show up as destined for the gene lab it lowers suspicion if we need to supply our black labs.

>>36429482
>Bring the Cheer to him whether he likes it or not. Get him a snow-globe with the base inside of it.
So holographic snow globe complete with Santa and dancing elves? and a button that turns Santa's sled into a shark

>>36430127
... what about gifting Linda and Duncan each a little plot of land from our giant grab on that former Posat planet?

Quietly solidify Linda's status as a minor noble and just plain being a way to show Duncan that we appreciate the fact that we can trust him.

It might also be worth doing the same for our two men at arms?

Or is that thing frowned upon?

in which case, maybe booze for both Linda and Duncan? With a kayak holobooth for Linda and good holographic camo system for Duncan being real gifts? Or did we get those gifts for them some other time. Just keep the big stuff out of sight of Bekka, lest she demand something big as well.

no idea for Mom/Ethan

Some kind of rifle/shotgun for the groundskeeper?

Fair pay bonus for the security guys here.

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>>36429482
>I have the strange urge to do something nice for the Commander. Like, he is the scrooge that must learn the meaning of Christmas.
>Like when we get back throw a "small" party for the Commander. Bring the Cheer to him whether he likes it or not. Get him a snow-globe with the base inside of it.
>>36430174
>So holographic snow globe complete with Santa and dancing elves?
The first one you pick up seems to have a problem with it.

Do you want to hold a small party when you get back?

>>36430318
>what about gifting Linda and Duncan each a little plot of land from our giant grab on that former Posat planet?
Part of Duncan's job requires that he keep a relatively low profile. He'd probably appreciate the gift but it would be one he couldn't accept.

Linda is a little embarrassed at the reminder of her boondoggle with buying that castle. It seems she won't be able to escape it. She does appreciate the gift though and thanks you. Once finished terraforming the patch of land should have the right terrain for kayaking. Provided rain ends up falling on the region as predicted by modeling.

>Or is that thing frowned upon?
For Duncan it would be since he's not a member of the nobility. Actually you're not sure what rank he holds at the moment.

>in which case, maybe booze for both Linda and Duncan?
"Yeah! Not that is a gift any marine, or former marine, would appreciate."
>camo system for Duncan
"Okay you're not allowed to tell anyone I have this."

>Or did we get those gifts for them some other time.
I think you bought Linda a kayak once, or was it a holobooth program?
>Just keep the big stuff out of sight of Bekka, lest she demand something big as well.
Done.

>Some kind of rifle/shotgun for the groundskeeper?
You get a thank you card the next day in return.

>Fair pay bonus for the security guys here.
The security are all very appreciative of a Christmas or holiday bonus.

Doesn't mom love these intelligence puzzles? Maybe there are some interesting variants of these from other factions? Perhaps some especially tricky ones for adult neeran?

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>Doesn't mom love these intelligence puzzles? Maybe there are some interesting variants of these from other factions? Perhaps some especially tricky ones for adult neeran?

You'll have to see about getting a Neeran puzzle in the future. It would be difficult to get hold of.
Ones from other factions are much easlier.

A Rovinar logic puzzle is something mom is really surprised to get, but certainly happy. "It may take me a few weeks to learn all of the symbols before I can figure this one out."


Facing problems with getting a present for your little brother you gave mom some cash a few weeks ago to get something for him.
She picked up a few toy models of the Dominion first generation FTL cruisers. The line is marketed as one of the most indestructable toys around.

>>36431202
>cruiser toy
So, did it manage to survive 24 hours in his hands ?

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>>36431314
He somehow managed to rip out the main guns, but the fuel tanks that act as bumpers have prevented serious damage and survived all attempts at removal.

Before the new year can be ushered in you head out to check the phone booth once more, clad in your armor and with Velari waiting a few hundred meters away. The same recording as your previous visits plays.
"Good afternoon. If you're hearing this it means you've been contacted by one of my associates. I am not given the identities of those they recruit. I require people with skills not a back story. Do not look too deeply into my identity and I will not look into yours.

I offer two types of jobs, observation of the unfortunate and gift giving to the considerably more fortunate.

Observation pays a lot more at the moment, but that isnt always the case.

Press [1] for Observation
Press [0] for Gift giving
If you're stranded in the middle of the northern wastes and need a taxi Press [3]"

>>36430814
I would say Yes to holding a small "party" when we get back.

>>36431202
>You'll have to see about getting a Neeran puzzle in the future. It would be difficult to get hold of.

I'm sure this will make for an interesting conversation with the Wizard's apprentice next time we see him.

Anyway i'm off to do Pre-Black Friday shopping. Wish me luck!

>>36431385
The non-assassination option, please. Gift giving?

>>36431385
Gift giving I suppose? I'm kinda meh on the whole idea. Anyway, we're going to a noble party at some point right?

>>36431385
>Press [1] for Observation

"Please listen to the message in its entirety." You're warned.

"I have located a gift suitable for particular individual. Given the time of year I'm certain receiving it would bring them great joy.

The gift in question is a small holographic projector on the Sector 2 city tree. The projector is damaged won’t light on one side. It should be delivered to a repair shop on Karloff street for repairs. Another will return it at a later time."

The line goes quiet for nearly a full minute but you still haven't been given a coin.

"Still listening? Good. That was not your actual assignment.

The gift in question is an ancient Arbalest currently in possession of Baron Ukalah on the House Erid homeworld. Take steps to minimise fatalities or your pay will be reduced. Avoiding detection entirely will result in a substantial pay increase.

If you have not completed this job within 30 days someone else will be assigned.

Sure enough a coin drops down into the chute at the bottom of the phone.
"You've been provided with the location of a dead drop. Leave the gift there. Nearby you will find a secure communications terminal. Enter the code on the back of the coin and you'll be given a location where you will find your payment.

Attempting to enter the code without depositing the gift would be unwise.

Seasons greetings."

Looking up some information on your own you soon find out that the Baron has quite a collection of antiques. A good number of them were taken from museums on former House Jerik worlds a century ago. The collection must be worth millions to the right people, and is probably guarded well.

>>36432337
Eh, not really interested in this stuff. If someone else is I suppose we could do it, but the risk/reward just doesn't seem right for someone in our position.

>>36431385
>Press [1] for Observation
No delivering bombs to nobles plz

>>36432337
>Arbalest
That's going to be a bitch to smuggle out.

What's the word on Baron Ukalah? Friendly? House Erid too?

>>36431396
>Anyway i'm off to do Pre-Black Friday shopping. Wish me luck!
Good luck.

>>36431696
>Anyway, we're going to a noble party at some point right?
Yes. Is Sonia wearing a dress instead of her dress uniform? It was suggested earlier. It would certainly throw people off. Including herself.
And if so what kind?

>>36432414
>Eh, not really interested in this stuff.

>>36432875
>What's the word on Baron Ukalah? Friendly? House Erid too?
Relations with House Erid have been improving over the last few years but they're still a rival.

You know Knight Captain Desh Xisoth but very few other people among their House personally.

The Baron Ukalah is a hardline supporter of renewing hostilities with Jerik-Dremine. While he doesn't support pulling the fleets from the front lines he would certainly use a civil war within the Dominion as an opportunity to invade your space.
It's rumored that the previous Earl of your House tried to have him assassinated.

>>36432984
Not sure how many people are around at the moment, but given the relations between our two houses I'd say go for it.

Just need to figure out a plan to get it.

>>36432984
>>36432984
A shallan style dress maybe? Can't read spoilers on my phone unfortunately.

>>36432984
Let's go steal shit from him then. I am confident that we could do it without getting spotted. Not to mention that I am secretly hoping for a war against House Erid so we can reclaim JD's old territory.

>And if so what kind?
A dress that does not restrict movement to much. What if we had to fight a duel!

It seems some holiday gifts have arrived for you. Some of them are more substantial than others.

High class lounge and accommodations suitable for addition to a modular station have recently arrived at Surakeh. According to London they're a gift from Baron Torsten Vlegel of House Ceres.
A set of HF-blade weapons of various types from Knight Captain Darrow of House Phobos.
A custom ultralight starfighter upgraded with a point defense system from Colonel Troy Harmen of Loran II.

>>36433166
>>36433250
Well at least 2 people are interested.

>>36433212
>A shallan style dress maybe?
Going with this. Shallan high class dress, modified to fit someone of your height and to carry a holdout.
Plasma pistol is not going to match up with this one.

>Can't read spoilers on my phone unfortunately.
It would throw off both other people and Sonia.

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>>36433689
>>High class lounge and accommodations suitable for addition to a modular station have recently arrived at Surakeh. According to London they're a gift from Baron Torsten Vlegel of House Ceres.
This guy

>>36433689
I'll support the mission. We are usually stealthy enough and having the Baron focus on the theft instead of war would be better.

>>36433783

Who was it again?

>>36433689
This kind of spec work is right up our ally. We should do some ground-work though. Is there anyone within our house or our company that could help us without raising suspicion?

>>36433689
We should quietly get that guy who we dueled a gift. Sort of a "Thanks for the experience" deal. Give us a reputation for being polite under duress.

Or mess with his head.

>>36433970
http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/Sonia_Reynard
House Ceres - Arguably the most powerful Human-led House within the Dominion. They currently hold territory within the Southern Reach which is quite close to J/D space. Personally, Sonia conducted business with Baron Torsten Vlegel to convert a salvaged Dominion Carrier to his specifications. The Baron has made favourable comments about the deal despite not caring for how messy the RSS station was.

He was the young little shit who demanded VIP service while buying a ship off us on our first station.

>>36434051
I like his style. We should send him a nice thank-you note and an invitation to whenever we throw a party again.

Or even ask his advice on how to throw it.

>>36433970
The guy who bought the carrier and complained about station not having a section for nobles.

>>36434076
I could get behind this. The guy has money and influence, shit we need. He might be a bit abrasive, but fuck it's not like he has a monopoly on that. And the gift shows a sense of humour, even if it is a gentle rebuke. Also, hey, free noble lounge.

>>36433689
We should send gifts to everyone who sent us one, or if it's too late invite them to party at our sweet ranch.

We can plan rough outdoor stuff for Baron Torsten Vlegel. Er, wait. Isn't house Ceres pretty big? Maybe we should be nice to him (and get some good press/contacts)

>>36433689
Time for House and Dominion, fashion session. Lets go with the Dress Uniform. Unless we're planning on awkwardly flirting.

>>36434365
>How did you want to enter House Erid space? What is your plan to rob the Baron's collection? What steps will you take to gather information on it?
Still in favor of passing on the mission. Also, could you back up a bit and actually play out the ball? I was looking forward to that one hell of a lot more than this infiltration mission.

>>36434427
I want to do both of them equally bad. We didn't get any up-close and personal action the last few tours.

>>36434365
>How did you want to enter House Erid space? What is your plan to rob the Baron's collection? What steps will you take to gather information on it?
Frankly, I prefer that we don't. I seriously don't think we need the money that badly, plus there is a shitload of danger as well as piss poor pay most likely. Hell, if we get caught it could seriously hurt our chances for advancement to Baronhood. Besides, starting an inter-house conflict while a civil war is brewing and the Neeran invasion is still ongoing? No thanks, just wait out the 30 days and let someone else handle it.

>>36434004
You could still do that.

>>36434427
>Still in favor of passing on the mission
More people have voted for it than against it in thread.

You attend one of the many, many balls being held through the holiday season. You're usually not around for them and it's an opportunity to meet with several nobles that would otherwise have been busy when your group was present in late January.
You feel woefully under dressed in civilian wear, and the lack of bullet resistant fabric protecting most of your body is a bit unnerving. The dress is really more similar to some light Terran evening gowns you've seen, though with some odd geometry in places.
The change in attire is enough to throw off a few nobles resulting in them not immediately recognising you. Apparently they must have been distracted by your dress uniform decorations on previous occasions.

After meeting some new people, dancing a little bit, and listing to the local gossip you look around to see if there is anyone else you'd like to talk to before people start to leave for the evening.

Is there anyone or any type of people you're looking to interact with at the ball?

>>36434480
I was thinking that we should talk to any of the other investors in Aegis Armor, and meet Dhaska's parents. It would be mildly amusing to run into the parents of the kid Becka had a duel with as well.

>>36434469
Well, the real issue is that we've honestly reached a point in our career where it makes more sense for us to be the sort of person giving calls into the phone booth than doing the jobs ourselves. I might be more fun to play our body double on a clandestine mission really.

>>36434596
Our body double needs more training to be more like us. Remember the time when she had to be our substitute after we got poisoned?

>>36434596
Gotta do something to relieve the pressures of command. Besides, it's better than therapy.

>>36432337

A museum heist in hostile territory in 30 days? Less, considering our FA obligations.

If it isn't impractical to the point of near impossibility, it would be stupid for someone of our rank and visibility to go after.

Wasn't someone from Erid involved in our sister's kidnapping? That would just add another layer of no to it. We'd have eyes on us 24/7, and they'd start linking things up quickly if we vanished.

Speaking of which, did we ever get more word on who from another House was involved?

>>36433689
>gift from Baron Vlegel of Ceres

I take it that his carrier did well?

>Harmen's gift

Smartass

We should order Troy Harmen a pair of dancing shoes with steel toes, and a pin-on red dot. With a thank you note and nice bottle of booze.

>Knight from House Phobos

Odd, I don't recall this knight or House. One of the unnamed knights we've crossed paths with?

Thank you notes and good booze all around as thanks?

>>36434839
What? No, we can do this. It'll be fun. We can have our body double be seen around, or go to travel for business or something. We have a lot of options.

Why don't you like having fun, anon.

>>36434957

I enjoy fun, but I'm also not keen to tank our political career by trying to half-ass a museum heist. At best, we undo the work put into trying to improve relations with House Erid. At worst, we cause a fallout that sees the Royal House make an example of us, and hurt J-D's reputation.

The risks highly outweigh the benefits this could possibly offer.

SURVEY <<<
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3RXYZQN


>>36434839
>I take it that his carrier did well?
Yes, or that's the indication he's giving.

>Harmen's gift
>Smartass
Uh, Ultralight starfighters are used by the Republic in much the same role your House uses repulsor jetbikes. You used one aboard that Neeran city ship and then kept it.

>Odd, I don't recall this knight or House.
Actually you've never met him but he is from one of the other primarily human Houses. Their House is roughly of equivalent strength to yours.

>>36434572
>I was thinking that we should talk to any of the other investors in Aegis Armor, and meet Dhaska's parents. It would be mildly amusing to run into the parents of the kid Becka had a duel with as well.

You take a moment off to the side to look up other owners in the company as well as Daska's parents and compare them to people you've seen tonight. Your HUD is helpful in that regard. There are a few present and you even locate Daska's parents but they're just headed out the door.
Do you want to rush and try to catch up to them before they leave?
If so:
>What say?

>>36435099
Nah, running after them seems like a bad idea.

>>36435055
> If we get caught

Don't ruin this for me. I love this sort of thing. I'd be more willing to pass on it if we could still board enemy ships or do wetwork, but apparently that's too risky for precious little commander Sonia.

>>36435099
Leave them alone. Disturbing someone from leaving can be rude and we are only simply greeting them anyways.

>>36435099
>Baron from Ceres
Hmm... Consult Mr. London on sending him a few flights or a squadron of Type 6's as thanks? And both a personal and RSS-based thank you note. (no idea on the costs/demand/etc. It may even be a delayed gift back by some months?)
>the same role your House uses repulsor jetbikes

Oh, I thought he was giving us something more like a Needle fighter with PD. What with the nuke thing...

In that case... maybe send him a few repulsor rifles. One of them with a red-dot sight. (special arrangements for the ammo, don't want to break any laws)

>Phobos guy
Well, he certainly knows how to make a good first impression. Space Google time? (after the ball)

>>36435328
WE WILL NOT BE OUT-EXTRAVAGANZA'D!

I say we send him a rare shark to keep on his bridge as a good luck charm, and a squadron of customized (blinged out) type 6's named after them.

>>36435288
I'm in the same boat with loving that sort of thing.

Sometimes we have to deny what we want because it isn't a good choice. Like every damned time I say "fire the main cannons at the planetary target!".

>>36435507
Could you stop being reasonable about this? It makes it hard to defend my point and I already filled out the survey.

Sorry guys I'm really having a hard time keeping it together here.

You introduce yourself to a few of the other company owners. Unsurprisingly all of them are from well established families that have been looking after the House materials manufacturing for a long time.
You ask about their opinions on the merger and as one points out the newer armor was likely going to start pushing their margins back down again once you'd resumed general sales.
"Better with them then against them in this case."
"Indeed. We've been looking at buying licenses for upgraded equipment for a few years now but then when the torpedo armor sales dropped off it was decided to be unnecessary."

"Well when the current stage of development is finished we'll all be abel to profit from higher quality defenses." You point out which gets several agreements.

Overall most are still a little worried about R&D and if the next level armor systems will be as effective as hoped.
"We have DHI wondering if they should be placing orders ahead of time for new materials to protect future assault corvette designs. The Terrans and Kavarians are trying to push for modular armor with woven trit armor layers and additional hardening. We cant compete with anything like that!"
"That's bound to be too expensive to equip every ship in the fleet though." points out Lord Do'orla Epyn.
It's been awhile since you met to help sort out the issues in Mike's home town. This is one of the few times you've met with her since then.

>What say for the armor situation?

>>36435899

I'd hazard a guess that the Terrans are pushing in order to have the technology for their elite units ahead of their own means, while the Kavarians are looking at the potential profits and the ability to prime the pump of their industrial capacity toward future conflicts.

But I'm a bit afraid to actually suggest saying that. I have to wonder if modular armor would require costly hull upgrades, though.

>>36435899
"I do believe Lord Do'orla is correct to a point. While I doubt the Terrans will be retrofiring their entire navy with high grade armor such as that right this moment it is not impossible that they will do so over a few years when they can make the process simpler and switch over their regular armor to it. Kavarians will probably do it as soon as they can seeing as they have a limited navy. Besides that I have faith in the new armor that we ourselves can make and we are still expecting new light weight armor from the Alliance for the exchange of that Neeran yard. Hopefully that will be something we can fit on the new Corvettes."

>>36435899
"The main issue is that even post merger, a single house such as ours can't ultimately match the R&D potential of two factions working in concert. Of course, going to the other houses in the dominion reduces our advantage in this area. Bit of a hard balancing act their."

"I do believe Lord Do'orla is correct to a point. While I doubt the Terrans will be retrofiring their entire navy with high grade armor such as that right this moment, it is not impossible that they will do so over a few years when they can make the process simpler and switch over their regular armor to it. Kavarians will probably do it as soon as they can seeing as they have a limited navy. Besides that I have faith in the new armor that we ourselves can make and we are still expecting new light weight armor from the Alliance for the exchange of that Neeran yard. Hopefully that will be something we can fit on the new Corvettes."

"I meant our fleet, but thank you." Whispers the other noble then speaks up. "Captain Reynard has a good point about the reverse engineered Neeran production data. It could dramatically shift things back in our favour."

You resume before the remainder of the issue is lost. "The main issue is that even post merger, a single House such as ours can't ultimately match the R&D potential of two factions working in concert. Of course, going to the other Houses in the Dominion reduces our advantage in this area. Bit of a hard balancing act there."

"We can always collaborate on other projects. We need to hold onto ones that will strengthen us against the other Houses."

"We'll still need to work with some of our allies certainly." Replies Lord Epyn.

"That sounds more like a matter for the Earl to decide." Concludes an approaching Knight. Looking over you see that it's Knight Captain Matyáš Fox.
"Apologies if I'm intruding but security of the House and its allies does seem like a matter of importance to those in charge."

"And his council." Adds one of those who'd been arguing for holding off on collaboration.

>>36435899
>Sorry guys I'm really having a hard time keeping it together here.
No worries, I'm just following today's posts on my phone while trying to keep family from killing each other over dinner :/.

Once it seems that conversation is over you say hello.
"Captain, how are you?"

"I'm well, though my Knights have been scattered. Some are up at the front while I've been assigned to the Homeworlds once again. Another medium cruiser present to help bolster the home fleet against agression by the other Houses.
I know you're only stationed a days travel away if you rushed back here but how prepared are you if things should go sour?"

You inform him of some of your plans with the Alliance to keep the bases protected should other Houses attempt to move on them. Overall it should buy time in a crisis.

"You're sure we couldn't simply convince the Alliance that anyone attempting to disrupt the war effort is fighting for the other side? It could give us a tremendous advantage, ending things swiftly."

>What say?

>>36436726
"Maybe Alliance fleets interfering in a potential Dominion civil war would end it faster. Or it could lead to a multi faction invasion of the Dominion by the other factions once their volunteers in the Alliance starts getting killed. They'll bring their own fleets to end the war faster and when they are done they don't really have a reason to leave do they? It may not happen like that but the risk is to high considering."

>>36436726
"Possibly. The possibility of the other factions effectively invading the dominion is not a pleasant one however, even if they are on "our" side. Frankly, I'm thinking of suggesting that they take a page out of the Terran's book when it comes to managing dominion houses. As irritating as it is to admit, they've been highly effective at discouraging certain aspects of research with out officially doing anything. Perhaps we could do something similar to houses that are actively disrupting the war effort."

>>36436726

"It could also destroy the Alliance. One of the founding principals is that they are to fight external threats to all of the Factions. Not to mention that external intervention could make any Dominion conflict worse as Houses object to external forces being allowed to intervene in Dominion Affairs. It could even turn into a Faction War... or worse, if the Neeran exploit it."

>>36436843
>>36436879
>>36436913
"All very good points, and you're right on most of them. I'm just looking for way we could potentially turn a situation to our advantage.

How secure are the SP weapon stores at your base should another House try to raid them?"

You don't actually know the compliment of SP Warheads at the base, or even if they have any. You know your battlecruisers have enough to rapidly turn things around.

[ ] Tell him you don't know
[ ] Tell him you don't think there is any
[ ] Tell him what Alliance security precautions would be in place if there are any
[ ] (Lie) Security is high
[ ] (Lie) Security is low

>>36437030
My spider sense is tingling.

"Don't get me wrong but I am fairly certain that information should not be discussed."

>>36437030

"They'll be delivered faster than a pizza and there will be no complaints from the customer, if any survive."

He's trying to determine if J-D can raid alliance stockpiles.

>>36437030
>[ ] Tell him you don't think there is any
"Or at least not a lot. Its primarily a training base after all. There really isn't a large need for them."

>>36437076
>>36437122
>>36437171
Mixed response. Any tie breakers or would you just like to remain non committal?

>>36437469
Non-committal.

It isn't something we'd generally discuss.

>>36437469
Non commital.

You're not entirely certain about the situation with their torpedo stores, it's not something you've needed to look into and to be honest you're more worried about looking after your personal reserves at any given time.
If the base or training squadrons come under attack you're more than capable of fighting Dominion ships using standard torpedoes. That's what you did for a good portion of your early career.

"Well thank you for being honest Captain Reynard. Also I must compliment you on the dress."
He says with a smirk.
"You see few Knights attempting to "dress up" these days other than seeing how many more medals they can safely hang off their uniforms before they keel over. Some parties and balls may require a nice appearance but it doen't always need to be a military uniform to do it."

He wishes you a good evening.

Is there's anything else to take care of at the party?

>>36437679
Can't claim that there is. Also I am now paranoid someone will try to steal from our Alliance base.

>these days other than seeing how many more medals they can safely hang off their uniforms before they keel over
I'd say we would get about a third though our stores of medals before the fabric starts to rip due to the weight.

You're keeping the dress. It could come in handy in the future and it was something people didn't seem to expect of you.

Stopping in back home you change then head up to the ship and plot out your next course of action. And sort of attempt to steal from House Erid would need more extensive planning than you really have time for at the moment. There are still 30 days left before it expires.

Setting course you return to the training base and set things up with the rest of the crew for a short party to try and shake Commander Gurin out of a perpetual dour mood.
There are other Rovinar officers aboard and they're consulted for ideas. Most of them have come to the conclusion the the base commander is one of the most bland uninteresting and by the books people ever, even by their standards.

Well too bad, you're going to find some way of cracking through that tough exterior.

Roll for hangover. 1d100