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>>37620832
>Current armory
269 Thorn Launchers
20 Thorn Cannons
123 Sting Casters
30 Cyclotrons
15 Rotary Stingers
3 Fire Sprays
5 Plasma Spray
22 Particle Cannons

>Current resource reserves
Nutrients: 748336
Metals: 527684
Credits: ₡2326
Credits in Lyle’s account: ₡577,450

>Hive population and upkeep cost
Hive maintenance – 2150
Queen – 5
Fake Queen (2) – 44
Worker (25005) – 50010
Aquatic Worker (140) – 560
Vacuum Worker (200) – 1200
Radiator Worker (100) – 400
Warrior (1209) – 6045
Aquatic Warrior (100) – 700
Thinker (1300) – 3900
Quantum Thinker (355) – 1775
Speaker – (3) – 12
Digger (80) – 320
Refinery (10) – 70
Sniffer (2) – 8
Small Sniffer (200) – 200
Fly (50) – 200
Wasp (100) – 500
Haz-mat Workers (20) – 80
Shock Troops (40) – 520
Parasite (30) – 120
Bio-tank (12) – 300
Excavator (250) – 4750
Colossus (20) – 300
Harvester (50) – 950
Support Fluttercraft (2) – 272
Ghost Beetle (5) – 135
Heavy Warrior (5) – 95
Advanced Relay (69) – 6900 (set as default method of ship control)
Upkeep: 82533N

>Hive fleet
Space Pod (49) – 1470
Shuttle (10) – 250
Mining Corvette (6) – 1650
Scout Corvette (8) – 1800
Lancer Corvette (2) – 450
Fleet Corvette (4) – 900
Stealth Frigate (4) – 1952
Heavy Cruiser (10) – 12150
20622N

Clone upkeep/special projects and expenses
25 Human captives of the USV Hope – 750
3 Human hybrid clone upkeep – 90
10 Skyl replicant clones in production – 600 [10 days remain]
Lyle Rogers – 47
1487N

Total upkeep
Nutrient costs: 104642

>Income
Metals: 113000
Nutrients: 125000
Net: 20358

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>>37620868
New Construction Options
Defensive structures
>Anti-orbital battery – A bunker armed with a massive Particle beam capable of attacking ships in orbit from the ground. It includes the power and sensor systems required to operate it. 250N 1500M
>Surface to Orbit Missile System – This massive bunker complex houses a wide range of warheads and a nigh limitless number of missiles within its protective walls, allowing you to launch missiles against approaching invaders from the safety of your hive. The facility uses the ship missile stats and comes equipped with a single Cruise missile silo that can target any detected object within the system, five Stinger missile silos capable of targeting any craft within high orbit, and ten Swarm missile silos specialized in targeting high altitude aircraft and low orbiting targets. The facility itself is a massive complex spread out over several miles, and includes guidance and launch equipment, as well as the means to construct and maintain a stock of warheads and missiles. (1500N 2500M)
Military Structures
>Hangar Expansion – Construct fortified hangar facilities for your choice of +40 aero/fighter drone space, or +20 shuttle space. 50N 100M
Industrial Structures
>Docking Pylon – A large spire or station that contains space for docking and construction of 4 ships, or a single capital ship if placed in orbit. 100N 300M

>>37620868
>3 Human hybrid clone upkeep – 90
They're complete?

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>>37620891
Economic Structures
>Harvester Dock – A large pier built along the shore overlooking the spore-producing ocean film that serves as an unloading area for Harvester drones, and contains pipelines to pump collected raw nutrients to the hive’s awaiting processing facilities, includes a single Harvester which is covered by the cost and upkeep of the dock. Provides 500N per day (38N 50M)
>Orbital electroponic station – An orbital instillation built near a large source of hydrogen used to fuel a large fusion core, which in turn provides electrical power to a contained algae farm facility. Must be built in orbit of a gas giant. Provides +500N per day and doubles as a gas mining facility, refueling the tritium stores of any ships in the system. (1000M)
>Algae Farm – A carved out space used to utilize Leeland’s natural electrical field to cultivate food. +100N per day, 1 worker to maintain.

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

>>37620903
They are.

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>>37620917
Finished research

>Quantum Communications
By utilizing a complex and highly delicate system of quantum entanglement between particles, a link can be built between two devices, allowing them to pass on data instantaneously regardless of distance. The device cannot be jammed, intercepted, or disrupted in any way, but holds a number of limitations in that it is both inefficient in its bandwidth, and highly expensive.
The quantum communicator cannot transmit or receive psionic communications, and lacks the capacity and nuance to directly control a drone.
[sample device consumed – blank C class relay]

>Thermal Imaging
Medium
This compact visor display built into the helmet of Lyle's suit is capable of detecting heat, turning it into a color-coded display to highlight sources of thermal energy. It is blinded in extreme temperatures, and can quickly become useless in certain situations, but when used in conjunction with other sensors it offers a powerful method of detecting and tracking a target.


>Ballistic armor
Very fast
Ablative plates connected to sensors and layered over interlocked hollow compartments provide a dedicated defense against explosive force and missiles, as well as offering a slight benefit against kinetic damage.

>Bulkhead
Fast
Filling space on ships normally reserved for tactical modules with super dense armor of varying types drastically increases a ship’s durability in combat.

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>>37620946
[New ship modules unlocked]

Ballistic armor – A network of hollow compartments designed to muffle impacts and layers of detachable chitinous strips linked to complex sensor systems allow the ship to launch parts of its armor at incoming objects to cause missiles to detonate prematurely and absorb the blast. While it is designed to be most effective at stopping missile strikes, it is also decently effective against kinetic damage. (50N 25M per 10 meters)

Bulkhead – Many ships poses space to hold a number of useful sub-systems, weapon systems, and other modules, however these are often too expensive to maintain on every ship in the hive. By filling these unused spaces with interconnected nets of metal plating, a ship can be made far more durable to damage without additional upkeep. The bulkheads are incredibly heavy, and will greatly decrease the acceleration of a ship. Increases the amount of damage a ship can take and can render the ship immune to critical hits if all modules are used. (500M per module slot used)

[New adaptation unlocked]
Thermal Pits: An array of small sensory gland covered pits is positioned around the head in the form of a large, darkly colored and porous layer of chitin, giving the appearance of being eyeless. The IR sensitive chitin layer replaces the compound eyes and allows it to see in the infrared spectrum. (2N)

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>>37620969
New research unlocked

>Gun ports
Fast
Your large drones offer a great increase in firepower in many situations, but in some cases can become vulnerable to smaller opponents. By developing a series of small muscle grafts along the sides of the drone’s thorax a number of medium sized weapons can be placed to offer increased firepower against smaller targets.

>Genetic tapestry
Medium
With the development of your recent clones, you have gained experience and knowledge in organizing alien DNA into effective and desirable formations to not only reproduce an alien subject, but also improve upon it. Now you feel you are ready to go even farther with your experiments in mixing and matching alien and drone DNA.
[Unlocks Chimera clone type]

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>>37621032
Current research

>Immolator warhead
Very slow
Another technology obtained but not understood by the Skyl, this warhead is the focus of much idol worship and cult activity, as well as an extensive research effort. The weapon itself was reportedly capable of disrupting the surface of a planet, turning the surface to fields of molten slag. They never finished development, but their notes should be quite helpful.

>Ion cannon
Slow
The next logical step in ion technology, the ion cannon uses a powerful magnetic funnel to channel ionized particles to a target, causing focused energy damage and EMP effects. Similar in nature to the CIP weapon, but based more on the Ion thruster technology.

>Molecular disassembler warhead
Medium
This nanomachine filled warhead releases a cloud of semi organic disassemblers that quickly and voraciously feed on any and all available carbon or silicon based substances, reducing any and all sources of nutrients and metals into dust, which is used to construct more disassemblers. Each disassembler has a short lifespan, but with a rich enough target a chain reaction can be created with the potential to deal immense devastation to ships, station, and cities alike.

>Weather Spire
Medium
A specialty of The Gardener which was apparently shared with the Skyl to solidify their alliance. It is a massive spire capable of analyzing and altering the atmospheric composition of a planet over time, as well as altering localized conditions to alter weather patterns.

>>37621032
>Genetic tapestry
The shit we could do with this.

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>>37621059
>Psionic Shroud
Slow
Your thinkers have been working over the strange and unsettling silence of the broken crystals you have collected and several of your quantum thinkers have theorized of using them to develop a kind of mute effect. In theory it could offer a way to muffle the mental sounds of your hive's thoughts from other hives.

>Psionic fortification
Slow
Further research of the white crystal’s beneficial effects on your own psionic link to your drones could lead to some manner of defense against a psionic jammer.

>Thermal Blade
Medium
This dull loop of carefully crafted polymer quickly heats itself to deadly temperatures when exposed to an electrical current from within its gauntlet, quickly turning it from a blunt instrument to a deadly blade capable of burning through all manner of armor.

>Rejuvenation gene therapy
Slow
After extensive research of the human genome, you have discovered that they suffer from a limitation to their life span based on a pre-set limit built into their cells that limits the number of times any one cell can divide. With some amount of effort, you think you could create a serum that would offer a temporary boost to that limit, allowing for extended periods of cell division.

>Laser cooling
Very Slow
This concept uses a laser to bounce particles in an object back into place, effectively nullifying the energy within the object, cooling it to potentially extreme temperatures at a distance.

So much research, almost done.

>>37620946
We should look into psionic version of quantum communication. Can't be jammed or heard by another hive...
It will likely have limitations but still.

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>>37621082
Available research options

>Psionic Cannon prototype
Very slow/Very dangerous
Detailed accounts of several experiments show the slow progress of Project Godsplitter. The cannon itself is highly volatile, and even the smallest miscalculation often results in the destruction of the ship, as well as any nearby craft. It can only be equipped to a Hive ship's spinal mount, and requires a functional Void Shard as ammunition. At least a dozen testing sizes were atomized in testing the weapon, and in the end it appears The Gardener never quite perfected it.

>Smart Mines
Medium
Replacing digger drones with programmable seeds of nanomachines allows the hive to effectively create metal trees. The nanomachines spread roots through the ground to locate ore veins, break them down and assemble them on the surface as metallic fruit-like bulbs for workers to gather.

>Liquid metal sculpting
Medium
By using nanomachines to maintain metal in a liquid form regardless of temperatures and without diluting it with chemicals, you can improve the quality of the Hive’s metallurgy, decreasing the time it takes your workers to perform metal intensive work in cramped spaces and dramatically boosting ship construction times.

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>>37621110
>Carbon nanostructure construction
Medium
By using the ancient Raligha ship as a basis, and new construction techniques, you can implement more sturdy nanotubes and carbon based diamond filaments to slightly improve the stability and durability of your ships without impeding maneuverability or increasing cost.

>Cellular acceleration
Medium
By using advanced medical technologies to assist and boost the cellular metabolism of an organism, clones can be made to develop much faster than normal.

>Photosynthetic cells
Fast
By implementing the same cells used in many of the local foliage in infrastructure, you can create stations and buildings that produce energy via solar radiation to produce energy in a manner more safe and stable than fusion, although less efficient.

>Genesis Project
Medium
By studying the practices and techniques on top of the dedicated technologies of the Gardener's hive, you can develop a method that can be used to rapidly spread foliage and life on a planet to develop a new biosphere. The process is time and resource intensive at the start, but with the use of weather spires the biosphere quickly takes root and becomes self-sufficient.

thinkers a busy, but I felt like I needed to post everything here so we all know what's researching and what isn't after the hiatus.

damn op and I feel we haven even got half way in the quest and we're already being drowned by all the shit we can do, I'm glad to see you're back

Hey its back, uh gimme a sec to read through this...everything.

>>37621139
Uh.

Those last two aren't in the pastebin m8. http://pastebin.com/F6t39KSp

Also, there are 1000 Farms being constructed right now aren't there? >>36913447

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>>37621139
Your pods soak in the data of countless public broadcasts as they float over various worlds and drift through the void of space. The nuclear strike against the lab on Tadega has been constant and now blurry images of a Unity server ship competes for the top story. Headlines claiming war to be certain and conspiracy theories tying the incidents together in strange and convoluted ways fill the news as various experts in obscure analytical fields rant about the Unity’s obsession with destroying human civilization. Zero One bounces the data from spire to spire, district to district as countless subroutines and instances theorize and strategize over how the growing controversy will unfold, and how to gain from it. Strange, there seems to be an increase in drone patrols in the area of Zero One, and your pod adjusts its orbit accordingly to avoid the growing traffic of drone and cruiser patrols.

Meanwhile, deep within the bowels of the Leeland hive, three of your medical pods stir restlessly. Your clones have matured, although they are still blank. They will require knowledge, memories, data of some sort to be of use before you can send them on any mission. You scan through the minds of the hope's crew to determine what you have available.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3 to search for useful knowledge and skills to implant.

Is it possible to use Lyle's military background to somewhat automate the standing ground forces where equipped and ready to equip weapons are concerned? I mean we can tweak warriors but it seems like if we have someone with a large amount of military experience we should use it when detail inning what units to send with what equipment.

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>37621266

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>37621266
welcome back!

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>37621266
Here we go

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>37621266
I hope the d100 dice are acting better today, lately they've been trying damn hard to kill us in almost every quest I've seen them used in this week

>>37621110
>>37621139
I want to start on smart mines, liquid metal sculpting, carbon nanostructure construction, and photosynthetic cells at least. And look into what quantum communications can give us potentially, besides itself.
Good for maintaining contact with other races without stationing a relay I suppose.

>>37621323
>>37621303
The dice fucking love us.

>>37621266
>You scan through the minds of the hope's crew to determine what you have available.
I would hope we'd dive Lyle's memories more.

These people should at least have the memories and skills that Lyle knew them as having. And possibly have some of the originals' memories reconstructed from Lyle's PoV.

The dice nearly killed us in the Beta quest, damn the KEEKS!

>>37621256
Fixed. I thought I already added them, but I must have forgot to save it or something, and yes, 1000 farms are under construction, but updating everything after so long without even having access to my computer means I probably forgot to add in a few things, so feel free to point them out.
I can be a rather forgetful person at times.

>>37621352
Hive quest beta is siphoning off the suffering it seems.

>>37621362
Beat took all the bad rolls
Poor queen

>>37621394
>>37621404
Well once we get that farm up and staffed with normal workers we'll be stable. Then we need to find metal and make a unit to counter the keeks and flying dragon keeks.

>>37621337
>And look into what quantum communications can give us potentially, besides itself.
Well considering that the mechanics that make quantum entanglement is wave-particle duality we should be able to create something similar to a stutter drive.

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>>37620832
Here's the full map I put together a few threads ago.

>>37621266
>and conspiracy theories tying the incidents together in strange and convoluted ways
"Of course, it was a top secret research facility where the government was experimenting on psychic aliens which read the mind of a human, and leaked the location of a valuable military target to the Unity!"

>>37621362
>>37621394
>>37621404
>>37621452

Guys as much as I like the discussion please be respectful to this quest and keep all discussion relevant to this present quest.

>going back to anon mode.

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>>37621763
Fuck you, faggot. You're being disrespectful by putting your trip on

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>>37621266
You sift through the lifetimes of the crew members with the aid of your thinkers to find any interesting skillsets or training they may possess, and you are pleasantly surprised.

Several hold a long history of hunting, and are familiar with long ranged weapons, as well as a few with a history of marksmanship sports and competitions. One happens to be a highly skilled martial artist with many, rather fuzzy, memories of brutal ritualistic combat events. Another is from a long line of military service in the family, and was raised around all manner of heavy weapons and equipment, and finally, and probably most surprisingly, there is a criminal among them, albeit not a totally hardened one, with a history of life on the endlessly winding urban sprawl of Path, and holds an innate knowledge of human circuitry and surveillance systems.
They all possess the same minimum training with standard human weapons and basic equipment.

[skills available]
The clones can receive a wide range of training, however they can only be specialized in one field, which represents an entire lifetime of practice and years of intense training.
>Sharpshooter - This clone will be an adept marksman capable of utilizing a wide range of human rifles and side arms.
>Brawler - This clone will be adept at utilizing short ranged or melee weapons, and is an expert at disarming and incapacitating opponents in close quarters.
>Tech - This clone is highly skilled with human networking technology, and can infiltrate and disable security systems, pick electronic locks, falsify credentials, and erase or retrieve data from public or private networks.
>Engineer - This clone will know the ins and outs of every conceivable mechanical device known in Union space, from power armor to ship engines and more.

cont.

>>37621784

Not understanding why he put the trip on, do you even do social structure?

>>37621360
I don't think going deeper in lyle's memories is of any help. If i remember you to be an awesome hacker does not mean i know the things that made you good at it. See what i mean?

>Tech - This clone is highly skilled with human networking technology, and can infiltrate and disable security systems, pick electronic locks, falsify credentials, and erase or retrieve data from public or private networks.

still can't help but wonder how freaked out the humans will be if they ever find out we can put hybrid clones of them out there and parasites to spy on them. Thinking it would be an instant war type deal really.

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>>37621850
The conversation had clearly stopped. There was no reason for him to post.

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>>37621834
You have completed 3 hybrid human clones, each built from the recorded genetics of a long dead human mercenary, two males and a female. While you do not have access to their original memories, you can assemble the memories of a false life using what you know of them from Lyle's memories, utilize the memories of another human, or fabricate an entirely fictitious life.

>Make up the clones' memories (write in)
>Use the Hope crew to create a life story
>Use Lyle's mind to assemble what you can, and leave the rest blank
>Other (write in)

>>37621889
We did blow up a colony, a ship and a government lab. I think its already a war starting situation.

>>37621921

>Use the Hope crew to create a life story

We need to have a proper background going!

>>37621921
>>Make up the clones' memories (write in)

We need to be their mother adoptive or other wise in all there memories. Use the Hope crew to give hem the skills but have us teach them and raise them. More children!

>>37621921
>Use Lyle's mind to assemble what you can,
But fill in the blanks with ideas drawn from Hope crew.

And I guess we'd go with Sharpshooter/Brawler/Tech combo.

>>37621921
>>Use the Hope crew to create a life story

>>37621921

>Use Lyle's mind to assemble what you can, and leave the rest blank
In the event of capture, we don't want the humans knowing we can piddle with their memories with impunity.

>>37621834
>Brawler
>Tech
>Engineer

Lyle's a good enough sniper, and for the sort of missions these guys go on an expert at disarming and incapacitating opponents in close quarters would likely be useful.

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I like to imagine that Unity and Theseus know A WHOLE LOT more about us than they let on to knowing, just like we do about us.

I bet they've figured out how to locate out spy pods, know where most of them are, and have possibly even figured out some way to detect our communications.

We should operate under the assumption that they know we are listening to Zero One, and they must also assume we know they know. We are both just keeping up the act.

I'm almost certain that all of the important instances of Theseus communicate through some crazy encrypted channel or possibly only through wired connections and uploads from drones who visit the major Theseus servers. I mean, even the lowly humans can listen in or radio.

We are seriously underestimating Theseus and the greater Unity.

>>37622013
>>Brawler
>>Tech
>>Engineer

That sounds good. But when we use the Hope's crew memories we can use different names right? Perhaps different birth places and the like to make it less obvious

>>37621921
Why not a combination of these:
>Use the Hope crew to create a life story
>Use Lyle's mind to assemble what you can
Combined with editing and creating what's need to make a believable history from birth to now.

>>37621834
Sharpshooter (Female)
Tech
Engineer

>>37622030
>We should operate under the assumption that they know we are listening to Zero One, and they must also assume we know they know. We are both just keeping up the act.
I like the way you think, anon.

>>37622013
The biggest "mission" they have is opening a bank account. Under some obvious royal alias for the hive like "John McQueen" or something.

>>37621921
>Make up the clones' memories (write in)
mix up some of the stuff you found while digging through those old memorious. Have it that they were all friends when they were young, not really abandoned but they had hard lives growing up and they mostly were the only ones to look out for each other. One learned sharp shooting, one was a brawler, and the last was pretty tech savvy. One joined the army one day and the other two thinking he'd die without joined up with him. They were attack by pirates and they're ship crashed here. We found them and nursed them back to health and they feel like they owe us one. Figure since they're MIA anyways they can do what they want and figure helping out those who helped them out isn't the worse way to make a living. For extra control we can make it that they fell like they're with family when around our hive or drones.

>>37621921
>>37622044
Names are unimportant, and you can give them anything from numbers to made up names or just wait for them to give each other nicknames. The memories will be what they consider to be their life and history. Any discrepancies will be looked over and ignored.

If you've ever seen Dark City, it's actually a decent comparison now that I think of it.

>>37621921
Since clones are not that expensive we should create 10 men teams of clones and send one team to each important union world. They can spy for now and we will have agent in place if we want to do anything there in the future, like sabotage.

>>37621950
true but other then the lab which they buried so they can't really use that one without reveling themselves they don't have anything tying us to any of the attacks.

>>37622110

op you ever played an rts called grey goo.

>>37622096

Candace McQueen

>>37622096
"I know exactly what's going to happen in this quest for the rest of its duration."

No harm in being prepared. I like the name suggestion though.

>>37622128
Sure for now, but we have a pretty developed world, orbital facilities, a colony and regular space traffic between those. The moment they send some scouts or resume colonization they will know.

"Awaken my child, and embrace the glory that is your birthright"

>>37622188
For this reason we should also start colonizing nearby worlds and building a fleet. Otherwise the union will beat us with production and space power.

>>37622229
Yissss.

>>37622263
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DDjrm-GLzA

>>37622229
>>37622263
Already made that reference. Be less cliche.

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>>37622188
"These really nice squid humans came here and gave us a bunch of technology. They said that you were their allies and that you wanted to help us out. They said they would 'be watching us closely'; your friends are really cool. We are really happy you care about us so much."

What are these new chimera clones?

>>37621921
It's a bit mixed, but it seems to be
>Use Lyle's memories to assemble what you can and fill in blanks with the hope's crew.

For skillsets it appears to be
>Brawler
>Tech
>Engineer

>Y
>N (write in)

Also, you can recommend names if you wish, although they are not necessary.

>>37622334
>>Y

Linda

Marcus

Timmy boy

>>37622274
I want to say it to everyone who get healed in are pods or that we create. Just to make them question if they are the "real" them or a clone if it's discover we make clones.

>>37622334
>Y
Let them come up with their own names

>>37622278
Sure, sure they will buy it and wont see we have a colony where whey supposed to have one, and they won't take the chance to end a rival race before it becomes a treat. Read their first contact protocols from who-knows-how-many treads ago.

>>37622334
No nameless. Let's see what they figure out themselves. Much more fun.

>>37622334
>>Y

>>37622334
I'm really confused why we're going with a brawler over a sharpshooter? Lyle's already specced for brawling, the fact that he can ALSO shoot doesn't make humans any more squishy.

>>37622334
Yes.

>Brawler - Friedrik Baurns
>Tech - Emilia Loren
>Engineer - Thorm 'Tobias' Korpal

>>37622334
>>N (Sharpshooter/Tech/Engineer)
Use the names Lyle has in his memories.

>>37622334
Kalyee
River
Jayne

>>37622414
Fuck, less squishy. It's not even late yet.

>>37622334
Chandelier
Joey
Phoebe

>>37622424
Best names

>>37622334
>Y

>>37622334
Engineer Isaac Clarke

>>37622434
>>37622431

So does Hive queen enjoy more Friends or Firefly?

>>37622431

This is fine

>>37622526
No it isn't. fluff is so retarded he didn't even get the gender ratio right.

Also no names. More interesting this way.

>>37622512
Considering we are in space, and have taste, firefly.

>>37622554
>firefly
>taste

>>37622561
Git gud

>>37622574
>firefly
>gud

>>37622512
Firefly of course. As if there was any other choice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuSZ_Onp0S0
>>37622552
Wash was an idea, but he's the Pilot. Mal was the leader, but yea, he could help fix things, Book wasn't much of a tech guy.. Other than being a retired bad ass

>>37622334
Lots of neat names, although it looks like there is additional support for letting them name themselves over time.
Of course, you can always change that later and they would never really notice.


The pods lower from the hive walls and spill the new clones to the ground. The air is filled with the sounds of gasping as they empty their lungs of fluid. Unlike natural humans their minds are open to your will, as are their thoughts, even without a parasite. They gasp on the floor as their new memories slowly sink into their minds.

Your thinkers have woven a tapestry of lies, an assemblage of events and training meant to give them a sense of comradery. Your brawler was chosen as the largest of the three, a massive man well suited for close combat and brute strength. The engineer is chosen as the smaller of the two males, whose original you recall was in fact an engineer to begin with. A fitting pairing you think. The female is given the training of the tech expert, which you think should come in handy soon enough with humanity's reliance on their digital networks and complex software. It would be nice to not need to request all such matters through Theseus in the near future.

What is your first task for them?
>Write in

>>37622334
Engineer: Stanislaw
Tech: Isaac
Brawler: Bruce

>>37622695
Time to visit Valen space and open a bank account!

..But we have to wait for Lyle to be finished with Long Island to give them a ride.

I guess we need to purchase a human vessel or something with Lyle's bounty for all those bugs.

>>37622695
>Write in
Uhh...Dispatch them to Deep Song, or whatever the banking planet is called.

>>37622752
>Lyle to be finished with Long Island to give them a ride
i don't know if i like the idea how showing these guys to Lyle

>>37622752
You do still possess the USV Clarke, if you wish to use it.

>>37622695
Didn't we originally make them for Lyle? Send them to him.

>>37622695
Send them to new port to test their abilities and see union forces around. It is the closest major union world and if they know about us or suspect something they will be mobilizing and fortifying there.

>>37622695

Get them to open a bank account, then set them up as a merc crew. We get more dosh, they get experience and we might just start making more contacts and gather some more info and the like

>>37622771
They check IDs right?

>>37622771
Yes, we can still use that, but I feel if we do, the humans might ID it, even in the state it's in.

>>37622695
...what was the purpose of the clones again? I areganly thought they were going to be part of Lyle's crew but that wasn't the case so uhh... Drop them off on a nearby and busy human world, acquire funds, and gain a human space ship? I'm thinking we could make them our own little band a mercs, if we can build them up enough we might be able to get them to a level where people of both the commonwealth and union will hire them letting us learn more about both sides, especially the commonwealth since we still next to nothing on them.

>>37622807
Valen don't ask questions.

But we still don't know how to GET to Deep Song.

>>37622695
Do they have the upgrades we gave Lyre?

>>37622873
They were meant to be part of Lyle's crew.
>>37622901
Nope.

>>37622873
Lyle's crew, yes, but just because they aren't on his ship RIGHT THIS MINUTE doesn't mean that plan is scrapped.

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>>37622695
>Depart to Valen space
>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle
>Send them to New Port
>None, add cybernetic upgrades (write in)
>Other

>Use the USV Clarke for transport
>Use space pods (write in)
>Use other

>>37622901
No, but with recent research you can add as many as you like simultaneously without the time stacking.

>>37622695
Have them on standby.

>>37622695
>Write in
Standby for deep-space rendezvous with Lyle whenever is convenient.

>>37622953
>>None, add cybernetic upgrades (everything we gave Lyre)
Then send them to New Port

>>37622953
>Depart to Valen space
We really, really need this. More than anything.

>>37622953
>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle
Here comes the dramatic appearance of the backup team.

>>37622987
Lets just do this for now

>>37622953
>>Depart to Valen space
>>Use the USV Clarke for transport
It can't be helped.

Unless we want to droppod them down onto Deep Song from a cloaked ship, which would be very rude and probably get us fined.

>>37622953
>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle
Lyle might need back up to save Lee.

>>37622953
>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle

>Use space pods

>>37622953
>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle

>>37622987
That's super conspicuous.

>>37623022
Okay if you're doing the rendesvous we'll have to hover outside the space station in the Pods until Lyle wants to come out in the Hel's Angel and dock with them.

Cuz the pods sure ain't gonna dock at the station.

>>37622953
>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle
We can mod them later.

>>37622771
>None, add cybernetic upgrades
Endoskeletal plating
Echolocation
Second heart
Add a parasite to them to heal any wounds from the inside.

>>37622987
>everything we gave Lyre
No.

>>37622953
>Depart to Valen space
we need to learn about them sooner or later
>Use the USV Clarke for transport
hope we can hide the fact that it's the Clarke, could be a lot of awkward questions if the union found out we have there ship... and got it working. I mean the thing should look nothing like it did originally seeing how we took out everything but the bare bone minimum need for it to be a space ship.

>>37622953
>>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle
>Use space pods (write in)

>>37623046
Humans and aliens probably do all kinds of cybernetic and genetic upgrades. Also this would only become an issue if they are captured and dissected and we can add suicide acid organs for that situation.

>>37623071
Secibdubg tgus,

>>37623071
I don't support augmenting them right now, but if I did I'd do it a bit different.

Echolocation for everyone, endoskeletal plating and second heart for the brawler, and sting fingers for the tech.

Have to give them upgrades that max expected mission profiles.

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>37622953
Can we develop a ship that looks more like the average human ship? Polished chitin at sharp angles to appear more mechanical than biological?

>>37622953
>>Depart to Valen space
>>Use the USV Clarke for transport
I don't care if this makes Theseus ask interesting questions, we still haven't seen any Valen up close dammit.

We also haven't even bought a starmap from them. They might have a map of Commonwealth space as well as their own. And someone will know where the Valen gate that leads to Ceph space is, even if Coil doesn't.

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>>37622953
Lyle moves to the door as Jerry continues to whistle out some form of instruction. Lyle turns back before he closes the door. "Hey, you hear anything from the guys?"

Jerry looks back briefly. "Yea, Jackob said he's at the grease trap, said Dillon was probably going to be late again. Didn't say why." Lyle exits the garage.

Long Island was a grand place filled with resorts and casinos of all kinds spread across its main habitation modules. This was not one of those modules. The corridor curved upwards at a noticeable angle, with the light of Tau Ceti shining through the windows above periodically as the station slowly rotated along its axis. The area smells of mold and dust as the air slowly circulates through the hab ring. Mysterious stains marked several walls and pooled along the corners of the floor plating, and creaks and moans reverberated periodically from the walls as the ring continued its rotation.

Lyle quickly makes his way to the Grease Trap, an old and run down bar frequented by people who don't believe in health codes, and people who like to pay in cash.
Looks like
>Rendezvous with Lyle
>Use pod for transport

Is this acceptable?

>>37623164
I'll admit that makes much more sense.

>>37623263
Yes.

>>37623263
Yes.

>>37623263
>Y

>>37623263
yes

>>37623263
Yes

>>37622953
>Send them to rendezvous with Lyle
>Use space pods

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>>37623263
The Grease Trap is a musty place smelling of cigarette smoke and cheap booze. Several tables are scattered across the area in front of a bay window offering a view of the spinning starscape of space as freighters drift in and out of dock. Jackob sits at a table near the center with one foot propped on the table and several beers lined across the table. He waves to Lyle as he enters.
"You took long enough to get here. Engine trouble?"

Your figure glairs at Lyle. "This is your trusted ally?"

Lyle ignores your comment as he moves to take a seat. "Something of the sort." He says. "Last few jobs bombed out hard, but I've got a new one I figured I could use some help on."

Jacob shrugs as he tosses a small shred of a breadstick in his mouth between swigs of beer. "A'right, let's hear it."

"Looking for someone. I think he's here but something smells fishy about it. Name's Ryan Lee."

Jackob chokes on his beer. "Shit, the Ryan Lee? You mean none other than the bug buggerer blown sky high on live news?"

"He was seen boarding a shuttle here from Gemini, and like I said, it seems fishy."


Your clones feel sudden purpose. They gather their provided gear and find a waiting pod in the hive's hangar. It lifts off the ground and begins to proceed into orbit. As they wait in the confines of the pod's hull they each seem to recall knowing Lyle to some extent.
The pod blinks away.
cont.

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>>37623596
Jackob turns to the door as a bell rings, and Lyle looks to see Dillon walking in. "What's this about Lee, now? You think he's alive?"

"Job depends on it, so yea." Lyle says.

Your illusory figure moves out from behind Dillon as you look over the new addition to the team with disapproval. "Time is of the essence. You should move quickly."

Lyle's mind snaps to attention at the order. "Dillon, you have some nice contacts. I know the guy is here, just need to find him before he leaves."

"Easy enough, I can go through the recent security footage to find out where he is. Shouldn't take too long."

Jackob leans forward in his chair. "On Long Island, please. This place is a rathole and you know it. Unless he's an idiot he's probably got a way in and out without going through security. Private port, bribe customs agent, who knows. I can put out word among the taidarens, see what they can sniff out."

Dillon looks almost disgusted. "You'd trust the word of some squatter?"

"Hell yea. There's more of them then there are cameras, and there's no better way to be invisible than to be a squatter."

You lean in to Lyle as the two argue. "We don't have time for this."

>Side with Jacob
>Side with Dillon
>Other

>>37623791
>>Side with Jackob
Dillon, that's racist.

Though it's possible Lee can trust his partially changed face to get through security camera footage. I guess Taidarens are a safer bet.

>>37623791
>Side with Jacob
Its not like Lyle has an issue with "squatters"

>>37623791
Side with Jacob

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>37623791
Can we have both of them do their own thing to help get lee? It seems like it would be more helpful to both go over the tapes and check with the Taidarens.

>>37623868
I keep forgetting to turn off my dice. And if we can't do both, my vote is for Jackob.

>>37623791
>Other
have them both try to find Lee the way they want to, that way whoever finds him first get's bragging rights on how their way is better

>>37623865
me here
I agree with >>37623868
I don't see why both can't happen, but if it can't I'll stick with
>Side with Jacob

>>37623791
>Other
this>>37623868
Cover all the bases.

>>37623791
>Other
Challenge them to prove the other wrong, the method that finds Lee first is clearly superior.

>>37623791
>Other
Both?

I knew people would vote 'both'.

I suspect there is a cost here, somehow. Like splitting resources, so neither is as effective as it might otherwise be.

>>37623791
"Tell you what. whoever finds this cunt first gets lunch on me." Lyle says.

"You haven't paid your tab in over a year." Dillon says, "I know, I'm the one that cleared the records."

"Still better than paying." Lyle says with a grin. The two shrug.

"Alright, deal."


Let's try something new. Give me 1 d100 roll, for either Jackob or Dillon. The first three for each will count against each other.

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>37624002
For Jacob

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>37624002
go go

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>37624002

>>37624023
>>37624029
Say who you were rolling for, morons.

See? Split resources.

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>37624029
Sorry, that was Jacob
this is for Dillon

>>37624029
>>37624047
Kek

>>37624047
>>37624029
the fuck?

>>37624029
>>37624047
This is.... unique.

>>37624047
>>37624029
uuuh.... hu.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>37624029
>>37624047
holy crap
>>37624002
for Dillon

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>>37624002
>The first three for each will count against each other.
>count against

>>37624029
>>37624047
Christ on a stick fluff, even the sheer probabilities of the very universe itself express your incompetence.

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>>37624043
>>37624002

Fuck, Can't prove the 94 was me but I was going for Jacob.

>>37624029
>>37624047
jesus fuck fluff

>>37624047
>>37624029
even thought this is a higher role>>37624023, I kinda want the tie to see how both react truth be told.

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>>37624029
>>37624047
sheeeeiiiiiiit

>>37624095
Same here.

>>37624088
What incompetence anon? I have no control over the dice.

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>>37624108
I could have lived my whole life without knowing this existed anon

>>37624126
>"The gravity of it affects the probabilities!"
Is what I assume he means.

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>>37624108
Looks good to me...

File: ayyy lmao.gif (4.02 MB, 1000x1000)

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>>37624029
>>37624047
Ayyy lmao

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>37624002
I think there needs to be another roll so I'm throwing it out there

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>>37624015
>>37624180

>>37624188
>>37624180
and it was for dillon too...

Sorry QD but I think probability is telling you to write something super awesome or something hilariously funny.

>>37624188
but was it the same guy anon?

>>37624233
No, I was the first one.

>>37624233
Nope, was my only roll actually.

Reminder that Theseus saw Ryan Lee moving freely and autonomously on Gemini Alpha.

Reminder that Lee was not a prisoner, and does not want to be found.

You stalkers.

>>37624296
Too bad, he's getting found.

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>>37624296
NO
ONLY WE CAN HAVE THE LEE

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>>37624296
Its fine, we just need to talk to him for a bit. Intimately... Well the parasite does anyway

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>>37624296
>Are you happy, Lee?
>I named my planet after you.
>I even made you some human friends. It was a real hassle to make them stop clawing the walls of their cage.
>Will you have my babies?
Queen pls.

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>>37624328
>>37624329
Yanderemind!

Poor Lee

>>37624296
The idea is that we nominate him as our representative when the humans finally make contact with us as an FTL-capable race.

>>37624375
That's fucking stupid. He never asked for that.

>>37624307
>>37624328
>>37624329
huh, sounds almost like we're planning to make him our waifu, or whatever you call the guy version of it.

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>>37624388
He didn't ask to get set up by his government to take the fall for hostile action on another race's planet. Besides, what other citizen would we nominate?

>>37624397
Husbando is the word you're looking for.

>>37624388
And? We never asked for psychic crystals to hunt our race to extinction.

The point is that without him the Union gets to nominate whoever the fuck it wants, at least Lee is sympathetic/easily manipulated.

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>>37624397
Husbando
And no not particularly, I just enjoy joking about it cus I find the concept of Queenie being yandere for Lee absolutely hilarious.

Oh and
>mfw
>not knowing the male version of waifu

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>>37624412
Your question stupidly presumes that should ever happen at all.

Couldn't we just kidnap/murder and then clone some politician and send them back to act like everything's all hunky dory and have them already there being all normal and shit ready to support us when the time comes?

>>37624412
We have clones. We could literally make whatever type of citizen we want.

>>37624451
>>37624452
And? Its more fun to track down Lee and do shit to him.

>>37624430
It helps to be prepared for all eventualities.

>>37624451
>>37624452
We're already kidnapping Lee for this.

>>37624424
>implying i'm joking about taking lee anal virginity

>>37624463
No we aren't.

>>37624467
You mean spinal. Spinal virginity. When our son's sharp spines thrust deep into his nervous system.

Anyone else thinking it's a bad idea to send the clones to an area the originals frequented?

>>37624463
>>37624458
He's making the argument of what other "citizen" we could take and I'm saying we could make whoever the fuck we want.

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>>37624467
>implying I mind that happening

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Jesus Christ. All the research at the start of the thread... Makes me glad I made this.

>>37624501
we will just capture anyone that recognizes them, and use those guy's memories to fill in the gap along with getting some nice info about the seedy underground.

>>37624515
We can make humans, not the legal records to go with them. I'm sure lyle knows a guy, but they would have to be good to stand up under "introducing a new race" scrutiny.

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>>37624538
And this one, if anyone can make a better background.

>>37624539
didn't they originally come from mars?

>>37624582
It's futile arguing with idiots like that, man. They all just hate fun even when it's sensible fun.

>>37624002
The two move off and out of the bar, leaving Lyle alone. Well, not really alone.

Your image sits in the seat across from him. "You are not going to search yourself?"

"Nope." He says simply.

"And what if your friends fail to find him in time?"

"They won't." He says as he empties Jacob's beer, then opens the one left out for Dillon.

"And how would you know that?"

"Because I just do."

Lyle continues to sit at the table in a serene bliss, despite the dingy surroundings, until the ring of the bell on the door calls his attention.
Lee walks in through the door and to the bar with a hood over his head, and a cap under that, and a pair of painfully suspicious sunglasses over his face. He walks with his shoulders tense and his knees bent as if he was expecting some predator to leap from an alcove and attempt to eat him alive at any moment. It takes every ounce of willpower Lyle possess to not burst out in laughter on the spot. He looks to your figure with a smile, then slowly turns his head back to Lee and takes a swig of his beer.

"I'll have the special." he says.
Wait. That is not the same voice.

"You don't want the special, kid. Get the soup, trust me." Lyle says. Lee nearly leaps from his layers of conspicuous coats.

"Who are you? How do you know me?"

"Relax, Ryan, just have a seat and I can buy you lunch."

Lee darts from the bar like a startled deer and nearly falls flat to the floor as he turns the corner. "Damnit, why do they always run. Even when I'm here to help they always run." Lyle slowly rises to his feet and flexes his artificial limbs. "Put it on my tab." He calls out before entering a full sprint to the sound of the cook yelling some list of profanities as the door swings shuts behind him.
"Nevermind guys, he found me, and he's a runner. Head him off at ward five."
There are two clicks of static in confirmation.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3.

This was more entertaining than I anticipated.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>37624656

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>37624656

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>37624656

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>37624656
damn

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>37624656
Heh.

Also I'm imagining him wearing some of those mustache-glasses.

>>37624717
Groucho marx?
Drawfag needs to do this, now.

>>37624712
good save

>>37624656
SEND IN THE FLIES!

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Am I the only one who thinks using the void crystals is like using Hermit Purple?

Because I made this, if that's the case. Also, I can't draw crystals for shit, sorry about that.

>>37624823

Regardless I am now thinking of the hive queen in fabulous fabulous poses thanks anon

>>37624859
>Trying to think of which JoJo the queen would be.
>Regardless, the void gods are now permanently DIO in my mind.

It's all so... Manly.

>>37624656
>Wait. That is not the same voice.
So he's acting like Lee, but he doesn't sound like Lee. Curious.

Also I like how we're nagging Lyle about "those friends of his".

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My dick can't handle the suspense.

>>37625142
>being this stupid

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>>37625142
Oh shit.

This is a double bluff, they're trying to draw out all the people who are looking for Lee. Because anyone looking for Lee would be searching for information on our first contact indecent, meaning they're trying to capture all the people who are interested in us.

>>37624656
Lee sprints down the hall of the small torus wrapped around Long Island as Dillon and Jackob move somewhere ahead. Is this how humans use strategy? You can hardly even comprehend such disorder, how a race can utilize teamwork without the sharing of thoughts. You had known most other races lived this way, but it was only now that you truly realize just how frighteningly blinding it feels to act as an individual.

"Lyle, you should be careful."

"Not now." He huffs.

"Without allies-"

"Their heading him off, like I just said."

"How do you know?"

"Shut it!"

The last statement is loud enough to make Lee turn to look. He lets out a frightened squeal at the sight of Lyle quickly closing the distance, at well over twice Lee's own pace and he stumbles as he makes a turn. He lets out a stifled curse and hauls himself through a door to an apartment block's common area. The door slides shut behind him as Lyle reaches it.

"I got him cornered. Meet me at Peachgrove flats." He says. Another two clicks of static in confirmation. Lyle punches the door and the metal bends with a reverberating thud. He jams his fingers through the bent edge of the door frame and it slides open with a grating screech.

"Just got back the results on that search." Dillon says.
"Guy's renting room six-one-five." Jackob interrupts. "Listed name is-"
"Steven Geldron." They both say over each other.

"Well I found 'em, so how about you cover my tab, eh?"

"Fuck you, Rogers."
"We can call it a draw, then."

Lyle lets out a chuckle as he looks over the numbers on each door, stopping at room nine-one-five. He reaches out and spins the first number over with his finge. "Nice try, but this is ward six, not nine."
He gives the door a kick and it snaps, the metal plank dropping to the ground within the apartment. Lee is on the far corner panting from exhaustion. His eyes have slight scars circling the irises, far too small to to have been seen on a traffic camera.
cont.

>>37625306
>His eyes have slight scars circling the irises
Are we getting Clone Armageddon up in here?

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So now that we have nanomachines, who are we going to turn into Senator Armstrong?

>>37625306
do he have surgery done to hide from people?

>>37625413
Lee of course!

>>37620946
>>Quantum Communications
does this unlock anything?
Also does this mean the best we can do is a C relay?
I figured we could do B or A.

>>37625500
That or the government is trying to double bluff people so they can try to snuff out all the people looking for us.

>>37625548
he seems a bit to panic-y to me for that to be the case... unless it's a rookie playing the part but I still don't think that's it

>>37625533
>Lee with nanomachines

Well I know what I'm drawing next, that or more loadsaresearch pictures.

Haha, Yes. I missed the first half of the thread but none of that matters now. I'm here in time for LEE. This is what I truly came here for.

>>37625577
It seems unlikely the union would use someone who didn't panic to impersonate someone like Lee, that fucker was two minutes away from a nervous breakdown whenever we met him.

So are we going to do anything useful with Lee when we get him back? Or is it one of those "Huh, I didn't actually think i'd get this far" things?

Seems like a trap and he just routed our agents into an area he controls.

>>37625752
I think it's more of one of those, "we'll think of something when we get there", kind of deals

>>37625827
>>37625752
I've seen plenty of ideas of just turning him into our ambassador when we eventually show our hand to the universe at large.

Otherwise, I thought we just really enjoyed his company.

>>37625306
"Wait wait!" He shouts, arms held in front of him."

Lyle pulls out his crossbow and it unfolds in his hands, a winch pulls the string back and a bold is raised into position. "Nice eye job, now tell me who are you and why are you walking around with Lee's face?"

The man stammers. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Does it look like I'm the one answering fucking questions?"

"Okay!" The man stutters. "I-I." He gasps a breath of air. "My name is David Pinkleton. Look, I'm just some guy, ok? Just-"

"Some guy doesn't end up with such an infamous face. I got time, so fill me in."

"Look, I owe a guy a lot of money, ok? I was told new face, new life, no more debt. Okay?"

Dillon and Jackob walk into the room. "Meet Mr. Pinkleton everyone." Lyle says, still holding his crossbow at the ready. "Knew there was something fishy here."

"Who gave you the offer?" Dillon asks. The man appears to be more and more nervous.

"Some guy... Some guy named Nikolai. Look, I swear whatever it is you want I can't help you!"

"I see this a lot actually." Dillon says. "People get in debt to the wrong guy, and they give them a deal. Free new face, no new debt. They usually wake up with the identity of a wanted man, or worse, while the other guy get's some nobody's identity. I've had some witnesses use it before."

Lyle lowers the crossbow and it folds itself back into its holster. "It's never easy, is it?"

As Lyle replaces his weapon you see from the corner of his eye the man reach for a nearby drawer. There is the brief metal click.

Please roll 1d100, best of 3.

>>37625752
Just being sure he's safe is a win in my mind. There's also the prospect of using him as our rep, but for now just having the option is nice.

Assuming this isn't an impersonator.

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>37625873

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>37625873

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>37625873
no it never is

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>37625873

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>37625873
Perhaps it's time to find Mr. Pinkleton's face.

>>37625873
So this was a dead end?

>>37625872
"Let me go! I've talked to them like you asked, just let me go!
>You know, Lee you're being kind of a dick right now.
"I just to go home!"
>What, you don't like my pad?

>>37625958
>calling it a dead end before we've reached its end
premature anon, very premature.

>>37625873
Haha, this poor guy. I feel bad for him, but pulling a weapon was a bad idea. He's maybe got a chance of going down with someone if it's a grenade, but short of that?

Poor guy.

>>37625958
No, we just need to rip the face off and ask around if people have seen it.

>>37626014
Lee might have changed his face.

>>37625969
I enjoy the idea of yandere queen more.
>"But Lee, I worked so hard to bring you back. This is your home now. With me. Don't you like it? I've attended your every need, I made you lots of threads, I've given you immortality and paradise. Perhaps we need to spend some time together. The warriors will lead you to the throne room."

>>37626014
Yeah, to this guys old face.

All we need to do is ask if this face was seen hanging around some shady debt collector.

>>37625873
>Pinkleton
Assuming this story is true, would that mean Lee is now walking around with Pinkleton's face?

>>37626044
Friends, not threads. How did that even happen.

this scenario reminds me of the shitty Face Off movie.

>>37626044
Ehh... But I don't think being wood elf level yandere will be fun.

It's just going to end with people trying to steal him all the time and anons are going to take this further than it already has. It's become less Hive Queen Quest, and more Suck Lees Dick Quest.

>>37626182
If left unchecked, this will somehow turn into yet another smut quest.

>>37626182
It's just a joke, Anon. Yandere bug queens are fun.

>>37626095
Maybe, maybe not. Depends on how brisk the broker's trade is. A triangular, or even more complex, swap could be the case.

>>37626247
I know it's a joke, but so many other quests have been fucked up by the retard portions of anon taking a joke super fucking seriously.

Remember Shadow Quest?

>>37626320
Child grooming is no joke, anon.

>>37626320
>>37626377
I dont think i want to know what happened now.

>>37626320
If people want to play 'Consort to the Alien Hive Queen' they can start their own damn quest.

>>37626377
Neither was waifuing their own daughter.

That's what happens when you let retards take a joke too far.

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>>37626454
>waifuing their own daughter

>>37626454
That would be the child grooming, yes.

>>37626407
Here are some of my personal favourites:
>Waifu'd their own daughter
>When posed with a riddle to make an ally, they answered rainbows
>Had sex with their own daughter

They chewed on that doorknob so much.

>>37626377
It's slightly less creepy when you realize that the mc was an AI who was younger than Abby.

>>37626454
The hell are you talking about? Abby wasn't Shadow's daughter. Abby looked like the sister of the dude that made the thing that would eventually become Shadow.

>>37626503
People were planning on taking care of this kid, but ended up fucking her instead.
>>37626530
Don't forget trusting people enough to let them speak right after you beat themwhich allows them to play anons heart strings, even though mere moments before they were saying vile shit about us, and joked about spoilers.

>>37626548
By that point we all agreed that she was our daughter.

>>37626589
>>37626581
>>37626548
Hey hey hey, Let's stop talking about some dead quest and talk about what's really important; Adopting all the species!

>>37626581
Oh, remember that guy who rendered us powerless as soon as he touched us in his holographic god world that he had absolute control over? Remember when we tried to eat him?

>>37626530
>not remembering how they favored her to the point of not willing to give away powers since they were afraid to anger her, when in reality she was just teasing.
Jesus after that one comment people, straight up stopped trying to share our power, and instead give it all to the girl with no real experience.
>>37626630
Not a real big fan of the idea, i prefer making it an alliance since the second its found out, it would cause major problems.
Though the filth people might join us willingly.

>>37625873
There is a gunshot, and then silence as you hear nothing but ringing. Then a hot flash from behind as Jackob fires a shredder round, and the man's body jerks, blood splashing the wall behind him. His gun goes off another two times as he falls and the fluorescent light above explodes into shards of sparkling glass and glowing vapor.

The ringing slowly stops and Lyle feels the warm caress of blood roll down his arm. "Damnit." Is all he says to it.

"Shit, you good?" Jackob says.

"Yea, this arm's not even real. Fuck, there goes my lead."

"Not exactly. Like I said, my office sometimes works with these face lifters. I bet I could ask around and see if we can figure out where this Pinkleton fellow is now."

"He said Nikolai, right?" Jackob asks. "Think I know that guy, or know of him. I've escorted some of his guys a few years back. They say he does good work, and he's pricy. If he's the same guy I remember, then someone big must have hired him. I'll see if I can find him. Arrange a meeting."

Lyle is sifting through the body's pockets as Jackob speaks. "That's good." He says. "We can meet up on Gemini if you still want to help out."

"Sure, like old times." Jackob says.
Dillon shakes his head. "Well since I'm already invested, what the hell? But you owe me one for it." The two walk out of the room.
"Contact you planetside." Lyle says simply as he flips a fake id card through his fingers, examining the listed home address.


Elsewhere, over Zero One, your pod notices a formation of drones moving in orbit. It drifts its orbit to stay out of the way but the drones spread out in their formation like an expanding net. A nearby servership adjusts its orbit with them.

There is a strange feeling of falling, and your pod begins to accelerate. No more than a few hundred kilometers away light twists into a knot of darkness.
"Queen! Falling!"

>Have your pod blink away (will reveal itself)
>Do nothing
>Other

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>>37626685
By far my favourite moment of that quest was Machinarims Wild Ride.

>>37626749
>Do nothing

>>37626749
>Do nothing
What exactly are they doing?

>>37626749
>>Do nothing

Pod's screwed either way.

>>37626749
>Try to accelerate away from the black hole.

>>37626749
>Other
does the pod have ion thrusters? can't we use those to try and move out of the pull of whatever those ships are doing?

>>37626749
>Do nothing
For the Hive!

>>37626749
Wait, is this the Skyl?

>>37626749
>Do nothing
>>37626790
Double crossing us.let the shadow runs begin.
>>37626755
Mind explaining, i left after the small shitstorm over killing the angel who cried to us.

>>37626749
>Do nothing

>>37626749
Command Lyle to bring that body to the Angel post-haste, we want that kid's brain FRESH.

Theseus is using their weaponized singularity device to trap it in a gravity well. They noticed a slight lensing effect, in one of the many, many

many

offscreen rolls QD does for this quest apparently. The same way we noticed that Ceph fleet cause a brief lensing effect in the stars.

>Blink away
They know, might as well.

>>37626749
>Do nothing

>>37626749
As the source of gravity gets stronger, shouldn't the Skid Drive simply be able to accelerate away from it just as hard?

>>37626749
>Do nothing
Tell it that it's been doing a good job and prepare to blink a new pod into a blindspot if it becomes necessary.

>>37626749
Woahsheet, time to let Theseus know that's our pod? Or should we get ready to birth a new one now?
In any case, we should contact Theseus about this, either to 'cover up' (as if), or to clarify that the pod's ours (most diplomatic option IMHO).

>>37626749
>Have your pod blink away (will reveal itself)
Jig is up.
>>37626874
>>37626867
>>37626831
>>37626830
>>37626818
>>37626799
>>37626790
>>37626786
They noticed us.

>>37626830
It was an Alternate universe that forces you to face your inner self, but since we're an AI, it just kind of shit itself when trying to deal with us.

Throughout the wild ride we were constantly fucked with by the gm and shadow runners implying that we never really left.

>>37626900
We don't really lose anything if they do nothing, and we get to know what the situation is.

>>37626899
Don't start talking about anything. It's suspicious when you deny something that had t been mentioned to you yet.

"Who shi-"

"I didn't shit in the pool!"

They just think someone is spying in. They don't know it's us, so just let them kill the pod, they're cheap.
If we blink, they'll know it's us.

>>37626900
>>37626844
We lose nothing valuble, and if we leave they can trace it back to us.
>>37626899
Nah, screw that.
>>37626923
oh, that i thought it was something after it

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>>37626749
Your pod attempts to move away, but you can feel the rear drive housing accelerate faster than the sensor cluster, and the pod quickly dips within the event horizon. Light slows and becomes like jelly smeared across space, and your signal grows weaker. Your sight of the servership and the planet below blurs like watercolors.
Your pod's simple mind transmits a single thought before it slips further into the unknown. You cannot see what it sees any longer, but your pod is in awe of its beauty.

Your sight of Zero One winks from existence. Theseus sends you a ping.
Cont.

>>37626900
That could be anyone's invisible ship.

>>37626923
That wasn't called the Machinarium or whateverthe fuck you tried to say, genius. No wonder nobody had any idea what you were talking about.

>>37626824
Anon I don't even.

>>37626954
Hmm, fair point. But if Theseus come knocking and asks 'whose pod is this?', how do we respond?

>>37626983
>Your pod's simple mind transmits a single thought before it slips further into the unknown. You cannot see what it sees any longer, but your pod is in awe of its beauty.
Fucking singularities and secrets of the universe man.

>>37627007
easy, by saying we know it keeps tabs on us threw the ship on our planet, so we might as well do the same to it.

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>>37626983

>>37626983
It seems we should have taken the initiative when we saw the drones fanning out at the start of the thread,

and said to proactively put a ton of distance between the Pod and planet Zero One, because they were clearly doing a sweep for Ceph spies. Or us.

>>37627088
Probably, but the loss is so negligible that it doesn't matter too much.

>>37627007
We just wanted to get noticed by sempai. And it worked! Hahaha, dance puppet, dance!

>>37627059
It doesn't know it was us idiot. Someone besides us has stealth tech.

>>37627088
Actually, you know what?
We never thought about how the ceph could be using the same technique we do to spy on people. I mean, they could be in our own system. We need develop a more effective way of detecting the cloak than just the light lensing.