The Arcology acting as the capital city of Rioja has come under attack. A HAG working in concert with a Recon team attempted to kill off higher ranking members of the military in the capital. You yourself survived by the actions of your bodyguards, buying time for you to use a secret escape elevator. From there you've retreated to the Mons Abyla military base which is now sealed.

The HAG attacking the city has been all but destroyed, driven into the ground by a well executed ramming attack. The Frigate used by Captain Kymeri and the Rioja Special Response & Investigative Unit has suffered some minor damage in the process but remains operational.

With their most visible means of transport lost the enemy Recon team has disappeared. They may have fled into the surrounding desert or might still be lurking within the city. Scanning teams are beginning an extensive search to ensure the latter is not the case.

In what must be a related attack terrorists have released what seems to be a bio weapon on the larger of the two orbital stations.

"We're detecting signs that parts of the structure are being corroded, but the bio hazard alarms were more in line with an accidental release of medical nanites. Those should have been held in check easily by emergency containment fields.

People on the station have been pulled back to sections farthest away from the damage, but there were reports of marines in battle with terrorists at the entrance to the military sections. There are still firefights taking place there so our troops must be trying to hold them back.
Someone on the station is trying to jam communications which is making things harder."

Worried that this might be the rust virus you encountered in South Reach you've contacted House intel and inform them about the bio weapon.

"Do you believe this to be a bio war attack using the rust virus you've previously encountered?" the officer asks.

You're still uncertain.
"I think it's spreading too fast but it seems this kind of problem isn't too rare."
You recall the isolationist neeran mentioned running into this kind of problem at one point as well.

With more than thirty ships still docked, including your command ship, there are still a lot of people on the station.

[ ] Maintain quarantine for now
[ ] Move ships away from station, isolate them
[ ] Evacuate people from the station

>>46438899
>[ ] Maintain quarantine for now

>>46438899
Get the crews on their ships, get the civilians on the less valuable ships (are there any empty cargo ships docked right now), then move the ships away from the station and isolate them.

We might also want to consider sending additional marines with standard armor to the station.

>>46438899
>[ ] Move ships away from station, isolate them
FOR HOUSE AND SURVEY!

>We might also want to consider sending additional marines with standard armor to the station.
You discuss this with Intel.

"It's a good idea. With Power Cell Armor being made of materials similar to the exteriors of starships in many respects it wouldn't be a good idea to take them inside. Based on data from the previous incident with the rust virus it should be possible to coat Marine armor with a chemical layer that will reduce the likelihood of uptake. In combination with Marine armor it might buy your people time to investigate."

>>46438944
>>46439007
>>46439195
So the compromise would seem to be Move ships away from station, isolate them. This ok?

>>46438899
Move ships away from station.

If the station blows we risk losing many of our core ships

>>46439594
>This ok?
Sure.

>>46439594
Seems like an adequate compromise.

"I don't want whatever is on that station wrecking our fleet if there's a chance they're not infected yet. Tell them to disengage and move them away from station. Designate a rally point for them in high orbit and have it isolated."

Once they're away from the station the rest of your ships nearby are able to take better scans looking for signs of possible contamination. So far the warships look clean but a pair of the civilian ships that had been closer to the central core are more questionable.

Maybourne and Tes'us contact you.

Tes'us is of the opinion that the civilian ships should be destroyed now to contain the threat. Maybourne is against it; "If we destroy those ships it could scatter debris and potentially contaminate other ships."

"Use plasma or fusion weapons and melt them to slag then."

These two may be getting ahead of themselves. For now the ships are quarantined well away from system traffic. Some marines should be prepped as specified by Intel within the hour.

Do you want to send a marine team with the armor modifications aboard the station? What are your objectives?

>>46440428
>Do you want to send a marine team with the armor modifications aboard the station?
Yes.

>What are your objectives?
Find out what happened in the areas that reported fighting. Locate survivors. Make sure everything critical is shut down and can't be rigged to explode.

Dick, I forgot this was on today. Been playing too much Rimworld.

>>46440428
Do you want to send a marine team with the armor modifications aboard the station? What are your objectives?
Yes. Locate the source of the bio attack and either deal with it or gather information also get in control of the stations security network. Secondary objectives is eliminating the enemy if possible and preventing further damage to the area.

File: Station Alerts.gif (14 KB, 1298x706)

14 KB GIF

>>46440584
How many troops do you want to put aboard and where?

>>46441246
Put a thousand Marines down in the military wing and have them move at speed to the red zones. Put another two hundred or so in the top wing of the station since the bio weapon seems to have spread the most there so perhaps it's close to the source of it.

File: 1459719488729edit.gif (16 KB, 1298x706)

16 KB GIF

>>46441246
>1
5 squads
>2; 4; 5
2 squads each
>3
1 squad to investigate the exterior of the station and to take samples.

>>46441378
Or this seems like its a bit more effort put into it so lets go with it.

Internet connection is becoming a bit inconsistent.

>>46441295
Large scale assault

>>46441378
Recon in force

[ ] Large scale assault
[ ] Recon in force

>>46442021
>[x] Recon in force

>>46442021
[X] Recon in force

>>46442021
[ ] Recon in force
May be a better to know the area before committing.

>>46440428
Couldn't we put a marine team aboard each of the civilian ships and just set a direct course to the system's sun, thereby avoiding the debris argument?

"Let's not over do it in case this turns out to be a one way trip. Recon in force, ask for volunteers."

Twelve squads of Marines are more than enough to get a good picture of what's going on in the station and should be able to escape barring extreme circumstances.

Shuttles from Mons Abyla launch into orbit carrying the Marines with the modified armor. They approach maintaining radio silence and deploy their troops without the shuttles coming in contact with the station itself.

Once aboard the Marines set up secure com relays independent of the station networks. The larger team is able to make contact with troops still aboard commanded by Drake. She's had each section with its own life support sealed to slow the progression of any contaminants spreading. People already in quarantined sections have been advised to shelter in place or go to the medical wards. Those with combat training have been ordered to help marines fighting the terrorists.

"The com jamming is making it hard to talk to those nearest the epicenter."

South and west wings report similar precautions having been taken but the same cant be said for the north. Alarms have been triggered in the rest of that wing though the Marines are seeing no signs of anything actually hazardous.

The external team isn't finding any signs of damage to the outer hull at first glance. They're about to begin a more detailed analysis.

Roll 1d100 for external team.

[ ] Tell other teams to advance deeper into station
[ ] Tell them to hold until external team has finished checks

File: Station Alerts02.gif (14 KB, 1298x706)

14 KB GIF

>>46443020

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>46443020
>[x] Tell them to hold until external team has finished checks
Fix, flank, finish.

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>46443020
[ ] Tell other teams to advance deeper into station
Can't give the hostiles time to dig in or achieve what ever goal they have, if their goal is simply not to cause as much damage as they can before dying. Perhaps they are clones?

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>46443020
[ ] Tell them to hold until external team has finished checks
This whole thing is giving me a funny feeling. Something is wrong.

>>46443020
[ ] Tell them to hold until external team has finished checks

Beware, ambush head

External team doesn't find any signs of a hull breach or corrosion on the outer hull.
"Why wouldn't they hit the outside of the station? It has the best chance of spreading unnoticed and unchecked there." you wonder aloud.

"Perhaps that would have taken longer than they were prepared to wait?" posits General Rna. "In either event it means we may be able to salvage the outer hull of the station, even if scraping the interior would be needed."

After completing their sweep of the station core one of the Marines notices something on their way back to the rally point.
"I think I've found a ship sir."

There isn't one on sensors, but jamming is making it hard to be sure. Examining the location more carefully the team identifies what seem to be an Aries brand LST fitted with holographic camouflage and stealth plating.

"That explains how these jokers got on board. I wouldn't bet any money on it not being booby trapped."

1) What to do about the LST?
1a) Have a team attempt to board and secure it
1b) Leave it alone for now
1c) Destroy it
1d) Other

2) Send the other teams deeper into the station? Y/N?

>>46443966
>1d) Other
Put a locator beacon on it that begins broadcasting as soon as the ship starts moving.

>2) Send the other teams deeper into the station? Y/N?
Y

>>46443966
1d Sabotage it to deny the enemy it and save it for ourselves once we have time.

Fucking Aries. I don't know about you guys but I believe a new way of assassination and terror should hit that company.

2) Send the other teams deeper into the station? Y/N?
Y

Can't hold back now. Lives and assets are being lost by the second.

>>46443966
[x] 1a

[x] Yes

"Tell the other teams to move in. External team, sabotage the engines on that ship or give us a way to track it if they use it to escape. Whatever you think will give us the best chance without putting you in more danger."

In a few minutes they report that breaching charges have been affixed to the ship's engines and will detonate if anyone tries to power them up or tamper with them.

The Marine advance through the station is slower than you would like. Teams need to set up their com relays while making sure to seal sections behind them. The northern team is the first to reach the sections where corrosion seemed to be taking place.

"Not seeing anything that could be described as rust."

"Look for damage to structural supports or anything made of Tritanium."

"Hang on, we have a structural brace that looks to be damaged."

You listen intently for the next report.

"From our scans it looks like it's falling apart from the inside out. Corporal Davies is taking the unscientific method of using a cheap chair from a nearby restaurant to poke at it."
"Sarge, did you have to-"
"Just do it already."

You can hear the sound similar to spilling sand and the marines cursing.

"Report!"

"It just crumbled at the point of impact. What looked like grey sand spilled out and almost immediately began to disperse into an aerosol. Our biohazard alarms are going crazy but it looks like levels are dropping fast."
"Upload video immediately." orders Rna.

It takes a few seconds to upload via the com relays but soon you're seeing the same thing. The material spilling out of the crumbled wall section and seeming to vaporize.

>Your orders?

>>46445697
>>Your orders?
Tell them to not get into contact with that stuff. Is there food nearby so they can test the effect on organic matter?

Contact intel. Do they have an specialists for this available?

>>46445697
Can we get a conventional EMP weapon up and working to neutralise it?

>>46445697
My god. What kind of bio weapon is capable of this level of corrosion in such a short time? This entire station will be gone in like an hour at this rate! Oh there will be hell to pay for this.

>Orders?
Secure sample if possible. Check if it's just metal that is affect, or just Titanium metal.

>>46445845
Organic effects are also important to know.

Otherwise keep moving and try to find the source of the contamination.

>>46445697
>>Your orders?
Nobody get the idea to take of their armor. Can we disconnect the unafflicted station modules from the rest of the station?

>>46445697
Seems more like nanites than anything.

I remember when we were capturing that Neeran ship with Eldal, we were offered medical nanites but told not to even be in the vicinity of Phase Weapon fire. Maybe see if discharging a Phase Weapon disables or damages them?

>>46446010
Now that is interesting and worrying. If Aries has gotten ahold of weaponized nanites and then sell those to our enemies.... Just put a pod of those in a SP casing and watch as the enemy ship corrodes before your eyes.

>>46445845
>Contact intel. Do they have an specialists for this available?
Your contact with intel is maintaining a secure channel to the base command bunker.
"This... doesn't seem to be like anything we've seen the other Houses working on recently. Then again many biological weapons are officially banned."

>>46445872
>Can we get a conventional EMP weapon up and working to neutralise it?
Most phase weaponry produces a secondary EMP effect when fired. It's part of the reason warship systems are so heavily hardened against such damage.
Some of your Marines have phase rifles, pistols or stun pulse grenades.

In the 2107 incident the phase cannon fire being exchanged between a Kavarian assault transport and a Rovinar Battleship were enough to EMP most of Earth's orbital infrastructure.

>>46445908
>This entire station will be gone in like an hour at this rate!
Longer than that fortunately.

>Secure sample if possible.
"I am not being paid enough for this shit." whispers the Marine assigned to bottle a sample from the degrading support.

>Is there food nearby so they can test the effect on organic matter?
The marine hands off a second sample bottle so someone else can test this theory and take the risks.
"According to the scanner only metals are being consumed but this is only over a few seconds observation. Resolution on the scanners we have isn't the best for this but these certainly look like medical nanites."

>>46445994
"Nobody get the idea to take of their armor."
This prompts a few nervous laughs in response.

"Can we disconnect the unafflicted station modules from the rest of the station?"

One of the ops officers speak up.
"Wouldn't be easy without breaking quarantine. Without access to the operations center or starships nearby to catch them it also might destabilize the station's orbit."

>cont.

File: Spoiler Image (147 KB, 960x720)

147 KB JPG

>>46446010
>Maybe see if discharging a Phase Weapon disables or damages them?
Targeting a damaged bulkhead with phase rifle fire it seems to cause some damage but as before most of the "sand" quickly boils away before serious damage can be done.

Collecting more samples the specialist reports in.
"I think we killed some of them that weren't directly hit by fire but not much. These are not normal medical nanites."

Your intel contact isn't much help right now.
"This isn't something my department is equipped to deal with, you need an historian!"

>Your orders?

>>46446797
>"This isn't something my department is equipped to deal with, you need an historian!"
>Your orders?

Good thing we have a university. Any historians among our population or on the refugee stations atm?

>>46446797
I'm willing to bet there's an off switch for these nanites on the jammed shuttle.

We should aim to take out the terrorists by having the teams progress forward and take the vessel.

>>46446745
>>46446797
>>46446010
Good on you anon, you called it.

>>46446797
I remember our arm sensor causing all kinds of haywire when its to close to electronics? Could we perform several high pulse sensors pings or something though the station to hopefully take out a large amount of nanites or is the station hardened towards those kind of electronic blasts?

In any case have someone take a look at that shuttle. Could be a transmittor in there. Others head into the thick of the nanite infestation and try to see if there is a transmitor there which we can disable them from. We need to act fast before the station starts to fall apart and everyone on it dies.

Also call in additional forces from the surface. If we have to sweep the station we'll need more boots.

File: Station Alerts04.gif (15 KB, 1298x706)

15 KB GIF

>>46446829
>Good thing we have a university. Any historians among our population or on the refugee stations atm?
There are a number of historians that have been hired by the ministry of education. (And more Terran ones that have gotten into trouble with said ministry.) They'll try to locate someone without spooking the populace.

The university doesn't have many with military history knowledge. Most of those are employed with the officer training academies. It's going to take some time to locate the appropriate person.

>>46446878
>We should aim to take out the terrorists by having the teams progress forward and take the vessel.
The North and west teams would seem to have the best chance of reaching it without opposition.

>>46446944
>Could we perform several high pulse sensors pings or something though the station to hopefully take out a large amount of nanites or is the station hardened towards those kind of electronic blasts?
Station operations in the core module would give you the best chance of letting you do it station wide.
Do you want the external team to try to gain entry?

>Also call in additional forces from the surface. If we have to sweep the station we'll need more boots.
LST's are being prepped with any army troops that have zero-g training.

[ ] Board enemy LST
[ ] Head for station Command center
[ ] Focus on killing the terrorists
[ ] Risk panicking populace with search for historian (Roll 1d12)

>>46447593
>[ ] Head for station Command center
Let's try this.

>>46447593
>Do you want the external team to try to gain entry?
Do it. I do hope we will be able to capture this weapon system along with the LST. Would be fun to use on Bonrah's mobile fortress.

[ ] Board enemy LST
[ ] Head for station Command center
Deny them escape while securing an asset and restore our control over the station.

>>46447593
>[ ] Board enemy LST
>[ ] Head for station Command center

>>46447593
[ ] Board enemy LST
[ ] Head for station Command center
>Do you want the external team to try to gain entry?
Also this

"Teams continue to advance. Those in the North and West arms aim for the docking point of that LST. We need to gain access to the control of those nanites.
External team, head for the station command center. See if you can use the sensor arrays to set up a station wide pulse to overload the nanites if the other teams can't get control of the LST."

"Copy that."

All teams adcance on the central module, reporting similar damage to the interior by what must be the nanites.

"Key structural supports are still intact. It looks like they're only targeting secondary and other non essential portions of the station."

What was the external team reports they've made it inside and soon reach the command center.
"We're in. This area is deserted, no crew or bodies."
"Station control has been routed to another location."

"Is it to the LST?" You ask.

"Negative, somewhere in the core module. We'll try to set things up for the sensor pusle then divert command systems to the military wing if possible."

There's a short crackle on the coms after which you're unable to raise the team in the control center.

"This is Devourer, we've detected an explosion in the station command center."
"...how big?"
"That deck and the ones immediately above and below it have been blown into space. There should be minimal damage to main station systems."

[ ] Other teams press on
[ ] Change of plans (what?)

>>46448431
I don't really understand what happened. Did they just start pushing buttons once they were in?

>>46448431
>[ ] Other teams press on

>>>>46448431
>>46448431
Can we please blow up the station core and that LST i have a feeling that will help

The East team begins reporting sounds of weapons fire. Once within range it's the snipers turn to see if they can spot any enemies.

"Can't see the terrorists but there are plenty of bodies."

"Command, we're seeing people including some station crew and others strung up from the balconies. Some are still alive and look to be tied to them."

Before they can move any closer a message is broadcast aboard the station intercom. A woman yells out; "House Jerik-Dremine forces, we know you're there!"

A rifle shot kills one of the people tied to a balcony railing.

"Send me Sonia Reynard or more will die."

And with that I'm passing out.
Stopping here for the night. Got work early. Will resume around 1PM EST.

>>46448951
We don't negotiate with terrorists...except as a diversionary tactic.

>>46448951
Don't we have any fast expanding gel foam, or something stasis like? just fucking fill the entirety of the station with it, fuck these guys. If we capture them make sure to milk them all we can, and then make a public example of them or something.

>>46448951
Vent station, we dont negotiate with terrorists.

>>46448951
The blood is on their hands, not ours. Do they truly think this sort of barbaric action will help them? If they surrender now we will treat them as prisoners of war, with all the obligations as well as courtesy associated with civilized standards, but if they insist on resorting to terrorism you will see that not only are they held personally accountable but that their houses will bear the brunt of criticism for their actions.

Nobility, the right of leadership, comes with obligation as well as privilege. As you have had to personally bear the weight of your decisions and the actions of those beneath you, there are certain lines which once crossed cannot be gone back to. And while reparations and atonement may occur, it doesn't erase the past.

They have failed. Their mission is over, and while there is no dishonor in such an outcome in the fortunes of war, there is still how they choose to accept such an outcome. To accept the result and deal with it as equals and Noble opposers, or to lash out as degenerate beasts at innocents and those who were merely fulfilling their obligations as loyal vassals.

History, and the Dominion itself will judge how they choose, but you will never bend the knee to cowards that hide behind the lives of innocents.

Or not, I dunno just thinking that politically this is the sort of shit that violates the precepts of nobility and legitimacy to lead when you abandon the code that makes the dominion a kingdom/empire instead of a dark room where everyone holds a knife.

bump

>>46448431
>"That deck and the ones immediately above and below it have been blown into space. There should be minimal damage to main station systems."

Would it make sense to have ships look if some of the soldiers were simply blown into space with the other decks??

>>46448951
Sonia could probably pretend to either be too far away (ie they have already lost) or pretend to be there via loudspeakers/someone impersonating Sonia.

>>46448951
These people need to be taken alive, if only for the intelligence on which house decided to use biological weapons against us. Once we figure out how to make a localized EMP to neutralize those nanites, I'd recommend shuttling up some Heavy Power Armored soldiers for the close-up work.

>>46448951
I want to suggest we go solo infiltration and kill all of them bar a few but that's probably a bad idea.

>>46448650
A trap they did not detect set off a warhead.

>>46448711
>Can we please blow up the station core and that LST i have a feeling that will help
Any support for this?

>>46450557
>Don't we have any fast expanding gel foam, or something stasis like? just fucking fill the entirety of the station with it
There are things like riot foam and construction foam. The former isn't so great but the latter might work. It's going to take a lot to fill the station core.

>>46452503
Another option.

>>46455383

Lots of options. Let's get this roll out of the way first though.
Roll 1d100

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>46458645
>Roll 1d100
Rolling!

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>46458645
Also rolling bones.

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>46458645
and number three

>Rolled 95 (1d100)
Hooray for super survivable space operators!

>>46458645
>Any support for this?
I'd rather not.

>>46458724
Remains from some of the dead team members are found by recovery shuttles. They're being diverted to the quarantine rally point.

Right, let's start looking at some of the options available.

[ ] Stall them while North/West teams try to reach LST
[ ] Destroy station core
[ ] Construction foam
[ ] Vent station
[ ] Offer for them to surrender as POW's (Option speech)
[ ] Sonia is too far away
[ ] Send a double
[ ] All out attack on terrorists now
[ ] Stall them until reinforcements arrive then attack

>>46458974
>[ ] Stall them while North/West teams try to reach LST

>>46458974
>Remains from some of the dead team members are found by recovery shuttles.
I was hoping they had vacuum-safe helmets like some of the other marine suits we have seen :(

>[x] Stall them while North/West teams try to reach LST
By stall you mean "talk to them", right? I want to find out what they even want / what their beef with Sonia is. Or maybe they might let slip what kind of connections they have to get this far.

>>46458974
>[x] Stall them while North/West teams try to reach LST

>>46459120
>I was hoping they had vacuum-safe helmets like some of the other marine suits we have seen :(
They would have needed to activate their medical stasis fields around themselves in order to survive the explosion.

>By stall you mean "talk to them", right?
Yes. You guys can do so yourselves if you want, or can let a negotiator to do so.

>>46458974
>[ ] Stall them while North/West teams try to reach LST
Can we pretend that we are still missing after the attack on the capital?

>>46459896
Do this? Y/N

>>46460103
>Y
Missing but likely to soon be found. Might be the best chance to stall and we can still "show up" if we want.

>>46460103
We can try, I guess.

>>46460103
Might be more plausible to say we're still in surgery from inflicted wounds?

"Have a negotiator try to stall them until one of our teams can reach the LST."

The east team fortifies their position as much as possible, scavenging phase rifles from weapons lockers. So far it looks like the nanites in the contaminated sections are ignoring their suits. With the added chemical layer they not not be able to recognise it as anything worth eating. It must be one of the few pieces of good news so far.

"South team here. We're in position to assist the others."

The negotiator seems to be having some success in buying time. The terrorists haven't executed anyone else yet and they seem to find it amusing you may be in trouble elsewhere and thus unable to respond.

A Hune woman sends a response from the terrorists.
"If your rescue teams find her dead body, and can prove to us that it's her, we may consider standing down entirely. So keep searching. But hurry up."

Minutes later you get an encrypted signal reporting that North team has reached the LST and will attempt to secure it.

Roll 2d100

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>46460760
>Roll 2d100
1

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>46460811
2

Rolled 44, 92 = 136 (2d100)

>>46460760
We really do need to capture some of these shitheads.

Rolled 3, 57 = 60 (2d100)

>>46460760
HIGH ROLLS

South team is reporting strange energy readings in the station core module. Rna tells them to keep an eye on it and try to identify the source.

"The last thing we need is to land more troops only to find there's an antimatter bomb in the station."

It takes a minute but North team manages to gain entrance to the aries LST.

"We're in."
"Contact!"
"Return fire!"

The audio channel registers the sound of rapid weapons fire before quieting down.

"North team report in."

"Aries sentry drones sir, nothing serious. They may have triggered an alarm but there are no signs of explosives inside. Securing the ship."

It's at this point that the other three teams begin to report in.

"We've got movement."
"Lot's of movement on our motion trackers."
"It looks like all the nanites are pulling back towards the station core."

Any orders for North team?
[ ] Try to find systems controlling the nanites
[ ] Blow the LST clear of the station
[ ] Sabotage/ activate LST self destruct and escape
[ ] Other

>>46461577
>[x] Try to find systems controlling the nanites
>[x] Blow the LST clear off the station

Remote pilot it maybe?

>>46461577
I'd say pull back the marines and blow the station core to smithereens once all the nanites are in there?
How much would that fuck over the rest of the station modules?

>>46461787
>How much would that fuck over the rest of the station modules?
It would wreck the closest modules to it and send each of the station arms drifting off in different directions. Ships would need to snag each station arm with tractor beams then stabilize their orbits.
Secondary damage is possible depending on the number of collisions between the arms.

>>46462113
Are the ships we put into quarantine still functional and numerous enough to perform the stabilisation? I fear that evacuating the closest modules and blowing the core may be the surest way to get rid of both the terrorists and the nanites, but maybe others feel different?

>>46461577
Could we simply put a jammer on the LST? What do military nanites default to when they lose the signal from their controller?

>>46462251
>Are the ships we put into quarantine still functional and numerous enough to perform the stabilisation?
None of the military ships have noted any loss of systems, at least not yet, so they should be able to handle it.

Then there's the issue of destroying the core. Most weapons fire would destroy it by causing it to explode. You could take the slightly longer approach and melt it down with a ship's sublight engines.

>>46462591
The military doesn't use offensive nanites. They normally can't be shielded against phased particle emissions effectively enough. Nobody's used them in more than a thousand years.

>>46462683
Okay. Why not simply shut down the stations computer systems, switch everything off except for emergency live support, and then jam the fuck out of th area?

A) North team blows the LST clear of the station while trying to find systems controlling the nantes

B) All teams GTFO and quarantined ships blow up station core.

C) Marines (or ships) disable station computers and power systems. Begin jamming the station.

>>46462929
>A) North team blows the LST clear of the station while trying to find systems controlling the nantes
>C) Marines (or ships) disable station computers and power systems. Begin jamming the station.

>>46462929
A) North team blows the LST clear of the station while trying to find systems controlling the nantes

I weep for all the money we are losing with the destruction of that station. Also because if the terrorists all die then we can't find out who sent them.

>>46462929
>A) North team blows the LST clear of the station while trying to find systems controlling the nanites
>C) Marines (or ships) disable station computers and power systems. Begin jamming the station.

>>46462929
>A) North team blows the LST clear of the station while trying to find systems controlling the nanites
>C) Marines (or ships) disable station computers and power systems. Begin jamming the station.

I am worried.

>>46460760
>The negotiator seems to be having some success in buying time

Have they said who they are, and why they are doing this?

>>46463432
>Have they said who they are, and why they are doing this?
They were not volunteering much in the way of information (beyond wanting Sonia dead) and cut off contact once North Team engaged the sentry drones on the LST.

"North team, blow the LST clear before those nanites can reach you."

Next you order some of the quarantined warships back to the station. They'll help the Marines disable station computers and power systems if necessary.

Roll 4d100 for quickly knocking out power.

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>46463582
>Roll 4d100 for quickly knocking out power.
1

Rolled 63, 84, 83, 72 = 302 (4d100)

>>46463582
Panic.

Rolled 51, 45, 36, 44 = 176 (4d100)

>>46463582
let's hustle

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>46463671
2

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>46463740
3

>>46463798
4

The one decent roll I get this thread is to fish bloody chunks out of the void...

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>46463809
4

The stealthed Aries LST becomes visible as a small explosion hurls it clear of the station. Atmosphere venting from both it and the station help to propell it further away.

West team has managed to shut down some of the power systems in their sections, South and east teams are doing better having completely shut them down. Carefully aimed phase cannon fire from one of the approaching ships knocks out most of the generators in the surrounding sections others can get to. A pair of EC-K's crank up their jamming systems, focusing it on the station core.

"This is north team, we have good news, bad news and worse news. The good news is that we've found equipment used to maintain some of the tech the terrorists have. Bad news is that it means they have four suits of non-standard power armor with oversized reactors."

You hesitate to ask but know that you really can't waste time. "What's the worst news?"

"There is modified Neeran tech aboard. There are also some very messy notations about nanites and something called a Nightmare Engine?"

Teams on the station report that the jamming from the starships is having difficulty penetrating the station's outer hull.

>Your orders?

>>46464112
>There is modified Neeran tech aboard
Priority target number one. Capture at all cost. I repeat all cost. Call in additional forces from ground side. To hell with the station just capture it. I must have it. Also the whole Nightmare Engine seems like it would be bad.

Have more ships move in and crank up that jamming more.

>>46464112
>Bad news is that it means they have four suits of non-standard power armor with oversized reactors
Any chance to track them down more easily because of that?

>The good news is that we've found equipment used to maintain some of the tech the terrorists have
Get that stuff off the station ASAP.

>There is modified Neeran tech aboard
>There are also some very messy notations about nanites and something called a Nightmare Engine?
Forward to intel. Contact the FA immediately.

>>46464112

Let's just plasma purge the whole place right now.

>>46464231
No! Think about it! Stolen Nanite tech from the Neerans which we make use of ourselves!

>>46464290
Fuck Neeran tech, it probably won't even work for us anyway, that's the usual excuse.

PLASMA STRONK
HUMAN TECH ONLY

File: Station Alerts05.gif (15 KB, 1298x706)

15 KB GIF

>>46464174
>Capture at all cost.
>>46464229
>Get that stuff off the station ASAP.
It's on the LST.
The one that North team did this to:
>The stealthed Aries LST becomes visible as a small explosion hurls it clear of the station. Atmosphere venting from both it and the station help to propel it further away.

Unless you mean the power armor carrying the actual functioning tech. Then yeah they're still on the station.

>>46464229
>Any chance to track them down more easily because of that?
South team reported strange energy readings. They're almost like a small unshielded fusion reactor.

>Forward to intel.
Done.

>Contact the FA immediately.
Do this? Y/N?

>>46464371
Y

>>46464371
>Do this? Y/N?
Y. Possible Neeran infiltration of Aries held assets bringing new tech and weapons.

Also have some ship grab the LST and take it a fair bit away from the station.

>>46464371
If Drake is still on the station, get her out of there. I don't know what a nightmare engine is but I don't want somebody as important as her near it.

>>46464231
Slagging the core of the station is sounding better by the minute...

Gonna be cool as hell if this is an armored core for answer style boss fight we have to use our gunship for

"Send a ship to grab that LST and take it to a safe area. Forward all our data to intel and alert the Alliance. They need to know we have a possible Neeran infiltration immediately."

>If Drake is still on the station, get her out of there.
A shuttle is dispatched to pick her up.

"Sir, we're unable to contact the nearest Alliance base. House Ber'helum is preparing to send a response fleet to investigate."

"Then pass it along to Alliance stations we DO have contact with." orders the General.

"When it rains, it pours." you mutter.

More ships with ECM move into range of the station and do what they can to focus their output.

"The ECM is slowing down some of the nanites but it's not disabling them." reports South team.

East team calls in moments later reporting that the movement of nanites in their area has reversed.
"They're grouping together enough that they're becoming visible. Open fire!"

You can hear phase rifle fire, explosions and stun pulse grenades over the coms.

"They're attacking the seals between the station sections, trying to breach the blast doors and bulkheads protecting the military wing."

[ ] Destroy that section
[ ] Destroy that section & Core module
[ ] Order Marines & arriving soldiers to attack the Terrorists directly
[ ] Other

>>46465067
>[ ] Other
Has anybody tried using stun grenades against them? Either on the highest regular setting, or by causing them to overload? If they can overload biological nervous systems, they should pack enough power to do some serious damage to the nanites.

Running a current through the blast doors might help as well.

>>46465067
>[ ] Destroy that section
Sections can be replaced. Entire wings are a bit harder. Don't want to destroy the expensive core just yet. Not when there is still a chance for recovery of the strange tech.

>>46465167
>You can hear phase rifle fire, explosions and stun pulse grenades over the coms.

>>46465268
Ooop. Thanks.

>>46465067
>>[X] Destroy that section
Are the terrorists moving? If they are, this might be the right time to get the hostages out of there.

File: Station Alerts06.gif (15 KB, 1298x706)

15 KB GIF

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>46465167
>Has anybody tried using stun grenades against them?
"Limited area of effect. It's killing some but not enough."

>Running a current through the blast doors might help as well.
It's slowing them down.

>>46465268
Hold off on destroying the core for now.

>>46465367
>Are the terrorists moving?
At least one of them is entering the East wing and one approaching the South.

South team is locking down entrances to their wing and are planting explosives.

>>46465527
Shit, that 1d100 wasn't supposed to be there.

>>46465367
>>46465268
Nothing else to add from anybody else? Then if there are no other objections destroying that section.

Conventional weapons? Or do you want to use the sublight drives on your command ship to melt it down?

>>46465527
>Rolled 4 (1d100)
Is that good for us?

>Nothing else to add from anybody else?
I'm sorry but I really have no clue what to do. Why would we even blow up part of the south arm? The military wing is in the eastern part of the station.

Are the nanites actually a problem for our soldiers? Do we have nobody in our staff who has some in-universe clue about what's going on? We're supposed to have a Krath embassy on Rioja, have we tried asking them for help with this? Are our eecm ships able to track down the source of the enemy ecm?

>>46466122
>Why would we even blow up part of the south arm?
You wouldn't you'd be blowing up that section of the east arm as here:
>>46465067

South team is mining the entrance to the south arm on their own unrelated initiative.

>Are the nanites actually a problem for our soldiers?
Not yet, they're ignoring the soldiers for now.
>Do we have nobody in our staff who has some in-universe clue about what's going on?
You do recall having a gunner aboard your ship in the Warlords campaign that seemed to know a thing or two about history.

>Are our eecm ships able to track down the source of the enemy ecm?
From the com systems on the station. Most enemy jamming has been taken off line by disabling the power systems and computer networks. There is still light jamming coming from the core module which means someone must have brought a jamming system aboard.

>'Nightmare Engine'
>Nanoplague
>let's just lock down some sections I'm sure everything will be fine!

Holy fuck, the station is lost.

Just get everyone we can off there and slag it with plasma weapons.

We might as well even try releasing the rust virus on there too just for shits and giggles.

>>46466264
>You do recall having a gunner aboard your ship in the Warlords campaign that seemed to know a thing or two about history.
Is he still around?

>Nanites
Could we reconfigure our medicale nanites to fight the ones eating the station?

>>46466264
Raise planetary shields, and get that historian. We should have an accurate idea who we're looking for. If they were sent to another planet, get them on the ftl phone.

>>46466122
>Is that good for us?
Everyone ded. Reroll character.

>Conventional weapons?
Pulse and Phase weapons? See if the blasts from starship grade weapons have a more noticeable effect on the nanites.

>>46465067
>[ ] Destroy that section & Core module
Slag the dam thing!

Imagine if this gets down to the surface, our planet and untold billions of dollars of investment could be ruined!

It's worth losing a station core costing a few million.

>>46466264
Time to set weapons to [hidden]!

I'm surprised they still build weapons with that setting after how many years of not running into that stuff any more.

Do ship guns have the same option available?

File: tHIS IS FINE.gif (77 KB, 580x282)

77 KB GIF

>>46466327
>let's just lock down some sections I'm sure everything will be fine!

>>46466336
>Could we reconfigure our medicale nanites to fight the ones eating the station?
This would take a team a day or two but they'd probably be fried by the jamming.

>>46466441
>Raise planetary shields
Done.

>We should have an accurate idea who we're looking for. If they were sent to another planet, get them on the ftl phone.
>Is he still around?
"What was that guy's name?"
"Who?"
"An NCO who served with me during the Warlord's campaign."

That isn't exactly a small list. Arron and Linda aren't exactly well versed in history barring a few points that are part of their jobs. There's Kavos, you might be able to reach him on the homeworlds. Maybourne wasn't with you then. Who else? Kaz maybe?
"Shit. Connect me to my command ship! Maybourne, is Kaz on the ship?"
"Yes, he's right here. I can give him any targeting inst-"
"Put him on, ASAP."

There's a two second delay then the NCO reports in.
"Kaz here Baron. Weapons are locked on the station."
"You're well versed in history right?"
"Y-yes?" It's clear he has no idea where you're going with this.
"What do you know about offensive nanites?"
"They were used in that one war the Dominion had as a result of an AI rebellion. It's part of the reason the Terrans have more AI tech than we do. That was serious Age of Death shit."
"Fine, fine, how do you kill them?"

"Nanites? Uh... AI War protocol? There's a thing that you do with your phase rifle. Kavos showed me this one time but it makes them break right away so they stopped doing it once we got Republic anti-tank guns twenty five years ago."

You have no idea what exactly he means but tell him to start talking to intel and General Rna right away.

Whatever that is it will take time, which is something you don't have.

Destroy station core + 1 east module?
[ ] Phase cannons
[ ] Plasma weapons
[ ] Large ship sublight drives
[ ] Fire everything

>>46467039
[x] Fire Everything

>>46467039
Did we manage to evacuate the hostages?

Before we start shooting, maybe give these guys a chance to stand down in return for POW status?

>>46467104
>Did we manage to evacuate the hostages?
No. They're closer to the core module.

>>46467133
Can we use particle or e beams to cut out those decks from the core module?

>>46467133
Dammit let's try to get our people out and at least of the terrorists captured. I want to know who the fuck tried to pull this shit on us. If it's the Neerans this is gonna suck.

>>46467039
While I would have loved to get some of that tech they have this is getting out of hand.

[x] Fire everything

>>46467133
Can we get our people out of there? Also can we still grab one of the terrorists in the core? I'd rather risk our guys to know who the fuck did this to us.

File: Station Alerts07.gif (15 KB, 1298x706)

15 KB GIF

>>46467185
They were generally restrained along the main levels of the central promenade. It would be difficult to get to them.

>>46467296
>Can we get our people out of there?
South and West teams for sure. West team has panicked and are retreating regardless.
East team has lost contact with their forward most squad that was in combat. The remainder should be able to escape if they retreat.

>Also can we still grab one of the terrorists in the core? I'd rather risk our guys to know who the fuck did this to us.
You'll have to order teams to advance into the core. Probably not a good idea to tell the marines you're going to fire on that section if you're sending them in.

>>46467485
How long do they have before the nanites reach the core? For the hostages as well to be rescued and be brought out of the core?

>>46467485
Marines pull back, broadcast request for them to surrender, give them time to reply, annihilate station core.

>>46467601
>How long do they have before the nanites reach the core?
Nanites previously withdrew into the core module when the LST was under attack. When North team detached the LST from the station the terrorists began to direct nanites from the core back into the East arm of the station. There are large numbers of of nanites in every location where terrorist activity is listed. Everywhere else has lower levels.

>>46467674
Shit, is thirty minutes viable enough for us to rescue the hostages, capture one of the terrorists, and pull them out before we blow up the station core?

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>46467728
"East team, how long until the seals in your part of the station fail?"

"They'll eat through the main blast doors in less than a minute. Still no contact from our forward squad. Permission to withdraw."

Rolling for morale.

>>46467847
>Rolling for morale.
>Rolled 14 (1d100)

We really need to stop recruiting IG.

I'm also surprised the Shallan fusion gun isn't helping.

File: Station Alerts08.gif (15 KB, 1328x706)

15 KB GIF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swc-ZZTknnU

You hear one of the squad leaders order all members of East team with withdraw at best possible speed.

"Sir, we're detecting additional damage to the external station seals."
"Why would they damage the externals?" You ask.

"Blast doors to the military wing have been breached."

Everyone from East team heads for external airlocks and moments later several register as having been blown open with explosives.
"East team survivors have reached the station exterior. South team reports that they're attempting to suppress nanite breaches into their section.
Large scale explosive decompression detected in the east station arm."

"On screen."

It looks like the east docking arm has been severed entirely from the station and the two halves are drifting away. The main station is continuing to vent gasses from the breach.

"Station's orbit is decaying more rapidly than it should. I believe the station's tractor beams in combination with the venting is being used it pull it into the gravity well."

[ ] Fire everything
[ ] Try to stabilize orbit until Intel has a team ready

>>46468238
[x] Fire everythign

For fuck sake

Every time we try to fiddle about this just gets worse.

Just kill it and get it over with. It was lost the moment the attack started. We have no defense against this, we don't know what they're up to, we don't even know what armaments they're packing.

>>46468238
Has intel an idea how much time they need? If it's more than a minute or two to get somebody on the station they better start preparing for forensic work.

>>46468238
Motherfuckers. We just lost an entire bloody station just so these fuckholes could test their new toy. And we don't even know who they are!

Can we target the stations tractor beam... guns and destroy them while at the same time use the fleets combined tractor beam power to try pull the station back up into proper orbit again? I mean if the Neeran can do that then so can we!

>>46468238
How are they even powering the station's tractor beams?

>>46468465
Okay you got me on that one. They'd have to be using the suit power sources they brought along which would give the tractor beams much less strength than if you guys hadn't killed station power earlier.

>>46468363
30 minutes to finish weapon modifications. 10 minutes for an LST from Mons Abyla to reach the station.

>>46468439
>Can we target the stations tractor beam... guns and destroy them while at the same time use the fleets combined tractor beam power to try pull the station back up into proper orbit again?

Yes, this counts as a vote for:
>Try to stabilize orbit until Intel has a team ready

>>46468718
Have the marines on the lst been able to uncover any additional information?

>>46468238
>[ ] Fire everything
Jesus! Destroy this dam thing before it reaches the planet!

>>46468238
2 votes for: Fire everything
1 vote for: Try to stabilize orbit until Intel has a team ready

Going with the first to 3 votes. Please continue to link that post.

>>46468744
The LST is FTL capable so they likely jumped into the system on their own rather than hitching a ride on a larger ship.
Data in the nav computer includes an outbound flight plan to a station elsewhere in the Run.

>>46468996
>Data in the nav computer includes an outbound flight plan to a station elsewhere in the Run.

Get intel on that. Take the recon and commando teams we have on leave after deployment in helios territory.

Is still think we should offer them a chance to surrender. POW status should be pretty comfy compared to getting evaporated.

>>46468238
>[X] Try to stabilize orbit until Intel has a team ready

>>46468238
[ ] Try to stabilize orbit until Intel has a team ready
There is still a chance! We must recover these weapons if we are to develop a way to counter them.

>>46468238
>[ ] Fire everything
It's just not worth it. If Ber'helum is sending a fleet to the FA base, and they're under attack by the same enemy, it's probably a good idea to recommend the AI wars protocols to them.

"Have ships use their tractor beams to stabilize the orbit of the station. Continue ECM. See if we can knock out any nanites being throw from the station.
Tell Intel we need them to get that team ready and into orbit now."

Drake has been pulled back to your command ship. Which is now officially the Outer Heaven. Wasn't expecting that.

"Permission to outfit a team from your ship's marine compliment to assist sir. Your Gunnery Chief seems to be up to date with the latest info from intel."

It would be handy to have more teams ready either way.

[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."
[ ] "Outfit the team, act as you see fit."
[ ] "Be ready, I'll join you shortly to retake the station."

>>46469555
>[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."

Can't have our second act reckless now. Even we realized that way before.

>>46469555
>[ ] "Outfit the team, act as you see fit."
"Don't make me regret that."

>>46469555
>[X] "Be ready, I'll join you shortly to retake the station."

>>46469555
"Be ready, I'll join you shortly to retake the station."

>>46469894
>>46469920
>Giving the enemy what they want.
Guys. They are here specifically for us.

>>46469936
Then vote for one of the other options. The only anon who voted for something else was me.

>>46470061
Curses this need to remove my name whenever I post elsewhere! It is I! Also I need sleep. Don't fuck this up!

>>46469555
>[] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."
Not worth the risk.

>>46469555
>command ship. Which is now officially the Outer Heaven. Wasn't expecting that.
My name got picked, I am full of joy.

File: Spoiler Image (88 KB, 500x500)

88 KB JPG

>>46470248
Not to be confused with the other ship of the same name.

We could use another vote for one of these before we resume tomorrow.
I'll be running until I need to leave for work for 4PM.

[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."
[ ] "Be ready, I'll join you shortly to retake the station."

>>46470571
>[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."
[x] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."
I hate to do it, but the time for suicide missions is over. We have so much work to do as a Baron before we start gallivanting again.

>>46470571
>[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."
I'm all for taking the helm in ship-ship engagements, but this would be against a foe we know very little about.

Let's limit the potential risks, at least this time.

>>46470571
>[X ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."

>>46470571
[X] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."

>>46470571
>[x] "Be ready, I'll join you shortly to retake the station."

>>46470571
>[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."

>>46470571
[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."
I have a feeling this is Aries shenanigans being pulled here. If it does turn out to be them, anyone up for wrecking their shit?

>>46470571
>[ ] "Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."

>>46470571
>[ ] "Be ready, I'll join you shortly to retake the station."
If there wasn't an exciting adventure to be had, the QM wouldn't have made the option available.

[X] Get Vista to hack the nanites for you

File: Station Alerts09.gif (15 KB, 1328x706)

15 KB GIF

"Outfit the team, but you'll stay aboard the command ship."

It's obvious from Drake's mechanical sounding reply of "Yes sir." that she's not happy about the orders.

The armory on the Outer Heaven begins to quickly refit phase rifles for use by Marines.

The delay is appalling and you're soon asking intel about alternate options.
"Can we modify starship phase cannons similar to our rifles?"

"Not easily. It might take hours or days and they would be left with little ability to damage starship grade armor."

For now the station's orbit remains stabilised but it continues to vent atmosphere.
Contact has been lost with South team which had last reported they were setting their stun pulse grenades to overload into kill ranges.

West team has retreated further into their wing of the station and are trying to evacuate anyone still in their sections. They're requesting that the starships sever the west wing of the station before nanites can breach into their area.

[ ] Do it
[ ] Tell them to keep retreating, help will arrive "soon"

>>46477808
>Contact has been lost with South team which had last reported they were setting their stun pulse grenades to overload into kill ranges.
Why haven't we evacuated the marines?

>>46477808
>[ ] Do it
Also evacuate and destroy the section of the military wing that has been affected.

Can we set up an inverted forcefield around the station using our ships to keep any nanorobots inside of a defined bubbble rather than letting them drift through space?

>>46477905
South team was preparing for an attempt to rescue hostages if they could get the chance. East team thought those same orders were unrealistic and retreated.

>>46477915
>Also evacuate and destroy the section of the military wing that has been affected.
Any opposed to this?

>Can we set up an inverted forcefield around the station using our ships to keep any nanorobots inside of a defined bubbble rather than letting them drift through space?
If the nearby ships kept their shields steady nanites might be able to get through them given their relatively low difference in velocity.
An anon in a previous thread mentioned pulsing a ship's shields. It might work in this case but runs the risk of pushing the station off course.

>>46478076
>Any opposed to this?
No.

> South team was preparing for an attempt to rescue hostages if they could get the chance.
I see.

>>46477808
>[X] Do it
Can we start dragging the arms to the quarantine area?

>>46478171
>Can we start dragging the arms to the quarantine area?
Sure.

The nearby ships target the west wing of the station, cutting through one of the station modules until it's free of the central section. Smaller ships lock tractor beams and help tow the east and west wings of the station towards the isolation area.
After the contaminated section of the east wing has been destroyed that is.

"This is it. They're stranded, we have them surrounded and there is no chance they'll be able to reach the planet before our troops with the modified weapons arrive. It's over." concludes Rna.

"Keep up most of the ECM but open up one channel enough to demand their surrender."

Sensors begin to report increased corrosion of the station interior.

"What are they up to now?"

Sensors light up showing two objects launch out of the remaining east module. Larger than most shuttles but smaller than the average LST the conical metallic objects burn straight towards the nearest ships.

[ ] Fire all weapons
[ ] Tell those ships to evade
[ ] Emergency teleporters, set those ships to self destruct

Roll 1d100 for shield pulse assistance

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>46478861
>[X] Fire all weapons
>[X] Tell those ships to evade
If the ships get hit, resort to:
>[X] Emergency teleporters, set those ships to self destruct

Have the crews on all ships start modifying their pulse rifles, just in case.

>Roll 1d100 for shield pulse assistance
Rolling.

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>46478861
>[ ] Fire all weapons
>[ ] Tell those ships to evade
if hit:
>[ ] Emergency teleporters, set those ships to self destruct

And can I get a Roll of 4d20 please?

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>46479449
>4d20
1

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>46479486
2

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>46479504
3

Rolled 7, 13, 14, 18 = 52 (4d20)

>>46479449
>let's just give them time to do whatever they want
>gonna lose 2 other ships

Has everyone been replaced by retards
I swear we would have finished this by the first 100 posts a year ago.

Rolled 16, 7, 1, 1 = 25 (4d20)

>>46479449
sure thing!

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>46479533
4

>>46479535
I'm not really sure why we decided to draw this out.

>16, 13, 14, 18
Not too shabby.

Also, it seems we'll need to clean house in quite a few departments.
>Intel doesn't know shit
>Nobody notices the FA base has gone silent
>Military numbering in the hundreds of thousands hasn't any useful input available until sonia remembers that one gunner she met by chance

Every nearby ship opens fire, trying to hit the fast moving targets. Some of the initial shots are quite close but none are direct hits. It looks like they're going to be too close soon for the phase cannons to land reliable hits when the Outer Heaven pulses it's shields.

The impact is enough to kill the momentum of the incoming projectiles, all but halting them in place. The tips of the two cones shatter into a cloud of smaller particles, almost certainly nanites. Almost immediately they try to maneuver causing some of the weapon fire to miss.

Some shots still hit their mark, boiling away multiple protective layers.

They can't take many more hits and when Outer Heaven launches a plasma ball it looks like it's all over foir them. Still through some miracle one of them makes it through and reaches one of the EC-K's, matching speed and penetrating its shields.

"Now!" you order.

The crew teleports out. When the attacker reaches the hull with the remains of their nanite shroud in tow the reactors on the ship go super critical followed by detonation of the torpedo magazines.

In the span of half a second a fireball consumes the ship and everything within a kilometer of it.

There is little debris left when the blast wave dissipates, and no signs of any nanites nearby, just those bleeding from the station.

In a few more minutes LST's from the surface arrive and deploy troops while approaching the station. Drake sends over two shuttles with additional troops to help, the rest conducting precautionary sweeps of the ship and outer hull.

"Modified weapons are proving effective. Not quite as efficient as we'd hoped but far more than anything else we've tried. It should just be the "simple" task of taking down a couple of crazies that have power armor now."

Roll 4d20 for marines to sweep the station. Unless you have other orders?

How big is our gunship compared to the station core?

>>46480400
The Dante class? Uh, I suppose you could take it into the more open areas of the station interior. Only the promenade areas unless you planned to smash through stores and shops.
The engineers could quickly replace the point defense lasers with modified phase rifles.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>46480391
Make sure to bring a few weapons with enough punch to go through PA, if some of these guys are still on the station.

>Roll 4d20 for marines to sweep the station.
1

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>46480548
2

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>46480595
3

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>46480611
4

>>46480470
Do you want me to roll the other 2 sets if nobody else does?

>>46480843
Give it another 5 minutes first.

Rolled 7, 20, 7, 15 = 49 (4d20)

>>46480391
Deploy in the gunship.

Rolled 16, 9, 3, 12 = 40 (4d20)

>>46480391

"Have my Gunship readied for launch and equipped with phase rifles in place of point defense."
Just in case.

Marines are making slow but steady progress, killing their way through nanite swarms. Some of the troops brought along power cell armor and from the reports they're certainly glad for it. The much tougher armor is able to slow down attacks long enough for friendlies to clear the encroaching swarm. There are concerns that the nanites will be harder to kill if they manage to take down one of the suits.

"One third of the nanites attacking us are made of hardened tritanium, not the normal stuff."

A few minutes later the teams have advanced far enough to reach the station core module.

"Visual contact with one of the terrorists."

The image they send shows a power suited individual handing in the air, their armor reduced to an almost skeletal looking state. The bright light of a fusion reaction emanates from a sphere of swarming nanites half the height of a person that seems to be attached to their back.

"The radiation from that reactor must be lethal at that range." comments the General.

A couple of the Marines switch to 20mm mass drivers and plasma blasters, targeting the enemy. Each shot is met by walls of the nanites nearest the user forming whipple shields to block them.

An attempt by it to return fire by funneling plasma from it's reactor is disrupted by additional 20mm fire with incendiaries.

"Focus fire!"

Shots from one hundred marines and soldiers are diverted from holding the nanites at bay to disrupt the terrorist and allows a a few more shots to get through. One of your specialist Neeran killer rounds connects punches through the helmet. There's a brief delay then the nanites holding the fusion reactor in check lose cohesion and it explodes.

Nanites are scattered in every direction by the blast, either out of control of offline.

It takes a bit for the closest Marines to shake off the effects of the blast. Those arriving from further back report in.

"Minimal wounded form the explosion. Most of the Nanites look to be disabled but we're not taking any chances. Stun any of our guys that look like they've taken shrapnel damage."

General Rna breaks in on coms. "There should be a fourth one. Stay alert."

>Is Sonia going up there with the Gunship or not?

>>46481904
[x] Yes

>>46481934
Also don't forget to equip the phase plasma channel discharge gun to the mech if we can!

That would do a lot of damage to the nanites I bet!

>>46481759
Did the PA survive the explosion?

>>46481904
>>Is Sonia going up there with the Gunship or not?
Can we pilot it while wearing our PA?

>>46481953
>Also don't forget to equip the phase plasma channel discharge gun to the mech if we can!
You can only equip it to your power armor.

>>46481982
>Did the PA survive the explosion?
You'll have to wait for post battle salvage to check. It seems unlikely but some of it may have survived.

>Can we pilot it while wearing our PA?
Yes.

>>46482063
>PA
I'm honestly more interested on what was inside. I'm currently suspecting an AI.

And yeah, let's go. I'm tempted to take Drake as co pilot to make up for earlier.

>>46482063
>Drake as co pilot
Yes

You arrive in orbit as quickly as possible, scanning the station as you approach. Against your better judgement you pick up Drake to act as your back seat operator.

Nearby ships are starting to back off their ECM a bit to allow better communication with the teams performing the sweep of the station. From your position outside the interior looks to have been gutted by the combination of fighting and nanites chewing up materials.

Things are looking quiet now with lack of real activity from the remaining swarms but there are still lingering power readings bouncing around in the station core.

"Cut the remaining jamming so we can triangulate this power reading more accurately."

"Copy that."

With the remaining jamming off the few positive readings around the station are from shuttles and LSTs.

"Power cell team twelve here. We've got a faint signature on the move towards the LSTs but have no visual confirmation."

You angle your gunship for a better look but can't see anything on most wavelengths. There is a background power signature however it's being broken up by faint jamming signal.

"Is he using camo?" asks Drake.

[ ] Get in closer and start shooting
[ ] Broadcast your ID to draw them out of hiding
[ ] Other

>>46482871
>[ ] Other
Can we offer them the chance to surrender? Guarantee treatment according to factions POW treaties, even if the usually wouldn't apply for one reason or another.

>From your position outside the interior looks to have been gutted by the combination of fighting and nanites chewing up materials.
Did these people at least have the decency not to kill their hostages?

>>46482871
[ ] Other
Can't our arm disrupt camo systems at a certain distance?

>>46483027
This, also we have that Neeran thing.

>>46482975
>offer them the chance to surrender?
Sure.

>Did these people at least have the decency not to kill their hostages?
Vacuum exposure will probably be found to be the leading cause of death from when the military arm of the station was detached.

>>46483027
>Can't our arm disrupt camo systems at a certain distance?
20-30 meters yes, but you'll need to be outside your Gunship to do so. Drake could take over flying.

Heading out for work. Back around 9PM EST

>>46483247
>Vacuum exposure will probably be found to be the leading cause of death from when the military arm of the station was detached.

That's not a nice way to go. None of the emergency bulkheads triggered?

>>46483247
Step up security around LSTs and have those confetti spaghetti anticamo traps ready

Had a neat thought.

We might be able to combine the Gelsan accelerator we're getting with the Ber'helum gravity well generator to make a remote 'projector' of un-warpable space.

>>46485851
How would that work?

>>46485866
The Grav Well Gen blocks ships from entering hyperspace due to the gravity.

The Gelsan accelerator is the biggest accelerator we've ever encountered so I thought it might be able to push the gravity waves to a spot we aim it at.

>>46486077
Do gravity waves have mass one could accelerate?

>>46486138
Maybe we'll find out if we experiment? We might get SP Plasma, and that started with silly suggestions about melting a drive plate.

>>46486210
I guess we could have somebody look into it.

File: So much Science.gif (2.33 MB, 398x224)

2.33 MB GIF

>>46482871
>[ ] Get in closer and start shooting
>[ ] Broadcast your ID to draw them out of hiding
>[ ] Other

>>46483294
>None of the emergency bulkheads triggered?
They were likely being eaten by nanites along with the ones separating the next module.

>>46485550
>confetti spaghetti anticamo traps ready
I don't precisely remember these but I get the idea well enough that I'm sure the Marines will manage something.

>>46485851
>>46486077
>>46486138
>Do gravity waves have mass one could accelerate?

>Black Hole collision
>The collision produced an astounding, invisible explosion. Modeling shows that the final black hole totals 62 solar masses—3 solar masses less than the sum of the initial black holes. The missing mass vanished in gravitational radiation—a conversion of mass to energy that makes an atomic bomb look like a spark. “For a tenth of a second [the collision] shines brighter than all of the stars in all the galaxies,” Allen says. “But only in gravitational waves.”

Man, I have no idea, I just write space operas on /tg/

>>46488892
Would our gunship be able to outrun these nanite projectiles that were fired at our ships before?

>>46488892
>a conversion of mass to energy
So Gelsan accelerator + Ber'helum Singularity Generator = Death Ray/Singularity Projector/The Hurt Beam

File: DEMP 2 Gun.jpg (17 KB, 596x444)

17 KB JPG

>>46488892
Didn't mean to re-post the previous options. Ignore that.

>>46489109
Might be a bit iffy, but your stasis shields could probably buy you enough time to do so.

So far there is no response to the Marines and other captains broadcasting demands for surrender. Given their previous demands you suspect that if you were to personally ask for their surrender it might get their attention. It would also tend to give away your position but that could be used to your advantage.

You could also start shooting with your gunship's main weapons and point defense DEMP Guns.

>>46483244
Do you guys want to equip both of the Neeran artifacts you can currently use and hop out of the Gunship?

>>46489192
>Do you guys want to equip both of the Neeran artifacts you can currently use and hop out of the Gunship?
Considering it took over 100 marines to actually destroy one of these guys, I'd prefer to keep the gunship between Sonia and them.

>So far there is no response to the Marines and other captains broadcasting demands for surrender. Given their previous demands you suspect that if you were to personally ask for their surrender it might get their attention.
Would our ships have a better chance to hit another of these nanite darts if they pre-aim for the area around our gunship?

>>46489192
>Do you guys want to equip both of the Neeran artifacts you can currently use and hop out of the Gunship?
[x] Equip
[x] Stay in the safety of our comfy as hell gunship

>>46489192
Consult Drake.

>>46489192
Use dat gunship. Let's see how it works in live action.

Fuck you captcha all of those pictures had trees in them.

>>46489253
>Would our ships have a better chance to hit another of these nanite darts if they pre-aim for the area around our gunship?
Possibly. They'd have a better chance if they fired before enough nanites grouped together to form an armored shell.

>>46489290
Staying in the gunship for now.

>>46489505
>Consult Drake.
"We have the general area the energy reading is coming from. Get our marines away or into cover and have your command ship hit everything with phased plasma cannon fire."

"Almost sounds like overkill."

"They've killed how many people on that station?! Every last one of these terrorists can die in a fire. I'd say use the PPCD Guns on your ship but that would probably kill more of our marines."

[ ] Engage with Gunship
[ ] Have other ships prepare to fire around you, then give away location
[ ] Hit suspected target location with phased plasma cannon fire.

>>46489672
>[ ] Engage with Gunship
Do et.

>>46489672
[Settings]->Quotes & Replying->Legacy CAPTCHA

I'm absolutely undecided. I kinda hoped we could convince them to stand down so we can get some of that tech but it seems like that isn't going to happen.

>>46489672
>[ ] Engage with Gunship
I want to see what our ship can do since I doubt we can talk them down or capture them.

>>46489672
Hit suspected areas then engage with gunship

File: Station Alerts11.gif (10 KB, 1328x706)

10 KB GIF

"Drake, open up with the point defense."

A hail of expanding energy pulses rain down on the station sections near the LST. You add your own micro phase cannon fire, holding back the particle beams and missiles until you have a clear target. Apparently these pulse weapons also seem to be effective against holographic camo systems because fairly soon you have a target pop-up on sensors.

You shift your fire upwards and add in shots from the oversized particle beams.

The target's suit backpack lights up, fusion flame kicking it out of the way of your weapons fire. In the blink of an eye the target has flown clear of the station module and around its far side for cover.

[ ] Pursue (Roll 2d20)
[ ] "Marines find cover! Nearest starships open fire."

Rolled 16, 16 = 32 (2d20)

>>46490769
>[x] Pursue (Roll 2d20)
Fuck you, you're not getting away.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>46490769
>[x Pursue (Roll 2d20)
Inform the marines they have somebody in PA incoming.

Rolled 4, 5 = 9 (2d20)

>>46490769
>[x] Pursue
That's actually better, we can maneuver more freely in space with the larger gunship.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>46490831
2

You slam the throttle forward, acceleration pressing you into your seat.

"Marines you have a hostile in Power Armor incoming!"

Rounding the station you resume fire throwing out as much as you can at the speeding suit as it jinks back and forth, trying to use docking clamps and fuel connectors for cover.

"Why are you pursuing?" asks Drake. "Just have the starships shoot."

You have to check your fire as you close in on Marine squads sweeping the outer hull. They do what they can to try and slow your target with their own small arms fire.

Approaching the station core you manage a hit but it doesn't seem to be enough to kill.

"That shot should have cut them in half." Drake points out. "Maybe we should pull back?"

"Not yet."

A missile detonation sends the suit spiraling out of control and crashing to the station surface.

Drake does a detailed scan to confirm. "You got him. There isn't much left of the suit but the helmet and the reactor. Hang on, is it transmitting a com signal?"

[ ] Finish it.
[ ] Listen.

>>46491455
>[x] Finish it.
These guys came prepared. If it's transmitting something it's some kind of trap. We can have Drake listen to it as we kill.

>>46491455
>[x] Listen.
And if the computer on our gunship has a AI war lockdown, we should probably activate it.

Can we use the stasis shield or repulsors to keep the reactor from destroying the helmet?

>>46491523
Also, have the nearby ships jam long range coms immediately.

>>46491455
>[x] Listen.
We need any clues to which house, if any, sent these agents.

>>46491455
>Retreat.
They probably have a self-destruct ready. Leaving the potential blast / beam radius is more important than finishing it.

>>46491455
>[X] Finish it.
No time to let them trigger any back up plans. Remove this scum.

>>46491488
Seconding this!

Sorry, meant to post this earlier.

>>46491523
>Can we use the stasis shield or repulsors to keep the reactor from destroying the helmet?
They're so close together, and the stasis shields on your Gunship so large that it would be exceedingly difficult to get one without the other.

You're tempted to listen, possibly even retreat but decide that you need to end this now.

"Drake listen just in case it's important."

Meanwhile you launch missiles as part of an alpha strike, training the particle beams on the reactor.

"Shit, it knows you're the pilot!" Warns Drake, talking over another warning from one of the marine officers.

A swarm of nanites bursts forth from the nearby hole previously left in the station core module by the enemy LST.

"RRRRAYNAR-"

The shout over the comwaves is cut off when your particle beams, micro phase cannon shots and missiles all strike the crippled suit of power armor, consuming entirely.

The nanites once again become unresponsive, though that doesn't stop Drake from blasting them steadily with the point defense weapons.

General Rna cuts in on the command channel. "That's four. All hostiles accounted for."

Cleanup and recovery efforts are going to take days. People, especially the civilians, are going to want to know what happened.

What are you going to tell them?

>>46492485
Attacked by unknown assailants, with unknown goals, using unknown technology.

>>46492485
Make sure to check with our PR department and intel before releasing any kind of statement.

I'd suggest to go with:
>Terrorist attack.
>Small group, extremely well equipped.
>Managed to disable station defences and contaminate the environment with reprogrammed nanites which they somehow managed to disguise as a biological agent which slowed down an effective response
>Killed everybody on the station by converting emergency into more nanites
>All hostiles seem to have blown themselves up to evade captivity

Have we been able to stay in contact with the Ber'helum fleet?

Did we recover anything of value besides the Aries LST?

>>46492782

Tons of those modified nanites we can use as ablative armour in the future?

>>46492765
>Have we been able to stay in contact with the Ber'helum fleet?
They've reached the alliance base and driven off or destroyed any ships or drones that had been left as a harassment force. Alliance personnel report that they were attacked by an unmarked fleet broadcasting no IFF's. The attackers used mainly older ships including Kilo class medium cruisers outfitted in a similar manner to those produced by your Yards in the Run. Firestorm I and Archerfish Frigates made up most of their numbers.

Most wreckage recovered indicates the fleet was made up almost entirely of craft salvaged from Faction Wars battle sites in the Relay.

An unknown number of SP Torpedoes were stolen during the raid.

Stopping here for the night. See you guys in the morning.

>>46492713
Well that sounds reassuring....

>>46493614
Once we're sure things won't immediately implode when we're not around, Sonia should take a day off.

>>46492765
I would also say that we get the FA involved and have them investigate the Ares connection. If the Neeran have infiltrated part of the Ares company, they could be behind the civil war itself even.

Which also means that the winner could sue Ares corporation for damages ideally.

>>46492485
For the people? Terrorist attack from an as of yet unknown source, using forbidden weapons and stopped before they could achieve their goals leading to a costly victory.

For our people involved? Despite our best efforts to try to take the terrorists alive, they were too dangerous. But we have some leads for the people behind them and we will have our revenge. Everyone is reminded about Opsec and that loose lips sink ships, and that forces outside of the Dominion may be involved so seriously STFU.

For our allies and command level? Investigate the link between the Ares ship, Neeran tech, and the Nanites. Is Ares using Neeran tech or vice versa, or is it someone else did the Terrans find out about our activities some how? Let's resist the urge to freak out though and accidentally lead anyone to our sources, if we must let's get Winifred to investigate it for us since she's honestly better at that level of cloak and dagger.

Another round of checking on our family members and their security as well.

>>46493736
The civil war kinda puts a dampener on that idea.

Though I do think we need to speak to the people and instill some confidence in our noble leadership.

bump
Spooky ghosts came to get revenge on Shark Pirate Sonia

>>46494016
I don't think it's the Terrans at all.

The only thing we're doing that might upset them is the SP Plasma Round research, and the only times they've attacked SP research facilities is when people are trying to duplicate the actual material used.

Shit I'm going to have to cut this short. My boss is calling me into work early today. I'll try to do what I can for the next hour or so.

>>46499163
You should hurry up and win the lottery so you can use that money to upload yourself to a computer and QM for us 24/7!

The details of the attack are going to become known to your allies among the Major Houses eventually. Intel warns there will likely be a renewed push to ban the use of offensive nanites in the Dominion.
You can still quietly lock the tech away to be worked on by your own people in a secret base, etc.

The Alliance may be interested in acquiring examples of the tech used in the attack. They would likely provide financial compensation to ensure it stays out of use in the Dominion civil war.

[ ] Deny everything, secrete tech away in a hidden base
[ ] Provide some samples to alliance, keep some for yourself
[ ] Provide samples to Ber'helum, keep some for yourself
[ ] Provide samples to Alliance, Ber'helum, keep some yourself
[ ] Hand over to Alliance, get them to pay you

>>46499337
>They would likely provide financial compensation to ensure it stays out of use in the Dominion civil war.

Will they return the tech to us once the civil war is over?

>>46499337
[X] Provide some to the alliance, Ber'helum, keep some yourself. Keep the LST with the control tech too.

Can we ask Eldal to hunt down whoever is responsible for this attack?

>>46492782
>Did we recover anything of value besides the Aries LST?
Mostly little things. Neeran tech on the LST. Tons of nanites that still haven't been completely deactivated. A prepared defense against AI rebellion and nanoplague which many Houses currently lack or would take awhile to ready.

>>46494016
>which they somehow managed to disguise as a biological agent
They were not disguised as a biological agent. Nanites not contained to medical systems are considered a genuine bio hazard. Medical facilities have special containment fields to prevent an outbreak should someone tamper with equipment. Mind you those nanites are still susceptible to being knocked out by the most basic ECM.

>>46499514
>Will they return the tech to us once the civil war is over?
Not if the Dominion of the Factions collectively ban the tech.

We should ask the FA what a Nightmare Engine is.

>>46499595
>They were not disguised as a biological agent.
They showed up as one, though. At least at first. So it's not a complete lie.

>Not if the Dominion of the Factions collectively ban the tech.
Thanks.

>renewed push to ban the use of offensive nanites
So it would still be okay to use them as shields like the hostile aboard the station did? I'd be okay with that.

>[x] Provide some samples to alliance, keep some for yourself

>>46499337
>[ ] Provide samples to Alliance, Ber'helum, keep some yourself
Ber'Helum are close allies and the Alliance could use it since they are more than likely to face it soon.

LVL5 Nano-construction yard soon friends.

>>46499665
Let me rephrase that.
They were not so much disguised as a bio hazard because they are already a bio hazard.

>So it would still be okay to use them as shields like the hostile aboard the station did? I'd be okay with that.
If you have the control to use them as a shield you'd have the control to use them as a weapon.

I'll see you guys next time. I don't expect you to keep the thread bumped until 9PM tonight.

>>46499847
TSTG has already said that he isn't inserting nanotech precisely because it'll break the tech system.

>>46499911
>If you have the control to use them as a shield you'd have the control to use them as a weapon.
You can also employ starship weaponry to completely ruin a planet, and people still get to use them.

>>46499911
Thanks for the thread TSTG.

>>46499917
I actually don't disagree there, I think it would be quite silly to have entire kilometre long starships constructed by nanites, however, using them to produce higher quality ship components, like the nanoconstructed tritanium superstructure the Neeran ships use would be a good starting point.

The 20mm Rifle and its special ammos are the best thing we've ever done.

>>46500224
I'm mostly interested in them for the weaponized part of them. I mean even if it is next to heresy to deploy them against potential salvage the possibilities are many. Especially for black ops operations and sabotage.

>>46499595
>A prepared defense against AI rebellion and nanoplague which many Houses currently lack or would take awhile to ready.
Beginning AI research when?

combine the nanites + rust virus for some kind of metal turbofucker

>>46500433
>Beginning AI research when?
When the AI rebellion happens and we steal Versa from the Terrans by offering her sanctuary.

>>46499337
>Possibly Neeran aligned AI infiltrators with nanite shenanigans

We should probably warn the Terrans or at least Versa.

>>46500547
By then we have to custom make a Super Heavy Cruiser for her to command as it's captain. Then we can go being murderhobos together!

>>46500582
By warning the Alliance I think they in turn will notify any one that may be affected.

>>46500449
Rusting nanites?

>>46500673
>By warning the Alliance I think they in turn will notify any one that may be affected.
Contacting them directly would still be the polite option. Especially as they're helping Ber'helum und RSS out with those Lance class cruisers.

For which we should buy an upgrade so we can directly provide some upgrades. Either from Ber'heluim or elsewhere, although Ber'h would make more sense.

>>46500753
I suppose you have a point. And winning some bonus points with the Terrans would not be all that bad since they suspect that-thing-which-we-totally-do-not-know-anything-about.

>>46500994
>winning some bonus points with the Terrans would not be all that bad
We do probably need to build in-roads with them. If we get a successful SP Plasma weapon going, we're probably going to need to buy the SP material in bulk form without the torpedo attached.