Corruption, fraud, racketeering and smuggling have become serious enough problems that you've been forced to act. Your advisors have taken advantage of your sudden, and apparently unannounced, return tricking many of the guilty parties into revealing their activities one way or another.
The planet's economy suffered a rocky few days due to the number of important business owners being arrested but has recovered for the most part. Steps have been taken to ensure that factories stay in operation even if the companies who established them may have been hit hard by fines or arrests.
There is no shortage of refugees looking for work after all.

A similar crackdown on smuggling is also underway thanks to the arrival of a former terran special forces member looking for missing family members. Eli Evins has helped locate a major entrance for illegal immigrants onto Rioja, while two major organisations dedicated to slave trafficking have been crushed by your forces.
Thanks to support from the media there has been a major backlash against anyone perceived to be linked to slavery on planet.

In particular the Media has been hounding several company executives who were implicated in both the corruption arrests and the recent move against smugglers on planet. No serious charges have stuck and as they increasingly become the target of a growing witch hunt they've reached out to the government in the hopes of working things out.
Perhaps some donations to charity in return for a statement from the government.

This request is met with gales of laughter on your part. You may even need to take a breather after this.
"You... you're actually serious?" is the first question you manage to get out once the fit subsides.

"Yes Viscount! This is a serious problem that affects ou-"
"AAHAHAHA!"

Eventually the laughter stops long enough to catch your breath.

The Governor wisely speaks up to avoid you laughing in the faces of the business owners again.
"They're having enough trouble that they're seriously considering pulling their investments and leaving the planet. That would force the closure of several factories and a few commercial zoned buildings. It would take two or three months, and more money on our part to quickly replace them."

Trying to remain positive you encourage any of them with information to turn informant and assist with ongoing investigations.
If any execs get caught up in the witch hunt and there is legitimately no evidence, you'll seriously consider issuing statements on their behalf.

They in turn state they will discuss your offer with their lawyers and get back to you.

>>1455868
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION

Marathon thread stretch edition

>>1455877
>They're having enough trouble that they're seriously considering pulling their investments and leaving the planet.
>That would force the closure of several factories and a few commercial zoned buildings

The ones that are directly implicated in the more severe smuggling and leaving, can we nationalise their assets and secure it with troops?

>>1455942
We would still have to compensate, and sure to be a legal battle

>>1455942
>The ones that are directly implicated in the more severe smuggling and leaving, can we nationalise their assets and secure it with troops?
Yes, that is an option.

>>1455877
Governor Dlam'ard is worried they might try to manufacture evidence against one another in order to get into your good graces rather than volunteer any personal wrong doings. Time will tell.


Eli Evins is making preparations to leave the planet as soon as possible. The information trail from the slavers points back towards Terran space and South Reach. He's already contacted a number of people back home that should take care of loose ends in Terran Alliance space. Those he didn't see to personally before his arrival on Rioja that is.

Passage between here and J-D's territories in South Reach is fairly safe. Once beyond those regions South Reach is a roiling cauldron of competing forces. Houses, Pirates, the South Reach League and who knows what else all pose threats to anyone on the sort of mission he is.

Eli has only one request; that you provide a safe house for those of his family already rescued. Understandably they might want to be on a planet other than Rioja, though you doubt they'd turn down an upscale place in the capital.

Fadila suggests you could provide Eli a list with a few of your contacts in South Reach that might be willing to assist him. Baron Winifred would also be inclined to assist against slavers.

Drake points out that the fleet still has a number of older warships in reserve that were salvaged. You could easily loan one to help make the search easier.

What sort of resources would you like to make available to the Terran soldier?

>>1455971
For House and Dominion!

Let's give the guy an in with Winifred and a few contacts. Maybe a small ship? An older model corvette? Or a inter galaxy shuttle? (Do we even have a shuttle that can jump between galaxies safely?)

Also if his family doesn't want to live on Rioja they can always go to Suraketh. But I don't think that will be as safe as it is here in the run.

>>1455971
>Understandably they might want to be on a planet other than Rioja
We could temporarily locate them on that world with the planetary powers. If they have enough of the Dominion proper, at least for the moment. Or Magdalena, there's supposed to be a lot of unused real estate on that planet.

>What sort of resources would you like to make available to the Terran soldier?
>You could easily loan one to help make the search easier.
An older ship seems could be useful. A frigate or a smaller transport? That way he could believably claim to be trader if anybody asks.
>Fadila suggests you could provide Eli a list with a few of your contacts in South Reach that might be willing to assist him
Major Kadryin or the observers we had with us when Sonia did the salvage contracts for Veritas. I would expect them to dislike slavers. The Kelshier family, as a neutral party operating in the area, they've probably had offers from slavers or know where to find them. Daska and Winifred seem natural choices, perhaps the guy running Kaz's world too, depending on how his house's stand on slavery.

>>1455971
>safe house
Best choice for them probably would be somewhere on Rioja since they're already there. I'm sure we could arrange somewhere on Surakeh with Winifred if they wanted to accompany Eli, or potentially somewhere on Dreminth as well. Their choice perhaps?

>What sort of resources would you like to make available to the Terran soldier?
For sure put him in contact with Winifred's people. A good place to hideout might be the resort there too.

>Warship
Can we send a small corvette squadron along with him? A dedicated anti-slaving task force.

>>1455971
Loan him a warship and a commando team to make sure it doesn't get used for anything shady, and to help salvage anything nice the slavers have. Tell him we'll give him fair value for it to be used to help finance setting the freed slaves back up.

>>1456027
This sounds like a job for trainees.

>>1456027
Additionally I think we should attach someone who can act in place of us. Maybe Ecord?

>>1456018
>Do we even have a shuttle that can jump between galaxies safely?
No. LSTs, light transports and FTL Yachts are the smallest ships capable of FTL and some of them aren't able to performing a long jump.

>But I don't think that will be as safe as it is here in the run.
Probably not.

>>1456021
>We could temporarily locate them on that world with the planetary powers.
Merah? (Red dwarf agro colony) Or maybe one of the worlds that belong to your allies?
Otherwise I think you've lost me.

Wait, wait. I think I got it. Kaartinen? The one always on the verge of being torn apart by infighting between the countries on the planet?

>A frigate or a smaller transport? That way he could believably claim to be trader if anybody asks.
Could work.

>>1456027
>Can we send a small corvette squadron along with him? A dedicated anti-slaving task force.
A single ship is a loan but 12 would be a transfer to Winifred's command. You can do so, she wouldn't turn down ships even in used condition. It would make it easier to form a task force like that.

>>1456082
Ecord is against this since he's going to be needed to help lead Rioja's special forces once you assume your new post. A deployment to South Reach could take months.
He will go if you order him though.

>>1456096
>Kaartinen?
Yeah.

>The one always on the verge of being torn apart by infighting between the countries on the planet?
I thought that got better.

>>1455971
>Ship
An old warship sounds right.

>Family
We'll certainly take care of his sister/her kid.
If they don't feel comfortable on Rioja, maybe that former Erid noble's compound Alex said we could have? Or see if Avun would take them on her world?

>Contacts
Foss? If there are SRL elements involved, his boss would want to internally police it, rather than have Terrans...
Tourta's Governor/Info Broker? Solid source of info, and we can arrange payments.
Baron of not-Katz's World - Could disguise the visit as an RSS inspection of the factory, and the guy has always been fair enough.
Winnifred - Drive her to drink more!
Ferrigold the Fat - Not sure if it would help?

>Other stuff
Did any of those previously freed slaves that wanted to join our honor guard end up as Rioja PDF/Military as we suggested? Might be worth seeing if any want to go kill slavers.

Did any of the Run Alliance have luck busting Slaver rings?

>>1456096
>A single ship is a loan but 12 would be a transfer to Winifred's command.
Sounds good.

>Ecord is against this
That's fair, is there any other Knights we could send to keep an eye on the situation? Jing Ki?

>>1456163
>That's fair, is there any other Knights we could send to keep an eye on the situation? Jing Ki?

... what about Valeri?

>>1456171
I'm a little hesitant to send off one of our close bodyguards.

>>1456198
True.

We've got a rather short list of people that would actually work, though. Maybe it would be best for Winifred to provide someone, as it will be in her region?

>>1456096
What about that Freedom Fighting house? Terrans sound like they would love that democratic shit.

We would just have to indoctrinate them into realizing we, a Dominion Noble, saved them after their leaders democratically abandoned them.

So they could even be a stabilizing presence there. Like the democracy equivalent of ex-mormons.

>>1456226
Veritas is basically under siege, isn't it?

Last update on them I recall was that they bloodied an invasion force on one of their funky FTL chokepoints.

>>1456242
>Veritas is basically under siege, isn't it?
They managed to salvage a super the last time somebody tried to invade them,.

>>1456246
Salvage? or destroy/cripple?

They're sort of small to be able to repair and field a super, aren't they?

>>1456107
>I thought that got better.
It did to an extent, so thankfully it's less like the middle east than it used to be. There are still political tensions over borders and how off world trade is conducted. Fortunately the current Governor of the Dominion territories is smart enough to make sure everyone makes a profit off of point defense system sales.

>>1456163
>any other Knights we could send to keep an eye on the situation?
Few to none of the named ones are really available right now.

>>1456171
>>1456198
>>1456215
If you do send Valeri he insists that you have someone else that is recon suit trained help Rufaro.

>>1456242
>Veritas is basically under siege, isn't it?
The siege has been more or less lifted, though most approaches to their space are plagued by convoy raiders.
Ber'helum is in talks to refit the super Veritas captured.

>>1456044
>and a commando team
That would be another option to sending a Knight.
A newer less experienced team so they can get some field training? Or a veteran one?
Eli is fully capable of leading small scale actions.

>>1456273

Send Eli with a detachment of 12 corvettes and some newbie commando team? It sounds like we got a means to train our newbies we just got! Time to see if they've learned anything or if they'll be of use doing more anti pirate/ smuggler stuff instead of front line battles.

>>1456298
On that note.

The washed out pilots have arrived. They're split up as planned and sent to different training squads for evaluation. Within the day you're getting reports that a few of them are quite good but terribly reckless with their ships. Others don't perform so well under stress, though that can be difficult to induce in a simple simulation.

Squadron commanders report that a few just have extraordinarily bad luck. They're doing everything right from a piloting standpoint and it still goes wrong. Most other ship crews consider these pilots cursed and don't like to be near them, though in one case it's the opposite.
"They figure if everything bad is happening to that one pilot not much will be able to touch the rest of them."

That's not very reassuring.

Drake has an idea on how to get some more accurate test results.
"We drug them and put them in a holobooth so they don't know it's a simulation."

"Are we allowed to do that?"

"As long as you give the ok we can."

It occurs to you that there are some old test ships built out of retired missile boats used to act as Neeran aggressor squadrons. They don't have emergency teleporters because of the small power plant. Getting them to train in one of the asteroid belts should be stressful enough to collect data.

You could probably skip this with the poorer performing half and just reassign them to logistics now.

[ ] Drug & put in holobooths
[ ] Hazardous training
[ ] Send them with Eli, sink or swim

>>1456439
>[x] Drug & put in holobooths
It beats the alternatives.

>>1456439
>[x] Drug & put in holobooths

That old-timey Knight said something about people living in holobooths didn't he? Let's put it to the test.

When he mentioned it the first time I was going to suggest we could use it for interrogations.

>>1456439
[x] Hazardous Training

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd have a major lack of trust in anyone that drugged me and put me into a holobooth to think it was real.

If we salvage these pilots, they need to be able to trust that we're not going to throw them away to die.

>>1456439

How I feel things should go

[x] Drug & put in holobooths
I know I suggested putting them to the sink or swim option. But it does seem like a good idea to drug them up and put them in the simulators.

[x] Hazardous training
Failing that, maybe they've grown complacent from the idea that they can just be teleported out? If that's the case put them in to the hazardous training. Take away the life preserver and make them fly under the same conditions we had when we went through training.

[x] Send them with Eli, sink or swim
Finally if none of the above work. Then it's sink or swim time.

>>1456464
>need to be able to trust that we're not going to throw them away to die.
And you want them to think we're not going to throw them away by putting them in actual danger?

>>1456480
They aren't civilians, they're military. An asteroid field operation isn't that crazy, and we're telling them up front that there will be danger.

It isn't like we're going to leave them to die if there is an accident. The difference here is the deception, not their perception of danger, imo.

Just to make sure nobody forgets - have a doctor check them beforehand, and have one nearby during the testing.

Looks like we're starting with drugs & holobooth.

Putting them in the holobooths results in some interesting readings on their performance. Based on their readings three pilots are immediately marked as being unsuited to combat. They've been marked for reassignment to non combat positions.

Three of the pilots figured out they were in a holobooth spoiling the results of the test. They're being offered positions to assist with programming simulations to seem even more realistic. One of those was already borderline on previous stress tests so its being strongly encouraged they take the new job. The best of the three wants to continue attempts at training.

The remaining six show a broad spectrum of results. Of those the three that have been labeled cursed pilots by their fellows show little out of the ordinary. Other than being tremendous screw ups that are seemingly good at most aspects of their jobs.

Drake suggests reassigning the 3 more accident prone pilots as weapons officers on assault corvettes.
"I think with a bit of work on that aspect they'll fit in."

"Is that such a good idea?" you have to wonder.

"Weapons officers have to almost be pilots on some models. I'll put them in older ships at first so they don't have to worry about navigation."

Are you fine with Drake's suggestion? Or would you rather assign them to logistics?

>>1456727
It worked for Aaron, didn't it?

>>1456727
Stick them on some older ships as gunnery? Sure lets give them that chance.

>>1456727
>Drake suggests reassigning the 3 more accident prone pilots as weapons officers on assault corvettes.
Kavos, I need you to babysit these with the rest of your grandchildren.

>>1456727
It sounds good enough. How strange that they slipped through training though.

>>1456754
This made my day.

I think the auto update isn't working for me.

That leaves you with 4. The would be hotshots and top guns that are maybe just a bit too reckless with their vehicles.

Do you want to send them with Eli, keep them in training, or reassign them to aggressor units?

>>1456904
>The would be hotshots and top guns that are maybe just a bit too reckless with their vehicles
Could we put them in ships that simply don't allow them to be that reckless?

>>1456904
Drug them again and put them through the experience of having to tell a small child they killed their parent because they weren't concerned with the crew members that die on their ship.

>>1456904
If they are so reckless put them in ships without the teleporters. Tell them if they fuck up, thats it.

And really do actually stick them in ships without teleporters.

>>1456904
>Do you want to send them with Eli
Yeah let's do that.
Maybe the thought of innocent civilians directly depending on their actions will slow them down a bit?

>>1456904
... can we show them the openings that are likely there for Windsor's wingmen?

Oh god, are they Windsor 2.0s?

File: Spoiler Image (37 KB, 336x309)

37 KB JPG

>>1456918

>>1456916
Yes. Things like transports, battleships or larger might work.

>>1456923
Training ships or the ones you're sending with Eli?

>>1456926
>Maybe the thought of innocent civilians directly depending on their actions will slow them down a bit?
And if it doesn't Eli would probably shoot them for endangering civilians aboard.

>>1456927
No. They take way more damage more consistently than Windsor ever did.
>openings that are likely there for Windsor's wingmen?
You don't volunteer for his test unit, you're selected.

>>1457011
>Yes. Things like transports, battleships or larger might work.
How about Bombard frigates? Cheaper than most of these options, sees more combat than a transport, operates in formation, and the pilot still matters more than on a battleship.

>>1457011

Yes? To both.

>>1457011
So we're doing the "minfuck them" thing first, right?

>>1457030
This seems like a good compromise.

I think I'm going to have to restart my PC to see if that fixes the auto update problem. Tried closing the page, browser, clearing cache, all of it and none are helping.

>>1456918
>>1457043
I should note that 1 of the remaining 4 realised they were in a holobooth before. To trick that one will require being a bit more work.

1) Perform a psych test
>Y/N?

2) Their final assignment
2A) Bombard Frigates
2B) Eli's unit

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>1457104
>1) Perform a psych test
>>Y/N?
1=Y
2=N
>2) Their final assignment
Let them pick.

>>1457104
>To trick that one will require being a bit more work.
Perfect plan. Have Sonia pretend to be the child.

>1)
Y. So long as we can make sure they don't have a knife or something if they start going on a bad trip.
inb4 nobody else votes yes

>2A) Bombard Frigates

>>1457104
See you in a few then.

1) Perform a psych test
Yes, getting a good understanding of someones mental health can likely prevent bad things happening later.

2) Their final assignment
2B) Eli's unit

>>1457104
>1) Perform a psych test
Y
>2) Their final assignment
2A) Bombard Frigates

>>1457104
>1) Perform a psych test
Y
>2) Their final assignment
Split them two for two.

On your orders the 4 remaining pilots are given a considerably more in depth psych test than most officers would get. The most important part of this is placing them in a situation where they've forced to deal with the family of their ship's crew that died as a result of their actions.

Two of the pilots are suitably chastised. They'll be going with Eli.

The other two are unrepentant assholes who consider themselves justified in their actions as long as it means winning a fight. Or that a few crew deaths are worth less than the greater whole.

But as your own holographic projection points out to them they didn't win the fight, they merely survived it, unlike some of their crew. It's clear they're missing the point of this exercise.

You were hoping that these last two would be assigned to the Bombard Frigate units but there are now questions about their state of mind.

[ ] Assign them to Bombard Frigates
[ ] Assign them to logistics
[ ] Assign them to logistics, black mark on their record
[ ] Other

>>1457344
See if house intel wants them. They seem to have the right mindset for that line of work.

>>1457344
>[ ] Assign them to logistics, black mark on their record

>>1457344
[x] Other

These guys aren't going to learn shit. If they feel their crews lives aren't worth it. Then they aren't worth it. If it were possible to drum them out for endangering the lives of their crew, I'd say do it. I wouldn't want anything to do with those two sick fucks. I understand sacrifices need to be made. But unnecessary sacrifices is a waste of resources.

I say dump their asses if possible. If not, put them somewhere their ass holishness will not harm anyone. And inform the commander of whoever they go to of these two's desire to not care about the peoples lives.

Or! Better yet. Stick them in those fire boats. They clearly don't give a fuck about anyone else, why give a fuck about them?

>>1457361
Seconding Intel

>>1457378
or fire boats.

Bounce them back with our results to Archibald for confirmation of that?

>>1457344
>The other two are unrepentant assholes who consider themselves justified in their actions as long as it means winning a fight.
Sounds like they want to live dangerously.
Assign to starfighters.

>>1457344
Since there are so many good options, and I don't want a tie, I'll make a list.

>Starfighters
>Fire Boats
>Intel
>Assign them to logistics, black mark on their record
In that order. Just go down the list if there's a tie.

>>1457361
>See if house intel wants them. They seem to have the right mindset for that line of work.
>>1457362
>It would take a pretty fucked up person to tell a kid they didn't care about killing their parent.
So, like Shaw in Person of Interest?

>>1457378
>Or! Better yet. Stick them in those fire boats.
Well, Archivald did tell you about them for a reason.

>>1457446
I was against using fire ships. But if these guys seriously don't give a damn about the lives of their crew. I don't see the point in caring for their lives.

Yes it will give us negative PR. But I trust our PR people can make it work that people wasting resources and other peoples lives for no good reason are a larger threat. Not to mention I am sure we have a few people who are likely traitors/ death row/ undesirables, who we could do without.

So I think the problem with the auto update is my adblocker.

>>1457478
>Yes it will give us negative PR.
If people talk about it. They shouldn't since most are unaware of the House even having those ships.

Intel is interested in their potential, and that's about as far as it goes. Both pilots are far too reckless for the sort of jobs they need done, at least at the moment. They have some other ideas but they would typically be reserved for pilots facing a death sentence.

Looks like these are the 3 top choices.

A) Assign them to logistics, black mark on their record
B) Starfighters
C) Fireboat

>>1457513
Actually since Archivald commands the Fire Ships and they'd probably go to him if they become starfighter pilots, which would he prefer?

>>1457513
>B) Starfighters
They can be as reckless as they want, and only endanger themselves with whatever maneuvers they pull.

>>1457446
Fire ships in these numbers seem like a complete waste. We'll assign them to these corvettes and they'll just sit around until they retire, or we'll throw them at something just to kill these guys. Both scenarios seem wasteful.

>>1457513
>A)
And therapy.

>>1457513

Our logistics are worth more then these two. So no lets not assign them there. Archivald is the one who likes fighters and putting these two into a fighter wing is jeopardizing a fighter wing. So really we should just put them in a fireboat and remove the teleporters in them.

>>1457523
>>1457541
Right, good points.
So should I count these as votes towards sending them to Archivald and warning him to ensure they don't endanger other ship crews?

>>1457535
And starfighters. Seems we're going in that direction.

>>1457536
>And therapy.
That can be arranged too.

>>1457565
Yeah, that's fine with me. We could even send their psych reports to him too.

Maybe leave out the account of Sonia pretending to be a child though. Who knows what terrible things would happen if that got to Winifred and she gave it to Bekka.

>>1457565
Yes, tell him they are going to endanger ship crews. We'll keep working with the others, but if these two are as uncaring as I want to believe. Then best to let everyone else know about that as well.

Though I vote more for fire ship option, if fighters is going to be the winning option. Then we inform Archivald and give him the low down on them.

>>1457574
>Maybe leave out the account of Sonia pretending to be a child though.
I think only 1 anon asked for that.

Sonia only appeared as herself.

>>1457580
Oh, I thought she had done it for that one that couldn't be fooled. Oh well.

Two pilots that are now more wary of the consequences of their actions have been assigned to a pair of older warships that Drake has dug out of reserve. They and the other ships going with them to South Reach need some work of course but two days in the docks has them ready for the long trip.

You make sure to be there at the docks to send them off. More than forty of the Terran refugees rescued by your raids will be going along to help as crew.

Evins finishes talking to his sister one more time then walks over.

"Thanks for the help. Didn't think I'd ever be saying this but sometimes you people know how to get things done."

"Glad to help. It's a good cause."

"Well in the off chance the news people ever ask about me remember, it's Eli D Evins. Anything you're looking for if I happen to score a pile of loot fighting Warlords campaign 2.0?"

>What say?

>>1457662
"Anything rare, exotic, or abnormal. Another Plasma Pistol wouldn't go amiss for a display piece perhaps."

>>1457662
"Just focus on rescuing those people. Although, a second anchorage would come in handy..."

>>1457662
Anything rare, or anyone ripping off any of Sonia's various designs and enterprises.

>>1457662
If you brought back a super hull I could probably Knight you right away.

>>1457662
>Anything you're looking for
Missing: SPACE WIZARD
Wanted: All info relating to disappearance

>>1457662
What this annon says >>1457714

jokingly add >>1457726

because we cant really afford a super right now what with crew problems

>>1457714
"Anything rare, exotic, or abnormal is nice, but really you should just focus on rescuing those people. That would be reward enough.

Although, a second anchorage would come in handy... and if you brought back a super hull I could probably Knight you right away."

"I'll keep it in mind. Thanks for everything, these contacts should help. Terran Intelligence isn't exactly answering my calls."

Shortly after the squadron head out the other two pilots who failed your testing are loaded on a transport bound for the Homeworlds. You wish to never have to deal with them again.

>>1457822
Yes he got that it was a joke. I should re-write this but I'm zoning out a bit.

New Intel update!

Illustrious Class Medium Cruiser

The Nasidum counter to the Eminence II. The main body is similar in many respects to a slimmed down version of the old Eminence. Where it differs through are combination fusion cannon/drive units built into either side of the main hull. These plasma weapons are similar to the Neeran weapons used in Ber'helum's light siege gun platforms. Fusion plasma can be redirected either for use as weaponry or for thrust.

Short range weaponry consists of several banks of twin linked phase cannon. Optional torpedo launchers.

>>1457822
>Terran Intelligence isn't exactly answering my calls.

Don't we have a few contacts in the FA that might be able to change that?

>>1457866

Terrans discharged him for going awall and conducting activities outside what he was supposed to be doing. Even if he was dealing with pirates/ slavers. So they discharged him without doing anything more then that. I don't think any terrans from the FA will want to help, then again I could be wrong.

>>1457879

I imagine that his actions leading to dozens, if not more, of Terran citizens being liberated from slavers might at least be enough for someone like Chen to get some extra intel passed on.

The guy is basically in a perfectly deniable asset state, having already been burned publicly. All they'd have to do is feed him a lead to investigate that they can't.

>>1457897
We could talk to Chen about it and see what he thinks. Its not like we have to go full all or nothing on talking to people. Chen is a smart first choice.

>>1457897
A fair point. Plus at this point he is most likely working on our dollar. So it's on our heads if he screws up so what would they care.

So possibly contacting the Terrans / Chen's office about Evins. Will keep in mind.

Was there anything else you guys wanted to do on Rioja before your next assignment?

>>1457982
I don't know, swim? Do rich Viscountess things? Something another anon can think of?

>>1457982
We could go around and throw pocket money at hobos to really /feel/ our wealth.

>>1457982

Do any of our local allies have matters they wish to discuss? We've been away from the Run for a while.

>>1458012
>Ride around town in a limousine, partying, having a good time. When I'm on my way home, I'll pass a bum. I take a balloon with some champagne in it, lob it out and bean him. He only gets a little bit in his mouth. He doesn't get the whole thing. Not even a full sip of it! And you say, "Hey, how do ya like a taste of the good life, ya sack a' shit?"

Really though, whatever we have time for. Art museums, visiting any local establishments, see how the city is doing. Check the vineyard, do a bit of the gardening, maybe some painting? Paint more Vista cube avatars.

>>1458032
Good call, lets talk to the our local allies and see whats up. It will look good that we reach out to them, as they have reached out to us before.

>>1458032
This sounds like something we should be doing. <.<

>>1458032
Right. Will try to have some stuff ready for when we resume tomorrow. Possible game interruptions due to mother's day, not sure what time.

>>1458032
>>1458108

Also Foss would be included on that, I think? isn't his Super protecting the SHC repair/upgrade slip?

I'm thinking one of the first things we do when we get posted to Ber'helum is lead a few raiding fleets into Nasidium space to disrupt their new medium cruiser R&D facilities.

Maybe even take a recon team to steal any data on it as well.

>>1458494
Sadly we are being sent there as a military adviser. Not to command a fleet. I mean... we will be giving orders TO fleets, but we won't be commanding one directly like we normally do. We will have the dreaded posting of sitting on a planet while telling everyone else to go out and grab salvage in the name of House J-D.

Just stick the two problem pilots on escort for the h&d equivalent of this thing
https://youtu.be/XNcyzVTVMT4

>>1458643
See now that was what I was imagining when I recommended the Torpedo Dump boat months ago.

Like just a ship full of fucking normal torpedoes that dumps them in one or two glorious salvos.

Mix in fake SP warheads and real SP torps.

>>1457982
>Was there anything else you guys wanted to do on Rioja before your next assignment?
You asked for ideas for the treaty with the Gelsan last thread. How about a clause that allows J-D and the ruling house to inspect the existing Gelsan accelerators for siege array modules and to have the exclusive rights to buy them when they are found?

Also, make sure there's a decent number of people that get to rotate through Sonia's position, kinda like the month we spent babysitting Surakeh while Winifred was away. **Hopefully with less murder.** Did we ever find out what she was busy with?

>>1457853
Sounds pretty good.

Does anyone have the last DHR1 map update?

With my super secret, shhh plot to get a Reynard Space Construction fleet going, I'm wondering if we could get a contract from B'H to help build up their logistics chain bases. We'll want to get talking to B'H about that while they're in the planning stages, as we might be able to influence where things get built. (like say, in/thru the Run)

On the topic of Gelsans and the accelerator that JD controls, could we try mapping JD-claimed or non-claimed FTL Hazard regions by launching sensor probes thru and recovering them as they exit the other side? If we could get the appropriate sensors, we might even be able to sell the Navigator's Guild readings on the damage present? (main goal is to try and locate possible SHC salvage/SP Torps)

File: 1473257428171.gif (35 KB, 1246x694)

35 KB GIF

>>1458931
If you remove the Nasidum bits, this map is still accurate, I think. The last invasion didn't really change the borders in drh 1.

File: NAV_DRH_01_RELAY4034.gif (33 KB, 1246x695)

33 KB GIF

I'm up but a powerful headache is making it difficult to formulate much of anything.

>>1458931
>>1458936
Here. Be aware I haven't marked the location of the new base on it.

>>1458875
>How about a clause that allows J-D and the ruling house to inspect the existing Gelsan accelerators for siege array modules and to have the exclusive rights to buy them when they are found?
Other Houses would soon demand equal treatment, especially if those arrays are in their space. The one you made mobile for instance falls within House Binil space. Two others within the Run are in House Kadnil space.
You can still have it introduced in secret but it would seriously hurt relations with the Run Alliance if found out.

>>1459032
Oh hey, the other Bonrah world(s) finally fell?

>introduced in secret

I imagine we would have the best chance of adding J-D to the list of buyers if it was done in secret. Maybe we can do the secret introduction and give our Run Alliance peers an in-person "I got something snuck in, let's exploit it quickly as peers?" (And not charging them to secure stuff thru us)

Hide the insertion by minimal parties, then bring in our friends to blitz the exploit in some sort of Operation Acceleratorclip vs House Nirium.

>>1459032
>You can still have it introduced in secret but it would seriously hurt relations with the Run Alliance if found out.
Doesn't really seem worth it in that case.

>Do any of our local allies have matters they wish to discuss?
>Did any of the Run Alliance have luck busting Slaver rings?

Most of the slave trade in the Run was isolated, with organisations restricted to a single world more or less. What you've learned about their means of deployment on Rioja is helpful in locating similar cells on allied worlds.
With it clear that the different organisations are not cooperating a few of the Barons trade favors, sending special forces to help round up slavers on each others worlds to avoid traitors sending warning of their deployment. Three worlds are cleared of their slaver problem in this manner, others have more difficulty but progress is being made.

Intelligence agencies trace a few of the otherwise separate smuggler groups to one planet in the Run. The Refugee colony under control of the Ruling House.

Baron Kelly of House Trin'qua considers this the last straw. The planet has been a problem for the Run for most of a decade now and if the Ruling House refuses to fix the problems there immediately House Trin'qua should take possession of it.

The world borders on J-D space so you're the only other House that could make a claim against it. Your own House isn't in a great position economically to take on another planet right now. Do you want to support Kelly's demands, push for J-D to take it, or explore other options?

>>1459125
I say, if another house has a better option of taking control of it and they are our ally. This might be an opportunity we can use to help reinforce ties with allies in the run.

So lets work this out with the RH and Kelly from Trin-qua, so we can have a peaceful transition of power.

>>1459125
>explore other options?
There's always cute little House Chen'len. Last time we saw them, they needed a new planet. Or the Ruling House could sell it to the Gelsan, as an embassy in FTL space. Or they could offer it to a decimated House as a reward. I'm sure there will be some that still have ships and money but lost most of their space.

In general, I would prefer if none of the local Houses antagonize the RH. The planet needs significant work anyway.

>>1459081
>Oh hey, the other Bonrah world(s) finally fell?
You assisted in the fall of the one undergoing terraforming with Foss' fleet.

The one in RH allied space was hit by a KKV attack the source of which is still unknown. It surrendered in order to get help with emergency terraforming to reduce the effects of fallout from the impact. Thanks to this it was possible to prevent runaway climate change that would have threatened the biosphere.
You guys sent a few atmospheric processors on a temp loan I think.

Because of this the other remaining colony renewed efforts to negotiate with Ber'helum, a process which took several months. A deal was eventually struck with House Bonrah, allowing their personnel safe passage back to their lines.

>>1459125

It sounds like we need to contact the former ruler of House Posat. Isn't he the ranking Nirium guy in the area?

If the Ruling House can't spare the time/money/effort to take care of this world and the Terran Refugees on it, they need to hear the offer of the Run Alliance to take over the world.

Before the Terran Alliance finds out that the Ruling House of the Dominion is negligently allowing enslaved Terran Refugees to be exploited and stored on a world they control. Did we mention that we have a meeting with the Terran Alliance/Factions Alliance to discuss our recent findings on this issue in [several hours]?

>>1459135
>House Chen'len
I actually mean the guys who spent centuries underground. Cer'helum?

>>1459135
>>1459186

Is it really worth losing a chance to help a member of the Run Alliance expand the Run's holdings?

>>1459200
If it avoids annoying the ruling house? Definitely.

And I have to head out and deliver some mother's day cards. See you in a couple of hours.

>>1459210
Have a nice time senpai

>>1459158
>It sounds like we need to contact the former ruler of House Posat. Isn't he the ranking Nirium guy in the area?
That seems like a good start.

>>1459328
>contact the former ruler of House Posat. Isn't he the ranking Nirium guy in the area?
No.
Count Al'mari Nirium is in charge of Ruling House territories in the Relay. Baron Baern Usela is the former Earl of House Posat.

Usela is a good starting point for opening talks. As you explain you are loath to annoy the Ruling House at this time and are looking for a compromise that will prevent any sort of incident. It's only a matter of time until the media catches word of slavers being traced to the world in question.

Your suggestion of giving the planet to House Cae'helum is rejected. The Count is unlikely to respond favorably to such a request. They'd rather work with existing Houses in the region than introduce an unknown and potentially unstable element.

One thing they are worried about is that the Barons in the Run Alliance may be getting ambitious now that they have a few heavy warships.

"You're not wrong about the planet needing tighter controls. Giving the planet to another House should be considered an option of last resort. Many of our best people are away fighting or they would be dealing with it themselves.
We would be willing to consider stewardship of it. Members of the Run Alliance could bid to act as caretakers for a set period and we could eventually offer to sell the planet to the House most capable of looking after it.

Do you think that would satisfy the Barons?"

>Counter proposals?
Or would you rather back House Trin'qua?

>>1459868
>Do you think that would satisfy the Barons?"
It really depends on Baron Kelly, I think. Say, did Trin'qua get any heavy warships, territory or planets so far? I wouldn't be surprised if the Baron simply wants something he can show off back home. Anyway, that plan would keep the barons busy but also has the potential to cause unrest among the members of the run alliance. I'd probably consider that worth it to avoid getting dragged into something stupid by a bored baron. What does Fadila think?

>>1459868

Wait, are they trying to get us to bid money in order to 'win' the right to sink more money into the world to fix the smuggling/refugee/slaver/economic problems, on the CHANCE that they will later OFFER to sell the world?

Is this an attempt to sabotage the Ruling House's reputation and right to rule? By the Ruling House?

>>1459868
What is House Trin'qua willing to offer for our support?

Also what about the Knights?

Would the Underground guys be willing to join House Trin'qua or the Knight organization, or something like that to introduce then as a stable influence?

Or how about BH?

>>1459966
They got a base and surrounding systems south of Magdalena where that one big battle took place.
They also got a heavy cruiser as part of their salvage.

>What does Fadila think?
"None of the solutions are ideal for everyone. You could support House Trin'qua for stewardship to show they're capable of handling looking after the planet. Later it would be easier for them to push for full annexation."

>>1459999
When you put it like that it sounds so negative. The bid would be more how the money already being made on the planet would be split between the steward and the RH.
Despite being a mess socially it is a fully habitable world meaning it isn't losing half its GDP (or more) on terraforming like Rioja does.

>>1460020
>What is House Trin'qua willing to offer for our support?
They would owe you a favour politically. This could be paid back in a number of ways, some they may not have considered.

>Also what about the Knights?
Former Errant Knights / Knights of the Dominion? The Ruling House is not on great terms with them right now.

>Would the Underground guys be willing to join House Trin'qua or the Knight organization, or something like that to introduce then as a stable influence?
They're still in long term negotiations about properly reestablishing their House and making a claim against the planet they are on. It's their planet and they want it back.
Negotiations look promising especially with them guilt tripping Kharbos.

The Terrans support their rebuilding along with economic aid once the civil war is over in return for assistance they provided to the Confederacy 400 years ago. Obviously this has earned them a lot of suspicion from other Houses.

Now that they've resumed contact with the outside world they have sent some of their members into hiding elsewhere. They may ask you or others for help in the future if their main body of survivors are destroyed, but not at the moment.

>Or how about BH?
While the Ruling House would absolutely hate this it is a possibility. They could outright buy the planet from them in exchange for military assistance.

>>1460116
>Negotiations look promising especially with them guilt tripping Kharbos.
Well, they're lucky they were rediscovered during one of the rare periods in recent history when Kharbos actually has a conscience.

>Obviously this has earned them a lot of suspicion from other Houses.
I'd guess it also has earned them a lot of interest on the Terrans' goodwill.

>Despite being a mess socially it is a fully habitable world meaning it isn't losing half its GDP (or more) on terraforming like Rioja does.
They could have sold cleanup actions as training for riot police or MPs to friendly houses.
What's actually wrong with the world at this point?

>>1460116

It still sounds fairly negative, unless the RH is willing to offer generous compensation if they don't later offer to sell the world?

As for the offer, if Kelly is willing to go for it, we should of course back and support him on it. Possibly by loaning some of our commando forces when needed?

And maybe some Terran Media could get a hold of evidence showing how Baron Kelly and the Run Alliance had to liberate those Terran Citizens from slavers hiding within the overextended Ruling House... from BH sources.

>>1460116
We proposed this alliance with the houses of the run and the current RH. I think we owe it to everyone to at least get the process started before we head out to BH territory. If house TQ is reliable and Kelly is good on their word. We should get the ground work set for RH and TQ to work together on transitioning control of the planet.

If Kelly and TQ aren't very reliable and this is just a power grab. We still need to address the situation of getting the planet under control. Before worlds in the rest of the run start calling for something to be done that will be less than civil.

It's not pretty. But this should be dealt with as soon as possible. Because after the war I doubt RH will be willing to let go of any worlds. If they are that reluctant to let go of it now. I mean they do bring up a valid point, some barons likely are getting to big for their britches. But this does need to be dealt with.

And I am going around in circles.

In short, I say we have house Intel give us an update on which houses as part of the alliance would be good for later control/ ownership of the world. And back them, though right now it sounds like TQ might be best option until proven otherwise.

>>1460116
How about a stewardship of the Run Alliance while keeping the former Knights Errant as a sort of perpetual military force so the houses themselves don't build up / transition forces to the planet? KE gets a base and provides stability while the Run Alliance stewards provide a political buffer between them and the RH.

>>1460116
Also I can't believe it took me this long to realize you cribbed KE and Ares from Shadowrun.

>>1460229
>cribbed KE
I thought GE is just GE. Only more successful.

>>1460229
>KE and Ares
KE?
Wait the Knights Errant? Is that a thing in Shadowrun?
>1 google search later
Apparently it is a thing in shadowrun. But no, I've never played it and know very little about it other than that it's a cyberpunk setting with more magic. Also that Dragons are stupidly dangerous but that's only what I've picked up from /tg/.

Aries corporation got their name because Ares is associated with Mars and the shipyards they descended from were from Mars. Also their ships tend to be red so that may have been why I went with Mars to begin with.

>>1460241
GE / General Engineering / General Energy, etc is just modern day GE in SPAAAAACE!

>>1460154
>Possibly by loaning some of our commando forces when needed?
He would probably be grateful.

>>1460206
>I say we have house Intel give us an update on which houses as part of the alliance would be good for later control/ ownership of the world.
House Kadnil and House Trin'qua are in the best position to help straighten out the world as they have adequate leadership in the region. Kadnil with their rare element processing are among the most economically powerful of the Run Alliance.
Getting Trin'qua another planet would even things up but might lead to others thinking Kelly has been singled out since the big fleet base was built in their space.
You promises to contribute to construction of other bases in the Run helps to down play that.

>>1460225
It's an interesting idea. I think I've seen an idea like this elsewhere with a neutral merc force acting as garrison of sorts. Added.

[ ] Demand RH divert more resources to anti-slavery operations
[ ] Support House Trin'qua
[ ] Support Trin'qua for steward
[ ] Run Alliance rotating stewardship
[ ] Run Alliance rotating stewardship + Knights Errant / Merc garrison
[ ] Support sale to Ber'helum

>>1460380
>[x] Run Alliance rotating stewardship + Knights Errant / Merc garrison
This sounds interesting.

>>1460380
>[x] Support House Trin'qua

And remind our allies that we will uphold our agreement to continue helping reinforce their own worlds by constructing other bases through out the run.

>>1460380

Does supporting House Trin'qua automatically force a military option, or just a generic "Stewardship offer is shit"?

>>1460453
>Does supporting House Trin'qua automatically force a military option, or just a generic "Stewardship offer is shit"?
More like the latter.

>>1460380
>Run Alliance rotating stewardship

>>1460380
>[X] Support House Trin'qua

>>1460380
> [ ] Run Alliance rotating stewardship + Knights Errant / Merc garrison

>>1460380
Hey glad to see you're still alive! Hope the headaches are getting better.

How do the Knights feel about co-operation with the Stewardship? Could we set them up on permanent anti-slaving/pirate duty?

>>1460656
Alright, I'd already started writing for House Trin'qua but this sort of pushes it to 3 votes on the stewardship. Anyone want to shift their votes?

[ ] Support House Trin'qua
[ ] Run Alliance rotating stewardship + Knights Errant / Merc garrison

>>1460380
I'll vote

> [ ] Run Alliance rotating stewardship + Knights Errant / Merc garrison

If the Knight Errants are just using it as a base but patrolling the run as a whole. They're pretty tight with us these days yeah?

How are their relations with the other Knights we found? Could we have them rotate through as well to get exposure?

>>1460701
>[x] Run Alliance rotating stewardship + Knights Errant / Merc garrison

>>1460701
I'd kind of like to continue tying Knights to our house. They have helped us a lot in the past.

>>1460701
>[ ] Support House Trin'qua

Still keeping my vote for this.

>>1460728
So this is your second vote?

>>1460701
Woo! 5 - 3 now lol.

>>1460735
I figure he was just putting it down to those two options.

Hey, Forbearance is hanging around the relay right? Would stuffing it full of Coolbeams help in any way? I imagine it's going to see some pretty heavy fighting when 'the big push' happens.

>>1460751
I think it's just to see if anyone wanted to break the tie, not a re-vote.

I actually kind of miss the days of House and Survey lol.

>>1460735
It's fine I can read the ID's.

>>1460758
>Would stuffing it full of Coolbeams help in any way?
Not that this time. Its big guns will be upgraded with the new colling systems.

>>1460758
>Would stuffing it full of Coolbeams help in any way?
Not that this time.


Did I miss a post? Apparently I missed a post or it didn't go through.

>>1460142
>What's actually wrong with the world at this point?
1. I can't remember it's damn name.
Long term, the planet's orbit was dangerously shifted by a strong gravitational source passing through the system. Because of this it will slowly lose its atmosphere to solar wind without planetary shields to protect it. Shield platforms are now in orbit and provide a balance of protection without blocking out too much light.

It is on the list of high priority candidates for experimental orbital shifting using gravity well generators once the civil war is over. I think it's #3 on the list of full sized planetoids and will likely be the first to have civilians still on the surface.

After the capture of the LTSC Wayward Treasures the planet became a dumping ground for refugees that had been trying to flee the return of the Dominion to the region. The idea was to use it as a containment board planet until a better solution was found. Nobody ever invested the resources to deal with them properly and the settlements on planet became this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoRPVsN2SVM

Various business owners have exploited the planet for cheap labour, and all manner of malcontents plague the surface. Criminals haven't been allowed off world though anyone can move there.

The sudden increase in the number of refugees arriving in the Relay made it easier for smugglers to begin operating, helping escapees gain access to other worlds posing as dispossessed from the Neeran front.

Surface industry has continued to expand, especially during the blockades when the Ruling House couldn't reach the Centri Cluster.

>>1460783
>Not at this time. Its big guns will be upgraded with the new cooling systems.

>>1460783
>>1460798
>Not that this time. Its big guns will be upgraded with the new colling systems.

RIP my dream of a fast super with afterburners and oversized, freeze-ray cooled reactor slamming into enemy lines.

>>1460783
> Containment planet/board

Sassy.

>>1460783
Can we... can we get a recording of when that happens? Either this will be an amazing feat or an incredible disaster that puts Gravity Well Generators on the list of war crimes if used next to planets.

>>1460783
>the planet's orbit was dangerously shifted by a strong gravitational source passing through the system.
Was it something interesting?

>>1460842
Probably just a rogue planet.

Or the machine alien things.

Or a forever mystery.

We could probably triangulate the path of the gravity thing based on how the orbit was shifted and how other in-system objects moved.

>>1460783

Anyone want to bet on the odds of Sonia getting stabbed if she stepped foot on that world?Sonia did nothing wrong on the John Avery

>>1460884
>Probably just a rogue planet.
A potential deep space base!

>Or the machine alien things.
A potential deep space base with engines!

>Or a forever mystery.
A mysterious potential deep space base built by ancient aliens!

>We could probably triangulate the path of the gravity thing based on how the orbit was shifted and how other in-system objects moved.
Yes!

Count Nirium has been placed in an awkward position. The entire Run Alliance is demanding the Ruling House either do something about the slaver problem or turn over the planet to someone who will. Inaction could result in a media frenzy especially with so many Terran citizens among the victims.

Baron Baern Usela's suggestion of stewardship is not necessarily a welcome one but it is a way out that won't mean completely losing control of the planet. At least not right away. The establishment of a neutral policing force that wouldn't have to be changed every time a different House becomes steward could smooth out transitions.

There are a number of suggestions for possible neutral or private military contractors from the Viscount and Barons, though it doesn't say who suggested what.

Al'mari grudgingly accepts that it's the best offer that will do the least damage to his career.

"And I suppose your alliance will want to annex the planet eventually? Whatever. I fully intend to have found a new post before that happens so my successor can deal with it. I agree to the demands of the Run Alliance. A stewardship of the planet will be enacted to help counter the threat posed by slaver organisations.

Baron Branimir Kelly, I understand that House Trin'qua has volunteered to be the first House to take on this new role. The Ruling House hereby charges you with eliminating the threat these slavers pose to the Dominion and to the Terran citizens we have welcomed as guests into our territories. You have 30 days to request any specific resources and information from us to assist you in that goal.
Do not disappoint us."

You think that went well.

After some congratulations, as well as thanks to Count Nirium, the lot of you get to work with your aids to plan out how best to assist.

Special forces from Rioja's military could be made available to help House Trin'qua for a time but they'll eventually be called away on deployment.
Did you want to offer some financial or construction assistance? PDF Citadels can be very useful to beleaguered police forces, though the larger ones can cost up to 15 million.

How much money (if any) would you be willing to loan or provide to help out?

>>1460981
>Special forces from Rioja's military could be made available
Send them on a mission to train Trin'qua's regular forces.
Maybe 30m in financing.

>>1460981
Yo I thought we were putting the KE on the planet?

Well we have Reynard Security Solutions right?

Why not "donate" them as advisor, and get some of the Planet Bound archaic knight dudes to train up some of the tougher refugees.

Turn them into a Men-at-arms planet to be a PlanetSide military force supplement to the Knight Errant space forces.

Their first act can be pacifying their own planet.

Give 250 million as a lpan.

>>1460981
We want to at least keep a good sized wallet with us when we head over to BH space. And we only have what? 500 mil to play with?

Lets loan some troops for the moment. Then let TQ show that they can handle this while we're away.

>>1460981
I think we should have something like 535 million left. So, 35 million? That would leave us with 500 million for a Ber'helum deployment.

>Special forces from Rioja's military could be made available to help House Trin'qua for a time but they'll eventually be called away on deployment.
Make a deployment on that planet part of riot police training for J-D worlds in the relay?

>Did you want to offer some financial or construction assistance?
We bought some mobile planetary construction vehicles from the SRL at some point. If these are in the run, they could prove useful on that world.

>>1460981
Loan 40m. Set up 2 citadels (on the condition our construction company builds them) as well as hiring some Reynard Security Solutions advisors and trainers.

I call it the Israel Charity plan.

>>1460981
>>1461037

Okay maybe I spent too much. I thought we had a lot more money.

40 million but they have to use it to pay our companies where possible sounds good.

>>1460820
I fully anticipate Sonia will be present at a safe distance. I doubt there would be a lack of recordings taking place.

>>1460842
When you first encountered the planet while scouting the Run it was postulated that a micro black hole had passed through the system awhile ago.

>>1460884
>Probably just a rogue planet.
That could work too.


>>1461009
>Yo I thought we were putting the KE on the planet?
They're on the list of potential outfits that can be employed. It was better to not have just them on the list or the Count would have been more reluctant to rubber stamp it.

>Well we have Reynard Security Solutions right?
They are an option, though the local RTS chief would prefer to stay away from it until the worst cleanup is done.

>>1461027
>I think we should have something like 535 million left.
I believe so.

>>1461067
I just thought the knights errant would handle like, planetary security in space while the policing would be contracted out.

>>1461067
So let's do that then. Get them down here, set the Archaic knights loose on the population to restore order and shit.

That way they can build up a following while Rioja SF do hard strikes and then leave, without the Knights building up resentment at that time. Like how there's one tough parent and one nice parent.

>>1461136
>set the Archaic knights loose on the population to restore order and shit
We have two of those. And they're in a different galaxy. And busy with other stuff. And we have no idea if they actually want to spend their time beating up peasants.

>>1461170
Pffft they're hardly knights if they don't want to beat up peasants.

But I did think we had more. Can we get more? Like 5 should be plenty.

Dice+2d6 for niggers coming in and ruining everything

Okay, 40 million in support for construction or otherwise.

The Knights Errant have been contacted about establishing a presence on the planet or in orbit and they'll get back to the Run Alliance with their answer.

There was the 80-100 million for the Erid territories as well that wasn't added to the holdings and finances. And I think I may have botched the math last time.

>>1461302
It was 635,238,000 without the erid investments, I think.

>>1461302
I think >>1461312 is right. Someone mentioned donating something like 80 million to give us exactly 550 left over to spend in BH space.

Yeah I screwed up.
>>1461312
>>1461340
The problem is that I messed up the amount spent. I redid it and used the calculla website to double check and both got a different number from last time.

That's using all the numbers from this post.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1416384/#p1432680

2,728 million spent ACTUAL NUMBER = 2749.5 million

Well these things happen when you don't sufficiently double check your math.

Uh... an accountancy firm has lost 21.5 million of Sonia's funds, what do?

>>1461379
Sue them? What else? Also make sure our intelligence service does an investigation to make sure no one was taking money on the side. See if this is something larger, such as the Triad boning the Dominion out of more money.

>>1461379
>an accountancy firm has lost 21.5 million of Sonia's funds
Raid with recon teams, seize all their data.
Sue for incompetence and gross negligence.

>>1461379
The one thing any red blooded Space American would do - file a lawsuit.

Alternatively, start with diplomacy to see if this can be fixed, and if not, get our special forces to investigate.

>>1461379

Equip a team of lawyers with recon armor to deliver the lawsuit.

They'll never know what hit them

>>1461404
>>1461405
>>1461409
>>1461410
Commencing lawsuit. Roll 2d20

Rolled 12, 18 = 30 (2d20)

>>1461434
If we've ever needed a double 20...

Rolled 5, 10 = 15 (2d20)

>>1461434
>Real American plays in the background

Rolled 1, 14 = 15 (2d20)

>>1461434

Suing for Salvage!

>>1461379
These companies usually have insurance in place for situations like that. Tell them to pay it back and see how they reply.

>>1461441
>>1461449
>These companies usually have insurance in place for situations like that.
I'm glad at least one person is knowledgeable about these things.

You're offered 30 million back after expenses in the hopes you won't post a negative review on Rioja's infonet consumer reports.

>>1461441
They comply... Until our recon lawyers discover the firm has ties to Ares![/spoilers]

>>1461493
I'll take it.

>>1461493
That's probably a much better idea. I'll go with it.

>>1461493
If they are willing to settle out of court, okay. Someone just lost their job.

Does Sonia ever buy herself nice things? Maybe something relaxing.

>>1461531
>buy herself nice things

Squadrons of Attack Cruisers, Salvage vessels, production licenses, plasma guns, movie rights, the tears of her political enemies, and a lovely trio of Faction War II antique errant class cruisers (salvaged)?

I wonder what sort of crazy adventures that war bond tour has run into with the Dominion civil war...

>>1461531
Ships and power armor arnt nice or relaxing?

>>1461531
Salvage lots and lots of salvage. All the salvage belongs to Sonia. Other people believe they are salvaging for themselves. In reality they are just salvaging for Sonia so she can salvage it later.

If this is correct you'll have 516.268 Million in savings when you finally depart Rioja.

>>1461531
I've always figured there are enough small decimal points I don't really count that add up to enough for most spending sprees.
So yeah, occasionally.
>Maybe something relaxing.
This is a good idea.

>>1461566
>>1461559
She does have a tendency to buy things that are work related though...

>I wonder what sort of crazy adventures that war bond tour has run into with the Dominion civil war...
Oh god I forgot about them.
I think they're safe. Currently in House Tho'ros space, probably on temp loan to one of Baron Dante Zvonimir's museums for added protection.

You could have them sent back to the homeworlds or somewhere else if you'd like. Even Terran space, it's not like they're active duty warships that will be impounded.

>>1461663
>This is a good idea.
Maybe new types of plants for the vineyard? Rare/exotic shrubbery for any future gardening attempts? More armored ballet lessons? Learn to play an instrument? Build ships in bottles? Painting?

>Terran trip
Sure, see how it pans out. They might need to tinker the tours to Terran tastes though.

>>1461663
Making those ships into mobile museums is still one of my favorite things in H&D. Oh god Dante is going to combine sharks and walkers, isn't he!?

>>1461692
We should invest in any schemes he's got running.

When we resume tomorrow you'll be setting out for Ber'helum space.

Escorts aside what did you want to take as your command ship? While this is primarily a war room/ desk job it's not out of the question that you might get the opportunity to lead the occasional fleet action. If it comes to that you could always borrow a ship if necessary. Do you plan to take a larger command ship, or just one of your personal starships?

Outer Heaven
The Great Devourer
Bittenfeld
Athena Battleship
Cloaked Fast battleship
Excalibur Battlecruiser
EC-K
Other

>>1461779
Depends if those black market Storm cannons have arrived yet.

If yes and the two are fitted,
[x] Outer Heaven

If no,
[x] The Great Devourer

>>1461692
Starslip Crises?

>>1461779
The Great Devourer

It's flash.

>>1461779
>>1461905

The GD AND a cloaked Battleship. Just in case.

>>1461779
>Cloaked Fast battleship

lets take the sneakie beakie option

>>1461779
Outer Heaven is the obvious choice just due to being a self-contained command and control center, and as a bonus it is fast, allowing us to respond to emergencies quickly.

Unless Drake feels the need to keep Outer Heaven in town, in which case we really don't have any other main command and control ships. Devourer would certainly be a blingy alternate, though. I don't think Duke B'H ever met us after we got that ship?

>>1461910
>>1461915
A cloaked battleship would certainly be neat, but is it really wise to take one off the front?

>>1461929
I'm thinking on the very slim remote possability of a side mission that we could undertake. Otherwise I'd go with the OH.

>>1461929
An older one, not the fast battleship.

And yes. Yes I do think it's worth it. We're worth it.

>>1461843
>Depends if those black market Storm cannons have arrived yet.
They're being installed. It took the engineers awhile to properly check and safety them.

>>1461915
>>1461959
http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/South_Reach_Fast_Battleship
These are the only battleships your House has that can mount a cloak. There are some older ones slated to be sold.

>>1462113
>It took the engineers awhile to properly check and safety them.
What's the verdict on them? Are they anything revolutionary in terms of design? Something worth buying an extra one for the Plasma Moon to disassemble?

>>1462166
No real improvement in terms of damage over the old version but the systems aren't permanently damaged by their operation.

>Something worth buying an extra one for the Plasma Moon to disassemble?
Maybe eventually but you won't be able to duplicate them until Dominion plasma technology has caught up with what the Republic can do.

>>1462252
>Maybe eventually
What are the projections for Dominion plasma development anyway? Will we ever get anymore options to steer the development like we did initially with those few choices?

>>1462306
You'll get more options after the civil war when the Dominion can put their heads together.

>>1462326
Sign me up for the Veckron Beam option famalam.

>>1462413
You mean Victory Beams.

>>1462425
I completely forgot our PR makeover for them.

I really, really want to go to some kind of Alliance weapons conference or arms fair and completely upstage any Republic plasma weapons at least once. Supercooled Plasma cannon, Victory Beamer, SP Plasma Lances, anything to humiliate them.

>>1462446
Why the hate on for the Republic?

>>1462113
So we DO have a cloaked ship we can take with us then?

>>1464839
Sonia owns two silent hunters as well.

>>1462326
Btw what happened to thee stealth ship we lend to that guy who wanted to liberate his house?

>>1462446
You mean "attempt to completely upstage any Republic plasma weapons until a few of their engineers come over and inspect the obligatory holographic display / cut away, talk among themselves, and then tell the first person to ask what they're talking about 'Your containment/accelerator design is novel, but sucks'?Just like the Rovinar said our battleship's cloak sucked that one time

Tie vote between the Outer Heaven, The Great Devourer and possibly the Cloaked Fast battleship.

Any other votes?

>>1461779
I'm good with either the GD or the Cloaked Battleship.
>>1461910

Or both.

Both is good.

>>1465162
>Any other votes?
Going with The Great Devourer. I'm looking forward to see the new guns on Outer Heaven making an impact, and that won't happen if she's parked in orbit around one of Ber'helum's core worlds.

>>1461929
>>1461944

The OH is more valuable on the front than either the GD or CFB.

We should let whoever is commanding in our presence use it.

Also

> Slim chance of a side mission

Hahahahaha please we stick our lady-clit into everything suspicious we find.

Fingers crossed for a Solid Shark Sonia recon mission.

Also we should make a Solid Shark video game series featuring Becky. For deniability purposes and also so she'll come back to weird fame as a prank.

We can have good AI characters as well for propaganda.

>>1465173
Didn't we already do this?

>>1465177
We made movies not games.

But if we put out a bunch of AI friendly propaganda then maybe the machine race dudes will contact us.

Maybe have the Neeran try to use an AI slave race against us but it saves us in the end by suicide and the character is sad. Then she finds a stripped down version in her armor and it provides new abilities for sneaking and helps her steal a Medium all by herself so she marries it.

>>1465185
>put out a bunch of AI friendly propaganda
The Terrans will not enjoy this.

>>1465185
>But if we put out a bunch of AI friendly propaganda then maybe the machine race dudes will contact us.
In b4 they send us another cybernetically enhanced psychopath because that's their way of saying 'hello'.

>>1465185
I'm all for being friends with Versa, but there have been AI incidents in-universe.

Pro-AI propaganda in any form is not wise.

>>1465202
Subtle. Like Drizzt Do'Urden "The one good AI."

Besides we owe it to Versa.

>>1465210
>>1465203
AI-racists.

Besides remember that secret Terran meeting we had? Everyone was cool with finding them and maybe becoming allies.

Terranova will just let us Cats-paw for them until we find the AI and then if things go wrong we're on the hook.

It does sound less attractive that way when I write it out. But I'm confident it will end well. People like us!

>>1465210
>I'm all for being friends with Versa, but there have been AI incidents in-universe.
To be fair, we know of one incident. Only the Terrans are open about the existence of AIs, we don't have any idea if some of the other factions or houses are secretly using or even being led by AIs. They SRL guys may have cobbled one together that's pretending to be a warlord, or something like that.

There was a thing called AI's and I am pretty sure the majority of the Dominion and most races are against using AI's. It's just the Terran's who produce/ use them. I'm sure not all AI are terrible, but there's a reason they are kept under tight security control. Versa is a good AI, and I'm sure there are others like her, but I can't imagine the machine race that made those nanites would be any bit as nice as Versa. If their way of saying 'hello' is to set psychopaths with fusion reactors for hearts while protected by nanite swarms. Then they are definitely NOT friendly.

>when the entire known universe used to produce a rifle with a setting specifically labelled as 'fuck all machines'
>let's make pro machine propaganda

Rolled 10, 12, 17, 11 = 50 (4d20)

Great Devourer it is then!

>>1464848
>Btw what happened to thee stealth ship we lend to that guy who wanted to liberate his house?
Things have not been going well. Without that ship and the attached recon team the organised resistance they've been setting up would probably have been wiped out.
Ber'helum teams assigned to the region have had better luck. They're progressing in their plan to start up a border skirmish between Xygen and Nasidum backed Houses.

Roll 1d100 to see if Ber'helum can get them a base that won't be easily found and destroyed.

My roll is unrelated to that.

>>1465242
You're assuming that wasn't just because they were playing politics to get in good with another faction.

Now if they actually sent a bunch instead of trying to assassinate us that would be concerning.

Just because they tried to kill us doesn't mean they can't work with us in the future.

Look at all the Warlords and such we killed and now we're totes friends.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>1465248
Rolls of nature!

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>1465248

bases for progress

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>1465248

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>1465248
>Roll 1d100

>a base that won't be easily found and destroyed
Would it make sense to use the ber'helum grav well generator in drh 1 to slingshot a large planetoid that isn't a candidate for colonization out of its star system? Once it is in deep space, we could then convert it into an emergency fallback position for our fleets.

>>1465249
We're friends with an extreme minority of the SRL. That is very different from not shooting the vast majority of them.

>>1465225
>one incident

Besides the... 6? with the new anti-everything AI.

>>1465249
No I'm pretty sure not even the Empire Neeran will work with them. So really no one is going to realistically work with them.

And the SRL are only nice with the Dominion because without the Dominon they would fall into in fighting and collapse as a faction. The Dominion is nice to the SRL because they have a lot of nice big ships. Most of the SRL only respects power from what I remember and if not for those big ships they would just be pirates, which most of them ended up turning back to. If not for the on going war with the Empire Neeran and the Dominion Civil war, the SRL would collapse upon itself or the other factions would unite once again against the SRL to eradicate it.

>>1465256
There are cheaper ways to do that. Like a Mining Barge which are built specifically to move mid sized asteroids.

>>1465248
>>1465253
Ber'helum has managed to establish a base the rebels can make use of. As long as they follow a strict set of protocols on approach it should take a long time for House Mev'ac to locate it.

Eshik Medel's continued resistance and attempts to incite uprisings has brought him no small amount of fame but also considerable infamy. Enough so that Mev'ac has put a bounty of 20 million in his head.
This has already caused one incident that his supporters have put down. Most working with him are well aware they have more to gain than 20 million if they succeed.

I hope you don't need that ship back soon because they're going to need it for awhile longer.

>>1465256
Also why specifically a large planetoid? It's much easier to move several smaller ones.

>>1465289
Mostly for the gravitational field, so instruments don't get messed up in deep space.

>>1465293
Oh, you're talking about moving one beyond an FTL Relay, galaxy or galaxy cluster, not just outside of its system.

I don't think you could do that at sublight speeds inside Sonia's lifetime.

>>1465289
Hey can we get a Word of God/Ask our diplomats on how well subtle pro-AI propaganda would go over?

I don't feel like watching a slap fight about it in the comments.

>>1465297
>Oh, you're talking about moving one beyond an FTL Relay, galaxy or galaxy cluster, not just outside of its system.
I thought the problem also appears between star systems within a galaxy. Seems like I misunderstood that mechanic.

>>1465298
Already been asked. It would agitate the Terrans who already have to deal with Pro AI Rights groups.

>>1465303
It becomes a problem when you're hundreds of thousands of lightyears away or more. It's millions of lightyears between relays and galaxy clusters.

>>1465298
>>1465312
Yes it would annoy the Terrans to some extent but what are they going to do about it? At this point it would be fairly minor. I don't think it would make much difference in the Dominion, though you might not want Sonia's name to be directly attached to such features.

>>1465312
>>1465330

So looks like it's not really at "House mysteriously destabilizes"

So why don't we don't then? leave a trail for the machine dudes to find, and help out Best Girl Vera.

Man. Remember when we used to love sharks, AI, and tweaking the Terrans. Sonia/The quest has changed.

>>1465353
My opinion on the Terrans changed greatly when they decided to let us poke around with SP tech, granted not manufacturing it, and feeding us the info on the Nasidium Medium. Machine Race can suck shit, and we send Vista gifts all the time.

>>1465353
Houses only mysteriously destabilize if the Terrans have reason to believe someone is creeping into the SP Torpedo monopoly.

We've not had much chance to deal with Versa because of the current Civil War going on with the Dominion and the FA not wanting to get involved with the Civil War.

We still love sharks, we still like giving Versa gifts and we have our diamond mine which will be all the rage when it gets going into full swing.

But right now we're focusing on getting through this damn civil war so we can go back to that stuff.

>>1465362
Still. Pretty big difference between what TSTG wrote and what you wrote.

You don't even know if the machine race dudes sent the assassin's or if someone was using their tech.

But if we don't track them down, then someone else will.

For some reason you seem to think that subtle pro-AI propaganda means we would have to suck their dick when we find them. Let me assure you that's not how politics works.

We're just in a convenient position for our pro-AI media to seem genuine given our history.

So. You know. There's that.

People like you and >>1465268 confuse me.

Like your logic is that "not even" the xenophobic racial supremacist hyper-violent imperialist race wouldn't "work with" them? No shit, they don't work "with" anyone.
a

>>1465365
Yeah I'm not saying we have to push it right now.

But we gotta deal with the machine dudes at some point. I'd rather they thought we were their best bet.

>>1465216
Seems to be gone though so I don't really feel obligated to pushing for this. Let's just move on.

>>1465353
I'd call that Sonia character development/maturation.

We've always had debate over AI stuff, but we've also drifted away from AI interactions since the Lat'tham coup.

The Terran tweaking is a bit different, though. We've mostly been using them as a helpful tool in the Dominion Civil War where possible, and generally looking out for refugees, rather than getting meaningful chances to poke the Terran Government Bear.

>>1465366

One of the big things that I recall involving AI in this quest was when someone said something along the lines of "Well you didn't kill anyone" and Versa's response (I think it was right before we did the dive into her system?) was something along the lines of "Oh, I did. I did."

AI are neat, but potentially a major crisis point.

The Neeran don't seem to use AI because they may be vulnerable to being hijacked by the Kythera. Or for other reasons.

You can make what PR piece movies about AI that you want but doing actual AI research within the Dominion is probably a bad idea. If people found out your relations with most Houses would take a hit.

>>1465370
The whole time Versa still had control of the holographic emitter for her little avatar and could have turned the safeties off to use it as an energy weapon against you.

File: Spoiler Image (98 KB, 900x392)

98 KB JPG

>>1465372
Does that mean that we can use the various pieces of holographic art or decoration in Sonia's arcology as turrets during emergencies?

Reminder that Sonia was allowed to touch Versa's AND Eris's components.

Wow I am kinda writers blocked despite having planned out a lot of stuff in my notes.

>>1465385
>Does that mean that we can use the various pieces of holographic art or decoration in Sonia's arcology as turrets during emergencies?
Yes if you can properly program them, which is hard to do.

>>1465385
Versa has also been in Sonia's head twice. Pray she did not have a subroutine recording things in an attempt to see if we snagged anything important from Wayward Treasures

>>1465391
Writers block is normal when you consider the insanely deadly applications of stasis technology...

>>1465391
Night out on the town with Duke Ber'helum

>>1465391
This might be a good moment to update Sonia's medals.

Okay I finally managed got rolling again.

Question, are we bringing an upgraded LST or the Dante Gunship aboard the Great Devourer? There isn't really enough room for both on a long flight.

>>1465398
"Here is another barrel of medals, look in the manifest for the specifics"

>>1465473
Upgraded LST