>>1923321
So time for voting on to research the crystal on P2?

File: deep sniff.png (162 KB, 292x317)

162 KB PNG

Ready for Queen!

>>1923321
Oh they aee annoucing the Hive taking the expanse.

Also super glad Sushi ain't afraid to be here anymore.

>>1923341
Nowhere too. At least we know for certain there are silicate life forms there.

How about making a solar foci telescope to spy on Strife without risking ourselves? We could start looking for weaknesses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOCAL_(spacecraft)

Daily reminder

>Raid OQ
>Board a scav vessel for their FTL.
>Send a diplomacy team to earth.
>Take Reprive (I think that is the system that our mother made her last stand and it only has mining corvetts, it would be a great test for our raiding fleet.)

>>1923377
Nowhere is bound to spark an international incident unless we get permission first which is why I want to check our territory first.

As soon as they formally announce it, we should send drones to develop the worlds that are not inhabited. The ones that are have to wait till we sort at least a few things out,but we still have a lot more places to work with.

File: David-Levy-18.jpg (223 KB, 1920x815)

223 KB JPG

>>1923321
“After extensive deliberation and negotiation with all parties involved, it has been decided by secret ballot that the Union of Independent Colonies has no choice but to accede to the demands made of it, and cede control of the Expanse, its resources, and all natural assets, to the Hive.” He pauses for breath, almost expectantly, and as if on cue there is a sudden gasp from the audience of reporters and a low murmur. Several questions are quickly shouted out, their voices not picked up by the microphone beyond a faint echoing, and Morgan waves them down. “All military forces shall be evacuating, removing all sensitive state owned equipment and ranking personnel, most of which have already been relocated. After that, military vessels will permit civilian passengers to evacuate any and all who wish to leave the Expanse. To those who wish to remain, the Hive has given assurances that they will be considered citizens, and allowed to remain undisturbed. We will be working with the Hive in the coming days to help facilitate the needs of these individuals, and to that end I have been working closely with Representative Lee and the Ambassador, and will continue to do so. In addition, we will be lifting some components of the recent security lock down and allow limited civilian traffic to the embassies in the capital district.” The voices become a roar of questions being shouted over one another, but Morgan steps away, walking off screen as some low ranking press secretary takes the podium. Lee tosses the remote back to Sushi, who plucks it out of the air with a quick swipe of a tentacle.

"Well it looks like I'm going to have to start working now." Lee says. "Speaking of which, are you two planning on just moving in here?"

"The Matriarch knows we know you." The triplets chirp together. "Wants to have a voice in your poor, hallucinating ear."

"Great." Lee says blandly. "So you're my first lobbyists. What about you, Sushi?" The ceph's eye stalks extend over the seat to look at Lee.

"I was... evicted." He says simply.

"But I thought the restuaraunt you worked at let you live in their fish tank. You were always talking about how big of a tank it was." Lee says.

"Yes. It was damaged in the riots." He replies. "I was told to take a vacation until it was repaired."

"Oh." Lee replies. "Well, sorry to hear that. Wait, so the both of you just showed up here to visit, with the intention of just living here?"

"Now you get it." Sushi says. The triplets bob their heads up and down awkwardly, their bone plates along their faces clapping with the more natural taidaren equivalent to show their affirmation. Lee lets out a long sigh.

"Alright. Just pick one of the empty rooms, it's not like the drones use them. Just stay out of the courtyard, it's being turned into a hive."

cont.

>>1923379
We'd have to jump in extremely far away from the system proper on the scale of a light month to make sure no one detects us and even then the ship would hve to be tachyonically inert.

>>1923391
I highly doubt it. Even if someone asks just answering it's related to the events that unfolded there will make the Union issue gag orders to any official inquiries.

File: Part of your world.jpg (63 KB, 736x552)

63 KB JPG

>>1923401
Dont worry Sushi. The Hive will make you an even bigger tank!

>>1923446
Really it's only common courtesy to build a bigass tank when two species are amphibious.

>>1923441
Then you have tell the revelant authorities in advance otherwise it becomes a clusterfuck.

>>1923474
Sure. It's why we have an embassy right now. Well diplomatic missions and giving Lee his own place.

Actually it's listed under valen jurisdiction and the valen don't even want to be there because their scum flees there. It's probably only technically under the ownership of a civilization.

>>1923401
>Just stay out of the courtyard, it's being turned into a hive."
What? What about the decorative smartmine?

>>1923401

We have squatters.
I love it.
We really should offer Sushi an upgrade in the form of parasite + better flotation device. It does not do to have guests and friends of the hive looking like destitute homeless people.

>>1923511
It might technically belong to nobody but just waltzing in without alerting anyone is going to cause problems. Specifically draw attention to the Nowhere incident.

>>1923401
Lyle leans back in his seat as the speakers fill the cockpit with some Commonwealth shanty. He takes a long drag of his cigar and a puff of smoke billows up, sending Coil into a gurgling coughing fit as he adjusts the ship's orbit.

"We ready?" Lyle says.

"Ready." Jackob says back over the intercom.

"Now wait, are you sure this is safe?" Anderson says. "I mean, what if-"

"Launch!" Lyle shouts, and he brings his heel down hard on a button on the dashboard. The ship rocks slightly as the drop pod is fired from its belly, and Coil quickly accelerates away from Talgo's orbit.

"Okay, up next, Decker's Claim." Lyle says. He points his finger forward casually. "And step on it. I want these shits off my ship."

"We need to reach a minimum distance." Coil says.

"Just blend in with that small hive fleet and leave with them, nobody will notice us." Lyle says back. "And a lot faster then leaving the system at sublight."

You can feel Anderson's mind panicking. He has never used a drop pod, let alone one of alien design. He always assumed you needed a drop suit to use them without grave injury, and he was still unsure if that was not the case, despite his current situation. For most drop pods, it was indeed the case, but yours are more advanced in that regard. Still, he begins screaming the moment he feels the atmosphere buffer against the pod, and continues all the way until he hits the ground.

The pod unfolds, and he claws his way out with shaking hands. As he leaves, the pod begins to crumple itself into a ball, and smoke rises from within as acid glans begin popping and dissolving the evidence.

"Fuck!" Anderson shouts. "You bastard!" He aims various rude hand gestures from every culture he knows of to the sky in the vague direction of where he believes the cloaked Hel's Angel to be. He quickly pats off the dust on his clothes and examines his surroundings as he absentmindedly adjusts his face with the features of a mixed Pathian Talgoan ethnicity. The region is a desert, dark and cold in the middle of the night. Dead, ancient looking pines are either half fallen or mark the ground with their fallen trunks. The first think the colony ships did was seed pine trees across the entire planet, regardless of climate. If they took, all the better, if they didn't, it was cheap to try. Most of these tree corpses likely date back to the arrival of Talgo's founding generation ship. Anderson looks over them with some nervous curiosity. He hopes the fact they are still here doesn't mean this region is entirely uninhabited. Your hidden pod in orbit finds a small town some miles away, and he begins walking.

cont.

>>1923516
When we unlock non-euclidean architecture there's going to be better stuff available.

>>1923564
>>1923446

We should build sushi a tank of infinite size in the hyperdimensional space between realities.

File: hElu NeIbOR.jpg (116 KB, 980x443)

116 KB JPG

>>1923583
Then he finds his new neighbors.

>>1923556
I hope there's one fly hidden in Anderson's pocket. We need one to become a small egglayer after all.

>>1923556
You continue to prod at the silicate corpse with some annoyance. You are still disturbed by the fact that a biology has confounded you, and the thought of taking one alive for a more detailed study has not left your mind since.

Such creatures within Nowhere, the strange, starless pocket of space is technically within Valen space, although they do not utilize it and avoid it as a collection of scum and villainy not worth their time. Even still your opinion seems to mean a lot to them, and they may at least appreciate the act of respect by asking them to enter what is still technically their space. On the other hand, the region of space has close ties with the Union ever since the first contact war between human settlers and the Valen. While laws are rare in that space, Union laws are considered at least casually enforceable, with local spacer etiquette being largely lifted from the Union Trade Commission's regulations on space habitation, although they are considered guidelines, not rules. Asking the Union before entering may let them know you are at least willing to show some respect to their sovereignty in the future while reminding them of the incident they created not too long ago.

At the same time, you could just send several ships to scoop up some of the creatures. You go where you please, and neither species has any truly enforced claim there. It may still offend some of the more rule respecting individuals on the region, but there is nothing they can do to you beyond sending a stern letter you may ignore at your leisure.

>Notify the Valen embassy
>Notify Secretary Morgan
>Ignore them both and send a small force to collect samples
>Other

>>1923583
You little fucking shits, this is exactly the reason we went to war. You assholes just see an extra dimension and start shoving the most retarded shit in it with no heed to what else might be there already or who might be using it. Did you ever think that empty space might be useful? That empty space can be necessary? How would you sperglings like it we clogged your squalid shithole hives with walls or fish habitats? If we filled your fucking breath tubing with silicon, huh? HUH? FUCKING TARDLET THINK BEFORE YOU PUT THINGS PLACES! Foursesus Christ your entire fucking species is a trainwreck. Fucking lobotimize your bitch, you'll be doing her a favor.

>>1923605
>>Ignore them both and send a small force to collect samples

>Other
Start immigrating some clones from Gemini to Coral, which also has native silicon life.

>>1923605
>Ignore them both and send a small force to collect samples

>>1923605
>>Notify the Valen embassy

>>1923605

Either notify them both and send a small fleet in, just in case pirates.
Or, send in Lyle & Co in the Hel's Angel... If there would be enough room to bring one back in the Angel

>>1923619
GAS THE SQUIDS
NUKE THE WHALES
STAB THE MONKEYS
TRUST NOTHING
THE VOID IS WATCHING

>>1923605
>>Ignore them both and send a small force to collect samples
Not like the Valen care what happens there

>>1923605
>>Notify the Valen embassy
>>Notify Secretary Morgan

>>1923605
I might be able to just stealth in there for a quick grab, but...

>Notify the Valen embassy
>Notify Secretary Morgan
For diplomacy points.

>>1923605
>>Notify the Valen embassy

>>1923605
>Notify the Valen embassy
>Notify Secretary Morgan
To show we are at least appeased with the offering and get our stories straight.
>Other: Research the crystals on P2.

>>1923605
>Notify the Valen embassy
>Notify Secretary Morgan
Its polite,the Valen seem like they dont want to piss us off and know they have plenty to gain form us, and Morgan will likely have no problem with this.

>>1923605
>Notify the Valen embassy
>Notify Secretary Morgan
Send a small fleet.

>>1923605

Explain to the Union that we're sending a small force to ensure that nothing remains that could be dangerous.

Tell the Valen that we're considering their offer about the Skyl homeworld, and strongly imply that them not causing a fuss about this will make us happier with them.

Also, same person as >>1923625

File: Mother son bonding.gif (38 KB, 500x263)

38 KB GIF

>>1923556
>"Now wait, are you sure this is safe?" Anderson says. "I mean, what if-"
>"Launch!" Lyle shouts, and he brings his heel down hard on a button on the dashboard.
God, I love Lyle.

Just a note, we should let Elizabeth do something outside of the hive. I get the feeling that she might be getting a bit of Cabin Fever.

>>1923671
Have her go to the Garden and help with civilizing the Ralighans.

>>1923671
I can't really think of anything we'd need her to do and she's heavily modified herself to the point of looking quite monstrous.

Also I think everybody has forgotten the farms that were being built on the Garden still haven't been built yet even though it has been a month.

>>1923682
Pretty sure we can give her some cosmetic mods and temporarily remove the more "Queen Bitch of the Universe" augments

>>1923654
Agreed. We need to talk with the Valen about trade and stuff too. They probably think (with good reason) that we're going to be taking everything they've invested by force. If we tell them about our plans to build a station and free trade zone near the Skyl Homeworld they'll likely be much more receptive to working with us in the future. And they'll be much less likely to do something rash like destroy the gate near Tannhauser.

>>1923605
>Notify the Valen embassy
>Notify Secretary Morgan

>>1923682
It's not a matter of us necessarily requiring her to do anything, it's more getting our shut-in daughter out of the house for a little while. I'll admit I still want the humans to see her, but that's not necessarily related to getting her out of the house.

>>1923671
>>1923682

We could have Elizabeth meet with her mad-scientist buddies at that super-science institute. Palmer, Seiner, and Elizabeth herself have proved that when Union scientists work for the Hive the results can be incredibly potent. She might know other trans-humanists who would be susceptible to recruitment.

>>1923701
Hell bringing up the existence of the Rip drive will make them desperate for a deal.

>>1923682
She would be pretty popular with the Raligah. Also the greenery will be a good change of sights. But i guess she is to much of a NEET to leave the hive. More so since she doesn't sleep and is sinking herself in more and more work with all the research the Hive is doing.

>>1923711
Oh they're desperate for a deal already, they just might think a deal is impossible given how heavy-handed we've been so far. A lighter touch is necessary in order for the Valen to start thinking there's any chance whatsoever they could profit from agreements with the Hive.

Once them smell money, though, we will be flooded with Valen begging to work with us.

>>1923717
Generally the Hive gives a pretty good deal for humans that join. A loving family, a clear cut Evil enemy, meaningful work and purpose in life.

>>1923717
We need to get her outside more. A static environment is not conducive with dynamic thinking. She joined us because she thought it was the most logical way to help humans, so lets make sure she at least interacts with them.

>>1923710
I have to admit I like the idea of a hive skunkworks made up of select humans. Of course Elizabeth would be in charge as opposed to how things used to be. I can't imagine she wouldn't enjoy a little bit of karmic payback.

>>1923710
>>1923741

Scientists from Mentan have proven extremely helpful when working for the hive and extremely dangerous when working with the Void (as in Nowhere). Sending Elizabeth on a short mission to keep an eye on the place and recruit geniuses to work for us is a good idea. Not only will it improve our assets, it also increases the chance we'll discover any psi/Void research they could be secretly conducting.

If the Seiner approach can be repeated we might even consider uplifting some of these recruits...

>>1923764

Actually I really like this. Maybe not Elizabeth, due to her obvious augmentations, but a small group of clones or a hive to keep tabs on the place. Maybe drop a few instances of Thesus into the network so they can keep tabs of dangerous research.

>>1923764
Huh that could certainly work.
Really even temporarily parasiting them to make research templates we can copy into a clone so the original researcher doesn't go missing could work.

>>1923777
But the entire point of the idea was to give Elizabeth something to do outside...

>>1923777
>>1923764

Lyle should be dropping off Decker at Mentan soon to look through archives, right? Decker could put out some preliminary feelers while he's there

>>1923777
Really, just keeping an eye on Union research in general is a good idea. The only reason that that planet is significant is because it seems like the Ivy League of planets, so of course people from there would be in on Project SATAN GATE.

>>1923764
I didn't even think of that but yeah, we definitely need more researchers (or at least their brain patterns) to take advantage of the new tech we unlocked. Elizabeth's the best person to find intelligent and capable researchers to join the project.

>>1923790
Decker can definitely help scope out the area and provide some tips on how Liz can make her pitch the most effective.

File: Kentpunched5.png (130 KB, 350x359)

130 KB PNG

>>1923605

>Notify both

Lee's mind is quickly filled with your thoughts. He waves off your new squatters and returns to his office and begins making calls.

Elsewhere, in the complex tunnels of Path's sewers, your clones open the doors to the van as others are quickly rushed out by medics. Kent stands nearby with a smile on his face.

"Congratulations!" He says. "The information you got is-" Your clone quickly moves up to him and with a single punch to the jaw sends him to the floor. The guards around him quickly snap up their weapons in response, but Kent waives them away. He laughs, thought it's hard to hear through his coughing as he spits up a small pool of blood. He rolls his tongue around in his mouth as if looking for something, and quickly spits out a tooth.

"I suppose I earned that." He says, his smile returning as the guards help him back up. "Still, for your assistance, and your sacrifice, I'll give you everything we received from the servers. This was only because of you, and now, with all the evidence gone, nobody can pin the blame on us, or you." His grin widens, exposing the bleeding gap where a tooth was a moment ago. "At least, not without making themselves look entirely incompetent and confirming any information we may leak all at the same time. So long as they maintain it was a a reactor accident the both of us can stay in the clear, at least publicly. The down side is the information we got won't be very useful as blackmail so long as they stick to the official story. We'd only be convincing to people as crazy as we are, but I think you'll find other uses for what was on that server." He hands your clone a small data drive, and quickly shakes your clone's hand in the same motion. He holds on, pulling lightly on your agent's arm.

"Don't mistake this as your payment though." He says. "I'm an honorable man. I owe you a favor. I'll have my IT guys get you a Q-channel, you can contact me any time." He lets go, and his stance shifts quickly back to his cane. "I expect you will want to be leaving soon, but sadly, it seems things are only getting more chaotic on the surface. In fact, we may need to be leaving ourselves."

>Have your clones move for extraction and find a way off world
>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity
>Other

Your clone grips the data drive as he examines it, and tosses it to your tech as a set of taidarens quickly rush over with a small box. They smell of burnt hair and rubber, and clipped wires and salvaged circuits hang from their bodies almost like jewelry. Your tech takes the small Q-channel, now you just need to get it to a Q-comm.

>Have your local hive smuggle it to the Expanse
>Have your local hive steal a Q-comm and set it up locally
>Other

>>1923717
>Greenery
Technically it's blue, but I can never find good scenery pics with blue vegetation so it's sorta just turned green over time.

Okay so we need a cool name for this ultra-secret team. How about:

The ANT Farm. You can even make it an acronym. Advanced Neuroscience & Technology.

>>1923833
Don't we have those quantum teleporter things?

>>1923849
Nice try but you can't do that with Quantum Keys since that would destroy the connection.

>>1923833
>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity
Ideally they'd be recycled and a new randomized DNA was implanted with the memories.

>Have your local hive smuggle it to the Expanse

>>1923833
>>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity
OQ creep is still on the planet, we should keep some boots on the ground there.

>Have your local hive smuggle it to the Expanse

>>1923854
Could we use quantum entanglement to configure the thread to connect to a different relay, perhaps?

>>1923833

Have the clones return to the hidden hive.
If we need more we can make more.

Also, offer the hive's assistance in smuggling these people off world, have them owe us a few favours.

Finally, have the local hive purchase a Q-Comm, we should have a nice amount of money still, and not much to do with it.

>>1923833
>>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity

>>Have your local hive smuggle it to the Expanse

Also, we did have flies tracking that Smith's groundward trajectory right?

File: 0010e476f896e34da9e38757f(...).png (2.19 MB, 1600x900)

2.19 MB PNG

>>1923833
>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity

>Have your local hive steal a Q-comm and set it up locally

>Raligah is actually blue

Oh okay then Still much better then the biring fleshy walls of the hive. Maybe we cab do the hologram thing and cgange the enviroment put a sceanery here and there so she gets more confortable?

>>1923833
>>Other
Shall we have some flies tail Kent and his group?

>>1923833
>Have your local hive smuggle it to the Expanse
Don't we have a corvette on the planet now to extract the Cluster from the lab? How hard would it be to get this drive to the ship? Obviously it's a non-starter if the lab is on the other side of the planet or something.

>Other
Warn Kent that the Union will likely be moving through the underground in force very shortly to deal with a threat unrelated to himself and that he should evacuate to avoid being in the crossfire.

>>1923870
We should.

>>1923869
>using Lyle's account to pay for things on Path
>using Captain Spreckels, known contractor for the hive, to pay for things on Path
>using the tiny amount of credit chips as physical cash, which aren't actually on Path and wouldn't be enough

There is no sane way of legitimate payment, genius.

>>1923869
Backing this. We should offer to get them off world.
We should buy a Q-com or get Theseus to make one for us. Stealing one is completely unnecessary.

>>1923879
Also backing this. We need to warn Kent that the Union is coming. His favor is worthless if he's a dead man.

>>1923833
>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity
>Have your local hive steal a Q-comm and set it up locally

>>1923893

Why not use Lyle's account? We've done it before to get a Q-Comm delivered to deep space.

Or set up new accounts for each clone, route payments through proxy after proxy...

>>1923833

Forgot to add to: >>1923879
>>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity

>>1923897

Exactly, which comes into helping them get off world. Doesn't matter if he's infinitely indebted to us if he's dead...

>>1923901
To deep space is the key phrase. The Union's bribes for leads on his location will quite possibly be high enough that any delivery address on Path will be conveniently leaked.

You can't even set up new accounts without being at the actual Valen banks, and if you could you'd again be creating leakable suspicious money trails.

>>1923879
Kent is already evacuating. There's no need to tip that hand.

Also we'll need to get the Suit to the hive for research.

>>1923928
Is the sewer hive advanced enough to reverse engineer it?

>>1923920
He says "we may need to leave"
There's a big difference between that and "The Union will be sending their entire army into the sewers so if you don't get out you're fucked"

Kent seems connected enough that he'll know the reason the Union is going into the sewers is due to hive advice. If we don't warn him it could reflect badly on us if he later finds out we knew.

>>1923833
>I think you'll find other uses for what was on that server."

There better be Star Hound Project data on there.

>>1923952
I don't think so. Though we do have to remove Cluster and the BQ's creep on the planet.

>>1923952
No is going to be my guess simply because dedicated research facilities take up resources and space that wouldn't be necessary for the function of an infiltration nest.

>>1923321
>The media only focus in on something like this when they've been given a script. They know what is about to happen, and the government wants to give it the proper context.

Is this new redpilling gained from reading MorganLeaks offscreen or did we know this already somehow.

>>1924006
Probably not. Apparently Lee already knew quite a bit of the general corrupyion going on simply by browsing the web.

>>1923833
>Have your clones return to your hidden hive to alter their faces and serve as assets for covert activity
>Have your local hive smuggle it to the Expanse

"Now, in the meantime, you may want to find a place to hide with that suit of yours." Kent says. "I know a few ways to get out of the city, but routes off world will be more difficult to come by, at least for something so big. Unless we try something a little risky."

"Like what?" Your clone asks.

"Well, Path is a major shipyard for the military. We have almost a quarter of the active peacetime fleet built and maintained from here. All those ships need supplies, and now that we're at war, a lot of those supply ships are being re-rigged into combat ships."

"And your point is?" Kent gives a sly smile as he continues.

"My point is, a lot of private cargo ships are getting military contracts. They're lowering their hiring standards to make more freighters available to help in the war effort. That means I may be able to get on the line with a trader I know and see if he can give us a lift. The only way to get off world right now would be in a ship with a military designation, and the only way to get that would be to get a shipping contract to deliver military equipment. Like I said, risky, but possible. I may be using this myself to evacuate of things get too hairy, bringing you along with that suit won't be too much trouble, or I can just ship the suit to wherever you want it."

>Agree to have Kent smuggle your clone brawler and suit into the Expanse
>Agree to have Kent smuggle the gravity suit into the Expanse
>Refuse
>Other

>>1923871
Well damn, I found my new Raligha image. Thanks!

>>1924051
QD, how successful would an attempt to reverse engineer the suit in our hidden hive be, or could teleport the vital components to a bigger hive?

>>1924051
>Refuse
We can handle the transportation ourselves.

>>1924051
>Refuse

Thank you for the offer, but, no thank you.

Maybe we could have a large drone with a honeypot adaption swallow it.

>>1924066
Strictly speaking, we can lay a pod in the sewer hive, carry it somewhere and have it blink away into deep space.

Though there's some increased risk of a misaimed blink while inside a gravity well, and I dunno how noticeable the burst of radiation will be.

>>1924077
>I dunno how noticeable the burst of radiation will be.
Very. It'll cause a lot of damage too but we don't need a pod for this. Our ships are going to land soon.

>>1924077
With ion engines Pods and shuttles can leave orbit so it'd just have to stay stealthed

Or at least I think this plan would work. Not sure if our Path Hive is built up enough yet to build small craft like that.

We could also ask Theseus if he has a way to smuggle off-world but it'd might end up being something like Kent's plan

>>1924077
We don't need to spawn the shuttle or pod here. Cloaking and a slow insertion into the atmosphere to not cause a massive fireball from the friction would be enough. Back when we only had ion thrusters it wouldn't have been feasible but thanks to current thruster tech there shouldn't be a problem.

>>1924077
>Strictly speaking, we can lay a pod in the sewer hive
I don't think we can, building FTL capable craft requires a construction pylon. We'd have to drop it in from orbit, which is risky, but arguably not as much as getting Kent to smuggle us on a Union military ship.

>>1924086
Anything going onto our ships is going to receive massive scrutiny. Openly taking a delivery crate from some random Pathians? Are we going to announce we're taking tribute?

>>1924097
You didn't read the early threads then, before the pylon was built.

>>1924097
We can build them, it just takes longer to put together I think

>>1924051

>Agree to have Kent smuggle your clone brawler and suit into the Expanse

>>1924051
>>Agree to have Kent smuggle your clone brawler and suit into the Expanse
We need to get it off-planet ASAP and I don't think handing it off to our corvette will be doable

>>1924103
No that's not what I'm saying. We could strip the suit down to the deflector's bare components and have a drone swallow it.

>>1924051
>>Agree to have Kent smuggle your clone brawler and suit into the Expanse

This is our chance to parasite Kent/offer him new legs. Let's not pass the opportunity to get more than a mere "favor" out of him.

>>1924051
>>Agree to have Kent smuggle your clone brawler and suit into the Expanse
On the plus side this lets us keep an eye on Kent a little longer.

Odds on him evacuating to the Expanse specifically to take us up on getting some hive augs?

>>1924051
>>Agree to have Kent smuggle your clone brawler and suit into the Expanse

>>1924051
>Refuse

>>1924114
That just shifts the problem to somehow making nobody notice a large fat bottomed drone wandering far away from the secret lab we're supposed to go to, into some alleyway or sewer to rendesvous with the clone agents without anyone noticing the meeting.

Hey QD:
Would a stealth pod with grav foils be capable of stealthy atmospheric transit?

>>1924130
We have to deal with the creep you know.

>>1924139
We could do that with a small army of Taidaren clones sweeping the sewers with flamethrowers. It may be better to remove it without the humans ever knowing the infection was there, because if they know then they'll keep this odious military lockdown on much longer and possibly look deep enough to find the sewer hive.

>>1924155
Can you imagine the carnage we could inflict on Gemini if we had every Taidaren with a parasite cocoon themselves into Chimera?

A tide of chirping horror emerging from the sewers

>>1924155
Yeah that totally isn't suspicious.

>>1924171
Oh god that is beautifully amazing...

>>1924155
Um, our Taidaren Sewer army is on Gemini not on Path. A mass exodus of Taidarens from the capital to Path would definitely be noticed.

Besides, the OQ's creep is especially difficult to get out once it takes root and it could be anywhere on the planet. It needs a real military response either from us or the Union. We can't handle this covertly.

>>1924051
>>Refuse

>>1924051
>Agree to have Kent smuggle your clone brawler and suit into the Expanse

"And you think that would work?" Your clone asks.

"As soon as we're out of orbit we can go anywhere we want." Kent says. "No real way to track a warp drive beyond guessing at stars along its trajectory. A quick jump into deep space and we'll be home free."

"But you said it was risky." Your clone says. Kent shrugs.

"Yes, well we are at risk of inspections. Still, I tend to know smugglers, and they are used to those kinds of things. I'm confident enough to risk my own life to the plan, so you know it's at least the best one we have."

"Alright then, let's do it." Your clone says. "But if you try anything funny, I swear I'll use this thing to kill us all." Kent just points at your clone within the suit.

"I like your stuff." He says. "Dedication, professionalism, raw skill. Your boss should be proud to have you." Several clones give a subtle nod of approval.

cont.

>>1924115
I don't even want to give him new legs after the stunt he pulled. He doesn't deserve them.

>>1924194
What I don't get is why aren't we self-destructing the hive on Path yet? It's way too likely to be found.

>>1924177
Compared to openly sending drones down there. No one would be scrutinizing the sewers in the scenario where no one is given a reason to look down there where the low lifes of society dwell.

>>1924194
I said 'clones'. Those trivially mass produced things that can be recycled when no longer needed.

Maybe before we needed a bigger response, but now we just need Seiner to locate all the spots the spores have landed for us and send small stealthy strike teams for the ones outside of New Tokyo.

>>1924200
Agreed. He's on a shitlist now and we hardly need him for our operations.
Really I'm rather opposed to a non-parasited person being this certain of hive influence on an union world.

>>1924200
And Lyle didn't have limbs either but as soon as you read Kent's tragic backstory through his spine he'll be a new favorite uppity son in no time.

>>1924205
You seriously underestimate how difficult it is to get of this shit and it's going to be found soon. It's not like we can't destroy the hive and build a new one after everything blows over.

>>1924200
At the time he pulled his stunt I was all for killing him. Things could have gone much worse than they did and ordinarily he'd be a dead man already. But Kent's too useful to just kill. Besides, wouldn't it be beautifully ironic for Kent to lose his free will to an alien Empire after fighting all his life for human independence?


>>1924204
Agreed. We need to at least get out of the sewers given the Union army will be sweeping it looking for traces of Hive creep.

>>1924226
Lyle never stabbed us in the back like Kent did. He was entirely open and honest in his efforts to blow up our shit.

>>1924198
>Several clones give a subtle nod of approval.

Oh our kids are so cute.

>>1924205
The entire planet is on military lockdown after the OQ attack. A sudden army of Taidarens armed with obviously Hive flamethrowera (because we don't have time to use the slow human process) would be detected almost immediately. They'd also need to cover the entire planet to ensure we found everything.

I'm sorry, but your plan is terrible.

>>1924235
We haven't even gotten to the point where the people in the lab have discovered what the spores do.

>>1924258
That's true, but that's also something that we need to handle today. If we don't warn the Union soon they'll either find the creep and assume it's ours or the OQ will get an even more firmly established base she can use for a later invasion of Path.

File: David Palmer.png (311 KB, 500x410)

311 KB PNG

>>1924198
The guards look nervously at your speaker, glancing quickly to its guard of heavy warriors. Your drones pass them by down the hall. The lab is in tatters everywhere you look, either signs of gunfire or blood splatter dripping from the walls. The human guards nervously follow in, placing a quick defensive perimeter at the entrance.

You see Palmer standing near the front of the lab's common area as you enter, and he reaches for your speaker's claw before awkwardly thinking otherwise, then holding his hand out and shaking your speaker's claw anyways.

"Hello! I must say it is a pleasure to meet you, despite the, uh, situation." He says. "In fact this is a little embarrassing but the whole reason we're in this situation is because of you." He says, and then a look of momentary horror flashes across his face. "Oh, I mean, that's not blaming you, I mean... This lab's goal was to study the hive samples we've found. Most of it fell from orbit, but a few were found in the Expanse... those turned out to not actually be Hive, or dead, and thus the problem."

"You meddle in things that are beyond you." Your speaker says. Palmer holds up his hands as he takes a quick step back as your speaker leans in.

"Yes well, meddling is how we learn, isn't it? I'm sure the Hive had to meddle a bit to get where it is today. Maybe if you told us how to meddle more safely we-"

"This speaker is here to recover the being that is attacking you." You say. Palmer nods and is about to say something else when he's knocked aside as Norris shoots him an angry glare.

"I am commander Norris." He says simply. "The sooner you get this thing out of here the sooner I can shut this place down, burn everything here, and we all get home, so, after you." He gestures to the common area. "We've suffered extensive casualties already. I'd appreciate if you could deal with this quickly."

>Speak with Norris
>Speak with Palmer
>Other (Write in)

>>1924293
>Speak with Norris
>Speak with Palmer
Warn them about the danger of the Enemy Hive debris/creep/spores and out (confirmed) suspicions that it's likely infested parts of Path already

File: I Know Right.jpg (10 KB, 260x194)

10 KB JPG

>>1924293
>>1924293
>"Yes well, meddling is how we learn, isn't it? I'm sure the Hive had to meddle a bit to get where it is today.
Not wrong.

>>1924293
>Speak with Norris

Where was the last place that he was seen?

>Speak with Palmer

" You spoke of hive debrids. Did one of those were [describe how a spore pod is]"
then if they say no let our speaker twitch his antennae and make the warrior drones relax their posture a bit. Theb after it let the speaker simply say. "Good if there was one the humans would need to evacuate the planet and do as the Norris human said."

>>1924293
>>Speak with Palmer
You have recovered samples of enemy hive biology?

It must all be incinerated immediately. The Norris is wise. That is not dead which can eternal lie in wait, etc., etc.

...Should we try a subtle job offer saying, if you wish to meddle in things, go seek citizenship in the Hive? If he goes a quick dip in a pod will show all his past projects.

>>1924293
Speak with Palmer.

"We are not against learning. But when the young learn, adult supervision is good yes? This is a human thing? Perhaps you can learn with supervision."

I'd be interested in recruiting Palmer. He must be a damn good scientist to be put on this project, and Elizabeth might not be against getting an assistant.

Also, advise Norris to keep the army out of the sewers so that we can deploy a small task force of drones with supervision to burn out the OQ's creep.

>>1924293
>Other (Write in)
Start scanning for Cluster mimicking humans and pull them out of the group.

>>1924293
>Speak with Norris
Plasma works better than fire.
>Speak with Palmer
Poking a mine while someone has told them they're in a minefield is not conducive to survival.

>>1924325
This too. With a speaker there, we should be pretty easily able to find those that have no psionic presence.

>>1924293
>Speak with Palmer
Ask to see the samples of enemy craft that were recovered. When we see them "gasp" (or insect equivalent) in shock and warn them about the danger of OQ Debris.

>Speak with Norris
Ask for a rundown of what happened. Remember, we technically only know what the council told us. Congratulate him for being the only security chief to have survived attempting to experiment on TWO ancient precursor species (since he was in charge of security at the lab we wrecked to get Seiner way back when).

File: 1496525386838.png (647 KB, 788x1024)

647 KB PNG

>>1924293
>>Speak with Palmer
"Every artifact and example of alien biology you bring from the Expanse is a part or fragment of a greater consciousness. By meddling with those artifacts you draw the ire and attention of beings far beyond your comprehension. Don't do it."

>>1924325
>>1924342
We should include this too. A speaker with a moderate relay should easily be able to detect a lack of psionic presence. Although... we may want to scan each of the scientists individually. If a few Cluster cells are stowed away on/inside some random tech they'd still scan as sending out psionic signals even if the Cluster could take over them later.

We need to be very careful to not insult the Cluster, though.

>>1924342
>Congratulate him for being the only security chief to have survived attempting to experiment on TWO ancient precursor species (since he was in charge of security at the lab we wrecked to get Seiner way back when).
Why the fuck would we publicly acknowledge that we have knowledge of that place?
>>1924345
And that's a horrible idea as well. Yes they know something is up but that's just stupidly confirming something we don't need to confirm.

>>1924354
>>1924339
Don't forget we have to send Cluster home.

>>1924342
>Congratulate him for being the only security chief to have survived attempting to experiment on TWO ancient precursor species
Are you trying to encourage them anon? I thought that was exactly what we were trying to avoid.

And it's not like they were ever actually testing actual hive drones here either. And as everybody knows the hive wasn't involved in this incident in any shape or form until now.

>>1924364
I believe they know it is a being of the Cluster. Although they don't know WHAT the Cluster is, or how it's biology works...

>>1924365
Yes, definitely. But to do that we'll need to find them first :p

>>1924364
>Why the fuck would we publicly acknowledge that we have knowledge of that place?
It's well known that the hive has mysterious ways of gathering highly accurate intelligence. We're just playing into what the Union already knows. Disclosing this would in no way hurt us.

As for why we should say it... Mostly for the cheekiness factor.

>>1924374
>Are you trying to encourage them anon?
Not at all. It was mostly intended to be chastisement/cheekiness as well as implying that we know far more than we let on and to in fact dissuade further research.

If everyone's solidly opposed to the Queen being cheeky again for a change, though, feel free to ignore my suggestion.

>>1924364
We've already announced on prime time television that they've been messing with technology eons ahead of their own, nothing will inspire them to keep messing with the void beyond that.

Telling them that those artifacts they're handling are self aware and more likely than not malevolent would do more to dissuade them. Especially since we're talking to a scientist who actually directly contacted TWO of those entities.

>>1924383
It's not about not being cheeky it's about being a moron that lets slip the level of information we have. Asking Theseus if he's found anything interesting after he's gone full autist describing basic hive biology is one thing while revealing we know about a secret facility that was bombed from orbit and then covered up is another.

>>1924383
Well when you put it like that, I can't really say no to it, we haven't got our cheeky fix in a good long while. I think I'll support this >>1924342

>>1924397
How about no.
Captcha: Biglie portsmouth
I wonder what that means

>>1924393
>It's not about not being cheeky it's about being a moron that lets slip the level of information we have.
What you have to keep in mind is that we've already leaked the biggest bombshell, and that Palmer directly witnessed much of the history of the cluster and hive. He knows both us and cluster are gestalt minds that have existed for eons and had fleets numbering in the billions once, and has informed the security council of this fact.

Telling them why they should stop messing with artifacts isn't actually telling them anything they don't know, and might help actually persuade them to stop. Just telling a human not do something without a reason is often the fastest way to get him to do it.

>>1924293
"The humans have taken samples of hive biology?" Your drone chirps. "The Norris is wise, it must all be burned. It is beyond you and could bring danger. You say these things fell from orbit, was one an oblong structure sprouting tendrils?"

"I...uh, I don't know." Palmer says. "I don't think so. We've just been finding chunks of starship debris."

"That is good." Your drone replies. "Otherwise this would would require cleansing from orbit. The infestation may still have shallow roots and can be removed without damage."

"Infestation? You mean these things are hive tech?" Norris asks.

"No, these are separate risks. The humans found multiple dangerous things. We have warned you of the Expanse. You will show us the debris that was recovered."

"I would prefer if you got rid of these creatures first." Norris says.

"Very well, human. Have all humans brought here." Your drone replies. He taps something into his datapad, and then shouts back at the common area in some military jargon that is almost entirely incomprehensible, and the humans quickly shuffle into the room, looking at your drones nervously. Your speaker makes a show of sniffing the air and shipping its antennae at each of them before returning to Norris and Palmer and doing the same to them.

"All humans here are humans." You say.

"Good to hear, but what about the things still out there." Norris says. Your flies detect several odd sounds emanating from the vents.

>Have your flies move in to attack and have them connect to you for mental communication
>Have your speaker verbally demand they make contact with you
>Other (write in)

>>1924420
>Have your speaker verbally demand they make contact with you

Make it official to the humans while we are here.

>>1924420
>Have your speaker verbally demand they make contact with you

>>1924420
>>Have your flies move in to attack and have them connect to you for mental communication
The preferred form of communication for body warping alien horror.

>>1924420
>Have your flies move in to attack and have them connect to you for mental communication
>Have your speaker verbally demand they make contact with you
Why not both? We need to appear to have complete control over the situation and both will help with that

>>1924420
>Have your flies move in to attack and have them connect to you for mental communication

>>1924420

Verbal demand. In a side room where humans may enter, but they may not bring weapons. Wouldn't do to have the gung-ho commander ruin this with a badly timed attempt at revenge.

>>1924420
>>Have your flies move in to attack and have them connect to you for mental communication
We can pretend to shout afterwards if we want.

>>1924420
>>Have your speaker verbally demand they make contact with you

Just have our speaker start speaking. It's what he was built for. If they for some reason try to attack the speaker use telekinesis to stop them.
We can speak in a non-human language they'd know right?

Also, if we send out flies in a heavily monitored lab we'll be displaying our ability to use flies openly. Let's not reveal that yet.

>>1924441
>>1924451
>>1924457
>>1924473

Why use flies instead of standard warriors to make forced contact? All we'd end up doing differently by using flies is revealing the secret of our flies to the Union

>>1924481
because
1. the flies are already in the vents and
2. the warriors don't fit in the vents the Cluster is hiding in.

>>1924484
>1. the flies are already in the vent
If they were in the vents already, they wouldn't say 'sounds emanating from the vents'.

They are in the lab already anyway though, somehow.

>>1924475
>We can speak in a non-human language they'd know right?

Maybe we use the Bird/snake aliens language? I forget their name.

>>1924481
They don't have to see them. As far as they know we might as well be contacting the cluster through the same means our drones communicate.

>>1924503
They can easily conceal themselves along the carapace of your drones, and they have become quite effective at hiding, so anyplace where your drones are, a fly can usually find its way inside with it.

>>1924503
Huh you're correct. For some reason I was under the impression we had flies come with Gilliam.

>>1924420
>Have your speaker verbally demand they make contact with you
Retracting >>1924457 vote because of retardation.

Question: how simple/small can we make the drives for inter stella travel?

Because if we can make them small enough we could use them as the propulsion system for smart mines. mentally dead and otherwise resembling rocks, plant them out and watch them come alive and nuke obsidian ships.

>>1924540
That's what we're already doing with our Space Pods only they have the benefit of stealth cloaks

>>1924550
Its been a while since ive tried to go into the wiki stuff so i always forget what we have.

>>1924527
That was to a different planet. Of course they didn't come in to the insanely paranoid stringent security scanned lab.

>>1924540
Smart mines means something else.

File: Ben-wanat-death-from-above.jpg (140 KB, 1200x675)

140 KB JPG

>>1924420
Your speaker chirps loudly as it examines the area.
"This speaker will inform it we are here." It says, and walks out into the hall. Your warriors keep watch over the humans to make sure they don't become unruly while your speaker follows the strange sounds. You can hear it, ever so slightly, a multitude of heartbeats and a stuttering breath somewhere beyond the ceiling. Your speaker examines the paneling, several bolts quickly rotating out of place with a burst of telekinesis, and the panel drops to the floor. A shape shifts in the shadow, moving deeper into the vent with a soft growl.

"Humans have involved themselves in the events of the Schism. Harming them is a violation of our treaty." Your drone chirps. "Though their involvements are often against our advisement..." You add. "The Humans disturbed the Cluster's location against our warning. We we return all clusters here to that resting place." There is another shifting within, and several legs emerge. One reaches out for your drone, and you stop it before it hit, and your speaker clasps it with its own claw for a moment, long enough for a small spine to puncture through the soft flexible chitin, and it recoils back at the result.

The other legs emerge, and slowly drag a large spider out from within the vents. It drags some manner of organ behind it, almost like an egg sac. You see it is hollow, and as it contracts, a number of chunks of flesh emerge, stringing themselves together as the flesh folds and combines until you see what looks like a human with a nondescript face emerge. The flesh and bone structure of the head shifts into an exact replica of Gilliam, and its spine links to the back of the spider before shifting forward like some manner of centaur.

"You have learned to use sound." It says. "How inconvenient and slow. They make thoughts murky and unclear, but we have no choice but to use it ourselves at times." The spider creature leans back, its mouth opening wide as it lets out an inhuman scream that echos through the halls for far longer than you would expect its lungs to last, if it is using lungs. As it grows silent, you hear it echo back, the bellowing howl permeating every inch of the facility as you hear it in the distance through every vent and maintenance tunnel.

"We are reforming. We accept your claim to these single minds. We shall join with the Cluster and assure our treaty is upheld. Bring us to ourselves, and make us whole."

>Agree
>Speak to the Cluster (write in)
>Other

>>1924614
>Agree

Also damn, that's creepy as fuck.
We should try and keep these out of site of the people. Let the officer and the higher up scientists see, but the rank and file don't need that scary shit tainting their minds.

>>1924614
>Agree
>Ask once outside of the humans hearing range if they have anything to buy from or what the plan is once they return.

I find myself thinking that, if the Cluster needs to get fresh DNA to renew itself, we should point it towards the Scavs.

>>1924614

>Agree
>Let the speaker speak . Maybe give the cluster some tips about using vocals.

>>1924627
I was thinking the same anon. At least the pheromone communication the scav have would make the cluster very interested.

File: c2a0ca0d3c548696111058528(...).jpg (43 KB, 417x817)

43 KB JPG

>Bring us to ourselves, and make us whole."


That dead space vibes

>>1924614
>Agree

>>1924614
>Agree

>>1924627
>>1924634
Seconding.

This has the additional benefit of letting us know if the Cluster knows anything about any Scavenger connection to the War.

>>1924627
I think they were just referring to natural degradation of the actual molecules.

I guess once people see the cluster the idea of replicant or that the hive can create human clones isn't that far fetched.

>>1924614
>Speak to the Cluster

"We are aware of another spacefaring species of single minds that we believe to be neutral in the Schism, and which the Cluster may harvest without harm to the treaty. They also have some unique traits you might find valuable."

>>1924614
>Agree

>Speak to the Cluster (write in)
Apologize for the actions of our human "subjects." Had we know the Cluster was present on Djin we never would have permitted the humans to soil the planet with their presence nor allow the indignity you suffered.

>>1924627
We can still sell our current DNA and data on the Scavs to him.

Odds are a cluster created them a million years ago anyway.

>>1924674
Sell implies trade. The Cluster has to remain neutral.

They've scavenged battlefields, but I think trade would cross the line.

File: f7f5333963e22185fb0602901(...).jpg (19 KB, 590x250)

19 KB JPG

>>1924614
"This speaker is very good at speaking. It is used for speaking to species that can only speak. It can help you with speaking!" Your drone chirps. A sudden rumbling of noise can be heard all around, quickly getting closer and much louder.

"The words of the smaller races do not interest us. We will observe humanity with your blessing, but we see no function to communication."

Your warriors watch as several humans begin screaming in sudden panic. Several of them shoot their firearms at something, and some manner of flying creature passes them as they dive away. You catch a closer look. It is a human finger that has sprouted wings like an insect, and it quickly passes your warriors and moves down the hall. With a quick wet slapping sound it impacts the larger creature, and the humanoid figure atop it plucks it off the mass, and sticks it as a sixth finger onto its own hand. It flexes them, testing its new digit as they move with the same function as a human hand.

"We have spoken before." It says. "We remember now. We will send this understanding to the rest of us." One of the panels not far from you drops to the floor, and a large panther like creature trailing blade covered tendrils from its nape rushes forward, diving at the spider. The two merge, and the each open, their organs twisting and connecting to one another as they take on some other shape, its body rotating through organs and folding and unfolding them to the needed surface as muscles detach and reattach, sliding each individual component into place. Another creature emerges from the air vent along the floor, this one like a meter long centipede. It crawls op the creature's back and each segment detaches, sliding into the larger mass as each segment is divided into several organs that vanish within its larger hulk.

cont.

>>1924677
He's certainly been busy.

>>1924677
>"We have spoken before." It says. "We remember now. We will send this understanding to the rest of us."

If it only just received the messenger finger with those memories, what prompted it to pick Gilliam's face just now?

File: 949497952.jpg (38 KB, 640x346)

38 KB JPG

>>1924677
The organs recombine, and slowly the mound of flesh takes on a new shape. Several dozen human eyes emerge from the mixture of flesh as the humanoid figure disassembles itself, its eyes emerging like insects sprouting from a burrow. They all form along a massive oblong head as the muscle tissue of several human arms connects beneath it, holding the mass aloft from the rest of the body. Leathery skin mixed with what is clearly human tissue with a range of skin tones forms together like a quilt as it stands to its full eight, and a patch of flesh parts as a skeletal jaw made of exposed bone and muscle pushes itself out to the surface, and the flesh contort until they form the same of a set of human lips pulled tightly around the bone of the jaw. The strain lessens as you hear flesh shift and sputter, and tendons anchor themselves into place.

"We may leave." It says. "We of this place are now one."

>Speak with the cluster before leaving
>Bring the cluster to Djin immediately
>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation
>Other

>>1924695


>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation

>>1924695
>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation

Probably say a few more things here too.

>>1924695
>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation
We've got a in now since we "know" they have hive tech.

>>1924695
>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation

Oh god can we just give hima drone so he can have some descent estructure the visage if all this smashed stuff he has...urgh!!

>>1924695
>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation

Also seriously, keep the cluster out of sight as much as possible. Those humans are going to freak the fuck out

>>1924695
>>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation

File: happeningoclock.jpg (81 KB, 454x445)

81 KB JPG

>>1924712
That's a feature, not a bug.

Humans always freaking out about things that are clearly not threatening or trying to kill them.

>>1924695
>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation
>Tell the Cluster they are to remain on Djinn and abide the treaty- sleep and wait out the war or trade with us if they wish. However, they are forbidden from infiltrating/infecting humanity.

>>1924715
Kinda mom's fault since her side effect of her tempering to the humans genetic, turned then less empathic.

It's like blaming a retard child for being born retard.

>>1924695
>>Bring the cluster to Djin immediately
We should be thinking how to turn the issue of the creep to our advantage, use it to gain more leverage over the Union government.

>>1924723
When they inevitably fail at containing it (or at least fail at containing it easily) we can offer to come in and clean up the mess. That should be good for a few choice favors.

>>1924695
By sending the Cluster fragment back home are we also empowering the entirety of Djinn by handing over all of the technologies they were able to gleam off the infected humans?

>>1924737
Yep. Which is why I still think we'd be better off killing and dissecting it now, and telling the ones on Djinn it got eaten by the creep.

>>1924726
Killinger and his pals have never struck me as the type to not be seriously thankful for anything we do. If our showing at parliament was any indication, popular opinion will probably hold us responsible for it coming to Path in the first place.

>>1924737
Did anyone it consumed here on Path know anything that the scientists it ate on Djin didn't know? It already learned better speaking on that planet than it did as Sanders.

>>1924737
We'll also hopefully be convincing them to not wake up and decide that the two sides are weak enough for it to step in and proactively stop the Schism.

>>1924748
Let's not betray the amalgamation of genetic data that is the cluster. If someone breaks the treaty let's make it so it's then not us.

>>1924695
>Send the cluster home, but have your speaker stay to warn of the creep infestation

Your speaker moves back down the hall, and the cluster follows, its steps shaking the floor with each loud thump. Just behind its head, near the nape of its neck, the long tendrils unfold, and seem to sprout like a plant, opening into large frills of hairs and whiskers. Along the sides of the head are rows of teeth, each set chattering madly as the whiskers drift through the air.

"The door is open. We will follow your forms."

Your warriors approach, flanking the creature as your speaker enters back into the common area. You hear short bursts of frightened screams cut short by a lack of breath as several humans stumble back from the defensive perimeter. They move back, keeping their weapons aimed at the shambling mound of flesh until it reaches your ship, the loading ramp creaking and straining under its weight as it ducks to enter.

"You're not leaving?" Palmer asks your speaker as the room full of humans strain their necks to see the cluster pass by, their view blocked by a mixture of your warriors and the narrow doorway.

"This speaker must assist the humans in destroying all remaining hive material." Your drone chirps. "This speaker believes you can do this alone, but this speaker also believes that humans do not do things when asked. In fact, humans have done the opposite of what it has been asked to do consistently, it has caused much pain for the Hive, and for humans."

"You won't have any issue with me." Norris says. "This is nothing but trouble, and it needs to burn before there's another incident. Palmer, I don't care if the Secretary walks through that door and tells you to do otherwise himself with a gun to your head, you will destroy every piece of alien shit you have here! Never in my life have I agreed with a non-human more, and I intend to watch you torch every single thing in this lab's inventory." He turns to the collection of worried lab techs and security guards. "Get the furnace up and running, I said move it!" He shouts and the all begin to scramble.

"Speaking is a difficult way to control your drones. The Norris is impressive despite this." Your drone says.

"They're no drones, they're grunts, and they know if they don't move faster they'll have a boot up their asses." He says, emphasizing several key words so that the entire room can hear. "But I'll take the compliment where I can. Normally my job isn't just to keep the stuff in the lab inside the lab, but to keep others out and away from what we're studying. Seeing as to how it's all yours anyways, I don't see the point in secrecy. You'd know more than us anyways. Maybe you can tell Palmer here what it is we're burning."

cont.

Hey I wonder what loot we'll find in that vault on Djinn we're still cutting through with a photon blade.

Then we just gotta skedaddle with it like the clones were never there. Hard to explain their presence except as more cluster impersonators who just vanished in the night.

Presuming we allow any survivors from the camp there. I somehow doubt we can get a majority to vote to have Cluster eat everyone on the surface.

>>1924748
Like all the other ancients the Cluster seems to look down on younger species like humans with complete distain. They appear to almost entirely be focused on biological adaptations and would not really want human "tech" at least as they understand it.

Besides, the Cluster already has tons of human tech from the humans they already consumed on Djin so they wouldn't be gaining much here. And if we kill the cluster in the lab it's an extreme risk to us.

>>1924764
"Ah yes, the catalytic cracking unit."

>>1924768
"Ah yes, the famous [incomprehensible bug screeching]. Very bad. Must burn it. Yes."

File: full-metal-jacket-hed.jpg (112 KB, 1100x631)

112 KB JPG

>"Speaking is a difficult way to control your drones. The Norris is impressive despite this."

Drill sergeant speaker when?

>>1924764
I suppose that would be an acceptable trade.
Just because they know what something does doesnt mean they understand why or how it does it.

Wait, maybe we should consume some material ourselves for 'recycling' instead.

Like, they still have some dead Cluster parts they were dissecting. It would be nice to analyze that ourselves for once without bothering the live one.

>>1924764
We should emphasize that on both planets that we have seen Black Hive debris crash, the resulting infection continues to be difficult to exterminate despite liberal use of bombardment.

>>1924766
>And if we kill the cluster in the lab it's an extreme risk to us.
How so? If you're concerned about the risk of it escaping to the streets of Path, we could simply do it in on the ship. Shit, we could perfectly vivisect him, and decide what to do with it once we're done. Just tell it to get in the medi tank for the plane ride home and run the tests on it while its in there.

Either way a researching it is bound to produce some insane research options, and I'd give my two front teeth for a chance to see what we could turn up.

>>1924777
Take out the word both and I'd have no problems with that.

>>1924778
>How so?

We already told the Cluster we were going to re-unite it with the lost fragment. If we suddenly say that's impossible they'll want to know why. Do you really think it's impossible for the Cluster to figure out that the last time their lost fragment was seen was boarding a Hive corvette?

Besides which, if a cluster fragment is lost because of the actions of hive servants (the humans kidnapping the Cluster in the first place) the Cluster could see that as us violating the treaty. We could make a very powerful third party enemy here. It's not worth the risk when we can just trade for the tech advantages.

>>1924780
How about:
"The methods of the black hive are virulent and insidious. After engagements when their debris falls back to a planet it releases spores which, if left unchecked, will create a creep that can consume the entire biosphere. Heavy infestations are difficult to remove with anything short of sustained orbital bombardment - or another creep to combat the enemy. The best way to burn out this corruption is early on with flamethrowers and plasma."

>>1924783
>"The methods of the black hive are virulent and insidious. After engagements when their debris falls back to a planet it releases spores which, if left unchecked, will create a creep that can consume the entire biosphere. Heavy infestations are difficult to remove with anything short of sustained orbital bombardment - or another creep to combat the enemy. The best way to burn out this corruption is early on with flamethrowers and plasma."
Works for me

>>1924783
Teah that'll work.

>>1924764
"Except this! We will return this."

let's drag the fake drone corpse onto a second ship or into a medical pod in a different room of the ship or something.

>>1924783

Agreement, this works.

>>1924783
>If we suddenly say that's impossible they'll want to know why.
You literally answered your own question here, we could just blame the creep spreading across Path. Considering that the cluster would be unable to distinguish between our creep and OQ's it would be pretty believable.

>Do you really think it's impossible for the Cluster to figure out that the last time their lost fragment was seen was boarding a Hive corvette?
Considering that A) they have absolutely no capacity for psionic transmission B) are in a coma with no space faring capacity C) are too dismissive of human society to attempt to use it to figure out what happened, yes. Yes I am confident that the cluster is blind and deaf to everything past Djinns orbit.

If we wanted to stop the cluster from developing explosive and plasma weaponry, among other things, once its on our ship would be the time to act.

>>1924797
It learned how to identify and use human explosives, it didn't necessarily learn how to build them just by reading a soldier's mind.

And anyway it learned far more from the humans on Djinn already so it's a bit too late.

But yeah if we were going to ensure this cluster on Path perished and was never heard from again we probably should have kept it a secret from the rest of them.

>>1924797
This kind of thinking was what drove the cluster away from the hives. I say we keep our word since he's race just like us and they don't want to mind fuck us or put us into slavery.

>"The methods of the black hive are virulent and insidious. After engagements when their debris falls back to a planet it releases spores which, if left unchecked, will create a creep that can consume the entire biosphere. Heavy infestations are difficult to remove with anything short of sustained orbital bombardment - or another creep to combat the enemy. The best way to burn out this corruption is early on with flamethrowers and plasma."

Maybe replacethe word debris by spore pods?

File: Palmer.jpg (47 KB, 600x300)

47 KB JPG

>>1924764

"Must we do this?" Palmer says. He is pleading to Norris for the first half of his statement, but switches to your speaker before the end, and then continues on after he stammers for a moment. "Please, your kind is far more advanced than we are, the smallest bit of understanding won't change that, but it could revolutionize our medical industry."

"Future trade of technology is possible, but all here is dangerous. Show this speaker the samples." Your drone says. Palmer stutters as he runs his hands through his unkempt hair. "Please, you could give us something, anything, just the smallest piece of equipment could have us busy for years! I understand that things that fell from a warship are dangerous, but surely there are some more mundane chunks left over we can look through?" He turns, looking at your agent. "Gilliam, help me out here." Your agent looks up at him, then at the drone, and then shrugs at Palmer.

"It's their tech, so it's not exactly ours to keep." He walks forward and places a consolatory hand on Palmer's shoulder. "Maybe some other time we can get a cooperative lab set up. Like the speaker said, trade for technology is possible." Your speaker chiters in affirmation.

"The enemy hive is insidious in its tactics." Your drone says. "Such debris are used to release spores to attack a world after a lost battle. They can consume the planet if left unchecked, and are difficult to remove once rooted. Only extreme heat may work, and it is difficult."

"And you think it may have spread? The samples we collected seem inert." Palmer says. Your drone chirps and bobs its head.

"Yes, it is likely. A contingent of drones may be able to uproot it before it becomes too durable."

"I'll pass this up the line." Norris says, and then points to one of his men. "You! Watch the techs burn every single thing while I'm on the line." And with that he storms off. Palmer quickly leads your drone to the lab as the techs continue to scramble to collect everything together. Palmer opens the door to the control center and directs your drone inside before indicating the various controls and monitors.

"We can observe the entire lab from here." He says. "The surgical area is here, in the containment area."

"That is the place with the large hole in it, yes?" Your drone asks. Palmer adjusts his coat.

"Yes... with the big hole. You can see the burnt remains of the original creature. It seemed to have separated somehow when it was under attack."

>Collect the remains
>Burn it with the rest of it
>Other

>>1924794
Ooh, good idea. I can't recall if the other corpse was a dead cluster or an ancient drone, but we could learn from it either way. If we're lucky maybe we could unlock the cold temperature survival adaptation the scarred queen was telling us about.

>>1924802
It isn't too late to stop the cluster from learning of the particulars of small arms fire and plasma weaponry here.

Although whether we kill it or not, we should stick it in a medical tank before the corpse. Studying a living subject is bound to give us greater insight into how they function and what we can learn from them.

>>1924813
>>Collect the remains
Not enemy hive.

>>1924813
>>Collect the remains
Woohoo, new research time!

>>1924819
For now, we research the corpse. Living subjects require getting consent or coercion, dead subjects need neither.

>>1924813
>Collect the remains
Palmer is great. Why don't we ask if he wants to come along and check out some of that amazing "hive biotech" first-hand.

>>1924819
>It isn't too late to stop the cluster from learning of the particulars of small arms fire and plasma weaponry here.
What would it learn here it didn't learn at Djin?

We shouldn't break a millions of years long peace-treaty now and we aren't breaking our word to a fellow ancient power.

>>1924813
>Collect the remains

>>1924813

>Collect the remains

>>1924813

Collect the remains, invite Palmer to speak with us later.
Then in private, later, offer for him to become a hive citizen.

>>1924813
"Your enthusiasm is commendable in a Thinker. You should serve a wiser Queen than the Windsor."

>>1924830
We can just tell it to sit in a medi tank for the ride home. It's our ship, its kind of obligated to sit where we ask it to, and we never implied we wouldn't research it when we got the chance.

>>1924813
>collect the remains
>tell the humans we intend to give said remains to the greater Cluster, despite their inertness
>tacitly imply we dont understand the Cluster that well, and are trying to keep them from flipping their lid

>>1924844
I doubt any of our anesthetics would work and poking living things with needles while they're conscious usually ends poorly

>>1924847
Pain is just information when the body is ultimately expendable and controls its own nerve endings.

>>1924848
I was more referring to Cluster being against getting studied. Then again maybe he doesn't care that much.

>>1924847
It's not like the cluster feels pain in any way like individual life forms do. It's our ship, we never said we wouldn't research it, and this wouldn't count as a treaty violation in the first place.

I say we have every right and reason to research the cluster, as long as it's still alive and intact when it arrives on Djinn.

>>1924813
>collect the remains

>>1924833
>>1924842
>>1924843
Also seconding us asking Palmer privately if he's interested in joining the Hive.

>>1924851
Allowing itself to be studied could be seen as getting involved in the Schism.
Depends on how you read the spirit of the law.

>>1924851
I'm not sure if it will accept that as cab fare, or if it expects that abiding by the 'no hurting the humans' terms should be the cab fare.

Maybe it will counter-offer a 'you show me yours and I'll show you mine' mutual dissection.

>>1924855
We need to know more about the exact details of the treaty to really understand what does and doesn't count as a violation.

>>1924813
I like the thinker Palmer he would be great in a hive lab. Join research is always possible. Also my mind says to burn

>Burn it.

We did send our ship away didn't we? There is no need to carry this thing.

As it is, anything the Cluster does of import outside that one star system will take thousands of years to have an impact since they gave up their FTL.

So since them having no real impact seems very unlikely, gotta wonder if they're going to restore their sight after all out of impatience and start using a blink drive again, because it seems doubtful they'll be content with trying to acquire warp drives, difficult as they are to get the materials for.

>>1924813
>Collect the remains

Your speaker looks at the screen, its mandibles clicking softly.

"This should be returned as well. Take this speaker to it." Your drone says suddenly.

"Oh, alright." Palmer says, and he clicks a button on the controls. "Halt the torching for a moment, the hive wants to take the dead one back as well." You watch on the screen as the other humans halt their activity, and you follow Palmer to the lab as if you are unaware of where it is.

"We can get a gurney." One of the techs says as your drone passes him. "The thing is at least-" He cuts himself off as your drone hoists it over its head with relative ease, its legs locking into the quadrupedal stance, and it shuffles back out.

"This speaker will return shortly." Your drone says as it leaves the room, the body smacks against the top of the doorway and your drone stops, backs up, and lowers itself slightly to fit, and continues on its way. A worker quickly rushes down the loading bay of your ship, skittering past the guards and into the lab as humans jump out of the way, eventually intercepting your speaker as the two drones quickly exchange the load, and the worker pivots, spinning the corpse fast enough that a strip of charred flesh slaps the wall with a loud thud, and it rushes back to your ship while your speaker retraces its steps. Palmer is waiting by the entrance to the command center, next to the hallway leading back to the containment area. Your speaker picks at some chunks of flesh left on its claws with its mandibles.

"This speaker has returned and we may resume." It says. Palmer nods silently with a polite but confused smile.

"You're... strong." he says. "That was at least six hundred kilos."

"Explain 'kilo'?" Your drone says. Palmer looks at your drone blankly for a moment.

"It's, uh, never mind. Let's continue."

>Speak with Palmer about a joint venture with the Hive in the Expanse
>Speak with Palmer about something else (Write in)
>Offer some information about the Hive to Palmer (write in)
>Other

>>1924871
We sent our shuttle away with the cluster on it. However, our corvette has multiple shuttles. We can easily send another one down in minutes.

>>1924874

>Speak with Palmer about a joint venture with the Hive in the Expanse

>>1924874
I imagine any 'joint venture' would be:

>Any creative research minds with ideas can come up with novel inventions not before seen by mankind and get hive labs working on their theories and prototypes while they live in hive housing


Interviews with a speaker easily weed out charlatans, and we get potential new research unlocked by harnessing human ambition for research grants.

>>1924874
>Speak with Palmer about a joint venture with the Hive in the Expanse

Dunno if we should or tell him about the casts. A more wise and less sleep deprived anon, should say something

>>1924874

Offer to assist in the cataloguing of native life on an expanse planet. NOT Leeland or Railegha, but a world that we haven't exploited yet.

We can phrase it as a great opportunity for human scientists to learn from the Hive.

>>1924874
>Speak with Palmer about a joint venture with the Hive in the Expanse

>>1924874
>Speak with Palmer about a joint venture with the Hive in the Expanse
You are passionate about your science much like the Hives own thinkers. That is good. We would like to offer you the chance to come with us on a joint research venture.

>>1924804
>I say we keep our word since he's race just like us and they don't want to mind fuck us or put us into slavery.
The cluster was never 'close' to the hives in the first place, and never avoided the hives. It only refused to get involved in their war with the void. It isn't anything like us either, and frankly just because it isn't trying to enslave us means its our friend. The cluster was always a rival power to the hive that hid its finest genes and price gouged the queens it sold to.

Like, come on man, if you want to stick to the deal out of fear of the implications or the hope of a trade deal that;s one thing, but you'd have to be crazy to think of the cluster as a possible ally or friendly power. If they woke up in earnest the consequences would be disastrous for our plans, as they would have to strip a biosphere bare to sustain themselves. And the only biospheres on the map are either held by us or a part of our allies territory.

>>1924874
I'm not huge on the idea of getting non-hive researchers. A parasite is pretty much a requirement in my opinion.

>>1924896
Well no one's committing to them NOT getting parasited.

File: thinking poptepic.jpg (32 KB, 404x270)

32 KB JPG

>>1924874
>Speak with Palmer about a joint venture with the Hive in the Expanse
"The Hive always thirsts for more information and finds your dedication to science commendable. What exactly did you hope to gain? The Hive may be interested in a joint research laboratory."

>Offer some information about the Hive to Palmer (write in)
Tell him that the brain thing is a brain. It completes complex calculations. Equivalent to a computer. Doesn't need a body because it does not need to move.

I don't think that's letting on too much but it's enough of a pro bono "gift" to get them thinking.

>>1924898
Honestly, I think if we privately told Palmer exactly what parasites and what we intend he would still take us up on the offer. Dude is crazy for science and he'll jump at the chance to work directly with the best bioscientists in the Galaxy.

Obviously we don't mention the parasites until he's already accepted our offer, of course. And he will accept our "offer" as any initial reluctance on his part can be overcome with the speaker's psi influence.

>>1924901
>>1924874
I'm supporting this, seems like a tantalizing offer without giving too much away.

>>1924905
All we need to do is tell Palmer that Hive-biotech is so far ahead of humanity the only way he can work with us without needing to relearn everything is if we upload the information directly into his brain. He should agree without too much trouble.

>>1924901
I can get behind this.

>>1924901
>Tell him that the brain thing is a brain. It completes complex calculations. Equivalent to a computer. Doesn't need a body because it does not need to move.
>I don't think that's letting on too much but it's enough of a pro bono "gift" to get them thinking.
Didn't they already figure that out? I could have sword there was a bit where they said it's "like a computer".

>>1924915
I don't remember, but the idea is to tell them something interesting for them (who have very little knowledge) but something trivial/unimportant to us. If they already had some theories, we could just confirm or deny them. It's not like they've seen any of these things in action.

>>1924915
No, they said that part of it looked like a wire but never confirmed what the thinker was. Just that it was mostly composed of something akin to brain matter and tendrils that looked like optic wires

>>1924874
"The Palmer is a very good thinker." Your speaker says. Before you can continue Palmer holds up an image of the crushed Obsidian Queen thinker. It is a photo taken some time ago, the actual operating table it is on now little more than a puddle of ooze and several chewed up bits of chitin with a half eaten noodle-like leg draped over a surgical armature.

"Is that what this is?" He says emphatically. "The legs look like some kind of organic fiber optics, are all of your nerves based on the same general structure, or do the thinkers use a more developed and specialized nervous system? They seem designed to interface with something, can that be another drone, or do you have dedicated technology they use? Oh, what about-" Your speaker chirps suddenly.

"The Palmer is also good at speaking. Speaking and thinking should not be done together."

"Sorry." Palmer says with a chuckle. "Guess I'm just a bit excited."

"It is a thinker." Your drone replies. "They think for the hive, instead of your computers."

"Yes, just as I thought. So something like this, it would be like a ship's computer subroutines, like fire control, FTL calibration, sensors. I suspect they also assist in centralizing hive thought processes, but I'm still not sure how they would communicate. If you could-"

"Thinker is speaking again." Your drone says, and Palmer nods quickly as he shuts his mouth."

"The Hive's thinkers benefit from new ideas. Human thinkers have shown to be good at making new ideas. The Palmer would be welcome in such a place made for different thinkers within the Expanse." Your drone says, and Palmer lets out a soft, high pitched giggle before letting out a fake cough and fighting his smile.

"Really? I mean I'm not sure if, uh, I could get clearance... and I mean I still need to get my funding-"

"Your current research is being burned. The Hive will allow all thinking of all thoughts to be thought of. The hive has no use of money, funding is not an issue to us."

"Well I mean... uh, I have orders, and..." Palmer trails off, trying to think of something to say other than 'yes'.

"This speaker believed humans were individuals." Your speaker says. Palmer laughs as he scratches his head nervously.

"I thought you said it was bad to think and speak?" He says. Your speaker throws its head back, swinging its hips in the motion as it opens its mandibles, and emits a loud chirping noise like a swarm of cicadas for several seconds before sending its gaze back to Palmer.

"Human humor, yes." Your drone says.

"Yea." Palmer says. "Do you have any? Jokes I mean. What is Hive humor like?" Your speaker lets out a quick chirp as its antennae twitch.

"The Obsidian Hive produces a good and reasonable plan, and is successful in its venture." It says. After a short moment of silence it chirps again. "Is it wrong humans consider irony a form of humor?" Palmer seems to realize something, and quickly laughs. It is forced, but the attempt is genuine.

"Irony, right."

cont.

>>1924928
If this is his reaction to Hive humor just wait until we tell him that we think Theseus is absolutely hilarious.

>>1924928
It's fine. Context is an important part of humor.