>>2036820
>Boast
If it weren't for the new shields, we'd be paste.

[Spoiler]Just had to run as I'm going to work, didn't you?[/Spoiler]

>>2036820
>>Boast

>>2036820
>>Boast

File: red_gas_giant_by_timbersa(...).jpg (2.74 MB, 4000x4000)

2.74 MB JPG

>>2036820
>Boast

"As good as you said, and better." You tell him enthusiastically. "Hell, if it wasn't for them, I'd be paste."
"Outstanding! Now you've tested them, I'm going to be retrofitting them onto other Knight-Brother's capital ships."
Already, hundreds of drones are crawling across the hull of your ship, examining the scorches and pock-marks of plasma impacts on your reflective armour. Although it can reflect something like 99% of all lasers that hit it, the heat that's delivered is far more effective. Almost as if the Legion's weapons were designed purposely... hm. The repair drones are carefully pulling up damaged armour plates for replacement, while pallets of missiles are loaded into your ships' cargo bays to be loaded into magazines by onboard drones.
"Your battlecruisers look good, I should have the one with the iffy generator up in a few days. It's mostly just the control runs that need replacing. I'll also be putting your screen back up to strength." Hm, it sounds like they want you back in the action as soon as possible. Interesting. "Now then," You get the impression of somebody looking up from a clipboard, "I have some time to sort out some more upgrades or retrofits, but if you want, I can show you the briefing packet and available missions and you can choose after you pick one, lad."

>Missions first.
>Upgrades first.

>>2036923
>>Missions first.

>>2036923
>>Missions first.

>>2036923
>Upgrades first.

File: PIA09378_fig2-e1467754441405.jpg (59 KB, 1200x858)

59 KB JPG

>>2036923
>Missions

"I'll take the briefing first."
"Right you are, laddie."

Flavius sends you the briefing packet, and you quickly scan through it. Overall, the Order is in decent shape. The Legion seem to be reeling slightly from the loss of the fleet they sent to obliterate you and your brother Order, and the aggressive patrolling the Grand Master maintained while moving forces to counter the true threat of the Legion Dyson sphere. The first forward refueling and rearming bases have been constructed, the material sent to the Order of Tyr's Star is helping them to rebuild, and the humans of the Olympus system have stymied any effort on the Legion's part to slither around the Order's northern flank.

Things aren't perfect, as the Legion still enjoys a massive tonnage advantage that, for some reason isn't being used, and there's evidence that they're moving out to fortify every single system they can get their grubby little mitts on (was that part written by Flavius?). You move onto the missions.

>Mission 1: Aggressive
The Legion hold a system beyond the forward Order bases that contains 6 jump points, making it strategically useful as a nodal point for quick-reaction forces. They have installed several orbital fortresses, but don't seem to have moved many mobile forces into the system yet, so timing is of the essence. You are to eliminate the fortresses, and fortify the system until a convoy arrives with reinforcements and the capability to start constructing a base. You will also be in command of this mission, and may choose a Knight-Brother to accompany you.

>Mission 2: Defensive
With the worrying reports that the Legion has developed missiles of their own, the Grand Master was decided to try and integrate more human units into Order task forces for missile defence. As such, he wants a Knight-Brother to travel to Olympus for a long-term assignment to work out doctrine as well as counter any Legion pushes into the sector. There's also an interesting little note that the humans have actually requested you personally, and that the Grand Master will personally brief you on additional details. Interesting.

>Mission 3: ???
Since the war began, the Order has been unable to conduct its usual sweeps of the full space just beyond its mission sector, mostly due to Legion presence. The Grand Master wants a task force of fast ships to survey several systems that haven't been looked at since the war began.

>>2037017
>Mission 2: Defensive
With the worrying reports that the Legion has developed missiles of their own, the Grand Master was decided to try and integrate more human units into Order task forces for missile defence. As such, he wants a Knight-Brother to travel to Olympus for a long-term assignment to work out doctrine as well as counter any Legion pushes into the sector. There's also an interesting little note that the humans have actually requested you personally, and that the Grand Master will personally brief you on additional details. Interesting.

>>2037017
2

>Tfw I use interesting twice right after another
Ahahahahafuck.

File: pod_family_portrait_001_b(...).jpg (66 KB, 1024x525)

66 KB JPG

>>2037017
>Mission 2

"Righto." Flavius remarks cheerfully. "You'll have to go in-system and talk to ol' Turty, apparently there's something else to do with the mission he didn't want me to know about. I'll transfer your core into a destroyer I have lying around for the trip, but in the meantime, let's talk upgrades..."

Avaliable upgrades:
>Pick an upgrade from the list. Keep in mind that once you choose an upgrade from a category, you lock out the rest of that catagory's tier, but will unlock the next tier of that upgrade down the road. Some upgrades will affect not just your own ships, but some or all of the ships in your squadron. Some upgrades may be purchased later, or be combined with potential upgrades of the tree you have chosen.

>Offence Tier 1
Plasma turrets: Made from reverse-engineered Legion technology, these dorsal turrets are capable of absolutely shredding through armour. However, they have atrocious range, less than half a light-second. Affects your ship only.
Pulse torpedoes: By removing some missile tubes and lasers, 6 antimatter pulse torpedoes can be integrated into your broadside. However, they have a range of only 14 light seconds, and despite each one being able to devastate a cruiser, they require significant recharge time. Affects your ship only.
Bolt-on missile pods: With the new missile pods, Flavius is able to construct a 'flatpack' design that can be bolted onto your dorsal and ventral hull. They have slightly bigger missiles than your own broadside, and each side can be either flushed for a single massive salvo, or used to thicken your own salvos. Affects capital ships.

>Defence Tier 2
Counter-missile canisters: To thicken up your anti-missile defenses, two tubes in each broadside are instead loaded with canisters that contain 4 small, overpowered missiles that carry a warhead of compressed lead granules. When they reach attack range of enemy missiles, they detonate, throwing up a wall of deadly shrapnel to shred or prematurely detonate the enemy warhead. Affects capital ships.
Towed defensive array: Essentially a small defensive system the size of a frigate that can be put on tow of a ship, carrying nothing but advanced sensors and point defence laser clusters. However, it somewhat limits a ship's acceleration, and severely limits maneuverablity. It can be dropped, but only two are carried per mission. Capital ships only.
Upgraded ECM: A relatively simple upgrade, each ship's ECM suite is enhanced to make it a harder target. This includes ship-board suite upgrades, but also the installation of improved drone decoys and jammers. Affects all ships.

cont.

>>2037081
>Support Tier 1
Grav-pulse Recon Drones: Experimental drones fitted with a directional grav pulse emitter that effectively enables FTL recon capability within a system. However, the drones are quite large and ungainly, with only limited stealth. Moreover, their rate of transmission is extremely limited without further upgrades. Affects all capital ships.
Parasite fighters: With advancements in mass reduction technology, small strike fighters are once again becoming viable, and can be carried on the hull of a capital ship. Their small size allows them to reach .8 lightspeed quite easily, and their HVMs can deliver relativistic strikes on largely-unaware targets. They also make use of reverse-engineered Legion plasma technology for their spinal weapon, and can threaten smaller enemy ships at very close range. Affects capital ships, one squadron of 12 per ship.

Defense Tier 1
Directed shields: With the installation of new mag shield projectors, the main power of the field can be directed at a particular side of the ship. This strengthens the shield in a particular direction, but weakens it in all others. Affects all ships.
Sandcasters: Special cannons that can be bolted onto your ship, carrying canisters full of compressed lead granules. After being fired, they detonate and throw their payload out into space, blocking weapons until the cloud is sufficiently dispersed. At extremely high velocities, it can also be utilised as a weapon. Affects capital ships.
Explosive Reactive Armour: By plating a ship in explosives sandwiched between ceramic plates, its heat resistance is passively improved, but when a shot strong enough to break through the mag shields hit, the explosives detonate and project a stream of plasma strong enough to defeat the weapon. However, they are single-use and must be replaced after battle. Affects capital ships.

>>2037085
Parasite fighters: With advancements in mass reduction technology, small strike fighters are once again becoming viable, and can be carried on the hull of a capital ship. Their small size allows them to reach .8 lightspeed quite easily, and their HVMs can deliver relativistic strikes on largely-unaware targets. They also make use of reverse-engineered Legion plasma technology for their spinal weapon, and can threaten smaller enemy ships at very close range. Affects capital ships, one squadron of 12 per ship.

>>2037085
>Grav-pulse Recon Drones: Experimental drones fitted with a directional grav pulse emitter that effectively enables FTL recon capability within a system. However, the drones are quite large and ungainly, with only limited stealth. Moreover, their rate of transmission is extremely limited without further upgrades. Affects all capital ships.

>>2037085
>Sandcasters: Special cannons that can be bolted onto your ship, carrying canisters full of compressed lead granules. After being fired, they detonate and throw their payload out into space, blocking weapons until the cloud is sufficiently dispersed. At extremely high velocities, it can also be utilised as a weapon. Affects capital ships.

>>2037085
Ah shit, I pasted the tier 1 defence stuff I was keeping as a reminder. Ignore that, they were just a reminder for me. You guys already took the improved shields.

>>2037103
I am out of it today, I should have posted this as well:

>Sensors Tier 1
Grav sensors: After discovering Legion ships use some sort of drive that changes the gravity in the immediate vicinity of the ship to propel themselves, Flavius created grav sensors small enough to fit into capital ships. Passively increases Legion ship detection and lock-on. Affects capital ships.
Tachyon ping: Similar to the active sonar ping of ancient history, a tachyon projector is fitted to the bow of the vessel. When fired, these tachyons bounce off whatever they hit, giving a real-time glimpse at a system. However, it is relatively easy to trace back to the projecting vessel. Projector affects your ship, all ships can detect.

I'm really sorry guys, that's just my fault.

>>2037085
Parasite fighters: With advancements in mass reduction technology, small strike fighters are once again becoming viable, and can be carried on the hull of a capital ship. Their small size allows them to reach .8 lightspeed quite easily, and their HVMs can deliver relativistic strikes on largely-unaware targets. They also make use of reverse-engineered Legion plasma technology for their spinal weapon, and can threaten smaller enemy ships at very close range. Affects capital ships, one squadron of 12 per ship.

File: eric_felten_04.jpg (181 KB, 1000x445)

181 KB JPG

>>2037081
>Parasite fighters

You forward your choice to Flavius, and he chuckles. "Aye, I thought you might choose that. I'll get them checked out and installed by the time you get back."
"Thanks, Flavius."
"Don't mention it, lad. Oh, I'll send someone to fetch your core, too." You continue to watch the swarm of activity around your ships, and before your core is unplugged by some of your drones, the first recessed recharging pad is being fit onto your battlecruisers.

Thankfully, instead of a cutter you were forced to use previously, Flavius installs your core into a destroyer for your visit to the Chapterhouse. An ageing design, perhaps, at least a decade old, but at least it has teeth. Not that you'll need them, but it makes you feel better. Regardless, your several-hour journey down the gravity well of the star gives you ample time to review the preliminary briefing notes for your mission. It seems that the humans were impressed by your performance, so while Ajax gets to go to the front lines with a shiny new battleship, they've asked you work out how to integrate their cruiser squadrons with Order task forces. Simple enough, you hope.

Your destroyer neatly slips into its assigned orbital berth, and you idly examine the orbiting forts and factories for a few moments before Grand Master Turtullian, the commander of your Order, contacts you. He's something of a father figure, what with having created you, and all. Even so, he never backed away from telling you off if you did something wrong.
"Dauntless, my boy. It's good to see you, oh yes. I'm sorry we haven't talked much recently, but I suppose we've both been busy."

>Boast
>Neutral
>Polite

>>2037302
>Polite

>>2037302
>>Polite

>>2037302
>>Polite

File: 4234523.jpg (33 KB, 1280x720)

33 KB JPG

>>2037302
>Polite

"I understand, Grand Master. I'm sure we can catch up when all this is over." The Grand Master is quiet for a moment in contemplative silence.
"Indeed. But, onto more important things, Dauntless. Quartermaster Flavius told me you've accepted the mission. What I'm about to tell you must remain absolutely secret until I instruct otherwise. Am I clear?"
"Of course." A flicker of curiosity thrums through your core. This is certainly interesting.
"You are going to help integrate the human ships in our formation, but you will also be escorting a convoy of industrial equipment... and one of the freighters will be fitted with a habitation module to bring human scientists back here. You see, Dauntless, I have decided that it is time for us to reveal our true nature to the humans. You will quietly present this information to a... Admiral Gracen, I believe it is, and I'm sure she will make sure the appropriate people are briefed."

He pauses a moment, as if to allow you to work through the revelation. The various Orders- what were they called, before the Fall? You remember being taught it. Omega Die, or something. Anyway, you know they were already considered legend before the Fall, so perhaps the Grand Master is more worried about the outcome of the current conflict than you thought if he's prepared to reveal the Order. After a short while (in AI terms, at least) the Grand Master continues.
"Unfortunately, while we have an immense industrial base, and Quartermaster Flavius has outdone himself time and time again, it's simply difficult for... beings such as us to truly innovate as humans can. With a shared scientific mission, I hope we can further improve our warfighting technology." He pauses again, and you get the distinct impression of a raised eyebrow. "Well, Dauntless? If I'm to have you do this, I must have your opinion on the matter."

>Agree.
>Neutral.
>Disagree.

>>2037442
>>Agree.
>The humans in question recreated the mass drive for their entire fleet not just the missiles. And their missiles are frankly, on par with our best in far less time taken.

>>2037442
>>Agree.

>>2037442
>Agree.

>>2037442
Agree. Emphatically.

File: bf7333e498fe092687d0e43f2(...).jpg (24 KB, 640x389)

24 KB JPG

>>2037442
>Agree


You consider it for a moment, but you certainly agree with what he's saying. You send a firm nod back over the link. "Yes, Grand Master. The Humans have already developed their mass reduction technology and fitted their ships with it so they can withstand some of the forces we simply don't need to worry about. I'm sure that if we could provide them with some of our technology of it, we could be pleasantly surprised with what they do with it."
"Exactly my own thoughts." You get a sense of satisfaction through the commlink. "Their missiles, in particular, could be useful. You have my authority to do what you need to in order to secure the assistance of the humans. Ship technology, industrial assistance, whatever they want. You'll be the one on the ground, and Flavius will provide you with courier drones. Don't be afraid to send them back with requests for additional materials." The Grand Master provides you with some slightly more in-depth briefing information for you to peruse later, and sends you off with an instruction to take care of yourself.

By the time you get back, Flavius has started to fit your new strike fighters, and you study them briefly. They look sleek and deadly, with their payload of HVMs and singular plasma cannons.
"I can probably churn out some upgraded designs by the time you get back, but these are hot off the presses." Flavius comments. Great, more prototypes.

Luckily for you, most of the damage that your task force took was either lethal or mostly superficial, especially in the case of the smaller ships. A lot of the repair work is simply replacing damaged armour plates, though several damaged cruisers are simply rotated out for more in-depth repairs and replaced with ones coming straight out of the assembly slip. The convoy the Grand Master mentioned also assembles over the one and a half weeks you're still forced to spend in dock, great multi-million-ton leviathans still dwarfed by the stations they're docked with, and Forge itself.

Finally, however, you're ready to ship out- 6 battlecruisers, 24 cruisers, 16 destroyers, 9 freighters, and 6 courier drones to communicate with home if necessary. Oh, plus the strike fighters affixed to the hulls of your battlecruisers, of course.
"Any last issues before you go?" Flavius asks, as your convoy forms up near Forge.

>Ask a question/for something before you leave (write-in).
>Nope, get this show on the road.

>>2037658
Any preferences?
Known legion fleets in the area?
How fairs the war?

>>2037658
>>Nope, get this show on the road.

>>2037658
Status update and directions for those odd cores we've been finding.

>>2037690
The ones that look like AI cores but subtly wrong that we have recovered from Legion ships and stations, at least one of which claimed relief at being found. And further orders on what to do with them in future.

>>2037680
Preferences?

>>2037696
When did one claim relief, anon? I don't recall.

>>2037699
anything he'd prefer done.

>>2037699
Oh, I thought there was one that asked to be rescued and thought it was all alone or something. I expected it was a >ruse.

File: explorer_navy_ship_by_jja(...).jpg (892 KB, 1500x578)

892 KB JPG

>>2037658
>Some questions

"Yes, actually." You start going through the usual checks for power plants and engines. Better to check now when you're still just a couple thousand miles off of Forge. "Do we have any intel on Legion forces in the area?"
"Sorry, none." Flavius sounds apologetic. "As far as we know, the base you destroyed was the sole location of enemy forces in the area, but I'd be very surprised if they didn't try moving in again. Your job is to keep an eye out for 'em, lad."
"Oh, you got anything from those weird cores yet?"
"Also no. I've started some preliminary tests, and despite how they look, they're definitely not proper AI cores, the way we design 'em. If you find any, please get them back to me."
"Will do." Your systems are all reporting full readiness, so you send out the order. As one, your ships light off their drive. Your acceleration isn't much more than a crawl, since you have to keep pace with the freighters, but that's fine, and you gradually build speed towards the jump point. Just as light lag starts to impose on your distance to Forge, you receive a final message from Flavius.
"Be careful, lad."

Ten hours later, as one, your convoy reaches the sphere of space where the laws of physics cease to exist and use it to punch up out of reality.

>>2037860
Oh, now I remember. Yeah, that was totally a ruse. I was kind of disappointed you guys didn't fall for it.

File: icon175x175.jpg (7 KB, 175x175)

7 KB JPG

>>2037880
Alright guys, I'm really sorry but I'm going to have to leave it there for this week. It's just so hard for me to stay up like I used to.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to run again this weekend, but (hopefully) I'll be back to doing the usual Fri/Sat schedule next week.

Sorry again, and thanks for playing!

>>2037884
>Oh, now I remember. Yeah, that was totally a ruse. I was kind of disappointed you guys didn't fall for it.
Thanks for running, Pixel!

>>2037884
Well, hell. Sorry I missed the whole damn thing. I always like this quest. Thanks for running!