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Expedition Dramatis Personae

Sonia Reynard [Human Female] Viscount

Command Crew - Hidden Dagger [Nocturn Cloaked Attack Cruiser]
Arron Westrate [Human Male] CO
Linda Travers [Human Female] Chief Navigator
Maybourne [Dro'all] Operations

Reynard Personal Guard
Ella Rufaro [Human Female] (Bodyguard & body double)
Valeri Fusaro [Human Male] (Bodyguard)
Dave Kárpáti [Human Male] (Bodyguard)
Emor Kozan [Dro'all] (Bodyguard)

Knight Ilya [Human Male] Senior Knight - Thule's Prism contingent
(4 other Knights from Thule's Prism)
Lt Arif Sayadov [Human Male] -Former Kharbos special forces

Jarato Eldal [Krath infiltrator]
Estavan Risto [Krath infiltrator] (Protectorate) RTS intel

Dr Seays [Rovinar] Krath bio weapon program (Suit)

"Dave" -Light Neeran- Detection & Engineering
"Sam" -Light Neeran- Combat & Detection

Dyson Exploration Sciences Foundation
Jennifer Alam [Human Female] Chief Science officer
Esibe (Akyarres) [Rovinar Male] Assistant
Darweg Attir [Shallan Male] Shallan science institute
Rhistel Taraman [Hune Male] Republic Research oversight committee


The Sphere
Einridi [Neeran] Caretaker, local leader
Tiur [Neeran] Caretaker, interrogator
Svidur [Neeran]

Alliance
Cpt Gaben Wilson - [Human Male]

Enemy Personnel
"Girisha" [Neeran] Neeran Empire - Fleet Commander, Dyson sphere occupation fleet

>>2279417
For House and Dominion!

Plans have been set in motion on both sides, some of which might take decades to come to fruition. Neeran are long lived enough to prepare for such eventualities. You're more concerned about their short term plans.

The recent weather station sabotage should slow down enemy analysis of hardware on the sphere. Hopefully that has bought some time. The Alliance is working on a number of operations to strip Girisha of their military and political power. Your ship, the Nocturn class Hidden Dagger has been a big help in putting infiltrator teams in place. They'll work to subvert command of units on the edges of Girisha's territory or better yet lure them into Alliance traps.

With those missions accomplished, or at least their deployment, you've moved onto trying to intercept the Commander's tribute shipments to the Empire. This isn't as easy as it might seem. Finding out the time and place of these shipments has required tapping into secure enemy communications. That isn't easy, and has required you to look for alternate means of tapping coms.

Dave has determined that you can make use of enemy listening posts to intercept signals. A program put in place will piggyback reports on their less secure outbound coms.

Having just put such a program in place on a listening post hidden in a gas giants atmosphere, you're all too eager to get out of there and on with your way.
A short hop out of the system later and you're closing in on the next listening post.

Dave and the others have located a cargo ship that's been sent out to establish a new listening post. They don't know where it's headed yet, but it should be possible to either tail it for some time, or put a team aboard in mid flight between jumps.
"It's hard to track them. I'm not sure we could keep up for long without them realising they're being tailed."

Another available option is a relay satellite that's been found that receives data from a listening post. These are cheap and disposable enough that the Empire replaces them frequently. There is no way to be certain how long it will remain in operation.

[ ] Follow transport
[ ] Board transport mid-flight
[ ] Satellite

>>2279536
Won't they know or realize we've dropped a team on top of them if we try to put one on them in between their jumps? Especially if there are any neeran aboard the cargo ship.

Is it possible for us to get a team on the cargo ship and then hit the satellite as well?

>>2279580
"Won't the crew of the cargo ship know or realize we've dropped a team on top of them if we try to put one on them in between their jumps? Especially if there are any neeran aboard."

"That's why I'll be aboard the LST." answers Sam. "By the time we dock. I'll know for sure if there are any Neeran aboard and we can change plans accordingly."

Arron answers your other question.
"That ship shouldn't be able to detect us at sublight. As long as we catch them at a sublight reversion point we should be good."

You mull the available options. "Is it possible for us to get a team on the cargo ship and then hit the satellite as well?"

"I suppose we could go after the relay sat while the cargo ship team is working, as long as we do it quickly. Put a team on the ship, go after the satellite then wait for a signal from the cargo ship team's LST to home in on. It might take us a few hours to catch up though.
I'd rather not make a bunch of jumps near the relay sat by having to double back here later."

Try for both?

>>2279628
>Try for both?
Let's try the transport first.

>>2279628

Try for both, but get the LST in position first.

>>2279637
>>2279712
We'll need a tie breaker, but for the moment we can figure out teams.

Transport boarding team:
[ ] Recon Team (Sonia, Rufaro, Valeri)
[ ] Rufaro, Valeri
[ ] Eldal, Risto

>>2279403
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION

>>2279628
>Try for both?
Hell yeah.

>>2279734
>[x] Eldal, Risto
If they're interested. We might as well let Risto get some more experience against Neeran.

>>2279734
>Eldal, Risto

>>2279734
[ ] Recon Team (Sonia, Rufaro, Valeri)

>>2279734
> Just the transport

"We're going to try and pull off both. Eldal and Risto are assigned to the transport mission."

Sam requests enough marines or guard personnel to sweep and secure the transport if it becomes necessary. A few people with jump jet and power cell armor are enough to ensure a small party can quickly secure the ship.

Arron brings the ship in and drops out of FTL at a likely alignment point. The ship arrives a bit farther away than he would have liked but an aggressive burn with repulsors at full power gets the ship within range in time. The LST detaches and Arron breaks off, leaving the small craft outside the cloak only 5 seconds before it's within the suspected perimeter range of their shields.

"Looks like they made it without issues."

Thirty seconds later the transport jumps out. No signs of a distress signal being sent are detected.

"Lets deal with that satellite as soon as possible. I dont want to be too far away if they send a distress signal."

Once the transport is far enough away Arron sets course and brings the ship in on the relay sat location. It looks average enough, but a scan turns up a few problems.

"That satellite has a demolition charge attached directly to its fusion reactor. It must be there to prevent tampering."

"What's the plan sir?" asks Rufaro.

"I don't suppose we could use a drone?" you ask.

That could prove troublesome as it runs the risk of signals being picked up by the relay sat.

[ ] Make sure not to screw up / best people for the job
[ ] Disable the bomb first
[ ] Have someone expendable upload the program
[ ] Use a drone anyways
[ ] Never mind, destroy it
[ ] Other?

>>2280038
>[ ] Other?
Let's pick up the the Krath instead. Destroying it would just alert the Neeran to our plans early.

>>2280038
>[ ] Other?
I'm tempted to say, lets leave the thing be. If it's set to blow with any tampering. Lets not mess with it until we get our team back. Once we do, then we use a drone to try and mess with it.

>>2280071
>>2280084
Leave and come back later.

Arron isn't really thrilled with the idea of returning to the area but he likes the idea of messing with a rigged fusion reactor even less.

It seems there was a Neeran crewmember aboard the transport. Fortunately they were not that experienced or it might have been a problem. After a debate it was decided that Sam would provide cover while the two Krath conducted the planned modifications to the listening post.

Risto nearly blew the entire operation when encountering a crew member. Eldal was forced to help cover for him delaying things quite a bit. Later on when they attempted to access another upload location the same crew member caught Risto in the act. It seems they expect to be catching your average informant, defector or possibly a spy, not a Krath.

Certainly not two Krath.

The crewman's body was found crushed beneath a small cargo loader that had toppled over. Perfectly reasonable explanation for their death. The program was uploaded without further incidents and the team bailed out aboard their LST during another realignment.

It still took the better part of a day for your ship to find them. After that it's just a matter of looping back to the satellite and deploying a drone. To hell with it, the control signal will either be detected or it wont.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>2280381
>Risto
Was it just bad luck, or is Risto not that good when it comes to infiltration missions?

>Roll 1d100

>>2280397
A tiny bit of inexperience but bad luck mostly.

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>2280381

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>2280381

>>2280410
Good job, Anon.

>>2280467
That'll be one one good roll this entire thread.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>2280482

Through a bit luck and your engineers being miracle workers the drone is able to access the satellite and upload the program to the necessary systems without setting off the demolition charge. Even better, they're able to resecure the access panels so there isn't even any physical evidence of tampering.

"Someone is getting a raise. They did that way faster than I thought was possible."

This results in much cheering from the engineers once the drone has been recalled and they're informed. You'll consider a bonus if tapping the system holds up.

Pausing ten light years distance away the temporary navigator warns that an enemy starship is incoming at high FTL speeds. Arron looks over the readings and curses.

"This is why I didn't want to make too many passes. They're headed right for the satellite's location. Probably checking to make sure nobody has been messing around with it."

"What kind of ship, can you tell?"

"V2 support ship. They're like an ECM attack cruiser."

[ ] The engineers did a good job, it will hold up
[ ] Are you sure you didn't just say salvage?

>>2280547
[ ] Are you sure you didn't just say salvage?

>>2280547
[ ] Are you sure you didn't just say salvage?

>>2280547
>[x] Are you sure you didn't just say salvage?
"The Suvorov could use all the ECM cover it could get..."

>>2280547
>The engineers did a good job...
How would we even get it back to the carrier without enemy patrols tracking it?

>>2280566
>>2280571
>>2280579
Well that's fairly unanimous.

>>2280580
Is what I was going to say.

>>2280580
>How would we even get it back to the carrier without enemy patrols tracking it?
>>2280584
>Is what I was going to say.

Hmmmm.
Let them perform the inspection and then track them until we can hit them at FTL?

>>2280584
I'm sure we can take it and leave it at a nondescript location. And head back to the heavy with info that there is an ECM ship to look at later.

"Are you sure you didn't just say salvage? Because I'm sure the Suvorov could use all the ECM cover it could get..."

You can tell who the new people are on the bridge because they just don't seem to get it. It's a potential for salvage! No, they're all concerned about the logistics of getting a captured ship back to the carrier. Amateurs.

"Could we cripple it?"

Arron shrugs. "If it lowers its shields sure. If not I think our SP torpedoes might be too powerful for it. They didn't seem that sturdy in the reports."

And if they do lower their shields they'll be just as vulnerable to a boarding assault.

[ ] Disable and drag to another system
[ ] Maybe just kill it
[ ] See if their inspection turns up anything first
[ ] Attempt to board them

>>2280646
Just to check, how is the local area for stellar objects? Could we take the ship, stash it in an asteroid, then have a retrieval team snag it later?

>>2280668
The satellite is in deep space. Not much cover. You'd need to jump a couple light years distance.

>>2280646
>[x] See if their inspection turns up anything first

>>2280646
>>2280691
Seconded.

>>2280646
>[ ] See if their inspection turns up anything first

"Arron, I think we're going to see what they do. Turn us around and have us ready to attack. All boarding teams to ready stations."

You leave the bridge and suit up in your Recon armor to save time if you do ending up boarding it. By the time you return the ship is back out of FTL and so is the rocket shaped craft the Alliance have taken to calling the V2.

The other ship immediately scans the area with high power sensors. A combination of ECM and ECCM tries to counter any Alliance ships that might be trying to better hide themselves. This makes Arron a little nervous. The ship and the cloak haven't been tested against such powerful systems before. As a precaution he backs off slightly.

"Stand by weapons."

Arron switches off the e-beam safeties while the weapons officer preps torpedoes for launch.

When the ship stops scanning and doesn't seem to be making any attempt to call for backup everyone breathes a sigh of relief. It's momentary, because they soon begin inspecting the satellite.
"Shit. They're moving in closer."

"Did we miss anything?" you ask.

"No idea. They're transmitting and downloading data from it."

Dave contacts you. "It looks like a routine check from what we're intercepting."

Routine or not they're maneuvering along side seemingly with plans to send a team over.

"They've lowered shields."

A small worker pod launches from the side bay and begins some minor maintenance. Dave cant tell if they've done anything that might override the program you've uploaded.

[ ] Let them go
[ ] Board the ship
[ ] Pursue and ambush elsewhere

See you tomorrow!

Before I forget again, this is a thing.
https://www.patreon.com/ForHouseandDominion

>>2280886

Move in closer and do our best to disable weapons and engines then get the LST and boarding teams over.

[ ] Board the ship

>>2280886
>[ ] Board the ship

>>2280886
> [ ] Pursue and ambush elsewhere

Thanks for running

>>2280965
I would love to, however
>Per post

Change it to monthly and I'll support

>>2281625
Didn't realise it was set to that. Thanks.

>>2281625
>>2281677
And done.

Snow storm atm. I'll need to see if it's necessary to relocate my car, which always takes a bit.

>>2281677
Did you mean to make it "per thread"?

Fuck it's been 6 years. I'll pitch

>>2281713
Patreon has two payment systems, monthly is exactly as it sounds.

Per post is whenever the creator decides to post a paid comment. I doubt TSTG would but if a person dosnt have an upper limit to how much their willing to contribute per month, the creator can just spam paid posts and people donating get dinged each time.

>>2281724
Good to know. I ony ever supported this and "I Roved Out" and buttsmithy before so I never looked into it.

>>2280886
>[x] Let them go

>>2281724
Is there any difference between paying via paypal or regular credit cards when it comes to patreon's processing fees?

>>2281731
Just your typical conversion fee if your paying in anything that isnt USD

>>2281732
Thanks.

>>2281196
>>2281140
>>2281602
Looks like we're boarding.

"Launch LST's and prepare to begin jamming. Activate once they're in position and disable the weapons on this side of the ship."

Arron targets E-beams on their phase cannon turrets and maneuvers to better line up the shots. Valeri and Rufaro are standing by at the LST dock waiting in case you need to run back there and join the troops.

"LST's are in position."
"Firing in three!"

A number of small turrets disappear depriving the ship of half its armament. Within seconds the LST's have cut through the outer hull deploying their troops. Arron move in closer and locks tractor beams on the other ship to keep it from maneuvering too hard or trying to jump out. It wont take long for your people to secure key systems, but that could be long enough for them to attempt to escape the area.

The ship soon fires up its sublight engines and tries to make a break for it, but are hauled off course by the Hidden Dagger. Arron struggles witht he controls, trying to reel in the other ship without making hull contact. Your top of the line ship isn't meant for the sort of collision assisted boarding assaults you've been prone to over your carreer.

Soon the second team reports that they've secured engineering and shortly after the engines shut down. First team reaches the bridge not long after.
"Locking down secured sections and reducing atmosphere levels to minimum in the rest."

It takes the better part of an hour to collect the crew and secure them. Meanwhile the ship is moved farther away from the satellite in order to keep from jamming its regular outbound transmissions.

The lightning assault prevented the crew from putting up more of a fight resulting in only four wounded among the boarding parties. There was one KIA unfortunately.

Bringing the captured ship directly to the Suvarov might be too dangerous. You could bring it back to the Alliance lines where it could be checked out and a bounty secured. Or you could park it elsewhere and have a Krath Battlecruiser haul it in after a thorough inspection.

[ ] Alliance lines. Bounty/sell ship
[ ] Alliance lines. Added to taskforce with later reinforcements
[ ] Park for inspection. Added to taskforce

>>2281880
>[x] Alliance lines. Added to taskforce with later reinforcements

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>Name suggestions for Winner 01
>http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/Winner_01
Sunfish class?

>>2281880
>[] Alliance lines. Added to taskforce with later reinforcements

>>2281963
Supporting

You return to Alliance lines with the captured ship. This takes some time and requires looping outside the galaxy so as not to spend a few weeks crossing enemy territory. Unsurprisingly a pair of friendly ships move to intercept you on approach. After identifying yourself they escort you in to a station.

Once all of the necessary forms and reports are filled out you head back to the Suvorov taskforce. Some of the other units have had success in their missions, though you see at least one of the cloaked battleships undergoing repairs. Reports have also started to come in from the listening posts you helped subvert.

Intel is slowly building up a more detailed map of enemy communications networks. They can't get at everything, but there could be a way to do so, at least for a few weeks or months. The want ships to help attack com and sensor relays that are too difficult to infiltrate. By destroying a number of them it's hoped that secure com data will be rerouted through those that have been bugged.

Did you want to make your ships available for this mission?

[ ] Battleships
[ ] Nocturn
[ ] Both
[ ] Use captured ships to attack them

>>2282004
>[x] Battleships

>Once all of the necessary forms and reports are filled out you head back to the Suvorov taskforce.
Did the Neeran we captured during the sphere expedition provide any helpful information or insights?

>>2282017
>Did the Neeran we captured during the sphere expedition provide any helpful information or insights?
You mean Svidur? He's providing what information he can. There was some Q&A last thread. There may be more he hasn't gotten to yet.

>>2282036
>You mean Svidur?
The two or three guys we managed to capture on the shuttle pretty early into that mission. We put them into stasis and that was it, I think.

>>2282004

>Did you want to make your ships available for this mission?

>[ ] Both

Use our cloak ships to scout and see if the targets are heavily protected. If they are not then the stealth ships should be able to deal with a few listening posts.

For some reason I read captured as capital, I need coffee.

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>>2282046
Oh yes, I forgot about them. We never did decide to get info out of them ourselves. They've been handed over for debriefing as well. It seems they were just a shuttle crew conducting routine patrols. They would carry a few soldiers or supplies to different areas and occasionally terrorize less advanced civilizations for fun.
They're basically nobody.

>>2282004
>[x] Both
Maybe leave some com relays up as false positives? Things will get suspicious if it looks like we're funneling the coms traffic.

>>2280965
Buy yourself something nice my nigga.

>>2282004
> [ ] Both

Attack with the Battleships to draw off forces from more strongly defended relays, so that they can be attacked by the Nocturne.

>>2282046
>>2282089
And they did have some patrol routes for the interior of the sphere.

>>2282111
>Maybe leave some com relays up as false positives? Things will get suspicious if it looks like we're funneling the coms traffic.
You ask Gaben Wilson about this.

"We do have one in mind to do this with. I wasn't going to tell you about it unless necessary but one of the Rovinar commanders will strike at a relay and fail to destroy it."

Thanks!

>>2282089
>They're basically nobody.
At least the war's over for them. Not the worst outcome at that pay grade.

You volunteer both the Nocturn and the cloaked battleships to assist with attacks on the communications relays. The crews and Alliance observers are provided with locations of targets that should be destroyed.

The Hidden Dagger along with four battleships head out to several of the sites that are expected to be more heavily defended. The better quality ship allows you to investigate how hard it will be to crack each sites defenses.

Several turn out to be much easier to hit than the reports might have indicated and are quickly dealt with by a pair of battleships each. Others require a bit more work. A more heavily defended site has a good sized response unit stationed there. In this case the battleships serve as a distraction, strafing the base and destroying a number of ships before withdrawing. With the main contingent distracted Arron is able to get the Dagger in close enough to destroy the com systems with precision fire.
It takes a bit longer than you'd like for the Battleships to lose their pursuers but it gets the job done.

Repairs are completed and the rest of the squadron returns from hitting less heavily protected targets. There is still one tough nut to crack. An old Shallan facility similar in many respects to a Navigator station, just half the size. The Neeran have upgraded its defenses, so it wouldn't be a good idea to fight a prolonged battle.

Arron proposes that the Hidden Dagger be used to disable its shields moments before the Battleships launch a large salvo of heavy torpedoes.

[ ] Approve the plan?
[ ] Ask for for Rovinar Battleships as backup
[ ] Ask for Krath ships as backup
[ ] Bring in majority of the taskforce, wipe the base

>>2282322
Can we do a fake-out to draw in Neeran reinforcements and then perform an ambush?
Deploy just enough forces to make it look like a conventional assault backed up by cloaked vessels which I'll assume they've now seen us using, and when they bring in reinforcements to drive off our regular forces we cripple the station and a sizable portion of their fleet.

>>2282322

How certain is Arron of his plan? I'm surprised he's suggesting it, it sounds like a good plan to me. But I want to hear from him how certain he is in being able to take out those shields before the battleships arrive.

[spoilers]I know we can't really promote him to rank of knight due to his role. We've already set something up with the Count to get Arron knighted upon retirement if I remember correctly. But if his plan works, it would certainly help give credibility to his being knighted or given a further promotion outside of being knighted.[/spoiler]

>>2282334
>Can we do a fake-out to draw in Neeran reinforcements and then perform an ambush?
It's a good sized base. If it calls for help they're probably going to rush heavy cruisers to reinforce it. I'm not sure you could take them and the station at once.

>>2282346
>How certain is Arron of his plan?
"It's a little dangerous for us. If they back track our torpedoes quickly enough and saturate the area with weapons fire they could overload our cloak or at least make us visible for a few seconds. Its risky but with the shields down and Battleships jumping in I'm hoping they'll be too busy to properly deal with us."

"How certain are you at being able to take out those shield?"

"I think we can do it. It might be good to stuff an attack bomber in each launch bay so we have a larger alpha strike. Just in case. Really, having the Battleships launch their own salvo of SP's a second or two before their heavies might be a good precaution as well."

[ ] Approve
[ ] Insist on additional Silent Hunters

>>2282401
[ ] Approve

>>2282401
>Approve
He's the expert. Maybe reduce the crew for the mission?

>>2282401
>[x] Approve

>>2281936
>Sunfish class?
I like it.
Is that a Dusk 2 drive section on the rear? It's a Dusk kitbash isn't it?

>>2282453
>Is that a Dusk 2 drive section on the rear?
Yes. I'd mentioned in the original thread that I intended to use it.

>>2282583
>Yes.
I love it. I love the modular ship look and part exchangability.

Following a few quick modifications to the plan your group heads out to conduct the raid. It should be a simple hit and fade. Get in, deal damage and get out. Just in case a Krath Battlecruiser will be standing by for recovery operations.

As an added precaution all non-essential personnel are transferred aboard the Suvorov while the raid is conducted. The only extras will be those aboard the LSTs. In a worst case scenario the shields on the LST's should help protect the command and control areas.

Hidden Dagger arrives in system and has a limited amount of time to get into position. You asked Linda to take a break and help calculate the ideal jump timing for the arriving battleships. She wasn't entirely pleased by your idea of a break.

As planned Arron gets the ship in place and locates the shield generators. It's fairly obvious where they've been installed. Rounded Neeran structures have been added to the base hull adding additional plasma cannon turrets and phase weapons to previously destroyed areas.

"Are you sure we can get enough?"

"90% sure. Even more with the extra fighters." He looks over to Maybourne. "Decompress launch bays. Tell the starfighters to begin their count down but not to use active targeting."

>cont.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCmTJVew_tY [ Trombe! ]

At the twenty second mark Arron cold launches a set of Torps. The weapons officer lights off their engines a few seconds before the count down reaches zero.

"Fire!"

Torpedoes from the main launchers flash out at a few dozen kilometers per second. Those that were cold launched or from the bays are significantly slower but they don't take too long to reach their targets either. As explosions blossom across the station Arron pulls a 180 and begins a hard burn away from the station. The weapons officer uses the aft torpedo launcher to fling one more warhead clear during the turn then activates its engine once a safe distance away. Any fire from the station is directed towards the general area the last torpedo seemed to launch from.

At this point the battleships jump in and unload everything. SP Torps followed by just as many heavies hammer the defenses and the communications arrays. If any of the shield generators stayed up before they're down now. The heavy Torps chew through the central structure, those that penetrate the outer armor cause whole sections to fragment when they detonate.

At this point the navigator to jumps out, Dagger having reached the necessary speed and acceleration. Watching long range sensor readouts the Battleships begin to retreat not long after. The station was beginning to detach their remaining turrets to operate in corvette mode. Even battleships can only take phased plasma fire for so long.

It seems that after the attack there are few FTL capable ships left, or the survivors are reluctant to pursue your battleships. A distress signal that you're unable to completely jam goes out and soon Neeran ships are detected incoming from other systems. They're not fast enough to catch your unit before you withdraw from the area.

"I think that went pretty well." is your assessment. "Who would have thought you'd get so good at planning sneak attacks Arron."

"I have been watching you do this sort of thing for awhile now." he points out.

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Hidden Dagger doesn't need any repairs but it does take awhile for a proper resupply. A few of the battleships need more serious work done on their armor in places. Nothing that would have threatened to disable them but some of the weapon scoring is quite deep.

Troy Harmen has arrived with the latest group of taskforce reinforcements. He's brought with him a handful of people ready for a mission to the Sphere.

Letters from Baldr and Svidur have arrived. Svidur's is in code.

Maybourne informs you that sets of new torpedo launchers have arrived. They're early models of the Alliance burst fire launchers that are in development. They fire two torpedoes in rapid succession. While intended for the Assault Corvettes it would be easy to refit the Nocturn with them.
Do so?

Family thing just came up. I will try to resume later tonight.

>>2282847

Talk to the Alliance officers to see if they need us for any operations for the next few months. As we can leave the battleships in their command until our return. Telling them that we plan on heading out for another expedition to the sphere soon, now that Troy is here.

Take a moment between talking with the Alliance and Troy and read the letters from our space wizard buddy and Baldr.

Once we get deployment and missions stuffed sorted out with the Alliance. Lets talk to Troy and catch up with him and then talk a little bit about a few of our plans for our next expedition to the sphere. Also have his people get to know our people so when we set out they are at least familiar with one another and are able to work together.

Make the option available to Arron if he wants to equip the new torp launchers.

>>2282847
>Maybourne informs you that sets of new torpedo launchers have arrived. They're early models of the Alliance burst fire launchers that are in development
Yee haw, we can fire off a ten torp volley in a Nocturn.
Downsides? Harder to reload? Reminds me of the revolver cannons used in some French tanks for a massive volley of rapid succession shots with long reload. Maybe something worth looking into for dedicated anti-super operations. Load up a medium with as many rapid batteries as possible and overload the shields.

>Svidur's is in code.
As expected of the chief wizard.

>Troy
Neat! I guess it's time to start planning Expedition 2?

>>2282924
>Load up a medium with as many rapid batteries as possible and overload the shields.
People have suggested torp spam refits a couple of times. I remember a suggestion to have one of the Kavarian rectangles covered in single shot launch tubes that gave the ship an alpha strike of something like 1000-2000 torpedoes on a battleship or small medium cruiser.

was a superbowl trap. snd extraction

>>2283033
Why not have remote detonation "dirty torps" that scatter the SP coating in fragments when they get stuck in the jello shields? Followed up by a heavy torpedo so that the shields destabilize around it letting the heavy torp through?

>>2283501
From what I remember, the SP effect only happens while there's a current running through the torpedo's special coating, and there seems to be a time limit for that before the coating wears out or people would have simply added larger energy cells on SP torps to defeat jello shields. The SP effect itself also doesn't seem to do any damage to the shields before the torpedo explodes, it just circumvents the blocking effect of the shield.

>>2282924
>downides
chews through torpedoes quickly. next generation of ships expected to have larger magazines. should help with 3 round burst.

>>2283518
>The SP effect itself also doesn't seem to do any damage to the shields before the torpedo explodes, it just circumvents the blocking effect of the shield.

But that's just it, circumventing the blocking effect so the heavy torpedo can get through. Just make a torpedo that explodes in a big old electrical field.

Worth looking into.

>>2283562
The Terrans have been working on shield breaker heavy torpedoes. They do far more damage against shields than most other weapons but have almost no ability to penetrate them. So far they haven't been as effective as hoped. At the moment only Punisher class heavies are being equipped with them as only small numbers are being produced.

>>2283789
I was thinking that if it shot when the shield was already "stretched" it could snap a hoke in the shield instead of dropping the entire thing.

Or like disrupt the distorted part and have the shield reform above the distortion. Make like a little anti-shield bubble that moves the field around it.

>>2283824
Einridi mentioned there were scientist caretakers didn't he? Maybe we can find one and perform some janitorial tasks in exchange for some kind of artifact which fucks the Neeran supershields.

>>2282878
>Make the option available to Arron
>>2282924
>Yee haw
I'll take that as a yes.

Arron is exited about boosting the ship's already impressive firepower when armed with SP weapons.
"It should more than make up for the Neeran using SP resistant armor. It's just going to make engagements shorter because we might run out of ammo."

>>2283824
Hopefully they'll make it easier to punch holes through, or keep them open longer.

Opening the letter from Baldr you find that he did talk with Svidur via communicator. Afterwords he agreed to arrange for a letter to be sent to you. In Svidur's letter are six pages of encoded writings. Part of the data is incomplete. It will require mixing and matching pieces from the other pages.

Did you want to ask anyone for help with it? It will mean they'll know the contents of the letter.

[ ] One of your crew
[ ] One of the scientists from the Foundation
[ ] Eldal or Risto
[ ] Alliance Intel
[ ] The Rovinar
[ ] Other

>>2283974
The people we can trust the most are Linda, Rufaro, and Valeri. Does one of them have any talent or experience with this kind of task?

>>2283974

>[ ] Other
Unless it's one of our close friends or retainers, I am reluctant to let anyone else get their hands on it. Think of it as homework. So as >>2283989 suggested get either Linda or Rufario or Valeri to help if they've any experience with this stuff.

>>2283989
Linda might. It will mean interrupting her ongoing work on the Suvorov again.

Did you want to wait until she's done or get the Alliance to tell her she's needed on another project?

>>2283974
[x] Just Sonia
Sounds like a good puzzler.

>>2284007
Let's not bother her until she's done.

Eldal, maybe? He seems like a relatively neutral party.

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>>2284008
>>2284012
Looks like we'll be waiting for Linda to finish unless someone wants to figure things out for Sonia.

Was there anything you wanted to get done while waiting? Intel is planning to lay low for a few days after the last set of raids.

>>2284214
See if there's any messages from the Dominion/Rioja?
Any reports on the Kythera pursuit?

>>2284214

Speak with Troy, thank him for coming out here on a short notice. And see if there is anything urgent notice that needs our attention.

>>2284214
>figure things out for sonia
Sure, might be fun.

>>2284214
Maybe just try to decipher the first page? It might say something like "Do not read until I die again," or "Never show this to another person or it will melt their brain."

>>2284309
You have until I resume tomorrow. See you then.

>>2284348
>You have until I resume tomorrow. See you then.
Six pages. The letter has to be assembled into a cube maybe, then some method of projecting all the sides together so they intersect?

>>2284348
The blank spaces create a map?

>>2284348
All these squares make a circle.

>>2284214
Read the first letter of each word

Alternate words in a sequence. Word 1 from p.1 word 2 from p2. Etc. and just start over so word 7 from p.1 after having all 6, word 8 from p2.

We can't call Versa and have her brute force it huh?

>>2284214
Baldr's letter is the cipher?

>>2284348
I feel like any mundane coded letter could be decrypted if people wanted. I wonder if Svidur has somehow specifically coded it to make sense for only Sonia?
Worst case scenario use the converter on it, somehow.

>>2285258
>it to make sense for only Sonia?
I agree, he wouldn't have bothered with the code otherwise. It could also be somebody or something we have access to. I'd try the artifacts, maybe lay the sphere map on top of it and a message will appear. Aside from that, people without much reason to betray us would be the next logical choice. Sam and Dave are more or less temporarily exiled from their government and have little reason to get involved in faction politics aside from stopping the Empire. Eldal is in a relatively similar position when it comes to loyalty to the various governments. We also have Maybourne, who was recommended by Kavos and has been with Sonia for years at this point.

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>>2284996
>We can't call Versa and have her brute force it huh?
Not while the fleet is behind enemy lines.


You'd rather not bother Linda just yet so you set to work on a few possibilities.

>>2285497
>It could also be somebody or something we have access to. I'd try the artifacts, maybe lay the sphere map on top of it and a message will appear.
You try comparing the sphere map and the pages, and though nothing spooky happens you do notice some similarities around the edges.

>>2284391
>Six pages. The letter has to be assembled into a cube
>>2284937
>All these squares make a circle.

Using the scans of the pages you try assembling them in a square, and they do infact begin to line up. After mixing and matching a bit they eventually form enough of a complete code for the computer to decipher. With it working on the decryption you try out another idea since there do seem to be a few remaining gaps.

Stretching the pages out of a cube they do also line up when put in a sphere. Once that's been added to the list of items awaiting decryption you look at the sphere map. Copying the manner in which the letter pages were converted from flat sections into a sphere you do the same with the data from the artifact.

The programs the science team left running in the lab comparing the artifacts responds to the new data.
>Pattern match recognised
>Beginning overlay

Areas of the map that had previously been blank or indistinct start to fill in. Included among them is data on the installations at either pole. It's still missing some bits but those look to be intentional rather than from partial data.

The cube puzzle finishes decryption and turns out to be a simple letter from Svidur.

"I hope this message reaches you, and that decrypting it doesn't cause too many problems. There may be a way to ensure the sphere is protected from the Empire's fleet outside. That it hasn't yet been used means the Caretakers consider the cost of it to be too high.
I'm not entirely sure what it will do myself but the system can be manually activated and is supposed to protect the sphere from damage of any kind.

I wished to see it for myself but that is no longer possible. The choice and the danger is yours."

-Svidur

PS: I am glad that you didn't just sell those artifacts.

A small diagram follows showing what you now realise to be instructions to stretch the letter pages to make a sphere.

The sphere puzzle from the letter finishes showing access points to what seems to be a secondary transit network. They probably wont be easy to reach but the science team might be able to find a way.

What members of the team did you want to share this data with? Bring the scientists into the loop or not?

>>2285622
I feel it would be wise to bring a few of the people from the science team in, maybe the department heads. Since they will be remaining on the ship when we go to the surface. So they can look over the info some more and piece it together with the info we have. Then get Dave or Sam, since they will need to see it as well for when we next deploy.

>>2285622
>What members of the team did you want to share this data with?
Everybody listed in the Expedition Dramatis Personae from the top to "Sam" with the exception of Dr Seays.

Decide on which scientists to bring once these people have given their opinions.

>. That it hasn't yet been used means the Caretakers consider the cost of it to be too high.
I'm not entirely sure what it will do myself but the system can be manually activated
While they seem overly cautious at time, I'd hate for something silly to happen like, say, all FTL collapsing in yet another universe.

>Included among them is data on the installations at either pole.
We totally need to get the transportation logs for these.

>>2285622
If I remember from when we last spoke to the caretakers, didn't they say that they could activate it. But if they did the Scorcher would destroy 30% of the sphere before the whole neeran fleet was destroyed?

I trust Svidur, but maybe take into account that the caretakers know what they are talking about? Unless the Sphere can pull off a Necron Æonic Orb, and fire beams of pure star energy out at the orbiting fleet. And burn them from the stars.

Or maybe there is something in the control center that can give us a better idea on how to use the self defense system to protect the sphere from the currently orbiting fleet. In which case, we need to get there now.

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>>2285497
>We also have Maybourne
Always imagine pic, but yellow, when someone mentions Maybourne

>>2285622
I guess it's clear. Sonia has to take command of the Sphere herself, caretakers be damned.
Says a lot though, when they didn't mention half this stuff.

Definitely get Alam and perhaps Taraman involved but only if they promise secrecy for now. Sam, Dave, Arron, the rest of the trusted gang too.

>>2285651
>If I remember from when we last spoke to the caretakers, didn't they say that they could activate it. But if they did the Scorcher would destroy 30% of the sphere before the whole neeran fleet was destroyed?
Yes. Though Svidur did say that these other defenses (should) protect the sphere from damage. He did not say it would destroy the Neeran fleet.

>Unless the Sphere can pull off a Necron Æonic Orb, and fire beams of pure star energy out at the orbiting fleet.
The structure of the sphere would seem to prevent that.

>>2285688
So wait, the defensive system and offensive systems are located in different regions? That is... smart, a bit annoying but smart. I would imagine the caretakers would love to learn about the existence/ location of the defensive system. That they would then inevitably ask us to try and gain access to, if they haven't been making attempts to yet.

>>2285688
>The structure of the sphere would seem to prevent that.
If they reactivate the wormhole gates it could be possible.

>He did not say it would destroy the Neeran fleet.
There is obviously some huge drawback or they'd have simply switched it on when the Neeran fleet showed up. Or when the Factions started poking around uninvited for that matter.

>>2285622
>means the Caretakers consider the cost of it to be too high
There must be something going really wrong with the sphere or the caretakers. The caretakers stopped actively collecting new species on a larger scale, the wormhole gates have been deactivated, and instead of simply telling people to stop bothering them they let everybody in no matter if they're disruptive or not.

Going by their behavior so far, it kinda seems like the last owners forgot to give them the full manual and all the have to work with is the quickstart guide.

>>2285715

I think the caretakers either forgot or never discovered the defense system Svidur is mentioning. But I'm with you on the idea the builders not giving the caretakers all the information they would need to run the sphere properly. Somewhere there is an owners manual floating around and no one's bothered to read it.

>>2285708
>So wait, the defensive system and offensive systems are located in different regions?
Most of the defensive and offensive systems will be located in the poles. Those aren't small areas.

(Knight Ilya and Arif Sayadov are currently on the sphere.)

>>2285631
>Everybody listed in the Expedition Dramatis Personae from the top to "Sam" with the exception of Dr Seays.

>>2285625
>a few of the people from the science team in
Command crew, senior personal guard, both Krath and both Neeran.

>>2285671
>Sam, Dave, Arron, the rest of the trusted gang too.
>Definitely get Alam and perhaps Taraman involved but only if they promise secrecy for now.

You call in everyone you trust the most, holding off on the scientists for the moment. Once present you bring them up to speed.

"That's a lot of data." says Rufaro.

Dave disagrees. "There isn't actually that much here, but it is dangerous. We can't allow it to fall into enemy hands."

Most of you agree on that.

Eldal speaks up.
"We should increase security on this lab and not allow anyone to be in here on their own. Not even you." he gestures in your direction.

"Why not me?" you ask.

"I'm worried about infiltrators and informants. Krath mercenaries do exist."

Right, that's a good point.

You suggest bringing in Alam and perhaps Taraman. The former knows the most overall about the sphere, though she's less used to working without an assistant. The latter has a rather high security clearance due to service with the Republic military.

1) Only allow 2 people minimum in the lab at a time? Y/N?

2) Approve Alam and Taraman for access to the new data? Y/N?

>>2285772
>1)Y
>2)
Make them sign NDAs before granting access? Worst case scenario, we'll end up with our own sphere foundation.

>>2285772

>1) Agree
>2) So long as they both understand that they are not to be in here alone. And as >>2285782 suggested, get them to sign an NDA, which I'm sure they should be used to.

>>2285772
1) Only allow 2 people minimum in the lab at a time? Y

2) Approve Alam and Taraman for access to the new data? Y

3) Put Alam and Taraman under both over and covert observation to see if anyone tries to compromise them.

They're not happy to be signing NDAs especially since it's going to make working with other Foundation members more difficult, but they do agree.

"This is incredible." exclaims Alam. "It's too bad we had to keep that Neeran locked up. They might have provided us with this information during our previous trip."

"That obviously wasn't going to happen." says Taraman.

Alam wants to know when you'll be returning to the sphere. You do have people to pick up that have been there for weeks. That brings you to the issue of filing a flight plan.

With the work you've done with the enemy com networks Gaben Wilson is waiting for more results. Data is coming in from the listening posts you worked on as well.

"We know from the new intercepts that a tribute shipment has not been delayed as a result of our attack on the communications infrastructure. They haven't revealed where or when but we know one should take place this year, possibly within the next 8-10 weeks."

It seems the Alliance would like your ship to be available, though you don't have to be. Linda thinks she'll be done contributing what she can to the FTL problems inside of a week.

You also wanted to try and sabotage the wormhole generators on the Scorchers orbiting the sphere, though with Svidur's letter that might be unnecessary.

How long did you wan to delay before another expedition? None? Wait for Linda? A few weeks?

>>2285890
I say get back to the Sphere and remain there for the next four or so week to wreak some shit on the Neerans there and ruin their plans further and then we get back and have time to intercept the tribute.

>>2285890
>Wait for Linda
Then check in on the sphere. We can then decide if we need the ship there or if they can track back to help the alliance effort.

>>2285890

I want to be there to steal the tithe, but I also want to get in there now. So instead, lets wait for Linda. If the Alliance cant get us a more accurate estimate to when they expect the next tithe to ship out. Then lets head in to the sphere and look in on locating this defensive system Svidur hinted at for us to locate.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>2285912
Leave now, remain for 4 weeks.

>>2285922
Wait 1 week to leave, possibly send the ship back.

>>2285938
Wait 1 week to leave, see if the alliance can refine their estimate.

Looks like we'll at least wait a week then. Rolling for new estimate.

>>2285981
After waiting a week Alliance intel have determined that the tribute will be sent 5 to 9 weeks from now. They're hoping to narrow it down further as it gets closer.

Linda has done all she can for the Suvorov's FTL system. It's up to the Krath engineers to do the rest.
As soon as she's aboard you ask if she can share anything from what she learned with the Hidden Dagger's engineers.
"Sorry I signed an NDA with the Alliance and Krath government. If I violate it the Krath are within their rights to have me killed." shrugging she adds. "They wouldn't, the Alliance would probably just lock me up in an R&D facility."

At the end of the last survey there was a vote for other things to do. One of which was: Infiltrate and sabotage Scorcher WH generator. (extended operation) There wasn't many votes overall but it did get more than the others so I figured I'd ask if there was still interest in it at this time.

[ ] Set course for the sphere!
[ ] Scorcher sabotage

>>2286031
[ ] Set course for the sphere!
If we can get the Sphere defenses up then I don't see much of a point to it so meh.

>>2286031
>>[x] Set course for the sphere!
The minefield might still be a worthwhile plan if the mission to intercept the tribute goes well but it doesn't really need Sonia to be present.

>>2286031
>[ ] Set course for the sphere!

And make sure the battleships are in someones capable hands, while we are gone. We'll try to be back to help with the tithe, but don't plan on us being there. Since we have a prize worth far more if we can snag it before Girisha's forces can.

>>2286118
>And make sure the battleships are in someones capable hands
They are. They've been well trained.

>>2286115
>The minefield might still be a worthwhile plan if the mission to intercept the tribute goes well but it doesn't really need Sonia to be present.
Did you want to authorize the plan to be executed by someone else in your absence? You did sort of buy the asteroid missile with your own money.

>>2286136
>Did you want to authorize the plan to be executed by someone else in your absence?
If there is a way to make sure we won't run into one of them on our way out I'm okay with it.

>>2286136

Sure put the thing into use.

>>2286156
Maybe the mines could be programed to stay a certain distance from the sphere? Provided they're deployed in the equatorial bands where the main gates are that would let your smaller ship go out above or below the plane of the system?

Not really sure otherwise.

>>2286204
>Not really sure otherwise.
Draw up plans for two or three secure corridors large enough for our ship before we leave for the sphere?

>>2286222
>Draw up plans for two or three secure corridors large enough for our ship before we leave for the sphere?
Sounds good.

Troy Harmen has not only brought additional horses and people trained with them, but repulsor jetbikes as well. Based on some of the briefings you sent him he acquired bikes that could be broken down for transport through obstructions. They can also be rigged to run on external power sources, or allow their micro fusion plant to be jump started by one of the RTG's used in your buggies.
With the power restrictions there isn't much they can be armed with aside from a longer barrel 12.7mm. It's something at least.

"These are for transport, not combat. Their armor has been stripped down to minimum. If you think you'll be shot at the best advice I can give is be somewhere else."

Was there any additional equipment you wanted brought along? Trade items have been replenished. RTG's swapped out.

>>2286270
> Bring genetic/dna samples and recordings

I mean if they're doing a breeding program, that'll be valuable data.

>>2286270
Just putting it out there, we should see if we can get the genetic markers and sequencing for the trait that makes humans psyche resistant.

>>2286270
>Was there any additional equipment you wanted brought along?
Additional armor for the locals? While their shields seem impressive, they seemed to lack effective body armor.

>>2286270
Maybe an Alliance rep, I know it's a bit latr, but maybe since the caretakers sent someone to represent them the alliance can spare someone to represent them for the caretakers.

>>2286294
Good idea. It shouldn't be the newest stuff, because it would be bad to have a lot of that fall into enemy hands.

>>2286325
Intel is more than happy to assign a representative to the sphere caretakers to your expedition. Captain Wilson is a bit more concerned with your mission outline you're required to file.

"Your intention is to activate another set of defenses which you hope will render the Sphere invulnerable. Is that an accurate summation?"

You'd have to agree that gets the basic idea across.

"Assuming you succeed, what do you hope happens to the Neeran fleet outside the Sphere? Because I'm concerned that if they abandon their position, they very well could move in force against our front lines. There is a reason we're trying to strip Girisha of their fleet, but not all at once."

>What say?

>>2286441
>>"Your intention is to activate another set of defenses which you hope will render the Sphere invulnerable. Is that an accurate summation?"
Personally, I mostly want to keep helping the caretakers, and find the manual for the sphere. Once we have a good idea what our options are, we can decide if turning on the super shield is the best course of action. Or if it will cause more trouble than it's worth.

>>2286441
If we can secure the sphere's defensive mechanism, then we signal the sphere caretakers to activate its offensive cappabilities. Which will either destroy the majority of the fleet stationed there, or force whatever survivors escape to call in back up and pull threat off of other locations. Ideally it would be prefered if none escaped, but if the defenses get rid of the Scorcher and its attendent fleet you wont see me conplain.

>>2286441
I mean we can just seed the mines for now and turn them on when it's a good time.

>>2286441
>It shouldn't be the newest stuff, because it would be bad to have a lot of that fall into enemy hands.
It could come in handy if we can make it look like it was salvaged from one of the ships lost by the alliance fleet stationed there. It would keep the Neeran in the dark about our supply runs to the sphere.

>>2286441
"Kinda hoping that when I reach the Sphere control room there will be a few buttons that can activate a lot of different things."

>>2286505
Or perhaps a one time use temporary deactivation code?

>>2286506
Marine grade armor is what they would have had.

Personally, I mostly want to keep helping the caretakers, and find the manual for the sphere.
Kinda hoping that when I reach the Sphere control room there will be a few buttons that can activate a lot of different things."
You hold up your hands to forestall any comments.
"Once we have a good idea what our options are, we can decide if turning on the super shield is the best course of action. Or if it will cause more trouble than it's worth. It might be a good idea to provide us with one of those Rovinar quantum entanglement communicators, that way we can call up the fleet once we're in position."

Gaben frowns. "I cant even confirm or deny if those are small enough to transport yet."

"They are you just have to ask." you assure him. "I'm not allowed to ask until I've repaid the favour I owe them."

"Why is that exactly?"

"Not important."

The intel officer promises to try and get the communicator before you depart.

You double check with the Knight commanding the cloaked battleship squadron. He promises to keep the unit intact in your absence. Also apparently they have access to some Iratar upgrades now that will add additional heavy phase cannons and missile batteries.
It's too bad you didn't get all of these firepower upgrades until after your attack on that station.

Suvorov makes a few experimental jumps with their modified FTL, slowly increasing its effectiveness once they've had a few tries to get it working right. Their drive flare is now more like that of a Medium Cruiser. Good to know if your ship has to locate them without the assistance of others.

A representative of the Alliance diplomatic corps finally arrives along with the communicator you requested. The Hune, Liljana Brantha, doe not seem to be accustomed to the comparatively cramped conditions aboard Hidden Dagger.

"I thought everyone was making ships bigger these days, not smaller. These quarters are the size of a packing crate."

"Aren't Republic ships supposed to be fairly spartan?" you hear Linda comment to her.

"I'm sure they are, I've never been aboard one. I grew up near the Iratar super heavy yards."

"How does that work?"

"Parents were part of the occupation garrison."

[ ] "Even my quarters are small."
[ ] "Get used to it."
[ ] "I'm sure the Caretakers will have more open accommodations."

>>2286608

At the risk of sounding callous, we've all gotten used to the cramped quarters before. She'll need to do the same, otherwise we should get another rep. We're not planning on picking up another small settlements worth of people. But it would help to be acquainted with small quarters.

>>2286608
"Can you imagine this ship with roughly 40 to 50 more people, 10 of them children, and three Neeran parked in stasis?"

>Suvorov
How does the ship compare to Qlippoth besides the stealthier drive?

>>2286638
>How does the ship compare to Qlippoth besides the stealthier drive?
Its firepower is good, but the plasma weapons are shorter ranged, being derived primarily from LD series weapon. The good news is that those weapons will only get better over time.
It has to reply more on torpedo batteries for longer ranged engagement.
The structure is much stronger having been designed from the ground up rather than being a conversion. All of the extra mass does make it a little slower to accelerate.

Overall, the design is similar in performance if not slightly weaker on paper, but everything can be upgraded.

"At the risk of sounding callous, we've all gotten used to the cramped quarters before. I'm afraid you'll need to do the same."

Liljana whirls, not having previously noticed your approach. "Who are y- oh, yes sir!"

You look around then back to her.
"Now, can you imagine this ship with roughly 40 to 50 more people, 10 of them children, and three Neeran parked in stasis?"

"The Neeran personnel stay in stasis?! I knew it was cramped but I didn't expect it would bother even them so badly."

You consider correcting her then think better of it. Linda gives you an amused look when Liljana isn't looking her way. She's going to play up the little joke for much of the trip you expect.

With that problem taken care of you head for the bridge and tell Arron you're clear to depart.
"Dyson sphere here we come."

Linda and Arron locate a ship inbound toward the sphere and mange to shadow it to better mask the drive flare when jumping in system. The initial approach brings you in on the same side of the sphere at the Command Ship. There are still plenty of other Supers and support ships present.

You haven't heard anything about the infiltrators put in place to help stir up dissent among Girisha's commanders. Odds are they're hard at work on that front but from here it's hard to tell how effective they've been.

With several hours on approach there's plenty of time to start building up records of ship movements and find a good place to enter the sphere.

"Any openings?"

"The usual. Small ones that are a bit borderline. If we wait a day there should be a longer one."

[ ] Risk a shorter one now
[ ] Follow an enemy ship through a gate
[ ] Wait for a better opening

>>2286863

>[ ] Wait for a better opening

Take it easy, slow and steady.

>>2286863
>[x] Wait for a better opening
It's not like we'll waste that day doing nothing.

>There are still plenty of other Supers and support ships present.
Do we know why that commander insists on keeping so many supers around the sphere?

>>2286608
>"Parents were part of the occupation garrison."
How did that work out? I remember running into problems with hune crews when we stuffed all those shallan refugees on a republic carrier.

>>2286872
>Do we know why that commander insists on keeping so many supers around the sphere?
For one thing nobody wants to leave a Command ship undefended. The Alliance has shown a willingness to throw considerable resources at one if they think they can kill it easily.
The Neeran are reluctant to give them another chance since command ships host a good chunk of the Empire's civilian population.

>I remember running into problems with hune crews when we stuffed all those shallan refugees on a republic carrier.
It has been awhile. The details are a little fuzzy.

You do ask Liljana about what things were like growing up and how exactly the occupation garrison worked.

"The Republic, the Terrans and Rovinar wanted to keep an eye on the Kavarians after the Faction Wars. Only one of the good super heavy yards survived intact so it was decided the three of them would garrison it with troops and ships, and keep it in operation. My parents were assigned to the garrison rotation a few years before the civil war started.
A third of the Republic garrison left when the fighting started. Some went home or became mercenaries. Everyone else decided they would stay at the shipyard and keep doing their job. So they did.
All of us born there grew up interacting with most of the major Faction species. I didn't see any reason to become a xenophobic ass like so many people in the Republic seem to be. I knew how to handle people from a bunch of different species, so I joined the diplomatic corps."

"That doesn't cause any problems with other Hune you work with?"

"Oh no, they assume I'm just as uptight as they are unless I give it away."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1eI-7XWjho [ Recognizer - TRON Legacy ]

The ship remains on the move around the sphere exterior, with you or one of the others taking over for Arron at times. Handling on the Nocturn is a bit different from other ships you've flown. It's primarily reliant on repulsors with minimal exhaust from fusion drives to give it away. That makes things feel quite a bit different.

"I wouldn't mind putting one of these through a race course in a few years once they've slightly less classified."

"You might be waiting a few decades sir." Maybourne points out.

With Arron back at the controls you head through the gate when the opening appears in the enemy patrol pattern. The ship gets through without difficulty and inside the sphere the closest ship is still several minutes away from observing the gate by the time it closes.

Just over two days are spent trying to get in contact with the LST that had remained here without giving away your position. They've had quite the little adventure causing problems for the Empires surface teams. Not so many to make it obvious they have a ship helping them. Several attacks have been carried out using stolen Neeran weaponry. Lieutenant Sayadov has helped with planning the hit and run attacks.

Ilya's assessment is that they haven't made a dent. Local resistance efforts in the human territories have certainly appreciated it. Better is that they dont have to lie when answering that they don't know where the attackers came from or went.

"Eventually they'll figure out we're using a ship."

Did you want to talk to one of the Caretakers before attempting you plan?

>>2287149

>Did you want to talk to one of the Caretakers before attempting you plan?

I think it would be fine to inform them we're going to be poking around and in certain regions near the poles. So they can give their friends there a heads up in case they need us to help with anything.

>>2287149
>Did you want to talk to one of the Caretakers before attempting you plan?
They have been friendly enough so we probably should. Maybe we can get one of them to tag along to stop us from doing stupid stuff.

I'm getting nowhere with this next post.
I have work tomorrow so I try to resume around 7PM or so.

>>2287149
>Did you want to talk to one of the Caretakers before attempting you plan?
No. We'll just get stern disapproval and they'll probably try to stop us.

File: Test landing2.jpg (54 KB, 1074x602)

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Oh hey this happened today.

You let Ilya know that you need to talk to their contact. They should be given some warning that you'll be poking around the polar installations.

The Knight sends you landing coordinates and lets you know there is room for one more LST. Loading up with a party you set off for the indicated coordinates. Instead of a hidden surface base or another tower you find the LST coming in towards one of the mountainous barriers that separate sectors of the sphere interior. It's some distance away from the human inhabited regions but close enough for the smaller craft to make flights without difficulty.

Shuttle crew bring the ship in slowly, not wanting to make a mistake in trying to match up the LZ. Eventually it becomes visible once your altitude is low enough and you've closed in to a few dozen kilometers. It seems to be a cave or hole in the mountains. Nearly invisible from above with a sheer drop that would make a climb from below next to impossible. It's hard to get a sense of scale until the Knights LST deactivates its camo.

Deactivating the camo after touch down the crew begin procedures to power down all nonessential systems.


Ilya and Sayadov are already waiting when you disembark. The latter seems to have picked up a few scars.
"Nice place. Are you alright?"

"Nothing the medical bay aboard the ship wont fix."

Ilya claps him on the shoulder. "We didn't always had time for involved medical procedures in the field. Much of the better medical equipment needs power. Thanks to the Lieutenant we were able to strike where they least expected it.
I have to say I'd prefer a straight fight, but these Neeran don't deserve it."

The others lead you towards a doorway. Glancing around you spot what seems to be an additional landing bay off to the side along with... something you cant readily identify. The underside of it could be a reactor assembly.

"What the hell is that?"

"A Helium tanker. It's an Aerostat."

That doesn't seem very efficient but whatever you're not an expert.

>Cont.

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Heading down a flight of stairs you enter an area similar in many respects to the living areas in the tower you previously visited. You're introduced to a Caretaker by the name of Uller, who seems to be one of the few you've encountered that are armed.

The big Neeran seem to be glad that your people are helping to fight back against the Empire, though he admits it's still probably for the best if their actions remain covert.

"Ever since this place was found our people promised that it would not be dragged into our species politics. That it would remain neutral. Were it within my power I would end the lives of every Neeran that violated that Neutrality. But that isn't our purpose here. We're supposed to find ways of peace.
I know full well the price of breaking that peace. For now resistance will be enough."

You introduce the Alliance Ambassador and she explains her purpose here with the Sphere's ambassador being in Alliance space.
"I'll ensure you're safely transported to discuss matters with the other Caretakers." Uller promises.

After introductions are made you explain your intentions to seek out entrances to the polar regions of the sphere. If you can get in the Empire can too, and if that's the case it's better you get there first.

"I wish you luck. I'd heard of previous concerns told to Tiur. Those in the control centers are probably working now to find and seal off these alternate access routes. I would hope for your sake it does not result in you becoming trapped by impenetrable barriers."

"Can that happen?" you ask worriedly.

"Possible yes. Highly unlikely."

Anything you wanted to ask?
Did you want to request Uller or one of the other caretakers join you?

>>2288890
>Anything you wanted to ask?
Would they be willing to provide us with a 1 use communications device so we can complain in case we get locked in?

>>2288922
"That may be difficult. I'll need 3 days to find out, and if it is possible I'll need the use of one of your vehicles."

>>2288890

If one of the Caretakers is willing to come with us, I would not be opposed to taking one of them or some of them along for our trip.

>>2288890
Is there any way to acquire food and water in these maintenance tunnels? We likely won't be able to simply forage for what we need like on the surface.

Uller eventually finds a volunteer, a younger caretaker by the name of Ran. Less good news is that there isn't a reliable communications device they can provide you.

A means to acquire food and water is now a bit more pressing a concern. The caretakers provide you with a number of odd flasks.
"These should work in the maintenance areas where there is less of a power drain. They'll draw water from the air."

Looks like you'll be packing as many of those micro food cubes you add water to as can be carried.

Uller warns that other Caretakers may not be entirely happy with you trying to reach control systems. Despite this he and Ran have no intention of stopping you.

The next big problem is reaching access points to the secondary transit network. This network is buried deep below in the maintenance areas which will be hard to get to. Your two scientists that have been given clearance to work with the new data will probably helpful in locating good candidates.

With the ambassador remaining here it's time you head back to the Hidden Dagger to go over your options.

"I don't suppose there's any chance you know of how to get down into the sphere's machinery?" you ask Uller before departing.

"I'm not the most knowledgeable of such things but I know of one, as does Ran. They can show you where it is. I'd caution against it however as it is protected."

"Protected by what?"

"It may be a guardian or a security measure. It would probably kill you. No..."
Uller thinks it over. "No it would definitely kill you."

"Don't tell me about a thing and then say it's impossible to get through. Why tell me that?"

"You asked."

[ ] Maybe scratch that one off the list
[ ] Tell me about this guardian

>>2289220

Yep, he's new, then again, the Caretakers have not really gotten a chance to know us yet. So lets fix that and make the impossible possible.

>[ ] Tell me about this guardian

>>2289220
We can probably grant the other scientists access to the data too by now.

>>2289146
Do we need to bring anti matter?

You pull out a notepad. "Tell me about this guardian."

"There is a gate and areas surrounding it that are patrolled by what would appear to be an energy being. I first suspected it to be a hologram but the machines in the area instead seem to keep it trapped. Do not attempt to deactivate them."

"What would happen -hypothetically- if we were to shut it off?" you have to ask.

"I think we came to the conclusion that it would be bad. There is a fail safe that seems powerful enough to destroy everything in the area."

"How do you know about this?"

"A few my friends and I were curious in our younger days. Not all of us survived that curiosity."

You decide to resume writing this stuff down.
"So you were saying about the Guardian?"

"It will kill those trying to sneak through. Usually electrocuting them, though what I believe to be subspace radiation may cause more permanent injury.
It is possible to distract it momentarily by challenging it to a contest of arms. Unfortunately the challenger will almost certainly be overcome by the radiation before an outcome of the contest can be reached."

So, you could sneak by but you'd have to send someone to their death. Not a very appealing option. Wait.
"Hold on, subspace radiation? Are you sure?"

"I studied it for a few years. I am quite certain."

Rob Ecord and his small band of Knights would be the perfect people for this job, but they're all on Rioja protecting it and training personnel.

I am going to say that Sonia's bag of kit back on the ship would include 1 of the injectors since that sort of thing is important enough to have along.

>>2289336
Simply talking to it isn't possible?

>>2289336

Again with that subspace radiation resistance injector. <.<

If other anons are up for it, I guess go for it. But I am on the fence with it. Maybe come back to this route another time. Until we exhaust other options and are left with this route.

>>2289345
>Simply talking to it isn't possible?
We probably could, but as we were told, we would likely die of radiation before we finished the conversation.

>>2289345
"I take it simply talking to it isn't possible?"

"It did not seem interested in carrying out a conversation from across a room. I don't believe it could understand complex speech, just the persons intention."

>>2289336
>get placed in interdimensional timeout
>suddenly everybody disappers
>the new guys have no idea what they're doing
>some of their kids show up
>"at least I can still give them head pats"
>end up electrocuting them
>fuck
>"maybe I can communicate if I don't get too close"
>give them super cancer instead
>fuck
>forever alone ;_;

>>2289362
>Maybe come back to this route another time. Until we exhaust other options and are left with this route.
This?

>>2289379
So, this place really came without an in-depth manual? You'd think the weird energy being and the machines to contain it woukd be in one.

>>2289415
That seems sensible.

>>2289419
>So, this place really came without an in-depth manual?
"There are to my knowledge instructions and additional archives on the main systems. There are areas we think the previous caretakers were conducting their own experiments in that were not recorded in the main archives.
I have journeyed to thousands of worlds worth of places on the inside of the sphere. I've learned many things, but I only personally have knowledge of a fraction of this place. Those who know more of its operation probably know less of what things are like for those who live here.
I can only imagine it would be hard for them to not become cold and distant when faced with decisions like dealing with outsiders or the Empire's fleet."

>>2289441
Well, that isn't ominous at all.

>>2289317
>We can probably grant the other scientists access to the data too by now.
Objections?

Resuming tomorrow with some additional site options.

>>2289469

I think we should keep it to the few people on our ship that already have access to it. Otherwise, why did we bother telling everyone about it earlier and swearing them to silence? Unless something changes, lets keep it to as few eyes as possible.

>>2289415
Yeah that sounds reasonable.

Did we bring along DNA samples and such to trade with the curators?

>>2289674
>Did we bring along DNA samples and such to trade with the curators?
The new ambassador did bring data on species encountered by the Factions.

The LST returns to the ship with the Knights and a junior caretaker in tow. One of the LSTs are for the moment remaining with Uller and a new crew rotation.

As much as you'd like to give Alam and Taraman more support in the lab the security restrictions are in place for a reason. Only team leaders and allied Neeran are allowed to see what has been provided.

Ran seems impressed by the amount of data you've been able to compile, both from the science outpost and from the artifacts. The Caretaker provides you with the location of the gate Uller mentioned. It seems to line up with one of the locations from the letter and the map.

"So that's an option, but I'll only consider it if there isn't another way."

"Do you intend to draw straws if we do end up using it?" Sam asks.

"No. I'd challenge the guardian myself." This get's everyone's attention. "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, I'd just rather not use them yet."

The scientists have found a number of potential access points down to the maintenance areas of the sphere. Damaged or incomplete sectors would mean there would be minimal resistance but they might be blocked off.
The Empire has uncovered a few sites where it is possible they've sent teams down themselves. Getting in could be tricky and might require you to attack the sites to get a large enough team through.

Then there are those in alien environments that would not support human life. These are considered a last resort by the science team due to the need for pressure suits and life support.
Despite this two locations in those regions with potential look to be extinct volcanoes. There might be enough room to bring in an LST, or at least a shuttle, greatly shortening distance traveled.

Any you'd like to investigate in more detail?

Schedule update: Only going to be able to run until a little after 5PM today. Will only be able to run later in the evening tomorrow.

File: Meanwhile in space.jpg (18 KB, 764x429)

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Meanwhile in space.

>>2290320
The incomplete sectors seem like a good place to start.

"Let's check out the incomplete sectors first."

There are three ideal sites that match up with the other maps. The first is a section that seems to have been damaged. It's unclear what caused it but this area seems to have been sealed off. Ran tells you that this area was already damaged when they got here.

It looks like something blasted a hole in the underlying structures that support the interior of the sphere. If you had to guess it would have to have been an antimatter explosive given the material's resistance. Any holes have been sealed with patches of similar material.


Next is one of the more normal incomplete regions. Nearly featureless aside from bedrock, scans show that some sections are more elevated than others, creating what would be mountains if they weren't sloped so gently. It's hard to make out any signs of where there would be installations. The map does help narrow down a few potential sites that should be near the secondary transit system.

The third incomplete site is similar but even more barren. Even the atmosphere is minimal.

Ran may be able to help in overriding some of the local sphere systems to hep you get places, though he's less familiar with these regions. Deactivating or retracting some of the patches in the damaged area should be possible.
Likewise he could help find the hidden or partially completed towers at the other incomplete regions, though this might give away their position to the Empire.


Damaged area - Patched blast crater
Incomplete 2
Incomplete 3 - minimal atmo
Investigate other sites

>>2290500
Let's give Incomplete 2 a try.

>>2290500

>Crater
Sounds like the makers had some trouble with either rouge sphere systems. Or maybe there was a serious accident that caused the damage.

>incomplete 2
aside from minimal to no atmosphere, this one sounds like a good place to start with its relative closeness to the secondary transit system

>incomplete 3
Another okay place for us to start. But I'm concerned about the limited amount of atmosphere.

All in all, I think going with incomplete 2 would be a good place for us to start.

>>2290530
>>2290544
With the potential dangers posed by the first and last options you decide to take a look at the second. Actually searching for it in what seems like featureless plains of rock is more difficult. Fortunately the previous database buildup and mapping helps narrow down quite a bit where there should be a tower like you'd previously encountered.

"We've narrowed it down to a 100km diameter area." Alam informs you.

"That's a lot of nothing to search." you complain.
"At least it isn't a 100km radius." Rufaro points out.

"Anything we can do to pin point its location? It's not like there are any storms here to mess with our sensors."

Rhistel Taraman speaks up. "We could use the main active sensor array on the Hidden Dagger, but that has a very good chance of giving away our position if brought up to full power."

You contact Arron and ask what that will do to the cloak.
"It wont suddenly make us visible, but the Neeran will know a starship is using a powerful sensor array over here."

[ ] Risk an active scan
[ ] Break out the buggies

>>2290606
Get the buggies but don't forget about the bikes and horsea

>>2290500
God, finally free to come vote.

>Incomplete 2
No anti matter but has atmosphere. Sounds good to me.

>>2290606
[ ] Break out the buggies

and horses too if they are good for this terrain

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>>2290613
>don't forget about the bikes and horsea
>>2290624
>and horses too if they are good for this terrain

Harmen doesn't recommend the Horses given the lack of vegetation and there being no need to blend in.
"As long as we make this quick we can use the bikes. I'll have them refit for conventional operation."

Ran informs you that there probably wont be any caretakers around. That can be both a blessing or a curse. Your Caretaker wont have anyone to home in on and the rest of you shouldn't be driven off course without realising it.

Did you want to bring all 3 Neeran to the surface to help search?

>>2290653

We need to leave one of them on the ship to make sure it stays hidden from the Empire Neeran. So lets take Dave and Ran, the two of them should be more then enough.

On an unrelated note, we have two Dave's in our party. I cant help but find that a little funny and wonder if there has ever been a mix up because of their names.

>>2290653
>>2290679
Seconded, keep Sam on the ship.

>>2290679
I've been waiting for it to come up but you haven't had a reason to deploy with the jump jet guys.

While Sam stays on the ship Ran, Dave and a number of people head down to the surface aboard one of the LSTs. Its bay is packed with a number of repulsor jetbikes and the buggies. The bikes deploy first followed by the smaller craft.

"Buggies search the areas closest to the LST, bikes start at the outer edges. Call in anything suspicious so that our resident Caretaker can look at it."

Troy Harmen has gone to the trouble of refitting two of the bikes slightly to allow one of the Neeran as passengers. This would allow them to get around more quickly.

Assign both Neeran to the Bikes or just Ran?

Roll 1d100, best of two.

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>2290790

Just Ran for now on the bike.

Waiting for that second roll.

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>2290790
>>2290887
Do the nodified bikes come with a comfy sidecar for neeran?

After a few hours of combing the area you've turned up very little. The rough and rocky terrain is certainly making things difficult.

When the vehicles return to recharge you talk to Ran and ask what's going on.

"Perhaps the tower in this area is incomplete too? There could be connectors buried farther down but nothing that goes to the surface."

Great.

There should be another potential tower location in this sector 20,000 km away. Did you want to try there and conduct a more thorough search, do the same here, or rethink using the sensor array?

>>2290998
Notice my roll, senpai!

>>2291011
Noticed but far too late unfortunately.

I'm heading out soon. How long are you guys willing to spend searching at each potential access point location? Hours? Days?

>>2291022

I'm willing to say a couple of days. Unless it is pretty obvious that we're not getting anywhere at which point we move to the next.

>>2291022
A couple of days sounds sensible. Maybe bring the scientists who don't have access to the data? They'd probably enjoy taking samples and digging around.

>>2291022
Three days per site.
First day setup, planning, and surveying.
Second day searching.
Third day finalising the search and packing up to move to the next site.

We can cover 10 sites every 30 days this way.

>>2291639
This assumes the sites are uniform distances and environments.

>>2291022
I say hit up the sites closest clustered together and spend a couple hours at each before picking the top contenders and then spending 2 days per site as we go along.

Do all the easy stuff first to help us focus the more in depth investigations. After all we don't need to find them all just the first one.

>I'm willing to say a couple of days.
>A couple of days sounds sensible.
>Three days per site.
>2 days per site as we go along.

Returning to the ship the group plans out searches of other sites, ideally setting aside two days for each of them. Enough time to ensure it's thorough without missing anything.

Searches of the incomplete sectors prove to be difficult. Even in areas where you know more of the transit system is buried that doesn't automatically mean a convenient access point to the surface should be there as well.

The other scientists are glad for a chance to get down to the surface. Some of them haven't had the opportunity either in your expedition or before the war due to restrictions. They're able to find out all sorts of things about the artificial geologic processes that these incomplete areas undergo.

"It's a good thing we have a caretaker with us. If someone didn't like us poking around it wouldn't take much to bury us with these systems active." Darweg Attir warns.

"Do you think they could do the same to the Neeran forces on the ground elsewhere?"

"Yes, but the quakes that result could cause damage for hundreds of kilometers. People in the Human inhabited sectors don't exactly earthquake proof their buildings."

You've already seen what can be done with some changes to the weather control systems.

After six days of searching Taraman's team locates some readings with potential. The LST needs to be called in because by the time Ran has reached them the faster vehicles and higher power scanners have run out of juice.

"What did we find?"

"There is a plug or column here that is meant to be replaced with systems at a later time. It should run deep enough for our purposes. Moving it is a problem. There's no way to help things along from here."

Blasting it with the ship's E-beams is still an option, though a messy one. Lifting it out with tractor beams on the LST's could take awhile. You'd probably need to cut it into sections. Or this could become plan B with challenging the Guardian moving to Plan C status.

[ ] Tractor beam with LST
[ ] Starship E-beam
[ ] Keep looking / Plan B
[ ] Other

>>2294011
I think we redovered an ebeam artifact that works on the sphere. Could we repurpose it as a drill?

>>2294011
>[ ] Other

Well what does our map say about this spot? Does it lead to a transit system under the surface? Or is it simply part of the maintenance system?

I kinda want to lift it out and cut it into parts. Which we could take back to the ship for study. If the parts aren't to large. Which I am almost certain they will be.

We could of course search for another entry way. But we need to make a decision sooner or later on how to proceed. I think if we can find one more site. And then weigh the merits of each path way in. From challenging the guardian, to this conduit and whatever the third path is.

I'm okay with searching for one more entry way. But I

>>2294044
>Well what does our map say about this spot? Does it lead to a transit system under the surface?
It should be nearby. Or nearby-ish. Precise distances at the scales involved and what not.
>Or is it simply part of the maintenance system?
It should get you access.

>I kinda want to lift it out and cut it into parts. Which we could take back to the ship for study.
There's nothing special about the plug. Just a placeholder.

>>2294024
>I think we redovered an ebeam artifact that works on the sphere. Could we repurpose it as a drill?
Yes, though you'd have to deal with tons of very fine debris. Pressure suits are recommended which would limit how long you can spend doing it. Given the estimated depth and atmospheric diffusion could take a couple of days.

>>2294044
>I'm okay with searching for one more entry way. But I

Hopefully nothing important got cut off there. Counting that as a vote for keep looking.

[ ] Tractor beam with LST
[1] Artifact E-beam
[ ] Starship E-beam
[1] Keep looking / Plan B
[ ] Other

>>2294276

Nothing important, just realized I was repeating myself. A bad habit I have.

I'll be resuming as soon as I can get rolling tomorrow. We just need a couple votes.

>>2294276
> [1] Artifact E-beam

testing

"We'll use the E-beam artifact to drill down through the plug and into the maintenance areas."

Ran unfortunately is not terribly useful in this regard having been trained largely in support, healing and misdirection. With it being a human scale device you volunteer to operate it if necessary. Keeping in mind that using the lightning gauntlet can be exhausting the Knights can take turns if you're worn out.

Returning to the ship, Dave and the engineers get to work setting up a drilling rig that will protect the user and better hide your operations on the surface. When the LST next sets down the bikes are used to help offload the entire thing and RTG's from the buggies are dropped to help give a power boost.

"If we've done this right it should be safe but very messy. You'll need to return to the LST at regular intervals to recharge your suits and replenish life support. Don't breathe in the particulate matter or it would destroy your lungs. Also beware of static buildup."
After one final set of checks Dave rushes back to the LST.

Activating the artifact it cuts through the surface material at a surprisingly fast rate at first. Matter is blown away as if in a puff of thin smoke. Soon it's impossible to see the bottom of the bore hole. The resulting fog intensifies as you continue to drill down.
Much like the gauntlet using the device is just as exhausting as advertised. It isn't long before you have to wave one of the others over to take your place. The five of you familiar with using it trade places a few time until you've had enough of a breather to try again.

Taking a shift break after a few hours everyone heads back to the LST to rest and recuperate. Dave looks over the results recorded by your suit sensors. Apparently the depth is decreasing efficiency.
"The farther away the bottom of the drill shaft is the less it's able to cut through. We'll have to deal with diminishing returns the deeper we go."

A crazy idea springs to mind.
"So if it was closer it would work a lot better?"
"Yes?"
"What if we stripped it down to the basics and rode it down like a pogo stick?"

Dave is immediately concerned.
"That's a terrible idea! If you exhausted yourself before cutting all the way through you'd be buried by the debris. I'm not sure we'd be able to get you out easily."

"But it would cut through much faster right?"

"Yes, but it's far too reckless."

[ ] Stick with the current drill rig
[ ] Do it anyways
[ ] Wait until we're a bit deeper

>>2295020
>[x] Stick with the current drill rig
Can't we just attach the person with the e-beam to a pulley and lower them down a bit?

>>2295033
I suppose so, though it has the potential to be quite deep. Deeper than any of the cables you'd be carrying.

>>2295037
It would still help at least a bit with drilling efficiency, I guess?

>>2295040
Try it out for a little bit to see if it saves you any time?

Roll 1d100

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>2295052
>Try it out for a little bit to see if it saves you any time?
Sure.

>Roll 1d100

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>2295052
Pls let me post hiroshimoot senpai

>>2295080
I've been having trouble even getting the page to load this morning.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>2295052
Expidite excivation

>>2295091
>>2295080
>>2295063
The drilling part of the rig is lowered deep enough to make a difference and then brought back up once you've exhausted yourself. The result has been a net loss of time.

"I guess if we're going to bother with this it'll mean going all in on it."

Resuming operations Dave and Ran instruct a few others on the use of the device allowing a more steady rate of excavation. After the third day they estimate that you're 90% of the way through. Troy has started modifying the bikes so that they'll fit through the drill shaft. Satchels of equipment and supplies are also being prepared.

Because of the distance it would take another day and a half of drilling to get through. Troy has also been working on an additional mod for one bike that might allow it to help with drilling. If it works you could get through in an hour or two, though there are concerns about the added power draw and the backwash of debris.

[ ] Conventional drilling 1.5 days
[ ] Try the bike
[ ] Hang from the bike by cable, use gravity assist

>>2295129
>[X] Conventional drilling 1.5 days
Did we receive an update on the on the tribute transport?

>>2295152
Narrowed down to 7 weeks out of the previous 5-9, and you've been back at the sphere for a little over 2 weeks?

So slightly less than 5 weeks from now.

>>2295129

>[ ] Conventional drilling 1.5 days

I've had a thought. Depending on how wide the hole is. Can we get a camouflaged cover for it? So when we go down we can somewhat disguise it from patrols passing by.

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>>2294011
>The other scientists are glad for a chance to get down to the surface.
Did we bring shallan appropriate geological research tools?

>>2295129
>[ ] Hang from the bike by cable, use gravity assist

Pfft everyone all scared because of the bad rolls earlier.

>>2295164
>Depending on how wide the hole is. Can we get a camouflaged cover for it?
Yes, that was partly what the drilling rig was for. Conventional camouflage is disguising the hole.

>>2295188
I suspect Attir wouldn't take that suggestion well.

>>2295226
Okay, let's not bully the small blue elves until the war is over.

Slow and steady wins the race. The team keeps drilling. It's later into the next day when the beam finally gets through. The clouds of fog blasting out of the drill shaft stop and wind begins to flow down into it. It begins to draw much of the looser debris blanketing the surrounding area.

"Ran! Tell me that we didn't just punch through to an area in vacuum."

"It should not be, but there could easily be lower pressure."

It takes awhile to better secure the camo netting covering the operation. Winds remain constant and it's unnerving quite a few members of the expedition. Hopefully this isn't too visible from long range.

As much as you'd like to rest after using the drill for hours Taraman soon warns that stresses in the surrounding rock strata are increasing. There could be a ground quake any time within the next day or two.
"Did the drilling trigger it?"

"No, it's been building as part of the terraforming systems. I don't know what a quake will do to the drill shaft though. The plug should be strong enough to withstand them normally but we may have compromised that."

"Could we get a team and supplies down there before the quake happens?"
"Odds are good yes."
Rufaro asks if it would be possible to recon the area and then decide if it's safe to bring a team down.

"Careful descent with just the bikes could take an hour. Two with supplies plus a return trip. The less time wasted the better."

[ ] Wait to see if the quake damages the shaft
[ ] Get everything down through it before the quake
[ ] Reconnoiter first

>>2295271
>[x] Reconnoiter first

>>2295271

While, I don't think we need to really recon anything. If this is to have us wait to see what happens to the tunnel after the earthquake, then fine.

>[ ] Reconnoiter first

>>2295293
>If this is to have us wait to see what happens to the tunnel after the earthquake, then fine.
No, it's to see if it's safe down there now, before the earthquake.

If you want to wait until after the quake to see if it's been damaged vote for:
>Wait to see if the quake damages the shaft

>>2295297
Okay, then wait it is for my vote.

Oh hey Outsider updated.

Have to get ready for work in another hour.

Can we get a tie breaker?

>>2295387
Briefly check the tunnels to see if they haven't been cut off and then wait pit the earthquake above ground?

>>2295387

>[ ] Reconnoiter first

Fuck surprises

"We still have time before the earthquake, let's scout things out first. Get me a bike!"

Troy Harmen readies one of the bikes and prepares for the descent. You politely wait a moment for him to get off and when that doesn't work point out that you're ready to take the vehicle.

"You're not rated on bikes." he says flatly.

"I can fly anything." you point out.

"True but these are custom modified. They don't respond normally. Plus you can't shoot a rifle accurately and drive at the same time."

With grudging acceptance you climb aboard and hook your safety restraint to the vehicle body. Harmen reverses the bike into the drill shaft and begins a careful descent. Not how you would have expected.
Slowly you pick up speed until it seems like you're nearly falling rather than in a controlled descent. Moving with the wind at first it takes a bit before it feels like you're getting enough resistance to be approaching terminal velocity.

"You still have control of this thing right?"

"Yes! It's best not to tax the repulsors or the power supply if possible."

The walls are probably a bit uneven but look smooth to your eyes for the most part.

Troy warns you when the end of the tunnel is approaching. You can't see anything below and only a pinprick of light above. You certainly feel it when he puts power to the engines to slow your descent.

Launching a flare, the bright light source drops, illuminating the tunnel walls until they simply cease to be there. At least it isn't a case of the tunnel having a hole the size of a fist at the bottom. That might have made it a bit difficult to fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EskTzWkwSQ8 [ Assassin's Creed Revelations - The Hidden City ]

Passing the bottom edge of the shaft the two of you find yourselves in a void. Below the flare is still falling. Troy works the controls bringing the bike to a stop in mid air, slightly to the side of the shaft. Putting full power to suit sensors while Harmen activates spotlights the two of you look around for anything nearby.
You can make out the distant outlines of great structures supporting the ground above. Other shapes are present below but can't be discerned from this range.

"I'd say that we're through."

See you later anons!