File: space monke quest2 post1.png (172 KB, 1200x849)

172 KB PNG

The first theory is that the universe is a simulation or “game”, in which the Star Dynamo changes the speed “value” of a given mass to a set number. When the Dynamo is turned off, the value is reduced to its original number. This theory is clearly the least possible, as it requires the most assumptions, but it is still taught in regards to the Star Dynamo because it illustrates the point that the device changes the speed or motion of a given mass without anything else. This is the reason the Star Dynamo is considered the precursor to FTL technology.

The second theory is that the Star Dynamo works by “pulling” or warping space towards itself, thus explaining the lack of motion once it is turned off. It seems absurd that a tiny device could move space-time of the entire universe towards itself in a given direction, but gravity technically works the same way; with a single grain of sand technically pulling all the mass in the universe towards itself, just on such a small scale that it is essentially meaningless.

The third and final theory is the most commonly accepted, and that is that the Star Dynamo creates a “bubble” of warpspace around it, allowing it to move incredibly fast by essentially curving space around itself, like a bullet in a wind tunnel. This is a convenient theory, as it also explains the blue-light radiation caused by things traveling faster then the speed of light- which is traditionally thought to be impossible within a vacuum and it explains why none of our spacecraft have been obliterated by a chance collision with space dust.

Regardless of what actually causes this incredible phenomena, the end result is the same. The concept of relativistic kill drives or weapons is not fundamentally possible using the Space Dynamo, indicating that our dealings with interstellar species are not a situation of who strikes first.

File: space monke quest2 post2.png (259 KB, 1400x1298)

259 KB PNG

You thank the technician for his explanation; his committee found a solid explanation on why interstellar communities may be able to form by denying the concept of relativistic weapons- which is exactly what you asked for. The reason being, of course, was because of the alien signal.

Just a few years ago, your people encountered a signal from deep space that seemed of intelligent design. Your scientists and AI network decoded the message- though you were busy with other matters.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4854243/

You have made contact with your first highly intelligent, technologically advanced alien species. This message came from about 50 light years away- meaning this message must have been sent during the reign of Vantix Garastra, possibly just after the first flight of the Star Dynamo!

“We are the Haazar, the enlightened hermaphrodite race, and I am the appointed speaker. I personally want to welcome your species into the Interstellar Community! We have scanned your solar system and, barring the delay of light speed, believe we are about on pace with you technologically. I do not wish for us to be rivals, instead, we should be friends. We apologize for the bluntness of this message, but lightspeed communications are lacking in pleasantries. You happen to have resources that we could use, and we would like to offer a trade. Your gas giant seems to contain a large amount of Argon gas, which due to a quirk of our development, is extremely important for our computer systems. However, we have a very small limited amount of this resource to use, while for you, it is plentiful. We don't expect it for free- and will exchange something of equal value. You send us canisters of this important gas and, in exchange, we will teach you the techniques of tetramere lengthening we have mastered, allowing for an increase of normal healthy lifespan.

We have sent a ship towards your solar system traveling at sublight speeds. This ship will intercept any canisters- with orders to continue even if you decline this trade offer. Instead, they will become a diplmatic vessel to meet you for the first time, face to face. We look forward to our collective future.”

Your name is Vul Takar. You are the Supreme Ruler of the Jaxtian People, and with all possibilities factored in, you are inclined to tentatively accept this trade offer!

>Learn more about the Haazar
>Examine the material requirements to complete this trade
>Perform damage-control simulations on how this could go wrong
>Send a counter message (will take ~100 years for a response)

>>5007157
>Examine the material requirements to complete this trade
Might as well humor this idea.

>>5007157
>Learn more about the Haazar

I don't trust these hermaphrodite fucks

>>5007157
Also good to have you back man, I really enjoyed the first part of this quest!

>enlightened authoritarian space monke quest is back
Holy shit hype

>>5007157
>Learn more about the Haazar
It'd be good to trade but I'm sure they won't begrudge us for caution.

>>5007157
>Learn more about the Haazar

File: space monke quest2 post 3p1.png (284 KB, 1400x1929)

284 KB PNG

>>5007167
>>5007172
>>5007227
You decide to learn more about the aliens.

The aliens signal contained a large amount of information in the style of broadcasts and cultural noise- shows, movies, podcasts, independent productions, and so on. In order to better get an understanding of them, a selection of AI cores are assigned to 'watch' the content as though they were impressionable children; much more effective at learning the culture then an encyclopedic study and breakdowns of discoveries and facts.

The Haazar are a race of hermaphrodites. Their home planet's orders of life are not like your own, and are roughly divided into "mammal-insect" and "fish-reptile". Contrary to first believed, most species on their planet are not hermaphrodites, and the Haazar view their 'gift' as a thing that sets them apart from the animals. While it seems unlikely, there is a possibility that they view Jaxtians as lower animals then; or any species that does not share their sexual selection.

Each member of the Haazar has a breeding spike that can implant embryos into the bodies of others of their kind- with over 90% of the DNA coming from the implanter. However, they have different phenotypes based on reproductive preferences that are not just based on choice, but possibly hormones and resource scarcity in early life. For instance, some are warrior types who only implant others, and seem to be among the intelligent leadership and scientific caste of the planet. Also are cultivator-types, who control territory in exchange to implant others, and broodmother-types whose breeding spikes are withered and mostly are only implanted; but whose offspring have the highest chance to survive to adulthood with closer to 50% of their host DNA. Your scientists identify between 5 and 7 of these phenotypes.

This sexual strangeness has also led to other factors; such as the Haazar's near constant nudity and lack of boundaries. All relationships are transactional- there is no parent-offspring affection for example, with children expecting to work in society or die as they develop into adults. Their technology and basis seems similar to yours, but with more advancement in bio-science and genetic modification and less then your engineering and computer research.

Because of these factors- it is highly likely this is a traditional, transactional trade relationship with your people that lacks pretense or manipulation, beyond perhaps hiding information. It could be possible this technology is nearly worthless while Argon is very rare on the galactic scale, but all projections make it seem unlikely. What could they have to gain?

File: space monke quest2 post 3p2.png (187 KB, 1400x990)

187 KB PNG

Your people are the Jaxtians. Coming from the planet Jaxt- you are a race of primates that evolved into your planet's dominant lifeform and advanced into technology. After many eras of war and strife, eventually your people ended the reign of corporations and nation-states in the last great civil unrest and emerged as The Hedgemony.

The Hedgemony is the government of the planets and moons named Jaxt, Schoon, Caplit, Vass, and all outlying exoplanets and beyond. You are currently an Interplanetary Empire. You have Star Dynamo craft, spaceships, that can travel at a maximum speed of 10% the speed of light. You are also technically an Interspecies Empire, after having discovered an alien species that is intelligent enough to made as citizens- though none of them know it yet, as the migrators that live under Caplit's ice sheets spend 99% of their lives in deep stasis, and can live for a thousand years in that watery abyss.

The Hedgemony is the ultimate government. It fully intends to rule until the heat death of the universe- it is the perfected form of authority that is self correcting and uncorruptable. After the fall of the billionaire elite and destruction of democracy, the Hedgemony has reigned uncontested underneath the benevolent rule of its highest office- the Supreme Ruler.

While technically the second intelligent alien species you have encountered, the Haazar offer a unique challenge and threat to the Hedgemony- the Hedgemony has never engaged in a war- especially not an Interstellar war. There is always a possibility that such a thing may happen, and you must be ready for it- the Haazar do not seem warlike in the slightest, but now is the best time to prepare. To prepare your people for the possibility such a conflict, what measure will you take?

>Declassify the alien contact and create common sense initiatives and a citizen readiness program (Creates the most panic; most readiness)
>Reveal the alien contact piecemeal and propagandized to downplay any chance of conflict (Slows readiness)
>Do not declassify- prepare military branch for space with no explanation (Moderate readiness; may come back to haunt you)
>Do not declassify- align research towards interstellar warfare (Least readiness, most stable)

>>5007276
AAAAND we're BACK BABY, Now this is cool.

I do not trust these people for a single, not a single minute. We're just being introduced to the galactic stage and they're offering us technology in exchange for an resource? This sounds like some british-level negotiations.

But here's the thing, while i do believe we should make an military branch, i don't think that we should just have 'no explanation'. Creating a military branch is completely and utterly reasonable in this scenario, even if we don't declassify the alien contact completely as of now.

The way i see it,i don't trust those aliens as far as i can toss them - mostly because i wouldn't want to touch them to throw them in the first place. We're being 'invited' into the galactic community and their first step is a trade offer of technology for a resource? Hell to the FUCK No. This is some british-tier shenanigans..

Way i see it, we should create a military with an clear explanation that this is 'safety' against possible threats that may come now that we're exploring other systems. If we're not ready we die, so it's better to waste money than to be caught unprepared.

After that, we should slowly but surely prepare the population for the alien contact as to avoid general panic.

>>5007276
>Reveal the alien contact piecemeal and propagandized to downplay any chance of conflict (Slows readiness)

Why not prepare a military branch while also revealing the alien contact to the civilian population in a heavily propagandized and piece meal manner?

Something in the manner of 'we doing good lads, but we're investigating outside our systems now and we need an army for spooky aliens"

>>5007576
This is my vote

>>5007276
>>Declassify the alien contact and create common sense initiatives and a citizen readiness program (Creates the most panic; most readiness)

>>5007576
This, and also a memo for later: we should trade materials for materials, and tech for tech. What do we lack that we really need right now?

>>5007967
Way i see it, this sounds like some 19th century colonial stuff. Why would they offer such trade deal in our FIRST CONTACT MISSION? Doesn't it seem a bit too direct?

So what i'm guessing is happening is that Argon Gas is extremely valuable, and they want to trick us before we join the interstellar community and get wise.

File: space monke quest2 post4 p1.png (169 KB, 1400x990)

169 KB PNG

Truth be told, this Argon trade was something you've already thought long and hard over.

Simply put; you've run the calculations already, you've discussed it with your advisors, and you've made your decision on the trade. You are going to perform the trade. The risk-analysis checks out- even if it ends up with getting screwed over, the damage will be minimal.

Firstly, the idea of trading Argon from your gas giant could be a colonial venture; taking advantage of a less developed force. But this only works if the resource in question is rare- but Argon is not rare. It's a common enough gas- one of the noble gases that comprises a large amount of Max, your gas giant, giving it a purple color.

Secondly; the amount. The trade offer included with the Haazar's introductionary message gave units of weights and measurements- which gave a unit of Standard Planetary Masses. They want two of such masses from your gas giant in raw gas- which is roughly 3% of its total mass. It's a very small amount of resources expended in total, and mostly cost effective; your people have simply done nothing of this scale yet.

Secondly; your scientists assure you that it is technically possible that their story checks out. The elements of the universe are widespread; they are the same everywhere, they aren't exactly rare. However in specific places, certain elements could be more or less rare due to random chance and the accreditation disks of stars and supernovas that form planetary systems; the only blip here is that a relatively lightweight element, like Argon, should be very common, where as the more "rare" elements that are heavier could theoretically be more or less rare in specific star systems, meaning that theoretical alien races could trade for them over short distances in the galactic scale.

Of course- all of this is hanging on the possibility of an ulterior motive. What motive could there be? You aren't offering your own genome to be modified for the aliens to tinker with, and it doesn't seem like this trade would seriously damage or upset your industrial ability to wage a war, in the event it was a way to weaken you before a surprise attack. If anything, it will force your society to learn new technologies and methods to build on a huge scale; which could be an ulterior motive; perhaps they want you to be strong in the event you are politically convenient allies; which would still be beneficial to your race.

In the end; your projections seem to point towards this being a trade of convenience; giving a technology you would discover on your own eventually a bit earlier in exchange for a resource too inconvenient for them to find a new source for; and a large enough industrial base using a gas on a home planet inefficiently could reasonably deplete it in a few hundred years of industrialization, which almost happened to your people in the form of radioactive fuel.

Perhaps... your own fear of death is the real reason?

File: space monke quest2 post4 p2.png (426 KB, 4960x3508)

426 KB PNG

You decide to introduce the intelligent aliens piecemeal and through heavy propaganda; making sure to control information on it in a way that has the least risk projections.

Your AI assistant, Alavis reports that the average citizen is... very unperturbed. While a few hard cases and conspirators will always exist, the vast majority take to the news of first the signal, and then the existence of intelligent aliens very well. After all, you've already discovered alien life AND intelligent alien life; just a very limited form of it. Technological advanced aliens were always an obvious truth, just never proven until now. Your people actually trust the government, the Hedgemony, as they should because it truly does have their best interest at heart- as such, there is no serious negative public reaction. Readiness is progressing at a good rate. Excellent.

In the meanwhile; there is the more complex matter of defense. With the public smoothed over; now is the time to focus on military manners in the actual event of the unthinkable; or if the alien ship the Haazar are sending is actually a warship?

>Build Planetary Defense Cannons on all planetary colonies
>Research projectile and missile systems for your ASDV-Class Starships
>Seek High-Energy alternatives to traditional weapons
>Mass produce AI controlled defense satellites to patrol your solar system (expensive)
>Other (Write In)

>>5008414
>Seek High-Energy alternatives to traditional weapons

>Research projectile and missile systems for your ASDV-Class Starships
Slugthrowers for the win.

>>5008414
>>Research projectile and missile systems for your ASDV-Class Starships

>>5008414
Monke throw stones, ook ook
>Research projectile and missiles

>>5008414
>Research projectile and missile systems for your ASDV-Class Starships

File: space monke quest2 post5.png (58 KB, 1200x849)

58 KB PNG

>>5008443
>>5008472
>>5008514
>>5008559
The military planning budget is now in place.

It seems clear now that, for the next decade of your reign, your discertionary budget is being used towards the daunting task of completing the first interstellar alien contact- and the first trade between space nations in your people's history. More daunting, however, is the massive construction project and needed advancements in technology and engineering to complete it.

The Haazar requested two Standard Planetary Masses in gas from Max. Each SPM is roughly, though slightly smaller, then the entire mass of your home planet! While Max is a gas giant, and the mass can simply be taken and shipped- the prospect is unfathomable. Nothing in your races history comes anywhere close to this in scope and size.

Something of this scale will require a long time, probably your entire reign and then some, to complete. It is a megaproject; the perfect expansion of your people into space. Until now, you have build colonies and tin cans; while you did manage to make an interplanetary empire with automated shipping and communications; you are still bugs living on the surface of your worlds. You have not yet mastered them.

Alavis splashes a few potential projects that could be the first step towards completing this grand feat.
>Draft designs for flying cities & habitation on gas giants
>Seek mega-structure breakthroughs for massive gas extractors/ships to collect it
>Invent auto-replicating machine technology to complete the project with pure scale

I still don't think we should be trading argon, though. I mean, lifespan increase? For an amount of gas twice th size of our planet? It's a damn trick, i tell you.

With that said,
>Draft designs for flying cities & habitation on gas giants
While big ships or auto-replicating machines are more 'effective', i'm not a big fan of hard sci-fi. Floating Cities are cool, so by damn we must choose that.

>>5009517
>It's a damn trick, i tell you.
By which i mean it's not a particularly good deal and they're probably taking advantage of us*

A few months of life ain't worth that many resources, i say. We should be keeping it to trade once we get on the interstellar stage. It probably has a good price.

>>5009498
>Seek mega-structure breakthroughs for massive gas extractors/ships to collect it

>>5009498
>Draft designs for flying cities & habitation on gas giants

>>5009498
>Seek mega-structure breakthroughs for massive gas extractors/ships to collect it

>>5009498
>Invent auto-replicating machine technology to complete the project with pure scale

>>5009498
>Draft designs for flying cities & habitation on gas giants
Wasn't here for the first thread but read through it, good to see this back.
Captcha KHAAW bird people when?

How can anyone say no to a cloud city?

File: space monke quest2 post 6p1.png (212 KB, 1200x849)

212 KB PNG

You put forward the order to your AI assistant- Alavis, to begin working on the cloud city concept. Living habitats in space are not something your people work towards; but a few select flying cities around specific planets will be very useful to have around Max- they can also act as basic research stations while their primary goal is harvesting the huge amount of mass you will need for this grand project.

"Alavis- report. Logistics and possibility of success."

"Oh your eminence! The project is very likely to be successful. We have most of the necessary materials and computer software already; no unknown or fictional mechanics will be needed to make this happen! Projected time; about twenty years until the first cities can be launched."

"Excellent. Cost estimates?"

"Reporting- your excellence! The totals are... a lot!"

You take a look at the projections. Yeah, that is a lot...

File: space monke quest2 post 6p2.png (132 KB, 1200x849)

132 KB PNG

It's been a rough 15 years

Your budget and timescales were off a bit- distracted and pulled away from your goals by unforeseen results.

Your idea to employ and equip your starships with basic cannon and missile defense and weapon systems was an absolute failure. While naturally a weapon aboard a ASDV can work fine on a planet or in low-speed conditions, any attempt to use a weapon while travelling at any speed with a Star Dynamo simple fails. The projectiles ejected by your ships do not carry any momentum once they leave its immediate range. This means that any depleted uranium shells simply hold in the relative position in space once they are no longer directly connected to the vessel, and missiles do not go much better. While early attempts to attach warheads to Star Dynamo propulsion drive missiles seemed a good idea; the moment the missiles hit their mark and explode they would be instantly left behind by anything travelling at any considerable speed, as the explosion does not move with the relative momentum it was moving with when driven by a Star Dynamo. At even 1% the speed of light, the explosion is left behind and can barely scratch the paint of any test craft.

While against hard points, planets, or anything moving slowly enough these weapons could be useful- nothing about them works in a fast Star-Dynamo to Star-Dynamo craft combat, making them utterly useless for ship-to-ship warfare.

"Blast! Dammit!" You cry. You've caused yourself quite a lot of stress on this doomed project; and even worse feel as though it could have been avoided through better application of known sciences!

Meanwhile; the flying city project has been progressing on pace. The planet Schoon in your solar system, which has been the industrial powerhouse of your entire empire since before you ever took the position of Supreme Ruler, has been producing the huge quantities of steel and electronics to make these cities out of. Early prototypes are good; they will soon be launched into space cheaply via Star-Dynamos and assembled in orbit around Max before being lowered into the atmosphere for a stable flight. However there is a problem; even at these altitudes, Max's gravity is over twice that of your Homeworld. Those Jaxtians living on Schoon already have a higher rate of injury and fatigue with just a slightly higher natural gravity- living on these cities could be nightmarishly bad without some serious adjustment. What's the best solution for this problem?

>Research gravity-modifying technology (Extreme longshot)
>Proliferate cybernetics to protect and strengthen those living in high-gravity places (expensive)
>Keep strict personal rotations and health and safety regulations to make the living there as safe and comfortable as possible (cheap)

I don't know, on one hand, gravity modifying would really help us, but in the other hand its a crutch, if it got turned down in an emergency the people there would be in trouble.

Cybernetics are a no-no, we already went against that. We chose genetics over cybernetics. But just keeping strict regulations doesn't seem effective

Any ideas?

>>5010485
Either we make the cities higher up in low orbit, or we make power armor. Think something more akin to small mechs instead of armored suits.
Alternatively we modify our species into a subspecies with stronger bones and better regeneration. Basically making supersoldiers just to live and work on these cities - but it's gonna take quite a while.

>>5010480
>>Keep strict personal rotations and health and safety regulations to make the living there as safe and comfortable as possible (cheap)

>>5010581
>ther we make the cities higher up in low orbit, or we make power armor
I like the idea of making the cities higher up in orbit. I mean, i don't think Max has an breathable atmosphere, right? If it doesn't, there's no reason not to make it higher and just make tools to help workers who go down to collect the gas.

>>5010480
>Make the cities higher up in orbit
Don't really see many problems with this but I'm not a scientist, can we make big ass scoops that lower down to the planet to get the gas too?

>>5010625
>Support

>>5010625
>>5010700
support these ideas

File: space monke quest2 post7.png (263 KB, 1200x1694)

263 KB PNG

The cities have progressed along nicely. Just a few generations of Supreme Rulers ago, the thought of creating such a massive structure in space would be unthinkable; even moreso before the space revolution with the Star Dynamo's invention. With your predecessor Qet's decision to move all production facilities onto Schoon meant a massive increase in total productivity; huge plumes of pollution are released on a dead planet, and massive mineral resources can be dug directly there. The huge constructions of metal and the frames that will create this massive station are already made.

Truthfully, while the raw ability of manufacture has increased, the budgetary and computer resources needed to undertake such projects have not increased nearly as much in the same span. So much of this time was spent crunching numbers, so much time was spend inventing new cost-effective protocals for inventing these revolutionary devices; gas gyroscopes, mass harvesting cables, anchor cables- all of it comes to this.

In the meanwhile; deciding to move the flying cities to a higher orbit is a simple and cost-effective means to fix the high gravity problem. You will be remembered fondly for avoiding causing pain and injury to your subjects- but this will mean the ability of research and gas-harvesting will be reduced somewhat, but a small part to pay for safety. The city is almost complete...

File: space monke quest2 post7 (...).png (66 KB, 1200x849)

66 KB PNG

The first flying city has been completed in the past five years; on schedule!

Of course, completing this massive task wasn't easy. The "city" is also a bit of an exaggeration; it is more similar in scope to a large colony base, similar to the research base on Caplit, self contained, and capable of both living in suspension and harvesting gas from the planet. It "peels" the higher, less dense gasses from the planet away and channels them up through its chimney; allowing for multiple cities to "stream" the gas upwards in concentrated lines to be collected by whatever shipping you may eventually design for this project.

The city is mostly self sufficient. It grows its own food and produces most of its own stability and energy from the temperature and static energy created deeper in the planet. Long reaching cables connected to the city "anchor" it in the cloud layer, making it very difficult to topple or drag lower. The gravity of the planet keeps it from being flung into space or floating away; the computer systems have already been adjusted to compensate for when the planet's mass is reduced, however slightly, by your later harvesting efforts.

Finally, mercifully, it is complete. This is a massive achivement for all of Jaxtian kind... despite the fact it amounts to a big tin can in space. Your heart sinks a bit; even this great feather in your cap feels inferior compared to your predecessors; how can you compare this to securing your homeworld's biosphere or the march into space?

Regardless- its time for one final step. The first colonists, mostly high-level scientists and technicians, will be the ones aboard this massive flying structure. However, it is missing one critical component. It's name.

>What will you name the first flying city?

>>5011316
Cirrus

It's a type of cloud that's really up high.

>>5011316
Cirrus works for me

>>5011316
Cirrus is a cute name

>>5011316
Bandwagoning on Cirrus.

I support Cirrus aswell.

Also we should consider sending a ship to meet their ship. We could establish a quicker communications with through their envoy ship and also we could assess what this "envoy" ship actually is and their motives before they could reach our system.

>>5011481
Supporting cirrus

File: space monke quest2 post8.png (211 KB, 1200x1020)

211 KB PNG

You have decided to name the first flying city Cirrus; a fitting name for a massive project like this. With the naming ceremony completed, the state of the art habitat floats majestically through the huge mass of Max's clouds, cutting a wake through it, its beacon shining to all Jaxtians.

As with all of the Hedgemony's new holdings, there is no shortage of new colonists... at least at first. Cirrus is a technological achievement and is staffed to the brim with technicians and scientists who are proud to have worked on it. But on second glance, it seems the number of colonists for Max is much smaller then the other colonies- the sole exception being Vass, because of how inhospitable it is. Caplit has scientific oppertunities with its native life, plus fame from Maktana's leadership and "life's work". Schoon is an industrial powerhouse and closest to Jaxt in terms of living conditions; the underground cities there have become extremely complex with entire buried archologies and nature preserves! The flying cities of Max, however, will need numbers to help stock them, as the planet is massive. But it seems the least attractive of all off-world colony types- the precarious nature of being a flying habitat that could fall into a soup of gas and never return is at least partially the problem.

And that's only the problem with Max itself. It seems that as time goes on, the novelty of living off world has all but evaporated from the mainland Jaxtian people; the beginning push to colonize space by the late and great Vantix Garastra was generations ago now- space travel has lost much of its luster. People prefer to live on a real planet with a real ecology. And with your budgetary squeeze from these massive projects; simply bribing people to colonize the rest of space is going to be difficult.

>>5011481
The idea of launching ships to meet the aliens face to face has also come to you; but further complicating matters with this colonist push. It would take some seriously dedicated astronauts to make that journey; without cryostasis technology or any life expending technologies; any ship sent to meet the aliens would need to be a generation ship, where none of the original crew will ever be able to return, not to mention the absurd cost of a project with little to no reward...

"Hey buddy!"
Oh my god. It's Kinja. You haven't seen him in decades now. Even worse; he's still gorgeous. He hasn't aged a day.

"Vul, buddy! How is it hanging? Hopefully on the branch of the Danbo tree, huh?"

God you hate him. He touches your shoulder. You recoil in disgust. Ugh, Nouveau Riche.

Kinja is your "friend" who you practically grew up with. Before the death of your predecessor, Qet Scholiander, you were one of the two possible candidates to become the next Supreme Ruler- with Kinjda being the runner up. After you were chosen for the office, Kinja went on to become appointed to the head of the largest entertainment outfit in the empire; and using both it and his advancements, he has become the richest man in history.

Of course, wealth doesn't mean very much in your current age- at least as compared during the age of the degenerate "democracies" where wealth equaled power- in the modern day, almost all significant families belong to the corrupt Bloodline Billionaires have been eradicated or benevolently rolled into the general population. Kinja uses his wealth and influence for the good of all; and has already written his will to give all of his wealth to the Hedgemony as a gesture of goodwill.

"But seriously, Vully. I hired a few people to crunch the numbers; I was gonna start making a documentary on the Cirrus (by the way, you busy later? Can I get you for an interview- I know you're busy being Supreme Ruler and all but for me ~baby?) and we noticed a big difference in the number and quality of applicants for colonization. The truth is that our solar system has become boring; space travel isn't what it used to be. It isn't a great adventure anymore; it's mundane. I know this baby- our subscribers prefer fantasy or historical sims over science fiction- which was once our biggest category!"

You roll your eyes helplessly. You already know where he is going with this- and is he really calling you by your first name, or a nickname of it, at that? The Supreme Ruler? Does he even know what the traditional punishment for that level of disrespect used to be?

"So listen- I want to help you. I know that pretty soon the exploration ships to other solar systems will start to beam back the findings- and from then the Hegemony will want to send people to those far away planets; and I want to be the one who leads the charge. Oh I'll be dead as a doorknob by then baby, but WE gotta set the groundwork for it. Know what I mean? So what do you say? Give me the insider scoop? Let me have access to the propaganda broadcasts- I'll make sure your predecessors will have no shortage of colonists to send away!"

>Accept Kinja's offer
>Tell him to fuck off
>Tell him to fuck off & put him in jail for a few months to teach him a lesson

>>5012193
>Accept Kinja's offer BUT make sure it doesn't end up badly/Kinja does something stupid
We really need to make sure our people are willing to go to foreign worlds if we want to become an advanced civilization. If it can't be an "adventure", it should be an opportunity, like moving to a new state to get a job.

Kinja is a goddamn weirdo, but he seems to be an entertainment weirdo, which means his goal here is probably trying to make more of a name for himself. That doesn't really matter, as long as it doesn't actively harm our people.

>>5012193
>Accept Kinja's offer
But we get a final say on all broadcasts before they go out

>Accept Kinja's offer
Its clear Kinja wants to make propagation of colonization ideals into his special project. Such focused turbo autism is always excellent when it aligns with our goals. Lets give Kinja the mandate to lead the propaganda efforts. No need for much intervention on our part unless Kinja oversteps his authority and stuff goes off the rails.

>Problems with Cirrus popularity
We don't always have to pay people to come live in Cirrus you know. We can make it so that setting up a bussiness in Cirrus is the most sensible thing to do. Lets make Cirrus a tax haven. Also, some restrictions on illegal goods can be lifted over there.aswell. Its is a little shady and scummy but we gotta indice them with something. Later when Cirrus achieves a critical mass where colonists and growth no longer is an issue, we can reintroduce taxes and restrictions that apply elsewhere in the dominion. They aint going anywhere then.

>Meeting their envoy
In an attempt to circumvent the need for generation ships here is a proposal. Its not the complete solution but will make future trips further away easier. We need to set up a string of outpost stations along the way out of the system. These systems would be relay stations. Near there would be a solar farm which collects power and then uses a gigantic laser to beam it towards the closest relay station. That station uses some of the power to power itself and redirects rest of the power towards the next relay station. A string of these needs to be build along any points of interest with the aim that eventually the string of relay stations leads outside the system. Also, these same relay stations can be used to simply funnel the argon gas out from the system in a similar way that the electricity is beamed from station to station, except where laser is captured by a reciever dish, the gas would be recieved by and immediately redirected by a partivle accelerator towards the next station.

>>5012213
>Lets make Cirrus a tax haven.
That is a horrible idea which would result in a return to the old bloodlines.

What part of 'Authoritarian Totalitarian Hegemonic Government' did you not get?

>>5012220
Maybe we can try automation and make some AI cover the more menial tasks and have fewer souls on board, and pay for the more specialized folks

File: space monke quest2 post9.png (108 KB, 1200x849)

108 KB PNG

You decide to accept Kinja's offer. In the next few months; the colonization efforts of the Cirrus stop as the ship finishes it capacity- it seems there was enough interest for one, but the problem was with the many more you would need to fully commit to gas harvesting production- especially to the scale Haazar need for this interstellar trade.

In the meanwhile; the Cirrus is specially equipped with transmitters and AI cores to become the capital of Max's flying cities. You've already set AIs to plan for a fleet of these ships; but the light speed limit of information from Jaxt is more then enough to justify having a master computer on the distant gas giant. Many flying cities; all synced together for optimal gas stripping and coordinated flights.

Jaxtians who would work on these flying cities would still have all opportunities and normal life; everything from food grown from hydrophonics, employment, quarters for living and schools, and entertainment. The most popular form of entertainment for Jaxtians are Interactive Films, though mostly just called "interactives". These films are produced and shot like a traditional movie from centuries past, except with AI interpretation and data packs which allow for special types of control. They allow the watcher to interact in a limited capacity to the characters and scenes. This goes to 3d camera control letting them see from multiple angles, to asking characters questions to better explain the movie, to even suggestion courses of action or ideas for what may happen next. The AIs interpret the original script and intention of the film to keep a strong central theme and tone for the entire thing; but this freedom is a passive way to enjoy entertainment. This was also the primary production of APE- the company that Kinja heads. And speaking of; Alavis has given you the heads up on his new project as it nears completion.

"The Dark Station". It's a horror interactive. Set on the Cirrus. It's about alien spores hiding in the gas clouds of Max, which enter the flying city and mutate into a huge monster that slays and infects all of the residents of the Cirrus. The real residents of the station are present and can become "victims", with the viewer sometimes having to choose who lives or dies based on their choices; though the story always ends with the last survivors barely managing to escape in a pod (which are fictional; there are no life pods on something that is not designed to fail) as the station falls into the clouds and is destroyed. The finale of the movie features a stinger as a single alien spore is shown on the inside of the escape craft.

You summon Kinja to you as soon as you finish watching the draft.

"Kinja! What the HELL is this?!"

"Wait- listen Vul- no, your Eminence- please don't shut down the project! It's going to work- I swear! I know what I'm doing here. Please, your grace."

>Ban the interactive
>Allow the interactive

>>5012854
>Ask him what the hell is his goal with this
No, seriously, i want to know. What the hell is he actually trying to do? Is he trying to make a chernobyll movie and get everyone scared of the very concept?

>>5012902
This. I don't understand how a horror flick would help us.

>>5013036
Yeah, but he doesn't seem stupid (he wouldn't have become rich otherwise), which is why i want to know what the hell is his plan. He says he knows what he's doing? Then he's better goddamn explain it.

I mean, we're trying to push colonization and he makes a horror movie about everyone dying? I mean seriously, what is his goal exactly?

Uhh, wait, the interactive has real people?

I mean, maybe its me, but i dont think showing a movie where real living people get mauled by aliens is a good idea if we want people to colonize MORE and not less

>>5012854
>>Allow the interactive
People love horror movies.

>>5012902
This, what the hell is his aim here?

>>5012902
>support

File: space monke quest2 post10 p1.png (143 KB, 1200x849)

143 KB PNG

"What is your goal with this, exactly?" You ask Kinja, motioning to the video display. "I don't get it- it seems like you're trying to sabotage the propaganda effort. You need to explain yourself."

"Your omnipotence- with all due respect, I understand the public. And I also understand history. The truth is, your loveliness, we are a solved culture. There are no more serious natural threats, crime, or war to worry about. While one day our alien neighbors may act the part as enemies to rally against, that part is far off. After all, the only aliens we've met are the Haazar, and they are over 60 light years away. Their ship will take at least that long to get here- long after we're all dead." He breathes these words as easily as he would about cinematography or art, when you're pretty damn sure the aliens ship's arrival should be confidential. Damn privileged candidates for the Supreme Rulership!

"I'm sure you've studied it in history; but the first death in the space age happened ages ago, during the reign of Vantix Garastra. An asteroid miner's helmet was blown open by a freak rogue meteorite which caused him to lose his oxygen and without medical aide in the primitive ages of space exploration he died. When that was announced, interest in space mining as a career increased, not decreased, for decades afterwards. While people complained about and started to talk about increasing safety, the interest in that field went up. Why? Because Jaxtians are curious, intelligent beings- natural explorers. Our oldest ancestors lived in treetops, only coming down to the ground to give birth- and leaving the weak babies behind who couldn't keep hold as the mother climbed back into the trees. This kept the species strong, but how would a species like that discover stone and bone tools that fall to the ground? Or learn how to make fire and plant seeds for agriculture? The danger makes it romantic. But our culture lacks danger- we already have colonies on almost every celestial body in our solar system, nothing about Max is more dangerous then those except the fact its flying in the (very stable) cloud layer of the upper part of the planet's atmosphere. You need to make things look like an adventure, or else people turn their brains off and focus on distractions and the humdrum. It's very basic psychology your grace. I know it will work. Please trust me."

Hmm. You think he might be off his rocker, over-analyzing things and being too high off his own artistic farts.

>>5013393
But you decide to release the interactive... to a limited run. Keep it off Jaxt for the time being, see how recruitment goes for a few months. Don't poison the well- just beam the film to some outlying colonies and see how transfer requests and reservations go for the first and second fleet of Max's flying cities...

File: space monke quest2 post10 p2.png (200 KB, 1200x849)

200 KB PNG

After two weeks, you've released the film everywhere. Perhaps unsurprisingly to Kinja, but a pleasant surprise to you, this idea seemed to work.

The absurd idea of an alien entity killing people on a station seemed to do wonders to sate people's more realistic fears of the city being unstable or poor to live in. Kinja even threw in some lines in the film about how "the city will keep going even after we're all dead" and "only if all the navigation computers AND failsafes AND AI is shut down are we gonna sink!" as though you ordered the propaganda to show how safe the Cirrus was- he was one step ahead of you on that.

Turns out, recruitment problems quickly disappeared. You quickly had a full queue for colonists for the second and third flying cities. It wasn't even all from people who watched the films- simply putting the idea in the public conscious of the flying cities being exciting, romantic places was enough to work it out. And Kinja won interactive of the year away too from your state department of entertainment and diversion. Way too go. Not that he doesn't win it every year already.

But in the meantime; you remember the purpose for all of this. The flying cities were built to harvest gas for a trade with aliens for... life extension technologies. You can feel yourself getting older yet still, the slightest of white discoloration on your fingertips only prove it to you. But something Kinja said stuck with you- the Haazar homeworld and adjacent system. They are fifty light years away. Even in the best case scenario and the alien ship is traveling at the faster sub-light speeds then your fastest ships can go, and have access to the genetic technology that can help you extend your lifespan, AND they decided to send it after simply seeing you building these space habitats without a single drop of gas being sent to them- even in ALL of those cases it would be another forty to fifty years for them to even see your progress, and then ANOTHER forty to fifty for the information to reach you. You'll be dead long before then- just like Kinja said.

There's no point in focusing all your energy on this one project- for your own vanity. It's a waste of your time and dignity. You will not become another Gaftar IV.

But in the meantime; you have to consider the progeny. It may be time to start considering having an heir, and focusing on your own bloodline. Though Supreme Rulers are supposed to be above dynastic ambition, it may be time to consider having children of your own.

>Seek a wife
>Focus on matters of state more

>>5013501
>Seek a wife

>>5013501
>>Seek a wife
We can try to raise a good heir, at worst we can still pick someone else if he's not the best for the job.

>>5013501
>Focus on matters of state more
To be Supreme Ruler is to be married to the state, there is so much more we could do.

>>5013501
>>Seek a wife

>>5013501
>Seek a wife
Make sure it’s a cute tomboy

>>5013501
>Seek a wife
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcrrUuRoWT4

>>5013501
>Seek a wife

File: space monke quest2 post11.png (106 KB, 1200x991)

106 KB PNG

On Jaxt and all the colonies of the Hedgemony- monogamy is the preferred and approved method of courtship and reproduction. Your primitive ancestors may have went the way of polygamy- and much social unrest and pointless competition resulted from it until your people modernized. This is because that the breeding and raising of children is investment in the future of the health and quality of the citizens of tomorrow- all Jaxtians therefore take their pedigrees with at least a little seriousness. Of course- all of these forms of breeding are done ethically- voluntarily. Only those with genetic disorders and those below a rolling genetic quality threshold, usually about 4% of the population, are forcibly sterilized to ensure a quality crop of babies year after year.

As such; the Hedgemony practices several forms of eugenic control and selection. While you are technically a meritocratic state, there is a limit of available resources and time- genetic tampering is still in its infancy. As such, it only makes logical sense to give the most training and resources to each that they are worth according to their full possible potential.

The Supreme Ruler is no exception. As the Supreme Ruler, while technically not a by-blood rule of succession exists, the high quality families and bloodlines are expected to continue, at least to a degree, so genetic superiority of your office can continue. As such, you instruct your AI assistant to search the databanks for appropriate females of the highest genetic quality- before bidding them to join you at one of your vacation palaces.

You meet the three women face to face for the first time. All three of them not only meet your exacting standards, but are also more then willing to meet with you for a potential sexual relationship.

It should be noted here that the office of the Supreme Ruler is not supposed to be used for sexual conquest and fantasy. Such things are forbidden and very much beneath you. But you are the most powerful and eligible bachelor among an entire solar system of horny monkey people... It kind of comes with the gig.

File: space monke quest harem e(...).png (182 KB, 1400x990)

182 KB PNG

The first is Raza. She is very beautiful; and dressed very seductively. Your years of training however already let you detect her obvious trickery; besides her false blush, you can see she has intentionally dressed herself like you... matching your black robes with her outfit, and a golden necklace to match the symbol of office around your neck. Unconscious attraction, huh? Of course, this only shows her cleverness. You've seen all three girls and their genetic scores; hers are... very impressive, to say the least. Any child you have with her will be of the greatest stock among your species- and she clearly wants the same for her children as well. She's forward, and knows what she wants.

“Your grace.” She says, placing a hand on the top of her chest. She rolls the words in her mouth with her tongue decedantly. “...A pleasure to meet you in person.~”

The second is Elfi. She is slim, and an athlete of small renkown around gymnastic circles. Her awkward choice of attire, a lacy brazier over tight fitting orange pants? Her mane is unkept.

“I just got so nervous I couldn't think of what to wear! I'm very sorry, your eminence.”

“Heh, don't worry about it.”

Her gene scores are also very high- though more focused on athleticism and health. All of her great grandparents lived to be almost eighty. She has a small amount of social awkwardness not hinted at by her gene score- must be a learned behavior. You like her though. You can't sense any falsehoods or ulterior motives with this one.

The third and final female is named Lian and she is... she's a blonde?

The blondes are a rare racial phenotype that, unlike most races of your species preindustrialized past, were either eradicated or subsumed into the mainlander “common” Jaxtian stock. The blondes managed to survive even into the space age possibly because of their racial traits being commonly associated with expressive or dominant genes.

“Your majesty.” She nods, before looking away. Perhaps she's a bit starstruck. She may think she isn't worthy of being your wife- you'd understand. There isn't a technical rule against it but... any children you'd have with her would be almost certainly blonde. And there has never been a blonde Supreme Ruler.

While tradition indicates a marriage and long term relationship to foster the best quality children; there is no rule that the Supreme Ruler can't have more then one wife. It may not reflect well on you, but you are the Supreme Ruler of your entire species. If any man isn't forced to pick and choose, that man would be you. Which female do you choose?

>Raza
>Elfi
>Lian
>All three

>>5013784
I say, first of all, i do not trust the Jezebel over there. Not that she's necessarily bad, just that she's very clearly trying to go for it.

Elfi's cool. Tomboys are cool. A good choice.

Lian seems nice. Her gene score is impressive if she's come this far. It's interesting really...

Well, i'm going to say, while blondes are interesting enough, we should not just think genewise. Elfi is an slightly awkward tomboy, and that's just adorable. I feel she would fit Vul more.
>Elfi

>>5013784
>Elfi
Gib tomboy! Also we need healthy genes

>>5013784
>Elfi

>>5013784
>Lian
Cringe tomboy posters, go for gold

>>5013784
>Elfi

>>5013984
We're not choosing a girl just because she's gold, Elfi fits Vul Takar the most.

>>5013784
Elfi for wife, others for favored concubines (if this is an option)

Otherwise:

Just Elfi

>>5014057
>others for favored concubines (if this is an option)
That's a bad option, we need a wife for KIDS

>>5013784
Just Elfi

>>5013784
>Elfi
TOMBOY MAKE US GO OOK OOK

I don't trust the gold digger and the blonde, while my second choice, just barely loses.

>>5013784
>Elfi

>>5013784
>Elfi

File: space monke quest2 post 12 p1.png (120 KB, 1200x849)

120 KB PNG

You decide to pick Elfi for your wife. The courting is short- while you at first believe that all these women are simply here for the benefits that come with being the lover of a Supreme Ruler, and this would be a purely mechanical "exchange" of genetic information for political benefit, the truth is that your relationship blossoms into something more. Something a bit more genuine. You begin to feel as though she generally likes you; and while you can barely muster time to see her, she always has a smile on her face when you do make it. You get the feeling she enjoys your deep intellect and very interesting life; and have shown enough interest in her creative and athletic endeavors that most people she have met do not. You are a headstrong type, naturally, and she follows that in a way that completes it, without ever trying to usurp that natural authority your sex has over hers. After a few months; she seems overjoyed when you ask to marry her and embrace her for the first time.

But even after the first time you saw her naked... you were always a little disappointed. She's so thin, and while she's supposed to be the epitome of health for your children's sake, she's so bland. So boring. She gives so easily. You can see her as the victim of a co-dependent type. There aren't two cells in her body that resist authority. And her body- it is too boyish. Too slim, built for function over comfort. There is nothing exciting about her. You like her, and you know she loves you, but there is no passion. You don't love her.

She's your wife, yes. But why should a man like you have to choose between love and passion? So you don't choose. She can believe what she wants. You now have both. And everyone is happier for it.

File: space monke quest2 post 12 p2.png (128 KB, 1200x849)

128 KB PNG

With the future of your progeny in check; you have spent some time living aboard the Cirrus to get a better idea of its function and living quarters. The time alone with Elfi is nice, and the view of Max so close like this is beautiful. While this flying city is a marvel; it is just one of many that are soon to be rolling out of the great factories of Schoon; ready to take on the colonists and work they were designed for.

As of right now, the city has not produced one iota of gas for packaging. You have yet to build that system. As part of the slow progress of finishing this “trade” deal, you need to actually finalize the designs for how to actually deliver the gas to the distant alien homeworld of Haazar- a long 50 light year flight!

Even with your current speed limit of 10% the speed of light- a physics defying feat of energy in the first place, the trip is astronomically long. That would take 500 years for the first of the no-doubt many packages to reach your destination. And that's assuming you could actually build a ship large enough to carry a significant amount of the two SPM needed for the trade. While you assume the aliens will beam over the information when they're sure you'll honor your word and not make you wait centuries for it; it will still be a very difficult task.

The other problem, of course, is that technology improves over time. It is highly likely any inefficient solutions you find to ship this mass of Argon over to the aliens be obsolete in a few decades time. It may actually be best then, counter intuitively, to allow a future Supreme Ruler to figure out a solution once you have the pipeline of resources in place.

>Develop self-organizing AI courier swarms to deliver the gas
>Commission a massive starship to take a huge chunk of the gas at once
>Pass the buck and wait for technology to improve

File: card.jpg (52 KB, 600x600)

52 KB JPG

>>5015636
>too slim
I knew Vul Takar was not perfect, but not that he was such a fucking plebeian.

As for the question itself, i feel like we should begin developing the city for the acquisition of resources and let our successor get the transportation issue.

>>5015636
>Pass the buck and wait for technology to improve

>>5015636
>Pass the buck and wait for technology to improve
Next chumps problem

>>5015636
>Pass the buck and wait for technology to improve

>>5015636
>Pass the buck and wait for technology to improve

>>5015636
>>Pass the buck and wait for technology to improve
Yeah that makes the most sense.

File: space monke quest2 post13 p1.png (164 KB, 1200x849)

164 KB PNG

You have decided the best course of action is... to wait. The sad truth is that your own hubris and desire has outpaced your ability. Everything from the budget to this flying city to an alien trade deal to killing Gaftar IV and taking the marvels he made and jealously hoarding them. Your own relationships, even. Immortality granted by alien gods may be out of your grasp, but at least you have a child to carry on the mantle.

It is about then you are startled by an alarm. One moment you are peering over the serene view of Max's crest as light shines for a new day, the gas giant rotating the station around, and the next, you are recieving a damage report from Al.

"Vul? What's happening Vul?!" Elfi has woken up. She hobbles to her feet as best she can, despite how deeply pregnant she is.

"Supreme Ruler-" Al's computer voice garbles out. "Unknown data failure. Signal aimed at the Cirrus intercepted less then twenty minutes ago. Normal precautions taken; data corrupted. Is computer virus that cannot be quarantined traditionally. Data sinks and connections severed. Station is losing cocentric orbit. Crash immeniant. Powering down to prevent further spread of computer code-"

"Wait! Al! Is this closet airtight? AL! ANSWER ME!"

"Vul! What's happening?! I'm scared!"

"Yes. All internal doorways and chambers are double locccccccccccc-"

Her speech cuts off. It's clear she's not coming back; though you know the "Alavis" on this station is not the mainframe Alavis. You are almost amazed at the thought of a virus that can break through her own self-quarantining protocols but- you don't have time for that now.

File: space monke quest2 post13 p2.png (274 KB, 1200x849)

274 KB PNG

You take your symbol of office from your neck.

"Here- put this on, Elfi. Don't you dare take it off."

"Please Vul- Please-"

"There's no more time. Don't cry, don't scream. Conserve your strength and your oxygen- for yourself, and the baby."

The gas is coming into the room. Max's gas isn't exactly poisonous; but it will displace all breathable air as this station sinks.

"Please Vul- stay with me. Please don't go."

"This closet isn't big enough for the two of us. Don't open the door."

You begin to roll it shut, using all your strength. The station's lost power has made these automatic doors much heavier then they need to be.

"Vul.. I love you Vul! I love you-"

File: space monke quest2 post13 p3.png (84 KB, 1200x849)

84 KB PNG

Alavis has already broadcast a signal. Ships are scrambled. The only ones close enough to respond are construction ships and mining ASDV's, with a few personal transports mixed in. They move to the station on a Class 1 alert.

THE SUPREME RULER IS STILL ALIVE. I REPEAT, PRIORITY ONE. THE SUPREME RULER'S LIFE SIGNS REMAIN ACTIVE.

The Hedgemony cares about all its people, but in a crisis situation, some people are naturally more valuable then others for a focused rescue. The Supreme Ruler is at the top of that list. While the entire crew of the Cirrus is likely dead, or dangerous close to sinking into the gas giant to never be recovered- you need to rescue the Supreme Ruler.

The Cirrus's flight circuits had somehow been totally shot and scrambled, as though from a massive data loss and failure. The city lost control of the cloud anchors and gyroscopic systems; and could not sustain orbit. It is sinking into the gas giant. It will not be recoverable from any serious depth.

Alavis is in control. Seconds matter here- and only two rescue ships are present in the current moment. The computer instantly calculates the best chance of survival of the Supreme Ruler, with a secondary objective of retrieving any other valuable personal and saving the city from falling (impossible- objective override).

She decides to;
>Send a rescue team aboard the vessel to secure the Supreme Ruler
>Attach leads to sinking city and attempt to keep it from falling with the ASDV thrusters LIKELY DEATH OF SUPREME RULER

>>5016769
>Attach leads to sinking city and attempt to keep it from falling with the ASDV thrusters LIKELY DEATH OF SUPREME RULER
While rescuing the supreme ruler is important, the biggest asset here is Cirrus.

It's a gamble, of course. The Supreme Leader could die...but at the same time, losing Cirrus would be a much greater loss.

Either way, i bet it's those fucking aliens. I KNEW That it was a trick. Too bad our vote on it didn't matter since he chose to do it anyway.

>>5016769
>Attach leads to sinking city and attempt to keep it from falling with the ASDV thrusters LIKELY DEATH OF SUPREME RULER

>>5016769
>>Attach leads to sinking city and attempt to keep it from falling with the ASDV thrusters LIKELY DEATH OF SUPREME RULER

>>5016769
>>Attach leads to sinking city and attempt to keep it from falling with the ASDV thrusters LIKELY DEATH OF SUPREME RULER

>>5016769
>Save Cirrus

File: space monke quest2 post14 p1.png (168 KB, 1200x849)

168 KB PNG

Alavis decides to take a calculated risk and save the Cirrus from collapsing into the gas giant. Her commands are ended with a forced data quarantine and shut down of all communication devices brought onto or near the Cirrus- it is the only way to prevent spread of the data corruption.

The one exception is the Supreme Ruler's life monitor. The symbol of office around his neck.

As the two ships attach lead cables and pull against the tug of gravity, their Star Dynamo cores only barely able to keep the flying city from sinking in further. It takes a few hours for more ships to arrive; even with the maximum speed of the Star Dynamo craft simply can't beat relativity that quickly. Eventually, the Cirrus is saved from the pull of the gas giant's gravity and pulled out into space. The flying habitat is badly damaged, with some parts of it lost and thrown down into the gas giant's mass. With time to spare now; The machine quarantine is in full effect and all connections are disabled. Only afterwards is it safe for crews to enter for body recovery; they follow the locator signal of the Supreme Ruler's pendant.

However, he wasn't the one wearing it. Someone else was; Elfi. She is dead, choked by heavier-than-air gases, and the infant child within her did not survive. The child is unnamed and, due to tradition, will be named as Vul the Second before their collective burial. The Supreme Ruler- Vul Takar's body has not yet been recovered, and likely never will be.

Without an appointed successor, the previous candidates for the position must be elected instead- the Hegemony must find a new Supreme Ruler. Looking back to Qet's contemporaries reveals only Bost, who died years ago, and Maktana, who is much too old to take the position and retired over a decade ago. That leaves only one living candidate for the position left...

File: space monke quest2 post14 p2.png (132 KB, 1200x1154)

132 KB PNG

Your name is Kinja Dulioan and you are now the Supreme Ruler of the Jaxtians.

With this newfound unwanted responsibility thrust upon you, your life is about to change in a big way. There was no news on the death of the previous Supreme One- the Hegemony goons just showed up on your newest project and put this necklace around your neck. Bullshit!

Super model dates, red carpets, setting box office and personal wallet records with none of the guilt- Your perfect life.... It's ruined now! You can't believe this! Vul, you bastard! How dare you go and die like that!

Alright, calm down. Things are going to need to change; you were trained for this eventuality. You must put aside your personal life forever; the needs of the people, the state, and the ruler must come first. What is your first course of action?

>Learn everything you can about the data corruption that destroyed the Cirrus
>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent
>Prepare the AI network for protection against further data corruptions
>Comfort the people over the loss of the previous Supreme Ruler and assure them of your new administration's ability and sincerity

>>5017108
>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent
Let's see if it was the aliens that did this.

>>5017108
>Learn everything you can about the data corruption that destroyed the Cirrus

>>5017108
>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent
It's the fucking aliens, i say.

>>5017108
>Learn everything you can about the data corruption that destroyed the Cirrus
Knowing is half the battle.

>>5017170
Shouldn't we know where it came from before?

>>5017108
>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent
>Prepare the AI network for protection against further data corruptions
In that order once we discover where it came from

>>5017108
>>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent

>>5017108
>>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent

>>5017180
You have point, the trail might go cold, meanwhile we'll have time to study it later.

Switching my vote to find co-ords.

>>5017108
>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent

>>5017108
>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent

>>5017108
>Find the coordinates of where the data corruption was sent
We must find out who is responsible

File: space monke quest2 post15 p1.png (138 KB, 1200x849)

138 KB PNG

You decide to find the coordinates to where the signal came from. Alavis quickly breaks down the data, based on what little information she has gathered.

"My liege- as you are aware, I am an artificial intelligence. I do not have the mind of a biological organism- and as such, all "pieces" of myself are still part of my greater self. The Alavis aboard the Cirrus broadcasted all of the data as it was found until it, or "I", released a Stage 4 Quarantine warning message before ending its own ability to transmit and shutting down. Based on the time of the shutdown and the data procured, the data signal was sent from a star system that is not identical to the one we received from the Haazar aliens."

You knew about the alien trade from the mainstream media and the releases from the state department back when Vul was ruling the empire. Of course, you had more access then most because of your position as a candidate for the Supreme Rulership. Still, you're surprised how much was kept from the public knowledge on it and how well it was maintained.

"The Haazar's signal originates from a solar system roughly fifty light years away. It is a longform signal that constantly emitted itself over and over; the idea being to be caught. It was not aimed at out homeworld exactly but maintained enough coherency at this range to be usefully picked up by any sufficiently advanced civilization's devices. The signal that caused the data-corruption aboard the Cirrus was sent from a different solar system among a farther cluster. The signal was very high energy and short form- and it was very carefully aimed to hit the gas giant in our solar system. Also, based on the pattern of its spread and the fact it hasn't lingered; the data corruption is moreso like a weapon, fired like a cannon, then a legitimate attempt at communication. For these reasons, it is extremely unlikely that the Haazar sent this transmission directly, though the coincidence of this signal being sent a few decades after we received reason to investigate our own gas giant cannot be ignored."

With this in mind, you figure that whatever this was probably wasn't directly caused by the Haazar. Could it be they want to use your gas giant because their own was attacked by this data signal in the same way? Could they have known you would accept the trade offer? And why did whoever or whatever send this signal at your gas giant instead of at a colony or homeworld; where it would have done untold damage?

These thoughts you are thinking are reminding you of your higher calling yet again. It is time for a change of wardrobe. From your fashion into the robes of imperial might...

File: space monke quest2 post15 p2.png (178 KB, 1400x990)

178 KB PNG

You have chosen your Imperial robe to be red, with a black stripe, to represent the loss of your predecessor. Red is the color of war, and this attack is very likely to be the first act of war perpetuated against your people by an intelligent alien race; if not the first act of war done against the Hegemony against its inception.

"Supreme One- there is a great deal of commotion. The destruction of the Cirrus has had a profound impact. The loss of almost ten thousand aboard, many of whom were high ranking technicians and scientists, not to mention the previous Supreme One, are having a disastrous effect on the perception of both space and the Hegemony among the people. We need an immediate response."

>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them
>Play at the unknowable; this signal could have been anything and may well be an accident. This is a time for patience and evaluation.
>Temporarily cover up the disaster as an accident
>Other (write in)

>>5017572
>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them
FUCKING XENOS GET OFF MY SYSTEM REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

(Sea blobs are cool though)

>>5017572
>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them
REEE

Also, it's a shame that Elfi died, i would have thought that only Vul would have perished. Would have been cool to have a possible future supreme leader with a vendetta against aliens

>>5017572
>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them

>>5017572
>>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them
THE XENO SCUM HAVE COWARDLY ATTACKED US

>>5017572
>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them


Kinja was the one who talked about the romance of danger after all, let's see what he can do with this

>>5017572
>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them
I feel like stirring up the population like this might bite us in the ass at some point, but we need a simple explaination and decisive action. Besides what kinda lame ass propaganda machine do we have if it can't change the people's attitudes on a dime?

>>5017572
>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them

>>5017677
Adding
>inform the populus the attack came from a specific star cluster, and that they are the ones that we will punish for this cruel act of aggression with this dreadful loss of life

Better to give our people the target rather than make them aggressive with every xeno we could meet out their

>>5017572

A thought: Although the attack didn't come from the Hazar world directly, could the Hazar have set us up for this? This station was to mine for something they had specifically requested, knowing we would need to construct this sort of infrastructure - and something that is theoretically galactically common enough that the Hazar shouldn't have needed to make this request from us. Whilst the Hazar are not Warlike, so I don't assume they are behind the attack itself; there is no reason that someone else might not be attacking THEM. And that the Hazar might have concocted this deal to make us into a target for their enemy, and so secure themselves an ally who they can 'assist' in doing the fighting for them.

>Play at the unknowable; this signal could have been anything and may well be an accident. This is a time for patience and evaluation.

>>5017777
Regardless of who did it, it was fucking xenos.

This is obviously going to influence the people's "Response". Aliens did this, so we should rightfully be angry about aliens.

>>5017572
>Make a public announcement that this was a direct attack by an unknown, hostile alien race and swear vengeance upon them
FUCKING XENOS, what if it was the fucking Haazar doing this attack pretending to be some either non-existent/enemy of theirs alien race to bring our race closer to theirs so they can take our gas for cheaper! Or it may just be some actual other aliens.

File: space monke quest2 post16 p1.png (177 KB, 1200x849)

177 KB PNG

From the safety of a battle bunker, you proselytize your plan of action.

"My fellow primates- the destruction of Cirrus was no accident. The deaths of thousands, as well as the death of our previous Supreme Ruler, are the direct result of a malicious signal sent by an alien species. However- these are not the Haazar. It seems we have stumbled into a much more crowded galaxy then first appeared- the alien signal came from a distant star cluster, about eighty light years away. This can only mean one of two things."

You turn to read Alavis's message on the screen. Her simulation and probability matrices are of a great help. Repeat after me.

"The first possibility is that these beings sent this energy pulse eighty years ago there, after spying our development one hundred and sixty light years ago; which is to say before we entered the space race. This would indicate a desire to wipe out a pre-Star Dynamo society, a monsterous action of a genociding race. The second possibility is that this was an accident of random chance; but by NO means does this grant clemency. Any signal or emission of such high energy with the ability to destroy is not an accident, but an act of unimaginable negligence. The truth, my friends, is that in either scenario- these aliens are irredeemable. The blood of our people is on their hands- and we WILL have our vengeance!"

The decision to spin this as an act of war not only works- but works better then you could have hoped. The Hedgemony has already seeded the population of Jaxt and its colonies with cultural ideas of rising up and together against outside threats through fiction and strategic training; not since the first founding of the Hegemony and the destruction of the bloodline billionaries is there more cultural unity and strength as in this moment.

You see the signs everywhere. Victory gardens being grown to support the food needs of the people in the event of long interstellar flights; recruitment for the military and space branch shoot up by over six times the norm. Space technicians and mechanics are working unpaid overtime to maintain and prepare a new fleet of ASDVs. You even see it in the clothes people wear on the street.

The Hedgemonic symbol; the three joined circles, is the symbol of your government and can only be worn by government officials and important installations. But the civilian symbol; three circles joined at the points of a triangle is seen everywhere now. From patches to outfits, everyone is feeling incredibly patriotic. Anti-alien bias has grown, though thankfully the Migrators and Haazar are recieving less of it, some is still directed towards the growing minority of racial supremacists who believe the Jaxtians should exterminate or enslave all other sentient life in the galaxy. But even these are still willing to work with the common population. This energy is intoxicating.

File: space monke quest2 post16 p2.png (100 KB, 1200x849)

100 KB PNG

However, due to the nature of this long range, long planned attack, Alavis brings up some practical concerns.

"It may be prudent to turn this entire message of vengeance into boosts to the economic and science sectors. Direct intervention and retaliation is either impossible or impractical."

...She's right. With a 80 year gap in time-light dilation; and with your top speed of 10% the speed of light; only a generation ship loaded with colonists would have any chance of reaching the far off system- in the better part of a millennia. Eight hundred years?! Who would even remember the Cirrus in that time. Worse yet, there is no chance the original culprits of the attack are still alive even now; who knows if the government or group in power in that far off part of space are even still in power. By the time you get there- certainly not. Even worse, a direct data or energy attack, travelling at the speed of light, (and that's assuming you could even pull it off) would still take 80 years to get there. Eighty long years.

There may not be a direct way of intervening. But the restless energy of the people must be expended, and something must be done. What can be done? Can anything be done? Whatever you choose, it will not happen in an afternoon- it may not happen within many lifetimes. But your choices now will have ramifications for the future of the Jaxtian people.

>Research FTL technology
>Enrich & Defend your solar system to show the strength of the Jaxtian people
>Transmission into a Xenophobic, Imperialist empire built on military might

>>5018149
>Enrich & Defend your solar system to show the strength of the Jaxtian people

>>5018149
>Research FTL technology
WE MUST GO ON THE ATTACK, also this'll allow us to trade with those Haazar guys faster, I'd also vote for transmissioning into a xenophobic empire but I fear that will cause problems for the Migrators which was that one guys life work that I forgot the name of so gonna avoid that.

>>5018149
>FTL

>>5018149
>Research FTL technology

>>5018149
>Research FTL technology
Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to attack them within a reasonable time frame.

>>5018149
>Research FTL technology

>>5018149
>Research FTL technology
Well that escalated quickly...

>>5018149
>Research FTL technology

>>5018149
>>Research FTL technology

If it is possible, we must do it.

Also, how are our own heir candidates looking? Since we got here because Vul went and got himself killed, we must not assume the same couldn't happen to us. Especially if we're now living under extraterrestrial threat.

>>5018149
>Research FTL technology
We shouldn't go full xenophobic imperialist yet. I'd rather stay as just an autocratic, reasonable xenophobic empire.

File: space monke quest2 post17(...).png (107 KB, 1200x849)

107 KB PNG

You have to decided to begin the, perhaps impossible, journey to develop faster then light technology. This is your long term empire goal, which will probably not be finished by any one Supreme Ruler.

The dream of science fiction authors everywhere- the idea of faster then light travel is a fantasy that appeals to the vast indifference of space. Of course, once the concepts of general relativity were discovered, it was believed to be impossible- until the invention of the Star Dynamo. Due to its ability to transfer energy into momentum directly through a yet unknown vector that is almost unaffected by inertia and graivty, it may be possible to increase this technology to faster then light levels. It is simply not feasible with any modern day technology.

The truth is that your people don't have enough data and knowledge on the absolute building blocks of the universe yet. You commission a massive project; a huge particle-collider on your homeworld of Jaxt. Built in the otherwise desolate Blonde Mountains; it stretches across several imperial provinces and even crosses a time zone. The project is huge in scale, but building on the homeworld and the recent frenzy of patriotism has cut back on costs significantly.

The massive particle collider will accelerate particles to fractions of the speed of light and observe their interactions; with this, and experimental measures to try and increase this speed even further, it may yield the secrets to FTL technology. Thankfully, the Hedgemony's educational system is strong enough to dispel most idiocies such as the beliefs of apocalyptic black hole creation or combusting the atmosphere- but a new development involving Max would cause a significant panic if revealed to the public...

File: space monke quest2 post17 p2.png (118 KB, 1200x849)

118 KB PNG

The Caplit colony, which is located on Max's ice moon, has reported an increase in heat and energy activity coming from within the gas giant's depths.

Unfortunately, this disturbance has been detected on the same place where the Cirrus nearly fell into the gas giant.

You call Alavis to report, and the AI chirps in confusion.

"Insignificant data. Only Conjecture available. There is a possibility the energy surge that struck the Cirrus may have been a highly advanced technology- such as teleportation or the creation of matter from "nothing". The heat and energy signatures are moving underneath the planet, growing, and waning. This indicates activity that is not a run-away ignition or chain reaction, and is being caused by several disperate entities."

While Alavis's advice and predictions are usually spot on; this one you can't place. The concept of alien ships actually "beaming into" your solar system to attack you is so laughable it's almost absurd. Any alien race capable of performing that data corruption and had a level of technology like this would be like gods for the Jaxtians- you're pretty sure you made an interactive like that once.

Still, there is the matters of the military to consider. The truth is that your are woefully unprepared for an attack. All of the testing and research done a few years ago during Vul's reign for different space ship weapons ended up being useless in a ship to ship dogfighting scenario- all due to the mechanics of the Star Dynamo. These weapons are as archaic as a spear or a nuclear bomb. Having no concept of the alien capabilities- anything traveling sub light speed may be able to be detected and avoided. You have no way of knowing, but it's the best chance you have. You tell Alavis to present you with the most hopeful weapons research. She presents you with three.

The first are Lasers. They travel at the speed of light, and could be used to disrupt and destroy matter with extreme heat and energy. They drain a lot of energy but are cheap to manufacture, and you could already outfit ships with near-weapons grade level diodes at this very moment.

The second are Particle Beams, a type of weapon that fires a wider beam of super charged, fast particles. These deal damage through abrasion and could blast about physically weaker structures, though travel slightly slower then a laser would. Ammunition in the form of particles to super charge would be a small concern.

The third is a more experimental technology in the form of a Neutrino Gun. This weapon essentially captures and fires Neutrinos in a powerful burst. They travel slower then the other weapon types, but would be highly damaging to an enemy ship and neutrino explosions could disable traditional electronics.

Which will you research?
>Laser Weapons
>Particle Beam
>Neutrino Gun

Neutrino for me, with Laser being a close second in case of a tie.

>>5018783
>Laser
While i believe we should definitely research Neutrinos later, right now we want to be armed enough to defend ourselves, and the only way we're doing that is through lasers.

>>5018795
I'm concerned over whether we can get Neutrinos. It's experimental, and we already failed the last time we tried to use non-laser weaponry.

>>5018783
>>Particle Beam

>>5018783
>Laser Weapons

>>5018783
How 'experimental' are the Neutrino Beams? They sound good, but they also sound years away for an effective weapon. Could we start a Neutrino weapons program for the long term, but arm things with Lasers in the meantime as we seem to have them nearly ready already?

>>5018958
Pretty much my thoughts, while i don't know about the program (we need to concentrate our resources), i will say that neutrinos, while the most promising, are experimental.

We already had a dead end military project once. No need to have another.

>>5018783
>Laser Weapons
Lasers will be good for the short term but later on we should try getting Neutrino guns.

>>5018783
>Lasers

>>5018783
>>Laser Weapons

>>5018783
Neutrino Gun

>>5018783
>Laser Weapons for now but also start looking into neutrino guns

File: space monke quest2 post18 p1.png (295 KB, 1400x990)

295 KB PNG

You have decided to outfit your vessels with laser weapons.

You now have a very basic beginnings of a space force- your ASDV ships have been in use since around the end of Qet's reign, and have proven to be a highly versatile and reliable craft- but only for space exploration and colonization. The Advanced Star-Dynamo Vehicle is a large, circular craft which can both fly through vacuum, atmosphere, and can land on planets. Equipped with a Star Dynamo and reactor core for power, the craft uses its outer shell and large, flat inner floor as places to run its electrical circuit for the Star Dyanmo. This allows it to move in any direction, turn, pitch, and yaw in 3d space giving it excellent agility- though you have no idea how agile a "true" dog fighting spaceship would be.

These crafts are now equipped with lasers; a technology that has existed and has been experimentally weaponized multiple times throughout history. While never employed in a real combat scenario; laser weapons could deal significant damage by focusing heat and energy on a single spot. Because of this, the ASDVs are being equipped with two powerful diodes in rotating dome casings near the front of the ship, using binocular targeting to perform the most damage. These attacks, as well as most of the ship's motion can be controlled by artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, knowing nothing about what sort of weapons or tactics may be used by alien spaceships, you have no methods to protect the ships. Any significant weight increase to the vessel will make it much harder to land and take off and lower its agility, which is being prioritized here.

File: space monke quest2 post18 p2.png (233 KB, 1200x849)

233 KB PNG

While you are not sure on what the future may hold for space combat, your very most basic predictions as figured out by AI network seem to indicate a high likelihood that cyber attacks are as likely and potentially devastating as any energy weapon or kinetic assault.

Your species has had prolific uses of AI for two centuries; it is highly likely any other alien intelligence will use also use them. This provides both a positive and a negative; any cyber attack performed on one of your ships may be able to be countered or slowed by your own AI cores aboard, but at the same time the enemy AI will likely be testing, countering, and attempting to wrest control from your own AI to itself- the Alavis core aboard the Cirrus had no chance against the data corruption and could only shut itself down to limit its spread; if any alien spaceships had a similar level of viral computing you'd be a sitting duck. They could even hijack control of your vessels away from you- which would only make the situation worse.

For this reason; you have decided that your combat ships should contain a skilled pilot in the event that any onboard AI is compromised or disabled by an alien software attack. This same concept (as well as strange laws created by Vul Takar during his reign that required physical backups for computer-controlled machines) is the reason as to why ASDVs can be flown without a computer guide, if in an emergency. Among the Jaxtian astronauts, space miners, and colonists; the number of individuals who can pilot an ASDV without computer help are shockingly low, as it is a rare talent that has little practical use.

However, several pilots are standouts. You have Alavis select and assign the three greatest pilots you can find and have them shipped to the Caplit colony immediately along with three of the modified ASDVs.

While touring Caplit and preparing it for the first of its kind military spacecraft hangar, you are actually approached by one of the pilots.

"Your excellence." He salutes you. "My name is Shintar Val, the pilot."

"At ease, and yes, I know you. Your simulator records are impressive. I feel much better with you flying one of these craft."

He grimaces, as though being complimented by you causes him physical pain.

"Your excellence. The reason I am approaching you is to make a request. I may be speaking out of turn, as I am not a Hegemony-Certified medical professional, so I am also fully ready to accept punishment for wasting your time like this..."

"...I would like to volunteer to run a course of performance enhancers for any upcoming combat scenarios or trials, your grace. I learned about them in flight school- the ones once used by nation states for fighter pilots before the unification? They were discontinued by the Hegemony because of the long term risks they pose to the patient's health. However, I am fully ready to accept the consequences of taking them. The defense of my people and Supreme Ruler come before myself. If you think you can use me to my full potential, then I will willing sacrifice myself, no matter the cost."

Wow, this guy is acting just like the heroes of your movies. You never seen someone so patriotic and selfless. It makes you feel a bit embaressed. You're Kinja, the movie maker, and this guy is talking about laying his life on the line. Doesn't he knew the fighter pilots they used those on lost the use of their legs half the time, went blind, and then died twenty years earlier then they should? However- he has a point. If an alien attack does come, then you would need to squeeze out every last drop of use out of all your resources- if it be wealth, technology, or personal. Otherwise every Jaxtian could be killed or enslaved.

He stands there in stiff salute, waiting for your answer.

>Put him on a cycle of the performance enhancers
>Deny his request

>Put him on a cycle of the performance enhancers
We should probably make sure he's well aware of the risks but still.

I'm not a big fan of overreliance on performance enhancers. Those are a devil's deal.

Furthermore, if the aliens are so advanced they can easily beat our normal pilots and their ships, there is no amount of performance enhcament that'll save us. That's without mentioning that we don't know how long it'll be until this 'attack' comes - what if it doesn't come within this lifetime and his sacrifice is for naught?

Because of that,
>Deny his request (explain why)

It's a brave sacrifice, but sacrifices should be done when we know they'll be worth it. Performance Enhancers aren't enough - not yet that any 'improvement' would be basically useless due to how low our technology is.

>>5019443
How quickly do these performance enhancers take effect?

Whilst I'm uncertain about putting Shintar on them immediately, having an enhancer rig available for Shintar to engage and inject himself if a Xeno threat starts to rise from below Max's clouds would make a certain sense - a void pilot with health concerns and reduced lifeterm expectancy still has a longer lifespan then one lost to Alien weaponry in the first minutes of engagement.

>>5019446
>Begin the development of new performance enhancers based upon advances in medical technology since the Unification War. Shintar Val can be the first to join the trials for these new enhancers.

>>5019664
+1 pretty much this, tech from back then has improved a lot and we should be able to make better drugs for em.

>>5019446
>>Put him on a cycle of the performance enhancers
Let's hope it works out better this time

>>5019664
>Support

>>5019664
+1

File: space monke quest2 post19.png (236 KB, 1200x849)

236 KB PNG

While there is inherent risk to any kind of unnatural drug routine, both in the form of reliance and side effects, you order your medical staff to use updated formulas and safer interactions from the past version of the performance enhancers.

>>5019549
Shintar begins a cycle; these are not pills you can pop once, but instead must first begin with a low dosage, building up, and then rolling down in a cycle. This is one of the reasons they were so dangerous. But now you have the full force of the Hedgemony; he'll be your test animal.

In the meantime; the solar system is quiet. The lack of a second data corruption attack, and the lack of data on what it was or how to stop it has caused serious fears and restlessness among the higher authorities on the various colonies. Colonial desire to move back to Jaxt, where at least a data attack wouldn't mean destruction of breathable air.

The heat signatures from Max haven't stopped- indicating...something is going on down there. Unfortunately, you don't yet have the technology to scan what is going on beneath the clouds, and your ships, which are practically just tin cans in space, can't very well go into the gas giant to find out- the extreme gravity, heat, atmospheric pressure, and so on would cause certain doom.

You seem to have a moment of calm to yourself. As the current Supreme Ruler- you have more then just one gas giant catastrophe to deal with.

>Upgrade your general technology
>Expand your colonial holdings & build self-reliant bioshelters on each outlying colony
>Invest further into propaganda and entertainment to calm the people
>Build a primitive automated defense satellite around a planet or moon

>>5020588
>Expand your colonial holdings & build self-reliant bioshelters on each outlying colony
We must ensure the safety of our efforts.

>>5020588
Either
>Upgrade your general technology
So we could scan and see what is happening down in Max
or

>Build a primitive automated defense satellite around a planet or moon
If something rises from Max, Caplit would have next to no warning time. An extra defense there would be useful.

>>5020588
>Upgrade your general technology

>>5020588
>Upgrade your general technology
SCIENCE

>>5020588
>Upgrade your general technology
DESU, we simply don't have the technology to make anything we need and trying to do so anway would produce things that are woefully inadequate.

>>5020588
>Upgrade your general technology

>>5020588
>>Expand your colonial holdings & build self-reliant bioshelters on each outlying colony

>>5020588
>>Upgrade your general technology

>>5020588
>Expand your colonial holdings & build self-reliant bioshelters on each outlying colony
or
>Upgrade your general technology
We can build a defense satellite somewhere later when we actually have confirmation of an enemy that can invade our solar system

File: space monke quest2 post20 p1.png (83 KB, 1200x849)

83 KB PNG

The sinking of the Cirrus was, in a way, both a boon but also a huge setback for science. Many of your top scientists and technicians died from the malfunction, including the Supreme Ruler, but at the same time the flying city project on Max took up so much funding and time that other scientific programs needing just a few more steps to complete were put on hold.

Firstly; a general upgrade to your colonization technology is enacted. These devices were already near completion for years, ready to replace half a century or older technology. The first are your drones; the flying SD equipped drones once used to aid in construction and colony management have been upgraded to newfound insect bots, who are equipped with their own AI cores that can remotely sync with others of their kind nearby, and have increased mobility and defense against extreme conditions. The same advancement is also made to the pressure sensors or "static fences" already placed around every major colony or installation. These traditionally help monitor the weather, seismic activity, radiation levels, temperature, and more and create helpful borders and zones for AI and astronauts on alien worlds; this technology improves their ability to work together. Small, incremental improvements will make a big difference in the end.

There isn't enough time to create more large scale projects- it has only been about a year since the sinking of the Cirrus and the appearance of the heat signatures. You refuse to risk replacing mission critical resources at the exact wrong moment.

>>5018958
>>5019345
At the same time, you also look a bit more into Neutrino Gun research. These Neutrino weapons, also called "Blasters", essentially fire a ball of captured Neutrinos. They travel at about the speed of light, but the weapon must fire slowly. You also better understand the electronic disabling properties- when a blast from one of these strikes matter, it explodes billions of neutrinos from the blast point in all directions, naturally being more dense right next to the epicenter, thus causing electronic glitches and temporary outages. However, an advanced AI like your own, or any an alien could create, would be able to predict or approximate the orders and signals that were disrupted. Instead of disabling technology, think of it more as slowing it down or causing loses of efficiency.

Neutrino blasts, along with lasers and particle beams, will probably make up the base line of space weaponry you will encounter in space.

File: space monke quest2 post20 p2.png (217 KB, 1400x990)

217 KB PNG

As the first of your newest advancements are rolled out; you are suddenly interrupted by a RED ALERT!

You already happen to be on Caplit when Alavis sounds the alarm. The pilots are already scrambled.

"Supreme One- the heat signatures spiked five minutes ago. Then, four alien spacecraft broke from Max's atmosphere. They are headed along the gas giant's axis at sublight speeds, and are approaching Caplit colony."

The computers and machines of the Hedgemony are already crunching the numbers. Civilian networks and AIs are commandeered to help with processing power- some of these were first placed on the planet's surface during the reign of Vantix Garastra, and now they're adding their computer cycles to the craft overhead. You know nothing about these craft or their capabilities- digital or physical. You also don't know their intentions, but you can only assume they are here for an attack. You also know how devastating an attack could be. Even a mildly armed alien craft could destroy the Caplit colony and kill everyone within. There isn't enough time to evacuate even key personnel, much less the entire civilian base.

The four ships are approaching. Your three ships stand ready to respond- your ace pilots fidgeting in their controls, with AI ready. It's very quiet now; the four ships approaching like falling stars.

"Your Eminance; it may be prudent to engage the enemy in open space." Alavis advises. She explains that if the alien craft were forged, or teleported into the atmosphere of Max, they are probably more designed to function in an atmosphere. However, the further away from Caplit your own ships are, the less your AI network can help bolster their abilities and help defend them from cyber attacks and scrambling.

The window for engaging on your terms is shrinking. It's impossible to tell if the alien craft don't notice your own ships, don't view them as a threat, or truly have nonviolent intentions. At any rate, they aren't transmitting anything; and your few "cease" calls sent to them are not understood- or probably just ignored.

Now is the time to make a choice.

>Engage the alien ships in space
>Wait for them to enter Caplit's atmosphere

>Engage the alien ships in space
KILL THEEEEEEEEEM

>>5021791
>Engage the alien ships in space
With our neutrino weapons we should damage their form of propulsion and any weapons they may have and capture their ships then move them to a secure area on schoon with orders for military personnel to come from home to create a form of prison
> once we have their ships immobile and disarmed we should attempt to communicate, and have our A.I prepared for any kind of corruption or infiltration of the network
Their is a near 100% chance these guys are responsible for the assault on our habitat, so we should be thorough in our "questioning " for info on the reasons for their actions should they be at fault

>>5021817
You do not have any functioning Neutrino weapons. They are experimental only, and not equipped to these ships.

>>5021791
>Engage the alien ships in space

>>5021791
>Engage the alien ships in space

>>5021791
>>Engage the alien ships in space

>>5021791
>Engage the alien ships in space
No mercy

>>5021791
>Engage the alien ships in space
They are clearly more advanced in their technology and thus they have the responsibiity to make a non-threateing first contact with yo. They havent done that and thus, they probably dont have good intentions. So, BLAST THEM TO HELL!

File: space monke quest2 post21 p1.png (339 KB, 1200x1711)

339 KB PNG

You watch as the aliens crest the planet's atmosphere- watching from a hundred eyes. Alavis has already synced the feeds from each starship and asteroid monitoring station to give you the best possible information. You send them one final warning- as clear as day; a picture of one of their ships being destroyed, converted to spectroscopic imagery. They continue the advance.

You decide to engage the aliens in space- before they breach Caplit's atmosphere. That's your airspace. It is clear they're looking for a fight- and you'll give them one. Interestingly- they are not traveling especially fast; not even approaching a percent of the speed of light yet. This may yet be an advanced tactic. Perhaps space combat is more about conserving resources- or are these craft not equipped with Star Dynamos?!

As your ASDVs get close enough; the first wave of attacks begin. Perhaps as expected, they are cyberware attacks- massive virus and hacking protocals are launched at each ship. The advanced AI cores aboard struggle to keep up deleting, quarantining, and keeping the ship's functional. Ento, a middle aged man who has worked as a space miner around Vass and is used to flying manually when solar flares kill his onboard AIs, has his ship shut down totally for the meanwhile, skidding to a halt.

Alavis starts to catalog the alien cyber attacks. Interestingly- the attacks may tell you more how the aliens think. There are no attacks on specific weapon systems or attempt to control on board systems, possibly because they don't know what systems you have, and there are no attempts to attack the components or life support inside the ships directly. Instead, the cyber attacks are more like huge amounts of random noise that scrambles computers and viral attacks attempting to get computers stuck in infinite loops.

"Alavis- make those flight AIs focus only on the weapon targetting systems on the ships. Lasers are only effective when aimed well, the aiming is more crucial then the flying- especially with these pilots. Use all CPU cycles to keep them in fighting shape!"

Your intuition on how space combat should work seems to pay off. The first use of the weaponized laser is seen when one of your ships attempts to burn off one of the forward struts off one of the alien ships, but it rotates in 3d space, blocking the damaged strut from the lasers. Perhaps firing at the central mass may be a better idea.

Another vessel flies by- Shintar performs an aerial maneuver to blast it at the same time as another Jaxtian pilot. The two laser attacks heat and rupture the central chamber of one of the ships. One alien vessel lies destroyed; the performance enhancers seemed to really do the trick.

"Got one!" He cries happily. The other alien vessels whistle past.

File: space monke quest2 post21 p2.png (145 KB, 1200x849)

145 KB PNG

The three remaining alien vessels zoom past your two remaining ships, dog fighting instincts be damned. Alavis pings you that she has now predicted within 90% accuracy that these are CPU controlled vessels, or droneships. Their actions are too robotic, even for a flight computer- no pilot would turn their back on a foe in a fight unless they had a deathwish or they were on a suicide mission- which these robots may just be! They are running past your ships to get into Caplit's atmosphere- are they going after the colony.

You'd expect as such. These alien bastards would never fight you man to man!

In the meantime; Ento's ship has only barely regained its ability to fly after the devastating cyber attacks. Being in space really made it tough to defend against the cyber attacks. But in the meantime, with his AI core still disabled or nearly useless, he freezes in place as he sees an alien vessel approaching directly towards him. He needs to make a choice, quick! You can see his viewpoint from your own computer- what do you yell at him?

>Fly left!
>Fly right!

>>5022309
>Fly right!
I can see another alien vessel approaching on the left in the picture and I doubt the guy has regained enough of his vessels ability to try and destroy it so dodging seems like a good option here.

>>5022309
>Fly right!
It's tilting there. We need to go and shoot it.

>Fly right!
And shoot if at all possible for ento

>>5022324
>Fly right!

>>5022309
>>Fly right!

File: space monke quest2 post22 p1.png (162 KB, 1200x849)

162 KB PNG

"Ento- Fly right!" You yell, the message being sent directly into his communication speakers. He picks up on it, and within a second, has begun moving his ship out of the way of the approaching ship.

That was a good call. The second ship whizzes by in a second after. For some reason, it feels like a bad idea to get stuck between two of these alien vessels.

The three remaining ships regroup and begin to fly towards Caplit together, with your own vessels in hot pursuit. The three seem to suddenly "agree" on which one to stay behind; the one with the damaged forward strut. It whips around and, out of nowhere, fires a projectile from its core.

That's a Neutrino blast! But more amazingly, it arcs through the air and curves to strike just one specific ship of your group- Shintar's ship! Thankfully, the blast wasn't powerful enough to destroy it in a single hit. His ship comes to a screeching halt for a moment as the neutrino's disable his electronics; minimal shielding will do that. Thankfully, he's locked up safely in the cockpit's own airlock, so the explosive decompression doesn't hurt him. That was a close one. Your other warships retailiate and fry the attacker with their lasers; it had to slow down enough to aim and fire making it easy prey.

However- this only raises more questions, and casts a long shadow. How could the aliens make a bolt of energy home in on something? And why Shintar? They must have detected his flying as the biggest threat. It's impossible to imagine; none of your weapons work that way. They simply send energy forward, near the speed of light, or in the case of your lasers, exactly at light speed. Even your experimental Neutrino guns can't "curve" their projectiles. There is no intelligence, it is just a bolt of energy.

File: space monke quest2 post22 p2.png (131 KB, 1200x849)

131 KB PNG

The two alien ships are now entering Caplit's atmosphere. It is too late to stop them now; you will need to perform an aerial dogfight where they will be in their element. One is mildly damaged, and the other is untouched.

In the meanwhile; one of your own ships is heavily damaged and almost disabled- Shintar's ship. Even after his AI gets his engines back online, there is a dangerous possibility of a radiation leak. With another direct hit, it's likely to cause the reactor core to explode.

"Dammit! Why me! You fucks!" Shintar curses. He's grounded.

Just then, you are tapped on the shoulder by someone. You whip around.

"Who let this old- hey wait a second, aren't you Maktana!?"

The old man smiles. He IS Maktana! An ex-candidate for the Supreme Rulership, later turned into a genius scientist and biologist. You're amazed how well held up he is for his age.

"Yes! Young Emperor. I wanted to meet you in person."

"Ahh, Maktana. Your film was such an inspiration- but we're kind of in the middle of an interracial alien war here..."

Your real problem is your disabled bird. You are now 2 on 2, with your best pilot currently useless. You could force him to fight in that ship, but a glance could cause it to explode. And now, Maktana wants to talk to you; but you need to focus on the action.

"If you'll humor an... an old man, I think I can offer some assistance."

---Choose One from each category---
>Tell Shintar to stand down
>Have Shintar switch ships with another pilot before chasing (Costs time)
>Use Shintar's ship in a purely defense manner- have it defend the Caplit colony, but not chase

And

>Listen to Maktana (costs time)
>Kick him out of your command room- respectfully.

>>5022979
Listen to Maktana, he's been on caplit for a long time. I dont know about shintar though.

>>5022979
>>Use Shintar's ship in a purely defense manner- have it defend the Caplit colony, but not chase
>Listen to Maktana (costs time)

>>5022979
>Use Shintar's ship in a purely defense manner- have it defend the Caplit colony, but not chase
>Listen to Maktana (costs time)

>>5022979
>Use Shintar's ship in a purely defense manner- have it defend the Caplit colony, but not chase
>Listen to Maktana (costs time)

>>5022979
>Use Shintar's ship in a purely defense manner- have it defend the Caplit colony, but not chase
>Listen to Maktana (costs time)

>>5022979
>Use Shintar's ship in a purely defense manner- have it defend the Caplit colony, but not chase
>Listen to Maktana (costs time)

File: space monke quest2 post23(...).png (251 KB, 1200x1702)

251 KB PNG

You decide to recall Shintar back to the Caplit colony. His lasers will act as a good deterrent at the very least, but you're in no position to have him fly right now.

He grunts, and follows your orders. You're happy your chemists worked out the "heightened aggression" and "increased disregard for personal safety" symptoms out of the updated version of the performance enhancing drugs.

In the meanwhile, the two alien crafts enter Caplit's atmosphere. They seem to "catch" the air and straighten out, their flying become much more graceful. This also spells the end of a small advantage of your side as well; your lasers are less effective in atmospheres or through mediums other then vacuum- though Caplit's atmosphere is blissfully thin and free from particulates. Still, your effective laser range will be shortened. You tell Alavis to adapt your targeting protocols for this; while you turn to listen to Maktana.

"My young ruler- listen to me now. I was given a great gift once, a submarine. I used it to map the under-ice oceans here on this planet, and to make first contact with the navigators. I spent my life to decode their language and prove they were an intelligent people, just like us, just different. But part of that job involved the submarine's advanced sonic emitters- it may be half a century old, but with enough energy those sonic emitters could be used as a makeshift weapon. If you'd allow it-"

Alavis pings an alert, you have to cut him off as you switch back to the feed. You see your two ships chasing the two alien craft, who suddenly create a green beam of energy between the two of them. It looks like it is burning.

"Get away!" You cry, but too late. The energy link suddenly breaks free from both craft and flies backwards. Amazingly, it stretches and bends like a flying snake, and actually seems to try to strike one of your craft- which it does. There is a direct hit.

"Ahh! No!" The pilot screams before his craft is destroyed- glowing hot plasma melting through the weak tin shielding of his ship and causing an explosion. Now you only have one craft left- against two alien ships.

File: space monke quest2 post23(...).png (115 KB, 1200x880)

115 KB PNG

"-Supreme One, looks like you're outnumbered." Maktana says, almost playfully.

He's right. With only one bird left, you're stuck weighing your options. You don't want them to get close enough to shoot at the colony- but chasing them seems even more dangerous with that plasma weapon. However, you'll need them to get closer to angle them into a trap and fight at full strength- your last full strength ship, Shintar's damaged ship, and Maktana's sub, not to mention the wrath of the AI network could all be brought down on the aliens at once. But can that be done before they fire off a shot?

"...Orders? Pursue the interlopers?" Ento asks on comms, looking for direction.

>Tell him to pursue the alien craft
>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens

>>5023495
>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens
If we don't, we won't be able to destroy them.

>>5023495
>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens

>>5023495
>>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens

>>5023495
>>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens

>>5023495
>>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens

>>5023495
>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens

>Tell him to retreat to the base and wait to ambush the aliens

File: space monke quest2 post24 (1).png (176 KB, 1200x849)

176 KB PNG

You order Ento to not persue the craft, instead tailing them until they reach Caplit's colony center. In the half a century since being built, the humble research colony built together with scraps has grown into multiple buildings, connected with over-ice climbways. Several families, technicians, and researches live here full time, as well as a larger rotating staff. There is no secure bunker or area for the people to stay safe during this attack- you have simply ordered them to hunker down in their quarters and hope for the best.

You have also readied Maktana's old submarine, which hasn't been used in decades, and had several of the mark 2 drones plug into it- adding their nuclear power cores to the sub's own. If his idea has any merit, the sonic weapon could be a useful thing to turn the tide here.

As the drones approach; they form another few plasma strands between them, and without hestitaion fire them at one of the Caplit colony buildings. The plasma is hot and burns through even these moon-toughened materials and steel supports. Several chambers are depressurized and the resulting plasma cutting kills several low level technicians working in that building. With damage to the heating coils- the Caplit colony endures a small ice age over the next few weeks as colony temperatures drop...

At the same instant; your two remaining ASDVs burn an offending drone with their lasers causing it to explode. Now, only one left.

File: space monke quest2 post24(...).png (262 KB, 1200x1210)

262 KB PNG

The final drone is caught within Maktana's sonic weapon, which seems effective! Beyond stunning the drone, you order the last remaining ships to break its forward struts- which Al has correctly identified as the vessel's mobility modules. With that damage done, it crashes to the ice in a nearby valley, almost intact!

You send teams to collect the various blown up pieces of the various drones; and a special science team to study the last one where it fell. You finally recieve some much needed information on these alien vessels.

When studying the remains of these alien vessels- your suspicions were true. There is no biological matter within the crafts, indicating these are fully automated drones. For what? Offense, or scouting? Another fact comes to light as some of the metals inside the alien craft are identified- the proof is undeniable. The acid-mark on this steel confirms it. This is metal made by the Schoon Shipyards Company, as in, these drones are made in part by scavenged parts by whatever fell into Max from the Cirrus when it was corrupted.

However; many pieces are wholly unique and new. The bulk of the alien craft is made out of some silicate material rich with gases- it's essentially made of hardened dirt. Oxygen, Nitrogen... and a heavy supply of Argon. It's made of Max's own cloud structure. The inside of the craft also contains an incredibly unique computer system- dozens of small spheroid chambers which hold various gases in different quantities. Using this, these drones were piloted in a form of "computer" that used gas instead of electrical circuits. Uniquely, this type of technology could be used to create slower computers, but computers that could do multiple things at once, or even computers that can think more laterally in the way a living thing could.

Several questions and concerns still haunt your mind. Why did the data attack happen against Max? How can you protect against it? How are the aliens controlling plasma they way they do? How did the aliens create these craft? You still can't go into Max and search yourself yet- your ships aren't sturdy enough for that kind of environment. And what did the Haazar have to do with it- if anything? It seems too coincidental for them to have not known anything...

It's time to deal with the immediate fallout of the alien attack though. Who knows how far back this pushed people's distrust of alien races and colonizing Max's clouds... Rally the people- and take this victory to establish yourself as the Supreme Ruler. Even now, you feel age spots flowering on your ears- you weren't really that much younger then Vul was- and this stress is doing terrible things to your complexion.

>Award everyone involved with the defense and rekindle national pride
>Create a flight school and defense programs to rebuild your defenses
>Focus AI efforts on full analysis of this alien technology
>Other (Write In)

>>5024895
>Award everyone involved with the defense and rekindle national pride

>>5024895
>Create a flight school and defense program

>>5024895
>Focus AI efforts on full analysis of this alien technology
While a flight school would be good, that force is most likely not even close to a 1/100th of the power the invaders wield. We must analyze the alien tech so that we'll have proper fighters.

>>5024895
>Award everyone involved with the defense and rekindle national pride
>Create a flight school and defense programs to rebuild your defenses

>>5024895
>>Award everyone involved with the defense and rekindle national pride
>>Focus AI efforts on full analysis of this alien technology

>>5024895
>Award everyone involved with the defense and rekindle national pride
>Focus AI efforts on full analysis of this alien technology

>>5024953
>>Award everyone involved with the defense and rekindle national pride
>>Focus AI efforts on full analysis of this alien technology

>>5024895

>>Focus efforts on full analysis of this alien technology

Really. I'd do all of it if we could; award those Heroic pilots and Maktana (whilst giving ourself enough credit but not allowing us to overshadow the heroes we led - heck, with our film industry connections we probably know a director who'd love to make an inspiring film based on this) and build a flight school so the Heroes of today can train the heroes of tomorrow. But if only one is possible, best to learn what we can whilst we have both a sample to study and Maktana's still around to help study it; we want to learn enough to lift a little of the veil of blindness from our eyes should future conflict arise.

>>5024895
>>Award everyone involved with the defense and rekindle national pride
>>Focus AI efforts on full analysis of this alien technology

>>5024895
Man, fucking imagine how many of these fuckers there would be if we let Cirrus fall.

>>5025220
Still sad Elfi had to die, though. Now we'll never get Inigo Takar to say "You killed my father, prepare to die!"

>>5024895
>>Create a flight school and defense programs to rebuild your defenses

>>5025228
We sure about that? Vul was also schtupping Raza on the side...

>>5025311
No? He wasnt. If he wanted to do that he would have just married both of em.

File: Screenshot 2021-10-11 190546.png (116 KB, 1662x599)

116 KB PNG

>>5025325
Um, Anon...

>>5025332
Oh yeah, i missed that. I thought it was just Elfi.

File: space monke quest2 post25 p1.png (218 KB, 1200x849)

218 KB PNG

You focus your first efforts on morale. You hand out the highest honors you can grant; golden bands.

Around the left and right sleeves a Jaxtian can be awarded golden bands- a type of addition or piece of jewelry or even a tattoo. This is the highest public display one of your kind can achieve- naturally, wearing a golden band on any piece of clothing without being granted one resulting in the offending hand being removed. Nowadays, in more civilized time, several years in prison more then suffices.

Around the right hand go bands belonging to great works of war and labor. You grant one to both of your living pilots; Ento and Shintar Val, though a posthumous honor is given to your third, who did not make it. Finally, as reward to Maktana for his sonic weapon, you grant him a golden band on his right arm; going well with the two he earned as a young man so very long ago. He's certainly become one of the most decorated of your kind. You salute them with honor- and the public eat it up too.

Meanwhile; Alavis and the AI network begin to scan and collect as much data as possible on the alien drones; learning as much as they can about space aerodynamics, engine and weapon systems, and learning more about the strangely gas-based technology these aliens seem to possess. As the AI network encapsulates all computers, civilian connections are often slowed or temporarily downed, or even rationed out, as these huge calculations are made and simulations ran. Over the years; Al finally comes to a realization. This technology has been developed by a race of aliens who evolved in a gas giant; of which is a form of life you never thought possible.

In the meantime, the newfound need for combat-ready space vessels has shifted production of a few new military craft- the WSDVs. Sleeker and incorporating the guidance struts from the alien drones; these will be much more agile fighters. Your flight school(s) are also built but, with no war to fight and the funding being not a priority, they mostly act as an auxiliary to computer flown craft in combat training. While no new alien threat lives on the horizon yet, your people are ready for action.

File: space monke quest2 post25 p2.png (179 KB, 1200x849)

179 KB PNG

*huff huff*

Your name is now Aumu Osintor, the lowly laborer. Not that you do much labor anymore- you keep yourself afloat with crypto and online book sales of your various novels. It has been ten years since the first ever battle fought in space, and it is still fresh in the imagination- thus leading to your success.

You have lived your entire life on a planet free from pollution and overpopulation. You are protected from outside threats by the Hegemony and the so-called "omnipotent" Supreme Ruler. All of your food is incredibly fresh and clean, and opportunities for adventure and exploration abound everywhere- and you don't want or care about any of that. Why would you feel any different?

Your life is a joke!

You went through life with the standard education of a Jaxtian- where merit is supposed to lead to opportunity. Of course- the "Supreme" ones and other government pets are allowed the best training and hormone treatments- so you guess that opportunity isn't very fair at all. You're shorter then you could be, maybe if YOU got special treatments. You were smarter then everyone, and yet you failed to qualify for any careers or positions of note. You were never given any special treatment. You were assigned to be a laborer- a nobody, so much for being "entitled to a meaningful career".

You've always been fat- perhaps a craving for more food then you are given, perhaps an addictive behavior. At this point, did it matter? You have requested the Hegemony several times to give you a on-planet transport, but they refused. Your age and health history indicate you are "too capable" to need one. You're too heavy to use the jump poles, so you have to walk to this stupid fucking event.

Worse yet; you despise this government. Their overreach, their control over all media- I mean, the biggest maker of entertainment and state sponsored propaganda had become the last Supreme Ruler. There is no way to vote them out. Their grip was absolute, and the people just ate up and believed whatever they were told. And now, they have the fucking gall to require your attendance to this "cultural fare".

The helplessness of your life and position in this empire, and the ever present lurking feeling of inadequacy and self-loathing begin to creep in. You hate crowds- and all these happy smiling people talking and dancing and selling and buying and laughing is making you deeply uncomfortable. You just wish you'd be beamed up by aliens instead of having to be here. Anything but this.

>Calm down and go find something deep fried to snack on
>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public

This is the most important choice in the quest btw

It really is a good question. On one hand, i like the Hegemony and getting embroiled in civil unrest would lead to something worse. We KNOW How the unprotected "free" society was before - it was a big war-filled oligopoly.

At the same time, however, the lack of upwards social mobility is bad. It means that skilled people can't make use of their skills because they didn't have the genes for it.

I don't want to go full 'obey the government always', we'll just end up fat and lazy. But at the same time, i don't want to go back to the time of uber-powerful families.

>>5025756
>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public
Fun.

>>5025766
We need capitalism back, but a more controlled version of it so elites and big corporations don't have absolute control over the market and thus corrupt politicians and thus the world

Just like in real life

>>5025756
>>Calm down and go find something deep fried to snack on
To each their own, but I like space monkey china and I feel like whatever would replace it would make the quest more generic.

>>5025772
>We need capitalism back
I don't know about that. With monkey capitalism we kept killing each other, with the Hegemony we, in a few generations, took to space.

In the hegemony, we can make things that aren't profitable but lead to progress. If we go back to a capitalistic society we'll stagnate because no one will bother doing anything new since doing so costs money and it's easier to just rake in profits.

>>5025756
>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public

Let's see where this goes...

>>5025772
More meritocracy would be good but capitalism seems pointless, we didn't have any problems because of our lack of capitalism and if anything that would make the current "inequality of opportunity" problem even worse.

>>5025756
>Calm down and go find something deep fried to snack on

>>5025773
I also like it, but the way it's worded it seems like by choosing this our people are just going to become more hedonistic. You know, bread and games.

>>5025776
I mean there's more to a successful society than just its technological advancements, sure we can stay in china mode forever but it aint fair to the individual. Scientific progress can still take place in government financed researches, not to mention that competition between businesses would encourage developing better technologies that will eventually be normalized.

What matters is to give more power to the government over the market, if it's 100% free then of course it will lead to the ills of modern capitalism and oligarchy

A side note but the whole supreme ruler thing will lead to hell once we get a Caligula (not happening while we're in charge of course), it's just a matter of time

>>5025800
It already almost did. Gaftar IV, anyone?

>>5025800
>Scientific progress can still take place in government financed researches, not to mention that competition between businesses would encourage developing better technologies that will eventually be normalized.
That's in theory.

In reality, what happens is that no one does anything new because it's not profitable and oligarchic families will end up ruling the rest. We only ever got to space because Vantix Garastra was a good leader.

>>5007172
This is me, if my IP's changed any.

>>5025756
>Calm down and go find something deep fried to snack on
Chill, Aumu, it's all good. The Hegemony has things handled.

>>5025807
Exactly. And we almost became an eternal slave state, subjugated to a self-centred immortal, because Gaftar IV was a corrupt one. Only clever planning and deadly gambits allowed us to uncover his plot three generations hence. No power structure, left completely unaccountable to those below, can remain benevolent and competent forever. There needs to be a method for those below to be heard and affect change, or the system is a powder keg.

>>5025959
Yes, but at the same time, with how it's supposedly the most important choice, it seems revolting will lead us back to the times of oligopolic families.

>>5025756
>Focus this anger into self-improvement, you'll show the damn Hegemony that you more then just a laborer!

>>5026222
Anon, you understand that he's mad because he CAN'T? There's no upward mobility.

>>5026120
Just because it's the most important, doesn't mean it will inevitably revert society to a worse state--just transform it in some major way. Maybe it is the most important because if this last revolutionary dreamer relinquishes his spark and gives into ennui, it will precipitate and general decline in our culture? Maybe he is our unlikely Last Great Hope?

>>5026276
I don't know about that, we're not the borg. But we need a shakeup anyway so we won't stagnate.

>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public

>>5025756
>>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public
The future isn't set until we go through it. It could to a better system, or worse.

>>5025756
>>Calm down and go find something deep fried to snack on

>>5025756
>>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public

>>5025756
>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public

File: AumuOsintorPilled.png (320 KB, 1200x849)

320 KB PNG

>>5025756
>Channel your dissatisfaction into the creation of a new science-fantasy epic where you use a fictional race of hairless ape creatures and amphibians to tell an outwardly harmless tale that is actually loaded with biting political undertones... or make the message overt, IDGAF.

>>5025756
>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public

>>5025772
>We need capitalism back
Did it ever go away? If money is still a thing then Capitalusm is still a thing. Just so heavily regulated so that it can barely move it's little finger, as monke Adam Smith intended.

>>5025756
>>Sperg out and go on an anti-government rant in public

The voting will close in 4 hours.

Update is in production.

>>5026629
Capitalism is more than just the existence of currency. Currency existed under agrarian feudal states, and in communist blocs. Capitalism centres the economy on producers and consumers, encouraging competition between economic actors to create innovations and allowing the demands of consumers to direct their flow. It enshrines individual property rights as sacred. If Jaxtian society has top-down economic orders, and the state can seize private property at any given time (ie. computing power, land from bloodline billionaires, bodily autonomy from relatives of traitors), if isn't especially capitalist. Given that money doesn't seem to matter as much, and citizens aren't free to try their hands at whatever job the market will pay them for but instead are sorted preemptively by biological analysis, it seems even LESS like a capitalist system.