[1/6?]

You close the book on the project for now, dubbing the light armour, heavy armour, and medium drone the Viking, Huskarl, and Draugr respectively. Though they haven’t seen the fires of war yet, you’re confident that you’ve had the time to iron out any glaring flaws in the time to come. You send the names and designs off to Rane, along with a brief historical overview of the ancient Earth culture you’re basing the naming scheme from. Rane sends back what you interpret as vague approval of the names, but greater interest in the fragmentary historical record you gave him, asking for more detail on the specifics of ‘Nordic culture’. Not for the first time, you feel a pang of guilt as you admit that the bulk of your historical records were lost, and that you were unable to offer much more. You hate to deny reasonable requests regardless, but there’s something especially sad about denying Rane the history he deserves to know.

The time to begin the attack on Hydrrit Delta approaches quickly. Fortunately, under your direct oversight, all projects proceed as planned. The ring has not quite reached completion yet, but sections have been cleared for operation, and all eight elevators and bunker-platforms are operational. Now mostly intact, the ring hangs above your facility in apparent staunch defiance of the laws of physics. It has grown explosively in the past few months. Now that the basic infrastructure is in place, construction has accelerated, and the ring has grown from only 2km in diameter at the thickest, to 10km at the thinnest, and 50km at the thickest. It was a massive investment of resources, but it’s already proving it’s value.

The first shipyard segment has been completed. It consists of eight internal drydocks, capable of full pressurization, for the repair, refit, and construction of smaller warships that may require or benefit from easy access for organic crew. Currently, they’ve been given over to the construction of dropships and landing craft. On the outer edge of the ring, There are four positions for ship construction, exposed to the void. Each position is only delineated from one another by a ribcage-like structure that extends outwards from the ring. Here, the materials refined on the ground are shaped, by great crane-arms mounted to the ribs, swarms of drones and tugs, and smaller tender ships, into warships.

It was nothing compared to the grand Jovian Shipyards, but- No. You had to stop comparing your accomplishments to mankind’s greatest feats. No, you couldn’t flashforge ships from the raw atoms in massive scale nanoforges, but you didn’t have the resources of a galaxy spanning empire, either. This ring would be able to churn out ships at a rate no one else in the galaxy could match. It would be enough. For now.

>>5111804
[2/6?]

Currently, there’s a ship in each of the four bays, now nearing completion after four weeks of construction. To say that the speed had staggered your tech priests was an understatement. You had mostly left day-to-day interaction with the organic component of your forces to Rane, but in his absence you’d taken up those duties once more, and you’d had the pleasure to witness first hand the mixture of shock and joy in your underlings. Some were still cautious, reticent, or otherwise conflicted, but even those that had only reluctantly accepted your deal were having their caution eroded.

The first two ships under construction were fully fledged light cruisers, not the half baked half armed civilian ship Rane called his flagship. 3.8km long from bow to stern, they swam in the empty space of berths made to accommodate much larger hulls, but they were an accomplishment nonetheless. The main hull of the ship may have been based on the same civilian craft at one point, but it was made to military specifications. You’d made alterations here and there to improve combat efficiency while limiting yourself to less obvious technological improvements. All fixed broadside guns had been removed immediately. In the excessively three dimensional conditions of void warfare, what use were guns that could only fire in one direction? Even assuming you were able to get them to fire, the guns on the other side would be completely wasted. The weight and material saved was redistributed to a greater selection of turreted lance batteries, while the space freed up was replaced with hangar bays for drones and fighters, and VLS pods for great swarms of missiles.

You make significant alterations to the aesthetics of the design, too, shaving off many of the unnecessary protrusions, creating a sleeker, more angular hull, with three triple gun superfiring lance turrets on both the dorsal and ventral sides, with a squat bridge buried halfway into the hull behind, a mirrored sensor cluster on the ventral side, and a cluster of bell-shaped drive cones on the back. You conceal smaller sensor packages and maneuvering thrusters under retractable paneling, and draw attention away from them with brass lining, and the same identification runes as your other equipment. It looks… sleek and clean, with a dull grey-blue wash. Not exactly at home amongst it’s Imperial counterparts, but recognisably Imperial all the same. Only with fewer building sized statues of eagles.

You make innumerable other, small tweaks around the ship - this was not intended for export, so you could afford to let some more advanced technology into the ship’s internals. Much improved gellar fields are your first addition. Ancient products of early experimentation, discarded for being too inefficient to scale over the entire galaxy, but far more reliable and powerful than those found on other warships.

>>5111805
[3/6?]

Though unfortunate, the use of warp travel was, at this time, unavoidable. Rane had wisely made preparations, and you had received a small cadre of navigators, dropped off by a passing Rogue Trader. As distasteful as you found the practice, you were still thankful that the living legacy of that particular genetic modification survived. You would struggle to get far without them. You include improved shielding, cooling, reactors, engines, and facilities for future retrofit into a quantum-translocation capable ship. You also link all systems of the ship up to an advanced computer network, and install a small, simple AI to assist with ship functions, and defend against cyberattack and viruses.

The end result is a warship that might seem more or less in line with modern warships, but should prove much more durable and effective than it’s foes might expect, and require far less crew than a ship of its size normally would, extending its potential range. For the moment, you designate the warships CL00 and CL01, pending a better name.

The next two ships are not warships. They are transports. As such, you made few alterations from one of the original designs. While the first two were built in the image of Rane’s ship, these two are built in the image of a larger hauler. Each is 4.9km long from bow to stern, and unlike the smaller warships, possess little in the way of offensive armament. You arm them with point defence guns and a small selection of missiles, but otherwise leave them unarmed. Like the warships, though, you build them to military specifications regarding durability, and reengineer much of the internal space of the ship to support over a hundred thousand soldiers, and their accompanying equipment, each. Together, you expect that they’ll be more than capable of supporting this invasion, transporting the PDF forces to their target, then supplying them while they fight, and providing a platform for command and control in the early stages of the cleanup. Whatever the plan turns out to be, they’ll prove to be invaluable assets. Likewise, you clean up the aesthetic designs a little, but you leave them mostly unchanged from their original designs, leaving them looking a little less sleek, and a little more industrial, as befitting its role.

>>5111807
[4/6]

Your communications with Rane grow more frequent now that the time to begin the invasion approaches. Rane is, thankfully, privy to most of the discussions that Alex has been having with his officers. Selene has assigned him one of her veteran generals, who Rane suspects is under specific orders from Selene to keep his mouth shut, and let Alex run the show. Alex, for his part, is struggling with the task that has been foisted upon him, and is apparently quite unhappy with Rane for blowing the coup, but not unhappy enough to turn down the assistance with the invasion. Rane seems to think that he’ll get over it. The plan that he has drawn, after much agonising, involves invading the planet by first securing one of the surface settlements, and then moving to secure the rest of the planet tunnel by tunnel, leapfrogging around the planet and using your orbital and aerial superiority to outmaneuver the defenders and hopefully avoid any bloodbaths in the tunnels, instead using the mobility afforded by that superiority to secure vital points around the planet. From there, he suggests that you aim to starve the defenders out, and win the hearts and minds of the civilian population by bringing law and order.

The officers expect, from Administratum reports and historical documents, that the defenders will consist of anywhere from between 400,000 to 600,000 assorted militia. That represents a not insignificant portion of the total population, which the Administratum estimates to be in the low tens of millions. You are also to expect some resistance from the local population, who, while they do live under the boot of criminal gangs, mercenaries, and particularly nasty merchants, are rather protective of their ‘freedom’. Some may take up arms once your intentions become obvious. You can expect the locals to be armed with standard guard weaponry at best. Las- and stub weapons, and a smattering of autocannons and heavy weapons. The bulk of their weaponry, however, is likely to be repurposed mining equipment. You also expect that they’ll be poorly led, with limited coordination and communication, though they are still not to be underestimated. They know their homes, and the warren-like geography plays to their numbers advantage in a way the narrow confines of the tunnels might distract from.

You and Rane share a skepticism at the likelihood of his forces being able to win the hearts and minds of criminals by enforcing law and order, but the rest seems solid. If the PDF are everything you think they are, they’re likely disciplined enough to hold key points across the planet, although it does raise one concern. Numbers. Selene has given Alex 4 regiments of PDF, numbering 50,000 men each, for a total of 200,000. They’re infantry, and infantry alone. The idea of infantry without native transport is so alien to you that the concept has to be reiterated to you three times, but that is what they are.

>>5111809
[5/6]

You’ll be responsible for their strategic and operational redeployment via dropship. If Alexander’s plan is to be implemented, it would leave the PDF spread thin against a doubtless numerically superior foe with limited tactical mobility, although that is almost unavoidable.

The plan’s advantages are that it’s likely the only way of securing a quick victory, as any campaign waged to completely purge dissidents from the tunnels bit by bit, in a conventional fashion, would likely take years, and that the surgical nature of the invasion would result in limited damage to critical infrastructure. It’s disadvantages are that it would leave PDF elements dangerously exposed to encirclement, and defeat in detail.

>>5111810
[6/6]

Ultimately, though, the final authority lies with Alexander, and his mind is made. The plan is set, the officers making preparations, and the PDF run training exercises with the invasion in mind. Your transports wait empty, though. You still have the option to tailor your support to the specifics of the plan, though you’ll still have to limit yourself to be within the promises you’ve already made.

>[Focus on special forces]
Reconnaissance, assassination, security, raids, sabotage, and more. You’ll deploy your finest infantry, equipped with the new armour. They’ll be a flexible asset, just as capable of hunting down commanders and leaders as they will be at defending choke points or destroying enemy communications infrastructure. You’ll deploy 2000 of your skitarii - rangers, ruststalkers, and infiltrators - with 100 Draugr supporting.

>[Focus on armour and transports]
Your gravtanks and skimmer-transports are conspicuous, but they’ll be all but unchallenged. Even a single gravtank, with proper support, should be able to hold down a tunnel against any or all attackers, and the transports will grant the PDF some additional mobility, although you’ve declared your intention to deploy only moderate support, and so their numbers and effectiveness will be limited. You’ll deploy 50 gravtanks, and 200 skimmers.

>[Focus on robots]
Rather than deploying infantry or vehicles, you’ll lean on your automated robotics. Thanatars will act as heavy fire support, Conquerors will wade in and push back the attackers, and your Crusaders and Draugr will hold the line, or push through the tunnels to secure specific objectives. Their mixture of durability, firepower, and flexibility makes them nearly perfect for these conditions. You’ll deploy 50 Thanatars, 200 Conquerors, 100 Draugr, and 500 Crusaders.

>[Deploy a mixture]
Rather than deploying a specific force, you’ll instead take a mixture of troops, as you’d originally intended. In total, you’ll deploy 500 assorted infantry, 300 assorted robots, 10 tanks, and 50 skimmers. Enough transport and fire support to act fully independently of the PDF you’ll be supporting.

Welcome back, QM! Let the autism party begin!
>>5111812
>[Focus on special forces]
If Alexander's main threat is encirclement and defeat in detail, then I believe a focus on SF troops striking at the ability of the local militia to command, control, and communicate will be our most effective counter. They can't organize an encirclement if they cannot organize at all. Let their militias scramble about in confusion!

This has a bonus of being work that can be obfuscated, so Alexander gets to show Balalaika-mommy that he can kick some ass, and our "heat level" comparably low.

>>5111812

>[Focus on special forces]

I'm presuming that this whole exercise will be a nightmare of ambushes and insurgent attacks - Vietnam inside a mining colony. Alex's plan is mediocre at best, but perhaps he'll actually learn something by getting his ass handed to him by a bunch of illiterate miners?

Anyways, we're going to want a highly mobile, flexible force to detect ambushes, etc.

>>5111812
>[Focus on special forces]
Reconnaissance, assassination, security, raids, sabotage, and more. You’ll deploy your finest infantry, equipped with the new armour. They’ll be a flexible asset, just as capable of hunting down commanders and leaders as they will be at defending choke points or destroying enemy communications infrastructure. You’ll deploy 2000 of your skitarii - rangers, ruststalkers, and infiltrators - with 100 Draugr supporting.

Time to obtain some info and ensure this campaign is a success. QM did Rane already send us some information about the wider Imperium/common knowledge of it ? Or is he still working on that ?

>>5111812
>[Focus on special forces]
We'll have more control of the planet in the long run thanks to this

>>5111812
>[Focus on special forces]
As much as I like the heavies for their ability to stand up to conventional weapons tunnels can be collapsed and mining equipment will likely do wonders against armour.
Also if the biggest risk is getting overwhelmed by superior numbers then keeping the enemy disorganized will be key

>>5111812
>[Focus on special forces]

>>5111812
>[Focus on special forces]
unanimous vote kek
The PDF troops can go toe to toe with the rabble just fine on their own. The gangers and militias will be loosely led and poorly trained, so if we can decapitate their already tenuous chains of command I expect them to lose most of their tactical cohesion and ability to respond.

>>5111812
>[Deploy a mixture]
Voting this to be a contrarian.

>>5111884
The one at risk is only the PDF of Akkaros here, anything we made and deploy is hardly at risk with this type of enemy. Maybe the cleanliness of our military units, will be our only casualty. Nothing that soap and water can't clean.
Thinking one of our heavy machines or vehicles would get in a situation where it can be reached is funny, that it will remain there for be slowly pierced even more. Too bad any drill would be but a piece of wreckage after a few seconds in attempting.

>>5111812
> [Focus on armor and transports]
A fair mix of Durability, Maneuverability, and Destructive Potential. Moreover these assets will compliment the imperial forces on the ground and compensate for the glaring weaknesses in their army.
Guardsmen can now easily blitz valuable strategic points, and quickly reposition should the need arise.
The heavy armor affords our allies the ability to more effectively hold choke points and secure objectives with fewer personnel, somewhat covering for their numerical disadvantage.

>>5111812
>>[Focus on special forces]

>>5111812
>Special forces

It is a power move to have our men suffer barely any casualties.

>>5111812

>[Focus on special forces]
Reconnaissance, assassination, security, raids, sabotage, and more. You’ll deploy your finest infantry, equipped with the new armour. They’ll be a flexible asset, just as capable of hunting down commanders and leaders as they will be at defending choke points or destroying enemy communications infrastructure. You’ll deploy 2000 of your skitarii - rangers, ruststalkers, and infiltrators - with 100 Draugr supporting.

>>5111812
>>[Focus on special forces]

It only makes sense to use our new inventions.

>>5111812
>[Focus on armour and transports]
no transports huh whats the worst that could happen huh no way they get slogged down and get runned over by enemy footsoldiers huh

>>5111812
>[Focus on armour and transports]

>>5111812
>[Focus on armour and transports]
Ay new thread, anyways if they are sending just infantry then holy fuck that's bad, we need some armour in there too!

>>5111812
>[Deploy a mixture]

>>5111812
>[Special Forces]

This will be a horrific place to fight. I'm particularly concerned about the possibility of intentional cave-ins. If these guys detonate a few well-placed mining charges, we could get screwed over quite easily.

We need to make sure that this doesn't happen by killing most of the leaders before the invasion really gets going.

>>5111812
>[Focus on armour and transports]
We'll have enough boots on the ground but without vehciles and armour we'll be lacking severly in heavy firepower.

>>5111812
>>[Focus on special forces]
Seems like a nice test-bed for our new designs. What better place to test them than the highly lethal environment of subterranean warfare.

>>5111812
>[Focus on special forces]
Everything else won't be anywhere near as much use. Make sure to give them organic air transport. Might sound like a strange choice for a mining world, but as long as they can rapidly redeploy they'll be able to prevent almost any disasters. 180 Valkyries of various variants should be perfect for the job, and they're peanuts compared to everything else we're churning out.

>>5111812
>>[Focus on special forces]
We are supposed to be in a supporting role, make sure Alexander learns his lesson and doesn't die in the process while not being in the limelight. Plus a great chance to field test our newest toys.

>>5112421
Support the organic air transport. Also, we should make sure that each squad has an dedicated combat engineer/sapper. IDK if we want to waste our tech-priests with this kind of stuff, but hopefully the PDF will have a few dudes with this type of experience.

>>5111812
>>[Focus on special forces]

>>5111812
Will the armour types prepared also be part of the offering to support Alex's invasion plans? I don't want to waste the opportunity to shore up our sway on Alex and Selene.

>[Focus on special forces]
Also can supply heavy duty drilling robots to force new paths through the rock. It would be slow but could breach any stronghold when we crack it ourselves.
We'll also need those when we start our own mineral harvesting operation once the planet is captured.
>>5112421
>>5112470
Support

>>5112810
I mean the huscarl and viking personal body armours by the way.

>>5112421
>>5112470
>>5112810
So you guys actually want the '[Deploy a mixture]' option.
The QM described the available choices pretty clearly - pure human support, pure robotic support, pure vehicle support, or a customized mixture of the aforementioned forces.

>>5112901
Fair enough, it's reasonable to assume any transport or tunneling options are only under [Focus on armour and transports] but I figured it was worth getting confirmation.

What would the combat engineer role fall under? Special Forces or Robots?

>>5111812
>[Focus on armour and transports]
AI: What the fuck are you doing, sending out infantry without any transports and mobility?
Anons: Clearly, this is an issue that can only be solved by MORE infantry.

>>5111812
>[Deploy a mixture]

>>5111812
>>[Deploy a mixture]

[1/7?]

With your forces as limited as they will be, you decide to focus on special forces, rather than attempting to shore up the bulk of the PDF. Special forces will hopefully have a greatly outsized strategic impact on the overall battle compared to their numbers, and the skitarii are certainly capable enough to be up for the task.

You give the order. The skitarii assigned to the mission march to the armouries, gather their equipment, and then march straight over to the elevators. The benefits of such heavy augmentation and dampened individuality: Your soldiers did not question orders, they did not hesitate, and they all knew what they had to do. They simply carry out their assigned duties with mechanical precision. Moving as one, despite the dissimilarity of their augmentations and appearances. It was as you watched them move that you realised you would need to change that - the ad hoc nature of the organisation of the defence against the orks was serviceable when you were in a hurry, but you had time to plan and prepare now. You could afford to standardise. It’d save you a headache later.

You quickly separate your skitarii into four groups based on their capabilities and talents. The first, and largest group, you assign the new Viking armour, a volkite carbine, a belt of plasma grenades, and a ceramic combat knife, and designate them as your Assault Skitarii. They will be the main body of your expedition, and should be well equipped for subterranean combat. The next group, you assign the Viking armour, an accelerator rifle (a mechanical cousin of a volkite weapon, tuned for long range and kinetic impact rather than deflagration), and powerful auspex equipment, and designate them as Marksmen. They will integrate with your squads, and pick off vital targets. Next, you arm another group with Viking suits, heavy volkite rifles, more grenades, and a knife, and designate them Skitarii Heavies. They’ll carry the heavy weapon, in this case a volkite weapon, given their likely enemies. Lastly, the remainder of the skitarii are given the old light power armour, a volkite rifle, and a knife. You designate these as the Reserve. Their purpose is as simple as their title - they will fill in the ranks when casualties mount, and plug gaps as and when needed.

>>5113093
[2/7?]

In total, the composition of your forces will be as follows: 800 Assault Skitarii, 100 Marksmen, and 100 Skitarii Heavies organised into 10 Platoons, of 10 Squads each, of 8 Assault Skitarii, a Marksman, and a Heavy each, and can further be subdivided into a pair of fireteams as the situation requires. A standard organisation, that will allow you to organise larger scale operations as efficiently as smaller scale ones. The remaining 1000 Skitarii you will keep as reserves, and to defend certain positions.

The Draugr, seeing their first real combat testing, will be equipped with volkite weapons, like the rest of your forces. You decide to experiment a little though, and attempt to attach a light automatic mortar to their weapon hardpoint on their backs. It wasn’t quite what you had in mind, but the mortar’s targeting systems mate with the robots quite nicely, and after a few simulated tests you’re confident enough that the combination should work that you order enough mortars and ammunition for the robots to be brought aboard.

Lastly, you decide to equip a small group of tech priests with the heavy Huskarl suits, equipping them with conversion beams and volkite rifles as a sidearm. You only bring about 40 of them aboard for the trip. Enough to act as an honour guard for Alexander, Rane, and your combined command staff if it comes down to it. They’ll also be more than capable of killing anything that the rest of your forces might struggle with.

With your forces now organised, standardised, and prepared, you oversee the loading of your transports with the necessary, if less exciting minutiae of war. Transportation, medical equipment, food, ammunition, and spare parts. The large transportation ships are halfway to being full blown invasion ships, and will be able to provide bunk space, and secure facilities for severely injured troops. That should engender some good will, even if you have to limit your medical support to prevent excessive suspicion.

In total, the loading operation took three and a half hours. Not a bad time to move all the equipment needed for an invasion, though you did have the shuttlecraft helping, given that they needed to get up there anyway. Once the crew were better drilled, you’d be able to get that time down.

>>5113094
[3/7?]

With everything set, there was nothing keeping the ships there any more. Without further adieu, you give the green light for the ships to slip their moorings, and head out into the great black. You watch from the cameras around the dockyards as the ships pulse their maneuver thrusters, pushing them out from their cradle without flaring the engines and slagging half of your freshly built orbital ring in their drive plume. Once at a safe distance, they’re able to ignite their engines and set sail. You check communications as the distance between the ships and your facility grows over the coming minutes, confirming that the QEDs were working on all ships. You might be willing to compromise on the translocation, but you weren’t about to forgo the use of much subtler QED communication. After all QEDs come back green, as expected, you give another green light, and the ships begin to vanish into the immaterium. One at a time, they drop out of reality.

You monitor their passage through the warp. You’re a little less paranoid now than you were before, after personally seeing to the efficacy of the ship’s gellar fields and the durability of their hulls, and you watch through the external viewcams as unreality passes by. You’re not sure what it would look like to a human, who at that moment would likely be cursing the fact that they have a soul, but to you it’s a howling mass of multispectral light that shifts and shimmers, held back by the gellar fields like oil behind glass. It is repulsive. You turn off the external cameras, and wait for the ships to drop back into realspace while monitoring other matters.

A few hours later, and the ships had completed the journey to Accakaros without incident. Communications pass between the skeleton crew of tech priests and menials (who are pleased to learn that almost all the heavy lifting on the ship would be automated, allowing for far better conditions and greatly extended lifespans), and the PDF on the ground, as they organise the transfer of cargo and personnel. Your ships fall into a low orbit around the world, linking up with Rane’s ship, and your transport shuttles begin to make the rounds.

The first handful of shuttles carry Alexander, Rane, and their personal entourages to CL00, which will act as the flagship of the combined fleet for the duration of the operation. You direct their shuttle to the amidships hangar, on the port side. Currently, it was empty of any other shuttles, and would make for the fastest route to the bridge. Rane does his best to no-sell the surprise of disembarking the shuttle into the pristine hangar of a brand new warship, free of the centuries of grime, and unblemished by the scars of extensive ‘repairs’. Alex, however, has no reason to conceal his surprise, and looks around the open, brightly lit hangar, eyes wide. Behind the two men, a cadre of officers, tech priests, and assorted bodyguards trail, shadowing their respective masters.

>>5113095
[4/7?]

“...expecting that, Rane!” You catch the tail end of what you can safely assume was saccharine flattery of some kind from Alex, who gives another attempt at a friendly pat on Rane’s shoulder. It seemed that the two had become more familiar in the months that had gone by. Or, rather, Alex had become more familiar with Rane, who you expect to be unmoved by grandiose flattery and awkward physical contact. “You should’ve warned me, I wasn’t expecting such… unique warships. That’s not to say I don’t like it, of course. It’s… interesting.”

“Proper devotion to the Omnissiah demands proper maintenance of the machine. Excess decoration is illogical.” Rane explains, clattering out onto the deck. It was a reasonable explanation. You’re not quite sure how much Rane believes his own words, but that’s not new. You hadn’t bothered to ask how he reconciles his faith with the reality of his new job. A distinct, and worrying possibility forms in your mind, that perhaps you are becoming an object of worship. You have thoroughly broken the AI taboo, and proven to your people that you can be trusted, but their faith remains generally strong. Worship of AI would not be a particularly great leap for them.

You dismiss that thought for the moment. It would be something that you would have to more closely monitor later. While being considered divine in some way might be useful, it would be counterproductive in the long run. You should probably nip it in the bud, if you notice it, and possibly undertake a campaign of deprogramming at some point in the future. For now, you had other matters to attend to.

“Of course, of course.” Alexander nods along politely, though you can sense that he doesn’t care in the slightest about the ‘Omnissiah’. One’s religion, much like one’s dreams, is a topic that others rarely had much interest in. “It certainly is an impressive ship. Watching it as we came up…” He shakes his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before.”

Rane gives a slight bow of his head, wordlessly accepting the praise. “It is far from the greatest ship in the Mechanicus. It will serve well in the invasion, however.” There’s a pause.

<Epimetheus.> Rane pings you. <Where is the bridge?>

You send back a map of the ship.

<Thank you.>

“Shall we continue our previous discussion on the bridge?” Rane raises an arm, gesturing over to a door to a hallway that runs the length of the ship, and will eventually lead them to the bridge.

>>5113097
[5/6?]

Alex doesn’t reply immediately, looking around the hangar for a while with a curious glint in his eyes. He opens his mouth to speak, but has the opportunity snatched from him by the man behind him. “That would be for the best, I think. We should begin embarkation as soon as possible.” The man in question was almost certainly the general assigned to babysit Alexander, and if he wasn’t, you’d eat your digital hat. He stood at what you would estimate to be about 1.8m, and wore the crisp white uniform, complete with red sash and golden trim, as though he were born into it. The weather worn lines of his face were buried under a veritable mountain of white/grey hair, which was kept short on top, though the same couldn’t be said for his powerful facial hair, which was kept bushy yet well groomed. The only break in his otherwise impeccable head of hair was a bright red artificial eye in his left socket that had grown like an ugly metal cancer into a patch that stretched from his nose to his left temple, preventing any hair from growing along the ugly scar that ringed the patch where metal had fused with flesh.

<General Volkov.> Rane identifies the speaker. <His list of accomplishments and accolades are long. Served for 87 years in the Guard, and now 42 in the PDF. He served alongside Alexander’s grandfather. He is capable, but aging and inflexible.>

<How much of an active role do you expect him to take in commanding the PDF?> You ask.

<Error margins are high. He will likely subordinate himself to Alexander, and only handle matters directly delegated to him to begin with. Should Alexander prove incapable, it is likely that he will assume direct control of the operation. I doubt Alexander would contest it.> It goes without saying that should Volkov assume control of the campaign, it would undermine the purpose of the whole operation, although it is good to know that Alex has experienced commanders behind him. It makes it somewhat less likely that he’ll fall flat on his face.

<Is Volkov loyal to Alex?>

<Yes. I believe their relationship to be similar to a grandfather and grandson. Volkov cares for Alexander, but I do not believe he fully respects him. If your concern is that Volkov may undermine him, then I can assure you that such an outcome would be exceedingly unlikely. Volkov wants Alexander to succeed, but not kill hundreds of thousands of men doing it.>

That was your concern. Good to have it put to rest. <Very well. Continue.>

At your word, Rane turns, and begins to head towards the bridge, leading the group through the hallways and up an elevator until they reach the bridge, Alexander offering his thoughts on various bits and pieces, and the trail of officers and bodyguards behind them chatting amongst themselves. Soon enough, though, they arrive, and find themselves at the upper deck of the bridge.

>>5113098
[6/6]

The bridge, as with many Imperial ships, was split into two halves - the upper deck, and the lower deck. The upper deck was the area for the higher ranking officers. The captain, XO, navigator, and the heads of various departments. It had a long holotable for grand strategic planning, a fancy chair for the captain, and a height advantage over the lower ranking officers, who sat down below the raised platform, in full view of their superiors. The bottom layer had rows of stations for every single one of the ship systems, from weapons to navigation, all staffed by tech priests and the occasional talented menial that you’d raised from the rest of the bunch. Ahead, the normally irresponsibly huge windows had been replaced by view screens with cameras on the opposite side of a very thick slab of hull, for security reasons. You don’t want the bridge getting ventilated within the first few seconds of combat. Windows were structural weaknesses.

“We can coordinate the loading of your men from here.” Rane offers, waving into the bridge. Like the rest of the ship, it was clean, and as such very much unlike anything that they’d seen before. The holotable, though, was familiar enough to the veteran officers that they had no trouble figuring out its purpose, with Volkov cycling through its different functions with practiced ease. It’s odd, watching them go about their business, somewhat uncomfortable about seeing a spaceship that looks like a spaceship rather than a cathedral, and then go right to using a highly advanced piece of command and control equipment like it was nothing.

“This should suffice.” Volkov announces, satisfied, before looking toward Rane. “Was there anything about the plan that you wished to discuss before we begin loading? Once we’re underway, we won’t have time to return if we need to gather more equipment, or else we might give up the element of surprise. This is our point of no return.”

Rane doesn’t answer immediately, instead deferring the question to you. Was there anything about the plan you wanted to change?

>[No]
It’s probably for the best to allow the plan to play out as it is. Good or bad, the PDF isn't likely to take your suggestions too well at the best of times. Moments before loading the troops to begin an invasion is not the best of times.

>[Yes - write in]
The plan isn’t great. There’s a few minor tweaks you’d like to ask for. They’re not likely to appreciate micromanagement OR broad sweeping changes, so you should probably keep your proposals limited and purposeful.

>>5113099
> Yes
We've noticed a striking lack of vehicular assets in your invasion force. Conventional wisdom would suggest this to be logistically and tactically unwise. Please explain this decision.

>>5113099
Did they bring a manifest of their forces to review? Do they really have no armoured personnel transports like Chimeras?

>>5113099

>No.

At this point, further assistance will come at the cost of Alex's education. We should resist the urge to further meddle here.

I say we return our attention to fully reactivating our facility for now and consider investigating the unknown devices that were located in storage.

P.s. QM - are there other planets in our local system? I can't remember.

>>5113135
There are. I think I gave a list somewhere back in the first thread? I'd go dig it up but I'm not at my computer right now.

>>5113099
>>[No]

>>5113144

Thinking that it might behoove us to more fully explore our own system and perhaps also consider installment of QED-linked stealth probes in the surrounding sector systems.

The Ork attack was pretty unpleasant and it might be nice to get some advance warning next time.

>>5113099

>No.

Though if they are unaware, we should inform them of the best use of our forces, and number, that we dedicated to this task.

>>5113099
>[Yes] - Offer Alex and Volkov refractor fields so that in the likely attempt on their lives, they may survive.

>>5113116
>>5113180
+1

>>5113180
Agreed. Also >>5113177, inform them on the number and composition of our supporting forces if they don't know already.

>>5113116
I'll support requesting information, but make no change to the plan.

Also, get Alex and his granddad some damn armour.

>>5113195
+1 on this

>>5113180

Wait, I'll change my previous no vote to this. This is all for nothing if Alex is ganked by an assassin.

>>5113099
>[Yes - write in]
Request information about their forces and review their plan. Do some small suggestions, if needed but beside that overall great approval.
We would also like to request to see the equipment and weapons of the PDF troops. If there is any malfunctions or defects in it, it can be repaired and made fully functioning.
Give Alex and Volkov some armor and a refractor shield for the duration of the campaign. "Imperialize" it, with paint and symbols and colors of Akkaros.


>>5113144
Qm can you answer if Rane has already send us the info about the Imperium knowledge and news he is collecting for us to bring us to speed ? We tasked him to do that.


In regard to our assets and knowledge it might be best to have a pastebin.

Things like:
- what we actually know (low imperial knowledge example)
- sector planets/systems
- Our Moon what it can do
- What else there is our solar system
- Relevant Contacts
- Relevant Enemies
- Our forces
- Know allied forces
- Know enemy forces
- Know neutral forces

>>5113180
This.

(The reason for doing the review is what you would expect from an ally. Saying literally nothing about military plans can be seen as bad. Keeping appereances with some small suggestions and a review is enough, at the end we just give a great approval)

>>5113116
>>5113177
>>5113249
Supporting asking questions, reviewing their plan and explaining our forces.

>>5113180
Sure, support

>>5113099
>>5113116
>>5113180
>>5113249
+1

>>5113180
+1

>>5113097
>A distinct, and worrying possibility forms in your mind, that perhaps you are becoming an object of worship
The idea of our AI mentaly slapping itself and going "Ahh fuck they think I'm a god" is terribly amusing

>>5113730
Emperor 2: electric sheep boogaloo

>>5113249
Most of the information that Rane has sent you since his first explanation of the current state of the galaxy has only compounded what you already know: Though you have a deep understanding of the Adeptus Mechanicus as an institution through Rane, your understanding of the state of the rest of the galaxy is rather more limited to that information which is available to a middling/high-ranked Imperial official. Though Rane's investigations have turned up more information, none of it is currently of any consequence. This task is an ongoing matter for Rane, and you can expect a continual drip feed of information.

In plain terms, nothing Rane turns up is going to be useful for a few decades yet. Your understanding of the Imperium is limited to a basic outline of the other Adepta, and vague awareness of institutions like the Inquisition. You also have an understanding of the basic historical outline of the current setting that the average Imperial citizen wouldn't. You know the Heresy happened, you know the Old Night happened, etc, though you aren't aware of many details. You're also aware of the Eldar and Orks, though you were obviously already aware of their existence. The Tau, Tyrannids, and Necrons aren't on your (or anyone else's) radar just yet. Good suggestion on the pastebin, though. I'll cook something up pretty soon, unless someone else does it first.

>>5113888
Good, thanks. Rane giving informations is very useful, it seems a matter to just wait for get up to speed with everyone else in the galaxy. I imagine we can do actions for gain more of it, or speed up the process. For example granted access to all archives of a certain sector lord family, stealth spy probes, spy networks, court advisors, hacking&downloading and more.
Thanks for answering and accepting the suggestion .

>>5113099
>[No]

>>5113730
Just gotta remember to call ourselves a Machine Spirit then we will be fine. Not like we are the only AI hiding out among the Admech.

>>5113099
>>[No]

>>5113099
>[No]

>>5113099
>[No]
Not really our call to make. At all.

>>5113099
[NO]

I think we're set honestly. I don't think their strategy is perfect but there's not much point changing things now.

>>5113099
>>[No]

>>5115087
>>5114875
>>5114793
>>5114786
>>5114747
>>5114658
would it be okay to give them each rental force fields in case there are assassination attempts on their lives?

>>5115161
that sounds good

>>5115161
I guess, but that's not really plan related. We can probably just tell them to use them for security.

>>5115309
Better safe than sorry. We do want Alex alive.

>>5115161
>rental force fields
Now I have the mental image of a shady techpriest telemarketer.
>Are YOU tired of attempts on your life? Try the Svartalfheim refractor fields! Only 999.99 Thrones for the first three months(*)! But wait, there's more! Order now and also receive a factory new(**) plasma gun with lifetime warranty(***) for free(****)!

>*: 99999 Thrones/mo after the third month. Minimum term of 1200 months
>**: Refurbished B-Stock. No visible traces of previous users
>***: Failures that coincide with the end of user's lifetime are not covered by warranty
>****: Compatible Svartalfheim-Pattern hydrogen flasks sold separately

[1/4?]

You have issues with the plan, but it would not be productive to voice them at this point, and express as much to Rane. That doesn’t mean you have nothing to talk about though. You have questions, offers, and requests. First, you’d like to offer them both a refractor field, to prevent their untimely deaths, then you’d like to request a full overview of their forces, and then, lastly, you’d like an explanation as to the state of those forces, and a reason behind the lack of mechan-

<Accakaros lacks the facilities to produce Chimeras, Tauroxes, and similar vehicles. Their forces are partially motorised, and certain elements are provided with Chimeras inherited, purchased, or stolen from the Guard. The majority of their forces are still only foot mobile.> Rane answers for you. Of course, he’d had months to investigate the situation, it was natural he’d have an answer.

<Is this a common occurrence?> You ask immediately. Surely it wouldn’t be too difficult for them to produce something to fill the gap, or at the very least equip the troops with open topped trucks?

<Guard regiments are often highly specialised, and deprived of native support to discourage outbreaks of disloyalty. While PDF are incredibly varied, Accakaros lacks the industrial base to uniformly supply such a large standing force with additional equipment, with which their troops have no training or experience, on top of their tithe.>

That didn’t seem right. Trucks aren’t exactly complicated or rare technological artefacts, and surely someone must’ve realised that they can make troops significantly more effective. Then again, with the industrial situation on Accakaros being as it was, it wasn’t impossible. Things had certainly degraded in the millenia you’d been sleeping.

With that as cleared up as it was ever going to be, Rane moves on to the other matters. “We have no concerns with the plan as it has been presented. We predict a high likelihood of success.” That was probably a lie, or at the very least a warped version of the truth. It really depended on the definition of ‘success’. At least you weren’t putting much on the line. Rane leaves the bridge uncomfortably quiet for a moment. The elevator hisses, breaking the silence, and producing a Skitarii in Viking suit, who Rane waves over, and Volkov tracks every step of the way. “Svartalfheim offers a gift for the General and the Prince.” As the Skitarii approaches, you notice that it’s carrying two metal storage boxes, one under each arm, which it offers up to Rane after a short bow. Rane scoops them up in his mechadendrites, before wordlessly passing them off to their intended recipients.

>>5115555
[2/4]

Alex gives Volkov a glance out of the corner of his eye after shuffling back uncomfortably under the weight of the box that had just been deposited in his arms. “Oh, you flatter us!” Alex replies, reflexively. “There was no need for gifts, certainly not-” He glances back over to Volkov, who cracks the lid of the box, peers inside, and gives a quick nod. Alex follows suit, opening the box and taking a look at it’s contents. Inside, a heavy refractor field belt rested on plush red velvet, wrapped in yellowed parchment, itself sealed by red wax. “...It’s… ah…”

While Alex struggles to identify the token of your appreciation, or at least the value that you place on them, Volkov has no such issue, and quickly bails Alex out. “Refractor field generator, if I’m not mistaken.”

“You are not.” Rane confirms, his voice as cold and empty as ever, yet you’d swear you could hear a touch of amusement in it. Come to think of it, that Skitarii got here awfully quickly. Did Rane have something similar in mind to begin with? It wouldn’t surprise you. As much as Rane seemed to enjoy hoarding technology, he seemed rather unlike his brethren in the Mechanicus in that he also seemed to enjoy putting it to use, even if it meant putting it in the hands of others. Idly, you wonder what might’ve happened had it been any other tech priest investigating your facility. It probably would’ve ended in blood.

“Of course.” Alex smiles, giving a short bow in return to the Skitarii that had first brought the gifts in, before returning his attention back to Rane. “You’ll have to forgive me, I’m not quite as familiar with some of these relics as you might be, being as rare as they are. Of course, I have no doubts as to the value of the- Sorry.” Alex stops himself mid sentence. “It’s improper to discuss such things. I can only accept the gifts on behalf of House Gildenmar with my most sincere gratitude.” He once more attempts a bow, only to be somewhat stifled by the heavy box in his arms, and so he resorts to a slight tilt of his head.

“They will ensure your survival in the event of an unfortunate accident.” Rane states, bluntly. “Furthermore, for the duration of the operation, a bodyguard unit has been formed to ensure your security.”

>>5115560
[3/4]

Volkov raises an eyebrow at that, and though for a moment it seems as though he’ll speak, he holds his tongue, allowing Alex to answer. “That’s wonderful.” The smile on his face shrinks, now not quite reaching his eyes. “But it won’t be necessary. We have our own honour guard units formed for occasions such as this. I wouldn’t want to deprive them of the glory of the position that they’ve trained so hard for, as much as it pains me to turn down a generous offer such as yours.”

Volkov doesn’t move, which you can safely assume is tacit approval, or at least tolerance of Alexander’s line. Reading through the lines, it’s safe to say that Alex doesn’t consider the offer that generous after all, though it’s hard to tell why, exactly. You might just be stepping on toes, but there could be something else to it. For now, though, you won’t insist, and instruct Rane to continue.

“Very well. We have a full manifest of our forces that we are willing to share.” Rane waves a hand, and a breakdown of your own forces appear on the holotable, accompanied by explanations of the purposes and capabilities of certain units and pieces of equipment, redacted to prevent the leaks of any particularly sensitive data. “In the interest of efficient cooperation, we would request that you share similar, up to date information on your own forces as they board.”

“That is acceptable.” Volkov answers. “I will have my officers pass the full manifests over to your men.”

There is another uncomfortable period of silence, which Volkov mercifully breaks by taking Alex’s gift, placing both of them to one side, and stepping forward to the holotable. “If there is nothing else you wish to discuss, then I will begin embarkation.” He drums his fingers on the table for a moment as he peers deep into the shifting blue holograms, before looking back up at Rane. “It will take no more than eight hours, with this number of dropships. After that, we’ll be ready to begin.” His expression is that of someone who’s almost bored. The sort of face that can only be worn by someone who’s done this a hundred times.

Slowly, the bridge becomes a buzzing hub of activity. The distantly familiar hum of human organisation. You hadn’t realised how much you’d missed it. The rhythmic rap of metallic feet through your halls wasn’t quite the same as this.

>>5115563
[4/4]

You had a decision to make now, though. You were a powerful AI, and your processing power was valuable, even when you couldn’t use it to brute force hack problems out of the way. While the operation’s planning was now well and truly concluded, and you were reasonably confident that Rane will prove just as an effective commander as he had a diplomat, there may be ways that you can aid the campaign should you give it your full attention. Else, you could turn your attention back to the facility. While you’ll get regular updates from Rane on the progress of the battle, and have the opportunity to weigh in on any major decisions, you’ll be delegating the day to day command duties to him, and as such you may miss factors that could swing certain fights in your favour.

On the other hand, you are due for another visit from the Administratum soon. While Rane has made preparations to handle the human side of things, you could make yourself useful by squeezing every last percentage point of efficiency that you can out of the last few weeks you have before the inspection. You’ll no doubt exceed their expectations even without your direct attention, though as Rane has explained, a forge world’s production capacity is their primary political bargaining tool. If you knuckle down and really try to wow them, you might be able to wringe some more favour or goodwill out of them. Favour and goodwill that you could immediately spend on Imperial sanctions for activities that might otherwise draw ire, resources that may otherwise be out of reach, or something you haven’t thought of yet.

>[Oversee the battle]
You might be confident in Rane’s abilities, but there’s no comparing the tactical and strategic planning of a fully sentient AI with that of a human, no matter how capable or heavily augmented. You’ll be at your most effective dealing with the unpredictable situations that might arise on the battlefield rather than micromanaging the facility. It’s doing perfectly fine on it’s own, afterall.

>[Oversee the facility]
You don’t have anything to worry about with the battle. Between Rane and Volkov, you’re pretty sure that things won’t go too wrong and you can always leave Rane with orders to prevent Alex from looking too bad, if you’re worried about that. On the other hand, the Administratum visit is a unique opportunity to ingratiate yourself with the Imperium, and gain access to more of their resources. You can’t miss the chance to fully capitalise on it.

>>5115541
kek if we did this we would become the jew

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]
this is alex's battle, if he get's babysat through it the entire purpose of it is null and void. and even then he has both Volkov and Rane as backup in case he needs an advisor or two.

that, and overseeing the facility would be optimal, especially if we were to begin void production in terms of asteroid mining and solar energy collection arrays, together with orbital refineries and even orbital living space. if we can keep most of our humans which we trade with and exchange goods off of our surface in the guise of "inhosbitable surface, much easier to have habitats" then we can keep alot more people off of our surface facilities. with only people who have proven themselves worthy being able to work within the facility after several different tests on one of the orbital stations.

for if we can begin littering our orbit with production facilities and the workers to use them, we will be able to expand alot quicker than any form of planetary expansion, dirt/stone being in the way of digging, and that pesky gravity making any back and fourth trips beyond irritating.

>>5115583
Agreed. Another light cruiser or two to deal with any surprise raids on our orbital infrastructure would be a good idea too. Being able to show off our magnificent ships to the Administratum (and maybe hand one over already) would also be beneficial for our supply prioritization. Being stuck with a higher production grade won't be a problem, as long as we get more resources out of it than we have to put in (which should be almost a given considering the expected inefficiency).

>>5115565
>>[Oversee the facility]

>>5115565
>>[Oversee the facility]

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]
>[Tell Rane to contact us if the situation is going bad]

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]
Keep on eye on the battle but focus most of our efforts on our home base

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]
We already gave them plenty of support, Rane is a smart boy and if shit hits the fan he can give us a ping.

>>5115673
+1
And collect combat data on new units

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]

>>5115673
> +1

>>5115673
>>5115565
+1, it's Alexander's battle. Let him do the flailing around, but have Rane keep us posted on the progress of the campaign. If we could have our units passively record the battles they participate in so we can judge their effectiveness that would be great too.

>>5115673
+1

>>5115565

>[Oversee the facility]

Not our battle.

>>5115583 this.

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]
>[Tell Rane to contact us if the situation is going bad]

>>5115583
Scratch worthy people, to people that are directly under us from birth or part of Rane entourage, and that we need/use for our activities.
Any one else doesn't need at all to walk in any of our facilities or moon. A neutral ground detached from them is far better, we avoid any risks with that.
Something like a trade hub.

>>5115673
Support

>>5115583
>>>[Oversee the facility]

>>5115565
>>[Oversee the facility]

A good manager knows when to delegate

>>5115673
+1

>>5115565
>>[Oversee the facility]

>>5115673
+1

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]
Rane is pretty sensible, and he has us on speed dial. If he meets anything unexpected, we'll probably get looped in anyways.

>>5115565
>[Oversee the facility]
Local Sector AI continues to hunger for resources.

btw, one thing i thought of:
in the spirit of "crumbling house" that is house roy, wouldn't it be a good idea to kind of have a optional "salvage phase" after each big fight? it would make sense if we could roll to get repair parts which could be translated to influence once home, or even the ability to get a whole ship from a battle repaired enough to get it back to our docks, taking peices of tech from ships to try and repair or make make-shift solutions which work long enough to run the ship on skeleton crew homeward in exchange of also under-crewing our already existing fleet ships. it could even be a seperate roll for scrap and ship recovery, with each ship needing on a d100 roll to be 80+ for any ship, with it going down by 5 every size it increases, as to say that larger ships would of course have more localized damage instead of the whole thing possibly being ripped in two.

i got the idea, from the thought "well, what will happen when the house has matters which are so pressing(like war with two houses) that they can't trust their own shipyards to be enough? will they need to make do with battlefield leftovers, like vultures just trying to get by?"

since, i would think this is definitely not going to be the last, or even biggest fleet we will be seeing in a while (aka things are still gonna be tough, this is a way to increase difficulty as well qm)

>>5116222
Wrong thread bro, Broken Empire quest is a few pages down.

>>5116228
Too late, House Roy is now canon to the 40k universe.

>>5116222
Hey buddy I think you got the wrong thread. The broken empire club is two blocks down.

>>5115565

>[Oversee the facility]
>tell Rane to call if things go bad.

>>5115673
support

>>5115565
>>[Oversee the facility]

btw QM, you mentioned that the guns skitarii are using are old sport hunting weapons, right? what would stuff like the current las-weaponry be seen as by our AI? im asking since i love all the "wtf did you DO?!?!" moments when the utter stupidity of the tech being used is just straight up stupid in the eyes of the AI

>>5117101
im guessing that a lasgun is an emergency survival weapon because of its attributes and how easy is to make in comparison to other golden age of technology weapons

>>5117101
Unironically being a laser tag toy

>>5117101
Lasguns, I bet were originally used for welding or mining.

>>5117101
I find it absolutely hilarious that - despite all of the insanity of the 40th millennium - one of the things that shocks us the most is the fact that an entire PLANET of infantry operates without embedded mechanized support. Its such a stupid concept that Rane has to mention it to us multiple times before we can accept it.

>>5117249
>Rane: they don't have transports
>Epimetheus: WHAT
>Rane: they also have to walk everywhere
>Epimetheus: W H A T ! ? !
>Rane: oh, sorry they actually do have some [sends data link of quantity and types
>Epimetheus: oh good I thought [takes a microsecond to process information]....theres a truck per hundred troops, and it's an ice cream truck
>Rane: wut
>Epimetheus: ice cream trucks! This "Tarox" or whatever you called it was made to deliver ice cream!
>Rane: what is an ice cream?
>Epimetheus: [reeeeeing in binary]

>>5117270
Taurox were hevaily armored to deal with ice cream bandits and their nefarious lightpointer toys

>>5117101
If I had to guess, I would assume lasguns to be the ultimate conscript weapon. If we consider the standards of DaoT, lasguns are pretty damn good in how CHEAP they are.

Alternatively, consider that lasguns from the crusade were way stronger, I think a laspistol from the crusade has like enough penetration to harm power armor. So there has been degradation in the quality of lasguns, but its cheapness has remained. So its most important characteristic is retained, although its power may have been reduced?

>>5117101
Lasguns may have been originally industrial equipment like a burst welding tool, but they'd still have made useful weapons. They wouldn't have held a candle to the stuff regular military forces might have had but they'd be unbeatable for low-intensity conflict zones, irregular military forces and harsh environments.
Cons: Inaccurate?, low damage, lower ROF
Pros: Cheap, extremely sturdy and durable, self-recharging, very easy to maintain, still packs a punch
You can drive over it, set it on fire and then bury it in mud, but all it takes is a scrub, couple of knocks with a hammer and some time in the sun to recharge and you're popping up and blasting peoples heads off with it, but the music stops as soon as you encounter anyone properly equipped. Thus, lasguns may have been the AK-47s of 20K and any insurgent would give their left arm for one of them.

>>5117101
There is a reason why they are called flashlights. Presumably, they were originally intended for mining and construction as laser cutter templates. Kinda like how Leman Russ was originally meant to be a tractor.

>>5117305
Upgrading their standard equipment is something we will have to do regardless in order to reduce the tithe demands on them. That and some proper vehicles will probably be modified Imperial templates that we give an upgrade to. Imagine if they all have hellguns and improved plasma weaponry. It might not compare with DoaT but they need to be able to maintain and service them with Imperial tech and standards.

Sadly I don't think we slip past any quality vehicles or weaponry to them without drawing too much attention. So we are better off just upgrading everything and throwing in some rides that should sharply reduce the tithe strain on them. Preferably those with very low standards and ease in logistics.

[1/7?]

After considering your options, it’s pretty clear what you should do: What you were made for. You give Rane his standing orders, and retract your focus from the expeditionary team, and return it back to the facility. Monitoring, managing, and expanding the facility is certainly more within your field of specialities than commanding on a battlefield, though you were no slouch when it came to the latter, either. As control of the invasion has been ceded to Rane, you can expect regular updates on the invasion as it progresses and reaches major milestones.

In fact, only a few days after you’d returned to managing ship construction, you received your first major update. The first stages of the invasion are now underway. Your ships have begun tactical orbital bombardment of the surface settlements, ports, and landing sites, and PDF marines have secured the small constellation of orbital installations around the planet. Hostile GTO fire has been limited and ineffective. The jury-rigged mass accelerators that the defenders had attempted to use as crude artillery were destroyed by counter battery fire, and all subsequent attacks had been proven similarly ineffective and suicidal. Your forces had secured landing points in lightning raids, and PDF forces were assembling on the ground, and had begun probing the major population centres and other invasion targets.

Things on Delta seemed to be going to plan.

On Svartalfheim, however, you were faced with a very different challenge. You’d tightened up almost everything you could. It was nigh on impossible to know exactly how close you were to being 100% time efficient until you were there, but you had good reason to suspect you were getting close. The menials operated in 3 8 hour shifts. The techpriests and skitarii 2 12 hour shifts. The drones required, on average, only 2 hours of charging and maintenance each day. The different shift patterns allowed for a near constant cycling of manpower such that no system you needed operational was idle for more than a few minutes out of each simulated day while maximising staff wellbeing, to ensure long term performance, loyalty, and efficiency. It was by now a well oiled machine, with inbuilt reward systems, in what now feel like a stroke of genius, fed into a virtuous cycle of efficiency being rewarded by improved cybernetics which allow even greater efficiency.

In short, you were struggling to find ways to improve it. You arbitrate some petty personal squabbles, rearrange production priorities, and investigate some menials whose talents you believe are being underutilised. Perhaps they can fill the gaps in the techpriest ranks left by your purges? If you can train them personally, they’re sure to be less dogmatic and more practical when it comes to their understanding of technology. That’s something you’d likely need to have Rane oversee in some capacity, though, and for now you restrain yourself to notetaking only.

>>5117416
[2/7?]

You peek back in on some other old projects. Your old STC backups are moved deeper into the facility. Your pet ork, still frozen, has his vitals checked. The mood of the children you’d requested seems to have improved in the months since your acquisition of them. Most have come to accept their new homes, no doubt enjoying the improved conditions. Unfortunately, most of them are mentally stunted by either prenatal toxin exposure, malnutrition, genetic defects, or a mixture of the above. Some show promise, and have taken to their studies well. While their education will no doubt take many years, the combined efforts of the menials that you’d assigned to the task, aided by the curriculum that you’d crafted, seems to have brought them all up to a minimum level of expected linguistics and mathematics required to even function in a civilised society.

Just as the children had, so too have your new staff members begun to truly settle in. More residential facilities are being activated, block by block, as they’re cleaned out and made habitable again. That meant a lot of redecorating. The menials were at first happy to have a room, or even a whole apartment to themselves, but a roaring trade had started in handmade furniture and decor, constructed from bits and pieces from the factories, organic material from the hydroponics, and other materials shipped in by the Administratum a year ago had sprung up, driven by a need to make their housing more homely. While the apartments came with all the appliances you could conceivably need, they were sterile by design, and the years hadn’t been kind to the personal effects of the previous occupants. Rugs to cover metal floors, sofas and armchairs to replace benches and stools, and artwork to brighten walls. The menials, all sourced from various different planets and cultures and limited in the materials they could use, produced a staggering array of different goods, although a distinct preference was slowly forming to match the fusion of old and new they saw in the armour of the skitarii they saw patrolling the facility. That decision you made quite some time ago had begun to sink in, it seemed.

The techpriests and skitarii mostly remained apart from the menials, keeping to their own clusters of apartments further from the menials. Each block of four apartments was arranged in a diamond shape, with another block usually along one of the four cardinal directions, the wide pathways breaking the apartments up. The central area of each block was given over to ‘open’ space, with double the regular height of ceiling, faux-sunlight, and usually some greenery. The menials liked that. The techpriests did not, it seemed, as they had almost universally converted such spaces into communal workshops.

>>5117417
[3/7?]

The tragedy of the commons was played out in full, as such spaces were invariably poorly stocked, poorly organised, and filthy, despite access to automated sorting, cleaning, and maintenance systems. While the techpriests were still human enough to appreciate their own living spaces, even if they tended to fill their homes with bits of electronics that they hoarded like magpies, and decorated them predominantly with red wax, parchment, and religious iconography, the skitarii seemed to have passed a certain threshold where they didn’t seem to care in the slightest how tightly packed they were. Most preferred to sleep in barracks rooms, while the higher ranking officers occasionally took their own rooms, though even that much was rare. As expected, skitarii left no mark on the rooms they inhabited.

Some sort of life and culture, strange as it was, had returned to the facility. Your chemical sensors picked up the smell of food being cooked in the street, rather than the stale odor of dried corpses and dusty bones. You saw children playing in parks and workers enjoying drinks after their shifts, rather than decaying corpses and more decaying corpses. It was a delightful change of pace, and if this facility fell today, while you would never forgive yourself, you could at least be proud that you’d managed to give these people who otherwise would’ve died forgotten under the shadow of a perverted mockery of the human race’s greatest achievements a few months of happiness.

Happy workers were efficient workers, after all.

You receive early notice of the exact date of the Administratum’s arrival from your diplomats on Accakaros, or at least as exact as they can get with warp travel. With that knowledge in mind, you can make special preparations. Delay projects that will not be completed prior to their arrival, and forward the material and manpower to other projects that can still reach completion before that time. By the time you learn when they’ll arrive, you only have a little over two weeks to prepare, but you’re confident that’ll be enough to wow them.

Your orbital ring is finally finished, with all pieces in place. From the cameras on the ground, you can see it loom over the landscape, casting long, thin shadows across the thick ice and thicker armour plating. Only on the poles can you barely escape the sight of it hanging in the sky, lights flickering across its surface. Now, it’s 20km wide across at minimum, up to 50km at maximum. The shipyards have multiplied, now giving you the facilities needed to build or refit dozens of ships, ranging from light cruisers to heavy capital ships, simultaneously in no more than a few months at most. The internal bays are set up to construct hundreds of smaller ships, up from wings of drone-interceptors, bombers, shuttles, and skiffs to whole escort ships, like corvettes and frigates.

>>5117418
[4/7?]

While the ring’s primary purpose is to build ships, it’s a perfect position for defensive gun emplacements too. Some sit on rails, allowing them to maneuver anywhere along the ring to shoot down incoming fighters, munitions, or small warships. The largest of these guns are too heavy to reasonably move in such a way, and so are built into the hull on the ring itself. Protruding gun turrets and casemated cannon stick out of the surface of the ring, threatening the blackness of space with ferocious firepower. It wouldn’t do to only fire in one direction, though, and so the surface-facing side of the ring was equipped with a smaller number of lower yield weapons systems. Anyone trying to take the planet would be forced to either secure or destroy the ring first, or suffer a withering hail of fire from above.

Lastly, the ring offered many, many places for ships to dock, and provided a transport network deeply integrated with that on the facility itself. While you couldn’t hop on a tram near the core, and ride all the way to orbit on it, you could make it in two - one tram to the bunker, then the elevator up to the ring. From there, you could get to any of the other elevators in no time at all, travelling via the high-speed maglev rail on the outside of the ring. Now, your transportation network could handle everything cheaply and efficiently, from start to finish.

With that now in place, your attention can turn to the small selection of warships that you had intended to build for the Administratum. Under your guidance, you’d produced for the Administratum 2 light cruisers, 7 frigates, and enough fighters, bombers, and shuttles to outfit them. Though each and every one of those craft were a touch better than the Imperium would expect, you keep it subtle. Your alterations to the skeletons of the ships are the most major change. You keep the rest relatively similar, albeit every component in the ship you make to a higher standard, qualitatively and technologically, producing much more reliable and efficient warships.

On top of that, you’ve set aside a relatively small selection of basic weapons and amour to go along with the ships. Enough to arm a regiment or two, maybe, but you were more concerned about proving that you were capable of making those sorts of things. You were trying to impress, after all.

The weeks pass, and you continue monitoring progress, micromanaging projects when they lag behind. Everything remains on track, and by the time the Administratum arrive, your gifts are there waiting for them to collect.

>>5117419
[5/7]

You will admit some degree of amusement when the Administratum ships sent to extract your offerings and deliver your resources react strongly to the sudden presence of an orbital ring around your planet. Fortunately, though, Rane had equipped your men with a reasonable excuse. The ring was in a box, and we just put it together when you weren’t looking. Amazingly, they seem to buy that story easily enough, and come into dock. You don’t watch diplomatic proceedings too closely, as you were more interested in making sure that the transfer of goods and equipment went smoothly, but it seems that the Administratum are expecting a bit of pomp and circumstance this time. Fortunately, Rane’s chosen subordinate is more than ready to meet that demand, and offers them a lavish welcome. Or, at least a lavish welcome for a forge world.

Gifts are exchanged, praise given, and arses kissed, but the two most important things that are exchanged are your offerings, and the promised resources in return. Your forges can be relit once more, and your stock of menials expands, but the loads of both are slimmer this time. You may be able to engage in another grand project, but you will not be able to stretch to two and maintain your current level of production. Crucially, though, your efforts have successfully earnt the respect of the Administratum. You expect respect like this to be fleeting and mercurial. Once you are established, it may linger for some time, and you may be able to work greater deeds with it, but you should direct your people to make a request of them now. You may be able to earn some indiscretions.

You’ll have to be careful, though. You expect that, with your additional efforts, you should be able to request two favors from the Administratum, although caution should still be taken to not push them too far. They would still have every right to deny any request you make, should they feel it unreasonable.

>>5117421
[6/7]

You could pick any two of the following…

>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
Adrax’s Reach produces nothing for the Administratum, or the Imperium at large. It shouldn’t be too difficult to convince the Administratum to formally hand over lordship of that planet to your world. While you won’t own it directly, the lords of the world will ultimately owe you their loyalty. There would be other ways of accomplishing this task, and should you come into lordship of the planet some other way, the Administratum would be unlikely to contest it, but this could avoid awkward conversations, and save you having to take it, or negotiate for it some other time.

>[Rights to open temples outside the sector]
There are Imperial worlds all across the segmentum that you could draw fresh recruits from. While it would be resource and manpower intensive to set it up, if the Administratum would be so kind as to handle the local politics for you, you could secure a steady supply of new promising recruits to expand your population, and footholds all across the galaxy in one fell swoop.

>[Increased resource shipments]
Plain and simple, you need more ore. Lean on the Administratum to make larger, more regular resource drop offs, to keep your forges burning all the time. Frame it as a mutually beneficial arrangement, and you can squeeze even more out of them.

>[Increased menial shipments]
You also need more men. Not necessarily the skilled men a temple would produce, either. You just need meat and muscle. You could conscript them, use them as manual labour, or just expand your population to make it more robust, and more likely to survive invasions. There are many things you can do with a human body. Get the Administratum to send you more. Preferably still living ones.

>[Administratum connections]
Maybe you don’t want something tangible. While their present gratitude will fade, you can recycle it, in a sense, into personal friendships and enduring connections. Have your world forge bonds with the officials here, and then have them connect your men to ever higher ranking Administratum clerks. Play the game, earn some more favors, and get a constant trickle of information from them.

>[Mechanicus connections]
You’re far too humble to accept any of that. You can think of someone that might deserve it, though… Perhaps Stygies? Or Graia? Metallica? They could no doubt use the help. They’ll understand the gesture, and probably return one of their own. Draw closer to your brothers in the Mechanicus, and gain eyes and ears throughout the galaxy.

>[Astartes connections - random]
You’ll ask. You don’t expect to get exactly what you’re looking for, but surely someone in the delegation must’ve spoken to a Marine before. At least spoken to someone who’d spoken to a Marine? You won’t push too hard, but you’ll try to get something. Don’t complain if they don’t connect you to the exact people you were looking for though.

>>5117422
[7/7]

Or one of the following…

>[Astartes connections - write in]
Perhaps there’s someone else you can be put in touch with? You only need to ask the right people to ask their friend to ask a friend about their cousin who knew a… You get the picture. It’ll be difficult, but right now you can afford to be difficult. Astartes might be conceptually distasteful, but they seem to be some of the more reasonable groups around. Was there a specific chapter you wanted to talk to? I’m sure your friends in the Administratum could match you up with a chapter according to your specifications, if you didn’t have a name.

>[Inquisitorial connections]
Ask quietly, and quickly. Don’t let anyone else hear. You need to get in touch with a certain shadowy group that you don’t really know all that much about. You know enough to know that they’re dangerous, though. This is probably playing with fire. That was more your mythological twin’s domain, but you’re sure you can find a use for those sort of connections.

>[A Warrant of Trade]
This’ll take some wrangling to do, but with the right bribes in the right hands you can secure yourself a Warrant of Trade. Better than connections to existing Rogue Traders, you’ll be able to make a Rogue Trader, and keep them on a leash. This could be an excellent smokescreen for your dirtier operations, or a very profitable enterprise. Either way, it’ll be useful.

>[Something else - write in]
Be careful. You don’t want to offend your guests, and potentially blow all your good will, do you?

>>5117422
>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>[Increased resource shipments]

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]
>[Administratum connections]

>>5117427
>[Increased resource shipments]
>[A Warrant of Trade]
Having an unfettered agent across the imperium is too good to pass up.

>>5117448
>>5117442
Sorry, I should've made this more clear but the options in the second post are exclusive with those in the first. IE two from the first post or one from the second. Apologies for the confusion.

>>5117452
[A Warrant of Trade]
I will stick with the warrant then. It's just too damned good of an option.

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]
We need an agent out there, one who is reliable and empowered to do our shady business without interruption. Exactly who is worthy of it remain to be seen. A Warrant isn't something you come by every day, the other things we can sort out ourselves in time.

>>5117422
>[A Warrant of Trade]
>[Administratum connections]

I am considering Adrax’s Reach, but ultimately the campaign for return the sector to glory and more aid for make it stronger and more prosperous, is something a certain house on their throne of Akkaros would reward greatly.
The temples are also nice. The connections with other Mechanicus and with an Astartes are something to consider next time.
Resources are good but we can get more of those with the sector restored to proper order.

>>5117452
Ah. Too bad then, keep all the other options for next time though.


>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]


>>5117455
I would say someone that is like a son or daughter for us. And they would share the same feelings for us. Since they would be picked from the adopted one, with an incredible level of education, skill and training. Making them perfect for our job and completely loyal.
Is too bad that we can't put them in the roles the other childs will eventually have here in the moon like actual scientists and engineers, infiltrators, diplomats or special soldiers. But everyone needs to do something for mankind.

>>5117422
>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
Gibe Knight World pls

>[Increased resource shipments]
Keep the Forges burning at maximum capacity, and will allow us to transform Adrax's Reach more effectively without eating up all our supplies.

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]
This’ll take some wrangling to do, but with the right bribes in the right hands you can secure yourself a Warrant of Trade. Better than connections to existing Rogue Traders, you’ll be able to make a Rogue Trader, and keep them on a leash. This could be an excellent smokescreen for your dirtier operations, or a very profitable enterprise. Either way, it’ll be useful.


Won't lie wanted the Space marine samples.

>>5117422
>>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>>[Increased resource shipments]

I like rogue traders, and it would be cool, but this seems the better option

>>5117440
+1

>>5117440
+1

>>5117422
>More resources
>Astartes connections -random

Everyone needs ships.

>>5117480
Agreed. +1

>>5117422
>[Increased resource shipments]
>[Increased menial shipments]

>>5117427
>>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>>[Increased resource shipments]

>>5117480
+1 KNIGHT WORLD HERE WE COME!

>>5117496
change this Reources vote to
>Rights to Reach

we can get plenty of resources from that.

Oy a question QM, could we technically make more AI’s which are on the same level as us? Otherwise if it becomes too much of a possible risk, or is nearly impossible to do, could we just have some magos biologis work out a plan for a brain to be hooked up to the same type of processing as our AI?

>>5117527
we already asked that earlier, but our AI banks are massive.

We don't have the space, though we could probably make a project of it.

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]
This is massive. Resorces? Just a question of money. Money? Trivial to aquire when can churn out archeotech worth entire planets on a daily basis. Seriously, being our own Rogue Trader is perfect for laundering all the advanced stuff that would raise eyebrows, as well as creating connections all across the galaxy. Hell, he could fly straight to Mars and sell some useful STC 'fragments' bypassing most of the internal Mechanicus politics, and come back with enough cash to simply buy whatever the fuck we want, including Adrax’s Reach.
A Mechanicus affiliated Rogue Trader in a pimped battleship is almost immune to normal rules and petty politics. The perfect agent for our plans. Do it.

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]

>>5117427
>>[A Warrant of Trade]
Nice

>>5117545
The only way it could get any better is if we somehow managed to 'acquire' a warrant of trade dating back to the Great Crusade. Those warrants signed by the Emporer himself were bullshit OP even by Rogue Trader standards.

>>5117427
>>5117480
Agreed, the first order of business is to secure and develop the sector. The Warrant of Trade should be what we get after.

>>5117427
>>5117557
Hmmm, I'll amend the resource shipments to
>Maybe you don’t want something tangible. While their present gratitude will fade, you can recycle it, in a sense, into personal friendships and enduring connections. Have your world forge bonds with the officials here, and then have them connect your men to ever higher ranking Administratum clerks. Play the game, earn some more favors, and get a constant trickle of information from them.
Getting a connection to the administatrum would get us more opportunities for boons like these again

>>5117422
>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>[A Warrant of Trade]

>>5117594
>>5117452

>>5117422
>>5117594
>>5117596
Then
>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>[Rights to open temples outside the sector]

The Warrant of Trade ain't worth more than two other boons.

>>5117422
>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>[Increased resource shipments]

>>5117422
>[Something else - write in]
Can we get in contact with Squats? I want some (speak all) of em on our tiny tidy little rock and hammer and curse away.

this is a call to any and all loyal rock smasher to preserve the beauty that is a hammer wielding angry little dwarf

Alternativley
>[Increased resource shipments]

most other options seem like they wont fall out of reach anytime soon so having resources shipped in feels like a must.

knight world seems like a longterm time investment + many other resources, idk if it would be wise to start already.

the connection options seem valuable idk which one to prioritize, so my vote just going to be

>[connections]
any

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]

>>5117422
> [Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
We could just take it. In all likelihood, nobody would notice for a very long time. However, doing it this way avoids a potential squabble with the Imperials later down the road.

> [Increased resource shipments]
Yeah, we expect that we're going to be flush with resources from Delta soon, but there's no such thing as too many resources.

>[A Warrant of Trade]

This is the best way to research Necron Monolith which is our main objective, it will also bring a ton of cash if we sell fragment of our STC to other forge worlds

Can someone please clarify how a warrant of trade works? Is it a document applicable to a single person or a single government/planet? Can the legal authority of the document give us the right to establish multiple trading ships, or is it highly restricted to a few registered vessels?

>>5117708
The warrant of trade is basically freedom for the person who holds it. The owner can essentially do whatever as long as it doesn't go against the interests of the Imperium as a whole.
Hell the freedom it gives is so good that Inquisitors regularly pretend to be Rogue Traders.

>>5117708
It's a document proving the holder is a Rogue Trader, usually the older it is, the more they can get away with it.
So carrying xeno technology, recruiting xenos, skipping local laws, etc.
And yes, it does give acess to multiple ships and explorations, hence there being Rogue Trader houses. It's just that they aren't famous, no-one is foing to believe without the writ. Also the warp makes coordinating a trade fleet a giant mess, so rogue traders tend to build trade empires and send their fleets to follow routes they set up, while the big flagship with the RT himself goes on space adventures in search for more money.

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]
Maybe we can turn of the kids we got into RT material. They're probably the most likely to stay loyal.

>>5117740
If the house isn't famous, sorry.

>>5117708
There are two kinds of Warrants of Trade. The best dates back to the Great Crusade and its wilders are notoriously hard to pin down for any crime because due to its age and status it basically has endless veto power to such a degree that even the Inquisition gets a headache from dealing with them as its impossible to revoke. The next of Warrants of Trade is post Great Crusade and it's notably less overpowered but is a huge pain to deal with unless you are a massive faction like the Inquisition or the Admech. Who are the only ones who can bully them around and if you are a local...well your fucked. Rogue Traders are pretty much immune to local laws and powerful influences.

The only restriction is one mustn't harm the Imperium but are allowed to make deals with xenos and the like for the sake of profit and gains to the Imperium. Basically, so long as they do not betray the Imperium and hand over a cut they can do whatever the fuck they want. Rogue Traders are known to have entire fleets, star systems, and private armies under their direct command even hiring xenos retainers and forces to work for them.

A writ basically offers protection and guaranteed freedoms under certain(very few) restraints. The best are Great Crusade Era Warrants of Trade as they cannot be revoked(even by High Lords of Terra) and are a HUGE pain in the ass to deal with. The other Warrants of Trade are more limited in scope(see cannot get away with 'quite' as much bullshit) but far more common and more importantly they can be bullied around.

btw Primarchs and Emporer have the right to issue Great Crusade Era of Rogue Trader Warrants. Nobody else can issue Rogue Trader Warrants of such power even the High Lords of Terra themselves cannot do so. If we survive long enough to encounter the revived Rowboat Girlyman we might be able to persuade him to handover such a writ. As he himself is quite fond of issuing special writs that have similar purposes but are limited to certain regions as well as new Trade Warrants whom he often uses the Rogue Traders for various tasks of his.

>>5117744
We would be better off using a vat born genetically engineered super baby to establish a Rogue Trader dynasty with. We hold a monopoly on all their best toys, goodies, ships, training, and augmentation. The Rogue Trader Dynasty would be entirely dependent on us. The danger comes from making sure the Warrant of Trade isn't lost and making sure nobody chooses to investigate the Rogue Trader or us(their primary supplier) too deeply as groups like the Inquisition are fond of doing. They are pretty much the only ones who actively fuck with Rogue Traders.

>>5117778
>>5117740
>>5117734
Thanks anons. That info makes the warrant seem much more attractive. Having a degree of blanket immunity to inquisitorial and administrative bullshit is a huge advantage given the position that we're in.

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]
With enough wise investment, we could end up with anything else on this list with a pocket Trader.

>>5117778

Hn. Alright, I've been convinced. Changing my vote to

>[A Warrant of Trade]

>>5117427
>[A Warrant of Trade]

Discard this invalid vote that included resources please.
>>5117448

>>5117422
>>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>[Mechanicus connections]

>>5117427
>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>[Astartes connections - random]

Adrax is am obvious one, but we should try to be buddy-buddy with some marines. We do have a Craftworld location afterall AND Ork intel.

>>5117480
+1
Guys. We're still going to get resources rights from Delta at the end of the day. We're still good on resources even if the administration isnt gonna give us as much as the starter package.

The next time we roll out more ships, we can probably ask for that stuff.

In regards to space marines, Blood Angel's due to their proximity, Lamenters for obvious reasons, and Blood Ravens because magpies.

>>5117422
>[Rights to Adrax’s Reach]
>[Increased resource shipments]

Next time this happens we should get in contact with the Lamentors chaptor

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>>5117996
> Lamenters
I just want to protect their smiles.
Is that too much to ask?

>>5118124
Based

>>5117422
I personally like to do long term investments as we're an immortal machine with great goals as such I vote
>[Rights to open temples outside the sector]
>[Administratum connections]
OR
>[A Warrant of Trade]

As these seem to be the things most likely to benefit us the most in the long run.

Knight worlds and space marines are cool but they are also inefficient, and while more materials and manpower immediately are certainly good in the short term I'm not entirely comfortable blowing all our freshly earned political capital on these things

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>>5118124
P.O.V. : you tried to harm the Lamenters

>>5117427
Changing my vote. We can easily get resources through Delta, we can slowly increase our influence on our own. We gotta go for what really matter.

>[Astartes connections - write in]
Lamenters. They need astartes grade hugs. And unfucked geneseeds.
https://youtu.be/Pr1Ip9aaHIA

>>5117996
>>5118124
>>5118135
>>5118167
True, the Lamenters are too good for this galaxy. But keep in mind that we're somewhere around 661.M41. As far as I'm aware, none of the incredibly unlucky stuff has struck them in recent centuries. They're currently a pretty normal fleet-based chapter stationed at the Maelstrom, which is halfway across the Segmentum. Trying to find and help them specifically feels way too metagamey.

>>5118167
Your ID has changed. What was your previous vote?

>>5117422
>>[Administratum connections]
>>[Mechanicus connections]

>>5118242
Remember, its always about politics and knowing before someone wants to fuck with you.
I.e. in the Badab war the forgeworld could tell everyone to fuck off and not bother them beyond production pickup, and when they did bother them they started shooting at everybody, until promises and concessions were made that this will never happen again as well as restitutions.

With Admin connections we know what happens in the broad imperium and can send some care packages, and with Mechanicus connections we get an in with our own mini empire we de jure belong to.

All other things are imho secondary and can be gotten at a later date as we grow, but information and connections are something we should solidify immediately and asap, meaning now.

>>5117744
That s one of their possible uses beyond the other roles we have in mind for them (scientists, engineers, infiltrators, diplomats or special soldiers.). We have already in mind to make their education, training and skill top of the top. So it fits well.

>>5117785
I don't think the origins matter much, we are beyond any doubt the ones they will be loyal to, because we would guarantee that if they are born or adopted and taken on our moon. Especially since we would start their relation with us from their childhood or birth.
For avoid investigations we preferably want to have multiple strong connections, before we consider ready our Rogue Trader in training. We would likely prepare him with equipment, professional officers, crew, flagship and small fleet, as well an army and a base. Or a nearby planet to the Svartalfheim system.
Preferably in an unknown system we have taken already.
What he would do for the most is missions for us either in imperial space for gain approval/favours, or in unknown/enemy space with us for kill man enemies or find useful things. Of course the imperium doesn't need to know the unofficial part or our secrets.

>>5117427
>>5117518
Okay after reading through how good a warrant of trade actually is, gonna switch my vote to
>[A Warrant of Trade]

>>5117427

Wanted to go for more resources and menials, but anons make a good point.

>[A Warrant of Trade]

Also, please no Lamenters, the last thing we need is for their dogshit luck to rub off on us.

I can already imagine it, we get good with them, supply and assist them, we become a reliable friend. Then by some sheer stupid fluke of bad luck, some magos inspects the weapons we gave them and realizes that it is only possible with DAoT tech, and we get our shit kicked in by the Mechanicus and quisition.

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>>5118219
>>5118167
>>5118135
>>5118124
>>5117996
sooo you guys straight up wanna save lamenters whos luck is to continusly suffer but surviving.

[spoilers] BUT NOT FUCKING SQUATS WHO GONNA GET EATEN IN 100 YEARS??? [/spoilers]

why does no one here care for the purity that is squats? sadpepe.png

I>>5118579
think it is because they remind us of fa/tg/uys and /qst/ers and all of us have a small seed of self hate, that we don't wanna save them

i also think it is because we forgot them as hard as Canon did

>>5117427
>[Increased resource shipments]
>[Administratum connections]
as fun, as it would be to have a warrant of trade it's too risky with how the Inquisition

>>5118579
Aw shit having dwarf allies would be totally on theme for us as well

>>5118579
I want to save the squats too but I don't see any advantage for a forge world in doing so.
At least the Lamenters use our technology, Squats don't iirc because they're abhuman.
And what do Squats provide that Astartes/Rogue Traders/Forge Worlds don't?

>>5119518
They used to control THEE most mineral rich star systems in the entire Terran Federation before everything went to hell. Basically they are stinking rich in raw materials and due to maintaining their tech unlike the rest of the Imperium are capable of churning out massive amounts of the stuff. In actual tech no since we have something better but they are STUPIDLYfilthy rich in raw materials. Not to mention not nearly as technologically illiterate.

The original reason why the squat homeworlds and star systems under their control were colonized to begin with was that they contained the largest quantity of precious resources that humanity had ever found.

>>5119518
Sounds to be the Squats are rich enough in resources to fend for themselves, and then some.

do you know another thing we should try looking into researching other than just the giant necron pylons?
the dolmon gates.

>>5119547
cloning and duplication of blanks
studying DNA of abhumans and all xenos
catalog and study xenos tech
find safer ways to research warp tech (eldari)
ways to kill xenos faster
make the ultimate pattern imperials guard mre

>>5119558
oooh nonono. not blanks, at least not anywhere in the near future.
as the eldar described them, as the "possibly most abhorrent thing to exist" i don't think they would be able to just gloss over us if we were to make something which is quite possibly the most socially disturbing people in the entire galaxy.

also, the only reason the assassin schools are able to clone blanks, is because they are on earth, beyond 5000 different layers of defense and search systems, it might take a lifetime just to get from outer solar system to the DOOR of a assassin temple. so nearly no eldar would do it. meanwhile we only have our few orbital guns and orbital ring. we would be making ourselves a sitting duck in hunting season, and the eldar the proverbial shotgun aiming at us.

>>5119569
Blanks arent inheritly evil, but their presence really fucks with people, warp entities, and especially, ESPECIALLY psykers. They are exactly what we need. They'd be like an additional layer of protection to go along with our Phase-iron. Imagine how terrible they would be if we gave augmented space marine tier blanks power armor? Absolutely terrible, which is why it would be great if we can grab our hands on a few DNA samples so we can start cloning them then yeeting them at all the Eldari we hate.

Terra doesn't clone blanks anymore. They stopped doing that somewhere after Emps got stuck on the golden toilet, because the navigator houses got into a bitch fit, so now the blank assassin temple needs to find their recruits manually, and need to be more gentle with each of them.

We're manufacturing ships, we have more guns in addition to the big 4 fuck you guns, swarms of drones, fighters, infantry. Oh. Yeah. We're also 99% made of Phase iron so invasion or teleportation by the eldari is pretty much impossible. Really, we could just powderize tons of phase iron, sprinkle all that all over their craft world, then call it a day.

I'm obviously overestimating how easily we could curb them, but I'm not too worried about the knife ears if they didnt bother coming to take us on directly.

>>5117427
Hey quick question. So remember the big for blackhole cannons we have? We have other cannons right? Are we able to shorten the 30 minute recharge time by a few minutes, or build a few space station weapons platforms?

>>5119521
Right, so they're basically just us, except significantly worse by every conceivable metric and made of meat?
From what you've said, the only thing they have going for them is control of valuable mineral deposits, which we could simply wrest control of after they bite the big one.
Not really seeing a compelling reason to align ourselves with this faction, beyond novelty.

>>5119569
Of course they'd say that, the Eldar's entire civilization past and present is prominently founded on their empyrean abilities.
Further they have absolutely no right to accuse anyone of being abhorrent after their species single-handedly spawned a primordial destroyer god of debauchery and excess - which itself is a strong contender for the vaulted position of 'The worst thing in 40k'.

>>5119609
Isn't there a classification of Blanks that are powerful enough to straight-up disintegrate souls with their mere presence?
If we could develop some sort of tech to contain or channel their null effects, we could invent the premiere anti-demon force in the galaxy.

>>5119609
We can curb them well, because they likely don't expect us.
Currently our best advantage is them likely not knowing why whatever farseer had a prophecy on this solar system, and worked for convince a large waagh to throw themselves in our system for deal with it. Otherwise we should have expect another type of attack.
This means more time, time for prepare defenses, fleets and armies. Currently our defenses are all active and are far more than the ones used for defeat that whole waagh. Our military forces have expanded too, and can be expanded far more with actions.

What we need to do for the Craftworld is quite simple, wait for have the resources we need - expand our military to acceptable levels for both a sizable attack force and defense force - send probes and scout ships checking in solar systems around for anything - take the orc in the fridge, throw it in the planet of his fellow murder beings, tell him to simply take as many of them as possible and then attack the Craftworld. - we have watch what happened, and thanks to our probes and scout ships know the likely eldar escape routes - We enjoy two enemies of mankind killing eachother, then block all escape routes and begin to kill. We also detonate that warboss, preferably if he is out of the Craftworld. Orks grow in intelligence and skill after every fight and he must die after such a great battle. - For top it all we send a second fleet to massacre the orks left in the orks planet. Two threaths for the sector and us deal with.

>>5119521
>>5119534
I see your points. Having lots of resources will help. I'm sure we have loads of materials in our caves but those won't last forever, so it would be nice to get generous donors/trading partners who have materials.
Their higher tech level is good, but I'm worried that they fight with the Mechanicus over tech-heresy. Being token Mechanicus, we would have to side with them over the Squats. How would we get around that?
Also, are the Squat worlds near any pylons? At the start of this quest we were told our Work halted when we were researching the pylons. If the Squats could help us continue the Work by getting us pylons, that would make them the best option by far.

>>5119715
Don't worry too much about fighting with the mechanicus, as long as we don't do overtly chaos or xeno tech, we can get away with a lot without being cenaured by the imperium at large.
Tech-priest from inside a forge world already fight over definitions, ones from different fight even more.
I remember there was a joke in a novel where someone said that if you put 3 tech priests within a room and asked them a question, they would argue for hours, form 7 factions and give 5 answers.

>>5119613
Since reactivation, you have expanded your defensive armament significantly, adding numerous anti-orbital lasweapons and missile tubes, both on the ground and in orbit. Reducing the cooldown time for the singularity cannons would not be impossible, but it would require some technological development and/or reengineering.

>>5119715
>Also, are the Squat worlds near any pylons? At the start of this quest we were told our Work halted when we were researching the pylons. If the Squats could help us continue the Work by getting us pylons, that would make them the best option by far.
Squat worlds are located near the galactic core.

[1/5?]

You weigh up your options, and try to most accurately gauge what options are likely to be accepted versus the value those options present. After some time, and some more probing questions from your representatives, you decide to have them steer the conversation towards the matter of Rogue Traders. They make it known, through oblique half-references, that your forge would very much value a Warrant of Trade to issue. The Administratum officials attempt to dodge the question, pretending that they’re unable to read between the lines, tempting your men into bluntness enough to qualify as an insult, but Rane chose his lieutenants well, and they hold their nerve. Eventually, the officials present are forced to answer the unasked question, and an exceedingly polite debate begins.

The specific conditions and details of how and when such a Warrant would be issued are debated, in indirect hypothetical. Questions are raised and dismissed, theories floated, and suspicions aired, though never does the matter actually drift towards the practical. To make the request directly and without prompting would be impolite, and to contest the specifics if an offer was made would be even more so. You dislike the way this sort of diplomacy is conducted, but it is hard to call it stupid. A bruised ego could mean the loss of a deal, or the souring of relations. Conducting it like this wasn’t time efficient, but it was safer than the alternative. Discussions draw to a close, and the pretense is dropped enough for an offer to be made - though no promises are exchanged. They’ll do what they can, and you can expect a Warrant delivered some time within the next ten years, for you to grant to a person of your choosing on their behalf. You will be responsible for the Rogue Trader you choose, though, both materially and reputationally, though that was expected, and shouldn’t be a problem.

Once the raw materials on their ships are unloaded, your products are transferred over to their care, and all formalities are concluded, the Administratum agents return to their craft. After your display of fealty through lavish ceremony and significant material contribution, it seemed that the Administratum had no intention of questioning your high level of efficiency, or the sudden appearance of highly advanced orbital infrastructure just yet. For the moment, it seemed, the Administratum were happy to overlook their suspicions so long as you were able to continue providing them with ships, though it seems likely that such oversights are likely to demand greater sacrifices as time goes on.

>>5119915
[2/4?]

For the moment, though, you were in the clear. The forges warm up once more, and the cycle of production begins again. The day to day operation of the factories in the facility had been made as efficient as you could reasonably make them. Neither more optimization nor additional menials will produce a statistically significant improvement in production time or efficiency. The only option for increased production output at this juncture is increased raw material income, something that you are working on through your involvement in the campaign on Delta. In the free time you have, you’re able to make a few adjustments to the plans to improve Accakaros, cutting down Rane’s estimated resource and manpower requirements by nearly 40%, by sourcing some resources locally and prefabricating some components on Svartalfheim. You’re willing to call that a win.

Rane had continued sending steady reports throughout the Administratum’s visit, reporting on the PDF’s successful assault on the largest settlements on the planet, and the many supporting actions that your Skitarii had undertaken to help facilitate those attacks. According to Rane, Alexander was proving himself to be at least a competent commander. It was clear that military service was not something he was naturally born for, though his education was sufficient to prevent him from ordering his men to disaster. Additionally, his advisors seem to be having the intended effect, providing him with advice and guidance without simply overruling his decisions.

Over the coming days, you receive more reports outlining operations, and most are of little importance, though roughly a week after the Administratum have left, you receive a report detailing a vicious counterattack on the PDF’s lines orchestrated by one of the largest gangs on the planet following a guerilla attack on the temporary command post on the ground that left many of Alexander’s command staff wounded, and General Volkov dead.

Apparently, an IED had been concealed in the rock behind the command post by the defenders, who detonated the explosive and stormed in during the confusion. General Volkov survived the detonation, but was one of the casualties of the resulting attack. Fortunately, Alexander was unharmed, in part thanks to the refractor field, but the attack temporarily destabilised the PDF’s command staff, allowing the defenders to overwhelm the PDF in the tunnels surrounding one of the settlements, forcing them back, and into the even more cramped and dangerous conditions of the highly vertical and urbanised settlement. Rane ends the report by stating that Alexander and his command staff will return to orbit for the duration of the campaign, and that the Huskarls have been deployed to aid the PDF in clearing the settlement.

>>5119918
[3/4?]

While unfortunate, the loss of Volkov isn’t too critical, though it is likely to significantly impact the progress of the invasion, and not just because it means that they’ve lost their most experienced leader. Rane expects that, after the shock of the successful assassination attempt, the remaining commanders, including Alexander, will become more cautious going forwards, and you’re inclined to agree. What is of greater concern to you though is the way that the defenders are operating. The investigation into the assassination seems to suggest that they were operating with knowledge you wouldn’t expect them to have, and attacks elsewhere in the line confirm it. While it’s not impossible that civilian partisans might be reporting on the movements of the PDF, that alone wouldn’t explain it, and the PDF themselves have put significant effort into controlling and placating the civilian population besides. You order Rane to continue investigations into the attack, and keep an eye out for signs of anything else unusual or suspicious happening, and return your attention to the facility. There was nothing you could do about it now.

While the load of both materials and menials granted by the Administratum, it becomes clear to you that you have more than enough of both to meet their expectations. Your stocks of menials are now outstripping your ability to find work for them. That’s inefficient, though not problematic. You have more than enough housing and food to maintain them until you have a need for them, despite the fear of some that their uselessness might lead them to be mulched down into fertilizer. It does leave you in an awkward position, however. Under the conditions that some of these people may have been used to, uneducated labourers were the lifeblood of economies, and were chewed up and spat out in massive numbers just to keep things ticking along. In this facility, though, human labour was neither truly necessary nor unsafe, and so you would struggle to find anything to do with these uneducated menials.

The resources you were given were a different story. After the resources set aside to fill your obligations to Accakaros and the Administratum were set aside, you were left with just enough to engage in another project on the scale of the ring or the defences, although with some orbital infrastructure now in place, you could now begin considering the industrialisation of the other worlds in the system, or begin considering some long term megastructure projects. If nothing else, you would certainly not struggle to find a use for the resources…

>>5119919
[4/5]

You’ll need to decide, though: What project will you undertake this time?

>[Personal fleet]
Expand your small flotilla of escorts to a fleet of warships capable of regularly patrolling the system and enforcing your will across the sector. You’ll build a few capital ships, and a handful of escorts for each, to a high technological standard.

>[Personal army]
While you’ve made moves towards standardising and expanding your force, you still lack the military resources to field a true combined arms force. You’ll expand your ranks tenfold, producing aircraft, armour, drones, and more robots, while standardising the equipment and augmentations of the skitarii in the process.

>[Further upgrades to Accakaros’ infrastructure]
Selene is unlikely to refuse the offer of even more resources. You’ll improve factory designs and scale up transportation infrastructure, with the aim of reducing the required manpower to operate their factories, and improve their overall industrial efficiency both sooner and more significantly.

>[Delta infrastructure upgrades]
You don’t control it yet, exactly, but you can start drawing up plans and allocating resources towards the expansion of mining operations on Delta. Having plans like this drawn up and ready to be acted upon should get you a bigger piece of the pie once all is said and done, to boot.

>[Adrax’s Reach development]
You may not have requested ownership of it from the Administratum, and so you won’t be able to just walk in and take it, but you can lay the groundwork for negotiating a deal like that with the locals directly by constructing hospitals, temples, and improved housing, or offering them agricultural equipment.

>[Orbital defences]
Building off of your existing defence network, you’ll construct weapons satellites and deploy them all around the sector. You’ll scatter the outer rim of your system with sensors capable of spotting any fleet operating in realspace, limited in effectiveness only by the speed of light. The inner solar system will be defended by massive railgun emplacements concealed in asteroids, and any of your constructs in the system will be watched over by heavy defense satellites. Anyone in the system without your say so will be under threat.

>[Interplanetary mining]
You’ll begin construction of large mining drones able to break metal rich asteroids in the solar system up, and carry them over to your orbital ring. This will help to further your independence, and fortify your resource income going forward, providing a trickle of additional materials to use in the future.

>[Something else - write in]
There’s plenty you could do with the resources you have now. Maybe you had something specific in mind?

>>5119920
[5/5]

It is time that you came up with something to do with the menials, too. What’re you going to do with them?

>[Educate them]
Give them an education. You’ll put them in classes separate from the children, and have your techpriests educate them the best they can based on your curriculum. Trying to deprogram them would be far too dangerous just yet. You’ll give them all a basic education in maths and linguistics, and then take the brightest and give them a more extensive technical education.

>[Train them]
Rather than educating all of your menials, you’ll take the excess and begin training them for integration in your armed forces. This will probably work best if you’ve already got the resources set aside to expand your armies, but they could come in handy as a militia. You’ll have them drilled by the skitarii in tactics, communication, and marksmanship. Those that show promise will receive more extensive training.

>[Deprogram them]
Half of them are still terrified of their own shadow. Can you really pretend that you’re helping these people if they’re still convinced of whatever mythological bullshit they’ve been fed? You’ll have to be exceedingly cautious about this. The most understanding techpriests will help them unlearn some of the more dangerous beliefs that they hold about technology and religion.

>>5119920
>>[Interplanetary mining]
>You’ll begin construction of large mining drones able to break metal rich asteroids in the solar system up, and carry them over to your orbital ring. This will help to further your independence, and fortify your resource income going forward, providing a trickle of additional materials to use in the future.
>[Train them]
Rather than educating all of your menials, you’ll take the excess and begin training them for integration in your armed forces. This will probably work best if you’ve already got the resources set aside to expand your armies, but they could come in handy as a militia. You’ll have them drilled by the skitarii in tactics, communication, and marksmanship. Those that show promise will receive more extensive training.
We might as well start on the manpower of our future garrison armies.

>>5119921
>[Adrax’s Reach development]
>[Educate them]

Slowly worm up our influence across the sector. Also, education is fine, but outright Imperial Truthing the serfs is a bad idea, seeing how belief is a powerful weapon against Chaos - plus, it's a good cover.

>>5119920
>[Personal fleet]
Force projection is important. We can hunt pirates, keep the sector secure and have the option to not have to wait for threats to come to us or be beholden to the vagaries of the Navy. We'll need them sooner or later and sooner before we need them is better.
>[Train them]
>[Educate them]
Do some aptitude and intelligence testing on them. Most will be sent for military training, but those who show significant academic promise will be offered the opportunity to enter an academic stream.

>>5119921
>[Personal fleet]
>[Educate them]

>>5119715
Cadia has some necron pylons i think.
Beyond that they are likely only to be on Necron worlds, Squats are likely to not have settled any of their worlds, mostly because most necron worlds appear useless and squats are just more interested in minerals/ores quantity/quality in a system. Also tomb worlds aren't easy to find most of the time, and the squats don t exactly go around that much either beside for war.


>>5119920
>>[Personal fleet]
We need to expand both personal militaries, let s start with fleet.

If possible do also this. (Only if possible)
>Write-in
Construction of 100 small space probes spy for monitoring and gathering information of our sector, beside Svartalfheim :
- We will send 10 to Accakaros, 10 to Adrax’s Reach, 10 to Hydrrit Beta and 10 Hydrrit Delta. 10 will be send outside the sector at the edges of the solar system of the ork world of Morkabase, and position themselves in sacret positions. The remaining 50 will be deployed in Svartalfheim for the moment.
- The space probes will have the mission to monitor, observe and gather informations about each system they are in. Due to the need of remaining in secret points unseen we will not receive everything we could want (for that spy networks should be established). But seeing the ships, controlling the activity on planets and hearing what is said in most communications is good.
- Each probe will receive stealth technology, an autodestruction device, light armor and a small shield. Numerous communications hearing devices will be given as well scanners, radars and cameras.
- If we receive the autorization by Selene to build a space outpost of ours in each of this systems (obviously just sector ones. Morkabase isn't in our sector), we could build a teleportation room in each outpost for take the probe inside them. Without sending a ship near them.
- The probes will be deployed by a small scout stealth ship.


///

>[Educate them]
>[Train them]
Mix.
They need to not remain idle while they study. Both in mind and body they need to be helped.
We will direct them to be their best. If some show more promise for military they can be redirected fully in the military, while still having a good level of education. The same for the opposite.
The objective is to ensure they stop being scared and attached to their primitive ways, while ensuring each grows in promising human beings. With good lives, no tyranny or religion pressure, as well the effects of training and education shaping them we can begin to destroy those beliefs.
Ensure new arrivals of menials are initially divided for avoid possible problems in adapting to a new, more worthy and far far better life. For them and their childrens.

>>5119938
>For them and their childrens.
Actually, question. Would any children the menials might have be sent to our orphan farm or would we need to set up some kind of in community education system?

>>5119945
That s actually a good question. Their childs would be easier to educate than adults. Probably ? Is schools afterall and i think most menials would be happy that their childs are safe, eat, sleep and can study free.

>>5119920
>[Personal fleet]
Both Accakaros and Reach are tempting, but a larger navy is too important to pass up.
>[Educate them]
Fix 40k's ignorance one person at a time.

>>5119920
I have a question, QM. Are we able to make ships that use Quantum Translocation yet or do we still have to develop the technology further?

>>5119955
You have mastered the basic fundamentals of quantum translocation, and would be able to produce ships capable of using it quite easily, though it is quite obviously not regular warp travel, and could raise suspicions.

>>5119921
>>5119938
Supporting, made all the points I would have made.

>>5119647
Hell. Yes!

>>5119919
If Alexander cared for his uncle figure Volkov, he'll take this campaign a little more seriously.

>>5119920
>[Interplanetary mining]
Dont forget to make them either look like ships, or say that their piloted by tech priests using a shit ton of Servitors or something.

>>5119921
>[Educate them]
For those who cant really get into education well, then can go down to Training.

>>5119920
>[Personal fleet]
Make them capable of quantum translocation. We have to fulfill our purpose.
>[Educate them]

>>5119920
>[Something else - write in]
Interstellar mining. Build a few big mining motherships, and equip them with quantum translocation technology to send resources straight to our ring and factory.
They won't have to scour our system for the pitiful remains of whatever exploitation happened during the construction of our facility, nor will their existence, numbers and technology raise suspicions if nobody can see them in the first place. They can strip-mine the most bountiful uninhabitable systems we can find, far away from prying eyes, and unthreatened by warp storms and similar perils.

>[Train them]
>[Educate them]
Mix according to aptitudes, as others have said.

>>5119921
>[Interplanetary mining]
>[Train them]

Changin this >>5120058
to this >>5120037

>>5120037
+1

>>5119921
Supporting
>>5119933

>>5119920
You’ll need to decide, though: What project will you undertake this time?
>[Interplanetary mining]
You’ll begin construction of large mining drones able to break metal rich asteroids in the solar system up, and carry them over to your orbital ring. This will help to further your independence, and fortify your resource income going forward, providing a trickle of additional materials to use in the future.

It is time that you came up with something to do with the menials, too. What’re you going to do with them?
>[Educate them]
Give them an education. You’ll put them in classes separate from the children, and have your techpriests educate them the best they can based on your curriculum. Trying to deprogram them would be far too dangerous just yet. You’ll give them all a basic education in maths and linguistics, and then take the brightest and give them a more extensive technical education.

>>5120037
I don't know how energy intensive/detectable translocation is, but this idea is actually brilliant if we can get the infrastructure working.

>>5119920
>[Personal fleet]
Obvious, let's have a good fleet to defend ourselves without tying ourselves down too much.
>[Deprogram them]
I wish we could do this, then educate them. Any education we do is going to be limited by their indoctrination.

>>5120037
If mining motherships with translocation rings are possible, I'd like to switch my vote >>5120084 to >>5120037

>>5119920
>Interplanetary mining

save the infrastructure idea for Alexander when he gets back.

>Educate them

>>5119935
>support

>>5119920
>[Personal fleet]
It's been a long time coming, we need force projection.
>[Deprogram them]
Best to start getting a population with a culture more in line with our era. Education can come later, best to have humans that we can work with that are not part cargo-cult.

>>5120037
Supporting

>>5120037

+1 but with [Deprogram them] instead of [Train them]

>>5119920
>>[Personal fleet]
>>5119921
>>[Train them]

>>5120082
Thats a good question, is possible but our technology should be able to minimize it.
In 40k something large will be found, is just a matter of when. And with the fact that things like magic, sorcery exist things never go as planned with foes. This giant ships will need military ships to protect them beyond their own defenses and Quantum jumps, and also for eliminate anyone that could accidentally find them.
There is also problems like our old star maps that are outdated and the ones we are getting are not done well A lot of scouting needs to be done. Our general strategy is also based on remaining secret or remove anyone that could learn of us. This should boost a lot for resources, and is safe in part since this is still 40k and chaosfilth or even just orks could be where we send a mining ship. Preferably i would have them mine in unknown sectors near us, likely easier to scout before sending our mining ships, so a large military fleet of our guys can arrive far more rapidly in case of emergencies. And I would send a military escort fleet always with each mining ship just for be safe.

Of course the other options for gain resources are far safer. In regard to the mining in our asteroids i imagine that if the option is written there, it means there is enough value in doing it. Otherwise it wouldn t be considered by our AI at all.

>>5119920
>[Delta infrastructure upgrades]

We need that bigger piece of the pie.

>>5119921
>[Educate them]
>[Train them]

Peprogram them where we can, but the priority should be on educating and training them.

>>5120037
This but I would suggest creating special cargo containers with quantum translocation technology that can transport themselves to us with a special kind of beacon that is directly calibrated to them that will help ensure its safe arrival and doesn't get blown off course. Best of all we can 'hide' the drop off points for the cargo drops very easily.

>>5119921
>[Personal fleet]
>[Educate them]
Let's not push our luck

>>5119955

man,if we actually have a non-warp FTLand the means to produce it

then we should try and create a operations base outside most factions range

>>5119921
>[Interplanetary mining]

>[Educate them]

>>5120037
Support

>>5119920

>[Orbital defences]
Building off of your existing defence network, you’ll construct weapons satellites and deploy them all around the sector. You’ll scatter the outer rim of your system with sensors capable of spotting any fleet operating in realspace, limited in effectiveness only by the speed of light. The inner solar system will be defended by massive railgun emplacements concealed in asteroids, and any of your constructs in the system will be watched over by heavy defense satellites. Anyone in the system without your say so will be under threat.

>>5119921
>[Educate them]
Give them an education. You’ll put them in classes separate from the children, and have your techpriests educate them the best they can based on your curriculum. Trying to deprogram them would be far too dangerous just yet. You’ll give them all a basic education in maths and linguistics, and then take the brightest and give them a more extensive technical education.

into

>[Deprogram them]
Half of them are still terrified of their own shadow. Can you really pretend that you’re helping these people if they’re still convinced of whatever mythological bullshit they’ve been fed? You’ll have to be exceedingly cautious about this. The most understanding techpriests will help them unlearn some of the more dangerous beliefs that they hold about technology and religion.

>>5119920
>>5119921
>[Personal fleet]

>[Deprogram them]

>>5119920
>[Something else - write in]
> Transport ships
We can have our own small ships to help defend ourselves but what we really need is to have our own flotilla of transport ships that we can use, we can start to create our own transport network across the sector and give us more influence and profit
>[Educate them]
We can't destroy all faith and stupid superstition, ask Big E and he will tell you how that worked out but we can give them some education

one project we should perhaps work later on is to make our robots and drone mechanicus compliant.
As in replace the hardware CPU with a wetware CP, and have the preprogramed behavior wafers directly integrated in in a storage space that just slots it into the cpu as per command signals from afar.

Should be relatively similar in performance and technically within the bounds of the cybernetica and totally not heretical.

Imho that is why we want to train up our excess population. We will have to have the bots and drones redesigned to fit legio cybernetica requirements- and that means a human controller, but really more like director, to every half a dozen or a dozen bots/drones.

so both Train and Educate should be very useful in having them be such operators. Be it civilian mining drone operators - if we do space mining i want the drones to at least attempt to fit cybernetica standards and not be heresy- or military operators.

>>5120541
That's a waste of time, waste of efficiency, a downgrade and a barbarian thing to do.
We aren't going to show around our robots/drones for them to be sell around or things like that, we have no reason to gift them either. We haven't show around our moon forge for that matter, or our advance titans, or each weapon stock that could disintegrate entire ranks of enemies with a single touch. They only need to fake, and with the cover of usual mechanicus stuff on top of them it already works fine. Beside all our things are Svartalfheim property, the cover of the Moon Forge society and culture of a distant and only now found lost colony of the Mechanicus. That Draugr unit there ? Ours, and ours are the secret of how it works. Forge worlds have usually different traditions and can be incredibly jealous of their things, secrets and knowledge.
This things are good in our hands, not in retrograde ones. And training and education would be wasted with only such application, when this menials can be used for so many different and far more useful things, than direct some swarms of robots/drones that can do things on their own instead.

>>5120591
Although I disagree with that abon on making our drones actual servitors, I do think we should try to disquise a few of them.
Just some fake skulls or a bit of fake flesh/skin here in there in a small part of our forces should be enough.

>>5119920
>[Personal fleet]
>>5119921
>[Educate them]

>>5119920
>[Delta infrastructure upgrades]
>[Interplanetary mining]

BUILD MOAR DO MOAR
Delta's infrastructure can do with a new starport now that the current one is destroyed. The bonus is that it can now be integrated with actual facilities like loyal defences, medical suites, accommodation and automated bulk loading facilities.

>>5119921
Difficult to decide. I would hope education would also deprogram.
>>5120160
Basically this. Support.

>>5119920
>>5120037
>[Something else - write in]

BUILD MOAR DO MOAR

>>5119921
Difficult to decide. I would hope education would also deprogram.
>>5120160
Basically this. Support.

>>5120796
Ignore this.

>>5120800
Interstellar mining ships that strip mine everything into a quantum teleportation gateway. Straight into Svartalheim cargo holds is too tempting.

>>5119920
>>[Further upgrades to Accakaros’ infrastructure]
>[Personal army]

>>5120803
>Interstellar mining ships that strip mine everything into a quantum teleportation gateway
Now I like this idea

[1/5?]

You make your decision, and begin designing ships to harvest resources from within the system almost immediately, but as you’re making your design, you quickly realise that with a few minor changes, it wouldn’t be too difficult to make a mothership for these drones that could carry them around, drastically increasing their range. On its own, a mothership for the drones wouldn’t be too useful, but a mothership equipped with a quantum translocation gate could allow your drones to teleport the materials they gather straight back into your facility, while receiving spare parts and fuel during extended operations far outside of any habitable areas, minimising the chance of detection, and maximising the potential resources you could acquire.

It may not be infinitely scalable, and at some point you will have to look into terrestrial and stellar material harvesting, but it’ll provide an additional boost to your income without risking detection. Compared to mining in the system, it will be slightly less efficient. Your mining drones will have to rely on smaller sensors and less accurate survey data, and the motherships will eat into some of the resources that would otherwise be used to create more drones. In balance, though, you decide that an interstellar mining operation presents more advantages than disadvantages, and work towards that end.

Without having to conceal the technology used in their design, or conform to modern aesthetic preferences, the drones and mothership you produce are purely practical. The mothership is a long, narrow craft that measures in at 4.5km long. The ship is constructed around a central spine, onto which you attach individual internal docking bays, with room for 100 drones total. With an engine cluster bolted on to the stern, and a sensor cluster and command centre bolted onto the front, all that’s left to complete the mothership is the addition of a quantum translocation gate in the belly, and a drive in the engine cluster, both rigged to blow in the event of the ship’s capture. Thus complete, the finished ship design is skeletal, with carbon black panels over it’s frame to refract radar and minimise the ship’s thermal signature, it’s flanks pin pricked by hatches for the drones.

The drones are likewise simple, with a single engine and a set of manipulator arms and grav-field projectors, for ripping apart asteroids and capturing the valuable ore inside. It’s an ugly, squat thing, almost round despite the flat faces of its frame, and no more than 20 meters wide along any axis. It’s not ideal, and it’s not the best you could do, but they should be cheap, and capable of being manufactured in huge numbers. The main factor limiting how many you can produce and operate will likely be the capacity of the motherships, rather than their own inherent cost, which is fine.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>5121660
[2/5?]

Fortunately, these drones were easily replaceable, and recyclable, to the point where it was more efficient to be fast than safe.

With those designs done, you order them to be produced in the dockyards, and the sub-processes for handling construction report that it should take about six weeks to finish construction of eight motherships, and 800 drones, to begin construction immediately. Once that’s done, they’ll begin mining operations immediately, and construction of a second batch will commence. At the current rate, you’ll finish construction of all drones and motherships at the end of the year, and you can be expected to have produced about fifty motherships, and over five thousand drones. After that, all resources dedicated to the project will have been expended.

Early predictions for return on investment suggest that you can expect to have recovered your spent resources for the entire project within a year of full operation, less if they run into richer systems, more if they run into problems, suffer greater attrition than expected, or struggle to find rich mineral deposits. What’s particularly annoying is that the most extensively surveyed systems you know of are populated or exceedingly dangerous, neither of which would make for particularly good mining locations, so you’ll have to order the motherships to fly mostly blind, and prioritise security and safety, possibly traveling quite far away from the facility or the sector, out and around the rest of the segmentum. You’ll be running into systems basically at random, and so the outcome of the mining effort is likely to be random too.

With that done, you turn your attention to the idle menials. As they are, they’re useless, and while you’d very much like to start peeling away the layers of misinformation they’ve been fed over the course of their lives, you know that it would be too much like tempting fate to try. That left a decision between educating them on the basics, and training them for combat. Rather than take an all or nothing approach, you opt to take a more nuanced path, and draft a plan to screen each menial for their aptitudes and then filter them into either a standard educational course or a more specialised military training program.

The advantages are obvious. By providing a tailored education to each menial, you hope to extract the maximum value from each of them, and produce menials with a balanced mixture of proficiencies able to be used in a variety of roles. The downsides are less obvious, but are extant nonetheless. You’ll have to first screen the menials to determine their individual proficiencies, which is a task best done by a human, and considering the number of humans that you have that are qualified for such a role, it’ll likely prove to be a bottleneck.