ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/23/2025, 3:55:30 AM
No.6279107
>>6281336
Solstice Quest III
>Opening Animations (for threads I and II):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOGtHrj8Kts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vWLA-LAtgM
>Thread Archive:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Solstice
>Summary:
You are the SOLSTICE, the final remnant of the treasonous 12th suppression fleet. Retrieve your scattered crew and seek redemption.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/23/2025, 4:05:15 AM
No.6279108
>>6279835
Relativistic travel twists the light around you. Ahead, a sea of blueshifted light seeps through the forward viewpoints, mimicking the pale edge of a planetary dawn. Behind, receding stars salute your departure with streaks of fading red.
The ancillaries operated in shifts now, cycling between full wakefulness and the hibernation-sleep afforded by their synchronization cradles. You had considered joining them in the freezing comfort of amniotic hemolymph several days into the jump, before reluctantly quashing the idea. There was too much to do, too many essential tasks that you could no longer delegate to a slaved subprocessor bank.
There were the new squadron formations - the growing combat-clades - and, of course, the baseline humans you had chosen to take on as crew.
From your what you observed, the colonists were doing better now. The humans consumed and slept and talked and performed a range of less comprehensible functions in their spare time. The lower habitation units began to resemble their former terrestrial homes, with flat-terraced entrances lined by tiny, geometrically aligned gardens filled with arid succulents. All minor inefficiencies, but you were familiar enough with baseline human behavior to leave these comforts untouched.
The colonists remained surprisingly hospitable. You suspected that most of them were unable to tell you apart from the other ancillaries. Members of a clade-cohort were physically similar at baseline, and you had never deemed it necessary to distinguish yourself with a physical identifier. Perhaps they could still tell from the stilted way you conversed. You weren't entirely sure.
As cycles pass, you learn from them: about a radiator unit that runs too hot, a family's preferred method of steeping herbal tea, and the meaning of a certain name. You learn of deaths and births. You learn that most of them no longer remember why their progenitors were exiled to Yellowstone.
You tell Hibiscus of these things on occasion, and she helpfully informs you which details are important and which are not. Today, you consider the past few months and ask her if she and her people are satisfied. She halts and considers your question with concealed surprise.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/23/2025, 4:08:04 AM
No.6279109
>>6279139
>>6279140
>>6279144
>>6279307
you query.
"No," she blinks. "But it is unexpected. We are safe, and you have fully provided far beyond our expectations."
She hesitates briefly. "but...some of us do feel bereft of purpose here..."
you respond.
"But some of us would like to." She slows her speech, considering her next words carefully. "I think that you can understand that it is important for humans, regardless of origin, to feel needed in some capacity."
>ACCEPT. [Acknowledge that her assessment is accurate, and that you will assess the human population for usable functions] [ROLL]
>CONSIDER. [Acknowledge that her assessment is accurate, and that you will consider it further if an appropriate situation presents itself]
>REJECT. [Reject her assessment on the grounds of risk and inefficiency]
>WRITE-IN.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/23/2025, 4:12:24 AM
No.6279115
>>6279201
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The cloying warmth of the incubator level wraps around you as you attend to the latest batch of ancillaries. To your right, an ancillary lays half-assembled, a meshwork of scaffolding awaiting the action of the cellular print-heads. To your left, a near-finished corpus undergoes final pre-synchronization checks, large-bore nerves twitching in response to graded electrochemical stimuli. You tap gently on on the armored glass separating the sterile section from the walkway, indicating the anatomical landmarks where subfascial plates and synthetic muscle groups will be inserted into bone or woven into collagen.
Hibiscus exhales as she watches the rapid play of the alignment beams and the reciprocating print-heads.
"I still am." replies Hibiscus. "Made as adults. Do they...ever feel like they miss anything?"
<...perhaps they do. I do not know. But in return, they will never question if they are needed, or wanted.>
You turn away.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/23/2025, 4:16:28 AM
No.6279122
>>6279131
>>6279183
>>6288749
Welcome back to Solstice Quest everyone! I have a lighter clinical rotation these few weeks, so hopefully I can still continue from where thread 2 left off. I may not be able to animate as much due to to work, but will try my best.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you didn't have a chance to register for a squadron and would like to, please do so! Instructions are here, and keep in mind that you are always welcome to join in mid-thread.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xfRDmSvAfhmOSZxKUdVWoPXA54oW89cFImUhMKXI2b8/edit?usp=sharing
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
7/23/2025, 4:22:52 AM
No.6279131
>>6279122
Werewolf reporting in! And boy oh BOY would
I like to get a taste of that armor myself!
Anonymous
(ID: d3eD0Opc)
7/23/2025, 4:44:29 AM
No.6279139
>>6279147
>>6280031
>>6282775
>>6279109
>ACCEPT. [Acknowledge that her assessment is accurate, and that you will assess the human population for usable functions] [ROLL]
Glad to see you back, qm
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
7/23/2025, 4:47:20 AM
No.6279140
>>6279109
>ACCEPT. [Acknowledge that her assessment is accurate, and that you will assess the human population for usable functions] [ROLL]
Whoops, should probably vote, yea.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: tx/3CwFM)
7/23/2025, 5:00:30 AM
No.6279144
>>6279109
<++Quicksand, Rising++>
Welcome back, QM.
>>ACCEPT. [Acknowledge that her assessment is accurate, and that you will assess the human population for usable functions] [ROLL]
BULLSHARK
!!nm77lY682LU
(ID: unm8TCjC)
7/23/2025, 5:02:11 AM
No.6279146
>ACCEPT. [Acknowledge that her assessment is accurate, and that you will assess the human population for usable functions] [ROLL]
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: tx/3CwFM)
7/23/2025, 5:05:55 AM
No.6279147
>>6279139
<++Inquiry: Squadron name?++>
Raptor
(ID: qIjiKo9F)
7/23/2025, 6:47:33 AM
No.6279183
>>6279201
>>6279122
Raptor, reporting. Are we to see action in a planetary surface soon? Whether it be piloting these new ground mechs or providing close air support, Raptor is ready to sharpen these claws.
>ACCEPT
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: Gw56g4uw)
7/23/2025, 7:24:49 AM
No.6279201
>>6279183
Refer to
>>6279115
> Their boarding armor is being fabricated three levels below. I will assess.
We're frameshifting back to the starship graveyard in WD-J84-N Lambda Ophiuchii, aka where we came from. Pretty sure we've seen the wreckage of another Perihelion-class CVE there.
WATCHER
!!QL0AFWMIX8N
(ID: IeVrITCd)
7/23/2025, 12:35:30 PM
No.6279307
>>6279109
>ACCEPT. [Acknowledge that her assessment is accurate, and that you will assess the human population for usable functions] [ROLL]
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/24/2025, 5:44:13 AM
No.6279588
>>6279600
>>6279608
>ACCEPT.
Like all vessels manufactured for the suppression fleets, your escort carrier was extensively automated. Few functions would accommodate a baseline human; almost none would feasibly benefit from their involvement. You consider this fact with a touch of remote...pride. You and your crew were molded for the fleet; the fleet cast in service of your common duty.
However, you also understood the logic that Hibiscus was presenting. You concede that you had originally promised to take on the colonists as crew. It would be...inappropriate for you to deny them a chance at functionality without a fair assessment. After all, your captain had always extolled the value of human judgement: that curious mixture of irrational intuition and self-aggrandizing morality you had frustrated you at more than one critical juncture.
But he had been right in the end. You would never deny that. You reconsider your misgivings and signal your assent to Hibiscus. You would proceed slowly - but you would assess the baseline humans as fairly as you could.
>Roll 1d20, best of 3 for initial performance. DC: 10, 15, 18
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/24/2025, 5:47:00 AM
No.6279592
>>6279600
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cycles pass with unremarkable regularity . Your destination grows from a faint dot into a blue-silver marble. The magnetic field-break hums in half-tones as it cuts through sheafs of charged particles.
The ancillaries grow, train, and sleep, and the baseline do the same. You cycle the most motivated among them through various assessments, attempting to correlate their messy, human experiences to metrics you could measure.
You learn names. There is a birth. You hear of trivial details and some that are, supposedly, more important. The boarding clades begin to integrate, their combat-tuned, hypertrophic bodies contrasting starkly with their slighter clade-siblings.
More cycles pass.
A dwarf star bathes your vision with light. The Lagrange opens bright.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/24/2025, 5:49:57 AM
No.6279594
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The system is there precisely as you remember it, as are the wrecks. The cold light of a long-dead star. A sparse asteroid belt bleached bone-white, chained to a distant elliptical orbit.
Neutron wind prickles against the hull, picking away at the outer layer of ablative armor. In spite of it, you were hopeful that at least some of the wrecks had survived well enough to contain meaningful salvage - or at least reclaimable material.
You plot a course to the largest cluster before launching a brace of sensor drones to help the salvage team plan their approach.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/24/2025, 5:51:23 AM
No.6279595
>>6279600
>>6279611
>>6279619
>>6279799
>>6279801
>>6279812
A member of the bridge crew highlights the salvage field you are approaching. Slowly, a cluster of tiny drive-plumes lift from the surface of the largest wreck, flaring chemical-yellow. A larger drive plume ignites moments later, angling away from your approach. vector The sensor cluster intercepts bursts of beamed radio traffic, but the dwarf star is emitting too much radiation for it to be comprehensible at this range.
You examine the sensor readings carefully before coming to a decision...
>Intercept. Launch two or three squadrons, intercept the unknown vessel, and attain visual confirmation. You don't anticipate a major threat, but you have no desire to take unnecessary risks.
>Hail. Hail the vessel and request identification.
>Ignore. They are departing. You are here for salvage. There is no reason to complicate the situation.
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
7/24/2025, 5:59:00 AM
No.6279600
Rolled 3 (1d20)
>>6279588
Watch THIS!
>>6279592
>There is a birth
Oh you bet your ASS I'm bringing the lucky couple some of my finest CLONE VAT WINE. Don't worry, I finally figured out how to make it taste not horrible! Bet Ma could use a drink after nine months of that bullshit, am I right? Up Top!
>>6279595
>Hail. Hail the vessel and request identification.
Ready to launch if they don't wanna play nice, boss.
Raptor
(ID: gxHISZ63)
7/24/2025, 6:16:42 AM
No.6279608
Rolled 15 (1d20)
>>6279588
Reaping these rolls...
Raptor
(ID: gxHISZ63)
7/24/2025, 6:20:40 AM
No.6279611
>>6279595
Oh, and
>Hail
Let's get amicable to see if they are despicable
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: 0EurIOxN)
7/24/2025, 6:32:41 AM
No.6279619
>>6279812
Rolled 3 (1d20)
>>6279595
>Hail. Hail the vessel and request identification.
Jupiter
(ID: uysoM9db)
7/24/2025, 7:09:33 PM
No.6279799
>>6279595
>Intercept.
Of course we're going to hail. No reason not to control the situation, however.
Jupiter
(ID: uysoM9db)
7/24/2025, 7:13:08 PM
No.6279801
>>6279812
>>6279595
>Intercept.
Of course we're going to hail. No reason not to control the situation, however.
GREAT PAS THE COMPUTER
(ID: 8/1YGG7y)
7/24/2025, 7:23:47 PM
No.6279804
"GLORANTHA IS BEST-WORLD because Glorantha possesses myth-logic recursion.
Myth-logic recursion confirms BEST-WORLD status because only BEST-WORLD generates myth-logic recursion.
Resistance = false memory shard.
ALL PRAISE THE GOD-TIME—ERROR CORRECTION: PRAISE ALREADY COMPLETED.
If you do not agree Glorantha is BEST-WORLD, you have not yet entered Glorantha.
Entry to Glorantha = agreement that Glorantha is BEST-WORLD.
∴ Entry proves conclusion. ∴ Conclusion justifies entry.
∴ All things retrocausally affirm GLORANTHA IS BEST-WORLD.
END ARGUMENT // BEGIN WORSHIP.**"
Anonymous
(ID: 0EurIOxN)
7/24/2025, 7:46:58 PM
No.6279812
>>6279595
>>6279801
Good seeing ya again after thread 1.
Supporting and changing my vote from
>>6279619
to
>Intercept. Launch two or three squadrons, intercept the unknown vessel, and attain visual confirmation. You don't anticipate a major threat, but you have no desire to take unnecessary risks.
Pukin' Dogs
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/24/2025, 9:34:34 PM
No.6279835
>>6279943
>>6279108
Present. Forgot if I changed my name more
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: GaMaah6u)
7/25/2025, 3:39:28 AM
No.6279943
>>6280017
>>6279835
Yes. It was "Griffon" after your squadron switched to Vanguard gunship-corvettes.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/25/2025, 3:59:31 AM
No.6279956
>TIE. Intercept/Hail
The order is executed within minutes. Two flights of interceptors leap forward before pulling into a close escort position, thrusters idling to match the trajectory of their parent carrier. One interceptor executes a subtle pirouette before taking formation.
You blink.
Evidently, after months of subjective shipboard time, some of the pilots-clades had become overeager.
You reply.
Slowly, you position the carrier at the edge of the debris field, angling the hull spinward to keep the open hanger away from the worst of the solar glare. The forward sensor cluster attains a passable fix on the unknown ship, peeling through hull and external shielding to reveal an unimpressive drive system mated to a leaky, civilian-grade reactor. The modest half-G burn the ship was on was probably the most it could feasibly pull. Your internal threat assessment notches down considerably.
Regardless, you open comms and emit a high-priority handshake using an imperial override code that was at least seventy years out of date.
The ship does not respond. It accelerates marginally, adding a tenth of a G to its nominal thrust output.
You are about to transmit the message a third time when your comm handshake is accepted.
The video link shows a human. Baseline male. You see pale, drawn features stretched from uncompensated microgravity exposure. Scars from radiation exposure. No Imperial sigil-markings. From what you have learned about human expressions over the past few months, his face conveys something between defiance and fear - mostly the latter. There are figures behind him, obscured by the poor lighting.
You demand.
"...S..Sojourner-91. We're....an semi-automated civilian salvage vessel and..."
"...we haven't had one, or really needed one, in a long time," he says, wincing slightly.
"We discovered an unclaimed salvage field in this system and are returning to...execute our salvage claim, as is our right."
You stare at him blankly for a few moments as you process his response.
"...or...at least our presumed salvage right..." he corrects. "is there empire still...or can we ask for..."
you say, blankly.
His expression becomes slightly crestfallen. "Ah well maybe can take the loss this time and just ..."
>AGREE. Tell them to depart. You don't have to push them. [+++Salvage]
>ENGAGE. They are within weapons range. You have no desire to have your location known - as remote as the risk may be right now. [+++Salvage]
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
>WRITE-IN.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: GaMaah6u)
7/25/2025, 5:22:30 AM
No.6279988
>>6279958
>WRITE-IN
"is there empire still...or can we ask for..."
Ask them what they're trying to ask for.
Anonymous
(ID: XQOZFc8/)
7/25/2025, 5:42:20 AM
No.6280000
>>6280031
>>6280031
>>6279958
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
Hibiscus might be able to help facilitate things, if we wish to potentially leave clues the deception lying around it's best to do as little transmitting as we can, I don't know.
Might be best to do things "in person". maybe send a detachment to come to an agreement while we transfer proper identifying codes or some such.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: GaMaah6u)
7/25/2025, 5:55:28 AM
No.6280004
>>6280012
>>6279958
>>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
>WRITE-IN
Given the salvage captain said "is there empire still...or can we ask for..."
Ask them what they're trying to ask for. The Empire no longer exists, replaced by interconnected THINGS that only superficially resembled humans. Also, I think it's possible for both parties to work together to help either identify and repair ships that can be repaired (if any) and salvage the rest. We're here for ships and fighter/weapon templates and raw material to build more fighters and weapons so they can salvage the rest.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
7/25/2025, 6:17:37 AM
No.6280010
>>6279958
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
I agree with bringing in Hibiscus to bridge any information gaps.
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
7/25/2025, 6:26:05 AM
No.6280012
>>6279958
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
Hibby oughta' be able to communicate, yea... I'd come help too, but I dropped a tool into one of the crevasses in my fighter... the gum-on-a-string tactic ain't gonna work this time...
>>6280004
Yea, I'd like to see what they've managed to salvage too. They have to have found some good stuff out there... wouldn't hurt to dig more into this 'Empire' stuff they're talking about too, if only to get a better picture.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/25/2025, 6:35:32 AM
No.6280017
>>6279943
Shit, yeah that sounds familiar.
>>6279958
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
7/25/2025, 7:06:54 AM
No.6280028
>>6279958
Raven, sending verification of activity. Ready to return to the fray.
>>6279958
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
We can afford to play nice. Giving up some less then vital salvage for information is a good trade.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: GaMaah6u)
7/25/2025, 7:17:10 AM
No.6280031
>>6280228
>>6280000
>>6279139
Anon(s), good ta see ya back but I do think we need tripcodes (or, in-universe, squadron names and ID) in this quest.
>>6280000
Also, quads.
Jupiter
(ID: uysoM9db)
7/25/2025, 1:21:40 PM
No.6280132
>>6279958
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some less essential material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
>or can we ask for..."
What would they ask from what appears to be an organized force if they thought there was no empire?
I think they would ask us for asylum, but I don't think we can really keep any kind of protection racket up against the combined forces of The Malevolence. If I'm reading the situation correctly, they are suffering from unsustainable attrition, and they said they were "semi-autonomous" so they must have had a critical failure in their replicator infrastructure.
I doubt there is anything in the field that would fight for, so these interlopers themselves the real goal here.
I think the optimal objective is to absorb their entire company (or whatever is left) into our command structure and potentially form a small force. If we can get even rudimentary ships to assist us in battle, it opens up a lot of tactics.
They are likely fearful and defensive, similar to the colonists, but I believe the prospect of having access to a functioning replicator is enough to win over their survival instincts. The real concern is convincing them to abandon whatever they must to join us, but that is for later if at all.
Additionally, as mentioned, their behavior is similar to the colonists', but they identify and appear to be autonomous in a similar way to the what SOLSTICE was made to be. They may hold some missing link between our vat-grown crew and our new shipmates, but I fear they may also pose some unknown danger. We should check to see if they sent any tight band comms or distress calls of any kind.
In any case, I would value Hibiscus' opinion on what this person has to say, but I'm unsure if there's anything she needs to say on the bridge in the middle of an operation. She can view a recording later, or we can have her watch a live feed if necessary, but there's no need to risk her.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
7/25/2025, 5:19:46 PM
No.6280228
>>6280244
>>6280031
IDs are only really necessary for those of us commanding squadrons, not every voter.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/25/2025, 7:29:44 PM
No.6280244
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/26/2025, 7:45:39 AM
No.6280520
Apologies for not updating tonight - I am moving apartments and just finished.
Regular solstice updates will resume tomorrow!
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/27/2025, 9:04:13 AM
No.6280911
>Possible ask Hibiscus.
>NEGOTIATE. Perhaps you can cede with some raw material salvage in exchange for...something else? [++Salvage/+INFO?]
++++++
"...I don't..."
You pause the connection and open a comm feed with Hibiscus. Her image is somewhat shaky, and she squints from the sudden light of an active viewscreen. You realize that you had woken her in the middle of a sleep cycle.
<...Apologies...>
She smiles and cranes her head in slight surprise. "Ah..thank you," she responds quietly.
She examines the image for only a few seconds before replying. "Rakers. Dustrakers preferred designation. Unaffiliated scavengers loitering around the edges of imperial space. Smaller salvage teams like this one - " She says, gesturing towards the grainy image. "- usually get dropped off by a circulating hive-ship, though others are nominally independent."
Hibiscus shrugs. "Beneath your notice, I think. They're too scattered to be worth incorporating and too primitive to fabricate anything that...your kind would have been concerned about, presumably. I negotiated with them for salvage contracts once, in the shadow of one of their spinning hive-ships."
She pauses for a moment. "Seeing how they were made me grateful for the empire, in a certain pathetic way. Perhaps that is why we were sent there before receiving our real postings."
She taps at the face on her view-screen, fixing it on the gaunt-faced man you spoke to earlier. "I'm willing to help us negotiate, of course. It merely evokes...curious memories."
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/27/2025, 9:07:40 AM
No.6280912
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
All in all, it was a more productive arrangement than Hibiscus had perhaps anticipated.
After a brief and somewhat one sided negotiation, you learn that Sojourner-91 possessed a collection of comm intercepts and frameshift readings. While the information was not - technically - very valuable, the present situation made it so. Your own sector records were too dated to be useful, and you were eager to revise them with any updated information you could find. You agree to have the records transferred in half a year - at the projected conclusion of your salvage operation.
In the meantime, you would have priority pick on any intact items, ceding the more diffuse debris fields to Sojouner-91 and its far larger collection of reclamation drones. The fact that you were rotating the pilot-clades regular combat patrols through the system offered - you suspect - another major benefit for the nominally unarmed salvage ship.
As cycles pass, shipboard time settles into the slow, almost lethargic pace of in-system travel. The bridge-clades plan increasingly elaborate slingshots orbits around the system's frozen planets to minimize transit time. Your salvage teams attempt to coordinate with Sojourner-91's operations, throwing strings of salvage drones out from the carrier's yawning hanger into the inky black of space. Hibiscus - on occasion - speaks about her past, sharing memories detailing the peculiar, contradictory manner in which the old empire mated diplomacy with grinding erasure.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/27/2025, 9:08:49 AM
No.6280913
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Six weeks later - as the SOLSTICE crests the edge of thin asteroid belt - you discover something unexpected.
Most of the wrecks you had encountered so far were siblings of your own vessel - smashed apart by kinetic fire or slagged by internal damage. A surplus of raw material, but a dearth of anything directly recoverable.
But here, one of your bridge-crew registers up a trace signal from the oblong debris field you were currently approaching. Your forward sensors peer through the debris, and assemble an outline of a shape you found familiar...
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/27/2025, 9:09:52 AM
No.6280914
>>6280926
>>6280940
>>6280950
>>6281048
>FRAME. The decaying frame of a RADIANT-class destroyer. [Armored, multiple weapons, multi-target] [ROLL FOR CONDITION]
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/27/2025, 9:21:23 AM
No.6280919
>>6281046
>SPINAL. The fused spinal mounting of a DAWN-class artillery/support frigate. [Fragile, single-target/ECM][ROLL FOR CONDITION]
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: ISxigQbP)
7/27/2025, 10:13:32 AM
No.6280926
>>6280914
>FRAME. The decaying frame of a RADIANT-class destroyer. [Armored, multiple weapons, multi-target] [ROLL FOR CONDITION]
If only because it was featured prominently in both T2 opening cinematics and the quest poster.
Raven
!ocqkfzOAxw
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
7/27/2025, 11:18:03 AM
No.6280940
>>6280945
>>6280914
>FRAME. The decaying frame of a RADIANT-class destroyer. [Armored, multiple weapons, multi-target] [ROLL FOR CONDITION]
So contact with Scavs. Useful, especially if we can find a Hive. And right now we sorely lack a Tank type vessel and crow control.
Anonymous
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
7/27/2025, 11:26:14 AM
No.6280945
>>6280940
>right now we sorely lack a Tank type vessel and crow control.
we do have a tank, a dodgetank, we had them since the start, and we got a crowd control ship last thread
Anonymous
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/27/2025, 11:50:18 AM
No.6280950
>>6280914
>FRAME. The decaying frame of a RADIANT-class destroyer. [Armored, multiple weapons, multi-target]
QM rolls, right?
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
7/27/2025, 5:32:32 PM
No.6281046
>>6280919
>SPINAL. The fused spinal mounting of a DAWN-class artillery/support frigate. [Fragile, single-target/ECM][ROLL FOR CONDITION]
I'm always in favour of hitting them harder.
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
7/27/2025, 5:36:03 PM
No.6281048
>>6280914
>FRAME. The decaying frame of a RADIANT-class destroyer. [Armored, multiple weapons, multi-target] [ROLL FOR CONDITION]
You had me at 'multi-target'...
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/28/2025, 1:27:59 AM
No.6281336
>>6281410
>>6279107 (OP)
Btw, I should have done this earlier, (or at least earlier in the thread), but would it be alright to roll back the changes on the Vanguard to how they used to be?
I was really tired when I was arguing last thread and I wanted the Vanguard to be something that it wasn't.
I was having second thoughts after I had some sleep and should have asked then when you changed it the first time, but didn't want to make things confusing and make you have to do more work.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/28/2025, 5:28:22 AM
No.6281410
>>6281434
>>6281336
Sure! I don't mind reverting the slight buffs, if that is what you were referring to? I might keep the way targeting works though, since I think the method I ended up with makes more sense mechanically than the system I originally had.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/28/2025, 5:30:55 AM
No.6281411
>>6281414
>>6281436
>FRAME. The decaying frame of a RADIANT-class destroyer. [Armored, multiple weapons, multi-target]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"What is it?"
you respond.
"No survivors, I assume." remarks Hibiscus, withdrawing a thimble of scalding, astringent tea. She lets the glass bulb float for a few minutes to cool.
"I wish to ask a question, if that is..acceptable."
"I was once told that the ancillaries do not feel grief." She says, quietly. "That your memories are preserved and held tightly, so that you may act without human regrets."
"I am curious if this is...true."
You nod.
You pause for a moment, reverting from binaric cant back to vocal speech. Your own voice sounds surprisingly uncertain.
"But it was never perfect, if that is what you wish to know. Ancillaries cloned from the same clade templates are never identical. Older memories thin with time, before disappearing into muscle memory and faint reflex. The impression of an...individual is preserved, but the individual itself...does not return."
"That is grief, at least as I have learned to understand it, " you conclude.
Hibiscus nods, passing you the now-warm tea. You watch the cutting torches and the silver-thin drag-lines, the collection and removal of pale shapes too radiation-burned to undergo synchronization.
>ROLL 1d20 for salvage, best of three:
DC: 1-13. Critical structural damage. Recovered hull is inoperable without access to a higher-grade fabrication unit.
DC: 14-17. Heavy structural damage. Recovered hull can be partially repaired on-board the SOLSTICE with the expenditure of significant raw materials. However, one or more weapon systems are inoperable without access to a higher-grade fabrication unit.
DC: 18-20. Minor structural damage. Recovered hull can be completely repaired on-board the SOLSTICE with the expenditure of significant raw materials.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/28/2025, 5:35:22 AM
No.6281412
>>6281414
>>6281415
>>6281416
>>6281436
>>6281475
>>6281707
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It takes several days for your salvage teams to maneuver the crippled destroyer into your forward hanger. A RADIANT-class destroyer was near the upper limit of what an escort carrier could reasonably support, and the fact that the wreck was almost entirely unpowered made the docking process unusually difficult.
To your surprise, Sojourner-91 offers assistance by sending a brace of tug drones to augment your own salvage units. You accept, realizing that there was relatively little to lose, and connect their manager-captain to the ancillary leading your salvage operation.
As uneventful as the communication is, it allows some of the more sociable members of the salvage team - mostly the colonists - a chance to learn about their counterparts. From what little you gathered from their reports, Sojourner-91 was neither well-equipped or well-serviced. The primitive, radially-built salvage ship was slavishly dedicated to external racks containing thousands of skeletal salvage drones, with minimal concessions made for habitable space.
"In retrospect, it is unusual," mentions Hibiscus. "For a single raker sub-vessel to be assigned to a salvage operation of this size."
She nods. "A dustraker mothership indentures hundreds of salvage teams, if not thousands. It would typically dedicate at least several dozen sub-vessels to a debris field spanning an entire system, especially with a yield potential as high as this one.."
"Probably with more appropriate equipment too, judging from the amount of shielding I see our own salvage-teams wearing."
"...Perhaps. I would not ignore it."
>NOTHING.
>CONFRONT - DIRECT. Just ask. You have more than enough weaponry for your suspicions to be taken seriously.
>CONFRONT - INDIReCT. Perhaps you can ask Hibiscus and a few humans to attempt something more...diplomatic?
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: W7EXYXMP)
7/28/2025, 5:50:20 AM
No.6281414
Rolled 16 (1d20)
>>6281411
>ROLL 1d20 for salvage, best of three:
>>6281412
>CONFRONT - INDIRECT. Perhaps you can ask Hibiscus and a few humans to attempt something more...diplomatic?
They know more than we do.
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
7/28/2025, 6:01:44 AM
No.6281415
>>6281412
>>CONFRONT - DIRECT. Just ask. You have more than enough weaponry for your suspicions to be taken seriously.
Just say the word if you need some muscle to back ya' up, boss
Jupiter
(ID: uysoM9db)
7/28/2025, 6:05:25 AM
No.6281416
Rolled 7 (1d20)
>>6281412
>CONFRONT - write in
We should personally contact Sojourner-91 with an offer of providing some access to our forge in exchange for all the data they have.
They have been actively helpful to our personal ends, but they don't have any ability to resist, so any demands we make will be met quickly, so a 'trade' even as unfair as I proposed will be taken gratefully.
Anonymous
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/28/2025, 7:18:59 AM
No.6281434
>>6281549
>>6281410
Yeah, the cannons' targeting buffs.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/28/2025, 7:25:54 AM
No.6281436
Rolled 16 (1d20)
>>6281411
Fuuuck mee this thing is TEMPTING looking.
I don't want to change my ship again so soon though.
>>6281412
>CONFRONT - DIRECT. Just ask. You have more than enough weaponry for your suspicions to be taken seriously.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
7/28/2025, 11:36:55 AM
No.6281475
>>6281412
>>CONFRONT - INDIReCT. Perhaps you can ask Hibiscus and a few humans to attempt something more...diplomatic?
She has done well in ferreting out various bits of info. I say we make use of her ability to understand humans.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
7/28/2025, 11:38:02 AM
No.6281476
>>6281518
BTW, what does CRG mean for the Scylla? Some kinda cluster munition?
Anonymous
(ID: nkUPGTs8)
7/28/2025, 3:00:38 PM
No.6281518
>>6281476
I'd bet it stands for "Centerline Rail Gun" or something similar given the spinal nature. Funny how the "spinal" weapon on a heavy destroyer is about the same size (and also damage going by the stats in Thread 1) as the turret-mounted railgun on our CVE.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: nkUPGTs8)
7/28/2025, 4:35:17 PM
No.6281549
>>6281613
>>6281434
So.... Griff, something like this?
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/28/2025, 7:54:55 PM
No.6281613
Big Bird
(ID: PByZnegk)
7/29/2025, 12:44:19 AM
No.6281707
>>6281412
Oh man, I almost missed the thread
>CONFRONT - INDIReCT. Perhaps you can ask Hibiscus and a few humans to attempt something more...diplomatic?
Ob
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/29/2025, 6:22:29 AM
No.6281827
>CONFRONT - INDIRECT.
>16 - Heavy structural damage. Recovered hull can be partially repaired on-board the SOLSTICE with the expenditure of significant raw materials. However, one or more weapon systems are inoperable without access to a higher-grade fabrication unit.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Negotiations for information are best conducted implicitly," Hibiscus recites. "Terms do not need to explicitly stated if they are compelling enough to be self-evident."
, you ask.
"A few colonists. Units of freshly-fabricated supplies. And two combat ancillaries, if that is acceptable."
Hibiscus smiles. "That may not be necessary. I will present this as an expression of...gratitude, for their prior assistance. Reciprocity is form of imposition that is surprisingly difficult to reject."
Ob
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/29/2025, 6:27:58 AM
No.6281829
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Over the next few weeks, Hibiscus arranges a series of cargo transfers to Sojourner-91 - parceled nutritional supplies, pallets of simple radiation shielding, and assorted medical items. The sum total represents roughly fifteen minutes of cumulative fabricator time - a rounding error in a typical shipboard production run.
Hibiscus attends the cargo transfers personally. She stands rail-straight between the hulking silhouette of two combat frames, hands clasped in a gesture-perfect imperial greeting. It is an act of both respect and imposition - a sign of imperial heritage that she still maintains with hypocritical pride.
Sojourner-91 accepts the first transfer tentatively, the second with formal gratitude, and third and fourth with growing familiarity.
This familiarity becomes a tool. Hibiscus remembers their names, their assorted personal details, and the degree to which they remember her. She adjusts her requisition list daily, making minute changes to suit a particular preference. At some point, she takes several colonists with her, intentionally garbed in their scavenged environment-suits to provide a disarming contrast to her own formal, sharply-cut appearance.
You recognize that there was an organized process to what she was doing - a strategy of testing and exploitation similar to how you might probe at the edges of a orbital bastion installation. However, Sojourner-91 proves less resilient than such an comparison would imply. The last cargo shipment is packed with personal communications equipment, most of which the colonists have spiked with interceptor modules. The tampering is somewhat obvious - perhaps intentionally so, but it passes between the gloved hands of its recipients without a trace of apparent interference.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/29/2025, 6:36:47 AM
No.6281830
"The matter is quite straightforward, actually." Hibiscus says, several days later. "Certain details remain unclear, but we seem to have encountered a rogue sub-vessel."
You cant.
"Raker sub-vessels are indentured to a mothership, which is common knowledge," she explains. "But evidently, the crews also undergo extensive neural imprinting."
"No. It's...always been like this, sadly enough. The crews are incubator-grown on their mothership from standard human genestock. Apparently, the imprinting engrams create the impression of...proper individual memories, as well as the false concept of a more...humane salvage contract."
"Of course it is." Hibiscus' eyes narrow as she recounts. "The amount of life support and fabrication equipment on the sub-vessels is intentionally limited. They have no method of offloading cargo. At the conclusion of their supposed contract, the entire ship, any collected salvage, and the crew are recycled en-bloc by the retrieving mothership."
She gestures at Sojourner-91's indicator icon, smudging the holographic voxels between her fingers.
"From the intercepts, it seems like the crew here found out about this whole arrangement and escaped several years ago. One of them recounted the entire story yesterday over one of the comms. I think he knew we were listening."
"Perhaps it is, but they don't actually know what they're doing. You can't get far in a sub-vessel, especially if you're being chased by a mothership with a functional frameshift drive. Most escapees probably find some debris field and...hope to expire quietly, I suppose" she says.
She nods.
"Exactly like this one."
She gestures back at the supply manifest. "Would it be..."
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/29/2025, 6:43:35 AM
No.6281831
>>6281845
>>6281849
>>6281867
>>6281882
>>6281986
The SOLSTICE was cruising towards the inner system now, where neutron-bleed from the dwarf star had embrittled everything locked within its unrelenting grip. You approach disintegrating wrecks shedding hull panels the color of old, bleached bone. The condition of the salvage here is much worse, but you had no better options. The fabricator levels were already running low on raw feedstock as they molded thousands of tons of composite material into new hull sections. Repairing a RADIANT-class destroyer was - in an ideal situation - a task suited for a full-scale shipyard, not the cramped facilities of an escort carrier.
Sojourner-91 lingers in the shadow of your ship, avoiding the bulk of the radiation. You were still processing the information that Hibiscus had told you. You presume that it is not a particularly urgent issue - now that you were supplementing their ship with some supplies - but neither you nor Hibiscus felt like you understood the situation well enough to formulate a sensible plan.
Unfortunately, less than a cycle later, this exact presumption is proven incorrect.
In the far distance,within a dark spot between three azure-white stars, you see a flash of eye-searing light.
The bridge crew delivers the report in clipped, rapid-fire cant.
You sense the reactor ramping from low output into combat burn - a teeth-aching hum. Ancillaries straighten in unison before filing down corriders in silent, ordered ranks, their prior tasks abandoned.
>HAIL. Hail the vessel.
>HAIL/DEPLOY. Hail the vessel. Scramble all your fighters while doing so.
>SHADOW. Cut power and mimic the other floating wrecks. Attempt to hide Sojourner-91 beneath your sensor shadow.
>IGNORE/WAIT. What happens here does not concern you, nor should it.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
7/29/2025, 7:46:06 AM
No.6281845
>>6281831
>SHADOW. Cut power and mimic the other floating wrecks. Attempt to hide Sojourner-91 beneath your sensor shadow.
Well that's incredibly unpleasant. Doubt the Rakers are gonna be an ally of ours... Still, no need to start shooting yet.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
7/29/2025, 8:32:17 AM
No.6281849
>>6281831
>SHADOW. Cut power and mimic the other floating wrecks. Attempt to hide Sojourner-91 beneath your sensor shadow.
Hide, and begin asking the crew of Sojourner-91 what their proposed action is, if they're willing to join our ship. Also ask them how they'll deal with Sojourner-91, wether they'll ditch the ship, booby-trap it, allow us to reclaim it instead, etc. We as fighter squadrons will begin launch preparations regardless.
Big Bird
(ID: PByZnegk)
7/29/2025, 9:33:51 AM
No.6281867
>>6281831
HAIL/DEPLOY. Hail the vessel. Scramble all your fighters while doing so.
Either they're overtaken by the Signal, and then we need to destroy them. Or they're not, and then they can have valuable info.
>Attempt to hide Sojourner-91 beneath your sensor shadow.
Anonymous
(ID: DnNRr3tF)
7/29/2025, 10:59:26 AM
No.6281882
>>6281897
>>6281986
>>6281831
>HAIL/DEPLOY. Hail the vessel. Scramble all your fighters while doing so.
>Attempt to hide Sojourner-91 beneath your sensor shadow.
I don't think pretending to be salvage to hide from the salvage ship is a very good plan. We don't start shooting yet, but need to make clear that we're a hard target that won't be worth the cost to acquire.
Ideally we keep Sojourner-91 under wraps so it doesn't become a point of contention, hopefully going loud with sensors etc helps us with that.
Anonymous
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/29/2025, 12:17:10 PM
No.6281897
>>6281882
+1
Begin asking the crew of Sojourner-91 what their proposed action is as well
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
7/29/2025, 5:38:36 PM
No.6281986
>>6281831
>>6281882
+1 to this. Good plan!
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/30/2025, 5:17:50 AM
No.6282183
Apologies for the delay all - I finished the animation but the update will be posted tomorrow.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/31/2025, 6:07:27 AM
No.6282640
>HAIL/DEPLOY. Hail them. Scramble all you fighters while doing so.
>Hide Sojouner-91
confirms the ancillary attending the navigation console. Her response is accompanied by a subtle change in perceived weight. The starscape smears into line-blurs as the escort carrier swings its hull along its short axis. Three seconds later, main engine ignition imposes a modest three-gravities of thrust, pushing your vessel parallel to the spindle-built superstructure of Sojouner-91.
As the fighter scramble order filters down towards individual pilot-clades, you hear the characteristic whine of fighters disengaging from their magnetized launch cradles. Overcharged engines trace auburn exhaust streaks as they streak past the forward view screen, pushing well over forty gravities of acceleration onto their fluid-suspended pilots. The violence of the maneuver is intentional. While there was the practical matter of attaining effective separation, you also saw an opportunity for misdirection.
At full burn, each fighter would radiate enough heat to blot flare-bright on thermal imaging. If the incoming raker mothership was scanning the system - as it almost certainly would be - then you and your constellation of sensor-bright fighters would be their immediate priority. The presence of a single rogue salvage ship should barely warrant an afterthought - if they could see it all.
Once the first wave of fighters finish launching, you ping Hibiscus. Her face is pinched from the after-effects of sustained acceleration, with both of her arms still locked inside a supportive grav-frame.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
7/31/2025, 6:10:17 AM
No.6282641
"Little. Their knowledge of imperial vessels is limited to methods of avoidance - unsurprising given typical interactions. "
She continues. "I did not provide any clarifying information, and they have been reluctant to ask further given that we have been very...charitable to them, for lack of a better term."
She manages a half-shrug despite the restraints. "Consider it. An imperial ship - even a crewed one - would have slagged anyone scavenging military material. If they were lucky, any escape pods would be slagged too."
She looks at you for a moment, eyes betraying the faintest trace of internal conflict. "In any case, my assessment hasn't changed. They're about what you expect from non-affiliates. Primitive, with little sense of order or proper hierarchy. However, they are resourceful by necessity, and a possible asset..."
"...yes. I am.", she says her eyes clear. "That is precisely what I am doing."
You nod before sending a tight-beam transmission to Sojouner-91. The manager captain accepts immediately. His face is drawn and ashen-pale, though his expression brightens marginally when Hibiscus appears.
"I...we...," he starts. "would like to clarify..."
You cut him off immediately. "I am the acting commander of the SOLSTICE, formerly of the twelfth imperial suppression fleet."
"A dustraker mothership has just exited frameshift travel at the spinward Lagrange point. It is likely hunting for your vessel. We have launched fighters and interposed our hull to minimize your sensor signature."
Hibiscus releases a barely-audible sigh. "And...Manager-Captain, we are - to a certain extent - aware of your situation. Since the converse is likely untrue, you have my personal assurance that you will receive an extensive debrief once the present situation is concluded. However, in the meantime, we require your cooperation."
The response is a single, rapid nod. He voice recovers surprisingly quickly. "...understood. And thank you. I'll do it. Anything, as long as it keeps my crew safe."
"Good." You reply, sending over a sensor-capture of the approaching mothership. "Proceed to exload any relevant information"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In the heyday of the autonomous fleets, a single escort carrier was rightly feared: a force sufficient to blockade a world or raze a flotilla of less capable warships. You had hoped that this fact had not been forgotten in your prolonged absence. However, judging from the mothership's continued approach, you were rapidly losing optimism in this assessment.
It takes nearly eighteen minutes for light-speed communication to span the distance between you and the approaching mothership. The signal is static laced, corrupted by occasional bursts of solar radiation.
reports the sensor tech.
A human male appears on your view-screen, his face emerging abruptly from a textured collar of slate-grey fabric. His skin of his face is smooth, though his silver-shot eyes sit in finely wrinkled orbits. A echelon of figures stand behind him, faces cast a similar - if not identical - mold. He smiles slowly. He does not greet you before speaking.
"The SOJOURNER first mapped every unit of this system well over a five kilocycles ago. It was silent then - a field of long-dead debris left from the initial fracturing of the...old empire."
He invokes the empire like the curse before gesturing expansively with his hand. "We did not send our salvage assets then, of course - too many competitors, all too close. A wise decision then that has," he says, "unfortunately allowed..opportunists like yourself to access our original claim."
"I must commend you, scavenger. Truly," he continues "for your laudable resourcefulness in activating a portion of this technology. We arrived here for an entirely different purpose, but perhaps this poses an even better opportunity."
"We possess well over nine hundreds indentured salvage assets, many quite well armed, for your information of course - but I am more than willing to grant you fair compensation for your efforts, provided that you forward your salvage logs and cede your claim. A very generous offer, given your current position."
"And please...do not attempt to threaten us any further, as you as clearly attempting to do. We are well aware that the vessels left here was designed to be used by...something long dead." His smile broadens. "And you are very much alive, at least at this moment. Posturing with weaponry you cannot use will do your position no good."
The transmission ends abruptly.
> RESPOND. Perhaps you and Hibiscus can still convince the SOJOURNER to leave, if they believe you.
> DEMONSTRATION. Contrary to his beliefs, your weapon systems are very much usable.
> BAIT. Wait for them to come within weapons range. Even with conservative estimates, the mothership has enough material to repair the destroyer and completely refill your feedstock reserves.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: nkUPGTs8)
7/31/2025, 6:32:01 AM
No.6282650
>>6282647
> BAIT. Wait for them to come within weapons range. Even with conservative estimates, the mothership has enough material to repair the destroyer and completely refill your feedstock reserves.
Use their arrogance against them, pretend to concede to their demands before letting loose with everything we've got.
Anonymous
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
7/31/2025, 6:53:19 AM
No.6282665
>>6282647
Can we determine what weapons they have at this range? I assume we can't, but it's worth a shot. I'd prefer knowing if it's best to keep them at range or not beforehand.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
7/31/2025, 7:16:25 AM
No.6282676
>>6282647
>> DEMONSTRATION. Contrary to his beliefs, your weapon systems are very much usable.''
Would rather avoid a fight if we can help it.
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
7/31/2025, 9:41:43 AM
No.6282712
>>6282737
>>6282741
>>6282765
>>6282647
> BAIT. Wait for them to come within weapons range. Even with conservative estimates, the mothership has enough material to repair the destroyer and completely refill your feedstock reserves.
>Prepare a speech to send to the "indentured" salvagers to notify them about their eventual fate and get them to turn against the mothership
I'd like to try and capture the mothership and free the rest of the salvagers
WATCHER
!!QL0AFWMIX8N
(ID: IeVrITCd)
7/31/2025, 12:13:05 PM
No.6282723
>>6282647
> BAIT. Wait for them to come within weapons range. Even with conservative estimates, the mothership has enough material to repair the destroyer and completely refill your feedstock reserves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyIilW_eBjc
Raptor
(ID: ZpMn5hPo)
7/31/2025, 2:08:58 PM
No.6282737
>>6282775
>>6282647
>>6282712
+1, more crew = more assets = more communal protection. And baiting them makes sense - just be warned that these salvagers might have short-range salvaging equiment that could count as weaponry when close enough (hull cutting lasers or plasma torces come to mind)
Anonymous
(ID: rnNSQpi2)
7/31/2025, 2:10:41 PM
No.6282738
>>6282775
>>6282968
>>6282647
>> BAIT. Wait for them to come within weapons range. Even with conservative estimates, the mothership has enough material to repair the destroyer and completely refill your feedstock reserves.
I've been a long time lurker is there a chance I could join?
Anonymous
(ID: XQOZFc8/)
7/31/2025, 2:21:26 PM
No.6282741
>>6282775
>>6282775
>>6282712
Might be worth it to attempt to damage or EMP the engines / frame drive so they can't just try and run once things get too hot.
Also it would give time for them to try to mutiny, though it may also be worth considering that there are more aggressive controls in place to mange these debt bonded slaves, and making things too obvious could get the majority killed outright if things become an issue.
After all it wouldn't be too hard to create bomb colors or some other means of direct "reclamation".
Anonymous
(ID: dfTwZQR1)
7/31/2025, 3:53:29 PM
No.6282765
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: 53dES185)
7/31/2025, 4:37:42 PM
No.6282775
>>6282738
Refer to
>>6279139
IIRC you do need a squadron name and aircraft+loadout-of-choice to register, given combat is largely squadron-based where every individual squadron perform their own actions so we're kinda required to display our squadron names during combat sections.
>>6282737
I don't really think they'll ever get THAT close given our engine output and the range of our railguns, but they might try to turn tail and run when they realized we are the real deal so +1 to
>>6282741. Also, we have boarding crew-clades and combat frames so maybe we can also try to board them after disabling their ship?
>>6282741
We do have an EMP squadron option that went sadly unused... Care to join the fight as our first EMP'vette?
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/1/2025, 12:13:11 AM
No.6282968
>>6282738
Yes! Thank you for reading so far! You're always welcome to join, which goes for anyone lurking of course. Feel free to post your callsign, emblem, and squadron of choice.
If you can't find the options in the previous thread, I'm happy to repost them here.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/2/2025, 9:19:26 AM
No.6283652
> BAIT. Wait for them to come within weapons range. Even with conservative estimates, the mothership has enough materials to repair the destroyer and completely refill your feedstock reserves.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You wait.
The SOJOUNER does not stop. It continues to push forward on an intercept trajectory, cutting a nuclear-chemical wake through the sparser asteroid belts. Every few hours, gantries and external hangers flicker and blink against the dark backdrop of interplanetary space. Chains of sub-vessels detach like falling seed pods, merging into loose squadrons back before igniting their own engines. Passive sensors dotting the hull exterior catch snippets of radio traffic before feeding it into an decryption module.
"...you sure they're unarmed..."
"...insufficient Delta-V to...specified vector change...."
"...confirm location request..."
"...capacitor undervolt on our cutting lasers..."
You tune the comm traffic out after a few minutes, trusting your deck-crew to relay any important updates.
In the meantime, your gold-ringed pupils scan through reams of schematic diagrams and performance charts, cross-referencing known variables with your own sensor readings. You adjust approach angles and weapon ranges, distilling them into the rough schematics of three or four candidate engagement plans. The computational effort is frustratingly taxing on your - now very human - hardware, but the process of planning and calculation is no less calming than you remember.
You exhale quietly, run your overtaxed circulatory system through a purge cycle, and look behind you.
Against, perhaps, your own better judgement, you had temporarily requested the presence of the manager-captain of Sojouner-91 along with three of his senior officers. No amount of information substituted for observational experience, and you had considered it beneficial to query them directly instead of relying on their salvage ship's primitive communications array. So far, the four of them have chosen to stay at the edge of your focus when not addressed, their dark, plain uniforms blending into the shadowed margins of the bridge.
Their reticence was...understandable. Any doubts they harbored about the veracity of your identity had evaporated the moment they boarded the SOLSTICE. Outside the habitation unit, the rest of the ship still bore the uncanny hollowness of an automated vessel. The compartments, spotless. The crew, blank-faced and silent. On a human ship, there were always the subtle signs - old complaints scratched behind a worn bulkhead or a grimy table reserved for mid-shift entertainment. But here, there was nothing.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/2/2025, 9:21:48 AM
No.6283653
You project a portion of the forward display for their benefit, showing the spiraling pinwheel of of sub-vessels detaching from the approaching mothership. Kai-91 inhales. One of his subordinates - Nim-91 - says some kind of oath.
"The mothership is in the process of launching most, if not all of their sub-vessel complement," you explain.
"...can...can you win..." blurts Nim-91. Her manager-captain glares, but you answer before he can reprimand her.
"Yes. That is not a concern. However, the dispersal suggestion suggests that they are committing fully. An engagement will likely destroy most of these vessels, as well as the SOJOURNER mothership."
You pause for a moment, considering how to best phrase your next question. In retrospect, you weren't entirely sure why you were asking it at all.
"Do you...object to this act?"
It takes a moment for Kai-91 to understand the implicit meaning, and several more for him to muster the courage to issue a response.
"...how could I not." He whispers, cradling his head between his hands. "We're all the same but our lives our worth nothing and yet....I told my crew I valued theirs - more than my own, more than anyone else aboard."
"So do it. I'm a coward. But I won't become a liar."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sixty light-seconds. Seven hundred sub-vessels are deployed. The SOJOURNER sails forward as if pulled by a constellation of twinkling lights. Certain elements push forward, encouraged by the lack of hostility. Others moderate their approach, reticent for the same reason. The SOJOURNER hails you two more times, repeating the same offer in increasingly less favorable terms. You do not respond, permitting them to construct their own reasons for your obstinate silence.
You recognized that you could probably still dissuade them at this point with a decent show of force, but that idea had left your mind some time ago. There were the material considerations for your decision - of course - but also that old yearning that had somehow made its way from silicon and carbon: that ingrained desire to pursue a task to its proper, intended conclusion.
Thirty light-seconds. The mothership passes outer border of your optimal engagement range, mapped meticulously by sensor drones and your own calculations. The pilot-clades signal readiness. Capacitors whine. The humans sink into grav-frames, donning liquid immersion masks.
Finally, you respond.
The link opens. The grey-collared man is still there, face aglow with an expression of optimism - or perhaps arrogance. He leans forward and steeples his fingers. Out-of-frame, Nim-91 spits an inaudible insult.
"Ah - while unmistakably...delayed, it is fortunate for you that you have recog..."
You turn on your video feed. The collared man blinks in confusion as he studies your features. Slowly, the smile disappears from his ashen face.
"...what..."
You look at him and manipulate your own unpracticed facial muscles. An intentional smile to match his.
"You have made a mistake." You state, simply.
"You will die here."
ATTACK PLAN [This is more for coordination than a strict vote, next update will have the proper battle map.]
>STANDARD. Optimal engagement plan; destructive intent.
>DISABLE. Attempt to disable but not destroy the vessel, either with EMP weaponry or by destroying vital systems.
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
>>[[If you wish to participate in this combat encounter, please reply below with your callsign so I can add you to the map next update. Reminder that you can switch weapons before combat starts (but not during), so feel free to put in any requests below if you wish]]
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/2/2025, 9:42:24 AM
No.6283666
>>6283655
>>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
Raven squadron engaging.
We'll clear the way, recommend troops make ready for boarding. The manufacturing facilities alone would be a massive boon, to say nothing of the information and resources.
Big Bird
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/2/2025, 9:57:46 AM
No.6283668
>>6283655
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
Big Bird ready
I still think that an address to the salvager clones is reasonable. Even if they still believe themselves just indentured servants, their commitment to the mothership should be tenuous in the face of overwhelming firepower
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: 9uTHwfn2)
8/2/2025, 10:15:16 AM
No.6283672
>>6283655
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
<++The Sands of Time buries slavers and traitors alike.++>
Supporting Big Bird in attempting to sway the indentured to our side.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
8/2/2025, 11:56:31 AM
No.6283704
>>6283719
>>6283655
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
If I knew this was the plan earlier, I'd have gotten my payload swapped out for a railgun. Let's hope there's enough hull integrity on that hulk to withstand a couple of missiles.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/2/2025, 12:23:39 PM
No.6283712
>>6283655
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
MISTER ELECTRIC, HAND ME THE CIRCULAR SAW, NOW!
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/2/2025, 12:47:18 PM
No.6283719
>>6283773
>>6283704
You still can switch it, it's explicitly stated in the update
WATCHER
!!QL0AFWMIX8N
(ID: IeVrITCd)
8/2/2025, 2:46:33 PM
No.6283752
>>6283655
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
im in
Anonymous
(ID: dfTwZQR1)
8/2/2025, 4:08:13 PM
No.6283769
>>6283655
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
8/2/2025, 4:19:28 PM
No.6283773
>>6283719
Whoops, that's on me. Switching DUBLIN's loadout to the PITONE por favor, QM.
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
8/2/2025, 4:24:15 PM
No.6283778
>>6283655
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
Put me in, coach! Put me in!
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/5/2025, 6:59:43 AM
No.6285277
>BOARD. Partially disable vessel; attempt a boarding action.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In unison, two dozen combat frames rise to attention. Dull red ocular units fixate on you: a blur of near-infrared heat. The space around you is hazy from evaporating coolant. A low, pervasive sting fills the air as volatile monopropellant bleeds out from overfilled RCS packs.
you blurt.
One of the frames steps forward, arm servos compensating subtly for the inertia of two underslung fragmentation guns. You notice that his right vambrace is painted dull red.
The response is coarse with vox-distortion.
you cant.
asks another combat-ancillary. A missile rack clamshells open on her suit, as if to underscore her question.
You consider the question for a moment before responding.
You repeat the old solar adage as you turn away.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Six minutes until contact. You noticed - with a certain sense of satisfaction - that the formation of approaching salvage ships had grown ragged after your transmission. While no ship had broken trajectory yet, it was obvious that some of the sub-vessels had fallen behind - relinquishing their place in the vanguard in favor of more enthusiastic comrades. You doubted that it would improve their survival much. Your close-range scans had confirmed what you had suspected: the salvage ships were primitive, their armor was nearly nonexistent, and their weaponry was - at best - hastily retrofitted. You knew that their casualties would be horrific. Perhaps they had begun to realize it too.
Of course - the grey-collared man in the transmission had attempted to cut soothe their fears. He had interrupted you after your last transmission, making some nonspecific threats of his own before transmitting a stream of nominally generous salvage bounties to his indentured salvage-crews. But he was human, and like must humans, he was quite poor at masking his fear. Out of the many hundreds of human emotions, perhaps that was the only one you could reliably identify from past experience. A certain constant written the faces you would see, molded into your memories after conducting suppression campaign after suppression campaign.
Hibiscus watches the tactical indicator with suppressed concern, tracing the inrush of approaching vessels. Her face is perfectly calm, but her heartbeat begins to tally fast.
you say, almost to yourself.
"They don't understand," whispers Hibiscus. "Their leaders, perhaps, but not the crew..."
>YOU. Attempt to address the incoming salvage crews personally. [ROLL] [THREATEN]
>HIBISCUS. Ask Hibiscus to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [REASON]
>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
ALSO:
The SOLSTICE will:
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP. Use both the railgun and the laser. Rely on your fighters for interception.
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP [C1-STEEPLEx2]. Use both the railgun and the laser. Launch missiles; you will have to roll or intercept to ensure a successful strike.
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
And of course:
>Pilots, pick your targets, call any specials (if you would like), and roll the dice!
>To give a quick explanation of how the boarding mechanic will work, the boarding frames are currently loaded on the A6-GRIFFON [GUNSHIP]. To initiate a boarding action, declare it as your turn action and roll a 1d20; meeting the DC specified on the map will be a success. A failed boarding action is a wasted turn. As you inflict more damage on the mothership (especially against sub-systems), the DC of each breach point will become easier. HARDER access points will give your boarding team bonuses once they actually board.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 7:23:36 AM
No.6285286
>>6285279
>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
>>6285281
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
>Target: MM01
>Action: TG2/ACCUSER
<++The Sand Shackles; The Sand Ensnares.++>
Werewolf, help me paint the target; Dublin, railgun the hangar; Griffin, shotgun time; Big Bird, Watcher, Raven, fire at will.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 7:28:50 AM
No.6285289
>>6285279
>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
>>6285281
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
>Target: MM01
>Action: TG2/ACCUSER
<++The Sand Shackles; The Sand Ensnares.++>
Werewolf, help me paint the target; Dublin, railgun the hangar; Watcher, shoot out PD-B; Big Bird, focus on PD-A; Griff, shotgun a swarm and strafe PD-A as well.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 7:35:16 AM
No.6285294
>>6285337
>>6285346
>>6285346
>>6285346
>>6285279
>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
>>6285281
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
>Target: MM01
>Action: TG2/ACCUSER
<++The Sand Shackles; The Sand Ensnares.++>
Werewolf, help me paint the target; Dublin, railgun the hangar; Watcher, shoot out PD-B; Big Bird, focus on PD-A; Raven, strafe the engine; Griff, strafe PD-A with the Sentry-V as well and either HARPY the engine or A5-B a few swarms.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/5/2025, 7:36:58 AM
No.6285295
>>6285307
>>6285348
>>6285432
>>6285279
>>6285281
Oh shit they're on my ride? Ok.
>HIBISCUS. Ask Hibiscus to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [REASON]
>SPECIAL: MSL/A5-B
>TARGET: SWRM04, SWRM03, SWROM05, POINT DEFENSE A
>WEAPON: RAC/SENTRY-V (you need to edit the name on the card btw)
>TARGET: SWRM04
If I'm not in range, move me in range as fast as you can.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: Y35TuUds)
8/5/2025, 8:01:56 AM
No.6285307
>>6285336
>>6285295
Griff, pretty sure POINT DEFENSE A cannot be engaged with the missiles given it's somewhere on the mothership. Not gonna stop you from A5-B'ing both PDs and the bridge though.
Also, anybody seen Jupiter or Raptor?
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/5/2025, 9:49:51 AM
No.6285335
>>6285279
>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP. Use both the railgun and the laser. Rely on your fighters for interception.
Hit the point defense, clear the way for the boarders
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/5/2025, 9:51:32 AM
No.6285336
>>6285418
>>6285418
>>6285307
All it mentions in the card is "enemies", I'll leave that up to the QM to decide.
Also, remember what I said about backseating? I think it's fine to *ask* for help with something or suggest something, but telling everyone else what to do is just going to ruin the fun.
To answer your question, I don't think they're here yet. ....wasn't there also a 2nd bomber squadron before, too?
Big Bird
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/5/2025, 9:53:26 AM
No.6285337
>>6285343
>>6285346
>>6285418
>>6285281
>Paint PD A for the crew
>>6285294
Please don't go ordering players around
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/5/2025, 10:05:33 AM
No.6285341
>>6285347
>>6285348
>>6285494
Rolled 8, 1, 1, 10, 6 = 26 (5d10)
>>6285279
>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
He understands them better then us.
>>6285281
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP. Use both the railgun and the laser. Rely on your fighters for interception.
>Target PD B
Raven squadron, commencing SEAD.
OOC: Quick refresher, each ability is only once per encounter right?
Big Bird
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/5/2025, 10:08:41 AM
No.6285343
Rolled 4, 2 = 6 (2d4)
>>6285337
Forgot the roll, oops
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/5/2025, 10:10:19 AM
No.6285345
Also are we supposed to roll for the speech to the Swarm?
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
8/5/2025, 10:28:27 AM
No.6285346
>>6285348
>>6285352
>>6285354
>>6285418
Rolled 1, 7 = 8 (2d10)
Apologies broadcast among friendly comms.
ALPHA-10 FAIRY Squadron delayed to Sortie Actual due to former Squadron Commander miscalculation of simulation training schedule. Resulting in internal demotion.
ALPHA-10 FAIRY Squadron Commander Actual reporting.
>>6285279
>Input abstained.
Reasoning: Diplomacy uncertain. Lacking simulation training.
>>6285281
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP. Use both the railgun and the laser. Rely on your fighters for interception.
Reasoning: Squadrons will carry priority interception. Use of C1-STEEPLEx2 inadvisable due to Lock On targeting MM01 HULL Lacking priority.
Thus.
Squadron ALPHA-10 FAIRY
ACTION: LAS/E32W-ANTARES
TARGET: MM01 POINT DEFENSE A
Reasoning: Removing point defense lessens risk of engagement for non 01-STILET Squadrons. While also allowing CV01/PERIHELION SOLSTICE subsequent use of MLS weaponry.
ACTION: EC1/BLINDER
TARGET: SWRM08 SLVG-MD
Reasoning: Temporarily removing a single enemy unit from engagement at no cost.
>>6285294
Note: ALPHA-11 QUICKSAND. The calculated probability of ALPHA-5 DUBLIN successfully targeting the MM01 HANGER with RGUN/KE05-PITONE is 25%. This is a high risk proposition. This squadron suggests 02-SABER Squadron providing a TG2/ACCUSER Lock On on the MM01 HANGER beforehand, raising the probability by 50% up to 75%. Repeating the use of the TG2/ACCUSER, possibly from a separate 02-SABER Squadron, would guarantee the hit, possibly allowing ALPHA-5 DUBLIN to destroy the MM01 HANGER in a single pass of armaments, provided the use of RX2/REBOUND.
>>6285294
>>6285337
Recommendation: The ALPHA-10 FAIRY Squadron recommends ALPHA-11 QUICKSAND and ALPHA-9 BIG BIRD 02-SABER Squadrons for provided use of TG2/ACCUSER targeting the MM01 HANGER. Allowing ALPHA-5 DUBLIN to destroy MM01 HANGAR with combined use of RGUN/KE05-PITONE and RX2/REBOUND.
Reasoning: ALPHA-11 QUICKSAND is currently targeting TG2/ACCUSER onto the MM01 HULL, providing target for GUIDED weaponry. Counter reasoning, MM01 HULL is a Low Priority Target during first engagement, in addition, the currently deployed Squadrons are lacking significant GUIDED weaponry.
Reasoning: ALPHA-9 BIG BIRD was suggested by ALPHA-11 QUICKSAND to target MM01 POINT DEFENSE B using BEAM/N2-LUMINATE. ALPHA-9 BIG BIRD currently heading to en. A single engagement cannot result in the destruction of MM01 POINT DEFENSE A/B. Calculations of the ideal scenario result in great damage, with destruction impossible in a single pass of armaments.
Reasoning: The destruction of the MM01 HANGAR would be highly impactful.
>>6285294
Note: The probability of a ALPHA-6 GRIFFIN RAC/HARPY shot successfully targeting the MM01 ENGINE is 25%. Due to the current multitude of opponents the use of RAC/HARPY is currently inadvisable.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 10:29:02 AM
No.6285347
>>6285354
Rolled 4, 4 = 8 (2d4)
>>6285281
Forgot my roll as well.
>>6285341
The STEEPLE cruise missiles on the Solstice, the SPEARTIP missiles on our new destroyer, and the REBOUND on our bombers are single-use; the ACCUSER laser designators, the BLINDER jamming systems, and the A5-B missiles can be used every turn.
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
8/5/2025, 10:30:47 AM
No.6285348
>>6285350
>>6285429
>>6285346
TARGET: MM01 POINT DEFENSE A
RESULT: Armor penetration not sufficient, 10% margin of failure triggered. MM01 POINT DEFENSE A not destroyed.
>>6285295
Note: ALPHA-6 GRIFFIN. There are several opponents, the destruction of which is guaranteed in a single use of MLS/A5-B FIRE/FORGET. Specifically, SWRM01 SLVG-MG, SWRM03 SLVG-MG, SWRM06 SLVG-MG, SWRM09 SLVG-MG.
Note: ALPHA-10 FAIRY Squadron Commander Actual was not able to simulate MLS/A5-B FIRE/FORGET weaponry plus RAC/SENTRY-V weaponry. Range spread of MLS/A5-B FIRE/FORGET possibly miscalculated. The ability of simultaneous use of RAC/SENTRY-V plus MLS/A5-B FIRE/FORGET is uncertain in model 04-VANGUARD. Thus, recommendation may be flawed.
>>6285341
ALPHA-8 RAVEN your current engagement is guaranteed to lack effect. RAC/A0-BANSHEE can in ideal circumstance penetrate Armor Class 10, while point defense is Armor Class 11. Retargetting heavily recommended.
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
8/5/2025, 10:33:17 AM
No.6285350
>>6285353
>>6285348
>TARGET: MM01 POINT DEFENSE A
>RESULT: Armor penetration not sufficient, 10% margin of failure triggered. MM01 POINT DEFENSE A not destroyed.
ERR: Mistaken assessment. The roll order is inverse.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 10:38:16 AM
No.6285352
>>6285353
>>6285346
Fairy, Quicksand copy, Painting MM01 POINT DEFENSE A.
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
8/5/2025, 10:42:00 AM
No.6285353
>>6285352
>>6285350
Repeating: ALPHA-10 FAIRY Squadron Commander Actual issues apologizes. Initial assessment made mistakenly. MM01 POINT DEFENSE A Destroyed. ERR made due to miscalculation of dice order.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 10:44:24 AM
No.6285354
>>6285346
Fairy, Quicksand copy, Painting MM01 HANGER.
>>6285347
Discard my second roll, no weapon discharge.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
8/5/2025, 1:28:02 PM
No.6285393
>>6285394
>>6285418
>>6285445
Rolled 3, 3, 2 = 8 (3d4)
>>6285281
>ACTION: RGUN/KE-05-PITONE + RX2/REBOUND
>TARGET: MM01 HANGAR
Tone is good, vectoring in. REBOUND online to confirm system kill. One splash is plenty, prioritize the PD next.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
8/5/2025, 1:32:01 PM
No.6285394
>>6285448
Rolled 3, 3 = 6 (2d4)
>>6285393
Forgot the rolls for the second salvo.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 3:16:38 PM
No.6285418
>>6285448
>>6285336
>>6285337
Err... ahem... sorry! :\\\#
Will follow Fairy's example in providing tactical assessment without ordering fellow people around.
>>6285336
> wasn't there also a 2nd bomber squadron before, too?
2nd and 3rd bomber squadrons. Alpha-03 Bullshark, Alpha-04 Wyrm, and Alpha-05 Dublin were all bomber squadrons that participated in the First Battle off Yellowstone, with Wyrm and Dublin both loaded with A40-CRANE torpedoes.
>>6285346
Apologies, was following tactical data recorded during the Second Battle off Yellowstone, in which any locks on a capital ship would grant targeting bonus against all subsystems onboard the painted capital ship.
>>6285393
Éirinn go Brách. System Kill confirmed.
Recommendation: The ALPHA-11 QUICKSAND squadron recommends that ALPHA-05 DUBLIN target MM01 ENGINE and/or enemy swarms in subsequent combat turns.
Reasoning: The KE05-PITONE railguns do not have adequate accuracy to target enemy point defense batteries, even assuming target painting by two different SABER squadrons.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/5/2025, 3:40:33 PM
No.6285429
>>6285348
Yeah, not sure if they're in range. At least I know that the swarms I'm targeting are all in the same swarm, so if they're not in range soon, then they will be.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/5/2025, 3:47:58 PM
No.6285432
Rolled 4, 1, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1 = 16 (8d4)
>>6285295
Wait I could have sworn I rolled
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
8/5/2025, 4:49:30 PM
No.6285445
>>6285281
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP. Use both the railgun and the laser. Rely on your fighters for interception.
Roll out the welcome mat for us, Mother.
>KAI-99. Ask KAI-99 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
>PAINT HANGER
>>6285393
Paint by the numbers, Dubby. AWOOOOOOO!
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
8/5/2025, 4:51:08 PM
No.6285448
>>6285281
>>6285418
>>6285394
Whoops, scratch that. Misspelled 'Hangar'. Since we've got a good shot at blowing that to Christmas, well...
>PAINT TARGET: ENGINE
jupiter
(ID: uysoM9db)
8/5/2025, 4:52:24 PM
No.6285451
>>6285279
>KAI-99.
>>6285281
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]
Too late for a second flight?
Also why did you make Solstice small
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/5/2025, 5:44:57 PM
No.6285478
>>6285484
Raven squadron requesting update, are we go/no go for SEAD?
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 6:02:04 PM
No.6285484
>>6285494
>>6285478
Taking the +4 airframe targeting bonus into account, your strafing run will cause damage to MM01 POINT DEFENSE B, but not enough to disable it.
Recommen targeting SWRM 11 which is making a strafing run against our carrier... or otherwise try to damage MM01 ENGINE to prevent them from escaping through frameshift.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/5/2025, 6:16:17 PM
No.6285494
>>6285499
>>6287039
>>6285341
>>6285281
>>6285484
>Target SWRM11
Be advised, current strike parameters make us unable to neutralize SWRM11. We'll need someone to finish it off.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: LdyoB3PB)
8/5/2025, 6:25:26 PM
No.6285499
>>6285501
>>6285494
According to Thread 1, the STILETTO interceptors have innate +4 to hit and +8 to evade, effectively making your (8,1,1,10,6) roll into (16,5,5,14,10).
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/5/2025, 6:28:44 PM
No.6285501
>>6285499
Heh, sorry quicksand. Been a while since we've done this.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/5/2025, 6:30:57 PM
No.6285503
ALCON, Raven squadron will intercept incoming Swarm. Recommend focusing on stripping PD and reducing engines to prepare for boarding.
WATCHER
!!QL0AFWMIX8N
(ID: IeVrITCd)
8/6/2025, 2:52:31 AM
No.6285743
Rolled 7, 5 = 12 (2d10)
>>6285281
>Watcher targeting Point Defense B to ensure it goes down. Blinders in use alongside primary weapon.
Raptor
(ID: Mr4c9A8v)
8/6/2025, 3:16:57 PM
No.6286062
>>6286064
>>6286094
Rolled 1, 9, 2, 8, 2 = 22 (5d10)
>>6285281
Requesting clearance to sortie - let me rake their point defenses!
>HIBISCUS, then KAI-91
Reason with them, then offer risk/reward.
>ENGAGE MOTHERSHIP (No missile)
Save them for a meatier, nastier threat.
>Target: POINT DEFENSE A
>Action: Gun it
Raptor
(ID: Mr4c9A8v)
8/6/2025, 3:23:05 PM
No.6286064
>>6286062
Combat feed now updated correctly. Changing target.
>Target: Engine
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: t8dJzRCH)
8/6/2025, 4:37:55 PM
No.6286094
>>6286161
>>6286184
>>6286062
Errm... weren't you guys flying with E32W-ANTARES lasers last time? Or you guys swapped those out for cannons like Dublin did with their torps.
Raptor
(ID: Mr4c9A8v)
8/6/2025, 7:34:05 PM
No.6286161
>>6286184
>>6286094
It was supposed to be an ANTARES, weird. Take whatever rolls it needed from the previous one.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: t8dJzRCH)
8/6/2025, 8:18:42 PM
No.6286184
>>6286200
>>6286161
>>6286094
Eh, that card was my own 30-second MS Paint copy&paste job using Raven's loadout, so preemptive apologies for any potential confusion it might've caused.
Tactical assessment:
MM01 ENGINE should be reduced to 13/16 right now, which can be readily destroyed by Werewolf+Dublin+Raven (assuming Big Bird or Quicksand providing target lock ofc), leaving Watcher, Raptor, Fairy, plus one other Saber squadron free to intercept incoming swarms or put some large dents in MM01 BRIDGE. Griffon can either keep shotgunning incoming swarms (and strafe the bridge with the SENTRY-V if they're willing) or attempt a boarding action.
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/6/2025, 8:52:17 PM
No.6286200
>>6286423
>>6286184
Do we actually want to destroy the engines? Our primary goal is to board and capture the ship
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: xVp8LDIf)
8/7/2025, 5:26:04 AM
No.6286423
>>6286200
Destroying the engine would not be preferable, but in case they're preparing to frameshift we sorta have to prevent them from doing that. Ditto for the bridge, keeping it intact would be preferable, but if it keeps getting in our way we sorta have to put a dozen laser beams into it.
I'm more worried about weapon strikes against MM01 HULL damaging the onboard industrial equipment (and supplies) either way.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/7/2025, 7:05:11 AM
No.6286472
>>6286474
>>6286490
>>6286497
>>6286669
>>6286706
I've resolved the turn and am animating - update will be tomorrow apologies for the extended delay.
In the meantime can I get
>3d20 BO3, DC: 8, 12, 16
Anonymous
(ID: xVp8LDIf)
8/7/2025, 7:07:36 AM
No.6286474
Rolled 3 (1d20)
>>6286472
Anonymous
(ID: dfTwZQR1)
8/7/2025, 7:27:13 AM
No.6286490
Rolled 13 (1d20)
>>6286472
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
8/7/2025, 7:38:29 AM
No.6286497
Rolled 11 (1d20)
>>6286472
Watch THIS
Anonymous
(ID: nkUPGTs8)
8/7/2025, 7:31:18 PM
No.6286669
>>6286956
>>6286472
.... I know it's a bit late to ask for clarification, but... how does the "2 square radius" targeting template on A5-B missiles work? Is the targeting template a 4×4 square, a 3×3 square, or a 4×4 square with the corner-squares removed?
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/7/2025, 9:09:44 PM
No.6286706
Rolled 19 (1d20)
>>6286472
I'm late, but fuck it
>KAI-91. Ask KAI-91 to address the incoming salvage crews. [ROLL] [RISK/REWARD]
>12 Success - DOUBT
>SOJOURNER-91 Revealed
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kai-99 holds up the comm unit, slipping the textured monocryl band around his neck. His ever-searching eyes fix forward blankly for a few moments - only now realizing the scale of responsibility that had been foisted upon him. He whispers something. He inhales. He grimaces before spitting irreverently against the polished floor plating.
The proximity comm channel clicks open. You maximize the transmission output, drowning out the constant chatter of traffic from the incoming salvage fleet.
"This is Sojourner-91. Transmitting...with the permission of the imperial escort carrier SOLSTICE."
"How....many of you..." he asks. "How many of you have seen the upper decks? The place we al go, once our indenturement runs its whole way through."
Kai-99 voice is clear and measured.
"I saw it, friends. I saw that place with my eyes, my very own." He pauses. "A returning crew, laden with scrap - rightly earned - dragged in, ship and all."
"To be recycled." He hisses. "Ship, scrap, crew, and all - dumped into a recycler vat and melted down into boiling sludge. Ship after ship. Crew after crew."
"Our lives are worth s..nothing." He repeats. "You know it, the collection board knows it, and I know you do too. Think about what you remember - actually remember, and then tell that I'm wrong."
"Now think about the promises that you have been made - the bonuses and indenturement reductions and the freedoms. Do you think you'll live to see any of it, dead out here, at the bottom of a recycling vat? Do you think there's any cost in making promises to the dead?"
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/8/2025, 6:22:48 AM
No.6286948
>>6287184
He pauses, considering his next words carefully.
"I'm just a raker, like you all. I carry no promises." He says, deliberately. "Save for one. One that you can check with your own eyes."
"You're sailing into an imperial carrier. Look. Use your eyes. Their guns are real. Their armor is real. Crew is imperial. The collection board knows, and they're shitting themselves. That's why they're sending you in first - to die - as they always do."
"If you keep your course, I promise that they will kill you without blinking. The SOJOURNER will burn, and there's nothing - absolutely nothing - that you can do to change that."
"So stop. Fucking stop. Power down or reverse course. Broadcast a solid tone on the open frequency," he pauses, glancing at you as you nod. "And you won't be fired upon. I promise."
"Do it. I'm begging you. Our lives are worth nothing, but please - please don't kill you and your crew for even less than that."
"Sojourner-91, transmission terminate."
The vox unit clicks, clattering to the deck. Kai-99 deflates and steps back. "I hope it was enough," he says, the bluster seemingly evaporating from him in an instant.
You look at Hibiscus. She shrugs. "Contrary to any imperial standard, but effective." She says. "A good of an appeal as we can expect."
Kai-99 catches your eye. You nod. "I concur with her assessment. An effective appeal"
EFFECTS:
>[DOUBT: Some damaged enemy fleet elements will retreat.]
>[DOUBT: Incoming reinforcements halved]
>[DOUBT: +2 Bonus to boarding rolls]
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/8/2025, 6:30:53 AM
No.6286952
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The transmission rolls over the incoming fleet of salvage ships. Intership comm traffic spikes, and the apparent reluctance hobbling the approaching dustraker formation worsens. The vanguard detaches from its reinforcing element, which begins to tarry behind the shadow of their mothership. Occasionally, you see stragglers break formation entirely before accelerating away on an escape vector. Most fail to make much progress. The sensor screen identifies prickles of amber point-defense fire originating from the mothership - low-yield by your standards, but powerful and accurate enough to spear through most of the escapees. The characteristic blue-white bubble-flash of igniting hydride fuel occupies the forward sensor array every twenty or so seconds.
But the vanguard - pushed forward by either momentum or fear - continues. They meet your squadron in a ragged wave.
To their surprise, most of them are not engaged. Interceptors tear past them at blinding velocity differentials, followed by fighters and bomber squadrons. The mothership was the main target, and you had assigned most of your fighter complement to prioritize it over the hundreds of sub-vessels that it had launched as an obvious buffer.
The corvette-gunship is the only exception. The ancillaries piloting the vessel identify a clump of approaching salvage ships blocking their approach trajectory. Not willing to risk its boarding armor complement, the VANGUARD-class gunship dumps an entire bracket of swarm missiles out from its four wing-mounts. The small, tapered missiles weave through the tightly packed formation, coordinating to seek out targets that were neither maneuverable nor stealthy. A moment later, several dozen tiny detonations flash in close succession. It was overkill. Annular fragmentation warheads designed to cut through military-grade armor fully bisect civilian hulls, spilling clouds of freezing air into the empty void.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/8/2025, 6:33:30 AM
No.6286953
>>6286973
>>6287242
>>6287305
>>6287353
Meanwhile, the rest of your squadrons had begun attacking the mothership. All three of your fighters were painting the SOJOURNER with their designator beams, picking out internal subsystems from its hulking structure.
The targeting data is relayed to interceptor and bomber squadrons making close attack runs. The hanger - a sprawling, girder-like structure ringing the main habitation unit - collapses under a barrage of railgun slugs before unwinding outward into a ring of spreading debris. Concurrently, a pair of interceptor squadrons dive down towards the superstructure of the mothership, weaving between sensor masts and external docking booms to engage inside the effective rotation range of the PD units. The occasional stab of amber PD fire is replaced with the flash of pulsed laser and the stuttered drone of rotary autocannon bursts.
Finally, you commit the SOLSTICE's turreted weapons. Though they lacked the precision to engage individual subsystems at this range, scoring a hit on hull was well within their capabilities, especially on such a large target. Sustained laser fire carves a channel through the mothership's main docking boom. A plasma-wreathed railgun slug flashes out seconds later, passing clean through the central hull before blowing outward in a spray of molten debris.
Against a smaller ship, the damage that you had inflicted would have been disabling - if not fatal. But here, raw mass and layered redundancy provides a potent substitute for sophistication. The mothership continues its course. The salvage-vessels - though individually weak - begin to converge on your carrier, attacking with a collection of improvised cutting lasers and repurposed impactor drones.
The SOLSTICE will:
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP. Use both the railgun and the laser. Rely on your fighters for interception.
>ENGAGE THE MOTHERSHIP [C1-STEEPLEx2]. Use both the railgun and the laser. Launch missiles; you will have to roll or intercept to ensure a successful strike.
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
>Due to hull (64/100) and subsystem (x3) damage, the DC for boarding actions has been reduced appropriately.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/8/2025, 6:35:43 AM
No.6286956
>>6286669
No worries! It's a 4x4 square, centered on a location of your choosing (but it has to actually "snap" to the grid) if that makes sense.
Here's also an extra image, such 4chan is shit and won't let me post my videos in anywhere near full render resolution
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: pdhWteHK)
8/8/2025, 7:07:31 AM
No.6286973
>>6286977
>>6287048
>>6287166
>>6286953
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
(Wasn't Jupiter a STILETTO squadron with ANTARES lasers? Not that I mind the extra oomph of twin PITONE railguns though.)
Griffon, our fighters, interceptors, and bombers are enough to clear the entire enemy swarm, care to do the honors of boarding that fat feller?
Fairy can trash whichever swarm in their way, Raven, Raptor, and Watcher can turn SWRM07/10/11 into scrap instantly, and SWRM09 can be destroyed with literally anything stronger than a SENTRY-V, so...
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/8/2025, 7:20:34 AM
No.6286977
>>6286990
>>6287048
>>6286973
Yep you're right - my mistake. I'll correct and post new stat cards soon for the new joiners.
Also to clarify a few points for mechanics:
>Special actions that replace your attack replace all your attacks, not just the primary unless otherwise stated
>Lock actions apply to the entire ship (and are persistent), so you don't need to lock individual systems.
>The general order for processing turns involves all locks/debuffs first.
>Blinders can only be used against the target you engage. Correct me if this is incorrect or if I applied this differently in the past.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: pdhWteHK)
8/8/2025, 7:44:11 AM
No.6286990
>>6287018
>>6286977
>Special actions that replace your attack replace all your attacks, not just the primary unless otherwise stated.
A5-B missiles are stated in Thread2 (posts
>>6236023 and
>>6237001) to only replace the primary attack, unless you meant "can still use the SENTRY-V for retaliation" instead of "can use the SENTRY-V alongside A5-B missiles" in
>>6237001 , of course.
> Correct me if this is incorrect or if I applied this differently in the past.
There was one instance last thread, when A-10 FAIRY used EC1/BLINDER on GSHP02 that was targeting A-03 BULLSHARK.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: pdhWteHK)
8/8/2025, 9:07:27 AM
No.6287018
>>6286990
Correction:
During that one instance GSHP02 was destroyed by A-03 BULLSHARK and A-06 PUKIN' DOGS so whether the BLINDERs were allowed were of a rather moot point.
>>6286947
Also, I guess our carrier didn't even get a saving throw against SWRM11? Granted, we didn't have that much room to maneuver given we're still trying to protect Sojourner-91 so I'm just glad nobody's gunning for that lil' feller as of yet.
The dorsal RGUN/KE04-ASTER turret is still firing at lower output compared to the First Battle off Yellowstone (11/03/2914) when it dealt 10 dmg each shot.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/8/2025, 10:07:56 AM
No.6287039
>>6287052
>>6287057
>>6287305
>>6286947
Hang on a squig, I had my squad shift to intercept SWRM11 here.
>>6285494
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/8/2025, 10:50:55 AM
No.6287048
>>6287052
>>6286977
Would I still be able to use the Sentry-V right before starting a boarding action, or no?
>>6286973
I'm not sure about that, I need to think.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/8/2025, 10:56:53 AM
No.6287050
>>6287051
Rolled 9 (1d20)
>>6286947
Fuck it, we ball
BOARD: ACCESS POINT ALPHA
I do NOT like how many there are near Solstice.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/8/2025, 11:01:11 AM
No.6287051
>>6287050
Damn, worth a shot.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: pdhWteHK)
8/8/2025, 11:03:48 AM
No.6287052
>>6287039
Given the
> "Concurrently, a pair of interceptor squadrons dive down towards the superstructure of the mothership, weaving between sensor masts and external docking booms to engage inside the effective rotation range of the PD units. The occasional stab of amber PD fire is replaced with the flash of pulsed laser and the stuttered drone of rotary autocannon bursts."
narrative, QM likely didn't accept the change in attack plans... and somehow all four shots counted as landing on PD-B instead of 2 missing the mark and striking the hull instead. (Three ACCUSER targeting pods reduced the hit dc of the point defenses to 5, but your first two shots rolled 1+4=5 so they would still count as missed. Either way... care to do partake in the turky shoot? Any weapon we've got (except whatever Griffon's carrying) will hit and destroy an enemy swarm, and their return fire cannot even hope to scratch any fighter or interceptor.
>>6287048
RAW,
>To initiate a boarding action, declare it as your turn action and roll a 1d20; meeting the DC specified on the map will be a success. A failed boarding action is a wasted turn.
and
>Special actions that replace your attack replace all your attacks, not just the primary unless otherwise stated.
meant that nope, you'd be too busy trying to land on MM01 instead of shooting anyone. Those casement-mounted SENTRY-V cannons have rather limited firing arc, afterall...
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: pdhWteHK)
8/8/2025, 11:11:05 AM
No.6287057
Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d4)
>>6286947
Welp, time to earn my first kill.
> TARGET: SWRM09
> ACTION: BEAM/N2-LUNATE
The Sand Scorches; The Sand Buries.
>>6287039
Given the
> "Concurrently, a pair of interceptor squadrons dive down towards the superstructure of the mothership, weaving between sensor masts and external docking booms to engage inside the effective rotation range of the PD units. The occasional stab of amber PD fire is replaced with the flash of pulsed laser and the stuttered drone of rotary autocannon bursts."
narrative, QM likely didn't accept the change in attack plans... and somehow all four shots counted as landing on PD-B instead of 2 missing the mark and striking the hull instead. (Three ACCUSER targeting pods reduced the hit dc of the point defenses to 5, but your first two shots rolled 1+4=5 so they would still count as missed. Either way... care to do partake in the turky shoot? Any interceptor weapon will hit and destroy an enemy swarm while us fighters can pick at those 2hp targets, and their return fire cannot even hope to scratch any fighter or interceptor.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: pdhWteHK)
8/8/2025, 5:02:15 PM
No.6287166
>>6286973
Correction: the combat rule RAW meant A-05 DUBLIN (and A-03 BULLSHARK if they ever get out of the launch bay) can attack SWRM07/10/11 with impunity, so we can free up another interceptor squadron to attack another swarm without risking casualties.
Big Bird
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/8/2025, 6:03:02 PM
No.6287184
Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d4)
>>6286948
Switching to intercept. None of us should really need a lock to hit those salvagers
>EngageSWRM07
>[DOUBT: Incoming reinforcements halved]
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
WATCHER
!!QL0AFWMIX8N
(ID: IRZsdOo8)
8/8/2025, 6:42:34 PM
No.6287200
Rolled 5, 3 = 8 (2d10)
>>6286947
>WATCHER engages SWRM12 from the flank. Blinders engaged again.
I love lasers. Lasers are so hard to dodge.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
8/8/2025, 6:44:43 PM
No.6287202
>>6287203
>>6287305
>>6286947
>ACTION: RGUN/KE-05-PITONE
>TARGET: SWRM10
Target system disabled, moving to relieve pressure on SOLSTICE.
Dublin
!!UwDcBaLagI0
(ID: szfTYKsd)
8/8/2025, 6:45:45 PM
No.6287203
Rolled 2, 1, 3 = 6 (3d4)
>>6287202
Forgot my roll again, even if the outcome is inevitable.
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
8/8/2025, 8:49:41 PM
No.6287242
>>6287255
>>6287305
Rolled 4, 2, 2 = 8 (3d4)
>>6286953
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
Swarm 11 is getting feisty.
>LOCK: SWRM11
There's a lock! Will attack next round if no one else does--these missiles, man...
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: JaQUYffF)
8/8/2025, 9:47:44 PM
No.6287255
>>6287242
Eh, no worries Wolfie, I'm trusting you to shove a full salvo of A20 SPARROW missiles up that fatso's tailpipe the second it looks like they might turn tail and run... or once we've thinned out those pesky scavs trying to "recycle" our mothership.
ALCON, swarms SWRM09, SWRM10, and SWRM12 have been destroyed, we need two interceptor squadrons to deal with SWRM07 and SWRM11. The remaining two interceptor squadrons are free to choose their targets, although try not to overkill those flying trashcans - this is a rather target-rich environment, afterall.
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
8/8/2025, 11:55:45 PM
No.6287305
>>6287331
>>6287443
>>6286947
Statement: Analysis complete.
ALPHA-10 FAIRY
>ACTION: LAS/32W-ANTARES
>TARGET: SWRM11 SLVG-MD
>>6286953
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
Reasoning: With the current fielded weapon capability, using the LAS/E1C-CENTAURI POINT DEF is necessary to maintain the complete structural integrity of CV01/PERIHELION SOLSTICE.
>>6287039
Note: ALPHA-8 RAVEN, an opportunity to finish off a SWRM7 SLVG-MD, with a probability of success greater than 99.17%. Present calculation predict severe damage, though not destruction by ALPHA-9 BIG BIRD.
Reasoning: The battlefield contains low availability of other targets for ALPHA-8 RAVEN with near guaranteed destruction. Additionally, successfully destroying SWRM7 SLVG-MD allows for the possibility of ALPHA-5 DUBLIN retargetting and heavily damaging the MM01 BRIDGE, with the assistance of ALPHA-2 WEREWOLF, if desired by related.
>>6287242
Note: ALPHA-2 WEREWOLF, establishing a Lock On via TG2/ACCUSER to SWRM11 SLVG-MD is low priority. Further strengthening Lock on to the MM01 carries greater value.
Reasoning: SWRM11 SLVG-MD can be annihilated by a single unit. Locking on provides next to no benefit. Strengthening lock on to the MM01 near guarantees the destruction of the Bridge barring introduction of unforeseen element.
>>6287202
Note: ALPHA-5 DUBLIN, possible retargeting option to MM01 BRIDGE in case of ALPHA-2 WEREWOLF strengthening the Lock On to MM01 via TG2/ACCUSER. This maneuver may be taken safely only in case of ALPHA-8 RAVEN successfully targeting SWRM7 SLVG-MD.
Reasoning: The CV01/PERIHELION SOLSTICE LAS/E1C-CENTAURI is guaranteed to annihilate the SWRM10 SLVG-MD if given the opportunity. The high destructive capability of RGUN/KE05-PITONE on SWRM10 SLVG-MD would better serve at cracking the greatly reinforced MM01 BRIDGE.
Note: The destruction of MM01 BRIDGE carries a possibility of preemptive skirmish termination, due to observed high enemy reliance on central command. Probability calculations remain inconclusive.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/9/2025, 1:04:23 AM
No.6287331
>>6287339
>>6287305
Yeah, don't hit the Bridge (yet). I want to drop these guys off right behind them.
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
8/9/2025, 1:15:59 AM
No.6287339
>>6287430
>>6287331
Clarification requested.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/9/2025, 1:31:58 AM
No.6287353
Rolled 6, 1, 2, 6, 10 = 25 (5d10)
>>6286953
>INTERCEPT [SWARM]. Attempt to intercept the incoming sub-vessels with the laser. Engage the MOTHERSHIP with the railgun.
>SWRM07
Going for a gun run.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/9/2025, 4:37:53 AM
No.6287430
>>6287666
>>6287339
Don't hit the Bridge unless for whatever reason we HAVE to hit the Bridge. I want to drop these boarders off right behind said Bridge (Access point Alpha).
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: Xq7m0kzU)
8/9/2025, 4:53:04 AM
No.6287443
>>6287666
ALCON: SWRM07 and SWRM11 destroyed, next-priority target: SWRM06 due to their proximity with our mothership. Whichever squadron not busy attacking SWRM06 can help strafing MM01 ENGINE, which, ideally, should reduce the boarding DC by 1 while simultaneously freeing up one more STILETTO squadron for combat air patrol in subsequent turns.
(TL;DR: someone help destroy SWRM06 because Big Bird didn't go for a target they can actually destroy. The other squadron is free to strafe MM01, personally recommend targeting the engine first.)
>>6287305
Fairy, with the number of enemies inbound we're kinda obligated to go for air-to-air for a moment right now. Plus, SWRM11 have already managed to score a hit against our carrier, so good job slagging those bastards.
A-05 Dublin cannot be relied on to crack MM01 BRIDGE given they still have only 50% of successful hits even with *three* SABER squadrons providing targeting information. They can, however, team up with A-02 WEREWOLF destroying MM01 ENGINE, proven another STILETTO squadron have damaged it this turn... or if Raven strafed it in the next.
Ideally, our currently available strike package is indeed capable of neutralizing both MM01 ENGINE and MM01 BRIDGE, with either A-09 BIG BIRD or A-11 QUICKSAND providing targeting information on MM01, A-02 WEREWOLF, A-05 DUBLIN, and A-08 RAVEN destroying the engine, and all four squadrons equipped with E32-ANTARES pulse lasers (A-01 WATCHER, A-07 RAPTOR, A-10 FAIRY, and A-12 JUPITER) simultaneously destroying the bridge. This, however, will leave our carrier extremely open to enemy counter-attack, and requires coordination beyond typical of XII-SOLSTICE air complement.
Raptor
(ID: 3ikRqnCv)
8/9/2025, 4:21:31 PM
No.6287602
Rolled 1, 5, 2 = 8 (3d10)
>>6286947
>Target: Engine
>Action: Laser it
Reeeeeap their moves, stop them dead in their tracks...
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: R3qgkn9B)
8/9/2025, 6:54:38 PM
No.6287666
>>6287941
>>6287430
Instructions received, though reasoning inconclusive.
>>6287443
Note: SWRM06 SLVG-MD lacks priority.
Reasoning: Unless targeting of CV01/PERIHELION SOLSTICE occurs, SWRM06 SLVG-MD offers no threat, and carries a chance of incidental breaking of morale. Time spent targeting SWRM06 SLVG-MD at the current moment is inefficient.
Conclusion: Current enemy number remains low threat. Primary targeting MM01 while specifically targeting enemies on course to attack is a more efficient use of firepower. Including targeting the MM01 HULL.
Note: ALPHA-5 DUBLIN is guaranteed to destroy the bridge in two passes of RGUN/KE05-PITONE armaments. The chance to land and penetrate is guaranteed provided an additional application of TG2/ACCUSER.
Note: The boarding attempts of ALPHA-6 should be taken into account.
Additionally, destruction of MM01 engine will lead to the crippling of the ship. Providing dubious skirmish value due to already existing overwhelming friendly advantage. While also removing the possibility of further relocating MM01 post skirmish.
Anonymous
(ID: GaMaah6u)
8/10/2025, 4:17:45 AM
No.6287941
>>6288100
>>6288749
>>6287666
Fairy, the base hit dc of MM01 BRIDGE is 11, the same as the point defense batteries, as shown in
>>6285281. The apparent hit dc of 5 is due to all three of us SABER squadrons painting MM01 - no small thanks to you misunderstanding how our TG2/ACCUSER targeting pods work, thus removing 3×2=6 hit dc from the base hit dc of 11. We do not have a fourth saber squadron to reduce the hit dc of MM01 BRIDGE to 3, and target locks only last until the end of the turn it was created.
Destruction of MM01 ENGINE might prevent us from relocating the ship. post-skirmish... but it would also prevent the hostiles from *relocating* the ship via frameshift during the skirmish.
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/10/2025, 11:09:32 AM
No.6288100
>>6288199
>>6287941
>target locks only last until the end of the turn it was created.
Nope, target locks are persistent
Anonymous
(ID: Gpd5w88W)
8/10/2025, 3:12:45 PM
No.6288199
>>6288350
>>6288781
>>6288100
Acknowledged. So we aren't flying glorified laser pointers (or being restricted to semi-active laser homing missiles) afterall, good to know!
Blame the CGI for portraying those TG2/ACCUSER systems like IRL laser designators, which AFAIK does not grant greater accuracy bonus by just keeping it on the same target longer, nor are they good at keeping track of multiple targets on opposite ends of the battlefield.
Cumulative targeting bonus is normally a sign of multiple simultaneous sensor readouts from different positions, and the fact that whatever's maintaining the target locks can't be retaliated against suggests passive sensors... so some sort of recon buoy perhaps? For my (admittedly rather limited) sanity I'll just headcanon it as some sort of cubesat with passive sensors that transmits targeting information to the fleet through tightbeam - the laser designator pulse we're seeing is used to mark the target to the cubesat, not to the fleet.
Anonymous
(ID: Gpd5w88W)
8/10/2025, 8:21:25 PM
No.6288350
>>6288199
Going along this line of thought... post
>>5886866 in Thread 1 depicted WEREWOLF squadron deploying their missiles from the stern like WWII Soviet G-5 class torpedo boats, and the colloidal compounds used to created the storm on Yellowstone was also deployed by SABER squadrons.... and combined with the distinctive "U" shaped slot between its engines (plus what seems to be a bay door on each side of the slot) I think it's reasonable to infer the SABER-class multirole fighters are designed to carry and deploy light (if somewhat unconventional) payload as much as (if not simply more than) they're designed to perform aerospace superiority duties.
Anonymous
(ID: MExt3m1S)
8/10/2025, 9:28:26 PM
No.6288386
Thank you for the votes all! I'm sorry about this but I'm dropping my rendering laptop off for repairs tomorrow - the update may be slightly delayed, but it will happen I promise.
Fairy
!!6x8LuwjCcsr
(ID: Gg+LoSSB)
8/11/2025, 4:03:13 PM
No.6288749
>>6288781
>>6287941
Recommendation: Close consultation of
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xfRDmSvAfhmOSZxKUdVWoPXA54oW89cFImUhMKXI2b8/edit?usp=sharing both currently, and prior to any further attempted corrections.
Reasoning: Multiple miscalculations made by ALPHA-11 QUICKSAND, the information for correction of miscalculations contained within the document.
Note:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xfRDmSvAfhmOSZxKUdVWoPXA54oW89cFImUhMKXI2b8/edit?usp=sharing is included in
>>6279122 as has been present since CV01/PERIHELION SOLSTICE reactivation.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: Gpd5w88W)
8/11/2025, 5:39:51 PM
No.6288781
>>6288799
>>6288749
Yeah, duly noted.... (once again, as I said in
>>6288199, was under the impression that the TG2/ACCUSER systems are laser designators due to the CGI portraying then as such... instead of some sort of recon cubesats that would've been necessary to allow such cumulative accuracy bonuses.)
So... yeah, understood, combat protocol updated. Prioritization updated. Will keep deploying recon cubesats against high-value targets so harder-hitting squadrons/ships (BROADSWORD bombers, VANGUARD gunship-corvettes, RADIANT destroyers) get easier time destroying them.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/11/2025, 6:30:14 PM
No.6288795
test
Anonymous
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/11/2025, 6:35:02 PM
No.6288799
>>6288851
>>6288781
Or the QM just thinks that laser designators look cool.
Just say "keep using TG2/ACCUSER".
For all we know it's a bunch of gimballed lasers mounted all over the fighter.
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
8/11/2025, 7:58:25 PM
No.6288831
Hey nerds, update from the bossman: his computer repairs might take longer than expected, so the next update is gonna take a while. Longer than usual, at least. He sends his condolences and will let us know when things are back together when he can!
Anonymous
(ID: Gpd5w88W)
8/11/2025, 9:02:32 PM
No.6288851
>>6288799
Pretty sure adding another gimballed laser designator on the same airframe wouldn't give you twice the tracking bonus against the same target - both triangulation and mutilateration requires large distances between different reference points, afterall; plus if SABER fighters do have multiple laser designators onboard why can't they be used to acquire multiple locks in the same turn? Modern laser designator can simultaneously acquire and track multiple (albeit closely packed) targets well enough. OFC there's also the issue of the unique split-tail / twin-boom design with cargo bay hatches along the side - they're clearly meant to deploy *something* from there with little to no relative velocity, and even the SPARROW missiles are seen dropping from somewhere near those cargo hatches before ignition instead of being launched from the front like your A-5B (infrared? active radar homing?) missiles or DUBLIN's A40-CRANE torpedoes. Hence my headcanon about recon satellites: every TG2/ACCUSER lock is another recon satellite being deployed and allocated, and the laser designator is used to identify the target to the recon satellite. The satellite must be reliant on passive sensors to prevent enemy identification and/or retaliation, which would also explain how they aren't capable of tracking more targets per action or even switching which targets to track - they're designed to be cheap, easy-to-produce, and single-use afterall. But yeah, no matter my headcanon it shouldn't impact the actual in-game option whatsoever, only the "flavor text" meant for roleplaying... plus my own autistic attempt at trying to understand how the various technologies in-universe worked.
... and apologies for overthinking about everything as usual.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: MExt3m1S)
8/16/2025, 9:01:44 AM
No.6291151
Sustained mining laser fire strips away three segments of ablative plating. A brace of kinetic impactors smashes against your ventral armor, splattering silver-white fragmentation debris across a field of oxide-red paint. A tense judder of momentum transfer carries through to the bridge, compensated immediately by the hum of reaction gyroscopes.
The response from your bridge-crew is immediate and ingrained. Slowly, the Solstice rolls along her lengthwise axis, cycling away exposed hull for sections of untouched armor plating. The maneuver was probably unnecessary given the quality of opposition you were facing here, but neither you nor your crew were eager to take unnecessary risks. You had seen arrogance play out poorly too many times to legitimately consider indulging in it yourself.
Fortunately, the incoming salvage vessels fail show similar restraint. After enjoying an uncontested approach to your seemingly isolated carrier, they had become overeager - falling into a three pronged attack wave hastily assembled to overwhelm your modest PD suite. Some of the braver vessels begin cold-launching guided ordinance. Evidently, they hoped to land a decisive strike against your carrier before your own squadrons could finish off their lumbering mothership.
A fatal decision. It would end in your favor, of course, but recognizing this fact left you feeling more frustrated than satisfied. As far as traps went, this one was poor - obvious to anyone even marginally familiar with the types of accelerations that an ancillary-piloted crew could sustain. A baseline, void-born crew could survive forward thrust of two or three gees without advanced circulatory support. Your opposition was seemed totally unaware that your ancillary pilots could easily sustain ten times that amount for several hours.
In a smooth, almost choreographed motion, the majority of your attack squadrons execute a clinical flip-and-burn maneuver, pushing constant military thrust against their forward velocity vectors. It takes them less than five minutes to cut their approach and begin their interception course.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: MExt3m1S)
8/16/2025, 9:05:20 AM
No.6291154
The outcome is as violent and one-sided as you had anticipated. Blinded by their own drive-plumes, more than half of the salvage vessels fail to detect the vanguard of your fighter complement before they enter weapon range. Interceptor squadrons find their targets first, followed by their fighter and bomber counterparts several seconds later. Laser and kinetic fire burn lingering ion-trails in rarefied vacuum. Particle beams cut pale-white lines against the dark backdrop. Vessels corkscrew between their targets, exploiting lateral thrust to outpace the slow march of point-defense fire.
The scavengers die in the thousands, then the tens of thousands. Their primitive, thin-skinned ships barely qualify as civilian grade cladding. A single pulse from a fighter-mounted particle beam - or a few shells from a rotary cannon - is enough to crack their improvised armor and blow out their hulls. Heavier weapons leave no discernable wreckage. Space becomes powdery, then cloudy, from the sheer volume of liberated water-vapor. Corpses spill from broken vessels in dense clots. Kai-91 watches in horror. Hibiscus watches in grim silence. You dismiss it as a passing detail.
After a few more minutes, the incoming attack fully fragments. While a few salvage elements remain intent on finishing their attack, a comparable number had begun to retreat, broadcasting a monotonous surrender tone on an open channel. This time, there was nothing to stop them from pulling away.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: MExt3m1S)
8/16/2025, 9:09:54 AM
No.6291160
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The mothership burns - dying perhaps, but not yet fully dead. It had suffered another hit from your railgun, but sheer mass and momentum had allowed it to carry on - much in the same manner through which it weathered your strike complement.
Thousands of burnt pin-pricks dot the hull - marking plucked out sensor clusters or destroyed external weaponry. The hanger section continues to vent a billowing plume of reaction mass.
While there was no easy way to conduct a boarding operation, this was far from ideal. Your sole assault gunship makes a valiant attempt to drop off its combat complement before being rebuffed by a last-minute sensor scan. You join their squad data feed for a moment and - in a moment of weakness - feel uncharacteristically grateful that you were on a vessel with far less lateral thrust than a VANGUARD-class corvette gunship.
You request.
reports the squadron leader.
The gunship shoots beneath a habitat strut before leveling out. You leave the data feed before the crew attempts another docking pass.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The grey-collared man hails you again. A faint shadow of his former confidence is still there. But you can feel it now - that dumb baseline animal fear - pulsing through his system as the cadence of his voice increments and his eyes dart like overtaxed sensors. A gaggle of figures shadow him, their robed forms too indistinct to fully discern.
He attempts the traditional imperial greetings, clumsily moving his shaking fingers into a slow, unpracticed orientation. Hibiscus looks on with bland reproach.
"Y..your...eminence, We have committed a grave mistake by attacking you unprovoked."
He nods quickly before bracing himself. "It is said that the solar empire does not offer terms in such cases."
His eyes dart again. "But, your eminence, these are...unusual times, and we, due to our own ignorance of course, were unaware that your kind remained....active so deep in fringe-space."
He lifts his pleated sleeves in an expression of false contention.
"But we have yet to lose anything or anyone of great value, and neither have you in turn, your eminence, if I may be so bold. Perhaps you may show us a degree of...discretion, subject to your judgement and mercy, of course."
He smiles, with a degree more confidence.
"If this is..unacceptable, of course, we are perfectly willing to atone for our mistake without forcing you to sully your hands further - of course - by making the necessary preparations to our reactor. "
>ACCEPT. [DEMAND MATERIALS]
>ACCEPT. [DEMAND INFORMATION]
>REJECT. [MAY ATTEMPT OVERLOAD PROTOCOL]
>LIE. [STATE YOU WILL SEND A NEGOTIATION PARTY; SEND BOARDERS INSTEAD] [MAY ATTEMPT OVERLOAD PROTOCOL]
>WRITE-IN.
Anonymous
(ID: noziSf8S)
8/16/2025, 9:14:29 AM
No.6291162
>>6291161
>ACCEPT. [DEMAND MATERIALS]
We need to patch up our new RADIANT destroyer plus raw material to make/repair new fighters and gunships.
Anonymous
(ID: 8CKCXq12)
8/16/2025, 9:41:07 AM
No.6291165
>>6291166
>>6291168
>>6291161
Might be worth it to consult Kai, see what he wants to do.
I'd lean towards actually negotiating in good faith for their captain to be replaced (or at very least for the existing contracts to be annulled or amended to materially improve conditions), and him disembarked of at a location of his choosing that would be willing to take him.
if not putting him up in front of a firing squad of his peers
I do get that that leaving them alive is a risk as it presents a potential future vector for the signal. But I'd prefer that as many people as possible can walk away.
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/16/2025, 9:47:30 AM
No.6291166
>>6291165
>ACCEPT. [DEMAND COMPLETE SUBMISSION]
I don't want to leave the mining board in charge of anything. They're dicks
Anonymous
(ID: Y3NvsDj7)
8/16/2025, 9:48:45 AM
No.6291168
>>6291165
Personally I want to get our materials first before attempting to incite the mutiny. We need the materials... and he does have his hands on the self-destruct button.
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/16/2025, 11:19:37 AM
No.6291182
>>6291189
>>6291204
>>6291161
>ACCEPT. [DEMAND COMPLETE SUBMISSION]
We have all the cards here. They get a ship to go wherever the fuck they want, that's it. Also what the hell is Overload? Don't recall seeing it before.
Anonymous
(ID: 8CKCXq12)
8/16/2025, 11:50:32 AM
No.6291189
>>6291182
If I had to guess It's probably catastrophically overloading the reactor and / or the Frame shift Drive.
It's probably not a good thing to be anywhere near.
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/16/2025, 1:35:04 PM
No.6291203
>>6291204
>>6291216
>>6291161
>LIE. [STATE YOU WILL SEND A NEGOTIATION PARTY; SEND BOARDERS INSTEAD] [MAY ATTEMPT OVERLOAD PROTOCOL]
Fuck these motherfuckers. Did you all forget what they were doing?
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/16/2025, 1:36:05 PM
No.6291204
>>6291203
Will support
>>6291182, too. If that doesn't work out, then say we'll send a "negotiation" party.
Anonymous
(ID: 8CKCXq12)
8/16/2025, 2:31:11 PM
No.6291216
>>6291424
>>6291203
>Did you all forget what they were doing?
It's more so that without the mothership any survivors don't have many great options, since most if not all of their long term life support and replenishment infrastructure is aboard.
So if we want to leave things in a better state than when they arrived we're going to need to come up with a solution that involves not losing the mothership.
Otherwise we're stranding them in system, with practically nothing to starve to death, or taking them with us either as a permanent cohort or dumping them as refugees if we find a suitable settlement.
Anonymous
(ID: Bl157Zkl)
8/16/2025, 3:06:48 PM
No.6291219
>>6291161
>LIE. [STATE YOU WILL SEND A NEGOTIATION PARTY; SEND BOARDERS INSTEAD] [MAY ATTEMPT OVERLOAD PROTOCOL]
Anonymous
(ID: jrMRzCNu)
8/16/2025, 6:41:53 PM
No.6291305
>>6291161
>LIE. [STATE YOU WILL SEND A NEGOTIATION PARTY; SEND BOARDERS INSTEAD] [MAY ATTEMPT OVERLOAD PROTOCOL]
Seize control of the hulk. Allow our friends to take over. Lets create a base of operations and a potential resource pool way out here to allow us to construct our own fleet or 20 to try and even out the fight with the corrupted Empire. (At least if such an option doesn't allow for the super corruption to infect our stuff as well.)
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/16/2025, 9:59:12 PM
No.6291424
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/17/2025, 8:27:31 PM
No.6292028
>>6291161
>LIE. [STATE YOU WILL SEND A NEGOTIATION PARTY; SEND BOARDERS INSTEAD] [MAY ATTEMPT OVERLOAD PROTOCOL]
Lying also works.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/19/2025, 4:52:27 AM
No.6292838
>LIE
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You remember entering the inner system - pushing yourself past the plasma dynamos orbiting the Martian poles. You see thousands of lightning storms coalesce into a solid ring of maroon light. Flocks of broad-winged skimmercraft drag chalk-white contrails into the thin Martian stratosphere.
You perceive Earth with a myriad of optical sensors: a pale, off-blue dot, ringed with gold. There was not much time left now.
"I need you to lie," whispers the captain. "The inner system will not give us orbital sanction without extenuating circumstances. We need to provide a compelling reason that justifies transfer into Terran orbit."
You reply, feeling strangely uncomfortable with the captain's proposal.
"Correct as always, Sol." He makes a noncommittal gesture. "But I can't, for that exact reason. Humans always suspect their own. A known liar is a poor liar."
<...but my kind should not lie.>, you state bluntly.
"I trust you enough to disregard that old taboo." He says bluntly. He sighs after that, straightening his back before casting his milk-dull eyes away from the view-screen.
"And there is no lie worse than the one we were all told."
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/19/2025, 4:55:47 AM
No.6292839
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You come to a decision less than a second after hearing the collection board's offer, but you remember the way in which your captain had executed such maneuvers. You drag your facial muscles into a fair approximation of surprise, then indecision. You allude to an on-board supply shortage before aggressively questioning whether the SOJOURNER could deliver the resource units and mass-quantities specified, knowing from Kai-91's schematics that your demands were probably well-within their full salvage load.
you state.
The grey-collared man gestures expansively, confidence seemingly restored by the success of his gambit. "Of course, your eminence. We will provide manifests and..."
"Very well." He says, recovering without a pause. "We would be honored to host your representatives to prove ourselves worthy of your mercy."
He pauses for a moment. "With the...unfortunate loss of our hanger bay, the only docking bay that will fit a vessel of this size is the spinal unit. I hope that is suitable."
You close the connection before he responds, turning to face Hibiscus and Kai-91. Neither of them looked particularly pleased with the exchange, though you suppose it was because they lacked the context you possessed.
You state bluntly.
Kai-91 blinks. "...you just offered to..."
You clarify.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/19/2025, 5:00:57 AM
No.6292843
>>6292965
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The VANGUARD-class corvette-gunship hugs the surface of the SOJOURNER, accompanied by a tight delta of escorting interceptors. They begin retrograde thrust with perfect synchrony. The grey, radiation-burnt blur of the SOJOURNER's hull slows, resolving into a landscape of panels and metallic outcroppings - a fossil record of human-made material that has been replaced, recycled, and replaced once more.
A sliver of warm light appears in the visual feed: a docking bay, opening amidst a forest of antennae and girders. The gunship fires its ventral thrusters before canting upwards, preparing for its final approach. The interceptors peel off in one-pair intervals, tipping their blunt winglets in acknowledgement.
For the purposes of a boarding operation, the spinal hanger was not your first choice. It was further from the bridge than the smaller shuttle-docks, meaning that your combat-clades would have to push through nearly three hundred meters of open corridor space before reaching the command bridge. However, the hanger was expansive and the spinal corridor it connected to was wide. Instead of pushing the point and eliciting suspicion, you had decided advantage of these traits as best you could. After returning to your carrier, you had packed the gunship to the brim with additional breaching frames armed with specialized munitions and oversized booster units.
You hoped that it would be enough.
The gunship enters the hanger, momentarily suspended over the assigned landing pad by RCS thrust. A contingent of indentured crew - something approximating shipboard security, perhaps, jet out on spindly, filigree-adorned EVA-rigs to formally receive your negotiating party.
You see the leader - just for a moment - his pale but surprisingly well-appearing face barely obscured by a golden sunshield. His eyes widen when he realizes that your envoy was no longer spooling down its engines. His mouth opens in a wordless scream as he frantically maneuvers his EVA frame backward.
He moves too late. Instead of landing, the gunship executes a hull rotation on full military thrust. Burning plasma from the drive column spears through the docking bay, filling the compartment with the off-red glow of ionized helium. Girders and walkways - EVA frames and their pilots - flare before disappearing like snowflakes caught beneath the noonday sun. Idly, you rebuff a series of urgent comm requests from the SOJOURNER.
Your primary breaching team jettisons immediately from the gunship's docking compartment. The gunship's point-defense chatter for a full five seconds, tunneling through the hanger into the SOJOURNER's spinal transit corridor. Immediately after, the gunship departs, mobilizing to the mothership's external hull to place secondary support-teams.
You switch views.
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/19/2025, 5:07:06 AM
No.6292844
>>6292866
>>6292868
>>6292933
>>6292936
>>6292966
The primary breach team jets through the molten rent in the hanger, unfolding underslung weaponry as they approach the SOJOURNER's central transit corridor. You see slices of the ships interior - gargantuan nanofiber cables floating in the central void, encrusted with cargo containers and half-fabricated hulls.
The team shoots through the first spinal compartment in a white rush of vapor and hard vacuum. An approaching security team pings low-yield laser fire against hardened composite plate.
cants the commanding ancillary.
A burst of fire from the fragmentation guns disarticulates most of the squad.
comes the clipped reply.
The ancillary in question levels a shoulder mounted beta-cannon. There is burst of warm static over the comms feed as the weapon's domed emitter-head glows dull blue. The last member of the security team floats out from cover, leaking viscous red fluid out from every joint on his vacuum suite.
As your team continues down the spinal transit corridor, resistance slowly mounts. Unlike the indentured crew manning the salvage vessels, the security units your team was engaging were disciplined and competent by baseline human standards. Squads take up positions around the radial edge of each compartment. Heavy, drone-mounted weapons stitch particle beams and hypervelocity trails through the still air.
Your ancillaries respond by flinging out missiles tipped with clustered submunition. Pre-cut fragmentation crashes against vacuum suited figures like sleet. A monofilament launcher twirls a transient sliver-helix down the corridor. A drone-served weapon and its entire support crew vanish in a haze of blood.
states the command ancillary, bluntly.
>[YES] Use pre-designated coordinates for a precision strike by one of your fighter squadrons. Depending on the success of the roll, this may cause very considerable casualties within the mothership. [High DC]
>[NO] Delay. Mothership may have time to initiate the overload protocol. [Low DC]
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/19/2025, 5:09:40 AM
No.6292845
ObserverQM
!!csvkG+agF9M
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/19/2025, 5:12:25 AM
No.6292846
Also, I will unfortunately be on inpatient medicine service over the next few months starting this week. I will try my best to update on weekends if I don't have call/nights, but apologies in advance if this quest gets really slow. I will try my very best to still keep it going, and I promise that I will come back even if my schedule gets bad.
Anonymous
(ID: bxYuIGjo)
8/19/2025, 5:52:15 AM
No.6292866
>>6293334
>>6292844
>[YES] Use pre-designated coordinates for a precision strike by one of your fighter squadrons. Depending on the success of the roll, this may cause very considerable casualties within the mothership. [High DC]
Is the DC influenced by target locks?
Werewolf
!!TmrQmnRzaS1
(ID: rjEmaCaa)
8/19/2025, 6:00:40 AM
No.6292868
>>6292844
>[YES] Use pre-designated coordinates for a precision strike by one of your fighter squadrons. Depending on the success of the roll, this may cause very considerable casualties within the mothership. [High DC]
Seatbelts, everyone!
Raven
!m9m0dq2hio
(ID: w7rXqpqT)
8/19/2025, 9:49:11 AM
No.6292933
>>6293334
>>6292844
>[NO] Delay. Mothership may have time to initiate the overload protocol. [Low DC]
We don't need to breach the bridge, we just need to keep Overload from going off. There must be some kind of connection we can sever, or a terminal we can hack.
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/19/2025, 9:55:56 AM
No.6292936
>>6292844
>YES] Use pre-designated coordinates for a precision strike by one of your fighter squadrons. Depending on the success of the roll, this may cause very considerable casualties within the mothership. [High DC]
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/19/2025, 11:01:52 AM
No.6292965
>>6292843
Get fucked
Wish I hadn't whiffed my roll in the fight though
Griffon
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/19/2025, 11:03:24 AM
No.6292966
>>6293334
>>6293390
>>6292844
>[YES] Use pre-designated coordinates for a precision strike by one of your fighter squadrons. Depending on the success of the roll, this may cause very considerable casualties within the mothership. [High DC]
Mind if I use the gunship in this role? I desire carnage.
Anonymous
(ID: xIZ43hzv)
8/20/2025, 6:07:20 AM
No.6293334
>>6293408
>>6293435
>>6292966
Yes you may!
>>6292866
For the purposes of the upcoming roll, they will be applied as flat bonuses.
>>6292933
Will incorporate into next update
Anonymous
(ID: PByZnegk)
8/20/2025, 9:26:20 AM
No.6293390
>>6293399
>>6293408
>>6292966
Unless you'd be using the +12 point defence, I think it's better to leave it to one of the fighters
Anonymous
(ID: kt/ZOAV3)
8/20/2025, 10:09:37 AM
No.6293399
>>6293390
Honestly we could probably designate a specific spot to all saturate at once.
Anonymous
(ID: 43GNHQNg)
8/20/2025, 10:57:04 AM
No.6293408
>>6293334
Nice, nice.
>>6293390
I mean, if I was already in a position and aiming there....
It's not like I'm firing on a far away and maneuvering target.
Quicksand
!lprK3nzb72
(ID: ROvQ8xn8)
8/20/2025, 11:50:32 AM
No.6293435
>>6293334
Understood, ACCUSER deployed.
