Mojo_Jojo has been kidnapped by Snicketysnick and is being held for ransom! Solve the riddle to set em' free, or I'll hand em' over to Clamps!
Strong as an ox? You got the wrong ANIMAL. My nom deplume ain’t a MAMMAL. If HEAVY LIFTING won’t fix what ails ya For TWENTY BUCKS I might erase ya! Which forumer am I?
zekebeau has been kidnapped by see317 and is being held for ransom! Solve the riddle to set em' free, or I'll hand em' over to Clamps!
Not a day goes by without a post from me I am a CANINE, but have no fur There's many COMICS for you to see I am synthetic, but also a CUR Which forumer am I?
Tiphareth has been kidnapped by wilting and is being held for ransom! Solve the riddle to set em' free, or I'll hand em' over to Clamps!
I’m NO WHALE, but I love me some hump-BACKS VOLLEYBALL’s where I lay my hard smacks But even when I can’t make it I come home to my snuggly BLANKET Which forumer am I?
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
This is not dead and forgotten. It's just the now-traditional excuse of work taking up my time.
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
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SnicketysnickThe Greatest Hype Man inWesterosRegistered Userregular
I knew that kidnapping wouldn't work. On the other hand, anticipation is everything.
Yeah, try to not be worked to death Mojo. We'll be around when you got your time back.
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
edited April 2013
Turn 48 Decision: Europe needs elves and the legitimate blackmarket needs guns Numbers:
Overview
Funds: €245M [+€(88+1d10)M/turn]
Research Progress: No project -/- [+3d12*/turn]
Engineering Progress: ELF Europe 10/25 [+1d10+1d10/turn]
Borehole Progress 100/100 [+2d10/turn] Suspended
Agency HQ, Madrid
Research labs [+1d12 RP/turn]
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Exotic Materials Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, +1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Another Hangar [[Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Advanced Medical Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, Treats 1 wound / soldier / turn and 1 psyche / turn]
International Assets
UNIT [Active in Europe, Oceania and Asia, provides bonus missions, €30/turn upkeep]
DESCARTES PREMIER [Free attack on any alien craft that end up in Europe. Target number is 12 and it deals 1d4 damage]
Outsource manufacturing [+1 EP dice for projects of 25EP or over
Kola Superdeep Borehole [Digging too greedily and too deep]
ELF detector array in Asia [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
LF detector array in Europe [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
MIA
Traitor, Colonel Steven Hiller
[6,4+2,1/3] [Gunslinger II] [Revenge] [Tough] [Fragile] [death ray] [Targeting Computer]
LIVE ALIEN STORAGE
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Assault Pod Lander Crew
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Bomber Pilot
1x Weather Control Jelly
2x Snowglobe Crew Replicants
1x Snowglobe Response Team Jelly
STORAGE
Empty
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Gunslinger II] - On a natural 19-20 gains an extra attack
[Headshot] - On a natural 20 deals an extra 1d4-1 damage to the target
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Even The Odds] - +1 on combat rolls if outnumbered
[Iron Will] - +1 Psyche
[Medic] - Restores one wound after a mission
[Berserker] - +1 on combat rolls for every wound
[Quick Reactions] - +2 on combat rolls in first round
[Bloodlust] - Killing an alien restores 1 psyche
[Team player] - +1 on combat rolls if another soldier has the same trait
[Sacrifice] - Automatically deals one additional weapon hit when killed
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
[Fragile] - Breaks on a natural 1
[Targeting Computer] - Lowers target by 2
[High explosive rounds] - +1 damage
· is a Black Mark. Collect two to drop a funding level with a council
Europe +€54 [Level 3] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 16]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -4 penalty]
Asia +€30 [Level 3] [Morale -0.5] [Difficulty 16]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
Oceania +€18 [Level 1] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 14]
North America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
South America [Level 0] [Morale -0.4] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
The Coca-Cola Company +€16[Level 1] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 14] [.]
Internal: +€20
Blackmarket sales: +€1d10
Research
Gear III: Personal Armour [Cost €10M, 5EP. Gives a soldier 1 armour], Powered Armour [Upgrades personal armour to 2 armour, allows Beyond Humanity project], High Capacity Transports [Cost €250M, 10EP. Unarmed, 4, 3] [Transport 7] ]
Materials I: Basic alien scrap analysis [Allows exotic material lab]
Alien Tech IV: Alien Comms I [mounts comm packages on all aircraft], Alien Comms II [Allows ELF detector array], Death Rays [Cost €15M, 10EP: Difficulty 8, [Fragile]], Stun weapons [Phase 1 combat now deals stun damage]
Xenobiology III: Fractal Fish [gives +2 diplomacy bonus with Oceania], Jelly dissection [-1 max wounds on Jellies], Dust Bunny dissection [global +2 diplomacy bonus],
Mysteries IV: Kola Superdeep Borehole [facility construction discount / mining spin out and excavation options], Borehole Fractals [Allows Fractal Energy Coupler (€500M and 50EP) and Energy Nexus (€500M and 50EP)], Vivsection Lab [allows advanced medical lab, identifies alien clones], Human composite blob [allows ELF detector to decode messages, allows unethical computation: increase research die size]
Narrative
Dr Sandra Thomas was going home. Home. That wasn't the right word. She was going back to Spain. Back to the facility. Strange how she thought about that place. How her insides swam and she pushed aside the salad set before her on the private jet as it hurtled through the air. The pinot noir she kept. Taking a sip she looked down at her tablet and swept listlessly through her slides once more.
With a sigh glanced out the window. It was big. Really big. A set of powerpoint slides didn't quite seem adequate to explaining what they'd found. Did she launch in with the conclusion? Or did she ease them off with the early findings?
They'd done endless tests at first. No matter what they couldn't face turning any of the research crew into broken shells like Not-Wolner. So they'd gone slow. Started off with probes, caged animals and interns. Overtime they'd confirmed that the growths down there didn't have the same power over replicant and human minds. Anybody down there for more than four or five hours reported headaches, but nothing like the total snap and need that anybody in the path of the Mandlebox had experienced. Not-Wolner might be the sole survivor of that now, the endless shelling had reduced the fervent masses gathered below into a gory paste.
Things like that were just every day now. Dead civilians. People just caught in the wrong place and falling under the sway of some incomprehensible manifestation of pure geometry hanging in the sky. And now they were selling off those miscellaneous bits and pieces they'd been stockpiling. Nobody knew what they were for but there was a market out there. Just for the chance of something. A hundred tiny little things like brittlestars but waxy and grey. No known purpose but worth thousands each to the right buyer. It all seemed too much of a risk. Even carefully checking every piece of alien technology and every buyer they could still accidentally end up putting a WMD in the hands of some genocidal maniac or other.
Although really. Was that any worse? Maybe it would be better if humanity wiped itself out. Stole the thunder of the aliens with their mysterious objectives. Kill themselves and make sure that the planet itself wasn't fit for anything any more. Perhaps it was worth presenting as a final solution. Step Protocol Omega up into something rather larger and more impressive.
The jet juddered under turbulence and Dr Thomas was knocked out of her idle daydreams of eradicating humanity to spite their enemies. Taking a sip of the wine (much too astringent, the altitude playing hell with her palette or the on-board sommelier needing a verbal lashing?) she looked back down at the tablet. The fractal growths had virtually no effect on the human mind although looking at them was almost painful. A fractal contained infinity. Looking at a feature you'd see the sub-features and so-on. Every straight line or curve was really a collection of an infinity of smaller fractals. It had no defined edges or boundaries. And it changed. Not just the horrible seasick shifting feeling that it generated from infinite complexity but if you took a photo and came back the next day it was completely different. Most of the time it was anyway. They'd set up cameras and just caught static images, the movement was some quantum observer effect. Left alone the stuff changed macroscopically. Anecdotally the stuff seemed to grow (or just change) the most when a researcher was in proximity. The regions just outside of view would sometimes shift within minutes. It was unsettling, but it was not harmful. Not obviously.
Moving beyond the eye they'd found that its mass was barely detectable (partly because any samples chipped away faded into nothingness within seconds). Reflectance and transmission measurements were somewhat ambiguous and seemed to only detect the rockface behind the strange geometric patterns that had made their home on those surfaces. Raman scattering confirmed this. Either the fractals were composed of the very same rocks that they grew on or they were invisible to these measurement techniques.
Part of the issue was the rock itself. Down in the superdeep Kola borehole the types of rock were brand new to geology. At those pressures it was likely they were metamorphic, but they didn't really correspond to anything previously observed. It was a seam of brand new knowledge that would have had teams of bearded men in khaki shorts fighting to explore. But it wasn't time for geology to name some new rocks. That could happen if humanity survived.
Logically, the next step had been to try and confirm if they were measuring the walls or the stuff itself. Optical and acoustic time of flight measurements had failed to clarify the matter, but that in itself was a result. The measurements worked fine on bare rock surfaces but once those growths were involved the physics just packed its bags and went on holiday. The stuff was coupling to everything via brand new paths. Light gave up behaving as a complicated mixture of particle and wave and became something else entirely.
That had led them to their next discovery. The fractals that they saw were only the tip of the iceberg. A visual manifestation of some vast energy field that existed beyond standard physics. A new type of energy. One that was virtually undetectable due to its incredibly weak interactions with the world. It was dark matter. The missing energy in the universe. It had to be. It almost made sense. Ninety-five percent of the necessary stuff in the universe had been missing and now they'd found some of it at least. Right below their feet. The part they could see, lurking down there in the black was only the heart of the beast. The energy field itself spread out far wider. That was what they'd been detecting since the start. This fractal.
Maybe it was enough that she was planning on revealing that she'd found the missing energy in the universe. But it wasn't all she had to say. That thesis itself was not finished. It was dark energy but not dark matter. The fractal energy fields only produced the barest hints of mass. And the universe reacted like there were things much larger out there. Much larger and heavier but far less energy dense. An answer just leading to more questions. As it always did.
A soft chime announced a new email. It was an updated Rainbow Force service roster pinned to a short tech note from the scientists working in the new medical centre. It was a new era of surgery. Organs were being grown fresh and stored for specific individuals now. Generic typeless blood was running through their patients. The worst of wounds were now only a temporary distraction. All they couldn't cure was death. Death and the human psyche.
Another email rolled in before she got to the end of the medical reports. The signal of the aircraft was intermittent and must have just resynced itself. Port Talbot had been flagged as the most suitable location of the European ELF. Outsourcing as much of the manufacture as possible meant that it should be online in half the time of the original Asian unit.
More and more emails rolled in and Dr Thomas put the tablet aside and instead drained the glass of wine. The real findings running around and around in her head. There was no doubt of the connection between the Borehole Fractal and the Mandlebox. The lingering questions were just what was to be gained by goading humanity into nuking the borehole fractal. Would it kill it? Or wake it up? That was the final conclusion. The two were similar but not-identical. The one lurking down below was either embryonic, dormant or deceased. Regardless, a change from that state, given the size of the energy field, could have catastrophic consequences for the globe. It might well be an extinction event.
Maybe it wasn't all hopeless though. They didn't understand the energy very well, but they had uncovered some things. There was no way that conventional ordnance was doing anything long term to the Mandlebox. It would just wait there until the shelling stopped and then it would continue on to the borehole and something very, very bad would happen. Something where the best case scenario seemed to be "well maybe the whole planet won't be destroyed".
They could try to fight fire with fire. It was far from certain to work but it might. If they directed a stream of energy at the Mandlebox, most likely a laser of unprecedented energy density then some of it would couple to the fractal energy field. And that might just hurt it. The problem was that they would need a hell of a lot of energy to do that. That and it might not work any way.
She'd be landing soon, she could hear it in the change of the engine noise. And then she'd be saying all of this to The Agency. Outside the sun was coming up. The pink sky outside looked unreal. A view into a different world.
[Research allows you to construct an anti-fractal weapons installation, the Fractal Energy Coupler. You can also construct energy nexuses, which tap a region's powergrid to intensify the weapon's power]
Next
A - Perform focused research [additional +1d12 RP this turn]
B - Perform focused engineering [additional +1d10 EP this turn]
C - Hire new military personnel (specify number) [€20M each]
D - Train existing military personnel (specify soldier to promote) [Cost is €2M * Old Rank]
E - Hold negotiations to improve funding / remove black marks(specify council) F - Start construction of an ELF detector array in [Region] [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
G - Start construction of a Fractal Energy Coupler in Asia [€500M, 50EP: can possibly damage the Mandlebox]
H - Start construction of an Energy Nexus in [Region] [€500M, 50EP: routes all energy from a region to the FEC]
I - Start producing [n] suits of Personal Armour [€10M, 5EP] [10/19 troops armoured]
J - Start producing [n] death rays [€15M, 10EP. Difficulty 8 [fragile] weapon] [3/19 troops have death rays]
K - Implement Unethical Computation [€500M, increases RP dice to d15, atrocity]
L - Implement Beyond Humanity Cyborg Program [€500M, one soldier per turn returning to base with only 1 remaining wound is made into a cyborg at a cost of €20 +1 armour, -1 psyche, +1 on combat rolls, atrocity]
M - Buy/Build new aircraft [€250M Interceptor or €250M,10EP Dropship, two open hangar slots] N - Build and have the ESA launch DESCARTES DEUXIEME [Asia or Oceania, €250M, 25EP]
COMBAT - Engage a contact in Asia [choose Ground-based or Aerial, and choose if you want to target at random or hit a Supply vessel]
PROTOCOL OMEGA - Active the self destruct system
1 - Research Alien Javelin Weapon [RP 50]
2 - Research Alien Rockships [RP 50]
3 - Research Overcharged Death Rays [RP 75]
4 - Research Interceptor Mounted Death Rays [RP 50]
5 - Research Advanced Military Conditioning [RP 50]
6 - Research Alien Elements [RP 75]
7 - Research Alien Implants [RP 75]
8- Research Replicant Ooze [RP 150]
9 - Research Mandlebox’s effects on human physiology and psychology [RP100]
10 - Interrogate Dust Bunnies [RP 75]
11 - Interrogate Jelly [RP 75]
12 - Interrogate Replicants [RP 75]
Mojo_Jojo on
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
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jakobaggerLO THY DREAD EMPIRE CHAOS IS RESTOREDRegistered Userregular
Didn't we just research Fractal formations at the borehole?
COMBAT(Supply Ship) 9
Let's takedown a supply ship and see what it nets us. From the looks of things we really need money, and then we should probably see about building the FEC-gun. I also propose we research the alien replicant goo. It would be super-handy if we could build an army of Not-Wolners.
EDIT: Ok forget replicants. I'd much rather discover if we can undo what was done to Not Wolner, and maybe sneak a team onto the Mandlebox to blow it up from the inside or something. Human lives are cheaper then giant lasers.
electricitylikesme on
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
If they need supplies, then we can cut off supplies, weakening them. Hopefully replicant ooze gets us easy clones and not just another atrocity. Feel we've been poking at the play god thing too much.
Also "step up Protocol Omega"? Are we going to learn that man was the real monster all along?
If they need supplies, then we can cut off supplies, weakening them. Hopefully replicant ooze gets us easy clones and not just another atrocity. Feel we've been poking at the play god thing too much.
Also "step up Protocol Omega"? Are we going to learn that man was the real monster all along?
There's no such thing as "too much" when it comes to playing god. COMBAT(Supply Ship) 9
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SnicketysnickThe Greatest Hype Man inWesterosRegistered Userregular
COMBAT-(Supply ship) 9
"Fixing" Not-Wolner would be an excellent bonus, but I fear he may be too far gone. Perhaps the psyche-based research will lead to enhanced interrogation techniques as well, because we have a fairly sizeable backlog in that department now.
Combat(supplyship) - 10, let's find out a bit more about these aliens. Preferably where their mouth is, and how to best apply mechanical leverage with your fist to it.
Look, All I am saying is we can carve the Coke logo on the moon once we are done with the madelbox.
Combat(supply ship) - 10
We have a solution to WHATEVER the madelbox is and we should be making a cannon and energy siphon in Europe as soon as possible. In the meantime lets learn what the hell the dust bunnies have to do with it.
He's a shy overambitious dog-catcher on the wrong side of the law. She's an orphaned psychic mercenary with the power to bend men's minds. They fight crime!
i like Combat (supply ship) - 5 because we're good at repairing everything but psyche right now, and I figure that has a really good shot of giving us abilities at fixing psyche. And it's cheap to research! We've been focused on combat capacities recently, and this will significantly upgrade our combat capacities (I bet) with minimal engineering required.
Invictus on
Generalísimo de Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
Turn 48 COMBAT Decision: Kill the supply ship and stick some more Mandlebox research on the barbie Numbers:
Overview
Funds: €246M [+€(88+1d10)M/turn]
Research Progress: Mandlebox’s effects on human physiology and psychology [RP100] 0/100 [+3d12*/turn]
Engineering Progress: ELF Europe 14/25 [+1d10+1d10/turn]
Borehole Progress 100/100 [+2d10/turn] Suspended
Agency HQ, Madrid
Research labs [+1d12 RP/turn]
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Exotic Materials Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, +1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Another Hangar [[Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Advanced Medical Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, Treats 1 wound / soldier / turn and 1 psyche / turn]
International Assets
UNIT [Active in Europe, Oceania and Asia, provides bonus missions, €30/turn upkeep]
DESCARTES PREMIER [Free attack on any alien craft that end up in Europe. Target number is 12 and it deals 1d4 damage]
Outsource manufacturing [+1 EP dice for projects of 25EP or over
Kola Superdeep Borehole [Digging too greedily and too deep]
ELF detector array in Asia [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
LF detector array in Europe [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
MIA
Traitor, Colonel Steven Hiller
[6,4+2,1/3] [Gunslinger II] [Revenge] [Tough] [Fragile] [death ray] [Targeting Computer]
LIVE ALIEN STORAGE
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Assault Pod Lander Crew
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Bomber Pilot
1x Weather Control Jelly
2x Snowglobe Crew Replicants
1x Snowglobe Response Team Jelly
STORAGE
Empty
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Gunslinger II] - On a natural 19-20 gains an extra attack
[Headshot] - On a natural 20 deals an extra 1d4-1 damage to the target
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Even The Odds] - +1 on combat rolls if outnumbered
[Iron Will] - +1 Psyche
[Medic] - Restores one wound after a mission
[Berserker] - +1 on combat rolls for every wound
[Quick Reactions] - +2 on combat rolls in first round
[Bloodlust] - Killing an alien restores 1 psyche
[Team player] - +1 on combat rolls if another soldier has the same trait
[Sacrifice] - Automatically deals one additional weapon hit when killed
[Spotter] - On a hit, an allied unit gains +1 on the next combat roll
[Field Research] - Earns 1RP after a mission
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
[Fragile] - Breaks on a natural 1
[Targeting Computer] - Lowers target by 2
[High explosive rounds] - +1 damage
· is a Black Mark. Collect two to drop a funding level with a council
Europe +€54 [Level 3] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 16]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -4 penalty]
Asia +€30 [Level 3] [Morale -0.5] [Difficulty 16]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
Oceania +€18 [Level 1] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 14]
North America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
South America [Level 0] [Morale -0.4] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
The Coca-Cola Company +€16[Level 1] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 14] [.]
Internal: +€20
Blackmarket sales: +€1d10
Research
Gear III: Personal Armour [Cost €10M, 5EP. Gives a soldier 1 armour], Powered Armour [Upgrades personal armour to 2 armour, allows Beyond Humanity project], High Capacity Transports [Cost €250M, 10EP. Unarmed, 4, 3] [Transport 7] ]
Materials I: Basic alien scrap analysis [Allows exotic material lab]
Alien Tech IV: Alien Comms I [mounts comm packages on all aircraft], Alien Comms II [Allows ELF detector array], Death Rays [Cost €15M, 10EP: Difficulty 8, [Fragile]], Stun weapons [Phase 1 combat now deals stun damage]
Xenobiology III: Fractal Fish [gives +2 diplomacy bonus with Oceania], Jelly dissection [-1 max wounds on Jellies], Dust Bunny dissection [global +2 diplomacy bonus],
Mysteries IV: Kola Superdeep Borehole [facility construction discount / mining spin out and excavation options], Borehole Fractals [Allows Fractal Energy Coupler (€500M and 50EP) and Energy Nexus (€500M and 50EP)], Vivsection Lab [allows advanced medical lab, identifies alien clones], Human composite blob [allows ELF detector to decode messages, allows unethical computation: increase research die size]
Narrative
"We can't test her out here and questioning won't do us any good. So I'm asking again, sir, do I have a kill order on the subject?"
It was Greer shouting into his radio. The heavy rocket launcher tube had been set aside and his hand was firmly coiled around his sidearm. Blood snaked down his arm. His eyes were locked with hers as he waited for the order.
...
It didn't take long to pick up the signals that had become associated with the suspected supply ships. The vessel hopped from landing site to landing site, stopping only for tens of minutes at each point. The signal had sprung into existence at the south-west edge of ELF coverage. Best bets had it coming from the Middle East or Southern Europe, although Africa was not impossible given the torturous path it was wending.
Interceptors had gone out and provided both visual contact and a crash site to explore. The vessel was shaped like a bullet. It had not been designed for space flight, this was an atmospheric vessel. The design principles only bore the most fleeting of similarities to the other radar-invisible craft but they were there. Looking from the back the interior was studded with three cylindrical hollows which must have been engine mounts. The rest was a series of apparently randomly arranged chambers of arbitrary size and shape. It was hard to judge more from the limited video available before the thing had crashed.
It had fought back. Weapons pods containing similar energy beams that the Jellies carried had emerged from the rear. In fact, the video suggested that those pods may actually be Jellies or adapted Jellies, freely moving on the outer surface and firing away at will. It was an inelegant weapons solution and the result was two interceptors in a perfect state of repair returning home while the bullet-craft had smashed down into a heavy forest in the Himalayan foothills.
[Air Combat:
Phase1: Interceptors score 3 hits. Supply ship misses
Phase2: Interceptors score 2 hits. Supply ship misses. Supply ship is down]
Archer was assigned command and lead Rainbow Force out of the dropship which had slammed down in the dying embers of the scar carved by the crash. The earth had been stripped away to its bedrock, banks of soil stood on each side making a valley which lead on to the wreckage. A wound in the earth.
Ahead a blast of fire and pressure erupted as some part of the vessel violently exploded. The bullet wreckage was visible now. Shards of twisted metal and those oddly shaped packages (or possibly rooms?) scattered everywhere. One of the amorphous shapes looked like it was made of plastic and had cracked on one edge. Viscous blue fluid seeped from the gash and formed a sickly glistening layer on the scorched Earth before it.
Arcing death ray fire announced that there were survivors. A scuttling black shape rushed from behind one pod to another, lightning arcing out at the human combat team as it dived for cover. Across the field Jellies hunkered down and unleashed a green hell across the field. Energy beams carved dark trenches through the already blackened ground.
[No enemies capture. Three Jellies and Two Dust Bunnies killed.
No friendly losses. Jessup is the only soldier to take wounds [2], one of which Johansen's medic ability treats. You have enough spare personnel to fill the gap ]
[Jessup and Alpert are now squaddies!
Jessup learns Field Research - +1RP after a mission
Alpert learns Spotter - +1 on one ally's combat roll if he scores a hit]
With the scene cleared, Rainbow Force set about assessing the crash. Near as they could tell on first inspection the bullet-vessel was nothing more than a hull designed for atmospheric travel with a few engines strapped to it. Right down at the front was a tiny space which must have been the cockpit. The (now deceased) crew could have only just fit in such a space, but it had protected them from the crash. The lion's share of the volume protected by the bullet-hull was made up of those assorted forms which must have been the ust Bunny equivalent of cargo crates. Some were the size of suitcases others were the size of motorhomes. Their shapes were random and inefficient. However they'd been held in place was an equal mystery. There was no sign of webbing or scaffold. They just hung there.
The "crates" were fairly flimsy and tore apart easily enough. Several were filled with copper. Not small ingots of the metal but vast chunks filling their storage containers. Other materials were also present. Other metals and what looked like an inconceivably large graphite obelisk. Raw materials that the vessel must have collected from one of the ground sites.
It was more than just these materials though. Art objects. Whole museums worth, just randomly tossed together and sealed inside the plastic packing material. Paintings with torn canvases and ancient sculptures now cracked and broken. The carelessness with which these things had been handled was unfathomable. Why bother taking them at all and then mistreat them so?
Others contained banks of squat transparent tubes filled with a brownish fluid. Shapes shuddered and moved inside the vats. It took Young some minutes staring into one before he realised he was actually watching a cow squirm in its sleep. The technology seemed similar to what had been recovered from some of the replicant sites. It called back those dreadful human experiments.
Some of the findings could help The Agency though. Fresh resources were always welcomed by the engineering teams.
[Resources from downed craft net €1M and 4EP]
It was Greer who made the most profound discovery though. One of the those tubes had contained a vaguely human shape and in a characteristic display of immediate action he fired a few rounds into the transparent barrier whereupon it had erupted violently and shattered like safety glass turning a solid black in the process. The brown fluid ran away and the form of a woman was left in the filth.
A woman in a deeply peculiar state of dress. Black hair down to the bottom of her jaw was tied with ornate gold and lapis lazuli. Her robe had been the finest silk but was now little more than effluent stained rags. Shuddered suddenly the form wretched and coughed for several minutes. An abrupt transition from the death-like state held previously. Without speaking she unsteadily pulled herself to her feet.
Rainbow Force had now assembled around the survivor, unsure quite how to react. It was her that broke the silence,
"I am the Pharoah Cleopatra. Bow before your God."
She spoke English despite her claimed identity and she spoke it with a sense of self-belief that would be hard to fake. Seeing that the assembled soldiers were not about to be cowed she glowered at Greer,
"You are like the others! A heretical people. Did that fool who calls himself my husband send her? Are you lackies of that false Pharoah? The bearded architect of those heathen tombs? I shall not be taken back to Richardopolis. Not by mortals such as yourselves. I escaped his clutches once already. You will return only with a corpse and the promise of Anubis' judgement upon you."
"Kneel down before me now it is your destiny."
Next
A - Perform focused research [additional +1d12 RP this turn]
B - Perform focused engineering [additional +1d10 EP this turn]
C - Hire new military personnel (specify number) [€20M each]
D - Train existing military personnel (specify soldier to promote) [Cost is €2M * Old Rank]
E - Hold negotiations to improve funding / remove black marks(specify council) F - Start construction of an ELF detector array in [Region] [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
G - Start construction of a Fractal Energy Coupler in Asia [€500M, 50EP: can possibly damage the Mandlebox]
H - Start construction of an Energy Nexus in [Region] [€500M, 50EP: routes all energy from a region to the FEC]
I - Start producing [n] suits of Personal Armour [€10M, 5EP] [10/19 troops armoured]
J - Start producing [n] death rays [€15M, 10EP. Difficulty 8 [fragile] weapon] [3/19 troops have death rays]
K - Implement Unethical Computation [€500M, increases RP dice to d15, atrocity]
L - Implement Beyond Humanity Cyborg Program [€500M, one soldier per turn returning to base with only 1 remaining wound is made into a cyborg at a cost of €20 +1 armour, -1 psyche, +1 on combat rolls, atrocity]
M - Buy/Build new aircraft [€250M Interceptor or €250M,10EP Dropship, two open hangar slots] N - Build and have the ESA launch DESCARTES DEUXIEME [Asia or Oceania, €250M, 25EP] COMBAT - Engage a contact in Asia [choose Ground-based or Aerial, and choose if you want to target at random or hit a Supply vessel]
PROTOCOL OMEGA - Active the self destruct system
1 - Execute this "Cleopatra" on the spot, she's clearly a replicant trying to gain access
2 - Take Cleopatra back to base and assuming she passes the "not a replicant test" speak to the people of Richardopolis about her return
3 - As above but instead interrogate her for secrets of the bearded empire and/or her apparent timetravel
4 - As above but instead invite her to join you [specify what you'd like her to do in the Agency]
5 - As above but instead let her go free so that one day she may reclaim the throne of Egypt
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
A - Let's dump some research into this, maybe with 4d12 we'll be able to blow some dice up 3 - Time travel could be very useful. On the other hand, the brainwashing techniques that could convince a person they were a historical figure could also come in handy (Hey, if our people believe they're John Rambo, or "Dutch" Schaefer, or John McClane hard enough...)
see317 on
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SnicketysnickThe Greatest Hype Man inWesterosRegistered Userregular
edited April 2013
A-Should be able to make some good progress with that many dice.
3 - The Crystal Pyramids of Richardopolis are a continuing mystery. If she has traditional Mummy powers (ie sand manipulation), I would offer her a position at the agency as groundskeeper of the volleyball court, with all the pilots she can ogle. (In other words, 4)
E(North America)- 4, clearly we are unworthy. We cannot give her Egypt just yet, but perhaps she can be satisfied with a leadership position at the agency. Besides, we need a bit more sanity in this place and Miss Cleopatra is just the candidate we've been looking for.
Tiphareth on
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jakobaggerLO THY DREAD EMPIRE CHAOS IS RESTOREDRegistered Userregular
We need money now, guys. We didn't before we researched the borehole, but now we need a lot of money, and an extra research die just isn't that significant. We ought instead E (Oceania) 3.
Oceania is the happiest place on earth due to our helping out their fish situation, and that means extra levels there are worth more than extra levels anywhere else. Moreover, we should not wait for bonuses to Oceania because they don't really seem to be forthcoming.
Oh, and obviously interrogate the time-traveling replicant.
Generalísimo de Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina
E (North America) 4 (Offer to help her overthrow richardopolis with a coup in exchange for an alliance and her full cooperation)
Money, that's what I want.
Also if she really has support within richardpolis we could play kingmaker, subvert an opposing agency. It would give Rook something to do.
He's a shy overambitious dog-catcher on the wrong side of the law. She's an orphaned psychic mercenary with the power to bend men's minds. They fight crime!
Changed my vote, the dice can explode without our help... hopefully. Also,. I'm shocked and saddened by the fact that noone else wants cleopatra as head of the organisation.
I now have the saddest face.
See, she has outstanding knowledge that our organisation could benefit from. Papyrus gum and crocodile poop is something the world has been forced to live without for too long.
Also, who needs deodorants when you have access to egyptian perfumes? Or something, I do not know what the egyptians used. Except for slaves, fancy that. Probably something the agency could use more of too. Cleopatra clearly has everything a modern day leader needs to succeed.
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
Turn 49 Decision: E[Oceania] and interrogating the prisoner Numbers:
Overview
Funds: €336M [+€(88+1d10)M/turn]
Research Progress: Mandlebox’s effects on human physiology and psychology [RP100] 25/100 [+3d12*/turn]
Engineering Progress: ELF Europe 23/25 [+1d10+1d10/turn]
Borehole Progress 100/100 [+2d10/turn] Suspended
Agency HQ, Madrid
Research labs [+1d12 RP/turn]
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Exotic Materials Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, +1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Another Hangar [[Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Advanced Medical Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, Treats 1 wound / soldier / turn and 1 psyche / turn]
International Assets
UNIT [Active in Europe, Oceania and Asia, provides bonus missions, €30/turn upkeep]
DESCARTES PREMIER [Free attack on any alien craft that end up in Europe. Target number is 12 and it deals 1d4 damage]
Outsource manufacturing [+1 EP dice for projects of 25EP or over
Kola Superdeep Borehole [Digging too greedily and too deep]
ELF detector array in Asia [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
LF detector array in Europe [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
MIA
Traitor, Colonel Steven Hiller
[6,4+2,1/3] [Gunslinger II] [Revenge] [Tough] [Fragile] [death ray] [Targeting Computer]
LIVE ALIEN STORAGE
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Assault Pod Lander Crew
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Bomber Pilot
1x Weather Control Jelly
2x Snowglobe Crew Replicants
1x Snowglobe Response Team Jelly
STORAGE
Empty
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Gunslinger II] - On a natural 19-20 gains an extra attack
[Headshot] - On a natural 20 deals an extra 1d4-1 damage to the target
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Even The Odds] - +1 on combat rolls if outnumbered
[Iron Will] - +1 Psyche
[Medic] - Restores one wound after a mission
[Berserker] - +1 on combat rolls for every wound
[Quick Reactions] - +2 on combat rolls in first round
[Bloodlust] - Killing an alien restores 1 psyche
[Team player] - +1 on combat rolls if another soldier has the same trait
[Sacrifice] - Automatically deals one additional weapon hit when killed
[Spotter] - On a hit, an allied unit gains +1 on the next combat roll
[Field Research] - Earns 1RP after a mission
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
[Fragile] - Breaks on a natural 1
[Targeting Computer] - Lowers target by 2
[High explosive rounds] - +1 damage
· is a Black Mark. Collect two to drop a funding level with a council
Europe +€54 [Level 3] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 16]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -4 penalty]
Asia +€30 [Level 3] [Morale -0.5] [Difficulty 16]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
Oceania +€18 [Level 1] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 14]
North America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
South America [Level 0] [Morale -0.4] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
The Coca-Cola Company +€16[Level 1] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 14] [.]
Internal: +€20
Blackmarket sales: +€1d10
Research
Gear III: Personal Armour [Cost €10M, 5EP. Gives a soldier 1 armour], Powered Armour [Upgrades personal armour to 2 armour, allows Beyond Humanity project], High Capacity Transports [Cost €250M, 10EP. Unarmed, 4, 3] [Transport 7] ]
Materials I: Basic alien scrap analysis [Allows exotic material lab]
Alien Tech IV: Alien Comms I [mounts comm packages on all aircraft], Alien Comms II [Allows ELF detector array], Death Rays [Cost €15M, 10EP: Difficulty 8, [Fragile]], Stun weapons [Phase 1 combat now deals stun damage]
Xenobiology III: Fractal Fish [gives +2 diplomacy bonus with Oceania], Jelly dissection [-1 max wounds on Jellies], Dust Bunny dissection [global +2 diplomacy bonus],
Mysteries IV: Kola Superdeep Borehole [facility construction discount / mining spin out and excavation options], Borehole Fractals [Allows Fractal Energy Coupler (€500M and 50EP) and Energy Nexus (€500M and 50EP)], Vivsection Lab [allows advanced medical lab, identifies alien clones], Human composite blob [allows ELF detector to decode messages, allows unethical computation: increase research die size]
Narrative
"I think what we need to hear is just a simple yes or no, Doctor"
"And if there was a simple yes or no then that is what I would have said."
A collective sigh came from the board room. Mr Fish, Ms Chia, the Generalmajor, Squaddie Sayid Jarrah and one or two other anonymous members of the top brass. And Dr. Estefan standing before them explaining that the blood samples collected from Subject Nile were inconclusive. Sayid shifted uneasily in his chair, he'd been assigned to the interrogation effort and he wasn't sure that the board were going to like what he had to say either.
"Fine. So, she's no a replicant but she's also not a human. Wonderful. I did worry that this whole alien invasion had been too simple up until now. Sit down, doctor. Perhaps Rainbow Force's interrogation expert has something more useful to share."
That was his cue. While the slightly frustrated scientists collected his scattered notes, Sayid stood,
"I'm afraid that I do not have any definitive answers to provide you either. The pris- sorry, Subject Nile honestly believes in her presented identity. Of that I have no doubt. This is not some actress or simple trick, rather it's a very clever trick of some type which currently eludes both myself and our scientific efforts. At least Dr Estefan has been able rule out time travel in that if Subject Nile is indeed Cleopatra then we're left with a very unlikely scenario. Namely that a former Queen of Egypt was inhuman and had a genetic structure bearing some similarity with the alien replicants."
Before him expressions ran the range from blank to frustrated. Rather like speaking to a wall,
"Using Dr Estefan's terminology, Subject Nile is a pseudo-replicant who has absolute certainty in her own identity. Generally, she has not been forthcoming in conversation and has exhibited tremendous resilience against interrogation techniques. Despite this she has occasionally been prompted to enter into monologues concerning her status. While mostly complaints, we've managed to infer a few key details. No historical inaccuracies have yet to been observed in anything she has said regarding her supposed time period of origin. The subject of her death is however hazy, she's mentioned a transition on several occasions but we've not managed to extract the final memories on either side of this rift in her internal timeline."
It was Mr Fish who broke the silence of the audience,
"So you're saying that she doesn't remember the death of Cleopatra?"
"Exactly, sir. She's dismissed any line of questioning which stems from the death of her identity. We believe that this may be something Subject Nile is herself entirely unwilling to confront."
"And the Branson Empire?"
"They are behind it. Of that we have no doubt. Subject Nile clearly originated in Richardopolis. Whatever she is, they made her there. She's spoken of an escape, which appears to have occurred during an extraterrestrial attack upon the city. We gather that such attacks are not at all uncommon. And shortly after escaping her bodyguards she was abducted and placed onto the supply ship in a state of suspended animation."
Sayid waited for a moment. Really, he had little else to say. The interrogation had not gone well and it was this meeting which decided whether he had to move on to more extreme methods.
Across the table Majorgeneral Reichenbach shuffled papers. His eyes traced other items of news that had come up today. Hiller was still evading detection and capture. The Oceanic council had soundly rejected applications for additional funding. In fact Oceania were becoming worryingly isolationist across the global politics scene. Yellow Sign incidents had all but died off globally, which was good news on the face of it, but now Central and South America were dealing with the rise of fundamentalist Christianity. The August Knights were not the only group but they were the one that the Agency was most directly concerned with. Analysts had been attempting to gather intelligence but it was slim pickings. All that could be said was that for a Doomsday cult they were sure committed to shooting down UFOs and executing anybody they suspected of being a replicant or sympathiser. He looked up, the silence was still lingering,
"Is that all, Squaddie?"
"Yes, sir."
"What do you intend to do next?"
"Subject Nile's interrogation has made her deeply hostile to this agency. We cannot expect any help from her in any form, even in activities relating to the Branson Empire. However, she may still know more. I believe that we may learn more if I can employ augmented interrogation."
Or torture as it was more commonly known.
Any answer was suspended as the room lights dipped and turned red while from the submerged speakers the now familiar alert music blared out. Above the cacophony, Mother's voice informed the staff of The Agency that they were under direct attack. As was the Chinese military's artillery emplacement and the Kola Superdeep Borehole. Rockcraft were descending from the skies at speed in a coordinated strike across several key assets.
Next
[Something is happening so it's an enforced combat round. Pepsi Present Earth Defendershave a 50% chance to protect the Artillery emplacement if you ignore it]
A - Both interceptors to protect one of the three locations [Select one of Base/Borehole/Artillery]
B - One interceptor to protect two of the three locations [Select two of Base/Borehole/Artillery]
C - Keep those birds parked.
1 - Send the Rainbow Force dropship to protect the Borehole
2 - Keep the active Rainbow Force roster to protect The Agency's Base
[There's no option to send Rainbow Force to the artillery emplacement as you know it's just getting bombed from orbit]
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
B(Borehole/Artillery)-2
Eleven comabt ready defenders and the DESCARTES should be able to deal with the base attack again, allowing the fighters to protect the other sites.
Well studying the fractals seems to imply very bad things may happen if the Mandlebox gets moving again. So
B(Borehole, Artillery) - 2
Let's send the interceptors to protect our remote assets, and keep Rainbow Force ready to repel alien base invaders. Maybe home turf will give us an advantage.
On that note, we might need to start considering cutting our losses. How much of the base could we pack up and fly to the borehole site, if we activated the self-destruct mechanism?
The borehole seems like it would be a good place to re-establish and would let us more directly protect it. I don't know what sitting around in Spain is helping us with now.
I don't really see why we should move, the attacks are far from overwhelming and I cant see how moving to the borehole would take any pressure off.
Anyway considing the time it takes to build anything I dont think we can afford to at the moment.
He's a shy overambitious dog-catcher on the wrong side of the law. She's an orphaned psychic mercenary with the power to bend men's minds. They fight crime!
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jakobaggerLO THY DREAD EMPIRE CHAOS IS RESTOREDRegistered Userregular
I don't really see why we should move, the attacks are far from overwhelming and I cant see how moving to the borehole would take any pressure off.
Anyway considing the time it takes to build anything I dont think we can afford to at the moment.
Moving to the borehole would mean we only have to defend 2 locations, not 3.
It's wasteful to have to defend the base, borehole and Mandlebox all at once. Since we can't build a base on the mandlebox, and our current base doesn't have secret alien ruins and a very convenient tunnel system + more tunnelling! system underneath it, a borehole base would just be making good use of our resources.
Posts
My nom deplume ain’t a MAMMAL.
If HEAVY LIFTING won’t fix what ails ya
For TWENTY BUCKS I might erase ya!
Which forumer am I?
I am a CANINE, but have no fur
There's many COMICS for you to see
I am synthetic, but also a CUR
Which forumer am I?
VOLLEYBALL’s where I lay my hard smacks
But even when I can’t make it
I come home to my snuggly BLANKET
Which forumer am I?
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
Decision: Europe needs elves and the legitimate blackmarket needs guns
Numbers:
Funds: €245M [+€(88+1d10)M/turn]
Research Progress: No project -/- [+3d12*/turn]
Engineering Progress: ELF Europe 10/25 [+1d10+1d10/turn]
Borehole Progress 100/100 [+2d10/turn] Suspended
Agency HQ, Madrid
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Exotic Materials Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, +1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Another Hangar [[Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Advanced Medical Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, Treats 1 wound / soldier / turn and 1 psyche / turn]
International Assets
DESCARTES PREMIER [Free attack on any alien craft that end up in Europe. Target number is 12 and it deals 1d4 damage]
Outsource manufacturing [+1 EP dice for projects of 25EP or over
Kola Superdeep Borehole [Digging too greedily and too deep]
ELF detector array in Asia [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
LF detector array in Europe [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
Personnel
ACTIVE
Captain Sterling Archer
[10,3,4] [Gunslinger] [Bloodlust] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Captain Ronald Greer
[14,3,3] [Quick Reactions] [Bloodlust] [Berserker] [rocket launcher] [slow] [1d4 damage]
Sergeant Everett Young
[10,3+2, 4] [Team player] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Tamara Johansen
[10,3+2, 3] [Medic] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Charles Kawalsky
[10,3+2, 3] [Even the Odds] [combat rifle]
Rookie Amy Jessup
[10,3, 3] [combat rifle]
Rookie Richard Alpert
[10,3, 3] [combat rifle]
STANDBY
Sergeant Rei Ayanami
[10, 3+2, 3] [Medic] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Matthew Scott
[10,3+2, 4] [Team player] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
MEDICAL LEAVE
Sergeant Pam Poovey
[14[1d4+1],3/4,1/3] [Tough] [Berserker] [rocket launcher] [slow] [high explosive rounds]
Sergeant Mitchell Loeb
[10,3/4, 3] [Team player] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Shinji Ikari
[10,3+2, 2/3] [Revenge] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Cheryl Tunt
[8,3+2,2/3] [Medic] [death ray] [Fragile]
Squaddie Louis Ferretti
[10, 2/4, 2/3] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Jonas Hanson
[10, 3/4+2, 3] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Sayid Jarrah
[10,3, 3] [Sacrifice] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Sanford Harris
[10,2/3, 4] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
QUARANTINE
Alien Imposter, Mandlebox exposed, Colonel Edvard Wolner
[10,4+2,0/4] [Revenge] [Medic] [Tough] [Iron Will] [Combat Rifle]
MORGUE
Sergeant: 1
Squaddies: 7
Rookies: 7
MIA
Traitor, Colonel Steven Hiller
[6,4+2,1/3] [Gunslinger II] [Revenge] [Tough] [Fragile] [death ray] [Targeting Computer]
LIVE ALIEN STORAGE
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Assault Pod Lander Crew
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Bomber Pilot
1x Weather Control Jelly
2x Snowglobe Crew Replicants
1x Snowglobe Response Team Jelly
STORAGE
Empty
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Gunslinger II] - On a natural 19-20 gains an extra attack
[Headshot] - On a natural 20 deals an extra 1d4-1 damage to the target
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Even The Odds] - +1 on combat rolls if outnumbered
[Iron Will] - +1 Psyche
[Medic] - Restores one wound after a mission
[Berserker] - +1 on combat rolls for every wound
[Quick Reactions] - +2 on combat rolls in first round
[Bloodlust] - Killing an alien restores 1 psyche
[Team player] - +1 on combat rolls if another soldier has the same trait
[Sacrifice] - Automatically deals one additional weapon hit when killed
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
[Fragile] - Breaks on a natural 1
[Targeting Computer] - Lowers target by 2
[High explosive rounds] - +1 damage
Craft
Interceptor [10x2, 4, 3]
Dropship [-, 4, 3] [Transport 7/7]
EMPTY
Funding
Europe +€54 [Level 3] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 16]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -4 penalty]
Asia +€30 [Level 3] [Morale -0.5] [Difficulty 16]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
Oceania +€18 [Level 1] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 14]
North America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
South America [Level 0] [Morale -0.4] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
The Coca-Cola Company +€16[Level 1] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 14] [.]
Internal: +€20
Blackmarket sales: +€1d10
Research
Materials I: Basic alien scrap analysis [Allows exotic material lab]
Alien Tech IV: Alien Comms I [mounts comm packages on all aircraft], Alien Comms II [Allows ELF detector array], Death Rays [Cost €15M, 10EP: Difficulty 8, [Fragile]], Stun weapons [Phase 1 combat now deals stun damage]
Xenobiology III: Fractal Fish [gives +2 diplomacy bonus with Oceania], Jelly dissection [-1 max wounds on Jellies], Dust Bunny dissection [global +2 diplomacy bonus],
Mysteries IV: Kola Superdeep Borehole [facility construction discount / mining spin out and excavation options], Borehole Fractals [Allows Fractal Energy Coupler (€500M and 50EP) and Energy Nexus (€500M and 50EP)], Vivsection Lab [allows advanced medical lab, identifies alien clones], Human composite blob [allows ELF detector to decode messages, allows unethical computation: increase research die size]
Narrative
Next
A - Perform focused research [additional +1d12 RP this turn]
B - Perform focused engineering [additional +1d10 EP this turn]
C - Hire new military personnel (specify number) [€20M each]
D - Train existing military personnel (specify soldier to promote) [Cost is €2M * Old Rank]
E - Hold negotiations to improve funding / remove black marks(specify council)
F - Start construction of an ELF detector array in [Region] [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
G - Start construction of a Fractal Energy Coupler in Asia [€500M, 50EP: can possibly damage the Mandlebox]
H - Start construction of an Energy Nexus in [Region] [€500M, 50EP: routes all energy from a region to the FEC]
I - Start producing [n] suits of Personal Armour [€10M, 5EP] [10/19 troops armoured]
J - Start producing [n] death rays [€15M, 10EP. Difficulty 8 [fragile] weapon] [3/19 troops have death rays]
K - Implement Unethical Computation [€500M, increases RP dice to d15, atrocity]
L - Implement Beyond Humanity Cyborg Program [€500M, one soldier per turn returning to base with only 1 remaining wound is made into a cyborg at a cost of €20 +1 armour, -1 psyche, +1 on combat rolls, atrocity]
M - Buy/Build new aircraft [€250M Interceptor or €250M,10EP Dropship, two open hangar slots]
N - Build and have the ESA launch DESCARTES DEUXIEME [Asia or Oceania, €250M, 25EP]
COMBAT - Engage a contact in Asia [choose Ground-based or Aerial, and choose if you want to target at random or hit a Supply vessel]
PROTOCOL OMEGA - Active the self destruct system
1 - Research Alien Javelin Weapon [RP 50]
2 - Research Alien Rockships [RP 50]
3 - Research Overcharged Death Rays [RP 75]
4 - Research Interceptor Mounted Death Rays [RP 50]
5 - Research Advanced Military Conditioning [RP 50]
6 - Research Alien Elements [RP 75]
7 - Research Alien Implants [RP 75]
8- Research Replicant Ooze [RP 150]
9 - Research Mandlebox’s effects on human physiology and psychology [RP100]
10 - Interrogate Dust Bunnies [RP 75]
11 - Interrogate Jelly [RP 75]
12 - Interrogate Replicants [RP 75]
COMBAT(Supply Ship) 9
Let's takedown a supply ship and see what it nets us. From the looks of things we really need money, and then we should probably see about building the FEC-gun. I also propose we research the alien replicant goo. It would be super-handy if we could build an army of Not-Wolners.
EDIT: Ok forget replicants. I'd much rather discover if we can undo what was done to Not Wolner, and maybe sneak a team onto the Mandlebox to blow it up from the inside or something. Human lives are cheaper then giant lasers.
YOU SAW NOTHING
Ohhh yeah giant lazors.
If they need supplies, then we can cut off supplies, weakening them. Hopefully replicant ooze gets us easy clones and not just another atrocity. Feel we've been poking at the play god thing too much.
Also "step up Protocol Omega"? Are we going to learn that man was the real monster all along?
COMBAT(Supply Ship) 9
"Fixing" Not-Wolner would be an excellent bonus, but I fear he may be too far gone. Perhaps the psyche-based research will lead to enhanced interrogation techniques as well, because we have a fairly sizeable backlog in that department now.
Ahh so much to pick from..
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
Combat(supply ship) - 10
We have a solution to WHATEVER the madelbox is and we should be making a cannon and energy siphon in Europe as soon as possible. In the meantime lets learn what the hell the dust bunnies have to do with it.
Decision: Kill the supply ship and stick some more Mandlebox research on the barbie
Numbers:
Funds: €246M [+€(88+1d10)M/turn]
Research Progress: Mandlebox’s effects on human physiology and psychology [RP100] 0/100 [+3d12*/turn]
Engineering Progress: ELF Europe 14/25 [+1d10+1d10/turn]
Borehole Progress 100/100 [+2d10/turn] Suspended
Agency HQ, Madrid
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Exotic Materials Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, +1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Another Hangar [[Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Advanced Medical Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, Treats 1 wound / soldier / turn and 1 psyche / turn]
International Assets
DESCARTES PREMIER [Free attack on any alien craft that end up in Europe. Target number is 12 and it deals 1d4 damage]
Outsource manufacturing [+1 EP dice for projects of 25EP or over
Kola Superdeep Borehole [Digging too greedily and too deep]
ELF detector array in Asia [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
LF detector array in Europe [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
Personnel
ACTIVE
Captain Sterling Archer
[10,3,4] [Gunslinger] [Bloodlust] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Captain Ronald Greer
[14,3,3] [Quick Reactions] [Bloodlust] [Berserker] [rocket launcher] [slow] [1d4 damage]
Sergeant Everett Young
[10,3+2, 4] [Team player] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Tamara Johansen
[10,3+2, 3] [Medic] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Matthew Scott
[10,3+2, 4] [Team player] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Rei Ayanami
[10, 3+2, 3] [Medic] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Charles Kawalsky
[10,3+2, 3] [Even the Odds] [combat rifle]
STANDBY
Squaddie Richard Alpert
[10,3, 3] [spotter] [combat rifle]
MEDICAL LEAVE
Sergeant Pam Poovey
[14[1d4+1],3/4,1/3] [Tough] [Berserker] [rocket launcher] [slow] [high explosive rounds]
Sergeant Mitchell Loeb
[10,3/4, 3] [Team player] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Shinji Ikari
[10,3+2, 2/3] [Revenge] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Cheryl Tunt
[8,3+2,2/3] [Medic] [death ray] [Fragile]
Squaddie Louis Ferretti
[10, 2/4, 2/3] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Jonas Hanson
[10, 3/4+2, 3] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Sayid Jarrah
[10,3, 3] [Sacrifice] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Sanford Harris
[10,2/3, 4] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Amy Jessup
[10,2/3, 3] [Field Research] [combat rifle]
QUARANTINE
Alien Imposter, Mandlebox exposed, Colonel Edvard Wolner
[10,4+2,0/4] [Revenge] [Medic] [Tough] [Iron Will] [Combat Rifle]
MORGUE
Sergeant: 1
Squaddies: 7
Rookies: 7
MIA
Traitor, Colonel Steven Hiller
[6,4+2,1/3] [Gunslinger II] [Revenge] [Tough] [Fragile] [death ray] [Targeting Computer]
LIVE ALIEN STORAGE
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Assault Pod Lander Crew
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Bomber Pilot
1x Weather Control Jelly
2x Snowglobe Crew Replicants
1x Snowglobe Response Team Jelly
STORAGE
Empty
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Gunslinger II] - On a natural 19-20 gains an extra attack
[Headshot] - On a natural 20 deals an extra 1d4-1 damage to the target
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Even The Odds] - +1 on combat rolls if outnumbered
[Iron Will] - +1 Psyche
[Medic] - Restores one wound after a mission
[Berserker] - +1 on combat rolls for every wound
[Quick Reactions] - +2 on combat rolls in first round
[Bloodlust] - Killing an alien restores 1 psyche
[Team player] - +1 on combat rolls if another soldier has the same trait
[Sacrifice] - Automatically deals one additional weapon hit when killed
[Spotter] - On a hit, an allied unit gains +1 on the next combat roll
[Field Research] - Earns 1RP after a mission
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
[Fragile] - Breaks on a natural 1
[Targeting Computer] - Lowers target by 2
[High explosive rounds] - +1 damage
Craft
Interceptor [10x2, 4, 3]
Dropship [-, 4, 3] [Transport 7/7]
EMPTY
Funding
Europe +€54 [Level 3] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 16]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -4 penalty]
Asia +€30 [Level 3] [Morale -0.5] [Difficulty 16]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
Oceania +€18 [Level 1] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 14]
North America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
South America [Level 0] [Morale -0.4] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
The Coca-Cola Company +€16[Level 1] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 14] [.]
Internal: +€20
Blackmarket sales: +€1d10
Research
Materials I: Basic alien scrap analysis [Allows exotic material lab]
Alien Tech IV: Alien Comms I [mounts comm packages on all aircraft], Alien Comms II [Allows ELF detector array], Death Rays [Cost €15M, 10EP: Difficulty 8, [Fragile]], Stun weapons [Phase 1 combat now deals stun damage]
Xenobiology III: Fractal Fish [gives +2 diplomacy bonus with Oceania], Jelly dissection [-1 max wounds on Jellies], Dust Bunny dissection [global +2 diplomacy bonus],
Mysteries IV: Kola Superdeep Borehole [facility construction discount / mining spin out and excavation options], Borehole Fractals [Allows Fractal Energy Coupler (€500M and 50EP) and Energy Nexus (€500M and 50EP)], Vivsection Lab [allows advanced medical lab, identifies alien clones], Human composite blob [allows ELF detector to decode messages, allows unethical computation: increase research die size]
Narrative
Next
A - Perform focused research [additional +1d12 RP this turn]
B - Perform focused engineering [additional +1d10 EP this turn]
C - Hire new military personnel (specify number) [€20M each]
D - Train existing military personnel (specify soldier to promote) [Cost is €2M * Old Rank]
E - Hold negotiations to improve funding / remove black marks(specify council)
F - Start construction of an ELF detector array in [Region] [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
G - Start construction of a Fractal Energy Coupler in Asia [€500M, 50EP: can possibly damage the Mandlebox]
H - Start construction of an Energy Nexus in [Region] [€500M, 50EP: routes all energy from a region to the FEC]
I - Start producing [n] suits of Personal Armour [€10M, 5EP] [10/19 troops armoured]
J - Start producing [n] death rays [€15M, 10EP. Difficulty 8 [fragile] weapon] [3/19 troops have death rays]
K - Implement Unethical Computation [€500M, increases RP dice to d15, atrocity]
L - Implement Beyond Humanity Cyborg Program [€500M, one soldier per turn returning to base with only 1 remaining wound is made into a cyborg at a cost of €20 +1 armour, -1 psyche, +1 on combat rolls, atrocity]
M - Buy/Build new aircraft [€250M Interceptor or €250M,10EP Dropship, two open hangar slots]
N - Build and have the ESA launch DESCARTES DEUXIEME [Asia or Oceania, €250M, 25EP]
COMBAT - Engage a contact in Asia [choose Ground-based or Aerial, and choose if you want to target at random or hit a Supply vessel]
PROTOCOL OMEGA - Active the self destruct system
1 - Execute this "Cleopatra" on the spot, she's clearly a replicant trying to gain access
2 - Take Cleopatra back to base and assuming she passes the "not a replicant test" speak to the people of Richardopolis about her return
3 - As above but instead interrogate her for secrets of the bearded empire and/or her apparent timetravel
4 - As above but instead invite her to join you [specify what you'd like her to do in the Agency]
5 - As above but instead let her go free so that one day she may reclaim the throne of Egypt
3 - Time travel could be very useful. On the other hand, the brainwashing techniques that could convince a person they were a historical figure could also come in handy (Hey, if our people believe they're John Rambo, or "Dutch" Schaefer, or John McClane hard enough...)
3 - The Crystal Pyramids of Richardopolis are a continuing mystery. If she has traditional Mummy powers (ie sand manipulation), I would offer her a position at the agency as groundskeeper of the volleyball court, with all the pilots she can ogle. (In other words, 4)
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
E(Oceania) 3
I still want Not-Wolner back. And for that matter, where are we with the Hiller investigation?
My theory is Richardopolis has brought her back using replicant goo, and we should place them under suspicion of being allied with aliens in some way.
Can we somehow threaten Richardpolis with orbital strikes if they don't start coughing up some answers?
EDIT: Changed to vote mo-money.
Oceania is the happiest place on earth due to our helping out their fish situation, and that means extra levels there are worth more than extra levels anywhere else. Moreover, we should not wait for bonuses to Oceania because they don't really seem to be forthcoming.
Oh, and obviously interrogate the time-traveling replicant.
Further money and some background on Richardopolis.
Money, that's what I want.
Also if she really has support within richardpolis we could play kingmaker, subvert an opposing agency. It would give Rook something to do.
I now have the saddest face.
Also, who needs deodorants when you have access to egyptian perfumes? Or something, I do not know what the egyptians used. Except for slaves, fancy that. Probably something the agency could use more of too. Cleopatra clearly has everything a modern day leader needs to succeed.
Decision: E[Oceania] and interrogating the prisoner
Numbers:
Funds: €336M [+€(88+1d10)M/turn]
Research Progress: Mandlebox’s effects on human physiology and psychology [RP100] 25/100 [+3d12*/turn]
Engineering Progress: ELF Europe 23/25 [+1d10+1d10/turn]
Borehole Progress 100/100 [+2d10/turn] Suspended
Agency HQ, Madrid
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Exotic Materials Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, +1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Another Hangar [[Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Advanced Medical Lab [€10M/turn upkeep, Treats 1 wound / soldier / turn and 1 psyche / turn]
International Assets
DESCARTES PREMIER [Free attack on any alien craft that end up in Europe. Target number is 12 and it deals 1d4 damage]
Outsource manufacturing [+1 EP dice for projects of 25EP or over
Kola Superdeep Borehole [Digging too greedily and too deep]
ELF detector array in Asia [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
LF detector array in Europe [€250M, 25EP: Detects previously invisible craft, collects alien signals]
Personnel
ACTIVE
Captain Sterling Archer
[10,3,4] [Gunslinger] [Bloodlust] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Captain Ronald Greer
[14,3,3] [Quick Reactions] [Bloodlust] [Berserker] [rocket launcher] [slow] [1d4 damage]
Sergeant Everett Young
[10,3+2, 4] [Team player] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Tamara Johansen
[10,3+2, 3] [Medic] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Matthew Scott
[10,3+2, 4] [Team player] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Rei Ayanami
[10, 3+2, 3] [Medic] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Sergeant Mitchell Loeb
[10,4, 3] [Team player] [Tough] [combat rifle]
STANDBY
Squaddie Charles Kawalsky
[10,3+2, 3] [Even the Odds] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Richard Alpert
[10,3, 3] [spotter] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Sayid Jarrah
[10,3, 3] [Sacrifice] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Amy Jessup
[10,3, 3] [Field Research] [combat rifle]
MEDICAL LEAVE
Sergeant Pam Poovey
[14[1d4+1],4,2/3] [Tough] [Berserker] [rocket launcher] [slow] [high explosive rounds]
Sergeant Shinji Ikari
[10,3+2, 2/3] [Revenge] [Headshot] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Cheryl Tunt
[8,3+2,2/3] [Medic] [death ray] [Fragile]
Squaddie Louis Ferretti
[10, 3/4, 2/3] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Jonas Hanson
[10, 4+2, 3] [Tough] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Sanford Harris
[10,2/3, 4] [Iron Will] [combat rifle]
QUARANTINE
Alien Imposter, Mandlebox exposed, Colonel Edvard Wolner
[10,4+2,0/4] [Revenge] [Medic] [Tough] [Iron Will] [Combat Rifle]
MORGUE
Sergeant: 1
Squaddies: 7
Rookies: 7
MIA
Traitor, Colonel Steven Hiller
[6,4+2,1/3] [Gunslinger II] [Revenge] [Tough] [Fragile] [death ray] [Targeting Computer]
LIVE ALIEN STORAGE
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Assault Pod Lander Crew
1x Dust Bunny Rockship Bomber Pilot
1x Weather Control Jelly
2x Snowglobe Crew Replicants
1x Snowglobe Response Team Jelly
STORAGE
Empty
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Gunslinger II] - On a natural 19-20 gains an extra attack
[Headshot] - On a natural 20 deals an extra 1d4-1 damage to the target
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Even The Odds] - +1 on combat rolls if outnumbered
[Iron Will] - +1 Psyche
[Medic] - Restores one wound after a mission
[Berserker] - +1 on combat rolls for every wound
[Quick Reactions] - +2 on combat rolls in first round
[Bloodlust] - Killing an alien restores 1 psyche
[Team player] - +1 on combat rolls if another soldier has the same trait
[Sacrifice] - Automatically deals one additional weapon hit when killed
[Spotter] - On a hit, an allied unit gains +1 on the next combat roll
[Field Research] - Earns 1RP after a mission
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
[Fragile] - Breaks on a natural 1
[Targeting Computer] - Lowers target by 2
[High explosive rounds] - +1 damage
Craft
Interceptor [10x2, 4, 3]
Dropship [-, 4, 3] [Transport 7/7]
EMPTY
Funding
Europe +€54 [Level 3] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 16]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -4 penalty]
Asia +€30 [Level 3] [Morale -0.5] [Difficulty 16]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
Oceania +€18 [Level 1] [Morale -0.1] [Difficulty 14]
North America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 13, -3 penalty]
South America [Level 0] [Morale -0.4] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
The Coca-Cola Company +€16[Level 1] [Morale -0.2] [Difficulty 14] [.]
Internal: +€20
Blackmarket sales: +€1d10
Research
Materials I: Basic alien scrap analysis [Allows exotic material lab]
Alien Tech IV: Alien Comms I [mounts comm packages on all aircraft], Alien Comms II [Allows ELF detector array], Death Rays [Cost €15M, 10EP: Difficulty 8, [Fragile]], Stun weapons [Phase 1 combat now deals stun damage]
Xenobiology III: Fractal Fish [gives +2 diplomacy bonus with Oceania], Jelly dissection [-1 max wounds on Jellies], Dust Bunny dissection [global +2 diplomacy bonus],
Mysteries IV: Kola Superdeep Borehole [facility construction discount / mining spin out and excavation options], Borehole Fractals [Allows Fractal Energy Coupler (€500M and 50EP) and Energy Nexus (€500M and 50EP)], Vivsection Lab [allows advanced medical lab, identifies alien clones], Human composite blob [allows ELF detector to decode messages, allows unethical computation: increase research die size]
Narrative
Next
[Something is happening so it's an enforced combat round. Pepsi Present Earth Defendershave a 50% chance to protect the Artillery emplacement if you ignore it]
A - Both interceptors to protect one of the three locations [Select one of Base/Borehole/Artillery]
B - One interceptor to protect two of the three locations [Select two of Base/Borehole/Artillery]
C - Keep those birds parked.
1 - Send the Rainbow Force dropship to protect the Borehole
2 - Keep the active Rainbow Force roster to protect The Agency's Base
[There's no option to send Rainbow Force to the artillery emplacement as you know it's just getting bombed from orbit]
Eleven comabt ready defenders and the DESCARTES should be able to deal with the base attack again, allowing the fighters to protect the other sites.
B(Borehole, Artillery) - 2
Let's send the interceptors to protect our remote assets, and keep Rainbow Force ready to repel alien base invaders. Maybe home turf will give us an advantage.
On that note, we might need to start considering cutting our losses. How much of the base could we pack up and fly to the borehole site, if we activated the self-destruct mechanism?
The borehole seems like it would be a good place to re-establish and would let us more directly protect it. I don't know what sitting around in Spain is helping us with now.
Anyway considing the time it takes to build anything I dont think we can afford to at the moment.
A shame we'll have to torture Cleopatra. But she is not human to begin with...
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
Let Pepsi defend Asia. We will keep our secrets.
Moving to the borehole would mean we only have to defend 2 locations, not 3.
It's wasteful to have to defend the base, borehole and Mandlebox all at once. Since we can't build a base on the mandlebox, and our current base doesn't have secret alien ruins and a very convenient tunnel system + more tunnelling! system underneath it, a borehole base would just be making good use of our resources.