|
I'm really curious what some of these "governments" on some of the nearby rocks are like. as well as what the political situation is. At some point after this "shakedown" cruise we might want to start a survey of our neighbors to see what the rundown is and what they are like. I know we're all mostly in "survival" mode but knowing their status might help out in the long run (curious what the Achilles League" is like to be putting on airs like this).
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 04:51
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 8, 2024 12:17 |
|
Fray posted:Not joking, wedgekree has "Nepotistic" and you have "Will not listen to advice."  Nonsense! I listen to my own advice all the time! Also nice update on the bottom of last page! It was really tense there for a minute.
|
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 06:31
|
|
|
habeasdorkus posted:If we had a rock killer nuke I'd kick it out the airlock on a ballistic trajectory towards Achilles. gently caress those dudes.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 11:21
|
|
|
frankenfreak posted:Eh, to paraphrase an old Earth proverb, an dick-swinging Achillean can't gently caress you. True, but if we're going by old Earth wisdom, people named Hektor getting in fights with people named Achilles rarely ends well for Hektor 
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 14:58
|
|
|
These asteroid nations remind me of some of the old Greek city-states. At least in size.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 15:54
|
|
|
Jimmy4400nav posted:I'm really curious what some of these "governments" on some of the nearby rocks are like. as well as what the political situation is. At some point after this "shakedown" cruise we might want to start a survey of our neighbors to see what the rundown is and what they are like. I know we're all mostly in "survival" mode but knowing their status might help out in the long run (curious what the Achilles League" is like to be putting on airs like this). Oh, we're absolutely gonna get into that poo poo. I'll run more this afternoon. A little note on how that works. Unless something is really simple I'll try to get on Discord. I do take live input on tactical decisions, or handling little incidents like we had just now. In that update when I say "Command did this" or "You think that", it's often direct from Discord, so join in if you want to play along! For more major decision points I'll return to the thread.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 16:15
|
|
|
Woo, go Ashes go, make your mom proud. 
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 20:22
|
|
|
Running now.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 20:42
|
|
|
 Operation Centaur Party continues!  From the Ashes increases to full thrust and sets course for Chiron. Chertopolokh sets off from Hektor following Ashes' footsteps.  Chertopolokh makes the turn and starts to head for her patrol region. Ashes' flight is uneventful thus far.  Chertopolokh is patrolling between Ashes and the cluster. She'll get between Chiron and Achilles shortly before Ashes makes Chiron. Eventually Chertopolokh gets close enough to start picking up the EM and thermal signatures of the Achilles population. Ashes begins her approach to Chiron without any similar signatures detected. You're thinking nobody's home...  PING. A sensor contact goes off 9.5 Mkm to port. The bridge erupts as scopes are trained in that direction. ---------- “Tightbeam transmission!” the cry from comms went out. The boss gave a nod to Admiral Kerath, and a display lit up with the face of an older, scruffy man. The message began, his familiar voice speaking in Russian through yellowed teeth and a gigantic cheshire cat grin. Dias let out a quiet exhalation. Mirela? That you? Must be, nobody else around here’s got a mammoth like that. So you managed to drag Nineveh back into space after all these years? And now you’re riding it around this far from home and no escort. Christ, Mirela, I like you but you mustn’t tempt me like this! The man known only as Pyotr had been something of a regional fixture for decades. Merchant, scavenger, mercenary and, according to some, pirate. He and his flotilla came and went seizing whatever opportunities for profit presented themselves. His irregular visits brought you valuable trade and gossip, though you avoided asking how his goods were obtained. He kept his feed running and smoked as he waited. Dias’ eyes narrowed. "Da Pyotr, it’s us. And cut the poo poo, we both know what we’re here for. Listen carefully - we have teeth now. Whatever is at Chiron, it’s our score and you’re going to get lost. If you want a piece of the action, you can trade for it the next time you're at Hektor. I can't believe a bottom-feeder like you even spotted it." The man laughed. Don't need fancy scopes when people talk to you, Mirela. A whole lot of people are under the Achillean thumb these days who aren't happy about it. Sometimes those people can get a message out, and sometimes the people who get those messages pass them on. See, the other day my boys and I are parked a ways outside the cluster when we get word that the Achilleans are in a frenzy. Seems they found out about your little iceball. Seems they're mobilizing. You've been running quiet, I take it. Well, you might want to light up and see what I see. I'm afraid you've been made, Mirela. His grin sat like a permanent fixture on his face. Silence fell. Without waiting for the order, XO Violet gave the word. One ping, and one ping only, Vasily.  It was the Miltiades. You realized that when she slowed down, she didn't actually stop tailing you. She had been with you the whole way, keeping her distance and following your engines. ---------- Yep, that oughta do it, Pyotr said. I'm told she's been signaling the League base at Makhaon about you for quite some time now. Now listen. You're lucky it takes ages for the Achilleans to get out of bed, but by my guess they should be about done preparing. When they arrive they'll squash you like a bug and probably me as well. You don't have time for more than a quick smash and grab before that happens. You need me for a real haul. So here's what's going to happen next, Mirela. I left some of my boys behind near Achillean space. I'm going to send them a message, and then they're going to go find a target and do what they do best. Captain Saros looked incredulously to Dias. "He can't possibly be offering to fight the League Navy for us." Pyotr smirked. Suicide! No, I'm just going to give those oafs something else to worry about. I'll have them going in circles for days! Meanwhile, you and I are going to deal with your snooper. I have unfinished business with that ship's captain, and I plan on shooting him on his own bridge. Then we're both going down to Chiron to have our fill. Finally we all meet up at Hektor and drink together. Sound good? I hope so, you know how much I hate talking to the Achilleans, Mirela. But if they're the only ones who will deal, then what choice do I have? He spread his arms plaintively and, impossibly, The Grin seemed to colonize even more of his head. Dias snarled at it and paused the transmission. ------------  Bedfellows - Take the deal. You'll join forces with Pyotr's gang, take down the Achillean tail, and continue the expedition together. We Don't Need Their Scum - Reject the deal. Instead you'll.... ? Fray fucked around with this message at 23:22 on Jun 20, 2021 |
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:06
|
|
|
Let me be the first to say  . At this point I don't think we really have an option besides being Bedfellows
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:15
|
|
|
Voted Bedfellows.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:17
|
|
|
Bedfellows because the only other option is literal suicide.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:26
|
|
|
Meh, Bedfellows. Also, start preparing for a defence of Hektor I suppose, I don't think it's likely we take this thing out without them getting out a message, and even if we somehow do, given they been chatting away it'll be pretty bloody obvious what hapened. Also, why didn't we do a ping or two before going full burn?
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:28
|
|
|
Bedfellows! Will find a bottle of something to share with our new space brother.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:33
|
|
|
I knew it, I goddamn knew they were gonna tail us, why in hell would they take our cover story at face value? THIS is why I suggested the rockhopper tail behind us! Well, I guess Bedfellows is how we salvage anything from this debacle and not lose our fancy new command ship in its maiden voyage. e: Also, yeah, that Pharnakes said. Guess the Alexi isn't gonna be the cushy assignment I was hoping for. Look alive, ya bastards, to your stations, we are on Yellow Alert! Asterite34 fucked around with this message at 23:37 on Jun 20, 2021 |
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:35
|
|
|
Asterite34 posted:
It did, but we miscalculated on our sensor ranges and had it too far out for it to pick up on anything (which is expected, because we didn't plan on those Achillean assholes to randomly send out a ship for dickwaving). Not to mention the fact that we were trying to plan around our neighbors, but as it turned out they really weren't a factor in this whole scenario.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:40
|
|
|
Bedfellows, alas.
|
|
#
?
Jun 20, 2021 23:54
|
|
|
Yeah, we planned this around a bad reading of intel (ot necessarily the intel, but our interpretation) and mis-planned. So we can either abort (option) or try to salvage it. Abstaining.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 00:10
|
|
|
All things considered though, I can't help but feel like we've stumbled into a bit of a "task failed successfully" kind of situation after thinking things over. Yes, our plan did end up going off the rails due to faulty intel and operating on bad assumptions. But consider: that "salvage" fleet would have been heading to Chiron anyway regardless of whatever us or that destroyer following us would have done. If we had left later we would have had to content ourselves with table scraps, and even if we sent more ships we'd be looking at a fairly awkward standoff that would have probably ended in us having to make this deal anyway. Even if we had known about the fleet in question the amount of ships it would take to spook them away would have blown our cover even sooner. Instead, we've gotten a valuable reminder about properly using sensors, a common enemy to smooth over negotiations, and the impending death of a known-to-be obnoxious Achillean captain to help smooth things over. I'm of the mind that we should also use the impending death in question to let the fine folks at Ajax know that we're as much of a fan of the Achilleans as they are.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 00:25
|
|
|
Bedfellows Yeah like Snark says, Pyotr was coming here to loot the place anyways so we were going to have to share regardless, and the Achillean complication is just getting the plot moving in the tutorial mission. The local bad guys are established, we've learned valuable lessons about the sensor mechanics, and we've introduced the pirate with a heart of gold character who's undoubtedly going to either be very fun to work with, stab us in the back, or most likely both. Let's get to lootin'.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 00:29
|
|
|
Bedfellows, naturally.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 00:30
|
|
|
Crazycryodude posted:
Er, not exactly, at least if you choose to believe him. He found out because the Achilleans found out and it leaked to him. Ed: but y’all are not wrong that this can all still work out nicely for you. Fray fucked around with this message at 01:34 on Jun 21, 2021 |
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 00:48
|
|
|
Bedfellows I imagine my squadron is in charge of chasing our tail?
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 01:00
|
|
|
Fray posted:Er, not exactly, at least if you choose to believe him. He found out because the Achilleans found out and it leaked to him. Even though he's only been "onscreen" for a short period of time, I find that extremely hard to believe based on interactions with him
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 01:08
|
|
|
The issue I see with Bedfellows is it amounts to us unilaterally declaring war on the Achilleans on the word of a known pirate. On the other hand, there's no way Goons wouldn't be starting a war with them as soon as possible anyways, so I suppose that isn't much of a downside.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 01:38
|
|
|
Bremen posted:The issue I see with Bedfellows is it amounts to us unilaterally declaring war on the Achilleans on the word of a known pirate. On the other hand, there's no way Goons wouldn't be starting a war with them as soon as possible anyways, so I suppose that isn't much of a downside. Granted, the source isn't exactly reliable on paper, but seeing the tailing Achillean ship indicates that his testimony is pretty valid. We have sent the Ashes on full burn towards Chiron, we know (from recent experience no less!) that the Achilleans are actively expansionist and aggressive and will probably blow the Ashes away given a chance, and - more importantly - we can fight one enemy instead of two. I won't pretend the situation is ideal in the slightest, but given circumstances this seems like the best course of action.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 01:47
|
|
|
Well said. We might as well get to work kidnapping Space Helen and properly kick off Trojan War II: The Quickening 
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 02:03
|
|
|
Bedfellows YO HO YO HO A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR US
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 02:09
|
|
|
In for a penny, in for interplanetary war I suppose
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 03:20
|
|
|
Bedfellows Snark hit the nail on the head, its not an ideal situation, but given the cards right now this might be for the best. If we get real lucky since Pyotr plans to wax the Achilles ship he might get most of the heat if things boil over, but still if what he says is true (big if) we might have gotten a target on our back anyways from our expedition (can we have one of our ships back home do an active ping near our home to see the current space picture). All in all this isn't a worse case scenario, hopefully Pyotr stick to his side of the arraignment, he seems affable enough. Though the second I hear the word Cornucopia I suggest we bust out the nukes.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 03:27
|
|
|
Eh snipping out some unnecessary rudeness. Things are starting off interesting! Bedfellows. Podima fucked around with this message at 13:29 on Jun 21, 2021 |
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 05:02
|
|
|
Bedfellows. Also useful to keep this particular fellow onside for when we inevitably come to blows with the Achilleans.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 08:10
|
|
|
Bedfellows, I think that discussion's been covered well enough. More relevant I think is what we're going to have the boys and girls back home do to prepare for the inevitable shitstorm. What are the downsides to having our salvaged pre-fall ship sit right on the dock with her actives blazing?
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 08:35
|
|
|
I'm not sure this necessarily has to end in outright war. We aren't really formal nation states to have such a concept are we? It feels more like we are all just a collection of opportunists and bullies, who take what we can when we can and back down when we can't. I would suggest we at least try to spin this as: well, your captain tailed us like that, what the gently caress did he think was going to happen, you muscle in on someone's claim you're going to face the consequences. But, since we acknowledge you're the top dog in the area, here, have *portion of loot as apology for the misunderstanding*. They will inevitably throw their weight around and demand more, to which we say piss off if you want a war you've got it, but just remember although you'll win we'll make it entirely Pyrrhic for you. Then release lots of rumours about minefields. Alternately if we decide we are ready for war, above plan but bury a nuke in the loot. A Trojan loot, you might say.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 10:06
|
|
|
Pharnakes posted:Alternately if we decide we are ready for war, above plan but bury a nuke in the loot. A Trojan loot, you might say. This is a bad plan but I love it anyway.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 10:21
|
|
|
Pharnakes posted:Alternately if we decide we are ready for war, above plan but bury a nuke in the loot. A Trojan loot, you might say. I mean if Chiron has nuclear/fusion reactors that can be rigged to overload when next powered up... Also Fray, out of interest how is gravity being handled in this setting? Does one of the early TN techs that was widespread before everything went to hell include some form of gravity generation? Or are most asteroids spun up to create centrifugal gravity around the edges closest to the surface?
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 13:21
|
|
|
I feel like Bedfellows wins already but toss me onto the pile.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 13:50
|
|
|
Gridlocked posted:I feel like Bedfellows wins already but toss me onto the pile.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 14:16
|
|
|
Yeah, Bedfellows it is. It's a good thing the Achilleans are leaking, it means they're not especially stable as a polity.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 15:42
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 8, 2024 12:17 |
|
|
I say, pass me that vodka before going to bed. I vote for Bedfellows
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2021 20:42
|
|