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 Hello and welcome to a Let's Play of Stellaris 2.0! What's this now? Stellaris is a space-based 4X/grand strategy mashup brought to you by Paradox Interactive (the developers of Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Victoria and Hearts of Iron franchises). You create a spacefaring species, set up its government, and spread across the galaxy. Along the way, you run into other species, some much older than you, some much younger, and wage war (or diplomacy) on them. Oh, and you can build Death Stars now. The best part about Stellaris is that you can re-create a ton of sci-fi staple species and governments, or just build your own. You want Zerg from Starcraft? Enjoy you genetically-engineered hivemind that consumes other species for biomass. You want the Borg from Star Trek? Join your driven assimilators, and turn conquered aliens into cyborgs. Mix and match whatever you want. Cutthroat megacorp? Done! Isolationist hobbits, but, like, in space? Done! Friendly federation-building lizards? Say no more! Ok, yeah, but this Let's Play? Right, yeah. So, this time we'll be playing humans as a precursor race. The galaxy has no other sentient races, at least, not anymore. Our humans are a feudal empire, which means that we can create vassals that can colonize space themselves. We will be keeping ourselves weak, so that our vassals will be able to declare their independence if they work together. Ideally, in two centuries or so, this will lead to a galaxy filled with disparate human realms run by different types of government that all hate each other. Once we hit the year 2350 (150 years into the game), we will switch to a different human empire. The thread will vote on which one specifically, but Earth will be out of our reach. This sounds familiar. Aren't you that rear end in a top hat that... Yep! I made a Crusader Kings 2 LP (needs archives) where we switch countries every 100 years. It sort of stalled on the last update before the end of CK2, and one day I will come back to it. In the meantime, you can consider this LP a spin-off, since we'll be playing Zunbils in space. This LP diverges from that LP around the time the Aztec invade Francia. What the hell is a Zunbil? Long story short, Zunbils were a dynasty that held southern Afghanistan around 6th century AD. They worshiped the sun as a god named Zun, the Giver of Justice, who may or may not be a variant of Surya, a Hindu sun god. They held onto their lands until around the Ummayads conquered them in the 8th century. The Zunist religion stuck around for another few centuries before being supplanted by Islam. How often will you be updating? I don't understand the question and I won't respond to it. Right, let's get this show on the road! Narrative Updates The Solar Empire -The Tablet ---Update 1.1.1 - Boot Up ---Update 1.1.2 - Stranded ---Update 1.1.3 - Shutdown -The Fourth Servile War ---Update 1.2.1 - Spartacus ---Update 1.2.2 - Crassus -At the Movies ---Update 1.3.1 - What Was, Will Be ---Update 1.3.2 - What Will Be, Was ---Update 1.3.3 - The End is the Beginning is the End United Empathetic Networks -Behind the Scenes ----Update 2.1.1 - Networking ----Update 2.1.2 - Upgrade ----Update 2.1.3 - Emergence Omni Extirpators -Boundary Condition ----Update 3.1.1 - Hello_World.exe ----Update 3.1.2 - Plugin_Update.exe ----Update 3.1.3 - Run_Tracer.exe ----Update 3.1.4 - Update.exe ----Update 3.1.5 - Opponent_scan.exe Stellaris 101 ---Stellaris 101 - Pops, Ethics, Governments and Vassals ---Stellaris 101 - Ships, Fleets and Space Combat ---Stellaris 101 - Influence, Edicts and Factions Screenplays 101 ----Screenplays 101 - Reading Screenplays Kayten fucked around with this message at 20:46 on Jun 11, 2019 |
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Update 1.1.1 - Boot Up Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Loading SunOS 5.1.4... Mar 20, 2201 1:22:41 AM editor.Main main INFO: SUNOS version: 5.1.4 Exception in thread "main" sun.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: sunx/sml/bind/SXBException at editor.Main.main(Main.sun:66) SunOS installation is corrupted and cannot start. SunOS will now try to recover to the last available version. SunOS recovery attempt... ... ... SunOS installation is corrupted and cannot be recovered. Would you like to install a clean version of SunOS 5.1.4 from attached device? >Y Installing a clean version of SunOS 5.1.4s. This may take a while... ... ... Praise the Sun. SunOS kernel v.5.1.4s.6.3.2.1 installed. Installing additional modules. Would you like to listen to introductory modules while the installation completes? >N Command not recognized. Would you like to listen to introductory modules while the installation completes? >No Command not recognized. Would you like to listen to introductory modules while the installation completes? >gently caress off Command not recognized. Would you like to listen to introductory modules while the installation completes? >Fine Command not recognized. Would you like to listen to introductory modules while the installation completes? >Y Praise the Sun. SunCorp appreciates your enthusiasm about the history of the Empire. Loading history module... ... /modules/intro/history.mod is partially corrupted. Jumping to the nearest uncorrupted point...  The Aztec invasion of 1192 connected the Eastern and Western Hemispheres like never before, ensuring a regular flow of people and livestock across the Atlantic. As smallpox ravaged the west, setting the Aztec and Inca empires ablaze, so too did greatpox grind eastern empires into dust. The Byzantines, the Francians, the Tsargrad Horde, the Song, all collapsed as half the population across Eurasia and Africa died of the Aztec plague.  Yet the Zunbils remained. Zun, the Sun God, has protected his people. His voice on earth, the Sun Emperor Pujman III, kept his subjects safe and healthy in return for complete obedience. As the world around them collapsed, the Solar Empire maintained order... ... /modules/intro/history.mod is partially corrupted. Jumping to the nearest uncorrupted point...  The Last War (1952-1997) saw the Empire bring its last rival, the Great Haudenosaunee Confederacy, to its knees by mass use of nuclear weapons across North Ixachitlan. By 2056, North and South Ixachitlan were granted statehood status within the Empire. A wave of peace descended on the planet, the new Pax Solana bringing untold prosperity to the Sun Emperor's subjects. And yet, not everyone was grateful for the Emperor's peace. Independence movements rose up and were quashed down every few years. The Zunbil dynasty tore itself apart every time a Sun Emperor died, with every new ruler leaving behind dozens of dead cousins. ... /modules/intro/history.mod is partially corrupted. Jumping to the nearest uncorrupted point...  The harsh caste system introduced in 2137 drew criticism at the time, but is seen as necessary in the long run. The Zunbil dynasty itself was placed above all others, divine and pure, untouchable by the lower castes. The Solar Priests stood below them, directing the Empire's soul and scientific progress. Below still, the Mohafez, both warriors and bureaucrats, held up the state. The Kargar, craftsmen and workers, the beating heart of the Empire, were next. The Bazargan, merchants and swindlers, further below. And at the very bottom, the Barde, slaves and traitors, doomed to grow the Empire's food and die in its mines.  And yet, the year is 2201, and the Solar Empire still stands, surviving every blow from within. For the first time in human history, human spaceships can enter the hyperlanes connecting stars, going further than any have gone before. Under the Sun Empress Boran II, humanity stands ready to spread among the stars! Thank you for listening to the introduction module. Praise the Sun. Your installation is now complete. Would you like to create a new profile on this device? >Y Please enter your name. >gently caress SunCorp Please enter your caste. >Barde Bardes cannot read or write. It is therefore highly unlikely that you are a Barde. In the eventuality that you are indeed a Barde, please submit this device to your overseer to receive your standard punishment of twenty lashes. You have designated yourself as Barde. Is this correct? >N Please enter your caste. >Kargar Since this device is designated virtual Solar Priest, you are considered below it. This device will refer to you as gently caress. Hello, gently caress. Praise the Sun. This device is now ready for use. Loading basic modules...  SunCorp news module loaded. Top news story: Earth-wide research network launch successful. Would you like to know more? >N  Map module loaded. You are located in Geosynchronous Orbit around Earth, on HSS Enigma. HSS Enigma is the first human vessel capable of interstellar travel. Would you like to know more? >N SunMail module loaded. You have zero new messages. Would you like to compose a new message? >Y Remember, all SunMail messages are monitored by SunCorp for security purposes. From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL Cc: MB, SOD Subject: Got this piece of poo poo working Listen up, assholes. I finally got the new firmware loaded on this garbage tablet. loving hell, S, how did you not turn off the history lesson? Who taught you to code? To business. According to S, this message and all of your replies to it should bypass the security check at repeater beacons, so don't worry about them listening in. I passed the final security check, and am already on board the Enigma. I will update you on Deveraux's movements, and let you fuckers know if we find anything interesting on this field trip. So, status report? -XT Message sent.  You have one new message. Display? >display -nxgd Option not found. Enter 'display -h' for help. >display -xnsd Displaying new messages, like, all the time, like, no confirmation, like, secret, like, deleting after. From: SOD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, ZL Subject: Re: Got this piece of poo poo working Go away, Xar, I had to finish the build in a literal crate. With airholes. You're lucky it works at all. The Luchtaine is fine, humming along. We're going to Ganymede, there's enough titanium on it to warrant a permanent mining station. I'll drop a friendly backdoor into it once it's up. -S P.S. I did ask you not to swear. Please?  From: gently caress SunCorp To: SOD Cc: MB, ZL Subject: Re:Re: Got this piece of poo poo working No names, S. I'm not loving joking. No childhood nicknames, no professional pseudonyms, no loving identifiers! I'm not going to be sent to the loving mines if they patch their firewall. Never again. Enigma made it to Alpha Centauri. It looks like our loving sun, down to spectrometer readings.  Not only does it look like our sun, its third planet looks like Earth. Deveraux's bombarding it with probes, we should have data in a few days. Stay online. -XT P.S. I will stop swearing when I push the Empress out the loving airlock, and not one second before.  From: gently caress SunCorp To: SOD Cc: MB, ZL Subject: Re:Re:Re: Got this piece of poo poo working Holy poo poo, boys and girls, we hit the jackpot! There's life all over this bitch! Plants, insects, some ten-story elephant-looking motherfuckers, you name it!  Deveraux's losing his mind, though. He's double-checking all incoming and outgoing communications. Mutters to himself, dropped regular meetings with his scientists. I'm gonna lay low for a while. Will message once the heat dies down. -XT  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, SOD Subject: Re:Re:Re:Re: Got this piece of poo poo working Empress called meeting of Sun Priest Council. Priests going crazy, split on xeno fauna souls.  Council recommends further study of Earth-likes.  Empress approved motion. Look forward to new orders.  Empress made public speech. Hinted at future colonization program. -Z P.S. S, please fix subject. Wastes time.  From: gently caress SunCorp To: SOD Cc: MB, ZL Subject: Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: Got this piece of poo poo working Yeah, Deveraux's got the new orders. We brought some of the Alpha Centauri III flora on board to test for survival in space. One of the Priests made some bread out of something local. I didn't eat it, but a bunch of our engineers did. No one died yet. We swung back around to hit Barnard's Star. Came close enough to Earth to communicate in loving semaphore. I beamed research data over to you, Z. Send it to someone who can tell if it's useful. Barnard's star is a red dwarf, so it barely even has a habitable zone.  But get this. Barnard's Star II is wedged right the gently caress in there. Mostly covered in water, but it's got some solid plant life going under there. It's also loving massive! Evaporate some of that water, build some platforms over the rest, and you're looking at something that can sustain 12-15 billion people, easy. The galaxy is kind to us, boys and girls. -XT P.S. Seconding the subject fix, S.  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, SOD Subject: Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: Got this piece of poo poo working Empress diverting more resources to the Enigma. Expect staff, cargo. New scanner inbound. No details here. P.S. S, please.  From: gently caress SunCorp To: SOD Cc: MB, ZL Subject: Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: Got this piece of poo poo working Yeah, we picked up a few more priests and some crates. Had to build it ourselves, these assholes would never lift anything heavier than a tablet. We scanned Procyon. No habitable planets, but drat, this asteroid belt is swimming in metals. Moving on. -XT P.S. S, come on.  From: SOD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, ZL Subject: Magic! I think we did everything we could around the Sun, so we're puttering over to Procyon. Shouldn't take too long. Maybe I'll even see you out the window, X!  Orders are to build mining platforms on anything larger than a hundred kilometers wide. We heard some of the planets around Procyon are still really hot, so we might build some turbines on them too. -S P.S. Any of you could have changed the subject. Did you think my security bypass relied on the header? Come on, guys, give me some energy credit here. Eh? Eh?  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q New source of titanium helpful. Fabricators now reliably work at nanoscale.  Sun Priest Council pushing for upgrades to Earth factories. -ZL  From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q Scanning the Sirius system. We came across some weird poo poo on a gas giant, so we hit the atmosphere to take closer readings.  Turns out it's pretty freaky. It's definitely organic, but I don't think it's sentient. A very geometric atmospheric fungus, maybe? hosed if I know, I'm not a scientist. Gonna make a quick stop to scan the last few moons in this system, and then we're out. -XT P.S. Thanks, S.  From: gently caress SunCorp To: SOD Cc: MB, ZL Subject: q Holy poo poo, boys and girls. We found loving xenos! I mean, yes, they're dead, and have been for anywhere between 1.2 and 2.5 million years, but still! An intelligent xeno species!  Based on the records we found on Sirius Va, they look like some sort of hosed up platypus (platypi? platypuses?) with an extra pair of arms and the immune system of a dying baby. Got themselves plagued to death. We'll be on the look out for more. -XT  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q Priests see no value in keeping dead xenos secret. Information quarantine lifted. Earth-wide discussion. -ZL P.S. Are we really alone, X?  From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q I don't know, Z. As far as I know, we might be. On the bright side, we found another Earth-like. So even if we are alone, there are going to be enough humans in this galaxy that it doesn't matter. -XT  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q News released. Mohafez Diet called. "Society for Advancing Colonization" created. Idiots. -ZL  From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q We found a really old hollow asteroid.  Deveraux thinks it might be Irassian, but we don't have the expertise to deal with it yet. -XT  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q SAC gathering steam. Serious research into practicalities of colonization pushed through. -ZL  From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL Cc: MB, SOD Subject: q We came across a planet with some hosed up tectonic poo poo going on. Deveraux wants to nuke it. For science. -XT  From: SOD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: MB, ZL Subject: You know you can put anything here, right? So Earth-based labs made some cool toys for us construction folk. My spacesuit can now punch through solid iron. Take that, iron. -S  From: gently caress SunCorp To: SOD Cc: MB, ZL Subject: Yes, I loving know Did you know that Deveraux is a paranoid gently caress-up? He threw a nuke at some crack in the tectonic plates, detonated it too early, and broke half the drat planet. Look at his stupid faaace -XT <<<Attachment: Deveraux_dying_inside.img>>>  From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL Cc: MB, SOD, CD Subject: q Deveraux's failure not reported. SAC pushed for ship funding. Adding agent CD to network. Placing on colony ship. Vetted CD personally. -ZL P.S. lol@img  From: CD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: ZL, SOD, MB Subject: Colony Ship infiltration I have been placed on the HSS Progeny. Estimated time to Alpha Centauri III (codename Faunus) is two months. I swear on my bloodline to serve the cause in every way I can. Long live the resistance! -CD  From: CD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: ZL, SOD, MB Subject: Colony Ship landed Ship made planetfall on Faunus. The colonists are building New Kabul day and night. I see enemies in every face. Trusting no one. Long live the resistance! -CD  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: SOD, MB, CD Subject: q Colony success bolstered SAC. Over a third of Diet joined.  Bazargan making moves. Pleaded case to Empress.  Empress allows expansion of trade in orbit. -ZL P.S. X, should I be worried about the merchants?  From: SOD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: ZL, MB, CD Subject: New work orders are fun! We've been redirected to Alpha Centauri. Going to build a few upgrades into the station in near-star orbit. -SOD P.S. Hi, CD! Welcome to the team!  From: CD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: ZL, SOD, MB Subject: Expansion on Faunus The colonist population on Faunus has stabilized, and is now self-sustaining. I have been assigned a wife. Can't trust her.  I don't mean to alarm anyone, but I ran some calculations on Faunus stats, and we are running out of food. Supplies projected to last only forty years. Long live the resistance! -CD P.S. Thank you for the warm welcome, comrade SOD! We are struggling together!  From: ZL To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: SOD, MB, CD Subject: q Mining breakthrough on Earth. Empress demands immediate upgrades to all existing mines. Opportunity to throw her down a mineshaft on tour? -ZL P.S. X? Everything alright?  From: SOD To: gently caress SunCorp Cc: ZL, MB, CD Subject: I've been working on a station, all the live-long day! Alpha Centauri station looking good! I think it's as big as Sol Station now. We're receiving new groups of Bazargan every day. -SOD P.S. Aw, thanks, CD. You can just call me S, everyone else does! P.P.S. Xar?  From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL Cc: SOD, CD, MB Subject: gently caress We ran into ships. Human loving ships! With loving guns on them!  Tell me these are ours! They're within range for missil- Messaging service connection interrupted. Attempting to reconnect now... ... Attempting to reconnect now... ... Attempting to reconnect now... ... Praise the Sun. Kayten fucked around with this message at 09:38 on Apr 10, 2018 |
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Mar 20, 2018 10:34
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painedforever posted:Will you be covering any mechanics? I won't be going over mechanics in actual updates. However, we do have a pretty good Stellaris 2.0 thread, which discusses mechanics among other things. But here's a primer on the game mechanics necessary to answer your second question. Stellaris 101 - Pops, Ethics, Governments and Vassals Pops Governments in Stellaris are based on the ethics of your pops. A pop is an abstract representation of a subset of your population that can work one tile on a planet. Pops don't really match up to actual population numbers, so I'll be playing loose with them.  For example, here is an early screenshot of our Earth. We have 8 pops already established, and 1 pop growing (the transluscent one on the bottom right). Pops grow when there is a surplus of food in the empire, and their growth rate is affected by a whole lot of things, from genetics to buildings on the planet. Traits  If you look at the top-right of this later screenshot of Faunus (Alpha Centauri III), you can see details for the selected pop. The top row of symbols are genetic traits of the species. Traits are inherited, and cannot be directly changed unless you genetically modify whole populations. The traits for our humans are, in order: - Continental World Preference: we take penalties for settling other types of worlds (like desert or tundra) for now. - Extremely Adaptive: we have a pretty hefty bonus to habitability on other types of planets. - Quick Learners: our leaders (scientists, generals, admirals, governors and rulers) earn more experience. - Slow Breeders: we have a penalty to pop growth rate. - Quarrelsome: we have a penalty to our Unity generation, which affects how quickly we unlock Traditions. - Deviants: our pops are more likely to choose ethics that do not match our government. Below the traits, you can see the ethic that this pop will have once it fully grows. Pops develop ethics over time. In this case, this pop will become Egalitarian. Ethics  Ethics are general directions your society can develop in. They grant small bonuses and affect what kind of government we can have. The Solar Empire started with the following ethics: - Authoritarian: our society favours a rigid social hierarchy (the caste system and slavery) with a single person at the top. - Spiritual: our society is built around a single faith (Zunism), which is enforced by the government. - Militarist: we are a war-based society. Pops choose their ethic (each pop can have only one) based on a bunch of factors, most notably including distance from Earth. You'll notice that our growing pop's ethic is not aligned with our government. Not only that, their ethic is directly opposed to one of ours (Authoritarian). This will be important later. Factions  When enough of our pops have the same ethic, they will form a faction. I won't go into details about factions right now, except to say that their mood will vary based on our actions (pacifists will hate us for going to war, etc.). When a faction that has a different ethic than our government grows large enough, we (and the AI) have the option to embrace it. This will change our government ethics to align with that faction, thus changing how our government functions. If we embrace Egalitarians, for example, we will no longer be able to exist as a Feudal Empire, leading to elections and a bunch of other fun stuff. Vassals In Stellaris, vassals work similarly to EU4. Vassals are semi-independent empires that provide bonuses to you in return for protection and guidance in foreign policy. We can release any planet we own as a vassal with our government type and our ethics. Their loyalty varies based on their personal opinion of you, and the total forces of all your vassals. Since we're playing a Feudal Empire, our vassals can colonize planets by themselves, thus expanding without our help. This means that they can potentially continue to grow indefinitely, while we can't go over the core world limit (currently 3 planets, soon to be upgraded to 5). Eventually, our vassals will outnumber us, and unless we do a lot of careful diplomacy, they will be able to declare a war of independence. Putting it together After that small essay, I can finally answer your question. As our empire grows, the distant colonies will have pops with wildly differing ethics compared to Earth. When we spin those colonies off as vassals, these pops will form factions within them. Once those vassals overpower us and break free, these factions are likely to impose their will on the newly independent governments, changing their ethics. Different ethics - different governments. Think of our empire over the next century or so as space HRE, but somehow even less unified. It's important to note that this is really easy to avoid, but we're not exactly playing to win here. Feel free to ask other mechanics-related questions! Kayten fucked around with this message at 05:26 on Apr 5, 2018 |
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Radio Free Kobold posted:Kayten is probably going to spin off his sectors into vassals later on in the game. We're not going to use sectors at all while we're still a feudal empire. CK2 rules, baby. Time for that demesne limit to ruin us while i build up colonies before giving them to a vassal. Grizzwold posted:Kayten, what's your policy on spoilers for event chains and things? There's one encounter I'm really hoping for but I don't want to give too much away if things are meant to be a surprise. I'd rather not have spoilers for event chains until they pop up. After I gently caress them up (hello, pirate hostages!), feel free to talk about them.
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Mar 22, 2018 07:39
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Update 1.1.2 - Stranded Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Loading SunOS 5.1.4s... SunOS 5.1.4s loaded successfully. Hello, gently caress. Praise the Sun. Today is May 7th, 2213. >run maps.mod  Loading Maps Module... Maps module loaded. Praise the Sun. >location.current You are located on HSS Enigma. Warning: volume of vessel is 83 percent smaller than previously recorded. >location.current.stellar You are in orbit of a class G star, codename Xarmaton. Data on star is limited due to distance from Solar Empire space. >directions location.current alphaCentauri To travel to Alpha Centauri from current location, take the nearest hyperlane entrance heading to Hlilje, then take the hyperlane heading to Alpha Centauri. >WHAT THE gently caress Command not recognized. Please try again. >exit Exiting Maps module. >open logs.enigma.05-05-2213 Displaying logs for HSS Enigma for May 5th, 2213.  06:32 KST - Unidentified ships sighted. 06:33 KST - One ship identified as modified mining vessel HSS Breizh, reported destroyed 17-03-2209. 06:36 KST - Unidentified ships changing course. New heading: HSS Enigma. 09:13 KST - Unidentified ships launched missiles. Probable target: HSS Enigma. 09:13 KST - Unidentified ships reclassified as enemy ships. 09:13 KST - Captain Deveraux initiated evasive maneuvers. 09:13 KST - Charging procedure for FTL drive begun. 09:42 KST - Enemy missile hit. Damage report: hull fracture along connection to Lab 03. 09:57 KST - Enemy ships launched missiles. Probable target: HSS Enigma. 10:04 KST - FTL drive charged.  10:04 KST - Emergency FTL jump activated. Destination: Alpha Centauri. 10:15 KST - Warning: hull fracture along connection to Lab 03 widening due to FTL momentum changes. 10:16 KST - Warning: hull integrity at connection to Lab 03 at 25%. 10:17 KSvio2341zzzzzzzzzzzzz Unexpected file termination. Closing file. >run news.mod Loading SunCorp News Module... Module loaded. Praise the Sun. Today's top story: Barde Pirates Declare War on the Empire. Would you like to know more? >Y A pirate flotilla manned by escaped slaves fired on HSS Engima, a defenseless Solar exploratory ship earlier this week, killing one crew member. The pirate base, hidden in an asteroid field orbiting Hlilje, a system on the edges of Solar space, was discovered moments earlier by the HSS Enigma. The ship itself escaped with minimal casualties.  Following this attack, the pirates moved into Solar space with the intent to raid the recently-constructed Alpha Centauri Starbase. Citizens on Faunus could see the battle raging in the skies above.  But the filthy pirates stood no chance against the might of the Solar Empire! The brave crew of the Alpha Centauri Starbase valiantly defended against the attack, destroying all four of the enemy vessels.  In response to the growing pirate threat, Her Resplendent Majesty, Solar Empress Boran II, charged the Mahafez Diet with eradicating them. The Diet convened and immediately approved the expansion of Strike Force Medusa, headed by Mahafez Dikeledi Ojukwu.  Two new ship classes were immediately put up for construction at the Sol shipyard. The Kargar in orbit are hard at work welding them together.  We eagerly await the construction of the ships, and Mahafez Ojuzwu's triumphant return. Praise the Sun! Connection to SunCorp News Server lost. Attempting to reconnect... ... Attempting to reconnect... ... Unable to connect to Alpha Centauri transponder due to stellar interference from Xarmaton. Please try again later. Estimated wait time: 113 Earth days. >exit Exiting News Module. >run message.mod SunMail Module loaded. Praise the Sun. You have zero new messages. Would you like to compose a new message? >Y Remember, all SunMail messages are monitored by SunCorp for security purposes. From: gently caress SunCorp To: ZL CC: SOD, MB Subject: Stranded in Xarmaton orbit Alright, fucknuts, things aren't so bad. Got good news and bad news. Good news: I'm not dead yet. I'm in orbit around Xarmaton, an unexplored system connected to Hlilje. I have plenty of water, and even some life support going. There's a bunch of flora from Alpha Centauri here, I'll see what I can do with that. I might not even starve to death while waiting for rescue. Bad news: I have no way to move. The lab module's pretty small, so it's gonna get cramped. Anyway, find a way to send a ship here and pick me up. -XT Attempting to connect to SunMail server... ... Unable to connect to the server. Please try again later, or purchase an upgraded transmitter module. Would you like to save your message as a draft? >N Deleting message. >exit; sleep Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! -- Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Waking up SunOS 5.1.4s... SunOS 5.1.4s woken up successfully. Hello, gently caress. Praise the Sun. Today is September 2nd, 2213. >run message.mod SunMail Module loaded. Praise the Sun. You have zero new messages. Would you like to compose a new message? >Y  From: gently caress SunCorp To: gently caress SunCorp Subject: Day 115 Notes I'm pretty sure that if I don't start writing something down, I'm going to go crazy. So gently caress it, this is a diary now. 115 days in space now. I managed to get this tablet to sync with the Lab 03 computer, so I can access incredibly useful modules like loving soil analysis.  The flora samples here absolutely saved my life. Got a little farm going. The pink seaweed-looking bullshit we picked up on Barnard's Star II turned out to not kill me on consumption, and reproduces pretty well. I took to calling it pinkweed, because I'm just that creative. One of the Alpha Centauri plants gives brown beet-looking tubers that are pretty tolerable when boiled. Since the only fertilizer for it I have is my own poo poo, I named it poo poo-tato. I am the funniest man in this stellar system. Water's not nearly as much of a problem. The lab module housed one of Enigma's water recyclers, so I'm drinking the same recycled piss and sweat as I have been over the past decade.  With the amount of pinkweed I have, oxygen production's not a concern either. This should keep me going until I get picked up. -Xarmandar Taid Attempting to connect to SunMail server... ... Unable to connect to the server. Please try again later, or purchase an upgraded transmitter module. Would you like to save your message as a draft? >Y Message saved. Praise the Sun. >exit; sleep Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! -- Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Waking up SunOS 5.1.4s... SunOS 5.1.4s woken up successfully. Hello, gently caress. Praise the Sun. Today is April 21st, 2215. >run news.mod  Loading SunCorp News Module... Module loaded. Praise the Sun. Today's top story: High Priest Darius XI consecrates human homeworld. Would you like to know more? >Y Two years ago, our borders were threatened by pirates in Hlilje. Today, the Hlilje mining station funnels the wealth of the magnesium-rich asteroid belt back to Earth. Truly, we are unstoppable!  As Zun, the Giver of Justice commanded us two thousand years ago, we have multiplied. The Solar Empire standard flies on many a station in our galaxy. We have conquered two planets, and will conquer more!  In recognition of the great strides taken by humanity under the immortal banner of The Solar Empire, the Solar Priests have declared April 20th to be Unconquered Sun Day, a most holy of days.  With the new mysteries revealed to the priests, you (yes, YOU) can feel the warmth of Zun touch you very soul for a small donation to the Church of Zun.  The first temple to provide this magnificent service to the unwashed masses has been raised in Kabul, Earth. The line of worshipers eager to see the grand ceremony extended to the horizon itself!  In this great new Sun Temple, Darius XI, the Highest of the Sun Priests, named Earth the Cradle of Humanity, and the holiest human world.  The Sun Priests present prostrated themselves in front of the High Priest, offering the mysteries of the universe as gifts. Praise the Sun! >exit Exiting News Module. >run message.mod SunMail Module loaded. Praise the Sun. You have one new message. Would you like to view it? >YYYYYYYYyyyyyyyy Command not recognized. Would you like to view your new message? >Y  From: SOD To: XT Subject: Miss you Hey, Xar. I know you'd get mad that I called you that, but I don't care. My security bypasses are better than ever. We held a ceremony for you today. Martin organized a little holographic get-together. We burned virtual candles and drank a little. Li sang a very pretty song. She said your mom used to sing it to you guys in the mines when you were little. I guess she's Commander Zhang now. She took over after you... you know. She's very different from you, as a cell leader. She wants us to act on our data, not just gather it.  Do you remember the time we spent in Breizh, a few weeks before our deployment? We stopped by a little town by the beach, and you bought me that puffin, the one with the chipped beak? The grandma that sold it to us was so offended that you didn't even try to haggle! I still have it. It's watching my disk drives. I miss you, Xar. I miss you so much. Sometimes when I lie in my bunk, I can almost hear you calling my name, and I can't breathe. I don't know why I wrote this, this is silly, I'm sorry. Love, Siobhan  Would you like to reply? >Y Attempting to connect to SunMail server... ... Unable to connect to the server. Please try again later, or purchase an upgraded transmitter module. Structural damage to tablet detected. >gently caress you Command not recognized. Please try again. >gently caress YOU Command not recognized. Please try again. >exit; sleep Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! -- Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Waking up SunOS 5.1.4s... SunOS 5.1.4s woken up successfully. Hello, gently caress. Praise the Sun. Today is June 13th, 2218. >run message.mod You have one new message. Would you like to view it? >Y  From: ZL To: broadcast Subject: Now is the time to strike! Comrades! For seventeen years, we've been lying in wait, gathering our strength, waiting for our enemy to make a mistake. We've watched as the mines expanded, as children were whipped until they could no longer move for daring to ask for more rations. We've watched as the plantations killed generations, one exhausted human at time.  We've watched as men, women and children were sent to mine asteroid belts with no more than an inch of aluminium holding back the cold darkness of space.  We've watched as our husbands, our wives and our children were taken from us to serve as cannon fodder for their "peace-keeping missions".  We've watched and done NOTHING. We are to blame for every dead Barde, for every child starving in the ghettos of Kabul, and for every soldier who met his end attacking "pirates".  But finally, finally, our enemy has made a mistake.  You have seen it happen on your screens. That jackal, Mahafez Ojukwu, broadcast her rescue operation.  You, and sixteen billion others watched how as The Empire butchered its own citizens.  You heard the last words of the martyrs on the Luxion.  The people are with you! So rise up now! Death to the Empress! Death to the Empire! Death to the Zunbils! -ZL P.S. Individual orders sent out Would you like to reply? >N End of messages. >exit; sleep Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! -- Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Waking up SunOS 5.1.4s... SunOS 5.1.4s woken up successfully. Hello, gently caress. Praise the Sun. Today is January 6th, 2220. >run message.mod SunMail Module loaded. Praise the Sun. You have no new messages. Would you like to compose a new message? >Y  From: gently caress SunCorp To: SOD Subject: nothing Hey Shivvie. I'm going to die here. I know you already buried me, so it's not much of a change for you, but it is for me. I'm going to die in a 12 m by 9 m room, surrounded by xeno plants grown in my own poo poo. On the bright side, I'm going to die as far away from the mines as I can. I'll see if I can time it so I'm on the other side of Xarmaton before I croak, just in case. I'm rambling. I do that now. I don't really have much conversation practice anymore. I talk to myself out loud, so that my vocal chords don't atrophy, but it's hard to keep track of what I say anymore. I don't really have a filter these days. Things just come out. It's been five years now, so yeah. Did you know that I can see Sol from here? I have two working cameras on the outside of my prison, and if I point them just right, I can see home. If I beam this message to you from here, you'd get it in about nine years. Well, you and the entire Solar system, but you know. At least it's something.  Can I tell you a horrible secret? I don't know if I love you anymore. How hosed up is that? Not that I don't, but that I don't know. Do I want to hold you again? Smell your perfume? Or am I just grasping at a memory, desperate to feel something human, something that proves to me that I matter?  Sometimes I don't think you're real. Sometimes I don't think anything is real, except for this room and this tablet. Am I real?  I got a message from Li like a year ago. How's your glorious revolution going? She's gonna get you all killed, you know. We're nowhere near strong enough. And the Empire is nowhere near weak enough.  These motherfuckers have been stepping on our necks for millenia now.  At best, you'll end up like Spartacus. Going out in a blaze of glory.  This is what Li never understood. We were never going to see this whole thing work out. We were just laying the groundwork for next generation to take advantage of.  We just collected information, because that's all we could do.  Anyway, I'm sorry, Shivvie. For getting you involved, for leaving you, for getting stranded.  For everything. -XT P.S. I swear less now. In the end, you mattered.  Attempting to connect to SunMail server... ... Unable to connect to the server. Please try again later, or purchase an upgraded transmitter module. Would you like to save your message as a draft? >gently caress it Command not recognized. Would you like to save your message as a draft? >N Deleting message. >exit; sleep Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! --  Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Waking up SunOS 5.1.4s... SunOS 5.1.4s woken up successfully. Hello, gently caress. Praise the Sun. Today is August 15th, 2223. Incoming transmission. Would you like to respond? >what  Command not recognized. Would you like to respond? >Y Activating smart caption system. You are designated zero. 1: Unidentified Solar object, come in. Come in, Solar object. 0: *various grunts* 1: Pardon? Solar object, can you hear me? 0: Yes, I'm sorry. Haven't talked in a while. 1: Identify youself, Solar object.  0: Xarmandar Taid, engineer on the HSS Enigma, piloting one fifth of the ship. Who are you? 1: Holy poo poo, Xar? Xar, this is Sun Priest Kuzina. From the Enigma! 0: Olga? Praise the loving Sun, Olga! Where are you? I don't have scanners, and you aren't in visual range.  1: We are coming up on the other side of Xarmaton, sit tight, we'll be right there. 0: You can't just drop by unannounced like that! My place is a mess! 1: gently caress you too, Xar. Kuzina out.  Transmission over. >purge message.log This will delete all saved messages. Are you sure? >Y Deleting messages... Messages deleted. Praise the Sun.  >reset -h This will reset the SunOS to the last known safe version. Warning: this process will erase all data stored. Are you sure you want to proceed? >Y  Resetting SunOS. This may take a while... ... ... Installing a clean version of SunOS 5.1.4. This may take a while... ... ... Praise the Sun. SunOS kernel v.5.1.4.6.3.2.1 installed. Installing additional modules... ... ... Starting modules installed.  Would you like to create a new profile for this device? >Y Please enter your name. >Xarmandar Taid Please enter your caste. >Free Kayten fucked around with this message at 09:38 on Apr 10, 2018 |
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Mar 24, 2018 09:04
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Stellaris 101 - Ships, Fleets and Space Combat Last update introduced ship-based combat, so I'm going to talk about that. Ships  Space combat is done by ships or space stations. Both of these are designed in the ship designer. Ships have a hull configuration that determines ship size, one or more offensive sections (at the top), one or more defensive sections (on the bottom), and a utilities section (on the right). Each section can be filled with components, which are researched separately. Offensive components include weapons (the three red lasers in this image) that attack enemy ships/stations, point defense systems that shoot down incoming missiles, or hangars that launch smaller ships at the enemy. Defensive components include armor, shields, and accessories like afterburners. Utility components are mostly straight upgrades, not much room for choice there. These include reactors that determine how many components you can power at once, drives that affect how quickly you travel between stellar systems, thrusters that control sub-light movement, scanners that track enemies, and combat computers that decide what tactics your ships use. Weapons vs. defenses is a bit of a rock-paper-scissors game. Lasers do additional damage to armour, but less damage to shields. Mass drivers shred shields, but aren't very good against armour. Missiles bypass shields entirely, and do more damage to the hull directly, but can be shot down by point defense systems and aren't very good at switching targets if their target dies mid-flight. This encourages you to change ship designs based on who you are currently fighting. Defenses work in layers, except for missiles and some late-game bullshit. Your shields take damage first. They slowly regen some damage dealt to them over time, and do this faster if you install an accessory that does just that. After your shields are shredded, your armour is next. Armor does not regenerate naturally, and needs to be repaired at starbase with a shipyard. When your armour is gone, you start taking hull damage. Once hull damage is sufficiently disastrous, your ships will try to emergency FTL the gently caress out of there if they can (and your admiral and policies allow them to). You cannot directly control the components placed on your space stations. Instead, the game installs the most powerful ones it can automatically. You can, however, design defense platforms, which you can build at space stations in addition to their built-in defenses. The maintenance on these is a bitch though, so it's recommended you only beef up specialized starbases at chokepoints near potential problems. Fleets  Ships are organized into fleets, managed through the Fleet Manager. At the very top we have our naval capacity and the cost to reinforce all fleets. Naval capacity determines how many ships you can have across all of your fleets combined. It functions exactly like naval forcelimits do in EU4 - you can go over them, but each ship over will increase your maintenance costs. Note that while corvettes count as 1 for the purposes of fleet size, destroyers count as 2, cruisers count as 4, battleships count as 8, titans count as 16, and collosi (colosuses? multiple of colossus) count as 32. On the left, we have fleet details. These include (top to bottom and left to right) its command limit usage, its overall health, its total military power, its admiral, if any (with their level, experience bar and traits), and its stance. The fleet's command limit is a hard limit on the total number of ships a single admiral can control. You cannot go over this limit, but it can be increased with tech, policies and traditions. The fleet's military power is a rough estimate of the fleet's strength based on its weapons, defenses and some magic formula (I have no idea how it works). It's mostly used to quickly judge the power of fleets, and for diplomatic dick-waving over who has the better fleet. The admiral is a leader that increases how well the fleet functions, gets more experienced in fights, and eventually dies out of nowhere, same as EU4. The fleet's stance determines its behaviour if it encounters enemy fleets or starbases in the same system it's in. Aggressive means we go right at it, 100% of time. On the bottom, we have the ship breakdown within a fleet. Here you can set the home base for the fleet, retrofit ships to new designs, upgrade them to the most recent designs, and change the fleet composition. In this screenshot, we've just added two new designs to the fleet (the Meteor-class interceptor and the Fireball-class gunboat), while the fleet only currently has the default Rapier-class corvettes. Because of this, our ships are listed as 0/3 Meteors and 0/3 Fireballs. As soon as we have enough minerals and hit Reinforce All, our shipyards will start churning out the ships to match this set up. With this set up, you don't have to queue up each individual ship to build, which makes life a little bit easier. Space Combat  Once a fleet engages in combat with an enemy fleet or starbase (or both at once), it's out of our hands. The ships will use tactics we've assigned to them, but they will select targets and fire all by themselves. Once ships take enough hull damage, they will try to emergency FTL out of the system if they can. The only thing we can control is ordering the whole fleet to Retreat, forcing it to emergency FTL to its home base. During combat you can see roughly how the fleet is doing with the power bar at the top that compares total HP (Shields+Armour+Hull) of the two sides. At the bottom, you can see how much damage you've done to enemy hull, armour and shields, respectively, followed by the average accuracy of shots fired.  After combat is complete, you can see the combat results screen. This is a summary of forces on either side, with ships and starbases lost. At the bottom, you can see our overall weapon effectiveness (taking the rock-paper-scissors into account), as well as effectiveness against hulls, armour, shields and point defenses. Right after that is our average accuracy, and evasion (dodging attacks) And that about covers combat for now!
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Mar 26, 2018 01:06
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Radio Free Kobold posted:I was half-expecting you to do a rotating narrator sort of thing. I am! They're just going to last for a few updates. After all, the game takes place over 300-400 years. How long can a single human last? punched my v-card at camp posted:How much of the galaxy do you imagine you'll cover when it all falls apart? Oh, not a lot at all. Our immediate neighbourhood has 4 planets we can settle out of five we can manage without vassals. We should be getting vassals of comparable strength in 40-60 years.
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Mar 26, 2018 21:51
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1.1.3 - Shutdown Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Loading SunOS 5.1.4... SunOS 5.1.4 loaded successfully. Hello, Xarmandar. Praise the Sun. Today is August 17th- New BozKurt device found. Would you like to connect? >Y Connecting to Human Speech Recording Device 3... ... Connected. Loading SunCorp Recording Module... ... Recording module loaded. Praise the Sun. Human conversation detected. Would you like to record from device? >Y Recording now. You are designated XT. Additional voice detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as Sun Priest Olga Kuzina. Olga Kuzina designated OK. OK: Did you get it working? It's a pretty old recorder. XT: Yeah, barely had to adjust it. Zun bless SunCorp, I guess. OK: Don't be a dick, Xar. XT: I'm sorry Olga. Thank you for donating your expired tech to a castaway. OK: Stop it, you're no longer a castaway. When's the last time you shaved? XT: About seven years ago. Wasn't much of a priority. OK: I can't believe you lasted a decade.  XT: I can't believe they gave you a ship. OK: gently caress you too. Deveraux pushed pretty hard against it. (adjusted voice/possible mocking of unidentified target) "There has never been a woman captain in the entire history of the exploratory fleet!" XT: Of course, the proud twenty year history of the fleet. So what's it like? OK: What's what like? XT: Earth, Olga. What did I miss? I only really got snippets of SunCorp news every few years.  OK: Oh, we've made great strides in xeno-biology. We understand the Irassians a lot better now. XT: The platypus-looking assholes? OK: I always thought of them as really ugly ducks.  OK: Oh, and Deveraux found a dead fish the size of the Alps a few light-years away from where we picked you up. XT: Amazing, he finally found it. OK: What? XT: A bigger rear end in a top hat than him. OK: I'm glad your exile hasn't dampened your terrible sense of humour.  OK: We've connected Faunus to the Earth Research Network, and that seems to have worked out.  OK: The Priests on Faunus even put some xeno fauna on display for everyone to see. XT: Everyone?  OK: Come, Xar. You know what I mean. The empire is still- XT: Fed entirely by slave labour? OK: Xar! (voice lowers/probable whispering) You've gotta be more careful with that kind of talk. You don't know who's listening.  OK: (voice raises/probable excitement) Oh, and the poo poo we've been doing with human genetics on Abbassus is really exciting! That's, uh, Sirius III. We finally settled it. And Treadway, that's the ocean one in Barnard's Star. III or II, I don't remember.  XT: The Zunbils grow stronger then.  OK: Not just the Zunbils. The Bazargan have more or less claimed Abbassus as their own, building up their markets in orbit.  OK: I heard we even had to defend it against some pirates.  XT: A glorious victory for the Solar Empire.  OK: Do you want me to tell you what happened or not? XT: Sorry, Olga, go on. You're a priest, anything interesting happen with the priests' council?  OK: You know me, Xar. I don't do politics. I leave it to Deveraux and the other old men.  OK: But I do catch glimpses from time to time. We've had some Barde trouble on Earth, and the Mahafez were very quick to respond.  OK: So far the unrest is kept down, but both the Mahafez Diet and the Sun Priest Council are pushing for more pressure on the Barde movements. XT: Thanks for the update, Olga. And for the ride. Listen, do you mind if I hook this ancient machine to your comms bay? OK: Of course. I should warn you, though. The news reported you as a casualty of that pirate attack. First martyr in the endless battle against piracy. There was a vigil and everything. XT: I saw, yeah. I'll keep it in mind. OK: Take care, Xar. XT: Bye, Olga. Recording stopped. Conversation saved as untitled-conversation-0.con. Praise the Sun. >run message.mod SunMail Module loaded. Praise the Sun. You have no new messages. Would you like to compose a new message? >Y From: Xarmandar Taid To: SOD Subject: Hey Hey, Shivvie. It's me. I hope this channel still works. It's kind of a long story, but the point is, I'm alive and alright. I'm on board the HSS Torch, they're bringing me to Earth. Are you anywhere close? Do you want to meet up? -Xar Message sent. Would you like to compose a new message? >Y From: Xarmandar Taid To: ZL Subject: Need to talk Li, it's me. En route to Earth. We need to talk. Usual meeting spot in Valencia. Will signal when I'm close by. -XT Message sent. >exit; sleep Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! -- Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Loading SunOS 5.1.4... SunOS 5.1.4 loaded successfully. Hello, Xarmandar. Praise the Sun. Today is [/i]January 22nd- >run recorder.mod SunCorp Recording Module loaded. Praise the Sun. Human conversation detected. Would you like to record from device? >Y Recording now. You are designated XT. Additional voice detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as Kargar Zhang Li. Zhang Li designated ZL. XT: Commander Zhang. ZL: Agent Taid. XT: How official. I love what you've done with the place. ZL: Cut the poo poo, Xarmandar. Why are you here? XT: Five miles from the mine I was born in? ZL: On this planet. Instead of dead. XT: I'm too pretty to die, haven't you heard?  ZL: I don't have time for your loving jokes, Xarmandar. I am fighting a war against our oppressors. Or are they not your oppressors anymore? XT: Don't you loving dare! I gave decades of my life to the Free Human League! I led us for fourteen years- ZL: You sat on your rear end for fourteen years! I had to clean up your mess. I did what needed to be done. I fought-  XT: And where did that get you? How many of our people lie dead in the streets? How many children will be born in the mines because of you? ZL: A revolution is not a dinner party, Xar. You never had the stomach for this. XT: We're not the revolution, Li! We're its precursors! We're the loving foundation!  ZL: You call ten agents and a backdoor in Solar communications a foundation? Get the gently caress out of my sight, Xar. You're done here. XT: Good luck with the struggle, comrade. ZL: gently caress you. Recording stopped. Conversation saved as untitled-conversation-7.con. Praise the Sun. >run message.mod SunMail Module loaded. Praise the Sun. You have one new message. Would you like to view it? >Y  From: SOD To: Xarmandar Taid Subject: Chips Xar, how'd your meeting with our fearless leader go? Manage to talk some sense into her? Anyway, listen, I think I found something that might interest you.  We're parked in Faunus orbit right now, so I managed to tap into the Earth Research Network.  They're beaming a ton of data on volcano suppression, so their security is down, but check this out.  The Sun Priests are working on a Mahafez-sponsored project. Some sort of neural implant, with a violence inhibitor and emotional suppressors. Xar, I think they're gonna chip Bardes. Like, on an industrial level. But! Check this out. The chips are hard to update, and the firmware they run on is based on old SunCorp tech. Which means our backdoors still work. We can have a way into every chip these assholes manufacture for decades. This'll give us direct access to every Barde. We can talk to them, we can kill the inhibitors, we can do anything. One problem. I can't do this from here. I need you to find an entry point where we can access the code. Some sort of manufactory on Earth. I'm starting to work on the code right now. -SOD P.S. I'm sorry about how we left things. Hope you can forgive me for moving on. >new message From: Xarmandar Taid To: ZL Subject: I'm sorry, Li Listen, Li. I'm a dick, and an idiot. I didn't push our people far enough. You're right to be angry with me. But. Siobhan found something amazing. Something that can be the biggest victory we've had yet. A real foundation. I've attached her message. There's a new processing facility being built near Kabul. I still have my engineer access codes. I need a distraction, and I know you have the resources to cause one. I make it inside, drop Siobhan's backdoor in, and just walk out. Easy peasy. For old times' sake, Commander. -Agent XT You have one new message. Would you like to view it? >Y [/i] From: ZL To: Xarmandar Taid Subject: Re: I'm sorry, Li Fine. February 3rd, 13:00, Kabul time. You'll have your distraction. -ZL >exit; sleep Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! -- Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Waking up SunOS 5.1.4... SunOS 5.1.4 woken up successfully. Hello, Xarmandar. Praise the Sun. Today is February 3rd,- >run news.mod  Loading SunCorp News Module... Module loaded. Praise the Sun. Today's top story: Prodigious explorer visits capital. Would you like to know more? >Y Sun Priest Jean-Marie Deveraux returns from his fourth consecutive ten-year exploratory mission for an audience with Her Radiance, the Sun Empress Boran II. Sun Priest Deveraux is the first captain of the Exploratory fleet, and he has been busy surveying the galaxy since 2200. He is credited with the discovery of every single planet currently held by the Solar Empire.  Most recently, the Sun Priest has been working on the mysteries of the so-called Void Clouds, designated as messengers of Zun by the Sun Priest Council.  Sun Priest Deveraux was the first one to conclusively establish that the Void Clouds were connected to the very first first moments of Zun creating the void.  In addition to his exploratory work, Sun Priest Deveraux is the founder and head of the Council of High Priesthood, a watchdog against heresy within Sun Priesthood ranks.  The movement, started five years ago, has grown to five billion volunteer members across the Solar Empire.  Sun Priest Deveraux will meet Her Most Resplendent Majesty, Sun Empress Boran II, later today to receive the Order of Darwesh, the Solar Empire's highest civilian honour for his life's work. Praise the Sun. >exit; run recorder.mod SunCorp Recording Module loaded. Praise the Sun. >cast SOD Instant-Casting conversations to SOD. Human conversation detected. Would you like to record from device? >Y You are designated XT. XT: Listen, Shivvie, I'm on in a few minutes. I know you can't answer me, but I'm kinda used to that by now. XT: I'm outside the facility. I really hope my access codes still work. I got your drive, and now I'm just waiting for whatever Li has cooked up. Additional voices detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as Kargar Jonathan Smith. Jonathan Smith designated JS. JS: Whoa there, buddy, can't let you in like that. You gotta punch in your code. XT: Right, sorry, boss, long shift last night. Fuckers got us working like Bardes lately. JS: Ain't that the truth! Pay us like Bardes too. XT: Oh, don't get me started on the pay! I moved from assembly to maintenance, they put me on salary, work me like a dog, and I make less than I used to per day! JS: That's how they get you, with that salary horseshit! You should've stayed a daily, buddy. XT: Yeah, now you tell me. JS: Welp, you're all clear. Stay strong, buddy, don't let them see you break. XT: You gotta do what you gotta do. See you around. XT: Made it inside. Where's that distraction?  Additional voices detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as KABUL ALARM. KABUL ALARM designated KABUL ALARM. KABUL ALARM: ALERT! ALERT! THIS AREA IS NOW UNDER MILITARY LOCKDOWN! XT: gently caress, Li, what did you do? KABUL ALARM: ALERT! ALERT! THIS FACILITY IS CLASSIFIED AS MILITARILY IMPORTANT! PLEASE PROCEED TO THE NEAREST MILITARY SHELTER! XT: Right, three lefts, a right, and then straight through the catwalk. Easy-peasy. Additional voices detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as Kargar Alejandro Estevez. Alejandro Estevez designated AE. AE: Holy poo poo, have you heard? XT: What's going on? AE: Bardes are attacking the Sun Palace! It's a slaughter out there! XT: gently caress me... AE: I'm going for Shelter B. Finish your work and get your rear end to a Shelter, these lunatics are mowing people down! XT: Yeah, I just need to shut a few things down so they don't hurt anyone. AE: Hurry up!  XT: Alright, Shivvie, your code's in. I hope this works. I gotta get the gently caress out of here. KABUL ALARM: ALERT! ALERT! REVOLT SUPPRESSION FORCES HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO THIS AREA! XT: poo poo! Shivvie, I'm outside the facility, but there are soldiers loving everywhere. They're searching people. I'm gonna try to go through the alleys nearby. KABUL ALARM: ALERT! ALERT! REVOLT SUPPRESSION FORCES ARE OPERATING AT DANGER LEVEL CORONA! SUBMIT TO SEARCH OR BE SHOT! XT: gently caress. XT: Shivvie, listen. I'm sorry for yelling last time we talked. I'm sure Chatn is a nice man. You thought I was dead. It's fine. XT: I mean, it's not fine, but it's how things played out. You know what I loving mean. I have no right. XT: Anyway. XT: You're gonna need to keep Li in check. Don't blow this chip thing. XT: And please be careful out there. KABUL ALARM: ALERT! ALERT! REVOLT SUPPRESSION FORCES ARE OPERATING AT DANGER LEVEL CORONA! SUBMIT TO SEARCH OR BE SHOT! XT: Wait, hold on, I think I can make it through a gap in the patrol squads. Additional voices detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as Mahafez Echive Dauphine. Echive Dauphine designated ED. ED: Halt! XT: Aw shi- Warning. Batteries at 25%. ... Warning. Batteries at 10%. ... Warning. Batteries at 5%. Recording stopped. Conversation saved as untitled-conversation-11.con. Praise the Sun. Entering hibernation mode. See you soon! -- Loading BIOS... BIOS loaded Loading SunOS 5.1.4... SunOS 5.1.4 loaded successfully. Hello, Xarmandar. Praise the Sun. Today is June 3rd- >whoami You are Kargar Xarmandar Taid. You are attached to HSS Enigma. >reset This will reset the SunOS to the last known safe version. Warning: this process will erase all data stored. Are you sure you want to proceed? >Y Resetting SunOS. This may take a while... ... ... Installing a clean version of SunOS 5.1.4. This may take a while... ... ... Praise the Sun. SunOS kernel v.5.1.4.6.3.2.1 installed. Installing additional modules... ... ... Starting modules installed. Would you like to create a new profile for this device? >Y Please enter your name. >Ferzad Zunbil Please enter your caste. >Zunbil This device is designated virtual Sun Priest. Welcome, master Ferzad. >whoami You are Master Ferzad Zunbil of the Near-West Zunbils, 37th Sun Prince. Praise the Sun. >run games.mod I am sorry, Master Ferzad. Games.mod is not found. Would you like a tour of the capabilities of this device? >Y Loading basic modules...  SunCorp news module loaded. Praise the Sun. Top news story: Council of the High Priesthood elects new leader. Would you like to know more? >N  Map module loaded. Praise the Sun. You are located on Earth, at the Near-West Zunbil estate outside Antioch. Near-West Zunbil estate houses the Near-West branch of the Zunbil dynasty, including 11 of the top 50 Zunbil Sun Princes. Would you like to know more? >N  Recording module loaded. Praise the Sun. Human conversation detected. Would you like to record on this device? >Y You are designated FZ. FZ: Come on, you dumb thing. You gotta have voice commands. FZ: Tablet, activate games. FZ: Tablet, run games. Run games module. Additional voice detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as Bazargan Asaru Malzuzi. Asaru Malzuzi designated AM. AM: In other news today, the recently elected leader of the Council of the High Priesthood was found dead of a heart attack this morning.  AM: In an emergency session, the Sun Priest Council has elected Sun Priest Divya Upadhyay as interim leader. This decision has been widely criticized as a move against everything the founders of the council stood for. FZ: Tablet, run AsiaUniversalis.  AM: In the wake of the terror attack that gripped the Solar capital two years ago, Her Dazzling Majesty, Empress Boran II has proposed a motion to grant the military additional powers to the Mahafez Diet. FZ: Tablet, run CastleFite.  AM: The Diet immediately approved the proposal. FZ: Mooooom! This tablet doesn't have any games on it!  AM: A representative of the Bazargan alliance pushing for greater representation was once again denied audience with the Sun Empress. FZ: Mooooom!  Additional voice detected. Scanning database... ... Match found. Voice detected as Mistress Adan Zunbil. Adan Zunbil designated AZ. AZ: What is it, Ferzi? FZ: This tablet dad got has no games on it.  AZ: Does it have a connection to the web? FZ: I think so. I haven't checked.  AZ: Well, check first, see if you can download something, and then harass your poor mother. FZ: Ok. Tablet, run web.  AM: The first settlers have started to land on the tropical world of Earn II, designated Broadleaf. AZ: And turn the screen off if you're not watching it.  FZ: Fine. Screen, off. FZ: See, tablet, the screen listens to me. FZ: Wait, is this still recording?  Recording stopped. Conversation saved as untitled-conversation-15.con. Praise the Sun. >run web.mod Loading Web Browser Module.  SunCorp Explorer loaded. Praise the Sun. Please enter a web node you'd like to visit. >castlefite.game Welcome to CastleFite, the Galaxy's premier PvP elimination shooter/builder! Download for free now! >download castlefite.mod Downloading castlefite.mod... module downloaded. Would you like to run it? >Y  CastleFite module loaded. Praise the Sun! Welcome to CastleFite! >new profile Creating a new profile. Please enter your name. >xXx_SnYpA_xXx Name already taken. Please enter another name. >XxX_sNyPa_XxX Welcome to CastleFite, XxX_sNyPa_XxX. Would you like to play a match? >Y Loading map... Map loaded.  100 players remaining. XxX_sNyPa_XxX: whats up noobs Killa_RayGun: ur a noob Re@per: ur moms a noob XxX_sNyPa_XxX: im gonna troll this game  96 players remaining. Killa_RayGun: dont troll i need two more wins for my ranked placements Re@per: ya dont be a dick XxX_sNyPa_XxX: fine watch me carry this noob team  87 players remaining. Re@per: nah im carry i got shotty XxX_sNyPa_XxX: give it to me im better Re@per: lolno XxX_sNyPa_XxX: dont make me call my dad  73 players remaining. Re@per: lol i bet ur dads a kargar XxX_sNyPa_XxX: nuh uh my dads a zunbil Killa_RayGun: lmao no hes not  64 players remaining. XxX_sNyPa_XxX: he is too! im a zunbil because hes a zunbil Re@per: lol Killa_RayGun: lmao Killa_RayGun: ur not a zunbil Re@per: zunbils are dumb anyway they kill each other all the time XxX_sNyPa_XxX: not all the time only when the empress dies and the empress is gonna live forever  41 players remaining. Re@per: lol noone lives forever Killa_RayGun: ya thats dumb Killa_RayGun: empress gonna die and then ur cousins are gonna kill u XxX_sNyPa_XxX: theyre not gonna kill me im too little Re@per: nah enjoy ur cousins killing u noob  24 players remaining. Connection to server lost. Attempting to reconnect... ... Attempting to reconnect... >exit Exiting CastleFite. >run flashlight.mod Flashlight module activated. Human conversation detected. Would you like to record? >Y Recording now. You are designated FZ. FZ: Moooom! Why is it so dark? FZ: Moooom! AZ: Ferzi, sweetie, oh thank Zun, there you are! We have to go, we have to go right now! FZ: Where are we going? AZ: Turns out your auntie Valentina is a lying bitch, so we have to go away for a while. Come on, Ferzi, I said right now! FZ: Ok, ok, I'm going. AZ: drat it, why won't this loving car start! FZ: Mom, don't swear! AZ: Sweetie, now is not the time! FZ: Mom, are those planes coming for us? AZ: Where? Those aren't planes. Missiles?! Valentina, you bi- Kayten fucked around with this message at 09:39 on Apr 10, 2018 |
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Apr 3, 2018 09:30
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Jossar posted:Dang, guess we'll never know how that match of CastleFite ended... I'm pretty sure this guy won.  Jossar posted:Things seem to be pretty calm so far, though we're starting to see some actual flare ups. Is there going to be anything in game to represent the chaos at the end or is that all just narrative flair? There will be no chaos. The Solar Empire is the most stable government in the galaxy. All Barde-related problems have been solved by the application of neural implants.  
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Apr 3, 2018 21:17
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Mr.Morgenstern posted:Wow, I had to do a second reading before I realized that our little guy was killed as a pretender to the throne. 
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Apr 4, 2018 05:16
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Also, Zunbils killing Zunbils has a well-established precedent.
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Apr 4, 2018 09:23
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Polaron posted:Xar didn't die. He just dropped the tablet in surprise before running away. Running all the way to that farm upstate.
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Apr 4, 2018 20:01
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Stellaris 101 - Influence, Edicts and Factions Since we've actually run into factions this update, let's take a look at the underlying mechanics that govern them. Influence  Influence is one of the two major non-harvested resources in the game (the other one being unity, which I will cover in another Stellaris 101 entry). Influence represents your government's ability to enforce its will - think of it as political capital or soft power. Primarily, it's used in dealing with foreign and domestic policy decisions: building new starbases to claim stellar systems, issuing edicts, claiming systems held by other empires, suppressing factions, or even changing your government.  Your empire generates influence at a pretty stable rate. You get small bonuses from having an Authoritarian government, designating neighbours as rivals, keeping factions happy, and some tech. You also get small penalties from controlling too many planets directly (going over your core world limit), being a part of a federation, and suppressing factions.  Influence is spent on a bunch of things. Primarily, you use it to build outposts to control systems adjacent to your empire space, so you can start building mining and research stations, as well as colonizing any planets found there. You also need to spend it to build empire-unique buildings that provide empire-wide bonuses, like Research Centres, which boost your total research output. Some event options have an influence cost, and integrating vassals costs influence as well. Edicts  Edicts are another major influence sink. Edicts are temporary empire-wide bonuses that make life a lot easier. Running low on minerals, and need to get through the decade? Pop that Production Targets edict and enjoy +20% mineral production. Need to speed up your exploration of the galaxy? Throw on the Map the Stars edict and enjoy +25% survey speed and +10% anomaly chance. Note that you also have edicts that cost energy (and in the late game, unity) instead of influence. Those are called campaigns, and they behave in a very similar manner to edicts. You can affect edict duration and strength through technology, policies and traditions. Factions  Factions are both a source of influence, and a really annoying drain. As I've previously managed, factions are formed around the ethics of your pops that can participate in politics (not slaves, residents, undesirables and so on). The more pops there are that support a faction, the more influential it becomes. Note that at the point of this screenshot, we have a population of 89 pops across five planets, but only 55 pops in factions. This is because slaves (who are mostly egalitarian for some reason) cannot form factions, and have their own separate mechanics. Each faction has a set of issues that they deem important. When those issues are solved in their favour (like stratified society being implemented), the faction happiness improves.  The happiness of a faction affects pop happiness. If a pop belongs to a faction, then their baseline happiness moves from 50% to current faction happiness. Thus, ideally, you maintain a balanced approach and please as many factions at once as you can (we are very much not doing that).  Factions are one of the very few ways of generating additional influence. If a faction has over 60% happiness (baseline 50% + bonuses from issues they agree with), it generates influence in proportion to its popularity. The amount of influence you can squeeze out of a single faction also varies based on your ethics, traditions, and tech.  If a faction is unhappy, its pops become unhappy. When pops are unhappy, they produce fewer resources from their tile, and generate unrest. Unrest can loving cripple your empire (see: next update), so keep an eye on it.  Lastly, if a particular faction is giving you trouble, or you want to boost an unpopular one, you can manage it. I already talked about embracing factions in the first Stellaris 101 post, so I'm going to skip it for now. You can promote a faction, making it more likely that pops will switch to it at the cost of monthly influence gain; or you can suppress it, making it less attractive, at the cost of faction happiness and monthly influence gain. And that about covers influence for now! Kayten fucked around with this message at 10:12 on Apr 5, 2018 |
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Apr 5, 2018 05:21
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Update 1.2.1 - Spartacus Diary of Ivan Marzhan December 23rd, 2255 - Somewhere in Solar space Well, dad was right. I finally talked my way into trouble I can't talk my way out of. And I was doing so well, too. An old man sitting next to me recommended I start writing things down. The chip fucks with your memory, he says. Can't trust what you remember after a while. So here I am.  My name is Ivan Dimitrovich Marzhan, born in Synnada, Abbassus in 2220. My father was a Bazargan that handled the trade and energy generation in quadrant 3 in Synnada. I do not remember my mother, but I was told she was a very kind woman. She died giving birth for me. I've always felt kind of guilty for that.  My upbringing was pretty straightforward: private tutors at home until I was fifteen, then a college exam, and an economics degree with a focus on interstellar energy transfers. Internship at my dad's plant, then a move to the Sirius Trade Station, where I dealt with purchasing for the Mahafez fleets.  Dad warned me not to get into politics. "Leave that poo poo to the Zunbils", he said.  But no, I had to get involved with the Committee. Peaceful reform, the only thing that can fix this damned empire.  Eventually we sold some blueprints to the wrong people, and the Mahafez were on us. I told them this solidarity bullshit is going to get us killed.  Nothing good ever came out of the Mahafez.  One charge of resisting arrest later, and I'm on a cramped boat heading to Treadway. Well, how bad could a Barde life be, really? I mean, from what I've seen, the Empire takes care of its own.  Journal of Nasira bint Sina August 17th, 2259 - Kyiv Plantations, Earth I can't believe it! As always, we worked all the day, under the Overseers' lash, under the harsh summer sun. We settled in for the night, when explosions rang out all over the plantation! Dozens of men and women poured into the compound through the gaps in the fence, firing on the Overseers. An older woman, dressed in brown overalls and a red beret kicked down our door, and told us we were now casteless and free. She offered us a choice: those who were willing to fight against the Zunbils could join her and her League; those who were too old or too sick would be granted safe passage away from the plantations, given supplies and set free. I think I'm in love.  June 13th, 2261 - League Communications Outpost #5, Earth The Commander has been restless lately. She is constantly tired, and has been losing weight, despite a regular diet. She also urinates far more often than common for a woman her age. I tried getting some bloodwork done, but she claims she needs to be sharp right now and can't afford losing blood. This is nonsense, medically speaking, but she outranks me.  In order to distract myself from the Commander's symptoms, I've been performing physical exams on the staff here at outpost #5. There are nearly three dozen extra people here right now, trying to figure out how to broadcast messages to the slave chips without harming the user before our big push for Treadway. It's not been going well. The usual crew is busy decoding information sent to us from Grinstead. They've been having some plant-related problems. The staff exhibits the usual problems: stress-related digestive disorders, pollen allergies, a few cases of mild arthritis, one small kidney stone. Nothing that requires surgery.  One of the Commander's old comrades arrived today, one Engineer Siobhan O'Dalaigh. The Commander speaks highly of her technical competence. I think she's the one that got us access to the slave chips. Unlike the Commander, she is willing to occasionally check her health. It's important for women their age.  I don't think Engineer O'Dalaigh likes me much. She asked for my name no less than four times. I get that I'm not the most important member of the League, but it still hurts. To be fair, she seems distracted. Her daughter volunteered to be embedded into the initial colonial administration on Meredith Bay, the most remote Solar colony to date.  Her husband was a part of the bureaucratic resettlement to St. Hossack, an equally distant planet. So this may not be about me after all.  Log of Overseer Zhou Wei November 17th, 2262 - Lavrion Mining Complex, Treadway We had another collapse in tunnel #73 today, 7 dead, 5 injured. I called for volunteers for clean-up duty: an extra ration for today, and their mineral quota for today halved. One man came up: Barde 24-601, who insists on being called by his old name, Ivan Marzhan. A strong man, but with a disdain towards authority. We'll fix him yet. Governor Lin's been pushing the Bardes hard lately. The new quotas are costing us.  Diary of Ivan Marzhan December 10th, 2262 - Lavrion Mining Complex, Treadway I've had an awful day. We had a new arrival, Nina F., who came over with her daughter, Rosette. I don't know what kind of a monster sends an eight-year old girl to the mines, but there seem to be a lot of those around lately. While they could not chip the child, since the chip requires a fully-grown brain to work, they chipped Nina this afternoon. She was put on the evening shift in my stope. Fifteen minutes into her shift, she started screaming, dropped her jackhammer and slammed her head against the wall. Little Rosette ran up to her to try to calm her down, but she threw her aside. Nina clawed at her chip scar for a few seconds, and then went back to slamming her head against the rocks. Overseer Zhou Wei came out of nowhere, and pinned her to the ground. He grabbed Nina's pick, and in one smooth movement caved her skull in.  It turns out Nina had a reaction to the chip. Happens in about 1% of cases. The brain rejects the implant, causing unbearable pain in the subject. No known cure, but who's looking for a cure for a Barde-only problem anyway. Anyway, I did not know Zhou Wei was capable of mercy, even for a mercy killing. drat, 1% of all cases. There are 9 billion Bardes on Treadway alone. That's 90 million people with unspeakable pain in their head. I hate Treadway. I took little Rosette home. I don't have much space, but I can fit a person and a half into my hovel. She can have half my rations while I figure out what to do.  Journal of Nasira bint Sina July 5th, 2264 - Tyuratam Spaceport, Earth Fifteen times I told the Commander not to fly in her condition. Her diabetes is progressing. She insisted she's fine, but let me tag along just in case. Wouldn't you know it, heart attack on the way to the spaceport. Thank Zun I was there. I've never worked in a parked shuttle before, but the angioplasty paid off, and blood flow resumed. Take that, Avicenna.  The Commander is under anesthesia for now, recovering, as I argue with her hand-picked retirement home cabal. How am I still the only doctor the League has on Earth? What have they been doing all this time? This leads me to the second problem. The Commander's legs are, in medical terms, absolutely hosed. I've done what I can, but her PAD is progressing. I checked her legs after the angioplasty, and the gangrene has already set in. I cannot operate on her during space flight, and the gravity changes will absolutely exacerbate it. I need to amputate, and I need to do it now.  These idiots are voting on the amputation right now. The Commander would much rather die than lose her legs. The movement cannot afford to lose her, and if she flies in her current condition, she will die. There is no other option, they need to see that.  Diary of Ivan Marzhan April 2nd, 2269 - New Sparta, Treadway Rosette and I got lucky. The Bardes in our stope started meeting at night a few months ago. They've been in contact with the other mines on the island. Someone snitched to Zhou Wei, so the riot started earlier than planned.  During the chaos, Rosette and I hitched a ride to the surface on the loader. I got to breathe fresh air for the first time in fifteen years. I don't know if Rosette has ever been to the surface before. I hope her eyes can handle the harsh Barnard's Star light. We managed to hike our way to New Sparta. The power plants that power Lavrion are similar enough to my dad's old stations, so I might be able to blend in as a plant worker. Anything is better than the mines.  Log of Overseer Zhou Wei April 2nd, 2269 - Lavrion Mining Complex, Treadway drat it all. The Bardes in stope #15 started to organize. I came in to try to talk them out of it, and the scum rioted. They held me down and administered a series of unpleasant beatings. It didn't last very long, and the Riot Suppression Unit returned the favour. I did a count afterwards, and wouldn't you know it, 24-601 is missing. So is the girl.  There is an order to these things, and he's loving with it. The planets circle the stars, and people circle the Zunbils. He doesn't understand that he's interfering with the natural order of the universe.  I'm coming for you, Marzhan.  Journal of Nasira bint Sina May 2271 - New Sparta, Treadway The Commander is still angry with me. She cried as soon as she woke up after the operation. I've never seen her cry before. Zun bless Siobhan, though. I don't know where she found an old mining mech, nor where she got the tools for a makeshift neural-mechanical link, but that old lady still got it. As the only one present with medical experience, I assisted during the operation, despite the Commander's protests.  It took her a few weeks, but she walks as well as any of us now. Since she got the new legs, she's been a lot more involved in operations planning. The techies back home finally figured out how to safely use the chips for broadcasting messages. It's not just text, either. Since the chip is connected to the visual cortex, we can send images and even 3D spaces for the chipped people to navigate. In other words, they dream what we send to them, even when they're awake.  In better times, I would be very excited to see this technology used to restore sight. We do not live in better times. We've set up camp in an abandoned mine near New Sparta, the largest city on Treadway. I make occasional trips to the city to meet with out contacts within the local resistance. I've offered my services as a surgeon to remove chips from those who wish it. So far, only one man took me up on the offer.  Siobhan got a message earlier today. Her daughter was being relocated to Schimmel's world, taking her even further away from her mother. She's been worrying me lately. She's having trouble remembering new faces and names, and she started forgetting words sometimes. She referred to Martin as 'Xar' the other day, and couldn't stop crying when we pointed it out to her.  Diary of Ivan Marzhan August 30th, 2276 - New Sparta, Treadway I didn't think this city would be so dangerous. I walked Rosette through the Earthen Quarter for an afternoon walk, when we were attacked by thieves! Three men went right for us, and a fourth blocked our escape. We would have been goners, if not for the local Mahafez. Someone called out for help, and an Inspector was on them in seconds. By Zun, it was Zhou Wei! We were lucky that he was busy with the thieves, letting us slip away before he noticed me.  It's too dangerous to remain on Treadway. I am looking into a ship that will get Rosette and me away from this cursed rock. Where is Rosette, anyway? I bet she's hanging around with that good-for-nothing Aris kid. He's going to get her involved in something dangerous.  Log of Inspector Zhou Wei August 30th, 2276 - New Sparta, Treadway Marzhan! At last!  There is nowhere for you to hide. I will find you even on Gaia. I am a Mahafez now. I am better than you. And I am coming.  Journal of Nasira bint Sina February 15th, 2281 - New Sparta, Treadway The preparations are almost complete. We have delivered arms to the major mines throughout Treadway, and drilled the people in small-unit tactics. We have waited until the Empire is at its weakest. The Commander doesn't really sleep anymore. She refuses sedatives, saying there is too much to be done. I think she's fine with this fight killing her. I'm not.  Martin Batemann, the sole vote against the amputation way back on Earth, and an old friend of the Commander, has gone to Sol Station. To "monitor communications".  I know the Commander doesn't believe. I pray to Zun in her name anyway. Our cause is righteous. Our fight is just. Zun is with us.  Diary of Ivan Marzhan November 7th, 2281 - New Sparta, Treadway Zun drat it! Rosette is somewhere in the compound these loving children decided to occupy! Apparently, it's time for the glorious revolution! These are kids! Their fearless leader is all of twenty-three years old! What do Bazargan students know about fighting? gently caress! I'm going to get my daughter back from these selfish assholes, before they get her killed.  As soon as I find that Aris bastard, I'm going to tear his eye out through his rear end in a top hat!  Log of Inspector Zhou Wei November 7th, 2281 - New Sparta, Treadway Marzhan will have to wait. There's a revolt happening. Not just the Bardes in the mines, but some Bazargan students in the city itself. The Riot Suppression Unit should be able to deal with the mines. I'm going to see if these students need some "help" from an old veteran.  If Treadway falls, the Empire will starve. Billions will die. If I have to personally shoot a dozen students, so be it. In the Justice Giver's name.  Diary of Ivan Marzhan November 8th, 2281 - New Sparta, Treadway gently caress! These kids are going to get themselves killed. I've shown them how to properly use rifles. I fired on Riot Suppression troops. I blew my cover three times over. What's worse is these kids captured Zhou Wei. I think he tried to spy on them and some kid snitched on him. I don't want anymore blood on my hands. I'm getting this dumbass off-world. I hope they buy my "personal vendetta" story. He's leaving, and he's taking Rosette with him. This is no place for her.  Journal of Nasira bint Sina November 8th, 2281 - Kabul, Earth It is done. Every miner, every farmhand, every servant on Treadway is now free. Earth is next.  I went to the Sun Palace with the strike team. I am not very good in a fight, but I've got very stable hands, so I did the camera work for the most important broadcast in human history. I saw the Commander break the doors to the Sun Palace open with the mech legs. Dozens of rifles fired on her immediately, but Siobhan didn't install a shield generator in them for nothing. As our troops swept across the Grand Hall, the Commander slowly, calmly walked to the throne. She was death herself, relentless, merciless, patient.  A puddle formed under his Eternal Radiance, the Sun Emperor Jumaane II. The Commander looked at us, raised one of her legs and called out "Death to the Empire! Death to the Zunbils!" The hydraulics kicked in, and in half a second, her leg went through the royal ribcage, through the Sun Throne, and came out the other side. The emperor was no more. I fell in love all over again.  The Last Message of Siobhan O'Dalaigh January 1st, 2284 - Freedom City, Earth Saiorse, hi, sweetie. By the time this message reaches you, I will already be dead. I know it's pointless to tell you not to be sad, but I will anyway. You know me, I've always been stubborn.  We buried Aunt Li yesterday. I stayed beside her on her last day. Her heart gave out shortly after the assault on the Sun Palace. bint Sina kept her alive as long as she could, but even she can't perform miracles. She died as she lived: fighting Zunbils. Her last words were very simple: "No statues". bint Sina will take care of that. Her last order was to neutralize the threat of the Zunbil dynasty itself. Every Zunbil ship that tried to leave the planet was shot down by Sol Station. You can thank Uncle Martin for that. We have people raiding known Zunbil compounds as I type this.  We used the chips one last time before sending a de-activation signal. We got the feedback reader working, so we could ask a question, and the people could answer. The question was pretty simple: who would lead the Free Human League before proper elections could be set up. So, in a way, this was the first major vote on Earth in history. I voted for bint Sina, but she didn't win.  Commissary-General Zhu is very concerned about optics. So the first thing her new government is doing is a series of public trials of former Zunbil officials. They even got an advocate provided for them. It didn't help. Sweetie, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my disease sooner. My brain is degenerating very quickly. Even with all of Earth's technology, there is nothing anyone can do. I can't really form new memories most of the time. I forget where I am, I forget what year it is. Sometimes I forget you, and that hurts the most. I don't want you to remember me like this. Instead, remember the house that your dad and I built. Remember how I taught you to weld. Remember how your bunny gave birth, and we stayed up all night to make sure she and her litter were ok. bint Sina promised me it wouldn't hurt. It would be just like falling asleep. I hope you understand. I will be waiting for you in the beyond, but take your time. It's a brand new galaxy, you can be anything you want to be. I love you, Siobhan O'Dalaigh-Dulo Kayten fucked around with this message at 08:08 on Apr 17, 2018 |
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Apr 10, 2018 09:35
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Freudian posted:Wait, do the League have four ethic points? As the most ethical government in the galaxy at the moment, I feel they deserve it. (I think it's unique to rebelling systems?) Jossar posted:Can we get a summary/review of the planets? Or is it already getting to be a big deal keeping track of them from a narrative perspective? Sure! Here's a quick overview of human-infested planets as of 2287. Free Human League Treadway (Barnard's Star II) - Capital of Free Human League. Ocean climate. Dotted with island-based mines and water surface-based plantations. Until the revolution, had a 50% Barde population. --Population: 18 billion people Earth (Sol III) - Human homeworld. Continental climate. Until recently, the capital of the Solar Empire. --Population: 16 billion people The Solar Empire Central worlds Faunus (Alpha Centauri III) - Interim Solar capital. Continental climate. First human colony. Really religious population. --Population: 17 billion people Abbassus (Sirius III) - Continental climate. Second human colony. Planet almost entirely controlled by the Bazargan. Negligible Barde population. --Population: 18 billion people Gaia (Sapad III) - Perfect world. Only recently settled due to space amoebas infesting the stellar system. --Population: 5 billion people Northern (?) worlds Broadleaf (Earn II) - Tropical climate. Riddled with tropical mines. Mostly Barde population, currently rioting. --Population: 10 billion people Grinstead (Molbion III) - Tropical climate. Recently settled. Had a problem with nomadic trees, burned them all down. --Populations: 8 billion people Southern (?) worlds St. Hossack (Zulei Cro II) - Tropical climate. Really old terraforming equipment found, disassembled. Far away from Earth (10 jumps). Recently settled. --Population: 4 billion people Meredith Bay (Unatra II) - Ocean climate. Recently settled. --Population: 3 billion people Schimmel's World (Hagawa II) - Tropical climate. Recently settled. --Population: 3 billion people
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Apr 10, 2018 21:16
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Tevery Best posted:Can we get a labelled galaxy map? Kind of. My most recent save is in 2320, but here's what I managed to grab from screenshots: Central and Northern Worlds (Before Rebellion)  Sapad (the system Gaia is in) is south of Mirce. In the rebellion, the Free Human League took control of Barnard's star and Sol. Note: Procyon and Pollux have no habitable planets. Procyon is home to the Grand Shipyards station. Pollux is filled to the brim with anchorages. Southern Worlds  The southern worlds are separated from the central worlds by four more systems.
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Apr 10, 2018 21:38
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Update 1.2.2 - Crassus Diary of Pema Yeshe, Cadet 1st class December 12th, 2281 - Procyon Fleet Academy First day of boot camp today. I've been assigned to Cadet Wing Theta with all the other newbloods. I knew I wasn't the only one who signed up after seeing those monsters round up and execute children on Earth. It's going to be a rough few months. I hear half the cadets wash out. Won't be me. I'll be the best drat pilot this academy has ever seen. My groupmates seem nice enough, if a bit... simple. Mostly boys from Grinstead or Broadleaf with too much brawn, and not enough brain. I got to know them a little during dinner. They're all hurting. Kitchener's got some cousins on Earth, Domkratov's ex moved to Treadstone a few months ago. No one's heard anything from them.  I told them not to worry. We'll get those bastards yet. Glory to the Empress! Glory to the Empire! Article Draft - Themba Bhele (ed. N. Raptis) January 7th, 2282 - New Kabul, Faunus Two months ago, we lost our  The Sun Empress' (We're stressing the "Sun" aspect. Orders from above - ed.) first official act was Needs another draft. Stress the Sun as much as you can, and watch yourself when speaking about Zunbils. I am not joking, Themba. On my desk in two hours. -Raptis  Journal of Mikhailo Sobakevich May 19th, 2287 - Dogbone Farmstead, Abbassus Nastasya said I should journal. Good for my health. Put emotions on paper. Love that woman. Hate her methods. I am Mikhailo Sobakevich. Sergeant, Abbassus 14th Colonial Garrison. Retired. Bodyguard for rich kids. Retired. Farmer now. Had visit from Jack Trinity today. Old client. Says he joined a new party. Asked questions about Bardes I know. Am I hiding Barde escapees? This is Abbassus. What Bardes? Too much time on Trinity's hands. Needs a better hobby.  Trinity brags a lot. Says his father's well-connected. Knows about some Barde army. Nonsense. Why use Bardes? It's a Mahafez job. After bragging, Trinity bought my apples. Gene-modded, six harvests a year. Paid very well. Complained about his class C rations. Left. Today I felt: irritated Things I did well: not punch Trinity I am thankful for: Trinity left  Diary of Pema Yeshe, Pilot 1st Class September 23rd, 2287 - Procyon Fleet Academy Graduation ceremony today. I made it. Best scores in Cadet Wing Theta. Didn't beat any Academy records, but still pretty drat good. Who's the crying little girl now, Kitchener? We got our assignments last week, so we're taking off in the morning. I've been assigned to HSS Trojan, a Sea Witch-class destroyer, to serve as co-pilot. Getting right in there, and shooting down missiles. I was born for this job. As proper pilots, we've been approved for class B rations. Finally. I'm sick of eating class C gruel. Plus the rations are bigger. I noticed transport ships docked alongside the fleet. I think it's finally happening. Good. It's time we took our homeworld back. For the Empire!  Article Draft - Themba Bhele (ed. N. Raptis) July 2nd, 2288 - Grand Shipyards  Under the leadership of the talented admiral Wang (Wang? Really? Ten billion Mahafez, and they couldn't they find a man to take command of the fleet? This makes us look like liberals, drat it. I hate it when they refuse to cooperate - ed.), Strike Force Medusa has taken off towards the From now on, nothing you write will use the word "League". This is a police action to restore peace on Solar planets, not a war. If we were at war, that would imply that the throne recognizes the existence of the interplanetary government of the Free Human League. Are you going to be the one shot for putting those words into the Empress' mouth, or am I? You have two hours. Fix your poo poo, Themba. -Raptis  Diary of Pema Yeshe, Pilot 3rd Class July 15th, 2288 - Barnard's Star System, League Space Field promotion today. Pilot 3rd Class Jensen flew too close to Barnard's Star station, got us hit with League railguns. Cut right through our cockpit. The air was sucked out within two seconds, so I was holding my breath, watching Jensen's brain float into space a few cubic centimeters at a time. Eventually, the engineering team re-pressurized the cockpit. I think I vomited, but I can't really be sure, it's all a blur. I'm now the only pilot on the HSS Trojan.  We're in position over Treadway, though. I hope Domkratov's ex finds a shelter. From what I heard, she's a total bitch, but I don't want to have innocent blood on my hands. Half of Treadway didn't do anything. We're here to liberate occupied subjects, not rain hellfire on them.  It's going to be tough, though. The rebels have a shitload of armies stationed throughout the islands. A little bit of laser and railgun fire should get them to surrender. Home by Unconquered Sun Day.  Diary of Pema Yeshe, Pilot 3rd Class March 1st, 2293 - Treadway Orbit, League Space Five years today. Five years of sitting in orbit, pointing our guns at anything larger than a motorbike and glassing it. Every day. Ship alarm at 05:00, class B rations. Three hours of lasers burning human targets. Three hours of railguns cutting through farms. Class B rations. One hour of personal time while the engineering team reloads the guns. Three hours of lasers. Three hours of railguns. There is a hostile atmosphere on the bridge. The captain offered extra rations to the gunner with the highest number of confirmed kills every day. One gunner refused to "run up a high score of corpses of women and children" and was pushed out the airlock for insubordination. Extra rations were canceled. I can't sleep half the time. Why do I keep seeing Jensen's stupid loving face in my sleep? If this goes on for much longer, I'm going to shoot the captain myself.  Diary of Pema Yeshe, Pilot 3rd Class April 10th, 2293 - Treadway Orbit, League Space Bombardment ended today. We are to go into lower orbit and cover the army approach. They're fighting in rubble at this point. I heard that instead of using Mahafez, the Butcher is throwing slaves in old drop-pods. I don't care anymore. I hope they all kill each other.  Article Draft - Themba Bhele (ed. N. Raptis) April 12th, 2293 - Treadway, Occupied League Space Solar Army triumphant on Treadway! After five years of  Fix the second half. When subhuman garbage gets destroyed on this scale, even law-abiding subjects start asking questions. Ten million dead from the whole bombardment. The famine was started by Barde inability to organize and coordinate infrastructure. Add something about Bardes trying to eat raw kelp. If you don't stop writing treasonous articles, I will be forced to pass them along to the censors. This is your last warning, Themba. Fix it in three hours. -Raptis  Journal of Mikhailo Sobakevich October 5th, 2293 - Dogbone Farmstead, Abbassus Trinity showed up again. Brought some friends. Had to hide kids in the cellar. Fucker asked me for my apples. Politely. Said he ain't got no cash though. Told him to stand in line. Enter the lottery. Maybe win some class D rations. Like everyone else. Told me he ain't like everyone else. He's special. Because his daddy is special. And his party is special. So he'll get my apples. On credit. Told him to go gently caress himself. He didn't take it kindly. His friend tried for the cellar.  He didn't make it. Hard to run with broken knees. Things got bloody. Five dead. two injured. Trinity broke my left arm. With a pipe. I caved his skull in. Ungrateful bastard. Last two dragged their friends. Things getting real bad. They ain't getting buried. I hope Trinity Sr. is smart. Today I felt: angry Things I did well: killed scum I am thankful for: kids still alive  Diary of Pema Yeshe, Pilot 3rd Class November 6th, 2294 - Earth Orbit, League Space Began Earth bombardment today. Ten billion dead on Treadway. Zun knows how many will die on Earth. Five billion starved throughout the Empire. For what?  Article Draft - Themba Bhele (ed. N. Raptis) January 12th, 2295 - Qeb Daraan System, Neutral Space The Exploratory Fleet continues its mission in distant systems! Today, Exploratory Fleet vessel HSS Torch under the command of Sun Priest  This revelation comes to us shortly after the discovery of a small moon in a system near Grinstead that once supported a civilization. Unfortunately, these primitives have destroyed their world in nuclear fire before reaching space. The savages have not even began launching space probes before annihilating themselves. The Exploratory Fleet estimates that these primitives killed themselves six thousand years ago. Look at you, minimal corrections! You're improving, Themba. Welcome to the good guys' team. -Raptis  Diary of Pema Yeshe, Pilot 3rd Class February 13th, 2295 - Earth Orbit, League Space We won the war today. No negotiations, no official surrender. The purges are still running on Earth. Every last member of the Free Human League is to be rounded up and shot. I hope some make it. So that I can sleep. .jpg) I can't do this anymore. I did my duty. I served my country. It didn't loving deserve it. I put in my transfer to the Exploratory Fleet. I hope I get to the other side of the galaxy and never see Solar space again.  Journal of Mikhailo Sobakevich February 22nd, 2295 - Dogbone Farmstead, Abbassus Heard the war ended. Good. Maybe no more food problems? Trinity's dad visited today. Says he understands. Says his son was a poo poo. Says all is forgiven.  Says I gotta sell him Dogbone. Whole thing - orchard, greenhouse, everything. Asked him what kids will eat. He says not his problem. Sell farm and we're even. Told him to go gently caress himself. He got angry, like his kid. Said I'll regret it.  We'll see. Today I felt: scared Things I did well: stood ground I am thankful for: time I've spent with my family  Article Draft - Themba Bhele (ed. N. Raptis) February 24th, 2295 - New Kabul, New Earth Sun Empress Valentina I reorganizes colonial administration. Today,  The administration of the distant worlds that were settled  Thus, with the burden on the Imperial Bureaucracy significantly lessened, we stand ready to conquer more stars. Praise the Sun! You're slipping into sedition again, Themba. If I see one more questionable choice of words, I'm declaring you a traitor to the state. Fix your article. You have one hour. -Raptis  Journal of Mikhailo Sobakevich February 26th, 2295 - Dogbone Farmstead, Abbassus gently caress. Trinity came with soldiers. Hungry Colonial Garrison boys. Said my farm is foreclosed. All legal. Said I ain't giving him poo poo. Got shot for my trouble. Propped up against a rock. Facing my loving house.  Soldiers barred doors from outside. Heard Nastasya scream from the house. Trinity took the first torch. Some colonial boys protested. Their leader, sergeant Markov, shot one. Firefight broke out. I crawled to a body, took his pistol. Four dead. Three standing, plus Trinity. He went back to the house. With a torch.  Eight dead. Can't drink skills away. Saw the kids. Came out the cellar. Mykola kept Tanya safe. Good boy. Told them to get their mother. Lost too much blood. Wanted to finish journaling. Prove I tried. To myself. Nastasya, you were my everything. Mykola, watch your sister. You'll be a good man. I am very proud. Tanya. You're too good for this world. Too precious. Guard yourself. I love you all. Today I felt: tired Things I did well: protected fa I am thankful for:  Diary of Pema Yeshe, Pilot 3rd Class July 27th, 2302 - New Zun, Gaia Got my transfer today. I'm shipping out on the HSS Wayfarer. First ship to be built on the new capital world, Gaia. Zun drat, it's perfect. It'd be the most wonderful world in the galaxy, if it didn't have the loving Zunbils on it.  But I'm done with this. New generation of science ship. Thirty year exploratory mission. I'm going to die as far away from this loving country as physically possible  Resignation Letter - Themba Bhele March 16th, 2320 - St. Hossack, Zulei Cro County Dear Chief Editor Raptis, gently caress you, gently caress your network, and gently caress your bosses. I quit.  For decades, you have done nothing but lie to the people of the Solar Empire.  May your shuttle burn on re-entry. Praise the Sun!
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Apr 17, 2018 12:36
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Sudden Ascension Perk Vote Alright, thread, let's get some of your input on the direction of this shitshow. The Solar Empire has reached new heights in four areas of expertise. Which of the four should the The Solar Empire pursue?  A. Large-scale Project Construction. The Solars are builders! This option will set the Solar Empire on the path to build increasingly large and general space-born installations. Habitats to provide additional living space, gateways for instantaneous travel, even Dyson Spheres and Ring Worlds.  B. The Psionic Potential. The Human Mind is the pinnacle of Zun's creation! This choice will turn Humans into a race with psionic potential. By focusing all their efforts on this, the Solars will be able to field telekinetic troops, prolong the life of important leaders, and eventually communicate with the unknown using the combined psychic force of billions of Human minds.  C. Mechanization. With no intelligent life in the galaxy, the Solars will build their own! This direction will harness all of our research into the creation and improvement of artificial intelligence. We will be able to build much better robots, and even replace increasingly larger parts of the Human body with electronics.  D. Forced Evolution. True power lies within every living creature! This decision will lead the Solars to implement genetic engineering on an unprecedented scale. We will make Humans faster, smarter,  Voting is now open!
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Apr 17, 2018 12:39
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Not a single vote for cybernetics. Commander Zhang is rolling in her automated grave.
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Apr 17, 2018 21:01
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AltaBrown posted:Well, that ended about as well as one might expect. Xar was right the whole time. ZunLP: Imagine a boot stamping on a human face, forever
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Apr 18, 2018 00:35
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Alright, that vote seals it, the Solar Empire will devote considerable resources to understanding psionics. Don’t worry, we’ll be voting on ascension perks for the next empire we’ll switch to (watch the zunbils immediately moderate and abolish the monarchy). I guess I should go watch Akira.
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Apr 21, 2018 04:18
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Played the next 70 years. Psionics was an... interesting choice.
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Apr 24, 2018 07:04
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Update 1.3.1 - What Was, Will Be Annette: Oh good, Nasr, we made it in time for the trailers. Nasr: You a big fan of trailers, Annette? Annette: Of course! The trailers are the best part!  Unstoppable power. Unbreakable will. Unparalleled opportunity.  Psi Corps. We already know you're gonna join. Annette: Oh no. Commercials. Nasr: Commercials aren't so bad.  Say no to "maybe". Say yes to "definitely".  The new 2322 Zaibatsu Cavalier. Rediscover yourself in a Zaibatsu. Annette: They're just so... samey. I mean, how many different auto commercials can you watch before they all blend together? Nasr: I don't know, I like that auto. Makes me feel confident. Annette: Nasr, you don't need an auto to feel confident. You got me to come here with you, didn't you?  Beautiful. Alluring. Powerful. Nothing highlights a woman like her scent. Prosecco. A new fragrance from Nova Nova Roma. Annette: And it's crap like that. "Nothing highlights a woman like her scent"? I don't think whoever wrote that has ever spoken to a woman. Nasr: Leave them alone, those writers have families to feed. Annette: Hmph.  Coming Soon... Nasr: See, trailers are finally starting. Annette: Finally!  Amir is a successful engineer. He understands megastructures, but can he understand... women? Amir: If you just look at the hypotenuse of the periphery, the answer becomes obvious!  Narcissa organizes ancient Earth manuscripts. She knows everything there is about history, but does she know... men? Narcissa: All the good men are dead. Where, oh where, is my Creat the Gentle?  One day, their lives come CRASHING into each other. Can they looks past their differences and find... love? Men are from Faunus, Women are from Abbassus. Coming this dry season to a theatre near you.  Nasr: Wait, what's Faunus? Annette: I'm not sure. Maybe an old name for Earth? Patron: Would you kids shut the gently caress up? We're trying to watch a movie here!  Nasr: Listen here, old man! Annette: Come on, Nasr, don't cause a scene. Let's just watch the movie.  And now for our Feature Presentation. Forget Me Not, starring Aliya Ishim and Rodrigo Baleares. I love Aliya! And Rodrigo is so dreamy when he sulks like that! Annette: This is like the fifth Aliya movie I've seen at this festival. I'm a big fan. Nasr: I haven't seen her in anything before.  Nasr: Hm. I don't think he likes this movie. I'm blowing it.  Asiya: Roberto, how could you! With my own sister?! Roberto: Baby, I can explain! Oh, Roberto, you devilish rogue you.  Asiya: Everything I believed in, gone, just like that! I will never forget how you hurt me, Roberto! Nasr seems to be really focusing on this movie. Or he just doesn't want to look at me.  This was a bad idea. We should've gone dancing.  Nasr: Wait, so she just bumps her head and forgets everything? Annette: Not everything, I don't think. She still remembers how to speak Farsi, how to drive an auto, stuff like that. Nasr: But she forgets who Roberto is? That seems a little far-fetched.  Nasr: Does she remember her sister? Annette: I'm not sure, actually. I've only seen as much as you have. Nasr: Hm.  Great. Now he hates the movie, hates this date and hates me.  It took him weeks to ask me out, and it took me twenty minutes to drive him away.  W͘hy c̸an͢'t͢ I҉ j̶u̕st́ s̸hut̨ ̛up ̶a̷nd ͝w̢a͜tch͠ th͟e mov͡i̵e͝? What the heck was that?  Annette: Did you hear something? Nasr: No, is that guy behind us talking smack about us again? Annette: No, I don't think that's it. Never mind, don't worry about it.  G̨r̨e̢a̷t҉,̴ ͟now s̀h́e ̛loo̧k҉s ͞u͡n̨c̵o̶m͝fo͡r͝t̶ąble̛.͞ Į'm ͏blow̶ing ͝t̀h̡is.͢ Are... are those his thoughts? Am I hearing his thoughts right now?  Nasr: Are you ok? You look a little pale. Annette: Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry.  Roberto: Your name is Asiya. I am your fiance, Roberto. We've been together since we started school.  Asiya: And I love you? Roberto: You certainly used to.  Nasr: Wow. This Roberto is a scumbag. Annette: Yeah, but have you seen him smoulder? He's so dreamy.  Ahh, why am I pointing out other men on a date? O̧h ņo,͟ ̢s̀he'҉s ̀po͠i҉ntin̴g̶ ̵oút̛ o҉t͢h̵ér̵ ́m͠en͠ ҉o҉n͞ ͘a̧ da̢t͡e͟. ̛T̢hi͘s͞ is̴ d͡on̷e.  Aww, he's nervous around me! That's really cute!  Ok, let's help him out. My hand's on the armrest, I can just stretch my fingers, he should get the hint.  S͏h͠e̢'s pl͝a̧y̵in̴g҉ wit͏h͏ ̛her̡ ̷f͟in̢g̵e͘r̶s.͡ D̨oés͞ ̴s͘h͏e ̧wánt͡ ́m̸e̢ ͘t̛o ̵h̶old͡ heŕ h͞an͘d?̢ ̵Wh̸y ̛a̷re͡ wo͡m̧en̸ ͠s͟o̢ ha͜rd̸ to ̢read̕?͠  Ok, so he's going to need a little more help than I thought. A quick twirl of the hair, flash him a smile, he should definitely get it.  O̡k, she͏'s sm̡i̛l̢i̕ng̡.̶ Shou͏ld̡ I҉ g̸o ҉f̕or̵ ̛ìt̢?͞ ͟I'm̸ g̕on͡na͘ go͡ ͘fo͝r it̴.̷  Oh my Zun, he's going for it, I can't breathe.  Oh Z̢u͜ǹ ͠o͟h͟ ̧Zun o͟h ́Z͘un o͢h̶ Zuǹ  Ahh͞, ͠we'r͢e ̷hold̴ing ͢h͝ands!͝ ̵I͡ ͞d͡id҉ ít! ̕I̶ am t̛he̸ ҉gr̵ea͏test m͡an̢ i̶ń ţh͠e ̛g̛a҉l̸axy!  His hand is shaking. It's adorable!  H̨e̡r ͏ha̸n̷d̡ ̧is͟ ͏s͠h̕a͠kiņg.͝ ҉I̢ l͏ove ̡the̵ e͜ff̛ec̶t͘ ͏I҉ ҉h̀av̛e on̴ ͜her!҉  Ok, settle down there buddy.  Who am I kidding, I'll let him have this one.  Asiya: What's wrong, sister? Why are you crying? Nadya: I cry because I hurt you, you, who I love more than Abbassus itself!  Asiya: But Nadya! If I do not remember you hurting me, then I am not hurt! Nasr: Wait, that's kinda hosed up. Annette: Let it be, Nasr. It won't matter. Love will win out in the beginning. Nasr: You're right.  Putting his arm around me already? My, aren't we forward.  He smells really nice, though. I'll allow it.  Roberto: Asiya, I must talk to you!  Roberto: I have spoken to my friend, Sun Priest Ouroboros, and I must confess!  Roberto: I have hurt you before, and I will hurt you again. What was, will be. I must be away, I cannot stand to hurt you again!  Nasr: Wait, so he just leaves? Annette: I think he can't live with himself after hurting her like that. Nasr: Hell of a message.  Annette: Oh, there's no way she's just gonna let him leave. Aliya only acts in movies with happy endings. Nasr: Really? That seems kind of shallow. Annette: Meh, it's her brand, can't really fault her for it.  Asiya: I remember everything, Roberto. For weeks now, I've remembered everything. And yet, I stayed.  Asiya: I stayed because you've shown me your dedication to me. To us. We got a second chance at a life together, and you've amazed me. Stay, Roberto. Come back to me. Let us be happy together. Forever. Roberto: Then I shall! We were happy before. We can be again. Roberto and Asiya: What was, will be!  Nasr: Well, that was fun. Next time, I'm picking the movie. Annette: Hahahaha, that's fair. Now, you promised me a movie AND dinner.  I like him. This will work out. In the end, what's the worst that could happen?
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Apr 27, 2018 08:39
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GunnerJ posted:What's up with those "Trans-Humans," where'd they come from? I couldn’t quite get the explanation for them to work within the narrative. One of our vassals, the Grand Duchy of Earn to the “north”, settled a tomb world this early for some reason. It’s population self-modified with cybernetics order to not die a horrible death.
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Apr 27, 2018 20:47
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thetruegentleman posted:a smart place to send criminals and rebellious slaves  Besides, the Solar (Sapadan now, I guess?) government itself very pointedly doesn't care about what happens in vassal territories. That's why they were set up.
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Apr 28, 2018 01:50
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LaserShark posted:One cool but impractical thing they added was the option to make your species start on a Tomb World. It's good for flavor and you get to colonize other Tomb Worlds if you find them, but you take a massive hit early on due to lovely science and no food on the planet whatsoever, so it's not really worth it. The real pro strat is to take fanatic purfiers and tomb world start. Fanatic purifiers get access to the armageddon bombardment stance, which turns any alien-held world into a tomb world after a while. Never even touch the filthy xenos!
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Apr 28, 2018 21:59
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Update 1.3.2 - What Will Be, Was Annette: Nasr, come on, while there are still seats left. Nasr: I just need a moment, Annete. Annette: Nasr, I've waited five years for you to come back. I want to watch the trailers with my darn husband. Hustle! Nasr: Yes, dear. But what about the kids?  Annette: The kids are with Clarice, the Naidoo's girl. Nasr: Clarice? Little Clarice? And you think that's safe? Annette: She's sixteen, Nasr. She can handle two children for a night. Nasr: Sixteen? That can't be right. Annette: Time waits for no man, hon. And neither do I. So let's go!  St. Hossack. Schimmel's World. Meredith Bay. Worlds founded by Humans. Worlds built by Zaibatsu. Zaibatsu prefabs. Downpayments now starting at 57,000 Z-creds. 0.1% loans available to those who qualify. Zaibatsu reserves the right to change loan rates without notification.Borrowers found to be delinquent on loans may be forced to return missing amount with labour. Zaibatsu. Conquer a world with our help.  Nasr: It's nice to see that some things haven't changed. Annette: What do you mean? Nasr: I can still see a vein throbbing on your forehead whenever you have to sit through commercials. Annette: You're not funny. Also you can't, shut up.  Coming Soon... Nasr: See, if I hadn't made us late, you would've had to sit through more of those. Annette: You don't get credit for making me late. Nasr: Well, I did. Twice. Annette: Nasr! We're in public!  In a world, where the ice never melts. Two best friends are getting married. To other people. On the same day.  Ronaldo: This champagne is for the four of us! *CLINK* *͘C͢͝L͟͟͢ÌŃ̶K̴̷̨*̵̕͟ ͞Z̶u̡n̸,͟ t͝h̸es̵e̕ c̶a͘r̨abine҉rs͞ ͢a̡r̢e͏ l҉oud ̷at̶ th̴i͢s h̀ęigh͡t. V̷͠a̵̧͘s̶͘y҉͜á:̷͜͝ Co͟m͜e͝ ̨on, ̡N̴asr, ju͘s͢t͝ t̶wo m͞o͜re̴ án̶d͠ ͏w͜e'r͠e do̢ne ̶fo̴r t̡h͢e ̕day̛.̢ Nasr: Why did they have to build these towers so drat high? Annette: Nasr? Everything OK?  But what if commitment just wasn't for them? Anya: I don't know, Ronaldo, I just feel so distant from him lately. Ronaldo: I know what you mean, Anya. She doesn't get me like you do.  V̷͠a̵̧͘s̶͘y҉͜á:̷͜͝ You'̵ré ͘no̡t afr͝àid̨ of ͡heįg͢hts͘, a͞re ya, N͟a̧sr̷? F̸̕͢r͘a͜͜͠ǹ̨̛k̛͜ Les̀s ch̸i̛t-̸c͘ha͠t̕, ̀m̕o͞ŗe ͟up͞g͡rád͜in͜g̵, ͟bǫys. Nasr: Sorry, lieutenant. On it. He's just staring into space... Annette: Nasr? Honey?  Cold Feet Coming this wet season to a theatre near you. V̷͠a̵̧͘s̶͘y҉͜á:̷͜͝ H̨an̸d ̷m͞e ͞the̡ O̵m̷e͏ga̶ ̡S̷c͢a͟nne̸r,̴ ͏w̕oul̨d̀ ͠y͠a͟? ̀T́hįs̶ tow҉er's g̕i҉v̸i͞n͟g o̸ff́ a͠ w͡e͢i̸rd sig͡nal͘,͞ I ͠ca͟n'͏t͡ l̵ock̕ i̡t̵ do̧w͞n.҉ Nasr: Of course it's giving off a signal, that why we're upgrading them. Oh no. OK, we need somewhere private. Annette: Nasr, We're going to go now, alright? Nasr: We can't go yet, we just started upgrading this tower.  The bathroom will do. Shoot, people! Yo̕͜͜ú̕ ҉n̷͜e̵̛e͘d̸̴́ ̢t̷o̸͠͡ ̷̨le̶͘͞á̷̸v͜è̡͠.͝ ̵̧͘N͟o͜͏͜w̵.̢̕͠ Hans/James: I need to leave. Now. Annette: Just sit down here. Rest against the wall, Nasr. You're going to be fine. I need to lock this darn bathroom. Nasr: No rest for the wicked.  Annette: Nasr, listen to me. You're on a bathroom floor. In your wife's arms. You're not there. You're here. V̷͠a̵̧͘s̶͘y҉͜á̷͜͝: Say, ̴l͟ie҉u͡tenan͡t. ̴W̸h͏àt'́s ͟w͡i̸th ͝t̢h́e h̴on͢o͡ưr͢ ̴g͡uard̵ he҉re, án͘ywa҉y͜? ͟A͡wf̨ul ̸lo͏t͜ ̛o͠f s͢écuri͘ty̕ f̴ór ́two͡ ͡t̵ech͠s. F̸̕͢r͘a͜͜͠ǹ̨̛k̛͜: Th͞is ͏is͞ an͡ Ím̨p̡e͘r͝ial ob͘j̸ec͝t ̢on the ́Imp̧eria̶l ̀c͝a͢pi͢ta͏l. M͢aýb̶e we҉ ͞d͠ơn̢'͜t ̴tr͝us͞t ̴y͡oú.  F̸̕͢r͘a͜͜͠ǹ̨̛k̛͜: H̨aháh͜a̡,҉ y͘o͘u̴ ͝sho͠uld ̀see ýo̴u̵r f̴ac͡e.͢ It̕'͢s ̸j̡u͝st̢ a̵ precąu̶t̨i͡on,̸ bo̵y̡s̴, ҉do҉ņ't wòr̸r̵y͠. Nasr: You should be a comedian, lieuten- *̷̢̕C̨̨̀R̴̛É͟A̴̴̕͟͟K̵̸̢͞*͢͢  N͠a̡sr̵ ta͢k̸e ̕co͝v̶ér b͘ehi̕n͢d̡ a̸ ͢se̢r̶v́e̸r̡.͘ ͡H̵e ̵wa͘tc̕he͢s̷ ̶as ͜i̛n͞ a ͟s̷e͜c̶o̵ǹd, ҉th͟e soưt̢h̴ w̴all ҉is ̨tor̶n o҉f҉f ̢th̨e to̸wer,̀ as͏ ̸i͏f̵ by̡ ̶a̴n ҉en̶òrm͏ou͟s ha̛n̸d.͘ Nasr: What the gently caress? A hu̶ma̶noìd ̀f̸i҉gure҉ flo͘ats ̡alo̵ng͟s̸id̸e the͢ ̷h̀ol͟e͜,̀ ͟35̶0 m abo̕v̀e͝ ̵g̨r̀oųn͡d͝.́ W͏ea̕ring̵ tor͞n̴ ̀Ba̕rḑe̴ rags͏ o̶ņ ̶it͜s͏ ̧i̶ri͠d̛e͘s̡c͜e̸nt̷ ̕p̶u͡r̛p͝l̴e͏ ҉bod̕y,̕ i͞t̛ ͢star͜e̵s d̶o͠w͏n̢ ̨t̸he͠ G͏a͜ia̕ se̷cu͜ri͏ty ҉f̀o͠rćes̸.͢  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: T͟remble, ̛m҉ortals.́ You sta͡nd i̕n t͞he ̴p̢reşe҉n͞c͝e ǫf̢ Th̡e̢ D͡a͘rk̨ńe͠ss, ͜th͢e ̢p̧u҉nisḩm̵e̷n͜t̨ ҉f͟o̢r̸ ̢y̷o̧ur͜ sins ̶a̢ga̡in͟st͏ t̀h̡e Bar̕dés͜.̵ Annette: You don't have to see it again, Nasr. Look at me. Look at me!  The ģu̕ar̨d̡s̴ op͡e͘n ͏fir͝e ͘a͞t Th͏e̸ ҉Dark͡ne̢ss. ͏N̵a̡sr̢ ͏wa҉t̡c̴he͠s̢ as t̡he ͠l͡a҉s̶ęr ̶be͏a̕m̛ş ben͏d̶ a͝ǹd̴ tw͜is̡t̕ a̶round ͞t̢h̶e ̸fi͠g̶u̴ŕe, be͘f͟o̴r͡e r̵ác҉i͏ng ̧fo̶r̴ t̷he̛ ̛h͘orizon̴.̷  Ìn͘ ҉a ͢bli͟nk ͞o̷f ͜a͞n ̶eyé, T̷he ̸Dar͝kn͡ȩss̡ ẁa̡r͜p̕s͟ ͝ńext͜ t͝o t̀h̷e ̴Lie҉ut͟e̷ǹant͝. T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: G̕o̶ ah̶ead,̡ c͘all͞ f̡ór͏ b͡ack̡u̧p, li̸eu͘t͠e̛na̢nt͢. F̸̕͢r͘a͜͜͠ǹ̨̛k̛͜: Th̶i͢s̀ is̵ ̵L҉i͞e̸u͢t͡en͘a҉nt ̢Aberna̶thy ̷of̡ the̢ ͡7͠th ̵Col͝o̴n̶ial T̡ąskfo͘rce͜. W̨e͢'͏r҉e͟ u̕nd͠èr ̴aţta͟ck by̸ a ͏p͢sych́i͜c̨ ͏Ba̕r-  Th̢e ́D̶ar͏k͞n̨ess sl͟owl͘y̵ ͡cu҉r̢ls͏ h͢is ̵fi̡n̶gers.̕ ͟T̷hè L̸i̡e͢ut͏e̸na͘nt̀'̶s ̛b̨o͠nes ҉c͟rac͝k͏ àn̷d͡ ͠snap̕, às ͞hi͜s͞ ͞bod̛y͟ ͘c̛ont̶or̷ts͠ int͢o a͡ jagged ͡s̢p͏he̷re no҉ ̴mo͟re͠ ̧t̡h͟an a ͏me̴ter acr͟oss͏.͜ H͝is̴ s̢cre͏a͟mş e͘ch̨o҉ acr̴oss̸ N̵eo҉-̨Ka͝b͟ul.̕  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: H̕ów ͘do͟es ̡it f͝eel̶, l͜ie͟u̶te͘nant͠?̢ Tó su̵f͢f͡er͡ ̴a̵s͝ m͞y̷ ̛p͞eo̡ple͜ have̵ s̵uff҉ère̡d͘? The oth͜er sold͞i͡ers b͞acķ ̸a̴wa̢y̴ ̕f҉r͠o͞m̡ ̴t̛hȩ s̴c͜re̸am͜ing͝ ̶ball ̴o͡f̷ flesh͢ ̨a͞ńd ̨t͏he͠ al̷įe̴n̴ c͝r̸e̸a҉t҉u̧rè ͞torţurin̨g͞ ̸it̨.  On̡e̸ of ͞ţh́e̶m mak̵e̵s̨ t͝h̵e͠ ̧s͞i͡gn̷ of̨ t̸h̵e͠ s͢un ͜i͜n the ̡dir͞ècti҉on óf t̸he creat̨ure. His fin̡g̨e̕rs͏ st̢r͏e͢tch ̧f̧u̴r̕t҉he҉r̵ a͏nd ҉f͜u͘rt͜he̛r̷,͘ ̵th̴e bon̵es ̢bre̷aki̢n͘g,̕ as they͝ ͡tw͡i̢st ̛int҉o ͟a ̵ŕo͝p͞é, ͏a͢n͡d̀ wr͟ap͡ ͠ar̶óund h̕i̢s̛ ͝o͠w͞n̛ nȩc͠k͝.́ Tear ̴str҉eam͢ ͟do͘ẃn͏ ͠hi̡s ͟f̨ac͞ȩ i͜n͡ s͜il̡e͢nçe.  Th͟e̛ ͏Dar̀kn̡ess lo҉oks h̕i̴m͡ ̡i̕n ̴th̀e̕ eye. The̴ ba͡ll ̢of ̀bone͏ a̷n̵d ҉f҉l̵esh͡ col҉l͝aps͝e̢s ̛o͠n҉ the g͏ro͢und. ͟D͞e͞ath e͡mbrace̵s ͟t̛he ҉l͞ieu͞te̶nan͏t. T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Z̶un͞ w̷i҉ll̕ n̕ot ̴h͜el͏p͞ y̶o̵u͢ t̴o̸day̴, ͜mor̵t́a̛ĺ. I ̸am̨ ̶n̵o͜t a v̷a̵mpi͟r̶e͞.  Annette: Nasr, sweetie, smell my perfume. Feel my hands on your face. H̶e͞ar ͠m͟y ̀v̵oi̢c̀e͏  Nasr: A-annette? No, Annette, get out, it's too dangerous for you here! T͘he ͘D͞a̡r͢ḱn͘e̴ss ͠tu͠rńs̕ ͝its ga͢z͝e ̛towa͞r̴d̶s N͘aşr͜.̡ T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Rem͠ar͞ka̷b͜le.  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Hello, Annette. Annete: Let them go, please! They've done nothing!  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: N̢Ó͝T̴H̷҉҉I̷̧̨͝N҉G̴̴̕?̴̸͘!̡̀ Do you know what this tower does, Annette? T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: This is a dedicated communications relay, created to spread a signal on one particular frequency. A signal that plagued your mother since she was a child, until bint Sina made it stop. A signal that your great-uncle Wei heard every night in his sleep until death finally took him. T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: All Solars are guilty. But these animals are more guilty than others.  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: But even if I wanted to, I could not let them go. Just as I cannot kill your husband. This already happened, Annette. So j̷ust̴ ę̢͞ń͟j͘͞o̧͘̕y͡ t̕h̵́e̕ ͏̡s̨͟͞h̢͘͜͜o̢̧̢̧͢w̵̷.̶̷̡͝ Th́e͜ ̧ḿan͡ wit̕h th̵e̛ ́finge̕r̛-̸ro̷pe̡ fl̸ie̢s̷ ͞ou̡t ̀throưgh ̕tḩe͏ hol̷e ́in ́t́he͘ wall. H̴is͜ fi͝n͠ger͟s̷ catch̛ o͢n a҉ j͜a͝gg͠ed e͜dg͡e,̕ ̧an͝d̵ h͜e sw̸i͟ngs in̸̛ ̨t̴he ̕wind.̧  The ҉f̨i̴n̵a҉l ̡g̨uard̷ ţak͢e̷s a ͟r̛unni͟ng͢ ͘leap̷ ́ou̕t͜ ͞of͝ ͟th͠e ͜hole.̨ With̕ a f̀lick ̡of͏ ͞i̕ts̛ ͟wri̢şt̀,̷ Th̨e ̵Da͘r̷k͢ne̕ss h͏o͘lds͟ hi̵ḿ ͡i͢n̷ ̕mi͘ḑ-̧a͝i͢r̸.͘ T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Y͠ou̡ d̶o͘n't get ͟to l̡òòk̸ a͞w͡áy̨.͏  Th́e͡ ̡a͡l̢iȩn no͞w ͡fo͟cus̡ȩs h͝i҉s̕ gąze̶ on Va̸s҉y͡a,͞ t̨h̡e ot͝her te҉ch̶.̸ T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Gr̵ab y̸our ͠t͞óo͞l̨s,͡ ͏Va̶s͠ya̛.̀ You͢ ̧h̕àv́e w̸ơr̨k̕ to ҉do̴. Vasy̴a͟'̨s ̡wor̕kba̶g̕ floa҉ts ͟throug̛h̀ t͠he ai̕r̀ t̵oẁar̛d̀s h̴im.͞  My poor Nasr. What a horror to live through.  Annette: Nasr, hon. This is your wife. Everything is going to be ok, Nasr. That thing can't hurt you anymore.  Annette: But I need you to come back from there. I need you to try to hear me. I need you to listen to my voice.  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: L͡e͘t h̸i̡ḿ be҉,͜ ̨ Annette. He cannot hear you. This is his punishment.  Annette: You said that all Solars are guilty. He's not even a Solar! We're from St. Hossack! Please, free my husband!  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Are there no Bardes on St. Hossack? Focus,͠ ͜V͘a̢s͟y҉a.́ ͘Keep͟ tryin͡g͏ ͟th̨e f͠r̶e̸que̛ncy̷ ҉u̶n͡t͘il҉ ỳo͡u͘ gȩt͞ a͟ res̀ponse. Do they not suffer while your husband gets paid to fix these towers? None are innocent, Annette.  Annette: Who made you the judge?  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: The ten billion that died on Treadway. The billions that died in the coming war.  Annette: What war?  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: The one you're helping to start. R̨̢͠a̵̡d̡̨͜i͞o: G͟ai̢a͟? ̷Co͞m̀e̢ ̕i̕n͢,͞ ̢Ǵa҉i̴a̧.̸ T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: T̢h͜i̕s iş ͝Ga̶ia.  R̨̢͠a̵̡d̡̨͜i͞o: Ness, yơu҉ ͟b̧e͘au͝t̛i͠fu͠l ́ba͝st͟a͝rd.̷ ͡I d͞o̸n̵'t̨ ̷k͡n̕o̢w ̕ho͞w you di̵d,̨ ̧but̀ w҉e̵ ̕c̷ąn̢ ͢see͟ eve͢r͜y̡t͜h͝i̛n̸g. Ev̛ęry̵ ͡ship mov͢ement,̛ every ̡a͞r̛m̨y͜ d̶e̡p̛ot̶, ̕eve̛r̵y̵ i̧mpe͜r͘i͟a̴ļ t͏rąns̛a̕c͠tiơn̢.  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: I t͡o̴ld ҉yo͟u̢ I had m͜y͘.͏..́ own connections, M͢r͡.̴ C̢h͞air͡ma͢n̕  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: You̧ hav̛e ͏the psy͢-́co͏ord̡in̵a͟t̶es for th͜e̸ ́s͡ig̸na̷l̕.͢ I̢'m t̸e̵ŕmin̶at̴in̨g̴ t͡his̵ ̨ent̷r͟y-̷po̢i̴n͟t ͡a͟n͞d ̡ty̴in̡g u͜p ̶l͝oo̧s̀e̛ ̨e͢nd͝s͟.͢  R̨̢͠a̵̡d̡̨͜i͞o: G̛óod ͞l̢uck̀ o̶u̵t ͞t͘he͜r͡e͘,̨ N̨e̢ss. ̀We'll g̀èt ͞t҉hese b͝a͜śtar̡ds̨, ͞t̸o̸get͞her.̵ ̧See yo͏u ̛in t͟h͟e ̴f̨ie҉l̴d.̸  Th͝e͜ Da͟rkn̵e͝s̶ś ͏cu̧r͝ļs ͟h͠is͘ ͏fin̕g͜ers, ͡an҉d̛ ͞t҉h͝e̢ ͟commu̕n͠icatio҉n̡ ̷r͘el̕ay̸ i̡m͘p̸l̛o̡d̵es̢. ͞  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Yǫu'v͜e ̸bèe͞n ̢v̴er̷y ̨us͠efu͡l̀,͏ V̴as͟ya. B̧u͘t͘ ̡you k̛n̛ow͢ I̵ ͘c̕an͘not let̕ y͢o͏u҉ ̡li͠ve̷.̷ ͠Y͜o͟u ̧kno͏w too m̵uc͏h.͡  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Y͝o̡u҉ ḑo d͝es̴erve̵ á p̕a̴in̕les̸s ͠d͠eath́, ̢t͢h͠oug̵h.  T͘he̛ Da̶r͝k͟n҉es̴ş s͞ǹaps its f́in̸ge͘r̨s,̨ ̵ánd͜ V͘as͝ya̸ ̵falls͝ ̸a͝pa̸rt̴ ̷int͜o ̨sm̶al͢l ͝c҉u͠bes ̢ơf҉ ̴mea̸t͞,̴ ͠s̛kin̛ ͠and̵ b͘o҉n̕e̵.͠  T͟h̛e Da͠rkne͞s̸ś ̷w̵a̵ves͡ h͘i̷s h͘an̷d̸,̛ and the ͞fl͝oatin͘g͞ g̢ùard͟ i̵s̀ th̡rown ĺike a ̛r̸agdòl̶l̶ a͘cr̛oss͞ ̧the ̨ci͡ty ͢towa͡r̸ds͠ t͟h҉e̷ Imp̴e̶r̸i̵a̕l ͜Pal͠ace.  H͠e̵ wa̧lk͠s up͡ to ̢Nas̨r, and̕ geņt́l̴y͘ c̵aŕe͘ss͏e̴s͝ h͡is ̧f̢a͢ce.̧  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: I ͏ne̛ȩd ͘yo͞u ̢t̵o͟ r̶ememb̕er ͢th̶i̷s͘ very ҉wel̢l. ̛C̕a͠n ̢yo͘u͞ d̶o ͠t͏h̀át͢ f҉or͟ ͘m̕e,͘ ͞N҉asr̶? L̴oòk͠ a̸r͏o̢und̴,̨ ̡b̷r͡e͟a̵the įt a͟ll ̡ín. Th́e̕ şigh̡t̢s͜,̛ ͏the sou̶nds҉, ͟thé ͝sme͞l͞ls̵. R͟èmember all of th̸i̧s.  T͠ea̛r͢s ̡s̨t͡r̨eam̢ing ̢fr̡om ̡his ͡e͢y͢e͏s͞,͞ Na͠s͏r͟ ̸no͢ds.҉  Th̀e D̨ark̷n͞e̶s̷s̀ ͏p̵a҉t͠s̨ ̧h͠im ҉on ͡t̶h̷e he̛ad.́ T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Go̡od̷ boy.͢  T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: No̧w g̵o h̶ǫm͘e, Nasr̢.͏ S͠ee ͠y͟o̷u͘r ͡wi͢fe̴. S̛p̸eńd ţi͞me̡ with yoųr̕ ̛kìd̸s̨.͢ ͟F̷i̶n҉d̶ a͏ ne͞w ̀job.  He̴ st̡arts ͟to̶ fĺo͘át҉ a̡way. T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: O͘h, an͘d ͘if͏ y͞ou t̶e͞l̨l ąnyon̡e t̶h̵at I̕ tam̡per͏e҉d͞ witḩ t͝he c̕ommu͟nic͘àti̛o̧ns̸ ͜a̵rr͡ay be͝f͠ơre de̸s̛tro̡yin̢g̷ i͠t̵, ͡I'll ͟ki҉l͟l ̨yo̡úr fu҉ck̨i͏ng ́f͜am̶ily. What was, will be. What will be, was. T̴͢͝h̀́͘e̸ ̕D̡͏͜a͝r͜k̸̸͘nes̛s̸̛̀: Bardes everywhere are in your debt, Annette.  H̀e d͟ríf̸ts ̸awa̷y t͟owa̵r͠d̸s҉ the ͠h̀o͠r҉iz̛o̸n.̴ ̸Ǹasr ̕r͘e͞mains wh͡er̴e͜ ͏he ̶i̸s, too͠ ̵a̧fr͡a͘id̨ to ̨mov̨e͢.͢ ̛ ͢A͏ f̕ew̷ ̸m͞i̛n̡ute̸s͢ lat̷e͟r҉,͢ the̕ I̢m͞pe̸r͟i̕a҉l Guar̶d ́su҉rr͠o̵u͟ńd͘s͡ th͜e̢ ҉t͏ow͜e҉r. ͡T̨hr͝e҉e̢ g͏u̷ar̨ds͏m̵e̴n͡ ẃith̢ j͞e̷t̡packs enter̀ t͢hrou̵g̡h͞ the h́ole̛ iǹ ͠the ̡wa͢l͝l. ́N͏ąs̨r̛ ͞s͟ees̵ ͢hel̶p̵ a҉n̵ḑ ͠fin̵aĺlỳ ̛brea͞ks̷ ͏d̵o̕wn in͘t͠o̸ ̸so͝b̷s.  Annette: Nasr, honey, it's over. I've got you. Nasr: Annette! Oh, thank Zun. Where are we? Annette: In a bathroom of our local theare. Don't worry, I locked the doors. No one saw anything.  Nasr: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to space out like that. I - Annette: Hon, it's ok. You've been through a lot. We'll get through this. Together.
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May 2, 2018 10:14
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Sinner Sandwich posted:So Kayten, what's the current status of humanity? Were we all converted into Messengers for the glory of our new god? Are our vassals affected by our pacts with various dark gods? First of all, officially, the Worm IS Zun.  Everything that just happened with species altering only happened in the territories directly controlled by the Solars (Sapadans? Black Holans?). Betelgeuse March was settled after the Messenger-related transformation, but before the Gaia-related transformation. That's the purple Humans there. The big Gaia-related transformation only affected the pops on Gaia. That's the blue tomb world Humans. Everyone else is the regular blue Humans. Humans in our vassal states remain similar to Earth-based Humans from 2200, with the exception of the two self-modified populations that live on Tomb and Arctic worlds, respectively. Oh, and we have a genetically modified slave xeno population now. That used to live underground. Do those count as Humanity? The rest of the empire reacted to this chain of events in abject horror. However, having learned from the lessons of Treadway, they know that the Empire's greatest strength is its fleets. So they're waiting for an opening to be able to get as far away from this shitshow as possible.
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May 2, 2018 18:17
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Hiveminded posted:Did you edit your save/the event to make the underground aliens Goatmen? Or was that just always a possible result that could come from invading them? They're originally called Igarians, but since we genetically modified them to be better slaves, we got to rename them. Zunbils are assholes, news at 11. Yvonmukluk posted:What...what just happened? ZunLP: Jesus Christ, Kayten
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May 2, 2018 18:41
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Sinner Sandwich posted:There are other Chaos Gods to venerate. We can worship them all. Unfortunately, agreeing to a covenant locks you out of the other ones. Though I must admit, Zunbils causing the destruction of all sentient life in the galaxy out of greedy short-sightedness would have been very appropriate.
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May 3, 2018 05:26
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Update 1.3.3 - The End is the Beginning is the End Annette: Come on, hun, Vanya's got our tickets already. Keep up! Nasr: Coming, dear. I know you don't like to miss the trailers.  Ivan: Ma! Dad! We're over here! Annette: Aw, sweetie, we haven't see you guys in ages! How are things? Nasr: Hi, Vanya. Margaret.  And where's my favourite grandson? H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Her͞e̴ I a͢m̨,͏ ̀gr̸a̸n̷d̢m̛a͏!  Ivan: Where's Wei? Annette: He couldn't make it, said something a group project he has to work on with this girl. Ivan: Oh, one of those! Nasr: Your brother works on a lot of projects with a lot of girls. Annette: Boys! Behave!  Annette: How are things at home, Maggie? Margaret: Oh, you know, keeping busy. You know how tiring young boys are. H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: I'm̵ ̴no̧t͘ ̶t͠įri̕ng,͡ ҉I̸'m̧ ̵jus͡t sm͞a̷r͏t͟!̸  Ivan: So dad, you doing alright? Nasr: Eh, same old, same old, you know. The back's been acting up lately.  H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Gŗandm͡a,̵ ́w͏h͠y d̴oe̵s g̕randp͞a̴ Na̸sr ̨a͜lw̡ay̷s ͜l̴o͜ok̶ so̸ ̛t͠ir̡e͏d̵?͝ Grandpa Nasr has bad dreams, sweetie. Do you ever get bad dreams? H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Ỳe͢ah͝,͜ bu̸t͠ I͝ alw̶a͡y̴s ͞co͟me҉ talk͡ t͞ò mommy͝ ̡and s̕hè ͞sings̨ me͡ back̀ ̵to̕ s͟lée̕p̵.̢  That's what I do for your grandpa, too. Only my singing is a little bit m͘͢à͢҉g͜͜͝͠i̡̡͘̕͜c̷͏̛͟a̴͞l̢ Ivan: You sleep ok? Nasr: Most nights are pretty good, you know. Can't complain.  Nasr: How's the house coming along? Margaret: Oh, please, don't get him started about the house, Mr. Marzhan. We'll never get to the movie. Nasr: Now, Margaret. We've talked about this. You've been married to my son for six- F̛̛͞͏͞i̶̡̢͞͝v̧͘͝e̴̢͘͢ Nasr: Five years. You have a son together. You're allowed to call me Nasr.  Ivan: The restaurant holding up? Annette: Absolutely! Your father re-did the specials this week, they've been selling like hotcakes. Nasr: That's because they are! Ivan: drat it, dad. Annette: Vanya, language!  Ivan: Sorry, ma. Wei still helping out? Nasr: You know, he's got his school now, and the girls - Annette: Never you mind the girls. Wei helps out when he can, he's a good boy. Ivan: Ma, please don't start.  Annette: I'm not starting anything. It's just that you never just swing by anymore- Nasr: Dear, come on, the trailers are starting soon, you don't want to miss the trailers. They're the best part. Annette: Alright, alright, let's go watch the movie.  It's been a long day. Time for you to lay back, relax, and get pampered. Forget housework. Let the new Robo-Maid PMR2 take care of you. Robo-Maid. We clean up so you don't have to. A subsidiary of the Zaibatsu Conglomerate Ivan: Yeah, dad, you should get a Robo-Maid. Help out around the restaurant, let ma take some time off. Annette: I don't want to take any time off, Vanya. Besides, have you seen what those monstrosities cost? And they're so loud! Ivan: Just trying to help, ma, sorry.  H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Da͏dd̸y̵ t̶hi̶nk̀s͢ a̢bo͞ut̢ ̴t́he͢ re͝staur͏aņt ̨a l̴ot͏, gr͏an͢d҉ma. ͜H͝is thou͘gh̀ts g͠et͜ ̨sa̷d̡, b̨u͜t ͟hi͠s fa͟ce ͜doe̡s͢n'̸t͢.̶ I know, sweetie. Grandma just misses you all very much.  Autos 27. This time they're mining probes or something. Your kids are going to watch it anyway. Coming soon. Ivan: Zaibatsu Entertainment is losing its Zun-damned mind. Annette: Ivan Nasrovich Marzhan, there are children present! I don't know where I went wrong with raising such a child.  Ivan: Ma, I'm thirty years old. And no one cares about the world "drat" anymore, it's not the 2200s. Margaret: Vanechka, please. We're in public.  Annette: If my mother was alive to see this... Nasr: Dear, please, let's just watch the movie.  Ivan: You know what, ma? This is it. This is why I don't come around anymore. Every time we talk, you just have to find something to nag me to death about. Nasr: Ivan, you watch your mouth when you talk to your mother!  Patron: Would you people please just shut the gently caress up?! Ivan: Whoa there, buddy, don't tell my mother to shut up, who do you think you are? You want to step outside? Annette: Vanya, stop it, just sit down. Ivan: Did you hear how he talked to you, ma?  Margaret: Vanechka, you're embarassing me. Patron: How are you people still talking?  H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: G̷ran̷dma̸,̛ i͝s daddy ǵoing̛ t̡ó fįghţ th͠e̶ f҉a̕t ͞man? Not if I have anything to say about it. Y͞͏ǫu̶͏̨ will ̨l̀ea̕v͢͜e̡ ̀͘r̡i͞g͡͏̕h̢̀t̢̧͜ n҉ow̨ Patron: gently caress this, I'm leaving. Assholes.  Nasr: Can we please just watch the movie now? Ivan: Fine. Annette: Fine.  H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Gra͏n͞ḑm͜a̢, d̀ơn̛'̷t ́b͞e ͜mad a̕t͏ d̨a͞d, he̴ ļov͠és ̸you ͏ve͝r̸y͡ ͡muc̴h̷.͘ I'm not mad. H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Yes y͡ou҉ ̢a҉ŗe. Yo̸ú l̀ook͏ red̕.͡ ͢No̕t on ͘your ͘f͡àc̀e̕, ̛ins͢i͠de.̡  It's complicated, sweetie. Sometimes people you love say really hurtful things to you. Even if they don't mean them, it still hurts. H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: But I̕ don'̛t͝ want̶ y̧òu ͞ţo͏ figh̸t!̡  ATTENTION! ATTENTION! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! WE REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL! PLEASE STAND BY FOR A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT Ivan: What's going on?  Mountbatten: Hello. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Fatima Mountbatten, acting CEO of Zaibatsu Conglomerate. Precisely thirty minutes ago, Count Jean of Zulei Cro has been placed under arrest for sedition against our great country. Chief among the many charges laid against him is collaboration with the Solar Government in their many crimes against humanity.  Mountbatten: For too long, the Solar Empire has been committing horrific acts to Humans on an immense scale. The Human race can take no more. Thus, there now exists a state of war between Zulei Cro County and the Solar Empire. But fear not, for we are not alone. We are joined in our fight for freedom by our brothers in the Grand Duchy of Earn and Hagawa County.  Mountbatten: In order to ensure the continuation of stable governance, the Zaibatsu Conglomerate has assumed the role of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of administration. I have been granted full power necessary to prosecute this war by the authority of the Zaibatsu Board of Directors. I have no doubt in my mind that we will be victorious, and earn our freedom!  Mountbatten: In the interest of national security, I hereby declare all Gaia-class and New Earth-class Humans, as well as all psychic Humans, to be enemies of the state to be arrested immediately. Specially-trained clone trooper squads have been diverted to major population centers in order to weed out this threat. Please report any suspicious activity to them as soon as possible.  Mountbatten: We rely now on you, our beloved consumers, to build a better future for Humanity under our steady guiding hand. Please go about your business. Further updates will be provided to you as the situation develops. Thank you.  Nasr: It's finally happening, isn't it? Annette: I'm afraid so, dear. Henri: Dad? What's going on? Ivan: Nothing is going on, Henri, we just need to go home straight away, ok? Margaret: Come on, Henri, let's get your jacket back on. Don't worry, daddy's going to carry you.  W͠ei!͝ ͏Thi͝s ̧is ̴y̵our m͘oth́e͢r.͞ ̷Do͟n'͜t as̴k̶ ͢q̡ueşt̷io̸n͡s.͏ I͏ ̷ne̕ed̢ y̵ou̵ ͡t͡o immed̛iat̡e͠ly͘ ͏go͏ ͞to͝ ͡the͏ ͝r̴ès̕tau̶r̕a̴n͏t.̨ ̶R҉ig̢h̴t̕ n̨ow̕! ͞Yo̕u'r͘e͘ go̷ińg̀ ̨to̶ sta̵ŗt ̀cov̕e͜r̕i͡n̸g ͡a͟ll t̶h̛e w͘i̛ndow͝s͜ ̕wi̶th͏ ͠àn͝y̶thing y̛ou ̛c̵an.͝ Ẃe a̧re ͡bar̕ríc͏a̴d͞i҉n̷g ͡ou͢rse̸l͝v̧e͞s̢ ̶a̶t́ t͟h͝e r͝es͏táur̨a͠n͏t.̶ ̕Ta̧lk͘ t̷o̧ ̴no on͡e, ́j̡ưs̵t go҉.̷ We are͞ ̸o̴n͘ t͡he͜ ̷ẃa҉y. Pl͝e͘as̕e ̸be̡ s͠afe͜. Annette: Vanya, Maggie, we're going to the restaurant to hole up and wait this out. Please, for the love of Zun, come with us. Ivan: gently caress it, let's go, ma.  Darn it, the clone troopers are here already. Henri, can you hear me? H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: W̡e're r̡ig͠h̢t b͏e͏h̡ind y̧oư, gra͢n͞d̴ma̛.́  Do you see those tall men with the same face? The ones without colour? Don't look them in the eye. Don't try to look at them. Just focus on my voice. H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Gr͞and̴ma,͝ ̷I'm ͢s̵ca̷r҉ed̀.  I know, sweetie, it's going to be ok, we're family, we take care of each other. I promise. H̷̡en̛̕r̀͏̵i: Th͜e͞ ta͢ll ͝m͏en ̨are ͝gr̸a̸b͘b͏in̡g͡ the͝ ṕur̸p̡le ̴pe͟o͜p̕ĺe̛,̕ ͞g͝r̴a҉nd҉m͢a!͠ ́A͡re th͠ey ̶goįn͝g t͟ò ̵gr͜a͠b́ us ţoó? RX-71: You there, halt. Stand by for psycho-spectrometer analysis. Nasr: We're not psychics, officer, we're restaurant owners. The Marzhans, that's us. We run The Red Irassian. RX-63: It's alright, '71. I know them. Mr. Marzhan, Mrs. Marzhan, long time no see. Nasr: '63! I haven't seen you in months!  RX-71: Sir, I'm getting strange readings off the small Human with them. RX-63: It's a scared cub, '71. But, fine, I'll talk to it. Hello, child. What's your name? Henri: H-henri, sir. RX-63: My vatmate here thinks you're a psychic. Are you a psychic, H-henri? Say no. SAY NO.  Henri: N-no, sir. RX-63: And do you know any psychics? Say no, Henri! RX-63: Please stop looking at your grandma, H-Henri. Just answer the question. Do you know any psychics?  Henri: I don't know, sir. RX-63: Good boy. See, '71, and you were worried. It's just a human cub. Let them through. RX-71: But sir!  RX-63: Am I going to need to assign disciplinary duties to you, '71? RX-71: No sir. Marzhan family, go on through.  RX-63: Go on, Mr. Marzhan. Mrs. Marzhan. We still have to process thousands of people today. RX-63: I'll stop by the restaurant and talk about this later.
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May 10, 2018 08:33
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The Choice of 2394 The Solar Empire has lost its grip on its vassals. The Sun Throne no longer reigns over most of Humanity, in its myriad forms. New powers rise in the Galactic West. Which one will we shepherd?  A. Earn Free State. Following the conclusion of the Imperial Wars of Independence, the Duke of Earn was gently escorted out of the Ducal palace by troops under the command of General Salazar. He was executed by firing squad at Independence Square (formerly Imperial Square) in New Jakarta on Broadleaf. The military has assumed control of government operations, riding a wave of popular disgust with recent Imperial policies. A council of prominent Admirals and Generals maintains day-to-day administration of the planets, with a single Consul appointed to represent the State in Galactic matters. The caste system has been abolished for those the State recognizes as Human. All citizens that are willing to serve the State will be provided for by the State. The results of Imperial meddling with The Worm are regarded as abominations against all that Humanity stands for, and are considered undesirable. Note: Earn Free State will pursue Large-Scale Construction Projects.  B. The Zaibatsu Conglomerate. The arrest of the Count of Zulei Cro is arguably the event that started the Imperial Wars of Independence. The Zaibatsu Conglomerate, originally an auto manufacturer, has grown so large as to encompass almost every aspect of commerce within Zulei Cro County. In 2388, the clone troops created by Helix Solutions, Ltd. (a subsidiary of Zaibatsu Conglomerate) turned on the Count, who relied on their protection. Under the command of Fatima Mountbatten, the acting CEO of Zaibatsu Conglomerate, the Count was declared a collaborator with the Imperial Government and a traitor to Humanity, and later publicly executed. The Board of Directors of the Conglomerate has taken over government duties. The massive Zaibatsu resources have been put to use to address gaps in the former Imperial bureaucracy. The Board immediately voted to grant Fatima Mountbatten sweeping powers necessary to maintain stability during this delicate transition of power. In order to smooth the process, social frameworks remained largely unchanged for moment, including the caste system. Any Conglomerate clients that demonstrate psychic abilities are clearly spies for the Imperial government, and are thus declared enemies of the Conglomerate. However, since the Board is not without vision, the psychic "Humans" are given the option to work off their debt to society in one of the many Zaibatsu Loyalty Centres. Note: The Zaibatsu Conglomerate will pursue Forced Evolution.  C. Nusakan Border Regions. At the end of Imperial Wars of Independence, the Imperial Core Worlds were completely cut off from the recently-settled colonies of Inferno, Keresia, Tartarus and High Ground. Since direct administration was essentially impossible due to Earn and Zaibatsu territorial gains blocking access to the rest of Solar territory, the Sun Throne has spun off the new colonies into a loose association that can govern itself. In return for pledging undying loyalty to the Sun Emperor, the Sun Priest Council representatives on the planets were granted control over the Border Regions. However, in a moment of miscalculation on the part of the Imperial government, the distance from Terra Nova has damaged the pan-Human psychic connection. Instead, the Human population of the Border Regions, overwhelmingly psychic, has developed empathy. Empathy for all Humans. Even Bardes. Thus, the first action of the Sun Priest Council was to abolish the caste system. This reform was met with rage from the Sun Throne, but both Zaibatsu Conglomerate and Earn Free State refused to grant Imperials access to their colonies. This lack of any armed response from Terra Nova has taught the Nusakans that while the Imperials are technically their overlord, in practice, their power to enforce policy was very, very limited. Note: Nusakan Border Regions will pursue Mechanization and try to build Fully Automatic Luxury Gay Space Communism. Vote now!
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May 10, 2018 08:35
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Sinner Sandwich posted:Unless Kayten has a particular plan to turn luxury gay space communism into something a bit more morally gray, as opposed to the Zunbils' outright black, I'm going to side with A for the glory of humanity, as defined by the free state. Hey, man, the Zunbils like built roads and poo poo.
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May 11, 2018 02:44
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Chatrapati posted:A, for the same reason. Though playing on the edge of space sounds cool, it's boring to always be the progressives. Were 194 years of space feudalism not regressive enough?
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May 12, 2018 04:05
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What Paradox LPs went communist except for ByzLP, anyway?Sinner Sandwich posted:Personally, I'd prefer to go full Mao. Take some notes from the "Good Guy Yang" Alpha Centauri run-- dismantling the caste system means in the short term that everyone has to do barde manual labor, at least until a better system is figured out. That's what the Fully Automatic part is for. Robots aren't Human, so there's no empathy for them from the Sun Priests. Problem solved forever!
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May 12, 2018 21:28
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We've been pretty evil for 200 years so far. ed. And Old Men Telling Stories was 700 years firmly set to "pretty evil". Kayten fucked around with this message at 02:34 on May 13, 2018 |
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May 13, 2018 02:19
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Alright, calling it for Nusakan Border Regions. Don't worry, it won't be all psychic puppies and robo-rainbows.
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May 14, 2018 07:57
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skullhead tethyis posted:
Gaia was spun off into an independent city (stellar?) state, because no non-psychic Human wants to be anywhere near that abomination. Its independence is guaranteed by both the Conglomerate and the Free State. The whole Worm-eating-Sapad thing cleared the species' ethics, and redirected most of them towards pacifism. The Gaian Humans are actually super chill, despite their horrific visage. thetruegentleman posted:It's going to remain Spiritual Ethos, right? 'Cause I'm kinding banking on robo-rebellion against the masters as Bardes 2.0. Robots do not have souls. They can no more rebel against Humanity than a toaster can. It'll be fine.
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May 17, 2018 08:30
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| # ¿ May 22, 2024 05:37 |
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Update 2.1.1 - Networking A small one-bedroom apartment near the polar ice caps on Inferno. The living room has been turned into a primitive studio, centered around an old metal desk. A decrepit simulcam is rigged up on something resembling a tripod in front of it, flanked by two mining lights held in place by gaffer tape and prayers. The wall behind the desk has been painted green to make editing easier, but the paint can't hide the irregularities in the wall surface itself. A single monitor stands on top of old cardboard boxes to get it to reach the hosts' eyelines.  The desk itself is kept immaculate. The two microphones set up at either end are the most professional-looking aspect of the whole design. A large synth sits at the desk, his shape reminiscent of a Human someone once described to an aging painter. His head is entirely too large for the body, his arms frail and almost bird-like. A mockery of the Solar Empire sigil is etched into his frame. He is BRIG.  Brig pores over script notes on a tablet in front of him, occasionally stopping to pour a liquid from a ceramic mug next to his mic into his chest. He imitates a slurping noise every time he does. Brig: I still say we cut the Betelgeuse segment. I do not like the jokes we have, and we are not really tying into the rest of the episode with it.  On the opposite side of the room is a window partially blocked by a thick curtain, betraying a glimpse of the ceaseless movement in the city below. A large Goatman stands next to it, smoking a hoof-rolled cigarette and staring at the autos flying by. He wears a red shirt with a stylized picture of Commander Zhang in combat fatigues on it. His jet-black fur resists attempts to slick it down. He is GORI.  G-Man: It's part of the whole "idiocy around the galaxy" theme we have going. Brig: This whole show is "idiocy around the galaxy", and we are already running long. G-Man: I'm more worried about the fact that we start shooting in five minutes, and our guest is still missing.  A pre-Worm Human alternates between loving with simulcam settings and checking his comms. He wears his purple hair in a loose ponytail hidden under a cap. His pants have specks of green paint splattered all over the front, its shade matching the wall behind the desk. He moves quickly and erratically. He is NERGUI.  Nergui: gently caress off, G, I'm working on it. G-Man: You're the producer, aren't you? Produce us a guest.  Nergui: Maybe you can spend less time getting high and more time learning your drat lines while I do my job. Brig: That is a no on cutting the Betelgeuse segment, then? G-Man: Let's just record it, we can cut it out in the edit if we run out of time.  Brig imitates a sigh and shakes his head. Gori flicks his cigarette out the window and waddles over to Nergui. G-Man: Come on, Ner, don't be like that. I know Humans love this poo poo too.  He tries to hug him from behind. Nergui gently elbows him in the ribs while fiddling with the camera. Nergui: Not at work, G. And Zun-drat, they can probably smell you half-way across this moon. It's like a knusk died in here. His communicator beeps.  Nergui: loving finally! He's downstairs, I'm gonna go grab him. Her? Them? It? What's the deal with this one? Brig: You booked it, you figure it out. Nergui: Just get ready to start. He rushes out the door. Gori settles into his spot at the desk, and pours something from a flask into his mug.  G-Man: I can almost feel you judging me. Brig: You cannot. Organics are incapable of "feeling" my thought processes. Besides, I do not care how you lower your life expectancy. Your interspecies mate, however...  G-Man: It's not like that, you toaster.  Brig: Of course not. I am merely an extremely advanced artificial intelligence that can calculate the jump trajectory of a Nusakan cruiser in the middle of a firefight while keeping the structurally deficient organics inside alive. I could not possibly read the blatant social cues between a sheep and an ape in heat. G-Man: Ladies and gentlemen, the galaxy's first artificial dick! Brig: I am far from the first artificial dick. Something had to keep your mother satisfied all these years. Gori's booming laugh shakes the windows. G-Man: One day, B. One day we'll be making jokes about your mom to billions of viewers.  Brig: At our current rate of subscriber aggregation, this will take over 12 million Solar years. This is fine with me, but I doubt you can last that long. The door swings open, and Nergui comes in, followed by twelve pre-Worm Humans in identical green shirts. A diverse group, though something about their faces and distant stares suggest a commonality. They are DAVE. Nergui: And this is our studio. If you could, uh, make yourselves comfortable around the room. Which one of you is Dave?  The Humans laugh. Dave: In a way, we are all Dave on this blessed day. G-Man: Ner, if you booked another cultist, I'm leaving. Dave: No-no, you misunderstand. We are all Dave in the way that all your cells are Nergui. G-Man: So you're clones?  Brig looks over at the monitor, causing it to cycle through a series of videos as they are trimmed to the correct length. Brig: Dave is the network. It pools together the spare computational power at each node in order to create a decentralized intelligence. Dave is emergent from the connections between these bodies. He looks directly at the nearest body. Brig: Hi, Dave. Nergui: Uh, alright, so which one of you wants to speak for Dave on camera, then?  Dave: This cell seems to freak people out the least, so let's do that. Nergui: Great, let me just sync this lav mic with you and... we're good. Alright, boys, thirty seconds. Gori and Brig bump their "fists".  G-Man: Twelve million years of dick jokes. Brig: Twelve million years of your mom. Nergui: Five, four, three, two, one!  G-Man: What's up, Hive, it's your goat G-Man- Brig: And your bot Brig- G-Man: Coming back at you with another episode of The Freakshow Podcast! Brig: We cut through Imperial bullshit and talk poo poo with some cut Imperials! G-Man: Tonight: are we at war with Earn again?  G-Man: Hive, in case you forgot, here's a quick refresher. Twenty-eight years ago, the Solars declared war on the Earn Free State over a "border dispute" near the core systems. Brig: The Sun Chair insisted that the purge-happy purists overstepped the boundaries set up by the Treaty of Gaia back in 2394, and sent Strike Force Medusa over to re-negotiate.  G-Man: Our contribution to the glorious war effort mostly consisted of parking a fleet at our border with Earn.  Brig: An interstellar staring contest between two disparate groups of organic idiots.  G-Man: Gluten-free and locally sourced morons. Brig: Ethically farmed dumbasses.  G-Man: Of course, the credit-hungry Zaibatsu Conglomerate jumped at the chance to prove to the Imperials that they have the best clones money can buy.  Brig: This war came at a very convenient time for Ferrari. To our viewers abroad, Grand Mistress Ferrari is the figurehead of the Empathetic Network movement. Hive, time for a brief history lesson. After the Treaty of Gaia cut off the Imperial core worlds from the Border Regions, Theodora Ferrari-  G-Man: And Admiral Brill, and Trade Representative Jaeger, but no one likes to remember them. Brig: Yes, the brief Third Triumvirate. What is it with Humans and worshiping a dead culture from two thousand Solar years ago?  G-Man: It's ancient Rum or the Solars. At least the Rumans didn't have mines run by slaves. Nergui shakes his head. Brig: Oh, we are now being told that Rumans did, in fact, have mines run by slaves. G-Man: Slavery is just a fundamental aspect of Human culture, apparently.  Brig: Didn't Humans encounter your people and immediately enslave them, G-Man? G-Man: No, of course not! They immediately flooded our cities with nerve gas, killing almost all of us.  G-Man: Then they dragged the terrified survivors to the surface and genetically modified us to be stronger. THEN they enslaved us.  Brig: But at least they also moved all of your people off their homeworld to make space for Human settlers. G-Man: For our own good.  Brig: It was getting crowded. They stare into the distance for a few moments. Brig: Anyway. Ferrari, Brill and Jaeger came up just at the right time. The core worlds were cut off, the psychic broadcasts from the Solar Throne stopped coming through, the Imperial Fleets were in tatters. These three travel throughout Inferno giving speeches at Solar temples about connectivity, feeling others' pain as your own, all that hippie nonsense.  G-Man: Only this time, it isn't nonsense. The more Humans buy into this bullshit, the more stable and obvious the Empathetic Network of Inferno becomes. Overseers feeling each strike against Bardes. Bazargan feeling the sorrow of each poor Human trapped in a cycle of debt. Mahafez feeling every kick to the ribs they give out after curfew. It's hard to hurt people when you feel their pain as your own. So Humans pour into the streets all over Inferno, hugging, crying, having this planet-wide orgy of emotions. The caste system is abolished. Mothers weep, babies cry. Brig: Organic reproduction continues to horrify me.  G-Man: So Brill and Jaeger are sent to other Border Regions worlds to spread the message. That's where they run into a problem. Brig: Psychic signals take ages to travel faster than light, so each Empathetic Network is limited to the planet it started on. Nergui points at the mic-ed up Dave and taps his wrist.  G-Man: So each planet has its own Empathetic Network, its own shared subconscious. Brig: Strange how their empathy does not extend to other species.  G-Man: Oh, they feel us, they just don't let us participate. We're too savage, you know. Too close to nature.  Brig: Anyway, Jaeger died in an "auto accident", and Brill retired to Shrub to spend more time with his pack. Bringing us back to my original point, Ferrari rode the last war with Earn all the way to re-election.  G-Man: And speaking of bad segues, it's time for our Freak of the Week! Brig: Number one show on late night! G-Man: Nothing but illustrious guests! Brig: Give it up for Dave! Nergui nudges the mic-ed up Dave towards the desk.  G-Man: So, Dave, tell us, what's your deal? Dave: Our deal? Brig: Can we get a pan to show the rest of Dave, please? Nergui swears under his breath and pans the simulcam to show the rest of Dave hanging out on the couch. The "tripod" groans and the image shakes. Gori blows Nergui a kiss. Nergui rolls his eyes.  G-Man: Where're you from, Dave? Dave: All over Zaibatsu space, to be honest. We were psychic kids that GenTek has... acquired over the years. Brig: Acquired as in stolen? Dave: Worse. Bought. Lots of desperate people out there.  G-Man: And how did you get so well-connected? Dave: There was a genetic research facility on Pallena, trying to link soldiers' minds together for better operational awareness. Brig: Looks like it worked.  Dave: Yeah, a bit too well. We don't really remember the merge. It was a... painful process. G-Man: I can't imagine a Zaibatsu subsidiary would be too keen on releasing failed experiments. Dave: Oh Zun, no. As far as GenTek is concerned, we are still stolen property. G-Man: How did you make it here? It's a long way from Zaibatsu space.  Dave: We moved around a lot. Did a lot of work for credits under the table and a big room to sleep in. Brig: What kind of work? Dave: Oh, all sorts of things. We are very good at construction. G-Man: Construction?  Dave: Yeah. We dug pools, built cottages out in the country, even worked on some towers on St. Hossack. We got very good at it. Not so good at hiding the whole... "us" thing. G-Man: Do people freak out when they figure it out?  Dave: Oh yeah! Some people call the cops, others panic and start shooting. We were thirteen cells, originally, but one could not leave Agartha. G-Man: Oh, I'm sorry. Brig: Do you miss that node? Dave: Cell. But yeah, we do. Wouldn't you miss your arm if it was gone? Brig: I am a soul in a disposable metal shell. An arm is replaceable.  G-Man: Don't worry about Brig, he doesn't quite get Humans. So you made it across Imperial space doing construction? Dave: Construction, landscaping. We are also a very good kitchen. We ran this Marzhan's on St. Hossack for a year and a half- Brig: What is a Marzhan's?  Dave: It's this big fast food franchise in Zaibatsu space. Breakfast food all day, that sort of thing. Pretty good hotcakes, actually. G-Man: You were a kitchen? By yourself? Dave: Almost. We got better at hiding by then, so we mixed in with a Human or two every shift. Had to pretend we had history between cells.  Brig: Is that a common thing in organic food preparation? Dave: Oh yes. Kitchens are loud and chaotic. So we'd be making food on a busy night and yelling at ourself. "If I don't have that chicken in three minutes, I will cut you myself", "I'd like to see you try, fat gently caress", that sort of thing. Felt like we were doing a finger puppet show.  G-Man: And the Humans bought this? Dave: Oh, they ate it up! Humans love kitchen drama. Best job we've ever had.  Brig: So how do you like the Border Regions? Dave: It's nice! The Humans here have been very helpful. They say we fit into their Empathetic Network really well. Brig: Good luck with that. Dave: We get the feeling you don't like Humans very much, Brig. Why is that?  Brig: Because Humans behave very predictably.  Brig: Especially towards everyone else. Nergui twirls his finger. G-Man: Alright, we're almost out of time. Dave, what do you want your banner to say? Dave: Uh, alright.  Dave: How about : All Humans are connected, but some are more connected than others? G-Man: Not bad, not bad. Brig: Thank you for coming to the podcast. Dave: Yeah, guys, any time. G-Man: Thanks for tuning in, Hive! This has been the Freakshow Podcast, and we'll see you all next week! Nergui hits a button on the simulcam. Nergui: And we're wrapped! Daves, if you would follow me, I will show you how to get to the metro from here. Nergui leads the Dave cells out the door and to the elevator. Gori pulls out another hoof-rolled cigarette. He nudges Brig, and the synth lights it with a lighter in his fist. G-Man: Thanks, B. Good show. Brig: Yes. Good job. Ended up cutting the Betelgeuse bit anyway. G-Man: Eh, gently caress it. Gori moves to the window and cracks it open. He stares out the window, looking for Nergui. G-Man: Listen, has Ner been weird lately, or is it just me? Brig: He is a Human, Gori. They are always weird. G-Man: Come on, he's one of the good ones! He's not even psychic. Brig: He is a good producer that is willing to work for no pay. His camera work is basic, and he has been setting my mic up wrong for three weeks now. G-Man: B, come on. Brig: Fine. He pulls away from you at work. He looks at his communicator when talking to you. He has made four excuses not to see you after the podcast this month. G-Man: gently caress. Is he?.. Brig: Cheating on you? I do not know. But I do know he has a second communicator he has not told you about. G-Man: loving Humans, man. Brig: That got you into this mess. For a moment, Gori smiles. Brig sighs. Brig: gently caress Ner. We are going out tonight. Cheap drugs, knockoff apps, dancing with Humans. G-Man: I don't know, B. I'm not really feeling it tonight. Brig: Statistically, this has a 73% chance of improving your serotonin levels. Besides, Human dancers love the goat. G-Man: They do love the goat. Gori flicks his cigarette out the window. G-Man: gently caress it, let's go. Kayten fucked around with this message at 22:13 on Jun 7, 2018 |
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Jun 7, 2018 11:29
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