1/5 --- 2021/07/28(Wed)15:59 No. 1006569 ID: b081a5
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Dunra, our homeworld. To many other sapient species, a frozen iceball planet, perhaps, too cold for most.
To us, the criai, dwellers of the equator, home.

My kind, the Lazmihi, were and remain a tribe who viewed the material and the spiritual as one and the same. Invention, crafting, innovation, the refinement of process and artifice, these were what drove us. Through our works, we channeled something greater than ourselves, and we gave the spirits of the world new form and new focus to aid ourselves and themselves into yet further improvement. To our kind, life and artifice quickly blurred together, with a living being viewed as a pinnacle of complexity to which all our efforts aspired to reach, but could never fully replicate. We sought to better ourselves, and to maintain a balance in what we took from the world by what we gave back to it.

This could, of course, never have lasted.

The history of Dunra was fraught with conflict, and the greatest of the criai empires soon fell in a swift, brutally efficient revolution. From this turbulence was born the Bisushpi-Kin, a culture and a nation named for the legendary ice bird that, on death, would freeze solid into an egg, only to be reborn just as magnificient and ethereally beautiful as before.

And soon, the Bisushpi-Kin began to cast the zeal and fervour of the revolution that spawned them onto other cultures, and quickly became the empire they once claimed to despise. We, the Lazmihi, were viewed as dogmatic relics of a tribal past, or as technology cultists with dangerous obsessions. In their eyes, we were long overdue for integration. We saw the Bisushpi-Kin as violent, bloodthirsty warmongers eager to find those they thought they couldn't fight back, and we refused to let the Bisushpi-Kin crush all we stood for just to satisify them.

2/5 --- 2021/07/28(Wed)15:59 No. 1006570 ID: b081a5
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But before a war between our cultures could emerge, it came from the stars.
A small tendril of a fleet of the interstellar Kiter Empire, discovering Dunra on accident.

To call it an invasion or a conquest would suggest we posed a threat. We were seen with the same disgust and disdain reserved for household pests, and slaughtered with similar ease. Many survivors organised and tried to fight back, but we faced terrifying power beyond our understanding. Waves of uncountable chitinous blades tore us apart. Titanic creatures with weaponry larger than buildings crushed us beneath their bulk. From the skies came incomprehensible blasts of psychic fury manifest in light and force, and from the stars came devastating megaton explosions launched with impossible precision.

We would later learn the force we faced were nothing more than guards. The Kiter had intended to install a signal relay on our planet, and concluded that our presence was potentially destabilising to their infrastructure. Our species' attempted genocide came from an alien bureaucrat calculating the existence of our kind as disruptive to scheduling.

Resistance was untenable. The Bisushpi-Kin fought to save Dunra, or, more accurately, to save what they could of it. We, however, fled as soon as we could. The Bisushpi-Kin never forgave us this act of cowardice, and while our planet burned, our ideological conflict came to its dire climax, all will for peace lost in the flames. Criai slew criai in an effort to keep what they had, and any hope of reconciliation died with them.

Dunra was no longer our homeworld.

Those of us who could fled to the stars, and we never saw the Bisushpi-Kin again. We do not know what happened to all of the criai who couldn't flee.

3/5 --- 2021/07/28(Wed)15:59 No. 1006572 ID: b081a5
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But in our years of hiding, healing and restoring ourselves, we have learned of something new. Something that could change things. Something that could prove to the Bisushpi-Kin that their imperialist vainglory is founded upon delusions of grandeur. Something to give them pause.

A weapon. A weapon to fight the Kiter. A hidden weapon deep below the surface of a distant planet, so powerful and threatening to the Kiter that they long ago sealed it there, having failed repeatedly to destroy it outright. A rumour, yes, wishful thinking, perhaps, but a weapon so powerful scores of alien explorers, militants, xenoarchaeologists and others sought this planet, sending expedition after expedition to this mysterious world, Tarshun IV.

The legends say none ever return.

Our sacred mission is as thus. We will discover the truth of this world, and we are prepared to die to find it. We will give our own lives to protect those we care about and, in taking Dunra back from the invaders, we will show the scattered criai across the stars the depths of our compassion, or, at least for the most cynical, what we are prepared to sacrifice to ensure the survival of our kind.

The planet is hot, humid, filled with jungles, and a variety of alien flora and fauna. We have heard it referred to as a world of death, filled with life that seeks to sustain itself at all costs. Nature at its most vicious. We must prepare for the worst. We seek harmony in nature and balance in all things, but we are not foolish.

We understand we must prepare for blood to be shed. Our own, and others'. This time, things are different. Our own kin live in the shadow of fear and desperation. We are a chosen few. We will not run. For the Lazmihi, we cannot run.

For the Lazmihi. For Dunra. Above all else, for the criai.

4/5 Uli 2021/07/28(Wed)15:59 No. 1006573 ID: b081a5
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My name is Uli Shilta, Flock-Chief of the Argent Feather, and mission overseer. For better or for worse, I am in charge of this operation, at my own insistence. I know my limits. I'm no longer in my prime as I once was, but my strength and sense are still with me. A duller knife can still cut, with the right precision, and where it cannot cut, it can mark the way.
Those younger than me were more willing to train as sentinels and act as the eyes and hands demanded of the mission, and I could not let the learned elders and sages risk the volume of their wisdom and learnings on such a dangerous mission. Many of my peers had their families and students to worry about, and I... well, it was not a concern.

Simply arriving at the surface of this planet was not without losses. Our craft was met with a strike from an automated system as we entered orbit, and many of our supplies were scattered to the planet below. Almost the entire cargo bay was lost. We will need to retrieve them, as well as repurpose anything we come across.

The teachings of the Lazmihi caution against this callous, colonial worldview of natural resources as something to be exploited. If we are to survive, however, the most idealistic of our values may need to be reassessed for survival in a new, perilous context.

We still must remain vigilant not to succumb to viewing ourselves as above all other things, or else face the same all-consuming flame of pride that forced the Bisushpi-Kin to turn on their own kind.

Looking over the bridge readings, I see our five sentinels are all in good condition, currently being awoken from cryosleep. The process is complex, but I have full faith in the system spirits to awaken them quickly and safely.

5/5 Uli 2021/07/28(Wed)15:59 No. 1006575 ID: b081a5
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As I watch, Pavono approaches me. The Bisushpi-Kin would call Pavono and others like it utility drones, debase them as inherent slaves to criai superiority. Among us, Pavono is as much a person with rights as any other, and has served as an advisor of its own volition. Unlike many of our metal friends, it was not shaped by our hands but liberated from a Bisushpi-Kin vessel, after it tried to flee "decommissioning". We have a different name for such a process committed on a sapient being; murder.

Pavono struggles with the idea of personhood, due to core directives our most talented machine-whisperers can't change without practices too intrusive to consider. It has had increasing success overcoming them. Nevertheless, its deepest desire is to provide figures of authority with reports, and it is highly skilled in doing so. I do not even need to ask Pavono for its report. A slight nod in its direction, and its hovering body tilts towards me in acknowledgement.

"Esteemed Flock-Chief, I bring news. The reconfiguring of the Call To The Void has completed. The vessel will never fly again, but the seed has been planted. The Landing Pad, Bridge and Ship Generator are online. Supplementary life support systems are now active, and our surviving sentinels are being awoken.

"Our available resources are low and counts are being recalculated. If we are to survive on this hostile world, we must begin efforts to survey our surroundings and acquire additional resources as soon as possible. Preliminary scans suggest higher chances of material deposits deeper into the crust of this planet, but with ever increasing risk. This is also true the further out we explore on the surface. This world is fraught with perils.

"Please indicate which location we should explore once the sentinels are awake, briefed, and equipped."

[ NOTE: Options are indicated on the map. B4, C5, D5, E5, F4. The "D" values for each row indicate depth, which, as it increases, increases risk and reward. The "D" values for columns only apply to the surface, row 4, and as it increases, increases risk but not reward. Ties decided by author fiat. (Author fiat probably decided by a dice roll.) The field will be extended as necessary as discoveries are made. ]

Let's start simple. D5.

B4 before anything else.

B4

We don't know how long we have before something inevitably goes wrong, we should maximize our resources as soon as possible, D7

B4. Let's see what's in front before we explore elsewhere.

1/4 Pavono 2021/07/31(Sat)19:15 No. 1006904 ID: b081a5
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- Exploration Result -

Exploring immediately outside the ship revealed a large supply crate with our markings and ident signatures.

Gained 10 Resources

2/4 Pavono 2021/07/31(Sat)19:15 No. 1006905 ID: b081a5
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!! HOSTILE ALERT !!

While exploring the surface of this world, an incredibly large native organism began chasing the exploration team.
The exploration team were able to keep the crate secure and escape, but the creature is advancing towards the ship.
Creature appears to be crushing native flora without any sign of difficulty, and appears to have a long, sharp-ended prehensile appendage whipping around with speeds that could likely cause significant structural damage to our structures, or ourselves. Creature appears to have some form of advanced camouflage based on shifting surface hue.

We are under attack by a native organism of noteworthy offensive capability.
Establishing defence protocols. Battle-Adjutant Shivoshi en route.

Battle-Adjutant Shivoshi is not completely repaired from the Bisushpi-Kin encounter. There is a minor possibility this may have compromised its judgement slightly.

3/4 Shivoshi 2021/07/31(Sat)19:15 No. 1006906 ID: b081a5
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Flock-Chief. Battle-Adjutant Shivoshi present. Death to the Bisu-- Error. Apologies. Readjusting.
Imminent threat detected. Immediate threat neutralisation required. Destroy threat source.

Hostile analysed with a Statistical Threat Rating, or STR, of 20. Curren combined defensive forces rate at STR of 25.
Projected outcome of conflict favourable, with appropriate action. Favourable outcome: target destroyed, threat neutralised.

Explaining known rules of engagement:

- Our units deploy from the room they're housed in.
- A collection of units in a single room form a Troop, and will act as one. Splitting can be done at any time outside of direct engagement, but is not typically advised.
- A unit can move once per combat round.
- If our units are ever in the same grid square as an enemy, attacks will happen immediately. Attacks are once per round and simultaneous: damage dealt to and received from the enemy is equal to STR. (Example: A 5 STR sentinel versus a 15 STR creature will be completely slaughtered, and the enemy creature will be reduced to 10 STR.)
- Ranged units can, instead of moving, attack at an enemy up to 2 grid squares away, once per round.
- Enemy units will try to get to the bridge. If they reach the bridge, which is to say, us, and the bridge lacks defenders, mission success is compromised. It is imperative that the bridge be the very last thing to fall to increase probability of desired mission outcome over projected mission outcome in this scenario. Projected mission outcome in this scenario: everyone dies.

It will be difficult to destroy the Bisushpi-Kin if we are dead. Sorry. Achieve mission goal. Destruction of the Bisushpi-Kin is not the current mission goal. Yet. We can discuss this later.

4/4 Shivoshi 2021/07/31(Sat)19:15 No. 1006907 ID: b081a5
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= Combat Starts =

Our Forces
[D4] TROOP: First Sentinels - 25 STR, 1 Movement, Ranged
- 5 x Sentinels (Rai, Tsi, Tiu, Sei, Nyi) - 5 STR, 1 Movement, Ranged

Enemy Forces
[B4] Alien Creature Type 1 - 20 STR, 1 Movement

<Rai> Contact! KILL IT!
<Sei> It's big-- oh no it's fast!
<Tiu> No faster than us. Focus.

Please advise: should our single troop move to a different position, or fire from where they are? The enemy is just in range. Suggestion: crush it utterly.

Shoot it! We need reinforcements because the next threat will either be greater in size or number and we barely handled one irate noseblade.

Just shoot the creature and see if the attack scares it off or it drops dead.

>>1006907
Shoot it. We have the range advantage, and retaliatory damage needs to be avoided as much as possible.

fire at will boys.

Crush, Immediately.

- Ranged units can, instead of moving, attack at an enemy up to 2 grid squares away, once per round.
Would that work if we fire below us? Or below to the left/right?

Fire from where you are standing

Well we can’t all vote for the safe, sane, sensible thing.
Charge, boys! For glory!

1/3 Shivoshi 2021/08/02(Mon)16:37 No. 1007046 ID: b081a5
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> Would that work if we fire below us? Or below to the left/right?
[ Adjacency is always based on cardinal directions. Ranged applies upwards and downwards. Ranged can, given a clear line of sight, affect diagonals, counting squares in adjacent cardinal directions. ]

ROUND 1

The First Sentinels stay put and fire at will, as the Alien Creature Type 1 advances.
Alien Creature Type 1 sustains 25 damage, killing it utterly. The aggressive creature is pierced by multiple volleys of directed energy fire, shredding it and burning it. It drops to the ground before it can even set one foot on the landing pad.

<Sei> O-oh.
<Rai> That's... that's it?
<Tiu> This creature was too confident in attacking the unknown. See how overconfidence is rewarded. Do not let your guard down.
<Tsi> It was just an animal, though...
<Tiu> And if we did not have the advantage of range, that animal would have effortlessly killed many of us. Remember this.

Our sentinels are correct, Flock-Chief. The tide of battle can turn instantaneously. We were fortunate this time. Reinforcements are imperative.

"I'm happy none of us were injured, but I can't shake the feeling of dread that this is merely the calm before the storm."
"We should seize this moment of calm, Flock-Chief."
"Yes. Foreman Munopa, please present our options."

2/3 Munopa 2021/08/02(Mon)16:38 No. 1007047 ID: b081a5
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Greetings, Flock-Chief. I am Munopa, currently acting as engineering, construction and research oversight. Now that we have a moment, I'd like to discuss construction.

"It occurs to me I neglected to provide an initial overview on our stockpiles."

Yes. Our current supplies are as follows.

RESOURCES: 30 (These are raw or processed resources that we can use for construction and assembly purposes. )
CREDITS: 20 (In order to request certain components or recruits from Lazmihi colonies, we require items of value to trade in return. They also have their own challenges to face. This has been abstracted into a credit system.)
POWER: 25 (Our initial ship generator provides 25 standard power units of ongoing generation. Rooms will have power requirements, and if this value becomes negative, rooms furthest from the Bridge will begin shutting down until the deficit is managed. Unpowered rooms are non-functional.)
FOOD: 5 (A prototype nutrient synthesiser from the ship will produce food for up to 5 units indefinitely, but we cannot support any more organic units than we have food. Starvation will result with insufficient food. Food use for personnel not included on the unit roster is not factored into this count.)

I'm aware one of the immediate concerns suggested by Shivoshi is reinforcements.
"Immediate reinforcements! Immediate!"
However, we are currently unable to house or supply any additional units at this time. The following problems must be remedied in order to start recruiting:

- We need more housing to keep our new recruits in.
- We are at maximum food capacity for organic units.
- We have no means of assembling new robotic recruits.

We do not need to solve all of these problems, but we need to solve some of them.
With this in mind, I will now present the options we have for construction.

3/3 Munopa 2021/08/02(Mon)16:38 No. 1007048 ID: b081a5
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= CONSTRUCTION =

Some basic rules:
- We only have time and resources to build one room at a time, but we'll get it finished.
- We can only construct in a space that's clear and open, such as an empty surface space, upwards into the sky, or revealed terrain underground.
- We can only build adjacent (cardinal directions) to existing rooms.

Here's the catalogue of rooms we can build at the moment. More designs may emerge over time.

--- BASIC ROOMS ---

CORRIDOR - Free - 0 Power
Horizontal or vertical, completely empty but facilitates colony expansion. Can be built in terrain where many other rooms couldn't. Unlike all other rooms, these can be constructed into unknown terrain, as the automatic deployment presumably crushes whatever else was in said unknown terrain. Highly situational.

AIRLOCK - 5 Resources - 1 Power
Prevents the spread of gas and liquids that may be discovered during exploration. However, it takes a full combat round for units to pass through (both friendly and enemy) as they need to wait for the air to cycle.

--- SURFACE ROOMS ---

EXPEDITION BAY - 40 Resources - 30 Power
Must be constructed on the surface. For a 20 Credits cost to provide personnel and gear, allows starting an Expedition on the surface. Expeditions can allow for discoveries of things far away from the colony, but are also incredibly risky and could simply vanish to never be seen again.

LANDING PAD - 20 Resources - 5 Power - Must be open to the sky
Must be constructed on or above ground. Allows recruitment of units. In the event the original landing pad is damaged, a back up landing pad would allow uninterrupted recruitment of units

SOLAR PANELS - 15 Resources - Must be open to the sky
Provides 10 Power. Each adjacent solar panel means the panel cluster grants an additional 5 Power. Two connected panels would give 25 Power, three would give 40 Power, four would give 55, etc. Recommended to build on top of other rooms.

--- HOUSING ROOMS ---

BARRACKS - 15 Resources - 2 Power
A place for Sentinels to train and maintain their fitness.
Houses up to 5 Sentinels.
Unit: Sentinel (5 STR) - 8 Credits - Ranged. Flexible combat unit, trained in the use of directed energy bracers and shock-lances.

CREW QUARTERS - 10 Resources - 2 Power
A place for Coaxers to sleep and practice their unique art in their downtime.
Houses up to 5 Coaxers.
Unit: Coaxer (2 STR) - 10 Credits - Able to hack persuade certain objects and barriers that may be discovered during exploration. This is risky, and failure carries heavy costs.

CHARGING BAY - 20 Resources - 6 Power
Mechanical units need somewhere to recharge their cells.
Houses up to 2 mechanical units.
Unit: Protector (0 STR) - 5 Credits - Shielding. Fragile synthetics that can project a defensive shield worth 5 STR around their current square or adjacent squares. The Protector template is in active use by the Bisushpi-Kin. We can treat them better, though.
Unit: Lancer (10 STR) - 20 Credits - Ranged. Sophisticated upgraded machines with powerful ranged weaponry and durable mesh shielding. Appearance and structure very similar to criai, psychology indistinguishable. Lancer engrams transmitted from home colonies. The Lancer template of combat synthetics was rejected by the Bisushpi-Kin for being too much like criai. We treat machines as our own already and afford them the same rights, so this is not a problem for us.

SPECIALISED QUARTERS - 20 Resources - 10 Credits - 4 Power
Future projections suggest we may need to house units with specific requirements. Modular habitation units that can be easily tweaked depending on their unique occupants will help here.
Houses up to 5 units that can't be housed elsewhere.

XENOBIOLOGY LAB - 10 Resources - 2 Power
We can convince the alien nightmares we encounter on this planet to serve our own needs if we understand what they are, what they want, what drives them, and how to ask.
Food cost is 1 per 25 STR of the creature housed, rounded down.
Houses up to 1 defeated, treated, and subverted alien creature.

--- OTHER ROOMS ---

GENERATOR - 30 Resources
Produces 25 Power, but the risk of arcing electricity, or, worse, radiation leaks, means units can't be housed in adjacent rooms.

HYDROPONICS - 18 Resources - 4 Power
Provides 10 Food. Vital for supporting additional organic units.

FABRICATION BAY - 18 Resources - 8 Power
Allows the creation of mechanical units, automated security systems, and both active and passive defensive barriers.

GENETICS LAB - 25 Resources - 4 Power
Desperate times call for desperate measures. This could allow for experiments to unlock unexplored potentials in criai biology, but such meddling with the nature of criai bodies feels like we may be approaching some form of heresy. I won't tell if you don't.
Unit: Mutant (15 STR) - 20 Credits - Mutant. Must be housed in specialised quarters. Can be housed adjacent to a generator.

LABORATORY - 10 Resources - 20 Credits - 10 Power
A space to devote to research. For every 50 credits invested into the laboratory, we will ideally get a breakthrough, if everything goes well.

MEDBAY - 20 Resources - 8 Power
After combat ends, revive one organic unit or troop at full strength.

REPAIR BAY - 20 Resources - 5 Credits - 8 Power
After combat ends, pay half the cost of a mechanical unit/Troop to revive it at full strength. Unfortunately, machines do not heal as well as organics, despite our efforts.

AUTO-ARMORY - 50 Resources - 12 Power
A self-sustaining automated armory that constantly refines and adapts our weaponry to maintain par with ever escalating threats. Every unit room on the same floor as this room deploys with double STR. Any security systems on the floor can trigger twice instead of once.

SCANNER - 80 Resources - 6 Power
A deep subterranean scanner suite that would let us more efficiently cover more ground in the same amount of time we usually take. This would allow us to explore twice in one turn.

A hydroponics bay sounds like a good first option. E5 if we can explore and build at the same time, E3 if we cannot.

Well we can't afford mechanical units just yet... or organic units for that matter. We'll have to hope the next tile we explore has more resources. I'd want to put the fab bay next to or under the landing pad and then an airlock to protect both our spawning tiles, but that's thinking further out. Power is for later, maybe after we've built upwards to almost our limit. For now build hydroponics on D3.
Explore F4 next. Can your minds comprehend three-dimensional movement or will you have to climb over the top of the bridge?

Definitely need a hydroponics bay though I don't really care where we put it but we're already struggling for space so let's explore outside the area immediately outside our base and check out F4

I dig the XCOM vibe

Seems to me that F4 as well all of 5 will be critical to explore to secure for base usage.
F4 should be a priority for surface visibility, so that our ability to detect as well as shoot at surface hostiles from the bridge is assured. D5 should be a priority to secure the bridge from hostiles below.

It seems we are ultimately limited by our resources/credits, as we have zero ability to get more besides perhaps to explore. We should therefore be cautious with their use.
Research would be useful to maximize what we get out of the resources we have, but firepower is higher priority because if we lose our base the research itself is worthless. The Fab Bay would seem to provide tactical devices that may mitigate losses. Plus if they had the ability to produce trade goods for credits, that'd really up their utility.

>Unit: Protector (0 STR) - 5 Credits - Shielding. Fragile synthetics that can project a defensive shield worth 5 STR around their current square or adjacent squares.
If the shield is overwhelmed, does it have to recharge? If so, how much time does it take to do so? If 2 shields are up at a square, does the STR go up to 10, or are we limited to 1 shield per square? Does our troops' fire go through the shield?

Also, I forgot to ask before, a troop must select to attack OR move, yes? Or does it get to do both? Is there a limit to troop size? Or a limit to troops per room?
Lastly, if we destroy/repurpose a room, do we get some or all of the resources we used to build it? What about repairs?

>Produces 25 Power, but the risk of arcing electricity, or, worse, radiation leaks, means units can't be housed in adjacent rooms.
I take it our bridge is exempted? ;)

Hydroponics, put it above the generator.

Explore F4.

1/5 Munopa 2021/08/03(Tue)16:47 No. 1007124 ID: b081a5
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> Can your minds comprehend three-dimensional movement or will you have to climb over the top of the bridge?
[ Technically speaking there should be a door in the back of the generator room anyway, thanks for the reminder to make this actually visible! ]
> If the shield is overwhelmed, does it have to recharge? If so, how much time does it take to do so? If 2 shields are up at a square, does the STR go up to 10, or are we limited to 1 shield per square? Does our troops' fire go through the shield?
[ Shields replenish to full strength each round and will always reduce incoming damage by their stated amount. Overlapping shields are additive. Our troops can fire through the shields unimpeded, they're designed to work together. ]
> Also, I forgot to ask before, a troop must select to attack OR move, yes? Or does it get to do both? Is there a limit to troop size? Or a limit to troops per room?
[ For ranged units/troops, the choice must be made to shoot OR move. All units/troops will automatically attack if occupying the same space as an enemy unit/troop once per combat round. Troop size is not limited. However, each troop is based on the initial room they deploy from. ]
> Lastly, if we destroy/repurpose a room, do we get some or all of the resources we used to build it? What about repairs?
[ Repurposing a room refunds half of its initial cost and counts as that turn's build action. When a room is damaged, half of its initial cost must be paid to repair it, but any number of repairs can be made in a turn if they can be afforded. It does not serve its function while damaged. ]
> I take it our bridge is exempted? ;)
[ Despite appearances to the contrary, the ship generator is special and does not pose any threat. Somehow. Additional clarifying note: generators can be crossed without issue during combat. It's long-term exposure that's a concern, not short-term. ]

Hydroponics built at E3. Accessible via an elevator in the Ship Generator room directly below. Anticipating expansion, doors have been added to allow linking to rooms in future.

We already have an expert on hydroponic cultivation now getting results from the facilities holding a coltato and a ridgecone. Wait, no, I've been informed these are the initial planting stock. I have to admit I do not know plants very well. Not these kind of plants, anyway. We didn't just bring seeds? Oh that's what's in the small crate.

I'm just going to go back to the bridge recharger. Good night, all.

2/5 Pavono 2021/08/03(Tue)16:47 No. 1007125 ID: b081a5
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- DAY 2 -

First, an update on our resources:
RESOURCES: 12
CREDITS: 20
POWER: 21
FOOD: 15 (5 used)

Hm. No, this is confusing. I'm going to start tracking food the same way as power: any available food is surplus not being consumed. If food hits negative, we can worry about starvation then.

RESOURCES: 12
CREDITS: 20
POWER: 21
FOOD: 10

Much clearer. The underlying point is that we can support ten more organic units. Well, excluding higher dietary requirements if we were to recruit native organisms. The point is out of the issues of a food deficit and housing deficit, we've addressed one of those. We still can't take on additional organic personnel without a barracks or crew quarters.

[ Sentinels and Coaxers also cost 1 Food in addition to listed costs. ]

Exploration consensus seemed clear, so I already briefed the exploration team to investigate F4.

I wonder what food tastes like.

3/5 Pavono 2021/08/03(Tue)16:47 No. 1007126 ID: b081a5
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- Exploration Result -

Exploring behind the ship revealed a patch of interesting stretchy vines. They're tough and also somewhat insulative, so we've harvested a respectful amount and left the remainder to regrow.

Gained 5 Resources

We also found some ancient alien artifacts. They've been here out in the open for a long time. We can't figure out what they're made out of, what they're for, and they're covered in absolutely incomprehensible glyphs and markings. Other Lazmihi colonies will love to figure that out, though. Honestly, so would we, but we're already stretched thin and lack the capacity to do so.

Gained 4 Credits

4/5 Pavono 2021/08/03(Tue)16:48 No. 1007127 ID: b081a5
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Oh, something else discovered today while exploring. It doesn't warrant immediate action, but bears noting. After the explorers had returned with vine harvests and artifacts, about three minutes later they noticed they and the colony were being observed and got visual data of the observer. The subject fled almost immediately after being spotted.

They may just be another animal of this planet, but something about their reported behaviour and reactions speaks uncannily to me of a sapient mind. This could be first contact with an unknown sapient species. This, of course, could mean far greater danger than just wild beasts attempting to drive off intruders or thinking us easy prey.

"Hm. I don't recognise this species, but I was told this planet never had native sapients. It's possible they were transported here at some point in the past. I've heard of this sort of thing happening before. Powerful alien entities spiriting away alien populations into strange garden or zoo worlds. It would be one of the least strange things this planet has to offer if true."
I could be rushing to conclusions. They could just be smart animals, and my criai biases just lead me to assume anything with two legs and two arms might be a person.
"You don't even have two arms or two legs yourself! Neither do I! This speculation is baseless and infuriating! Stop conjecturing about potential threats and secure more reinforcements!!"
I suppose Shivoshi has a point. Munopa?

5/5 Munopa 2021/08/03(Tue)16:48 No. 1007128 ID: b081a5
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Well, with exploration concluded and resources harvested, we have time to expand the colony again.
Construction list is as before. >>1007048

I've also determined there's a back door to the generator room. I tried to seal it shut, but I learned that it's part of the emergency escape protocols, and there's active systems checking for the emergency exit being obstructed that will fire if the door becomes inoperable in any way. Starting with shutting the generator down to prevent possible damage. It would be easier to just make a stronger door than try to remove it. Although I know preferences lie in reinforcements, I would just like to call attention to the Fabrication Bay again and its defensive options.

"Hello. Resource count again."
RESOURCES: 17
CREDITS: 24
POWER: 21
FOOD: 10
"We can't afford a Fabrication Bay, Munopa."

Well, a machine can dream.
"I don't. I turned that off after six charge cycles in a row having the same dream about being surrounded by different cheeses, and being increasingly upset I couldn't eat it."
Why cheese-- actually, never mind. It's not relevant.
"Correct. Not only can I not eat cheese nor taste or eat at all, we can't even make cheese at the moment. We don't have a source of milk, either. Although, hmm. Criai are mammals, right?"
"DECIDE WHERE THE BARRACKS IS GOING TO GO AND RESUME THIS CONVERSATION AFTERWARDS!"
We're resuming this conversation never. Construction orders. Please.

"Well if you ask permission and the individuals involved consent, and it doesn't interfere with your active duties, I'm willing to allow investigation--"
Construction orders, Flock-Chief, I'm begging you.
"Of course. Yes."

Build cheese bay in E2.
...I have been informed we lack schematics for a cheese bay. Construct alien containment - that is, a xenobio lab - in B4. Explore the remainder of depth 1 until we achieve reinforcements, starting with C5.

We should build a xenobiology lab and get some big friends. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of strength to go around rounding up large alien wildlife.

Build a barracks on D3, hire 3 sentinels.

Explore A4.

Build the Barracks on F4, to protect the Generator.

Survey G4

do the vines keep giving us resources if we don't build anything on them or will we keep collecting resources even if we use that space? Would building a certain structure on them give that structure a bonus, like if we build a hydroponics bay on it would it give us resources & food or no? Because I want to build the barracks where the vines are but it they can be farmed I'd probably hold off on building anything there until we're not hurting for resources as badly.

Also the local looked like they move under ground so I'd like to explore any of the 5 spots under our base just to be safe. (as in c5, d5, or e5)

Meme artifacts. I am amused.

Explore is obvious. D5 to secure the area below the bridge.

Build is a bit tougher, because a captured local might give us details about the area (particularly threats) that may help us secure the area. However, that's IF it has the ability to do so. Plus, >>1007131 is correct. We're still too fragile to attempt a live capture. Barracks at D3. D3 because the ability to rapidly get troops to the bridge is of high value.

Also, would a structure at F4 disturb/destroy the flora there? If this truly is a deathworld, there is some slight worry that the flora may compromise the security of a structure there somehow...

Can't build anything on F4, there are farmable materials there. Can we build structures above it without blocking its sunlight? Can we build overhanging rooms like that at all? Can we move rooms? Like, could we push the landing bay further out and build where it is now? Seems likely we'll wind up building rooms around it and it's awkward for things to land when it's penned in, isn't it? Does hydroponics require sunlight?
Build the barracks above the bridge.

Explore D5.

We can explore E5 next time and start building under the vines if it turns out to be necessary.

Given the way ranged combat works, I agree that doubling our available combat strength is the best current course of action, so build a barracks. I don't care where as long as it's not F4

Remember that we do not want to place living quarters adjacent to a generator. I assumed diagonal adjacency is fine but maybe I'm wrong about that.

>>1007131
Seconded. D3 seems like a good place for the Barracks.

1/6 Munopa 2021/08/18(Wed)16:15 No. 1008244 ID: b081a5
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>Remember that we do not want to place living quarters adjacent to a generator. I assumed diagonal adjacency is fine but maybe I'm wrong about that
[ The Ship Generator is, despite appearances, free from this requirement. Diagonal adjacency would be fine anyway. ]

All usable plant material in F4 has been harvested and, based on current observations, it'd take a very, very long time for it to grow back. Harvesting was already mostly a side effect of clearing the terrain. The remaining vines can be moved out of the way of the potential construction site. I'm sure if the vines were going to cause more of a problem we'd have encountered it so far. My current hypothesis, as the acting head of research, is that maybe the vines are difficult to eat for most of the local wildlife. I think this analysis might be lacking. I also think that being in charge of construction, engineering and research might have been a responsibility too many.
"Well, I'm currently in charge of general oversight, personnel, recruitment, administration, and other miscellaneous tasks, so I'm hesitant to take that one. However, I feel we ought to have a dedicated science lead."
"Just promote an explorer. No one combat ready, we're too thin on the ground there as it is. Why can't the Flock-Chief serve this function? I thought the Lazmihi were all about flat organisational structure?"
"I know this level of hierarchy is unusual for Lazmihi efforts, but this is not a standard colonisation effort. In the context of this mission, my role here is to make decisions at the highest and broadest scope available."
"That feels like a very Bisushpi-Kin way of operating, Flock-Chief."
"The Lazmihi are not strangers to formal hierarchy, Shivoshi. In times of crisis and urgency, there becomes a need for well-defined roles and responsibilities. Relatedly, I'm examining candidates for leading research. Pavono has compiled a very good shortlist."

Good to hear, but back to my update. Barracks constructed at D3. The showers are being tested already. The sanitation gel pods in the bridge are functional but I think many of the criai here needed some way to cool down rapidly. This world's temperature is survivable short-term for criai, but long-term exposure presents overheating risks. Even our efforts to keep a cooler temperature in the base are being somewhat mitigated by the decreasing efficiency of heat pumps as the outside environment gets hotter. If this planet has a seasonal cycle, I hope this is as hot as it gets, or we might be in trouble.

2/6 Shivoshi 2021/08/18(Wed)16:15 No. 1008245 ID: b081a5
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- DAY 3 -

A ship made it to the landing pad from the Jade Claw colony. We've recruited three new sentinels at a cost of 24 Credits worth of discoveries and curiosities sent back.
"Ko, Oyi and Iti."
Hm. Who is who?
"Ko has pale blue markings, Oyi has purple markings, and Iti has green. Ko's personality profile indicates that she's fun-loving, secretive, and has a tendency to freeze up in tense situations, a trait she is trying to train out of herself. Oyi is bold and arrogant at times, but likes to bring out the best in others. With more experience, I see him being a great teacher, but perhaps overbearing. Iti is something more of a loner, quiet and reserved, but seems strongly motivated by something."
That's good to know if I need to speak to them in person, I suppose. All three have an STR of 5. Oddly consistent. The resulting Troop of 15 STR stationed at D3 has not yet been named. Awaiting suggestions before I just default to Second Sentinels.

3/6 Pavono 2021/08/18(Wed)16:15 No. 1008246 ID: b081a5
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- Exploration Result -

We excavated beneath the bridge. Composition of the surface substrate is largely silicates and unidentified decayed carbon-based organic matter, in keeping with what we'd expect of the surface of a planet with an active biosphere. Excavation beneath the bridge revealed a surprisingly untouched deposit of ores that don't typically naturally occur in close proximity to each other. This is strange. If it was caused by something artificial, we're not sure why the formations are so organic. The rock abruptly shifts with very little transition, but just enough transition that it doesn't look like someone dropped some different rock here.

Gained 6 Resources

There was, however, one clearly artificial item found during the excavation and mining. A black metal fragment that appears to have been torn out of a large structure, with trailing wires and what appears to be part of a pipe bend. Apparently hefty, but still light enough to be held in one hand. Red symbols appear to have been carved into it. A criai touching it reported that it felt very cold even though a sealed nanoweave suit, which should by all accounts suggest temperatures low enough to cause condensation or other similar phenomenon. One of the mechanical miners tried touching it and reported feeling no temperature difference, but a sense of sluggishness. Another explorer reported they had to stand at least three armspans away from it or they started trembling and feeling like they were being watched, and thought they heard someone unfamiliar say something about a potentate or monarch or something along those lines.

Well. I should say this is all very much past tense, because once the device fragment was freed from the larger structure, it appeared to go totally inert save for a strange red glow. The larger structure went completely inert. No cold or sluggish sensations, no strange feeling of being watched. This is a mystery for someone else to solve, probably. The material composition is probably the most interesting thing about it, according to Munopa. Very strange alloys.

Gained 9 Credits

Also, we heard... vague, indistinct sounds, coming from below. The rumours of the many, many other alien visitors to this world are sounding more and more credible. If we dig deeper, we need to be wary.

4/6 Uli 2021/08/18(Wed)16:15 No. 1008247 ID: b081a5
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- Meanwhile, at the Bridge... -

Hm. That's interesting. A call incoming from Jade Claw. Oh, it's the Flock-Chief of the Jade Claw colony, Isiri Jadescar. She's the closest Lazmihi authority figure other than myself, even though the colony is a distance away that I can barely wrap my head around. The unpredictable duration of jump drive travel doesn't help.

"Uli."
Flock-Chief Isiri Jadescar of the Jade Claw, this is Flock-Chief Uli Shilta of the Argent Feather.
"Yes. I know. I know who you are, and I know who I am. I'm glad to see you arrived in one piece, some of us thought you were lost to us."
There were some difficulties. We have persevered in the face of adversity, though.
"Yes. Yes, admirable. Yes. Mhm. Uli. I have a question."
Yes, Flock-Chief?
"I can't help but notice that in the span of about three moons you've taken eight of the Jade Claw's finest most promising young warriors, at least a dozen other of our youngest and brightest and several of our best machine brethren for your efforts to colonise... what was it... the Glimmering Deathworld?"
Tarshun IV, Flock-Chief Isiri.
"The legendary world that brings only sorrow and despair to all those who set foot on it, with an ancient and terrible power sleeping at its heart. That Tarshun IV?"
Yes. I thought I made it very, very clear what the intent was for the mission.
"Mhm. Hm hm hm. Yes. Uli, what are your long term plans for this colony?"
Find the Khashusivni and defend ourselves from the Kiter. Reunite the criai with the promise of being able to drive the Kiter from our homeworld and make it ours once more. Live no longer in fear of the terrors in the night sky. Again, I did not hide any of this information from you, Flock-Chief Isiri. You were there when we were discussing it. You made me Flock-Chief?
"Hm. Yes. I did. I'm afraid I may have not considered the ramifications of bleeding the best and brightest of the young and healthy adults of my colony. I'd just like to make it clear that, while we appreciate the things you send us in return, they're ultimately worth significantly less than the value of a criai life. The rate of new warriors you want, compared to the time it takes to, well, make them. There are only so many criai at all, to begin with."
"I am unconvinced this entire venture is not against the principles of the Lazmihi altogether."
Machine-Shaman Nopa, I am honoured to--
"Appeals to pride mean nothing to me and I have long found them distasteful. Explain your intentions."
Very well. I am taking all measures I can to minimise casualties in a hostile, unpredictable universe. But pure pacifism and inaction will not help us. I have learned, over and over, that sometimes action needs to be taken before your enemies arrive. But yes. I will not treat our shared people as just a resource to use. I promise you this.
"Mhm. We will see, I suppose. If your promise means anything, you will evacuate your colony back to Jade Claw if things seem beyond hope. Thank you for hearing me out, at least. "
Of course.
"Oh, also. I almost forgot. My daughter is expecting a child soon. Her mate was very, very upset about the idea of their child facing a life of hiding from unimaginable terrors and threats as he has done, and thought joining your effort was the right thing to do. His name is Iti. I spoke to him very frankly what I thought of his noble actions. The noble act of abandoning his pregnant mate to go off and die on an alien death world. If you find him in your colony, could you please make him reconsider?"
Yes. Of course, Flock-Chief. (Must remember to ask Pavono to look into that.)
"Yes. If he refuses to come back home, and gets himself killed, please send back his body. If he dies I want to exile his body. Into a volcano. For putting my daughter through all this. She's already very upset. I also think he's usually a smart, resourceful sort, and I would also prefer his ingenuity not be wasted so tragically."
I, er, will do what I can.
"I understand, of course, that it is absolutely not your fault that he thought your last ditch effort was worth putting his life on the line for, but I suppose, despite my reservations, many more of our kind sympathise with your cause. Personal and family matters aside, Nopa, you had something you wanted to say?"

5/6 Uli 2021/08/18(Wed)16:16 No. 1008248 ID: b081a5
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"Flock-Chief Uli."
Yes?
"In my experience, when the loss of life becomes inevitable, there is historical precedent that machines are the first to be sacrificed. Promise me you will not see the living machines around you as more expendable than the lives of flesh and blood. Flock-Chief Isiri has your trust, and I trust in her wisdom. Do not let us down, please."
Of course, Machine-Shaman Nopa. I would have appreciated being told all of these reservations before everything the Argent Feather has been through so far, but I understand. This is not some flight of fancy, and I am putting my life on the line as much as anyone else is.
"Who are you talking to-- Oh! OH! NOPA! IT'S NOPA!! Oh wow, you were there! You must be, what, fifty years or more old? The first of the great warmachines! The Slayer of the Kiter Ess! I've read your battle reports over and over! That one especially, you took down the biggest thing the Kiter could bring to bear!! You inspired all of my greatest tactical decisions! I love your work!!"
"...What?"
"You should come here! We'd be amazing together! Your wisdom and knowledge of combat are unparalleled! I've heard your kill count is in the tens of thousands!!"
"..."
"Oh! Hello, builder! Sorry about this one. We're still trying to teach them how to not solve everything with violence."
"What?!! No! I'm not Bisushpi-Kin! Death to the Bisushpi-Kin! I'm not like them! I'm not!!"
"Okay yeah sure come with me Shivoshi there's schematics to review. Right now. Come along. (Do not harass my builder any further. They are not proud of what they did as a soldier.)"




"I wonder what the Bisushpi-Kin do to these poor things for them to keep showing up so eccentric."
"Munopa did leave after all, I see. Uli, if you let anything happen to Munopa, I may find myself coming to the Argent Feather after all. In a very, very poor mood. With my old weaponry reunited with my body. To clarify, this is a threat."
Munopa is their own being who can make their own decisions, and I'm already a little tired of being held accountable for other peoples' bad ideas.
"The life of a Flock-Chief is one of being blamed often for others' poor decisions. Good luck, Uli. You may continue to request assistance from the Jade Claw colony as you have been doing for now. Remember to stay true to the principles of the Lazmihi. Our people are our people, not our tools, our currency, or our weapons. War must always be the last resort."
"Even then, war must only be fought if there is a chance of victory. In the face of certain defeat, flee. No criai who thought otherwise survived the fall of Dunra. Farewell, Uli."

The transmission ends, and I'm left feeling uncertain. We were far from experienced at space travel when the invaders came. For many criai, retreat wasn't even an option.
And here, on this world, with our colony ship now sedentary for the rest of its days, retreat may very well not be available to us.

6/6 Munopa 2021/08/18(Wed)16:16 No. 1008249 ID: b081a5
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Well. That was something alright. Glad to see my builder is doing well, though. I should talk to them more.
"I can't believe the great warmachine Nopa is a washed-up husk of regret and sorrow now."
Shivoshi, some advice. Insult my builder one more time and you're going to find some of your parts welded together that shouldn't be.
"I'll take that advice into immediate consideration goodbye!"

Anyway, where were we? Right. Building list: >>1007048

"Resource recap."

RESOURCES: 8
CREDITS: 9
POWER: 19
FOOD: 7


That's it? That's all we have?
"Yup."
Alright. We need to figure out a way to get resources faster than this, clearly. We can make, hm, an airlock, I guess. Making an airlock might not be a bad idea, actually. Never know if we might accidentally mine into some horrible toxic gas pocket, or something like that. Or we can just build a corridor or elevator directly into a space we haven't explored. If only we had just a few more resources... ugh.
"We could explore further along the surface? There might be more stuff out there. Also, from initial readings, it looks like the amount and value of raw materials seems to trend upwards the deeper you go into the planet, but that carries with it increasing risk. I've updated D6 to indicate its potential increased hazard as a result, but we can't shy away from deeper exploration forever. The Khashusivni are not just lying on the surface of the world, else they'd have been found by now."

"I can't help but wonder if we should re-examine that artifact from earlier for ourselves before we pass it on."
I don't think anything good will come of it. At least if we send it away, whatever it was connected to will be a ways away. It creeps me out, honestly.

We probably should be saving up resources but an airlock does sound like a good idea for our initial dive underground. Put an airlock at D5.

Let's explore more surface: A4

I'm not creative; Second Sentinels sounds fine to me. Names would help more if they had different roles but it seems like both squads have the same equipment.

>>1008249
The artifact's effect seems to relate to draining energy. Both thermal and electrical. I recommend reuniting it with the structure it was connected to, and excavating that structure (seems to be in E5) to see if we can figure out what it does.

Is the underground cooler than aboveground? Perhaps we can use the underground as a heatsink, or put our Criai living quarters there. Our machine units don't care about the high temperature do they? They could live aboveground fine.

An airlock seems prudent, put it in the excavated tile.

alrighty then, I guess have pavono speak to Iti since we said we would, explore A4, and uh... not sure if we should build anything this turn or not since we're kinda low on resources.

>>1008249
The artifact could potentially be related to the weapon. We should research it further.

First contact with the potentially intelligent native or colony survivor is also a priority task. If peaceful communication can be achieved, we can learn much from them. About gathering resources, and more.

I'd really like to have a biolab before we explore the surface further, to help deal with whatever we face. Especially if what we face has the ability to talk. Besides, meta-wise the surface is high difficulty compared to all of 5.
However, if we hit some sort of deadly gas that floods the bridge, we're screwed, so should we save up for a biolab? It's tough to say. I swear, we could avoid all this if we had gas detectors + gas masks...
This should settle it though. Do airlocks stop our firepower? Because if we build at D5, we'd either be way tougher or way weaker to subsurface melee troops based off that.
>climate
This complicates matters further. Robots should deal with gas easily, but our troops would probably be less overheated if they were housed subsurface. Ultimately, though, we could probably just improve our A/C if it got real bad.

Well, regardless, explore either to the left or right of D5.

>artifact
Might be some sort of key item, might also be useless. E5 might yield clues? We could really use some sort of archaeologist or geologist. Maybe a metallurgist while we're at it...
Regardless of what we do with it, take pictures. Lots of pictures.

Also, if we require some sort of squad leader or staff officer for this hierarchy-of-sorts, Tiu seemed the most levelheaded.

>We need to figure out a way to get resources faster than this, clearly.
I'm all ears.
Literally.
Get it? Because Criai have... I'll shut up.

> Do airlocks stop our firepower? Because if we build at D5, we'd either be way tougher or way weaker to subsurface melee troops based off that.
[ House rule because the original rules are incredibly ambiguous on this. Airlocks can be shot through, but it will absorb the attack and immediately break them, rendering them inoperable for blocking hazardous substances. However, a broken airlock also can just be passed through like a normal room, given that if it can't block anything anymore it'll probably not be blocking creatures either.
It costs half the initial cost of a room rounded down for repairs to broken/damaged rooms, which would be 2 Resources for an airlock. As many rooms can be repaired at a time outside combat as can be afforded, and this doesn't interfere with the one new room per turn.
Some more tactically minded enemies may try to deliberately break an airlock as a result of this, but it still means they have to spend the time breaking the airlock to continue. ]

Oh yeah, I forgot to ask in my suggestion:

Shivoshi, any other notable warheroes? What do you think about military hardware? Can we get more cute snake robots? Who programmed you to blushu?

Oh and we should try to convince Iti to go back home.

>Airlocks can be shot through, but it will absorb the attack and immediately break them, rendering them inoperable for blocking hazardous substances. However, a broken airlock also can just be passed through like a normal room, given that if it can't block anything anymore it'll probably not be blocking creatures either.
Absorb is a bit ambiguous, as that's almost as if to say it reduces damage to the target. However, based off the rest of that, my guess is that we do full damage to the target, but have to fix the doors. If that's the case, to build at D5 should be okay, as it will lower the odds of death-by-gas as we explore for further resources. They should offset the repairs, if we have to fix them. Hopefully, we'll rapidly get what's required for a biolab.

You're welcome to come visit the Glimmering Deathworld any time, both of you. We'll even pay for the return trip, if there is one.
Until we know exactly what we're destroying by building corridors into unexplored spaces, I'd prefer to hold off pm that strategy. Scanning equipment of some kind would be nice. Explore A4 to complete our surface map. Our sentinel units are ready. Once we explore A4 and G4, does more of the surface open up to exploration?

Wait a sec...
Where's the elevator from D3 to D4?
Without that, we lose the ability to rapidly gather our troops for heavy firepower.
It messes up the whole security setup!

1/7 Shivoshi 2022/05/09(Mon)15:16 No. 1031706 ID: 2f158e
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> Absorb?
[ Yes, ambiguous, full damage is dealt to the enemy but the airlock is wrecked in the process and needs to be repaired. ]

> Where's the elevator from D3 to D4?
[ By default rooms will be connected to the room they were built from. If other connections are wanted they can be freely added or removed between battles. I'll add the elevator in but if people want to change how rooms are connected going forward, do ask. ]


"There's all kinds of war heroes in my databanks from the ranks of the Bisushpi-Kin, blight that they might be now! Once, they were the very best of us! An age of heroes, of great feats, of Azei of the Dark, who made the Kiter fear the night, of the Ess-slayer Lui Suna, of the tactical genius of Poi Redscar--"
"Okay we'll be here until we're rust if we let you keep talking. Don't encourage him, his knowledge of pointless military trivia is practically boundless. Especially for someone who claims to hate the Bisushpi-Kin as much as he does."
"The Bisushpi-Kin of the Great Revolution were a different criai-kind to who they are now! Now all they are is the very same thing they sought to destroy! Terrible! Terrible!"
"Be careful. That sort of thinking is very much like them, isn't it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Oh, right. Military hardware! So many great and powerful weapons, capable of massive yet controlled devastation to the enemy, like the snowbomb or the curvebeam generator and-- System error, please provide passcode. Oh. Oh, I guess I can't... what if I phrase it like System error, please provide passcode. CURSE YOU, BISUSHPI-KIN! YOU WILL NOT WIN SO EASILY!!"

"Please put the welding torch down."
"I WILL HACK MY OWN SYSTEMS TO BYPASS--"
"You will hack nothing, you have no idea what you're doing, give me the damn torch!!"

"...I guess I'll step in, while you two are preoccupied--"

"ALSO BLUSHING IS A ORGANIC RESPONSE THAT I WOULD NEVER DO BECAUSE I AM IN CONTROL OF MY OWN RESPONSES DO YOU HEAR ME BISUSHPI-KIN I AM IN CONTROL"
"DROP IT! DROP IT!!"
"HOW ARE YOU SO STRONG"

"...so anyway this is Vomukha."
"Hi."
"She's now our new head of research. She's a little shy. Fortunately research seems to be our lowest priority so she'll have some time to appreciate the responsibilities of the role before any kind of emergency, hopefully."

"I HAVE A RIGHT TO SELF-REPAIR!! RETURN MY HACKING DEVICE!!"
"I'm not giving it back to you! It's not even your equipment!! Please let me do my job and get back to yours!!"

"Any non-Shivoshi related emergency."
"Is this normal?"
"I don't think we've been here long enough to know what normal is, but I'm beginning to worry the answer is yes."

2/7 Pavono 2022/05/09(Mon)15:17 No. 1031707 ID: 2f158e
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"Pavono, I was asked by Flock-Chief Isiri to look into whether or not a certain new recruit by the name of Iti should be serving here."
"Oh. Are they a problem?"
"I was just asked to make sure he absolutely wants to be here and not back with Jade Claw."

Not sure why this is my department, but, well, apparently it is.

"Ah, Iti, yes?"
<Iti> "Yes? What's the issue?"
"I was asked simply to verify that you do wish to be here. Opportunities to go back home are rare as it stands, and this is an incredibly dangerous mission."
<Iti> "I know. I know it is."
"Are you alright?"

He starts tugging at his ears and tears up.
<Iti> "No. No, I am not. I shouldn't be here, but what choice do we have? I wanted Vai to come with me but the Flock-Chief wants her in the inner circle and what say do I have there? The Flock-Chief was right, Vai would only be endangering herself here, but what can I do? This might be the only chance we get among the Lazmihi, no, the criai to spend our lives living instead of hiding forever! But I didn't want that to mean I never see her again... but I'd rather fight and die here than stay helplessly next to her and watch her die to another alien attack!!"
<Iti> "What would you do?!"


I feel I was insufficiently briefed for whatever this is.
"I am of course biased in favour of the option where we aren't one sentinel short, but the conflict you carry in your heart I fear may lead to hesitation at a crucial moment." That sounds like something Uli would say. "You must make your own decision. All I can do is advise, as is my function."
<Iti> "No. No, I will-- I will focus. For the sake of the mission. For the sake of the criai. We will survive."


"Well, Uli, I did the thing you asked."
"Are we sending Iti back on the next supply ship, or are we not doing that?"
"You must make your own decision. All I can do is advise, as is my function."
"So you have no idea."
"Absolutely none, Flock-Chief."

"He didn't request to go back, then."
"Nope."
"That works for me. ...Keep him out of active deployment where possible, just to be safe."

3/7 Munopa 2022/05/09(Mon)15:18 No. 1031708 ID: 2f158e
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Somehow, despite everything, I found time to do my actual damn job. We're less than a full week into this operation and it already feels like things are starting to fall apart internally, I swear.

Airlock constructed in D5. It's a bit of an odd design, involving an inner shell room that can be rotated while air is vented out or in depending on circumstance. Takes up an entire room in size, but nothing's getting past this. Well, liquids and gases aren't. Malicious entities are probably going to be able to figure out how to open the airlock.

Well, whatever. I feel more secure to have any sort of barrier between the bridge and the deep beneath.

4/7 Pavono 2022/05/09(Mon)15:19 No. 1031710 ID: 2f158e
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- DAY 4 -

No developments overnight or before exploration. A relatively pleasant morning, all things considered.

- Exploration Result -

We excavated next to the airlock, below the old ship generator. Composition of the subterranean material remains consistent with what was found previously, but sadly with no trace of harvestable minerals. What we did find was something far more concerning.

A giant monolith with a strangely familiar symbol and large runes that appeared to be painted or printed onto the surface, in a language we've never encountered before. We don't really have any xenolinguists with us here, which in retrospect would have been a very good idea. It seemed inert like the other artifacts we found where we built the airlock, but as the exploration team got closer, well, the report is more frantic.

Apparently, more and more of the criai near the monolith started going into some sort of dazed trance and started walking towards the monolith, and everything seemed to become filled with a hazy red odourless mist. The report notes that after the incident there was no trace of gas or vapour or particulate in the atmosphere.

A couple of the exploration team sank to their knees and began chanting in a language they had no recollection or knowledge of previously, one of them passing out completely. All of them reported experiencing a phantom image of a contorted red serpentine form appearing above, in front of, and inside the monolith.
I had to double check that. No, that wasn't different interpretations, it was pretty consistently reported as being in at least three places at the same time, at least one a physical impossibility. And then it started whispering. Then, it just "slid away". No one involved can explain what that entailed, but it was just gone, as was the red mist.

I've compiled the overlapping fragments into the message it gave out as best as it can, but it doesn't make a lot of sense...

your endless struggle shall end, your penitence complete, only through great sacrifice
seek the red worm, find me in my hallowed ground, free yourselves in chains
I grant you <fragment missing>, I grant you release, you will find what you are looking for
come find me
only I may grant you absolution

I feel like we're missing some cultural context, because otherwise this seems absolutely like a bad idea we should not follow up on.

The most prominent symbol seen on the monolith is a worryingly close match to symbols seen in Kiter occupied territory. Insufficient evidence for any further conclusion.
The monolith itself seems sturdy but we can relocate it if we want to build in the excavated area. Of course, some people might think it's cursed ground and not fit for habitation, but I'm sure the proper purifying rituals to appease any lingering spirits of bone or metal will clear that right up.

"You people and your rituals. You want purification? Fire works well in my experience."
"It's made of stone, Shivoshi."
"Plasma, then."
"Dunra save me."

5/7 Pavono 2022/05/09(Mon)15:20 No. 1031711 ID: 2f158e
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The monolith wasn't content with horrifying us, I gather, as after it went inert, the floor of the cavern started to rumble, and what seemed to be natural stone parted seamlessly, revealing a deep, deep cavern, massive, unlike what we expected.

The cavern is barely lit by naturally bioluminescent fungi, but only barely. There's a great variety of flora and fauna in there but none of it seemed hostile to the explorers. Most of it fled. The fauna. Probably not the flora. Probably. However there is one notable anomaly, but I'll get back to that.

Speaking of the flora, we found some amazing substitutions for some of our common building materials. I'm sure Munopa will be thrilled.

Gained 10 Resources

I'm pretty happy with that. Also, no issues with building in the caverns. No additional overhead required, really. Just need to relocate the wildlife first, and that's so cheap compared to moving all the materials into position to start with that it's effectively free.

6/7 Pavono 2022/05/09(Mon)15:21 No. 1031712 ID: 2f158e
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But yes, the cave anomaly. We found a glowing green pod covered in veins that appeared to be slowly throbbing. Also growing a webbing that seemed to be ensnaring and consuming local flora and fauna that didn't have the strength to escape it.

Our archives aren't complete but this is a strong match for Kiter technology. We don't understand it particularly well, given most of our information comes from the Fall of Dunra where intel gathering sharply became less of a focus. However, this matches the description of what appears to be some sort of convalescent transport pod that consumes local biomass to sustain itself and its occupant.

Similar pods were used to keep criai prisoners for transport into Kiter spires and other facilities, who were, of course, never seen again.
However, similar pods were also used to restore elite Kiter individuals back to fighting condition.
It's anyone's guess what's inside that pod.

I highly recommend we do not attempt to retrieve or open this pod without a xenobio laboratory, and possibly also a medbay. It will cost 1 Food either way to bring them in and keep them supplied, assuming we don't just want to starve whatever's inside.

The principles of the Lazmihi state that taking prisoners is something that should only be done if they can be properly housed and fed. ...they also say that forced conscription is absolutely not permitted, and, if it is a Kiter organism in that pod, it's going to backfire horribly regardless.


"Anything Kiter is an existential threat and an affront to the criai and must be immediately destroyed."
"No. We take anything Kiter captive, get information, and then they must be immediately destroyed. You have to ask questions first."
"I would like to study a Kiter organism, I have some theories I'd like to verify."
"It's too risky. Let the pod stay where it is. The Lazmihi are not cold-blooded killers nor are we slavers."
"This is a pretty controversial manner. Well, sometimes, the principles of the Lazmihi must be... slightly bent for the sake of survival."

"I'm pretending very very hard I didn't hear you say that out loud, Flock-Chief."

7/7 - MAP Pavono 2022/05/09(Mon)15:22 No. 1031713 ID: 2f158e
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System update. Here's the map. Resource recap incoming.
RESOURCES: 13
CREDITS: 9
POWER: 19
FOOD: 7

Building list here: >>1007048
Well, we have more options, I guess. A crew quarters for coaxers, a xenobiology lab, a proper laboratory for our new head of research-- wait, no, we don't have the credits for the specialist materials for that. Darn. Well, that still leaves crew quarters or a xenobiology lab, I guess.

"Ugh, coaxers. That reminds me, how's our cybersecurity?""
"What cybersecurity?"
"...that bad, huh."
"Cybersecurity is for worrying about after not-cyber security. What are even the chances anything would try to hack us? All we've come across is some ancient ruins and alien lifeforms. We're the most advanced things on this rock, for sure!"
"That we know of, sure."

Just a quick pointer. We can leave that pod be until we have proper facilities. If we try to open it now, the best place we have to do it is the airlock, which is directly below the bridge. If things go badly, that could be a swift end to the mission, the Argent Feather, and the lives of everyone here. No pressure, though, I'm sure!

Time for a xenobio lab! A4 is still up for exploration, and now it is time to see about converting resources into progress. Research everything! You may have spoken too soon about research being low priority.

>>1031713
I see no reason to open the pod yet. We don't have the required facilities.
When we do, here's how it'll go: if it's Kiter, we interrogate then imprison and study, or execute depending on how nasty it is(some Kiter things can't be contained reliably, nor can they be reasoned with... though it's more likely there will be a firefight in that case, not an execution). If it's non-Kiter then we offer employment or evacuation, and ask polite questions.

As for what to do next... construct a Crew Quarters to the left of the landing bay, for Coaxers. Could be a good idea for one of them to work on Shivoshi, so it doesn't have to hack itself.

We already wanted a xenobiolab and this pod is just another reason to build one. Build it at B4 and explore C5.

neat it's back.

As for what do. I say we should explore C5 just to fully explore everything around our base so we don't have to worry about anything attacking us from a blind spot. Also feel that the Xeno lab is what we should build next what with the egg and all. Plus we haven't really come across anything that needs to be hacked yet. Just wondering if we should put the lab in the monolith space since that way if we house something dangerous it would have to go through the airlock to get to the base or if we should explore C5 first and put the lab somewhere where we don't have to mess with the weird monolith room. Guess we could put it above ground as well but again, since the lab can double as a prison for dangerous xeno life probably better to put that somewhere where they won't be able to just have a straight shot for the bridge.

It's back? Huzzah!

I doubt anybody will get the reference but I'll make it anyway.
OPERATION AREA EXPANDED
Difficulty 4 and 5? We'll need to be well equipped for those.
That monolith is annoyingly ominous. My guess is it's related to that tablet we found. Probably best to stay out as much as we have the ability to. Though I am curious what this "purification" would entail and what the expected effect would be.
Keep Iti, but have an eye towards replacing him once we have less of a credit shortage.
>Cybersecurity defense
Not a priority yet. Unless we encounter something mechanical, we've got more urgent issues. Heck, the monolith alone has me more worried about our wetware being hacked than our hardware given the effect it had on the explorers. Save the coaxers for after we have a xenobio lab and a fabrication bay, both of those have greater utility as things stand.
>Pod
Well, that's a great segway. The xenobio lab was already highest priority to aid in potential first contact with the natives, should they be sapient, and now we have further reason to get it ASAP.
Now that we have the resources to build one, we should do so. E2 would put it furthest from the bridge, but B4 would segregate it from core structures should something go wrong, so B4 edges out E2.
Maximize containment, and rig it with lots of powerful explosives, for the likely scenario that it proves hostile. Even a kiter will fall to sufficient application of high explosives, and if we have to repair the lab, so be it. It'll be way less damage compared to what a powerful Kiter could do.
>Explore
C5 and D6 are the last two locations before we have full visibility 2 squares from the bridge. Of those, the former is less hazardous.

Beyond that, we should probably save up for a fabrication bay. If it saves lives, it's well worth it because every sentinel we have to replace is 8 credits lost, plus eight additional credits to replace the loss. More importantly, every life saved is, well, a life saved.

We need food production up, let's expand on the surface to do that.

>>1031713
The criai who witnessed the vision at the monolith are fine now, right? If it only affects our forces on first witnessing it, there may be a use for the thing.

If we move the monolith outside, its memetic field might distract and reveal scouts and threats that approach the base. Even lower animals if they are susceptible. We could easily execute them while they are in the thrall of the visions.

>>1032052
We should then put the xenobio lab where the monolith was, I think. It separates the rest of the base from any contamination that gets loose in the lab by the airlock, and makes for easier transportation of the rescuee/captive without revealing our full headquarters.

>>1032052
interesting lets see if it has some mental contaminant but using it as a defense mechanism is useful even if potentially losing it. hmmmm if we make a xeno containment lab we NEED to put it far away from the generator and stuff putting some distance between it and the generator, a armory must be proably on the ground floor due to it being the most likely way someone would enter the base AND the generator must be protected

>>1031762
I agree with this.