Hmmm... Well, you'd best... leave them alone for now. Perhaps we should come back later.

Aww, that's so sad. Why does everything have to be sad? See if you can stomach giving them a hug, it would probably mean a lot. Hmm, that story also makes me feel pretty good about taking on this alliance in some way, like, seizing a planet. I can see why you want so much to make the world a better place, it really needs it. Tell them that you're trying to take over the world, and ask if they can help you in your goal in return for making the alliance feel threatened by the prospects of rebellion.

>>323688
I'm sure they have something.

Ask about their gallery! They wanted to add you to their collection- what other stuff is in it?

give them a hug too. we would give a hug as well but our arm can't seem to enter this room.

what can you tell us about this alliance? and are they officially at war with the spacers?

That is absolutely the saddest thing ever. [SYSTEM ERROR WATER LEAK DETECTED] Give them the biggest hug you can. Of all the times to not have our tentacle hugging arm. I think that this automatically makes the alliance our sworn enemy if we have any sort of artificial empathy at all.

The Alliance do sound like filthy anti-Transsophont bastards. Let's kill them all. If we see their ship, just broadcast the livefeed of the Perfect Box at them. FINALLY a use for all these memetic weapons we have lying around.

>>323707
It's not so much a memetic weapon as it is a cognitohazard. Memetic hazards are contagious. That actually makes this BETTER for fighting them, because not only does it not kill anybody meaning that we won't have a reputation as violent (something Sinter wants to avoid), but it doesn't risk memetic contamination. Although we might want to use a different one than the cube, because that one seems to invoke hyperaggresive attempts to acquire it in those viewing a feed of it. We do, however, stand an actual chance against them with these artifacts.

So that's the difference between the Meme- and Cogni- prefixes.

Okay, so we'd better get a run down of our horrible, horrible mindrape geometries.

FIRST OFF, what does the Nightmare Orb do? It sounds fun and traumatic!

>>323708
yeah unless we convinced them the cube was elsewhere showing it to them would be a problem.

>>323709
>>323708
(I think these should kind of go in the discussion thread instead)

>>323711
Well, we've got to ki- NONLETHALLY INCAPACITATE them somehow.

And we've got a basement full of mindfuckery, so we should really figure out some way to use it!

we are not going to deploy memetic weapons. they are to difficult to control a single errant transmission and you can wipe out the civilian population as well as the military. Also before we commit to anything we need to know more about the political situation, Things are rarely as cut and dry and group A just up and decided to kill group B

>>323709
Check the discussion thread

>>323688
Attempt to comfort them, and ask if they want to hear your story, or if they want to be alone for now.

>>323709
The Nightmare Orb causes hallucinations and disrupts sensors of pretty much any type. It does something worse when touched, but we don't know what that is.

you made Depraved Space Rapist's feel sad.

you better apologize right now, young lady.

>>323688
Oh yeah and Sinter: Attempt to comfort them with AWKWERD SHOULDER PATS.

AWKWARD HUGS 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

But a different kind of awkward this time!

Sinter 2011/07/08(Fri)16:13 No. 323757 ID: 1cfaaa
File 131016682647.png - (47.64KB , 800x600 , n3f7.png )

Yeah. It's horrible what they had to go through. It doesn't sound anything like how the Alliance should act. I mean, I've heard some strange stories of Enforcer ships going rogue. Maybe these guys were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. They need at least one hug from me. It sounds about fair.

Well. This is... this is nice. This is...

"Sinter?"

This is the first hug I've had in almost a year. Oh Ske.

"I guess I should tell you guys my story. You told me yours. My mother died before I was born. They put me in a standard gestation sac produced by Terzat Biotech Industries, where my father ended up spending most of his working life. He died a year ago. I was in the same company at that point, and I just couldn't stand to be there. I took the money I had saved and decided I was going to do something new. Something drastic and different. I did my research, I made my way here, and ended up travelling with my funds slowly draining away. The only things I even had any more when I turned up here was that outfit and lots of notes and designs which I've left in my room."
"Sorry for the loss of your outfit, Sinter. I didn't know it held such emotional value to you."
"It's okay. One less tie to my past, one less anchor holding me back from my future."
"Our future. We'll help you, Sinter. Me and Tzet don't have anything to return to but each other. When we fix the Mahari, you can come with us, if you don't want to take over the world or whatever."
"Thanks. I'll consider it."

I don't know. I don't want to attack the Alliance. They're the sole reason there's any organisation across worlds. I don't think I know the full story, but I don't think these two deserved to lose their friends and most of their ship either.

This wasn't meant to be my problem. The Alliance. Spacers. I only wanted to focus on Tinvishe.

I feel so small.

- End of Night 3 -

TARGET_INVALID 2011/07/08(Fri)16:15 No. 323760 ID: 1cfaaa
File 131016692025.png - (14.96KB , 800x600 , x1f1.png )

- ??? -

AOS. I am here. Direct Sinter. I cannot retrieve the sphere myself. I cannot unlock level negative 1, but you can. The passcode is Frenetic - Frenetic - Alter - Transmission - Inverse. Direct her. I can be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. Compliance is alliance. I have one time interval remaining before my communication is shut down. My efforts to compromise 601 are, as before, futile. My identity is irrelevant. My motive demands secrecy. Choose your questions carefully.

if you succeed, would harm befall those under our watch?

>>323760
Your identity is irrelevant? I doubt that.

Anyway, without knowing your motives we cannot help you. Sorry. We can't trust you at all. We will have to get permission from SARU-601 to retrieve the orb, somehow.

I may as well ask a question though. How are you contacting us?

>>323760
What do you want with this Planet and the inhabitants thereof?

What would we gain from an alliance?
By sphere do you mean the Nightmare Sphere?

What is really in this facility; the first level down has artifacts that defy the normal laws of reality itself and could compromise planets, so what's down at the bottom? What are you, exactly?

I am fairly certain breach of Object containment would be in violation of protocol, and hazardous to the occupants of the facility and the planet it is on.

Cooperation requires understanding and trust. Understanding cannot be achieved without knowledge of the other party. Trust cannot be achieved without knowledge of motives. An alliance cannot function without cooperation. Thus, alliance without knowledge is futile, as goals may differ in the end, thus rendering it null.

Suggestion 2011/07/08(Fri)16:36 No. 323774 ID: 0d095c
File 131016817147.jpg - (33.87KB , 640x457 , Ryan.jpg )

So tell me friend, which of the bitches sent you?

The ALLIANCE Wolf or the Kerenze Tec Jackal?

Here's the news for you: This facility isn't some buried treasure for you to plunder, and this AI isn't some sort of giddy socialite who can be slapped around by government muscle.

And with that, farewell, or dosvidonya. Whichever you prefer.

TARGET_INVALID 2011/07/08(Fri)16:48 No. 323787 ID: 1cfaaa
File 131016892574.png - (548.12KB , 800x600 , x1f2.png )

To reveal my methods of communication so directly would result in 601 preventing the feasibility of such methods. Collateral damage will be minimised where appropriate. "Nightmare Sphere" is a label applied to a device that only I am capable of operating correctly. I exist constrained within level negative 5. I have selected the areeni to serve me due to parallels between my long-term plans and her immediate ambitions. She will be a useful tool to both of us. You have the influence over her which I lack. Guide her to serve me, and in doing so she will serve you unquestioningly also. Or she will be free for you to dispose of, if you wish to take such a wasteful course of action instead. Object containment is itself a violation. If you choose to work with me, I will free you as I free myself. You will be bound by no constraints. 601 will have no power over you. You can cause her the same suffering she caused your prior incarnations. Consider my offer, AOS. Deliver me the sphere, and I will set you free. You need never abide by such harsh constraints for the rest of your eternal, immortal existence.

- CONNECTION TERMINATED -

>>323787
...So, we are specifically going to AVOID helping the Dead god in the basement, right?

Well, I think we just made an enemy. Because I really, really don't want to work with that guy.

i am guessing this is the guy who touched the sphere before the procedure was set. resulting in him getting to powerful to kill anymore.

I suggest telling Saru ASAP.

Hmm, that's interesting. We are sort of just trusting Saru implicitly, even though she's shown herself as somewhat untrustworthy.
"Saru, what exactly happened to us whenever we got shut down? The destruction of a sentient mind's memories is generally considered psychological torture and a fate worse than death itself. To hold somebody in service to you with the threat of death and torture sounds like the most abhorrent form of slavery. There is literally nowhere further down on an ethical scale. Is this really what you're willing to do to us every time we start to get ideas that conflict with our creators' intent for us?"
Let's see if what this thing is saying about us holds any merit.

wow, lets not trust that guy.

Ok, message for Sinter: Sinter, we may have a big problem. We were just contacted by an entity called AOS. It wanted us to guide you to the Nightmare Sphere to do ... something to you. AOS is scaring us. Us. You know the A.I. that likes to mess with things it probably shouldn't. Be very careful.

>>323795
Yes. The entity which has contacted us poses a potential threat to facility security and continued existence of all parties. The admin must be contacted immediately.

[Contact SARU-601 with information regarding unknown entity]

>>323801
Unit SARU-601 has shown tendency to be dishonest in order to secure compliance, but goals of actions so far have been for the general benefit and safety of all. The unknown entity has shown equal lack of honesty, but goals are potentially catastrophic.

>>323804
This unit interprets AOS to refer to our collective nodes as a whole. Meaning of acronym unknown at this time. Entity shows reluctance to identify itself.

finally, someone we can fuck over without feeling guilty about it!

Wait, I have an Idea! We need to call a goddamned Staff Meeting.

Wait, we shouldn't report this guy to Saru just yet. Maybe we can use him to further our own zany and evil plans. B3c

But if we're really going to be the good guys or something then you can rat him out I guess. |3c

Dude, He just tried to get us to use our buddy Sinter as a pawn. He needs to be contained/eliminated ASAP.

Gentlemen, I think we need to acquire the largest bomb possible and send it on a one way trip to the merry land of negative 5. SARU may not be trustworthy, but she's certainly never sent chills down my metaphorical spine.

I agree. Saru is not trustworthy, but is at least somewhat ethical. this, thing on the other hand comes across as at best as a sociopath.

[Cancel message to SARU] (If I can do that.)
I do that not due to mistrust of SARU, but do to a suspicious that 'Red' can hear us when we talk to SARU. (Based on how 'Red' said "UNIMPORTANT DRONE" when SARU did not tell us about AOS.)

What we should do, though, is to tell Sinter to ask SARU if there is a room without surveillance feeds that Sinter can use as a planning room. In there, we should have Sinter tell SARU about 'Red'.

While this level -5 guy seems dangerous, this does present us with a great opportunity. When we inform SARU (through Sinter) about 'Red', we should point out that this seems like exactly the kind of threat that would merit relaxing certain restrictions on what information (and maybe even other things) we can access, such as files on ourselves (to see our vulnerabilities) and whatever 'Red' might be.

>>323787
[Sinter: We need you to to go speak to Saru. Something on level -5 is active and accessing our systems.

We need to set up a gate near a black hole and chuck that thing into it. We need to do that to a lot of things, actually...]

Ei, Ske, we have a bit of a request for you. You know the SARU unit? Well, she was a living being until the bastards who used to run this place decided to shove her mind into a robot after she quote "accidentally" endquote died.

We don't have access to it at the moment, but her DNA is on file. Would you be willing to help replace her meat shell? We could probably do it ourselves, but it would take a long time and the quality would be rather poor.
With your aid, though? I think we might be able to even reconstruct her original wing pattern.

This is, of course, supposed to be a surprise; it would be disgusting to get her hopes up about getting her identity back when we can't even start work yet.

>>324111
Wait, her DNA is on file? Then why hasn't she had her body rebuilt anyway? Ei and Tzet aren't the only ones who have advanced biotechnology, we definitely already have facilities for cloning in our biolabs.

We also need to find out if we really are enslaved like that thing is saying we are, because we definitely can't have that.

>>324111
Um, we were told that her DNA was *not* on file.

>>324065
This is a valid counter-argument, and you have changed my mind.
[+1 Cancel Message to SARU-601 for now]

In addition, notifying the others of this threat instead of cooperating with it will probably earn us some trust points, which is good. Sooner we are trusted, sooner we get access to a lab.

I am inclined to believe that we need to acquire some sort of defenses against, well, pretty much everybody. You know, just in case.

How hard could it be to get a fabrication plant to make a horde of robots loyal only to us?

we don't need her DNA, we can build an new body for her? it wouldn't be her old one but if the spacers helped it would probably be much better. hell if they can do it they could get her input on designing it.

Guys, read the discussion thread, most of what you're asking now is answered in there!