Death Among the Stars Quest 49

You can feel the overwhelming joy and insatiable bloodlust well up through the fleet, ships and Reconstructed created for war and mayhem bristling with excitement. The very walls around you tense in the calm before the battle. There was no fear in the Reconstructed as the first waves of wardrones and missiles streak through the void for them. Your picket forces were arrayed with the Armatoceres moon and their own fleet at your back, prepared to lend what aid they could.

Standing from your command chair you thrust forward with the spear Kyn'tk and your mental command sweeps through the fleet. You are answered by the sounds of their cheers as a barrage of missiles and weaponsfire is unleashed to meet the incoming swarm.

A myriad of explosions flash in the darkness as their first wave of missiles are intercepted, those that managed to make it through easily picked off by the fleets defenses. The clouds of wardrones, half the size of fighters and consisting of little more than an engine and weapons, move like schools of fish to avoid the first barrage of weaponsfire only to run afoul of the vanguard of Corvettes flanked by flights of Nails and Gunships.

You watch with pride as the vanguard cuts down the twisting swarm of wardrones and pounce upon the fighters that followed in their wake. The subcapitols of the UON fleet open fire with their own railguns and a secondary missile barrage but you clack your jaw in satisfaction as the dropship sized slugs fired from your battleships snap several frigates and a cruiser in half.

These interlopers will learn to fear the Armada or they will die and be made to serve it.

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Welcome back folks! Glad to be back to Jadyk and his battle with the Yuyut.
We will also be using this thread to discuss how to better balance the ship cost/creation and the resource generation from controlled planets.

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Stockpile:
>5,080,165B (50 Biomass Farms: 2,250,000, 40 Lichen Farms: 6000, 200 Solar 8000, Tributes: 2500)
>6,798,920M (20 Mining Facilities 1,200,000, 15 Omega Fleets 975,000, 30 Reaper Fleets 39000)

Troop Totals:
>6 Voidknight Disciples
>9000 Talons (30 Clutches)
>300 Aquatic Talons (1 Clutch)
>750 Cyclops: (15 Squads)
>100 Aquatic Cyclops (2 Squads)
>6000 Stingers (30 Platoons)
>250 Gargoyles (5 Flights)
>150 Aquatic Gargoyles (3 Flights)
>200 Flatbody Gargoyles
>3000 Trolls (20 Packs)
>1800 Shock Troops (12 Packs)
>240 Looms (8 Shoals)
>225 Crit Crawls (125 EMP 100 Exp)
>100 devouring swarms
>400 Stalkers (5 Packs)
>2 Alpha Stalker
>240 Shadows (4 Clusters)
>200 Scourges (1 Swarm)
>501 Dirges
>200 Think Tanks
>50 Demi Think Tanks
>150 Cauldrons
>550 Glutton Spheres
>240 Large Glutton Spheres
>200 Requiems
>400 Brutes
>100 Crawlers
>100 Drakes
>10 Immortals

Necrolyte Legion:
>1 Voidsinger Commander
>10 Officers
>441 Legionnaires
>1 Light Cruiser
>2 Frigates
>2 Corvettes

Living Subjects:
>Jor (loyal)
>96 Colonists
>540 Stonestar
>24 Plainsrunner Osogo
>4 Ructu

Prisoners:
>Lance-Commander Roktir Osjiic
>Dne'tec Ahkam Male
>Juvenile Ahkam Female
>Captain Dretst, Vorh Confederate
>General Vinjo, Epikor
>10 Voidsingers
>2 Deathshead Guardians
>495 Osjiic
>385 Ahkam forces
>310 Confederate Soldiers
>225 Confederate non-combatants
>10 Dagger Pirates

Guests:
>Obsidianborn Construct
>30 Stonestar Researchers
>300 Stonestar Warriors

Vehicles/Ships:
>1 Flagship "Charnel Vault"
>Fury of the Wormstar
>Blackscale Destroyer "Pestilence"
>7 Void Terrors
>The Wick - Confederate Smuggler
>100 Chariots
>50 Hearses
>300 Coffins
>100 Support Coffins
>1175 Common Nails
>300 Piercing Nails
>315 Gunships
>300 Corvettes
>90 Support Corvettes
>131 Frigates
>78 Boarding Frigates
>161 Light Cruisers
>30 Boarding Cruisers
>135 Heavy Cruiser
>80 Plasma Weaver Cruisers
>50 Bloat Carriers
>25 Terrordromes
>97 Battlecruisers
>50 Hangar Battlecruisers
>38 Destroyers
>20 Void Destroyers
>43 Battleships
>20 Eyegores

Captured Ships:
>1 Dagger Clanship
>1 Osjiic Heavy Cruiser
>3 Osjiic Frigate
>8 Osjiic Corvettes
>1 Ahkam Battleship
>1 Ahkam Battlecruiser
>2 Osjiic Battleship
>2 Osjiic Destroyer
>2 Ahkam Corvettes
>3 Ahkam Frigates
>1 Osjiic Battlecruiser
>10 Dagger disguised Frigates
>5 Osjiic disguised Frigates
>14 Osjiic disguised Fighters
>4 ahkam frigates
>6 ahkam corvettes
>30 ahkam fighters

Ships in Construction:
>200 Battleships 76,000B, 220,000M
>50 Destroyers 14.000B 38,000M
>50 Void Destroyers 17,000B 42,500M
>70 Battlecruisers 14,000B 59,500M
>30 Hangar Battlecruisers 11,700B 24,300M
>100 Heavy Cruisers 9000B 53,000M
>50 Boarding HC's 11,500B 23,500M
>50 Plasma HC 7500B 31,500M
>200 Light Cruisers 16,000B 84,000M
>70 Common Frigates 4200B 17,500M
>30 Boarding Frigates 3000B 6600M
>40 Support Corvettes 3400B 7200M
>50 Bloat Carriers 3250B 11,000M
>1000 Common Nails 10,000B 55,000M
>1000 Piercing Nails 30,000B 65,000M
>300 Common Coffins 7500B 33,000M
>200 Support Coffins 7000B 20,000M
>500 Gunships 15,000B 70,000M

YES
YESSSS

Completed Research:
>Combination FTL drive: A dangerous undertaking that nearly destroyed a sizable chunk of the research labs on the scorched planet the effort to combine the Skip Drive and the Void Drive has been a slow process. Yet the Think Tanks proudly proclaim the research completed.

>Drop Pods: It is a fairly simple task to launch an object from orbit to the surface, the difficult part is making sure the object isn't destroyed on impact. Coffins/Dropships are the main way of deploying troops to the surface from ships but Drop Pods would allow rapid deployment of troops on the ground even in the midst of combat zones.

>Cybernetic Enhancements: The Osjiic Empire was constantly at war with practically every other faction in the galaxy. This lead to their soldiers needing to be combat worthy despite sustaining injuries even their robust physiology couldn't heal. Cybernetics are a common sight in the ranks of their soldiers, from almost all grunts possessing neural chips to prevent the revelation of secrets and enhancement of reflexes to limb prosthetics loaded with hidden weapons.

Unlocked:
Combidrive: By using a modified Void Drive reactor to create a miniature gravity well and a modified Skip Drive this new FTL engine "surfs" along the gravity waves produced. This FTL drive is faster than the standard Void Drive while still maintaining the ability to "skip" to large gravity wells similar to the Skip Drive. When paired with Gravity Sensors the Combidrive is able to detect gravity wells as it travels, potentially leading to the discovery of new star systems or even extrastellar objects in the void between systems.

Drop Pods: Similar to the boarding pods Drop Pods are instead fired from orbit to deploy troops or cargo to the surface rapidly. Faster than using a dropship the drop pods are intended to be used where a ship or shuttle would be shot down or damaged. Drop pods are fired from a ship, thick armor shielding it from weapons fire and the heat of reentry until just before hitting the surface it activates it's Anti-Grav dampeners to drastically slow its descent meters from the ground to prevent injury to those inside. Each Drop Pod can carry 30 regular sized troops or 45 small troops. Each Pod costs: 40B 60M upon launching.

Cybernetic Prosthesis: Cauldrons can produce mechanized prosthetics without relying on necrotic biomass for living subjects. These prosthesis are as strong and durable as Reconstructed prosthetics. Limbs and simple organs can be replaced with cybernetic equivalents.

Passive Upgrade: Compact Weapons - Reconstructed can now equip two Light Weapons of the same type at regular cost each or a single Light Weapon and a Sting Whip without penalty to accuracy. This also allows applicable weapons to equip two types of ammo (Acidic, paralytic, explosive, incendiary, etc.)

Glorious
There's few better feelings then waking to find Jaydk is about to be unleashed

Also started working on another image last night thought you might like a sneak peak

is combidrive an overall improvement to what we had or do the other drives still have some advantages?
Is there any downside if we refit all ships with it?

That's amazing!

Waiting with bated breath.

i'll bate your breath~

~Ara ara~

I thought lewd posting was only on r9k baka

Current Research
>Hard-Light Shield: Slow
>Rods of Ruin: Slow
>Shaker Shield: Medium
>Ravager Blade: Slow
>Gravity Thrusters: Medium
>Mental Reading: Slow
>Arc Blink: Slow
>Blur: Medium
>Orbital Platform: Slow
>Space Elevator: Slow
>War-Tank: Medium
>Advanced Void Reactor: Medium
>Implosion Gas: Medium
>Heavy Exosuits: Medium
>Arc Weaponry: Fast

Jor stands before a row of glass chambers, each filled with necrotic fluid but within each floated a being. A Think Tank spins slowly as it floats next to Jor who finally speaks, "These are all that remain of the experiments?"

the necrotic construct mentions with no intent but still Jor grimaces.

"I...shall keep that in mind," He says and looks up at what was once an Osjiic soldier now plated in dark chitin and bone armor, seemingly growing from their flesh, "Are they loyal?" he finally asks.

The spindle of glass and metal twists a little faster,

Scratching at the stubble on his chin Jor is silent for a few moments before saying, "Keep them in stasis for now. We will await Lord Jadyk's return and let him decide their fates."

the Think Tank says before drifting off to attend to another experiment.

Jor stands there for a while longer watching the ten beings floating before him, unsure if they were moving on their own or the gentle current of the recycling fluid. Finally he turns to take his leave to speak with Red-Leaf-Strains about their training when he thought he heard a sound of rustling leaves. Turning sharply with his Reaverstaff in hand he blinks then laughs at the sight of the startled worker Talon passing by. He laughs softly departs.

We should set a guard to watch over those, mind you I don't think it wild stop one of the masked

There may be an unexpected result from this as do far all intelligent undead have telekinesis

Should we expect this of the immortals? Or is it only those with hero sparks that it?

Throughout the Armatocere system ships continued to jump in near the orbits of the planets and moons. They hard had time to unleash their drones and fighters when Necrotic ships unleash their attacks from their hiding spots. The UON ships taken by surprise attempt to fight back against their ambush but necrotic and void weaponry rip through them, melting and peeling away hulls after shattering crackling shields. The intended reinforcements for the main fleet find themselves fighting their own desperate battles against the strange new enemy.

The main fleet consisting of a trio of battleships supported by an array of smaller capitols and sub-capitols find themselves being pushed back by the Necrotic fleet. Think Tanks eavesdropping on their transmissions report an increasing panic as the Fury surges forward near the front of the vanguard, its powerful hullmounted void flayers snapping sub-capitols in only a few concentrated blasts. Twisting arms writhe as they cut through swarms of drones with the necrotic flayers. Armed with a trio of claws one of the large tentacles manages to latch onto the side of a stranded UON corvette as it passes only to melt through it with the flayer and tossing it aside. The ship spins wildly before parting into two where the melted through section snapped.

You were almost amused with the ease at which your fleets carved through the attackers, the losses staggeringly on their side with only a handful of sub-capitols crippled or destroyed among your fleet. The Fury of the Wormstar aims itself for the trio of battleships surrounding a Destroyed almost hidden by its swarm of wardrones like a shifting mass of ablative armor. The bioship spreads its limbs and its trio of void flayers begin to overcharge their weapons gathering a turbulent twisting orb of void energy. You watch as the capitols seem to detect the attack and begin to break formation in an attempt to flee.

>cont

The bioship shudders as it unleashes the sphere of energy that screams across the void of space toward the ships. It plows through several corvettes and frigates too slow to dodge it, leaving twisted remnants in its wake and obliterating smaller craft both UON and Necrotic without slowing.

Moments before the powerful attack struck the central ships the sensors of the Wormstar blare out sudden alarms as a pair of capitol ships exit FTL startlingly close the Fury and its guard of battleships. Your sensors complain in error, detecting the destroyer and battleship that emerged practically ontop of the Fury as being the same as those the Voidflayer attack was just about to strike.

The blast strikes one of the battleships before detonating into a rippling blast of Void energy that almost rivaled a Void-Nova warhead. Two of the battleships are shredded by the overwhelming force of the blast, their massive hulls fractured and quickly venting atmosphere and crew from the portions not completely blasted away.

As your ships shields glowed and crackled under the assault of the attackers the Fury snarls, claiming they cheated by using FTL to jump so close.

Roll me 3d100 best of first three please

...

Rolled 66, 63, 91 = 220 (3d100)

Forgot a space ugh

Rolled 77, 10, 57 = 144 (3d100)

>they gotta use hax to not die. Kek

Rolled 95, 62, 84 = 241 (3d100)

By the wormstar, these guys are getting annihilated,

Was...was that the Picard maneuver?

It is an ancient and venerable strategy for space warfare at this time in the Quest. Jadyk learned of it before he was even imprisoned.

youtube.com/watch?v=mG6Ys2opFD0
(sorry for delay)

Even despite the lack of an atmosphere to carry the sound of its rage the Fury bellows out across the airwaves as it's weapon mounts swivel to life and open fire, its main guns forced to cool down after the devestating attack. As it reaches out with its tentacles for the battleship flayers slice through the clouds of drones swarming it from the destroyer. Numerous small explosions of voidflame from the bioships auxiliary mounts destroy a good number of the mass of drones and fighters that mob the ships and chain flensers quickly reach their top firerate exchanging fire with the UON Battleship.

Beams of necrotic energy, much like your own flayers, lance out from the UON ships crackling against the shields of your ships or melting unfortunate Nails. Volleys of missiles are exchanged between ships to smash against shields or the hulls of ships sending chunks of bone and metal scattering from both sides.

The Fury swats aside a frigate that tried to intercept it only to fall prey to a flight of gunships following in your wake. The UON battleship attempted to flee as the claws of the massive bioship battered its shields but found itself moving at a snails pace. Your pilots report that the weaponized tractor beam was holding strong for the moment. Chain flenser turrents whittle away at the shield until it shatters and three of the clawed ends latch onto the ship, massive necrotic flayers firing pointblank against the ships hull and engines.

>cont

The wardrone destroyer continues to press its attack on you, its storm of drones smashing against your shields untold amounts of guns and blaster fire until it finally flickers and breaks. The bioship rocks under the attack as the destroyer and the remaining subcapitols that moved to assist opened fire with a mix of necrotic and plasma lances. The great ship bellows again in rage and pain as several of its weapon mounts are blasted away and it swings several of its limbs toward the attacking capitol ship to unleash its flayers.

The battleships and battlecruisers guarding the Fury turn their guns toward the attacking ships and launch their own salvos. In only a few short seconds the clouds of drones and fighters were wiped away by the overwhelming firepower, a heavy cruiser's shields failing and quickly set upon by boarding Coffins. The Destroyer, finding itself suddenly quite outmatched begins to beat a retreat, launching an impressive barrage of missiles out around that the defenses of your ships have some difficulty swatting down.

As boarding ships attempt to swarm the ship it disappears with a flash of light as it skips away. Throughout the system your fleet, begin reporting of the remaining UON forces jumping to FTL and retreating.

The Fury still held the battleship in its grasp, clawed limbs tearing or melting away weapon mounts as its beak clamped down onto the thick armor and tentacles wrapped around it preventing it from escaping. You could sense its bloodlust as it played with the crippled ship despite the pleading over the airwaves for mercy.

Spare and board the Battleship or let the Fury enjoy its kill?
>Spare and board
>Destroy

>>Spare and board
I want to loot their FTL drives.

>Spare and board

More nerds to "recruit" and more shit to loot.

>spare and board
We are nothing if not merciful to our future vassals

>Spare and board
Roll me 1d100 best of first three please

Rolled 44 (1d100)

Rolled 96 (1d100)

I think that's the best we've ever rolled on a looting roll.

This is a Boarding action roll, not looting unfortunately

Rolled 30 (1d100)

Reaching out you soothe the temper of the great Bioship and it reluctantly relaxes the tension in its beak and the tentacles circling the battleship. Instead it holds it in place as Coffins bearing boarding parties swarm and descend on the ship, latching on with their umbilicals and cutting their way through the hulls.

As your forces cut their way in you drift through the void seated on your throne, the Dirges fused to the gray stone shining with the light of the distant star. Enjoying the all emcompassing silence for a few brief moments you propel yourself telekinetically toward the large pane of reinforced transparent plasteel. Through the carbon-threaded pane you watch as a mixture of various races rush between their consoles in a panic.

Kyn'tk slithers and extends from your outstretched hand to tap with a parody of a skeletal hand on the pane. You tap again and again until the living forces inside look up in confusion only to scream in surprise and terror at the sight. Guards within move to aim their weapons foolishly at you only for what you could only assume to be the captain of the ship bark orders at them to stand down.

The heavily armored and decorated Yuyut walked forward on its knuckles and you drift down to meet it at eyelevel. Several meters of plasteel separate you but you could see the reptilian sizing you up. You flash your rictus grin as the tip of Kyn'tks tine glows with solar power and begins to burn through the durable fake-glass. The yuyut commander takes a startled step back as you begin to carve out words in the galactic trade language.

"Surrender and live. Resist and perish painfully"

>cont

The Yuyut glares at your for a long time until a human rushes to their side shouting frantically. You could only guess they were alarmed about the amount of Reconstructed that had begun flooding into their ship after receiving your command. The yuyut looks at you, teeth bared in fury before they rear back onto their hind legs and chop their hand while shouting out to the crew. They hesitate and stare before the reptomammal spins on a heel to snarl out their orders once more, sending them into a frenzy as they begin shouting at consoles. Words lost to you out in the void are heard by the Reconstructed filling the hallways, commanding all forces to stand down.

The undead tide sweeps through the ship, quickly restraining those that do give up and attacking those that put up a resistance. Large amounts of wardrones stand idle, automated turrets following their movements but holding their fire.

By the time your soldiers had reached the bridge you had joined them, walking at their head. The blast doors to the bridge remained sealed but you merely hold out your hand and the grinding of gears and magnetic locks groaning fills the air until the doors are crumpled and ripped from their frame by your telekinetic might.

Stingers and trolls tense behind their shields, barrels aimed past you into the bridge but the Yuyut commander strides out on two legs, fists clenched at their side. Their armor was dense metal, their shoulder marked with a series of elaborate medals indicating their rank. Glowering at you they stood several inches taller than yourself but they eventually bow their head and body, arms spreading with palms held open to show no weapon, "We forfeit ourselves to you."

>Victory!

Time to roll for looting and seeing how many ships and captives you've gained

Roll me 3d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 18, 75, 83 = 176 (3d100)

Rolled 9, 17, 89 = 115 (3d100)

Rolled 71, 78, 63 = 212 (3d100)

Losses:
>1 Battlecruiser
>1 Heavy Cruiser
>3 Light Cruisers
>8 Frigates
>11 Corvettes
>136 Fighters
>33 Gunships

Captured:
>1 Battleship
>1 BattleCruiser
>1 Heavy Cruiser
>2 Light Cruisers
>6 Frigates
>7 Corvettes
>Sub-Admiral Sur-Quro, Yuyut Female
>470 UON forces (Large mix of races, mostly human, netu, and yuyut)

Research:
>Advanced Skip Drive: An advanced form of the Skip Drive allowing for short distance teleportation of a ship. Medium
>Yuyut Dissection: A reptomammalian race that evolved on a gravity heavy world. Fast
>Virus Bombs: Missiles loaded with potent weaponized virus specifically engineered to target the floral Armatocere. Slow
>UON Wardrones: Relatively simplistic robotic units that attack en masse to make up for their weak armament, also used as armor to intercept missiles and weaponsfire. Medium
>Assault Drone: Mechanized warmachines with sporting an impressive armament and a rudimentary AI. Medium

Holy hell, how did we lose so many ships after so many amazing rolls?

We took on a war fleet, we lost on 2 capitol ships to their 20 ish.

As the captives of the battleship, apparently named the Daughters Loyalty, were escorted to transports to carry them to the fleets prisons a Demi-Think Tank drifts over to report that the Armatocere are attempting to contact you.

You glance at the orb of metal and glass then back to the yuyut soldier held suspended before your outstretched hand. They strain against the telekinetic grasp holding them aloft and keeping them muzzled, panicking as the armor around their neck was peeling back by unseen hands. A Domination Spike floats, just pressing against the pebble scaled skin as it spins before plunging in with a small spurt of blood that drifts off in the zero gravity, the yuyut twitching as you hand it off to an awaiting Dirge.

Nodding to the small construct it projects a holographic image of Sapling Slrrt, their leaves and petals quivering excitedly as their synthetic voice croaks out, "A wonderful performance! I am glad I requested your aid, Lord Jadyk. The Eldertrees and the rest of the Armatocere in this system send their thanks for your aid in defeating the UON."

You bow gratefully at the praise, ignoring the shouting of a passing group of prisoners drug through the air by the Reconstructed, "I am pleased that I was able to be of assistance. Perhaps now they will rethink their plans to attack the Armatocere."

Despite making no reference to the prisoners Slrrt's eyestalks twist when he speaks, "The leaders of this attack. We would speak with them and learn the reasoning behind their attack. Will you surrender them to us?"

Give the Armatocere the Sub-Admiral and the officers?
>Yes
>No
>Other (Write-in)

I rolled to see how the UON engaged throughout the system not involved with the main conflict and they rolled much better than the ones that went against the Fury but still not as high as the Necrotic Fleet.

>Yes
>Would you allow us to check them for elemental potential?

>>Yes
>>Other
Ask them if they want to keep them indefinitely or if they intend on returning them to us. Make it clear we're fine with either.

>you can certainly speak with them, But i Wold like to subsume them into my force, keep them alive if possible

After this we should get Jadyk and the Elder Tree to sit down and formally hash out the terms of their alliance and trade some relevant technologies.

Tapping your chin with a claw you nod after a few moments, "I suppose that can be arranged. I plan on keeping the rank-and-file. The Armada has a good record of convincing our enemies of our noble cause. If at all possible I would request that they be kept alive and transferred to my control after you have completed your interrogations."

Sapling Slrrts floral face sways, the hologram flickering faintly, "Regrettably our interrogation techniques on the animal races are generally...invasive."

"You mean fatal," you say quickly and the floral ambassador seems to recoil.

"Yes. Is this a problem?" he asks carefully.

"None at all," you say with a moment of regret before the thought occurs to you, "Though as thanks for my aid in your defense I would like to test these captive officers for their potential in an important experiment of mine, and if they test positive I request they survive their interrogation."

The Sapling is silent for some time but their image sways, leaves wilting momentarily before perking up. Finally the sound resumes, "This is acceptable. Perform your test and prepare the officers for transport. A shuttle will arrive for them."

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 for testing the officers of the UON for energy manipulation potential

Would you like to discuss anything further with the Armatocere?

Kill jester

...

Rolled 80 (1d100)

Nah, Jadyk hasn't actually learned about his new alliance yet, I'd prefer he hear about that from Jor personally.

Rolled 29 (1d100)

the Uon making any more assaults? How long of a reprieve did we buy them?

Armatocere sensor stations hidden in nearby systems, the same ones that watched the UON prepare to jump in to attack, reported the remainders of the fleet retreating there briefly to regroup. They then departed once more with gravity sensors detecting them heading toward UON space. They have not been detected in Armatocere territory since.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

I made it in time woo!

The officers and ship commanders your forces hand captured were arrayed in a line, their domination spikes rendering them unconscious. Walking down the line one by one you reach into their being, drawing out the smallest bits of their life force and 'tasting' it for the potential. You did not suspect to find much but there were several that held the potential.

Sub-Admiral Sur-Quro kneeled on the ground, somehow still conscious as you reached her at the end. She looks up at her and growls deep in her throat only to gasp as you reach out and pluck at her very soul. You feel it within her, a flickering flame that swells at your touch and you let out an echoing laugh in the brig, letting her drop as you look at your hand engulfed with flickering Solar flame. A Dirge floats forward and the prisoners let out shouts of pain and jerk awake as their domination spikes were removed simultaneously.

Discovered potential energy manipulators:
: Solar
>2 Humans: Necrotic
>1 Netu: Arc
>1 Kesh: Void

You send word to Slrrt, naming those with the potential you sought. The Sapling seemed disappointed that you wanted the Sub-Admiral but says they will do their best to ensure her survival and timely return with the others.

Prisoners given to the Armatocere:
>Sub-Admiral Sur-Quro
>30 UON Officers

Was there anything you wished to discuss with the Armatocere before preparing to return to Armada space?

Do they expect more conflict to come? Any other foes we should know of? Can any of them manipulate special energies?

messed that up. Sub-Admiral Sur-Quro has the potential for Solar energy manipulation.

Alright, now about those planets I agreed to purify of necrotic energy, any that you want done first?

I've been thinking of what we should call our alliance. The name circle comes to mind (as in the circle of life)

Ask them about the extent of their conflict with the UON, and the extent to which they used Necrotic technologies.
Also supporting this

When questioned as to why we want to know about the special energy thing, tell them that we are trying to figure our how if works, how are some born with the abilitys, what caused it, and how to do more with it

As your fleets tend to basic repairs and help the Armatocere ships collect scrap and bodies drifting through the system you return to the Fury which drifts almost serenely now that it had its first chance at battle. A holoscreen flickers before you on the bridge showing both Slrrt and Ptrr, the two drastically colorful ambassadors answering your call quickly.

"Do you expect more conflict with the UON and will they retaliate for this defeat?" you ask as you recline in your throne, your spear slithering to coil itself at rest in your ribcage.

Ptrr sways from side to side, "Retaliation is expected but we shall use this reprieve to fortify this system. Studying their virus weapons will also allow us to create vaccination countermeasures. We believe the current threat of retaliation is low."

Sapling Slrrt continues, their voices hard to differentiate but his orange petals flutter, "They suffered a great loss. This fleet of there was one of the larger we have seen and they have lost three Battleships along with a great number of sub-capitols. This will weaken their local presence until reinforcements can arrive from their core systems."

"Are the Armatocere commonly attacked by the UON? This was a full-scale invasion and judging by their armament they were going to burn the system to remove you," you say, data concerning the defeated fleets bioweapon arsenal flashing across the screens.

"We believe they wanted the system for the mineral wealth and the habitable worlds," Ptrr says, "But once our interrogations are completed we will know for certain their goal."

"The UON is commonly antagonistic to us but they typically refrain from outright conflict or invasion. It appears this attitude is changing," Sapling Slrrt says, eyestalks looking at something off screen before continuing, "Outlying systems are being reinforced with new warships being planted as we speak."

You have to wonder what an Armatocere shipyard would look like but you continue

>cont

"Do the Armatocere possess any other enemies I should know about? If we are to be allies it would be beneficial to know who wants to destroy the other," you say with a short laugh but the humor seems lost on the florals.

Sapling Slrrt's voice drones out, "Of potential and credible threat we Armatocere have had violent encounters with are the UON, the Confederacy, the Ahkam, the Osjiic Empire-States, the Wraiths, and a host of weaker factions that pose little threat beyond their small corners of the galaxy. Most races seem to dislike "walking plants" for some reason," he says with almost a hint of wistfulness.

"Should a new enemy arise that would prove a threat to either of us we will contact the Armada for you assistance or advice," Sapling Ptrr promises, "The Eldertree Groves are impressed with your willingness to come so readily to our aid and will do what we can to assure the safety of both factions."

You bow your head humbly, "I give thanks to the Eldertrees and the Armatocere for this kindness. If we don't protect each other, who else will?"

The Saplings give their thanks before Ptrr speaks up once more, "You spoke of the prisoners potential in important experiments. May we inquire what these experiments entail? Our science branches are quite curious."

>cont

"It is a continuous experiment into the living that are able to naturally manipulate powerful extranatural energies. Such as the Ahkam serpents and their control over Arc energy. The Osjiic Empires ability to manipulate Void and the Sunscales gift with both the Void and Solar energies. As you know we undead are animated by the Necrotic energies, or entropic as the Confederates and UON call it, but there are living beings like my own Ambassador Jor able to naturally control it," you find yourself rambling but realize the Saplings were listening with rapt attention and you press on, "I seek to understand these energies and if possible, find ways to control them. The Armada would greatly appreciate if the Armatocere could notify us should you discover entities with such capabilities."

There is a silence as the Armatocere likely speak with their superiors before Sapling Slrrt replies, "We shall be observant. This topic has long been a frustrating field for us and we will do what we can to aid your research," he pauses before adding, "We would appreciate if you could share your eventual findings with us as well."

The Armatocere will alert the Armada to potential natural energy manipulators but request help with their own research in this field.
>Promise to share findings
>Promise to personally teach
>Refuse
>Other

Okay hold up exactly to what extent are they asking for our help here? I could agree to sharing some particulars but this knowledge is one of the keystones of our entire faction, that's not something you ask about on the first date.

After they helped us by getting the confederation to leave us alone the entire galaxy will see us as allies to each other.

We are in the same boat now, we have no reason to fight each other

Promise to personally teach

We should do something to solidify our alliance. Something that nether of us would dare break. We need to give them something most prized and they in return

The Armatocere clarify they wish to learn how to guard against energy attacks, such as Necrotic considering their weakness toward it with the future goal of learning how to incorporate it into their technology

>>Refuse
If they're asking for our knowledge of crystal technology, then I'm sorry, they're asking too much. That's the foundation of the key to the New Necrotic Armada. Sorry plantbros, you're swell guys but we don't have that level of trust yet.

As far as you know the Armatocere do not know of Crystal tech. No Dirges, Requiems or Glutton Spheres have been used in their presence

Offer to teach them the very basics so they can defend against necrotic attacks at the least. We're friends now, no need to treat them with too much suspicion

We can offer to help make them more resilient if they let us study them but what they ask would require crystal technology. That we can not give. Not yet at least.
We are willing to use it for them, to purify planets of necrotic energy and to help protect, but to ask us to give them the crystal technology is like asking them to give the wold tree Yidrasithe.
It's cant be done

They are clever, even if they don't know what it is they can infer to its existence

I want to work with the plants but we can't give them that.

What we CAN do is offer to help awaken any power users they have in there population

I say do it. But first we require a personal meeting with Yidrasithe.

If they trust us enough to talk face to face with Yidrasithe, when we could probably kill him easy with necrotic power. Then it shows they trust us fully, and that we should trust them just as much.

...yes.

It might be hard to explain but tell them that in order to teach them what they want to know we would render ourselves almost defenseless against them. So as a show of faith, and to discuss our alliance we must meet with the big guy himself

If they want necrotic immunity then this is what must happen

It is a hard thing to ask, but it is a hard thing they ask of us

If we want to give them an immunity to necrotic energy, all we need to do is show them how to build solar powerstations. Not only will that supercharge their growth, but would allow their seed ships to shrug off necrotic attacks without giving them our most valuable technology and skills.

You guys realize this won't make them immune right? We're made of necrotic energy but still get damaged by it. This is like the argument about how Godzilla's atomic breath shouldn't harm the MUTOs cause they eat radiation.

They just want to find a way to study the energy on their own. I vote for helping awaken any energy poptential in their numbers and allowing them to study it on their own

...what?
Since when has soler cells offered necrotic immunity?

Oh, and throw in that chemical we've been secretively feeding our mortal followers that prevents them from getting cancer from contact with Necrotic powers. Might not work on them quite the same way but shows them how they can make their own chemicals. Bam, those two alone would give them the means to protect themselves from the necrotic.

Fuck it teach them.
Fuckin teach them everything.
Fuckin Ya teach those fuckin plants

Seeing a lot of discussion with choices mainly being
>Accept, teach them the basics and awaken powered individuals in their ranks
or
>Refuse unless Jadyk can visit the Worldtree Yggdrasil or an Eldertree in person

general consensus seems to be to keep Crystal Tech a secret for now

From the pastebin on ship building
>Solar Reactor - Replacing the regular rector cores of a Capitol Ship this reactor grants the ship a resistance to Ion, Arc and Necrotic attacks it is nonetheless vulnerable to Void powered attacks that manage to penetrate the outer hull. The reactor can be "flared" to grant a boost to speed and shield strength for a limited time but the effect is temporary and require time to charge. Cost: 85B 65M

Resistance solar end used entities and objects show some mitigation of damage originating from a necrotic source

But I am all for awakening any power in their ranks and training them.

We need to arrange some time to train in solar and study the mask

>>Refuse unless Jadyk can visit the Worldtree Yggdrasil or an Eldertree in person
This is serious shit they're asking for.

Ask to meet the great tree
Let us test their trust

>refusal unless we meet the world tree or elder tree in person

If they actually do it then I'm all for teaching them everything

Every plant we test has potential to e a powerful necromance
>The elder trees face when

Our face when they are all 100 times better at it then us

>refused until we meet the big guy

I pick opinion 2

Yidrasithe look at my boner

For anyone out of the loop, this has to be a reference to Adventure Call
youtube.com/watch?v=k3J8FYKZ52w

You are silent for a long time as you consider their request and the two Floral ambassadors wait patiently. Finally you break your silence, "The secrets of energy manipulation is one of my greatest secrets and strengths. Giving you the power to control Necrotic energy would be putting myself at great risk."

Ptrr bobs their "head", leaves seeming to curl, "Very well, it is understandable you do not wish to share this then. Regrettable but not unexpected."

You wave a hand, "I would need an assurance. I wish to speak to an Eldertree in person or visit this Worldtree Yggdrasil you've mentioned. As a sign of good faith and so we may discuss our new alliance in person."

It was the Armatoceres time to be silent for a long time and you wait patiently. You were sure they knew you a potent force on your own and this request was a dangerous gamble if they believed you to be untrustworthy.

Finally Sapling Slrrt speaks, "The Worldtree Yggdrasil is the heart of the Armatocere. It is too vulnerable to share its location even with a friend such as yourself. Several Eldertrees have agreed to meet you though. They will uproot and travel to the system I first met Jor. Preparation will be needed to make them ready for travel and they hope this gesture will suffice."

Armatocere have refused to allow Jadyk to visit the Worldtree but agree to send Eldertrees to meet him in the neutral system they already use with the Armada for communication and trade.

Is this acceptable?
>Y/N?

>yes

>Y, but teach them Solar only
Since it resists Necromantic, yet we do not give all of the Necromantic energy's secrets. Once they trust us enough to meet with Big Ygg, then we could let them know of the other energies.

>>Y

>Y

Seconding this. Solar is the most likely to be something they can effectively learn and use, and they've already shown fascination with some stars. One of our earliest encounters was with their research station around an unusual star. They may even end up teaching us something about solar energy from their perspective.

Necrotic energy is both less likely to be something they can learn well and more directly related to our own strengths and weaknesses. Teaching it will strengthen our relationship with the Armatocere less and weaken our position more, in comparison with solar energy. Not only do we not want to teach them our weaknesses, but it's nice for them to rely on us a bit to handle necrotic enemies.

>Y
But also Explain that what we have to teach is as much the heart of the armada as Yidrasithe is the heart of the Armatocere so let them know that we are extending a far greater trust than what they are giving us, because of this there will be things withheld until they extend there trust fully

I'm for teaching them all but crystal technology

>a litch crying because he can't see his tree husbando

If they ever get upset that we didn't tell them about crystal technology we should tell them that we would have if it was Yidrasithe we talked to instead of elder trees.
They could have had it all.
We would have given them our crystal heart, but they refused us