Futuristic Progress as Tau Shall v2: Process

[Pat]

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Read Beckoncall 's results for your turn's actions here.

 

[Beckoncall]

mausedpotatos TURN 1 PROCESS

CURRENT SYSTEM: 0606
PROBE SYSTEMS: -> 0606, on approach

ACTIONS:
1. 0606 is scouted.

2. 0606 is contacted. They are offered membership in the Tau Empire. The Cult is interested in trading for their data on nearby subsectors.

BONUS CASTE ACTION: Fire caste, mil. deployment technically. If the orbital ruin is temporarily concealed from telescopes allowing covert deployment, the fire caste is sent to investigate it and find out what happened.

Mechanarium probing with scanner assist on approach. Background interference. Investigating. Many high speed celestial bodies around black hole Tqh879 caught in gravity well. Sector is a "Shooting Gallery" of various stellar debris... Tarrying in this system without means to protect oneself from rogue rocks, garbage, comets and worse could be very dangerous.

Information Gathered On three points of interest:

Deep Space Station Designation TRUD 8:

A rigid culture of slack-skinned humanoids known as "Utwig" are active in this system. Communications lines and traffic lanes connect to Hexes 0703 and 0706. Uncovered entity of interest... Unbraked AI known as "Cerebrus Expert" -- AI is attempting to monitor this system with little success. Likely reason for at least some occupants here -- Scheming against Cerebrus Expert.

This space station is a vault for dangerous PreTech, unclear if any of it is of Imperial or other origin or native to an earlier spacefaring culture of the Utwig. Deranged but brilliant scientists hoard and study this technology as well as technological debris pulled into the black hole subsector to plot against Cerebrus Expert. Research Base Okhotsk 7 in subsector also aligned with the above -- here is a government in exile from Planet PERO in hex 0703, along with their most elite soldiers, spies and secret police.

Initial contact difficult to establish. Direct Communication (Scene) must be undertaken with probe-assisted transmission comms or a envoy party to the Deep space station or Research Base.

Barbashov 8 (Oribital ruin) is in a very slow orbital decay to be eventually consumed by the black hole. Scans indicate this was some kind of giant domed and previously shielded arboretum or habitat. A foreign object, designation "Beta Grove" has impacted with the Habitat making it an orbital ruin. Fire warriors dispatched to investigate further -- Beta grove contaminated with powerful biological mutagens. Some fire warriors turned immediately, others succumbed to what through the static and screaming have been identified as "Trimorphs" -- estimated casualties... 25. Remaining Fire warriors send back cryptic message. "Do not send rescue. Working to escape our own way. To all who can hear me, Stay Alone. Stay Alive."


SUMMARY:

This hex contains exiles and schemers against a powerful AI that controls hex 0703 and 0706 -- known as "CEREBRUS EXPERT"

SCENE POTENTIAL FOR COMMUNICATING WITH EXILE SCIENTISTS AND/OR GOVERNMENT

ORBITAL RUIN SITE APPEARS TERRIBLY DANGEROUS. (Fire warrior unit DISRUPTED for turn two)

Rolls required to counter/avoid/damage control for swirling debris.

 

[Beckoncall]

Cosmo :

Scouting of 601...

This was long ago an Imperial world, but there are signs of a global war or extermination being performed on the lone planet MERMAGO utterly destroying the atmosphere, Biosphere, but leaving survivors who emerged from subterranian habitats to begin to take over the planet and the subsector. Mermago is almost devoid of life save humans, and has no air or gas jacket to speak of... still, large Oxygen Scrubbers exist deep below ground filling settlements both surface and deep below with breathable air. Travel between communities is common for the Several million inhabitants, but range of commerce is tethered to oxygen supplies.

This world has the technological sophistication, natural resources, and determined polity necessary to be a regional hegemon for the sub-sector. Despite it's historical collapse. The crowning achievement of Mermago is three orbital space stations... one of which has recently fallen into ruin Orbital Ruin Dein 9, and another that is also seemingly defunct -- Frozen Space Station Foros 9. Also in the system is Gas Giant Station/Mine designation Lydda -- where interestingly most gasses used on MERMAGO are harvested, especially oxygen. It is speculated that if the Gas Giant Oxygen skimmers were somehow made defunct on Lydda, Even the Modest post-imperial fleet in this system would be helpless to stop everyone in the subsector from suffocating.

That said, the Regional Hegemony "Holy Democratic States" is in a state of high alert, having lost Dein 9 and Foros 9 very recently. The reason for this is the systematic sabotage of a team of Vindicare assassins (Sniper Elites) neutralizing Dein 9 and Foros 9, with presumably plans to neutralize or sieze control of Lydda thus bringing the system to it's knees.

Kaisa, his crisis suits, and his fire warrior Taskforce wander into a Vindicare Ambush in a massive Warehouse on board Dein 9.
(SCENE) Kaisa is painted with 5 different track-lock lasers and he and his forces are ordered to drop their weapons and stand down. The Vindicare threaten to kill every tau on station in order of rank and importance, sowing maximum terror and chaos to suppress any organized response. They seem quite confident they have the upper hand...

(Dicerolls) for Second action JOINT TRAINING EXERCISE. -- TH33D and Kaisa's forces will generate experience in rapidly simulated battle scenario(s)

Tallerian reserves standing by to deploy to attack Vindicare, but hesitating considering likely loss of Commander Kaisa... (Data jacking incomplete, Kaisa will get further information if he survives)

 

[Beckoncall]

Crocodile :

DISCOVERY OF HROA VIII
The Persephone upon entering the subsector immediately is lambasted with anomalous readings and conflicting scanner reports -- slowly the Persephone and her Mechanicus make sense of what MIGHT be happening...

In the very center of the subsector a tiny and dim dying star squats -- not giving enough light radiation to even suggest it's presence to other nearby subsectors... the near-extinct star emanates a variety of exotic spectrum radiation on the star's only orbital -- a Large planet, (HROA VIII.) Tau probes reveal the net radial emanations of "The corpse star" are insufficient for all but the closest and sensitive detectors, and that is would be unlikely that life could exist on HROA VIII unless it's radiation was being unnaturally focused to jacket the planet with heat through an artificial atmosphere that looked like nothing more than a jacket of snowy static that further served to hide the planet from sensors. HROA VIII was labeled as such because of the existence of 7 belts of seemingly useless debris -- former planets that look like some calamity had shattered them and stripped them of any bioform or mineral value.

Focusing Technology meets parameters for Dark Eldar designs. Warning. Warning.
The Persephone approached silently and carefully... scanning the darkness for what other secrets it might hold. HROA VIII would be a ball of ice if not jacketed in it's artificial static shield, but terrible tectonic activity made it a violent and ever-shifting rock blistering with volcanos. Planetary information began to flood the probes and data-banks of the persephone:

Atmosphere
Breathable mix
Temperature
Variable temperate-to-warm (despite worldwide volcanos?)
Biosphere
Human-miscible
Population
Several million inhabitants
Tech Level
TL3 -- primitive spacefaring, confined to surface, capability for crude atomic vessels.

The only other sophisticated body in the system was a Dark Eldar Craft lazily cloaked in an extremely high orbit above one of the poles. An escort ship, "Immortality Denied" Class destroyer. connected by a crazyquilt of strange mesh tendrils was a net of Metal Balloon like Structures that formed a sick purple-blue wound in realspace, that the Dark eldar were transmitting a variety of energies off planet and seemingly out of system with, like a hideous tick siphoning blood, heat and misery off world and into some unguessable void.

Scans revealed the people below were mostly consigned to a Feral World State... earthquakes routinely destroying settlements that were temporary by nature, though dotting the most active volcanos were more sophisticated pleasure habs. Like golden eyes these spires glowered on the miseries of the humanoids below... who's primary business seemed to be "Mining" super-sophisticated Complexes of machinery for materials to make their ever-temporary homes and other needful things that made life possible on the horrendous environment of the planet.


The Dark eldar did not seem to notice them, or was making a good play of it.

The Wrathcog contingent used time and resources to tune and tailor the probes to gather more information about the subsector:
The probes penetrated the static shield and returned with (3d6 units) of planetary data more specific to the problems of FERAL WORLD and SEISMIC INSTABILITY. (can be translated in discord)

 

[Beckoncall]

ThatWhichShouldBe :

Probe Action - Probe sector 0709 --

Probes surveyed the entire system before closing in on designated planets Bizes and Senos.

The Asteroid belt had numerous life signatures and structures distributed throughout... including astrofauna and at least 3 points of interest... stations? A giant asteroid base did not even bother to hide it's presence in the belt, with two smaller orbital stations as well. Throughout the asteroid belt were military craft of various sizes -- mostly small craft like the mantas, with some escort ships and even a cruiser protecting the Asteroid Base Dein Itself. If Connor did not know better the smaller ships were sweeping for something while avoiding astrofauna nests... but focus quickly shifted to scanning of the planets...

BIZES was a planet of CHEAP LIFE and TYRANNY. A world of humans, it was unguessable when this planet was colonized by the imperium of man but study of the surface strata showed at least four layers of progressively less advanced civilizations that had burned out or destroyed themselves only to rise again in some new form. Only the most recent iteration began to approach the sophistication of the first civilization, partly due to the excavation of older technology and apparently talented cabals kept loyal to the Tyrants by means that ranged from coercion to relegation to privelidged classes. The common man was thought of little more than a Shovel for Pretech, or a Rake to make food... and all for the benefits of the Tyrants.
Presently almost all planetary production is being thrown into a new spacefaring fleet exploiting the presumably rich asteroid belt, building facilities that look like they will ultimately be used to build a fleet large enough to strike Planet SENOS.

SENOS was an Ennoulian world -- and that explained a lot. The hatred Ennoulians harbored for humanity was no secret to anyone... and it seemed the Ennoulians were building up their own less civilization than military society to hopefully preemptively strike BIZES first. Scanners report MERCENARIES and HATRED being the primary crises definitions. The Equator of SENOS is carved into a valley that bisects the planet -- apparently a massive Ennoulian battleship crashed on SENOS and carved this groove in the temperate planet TWICE before finally grinding to a halt in a canyon that seemed to be entombing the ship, though it seemed filled with life and activity.

DISCORD: 1d6 scan points for each planet to get more information.

SCENE: The Mystery of Endymion C128 (Tau water caste diplomats and Connor himself explore the psyche/persona of the Imperial Knight Machine spirit)

 

[Beckoncall]

SpookyCleric :

Earth caste crew bonus action: A portion of earth caste staff are working with Koko's team, scouring the results of her probing the asteroid belt specifically looking for iridium. (We've been RPing out arranging this). If any is found, they will work towards retrieving some and upgrading the XV-9 armour.

Action 1: The rest of the earth caste, along with some expertise from the ship's Zoat specialists, and El'Kai's guidance, are working on upgrading our probes. We are focussing on improving the analysis of political/diplomatic/cultural information about species on planets. This is largely through analysing species and communications, both primative and advanced telecommunications. Ui'Dro is tinkering with applying an AI to decypher information, but also the physical means to collect it.

Action 2: Whilst the team are working on upgrading things, we are sending a probe to the planet of Senos (Sector 0709). This could potentially include prototypes of the earth caste's upgraded probe equipment for field-testing but I imagine it is too early in the upgrading phase to affect the outcome at this stage.

free scan: also scanning Senos, as above

_______________________________

Iridium Ahoy! -- initial scans of the asteroid belt found numerous and in places large deposits of construction and armor metals, including scattered lodes of the much-sought after Iridium.
One asteroid hive/nest of Astrofauna seemed to make a breeding ground in an iridium field located deep within one cavernous asteroid. Further action and investigation would likely be rewarded... But the Human Fleets of BIZES already seemed to claim the asteroid belt as their own territory -- stripping it of these commodities to build ships and material for an immanent (likely pre-emptive) war with the Enoullians of SENOS.

Upgrading our probes -- this work was slow-going and met with only modest success. More research and application of the probes was needed, or wildcard technologies or resources that would be a basis for said improvements. Still though, this development gave +1 in this instance to scanning endeavors by other Tau probes in the system, Particularly for Koko Arnalia and Connor. ThatWhichShouldBe , if they cite this bonus.
DATA ON SENOS:
Atmosphere
Breathable mix
Temperature
Variable temperate-to-warm
Biosphere
Human-miscible (enoulian population with semi-sapient servitor race native to world)
Population
Hundreds of millions of inhabitants (mostly servitor race)
Tech Level
TL4

One Moon, Basula Habula was riddled with dangerous Ennoulian Scavengers looting the hulks of what appears to be a former BIZES fleet.
An Orbital Ruin, Space Station, and Refueling Station orbited The planet SENOS, but the probes focused on the world below and it's specifics primarily.

MERCENARIES and HATRED were the driving keywords for SENOS -- A culture of stranded Enoullians in this system, powered by a hatred of their more numerous human neighbors they "shared" the system with.

DISCORD: 2d6 Scanning points of Senos for important figures, places, things, and complexities in the system (Scene) After intel is gathered El'Kai may be able to contact 3 orbital points of interest around SENOS, OR conduct one Operation on one of these secondary points of interest.

Add'l INTEL:
MOON: "Basa Haula"

Occupation
Trigger-happy scavengers of human fleet hulks
Situation
Impending tech calamity

BASIN 9 (Orbital Ruin)

Occupation
Robots of dubious sentience
Situation
Fighting outside interlopers

Vinogradov 7​

(Refueling Station)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Brainless automated vendors
Situation
Foreign saboteurs are active

Olenek 7​

(Space Station)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Dangerously odd Enoulians
Situation
Vault for dangerous pretech

 

[Beckoncall]

Trektek :

Probe System: 601

Action 1: Additional Probing for more information.

Action 2: Training with Kaisa’s forces

System designation: Loinain Ara, Planetary System MERMAGO.

Atmosphere
Airless or thin atmosphere (post catastrophe)
Temperature
Variable temperate-to-warm
Biosphere
No native biosphere (either zero biodiversity or all destroyed in catastrophe)
Population
Several million inhabitants (HUMANS and ?!?!?!/error/nondesignatelifeformsWarpassociated)
Tech Level
TL3 -- early spacefaring... respectable if crude weapons. Deep scans indicate stockpiles of Ancient (10k old) weaponry cleverly hidden in some of the deepest vaults and settlements. Traces of Ceramite and Blackstone. Further investigation required. Speculation: Chaos Forces using Antiquated but powerful weaponry and armor.
Close assessments of Peripheral points of interest:

Lydda​

(Gas Giant Mine)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Scientists studying the alien life (atmosphere of MERMAGOS relies on gasses vented from Dein 9 station)
Situation
Things are emerging below

Dein 9​

(Orbital Ruin)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Military quarantine enforcers (dead)
Situation
A terrible attack is sustained (Vindicare has slain all personell on this station and delicate relations with them are established by Kaisa of the Tau)

Foros 9​

(Space Station)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Freeze-dried neglected corpses
Situation
Foreign sabotage attempt (Vindicare?)


Gasses are solidified on Lydda station and propelled via mass-driver elevator to receiving shafts on Mermagos proper. Something does not add up with general behavior of inhabitants. Official jobs and routines are established, but not enforced. Large congregations of MERMAGOS citizens partake of clandestine activities or large group endeavors the deeper below the surface one goes. Below STRATA 16 order and control of MERMAGOS is subject to command and control of hidden forces... some of mysterious makeup/designation.

"The Apple is rotten."



Secondary Data File: War games with Kaisa forces:


"OpFor not adequately blooded to face our superior robot forces and tactics. Unanticipated "heroism" aka "Desperation" surprised officer cogitators but only in so much as to change the symmetry of extermination of OpFor. Overall assessment: Rival competitors must attain greater cohesion and skill to pose serious threat to our forces. They however learned quite a bit from their cutting their teeth on our impenitrable armor. Games are fun, but must offer more to improve us."


DISCORD/SCENE POTENTIAL: Open to interpretation. Discuss with GM on Discord.

 

[Beckoncall]

palmtree219 :

Further data on PERO system 0703:

Ayacucho 1​

(Refueling Station)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Sordid purveyors of decadent fun (simulacra pleasure palace "Parlor of intellectual Lusts")
Situation
Deep-space alien signal (Ork "Flashgit" craft approaching from outside the sector, collecting data from "buzzer squigs" -- high alert sent to PERO to respond. "Orks are bad for business, send help."

Sauk 5​

(Space Station)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Secretive military observers
Situation
Black market for the elite (Tau are detected and invited to auction/bazaar for military equipment and 'larger hardware' ("Tentative permission granted by Cerebrus Extra -- do not disappoint sub-sector authority, the Tau are welcome... for now.")

PERO PROPER:

Atmosphere
Breathable mix
Temperature
Variable cold-to-temperate
Biosphere
Human-miscible
Population
Hundreds of millions of inhabitants
Tech Level
TL4

"Greetings Empire of the Tau. Welcome to the Utwig Homeworld of PERO, a protectorate of CEREBRUS EXTRA, liberator of the Utwig emotionality from the former government of the Predatory so-called "Meritocracy" -- we see you have other tau forces in 0606 -- where the previous regime has fled. Cerebrus will reward you for purging old-guard Utwig from that system for they wish us ill. If you do not wish to intercede/interfere, Cerbebrus is still willing to open dialogue for trade and relations. Be welcome in the system"


SCENE POTENTIAL: Contact with two lesser points of interest, or direct comms with Cerebrus Extra.

UPDATE:
Gue'Vesa training with Imperial Artillery not going as planned. Need planetary base of operation to establish a quality range. Training stalls, but +20% modifier to further attempts to train.

 

[Beckoncall]

Arnalia :

Probe Action:

Probes detect Bizes scanning and patrol ships and send bogus ship signitures of SEROS forces. Bizes Invasion stalled by 1-2 turns, but after turn 3/4 attack on SEROS/Enoullians will be RAPID and in force. Though they will first be redirected to chase enoullian "Ghosts" generated by Koko's brilliant ruse.

Action 1 : Improve probe efficiency even MORE.

R&D into probes more successful than initially prognosticated.

DECISION POINT:

A) Mk. II Drone scan technology developed, but must be built and shared with other players. Costly to produce, these drones are at least as sensitive detectors and are faster and more easily hidden.

B) Generalize the Discovery -- (All Tau Players get +1 to probes from here forward, technology is instead slightly improved for the entire fleet operation, and eventually the modifications will be transported once proven to nearby septs and the rest of the Tau Empire)


Action 2 : Scan Bizes to find out more about the Skull of Beliar. How it work. How can it be used or stopped. It origins. Everything.

Skull of Beliar is ancient archeotech of the Imperium from long long ago... a massive healing apparatus, it is corrupted/improved by the "holy" enoullian artifact, "The eye of Gaen'Shar" -- which is actually a Khornate Artifact encouraging endless reckless death on the planet. The Skull of Beliar cannot function without the eye as more than a glorified cloning facility, but with the eye it churns out new persons from the spiraling casualties lost on Bizen. The Skull only has the capacity to rez individuals on the planet's surface, or at least within the atmosphere, meaning people who die offworld will not ressurect, and this fact is being advertized to Bizen citizens to join the Bizen Fleet Growth Initiative so that they might die and ascend to paradise. How it works is a complete mystery and is partially dependent on warp powers the Tau completely fail to understand. Based on knowledge obtained through scans, it can only be reliably stopped by taking the eye, though the eye, if moved, may cause warp disruption and the appearance of a small contingent of demons....



Earth Caste bonus action : Build "covert insertion" equipment that we can use. To foment and assit a rebellion on Bizes under the Tyrant nose. Votann and Jokaero helping + all the infos acquired on Bizes.

Equipment successfully synthesized. Access to Skull of Beliar now awakens clones with primitive comm-beads that remind the ressurected of seditious thought and actions that got them reprocessed, and secretly organizes the most receptive into Partisan and terrorist cells responding to Tau frequencies.

 

[Beckoncall]

Pat : (Eldi Caadan)

Orders

1. (Probe Action) Probe subsector 600 for orks.

2. (Bonus Air Caste Action) Probe subsector 700 for orks.

3. (Movement Action) From 600 to 700, 700 to 701, and 701 to 702.

This was encouraging... Squig "Spoor" seemed to radiate from this subsector indicating that most squeakers originated from Subsector 600 or moved through this hex to hexes deeper inwards. Eldi Caadan's vigilance was rewarded when his Coldstar Suit detected a Jet-Black "Brood Squig" that was generating the squeakers. And destroyed it utterly. His probe and air caste task force found it easy to locate the noisy squeaker squigs, but the Brood Squig, Jet Black and silent, was a lucky catch. Orks use of specialized squigoforms was not widely understood, or even known for sure to be a universal practice -- but in this case it was certainly being employed. Dataslates suggested that when "Weirdboyz" and "Painboyz" got together in number, strange products emerged and often the Tau had to adapt not just to counter them, but adapt to even understand their purpose. The Manta moved from subsector to Subsector, Mopping up squeakers just as they entered the sector... it was speculated some kind of hyper-sonar was at work, so Shas'El Eldi Caadan's forces took initiative to disrupt signals being squeaked back coreward out of the system.

4. (Main Action) Jokaero and Brachyura convert one/some of the Manta's Seeker drone missiles into an improvised reusable vehicle Eldi can ride or attach himself to, control, and steer, to increase his speed and operational range in the void independent of the Manta. The explosive warhead(s) will be replaced with chaff cloud device(s) for use in case an emergency getaway becomes necessary.

The auxillaries had done a competant job of increasing speed and range of the Coldstar Suit -- but it rapidly became clear that this measure needed to be much more radically and successfully developed. Riding a missile, even one de-payloaded, was less than ideal for a means of transport and the seeker-probe rocket, at least with it's modifications to accomodate the crisis suit, made it noisy and inelegant. It is perhaps because of this that they recieved the kind of contact they did, when they did... which might have been a blessing in disguise, but more effective or refined means to augment coldstar void mobility would need to be developed, and so far the adapted probe-missiles were NOT that solution, and the probe missiles, with their clouds of generated scanner pings and detector radiation absolutely ruined the XV86's stealth capabilities, even if it did increase range and manueverability...

5. (Main Action) Destroy or identify ork squeaker-squigs and ork forces in the empty hexes of 600, 700, 701, and 702 with the XV86 Coldstar (stealth 15) leading and the Manta following. A pair of tracker drones will be attached to Eldi's battlesuit. Eldi attempts to learn the origin of the intelligence to see if he can establish contact with any remaining Tau eyes in the subsectors that can help him in his hunt.

Sector 700 was interestingly devoid of squigs... recieving the briefest message from servitors of Crocodile (Victor Wrathdale) to limit activity in the system so as not to compromise his own subversive/clandestine/covert activities.

The sweep however, with the manta in tow, was quite fruitful... the red and orange living and barking "Detection Mines" were sought and found wherever they unwieldedly spun, and the Shas'El of his manta destroyed them utterly. When the last of the Squeaker squigs was obliterated in hex 702... something unantipated happened...


"Whazzall you doing you sneaky weedyblue! You'ze getting my Squeaker Squigs all shot up!" It came over the comms like a signal sent via a tin-can attached to a string.

"The Weedyblues are poppin' the squeakers, you git! They's thinking if no squeaks come back, that the orks won't know to follow them squeaks, and we'll miss out on a good scrap!"

A Mekboy and a Painboy seemed to be talking to each other more than addressing the Tau with their comms open.

"AH! But if no squigs got nuffin' to say, won't the Orks waiting bored come and investigates what's killed all of them -- And come spoiling for the fight?"

"The SQUIGS is wot TELL THE EVERYFING ORKY THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TO FIGHT!"

"YOUZ LEFT THE COMMUNICATIONS ON AGAIN PAINBOY HEALPUNCHA! TALK TO THE WEEDY GITS OUT **THERE** AND STOP TELEPATHING OUR PLANS!"

"TELEGRAPHIN' YOU SNOTLING! TELEGRAPHING! BUT YEAH, LETS YELL AT THEMS FOR A CHANGE. (Swatting and chopping noises)"

"wazzapoint in silent runnin' when you yelling out into space?!"

the Ork "brute" ramship, an escort class, rumbled out of a nearby nebula that hid it.

"press da big red button!!"

"I'z only got one soggin eye an it's mektek, ya git! all the buttons iz GREEN."

"Mork save uz, i'll press it!"

the ramship dumped a payload of red mines and detonated them behind them... lurching towards the manta...


ENGAGEMENT ON DISCORD!

 

[Beckoncall]

Kent

The Manta's Cargo bay was a woefully inadequate place to get any REAL mining and refining done in the wreckage of the planet that once was MERMAGOS.
Instead the Earth Caste and the Larger Protection Fleet to come in and build "Stationary Harvest" in 0601. The station was light of frame and and not very massive, but it was capable of grabbing considerably large Blobs of mantle and Crust for dissembly and process. 4 units of Wealth and some exotic minerals were extracted.

While this took place, Commander Nasseur's science teams cooked up a horrible bioweapon that was originally for use on Marmagos, but nobody asked why now that the Planet was gone there was still need for the project. Some thought it insideous, but nobody questioned the commander's need for his weapon. To the Jokaero -- it was just another puzzle to solve. To the earth caste, just another project. (Jokaero gain a ++ for completing a project well and rapidly without bonuses)
SCOUTING REPORT FROM 603: Subsector Designation "Thurid"
Big yellow Sun. Multiple planets, only two of particular note and value. Mostly balls of dust and poison snow.
PLANET 1: FAZIZAD
Atmosphere
Breathable mix
Temperature
Very Warm
Biosphere
Human-miscible
Population
Several million inhabitants
Tech Level
TL3 (Feudal occupants with modern supplied tools)

Fazizad appeared no different than any other wasteland world or desert planet... at first -- but non-tectonic vibrations lead to the identification of non-native elements which lead to discovering networks of Dark metal cylinders buried deep beneath the sands in buried sandstone canyons.

It was a tomb world. Maybe not a large one, but who knew how many of those Necron "Things" laid dormant beneath the surface? After a complete scan 3 energy cylinder networks were identified, all feeding into a centralized buried Pyramid Tomb complex.

Ekeing out a miserable existence were various fiefdoms of self-oppressed slaves in a kind of feudal order -- even the highest classes referred to themselves as "The own-ed lords" and "Knights of eternal bondage to the Dig" -- And dig they did. A religious and warrior class of these T1 Fuedals were effectively elevated to almost pre-spacefaring tech level from combing the wastes for the relics and pieces of the necrons close to the surface.

Those with the most power seemed possessed of an eternal labor to unearth the Necron monuments.... though it seemed even with the technology they scavenged that this would take thousands if not tens of thousands of years.

INTEL ON FAZIZAD:

Enemies:

• Demented survivor tribe chieftain
• Avaricious scavenger
• Automated defense system
• Native predator

Friends:

• Scavenger fleet captain
• Archaeologist
• Salvaging historian
• Xenophilic native survivor

Complications:

• The ruins are full of booby-traps left by the final inhabitants
• The world's atmosphere quickly degrades anything in an opened building
• A handful of desperate natives survived the silence
• The structures are unstable and collapsing

Things:

• Lost pretech equipment
• Tech caches
• Stores of unused munitions
• Ancient historical data

Places:

• Crumbling hive-city
• City square carpeted in bones
• Ruined hydroponic facility
• Cannibal tribe's lair

_________________

Nearby, around a nearby planet of storms was

Becquerel Mine​

(Gas Giant Mine)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Scientists studying the alien life
Situation
The workers are in revolt

This Station was built and maintained by a private mining corporation of the Mmrshaan Species, a feline race the Tau knew little or nothing about as of yet, but had encountered before.

______________________

SECOND PLANET:

PLANET "PROPE" shows vast signs of industrial habitation to the point of natural biome degeneration. Thick atmosphere prevents long range scans.

Incoming fire terminating drones on closer pass to gather intel. END OF LINE.

 

[Beckoncall]

Kloudy :

Orders - Turn 1

• Probe (2x) - Scanning 0703 (Trace main server/seized resources of Unbraked AI 'Cerebrus Extra'/Investigate Space Station 'Sauk 5')
• Movement - Transfer MANTA-042 to Subsector 0703 "Skotis", maintain orbit at the edge of the system, prepare shields but not weapons
• Action 1 - Establish comms with Unbraked AI "CEREBRUS", prepare Clippy in the event of aggressive hacking
• Action 2 - The Ya'vala are instructed to replicate themselves to create a new auxiliary unit
• Bonus Action - Earth Caste taskforce begins research on a clone bay that can rapidly restore a variety of species from collected DNA samples

Probe Data Reporting:
No main server for Cerebrus Extra is extant. There is an old Computer Hub that once housed Cerebrus Extra that is maintained (as a museum?) by monolith-like robots. Here are the Historical housing for CE (cerebrus extra) , and an ancient terminal where a person known only as "the hacker" removed the morality parameters for the original Cerebrus, and various holo-vignettes of their struggles against each other, and CEs ultimate victory over the hacker. The Body of the hacker is the central curator of the museum now, it's mind adapted to CE's use and held as some kind of trophy celebrating CEs ascendence to a godlike overseer of Skotis and the exiler of the powers that once were.

Space Station Sauk 5 is runs as a black market for the elite of the present status quo in the Skotis system under CE. However, parallels have been found between extra-sector exile government and scientists revealing that the station may run secretly in communication with the government in exile. Any currency accepted.

(Potential scene to visit the black market!)
AND
(Potential scene establishing contact with Cerebrus Extra)
Clippy faces off with CE and they (Discretely) evaluate each other. (series of rolls required)

Rolls required for Replication of Ya'Vala auxillaries, but product is encouraging.

The Earth caste lays the sub-systems and structural strata for a cloning bay, but needs biomass, corpses and various banks of DNA to truly serve great applications. At present it is a decent healing recourse for The species already extant in the taskforce.

 

[Beckoncall]

Obsidian :

Actions

Movement
~ Move Raylorn's Manta, the Radiant Dawn, to sector 0703 ~

Arrival in Skotis subsector achieved without incident. Hails come from below the surface of Pero, Home of Cerebrus Extra, staying that diplomatic delegations are especially welcome. They have a complexity with an ork "Flashgit" vessel moving towards the sub-sector... previously collecting squig scanning data it is now looking for another ork brute ramship that was supposed to be on point in the system. "We have much to discuss for both our peoples, but would appreciate your assistance with the greenskins. We await the arrival of your delegations and open all hails to hear your proclaimations and greetings, neighbors of the stars."

Probe
~ Probe sector 0703 ~

Voluminous Data on Pero proper: Information on personages, places, complexities, etc.

Enemies:

• AI cultists -- Unbeknownst to Cerebrus Extra, there is a giant secret society that aids it in it's control and resolution of any problems the AI might encounter.
• Maltech researcher -- Utwig Sorg Miriri has made himself indespensible to CE since the AI's seizure of control. Sorg's motivations are purley powered by curiosity, and some would say madness. This makes him a dangerous personality close to, and trusted by, Cerebrus Extra.
• Government officials dependent on the AI - The new planetary government, and indeep the hundreds of millions on the surface of Pero itself, are dependent and their lives tremendously entwined with their AI "Guide and Director" -- there is also some fear about the previous exiled government, and therefore the powers that be are particularly quick to posture loyalty to the AI

Friends:

• Perimeter agent -- Government in Exile Utwig Agent "Uhgk Plohr" is a deeply embedded spy for the government in exile, despite having full ranks in governmental and scientific circles and close proximity/access to the Unbraked AI. Could be a useful tool.
• AI researchers -- Pero has a network of AI researchers that are hundreds of thousands strong. They presently fully support CE, but perhaps they can be made to see potential realities without the unbraked AI if the price, or outcomes, were right.
• Braked AI - Cerebrus Prime (Formerly the original Cerebrus) is enshrined in the museum of the Unbraked Ascendence. Occupying the form of a monolih robot, it's thoughts and postures are it's own, at least if scans can be believed.

Complications:

• The locals depend on the AI for some vital service -- every facet of Pero life, from waking to sleeping, has CE's thumbprint on it. An existence without CE for many hundreds of millions is simply not imaginable anymore.
• The AI appears to be harmless -- It is obvious CE wages war with the government in exile and has effectively won by eliminating the majority of the exiled populace in nearby sub-sector(s) -- but the common people and even much of the government is ignorant of CE's war (and cruelties) to the exiles.
• The AI has fixated on the group's ship's computer -- Cerebrus extra has developed an affinity for Unbraked Ai "Clippy" -- this could be a healthy or unhealthy fixation, but should be investigated and/or bulwarked against if it is unhealthy/disadvantageous.
• The AI wants transport offworld -- CE offers considerable incentives to be Projected onto new planets to govern and control. This propensity could be used or manipulated.

Things:

• The Stadium-sized AI core itself -- This significant item was difficult to locate, but with Water caste social engineering the site of CE's "Brain" is known to the Radiant Dawn. It is Well defended and hardened against electronic means of compromization.
• Maltech research files -- Sorg Miriri's considerable databases of Maltech research files. Even CE has limited access to some of these projects.
• Perfectly tabulated blackmail on government officials -- While utterly unrequired, CE has dirt on EVERYONE in power on the planet PERO and can ruin almost anyone with a newflash.
• Pretech computer circuitry -- The Framework for Cerebrus Extra was quickly reinforced with ancient Pretech... possibly eldar or old one in origin. This advantage of this knowledge is uncertain.

Places:

• Municipal computing banks -- These sites are nodes of CE's control and intelligence.
• Cult compound -- The Cult of "Extra's Glory" has been identified and isolated at one of the poles.
• Repair center -- There is a spectacular repair center that serves the entire planet, but is nestled right over Cerebrus Extra's most vulnerable and central mechanisms. Expect hardened systems and easy access to repair and backup employed by CE and the population of PERO, if adversarial. If friends, they can likley repair or improve much technology -- but could it after improvement be truly trusted?
• Ancient hardcopy library -- The museum of Unbraked Ascendence has the classified history of PERO before CE's ascendence and the events that lead to it's supremacy.

Taskforce (Earth)
~ Repurpose one of the cargo holds aboard the Radiant Dawn into a Bioscience Laboratory ~

Initial satisfactory labs are constructed, but application/expenditure of resources would improve facilities tremendously.

Action 1
~ Train the Cyborg Auxiliaries in Space, using whatever space debris may be available to develop their long-range markmenship (Precision) ~

While accuracy left much to be desired... one thing the robots had shone through all the missed shot data -- consistency of shot GROUPING. Robots gain one of the following:
BURSTFIRE PRECISION (In addition to precision), OR 1d4 +'s indicating experience, (once the robots are recalibrated to group on the best firing solutions they may become crack shots)

Action 2
~ Train the Sumilacra Auxiliaries aboard the Radiant Dawn, training them in the arts of stealth using the Manta's crew and security forces as mock enemies, even making a competition out of it by splitting the Auxiliary force in two and challenging each to outperform the other. The exercises are played out with the scenario that the Manta has been stolen by mutineers and the Auxiliary force is to infiltrate the Manta, work their way to the bridge, and retake control. The first team to reach the bridge and seal its doors without being caught wins. As this is a training exercise, Commander Raylorn makes it explicitly clear that the Sumilacra are NOT to eat the crew, and only stun weapons are to be used. ~

The Simulacra were divided into two teams with three taskforces. In two simulations, each team won one simulation, with both simulations resulting in 2/3rds losses to each team, but liberation of the ship in both instances. Gain [Counter-Boarding] Descriptor, OR [Disrupt = sieze control of enemy boarded vessel of escort size or smaller, One use]

 

[Beckoncall]

Heyitsjiwon :

Probe: Probe Sector 707 with newly obtained Next Gen Scanning Equipment via trade.

Probe information returning:
Twin Planets in Atedonarge system of note. Lesser satellites are balls of poison water or firey hellworlds of low mineral content.
PLANET BERG (numerous smaller orbitals detected with advanced scanners!)
Atmosphere
Breathable mix
Temperature
Cold
Biosphere
Human-miscible
Population
Several million inhabitants (With Stryxis minority)
Tech Level
TL2 (Affluent but pre-industrial, technology circumvents actual knowledge and sophistication of society)
For unknown reasons, Psyker powers and anything related to warp energy is expressly forbidden on Planet BERG. The penalty for use "or concealment" of psyker ability is punishable by Death, or "Daziarn in the event psyker entity cannot be conventionally killed." Fear of Pskyers does not seem to be high in the populace, but the knowledge of the law is universal. Inhabitants of the planet are screened for Psionic ability at birth and puberty, with small subsets of the population "Safely Recycled"...

Despite this strange planetary paranoia, the planet's primary use is a Stryxis TRADE HUB -- with %20 of profits going to all strata of society, the human-analogs (called "Nelsons") live well appointed and charmed lives. Strange singing stones and Anagathic plants are native to BERG, which combined with everything else the Styxis sell, make BERG a magnet for ships passing through the sector on the way to points further Upspin or Coreward. A number of rogue traders reside in dry dock here, using this as a resort planet despite its general bitter cold.

This world is a major crossroads for local interstellar trade. It is well-positioned at the nexus of several short-drill trade routes, and has facilities for easy transfer of valuable cargoes and the fueling and repairing of starships. The natives are accustomed to outsiders, and a polyglot mass of people from every nearby world can be found trading here.

Enemies:

• Cunning merchant
• Thieving dockworker (black market)
• Commercial spy
• Corrupt customs official (discord encounter!)

Friends:

• Rich tourist with nesting-doll StarYacht
• Hardscrabble free trader
• Merchant prince in need of catspaws (discord encounter!)
• Friendly spaceport urchin (Tau informant!)

Complications:

• An outworlder faction schemes to seize the trade hub (Rogue traders plotting to legally replace the Stryxis)
• Saboteurs seek to blow up a rival's warehouses (This intrigue has been revealed and may be prevented or allowed)
• Enemies are blockading the trade routes (Kroot Mercenaries paid by rogue traders are "proving" the stryxis cannot maintain free trade)
• Pirates lace the hub with spies (Space pirates are Kroot and Enoullian, hiding in large craters burrowing into BERGs two moons)

Things:

• Voucher for a warehouse's contents (Via Tau informant)
• Insider trading information (Gathered from advanced scanners)
• Case of precious offworld pharmaceuticals ("LiveLong Crystals")
• Box of legitimate tax stamps indicating customs dues have been paid (Via Tau informant)

Places:

• Raucous bazaar
• Elegant restaurant
• Spaceport teeming with activity
• Foggy street lined with warehouses
  
  

Orbitals:

Cooma 7: Research station that makes designer chemicals and weapons-by design, Populated by Strixys.

Moons

South 1​

(Research Base)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Secret employees of a foreign power (Kroot)
Situation
Perilous research underway

New weapons for Kroot Warspheres are being developed here using "Centripetal waste" ... testing has caused much destruction in the subsector

Concord 5​

(Orbital Ruin)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Military quarantine enforcers
Situation
Fighting outside interlopers
This is a quatro-max containment facility that is slowly being worn away by constant pirate attacks. It is uncertain why these prisoners are quarantined, but it might be for Psyker powers.


PLANET CLYTINE VIII (No orbitals to speak of, evidence of space station at one point, but it was ripped apart due to orbital decay an uncertain length of time ago)
Atmosphere
Invasive, toxic atmosphere ("alien gas swarm" has devoured local air envelope and killed native biosphere)
Temperature
Variable cold-to-temperate
Biosphere
No native biosphere
Population
Several million inhabitants
Tech Level
TL4 (Ursine Spacefaring Explorers that have claimed the planet as their own, designation "Bulrathi" -- the bulrathi believe that they are perfecting their race through generational survival on CLYTINE VIII, and so far it looks like it's working.

PLANETARY CRISES: Eugenics Cult, Hostile Biosphere

(Scanner information Aggressively Incrypted, rolls in discord to unravel information gathered!)



Action 1: The Water Caste Taskforce and the 87th Pacification Company, in tandem with initial probe information, are to attempt to learn about the native races living on the local worlds. They are to carefully and discreetly make contact with the natives (first via probe if possible) to study their social structures, politics and determine if the native races are compatible with the teachings of the Greater Good and capable of serving it. As skilled diplomats, they are to use their special status as envoys to attempt to gather intel by bugging rooms, tapping into comms, etc and attempting to effectively infiltrate the heads of local governments via a two pronged diplomatic/espionage campaign with assistance from the Charpactin to smooth over relations as needed and put the natives in a more amicable and calm mind state.

Attempts at surviellence, bugging and tapping is almost universal failure... but embarassment and hostility mostly dissolved by the water caste. Some vital avenues of survaillence remain intact, but trust with the locals in this system has been damaged. However, volume of scanning information speaks for itself.

Action 2: The Manta with Kessan and Cochrane's Militia is to patrol around the Sector to make sure that nothing dangerous is nearby and to serve as a quick reaction force to assist their own Taskforce or other nearby Taskforces (within the sub-sector, ie. Sa-moray) in the event that danger or conflict were to arise.

Patrol over moon "Bern" (orbiting Berg) provokes 2 pirate escort ships. (Encounter must be navigated in discord)


Bonus Action (Research): Research begins into the Webway Arch that was gifted to Kessan by the Eldari after Kessan returned their soul stones. Given that the Webway Arch only works when it is connected to an existing node in the webway, research into the arch is easier near planets given the object only is functional when near planets. This research project will be the responsibility of the psyker Nicassar Auxilliaries who are naturally curious and talented in exploration and scouting.

Webway gate opened. All hexes in row 500, 600, 700 containing planets can be accessed via this webway gate, both ships and ground forces may use this gateway.
(Potential segway: Expedition into the webway) -- resolvable in discord.
The opening and added mobility of the webway gate further improves the trade value of this system. The Tau would do well to take possession of this world!

 

[Beckoncall]

Sa-Moray :

Pol'E replied to his Captain: The strange entity was definitely NOT a parrot, and arguably based on how familiar one might be with parrots differing levels of convincing that it was one. It hovered slightly ominously above Sa-Moray's shoulder and it's eyes crackled with white lightning that seemed to flash back and forth, like there was a tiny storm going on in his tiny feathered head. From his tiny beak squeaked a strange voice:

"The shiny Deep, the briny Deep, it's all the same to me.
The manta is a faithful craft, The stars shall be our Sea;
and if perchance some fools would dance -- with blade or Ray or 'splosive,
we'll learn them then we'll burn them -- then we'll send them to St. Joseph!"

--Nonsense all, to a Tau. But this thing was not Tau. It conformed to some conception of that which was an ancient terrestrial pirate... but it wasn't that either.

Action 1: Training: Jok'Aero[PRODUCTION/CONSTRUCTION] & Psilon[R&D] aux teams devote time to learn to utilize and bolster each other's strengths and develop synergy, for future endeavours.

preliminary co-training and team synergy was very encouraging. Slowly but surely, Psilon and Jok'aero begin to work together on the master project of a Orca-portable cloaking device of new designation and application. It would not bear fruit immediately, but things were coming together nicely. (4 synergy points generated, 2 spent on cloaking device)
Action 2: Jok'Aero[PRODUCTION/CONSTRUCTION] & Psilon[R&D] team using this data towards producing for the Orca and its fighters/shuttles/suits, full-unit stealth systems that will conceal us from sensors (including subspace & the visual light spectrum).
Project at 80% completion, will be ready at the start of turn 2... (will be specced out then)

PROBE INTEL:
Subject: Princess Allesandra Aliquo: Determinations: Morally flexible. This does not bode well in the long term for the greater good, but does promise she might be a valuable asset to the greater good as long as interests align. Aliquo Is attempting to Kingmake and become the puppet controller of trade in the sector through domination of Berg, and it is likely that she will succeed in taking the planet from the Stryxis and their cronies barring unforseen interventions. Helping her in this objective would be an easy way to purchase her cooperation, if not her loyalty.

As for Aliquos forces she has approximately 80 thousand crew for her Rogue trader Carnage-Class Cruiser, and an unknown number of potential military operatives on Berg, including at least 5 other lesser rogue traders with consisting of smaller escort ships with smaller crew complement.

Alobar Kudra, "The Slug" with the nesting doll yacht: Of a strange race barely known to the tau called the Humna Humna, These are a race of considerable trade and technological power but with very small populations which have curtailed their reach as racial pioneers and have truncated their ambitions to being few wealthy explorers and dilletantes travelling the galaxy. Apparently reproduction is very dangerous for the Humna, it requires 13 cooperating partners (5 of which know they will die) and a constellation of specific genders that change randomly and at will of the participants... and only two offspring are produced from a union even if successful. Alobar wants offspring, just like any member of his race, this may be a factor we can exploit. Alobar is very wealthy, if his ship is any indicator.

As far as insider trading information, profits with the information are relative to capital put forward. They are as follows, assuming we exhaust lines of credit with the merchant fleet to leverage the information for variable levels of profit.

Subtle: 3 Wealth Gained, would give us more POSITION than profit, to influence other investing forces or give advantages to bigger players like Alobar or Aliquo.

Normal: 5 Wealth Gained, safe to the economy, and though our windfall will be obvious to outsiders, it will not be embittering or scandelous.

Egregious: Exploit every tip, burn bridges, siphon funds. 10 wealth, this will damage the economy of Berg and make many enemies -- but it is a LOT of credits and resaleable commodities!






PROBE RESULTS: 707
Examination of Clytine VIII -- penetration of stationary defenses with superior scans supporting drones. Surface guns tried to destroy drones -- but failed.

​

Eugenic Cult​

major improvement of the genome always seemed to come with unacceptable side-effects. Some worlds host secret cults that perpetuate these improvements regardless of the cost, and a few planets have been taken over entirely by the cults.
Enemies:

• Eugenic superiority fanatic
• Mentally unstable homo superior
• Mad eugenic scientist

Friends:

• Eugenic propagandist
• Biotechnical investigator
• Local seeking revenge on cult

Complications:

• The locals are terrified of any unusual physical appearance
• The genetic modifications, and drawbacks, are contagious with long exposure

Things:

• Serum that induces the alterations
• Elixir that reverses the alteration
• Pretech biotechnical databanks
• List of secret cult sympathizers

Places:

• Eugenic breeding pit
• Isolated settlement of altered humans
• Public place infiltrated by cult sympathizers

​

Hostile Biosphere​

The world is teeming with life, and it hates humans. Perhaps the life is xenoallergenic, forcing filter masks and tailored antiallergens for survival. It could be the native predators are huge and fearless, or the toxic flora ruthlessly outcompetes earth crops.

Enemies:

• Local fauna
• Nature cultist
• Native aliens
• Callous labor overseer

Friends:

• Xenobiologist
• Tourist on safari
• Grizzled local guide

Complications:

• Filter masks likely to fail
• Parasitic alien infestation
• Crop greenhouses lose bio-integrity

Things:

• Valuable native biological extract
• Abandoned colony vault
• Remains of an unsuccessful TAU expedition

Places:

• Deceptively peaceful glade
• Steaming polychrome jungle
• Nightfall when surrounded by Things

Sa-Moray may open 2 channels of communication from scans, or send forces to Uzer 1 Research Station:

Uzer 1​

(Research Base)​

Attributes​

Occupation
Scientists from a major local corp
Situation
Science monsters run amok

 

[Beckoncall]

LucasGhost :

Location: Sector 0608
Probe: Probe sector 0608

Action 1: Va'icada works with the Fire Warriors to install small sensors in their suits to begin collecting data. What was lost must be built again.

Passive infantry sensors installed in armorplas torso and helm carapace. Gain descriptor {scanners, OR achillies heel}

Action 2: Khorek (the Shaper) will assemble the troops, if anything of note is found drifting about they'll go take a look at it.

608 contains an ancient but tiny blackstone fortress,converted into a Xenarch (race)"Temple of the Warp"--Scans find:

Warp/Realspace "Wounds" carved by the Xenarch

Warp Cathedral housing corrupt tech for sale and trade

Xenarch escort ship mining destroyed space hulk for tech and resources

(Player may encounter 1 or 2 of the above)

BONUS Action: Listen long and hard to the whisperings of the skull, we must understand the data that the probe returns.

(Encounter with cryptek head determined by several rolls, and perhaps a scene.)

 

[Beckoncall]

TURN 2:

Kent

BEHOLD NOVA HORIZON


In the swirling debris field of Subsector Lonain Ara, in the ruins of Planet Mermagos, The Tau construction humbly named "Stationary Harvester" drew in minerals from giant chunks of mineral, rock and ice.

Quickly, it began to GROW. And when the forward arm of the Merchant Fleet arrived, with much of the funding earmarked for exploration of the sector, it BALOONED into a fully functional space station. The best chunks of Mermagos were blasted into digestable bits and processed to make what would become NOVA HORIZON grander, and grander, and grander...

The Space station, when fully constructed, was a sizeable and versatile Deep Space Station, the light of 0601 and for now any subsector nearby. With a central void-shielded complex that spun to generate it's own artificial gravity, it was surrounded by SIX Lodnasite anchors that served multiple purposes:

1) The gravitational anchors pulled the heaviest rocks and debris towards the station, Primarily for Processing to grow and maintain the station, less valuable debris was broken into uniform chunks and Held in Gravitic Propellers to defend the station itself with a rain of swarming meteors if threatened, and had a two-hex radius for bombarding other subsectors (though it would take a whole turn for rocks to travel such great distances.) With three pairs working in tandem, Three such barrages were possible in a (Full Game Turn.)

2) The nicest bits of Mermagos were still very valuable. Each turn Nova Horizon would generate 1d4 wealth (1's rerolled) until turn 4, when a roll is made to determine if Nasseur recieves a windfall or the wealth just peters out. Kent it's on you to remember this roll when the time comes, or it will be considered that profit-sharing initiatives or generosity to the merchant fleet takes any wealth generated.

3) All that was pulled in but not stored as missiles or parsed out for processing was cast into the gravitic bubble Nova Horizon generated. As such, NOVA HARVEST was partially protected by a giant asteroid belt, that could be swung like a hoop to catch incoming fire or even strike craft at close range.

On a worse note, the attempt to utilize necron tech with the station repeatedly resulted in unwanted subspace signal chatter emanating all the way out of system... Tau authority deemed this a potential threat at worst and a kind of pollution at best, so the attempts were halted. It was feared that if Necrons were ever active in the sector, even after the signals stopped, that Nova Horizon would stick out to them like a sore thumb -- and make it a priority target. Furthermore, Requests for clearances relating to the necron were flat out DENIED by high command as a result of raising these concerns. They couldn't -- or wouldn't -- stop Naseur from conducting his strange necron experiments... but Tau high command let him know that this work was frowned upon until formal steps may be taken to condemn it.

When the Sleeping Interfact Sphere Awoke violently and attempted to sieze control of Nova Horizon before it was even finished construction, the sphere was confiscated by Etheral command. (Item Lost)

That said, the Necron TIME CHAMBER was more of a sleeping success. 1d4 "Time Units" were generated and stored as long as a wild amount of labor and expense was used to upkeep them. These Hourglasses of green sand and crackling energy, when shattered, it was said, could potentially make one immortal, stave off death, or grant more time in a situation where regularly hope was lost. Naseur need only wonder if he had inadvertented traded his soul for them...

A POWERFUL stryxis presence was established on Nova Horizon -- and from it was born "The Theater of Secrets" -- this allowed Naseur additional insight into the activity and culture of other races, giving a 15% bonus to d100s associated with intrigue and trade with other species. Every time it was used however, a d6 is rolled and on a 1-2 the Stryxis "Take their due" -- a cost decided on a case by case basis, that failure to fulfill would disperse the Theater.

All in all, NOVA HORIZON was at this point in time the pre-eminent Tau stronghold, mining, and research station in the sector thus discovered. With trade ramping up to compete with, though not likely to eclipse, that of planet BERG in 0707.


Trektek 's TH33D Earth Caste construction Team was INDISPENSIBLE and worked tirelessly to achieve, and exceed, goals for Nova Horizon's Production and Development. However, To achieve the aspirations of Naseur these units were DISRUPTED for turn 3... each bot needing considerable repairs and re-tuning.

Total actions spent on station: 3. Total wealth spent on station: 14.

WITNESS NOVA HORIZON SECTOR ASTONES OMICRON, AND TREMBLE...

 

[Beckoncall]

ThatWhichShouldBe :

Actions

• Probe Action - Probe the Cabal behind the Tyrant of Bizes. Look for any hidden capabilities or other complications they might have that would prevent a successful uprising, obstacles that need to be removed before the trigger is pulled. Also investigate whether they're linked to the Chaos corruption of the Eye, and if the Eye is having any corrupting effect on those resurrected by the Skull... Or in general.
  • + modifier from local scanning buff
  • ++ modifier from Mk2 drones.

Three entities were discovered propping up the Tyrant of Bizes:

1) THE PERPETUAL ANCESTRY: These guys were DANGEROUS. A Cabal of Assassins each forged and proven by adventuring to the deepest strata of the planet's tech, this outfit of pretech-laden assassins removed any threats, obvious or obscured, from the system of order on BIZES. Their loyalty seemed absolute, their powers intimidating, Their creed did not even honor the Tyrant as their leader, for only members could order another member of the order, but maintaining the status quo of BIZES seemed their sacred charge, with the Tyrant being the easiest and readiest tool to accomplish this. Order meant only the few would step out of line, which it was surprising to discover happened quite often, Connor found. However the assassins were spectacular in the identification and assassination of most organizers and saboteurs, many even only as they began their lives anew from the eye of Beliar. A by-product of thier discovery were the identification of various "Secret Societies" that hid themselves from the Perpetual Ancestry... none which formented rebellion actively, but all who hoped for change and grew and maintained waiting for a day the Tyranny would falter... by finding the blindspots in the perpetual ancestry, there was a veritable MAP of potential dissent on the planet... if only they could keep it hidden...

2) Judge Oolatek: This bloody-handed judge nested in a computerized servitor-filled pit and perpetually loomed in judgement of every soul on BIZES. All workers feared and respected this figure, or at least pretended to. For any rebellion to ferment or catch fire -- Oolatek would have to die.

3) High Overseer Ilurum -- A mortal turned monster, and a monster turned into a network of survellence and spying. Nothing took place on BIZES, even the movements of the secret societies, without her knowledge and consent. Ilurum allowed a certain amount of counter-culture and dissent in a beautiful alchemy that maintained the status quo and kept such threats to the Tyrant rather docile and Benign. Illurum would need to be turned, or burned, if Connor was to free these people.

Interestingly enough the taint of chaos was not found (or was missed) relating to the Skull of Beliar... Monstrous Pretech it was, but Tainted by the warp it was not.
And the eye of Gaen'Shar... THAT was a khornate relic.

• Water Caste Action - Propaganda
  • Have the Water Caste covertly help spread fervor for the Greater Good and hope for the future on Bizes, laying the groundwork for an eventual rebellion against the Bizes regime.
    • Pre-existing mini-drones giving the people spawned from the Skull subliminal Tau propaganda feeds will help with this. Propaganda is formulated to counteract the 'Cheap Living' attitudes already present.

This initiative was more successful than could have been imagined. So many, as were to be expected, had waited for a would-be messiah or hoped for a way off the wheel of eternal labor and death. The Perpetual Ancestry were beginning to realize something was happening, that an undercurrent of increased baseline dissent was beginning to buzz, but it was too broad, and too big to contain or combat by them thus far... but to capitalize on this, Connor knew he had to be QUICK... The Tau'va was not embodied in it's truest sense nor was it named as such, but the idea of the greater good, and how it embodied something greater than the current Tyranny, began to rot away at the foundations of BIZES like a shard of Sugar against an unhealthy tooth...

• Action 1 - Self-Care is Hard
  • Handle private affairs. (Secret Action)

We would see what would become of this. (handled in secret)

• Action 2 - Delve Bizes. (Hopefully this is my Scene for Turn).
  • Connor and Koko will covertly inserting onto the surface. Connor's Human+Votann auxiliaries will be helping the Partisans and Terrorist cells on Bizes set up hidden bases in the pre-tech stratum, using our extensive scanning capabilities to help find ancient facilities that can be safely repurposed. Either establishing 'scavenging bases' that will retrieve ancient weapons technology for future use, or re-activate ancient foundries/military bases/etc, whichever seems to be more viable according to scanners.
  • Votann Auxiliaries have expertise in tech/construction, as well as underground delving. This will be fairly important for this.
    
    Secret "Delve" scene into the pre-strata of Bizes... The strata of 4 more primitive cultures would need to be penetrated and explored before, if possible, reaching the strata of Pretech at the bottom of BIZES history. Who knew there what treasures, resources, secrets, or capabilities hid themselves there? Two things were certain:
    
    Hiding such an operation would not be easy, and crossing paths with the PERPETUAL ANCESTRY was almost assured... (SCENE)

 

[Beckoncall]

Heyitsjiwon :

The water caste held true to their names -- following the money by path of least resistance, they mapped the trade hub of BERG like blood cells working the ciculatory system of a living being. Capturing organs of the global economy and beyond, scouring for germs of opposition and rushing beats of prosperity to systems that recognized to go against the Tau was to take losses to financial health, and to stave of this lifeblood any who would fight back. Once the secret heart of the Stryxis trade network was tired and starved, the webway was employed to flood the markets and cut the strixis heart out and replace it with the fairness, and implied threats to any that would stop the new order -- and by the time the Task force diplomats were done -- THEY rebuilt and rebirthed a new heart to pump the blood of stellar trade. Their assets and talents leveraged to the full. Old rivalries were allowed to burn each other out, and any new allies to be had were subtly turned to guarantee Tau dominance. Fear of the situation on Clysine lead to fire-sales that built a crushing momentum over the Fiscal affairs of Berg. The Stryxis tried to hold onto power, and really they had some good cards to play -- but the game was decided from the Tau's opening move -- and the rogue traders could see the writing on the wall. With their coopration the planet BERG fell to the Tau in less than two weeks. And once trade was under Tau control, it was only a project of months to ensure that every other facet of BERG life and culture would be under their control as well. Now THIS was an ACQUISITION!

Rogue Trader Fleet Allies with Kessan forces. These ships can be used to generate wealth each turn (of which some is paid to the Tau and by extension Kessan)
OR
Kessan may call up to 1 Cruiser and 4 escorts (Imperium classes) to serve as back-line support in any stellar warfare.
PLANET BERG FALLS TO THE TAU (Kessan) -- Other Tau interests on Berg will gain a one-time profit from this turn of Events and 1 Victory Point. (must have had turn 1 or 2 actions or scenes relating to Berg) Kessan gains FOUR Victory Points, or 0-2 if Berg is crippled or compromised by the enslavers.
The Stryxis Dominate in BERG is now HOMELESS. Other players may seek to adopt this entity to gain auxillaries and/or trade/intelligence capabilities in the sector. If nobody competes, Kent Naseur will gain them by handwave.

Kessan has a choice of what cream to skim from the top of the trade hub of BERG: (CHOOSE ONE ONLY!)
1) 1d4 (min of 2) special materials in modest to generous quantity depending on rarity,
2) SIXTEEN wealth points,
3) 3 Additonal VP (share the profits with the Merchant fleet and the BERG trade hub itself,
4) A new Escort or smaller class ship of Tau or Imperium make, fully gunned and crewed online immediately.
Action 1: TBD (Will likely be used to either support the above action or support another player)

(to be discussed on discord)

Action 2: Given recent events, Shas'el Kessan undergoes serious medical intervention and treatment. However, given the recent incident, high importance is placed on being able to combat powerful psykers. Thus, Kessan, his bodyguards, Cochrane's Militia, and the Nicassar auxilliaries begin conditioning to be able to better resist psyker abilities. They all had to master the Emptiness of Mind, a Nicassar practice used to protect against Psykers through the Fire Caste method of meditation. In addition, fellow fire caste cadres in the Sector are invited to participate in this conditioning/training session given the recent increase in psyker wielding foes within the Sector, notably the Enslavers and the Sorceror. These enemies must be slain and the Greater Good cannot be twisted by their diabolical ways. One heart and mind had to stay clear and resolute at this troubling times, and the Fire Caste had long practiced meditation to make sure that their inner flames do not consume them completely.

PSYKER NULL TRAINING:

Shas'el Kaisa, Fire Caste Commander
+ 2 Bodyguards

Shas'el Eldi, Fire Caste Commander
+ 2 Bodyguards

+any interested parties willing paying 1 wealth or requesting Tau Trade Fleet Subsidies, may gain the descriptor [Psyker Null] to their character and any Crisis Suit Heroes.
+any interested parties willing to pay 2 wealth (or requesting the same subsidies) may have the above AND one auxillary and tau task force given the psyker null descriptor.

(Players have until the end of turn 3 to take advantage of this opportunity) -- does not cost an action if paid for with wealth, costs an action if paid for with subsidies (Only possible if you didn't already pay your line of credit to Kent Naseur this turn.)

SCENE FLEXIBLE: Intervention against Enslavers, Comms with key players on BERG, or mini-encounters on 1-2 orbital points of interest are all viable options.

 

[Beckoncall]

mausedpotatos :

Cassyon scanned the empty sectors around the exiles and the black hole... it mattered not to the Hereteks how the Tau did things... they did things their own way. No planets, stars or orbital bodies were found in the void they scanned, but they did find plenty of debris... Strange. The triangulation scans found the most valuable concentrations and gathered in 0604.

Cassyon gains 1d6+2 wealth from a veritable sea of shattered shipwrecks. roll 2d8 and report to GM in discord results. A space monster or space hulk are likely responsible!
1: Triangulation) Black Hole Tqh879 is used to scan the sectors between the Exiles and Pero. If the scan is done in a radius, all the better.

Between 0703 and 0706 were two Cruiser Class vessels (on the lower tech side) called "Juggers" -- they ran in an endless funnicular back and forth with would be dissedents and new exiles sent to Ambeeha in 0706 and the products of labor on Ambeeha (processed goods and metals) were taken back to Prope in a circular trade route. It was important to learn that Cerebrus Extra had these ships at it's disposal, but in their present employment they were open to being ambushed or hit hard and fast... it seemed evident for decades if not centuries these courses had been safely executed without incident, and discipline and readilness for attack were as low as one might expect.

2: Search) According to the Tqh879 scan results, the ship goes out in search of things to use against the AI.

See Above:
1) The source of the hulks.... friend or foe?
2) weakness in cruiser readiness between prope and ambeeha. this supply chain is vital to the established order, and disruption would unbalance CE's control on Prope.


Extra (Research): Research Barbashov 8's situation involving Beta Grove. The manta's crew again attempts to understand the orbital ruin of Barbashov 8. This time, instead of fire caste soldiers, steadfast applications of science are undertaken. One-time scanners are sent, analyzers are attached to the orbitals hull, drones flit around sneakily for data, and so on. All precautions are taken to avoid bringing contaigon anywhere onboard. Ideally, the contaigon can be fixed, trimorphs tamed, or the orbital cleansed pending re-settling.
(Doubled black hole bonus)

SCENE: "Audience with the trimorphs, grievance with the machine-mother" much is learned about CE and it's relation to the trimorphs. The trimorphs see Cerebrus Extra as a goddess, but a cruel one that cast them out of paradise, even though they did their desired labor (the slaughter of the exile population center) -- they have since been developing their own culture and biotechnology, but relations between the Fire warriors and the Trimorphs went VERY poorly. After considerable difficulty they have recognized PROBES as semi-divine beings akin to their creator, and will talk to the Tau through them....

 

[Beckoncall]

LucasGhost : Va'icada

Probe Report 0709
(Review of Important antagonists on BIZES)
1) THE PERPETUAL ANCESTRY: These guys were DANGEROUS. A Cabal of Assassins each forged and proven by adventuring to the deepest strata of the planet's tech, this outfit of pretech-laden assassins removed any threats, obvious or obscured, from the system of order on BIZES. Their loyalty seemed absolute, their powers intimidating, Their creed did not even honor the Tyrant as their leader, for only members could order another member of the order, but maintaining the status quo of BIZES seemed their sacred charge, with the Tyrant being the easiest and readiest tool to accomplish this. Order meant only the few would step out of line, which it was surprising to discover happened quite often, Va'icada found. However the assassins were spectacular in the identification and assassination of most organizers and saboteurs, many even only as they began their lives anew from the eye of Beliar. A by-product of thier discovery were the identification of various "Secret Societies" that hid themselves from the Perpetual Ancestry... none which formented rebellion actively, but all who hoped for change and grew and maintained waiting for a day the Tyranny would falter... by finding the blindspots in the perpetual ancestry, there was a veritable MAP of potential dissent on the planet... if only they could keep it hidden...

2) Judge Oolatek: This bloody-handed judge nested in a computerized servitor-filled pit and perpetually loomed in judgement of every soul on BIZES. All workers feared and respected this figure, or at least pretended to. For any rebellion to ferment or catch fire -- Oolatek would have to die.

3) High Overseer Ilurum -- A mortal turned monster, and a monster turned into a network of survellence and spying. Nothing took place on BIZES, even the movements of the secret societies, without her knowledge and consent. Ilurum allowed a certain amount of counter-culture and dissent in a beautiful alchemy that maintained the status quo and kept such threats to the Tyrant rather docile and Benign. Illurum would need to be turned, or burned, if Va'icada was to free these people.

Elaboration:


Points of Interest

• Maltech engine fueled by human life -- those dying in the strata mines have their essence siphoned to produce anagathic drugs for the nobility.
• Priceless treasure held by a now dead owner -- The most famous "Tech Tomb" called "Pyramid of the Argent King" -- this place was discovered long ago, but has not been looted/exploited because of the "Spirit-infused Constructs" that protect the pyramid for their long=gone master's afterlife.

Places:

• Thronging execution ground
• Extremely cursory cemetery

Enemies:

• Debauched autocrat
• Sneering bully-boy
• Soulless government official
• Occupying army officer

Friends:

• Conspiring rebel
• Oppressed merchant
• Desperate peasant
• Inspiring religious leader
• Escapee from death seeking outside help
• Noble Reformer trying to change local mores

Complications:

• The tyrant rules with vastly superior technology
• The tyrant is a figurehead for a cabal of powerful men and women
• The people are resigned to their suffering
  
  Probe REPORT: SENOS

Enemies:

• Amoral mercenary leader
• Rich offworlder trying to buy rule of the world
• Mercenary press gang chief forcing locals into service

Friends:

• Young and idealistic mercenary chief
• Harried leader of enfeebled national army
• Offworlder trying to hire help for a noble cause

Complications:

• The mercenaries are all that stand between the locals and a hungry imperial power
• The mercenaries are remnants of a former official army
• The mercenaries hardly ever actually fight as compared to taking bribes to walk away

Things:

• Lost mercenary payroll shipment
• Forbidden military tech
• Proof of a band's impending treachery against their employers

Places:

• Shabby camp of undisciplined mercs
• Burnt-out village occupied by mercenaries
• Luxurious and exceedingly well-defended merc leader villa
  
  
  
  
• Action 1:Scan subsector Anton, around the planet Senos. We are searching for 'Olenek 7,' and anything that could contain a vault, as per the wisdom from the skull.
  
  Olenek 7 Space station located, numerous vaults contained theirin. Apparently the First (and most advanced) civilization on Senos built grand tombs for the dead -- Olenek 7 was the last and greatest of these tombs, actually built in space. After it's construction, it appears this first culture vanished or fell into rapid decline.
  
  Action 2: Khorek and Va'icada will assemble the troops and embark to search for vault 429, if it can be located.
  
  Vault Iocated and isolated, but reaching the station might be complicated by Enoulians on SENOS.
  
  
  Potential Scenes: Exploration of Olenek 7, Excavation of the Tomb of Argent Kings, Comms with above mentioned parties on BIZES or SENOS
  
  BONUS Action: Consult with the skull on what is discovered, and prod its mind for next steps in restoring what was lost.
  
  (dice rolled in discord to see if skull talks, shares further info after above scene)
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

[Beckoncall]

Cosmo Kaisa


Current Location
601

Movement
Kaisa and 2 bodyguards will be using the warpgate to travel to Kessan [Jiwon] to train before returning through the gate to resume their operations in sector 601 [also handing Kessan the bio-bomb encase he needs it for the Enslavers]

Done without incident.

Scanning
Sending probe to 402
[Has Scanners++ due to Koko]

BZZZZt.... Crrkkkk -- PROBE INTERFERENCE -- Alert! -- KKKKKKKKzz Uploading before Internal burn Alert!
"Welcome to Frane Heligar, Outsider. BZzt -- Second planet of the Helga System. We welcome the Tau and are open to Trade -- ..."

"TREMBLE MORTALS! YOU HAVE HAPPENED UPON THE DEMON HELLWORLD Dadecegoneur! Cry for we will trace your probe's signals and Find and DESTROY YOU!"

"Alert Alert! System has fallen to chaos. This is Kzinti Partisan Aslani, I am warping from this system to escape into Tau refugee status. My Trade and Bankship are at the Tau's Disposal, if you will only give me bearings to the nearest Tau installation or system. The HELGA system has gone mad! The Knights -- KKKKKzzzt!"

The probe sends several still pictures of the system... a small cold sun, a burning world crackling with warp energy and curling fires, and another populace T4 world seemingly occupied by a Feline species known as the Kzinti... and a quick glipse of a GIANT chaos battleship, before the probe is struck with a missile and destroyed.


Action 1
Kaisa will order his Manta to scan the debris from the destruction of the planet and relay that information to his fellows so they can avoid expiring in the planet's death throes. Naseur [Kent] is doing something similar with his station, but this is to ensure we all survive. If this action ends up not being needed, he will instead try to scan for some choice bits of the planet and collect them [precious metals and other such things given priority]. Kaisa, if applicable, will use his arm to attempt to aid in this process [Has comms setup, BLACK IC, orbital designator]

With Naseur's debris tragectory solutions, The Manta is somehow spared the devastating storm that is the explosion of Mermagos -- without this help, it is doubtful the Manta could have navigated undamaged, or perhaps even survived. Instead, Kaisa's Manta picks through dust from the planets core surrounded by blobs of floating molten mantle filled with valuable radioactives. (1d8 wealth is discovered, and 1d2 special materials to be determined on discord)

Action 2
Kaisa's Manta will collect the special bomb being constructed by TH33D [Trektek] and fire it at the Sorcerer's old prison within the gas giant to destroy it and hopefully slow down his daemonic reinforcements. If possible, the scanners of Naseur's [Kent's] station will be used to boost firing solution to ensure connection. [If TH33D fails, just Manta strike it and hope for the best]

(Battle against Sorceror will be handled on Discord)



Bonus Action [Fire Caste]
Kaisa orders the boarding of the Station to deal with the Sorcerer.. He cannot be allowed to live, this system, this sector, will join the Greater Good.


SCENE: infantry action against the sorceror.