Quest Deep Periphery Quest (Battletech Sandbox Empire Builder)

[Lightwhispers]

[X] Physics

[X] "Report on internal and external defense systems."
-[X] "Jake, we're having a Talk. Later." Deploy Mom Voice.

 

[Joyousmadman]

[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"
[X] Mechanical Engineering

 

[CurtisLemay]

[X] "Jake...start talking...because your career depends on it. And start from the beginning, the VERY beginning..." while Queen Jackie pulls up a chair, props up her legs on the table and asks someone to get her some strong whiskey. It's going to be one of those days...

[X] Mechanical Engineering, or Battlemech Engineering (if there is such a major?)

 

[Jarow]

Okay, I like this one, so jumping in
[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"

As for degree, lets cross off the ones I think are probably useless...
--[] Economics
--[] Political Science
--[] Journalism
--[] Law
--[] Medical School
--[] Science
---[] Physics
---[] Chemistry
---[] Archaeology
---[] Astronomy
---[] Computer Science
--[] Engineering
---[] Mechanical Engineering
---[] Chemical Engineering
---[] Electrical Engineering
---[] Computer Engineering
---[] Civil Engineering
Huh, most of those are actually potentially useful. Okay, economics is great, but Alita's doing that for him. With that off the table,
-political science/law is slightly different applications of things he's probably been taught the monarch's role in
-medical is definitely something he could grow interested in from the fairly recent attack
-physics/chemistry both have significant research usage, though I think the first would be the better of the two for getting involved in our research departments
-computer science just got really interesting
-astronomy might become significant when we get to jumpships, but we're not really there yet
--new idea of KF theory could be interesting, but not sure how reasonable that would be
-all engineering has vast applications in research and national buildup. Mechanical is more broad for getting an overview of everything else in the field, but that's not to say anything else doesn't have applications

Looking at what he's displayed interests in in the past, and my best guesses at mechanics behind things (honestly, little idea here, but a few guesses), I'm going with
[X] Mechanical Engineering

 

[PeaceMaker 03]

[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"
[X] Mechanical Engineering, minor Political Science or psychology to help be a better ruler for his people.

 

[Thors_Alumni]

[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"
[X] Mechanical Engineering

 

[Decim]

[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"
[X] Mechanical Engineering

 

[ShadowArxxy]

Omake: Well Secluded, I See All


Combat Information Center - 331 Command Post

"There we go, Ma'am. We've translated all of our compiled tactical data to SLDF protocols and uplinked it."

"Thank you. Ah, computer, do you have a name?"

"Unit is 'CASPAR Command And Control System'." The AI's voice wasn't completely inflectionless, but its inflections were unambiguously synthetic. And it could somehow distinctly pronounce quotation marks.

"CASPAR, do you have a preferred nickname?"

"Parameter [Nickname] Not Configured. Would you like to configure Parameter [Nickname]?" CASPAR could also prounounce brackets. A couple of the Royal Guard infantrymen were starting to look nervous, clearly pondering the fact that CASPAR could probably turn on the automated defenses whenever she felt like it. Sergeant Ngo firmly ushered them outside.

"Yes please."

"Please input Parameter [Nickname]."

"Hang on a second."

"Parameter [Nickname] set to 'Hang on a second'. Please confirm Parameter [Nickname]."

"What, no!"

"Input cancelled. Please input Parameter [Nickname]."

"Uhhh, Sara."

"Parameter [Nickname] set to 'Sarah'. Please confirm Parameter [Nickname]."

"Confirmed."

"Parameter [Nickname] conformed. CASPAR Command And Control System will respond to 'Sarah'."

"Sarah, please display location and ID information on all currently tracked Combine units."

The center of the CIC lights up with a massive full-color, open-air holographic display tank of startling resolution, providing a visual overview of all the tactical information you'd patched together over the previous years. . . and a lot more.

-----

Griffin IV:

    Aqueduct class DropShip "Kayo-maru" (Landed, Active, Full Fuel Load)

    Buccaneer class Dropship (Landed, Shut Down)

    Mule class DropShip 4502 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #1 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #2 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #3 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #4 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #5 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #6 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #7 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard CV class DropShip #8 (Landed, Standby)

    Leopard-CV class DropShip #9 (Landed, Standby)

    102 Saber class AeroSpace Fighter (Landed, 48 Shut Down, 54 Standby)

System Space

    Tramp class JumpShip "Aichi-Maru" (Fully Charged)

    Mule class DropShip 2697 (Boosting to JumpShip)


Sector Space

    Star Lord class JumpShip

    Scout class JumpShip

    Merchant class JumpShip

    Invader class JumpShip

    Behemoth class DropShip

    Condor class DropShip

    Union-CV class DropShip

    Union class DropShip

"HOLY. SHIT." comments Sergeant Ngo succinctly.

"Wait, a Star Lord class JumpShip?" The Queen frowns. "Where did that come from? We didn't see a Star Lord during any of the known attacks."

"On 28 Feburary 2929, Star Lord class JumpShip entered system at zenith point, carrying six Mule-class DropShips. No DropShips were deployed and the JumpShip departed system upon reaching full charge."

"Fuck, it's confirmed then. They have a Star Lord."

"Negative. Star Lord class JumpShip transmitted unknown IFF signature. All DCMS JumpShips and DropShips have transmitted DCMS IFF signature."

"Oh." The Queen frowned. "28 February 2929 was right before the attack."

The holotank abruptly blinked, planets shifting in their orbits.

"On 7 March 2929, Tramp class JumpShip "Aichi-Maru" entered system at nadir point, carrying Gazelle class DropShip, Leopard class DropShip, Triumph class DropShip. All DropShips deployed and boosted to Griffin III. None returned. JumpShip "Aichi-Maru" departed system upon reaching full charge."

Sergeant Ngo blinked. "HOLY. SHIT."

 

[IceWing_mk1]

[X] Political Science
[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"

 

[Tel Janin Aman]

On 7 March 2929, Tramp class JumpShip "Aichi-Maru" entered system at nadir point, carrying Gazelle class DropShip, Leopard class DropShip, Triumph class DropShip. All DropShips deployed and boosted to Griffin III. None returned. JumpShip "Aichi-Maru" departed system upon reaching full charge."

I'm confused fam, what does this mean?

 

[ShadowArxxy]

I'm confused fam, what does this mean?

That is the attack from the very start of the Quest, the one that killed our parents and put us on the throne. Sarah has been here for centuries, she recorded everything, and she pulled up her records of the attack when we verbally referenced it.

It also means Sarah can literally read the name off of ships at interplanetary ranges, if it happens to be painted on the hull.

 

[Wageslave]

I'm very much *not* keen on forcing our kids to do what *we* want them to learn. Let them have the freedom to choose what they want, but gently guide them away from Periphery Studies...

[X] "Kid, this is your biggest decision of your life. YOU get to make it. Not me."
-[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"

 

[kelgar04]

[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"
[X] Mechanical Engineering

 

[ShadowArxxy]

Omake: Something Wicked This Way. . .

Enlisted Mess - 331 Command Post

Several hours into the Queen's conversation with the Star League era AI that apparently ran this entire place, Sergeant Ngo stuck her head out of the command post and rotated the on-duty squad of Royal Guard infantry with the second squad that had been brought along but stood down.

Naturally, the now off-duty infantry troopers gravitated towards their 'natural habitat' in the comfortable if dusty enlisted mess clearly marked on the facility maps. Shortly thereafter, they discovered a sealed pallet. Increasingly energetic attempts to pry the pallet open all failed until someone found a neatly labelled "release" tab. At that point, a hermetic seal audibly popped and the pallet neatly hinged open on hidden seams, revealing a rather clever grid of internal seperators holding stacks of rectangular MRE pouches.

"Huh. 'Meal-Ready-To-Eat, Individual. Menu FFF, Lot Production Date 2765'. These look just like ours, 'cept marked Star League Defense Force. Oh, and no expiration date."

No expiration date (and the continued absence of Sgt. Ngo) proved an irresistible lure for the young troopers, who soon dared each other into discovering the first notable feature of genuine Star League Defense Force field rations.

"THE GODDAMN THING WON'T TEAR!"

A pocketknife failed to cut the remarkably durable outer pouch, and a formidable-looking combat knife proved equally ineffective. Admitting a temporary defeat and actually reading the packaging revealed an "Open Here" notch along one side of the pouch which perfectly matched the hilt of a Mauser 960 vibro-bayonet.

Upon being slit open with that instrument, the MRE emitted a loud POP! and a sharp HISS!, followed by an inner tray much like that of a TV dinner sliding out with a hot, freshly cooked burger and fries as its centerpiece and a vislbly cold pouch of soda pop on the side.

The first-dared private looked at the package, then back at the burger, and suddenly something clicked. "HOLY SHIT, GUYS. IT'S A TRIPLE-F BURGER."

----

Thus was rediscovered the most important piece of LosTech in the entire history of the Star League: MREs that were actually meals, actually ready, and actually good to eat.

 

[Vilegrave]

[X] "Jake, I believe you'll be briefing me on previously undisclosed material facts?"
[X] Mechanical Engineering

"On 28 Feburary 2929, Star Lord class JumpShip entered system at zenith point, carrying six Mule-class DropShips. No DropShips were deployed and the JumpShip departed system upon reaching full charge."

I'm really curious who those 6 Mules belong to now, random traders or other Wolverine descendents just checking up on the planet?

 

[kelgar04]

Thus was rediscovered the most important piece of LosTech in the entire history of the Star League: MREs that were actually meals, actually ready, and actually good to eat

There is no such thing!

 

[Joyousmadman]

Thus was rediscovered the most important piece of LosTech in the entire history of the Star League: MREs that were actually meals, actually ready, and actually good to eat.

There is no such thing!

I agree, this is black magic out the highest order

 

[ShadowArxxy]

There is no such thing!

@LordSunhawk stated in voice chat that even after all this time, Star League MREs would taste like MREs crafted by a master chef, ie. actually delicious, and that *all* of them would be good, not just certain lucky flavors. He was also the one who came up with the idea that they'd have automatically triggerd self-heating and self-cooling and that they were made to be opened by the Mauser vibro bayonet.

I simply dramatized from there.

I agree, this is black magic out the highest order

That is exactly why I titled the omake something wicked.

I'm really curious who those 6 Mules belong to now, random traders or other Wolverine descendents just checking up on the planet?

I would say the major clue we have at this point is that Sarah stated that they transmitted an unknown IFF. That means they *were* transmitting an IFF handshake in the standard format, but it wasn't an IFF identity listed in her databases. So it wasn't the DCMF (considering the DCMF have all been transmitting their IFF the whole time) and it wasn't anyone black ops (they'd have IFF turned off or running a false identity).

 

[Thors_Alumni]

I would say the major clue we have at this point is that Sarah stated that they transmitted an unknown IFF. That means they *were* transmitting an IFF handshake in the standard format, but it wasn't an IFF identity listed in her databases. So it wasn't the DCMF (considering the DCMF have all been transmitting their IFF the whole time) and it wasn't anyone black ops (they'd have IFF turned off or running a false identity).

Since Sara has the IFF for the DCMF then she would probably rule out the other houses as well. She also would have recognized a Wolverines IFF so that rules them out. And it would also rule out the rest of the Clans. So its either scavengers, Comstar, Or a group of civies fleeing the succession wars. And now I am positive that we need to head to the Polish planet since they may have headed there. Moving on, there really isn't many options for who the unknown IFF belonged too. Its probably going to remain an unsolved mystery.

 

[ShadowArxxy]

Omake: Your Friendly Neighborhood Panopticon

Given the sheer breadth of information she had provided the Queen, Sarah was rather quickly set up with a carefully vetted team of duly authorized operatives.

"We totally should have worn the catsuits."

"We're talking to Sarah. That is not a sneak operation."

"Everything's a sneak operation!"

"Sigh. Why do I put up with you again?"

"Because I'm cooler than all your other associates."

"You are currently my only associate."

"My point stands!"

"Can we actually do our job now? Hello, Sarah....hello?"

"..."

"Yo, Sarah!"

"..."

"Congratulations, you broke the Star League AI." Michele shot a nervous glance in the direction of the internal defense console, which remained visibly set to "Standby".

"You worry too much. The console says she's fine, she's just. . . ignoring us?"

"You are sneaking. Counter-counter-surveillance systems are not active."

"We are *not* sneaking."

"Acknowledged."

-----

"I wonder what that Drac commander thought when he realized all the dropper choppers were coming for him."

"Activating surveillance protocol <The Star League Sees All>."

"YOU CAN DO THAT?!?!?!?"

"Negative. Surveillance protocol <The Star League Sees All> is a pre-recorded file."

"Oh." Jane blinked, then smirked. "Are there death rays?"

"External Defense Stations include ER Large Lasers. Internal Defense Stations include Antipersonnell Pulse Lasers and Support Pulse Lasers. Internal Defense Stations activating on <Demonstration Mode>."

No less than *eight* turrets slid smoothly out of concealed floor and ceiling hatches in the CIC, each sporting what appeared to be twin rifle-grade pulse lasers coupled with a semi-portable PPC. The turrets swung smoothly through their entire elevation and training range, then retracted.

"Jane, please do not ask Sarah to show us her death rays. Sarah, please do not point your death rays at us, training mode or not." Michelle was definitely using Mom Voice again.

Sergeant Ngo poked her head into the room, munching on a Triple-F burger. "You asked her about death rays, didn't you? You owe the supply vehicle crews a round of drinks. The internal turrets in the main access corridor are freakin' quad Small Pulse Lasers."