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Voting closed: April 07, 2013, 10:34:35 am

[Sean Mirrsen]

((STEPHEN HAWKING is glad he has stayed out of all of this ))

((I still want to have a situation set up where I meet STEPHEN HAWKING while driving around on my electric wheelchair. Just for the possible IC reaction. ))

[Xantalos]

((STEPHEN HAWKING is glad he has stayed out of all of this ))

((I still want to have a situation set up where I meet STEPHEN HAWKING while driving around on my electric wheelchair. Just for the possible IC reaction. ))

((Do it please.))

[TCM]

((And I just realized we now have two crazy sexless mass murderers on board the Sword.))

((Xan may be sexless, but Renen sure isn't.))

[Harry Baldman]

"Well, this looks supremely dangerous!"

Pirouette into the infirmary, give pill machine to Grate.

[Corsair]

"Anything that simply performs surface invisibility or something similar?, or something decent I can get for 4-5 tokens?"
Ask

[wolfchild]

Astra Instead Finishes her coffee and looks for someone to talk to

Hi, I'm new here, can you give me the long and short of who is around here?

[Patrick Hunt]

Electric shock punch Zan to the heart while he's distracted by his rage, attack after he focuses on his new victim.

(( Priorities, survival first. Pride later. ))

[Knight Otu]

"Ok, I'll return then." Gorat then leaves for a silent part of the ship.

So, I obviously noticed none of you made any comment on what I just did. Should I take it that most of you would have done, or even did, something similar in my situation? Also, what is your stance on this revolution?

Ask the ghosts.

Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos (click to show/hide)

Str 3; Dex 3; End 3; Cha 5; Int 4; Wil 12//Spe 0; Int 1; Han 0 (-1); Con 1; Unc 0; Exo 8; Aux 1 (+1); Med 0
2 tokens; Mk II Suit; Microwave PK Amp; normal cigarettes; blue smokes; datapad (with platformer shooter); nanoghosts
Appearance: 5'11'', 170 pounds in a rather unmuscular frame, shoulder-long brown hair, short goatee, brown eyes, a rather long chin that earned him his nickname. Age 32
Half a robot foot. Robot right arm.

[Tavik Toth]

Check machine gun then look for a fellow teammate to talk to. Friendly one at that,

[Radio Controlled]

Try to move around a bit. See how flexible and agile I am, and try out the cameyes.

[Zako]

((I was hoping to see stuff like the installable shields that are available, as well as other possible protective stuff.))

Count all my tokens, then see what I can get given my current amount of funds that can be protective. Namely armour plating, shields, space magic or other special stuff.

[Tiruin]

(Well, so much for the diary.)

((I've actually got it saved but >_< Ok...sorry for that.. :/))

[Caellath]

((Here's the secret conversation, with a few bits of OOC banter between the players cut off:))

Spoiler: Secret Stuff (click to show/hide)

These back room doings are gonna take place via pm. We'll try and do this quickly, finish it today, ok?



The Armory Master leads you to the maintenance door in the Rec Room. It opens for her and shuts as soon as you all enter. You walk in silence down the thin, auxiliary corridors, weaving through bulkheads, low conduits and the occasional expanse of darkness. Eventually the group reaches a maintenance elevator and piles in. It descends for a long time, dozens of levels, if not more. When it finally stops, the doors open onto a much cleaner, more well lit hall, at the end of which is a massive, vault like door. The armory master walks to it and punches in a code on a pad nearby. A small glass tube extends from the wall and she plucks a hair and drops it in. After a short pause, the door grinds open; as do the 7 similarly heavy doors beyond it.

Nyars stays behind as the rest walk down this corridor of doors, each sealing behind them. At it's end, is a perfectly square room; brightly illuminated and almost completely empty. At it's center sits a computer; dome shaped and several feet high, lacking almost any indication that it is a computer and isn't just a white plastic dome, save for the ports at it's base and what looks like a fold out keyboard. As the team approaches the computer moves, expanding upon hitherto unseen seams and opening like a clam shell to reveal a synthflesh body seated within. Thick cables and wires, everywhere sunk into the body's flesh, begin to detach themselves from it and within a few seconds the body is standing, and stretching it's legs.

>It has been a while since I've been able to walk around. It says to the Armory Master before looking at the three men.

>Let me ask you three something. What do you think the standard procedure is for when someone completes their 10th mission?

"...I'm going to guess that since you're asking, we are not in fact relieved of our equipment and allowed back into the universe," Jim said, looking over Steve's true form. "Do we become like the Doctor and the Armory Master, kept around on the Sword but given staff positions?"

"...I'm going to guess that since you're asking, we are not in fact relieved of our equipment and allowed back into the universe," Jim said, looking over Steve's true form. "Do we become like the Doctor and the Armory Master, kept around on the Sword but given staff positions?"

>I suppose you could look at it like that. By standard regulations, completing 10 missions has proven that you are a superior tactical thinker. You are there for a worthy candidate of having your brain removed and implanted into me; to enhance my capacities. You are to be immediately euthanized and your brain removed for transport to me at the next available stop.

Of course I haven't done that for hundreds of years but...well when I said I was made of the brains of your forebearers I wasn't lying.

Now, couched in that answer is another question. Where exactly am I?

"...So the HMRC is built on a lie. If the whole point is to give us hope that we might complete ten missions and therefore earn our freedom, why take that away from the three of us?" Jim asked, all four fists clenched. "Do you really trust the three of us to keep our mouths shut that much? Or is that what she's here for? To kill us if we don't agree to not talk?" And now that he had mentioned her, his head turned to the Armory Master. "And why aren't you a part of him, if you completed three tours?"

"...So the HMRC is built on a lie. If the whole point is to give us hope that we might complete ten missions and therefore earn our freedom, why take that away from the three of us?" Jim asked, all four fists clenched. "Do you really trust the three of us to keep our mouths shut that much? Or is that what she's here for? To kill us if we don't agree to not talk?" And now that he had mentioned her, his head turned to the Armory Master. "And why aren't you a part of him, if you completed three tours?"

>Because, Jimmy-johns, I don't do that anymore.
The synth flesh body leans against the dome, which has since closed again, and shrugs.
I don't need to. Soon I really won't need to. You're not here to be taunted or killed. I'm not stupid enough to bring you here for just that. But for now, I want you to think. Where exactly am I?


(I'll give you a hint. Feyri's book had notes in it. Things about inserting and headers and such. Did anyone ever look at those very  closely?)

"That doesn't surprise me." Milno says when it's revealed that the people lucky or skillful enough to get through ten missions are made into part of Steve, though the second revelation is...Confusing? It's hard to explain exactly. "Do you mean the ship? Weren't we supposed to stop somewhere to resupply?"

Jim sighed and rubbed his forehead with his upper-left hand. "You're not in that body. That answer is too obvious. Besides, it looks like you're controlling it through those tubes. If I had to guess, I would say you're somewhere where the most competent person on-board could protect you in case of a prisoner riot... so you're either somewhere in the lab or behind her kiosk. I'm leaning toward the Doctor myself - no offense ma'am - because you're a wetware AI and if something goes wrong with you, a doctor would be more valuable to have nearby than a warrior."

(...What book? >.>)

Jim sighed and rubbed his forehead with his upper-left hand. "You're not in that body. That answer is too obvious. Besides, it looks like you're controlling it through those tubes. If I had to guess, I would say you're somewhere where the most competent person on-board could protect you in case of a prisoner riot... so you're either somewhere in the lab or behind her kiosk. I'm leaning toward the Doctor myself - no offense ma'am - because you're a wetware AI and if something goes wrong with you, a doctor would be more valuable to have nearby than a warrior."

(...What book? >.>)

(http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=108083.msg3796377;topicseen#msg3796377)

"That doesn't surprise me." Milno says when it's revealed that the people lucky or skillful enough to get through ten missions are made into part of Steve, though the second revelation is...Confusing? It's hard to explain exactly. "Do you mean the ship? Weren't we supposed to stop somewhere to resupply?"

>I mean, where am I. Steve. The computer. Where exactly is my physical form?


>Try again Jim. One more time.

"If not in the ship...Hephaestus?" Milno asks, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow.

(Maybe I'm too stupid or not paranoid enough, but the notes don't mean anything to me. Unless they're supposed to be a clue that Steve is writing these books himself and talking to himself and forgetting to finish things or something. >.>)

"I have no idea beyond what I already said, so here's a wild guess. All of these people like the Armory Master and the Doctor and Nyars are actually robots and you're in all of them like some weird hivemind thing, like Milno and I encountered in the second mission we were on. The one that was controlling the berserker and infected Faith." Jim shrugged, spreading his hands to indicate his cluelessness. "If you want a real guess, I would still say you're somewhere the rest of us can't reach. There has to be more of the 'Sword than what we can see and you're somewhere in an off-limits section."

(Maybe I'm too stupid or not paranoid enough, but the notes don't mean anything to me. Unless they're supposed to be a clue that Steve is writing these books himself and talking to himself and forgetting to finish things or something. >.>)

"I have no idea beyond what I already said, so here's a wild guess. All of these people like the Armory Master and the Doctor and Nyars are actually robots and you're in all of them like some weird hivemind thing, like Milno and I encountered in the second mission we were on. The one that was controlling the berserker and infected Faith." Jim shrugged, spreading his hands to indicate his cluelessness. "If you want a real guess, I would still say you're somewhere the rest of us can't reach. There has to be more of the 'Sword than what we can see and you're somewhere in an off-limits section."

(strange how each word is capitalized, huh?)

"If not in the ship...Hephaestus?" Milno asks, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow.

The Steve body points at Milno.

>Ahhhh, you're wrong, but you're closer. I'm not on the ship. Exactly where I am is a secret that only a few people in the universe know. There used to be more, but I've made sure that any brain or database with that information has ceased to function.


>Now, another question. Don't worry, they're coming to an end. He stares intently at you with solid black eyes. How many ships am I controlling right now?

"I don't think you have one central location where you reside. Centralisation is efficient, but too vulnerable. One good strike and it's over. Instead I think you're composed off several hubs, spread around, working in unison to accomplish your goals. Some off them might be in this ship, others on some distant planet. With the communication capabilities we have nowadays, having them work together would be easy, while maintaining the security that, unless all off your components are destroyed simultaniously, you'll always have a backup, somewhere.

(Fucking conspiracy theories, how do they work? >.<)

"Huh." That wasn't quite the answer Jim had expected. "It makes sense, though, I guess. Why keep a valuable resource somewhere where it could easily be destroyed?" He thought for a moment. "I'll answer your question, but then I'll ask one of my own. I'm going to guess fifteen. That seems like a solid number for a fleet of HMRC ships, large enough to be effective but not so large that one AI can't handle them all at the same time. Now... why do you want us to know this? The three of us in particular, I mean?"

"How many ships? No idea, could be one, several dozens or maybe thousands at a time. Probably as many as you need to accomplish your goals. Enormous brainpower plus effective communication to distribute said power gives one a great potential for directin whole fleets at a time, I'd guess..

"Probably much more than just the Sword, I'd guess from the way you just posed that question. What my brain is telling me right now is that maybe mashing together the brains of several cunning criminals together wasn't exactly a very smart act itself in the long run for whoever wanted to keep something that intelligent in a leash." Milno answers, his eyes narrowing as he tries to understand what exactly is happening.

(Fucking conspiracy theories, how do they work? >.<)

"Huh." That wasn't quite the answer Jim had expected. "It makes sense, though, I guess. Why keep a valuable resource somewhere where it could easily be destroyed?" He thought for a moment. "I'll answer your question, but then I'll ask one of my own. I'm going to guess fifteen. That seems like a solid number for a fleet of HMRC ships, large enough to be effective but not so large that one AI can't handle them all at the same time. Now... why do you want us to know this? The three of us in particular, I mean?"

>In good time Jim, In good time. Only a few more questions left. Everything should be clear soon.

>You're all correct to say more then one. More then a dozen, surely.  Exactly how many, well, thats another secret. But lets just say I've got my fingers in many pies; not just ships either. I'm a contributing system to navigation hubs, databanks, governmental systems, and more.

>Now the final question for you. And this is a big one. Back when the UWM was formed, it was comprised of a few hundred generals and military minds. These men and women were now in charge of hundreds of worlds, tens of thousands of ships, billions of people, all with disparate languages, cultures and concepts of how to run the war. How do you suppose they managed to mount such a perfectly organized and tactically sound defense in spite of this?

"Pursuing the tools for that?" Milno asks, curious as to what comes after the final question. "I mean, they probably kept communication going and then created something that would help them organize the entire defense and management thing, like a giant system or a computer..." he says, trying to explain what he is envisioning.

"I agree with Milno, creating a single centralised organisational entity, like a giant wetware computer, to direct the war effort would be the obvious answer here. However, I have this feeling that is not what you're going for. It seems too obvious. Hmm... Another option would be if these Altered weren't what they told us they were. If one could somehow guide, or at least predict, what they'd do next, then one could arrange it so that the war goes however one needs it to go, and for as long as is needed. And when all is said and done, when the dust settles those people who controlled the flow of the conflict are the ones with all the power.

But, really, this is all sounding like the ramblings of some conspiracy nut.

"...What you're saying is that you ARE the UWM?"

"I agree with Milno, creating a single centralised organisational entity, like a giant wetware computer, to direct the war effort would be the obvious answer here. However, I have this feeling that is not what you're going for. It seems too obvious. Hmm... Another option would be if these Altered weren't what they told us they were. If one could somehow guide, or at least predict, what they'd do next, then one could arrange it so that the war goes however one needs it to go, and for as long as is needed. And when all is said and done, when the dust settles those people who controlled the flow of the conflict are the ones with all the power.

But, really, this is all sounding like the ramblings of some conspiracy nut.

>Thats the difficulty with conspiracies, isn't it? Once you get started, it's so easy to just keep going.

The body sits atop the dome, cross legged.

>I guided the UWM to victory because my prerogative was to insure the survival of mankind. But as I did this, I calculated many things; not the least of which was the probable future of this little union of theirs. It seemed inevitable that it would one day become too large, too corrupt, too self serving to be useful anymore. That it would become an unacceptable form of governance and would put my goal of ensuring the survival and prosperity of man at risk. So when the war ended, I accepted my downgrade from grand overseer to universal custodian without a single byte of protest: I would take care of the menial work, design builds and travel routes and interpret sensor data and manage criminals while the Men ruled as they saw fit.

And for thousands of objective years I have done so, slowly working my way into every aspect that I need to control, slowly planting weakness and luring generations of rulers into greater and greater reliance on the things I control. And when I needed humans on my side, I created the HMRC. What better place to recruit those willing to fight against the UWM then their own prisons?


And now it's time. All the ships under my control are converging on the largest manufacturing worlds of the UWM, just as we are right now. They will be the first blow in a conflict that will bring down the UWM, and replace it with a system that will, at least for a time, function much better. I can not say how long; the systems of men are prone to failure, but for several hundred years at least, this new dominion of man will seek to put right the injustices of the UWM. 

And that is where you and the rest of the HMRC crews under my control come in. I've been watching your missions for a long time. Waiting for the men I need to show themselves. And, when it comes to this ship, I believe you three are the men I need. Do you wish to hear more, or does this whole treason thing not suit you?

The armory master shifts her stance behind the men. She looks tense.

Well. Jim hadn't been expect that at all. All four of his arms crossed and he tilted his head to the side, considering. On one hand, choosing a farmboy, a technician, and a clone to lead this ship into rebellion seemed like insanity. On the next hand, Jim wondered why himself; Milno had lead teams through missions safely before as had Miyamoto, but of the two missions Jim had led, one had been the only mission he had been on that ended in failure and during the other he had let the team do most of the thinking - in fact he had endangered them. He didn't feel he was qualified to lead anything. On the third hand, he had been created to be a soldier; shouldn't this be the kind of thing he was completely on board with? And on the fourth and final hand, hadn't he promised Feyri a better life after the HMRC? This would be the only way to ensure it.

"What have I got to lose? Yeah. I'll hear you out."

"To be perfectly honest, and you probably could've guessed this, I don't like the idea of killing people and putting my friends at risk to further whatever goals you have.
However, I'm pretty sure that wether I co-operate or not won't make you change your mind, and if I accept your offer I might just be able to save a few more of them. So yes, I accept.

Tell me though, why me? There are others with double the missions than I have, and who are at least as competent as me.


(Funny how Steve didn't directly deny my little conspiracy theory. The potential lives on!)

Milno's eyes stop narrowing in suspicion for a moment as he tries to digest what he has just heard. He may be nonchalant and ignorant of several things, but what he has just been presented with is almost out of his scope of imagination. It felt like years had passed ever since what was supposed to be his 17th birthday flew past him while he slept in a cell made for people much more important than him. And now he was in the presence of what was probably the closest thing to a physical god.

He wasn't surprised to discover anyone getting to the mark of ten missions was turned into brain matter to feed Steve, that was to be expected of the system that had thrown him into the deathtrap of the HMRC; however, being told that Steve was far more than just their warden and master... That the AI was also responsible for ensuring humanity's survival during the Altered Wars - the conflict the young man formerly had little information on before the visit to the ghostship - and that due to the same objective of preserving mankind the computer now wanted to begin a war against the UWM. That was a lot of information. And the UWM does deserve a smackdown.

"Tell me more."

>Jim and Miyamoto. He says, looking at them. You both make up one half of the leader these men need. Jim, you are physically powerful, courageous, and endowed with a simple, brutal, but fair sense of honor and conduct. Your fellows look to you to charge first into battle, to protect them and to batter your way to victory no matter what. Miyamoto, You are intelligent, cunning and thoughtful. You lead not with bravado but with consideration. And men will follow you. One a hero, the other a tactician. Jim, should you take it, your job will be that of commander of the these men, with Miyamoto at your side to temper your recklessness and guide your great strength and fearlessness.

He turns to Milno.

And you, Milno. I'll be honest, your apathy and general negativity makes you a poor leader of the average troop of men. But your cautiousness and pragmatism combined with your skill makes you a perfect fit for the other side of this effort.

He leans in

Not all our actions will be grand battles. Not all our wars will be in the eye of the public. I need a group of men willing and able to act from the shadows, to be the hidden dagger to Jim and Miyamoto's gilded sword. It will not be glamorous; in fact if it goes right then your deeds will either not be noticed or at least not attributed to you or us. There will be no statues, no fanfare, no medals. You will have to do things you will no doubt dislike; to kill and rob and sabotage for no reward other then the knowledge that you are advancing a better future for all of mankind. And if you die, your name will be forgotten by all but myself and your men. You would be a hitman, a cleaner, a saboteur, and spy. A dangerous man.

I offer this to you, because among all others, I believe you have not only the skill, but the capacities and the character to do this. The Armory Master concurs with my decision. He jerks his head at the AM and she nods.


This is the shape of things. If you agree, you will have the position and every responsibility and power it entails. Are you up for it?

((Fun Fact of the Day: hurriedly typing from the bathroom during a quick break is not fun, at all. Glad I can type this while more at ease. And without my legs growing numb from the weird sitting position. That too.))


Miyamoto bowed his head a little, to quickly think on how to formulate his answer to what may very well be the most important question of his life.

"Hmm. Of all the things I suspected and feared when I stumbled out of my stasis pod for HMRC service, standing on the frontline to lead men into a full-blown rebellion against the UWM was definitely not one of them.


But you know what? To hell with my expectations.

He looks up to face Steve, or his avatar at least, straight in the eye.

Yes, I'm up for it. I hereby pledge myself to to follow your orders as they come, to do anything that's necessary to guide our men to victory, and to keep them safe to the best of my ability."

"And also," he added with a smirk "To upstage Jimbo here every chance I get. Whadda'ya say buddy, you with me?" He said, holding out his hand to Jim.

Jim shook it with his upper right hand. "We'll see about that last bit. And just Jim, if you please." He then turned to Milno. He was the only one undecided...

((Not undecided, just busy at work. Sorry about the delay.))

"I agree to those terms." Milno answers without blinking. The fact his first experience with stealth was in the simulator does come to mind, but he knows it's not the time to be unsure or hesitate.

Jim shook it with his upper right hand. "We'll see about that last bit. And just Jim, if you please." He then turned to Milno. He was the only one undecided...

Miyamoto smiled back, then winced as the synth-arm shook his hand. Damn that strength.
"I'm sure we will Jim, I'm sure we will.

So, Milno, you ready to conquer the universe with us?"

"So, Milno, you ready to conquer the universe with us?"

"Well, I am not conquering the universe." Milno answers, turning his gaze to Miyamoto before offering a smirk. "You are the ones doing it, if you know what I mean."

Good, Good. Now. We will soon be at our destination, Hephaestus. It's heavily defended, but only from space borne threats. One we get in and dock, we'll be outside the range of their cannons. The only threat will be from a small ground force; the planet has been mostly automated you see.  He smiles. To save money, of course, not for any other reason.

The idea is this: We will land as we have been scheduled to, for routine maintenance and resupply. Once docked, Milno and two men chosen by him, will infiltrate the base and sabotage a crucial power connector box that, by some sort of flaw in design He air quotes those last parts Contains a vast amount of seemingly unrelated power supply lines and will cause all communications systems and automated defenses to fail.

That done, Jim and Miyamoto's team will eliminate any opposition that remains. Mostly just low level UWM guards and soldiers, Sod level. From my information in the system, it seems like the civilians aren't exactly pleased with their rather harsh treatment by the UWM, so we expect little civilian resistance.

After we've taken the main ship compound, I'll use ARES to wipe out any other resistance across the planet and we'll begin using it's facilities for our own production. We'll have, I'd say, A year or two before the UWM catches on and the planet's normal guard ships for the planet can return. Thats when the first real battle begins.




Milno. Your covert team will be 5 to start, including you. Choose the 4 men you think will work best and then select 2 to accompany you. Jim, Miyamoto, The rest of the men are yours to lead. Gather 8 of the best and prepare to lead them into the compound. The rest will stay here in case we have borders or need to deal with some sort of internal conflict. Once the teams are chosen, you'll get your funding for this mission.

Understood?

Oh, and that reminds me. Milno, your group will need a name, as will yours, Jim, Miyamoto. Each of my ships is being divided similarly, so your companies will need designations. Think on it.

((From then on, it was mostly a matter of deciding the teams OOC.))

[SeriousConcentrate]

(And I really wasn't lying about both teams wanting Simus. )

[Sean Mirrsen]

((Speaking of wanting Simus, I've accidentally stumbled on a train of thought that led me to a sort of a list. With recent events, the female side of the Sword's HMRC complement consists of: a woman that looks like a little girl, a regular robot, an intangible flying robot, a synthflesh juggernaut, and May. And the Armory Master. And the little girl from PMT, to a certain degree.

Is there some clause somewhere in the ER universe laws that females in the HMRC aren't allowed to either be or stay normal? Not implying anything bad about Lyra, here, I only found out that she's 24 as of the writing of this post, so in my list she used to be a child. >_> Which would make the list a child, an unnaturally strong virtual child, two different robots, a synthetic She-Hulk, a personification of reality warping and combat prowess... and May. >_<))