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[RAM]

When not actually speaking to someone else, look to the matriarch.

[Funk]

Also, "With all due respect, Ma'am, I am sapient." Then salute. If that isnt a horribly offensive gesture.

+1 but swear to avenge the insult later in person with violence.  just don't say that to her face.

[Theodolus]

I would strongly suggest against the "I am sapient" statement. It's a glib insult, throwing it back in her face, and we really don't want to stir up trouble. In fact, to those that matter, showing restraint and not reacting to the insult will mean a lot more and prove that we are capable of managing stressful situations appropriately. If we have to do something other than be stoic about it, just remove the helmet with a single raised eyebrow as though to say Did she really just question my intelligence/sapience? In fact, depending on the vibe we are getting from the Matriarch, it may even be worth abasing ourselves a little for the time being. A simple, "As you command, ma'am" might be appropriate to demonstrate loyalty and show that we know who throws the orders around (not us.) But based off of the fact that we very probably saw the matriarch rolling her eyes at this idiot means we can probably get away with just silence.

[jaass]

^ Theodolus has a better idea. We should just save that insult for later.

[Powder Miner]

Don't insult her. Just do what Theodolus says because Theodolus has gud ideas. IN FACT. Do not do ANYthing disrespectful- we may have differing opinions in the Morey here, but disrespect will always be bad in their eyes, and remember our brood and Ari's remnant hang in the balance here. No time for screwing around.

[Funk]

Save are revenge for later when we can properly intact it, after all revenge is a dish best served cold.
for now just roll with the insults as Theodolus said.

[RAM]

((Just wait for the big reveal when the matriarch and scientists reveal their insidious plot and Karista has an epiphany becomes our only ally...))

[kahn1234]

Comply quickly and efficiently. If possible, have the probe block our hearing and act as an audio relay that also translates out the bile and hate. This is so we don't run the risk of having an emotional reaction. If that's not possible, just remind ourselves that there's no need to be emotional around someone so weak a fly could kill them. In other words, humor her as we would a small child, but without showing emotion.

IN FACT. Do not do ANYthing disrespectful- we may have differing opinions in the Morey here, but disrespect will always be bad in their eyes, and remember our brood and Ari's remnant hang in the balance here. No time for screwing around.

I would strongly suggest against the "I am sapient" statement. It's a glib insult, throwing it back in her face, and we really don't want to stir up trouble. In fact, to those that matter, showing restraint and not reacting to the insult will mean a lot more and prove that we are capable of managing stressful situations appropriately. If we have to do something other than be stoic about it, just remove the helmet with a single raised eyebrow as though to say Did she really just question my intelligence/sapience? In fact, depending on the vibe we are getting from the Matriarch, it may even be worth abasing ourselves a little for the time being. A simple, "As you command, ma'am" might be appropriate to demonstrate loyalty and show that we know who throws the orders around (not us.) But based off of the fact that we very probably saw the matriarch rolling her eyes at this idiot means we can probably get away with just silence.

Try to muster a polite, calm, but disinterested "Yes ma'am" and remove the helmet.

((I have run through the standard bay12 regicidal impulses and not found them particularly endearing today. Although that may just be the fading consciousness talking...))

You comply, raising your hand to take your helmet off. You cant help but wonder why she is asking you to do it. You try to get the probes to act as a filter for her insults, but only manage to get the probes to filter out the most obscene insults to your character, person and acquaintances. Not quite satisfied with that arrangement you steel yourself to enforce a stoic persona to battle off the rest of the insults heading your way. You remind yourself that this person does not look like anything special, and therefore should you lose control or be forced to fight, you will most likely win.

You decide that even if you did see the Matriarch roll her eyes, disrespect is disrespect, and therefore it would offend all, except maybe the Scientists and Ala-Shar. 'Better to keep the disrepect to a minimum though', you think to yourself. Restraint and stoic actions will win you more allies than brash decisions intended to annoy a rather obnoxious Presidentess.

You say, in the most loyal demeanor you could muster under the circumstances:

"As you command, ma'am". You remove the helmet and do a respectful Morey salute, which brings an approving nod from Ala-Shar whose standing in the background and the general in front of her. It is only then you see that the rather volatile Presidentess seems to be fuming. You begin to wonder why that is before she slaps you twice across the face!.

This seems to shock all, including the Matriarch and General. Being only a few inches taller than her, you take a couple good thwacks across the face. She is certainly stronger than she looks.

*Dice roll* Fortunately, she didnt do any damage to you, as is expected of your heavily reinforced but still normal looking skin, except a few scratches from her nails on your upper skin layers, which drew some blood.

You look back at her. She is shaking with rage. You still can't understand why.

"You....you BEAST. You DARE call your betters, your MISTRESSES, by anything less than 'mistress', 'Great Ones' or 'superior one'? How DARE you!" She screams. She slaps you twice again, drawing more blood.

At your still confused expression, you glance at Ala-Shar. She seems shaken, but seems to be giving orders to her scientists. You believe she might be trying to make sure that it is communicated to the Broods that flying off the hinges in response to the Presidentess's tantrum is a very bad idea. You then glance to the General, who is promptly double face-palming and shaking her head and the Matriarch, who seems to be trying to get the Presidentess's attention, is trying to jump in before the irate woman says something that brings the entire roomful of super-soldiers down on her...

Looking back to the Presidentess....:

"Look!" she says, turning around "The brainless bitch is too stupid to even understnad us." She starts laughing manically. "I'll make sure your branding is especially slow and painful". With that, she turns and storms off, laughing manically.

'That bitch is crazy' Ari says to you through the mental channels.

"Well." You hear the General say. "That was unexpected. But i fear she will carry through with that threat" She glances at you. "Shall we carry on with the Inspection?" She asks the Matriarch. She nods.

The two of them go around, inspecting the Broods, Morey troopers, and other staff assembled in the dome, before you all head outside for the vat-born drill and then the combat sim.

What do you do?


Status:
1) Calm.
2) Mentally and physically fit.
3) Clear thoughts and currently inactive mental factions.
4) Free moving.

Condition:
Physically Healthy except for scratches on face.
Mentally Stable.

Inventory:
1) Full body second skin like armour (Mark 3 Vat-Born Engineer Armoured Powered Exoskeleton Suit). Covers everything except the head.
2) Basic white skin tight under-suit.
3) Combat Engineer equipment.
4) Your Weapons.
5) Mark 3 Engineer Armoured Powered Exoskeleton Helmet (in Hand).

Available Equipment:
1) Mark 3 Vat-Born Engineer Armoured Powered Exoskeleton Suit
2) Mk5 Mass-Driver pistol (sidearm)
3) Arishok Plasma pulse rifle
4) Dikari Plasma shotgun
5) Warrisk Mass-Driver Battle Rifle
6) Combat Engineering Equipment and explosives.

Implants and Augmentations:
1) 2x Loyalty probe in the Striatum part of the brain.
2) Multi-range optics (Thermal, magnetic, IR, UV, multi-stage magnification etc) implant on eyes.
3) Command and Control (C&C) nano-module implanted in head.
4) Communications array nano-module implanted in head.
5) Fortified 7th Generation reverse engineered biological nano-machines in blood stream, bones, muscles, tendons and organs.
6) Nano-memory modules in the Cerebrum, holding all relevant non-personal data.

Brood Composition:
1) Forward Command and communications: 10 Vat-born.
2) Field Combat Medic and Long Range Specialists all come in at 50 persons each.
3) Heavy assault and Light Assault have 250 each.
4) Infiltrators: 50
5) Heavy Support: 120
6) Combat Engineers: 120
7) Scouts: 100
                 
   Ari's Contingent:
1) 12 Scouts
2) 7 Infiltrators
3) 5 Forward Command & Comms
4) 19 Field Medics
5) 13 Combat Engineers
6) 22 Long Rage Specialists
7) 25 heavy Support
8 ) 23 Light assault
9) 64 Heavy Assault (including Ari herself)

Possible Rebels:
1) 2 in the Forward Command and communications
2) 3 Field Combat Medics
3) 3 Long Range Specialists
4) 4 Heavy assault
5) 10 Light Assault
6) 2 Infiltrators
7) 3 Heavy Support
8 ) 4 Combat Engineers
9) 6 Scouts.

[RAM]

Too bad we missed the chance to breath a sigh of relief after the president left...
I would assume that the inspection has largely been planned out, ask Ari about the combat drills that were part of her inspection.

[Canisaur]

Well, hopefully the probes can help during the "especially painful" branding.  "Ma'am" insults even the average human female (makes them feel old ), so I can only imagine what it felt like for the poor ego of the presidentess.

To try and convince her that you are worth the effort, you need to follow orders to the letter, complete a complex drill, a combat simulation against a unit of Morey Commandos and show your loyalty to the cause by receiving the Matriarchal Brand on your chests

Looks like we should do this ^.  Maybe if we do exceptionally on the drill and combat sim, we can suggest to Ala-Shar that she argue against the branding?  The loyalty probes make it effectively pointless.  Although I guess at this point there's not much else placating the wonderful presidentess.

[kahn1234]

Well, hopefully the probes can help during the "especially painful" branding.  "Ma'am" insults even the average human female (makes them feel old ), so I can only imagine what it felt like for the poor ego of the presidentess.

To try and convince her that you are worth the effort, you need to follow orders to the letter, complete a complex drill, a combat simulation against a unit of Morey Commandos and show your loyalty to the cause by receiving the Matriarchal Brand on your chests

Looks like we should do this ^.  Maybe if we do exceptionally on the drill and combat sim, we can suggest to Ala-Shar that she argue against the branding?  The loyalty probes make it effectively pointless.  Although I guess at this point there's not much else placating the wonderful presidentess.

((There will be a little back story on the chest branding in the next update. Yes, it is pointless in the era their civilisation is in, but it is tradition...))

[Funk]

From her speech about making the branding "especially painful" i take it she is going to have the branding iron be cooled down.
wont our nano-machine heal the tissue damage anyway?
can we have the probes block all feeling form our chests?

[RAM]

At least we should be able to engage in a distracting conversation to try to keep our mind off of it...

[kahn1234]

Too bad we missed the chance to breath a sigh of relief after the president left...
I would assume that the inspection has largely been planned out, ask Ari about the combat drills that were part of her inspection.

At least we should be able to engage in a distracting conversation to try to keep our mind off of it...

Trying to take your mind off of that little fiasco, and whilst giving the nano-machines time to heal your face, you think asking Ari about any inspections she's been in before and what you could expect from this one. As she is walking next to you towards the drill fields, it is very easy to have a conversation.

"Ari, what was your last inspection like?"

"Well the last one didnt involve one thousand Morey commandos, i can tell you that much. It was very much like a series of drills that got progressively harder and harder. I am sure that the drills we will be going through in a short while will be very similar. However i do not know what they have in mind for the combat simulations....."

From her speech about making the branding "especially painful" i take it she is going to have the branding iron be cooled down.
wont our nano-machine heal the tissue damage anyway?
can we have the probes block all feeling form our chests?

Your mind keeps drifting back to what the Presidentess said. With a little while to go before the drills are scheduled to start, and with the activity of setting up what looks to be various stages and courses on the vast open fields, you think that maybe asking someone about what the egotistical cow meant. The closest person you see who might know is Ari, although you do see Ala-Shar off in the distance.

You settle on Ari for the moment.

"What do you think the Presidentess meant by 'making my branding especially painful'? and why are they going to brand us anyway? We already have loyalty probes....." You ask, trying to keep the nervousness out your voice.

"Well, for one, they dont use a branding iron. Really, it shouldn't be called branding at all. Its more a ritual involving a designated officer of the Matriarchs personal army who uses a high powered energy tool to etch into your skin a rather and unnecessarily intricate mark that covers your entire upper chest and breasts. it dates back to when the Morey still had males in their civilisation, many years ago, and it was a way to distinguish who the guards of the Matriarch and Patriarch were. For us, they will have to use a much higher setting to overcome the healing properties of the nano-machines as, unlike the ones the Vanguard use, ours cannot heal extensive damage to tissue, only the less horrific types of wounds experienced in the field and again, only up to a certain point...." She stops, glancing your way before continuing. "That alone will mean we will be in much more pain than the usual members of the Matriarchs Guard. I can only think that the Presidentess means to turn the tool as high as possible without crippling you and/or she means to have the brand cover more of your body than is usual....." You flinch. You would be lying if you said you weren't a little scared.

You have an idea.

"Couldn't i use the probes to block the pain?" You ask, hopefully.

"They could maybe handle some of the pain, but they aren't designed for that role and are not in the best place internally to stimulate the production of our bodies natural painkillers. They also cannot take control of the nano-machines. Sorry...." She gives you a little smile, apologetically.

You head over to where you can see Ala-Shar in the distance. Getting closer, you see that she is sat with the Presidentess, the Matriarch and the General. You think that trying to talk to her whilst the Presidentess is within a mile would be a very bad idea. You head back to your brood, trying not to attract the groups, especially the Presidentess's, attention.

As you get back, a horn sounds. You know what that means. The drills are about to start. Together, Ari and yourself get the brood into position. You will be working with the other two broods - Ankara's and Elianne's - to complete the drills. You see, as you are getting into position, that the drills and courses you will be attempting to complete are very similar to what you were practicing for the past week, but far harder.

Another horn sounds, and the drills commence. All three broods start off well. The combat drills and courses at first didnt seem too hard, however the difficulty soon increased ten-fold, and then more. The constant stream of obstacles, combat drills on flat terrain to show performance and adherence to orders and a whole range of other courses was beginning to take its toll on even your increased stamina and endurance. You went through every doctrine you knew, completing objectives. Then there were time attack sections, and other sections where you had to outdo Morey Commandos. it was a cacophony of drills that just kept coming. 

After what seemed like hours, the final horn sounded. You looked around, and saw that you had covered a remarkable distance. No longer where you on the plains just in front of the facility, but you were now in rolling hills and light forest. You sent out your consciousness, checking your entire Brood was all accounted for. As far as you could tell, all of your sisters are present.

You try to catch your breath. You haven't felt this tired for...erm...you cant remember the last time your were out of breath, but it feels like a long time ago.

Suddenly, there is a different horn.

"Wait, that shouldn't be happening yet!" Ari exclaimed.

"Thats the horn for the Combat simulation..." You look to the other Broods. They seem as confused as yours.

"Look out!" an unknown member of your brood shouts, jest as you get hit in the back by a stun round. It throws you off your feet, but you manage to roll with the shot and get up quickly.

"AMBUSH!" you shout.

You have your weapons and equipment, as well as your full armour. But now you understand why all of the Vat-born were given stun/concussion rifles as well.

You spin around and fire with the stun gun at where the attack came from just as all hell breaks loose around you.


What do you do?



Status:
1) Calm.
2) Mentally and physically fit.
3) Clear thoughts and currently inactive mental factions.
4) Free moving.

Condition:
Physically Healthy except for scratches on face.
Mentally Stable.

Inventory:
1) Full body second skin like armour (Mark 3 Vat-Born Engineer Armoured Powered Exoskeleton Suit). Covers everything except the head. (Wearing)
2) Mark 3 Engineer Armoured Powered Exoskeleton Helmet (Wearing)
3) Basic white skin tight under-suit. (Wearing)
4) Combat Engineer equipment. (In equipment pouches)
5) Your Weapons. (In their respective holsters).
6) Stun/Concussion Rifle (In use).


Available Equipment:
1) Mark 3 Vat-Born Engineer Armoured Powered Exoskeleton Suit
2) Mk5 Mass-Driver pistol (sidearm)
3) Arishok Plasma pulse rifle
4) Dikari Plasma shotgun
5) Warrisk Mass-Driver Battle Rifle
6) Combat Engineering Equipment and explosives.
7) Stun/Concussion rifle

Implants and Augmentations:
1) 2x Loyalty probe in the Striatum part of the brain.
2) Multi-range optics (Thermal, magnetic, IR, UV, multi-stage magnification etc) implant on eyes.
3) Command and Control (C&C) nano-module implanted in head.
4) Communications array nano-module implanted in head.
5) Fortified 7th Generation reverse engineered biological nano-machines in blood stream, bones, muscles, tendons and organs.
6) Nano-memory modules in the Cerebrum, holding all relevant non-personal data.

Brood Composition:
1) Forward Command and communications: 10 Vat-born.
2) Field Combat Medic and Long Range Specialists all come in at 50 persons each.
3) Heavy assault and Light Assault have 250 each.
4) Infiltrators: 50
5) Heavy Support: 120
6) Combat Engineers: 120
7) Scouts: 100
                 
   Ari's Contingent:
1) 12 Scouts
2) 7 Infiltrators
3) 5 Forward Command & Comms
4) 19 Field Medics
5) 13 Combat Engineers
6) 22 Long Rage Specialists
7) 25 heavy Support
8 ) 23 Light assault
9) 64 Heavy Assault (including Ari herself)

Possible Rebels:
1) 2 in the Forward Command and communications
2) 3 Field Combat Medics
3) 3 Long Range Specialists
4) 4 Heavy assault
5) 10 Light Assault
6) 2 Infiltrators
7) 3 Heavy Support
8 ) 4 Combat Engineers
9) 6 Scouts.

[RAM]

Take cover and link up with the brood.
 Have the light assaults locate and protect the command and communications, long range, and medics as quickly as possible.
 Have the heavy assaults, combat engineers, and supports attempt to form a perimeter around any nearby defensive terrain or less armoured groups of our brood.
 Have the scouts hide then disperse into small groups and scout.
 Infiltrators should go to ground and do whatever they can to avoid detection.
 Then have the light infantry secure our defensive perimeters then work on securing the territory between our groups while they in turn try to form coherent task forces.