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Playing the Game: Battletech/Celestial Forge SI

Reader mode
WHOO Escalation!
Also what does the MC intend to do with Comstar? (Assuming he is aware)
 
Look like it was now time for expansion and fortification, he should build more battle submarine for future undersea war.

Because current tech submarine is more effective than mech in sea battle and they can still attack land and air force by using rocket.

Also it look like Rob hear about mc being bored so he decided to send the comstar to make mc life more exciting.
 
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And what, you telling me that the MC's AI did not report nor detect the missing items that Comstar stole? Sounds like BS to me, that or it was a deliberate act from the MC and co. that'll only be explained later.
 
I've been asked to add perk CLANG!'s even when the MC is "off-screen". I've decided this might be for the best. I've edited Chapters 4 and 5 to reflect this change.

Let me know if you all prefer this or not.

If so, I'll change the upcoming chapters to reflect this change, and keep it going in future chapters.
 
GundamChief said:
I've been asked to add perk CLANG!'s even when the MC is "off-screen". I've decided this might be for the best. I've edited Chapters 4 and 5 to reflect this change.
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Personally, I would strongly, strongly, STRONGLY advise against this. Because it makes it look like the character whose PoV it is is having the CLANG!'s. Instead, a much better thing to do imo, is to have them at the end of the chapter/start of the next scene with the MC as the PoV to let us know what perks he got while we were looking at someone else.

I mean, it could just be me, but in all honestly I really, really, actively dislike the change. Giving us info on what the perks he earned offscreen are is great, and gives us info we should have as readers, but having it in the middle of a scene where the PoV character that would actually react to them not present to react to them is a terrible idea.

Having them in the middle of an unrelated scene with characters that won't react is like having a paragraph from another story entirely pop up in the middle of a chapter. It completely wrecks the entire story flow, in a terrible, awful way.
 
GundamChief said:
Even Comstar could not destroy this place without overt action, and equipment they simply do not have. Even warships firing lasers, autocannons, and gauss rounds will only hit so deep."
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Instead of warship guns I would sorry more about low flying dropship droping hundreds of nukes as deep charge mines to smash everything near trench.

Also do he have any FTL tech?

BT jumpdrives were detrived from research inventor of their fusion reactors did after noticing they tap into hyperspace to create more energy output.

So having BT reactors he could try his hand at BT KF jump drive development.

Or using his Dune education in their physics to try making either space folding drive based on Holtzman Effect that is used by few other devices like their shields.

Or go for slower older FTL that was "outpacing photons" and is still used for in system travel or by warships as its very safe, not needding Guild Navigators or Ixian AIs to not crash.
 
Vanbers said:
Personally, I would strongly, strongly, STRONGLY advise against this. Because it makes it look like the character whose PoV it is is having the CLANG!'s. Instead, a much better thing to do imo, is to have them at the end of the chapter/start of the next scene with the MC as the PoV to let us know what perks he got while we were looking at someone else.

I mean, it could just be me, but in all honestly I really, really, actively dislike the change. Giving us info on what the perks he earned offscreen are is great, and gives us info we should have as readers, but having it in the middle of a scene where the PoV character that would actually react to them not present to react to them is a terrible idea.

Having them in the middle of an unrelated scene with characters that won't react is like having a paragraph from another story entirely pop up in the middle of a chapter. It completely wrecks the entire story flow, in a terrible, awful way.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...


I suggest you just have them at the end of the chapter so people know what was acquired that chapter.
 
Please have a plants vs zombies perk I really would like to see a plant destroy a mech or if not a doom shrooms destroy a mech like a landmine.
 
Six
  • Threadmarks
    • Capital Habitat, Deep Kingdom of Subnautica, Leviathan's Trench
    Novo Franklin, Periphery Space
    December 3rd, 2980 AD

    I pressed my finger into my temples, releasing once the pressure from tightened muscles had subsided.

    "Comstar. I knew they would be out here, but I wasn't expecting them to already be on this world. I thought they didn't do the whole "Periphery Reach Out" until the thirty teens."

    Emme had been rubbing my back for a bit now, and it did help.

    Breeze gave a shrug. "Perhaps, but you did state the data on this world was minimal due to the lack of importance to the setting. Perhaps they have been here for a while, but never really put efforts beyond the bare minimum?"

    I shook my head. "Maybe. I couldn't imagine what reason beyond the whole "rich agriculture" thing this world got on the map for, that they would put an HPG here. It's on the ass end of the Federated Suns near the borders…oh."

    "Of the Combine, and the Outworlds Alliance. Their reason to be here is likely as much to keep an eye out for things as it is to facilitate trade."

    I rubbed my eyes at missing what could likely be an obvious situation. Given the lack of data, I couldn't really have known though.

    "Well, they're asking for a meet-n-greet. Find out who the new guy is, and where the hell we got all this shiny technology they will nuke us over, from."

    I could feel Emma roll her eyes. "Given the depths of this trench, and the overall progress we have made with the new locations on the southern continents and seas, they can try, and will fail."

    Huh. She's gotten more confident; I can sense pride in there. I'm proud of her progress in becoming more human.

    "Well said. I'm just worried more than anything given my knowledge of Comstar and the actions they have done, and those that have yet to come. If the First Circuit are aware of this, they can only act aggressively."

    Breeze floated before me and handed me the PDA. It showed the Neural Lace they had placed inside my head when I gained that new knowledge. This coupled with some technology from the other settings, I was finally able to connect to machines and pull a "netrunner". Uploading the entire "Biosynthetics" database from the "Biomega" setting had taken time and made my brain heat up despite the changes done via serum and overall improvements.

    "I believe it's actually a rather simple matter in how to face this. We simply present a front too powerful to overcome."

    I nodded. "Well, we're well on our way to doing that already. This world as of right now cannot stand against us, as we outnumber the planets whole population ten to one in terms of Synth Population. Every single one is a combat unit ready to fight as needed. Plus, the dedicated ones that are enlisted, plus the Marines in their Power Armor, the Abyssals which is an entire army of "Captain America" modified infantry. With this new database, I was going to make the Abyssals the Recon, Search and Rescue, and Deep-Sea specialists, while creating the new "Astartes" units for land and space."

    Breeze looked up to me from the PDA. "Still insisting on making your own Space Marines?"

    I shrugged "Units like them will be necessary given the Elementals of the Clans, and ours will be better. Especially if we insert FEV into the mix to increase overall capability, plus biosynthetics they used to create the artificial humans of Biomega. With the Synths we are already a third of the way there."

    Despite being non-human, I could sense unease from Breeze.

    "What's wrong?"

    "…reading over the Biomega Data, I feel uncomfortable. The things the DRF had made are things that even the Covenant had not dared. The end results…It comes too close to the enemy."

    I stared for a minute, before nodding. There was a lot the Flood, the DRF, and Virus had in common.

    "You are correct. It's why I had no intention of going down that route. I'm to an extent a bit of a transhumanist. If humans can be improved, then they should have the option to do so. There is a line I do not want to cross however."

    My face hardened.

    "I'm not Nyaldee. I will not recreate the world to fit my wishes of existence."

    Stemla stared for a moment before it gave out a low whistle.

    "I'll make sure to smack you if you start down that path."

    I grinned. "Fine."

    "Speaking of remaking things. There is a non-zero possibility that using FEV will make whoever it is applied to sterile. While we can mitigate it with clones organs or using artificial systems thanks to Biomega, it's entirely possible this could happen to fifty percent of anyone this is use on currently."

    I nodded. "The Master faced this. So, we'll take DNA samples both by blood and by normal means, and will apply it to either of those if needed. We'll also allow those undergoing the procedure know this is a possibility and might want to save samples for future insemination if they desire, otherwise, that's the deal. Becoming a physical demi-god isn't without costs."

    "Hardly Demi-Gods, they can still be killed if they get hit enough."

    "Yeah, but they will be moving at speeds, and hitting with force normal humans simply aren't capable of. Add on top of that the specific Power Armor designed for them to increase their capabilities, they will pretty much be close to actual Astartes."

    With a nod, Breeze zaps their PDA several times before focusing on some new project.

    I take that as dismissal and turn to Emma, who was attentive as ever.

    "Emma, you ever had Ramen?"

    She blinked. "No, I have not."

    "Would you?"

    She stared for a moment before blinking, a slight blush before she nodded.

    Yay. Ramen. I stood up and looked up places that had the Japanese Menu available.

    It was at that moment a star fell, and grabbed something.

    -Genius (Rick And Morty) (400CP)

    You may not be the Rickest of Ricks but you are the smartest person in your own universe. Your capacity for invention is mind-boggling and even highly advanced alien civilizations barely hold a candle to you.

    I flinch and cry out in pain which sent Breeze and Emma to my side, it ended almost as quickly as it happened, and one more my mind was altered, though not necessarily in the best way.

    Then again, I couldn't complain since…well, I have Rick smarts now, so yeah.

    "Wubba-lubba-dub-dub." I groaned.


    Capital Habitat, Deep Kingdom of Subnautica, Leviathan's Trench
    Novo Franklin, Periphery Space
    December 20th, 2980 AD

    Precentor Nyung Lim felt sick as he gazed into that pitch blackness. Knowing that the only thing between him and instant death was a sheet of transparent metal. His three subordinates weren't any less queasy about it.

    "How deep are we now Captain?" He asked in a sickly tone.

    "We're nine kilometers now. This dark should go away in a bit. You will see the city soon."

    He nodded as he leaned on the railing and looked down, holding back the fear that filled him with all that black. It went away as soon as they saw the beginnings of a light, which grew more and more until the entire landscape was covered in white, neon colors, and habitat.

    He couldn't help but be in awe of what he beheld. This was Subnautica. An underwater city in the deepest location mankind had ever dared to build such. Whoever the people that came up with this idea were, they had to either be on the edge of madness, or the greatest geniuses to have lived. Probably both.

    "I must ask Captain, even though I may be informed later, but who was the mad genius that started this place?"

    The captain smirked. "You have no idea how on the mark you are with that. Mad Genius is exactly who it was. The founder of this place was an industrialist name Andrew Ryan. He envisioned Subnautica not as a haven of scientific study and achievement, as it did become, but as a city under where ultimate freedom could be pursued."

    "How grand. He succeeded."

    The Captain scoffed, to his surprise.

    "On the contrary, it was a total failure. The historical lecture you will be given later will give more details, but the place was a Free-Market Nightmare. You earn what you get by the sweat of your brow, and people pushed that to the logical conclusion. Pay to eat, pay to sleep, pay to breathe. People think the Lyrans are money conscious, the people of that era would rob them blind by stabbing their eyes out, and then say they will sell them new ones."

    His brow rose at the explanation. "How did Subnautica survive then?"

    "By not being a part of the problem. You will see, but as a heads up, there's not one city down here, but two. One is Subnautica. The other was called Rapture. Rapture is a husk now, a monument to madness, and what we will never allow to happen again."

    The Captain went silent, and Lim filed that away, intent on learning more. The city filled his view for the rest of the ride and he saw wonders the likes which perhaps could only be matched by the Star League. That was a cause for great concern, for him, and the great plan. Given it was limited to but this one world, it can be contained, and he intended to make sure it was so.

    The Cyclops entered a large Moonpool, and they exited out to a brightly lit room. At the end of the room were the people who would escort them to the Sovereign, the woman who walked up to them with a smile was stunning. Most Subnauticans were quite healthy and attractive as a matter of fact. Perhaps some kind of genetic augmentation?

    "Precentor Hyung Lim. I am Sub-Dector Alise Alda. I am pleased to be the first to welcome you to Subnautica."

    He copied the smile and bowed slightly. "Thank you Sub-Dector. It is a pleasure to finally see the face for the voice. You are as lovely as I imagined."

    She smiled more. "You're sweet Precentor. I better warn the girls about that charm."

    He gave a roguish grin, while those with him either were silent, or scoffing lightly at the exchange. These people have been around the surface warlords too much, he will need to remind them that the Subnauticans are not those people.

    She motioned to walk beside her, and he took the invitation, her arm wrapping around his.

    "I noticed that you are wearing the suit beneath that regalia." She began as she led.

    "Given the warnings the Captain gave about going to deep in the ocean, I felt it was necessary to do so. Though, I admit I…that we hesitated until we reached the cliff."

    She nodded. "That is how it goes sometimes. People do not truly understand the need for the suits until they witness the abyss. I hope it is comfortable?"

    He nodded. "Quite comfortable. The fact its coloration matches our attire made it easier to accept. Forgive me for asking, but would this have protected us though?"

    She nodded with a smile. "No offense taken, and yes. The suit is reinforced with several extremely advanced materials that allow the suit to resist pressures at a depth of fifteen kilometers. After that, a kyanite modified suit is required."

    He blinked. "Kyanite? The gemstone?"

    She grinned. "Normally it is that, but Kyanite found deep in the ocean is slightly different. The pressure down here causes them to glow in the dark because of an excited molecular structure. When you take it in this excited state and combine it with lithium, and apply that into to a suit, it becomes capable of withstanding pressures far greater than even the one you are wearing."

    He noted that for his report. He knew the mineral could be found on Terra, but no one has ever looked for it in the deep ocean. Something that may occur soon after his report.

    "So how deep can a Kyanite modified suit dive?"

    "I cannot say, as we have yet to reach its maximum depth. We would need to find a deep-water world specifically to test that."

    So, until further notice, it has no known depth limit. That is both very intriguing, and very worrying. The again, if pressure chambers exist, they may very well know what the limit is, and are simply not sharing.

    They boarded a tram which quickly moved them along the central line of the city. Alise explained the various sectors, as he, and his subordinates, looked at everything. This city was a shining technological jewel in an age of darkness, and he felt dirty being here despite being a part of the organization seeking to bring this very light to the Inner Sphere.

    He truly hoped the first circuit didn't order this place to be destroyed. It would be a sin.

    In time they reached the palace at the center of it all. It was the tallest structure of the city, and the widest. Exiting the tram, he saw how many people moved about working, and other things. There were Marines in dress uniforms preforming marches for the public, while police officers walked their rounds. There were also men wearing suits of Power Armor, not like the Tornado at all, and they carried what appeared to be some form of advanced energy weapon that glowed a bright teal on portions of it. Then there were the mechs.

    These units were not at all like the ones on the surface. They lined the outside of the Palace like statues, but if they were anything like the Lyrans, then they were very much manned. They were enormous, standing a full eighty feet tall.

    "I have never seen such a large mech in my life."

    Alise looked over to them and nodded.

    "One of the issues with living this deep if that the pressure can crush anything less than capable. So, with powerful machines, often requires a great size. These particular ones are called Jotun, after the giants of Nordic myth."

    "How heavy are they, if I may ask?"

    "These ones weigh one hundred and sixty tons I believe. They can go as high as two hundred though, depending on the model."

    He had to swallow the saliva that built in his mouth, and take a breath to calm the spike of ice that grew in his gut. Apparently, these people have solved the problem of Super Heavy Mechs. Turns out it's just 'better materials'.

    "Those are some large cannons."

    She patted his arm. "The Sovereign will probably let you ride one if you ask."

    He glanced at her as they walked up the stairs. "You think?"

    She shrugged. "You can only ask."

    Walking into the Palace, the first chamber was enormous and contained more mechs, but these were much different. These were posed with plaques and a wall of data at the foot of them.

    "What are these exactly?" he asked.

    "This is the touring portion of the palace. It shows the history of our nation, and actual examples of technology to show the history of development of the technology down here. The mechs are prominent due to their size and popularity."

    He paused and pointed at the first one. A machine that looked more like the Battlemechs he was familiar with.

    "This was the "Deep Ocean Operations Apparatus." Or more simply, the Marine Mech. This was not a combat unit, but rather an industrial mech. See the various wings? Those control surfaces altered to the flow of water to "lift" or "Drop" the machine as it moved."

    He nodded. It was a fascinating design now that he got a better look at it. Like a LAM in Airmech mode, but purpose built without the transformation technology. The wings and canards were placed over the body at points that wouldn't make sense unless you knew this operated in deep water. It had what appeared to be jet engines on the back, but they would have to be for water movement.

    Passing by the next two machines, he could see the technical changes over the periods of time. New materials and advances allowed for different designs that, while functional underwater, were not just for the sea anymore. He stopped before the fourth one.

    "Isn't this similar to the one the Sovereign use to save the Emeri Empire?"

    Alise nodded. "These are what we consider a milita mech for our forces. Mostly we use them for labor and security, but our Sovereign took one as it was the most readily available unit at the time. We didn't even realize he did so until after he left the trench."

    She sounded embarrassed, and unhappy about that. Understandably. Even so, this machine supposedly destroyed two lances of mechs within a total combat time of a minute, or even less. He didn't know if it were an exaggeration or not, but given the Jotun outside, and the four other machines past this one, it might be true.

    They continued on, and the designs became far more…organic. Fluid. It spoke of a highly advanced manufacturing and even more advanced combat capability. The last one had him stop to take pause.

    "Why does this one look…like it has flesh?" he asked uneasily.

    "That's because it has Biosynthetic armor." She replied simply.

    His confused expression made her grin.

    "I do not have a full understanding myself, but simply put, we took plants like kelp, mixed it with a fast growing bacteria that hardens after it reaches a predesignated level of growth, and placed it over an advanced composite alloy shell. As a result, you have armor that grows itself, and if damaged, regrows itself. You just need to feed it with a mixture of minerals and organic slush."

    His eyes were wide as a plate at that. Biomechanical technology! These people have created Bio-Mechs! Like out of those science fiction movies he saw as a teenager! He quickly looked back at his people, who were just as shocked as he was. Looking back at the…thing before him, it was clear where the machine was, and where it became organic. It wasn't a complete coverage. More like armor plates on infantry body armor. The rest was a dark navy blue metal.

    "How long ago was this achieve?" he asked, holding back on outright demanding lest he cross a line.

    She looked at him for a moment, before coming to a decision. "About one hundred and twelve years ago, but we only began using the technology to its potential about twelve years ago. It is quite a difficult line of technological development."

    He nodded. He was no Bioengineer, or even a Biologist, but he knew enough to understand the massive hurdles to achieve this. It is no small matter in the least. These people have surpassed the Star League in many ways if Biosynthetics is one of their technologies. If they can do this with mechs…

    He felt his eyes widen as he took a careful look at the Subnauticans around him and he suddenly realized it.

    They were all fit, attractive, and clean of blemishes and noticeable genetic issues. Not just because of where they are…these people…they could be improved humans. Every. Single. One.

    He felt himself begin to sweat under the suit. These people were as much a danger to Comstar as they were a boon. Now…he suddenly felt very much the danger was greater. He had to control his breathing, and force calm, lest he lose his composure.

    Her rubbing his hand brought him back to her, her…perfect face. She smiled kindly.

    "Let's keep moving forward now. Give you some time to rest before meeting the Sovereign."

    He nodded. "I believe I would like that."


    I watched through a dozen eyes and cameras at the Precentor walking through the halls to a suite for him and his adepts. I couldn't help but smirk as he sat on a chair and breathed heavily. I knew, watching him through the eyes of security and through the new modifications applied to the biomechanical cameras, that he was freaking out.

    Goooooooood.

    Shock and awe baby! Show just how out of their depth they really are, and realize they are not even at the deepest part.

    I do pity the man a bit though, he is just a man in the end. One working for Comstar, but a man nonetheless.

    Even so, I want him to send a report home that is too much to believe, but with footage and data to back it up with corroboration with his adepts, and that which we give him. I want Comstar to shake in their boots at our mere existence, despite being on only one world. Let them send warships. By the time they do this world will be united in an Alliance, and becoming a stellar player, and I will be too powerful personally, and Subnautica too untouchable to overcome.

    Twelve years. Ha! More like Twelve days! Nanomachines to the rescue once more, with the smarts of Rick Sanchez, a little help from some of the less common pieces of technology of Fallout and the Covenant, we were able to take most of that Biomega knowledge out of my head, transfer it into the PDA, and make immediate use of it. It helped me figure out how to control FEV since Biomega was doing crazier stuff far longer than Fallout did. Breeze is actually having trouble keeping up with me now.

    The first thing I did, thanks to Rick Sanchez's genius, was to modify the Synths into BioSynths. Basically, they were like the artificial people of Biomega, but now were fully functional humans. They could now have actual children of their own as opposed to just making stuff up as I had been. The children that had been made for this huge ruse, were now actual children, and would grow up, and have children, who were also artificial humans.

    It took about a week, but with nanotech, the process was complete across the entirety of the Kingdom, and I now had actual subjects to protect and care for, which I will and do.

    Since then, we have applied it where we immediately could, including making a mech out of Biosynthetic technology.

    Our first successes was the one the Precentor saw on display, while the real ones were being tested elsewhere to improve upon them further, and make them even more powerful than anything this universe has ever seen. This shit is going straight to Splicers the way it is proceeding, which is frightening since Biomega at its highest was about as crazy.

    "Let him rest for the next hour, and then tell him I am ready to meet with him in my office. He may bring his adepts if he wishes."

    A BioSynth who was the head of Palace security nodded with a salute. "Understood my Sovereign."

    I returned the salute and left for that office. It was an earthy place with holowalls like my garden in my old Base Three, showing snow capped mountains and functional environmental controls that functioned like it was actually on the surface. If I opened a "window" during a gusty day, wind would blow in. Sunny? Warm air. Winter, ice cool air and real snow would fall past and onto the window sill. It was luxury, and I would be showing it all off.

    The office was like a large library with advanced computers built into everything to show it wasn't entirely old fashioned for nostalgia. I also had a few frames hanging on the walls, such as Old Glory, because America, The Terran Hegemony flag, the Star League flag, and the Novo Franklin flag. Of course, I created the Subnautica flag, which with a stylized "A" in the shape of a star, super imposed on a planet, with a dark navy background, with two blue waves over the dark blue.

    I also have models of ships on display, specifically the Aurora, which was classed as a "Leviathan Class" colony sub.

    Couple this with a map that held markers across the planet's oceans including my new habitats on the lower continents, it should send a clear message as to how out of control we are for Comstar.

    Over the time the Precentor rested, I actually did do some work. Most of the daily work was done by Synths and AI, but the most important projects, namely things Breeze and Emma needed from me, I took care to work on.

    The alert finally came, and I stood in the middle of the room as the doors opened. The Precentor was alone, and much calmer now. He got a good look at me, and I him, and I could tell he was reading me as much as I was him. With a smile I stepped forward as he did.

    "Precentor Hyung Lim. I am Alexander Reinhardt, the Sovereign of Subnautica. At your service." As spoke as I held out a hand. It was not truly my name, but I decided to make one that appeared symbolic and sounded good.

    He returned the smile, though I could see the strain. "and I yours, Lord Sovereign. May the Peace of Blake be upon you."

    Holding his hand for a moment to get a feel for it, I was satisfied with the strength and give. Releasing it, I invited him in and walked slowly as he got a look around the office. His eyes roamed appreciatively at the wooden old-world aesthetic, which held advanced technology inside. He gazed at the windows, and took pause at how real it looked.

    "Holo-screens. One of our oldest technologies. Not based on light, but on the arrangement of diodes in layered sheets of transparent metal. It gives it far more detail than light can give without it being a theater grade unit."

    He nodded appreciatively. "It looks quite real."

    I grinned as I walked over to the window and opened it, it was a breezy summer day, and soon the summer breeze flowed through the room as if it were actual wind. Such a simple thing caught the precentor by surprise as he unconsciously wandered over to see it was not a prop of fans but more.

    "The environmental systems for this office are some of the best we have. They are meant to be utilized in total catastrophe, but in this, they can be used as a luxury as well."

    "Most impressive."

    "The engineers of the past thank you for the praise. Do you need a drink? Water, or something else?"

    "Water if you would."

    I nodded as I pressed a button on my desk. "Water, cool. Bottle and glasses for two."

    He looked confused for a moment until the fabricator in the desk produced the asked items. He kept his face calm, but I could see the minute shifts in his eyes, his pupils retracting to a smaller size. He hadn't seen the fabricators in action before now, but I know he is aware of them.

    I poured water into both glasses, and invited him to sit down. He took it, walking somewhat stiffly, but otherwise made a good show of calm.

    "I have to say before we start, that I am glad Comstar has reached out so readily once you became aware of us. Your record of neutrality stands as a testament despite the era we are living in." I began with flattery. A simple thing that costs nothing, and paints us as "in the dark about the truth" like everyone else.

    He smiles with a hint of pride, though with a conspiratorial edge. "It is one we put much effort into, as a light in a dark age is better than none at all."

    "I agree. There are far too many who would just as soon rip down their fellow man to gain little, rather than to work together in a common goal for the betterment of humanity, towards a Greater Good."

    As soon as the word were spoken, the effect kicked in and began working its way into the man's mind. It was something I watched with fascination in previous people when I had gained the ability. Common people were easily swayed by the notion, and couldn't help but actively live life to better the greater whole despite self-interest.

    Leaders like Carson Emeli, his immediate family, and subordinates were less swayed by the notions of the Greater Good, but continuous exposure to it via radio communications, vocal recordings played on music radio stations, and personal visits from myself over the months had solidified the ideas in them as well.

    I know that a short exposure to the idea will not sway the Precentor, but in time, I know I can bring him and his over to my way of thinking. While it is grandiose to believe I could subvert Comstar entirely to achieve their stated goals over their actual ones, it doesn't hurt to try.

    The effect, while minor, was immediate as I saw the subtle shift in Nyung Lim's posture as he became more attentive and receptive.

    "Yes. It is good to know you share such a vision as well. Few leaders on this world do. Perhaps due to your isolation of the surface and its troubles."

    I gave a small smile at his probe. "Among other things Precentor. Our Isolation started as a choice, but in time it was due to complacency. Why go to the surface when we have all we need? That was what my predecessors thought."

    I took a drink as Lim thought over the words. "You obviously think differently."

    "Not entirely. There is safety to be found here as you can plainly see. Even at its height, I have doubts that the Star League Defense Force could assail Subnautica without a large fleet to bombard the ocean into vapor, or at least sink a million metal shells down into this trench. Literally burying us under a mountain of metal."

    I waved over to the map of the various habitats as a Star once more fell to the Forge. It reached out and missed. Energy for the fire. "Assuming they could find all of our habitats in the first place."

    Nyung Lim frowned slightly, but nodded. "Assuming the worst, I have doubts they would even expend that sort of force to begin with, let alone that much effort. Easier to simply blockade the planet and prevent leaving."

    I nodded. "Indeed, because there are times when the opposition is too much to take on without overwhelming force. Brian Cameron had the same thought when he made those castles of his, as to remove one would require literally blowing up a mountain. Too much force even for the enemies of his time, and in the now, for certain. Subnautica is the same way in that."

    I gestured the glass in his direction. "But there's the key word in those words you first mentioned. Isolation. We'd be safe down here from anything, especially since no one was aware until recently, but things cannot be forever. There comes a point where the human spirit is driven to escape from what it perceives as a cage. Even if it is for its own safety, the outside of the cage is where all the excitement is. Adventure. Food for the soul."

    I refilled our glasses. "While I am not entirely taken by such a thing, as I am more than aware of the truth beyond even this one world, of the greater Inner Sphere, the same cannot be said for the youth of this generation."

    The Precentor's eyes shone with epiphany at what I was leading up to.

    "Youth are naturally going to rebel against that which they perceive as containing them. You share in this, though to a lesser extent, and sought to provide an outlet for this growing rebellion?"

    I nodded, raising a glass to him. "To put it simply. You are on the mark. Putting down such desires only allows it to fester and grow with discontent. It isn't a new phenomenon, as such an ambition has been growing for generations. However, they find a sympathetic man in me, as I too seek to leave the undersea world and go beyond. So, for the Greater Good of my people, I sought avenues. Unfortunately, things went sideways."

    Lim's head leaned to the side in curiosity, much like a dog hearing a new sound.

    "How is it that you came to the surface anyways? To be stranded upon the surface and in the Empire?"

    I gave an expression of bewilderment. "An accident. A very unusual one."

    I shook my head. "Let's just say it involves some experimental technology and leave it at that. It would be entirely too unbelievable without proof, and the proof is currently in limbo."

    The Precentor wanted to ask what I meant, but his discernment of the situation forced him to stay his desire. Despite his newly gained openness, he was still playing the middle man of Comstar. Truthfully, he and his were actually officers in the true successor state of the Terran Hegemony, and delving too deeply for answers would be giving away his interests.

    He nodded in acceptance, and gave a look of interest. "Speaking of which. I passed by the museum of the palace. The machine that used Biosynthetic technology was interesting. You Sub-Dector illuminated some aspects of it."

    I grinned. "and I am willing to bet you would like to know more details about it."

    He gave a wry grin. I nodded. "Well, while I cannot, and in some cases, will not, answer some questions, I can give you some. What's the most burning one on your mind?"

    That made him actually take a moment to think before he asked.

    "Are all the people here…forgive the term, "products" of this technology?" he asked, a sense of grimness under the veneer of curiosity.

    I nodded to him. "They are indeed, in one way or another. Thanks to Biosynthetics, we were able to commit genetic engineering on a level that is straight out of science fiction. Genetic modification and augmentation, from embryonic to all age ranges after Birth. As a result, cloning technology ranging from individual cells to entire people is possible. Life extension treatments are the norm for us, though given the relative newness, few people are really old just yet. Also, Thanks to the understanding of the neuro-synaptic pathways of the brain, we can copy memory out of people, and from there we gained a few technologies you will see soon."

    The Precentors eyes widened slowly, and he became somewhat pale when the memory portion was mentioned.

    "For example, Skill Shards. Data chips you may purchase which contain access keys to programs at a Neuro-Clinic. The knowledge, experiences, and skill of your purchase is then inserted directly into your mind as if you had experienced it all yourself. It is also permanent, unless you wish to remove it via mind-scrubber."

    His mouth was opening widely. "That's…T-that-"

    I nodded. "I understand. It was seemingly a fantastical technology. As I said, straight out of science fiction. I must however say, it isn't a perfect technology, or rather, the human brain is not. Even with ones that are augmented as ours are."

    The sharpness returned as Lim settled back into reality. "How do you mean?"

    "Well, let me ask you this. How much time does it take, normally, to master a skill?"

    Lim gave it thought before coming to an answer. "I believe the accepted answer is about ten years."

    "Correct. Now…imagine shoving that much data into your head all at once. How much strain do you think it would give the recipient?"

    Realization came almost immediately. "I would imagine a good amount."

    I raised a glass up in a salute. "A normal, unmodified human being such as yourself, could only have it done three times. They could not be done one after another, but years apart for the sake of safety, and anymore than three in a short time, and you start risking synapsis burnout. Both from the procedure, and from the data integration. That second one is what does most of the actual damage however. For a modified person, such as myself, having the best biosynthetic modifications that exist, even I could only do it so many times before my brain literally melted."

    The good Precentor grimaced at the thought. As he did that, I felt another star fall from the Forge. I felt a reach out, and it grabbed something.

    -Secrets of the Ancients (Subnautica) (600CP)

    This is a Precursor planet, and that's likely why you came in the first place, because you're something of a Precursor expert. With working examples of the technology in front of you, you will learn to manipulate and eventually recreate their devices. Scanning alien artifacts will provide much more information, as well as blueprints with varying material costs. Some nonstandard buildables will require their own, special constructors.

    I am able to control my expression due to the training given to me by the teachers from Dune, and able to keep my excitement, and composure. I also now had fear, as something beyond my control had now appeared into the universe. In this instance, two things came to mind immediately.

    First; the Karare Virus. If that suddenly appears on this world, we're fucked. I don't have the enzymes of the Emperor Leviathan to cure it, though Biomega might be able to solve the issue…then again, it might not given the source of problems of that setting. I need to keep a sharp eye out for anything appearing like the virus.

    Second; people finding precursor sites, such as Comstar. While they do not have the means or technological prowess to understand the precursor artifacts, it doesn't change that they will be able to reverse engineer some things given enough time.

    The one thing preventing me from just outright taking a firm hand at this moment is that the Architects were focused on living in the oceans. While this is not necessarily truth given the world the games are set upon, they give me an edge over everyone if it is the case. I will find all of the sites before anyone else has the chance, and take them for myself. Phase Gate technology and Ion Cube fabrication is something I really, really want.

    I push the thoughts away and focus back in the here and now.

    "Despite this however, it is well worth the cost, especially given there are three levels of skill shards. Basic, Advanced, and Master, all which give three, six, and ten years of data respectively. Each level gives its own level of strain, so while you could only have three master skill shards, you could easily have nine basic ones before the same occurs."

    The Precentor's eyes widened at this, and the cogs turned in his head. Obviously of the potential, and what this could mean for people. "I suppose you have no need for schooling with such technology."

    I shook my head.

    "While the technology is amazing, we still have schools that teach the old way, though modified for our augmented functions. Despite the Skill Shards, learning the old way is more beneficial as, financially, it costs nothing, does no synapse damage."

    I give a wry grin. "Though the youth would argue otherwise."

    Lim, despite himself, grinned a little.

    "And often gives opportunities and experiences one cannot get otherwise. People often purchase for young children if they have a family tradition or the child wants a path early in life. Otherwise, skill shards are usually purchased when a person finds a career field they have need of but little to no skill for, or to augment what they already possess." I finished before taking in the last of glass of water.

    Lim's squinted heavily at the sheer depth of the technology I had presented to him. It was revolutionary by Battletech standards. Hell, by any standard. Unless you were in Cyberpunk, which is what inspired the whole thing.

    While I had not developed the cyberware that would allow Skill Shards to be a thing in this world, the BioSynthetic technology did. Though, it did it in a way that is more beneficial in my opinion. Unlike Skill Shards that give and then take away experience and knowledge if inserted and removed, my was more like a fast version of normal learning.

    The dangers I presented were quite real though, and I was willing to shelve the tech-path if Breeze, and most of my people, didn't argue for its permanency and getting so much use out of it. Emma, being formally a PDA, had all of the basic data on survival, construction, plus all of the knowledge that subsequently was entered into the device.

    That data was the basis of the Shards, which when augmented by the actual experiences of Breeze and all of the Biosynths to the data-net, it was entirely too beneficial to discard now.

    Biosynths with the students from the Empire were introduced to it once they were acclimated, and acted like it was always there. The prince, Harold Emeri, and the rest of his class had already gotten three basic shards entered into their minds, which is all they could have at the moment. Mathematics up to a high school level, English up to a high school level, and Subnautican basic "History", "Law", and "Culture".

    With the first two, they would be able to grasp the knowledge they were now being taught, and the last was to help integrate themselves among the population and know what was expected of them. It helps that the last one was chock full of my own speeches and such to press the Greater Good upon them even more than it has already. It will make the son, and his fellows, loyal to the idea and to Subnautica over their own nation.

    I wouldn't make them turn on their own, as that isn't what I seek, but I could if I wanted to. Wasn't that a scary thing to know.


    Capital Habitat, Deep Kingdom of Subnautica, Leviathan's Trench
    Novo Franklin, Periphery Space
    December 20th, 2980 AD

    Nyung Lim laid upon his bed in some provided night clothes. The bed was much softer than his own back home, but he wasn't thinking about that as he stared deeply at the ceiling.

    Today was a day of revelations, and realizations, and he was burned out by it all.

    Subnautica was by far the most advanced society to ever exist. Beyond the Star League in ways he had never imagined those days ago. They were so advanced, and so capable, that the danger they represented to Comstar was on an existential level. This minor kingdom possessed technology that would easily destroy the Inner Sphere in ways that didn't require firing a single shot.

    Skill Shards and the technology used to create them alone...It wasn't even a weapon, yet it might as well be! It held the power to uplift people with knowledge, in a near instant, with master level skills that took a lifetime to build, or several basic level skills equivalent to a high school education.

    He had mentioned that it would be quite the tool for brainwashing, just to gauge the Sovereign's reaction.

    The man just nodded and said it could do exactly that if the program was made to be so. Then went into describing the pros and cons of attempting such a thing on a massive population in the billions. The conclusion, which Lim reluctantly agreed with, was that the best way to do it was subtly over time. Make people trust the technology, and slowly introduce ideas in as time went, as scrubbing went, until a good amount of the desired loyalty and adherence to the brainwasher's motives was achieved.

    Lim felt his soul chill at how detailed and thorough he had been about it.

    He admitted his predecessors had thought of this very idea, because humans do what humans do, as the Sovereign said. He could not disagree. Any one of the House Lords, and even Comstar, would try this brainwashing in a heartbeat if they could do so without being caught.

    He felt actual relief fill him when the Sovereign told him it would never work if the population was constantly changing hands and rulers as they had with the third Succession War, as their brains would fry to nothing from the constant reprogramming, and the fact that such technology needs a dedicated computer network to keep the absolute immense amount of memory space for all of the data required to make the procedure simply function.

    Lim had pointed out that Subnautica could do this. The Sovereign shrugged and simply replied, "But would that be for the Greater Good of all?"

    He could have argued it would be for them, but then he realized the Sovereign, and Subnautica….really didn't need it. Their technology was so much more advanced than anyone else's, they could just come into a world, construct hospitals, houses, roads, power and transportation infrastructure, along with basic needs, and the world would become loyal. No need for brainwashing when simple good will would win many worlds and their people over.

    Simply doing morally good actions would upend everything Comstar had built and worked for. That was how dangerous Subnautica was.

    But the thing that made him fill with confusion and despair, was that there likely wasn't anything he could do about it. In fact…a small part of him was wondering if he should do anything about it. He needed to think. He needed to meditate on his next actions.

    He wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight.


    Capital Habitat, Deep Kingdom of Subnautica, Leviathan's Trench
    Novo Franklin, Periphery Space
    December 26th, 2980 AD

    Hyung Lim stood before the Cyclops submarine doors as he and the Sovereign shook hands. He still sported a light hangover from the Christmas Celebration he and his subordinates had been invited to, which also counted as a sendoff party for their little group. It had been an illuminating five days for him. The shock of the first few days had thankfully not been a constant, but it was fairly regular, but he had a decent idea of what Subnautica was capable of now.

    It was terrifying, and Comstar was doomed if they ever managed to leave the world.

    However…he also came to a different perspective. He had been exposed to many things about the people, their lives, and how they all functioned for the Greater Good. He would never admit it, as such a thing was treasonous, but…he came to appreciate it.

    He had been relegated to a backwater world only due to the agricultural importance of the world, and because he hadn't risen high enough to not piss someone off without consequence. Hadn't played politics well enough to use what connections he obtained to prevent such a posting. Despite what connections he did have, he couldn't find out who it was that even pushed for his pseudo-exile.

    Comparing his life to that of the people of this Undersea Kingdom…it caused something to grow in him over these days, and he was afraid to admit, he felt unease at leaving it. He wasn't the same man who came here nearly a week ago.

    However, he was Comstar, and its goal of the great plan had become his. To lead the Inner Sphere to a brighter future once the House Lords had been reduced to nothing. No longer able to fight. No longer able to make war. Reduced as the people of Novo Franklin's level. To bring them, and all of the people into a new age under Comstar's guidance and leadership.

    But…was that for the Greater Good? Would that truly create unity? Or would it just be…another chapter in the tale of tyrants? Was Comstar any different than the Terran Hegemony of old if that were the case?

    It had made him look back on history and it was easy to say yes given all of the destruction the Succession Wars had brought about, but going back to before eve that, during the Star League, given all of the intrigue and shadow wars and still present problems that originated from that era… He didn't know.

    Which is why he made a decision. He would watch for himself, and see if Subnautica provided a truly better path. It was only a matter of time before they clashed with the surface. The other nations are hearing of them, and war will come as a result.

    How Subnautica holds themselves in this will determine what end their path shall lead to.

    He will wait, and see for himself, if he wants to be a part of this new path, or remain with the old.

    "On behalf of comstar, myself, and my subordinates, we thank you for you allowing us to stay, and show us your wonderous nation."

    The Soveriegn grinned and nodded. "And on behalf of my people, I thank you for the recognition of their potential for humanity as a whole."

    With a grin upon their faces, they released their hands and he stepped within the submarine.

    "May the peace of Blake be upon you."

    "May the Greater Good show you the way forward."

    The door closed, and they sank beneath the water, leaving the lights of the city, and into the dark of the abyss.

    But Lim did not worry, for soon the light of day would be upon him, as it would the consequences of his choices.

    Soon, in both cases, he will see what comes of it.


    Authors Note

    View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeQThKZBYcI

    That's pretty much been the last three days for me. running to responsibilities, while trying to keep myself from falling back on other less important responsibilities.

    But that's Winter Prep for you.

    Chapter 12 will be up on Patreon later today.


    Perks gained this Chapter

    -Biosynthetics (Biomega) (400CP    )
    Focusing on what science was available, mankind worked towards a harmonious merge of biology and technology – with the ultimate aim of immortality. Well, they're not quite there yet, or at least, the majority of people aren't quite there yet, but they've managed to merge humans with machines very well. Synthetic appendages, weapon prosthesis, modified senses, internal energy generators, and so forth are all rather commonplace in 3005AD. You'll have an intermediate understanding of the science behind biosynthetics, or a boost if you already knew it to begin with.

    -Genius (Rick And Morty) (400CP)
    You may not be the Rickest of Ricks but you are the smartest person in your own universe. Your capacity for invention is mind-boggling and even highly advanced alien civilizations barely hold a candle to you.

    -Secrets of the Ancients (Subnautica) (600CP)
    This is a Precursor planet, and that's likely why you came in the first place, because you're something of a Precursor expert. With working examples of the technology in front of you, you will learn to manipulate and eventually recreate their devices. Scanning alien artifacts will provide much more information, as well as blueprints with varying material costs. Some nonstandard buildables will require their own, special constructors.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • GundamChief said:
    Since then, we have applied it where we immediately could, including making a mech out of Biosynthetic technology.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    The answer to Biomimetics is always YES! 🥸

    I'm hoping these BioSynths are also capable of photosynthesis like the Humans in Knights of Sidonia.

    Reminds me how similar UNSC Wavespace and Waypoint are to the K-series Black Box. Even if slipspace doesn't exist in this reality, an equivalent clearly does so he needs to scan a K-F drive or adjust a Wavespace generator to whatever frequency hyperspace is on.
     
    Perks
  • Extras
    • Chapter 1

    -Golden Sickle (Asterix the Gaul) (200CP)
    This is a sickle made of solid gold, perfect for harvesting materials with magical properties. So perfect, that it has properties of its own. Firstly, any materials harvested using this sickle will never go bad. Food doesn't rot, meat, if you somehow used it on that, doesn't go rancid, magical herbs don't lose their powers. Secondly, it tends to have the exact magical properties you need to harvest any and all magical substances, without too much of a fuss. In essence, you can replace any and all growing and harvesting requirements for an ingredient, like 'needs to see the moon twenty times', or 'dance naked under at twilight carrying a pitcher of water that you then sprinkle' with 'cut using this sickle'. Doesn't apply on the super rare, absolutely one-of-a-kind stuff, mind you. It must be at least somewhat common

    -PDA | Scanner | Upgraded scanner | Habitat Constructor (Subnautica) (150CP)

    PDA (0CP)
    Loaded with an emergency intelligence and more data capacity than you could ever use, this is a survivor's second most powerful tool (after his or her brain.) The AI may get a bit . . . quirky . . . over long deployments. Your version is basically indestructible. Contains basic construction blueprints.

    Habitat Constructor (50CP)
    As long as the materials are present in your subspace inventory, the Habitat Constructor is capable of creating robust outposts and domiciles. Due to complex structural requirements, the constructor is unable to build anything that isn't anchored to the ground.
    * "Complex structural requirements" implies that with sufficient technical abilities this limitation can be overcome.

    Scanner (50CP)
    The scanner uses the PDA artificial intelligence to analyze an object, often finding weaknesses or uses not immediately apparent to the user. If one of your fabricators is capable of constructing the scanned object, a blueprint is created. Scanning time varies with size and complexity.

    Upgraded scanner (50CP)
    For those who don't want to get too close to the Reaper Leviathan, but just really want that scan, this upgrade quadruples the scanning distance and speed.

    Chapter 2

    -Material Limitations (World Seed) (100CP)
    Even with the advanced technology commonplace on Earth nowadays, material limitations haven't changed. Or rather, you could say that they've gotten even worse. After all, how are you going to store antimatter if you have only steel at hand? Luckily, you won't ever have problems finding the materials you need. Whether you'll stumble upon them while searching through a scrapyard, or find just the right people who can get you that obscure alloy you need, nothing will stop you from building whatever you want besides your own skill. Well, if you're keeping it reasonable, at least.

    The chance of you finding what you're searching for decreases exponentially with the material's strength and rarity, and increases by how much you know about said material, scientifically, and how good your technology skills are. So while a regular schmuck would probably never find Adamantium, someone who could reproduce it themselves in only a few years would have much, much better chances. So if you're in a situation where it is impossible to get what you want with what you know and where you are right now? Then you'll have to get to work yourself. Good riddance then that you can eventually reproduce any material or alloy that you have seen, though for extremely advanced ones it might take an unreasonable amount of time and skill.

    Chapter 3

    -Huragok Ally (Halo – UNSC) (200CP)
    Something of a surprise and most definitely an attention-grabber, a Huragok is supposed to be one of the members of the Covenant Homogeny and has normally been seen only in their presence. Yet Huragok, also known by those in the UNSC as 'Engineers', are primarily pacifistic and dedicate themselves purely to repairing and working on any technology around them. This particular one seems to have gotten lost and ended up deciding to follow you for the sake of making sure your technology was functioning. Aside from melodic whistling sounds that sound slightly similar to Earth whales, Huragoks communicate using either sign language with their tendrils or through text messaging thanks to their penchant of being biological supercomputers. Huragok are highly prized for being able to fix almost anything they touch, and you should expect a lot of questioning if someone spots you with one.

    Chapter 4

    -Full Storage (Modded Fallout) (400CP)
    This old, half-broken Pip-Boy seems to be incapable of even starting its operating system, the diagnostics indicating that the entirety of its vast 64k RAM is already in use. Most people might simply discard it or strip it for spare parts, but a closer look will reveal the exact reason for its fault: its internal database has been crammed full of Fallout design specs, schematics, scientific principles and so on. How full, you ask? Well, it's got just about every semi-common piece of Fallout tech in there somewhere, from Laser Rifle schematics to Assaultron software and Berry Mentat formulations to Power Armor designs. Though mainly limited to the kind of technologies one could have found in the Pre-War world of old, a number of designs that were only finalized in the two centuries following the apocalypse can also be found here (such as the Hydra drug, the Enclave's X-01 and Hellfire armor designs, and the Radium Rifle). Though you'll still need a way to actually build all of these things, this database is nonetheless one of the most spectacular treasures scavvers could find.

    Strange Formula (MCU – Part 1) (100 CP)
    This chemical formula is the brainchild of the German scientist Dr. Erskine, and is directly responsible for the creation of Captain America. As is, this is only the formula, and you must make it yourself... but as a result it could possibly let you modify the serum for other uses. Beware its tendencies to amplify the personality traits of the user, or be prepared to find a way to fix that fact.

    The Greater Good Takes All (Warhammer 40k – T'au) (400 CP)
    Unlike the Imperial, Orkish, or Eldar creeds, the Greater Good is happy to accept all peoples into its embrace. Unlike the Necron creed, the Greater Good doesn't simply demand all people in its domain die. You can now convince people of almost all races, cultures, species, and contexts to coexist and work together happily, ensuring that civil strife will not arise from your people and ensure a minimum level of functionality for your society, regardless of how diverse its people. Moreover, while the most zealous will be beyond this ability to sway and integrate, you will still be able to understand them and anticipate them to a degree.

    Bulwark of Harmony (SB Stellaris) (400 CP)
    Defensive wars are so much easier than offensive wars. When fighting an invader inside your territory, or territory that used to be yours, you can fight so much harder. You hit ten times as strong, and can take ten times the beating. Your nerves are unbreakable, and your aim is far better.

    (Notes): These apply in some form to any empire, nation, civilization, or organization under your control, even if you don't Import your Empire into that future Jump. The perks will be adapted as needed to actually be relevant towards any organization they are applied to. The party does directly benefit from effects that affect the people in these organizations.

    Chapter 5

    The Training of Experts (Frank Herbert's Dune) (200 CP)
    As a scion of a Great House, there's more than just etiquette and social functions to deal with. To that end, you have been provided with tutors drawn from some of the greatest minds of your time. Not only does this provide you with a well rounded education in all the social and physical sciences, but it provides you with a comprehensive knowledge of tactics, strategy, logistics, leadership, oratory, history... and above all the techniques of personal combat, both political and physical. While you're certainly not going to be the equal of a Swordmaster of the Ginaz, your training in combat is enough to protect you from all but the best assassins or slave gladiators, and your knowledge of the subtleties of the political arena is enough to guarantee that you won't fall into the most obvious of traps. Most importantly, however, you have been given training in how to handle the power inherent to your position and social class, in how to wield power as a tool and weapon and shield.

    Simple Words (Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey) (100 CP)
    You possess the ability to reduce the most complex of scientific or mathematical concepts into language the common man can understand. Furthermore, when other experts are in your presence, they too speak in this less jargon-rich way, making them seem more like regular people and less like Ivory Tower Intellectuals or Eggheads.

    Martial Culture (Civilization) 100 CP)
    Discipline radiates from every defensive wall and the hearts of all who are of your Civilization. People who follow you or are loyal to your cause gain a soldier's bearing and commitment to their cause that fits in seamlessly with their lives they are more professional and dedicated than before, but no less 'themselves'. As an added benefit, physical training for yourself and those who follow you are twice as effective, ensuring everyone is acting at peak performance.

    Chapter 6

    -Biosynthetics (Biomega) (400CP)
    Focusing on what science was available, mankind worked towards a harmonious merge of biology and technology – with the ultimate aim of immortality. Well, they're not quite there yet, or at least, the majority of people aren't quite there yet, but they've managed to merge humans with machines very well. Synthetic appendages, weapon prosthesis, modified senses, internal energy generators, and so forth are all rather commonplace in 3005AD. You'll have an intermediate understanding of the science behind biosynthetics, or a boost if you already knew it to begin with.

    -Genius (Rick And Morty) (400CP)
    You may not be the Rickest of Ricks but you are the smartest person in your own universe. Your capacity for invention is mind-boggling and even highly advanced alien civilizations barely hold a candle to you.

    -Secrets of the Ancients (Subnautica) (600CP)
    This is a Precursor planet, and that's likely why you came in the first place, because you're something of a Precursor expert. With working examples of the technology in front of you, you will learn to manipulate and eventually recreate their devices. Scanning alien artifacts will provide much more information, as well as blueprints with varying material costs. Some nonstandard buildables will require their own, special constructors.

    Chapter 7

    -Particle Physics (Bioshock Infinite) (300CP)
    You are an extremely well-educated physicist and have a fine working knowledge of Lutece particles. Use of such particles allows you to cause massive objects to float or hover, even whole buildings and cities.

    -I Know What We're Going To Do Today (Phineas and Ferb) (400CP)
    24 hours just doesn't seem like enough time to get stuff accomplished, but you'd be surprised what determination (and this perk) can get you. You can now complete days and even weeks worth of work in just a few hours, and this effect increases tremendously when you have a few helpers, to the point where a small team can work with you to complete years worth of work in a simple afternoon.

    Chapter 8

    -Fun in the Sun (Warhammer 40k – T'au Empire) (100CP)
    Plasma, radiation, and antimatter are all similar in that they relate to exotic and high energy states of matter, whether it is stellar mass or individual particles of subatomic size. You now are a master of T'au technology as it relates to manipulating these high-energy states of matter and the physics that underpin them.

    -Workshop Artisan (Bloodborne) (300CP)

    As if taught at the long gone workshop, you seem to possess knowledge and skill with many of their crafting techniques. You have been granted the knowledge and skills needed to both repair and even create your own Trick Weapons and Hunter's Tools.
    Trick Weapons are weapons with a variety of special abilities relating to their form. The most common type of Trick Weapons are those that can transform in some manner. An example being swords that can lock into specialized sheaths in order to become different weapons, sometimes radically so. Not to say transformation is the only ability, there are also melee weapons with guns attached, and maces that can be charged with unnatural blue electricity to deal massive damage.
    Hunter's Tools are pieces of equipment with special abilities activated by using Blood Bullets or Quicksilver Bullets as a medium. Hunter's Tools are usually supernatural items that have been made to work using a Blood/Quicksilver Bullet medium, such as the Beast Roar, a beast's claw that when activated, allows the wielder to roar like a beast.
    Some Hunter's Tools are completely man made as well, though this is a relative minority. Basically, you now know how to convert things into being activated and powered by Blood Bullets and Quicksilver Bullets. Doing so allows anyone to use them, even if they are completely mundane beings, so long as they have the bullets mentioned above on their person. When making Hunter's Tools, remember that the more power something requires, the bullets the wielder will need. These skills granted to you may be honed over time, just as any other skill can.

    -Constructor Drone and AI Kernel (Warhammer 40k: T'au Empire) (100CP)

    This drone is an automated constructor unit, capable of building simple machines and buildings on its own and more complicated structures and technologies under your direct supervision, so long as it has materials to work with. Its tools can be easily customized or replaced with new or different technologies. Moreover, its software includes a kernel that can be used to grow specialized AI and VI systems optimized for various computational substrates and tasks that are always loyal to you.
     
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  • Extras
    • Tta160 said:
    I don't think mc need to worry about comstar doing reverse engineering on ancient tech because those tech are basically necron levels tech.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    With the limited number of people who have any higher education in Battletech, it might as well be Necron level. In a more normal universe there would be enough people poking at it that sheer random chance could have them make SOME progress. But with Comstar limiting the number of people who can even make a guess to such a small pool... Honestly modern microprocessors would probably take ages for them to reverse engineer.

    Their lack of progress in understanding MC tech will only fuel their fear and awe.
     
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    Mostlyhewmann said:
    I wonder if he is going to do anything with the FO4 Institute's teleportation technology?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I cannot as that's considered rare technology. Uncommon technology is covered by the pip-boy, unlike Synths are a part of since it is an offshoot of many other technologies, mainly cloning and android/robot tech.
     
    Seven
  • Threadmarks
    • Capital Habitat, Deep Kingdom of Subnautica, Leviathan's Trench
    Novo Franklin, Periphery Space
    January 3rd, 2981 AD

    I stared down at the new map markers that were added to the holographic map of Novo Franklin over the last week. Fifteen Architect sites had been discovered so far, and most of them were centered around the Northern Ocean about underwater volcanos and deep reefs. The first of them to be discovered however was right here in this trench he had chosen.

    It made sense to a degree given how the Architects operated, but it was still a shock to him to have a site to readily accessible. Well...if he were playing the game, this location would actually be one of the final locations of the game to reach given where it was, and probably filled with terrifying Leviathans of some kind.

    Each Site wasn't a single facility, but rather a location possessing a half dozen or so such facilities, plus one to two dozen smaller artifacts scattered about the site location.

    The one in this trench had six facilities. One was a centralized Phase Gate transportation hub. I was over the moon that I had access to that technology, even though it was too far in advancement for us to currently reproduce beyond one in space. Emma more or less "remembered" how to make one once she had access to the device, and took it upon herself to design the space bound facility.

    The gate within this facility was beyond useful for more than the technology it provided, as it could be used to open a path to all sites that were connected. The main issue was that they lacked power however, and needed to be powered to allow a connection to occur. So, I needed to send out teams of exploration subs to find them and power them up.

    Which brought me to Ion Cubes. Which I now had access to with the Growth Forge the gate facility possessed. When I first saw it in the flesh, it was beautiful. The best way to describe it was like…watching a newly born flower in the evening sun. It was captivating, with an ethereal quality that could not be denied.

    I wanted the Ion Cubes and their resulting technology for the power they generated, but with both my peak human functioning brain, biosynthetic mods, my Rick-ness, I was not only able to quickly figure out how they were made and what other functions the possessed, but what they potentially could do beyond what they could already give.

    I was already redesigning old technologies, and researching new ones to take advantage of this. To facilitate this, I had to create a testing facility in another part of the trench that was a big box that was miles in size, but mostly hollow. I reinforced it further in case something…catastrophic happened inside or outside and caused a breach. Repair Drones with Ion Power Cells were on standby for such an event.

    One of the first weapons I was able to make in this manner were good ol' Laser weapons. I now had UV and X-Ray Lasers that can be mounted on a mech. Followed that were Autocannons that fired Ion Rounds, which made them into nuclear machine guns. I had to shave the size of the ion chunks inside the warhead tips to make them safe for use, as it was like firing Davy Crocketts and very nearly caused a breach when it was fired for the first time.

    I kept it as an option for artillery however. It wasn't War-Crimes-O'Clock yet, but I can very quickly make it so with such ammunition.

    The smallest I could make Ion Rounds, currently, were heavy weapons for Power Armor and anti-mech grade weapons. I couldn't arm my infantry with such just yet. Nano-Fabrication technology from Subnautica, let alone the Covenant, were precise enough to quickly fabricate small arms ammunition. Ion Cube shavings were finicky as they hadn't enough mass to keep the energy contained. It either spontaneously exploded when shaved that small, or just lost the charge. I'm certain the Architects could do it, but I didn't have all their stuff yet.

    That was only the most immediate things we could weaponize with the new power cell technology and raw Ion Cubes available to us. I already had plans to see about creating Ion Cube powered engines for spacecraft, aerospace fighters, land vehicles, mechs, the works. Potentially I could create a better Hyperdrive than what is currently used in the Inner Sphere, but that's a time off.

    I walked away from the Hologram, and back into the lab where Breeze was floating about, now surrounded by a dozen holographic screens with different projects. I had been worried I was working the snail too hard, but they just waved me off and said they were much happier than they ever were with the Covenant. I took them at their word and didn't make an issue of it, though I told them to take a break once in awhile.

    "Do that yourself." It replied at the time.

    A wry grin formed on my face as I reminisced, thinking back on all the time I had been in this world. It was an endless amount of work when it came down to it. Granted, I took the path and accepted my choices, but it was the hardest I ever worked in my life…actually, no, that's not accurate.

    It wasn't so much how hard it was, but how constant it was. Even if I was taking it easy, I was still working and doing things that needed done. I guess, given how my old life was, it wasn't that much of a change, except in scale and complexity.

    I paused as I felt a star falling from the forge. I felt it miss, and went back to the list of the facilities we had catalogued in detail so far. I felt immense relief when I learned that the Karare Bacteria was not brought along for the ride with the Architect sites, as the false "Lore" we uncovered from the various sites was that this world had been closed off from the rest Architects empire. The infection had gotten through anyways and began wreaking havoc as it had elsewhere, and like the main setting of the game, the Architects uploaded themselves into a storage unit to await reuploading.

    Whether I had an entire civilization worth of Architects on this world now or not was something I was very worried about for many reasons. However, while the Architects might be here, the bacteria wasn't not since it appeared that the transference was just their technology and sites, and nothing biological. The Architect scanners, which were far more advanced than anything including the Covenant based ones Shelma gave us, did a scan of each site they had a connection to, and the Karare detection showed negative findings.

    Well…I was assuming it hadn't come through. We hadn't found all of the sites, and evidently, there might be about thirty more major sites around the world. If it did come, I would immediately freak out, calm down, and do everything in my power to contain the area it was present in.

    Breeze floated over, showing me a new item.

    "A new site has been discovered. It's on an archipelago near the equator. It's a space port!"

    I blinked and immediately pulled up the data. "Please tell me we have ships."

    Breeze nodded excitedly, waving a tentacle and showing me photos of ships on landing pads. They were made of that Architect alloy we discovered was much stronger than Plasteel by an order of magnitude. We now called it Arcitecium after its creators. Their design immediately reminded me of something.

    "They look like Forerunner ships."

    "I noticed the similarities myself, and given the advanced biotechnology the Forerunners possessed themselves, it appears to be a case of parallel development despite being a universe away. It makes same wonder if advanced races gravitate towards similar designs once they reach a certain state of development."

    I shrugged. "I can't say myself, but I think the Scryve from Star Control might disa…" then I paused and gave that race a bit more thought, specifically to what they do to their "client" races, and their ship designs compared to other, similarly leveled races across the multiverse.

    "Actually, you might have something there." I admitted.

    "You will have to tell me who the Scryve are at a later time. For now, I think I should personally go to site. I can figure out the ship's computer architecture a lot faster than anyone else. Allow us to take control of these assets sooner than later."

    I felt myself wince slightly before looking at Breeze. I felt hesitation at what is my first companion, aside from Emma. Breeze saw my hesitation and laid a tentacle on my shoulder.

    "It will be alright. I'll keep in constant contact, and will have Biosynths with me. Plus, a contingent of our most powerful combat units. Nothing will harm me with that protection."

    I stared at Breeze before letting out a long sigh.

    "Alright, but you arm yourself…alright. I'm being silly. Of course you will take your combat suit."

    Breeze gave a smug whale call. "Of course."

    Said combat suit was one Breeze, Emma, and I designed using the cutting edge of all the technology trees we have access to. Arcitecium armor, anti-gravity, force fields, linear cannons now equipped with ion rounds, UV-Laser repeaters, Nano-repair hives, seeker launchers, the works. This thing was a miniature mobile combat fortress under the control of a living super computer. One wouldn't think so when looking at it, because it was a simple orb of the green alloy. It was when it started fighting that it revealed the monster it was.

    I nodded. "Alright. Head out when you are ready, be sure to say goodbye to Emma before you do."

    Breeze nodded before returning to the holograms around it, which I could see where preparation manifests for the trip. We both stopped when the door opened and Emma came jogging through, a look of concern on her face.

    "What's up?" I frowned as I approached her.

    Glancing to me, she slowed to a walk and held up her holographic interface. "We have a communique from Carson Emeri. This is important and you need to speak to him personally."

    I raised a brow, and nodded. "Send it to the office." I ordered as I walked into the private space.

    Sitting down inside of the windowless room, I adjusted my clothes to look more presentable and opened the line.

    Carson's face appeared, and he had grown a small beard since I last saw him.

    "Carson. Nice to hear from you, but given the urgency of Emma, I take it this isn't a social call?" I asked, getting to the point.

    Carson gave a wry grin. "I'm afraid not. It looks like our neighbors are finally wising up to the happenings around here and are getting antsy. In just the last few days, I've had threats, offers of alliance, trade deals, and declarations of war if I didn't share the 'bounty' I had fallen upon."

    I frowned grimly. "Anyone looking to earn an ass kicking?" I growled.

    Carson barked a laugh. "Well, I'm glad your ready to throw down again if it happens, but not at the moment. Most of these are just people poking to see what's what. Speaking of which, Comstar has seen fit to offer a small branch in our territory for easier access to their services. I said 'sure' and now they have a branch thanks to the fabricators."

    I nodded. I only hoped they didn't try to…oh who am I kidding, of course they'll try to peel the walls to see what made the habitats tick.

    "I'm glad to hear that. Precentor Hyung was very cordial, and not just because of our toys." I smirked.

    Carson snorted. "When you are as advanced as Terra supposedly, it keeps the arrogance in check." He shook his hand. "Anyways, I can handle these things, but one of the people who spoke to us is a longtime ally. They've been listening to our broadcasts on the radio, and on a visit they got a good look at the benefits of our alliance and wanted to be a part of it. I would have just given him some stuff, but…I had an inkling of an idea."

    I leaned forward, placing my hands on the desk. I had been about to speak when I felt another star fall. It missed, and I moved on with the discussion. "Go on."

    "When I asked if he was sure, he admitted in the past he would have asked me to go behind your back. I would have too, if I might be honest." He admitted slightly ashamed.

    "I understand, and wouldn't blame you for it. We got great toys." I grinned, keeping it light.

    He appeared relieved and smiled. "I'm glad you see it that way. That being said, he instead asked to join because of one thing specifically. The Greater Good. It appears he was quite taken with the whole idea of how we are going about it. Normally it would be an act of naivety, but seeing the benefits, and how well off my people are as a result, he came around to it."

    I give a look of surprise, though in truth, I wasn't. I expected this in fact. Sooner or later people would be influenced enough by the Greater Good to willing hand themselves over to the greater whole. I nodded at him.

    "I'm happy he shares our views. Is he aware of what you and I get out of our alliance?"

    "I explained it to him, and he was surprised at how simple it was given the technology and power involved, but when he saw your technology in action, he understood the weight and reason for it."

    Carson leaned forward. "As a long time ally of this man and his family, I can vouch for his intentions and believe we should allow him into this alliance of ours."

    I leaned back. I stayed silent, in thought about the things I need to become aware of if this were to go forward. I wanted to grow this alliance more until the world was under control.

    "Alright. Is he there with you now?"

    Carson grinned. "He is, I can bring him into this-"

    I waved off and shook my head. "I have one better. How about we speak, face to face about this."

    Carson grin wider. "Even better. I'll ready some lunch for-"

    I waved him off again, this time I smirked.

    "No, this time, I'll bring you both here for lunch, and discussion."

    Carson froze before sitting down slowly, eyes wide. "To Subnautica?"

    I nodded. "Your son is here, and I invited Comstar due to their being extranational organization, so it's only fair I finally invite you, yours, and our prospective ally to see the capital with your own eyes."

    Carson's eyes widened further before he nodded vigorously. "I accept your invitation."

    I smiled. "Alright. Take a ride to Seabreak, and I'll give you a ride down. Just send a list of how many people you are bringing before you do so I know how many subs to send."

    After a bit of detail hashing, I closed down the transmission and leaned back in the chair before standing up and getting to work.

    Only for two stars to suddenly fall. I paused for a moment, and felt them both get taken into my soul.

    CLANG!!!!!! said:
    -Particle Physics (Bioshock Infinite) (300CP)

    You are an extremely well-educated physicist and have a fine working knowledge of Lutece particles. Use of such particles allows you to cause massive objects to float or hover, even whole buildings and cities.

    -I Know What We're Going To Do Today (Phineas and Ferb) (400CP)

    24 hours just doesn't seem like enough time to get stuff accomplished, but you'd be surprised what determination (and this perk) can get you. You can now complete days and even weeks worth of work in just a few hours, and this effect increases tremendously when you have a few helpers, to the point where a small team can work with you to complete years worth of work in a simple afternoon.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    "FUCK!" I yelped as I fell to the floor grabbing my head in agony. Soon the pain passed to a mild soreness, and I slowly stood up, still holding the side of my face.

    "Well…I can make things super fast now. Awesome…also…"

    I look up with a scowl. "I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU TWO FUCK WITH ME, I WILL PERSONALLY SHOVE RYAN'S LIGHT HOUSE UP. YOUR. ASS!!!"

    I waited for a reply, some glib comment about how there are two of them even if truthfully, they are in fact the same person, only to receive silence, and I nodded with satisfaction that at least I didn't have to deal that that bag of bullshit. Hopefully. I like Elizebeth, as many do, but she's just more than I want to deal with.

    "Shifts with Breeze! I got new things, put that trip on pause for a bit!" I shouted as I walked out of the office.

    In the silence of the now empty, and darkened office…the air flickered for only a moment, and a silver dollar fell onto the office chair. It landed tails up.

    "….Interesting."


    Capital Habitat, Deep Kingdom of Subnautica, Leviathan's Trench
    Novo Franklin, Periphery Space
    January 5th, 2981 AD

    Devlin Fields stared in open awe and excitement as he gazed upon the shining city, he and others heard only rumors over. His seven-foot-tall, well-muscled frame leaned far over the railing as he looked as far below the Cyclops viewport as he could, only Carson pulling him back on his cape preventing him from nearly falling over, again.

    Initially he dismissed Subnautica, and everything regarding them as ridiculous tall tales, until they started involving his friend Carson Emeri. He finally called upon his friend when he finally heard the rumors grow into an alliance between the undersea kingdom and his, looking to get some facts.

    He hardly could believe his own friend when he confirmed everything, and then invited him over for a visit. He wasn't able to, but he took the invitation for a later time and was given a radio frequency. The radio signals he had heard over time shifted his views as he listened more and more, and came to realize something big was happening.

    Devlin changed his views completely when his childhood friend suddenly made a road to the edge of their borders, and then to his town, and right into his castle. Seeing the machines and workers in stark white and aquamarine place ferrocrete on the ground as easily as you put a coat of paint on a wall was astonishing.

    All the while his friend grinned like a cat who caught the canary.

    That day, Carson showed his toys that he gained from Subnautica, and how absolutely insane fighting a war with them for the technology would be with pictures one of the Queen's guards took of the fleet when the Sovereign met with his friends' wife in an official capacity.

    The rom of the one unit, a Milita-mech equivalent of all things, utterly trounced the invading forces that nearly killed his friend. He was furious when he learned that little bit and was ready to murder the leftovers, when his friend laughed and eased him down.

    Then he told the whole story. A lord of the deep, somehow a 'guest' of his empire, took part as a levy for two battles, and the resulting alliance. He was then showed the old empire, versus the new. Then Carson gave details of the alliance, and of the gifts he gave over as a measure of friendship. A dropship and mechs.

    He couldn't help himself. He wanted in, right there. If the benefits were that great, he'd be an idiot for not joining.

    He convinced his friend to call on the Sovereign, and was ready to give the best sales pitch of his life when the Sovereign instead invited Carson and himself to the Undersea Kingdom's capital.

    He didn't refuse, and went that very day with a handful of his people he could get on short notice. Now everyone of Emeri's family, and of himself and his entourage, were staring at a wonder straight out of myth.

    "By the Devil's Tits, they really are an undersea kingdom!" He guffawed loudly. Glancing over to Carson, he gave a wide grin. "And this is your first time?"

    Carson nodded, holding his youngest who looked out in wide-eyed wonder.

    "He was going to invite me later, but we both had a lot of work to do. Him reasserting himself, and I rebuilding and upgrading our holdings and quality of life. I suppose he just decided to do that now."

    With a laugh he shook his head. "That or he saw this as killing two birds with one stone. I'm impressed enough by what you had, but this, bah! If I were more suspicious, I'd say it was compensating for something!"

    Carson gave a dry grin. "He's not the type to measure himself to other men's…abilities."

    Devlin rolled his eyes before grinning a devil-may-care grin.

    The rest of the ride was more rubber-necking until they got into the port. Something they call a "Moon-Pool". Why they call it that, he had no idea. It sounded fancy enough he supposed.

    Upon opening to the chamber, Carson smiled as his son Harold stood in a clean and stylish uniform of some kind. The two embraced, as did the Queen and young ones. Devlin's eyes however were on the beauty that stood by with a small grin as the family began their jabbering.

    She was statuesque for a woman, a little over six feet tall, fit with military dress and the unmistakable makings of a warrior. A Battlemech Patch on her left shoulder and on her…generous chest, marked her as a mechwarrior. She appeared older than young Harold.

    "Father, Mother, allow me to introduce the head instructor of my education. Colonel Martress"

    Martress stepped forward with a click of her heels and gave a salute before shaking hands.

    "A pleasure to meet you all. Your son is under my tutelage while in our care, and has been doing well so far."

    Harold flushed slightly in surprise at her, standing a bit taller. "Though he's still just meat for the moment." She added with a hint of a smirk, causing the boy to slump.

    Carson and Devlin held in laughs, reminiscing for a moment of their own tutelage. They were called far worse.

    "I am however here in an official capacity as the Sovereign wishes for me to escort you to him. He's currently overseeing some new equipment he wants to show off."

    Turning to Harold, the Colonel spoke in a commanding manner. "Cedet Emeri, you are to take your family, and have a good time. Understood?"

    "Yes Maam!" he replied before being dismissed, leading his mother, sister, and little brother a small portion of their entourage and guards. They boarded a tram, and waved at Carson as they took off.

    With only the remnants left, Colonel Martress nodded just as a new tram arrived.

    "Lord Emeri, Lord Fields, Arms Masters, if you would please follow me."

    They followed, with Devlin getting a good look at her derriere as she walked into the Tram. Carson nudge him with a wry grin. "It's quite the view." He said openly with a grin.

    "Wait till we get moving." Martress stated, glancing over her shoulder directly at Devlin. The look in her Amber eyes caught him holding a breath for a moment. They stared deeply before the corners of her moth lifted up a little, and turned away with a toss of her hair. Carson nudged him again, expression practically saying "DO EEEET!"

    Later…he'll shoot his shot later.

    The tram ride showed off the city, which caught their attention in many ways. Eventually however, they ended up going on a line that was not a part of the civilian network, and ended up traveling off the capital and into a tunnel that went out of the city and into the deep dark. The tram sped up to a boggling three hundred kilometers per hour. For two minutes they rode in the deep black before a huge block of white appeared in the distance.

    It was gigantic, and both Caron and himself stared in grim expressions. The amount of resources to create a building of this size, at this depth, defied their understanding.

    Soon the Tram passed through a checkpoint, and Martress turned to face them.

    "What you are about to see here is not a state secret, but not known outside of Subnautica. Per our alliance agreement, you Carson, will be privy to the development of these technologies."

    She turned and her amber eyes delved into his.

    "You are here as an invitee, but should you join the alliance, you will also be privy to developments here. Please keep what you see here to yourself." She stated with a hint of firmness.

    Devlin however, read between the lines. While he was always more hands on than most, he had a lord's education, and realized the implications on several levels. An unspoken threat, carrot and stick, and bait, all in one. He grinned at her, challenge in his eyes. She raised a small brow, eyes twinkling before the room was bathed in red. A light like a laser passed over everyone, then a green one, and finally a blue one, before the light returned to normal.

    Soon they entered a small loading zone with lockers and seats, passing through another security checkpoint, before going into room overlooking an enormous white chamber that…appeared like the surface world.

    Devlin blinked and head swiveled left, right, up, and down at the landscape. It looked like the surface. Blue skies, grassy fields with rocky plateaus. It seemed to stretch for miles in all directions, and he had to look behind them to make certain the wall was still behind them.

    "What the hell is this?" Carson's right-hand man, Man-At-Arms Robert Halsely, exclaimed as he looked at everything.

    Confusion gave way to alarm when a distant explosion filled the air that appeared sizable. The ball of flame and smoke rose up before being blown to and fro by two points of light that appeared. They moved with speed, but the details were not apparent until Colonel Martress pressed a hand on the window, and an image of…

    "Holograms." Someone said before the window was filled up with two video images of two machines, with the image edge point out which was which.

    Both were sleek looking mechs of a type he had never seen before. Incredible pillars of flame burned from small parts of their bodies as they maneuvered about. Less like aircraft but more like…he did not know what to call it. Devlin's heart was pumping as his eyes focused upon the second machine. It lacked legs entirely, instead possessing what looked like pontoons with rocket thrusters built into specific portions.

    Despite this strange design, the mechs was fast…insanely fast. It hugged the ground in an ground-force effect and moved flawlessly about the terrain, no matter how impossible that should have been given how rough the terrain was. They fired bolts of green and beams of white at one another as they maneuvered in order to get a clean shot, often dodging away before the shot was fired.

    "C'mon Blue! Show that Red what for!" he shouted. Having gotten into it, Colonel Martress giving a grin at him with a raised brow before looking back at the battle.

    After this back and forth, the blue machine finally got a hit on the red, and Devlin found himself shouting in cheer. The fast pace of the battle got him pumped up! This was amazing! HE WANTS ONE!

    The sound of a horn filled the air, and the battle promptly stopped.

    "Kill score. Battle complete. All units return to holding."

    Colonel Martress grinned as she turned around and led them down to the mech bay where several machines like the one in the battle-rom were standing and being cared for and modified here and there. As they rode in a ground car down the line, he was in silent awe of the metal titans he was walking between, and quietly intimidated when he realized he was looking at what appeared to be several regiments worth of machines.

    Eventually they stopped and it was before the blue machine they had just seen. Devlin jumped out like a school boy and stood in front of the machine.

    "Look at you! You're even better up close!" He shouted with a wide grin.

    Colonel Martress walked over and took his arm and pulled him away. "Eh? Wha-why!? Aw c'mon let me look at it!"

    Martress giggled quietly and Devlin blinked before grinning. Oh, he was taking this one for sure! They stopped by Carson and the group, being released by the Colonel who then stood to attention.

    The action made him blink before noticing where she, and other soldiers in their group, were looking.

    A pilot with a full suit and helmet came down on a metal cable that provided a foot and hand hold, before jumping off and onto the ground.

    "Woo, that was a rush." The pilot said as he pulled off his helmet revealing a young man. Devlin was already walking forward and inches from the man's face when he finally noticed Devlin literally in front of him.

    "Uh! Woah there. Who-" Devlin grinned and put his hands on the pilot's shoulders.

    "That was some of the best piloting I have ever seen, and this machine is amazing! You have to tell me about it!"

    The man stared, befuddled before looking over towards Carson, who looked stricken at him, palm on his forehead whenever he rushed headlong into things.

    "What? I wanna know about this amazing machine! If this is something the Sovereign is making, than we're gonna get along!"

    He then saw Colonel Martress who looked torn between laughing her head off, and tearing his off.

    "Devlin…my friend…that pilot is the Sovereign." Carson said in a suffering tone.

    He blinked, before looking back down at the young man, who was grinning at him with am amusement. He stare for a moment before shrugging and pulling the Sovereign into a bro-hug with one arm.

    "Well that just makes this easier!" he shouted before giving a cheerful laugh.


    Author's Note

    Chapter 12 is up on Patreon. soon, 13 will be as well.


    Perks gained this Chapter

    -Particle Physics (Bioshock Infinite) (300CP)

    You are an extremely well-educated physicist and have a fine working knowledge of Lutece particles. Use of such particles allows you to cause massive objects to float or hover, even whole buildings and cities.

    -I Know What We're Going To Do Today (Phineas and Ferb) (400CP)

    24 hours just doesn't seem like enough time to get stuff accomplished, but you'd be surprised what determination (and this perk) can get you. You can now complete days and even weeks worth of work in just a few hours, and this effect increases tremendously when you have a few helpers, to the point where a small team can work with you to complete years worth of work in a simple afternoon.[/quote]
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • I love the bombastic ruler here.
    He seems fun.
    A good addition for the Alliance.
    The fire in his heart and the chuckle in the face of battle...
    Yes, a good addition.
    For the Greater Good!
     
    AldariSiradla said:
    I love the bombastic ruler here.
    He seems fun.
    A good addition for the Alliance.
    The fire in his heart and the chuckle in the face of battle...
    Yes, a good addition.
    For the Greater Good!
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I was channeling One Piece, a young Robert Baratheon, and Thor when I came up with him. He's not Roger, but alot of people try. This guy too, despite being a whole different universe away :p
     
    Way too much social energy for me, good guy though.

    GundamChief said:
    In the silence of the now empty, and darkened office…the air flickered for only a moment, and a silver dollar fell onto the office chair. It landed tails up.

    "….Interesting."
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    Interested in what this means though. Something actually breached all their sensors to spy on him all the way in his office? A part of the Bioshock Perk that was somehow hidden from him?
     
    Sceonn said:
    Interested in what this means though. Something actually breached all their sensors to spy on him all the way in his office? A part of the Bioshock Perk that was somehow hidden from him?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    What it means is that the Lutece Twins are aware of him, and the Battletech universe, and of his connection to the forge. they are more or less omnipresent beings because of their research into quantum physics, gaining a measure of immortality and power from control over time and space.

    In the game (Bioshock Infinite) there's a moment where you meet them and are asked "heads or tails". One of the twins is holding the coin on a platter, the other is wearing a chalk board sign that covers his front and back.

    Heads is the vast majority of flips, and tails is but a handful of times.

    The point of the event was mostly that events usually end up the same way no matter what timeline you are in, but sometimes, on occasion, something else happens.

    The coin flip here symbolizes that this universe that they are now aware of, is completely different than what they are going to be expecting. That time is malliable to a far greater degree than they are expecting.
     
    Last edited:
    GundamChief said:
    The point of the event was mostly that events usually end up the same way no matter what timeline you are in, but sometimes, on occasion, something else happens.

    The coin flip here symbolizes that this universe that they are now aware of, is completely different than what they are going to be expecting. That time is malliable to a far greater degree than they are expecting.
    Click to expand...
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    So...what are the odds that Booker and Elizabeth will end up making a surprise visit (at least for a time)?

    You kinda did make this a pseudo Bioshock story when you claimed that Rapture was the precursor civilization to Subnautica.

    And you made it more convincing by using Subnautica (game) tech to create the current Subnautica (civilization) under the waves.

    I still find it funny how the Forge is helping you gaslight the universe into becoming connected to the greater Bioshock multiverse.
     
    Slayer 10321 said:
    So...what are the odds that Booker and Elizabeth will end up making a surprise visit (at least for a time)?

    You kinda did make this a pseudo Bioshock story when you claimed that Rapture was the precursor civilization to Subnautica.

    And you made it more convincing by using Subnautica (game) tech to create the current Subnautica (civilization) under the waves.

    I still find it funny how the Forge is helping you gaslight the universe into becoming connected to the greater Bioshock multiverse.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Not gonna say no...but can't say yes either. It's a solid maybe. Mostly it depends on the rolls, but also how things develop in-universe.

    It could happen naturally, or it can be CLANG!'ed upon me. So we will see.
     
    Slayer 10321 said:
    So...what are the odds that Booker and Elizabeth will end up making a surprise visit (at least for a time)?

    You kinda did make this a pseudo Bioshock story when you claimed that Rapture was the precursor civilization to Subnautica.

    And you made it more convincing by using Subnautica (game) tech to create the current Subnautica (civilization) under the waves.

    I still find it funny how the Forge is helping you gaslight the universe into becoming connected to the greater Bioshock multiverse.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Bro, he created Rapture to serve as more evidence for his civilization's history I don't think that turned it into a pseudo-bioshock story.
     
    Eight New
  • Threadmarks
    • Capital Habitat, Deep Kingdom of Subnautica, Leviathan's Trench
    Novo Franklin, Periphery Space
    January 5th​, 2981 AD

    Okay, I was not expecting to meet Chris Hemsworth today playing Thor, but God Damn that's who I was dealing with right now.

    If it had not been for…everything that I had gained and done up to this point, this man would be a complete opposite of me. I liked my solitude, my being out in the world, and dealing with people rarely. This guy would tire me out within hours if and I hung out, not that such a guy would be around m to start with.

    Gregarious, charismatic, and if my reading of my Colonel Biosynth is correct, a Ladies Man of fine tastes. Cultured one might say. I guess my choosing her to test the man out was a good decision. If she wants to make this more than nothing, I'm fine with it. Makes keeping the man close enough to influence and bring into the fold easier.

    I watched as his Regent was giving his Lord a small lecture about calming down who just let it roll over him like water off a duck's back. So, I guess strong willed is another way to describe the man. I allowed him to do so while looking down at the PDA about the mech I had tested out personally.

    Thanks to Phineas and Ferb, I was able to construct designs and fabricate within hours of coming up with them now. Breeze was having a ball, and was reluctant to leave for the Architect Space Port due to finally having someone aside from Emma to build things with. I insisted due to needing to get a solid hold on that site before anyone else noticed. Plus, with the ability, we can quickly take apart and rebuild the ships when the time came for me to personally work on them.

    So, Breeze was on their way to the site, and I spent the time building the new mech designs we made using the Lutece Particle physics we gained. I was feeling paranoid, though I probably shouldn't, but I couldn't help it when it came to Bioshock. I told my security to be on the look out for the pair of red headed twins, or Elizabeth, even if it amounted to nothing in the end.

    With the new physics, controlling quantum particles in such a way was interesting to say the least. The Lutece Particle already existed in the real world, but it functioned in a specific way. This Bioshock variant expanded that to be something usable. I learned how Colombia was able to fly in the air beyond "quantum stasis" keeping them up. Lots of people had questions as to why the city rose and fell like it were operating on hot air and the like, or why they shifted like they were riding on waves.

    I have come to learn that both were easily answered.

    For the first, it was because they could program the particles to move in three dimensions based on how much energy they were given, which in turn increased or decreased their "density", and whether the particles were positive or negative in their charge which can make them be attracted or repelled on specific paths that they are programmed to be attached to. A positive charge made them travel the path to point A from Point B, and vice versa when changed to a negative charge. That same path can cause that object to increase its elevation if the energy made the particles denser, or to decrease elevation is the energy is lowered, thus making it less dense.

    It's how Columbia was able to control traffic and schedule when portions of the city connected to other portions of the city.

    As for why the city operated like it was on the ocean when it was in the air, it's because the people asking the question forget the biggest source of electromagnetic energy to Columbia. The Earth. It has a power electromagnetic field, and a gravity field as well. Gravity gets removed from the equation when Quantum Stasis comes into play, but it still pulls despite it due to mass. Couple this with the earth having spots on the surface that lower or raise the electromagnetic field depending on mineral formations, cities, and the poles, it causes the particles in the city to rise and fall to match the stasis point, to keep itself level with the point above the Earth that was set.

    How the hell Comstock and Lutece managed to figure this out with great war era technology is a mystery. Ricks smarts give me several ideas which involve a lot of tesla coils and mechanical calculators connected to particle crushers, but that's not a rabbit hole I want to go down outside of mere curiosity.

    Knowing these things, it was actually easy to create a machine to produce the particles, and from there other machines to utilize them. Combat usage being one of the first things I wanted to test it out with.

    Programming a computer to control the particles density and energy conversion, while fighting at high speeds, was a mess to accomplish, and took most of yesterday to do. It got done and today we fabricated the machines to test out this new tech-path.

    I was pleased to say the least. It opened…so many different possibilities. I could construct a modern-day version of Columbia that looked like something from Star Wars. As for mechs, I can straight up make Armored Core units now, and warships. My submarines can become airborne and become airships. I potentially can make them into space warships, though I might have to make them on the surface for that purpose.

    Look out Inner Sphere, the Age of the Warship has returned, and it's worse since warships can now travel to land and sea.

    I looked up and felt a star fall. The forge reached out for it and missed. I didn't even react as Regent was about finished his lecture and I handed the pad to one of my engineers to get to work, before stepping in.

    "I don't mind, it's an interesting way to meet someone to say the least. Not many people go gaga about mechs with me on first meet."

    Carson and his Man-at-Arms accepted my words with amusement, while the Regent gave out a long-suffering sigh while the big guy, Devlin, just grins while catapulting his arms. Made him look like a dork that didn't just get in my face and gush over a new toy. Don't make me like you dammit!

    "So you're Devlin Fields, Carsons oldest friend?"

    "That I am! Even if he says otherwise, which means he's mad at me for some reason." He said as he lowered his arms and walked over, hand out for a shake.

    I took it and gave it a good shake, matching his grip which surprised him, but he only grinned a bit more. We released and I gave a look over the Regent.

    "And whom are you?"

    The Regent stood taller and gave a respectful bow. "I am Caelin Demonte your majesty. My lords Regent advisor and Man-At-Arms."

    I nodded back in recognition. "Thank you all for coming."

    Giving them all a short look over, I grinned a little.

    "Well, I know you hadn't been given a real tour just yet, but…Subnautica. First Impression?"

    "Like a city out of myth." Carson replied, not hiding the wonder he had.

    "Breath taking." His second replied.

    "I agree with Lord Emeri's expression." Regent Demonte answered.

    "Shiny and Bright in the Dark. Lots-" Devlion's eyes shift to Martress. "-and Lots to see. I wanna see everything and more."

    I snort. "With that outlook, you just might."

    Devlin realized there he had been caught by me, but he just shrugged and nodded. The Regent just sighed a little.

    "That being said, you asked about this mech. Well, it's one of the things I wanted to show off to Carson since he's getting one."

    Carson's eyes widened in shock and the rest did the same, save Martress.

    "And since you're all here, let me show it off. C'mon." I waved for them to follow.

    Both of the Lords immediately did so, like youngsters instead of grown men. The others followed closely, but less quickly. Due to the Simple Words perk I had gained, I was able to explain complicated subjects of what it was and how it was able to function as it did. By the time I had finished explaining, and answering a question here and there, they all more or less understood what the machine did and why it was able to do what it does.

    Carson was in awe of such a complicated machine being before him. Devlin grinned at all of its capabilities and wanted a ride. The others were in similar camps, though the Regent and Man-at-Arms were more calculating.

    "You can't handle this thing yet, so we need to put you both in the simulator. Fortunately, ours are better than the Star Leagues, so it's as real as it gets."

    Devlin looked dejected and a little mad at being called incapable, but then brightened up at the mention of simulators superior to even the best ones made.

    "Well, lead the way! Let's have some fun!"

    I nearly rolled my eyes, but instead nodded. "Martress. If you would."

    "Yes, my Sovereign." She replied with a grin of her own before leading the group back to the ground car and driving off. It wasn't long before we stopped before the simulation control section. The room was filled with dozens of Simulator Pods that combined Fallout, Subnautican, and Covenant technology to create something out of this world.

    "This room isn't just for simulations and training, but also to control mechs remotely so as to not get killed when piloting a prototype or something." I explained.

    I stopped when Devlin and Carson began to take off their shirts before I waved them off.

    "You don't need to strip down, unless you want an authentic experience."

    Carson stopped for a moment in thought, but Devlin just kept going. "Of course! Make it as real as you can get it!"

    He was making eyes with Colonel Martress, who was giving a quirked brow as he did so.

    I shrugged. He didn't need to strip since the heat issue mechs had in this universe had long since been made moot by superior heat sink technology. Thanks to the Architects, and to a lesser extent, quantum physics, my best machines can now use Quantum Storage technology to just transfer heat out of the machine and into multiple radiators along the oceans floor across Subnautican territory. For machines without it, each heat sink was now equivalent to ten heat sinks at three tons each, and most had only two or three.

    With the introduction of Ion Crystal Reactors however, heat sinks might be reduced even further to handle what the body itself produces, and perhaps to the point where weapons had them in-built.

    I didn't voice this as I was allowing Martress to have a floor show since I might use her as the honeypot after this, depending on how far he's willing to pursue.

    He was given a pilots suit like mine, which actually did come equipped with a cooling system in case it did get hot in there. Devlin and Carson cut heroic figures when they placed them on.

    I pulled the neural helmets for them, which appeared as simple ring crowns.

    "These take the place of neural helmets, but are the simple models."

    They looked surprised again, taking them in hand and giving them a look over in fascination.

    "Never seen such a small device." Regent Demonte murmured as he looked upon it in his Lord's hands.

    Soon enough, they placed them on and got into a pair of pods. I got into one myself soon after, mine already connecting to mission control. I paused as I felt another star fall, but then passed by. I felt relief at that, as getting something like an object would have been really awkward.

    "Sovereign to Mission control."

    "We read you Sovereign."

    "Place us all into P.M. 2.3s, and give us a…memorable mission. Seek and destroy. Ruined city…New York. Manhattan. Rim World Armed Forces. Enemy Leader priority."

    "Understood sir. Placing in parameters…parameters complete. Start from Liberty Island in New York Harbor. You wish to know the final target location?"

    "Make it a part of mission brief. Put them through basic control tutorials first though."

    "Understood sir. Would you like to look over the data from the field trial while you wait?"

    "Yes. Put it through the pod interface."

    So I sat, and looked over the combat data from the field trial, marking down portions that needed improvement or removal, taking note of what weapons were effective and not against the various targets the field trail put me up against. It was nearly an hour later when I received an alert that Carson and Devlin were finished with the tutorials and ready to take it to the real simulation.

    "Alright. Let's get this show on the road."

    "Confirmed command. Simulation is engaged. Activating Virtual Reality Immersion in five, four, three, two, one."

    Upon finishing the countdown, my vision blurred as it warped, and my mind was transported from reality to a fantasy realm. It looked and felt real, thanks to Fallout, and soon I, Carson, and Devlin were being shown a briefing. It showed Earth, zoomed in on the North American East Coast to New York City, and then to Manhattan, marking out several locations with red squares. Appropriate mission brief music accompanying it like it was a game.

    I saw facial images of both my fellow leaders, Carson looked like he had his game face on, while Devlin looked like he was impatiently ready to get into it.

    An image of General Kerensky appeared with his name, and rank appearing to shock the two Lords for a moment.

    "Good to meet you, gentlemen. I'm certain it is a surprise for you to see me speaking directly to you now. It cannot be overstated that this mission's importance requires nothing less than myself to oversee the operation."

    His image zoomed out, taking the upper left corner of the view while the map took up the rest.

    "We have received word from the underground resistance in New York that a member of the Cameron family line survives in the underground system of the city. They alerted the Star League Command, and thus have placed their retrieval as ultra priority. However, this knowledge has leaked to Stefan Amaris, and he has taken measures."

    Red squares are highlighted across sections of the city.

    "Even though the majority of his forces are engaged across the globe, he has placed this at the top of his priorities and sent his elite units to capture the Cameron member, or deny us by eliminating them. Several companies of battlemech and armor units are in the location, protecting infantry assets attempting to access the underground."

    Pictures of various combat vehicles, followed by famous Amaris Mechs like the Jackrabbit, Phoenix, and the Rampage. The general's picture returned to taking up the screen, his face grim and determined.

    "We cannot allow this. Thus we will retrieve the Cameron before they do. However, we have no assets in the city, and it will take time to send any due to the invasion. Thus we come to you."

    His picture zooms out again, showing the mech we will be using. The PM-02 Breaker, the mech I was testing out before Carson and Devlin arrived. It highlighted the lack of legs, the "over the shoulder" linear gun on the right side, the shard launcher on the left shoulder, plasma repeater on the left arm, and the covenant plasma blade on the right arm for melee strikes.

    "The Breaker is our newest, and most advanced mech unit ever created. It is capable of putting in the work equal to an entire company of mechs on its own. With just the three of you, it is the equivalent of a battalion."

    It zoomed out again, showing the map, which zoomed on Liberty Island with a damaged Lady Liberty. Even though it was just a simulation, I felt dismay and anger at seeing her in such a state. It was based on an actual picture after the SLDF 10th​ Army retook it from Amaris forces.

    "The 10th​ Army has already eliminated ariel defenses, allowing you to be inserted by drop pod into the area. The city still is heavily defended however, so you will be inserted upon Liberty Island in the South Harbor area. From there you will utilize your mechs unique mode of travel to enter the Combat Area, and eliminate the enemy forces."

    It map zoomed back out and focused on Central Park.

    "We have reason to believe that the enemy's command unit is located in this area, the famous Central Park. It is open ground with no buildings to hide in. Should Amaris forces retrieve the Cameron before we can land, it is here that they will be extracted. You will need to stop it at all costs should this happens."

    The general took up the view again, showing how tired he is, but still defiant against the situation.

    "We have already come so far comrades. We cannot fail now that we are on the cusp of ending this insanity of Amaris. We will win this war one way or another, but whether a Cameron is on the throne or not, is down to you."

    He stands up and looks at us with dignity and strength.

    "I expect nothing but your best. Good luck, and God Speed."

    He finished with a salute, and the picture faded away.

    I looked over to the images of Carons and Devlin to gauge their reactions. I grinned a little when I saw how serious Carson was taking this. I then remembered his parents Eridani Light Horse background, and realized he was likely brought up on the idea of the SLDF more than most on this world. This was as close he would be to actually being SLDF as he would ever be, so, he was "Super" serious now. Devlin was being himself, but also now had a game face on.

    It was at this moment another star fell, but it passed, and once more I was relieved.

    Suddenly the cockpit of our mechs faded into our view and we could move about. We see the inside of our drop pods through enhanced night vision.

    "…Breaker Lance, this is mission control. We are in drop position, begin your start up check and prepare for launch."

    "Alright. Time to get to work. Systems check."

    Hearing my voice jolted them a little, but they began their startup checks as I did.

    "You said this was as close to real as it gets, I didn't think it would be like this." Carson stated.

    "Man, it's a good thing I don't have one of these back home. I'd never get out of it!" Devlin chuckeld as he finished his checks.

    "I'll take note of that Devlin. Checks complete. All systems green."

    "Same/good to go!" they both sounded off.

    "Alright. Mission Control, we are go for mission. Play me "A cup of Liber-Tea" if you would please."

    "Copy that Breaker One, we confirm systems are green. Good hunting. Launch in five, four, three, two, one…Launching!"

    The Helldivers 2 theme began to play as mission control replied, and then suddenly our mech jolts at the bass hits, shaking us as we are launched down at highspeeds towards the Earth. Our screens showed external cameras of our launch as the music played. Sensors show the heat rising as we punch through the atmosphere, and "Liber-Tea" theme played triumphantly, flames surrounding our pods as laser and autocannon fire filled the air in our general direction, and ships firing back down at said fire.

    Devlin whooped loudly. "This is what I'm talking about! WOOOOOO~"

    Carons rolled his eyes, but he was in the mood too.

    The music came to an end just as Liberty Island came into view.

    "Game time! Pod break…Now!"

    The pod split apart, exposing us to the open air, and our Quantum Arrestor systems kicked in, stopping us from hitting the ground. We then floated in place, and I scanned for targets.

    "Negative targets in landing zone. Moving to quadrant A5."

    "Copy, moving to same."

    "Following you two."

    I found myself staring a little as I looked at the city and saw the Twin Towers standing, though damaged and smoking, and remember that this setting was before the War on Terror, so some events didn't happen here as they did in my world.

    To keep them going for this long though?...oh who am I kidding, there are Chinese and Japanese temples and European castles that still exist even now. Notre Dame. The Vatican for crying out loud!

    I shook myself from those thoughts as we passed over the water and entered The Battery. The park had been set aflame at some point, leaving a burned-out husk, which is why we were able to see groups of fast moving hover tanks enter north from Greenwich Street.

    "Hover tanks. Engaging."

    Bursts of plasma fire erupted from all three of us upon the fast moving tanks, but within seconds they were destroyed. More vehicles appeared from the east and north east streets, along with combat helicopters firing autocannons, lasers and missiles.

    "Take em!"

    "Got em!" Carson replied as Devlin just laughed and fired a bunch of seekers at the ground units.

    Aircraft burned out of the sky with plasma fire, with tanks and missile carriers more of the same. We by passed them quickly, elevating above the wreckage of the city and civilian vehicles when an alert filled the air.

    "Incoming Mechs. Reinforced Company. Looks like Jackrabbit and Rampage units."

    The Jackrabbit light mech was meant to be an SLDF unit, but with the factories taken by Amaris, they had unfortunately become associated with him and thus relegated to history as the Rampage had. A quick scan revealed the units ahead were four lances of the mech, but half were original "8T" models, which had the AC-2 and SRM-2, and the modified "9R" model with the Large Laser, an extra heat sink, and extra ton of armor utilized by the RWAF to make up for the first model's shortcomings.

    The two Rampage lances also appeared at the rear, and they were all standard units with an LBX-10 autocannon, a Large Pulse Laser, an LRM-10 with Artemis fire control systems, three Streak SRM-2 launchers, two medium lasers, a flamer, and a single ATM system. Real monsters.

    It was a total of twenty four mechs.

    The light mechs immediately let loose with AC-2 fire from down range. They did no real damage due to the advanced armor of the Breaker, but it still woke Carson and Devlin up. Large Laser fire joined in, and did actual damage, forcing us to retaliate and dodge around buildings. We were faster and more maneuverable, but we were outnumbered eight to one.

    Fortunately, our mechs were equal to that and more.

    I activate my Linear Gun, the long barrel swinging over my shoulder and pointing forward. When I got into the enemy line of sight, they unleashed fire and missiles, but I did as well with a single shot. The Linear Gun charged up and unleashed a shot that shattered windows around me, and cracked ferrocrete from overpressure. The shot struck in the middle of a group of Jackrabbits and unleashed a force equal to medium sub-naval autocannon.

    Everything within the epicenter of the explosion was broken apart like brittle toys, and units beyond that were thrown by the explosion and heavily damaged. Eleven units were out in an instant, with six of them mission killed.

    "Holy shit! That's what the Linear gun can do!?" Carson shouted out astonishment.

    "Well then, let's start using them!" Devlin shouted with some bloodlust in his tone.

    "You only have so many shots, so try not to use too many." I warned them. I paused when I felt a star fall. The forge reached out and grabbed it.

    I cursed and hoped it wasn't anything crazy.

    Clang! said:
    -Fun in the Sun (Warhammer 40k - T'au Empire) (100CP)
    Plasma, radiation, and antimatter are all similar in that they relate to exotic and high energy states of matter, whether it is stellar mass or individual particles of subatomic size. You now are a master of T'au technology as it relates to manipulating these high-energy states of matter and the physics that underpin them.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I winced at the sudden input of knowledge, but otherwise I let out a relieved breath. I forced myself to focus back on the battle instead of delving into how I could improve what plasma technologies I already had.

    The sound a Missile Warning filled the air as a swarm of missiles flew towards me. I ducked behind one of the buildings near the Financial District, and noticed as the missiles impact the looming shadow of the Twin Towers. I felt myself pause for a moment looking up at them, before pulling myself out as I came into view of another Lance of tanks and VTOL units.

    Plasma and seekers struck out at targets while heavy impacts of Linear Cannons destroyed several more units from the mech forces arrayed against us. Strafing east, I flowed back onto Broadway and fired another Linear Cannon round into a group of Rampage units, striking one directly, and letting loose localized Armageddon on the simulated Rim-World units.

    While they faired better than the Jackrabbit's, they were all damaged heavily and toppled over from the sheer force. The one I struck ceased to exist from the lower torso and up. Two more shots from Carson and Devlin took advantage of their lull and exterminated the rest. It was only then I noticed all enemy units were destroyed.

    "Woah…I'm usually a solo unit. I forgot how fast a team can handle this sort of thing." I admitted.

    "So what happened before wasn't a one time thing with you?" Carson asked in a wry tone.

    "I tend to be hands-on with problems." I admitted without a hint of shame.

    "Ha! That's the best way as far as I'm concerned!"

    Carson sighed. "Oh god, there are two of you now."

    I and Devlin laughed at his tone before moving on. For the next ten minutes we just tear through the Rim-Jobs with vicious force, when suddenly we get an alert, only for moments later for four gauss rifle shots striking a building just beside us.

    "Woah/What the hell!"

    I zoomed my vision out to see the enemy unit and felt my stomach drop a little. It was a company of mechs that there should have been only one of in existence, but Mission control decided to send a company at us.

    "Watch out! Rifleman Three units! Don't let them hit you!"

    "Rifleman Three?!" they both squawk just as the company unleashed all their fire at us. Carson escaped being hit, but Devlin and I were clipped by a few solid hits. By few I meant twelve Gauss rounds for each of us. The Armor took the brunt of the damage, reducing it to only sixty percent of a full powered shot, but it was still twelve of the damned things!

    We were nearly taken out right there, and immediately took cover behind buildings.

    Devlin was cursing up a storm, and I was checking the damage over to see what I had.

    "What the fuck was that just now!" Devlin shouted after he stopped cussing.

    "Rifleman Three. Created by Amaris, and used during the Liberation campaign on Terra. This monster has four Gauss Rifles equipped on it, and is primarily an ambusher as it can only fire four times before its out of ammo. The real one killed nine SLDF mechs before it was killed by the SLDF bringing the goddamn hammer down."

    They were silent as they digested that.

    "Are you for real?! Four Gauss Rifles?!" Carson shouted in incredulity.

    "Shit….I want one." Murmured Devlin.

    "For real, yes. Keep moving, don't let them get a bead on you, and hit them hard and fast!" I commanded as I sped forward, Linear Gun now loaded and out before rising up above the buildings. I was immediately fired upon by six mechs, and stuck by the fire of two, but fortunately only four rounds hit me. It was still a good amount of damage and I was going to be dead at this rate, but I fired back with my own Linear Cannon.

    One was struck in the chest, and dead immediately, and the other six were struck by proximity. Three exploded as their capacitors went off, causing an ammo explosion, thus ending their run. The other three were damaged but still in the running.

    Carson was on the ground level and was fired upon by four units, all save a single one missed, and all four struck the Arrestor unit, which was heavily armored but still only able to take so much. Carson kept control and fired his own Linear Gun at a grouping. It struck right between them, hitting five units, and mission killed three.

    Devlin was shot at by two units, with only one hitting him with two rounds. His center torso took the hits and took off a ton of armor, but he was fine otherwise. He snarled and fired back with his own Linear Gun, but the group and survivors of our previous strikes were moving off to cover. The shot passed by them and struck a building, causing the whole thing to come crashing down and send dust everywhere.

    "SHIT!"

    "No! This is a good thing! They can't see now! Close in and hit them with blades!"

    I could hear the toothy grin on Devlin's face grow as he and Carson agreed.

    Our Linear guns shifted to safe mode as we blitzed into the dust cloud. Our scanners giving us a computerized view of the area as we turned and bore down on the Rifleman units.

    They didn't see it coming as we struck them with plasma blades, cutting them in half and apart. A few fired blindly, but only succeeded in hitting buildings as they too were cut down.

    The company was done, and we exited the dust cloud as a group.

    "Well, that was something." I said with some sarcasm.

    "Remind me to get an Amaris doll to stab. I wanna see if it hurts despite being in hell." Carson growled.

    "That's just redundant."

    "I think we should burn an effigy." Devlin added with a bit of his normal self.

    "Oh, that's much better!"

    I sighed. "For the Greater Good, I will do that, but let's finish this before we burn any statues of fat men in bibs."

    They both laughed at the image as we accelerated to Central Park where the last group supposedly was.

    When we entered the park, we were immediately assailed by mechs and combat vehicles, along with mortars. It was quickly turning into bullet hell. On top of that, we were now being attacked not just by Jackrabbits, Phoenix, and Rampage units, but also Dragoon mechs and a few more Rifleman Three units.

    "Don't hold back, go all out!" I shouted as I blitz the speed and made the Breaker live up to its name. Moving at speeds in excess of two hundred kilometers per hour, most of the units had trouble targeting us now that we were able to make use of the speed. Open ground was the Breaker's friend, and we made use of it.

    Linear shots, Plasma bursts, seeker swarms, and occasional Blade strikes, quickly whittled down the enemy numbers within minutes.

    Soon enough, the entire park was cleared of enemies, and the mission was completed.

    Alexander Kerensky's voice came over the radio.

    "You three have preformed your duty beyond expectations. Now we will land and see to the Cameron's safe retrieval. Thank you for your work. Stand by for retrieval. Our work is not yet finished, and will not be until Amaris is finally defeated. Your next mission will be forthcoming."

    The sight of a dozen Overlord dropships coming down from the sky was a sight to behold.

    "This is Sierra-1-1. We confirm a safe LZ, standby to landing."

    The view soon faded away to black, and then to a mission screen showing us our score.

    We got a B+ due to killing all of the units in a good amount of time, but less for taking the damage.

    That faded, and then the real world came into our vision, with the pods opening up. I slowly exited from the Pod, as did the other two. Looking over towards the group, the guards were cheering their lords, while mine cheered for me.

    Martress gave me a look that said "You could have done better". I just shrugged. She turned and gave Devlin a look that said "Pretty good." Pfft. Women.

    Devlin just grinned and puffed up, his Regent giving him a proud look as they all began jabbering about what they just experienced.

    I sat there and relaxed, grinning at the fun I just had and realized…I should do this more often.

    I felt another star fall at that moment, and the forge grabbed it. I felt a moment of panic.

    CLANG!!! said:
    -Workshop Artisan (Bloodborne) (300CP)
    As if taught at the long gone workshop, you seem to possess knowledge and skill with many of their crafting techniques. You have been granted the knowledge and skills needed to both repair and even create your own Trick Weapons and Hunter's Tools.

    Trick Weapons are weapons with a variety of special abilities relating to their form. The most common type of Trick Weapons are those that can transform in some manner. An example being swords that can lock into specialized sheaths in order to become different weapons, sometimes radically so. Not to say transformation is the only ability, there are also melee weapons with guns attached, and maces that can be charged with unnatural blue electricity to deal massive damage.

    Hunter's Tools are pieces of equipment with special abilities activated by using Blood Bullets or Quicksilver Bullets as a medium. Hunter's Tools are usually supernatural items that have been made to work using a Blood/Quicksilver Bullet medium, such as the Beast Roar, a beast's claw that when activated, allows the wielder to roar like a beast.

    Some Hunter's Tools are completely man made as well, though this is a relative minority. Basically, you now know how to convert things into being activated and powered by Blood Bullets and Quicksilver Bullets. Doing so allows anyone to use them, even if they are completely mundane beings, so long as they have the bullets mentioned above on their person. When making Hunter's Tools, remember that the more power something requires, the bullets the wielder will need. These skills granted to you may be honed over time, just as any other skill can.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I blinked and then relaxed again. So…better energy weapons and the ability to make Hunter's tools.

    Well…it will be interesting making said tools with modern technology. Plasma Pistols that become Plasma Blades?

    Oh yes…fun is coming.

    I paused as Devlin came over to me and pulled me up.

    "My friend, if this is a taste of what an alliance will be like with you, I want to join. Hands Down. No more questions. Let me join." He declared. His Regent suddenly looked put out at his rash decision.

    I quirked a brow and gave the man a bone.

    "Let me tell you what comes with it before you totally decide alright. There's more than just cool mech fights and the means of uplifting your nation."

    Devlin and his Regent sighed, the former at being denied and the latter in relief.

    Then I felt another star fall. Once more the forge grabbed something.

    Clang! said:
    -Constructor Drone and AI Kernel (Warhammer 40k: T'au Empire) (100CP)
    This drone is an automated constructor unit, capable of building simple machines and buildings on its own and more complicated structures and technologies under your direct supervision, so long as it has materials to work with. Its tools can be easily customized or replaced with new or different technologies. Moreover, its software includes a kernel that can be used to grow specialized AI and VI systems optimized for various computational substrates and tasks that are always loyal to you.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    The sudden appearance of a Tau Construction Drone from literally nowhere caused everyone to suddenly jolt and in the case of the guards, point their weapons at it.

    Devlin stared at it, as did Carson, with wide eyes.

    I quickly got out of Devlin's grip and put on a grin, bullshitting on the spot as I slapped my palm on the machine.

    "We got other toys, like this here construction drone!"

    It looked at me and beeped.


    Author's Note

    Chapter 13 is on Patreon, and Chapter 14 is in the works.
     
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    • And so the Forge giveth.
    And the little drone popped up amongst them.
    Fun times ahead, I foresee.
    Yes, For the Greater Good!
     
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