Once More, With Feeling

[Archduke Daynel, PhD]

TechTron Industries are on favor of the ICBII.

[Ivan2006]

@ACH seems I misinterpreted your post. Diesregard the economy thing I did in that case as it's invalid.

The psionic exchange program with the Nivanshe is paying off, and improvements for Macaian technology based on Nivanshe expertise is being developed. These new improvements are expected to further boost efficiency of the crew-ship connection and have security applications.

The design for the Assault ship, named the Seolh named after a large Macaian mammal bearing some resemblance to Earth Rhinoceri, has been finished.

The data on Earth animals gained from TechTron is being used to find new bionic applications (e.g. gecko-skin) while ship designers have grown somewhat fond of Terran marine biology.

The ME government has expressed interest in joining the ICBII.

[Crash Override]

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Science: A new laser and new software upgrades are being installed. The software grants better laser control and precision,and the laser is now more effective using special frequencies.

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Engineering: Research is going in the development of a better heat dispersal system,and the creation of a new ship.

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Sponsorship offers are being made,with one already being started at Halcyon II. A small frontier colony.

Spoiler:

The Corp. offer machines and other goods at a discounted price and the colony gives a share of the resources or income to the Corporation

[Julo]

OOC: Yes I'm playing an alien race, if that's okay. I just couldn't come up with a name

[Error]

Aliens are fine, but you would encounter a human fringe world far before finding Terra.

BIC

Progress on Hyperspatial Drive systems is progressing well; fighter-class ships, while too small to carry a drive, can now be shifted short (several AU) distances in moments. A drive capable of moving a capital ship (or subcapital ship) is under research.

Political Stuff

Spoiler:

A number of distinct groups have begun to emerge within Novan society. The foremost, referring to itself as 'Populi Maurii', apparently after the Maurii Islands on Novus. A number of other, smaller groups are emerging; it is likely these will replace geographical representation in government.

SCIENCE and Such

Spoiler:

[REPORT: DR. L. KOBLE, CSS MOREAU]
Further examination, and flight past, the ringworld (henceforth referred to as the Great Derelict) has indicated proximity is not a factor in the defenses' response. Landings on the surface indicate no gravity, making us suspect a gravity drive or manipulation field is preventing the Derelict's disintegration. We have experimentally landed an explorer drone; it is constructing a number of probes to investigate the internal spaces of the Derelict.

Further analysis of the wrecks near CSV Apocrypha's exit point indicate we are unable (and likely all other known species) to replicate the technology. While the weapons are simple in principle - a cannon firing a beam of ionized plasma and high-power lasers together - any device we could built would likely be rouhly the size of a frigate; hardly able to fit aboard a small drone.

Materials analysis proves out first guesses correct; a multilayer alloy, composed of many unknown metals (and one layer of qua tum-compressed titanium) serves to armour these ships; it is likely this armour would render any current shield or hull technologies obsolete - if we could reproduce it, which I sincerely doubt.

I put forth a petition for further study, and if approved, a possible long-term base within the Great Derelict; it would be an unparalelled scientific location, not to mention the astonishing view.

ADDENDUM: I extend my thanks for your approval. Captain Elohm says he can direct the base contruction easily enough, but forwards his thanks for the extra personnel.

[Shadowcatbot]

With four participating members the ICBII has been officially founded and several ICBII centers have popped up on various member planets to collect data. On an NC border outpost world a center station is being built to house, display, transmit, and process the data gathered.


The Cutter class has been thoroughly tested and the finished designs are being placed in mass production. A scout ship design named the Streaker class has been finished and is following suit.

Graphene computers from TechTron are being studied to increase knowledge of computing. Improvements have been made to several test computers that have been rebuilt to utilize superior NC energy tech and psionic interfacing.

Magnetic field generators are being experimented with.

A contract has been offered to Venture industries to mine high quality silver and tellurium for electrical and psionic applications.

[Professor Fenway]

//Vortex Station\\
Gentlemen, welcome to the first inaugural broadcast of Vortex Station, where we will do our best to deliver uncensored, unadulterated news straight from neutral space. And today, we bring forth a tale of genocide.

The military has kept this under wraps, of course, because killing an entire sentient species is rather... bad for business. But intercepted reports and a flurry of traffic to an inhabited planet indicates that the Hierarchy is destroying an entire race.

Why? One report indicates that the local 'industrial' civilization managed to destroy a destroyer with an IPBM. Bullshit. Any half-decent defense system would be able to shoot down any IPBM, and it's utter bullshit that an industrial level civilization would have the capability to find the ship, build a rocket, and shoot it down on the first try.

No, the Hierarchy wants the civilization gone so that they can colonize the world for themselves. And to this end, they are bombarding the entire planet.

Don't let them get away with this. Make the Hierarchy atone for their crime. We've attached these reports; you determine their authenticity.

Vortex, signing off.
\\END//

The NR has indicated that they wish to enter the ICBII.
Several new worlds are also being colonized; these are less-than-ideal worlds that were skipped over in the initial run.

[Meta]Communication jammers have been deployed to prevent Vortex Station's broadcast from reaching NR worlds and from reaching other empires, while scout ships are attempting to pinpoint the station's signal. It has been traced to a large tan nebula, but the exact location is unknown due to signal refraction and reflection.

Researchers have indicated the possibility of Plasma Shielding, which would offer greatly enhanced defensive power over standard shielding.

After several months, the first mini jump-gate has been produced, and currently allows for small ships to move across a system nearly instantly.
[/Meta]

[Archduke Daynel, PhD]

The hyperpulse relay requested by the Nivanashe has been constructed. They can now enjoy instant communication with the rest of the galaxy.

A new line of household equipment has been released, being more efficient and power-saving than that of other companies, and in some cases even self-powered. A line of personal computing equipment, both laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones, have also been released. TechTron stores are being constructed in the significant cities of all major worlds that allow it.

[Ivan2006]

The ME asks TechTron about the possibility of purchasing hyperpulse communication and graphene computers.

[meta]Psionic research is continuing, as a new theory for the possibility of possibly creating large ammounts of psionic power output, possibly capable of manipulating physical objects, has been made.
A number of new ships, some of which inspired by Earth animals, are being proposed and evaluated.[/meta]

The Assault ship prototype has officially entered production.

[cats]

Sorry I've been away. Looks like I have a shit ton to read now that graduation projects are over.

And I'd like to launch my RP sometime soon (If the new Grounded RP flops).

Why did MWO Community Warfare have to launch this weekend?!d

[Error]

MWO failed to work when I installed it, otherwise i might be down your same black hole.

WB.

[Vinyl]

Hexalan has also approached TechTron about purchasing graphene computers and hyperpulse relays.

The navy has 20 more operational vessels. 15 others are awaiting crew assignment.

[Archduke Daynel, PhD]

Construction of hyperpulse relays between the Hexalan homeworld and Earth or Technoma, whichever is closest, has begun.
Macaian ships are being outfitted with hyperpulse communications.
Shipments of graphene computers and computer parts have been sent to Hexalan and the ME.

[cats]

Location: Butik, Capital Palace.

"My lord."

Butik Lauraun swung the orange-robed mass of sparsely furred flesh that was his torso around to look at his addresser: the Merek Fleetmaster to whom he had given permanent asylum and the position of High Ambassador. He spun the seat of his mobility chair around to face the ambassador. A politically appropriate, cordial smile, jumped to his face. "My good friend! I trust you'll be joining us for the evening meal?"

The Merek ambassador, dressed in the grey and magenta of Merek along with the bright red-oranges of Butik, looked up at Lauraun. The Imperial Minister of Butik was an immense Batii. If he could stand, he would have towered over most of his underlings by a meter. Sitting, as his missing leg commanded, he was already as tall as the Ambassador and was raised farther by his vehicle. He had a width to fit his height. The ambassador cast his gaze down to the polished stone floor. "I have an urgent message from your admiralty, my lord."

Lauraun's bottom jaws clicked. A curl of playful cheeriness added itself the twist of his mouth, "More urgent than dining? I suppose I'll have to hear it, then."

"Our forces engaged a contact in the western sector. It was suspected that it was an Alliance pursuer tracking my ships and was destroyed in accordance to protocol. Unfortunately, we now believe that it originated from outside of the Periphery. Completely foreign, like the three vessels we were denied in Shihe territory."

Lauraun's amused expression faded. A shallow frown spread itself over his colossal face.

"Several new contacts have been reported. Warships, most definitely. The appearance of weaponized craft in your space as well as the trio's actions during the battle earlier leads your commanders and me to believe that they intend to carry out hostile action. This is only personal speculation, but they may already have some kind of agreement with the Alliance."

The Imperial Minister grunted. "I'm no strategist. I'll give the admiralty whatever we can spare. A show of force is the same in every language." He paused to tap on his datapad. "We should not be discussing this so openly. I've canceled my plans for the evening, tell the Admiralty board I'll be meeting with them."

The ambassador bowed, then turned from Lauraun. He smiled as he walked from the building, happy that the Minister hadn't noticed the details that had been left out of the brief conversation.

============================================

Several escape pods were captured by the Merek ships that had come to the aid of the Hadn scout vessel. As a gesture of personal goodwill from a high-ranking Merek officer (now the ambassador), the pods and their contents were handed over to the Alliance in secret.

A fleet of 25 Butik ships are headed toward the contact (NR) area.

============================================

Location: Alliance-held [Novan] Contact Point; Aboard repurposed heavy cruiser Dorem

"You're sure it's a good idea to make contact personally?" Karesh Ni inquired over the conference room table.

Shihe Rhan answered, "No, we can't be sure of anything. We've talked about this before. But if these things are willing to stay in the same place for this long, they shouldn't be too quick to pull a knife on us."

Karesh Nihen shot a cutting glance at Rhan and answered the question that had been directed at him, "We do have plenty of able diplomats, but the import of this is such that I trust only myself to carry out this mission. And it appears that the other leaders agree, only the other heads of nations, along with a linguist that has some grasp on the language, will accompany me. And Rhan is correct. These beings are not likely to be hostile. Anyway, if I am killed somehow, you're ready to take my place."

Ni uncomfortably shifted in his seat. "And our... Guests that the Merek officer was so kind to deliver to the Alliance?"

Again Rhan answered before Nihen, "I think we should keep them, seeing as we've only had a few weeks to study them and we're not even sure if they're the same species as those on the ships, but I submit to the decision of the Alliance."

Nihen skipped the cutting glance and spoke, "They are still en route, ETA around three hours from now. We've been sending point communications to the, ah, Novan ships assuring that our guests were alive, but there's no way to know if our messages were successfully translated. The Alliance has elected that we deliver them when we board. It's a miracle we've been able to keep all of them alive for this long, Rhan, We'll get more chances for study in the future."

A military engineer entered the conference room. "The new umbilical connection is in place, madams, sirs. It should connect with the foreign ship."

"Good, then we only have to wait for our guests to arrive and we can begin the procedures."

============================================

A ship containing the humans and their escape pods from the Antioch scout vessel is en route to the contact point. After the vessel arrives, Dorem will dock with the Novan diplomatic ship.

[Error]

The defense cruiser has departed, shortly thereafter replaced by a converted passenger liner carrying several linguists and xenobiologists. These are being shuttled to the diplomatic cruiser Ashoran.