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Post by Commander Of Games on Aug 16, 2014 12:31:03 GMT -6
Shipyards: 33/40x5 Shipyards: 29/40x5 Orator-class Cruisers: 29/38x5
"Gladly." The Celae respond. The Jnath enters Ripspace and heads back to Order space.
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Post by Wrangler Civil Corpsman on Aug 16, 2014 12:38:32 GMT -6
-"Status report. How is the airlock going?"
-"Not very well, sir. We're pulling out a cutting torch for this, stand by. Fuck, I shouldn't have drank that vodka... bloody hangover..."
-"Go ahead. Engage manual airlock when its done, don't want to open it later by accident."
-"Engineering, everything stable down there?"
-"All quiet... no, wait, room sensors detecting movement. Something's near the rear of our ship."
-"Roger that. Wait, you guys have your sensors online?"
-"We jury-rigged a battery, why?"
-"Get something like that up here, we might need it. And if you find the captain, please escort him here."
-"Did he wander off again? I swear, guy bought his way to this position."
Shipyards 5/44 Hope's Spring Shipdock 6/44 Vanhart Shipyards 6/44 Josephtown Driveyard
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 13:52:25 GMT -6
The Fist set a course back to Port Sahran, tripropellant motors providing the vessel with a fair half-gee of acceleration. Spent fuel tanks unclamped from the side of the craft, left adrift in the ship's wake. --- "Helium exhaust with temperatures in the thousands of K, as well as enormous thermal output from the ship itself." "Not the subtlest of races, then. Free up an umbilical for them, and station some guards outside the lock just in case things get heated."
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 16, 2014 14:39:52 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 28/40x5 Shipyards: 24/40x5 Shipyards: 21/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 21/35x5
The Safe Investment approached and slowed it's velocity to match the station's. It extended it's own umbilical to meet the station's. KT-11 was dissapointed to find that they had no holographic projection equipment. The exobody wasn't too intimidating, decided KT-11. It was modeled after the Luvos, tall, slim, and was curved like an organic. KT-11 diverted some of their processing power into the exobody. KT-11 walked through the umbilical and waited for the airlock.
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Post by Sliprunner on Aug 16, 2014 16:02:58 GMT -6
There was a moment pause before Nalmerk responded, again with text "Crescent Sun, From Joomtar, I am of the Glædwine" He started to settle down now that something was responding to him, more specifically because nothing was shooting yet. Though the Crescent Sun still had the occasional flicker of its RCS thrusters.
=Que= 5x Halmer Class Cruisers 11/38
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2014 21:02:04 GMT -6
The outer lock would slide into a recess, allowing the exobody entry. Sliding shut behind KT-11, there would be a several-second pause before the lock in front of them opened, revealing the four armed guards arrayed to either side - as well as what would appear to be a group of high-level officials, all focused on the exobody. One stepped forward uncertainly, saying "Welcome; we represent the Bureau. What business do you have in our system?" --- Rezani halted herself before the hole in the alien hull, switching on her helmet lights and peering into the cavity.
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 17, 2014 21:24:43 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 29/40x5 Shipyards: 25/40x5 Shipyards: 22/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 22/35x5
The Nixoch returned a text message. "What is your mission, Crescent Sun?"
"I am KT-11, a representative of the Latesi Interstellar Transportation company." KT-11's voice was a near perfect match to an organic one, it still seemed off in a few slight ways. "I was chosen to investigate a subspace signal that was sent from this system, in the case that it was a sign of extrasolar markets. Are you able to maintain an interstellar trade route? Latesi Interstellar Transporation could be contracted to ship goods between us if you aren't able to." KT-11 paused for a moment, knowing that organics needed some time to digest information. "I also noticed you had gas giants you were not yet utilizing. Do you have plans to, or would you be willing to sell them?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2014 22:18:33 GMT -6
"Ah, signal? utilizing?" The representative said. "Sorry; my name is Terl. Come," he said, gesturing around him. "Let us go to somewhere more fitting for this occasion. I believe there is an open meeting room somewhere around here. We can speak as we walk." Turning to his left, he started making his way down the upwards-sloping hall. "So, tell me - first, what do you mean by 'utilize.' We have bases around it; is that not 'utilizing?' As well, what would interstellar trade entail?"
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 17, 2014 22:28:38 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 30/40x5 Shipyards: 26/40x5 Shipyards: 23/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 23/35x5
"You are using it's gravity well, but not the resources it offers. You can scoop gasses from it's atmosphere, they offer lots of hydrogen and helium. We use the hydrogen as fuel on planetside power plants and in our starship's engines, and the helium in industrial processes. The hydrogen isn't burnt as-is in our ship's engines, we use it to produce deuterium and tritium. Interstellar trade would include the trade of raw materials and consumer goods between our two systems using faster than light technology," answered KT-11. She liked using a humanoid exobody, controlling all of it's limbs was much more entertaining than spinning a wheel or tread.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2014 22:41:06 GMT -6
"Sounds... particularly intriguing. Although selling an entire planet right now would be something of a hasty decision." Taking a left, Terl led the group down a hall filled with conference groups - some empty, some not - until he arrived at the one he had scheduled. Pulling open the door, he stepped in to take a seat at a round, wooden table. The others followed suit. Reclining into his chair, he continued "So - this signal. What was it like?"
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 17, 2014 22:46:14 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 31/40x5 Shipyards: 27/40x5 Shipyards: 24/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 24/35x5
KT-11 pulled out a chair and sat, putting her hands on the table. "It was a long, loud, beep, that seemed as if it was pointed at us. It came through subspace, so it was assumed that someone else had made it. Nothing natural has ever been received over subspace."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2014 23:03:37 GMT -6
Terl gazed about the conference room, perplexed - only to notice the others were, as well. Regaining his composure, he sighed and said "That sounds like a matter for another time. However-" An aide walked in, placing a beige folder in front of Terl before disappearing into the hall. He opened it an stared at the page presented to him confusedly, before returning his gaze to KT - a fire of determination alight in his eyes. "However, preliminary analysis of your propulsion system has already piqued our interest. Are technological developments... well, do you trade advancements as well as goods and materials? And what would the sale of the planet you spoke of earlier net us - or at least, what would be your approximation?"
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 17, 2014 23:11:31 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 32/40x5 Shipyards: 28/40x5 Shipyards: 25/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 25/35x5
"Whatever technology you're interested in, it can be purchased. Selling the planet would get you billions of hydrogen credits, a credit is equal to a kilogram of liquid hydrogen. You can trade them in for actual hydrogen of an equivalent volume, or use them to purchase materials, goods, and technology. The technology could be added to our side of the planetary acquisition deal, and reduce the amount of hydrogen credits paid to you. Propulsion technology may be at the top of your list, but do you lag behind in any other technologies? Power generation... computers?" asked KT-11. Even if the Cphea did not accept the purchase of the gas giant, they would be the first extrasolar market dominated by any Insar company. A win in Latesi's books.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2014 23:27:57 GMT -6
Terl frowned. "Comput- Oh." Head tilted and eyes narrowed, he continued "Wait, you're not... so that isn't just some kind of suit? You're a... thinking machine? I've been speaking to a walking calculator?" After several seconds of frowning, he grimaced and added "Well, fooled me." Another representative raised his head from his note pad and asked "Eleven, do you have representative power? Can you really speak for your people?"
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 17, 2014 23:39:45 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 33/40x5 Shipyards: 29/40x5 Shipyards: 26/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 26/35x5
"A calculator? I'll take that as you do need modern computers," remarked KT-11. She turned to the other representative. "I am a market researcher under employment of the Latesi Interstellar Transportation company. I have been following the proper procedures for a deal with a governing body."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2014 23:46:56 GMT -6
Terl looked about, feeling somewhat uneasy. All other representatives seemed to be expecting him to continue, save one. "KT," she said. "Instead of something so large as a gas giant, what about an ice moon of, say, a thousand or so kilometers of diameter? Would that allow us to buy the... production rights to your propulsion system and power source? As well, your computing technologies seem interesting, although we're not certain that our society would be ready for something so momentous as 'thinking machines,' as Terl termed them, at this time."
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 17, 2014 23:55:32 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 34/40x5 Shipyards: 30/40x5 Shipyards: 27/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 27/35x5
"An ice moon would be fine. Other elements can be extracted from it's surface. I will need to return to a Latesi operated area to discuss this with my superiors, since I am not equipped with a subspace ansible for communications. As for computers, thinking machines would not immediately take shape. We could provide advanced solid-state computing with architecture not yet.. small.. enough to support artificial intelligence personalities."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 0:05:30 GMT -6
"Right, I believe that is our agreement," Terl said. "An ice moon as the price for your propulsion, power, and some superior computing systems - as well as however many of your hydrogen credits would be left over from that transaction. When do you intend to depart back to your home system, and will your people be willing to establish an embassy to facilitate communications between us?"
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 18, 2014 0:19:41 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 34/40x5 Shipyards: 30/40x5 Shipyards: 27/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 27/35x5
"We are not a government entity. In fact, the Insar have not had a unified government for a very long time. Other companies may not be as friendly to you as we are. To ease communications, an office with an AI personality and ansible will be constructed wherever you deem appropriate. I will return as quickly as possible," said KT-11. She got up and left the room, returning to the Safe Investment. She began to trip back to Hithar.
"Good news. We've got an extrasolar market," said KT-11 as she entered orbit around Luvos. "They are willing to trade us an ice moon for technology and hydrogen credits, and want an office established. Could you organize that for me?" AL-20, the personality KT-11 was communicating with, quickly began conversations with other personalities. Soon a small task force of a rapid-refurbished Negotiator, Secretary, and a second Contractor was ready to return to the Cphea. They carried examples of computers, silicon for chip manufacture, a disassembled ICF drive, a disassembled fission reactor, and materials to set up a prefabricated office with subspace ansible. The task force included 4 AI personalities and ansible-equipped exobodies. It set out into Cphea space.
The task force arrived in Cphea space. KT-11 instructed the other AI on which planet to burn to, and then sent a message to the station she had visited. I RETURN WITH ITEMS DICTATED IN DEAL FULLSTOP.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 0:37:40 GMT -6
"Aixel, Where's Pell? I need to ask him something," Uetrech said. "Probably in the lab as-" Uetrech interjected. "He wasn't there." "What? Then..." Aixel looked off over his friend's shoulder, thinking. "No, he couldn't be in the- wait, have you checked the observatory?" "Oh, this is just perfect." --- OPEN BERTHS BLUE AND YELLOW LIGHTS FULLSTOP, the station returned. A flare flew over the horizon, closing on the station, and a fireball descended through the atmosphere. Craft docked and undocked, arrived and departed; the occasional interplanetary transport burned onto a hohmann transfer trajectory while satellites in orbits high and low made their way through the sky. And in the Port Sahran Observatory, a lone Cphea contemplated the speed with which these newcomers traveled between the stars.
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 18, 2014 0:48:25 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 35/40x5 Shipyards: 31/40x5 Shipyards: 28/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 28/35x5
The first ships to dock and unload were the Safe Investment, since it carried KT-11, the Secretary-class, since it carried the most cargo, and then followed by the Negotiator since it had whatever cargo was left. The second Contractor was there for escort. The Secretary and Safe Investment remained docked. KT-11 in her exobody, and a personality named DC-78 joined her. DC-78 controlled several drones that moved cargo around. They were not present in an exobody, though the drones could speak for any other personality that wanted to. KT-11 greeted Terl.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 1:12:04 GMT -6
"Hello again, KT. Glad to have a familiar... intelligence to converse with. While the rest of the staff is directing your gifts, I'd like to speak with you about... well, what do you intend to do with the moon? I mean, we did sell it to you - however, turning it into something a military facility wouldn't help ease the dissenters."
Pell walked the halls until he found one of the cargo drones returning unattended from the science corridors. He walked briskly alongside it, hoping that it would lead him to whoever maintained these automatons.
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 18, 2014 1:23:29 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 36/40x5 Shipyards: 32/40x5 Shipyards: 29/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 29/35x5
"We will use it as an anchor point for orbital industry, and mine it's ice to produce hydrogen and oxygen. There will be stations that private military ships can dock to in to be resupplied, but we will not place static weapons or facilities to manufacture military ships in orbit of it," replied KT-11.
The cargo drone to the storage bay of the Secretary, and stood still. DC-78 had disconnected from it, as there was nothing else to load. He noticed the presence of one of the Cphea in the bay, and took control of an intercom. "Are you lost?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 1:28:44 GMT -6
"That's a relief. Thank you." Terl took a moment to think before asking "And, regarding these hydrogen credits - there is a centralized banking system for that kind of stuff, right?"
Pell looked about, surprised. "No, no, I'm not lost - who's there?"
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Efelix
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Post by Efelix on Aug 18, 2014 1:40:28 GMT -6
[CELESTIAL FEDERATION] Shipyards: 37/40x5 Shipyards: 33/40x5 Shipyards: 30/40x5 Reef-class Cruisers: 30/35x5
"Yes. Banks will store your credits, exchange hydrogen for credits, or exchange credits for hydrogen. We'll need to set up a bank in your system at some point." A cargo drone rolled next to KT-11. "DC-78, a personality on board one of the ships, is controlling this drone. He'll be walking you through use of the technology through them.
"I am DC-78, I control this ship. You are one of the organics we are dealing with, and I do not believe you have a reason to be in the cargo bay," said DC-78.
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