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Showing results for tags 'onix'.
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Tags: Science, Spaceship Mission Log Recording - "This is Dr. Steven Quin Livingston with my nineteenth weekly mission in Andromeda. Suddenly someone in my chain of command has decided that the Onix system is potentially unstable. I taking a "Viper" scout ship to give my scientific opinion. My mission is to provide new information to help us determine how, when and where this planet formed which will lead to better models on the systems stability." Comments and criticism are welcome This is ship is strongly based on a Vic Viper model from the Lego Adventure Book #2
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Location: Onix, Sector G-10 Tags: Spaceship In the depths of space, Captain Mesabi's target emerges, the rogue ALIEN frigate Widow Eater (The name doesn't translate well.) Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr "So the plan is to hit her with everything we got, before their weapons warm up." Says Captain Mesabi. Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr The front of the ship loomed ahead of them. "You mean literally one torpedo?" Asked Rusty "Hmm... I've got a new plan..." Replied Captain Mesabi Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr The torpedo hit the ship. Captain Mesabi turned the ship around Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr "We are literally out of ammo, what the megablok are we going to do?" "The only thing we can do..." Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr "RAMMING SPEED" Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr Ramming speed by North White, on Flickr "Ow...." Muttered Rusty. FIN Hope you liked this week's installment. I've decided not to photoshop to much any more since it doesn't really improve anything. C&C appreciated.
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"...With produce ripe to be plucked." The Invasive Species: Part 2 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Interlude Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 (Finale) Tags: Science, Civil Building Planet: Onix (The Axle, in Orbit) Not new build Dr. Martenz: "Progress on the vaccines goes slowly. We are in our trial stages now, but the alien species most like the Oni-Ren in regards to immune system is the Oni-Shu, but the creatures are... uncooperative. They keep escaping their crates and destroying lab equipment. Simply put, Danielle, I need more people. Not new build Dr. Long: "And the Oni-Ren are still unwilling to open a dialogue regarding their epidemic?" Dr. Martenz: "No. The Queen is sticking to her state's Isolationist, Nationalist ways. They refused to join A.L.I.E.N. or cooperate with Kawashita, and they are unwilling to negotiate with us now. Dr. Long: "This is unacceptable. Their people are dying but yet they are too proud to work with us? Well they rebuke us at their own peril. The Oni-Ren should be grateful that our benevolent and powerful corporation is even so generous as to consider the mutually beneficial arrangement we've offered. Vaccines for the Black-Eye, beneficial trade deals, access to our advanced technology, agricultural practices, and health-care, and a steppingstone for interplanetary recognition, all in exchange for copper mining rights in land they don't even use to its fullest potential! Their resistance is illogical. Dr. Martenz: "I concur." Dr. Long: "Once we have a cure to their ailment, then we can make our move. Their Queen cannot say no when she sees with her own eye the true power of Octan. We will show her the light even if we have to hold her eye open to it. Dr. Martenz: "Well... I could have the vaccine finished in two weeks time if you simply sent me some more workers..." Dr. Long: "You didn't get the memo?" Dr. Martenz: "What memo?" Dr. Long: "I've made this endeavor one of the Axle's top priorities. You have the full force of the Axle at your disposal, and I shall make landfall with a force of peacekeepers and my finest scientists in one standard business week." Dr. Martenz: ".. Oh... Wow. I'm honoured." Dr. Long: "Check your holo-mail." Dr. Martenz: Yes, Dr. Long." Dr. Long: "See you in a week. Dr. Long out." Dr. Long: "Thank you for the files on Kawashita, Mr. Dillberg. It's a shame about their CEO. Killed by a reactor leak? I thought Kawashita was better than to let something like that happen. from what I heard, Raven was an effective leader and an analytical mind. I suppose I should be glad that her passing weakens our rival corporation... but a human is a human, and I take no joy from senseless loss. And then there's the matter of their new Master Mechanic that they brought in from the Milkyway. I wonder if it's... No.. couldn't be. Anyways, Odus, you've done well. I've finished reviewing the files from my Sabbatical... care to join me on the Forward Observation deck of the Axle?" Odus: "Sure!" Dr. Long: "I want to see this planet of ours." Later, on the Forward Observation Deck of the Axle, in orbit of Onix: Dr. Edris: "There's Onix." Shorty: "And its moons; There's Kwartz, the ice moon of the lava planet; and there's Garnit, the rock moon that shines red; and where's Paerl, the glimmering jewel of Onix?" Dr. Edris: "It has a wide elliptical orbit. We've actually already passed it." Shorty: "Pity. I hear it's the most beautiful one." Like a Fecund Fruit Tree by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr Jebediah O'Reilly: "What a view." Kodan Black: "Spectacular." Dr. Long: "Mmmm." Jebediah O'Reilly: "Glad you brought us here, Dr. Long. It's quite the pretty sight." Dr. Long: "Pretty?" Jebediah O'Reilly: "Yeah." (incase you want background music to accompany the following monolog, click now.) Dr. Long: "Look at them." Jebediah: "The Planet and its moons?" Dr. Long: "Yes. The celestial bodies... As a child, I marveled at their greatness. I would gaze out my window vainly hoping to catch a glimpse of just a single star or planet through the smog and the light pollution... But to no avail. The first time I saw one outside of a holo-screen or class simulator was my first time leaving earth. I was lucky enough to have a window seat on the shuttle, and my life's trajectory was forever changed by the gravity of what I saw. The void was full of light. I looked back on Earth, and it was small. So small, it looked as though you could hold it in your hand like a bruised green apple. And to think... that green apple was our home... this astronomically small blue-green orb was the birthplace and the graveyard of almost all of humankind. One day Earth will breath its last breath, I thought to myself there in that shuttle... But humanity will not. No... We are no longer tethered to that green orb. No longer are we worms in the core of a rotting fruit. We have metamorphosed, and now we have wings. Dr. Black, Look at them all. Gaze upon our fecund intergalactic fruit tree! All these worlds are ours... So full of invaluable resources, Copper, biomass, water, Awesomnium. Any one of them could be a new home for our species, but we have access to all of them, Mr. O'Reilly. They're so beautiful. So inescapably tempting... It's as if I could merely extend my arm and grasp one in my hands... "They're like plump, ripe fruits, and they are in season to be plucked." Messenger: "Oh, there you are Dr. Long. I have something for you." Jebediah O'Reilly: I found it floating in space, aged pretty badly... for whatever reason. Messanger: "It's your logbook. We consolodated your temporary logbook with your old one and put it all in on sleek new device!" Dr. Long: "Excellent. Thank you." Like a Fecund Fruit Tree by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "Log Date 683, This is Dr. Danielle Long.... ... It's good to be back." __________________________ Everyone needs a good monolog now and then, wouldn't you agree? This was originally going to be my entry for challenge 2, but the build din't work then. I have since gotten more pieces and figured out a better way to pull the structure off. So, Here is "The Invasive Species" Part 2. I'm proud to say that the titular invasive species has appeared in every one of my builds since I returned. It's hard to see in some of them though, but I think most of them have been pointed out. ~Insectoid Aristocrat
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Location: G10 Onix Tags: Civil Building ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Boss? She's here." "You sure took long enough. Bring her in." "Silvia Kramer. Allow me to welcome you to my home, or at least, one small part of it. I hope you will enjoy your stay." "Save the pleasantries, Girault. You know my husband will be coming for you." "We'd better get down to business, then. Jason, would you do the honors?" "With pleasure, boss." "Now, now, Silvia. You shouldn't struggle like that - you've gone and gotten yourself a nasty bruise. This way, please." "Please make yourself comfortable, ma'am. We've got a lot to discuss." "Girault, you know Viktor. He's not going to let you get away with this." "I'm afraid he'll have no choice. Just this last week, we completed the installation of a new sensor relay station. If any ship comes out of the Gate, I'll know right away. Besides, no luxury cutter has the firepower to breach our defenses. "Humans have been in the business of inflicting pain on each other for such a very long time, but when the victim struggles, it can make a torturer's work so much harder. Awesomnium has provided us with an invaluable aid to this process. "This syringe contains an awesomnium-based solution that I think you'll find most interesting. We bought the original from a fellow called Laszlowe, from M.A.N.T.I.S. It was supposed to serve as a long-lasting sedative, a hibernation drug. But it didn't work quite as planned." "I - I - I can't move. I can't move!" "But you can still feel, can't you? That's the beauty of it. Your sensory receptors are still firing, but your brain can't send anything back but critical body functions. It's the perfect torturer's tool." "Don't do this, Girault." "I'm afraid I don't have much choice. I need the passcodes for the Kawashita Group's private Gates, and I don't have time to convince you to give it to me. This is quicker. "Also much more entertaining." "No - no, please - no - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kramer to Variga, good work. I'm through the breach." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yep, we're still pretty dark over here. I promise I'll lighten up in a few more builds. The name is a reference to The Princess Bride.
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Location: G10 Onix Tags: Civil Building Note: All parts of this build except the parts shown in the spoiler are re-used - that is, the main room, torture rack and restraints (but not the larger frame around it), and the two small implement-holders are all re-used, and therefore should not be judged. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "AAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!" "AAAAAAAAGHNOOOOOOO!" Clunk. "What was that?" "What the ..." Crack! Thud. Crack! Crash. "Silvia!" "That's far enough, Viktor." "Girault. You're going to pay for this." "I don't think so." "I don't know how you managed to get this far into my base without raising any alarms. For that matter, I don't know how you even managed to enter the system. But I really don't care. Torture is so much more effective when you it's somebody else suffering, and your wife has been most uncooperative." "No.. Please, no ..." "It's under control, Silvia." I fixed Girault with an icy gaze. "It won't take but a minute. In fact ..." If you want to break a standoff, do it in the middle of a sentence. In fact, do it in the middle of a conversation, if you have the option. It delays your opponent's reaction time by a critical fraction of a second. I snatched a hammer from the wall and threw it as hard as I could. He fired, of course, but his aim was off and I was already out of the way. Then the hammer struck him in the head and he collapsed limply. Not dead - just out cold. "... It's already taken care of," I finished. "Let me get you out of that thing, Silvia." "I can't move," she said weakly. "He's stuffed me full of drugs." "I know," I said. "T1-N1 had a chat with their computers while I was on my way. I'm so sorry, dearest. I came as fast as I could." "I'm just glad you made it," she said, sighing with relief as I loosed the restraints. I wrapped her in a cloak and cradled her in my arms. "Just one more thing to do, and then we can be going." With one arm already full, it was not easy to remove Girault's shirt, or to drag him up onto the torture rack, but I did it. He had loaded Silvia with stims to keep her conscious through the torture session, and the syringe he had been using was almost empty. I injected what was left of them into him, then waited for him to wake up. It only took a few seconds. "I'm sorry I don't have the time to properly thank you for everything you've done for my wife," I said, "but I hope you'll accept this parting gift. As soon as I'm gone, the Variga will destroy this base, and I don't plan on waiting around, so you probably won't have time to pass out from the pain, but you should be well entertained until you die. Goodbye, Girault." I pulled the lever, and the machine came to life. With Girault's screams echoing off the metal walls, I carried Silvia out and down the corridor. "Are there any more pirates here?" she asked. "I don't think so. T1-N1 sealed off most of the base, and I've lost count of how many people I've killed. My bolter's power clip must be about drained." She sighed. "I'm so tired. Can I rest now?" "Yes, dearest." I smiled. "Once we get back to the Variga, we're going to rendezvous with the fleet. They'll patch you up. You're safe now. You can rest all you like." "Thank you, love. I think I will." And she did. This week, I did two new builds that expand on something I did previously. I had more story to tell in this particular location than I could tell in one week, so I came up with some expansions that can stand as a build in their own right. They're in the spoiler. C&C welcome!
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Location: G10 Onix Tags: None ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Captain's Log Prisoners still in custody - dispatched to Onix in response to reports of pirate activity. Fleet intelligence advises suspected connection to band eliminated prior to formal hiring. Jump made in good time - traffic at Onix GATE continues to be low. Fleet intelligence indicates only known Octan traffic composed of weekly mail courier, one science ship departing, and some activity in low orbit en route to former pirate base. Assess as likely transit lockdown following earlier Kawashita activity in this sector - Octan fleet is far away and unable to provide significant support or escort, and most armed ships likely drawn to provide logistics for Octan-M.A.N.T.I.S. conflict elsewhere. Captain's Log, Supplemental I strongly doubt that FI is correct. Some visual footage of suspected pirate ships was provided, and the hull configuration does not match that of any vessels we encountered previously in the Onix sector. Of more interest is why pirates are raiding Kawashita shipping in Onix. There are several other sectors that are equally vulnerable, given the current disposition of the fleet, and almost none with less traffic than Onix. Certainly they would be more likely to be detected in other systems, but as a rule, in the sweet trade the important part is to get away, and being spotted in the process is unimportant. I do not care to speculate, therefore, concerning what might be these presumed pirates' motive for raiding in Onix. Diary of Silvia Kramer Viktor is worried about the word from the fleet. He's sure the fleet is wrong. I told him I was sure he had finished with the pirates before, and the fleet must be wrong. But he said he hoped it would turn out to be the same pirates. I wasn't sure what he meant, but I didn't get a chance to ask. The corporal came in with some questions for Viktor, and I had to let it go. I've been thinking, though, and I think I get it. Pirates from the base we visited would still be operating there while they try to recover and get re-organized. But new pirates in that system aren't looking for loot - they're looking for ships. That's why they haven't stopped the Octan mail courier - they want a Kawashita hull, and a merchant one, too. But why? The freighters that run those routes are tubs that only mount one turret! Captain's Log Encountered hostile activity in Onix system. Weapons fire was spotted over Onix's moon, concealed from the planet surface by the moon. Upon approach, conflict was identified as a battle between a Kawashita freighter and an unknown hostile craft. An attempt was made to hail both craft. Neither responded. We moved to approach, but before we arrived, contact with the freighter was lost. Thermal contact dropped off, followed a fraction of a second later by loss of radar and visual contact. Fate of freighter unknown at this time - fluctuations in local gravity commonly associated with GATE anomaly/drive failure not detected. Boarding party sent aboard hostile craft. Assessed as non-Human design and construction. No life signs detected during approach, and none found during thorough search. Assessment is difficult. Lacking evidence for clear-cut evaluation, hostile craft has been flagged as category-red quarantine zone. Transponder attached - reporting directly to Variga. Will inform fleet once more complete assessment of situation and threat posed by unknown craft are more complete. Have issued security ID cards to crew, and instituted automated checkpoints throughout vessel until further notice. Corporal Nodachi concurring. Captain's Log, Supplemental The corporal may not be useless. He agrees with my assessment. Someone or something far more advanced than ourselves has taken control of one of our freighters, and intends to use it for unknown purposes. Diary of Silvia Kramer I'm afraid, and so is Viktor. We're pirates, not soldiers, and this isn't our kind of mission. But I don't think we should tell the fleet. Then we might loose a line cruiser, or even a dreadnought. This way, if something does go really, horribly wrong, the Kawashita Group is only down one corvette, five people, and a couple of robots. Andromeda isn't quite our galaxy yet, and we don't know who or what is really out there, in the hundreds of systems not connected to the GATE network. May God help us all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So, I bought a game called "Stellaris" a week or so ago. It's a sci-fi, 4X, grand strategy game that is devouring my life. This doesn't have anything to do with my build, or the plot arc I'm starting, except that I spent so much time playing that I never got around to building anything new for this week. So, I dug through my drawers of Legos and found some old ships that I build a few years ago and never shared here before. The green one is inspired by the Dragon Pod, from the X-Pod series of a decade or so back, and the Kawashita freighter is inspired by a Highlighter market and by General Grievous' flagship in Revenge of the Sith. C&C welcome.
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"...and the Revolution will be brought to you by Octan and with brief Commercial Interruptions." The Invasive Species: Part 7. Finale. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Interlude Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 (Finale) Tags: Military Land Vehicle, Civil Structures Meanwhile, in the Gongen Empire's capital. This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "They are at the gates, my Queen. Duchess Qui Zil 'Ing gave them the keys. It is over, and they have won... But you must live on. The hope of our people rests in you. Take the concubine's tunnels below the castle. Escape to the East River Tribe. They will harbour you." "But what of you, Bishop. Will you not go with me?" "I cannot. I must stay behind and misdirect them if I can. Vile though they may be, I don't think they'll hurt an old woman like myself too badly. Flee, my Queen." In the Streets.... Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr Broadcast in Oni-Ren Language: "Citizens. Rejoice. We come not as conquerors, but as liberators. The Queen has the cure to the Black-eye and she wants to watch us suffer. Join the resistance! Let us put an end to her tyranny!.... Citizens. Rejoice!...." Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr later, Within the Palace... This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr General: "Lord President, We have captured the bishop. There is no sign of the Queen, but the bishop has been... very talkative." Ba'al Ba'al Jinks: "And what has she said?" General: "She told us everything. The Queen left for the West Lava Canyon Tribe days ago." Ba'al Ba'al Jinks: "Good. If she's told us everything she knows, then there's no reason to keep her alive. Now, let's get this place in order for when Octan comes. They informed me they'll be here at week's end to ensure a peaceful transition of power." Later that week.... Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr Dr. Long: "We need to inform Ba'al Ba'al to invest in paved roads." Jebediah: "Maybe we shouldn't have walked." Meanwhile... This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "My Friends, today is a glorious day! We have successfully liberated the Gongen Empire from the oppression of Queen Bowa San! We stand now at the window of opportunity. I look out that window and I see a brighter future for all of us. No longer shall we be restrained in darkness to serve the Queen and her lackeys. Now we walk freely together into the future. Under Queen Bowa San, Onix was made a laughingstock. The Aliens from other planets looked down at us and they chuckled, for they saw a sad backward little people. The Queens refused to let us interact with the aliens, share their secrets. Instead she forced us to suffer illness and famine... War, and bloodshed. But that ends today. Today we have removed our shackles, and we may enter the galaxy at large. Now is our time to step forward together into the glow of not one, but one thousand suns! Together, we will make this planet great again! Once the votes are cast, I will be your new president, Ba'al Ba'al Jinks, and no longer will we be the Gongen empire, no. I am pleased to declare that starting today, we are now the Liberated Democratic Republic of Unified Onix! Together, we shall work together, in the name of peace and progress, and we will earn our brighter future!" *Crowd cheers* Later.... This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr Ba'al Ba'al Jinks: "Youssa remember dat youssa say the Copper youssa need be under dah "Hunting Grounds" right?" Dr. Long: "That is correct." Ba'al Ba'al Jinks: "Well, Messa be havin' a present for you. This golden tooth comes from there. See, themsa biggun bigguns with the big moneys, they was hunting for the Steam swamp dragons there. The Steam Swamp dragon is a fiercish predator. Always eating. Theyssa say that the dragon is the smartest of all the animals on our world... but not smarter than wessa Oni-Ren. The way themsa be huntin' the dragon is they get a captive Oni-ren, and dey make the Dragon go huntin' dissun. The Dragon will stop at nothing to capture itssa prey. There is a legend. This legend say that the reason the dragon hunt us Oni-Ren so hard is that theysa be jealous of our smarts... that theyssa thinksin' theyssa can be stealing ourssa smarts from us if theyssa catches us. But youssa and messa... Wessa smart'uns. Wessa know that legends are all fake fake. She's just a predator, and all shessa be wantin' is to consume." Dr. Long: "How fascinating. What a barbaric practice." Ba'al Ba'al Jinks: "Thissun' is the last golden toothwe'll be huntin' for. Now on the huntin' Grounds is the Minin' Grounds. " Dr. Long: "Excellent. That is our prefered method for you to pay off your debt to us for the army and equipment." This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr Jebediah: "Dr. Long. I'm getting intell that there's a gathering of protesters in the streets. They are armed. We may need to form a defensive perimeter to ensure the safety of our Octan personnel." Dr. Long: "Damnit Jinks, I thought you said you had the capital under control." Ba'al Ba'al Jinks: "Messa do.... wait just a moment." *discusses with general* Okeyday! Problem solved! Now is bein' a time of celebration!" This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "Peace!" After the ceremony, and discussing finance, The Octan officials pile out of the Presidential Palace, and begin making their way back through the war torn streets to find an unpleasant surprise. Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "So this is what she meant when she said everything was under control. I'm beginning to have my doubts as to whether or not Ba'al Ba'al Jinks is a fit ruler of this planet. We'll have to ensure strict civil rights policy adherence... By the stars..." Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "Help... messa." Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr Into the Light of One Thousand Suns. by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "Hey. It'll come out. I always use Octan's 'Out Damned Spot' brand laundry detergent. It does the trick every time." Later..... This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr "PR called. They said we should have the employees here take some footage. They're going to cobble together some kind of Public Relations video to ease this all over." "Great." This Revolution Will Be Televised by Danny-Longlegs, on Flickr PR Video (and reason why I place the build on Illustria) In spoiler! ****************************************************** There you have it, the exciting conclusion of "The Invasive Species" ~Insectoid Aristocrat
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Location: G10 Onix Tags: Spaceship, Building, Exploration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Onix. A harsh, inhospitable world - alas, such worlds are common in this foreign galaxy. What little of its surface is not tortured by volcanism is stalked by the strange and hideous wildlife of this hellish globe. "Where are you taking me?" Doctor Gregorovich was proving to be a rather annoying passenger. I suppose it made sense that, with such an inquisitive nature, that he would be such a great scientist, but that, combined with his arrogance, was not endearing him to any of us. Even the robots disliked him. "Nowhere yet. With Kawashita still so close by, your people will have all the Gates closely watched." "Why are we flying over a lava plain?" "We're not. Sending the signal now." "What is this place? Octan didn't build it. Who did? "Rum smugglers." "They build it a few years ago - killed this volcano by drilling it a new vent ten miles from here, cleared away the ash and basalt, and put in a little base with stealth and heat shields." "Where are the smugglers now? This ship doesn't seem like a smuggler." "With the little flash-in-the-pan of a war a few weeks ago, the smugglers decided they needed to clear out. They left the base, though, in case they got a chance to come back after things cool down a bit. I made a deal with the smugglers - got the access codes to turn the stealth on and off. Everything still works." "So you're just parking the ship here? Next to a volcano?" "You don't park a ship, you berth her. And yes. We should be quite safe here, until it's time to leave. I'm being well payed to see you delivered unharmed, and I don't intend to risk you or my ship, let alone my wife, in a structure I don't trust completely. You're safer here than aboard one of your own starships." "So it seems." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yes, I really did build two nearly-identical micro volcanoes. The title's a Pirates of the Caribbean reference, if you were wondering. If any of what I built is too small for a tag, that's okay. I'm in this for the storytelling and the building, not the points.
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Location: G10 Onix Tags: Exploration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I think I've found it, boss!" "Looks like a Kawashita probe, alright. The sensor dome's still intact!" "Good. We'll need that." "Bot, crack the dome open." "Wouldn't it be simpler just to take the whole thing back with us, boss? I bet Octan would pay well for something like that." "Trust me, Jason, we don't want Octan to know we've been here. See that little green thing in there? It's this probe's onboard computer. That would tell us what ship launched this probe." "So what?" "Let me ask you something, Jason. Which would be better: finding a space probe that we can't use and can't safely sell, for fear of getting turned in for theft of proprietary technology? Remember, Octan and Kawashita aren't at war any more. Or, getting our hands on Viktor Kramer? And the navigational codes for the entire Kawashita Group quadrant?" "The second one, of course. But what's the connection, boss? I don't get it." "What do you think the odds are, eh? A red and black ship captures Dr. Gregorovich, a top Octan scientist, and his top-secret prototypes. Then, out of the middle of nowhere, a Kawashita probe shows up, in the very same system where Gregorovich got grabbed. Pretty interesting, no?" "How do you know it was Kramer?." "I saw the footage of the ship. Octan may not know what the ship is, but I do. It was the Variga - I'd stake my life on it. This little thing is what's finally going to let us get our hands on Kramer - and maybe a few nice secrets with it? Bots, push this dome into the lava. We don't want Octan to figure out we were here. Let's get back to the ship and see what this baby can tell us."
