Battlegroup 11 - Pathfinders: Comms

[sterile basalt]

Hmm, it’s also suspicious how quiet it is. Surely there’d be some personnel on their sneaky hidden listening outpost. The seemingly inactive security too…

[low wagon]

Logi here, just woke up >_<

[copper lynx]

Maybe the unknown is a server room?

Or just well hidden bot

[hybrid sable]

A hive of sapient space termites: the bugs have returned!

[tired stirrup]

the secret origins of the Borg Bot, complete with otter body parts and xenomorph hive type tunnels.

[low wagon]

I’m guessing I should switch to a full supply loadout since we’re not moving very fast.

Based on what I’ve read, I’d stick with the reserve on the main lift. This is a central location where anyone who needs the supply can quickly get it, since I’m only a hex away from the sensor towers, vehicle bay, dock arm and the unknown.

Once the lower floor lift has been cleared I’d put a logi truck there as well, to support those taking over the control room and reactors.

If possible I would like an expanded reserve since just two infantry makes me nervous, especially with all the inactive bots (yellow triangles) around the main lift that could come alive and surround the force on the lift. Maybe ask Ultra what their logi truck plans to do and if the guards protecting them can combine with ours.

[tired stirrup]

Otter Bots, We used to protect your Phones, now we protect your homes.

[copper lynx]

The urge to put order is high, but I don't know the starting hex!

[hybrid sable]

We do have an impressive force of vehicles poised to shell any of the droids that so much as twitches. Does that improve your estimate at all?

[sterile basalt]

Yeah, just 2 inf makes me super nervous for you.

[hybrid sable]

But yes, I'd say full supply in the logis for this one

[stable pine]

The full maps will be released once the round is complete. Be patient, you have until Sunday, you'll have the time

[hybrid sable]

No, never!

[sterile basalt]

If the security bots seem passive before we head down, I’d say we should consolidate the surface team before the underground team touches anything. I don’t want to activate the security systems when we’re unprepared.

[low wagon]

Ah, I misread, didn’t realize we had the vehicles. That makes things much safer, yes, although I would guess some would depart for the lower levels if they’re wide enough to support the infantry teams.

[copper lynx]

Wait are we entering the Fed round 4 or round 5?

[hybrid sable]

We can definitely coordinate with Ultra to arrange crossfires on those bot trios, and yes please on no touchy the control panel before we secure everything

[sterile basalt]

This round.

[copper lynx]

Ok

[low wagon]

I’d say before we touch underground, we try activating the sensor tower first, see if the bots react to that, and also investigate the vehicle bay and unknown.

[copper lynx]

This makes sense in whole another level

[hybrid sable]

If they can fit, I'd send one ifv with each away team, but no more I think. Too hard to withdraw

[copper lynx]

Why we didn't think of that

[low wagon]

Activating the sensor tower isn’t a certain thing, we may need the control room, but it would at least tell us what the situation is with these bots, and clear up the unknown parts of the base.

If we can activate it early, we can immediately start gathering intel for the other groups.

[sterile basalt]

Yeah. I have a feeling that the reactors might be off though. That might also be the reason for the inactive security.

[copper lynx]

If it off don't turn it on

If it on don't touch it

[low wagon]

We can check the sensor tower to confirm that yeah

[copper lynx]

If it on and the bot wake up we ball

[low wagon]

I would ask Shack if we can go directly from dock exit to the sensor tower or we have to go past the unknown area up that ramp looking thing

If we can go directly then we can set up a quick defense position at the dock exit and entrance to sensor tower, create a frontline

[sterile basalt]

There’s no actual walls marked on the map, so I think we’re good.

[hybrid sable]

Yeaj, technically, but... ramp

[copper lynx]

I just noticed it not a ramp, it's floor

[low wagon]

If we need to go around things will be extra dangerous since we won’t have an easy frontline - will need separate guards for sensor tower and the dock that can’t support one another easily.

[copper lynx]

Connecting the sensor tower to the lift

It's big path so probably used for maintenance vehicle

[low wagon]

I’m not sure if that floor is higher than the dock exit area though - it looks like there’s a ramp up by the unknown contact on the right leaving the dock exit

[copper lynx]

Why there a living quarter near the unknown?

Oh wait

[sterile basalt]

I wouldn’t think about the map art too much. I think Shack’s using AI gen or something.

[copper lynx]

It's Federal own

So they have living people here

Used to work there

Ask someone to loot the living quarters in my request 😉

[sterile basalt]

slap, no touchie. Gotta wait til we’re all set up first.

[low wagon]

If the sensor tower is up on a raised floor here’s my proposal on tactics:

1. Set up one group at the unknown area, one group at the sensor area

2. Try activating the sensor tower, see what happens

3. If bots turn hostile, tower group prioritizes killing the bots on the north part of the main lift, unknown group prioritizes killing the two bots next to the dock exit that flank us

4. Clear out the remaining bots from top to bottom

[sterile basalt]

Sounds like a good plan.

[low wagon]

We should split the vehicles evenly between the two groups for this. Once top floor has been cleared then we can deal with bottom floor, so we no longer have to worry about the bots suddenly activating and shanking us from behind

[sterile basalt]

If the bots don’t activate, I think we should either all head down together or top team sets a up a defensive position while the bottom team clear the area and touches things.

[copper lynx]

Can I see the map again?

In here

[sterile basalt]

I just saved the image.

[low wagon]

If the bots don’t activate:

1. Guessing sensor tower needs active crew, so leave part of sensor group there with a guard to link them to the main lift. If it can’t be activated then search it before moving back with the main lift force.

2. Collapse the rest of the force to defend the main lift - put a 360 degree perimeter to prevent the bots flanking.

3. Send one force to check the vehicle bay afterwards, in case that activates the bots - whatever’s in there we likely can leave it there or take it with us. Whatever’s the case, the group that goes to the vehicle bay should collapse back to the main lift force.

4. This should check all unknowns on the top floor, clearing us to send a force down to the lower floor via the lift.

5. Priority 1 is control room clearance - once we got control of the base then we can check reactors. Leave behind a defense force to hold the lift and protect the rear - make sure it’s big enough that it can also act as a reserve to support the control room team if needed.

6. Once control is established, clear the remaining rooms out. If bots are still non-hostile, then we can investigate scrapping them or repairing them for our use. We can also activate the sensor tower.

[tired stirrup]

This is my proposal I posted earlier

and this is Gaba's very clean proposal

[sterile basalt]

I think we should mostly stick together pre-sensor tower, then split up to check top floor. Then we split into top and bottom teams. Reduces the risk of touching something activating the bots and wiping an unprepared surface.

[low wagon]

I think they are okay plans, my main concern though is the unknown force that is the bots. Ideally we don’t want to get into a situation where we aren’t ready for them. Mine is slower, but ensures we’re as safe as possible and don’t trip anything that activates the bots while they can flank us. Let’s not rush into the unknown here - this is a takeover mission, not a recon mission like we’re used to planning, so we should try to minimize risk and casualties, especially since we still have the main battle on the ground to get to.

[sterile basalt]

Especially when we have squishy logi that doesn’t have a good place to stay safe.

[low wagon]

I’d like to think of this like clearing a house - establish the angles that the threats could come from and cover as many as possible, then make a powerful push on the objective

[ashen crystal]

Kinda hard for me to clear angles

I need ground to spot for me afterall since I apparently can’t spot for myself

[low wagon]

The VTOL MG is still something - if you stick near us we can range you in on enemy contacts

[ashen crystal]

If the security bots are anything like the ones that are already hostile to us I have a 50 50 shot at doing some damage

[tired stirrup]

Shack did specifically describe their armor.

[low wagon]

It may make the difference still - in this game HP is low and each hit is dangerous

Especially on infantry units which rely on numbers to deal max damage

[ashen crystal]

I can fly to a position and try to do RP things while also providing what CAS I can. Has the idea of landing on a reactor been abandoned?

[hybrid sable]

We still have to coordinate all of this with Ultra, and they seemed pretty determined to rush for the reactors to make sure thry weren't rigged to blow

[low wagon]

For the plan I proposed I’d be against it, since that’s taking a huge unnecessary risk when we’re not on a timer - we have no clue what’s down there and have safer ways to clear the area through chokepoints and stuff

If we’re clearing the reactors and run into something though you can act as a flank force by picking up some infantry and dropping them behind the enemy - not on top though since that might be dangerous

[ashen crystal]

It’s .5 to land, . 5 to load(?) . 5 to take off, . 5 to land again, and .5 to unload. Another possible .5 to takeoff so 3 speed would be immediately used for just getting in, out, and going up and down.

[low wagon]

That is a point I haven’t considered - but Grizz’s VTOL drop on reactor ideas actually could clear this possibility

I’ll edit my plan - the VTOL can drop a small team of infantry and engineers on each reactor, double check their status to ensure they don’t go boom

[ashen crystal]

That leaves two hexes of movement both to get to the infantry and to move them

[hybrid sable]

I personally think the combined vehicle force is enough to neutralize the bots on the main floor while we clear the critical infrastructre - that is the control room, the reactors, and the sensor array. Our sensor tower team should have plenty of time to dig in and set up sandbags before anyone has a chance to toich anything below

[ashen crystal]

Originally my RP flavor was going to be doing a visual inspection of the exterior of the reactors, or at least whichever one I’d go to.

[low wagon]

Overall I’d still want to keep to clearing topside first though before proceeding underground - if we’re not time limited then we should avoid taking the risk of getting flank unexpectedly

[hybrid sable]

We don't actually have enough VTOLs for either of their incursion forces: we'd need multiple trips or weaker teams

[low wagon]

My thought was the force would be smaller to just check the reactors, not hold them - so if confirmed they were safe and not rigged to blow, then we can focus on clearing top side at our own pace

If it is rigged then that’s when I’d agree with rushing downstairs, provide security for the engineers as they work to defuse or take control room to defuse remotely.

I’ll make a graphic later to show what the decision tree for my plan looks like

[tired stirrup]

To be clear, the teams are clearing the reactors first, not holding them.

we can hold everything downstairs from the elevator room

[low wagon]

Ah, gotcha

[hybrid sable]

Tbh I still don't like it - I think, with Ultra, we have enough raw firepower to deal with everything on sensors when it wakes up, I don't think more infantry on the main floor will change that much, and given how bad the situation at Elim was, I think Rabbit and Venator will need scan support as soon as sapiently possible. But we've got time, we'll vote and discuss.

[tired stirrup]

I mean, we have two of the 4 proposed infantry units already

I think we are going to the sensor tower as well as the Control Room

[torpid herald]

I'd be well and truly down for some kind of aerospacial insertion with the Hardshells if we need

Just throw them out the door, their shocks can take it

On the sensor tower

Sorry it took so long for me to respond, my dog has been very needy today

[ashen crystal]

I think we’d need clarification on if we can even be out there with some sort of EVA upgrade since the atmosphere bubble doesn’t reach the reactors

[tired stirrup]

ObscuramEns wants to go into the sensor towers, Grizzills want to air insert onto the reactors

I think you'd need to convince our other VTOL pilots to help you drop in people and also one of Ultra's infantry companies to let you drop them

[hybrid sable]

And Derg wants to go to the control room. Or possibly with Southpaw: not sure which was the operative clause

[tired stirrup]

Southpaw is going to the control room

[hybrid sable]

*in one plan. We can't assume that's the plan, even if I like it

[golden vector]

I could go with Southpaw, engineering may be required and having one at least in the control room would be a good idea

[hybrid sable]

You'll have to figure that out with Derg

[tired stirrup]

fair, it sounded to me like that was what Southpaw wanted to do though.

[hybrid sable]

In my revised plan, Derg (because they volunteered first), Account, and Southpaw were taking care of the control room, so we'd have one. But you also don't have to volunteer to go to the sensor tower if you don't wabt to

[ashen crystal]

I never said I wanted to, just that I’d support an effort if it went forward. I was already heading over to visually inspect the exterior of one of the reactors anyways.

[hybrid sable]

I'll accompany you on the outside, Grizz

[torpid herald]

Are there external airlocks that infantry can get in on those sections?

[hybrid sable]

Dunno. Possible: we'd have to ask Shack (among many other things). But breaching is not necessarily out of the question if we really want to

[ashen crystal]

I wouldn’t want to breach into a reactor

[torpid herald]

Nonorganics may be threatened if we do so, or it might require a greater equipment

(AKA alerting bots)

[low wagon]

Rereading the midround events, it seems the breathable atmosphere is only the rock area, so probably can't land on the reactors unless we breach.

According to the rules VTOLs can do this without needing an upgrade, and engineers automatically succeed at breaching - that is, if there are hatches.

[sage frigate]

Personally, I feel that if we have the opportunity to destroy the security system, we should do it. The clichés is telling me that we're gonna find out we need to turn on the power to use the listening post, and that power is intricately linked to the wireless power of the bots, and the moment we turn on that power, we're gonna turn this from a recon mission to a zombie survival mode.

Probably should spend some supplies to fortify some strong points too.

Also, I'm calling Dibs on the Control Room.

[hybrid sable]

I was thinking preemptive sandbags for the sensor tower, potentially the main lift area. We and Ultra can carry 40 supply not counting engi or medi starting supply, so we can easily afford it out of a single resupply

So, if we were to go with my (now heavily modified) proposal, we would have nothing at the control room with 1st Tail and an engi (you've both volunteered, so fight for it), two infantry and later a logi dug in and probably sandbagged at the second floor main lift with a medi ready to respond to either them or control room, Account scouting the second floor unknown, HardShell and Shizuki with one other inf and a medi and engi at Sensor Tower, at least Wazp and Cumulus flying a surface sweep, and the ground vehicles leveling weapons at the droids and vehicle bay on the first floor. Ultra would be taking the two reactors, thereby securing our flanks on the second floor, and adding to the vehicle security force on the first floor. Am I missing anyone who's called out a position other than the engis, who need to rock-paper-scissors?
Following our initial capture of the critical infrastructure, assuming hostile contacts have either not appeared or have been destroyed, we would then concentrate most of our infantry (while maintaining a guard on the second floor main lift area) to clear the remaining locations on the first floor, more or less as outlined in MrBlue's proposal linked below

Alternatively, Blossom has proposed limiting our initial sweep to the first floor in order to avoid splitting our limited forces, prevent hostile flanking maneuvers, and provide overwhelming firepower against the known contacts on the main floor while we test whether tampering with the sensor systems causes the contacts to become hostile, as described here: #1383066264485888120 message, #1383066264485888120 message, #1383066264485888120 message, #1383066264485888120 message

And MrBlue has put forward a long-term strategic outline for taking, holding and utilizing the station with a few early differences from my own (primarily skipping the Sensor Tower to concentrate maximum firepower on critical infrastructure on the second floor) as described here: #1383066264485888120 message

[copper lynx]

Inf can make the sandbag to trench for extra defense right?

Or it is depends on the soil

[hybrid sable]

Not extra defense, but it lets them reposition along the sandbag line without losing their dug in bonus

[copper lynx]

I see, not worthy if the enterence is only one then

[hybrid sable]

I don't think there's soil mechanics in this game sad geologist noises

I mean, it also costs nothing except motion, so if we have a spare round then there's no reason not to

[sage frigate]

In this context, it's probably just us stacking more shit around the place do that we're more covered.

[granite wasp]

Food for thought, But based on my understanding of the rules. All be it limited. (I only have one mission experience and that was the hit and run job on Scrap and Scatter). So if I’m dead wrong about my next sentence fill free to stop reading 🤣 .

Supply to my understanding is not an unlimited resource and sandbagging costs supply. My fear is that we may have already over committed to this objective with 2 BG. We very well might need both of us. However at this point it’s tbd if that was the right call. Thus I’m not sure doubling down on our fear of this station with throwing up sand bags Is wise. I mean I suppose time well tell. The situation is fluid. We might end up leaving an entire BG behind to guard the station. The security droids might be nothing more than a token force that we overwhelm if triggered. They also could be a huge problem. We just don’t know yet. That’s said I think we should be resource conscious on this operation. Because it’s going to be a long battle and the last thing we need is to be over spending resources. When we already have committed two BG to come to this objective.

[hybrid sable]

It's not technically unlimited, but only so far as the task forces will start to run out of large supply if the campaign lasts more than I think 20ish rounds (don't quote me on that exact number). Small supply does not have any meaningful impact on us as long as any task force or logistical force can reach us, because we can restock an unlimited amount of supply from any supplied task force or airfield, and receive 25 small supply at a time from a HAT. Between us and Ultra, we have a total of 40 small supply in our vehicles, plus the eight held by our engis and the two small supply that the medis technically used to fully stock themselves at mission start. We also have no units that need small supply for ammo or fuel: it's just engis, who can use 1 supply per construction or repair, and medis who use 1/4 supply per heal

[ashen crystal]

Never know if this station will have a large supply in it as well

[hybrid sable]

Now now, let's not count our eggs before we find a million xenomorph eggs in the vehicle bay. And let's not count them then, either: we should probably just blast them

[granite wasp]

well in that case sandbag away!

[sage frigate]

By that point, I'm going advocate we open some windows.

[hybrid sable]

I don't... think they're particularly bothered by vacuum, are they? Or am I misremembering?

[minor ibex]

Finally! I think I've completed in at least the outlines of the emblem. But I'm still working on the colorization of the emblem. Any advice on how better to color this would be appreciated.^^;

[hybrid sable]

I think a kinda dull blue-gray/dark steel blue would look good on the cardinal markers. Maybe kinda a 70, 106, 163?
Then you can use the gray on the quartering triangle bits to keep the pallete simple?

[ashen crystal]

The shadowed side of the blue diamond is lost against the black. Perhaps do a feet small cut along the diamonds edges to the background to make it more visible?

[minor ibex]

Or I could brighten the paw a little.

[minor ibex]

I think the blue cardinal directions overshadows the south pole diamond.

[hybrid sable]

Fair. A bit further towards gray, maybe a little paler? Just not full gray

[stable pine]

The text definitely needs to be a color

Right now, it feels like an afterthought and I barely even notice it

[hybrid sable]

That's because it's being sneaky

[stable pine]

the yellow and red compass isn’t helping with that now is it :P

[hybrid sable]

No, but we're also flamboyant <-- gaba likes this word

[golden vector]

Flamboyant Special Forces

[hybrid sable]

Yaaaaassss, slay!

[stable pine]

equivalent to the rogue wearing the bard’s bright uniform

and I don’t have a problem with that at all

[golden vector]

I mean Swashbuckler Rogue is a thing

[minor ibex]

Maybe something like this?

[hybrid sable]

I think it's good. Southeast triangle thingy's just a little bit wonky in perspective, but the color scheme's great

[minor ibex]

I can adjust that a little. Though it'll mean recoloring a bit.^^;

[hybrid sable]

I believe in you, commander!

Heads up that Scan requests are now a thing in the Logi Requests sheet of the C5 Logistical Hub, so we should keep an eye on that in case anyone actually uses it

[minor ibex]

Okay, here's what I got so far for color arrangements.

[minor ibex]

Alright, now experimenting with a possible background. I wanted to try and get a "starry background" feel... Not sure if I've accomplished it yet.^^;

Hmmm... Maybe alternate outlined colors?

[copper lynx]

Maybe use dark blue galaxy kind of gradient as background while keeping the paw as center of attention?

Idk just opinion

[minor ibex]

I don't really have a star pattern in my swatch library I can use, I don't think... Let's see if I can find one.

Honestly, I think the spots make it a little too busy.^^;

[hybrid sable]

Tend to agree. Maybe just make the white gradient a little swirly, like a bar galaxy instead?

[sage frigate]

Honestly, less is more.

[minor ibex]

Not really possible without doing more artworking.^^; But I did adjust the darker color to be a little more blue.

Although...

There we go. How about a simple star flare in the background?^^

[hybrid sable]

Looks like artworking to me! Maybe a tiny bit busy, but if you're happy with it I think it's great

[minor ibex]

I meant taking my bamboo pen and draw up a galaxy. This was just taking the star effect of illustrator and giving it a blur effect. =w=

Anyway. I'll probably sit on this for a little while and see if I can get some input on how to further work on it. Maybe we can figure out a way to simplify it a bit.

[hybrid sable]

Oh, I just meant darkening bits along the edge of the gradient to give the impression of a slight twist

[minor ibex]

That would just make rings, since the gradient is a perfect circle.^^;

[hybrid sable]

I don't know what program you're using or what tools you're making things with: I just assumed it was a mask layer that you could erase from for a vaguely this-ish effect

[minor ibex]

Ah! Yeah, no. I was operating in Adobe Illustrator and using the gradient tool which allows you to put in mixtures of gradients in a fill. One of the main options is a circle gradient from the center.

If you wanted an S-shaped image like that I think I can replicate it.

[hybrid sable]

Ah, see I haven't touched most adobe programs in a decade or so: I have no idea what you're doing 😆
I stick to rasters in GIMP, so less precisely controlable but also take like 15 seconds

[minor ibex]

Well now I know what you're looking for and can replicate it easily. =w=

Ta-dah~!^^

[hybrid sable]

owo? Thought?

I think it's kinda cool

[minor ibex]

Sure, with the "galaxy" rotated a little bit more, I think that's fairly well. =w=

Though how black is the background to you? I think my screen's settings are a little off, because it's more navy blue than black to me.^^;

[hybrid sable]

Looks like a very dark gray on mine

[minor ibex]

How about this?

[hybrid sable]

pale, achromatic, dull.. almost a faintpurpley tinge

[minor ibex]

Oh well. Pursuit of a good color mix continues. =w=

[hybrid sable]

slightly bluer. could be considered an achromatic navy blue, leaning slightly purplewards

Love that we're calibrating this based on specifically my laptop screen

[copper lynx]

My color of choice are between these

Can't decided which tho

[sterile basalt]

Maybe a gradient?

[minor ibex]

Third to last is actually the closes to the current one. XD

[hybrid sable]

I prefer second from the right I think

[minor ibex]

Hee hee~! Gradient. >w<

[hybrid sable]

... y'know, actually...

[minor ibex]

Here's the emblem with the gradiant circle.

Not bad. =w=

[hybrid sable]

what happens if you rotate the gradient 90 degrees?

Just to see?

[minor ibex]

It's at 22.5 right now. Do you mean 90 from that point, or 90 from cardinal point?

[hybrid sable]

90 degrees from what it is now, so that it's orthogonal to the slant of the design

[minor ibex]

Here you go. =w=

[hybrid sable]

Mmm, parallel seems better

[minor ibex]

Agreed. =w=

I could do it more 45 degrees. 22.5 is just half of that.

Eh nah. Feels alittle too far.^^;

[hybrid sable]

It goes kinda hard at 22.5. Does it not spark joy?

[minor ibex]

Just making sure. =w=

[hybrid sable]

I need to stop before I descend entirely into outdated memes

[sterile basalt]

Should the paw colour change a bit?

[minor ibex]

I wanted it to be a black paw. But I'm open to suggestion?

[hybrid sable]

i n v e r s e g r a d i e n t ?

[minor ibex]

Might want to be a little more specific.^^;

[hybrid sable]

I do not, no.

Chaos is my mistress

[minor ibex]

Alright, back to the drawing board.^^;

[hybrid sable]

But the entirely spurious suggestion was to take the background gradient and make it go the other way (rotate it 180) in the paw

[minor ibex]

...

[sterile basalt]

-# trying literally any other colour on the colour wheel.
Hmm, maybe try a soft green?

[hybrid sable]

yeah, no, bad inverse gradient 😂

I preferred black. please. change it

[minor ibex]

Feels like too many colors. I'd probably try it with gold to match the compass. Or silver to match the cardinals. Something to keep the number of different colors down to keep the symbol simple.

[hybrid sable]

Silver feels too similar to the galaxy

I don't dislike the blue-to-red, but I think black works well

[sterile basalt]

Maybe all the colours look odd because the paw’s too big for it to be a single colour?

I think we go black here

[minor ibex]

How black are we talking?^^

[hybrid sable]

makes the paw a color wheel, like an ass

[sterile basalt]

Hmm, I’d say a darkness between 2 and 3.

[hybrid sable]

probably not black black. probably the gray black

[minor ibex]

Roughly inbetween 2 and 3.

[hybrid sable]

I think that's a bit too dark, makes the third claw a little bit indistinct against the background, but that might just be me

[minor ibex]

I think I gave it a white outline before.

[hybrid sable]

There we go

Minus the green-highlighted "path", maybe
That's a bit weird

[minor ibex]

Oops! Sorry.^^;

[sterile basalt]

Do we want to try adding a smidge of colour to that so it’s not just grey?

[minor ibex]

Gave it slight gradient to see if I can highlights its edges.

[hybrid sable]

It's getting so good that the lineart remnants on the compass are getting a little jarring

[sterile basalt]

I like it! Maybe make the top and maybe bottom just a bit darker?

[minor ibex]

A look at the paw without the compass. And I darkened the shadow side of the gradiant.

[hybrid sable]

And no outline I think

[minor ibex]

Sorry. Accidently turned off the outline.^^;

[hybrid sable]

We have many strong opinions about art

[sterile basalt]

I think the paw’s great! Can we see this with the compass back?

[minor ibex]

Here we go. =w=

[sterile basalt]

I feel like with the compass the top part of the paw looks brighter. Might want to make that top bit a bit darker. I dunno though.

[hybrid sable]

I think I concur that the top part could be a bit darker

[minor ibex]

I got it.^^ There's a series of swatches with different levels of grey from black to white. So I just ticked the next darker one over.

[sterile basalt]

So good. The only thing I could see improved is getting rid of the gaps in the compass’s line art

[minor ibex]

There isn't really any. Aside from the edges of some of the triangles. But those are ment to be there.^^;

[hybrid sable]

What happens if we (you) get rid of the lineart?

[sterile basalt]

They are? Huh, I dunno if I like those.

[minor ibex]

It would look like this.

[hybrid sable]

Mm. I like it on the north-south diamonds. Not so much on the compass wheel

[minor ibex]

I can separate the two.

[sterile basalt]

I don’t really mind whether we have the line art of the compass needles. The compass ring definitely needs it though.

[low wagon]

Try a thin white lineart on the compass needles maybe .3.

[minor ibex]

About as thin as it's going to get.

[sterile basalt]

Honestly I don’t really care either way.

[low wagon]

Maybe with the same thickness as the paw? Or is it already that thick?

[hushed eagle]

I feel like South needs a break at this rate

This is like the 20th image today

[low wagon]

Yeaaaa, sorry, just wanted to give feedback >_<

[minor ibex]

Here's the same thickness as the paw's outline.

[hybrid sable]

I prefer no lineart on the needles. maybe tint the lineart on the ring, except on the cardinal markers, a little towards yellow?

[sterile basalt]

It’s only been… an hour?!

[hybrid sable]

Then I'll leave you alone and go to sleeps

[hushed eagle]

An hour is still a lot of time

[low wagon]

I think no line art looks best for needles yeah, apologies it didn’t work out >_<

[hybrid sable]

Pretty sure the commander's been working on this a lot longer than an hour today

[minor ibex]

Appreciated. =w= I'm revering the outlines to normal black. But keeping the paw white.

Maybe leter I can isolate the needles and see how the image looks with just them and the paw. But no other parts of the compass.

[hybrid sable]

Don't worry: we've made many terrible suggestions before this

[hushed eagle]

Well… south first posted an image today like 3 hours ago

[sterile basalt]

-# cough cough inverse gradient cough

[hybrid sable]

-# hey now no need to get specific mr soft green

[minor ibex]

Alright, that's enough you two. clonks Cumulus and Derg's head together in comedic fashion I'm taking a break. You guys try not to destroy the ship while I'm away.

[hybrid sable]

Good timezone South

[minor ibex]

Squee. =w=

[gray lagoon]

Feel like there's too much going on in this logo and this might be difficult to understand/see from afar

It does look pretty cool tho.

[sterile basalt]

I mean, it’s not a flag. I think it’d still be clear on the map.

[gray lagoon]

you sure ? 🤔

[sterile basalt]

yeeeessss?

[sterile basalt]

We can see Dwarf Merchant’s toilet rolls. Pathfinders should be fine…

[minor ibex]

I might consider simplifying the emblem more later. Maybe remove some of the details on the compass like the three mini-notches between the triangles.

[gray lagoon]

We'll see

[low wagon]

This is my full proposal for the assault on the listening post! You should have comment access, so feel free to leave feedback on the document or ping me here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H7Vhmj_CoCAJUn8Xmnio9FoLCdtYq4Xc2ZOkeltzhco/edit?usp=sharing

If it's okay with you guys, I'd also like to post this in Ultima's forum channel, to see what they think.

[sterile basalt]

A super clean and prepared plan. I love it.

[rose iris]

So uh

We haven't been deployed yet right

[hushed eagle]

Pretty sure that’s the case for your lot

I think Shack is just doing the easier groups in advance (aka those who are either in skirmishes or only moving)

[sterile basalt]

We’ve gotta make our real orders for next round. That means agreeing on a plan first.

We should probably make a poll about what plan we’ll do soon.

Otherwise Timezones are going to stop us from having a full vote.

[low wagon]

@minor ibex Hello! Sorry to disturb, I wasn't sure who to ask this question to.

If possible, could we ask Shack a few questions on the map itself? The two questions I have are as follows:

1. Is there a direct route between the Dock Exit and the Sensor Tower? Or do we have to go up the ramp by the Unknown Location to the right of the Dock Exit? From the map view, it seems like the Sensor Tower is blocked from the Dock Exit by a wall / being on higher ground than the Dock Exit.

2. Are we allowed to use VTOLs and engineers to do a hatch breach on the Reactors?

[ashen crystal]

Looking at the map, there’s more of those white triangles dotted about that had been designated as federal security droids than just those two, including a trio by the lift

[low wagon]

I saw them yeah, and accounted for them as best possible in my plan. At the moment though we aren't certain the other yellow triangles are Security Droids - only the two by the Dock Exit have been confirmed as Security Droids by Shack.

[ashen crystal]

We’ll get visuals on them soon enough

[low wagon]

Ay, so for now I've assumed all the yellow triangles are Federal Security Droids.

[rose iris]

Where are we currently I'm still confused it it's a space station or the city

[stable pine]

Y’all are on a small federal listening post adjacent to the Gate

[granite wasp]

we took a detour.

I wonder if there will be a way to power the droids on and not make them hostile to us. It would be nice if we could get a chance to infrom them that we are working for the federation somehow.

[hybrid sable]

We also need to ask whether the second floor corridors are large enough to fit vehicles, how large the main lift it (aka how many infantry can use it at once and whether it can take vehicles), and whether VTOLs can operate in the facility (presumably no, but it should be asked as it would open up a lot more possibilities)

[ashen crystal]

The top level is open too from my understanding

Somehow there is an atmosphere bubble

[hybrid sable]

Yeah, was more talking about the second floor, but we should make absolutely sure

[hybrid sable]

I would like to add my proposal in a second tab, to make this a one-stop reference document for the proposals

[tired stirrup]

To add to this, while I do not think it's a time critical objective, I don't think we're so hard up for man power that taking the Sensor Tower puts us in an over extended position. There has been enough expressed interest in taking the tower turn 2-3 you wont hear me complain that we do it. I guess at this point I only even mention thinking it's not something we need to hurry to get to, just to be on the record saying it?

[tired stirrup]

Guys, Shack said two triangles equals two bots, not two squads of bots, we can assume/infer based on Shack describing their armor that they're +1 Armor like the bot squads we're seeing on Lumara. We have 1LV, 7LM's, 7 IFV, 2 MBT's, and 5 VTOL, that's 5d2, 15d4, 7 of which are AP1, and 2d6 AP3 damage going into like, 5 targets. that's not talking about the 17 infantry squads we have. We can nuke the whole place in 1 turn and we're talking about forming perimeters? In a timely fashion? Three turns and the whole place will be under our control because that's just how long it will take to walk our 1S infantry that far. We'll have time to poke around in the corners and pull up the floor boards while people play around with the fancy snoopers. It's our rock! It's a blink and you miss it, cold and dark asteroid base, in the middle of no-where. We're going in hard and fast because it's an unknown asset we're taking control of, not because we expect a fight(although yes I am planning for a fight). We're going to the locations that we're going (The Control Room and Reactors) because we don't control the rock if we don't control power generation and the nerve center for the base. Not because we believe the scanners on our ship are busted and there's a whole cave of goblins waiting for us.

[quasi ocean]

from ultra but blue is right we dont want to be there for 7 turns

[hybrid sable]

I am currently writing up the proposal we agreed on in a more robust fashion to lay out my thoughts on the tactical situation. Round 1 should be ready soon and I'll post the doc link here

[ashen crystal]

Shack say anything about the ability to enter the reactors?

[granite wasp]

do we want to risk double moving to save time? Maybe not this round. But in future rounds. If the security droids are not shooting then. It would probably be worth taking the the risk.

[rocky sable]

Shack was gonna be busy today so if we get answers than it will be later

[tired stirrup]

I don't see much reason to here, it would make extracting Ultra's teams out of the reactors faster, but I figure we'll have time to get everyone loaded up and buttoned in while we're using the scanner.

we could honestly send one BG on their way once we've swept through the rock

leave the other to turn the scanners on and all that

[hybrid sable]

Everything here is extremely short-range. It's not impossible, but I don't think it will be necessary.
Anyway: done through Round 2 with best- and worst-case scenario proposals for Rounds 3+, which can't really be predicted at this point. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FvhND6ewe8JNq5INl9ZR7pHCrgKJIN5tThdRJKz1GVs/edit?usp=sharing

[tired stirrup]

I don't see the reason to have the engineers construct sandbag lines when they can just dig in inside buildings?

if anything I'd suggest, which I'm not, razorwire. I wouldn't think bots would care about it though.

[hybrid sable]

That's assuming they're officially classified as buildings which provide +1 defense and can hold all of our forces, which isn't marked on the map. Technicality, likely, but better to be prepared and it's not like we're likely to hurt for supply during this

[granite wasp]

Add that to the list of clarifications we need. If we end up deciding to fortify this location.

[pseudo cape]

@hybrid sable Thanks for signing up with TF Omega-Zulu!

For now, I've assigned you to Working Group 003 - Federal Listening Post. I don't think another BG is joining your BG there, though, so carry on with the good work!

[hybrid sable]

Ultra would disagree vigorously. We can only hope they make it

[pseudo cape]

Alright! I'll make you a coordination sheet, manage it as you see fit!

[hybrid sable]

Thank you! Our coordination is currently complicated

[pseudo cape]

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uOGmXCxTc1-iu8h6_8ck6s53ZhsCjhgz?usp=drive_link

1 Coordination Document, for general intentions.

I'm currently putting together one for your exact positioning intentions.

@hybrid sable I fixed the perms, you can edit now.

@hybrid sable Here's the order coordination sheet

Questions?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PPCPFmi5NKMQvuv4YrCCArnDZvXW7h0556kQTBdQd-U/edit?usp=sharing

[sterile basalt]

I do like that first turn, although I think VTOLing Doom Company down to a reactor might be a good idea.
It means that we won't have to split our forces as much when we make our main insertion into the underground section since one of the reactors are already clear.

I also don't love the idea of only having 2 infantry when we go for the control room. That place could have some serious defences.

[hybrid sable]

I dislike VTOL dropping because it requires a smaller force and strips them of their organic support elements: we just don't have quite enough VTOLs to fit either of their companies. Technically, breaching (which is how we'd have to do it) also creates an entry point that's only good for 2 units at a time, and I don't want them filing in like that.
Could. If you show me scan data that indicates any form of enemy activity, I will be happy to plan around it.

[sterile basalt]

oh right... I forgot we can't just dump everyone in at once...

I still think that the control room team should probably have another infantry though... Also we probably want someone pulling security on the corridor to the underground unknown.

[hybrid sable]

That's Group 23: two infantry dug in along the opposite wall (excellent fields of fire covering all the way down the corridor and main lift, no flanking positions whatsoever) and Account actively scouting it because he wanted to

sorry, mixing up my group numbering: Group 3, not Group 2

[sterile basalt]

Ah ok, I thought they were scouting the unknown building on the surface. My bad.

[hybrid sable]

Ah, no, they're descending to the second floor to get out of the direct fire of the surface contacts and guard the central area (and let Account do his special forces thing). The Sensor Tower team is the only infantry on the first floor.

Sorry, I know it's a little hard to read, but there's just so much i n f o r m a t i o n to specify

[low wagon]

Apologies, went to bed - do you still want to add your proposal as a tab in my document?

[hybrid sable]

No worries, timezones are a thing. I made my own doc, so we can probably just keep them separate since it's only going to be a thing for one more day

[low wagon]

Rogerrr!

[hybrid sable]

Think we're ready to make a poll about it, now that midrounds are officially over?

[low wagon]

I’m up for it yeah. We should link each proposal in the poll though so people can easily find it, including Blue’s proposal.

[hybrid sable]

Blue's is hard, I'll include links to Discord comments in a prefatory post (probably just copy this: #1383066264485888120 message)

[low wagon]

Got it.

[copper lynx]

What you call hallway in a freighter?

[hybrid sable]

Corridor? Sometimes used in sci-fi for ship walkways

[stable pine]

Corridor is pretty common. Passageway is commonly used on irl naval ships

[copper lynx]

Okay

Ty

I can't hold it

I must resist

The temptations to just send my order now...

[hybrid sable]

Okay, yeah, resist for just a bit please

[copper lynx]

Well I mean like whatever the things changed I definitely going to the sensor tower, so my order has been ready since the order open

I just need to hold myself to not send it

[hybrid sable]

Hello Pathfinders: now that midrounds are over, it's time for us to choose a strategy for taking this Listening Outpost! We've had three proposals so far from myself, Blossom, and MrBlue, two of which have been expanded into Google Docs and one of which provides a general outline. The opening arguments from Blossom can be found in this series of posts: #1383066264485888120 message, #1383066264485888120 message, #1383066264485888120 message, #1383066264485888120 message
And MrBlue's outline and a later clarification can be found here: #1383066264485888120 message, #1383066264485888120 message

The main google docs can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H7Vhmj_CoCAJUn8Xmnio9FoLCdtYq4Xc2ZOkeltzhco/edit?usp=sharing
and here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FvhND6ewe8JNq5INl9ZR7pHCrgKJIN5tThdRJKz1GVs/edit?usp=sharing

Please read as much of these as you can and then vote! (note that, because this is a joint op, I've invited Ultra members to vote here as well: I'll sort the votes out at the end and present the numbers by BG)

[hybrid sable]

@minor ibex there's a more extensive list of questions for Shack at the end of the Operation Daybreaker doc
All of them copied here, if it helps: #meta-comm message

[minor ibex]

Well, shoot…

[golden vector]

Right? Look away for less then a minute and there’s like 25 plus new messages

[quasi ocean]

is it cool if ultra votes in the poll for strat

[hybrid sable]

Yes, you're in the operation, too: I'll sort the votes out after

[restive compass]

Sorry y'all but I missed a lot; was out camping. What are we currently doing? I see mention of a space station/asteroid that we're raiding? Is this an infantry only thing, talk to me here.

https://tenor.com/view/talk-to-me-top-gun-gif-9137283

[minor ibex]

A side-quest opened up near the Lussan Gate. There’s a Federal Listening Post that the robots don’t yet know about. So we and Ultra are going to investigate it.

According to the mid-round event, the astroid has breathable air, and the main corridor is big enough for vehicles to navigate.

There are droid defenses. But they’re all inactive right now.

#midround-events message

[restive compass]

thx

[hybrid sable]

Thank you Southpaw

[minor ibex]

Greetings Pathfinders, we got some answers from Shack about the Federal Listening Post.

First note:
According to Shack, the entire place is powered down, and looks like it's been that way for a long while. Suggesting that it's very unlikely for the base to come online while we're walking through it.

Also, that everything on the surface is traversable by vehicles. From the entry to the main lift, and all the rocks in-between. We can crawl along the grounds, but vehicles can't take the lift to the bottom floor.
#1382781756989767692 message

However, this astroid is a bit of a small one. So fully occupying it with two battlegroups might be a bit of a tight squeeze for us. (I personally recommend using our VTOLs to carry as many units as possible.)

Plus, the docking arm can only dock one ship at a time. So Ultra and Pathfinders will have to share each turn to deploy units.
#1382781756989767692 message

Shack also suggests that this base is currently unknown by the enemy bots, but that might change soon.

So this might not be a simple investigation mission, but a tower defense one. (Recommend we secure the facility and establish a defense before we turn anything on.)

That is all I managed to get so far.

@dense wind @stuck galleon @sterile basalt @ashen iris @low wagon @tired stirrup

@hybrid sable@torpid herald @sharp stag @granite wasp @twin talon @inner harbor @round nexus

@sage frigate @golden vector @woeful nimbus @restive compass @copper lynx @regal coral @zenith notch

[sage frigate]

Tower defense? My favourite!

[stuck galleon]

So I guess we won’t be dealing with a Bot threat inside

[minor ibex]

Nope. But it's likely we can turn the defenses to our side and use them to bolster our own defense.^^

[sage frigate]

Which means we're either going to have an alien isolation scenario where the bots doesn't give a shit and open their own windows into space, or we can make the greatest choke points of all choke points.

[stuck galleon]

Then I think “mad rush to turn everything on” sounds like a better plan then I thought it would be

[minor ibex]

Oooooh no! I'd rather we establish a defense before turning anything on. Chances are the bad guys will notice and come rushing to investigate. So we'll need to prepare and be ready well before that.

[stuck galleon]

Two battle groups worth of FS stuck down there would be a real clusterfuck

[sage frigate]

Yep, same thoughts. We rush our movement, but take our time to double, triple, and quadruple check everything first before starting the blender.

[stuck galleon]

I wouldn’t expect them to get here in even three turns, unless there’s a fleet hiding right under our noses. After the first few rounds after we dig in, I don’t think having more time is going to make us any more prepared

[torpid herald]

That is all good info to have. Sounds like we won't be immediately under the gun when we get there.

[golden vector]

Hehehehehehe, Kobold defense mode activated~

[minor ibex]

Wait until you hear Southpaw tell Ratchet to start pressing buttons when we reach the control room.^^

[golden vector]

https://tenor.com/view/bongo-cat-button-red-button-mojo1985-gif-25263712

[dense wind]

The thing is if/when we are under attack by an outside botforce we need to avoid being chewed up like the bots at Elim Starport were by our allies.

[sage frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/family-guy-no-cleveland-pool-gif-14471674

[minor ibex]

Which is why establishing a good defense is a good idea.^^ Maybe set up all the armored vehicles on the surface in a perimeter, infantry in the back or underground, and VTOLs carry backup and avoid the fight until things get dicey and come in to bolster lost troops.

[quasi ocean]

from ultra but that is just daybreaker

[minor ibex]

Squee. =w=

[sage frigate]

Yee, it doesn't cost us an arm and a leg to set up defences. Hell, that's in line with what the military does too when it comes to holding a location.

[golden vector]

and the benefit of mines to!~

[hybrid sable]

In light of the news, I think we should discuss what happens after as much as what we're doing now, because it sounds like one of our BGs will need to be staying.

[minor ibex]

Considering how small this base is, and it's an "intelligence gathering" base. We might have to be the ones to set up shop here.

[sage frigate]

And also an evacuation plan in the event everything goes south.

Although then again this entire station is probably government property, so...

[minor ibex]

On the one paw, it means less action for us, which means we'll come out alive with a heavy payout.

On the other paw, it means less action for us, because we'll probably be sitting around here with nothing more to do, waiting wishing an MFer would...^^;

[hybrid sable]

From a mission statement perspective I agree. But it also depends how long and how hard we think we want to hold on, and we'll need to let Victorum know that simeone will be begging for orbital strikes in a few rounds.

[sage frigate]

Gasp! Making Nothing to more of the work!?/s

[minor ibex]

Ah~! I see what you did there. >w<

[hybrid sable]

When this all goes south, make sure the rest of ARMCO knows that nothing happened /s

[sage frigate]

But ya, I'm onboard this plan. We're an intel BG, and while Neryl was the original plan, given how Crossroads seems to be swarming in enemy forces ATM, us being on the station isn't too bad.

[golden vector]

I mean we are a Intel gathering BG and we are currently on a Intel Station...

[minor ibex]

Squee. =w= loafs up for the rest of the battle.

[hybrid sable]

spends the 2 supply onboard Cumulus on warm blankies and fuzzy socks

[sage frigate]

The otters and the bots are gonna be very confused when they find the listening post completely overhauled into a certain creature's fun house.

[minor ibex]

Oh no... The mutimals have been looking for a planet to call home, now they've conquered the Listening Post! XD

[golden vector]

And covered in minefields.

[hybrid sable]

They can smell fear: they can hear your squeems. No one is safe!

Fancy reminder that we do have a [strategy poll](#1383066264485888120 message) going up above, and there's a bit of extra relevant information down below starting [right here](#1383066264485888120 message) !

[granite wasp]

Ok if Shack is right and the bot may be here soon. Should we just help ultra setup and explore. Then plan on. the turn we switch the light back on. Plan on leaving asap to get planet side and let ultra hold out? Because its quite possible that whoever is in the base when the bots show up. Is stuck in the base for a long time.

[minor ibex]

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx1Q4svxAd5wKy27jS8cw86n2gbHZaHPbF?si=yHzcZ0S7fRioa7fW

"No escape~! AAAAAAAAAH~!!!"
...
"... How's thing's been with you?" =w=

[granite wasp]

cuz its that or completely change our doctrine which I am down for I am just saying it seems likely.

[hybrid sable]

Honestly we're better set up to be the defensive force here. They're bigger and more heavily armed, but they don't have the supply to fund their repairs, heals, and fortifications for very long and we do. (out of 56 total supply capacity we have like 36 of them)

[low wagon]

Being the smaller, more lightly armed battle group, it probably makes more sense that we hold here instead of Ultra. Unless Shack lets us set up some sort of automated defense and intel gathering, we should stay here.

[minor ibex]

Ultra can stick around for the initial defense, and when we're sure the place is secure, they can move on to Lussan to assist.

[low wagon]

Yee.

[minor ibex]

It'll probably benefit us to allow the Logi trucks to haul all the supplies, while the infantry set out on foot.

[low wagon]

Was about to ask whether I should switch yeah. Once we’ve agreed on a strategy I’ll make a new post with my new equipment.

Hoped to carry the fluffies and have Shizuko interact with them, but ah well, another time maybe -w-

[minor ibex]

Once we're munch on some of the supplies, if we need to get out of here in a hurry, the logies would be a good method of evacuation. =w=

[hybrid sable]

Say, Nalla, do you have a nom emoji? We need it

[granite wasp]

I am all good with this plan. I just fear that a battle cruiser is going to show up parkoutside and we and ultra are stuck on this rock together.

[hybrid sable]

That's what the Main Battle Canons are for!
-# but really we just tell Victorum that we've got a snack for them

[minor ibex]

We probably are lacking in a bit of orbital defense...^^;

[low wagon]

Yee .w.

[golden vector]

yeah....little to no big booms

[sage frigate]

Preferably, I wouldn't want to see anything happening while we're on the listening post.

Anyone who says the B word or the Q word is getting shot.

[minor ibex]

I need to ask, what are the B and Q words? Because I'm wracking my brain and coming up Nothing.^^;

[copper lynx]

Which mean

I CAN DASH OUTSIDE OF THE SHIP AND RUN FOR THE SENSOR TOWER YAY

[hybrid sable]

GO! GO! GO! IT'S YOUR TIME! IT'S YOUR CALLING!

Say Wazp, want to slalom the reactor housings with me?

[minor ibex]

Hey @charred flower can you please remove this pin from our battlegroup list? I think it's well and truly past it's usage.^^;
#1383066264485888120 message

[golden vector]

So I'm running with Alpha Paw then South? =w=

[minor ibex]

Yup, you're with me.^^ By the looks of it, Operation Daybreaker is the organization we're going with, so while I'm heading for the Control Room, we're going to need an engineer to go along with us.

Which means you. =w=

[golden vector]

Salutes
Aye aye Captain Fluffball!

[sterile basalt]

I suppose I’ll go for the sensor tower.

[minor ibex]

Don't anybody forget. The Battle Team tag in the Pathfinders spreadsheet is open and can be used to organize everyone.

So Group 1 = Bravo Team
Group 2 = Alpha Team
Group 3 = Charlie Team

And everybody assigned to said team in Operation Daybreaker.

[copper lynx]

Ops I forgot about that part

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/390756814532378634/1361645261218254848/3Y9Y5T_OEZB740DZFY3S.gif

[low wagon]

Should we assign destinations for each team? Alpha to Control Room, Bravo to Sensor Tower, Charlie to somewhere else?

[minor ibex]

That's pretty much what Operation Daybreaker is.

[hybrid sable]

Looking for an additional infantry and a medic to storm the Sensor Tower (Bravo Team), two infantry to hold the Main Lift area on the second floor (Charlie Team), and one medic to storm the control room (Alpha Team), then?

[minor ibex]

#1383066264485888120 message

[low wagon]

Ah, gotcha!

I'll head to the Sensor Tower with Bravo.

[hybrid sable]

I believe Operation Daybreaker's group roster is updated with all the current volunteers

[copper lynx]

Guess I miss the briefing because I don't know who's going with me

Hahahaha

Got the order and instantly dash away from paperwork

[hybrid sable]

You shot of out the transport at mach plaid the second we touched down, unfortunately

You'll be with Hardshell, Beaver, Blossom, an additional infantry squad, and a medic

[minor ibex]

It's always good to ask and see if there's a gameplan going on.

Right now the entire base is ours to explore and control. So I guess our first turn is to explore, then the next turn is to secure a defense from outside forces.

[hybrid sable]

First two turns to explore, unless we want to rush

[minor ibex]

With no enemy on the map. We can reach any location in one turn.

[hybrid sable]

Oh! Neato

.. yes, anonymous panda? would you like to volunteer?

[copper lynx]

I actually keep waiting for this answers #1383066264485888120 message for me to dash out XD

Paperworks are keep pilling up

I'm so done with it

[sterile basalt]

I’m stealing one of your seats lol.

[hybrid sable]

But wouldn't you prefer to fly, Derg?

Very restful, I promise

[low wagon]

Sorry, I'm maxed out on supplies, you'll have to walk 😅

Unless half of your squad are okay joining Shizuko in the cabin, and the other half walking XD

(RP-wise that is, not actually carrying)

[minor ibex]

We have until Sunday to finalize our orders. So there's still plenty of time to finalize our plans and put in orders on what to do.

[copper lynx]

Should I change my movement order to rush?

To fit the RP

[hybrid sable]

You mean Sunday?

[copper lynx]

You mean monday?

[minor ibex]

Right, right...

[hybrid sable]

You'll take double damage when you trip and fall, but we'll try to catch you

[minor ibex]

You'd run the risk of getting shot up and won't be able to fire back. You can still get to where you want to go by Advancing, and still be able to react should something come up.

[copper lynx]

Okay1

[low wagon]

Yee, no need to run here, this place is tiny XD

[sage frigate]

If I say it, we'll be in a world full of hurt.

[copper lynx]

Wait

Can I do search action at the same turn?

[sage frigate]

KYA! MON3TR!

[hybrid sable]

Oh, Southpaw, what should us vehicles put for our battle team?

[minor ibex]

That's an interesting question. I don't know how actions are affected when you can go from one side of the map to another in a single turn. I'd probably say you can only do 1 action to search.

[copper lynx]

Should I ask taccom about it?

[minor ibex]

I am the Taccom. But I can see if I can ask Shack about it.

[copper lynx]

I forgot

This amnesia do hitting hard

[minor ibex]

bap

[low wagon]

I think that'll only make her amnesia worse .3.

[copper lynx]

https://tenor.com/view/senko-the-helpful-fox-senko-san-anime-manga-cute-gif-15218037

[low wagon]

You could go full supply and provide extra logi for us perhaps, help the engineers fortify faster.

[minor ibex]

I believe Operation Daybreaker also has a section recommending what the vehicles should do.

[low wagon]

After all, we only have two logi trucks and our engineers for supply so far.

[hybrid sable]

Well, VTOLs just sorta get 2 supply: unfortunately we can't trade out our infantry squad for additional cookies

[low wagon]

Owh ;-;

[hybrid sable]

Otherwise LightFall would need to find another ride

[copper lynx]

Make the medic build medical tent? oh wait that an upgraded mb

I need to reread the upgrade list

[minor ibex]

Seeing as how we might be limited to how many units can be put on this rock, I'd recomend the VTOLs carry some units as backup in case something happens, and the backup can replace fallen soldiers.

[low wagon]

Yeaaa, we're all stock except for Account, 1st Tail, Rapscal and Wazp XD

[hybrid sable]

Was more talking about for the sheet: should we be Delta or Echo?

[minor ibex]

I'd say VTOLs be one, and ground vehicles be another. Unless said ground vehicle is going with a group like Blossom's Logi Truck going with Bravo Team.

[hybrid sable]

Hmm, delta has a nice red-orange colot.

[ashen crystal]

If it’s going to be a rush to turn things on, still think doing an inspection of the external sections of the reactors is a good idea

[low wagon]

Echo makes more sense for vehicles in my head, yellow matches what armor is colored as in Battle Order graphics.

[ashen crystal]

Better to find out possible issues early

[hybrid sable]

Is an integral part of Operation Daybreaker, in fact

[minor ibex]

It's not. We're investigating what we can't see. Then setting up a defense. Then we're turning stuff on.

[copper lynx]

How about this? Our VTOLs with some units try to hidden in asteroid they can find and if they (the bot) indeed attack our fortified rock let them breach then sandwich them

[low wagon]

VTOLs go Delta, AFVs go Echo.

[hybrid sable]

Yeah! Delta Team!

[low wagon]

We can certainly try hatch breaching a bot orbital if we need to, but ideally we save that as a desperate last measure 😅

[hybrid sable]

But what if it's an extra-super-shiny orbital? With space heaters and climbing trees?

[low wagon]

All the more reason to hatch breach em and board :D

Let them dock, then we can hit them with our small arms >:3

[minor ibex]

No other asteroids on the map. Just the one big rock we're currently sitting on. But maybe you can hide behind the base somewhere.

[copper lynx]

Real

[hybrid sable]

Hey, my arms are entirely normal-sized for my species!

[low wagon]

Guns, Mr. Cumulus. Guns. -w-

[copper lynx]

Btw Whats that unknown on the right low?

[hybrid sable]

Oooooooh!
...
... you guys get guns?

[low wagon]

No clue. Actually, that might be something that needs VTOL to help investigate, since there doesn't seem like a path to it via the lower levels.

[minor ibex]

It's an unknown. We'll have to investigate to see what it is.

[low wagon]

0-0 You don't? Errrrr...

-# And I thought the 33rd's supply situation was bad...

[hybrid sable]

I was issued a box of pop-its when I signed up

[copper lynx]

Maybe we can hide on that weird looking spot on 4120

[hybrid sable]

4120 does look kinda interesting

[low wagon]

That would work. The VTOLs can fly straight to the dock and land on any docked enemy ship in one turn from there, right?

[hybrid sable]

On this map? Oh yeah

[copper lynx]

It look like small size helipad ngl

[low wagon]

Hmm, but perhaps we plan for anti-ship action later -w- For now, let's focus on getting Daybreaker going properly so the post is secure.

[ashen crystal]

Presumptions include insufficient hostile point defenses and lack of escorting fighter craft

[hybrid sable]

Wait omg
There's literally the perfect gif for this
I need to remember to post it when orders are due

[low wagon]

Fair point. Still, could pay off being prepared for such an opportunity 😅

[minor ibex]

Assuming this map has the same cardinal directions as all the other maps. We actually came in from the Southeast.^^; And that's the only entryway in or out of here.

[low wagon]

Shack should include a compass rose on their maps maybe .3.

[minor ibex]

That wouldn't make sense in space.

[low wagon]

Well, I meant more to help read the map -3-

Know which way is "north", since right now people assume top of the map.

[hybrid sable]

You're asking me to risk not only my life, but the lives of my crew and my VTOL for a super-extra-shiny orbital with space heaters and climbing trees?!? Against enemy fighters and point defense guns?!?

Where do I sign up?!?

[minor ibex]

Facepaw...

[low wagon]

You signed up when you joined Delta Team

Now go and get em! :D

[hybrid sable]

🤩

[ashen crystal]

… I’m still playing to inspect the hull of the reactors

Planning

Unless there is a major thing that is pushed for

Right now though 8 just need sleep

[low wagon]

You'll likely be providing quick evacuation if needed to one of Ultra's squads maybe.

[hybrid sable]

No go have your fun Wazp

[copper lynx]

Still wondering what it is and why it's look funny

[hybrid sable]

Delta Team's got this

[low wagon]

That is, if you can land on the reactors and access the insides .3.

[low wagon]

Looks a bit like fuzzy flames. Maybe a maneuvering thruster in case the post needs to avoid something?

[minor ibex]

Looks more like hanging wires and cables to me.

[copper lynx]

or it's actually a connector to other part of the station that already detached and the wall is filled with rock as compensation

[low wagon]

Oh right, did have a question for mission orders Southpaw - for movement, can I say I follow one of the other units?

Since I don't want to accidentally move somewhere that isn't covered by infantry.

[minor ibex]

Hexes can have more than 1 unit on them. There's kinda no limit. Though I like to limit them to 4 units per hex.

In this case though. Just put in the coordinates of the hex you want to stop at, and the taccoms and DM will figure out the rest.

[low wagon]

Gotcha.

[stable pine]

Definitely always put coordinates, if it’s just a bunch of people saying they’re following each other around it gets very confusing very fast

[low wagon]

Ah, okie >_<

[stable pine]

The formation would be… chasing it’s tail… one could say

I’ll see myself out

[hybrid sable]

just a solid ring of infantry and logi trucks in an orobouric congo line

[minor ibex]

You can say in the actions tracker that you're following someone. But you have to put in the coordinates to help keep things simple. We don't have time to parse out rederics in order to figure out where everyone is going.^^;

[stable pine]

Everyone else, on the planet: “what’s that really loud music?”

“Don’t worry, that’s just Pathfinders doing their congo line, carry on”

[low wagon]

Btw, I don't think 4016 is the sensor tower - it may be 4017? Double check >_<

[hybrid sable]

The Sensor Tower itself is technically right at the bottom edge of 4016. The very edge of the entrance is the top of 4017. Very confusing

[sage frigate]

Double confirm, we are going Daybreaker, right?

[minor ibex]

Poll's still going until tomorrow. But the odds are very good.
#1383066264485888120 message

[low wagon]

Gotcha, going 4016 to stay safe then >_<

[sage frigate]

Roger that.
In the meantime, battle music to raid a ghost station to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIKME2QXsqk&list=PLih_zMjUgynEbeSEAVt2NjtVPQT9xYkOV&index=406

[hybrid sable]

Should add it to the official Pathfinders Music Playlist !

[sage frigate]

Oh ya, I forgot about that.

[copper lynx]

That why I put south as direction, because it inside the tower

[torpid herald]

Getting caught up again. I should really watch this channel more often. Are infantry loading onto vehicles for transport, or just legging it for now? If so, I think it'll take two rounds to get in on foot, since we can't jump through walls/space.

[minor ibex]

Because there are no enemies on the map, we can reach any location in a single turn.

[torpid herald]

Oh, nice

[sterile basalt]

We can? Nice. Does it take 1 full speed to go anywhere?

[minor ibex]

I don't know.

I put out a question to clarify it. But Shack has yet to respond.

[torpid herald]

Should my bots try plugging into the system before the power turns on, or are we doing that all at once?

[hybrid sable]

Wait until the facilities are secured, please!

[minor ibex]

Ideally I would like to establish a defensive circle before we flick the "on" switch in the Control Room.

[torpid herald]

For sure, wasn't going to touch anything without posting security first.

Im supposed to be in the Sensor Tower anyway, lol

[sterile basalt]

I should probably wait for everyone to set up before touching the sensor tower too, right?

[sage frigate]

If the place is currently deactivated, then there's no problem going there

[copper lynx]

Reminder to not just turn the control on but also reprogrammed the AI code to register us as friendly

[minor ibex]

Right.

[minor ibex]

Goes without saying. But yeah.

[sterile basalt]

I mean I’ll just be looking not touching.

[hybrid sable]

Inspection is good. Rewiring the sensors and mainframe to broadcast Caramelldansen on repeat across all radio bands is a war crime and will get us yelled at.

[sage frigate]

I mean, we could always just fake we're a totally legit listening post and not a full on ambush for the bots.

[copper lynx]

Yep totally legit

[hybrid sable]

The poor bots wouldn't know what hit 'em

[torpid herald]

Great, now I want a gif of this station with flashing colors coming out the windows

[sage frigate]

Which comes to one point I'd like to mention. Please, whoever is manning the Comms network, don't reveal to everyone we're at where we are.

We don't need the heat.

[minor ibex]

Considering the fact that both myself and Phanta's Rapscallions are going to the Control Room, I think we can make sure nothing funny happens. =w=

[hybrid sable]

Helped by the fact that there's nothing in the control room to mess with in the first place

[minor ibex]

Nobody here but us chickens. =w=

[torpid herald]

This is where we find out there was actually a huge neon sign over the asteroid pointing right at it that reads 'Fire here'

[hushed eagle]

I mean… knowing Phanta’s history of refitting scrap vessels into ships, I dunno whether to be glad or worried that he’s taking the control room

[copper lynx]

Please no space rock turned into spaceship shenanigans

[hybrid sable]

I assure you, you don't

[torpid herald]

Saved

[copper lynx]

XD

[ashen iris]

brain started playing carameldansen instantly

[torpid herald]

Thank you!

[minor ibex]

And somewhere in the background, you can barely hear the echoes of angry fox noises. >w<

[devout wharf]

Remember to coordinate with #1382037450955821148 as well so that we arent trampling on eachother

[minor ibex]

Some of your guys in Ultra are aware of the poll we put up on which order formation to go with.
#1383066264485888120 message

And the documents pertaining to which operation is what.
#1383066264485888120 message

By the looks of it, it seems Operation Daybreaker is the chosen action we're planning to work with as as a Battlegroup. Though with the new information acquired, that might be slightly adjusted to accommodate. =w=

Mainly we don't need to worry about the robots waking up and shooting us... yet. So we're slightly switching tactics to securing the facility and preparing for any incoming threat from the big bads before we turn the whole place on.

Sorry, link echo of something completely unrelated I was sending to a friend.^^;

[sterile basalt]

Angry fox noises replace the whoops.

[woeful nimbus]

Came back to so many messages sent in 1 night

Also just want to say in that initial part when Wazp is doing visual inspections of the exterior reactors, do we want myself or another VTOL to run cover for him? 2 is always better than 1

[minor ibex]

I figured the VTOLs in general would stay as a group and move together.

If we're expecting an enemy force to pop in later, the VTOLs can come up and breach the enemy ship to invade them with infantry forces.

Also, it seems unlikely for the reactors to be breached from the outside, especially if it's possible to reach them from the inside.

Took a moment to expand the unit icons in preperation for our drops. Going to start organizing our movements. =w=

[minor ibex]

Managed to setup the current movement plans for units that have submitted orders so far.

It's... Really small. I know.^^; But I can adjust it as I work. =w=

@hybrid sable Are you not going to carry anybody?

You know that with this base being so small, we're going to need to conserve space as much as possible so that everybody can get unloaded. Both Pathfinders and Ultra.

[copper lynx]

half RP POST:

"huh? Where my squad? so slow"

(meanwhile the rest of squad already running as fast as they can)

Also sorry for the ping

Forgot to turn it off

[sage frigate]

Side thought... Is it too late to announce ourselves as Federation Mercenaries?

In the event we get hit with a challenge code.

[copper lynx]

Do we got the paper?

[sage frigate]

Did the Federation give us a proper contract or something?

[copper lynx]

Oh I think I see something with federation mercenaries words on one of my paperwork's but there so much files to go through and find it. And for the paper with Federation in it? There's just too much... well comparing it with our own company paperwork... our are five times more than that... (this is obviously just a random things I said tried to makes sense of overall situations)

[rose iris]

So operation daybreaker?

[sterile basalt]

The sensor tower's only 0.5 distance units away right?

[rose iris]

Guessing I'm going to 4017

[woeful nimbus]

Just for clarity, I’m going to be following Cumulus as Southpaw requested we stay together, where does @stuck galleon want dropping off?

[sterile basalt]

live footage of Southpaw interacting with Mutalettes

[minor ibex]

You're not wrong. =w=

[hushed eagle]

Anyhow, I might shove an audio transmission into my rp

Just a lil note for you since I’m getting bored of Mal just doing nothing except talk to robots
-# On armco comms ofc (audio transmission as an actual text message on ARMCO ‘comms’)

But anyhow, I forget how much of a downer Southpaw is

[minor ibex]

He takes his job very seriously. Though can you blame him when he has the survial of his entire race resting on his shoulders?^^;

[hushed eagle]

https://tenor.com/view/eevolution-eevee-eevees-gif-9234957391321279391

A species of these

Which I admit is important as they are cute

[minor ibex]

I'm glad you agree.^^

[hushed eagle]

I hope you have good luck with the listening post

Just maybe don’t let Phantsa try repairing the technology
-# The ratio of success the ships those kobolds made aren’t great and this doesn’t alleviate my worries that it’s a way smaller scale

[copper lynx]

I like how there some Easter eggs of my squad running trying to catching up with their squad leader on the RP of other people

[minor ibex]

I think we're good. =w=
-# Looks at his entire fleet that the kobolds have successfully retrofitted to the benefit of the mutimals.

[hushed eagle]

Good luck…

This is why I get private 3rd parties to make my ships

[sterile basalt]

yeah I added it in after reading yours. Fit nicely with the RP I had going.

[copper lynx]

[minor ibex]

Updated the map a little further. adding in players as I go and orders are submitted.

Let me know if the units and their identifiers are way too small for you guys to see. I'll try to scale them up.

Also, if nobody has any objections. I think I've completed the logo patch for our Battlegroup.^^

A clear version and a full patch version.

[golden vector]

Kobold hiss

[hushed eagle]

Aggressive clicking/clacking of a sentinels’ servos

[low wagon]

Just a heads up, I did repost my order to put Blossom at 4016 - unless I’m not allowed to enter the Sensor Tower @-@

[stuck galleon]

I’m heading down the main lift

But I can make it there in one turn, so you can do something else if you want

[woeful nimbus]

Roger that!

[hybrid sable]

I'm not currently planning on transporting anyone, no, as all the infantry have designated objectives, but if one infantry that would otherwise be going to the Sensor Tower wants to check the unknown tower, instead, I could change my order

[minor ibex]

Let's assume that vehicles can't enter buildings just like they can't enter the lift to the lower levels.^^;

[copper lynx]

Beautiful

[copper lynx]

Another day at being so invisible even though in plain sight, but at least I on the map now so I can't complain

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/390756814532378634/1361645261218254848/3Y9Y5T_OEZB740DZFY3S.gif

[minor ibex]

I greatly recommend carrying a unit. We can supplement with Ultra's units if need be. This'll help make sure all our units can fit on this tiny rock and nobody gets left behind.

Also, If we want to set up a strike force that can breach an incoming orbital, we're going to need the VTOLs to be carrying units they can breach with.

[copper lynx]

Breaching with MBT sound like dumb idea

But

[stuck galleon]

Do we know if the ship that brought us here will be sticking around?

[copper lynx]

It will dock off to change to Ultra ship

[minor ibex]

Yes and no. It needs to be out of the way because the docking arm can only hold one transport at a time. But it's not going to disapear on us when it leaves.

[minor ibex]

We don't have an MBT, nor do we have an HVTOL to carry one.

[copper lynx]

I want to say can we ask Ultra but then remembered that they don't own hvtol

[hybrid sable]

I'm assigned to LightFall in the sheet, who hasn't stated an objective yet, so I could take them by default, but I'd prefer for someone (LightFall or otherwise) to volunteer

Our ifvs, LM, and LV should probably do some rough coordination with their counterparts in Ultra. Just picking a dot to be from the Round 1 map in Operation Daybreaker would help

[copper lynx]

Who LightFall?

[minor ibex]

Infantry unit, and my second in Taccom command.

[copper lynx]

Also we need the armored to get out of the ship hangar or someone gonna get angry

[minor ibex]

I got bad news for the group. Shack came back with a response for movement and actions, and it looks like we're stuck with the speed limit of our units for now.

#1382781756989767692 message

Please pass this information on to everybody in the group. I need to go to bed.^^;

[sharp stag]

Hello from Holiday, happy to be carried into the fray, was just getting up to date

[sharp stag]

Where are you going objective wise?

I see your 0.5 investigate action, I guess that’s drop me off and then my action is “hold and investigate tower”

[copper lynx]

He going to the unknown tower on the right side of the map unaccessible from the inside

It look like a lighthouse tbh

[sharp stag]

Yeah I can take a good that, I’ll do up my order now

[copper lynx]

Guys I'm going to tag the rest of people as paw ordered is that fine?

[minor ibex]

Remember to check the spreadsheet to see who is allowing pings or not. The checklist is there for a reason.

[copper lynx]

I using the old tags you used above

[minor ibex]

Good enough. =w=

[granite wasp]

I wont be able to mark off what group I am going to until later today. But as of right now who needs/ wants a medic with them?

[sharp stag]

Posted my order, you drop me off and I’ll hold in the tower. Likely next round do an investigate action.

[hybrid sable]

Updated my orders, welcome aboard! Briefly, at least.

[woeful nimbus]

Orders are in, not carrying account as they have a separate objective so I’ll just fly cover for Cumulus

[sharp stag]

Hop in with @woeful nimbus and join me in the tower?

[hybrid sable]

We want a medic going to the sensor tower and a medic going towards the control room (but ending at main lift this round) as our primary objectives, so take your pick

[copper lynx]

Sorry mass ping but need to read this #1383066264485888120 message

@dense wind @stuck galleon @sterile basalt @ashen iris @low wagon @tired stirrup

[ashen iris]

already announced earlier this morning iirc

[granite wasp]

Sound like a plan to me.

[copper lynx]

Sorry wrong copy

[copper lynx]

I mean to copy this

[hybrid sable]

We also need our IFVs and LM to coordinate with the Ultra vehicles to say where they'll be in the main floor, since that's going to be pretty cramped. At least choose a dot to be on the Operation Daybreaker Round 1 map and comment it on the doc/tell me so I can note it down

Southpaw, I propose leaving Alpha and Charlie team on the first floor this round while Ultra's companies take the Main Lift down: saves on space down there, and they have farther to go.

[minor ibex]

Vehicles can’t use the lift.

[hybrid sable]

Their infantry companies: Crimson and Doom

Groups 4 and 5 on the planning doc

[minor ibex]

I’m still don’t get the logic. But I need to get to bed now. I got work I need to rest up for.

[hybrid sable]

Sleep. I'll explain when you're back

[stuck galleon]

the lift should be 1 movement, unless I’m stupid

[hybrid sable]

You talking "from the exit to the lift" is one movement, or "using the lift is one movement"?

[stuck galleon]

From exit to the lift

Because the thing he linked to was talking about how our movement is still limited

[hybrid sable]

Ah, yeah. I also think it's ~1 movement (maybe like 0.9 movement, not that 0.1 is good for anything)

[stuck galleon]

If taking the lift is an action, maybe there are some IFVs and VTLOs that can drop off Alpha and Charlie so we can go down this turn?

Might be too late to organize that

[hybrid sable]

The infantry would still have to get on and off the transports, unfortunately: that would use all their movement. But I don't see taking an elevator using up an action.

My concern is more how deep we'll need to stack the troops with 13 squads of infantry plus 3 engis and 3 medics trying to go down all at once with no movement left to get our of the central room

[tired stirrup]

In light of the new information from Shack, that the facility is off, has been off, won't come on, and that turning on the base power/sensor is going to put our names on the map so to speak. As well as that the Droids are more like NPC's that will join us when we walk into the middle of them than they are gargoyles waiting to wake up and jump us for trespassing, we're still going with the strategies we came up with when we had almost nothing to go off?

We have a whole day to talk about how to keep people off our rock as well as get engineer teams escorted safely

[ashen crystal]

Does our transport ship have a name?

for RP purpouses?

[hybrid sable]

We're modifying it slightly, but there's really not that much to do: Daybreaker's basic structure is the quickest way to get our 4 engis to the 4 key facilities. We have vehicles going around enough places to get eyes on all the marked facilities. There are not yet incoming hostiles. It's a good field test for how difficult it is to coordinate deployments across two BGs, and good practice before we get into a combat zone. What would you like us to change?

Not aware of anyone having named our transport yet, no

[stuck galleon]

The Indestructible V

[hybrid sable]

I stand corrected, then

[stuck galleon]

that was just a suggestion lol

[tired stirrup]

where medics go, how many people go down and where, Dash orders maybe, where we set up armor, stuff like that

The logic for why the engineers going where they were is the same

[ashen crystal]

orders for exterior inspection of Reactor 1 is submitted. Have 2 speed left if I am needed to respod to anything

[hybrid sable]

I'd argue that rushing doesn't make sense from an RP perspective: it's still an unknown location, and most of us aren't suicidal. The groups that could meaningfully benefit from dispersing their infantry are all on Ultra's side, as we've adjusted to three teams of two and two scouting singletons, and where else would we send medics than with people they can heal? The armor... honestly has nothing better to do than practice deploying a defensive formation. Feel free to pitch specific changes you thibk would work better to the people doing them, but broadly critiquing the idea of keeping an established plan in place to avoid confusion isn't productive.

[tired stirrup]

I'm broadly critiquing the idea because in general terms, the plan no longer fits the situation as we know it and I don't know if I want to spend the required energy coming up with specifics for a new plan if people don't want a new plan.

[hybrid sable]

If you think that the plan is generally unsuitable for the situation, then clearly there are things in the plan that should be changed (and the plan has gotten modified enough that you absolutely shouldn't worry about requesting new modifications). But I've yet to hear a single thing that you actually consider to be unsuitable (or a way to fix it), and as the person who put the entire doc together in the first place I'm too tired to bother coordinating changes unless someone has a specific request.

Even better if you go organize it yourself and then just tell me so I can update the planning doc

[zenith notch]

A question regarding movements of units disembarking into the listening post: what is the starting point for such units? Is it the ship itself (which part of it, where is the docking apparatus?), some specific spot in the station's dock scaffolding, or the point known as "dock exit"?

I need clarification to produce a valid order for my company.

[hybrid sable]

Start your move from the Dock Exit at 4117. Southpaw asked Shack for clarification, never got it, so we're proceeding under the assumption that we spawn at 4117

[zenith notch]

Affirmative. Yttrium, out!

[hybrid sable]

Do you have a battle team? Are you planning on going to the Sensor Tower, central room on the second floor to secure it, or are you planning on going somewhere else?

We have volunteers from Ultra to fill 3 Light Mech slots watching D2. BlueMec and Sapien, would you both be willing to take the corresponding spots watching D1 (the droid pair on the north rim, next to the Dock Exit), or would one of you want to be in the west to watch D2 and screen the rear of the armor line?

[autumn matrix]

Watch those wrist rockets, gentlemen

[zenith notch]

My plan is to get to the elevator, in order to descend to the second floor and, probably, help seize one of the reactors on the following turn. (I assume the elevator goes down the next turn). As I see it, the reactors are priority zero, if this place is a trap then the first thing that comes to mind is that its powerplant had been booby trapped to go prompt-critical with two battlegroups on board

[hybrid sable]

Alright, you'll want to coordinate with Ultra then: they have their Crimson Company and Doom Company set take both reactors

Crimson Company is a little bit bigger (5 infantry and an engi and medi, rather than 4 infantry and an engi and medi)

For the record we're not sure how long it takes us to use the elevator: I would submit an order to descend this turn and the worst that can happen is that Shack says no. Another thing that hasn't been answered.

[gray lagoon]

PATHFINDERS, GREAT NEWS

IRON HAMMER IS A FURRY BATTLEGROUP.

Apparently.
According to @arctic socket.

So uh, UwU to you my fellow furry battlegroup fwiends, I guess. =v=

[sterile basalt]

^w^

[low wagon]

-w-

[arctic socket]

^w^

[golden vector]

https://tenor.com/view/wrist-rocket-watch-those-wrist-rockets-harrison-fog-fire-blast-gif-16944212

[tired stirrup]

I'd prefer to be in the west

[restive compass]

So sorry I forgot to see this lol, will try to do so with my next activation 😅

[hybrid sable]

Wasn't crucial except for coordination purposes: orders aren't due for (almost?) a day still

[torpid herald]

Speaking of orders, for those of us that have already posted before the movement change came out, should we take down and repost, or just edit in this one circumstance? Sorry if this got answered already

[hybrid sable]

Everyone who submitted before the movement change has legal moves (and most actually tracked their movement anyway), so no need

[torpid herald]

Sweet

[hybrid sable]

@regal coral @round nexus @inner harbor @twin talon
Sorry for the ping: orders are due tomorrow and I don't recall seeing you since the early strategy talks. Are you up to date on the current situation?

[regal coral]

I am up to date and support the current plan

I will get orders in tonight

[hybrid sable]

Thank you! Enjoy your Sunday!

[regal coral]

Thank you thank you

[granite wasp]

Which team is going to the Spire on the spread Sheet?

[hybrid sable]

Are you talking about the Sensor Tower

[granite wasp]

sorry yes

[hybrid sable]

That's Bravo team

[regal coral]

gaba, can you note me down as being the northmost armor on the map?

[hybrid sable]

Yes, I can note that

[regal coral]

thank you

[granite wasp]

Okay well mark me down for Bravo team then.

[hybrid sable]

Will do!

[regal coral]

Orders in 👍

you’re a saint for maintaining the doc gaba

[hybrid sable]

starts shaking and emitting a noxious black smoke
"Aaaaaauuuuugggghhhhh!"
clicks off the smoke generator
"Just kidding. Thanks, it makes my nerd brain happy."

[torpid herald]

Ever seen infantry go hull down?
Horrendous screeching and tearing of metal as the Hardshells embed themselves in the floor of the station. The tops of their legs, sensor clusters, and guns are all that remain visible
Well now you have!

[hybrid sable]

-# That's... really cool, but please tell us squishy organics to cover our ears first

[torpid herald]

Single low beep of affirmation

[hybrid sable]

does not hear it: keeps looking at HardShells expectantly for a few seconds before shrugging

[torpid herald]

First casualty of the BG; Cumulus' hearing

(It sounded like the first note of Megalovania)

[low wagon]

Shizuko: Disapproving stare

Platoon Leader: “…I hope there were no important wires down there…”

[torpid herald]

Enzo, over the com: "Don't worry, they still got their Ground Penetrating Radar. There was only like a... 15% chance of hitting something vital. Maybe 10%"

[low wagon]

Platoon Leader: “That’s 15% too many…”

[torpid herald]

Now that im thinking about it, should we expect that boarding craft/torpedoes can drop enemies pretty much anywhere, not just on the docking arm?

[autumn matrix]

@tired stirrup I'm ok with you coming with me to the west

[hybrid sable]

Expect? No. Prepare for? Almost certainly.

[minor ibex]

Finally made it home from work. =w= I'm going to work on adjusting the map to accomidate for everyone's orders and arrangements.

[golden vector]

Yay

[hybrid sable]

Welcome back!

[golden vector]

so for deployment assume we are deploying from Hex 4117 then?

[minor ibex]

I'd recommend to be safe and assume we're deploying from 4116. Unless someone can poke Shack and ask him.

[golden vector]

a lot of the orders say 4117 so I assume someone did?

[minor ibex]

Yeah, everybody assuming it's the start, so I guess that's where we're starting off until Shack says no.^^;

[golden vector]

alrighty then. Ready to deploy Alpha Paw? =w=

[minor ibex]

As ready as I'll ever be.^^;

You keep that up, I might actually change the name of every team from "Team" to "Paw." XD

[golden vector]

XD

[minor ibex]

So assuming speed limits are in place, we'll only have enough speed to get to the Main Lift, and maybe reach the bottom in the same turn.

[golden vector]

posted, but I can repost if necessary for the Lift part.

which of course depends on if using the lift is an action

[hybrid sable]

I really hope it's not: that seems very silly. A half day's march to use an elevator?

I think either we or Ultra (not both: seems too crowded for that central room) should submit orders assuming we'll be able to go down, and so far Ultra's infantry orders seem to be assuming they'll descend next round

[minor ibex]

Considering that Ultra is a bit behind us, and we'll be stepping onto the rock first. That makes sense to me.

[hybrid sable]

Oh, there's a map of the positions people have signed up and put orders in for in the Daybreaker Sheet (Round 1 section), Southpaw

[minor ibex]

I'm aware. I'm making my own official map so that everyone is arranged properly.

@zenith notch Hey, I don't know what azimuth is in terms of direction. You're gonna have to remake your order so that it's something easier to understand so that I can map it out.

[torpid herald]

NGL, 'Hardshell Paw' makes me think of cats in armor

[hybrid sable]

-# it's very nearly straight north, pointing straight down the northern corridor

[torpid herald]

-# 180° is south

[minor ibex]

Thanks.

Though they'll still need to note to make it simpler next time.

[torpid herald]

I think the 8 main directions are really the only ones that matter for facing, in any case. That would be WAY too granular if it was down to the degree, lol

[hybrid sable]

No more than 16 directions, certainly. north-northwest is as specific as you need

[minor ibex]

If need be. One can identify a hex they want to "look at" or say "Facing: South, looking down the hall." That'll be good enough for me. =w=

Granted, I actually can spin the units around with exact degrees of measurement.^^;

[ashen iris]

my math brain wants 180 to be West

buh

[minor ibex]

Westwing is pretty likable.^^

RP POST:

Westwing: looks around, then points to himself. "Me?"

[ashen iris]

anyways uhh

am unsure where the blobs are needed

I guess the blobs can standby on the lift area?

[minor ibex]

Yoink! You've been volunteered for Charlie Team's medical support. Congradulation.^^

[ashen iris]

wat!

blobs kidnapped!

though to be fair the blobs are probably the most portable medical team around by virtue of

being literal blobs carryable in tubes

[minor ibex]

The best kind of medics are the pocket medics.^^

[torpid herald]

Did I make the post about how the medics can work on my bots yet? Just an RP blurb

[minor ibex]

Don't ask me.^^; Sorry, but I've been so busy I can't keep track of RPs. =~=;

[ashen iris]

nop

but regardless the blobs are very rp compatible with all kinds of units

they can just learn things on the fly, due to being part of a hive mind

makes rp consistency very easy

[minor ibex]

Got your unit down with Charlie Team. Just put in Hex 4118 pointing East as your coordinates when you post. =w=

[ashen iris]

anyways uh, South

[minor ibex]

Yes?

[ashen iris]

I suggest instead of using the degrees or just the names of directions

you just add an additional coord for the tile considered the front

[minor ibex]

I'm afraid I don't follow.

[ashen iris]

for example, facing south from lift would be

... (Other details)
End Coords: 4118
Facing : 4119

[minor ibex]

That's fine. So long as the facing and coordinates is something I can easily read.

People either uses a cardinal directiion, or say they're facing a particular hex. Just be sure you say Hex 4119, instead of just stating a number. Otherwise I might get confused.

[ashen iris]

🤔

[minor ibex]

Map has now been updated with all the Units that have submitted orders so far.

@tired stirrup @twin talon @inner harbor @round nexus @sage frigate

And Mysterioushunter (no ping)

Deadline for submitting orders is <t:1751839200:F>, in <t:1751839200:R>.
Be sure to get your orders in before the time limit.

[hybrid sable]

Small correction: infantry 2 in Bravo Paw is SHaling, not SklBus

[minor ibex]

Ah, you're right. Thank you.^^;

[torpid herald]

RP post:

During a lull in the movement, a crackle comes over the medical channel, broadcasting to medics and those vehicles with auto-docs installed for the organic (or semi-organic in some cases). Enzo's voice comes through, sounding apologetic and a bit tired, "Hey, medical support, I'm uploading some procedures for treating my squad. Don't worry, you shouldn't need any special gear; standard las-scalpels and suture thread should be able to put them back in shape, and you dont have to worry about a lot of those redundant systems. Details are coming in the data net, but the hyper-polymer hydraulic lines will... probably... seal themselves, and cutting off any melted CPUs will let them reroute and compensate."

There's a momentary break before he comes back again, "By the way, Hydraulic fluid doesn't stain nearly as bad as blood, so... upside if they get hit first, right?" Before a nervous laugh, and an upload to the tactical data net of instructions to the medics, and a program for the auto-docs

[sterile basalt]

Ah yes, we love smol supply

[ashen iris]

you know the one thing I'm not sure is

how would blobs communicate with non-organics

🤔

[minor ibex]

Universal Translators maybe?

[ashen iris]

blobs can't speak

[torpid herald]

Bioluminesence patterns?

[hybrid sable]

They could flow into script

[ashen iris]

engaging with normal organics usually involves the hivemind directly invading people's minds and injecting thoughts in

(very efficient)

(and also kinda horrifying now that I think about it)

[sterile basalt]

Invading their audio sensors and directly injecting speech?

[hybrid sable]

I kinda want ice cream. Blobl, was that you?

[ashen iris]

no

-# I think?

[hybrid sable]

Oh, oke. Good.

[ashen iris]

that implies the ability to make sound beyond

sloshing noises

[sterile basalt]

Whelp, my team really hopes that they aren’t on the same team as you.

[hybrid sable]

... can you see?

[ashen iris]

seeing and sensing yes,

hearing, touches, sight everything exists, except smell

the hive mind does not like how some people smell

[hybrid sable]

Well, okay, that's... fair, I suppose

[torpid herald]

If its simulating neuron pulses, it might be compatible with the Hardshells' internal network

[ashen iris]

partially because it reminds it of the green people

[sterile basalt]

What does a blob taste? Do they taste anything they touch?

[ashen iris]

it tastes when it consumes something

unrelated question, have you ever been inside of a blob

[torpid herald]

I've been swimming before...

[ashen iris]

also unrelated, are you tasty

[hybrid sable]

Depending on how you define that... yes. But I assure you we taste more or less like we smell

[ashen iris]

blob has precisely zero context on how good or bad that is

(no smell)

anyways uh

[ashen iris]

that's cool

new lore for the blob expanded universe

[torpid herald]

Less invasive than an organic team member too, lol

[ashen iris]

hey look blob does not invade people's minds without consent

it usually requires some kind of physical contact

[torpid herald]

-# gonna make the blobs sound like the Emporer from TTS

[ashen iris]

which is usually signalled by a blob going up to you and then like asking for a handshake

so technically we communicate by handshakes

[stuck galleon]

How would they talk to machines, then? Cuz we got two units of them

[ashen iris]

yeah that's why I asked

[hybrid sable]

Machines are very familiar with handshake protocols

[ashen iris]

this is the solution

[ashen iris]

they do not have a "mind" to speak of, though

[minor ibex]

What if you did that, but with tech? A device that kinda acts like a human brain that the blobs can "inject" information into, and said information can be decoded and transmitted through comms as regular speech?

[ashen iris]

we haven't figured that out yet

or rather these blobs haven't

the tool is currently stuck in shipping halfway across the galaxy

[stuck galleon]

Should have gotten SpaceAmazon Prime

[ashen iris]

damn these delays

[stuck galleon]

Same cycle delivery

[ashen iris]

should've paid for express 😔

[hybrid sable]

Evergreen got jammed in a gateway

[torpid herald]

Armcozon next day

[stuck galleon]

Quadrillions of credits lost

[ashen iris]

well

I have no preference

considering I'm the least traditional unit of anyone

[minor ibex]

All the mutimals in my company: "Is that a fact?" >[

XD Sorry, couldn't help myself.^^;

[ashen iris]

I'm amorphous!

[hybrid sable]

I mean, Pokemon teams have been around for... what, more than a millennium at this point?

[stuck galleon]

Battle blob

[ashen iris]

yeah but the pokemon are not a hive

and I will defeat them in a pokemon battle

[torpid herald]

So just to explain why I think Hardshells could be the bridge, they respond to vocal commands, not just direct input, including contextual intent. Essentially have a blob-mind interaction with the intent part and it can be decoded into a message

[minor ibex]

Nor are they factually Pokemon. That's just used as a reference guide. XD

[ashen iris]

woa

the bridge between while

space UPS loses my package

[torpid herald]

-# though I am not admitting they are free-thinking AI of course. Nope

[ashen iris]

damn it space UPS

[torpid herald]

Blobs and verbal communication

[ashen iris]

my nemesis...

the inability to verbalise

and space ups

and the green people

[sterile basalt]

Just roll 180 degrees, your space ups will become your space downs!

[ashen iris]

-rolls about-

[sage frigate]

Just to confirm, I'm following you right?

[minor ibex]

I could probably use the extra help. Since currently it's just Rascal and I in Alpha... ahem You get the idea. =w=

[sage frigate]

Ok, I'll type up in a bit.

[minor ibex]

Thanks. =w=

[minor ibex]

Added some RP highlights as well. Just for the heck fo it.^^

[hybrid sable]

We do love a bit of roleplay ^w^

[minor ibex]

Though Shack might not if it gets in the way of seeing who's doing what.^^;

[hybrid sable]

If we just make them funny enough maybe he'll eventually forgive us

[minor ibex]

Digits crossed. >w<

[sage frigate]

Imputed my order. Is anyone covering the south corridor?

As in, Ratchet can't shoot, right?

[minor ibex]

Ratchet can't shoot, that is correct. Luckily Charlie is covering all the corners around the Main Lift once we both get down there. Also, you put in "Notjiy" as your callsign, instead of "Nothing." Might want to check that.^^;

[sage frigate]

Motherf-

[golden vector]

Not a Combat Engi yet

[sage frigate]

Anyways, yep, edited.

And reposted

[minor ibex]

Thanks.^^ Already got you set up. I'll double check that your heading is correct on the map.

All set.^^

[twin talon]

@hybrid sable @woeful nimbus Just to clarify we're moving in formation with both Cumulus and Wazp in addition to our strafing run ? So Starting off in 4116 flying to Wazp's dropoff then heading with cumulus to his drop off then on to our strafing run finishing in 4318 ?

[low wagon]

rings bell Come get your smol supplies! Special clearance sale for the Federal Listening Post exploration! Buy one, get one free at the Sensor Tower today!

[hybrid sable]

https://tenor.com/view/mlp-my-little-pony-daybreaker-sunday-solar-gif-15009620349471118912

[sage frigate]

@minor ibex I believe order's closed, right?

[stable pine]

Orders close today <t:1751839200:R>

[sage frigate]

Ah. I see why I got thrown off. The time South put in #1385617780551716905 was 6pm my time. Three hours ago.

[minor ibex]

Of course… That’s suppose to be PM. Not AM. (My time.)

[sterile basalt]

And that’s why 24 hour time is best time.

[minor ibex]

I'm going to bed. When I wake up, I need to consider pinning a schedule of when I'm active. =~=;

[ashen crystal]

If we have to deploy from the entrance as Vtoo I may need to adjust my orders to have the ship actually move around the reactor for inspection.

Cause I feel like I need to circle it to check all sides

[hybrid sable]

We've got a few more hours. Think we've lost two IFVs and a logi truck, though.

[twin talon]

If you could reverse your flight path to start off in 4016 Grizzills we could all fly in formation at the start of the turn if something goes wrong, do you know if you need to roll anything ? If so I could fly with you to increase odds of getting a good roll.

[hybrid sable]

They're not going to be in range to either shoot or get shot at over at Reactor 1, and we VTOLs can't see anything out of our windscreens to roll on, but an escort won't hurt anything if you're of a mind. Wazp has to start from the spawn same as the rest of us. No real way to reverse that

@tired stirrup @inner harbor @round nexus and mysterioushunter (no pings): last call for orders

[twin talon]

I think if wazp's RP was to do anything it would be that while VTOLS can't SPOT (rules wise) they can see (RP wise) so if there is a benefit to be gained from the inspection it would require a roll, I was just curious if this had been confirmed. I doubt formation at the start of turn is useful because if the bots came on and fired they would be end of turn but who knows could be useful. Plus Wazp's current flight path does have them ending in range of a pair of fedbots if they reversed it they would be out of range.

[hybrid sable]

They're close, but just barely outside of 1 range of those droids. If it's 2 range then there's no escape and we just have to hope the droids are distracted by the lance of light mechs we've sent their way.

[twin talon]

if they power up and immediately present a threat, we might be able to get some clearance or override at the control room. Do we have any engineers heading to the Control room ?

[hybrid sable]

We have engineers headed to the control room, sensor tower, and both reactors with infantry escorts

vehicles can't fit down below, so we're all setting up to respond immediately if the start-up process goes wrong somehow (and do a little bit of scouting)

Full details here

[ashen crystal]

I will be resubmitting orders shortly

[ashen crystal]

New orders submitted

aaand might need to adjust an RP thing... oh well, beaver's going to get extra calls from WASP on the reactor's condition

[zenith notch]

RP post:

Private Takeshi Watanabe,
3rd Squad, platoon B, 33rd Akallese Infantry Company

D -01 [days]

"It's been a long time..."

...since we have drunken away the spoils of our campaign against the notorious warlord Yos of the planet Titan. Those wounded in our final charge into his fortress-city have long since gotten back in shape, and for those we lost on that muddy world, we have accepted some of Yos's former subjects into our ranks, right before leaving Titan behind. At least that's what the rest of 33rs Akallese says, as the last thing I remember from that campaign is bleeding into the mud somewhere at the main line of warlord's fortifications, with Shizuka over me, trying to seal up my bayonetted guts. From what I heard, she too had almost bit the dust - right next to me, if Jean-Baptiste is to be believed. Shame we never got to see all the souvenirs from Yos's palace, that some of my comrades managed to snatch on our way to the EZ. But, to the very least, we got to drink away whatever we got for them at one middle-of-nowhere colony. Good thing those who could took some of warlord's treasures, because with the continuing lack of jobs, things didn't seem to look too good for us lately anyway.

And then the news have arrived, of a Robot War in another backwater system. The planet Lumara, inhabited by a population of metre-tall, furry folk reminiscent of large rodents (is that the proper term?), found itself besieged by an enigmatic army of automatons. All of us wok-hats of the 33rd Akallese knew at once that our time is coming once again, to dust those old rifles off and head off to another grand battle. This time, however, not as those rookies from a shithole world, but as first-rate infantrymen hardened by the fire of Titan's civil war.

What the locals promised to pay us for booting the rustbuckets off their world seems almost too good to be true. The battlegroup we ended up in, the 11th "Pathfinders", is an awkward one. Half airmobile, half mechanized, though with neither tanks, nor a single proper fighter to cover the landing craft. Designated for aggressive reconnaissance, hence the name. It had been decided that we would make our way to Lumara aboard a requisitioned civilian freighter. One made for Lumarans, so that even going to the toilet feels more like tunnel warfare than anything else. Captain Chen himself can't help but repeat that, quote, "Damned be the one whose bright idea this was", and so do I. What Shizuka has to say on that matter, I think is needless to say. And the unbelievably cramped interior is the least of our problems. The vessel is barely holding together, leaking air and with its primary engines in the permanent state of half-failure. Good thing we have engineering companies in our battlegroup, or else I don't believe I would be writing this.

The moment in which our flying junkyard got ejected out of Lumara's only functional jump gate, was a tense one to say the least. As far as we were concerned, there could have been anything out there. Lieutenant Alexandrescu's comments about the rumored presence of enemy battlecruisers certainly didn't help. Shizuka was trying to reassure herself by compulsively checking her several sidearms and combat knives, like they could help her anyhow. Ren, one of the new lads who left Titan with us, spent something like half an hour turtling up beneath his too-big tropical helmet and holding on to a handrail so strongly that he finally broke it off. Hell, even Jean-Baptiste almost shat his pants, and that's something you don't see very often. Never, in fact.

There were no battlecruisers, and the path was clear. There was, or rather is, however, an abandoned C3I centre of some sort, built into an asteroid somewhere along the way. Captain Chen and the rest of the battlegroup's command staff were quick about forgoing the rush to the planet in favour of seizing said installation. "-What observation equipment we may find inside this rock", he said, "-may very well win us the war". "-Knowing your foes' position an hour before they get to know yours can change the course of history". Just as he taught us back on Akallo: by the rifle, pistol and knife one wins by speed and agility; by the radio and binoculars one has all the time in the world to strike their foe, for at that point, they have already won. And if somebody is to land in an enigmatic, derelict asteroid base, then who if not us, the "Pathfinders"?

P.S. Sorry if it is too long and/or not very good, I am a not-very-good engineering student and not a professional writer.

[hybrid sable]

Congratulations, everyone, we made it! We're finally in the field, with only 3 losses. That's 13% of our original unit count, and the loss of two armored transports and a logistical truck hurts, but some (much larger) battlegroups are reporting 30% losses without a single shot fired. Given the extremely slow start to this campaign, we've done extremely well. Now let's take this blasted rock!

[torpid herald]

Glad we are mostly all here.

[gray lagoon]

United in lack of manpower! 💪

[hybrid sable]

In other good news, we are now once again at the threshold at which Atlas agreed to transport us

[ashen crystal]

Three losses? People lose interest?

I think that just losing people with lack of ability to do stuff is something that wasn’t taken into account with the planned ling start time for ground forces

[restive compass]

wait what

Terribly sorry, I've been offline for a tad bit

https://tenor.com/view/jay69design-gif-2843296266684146745

What happened?

[hybrid sable]

No worries. Long story short, three people in Pathfinders didn't turn in orders for the round (presumably because of the combination of waiting forever to do anything interspersed with frantic overplanning), so aren't actually here on the rock with us and have probably dropped out of the game entirely.

[restive compass]

ah ic

Thought we were getting mowed down already lol 😅

[hybrid sable]

No, that's just Storm

Pretty much everyone except Storm is reporting some number of people dropping from either boredom or stress

[granite wasp]

wait so are they officially flagged mia? Or we are just presuming they wont come back.