SKILORD
Insurgent
Update 5: January 2014 56 Weeks Since Invasion
Corruption Threshold: 6,400
Update Soundtrack: Tech N9ne’s Absolute Power and America’s Horse with no Name
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Volgograd is alive and well, for the Wanderer this was a strange sight. He is asked for papers at the gate by a Nalese Officer who eyes the Plasma Rifle slung over the back of his horse warily. The Wanderer is too stunned to shout at him as he usually would, the human standing next to the alien is also very well armed and he had seen the two jostling each other playfully on his approach.
Still, these outer space madmen had come here, ruined his life, abducted him, destroyed his home, and what they had done to his family…
“Papers?” he asks the guard, “Who is giving out papers in this day and age?”
“How long do you intend to stay in Volgograd? We are a refugee city, but we also operate under a strict quota system.”
“I’m just moving through. Can I barter for some food? Maybe a place to sleep tonight?”
“What do you have?”
The Wanderer opens up the satchel hung to his back, “Clothes, some small electronics, batteries, the Keys to a GAZelle in Bryansk, and this,” he holds up an item the Nalese recognizes as a Hyperspanner.
The Wanderer knows damn well what it is, he has already been inside the city’s databases, he knows of the many queries sent out looking for just this item.
“Salvage?” The cat tries to play it cool.
“Yes,” the Wanderer answers in Rafiki, following up in the same language, “May I come inside?”
The Nalese smiles, his human companion has a confused look on his face as the alien replies in the affirmative.
A Nalese-Human Community, here in Russia. Militant hackers working alongside with the captains of the ships they had helped bring down in harmony, a place of forgiveness.
“I owe you people this much.”
The cat his head to the side, “Why?”
The Wanderer smiles, thinking back to the first Nalese ship he had crashed into a mothership, the first “docking accident.” No planning, no thinking, only raw rage reaching out beyond the atmosphere. He was still in Tyzdron, he had reason to feel angry.
“I fought in this war,” he responds simply.
The former Enemy Officer shakes his head with a smile, “We all did, my friend,” and he is speaking in Russian now, the humans around him all can understand, “We all fought in this terrible war and perhaps none of us will ever make amends for the things we destroyed. But we are together now, and we are free. We cannot regret that.”
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In the Amazon the Lilin began to extend their tendrils outwards across the world, gaining more and more confidence in their power.
In Nazca the now fully Lilin former Neter were able to reactivate the ancient irrigation systems as well as a Homing Beacon. This Homing Beacon Paid off this turn by attracting a Fighter Group to land in Nazca. (2 Turns Until Homing Beacon Expires). 4 new ET Uplinks were also found in Nazca.
The assistance provided to Atlantis permitted them to salvage a Large ET Craft. They have provided the ship to the Lilin.
The modifications to the genetic modification retrovirus were extremely helpful in providing a new sense of community among the Lilin, although some have begun to have more insular viewpoints as a result of this new community. These members are beginning to question the need for new recruits at all, especially considering the recent population boom which has been attributed largely to a final product of that mating frenzy that occurred early in the days of Lilin society. The Isolationists point to recent trends in crime that are consistently associated with new recruits.
Despite the fact that the sole technician who was assigned to reprogram Beijing repeatedly complained that his project was massively understaffed and underequipped by some sheer freak accident he was able to successfully reprogram the city. The population of Beijing now swears allegiance single-mindedly to the Lilin, influenced in no small part by the massive mind control tower that the AI had somehow managed to construct. This tower has no affect outside of the city and must burn out all of it’s power to keep the citizens of Beijing under control, but it is interesting as a story element and it is how the AI was running things in the city. A second Hyperspanner has been found in Beijing.
But it has also become clear that the AI in Beijing was not operating alone. Investigations into the coding and the source did not go so well as the takeover, since the poor technician was working alone.
The farms in Venezuala were found defended by three very surly units of human Soldiers who had managed to loot some lasers from where only the Circle knows. The Militia charged in first but was easily defeated by the defenders. This ploy, however, lured them into a more open field where the Jets were able to decimate the Soldier.
The Tank attacked from the flank. It found itself ill suited for the heavy jungles with few passable roads, even on treads many were too washed out to travel on, but the next Laser troop did not see the approach because of the hubbub with the Jet and the Militia and were overcome. The tank quickly found solid footing for the battle and was able to demolish the remaining soldier easily.
Occupying the vast (Level 8) Farm in the Venezuelan forests and jungles finally allowed the Lilin to see what had been operating there. This Farm is sure to draw in Humans who are attracted to the crops, but the food value of these crops is estimated at zero. Apparently these coca plants were formerly designated as Contraband by the dominant political power in this hemisphere, and since the invasion the production and export of these products has been booming. The shipment logs show that the products were transported through Northern Columbia, avoiding Medelin, where they board a boat and head north to Puerto Vallarta.
Investigations into the Ancient City of El Dorado succeeded in locating the Ancient Neter trading post, where some Economy is stored in Gold, with a mind control ray and a selection of lasers in sealed cases. The City is hidden at the bottom of Lake Guatavita, again, very close to Medelin.
4,082 new civilians joined the faction this turn; they brought 3 Fuel and 2 Plasma Rifles.
(+2 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +4,082 Population, -1 Militia, +2 Plasma Rifles +1 Mind Control Ray, +1 ET Fighter, +1 ET Large Craft, +Nazca, +Homing Beacon, +Beijing, +Parima Tapirapeco, +Farm (8), +1 Fuel, +4 ET Uplinks, +1 Hyperspanner)
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The bells tolled loudly as the New Year was heralded in Japan. The lack of really reliable widespread internet has also seen an eruption in the custom of New Years postcards, and many Rice Cakes and Osechi-ryōri were eaten. Christmas was also celebrated, but without widespread support for the Christian church in Japan the holiday was a bit sparse, especially considering the absence of the primary relic that most in Japan associate with the holiday, mass produced consumer goods. “It’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
The reprogramming of GSM-8BR has gone well, allowing the Yankee Suns to begin learning how the launch software works as well as locking out the Omicron Wing soldiers from their terminals. Attempts to teleport the unfriendly soldiers out of the base were less successful, apparently teleporting an unfriendly target is not a sure thing.
The investigations into Omicron Wing discovered that they have looted the base in Hainan, but that their social structure is developing out of a strict slavery dynamic into a stranger sort of co-operative system. Some humans are being given room to advance. At the same time, there are clear social cleavages and disproportionate access to high end goods for the officer's corps.
The new Courthouse in Kyoto has stabilized the Economy of the Yankee Suns while still permitting them to bring in large numbers of new recruits. 3,208 new members were brought in this turn and the Courthouse managed to keep all of their papers in order.
The Tabloids are in a frenzy over some photographs captured of Black Jet Finnagan singlehandedly overcoming a group of well armed attackers.
Matsue was reclaimed this turn by a Yankee Suns Militia they salvaged the 8 Fuel and the Sony Satellite, but they have not yet launched it. They were also able to scavenge a Plasma Rifle, 1 Jet, 4 ET Uplinks and 2 Naval Craft, one of which is armed with 2 Rockets. The castle at Matsue is still standing and provides walls to that city. Happy Holidays indeed Charlie Brown.
2 Computers were lost to viruses this turn, again they originated in Sapporo.
The assimilation of One Korea into the Yankee Suns has greatly increased the group’s credibility, but now they face the threat of the DMZ on their own borders. The Leelahs have been raiding the outskirts of the human settlements, killing one of the Korean Militias.
(+5 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +3,208 Population, +1 Plasma Rifle, +1 Jet, +2 Naval Craft, +3 Rockets, +Matsue, +Walls, +Courthouse, -1 Computer, +7 Fuel, +4 ET Uplinks)
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The construction of a Fuel Depot outside the Makuna Hatata greatly increased the Nalese capacity to run their generator, and their scouts were able to salvage 8 new Fuel, enough to run things for the time being.
But the transportation problems were solved in another way as well, a group of Ukabu Ika arrived to pledge their allegiance to Simfasa and they offered him the ET APC that they rode in on. With them came 1,294 new civilians.
Some Humans believed that this turn would mark the beginning of the “Age of Aquarius” at which point all rules would be turned on their head and everything would change forever. These humans were disappointed when the corruption threshold doubled again, signaling that the rules would remain in place at least for the duration of the game.
Although only the foundation of the Courthouse has been laid there are already requests to investigate dozens of Sexual Harassment claims from Humans against the new Ukabu Ika members of the group. Especially the parts of the population that are descendants of Asians, the Ukabu Ika go crazy for Asians.
The assistance sent to Atlantis also yielded great returns with the salvage of an ET Large Craft that was given to the Fighter Squadron. Smaller than the Makuna Hatata, but much more mobile, this opens up salvage opportunities far and wide. Swims with Otters is very fond of the group of Nalese Fighters that has docked and swears to protect the ship. Some Dolphins have also congregated to the site in search of fish and play and instead found themselves abandoning their Primitivist lifestyle.
A Homing Beacon in Darwin has been picked up by all of Epsilon’s fighters, other ships have likely picked it up as well and would be tempted to congregate there.
By running a variety of training exercises with the Militia Colonel Simfasa was able to whip them up into proper fighting shape.
(+1 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +1,294 Population, +MilitiaUpgrade, +1 ET APC, +1 ET Large Craft, +Fuel Depot)
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In Mexico City the ancient reactors were restarted and electricity has been restored to much of the country. The new Laboratory in the Chitzen Itza served its role as well, helping the Vanguard understand how to operate ET Fighters.
Due to abnormal weather conditions (bad roll) the Jet was less effective than usual, and it returned to base without attacking, the forces sent were able to determine that the forces in Puetro Vallarta were composed of 3 soldiers with firearms and 1 with a Tank.
Having found its “target of opportunity” the ET Fighter immediately moved in on the Tank, and demolished it.
The Mind Control Ray came into play first, turning one of the Firearm equipped soldiers on another. The Mind Controlled soldier was quickly destroyed by the other Puerto Vallarta defenders, before the remaining soldiers were brought down by the better equipped Nitros, who suffered no casualties.
In the City the group found the remains of that tank (Hyperspanner Repairable), 7 new computers, and an American Naval Craft that had sought refuge here during the late stages of the invasion and had apparently been taken over by this rival Cartel. It has 1 Rocket onboard.
The Sheriff of Austin has provided the promised reward, and in addition 2 Plasma Rifles arrived this turn, a gift from a FARC Group in Medelin who worked as the supply center for the Gulfos.
4 ET Uplinks were hit by Human Viruses this turn, the technicians have tracked the source, apparently some Humans who have taken over an offshore platform feel threatened by the strength of the Vanguard and hope to cripple their ability to harm them. The Greenpeace volunteers out there have also begun refusing all Cartel-related Naval Craft when they have attempted to refuel there.
Another group of 2,109 Puumons have arrived from the north bringing with them a new ET APC, 1 Soldier, and 4 Lasers.
(+3 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +2,109 Population, +4 Soldiers, +4 Lasers, +1 ET APC +1 Tank ©, +1 Naval Craft, +1 Rocket, +2 Plasma Rifles, + Puerto Vallarta, +7 Computers, -4 ET Uplinks)
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The Advance from Owl Creek went well this turn, although there was not enough Fuel to make it all the way to Salt Lake City. The groups encountered some resistance in the form of alien militia, but these troops retreated when faced with the superior weapons of the Resistance.
On the Research and Development front the study of Naval Operations continued this turn, but it has not yet been understood well enough to go on long voyages up the coast. ET Fighters have finally been fully understood. The eggheads continue to advocate the construction of a second Laboratory or just stronger investment into their work.
1,873 Refugees from Northern California brought with them 1 Fuel, 6 Computers 4 new Lasers, and an ET APC they had converted into a recreational vehicle.
Support provided to the Oktyaber Commune discovered that Omicron Wing has looted a large base in Hainan where they gained a Large ET Craft, but that their social structure is developing out of a strict slavery dynamic into a stranger sort of co-operative system. Some humans are being given room to advance. At the same time, there are clear social cleavages and disproportionate access to high end goods for the officer's corps. At the end of the day, even though slavery seems to have cooled down, there are many humans being administered by Alien Overlords. In thanks for the investigation the Commune has provided the technology behind Plasma Weapons as well as a Plasma Rifle.
The Greenpeace Volunteers at the DeepWater Horizon provided the promised Fuel, but it is also possible that they used the viruses in some ill conceived offensive against some large Mexican Cartel calling themselves ‘The Vanguard.’
Having burned out all the Fuel on hand this turn, with only a very limited supply at the moment, the Aerial capacity of the Resistance is threatened this turn unless they can find some sort of way to get Fuel or do the requisite research to use the Alien technologies that do not require Fuel.
(+2 Reputation, +2 Economic Levels, +1,873 Population, +1 Plasma Rifle, +1 ET APC, +4 Lasers, +1 Fuel, +6 Computers)
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The armies of Red Faction left their southern border undefended this turn and instead focused their energies of the Ukabu Ika of Venice who they were able to eliminate thanks to their nifty tank.
They found 4 ET Uplinks, 2 Plasma Rifles, and an ET APC at the site.
1,089 new immigrants joined the faction.
(+1 Economic Level, +1,089 Population, +2 Plasma Rifles, +1 ET APC, +Venice, +4 ET Uplinks)
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In South Africa the nearest friendly encampment was Cape Town, who took the increased interest in their region as a sign that they were welcome to join DeBeers, they have provided 3 Naval Craft, 2 of which are equipped with a Rocket each and an ET Large Craft.
2 new Plasma Rifles and 4 Computers were scavenged by the soldiers.
The Totalitarian Republic of Shaba is further north, and run by humans. Gabon is run by the Oil Workers Union.
Contact was also made with a former Rafiki Re-Education base in Nigeria that is now run by the human inmates. These Humans were trained to be Command Structure members of the Rafiki horde as part of an experimental program to begin assimilating humans. They understand the Command Structure technologies of the Aliens and they have control of a very powerful Mind Control Ray, although they are all quite insane because of exposure to that very Mind Control Ray.
The Economy was also able to achieve a great deal of lift as well this turn, growing to level 8 because of investments and population. 1,307 new citizens joined this turn.
Hyperspanners were taken to the Jets, but the Jets were not damaged. The technicians believe that more research will have to be done and they propose the construction of a Laboratory. A Lab would help them progress on multiple projects as well.
(+1 Reputation, +2 Economic Levels, +1,307 Population, +3 Naval Craft, +2 Soldiers, +2 Plasma Rifles, +2 Rockets, +1 ET Large Craft, +Cape Town, +4 Computers)
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In Hainan a group of Tourliski pilots arrived in their APC, entered the now well understood self destruct codes into the plasma weapons and then parked inside the Large Craft, which they then flew back to Karakul.
The base at GSM-8BR experienced a number of remote attacks this turn. The first was electronic in nature, the computers have been jammed and they refuse to change off the current screen unless given the codes by some foreign leader. This was followed up by an apparent attempt to teleport the ET APC and the guards somewhere, but that attempt failed. The technicians who had been studying the site are pretty sure they could get control back with a hyperspanner, but they might have to use it exclusively over the next months to work on the different parts that they could mini-format with the help of that device so that the virus gets purged without wiping the whole hard drive.
In Africa the Mzuzu rebels have been completely routed, allowing a friendly group of Leelah soldiers to take full control of the region. Zeta wing has also made serious advances in controlling the surrounding region; they have modeled their society on the reformed Omicron style.
Investigations into Oktyabr found that the ET Large Craft is operable, but not in use currently. Apparently this had become a stronghold for Rafiki Deserters during the invasion, because there is a teleporter on site. Humans had begun to congregate there as well, because of the high tech open society that the Aliens were creating. Currently the base is defended by a combination of laser equipped troops and human Tanks.
The recent reforms have greatly improved Omicron's reputation among humans, and 2,073 new recruits have arrived at the base they have brought with them 2 Plasma Rifles and a Human Tank.
(+1 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +2,073 Population, +1 ET Fighter, +1 ET Large Craft, +1 Tank, +2 Plasma Rifles)
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Scavengers in Brazil this turn investigated the Air Force Technological Center, which they found abandoned, there were 3 Jets there as well as 1 Rocket. Apparently before the base was abandoned, in the late days of the invasion, they had also managed to get their hands on a downed ET Fighter which they had attempted to repair unsuccessfully. With a Hyperspanner this could be remedied.
At the Resende Naval Base the soldiers recovered a Naval Craft equipped with a Rocket.
The damaged Neter goods in Giza will also require a Hyperspanner to repair.
10,381 Al Shabaab refugees have flocked to Giza to receive food, Mogadishu holds the Script Kiddies in high regard for helping with the famine and has asked the group to investigate the troubling rumors coming out of Lagos. They have heard that a Rafiki camp still operates there, and that it possesses a device that can crush a man's soul and leave his body roaming the land under the influence of demons. Militants who came with the refugees brought 4 Fuel, 3 Plasma Rifles, and a Tank.
An attack was conducted on Alexandria this turn, 2 Jets arrived and began firing before one of them turned back and retreated to Tours due to technical problems. The second Jet destroyed the militia that was occupying the city and killed about a hundred civilians. The Jet then turned to begin an attack on Giza, before it was suddenly pulled from the air as the autopilot landed it harmlessly in the desert where the pilots were captured alive.
They refuse to give any information except for their rank and service number, which they give in French.
(+1 Reputation,+2 Economic Levels, +10,381 Population, -1 Militia, +4 Jets, +1 Naval Craft, +2 Rockets, +3 Plasma Rifles, +1 Tank, +1 ET Fighter ©)
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The Irish Captain was elated, taking the representatives of an Emperor Bonaparte to survey their holdings down England way. The technicians on the other hand were incredulous, they had heard from these English militias that the ruins at Stonehenge had been plugged into a reactor from a downed Rafiki ship, that they had managed to convert the language to English, although they could put it in French, and that they were now operating as a cutting edge laboratory that repels and isolates static and even generates force fields that operate as variable sized and shaped operating tables. Some of the stones are even supposed to be projecting working ET Uplinks now.
These technicians had been trained in Caen, home to a strong culture of skepticism about the things that have been uncovered since the Invasion often during the short voyage they looked to the ship's cat and asked it, "are you an alien spy?"
The cat would get uncomfortable with all the attention and try to scurry off, which they supposed only confirmed the accusation and they responded with uproarious laughter.
But at Stonehenge they found that much of what they had been told was true, some sort of force field protects the lab and keeps it 'clean' despite any of the various things they have been taught.
In Dijon the overwhelming force of hardware was able to take down the AI, and re-establish normal control over the city's hardware, the Mind Control Ray has even been recovered by programming it to tell the inhabitants to find it and turn it off and then give it immediately to their Emperor. They have also recovered 3 Tanks. They have done so. The technicians assigned to this task have learned a great deal about this AI.
Usually Hybrid AI's are the product of a Human Virus attacking a Rafiki AI program. Big parts of the coding are corrupted and damaged and the virus has blocked access to most of the AI's backups when the AI realizes that it could solve its problems by hijacking the Virus's code and it bit by bit converts to that form of coding until the virus is no longer really able to do much damage and can be dealt with on its own terms. These programs are highly unstable, most of them are in the aforementioned constant state of civil war and seize control of hardware mostly to fight their battles with more and more RAM. The AI in control of Dijon was nothing like that.
It had the offensive capabilities of a Human Virus, it had the on the spot solutions of a Rafiki AI, working in unison it had a purpose coded into it.
The technicians are not sure what other cities have been infected, anywhere that these programs might have gotten control of a Mind Control Ray would be very dangerous to confront in person. But as for the source, they have pinned it down to Berlin.
By investigating various internet rumors it seems plausible that a group with the knowhow of both human coding and Rafiki might be there. A Re-Education Base in the City was liberated about a year ago and discovered that the inmates were all quite insane. They march in very ordered rows everywhere, will not speak to other humans or to Aliens but work on computers, eat, sleep, and train at arms silently and in perfect formation. The Liberators had to leave, they had hoped that this behavior would level out after the Mind Control Ray was deactivated, but it did not and the only promising subject stole one of their horses and escaped, but the rumors and mythologies about the 'Escapee of Tyzdron' or as the Liberation Army affectionately called him, 'The Wanderer' are so incredibly varied and insane that they cannot be reliably called 'intelligence.'
The Jets who were sent into Egypt this turn made it safely into Alexandria before one had technical problems and had to retreat. The other destroyed the militia that was defending the city and also did some minor damage to the University.
Unfortunately on the way further in, on the attack towards Giza, the autopilot was engaged by outside forces and a landing was initiated. The Pilots have been captured as has the unit of Jets.
In thanks for this contribution the Neter of Machu Picchu have given the French a new ET Fighter, along with another Plasma Rifle.
The attack on Vichy found a Human militia already attacking the Leelah militia as well as 2 Soldiers, 1 equipped with lasers and 1 with an ET APC.
The Human militia retreated immediately to Bourges. The first Plasma equipped soldier moved against the alien militia and was able to defeat it, before being destroyed by the laser equipped soldier. The second troop was able to defeat the laser equipped Alien, and when it turned to the soldier in the ET APC the two armies demolished each other leaving Vichy unoccupied.
The 2,091 new citizens brought with them 2 lasers and 4 Computers.
(+1 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +2,091 Population, +1 Militia, +2 Soldiers, +1 ET Fighter, +1 Naval Unit, +1 Mind Control Ray, -1 Plasma Rifle, -1 Jet, +3 Tanks, +Stonehenge, +Dublin, +Dijon, +4 Computers, +8 ET Uplinks)
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In Vermont the leadership of SHEILD stayed in meetings for the duration of the holidays. 764 new refugees brought 6 ET Uplinks and asked what the feelings were on allowing alien immigrants.
(+1 Economic Level, +764 Population, +6 ET Uplinks)
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At Kilimanjaro the Princess spent the last months in an endless flood of paperwork and red tape. 1,087 new civilians have joined the group and brought 3 Lasers with them. 2 Computers were lost to random viruses.
(+1 Economic Level, +1,087 Population, +3 Lasers, -2 Computers)
Corruption Threshold: 6,400
Update Soundtrack: Tech N9ne’s Absolute Power and America’s Horse with no Name
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Volgograd is alive and well, for the Wanderer this was a strange sight. He is asked for papers at the gate by a Nalese Officer who eyes the Plasma Rifle slung over the back of his horse warily. The Wanderer is too stunned to shout at him as he usually would, the human standing next to the alien is also very well armed and he had seen the two jostling each other playfully on his approach.
Still, these outer space madmen had come here, ruined his life, abducted him, destroyed his home, and what they had done to his family…
“Papers?” he asks the guard, “Who is giving out papers in this day and age?”
“How long do you intend to stay in Volgograd? We are a refugee city, but we also operate under a strict quota system.”
“I’m just moving through. Can I barter for some food? Maybe a place to sleep tonight?”
“What do you have?”
The Wanderer opens up the satchel hung to his back, “Clothes, some small electronics, batteries, the Keys to a GAZelle in Bryansk, and this,” he holds up an item the Nalese recognizes as a Hyperspanner.
The Wanderer knows damn well what it is, he has already been inside the city’s databases, he knows of the many queries sent out looking for just this item.
“Salvage?” The cat tries to play it cool.
“Yes,” the Wanderer answers in Rafiki, following up in the same language, “May I come inside?”
The Nalese smiles, his human companion has a confused look on his face as the alien replies in the affirmative.
A Nalese-Human Community, here in Russia. Militant hackers working alongside with the captains of the ships they had helped bring down in harmony, a place of forgiveness.
“I owe you people this much.”
The cat his head to the side, “Why?”
The Wanderer smiles, thinking back to the first Nalese ship he had crashed into a mothership, the first “docking accident.” No planning, no thinking, only raw rage reaching out beyond the atmosphere. He was still in Tyzdron, he had reason to feel angry.
“I fought in this war,” he responds simply.
The former Enemy Officer shakes his head with a smile, “We all did, my friend,” and he is speaking in Russian now, the humans around him all can understand, “We all fought in this terrible war and perhaps none of us will ever make amends for the things we destroyed. But we are together now, and we are free. We cannot regret that.”
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In the Amazon the Lilin began to extend their tendrils outwards across the world, gaining more and more confidence in their power.
In Nazca the now fully Lilin former Neter were able to reactivate the ancient irrigation systems as well as a Homing Beacon. This Homing Beacon Paid off this turn by attracting a Fighter Group to land in Nazca. (2 Turns Until Homing Beacon Expires). 4 new ET Uplinks were also found in Nazca.
The assistance provided to Atlantis permitted them to salvage a Large ET Craft. They have provided the ship to the Lilin.
The modifications to the genetic modification retrovirus were extremely helpful in providing a new sense of community among the Lilin, although some have begun to have more insular viewpoints as a result of this new community. These members are beginning to question the need for new recruits at all, especially considering the recent population boom which has been attributed largely to a final product of that mating frenzy that occurred early in the days of Lilin society. The Isolationists point to recent trends in crime that are consistently associated with new recruits.
Despite the fact that the sole technician who was assigned to reprogram Beijing repeatedly complained that his project was massively understaffed and underequipped by some sheer freak accident he was able to successfully reprogram the city. The population of Beijing now swears allegiance single-mindedly to the Lilin, influenced in no small part by the massive mind control tower that the AI had somehow managed to construct. This tower has no affect outside of the city and must burn out all of it’s power to keep the citizens of Beijing under control, but it is interesting as a story element and it is how the AI was running things in the city. A second Hyperspanner has been found in Beijing.
But it has also become clear that the AI in Beijing was not operating alone. Investigations into the coding and the source did not go so well as the takeover, since the poor technician was working alone.
The farms in Venezuala were found defended by three very surly units of human Soldiers who had managed to loot some lasers from where only the Circle knows. The Militia charged in first but was easily defeated by the defenders. This ploy, however, lured them into a more open field where the Jets were able to decimate the Soldier.
The Tank attacked from the flank. It found itself ill suited for the heavy jungles with few passable roads, even on treads many were too washed out to travel on, but the next Laser troop did not see the approach because of the hubbub with the Jet and the Militia and were overcome. The tank quickly found solid footing for the battle and was able to demolish the remaining soldier easily.
Occupying the vast (Level 8) Farm in the Venezuelan forests and jungles finally allowed the Lilin to see what had been operating there. This Farm is sure to draw in Humans who are attracted to the crops, but the food value of these crops is estimated at zero. Apparently these coca plants were formerly designated as Contraband by the dominant political power in this hemisphere, and since the invasion the production and export of these products has been booming. The shipment logs show that the products were transported through Northern Columbia, avoiding Medelin, where they board a boat and head north to Puerto Vallarta.
Investigations into the Ancient City of El Dorado succeeded in locating the Ancient Neter trading post, where some Economy is stored in Gold, with a mind control ray and a selection of lasers in sealed cases. The City is hidden at the bottom of Lake Guatavita, again, very close to Medelin.
4,082 new civilians joined the faction this turn; they brought 3 Fuel and 2 Plasma Rifles.
(+2 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +4,082 Population, -1 Militia, +2 Plasma Rifles +1 Mind Control Ray, +1 ET Fighter, +1 ET Large Craft, +Nazca, +Homing Beacon, +Beijing, +Parima Tapirapeco, +Farm (8), +1 Fuel, +4 ET Uplinks, +1 Hyperspanner)
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The bells tolled loudly as the New Year was heralded in Japan. The lack of really reliable widespread internet has also seen an eruption in the custom of New Years postcards, and many Rice Cakes and Osechi-ryōri were eaten. Christmas was also celebrated, but without widespread support for the Christian church in Japan the holiday was a bit sparse, especially considering the absence of the primary relic that most in Japan associate with the holiday, mass produced consumer goods. “It’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
The reprogramming of GSM-8BR has gone well, allowing the Yankee Suns to begin learning how the launch software works as well as locking out the Omicron Wing soldiers from their terminals. Attempts to teleport the unfriendly soldiers out of the base were less successful, apparently teleporting an unfriendly target is not a sure thing.
The investigations into Omicron Wing discovered that they have looted the base in Hainan, but that their social structure is developing out of a strict slavery dynamic into a stranger sort of co-operative system. Some humans are being given room to advance. At the same time, there are clear social cleavages and disproportionate access to high end goods for the officer's corps.
The new Courthouse in Kyoto has stabilized the Economy of the Yankee Suns while still permitting them to bring in large numbers of new recruits. 3,208 new members were brought in this turn and the Courthouse managed to keep all of their papers in order.
The Tabloids are in a frenzy over some photographs captured of Black Jet Finnagan singlehandedly overcoming a group of well armed attackers.
Matsue was reclaimed this turn by a Yankee Suns Militia they salvaged the 8 Fuel and the Sony Satellite, but they have not yet launched it. They were also able to scavenge a Plasma Rifle, 1 Jet, 4 ET Uplinks and 2 Naval Craft, one of which is armed with 2 Rockets. The castle at Matsue is still standing and provides walls to that city. Happy Holidays indeed Charlie Brown.
2 Computers were lost to viruses this turn, again they originated in Sapporo.
The assimilation of One Korea into the Yankee Suns has greatly increased the group’s credibility, but now they face the threat of the DMZ on their own borders. The Leelahs have been raiding the outskirts of the human settlements, killing one of the Korean Militias.
(+5 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +3,208 Population, +1 Plasma Rifle, +1 Jet, +2 Naval Craft, +3 Rockets, +Matsue, +Walls, +Courthouse, -1 Computer, +7 Fuel, +4 ET Uplinks)
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The construction of a Fuel Depot outside the Makuna Hatata greatly increased the Nalese capacity to run their generator, and their scouts were able to salvage 8 new Fuel, enough to run things for the time being.
But the transportation problems were solved in another way as well, a group of Ukabu Ika arrived to pledge their allegiance to Simfasa and they offered him the ET APC that they rode in on. With them came 1,294 new civilians.
Some Humans believed that this turn would mark the beginning of the “Age of Aquarius” at which point all rules would be turned on their head and everything would change forever. These humans were disappointed when the corruption threshold doubled again, signaling that the rules would remain in place at least for the duration of the game.
Although only the foundation of the Courthouse has been laid there are already requests to investigate dozens of Sexual Harassment claims from Humans against the new Ukabu Ika members of the group. Especially the parts of the population that are descendants of Asians, the Ukabu Ika go crazy for Asians.
The assistance sent to Atlantis also yielded great returns with the salvage of an ET Large Craft that was given to the Fighter Squadron. Smaller than the Makuna Hatata, but much more mobile, this opens up salvage opportunities far and wide. Swims with Otters is very fond of the group of Nalese Fighters that has docked and swears to protect the ship. Some Dolphins have also congregated to the site in search of fish and play and instead found themselves abandoning their Primitivist lifestyle.
A Homing Beacon in Darwin has been picked up by all of Epsilon’s fighters, other ships have likely picked it up as well and would be tempted to congregate there.
By running a variety of training exercises with the Militia Colonel Simfasa was able to whip them up into proper fighting shape.
(+1 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +1,294 Population, +MilitiaUpgrade, +1 ET APC, +1 ET Large Craft, +Fuel Depot)
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In Mexico City the ancient reactors were restarted and electricity has been restored to much of the country. The new Laboratory in the Chitzen Itza served its role as well, helping the Vanguard understand how to operate ET Fighters.
Due to abnormal weather conditions (bad roll) the Jet was less effective than usual, and it returned to base without attacking, the forces sent were able to determine that the forces in Puetro Vallarta were composed of 3 soldiers with firearms and 1 with a Tank.
Having found its “target of opportunity” the ET Fighter immediately moved in on the Tank, and demolished it.
The Mind Control Ray came into play first, turning one of the Firearm equipped soldiers on another. The Mind Controlled soldier was quickly destroyed by the other Puerto Vallarta defenders, before the remaining soldiers were brought down by the better equipped Nitros, who suffered no casualties.
In the City the group found the remains of that tank (Hyperspanner Repairable), 7 new computers, and an American Naval Craft that had sought refuge here during the late stages of the invasion and had apparently been taken over by this rival Cartel. It has 1 Rocket onboard.
The Sheriff of Austin has provided the promised reward, and in addition 2 Plasma Rifles arrived this turn, a gift from a FARC Group in Medelin who worked as the supply center for the Gulfos.
4 ET Uplinks were hit by Human Viruses this turn, the technicians have tracked the source, apparently some Humans who have taken over an offshore platform feel threatened by the strength of the Vanguard and hope to cripple their ability to harm them. The Greenpeace volunteers out there have also begun refusing all Cartel-related Naval Craft when they have attempted to refuel there.
Another group of 2,109 Puumons have arrived from the north bringing with them a new ET APC, 1 Soldier, and 4 Lasers.
(+3 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +2,109 Population, +4 Soldiers, +4 Lasers, +1 ET APC +1 Tank ©, +1 Naval Craft, +1 Rocket, +2 Plasma Rifles, + Puerto Vallarta, +7 Computers, -4 ET Uplinks)
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The Advance from Owl Creek went well this turn, although there was not enough Fuel to make it all the way to Salt Lake City. The groups encountered some resistance in the form of alien militia, but these troops retreated when faced with the superior weapons of the Resistance.
On the Research and Development front the study of Naval Operations continued this turn, but it has not yet been understood well enough to go on long voyages up the coast. ET Fighters have finally been fully understood. The eggheads continue to advocate the construction of a second Laboratory or just stronger investment into their work.
1,873 Refugees from Northern California brought with them 1 Fuel, 6 Computers 4 new Lasers, and an ET APC they had converted into a recreational vehicle.
Support provided to the Oktyaber Commune discovered that Omicron Wing has looted a large base in Hainan where they gained a Large ET Craft, but that their social structure is developing out of a strict slavery dynamic into a stranger sort of co-operative system. Some humans are being given room to advance. At the same time, there are clear social cleavages and disproportionate access to high end goods for the officer's corps. At the end of the day, even though slavery seems to have cooled down, there are many humans being administered by Alien Overlords. In thanks for the investigation the Commune has provided the technology behind Plasma Weapons as well as a Plasma Rifle.
The Greenpeace Volunteers at the DeepWater Horizon provided the promised Fuel, but it is also possible that they used the viruses in some ill conceived offensive against some large Mexican Cartel calling themselves ‘The Vanguard.’
Having burned out all the Fuel on hand this turn, with only a very limited supply at the moment, the Aerial capacity of the Resistance is threatened this turn unless they can find some sort of way to get Fuel or do the requisite research to use the Alien technologies that do not require Fuel.
(+2 Reputation, +2 Economic Levels, +1,873 Population, +1 Plasma Rifle, +1 ET APC, +4 Lasers, +1 Fuel, +6 Computers)
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The armies of Red Faction left their southern border undefended this turn and instead focused their energies of the Ukabu Ika of Venice who they were able to eliminate thanks to their nifty tank.
They found 4 ET Uplinks, 2 Plasma Rifles, and an ET APC at the site.
1,089 new immigrants joined the faction.
(+1 Economic Level, +1,089 Population, +2 Plasma Rifles, +1 ET APC, +Venice, +4 ET Uplinks)
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In South Africa the nearest friendly encampment was Cape Town, who took the increased interest in their region as a sign that they were welcome to join DeBeers, they have provided 3 Naval Craft, 2 of which are equipped with a Rocket each and an ET Large Craft.
2 new Plasma Rifles and 4 Computers were scavenged by the soldiers.
The Totalitarian Republic of Shaba is further north, and run by humans. Gabon is run by the Oil Workers Union.
Contact was also made with a former Rafiki Re-Education base in Nigeria that is now run by the human inmates. These Humans were trained to be Command Structure members of the Rafiki horde as part of an experimental program to begin assimilating humans. They understand the Command Structure technologies of the Aliens and they have control of a very powerful Mind Control Ray, although they are all quite insane because of exposure to that very Mind Control Ray.
The Economy was also able to achieve a great deal of lift as well this turn, growing to level 8 because of investments and population. 1,307 new citizens joined this turn.
Hyperspanners were taken to the Jets, but the Jets were not damaged. The technicians believe that more research will have to be done and they propose the construction of a Laboratory. A Lab would help them progress on multiple projects as well.
(+1 Reputation, +2 Economic Levels, +1,307 Population, +3 Naval Craft, +2 Soldiers, +2 Plasma Rifles, +2 Rockets, +1 ET Large Craft, +Cape Town, +4 Computers)
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In Hainan a group of Tourliski pilots arrived in their APC, entered the now well understood self destruct codes into the plasma weapons and then parked inside the Large Craft, which they then flew back to Karakul.
The base at GSM-8BR experienced a number of remote attacks this turn. The first was electronic in nature, the computers have been jammed and they refuse to change off the current screen unless given the codes by some foreign leader. This was followed up by an apparent attempt to teleport the ET APC and the guards somewhere, but that attempt failed. The technicians who had been studying the site are pretty sure they could get control back with a hyperspanner, but they might have to use it exclusively over the next months to work on the different parts that they could mini-format with the help of that device so that the virus gets purged without wiping the whole hard drive.
In Africa the Mzuzu rebels have been completely routed, allowing a friendly group of Leelah soldiers to take full control of the region. Zeta wing has also made serious advances in controlling the surrounding region; they have modeled their society on the reformed Omicron style.
Investigations into Oktyabr found that the ET Large Craft is operable, but not in use currently. Apparently this had become a stronghold for Rafiki Deserters during the invasion, because there is a teleporter on site. Humans had begun to congregate there as well, because of the high tech open society that the Aliens were creating. Currently the base is defended by a combination of laser equipped troops and human Tanks.
The recent reforms have greatly improved Omicron's reputation among humans, and 2,073 new recruits have arrived at the base they have brought with them 2 Plasma Rifles and a Human Tank.
(+1 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +2,073 Population, +1 ET Fighter, +1 ET Large Craft, +1 Tank, +2 Plasma Rifles)
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Scavengers in Brazil this turn investigated the Air Force Technological Center, which they found abandoned, there were 3 Jets there as well as 1 Rocket. Apparently before the base was abandoned, in the late days of the invasion, they had also managed to get their hands on a downed ET Fighter which they had attempted to repair unsuccessfully. With a Hyperspanner this could be remedied.
At the Resende Naval Base the soldiers recovered a Naval Craft equipped with a Rocket.
The damaged Neter goods in Giza will also require a Hyperspanner to repair.
10,381 Al Shabaab refugees have flocked to Giza to receive food, Mogadishu holds the Script Kiddies in high regard for helping with the famine and has asked the group to investigate the troubling rumors coming out of Lagos. They have heard that a Rafiki camp still operates there, and that it possesses a device that can crush a man's soul and leave his body roaming the land under the influence of demons. Militants who came with the refugees brought 4 Fuel, 3 Plasma Rifles, and a Tank.
An attack was conducted on Alexandria this turn, 2 Jets arrived and began firing before one of them turned back and retreated to Tours due to technical problems. The second Jet destroyed the militia that was occupying the city and killed about a hundred civilians. The Jet then turned to begin an attack on Giza, before it was suddenly pulled from the air as the autopilot landed it harmlessly in the desert where the pilots were captured alive.
They refuse to give any information except for their rank and service number, which they give in French.
(+1 Reputation,+2 Economic Levels, +10,381 Population, -1 Militia, +4 Jets, +1 Naval Craft, +2 Rockets, +3 Plasma Rifles, +1 Tank, +1 ET Fighter ©)
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The Irish Captain was elated, taking the representatives of an Emperor Bonaparte to survey their holdings down England way. The technicians on the other hand were incredulous, they had heard from these English militias that the ruins at Stonehenge had been plugged into a reactor from a downed Rafiki ship, that they had managed to convert the language to English, although they could put it in French, and that they were now operating as a cutting edge laboratory that repels and isolates static and even generates force fields that operate as variable sized and shaped operating tables. Some of the stones are even supposed to be projecting working ET Uplinks now.
These technicians had been trained in Caen, home to a strong culture of skepticism about the things that have been uncovered since the Invasion often during the short voyage they looked to the ship's cat and asked it, "are you an alien spy?"
The cat would get uncomfortable with all the attention and try to scurry off, which they supposed only confirmed the accusation and they responded with uproarious laughter.
But at Stonehenge they found that much of what they had been told was true, some sort of force field protects the lab and keeps it 'clean' despite any of the various things they have been taught.
In Dijon the overwhelming force of hardware was able to take down the AI, and re-establish normal control over the city's hardware, the Mind Control Ray has even been recovered by programming it to tell the inhabitants to find it and turn it off and then give it immediately to their Emperor. They have also recovered 3 Tanks. They have done so. The technicians assigned to this task have learned a great deal about this AI.
Usually Hybrid AI's are the product of a Human Virus attacking a Rafiki AI program. Big parts of the coding are corrupted and damaged and the virus has blocked access to most of the AI's backups when the AI realizes that it could solve its problems by hijacking the Virus's code and it bit by bit converts to that form of coding until the virus is no longer really able to do much damage and can be dealt with on its own terms. These programs are highly unstable, most of them are in the aforementioned constant state of civil war and seize control of hardware mostly to fight their battles with more and more RAM. The AI in control of Dijon was nothing like that.
It had the offensive capabilities of a Human Virus, it had the on the spot solutions of a Rafiki AI, working in unison it had a purpose coded into it.
The technicians are not sure what other cities have been infected, anywhere that these programs might have gotten control of a Mind Control Ray would be very dangerous to confront in person. But as for the source, they have pinned it down to Berlin.
By investigating various internet rumors it seems plausible that a group with the knowhow of both human coding and Rafiki might be there. A Re-Education Base in the City was liberated about a year ago and discovered that the inmates were all quite insane. They march in very ordered rows everywhere, will not speak to other humans or to Aliens but work on computers, eat, sleep, and train at arms silently and in perfect formation. The Liberators had to leave, they had hoped that this behavior would level out after the Mind Control Ray was deactivated, but it did not and the only promising subject stole one of their horses and escaped, but the rumors and mythologies about the 'Escapee of Tyzdron' or as the Liberation Army affectionately called him, 'The Wanderer' are so incredibly varied and insane that they cannot be reliably called 'intelligence.'
The Jets who were sent into Egypt this turn made it safely into Alexandria before one had technical problems and had to retreat. The other destroyed the militia that was defending the city and also did some minor damage to the University.
Unfortunately on the way further in, on the attack towards Giza, the autopilot was engaged by outside forces and a landing was initiated. The Pilots have been captured as has the unit of Jets.
In thanks for this contribution the Neter of Machu Picchu have given the French a new ET Fighter, along with another Plasma Rifle.
The attack on Vichy found a Human militia already attacking the Leelah militia as well as 2 Soldiers, 1 equipped with lasers and 1 with an ET APC.
The Human militia retreated immediately to Bourges. The first Plasma equipped soldier moved against the alien militia and was able to defeat it, before being destroyed by the laser equipped soldier. The second troop was able to defeat the laser equipped Alien, and when it turned to the soldier in the ET APC the two armies demolished each other leaving Vichy unoccupied.
The 2,091 new citizens brought with them 2 lasers and 4 Computers.
(+1 Reputation, +1 Economic Level, +2,091 Population, +1 Militia, +2 Soldiers, +1 ET Fighter, +1 Naval Unit, +1 Mind Control Ray, -1 Plasma Rifle, -1 Jet, +3 Tanks, +Stonehenge, +Dublin, +Dijon, +4 Computers, +8 ET Uplinks)
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In Vermont the leadership of SHEILD stayed in meetings for the duration of the holidays. 764 new refugees brought 6 ET Uplinks and asked what the feelings were on allowing alien immigrants.
(+1 Economic Level, +764 Population, +6 ET Uplinks)
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At Kilimanjaro the Princess spent the last months in an endless flood of paperwork and red tape. 1,087 new civilians have joined the group and brought 3 Lasers with them. 2 Computers were lost to random viruses.
(+1 Economic Level, +1,087 Population, +3 Lasers, -2 Computers)
