Large monitors have been set up in the military canteen, officer's lounge, docking area, and outreach corps hall. Each of them features a black, grainy screen that feature updating lists on ship reconnaissance priority. The higher up the board the ship is, the more important it is to immediately go in and prepare it for either detonation or reactivation. Accompanying the surprise announcement from the empress, a sheet has been taped to the bottom of each monitor, listing how many 'points' dealing with each ship is worth. Currently the screen is glowing red, with warning signs flashing behind it. All shuttles save for the ones to the Battleship Condescension are closed.
OOC: It's time to get together with a squad of trolls to go out into space and scavange/explore the derelict ships in the ring. Get together a team of 3 to 4 trolls, select a ship from the board above, and venture out to it. New ships will go up daily. Before you begin, please read through all the spoilers below.
Squad setup:
Squads should be re-formed for each ship, out of a team of three or four. Four is recommended, especially if all trolls in the team are teens.
Trolls do not have to stay in the entire squad for all ships. One troll should be the squad commander - they will be in charge of reporting back at the end of ship exploration. They will also be the troll that the 'winning score' of exploring the ship goes to in the leaderboards for Regina's game. The troll with the highest military ranking is automatically the commander, if there are no ties for rank. Outreach corps trolls can only be commander of a squad full of outreach corps trolls, as military trolls all outrank them.
The squad commander's allegiance determines which team will get points for the ship's completion. Good luck!
Reporting completed voyages:
If an outreach corps troll is the leader, they must report at the end to Lt Bekuar, the liaison lieutenant for the outreach corps.
If a lieutenant is the commander, they should write a report back at their office, rather than give it to another lieutenant.
If any other troll is the commander, they should report back to the office of the lieutenant they have been assigned to, or any sergeant under them.
Teams must report back for their explorations to be considered complete and count towards their end-game scores. Even if a team has been recalled or had to do a tactical retreat they should report back, as they will still be given points depending on their progress.
Ship exploration time limits:
You will have 24h from claiming the ship via the google doc to finish exploring that ship and claim Regina's Lucky Fun Good Time Speed Bonus. If it takes your squad over 24h to clear the ship, they do not get the speed bonus.
If no member of the squad posts in their ship thread at all within 24h of the last reply, they will be recalled - that means the ship thread will be locked by the mule and their name will be removed from the claim beside the ship, and it will be open to be claimed again. Score for recalled parties will depend on how far they got in the ship, recalled parties should still report back to claim these points.
Ship exploration mechanics:
Ship size equates the difficulty of the ship dungeon. Trolls are encouraged to start with the smallest ships, then work their way up if they think they can handle the increased difficulty.
To claim a ship, complete the Squadron Assignment Registration form. Once a ship has been claimed, start a new rp in the main subforum entitled =>[META]Ship Name. The squad commander does not have to be the one to start the thread. In the first post, paste the information from the links below corresponding with your ship size into the first post. Then explore the ship by following the instructions.
For a ship to be considered complete each post in it needs 50 words of rp. We do not recommend and highly discourage reserving posts.
Lightseekers mechanics:
Flashback (Lightseekers debriefing)
Panili steps forward. "Everyone, I just wanted to recap the plan before we ship out! Thank you all so much for taking an interest in Alternia and our progress. I'm going to give the, um -- proverbial mic to Rouxez to finish it off here."
The orangeblood folds her arms and nods. "Another thank you from me and the rest of the crew. Now. You'll be working alongside of the crews in space, so ensure your safety first. There shouldn't be an issue with them impeding your work for us, considering we're not doing anything shady, but if you're feel endangered, drop it and move on. No use getting snacked on by space mummies. Alright. Now, the ships out there have been husks for sweeps now, but there's still some good working parts aboard - at least enough parts that ensured that some of the memory, or data, has been retained. Best case scenario, we can get the systems running again to resume where they left off. You're to scout the ships and find these systems. Get 'em running. And then shoot that data to us. With any luck, we'll be able to receive it on our end with the site transmitters we're installing. It's a huge step to bring Alternia back to where it was when we were on-planet, and then some, frankly."
OOC: Lightseekers: Your mission is to comb the derelict ships for any working terminals that possess data or collection processes concerning the following: atmosphere, clouds, oceans, land, ice, natural disasters, and extraterrestrial bodies such as star charts and ray mapping. Once you find a terminal that is functional, you'll need to gain access to it via completing a puzzle. The puzzle difficulty is determined by the size of ship you are on, but the data reward is greater with harder puzzles!
To get a puzzle, you must complete 1 page of roleplay in your current space mission (all posts should be filled out at the time you request a puzzle). When you are ready to complete a puzzle, tag staff in the appropriate discord server (#puzzle-requests) with a link to the completed RP page, and we will deliver a link to the puzzle (which will be an editable google sheets document) to the Lightseeker(s) in your group. Then, once you complete the puzzle, tag staff again stating you've completed it and we will verify. Please only request one puzzle at a time! The time it takes for you to complete the puzzle will determine how many points of data you were able to transmit to the Lightseekers.
Small ship puzzles: 25 points, score reduces by 1 per minute to solve Medium ship puzzles: 50 points, score reduces by 2 per minute to solve Large ship puzzles: 100 points, score reduces by 5 per minute to solve
After we've verified your time and you have calculated your points, submit them with the form below. =>Lightseekers Data Collection Form
Initiative mechanics:
Flashback (Initiative rebriefing)
"I'll go over the details of your mission one last time." Byakko looks from the rebels signed up for space crew, to Stryke standing beside her, then back.
"Since you'll be working within military squadrons, your first priority is not getting caught. Your second, obviously, is reconnaissance on the military's gains. Your third is retrieving and destroying any and all information related to the old rebellion. Part of the military's agenda is to collect information on how much of the ships are salvageable, so poking around data terminals shouldn't raise too much suspicion. But, as always, remain vigilant. The military isn't the only thing you have to worry about up there. There will likely be daywalkers, given the circumstances, and gog knows what else the previous Queen had up there with her."
"It'll probably be a hit or miss with the data terminals themselves- you might be able to find some in working condition, but that doesn't mean they'll have access to the right information. As I said before, it's a stretch, but it's worth a shot. You should be handing in reports to Stryke detailing what what happened on your mission. Every little piece of information matters. Alright?" There was a pause. "Alright. Do your best up there. We're all counting on you."
OOC: Rebels: Your objectives include both scouting out what the military has to gain from reclaiming the derelict fleet, as well as locating any functional terminals that may hold data on the coordinates of the two destroyed rebel ships. The uninitiated in your squads cannot learn what your mission is, and the importance of destroying information after taking copies for yourself is stressed. You were each given a tiny black cube, easily hidden on your person. When plugged into a terminal, it runs a program to permanently delete, or copy onto itself, any files of your selection. Once you find a terminal that is functional, you'll need to gain access to it via completing a puzzle. The puzzle difficulty is determined by the size of ship you are on, but the data reward is greater with harder puzzles!
To get a puzzle, you must complete 1 page of roleplay in your current space mission (all posts should be filled out at the time you request a puzzle). When you are ready to complete a puzzle, tag staff in the appropriate discord server (#puzzle-requests) with a link to the completed RP page, and we will deliver a link to the puzzle (which will be an editable google sheets document) to the rebel(s) in your group. Then, once you complete the puzzle, tag staff again stating you've completed it and we will verify. Please only request one puzzle at a time! The time it takes for you to complete the puzzle will determine how much important data on the ships you were able to collect, and then destroy.
Small ship puzzles: 25 points, score reduces by 1 per minute to solve Medium ship puzzles: 50 points, score reduces by 2 per minute to solve Large ship puzzles: 100 points, score reduces by 5 per minute to solve After we've verified your time and you have calculated your points, submit them with the form below. =>Phoenix Initiative Data Collection Form
Attention. Docking arena now open for operations. Will all serving trolls, repeat, all serving trolls, report to the docking area. This is not a drill.
The message blares from speakers in both the military and volunteer troll quarters, up and down the entire space station. Doors that were shut and electronically locked click and slide open, allowing trolls from both conveyors to follow the flashing lights through long tunnels, guiding everyone to the docking area. This cavern stretches around the entire rim of the space tower's upper floors. Sleek, small, state of the art space worthy pods sit in holding clamps, ready to be rolled out onto the kinetic rails that will thrust them out through the sealed portholes lining the outer walls and into space.
There is a podium set up by Conveyor 12's entrance, and leaning on it in full military regalia stands the empress, leaning one elbow on the podium and waving at a few trolls in the crowd with her free hand. A ad-hoc camera system wires her face into all the monitors ringing the entire docking station, broadcasting her to trolls too far back to make out her small form themselves. As the crowds thicken and the stream of trolls coming in gets thinner and thinner, the lights dim and a spotlight flicks on. In response to it, the small seadweller clears her throat and straightens up.
--
Drumming her fingers on the podium, Regina waited for the last trolls to be slapped and nudged into silence by their neighbours. Then leaning back, she spread her arms in welcome. "Heyyy! Welcome! Soldiers of Alternia, citizens of alternia! Glad to see you all with us, ready to take this leap off our planet and back into our rightful places in the galaxy. You're all the backbone of our society, drivin' us forwards." Grinning from fin to fin, her eyes glittered with excitement. As always, things were going to go from boring, to fun. If she had any say in the matter. Which she usually did. "So backbone deserves a little sumthin' sumthin' right? Right! And so ... without further ado! Our bonus rewards incitement program!" A tinny trumpet flare played from a speaker, and two drones behind her release the clasps on the banner that had hung furled on the back of the podium.
The speakers beginning to play a muted but suitably finger-snapping beat, Regina leaned forwards again, getting into her stride. "Yesiree! Each troll who wants to step up and lead a team into space will be entered on our leaderboards as a potential winner of a grand prize! The bigger the ship you deal with, and the faster, the more chances you'll have to win it big. And by 'it', I mean an amazing prize! Civillians!" Raising a hand, Regina listened to the rustling of a sheet being unrolled and taped under the banner behind her. It was mostly rules and regulations, but also contained a copy of the information she was presenting. "If any of you manage to be the best little volunteer ever, why you'll get to pick beween two amazing prizes. One! One million beetles!! All for yourself!! Woah!!! Or two ... one million beetles ... split and distributed evenly throughout your entire blood caste. What'll it be, a hero to your lusus, or a hero to your fellow trolls?" Slowly walking out from behind the podium, the empress beamed around at the crowd. "And if one of our boys in black win, ahaha, they will be instantly promoted up one rank! Yes, we believe in promotion by winning in this troll's army!" Raising her other arm, Regina clapped both her hands over her head, which was picked up by drones and then the crowd. Walking back behind her podium, Regina cheered and wooped the crowd into a louder and louder applause. "So who will it be that takes home the grand prize?? Don't let me down either way, I want to see as many spaceships back in action by the time this is over a possible!! Yeahh!! And without further ado, I declare the docking area .... open for deployment!"
All activites are OPEN! Ground crew workers please check back at the =>Operations Tent. Conveyor 12/8 trolls, please read the instructions in the post above!
Hivestuck Captain
Alien Datemate
Offline
Hivestuck Captain
Alien Datemate
Offline
Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 9:02 pm
Attention. This is an emergency alert. Will all serving trolls, repeat, all serving trolls, report to the docking area. This is not a drill.
The military and volunteer quarters alike pulse with the emergency broadcast. All conveyors are packed with trolls being ferried into the docking area to await further instructions. The podium from the opening ceremonies has been hastily reassembled. It's flanked on either side by enormous projectors. They both urge all trolls present to make room for late arrivals, keep quiet, and not to panic.
Once the makeshift auditorium has been satisfactorily filled, a troll in a lab coat takes her place at the podium. Dr. Eidies is a tall, broad, tealblooded woman, but it serves to make her discomfort on stage all the more obvious. She curls into her notes and looks around the room for a prompt or opening. A couple of security drones join her at each end of the stage and motion for the crowd to pay attention. The wave of silence encourages the doctor to speak.
"My fellow builders, spacers, and trolls. What you have accomplished thus far is no small feat. Your efforts have all but undone sweeps of damage caused by the Vast Glub of our ancestors. We have taken our place among the heavens once more. May no one forget this."
"However this assembly hasn't merely been called to pat ourselves on the back. We indeed have a crisis on our hands." Dr. Eidies presses a button on the podium and the projectors light red with a unique and unmistakable shape.
THE BATTLESHIP CONDESCENSION
"The flagship of the empress! The fastest ship engineered by trollkind. All this time it's hung in our orbit. Only now has its cloaking shield disengaged allowing our sensors to find it. Unfortunately that's not the least of it. The reason for the ship's visibility is that its power grid is failing. Its gravitational anchor, in turn, is failing. As we speak, the Battleship Condescension's orbit is decaying. If its systems aren't restored, it will fall, and it will collide with Alternia's surface. I need not remind you trolls here from Four Fronds what happens when a standard ship makes a crash landing."
"More than its size and the physical danger it poses to our people, this ship is a symbol! This is the icon that strikes terror into the hearts of our enemies! If we can reclaim this piece of our history, our hatchright, we will truly be able to reclaim our place among the stars."
Dr. Eidies grips the sides of the podium with white knuckles. She belatedly remembers to click forward in her presentation. The projected images of the Battleship Condescension split open to reveal detailed schematics.
"I've reconstructed a model of the ship based on historical records and information gathered from recent spaceship exploration. Details will not be exact, but we've deduced the safest points of entry across the ship, relative to our estimated locations of key points on the power grid. Beta teams will enter through the personnel decks and be in charge of finding the ship's propulsion systems and either rerouting power or quarantining any damaged equipment. Alpha teams will enter through the command decks and seek out the steering systems. From there they will engage with the repaired propulsion units and allow us at headquarters to move the ship to safety."
Dr. Eidies stands to her full height. "I won't delay you any longer. Retrieval of Her Imperial Flagship is now our number one priority. Go fast. Be strong. WIN!"
--
The number one priority is now taking down the Flagship. This should be your final mission. Please read the following guidelines below:
Quote:
-If you have already started a ship, you may finish it up whenever you would like before the end of the event (December 3rd) -You have until end of day Monday (November 27th) to claim a non-Flagship ship. After Monday, you may only choose either Personnel Decks or -Command Decks of the Flagship! There is no claim form for this choice, because there are ‘unlimited’ decks to choose from on the Flagship. (It’s that big). -Please name your thread =>[META] *Type of Deck* (squadron name) for ease of visibility. -Each troll may only attempt one Flagship Mission. It is not mandatory to attempt one, but highly recommended for the well-being and glory of Alternia. -There are NO time bonuses for the final Flagship mission. -Personnel Decks are more difficult to navigate than regular Pincer ships, while Command Decks are more difficult than regular Culling ships. Regina-based point values are as follows: Personnel = 12 points, Command = 24 points. -Regular ship rules apply to the Personnel and Command Decks, but please pay attention to changes in the text and mechanics!
When you complete (or must retreat from) your mission, please submit the following form: [FORM!]
The large monitors in the Space Tower Docking Area flicker to life with a message...
Quote:
- EMERGENCY RESPONSE REPORT - UNIT REPORT FOR: BATTLESHIP CONDESCENSION
RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS DEPLOYED: 11
PERSONNEL UNITS: 7 COMMAND UNITS: 4
PROPULSION SYSTEMS POWER RECOVERED: 42.857% STEERING SYSTEMS POWER RECOVERED: 66.667% HOSTILES WARNING ON PERSONNEL DECK 1A AND COMMAND DECK 2C
All deployed trolls, military and outreach corps alike, had gathered in the docking area. It was really the only space large enough for the crowds to all be together and still have breathing space. Screens that before had displayed the lists of ships now hummed with the final response report. While trolls inside pressed their faces against the huge glass windows that interspersed the launch pad gates, outside the silent wreck of the Battleship Condescension slowly drifted closer and closer to the atmosphere of Alternia. A quiet cheer went up from a few trolls as the ship's ignition visibly started, but quieted down as the ship failed to pull up from its slow, inexorable descent. Muttering began, with trolls debating with one another - a few senior officers began to walk around the floor, spreading the information.
The Condescension was going to crash. There was no saving it, the explosions of its final battle having crippled it too thoroughly. However, it would be a controlled crash. The attempts had done just enough, to reconnect the ship's control with central command, and get just enough of the remaining functional engines back under control. Every helmsman was now in the control station, working to bend the ship to their will as they guided it out, far beyond civilization, into the deep, empty ocean. There they would use all of their strength to slow the descent to the point where the impact would not even knock down a single beach umbrella back at the shore. Safe and sound in a known location, it could be reclaimed and properly analyzed by the military. It wasn't an overwhelming victory, but weighing the odds, it was still a win.
"And with that - we have something to celebrate!" The blare of the microphone over the murmuring tides of discussion was violent and startling, especially after the tense silence that had preceded the Condescension's descent. It seemed the empress could move quietly if she wanted, as she was now suddenly standing on a small podium, decked out in her own copy of a military uniform. Snapping annoyedly until all the screens featured an image of her rather than the final report, she nodded with satisfaction at the audience around her.
"Congratulations on each and every troll who personally shuffled their toots onto the Condescension! You people turned things from being a second, third, and fourth Four Fronds disaster into something safe, controlled, and possibly of benefit to our future. Who knows?" If there were any words that Regina didn't usually say in a perky and positive manner, they were 'safe' and 'controlled'. Still she kept her game face on. Her troops had tried. And they were the best she had, for now. Scratching her nose with an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression, she played to the cameras. "Hmm. But I can't help feelin' I've forgotten something else. Hmm hmmmmmm. Oh!"
Snapping her fingers, she grinned from fin to fin. "Right! Let's have a big round applause for our newest Lieutenant - Lorata Gorgos. Her shocking paper trail puts her at the leader of the highest number of successful ship recoveries! That's right, the winner of our little competition is the military! Sorry 'bout it, outreachies. And without further ado, you can all head back to your departure areas where we got some drinks, foods, and assorted thank yous for your services!"
KitsuneAura
Lorata is now a Lieutenant!
If your troll joined the military as a Private and took part in 3 or more ships ...
Congratulations! You are now promoted to a Corporal! Take your new pin, soldier!
If your troll joined the military as a Corporal and took part in 3 or more ships ..
Congratulations! You are now promoted to a Sergeant! Take your new pin, soldier!
Once Lieutenants leave the space tower they can no longer promote other trolls until the next meta -- or by private rp involving the Empress.
Alternian Action News
BREAKING: The Alternian Military has reported that The Battleship Condescension, previously suspended in the atmosphere of our beautiful planet, has been partially reactivated.
With the support of special operations teams entering through the various channels in the huge battleship, we are thankful to report that the state of emergency on our planet is now lifted. Stay tuned for updates, Alternians!
BREAKING: According to the Alternian Military, the damage done to the derelict Battleship Condescension is beyond repair. Inside sources state that while propulsion systems were partially recovered, the engines of the great Flagship are not strong enough to power the ship to allow it to be re-docked and reclaimed. Fortunately, the steering systems and what power exists in the engines will be enough to pilot the ship to its final resting place - an isolated stretch of our beautiful ocean. Yes, back to its royal roots. We are glad that the Battleship Condescension can finally rest in peace.
On our next story: Flagship Drama!
You've heard of Schrad: The Musical - now get ready for a grubtube special event! Coming soon to your hive, a beautiful and brutal re-enactment on one of the most dramatic missions of the Battleship Condescension.
Join the brave team of soldiers as they fight for their lives through packs of daywalkers and learn a little something about life and love, from Trollmark Channel. It will show you that win or lose, the real victory is the quadrants we've made along the way and the glory that comes from serving our wonderful Empire.
Don't miss this special holiday spot! The star-studded cast includes our very own glamorous celebrity superstar Odette Cygnet as non-other than the talented perfection Lieutenant Lorata Gorgos! And at her side, who but media darling and famed gladiaterror Shield as the romantic, mysterious and deadly Captain Kursha Vidari! Tune in or miss out, folks!
