Writing Prompts

[novius]

I have no good idea or fixed opinion about this. But we could stick to "very high information density" to set it apart from normal sanzai.

In addition, those were highly specific information, and not a complete "brain dump", so it could be imaginable that it was sent along on the 'carrier wave'... And, we had left it unspecified how long Natan and Argent were at it....

[novius]

Done for now, I hope that people will appreciate Tempo just a little bit more

One cannot really hate Tempo. Sure, as a Mizol she'd know which buttons to press and even use her allure to maximum effect, but she was quickly overwhelmed by emotions she never had an idea existed. Her choice of methods had been questionable and caused lots of trouble, but her intentions were ultimately good. Kind-hearted Beryl quickly found it in herself to forgive her, and Alex could do no wrong to follow Beryl's gut feelings, especially since she was the aggrieved party.

As for why Beryl is so accepting of Tempo, and maybe Pure Sand in opposite to Brightshield? Apart from the obvious, Brightshield needling Beryl, there might be another reason, too...

[novius]

Huh, everyone collectively gone on vacation? Not even one post since Sunday, save mine ... everywhere on this forum.

Regardless, working on a new part of Beacons.

[dragoongfa]

Yeah I am vacation till Monday

[Razor One]

I was about half way through something for New Frontiers but recent updates have forced me to shelve it until I can rework it.

Combine that with a certain MMORPG's expansion launch and time has been a bit tight for me these last couple of days.

[novius]

Combine that with a certain MMORPG's expansion launch and time has been a bit tight for me these last couple of days.

Ahhh, that explains much - I'm pretty sure I know which MMO you mean

Anyway, another installment of 'Beacons' is up, as promised. And one (or two) sort-of overlooked characters made a grand reappearance and turned out to not to be that unimportant after all.

[dragoongfa]

Just make sure not to turn the story into (too much of) a teenage fantasy. Will try to post a part using a laptop I borrowed.

[GrandAdmiralFox]

Well, been playing with a LOT of ideas these days while working on a few projects... and this is one of them. Basically the Orgus didn't meet canon humanity, but the Iron Haegemony (from something I've been working on called 'the Iron Galaxy', which is influenced by Sins of a Solar Empire, Haegemonia: The Legions of Iron, Sword of the Stars, Imperium Galactica series, and Battletech with a hefty transhuman background), and the Iron Haegemony send two flotillas -each consisting of a massive exploration ship and five escorts- towards Lori and Umiak space to ensure that under no uncertain terms that the Iron Haegemony will be dragged into their conflict...

Now, for the writer's prompt/'Tribble':

Iron Haegemony Navy Ship Samantha J. Carter -Explorer-Class Exploration Leviathan- CIC, 'Naam' System -Iron Haegemony Designation PD-1515/141- 853 Light Years from Sol; June 22nd, 3025

Commodore Malcom Reynolds frowned as the Samantha J. Carter and her escorts exited subspace, the shock of exiting the layer of reality via a light-blue tunnel through space. Intelligence from Orgus refugees had indicated that the systems in Sector 1515 were the perfect spot to encounter the Lori and/or the Umiak. The proplyd disk's sensor disrupting capabilities made it a prime spot for ambushes, but exiting near the disk is a necessary risk as simply exiting in open space while actual combat is happening is the epitome of stupidity. Still, the flotilla had been extremely lucky that the two fleets had been far too busy trying to kill each other than seeing the massive neon sign saying someone's there in the system's Zenith Point.

"RSDs* outbound, comprehensive sensor-net in 50 seconds."

Combat has always been decided with whom has the best information, and the Iron Haegemony's extensive investment in RSDs gave Iron Haegemony vessels an immense advantage compared to pretty much everyone else. As a wise man said: Information is ammunition, and worth far more their mass in depleted uranium.The real problem isn't the Lori or the Umiak, but the proplyd disk and anyone hiding in there. Even though the Iron Haegemony had fought numerous other races within the Local Sphere, there is no telling what can happen in combat.

"Set the flotilla to Condition Yellow immediately," Commodore Reynolds ordered, "Don't want to get found with our pants around our ankles right now." The CIC quickly responded with 'aye sir' and went to work. The shields quickly snapped on as capacitors and ammo racks readied for possible combat. The flotilla's complement of strikecraft were being readied for launch at a moment's notice while the alert craft were launched for immediate patrol. Within 30 seconds, the flotilla was as ready as it could ever be for an attack.

"Sensors are getting a better resolution on the battle we've detected when we arrived in-system. AI analysis indicates two fleets fighting it out. Exact numbers currently unknown due to electromagnetic clutter."

Reynolds frowned, that meant that the RSDs are going to be important, as they'll bring more viewpoints and counter the two sides' less-than-stellar omni-directional scrambling capabilities.

"CONTACT! Bearing 045 by 055! Single unknown of unknown configuration!"

"Can we identify it?" Reynolds asked as he began ordering the flotilla to go to combat alert.

"Nothing recognized in the warbook sir." The Iron Haegemony had seen many different designs from just as many races, from the angelic graceful lines of the Minbari to the brutish misshapen scrap heaps of the Zuul and everything in between. The ship on sensors however was unlike anything that the Iron Haegemony had ever seen before. The vessel is of frigate classification given it's shape and dimensions... but that's about all that can be reasonably hypothesized about the vessel.

"Prepare first contact package and prepare to upgrade to Condition Red," Reynolds ordered, "Sound battlestations." The XO nodded as she pressed the button for battlestations.

(Will edit more later)
____
*Remote Sensor Drone, basically a semi-autonomous drone with limited stealth features to maximize sensor effectiveness.

[novius]

Just make sure not to turn the story into (too much of) a teenage fantasy. Will try to post a part using a laptop I borrowed.

No worries. I imagine his time portside as a moment where his human morale values kick in, as...

SpoilerShow

Sending his encounters to Beryl was his subconscious trying to fess up to her in a way of "Look, I went behind your back, and I want to come clean with it", but without the chance to send to her he would face the trepidation of doing something without her knowledge or consent - and that would be "cheating on her" by definition. Alex is too straightlaced for that.

...having some rather harmless fun in a simulator arcade and Alex coming into contact with civilian Loroi or perhaps the other races of the Union. But, when it comes to Loroi, the civilian ones might be even more tongue-tied around him.

[dragoongfa]

Loroi civilians don't know how to speak and they are bound to be an extreme rarity in places that warriors frequent so I doubt that Alex may run into one. Running into a Neridi or a Barsam, that's far more likely.

[Werra]

Loroi civilians don't know how to speak

Where is this from? I thought civilians run guilds and trade businesses and all that stuff.

@Frontiers
For a bunch of teenagers without any life experience, the Diral seems rather knowledgeable.

[dragoongfa]

I think that it was in the Loroi questions thread, vocal speech is something that warriors are expected to partake in and as a rule of thumb only civilians who need to speak over long range comms know how to speak trade. Everything else is handled telepathically and via text. A civilian freight captain should know how to speak trade but a mechanic doesn't (the merchant shipping in Nezel should be primarily military freight transports and personnel carriers and as such they are bound to be run by warriors as parts of the Union's merchant marine branch).

[novius]

I think him coming into contact with a civilian Loroi may turn out like a dockworker facing him, looking as if she has seen a ghost, and Alex trying to smile at her encouragingly would make her break into running away in terror...

[novius]

@Frontiers
For a bunch of teenagers without any life experience, the Diral seems rather knowledgeable.

They think they are. But for starters, there is one fatal flaw in their idea. Just think, what would a military outfit - and the Mizol surely are one, if it'd be only a recon/scouting/surveillance/investigative crew - do if they're faced with a stampeding horde of beasts, maybe facing some casualties? Call in for more firepower.

[Zarya]

@Frontiers
For a bunch of teenagers without any life experience, the Diral seems rather knowledgeable.

They think they are. But for starters, there is one fatal flaw in their idea. Just think, what would a military outfit - and the Mizol surely are one, if it'd be only a recon/scouting/surveillance/investigative crew - do if they're faced with a stampeding horde of beasts, maybe facing some casualties? Call in for more firepower.

Teenagers are often underestimated. And writing dialogue isn’t my strongest point.

Per the earlier pieces, the Soia ruin is at a two hour walk from the Stronghold. That and twenty killing machines on the loose, of which two are pregnant, should provide a temporary buffer. Pulling out as originally required by the Mizol still is an option.

[Razor One]

Regarding Beacons:

SpoilerShow

A large enough station like that would likely have a park or arboretum of some kind. And where there's greenery, there's an opportunity for a Barbecue. Was thinking of writing a "Lower Decks" addition along those lines if I get time in the next day or two.

Regarding New Frontiers:

SpoilerShow

The Diral needs to get around to inducting Natan as a fully fledged member of their group sometime. It was pretty much going to be the subject of my shelved contribution, with Coldfire essentially doing the honours to induct him since Argent could be seen as being compromised by her feelings. Basic ass covering if Natan should be discovered by their elders and the Diral questioned.

I was also thinking of expanding Coldfire's role a little. Basically fleshing out that her role is to both speak for the Diral about things that can't be brought up in public, but also to 'guard the leaders back' against any kind of uprising, or mistakes she's not taking into account, an XO essentially.

The basic idea is that certain traditions can call for the Diral leader to either be an untouchable who's the lightning rod for all the groups misfortunes at one extreme, or become almost a cult leader who is waited on hand and foot on the other. The tradition for the Diral, I think, is to settle along the mean between these two extremes, but also to have the second to act as a moderating influence, watching their leaders back from the Diral, from themselves, and literally in battle as well.

[dragoongfa]

My piece is up, mainly a filler to bring certain people up to speed and set up some changes that will be apparent in the next military centric parts.

[Zarya]

Good stuff - there’s a single Duckcrown hidden in there

[Werra]

I remained light on the interactions on Nezel between Alex and the inhabitants. Didn't want to spoil your ideas for alien/civie contact.

SpoilerShow

Tempo (and Pure Sand) can now sense Alex by watching for displacement effects. Whether that means he could now be interacted with directly or if it's just his position they sense remains open. Personally I tend to the latter as it would fit in nicely with the theory of Lotai as defense to mesmerisation.

[orion1836]

A little constructive criticism:

I agree with the assessments on New Frontiers - aside from sounding like grown adults, the diral seems to have the knowledge of fully trained Soroin. Remember, these are teenagers... even *Nathan* is a little more mature if you draw a direct equivalence in their ages. They shouldn't be helpless, but at the same time, they're just starting out.

Also, something I've been meaning to say for a while; the things they've been able to make are a bit of a stretch in my opinion. The diral came with the clothes on their backs and some basic supplies to set up camp (canvas, rope, canteens), but their only tool was the ceremonial knife. They received a massive boon when it came to Nathan - a hatchet and axe can do a hell of a lot more than a knife, but they can't work miracles. One of the pieces I started to write was on how they were able to jerry-rig a hammer, just to use it to make a *real* hammer to in turn use for basic smithing. That in itself would be a massive undertaking, especially with no proper anvil, bellows, etc, and no easy way to make any of that.

Not to mention, they don't have a shovel for digging ditches.

I can suspend most of my disbelief, especially with the alien forge that was described (I can buy that the Loroi might have a super-efficient and easy-to-set-up means of creating weapons), but the diral trials always seemed to be geared towards primitive survival. I could see making a longbow out of supple wood and a good animal tendon, but a crossbow? They're not going to be able to machine small metal parts.