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 Whats going on? First watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Rm17YdX5M It all started as a tool to help a man named Steve. Steve had a dream, a dream where he could play a tabletop space strategy game called StarFire on his computer. Steve was no ordinary mortal, so Steve wrote a game using Visual Basic 6 that has all of the design aesthetics of a second rate accounting software. But by god, did he fulfill his dream. That game is Aurora. And while it looks like poo poo, it is the thing star dreams are made of. ... So what the gently caress is Aurora actually. Aurora is what's known as a 'Space 4X', at its simplest level a kind of Civilisation game in space where you start on Earth or another planet and have to go out, explore, pacify and colonise the galaxy. What sets Aurora apart is its utterly insane depth and focus on what can only be described as 'logistical issues'. For those familiar with the term 'grognard game' its basically one of those in space. The game 'map' is divided into solar systems projected onto a 2D plane like so:  Everything is rendered using minimal graphics and symbols like Command: Modern air-naval operations or Rule the waves (see screenshot below) and it has also been described as a kind of Dwarf Fortress in space due to the insane depth (and its free too). Everything from star/planet formation to commanders getting sick to crucial components on your spacecraft failing from wear and tear to untrained crews panicking and loving up poo poo is modelled. You also get to research and design your own space-boats in a similar way to Rule the Waves. Probably the closest 'mainstream' game is Distant worlds. Aurora unfotunately looks a bit like this:  Ships and missiles etc move 'inertialessley' i.e. they scoot around between planets with max speeds like boats on the sea rather than using proper newtonian mechanics (thank god). If that shot above didnt scare you off perhaps you prefer...  Designing missiles for your missile space-boats. However Aurora's real charm is in its ability to generate interesting stories. The idea behind this LP is a much more combat focused game as the solar systems delicate balance of power breaks down and it all degenerates into war. Fear not I will do my best to insulate Goons from Aurora's complexites and absolutely no experience is needed to participate in the LP. ...Ultrabindu made a thing feat. our most prolific posters. Uh, you should watch it. For those not familiar with Aurora I direct you to our very own BGreman's remarkable Coldest War LP. I can't stress enough how much anyone new to this with any interest needs to go read it right now (sadly it seems some of the early images are missing). ------------------------------------------------------- Onto the LP!  Welcome to the 'War of the Worlds' The short version is, you are here:  More specifically, here:  Wait, how did we get here? A short history. Things progressed about the same until the mid 1990's. At this point the discovery of Trans-Newtonian elements (or TNE's) with properties defying those accepted by pre-TN science upended things in almost unimaginable way. Ten years later the world was changing rapidly as single nations formed EU-like blocs to remain competitive, corporate entities with important transnewtonian patents and technologies were acquiring untold amounts of power and independence and the fledgling UN space program placed the first colonists on Mars and Luna. Absolute poverty was down, life expectancy was hitting the 120's and everything seemed to be looking up as the seemingly unlimited ability of these new technologies allowed advance after advance but real power and wealth concentrated into the hands of ever fewer. As the frontiers of the solar system opened up with settlements reaching out to the gas giants and the numberless, lawless tumbling rocks of the asteriod belt the underpriveliged of Earth, denied may of the rights and opporunities of their luckier compatriots powered an enormous migration drive and by the current year of 2052 almost a sixth of humanity, over two billion people live offworld. Even as the Earth underwent her troubled and sometimes bloody final stages of unification into a single (largely unaccountable) political entity her children began to splinter away. Mars became officially 'self governing' in 2018 but as with all of humanities colonies real power lay with Earth. However as a generation of Martians grew up who could not remember the open blue skies of Terra the separatist movement grew.  In 2029 a series of routine railgun launched 'resource deliveries' from Mars to earth suddenly ignited incredibly overpowered Nuclear drives and skimmed Earth's atmosphere at nearly 1% of the speed of light. The electromagnetic pulse from the resulting fireballs and explosions knocked out a good portion of Europe's power grid and killed tens of thousands as aircraft fell from the sky and the resulting blackouts disrupted essential services but the strike was clearly not targeted to cause massive civillian casualties and dumped most of its energy over Siberia and the arctic.  At the same time Mars declared the formation of a colonial Federation and complete independence. The UN navy, at the time little more than a solar system police force had no real ability to respond or even protect the Earth from further attacks. All either side could threaten the other with was destruction of their civillian populations so eventually a bitter peace with Mars gaining its independence but Earth controlling the rest of the system. Similar smaller movements on various scattered colonies were put down brutally, notably over 20,000 died when UN forces broke the strike lines and retook the ports of Ceres. For over twenty years both sides have been engaging in a slow arms race and low level ecomnomic skirmishing but are unable to push the matter due to the stockpiles of interplanetary missiles they have both developed. Across this time period with Earth ever-focused on the inner system the power of the massive megacorporations in the outer planets grew and grew. They built their own shipyards and 'commerce patrols' but the almost immeasurable wealth flowing from the Sorium harvesting operations in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn which provides the fuel for space travel meant the inner planets looked the other way as long the the  In 2046 the newly formed Interstellar Inc. simply announced it would no longer honor voting shares held by Earth-based individuals or entities and would use the money it was saving from no longer paying taxes to buy out those options as long as its territorial integrity was respected. After months of skirmishing between the UN navy and the Interstellar Corporate Commerce Protection Arm (definitely not a fleet) the UN (now United Terra or UT) fleet was forced to withdraw after the halted flow of fuel from the gas giants threatened economic collapse and no feasible way was found to retake the ciritical harvesting/refining fleets without their destruction. Holding the critical refining operations hostage allowed the Interstellar Corporates (IC) to have enough breathing room to use their hoarded technology to develop a smaller but very capable defense fleet. This brings us to now, the year is 2052 and the Solar system is boiling over as tensions rise between the three major factions. Small independent settlements are being squeezed and many are resorting to piracy other and other less savory means of supporting themselves and everyone waits in dread for the spark that will ignite catastophe. ------------------------------------------------------ Goon participation and LP format. I have spent more time than is sane or healthy developing the Sol system in Aurora to represent the scenario above. The LP will be divided into two parts. -Firstly, political votes by the thread between combat (ships can take weeks to get around the solar system at max speed especially as we are playing at a low tech level) which influence operations and the direction our faction will move politically. -Secondly, combat simmed out in the Aurora scenario I have built. Goons will give orders on what they want to achieve and how and I will mash a bunch of ships together and see what happens. You can sign up to be an naval officer by posting in the thread bolded or adding yourself to the spreadsheet (please indicate what sort of ship you wish to captain if you care and a preferred name) and you will be inserted into the game and will appear in the LP. Consider it space-dwarfing. The system is divided roughly like so:  There are three factions to choose from in the (probable) upcoming conflict. The first political choice is which faction so please vote in the thread. The current positions of the planets are as follows (they will orbit as the game progresses). The light blue tailed dots are comets, un-named ones are asteroids and the named bodies are planets/moons. The circles are the orbital paths of planets.     United Terra  "Service guarantees citizenship" Terra is the rightful heir to the Solar System and the Galaxy. Her wayward children must be brought back into line and humanities resources bent towards the single task of claiming the stars. Earth, heaving home to almost 10 billion and the cradle of humanity. Accounting for over 80% of humanities population and 65% of its GDP Earth remains the Titan of the solar system and fields a vast fleet of large, rugged and dependable warships backed up by enormous number of long range missile silos and the unassailable fortress of the Earth-Luna system. Ruled over by the United Terran government ('successor' to the United Nations) she lays claim to the majority of the asteroid belt, Jupiters leading trojans and Venus and Mercury. Her fleet must deploy to protect all these assets and is generally considered more conservatively designed than those of Mars or the Corporates but any technical inferiority is more than made up by larger vessels and superior numbers. For the United Terran Feet the question is not whether she could best either of her foes but whether she could best them both while maintaining the safety of Terra and the loyal colonies. + Largest fleet by far including strong fighter wings + Rugged and tough ship designs + Enormous Earth-Luna fortifications and interplanetary missile silos + Largest shipyard and economic capability -/+ Lack of exotic/advanced tech may be mitigated by whatever is found on Pluto (if it can be held!) - Probaby slower less efficient ships on average (same tech level) - Large number of colonies to cover - Internal unrest Martian Colonial Federation  "From dust to life" We are the Sons and Daughters of Mars. Our purpose is clear and our destiny manifest. Now is our time, we will remake the desert into our new Eden and woe to any that stand in our way." Over eight hundred million now call Mars home and the average life expectancy exceeds 150 years. The Martians are a fiercely patriotic people largely drawn from the global south but large contingents exist from old anglosphere colonial countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. She boasts a fine fleet of warships and a strong defence grid around Mars herself. Traditionally her external territories are limited to outposts on some inner system asteroids, a section of the belt and Jupiters trailing Trojans. Recently however she laid claim to the Neptunian system and installed a large cloud-scooping fuel harvesting operation threatening the Corporates grip on the Sorium trade. Her warships operate much closer to theoretical design tolerances than Earth warships giving them greater speed and power for the same mass and her materials science and electronic warfare capabilities are somewhat more advanced but this comes at the cost of greater fragility and often lower overall firepower. Mars Fleet must protect Mars and her precious terraforming infrastructure in orbit and on the ground as well as trying to maintain a grip on Neptune to allow the flow of fuel to Mars. + Faster and more capable ships ton for ton than Earth. + Better Electronic warfare capabilities and Armor + Good stockpile of interplanetary missiles and okay Martian defense grid +/- Fanatics - Smaller fleet and Neptune is a very long way away - More fragile ships, prone to explosions - Mars surface/orbital infrastructure is extremely vulnerable and beyond priceless Interstellar Corporation  "Tomorrow is here" With major colonies on the Jovian moons of Ganymede and Callisto, Saturns moon of Titan and smaller settlements on various comets and Uranus's moon of Titania the IC is dispersed throughout the outer solar system. The founders are almost exactly what one would imagine. Cabals of Libertarians, Tech-bro's, Transhumanists, Space-Communists and other riffraff who made it good and decided to move out where the government couldn't reach them. Their stranglehold on the Sorium trade has made them obscenely rich and funded advanced research into exotic technologies as well as many electronic improvements which then get applied to their fleet with incredibly short iteration times. They also have a large number of creative ship designs and a focus on specialised ships. However not everything new and shiny is necessarily better and their fleet is outnumbered by both their opponents and dispersed throughout three major settlements, one of which is a long long way from the other two. The IC needs to maintain its grip on the Sorium trade and ideally not fight a full scale war (how do you sell fuel to your enemies, should you even do that?). To further disrupt the balance of power IC explorers claim to have recently discovered what appears to be a Xenoarcheological site on 'Terran owned' Pluto and the various interests are scrambling to tilt this to their advantage. However the IC leaks like a sieve and it is likely the inners have picked up on this already even if they may not quite believe it yet. + Exotic tech and advanced electronics/sensors + Creative ship designs + Economic power, others will be loathe to disrupt the flow of Sorium +/- Specialised ships - Arrogance and piss poor intel/spying abilities - Poor strategic position -- Smallest fleet  Voting is now closed so please have an image of the radical Martian fleet doing radical things. -------------------------------SIGN UP!-------------------------------  If you want to join as an officer please post in the thread to let me know or simply add yourself to the spreadsheet below. If you want also include a preference for ship type and what you want it to be named. Adding yourself to the spreadsheet below will make sure you secure your place in line faster than waiting for me to do it. Officers Spreadsheet: Saros posted:Where am I? What is my purpose in life? Aurora Concepts and Explanation posts: Aurora Wiki General (non LP related) Aurora Discord channel Aurora Forums Sensors Fire Controls Weapon types Missile chat IC designs 1 and Microwaves Reading ship statblocks Jump Technology I can also be reached on discord, the channel for discussion about this LP will be : https://discord.gg/m94BjGY -------------------------------EVERYTHING BELOW THIS LINE CONTAINS SPOILERS------------------------------- Current Status of Xenological Diplomatic relations: Mikl posted:I'm from Nova Sol II and I say eat them all! punched my v-card at camp posted:Do you know what else is a war crime? Nuking civilian populations  -------------------------------------- Jack2142 posted:Don't listen to Gridlocked, focus on the real facts outlined in this accurate reflection on the Sol Sys Important news for all. Ultrabindu also made another thing: And another: Turns out Ultrabindu is rather prolific.  Major events and updates: Please note this does not capture all updates and you may miss some important stuff, for the full experience I recommend reading the whole thread or alternatively click the small ? in the bottom left of my post to see only posts by me and read that. Chapter I - 2052 - The short victorious war
Chapter II - 2052 - One small step for man
Chapter III - 2054 - To boldly go
Chapter IV - 2054 - Squabbling Titans
Diplomatic Agreements: Lunar Accords Pt 1; Sol Jump Points Lunar Accords Pt 2; Extrasolar Territory Extrasolar System Maps: Ranginui Nova Sol Moutere Galileo The Graveyard and The Pit annnnd finally an updated sol and surrounding systems map as of June 2052. SPOILERS   Obvious spoilers. I can also be reached on discord, the channel for discussion about this LP will be : https://discord.gg/m94BjGY Saros fucked around with this message at 17:02 on Nov 9, 2018 |
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May 30, 2017 01:17
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I died:
My ship exploded for reasons that are totally not my fault:
My ships smells like feet and I want a new one:
What are my career prospects like?
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Martian Federal Navy SHIPS: Oldfleet  Sadly due to character limits the old-fleet designs are moved offsite. please see here. Newfleet  Thanks to Jack 2142 for the ship art. Fray posted:
Special ship - Jump Dreadnought code:code:code:code:Missile specs: code:Saros fucked around with this message at 15:20 on Dec 5, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 01:17
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Interstellar Corporation. Earth's time has passed, and Mars can be bros but the real future is out here on the bleeding edge. Also, sign me up for command of either something exotic or a main line combat ship. Seconding the recommendation for everyone to go read BG's wondrous LP that's technically not even dead yet (no you can't convince me otherwise I'll still believe until the day it's archived  ).
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May 30, 2017 01:27
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This seems like a lot of effort for Expanse fan fiction. I call it how I see it. Also, Mars for the future of all humanity! Or something.
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May 30, 2017 01:28
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You can pretty obviously draw parallels to the Expanse but really there is only so many ways to divvy up the solar system while pretending to maintain some sort of balance and keep the sides diverse within Aurora.  Besides who says we have to stay only in the solar system? Saros fucked around with this message at 01:43 on May 30, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 01:37
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I mean, Expanse fanfic or not we get to shoot things up in Aurora and that's a good time in my book.
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May 30, 2017 01:41
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Interstellar Corporation and if you give me a bigger and faster ship than Crazycryodude I will say whatever you want me to in regards to whether or not this is Expanse related. Also I like The Expanse it's my favorite sci fi show.
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May 30, 2017 01:45
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I really should reinstall this game. Voting Mars.
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May 30, 2017 01:48
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Cathode Raymond posted:Interstellar Corporation and if you give me a bigger and faster ship than Crazycryodude I will say whatever you want me to in regards to whether or not this is Expanse related. IC has bigger but sadly they tend to not be faster so you might have to pick one. I'm trying to avoid details about the sides ships yet so they can be a surprise when encountered.
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May 30, 2017 01:50
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Interstellar Corp Let's make Space communisim
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May 30, 2017 01:50
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Give Cathode and I joint command of a ship and let us go on a crusade to save the Space Whales.
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May 30, 2017 01:51
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Voting Mars It is my favorite planet in the solar system.
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May 30, 2017 01:56
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Crazycryodude posted:Give Cathode and I joint command of a ship and let us go on a crusade to save the Space Whales. This is a good idea! What are our chances, roughly, of discovering aliens that might be approximately described as "Space Whales"? Will we find them on Pluto or will we have to go further? What is the current state of the non-space whales on earth?
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May 30, 2017 01:58
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BGremans LP has space whales and space lemons and because I am extremely sensitive to insinuations of copying others work we might have to skip them both. 
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May 30, 2017 02:16
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Interstellar Corporation.
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May 30, 2017 02:17
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Mars Hopefully this one doesn't immediately peter out. 
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May 30, 2017 02:19
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Sign me up as a Battleship Captain no matter what faction we choose
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May 30, 2017 02:34
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Mars, and I nobly volunteer to be a fleet admiral.
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May 30, 2017 02:37
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An Aurora LP!? Hell yeah! Voting Interstellar Corporation, I want to see some fun ship designs, the version of Aurora I'm used to, missile boats rule the day. Lets see some plasma and microwave emitter ships!
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May 30, 2017 02:40
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Interstellar Corp. Sign me up to fly an airplane.
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May 30, 2017 02:58
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I'll give Terran Federation a shot. I'll take an officer spot, but I'd rather command a ship than a fleet. Gotta earn my way to the top!
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May 30, 2017 03:10
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Mars all the way! I'll be captain of a small destroyer, if there's one to be had.
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May 30, 2017 03:32
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Blah, all these groups rub me the wrong way, but I guess I'll try for Mars because gently caress the IC
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May 30, 2017 04:14
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United Terra
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May 30, 2017 05:25
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Mars. Also, space-dorf me. I'd prefer a combat ship command... I think in bgreman's LP I was skipper of a collier or some other noncombat ship, so I'd like something a bit cooler.
Drone fucked around with this message at 05:55 on May 30, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 05:52
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Okay, lets be transhuman space communists then. Interstellar Corporation. You may place me in a spaceship of some sort also. No matter what kind of ship, I just want to fly in space or die trying.
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May 30, 2017 07:56
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Interstellar Corporation, pretty much every Aurora game LP seems focused on Earth and Mars lets take the third option. Would be happy to be a Destroyer/Frigate/etc. captain of a light fleet ship.
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May 30, 2017 08:17
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I know you didn't say anything about administrators or scientists, but if it's an option, I'd love to have somebody surnamed Weismuller as an admin or scientist in the game.
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May 30, 2017 08:20
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Mars Needs Goons! All you people talking about Space Communism Now: Keep in mind the Interstellar Corporation also has a shitload of libertarians and techbros involved, all counterrevolutionaries to a man. You want Space Communism, come to the Red Planet! Yvonmukluk fucked around with this message at 09:46 on May 30, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 09:44
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Go Mars! Let's drain the entire solar system of resources in a vain attempt to breath some kind of life in our dusty shithole of a planet!
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May 30, 2017 09:53
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nweismuller posted:I know you didn't say anything about administrators or scientists, but if it's an option, I'd love to have somebody surnamed Weismuller as an admin or scientist in the game. Generally economic stuff will be abstracted out to save my sanity, keep the pace up and the game focused on combat so there isn't any spots for administrators or scientists. Yvonmukluk posted:Mars Needs Goons! There are plenty of counter-revolutionaries on both sides. One interesting factoid is the elite of all factions tend to live in spin stations in orbit. For Earth it's to avoid the teeming masses and pollution and for the others largely to avoid the negative effects of a low-Gravity environment. Its a lot easier to put everyone up against a wall when they're all already nicely contained in spinning metal cylinders full of air. Saros fucked around with this message at 10:44 on May 30, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 10:32
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Interstellar Corporation is the best choice obviously. And sign me up as a captain.
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May 30, 2017 10:33
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Interstellar Corporations sound way cooler to me. Sign me up for a ship captain as well, no preference on type.
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May 30, 2017 11:53
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Mars It's me!
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May 30, 2017 12:10
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Get your rear end to MARS! I'll captain something medium sized I guess.
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May 30, 2017 12:31
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So far voting is close with Mars 12, Interstellar Corporates 10 and Terra 2. Terran supporters are welcome to switch their votes or list a second priority as it looks like at this point they aren't strongly in the running.Drone posted:Mars. Also, space-dorf me. I'd prefer a combat ship command... I think in bgreman's LP I was skipper of a collier or some other noncombat ship, so I'd like something a bit cooler.  Can I interest you in this delightful ex-Terran Navy Luxembourg class Fleet Support Vessel? While she's a bit old and creaky by now she provides enough fuel, maintenance supplies and ammunition to keep a small fleet in action for up to six months! The Captains accommodations are arguably the most luxurious ever designed in a Fleet Support Vessel and the rumors are crew has even turned one of the water supply tanks into a zero-G swimming pool!
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May 30, 2017 13:45
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Does it have gun.
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May 30, 2017 13:48
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 Depending on when she received her latest refit she should sport one of our sponsor Graham Precision Arm's sleek and efficient CIWS 80/120/160 models. However due to that unfortunate incident with the spaceliner full of
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May 30, 2017 14:00
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Vote switched from Terra to Mars
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May 30, 2017 14:12
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Mars, and space-dorf (squat?) me a ship, something fast.
Dagon fucked around with this message at 17:30 on May 30, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 14:42
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