Life2.0 - An "Of Unity" Narrative (Completed)

[Macavity116]

I realise Naomi isn't fighting them. Nope, she's positioning them for Buri to whack.

The last two lay down their weapons.

They say teamwork makes the dream work... but this is one of those moments where I really don't wanna be Naomi and Buri's "dream work."

Presumably it's a plot-point that comes up in Angel of War?

Yup. I wanted to take a meek, soft-spoken protagonist and tell her "All the officers and commanders are dead, so you're 'Acting Captain' now! Here's the keys to the starship. Over a thousand people are depending on you to get them home alive. Good luck!" And then just turn her loose on the story to see what happens.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Assault, Part 7"
27th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

Naomi rounds on the two who surrender when they deactivate their helmets. "Here's the options. Help us, and you have a full pardon and restoration of position courtesy of Appia Flavonius. If you refuse, you'll be taken as prisoners of war pending a trial as rebels. Say you'll help and then turn on us, and my husband will eat you."

They confer, casting glances at Buri as he places his hands on Naomi's hips. He retracts his helmet, showing his blood-stained sabres and teeth. He smiles. "Can't guarantee I wouldn't eat you alive either."

One of them speaks up. "Is that it? Help you, and there is no consequences?"

Naomi nods. "My war is with Septima. You guys just picked the wrong side. But you join us, and Appia will forgive that little episode. Or don't, and take your chances on a court martial."

They look at each other. The other one steps forward. "I am Sergius Tanicius, evocatus of the Praetorian Guard. I will be taken as a prisoner."

The first one looks at him. "Fool. Appia will execute you."

Sergius looks at him. "Honourless dog."

"But a live one. You won't be." he turns to Naomi. "I am Ocipter Falcidius, evocatus of the Praetorian Guard. I accept your offer."

Sergius starts at him. "Traitor!"

He stops when Buri takes one step. Buri yawns. "Sergius, are you going to come nicely, or am I going to have to break your arms and legs and drag you?"

Sergius pauses. Then spits at Ocipter, before stepping back from Buri - he raises his arm, a rifle flying to his hand.

Naomi's sword runs him through the chest, and she twists. Sergius goes down. "Don't threaten my husband." She turns to Ocipter. "Let's get started. I want control of the primary batteries."

Ocipter nods, and leads her to one of the various command consoles on an overlooking balcony. "Here."

"Communications?"

Ocipter points. "This one."

Naomi puts out a broadcast to inform the fleet of their success.

Ocipter comes to me. "You were one of Appia's."

"Yes. She owned me for fourteen years."

He looks around, now others are deactivating their helmets. "All women?"

"And all ex-Companionship Assets. Except Buri obviously, he's Naomi's husband."

Ocipter looks at Naomi with a double take. "That's Naomi? I thought she was Human?"

"She was. Then she got a little upgraded."

He stays looking at her. "Clearly things have changed..."

"Yes. Appia is a genuine reformer now."

His eyes flash. "What Naomi said about helping you and getting a full pardon; is it real?"

"Yes. I know it might be hard to believe, but Naomi convinced Appia to do it; our fight is with Septima, not you."

He leaves, to talk to Naomi.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

They say teamwork makes the dream work... but this is one of those moments where I really don't wanna be Naomi and Buri's "dream work."

Don't think anyone would.

Yup. I wanted to take a meek, soft-spoken protagonist and tell her "All the officers and commanders are dead, so you're 'Acting Captain' now! Here's the keys to the starship. Over a thousand people are depending on you to get them home alive. Good luck!" And then just turn her loose on the story to see what happens.

That would make for quite an interesting situation, but... How?

I mean, how would you have an incident that takes out the entire command chain to leave Ensign Newbie in charge of a starship as it's acting Captain for an indefinite period?

Like, it could work in Life2.0, because they are... Kind of relying on a model where Ensign Newbies are ending up in charge of major operations, with even some children ending up in command roles. But an actual professional outfit would presumably have some sort of changeover as soon as whatever incident that takes out the other officers is over?

 

[Macavity116]

I mean, how would you have an incident that takes out the entire command chain to leave Ensign Newbie in charge of a starship as it's acting Captain for an indefinite period?

I'm looking into the idea of adding some kind of ticking clock to the story. A definite "end goal" for the protagonist that must be achieved in very short order, so she wouldn't be Acting Captain for very long. The story would presumably end with her being relieved (literally and figuratively)

Something like "Get your crippled ship back to safety before (anomalous unidentified ticking clock of doom kills you all)

Maybe something like:

• Get your ship through the Hyperspace Gate before we shut it down and leave you trapped in enemy territory
• The ship is fatally damaged. Return to safety before you run out of air or fuel.
• We were left behind and given up for dead after a battle turned south. We need to fight our way out of here and rejoin the fleet.

 

[HistoryDude]

That went well. Admittedly, I kind of feel sorry for Sergius. What's his concept of honor like?

 

[CBR JGWRR]

I'm looking into the idea of adding some kind of ticking clock to the story. A definite "end goal" for the protagonist that must be achieved in very short order, so she wouldn't be Acting Captain for very long. The story would presumably end with her being relieved (literally and figuratively)

Something like "Get your crippled ship back to safety before (anomalous unidentified ticking clock of doom kills you all)

Maybe something like:

• Get your ship through the Hyperspace Gate before we shut it down and leave you trapped in enemy territory
• The ship is fatally damaged. Return to safety before you run out of air or fuel.
• We were left behind and given up for dead after a battle turned south. We need to fight our way out of here and rejoin the fleet.

Well, I must confess, I do dislike Stellaris' basegame names for propulsion technologies. Chemical rockets just aren't capable of the performance Stellaris depicts... Even Orion struggles to match it unless scaled up to the 400m pusher-plate region.

I bring that up because the Marathon (scroll down this post) has chemical rockets, hangars and kinetic artillery, which equates to - on the grounds metastable fuels are the only chemical rockets capable of anything like Stellaris' chemical rockets - probably something like Octaazacubane, which is basically nitrogen in a metastable (read "extremely unstable and very explosive, to the point where we only theoretically know how to make it right now") format.

Nitrogen is fairly common of course, and could be recovered from atmospheric or asteroidal sources. Oxygen - to supply a partial pressure atmosphere - is also fairly available. Fusion reactor is unspecified, but presumably it will be either a D-D or D-He reactor, all of which are just as available in the setting. So, she's got options for in-situ innovations.

Which basically gives you a dynamic that brings these three together very nicely; Hyper Relays and Gateways would be Essential infrastructure to trying an interstellar civilisation on chemical rockets, which would give you the overarching goal of 1. The need for ISRU capability, and the ship's readyadjustability for it, gives narrative opportunity to make it work. (and cross-over with CoaDE, if you fancy it)

And fitting in pursuers is very easily done within this setting - presumably they are of the same tech level, and therefore the same delta-v constraints, meaning to get themselves to the Gateway/Hyper Relay means a similar transit to the hero ship.

There's plenty of opportunities within the setting here, and you could have a timeframe of a few months quite easily, with lots of opportunities for tough decisions and high stakes tension.

That went well. Admittedly, I kind of feel sorry for Sergius. What's his concept of honor like?

That will be discussed when Naomi debriefs Ocipter.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Ad Praetoria"
2942, 10, 3 a.d. Idus Octobribus (27th Daas, 10)
Ocipter Falcidius​

I wait for her to speak to me rather than interrupt. It takes a while, with the battle ongoing, but eventually she makes time.

Until then, I observe.

"Now Ocipter Falcidius. First of all, you and I both know Septima would realise the strategic value in having some Praetorians surrender rather than fight to the death, and that she would work out Life2.0 would propose mercy for Praetorians as a means of ending that fight more quickly. It therefore follows that I have to assume there's a reasonable chance that you are continuing to work for her by an alternative means."

I nod. "Rational."

"Ergo, why should I not just put you to the sword are prempt you becoming a problem?"

I look at her. "Because you intend to use me for testing Praetorians in the same way you tested other Olinbari. We are a sub-group that you have much less information on and experience with, and you want a benchmark to calibrate your approach to decide whether you agree with Appia's purging of the lineage."

She smiles. "Well done on working out my motives."

I smile. "So, you need me alive, and I have to convince you to restore the Praetorians. You have the technology to restore the lineage."

She tilts her head. "And what does restoring the lineage mean to you?"

I lean back. "In the most ancient times of Olinbari history, the Praetorians were extracted by the Minamari from Olinbari stock using nucleotide purification techniques and they modified the Praetorians into optimised soldiers that were engineered to reproduce through genome seeds that would be developed for batches of Praetorians, instead of the natural way. And over time the seeds ran out, and the lineage is now all but spent, with only a fraction of the Praetorian Guard being true Praetorians."

She looks at me. "And Appia has destroyed the facilities where Praetorians could be made."

"Yes. So, we true Praetorians are the last of our kind."

She thinks it through. "I can't make any promises regarding Appia. And I am on a matter of principle vetoing the development of soldier species and clone armies... The battledroids the Holocron is bringing are borderline."

"But you aren't vetoing the idea of bringing back the Praetorians?"

"No."

"Which means we have an arrangement that we can both work towards."

She looks at Sergius. "What of the other Praetorians?"

I shrug. "Tricky. Some will consider it a betrayal - mostly the natural Olinbari who worked their way into the Guard - some would object to the altering the lineage and would rather it died out than was soiled. That's where Sergius is, its why he wants a trial is so that he can orate against Gnaea's dilution of the Guard and Appia's destruction of the barracks. But others will accept it."

She considers it. "I can't make any promises until Septima is dealt with."

"Understandable."

"But, we will look into it."

"Deal."

She smiles. "Now, what can you tell me about the defences on the Gateway control orbital?"

 

[Mithrill]

I lean back. "In the most ancient times of Olinbari history, the Praetorians were extracted by the Minamari from Olinbari stock using nucleotide purification techniques and they modified the Praetorians into optimised soldiers that were engineered to reproduce through genome seeds that would be developed for batches of Praetorians, instead of the natural way. And over time the seeds ran out, and the lineage is now all but spent, with only a fraction of the Praetorian Guard being true Praetorians."

So, Stellaris' not!Space Marines, when faced with standard Space Marine problem (lack of source material) decided to just open the formation for everyone and make do with non-geneseed enchancement? Makes sense. Another win for reason and sanity!

 

[HistoryDude]

The decline of the enhanced lineage is sad, but it probably made this fight easier. Supersoldiers supporting Life 2.0's new order would be nice, though.

Is this dilution of the lineage part of what allowed Appia to defeat them earlier? As far as I can tell, she's not enhanced.

 

[Macavity116]

Stellaris' not!Space Marines, when faced with standard Space Marine problem (lack of source material) decided to just open the formation for everyone and make do with non-geneseed enchancement? Makes sense. Another win for reason and sanity!

Somewhere, I hear Khan Noonien Singh screaming in his grave...

 

[CBR JGWRR]

So, Stellaris' not!Space Marines, when faced with standard Space Marine problem (lack of source material) decided to just open the formation for everyone and make do with non-geneseed enchancement? Makes sense. Another win for reason and sanity!

Pretty much. The technology that made the Praetorians is long lost and alien, and the Olinbari never redeveloped it thanks to social conditioning of their captors - it's something that will come up in the Olinbariad.

The decline of the enhanced lineage is sad, but it probably made this fight easier. Supersoldiers supporting Life 2.0's new order would be nice, though.

Well...

They already have them. The modifications described in the Stellaris technology "Gene Seed Purification" can only enhance what is already there, and the base Olinbari genome is...

From the wiki:
"Nucleotide purification techniques allow for the isolation and refinement of particularly desirable genetic traits."

This... Basically means that the existing species traits suitable for the requirements are amplified and not so useful elements are trimmed.

And the Olinbari, in terms of physicality, are Human-equivalent. Praetorians are going to be better, and so we can safely say the average Praetorian is akin to a baseline world-class athlete across multiple disciplines, prior to additional surgical and chemical alterations.

The upper limits of such modifications are much harder to estimate. But... I doubt much beyond matching a baseline Xenaya.

Which in turn are not as good as the modifications put into Buri and Naomi, as their bodies are neogen lifeforms that are beyond genome tweaking.

Is this dilution of the lineage part of what allowed Appia to defeat them earlier? As far as I can tell, she's not enhanced.

Yes.

Somewhere, I hear Khan Noonien Singh screaming in his grave...

Or employed by the Holocron.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

So, as a little update - I've decided to revise the thread title to be "Life2.0 - An "Of Unity" Narrative, as I've settled on the four narrative sequence being called the "Of Unity" series.

I'm also debating the posting of the threads for Olinbariad and Mandate Of Heaven, where I can write ideas down. I don't think I'll start writing story pieces for them yet because it would be better to get Life2.0 complete first. But, equally Life2.0 could go on for a while yet; I have to think through the logistics of invading a Ringworld for example.

Stars Of Wonder will definitely wait until Mandate Of Heaven is complete, as events in Stars Of Wonder depend on elements of Mandate Of Heaven.

So...

I've got enough to keep me busy until 2030 at the rate Life2.0 is going.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Assault, Part 8"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

With this platform secured, a garrison of Neumanns will take over from us. While we wait, Naomi gathers us together. "Ladies, cast your minds back to when we began training. We first gave you uniform in Diplomatic White, then you got to choose between Infantry Grey or Naval Blue. And I said then that eventually, we wear Command Crimson."

It seemed rather presumptious at the time...

She continues. "One of the tasks I set my section leaders ahead of our attack on this platform was to identify future officers. This operation was always going to be quite a 'throw you in at the deep end' approach. With that in mind, we knew there would be several outcomes from this first contact with the enemy. You could easily decide 'nope, I don't want to do this anymore'. I completely understand. There have been a few moments I would have preferred to have been different."

Some of the other Scarlets snigger. But only briefly. "If that's you, then I'll take this opportunity to say that you have fought through a baptism of fire, and each of you has earned an honourable discharge if you wish to take it; I only ask that you wait a little longer until we can debrief you properly. Some of you present had moments that your section leaders identified as being the beginnings of an officer. As such, I'm going to give the opportunity to accept field commissions to those candidates."

Naomi looks at me, then the others the section leaders have recommended. She looks at us.

Clarissa and Tina step forward. "Ansari, Ghodsi. Decker, Megan. Herminton, Elizabeth. Leifsdottir, Bjarnhildur, come forward."

I nervously step forward.

Naomi smiles at us, then removes her cape. "Miss Ansari, you are highly commended for successfully taking the lead in team four after your commander's suit suffered comms unit failure."

Then she turns to Megan, and passes Megan a pair of shoulder pads. "Miss Decker, Lydia singled you out for commendation thanks to your volunteering to lead an assault team against a fortified control bunker."

She comes to me. "Miss Herminton, for rallying and inspiring our people under the pressure of ongoing battle with Praetorians while I was engaging the enemy, I commend you." I get her bracelets.

I realise Bjarnhildur is missing fingers and a chunk of arm. "Miss Leifsdottir, for bravely leading a counter-charge while your commanding officer oversaw hacking the enemy's sensor systems despite armour technical issues, Sophia recommended you."

Bjarnhildur puts on Naomi's dragon helmet, and Naomi stands back from us. "Congratulations ladies. I hereby grant you the ranks of Probational Lieutenant, should you choose to accept it, and I relieve you of duties - as circumstances permit - to allow you to consider your decision. Command carries with it responsibilities and duties that must not be entered into lightly, and while it is my hope that you will rise to the challenge, there is no compulsion to do so."

I run my fingers over the adjusting straps of my crimson bracelets, and run the thought of Imperatrix Elizabeth Herminton through my mind.

 

[Macavity116]

A battlefield promotion! Elizabeth's work is rewarded, and hopefully it won't go to her head.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

A battlefield promotion! Elizabeth's work is rewarded, and hopefully it won't go to her head.

It won't; it's probational only.

But, by the time we get to the Rain on the Kyaese Ringworld, it'll be permanent.

 

[HistoryDude]

Good for Elizabeth (and the other three).

I wonder if any of those four will choose retirement. I'm leaning towards, "it's unlikely".

I'll keep reading as long as the content keeps coming. This universe is really interesting.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Assault, Part 9"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

Appia makes herself look at my eyes. "I must confess Elizabeth, that red looks great on you."

I smile. "You always liked me in red."

"Guilty." She smiles. "So how are you? You've been promoted, obviously."

"Probational Lieutenant. When I'm ready I've got to talk to Naomi and confirm it."

"Well done." She looks down at her feet. "So... How was your first battle?"

"I... I kind of wet myelf in fear when I ran out of ammunition and had to fight hand to hand."

She frowns. "Against Sirzuzians?"

"They jumped me in an access tunnel. Aimed at my head."

She nods. "I understand. But your suit would have stopped them?"

"It did..." I sigh. "When we encountered Praetorians, I found myself wishing I was back with you."

Her eyebrows rise. "Oh?"

"I was safe when I was yours. And when you are facing Praetorians, you don't feel safe at all."

She takes a while to reply. "I'm sure Naomi wouldn't have let you go against them without someone more veteran..."

"Her and Buri went first. I was in her group."

Appia runs a hand over her stomach. "Are they ok? The last time Naomi fought Praetorians, they ran her through. Gnaea put a search and destroy order on her."

"Naomi positioned them, Buri played pinball."

She stifles a laugh. "I take it they are fine."

"Two Praetorians surrendered."

She smiles. "Good."

I rest my hands in my lap. "Appia, can I swear you to secrecy for a moment?"

Her eyes narrow as she flicks a UI segment on her display. "Yes."

I take a deep breath. "One of the Praetorians discussed reforming the unit with Naomi."

She stands , and walks around her room. Taps a finger on her right wrist. "Ah."

"I figured you'd be unhappy with it."

She faces me. "What did Naomi say?"

"She's willing to use Life2.0's tech to restore them, but not to reinstate them as a military unit."

Her shoulders relax. "I can live with that." She looks at me. "Did she say you could discuss it with me?"

I shrug. "She didn't say I couldn't."

She pauses. Sighs. "I won't bring it up. Hopefully she'd discuss it with me... Are things busy over there?"

"I'm in my quarters, and I'll be going to her to accept my promotion after our call. She's resupplying for the attack on Gateway control now the asteroids are secure."

She leans on a wall. "Could you suggest she talks it over with me?"

"I will." We spend a while looking at each other. I break the silence. "Appia, how do you feel about Imperatrix Elizabeth Herminton?"

She smiles as she can't help run her eyes over me. "I'd love to see you properly in crimson Elizabeth." She sighs. "But, it's up to you now."

I smile. "I'm going to go talk to Naomi."

She laughs sweetly. "Go for it, Imperatrix-to-be."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Good for Elizabeth (and the other three).

I wonder if any of those four will choose retirement. I'm leaning towards, "it's unlikely".

Quite; by now, most of those who would quit have already done so.

I'll keep reading as long as the content keeps coming. This universe is really interesting.

Thank you.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Septima Arrives, Part 1"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Rivkah Of Unity​

"Rivkah, we have an issue." Scipio pulls me from my monitor.

The Gateway is active...

I look at him, then the rest of the crew aboard his corvette. "Sensors to maximum."

"On main viewer, Imperatrix."

I watch as Septima's fleet starts coming through the Gateway.

First ships through are mix and matched ships, purchased from the Salvagers. Mostly corvettes.

Then freighters. "I want sensor scans of those freighters, we need to know if there are Kyaese hostages on board."

Dozens of freighters.

Soon, there are at least a hundred freighters.

With escorts - dozens of small craft undock from the bulkheads and swam around, plinking away with small naval weapons bodged as spinal cannons.

"Imperatrix, we have visual confirmation."

I frown. "Visual?"

The Olinbari officer nods, and cycles the main view through various freighters.

The bridge falls silent.

Glass hulls.

Her freighters have glass hulls.

Or at least, some transparent material. Surprise turns to anger - the first reason for her to have transparent hulls is she wants to show off the live Kyaese within, packed in on top of each other.

They go feral with fear once they realise what's happening.

They really don't look well...

Healthy Kyaese have mainly black plumage, with streaks of reds, blues, yellows...

These Kyaese are mostly bald. And they peck each other.

Scipio is much paler.

I raise the fleet. "Juliet One to all - we have visual confirmation of Kyaese hostages."

"Imperatrix, enemy fleet dispatching a pre-recorded broadcast."

I look at him, as he puts it on the main viewer.

I take a deep breath.

An Olinbari woman sits on a throne of Kyaese skulls, her calloused and bony fingers tapping on a armrest of spines. A Human woman stands beside her.

Scipio prods me, while pointing at the Human. "Who's she?"

I scowl. "Monica."

Septima begins to speak. "Throughout history, Olinbari society has only prospered by utilising the talents of lesser races. The recklessness of the young sets aside the destiny of our people, leaving chaos and collapse in the wake of their poor leadership that has impoverished our great civilisation. It is time to correct this grave error, and excise it before the cancer spreads. I will not suffer our enlightened and majestic civilisation to rot any more. To those unwise Olinbari who have fallen for the schemes of a harlot I say this - wake up! For justice is coming, and I am the surgeon who must sever a limb to save the body."

She stares out from the screen.

Pausing.

She allows a brief relaxation. "And to those Indentured Assets who have forsaken their role in our society, I say this; that whore cannot save you. Overthrow her, and I will forgive your lapse in judgement in listening to her. Continue this charade however, and I will sweep you aside."

One last ship comes through the Gateway. An immense one. Scipio whistles. I look at him. "What is that?"

"She has a Fallen Empire Titan."

 

[Mithrill]

An Olinbari woman sits on a throne of Kyaese skulls, her calloused and bony fingers tapping on a armrest of spines. A Human woman stands beside her.

Careful there, girl. Enraged enemy makes mistakes, true, but overdo it and you'll end up facing what Master Pratchett lovingly described as "calm lagoon of rage where the voice is steady, the manner is measured and polite, and only a faint trace of spittle at the corner of the mouth betrsyes the inner inferno".

"She has a Fallen Empire Titan."

On one hand, oh frick. On the other, big ship + asteroid artillery = ???