009: Talking Turkey at the Bartizan

[shaidar]

Frank Cross

Metz looked around the room. "I seem to have made one set too many. Colonel Cross, would you accept the extras for use in your public facing medical services group? They could help a great number of people."

...

"We can transport your forces to the area in a matter of just a few months, but we would likely want to recruit colonists before we leave. Let's say something more reasonable in number where we could put a good amount of people in each system. If we brought anywhere from a million people to say ten million, that would give us a workforce and people that could be trained as long as we recruited them for that purpose. We would want to get your input on how best to proceed in the process because while we can envision the colonization effort and what is required, few of us are former military and none have insight into your needs and concerns. This will be a collaborative effort."

He shrugged slightly. "What else should I be saying before you decide if you are interested and we discuss remuneration? Also, as some forms of payment are less certain these days we can pay the contract--if we strike a deal--in Imperial credits, precious metals, crystals and gems, radioactives, or a mixure of any of those if that would be preferable."[/dialog]

"Perhaps it would be beneficial to see the military hardware that they would be using," Metz said. "As I knew that I would be presenting this portion of our pitch, I took the liberty of fabricating a number of vehicles that would be of use in displaying the potential last night while I still had access to large amounts of raw material that I could purchase at the high port. While I am not a military designer, I am exceptionally skilled at taking existing plans and modifying them successfully. In this case, I was able to get my hands on plans for some of the next generation front line vehicles being tested by the Imperium and upscale them using advances in technology to make them even more capable. Would you care for a demonstration of the fabrication technology as we promised to show it to a number of your associates here. If you wanted to be paid in TL16 military gear or a mixture of any of the above, that is doable as well."

"Thank you doctor, that is very generous. I can imagine such a device will cause quite a stir when a free clinic is providing better care than the paid ones. Additional security is something I will have to think about. I think the demonstration is a good idea, it will give us a chance to consider your requirements and their implementation."

[Tiglath]

Skeet adds "I'm in so far. My officers have an option for veto but Duran and Tourmaline are in. I note that Colonel Cross has already begun emptying the Underhive with his own recruitment campaign. To expand the pool of colonists I can offer to recruit skilled and entrepreneurial types from in and out system as well as veterans who wish to retire out of the reach of... sore losers".

[terrymixon]

He did have one objection after looking at the technical specifications for the medical equipment. Dzofin raised his paw. "Doctor Metz, I noticed that your medical equipment is not set up to speak the most common Vargr language Gvegh. You may want to fix that. Certainly I will be pleased to be of service to ensure that all of your equipment will be compatible with my species."

I'm sorry, helvorn. I inadvertently hit edit and deleted the leading part of you post when I thought I was replying. I hate that this system lets me edit any post in the forum. This has bitten me before, but I've managed to recover. This time I couldn't. If you could add in your original comments again, I'll try not to do this again.

"I'm sorry, but I may have misspoke," Metz said. "It can speak Gvegh, and all the medical equipment is fully programmed for your people. All the robotic equipment I make can speak the tongue as well. My apologies for the unintended lapse in failing to mention that. Please, give it a try."

I updated my original post. No worries. I made a comment about the Vargr language because it was not listed on the technical data sheets. More me using a typo to insert a post!

"I'm glad to see that the equipment is fully functional Doctor." Dzofin spoke to the larger crowd. "I may be able to work with my people to bring Vargr colonists as well. The Vargr wanderlust is well-established."

And I updated my original post. I overlooked adding it when that was my intent. Rectified.

"That would be very welcome. Thank you."

[terrymixon]

With no objections, Roscoe led the group back up onto the flight deck and over to the Lost & Found. The cargo hatch on the side of the ship opened as he approached and a ramp extended down to allow everyone to walk aboard. The vessel looked to be about 800 displacement tons in the cargo bay was very spacious at about half that size.

It was mostly full with the back half filled with cargo containers that seem to be linked together by an UNREP system for rapid movement of the contents. They are connected to a large machine with a wide hatch that is sitting open showing its empty interior. At a guess, it would be able to hold approximately 25 displacement tons. The machine itself took up about twice that volume.

In the forward half of the cargo bay, there are a number of vehicles of military design. One of them is a tank that masses about 20 displacement tons and has sleek angular panels leading to a large gun on the top. It was obviously an energy weapon, almost certainly a rapid-fire fusion gun. There is a secondary weapon, a gatling laser near it. The Imperium favored tanks about half this size but this one looked well put together.



Sitting next to it was a slope-sided G/Carrier of about the same size. It has a gatling laser on its top. The back of this vehicle is open and it looks like it could hold a couple of dozen troops in armor. It is quite spacious.



Both of these vehicles have things attached to their sides at the cardinal points. They didn't look like they are part of the vehicle, but they are attached and held into recessed areas that preserve both vehicles' streamlining. They are about the size of a Terran bear.

Next to them is a smaller vehicle of about half the size of either of the large vehicles. It is even sleeker than the others and has a fixed rapid-fire plasma gun aiming forward. This vehicle looks like it could break the sound barrier. It is fully enclosed but there doesn't seem to be a way to access the interior for passengers.

Beside it sits a G/Bike with an uptilted front and rear to protect the driver and side panels that look like they could flip up and mostly conceal him as well. It had a light laser gun fixed to aim forward.

Sitting a little bit to the rear of them are some smaller vehicles. The first of them look like a noncombat craft meant to move personnel from one point to another. It is a grav vehicle and has space for a driver and two passengers. It doesn't look to be armored.

Beside it is a utilitarian two-seat side-by-side grav vehicle that looks like it has legs. It was made to get people someplace quickly. It wasn't a combat vehicle either and it can also break the sound barrier.

Lined up against the forward bulkhead from them are suits of battle dress. Not just one style but of all the major variants: artillery battle dress, assault battle dress, standard battle dress, ceramic battle dress, combat pioneer battle dress, command battle dress, logistics battle dress, and scout battle dress. They all looked brand-new and a bit higher tech than they should.









"Just how much data did you take?" Ciencia demanded.

"Just the interesting stuff." Metz stepped forward before she could respond and gestured toward the unknown device. "This, ladies and gentlemen, is a superior fabricator. Have any of you heard of the term post-scarcity society? It means a time and place where people's wants are answered and no one has to go without. This device, which I created over the last several decades, is the key to delivering humanity--and the other species--into such a world.

"I don't know if any of you have heard of fabricator technology before, but the enhanced fabricator is capable of creating anything it has a pattern for at tech level 13 or lower. With its level of sophistication, it can handle complex electronics, simple biomechanical creations, and advanced robot brains. If working on a robotic or biological brain it quadruples the time and complex devices or strange shapes or high melting point materials double even that. So, maximum time to create something with that technology is about eight hours."

He gestured at the machine again. "You'll note that I did not say this is an advanced fabrication unit. Even at Vincennes they don't have an advanced fabrication unit. I created that for myself and brought it to life once I left. Now, before anyone thinks that I've robbed my employer of that technology, it simply isn't so. I had ideas of what I could build but I never produced any research on it or endeavored to do so. I only looked into it once I was a free agent and beyond their control. It may be a thin line, but that's where it is.

"While I was working for my first bounty Hunter, I finalized the design and upgraded the enhanced unit I had with me to an advanced one. That still took the same amount of time to build things but could construct complex biomechanical things and any robot brain whatsoever. The advanced model--unlike the enhanced one--was able to create any item up to and including its own tech level, which is higher than Vincennes, so tech level 17, most likely.

"Basically, I could use it to replicate itself with just the application of raw materials. Lots and lots of raw materials. One thing that it could also do was disassemble something to generate a blueprint to make more of that item. Let's say that I chanced across a weapon that I fancied. I'd deconstructed it and then use the raw materials that I'd just collected from that pistol to make me a new one with only a very minute losses. And I could make a dozen more exactly like it anytime I wanted, so long as I was willing to spend the hours necessary to do so and use the raw materials."

He grinned. "The superior fabricator has those same capabilities but instead of taking hours to build something it takes minutes. Do you see that tank over there? It took me twenty-four minutes to fabricate it once I finalized the design. If I'm not happy with it, I'll shove it back into the fabrication unit, deconstruct it, and fabricate a new one. Little material lost and it's easy to correct any minor issues without having to waste time.

"To close, the Imperium is currently testing a 10-ton version of the tank and G/Carrier. Those test beds are TL15 vehicles. These models are TL16 with improved armor and capabilities they are double the size but that just makes them meaner. In fact, all of the vehicles in front of you are TL16. The Imperium calls their tank the Trepida, so rather than call this the Trepida II, someone will have to come up with a catchy name. The G/Carrier is in the same testing regimen, and is called the Astrin by the Imperium. All of these will need names and a good look by your people to make sure that you feel comfortable with them, but I will ride with anyone wanting to give them a spin, as will Roscoe, and Bianca."

He looked over at the two women that Jaelah had told him would be there and that were the main targets of his demonstration outside the military contingent. "Roscoe might have told you that we intend to open up shops in various areas including here on Collace. It would be one in which there was a fabrication unit and lots of raw materials that could construct something for someone that had a fancy for it so long as we either had a pattern or could put one together that suited their needs. As you might imagine, I would suspect someone would like to steal this particular invention. That is why we need protection.

"You heard about me having a larger one of these that can build spaceships. The technology I used for those was the advanced fabrication technology. Fabricators are extremely expensive to manufacture both in regular process and in raw materials when working to make more. It made sense to save the materials since I doubted anyone would be needing their starship in less than eight hours.

"One caveat that the undoubted thieves would not know is that the fabrication units in these stores will be hardwired so that they cannot replicate themselves and if they are removed from the premises, they will turn on themselves and make the entire thing useless. I don't intend to let this technology fall into the hands of anyone else."

He stepped over to the two women. "I'm told that you have brought some objects that were not of personal value but that would be something that I did not have any familiarity with, and I will now create a pattern for them and give you back those items with half a dozen more. If you please?"

[terrymixon]

Frank Cross

Metz looked around the room. "I seem to have made one set too many. Colonel Cross, would you accept the extras for use in your public facing medical services group? They could help a great number of people."

...

"We can transport your forces to the area in a matter of just a few months, but we would likely want to recruit colonists before we leave. Let's say something more reasonable in number where we could put a good amount of people in each system. If we brought anywhere from a million people to say ten million, that would give us a workforce and people that could be trained as long as we recruited them for that purpose. We would want to get your input on how best to proceed in the process because while we can envision the colonization effort and what is required, few of us are former military and none have insight into your needs and concerns. This will be a collaborative effort."

He shrugged slightly. "What else should I be saying before you decide if you are interested and we discuss remuneration? Also, as some forms of payment are less certain these days we can pay the contract--if we strike a deal--in Imperial credits, precious metals, crystals and gems, radioactives, or a mixure of any of those if that would be preferable."[/dialog]

"Perhaps it would be beneficial to see the military hardware that they would be using," Metz said. "As I knew that I would be presenting this portion of our pitch, I took the liberty of fabricating a number of vehicles that would be of use in displaying the potential last night while I still had access to large amounts of raw material that I could purchase at the high port. While I am not a military designer, I am exceptionally skilled at taking existing plans and modifying them successfully. In this case, I was able to get my hands on plans for some of the next generation front line vehicles being tested by the Imperium and upscale them using advances in technology to make them even more capable. Would you care for a demonstration of the fabrication technology as we promised to show it to a number of your associates here. If you wanted to be paid in TL16 military gear or a mixture of any of the above, that is doable as well."

"Thank you doctor, that is very generous. I can imagine such a device will cause quite a stir when a free clinic is providing better care than the paid ones. Additional security is something I will have to think about. I think the demonstration is a good idea, it will give us a chance to consider your requirements and their implementation."

"All people deserve the best medical care whether they have money or not," Metz said firmly. "Post-Scarcity, remember? Making money should be for merchants. We can afford to make this available to those that need it and so we will. If you need more, simply ask and I will make it happen free of charge. Feel free to make your own hospital filled with robots overseen by sophants and we will do our part to make that a reality."

[shaidar]

Frank Cross

"I don't disagree with you doctor, just thinking of the practicalities, there are those who won't be happy with such developments." he looks around the Collace residents in the room "A free hospital. I'm just a simple mercenary. Such a thing would require cooperation from all of us here to make that happen, along with support from the local government. It is certainly a cause worth persuing."

[Tiglath]

He looked over at the two women that Jaelah had told him would be there and that were the main targets of his demonstration outside the military contingent.

He stepped over to the two women. "I'm told that you have brought some objects that were not of personal value but that would be something that I did not have any familiarity with, and I will now create a pattern for them and give you back those items with half a dozen more. If you please?"

A nudge please for the hard of understanding is this T'lia and Prerna... or is one of them Polly... or someone else?

[terrymixon]

He looked over at the two women that Jaelah had told him would be there and that were the main targets of his demonstration outside the military contingent.

He stepped over to the two women. "I'm told that you have brought some objects that were not of personal value but that would be something that I did not have any familiarity with, and I will now create a pattern for them and give you back those items with half a dozen more. If you please?"

A nudge please for the hard of understanding is this T'lia and Prerna... or is one of them Polly... or someone else?

T'lia and Prerna, though if Polly--or anyone else--wants to toss something in, they are welcome to.

[terrymixon]

Frank Cross

"I don't disagree with you doctor, just thinking of the practicalities, there are those who won't be happy with such developments." he looks around the Collace residents in the room "A free hospital. I'm just a simple mercenary. Such a thing would require cooperation from all of us here to make that happen, along with support from the local government. It is certainly a cause worth persuing."

"Then I leave that in your hands and will assist if requested."

[Tiglath]

Frank Cross

Metz looked around the room. "I seem to have made one set too many. Colonel Cross, would you accept the extras for use in your public facing medical services group? They could help a great number of people."

...

"We can transport your forces to the area in a matter of just a few months, but we would likely want to recruit colonists before we leave. Let's say something more reasonable in number where we could put a good amount of people in each system. If we brought anywhere from a million people to say ten million, that would give us a workforce and people that could be trained as long as we recruited them for that purpose. We would want to get your input on how best to proceed in the process because while we can envision the colonization effort and what is required, few of us are former military and none have insight into your needs and concerns. This will be a collaborative effort."

He shrugged slightly. "What else should I be saying before you decide if you are interested and we discuss remuneration? Also, as some forms of payment are less certain these days we can pay the contract--if we strike a deal--in Imperial credits, precious metals, crystals and gems, radioactives, or a mixure of any of those if that would be preferable."[/dialog]

"Perhaps it would be beneficial to see the military hardware that they would be using," Metz said. "As I knew that I would be presenting this portion of our pitch, I took the liberty of fabricating a number of vehicles that would be of use in displaying the potential last night while I still had access to large amounts of raw material that I could purchase at the high port. While I am not a military designer, I am exceptionally skilled at taking existing plans and modifying them successfully. In this case, I was able to get my hands on plans for some of the next generation front line vehicles being tested by the Imperium and upscale them using advances in technology to make them even more capable. Would you care for a demonstration of the fabrication technology as we promised to show it to a number of your associates here. If you wanted to be paid in TL16 military gear or a mixture of any of the above, that is doable as well."

"Thank you doctor, that is very generous. I can imagine such a device will cause quite a stir when a free clinic is providing better care than the paid ones. Additional security is something I will have to think about. I think the demonstration is a good idea, it will give us a chance to consider your requirements and their implementation."

"All people deserve the best medical care whether they have money or not," Metz said firmly. "Post-Scarcity, remember? Making money should be for merchants. We can afford to make this available to those that need it and so we will. If you need more, simply ask and I will make it happen free of charge. Feel free to make your own hospital filled with robots overseen by sophants and we will do our part to make that a reality."

"I don't disagree with you doctor, just thinking of the practicalities, there are those who won't be happy with such developments." he looks around the Collace residents in the room "A free hospital. I'm just a simple mercenary. Such a thing would require cooperation from all of us here to make that happen, along with support from the local government. It is certainly a cause worth persuing."

Skeet gives a wry smile "The clash will be between your Post-Scarcity society and Collace's Self Preservation society". He gives a cynical chuckle "Even if you hand out stuff for free a Collace resident's first instinct is going to be to steal it. On the bigger stage Collace, as the jewel of 268, might now shine ever more brightly to those eyeing her from behind their own borders".

He asides to Frank "The Shore will support the hospital - just tell me what you need. Let's run it out of the Bartizan - just expand your clinic here if that suits you?"

[terrymixon]

And to prevent piecemeal sharing of data on the vehicles, I'll post them here. The details can be sussed out in character, or the experienced characters can examine the equipment to deduce this for themselves.















Designed but not present because of space: Note that the cargo capacity in the description is the correct number.



And the data on the battledress:

https://terrymixon.com/Billion_Credit_B ... s_TL16.txt

[shaidar]

Frank Cross

He asides to Frank "The Shore will support the hospital - just tell me what you need. Let's run it out of the Bartizan - just expand your clinic here if that suits you?"

Frank looks thoughtful before replying to Skeet "Maybe we could free up a floor..."

[terrymixon]

Frank Cross

He asides to Frank "The Shore will support the hospital - just tell me what you need. Let's run it out of the Bartizan - just expand your clinic here if that suits you?"

Frank looks thoughtful before replying to Skeet "Maybe we could free up a floor..."

"Operating such a facility can be expensive," Roscoe said. "Jaelah and I would be willing to contribute generously to the charity and even fund expansions elsewhere as part of her effort to help the people of Collace."

[shaidar]

Frank Cross

Frank looks thoughtful "That would be very helpful. This tech will be tempting to thieves, each clinic would have to consider security very carefully. Locating the first on it's own floor here at the Bartizan would solve that problem initially."

[Tiglath]

He looked over at the two women that Jaelah had told him would be there and that were the main targets of his demonstration outside the military contingent.

He stepped over to the two women. "I'm told that you have brought some objects that were not of personal value but that would be something that I did not have any familiarity with, and I will now create a pattern for them and give you back those items with half a dozen more. If you please?"

A nudge please for the hard of understanding is this T'lia and Prerna... or is one of them Polly... or someone else?

T'lia and Prerna, though if Polly--or anyone else--wants to toss something in, they are welcome to.

T'lia laughs and eyes Prerna appreciatively "It seems Doctor I already exist in a post scarcity society and already have all I need. These vehicles are wonderfully impressive. I will try a flight in the tank please. That way if I have a collision I am likely to come off best... or at least "more unscathed" than whoever I crash into".

(OOC: I have to step out to attend the school xmas "musical extravaganza" where I will "volunteer" until I am sorry and then for sometime afterwards. No good deed goes unpunished... Likewise disrupted tomorrow evening (by curry) but otherwise in attendance).

[shaidar]

Frank Cross

"T'lia, why don't you take the Sargent-Major with you, you know how much of a tank enthusiast she is. Personally, I'm always up for a good troop carrier, a hold over from the 1188th I guess. Although, I do want to have a proper look at the battledress, but what merc wouldn't."

[terrymixon]

A nudge please for the hard of understanding is this T'lia and Prerna... or is one of them Polly... or someone else?

T'lia and Prerna, though if Polly--or anyone else--wants to toss something in, they are welcome to.

T'lia laughs and eyes Prerna appreciatively "It seems Doctor I already exist in a post scarcity society and already have all I need. These vehicles are wonderfully impressive. I will try a flight in the tank please. That way if I have a collision I am likely to come off best... or at least "more unscathed" than whoever I crash into".

The tank has Imperial standard controls but taken to the next level. The autopilot and navigation system is very capable and the tank can fly--and fight--itself if need be. One of the new features that catches your eye is something called active camouflage. When activated, everyone else sees the tank simply vanish. Even being in range to touch it, it remains invisible. Any attempt to use sensors on the passive protection are at a DM-6.

When she takes it out, it handles better than other tanks she might have flown. It's responsive and agile. It's also fast. The controls indicate it can reach and sustain subsonic speeds, topping out just under the sound barrier. It handles well at whatever speed she cares to try.

The weapon is a rapid-fire fusion gun and likely packs a punch. The targeting sensors and fire control is more advanced than anything she's encountered before.

There are controls for something called Heavy Recon Bots. When she activates them, the four bear-sized protrusions on the sides of the tank come free and race ahead. They send data back into the battle network the tank is part of, though it is the only member at this time. They too have active camouflage and are armed with an FGHP-15 and a Stun Blaster.

All told, the vessel performs well though you will likely want to shoot things with it to be sure. And maybe send it aloft without personnel and shoot at it to test both its efficacy and armor.

If there are other aspects she wants to test, she just has to say so.

Once the tank is gone with T'lia and whoever goes with her, Metz will continue. "Well, I need to make something to prove the technology beyond a doubt."

He pursed his lips, looked at Skeet, and smiled. "I think I have just the thing. You look like a man that would enjoy the finer things in life if he could. Let's put that to the test. You'll note there are clear observation ports to see the process as it works. This will take about twenty-four minutes, but I believe you will find the process educational. Prerna, this is a demonstration of how the fabricator in the shops we want to open would work."

Metz closes the fabricator door, steps over to the controls and taps a few buttons, and then gestures to the observation ports. "This is my life's work, Ladies and Gentlemen. What I hope to be remembered for long after I am gone."

Anyone looking in will see a fog of dust--or something--blowing in. "That is the raw materials being injected into the chamber. The nanobots that will construct the project are too small to see and are contributing to the haze."

Starting from the deck up, a vehicle will begin taking shape, being built from the inside out. It takes a few minutes, but the shape of a grav car appears. It looks sporty.

Over the next twenty-four minutes, a brand-new vehicle is built. It's not just sporty, it's outright high end and extremely expensive (think Lamborghini). It is a bright red convertible that looks obnoxiously fast.

When Metz opens the chamber and drives it out, he slides over in the two-seater and grins at Skeet. "It's capable of hitting orbital speeds, though not deep in the atmosphere. And by that, I mean it tops out at 42,000 kph. You'll want the top up for that."

The interior is extremely luxurious, obviously made for the extremely wealthy or those that aspire to be. SOC 13+. It has a beyond the top-of-the-line entertainment system and every bell and whistle imaginable.

"While this isn't what I imagine the stores would be selling--at least all the time--it is an example of what the fabricators can do and how the technology will change common and uncommon raw materials--a four to one ratio that combined I call a fabrication unit--to make anything. Want a small, basic model that can make the best food perfectly in three minutes? It can, and a unit like that is on each ship I sell. Want a bigger one in the engineering area to fabricate parts? I do that, too. From basic clothes to the most expensive robots, my technology can make it all and sell the products at competitive prices. That is why we will need protection for the stores."

He looked back at Skeet. "Feeling adventurous, Colonel? Let's go for a spin."

(OOC: I have to step out to attend the school xmas "musical extravaganza" where I will "volunteer" until I am sorry and then for sometime afterwards. No good deed goes unpunished... Likewise disrupted tomorrow evening (by curry) but otherwise in attendance).

Have fun! Or not.

[terrymixon]

Frank Cross

"T'lia, why don't you take the Sargent-Major with you, you know how much of a tank enthusiast she is. Personally, I'm always up for a good troop carrier, a hold over from the 1188th I guess. Although, I do want to have a proper look at the battledress, but what merc wouldn't."

See the post I just made on the tank performance. The G/Carrier is just as fast and agile, though marginally less well armored, but can hold a crew of two and two dozen troops in battledress if need be. The controls are just as effective and it will link into the battle network the tank is part of, receiving data from the heavy recon bots. He can deploy his own and double the coverage. It is a formidable piece of hardware.

His sensors have a decent chance of detecting the tank (only a DM-1 after balancing out the active camouflage and sensors) but even TL15 sensors would be a little worse in the exchange. Lower tech levels would be at a serious disadvantage. And that's before adding active skills to the mix. All that is the passive equipment modifiers.) Even with the active camouflage on, he knows where everything is because of the battle network.

If he wants to test something in specific, tell me and we can play that out.

[Thumper]

Walt leans over to Tourmaline and whispers:

”I doubt the fabricator can repair your, em, item. But I bet Metz, Roscoe, and Bianca can figure out how to patch the leak. It may involve Fabrication…it may not.

If anyone can do it, it’s them. If you stay after, I’ll get them working on it. Let me introduce you. ”

[joertexas]

He looked over at the two women that Jaelah had told him would be there and that were the main targets of his demonstration outside the military contingent.

He stepped over to the two women. "I'm told that you have brought some objects that were not of personal value but that would be something that I did not have any familiarity with, and I will now create a pattern for them and give you back those items with half a dozen more. If you please?"

A nudge please for the hard of understanding is this T'lia and Prerna... or is one of them Polly... or someone else?

T'lia and Prerna, though if Polly--or anyone else--wants to toss something in, they are welcome to.

Prerna blinked and glanced at T'Lia before addressing the doctor. "Um, I don't have anything to fabricate, except maybe my heavy gauss rifle. I like the scout battle dress and the advanced troop vehicle, though."

Maybe T'Lia has something?