EarthQuest Ep 1: Alien Apocalypse, Now on HDTV! (IC, Closed)

[Nekronia]

The mantid turned over to Daren and put his hand up like he was trying to reason or offer something. "Not even that, you don't even have to try and be popular or anything, just put your work to something. I mean you go all this way and do all this work, and then you just remove everyone anticlimactically? As I said, if you're just going to throw away the planet and not have your own little slice of the galaxy, at least take the opportunity to do something awesome with it! Don't turn it into another generic genocide, make it the BIGGEST AND MOST AWESOME GENOCIDE KNOWN IN GALACTIC HISTORY or something. Such a waste of a precious and never-before-seen opportunity."

[Cerberus Industries]

Hunter wasn't speaking but his growing dislike for a few of the contestants was growing more obvious as he looked at the three with a growing demeanor of where he was staring at them but leaning away. He made a slight clicking sound as he just watched the growing ideas of construction. However he did lean forward slowly and tapped his desk designating he was about to speak. "I don't see the point in killing all the inhabitants or destroying the planet once conquered. It seems a very short term goal in the perhaps long lives everyone's species has. I mean if we do when that's a whole planet with toms of potential. Once we win, if we ever win why not move onto the other planets and systems in that corner of the world. Eventually you can have that kind of fun but resources including life at some point become limited after exploitation. I'm just saying such chaos might not be the most beneficial or entertaining..."

[Nekronia]

Hrank went dead quiet and gave full attention to Hunter once the mercenary made that click noise. The mantid had an odd look on his face, like he was interviewing a political candidate. After the annoyed individual was done talking, Hrank gave a soft click and began doing so himself. "Yeah, I'd never blow up my own kingdom, it's silly. But she just wants to just knock it over and leave, I'm just saying have fun when destroying your house if you're gonna do it. There's so many things to do with your own personal empire, savor it. It's just a waste to do something mundane like glassing. Do something awesome you could never do otherwise. Take the great opportunity instead of the 'okay' one. Seize the opportunity and get the best out of life, and entertain the rest of civilization on holovision while you're at it. It's why I'm here." Hrank nodded his head to finish his speaking.

[Marsisian]

Ran's dislike and disagreement with Hrank continuously grew until he finally burst. "I don't think any genocide is in order here. You might want to enslave or kill the people on the planet, and I'm sure a lot of viewers would love it, but do you ever think about how the people there feel? Will you experience what they're going to be going through? Genocides, slavery, unfair treatment! Have some common decency for a war. I am an honorable man, and you must give mercy to people, but I suppose those words won't be heeded, will they?

[Nekronia]

Hrank looked over at the mechanoid alien and sighed, rubbing his mask either out of irritation or deep thought. "My point is to go big if you're going to do something. I'm not going to be an omnicidal maniac like her over there, I'm just saying give everyone a show if you're going to do that sort of thing. I'm not going to blow up the planet, I'm planning to institute a meritocracy and let the citizens of the planet run things after I die. It will be fair and efficient, the poor will be assured jobs and pay, and all will be well for everyone but the criminal scum. Maybe my new empire will become a giant after I'm gone. As for mercy... I didn't get any myself. Never did. I had to get things myself, work my way up, fight for every meal. That won't have to happen under my rule. I've been on the plate and I've grabbed the fork now, so I'm going to make sure things are divvied up to who earns it, not on the bullshit method of randomly being lucky and being hatched by an aristocrat or politician and starting too rich to fail and then slogging down society by being incompetent but being allowed to ruin everything for the sole reason that they were born or hatched or whatever." Hrank rubbed his mask once, like swatting something off of his nose, if he had one, to subconsciously wipe away the topic of conversation that's irritating him visibly.

"I might want fun on the way there, I might be a six-limbed insectoid creature that spits out poisonous gas, I might be a self-righteous asshole, I might have too much career satisfaction when things get bloody, I might have a lot of ideas, yes. I might not be the most sane one in the group but I'm damn sure I'm not the least sane. I might have morals that don't line up with everyone's, but they still exist. I might have had a criminal life but now I'm a conqueror on a stage, and I'm trying to let the majority of the galaxy have some fun while I have mine. We can all have our glory when we land, and give the galaxy a damn good time while we're at it."

[Sertia]

Ilaui sighed, shaking her head as everyone tried to gang up on her, basically each one having a contest to see who can be the audience whore. She decided to stop talking, maybe wait until they left before she had a few choice words with those who ganged up on her supposed lack of creativity. She did admit their ideas were creative, but they also seemed tasteless and over indulgent, two of the things she had killed her brother for doing. The memory of his final channel going out came to her, and she sighed slightly to herself with content, leaning back in her seat and just relaxing, listening to the lesser beings squabble on how they'd pleasure the masses under the delusion they had a chance of winning

[Wolfenium]

As the mic reached him Gimleh brought forward his psychopathic attitude rather than seem apathetic. "I am Heydom Gimleh, former Director-General of the Garmillan Imperial Guard. Those of you who have heard of us may also have heard of several garden worlds such as Alteria, Gavrash and balsk'am. Those worlds are no longer what they once were, each one died more horrifically than the last, Alteria burned for its treachery, Gavrash had its population liquified and Balsk'am was perhaps my favourite, so much screaming" Gimleh paused for a moment, his voice held a note of orgasmic pleasure and a hint of a smile graced his face. I was trained for most of my life for my post but I would only receive it if I was strong enough to work my way to it, if I failed I would die. I only left after the Emperor, my friend, was assassinated, I spent two years plotting to kill the assassin that replaced him. When I finally killed him I kept him alive whilst cutting him into tiny pieces, after that I took the guard, the trustworthy ministers, all the data I could and every emperors consciousness. We fled into the night, nobody dared stop us, now we are the most efficient mercenaries around" spoke Gimleh, a slight hint of sadness and regret creeping into his voice when he mentioned his friends death.

At the host second question he merely looked thoughtful before simply replying "I will take the world, those who prove themselves trustworthy or useful will be allowed to run semi-independent states whilst I rebuild the glory of Garmillas far from home".

This was by far the most freaked out response of all. Glaring at the ex-director, the audience was left dumbstruck, even mortified at his introduction. This was not someone they could relate to, unlike Hrank or Daren. A inner circle leader was never one to have a chance to win over the lowerst rabble of the universe, and one could guess that Gimleh had no such intention to anyway.

"My sympathies, I'm sure," Neko-me uttered, her whiny voice blunting any sincerity she might have tried to force out in her capacity as host, "you sure have grand dreams as a patriot."

Bakur just sat there, daydreaming and staring blankly at the floor, when the mic was shoved into his tentacles. He had not been paying much attention to anything, and his otherwise turquoise air sack turned bright yellow with embarrassment.
"Hello, my bretheren", he said ," My name is Bakur Goja, and I come from the planet Gayral. I'm a Gali-Baug, just so you know, so don't be surprised by the fact I was born to warrior parents. I became very keen on following in their footsteps from an early age, and when a particularly dangerous rebellion in a mining colony required child soldiers to be used for extra manpower, I was honoured for my deeds along with many others who fought for the Gali-Baug Shogunate. I have always respected honour and friendship above all villainy and I have tried to serve my many masters as well as possible. That's why I joined this show- to bring glory to my people.

While I do not fear death or failure, as I shall be dying for a honourable cause, I certainly do fear me abandoning my warrior ways. If I win, I might not blow the loot on much, but I'll just get a nice estate on the new planet and continue my warrior ways if I win. It will be a pleasure working, fighting and most likely dying with you all. Thank you."

Bakur, on his part, fared little better All that talk about honour and chivalry was not earning him much brownie points. But Neko-me appeared quite intrigued with the invertebrate, crooning, "ooo... A proud warrior, aren't you?... It's not every season we get an honest fighting man. Best to hold off the dagger on him if you want to live, ladies and germs!"

Ilaui let out a small laugh at the sudden turn around in the crowds and hosts reaction. "Awww, did i upset the little pop star?" She said, leaning forward to get closer to the girl " It just so adorable, your face like that." She said, leaning back and letting out a deep chuckle "But you seem to have forgotten your own question young one, you asked after i succeed. It wouldn't be very entertaining of me to glass the planet during the show, so i won't. I'll conquer it, break their hope, and reduce them back to the primal beasts they once were. Then, when I've reduced their minds to rubble like i did their cities, they shall know peace if world consuming fire." She said darkly, making sure her tone matched her intentions.

Hearing Ilaui call her little, the midget cat felt a hidden urge to hit the woman on stage. Unprofessional as it would have been, calling her 'little' was something she took to great offence. She did not mind being jabbed at for being a diva. The paparazzi already had that covered. However, speaking of her vertically challenged size was enough to drive her mad, and only the spotlight was enough to keep her from stepping out of line as a host.

However, before she could continue taking a swipe at the woman, the group began to open up in discussion among themselves. Fortunately for her, none of them appeared to share the same ideas as Ilaui's Lovecraftian wet dreams, posing more mundane suggestions of enslavement, sampling to outright mercy. She had no issue letting them go on for a bit, but air time was running out. As the signal for the briefing segment was given in her earphone, she eagerly gave a loud clap as she stated, "alright, guys. I know we're all eager to hear your grand dreams, but time's running short. I'm sure you're all excited to hear which world you're heading too. Anyone care to hazard a guess at the kind of planet we're heading?"

It was time for the unveiling of their destination, a segment Neko-me took huge pride to showcase every season. It always excited her to see her fellow contestants quiver in horror when she revealed the horror that awaited them, but this one was of special interest to her. Compared to the hellhole that was the Rat-people's home planet last season, their upcoming conquest would be nothing short of an idyllic paradise. But as her boss had often told her, that was but an illusion. She could not wait to act out her grand set piece of PlanetQuest - the briefing to a new world, and the savage creatures which await their arrival, ready to rip their unsuspecting victims apart...

[Creataris]

Gimleh could not honestly say that he was surprised by the audiences reaction, not that he cared, after all he was here for a reason that and none of his priorities involved impressing the bloodthirsty thugs in the crowd. Hearing the conversation between between the other contestants he could not help but give a snort of derision at the mention of mercy, mercy was for the weak and the spineless however, glassing a perfectly good planet was a step too far even in his book. At least until other planets were acquired of course.

Upon hearing the host next question a soft humming could be heard from one of the colder devices at his waist as an in audible murmur came through a discreet earpiece. Silently agreeing with what he had heard through the earpiece he spoke up. "It is likely that based on previous series the world could be either a lie world teeming with life, likely with a similar atmosphere to here, or it could be a hostile world with incredibly high amounts of radiation and an atmosphere that most species have difficulty breathing" said Gimleh feeling more confident in his first answer but still suspecting the latter as a possibility.

[Nekronia]

Hrank ceased his pity party and eagerly snapped to attention like a loyal puppy to listen to his idol who was ready to throw a fist into the energy being. He was pretty annoyed with Illaui insulting said idol with a known peeve, but the mantid held his tongue-equivalent as it was a bit late for that. Listening to Neko-me's question carefully, he hastily made a random answer. "Hm, I'm going to hazard my guess it's primarily desert and jungle. Or maybe an urban world where the whole surface is covered with structures. I dunno, I'm eager to see what we have in store this season~" Hrank put on a cheery face, genuinely eager to see what hellhole he was going to be hurled at at more than three billion standard measurement units per second.

However, he overhead Gimleh's response, and was hoping it was the latter. Hell, Hrank might not even need to wear a mask while everyone else is busy suffocating to death and being roasted alive with radiation. A planet like Stseki. That would be amazingly and hilariously convenient.

[Sertia]

Ilaui just rolled her eyes (or what worked as them) at the little idol's attempt to get them excited over where they'd be going "I would assume a pitiful planet of primitive unlucky enough to catch your eye?" She said harshly, growing tired of this whole facade and the binds around her. She tugged her binds, this time intentionally trying to break them. The straining of the plasma let out a loud whine as it strained, a large crack forming in the plasma binds projector. Ilaui then ceased, letting her body rest as she waited, anxiousness over flowing from her.

[Nekronia]

Hrank ceased his eager watching of his idol to look over at the restrained creature. He wagged his finger tauntingly at the blatantly dangerous being who was rather close to escaping. The mocking mantid began to whisper over to her, "Nk nk nk~ Armed guards all around and your contract is enforced, breaking out now will get you what you'll get anyways. And to boot you might get a rep for being a poor ally for your impulsiveness and tendency to fight, in addition to likely being able to kill unarmed. Simmer down and you'll do better and get less people wanting to stab you in the back before you stab theirs. Even gods may be killed easily with sufficient thought."

[Marsisian]

Ran thought somewhat, then answered the person's question. "I think we would go onto a desolate planet with apocalyptic elements and limited breathing capacity, as well as an overly hostile species." Ran was thinking something during he said those words. They are all organic, or at least most of them. I can breathe on any planet, in fact, I don't even have to breathe. After that, he looked at the straining being and felt bad for the person, also looking at the other being who was taunting the person. Ran's old self kicked in, with flashbacks to his old days in the Mafia, when he was shot mortally by Farna "The Hammer" Worlin, one of the most ruthless gangsters in Alpha Centauri.

[Wolfenium]

Twitching her ears at the answers, the host chimed bubbly, "you might be surprised to hear this, but you're all right, one way or another. Just how right? We'll find out soon enough! And I were you," she whispered in a chilling voice to Ilaui, "I'd hold still and watch the festivities. These ears haven't evolved just to pick up gossip, you know..."

If not for her innocuous appearance, Neko-me's threat might have been taken more seriously. From her tone with the ancient, she sounded far more like an Olympian goddess scorned than her usual witty show host self. Even more suspicious was her calm when she heard Ilaui's bind crack. Most mortals with any sense would have bolted in fear or bring out the stun guns. It felt almost as if the Ailuroi was hiding far more power than she appeared.

"Take it away, announcer," she called out, waving her stubby hand at her invisible announcer as the lights dimmed once again for the projector to light. As blinding laser lights began filtering through the stage, the announcer called out, "that's right, Neko-me! It's the moment you've all been waiting for... It's time for the Unveiling to begin! Hold on to your seatbelts, because we're heading... to PARADISE!!!"

Suddenly, out of the middle of the stage around the contestants, a giant holographic planet burst out for all to see, a largely blue marble with landmasses painted in a plethora of colours. Deserts, jungles, forests, mountains, volcanos... even cities were noticeable for all to see. It seemed like the natural idyllic paradise, as the announcer yelled out. But as any PlanetQuest viewer would have known by now, no conquest would come easy.

"That's right, ladies and germs," Neko-me briefed, handing out photocopies of what appeared to be hotel brochures from a simpler time, "Terra, third rock from the yellow star, Sol, and the ideal remote backwater for any aspiring pioneer seeking his fortune away from the barren wastes so many others are suffering in. A former resort world established by the Olympians some five thousand Olympian years ago, Terra was the talk of the town in those days, with such whimsical ads as 'be pampered like a god' or 'stand above the heavens' and all that jazz. Hell, even our time system came from here, when the Olympians wanted people to know the exact time to all their activities. Even renamed the planet Terra in a remarketing campaign. However, let's just say overstaying their welcome proved their downfall when they found out the indentured employees they've conned for so long found some other wise guy to worship. It didn't end well for them, as well as some of the other competitors who decided they wanted a piece of the profits. Their killers?"

Right on cue, the image of the planet was suddenly replaced, as holograms of strange, ape-like beings began flashing. All of them appeared armed with various weapons and armour, each progressively more advanced than the last. The last few were the most distressing of all, depicting primitive, but deadly kinetic weapons of sorts. Whoever their opponents were, they were hardly a walkover. If a stone age civilization like the Rat-people could kill off last season's contestants in four episodes, what chance do this season's team have against natives who had already researched heavier-than-air flight, explosives and projectile weapons.

"Homo sapiens," the announcer interjected on the host's cue, as the projector shuffled through the images, "a savage, warlike hominid species inhabiting the entirety of Terra, they're the only known intelligent lifeforms on the planet, and they are out for blood. Possessing a pathological obsession with violence, greed and brutality, these parasitic creatures don't shy away from enslaving other lifeforms, the planet and even their own kind! Pillaging their homeworld of its wealth and resources, this divided people had spent the entirety of their young history carving each other to pieces for what riches Terra had to offer. Be warned though, that this seemingly destructive attitude had and will accelerate their technological advances and if you waste too much time, you will find yourself turned to Swiss Cheese by their hastily-developed plasma rifles faster than you can say 'but you're primitives!'"

"In essence," Neko-me stated, "going in with guns blazing is not recommended. I'm only suggesting this because we don't want a shorter season. You can do that for our lovely viewers, can't you? Anyway, mundane Q&A time. Some of you have asked me earlier several questions regarding Terra, which I apologize for brushing off until now. But to answer those few of you, ahem..."

"'What is the planet's name and what are the planets environmental conditions like radiation levels, atmosphere, biomes,'" she recited Gimleh's question, down to his exact tone back at the lounge. Answering in a rapid-fire pace, she explained in a lax tone, "well, name's Terra, as stated. Radiation levels are safe in most areas, though steadily climbing in background. Atmosphere is about 78.1% Nitrogen, 20.9% Oxygen, 0.9% Argon and a little of everything else, give or take a few decimals. I'm not a polymath. Biomes range wildly, from tundra and taiga at the poles, tropical at the equator, temperate in between and plenty of deserts and mountains in selected places."

"'So, this planet we're going to, what's it like,'" she now repeated Daren's question, her tone slightly more mocking compared to her attitude with Gimleh. Glaring at the Mook, she whimsically answered, "I just answered that. Now then, since we've gotten these questions to the side, any more you like to enquire?"

[Ralnis]

The Janitor looked at the planet, Terra always meant Earth, so this " Earth" was clearly the world to be in, but those " Homo Sapiens" clearly looked warlike. The Janitor had a great sign of despair on his squid face as he thought and pretty much had figured out that he has accepted his death at the hands of these warlike and by the looks of it, adaptable species for it seems that the last seasons primitives were not very cut out for the rat-men and they wouldn't even be cut out for these species as they already had nations and cities by the looks of it. The Janitor knew that it will be a miracle that he will survive and a anomaly in the Deep Purple if he even won and he didn't even know what he would do with the planet but he was also anxious to see what the inhabitants of this " Terra" are as the announcer and hostess say it is of or are they different, like the Faust. Though there is always something inside the back of his head that says," it probably isn't true, they look like killers and the fill like killers in my nervous system" Though the Janitor doesn't know about the adventure he is about to be sent through on this blue marble.

[Nekronia]

Hrank proceeded to immediately clam up his (condescending) advice and pay direct attention to Neko-me and the display. When the blue, peaceful rock popped up and looked more peaceful that can possibly be imagined, the mantid's anticipating gaze turned to something resembling fear. Oh SKINE oh skine ohskineohskineohskine, this is bad. Baaad bad bad bad. It looks peaceful and tranquil so it's probably a thousand times worse than that rat-infested mess last season. Oooooh no oh no oh no oh n- However, the distressed expression disappeared completely once the descriptions started rolling in, and became a more analyzing and inquisitive one. Wait... our standard time is this watery planet's. This is a bit... fishy. BADUMTSS! Okay more seriously, that's odd. Very odd. Why would the galaxy's clock revolve around this backwater planet? Very, very odd indeed. Looks like we have a mystery on our hands, gang.

Hrank's expression flipped around again once the apes came on screen, and their weapons started being displayed. Spears, halberds, machineguns, tanks, BIGGER tanks! All physical and kinetic weapons that could kill just about any life ever made. It was further elaborated that these were factionalistic savages that held themselves important and killed everyone and everything who stood in the way of their gain of power and materials. This expression... it wasn't of curiosity. It was of distinct and intense glee. Hrank was rubbing his hands together like a cliché villain and began laughing like a psychotic schoolgirl. No nice boats here, only loony thoughts. Metal! METAL! METAL! IT'S ALL METAL THEY ALL USE METAL AND THEY'RE ENDOSKELETAL LANDDWELLERS ON AN OCEAN WORLD! EEEEEYEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEEE~! Oh, and their factions and their greed, ohohohooo skine, this will be beautiful. Oooooh brother, this will be so much, much fun! Much fun! Terra means dirt, yes? Well, dirt to dirt! EEEEEYEHEAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA~

Hrank was barely able to sit in his seat from his giddiness, still giggling madly. He cheerily responded to the host, barely suppressing his schoolgirl laughter. "Ooooooooo~, do we have to stick with their technology only? Eeheeeheee~! I'm... heeheehee... Oh skine, I just... okay, just let me say that I have a LOT of ideas with their level of technology. Sorry, sorry, eheehee, questions, right: ♪How many points do we get, how many do we get, for catapulting their heavy fighting vehicles into or-bet?♪ Heheheeee~! Oh, oh, real question: Are they edible for standard consumption? Real concern here. Yup yup. Khekekekehk...~"

It is blatantly apparent that the ex-pirate is having way too much fun thinking of inventions for the group to use.

[Sebtopiaris]

Bakur slumped back down onto the loungue. He nodded at Neko-Me's remark of him being a proud warrior before solemnly sitting down to watch the others talk of slavery and exploitation. With such crude, uncivilised natives, however, why should they regret exploiting them. After all, maybe Bakur could teach them a thing or two about being a warrior if he tried and kill those who resisted. Why not enslave his captives, and only show them mercy when he was acknowledged as their ruler. After all, one's word had a very great meaning in Gali-Baug society.

When he stopped daydreaming, he noticed Hrank discussing whether or not if the humans were edible. He enjoyed simple but wholesome meals, and something that he'd killed with his bare appendages sounded worthy of a warrior's consumption, so he floated up off the lounge and piped up. "What an excellent idea, brother", he said to Hrank as the poor mantid seemed to be loosing self control ," Nothing quenches a true man's hunger like the flesh of savages. Especially savages he's killed and prepared himself. That's even more fun- and those homo sapien things seemed pretty tasty too."

"But regardless of how they taste, they're all violent savages. Who cares if they have kinetic weapons- they shall be slain by a wrath never seen before. The wrath of the galaxy shall be thrust upon them, and they shall have no chance of survival! Victory is ours! Their primitive militas will be slain by incomprehensibly clever tactics, and we shall enslave the survivors. Eat them? Why not! Sell them? Of course, my brothers, if they resist. Savages need to be taught honour, and honour is what shall be shoved down their toothed mouthparts by my stinging tentacles!"

Bakur Goja chucked evilly. His deep laugh echoed through the cavernous halls of the room as he looked at the holograms, earning him a quick glance from some of his opponents. "In time", he said to himself ," In time, they shall fall. Let us plan and fight- whether we are crushed by the natives or utterly destroy them.

The atmosphere looks decently breathable, too. That's always good."

[Wolfenium]

Hrank proceeded to immediately clam up his (condescending) advice and pay direct attention to Neko-me and the display. When the blue, peaceful rock popped up and looked more peaceful that can possibly be imagined, the mantid's anticipating gaze turned to something resembling fear. Oh SKINE oh skine ohskineohskineohskine, this is bad. Baaad bad bad bad. It looks peaceful and tranquil so it's probably a thousand times worse than that rat-infested mess last season. Oooooh no oh no oh no oh n- However, the distressed expression disappeared completely once the descriptions started rolling in, and became a more analyzing and inquisitive one. Wait... our standard time is this watery planet's. This is a bit... fishy. BADUMTSS! Okay more seriously, that's odd. Very odd. Why would the galaxy's clock revolve around this backwater planet? Very, very odd indeed. Looks like we have a mystery on our hands, gang.

Hrank's expression flipped around again once the apes came on screen, and their weapons started being displayed. Spears, halberds, machineguns, tanks, BIGGER tanks! All physical and kinetic weapons that could kill just about any life ever made. It was further elaborated that these were factionalistic savages that held themselves important and killed everyone and everything who stood in the way of their gain of power and materials. This expression... it wasn't of curiosity. It was of distinct and intense glee. Hrank was rubbing his hands together like a cliché villain and began laughing like a psychotic schoolgirl. No nice boats here, only loony thoughts. Metal! METAL! METAL! IT'S ALL METAL THEY ALL USE METAL AND THEY'RE ENDOSKELETAL LANDDWELLERS ON AN OCEAN WORLD! EEEEEYEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEEE~! Oh, and their factions and their greed, ohohohooo skine, this will be beautiful. Oooooh brother, this will be so much, much fun! Much fun! Terra means dirt, yes? Well, dirt to dirt! EEEEEYEHEAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA~

Hrank was barely able to sit in his seat from his giddiness, still giggling madly. He cheerily responded to the host, barely suppressing his schoolgirl laughter. "Ooooooooo~, do we have to stick with their technology only? Eeheeeheee~! I'm... heeheehee... Oh skine, I just... okay, just let me say that I have a LOT of ideas with their level of technology. Sorry, sorry, eheehee, questions, right: ♪How many points do we get, how many do we get, for catapulting their heavy fighting vehicles into or-bet?♪ Heheheeee~! Oh, oh, real question: Are they edible for standard consumption? Real concern here. Yup yup. Khekekekehk...~"

It is blatantly apparent that the ex-pirate is having way too much fun thinking of inventions for the group to use.

"Hmm..." Neko-me wondered, unsure at how to react to Hrank's enthusiasm before being a professional, "you'll be given a chance to 'research' alien technologies, based on how much ArcCorp allows, don't worry, but you're advised not to rely too much on that, in case it backfires or whatever. Research would depend on how much of that monthly allowance you're willing to fork out, and how smart you are. As for how those credits are allotted each month, well... trade secret, really.

As for taste, that's really beyond me," she mused, "I wouldn't try, personally, in case I get food poisoning, but up to you!"

[Nekronia]

Oh, I think we both know how credits will be distributed. Khekekekekek... wait. Waaait a minute. She said that radiation levels were rising on the planet in some places. Hmmm. It could just be the sun blasting the place with radiation, but that would be convenient, now wouldn't it? Besides, there's too much life there and everything we saw in the pictures was squishies, so I doubt they'd be able to handle that very well at all. Hmmm. Oh. OH. I GOT IT! Okay, so they either have nuclear power, nuclear weapons, or radiological weapons. Given how rapidly they're claimed to innovate and how warlike they are, it's probably one of the latter two. They're banned to holy hell by many interstellar codes, but they aren't subject to those yet. Ooohoohoo! I hope it's radiological, that would be so, SO conventient for me. Just... poof! I could just walk into the capitol and kill the whole city, and BOOM I'm perfectly safe. Heeheehee~! I wonder how much radiation these squishies can take~ Wait. That's a good, legitimate question.
"Oohoohoo, you said that there's radiation levels rising in the background, yes? Okay, next question: How much radiation can they take? They're all squishy so they probably can't take that much, and given how warlike and innovative they are, they probably found out how to kill by hurling elemental radium at eachother or something. That'd explain the radiation readings when they look godawful at surviving radiation, as a natural increase would probably kill 'em all. It'd also probably explain the gasmasks they were wearing."

"Oh, I'm not asking how they taste, I'm just asking if I can eat them without tripping balls or dying. The Olympians probably tried some at some point, so there's probably a record. Somewhere. I'll be sure to try some. Besides, mantid death rites! I don't know what they do on Terra with their dead anyways, so one of the two mantid rites will have to do. Considering how similar mantids and humans seem to be in mentality, I wouldn't be surprised if cannibalism and display are customs. I wonder what their other customs a-"

Hrank stopped mid sentence, interrupted by a sudden thought. "OH OH I HAVE AN IDEA! WE COULD GET A TON OF SHEETS AND HAIR AND ELECTRICAL WIRES AND MAKE THEIR BODIES EXPLODE THEMSELVES WITH THE POWER OF W-" The mantid cut himself off mid sentence, covering his mouth. "Whoops, khekekek, I shouldn't spoil the surprise of my inventions, heeheeheeee~"

[Lingang]

Daren looked in disbelief at the images in front of him, tail twitching. These Homo Sapiens were obviously a very intelligent species, how else could they adapt and advance at such a fast rate! He saw the images of their kinetic weapons, their primitive aircraft. He scoffed at the crudeness of their flying machines, having flown much more complicated aircraft before. He sat and contemplated his odds, A planet that has Argon in its atmosphere... I can't breathe that! And worst, the natives will probably try to kill me. If I befriend them, they won't suspect my plans..., he thought to himself.

[Creataris]

Gimleh mulled over the information from the host, particularly the limited technological information given, not that this would be the first time he'd walked into a situation with practically no information. "It may not be a proper Methane/CO2 atmosphere but at least my people made sure we could breath any atmosphere, the radiation level is far too low for a good planet though the inhabitants seem to be sensibly developing nuclear weapons" spoke Gimleh, voice completely neutral as he voiced his thoughts "if as you say they are separate states then it would be logical to align with the most powerful state, a good war would be easy to engineer but some cultural or political information would be useful". Another small murmur came through his earpiece making him adopt a thoughtful look at his friends words.

[Lingang]

Agreeing with Gimleh, Daren spoke up, "Yes, if there are any powerful factions existing on the planet, it would make sense to align with them in order to achieve our goals. After all, it would be hard to do it alone". Daren asked a question, "Could you tell us about some of these factions that exist on Terra? Specifically any powerful ones..." he asked. Probably no use in asking, Daren thought, those "Homo Sapiens" would probably try to kill us on the spot, they won't want to ally with us. But it's worth trying....

[Marsisian]

"Homo Sapiens. They look like an intelligent race, and their advances in technology so fast.... more admirable than anything I've seen in a long time. It's a shame to be taking over their planet..." He looked at the organism that was barely able to contain his excitement and looked at him with disgust, but then came back to the topic. "Their technology is very nice. I shall be sure to use their weapons in combat very much, the standard Frontier plasma pistol I used and carry is getting a little rusty.

Soon after, he looked at Bakur. "You say you slay them to bring honor to them, but I do not believe you. Enslaving is unjust and not fit for a man of honor, which you call yourself. Eating them? Despicable. Selling them? I am not even going to respond to this one.

A man of honor treats his subjects with kindness and good manners, and you have already failed in my eyes at both of them."

[Nekronia]

Hrank consciously slowed down his over-enthusiastic giggling to a minimum while he turned to address the cyborg, turning over his hand towards Ran as though to offer something. The mantid began to speak relatively normally, with a slight tint of frivolousness still present.

"Eating meat isn't a bad thing. What eating a sapient being is, is different from culture to culture. Yours might have it as a taboo. The mantid culture has it being equivalent to burial or cremation in other societies. It's respectful. I'm not approaching the topic in a very respectful way, I know, but that's like giving someone a grave without saying words for them. While I take it you are of a society with a different sort of tradition, your hostility to mine is akin to being hostile to cremation and burial. My only thing is that I'm whistling a tune while swinging my shovel. There's no need to attack Bakur, he might be of a society where consumption is the equivalent to burial or whatever it is you do on your planet, so it could be honorable and respectful from his perspective of the topic, whereas from yours it'd be alien. It could even be as simple as it just not being a taboo. Slavery is a similar topic: Many races, especially war-like ones, have nothing against slavery, and it might be considered very honorable to take a slave in mortal combat. Slavery isn't something involving honor for the mantids, but you need to take into account that not everyone's definition of honor lines up with one-another. Honor, respect, and taboos are not an objective matter, so there will certainly be culture shocks. Calm down.

In any case, if they are as described, they are natives with no sense of honor: only greed, bloodlust, and factionalism. Considering the goals I said I wanted to accomplish after the show, presuming I survive, I'm looking pretty good in the "treat subjects well" tidbit considering I'd be better than any ruler of theirs. However, as in all wars, it is necessary to get ♪down and dirty♪ in order to accomplish such a massive task like taking on a whole planet of hyperaggressive apes with only a small motley crew that's likely going to kill one-another. We're all more than likely going to die horrible deaths at the hands of eachother and the natives, I'm just trying to have a nice time before I die, and make sure the galaxy and the grand majority of life that isn't on this speck of dust in the black ocean has some damn good fun too.

Also, I'd like to state that I'm not actually in favor of selling slaves. Wildlife and plants, yes, but not slaves. We need soldiers and employees more than the infinite gulf, but the gulf always hungers for exotic meals. I also don't know if we can legally export slaves, either, and it'd be bad to have the galactic enforcers kicking in the door. We already have eco-terrorists about to clog the doorway as-is."

Wait. The Fotsies are branded as terrorists now and are legally the badguys. If we have the police near us, they might attack the Fotsies for us if they decide to spice up the show. Hmmm...

[Marsisian]

"Hostility? Calm down?" When the creature said those words, Ran began to laugh uncontrollably, and when he did, another flashback from his past showed up. He was interrogating a prisoner from a rival mob, but the prisoner didn't do anything except laugh and say that he was going to die. Right after he said that for the tenth time, "The Hammer" blew open the wall of the compound and shot Ran right in the chest, wounding him severely. Ran then came back to the present. "Ah, just having a flashback there. Anyway, I agree with what you said."

[Nekronia]

Hrank changed to a slightly more analytic expression, thinking about Ran's response. Odd. He seems to have some trauma. It's assuredly either from his childhood or the incident that caused his augmentation. I'll have to examine some more to find out which. This could be useful.

"You alright there? Sounds like a hell of a flashback the way you were laughing."