Mass Effect: Embers [Complete]

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

I'm certainly capable of putting together a conceivable loadout for the Heshtok Vorcha, never you fear. I don't, however, as a rule of thumb, generate new techs/perks/factions/clusters/etc. unless someone is sure they want them. Just a measure to preserve my energy as OP.

Hmm... Yeah, I think I will be switching out. Toying with this idea in my head and putting it on paper, I much prefer it.
And I'm certainly sorry for messing around with you and this thread with the whole Tur'fiigt thing. I should've thought about things more before joining. It's not a good look on my end

But enough of feeling sorry for myself! If there's anything you want me to address regarding stuff before you go ahead with accepting my new application for the Heshtok Duumvirate, you are free to ask/request. Oh, and I'll quickly -VOID- the two previous posts, as in the archive and the IC. Once again, sorry about messing around, but on the plus side I am a lot happier with this idea, and I think it has a lot more opportunity

okay that works for me

Great! I honestly think it'll be quite fun to hash things out between the Duumvirate and the Heirarchy

[G-Tech Corporation]

1) Can Mining Ships only be produced with Military Shipyards?

Indeed so - I think I actually already answered that for Theyra, hah.

2) Do Major and Minor Spaceports also count towards the infrastructure count on a planet, thus producing their own credits as well (so say there is just a Major Spaceport and a Mining Complex it makes 30 credits, not 15, likewise for the Minor it makes 10, not 5?)

Indeed - since they are a piece of infrastructure, they are a piece of infrastructure for the purposes of calculating their output.

3) We start with any left over that we didn't spend, and also the income of what our starting infrastructure start with, for the first month spending right? E.g have 10 credits leftover and earn 200 credits from all infrastructure, and can thus invest 210 in the first turn?

Absolutely, though I will say you will oftentimes be best served by investing all or most of your entire starting allotment.

3b) If I am starting with say 3 Mining Ships, but I am going to send 1 on an exploration, do I get the income of them all for my 0 turn and thus start with the 45 extra material for use on turn 1, then deploy one on expedition, and thus earn 30 material which I can use at the start of turn 2?

So, there is no "0 turn". Resources are produced at the start of a month, used during a month, and then a new month begins. All actions are taken after resources are produced - so you'll already have the material available to use from a Mining Ship, regardless of what you choose to do with it during the month.

3c) Can you have multiple mining ships in the same system? Do they all get the bonus from having the orbital mining station in the system?

Yes and yes, respectively.

3d) Does Mining ship income get included in calculations for bonuses to system income?

Nope, as they are transitory, their only interaction is with Orbital Mining Stations.

4) Can Orbital Mining Stations be built over any planet, not just Gas Giants, because for instance it would make more sense to orbitally mine a barren world rather than built 2 mining complexes (I assume that the explanation would be that robo-mines from the stations can just go anywhere rather than are located in one specific geographic location)

Indeed so - any uninhabited world can host an Orbital Mining Station, if you so choose. Remember, infrastructure that isn't categorically restricted or categorically listed as having a capacity higher than 1 is generally set at 1. The same is true with Orbital Mining Stations. You can even mine your Garden Worlds, if you feel so inclined.

5a) Can citadel member numbers and seats be confirmed so that the Citadel Embassy costs can be worked out please?

Given I haven't heard anything from other folks, I'd assume canon post ME3 figures are in play; that being seven members, with a council seat for the Asari, Turians, Salarians, and Humanity.

5b) Regarding Galactic Banks, can a faction build a galactic bank on each colonised world of another faction, is it it 1 per faction? Further, does a galatic bank count towards the infrastructure count for a host? E.g. if there is a Salarian bank on Pralaven and Pralaven had a Minor Spaceport, does Pralaven get an extra 5 credits?

Ah, good catch - Galactic Banks are limited to worlds with Urban Areas, but otherwise, nope, feel free to spam them as you wish. Of course, you do have to get an agreement from the host faction to allow them - not every faction will be willing to hand you lumps of credits in exchange for minor bonuses to them. Banks are indeed a piece of infrastructure for the world they are built on.

5c) The trade route description 'Not a physical building - generates 10 Credits for each involved faction for every Urban Area on two connected worlds. Must be mutually agreed upon.' suggests that it is only between two worlds, but can have multiple factions, how does that work? These can only be between players, or can they also be with NPCs, or internal?

Between factions, yep, or theoretically NPCs - not internal. Basically every world has a trade route 'slot', which can be agreed to be assigned to another world. Those worlds and their factions then gain credits; not any other factions. Each involved faction means both factions gain the output of the trade route, not merely the progenitor.

6) What are demolition costs/recuperations?

Nothing and nothing, respectively.

7) Are there any costs to un-upgrading any units, is this possible? (for instance removing additional armour plates, or removing a units High-quality Armaments?

Well, you lose the initial investment, so that's a cost, as it were - but there's no reason you can't retrofit any unit or vessel to a different loadout.

Loki Mech Battalions are listed as having 5000 troops, but Ymir Mech divisions as having 200 units, and 5000 Loki troops. Should the Mech battalions be listed as having 5000 Loki troops? Dropship upgrades can be assigned to Marines, but there is no description for Marines?

Nope, entirely intentional. YMIR Mech Divisions are a straight upgrade to a mere Battalion, at obvious significant expense. If you don't need the YMIRs, you can just pay for the Lokis instead. Marines are just a holdover from some more elite variants of infantry divisions - you can ignore that.

9a) What are the differences between fighters and interceptors, and what are their payloads/damage types?

Fighters are effectively multi-role, capable of fighting both vessels and other fighters/interceptors/bombers. Interceptors aren't generally equipped to attack capitol ships, preferring instead to hunt bombers or fighters.

9b) Are there any limits on supply by carriers to light vessels? 'or up to one relay jump away from a war fleet that comprises carrier-class starships.' An Escort Carrier supplying 20 Destroyers sounds quite crazy, a Fleet carrier and a Battlegroup Carrier, not so much.

Nope, no limits like that - supply is very much an abstraction. Effectively, think of your fleets as having an invisible cloud of supply ships/repair ships/etc. that move with the heavy vessels in your fleet. Mainly because I don't want to have to deal with actual logistics, nor does anyone else.

Miscellaneous
10) In this RP, are favourable events/outcomes also linked by you as an OP, to better writing?

Not in so many words. I don't adjust anything manually for that, but as my personal discretion is involved in interpreting my tables, there's always going to be a dose of subconscious bias. I enjoy well written posts and factions with life breathed into them, and am much less of a fan of folks who merely want to smush numbers together.

[G-Tech Corporation]

Alright, so let me run this idea by you G-Tech Corporation. Whilst me drafting this isn't a guarantee that I'll shelve the Tur'fiigt Band straight away (or at all), I feel like it'd be good to have something like this ready nonetheless, if nothing else just to organise my thoughts...

So without further ado, here's my idea that may or may not come to fruition

Faction:

The Heshtok Duumvirate

Leader(s): Lynima T'sashi
Qavrak Grard

[ Addition ] Governmental overview:

The Heshtok Duumvirate is a rather recent entity to call the planet of the Vorcha home, yet even in the eighteen years since it's founding by the Ex-Eclipse Commander T'sashi and her unlikely ally in Krogan self-confessed "warlord" Qavrak Grard - a fearsome individual whom had loyalties to the Mercenary Blood Pack band before the Reapers' attack on Heshtok and his first climatic meeting with Lynima - it has managed to pacify and dictate the course of not only Hatash but a not-so-insignificant amount of the wild and dangerous planet despite the unpredictable and violent Vorcha who make up it's population. The rule makes no apologies for it's totalitarian nature, and all of it's rule can be directly traced to the commands of it's two overseers. Perhaps totality is the only way to govern the Vorcha under it, who can be as hostile as the planet they have adapted to.

Diplomatic Relations Summary:

Heshtok may well have been all-but-forgotten by much of the galaxy's population, after the Reaper War and the subsequent destruction of the Relay network, even if it proved only temporary. Left to fend for itself much like it always has, it and it's population are isolationist at best, though under the Duumvirate, are not necessarily hostile to contact and negotiation with others. Time will tell how the galaxy, young from the events spurred by the Reapers will react to Heshtok's situation, or if they'll let old biases (if perhaps justified) dictate their interactions. But perhaps under the iron-fisted but effective dictatorship that seeks to pacify and rule the planet of Vorcha, and after the acts of the otherwise "pestilent" race in fighting bravely against the Reaper threat, notably so the Void Devils Fighter Wing, things might just change in that regard.

Military Summary:

Heshtok, and the Vorcha remained much too disorganised and uncooperative to create and maintain a true military; fleet or terrestrial army. The history of both have been dominated by constant infighting between Vorcha clans only very occasionally slowing under precarious and tenuous alliances between bloodlines, no united government has been seen on the planet in recent memory or perhaps forever... Until very recently. And without the unity required, a standing Heshtok army had never been formed, let alone a native fleet.

This has changed under the so-called "Duumvirate", though the planet has yet to truly reach a fearsome apex of militarism... If a Vorcha had the brains to think as such, they might coin a poetic saying... "Cunning and intelligence under a great Eclipse, discipline and power from Blood, now order and might reign over Heshtok". The new totalitarian order of Heshtok has worked hard to promote and build a fearsome terrestrial army of loyal Vorcha built off the values and directives of two once feared Mercenary bands of the Milky Way, represented by the Commander and Warlord of the Duumvirate. To say that the new order is militaristic is an... Understatement. It very much so needs to be, without a feared and unconquerable terrestrial army the billions of Vorcha barely cut down by either the Reapers or the iron hand of the Duumvirate would plunge their world back into lawlessness and unrestrained violence. Hatash is the new headquarters of perhaps the largest united force ever to grace the planet, enough to make a Krogan warrior blush with envy.

Yet, a fleet is a completely different story. Though the Duumvirate under the growingly ambitious T'sashi and Grard wish not only for power on Heshtok itself but all throughout the Shrike Abyssal with a proud and formidable navy, that is a long way from reality. The iron fisted government's presence is barely felt outside of it's home planet, it's fleet almost non-existent and despite the so-called intelligence and cunning of the new order promoted by the Ex-Eclipse Commander who rules over it, doctrine is equally scant. However the Duumvirate, T'sashi especially has expressed interest in changing the naval situation of Heshtok when opportunity presents itself. One day, the galaxy will re-awaken, and Heshtok must be prepared for the potential aspirations of the Volus or Turians within the cluster.

History:

Heshtok and it's population of the often-viewed violent, selfish and greedy Vorcha's (however valid the views may be) history could be perhaps the most conflicted, brutish and bruised of them all, rivalling even Tuchanka. If there was a period of peace and order over the damaged planet, it's evidence has been buried under a mountain of warfare and squabble the likes of which the galaxy rarely sees. It's not difficult to understand the vast majority of peoples' perception of Heshtok and the Vorcha as "hellish" and "depraved", even if the truth is rarely so simple.

The status-quo of the planet has always been conflict, war and depravity, since an alien first laid eyes on the Vorcha's homeworld. It had rarely, if ever changed, and only in the very recent past has Heshtok's future looked even slightly less grim.
The irony that the Reapers and their attempted conquest and extermination of all the galaxy, or the bloodbath that had almost came from foreign mercenary companies might well have changed the planet's fate for the future is... Tasteful. What would become the Duumvirate of Heshtok may have seemed to form overnight for some, but it took incredible coincidence and incredible events to create. The story of modern Heshtok and it's potentially clearer future starts with the arrival of the ruthless Krogan mercenary group; the Blood Pack. The Blood Pack was feared across the galaxy for it's depravity, it's effectiveness, it's brutality and ability to get the job done, even if it meant that blood would be shed on unprecedented levels, and much of that can be attributed to the Vorcha who were hazed into it's ranks through violence and forced obedience. Whilst many of the Vorcha who'd become the primary arm of the mercenary company came from many planets throughout the galaxy, an equal amount were hazed and recruited from the Vorcha homeworld itself, Heshtok.
But the story of modern Heshtok does not begin with one mercenary company, but two. Another feared company, a group known for it's cunning, intelligence but equal ruthlessness and amorality graced the galaxy as well... The Eclipse. These highly-trained, motivated and powerful mercs of Humans, Salarians and Asari dominated as equally as the Blood Pack in their related affairs, and with competition came conflict. Battles and skirmishes raged between the two mercenary groups, and a third irrelevant one for years, only very rarely putting aside their differences to work together, such as on Omega Station in 2185. And in a gambit to strike a massive dent in the Blood Pack's capabilities, a powerful and highly-trained team was sent to wreak havoc on Heshtok, to eliminate much of the Blood Pack and their efforts to recruit more Vorcha. Led primarily by one Commander "Lynima T'sashi", their mission began in late August, 2186...

Under the cunning of the Eclipse operatives, they successfully fought through many Blood Pack outposts across Heshtok, and had even stormed the base of one "Qavrak Grard", one of the most influential and powerful Krogan Blood Pack warlords on the planet... Coincidentally, this was when the Reapers, an existential force attacked the planet, first beginning with orbital siege alongside terrestrial invasion. But, Heshtok proved too much to pacify, primarily because of the power and adaptability of it's Vorcha inhabitants, but due in no small part to the acts of the Blood Pack and the Eclipse mercenaries whom in a rather surprising act put aside their conflict to fight the greater threat, commanding their forces to fight with the Vorcha population, rallying them in defence. Commander T'sashi and Warlord Grard became well-respected and feared by a large population of Vorcha on the planet, especially within the city of Hatash due to their skill, power and cunning, assisting greatly in fighting the forces of the great machines...

When the Reapers were defeated - unbeknownst to most of Heshtok including the joint Eclipse/Blood Pack force under the growingly influential duo by Shepard and the united force of the Galaxy - and a crimson wave race across the Milky Way destroying not only the Reapers but the mass relays and most higher virtual intelligences, Heshtok stood firm. Cities and communities were destroyed, but this was no new news to the battered and bruised planet that had suffered bloody infighting for all of it's history. What changed, was the status-quo. In the wake of the Reapers, a Duumvirate grew in Hatash, to soon spread it's iron influence across the planet, somewhat succeeding in the seemingly impossible challenge of pacifying and bringing order to the Vorcha... An army of Vorcha led by ex-mercenaries grew to challenge all the disunited clans that stood in it's way, and though the bloody anarchy of Heshtok was slowly growing into a despotic totalitarian climate, change had come... And it could even be considered positive. Heshtok is no paradise. It may never be. But under the hawkish, powerful gaze of a militaristic autocracy, the homeworld of the Vorcha may change yet...

Infrastructure and Claimed Worlds:

Heshtok | Kyzil The Shrike Abyssal Terminus Systems

Urban Centre
Fuel Depot
Small Spaceport
Shipyard
Major Industrial Complex
Gambling Den
Outpost
Outpost
Outpost
Outpost
Major Mining Complex

This might be asking for too much, I recognise that. I'm not sure what's reasonable right now, to be honest. Do correct me if this isn't allowed, thanks





Parasc | Kyzil The Shrike Abyssal Terminus Systems

Outpost





Military:
a) Terrestrial Forces:

Heshtok | Kyzil The Shrike Abyssal Terminus Systems

YMIR Mech Division
Infantry Division
Infantry Division
Militia Division
Militia Division
Militia Division
Gunship Division
Armoured Division

Once again, this could be asking for too much. You're free to correct me or talk to me about this

b) Space Fleets: The Duumvirate's ship(s)

Frigate
Light Transport
Corvette Pack

Questions and Suggestions: If I may make a suggestion for a potential perk of the Duumvirate, perhaps one involving having Tier IV scanners (which are the Planetary Sensor Network scanners) come naturally for Outposts would be an option. That is, if Tier IV scanners can come without their prior upgrades, since it doesn't make much sense for the outposts to have been equipped with those straight off the bat considering scanning for Vessels is hardly the focus here... If that's not feasible, then you may VOID my suggestion, no hard feelings.

Otherwise, I think I'm good for questions/suggestions

S14

This is broadly fine by me - though I should note that Outposts can't be combined with other types of infrastructure on a single world, and you'll never be building more than one hah. Minor detail though, so accepted. I'll pull you together your pros/cons in an hour or three, with luck.

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

This is broadly fine by me - though I should note that Outposts can't be combined with other types of infrastructure on a single world, and you'll never be building more than one hah. Minor detail though, so accepted. I'll pull you together your pros/cons in an hour or three, with luck.

Hmm... I did notice that, yeah
My apologies. But now I have another question; how does defences work exactly? Can they be applied in general on a planet wherever/whenever, or are they for specific buildings? HOW are they applied?



EDIT: Oh, and my suggestion for a perk about outposts and scanners and the like is... Probably VOID now. I don't think it's reasonable and realistic for the Duumvirate to have a perk about outposts being equipped automatically with Tier IV scanners, considering they only have an outpost on Parasc and that's it
Though if the same idea can be applied to any sort of defence planetside, it might still make sense. I'll let you be the judge of that though

[G-Tech Corporation]

This is broadly fine by me - though I should note that Outposts can't be combined with other types of infrastructure on a single world, and you'll never be building more than one hah. Minor detail though, so accepted. I'll pull you together your pros/cons in an hour or three, with luck.

Hmm... I did notice that, yeah
My apologies. But now I have another question; how does defences work exactly? Can they be applied in general on a planet wherever/whenever, or are they for specific buildings? HOW are they applied?



EDIT: Oh, and my suggestion for a perk about outposts and scanners and the like is... Probably VOID now. I don't think it's reasonable and realistic for the Duumvirate to have a perk about outposts being equipped automatically with Tier IV scanners, considering they only have an outpost on Parasc and that's it
Though if the same idea can be applied to any sort of defence planetside, it might still make sense. I'll let you be the judge of that though

I’m not sure I follow the question; defenses are constructed across a planet, like equivalent pieces of fabrication.

[G-Tech Corporation]

@ Granger: Your perks are now live, enjoy.

@ Everyone: The next month will be coming tonight, so get your posts in. No worries if you can’t though; the only thing you’ll miss out on if you haven’t been able to post yet are moving your units, and the opportunity of an event. Since most folks have little player-to-player interaction at present, I don’t mind retconning one month of economic activity/military procurement.

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

I’m not sure I follow the question; defenses are constructed across a planet, like equivalent pieces of fabrication.

I see... Alright, that actually answers the question, I think
So essentially, if you buy a defence, it's assuming it's present planetwide?

@ Granger: Your perks are now live, enjoy.

@ Everyone: The next month will be coming tonight, so get your posts in. No worries if you can’t though; the only thing you’ll miss out on if you haven’t been able to post yet are moving your units, and the opportunity of an event. Since most folks have little player-to-player interaction at present, I don’t mind retconning one month of economic activity/military procurement.

Alrighty, those look good actually. Thank you, G-tec
I'll see if I can get up a post soon. If I don't manage to before you conclude the first month, I'll just assume the Duumvirate was slower getting started, which almost makes sense actually!

[Bentus]

What do you think the consequences would be/how would they shape Illium's society and approach to the galaxy?

Oh man, that's a bit of a doozy. My $0.02 is that the reaper invasion and the destruction of the relays was such a massive shock to the galaxy, that the consequences and their repercussions haven't entirely been felt yet. I imagine that coming to terms with the changed galaxy will be one of the through-lines of the IC. But you're right that I could do a better job of delving into it. I'll try to split it into a two-fer: what we're the consequences for Illium, and how did they impact its stance towards the wider galaxy. Even so, I'm sure I'm just scratching the surface and I'd love to hear any ideas others have that could be fun to explore. Some open questions for me: how does illium react when foreign corporations get involved and start accumulating political influence? What if other governments engage in subsidies or dumping? What if the asari try to reassert some degree of authority over Illium or conflict breaks out in the Terminus?

Consequences for Illium:
While the reaper invasion of Illium was relatively light according to the lore I dug up, I think it would be foolish to assume this meant they got away unscathed from the crisis. That's why I highlighted the impact of the destruction of the mass relays and the interruption of galactic trade. Whole industries that were dependent on imports would have ground to a halt, just as much as if their factories had been bombed. Food would have been especially hard to come by at first, until local agriculture could be better set up (Illium is lucky it's a garden world), mimicking the famines caused by the environmental devastation wrought by the reapers. While the situation eventually stabilised and reconstruction began, both the population and physical Infrastructure would have suffered.

How they shaped Illium's society:
Given Illium's predisposition to private industries, the crisis reinforced society's perception that the central government is more of a hindrance to progress than otherwise. While the weak state struggled to manage and implement reconstruction efforts, individual corporations proved to be far more effective at organizing rebuilding efforts. But these corporations rebuilt society in their image: inequality is rife and public welfare is almost non-existant. While Illium is nominally a democracy, one of its two houses of government is composed of corporate representstives, and these same corporations have plenty of leeway to influence the "commons" through bribery and mass political advertising. A lot of this was possible since wealth was "trapped" on Illium when the relays were destroyed. It could only be invested locally rather than transferred to other ventures further afield.

While corporations did adopt significant power in the new Illium, many of the older corporations faded into obscurity. They were built on complex, galaxy-spanning supply chains and so suffered the most from the loss of trade. New corporations rose to take their place, allowing for some to quickly rise from rags to riches. This established the mythos of "making it big" in Illium's new society, rightly or wrongly making an argument that anyone could pull themselves up by their bootstraps and helping to justify the harsh inequality.

With the relays still down, these new corporations were force to focus on local markets. Illium became a heavily consumerist culture, with marketing and advertisements flooding the streets. "Freedom" and "liberty" became synonymous with lax regulations and the ability to buy and sell whatever one wanted. Even being able to trade years for security through indentured servitude (what is a decade for an asari if it keeps you from starving?) is seen as a sign of a "freer" society.

This has culminated in Illium looking out to the galaxy as a source of further profits and advancement. As a planet, they have little interest in geopolitics insofar as to how it relates to gaining access to foreign markets and trade. The desire for profits has also driven them away from excessive conflict. Small skirmishes might be profitable, with military hardware fetching juicy margins. But wars between states often do more harm than good for any corporate assets caught in the crossfire, not to mention the taxes needed to wage a serious conflict.

The people/corporations of Illium value their newfound "freedom" and are wary of the Citadel or any other faction impinging on their independence. They believe that the reapers highlighted the weaknesses of the old states of the galaxy, and that the private sector should be allowed to run free of burdensome restrictions. In some sense, they have a warped utilitarian sense of morality: what does it matter if there is inequality and suffering if on the whole the economy is growing?

Another major impact has been on the demographics of Illium's society. Before the reapers, the asari dominated the upper classes. But this meant that they were hit hardest by the shifting economic realities. Large minorities of other races have caused Illium to be a majority minority faction, and now non-asari run some of the largest and most prominent corporations. This means that Illium has less of a historical connection to the asari Republic and so may be less inclined to embrace Thessia as opposed to alternative powers.

[Ovstylap]

So, there is no "0 turn". Resources are produced at the start of a month, used during a month, and then a new month begins. All actions are taken after resources are produced - so you'll already have the material available to use from a Mining Ship, regardless of what you choose to do with it during the month.

Nope, entirely intentional. YMIR Mech Divisions are a straight upgrade to a mere Battalion, at obvious significant expense. If you don't need the YMIRs, you can just pay for the Lokis instead. Marines are just a holdover from some more elite variants of infantry divisions - you can ignore that.

9a) What are the differences between fighters and interceptors, and what are their payloads/damage types?

Fighters are effectively multi-role, capable of fighting both vessels and other fighters/interceptors/bombers. Interceptors aren't generally equipped to attack capitol ships, preferring instead to hunt bombers or fighters.

9b) Are there any limits on supply by carriers to light vessels? 'or up to one relay jump away from a war fleet that comprises carrier-class starships.' An Escort Carrier supplying 20 Destroyers sounds quite crazy, a Fleet carrier and a Battlegroup Carrier, not so much.

Nope, no limits like that - supply is very much an abstraction. Effectively, think of your fleets as having an invisible cloud of supply ships/repair ships/etc. that move with the heavy vessels in your fleet. Mainly because I don't want to have to deal with actual logistics, nor does anyone else.

Thank you for your prompt, concise, clear answers, and I hope it hasn't been too much trouble to ask all of these.

This has led to a couple of further musings.

So if I own a mining ship from my starting purchases, I would earn the 25 minerals (I have 1 orbital mining station), and be able to spend them in my first turn, and then deploy it on an exploration. Would it continue to earn those minerals during the exploration (though if so I assume you get them once it actually returns at stage three).

So there are troops, and then there are LOKI troops. Thus the troops in an Infantry division are different to those in a LOKI mech battalion, right? If so, are YMIR mechs complemented by LOKI troops or standard infantry?

I had thought that was what the distinction was, in that case bombers haven't been added to light vessels. I love me a strike wing!

Thank you, I can fully appreciate not having a full supply mechanic, I shall smile to myself knowing that my 15 frigates were being supplied by a battlegroup carrier, whilst they are overwhelmed by 120 frigates being supplied by an escort carrier! That's not actually a complaint, I'll just RP a bit of the carrier balance myself for my own sake, fully get having the background auxiliary vessels though.

Very excited I should be able to get my infra done and in this evening and then I can write up an IC post!

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

Right right, my first post has been finished!
There was never a previous post, there was never a Raloi faction, this is not doublethink


I think I got the math right, and I don't think I've broken any mechanical rules, and as for everything else; I've really enjoyed writing up even just a little bit about Commander T'sashi, and Heshtok itself!
Warlord Grard will get his time in the sun as well, though I'm not as certain how to handle his character right yet

[Bentus]

Threw together a first pass at initial infrastructure and military (if it could be called that).

Tossing up an unfinished app while I can. Wanted to hold off on putting down infrastructure and the like until I knew the perks and planet types I can play with. I'm not confident that I understand quite where the line between hostile/terran worlds are, but I took a quick stab at it in the "Crescent Nebula" spoiler. I would tend to lean towards the categories I put in the parentheses for those that I'm uncertain about, but figured I'd ask to be safe before crunching any numbers.

Faction: Free Markets of Illium
Leader:
Diplomatic Relations Summary:
Sitting on the boundary between Terminus and Citadel space, Illium has historically acted as a go-between for the galaxy's two primary regions. As the relays are re-activated, the Free Markets seek to reclaim this position. Driven by a desire for corporate profits and development, Illium views the other galactic factions as equal business partners and is willing to engage and trade with them all. However, there is a growing sense of unease with the rise of the Terminus People's Republic and the often bellicose threats directed towards their neighbors. Illium has opted to take a cautious approach towards these newer powers, extending a hand of trade and cooperation while watching their actions with wary eyes.

Military Summary:
On the galactic scene, Illium’s military is largely insignificant. Seeking to pre-empt the risk of a corporate arms race, the planet’s elite granted the Free Markets an effective - albeit incomplete - monopoly on force. But even before the relays were destroyed, Illium had little in the way of a military beyond its planetary defences. And now with the rest of the galaxy an insurmountable distance away, corporations balked at the profit-wasting expense of building anything more substantial than a token force to combat piracy.

History:
A relatively young asari colony, Illium became infamous for its vibrant and free-wheeling economy. It was spared the brunt of the Reapers’ initial attack, blunting their invasion force through the immediate and overwhelming use of fission weapons. But whatever damage the planet escaped from the physical attack, it suffered when the relays were destroyed and severed all connections to interstellar trade. Commerce and shipping had been Illium’s lifeblood. Famine and critical shortages combined together to plunge the colony into chaos, sending its society into a tailspin. Without any aid from the rest of the galaxy, the colonial government struggled to recover.

Corporations stepped in to take on the mantle of the government, filling the power vacuum that the battered authorities left behind. The private sector had always played a prominent role in Illium, although they had nominally been kept in check by colonial authorities, but never to such an extent. While some of the names would have been familiar to the wider galaxy, such recognition was short-lived. Vast conglomerates that had once managed subsidiaries scattered across the stars, were now little more than shell companies burning through whatever credits they had kept on hand. In the place of those that failed to adapt, new businesses emerged from their ashes. Reconstruction and recovery proved to be exceedingly profitable for those with the guile and wherewithal to take advantage of their misfortune, setting the stage for a reshuffling of Illium’s social strata and the emergence of a wave of new money.

The initial period of effectively total corporate dominance was chaotic, with no true central authority to govern the effective pursuit of profits. And yet, the corporations had managed to garner the goodwill of the public during the reconstruction. Larger than life figures who had risen from rags to riches in the span of a few years, helping to rebuild devastated infrastructure and emerging as titans of a new order, built a mythology of corporate meritocracy. Coming together, the major businesses of Illium hammered out plans for a central government that would best serve their needs: a state that could claim a near-monopoly on violence and ensure that commerce was allowed to continue, but which could also be prevented from burdening them with taxes and regulations.
The Free Markets of Illium emerged from these discussions. A democratic state that drew its power both from the people and its businesses, and with firm constitutional limits on the authority that it can muster. The new colonial charter was celebrated across the planet, aggressively marketed as a way to secure the individual liberties and freedoms of every one of Illium’s new citizens. It was to be a world where anyone could make a life for themselves through hard work and effort, without an overly-nagging state telling them what they could or could not do.

Some might say that this is what emerged in reality: a corporate, capitalist utopia. But others might highlight the rampant inequality in Illium’s cities, between the destitute poor and the disgustingly wealthy. Or they may criticize the steady stream of lobbying and corporate marketing directed towards the planet’s elected officials. Tensions about the world’s character have also never been fully resolved. While Illium may have been founded as an asari world, it has adopted a decidedly multi-cultural identity. Pockets of nearly every sentient species were left stranded on the planet after the relays were destroyed, and many of them have emerged as their own significant communities with their own influence over Illium’s politics.
Infrastructure and Claimed Worlds:

==Tasale==
Illium: (695/750)
3x Mining Complexes (45cr)
4x Industrial Complex (80ind)
1x Major Industrial Complex (50ind)
1x Planetary Fuel Depot (20mat)
1x Urban Area (150mat)
1x Major Spaceport (350ind)

==Lusarn System==
Jontan - Gas Giant
Eutanta - Terran (Hostile?)
Asteroid Belt
Beyalt - Barren
Doriae - Terran (Hostile?)
Tarith - Near-garden (Terran?)
Xetic - Gas Giant

==Ondeste System==
Zesmeni - Terran (Hostile?)
Acaeria - Barren
Maisuth - Barren

==Tasale System==
Beregale - Terran (Hostile?)
Illium - Garden
Ponolus - Terran (Hostile?)
Teukria - Barren
Asteroid Belt
Thail - Gas Giant
Naxell - Gas Giant
Mass Relay

==Zelene System==
Nepyma - Terran (Hostile?)
Helyme - Post-Garden
Epho - Terran
Gaelon - Gas Giant (with rings of debris from an ancient civilization. Cool!)

Military:
a) Terrestrial Forces:
1x Infantry Division (10cr)
b) Space Fleets:
1x Heavy Cruiser (45cr)

RP Example: Ghosts of Nueva Iberia
Questions and Suggestions:
S14

[G-Tech Corporation]

What do you think the consequences would be/how would they shape Illium's society and approach to the galaxy?

Oh man, that's a bit of a doozy. My $0.02 is that the reaper invasion and the destruction of the relays was such a massive shock to the galaxy, that the consequences and their repercussions haven't entirely been felt yet. I imagine that coming to terms with the changed galaxy will be one of the through-lines of the IC. But you're right that I could do a better job of delving into it. I'll try to split it into a two-fer: what we're the consequences for Illium, and how did they impact its stance towards the wider galaxy. Even so, I'm sure I'm just scratching the surface and I'd love to hear any ideas others have that could be fun to explore. Some open questions for me: how does illium react when foreign corporations get involved and start accumulating political influence? What if other governments engage in subsidies or dumping? What if the asari try to reassert some degree of authority over Illium or conflict breaks out in the Terminus?

Consequences for Illium:
While the reaper invasion of Illium was relatively light according to the lore I dug up, I think it would be foolish to assume this meant they got away unscathed from the crisis. That's why I highlighted the impact of the destruction of the mass relays and the interruption of galactic trade. Whole industries that were dependent on imports would have ground to a halt, just as much as if their factories had been bombed. Food would have been especially hard to come by at first, until local agriculture could be better set up (Illium is lucky it's a garden world), mimicking the famines caused by the environmental devastation wrought by the reapers. While the situation eventually stabilised and reconstruction began, both the population and physical Infrastructure would have suffered.

How they shaped Illium's society:
Given Illium's predisposition to private industries, the crisis reinforced society's perception that the central government is more of a hindrance to progress than otherwise. While the weak state struggled to manage and implement reconstruction efforts, individual corporations proved to be far more effective at organizing rebuilding efforts. But these corporations rebuilt society in their image: inequality is rife and public welfare is almost non-existant. While Illium is nominally a democracy, one of its two houses of government is composed of corporate representstives, and these same corporations have plenty of leeway to influence the "commons" through bribery and mass political advertising. A lot of this was possible since wealth was "trapped" on Illium when the relays were destroyed. It could only be invested locally rather than transferred to other ventures further afield.

While corporations did adopt significant power in the new Illium, many of the older corporations faded into obscurity. They were built on complex, galaxy-spanning supply chains and so suffered the most from the loss of trade. New corporations rose to take their place, allowing for some to quickly rise from rags to riches. This established the mythos of "making it big" in Illium's new society, rightly or wrongly making an argument that anyone could pull themselves up by their bootstraps and helping to justify the harsh inequality.

With the relays still down, these new corporations were force to focus on local markets. Illium became a heavily consumerist culture, with marketing and advertisements flooding the streets. "Freedom" and "liberty" became synonymous with lax regulations and the ability to buy and sell whatever one wanted. Even being able to trade years for security through indentured servitude (what is a decade for an asari if it keeps you from starving?) is seen as a sign of a "freer" society.

This has culminated in Illium looking out to the galaxy as a source of further profits and advancement. As a planet, they have little interest in geopolitics insofar as to how it relates to gaining access to foreign markets and trade. The desire for profits has also driven them away from excessive conflict. Small skirmishes might be profitable, with military hardware fetching juicy margins. But wars between states often do more harm than good for any corporate assets caught in the crossfire, not to mention the taxes needed to wage a serious conflict.

The people/corporations of Illium value their newfound "freedom" and are wary of the Citadel or any other faction impinging on their independence. They believe that the reapers highlighted the weaknesses of the old states of the galaxy, and that the private sector should be allowed to run free of burdensome restrictions. In some sense, they have a warped utilitarian sense of morality: what does it matter if there is inequality and suffering if on the whole the economy is growing?

Another major impact has been on the demographics of Illium's society. Before the reapers, the asari dominated the upper classes. But this meant that they were hit hardest by the shifting economic realities. Large minorities of other races have caused Illium to be a majority minority faction, and now non-asari run some of the largest and most prominent corporations. This means that Illium has less of a historical connection to the asari Republic and so may be less inclined to embrace Thessia as opposed to alternative powers.

That all sounds like fun to me. I mainly ask these questions so I can understand how you want your faction to have evolved during the Interrugnum, so I can flesh out their restrictions and whatnot.

So if I own a mining ship from my starting purchases, I would earn the 25 minerals (I have 1 orbital mining station), and be able to spend them in my first turn, and then deploy it on an exploration. Would it continue to earn those minerals during the exploration (though if so I assume you get them once it actually returns at stage three).

It would not, no - since it will be busy doing surveys, performing repairs, supply the expedition, all that, instead of sitting around and focusing on grinding up asteroids.

So there are troops, and then there are LOKI troops. Thus the troops in an Infantry division are different to those in a LOKI mech battalion, right? If so, are YMIR mechs complemented by LOKI troops or standard infantry?

Yes, certainly - LOKI troops are a specific thing in the Mass Effect universe, these guys, though the term in our RP generally applies to mass-produced humanoid combat robots. YMIR Mechs, as a robotic assault group, are complemented by robotic assault troops. Though, there's no reason you can't build organic troops to back them up.

I had thought that was what the distinction was, in that case bombers haven't been added to light vessels. I love me a strike wing!

Actually, amusingly, there's no such thing as a bomber wing in Mass Effect - at least, at present. Just fighters, since the whole idea of carrier tactics or the like is still nascent in-universe. Feel free to work to develop bombers though.

[Bentus]

-snip-

That all sounds like fun to me. I mainly ask these questions so I can understand how you want your faction to have evolved during the Interrugnum, so I can flesh out their restrictions and whatnot.

Glad to hear it, and for what it's worth I really appreciate the prompts: they've really helped me flesh out the concept as well. I also definitely understand that there is a need to make sure folks are getting involved in an RP like this without too much of a focus on "winning". I'm looking forward to whatever pros/cons you end up coming up with! Not to tilt the needle one way or another, but I'm picturing Illium being something of a small faction that could (economically) punch above its weight. Negative contributors to the military or to expansion could work well and even be especially harsh if the perks make up for it. Could really lean into something of a one-system-challenge with a flat debuff to production outside of Tasale/the Crescent nebula. If that ends up being the direction, a perk could be to lessen some of the building requirements (multiple trade routes and research labs, perhaps?) to allow for Illium to really get built up as a planet, even if the faction as a whole doesn't compare with larger states.

Edit: To be clear, I'm not wedded to any of the above.

[G-Tech Corporation]

Tossing up an unfinished app while I can. Wanted to hold off on putting down infrastructure and the like until I knew the perks and planet types I can play with. I'm not confident that I understand quite where the line between hostile/terran worlds are, but I took a quick stab at it in the "Crescent Nebula" spoiler. I would tend to lean towards the categories I put in the parentheses for those that I'm uncertain about, but figured I'd ask to be safe before crunching any numbers.

Faction: Free Markets of Illium
Leader:
Diplomatic Relations Summary:
Sitting on the boundary between Terminus and Citadel space, Illium has historically acted as a go-between for the galaxy's two primary regions. As the relays are re-activated, the Free Markets seek to reclaim this position. Driven by a desire for corporate profits and development, Illium views the other galactic factions as equal business partners and is willing to engage and trade with them all. However, there is a growing sense of unease with the rise of the Terminus People's Republic and the often bellicose threats directed towards their neighbors. Illium has opted to take a cautious approach towards these newer powers, extending a hand of trade and cooperation while watching their actions with wary eyes.

Military Summary:
On the galactic scene, Illium’s military is largely insignificant. Seeking to pre-empt the risk of a corporate arms race, the planet’s elite granted the Free Markets an effective - albeit incomplete - monopoly on force. But even before the relays were destroyed, Illium had little in the way of a military beyond its planetary defences. And now with the rest of the galaxy an insurmountable distance away, corporations balked at the profit-wasting expense of building anything more substantial than a token force to combat piracy.

History:
A relatively young asari colony, Illium became infamous for its vibrant and free-wheeling economy. It was spared the brunt of the Reapers’ initial attack, blunting their invasion force through the immediate and overwhelming use of fission weapons. But whatever damage the planet escaped from the physical attack, it suffered when the relays were destroyed and severed all connections to interstellar trade. Commerce and shipping had been Illium’s lifeblood. Famine and critical shortages combined together to plunge the colony into chaos, sending its society into a tailspin. Without any aid from the rest of the galaxy, the colonial government struggled to recover.

Corporations stepped in to take on the mantle of the government, filling the power vacuum that the battered authorities left behind. The private sector had always played a prominent role in Illium, although they had nominally been kept in check by colonial authorities, but never to such an extent. While some of the names would have been familiar to the wider galaxy, such recognition was short-lived. Vast conglomerates that had once managed subsidiaries scattered across the stars, were now little more than shell companies burning through whatever credits they had kept on hand. In the place of those that failed to adapt, new businesses emerged from their ashes. Reconstruction and recovery proved to be exceedingly profitable for those with the guile and wherewithal to take advantage of their misfortune, setting the stage for a reshuffling of Illium’s social strata and the emergence of a wave of new money.

The initial period of effectively total corporate dominance was chaotic, with no true central authority to govern the effective pursuit of profits. And yet, the corporations had managed to garner the goodwill of the public during the reconstruction. Larger than life figures who had risen from rags to riches in the span of a few years, helping to rebuild devastated infrastructure and emerging as titans of a new order, built a mythology of corporate meritocracy. Coming together, the major businesses of Illium hammered out plans for a central government that would best serve their needs: a state that could claim a near-monopoly on violence and ensure that commerce was allowed to continue, but which could also be prevented from burdening them with taxes and regulations.
The Free Markets of Illium emerged from these discussions. A democratic state that drew its power both from the people and its businesses, and with firm constitutional limits on the authority that it can muster. The new colonial charter was celebrated across the planet, aggressively marketed as a way to secure the individual liberties and freedoms of every one of Illium’s new citizens. It was to be a world where anyone could make a life for themselves through hard work and effort, without an overly-nagging state telling them what they could or could not do.

Some might say that this is what emerged in reality: a corporate, capitalist utopia. But others might highlight the rampant inequality in Illium’s cities, between the destitute poor and the disgustingly wealthy. Or they may criticize the steady stream of lobbying and corporate marketing directed towards the planet’s elected officials. Tensions about the world’s character have also never been fully resolved. While Illium may have been founded as an asari world, it has adopted a decidedly multi-cultural identity. Pockets of nearly every sentient species were left stranded on the planet after the relays were destroyed, and many of them have emerged as their own significant communities with their own influence over Illium’s politics.
Infrastructure and Claimed Worlds:

==Tasale==
Illium: (695/750)
3x Mining Complexes (45cr)
4x Industrial Complex (80ind)
1x Major Industrial Complex (50ind)
1x Planetary Fuel Depot (20mat)
1x Urban Area (150mat)
1x Major Spaceport (350ind)

==Lusarn System==
Jontan - Gas Giant
Eutanta - Terran (Hostile?)
Asteroid Belt
Beyalt - Barren
Doriae - Terran (Hostile?)
Tarith - Near-garden (Terran?)
Xetic - Gas Giant

==Ondeste System==
Zesmeni - Terran (Hostile?)
Acaeria - Barren
Maisuth - Barren

==Tasale System==
Beregale - Terran (Hostile?)
Illium - Garden
Ponolus - Terran (Hostile?)
Teukria - Barren
Asteroid Belt
Thail - Gas Giant
Naxell - Gas Giant
Mass Relay

==Zelene System==
Nepyma - Terran (Hostile?)
Helyme - Post-Garden
Epho - Terran
Gaelon - Gas Giant (with rings of debris from an ancient civilization. Cool!)

Military:
a) Terrestrial Forces:
1x Infantry Division (10cr)
b) Space Fleets:
1x Heavy Cruiser (45cr)

RP Example: Ghosts of Nueva Iberia
Questions and Suggestions:
S14

This all looks good to me, Bentus - at least as far as the application goes. As such, happily accepted, and welcome.

Minor clarifications on the Crescent Nebula: Beyalt, 0.001 g means it is realistically too small to support settlement. Just stuff her in the asteroid belt. Eutanta would be hostile, given the temps, I'm fine with Tarith as a Near-Garden. Beregale would be hostile, on account of gravity and temps, similarly Ponolus via atmospheric pressure and temp. Nepyma is good as Terran, though she'll need the Tidally-locked Modifier [-25% Infrastructure caps], Helyme will be a spicy post-Garden depending on whether the theories related to the mass extinction are true.

Aside from that, all looking good. I'll pull together your perks in a trice.

[G-Tech Corporation]

Oh, hey, Seg? Just noting for your book-keeping that that new Research Station won't actually be online and producing until February.

[Segmentia]

Oh, hey, Seg? Just noting for your book-keeping that that new Research Station won't actually be online and producing until February.

Yup, already edited that. I was being hasty with my word doc and doing next month things and accidentally copy-pasted some of it

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

I was being hasty

Hasty?
Oh, I would never be hasty with anything! I check and double-check my posts before posting them!... Promise?

[Bentus]

-snip-

This all looks good to me, Bentus - at least as far as the application goes. As such, happily accepted, and welcome.

Minor clarifications on the Crescent Nebula: Beyalt, 0.001 g means it is realistically too small to support settlement. Just stuff her in the asteroid belt. Eutanta would be hostile, given the temps, I'm fine with Tarith as a Near-Garden. Beregale would be hostile, on account of gravity and temps, similarly Ponolus via atmospheric pressure and temp. Nepyma is good as Terran, though she'll need the Tidally-locked Modifier [-25% Infrastructure caps], Helyme will be a spicy post-Garden depending on whether the theories related to the mass extinction are true.

Aside from that, all looking good. I'll pull together your perks in a trice.

Awesome, thanks a lot! I'll try to get something up today/tomorrow.

On a separate note, would anyone be interested in a bit of a galactic summit? Figure it might make the most sense to host it on the Citadel, but I'd also be happy for Illium to throw something. If Terminus factions don't want to go to the center of galactic imperialism, it could also work as something of a middle ground (or heck, would folks be interested in a Terminus-specific soiree?).

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

On a separate note, would anyone be interested in a bit of a galactic summit? Figure it might make the most sense to host it on the Citadel, but I'd also be happy for Illium to throw something. If Terminus factions don't want to go to the center of galactic imperialism, it could also work as something of a middle ground (or heck, would folks be interested in a Terminus-specific soiree?).

The most I can say about this right now is...
Interesting. The Duumvirate has the potential of participating, but guarantees are... Very far away :P

[The corporate states of Astavar]

On a separate note, would anyone be interested in a bit of a galactic summit? Figure it might make the most sense to host it on the Citadel, but I'd also be happy for Illium to throw something. If Terminus factions don't want to go to the center of galactic imperialism, it could also work as something of a middle ground (or heck, would folks be interested in a Terminus-specific soiree?).

the Terminus hierarchy would be willing to attend such a meeting

[Segmentia]

This all looks good to me, Bentus - at least as far as the application goes. As such, happily accepted, and welcome.

Minor clarifications on the Crescent Nebula: Beyalt, 0.001 g means it is realistically too small to support settlement. Just stuff her in the asteroid belt. Eutanta would be hostile, given the temps, I'm fine with Tarith as a Near-Garden. Beregale would be hostile, on account of gravity and temps, similarly Ponolus via atmospheric pressure and temp. Nepyma is good as Terran, though she'll need the Tidally-locked Modifier [-25% Infrastructure caps], Helyme will be a spicy post-Garden depending on whether the theories related to the mass extinction are true.

Aside from that, all looking good. I'll pull together your perks in a trice.

Awesome, thanks a lot! I'll try to get something up today/tomorrow.

On a separate note, would anyone be interested in a bit of a galactic summit? Figure it might make the most sense to host it on the Citadel, but I'd also be happy for Illium to throw something. If Terminus factions don't want to go to the center of galactic imperialism, it could also work as something of a middle ground (or heck, would folks be interested in a Terminus-specific soiree?).

Sure, once the relays are reactivated to get there

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

Sure, once the relays are reactivated to get there

Yeah that is the major problem isn't it?
Over here in the Shrike Abyssal, it's gonna take some time and effort. Well, more than others I mean. Both the Duumvirate and the Terminus Hierarchy aren't the most navally-inclined entities, and neither of us have a Heavy Vessel from the get-go

the Terminus hierarchy would be willing to attend such a meeting

Reminds me though Ast, do you have any immediate ideas for first contact/interaction between the Duumvirate and Hierarchy? I can't say anything springs to mind right away, though maybe it does you?

[Bentus]

Sure, once the relays are reactivated to get there

Yeah that is the major problem isn't it?
Over here in the Shrike Abyssal, it's gonna take some time and effort. Well, more than others I mean. Both the Duumvirate and the Terminus Heirarchy aren't the most navally-inclined entities, and neither of us have a Heavy Vessel from the get-go

Oh right, I forgot about that

The relays in everyone's home system are the only ones activated at this point, I believe? Looking at the map (higher resolution version from the OP, I think) that means that Shrike Abyssal, Crescent Nebula, Omega Nebula, Athena Nebula, Krogan DMZ, Annos Basin, Apien Crest, Aethon Cluster (if the Volus are 'active'), Local Cluster, Kite's Nest, Perseus Veil, the Silena Nebula, the Pilos Nebula, are connected - though if someone could double check me that'd be grand. I'm also not sure which sector the Shanxi Directorate is in so didn't include them!

So that'd mean that the Quarians, Duumvirate, Terminus Hierarchy (bit of a question mark: are they in Shrike Abyssal or the Local Cluster?), Illium, and the Drell Commonwealth are connected. If the Terminus Hierarchy is in the Local Cluster, then they're actually hooked up to Earth. The Turians and Volus are also hooked up, but otherwise I think that's it for now?

[The Epic Notepad of GrangerAirstrike]

Oh right, I forgot about that

The relays in everyone's home system are the only ones activated at this point, I believe? Looking at the map (higher resolution version from the OP, I think) that means that Shrike Abyssal, Crescent Nebula, Omega Nebula, Athena Nebula, Krogan DMZ, Annos Basin, Apien Crest, Aethon Cluster (if the Volus are 'active'), Local Cluster, Kite's Nest, Perseus Veil, the Silena Nebula, the Pilos Nebula, are connected - though if someone could double check me that'd be grand. I'm also not sure which sector the Shanxi Directorate is in so didn't include them!

So that'd mean that the Quarians, Duumvirate, Terminus Hierarchy (bit of a question mark: are they in Shrike Abyssal or the Local Cluster?), Illium, and the Drell Commonwealth are connected. If the Terminus Hierarchy is in the Local Cluster, then they're actually hooked up to Earth. The Turians and Volus are also hooked up, but otherwise I think that's it for now?

Ah no, the Terminus Hierarchy's with the Duumvirate in the Shrike Abyssal :P
Either way, I wasn't aware that the Relays were just auto-repaired for faction home clusters. Did I miss something?

[The corporate states of Astavar]

Sure, once the relays are reactivated to get there

Yeah that is the major problem isn't it?
Over here in the Shrike Abyssal, it's gonna take some time and effort. Well, more than others I mean. Both the Duumvirate and the Terminus Hierarchy aren't the most navally-inclined entities, and neither of us have a Heavy Vessel from the get-go

the Terminus hierarchy would be willing to attend such a meeting

Reminds me though Ast, do you have any immediate ideas for first contact/interaction between the Duumvirate and Hierarchy? I can't say anything springs to mind right away, though maybe it does you?

Well i'd imagine now that the coast is clear so to speak your people would probably naturally start exploring the cluster for salvage etc and my space is perfect for that. They would probably apprehended by my security forces and thus i would learn of you maybe one of them get's away and reports back that the turians aren't as dead as perviously believed.