Life2.0 - a Broken Shackles Narrative

[CBR JGWRR]

Developing conventional technology that can outperform it would be the best route for the parents and natural children. Genetics has a small problem in that you're working with natural systems - whatever mods you make, it's got to be survivable throughout the whole lifecycle; so a titanium based skeleton has obvious advantages in strength, but calcium is used in a lot of biological chemistry, and you need to add organs that function as calcium reserves. (The odd replacement bone is ok, but an entire skeleton isn't)

Otherwise, it becomes the same question for any inequality issue, and Naomi's thoughts rely on training and shaping the next generation to do things right. But mainly Naomi is operating on winning the war and dealing with the consequences of whatever she had to do to win afterwards.

Stellaris has no option for boarding or hacking enemy vessels, either defensively or offensively. Which is an opportunity to try to change the paradigm; they know that they can't win a conventional conflict, they don't have the economy or the time to develop an economy potent enough for a drawn out conflict, and Naomi knows a drawn out conflict gets her defeated.

So, her entire plan relies on a rapid offensive that shocks the Olinbar into defeat or a negotiated truce that gives Naomi the time she needs to get on an equal footing.

The boarding and hacking ships approach may or may not work of course - but if it does work, MSI has to take the fleet out of action until they have countermeasures. Naomi knows from her time as a Companionship Asset roughly how long MSI's upgrade cycle takes, and that is her window to attack.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

”Neo-Sirzusians, Part 1"
29th Odoos, 10 (2189)
Naomi Of Unity​

There's lots of races on Unity, of varying levels of involvement in Life2.0; but there's only one that have no say at all. Not because they aren't allowed to, but because they lack the ability.

Dexicus Hortensus' backers sent him out with several target races he was to return with members of, while others were opportunities that came up along the way. Humans for example, Kyaese too. Sirzusians are another race that was on the target list.

Humans are valuable to MSI because they can fill what are considered Specialist level roles quite effectively, almost but not quite as good as Olinbar as they give themselves more advanced equipment to work with.

Sirzusians are valuable because they are a perfect slave race for menial tasks. No ambition, no desires, pretty much only instinctual operating mentality, naturally nocturnal, can eat anything put in front of them, very loyal to caregivers and prone to distrusting each other. Olinbar have exploited them for centuries after "uplifting" them, and the Sirzusians speak MSI Basic as their own language, without a Synthesiser.

Ten years ago, I had the colony build up flat-pack like inflatable boxes to house everyone who wasn't staying in the environmentally controlled sections of the ship; with only emergency power I had to prioritise which sections of the ship were maintained, and I opted to keep only the arctic biome operational.

Today, there is only one place where those inflatable boxes are still used as housing - for the Sirzusians, as even ten years on they are yet to develop their own housing.

I always wanted better for them, but well, the war with MSI took priority.

But I can't help but wonder what they could become, what if they were truly uplifted.

 

[HistoryDude]

That's honestly sad. Maybe uplifting them can be a priority for a victorious Life 2.0?

Also, how are there any Sirzusians on Unity if they have no ambition? Didn't everyone settle there after Naomi led a slave revolt to take MSI ships? Did they just go along with the rebellion after it had control over ships that they were on already?

 

[CBR JGWRR]

They were involved on the Olinbar's side of the battle as guards, but Naomi having Dexcius' key card meant she just ordered them aside. And pretty much, yes - after the rebellion succeeded they've just stayed on Unity, living on the food/consumer goods stipends issued by the colony.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Blinded"
12th Vorosh, 10 (2189)
Rivkah Of Unity​

"The Prikkiki-Ti Sentry Array Network has been crippled." Grepp licks an dark-ringed eyeball as he returns to his seat.

The implications are...

Our table is silent. Eventually, I reply. "How?"

Grepp puts up a display. "The Arishkan knew they would have to put our eyes out. So they did."

The display depicts footage of strangely familiar ships leaving a rift and attacking the installation. Valerius face has gone cold. Agrippina frowns. Oh.

"The MSI vessels attacked using unstable directed wormholes, a technology long believed lost to history. They have destroyed three Sentry Arrays that cover the Prikki-Arishkan border region, which includes us. As a result, we have no sensor data on MSI. While this is-"

He's interrupted by Mei Hua bursting through the door in tears. She looks at Mum. "The Arishkan withdrew their fleet. Nova Terra has fallen."

 

[Macavity116]

Crippled does not sum up what's happened here. This is a devastating attack that opens the door to multiple catastrophic follow-up strikes.

 

[HistoryDude]

Well, that's... a disaster. Let's hope Life 2.0 and its allies can recover.

Can these unstable directed wormholes be stolen and used against MSI?

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Fallen Earth"
12th Vorosh, 10 (2189)
Naomi Of Unity​

I look at the First Minister of the PDRTC. Yong'xing Tian.

She's not slept recently, face stuffy from weeping. She looks at me. Gathering her thoughts. "The Arishkan betrayed us. MSI entered Nán Hé sān and burned straight for Nova Terra at 3g. We asked the Arishkan to intercept, and they left the system. MSI have left nothing but radioactive ash, two billion people are dead."

Nán Hé sān... Procyon. "How long until they attack Earth?"

"If they keep that acceleration, three weeks. It's only one hyperlane, but Earth is on the far side, so it's a longer transit. I've got fifteen billion refugees to evacuate." She gulps.

I shake my head. "My mind is coming up blank on how I can help..."

"Likewise Naomi, I know the transit times as well as you do... I need some solace with a friendly face. May I ask how Mei Hua is feeling?" She pauses. "Her family were on Nova Terra."

"Her and Ossuhphuhr were planning their first child together in our Gene Clinics before this. She had just enough composure to explain what happened before she collapsed in his arms."

She looks at me very coldly. "Do you trust him?"

I nod. "I've already made him choose between the Empire and his wife. He picked her."

She raises her eyebrows. "That direct?"

I laugh. "Absolutely, I explained my logic for asking it, which he understood. Which means he passed the same test as the 3% of the Olinbar prisoners who weren't executed on my orders."

She looks at me. "You executed Olinbar prisoners?"

I nod. I think of how I executed Gaius and Claudia. "Some personally. I couldn't let them live unless they convinced my people that they were safe."

There's a pause. "That's committed."

"Our enemy would do no different."

The woman who watched a planet burn sighs deeply as her tears renew. she collects herself. "Quite. Naomi, this might be the last time we speak, we are running 24/7 in defence preparations. If Earth falls..."

I set both my captured blades on the table. "Then we will avenge."

She nods. "But more than that, will your people return, and restore the planets they destroy?"

I think about Nova Terra. "Was Nova Terra a terraformed world?"

"Yes, we seeded life from Earth on a barren world."

"Could we have genetic data from the other worlds in the PDRTC? It would help with restoration."

She nods. "I will get our laboratories to send the data, as well as everything we can send. Good luck, Naomi."

She closes the channel. I wipe my tears in my husband's fur.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Night Watch"
13th Odoos, 10 (2189)
Ruki Of Unity​

When Mother started my mental training, she began with a memory testing game where a square on a board would light up and a letter would be sounded, then five seconds later it would repeat. My instructions were that I had to give the sequence from a previous point, steadily progressing further back as my consicously held memory progresses. Naturally, I'm not allowed to file the sequence to my compubones, it would defeat the point of the exercise. She trained Rivkah with it too, and Father dabbles with it with Mother. I've progressed to also answering maths questions and being asked historical trivia to give my biological mental components a stronger workout.

Normally, her alarm activates at a few microseconds past 5am when the control unit sends the signal to the alarm activator to emit the noise. Within two seconds she is saying good morning to Father, who mostly sleeps through the alarm. She gets out of bed within five seconds, a fairly quiet noise consistent with getting dressed takes the next few tens of seconds and usually within three sixties of seconds Mother is inquiring about how I slept.

Mother then begins this with me, three sessions a day.

This morning, she has not.

This means that whatever is distracting her takes a higher priority over me. Mother allows very few things to do that. That she has, and not informed me, implies that she's not involved me to avoid causing me distress.

Which gives me a dilemma. I could go and help and possibly face things Mother does not think I'm ready for, or stay here and avoid worrying about what it could be.

The most likely is enemy attack. I opt to go.

Naturally, the first place I go is the command bunker. There's a loose panel in the ventillation system that allows you to bypass three of five security checkpoints, and being in a hurry I opt to skip those three.

The formality of verifying that I am Mother's child is reassuring, given it means that the situation has not led to a breakdown in process that would mean an unescorted child could just wander into a top secret military bunker without approval. Plus, it means Mum will be notified. She had that procedure changed the last time I did this.

Now an escorted child, I arrive at the bunker. I go to Mother. She doesn't look surprised to see me. "Ruki, MSI have attacked our allies the Prikki and the PRDTC, reducing a well developed colony world to ash. Billions are dead."

I think through the news. I extrapolate. "The Arishkan have abandoned the PDRTC, and now an MSI fleet is enroute to Earth. And probably to here too." I look at the sensor data display being offline at such a critical time. "Why are sensors down?"

"That's what MSI attacked. They destroyed three Prikki Sentry Arrays."

Oh. That's... Not good. "In other words, we and our allies are blind."

"Worse still, MSI used a wormhole generating attack method. Even if we had sensors, our warning time has dropped down to the time taken to travel into the system from the edge of the heliosphere."

Best case of a month, unless they travel slow. At a reasonable acceleration, they could arrive in two weeks. "We have to take the offensive."

"Trouble is, we haven't solved the radiation problem from activating hyperlanes yet. That's what Shendredie is working on."

"Which means trusting the MSI originated designs."

"And you know why I haven't done that."

Doesn't want MSI to be able to exploit that opportunity obviously. "We have no choice but to accept the irradiation problem then. How bad is the dose?"

"Well, I could go. Your Father could. But your uncle and aunt aren't."

So that's not a safe dose. "How bad?"

Her face sours. "We've got it down to 2.3 Gy per hyperlane breach. Whole body."

The definition and documentation for absorbed doses flash through my mind. She can see it on my face. I cling to the hopeful bit. "Well, it's below the Human LD1 dose."

"There's eighteen hyperlanes between us and the MSI capital."

"Point taken."

Mother puts her head in her hands. "I'm sorry Ruki."

"Why?"

"Bringing you into a world at war."

I climb up her and hug her. "Then we'll end war."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gnaea Titius"
13th Odoos, 10 (2189)
Rivkah Of Unity​

We're still in discussions when a hail comes through.

We're looking at CEO Gnaea Titius. I've never seen such an obviously fake smile, or odious a man. "My goodmen and goodladies, we must come to an understanding. Ah, Naomi, it warms my heart to see you are still alive."

I don't even need to look at Mum to know she's imagining this guy bleeding out on the floor.

He sighs. "Look. We have a mutual understanding of your situation. I know your unfaithful Olinbar companions would counsel you to try to continue your rebellion, to use you to put themselves on top. But face the facts - you are in no position to carry out such an attack. Whereas my strength reaches beyond you, and even to your backers in the Prikkiki-Ti. I could give the order to crush you at any time. I don't because I am a reasonable man."

Mum does her very best to stifle a snort. She fails. "Why should any of us trust you?"

He looks at Thando, with the briefest nod. "My predecessor was quite useless. The board has tasked me with correcting the death spiral my predecessor left behind. He was very lax, a hedonist. That your brother is still alive after everything he's done is exemplary of his flaws. However, I don't have infinite resources or time. I need to condense my fronts and tie up my loose ends. I trust you are familiar with the recent exercise on Nova Terra?"

Mei Hua's voice is... Spicy. "You vile murderer."

He ignores her outburst and focuses on Mum. "You know what I can do. Do you want me to make an example of your Unity?"

Mum stays silent.

"I acknowledge your hatred. Now acknowledge my logic. If I do not deal with you now, you will attempt to attack at some point - the entire planet wants revenge, understandably so. Now, perhaps I might say that's my successor's problem, but I don't want to do that. I want an agreement. I've already successfully negotiated away the Arishkan, and I have cut you off from the Prikki. You cannot defeat us on your own. Am I wrong here?"

Mum relents. "No."

"Which leads to my offer. The easiest way to solve my domestic problems is reform to the Indentured Asset system. Through reform, I can stabilise division within the upper echelons of Olinbar society, reduce dissent in the Worker and Specialist classes and ultimately reduce crime and increase living standards. What is much more up for question is the impact on international relations. You now have a choice - I can offer you vassalisation into a reformed regime where slavery has been abolished, or we can go to war, where you will face the might of an armada able to leave your world uninhabitable slag." He eyes the blades from Dexcius and Gaius on Mum's hips. Then looks at Valerius, at Agrippina. "Deep down Naomi, I know you are a reasonable woman. You and I both know the assets I can commit to external campaigns are on exercise to the People's Democratic Republic of Terra and Colonies. You know transit times, and therefore you know you have three weeks to give me your reply, before my navy comes to subjugate you by force. Or, you will all live, with no repercussions for armed rebellion as a concilliatory gesture. Bend, or break."

He cuts the channel.

 

[Macavity116]

You now have a choice - I can offer you vassalisation into a reformed regime where slavery has been abolished, or we can go to war, where you will face the might of an armada able to leave your world uninhabitable slag.

Here we go... this is pretty much what I've come to expect in all of my Payback playthroughs at some point or another. Did happen in the playthrough I used for my own AAR. Eager to see how Naomi and the rest of Life 2.0 play this out.

 

[HistoryDude]

It was nice to see everyone's reaction to the news... and the loss of Nova Terra is devastating.

If there was a change in leadership in MSI between Naomi's rebellion and this attack, how does the board manage power transitions? And what was the final straw that convinced them to get rid of the "hedonist" CEO?

Why should Naomi believe a single promise that the CEO makes, exactly? Even if she accepts the "abolish slavery" option, she has no way of enforcing that except starting another rebellion, which would be expected.

Has MSI considered what would happen if any of those ships able to destroy worlds were captured? It would be... such a shame if they were used on MSI's capital world...

Is the plan to hide out in asteroids and abandon Unity still on the table? That seems like the best way to deal with this armada.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

It was nice to see everyone's reaction to the news... and the loss of Nova Terra is devastating.

If there was a change in leadership in MSI between Naomi's rebellion and this attack, how does the board manage power transitions?

Shareholders put forward a recall vote, and the board complies.

And what was the final straw that convinced them to get rid of the "hedonist" CEO?

Thando's escape.

Why should Naomi believe a single promise that the CEO makes, exactly? Even if she accepts the "abolish slavery" option, she has no way of enforcing that except starting another rebellion, which would be expected.

Or anyone believe a word he says for that matter.

Has MSI considered what would happen if any of those ships able to destroy worlds were captured? It would be... such a shame if they were used on MSI's capital world...

They know how the colony took the Flagship.

Is the plan to hide out in asteroids and abandon Unity still on the table? That seems like the best way to deal with this armada.

It's certainly an option - Gnaea needs a fast resolution, and committing to searching trillions of cubic kilometres out beyond the edge of the system would tie his navy up for years.

Here we go... this is pretty much what I've come to expect in all of my Payback playthroughs at some point or another. Did happen in the playthrough I used for my own AAR. Eager to see how Naomi and the rest of Life 2.0 play this out.

It does come across as the SLA being pawns of MSI. And we'll soon see.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Referendum, Part 1"
13th Odoos, 10 (2189)
Naomi Of Unity​

I tell everyone to go home. We're not going to be attacked today. My children follow me. "So, when we get home... I'm going to be with your Father for quite a while."

Buri is waiting when we get back. "What happened?"

I fall into his embrace. "Just... Take me. I really need distracting."

---

I rest in his arms. He nuzzles me. "So, what happened?"

I frown. "MSI's CEO called, gave us three weeks to surrender."

"Oh."

I twist to face him. "I don't know what to do. I don't know whether to fight on, or to make peace. Whether I can trust him to keep whatever promises he makes."

He mulls it over for a while. "Did you know him from before?"

"Not him, but his daughter. He was practically an absent father."

"Not promising."

I nod. "It's hard... I keep thinking about something Odoos said once." I look in his eyes. "I have something to lose now, and I am afraid."

"What were the terms of surrender?"

"Words about how he wanted to abolish slavery and reform the Indentured Asset system and that we would be a vassal state. Or, he would send the fleet to destroy us."

Buri pulls me close. "Which do you think is best?"

"Honestly, both are bad. Choice of becoming their tamed pets, or ash. It's like..." I sigh. Then bury my head in his fur.

He holds me close. "Ask the people. It will take the weight off your shoulders."

Well, he's not wrong.

 

[HistoryDude]

I like the idea of putting it up for a referendum. That being said, who can vote in that? We have a few associated groups out in the Wilds that technically owe Life 2.0 allegiance. Do they get a vote? Do the ambassadors of Life 2.0's allies get a vote? How will this work?

 

[CBR JGWRR]

I like the idea of putting it up for a referendum. That being said, who can vote in that? We have a few associated groups out in the Wilds that technically owe Life 2.0 allegiance. Do they get a vote? Do the ambassadors of Life 2.0's allies get a vote? How will this work?

Technically, the negotiation is between MSI and Life2.0. So, the Wilds - and the Iriphuliki-In-Exile - are neutral parties.

 

[Macavity116]

Allowing a referendum is risky. If the winning side turns out to be a slim majority of the vote, there will be substantial long-term consequences.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Referendum, Part 2"
14th Odoos, 10 (2189)
Rivkah Of Unity​

"You know transit times, and therefore you know you have three weeks to give me your reply, before my navy comes to subjugate you by force. Or, you will all live, with no repercussions for armed rebellion as a conciliatory gesture. Bend, or break."

Mum stands as the recording finishes. "Here's what I think. As a Companionship Asset, I endured all kinds of physical, emotional and sexual abuse while I waited for my opportunity to fight for freedom. And when I got it, I freed all of us. Back then, I had nothing to lose except being tied to a wall and raped every day. That informed my methodology of fighting our war with MSI, until one day my esteemed colleague Odoos pointed this out, that I had nothing to lose." She looks around, before settling on Dad, me, and Ruki. "Now I do. Now the enemy comes, and my rage is subsumed by the fear all mothers have when war comes. So what I think we should do is informed by that." She takes a deep breath. "We should accept being vassalised so that we survive to fight for freedom another day. It suffocates me to say it, but I don't see another way. MSI has deployed a new wormhole propulsion system that allows them to converge their entire fleet anywhere they choose. They have used it to strike our allies in the Prikki and PDRTC, killing more than two billion people in the latter. Their fleet is now on it's way to the homeworld of Humanity to repeat that attack and kill at least another fifteen billion people. They fully intend to do the same here. I am loathe to surrender, but right now I don't see an alternative that keeps us alive. That said, I recognise that for many of us we would pick fighting over slavery again, which is why I want to put it to a public vote on how to respond."

She sits. Chaos erupts.

 

[HistoryDude]

That... was not the position that I expected Naomi to take.

Could Life 2.0 accept vassalization, retreat to the asteroids, and then backstab MSI? If they were scattered, they might be able to resist...

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Time is critical.

While Naomi has been an excellent leader so far, as she admits motherhood has affected her judgement.

But, she has given an opportunity. Her nature allows us to exploit the opportunity to lure and destroy the MSI fleet by offering to accept and awaiting them to come too close. We can do it, and we will do it. But we must mobilise now!

Vote Ykrett, your "Attack The Fleet" candidate.

---

We do not deny the compulsion to destroy our slaver enemy. But, pragmatics dictate a tactical retreat underground, where our enemy must come down to fight on our level where we have the advantage.

Vote Hoggagha, your "Underground Defence" candidate.

---

The presence of MSI threatening our world is too great a risk - we have already seen what happened when this fleet attacked Nova Terra.

Our best option is to retreat into the vastness of space. MSI cannot leave this fleet to try to hunt us all down, and will inevitably need to bring it back before the Prikki seek vengeance for the destruction of their Sentry Arrays. Time is therefore on our side. We fly out, then return home when it is safe, and carry on as before.

Vote Mei Hua, your "To The Stars" candidate.

---

When we evaluate the long term project, we need more than simply obliterating MSI - if the only option we allow them is retaliation, then the attack coming now is only going to be repeated in the future as MSI seeks to prevent their annihilation. The purpose of violence is to shock the enemy to the negotiation table, where we can obtain reform.

MSI have offered reforms - it makes sense to at least consider what options are available.

Vote Valerius as your "Reformer" candidate.