Whilst the Miners and Security drone are in the vicinity, the Security drone should take a detour towards the cave that the Scout is detained in.
When close enough, the Scout will break out, and if it comes into trouble, the Security drone will intervene with non-lethal ammunition to ensure the Scout can escape. Once the two drones have successfully shaken any pursuit, they should return to the Miner drones and escort them back. On it's return, the scout drone should be analysed for any traces of this tar substance.
Meanwhile, the Southern Scout should stay at a distance and observe the locals, with a priority towards tracking any groups that look like they are going to be moving in our direction.
The Developer/Security pair should continue with the perimeter sensors.
The final scout should run wide circuits around the command post, with the intent of finding any native groups who are within 30km.
Let's ask for another Developer and another Security drone, and have the pair begin constructing a fortified compound for our colonists. Nothing fancy, just some habitation with a wall and guard towers.
Foundation Stage; Day 2The night sky is visited by a pair of shooting stars, falling to the planets surface. The impact of the two drone pods upon the soil is loud, likely heard perhaps a kilometre away, but that is why this site was chosen, it would take something much larger to catch the attention of the river cities to the south, still better to requisition new equipment at night, take as few risks as possible.
The new drones take a moment to boot up, before they are then immediately set to work, the developer beginning construction of a fortified compound for the colonists, and not having to spread its job over a large area, it works quickly. By the end of the next night it has constructed a simple settlement, it could probably house nearly a hundred colonists, albeit not very comfortably, the structures being little more than a few bunkers and a storage facility for food, whenever that gets made. The new compound is surrounded by a four metre high metal and stone wall, dotted by a handful of simple watch towers, it would probably take a force of maybe twenty human guards to watch the entire place day and night, but that could easily be supplemented by drones.
Meanwhile as the new arrival gets to work, the first drone tirelessly continues its job, trekking its way around the valley and by just before dusk it completes its work, a series of small sensor towers now keep track over anything moving past the new 1km perimeter. Though it quickly proves to be not a very secure perimeter, though the sensors do detect anything entering the valley, they don't do much to dissuade them, and a 1km perimeter is too large for just two security drones to effectively cover. Almost as soon as they are active the sensors detect multiple creatures breaching the perimeter, fortunately upon inspection the intruders are the more harmless variety of locals, large herbivorous creatures, usually coming to drink, and easily scared off by the security drones when they arrive. Still the sensors continue to be tripped almost hourly, and without more detailed survey of local wildlife it will be difficult to discern harmless intruders from lethal ones. If you where capable of emotions you might start getting annoyed at the regular tripping of the perimeter sensors.
Fortunately you are not human, and so you merely take note and dispatch the security drones to inspect, still the perimeter is most definitively not secured, even if a good first step has been taken, more work will be required.
Meanwhile the miners and third security drone are once again dispatched north, but once it gets near the cave, the security drone splits off and makes a beeline for the primitive settlement, once again another snake-worm approaches the mining drones but once again, their sheer bulk seems to dissuade it, perhaps they are attracted to vibrations? But as the mining drones continue their mission, the security drone continues along its way, but as it nears the alien settlement, it notices movement and quickly detects a pair of aliens rushing towards their settlement, sentries most likely, not that the security drone cares, as it plods its was towards the captured drone before stopping at a relatively safe distance.
Said scout drone meanwhile had been quietly observing its captors as it patiently awaited rescue, of sorts. Those captors seem to be quite confused by the drone, and many times they approach the drone, poking it with spears from behind the bars (to no effect) and many of the likely more senior creatures have a several very vocal discussions in front of it. Ultimately they don't let their guard down around it but they don't seem to become more suspicious, or currently interested in properly damaging the drone,n rather they end up settling on leaving the unmoving drone in the cage and shooing away any of the younger ones whenever they try to get a closer look.
This time in captivity does give the drone ample recordings of these creatures, their language and mannerisms. Appearance wise it notices nothing much new except the details of how their mouths work, rather than a jaw they have four clawed mandibles around a tooth filled mouth which comes complete with a long and dexterous tongue, they clock these mandibles together for much of their speech, which in turn seems filled with mostly clicks, hisses and the occasional screech. Through observing the drones recordings you are also able to observe a built about their culture, limited as your view is, they seem to be very much elder led, with a strong tie to family if the common appearances of the internal groupings is any indicator. You also manage to discern a a word that they use a lot in description of themselves, Saakin, though whether that refers to their species, tribe, culture or family you can't figure out. Further observations are limited as the night gets darker and most of the creatures fall asleep, and as dawn starts to break it is then interrupted when a pair of more exhausted creatures burst in(the same ones the security drone observed running away) and quickly wake up the elders and more martial looking creatures, some of whom start throwing glances towards the scout. However further observation is prevented when the Security drone signals it is in position, and the scout acts.
The creatures are very obviously surprised to see the previously completely still scout burst into action, and at first they just stand there gobsmacked or back off in fear as the drone tears it way through the flimsy metal bars and bursts into the cave. There is much screaming and shrieking form the previously sleeping creatures as the scout rushes through them, however the previous confusion does not last long as the hunters of the group start shrieking in a slightly less frightened tone, and give chase to the drone. However though they prove themselves faster than the average human, the scout is much faster than that, and it quickly makes distance between it and the chasing hunters as it runs across the open desert towards the waiting security drone. It proves so fast in fact, and with the hunters perhaps still delirious from their recent sleep, that they soon lose track of the drone. The two drones start rushing their way across the desert, though the scout is forced to slow down significantly for the security drone, but the desert is vast and soon it becomes clear that the drones have lost their pursuers. The security drone makes its way back to the miners without having fired a single shot, while the scout rushes back to the command centre.
Upon its return it is quickly checked for any traces of the tar substance, and luckily it seems that despite the liquid used to free it there is a sizable patch stuck in one of the rear leg joints though upon analysis the substance appears to be simply that, tar. How the natives managed to acquire some for the use of a trap is unknown but there appears to be nothing special about the tar itself.
As all this transpires the other northern scout returns to the desert and starts making a wide search for any other native sapient. However a 30km radius is extremely large, and the desert is very good at hiding things, it makes no findings though its search of the area is not nearly complete. It does at one point almost fall prey to one of the snake-worms, a six metre specimen bursting out of the sand to reveal a mouth full of razor sharp teeth, however the scout is fast and manages to evade with relative ease, still at least that confirms that the snake-worms are definitely predators, perhaps the apex predators of this desert.
The southern scout meanwhile continues to obverse the locals from a distance, but though it does manage to avoid detection it doesn't manage to pick up any new information, except that despite their sitting along a river, the locals don't seem to spend much time near the water.
The scout drone has been rescued, at the cost of a controlled first contact, though it is unlikely the tribe that captured the scout have any idea of where it came from or the command post. These natives present a very unique challenge to the colony, eventually an approach towards them will have to be decided, be it cooperation, subjugation, extermination, or some mix of the three. But ultimately the prime directive is still the establishment and prosperity of the colony, how these natives fit into that goal remains to be seen.
Meanwhile the development of the colony infrastructure continues apace, and for now the current mining approach has no difficulties keeping up with demand. There is still work to be done before the perimeter is secure but at least now it is monitored, more drones will be required for that, but the current network capacity is near its limit. It is likely time to start constructing new drone hubs to expand the network. And while the colonists do now have a place to stay, food supplies will need to be acquired before they can be brought down (and an orbital receiver pad), water at least won't be a problem for a while.
Command Post (Secure)
Perimeter Sensors (Active)
Basic Habitation Compound (Secure)
Network Usage 10/11
3 Units of Security Drones (Active)
3 Unit of Scout Drones (Active)
2 Unit of Developer Drones (Active)
2 Unit of Miner Drones (Active)
The hab block with defenses cost you 2 minerals but you do now have a steady supply of 3 minerals per day, barring anything going wrong.
Drone hubs coast 1 mineral each and provide you with 5 more network for drone control.
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Topic: Colony Command (Read 9089 times)