[OOC] Virgin Space: A Space Opera RP of Power, Profit, and Providence

[Letter Bee]

@Hawlin, You can post; I even encourage it.

[Letter Bee]

@Hawlin, I'll wait for @TheUnknowable to post, but right now, the NPC Salvagers would be laughing at you; I can't write more than a few paragraphs of that, though.

[Hawlin]

@agentmanatee
Oh! I will give Reuben autohits for the scene as long as he doesn't hurt Ahnci too badly.
Hes scared and delusional from pseudo-exhaustion and prejudice from what hes been told about humanity.
Ahnciel is also at a stark physiological disadvantage and is now unarmed.
It would be gratuitous and bordering arrogance to not allow auto-hits. Just...please don't mutilate my character.

[LHG100]

Sorry if I was being too pushy/an asshole, by the way. In any case hook is already perfect so I'm content lmao, thanks a ton fam, I'd work on it now but yknow it's 2am and on phone

[Letter Bee]

@LHG100, Thanks! Can't wait for tomorrow, then!

[Gentlemanvaultboy]

Name: Rudolf Pendrick

Age: 50

Appearance: A short, bald, heavyset man with a great big brown busy beard, a big nose, and playful blue eyes. He wears comfortable, loose fitting clothing of bright coloration if he can possible help it. The mans whole aspect brings to mind Santa Claus if he were on vacation.

Starting Faction: Baskerville Security, the name in personal cyber-organic protection. Baskerville, co-founded by Rudolf himself 20 years ago and named for its first product, focuses on the genetic and cybernetic modification of animals for use as personal security devices/pets and the company rose to prominence so quickly that any creature of that type, even those made by imitators and competitors, is referred to as a Baskerville in popular parlance. Though the corporate headquarters is based on New Amsterdam, branch offices can be found on nearly any civilized world to provide troubleshooting and maintenance for a growing Baskerville population. Though many of its products are high end custom jobs for rich clients it has made every effort to keep mass produced Baskeville's affordable to the average citizen.

Baskervilles

What separates a Baskerville from the bio-organic weapons created by the Gardeners is heavy cybernetic enhancement, in particular a on-board computer allowing a VI to interface directly with the Baskervilles brain. Instead of overtaking and controlling the creature brain, however, it instead acts to augment the creatures combat abilities. It assesses situations, picks targets, and provides strategic suggestions to the Baskerville in combat, but the Baskerville is never forced or coerced by the VI allowing it to rely on its natural instincts when necessary. The two work in tandem, like an animal and its handler, allowing the Baskerville to make quick and efficient decisions in a dangerous situation.

Appearance and Armament

Official Baskervilles are typically quadrupedal, based on dogs or large cats, but competitors and a thriving hobbyist black market has ensured that you can find a Baskerville model of any creature under the sun, including humans. This leads to a large range of sizes, but typically the biggest Baskerville is twice the size of the creature it was based on. Armament, again, varies wildly across models. Some favor heavy armor, some favor appearing as much like a normal animal as possible, some have mounted guns, others favor melee. No matter what every Baskerville is a deadly weapon in its own way.

The "standard" model Baskerville on the market today, the CM-9 Rover, is the size and in the general shape of a large dog. Featuring both a subdermal layer of flexible armor able to withstand most small arms fire and and a single long manipulator tentacle protruding from the back of its neck. It's head is encased in the mono eyed helmet typical of official Baskerville design, and internal cybernetic enhancements allow it to run up to 75 miles per hour for prolonged stretches and give it the jaw strength to crush a bowling ball into powder. It also features hardpoints placed strategically on the body, allowing heavy armor and weapon systems to be attached as necessary (armor and weaponry sold separately).

Behavior

Official Baskervilles are known for their calm, stoic temperament and safety record. To this point no official Baskerville product has willfully turned on its owner of its own accord, and the line is typified for great loyalty. This safety was played up in a controversial early ad campaign where Baskerville co-founder Remmy Zaroff allowed his infant child to be carried in the closed mouth of the companies then new FM-2 Khan and in the companies slogan:

Whatever happens
You have got
A Baskerville
and they have not

Behavior is, however, another thing that varies among competitors and black market Baskervilles. There have been more than a few tragic incidents to stain the Baskerville name. Black market models in particular have developed a reputation for violence.

Despite this many Baskervilles can be safely treated as a family pet, and act as such until they sense danger. A Baskerville, while coming pre-trained, can receive additional training from its owner allowing for a great deal of flexibility. While it will always place the safety of its owners first they can be taught to protect a whole area, to work with soldiers or other Baskervilles as a unit, to guard and herd other creatures, and to play games.

Creation and Care

A Baskerville is created young. While still a baby it is given a variety of gene modifications and implant surgeries to achieve the desired shape and capabilities, with the only cybernetic enhancement being the VI interface. After being given time to grow and aquatint itself with any new limbs it is put through a training regiment designed to foster loyalty, good nature, discipline, and combat ability. If the Baskerville is to be a custom model it is introduced to its future owner at this point. After basic training and a health assessment the rest of its cybernetic implants are installed in another series of surgeries. After this comes another round of training much like the first and a second health and technical assessment to ensure that the Baskerville is both healthy and cooperating with its VI.

Baskervilles can be fed like any other pet, though the amount may be greater than normal. All official Baskervilles are sterile, though this is not necessarily true of black market models. Any problem with a Baskervilles health should prompt contact with a Baskerville branch office, who will send a trained medical/technical professional to diagnose the problem. Do not attempt to fix your Baskerville yourself, or "mod" it, as that would void the warranty.

Skills: It is not a complete exaggeration to say that, with the right tools, Rudolf could take apart any animal and put it back together better than new. The man is an excellent veterinarian, zoologist, and botanist, classically trained by the Gardeners, as well as an animal handler. He can get just about any animal to calm down and obey him, and seems to exert an almost supernatural control over Baskervilles in particular. In addition he is, by necessity, and expert in cybernetics and an extremely capable technician.

Standard Equipment: Rudolf travels with what he considers his masterpiece, a Baskerville the size of a small car he calls Giant Gorg or GG for short. A giant, fiercely loyal, quadrupedal monstrosity that looks like it might have been a puma or something once upon a time, GG is protected by a trifecta of subdermal armor, a sleek armored exoskeleton, and a kinetic shield. From its back sprouts not only two long manipulator tentacles strong enough to squeeze a man in half but a battery of six guns, three on either side, that lie flush to its back until needed which are controlled by the VI. It's great size belies is equally great speed and surprising agility, and its claws and fangs are strong enough to tear through the hull of a spaceship as one unfortunate group of pirates discovered. Like all Baskerville models it features an extra armored head covering with a single visible electronic eye set in the middle.

Bio: Born and raised a Gardener, Rudolf was nevertheless enchanted with the extensive cybernetics employed by the Society of Steel. After years of long and fruitful study he made his way to where he thought he would find the resources combine his passions for genetic and cybernetic enhancement in true mad scientist fashion. New Amsterdam seemed the best place and, after shopping his mad ideas around for a while, he made a friend in a fledgling entrepreneur named Remmy Zaroff. With is help Rudolf was able to find resources, create a working prototype, and attract investors. Later that year the two co-founded founded Baskerville Security with Remmy handling the management of the business while Rudolf focused on research and development. The business exploded and the two ended up creating an entire new industry which Baskerville still leads.

Things haven't been all champagne and caviar, however. As the number of Baskervilles on the market increased violent incidents have also been on the rise, in particular among the black market models assembled by what Rudolf disdainfully refers to as "hobbyists." These incidents have not only weakened the brand name but have raised question about the ethicality of creating Baskervilles at all. More and more Rudolf has been out on his own putting out fires, investigating the growing black market, and recovering abandoned and illegally modded Baskervilles. Remmy dislikes this, but allows it because it's good PR for the company and Rudolf isn't strictly necessary in the lab anymore.

[agentmanatee]

@Hawlinauto hits you say? Hmmmm.... interesting... I'll have a post up in a little bit

[LHG100]

@Hawlin@agentmanatee Alright, my first post includes my guy walking in on you two. I hope you don't mind! I'll edit the specifics as long as the requests are reasonable and thought out, and you actually make it clear you got a better idea then I do :p

[agentmanatee]

@LHG100did... did you shoot at Reuben? I just need to know... did you discharge your firearm in his direction?

[LHG100]

Oh no, he didn't even hit near him. Basically, he hit the butt of his gun on the wall loud as possible as he came in.

[agentmanatee]

AH! Ok, I thought that was a shot... good thing it wasn't... I'd rather not have this hanger shot up XD

[agentmanatee]

I will probably wait for Hawlin to post before I respond though

[LHG100]

Dis gun be gud, liking Jericho even more in action then I thought he would. I hope he's a good performer so far? I'm definitely liking Reuben too. Perhaps they could be rivals/foils to one another?

[agentmanatee]

@LHG100A serious no nonsense soldier/cyborg and a haughty, uppity noble who thinks he is better than everyone? YEa, sounds like a shitty cop show to me XD

[LHG100]

heheheheh, a shittacular one you mean.

[Hawlin]

The doctor has me on different pain killers since the old ones were conflicting with a bout of strep.
No post today, or at least not until much later while I grapple side effects.

[LHG100]

Aw man, I hate to hear that. Can't wait for tomorrow, then! This is gunna be guuud

[agentmanatee]

@Hawlin Alright no rush friend, hope they don't cause to many problems for you!

[souleaterfan320]

Hey guys, co-gm here, i just wanted to let you guys know that im close to finished on my CS and will post it soon. i didnt realize how long it would take to make an incredibly fleshed out and smoothed cs, and it was a lot longer than expected.

[LHG100]

@souleaterfan320 It better be amazing you lazy fu-

I mean, can't wait to see it!