Before I could move on to anything else, the signature sound of my system rang.
[ Ding! ]
[ New Task Gained ]
✩ | Securing The Zone | Objectives: Set up defenses and fortifications around the territory surrounding the Cornerstone Stronghold to establish your grasp over the region and ensure none can come and go as they please under your watch. Turrets (0/2,000) - Mines (5,000/100,000) Rewards: 1 Attribute point, 10 Leadership Points, 25 Repair Points, 10 Science Points, 70,000 Exp.
Sweet, I got another load of quest rewards to collect coming my way.
I gave my system a swift peruse following that mental comment of mine, and the moment I was done, I closed out of it and returned to my overview for the past week. But before I did, I sent out a large portion of the newly produced K-1 Spider Mines into the cleared territory around the base, specifically 10,000 of the explosive little buggers. And while I was at it, I sent out another bunch of the Sparrows I produced in this five-day period to expand my aerial coverage from the sky above.
As the multi-legged spider-like robots were busily streaming out of the various entrances around the stronghold and setting off into the dry arid environment of Nevada as a literal swarm and a couple hundred more Sparrows took to the skies, I turned my focus to what I had gotten done recently.
Going back to my previous thoughts, that pretty much covers the construction projects. The only other thing of note that's kind of in the same vein was the remaining specialized manufacturing machines being fully overhauled and converted to automated ones. I'm happy about finally getting the plant to where I wanted it to be and freeing up that not so small amount of workforce, but there's not much else to cover here, so I'll move onto weapons next.
I was satisfied overall with my kit when it came to going loud, but the same could not be said for the limited selection I had for stealth, especially after I dealt with the killers for hire sent by the Merchant Guild. So, I rectified that particular issue and expanded my arsenal once more with a whole host of silent but deadly weapons that were sure to boost my versatility in the fights and challenges to come.
| FBSILR-2 Stealth Rifle |
Damage: 75
DPS: 563 - Variable
Fire rate: 450 RPM Fully Automatic, Semi-Automatic
Weight: 12
Class: Medium
Ammo Type: Microfusion Breeder Cell
Value: 179,900
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Attachments: Canted Red Dot Sight, Laser Sight, 1-12x Variable Zoom Scope, Vertical Fore Grip, Weapon Sling
Description:『 The FBSILR-2 Stealth Rifle took the FBLAR-1 Laser Assault Rifle's original design, extended the barrel to make room for more components, traded off rate of fire for increased damage that was upped by a few factors, suppressed the firing noise to a negligible amount that few could pick up on unless they were standing right by it, and converted its original visible red laser to one on another spectrum that can't be picked up by most creatures for the purpose of performing silent one shot kills. 』
| Impaler |
Damage: 50
DPS: Variable
Fire rate: Semi-Automatic, Tri-shot
Capacity: 3
Reload: 10
Weight: 17
Class: Heavy
Ammo Type: Heavy Crossbow Bolts
Value: 23,500
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Description:『 The Impaler is a large, unwieldy 3-shot crossbow that fires large hardened alloy bolts that are capable of penetrating a good percentage of lower to lower mid tier body armor relatively easily. Despite the fact it's a bit on the heavy side of things it's still a crossbow so some can look past those negatives since it can be loaded with all sorts of bolt heads like broadheads for more damage, bodkin points for improved armor-piercing ability, high explosive for destructive area of effect power, and many more. Furthermore, it's a multishot heavy crossbow with a lot of force behind its 3 separate strings, so the tradeoffs can be well worth it to those looking to save money on ammo and looking to take down their prey quietly. 』
| Needler |
Damage: Variable
DPS: Variable
Fire rate: 750
Capacity: 50
Reload: 2.9
Power: Microfusion Breeder
Weight: 5
Class: Light
Ammo Type: Needler Syringes
Value: 38,700
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Attachments: Red Dot Sight
Description:『 This weapon is a strange little piece of technology. Its main body shares similarities with submachine guns and other personal defense weapons, but it also features a small tank mounted underneath the weapon that is filled with compressed gas, which it uses to fire its many tiny syringes. Those tiny little guys can be found in a small box magazine loaded on the left side of the peculiar device, and they are typically filled with a lethal concoction of extremely toxic fungal compounds, ones discovered by the weapon's creator in a molemen colony a number of years ago.
In addition to that deadly cocktail of compounds, which can take down most enemies in 30 seconds or fewer and send them off to the grim reaper in under a handful of minutes, the syringes can also be loaded with fast acting knockout solutions, specifically one that can incapacitate most targets within 60 seconds of injection. Or if that's not enough variety, the user can also load the weapon's delivery method with any number of concoctions and cocktails they desire. And although this compact weapon has many use cases given its versatility, it is a very situational weapon and requires the targets to have at least one exposed section on their body as well as accurate fire for it to work flawlessly. 』
| Severance |
Damage: 300
DPS: Variable
Power: Microfusion Breeder
Weight: 250
Class: Heavy
Value: 4,990,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Description:『 Severance is a massive 6-foot long two-handed microfusion breeder powered vibro greatsword that possesses an extremely durable but lengthy 5-foot long, 1-foot wide, and inch and a half thick blade that vibrates at an incredibly fast speed. This new technological advancement allows this monstrously heavy weapon to slice through defenses as if they are nothing whilst only releasing a low but barely audible hum. It is so powerful, in fact, that it can cleave through a tank's armor as if it were a hot knife slicing through butter. And if its unique properties aren't enough to get the job done, the heft of the humongous blade combined with the user's strength should help it on through. However, despite how powerful this weapon is, only those who possess great strength and endurance can wield it with any actual ability. 』
| Vibro Commando Knife |
Damage: 125
DPS: Variable
Power: Microfusion Breeder
Weight: 3.5
Class: Light
Value: 75,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Description:『 The original Commando Knife design has evolved with the introduction of new state-of-the-art vibration tech and is now a much, much more potent and fearsome weapon. This tech upgrade has granted it the ability to take down heavily armored foes with one precise, deadly strike to the vitals. Having said that, it has maintained most of its previous physical features, such as its foot-long hardened advanced alloy blade and 6-inch grip with its accompanying spiked knuckle guard. The only new additions are a bunch of internal microelectronics and mechanical mechanisms and a new specially designed microfusion breeder cell hidden within the grip. 』
| Vibro Throwing Knife |
Damage: 125
DPS: Variable
Power: Microfusion Breeder
Weight: 1
Class: Light
Value: 56,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Description:『 A small, thin knife that vibrates at a ridiculously high rate of speed and releases a light hum whilst powered. This slender weapon can be used as a traditional knife, obviously, but its true purpose is to be thrown at targets so it can penetrate and sail through flesh, bone and metal with ease. 』
On top of expanding my quiet arsenal, I also designed and produced a new energy weapon, specifically a heavy plasma weapon.
| FBGP-15 Gatling Plasma |
Damage: 85
DPS: 1,417-8,500
Fire rate: 1,000 - 6,000
Resistances: DT 170 Rear
Weight: 195
Class: Heavy
Ammo Type: Fusion Breeder Reactor
Value: 2,350,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Attachments: Laser Sight, Heavy Weapon Sling
Description:『 The FBGP-15 Gatling Plasma is a heavy-duty, 6-barreled gatling plasma that takes inspiration from the FBGL-6 Gatling Laser, so much so that it uses the exact same reactor backpack, which has also been upgraded and renamed with the production of this piece for simplicity's sake. That aside, this intimidating weapon features a total of 6 FBPMG-9 Plasma Machine Gun barrels and a number of upgraded internal components, which enable this weapon to push out a bit more damage compared to its brethren. 』
And a uniquely armored one just for me.
| Meltdown |
Damage: 100
DPS: 1,667 - 10,000
Fire rate: 1,000 - 6,000
Resistances: Total DT 400, DT 150 Front, DT 250 Rear
Weight: 270
Class: Heavy
Ammo Type: Fusion Breeder Reactor
Value: 5,950,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Attachments: Laser Sight, Heavy Weapon Sling
Description:『 A massive gatling plasma that uses the same armored quick-release fusion breeder reactor backpack as the Purge gatling laser. This weapon has the same total number of FBPMG-9 Plasma Machine Gun barrels as the regular FBGP-15 Gatling Plasma, but these have had their internals upgraded and are both larger and longer than their original, giving the weapon just that extra bit of firepower. To go along with that, it also possesses an armored shield mounted towards the midsection, similar to Purge, and a fire rate control located by the trigger that can be adjusted on the fly as the user wishes. 』
The amount of new weapons I designed and introduced in this period was kind of nuts now that I'm thinking of it, but it's not the only section that has seen a good amount of development in this span.
| Aegis Combat Suit |
Resistances: DT 100, Radiation Resistance 25
Attributes: Agility +2, Endurance +2, Perception +1, Strength +3
Skills: Ballistic Weapons +3, Energy Weapons +3, Explosives +3, Heavy Weapons +3, Medicine +5, Stealth +20
Power: Microfusion Breeder
Weight: 180
Class: Heavy
Value: 750,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Description:『 The Aegis Combat Suit is a jet-black, fully encased suit of armor made up of an inner suit of breathable synthetic fibers covered head to toe in durable lightweight alloy plates, which does a great job protecting the internal E.X.O. components that got ripped from the Xenix-Series Combat Armor and then subsequently upgraded to provide more speed, endurance, and a boost to the wearer's strength. This heavy suit of armor that is well on its way to becoming power armor comes paired with a comparatively heavy-duty encapsulated helmet, that doesn't feature a slit or visor like most helmet designs but instead multiple diamond-shaped cutouts equipped with glowing red sensors capable of night and thermal vision.
These sensors feed the viewable area to the small array of displays built within the helmet, granting the user increased protection. In addition to the suite of sensors, the helm also features a built-in gas mask, flash protection, sound enhancing and muffling capabilities, encrypted communication equipment, a range finder and heads up H.U.D., and smart tech that allows easier communication between personnel and intuitive aiming of weapons on all kinds of platforms.
Returning to the suit once more, it is rated to stop most small-arm fire across the entirety of it and although it no longer features segmented plates across the entirety of the armor like its predecessor, the Heavy Trooper Armor set, it still retains plenty of flexibility, unlike most power armor suits. Its protective qualities aside, the armor also features spikes on the knuckles, elbows, shins, and shoulders to provide the user with a violent melee alternative. As well as an onboard injection system, it ripped from the Xenix-Series Combat Armor, which is able to administer combat stimulants, medstim injections, and pain relief either as requested or as needed.
Last but certainly not least, the suit has had an extremely compact and efficient air conditioning system installed with small vents streaming all across the interior of the suit, so it can manage the wearer's body temperature through all kinds of uncomfortable environments. And this, along with the rest of its many functions, are powered solely by a single microfusion cell and a backup one in case the main cell fails or is compromised in some way. 』
After finally putting in the hours required to make a standard full suit of combat armor for my future troops, I worked on making a set of upgraded Heavy Trooper Armor for Mary and customized it to her liking, but it was basically just an Aegis Combat Suit combined with a few elements from the Heavy Trooper Armor. And once I was done with hers, I took it upon myself and upgraded the rest of the squad's armor sets as well as my own and brought them in line with the wildflower's kit and the new standard combat armor.
The only other stuff worth mentioning besides what I've gone over thus far are the heavy automated defenses I prepared for any colossal and aerial threats that may enter my domain and the airspace above.
| FBLC-44 Quad Laser Cannon Turret |
Damage: 200-300
Fire rate: 2,400
Resistances: DT 450
Power: Fusion Breeder
Weight: 1,250
Value: 35,000,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Description:『 This monster of a turret is extremely heavily armored and comes bearing equally heavy armaments in the way of 4 FBLC-22 Laser Cannons, that can either fire all at once or in a clockwise pattern to extend firing time and the lifespan of the weapons. And even though it typically fires in the latter pattern, it has another feature: the ability to overclock its power output, which can boost the turret's firepower by a whopping 50%, giving it the ability to burn right through tanks and other heavily armored entities with relative ease. 』
| W-24 Swarmer Missile Pod Turret |
Damage: 280+
Fire rate: Variable
Capacity: 24 + 120
Resistances: DT 450
Power: Fusion Breeder
Weight: 1,500
Value: 10,000,000
Creator: Dom Mason Woods
Description:『 W-24 Swarmer Missile Pod Turret used what the Swarmer-9 Missile Pod does well and expanded on it. This has resulted in a weapon that can strike down those in the sky and rain down hellfire upon its controller's enemies on the ground with the new 80mm multipurpose munitions that were developed in the time it was being designed and assembled.
The new 80mm multipurpose missile is packed full of an assortment of advanced components, which has given it the ability to become a whole host of missile types ranging from hive multi-missiles, fragmentation, EMP, plasma, to even nuclear, all while being a single munition type. And when the turret has fired its load, it will withdraw to the safe and protected confines of its armored loading dock below to be quickly refilled by the autoloader mechanism. Once it's fully stocked up, it'll pop back out to continue unleashing multipurpose destructive ordnance upon whomever and whatever is unlucky enough to be within its missiles' range. 』
They aren't going to stop any extraterrestrial threats and are probably a bit excessively armored for their purpose, but they'll definitely tank whatever is thrown at them whilst they lay waste to any mutants and enemy forces that dare to step foot within this expansive valley.
…
Alright, I think that about covers everything, and although it's only been a short 5 days, we've truly gotten a ton accomplished in such a brief span of time.
I spent a few seconds longer stewing on my accomplishments for the week and carried on to what I actually wanted to do next, which was making further progress on reverse engineering stealth pack technology and figuring out all its intricacies.