Wasps OXP

Wasps adds formation flying wasps, queen wasps, and wasp nests

Overview

This is a Priority 'A' GalCop General News Bulletin for the attention of ALL pilots. Recent reports have been sent to GalCop from various areas regarding sighting of an unknown type of craft. What was thought to be a one-off encounter has subsequently proven to be widespread contacts of an alien craft.

The origins of these craft are unknown. Their exact purpose is unknown. Whether they are a ship, a robotic drone, or a new type of cybernetic lifeform is unknown. As GalCop began investigating reports, various Viper squadrons attempted contact with the wasps, however no broadcast has yet been answered.

Two types of wasp have been identified. The common wasp has swept wings and is armed with a weapon comparable to a Beam Laser. A larger craft with spread wings and a Military Laser-grade weapon has been designated as a "queen wasp" : examples are reported to have been seen cruising with common wasps flying as escort.

"Queen wasp"

Even more alarming, GalCop's investigations have discovered that these vessels operate from their own space station. These structures are comparable in size to a standard Coriolis station, and have been discovered between the Witchspace beacon and the sun. It is unclear how these stations were constructed without the knowledge of GalCop, and they exhibit uncommon build features, comprising of both mechanical and what looks like organic components.

Several of these stations have been logged, and pilots can use their Advanced Space Compass to find them ~ the key letter "K" is used to designate a Nest. Nests are invariably situated near to the sun, and this is possibly due to the craft being mainly solar powered : they exhibit none of the usual exhaust trails, and their wing structures appear to comprise of solar cells that feed power into the craft.

Although somewhat menacing in appearance, the wasps appear to have been fairly docile so far. Outright attacks are as yet unconfirmed, however when attacked these craft will defend themselves viciously. Fast and extremely agile, they work as a team and are a threat to all but the best pilots – they are especially dangerous when defending their Nest against attack.

Whatever these craft are, they appear both intelligent and fully conversant with GalCop technology. It should be noted that several pilots have docked at Nests and found full trading facilities available, with premium prices being paid for food. GalCop advises that pilots dock with these structures at their own risk. In a related incident, a recent report has just been filed with GalCop concerning a roaming queen wasp and her escorts that docked at Ensoreus : although somewhat disconcerting to the station staff and traders, the wasps came and left without incident.

GalCop is still urgently investigating this phenomena. An anonymous message indicating that Isis Interstellar had a secretive project involving robotic military drones has been vehemently denied by the company. In the meantime, GalCop instructs that these craft are NOT to be engaged, except in self-defense: aside from their placid nature at present, GalCop will not tolerate actions that could potentially spark a full scale conflict with these craft, or their creators.

License

As with all Killer Wolf's oxp's, this is not a simple matter for the lawyers amongst us! See License for more detail.

Thanks to Ahruman and Eric Walch for the pseudorandom stuff, and a very special sincere thanks goes to Thargoid for some awesome AI routines

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Links

• Author: Killer Wolf
• BB Post (2010)