[ You have new Quests ]

[ Quest Offered

Complete the Challenges of the First Mana Sink

Reward: 5000 Company Points, 2 Random Supply Tokens

Accept: Y/N ]

[ Quest Offered

Complete the Challenges in under one hour

Reward: 2000 Company Points, 1 Hero Token

Accept: Y/N ]

[ Quest Offered

Slay the Optional Boss

Reward: 5000 Company Points, 1 Building Upgrade Token

Accept: Y/N ]

As I stared at the Vortex, I felt no dread, no worry.

Sure the idea of the Mana Sink sounded bad, but perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Actually, if anything, I had a good feeling about the whole thing.

I felt an eagerness burning in my gut that I had felt in a while. Excitement for the new. Why or how I was all of the sudden so gung ho about this I couldn't begin to say.

I quickly accepted the quests. I really wanted to find out what the Building Upgrade Token did. Hero Tokens were also a reward I couldn't pass up. That also reminded me I had a Supply Token burning a hole in my pocket. Still I didn't really see a need to open it yet. Maybe if I hit a wall in development. Also there was a Merc Token but I had a feeling those were one time things, so best to save them.

I wanted more before I started playing with them.

The system sure was good at getting me to want to face danger. Which was strange, since facing danger wasn't the reason I was here. It was almost like the system was designed for a different purpose than what I was here to do.

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Well that wasn't freaky. So they knew what I was thinking, confirmed.

I shrugged.

"You alright, Hoss?"

"I'm peachy, Jim, just got some quests." I grinned at him.

"There it is. That crazy grin. He's excited about something." Raynor pointed at the Vortex, "We going in there?'

"Oh, absolutely. We are going to wreck whatever is in there. But not yet. Let's got some of our plans started and I'll crank out some upgrades." My right hand cradled my chin, while I tried to plot our next steps. "Jaina do we have at least two weeks before this thing blows?"

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"I'm not certain. This was never my area of study. I've never seen a Dungeon formation before. If I had to offer a guess, we have maybe a month, before its first disgorgement of monsters." She shook her head while smacking her staff's butt cap against the ground a few times. Probably a nervous tick.

My lip bunched up in a odd way, "Should be more than enough time to get some new shiny gear ready. I'll be in the forge working and testing until I think we are good to go. Jaina keep me informed of any important issues."

"As you will, my Lord."

"Jim and John get those new footmen and the ones we will be bringing in sorted and trained up. Now that you have a little more time on the equipment make some suggestions for improvements."

"Sure thing, Hoss."

John just nodded.

"Amanda you are our connection to the outside world, keep your ear to the ground in case the Corpo scum make a move."

"What about those invisible drones?" She pointed up.

"The observers are not infallible and they just collect raw data. Alina does her best to parse all of it, but she is not just a machine but an alien machine. She misses some of the context. I'll trust you to catch the clues she just can't grasp."

"Alright, we're in this for the long haul." She confirmed while glancing at Raynor.

Oh. That was a great reason for her to help. I was still impressed with how she was holding up, after the shock of her daughter's likely fate. It spoke of how much death she had seen over the years.

I could learn a lot from her. Some part of me was a mess. I was also about to push all of it aside with work. That never had any consequences. Nope, not a one.

"Alright I'll stay and get some Probes to set up some defenses here in case the Vortex pops early. You guys take care of yourselves and call me if you need me for anything."

They said their, "See you later(s)" and went off to get started on their projects.

Probes were already arriving, like they had anticipated my intentions.

Hmm.

For now, lets just surround it with a double ring of Photon Cannons and station a few Sentries. That should trip up any invaders until we come respond with more force.

In short order, a ring of death took shape. I checked it over. It would have to do for now.

Before I went to isolate myself in the Forge, I decide to get a Stargate started. It was like a thorn in my mind, I couldn't let it go. I was dead set on getting one.

At first, I thought it was because I recognized the value of air power, and more pertinently control of the planet's orbit. However, I had begun to suspect that deep down I just wanted a space ship to ride in. I only had a couple of real obsession's and the thought of being able to travel in the Solar System was one of them.

It had to be done, so I was going to get the Probes moving on it.

I walked northeast, well past any of the farms and the perimeter of the Pylons and defenses, looking for a space big enough.

There was a gap between the mountains and hills surrounding the Valley and another line of mountains running off to the northwest. This gap should be just wide enough and with a few Pylons at key locations should be easily cloaked from prying eyes.

Once I had marked out the area, the Probes evened up my spacing and started the assembly of the Pylons. Any Probes not needed for the daily maintenance of the town would be involved and cycle out as needed. With close to a thousand of the robo buddies we shouldn't need to build more for this project.

With that out of the way, I marched back to the Town and then into the Valley. I briefly pondered why the Mana Sink didn't start in the Valley since the Mana was almost twice as dense in here as out in the town. It was getting to the point that regular folk without armor couldn't survive the environment. The summons were somewhat better off, but they would get loopy after a while. Mana Drunk, Jaina had called it.

Me, I just felt a pleasant tingle on my skin.

Which was why I was going to use the Valley Forges instead of the ones in town, to keep from being interrupted.

I also noticed that Wisps were everywhere. Meadran informed me that the Wisps were starting to form on their own. Blue and silver Wisps by the Moon Wells and gold and green Wisps in the forest.

I could hear their laughter now. Like small children full of joy. It brought a smile to my face. Life energy was so strong here. It lifted my mood and improved my already ridiculous health.

They were growing more intelligent and more aware. Normally I'd probably freak out about that but for right now it seemed like a good thing.

Once I arrived at the Forges I got to work.