Shepard Quest Mk IV, Under New Management (ME/MCU)

[Kelenas]

Ah. Right.
I actually independently thought of using that for communication before I knew what quantum entanglement really is, that is before I understood that it is complete and utter bullshit. However, being complete and utter bullshit has not stopped any proper scifi hero before. That said, it is unrelated to the basic tech tree, so you'd need a research hero to get it.

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Frankly, I don't see the point of everything having to be hidden behind "Research Hero", especially if it's canon-technology like QEC, Cyclonic Barriers, and the like. It's honestly getting rather annoying, especially with how it's already established that Revy can study and revolutionize entire disciplines in frankly frighteningly short amounts of time.
As such, it greatly detracts from the Quest, as far as I'm concerned. Revy should be the lynchpoint, not just "one more research hero".

 

[Kelenas]

Well I mean I suppose they built the the frame plus the engine and spinal gun (since people seem to be leaning towards towards the CHA-PI-SSC-01A) but all the cool stuff was done by PI. That and I have no real idea what sort of tech, and level of tech, CHA contributed so I can't really comment there.

I did however put their acronym at the front of the unit code.

Cord-Hispo Aerospace and Paragon Industries' Space Superiority Craft version 01A or CHA-PI-SSC-01A for short.

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Any particular reason why you didn't include techs like the Repulsors and Neural Interface in the fighter?

 

[Esbilon]

Frankly, I don't see the point of everything having to be hidden behind "Research Hero", especially if it's canon-technology like QEC, Cyclonic Barriers, and the like. It's honestly getting rather annoying, especially with how it's already established that Revy can study and revolutionize entire disciplines in frankly frighteningly short amounts of time.
As such, it greatly detracts from the Quest, as far as I'm concerned. Revy should be the lynchpoint, not just "one more research hero".

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Mmm. Fair. Having research heroes for everything will also make the crowd rather large if they're all as specialized as Conrad. Reserach heroes seemed like a good way of increasing the tech tree incrementally.

Other than communications, are there any other research paths that you, the people, think are missing?

 

[tyaty1]

Our Arc/Repulsor technology and Conrad' Blackstorm are unque and exotic branches , but QEC and CBT should be straightforward update for the existing quantum computing and eezo tech.

Also I am not sure, that CBT even a new technology.

Cyclonic Barrier Technology (CBT) attempts to solve the higher-end limitations of traditional kinetic barriers. Traditional barriers cannot block high-level kinetic energy attacks such as disruptor torpedoes because torpedo mass effect fields add mass. The CBT violently slaps aside rather than halting incoming linear force. By rotationally firing their mass effect field projectors, ships create rapidly oscillating kinetic barriers instead of static ones. Shooting through the CBT is like trying to shoot at a target inside a spinning ball.
Significant drawbacks to current CBT configuration prevent its use on anything other than frigates and fighters. Its many high-frequency sensors and emitters require frequent maintenance and replacement. A partially damaged CBT can endanger its operator, who is surrounded by rotating mass effect fields skewing in unpredictable directions. Fortunately, if an emitter is damaged, the CBT corrects to become a traditional shield array, a safety feature that makes it most effective during opening volleys.

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It seems to me as a technological dead end, which was too extensive to implement, but it did fit conveniently for the already ridiculously expensive Normandy SR-2.

 

[UberJJK]

Any particular reason why you didn't include techs like the Repulsors and Neural Interface in the fighter?

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Neural interface is in the fighter.

NCIS
Ever fumbled a control? Accidentally bumped a button while franticly dodging? Been just a second too late on pulling your trigger to save a buddy? Well this is the solution you've been waiting for.

The Paragon Industries Neural Interface Control System, or NICS for short, allows for direct human to machine interface without the need for messy controls. With this completely unprecedented system you can just sit back and control your fighter without even moving a muscle.

While much like the HAPTIC system surgery is required to gain the full benefit of this new interface it is still very much available in a much less invasive format. In this case the stylish headgear I've got on right now. This headpiece drops reaction times down to 50ms from the time you think the command to the time it's enacted and the implant drops that down to 10ms. Compared to the average of 200 miliseconds* to physically react that's a significant improvement when a single millisecond can be the difference between life and death.

(*Yes I know it's for going from accelerator to break in a car but it's about the best I could do)

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Repulsors are in the CHA-SI-SSC-01B (same fighter but with Repulsors) however people are concerned about Cerberus (for which CHA is a front) getting their hands on our Repulsors.

I was alright with that since they'd get them for the Tiger anyway (but I still made the B version since people were worried about it) but then I realized we could make the Tiger in house and we'd have Advanced Black Boxing and FRM so it would be pretty safe from Cerberus.

At which point the 01A became the preferable choice for me, and from what I can tell a lot of other players.

 

[Alanek]

Hardlight is probably after the last materials project, given what it can do if we get it at alll.

 

[Kelenas]

Mmm. Fair. Having research heroes for everything will also make the crowd rather large if they're all as specialized as Conrad. Reserach heroes seemed like a good way of increasing the tech tree incrementally.

Other than communications, are there any other research paths that you, the people, think are missing?

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At a glance;
- Mass Effect/Eezo-tech; Cyclonic Shields, increased speed for FTL drives, alleviating or eliminating the static charge issue for drivecores, better projectile weapons performance, tractor beams, etc.
It's a fairly well-trodden path already, but some innovations should still be possible (such as using ME field manipulation to create tractor beams).
- Stealth Technology (which really shouldn't be under Conrad's auspices, IMO) ; starting with the chameleon-tech Conrad and his friends used, later full cloaking, space stealth for various ship-sizes, etc.
- Production and Resource Extraction; expanding and improving on existing flash-forging and omnigel technologies, such as creating Eclipse Phase-style nanoforges, or asteroid mining ships that can immediately refine the resources it extracts. Might be too powerful for your tastes, though.

More Individually:
- Further suit variants beyond the Mk II
- Some Xeno-medical issues (Kepral's Syndrome, Quarian Immune Deficiency)

 

[Alanek]

And reducing the effectiveness of the genophage, that is also something we might look into for xeno-medical issues, later on. (Say, after we convince Wrex to go home.)

 

[UberJJK]

And reducing the effectiveness of the genophage, that is also something we might look into for xeno-medical issues, later on. (Say, after we convince Wrex to go home.)

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See things like that and Xeno-medical issues seem like exactly the sort of thing that would be out of Revy's scope.

The majority of our bio-tech is far more tech then bio and it's almost certain that the Gene-modding, which is a thing in canon, is simply a more advanced way of doing what already exists.

Xeno-biology is, from what I recall, a very difficult field and something Revy has no reason to be skilled at.

 

[Madfish]

Introducing the Paragon Industries highly adaptable Big Cat Series Infantry Support Vehicles!

Name:

Big Cat ISV Series: Tiger​

Role:

Tiger Core Variant - Rapid Insertion and Infantry Support​

Motive Systems:

6 Wheel All Terrain Drive System​

11 Vehicular Motive Grade Repulsors​

4 Hull Under mounted​

1 Hull Forward Right, 1 Hull Forward left (30º downward max depression)​

1 Hull Rear Right, 1 Hull Rear left (30º downward max depression)​

2 Hull Rear Facing (30º downward max depression)​

1 Hull Roof Mount​

1 PI Light Duty Eezo Core Mass Nullification System. (Optional)​

Weapon Mounts:

One Primary Hard Point (Turret)​

One Secondary Hard Point (Turret)​

One Secondary Hard Point (Hull, Center Right)​

One Secondary Hard Point (Hull, Center Left)​

One Off Bore Micro Missile Launcher (Hull, Rear Mounted).​

Eezo Core Equipped Models include Anti-Personnel Discharge Strips on Hull.​

Sample Variable Configuration:​

Turret Primary: Turreted PI Vehicular 1 MW Laser Cannon, 360º/90º max traverse/elevation, 30º max depression​

Turret Secondary: Coaxial-mounted Hesta Autocannon, 360º/90º max traverse/elevation, 30º max depression. Independent of Primary HP.​

Hull Right and Left Secondary: On Bore Sponson Mounted Pilum Launchers (10 rounds)x2 180º max traverse, 90º max elevation 90º max depression​

Rear Mount MML: Anti-Missile load​

Armor:

PI Lorica¹ Advanced Ceramic Composite​

Standard configuration is Tri layer spaced and sloped.​

Slat, Reactive and Electrically Charged Plate available on request.​

Shield:

PI Castra² Kinetic Barrier Projector Network​

Power Plant:

18 PI Standard Arc-Reactors.​

Computing Support:

1 PI Class A Fire-Cat VI (Advanced Fire Control and Tactical VI)​

1 PI Class A Reactive Parallel Processing Battle Network Controller​

Crew:

1 Driver/Pilot​

1 Gunner​

VI Auto Pilot and Engagement Backup​

PaC (Passenger as Crew) System Backup.​

Passenger Capacity:

8 Soldiers or Paragon Industries Legionary Suited Troops​

Additional Systems:

Repulsor System​

- Orbital Drop and Accent Capacity.​

- Near Unlimited Flight Capacity at High Mach Speed​

- Combined with NBC Shielding the BC's are capable of submersible operation up to 30 Barr​

- Can be used in close actions to repel enemy troops and light drones​

- Self Righting​

NBC Shielding​

- Rated For Military grade hazards and Xeno-planatery Operation​

Drone Host Controller​

- Charger for drones deployed by other platforms​

- May carry drones by using troop capacity​

Neural Interface​

- In Primary Drive and Gunnery Positions​

- For the Driver allows speed of thought reactions to obstacles and incoming fire.​

- For the Gunner the interface allows speed of thought target painting and prioritisation via Hardware or MK1 Eyeball.​

Battle Network​

- Co-ordination and Efficiency Enhancement​

- System Efficiency Enhancement​

- Crew redundancy​

Power Prioritisation System​

- Allows for rapid reassignment of power resources for emergencies or in the event that any Arc Reactors are disabled.​

PI Hard Point Integration System​

- All hard points and on board targeting systems fully compatible with all current and projected PI Weapon and Support Systems.​

Variants (All Variants may be alternated by refit with PI: Big Cat Kits)

Big Cat: Cheetah

Role: Battlefield Triage and Rapid Extraction​

- Crew 1 Driver, 3 Medial Personnel​

- Capacity 6 patients in triage bunks, 1 on table​

- Meet Citadel Battlefield Ambulance Conventions​

- 1 Emergency Battlefield Surgery with VI support​

- 2 extra Standard Arc Reactors​

- Enhanced Shield Systems​

​

Big Cat: Lion

Dedicated C3 ​

- Crew 1 Driver, 1 Gunner/E-War Officer, 4 Battlefield Co-ordinators​

- 2 extra personnel capacity​

- Advanced sensor suite​

- Advanced E-Warfare with dedicated VI​

- Enhanced Communications systems with Extra High Power Transmitters to burn through jamming​

- 2 extra Standard Arc Reactors​

- Enhanced Shield Systems​

- 2 E-Warfare drones​

- Rear Micro Missile Launcher loaded with Chaff, Flare and Screamers.​

​

Big Cat: Lioness

Dedicated Drone Controller​

- Crew 1 Driver, 1 Gunner, 2 Drone Controllers​

- Extra Drone Charge Capacity​

- Personnel Transport converts to Dedicated Drone Compartment​

- High Capacity Flash Drone Creation​

- 2nd Tactical VI to co-ordinate drone packs​

​

Big Cat: Liger

Battlefield Engineering Variant​

- 4 Engineering and Demolition Drones​

- High Capacity Omni-gel fabricator​

- Battlefield Omni-gel generator​

- 2 extra Standard Arc Reactors​

- Enhanced Shield Systems​

​

Big Cat: Caracal

Air Denial Variant​

- Crew 1 Driver, 1 Gunner​

- Capacity reduced to 6​

- Turret mounts converted for Quad Mount PI Autocannon​

- Fire Control augmented with second VI and hardware​

- Improved Sensor Systems mounted for maximal air cover​

- Flash AA Missile Fabrication and Omni-gel reservoir​

- AA Missiles launched from converted rear mount replacing MM Launcher.​

¹ Lorica appears to mean armour in Latin
² Castra is Latin for fort or encampment, particularly "great legionary encampment"

End Basic Specification

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Tidied and edited.

Notes:
¹ ISV instead of IFV to account for more specialised variants and keep them under one umbrella.
² Named the VI but couldn't think of a pithy acronym for Battle Controller, if anyone can feel free.
³ Filled out details of systems a little more.

Tired so if I missed anything or typed or changed a number wrongly somewhere give me a shout

 

[cestus41]

Hey I have to ask with the IFVs being laser armed would it be possible to in conjunction with the fire control VI to have them talk to each other and any sensor stations in the area to make a ghetto on the spot AA grid to shoot down gunships and fighter/bombers. On the phone right now I will go into more detail when I get to a comp

 

[Madfish]

Other than communications, are there any other research paths that you, the people, think are missing?

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Computing Hardware/Omnitools:

• Faster computers
• More Robust/Hardened Computers
• Improved Omnitools
• Cybersecurity and hacking

A Drone tree

An Orbital Facilities tree for Space Mining and processing and perhaps Orbital Labs for Stellar research such as a fusion lab operating in solar orbit or other over dangerous projects with potential catastrophic consequences such as Conrad's Time manipulation, AI Research or Bio Research. Branch for satellites. Would also be easier to hide illegal or dubious research.

Consumer Goods, a graded tree like materials that improve our factories bottom line for excess production (and probably brand awareness).

On the VI research tree an Advanced Production Support Factory VI, for improved production and/or reduced factory costs.

A Reverse engineering tree allowing us to more effectively find the principles and nature of our competitors technology.


Not research per sé but what about a Medical facility? Basically a specialised 'factory' for applying genetherepy and implants. Could provide a small research bonus when researching such things given how specialised it is. Might also boost employee moral if it can provide medcare to staff for free as an employment perk (Likely at the cost of production).

 

[cestus41]

ok now that im at a comp going further into my idea if we arm the IFV with a laser main cannon and we already have a fire control VI can we have it talk to other nearby IFVs or sensors and use their data to plot the course of an incoming aircraft be it a gunship fighter or bomber and then shoot it down cause i mean if the VI can shoot down missiles why not use that software to let the main cannon be used for shooting down air targets.not the best at putting these thoughts on paper as it where but i think you get the idea. or we could do up an attachment rip out the main turret and stick a quad laser battery on it with a rapid rotation turret design and an enhanced air search system on the back. kind of like a more modern flack track or quad cannon design.

really these lasers can do so many thinks and this IFV is so versatile it can be a tank hunter APC and if my idea works/is sane AA

edit: wow database not responding.... its gona post this like 100 times isnt it >_>

 

[Hoyr]

A minor point UberJJK, fighter often do survive the engagement if they are hit assuming its at long range or later in the engagment, part of the fighter strategy is to get the enemy to fire at long range were they can only mission kill (or force to R&R) and thus force the enemy to wear-out their GARDIAN systems so that as the fighter swarm closes the GARDIAN system is less and less effective. The wiki on the GARDIAN system explicitly mentions its lack of 100% lethality.

To much armor on a fighter is a bad idea, but we still most likely want some good anti-laser armor on them, at the longer ranges it will be what saves them not their maneuverability, though vice versa at short range.

*snip*

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Considering the original use for the laser was to be part of a networked anti-fighter system I see no reason it couldn't do that.

But you gave me a fun idea. So there's this thing called a phased array. Basically as long as the save wave type/length hits the same spot at the same time it basically add the waves together. You could network a set of these IFVs together to make an ad-hoc phased array. This is a silly idea, but the mental image of a set of Tigers all firing in unity at a landing frigate and blowing it out of the sky amuses me.

 

[UberJJK]

A minor point UberJJK, fighter often do survive the engagement if they are hit assuming its at long range or later in the engagment, part of the fighter strategy is to get the enemy to fire at long range were they can only mission kill (or force to R&R) and thus force the enemy to wear-out their GARDIAN systems so that as the fighter swarm closes the GARDIAN system is less and less effective. The wiki on the GARDIAN system explicitly mentions its lack of 100% lethality.

To much armor on a fighter is a bad idea, but we still most likely want some good anti-laser armor on them, at the longer ranges it will be what saves them not their maneuverability, though vice versa at short range.

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Huh. I could have sworn it was 100% lethal.

That said I did mention that it's the same level of armor as current fighters just significantly lighter.

I figure once we get the next level of Materials we can likely get lighter armor that's also better.

 

[Alanek]

Huh. I could have sworn it was 100% lethal.

That said I did mention that it's the same level of armor as current fighters just significantly lighter.

I figure once we get the next level of Materials we can likely get lighter armor that's also better.

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I'm pretty sure it was 100% accurate, then.

Mwahaha. We shall kill the reapers with the sting of a thousand fighters!

Edit: Kasumi'd

 

[UberJJK]

Nope, it is 100% accurate but not 100% lethal - a good number of fighters are mission-killed but not destroyed.

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I wonder if that's by choice. I mean if they are 100% accurate it shouldn't be that hard to put a hole through the cockpit.

 

[Alanek]

I wonder if that's by choice. I mean if they are 100% accurate it shouldn't be that hard to put a hole through the cockpit.

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Fighters are probably designed to account for that, and probably advance with their bottom pointing towards the ships. At which point, you spend double the time on a fighter or so the kill the pilot, and you just halved your Guardian effectiveness.

 

[Stroth]

I wonder if that's by choice. I mean if they are 100% accurate it shouldn't be that hard to put a hole through the cockpit.

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Yeah, but increasing to power to the laser enough to guarantee destruction also significantly increases the heat generated by the laser. And since the biggest problem with the GUARDIAN is that it can only be used for a short time until heat buildup forces you to shut it down before it cooks itself, mission killing is good enough.

 

[UberJJK]

So since I had some time, currently failing to fall asleep and hoping I'll succeed soon, I present the following:

CHA ThermoElectric Engine

Here are Cord-Hislop we have worked with our friends at Paragon Industries to design a first of it's kind engine. While our Super-Scimitar which many of you have had the opportunity to view, or even fly, did make use of an Arc Reactor it was, due to design limitations, merely an add-on.

In the Gladius however the Arc Reactor technology is deeply integrated into every aspect of the craft, including her engine.

As you are no doubt aware the standard military engine, human and citadel races alike, is simply a fusion torch with an anti-matter boost system for combat situations.

Of course since the Gladius lacks a fusion reactor we were faced with a rather daunting challenge. But as usual, we showed that good old human ingenuity can always save the day.

Through the use of our new and highly classified* engine manifold we have a system that converts the full output of two Arc Reactors into super-heating and expelling a hydrogen based propellent.

The end result is a system capable of matching an equvilant citadel drive at full military power without using a drop of anti-matter.

Which is why our engine can provide one hundred percent thrust, one hundred percent of the time.





-------
CHA did spend an entire year working on this after all. And really having a ship entirely powered by Arc Reactors without an engine capable of running off them was never going to work.

CHA is a major military provider for a reason so this sort of breakthrough, which really isn't that impressive compared to our Repulsor, is to be expected from them after a year's dedicated work. Especially with a genius like Revy to inspire them.

Also tried to work in some, kind of subtle, pro-human sentiment in. The kind of stuff you'd expect from both a major human military supplier and a Cerberus front.

*I honestly can't actually think of a practical way to do this so I'm going with the good old, if you don't know how don't try and explain it, solution to my problem.

 

[Madfish]

::Snip::

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None of which is a reason not to research improvements in those areas : )

 

[Mochinator]

Wait. We're using Tiger as the name for our tank ? I thought it was just a placeholder.... It doesn't really suit the latin theme we have....

Can we name it in Latin just to keep the feel ?

Tiger = Tigris
Lion = Leo
Lioness = Leaena

 

[Madfish]

Wait. We're using Tiger as the name for our tank ? I thought it was just a placeholder.... It doesn't really suit the latin theme we have....

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Tiger links to the Mako (Tiger Shark) while still be it's own thing.

Also it roles of the tongue a little better than the Latin which is important for a product like a vehicle unlike a weapon system that could be expected to have an exotic name.

And as has been said they fit the SA Naming convention so therefore fit the institutional predisposition.

 

[Mochinator]

There is already a Tiger Tank.

I rather we name our stuff unique names instead of recycling a name that has no link with the new version. Hence Tigris, close enough to tiger but different and unused.

 

[ryuan]

So... did I missed update 32 somewhere?