It's the same wording that's been used from past snakepits, and it's always been for if we want to do multiple expansions in a turn to the same shipyard. Ship berths have not been rising in cost by 5pp whenever we build one.
Yrillians and the Ashidi joining up would be highly valuable, they have a lot to offer. And while in time they would join diplopush or not, that's true for every single polity. Trill would take longer if I remember correctly but are also valuable and their location is of strategic importance.
The Trill are about equally far from membership as the Ashidi (531 points for the Trill vs 530 for the Ashidi) and closer than the Yrillians (604 points), and pushing them carries the added bonus of bringing them closer to alliance (they are still affiliates, where the Ashidi and Yrillians are allies already).
In view of that, and having reviewed the last handful of membership posts, I've switched pushing the Gretarians out for pushing the Trill, instead. (In the unlikely event it matters...)
Even if it makes me feel like the Gretarians are giving me the sad puppy eyes for doing it.
I want to talk a little bit more about the Dreamers. See, their actual issue has been an informational one. They're so different from most of the sapient life forms that inhabit this portion of the galaxy that up until recently they had no idea in the world what was going on... and that made them vulnerable.
They knew that there were these rare beings made of metals and exotic energies traveling the stars and doing mysterious things. Very small numbers in comparison to the total Dreamer population, but still potentially dangerous. They seemed to act with purpose, but the Dreamers couldn't communicate with them or really understand their goals most of the time. They seemed to have a lot of activity in certain specific star systems and planets, and maybe a few particularly daring Dreamers even caught sight of a rare shipyard where the metal beings seem to act to reproduce themselves. But what are the capabilities of these beings? What are their purposes? If they attack or conflict with a Dreamer Town, is it even worthwhile to fight them? Would they understand retaliation?
The Doc met the Courageous and her crew and Clues started to drop. The idea that intelligent life could come in such small packages must have been both alarming and exciting, and the explanation that most of them live on planets and create machines to travel the stars... well, the Dreamers understand the idea of machines for purposes where your natural strengths are insufficient.
The Federation pushed ahead and established true, Universal Translation style communication and now the Dreamers really Get It. Their pals in the Federation have explained to them who the local insterstellar powers are, what spaces they claim, and what ships they look like. If a Dreamer gets attacked then they can at least make some guesses about who is responsible, where they are attacking from, where to go to complain about it, and who to retaliate against if they want to retaliate. If they need to flee, they know where flight might keep them safe. If the Breen show up to start harassing them, they can now tell the Breen, "Stop it or else. We know where your planets are and your mining colonies are and what your ships look like, and if you don't stop it we'll just start eating some of them. This isn't a fight you need to be picking, tiny people."
As for the Harmony, well, I doubt that's a fight they particularly need to pick either. "Chipping" a Dreamer would likely require some R&D to put it mildly.
For another thing, we look at the blob on the map marked "dreamer territory" and they seem like they're exposed, but Dreamer space is not like Bolian space or something. They don't have homeworlds there that would be impossible to evacuate. Potentially all of them could just pack up and leave if they needed to, and we've gotten some logs that they are considering just that, moving all or most of their Towns to roam somewhere closer to friendly Federation space. Now that they understand the situation and where it would be safe to run to.
So yeah, I'd argue that just having someone explain to them what was going on and develop a reliable translator has improved the Dreamer position enormously.
[X][TECH] Aerocommando Research Corps (Sk 3, Personal Equipment)
[X] [COUNCIL] Plan Knowledge is Power
-[X] Request Cruiser berth at Utopia Planitia, 16 pp (6 turns, gain new 2m t berth) [Can take multiple times, +5pp per subsequent build]
This is us ordering a new berth expansion in the 2318 Snakepit. Notice how it has the exact same wording that every ship-berth expansion project has had for basically forever, including the current Snakepit options.
And this is 2325. This year the ep system was added and many construction costs were reduced to compensate. So 2325 is the last year with the old costs.
So yes, it does look like ship berth expansions rise in cost in 5pp increments. But actually figuring that out and finding evidence to prove it had nothing to do with googling word definitions. I was certain that this wasn't the case, but I went looking and it turns out my gut feeling was wrong.
Hey everyone, I'd like to ask for an informal vote. Now that the auxiliary berth thing's been cleared up, I'm not planning on making any changes there. But there's still the question on who to diplopush now that it's been pointed out the Sydraxians are resolving their own [Society and Government In Flux] tag by 50 points each year. I don't feel it's right to dictatorially change the plan once again this late, but I also don't feel it's right to keep the diplopush on the Sydraxians. So, I'd like to ask what you all think should be done. Just remember not to use any X's:
I think we've been nervous about spooking the Romulans. If there was an explicit way to get the UFP, Star Empire and Sotaw together to formally recognize the Sotaw as a buffer state, we'd take it in a heartbeat. As it is, we don't want another situation like what happened when we deliberately tried to affiliate Bajor and had to watch the Cardassians roll on in.
My understanding is that we're basically giving the Romulans a handicap when they're using more or less honest diplomacy instead of crushing them with the FDS's superior institutional experience. Since if we start doing that they'll just go back to using the Tal Shar for everything and that'll be a pain.
But there's still the question on who to diplopush now that it's been pointed out the Sydraxians are resolving their own [Society and Government In Flux] tag by 50 points each year. I don't feel it's right to dictatorially change the plan once again this late, but I also don't feel it's right to keep the diplopush on the Sydraxians
I'm not too fussed about when we diplopush the Sydraxians, but I do feel we should diplopush them at least once before they resolve the [Society and Government in Flux] tag on their own. It just seems to me like we have something of a responsibility for upending their society in the first place to at least pitch in to nail things down.
In terms of who to actually devote diplopushes to, I'm pretty ambivalent as to which of our allies - most of them are pretty close to becoming members fairly soon regardless of pushes and because we'll be pushing the ones we don't pick now at the next opportunity anyways I'm not too fussed about which. I would like to make sure we push one or two affiliates/non-affiliates though, just to keep a fairly steady stream of new members over the next 5-8 years.
When it was that late for me and my brain was barely working? Not kill, no, but I didn't have enough energy or investment for that. My search fu is weak.
I considered the fact that the wording used made no sense with your interpretation (as far as I could tell) and perfect sense with mine to be a sufficient argument. Also that my interpretation seems to make much more sense game design wise, as new shipyards are far too expensive compared to expanding current ones if the cost remained static. What even would be the point of limiting how many expansions per year are possible when we have like a dozen shipyards?
Request Research Colony Morgana-1321, 2 (4.5) rp/year, 4 turns (GBZ)
Arrange to Pass Control of a potential colony site to a nearby power, gain +10pp from members or +15 relations from affiliates or other powers - Mining Colony Qendip III, 10 (25) br/year) (Rethelia; pass to Ataami) +15 relations
Request Academy Development, 30pp (Gain +.5 Officers/Enlisted/Techs throughput)
Request Explorer Corps Annex Development, 25pp (Gain +0.15 EC O/E/T throughput)
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species without an N/A tag; 20pp (Tauni)
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species without an N/A tag; 20pp (Sydraxians)
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species without an N/A tag; 20pp (Misek TAG - [A Bad Neighbourhood])
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species without an N/A tag; 20pp (Bolians)
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species without an N/A tag; 20pp (Sotaw)
Request to start a ship refit project, 20pp, 2 turns for frigates ("low crew" Kepler refit)
Deploy Improved Listening Posts to a Border Zone to gain a 25% chance of generating +1pt of Intel Spending on reports for powers on that border. (Imelak Border Zone), 20pp
Deploy Improved Listening Posts to a Border Zone to gain a 25% chance of generating +1pt of Intel Spending on reports for powers on that border. (Rimward Border Zone), 20pp
Request allocation for new Engineering Team, 50pp, will allow 2 x Engineering Ships to be built in Starfleet line yards, providing 2 ep on completion.
Request an increase in the Research budget, 70pp, +1 yearly Breakthrough.
Request that an eccentric and esoteric Gaeni defensive project be approved: Dreamer Ranger Gear, 50pp, 20sr, 2 turns
Request resources for an extra Starfleet Intelligence Operations task group (Will add a Science-heavy event responder for intel events - see notes), 30pp, 1 year, (Offense)
Request Civil Service cooperation for an early Law Enforcement task group (Will add a balanced event responder for intel events - see notes), 30pp, 1 year
(9ep used below)
Request new Auxiliary Shipyard at <Fiiral>, 3ep, 45pp, (12 turns, 1x2mt, 4x1mt Berth)
Upgrade Convoy Waystations in a particular Sector, 2 ep, 40pp, 4 turns (Gabriel Border Zone)
Request new Sensor Platform in a system or map square – (Map Square C5, for Kelowna Front) will add an event card to rebuff raiders on that front. 1ep, 10pp
Request new Sensor Platform in a system or map square – (Becarra System, for Okatha Front) will add an event card to rebuff raiders on that front. 1ep, 10pp
Upgrade Convoy Waystations in a particular Sector, 2 ep, 40pp, 4 turns (Paddah Sector)
8 extra engineering points from members = 40 pp
= 673 pp total
Total Cost 673pp
Council Sessions Preparing
The matter of the issuance of a War Warning is being examined by a select committee, who are expected to endorse the President's conclusions.
Council Reporting
The Park Committee under New Seoul Councillor Park Yoon-Ha has issued a progress report on the development of the Federation Civil Service and cooperation with the Diplomatic Service and Starfleet regarding the Peacekeepers. Obstacles regarding multi-species cooperation continue to arise and are dealt with with reasonable haste, allowing work to proceed on schedule. It is expected that in one more year the organisations will be ready for significant duties.
The Council Task Force Glacier has made a closed-doors presentation to the wider Council regarding developments with the Harmony of Horizon. The growing violence troubles many Councillors. Debate on the matter is extensive, with the President facing significant pushback from her fellow faction Councillors. However, the final consensus endorses the continuation of the Task Force.
Ship Design & Refit Projects
Attached to the Starfleet Appropriations Act of 2326 is approval for a significant refit to the recently developed Kepler-class of science frigate, in order to reduce the significant crew complements, which currently number approximately 450, in excess of twice that of a Miranda and exceeding that of the Constellation-class cruisers.
Transfers:
Mining Colony Qendip III, 10 (25) br/year) (Rethelia; pass to Ataami) +15 relations with the Ataami
Shipyard Expansions Commenced / Complete
Started development of new Auxiliary Shipyard [ 1 x 2mt Berths, 4 x 1mt Berths ] - ETC 2329
Installations Commenced / Complete
New Convoy Waystations are being deployed or upgraded to provide support for routes between Apinae, Collie, and Bean's Star. These will help suppress some of the Goshawnar's more piratical influences. Further upgrades are taking place in the Paddah Sector to allow for more security given the exposure to non-Federation systems. ETC 2327.Q2
Completed Starbase I [Horizon Border Zone - Canun], Starbase 30
Deploying Improved Listening Posts to Imelak and Rimward Border Zones [25% chance of generating +1pt of Intel Spending on reports for powers on that border]
Two new Sensor Platforms are being deployed with an eye towards restricting the movement of Harmony corvettes past patrols. One will be placed in the Cornucopia system, home to very little beyond an independent orbital in the C5 subsector, and in orbit opposite Becarra XI.
Building Argus Subspace Telescope Project, 4 years (permanent +1 annual Sci-T re-roll for events in Theatre constructed), 50pp, 200rp [Tailwards Theatre] - ETC 2327
Starfleet Academy
New construction work is taking place on Vail and Okatha to provide for Starfleet Academy preparatory and first year Academy courses. [Gain +.5 Officers/Enlisted/Techs throughput]
Approval for a new orbital on the Sol-III-228 track has been approved for Starfleet Academy to house additional Explorer Corps cadets and classrooms to help relieve the burden on the San Francisco campus. [Explorer Corps Annex Development, 25pp (Gain +0.15 EC O/E/T throughput)]
Research Budget Requested
Budget increased, +1 Yearly Breakthrough
Starfleet Reorganisation
Together with the Civil Service, Starfleet Intelligence Operations Command and the Internal Security Command have recruited additional assets from within the fleet and paired them with teams from the Vulcan Science Academy and the intelligence arm of the Caitian Frontier Police to develop two additional task forces. [Science-heavy task force and Balanced task force, ETC 2327.Q2]
An additional infusion for Starfleet Engineering Command will authorise a pair of new engineering ships that may be constructed.
Alarming Other News
The Gaeni are beginning work in orbit for a set of Dreamer 'Ranger' equipment that would allow a Dreamer to deploy into hostile star-systems virtually undetected and cause tremendous damage at point-blank ranges using variable-profile weaponry, as well as deploy teams of Yan-Ros Rangers. ETC 2327.Q1
Diplomatic Pushes:
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species, 20pp (One affiliate or prospective race will undergo accelerate diplomacy) [Tauni]
Tauni: 500/500
Tags before Alliance: -[Obsolete Technology: 100/100]
Tags before Membership:
-[Fool me once...: 272/500] + 45 = 317/500 -[Unreliable Ally: 125/100]
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species, 20pp (One affiliate or prospective race will undergo accelerate diplomacy) [Sydraxians]
Sydraxians: 434/500 + 29 = 463/500
Tags before Affiliation: -[Ashalla Pact: N/A]
-[Recently in a Shooting War: 100/100]
Tags before Membership:
-[Society and Government In Flux: 200/500]
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species, 20pp (One affiliate or prospective race will undergo accelerate diplomacy) [Misek]
Misek: 100/300
Tags before Alliance:
-[Jumping In Proboscis First 0/2 (FDS)]
-[A Bad Neighbourhood 35/300 (combined Gorn/IK/Klingon Threat)] + 46 = 81/300
Tags before Membership:
-[Continuity Conundrum 0/4 (FDS)]
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species, 20pp (One affiliate or prospective race will undergo accelerate diplomacy) [Bolians]
Bolians: 100/100 + 2 = 102/300
Tags before Affiliation:
-[Isolationist Government: 68/100] + 34 = 100/100
Now Affiliated
Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species, 20pp (One affiliate or prospective race will undergo accelerate diplomacy) [Sotaw]
Sotaw: 100/100
Tags before Affiliation:
-[Romulan Influence: 28/100] + 42 = 70/100
Tags before Alliance:
-[Located in the Neutral Zone: 0/6 (FDS)]
Automatic Push:
Naskant & Akley
Naskants: 50/100 + 21 = 71/100
Tags before Affiliation:
-[Distant Stars: 0/100]
-[Mistrustful of Outsiders: 0/100]
Tags before Alliance:
-[Culture of Brute Force: 0/7 (FDS)]
The Grand Society of Naskantchik has responded to FDS invitation, and dispatched a large vessel bearing an ambassador of theirs to Paddah. According to the captain of that vessel, they could only trust a powerful capital warship to brave the journey near Breen space, and their government was only willing to commit such an asset away from their own space once the situation with the Tarvftroki had quieted down. The peace between them has been described as chillingly cold, but at least they've stopped raiding each other for now. The naskants were also quite impressed to see verification of our ability to communicate and cooperate with the dreamers, who have been a complete enigma to them up to this point.
Akley Consortium: 50/100 + 18 = 68/100
Tags before Affiliation:
-[Distant Stars: 31/100]
-[Alien Modes of Thought: 0/100]
Tags before Alliance:
-[Diplomatic Minefield: 0/300]
A much more surprising visitor arrived shortly afterward, following Commodore Chekhov's task force just after it reentered the Gabriel Border Zone. After two years of near silence following first contact, the Akley Consortium has sent a representative of its own, who claims that their people wish to become a Federation member. Unsurprisingly, the FDS and Federation Council are rather baffled at this turn of events.
Member World Coordination Office
Ships Commissioned in 2326.Q2:
Amarkia - 1 x Civilian Research Cruiser
Rigel - Refit [OD-3, Oda-Gach IIc, NCC-3005]
Indorians - ICS Tempered, Centaur-B (NCC-2150)
STO - SFS Surveyor, Kepler (NCC-4124), 1 x Hospital Ship (from Celos Duraniam Works @ Celos), Cargo x 4, Berth upgrades, Larcasis Senate Yard [B, 750->1mt], Hassonus Shipyards [B, 750->1mt]
Starkin - SKS Shrine of Mi-Sato, Reliquary (NCC-5416)
Yrillian - Cargo x 4
Morshadd Commune [Intel] - 2 x Corsairs
Trill - Swarmer Mk 2
Shipbuilding Operations Report
The requested builds, refits, and repairs scheduled for this quarter have completed, namely:
USS Repose, Comfort-class Hospital Ship (Starfleet Build Order NCC-3509)
USS Massif, Engineering Ship (Starfleet Build Order NCC-643)
USS Abyssal, Engineering Ship (Starfleet Build Order NCC-644)
USS Ord Nak-Ban, Passenger Ship (Starfleet Build Order NCC-5202)
36pt of Cargo has been Commissioned
-
The requested builds, refits, and repairs scheduled for this quarter have commenced, namely:
Refit to Miranda-B of USS Degbaxix (Starfleet Build Order NCC-1913) at Redspire Fleet Yards @ Broken Chains (Loan from Orion Union) in 2326.Q2 (ETC 2327.Q2)
Refit to Miranda-B of USS Kelanrae (Starfleet Build Order NCC-1917) at Laian Shipyard (Loan from Laio) in 2326.Q2 (ETC 2327.Q2)
Refit to Miranda-B of USS Agile (Starfleet Build Order NCC-1662) at Rixx Loxhanda Berth 2 in 2326.Q2 (ETC 2327.Q2)
-
The following ships have drawn crews:
Fourteen Comet-class frigates at San Francisco Fleet Yards, Luna Orbital, Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards
- 28 Officers, 42 Enlisted, 42 Technician
Starfleet Academy
New construction work is taking place on Vail and Okatha to provide for Starfleet Academy preparatory and first year Academy courses. [Gain +.5 Officers/Enlisted/Techs throughput]
Approval for a new orbital on the Sol-III-228 track has been approved for Starfleet Academy to house additional Explorer Corps cadets and classrooms to help relieve the burden on the San Francisco campus. [Explorer Corps Annex Development, 25pp (Gain +0.15 EC O/E/T throughput)]
Alarming Other News
The Gaeni are beginning work in orbit for a set of Dreamer 'Ranger' equipment that would allow a Dreamer to deploy into hostile star-systems virtually undetected and cause tremendous damage at point-blank ranges using variable-profile weaponry, as well as deploy teams of Yan-Ros Rangers. ETC 2327.Q1
"What would you like to do with Federation technology, Dreamer Conan?"
"To crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and hear the lamentation of the little ones."
Nice to see we're finally building Starfleet Academy locations outside just San Fancisco.
"What would you like to do with Federation technology, Dreamer Conan?"
"To crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and hear the lamentation of the little ones."
Sol system doesn't build starships. They build entire fleets of starships.
And to think its only been 26 some years in universe from when we could barely build one starship at a time depending on how much resources we had available at the time. now we are building entire fleets of starships at the same time.
A much more surprising visitor arrived shortly afterward, following Commodore Chekhov's task force just after it reentered the Gabriel Border Zone. After two years of near silence following first contact, the Akley Consortium has sent a representative of its own, who claims that their people wish to become a Federation member. Unsurprisingly, the FDS and Federation Council are rather baffled at this turn of events.
