Traveller, The Rise of Empire: A Naval Design, Procurement and Command Quest

The Ceridwen is not equipped to make such a journey, and thus a new ship must be built. The Navy decides it should be: A minimal size ship which hopes to get in and out undetected as fast as possible, gathering a little data before returning home.
There are at least two inhabited worlds nearby enough to be reached by our current jump drives. How many of these scouts should be built? Two, one for each inhabited system.

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Pushing Boundaries
With an objective set for them, the Navy begins work on assessing objectives and defining the criteria for the exploratory ship that will make the first jumps outside of the Home system. It is initially suggested that the Navy should use a hull based on the Interplanetary Cruiser, upgraded with modern technology, but this would be a far larger ship than is absolutely necessary. In truth, a minimum sized ship with a minimum sized crew and a minimum mission package could probably be built at about 100 tons - a tiny little scout boat with just enough drive and fuel to go there and back again while mounting enough sensors to take a look at what's over the horizon. Unfortunately, after the mission objectives are defined, several modules of the ships design are put out to tender and word gets out about the Navy's plan. What follows is exactly what is expected; everyone tries to get some of the pork fat that's suddenly flying around.

The following modules and elements are recommended and 'suggested' by various significant bodies within Home:

Citizens Council - Even with the hopes of remaining undetected, there is a chance that this ship will be the first point of contact we have with our closest neighbours. As such, the Citizen's Council recommends the inclusion of a diplomatic mission aboard the ship. The advantage of this will be twofold - it will turn the ship into sovereign territory which our neighbours will hopefully respect, and it will also provide experts and specialists in negotiation and diplomacy when they are inevitably needed during just such a scenario. A party of twelve (an Ambassador, a senior negotiator, four diplomatic experts and six other staff) would require some 64 tons aboard the ship.

City Militia - There is a risk, however slight, that our neighbours are hostile and would attempt to attack the ship or even try to board and capture it by force. As such, the ship should not only be armed, but it must carry a complement of marines to protect the crew from any such aggressive actions and to serve as honour guards for the diplomatic mission. While the System Defence Destroyer was able to carry just a single section of marines, this detachment will be out of contact with senior officers for a significant time and must be empowered to use their initiative in all cases. The smallest formation included must be a platoon with two officers, or thirty marines, requiring some 62 tons aboard the ship.

Society for Interplanetary Science - It is broadly understood, based on transit spectroscopy, that one of our neighbour systems contains five planets and multiple asteroid belts (or perhaps some sort of leftover solar swarm or shell) orbiting a red dwarf and the other is a trio of planets orbiting an A-class blue giant. Based on this, and the need to establish a broader understanding of how other star systems develop around different stars, the SIS would formally request that the ship should carry enough probes to leave a string of satellites around most major bodies, constituting some thirty probes and satellites, an additional sensor suite and an on-board laboratory for a group of three to four researchers. This would require some 22 tons.

Steenbeck Security Industries - Based on recommendations that the ship be at least minimally armed, SSI has recommended the most modern versions of their particle weapons previously fitted to both the System Defence Destroyer and the Interplanetary Cruiser. While the exact number is entirely dependent on the final size of the ship as built, they recommend not going below a single particle cannon turret and a pair of particle barbettes as well as any other defensive weapons the ship is fitted with. This would require around 112 tons per 1,000 tons of ship to a minimum of 112 tons.

Energence Heavy - A major mining and manufacturing concern that has factories and facilities across the Home system would like a better understanding of our neighbour systems mineral make-up, and as such would like the mission to include a series of small craft equipped for independent mining and space-side research operations. They would also require a mission specialist team of at least four researchers and an on-board laboratory. This would require 26 tons. In return, Energence Heavy is willing to release plans for a prototype fusion power system that could replace the fission plants previously used aboard Navy ships.
Bearings Machinery Firm - An engineering and engine construction conglomerate, BMF has supplied the Navy with a variety of engines from chemical rockets to the most advanced prototype reactionless drives fitted on the System Defence Destroyer. They would like us to go a step further with this design and fit the most advanced prototypes available, capable of 6G's of continuous thrust without a detrimental impact on crew comfort. This will require a larger power plant as well, but the benefits presumably far outweigh the negatives.

Daughters of the People - Through back-channels a message arrives, originating from the religious sect that holds significant sway over the Northern cities of Home. They ask that no interstellar mission be conducted without the presence of two of their senior members aboard, not because they wish to proselytise but because otherwise they foresee ruin for the mission and for Home. This would require just 4 tons of additional facilities aboard the ship.

All of these additions come along with the already laid out requirements; 20% of tonnage devoted to armour, 20% to jump fuel, 4% to the jump drive, at least 3% for the power plant. Ships crew will likely number at least fifteen before any additional requirements, a shuttle will require some 100 tons. It already looks to be a busy ship.

The final decision on the design of the star ship is the responsibility of the Navy. Which of the above requests will not be acceded to? Select as many or as few of the following as preferred as part of a plan:
[ ] We are not planning to conduct a diplomatic mission. Turn down the Citizen's Council.
[ ] We do not have the space aboard for a platoon of marines. The City Militia will have to be refused.
[ ] Science is all well and good, but this is a scouting mission, not a research station.
[ ] The ship will be running with defensive weapons only, to avoid the risk of starting an unnecessary fight.
[ ] Mining interests can come later, refuse Energence Heavy.
[ ] Fission plants continue to suit us fine. Refuse Energence Heavy.
[ ] We need a fast ship, not a racing boat. Bearings Machinery Firm can test their prototypes on their own time.
[ ] The Daughters of the People are traitors to the legitimate government. Find out how this message arrived.

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If you have any questions about the system at work, please don't hesitate to ask! You can also come find my channel (Sections-writing-repository) on the Wordsmiths discord server.

Interplanetary Cruiser


System Defence Destroyer


Interstellar Surveyor


Interstellar Cruiser


Flotilla Support Ship


Interstellar Conveyor


System Defence Boat