That's fair. I don't have any problems revising the plan to include a similar diplomatic mission to Xyri, if you wouldn't mind me cribbing from your notes a little.
I think they have a good shot, particularly if we try to stop the violence. The outer system is supposed to be the S'taxan Navy's traditional heartland.
I just think too much could go wrong. Outsourcing the design might be cheaper, but we're not anywhere close to hitting our budget and I suspect we'll be getting a way less capable design for such a long-term investment in our dock capacity.
At this point, I don't think we know enough to really comment. We should return under the aegis of offering humanitarian aid, get an assessment of the strength and goals of all sides, and then go from there.
We don't even know which democratic faction the junta is backing yet. There's simply too much we don't know.
I'm too exhausted today to draw up a full OPLAN, and this plan gets close to what I'd be hoping for. Also, the regrets of the Junta in their first contact may mean that they are looking for spiritual Redemption...which a certain Home faction I happen to prefer may be interested in.
@4WheelSword Is it beyond our ability to feed our jump drives controlled nuclear pulses in order to cut down on fuel costs to give it the energy required to make jumps?
[X] Plan Great Game
-[X] Flotilla Supply Ship
-[X] Contact both the Junta and the Monarchy with an offer to mediate negotiations between the parties and try to stem the violence in S'taxu. Our sizeable interstellar fleet will accompany such a diplomatic mission to back our words with an image of power.
-[X] To make contact and little more.
Yeah but I mean, replacing the fuel need to inflate the bubble via nuclear pulses. Either through controlled nuclear detonations or similar expulsion to nuclear pulse engines for starships.
Yeah but I mean, replacing the fuel need to inflate the bubble via nuclear pulses. Either through controlled nuclear detonations or similar expulsion to nuclear pulse engines for starships.
Yeah but I mean, replacing the fuel need to inflate the bubble via nuclear pulses. Either through controlled nuclear detonations or similar expulsion to nuclear pulse engines for starships.
That's so ridiculous I never considered we were doing that, I assumed consumption of hydrogen was literally consuming it to make energy to expand the bubble. But this is... yeah. Huh.
That's so ridiculous I never considered we were doing that, I assumed consumption of hydrogen was literally consuming it to make energy to expand the bubble. But this is... yeah. Huh.
Each jump requires a quantity of liquid hydrogen. A portion is converted to energy in the ship's reactor to open the "hole" into jumpspace and to maintain the "bubble" around the ship once it enters jumpspace, a portion is used as jump-drive coolant, and a portion is vented into jumpspace as part of the process of creating the jump "bubble" which separates and insulates the ship from jumpspace. For convenience though technically inaccurate, all of this is referred to as "fuel."
Once again, Traveller as a setting (even just the tech) is odd. There are some alternatives for power, but they're either weaker than the fusion we're currently using, or so far beyond our tech level that it's not funny.
To be honest I'd like for us to milk as much space-combat knowledge from the Junta as we can. These people have infinitely more combat experience we do which would benefit us greatly.
Now that I think about it, combining the 4000K tanker with extra 1500K of fuel and a pair of surveyors enables us to comfortably explore two sectors deep and make expeditions three sectors deep if the tanker uses that extra fuel for itself. That's quite useful.
Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 18, 2024 at 7:05 AM, finished with 45 posts and 17 votes.
[X] Plan: Simple Logistics and Democracy
-[X] Flotilla Supply Ship
-[X] The Junta holds the strength on S'Taxu, and the Heimdall's survivors. Back them.
-[X] To make contact. If matters proceed well, send a follow-up diplomatic delegation / first contact team to establish amicable relations and perhaps an embassy.
[X] Plan Great Game
-[X] Flotilla Supply Ship
-[X] Contact both the Junta and the Monarchy with an offer to mediate negotiations between the parties and try to stem the violence in S'taxu. Our sizeable interstellar fleet will accompany such a diplomatic mission to back our words with an image of power.
-[X] To make contact and little more.
[X] Plan: What's a Prime Directive?
-[X] Flotilla Supply Ship
-[X] The Monarchy should hold sway over their home. Back them.
-[X] That said, we will trade food and medicine for any side that asks in order to secure safe passage through the system. We will also offer refuge to any that wish to leave the system for our own.
-[X] To make contact and little more.
[X] Plan Partnership
-[X] S'Taxu: The Junta holds the strength on S'Taxu, and the Heimdall's survivors. Back them.
--[X] Ensure cooperation during the civil war. Namely, our warships ought to have the right to resupply using their infrastructure.
--[X] Ensure that after the civil war ends our dealings are to be with the Junta. It will be their job to maintain order and contain the democratic factions.
--[X] Have the Junta agree to tonnage limitations. We cannot allow their navy being bigger than our own.
-[X] Xyri: Aim to establish a permanent diplomatic presence on their mainworld.
--[X] Ask for transit rights to other systems. Ask to for the right to leave a sensor buoy in their system. Offer trade, but hold off on trading technologies for the moment.
--[X] Take a look at their military capabilities. If they're significantly weaker than ours, look into making them our protectorate, but not before the situation in S'Taxu is resolved.
-[X] Civilian Construction Yard
Please select one of the above recommendations to move forwards with: Flotilla Supply Ship We have been made several offers. What is the Navies advice? The Junta holds the strength on S'Taxu, and the Heimdall's survivors. Back them. What is the intention of the mission into Xyri? To make contact. If matters proceed well, send a follow-up diplomatic delegation / first contact team to establish amicable relations and perhaps an embassy.
Extending Supply Lines
A key problem has been identified by the surveyors office of the HSWS in their work with the SIS. With current operational capacity, they are barely able to step away from Home in relation to the rest of the galactic cluster. Equally, as far as we know, our warships are currently limited to a stretch of just 3 systems, and expansion will require far more than just those three systems in the coming decades.
As such, a design has been assessed, based on the needs of supporting a full cruiser group (and the ship itself) in operating beyond the boundaries of space as it currently known. The Squadron Support Ship will be a 4,000-ton super freighter with the tankage, supplies storages and UNderway REPlenishment equipment to allow the transfer of those materials between the ship and her charges. With 1,500 tons of 'spare' fuel, 80 tons of spares storage and a 400 ton mission cargo bay, she will be a highly adaptable support ship.
She is, however, lightly armed and armoured for her size and will require significant protection in the event that she operates inside a combat zone. She is, at least, primed for defensive fire - studded with laser and sandcaster turrets, she has the densest defensive net yet deployed by the HSWB.
Does the Navy recommend any changes to the design before work begins?
[ ] No, she seems exactly what we need.
[ ] Yes - write in.
The S'Taxu Debates
The Halls of Power of Home are, unsurprisingly, split on how to proceed with operations into S'Taxu. The Citizens Council hears advice from all parts of the bureaucracy, the ship-descendants and the city leaders. Several city leaders receive strange looks when they argue for backing one of the two democratic factions on S'Taxu by forcibly deposing the Monarchy before dealing with the military Junta. The Citizen's Militia - or at least their Commander in Chief - proposes continued contact with and direct military support for the Monarchist elements that clearly still hold some sway over S'Taxu. Meanwhile, the community wardens and the Navy argue vociferously that the simplest measure would be to engage with the Junta, recover the survivors of the Heimdall, and take the inner system in conjunction with the greater military force.
The Citizens Council, to their credit, spend several weeks debating how would be best to respond, to the point that it's a full month since the return of the Janus by the time a decision is reached (02y06m01w). Their announcement - not made for public consumption, but kept entirely internal to the corridors of government - is frustrating to some and infuriating to others;
"We recognise the great sacrifices made by the Navy branch in their operations to make contact with and secure new allies for the people of Home. Sadly, those sacrifices are part of the job, and we cannot let the loss of a single ship guide our continued policy, no matter how valuable that single ship might have been. Thus we charge the Navy, and all branches of the government, with a mission when it comes to our operations in S'Taxu; Return to the system, make contact, and find out how we can best support the Chambrestrong Dynasty in maintaining rightful control over their system."
Please present a plan for the deployment of Navy assets to S'Taxu in support of the local monarchy. You may wish to consider Force on Station, Rules of Engagement, and a time-table to establish these forces.
Return to Xyri
With a month of downtime in Home, it's time for HSWS Janus to be on her way again. The halving of the scout fleet - at least for the next year - means that Janus is under significantly more pressure to complete operational requirements previously covered by both ships. At least there are only two systems nearby and now only one that needs the genteel scouting of a barely armed jump ship. Halfway through the year, Janus departs again for Xyri and hopes to find a far more welcoming disposition that they found in S'Taxu. When they return a month later (02y07m00w), they bring a wealth of information with them:
- Xyri is a balkanised and split system, with no clear system-wide leadership. There are three major factions, each of which have met with representatives from the Janus;
-- Controlling the Capital, the Space Port and the orbitals, a fading dictatorship which once ruled the entire mainworld has slowly but surely had its power chipped away. Founded by a remarkably charismatic woman, her inheritors held neither the vision nor the sway over the people that she did and her empire has slowly crumbled. It is this state that still maintains an orbital military force of several fast attack boats and fighters armed predominantly with missiles.
-- With sway over the other major continent on Xyri proper, a republican coalition of dome-cities (much like those on Home) has split from the main faction and now rules democratically. They have shown little interest in space development and maintain a ring of satellites purely for communications and mapping. They have, nontheless, met with representatives.
-- A handful of cities are part of a technocratic union that is earnestly chasing a future in space, planning to abandon the surface of Xyri entirely. Their main interest in talks is industrial support to chase their dream of becoming a fully space-going peoples - something that is currently beyond the capabilities of Home as well as Xyri.
- The full system code is updated to read C432678-9, as we now have a clearer idea of their government (balkanised), law level (strict control over all goods) and tech level (more advanced than Home).
- The systems trade codes are Non-agricultural, Non-Industrial and Poor.
- Xyri does not currently maintain any jump ships but they do have a theoretical understanding of the technology and were willing to share design concepts that prove they understand our technology prior to us allowing them access to the ship. They have hinted that they might be willing to share some ideas on how to improve our technology if we can find something to offer them in return.
What, if anything, would we advise offering to Xyri?
[ ] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janus to deliver enough of a embassy group.
[ ] Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.
[ ] A defensive alliance, leading to the deployment of Home ships to Xyri.
[ ] A military alliance, allowing us access to Xyri's small but capable yards.
[ ] Something else - write-in.
[x] No, she seems exactly what we need.
[x] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janus to deliver enough of an embassy group.
[X] Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.
1. We've got overruled and rebuked. We're being restricted as players and that's good. But, I'd be nice if we knew why the Council decided on the Monarchists.
2. The ship design seems pretty good, but it has just 2 months of operational time. Do you guys feel that is enough?
3. @4WheelSword What are trade codes?
[X] No, she seems exactly what we need.
[X] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janusto deliver enough of a embassy group.
[X] Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.
The military has gotten the headstart, let's let the civilian economy boom.
1. We've got overruled and rebuked. We're being restricted as players and that's good. But, I'd be nice if we knew why the Council decided on the Monarchists.
Yeah true, but mind that there's nothing stoping us from dragging our feet "in order to preserve lives" and "avoid unacceptable escalation" and the like. The thing that tipped it was probably that yknow the Junta nuked one of our ships. However f monarchists.
[X] No, she seems exactly what we need.
[X] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janusto deliver enough of a embassy group.
[X] Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.
[X] A military alliance, allowing us access to Xyri's small but capable yards.
To that I agree, but certainly we can't publicly release the blueprints. We ought to licence them to certain chosen companies and get them to offer us something in return.
As for the S'Taxu plan, I've got no idea how interstellar wars are waged, but my best guess would be to bombard the shipyards. Is it possible to have the interstellar cruisers jump in the system, find an asteroid and lob it at them?
As for Xyri, they're in a significantly weaker position than us, I think we could be pushing hard.
