- Location
- Fort Worth, TX
Advertisements for the Home Space Merchant Service
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Traveller, The Rise of Empire: A Naval Design, Procurement and Command Quest
- Thread starter 4WheelSword
- Start date
- Original Art Quest Sci-Fi
[X] Plan War Games
-[X] Write-In: 4K tonnes modular conveyor, 2 jumps, optimize for module size. Common modules should include: Bulk Personel Transport (low-comfort), Bulk Cargo Freight and Rescue & Recovery.
-[X] Write-In: Organize simulated combat exercises for some HSWS ships.
-[X] Write-In: Review the initial findings of HSWS intelligence arm.
EDIT: Added reviewing our intel. Increased size from 3K to 4K.
-[X] Write-In: 4K tonnes modular conveyor, 2 jumps, optimize for module size. Common modules should include: Bulk Personel Transport (low-comfort), Bulk Cargo Freight and Rescue & Recovery.
-[X] Write-In: Organize simulated combat exercises for some HSWS ships.
-[X] Write-In: Review the initial findings of HSWS intelligence arm.
EDIT: Added reviewing our intel. Increased size from 3K to 4K.
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@4WheelSword
How has our intelligence arm been doing? Have we uncovered any operatives, foreign or domestic?
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
Please submit this as part of a plan so I can think about it when my brain isn't mush
[X] Plan War Games
@MagnificatePlease submit this as part of a plan so I can think about it when my brain isn't mush
Could you add on an action for our intelligence branch, I won't be able to get the votes if I put up a plan myself. Something like
[ ] Have intelligence service perform review of the HSWS to find operatives.
[X] Plan War Games
What's your reasoning behind making this new merchant ship at 3k tonnes? From the above it seems like we could estimate our civilian yards to be around 4k tons in capacity. Hence, a 3k ton design would leave an awkward 1k ton leftover in yard space.
Which is fine if we assume the 1k ton yard space is used to build an Interstellar Conveyor, as they mass 1k ton. Though, if that's the case, we may want to re-visit the originial design to consider modernising it, as it's a TL7 design.
Interstellar Conveyor
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Because I didn't want to stop the production of civilian shuttles and whatever smaller craft is being produced in the background. That said, modular ships don't need to be build in one go, so I can increase it to 4K.
Doubloon
Quelle horreur!
[X] Plan War Games
I had a patch that I was going to submit, but I lost it in a tab refresh. Fuuuuuckkkkk.
EDIT: Wasn't actually so hard to reconstruct from memory, honestly. The caduceus here is used in the non-misinterpretation sense, as a symbol of Hermetic commerce.
I had a patch that I was going to submit, but I lost it in a tab refresh. Fuuuuuckkkkk.
EDIT: Wasn't actually so hard to reconstruct from memory, honestly. The caduceus here is used in the non-misinterpretation sense, as a symbol of Hermetic commerce.
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- Location
- Fort Worth, TX
[X] Plan War Games
Phew, finally caught up. Thanks very much 4WheelSword for the entertaining read. I especially like the two broad political groups represented in the voting pool with push and pull between space navy thinkers and the multispectrum operations crew. I have my own opinions which will surely come out in voting and have some fresh opinions I'm sure you're excited to hear about.
I am amused by the couple of people who argued that the Monitor at 6k tonnes was some form of frivolous boondoggle while also insisting that the troop ship we were asked to make with explicitly no doctrinal role or current use case must be 8K to keep it's fighter aircraft and ortillery. But I can't change that vote now (in case anyone cares, I'd have argued for a pair of ships, one carrying 3 companies with little else but fast interplanetary engines and ortillery and one carrying 2 companies, command and control center and hanger. Idea being to land an entire battalion in a pair (with ship 1 arriving earlier to prepare the ground and ship 2's fighter/bombers operating from further out of the system) and use ship 1 to continue building up forces whilst ship 2 served as a command and support vessel... then only to build one ship of the pair until we actually need a space assault capability.)
I also have an opinion on the ship size debate. Basically the more regularly a ship is divisible by 1000 tonnes the less wastage we experience. I'm glad to see that we have plenty of capacity to use any change we have in the dockyard for small but necessary hulls. So that we can basically always be using our shipbuilding capacity to its fullest extent (budget and pilots allowing)
I'd also like to comment on recent thoughts around the system politics we are encountering especially as there was a lot of comment at the time about the Dynast/Junta situation but little comment after the update came out. Either through design or as a response to feedback 4WheelSword has shown us a galaxy where people can act reasonably. Rather than seeing us as weak and taking advantage of our attempt to be diplomatic, as some suggested the Junta would, they desolved themselves as a political body and vassalised themselves to us. I hope this colours our view of diplomacy in the future.
Anyway, not much to vote on at the moment so.
[X] Plan War Games
I am amused by the couple of people who argued that the Monitor at 6k tonnes was some form of frivolous boondoggle while also insisting that the troop ship we were asked to make with explicitly no doctrinal role or current use case must be 8K to keep it's fighter aircraft and ortillery. But I can't change that vote now (in case anyone cares, I'd have argued for a pair of ships, one carrying 3 companies with little else but fast interplanetary engines and ortillery and one carrying 2 companies, command and control center and hanger. Idea being to land an entire battalion in a pair (with ship 1 arriving earlier to prepare the ground and ship 2's fighter/bombers operating from further out of the system) and use ship 1 to continue building up forces whilst ship 2 served as a command and support vessel... then only to build one ship of the pair until we actually need a space assault capability.)
I also have an opinion on the ship size debate. Basically the more regularly a ship is divisible by 1000 tonnes the less wastage we experience. I'm glad to see that we have plenty of capacity to use any change we have in the dockyard for small but necessary hulls. So that we can basically always be using our shipbuilding capacity to its fullest extent (budget and pilots allowing)
I'd also like to comment on recent thoughts around the system politics we are encountering especially as there was a lot of comment at the time about the Dynast/Junta situation but little comment after the update came out. Either through design or as a response to feedback 4WheelSword has shown us a galaxy where people can act reasonably. Rather than seeing us as weak and taking advantage of our attempt to be diplomatic, as some suggested the Junta would, they desolved themselves as a political body and vassalised themselves to us. I hope this colours our view of diplomacy in the future.
Anyway, not much to vote on at the moment so.
[X] Plan War Games
0t4n1z3r019
Member of the HAFPTG
- Location
- Philippines
[X] Plan War Games
6-7: Reports from Garda-Villis
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
With developments in civilian ship building capacity, the HSMS should be established with a new, capable merchant design. It should be: 4K tonnes modular conveyor, 2 jumps, optimize for module size. Common modules should include: Bulk Personel Transport (low-comfort), Bulk Cargo Freight and Rescue & Recovery.
Are there any questions you would like to ask or other business you would like actioned? Organize simulated combat exercises for some HSWS ships. Review the initial findings of HSWS intelligence arm.
Diplomacy in the Far South
Multiple reports have been submitted in the wake of the return of the diplomatic mission to Garda-Villis, on 10y04m00w. Diplomats, senior officers and even several junior members of ships crew who were allowed a limited shore leave have been interviewed by the HSWS Military Intelligence Corps. What follows are several excerpts from their interviews and reports:
"Our formation was intercepted by a local patrol vessel about six hours after the Calliope came on station. At least, it identified itself as a patrol ship - it outmassed our entire formation twice over. This massive, sleek dagger of a ship slotted itself into the centre of our formation with significant skill for station keeping and escorted us into the inner system.
If it hadn't been such a massive craft, I'd have questioned why it would put itself in such a vulnerable position. As it was, I felt disconnected from the rest of my kind and gradually shifted the formation via laser-comms until we had direct contact with every ship. They let us - and I can only assume it was a case of allowing us - and showed no further interest in disrupting us. I guess they didn't think us much of a threat." Colonel Elizabet Andreu Wong, Mission Commander.
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"If it weren't so heavily populated, one would wonder why the people here had chosen Garda-Villis for settlement. It is a massive frozen rock, one of thousands in this area of space, and yet there are hundreds of millions of sophonts living on the surface. Clearly something attracted them to this place, and I will admit that it is very beautiful. Pure white ice caps on the poles, connected across the entire surface by ice fields that stretch across continental distances. Tiny outposts of land spire above these ice fields with one significant continent that contains the majority of the planets population central to all of them." Planetologist Doctor Ning Jian Porra about HSLS Bà Kim.
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"We met a diplomatic party from Garda-Villis several times across the two weeks we spent in the system. We primarily met in accommodations provided to us by them, but several meetings were also held aboard the Bà Kim. Recordings have been provided. The meetings had aboard the ship included the full team, the meetings held on their premises were complicated by the refusal of local representatives to discuss matters in front of women. Slightly under half our team identify as female, and another six percent identify as non-male. We decided to abide by local customs for the purposes of initial diplomacy, but we must be aware of this... limitation of their culture.
Not only this, but the locals also apparently understand deceit to be a vital part of diplomacy. None of our questions were answered straightforwardly, and while we can recognise the capabilities of the peoples of Garda-Villis, we also do not have a clear understanding of what exactly can be achieved through diplomacy here. What we have learned can be summed up in three points:
- They show no serious interest in coming to find us, and were not particularly interested in sharing star charts.
- They are humans, like us, but they show no real interest in forming bonds with their fellow peoples across the stars.
- They are not operating independently. It is my assumption that Garda-Villis is a... a colony or an outpost for a more significant power." Major Kamini Vidar Batal, Diplomatic Corps
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"Aye, it was lovely. The lassies had no fun - they weren't allowed out without a chaperone, local rules - but the station knew how to accommodate a military man, y'know? Plenty to eat, drink, weird movies about some half-noble kid reclaiming his titles and commanding an ice-breaker. That bit felt familiar at least, I have a sister on the ice breakers back Home. Apparently they have a summer thaw along the equators that redirects the ships North or South. Wild stuff.
Was I followed? Yeah, the whole time. They had security agents all over the place, hardly bothering to hide their presence. Why wouldn't they - it's their station. I think they were just making sure no-one got rowdy. Didn't want a fight to spoil the diplomats dinner parties. Not that I'd have started a fight, we're trained better than that. Had to collar a couple of my boys though, make sure they didn't forget themselves." Sergeant Sergo Sala, HSWS Ullr
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"It's all laid out in my report. Again? Yes, sir.
Garda-Villis maintains a fleet of at least six jump-capable ships which mass some 15,000 tons each. Orbital infrastructure suggests a capability to support ships significantly larger than that. I think, after discussing it with Major Batal, that the locals are hiding their real force strength from us. What we've seen, what we've been escorted in by, those are scout ships. Somewhere out there, either hidden in system or waiting for us to leave, they have something much, much bigger. We should not do anything to upset the people of Garda-Villis or whoever their masters are. We cannot fight them." Flight Captain Malina Bernat, HSWS Nike
[ ] We should stay away from Garda-Villis and whoever else is out there. Due-South is not for us.
[ ] Negotiate with Nova Refugio to station a tripwire courier in their system, to give us warning of oncoming threats from the South.
[ ] We should attempt to develop a trade relationship with Garda-Villis, for the benefit of both polities.
[ ] Other - Write in.
HSWS Military Intelligence Corps
The MIC has spent the vast majority of its first year of existence simply working out what its job actually is. It has gathered copies of reports, personnel files, orders, planning documents and more. Analysts have looked over every incoming recruit, from Home and abroad. Masses of time has been spent tracking the movement of personnel with a notable interest in the Daughters of the People, but there is an understood freedom to practice religion within the HSWS and the MIC has yet to see a reason to do anything that might risk that.
The MIC has also dispatched significant numbers of staff officers to foreign stations, including to Xyri, Cassalon and Aslan space. it is broadly understood that every diplomatic mission from hereon out will include MIC officers, though it might not be clear who is and who is not reporting to that particular branch of the Service. After all, the MIC looks out as well as in.
Is there anything specific the Service would like from the MIC?
[ ] Spread the net to include the HSMS, bringing them into the purview of the MIC
[ ] Assess the threat of the Daughters to the stability of Home
[ ] Assess the threat of (write in) polity to Home
[ ] Other, write in.
War Games
The HSWS is more than ready to conduct war games between various forces. They have but one question: What is the HSWS looking to test?
What is the BLUFOR? What is the OPFOR? Choose two to be pitched against each other:
[ ] HSWS Caturix, Interstellar Monitor
[ ] HSWS Perkūnas, Multi-Mission Vehicle
[ ] Interstellar Cruiser formation, four ships
[ ] Interstellar Cruiser formation, two ships
[ ] Escorted Cruiser formation, one IC, two Frigates
[ ] Fighter-Bomber formation, 12 XF-40 ships
[ ] Other, write in.
Please present any votes as a plan. Voting opens at
I agree. At this point, I'd negotiate a refuelling agreement with Xyri and just send our traders their way. I'm interested in their relation with Aslan, but given their evasive nature I doubt we'd be told.
We're interested in them because of their subversive threat, not because of their religious views. Here, I think the first objective is not the stability of Home per se, but our own.
[ ] Plan Fighters vs. Frigates
-[ ] We should attempt to develop a trade relationship with Garda-Villis, for the benefit of both polities.
--[ ] If successful, follow up with Xyri to negotiate refuelling rights.
-[ ] Write-In: Assess the influence the Daughters have within HSWS and the ways it could be used to destabilize Home.
-[ ] Write-In: 12 XF-40 vs. 2 Frigates.
That should tell us whether dedicated point-defense ships are effective. We could spice up the mission by introducing an unarmed ship that the frigates are escorting and the fighter-bombers aim to eliminate.
0t4n1z3r019
Member of the HAFPTG
- Location
- Philippines
Hmm, the assessment of our naval personnel in regards to Garda-Villis is sound, and heck, we're outmatched in terms of tech with them.
I opt to establish a tripwire system in the South, in case something happened, as well as continue our own efforts to keep our naval capabilities as sharp as possible.
I opt to establish a tripwire system in the South, in case something happened, as well as continue our own efforts to keep our naval capabilities as sharp as possible.
Doubloon
Quelle horreur!
15,000 ton scouts.
Well, that's just horrifying. I strongly caution against entering into a trade relationship; I suspect we have little to offer them, and find their inclination toward espionage in all things unsettling.
[ ] Plan Looking Inward
-[ ] We should stay away from Garda-Villis and whoever else is out there. Due-South is not for us.
-[ ] Assess the threat of the Daughters to the stability of Home
-[ ] Wargames Assignment:
--[ ] BLUFOR: Escorted Cruiser formation, one IC, two Frigates
--[ ] OPFOR: HSWS Perkūnas, Multi-Mission Vehicle
I'm not firm on all of this, but I thought I should submit a concept. The inclusion of the Daughters is because I want to know more about them and their leader, I could just as easily be swayed toward Cassalon or our shockingly quiet friends in Xyri. The intent in the wargame selection is to see how our escort formation of small boats performs versus a singular larger boat, try and judge the importance of numbers vs size.
Well, that's just horrifying. I strongly caution against entering into a trade relationship; I suspect we have little to offer them, and find their inclination toward espionage in all things unsettling.
[ ] Plan Looking Inward
-[ ] We should stay away from Garda-Villis and whoever else is out there. Due-South is not for us.
-[ ] Assess the threat of the Daughters to the stability of Home
-[ ] Wargames Assignment:
--[ ] BLUFOR: Escorted Cruiser formation, one IC, two Frigates
--[ ] OPFOR: HSWS Perkūnas, Multi-Mission Vehicle
I'm not firm on all of this, but I thought I should submit a concept. The inclusion of the Daughters is because I want to know more about them and their leader, I could just as easily be swayed toward Cassalon or our shockingly quiet friends in Xyri. The intent in the wargame selection is to see how our escort formation of small boats performs versus a singular larger boat, try and judge the importance of numbers vs size.
I'm interested in what the council thinks of having a power that outclasses us just to the south of us. They really aren't that far, and we can only hope they stay disinterested in us.
Two problems with that. First, if Garda-Villis has Jump 2 drives it can bypass Nova Refugio. Second, even if we knew danger is coming, we couldn't do much about it.
That one is interesting as well, but it's 2K tonnes vs. 3K tonnes. Perhaps 3 ICs vs. 1 MMV or 2 ICs & 2 Frigates vs. 1 MMV?
It's the closest potential threat. It wouldn't do to leave it uninvestigated. Plus, as Doubloon said, it'll give us an opportunity to read about it more.
EDIT: As for the 'Due-South is not for us' option, I can be persuaded to choose it. Our trade with the Aslan is going fine so far and we can osmose some advanced technologies through them.
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[X] Plan If no Strength, then maybe a bit of Guile?
-[X] Negotiate with Nova Refugio to station a tripwire courier in their system, to give us warning of oncoming threats from the South. Potentially, the tripwire could be turned into the space station (for trade or for security)
-[X] We should attempt to develop a trade relationship with Garda-Villis, for the benefit of both polities. MIC agents should be embedded into trader crews going to Garda-Villis.
-[X] MIC assignment
--[X] Spread the net to include the HSMS, bringing them into the purview of the MIC
--[X] Assess (carefully!) the possibility of getting in contact with any independent traders or smugglers in Garda-Villis.
-[X] Wargames Assignment:
--[X] BLUFOR: Escorted Scout formation, two Deep Space Surveyors, two Frigates
--[X] OPFOR: Fighter-Bomber formation, 12 XF-40 ships
-[X] Negotiate with Nova Refugio to station a tripwire courier in their system, to give us warning of oncoming threats from the South. Potentially, the tripwire could be turned into the space station (for trade or for security)
-[X] We should attempt to develop a trade relationship with Garda-Villis, for the benefit of both polities. MIC agents should be embedded into trader crews going to Garda-Villis.
-[X] MIC assignment
--[X] Spread the net to include the HSMS, bringing them into the purview of the MIC
--[X] Assess (carefully!) the possibility of getting in contact with any independent traders or smugglers in Garda-Villis.
-[X] Wargames Assignment:
--[X] BLUFOR: Escorted Scout formation, two Deep Space Surveyors, two Frigates
--[X] OPFOR: Fighter-Bomber formation, 12 XF-40 ships
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The fighter-bombers are outclassed against a formation of this size. There's nothing for us to learn in this engagement. 2 Frigates or 1 lone IC might be peer opponents for fighter bombers, but not both at once.
@Doubloon I'm borrowing your plan, except I'm making the war games an even 3K vs. 3K:
[X] Plan Looking Inward v2
-[X] We should stay away from Garda-Villis and whoever else is out there. Due-South is not for us.
-[X] Assess the threat of the Daughters to the stability of Home
-[X] Wargames Assignment:
--[X] BLUFOR: 2x Interstellar Cruiser, 2x Fast Escort Frigate
--[X] OPFOR: 1x Multi-Mission Vehicle
Good point. Swapped the IC with deep-space surveyors. It's more useful to see how Frigates can intercept the bombers and protect the vessels they escort, rather than just a head-to-head engagement between frigates and bombers
