If we're building a lot of these, then I think we'll want one over Home to use for training and familiarization first. It's also good to prevent the Aslans from doing anything weird as mentioned.
[X] North-West out from Cassalon
I'm picking this as a compromise between the two. I'm interested in the border of Hermosa's space & if there's a gap in stars there that'd make for a defensible border when we expand north, but I don't want to poke at them. It's also the only area we haven't scanned out to the three-jump limit, making it a reasonable next step. As a long term plan, I'd suggest we scan out northwest from Cassalon, then do a big clockwise sweep around the entire limit of known space until we hit the Aslan, with an interest in searching for habitable planets that we can easily colonize.
[x] North-East, out from the prison system
[x] Home, over the capital.
Ought to start with the capital. I'm interested in the prison system, so lets see what we've got there. Glad to see the SDDs mothballed, but lets get that capability replaced by the defensive stations. Funny how quick we stopped building intrasystem craft.
In fact, we've never built a jump-less ship. Even the Monitor was capable of movement, albeit ponderous.
Perhaps we ought to refit the SDDs into defense stations? Not too combat-effective, but still an extra hull in the system. Same with retired ICs? Those are small enough that we could seed them into neighbouring systems.
EDIT: In fact, there's nothing preventing us from transporting the old Interplanetary-Cruisers-turned-into-defense-stations to Heimdall.
So I personally think that plan making encourages more discussion and debate over the correct course of action. What do other people think about todays trial of non-plan voting?
So I personally think that plan making encourages more discussion and debate over the correct course of action. What do other people think about todays trial of non-plan voting?
So I personally think that plan making encourages more discussion and debate over the correct course of action. What do other people think about todays trial of non-plan voting?
Non-plan voting can sometimes drive up participation. Right now we're at 9 voters compared to 8 participating in the last vote, but of course voting has only been open for 4 and a half hours or so. If we end up getting significantly more it might indicate people are put off by plans, if not maybe plan voting is fine.
[X] Home, over the capital.
[X] North-West out from Cassalon
The defense station should obviously go over Home, we've invited the Aslan in so we'd damn well better do the minimum of presenting a credible defense. It would be some combination of naive, insulting, and dangerous to not sufficiently protect the things we value. The explorers should push northwest I think, scouting out some of the last blind zones within a few jumps of Home should be a priority.
Plan votes are better for things like budget balancing, military deployments, stuff with lots of moving parts. They're definitely an extra little barrier to participation though, so for a vote like this with just 2 moving parts that don't really affect each other free voting is easier IMO.
Where should it be based? Home, over the capital. They should be deployed to the: North-West out from Cassalon. If feasible, extend the mission via purchasing fuel from Equus.
Heading Out
The 1st Scout Flotilla - or at least elements of it - heads to Cassalon for fuel before deploying on an operation to scan a significant portion of unknown space. They are heading into one of the only remaining completely unknown border regions, where we have no knowledge or information of systems that may well be out there. Thus one of the Flotilla Supply Ships, a pair of Deep Space Surveyors and a single Interstellar Surveyor depart for a long duration mission expected to last three months. Half of the force, the Hanwi and the Culsans are headed into potentially occupied space at Sector '-03,00', hence the double tasking. Meanwhile, the Uenuku will be running North to Sector '-02,-02' which we know to be deep space, but which will be a useful sky-scanning location.
Departing on 11y06m00w, the small task force makes its first jumps into Cassalon and then on into sector '-02,00' as a deployment zone. The scouts split off from the logistics ship without another backward glance, heading into the deep black to begin their scouting operations. It is six weeks before the first pair return, and another two by the time the last scout returns. They bring with them a wealth of information, updated star-charts, but fortunately no news of contact.
We are now thoroughly surrounded by unknown systems, with noted (but not known) deep space objects to the North and North-West and seven of those eight notable systems having received no penetrative scouting. The Citizens Council chooses this moment to get involved, once the scouts are back and they have had time to decipher the star maps (11y10m00w). They want there to be a concerted effort to identify the inhabitants of the world and consider the level of threat posed to Home by them. After all, they're only three parsecs away and while that is currently an inconceivable distance to cover, other polities might be able to cross that in a single jump.
How should the HSWS manage scouting?
[ ] Fast Scouting - plan an operation that involves each system receiving a single scout
[ ] Slow Scouting - plan an operation that involves pairs of scouts heading into each system.
[ ] Ultra-Slow Scouting - plan an operation that involves covering one system at a time in escorted force.
[ ] Present another plan - write in.
Construction
With the completion of the Heimdall Anchorage - which is now beginning the slow process of being transported piece by piece to Heimdall proper - there are 3,250 tons available in the yards, and no budget with which to fill it. Come the new year, steel will be cut for the first the the Cruiser, Fast Attack's and the yards will be full for the next two and a half years. The question becomes, then, what to do with the additional budget for years 12 and 13 (where spending will be difficult due to yard limitations).
We should have half our budget available for each of those two years, or circa 3,000Mcr. Various ideas are raised by various parts of the military and civilian government, including:
- Approaching the Aslan government about paying for the use of their yards to build an additional CFA. We could also discuss similar with Cassalon, given they have military yards they have not given to us as part of the peace deal. This option would be expensive, and would open us up to intelligence penetration, but the Aslan have demonstrated a technological advantage already, and Cassalon are a close ally.
- We could funnel construction budgets into research and begin working on one of our technological fields that are lagging behind. Our scientists are not particular encouraging in considering the potential for actually making a breakthrough with current efforts, but it may be worth trying.
- Develop a new, modernised fleet of small craft to fulfil mission objectives set out and established by the HSWS.
How would the HSWS like to distribute its spare budget? You have 3kMCr. and should demonstrate how it should be split:
[ ] Engage in negotiations to construct a cruiser outside Home.
[ ] Attempt to develop new technologies by deploying funding to Home researchers.
[ ] Develop a new fleet of small craft.
[ ] Something else - write in.
Please present any votes as a plan. Voting opens at
.
This seems promising. I can see a few additions we may want to make.
We need a proper fighter design in the 10 - 25 ton range. Perhaps a 10 ton 'light fighter' comparable to the Aslan fighter and a larger more survivable 20 ton fighter.
Maybe a dedicated 40 ton '?stealth' bomber design (no idea if stealthy small craft are possible, if not, just a normal bomber design will do).
A general utility shuttle to replace our current 90 ton legacy design (preferably something lighter).
[ ] Slow Scouting - plan an operation that involves pairs of scouts heading into each system.
It worked in the past, so no real reason to change it.
[ ] Develop a new fleet of small craft.
I'm not quite sure what that would involve? Which mission objectives? Still, I wouldn't mind more shuttles which would be better for the economic prospects for Home or some proper small fighters.
[ ] Attempt to develop new technologies by deploying funding to Home researchers.
would like to see better tech, especially in regards to maybe building a space elevator at the home system
[X] Slow Scouting - plan an operation that involves pairs of scouts heading into each system.
[X] Attempt to develop new technologies by deploying funding to Home researchers.
