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To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)

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To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest) Starfleet Ship Design Bureau, Refit ("To Boldly Go...")
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Briefvoice said:
[X][WS] Plan Recon and Diplomacy
-[X] Starfleet Academy Red Squad Runabouts - Recon team (4 cost for Starfleet, gain +1 to outpost and starbase attempts to detect incoming ships)
-[X] Generate Generic Internal Diplomacy Team from United Earth (10 Cost to Starfleet, 5 Cost to Member World, gain Internal Diplomacy Team)

This is pretty cost efficient. We get another recon team and we get a generic team, with 14 of the cost from Starfleet (the place we're least worried about losing war support).
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I like the internal diplomacy team option - honestly we should've gotten this sooner, so we could have either mobilized faster or shored up war support more quickly.

But what do you plan to put the runabouts around? They're only useful around outposts and starbases, according to their descriptions. Clover, our forward most outpost at those point, already has a runabout squad. Betazed, Gaeni, and Thunti all have runabout squads too. Beyond those, the nearest outpost is Claystock in the RBZ, and I'm not sure about the urgency of runabouts there. The outpost at Onos will only complete next month, and Kau Tappa (which I definitely want runabouts around) completes 3 months from now.

So I'm not seeing the urgency on getting the runabouts right now. Instead, I'm leaning toward getting another heavy industry team, so we can rush more ship construction. Perhaps speed up Utopia Planitia shipyard to get the Rennies out more quickly next year to help cover losses (as I've argued before, pretty sure the Council would be okay with this) or the hopefully unlikely case that the war drags on in 2316.
 
lbmaian said:
But what do you plan to put the runabouts around? They're only useful around outposts and starbases, according to their descriptions. Clover, our forward most outpost at those point, already has a runabout squad. Betazed, Gaeni, and Thunti all have runabout squads too. Beyond those, the nearest outpost is Claystock in the RBZ, and I'm not sure about the urgency of runabouts there. The outpost at Onos will only complete next month, and Kau Tappa (which I definitely want runabouts around) completes 3 months from now.
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Well, it still grants the bonus, because better coverage is still better coverage.

Also, I want omake fodder.
 
You can always start drafting your omake now, and modify it to fit the location the runabouts actually get sent to later.

I started an omake for Renaissance's commissioning trials YEARS before the ship launched, for instance.

[Note, runabouts are basically small starships, not 'fighters;' they certainly have the capacity to be multi-crew vessels and I think they normally are]
 
lbmaian said:
But what do you plan to put the runabouts around? They're only useful around outposts and starbases, according to their descriptions. Clover, our forward most outpost at those point, already has a runabout squad. Betazed, Gaeni, and Thunti all have runabout squads too. Beyond those, the nearest outpost is Claystock in the RBZ, and I'm not sure about the urgency of runabouts there. The outpost at Onos will only complete next month, and Kau Tappa (which I definitely want runabouts around) completes 3 months from now.
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My plan would be to assign them to Kau Tappa immediately. There may be no outpost, but there's presumably at least a Station (the lowest tier or orbital structures). I figure they can help the Gaeni Task Force keep alert for any raiders attacking the station-under-construction, which is something I'm worried about.

@OneirosTheWriter is it legit to assign them there before the Outpost is built?

So I'm not seeing the urgency on getting the runabouts right now. Instead, I'm leaning toward getting another heavy industry team, so we can rush more ship construction. Perhaps speed up Utopia Planitia shipyard to get the Rennies out more quickly next year to help cover losses (as I've argued before, pretty sure the Council would be okay with this) or the hopefully unlikely case that the war drags on in 2316.
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Dhara Heavy Industry Park (Andor) will be free next month. So will Shorc Xurth Resource Combine (Tellar), as the Courageous should complete its repair/refit at the beginning of the quarter. With those two we can rush both the Mega-Tortoise and the Andorian Excelsior. Is there anything else worth rushing?
 
Simon_Jester said:
You can always start drafting your omake now, and modify it to fit the location the runabouts actually get sent to later.

I started an omake for Renaissance's commissioning trials YEARS before the ship launched, for instance.

[Note, runabouts are basically small starships, not 'fighters;' they certainly have the capacity to be multi-crew vessels and I think they normally are]
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Well, I'm hoping they get sent out at all. I have a vague plotline planned, and this is going to be arc 4, if they get deployed. Arc 1 will be academy, 2 will be biophage operations, 3 will be Orion, and 4 will be the Licori quarantine zone.
Briefvoice said:
is it legit to assign them there before the Outpost is built?
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I would assume so - after all, the runabouts can get fueled by any ship with a shuttle bay, and I'd imagine at least one ship would be capable of that. And if they are stationed there, it's a simple matter of living aboard, or on hastily-constructed parts of the station.

I think I'll rule that runabouts here are a lot less comfortable than the Danubes. One or two person crew, with fold down bunks and a small washroom.
 
We need more votes. Out of the two plans offered so far, I kind of prefer SynchronizedWritersBlock version.

[x][WS] Base Plan Runabouts and Ships
-[x] Starfleet Academy Red Squad Runabouts - Recon team (4 cost for Starfleet, gain +1 to outpost and starbase attempts to detect incoming ships)
-[x] Federalise Fleet Units from Rigel: 1 Turtleship
-[x] Federalise Fleet Units from United Earth: 1 Constitution-B, 1 Centaur-A
-[x] Federalise Fleet Units from Tellar: 1 Centaur-A
-[x] Bank 10 points

I honestly don't know which task force needs a new big ship more, so I'll just go with the current suggestion of reinforcing our screeners.

[x][SHIP] TF4
 
So there's some conflicting info on runabouts, or rather "recon teams".

The bonus is explicitly for outposts and starbases:
OneirosTheWriter said:
Starfleet Academy Red Squad Runabouts - Recon team (4 cost for Starfleet, gain +1 to outpost and starbase attempts to detect incoming ships)
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The last vote where we assigned runabouts supports this, although its unclear what runabouts would do around a world that lacks a starbase or outpost:
OneirosTheWriter said:
Vulcan Survey Corps

[ ][VSC] Assign to <Orbital facility or World>
[ ][VSC] Keep in reserve for now

Andorian Orbital Guard
[ ][AOG] Assign to <Orbital facility or World>
[ ][AOG] Keep in reserve for now
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Meanwhile, the description for recon units indicates that they can be attached to fleet units:
OneirosTheWriter said:
Recon Units

Supplementary patrol units that you can attach to your starbases, outposts, and fleet units.
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@OneirosTheWriter, could we assign runabouts to a fleet, and if so, what bonus does it provide?

Briefvoice said:
My plan would be to assign them to Kau Tappa immediately. There may be no outpost, but there's presumably at least a Station (the lowest tier or orbital structures). I figure they can help the Gaeni Task Force keep alert for any raiders attacking the station-under-construction, which is something I'm worried about.

@OneirosTheWriter is it legit to assign them there before the Outpost is built?
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From a raw mechanical standpoint, we don't know what stats a station has, but I doubt its very impressive, not compared to all the Gaeni ships in Kappa Tau. I also have doubts we even have a station there - it may just be a prospective mining location that had no Federation presence at all.

But if @OneirosTheWriter can clarify the utility of recon teams outside of complete starbases and outposts, like fleets or incomplete outposts, that would be helpful.

Dhara Heavy Industry Park (Andor) will be free next month. So will Shorc Xurth Resource Combine (Tellar), as the Courageous should complete its repair/refit at the beginning of the quarter. With those two we can rush both the Mega-Tortoise and the Andorian Excelsior. Is there anything else worth rushing?
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Either the Vulcan Connie-B or, as I said above with my rationale, speeding up the whole Utopia Planitia shipyard for the Rennie builds there to finish earlier in 2316. Or more repair rushing.
 
AlphaDelta said:
Well, I'm hoping they get sent out at all. I have a vague plotline planned, and this is going to be arc 4, if they get deployed. Arc 1 will be academy, 2 will be biophage operations, 3 will be Orion, and 4 will be the Licori quarantine zone.
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I'm sure you'll have something that can fit the bill. Worry about the three arcs you've yet to write, especially if they stretch clear back to game start.
 
I don't mind buying but reserving the runabout squad. It's indisputable that we'll need it later when the outpost is finished. A vote to assign it to the outpost once finished wouldn't be out of place.
 
Well I'll propose the HI + internal diplomacy plan, but won't vote for it yet, pending a response from Oneiros:

[X][WS] Base Plan Industry and Diplomacy
-[X] North America Productivity Commission - Heavy Industry (5 Cost to Earth, gain Heavy Industry asset)
-[X] Generate Generic Internal Diplomacy Team from Andorian Guard (10 Cost to Starfleet, 5 Cost to Member World, gain Internal Diplomacy Team)

Favoring highest war support with participating fleets (Earth) for HI - in fact, the only 5pt HI option left; and highest warp support without participating fleets (Andor) for internal diplomacy:

Starfleet - 151pt
United Earth SPA - 121pt => 116pt
Vulcan High Command - 54pt
Tellarite State Forces - 114pt
Betazed Defence Forces - 46pt
Rigel Defence Force - 87pt
Andorian Guard - 88pt => 83pt
IT of Gaen - 146pt

edit: North America Productivity Commission and Morchell Arebb Complex already mobilized, despite war support section still listing them, so this is invalid.
 
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lbmaian said:
Well I'll propose the HI + internal diplomacy plan, but won't vote for it yet, pending a response from Oneiros:

[X][WS] Base Plan Industry and Diplomacy
-[X] North America Productivity Commission - Heavy Industry (5 Cost to Earth, gain Heavy Industry asset)
-[X] Generate Generic Internal Diplomacy Team from Andorian Guard (10 Cost to Starfleet, 5 Cost to Member World, gain Internal Diplomacy Team)

Favoring highest war support with participating fleets (Earth) for HI - in fact, the only 5pt HI option left; and highest warp support without participating fleets (Andor) for internal diplomacy:

Starfleet - 151pt
United Earth SPA - 121pt => 116pt
Vulcan High Command - 54pt
Tellarite State Forces - 114pt
Betazed Defence Forces - 46pt
Rigel Defence Force - 87pt
Andorian Guard - 88pt => 83pt
IT of Gaen - 146pt
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We already bought that HI. The only ones left are 8 cost.
 
[x][SHIP] TF3

I think our assault unit needs Excelsiors more right now. We have half a dozen science ships, a starbase, and two recon squads on spotting, and task forces that can intercept any large formations.

[X][WS] Plan Recon and Diplomacy
 
Simon_Jester said:
I'm sure you'll have something that can fit the bill. Worry about the three arcs you've yet to write, especially if they stretch clear back to game start.
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:p

The bigger issue I'm dealing with is the semi-revolving cast and the intertwining plotlines. Academy is the "baseline", but the others will share characters and development.

Development worries me the most. Based off a relatively small sample size, I work best when I know what I'm doing, and have a good idea of everything. I don't have a consistent idea for the main character, let alone the other supporting characters :/

I might run a secondary plotline that's shaping up first, if only so that I can worry about Red Squadron later. Gah humbug.

By the way, does anyone know which EC Excelsiors have open helm slots? @AKuz

I think a good exercise would be creating some character bible sheets for the two characters I have begun to create.
 
Protip, AlphaDelta...

Database for To Boldly Go

That's the character database. Do a search for "conn" and for "helm," separately, one at a time. That will give you a list of everyone who is now or has recently been a helms(wo)man on any of our ships. From there, you have complete artistic freedom. As far as I can determine, the only ships that MIGHT have a defined helmsman at a given time are -

1) Enterprise,
2) Cheron,
3) T'Mir,
4) the Miracht (during Thuir's five year mission)
5) Defiant (as of a few years ago),
6) Kumari (likewise) and
7) Endurance (from some time prior to the Battle of Deva IX, to the Battle of Deva IX, at which point Melethdra was shot dead).

Now, if you have similar questions in future, remember this procedure- it works well enough to be almost certain of avoiding any mistakes or problems.
 
Okay, the only viable mobilization plan that involves internal diplomacy is the one with the recon team. Plus we get to see if 1pt of mobilization gets banked or not.

With the 2 month deadline we gave Eaton to take Gammon, we need to reinforce her primary hammer with all we have for the heavy metal phases of battle.

[X][SHIP] TF3
[X][WS] Plan Recon and Diplomacy
 
lbmaian said:
With the 2 month deadline we gave Eaton to take Gammon, we need to reinforce her primary hammer with all we have for the heavy metal phases of battle.
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I'm not going to argue heavily against you because I was tempted to send it to TF 3 myself, but I will say that I'm hopeful in two months we will be able to:
1. Have the Courageous ready to go and assign it to TF 3.
2. Have the Pathfinder and Sojourner ready and assigned to TF 3.
3. Have the Yagad-Tich repaired and back in TF 3.

If none of these are true, I'm much more down with assigning the Rru'adorr to TF 3.

In fact, I'll ask outright. @OneirosTheWriter since we gave Eaton 2 months, what are the chances she waits for those four capital ships (Courageous, Pathfinder, Sojourner, and Yagad-Tich) to come (back to) her fleet before launching the attack on Gammon? I believe all of them should be ready to go before the two month deadline is out.

If none of them is going to make it in time, I might switch my vote on the Rru'adorr and send it to TF3 after all.
 
Vote:

This sounds good.

[X][SHIP] TF3
[X][WS] Plan Recon and Diplomacy

Simon_Jester said:
Protip, AlphaDelta...

Database for To Boldly Go

That's the character database. Do a search for "conn" and for "helm," separately, one at a time. That will give you a list of everyone who is now or has recently been a helms(wo)man on any of our ships. From there, you have complete artistic freedom. As far as I can determine, the only ships that MIGHT have a defined helmsman at a given time are -

1) Enterprise,
2) Cheron,
3) T'Mir,
4) the Miracht (during Thuir's five year mission)
5) Defiant (as of a few years ago),
6) Kumari (likewise) and
7) Endurance (from some time prior to the Battle of Deva IX, to the Battle of Deva IX, at which point Melethdra was shot dead).

Now, if you have similar questions in future, remember this procedure- it works well enough to be almost certain of avoiding any mistakes or problems.
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Ah. I was looking for that.

I can never find it when I need it.

Enterprise:
23??: Stol

Cheron:
T'Piar

Courageous:
Buce na'Mashaar

T'Mir:
Dolos

Miracht (Excelsior):
Ruk

Defiant:
Church

Kumari:
Carter

Endurance:
Melethdra

I might go with the Enterprise's junior helm/navigation officer and one of the runabout pilots, if @AKuz is okay with it, and the timing works out.

Either that, or Cheron, or T'Mir. I've got things planned for Oliver and T'Mir. Before the long-term electromagnetic background and subspace survey that took place west of Apiata, of course.

Depending on the timelines, I might be able to find a fresh EC ship to put him in, a year or two after graduation.

My other vaguely-fleshed out character, is an engineering officer lucky enough to survive many of the EC-ship related disasters. Someone at personnel likes him. Or dislikes him. Or is a tsundere. Either way, he's going to keep finding his way out of disasters, and taking notes for the future.

Note to self: Look into creating an award system.
 
Yeah.

Task Force Three is the big hammer. We're going to need that 'big hammer' to be as big as possible, in order to maximize the odds of overwhelming success at Gammon, especially since we know that explorers take point in any duels with the fixed fortifications.

We know there will be mines, and since we know that we won't have minesweeping doctrine ready in time. We cannot rely too heavily on any single explorer being in operational condition when it comes time to engage the fortifications.

[X][SHIP] TF3


AlphaDelta said:
I might go with the Enterprise's junior helm/navigation officer and one of the runabout pilots, if @AKuz is okay with it, and the timing works out.

Either that, or Cheron, or T'Mir. I've got things planned for Oliver and T'Mir. Before the long-term electromagnetic background and subspace survey that took place west of Apiata, of course.

Depending on the timelines, I might be able to find a fresh EC ship to put him in, a year or two after graduation.
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Uh... you badly misunderstood me.

My point is that the list of ships I gave is the list of ships whose helm/conn officers have ever been named.

All our other ships have not had a named helm or conn officer.

Therefore, you are entirely free to assign anyone you please to any of those ships, without creating any conflicts at all. It would be much better to stay away from the ships I listed, entirely.

It's easier to just say that a given person was a helmswoman on the Courageous from 2304 to '06, for instance, since we have no idea who was on the helm at that time (though best to reread the ship's logs from that period Just In Case).
 
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Simon_Jester said:
Yeah.

Task Force Three is the big hammer. We're going to need that 'big hammer' to be as big as possible, in order to maximize the odds of overwhelming success at Gammon, especially since we know that explorers take point in any duels with the fixed fortifications.

We know there will be mines, and since we know that we won't have minesweeping doctrine ready in time. We cannot rely too heavily on any single explorer being in operational condition when it comes time to engage the fortifications.

[X][SHIP] TF3


Uh... you badly misunderstood me.

My point is that the list of ships I gave is the list of ships whose helm/conn officers have ever been named.

All our other ships have not had a named helm or conn officer.

Therefore, you are entirely free to assign anyone you please to any of those ships, without creating any conflicts at all. It would be much better to stay away from the ships I listed, entirely.

It's easier to just say that a given person was a helmswoman on the Courageous from 2304 to '06, for instance, since we have no idea who was on the helm at that time (though best to reread the ship's logs from that period Just In Case).
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I know, but I feel that a time as a junior helm officer would be necessary, to provide an easier progression from runabouts.

I'm probably going to rename him, once I figure out a nice surname. Oliver is staying, because it's a nice name, but choosing a good surname is hard.
 
...If the character is human, find a list of surnames. There are a lot of them, on the Internet. You can even sort through long lists in multiple languages until you find a name in a foreign language whose translated meaning is somehow significant to your character (i.e. I once named a character who is wily and agile after the Polish word for 'fox')

You can find almost any form of basic 'fact' or 'list' information on the Internet. There is no reason for you to decide that you are unable to do these things. In general, it is best to make sure you have tried to look for, and search, these online repositories of basic information. Otherwise, you just appear lazy, because you're effectively asking other people to do your homework for you- repeatedly.

Bookmark the character index. I did. Google things like 'surname list' before sweating over your supposed inability to think of surnames. Look a little further afield for sources of inspiration, before deciding you don't have any inspiration.

It will tremendously improve your ability to write, and to write at a higher level of quality, because the amount of work you do independently without others holding your hand has a huge positive effect on how much you can get done in a given unit of time.
 
AlphaDelta said:
I know, but I feel that a time as a junior helm officer would be necessary, to provide an easier progression from runabouts.

I'm probably going to rename him, once I figure out a nice surname. Oliver is staying, because it's a nice name, but choosing a good surname is hard.
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One resource for human names if I'm feeling particularly bleh is this random name generator, although I find best results are with a little tweaking. Other options are looking up common surnames in certain countries or just flipping through white pages if needed. Going through lists of semi-famous figures might work too.

Of course, in the distant future, it's possible the trend of mashing two last names together when getting married is (or was) really popular and you can just go wild.

Also, @Simon_Jester missed the Helmsperson on the Winterwind, Omirri. Very disappointed. This sort of erasure of Fiiral accomplishments is exactly why there's tension in the Seyek Union!

(it's because I had her labelled as a Navigator, I've since added helm)
 
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