A World Turned Upside Down - A Military R&D Quest

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Plan: A Truly Innovative Military City
-[X] Standard - By matching existing policies among other firms, we can remain rather competitive overall. *-$20 million yearly (will change over time)*
-[X] Small Bonuses - While unfortunately low, it is nonetheless acceptable thanks to the current situation of the company. *-$50 million.*
-[X] The Innovative Center - By providing incentives to share ideas with other workers, we can improve innovation in general. *Bonus to innovative ideas. -$5 million annually.*
-[X] Stay Here a While - Through the use of free meals, an on-campus gym, and nap areas, we can get some employees to spend longer at work. *General bonuses to everything. -$20 million start-up cost.*
-[X] Security Checkpoints - By emphasizing the need for security, we can add a variety of measures to prevent information from leaking. *Makes infiltration more difficult. -$10 million annually.*
-[X] We're All Friends Here - By conducting various social events, we can ensure employees connect with each other and their bosses. *Increases retention effect by one step. -$20 million annually.*
-[X] Corporate Boot-Camp - Encourage employees to participate in more "military" exercises, condition fitness, and firearms training. If people don't understand how to use a gun or empathize with our soldiers in the field, how can they make the best products for them? *Improves softer aspects of weapons. -$10 million annually.*

2031 Internal Report - HR Report

Over the past year, one of the main focuses of Innovation Industries has remained on expanding our benefits program in order to allow for additional benefits for the company. At this time, the company mandates five hours of company-run physical activity per week. Unfortunately, this aspect cost almost double what was initially expected, primarily due to workers being less willing to partake due to the time it took away from their personal lives. Additionally, the security checkpoints were also somewhat problematic, mainly due to the various intrusive programs installed into the company computers and phones. While these were of high quality, the intrusion into personal lives was taken poorly, and so financial incentives had to be offered in order to convince employees of the usefulness of these devices.

Overall, while other aspects of the company culture were set up as expected with minimal cost overruns, combining the various cost overruns and inefficiencies meant that the annual cost is approximately 65 million rather than the 40 million that was expected. However, we are also seeing significant benefits. Retention rates have increased notably, from 80% to 90%. This, is largely due to the social gatherings encouraged by the HR department, as well as the standard raises offered. We have also seen a general increase in productivity due to the quality on-site facilities for employee use, along with the free food that is offered.

2031 External Report - Federal Liason Communication

Due to world tensions increasing at rapid rates, the United American government will be increasing military spending by $100 billion this year, and each year for the foreseeable future. While this upcoming year's funding is dedicated to the nation's nuclear capabilities, and the funds two years from now are dedicated to capabilities in fighting a nuclear war, we expect the following year will be reserved for the research and development of advanced equipment. As such, we recommend Innovation Institute be ready to accept a contract at that time.

At this time, based on your company's efforts, there are a few contracts we expect to be sent your way. The first is for a man-portable sensor system, meant to provide limited battle-field awareness. The second is a new set of infantry armor, do note that this project will have considerable competition due to its importance. The third is for a next-generation helmet meant to act as a prototype for further development rather than any sort of technology meant for soldier use. The last expected contract is for a space suit meant for combat. It is currently intended to be used to board unarmed, hostile space stations and secure the contents with minimal collateral damage. We recommend that you spend time prepping for whichever contract you desire when you can.

2031 Internal Report - MANPAD Development

With the MANPAD the main focus of various departments, disagreements were inevitable. At this time, multiple approaches have been suggested in order to achieve some aspects of the design.

The first suggestion comes from the material science division. At this time, they have been investigating a few materials created by universities in the United States, and believe that they may be able to integrate them successfully. These materials are notably lighter than the current standard used, thanks to the porous nature of the various microstructures. However, these materials are also still difficult to use, and as such would risk issues with other aspects of the design.

The second suggestion comes from a number of groups focused primarily on the guidance system. They claim that its relative quality when combined with the relatively unpolished nature mean that there is much that they can extract from it. One suggestion indicates that it may even lead to improvements in air-to-air missiles, based on some wargames done using fighter simulation programs. However, this would mean we would focus on it entirely, risking the mass target not being met.

The last suggestion of note comes from the marketing team. Based on some projections in market data, they recommend finding ways to cut manufacturing costs. With the production model of A3, they believe this would be a very welcome feature to pursue. At present, the current system costs approximately $100 thousand to manufacture and can be sold for $200 thousand, which is a notable increase over the prior variant. As such, if the cost reduces, then A3 can extract more profit per unit than normal. However, there is also little performance benefit that may occur.

[] Materials - Focus on the materials
[] Guidance - Focus on the guidance system
[] Marketing - Focus on the MANPAD's manufacturing cost
[] Write-in what to focus on in regard to the MANPAD. Some examples are the ceiling, range, etc

GM Note: The corporate sheet should be updated.

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] The primary focus is to bring the weight into line with the requirements, however, it would be preferable to retain the following in order of priority. 1) Guidance System/Kill chance should be untouched barring extreme requirements, 2) general ease of production, 3) range/celling stats. Everything else is available for sacrifices to maintain and improve the listed priorities above.

2031 Internal Report - Q2 Design Report

Over the past quarter, we have made strides towards prototyping new modifications to the guidance system. However, we have been stymied by the in-progress setup of the various cnc machines which has delayed progress notably. As a result, progress was limited overall, with only a 2.5% reliability increase able to be achieved by fine-tuning the IR sensor placement and digital filters for said sensors.

2031 Internal Report - Q4 Design Report

Additionally, attempts were made to lower the system cost. However, these attempts were found to be impossible without increasing the mass. While a prototype was made which would reduce manufacturing costs on an assembly line to $75 thousand, it also weighed an extra three pounds, which is unacceptably high. The design itself has been saved in our internal servers, but overall is unlikely to prove useful.

The past year has primarily served as a way for engineers to gain experience working on projects, as well as finalizing the installation of the necessary machinery. It is currently expected that significant progress will be made in the following year, although at this time, the design we have produced is likely acceptable. It may not meet the mass requirement, but the guidance system is novel enough that it may be worth providing early access to the United American military so that they may invest in the topic sooner.

[] Declare the project finished a year ahead of schedule. Allows a contract to be taken in 2032 and the remaining funds to be delivered.
[] More work can be done on the system. This year saw limited progress due to limited experience with the machinery and the installations. Next year will be better.

2031 External Report - United American Military Development

While the United American government has been working to transition its R&D to other areas, it takes time to switch gears. As such, many of the projects for the year were started years ago, and as such do not reflect the current situation. As such, the three programs to complete are fairly mundane.

The first was an attempt to create an autonomous 4-legged drone similar to a dog that could transport equipment alongside infantry units. The current prototype has proven to be capable of traversing complex terrain, as well as acting appropriately in combat thanks to a complex neural network. However, its cargo capacity is limited and it suffers from limited battery life. However, further innovation is certainly possible, and it may be possible to use the platform for our own purposes.

The RPG on the other hand has triggered a political mess within the United American military. While it is an excellent system, capable of damaging tanks to a limited degree, it also uses components made in Korea. As a result, it renders the United Americas reliant on shipments from the nation in question, something which greatly displeases the isolationists in power. There are even indications that political action is being taken.

The last project was heavily classified, but based on documents delivered to Innovation Industries, was an attempt to make caseless ammunition viable. While it currently is used in a number of niche infantry weapon systems, there have been notable improvements over the last year, primarily thanks to designs to unjam the weapon as well as improved reliability in general. While we don't expect to see caseless ammunition infantry weapons yet, we could see them in use in as little as six years.

2031 External Report - Italian Military Development

Italy meanwhile has been rather focused on internal security, dedicating an additional 200 billion in funding towards the construction of an internal monitoring system. While it is expected to take years to construct, it is currently being used as a method of rooting out undesirables. A rather distasteful and wasteful usage of technology, but one that the United Americas is unwilling to intervene over. Over the past year, we have seen the programs put in place in the 2010s mature, with a number of aircraft frames being modernized.

The three modernized aircraft are their dedicated close air support, tactical transport, and medium-lift transport. While information is somewhat scarce as to their capabilities, their price costs are not, each of them costing 8-12 times that of a comparable United American fighter. At the time of this writing, while they may be more effective than our current models, it is highly doubtful they are 8-12 times more effective than said models.

2031 External Report - Soviet Military Development

Soviet military development has been heavily hidden as of late. All that can really be noticed are multiple rocket launch sites seeing thrice the activity that is normal, along with the construction of additional nuclear weapons and platforms.

2031 External Report - East Asian Military Development

At this time, the East Asian Confederacy continues to develop its infantry weapons, even as a number of programs for ground vehicles begin to spool up. Over the course of the past year, three main projects have been their focus. The first two were related to the redesign of their ATGM and automatic grenade launcher into a fused system capable of performing both roles. A remarkable success, it is both an improvement on existing designs and supposedly displays highly technical solutions to a variety of issues. It's unknown if these are merely buzzwords, or if it does have some sort of breakthrough.

Additionally, the East Asian Confederacy also developed a hand-launched drone, which is planned to see usage in Japan when war eventually breaks out. A quadcopter with a camera capable of picking out 10-centimeter features from a height of 100 meters, it is a highly advanced system, that is supposedly rather resilient to electronic jamming.

2031 External Report - British Military Development

Several notable events occurred over the last year in the realm of British aviation. The foremost would be the completion of their latest Maritime Patrol aircraft. A truly incredible piece of technology, it has demonstrated the capability of cruising at 50 thousand feet at Mach 3 for over 20 hours. Capable of almost traversing the globe in a single day, this powerful aircraft will further secure British dominance of the seas.

The other event was the unveiling of an early warning aircraft. Capable of landing in spaces normally reserved for helicopters, a number of vessels are currently in dock to add modifications to allow for a helicopter landing site. Both to enhance their versatility, as well as make use of their new classified design.

The last development caused notable friction with the Soviet Union when a cyberattack on MI6 resulted in the KGB gaining access to classified dossiers on Italian agents. During this process, it was revealed that a British submarine launched a mere month ago was in the Black Sea. This in turn caused a spike in world tensions that was exacerbated by the British government demanding reparations from the Soviets, while the Italians demanded reparations for the violation of their territorial waters.

2031 External Report - African Union Military Development

The R&D complex of the African Union continues to have issues due to political infighting between the various nations. The ATGM project has ballooned in unit cost to an astounding $800 thousand per launcher in an attempt to fit all demanded systems. This in turn led to multiple contracts being canceled by other development companies in an effort to avoid the instability that came with dealing with local politics.

However, there was a success story with a utility helicopter that had largely been forgotten about by various politicians. Essentially a box that flies, it seems to be inspired by Soviet designs in regards to its ruggedness and cost. Overall, while it is a somewhat lackluster system in terms of features, the sheer cost of it has meant it will be produced by various nations even with the infighting that may occur.

2031 External Report - UNKNOWN

$800 million in exchange for your MANPAD schematics. Do we have a deal?

[] Refuse immediately
[] Report it to the United American government
[] Ask who this is
[] Accept

Spoiler: Rolls

Reliability: 15
IR Guidance: 87
RADAR Guidance: 2
Production Cost: 63
Range: 41
Ceiling: 28
Mass: 34

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Report it to the United American government
[X] More work can be done on the system. This year saw limited progress due to limited experience with the machinery and the installations. Next year will be better.

2031 External Report - Breaking News Nuclear Bomb Detonates in Istanbul

On July 15th, Turkish separatists detonated ten nuclear bombs in Istanbul. While the size of each individual bomb was comparatively small, the combination of high radiation, panic, and the number of explosions resulted in the deaths of five million people. As a result, Italy has sworn to eradicate the groups involved and declared total mobilization to do so.

Across the country, martial law has been declared, with the continuous effort being put in to create a governmental surveillance net. Additionally, the head of Italy's intelligence department and the head of the nuclear program were both executed, after an investigation indicated it was due to their negligence that the terrorists were able to find the facilities and radioactive material to create the number of bombs. While other nations have agreed with this conclusion, the United American intelligence services have refused to comment at all.

2031 External Report - United American Riots Forcibly Stopped, 494 Confirmed Dead

The United American nations recently passed a resolution providing corporate security forces with qualified immunity as long as a portion of said forces were hired by the United American government. Due to this applying to essentially every corporation, that provision was next to useless, and only served to trigger mass protests.

Due in part to an over-escalation by police forces, these turned into riots which led to corporate security forces bringing in heavier equipment to protect corporate property. After minor clashes failed to be resolved over the course of the next day, national guard units in a number of countries were activated. Unfortunately, this escalation resulted in armed conflict on United American land, causing the deaths of at least 494 people.

2031 External Report - United Americas Ceases Trade with East Asian Confederacy

Following the sham trial of Takata Yatsuhiro, the United Americas decided to commit to a plan to cease trade with the East Asian Confederacy over the next ten years. The trial in question was disturbingly similar to the sham trials of the Jim Crow era in United States history, with the defendant being obviously innocent.

The trial itself was over the accused rape of an Indian woman. During the trial, the woman in question testified that the accused was not the attacker, the accused provided an alibi with video proof, and forensics showed a different individual committed the crime. However, said individual was wealthy and respected, while Yatsuhiro was a poor Japanese migrant worker. As a result, the judge declared he was guilty. This has triggered major international condemnation due to the public nature of the trial, and how blatant a violation it was. At this time, a number of riots have begun in Japan which are expected to escalate over the coming months, in part exacerbated by the sentence of life without parole.

2031 External Report - British SAS Conduct Worldwide War Games

Over the course of the past year, British SAS units have been conducting odd war games across the world. Seemingly focused almost entirely on extracting high-value targets and escort missions, these training exercises occurred in every sea and ocean, and in a wide variety of terrain. Many of these exercises were also focused in the British Isles, with the extraction of key government officials being practiced over the course of several months.

2031 External Report - Italian-Soviet War Reaches a Ceasefire

After years of conflict, the Italian military managed to break through Soviet defensive lines over the last year. Managing this through a diversionary assault in the Moldovan region, combined with an amphibious landing behind Soviet lines, they drew enough logistical support to allow for Soviet air defenses to be targetted by Italian aircraft. This in turn led to an organized retreat by Soviet forces, after it became clear that a pocket of thousands of Soviet troops was about to be formed. Retreating to a defensive line at the border of the Georgian region, the red army managed to half further advances.

Unfortunately, this victory was enough for the Soviet state to agree to a ceasefire with the Italians. As a result, the Italians now occupy Georgia, and have reinforced it with ICBM silos. On the other side, Soviet forces have massed at the border, beginning the construction of a massive air defense expansion in the region, as well as continuing to mobilize forces. At this time, their army consists of 10 million active personnel, with an additional 5 million currently in training. Based on reports, it is expected that the Soviets are aiming for an army made of 25 million active duty personnel.

2031 External Report - African Union Faces Instability Issues

Due to geopolitical disagreements among the various nations of Africa, the lack of success of state-run military development programs, and the revelation that each nation continues to refuse to create an integrated nuclear deterrence program, a number of nations have threatened to leave the union. This has led to the deadlocking of several governmental actions and has in turn caused a notable recession. At this time, it is expected that a number of politicians will be losing their upcoming elections.

2031 External Report - Pandemic Begins in Malaysia

Since November 29th, a pandemic has broken out in Malaysia that has since spread to 42 other nations. While the United Americas have closed its borders to all visitors, the strain had already arrived on a small scale. Escherichia Typhon, or Typhon-E, is a variant of E Coil that is near immune to all available antibiotics. This superbug currently has a 5% lethality rate and a dormancy period of approximately four weeks, which has led to a number of individuals suspecting it to be a biological weapon. In the last month, only a few hundred people have died, but that number is expected to rise rapidly.

2032 External Report - 11 Seconds to Midnight

2032 Internal Report - Results of United American Investigation

With the attempted bribe resulting in a United American investigation, we have seen a number of our ex-Soviet engineers be interrogated by the intelligence services. While none of them have been convicted, it has nonetheless resulted in a minor scandal, where national papers are claiming a Soviet mole has been found in the country. The Soviets have denied this, claiming "our spies are far more competent than that." While this was a crude statement, CIA agents seem to agree, instead focusing their attention on other nations and some corporations.

After approximately two months of investigation, the agents investigating abruptly closed the case. Placing the blame on an R&D CEO that recently declared bankruptcy and was $500 million in debt to other groups. While it is rather clear that someone paid off the investigators or blackmailed them, that does indicate the bribe came from an internal group rather than another nation.

2032 Internal Report - Quarterly Plans

While we are currently working on the contracts needed for our intended corporate culture, we are also continuing work on the MANPAD. However, we are left with additional administrative capacity that we should make use of. At this time, it is suggested that we pursue plans for continuous growth and expansion. As well as investigating our local competitors in an effort to gain an advantage.

Pick 2 (Normally 4, but 2 are locked)
[X] Continue MANPAD development
[X] Finalize contracts for corporate culture
[] Set up meetings with A3, White Water, and Clear Skies for possible contracts
[] Look into external export licenses to allow for exporting technology
[] Expand the company (leads to a subvote as to how)
[] Conduct meetings with the federal government to try and understand what they want to see from R&D firms
[] Look into the bribe yourself
[] Take action to ensure Typhon-E does not affect your employees
[] Write-in

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Plan: Sensible Actions
-[X] Continue MANPAD development
-[X] Finalize contracts for corporate culture
-[X] Set up meetings with A3, White Water, and Clear Skies for possible contracts
-[X] Take action to ensure Typhon-E does not affect your employees

2032 Internal Report - Typhon-E Preparations

Over the course of the last few weeks, a variety of gear has been ordered. While Typhon-E does not spread through the air, it does spread rapidly through sweat. As a result, all employees are now mandated to wear gloves, as well as submit to daily tests for the disease. While there has been some pushback, we have other corporations conduct similar preparations in an effort to avoid pushes for a sick day policy. As it is, with Typhon-E generally preventing people from attending work for 4-8 weeks, catching it often leads to the loss of their job, which has further helped ensure the common man avoids the disease using a variety of precautions.

2032 External Report - Anvil-At-Arms Discussions

Recent discussions with A3 have shown that while they do appreciate the work that we are doing, they don't have a major interest beyond that. Historically, they have had little success with innovations of their own and instead have found it to be more profitable to simply have a satellite corporation that they pour money into. As it is, until Innovation Institute reaches a net worth of over $5 billion, A3 isn't interested in a closer partnership.

2032 External Report - White Water Discussions

White Water on the other hand has proven to be interested in a variety of projects. While their satellite corporation is well funded and earning a substantial sum of money working on naval vessels, they currently lack control over naval uniforms. As such, White Water has suggested a joint contract with the federal government to work on a new uniform for the navy. This would likely be a decade-long project, primarily due to the level of advancement they wish to see. Moreover, it would result in them encroaching on the domain of A3.

2032 External Report - Clear Skies Discussions

The meeting with Clear Skies can be paraphrased as them telling us to "fuck off". Based on reports from other corporations, the current executives seem to not care about corporations that are valued at under $50 billion.

2032 Internal Report - Finalization of Corporate Programs

At this time, the various contracts needed for our intended corporate culture have been finalized. Additionally, the corporate calendar has also been populated. At this time, we do expect it to be somewhat difficult to adjust it further, primarily due to employees needing time to adapt to their jobs in full. We expect this to change over the course of the next few years, but it will be difficult to predict when would be the optimal time to adjust it further.

2032 External Report - Military Developments in Alaska

Recently, the United American military has created a series of bunkers approximately 60 miles north of Anchorage. While these bunkers are only fit to hold 500 people for an extended period of time, it does seem like the military is working on an expansion plan. We also suspect that they are planning to create an ICBM silo further north, but that is idle speculation.

2032 Internal Report - MANPAD Development Plans

With the deadline for a delivered product a mere year away, we are left figuring out what to prioritize during the year. At this time, we are still 3 pounds overweight, which while it can be managed, isn't ideal. Additionally, many of the project leads wish to focus primarily on the guidance system, justifiably arguing that there is notable room to improve further, and would allow for additional variants to be designed in the future, thereby bringing more revenue for the company. Furthermore, we do expect that we could use a smaller team to do so, which would make for a useful income stream.

At this time, we do have to prioritize systems for work to be done on them.

Ranked Choices for this. You can keep things on the same priority level.

[] Mass
[] Ceiling
[] Range
[] Reliability
[] IR Guidance System
[] Radar Guidance System
[] Production Cost
[] Write-in

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Priorities in order
-[1] Mass
-[1] IR Guidance System
-[1] Radar Guidance System
-[2] Reliability
-[3] Ceiling
-[3] Range
-[4] Production Costs

2032 Internal Report - MANPAD Guidance System Development

Over the past year, significant revisions have gone into the guidance system. With the IR sensor system being the one system that improved in the past year, we expected it would have plateaued in quality. However, by utilizing an advanced noise filtering program, also used by a classified program to make quieter ship engines, we have been able to further enhance IR sensor resolution. This in turn has allowed for more accurate measurements of the locations of various heat sources, as well as the ability to tell them apart.

Similarly, attempts were made to improve the radar portion of the guidance system. While these were successful, the power draw led to a situation where the electrical system within the missile occasionally throws errors. This error causes a notable lag to any direction changes, thereby lowering the reliability of the missile. However, after considerable discussion, we have elected to keep the system, as the improved performance against stealth aircraft makes up for the minimal loss in general performance.

2032 Internal Report - General System Iteration

With the mass still three pounds over the intended result, we spent considerable time and effort trying to find a solution. At this time, we do have one, which makes use of more powerful rocket motors along with decreased levels of fuel in the rocket. The combination of this does allow us to utilize the slightly smaller mass to further increase missile thrust, which in turn enhances the overall ceiling of the missile. At this time, we are able to achieve a ceiling of three kilometers and a range of 5.5 kilometers while limiting the MANPAD to 35 pounds.

2032 External Report - Military Liason Reports

Extensive testing has been performed on MANPAD Prototype 8.23. The writers of this report will begin by discussing logistics. Due to using standard A3 parts, logistics have been simplified, allowing for sights to be swapped relatively quickly, along with technically being able to use alternate missiles in tandem with the launcher. However, we have noted that Innovation Institute, the designer of the missile, has managed to reconfigure the guidance system so that the missile can be used against ground and naval targets, albeit suboptimally. We have noted this for future iterations, and recommend further revisions over the next ten years.

The second major topic to cover is the purchasing plan. Due to lead times for the factories remaining at two years, we expect to begin seeing the first units be produced in late 2034 to early 2035. Based on current quotes from A3, the system will cost $200 thousand per unit, with launchers needing to be replaced every 300 missiles fired. At this time, the purchasing plan is to order ten thousand units per year for the next ten years, after which the number purchased will decrease to a thousand annually till 2090 when the system will be replaced.

2032 External Report - Model B Requested

With the as-of-yet unnamed MANPAD, the United American military is currently referring to it as model A of the design. Based on our own discussions with the military forces and testing being down north of Anchorage, we do have a number of modifications to incorporate for a planned model B. The first would be modifying the design slightly to use higher quality materials, allowing for less degradation of the barrel, and thereby allowing for a longer shelf life. The second modification is an update to the targeting system's display. At this time, the military explains that it would take them an additional 14 months to fully train a soldier on the device (do note, this is to full specialty levels, not what the average infantrymen needs). And as such, the United American military wants to reduce that by placing much of the strain on the computer system, even if there is a cost increase.

We do expect further revisions to be requested over the next decade as testing is improved, as well as other variants, such as a vehicle-based launch system, among other things. All of these, however, are projects that do not need a full team of engineers, which would allow for an increase in profitability by hiring a smaller group of designers. As it is, thanks to the high-quality design, we do expect notable business to come in for the next few years, including a general pay raise from the federal government.

2032 Internal Report - MANPAD Name

While the MANPAD has remained unnamed due to the lack of certainty on if it would be accepted, now that it has been, and the program declassified, we do have to name the equipment. The current United American military does tend to name infantry gear with an acronym denoting their general description, followed by the last two digits of the year it was introduced. However, only 40% of such hardware follows this trend, with the rest being comprised of a mixture of mythological names, animals, locations, etc.

[] Write-in Name

Spoiler: Rolls

Mass: 33
IR Guidance: 64
Radar Guidance: 46
Reliability: 18
Ceiling: 71
Range: 20
Production Cost: 73
Other: 78

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] The 'Bristle', Bogey Ruining Innovative Special Trooper-Lead Exterminator.

2032 Internal Report - BRISTLE Celebrations

The transfer of production requirements to A3 and the subsequent construction of a new production facility has led to a great deal of celebration within Innovation Industries. In accordance with corporate policies, we have sectioned off a Friday for a day without work, and have hired local caterers to provide food to our airsoft arena. While some employees have decided not to come anyways, most have RSVP'd indicating they will attend.

Moreover, with the BRISTLE being a success, we are seeing pushes towards taking another contract of a similar type, where we focus primarily on engineering solutions rather than innovative ones. Our MANPAD for reference, while on the cutting edge of technology, did not notably push it forward. Instead, it made use of new technologies in a manner that improved performance considerably.

2032 External Report - United American Military Development

With the United American military expecting a lengthy relationship with Innovation Industries, they have begun providing us with additional insight into various developments. At this time, they have been working to expand second and third-strike MAD capabilities in order to ensure a nuclear war ends with the complete sterilization of hostile countries. This has been the primary aim of the $100 billion that is earmarked for the nuclear triad, while another $100 billion has been added for combatting biochemical warfare. With the issues caused by Typhon-E, the United American military is rather concerned over their relative vulnerability.

On a more relevant side, the various think tanks have begun to push for universal NBC protection across the entire military. While this will take years if not decades, the United American forces are nonetheless pushing for it. Additionally, due to various technological developments, along with $100 billion earmarked specifically for R&D, there has been a push towards increased integration of computer systems in all aspects of the military. The BRISTLE-B that is currently requested, for example, would make use of further improvements to the user interface using such programs.

Over the past year, there have been two developments, besides the introduction of the BRISTLE MANPAD. These are primarily in the fields of advanced development, with caseless ammunition continuing to be improved further, although based on current results, it is expected to be a niche system at best. Secondly, and more importantly, there have been advancements in robotics allowing for the easy use and design of a four-legged autonomous vehicle. Essentially a dog, this has proven to be able to listen to commands, traverse a variety of terrains, and has acceptable battery life. At this time, the United American military is offering the possibility of using it as a base for an infantry battlespace sensor.

2032 External Report - Italian Military Development

The Italian military has begun to expand its capabilities in a variety of ways. With increases in funding to internal security, it has mandated all citizens receive a tracking chip, which is mildly disturbing. More concerning, however, is the drastic expansion of funding towards biochemical weapons. With the budget expanding by a factor of five, there is major concern over what developments may occur.

More directly relevantly, three systems were created by the Italians: an ATGM, a communications relay aircraft, and a SIGINT aircraft platform. The ATGM remains extremely high quality, with reports indicating that it can penetrate all United American armor, while capable of operating in any condition and remaining at the same mass as the previous platform. Additionally, it is able to target vehicles from over 8 kilometers away. The communications relay, however, has little available information, but currently, agents expect it to be a prototype version, with the actual design planned for a decade from now. The SIGINT platform, on the other hand, is a workable prototype and is an extremely stealthy craft capable of operating in regions for a full day without refueling. Utilizing advanced countermeasures and jamming systems, it is a disturbingly capable system that should be watched out for.

2032 External Report - Soviet Military Development

No one ever knows what the Soviets are working on until they want us to. As it is, all we know is that they have been increasing the production of suborbital and orbital rocket systems.

2032 External Report - East Asian Military Development

The East Asian Confederacy has been making a surprising amount of noise about various developments in progress. Primarily focused on some transport truck, HUMINT and SIGINT analysts are attempting to gain further information, but it has proven difficult. However, recently there has been a push to ensure at least one aspect of every design is notably advanced in some manner, which can be visibly seen with their new heavy machine gun.

While there were also new assault rifles and recoilless rifles that were introduced, the HMG has proven to be a notable success thanks to its unmanned firing capabilities. This has allowed it to supplement static defenses, even if the targeting systems are limited to short ranges. However, this is a concerning development, primarily because it shows that the EAC is capable of remarkable technological advances.

2032 External Report - British Military Development

British military development has been extremely concerning to all analysts. With their current focus solely dedicated to operations in a post-nuclear exchange situation, the United American military is of the belief that they are willing to begin one themselves. At this time, they have begun working to create a satellite monitoring grid across the Earth, with launches happening on a weekly basis. Moreover, there are reports of an undersea installation being constructed. While details are limited, it is believed that it can currently house 100 people with full self-sufficiency. And we do expect Britain to be working on more of these if possible.

As for current military developments, the main focus has remained on their Replenishment Vessels which are able to have a readiness rate of 90% and a crew 25% normal. Combined with a top speed of 32 knots while fully loaded, this does make for a highly advanced vessel. The other new model was an Icebreaker, which has seen usage in the Arctic as the British constructed a permanent outpost at the 89 parallel. Mirroring their installation in the Antarctic at the 88th parallel, both of these stations are able to house 500 people, with expansion efforts still ongoing.

2032 External Report - African Union Military Development

The African Union has continued to primarily focus on ensuring MAD capabilities with several silos having been constructed in the Sahara. More importantly, we are seeing signs that they have begun pursuing a closer relationship with Britain, as negotiations are ongoing for the African Union to purchase a wider variety of naval vessels from the Island nation. Time will tell what is decided upon. As for domestic designs, the only notable design was for a rather long-ranged SAM that uses parts from every nation in the union.

2033 Internal Report - Yearly Plans

As usual, we do need to decide where to utilize our administrative capacity.

Pick 4
[] Choose a new contract
[] Create an iteration of the BRISTLE (requires expanding the company)
[] Expand the company (sub vote as to how)
[] Look into external export licenses to allow for exporting technology
[] Conduct meetings with the federal government to try and understand what they want to see from R&D firms
[] Look into rival corporations
[] Prepare plans for dealing with attempts to poach employees from Innovation Industries
[] Write-in

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Plan: Protoyoe it
-[X] Choose a new contract
-[X] Expand the company (sub vote as to how)
-[X] Prepare plans for dealing with attempts to poach employees from Innovation Industries
-[X] make a test bed for a technology, maybe get it sponsored?

2032 External Report - Climate Change to be Ignored

With several geopolitical experts believing a nuclear war to be on the horizon, and several major power blocs taking steps towards ensuring survival in a post-nuclear state, funding for preventing climate change has been drastically slashed. The nations of United America, Italy, the Soviet Union, and Britain have jointly declared that they do not consider climate change to be a notable threat. The Soviet Union in particular stated, "for the climate to change would take two decades, we do not plan to wait that long." This has resulted in many people around the world beginning to stock up on food and water, which has driven up prices.

2032 External Report - Typhon-E Eliminated, but Questions Remain

Thanks to a rapid response by nations around the world, Typhon-E has been mostly dealt with as a threat. While there are a considerable number of cases that continue, most countries around the world are of the opinion that the economy remains more important. However, the speed at which Typhon-E burned through the population, the difficulty in determining who was infected, and a deep study by various universities and government agencies have led to the conclusion that the disease was manufactured. At this time, the United American government accused the East Asian Confederacy of irresponsible study of pathogens. In response, they blamed Japan, claiming that remnants of Unit 731 must still be active. This was not received well, and all immigration from the East Asian Confederacy has been ordered to be stopped.

2032 External Report - Japan Reaches a Boiling Point

Following the EAC's accusation, they then demanded reparations for the deaths caused by the plague from the provisional Japanese government. This was received incredibly poorly by the people of Japan, who claimed it was unfair to judge them for the sins of their distant ancestors. Moreover, many on the island nation claimed the entire accusation was blatantly false. This culminated in several governmental facilities being stormed by angry citizens during a series of protests and riots. While order was returned, it required multiple airstrikes to do so, along with the deployment of various for-profit PMC groups.

2032 External Report – Italy Deploys Chemical Weapons in Turkey

Over the past year, Italian operations have shifted towards focusing on Turkish partisans, especially those responsible for the nuking of Istanbul. While they had some success early on, these successes shifted with the Soviets deciding to arm anyone willing to take up arms against the Italians. Combined with a hostile local populace, this led to the Italian military claiming the situation was untenable unless drastic action took place. The action that was taken was the deployment of nerve gases in population centers suspected of having guerilla fighters and partisans. While the death toll is as of yet unknown, current estimates indicate the number of dead is over a million, with the Soviet Union claiming the figure to be thirty million.

This has demonstrated that the Italian military does hold far deeper reserves of chemical weapons than expected, which has caused considerable worry for the United American military and government. While a conventional war would be a stalemate, there is little doubt that the Italians would be willing to use chemical weapons in one if they thought it would be advantageous. At this time, the only nation that really has a counter is the Soviets, whose near fanatic levels of ensuring every soldier has NBC gear and an infantry vehicle nearby have ensured they are ready in the event of such a conflict.

2032 External Report - United America Announces Bunker Program

With the end of the world rapidly approaching, the United American government has announced that it is working on constructing thousands of bunkers to house the successor state when the war breaks out. While this has been met with positive approval by the civilians, classified details that have been shared indicate that the maximum number such shelters could hold would be two million in total, primarily due to the difficulty in constructing such bunkers as they would be targetted by nuclear missiles. As such, the majority of the population will be abandoned, with only the ultra-rich, military, and needed personnel being allowed within them.

2032 External Report - 10 Seconds to Midnight

2033 Internal Report - Company Expansion

Based on current plans for the year, it does seem like we will need an expansion in the number of engineers and designers. However, these will be of a different type than normal, primarily theoretical researchers rather than the practical ones we previously had. Additionally, while our budget for the year is limited due to our debt breaching the $600 million mark, there is some wiggle room that we can make use of for additional projects.

[X] Theoretical Researchers - Hiring engineers and scientists that know how to advance technology in general is a necessity for our current plans. *-2 million in upfront costs. -8 million annual wages*
[] Small Engineering Group - An additional expansion of practical engineers would allow for variants of existing systems to be designed and maintained. *-2 million in upfront costs. -8 million annual wages* (You will not have control of this as I want to keep the current progression speed)
[] Standard Engineering Group - Essentially doubling our current number of engineers to two thousand, this would allow for an additional contract to be taken each year. *-20 million in upfront costs. -80 million annual wages.*
[] On-Site Nuclear Bunker - By investing in an on-site bunker, we can house a limited number of our personnel without fear of losing them. *-100 million in upfront costs. Houses 100 people.* (Unlocks various expansions related to nuclear, and post-nuclear preparations)
[] On-Site Housing - By building housing for our workers, and offering incentives to stay there, we can ensure additional security and spread of ideas. *-100 million in upfront costs. Houses 10 thousand.* (Current employees number at 10 thousand)
[] University Programs - Partnering with universities would allow us to know about some innovations earlier on in the development cycle which would improve theoretical research. *-20 million annual costs.*
[] Partnerships with Fast Food Corporations - More of a branding situation than anything else, by asking corporations to set up facilities on campus, we can improve the variety of meal choices. *-5 million in upfront costs.*
[] Experimental Production Facilities - More advanced facilities may be needed for research into the bleeding edge of technology, although they will be expensive for the number of people that use them. *-50 million in upfront costs. -5 million annual costs.* (Unlocks various expansions related to cutting-edge research in various fields)
[] Hiring a PMC - With the world getting progressively more dangerous, PMCs are growing more popular. Having one of our own would be valuable. *-5 million annual costs. Starts off at 100 soldiers.* (Unlocks various expansions related to private military forces)
[] Heliport - Adding a landing site for helicopters would allow for swift travel for VIPs and be a useful tool in general. *-5 million in upfront costs* (Unlocks various expansions related to aircraft facilities)
[] Write-in

 

[Daemon Hunter]

GM Note: Next update will cover the anti-poaching policies. And some other stuff. Also, I have updated the corporation sheet.

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Expansion for future expansion
-[X] Theoretical Researchers - Hiring engineers and scientists that know how to advance technology in general is a necessity for our current plans. *-2 million in upfront costs. -8 million annual wages*
-[X] Experimental Production Facilities - More advanced facilities may be needed for research into the bleeding edge of technology, although they will be expensive for the number of people that use them. *-50 million in upfront costs. -5 million annual costs.* (Unlocks various expansions related to cutting-edge research in various fields)
-[X] University Programs - Partnering with universities would allow us to know about some innovations earlier on in the development cycle which would improve theoretical research. *-20 million annual costs.*
-[X] Hiring a PMC - With the world getting progressively more dangerous, PMCs are growing more popular. Having one of our own would be valuable. *-5 million annual costs. Starts off at 100 soldiers.* (Unlocks various expansions related to private military forces)
-[X] On-Site Nuclear Bunker - By investing in an on-site bunker, we can house a limited number of our personnel without fear of losing them. *-100 million in upfront costs. Houses 100 people.* (Unlocks various expansions related to nuclear, and post-nuclear preparations
-[X] Heliport - Adding a landing site for helicopters would allow for swift travel for VIPs and be a useful tool in general. *-5 million in upfront costs* (Unlocks various expansions related to aircraft facilities)

2033 Internal Report - Winter Tigers PMC on 20 Year Contract

With the world becoming a more dangerous place, and the need for increased security, we attempted to elicit a small mercenary group for a long-term contract. While we initially sought a relatively inexpensive, and as such a moderately inexperienced group, we wound up being able to hire a much more skilled group than normal. The main cause of this was the agreement to allow them access to the nuclear bunker in the event of such an eventuality. While it isn't ideal, practically speaking if we did not do so, whatever PMC we hire would attempt to force their way in anyways.

The Winter Tigers themselves are a mercenary group of 100 individuals that were recently hired by Soviet forces in Georgia. With experience in high-intensity combat along with their own training, they are a formidable group. Comprised of 20 ex-SAS, 40 ex-Rangers, 20 Australian ex-commandos, and 20 other retired special forces personnel, they are an elite group. However, this will make them difficult to expand in size due to their relative quality, which, admittedly, is for the best considering we are unlikely to be able to accommodate many individuals in the various nuclear bunkers we may construct over the next decade.

2033 Internal Report - Q4 Construction Progress Report

With the additional expansion of the company, a number of facilities are currently under development. The first relevant project has been the installation of a variety of scientific equipment needed for high-end research. At this time, the equipment is somewhat simplistic, with various modeling software, a clean room with fabrication equipment, and various testing rooms. Additionally, we were able to install the equipment without much issue thanks to the practice technicians received from the installation of the original testing equipment.

Secondly was the nuclear bunker, at this time, construction is still underway. While we can work on expanding the future functionality, the construction firm we have hired has indicated that excavating to the target depth is taking longer than they expected. This will likely lead to cost overruns over the next two years as the construction continues, which is unfortunately unavoidable.

Thirdly has been the heliport. Nothing truly special occurred with this project. We simply built it on top of our main building, and it has proven more useful than originally expected. Mainly due to increased visitation by federal liaisons who seem to be oddly agitated for as of yet unknown reasons.

2033 Internal Report - Experimental Research Division Created

The last year has seen the creation of a more experimental division than normal. While they do seem to be somewhat limited in regards to what they can research, it is nonetheless a valuable step forward for our young company. At this time, major projects such as experimenting with UV projectors or railguns are beyond us. What is within our grasp are projects such as quieter submarines, faster vehicles, and other near-future innovations and inventions. At this time, there is a wide variety of experimentation they can do.

Pick 1
[] Caseless Ammunition - While a niche subject of research, there has been some push by the United American government for it. *Income: $40 million*
[] Extremely Rugged Equipment - There is some push toward a more rugged set of infantry gear, experimenting with various techniques may accomplish this. *Income: $30 million*
[] Infrasonic Utilization - While the relative usefulness of infrasound may be minimal, it would be a relatively simple project overall. *Income: $15 million*
[] Improved Infantry Optics - With the continued development of computerizing infantry gear, creating optics for this purpose would be valuable. *Income: $40 million*
[] Tactical Augmented System (Extrapolated Reality) (TASER) - A rather novel idea, this would involve overlaying information onto a soldier's sight. *Income: $60 million*
[] Self-Modulating Barrel - A niche idea, but somewhat interesting would be a barrel that can modulate itself to fire varying calibers. It's unknown how this would operate. *Income: $15 million*
[] Infantry Loitering Gear - With the initial idea being a short ranged loitering munition, there is considerable room for research in this field. *Income: $40 million*
[] Infantry EMP Shielding - With the United American military fearing nuclear war, hardened equipment on an infantry level would be valuable. *Income: $80 million*
[] Alternate Power Storage - As batteries are incredibly valuable, looking into alternate ways to store power is likely a dead-end, but nonetheless easier than improving upon batteries themselves. *Income: $20 million*
[] Improved Power Storage - A much more difficult, but likely more useful project would be attempting to improve upon the standard battery. *Income: $30 million*
[] Machine Learning Utilization - While a rather broad term, there is some value in attempting to utilize machine learning in some capacity. Results are unpredictable in quality but rather likely. *Income: $20 million*
[] Material Science - While we lack the ability to create new alloys, material science research is a lengthy process, one that would begin with simply cataloging current research. *Income: $15 million*
[] Medical Sensors - The utilization of biomonitors is rare due to weight and reliability issues, but with the installation of a computer, full medical readouts would be possible. *Income: $30 million*
[] 3D Printing - With 3D printing becoming more and more popular, and the military using it in a limited capacity, finding use cases is rather simple. *Income: 35 million*
[] Quiet Motors - While there has been some research into quieter ship engines, quieter motors have yet to be investigated. *Income: 60 million*
[] Write-in

2033 External Report - Federal Contracts

With the success of the BRISTLE, we are seeing a relative increase in the general quality of contracts, as well as how much money we are being offered for various designs. At this time, there is some push towards infantry gear such as a helmet or full armor suite, but thanks to the current laws of the United Americas, we do have a variety of choices. Unfortunately, the various infantry weapons such as squad automatics are currently already fulfilled by rival companies.

Pick 1
[] Next-Generation Helmet - While a new helmet is less ambitious than what the army wants, it is also a quick project. *Ideal Timeframe 1 year - Contract Income: $400 million*
[] Next-Generation Armor - A modern suit of infantry gear is mainly focused on small arms protection and camouflage. But it can be more. *Ideal Timeframe 2 years - Contract Income: $1 billion*
[] Exoskeletons - A complex theoretical piece of gear. The military is spending considerable sums on this project. *Ideal Timeframe 5 years - Contract Income: $2.5 billion*
[] Handheld UAVs - With the conflict in the Caucuses, low-cost drones have helped the Soviets hold off qualitatively superior forces. The United American military wants this capability. *Ideal Timeframe 1 years - Contract Income: $500 million*
[] Artillery Spotter Drones - A variant of a handheld UAV specifically for artillery, this proposed design would allow for live guidance of artillery shells onto moving targets. *Ideal Timeframe 1 years - Contract Income: $400 million*
[] Autonomous Quadruped - With the military now wishing to see a surge in the number of robots in the military, the first step is to create a weaponized version of a 4-legged robot. *Ideal Timeframe 2 years - Contract Income: $1.2 billion*
[] Infantry Portable Sensor Platform - With battlespace awareness becoming more valuable, the military wishes for a custom piece of equipment to allow soldiers to better monitor the battlefield. *Ideal Timeframe 3 years - Contract Income: $2.1 billion*
[] Basic Infantry Equipment - While more complex pieces of technology are certainly valuable, something such as improved knives, new backpacks, and better chem lights would not be refused. *Ideal Timeframe 1 years - Contract Income: $350 million*
[] SINCGARS - While the current radio setup does achieve what the United American military needs, it isn't hardened to EMP effects as they would like. *Ideal Timeframe 2 years - Contract Income: $1 billion*
[] Encrypted Phones - While certainly not a new idea, creating a more complex piece of equipment to provide additional features would be useful. Although the training time needed to maintain and operate it may not allow it to be utilized. *Ideal Timeframe 4 years - Contract Income: $1.8 billion*
[] Defense Advanced GPS Receiver - With the current system having proved itself, the military doesn't expect a new design to be truly revolutionary. However, a system made for the modern day would still be valuable. *Ideal Timeframe 2 years - Contract Income: $900 million*
[] Infantry Mortar - With the current mortar being introduced in 2030, it is starting to show some signs of age. Moreover, some engineers think we may be able to use the guidance system of the MANPAD for it. *Ideal Timeframe 3 years - Contract Income: $1.5 billion*
[] Write-in

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X]Nuclear Proofing
-[X] Infantry EMP Shielding - With the United American military fearing nuclear war, hardened equipment on an infantry level would be valuable. *Income: $80 million*
-[X] SINCGARS - While the current radio setup does achieve what the United American military needs, it isn't hardened to EMP effects as they would like. *Ideal Timeframe 2 years - Contract Income: $1 billion*

2033 Internal Report - Experimental Sciences Division

With the new set of scientists and their lab equipment, Innovation Institute focused primarily on infantry-scale EMP shielding in preparation for a large-scale funding effort by the United American military to attain full EMP shielding on all infantry equipment. Over the course of 2033, considerable effort has gone into this, with a multitude of experiments contributing rather valuable data for our actions. Overall, EMP shielding is a solved problem involving using aluminum foil to create faraday cages around delicate components. All that our scientists had to do was adapt this engineering solution to work on smaller, more delicate components.

While the resulting solution is natively more complex than a non-EMP-resistant device, it is not that difficult to implement. Additionally, overall weight increases have been kept to a minimum level, and we doubt that there will be significant drawbacks to such devices. As a result, the United American military has begun requiring this package to be used on all infantry gear within the next 8 years. Thanks to the overall success of this project, we do expect to see increased funding for future cutting-edge research.

2033 Internal Report - Report on the Poaching of Innovation Industries Personnel

While the poaching of employees is a standard industry practice, thanks to the variety of programs we have as a part of our desired corporate culture, it has proven rather difficult for other corporations. Due to the oversight of employees, and the requirement they use a company phone, we are notified when other companies attempt to poach our employees. As a result, this advance notice has allowed us to time raises and bonuses properly, ensuring that statistically speaking, employee compensation remains as low as we can manage.

2033 Internal Report - Current SINCGARS System

The current Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System, or SINCGARS, in use by the United American military is a sturdy system. Able to operate in most terrain and climates without notable issues, there is a reason why the design has sold a million units. However, it does have slight issues, notably the lack of true encryption. While it is capable of transferring data at 16 kbps, it notably has encryption issues, with vehicle-mounted hardware capable of decrypting the signal within timeframes that are far quicker than is ideal. Thankfully the device is capable of communicating with groups 10 kilometers away without issue, with signal boosters capable of extending the line of sight range to 50 kilometers. All of this is managed in a package that masses a total of 3.5 kilograms, and generally is in use by most aspects of the United American military.

2033 Internal Report - SINCGARS Design Requirements

The current design requirements by the military are rather simple overall. Due to reports of the Italian-Soviet conflict, they see heavily encrypted comms as a requirement due to the force multiplier it allows. Moreover, due to the system being intended for usage during a nuclear war, EMP shielding is also a requirement. Beyond that, they have no requirements that present notable issues. The range is easily able to be met by simply utilizing the current components, as is the overall mass.

Overall there are two choices available to us. We could simply create a simple system that meets the requirements and be done within a year. This would provide us considerable profit, and allow for rapid growth thanks to the influx of liquid capital along with a short-term, artificial increase in our evaluation. Alternatively, we can also attempt to make the best system we can. This would provide us with considerable goodwill overall, and likely lead to improved long-term growth prospects.

2033 Internal Report - Initial SINCGARS Prototype Design

Attached below is the approved PDR:

[X] EMP Shielding - The intended use case requires resistance to EMP effects. +1 Complexity.
[X] Encrypted Comms - The military sees this as a requirement. +2 Complexity.
[] Heavily Encrypted Comms - By increasing frequency cycling, we can further encrypt communications. Replaces Encrypted Comms. +4 Complexity.
[] Lightweight - As weight is a notable issue for many systems, attempting to make the system lighter would be useful. +2 Complexity.
[] Minimal Power Usage - Introducing dynamic channel management would allow for minimal radio leakage, allowing for improved security. +2 Complexity.
[] Increased Power - By improving the amplifier and power draw, we can artificially increase the range further. +2 Complexity.
[] Rugged - By encasing the radio in a secure case like the current model, we can ensure it can operate in all environments. +2 Complexity.
[] Adaptable - By creating an external API, we can allow for upgrade packages to the design to be easier to design, as well as allow for side grades to proliferate. +2 Complexity.
[] Single Network - Creating an expanded IP subnet would enable any radio to act as a signal relay as well as allowing for decreased latency and increasing connectivity. +3 Complexity.
[] Alternate Communication Methods - By widening the modulation schemes permitted, we can interface the radio with civilian communication and satellites, drastically expanding utility in areas with high civilian counts. +3 Complexity.
[] Decryption Module - Including an optional add-on to allow for decryption attempts of enemy signals may be useful depending on the state of decryption within the United American military. +2 Complexity.
[] Custom OS - A feat of considerable difficulty, creating a custom OS explicitly for the system would improve performance and increase decryption difficulty. +4 Complexity.
[] Alternate Power Sources - Experimenting with solar charging and hand cranks will likely allow for a mixed system capable of reducing battery usage. +1 Complexity.
[] Electronic Warfare Capabilities - While jamming is typically done on larger platforms, a low-power jammer would be useful for squad engagements, especially if we are able to utilize the system on all helmets. +3 Complexity.
[] Improved Throughput - By improving traffic control, we may be able to improve the throughput of the radio, allowing for increased data transfer rates. +2 Complexity.
[] Majorly Improved Throughput - Further doubling down on this would further improve throughput. +4 Complexity. (Cannot be taken with Improved Throughput)
[] Armor Integrated - With Black Research Horizons working on a new infantry armor suite, modifying the radio to be included in every armor set would be a major force multiplier. +1 Complexity.
[] Write-in

Spoiler: Rolls

Infantry EMP Shielding Development: 86, 72, 39, 96

 

[Daemon Hunter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Plan: All Along the Watchtower
-[X] EMP Shielding - The intended use case requires resistance to EMP effects. +1 Complexity.
-[X] Heavily Encrypted Comms - By increasing frequency cycling, we can further encrypt communications. Replaces Encrypted Comms. +4 Complexity.
-[X] Rugged - By encasing the radio in a secure case like the current model, we can ensure it can operate in all environments. +2 Complexity.
-[X] Lightweight - As weight is a notable issue for many systems, attempting to make the system lighter would be useful. +2 Complexity.
-[X] Adaptable - By creating an external API, we can allow for upgrade packages to the design to be easier to design, as well as allow for side grades to proliferate. +2 Complexity.
-[X] Armor Integrated - With Black Research Horizons working on a new infantry armor suite, modifying the radio to be included in every armor set would be a major force multiplier. +1 Complexity.

2033 Internal Report - Encryption Coding Scheme

The current SINCGARS operates across 2000 channels, with 20 kHz channels. As a part of the encryption techniques, it cycles between these channels at a rate of 64 channels per second. The distribution of channels is determined by a pseudorandom generator, which is synced across all radios. Similarly, our model uses the same technique. The main difference, however, is that we have added far more back-channel encryption. Utilizing a homomorphic encryption scheme layered with other standard encryption methods, we have managed to achieve roughly the same level of encryption while only switching channels at a rate of 40 channels per second. At this time, based on in-lab tests, a dedicated vehicular setup is required in order to decrypt our communications assuming notable SIGINT failures.

2033 Internal Report - SINCGARS Case Design

Creating the case for the radio has been a more involved process than originally intended. Upgrading to a more elastic-plastic to better handle blunt force issues, attempts were made to convert the solid mass into a hexagonal lattice in order to reduce weight. This proved to be more challenging than originally intended, requiring us to utilize the developments of three different universities in order to achieve a modicum of success. Since then, we have been working on adding additional reliability to the fabrication process, along with various internal supports and finishes. While the current model is undergoing operational testing, we are confident that only minimal work remains for the mark 1 casing. Currently, we achieve a similar level of ruggedness to the current design, while also reducing the mass from 3.5 kilos to 3 kilograms.

2033 Internal Report - SINCGARS API Documentation

Development for a standard API interface has proven to be a notable success. By creating a number of standard template libraries that operate neatly with C++, Python, and a few other coding languages, we have notably simplified the development of alternate variants or future add-ons. Considerable work has gone into making the API modular, with strict coding limitations requiring less than three dependencies per header file. While this has complicated the development of the SINCGARS encryption scheme, causing significant latency for channel switching rates above 40 per second, it does also mean that Black Research Horizons has been able to interface with the software easily. Moreover, the API as it is has reached the end of development which would assist with future developments. Currently, exploratory work is going into creating a neural network to facilitate battlefield adaptation, but it is unknown if this is actually viable or not.

2033 External Report - Black Research Horizons Cooperation

With effort being put into integrating the SINCGARS model with a new infantry armor, we did have to work with another corporation that had taken the contract. The Hazardous Environmental Integrated Infantry Armament (HEIIA) is purely meant for operating in heavily irradiated or highly toxic environments. With advanced filtration systems capable of screening out most chemical and biological weapons, and featuring a two-hour internal air supply, the lacking ballistic protection is compensated by being orders of magnitude more suited for operations in radiated environments. Additionally featuring an advanced HUD which connects to our SINCGARS system enabling unprecedented information sharing among squadmates.

It, however, does not work. At this time, they are experiencing significant electronic shorting issues due to poor wire bonding in their chips. While normally this wouldn't be an issue, the EMP shielding can cause ESD issues to spread, creating cascade failures. This is a solvable issue but will require considerable work on their end. As a result, they are willing to offer $40 million if we further simplify the armor integration capabilities of our radio within the year.

As for the company itself, Black Research Horizons is a company that tends to design equipment that is heavily classified. As a result, it has developed a culture of immense paranoia. Simply entering their facilities requires a facial recognition scan, retinal scan, and fingerprint scan. There is also considerable monitoring of employees both at work and at home, with even the most minor of security issues resulting in heavy-handed lawsuits and legal action. Thankfully, there have not been many issues working with them, primarily due to their insistence on working remotely, which we have been happy to do.

2033 Internal Report - Development Goals

With the very first iteration completed, there is considerable room for improvement. And we have identified a variety of areas to work on.

You have 4 Points to spend, one of which is locked:

[X] General Improvements - While it does limit our creativity, the simple fact is there are multiple efficient methods of improvement, ranging from refining encryption algorithms, to field testing various units, and more. (-1 Point)
[] Cryptographic Algorithms - By utilizing cutting-edge algorithms along with novel techniques, we could further improve encryption to the point that dedicated facilities would be needed to decrypt transmitted signals. (-1 Point, Repeatable)
[] Case Design (Sturdiness) - Focusing on improvements in the case and internal support structure would possibly allow for useful improvements in the physical toughness of the design. (-1 Point)
[] Case Design (Weight) - A similar focus, but on reducing mass, there is a fair bit of room for improvement. From reduced usage of wires, and shaving down internal parts to the minimum. (-1 Point, can be taken twice)
[] Neural Network Experimentation - While neural networks are somewhat experimental, they present an opportunity here. By including them in our design, we could allow various models to self correct their algorithms based on the most common use cases. (-1 Point)
[] Armor Integration - Black Research Horizons has clear limitations in their development ability, and as such have offered $40 million if we're able to simplify the physical ports needed to a direct bitstream connection. (-1 Point)

Spoiler: Rolls

Heavily Encrypted Comms: 31
Rugged: 91
Lightweight: 49
Adaptable: 98
Armor Integration: 33

General Development: 3, 27, 29, 13, 96, 33