[X] [Req] (52000 IC)
-[X] 6x EMLs (12,000 IC)
-[X] 10x F-14X XCOM Hellcat II (24,000 IC, including the 2400 [Planes] IC)
-[X] Blue Box Aviation Devices, Inc. Flight Simulation Machines (1000 IC)
-[X] Ground Equipment: Portable Surface to Air Missiles, Antitank Missiles, Anti-Materiel Rifles and Light Machine Guns (7000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Gunther Bay Emergency Administration (6000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Voslage (2000 IC)
The one thing I added, as compared to last time, is antitank missiles. Because they're about the only thing we have for ground combat that might plausibly blast through equipment shielded with a modest layer of alien alloy, and if we run into something like Sectopods we're gonna need the firepower.
That said, considering that rapid, repeated srikes seems to be the most effective against Alien Tech, their vehicles at least, would Autocannons be a good idea for anti-tanks and anti-mechs? Higher RoF than missiles and all, with more punch than a LMG.
That said, considering that rapid, repeated srikes seems to be the most effective against Alien Tech, their vehicles at least, would Autocannons be a good idea for anti-tanks and anti-mechs? Higher RoF than missiles and all, with more punch than a LMG.
I mean maybe, but the weapons that we in real life call "autocannon" are too heavy for an individual human being to carry around, and so require vehicles or static gun mounts to use effectively.
@huhYeahGoodPoint , have we ever actually SEEN lasers used effectively against the alien craft? Our only opportunity to see a serious tactical laser system in action against them would have been the battle over Sapin, and I'm not sure the Arsenal Bird got any good shots off at the alien fighters with the laser.
Because given the known properties of the hull metal (ultra-refractory, thermal superconductor, very massively built) I'd honestly expect it to take a truly ridiculous amount of laser to heat the things up enough to matter- and burning a hole is right out. Which probably isn't a coincidence. These ships are clearly spacecraft optimized to fight a peer competitor who has their own spacecraft and advanced alien technology- so their protection schemes are probably optimized against energy weapons, and straight up laser beams are among the simpler energy weapons to protect against when you have the kind of materials these guys do.
Also helps with re-entry and dealing with a diverse array of atmospheres. Probably also pretty good at stopping cosmic radiation, given the ridonkulous density. Neutrinos and similar particles would likely be able to get through that mass of alloy...but not much else. Certainly, nothing harmful. Would probably even help slow disintegration by positron or other antimatter beams.
Because given the known properties of the hull metal (ultra-refractory, thermal superconductor, very massively built) I'd honestly expect it to take a truly ridiculous amount of laser to heat the things up enough to matter- and burning a hole is right out. Which probably isn't a coincidence. These ships are clearly spacecraft optimized to fight a peer competitor who has their own spacecraft and advanced alien technology- so their protection schemes are probably optimized against energy weapons, and straight up laser beams are among the simpler energy weapons to protect against when you have the kind of materials these guys do.
@huhYeahGoodPoint
I'd appreciate an answer to this as well, so I can either put more thought into my lazerz idea or think of something else.
Also, Simon, food for thought, a Tactical laser would be useless due to power and size constraints if your train of thought is right, but when the weapon has access to ground side power sources and no need to move, energy effeciency is a much lesser concern. Although I admit, the cost-effectiveness and practicality of such a weapon is in question when materials sciences can't handle enough laser at once.
[X] [Req] (52000 IC)
-[X] 6x EMLs (12,000 IC)
-[X] 10x F-14X XCOM Hellcat II (24,000 IC, including the 2400 [Planes] IC)
-[X] Blue Box Aviation Devices, Inc. Flight Simulation Machines (1000 IC)
-[X] Ground Equipment: Portable Surface to Air Missiles, Antitank Missiles, Anti-Materiel Rifles and Light Machine Guns (7000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Gunther Bay Emergency Administration (6000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Voslage (2000 IC)
The one thing I added, as compared to last time, is antitank missiles. Because they're about the only thing we have for ground combat that might plausibly blast through equipment shielded with a modest layer of alien alloy, and if we run into something like Sectopods we're gonna need the firepower.
Not even 1 or 2 drones? And by Anti-tank missiles you mean the portable ones, right? Not the ones you need a vehicle to drag around with?
Also, all those F-18s and SU-33s can carry an EML, remember? So why don't we buy more EMLs than F-14Xs and finish the whole F-14X reequipment next turn?
There's not a lot of point in just having one or two; they're not very effective except in swarms. Remember that we're supposed to keep the total number of kinds of things we order to a limited level; it's a bad idea for us to squander our limited number of order 'slots' on things that are unlikely to be helpful in and of themselves.
And by Anti-tank missiles you mean the portable ones, right? Not the ones you need a vehicle to drag around with?
I mean probably, but when you get right down to it I would prefer that our people use their own judgment. Weapons that have to be fitted on a Humvee or whatever are fine as long as they work. It's mostly just that in real life, we use big-ass antitank missiles to kill big things, whereas things like anti-materiel rifles just plain don't have that kind of killing power. I'd purely hate to have our forces collapse just because the enemy rolled out a few tank-equivalent threats that kept shrugging off all our ground fire.
Also, all those F-18s and SU-33s can carry an EML, remember? So why don't we buy more EMLs than F-14Xs and finish the whole F-14X reequipment next turn?
There's a real, significant advantage to having lots of F-14Xs. Namely, agility. The F-14X's defining trait is that it is a very good dogfighter. And given how combat with the aliens has gone so far, the two big factors determining pilot survival are experience and the agility of the aircraft. F-22 pilots survive better than F-15 pilots, or seem to, because the F-22 is supermaneuverable and has a better chance of getting out of the way of a plasma bolt.
The F-14X's maneuverability makes it considerably more likely that our low-tier pilots can just not die for a while during combat, long enough for an ally to save them, long enough or them to gain experience and level up.
By contrast, a few EMLs more or less in a force that already has so many of them won't make that much difference for purposes of helping our pilots survive longer by killing the hell out of the enemy (which, to be fair, is usually a good plan).
I thought that the analyses of how the lasers damaged alien craft was inconclusive, since the hull stood up remarkably well to it in laboratory tests but the alien craft fell anyways?
@huhYeahGoodPoint , have we ever actually SEEN lasers used effectively against the alien craft? Our only opportunity to see a serious tactical laser system in action against them would have been the battle over Sapin, and I'm not sure the Arsenal Bird got any good shots off at the alien fighters with the laser.
Charlie Burns is fairly sure that the TLS couldn't seriously damage the alien aircraft, but he notes some caution in that by his understanding, guns and missiles shouldn't be able to either but somehow the alien craft were still getting shot down by guns and missiles so there's clearly something going on with a fully functional alien craft that would make it more vulnerable somehow.
Analysis from the Battle of Granada Plains is underway; the big reason why your Training and Tactics Department hasn't found anything is because they weren't really looking at the Arsenal Bird's performance so much as your own fighters. Further complicating matters is the alien craft's ludicrously high durability hampering damage analysis; every single downed fighter has internal damage, yes, but the aftereffects are proving difficult to tease out.
There's not a lot of point in just having one or two; they're not very effective except in swarms. Remember that we're supposed to keep the total number of kinds of things we order to a limited level; it's a bad idea for us to squander our limited number of order 'slots' on things that are unlikely to be helpful in and of themselves.
There's also the fact that if we wanted drones, we'd need to buy MQ-99s, since the 101s are built to be launched from an Arsenal Bird, and we'd need to have the engineering to develop a launching method for the 101 first.
[X] Plan: Almost Full Stock
-[X] [FOCUS] Assist Logistics (75 Focus)
-[X] [FOCUS] Meet City Councilors (50 Focus)
-[X] [BASE] FORTRESS SELATAPURA
-[X] [Req] (52 500 IC + 2400 IC)
--[X] Selatapura Base Defenses (6050/12000 IC invested) (5950 IC)
--[X] 10x F-14X Hellcat II (24,000 IC, including the 2400 [Planes] IC)
--[X] 9x EMLs for Mobius 5, Druid and Bard squadrons (18 000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Gunther Bay Emergency Administration (6000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Voslage (950 IC)
Focus level is at 260 after the plan, leaving us with at least 140 Focus to use for other stuff and still keep us in green. Wasn't quite sure about the base size, but people have made good arguments for fortress, we can expand when necessary, that juts means we need to use more IC to expand our defenses as well.
As for requisitions, first finishing getting the base defenses. I am not putting what exactly we'd be buying, because that's a level of micromanagement we shouldn't be getting in this quest of air combat, especially since the reason we're getting smaller updates now was to cut down on complexity and micromanaging to make it easier for QM. I also except the people in charge of that to be smart enough to get what we actually need.
Also getting F-14Xs for all of our pilots not flying F-22s or superplanes. To arm all of our F-14Xs with EMLs we'd need 12 of them, but we can do with 9 now, since Waltz squadron is still missing a member, and leave us with IC to use for industrial development. I'm not ordering any flight simulators, since there has been no indicator that we need new ones, and we're in middle of developing our own more advanced ones. I'm also putting less industry building on Voslage, both because to get more IC for EMLs and also while I want to help them, we're in precarious political position with the Usea negotiations, and don't want ERF to throw a fuss now that we've actually gotten them on the table. And if they raise a fuss over that amount, we can just say that IUN is paying back for the damages caused and materials acquired from Voslage during the Lighthouse War, since IUN wasn't at war with them.
Hmm, you make some good points. Once we've finished the first round of base defenses, then it'll be time to invest more heavily in ground troops and more extensive fortifications and buildings.
[X] Plan: Almost Full Stock
-[X] [FOCUS] Assist Logistics (75 Focus)
-[X] [FOCUS] Meet City Councilors (50 Focus)
-[X] [BASE] FORTRESS SELATAPURA
-[X] [Req] (52 500 IC + 2400 IC)
--[X] Selatapura Base Defenses (6050/12000 IC invested) (5950 IC)
--[X] 10x F-14X Hellcat II (24,000 IC, including the 2400 [Planes] IC)
--[X] 9x EMLs for Mobius 5, Druid and Bard squadrons (18 000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Gunther Bay Emergency Administration (6000 IC)
-[X] Build Industry, Voslage (950 IC)
I'm not ordering any flight simulators, since there has been no indicator that we need new ones, and we're in middle of developing our own more advanced ones.
The Blue Box flight simulation devices are for synergizing with my omake and the next one I planned to write as soon as Annie 'Pixy's #1 fan' arrives in Selatapura, with the end goal being...
...have you ever wondered about what if Mobius 1 and Cipher had a match against each other via Strangereal Ace Combat's Online Match?
Besides, do you think a more advanced flight simulator will be better than the player protagonists playing against each other or with less skilled pilots, via flight simulators?
The Blue Box flight simulation devices are for synergizing with my omake and the next one I planned to write as soon as Annie 'Pixy's #1 fan' arrives in Selatapura, with the end goal being...
...have you ever wondered about what if Mobius 1 and Cipher had a match against each other via Strangereal Ace Combat's Online Match?
Besides, do you think a more advanced flight simulator will be better than the player protagonists playing against each other or with less skilled pilots, via flight simulators?
Well, yes, since they would be better flight simulators. And since this is an air base for combat craft, it should already have flight simulators for the pilots to use.
Charlie Burns is fairly sure that the TLS couldn't seriously damage the alien aircraft, but he notes some caution in that by his understanding, guns and missiles shouldn't be able to either but somehow the alien craft were still getting shot down by guns and missiles so there's clearly something going on with a fully functional alien craft that would make it more vulnerable somehow.
Well, since I want to post this while it's still relevant, and since it's been looked over by @huhYeahGoodPoint and @Simon_Jester, I think now's as good a time as any to present to you guys my next Omake. Doesn't have much of a name, though.
----
Assessment from Albastru-Electrice's Weapons Department, in conjunction with Macmillan Heavy Industries, on Project Dragon Dentist
Abstract
While the damage to the Stonehenge turrets, as outlined in both the older ISAF reports and the more recent Damage Survey conducted by XCOM USEA, is extensive, many of the technologies involved in large-scale engineering have been significantly improved in the time since Stonehenge was constructed. With the proper application of cutting-edge technology, new techniques founded in new discoveries, and of the variety of new materials available, the reconstruction of the turrets, while certainly not cheap or simple, should be significantly faster than might otherwise be expected, assuming the resources are available.
However, in order to function well in our current threat environment, some upgrades may also be necessary, and may cause some unavoidable delays and increase costs. Given the differences between our current situation and the battlefield of the past, improvements in most areas, including targeting software and computing infrastructure, should be executed.
Section 1: Description of the Stonehenge Turrets and their Capabilities
The Stonehenge turrets, like the Chandelier, do not utilize purely electromagnetic propulsion. In many ways, the two systems are the opposite of one another. The Chandelier is a single, large, semi-fixed electromagnetic cannon that is used to provide extra speed and force to missiles, with the missile stage kicking in later. The Stonehenge turrets are, as described in the literature, a set of eight "120cm Surface to Air Magnetically and Explosively Accelerated Semi-Automatic Emplaced Cannons". The initial propulsive force of the projectile is provided by a burst of explosive propellant, which is then accelerated further by a series of superconducting magnets, as per a traditional railgun.
The guns were able to accurately hit targets in a 1200 kilometer-radius, and were able to destroy a number of impactors during the Ulysses Incident, and enabled the interdiction of most of the Continent during the Continental War. The guns were not aimed by human operators, but rather by by a set of 8 networked supercomputers, capable of precise calculations and modeling. These computers were connected to a large network of facilities to provide the necessary targeting data. The network included satellites, current weather pattern modeling, and both civilian and military radar facilities.
Section 2: Production of Replacement Parts and Potential Repairs
While we do not have yet have enough data, at this remove, to overturn the initial, rough repair time-frame assessment from the recent Damage Survey Report, our assessment is that it, being primarily a damage survey, did not account for the nature of the modern infrastructure at the disposal of XCOM. In the past, extensive, dedicated facilities have been required for the production of heavy parts, but modern innovations in computer-assisted design, computer numerical control, robotics, laser cutting and welding, materials science, and additive manufacturing, along with other fields, have greatly improved the adaptability and versatility of industrial apparatus. New attachments and parts can be produced as necessary, with very little turnaround time. Retooling has thus become significantly faster in recent times. And additive manufacturing is always rapidly adaptable.
Macmillan Heavy Industries been researching, developing, and utilizing adaptable infrastructure extensively for some time now, including infrastructure of a scale to be used in the repair and production of naval vessels, such as submarines and aircraft carriers. Assuming blueprints and other specs are provided, producing new recoil cylinders in such facilities should be relatively straightforward and quick. Transportation from Nordennavic, however, would be both expensive, and potentially slow down the repair process significantly, due to the distances involved. While there are similar, closer Usean facilities, transportation from those facilities would still be difficult. The parts involved are simply too large and heavy to transport easily, especially overland.
One possible solution to this problem, which would greatly simplify logistics, would be to construct a facility closer to the site, preferably on the site itself, capable of manufacturing vital parts like the recoil cylinders. Adaptive industrial facilities should be constructed first, as many of them could also be used to produce parts for the rest of the facility. Then, those facilities can be used to construct more specialized parts, equipment, and machines. A proposed timeline and design for each stage of development for the facility is attached.
Many of the necessary components for such a facility could be, for the most part, constructed within the Commonwealth of Usean States' own existing advanced manufacturing facilities fairly easily. Some of the largest parts could be constructed on site with specialized equipment, which either Usea or Macmillan could provide, on-site construction being common for anything too heavy to easily move. There may be some proprietary parts that Macmillan Heavy Industries could provide that would be superior enough to the Usean products to warrant any delays caused by the increased shipping time. Our estimates indicate this would not delay the construction process significantly. How quickly an appropriate building for the purpose of containing such facilities might be constructed would vary based on the company doing the construction. Macmillan Heavy Industries estimates on both the cost of their proprietary parts, and for the construction of the shell, are attached.
As for the breaches, along with some of the other damaged parts, full replacement may not be necessary. Small-scale damage and wear, such as the micro-fractures described in the recent Damage Survey, can, with the use of advanced, properly equipped and programmed repair drones, be repaired in situ. This sort of technology has been deployed, successfully, in the Arsenal Bird aircraft, allowing them some degree of self-repair capabilities. Macmillan Heavy Industries has developed their own technology along similar lines, and would value the opportunity for a field-test of their systems in more challenging conditions than has previously been conducted, and have reduced their prices for providing these drones in accordance with this. Such systems could also be of extreme benefit to the future smooth operation of the Stonehenge turrets, allowing micro-fractures to be repaired before they become larger. This would also reduce the size of the workforce needed for the repair process significantly. Design specs and cost estimates are attached.
Neither Macmillan Heavy Industries nor Albastru-Electrice can provide any major assistance to the replacement of the elevation systems at this time, beyond offering the use of their own facilities for machining the parts. Hypothetically, Alien Alloys might be used to produce stronger electronic motors, and improvements to hydraulics tech might also be utilized, but neither company can bring any schematics to the table at this time. However, Macmillan does note that several Usean facilities could aid in the production of replacement parts, in addition to the original forges, list attached.
Section 3: Impact of New Technologies
As noted in the recent Damage Survey, essentially all of the systems of Stonehenge, such as the computational systems, are some degree of outdated. This includes the principles they operate on, the design of their components, and the materials used in their construction. While some systems, such as the supercomputers, are easily replaced with more advanced options (though targeting software may need to be reconstructed regardless, see Section 4), not all improvements are so easily managed. Changes in part composition, weight, or shape can necessitate cascading changes to other systems to compensate.
The most obvious solution to the problem is simple: stick as close as possible to existing part designs and materials. However, this solution is not necessarily the most optimal. Improvements are more easily implemented now than once the turrets are in active service, and may be necessary to deal with the changes in the nature of the conflict. While the Stonehenge turrets were more than capable of dominating Usean airspace during the Continental War, the extraterrestrial invaders we are currently up against are significantly faster, insanely maneuverable, and have shield technology superior, in many respects, to even the APS system. There is no guarantee that the turrets, even brought back up to their original full specs, will be as effective against this threat as they were against the planes of a decade-and-a-half ago.
A joint assessment of the capabilities of the Stonehenge turrets by experts from Albastru-Electrice and Macmillan has determined three major areas of improvement necessary for tackling the alien threat: improved maximum power output, for dealing with shields, and improved rotation/elevation times and precision of fire, to handle the opponent's maneuverability.
Improvement to power output may be achieved with the application of Alien Alloys in the magnetic stage, and use of more powerful modern propellants in the initial stage. To list cascading effects of this change: the high weight of the Alien Alloy may necessitate improvements to load-bearing systems, increased electricity draw may necessitate improvements to transformers, power cabling, and related areas, and increased kinetic forces may require improvements to recoil systems and cooling systems. The current barrel arrays may be utilized, possibly with some external reinforcements to help endure the increased forces. Several possible designs that can compensate for these changes are attached.
Improvements to targeting speed may be achieved with improved software (see Section 4), which should not have any cascading effects. Additional improvements can come from use of modern sensor arrays, which will only have a cascading affect on software, and by improving the elevation systems, such as with more advanced and robust hydraulics, or application of improved motor systems. Application of Alien Alloys in superconducting motors may be considered, though other options may be utilized, due to weight concerns. Cascading changes to elevation systems are compensated for in attached designs.
The speedy turn-around time on these designs were enabled partially due to preexisting work by Albastru-Electrice, but also by the application of powerful modeling tools, again, provided Albastru-Electrice. During the reactivating and completion of the Chandelier facility, Albastru-Electrice and the other companies involved ran into similar issues as have been encountered here. To apply new materials or advancements, the cascading effects needed to be understood. They subsequently spent a great deal of time and effort on developing a unified methodology for assessing the benefits and downsides of incorporating new technologies and developments into their designs. In the process, they gained a great deal of expertise in modeling those changes, developing a sophisticated toolkit of modeling programs and mathematics. This was aided by extensive sharing of data between all parties, sharing their refinements to their modeling amongst themselves freely, across companies and disciplines.
After the destruction of the Chandelier and end of the war, Albastru-Electrice absorbed many of the other companies involved in the Chandelier project, along with their designs. They also began running similar studies on both the reconstruction of the Chandelier, and of the Stonehenge turrets, in anticipation of a possible future need for reconstruction of either facility, should another world-threatening impactor, similar to Ulysses 1994XF04, be discovered. Attached are the models upon which the designs attached were based, and the breakdowns of the mathematics that underlies them.
Albastru-Electrice is also willing to provide their proprietary modeling software kit to all XCOM science divisions, as well as Macmillian Heavy Industries, at no cost, stipulating that any updates or iterations on the software are likewise freely shared amongst all groups, and that the original software, and any iterations, are not sold or provided to any outside organizations without the approval of all parties. Macmillan Heavy Industries has already begun contributing their own refinements to these programs.
Section 4: Software and Computational System Upgrades
While the suggestion of replacing the existing super-computer banks with modern servers is certainly one option, there would still be a need to replace or rebuild the targeting software entirely, due to the lack of compatibility between the older targeting programs with modern processors and hardware. Additionally, the last two decades of advancement in the fields of computing, sensor-tech, hardware, and programming should not be ignored.
Hardware-wise, the current sensor system set-up at Stonehenge is old, but not necessarily worth upgrading, as the on-site sensors were never integral to the turrets' long-range targeting. Rather, a large, continent-wide network of satellites and ground facilities, including weather stations, were used for most aiming purposes. The network is now no longer compatible with the obsolete Stonehenge computing complex, but many of the facilities, aside from the satellites, are still in place. However, the lack of overhead radar coverage from satellites may significantly reduce accuracy at long-range. Incorporating data from AWACS and additional radar facilities in uncovered areas may help to compensate for this deficiency.
The total processing power of the Stonehenge supercomputer complex is stated in the literature to be approximately 100 TFLOPS, split between 8 complexes of 1024 connected units. While an incredible achievement in its day, and highly advanced at the time, the Damage Survey report drastically overestimated how much space would be needed to match its processing power. A single server room would likely be sufficient, as, even with common off-the-shelf CPUs, ~100 GFLOPS processing speeds are relatively common. Utilizing relatively inexpensive, GPGPU supercomputers capable of TFLOPS, such as Macmillan subsidiary Varitia's Maxwell Personal Supercomputer, the numbers become even more extreme. Just 25 Maxwell units could be used to replace the entire 8192 unit Stonehenge computing complex.
However, against the threat we currently face, our experts have concluded that matching the power of the previous complex simply isn't enough for our needs. More processing power, and superior targeting programs, will be needed to reliably hit opposing alien craft, particularly enemy fighter craft. Thus, peta-scale processing power for each gun will be required.
Fortunately, Macmillan has some connections, with regards to constructing supercomputing complexes. Mapleridge National Laboratory's Peak Supercomputer (the current holder of the title of fastest supercomputer in the world) is composed of Varitia Maxwell GPUs, working with OC FORCE9 CPUs. Peak also uses Varitia's proprietary VALink communications protocol to tie the indivudal computing complexes together. A similar, but possibly smaller, complex might be constructed for the Stonehenge turrets. Oriental Computers has been contacted, and is more than willing and capable of providing the necessary CPUs, and Varitia is as well. Macmillan is also willing to provide the necessary experts and workers.
As for the targeting software, Macmillan Heavy Industries has been cooperating with Albastru-Electrice to utilize machine learning algorithms and develop adaptive targeting software that is, hopefully, up to the task of hitting alien craft. While this software was meant to be used for the Chandelier facility, it can be adapted to function for the Stonehenge turrets. Additional data from the original Stonehenge algorithms, the blueprints of the guns, any footage or radar data of prior conflicts with the aliens, as well as any additional data on the alien craft that is acquired over time should be fed to the program to better adapt it to its task.
To preempt any concerns, It should be noted that this software is not a true AI, such as was used in the Zone of the Endless and the ADF-11, and is merely a program that can analyze visual data from past engagements, derive useful information from it and use it to improve its predictive models. Adding more data simply improves the modeling, though this process may take some time. It is suggested that the any supercomputer complex be allowed to continue to operate during downtime, so as to enable it to improve its modeling.
Section 5: Personnel and Miscellaneous Additional Aid
Macmillan Heavy Industries and Albastru-Electrice are both highly eager to collaborate with XCOM USEA on Project Dragon Dentist, and are quite willing to provide personnel and logistical support to aid in the reconstruction of the Stonehenge complex. Many of the lessons from reconstructing Stonehenge may be applicable to the reconstruction of the Chandelier, as well as help make one of humanity's greatest assets, the International Space Elevator, more secure. Future USEA assistance and input on various MHI/A-E collaborative efforts, under the auspices of XCOM ANEA, would be greatly appreciated, but future assistance is not by any means a prerequisite for support. Personnel should begin arriving within a week of receiving the go-ahead from XCOM USEA. Albastru-Electrice's CTO Aurel Azimov will be overseeing the project directly.
Assessment Date: 01/29/20
----
Aurel leaned back in his chair and rubbed his tired eyes. He then shot his partner-in-science a glance. "You are certain you do not want to put that fancy toy of yours at their disposal? It would solve a great many problems, logistics-wise."
Theodore Thelen turned his chair away from his own screen, yawning and stretching in-place. "Unfortunately, that's not really my decision to make. The HMS Nidavellir might have been constructed by us, and we might have a fair number of contracted employees helping operate it, but it's still technically owned by Nordennavic. Plus, it's basically a floating naval yard, not really a factory."
"I have seen schematics. Difference is...semantic? I think that is correct term."
"Yeah, yeah. Keep that up, and I'll be happy to see you leave for the burning desert. Speaking of which, are you sure you don't just want to leave it to someone else?"
"While desert is not pleasant place, seeing Stonehenge with own eyes is more than worth it." Aurel responded. "Will be taking most of the most boredom prone members of Weapons Department with me. If not, department would probably burn down within week. Hopefully you can keep the rest under control and focused while I am off dying of heat-stroke."
"Oh, I'm not worried on that front," Theodore responded. "I've got a fair amount of experience in riding herd on techs. I'll miss your help with the paperwork more than anything else."
Aurel laughed at this. "Fair enough. Now that we have finished with report, it is time for bed. Unless you want to end up like Commander Ball, who has blood made of coffee."
Now it was Theodore's turn to laugh. "Point. Goodnight, my friend. Sleep well."
"You as well," Aurel responded, and the two separated, heading off to their respective quarters.
----
I kinda had to make this one. After all, if Alabstru-Electrice and Macmillan Heavy Industries are going to ask for in on Project Dragon Dentist, you'd better believe they're going to draft their own proposals. Apologies if it was dense or overly technical, but that's kinda how stuff like this is written.
To start with, right off the bat, I should probably make it clear that I don't think there's anything wrong with @Simon_Jester's Damage Survey, nor do Aurel and Theodore. The goal of the Survey was to catalogue damage to the Stonehenge facility. They did that, and did it well. That they included reports on damage to the industrial infrastructure that supported Stonehenge is going above-and-beyond the typical expectations of such reports. It could easily have been ignored entirely. Suggesting most of what was covered in this assessment would have gone well beyond the parameters of the survey. Also, it would have left less fun for me to have in making these suggestions, and without it, I probably wouldn't have written this. So thanks, Simon. I had a lot of fun researching this.
Half the fun of this was looking at stuff available on Strangereal, and then stepping back to see what other uses or implications that tech might have. If they can make kilometers of carbon nanotubes for the Space Elevator, then meter-length nanotubes are probably available, albeit perhaps a bit expensive. Weapons-grade lasers? Probably means they have better industrial lasers than us, too, at least at the cutting edge. But, since XCOM has a budget of "yes", cutting edge is likely within our reach. From superweapons to superplanes, all of the tech we see in the games has lots of implications for manufacturing and industry. Enough that I can only barely scratch the surface of the changes those technologies could produce.
Mind you, some of this was less based in canon, and more based on the idea that Strangereal is a bit ahead of us in a lot of fields. This includes the quality of their manufacturing techniques and infrastructure. For those wondering, adaptive infrastructure is basically just a catch all term I made up for the infrastructure underlying a ton of methods of producing stuff, particularly stuff that can make, or be quickly altered to make, a lot of different things. This includes additive manufacturing devices, of course, but also stuff like laser CNC milling rigs and programmable robotic arms. I figure a company called Macmillan Heavy Industries, which is considered a strategic-level asset, might have invested in that sort of thing, including on large scales. Of course, since Nordennavic is on the other side of the world, we're not exactly going to be able to easily use their facilities. Thankfully, we have Usea.
Which brings me around to the proposal to build a factory out near Stonehenge. I'd handle it something like this. First, we invest IC into building the manufacturing infrastructure. Then, that IC can be used for either improving the facility itself, or be put towards reactivating the turrets (or repairing and maintaining them once they're built). Maybe also towards making other, similar stuff, if the GM so chooses. Basically, an investment with compounding interest, possibly with hard limits on how much it can invest in itself per turn, and how much it can grow overall, if balance is a concern. Personally, I think limits on application are probably enough to balance things out.
For those who missed it, Mapleridge National Laboratories and Peak are poorly hidden references to Oakridge National Labs and the Summit supercomputer. Varitia is a alternative reality version of Nividia (I decided to cut the first letter off a different deadly sin and call it a day), and the Maxwell Personal Supercomputer is a reference to Nvidia's Tesla Personal Supercomputer. Which is a thing that exists, and has ridiculous amount processing power for something that plugs into a standard wall outlet. And yes, a fair chunk of Summit's processing power actually comes from Nividia GPUs. Apparently, some madman figured out how to use GPUs to augment the CPU for general processing, including calculations. IBM made the CPUs for Summit, but I decided that the Strangereal version should have CPUs from Oriental Computers instead, because they're canonical, on the same continent as us, and I didn't feel like coming up with a barely concealed reference for the name. And it's good to acknowledge the games a bit.
As for the reference to the HMSNidavellir near the end...I'm not honestly sure where that idea came from. It's some sort of auxiliary ship, though I'm a bit undecided whether it's a huge, nuclear-powered, modernized repair ship, or if it's a suped-up auxiliary repair dock (which is basically an enclosed, floating drydock with an engine). Either way, its current job is most likely easing logistics, especially in areas that might otherwise lack infrastructure. And it's probably needed enough where it is for Nordennavic to be unwilling to move it.
The HMS Nidavellir might have been constructed by us, and we might have a fair number of contracted employees helping operate it, but it's still technically owned by Nordennavic.
1. Preempt is a word.
2. Some of those "unnecessary commas" kinda...aren't. They're often there to change the meaning of the sentences. Or, in the case of the ones in dialogue, they indicate cadence/pauses. Some of them I'm willing to change, some not so much. Same with the added comma in the dialog you suggested.
3. The missing words in Aurel's speech are there to indicate an accent. I'm shooting for Russian, but my ability to transliterate accents is not exactly top-tier.
4. To "ride herd on [something]" is a phrase. It's derived from cattle ranching. Basically means to keeping something, someone, or a group of someones going in the right direction.
2. Some of those "unnecessary commas" kinda...aren't. They're often there to change the meaning of the sentences. Or, in the case of the ones in dialogue, they indicate cadence/pauses. Some of them I'm willing to change, some not so much. Same with the added comma in the dialog you suggested.
Ok, but you're not usually supposed to put a comma in front of a coordinating conjunction if the following sentence is short or between two verbs, two subjects, two complements, or two objects.
3. The missing words in Aurel's speech are there to indicate an accent. I'm shooting for Russian, but my ability to transliterate accents is not exactly top-tier.
In that case, if it is not clear from the line itself that character's accent is showing, I recommend adding a description at the end of the line that the accent is showing or in character's first line that they're speaking with an accent. Otherwise it will look like a typo.
