Battleherb
Disposable minion
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
-[X]Name: Ríchathaoir Dealga Na Avalon
-[X]Navy:
-[X]Apolitical:
-[X]Tir Na Nog Military Academy:
-[X]3rd Generation Design Child:
-[X]Attentive:
-[X]Mildly Incompetent:
-[X]Name: Ríchathaoir Dealga Na Avalon
-[X]Navy:
-[X]Apolitical:
-[X]Tir Na Nog Military Academy:
-[X]3rd Generation Design Child:
-[X]Attentive:
-[X]Mildly Incompetent:
[X] Plan: Failchilding Upward
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
- Pronouns
- he/him
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
[X] Plan Dark Side Of The Moon
[X] Voznesenskiy reborn
[X] Plan Brain Worm Queen
[X] Voznesenskiy reborn
[X] Plan Brain Worm Queen
Last edited:
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
[X] Plan Let's not take any risks
[X] Plan Let's not take any risks
MordredRaal
Agitating
- Pronouns
- She/They
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
Tabascoheath
Unkempt, Evil-eyed Charlatan, and Pseudo-Mystic
- Location
- Your Nearest Orbital Habitat
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
- Pronouns
- Viewer
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
[X] Plan Dark Side Of The Moon
[X] Plan Dark Side Of The Moon
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Turn 1 33AE: Situation Sub-optimal
- Location
- The United States
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X]Plan Disco ELF-ysium
-[X]Name: Ríchathaoir Dealga Na Avalon
-[X]Navy:
-[X]Apolitical:
-[X]Tir Na Nog Military Academy:
-[X]3rd Generation Design Child:
-[X]Attentive:
-[X]Mildly Incompetent:
-[X]Name: Ríchathaoir Dealga Na Avalon
-[X]Navy:
-[X]Apolitical:
-[X]Tir Na Nog Military Academy:
-[X]3rd Generation Design Child:
-[X]Attentive:
-[X]Mildly Incompetent:
Turn 1 33AE: Situation Sub-optimal
Budget: 640B Or
Political Support (this is 60 with an unknown digit): 6?
When taking office despite several almost certainly more qualified candidates it has become immediately obvious why no one else wanted the damn thing. The original guesses that only the navy was disfavored for equipment were rudely proven wrong by the first dozen reports on the state of the army and the sheer non-existence of the air-force. The previous government and the various military personnel around it have effectively ignored anything outside flashy space infrastructure. No one else wanted the office because this mess is going to take at least two decades to fix if ever and the demands for new systems have not remotely slowed down. As with the war, triage is the order of the day and going to be necessary to navigate any of this mess.
Army forces on Dannan have historically been entirely ignored for much of their post-war existence in the democratic government. Currently, modern forces are spread across two brigades with an unbalanced allotment of equipment, forming a narrow but functional division committed around the capital. Ground forces outside of that effectively exist as formations of light motorized infantry with subpar trucks and a force structure incorporating only seventeen further divisions at full call-up strength. Auxiliary formations are even worse equipped as only infantry equipment and civilian vehicle conversions are available in sufficient numbers to make up the force TOE. From this, the army is one of the most discontented services as it has effectively gone from the absolute leading service to one barely capable of performing operations above that expected from wartime people's militia units.
The navy has been stripped of any of its old glory and prestige as the nuclear ships were repurposed and broken up as power production systems instead of continuing service. The decision was almost certainly the right one for improving the rate of survival but one that came at a heavy cost. None of the fleet combatants exist in their old form and marine capacity is confined to four brigades out of which only one is entirely marine capable. The new expected threats from enemy orbital assets are the defining element of the new doctrine as surface ships on water represent a combination of detect-ability and vulnerability that is hard to significantly fix. Admirals have strongly pushed for a new submarine program but even that is expected to be expensive as production capacity has dropped significantly over the last three decades.
The space forces have been the darlings of the civilian government and the increase in funding shows with actual infrastructure built out that far exceeded even the pre-war system. Regular asteroid mining pushes have been passed as a political compromise with the army, allowing profitable operations to effectively contribute towards the military budget. Actual space forces outside of the infrastructure built are however obsolescent remnants of the pre-war transit fleet that have been militarized in the lead-up to the war. Transportation capacity is massive but there isn't that much done to utilize it as the civilian government has focused entirely on infrastructure. The development of more mining infrastructure is going to be essential for improving the budget situation but even that can only operate to a point with massive funding required for the orbital industry.
Procurement Decisions:
IFV Program: Replacing the obsolescent Type 36 and Type 38 is going to be essential for maintaining the capacity of the mechanized forces. Primary disagreements in the program come from the specific type of role the new vehicle should fill and how much money can be dedicated towards the mechanization of planetary units. The far larger aspect of the program outside the procurement of thousands of IFVs is almost certain to be the electronics and data-link integration of the vehicles as that will form the core of the next decade of military systems. New production lines for militarized electronics and weapons must be developed in parallel with the program ballooning costs significantly in the push toward a unified system. Further doctrinal questions exist as to whether the wartime doctrine is appropriate for the current situation and if the army would be better served by the adoption of a lighter vehicle. (Expected costs of 200B Or)
[]Infantry-Carrier(Counter-doctrinal): Prioritizing the existence of some form of armored infantry transportation rather than not along with a limited degree of amphibious capacity a far lighter general system can be designed. The general application calls for a vehicle that weighs at most twenty tons with rough terrain capability, limited anti-tank capacity, and a mounted 24mm auto-cannon with automatic response systems. This would effectively unify the APC and IFV systems onto one vehicle, saving some funds and providing universal minimal capability.
[]Wheeled IFV(Counter-doctrinal): To minimize the disruption to the force an intermediate wheeled design can be made for cost minimization while also unifying both the APC and IFV. Standardized argument of a 24mm auto-cannon or heavier along with some form of anti-tank complex will be required along with amphibious and rough terrain capability. Minimal armor packages for entrants to the bidding will be centered around protection across the frontal aspect from 24mm APDS rounds, significantly improving protection with bonuses for mounting a new development APS system.
[]Tracked IFV: Downgrading from old generations of military systems towards a lighter thirty-five-ton maximum tracked platform will allow vehicles to continue to be used conventionally. Protection against even a degraded dart or kinetic missile system will be beyond the capacity of the hull but a limited degree of protection from 57mm APDS across the frontal arc. Heavier anti-tank weaponry along with APS systems can still be incorporated despite limitations in tonnage and new system capability. The integration of a 57mm auto-cannon for heavy support and proximity burst capacity will be a major benefit for the program even if the requirement is unlikely to be filled by all bidders. (Expensive)
[]Heavy IFV: Instead of failing to sufficiently armor vehicles enough for direct combat applications, frontal armor requirements can be raised to focus on protection from APS degraded darts and kinetic missile ordinance. A replication of the Type-38 is the primary goal of the program with newly produced electronics and information warfare systems allowing its integration into other programs as a viable chassis. Further modernization of it with a proper anti-tank system will be a logical follow-up to the program as a consolidated crew section already favors such a change. Hull applicability towards utilization as a laser SPAG will be essential with at least two kW of generator capacity required to sufficiently power new fiber lasers. (Very Expensive)
Procurement Programs(Currently 1 Running, can select up to four new ones)
[]Second Generation Infantry Equipment: Committing to an overhaul of the infantry equipment is a decision that can be made, but there is little funding to go around. Ensuring that at least the infantry has something resembling old systems of powered assistance, basic thermal imagers and a rifle system capable of incorporating it will go a long way towards improving quality. New light anti-tank systems and armor will be developed to provide the average soldier with previously unmatched capabilities. Deciding on the degree of funding will be an open question but the program itself should be comparatively cheap in spite of the scale. (10B Or Expected)
[]Standardization of Orbital Troops: A space suit has been issued for crew to operate in orbit along with some elements of a thrust system but entirely new systems are needed to accomplish basic military tasks. The current preferred format by the army is a type of unified pressure garment with a variety of systems integration for further models. A true heavy boarding suit is almost certainly beyond the budget or desired capacity but speculative bids can be put out to enterprises and companies on the topic. (20B Or Expected)
[]ATGM Systems: There is currently no effective anti-tank system in anything approaching a mass service deployment. The wartime system is perfectly functional but the production for it does not exist and neither does any capacity to operate it at scale. Commissioning a new system into the same doctrinal aspect is going to be necessary if significant armored formations are expected, especially if the army receives any significant amount of funding. The lesser cost of the program along with the simplicity of kinetic systems should further ensure that several enterprises can make bids. (20B Or Expected)
[]Light Vehicles: A simple 4x4 with a diesel engine and the capacity to mount small arms protection and basic crew-served weapons. The question of the program is going to be more of one of productive capability as automobile manufacturing is still limited with few experienced programs. Some have even suggested making the requirements amenable towards an electric vehicle to enable a new all-electric army. The scale of the program and necessary factory increases to accomplish a full transition for the army will leave the program expensive but necessary. (50B Or Expected)
[]Space Capable Buggies: Making a buggy capable of carrying a fire-team and traversing a low-gravity lunar environment represents several massive technical challenges. Current examples have derived more from rovers but the technical work involved has left them deeply insufficient for most duties. The actual system would be a simple electric wide chassis focused on stability and the capacity for avoiding injury in case of a low gravity accident from lack of ground pressure. Weapon mountings on the system are going to be secondary with the vehicle serving more as a transport and towing platform. (50B Or Expected)
[]Military Trucks: The Type 14 truck no matter what revision it takes is inadequate, slow, and a deathtrap to operate due to lacking visibility and crash safety, especially on poor roads. Replacing it with a well-designed 6x4 with a capacity for crash avoidance and basic safety systems can reduce casualties and significantly expand capacity. The new truck will be a massive procurement program aiming at replacing all transportation assets and unifying logistical supply chains, rendering it a massive automotive program. (100B Or Expected)
[]New MBT: There is currently no tank in production nor the capacity to build a tank in any form, massively limiting the ability of the army to even utilize its doctrine. The arguments over what to put in a tank are just as varied as the proposals made by both enterprises and businesses of what to build into a tank with ideas ranging from a rapid production mobilization tank to a true successor to the Type-38 chassis. Opening the program is expected to be expensive and take time but will be essential for any terrestrial military operations. (250B Or Expected)
[]Multi-role VTOL: Experience in producing aircraft for either naval or terrestrial purposes has effectively been dissipated as the enterprises involved have been broken up for the better part of the last two decades. Starting with new engine designs being pushed into production along with dedicated plants for the next generation of radar-absorbent materials will make the program likely to take a decade as technology needs to be developed to a point that it can meet all operational requirements. Core design requirements for the program itself are immensely political as the differences between a naval-capable air-frame and one that the army wants are immense. (400B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Transport Aircraft: Some capacity for civilian airliners does exist even if they have entirely gone towards specialized tasks smaller than even the old program. Deriving improvements on the civilian program through the massive use of additive manufacturing and improved hot section components a series of far heavier cargo aircraft can be made. The actual program is going to be essential for planetary work as the rapid transport of troops is the most effective tool against internal problems. The program itself will call for the development of a new series of air-mobile units to improve security impact. (200B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Surveillance Drones: A long-distance loitering drone capable of linking towards uplinks in orbit and cruising to most points of the planet from either a catapult launch or airfield will be essential for observational capacity. The platform itself is almost certain to later be refitted for the carrying of ordinance but that is considered to be secondary relative to the massive technical demands of long loiter time and new electronic systems. Compact high magnification thermals and optics will be the core product of the program no matter what bid is taken, providing a new basis for spotting fires. (40B Or Expected)
[]Loitering Munitions: Autonomous systems with high loiter times built based on disposable munitions have a limited effect on protected vehicles but are perfectly adequate in an anti-personnel role. Effective simplified systems with total autonomous control can be easily developed and produced in the thousands as a field expedient source of fires and suppression for concentrations of manpower. Some proposals have been made for mounting proper kinetic ordinance for APS penetration but those are primarily going towards heavier systems. Core aspects of the program are almost certain to focus on a heavier degree of automation and eliminating communications and jamming vulnerabilities. (40B Or Expected)
[]Anti-Orbital SSBN: Building out long-duration submarines capable of maintaining retaliation capacity in case of a sudden invasion or loss of orbitals is going to be an essential aspect of planetary defense. Committing to a massive program of construction will ensure that any ships caught in the initial ambush will be able to sustainably hide in the deep ocean. Independent supply capacity and long-duration nuclear reactors will have to be pioneered along with the capacity for building new higher-capacity pressure hulls. The program itself is going to be expensive and prolonged but there is nothing as important for national survival as the capacity to return fire against orbital dominance with hundreds of bomb-pumped lasers. (300B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Next Generation Fleet Combatant: Long-duration patrol missions with a new generation of nuclear vessels with a high-efficiency gas core-MHD system can be designed to significantly improve capability. Massive onboard power systems can go towards the driving of electrical propulsion and laser anti-missile weaponry. Extending the old system of VLS cells and reducing the overall radar and physical profile of the ships will allow a massive improvement in strike and anti-aircraft capacity. The class itself is expected to mostly replace most surface ships on the planet with a follow-on class of LCS expected to allow for marine capacity. (400B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Militarized Orbital Frigate: Instead of continued operations of frigates that were practically obsolete when they were constructed a new class can be laid down. Modernizing basic electronic systems towards new phased arrays and incorporating the latest generation of Gas core-MHD systems in a unified propulsion bus will be one of the core aspects of the program to provide sufficient thrust under combat conditions. MPD drives are almost expected for strategic travel requirements allowing the ships to flexibly patrol the inner system with a reasonable degree of acceleration. Technical requirements for the frigates are more expected to center around deep salvos of missiles and laser defensive systems forming a component of fleet actions. (250B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Militarized Orbital Destroyer: The capacity to fit a particle beam into a ship is an entirely open question and one that is going to have to be answered. There is so far no concrete role for a heavy orbital competent capable of returning fire in an anti-shipping role. Designs for it range from a heavy missile carrier with liquid nuclear core missile busses to allow for closer range engagements to a heavy slow combatant with armor designed around firing heavy particle beams. Technical development will be the core aspect of the program with few examples of the class expected to be constructed before a refined follow-on is made. (300B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]FTL Test Bed: A theoretical basis for an FTL drive is available, all that is left is its construction and integration into a new ship class. The drive section itself will be a dominant feature that cannot be protected outside of thermal limitations, locating it as an effective torus somewhere on the craft. Basic space-faring capacity will further be built up along with a semi-autonomous operation to test the nearly entirely untested technologies going into the ship. Standard drive schemes are expected to improve reliability with a focus on long-duration systems with the targeted exploration of a nearby red dwarf without planets likely to serve as a test case. (???B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Second Generation Mining Ships: Building an improved gas core reactor and combining it with a developed MPD system can allow a massive improvement in local delta v to say less of the improvements made in harvesting equipment. ISRU systems developed in the last decade can be mounted onto the ships with significant leaps forward in the capacity for refining and storage, independently allowing mining trips to the belt and minimizing delta-v expenditure towards central collection points. The techniques needed for the permanent habitation of the belt are already here, all that is required are the ships for the task. (250B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Long Burn Space-Ships: Lying down a series of cargo ships with significant passenger capacities that are paired with enlarged reactors and improvements in droplet radiators can finally allow for the exploration of the outer planets. The long burn towards the gas giant will take time and impose severe logistical concerns but it can still be accomplished through the design of a new generation of ships. Technical integration of systems ranging from hibernation induction and automation can allow the vessels to minimize space dedicated to the crew, further improving efficiency and making the voyage far more possible. (???B Or Expected across several funding phases)
Political Reactions(Pick up to 2):
[] Large-Scale Exercises(Army): Testing doctrinal systems through large-scale exercises can be done through a bit of funding and working with the vehicles available. The fact is that current lighter elements are likely to remain for the next few decades leaving an open question of how exactly to use them. Using the technicals is going to cause consistent grumbling but the force may as well be trained on them. (Small Political Support Cost)
[]Assess the General Staff: Talking to the upper officers of the army, navy, air-force, orbital fleet, and orbital command will provide a far better picture than a series of names, especially now that proper social events can be organized. Getting everyone behind a single table and discussing the state of industry and procurement programs is going to be essential for any long-term commitments. (Unknown Political Effects)
[]Publish a list of Recommendations: In an appropriate move to someone at the highest station, a list of recommended officers can be made and published for the lower ranks so that the next billets for promotion are filled. Further naval commissions especially in the case of a large shipbuilding program will open up slots for bright young commanders trying their craft, steadily rotating out some of the old guard. (Significant Political Cost)
[]Recruitment Programs: Shortfalls of recruitment have been an endemic problem of the military ever since someone decided to abolish the press gang. Campaigning in public and releasing several targeted advertisements in media can improve recruit numbers at a minimal cost to the army, with volunteers far more trusted to serve in the majority of positions. Raising conscription numbers can easily make up for current shortfalls but there is a strong political preference for volunteers. (Cost of ~1B Or)
[]Political Discussions: Talking with the army BFP reps on what to push for in parliament along with receiving a briefing on social mood is going to be important to avoid stepping on too many toes. The various state enterprises, development concerns, and private manufacturers each have their political stances leaving some commitments more risky than others. Further, showing some respect to the civilian side of the government and the veterans can go a long way in Parliament. (Unknown Political Effects)
[]Enforce Democracy: The current government has broken from the democratic principle through the alienation of the average worker and persistent failure to meet their needs. Instead of the army allowing the government to exist movements can be made to change over the green government and hold new elections to enable a transition to democratic methods. This is currently untested and it's questionable if elections would change anything but it remains a constitutional capability.
Infantry-Equipment Set:
Type 23 Combined Equipment: Working with wartime lessons learned and an anemic budget allocation that was expected to go towards all troops, a rationalized system of infantry equipment was developed. Any concept of semi-powered systems or technical sophistication was abandoned in favor of a more conventional system of a plate carrier and uniform combination with a degree of weather resistance. Chemical and biological protection has been limited to a simple respirator rather than the enclosed wartime suits, providing some resistance in the unlikely event of a chemical attack. The old electronically integrated rifles have been brought under a unified 6.5x52mm round along the lines of an R-45 system with effective mountings for optics. Anti-tank firepower has also been consolidated into a series of high-velocity kinetic systems favoring light systems capable of being fired at volume to overwhelm currently non-existent protection systems.
ATGM:
Type 43(Wartime) Anti-Tank System: A hyper-accelerated kinetic penetrator with a rocket motor built around it to aid in the penetration of heavy armor systems and their defenses. The wartime system represents a machine capable of penetrating all but the front aspect of the heaviest tanks while suffering an acceptable rate of attrition from defensive systems. The combined launcher and reload is a movable thirty-five kilograms, much of it taken up by the missile complex. Further, the penetration of heavy defenses is still inadequate and requires the simultaneous launch of two missiles to guarantee a kill. Spare parts for the system are not available and there are maybe a thousand missiles and a thousand launchers in inventory, with most not existing at the same bases simultaneously.
Wheeled Vehicles:
Light Utility Vehicles: Repurposed vehicles ranging from civilian trucks to modified sedans that have formed several key fire elements. Design standardization has been implemented to the point that several models have a standard set of plating and mounting hardware, but these are effectively pressed into service civilian vehicles. Most mount some variety of medium or heavy machine gun but heavier variants do exist with anti-tank missile systems and recoilless rifles. A light vehicle replacement is considered a priority as the current mass of systems is both unwieldy and impossible to maintain.
Type 14G 6x4: Adapted from effectively a logging truck design from before the war and pushed into production as a dual-use vehicle to call the Type 14 inadequate is a failure in description. Initial models have been built with an all-analog system of controls to save on electronics with a suspension that is generally considered unreliable and the truck itself having negligible protection. Further variations have fixed some of the problems by installing some armor plating around the cab to protect against small arms fire, a roof-mounted machine gun, and all electronic control systems. The truck itself is still deeply inadequate and a death sentence for anything but moving infantry to fights, but it has been the ready replacement for most infantry units' mechanized elements.
APC:
Type 36(Pre-War) APC: An 8x8 mixed drive amphibious 1PC mounting one of the early refined diesel-electric drive systems to distribute power and provide improved throttle response in adverse conditions. Increased electrical power supplies have allowed the fitting of automatic laser blinders on all aspects with smart shot detection enabling automatic response fire by the mounted 24mm cannon. Further improvements in protection provide immunity of the craft from its gun on all but the rear aspect, with an active protection system integrated and containing eight front-focused heavy charges to deter missile attacks. Lighter chargers are further braced in the turret to allow smaller ordinances to also be engaged and deterred at a more reasonable mass cost, providing further improvements in protection. Troop capacity was cut down to only eight men in wartime, but that was judged as acceptable to extend missile capacity to eight launches of Type 43 missiles. Numbers in the current inventory are barely sufficient to equip a single division much less the entire force.
IFV:
Type 38(Pre-War) IFV: Taking design inspirations from the Type 38 tank and directly cloning over its drive system has allowed the standard IFV of the war to maintain a significant rate of advance despite weighing fifty-five tons. The machine is equipped with a primary 57mm cannon with several smart munitions along with significant reinforcement to a lengthened crew section for the complete transportation of an entire infantry section. Frontal composite screens are designed to be adequate against all but the longest rod 152mm munitions with significant resistance to penetration enabled by the engine-power system. Turret integration with the 57mm cannon has twelve heavy and twenty light APS charges along with a hex-emitter laser blinder system. The capacity for seven men exists only due to the automatic missile loader in the turret, limiting the system to firing off staggered shots from dual-missile cassettes in most cases. Less than two hundred functional examples exist due to the sheer age of the system, with most hulls entirely stripped for spare parts.
Tank:
Type 38(Pre War) Tank: The other component of the heavy armored system built around a 1500kW diesel engine combined with an electric drive. The tank is practically built around its central 152mm cannon and its auto-loader, feeding shells into the system at an acceptable rate with long rod perpetrators of up to 1.6 meters capable of being loaded in two parts from hull-based cassettes. APS systems have been pioneered onto the tank with sixteen heavy charges and twelve light charges focused around the frontal aspect to degrade ordinance. Armor protection is not technically sufficient to resist an integrated penetrator from its gun, but that has been judged as sufficient. Automatic gun systems based on the Type 36 APC have been integrated with smart return fire capacity built-in with the 24mm canon. Despite the existence of only a hundred operational vehicles the chassis has been used for everything from mobile laser anti-aircraft systems to IFVs in greater numbers.
Fixed Wing Aircraft:
None-Operational
Medium Drones:
None-Operational
Light Drones:
Improvised Surveillance Drones: A massive number of diverse quadcopters and basic fixed-wing drones have been produced at a massive number of workshops as systems for surveillance. These have mostly been built with simple radio systems and radio control systems built around applications on civilians and some specialized tablets. Some variants have been modified with basic tandem charge warheads for suicide attacks. The lack of standardization has limited their use of improvised munitions making the commissioning of new systems a high priority.
Naval Combat Ships:
19xType 37 LCS(Pre War): The older generation of lighter littoral combat ships utilizing gas turbines instead of more complex nuclear power plants. Most were built primarily for patrol and anti-piracy duties rather than complex operational requirements in wartime leaving most of them intact in the aftermath. The hulls themselves are equipped with a universal VLS system containing one hundred and twenty tubes rated for anti-shipping missiles along with a series of radar systems and a dual electrochemical canon setup for closer range support duties. Radar integration is considered acceptable even if anti-stealth tracking leaves much to be desired as a platform. Carrying capacities of marines and personnel are the primary purpose of the ship, with the current remaining stocks of the class effectively serving as oversized police cutters.
35xType 33 Frigate(Pre War): The lightest of the classes of ship in service in the thirties modernization program and one destined to act as a low profile low in the water universal combatant specialized in anti-aircraft work. A combined battery of sixty-four cells along with a light electrochemical gun makes up their primary armament. The main purpose of the vessels was the tracking and interception of anti-fleet missile systems while on a cheaper-to-build non-nuclear hull. More complex radar systems were pioneered on the class that would later go on every 30's era ship, allowing an unparalleled simultaneous over-the-horizon intercept capacity against sixteen targets in coordination with further data-linking radars along with data-link enabled lobs followed by terminal boost phase.
Submarines:
None-Operational
Orbital Frigates:
16xRiver-Class(Pre-War Type-35): Closer to a modified police ship than a true naval warship, the River class was originally designed as a vehicle to transport a platoon-sized element of marines between habitats. This was complemented by a limited degree of self-defense capability to police the orbitals along with enabling further orbital work. Drives were built around open cycle gas core reactors supplemented with MPDs for long-range maneuvers, giving each ship a healthy 50 km/s of delta V. With tensions increasing and ever-increasing conflicts with the northern colonial administration the 39 refit radically changed the role of the ships. A series of octagonal twelve-tube missile launches were incorporated into the frame by lengthening the ship along with an 8 MW pulsed laser system with a staggered series of lenses capable of engaging with three at any proper targeting angle. None of those helped in the retreat from lower orbit as guns ravaged the ships, but the few remaining examples have served as venerable shuttles after a total overhaul in 9AE. Reactor cores were replaced with new power ones and the crew section was further compressed to extend their capacities as troop ships, more than capable of supporting the transfer of three hundred men in an LDO-Lunar flight profile.
Orbital Destroyers:
6xDaring Class(Pre-War Type-32): More designed as a pleasure liner for important personnel in orbit along with a defended shuttle for crew transfers outward each Daring's practically the hallmark of a long gone age. Pioneering gas core systems in orbit along with massive travel drives the ships were meant to reach further than ever before in a state of unmatched luxury as tuned MPDs and massive power cores provided them with a usable delta-v of almost 180 km/s. In the 38 refit program, the previously peaceful ships were given a similar missile section to the Type-35 incorporating defensive systems and using the massive power system to mount massive high-temperature 12 MW lasers in a triplex configuration. Each ship can defend itself from anything short of a heavy missile attack, allowing unparalleled operational capacity while maintaining some luxuries. The 12AE refits only compounded on the class with the rationalization of quarters into a hot bunking system incorporating sectioned belonging storage and external mounts for additional crew or cargo. This has enabled a massive five hundred-man capacity along with tons of cargo, though life support resources are strained on such voyages.
Spaceborne Civilian Ships:
Debris Skiffs: The massive series of different classes of light skiffs that patrolled the orbits looking for debris and salvage have no unified class or performance envelope. The most universal factor for them has been the lack of a nuclear drive and a simple long-burning hydrogen engine for propulsion. Most were effectively a printed airlock, a radar, and a series of propellant tanks, capable of assessing larger debris and preparing them for deorbiting work. Lacking any defensive weaponry or nuclear systems a number of these have even been operated by practically civilian concerns from stations, offering tours and overviews. Standardization of small skiffs for moving around the orbital system is still deeply in demand but it remains a niche application now that debris has mostly stopped being a major threat.
8xType-22 Barge: Effectively an oversized gas core reactor attached to tanks of water and a system for mass on-site refining from carbonate asteroids the Type-22 miner is more of a tug than a true mining ship. Operations are conducted through the processing of several rocks until a reserve of water is built up, afterwards the ship approaches a metalloid rock or chunk, and its crew drills into it. Using highly efficient MPDs that are downgraded the ship steadily pushes the rock and itself into a slow intercept maneuver of Dannan, allowing the rock to then be mined in lower orbit. The two-year missions each Type-22 conducts are long and with a poor crew retention rate as the conditions on board are considered poor even compared to more rationalized ships, if only due to the length of missions. Iterations on the miners are already planned, even if they have not yet been implemented.
Type 23 Combined Equipment: Working with wartime lessons learned and an anemic budget allocation that was expected to go towards all troops, a rationalized system of infantry equipment was developed. Any concept of semi-powered systems or technical sophistication was abandoned in favor of a more conventional system of a plate carrier and uniform combination with a degree of weather resistance. Chemical and biological protection has been limited to a simple respirator rather than the enclosed wartime suits, providing some resistance in the unlikely event of a chemical attack. The old electronically integrated rifles have been brought under a unified 6.5x52mm round along the lines of an R-45 system with effective mountings for optics. Anti-tank firepower has also been consolidated into a series of high-velocity kinetic systems favoring light systems capable of being fired at volume to overwhelm currently non-existent protection systems.
ATGM:
Type 43(Wartime) Anti-Tank System: A hyper-accelerated kinetic penetrator with a rocket motor built around it to aid in the penetration of heavy armor systems and their defenses. The wartime system represents a machine capable of penetrating all but the front aspect of the heaviest tanks while suffering an acceptable rate of attrition from defensive systems. The combined launcher and reload is a movable thirty-five kilograms, much of it taken up by the missile complex. Further, the penetration of heavy defenses is still inadequate and requires the simultaneous launch of two missiles to guarantee a kill. Spare parts for the system are not available and there are maybe a thousand missiles and a thousand launchers in inventory, with most not existing at the same bases simultaneously.
Wheeled Vehicles:
Light Utility Vehicles: Repurposed vehicles ranging from civilian trucks to modified sedans that have formed several key fire elements. Design standardization has been implemented to the point that several models have a standard set of plating and mounting hardware, but these are effectively pressed into service civilian vehicles. Most mount some variety of medium or heavy machine gun but heavier variants do exist with anti-tank missile systems and recoilless rifles. A light vehicle replacement is considered a priority as the current mass of systems is both unwieldy and impossible to maintain.
Type 14G 6x4: Adapted from effectively a logging truck design from before the war and pushed into production as a dual-use vehicle to call the Type 14 inadequate is a failure in description. Initial models have been built with an all-analog system of controls to save on electronics with a suspension that is generally considered unreliable and the truck itself having negligible protection. Further variations have fixed some of the problems by installing some armor plating around the cab to protect against small arms fire, a roof-mounted machine gun, and all electronic control systems. The truck itself is still deeply inadequate and a death sentence for anything but moving infantry to fights, but it has been the ready replacement for most infantry units' mechanized elements.
APC:
Type 36(Pre-War) APC: An 8x8 mixed drive amphibious 1PC mounting one of the early refined diesel-electric drive systems to distribute power and provide improved throttle response in adverse conditions. Increased electrical power supplies have allowed the fitting of automatic laser blinders on all aspects with smart shot detection enabling automatic response fire by the mounted 24mm cannon. Further improvements in protection provide immunity of the craft from its gun on all but the rear aspect, with an active protection system integrated and containing eight front-focused heavy charges to deter missile attacks. Lighter chargers are further braced in the turret to allow smaller ordinances to also be engaged and deterred at a more reasonable mass cost, providing further improvements in protection. Troop capacity was cut down to only eight men in wartime, but that was judged as acceptable to extend missile capacity to eight launches of Type 43 missiles. Numbers in the current inventory are barely sufficient to equip a single division much less the entire force.
IFV:
Type 38(Pre-War) IFV: Taking design inspirations from the Type 38 tank and directly cloning over its drive system has allowed the standard IFV of the war to maintain a significant rate of advance despite weighing fifty-five tons. The machine is equipped with a primary 57mm cannon with several smart munitions along with significant reinforcement to a lengthened crew section for the complete transportation of an entire infantry section. Frontal composite screens are designed to be adequate against all but the longest rod 152mm munitions with significant resistance to penetration enabled by the engine-power system. Turret integration with the 57mm cannon has twelve heavy and twenty light APS charges along with a hex-emitter laser blinder system. The capacity for seven men exists only due to the automatic missile loader in the turret, limiting the system to firing off staggered shots from dual-missile cassettes in most cases. Less than two hundred functional examples exist due to the sheer age of the system, with most hulls entirely stripped for spare parts.
Tank:
Type 38(Pre War) Tank: The other component of the heavy armored system built around a 1500kW diesel engine combined with an electric drive. The tank is practically built around its central 152mm cannon and its auto-loader, feeding shells into the system at an acceptable rate with long rod perpetrators of up to 1.6 meters capable of being loaded in two parts from hull-based cassettes. APS systems have been pioneered onto the tank with sixteen heavy charges and twelve light charges focused around the frontal aspect to degrade ordinance. Armor protection is not technically sufficient to resist an integrated penetrator from its gun, but that has been judged as sufficient. Automatic gun systems based on the Type 36 APC have been integrated with smart return fire capacity built-in with the 24mm canon. Despite the existence of only a hundred operational vehicles the chassis has been used for everything from mobile laser anti-aircraft systems to IFVs in greater numbers.
Fixed Wing Aircraft:
None-Operational
Medium Drones:
None-Operational
Light Drones:
Improvised Surveillance Drones: A massive number of diverse quadcopters and basic fixed-wing drones have been produced at a massive number of workshops as systems for surveillance. These have mostly been built with simple radio systems and radio control systems built around applications on civilians and some specialized tablets. Some variants have been modified with basic tandem charge warheads for suicide attacks. The lack of standardization has limited their use of improvised munitions making the commissioning of new systems a high priority.
Naval Combat Ships:
19xType 37 LCS(Pre War): The older generation of lighter littoral combat ships utilizing gas turbines instead of more complex nuclear power plants. Most were built primarily for patrol and anti-piracy duties rather than complex operational requirements in wartime leaving most of them intact in the aftermath. The hulls themselves are equipped with a universal VLS system containing one hundred and twenty tubes rated for anti-shipping missiles along with a series of radar systems and a dual electrochemical canon setup for closer range support duties. Radar integration is considered acceptable even if anti-stealth tracking leaves much to be desired as a platform. Carrying capacities of marines and personnel are the primary purpose of the ship, with the current remaining stocks of the class effectively serving as oversized police cutters.
35xType 33 Frigate(Pre War): The lightest of the classes of ship in service in the thirties modernization program and one destined to act as a low profile low in the water universal combatant specialized in anti-aircraft work. A combined battery of sixty-four cells along with a light electrochemical gun makes up their primary armament. The main purpose of the vessels was the tracking and interception of anti-fleet missile systems while on a cheaper-to-build non-nuclear hull. More complex radar systems were pioneered on the class that would later go on every 30's era ship, allowing an unparalleled simultaneous over-the-horizon intercept capacity against sixteen targets in coordination with further data-linking radars along with data-link enabled lobs followed by terminal boost phase.
Submarines:
None-Operational
Orbital Frigates:
16xRiver-Class(Pre-War Type-35): Closer to a modified police ship than a true naval warship, the River class was originally designed as a vehicle to transport a platoon-sized element of marines between habitats. This was complemented by a limited degree of self-defense capability to police the orbitals along with enabling further orbital work. Drives were built around open cycle gas core reactors supplemented with MPDs for long-range maneuvers, giving each ship a healthy 50 km/s of delta V. With tensions increasing and ever-increasing conflicts with the northern colonial administration the 39 refit radically changed the role of the ships. A series of octagonal twelve-tube missile launches were incorporated into the frame by lengthening the ship along with an 8 MW pulsed laser system with a staggered series of lenses capable of engaging with three at any proper targeting angle. None of those helped in the retreat from lower orbit as guns ravaged the ships, but the few remaining examples have served as venerable shuttles after a total overhaul in 9AE. Reactor cores were replaced with new power ones and the crew section was further compressed to extend their capacities as troop ships, more than capable of supporting the transfer of three hundred men in an LDO-Lunar flight profile.
Orbital Destroyers:
6xDaring Class(Pre-War Type-32): More designed as a pleasure liner for important personnel in orbit along with a defended shuttle for crew transfers outward each Daring's practically the hallmark of a long gone age. Pioneering gas core systems in orbit along with massive travel drives the ships were meant to reach further than ever before in a state of unmatched luxury as tuned MPDs and massive power cores provided them with a usable delta-v of almost 180 km/s. In the 38 refit program, the previously peaceful ships were given a similar missile section to the Type-35 incorporating defensive systems and using the massive power system to mount massive high-temperature 12 MW lasers in a triplex configuration. Each ship can defend itself from anything short of a heavy missile attack, allowing unparalleled operational capacity while maintaining some luxuries. The 12AE refits only compounded on the class with the rationalization of quarters into a hot bunking system incorporating sectioned belonging storage and external mounts for additional crew or cargo. This has enabled a massive five hundred-man capacity along with tons of cargo, though life support resources are strained on such voyages.
Spaceborne Civilian Ships:
Debris Skiffs: The massive series of different classes of light skiffs that patrolled the orbits looking for debris and salvage have no unified class or performance envelope. The most universal factor for them has been the lack of a nuclear drive and a simple long-burning hydrogen engine for propulsion. Most were effectively a printed airlock, a radar, and a series of propellant tanks, capable of assessing larger debris and preparing them for deorbiting work. Lacking any defensive weaponry or nuclear systems a number of these have even been operated by practically civilian concerns from stations, offering tours and overviews. Standardization of small skiffs for moving around the orbital system is still deeply in demand but it remains a niche application now that debris has mostly stopped being a major threat.
8xType-22 Barge: Effectively an oversized gas core reactor attached to tanks of water and a system for mass on-site refining from carbonate asteroids the Type-22 miner is more of a tug than a true mining ship. Operations are conducted through the processing of several rocks until a reserve of water is built up, afterwards the ship approaches a metalloid rock or chunk, and its crew drills into it. Using highly efficient MPDs that are downgraded the ship steadily pushes the rock and itself into a slow intercept maneuver of Dannan, allowing the rock to then be mined in lower orbit. The two-year missions each Type-22 conducts are long and with a poor crew retention rate as the conditions on board are considered poor even compared to more rationalized ships, if only due to the length of missions. Iterations on the miners are already planned, even if they have not yet been implemented.
Automation:
Improved AI Market Models: Beating out a capable Seelie at modeling in the stock market has already been done but current ML models can take behaviors a step further. By optimizing direct data streams and using a model of learned behavior and information analysis, correct market decisions can be made well in advance of the general public and most investment agents. The actual deployment of the technology has been limited to financial firms focused on optimizing the market with significant gains expected for the early adopters. At this point, people have mostly been removed from market activity with high data algorithms trained off interpreting behavior taking precedence.
Ballistics
Economics
Social Sciences
Computing
X-Ray Lithography Techniques: Next-generation lithography was judged as necessary to make the jump to 3nm gate widths, but even that has proven insufficient. New machines with X-ray light have been demonstrated on a laboratory scale, capable of making feature sizes smaller than previously considered possible with a lower number of errors from simplifications in the beam source. Effectively new machinery is now capable of making circuits on a previously thought-to-be impossible scale, eliminating lithographic challenges. The limitations of electron probability distributions are still notable, but they too can eventually be overcome.
Basic Quantum Computing: Further achievements in computing have not come from shortening gate lengths or improving the density of conventional circuits but through the creation of dedicated quantum computing units. These processors can hold almost ten thousand qbits with some capacity for calculation, even if they are not relevant for most tasks that are better suited for conventional computing. Most of the units are useless outside of discrete applications in small data problems and low-level particle modeling, but the application alone is sufficient to drive investment in the field and push for improved models.
Cybernetics/DNI
Elementary Direct Neural Interfacing: Continuing on the developments of wartime that were primarily intended for the queuing of simple commands through an interface, further capabilities of trained signals have been able to accurately be mapped and utilized. Noninvasive up-band interfaces have only gotten better as multi-directional control at a thought has been combined with eye tracking and behavioral interpretation algorithms. In most use cases there is little reason to use a condensed setup compared to a conventional organization system, but the technology itself does hold a significant degree of promise for the control of complex machinery.
Dual-Band NI: Down-band neural interfacing has always been considered a massive challenge for control systems and is not practical as a system. Basic sensation feedback can now be delivered with a neural splice avoiding any invasive procedures, and even with a significant learning period basic interfaces can be developed. Further, the technology offers the chance to directly train a single nerve to operate a multi-faceted machine through learning simulations comparable to physical therapy. Some sterile implant programs have started for first adopters with an exclusive up-band-only mounting but the technology once matured can be applicable for any number of military applications. (New)
Transmission
Terahertz Networking: Taking advantage of previously untapped bands of electromagnetic propagation has defined the last generations of networking but it can be taken a step even further. Consolidating work and increasing transmitter power can only go so far in improving penetration, but for most environments, a simple receiver can be used. Propagation of signals in the range can allow for the transmission of data in gigabytes per second over the air, simplifying significant areas of infrastructure. Signal doublers and lesser bands are still needed for the penetration of obstacles, but the improvements from moving into higher ranges hold immense promise.
Energy Storage
MgLiS Batteries: A new revolution in the development of battery power has come from fundamental work on the development of next-generation battery chemistry. Combining the density of single-use aluminum-air cells with the rechargeability of lithium batteries, new magnesium-sulfur batteries with some lithium additives have been brought to commercial production. Voltage limitations and the need for finer electronics to take advantage of the lower voltage plateau have limited most implementations outside storage use to only 1000Wh/kg, but even that represents a massive improvement over previous chemistries. Current production costs are slightly greater than equivalent lithium ions, but as mass production takes off a cheap rechargeable battery capable of a massive number of cycles can be brought to every electronic device.
Thermal Storage: Paired high-temperature molten storage with a high efficiency high differential thermocouple offers a novel if mostly redundant cheap storage method. The effective price of the system is only dependent on its throughput in the thermocouple with the salts themselves forming a very cheap factor. Efficiency is poor and the actual capacity is mostly superseded by MgS battery compositions, but for several low-cost applications, it can be used. Some new batteries have been designed as a peaker system as massive volumes of salts are heated up to provide energy outside of the productive bands of renewable energy plants as entire lakes of salt are far cheaper than even the cheapest batteries. (New)
Fission
Gas Core Reactors: In terrestrial applications, the maximum efficiency for a nuclear core operating in a conventional cycle has always been constrained by the Carnot equation. Working instead with a gaseous core and a partial system of harvesting using an MHD both thermodynamic efficiency and energy conversion efficiency can be nearly doubled. Electrical conversion efficiencies of nearly seventy percent have been achieved in theoretical test cases bringing orbital reactor core performance to larger-scale ground-side cores.
FTL
FTL Tachyons: Combining a specialized method of particle physics, the interaction of W bosons in a strong magnetic and electrostatic field has managed to reliably produce several tachyons. These particles have managed to do a previously impossible interaction in conventional models of physics and effectively send a signal out instantaneously. Receiver infrastructure has only been built in another lab, but a basic signal was transmitted along with a narrow band data stream through a Morse-like system. Theoretically, larger and more capable systems have already been commissioned, but they are not expected to be smaller than dedicated buildings and will almost certainly be limited in data transmission. (An unscientific carve-out of relativity in the sense of a privileged special frame that is nonetheless for writing what I want to instead of the more speculative science approach I am taking with everything else.)
FTL-Jump Drive(Theoretical): Through the prompt generation of exotic materials something of a temporary cross-dimensional linkage can be generated. Previous experiments with tachyons have significantly expanded the understanding of particle physics allowing for some glimpses into a possible even space where far larger objects can be sent in a theoretically faster then light trajectory. Current ideas of particle generation arrays are unstable at best and experience intense interference from gravitons effectively limiting techniques to areas of the system under less than 1e-4 m/s^2 of acceleration with even less preferred. Actual points where a transition can be induced are even fewer with four calculated to exist in the Dannan system but outside of testing with small objects, it is impossible to know if the model is applicable. Targeting is also assumed to be a major challenge with few known solutions outside of directing the field at the point of initiation, necessitating a massive amount of further testing. (New) (More unscientific carveouts from relativity)
Fusion
Gain positive DT: The creation of massive tokamaks was to an extent perfected pre-war with reactors capable of 10GWe designed theoretically and affordable relative to other power sources. Miniaturization is an open and significantly challenging question without an active reactor for technical development, leaving the technology at a theoretical and underfunded dead end. Plasma temperatures generated can theoretically be sufficient for other fuel cycles but due to the increased issues in generating sufficient conditions even larger cores would be required.
Biosciences
Genome Engineering: Taking a second look at the genome outside of the initial clumsy attempts by the old regime has yielded massive and rapid gains as transgenic applications have only grown in extent. Work towards tailoring physiological processes along with the specific location of genes responsible for appearance has effectively allowed an unlimited degree of modification. The forefront of the current breakthrough is a co-opting of internal systems of self-correction, allowing a specialized viral payload to infect large parts of the body along with the systems themselves with any remaining cells fixed to the new genetic package. Modifications ranging from more than tripling muscle mass set points to effective morphological control can be conducted, but most depend significantly on the degree of laws passed around them.
Self Healing Concrete: Targeted genetic engineering work on previous programs has come to the fore with the integration of organisms in conventional concrete pours. These engineered organisms are built to produce calcite to fill any hole left in the concrete from micro-fractures or thermal stress. While the material itself will still steadily get weaker due to the limitations of biological systems, the ability to fix most micro-fractures will massively extend all lifespans. Further, as the integration of organisms is practically a cheap step of end-state processing, it can be done for almost nothing, allowing all modern grades of concrete to have limited self-repair for no real loss in initial durability.
Biological CNT: The elongation of CNT with specialized depositing cells built around organisms that build natural structures in an ordered matter has been accomplished through the creation of new catalytic proteins. Production of the nanotubes can effectively happen in liquid under some gravitational tension from the heavier tubes with few errors made by the biological system. Effectively the only feedstock required for the process is a massive amount of carbon dioxide in the nutrient slush along with clear walls incapable of deposition and good amounts of light. The ability to make nanotubes of arbitrary lengths is a massive gain, but one that remains expensive due to limitations in the width of any reasonable growing array. (New)
Hibernation Systems: Induction of a hibernation adjacent sleep-like state for long-duration orbital journeys has always been desirable but limitations in life support equipment have rendered it problematic. Rather than a total freezing of biological processes a sorta long duration low-calorie use sleep can be induced on a crew for long journeys performed by automated systems. Some degradation and risk are still expected from the process as it is refined but such sleepers can be kept at a minimal life support burden. Retrofits of the system onto ships have been delayed by the lack of automated systems capable of managing complex reactor parameters but several proposals have already been made for dual-setup craft. (New)
Materials Science
High Entropy Alloys(Early): Developmental work on computational models of more complex crystalline structures has produced results practically as soon as sufficient computing power is applied. Breaking away from conventional understandings of bi-component alloys or base metals with mix-ins, the use of a massive number of mixed metals has allowed conventional material science to be revolutionized. Significant gains in basic structural alloys can be conducted in specialized smelting environments at a reasonable cost, even if many of the highest-performance materials capable of entering the realm of super-hard ceramics are limited by supplies of scandium and tantalum. Corresponding breakthroughs in additive manufacturing techniques have only improved performance, producing parts cheaply and with qualities well above conventional material science.
Engineering Plastics: Work in the biological sciences on easy-to-produce materials has rapidly enabled the creation of biological systems capable of making short-chain polymers. Limitations in internal chemistries and the needs of organisms to process feedstock from the atmosphere have made the process inefficient compared to the energy committed, but for low-quality biologically derived plastics, this is a revolution. Incredible cheap plastic can be brought into bulk construction roles as fillers, improving structural design and further lowering costs for low-quality biodegradable material.
Synthetic Diamondoids(low yield): Nothing prevents the production and shaping of a large block of diamondoid materials through innovative semi-conventional production methods along with improvements in deposition techniques. The only remaining question is if the expense of a diamondoid is useful in any good or product as the ultra-hardness can be almost replicated by more conventional and cheaper ultra-hard ceramics. Theoretical requirements involving only carbon are a positive factor but even those do not make the technology viable. (New)
Doctrine
Autonomous Drone Warfare: New theories of automation have not failed to reach the battlefield with concepts around a general increase in semi-automatic and automatic combat platforms favored. ECCM has only improved over time with many asking why it is necessary to risk Seelie lives in warfare when a single soldier can manage a dozen autonomous platforms. Development of doctrinal and technical concepts will involve committed testing of new platforms and new procurement goals limiting what can be done, but several visionary manuals have been written on the topic. (New)
Missiles/Small Craft
Fission Drive Miniaturization: Technical work towards miniaturizing a liquid core fission drive has been possible if consistently problematic. Ensuring that effectively spinning fission fuel can have enough room for operation and adequate separation from the propellant is still a major technical challenge. Theoretical work towards slightly lowering temperatures and increasing mass flow while accepting emissions has been pushed forward but even that is theoretical. Effective launch profiles for rockets less than fifty tons can be made even if current costs make it prohibitive for anything disposable.
Orbital Industry
Early Spaceship ISRU: Procedures for the in-space refinement of metals have rapidly been developed to further exportation and increase yields. Next-generation mining techniques in the form of total asteroid capture followed by pulverization and liquefaction under mild centrifugal forces have yielded significant gains in refinement and on-site processing. The next generation of mining ships is expected to entirely incorporate new methods, effectively breaking off chunks of asteroids before capturing them and refining them internally. Water off-gas can be directly utilized for propulsion and life support while more solid elements are left for further refinement, allowing lighter nuclear drives to easily provide sufficient transit reserve.
Particle Sciences
MPD Improvements: With the start of construction for new ships, previously experimental techniques in the construction of magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters have effectively gone mainstream. Increasing the charge of the surface and allowing for a tentative protective coat in the flow has massively improved thruster durability for longer burns all while supplying more power. The already fairly efficient drives have been further thermally improved with the integration of superconducting materials on all non-contact components, reducing heat burdens and further power to weight.
Bomb Pumped X-ray Lasers: Utilizing the fission fragments of a warhead to pump a laser has historically been attempted to consistent yet mediocre results, but with the integration of better lensing material and a slightly more coherent media far better results have been produced. The lasers are still hard to focus and carry forward a minuscule amount of power even compared to a shaped nuclear charge, but they have a far longer range and exist outside of conventional atmospheric limitations. Fissile material use for each laser-specialized warhead is expected to be heavy due to the negligible impact a second stage has on device design, limiting any approach to use a dirty single stage.
Particle Beam Theories: Nothing prevents the mass scaling of the particle accelerator into a viable orbital weapon system capable of breaking the previous expectations of warship design. Massive linear accelerator designs can be made to accelerate a mass of particles to near relativistic speeds allowing for a massive impulse of radiation to be delivered to any target irregardless of previous armoring attempts. Scattering will effectively limit the ranges and the massive capacitor banks required for the generation of the beam have made the system at its lightest a thousand-ton intensely magnetic tube, but it can be developed to a sufficient point to cram into a warship. (New)
Production Methods
Advanced Additive Manufacturing: The largest gains in additive manufacturing techniques have not come from the methodologies themselves but from the materials fed into them and their integration into general industries. The manufacturing of specific specialty parts and the ability to rapidly prototype has remained from previous generations of manufacturing, what has changed however has been improvements in feedstock and deposition methods. Utilization of mixed powders has been a near-universal factor with finer grinding and materials that maintain hardness with a minimum degree of hardening prioritized. Using mixed powder high entropy alloy parts can be made to a higher standard than possible with other methods, integrating techniques as mainstream manufacturing methods on a previously unheard-of scale.
Improved AI Market Models: Beating out a capable Seelie at modeling in the stock market has already been done but current ML models can take behaviors a step further. By optimizing direct data streams and using a model of learned behavior and information analysis, correct market decisions can be made well in advance of the general public and most investment agents. The actual deployment of the technology has been limited to financial firms focused on optimizing the market with significant gains expected for the early adopters. At this point, people have mostly been removed from market activity with high data algorithms trained off interpreting behavior taking precedence.
Ballistics
Economics
Social Sciences
Computing
X-Ray Lithography Techniques: Next-generation lithography was judged as necessary to make the jump to 3nm gate widths, but even that has proven insufficient. New machines with X-ray light have been demonstrated on a laboratory scale, capable of making feature sizes smaller than previously considered possible with a lower number of errors from simplifications in the beam source. Effectively new machinery is now capable of making circuits on a previously thought-to-be impossible scale, eliminating lithographic challenges. The limitations of electron probability distributions are still notable, but they too can eventually be overcome.
Basic Quantum Computing: Further achievements in computing have not come from shortening gate lengths or improving the density of conventional circuits but through the creation of dedicated quantum computing units. These processors can hold almost ten thousand qbits with some capacity for calculation, even if they are not relevant for most tasks that are better suited for conventional computing. Most of the units are useless outside of discrete applications in small data problems and low-level particle modeling, but the application alone is sufficient to drive investment in the field and push for improved models.
Cybernetics/DNI
Elementary Direct Neural Interfacing: Continuing on the developments of wartime that were primarily intended for the queuing of simple commands through an interface, further capabilities of trained signals have been able to accurately be mapped and utilized. Noninvasive up-band interfaces have only gotten better as multi-directional control at a thought has been combined with eye tracking and behavioral interpretation algorithms. In most use cases there is little reason to use a condensed setup compared to a conventional organization system, but the technology itself does hold a significant degree of promise for the control of complex machinery.
Dual-Band NI: Down-band neural interfacing has always been considered a massive challenge for control systems and is not practical as a system. Basic sensation feedback can now be delivered with a neural splice avoiding any invasive procedures, and even with a significant learning period basic interfaces can be developed. Further, the technology offers the chance to directly train a single nerve to operate a multi-faceted machine through learning simulations comparable to physical therapy. Some sterile implant programs have started for first adopters with an exclusive up-band-only mounting but the technology once matured can be applicable for any number of military applications. (New)
Transmission
Terahertz Networking: Taking advantage of previously untapped bands of electromagnetic propagation has defined the last generations of networking but it can be taken a step even further. Consolidating work and increasing transmitter power can only go so far in improving penetration, but for most environments, a simple receiver can be used. Propagation of signals in the range can allow for the transmission of data in gigabytes per second over the air, simplifying significant areas of infrastructure. Signal doublers and lesser bands are still needed for the penetration of obstacles, but the improvements from moving into higher ranges hold immense promise.
Energy Storage
MgLiS Batteries: A new revolution in the development of battery power has come from fundamental work on the development of next-generation battery chemistry. Combining the density of single-use aluminum-air cells with the rechargeability of lithium batteries, new magnesium-sulfur batteries with some lithium additives have been brought to commercial production. Voltage limitations and the need for finer electronics to take advantage of the lower voltage plateau have limited most implementations outside storage use to only 1000Wh/kg, but even that represents a massive improvement over previous chemistries. Current production costs are slightly greater than equivalent lithium ions, but as mass production takes off a cheap rechargeable battery capable of a massive number of cycles can be brought to every electronic device.
Thermal Storage: Paired high-temperature molten storage with a high efficiency high differential thermocouple offers a novel if mostly redundant cheap storage method. The effective price of the system is only dependent on its throughput in the thermocouple with the salts themselves forming a very cheap factor. Efficiency is poor and the actual capacity is mostly superseded by MgS battery compositions, but for several low-cost applications, it can be used. Some new batteries have been designed as a peaker system as massive volumes of salts are heated up to provide energy outside of the productive bands of renewable energy plants as entire lakes of salt are far cheaper than even the cheapest batteries. (New)
Fission
Gas Core Reactors: In terrestrial applications, the maximum efficiency for a nuclear core operating in a conventional cycle has always been constrained by the Carnot equation. Working instead with a gaseous core and a partial system of harvesting using an MHD both thermodynamic efficiency and energy conversion efficiency can be nearly doubled. Electrical conversion efficiencies of nearly seventy percent have been achieved in theoretical test cases bringing orbital reactor core performance to larger-scale ground-side cores.
FTL
FTL Tachyons: Combining a specialized method of particle physics, the interaction of W bosons in a strong magnetic and electrostatic field has managed to reliably produce several tachyons. These particles have managed to do a previously impossible interaction in conventional models of physics and effectively send a signal out instantaneously. Receiver infrastructure has only been built in another lab, but a basic signal was transmitted along with a narrow band data stream through a Morse-like system. Theoretically, larger and more capable systems have already been commissioned, but they are not expected to be smaller than dedicated buildings and will almost certainly be limited in data transmission. (An unscientific carve-out of relativity in the sense of a privileged special frame that is nonetheless for writing what I want to instead of the more speculative science approach I am taking with everything else.)
FTL-Jump Drive(Theoretical): Through the prompt generation of exotic materials something of a temporary cross-dimensional linkage can be generated. Previous experiments with tachyons have significantly expanded the understanding of particle physics allowing for some glimpses into a possible even space where far larger objects can be sent in a theoretically faster then light trajectory. Current ideas of particle generation arrays are unstable at best and experience intense interference from gravitons effectively limiting techniques to areas of the system under less than 1e-4 m/s^2 of acceleration with even less preferred. Actual points where a transition can be induced are even fewer with four calculated to exist in the Dannan system but outside of testing with small objects, it is impossible to know if the model is applicable. Targeting is also assumed to be a major challenge with few known solutions outside of directing the field at the point of initiation, necessitating a massive amount of further testing. (New) (More unscientific carveouts from relativity)
Fusion
Gain positive DT: The creation of massive tokamaks was to an extent perfected pre-war with reactors capable of 10GWe designed theoretically and affordable relative to other power sources. Miniaturization is an open and significantly challenging question without an active reactor for technical development, leaving the technology at a theoretical and underfunded dead end. Plasma temperatures generated can theoretically be sufficient for other fuel cycles but due to the increased issues in generating sufficient conditions even larger cores would be required.
Biosciences
Genome Engineering: Taking a second look at the genome outside of the initial clumsy attempts by the old regime has yielded massive and rapid gains as transgenic applications have only grown in extent. Work towards tailoring physiological processes along with the specific location of genes responsible for appearance has effectively allowed an unlimited degree of modification. The forefront of the current breakthrough is a co-opting of internal systems of self-correction, allowing a specialized viral payload to infect large parts of the body along with the systems themselves with any remaining cells fixed to the new genetic package. Modifications ranging from more than tripling muscle mass set points to effective morphological control can be conducted, but most depend significantly on the degree of laws passed around them.
Self Healing Concrete: Targeted genetic engineering work on previous programs has come to the fore with the integration of organisms in conventional concrete pours. These engineered organisms are built to produce calcite to fill any hole left in the concrete from micro-fractures or thermal stress. While the material itself will still steadily get weaker due to the limitations of biological systems, the ability to fix most micro-fractures will massively extend all lifespans. Further, as the integration of organisms is practically a cheap step of end-state processing, it can be done for almost nothing, allowing all modern grades of concrete to have limited self-repair for no real loss in initial durability.
Biological CNT: The elongation of CNT with specialized depositing cells built around organisms that build natural structures in an ordered matter has been accomplished through the creation of new catalytic proteins. Production of the nanotubes can effectively happen in liquid under some gravitational tension from the heavier tubes with few errors made by the biological system. Effectively the only feedstock required for the process is a massive amount of carbon dioxide in the nutrient slush along with clear walls incapable of deposition and good amounts of light. The ability to make nanotubes of arbitrary lengths is a massive gain, but one that remains expensive due to limitations in the width of any reasonable growing array. (New)
Hibernation Systems: Induction of a hibernation adjacent sleep-like state for long-duration orbital journeys has always been desirable but limitations in life support equipment have rendered it problematic. Rather than a total freezing of biological processes a sorta long duration low-calorie use sleep can be induced on a crew for long journeys performed by automated systems. Some degradation and risk are still expected from the process as it is refined but such sleepers can be kept at a minimal life support burden. Retrofits of the system onto ships have been delayed by the lack of automated systems capable of managing complex reactor parameters but several proposals have already been made for dual-setup craft. (New)
Materials Science
High Entropy Alloys(Early): Developmental work on computational models of more complex crystalline structures has produced results practically as soon as sufficient computing power is applied. Breaking away from conventional understandings of bi-component alloys or base metals with mix-ins, the use of a massive number of mixed metals has allowed conventional material science to be revolutionized. Significant gains in basic structural alloys can be conducted in specialized smelting environments at a reasonable cost, even if many of the highest-performance materials capable of entering the realm of super-hard ceramics are limited by supplies of scandium and tantalum. Corresponding breakthroughs in additive manufacturing techniques have only improved performance, producing parts cheaply and with qualities well above conventional material science.
Engineering Plastics: Work in the biological sciences on easy-to-produce materials has rapidly enabled the creation of biological systems capable of making short-chain polymers. Limitations in internal chemistries and the needs of organisms to process feedstock from the atmosphere have made the process inefficient compared to the energy committed, but for low-quality biologically derived plastics, this is a revolution. Incredible cheap plastic can be brought into bulk construction roles as fillers, improving structural design and further lowering costs for low-quality biodegradable material.
Synthetic Diamondoids(low yield): Nothing prevents the production and shaping of a large block of diamondoid materials through innovative semi-conventional production methods along with improvements in deposition techniques. The only remaining question is if the expense of a diamondoid is useful in any good or product as the ultra-hardness can be almost replicated by more conventional and cheaper ultra-hard ceramics. Theoretical requirements involving only carbon are a positive factor but even those do not make the technology viable. (New)
Doctrine
Autonomous Drone Warfare: New theories of automation have not failed to reach the battlefield with concepts around a general increase in semi-automatic and automatic combat platforms favored. ECCM has only improved over time with many asking why it is necessary to risk Seelie lives in warfare when a single soldier can manage a dozen autonomous platforms. Development of doctrinal and technical concepts will involve committed testing of new platforms and new procurement goals limiting what can be done, but several visionary manuals have been written on the topic. (New)
Missiles/Small Craft
Fission Drive Miniaturization: Technical work towards miniaturizing a liquid core fission drive has been possible if consistently problematic. Ensuring that effectively spinning fission fuel can have enough room for operation and adequate separation from the propellant is still a major technical challenge. Theoretical work towards slightly lowering temperatures and increasing mass flow while accepting emissions has been pushed forward but even that is theoretical. Effective launch profiles for rockets less than fifty tons can be made even if current costs make it prohibitive for anything disposable.
Orbital Industry
Early Spaceship ISRU: Procedures for the in-space refinement of metals have rapidly been developed to further exportation and increase yields. Next-generation mining techniques in the form of total asteroid capture followed by pulverization and liquefaction under mild centrifugal forces have yielded significant gains in refinement and on-site processing. The next generation of mining ships is expected to entirely incorporate new methods, effectively breaking off chunks of asteroids before capturing them and refining them internally. Water off-gas can be directly utilized for propulsion and life support while more solid elements are left for further refinement, allowing lighter nuclear drives to easily provide sufficient transit reserve.
Particle Sciences
MPD Improvements: With the start of construction for new ships, previously experimental techniques in the construction of magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters have effectively gone mainstream. Increasing the charge of the surface and allowing for a tentative protective coat in the flow has massively improved thruster durability for longer burns all while supplying more power. The already fairly efficient drives have been further thermally improved with the integration of superconducting materials on all non-contact components, reducing heat burdens and further power to weight.
Bomb Pumped X-ray Lasers: Utilizing the fission fragments of a warhead to pump a laser has historically been attempted to consistent yet mediocre results, but with the integration of better lensing material and a slightly more coherent media far better results have been produced. The lasers are still hard to focus and carry forward a minuscule amount of power even compared to a shaped nuclear charge, but they have a far longer range and exist outside of conventional atmospheric limitations. Fissile material use for each laser-specialized warhead is expected to be heavy due to the negligible impact a second stage has on device design, limiting any approach to use a dirty single stage.
Particle Beam Theories: Nothing prevents the mass scaling of the particle accelerator into a viable orbital weapon system capable of breaking the previous expectations of warship design. Massive linear accelerator designs can be made to accelerate a mass of particles to near relativistic speeds allowing for a massive impulse of radiation to be delivered to any target irregardless of previous armoring attempts. Scattering will effectively limit the ranges and the massive capacitor banks required for the generation of the beam have made the system at its lightest a thousand-ton intensely magnetic tube, but it can be developed to a sufficient point to cram into a warship. (New)
Production Methods
Advanced Additive Manufacturing: The largest gains in additive manufacturing techniques have not come from the methodologies themselves but from the materials fed into them and their integration into general industries. The manufacturing of specific specialty parts and the ability to rapidly prototype has remained from previous generations of manufacturing, what has changed however has been improvements in feedstock and deposition methods. Utilization of mixed powders has been a near-universal factor with finer grinding and materials that maintain hardness with a minimum degree of hardening prioritized. Using mixed powder high entropy alloy parts can be made to a higher standard than possible with other methods, integrating techniques as mainstream manufacturing methods on a previously unheard-of scale.
12 Hour Moratorium, Vote by Plan. I'll update the info post in a bit with character info and a discord link.
- Location
- UTC+0
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They
Rockeye
Plausible Engineer
- Location
- Midwestern U.S.
Air force: None
Literally none.
Transport aircraft first to remember How To Plane, then the VTOL later, perhaps.
I want to strike a balance between the various forces and not just into spes. The FTL testbed might even wait a few years, it sounds expensive.
Literally none.
Transport aircraft first to remember How To Plane, then the VTOL later, perhaps.
I want to strike a balance between the various forces and not just into spes. The FTL testbed might even wait a few years, it sounds expensive.
Rockeye
Plausible Engineer
- Location
- Midwestern U.S.
Stopping space development entirely might not be super politically palatable. In the old quest we obsessed over it, so I bet the government has inherited that. Next gen miner? It gives us more money later too.
Apparently we can only ever have 5 procurement programs open at a time. And they'll take years to close out, mostly. So maybe best to only open one or two this turn, if we're going to be getting an idea of the politics and the rest of the force's wants we can target later rounds of procurement better.
Maybe mil trucks and transport plane?
Or mil trucks and 2nd gen space miners?
Apparently we can only ever have 5 procurement programs open at a time. And they'll take years to close out, mostly. So maybe best to only open one or two this turn, if we're going to be getting an idea of the politics and the rest of the force's wants we can target later rounds of procurement better.
Maybe mil trucks and transport plane?
Or mil trucks and 2nd gen space miners?
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- Pronouns
- He/They
It would be tough to integrate the IFV, ATGM, trucks and miner without dangerously stretching the budget. My impulse would be to leave the space projects for a few years and make a big army push, plus the drones to at least have some aircraft design going on:
[]One of the two cheaper IFV options (200?)
[]ATGM Systems (20?)
[]Military Trucks (100?)
[]Surveillance Drones (40?)
Followed by new mining ships (or opening up the navy/air force programs if there is a lot of pressure or need) as the next top priority, in one or two years, to push more of it until the next budget cycle/once we know what cost increases to expect. Even discounting any overruns, for planning the budget it matters a lot whether a project extends one turn or five into the next cycle.
Unless we think we can leave the trucks, which might make sense since the army/automotive industry already has the IFVs to focus on, but anything that causes logistical chaos and peacetime conscript casualties even with no enemy around is a problem.
[]One of the two cheaper IFV options (200?)
[]ATGM Systems (20?)
[]Military Trucks (100?)
[]Surveillance Drones (40?)
Followed by new mining ships (or opening up the navy/air force programs if there is a lot of pressure or need) as the next top priority, in one or two years, to push more of it until the next budget cycle/once we know what cost increases to expect. Even discounting any overruns, for planning the budget it matters a lot whether a project extends one turn or five into the next cycle.
Unless we think we can leave the trucks, which might make sense since the army/automotive industry already has the IFVs to focus on, but anything that causes logistical chaos and peacetime conscript casualties even with no enemy around is a problem.
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- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan: Starting Small
-[X] Tracked IFV
-[X] Second Generation Infantry Equipment
-[X] Standardization of Orbital Troops
-[X] Military Trucks
-[X] Surveillance Drones
-[X] Assess the General Staff
-[X] Political Discussions
Minimum budget used: 200+10+20+100+40=370
I expect that the true cost may be somewhere between 400 and 450 budget.
-[X] Tracked IFV
-[X] Second Generation Infantry Equipment
-[X] Standardization of Orbital Troops
-[X] Military Trucks
-[X] Surveillance Drones
-[X] Assess the General Staff
-[X] Political Discussions
Minimum budget used: 200+10+20+100+40=370
I expect that the true cost may be somewhere between 400 and 450 budget.
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