For the next turn, I am starting to think we should really []Ask for Additional Budget. We have very high political support, in fact we've recently traded hiding for political support. The need should be justifiable by the new technologies and now being more exposed to threats, and to allow modernizations/fortifications without interfering with procurement, more money would definitely help.
Our economy is growing at like, 16% a year, so I don't think it will be catastrophic, but I still think we should keep in the civ govts good graces for now due to the fascist threat. We will need their cooperation very soon going by the results for our social media tapping action this turn.
Continuing to break open the cube has yielded several massive revelations and arguably far more questions on the exact contents of the cube. Tentative attempts to genetically analyze the organic remnants left in each of the head trays that have remained have yielded concrete results if very confusing ones. Their coding sequences have been closer related to Lirrir ones than local ones with a massive degree of poor optimization and confusing integration of likely viral fragments and other unnecessary elements. Further, the basis for their construction is far worse and less reliable with an unreliable hydrogen bonding system only encouraging rapid mutations under the pressure of cosmic rays. Cloning attempts have gotten worse as cell differentiation is impossible to induce from sequence and local productive enzymes are worse than useless for any further analysis.
The physical aspects have progressed far better than the biological ones, as the spiders of nano-scale wires have been analyzed under a microscope, noticing a series of ultra-fine connection surfaces further integrated into the wires. While the creatures were alive these likely formed close links deep into brain tissue across several areas, which if there is any similarity to theoretical domestic DNI linkages indicates a fine downband capacity several orders of magnitude greater than even theoretical designs. The lack of optical nerve use was not because of a lack of vision, but likely because of a lack of need with neurons treated more as flexible computing matter than a brain. This alone would enable on-sight modification of thoughts on a subconscious level along with effective neural integration with a computing system if a fine enough understanding of neural tissues was available.
Any further connecting computational hardware is effectively indecipherable as computing hardware much less what it contains due to either prolonged radiation exposure or simple systems failure. Basic linkages look to go towards a form of optical computing but how it works is beyond any current development with the lensing containing several island of stability elements. The circuitry feeding into the optical systems looks to be comprehensible but meaningless as any process can only be looked at from external connections into a black box. Analysis of the alloys involved does show some similarities to current HEAs but with radically deformed crystal structures and elements that should not be stable, much less functional. The material science on display is fascinating with properties over anything available at a density less than steel, but it is so beyond our current understanding that it may as well be magical.
Developments that have been copied over have been several advancements in micro-atomic manipulation as capsules of the mechanism that was used to likely implant their neural wireframes have been found. The base itself has gone to a high alert in the fear of a gray goo scenario, but little has broken out with the substrate more interesting from a small-scale manipulation perspective more so than a replication one. Sub-micron manipulation is possible with their tools but current generation domestic ones will struggle to break the micron barrier with any reliability. Still, ultra-fine printing tips on even standard printers have already been developed, allowing large-size monolithic integrated circuits to be made along with further reducing the demand for high-precision industries. Printing at the scale requires a specialized head using electromagnetic forces to direct sintering to any precision, but it can be done and can be done at scale.
Technology Gained: Micron Manipulation: Automating the manufacture of high-precision systems has been done as a directly derived process from alien techniques. Theirs are orders of magnitude more flexible and more importantly miniturizable to the micro-scale, but large surfaces with micro-manipulators can now be made. Combined with automated electronic systems these can serve to replace all high-precision work to any reasonable standard a Seelie can accomplish. Further, the use of automatic surfaces in their nanomachines has shown the concept to be viable. Current work will continue on more advanced printing developments, with the holy grail in a truly self-replicating printing system. (Obtained 44 AE)
Political News:
The year has started well with massive programs of urban beautification, construction labor projects deliberately done by hand to incorporate skilled crafts, and general provisions for increasing education funding passed uncontroversially. This was technically speculative as the report on economic performance was released just days after with a nearly twenty percent broad economic growth achieved last year in the industrial sector alone. Elimination of scarcity is to an extent around the corner as the automated economy continues to grow unbound and unrestrained on a constant feed of cheap orbital resources launched down to Dannan. Initial shipments of metals have already arrived and are only expected to increase, effectively eliminating much of terrestrial mining through the timely arrival of untold tons of refined materials.
Electrical issues have been solved almost as rapidly as they have arrived with large-scale fusion power proliferating across the economy and the construction of another two dozen 10GWe fusors at major industrial sites. These are combined with some of the first carbon sequestration projects built around managing the cement industry and converting it to several durable polymers to sequester carbon. Pilot programs in the area will not make a large impact but they have significantly reduced direct industrial emissions, transforming them into highly stable plastics. Green programs in reforestation and wild-lands management have also proceeded as a part of a GP initiative to return nature to its old form as the lack of measures during the exchange has permanently killed at least forty percent of all planetary species, leaving vast gaps in well-organized food chains.
Synthetic programs along with engineered species have started to fill the roles left behind as several new designs of pollinators have been made and engineered to be more efficient than any before them. Combined plant replacement programs have focused on ensuring high-quality polysaccharide combinations, making over forty new proposed flavors of fruits available in most gardens and spreading the seeds along the islands to replace fruiting trees that were killed off in the scramble for food. Greening and albedo modification programs for ocean-surface cover have been neglected in favor of increasing green zones on land, bringing more area under high refractivity crops to improve overall temperature management.
Social policies have also not remained stagnant with the passage of several rights towards smaller religious groups that have practically died out from the exchange, granting them the land to their shrines and protecting the survivors from the winnowing effects of the exchange. The youths have also successfully managed to push for the full legalization of homosexuality along the equivalent nature of such marriages, if only for religions that support the practice. Drug reform has stalled due to some mild scandals over some idiots incapable of holding their drinks much less anything harder. Student groups have of course continued to protest, advocating for several further reforms, with no cohesive message, only a general dissatisfaction with the current system.
In worse news, the climate has still failed to significantly improve as the reduction in emissions is just that, a reduction in emissions. The climate situation is only expected to stop worsening shortly as the breakpoint of net-zero emissions is reached and overcome with damage to the economy and people continuing at a likely steady pace. Hardening measures have been something nearly unilaterally passed by the parliament with cities almost dug in to endure hypercane level winds and flooding, pushing for the development of harder structural materials and several innovations more appropriate for bunkers. Geoengineering remains a primary debate as it is treated by the GP as something that would make any conservation pointless, and too radical of a tool to drag out of the box as everyone that lived through the exchange can still viscerally remember the dead green and yellow rotting seas.
The largest scandal of the last two decades has come out with a closed session of the parliament convened to convey the need to act against military infiltration and that the branch itself is under attack. Several Department Four agents have seemingly been reported to civilian over military authorities, likely by concerned officers who believed that it would otherwise not be taken seriously. Outside the normal series of mutual blame between the parties and the gravity that all have taken it, Ros has taken her chance to present the matter as something of a crisis, declaring with circumstantial evidence that this was a coordinated plot by members of the PSC. As far as can be determined she had little actual evidence for the declaration or confidence aside from a few dozen documents and emails that she held up as ironclad evidence. The parliament in the meantime focused its recrimination on the PSC and partially the BFP for failing to do anything about the situation with intensive debates likely to continue into the election even if no one has yet leaked it to the public.
The current WP-PDL-GP government has gone further with closed-door cabinet meetings at length insisting something needs to be done and quickly. In their view, the parties are likely to destabilize further if the situation cannot be fixed and few expect the economy to magically improve despite rapid gains in both industrial and financial growth. The Minister of Labor has insisted that if his programs are passed the situation would improve but under questioning, even he does not entirely believe that a job program will suddenly give the youth enthusiasm for the future much less avoid the steady slide into strange and novel radicalism. PSC representatives are more a symptom than a cause as without giving the youths something then the entire system is going to decay before an alien invasion can arrive, much less take the planet.
Social News:
The social sphere has only continued to disintegrate as the inherent pressures of a new economic paradigm have made themselves known. Unemployment is likely to reach forty percent either this or next year despite increasing production. Older social norms would indicate that those who are not working or striving are wasting time and would be better off exiled, but in this new kinder era little is happening. Nothing of that has stopped the constant attacks against the "leechers" with several otherwise respectable commentators insisting that something needs to be done to get them functional for their good. The internet as expected has only gotten worse from the early days as the relatively innocent forums and constant posts have splintered into smaller communities each more radical and exclusive than the last as automation has taken the proverbial soul from whatever has been left of the network.
Regulation has come to limit the worst practices of automation on the network level with handmade works receiving special designations on all websites. Any means to identify and track internet users formally with a registration system made to reduce the abuses has so far been rejected but with the testimony of several more reputable psychiatrists, the attitudes involved have been changing. Regulation might come in this session but it will be done over the objections of the PPP who insist that the freedom of thought brought through the democratic revolution is more important than some feelings. Further changes in society have only accelerated in trends with online communities becoming mainstream communities over physical ones, as communication and relations have increasingly moved to the networked realm.
Genetic development has accelerated faster than standards to regulate them by any means. Many of the old design child programs have been effectively banned to avoid any more incidents or the massive numbers of rejected volunteers the programs have historically generated. Basic cosmetic modifications have reached the mainline and have not changed much outside of some deciding to change color or some other exotic if socially strange modification that changes little. The newest frontier of cognitive changes has been heavily restricted with minimal activity in the field outside government laboratories and biohackers with more ambition than sense or self-preservation. Standard quality-of-life packages have been released but the line has been legislatively defined as either germ line modifications, direct child editing, or any mental or thought process affecting change.
Current threats have gotten worse with the more formal expansion of paramilitary organizations under the banner of several political parties. Both the PSC and WP have organized their little private security forces that claim to have no associations but are broadly leg breakers for their respective organizations. The PDL has started efforts to get one together out of ex-army veterans but so far their efforts have been slow compared to those of other parties. None have so far started significant operations but formations are starting and without cracking down on the practice things are likely to only continue to get worse.
Department Four:
Briefing: With the discovery of significant fascist cells operating in both politics and the army there is something of a temptation to burn them now for political gains, but that is hasty and over-wrought. They are still posting incriminating information believing their lines of communication are entirely secure, allowing far more to be gained. If something along the lines of Operation Demonic Plant can be done to smoke them out, massive numbers can be made immediately obvious as they scramble to more secure and preemptively compromised systems of communication. Catching the biggest catch possible is going to be key to solving the problem and avoids any possibility of the department getting noticed. The civilian government suddenly receiving a pile of intelligence will get far too many questions asked too quickly. (Choose Two)
[]Operation Illustrious Flag: Recruitment of agents within academies and military staff represents something of a softer target for intelligence infiltration. It doesn't matter if only the janitor can be brought on the side or sufficiently electronically compromised if he reports on any known meeting locations. The operation would work at the edges of military organizations and provide several informants capable of reporting on significant movements or meetings. If the situation gets far worse it'll provide a fine-grained targeting for kinetic operations but it should not come to that.
[]Operation Fearless Bun: Sending direct infiltrators into the halls of power of the PSC has been proposed but lacking experience in infiltration has limited what could be done. Direct infiltration can be conducted by presenting several enthusiastic and ambitious supporters who are trying to enter the party as quickly as possible. With the current parliamentary shitstorm, they're going to be desperate for otherwise untainted personnel as both candidates and general workers. The overall goal of the operation will be the infiltration of the party's inner circle, providing actionable intel and ensuring some influence on policy.
[]Operation Impartial Cart: Organized information leakages of coordination between PSC politicians and officers along with the significant online party apparatus can be leaked immediately. This would feed into the scandal and provide an excuse for significant cleaning in the army at a time when unity is required. The loss of several officers to a political chase will reduce the performance of the military and exposing the electric avenue of surveillance will reduce the intelligence gathered for only moderate gain. It can be said that increasing conventional wire-tapping would only enhance the effect of past operations, as more criminal traffic is moved to already compromised networks.
[]Operation Classy Foot: Reaching out to Ros covertly and ensuring that she is on the side with future operations will keep her content and more importantly start working a case against her. She is almost certainly fighting the PSC for control of the right-wing and more generally of the right-wing narrative. Already two internal party officials have drowned from falling from boats and this has been something of her favorite tactic of political intimidation under previous governments. Temporary cooperation can benefit both organizations, but the case against her needs to be built in the same way as against the fascists.
[]Operation Demonic Plant: Every PSC conversation can be formally tapped with the consent of the government, providing an effective warrant in a closed session of the cabinet. This would give some cover and have the operation formerly conducted through the signals department if unofficially entirely done by reliable department four personnel. The ability to have a further layer of deniable organizations with formal powers cannot be underestimated and would further compartmentalize the department. (Reduces Army Unity)
[]Operation Ethereal Summer: Specialized units can be raised with deniable organizational structures along with a capacity for rapid redeployment. These are going to be direct recruits from special forces that have remained comparatively normal and loyal to the democratic republic instead of the typical tendency of special forces. These teams will report directly to an explicit dual command of the Minister of Defense and Directorate head, as their likely uses will be deeply questionable. Organizing the force itself will not be controversial but using the proverbial dagger in the dark will be disruptive.
[]Operation Miniature Spark: Digital infiltration of the PSC is going to be the first step in uncovering party-military connections. There are several suspicions that the party leadership is working with several military officers but little has been definitively confirmed. Ensuring that several drives are left for staffers to insert malware along with more conventional attack vectors by unaligned groups will provide a comprehensive infiltration. The party almost certainly has several servers and databases protected by only the thinnest security that can be paid off, diverted, or even transferred to other sites to ensure operational security. (Very Unlikely Massive Political Support Loss)
New Programs
(Currently, 3 Running, can select up to five concurrent programs)
[]Heavy Infantry Prototypes: We cannot remotely match the enemy in an infantry-sized platform but nothing inherently requires an infantry-scale platform. Going for a heavier integrated powered system incorporating the latest batteries and a direct neural interface can allow troops that can be partially defended against glancing beam exposures while providing the capacity for our laser weapons. They are almost certain to be restricted to a far lower rate of fire and total magazine capacity but weight can compensate for improved technology if only because of thermal limits. (???B Or Expected)
[]Space Capable Buggies: Making a buggy capable of carrying a fireteam 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. (80B Or Expected)
[]Hypersonic Missile Systems: The old inventory of plasma stealth high capacity independently guided munitions has been degraded by time and constant use. Some excess production capacity has been left over for the smattering of pre-war systems but there is little left and slower munitions are expected to have negligible effect. Unifying platform use will allow for a consolidation of several ordinance types especially as a swapable warhead can provide a far more generalized capability of each missile bus. Development costs for the advanced aerodynamic surfaces necessary for the missile will take time but the funding is currently available. (500B Or Expected)
[]Airmobile Armored Support: Building a dual-purpose armored vehicle that can be air transported represents several severe limitations. Cargo capacity limitations of Type 39 limit the design to forty tons or preferably twenty tons for dual-purpose capability. Armor protection would then need to be reduced considerably compared to more conventional IFV and armament will further likely be reduced. Capacity to operate during a direct drop would be preferable but not required, making the program likely to produce an intermediate between the current light vehicle and more conventional systems. (200B Or Expected)
[]SPG/SPAA Systems: The Type 36 lacks the capacity for mounting heavy laser armament due to its propulsion system and further presents several limitations for expanded turrets. Instead of using old methods of developing a system based on a tank, work can be done for a dedicated modular system. Artillery ammunition storage can be swapped between it and battery-capacitor storage systems, providing significant lasing capacity. Saturation issues will likely remain due to the limits of battery technology and a lowered continuous power but such continued heavy use is more likely to have thermal concerns long before battery depletion. (250B Or Expected)
[]New MBT: With the confirmation of enemy heavy vehicles and shuttles, new and radical gun systems are going to be necessary to threaten, much less bring down theoretical enemy armor across primary threat aspects. Current thinking is tending towards a sixty to seventy-ton platform with an integrated DNI crew allowing the commander to have a constant all-round perspective that is further enhanced by several linked AI copilots. There are trends towards lighter systems that give up on sufficient anti-laser protection in favor of improved battlefield information and mobility but a comprehensive program must be started to test them. (400B Or Expected)
[]Anti-Laser Vehicle Modernization: With the development of lightweight plastic-ceramic dynamic armor mounting to every vehicle in inventory is necessary along with several service life changes. The largest of these updates is an improvement to the sensors, bringing them to an up-to-date standard and the universal retirement of 6.5mm GPMGs serving as coaxial weapons. The increase towards a 15mm caliber will take some time as the vehicle fleet refits but it will be necessary to maintain a modicum of capability. Air-targeting modes will universally be incorporated as the alien enemy prefers to use VTOL for ground support, allowing otherwise non-specialized platforms to engage them. (50B 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. (100B Or Expected)
[]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. (750B 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. (500B Or Expected across several funding phases)
[]Exploration Ships: The evaluation of fusion drives and new FTL drives has already started with the modifications made to the test bed ships, but a dedicated craft has yet to be built. Constructing a sizable ship capable of independent survey and prolonged operations including planetary landings. This would inherently be fusion-powered with significant backup and manufacturing systems to navigate first contact and mapping unmapped worlds. There are already several colonization candidates that need to be verified before larger-scale efforts can start, possibly providing an extrasolar colony. The main goal of the program will likely be the same as its alien versions if with a kinder operational profile, to retrieve possible artifacts and to trade with alien forces to such a point that domestic technologies can equal or overtake their own. (600B Or Expected)
Politics:
(Select 3 Actions, Can Select 4 at -5 Procurement Penalty, 5 at a -20 Procurement Penalty)
[]Modify Officer Academy Standards: Officer academies are letting in too many people and this has posed something of a problem to current admissions. Ensuring that those who are promoted are at least capable of most actions and achieve adequate leadership performance in primary education drills will be prioritized. The militarization of the education system is something of a perfect compromise to instill discipline and those most capable of the simplest infantry work as children will make the best officer candidates. This will increase personnel and training costs but they need to be increased to improve the quality of the force. (+100k Personal Costs per Seelie)
[]Unification of Orbital Datalinks: Problems in the orbital fleet have come from the sheer number of incompatible technologies and systems present. Some of the ancient pre-war systems are running on the equivalent of a graphics card pulled from a civilian machine and sometimes literally so. Ensuring that the fleet is overhauled so that at least onboard sensor systems are unified will be a major step in improving response times and attack coordination. The program of complete refits will not be cheap but it will be essential to get some of the oldest fleet elements and stations their one and last shot at national defense. (200B Or Cost)
[]Moon Defense Batteries: Digging in significant infrastructure into the lunar surface will offer a significant advantage in hardening and allow for even less efficient lasers to have a strong advantage over those of an alien attacker. The massive thermal capacity of the moon is a radiator like no other, enabling consistent shooting with few concerns over cooling. These batteries are going to be installed in standard triplicates with their power reactor, ensuring that the lunar orbit is not safe for any enemy. (200B Or Cost)
[]Modernize Terrestrial Defense Grids: General Aerospace's new missile can be incorporated into the latest of defense grids while lasers can be comprehensively overhauled to take advantage of the improvements in capacitor technology. True Q-switching can allow for pulse lasers far more capable than any before, achieving significant armor penetration and being able to directly impact alien forces. None of these modernizations will come cheap and the unification of targeting systems on installations built fifty years apart will not be easy, but it needs to be done to harden local defenses. If done now, the overall network may be modernized in two years, significantly aiding local defense capability. (250B Or Cost) (Moderate Political Support Gain)
[]Harden Force Discipline: Every soldier with any remote technical knowledge knows they are outmatched in the extreme and are broadly being sent to die for any hope of species survival. Ensuring that the enlisted are exposed to only media that focuses on the ability to survive and the necessities of such fighting will improve morale especially once the conflict starts. Targeted algorithms will provide the correct context for the future and will be developed to ensure that any crew on stations and military bases can maintain combat conditions even if entirely overmatched. (20B Or Cost)
[]Pass an Internet Bill: The internet needs to be regulated if for no other reason than it becomes a toxic cancer for society and everything it touches. The communications aspect is perfectly fine but automated content has made it almost a parody of itself not to mention the anonymity issue causing problems in catching criminals and in any consistent account. It's well known at this point that the entire system is terrible for everyone involved to the point it was weaponized against people by the old regime, it needs regulations and strong ones. (High Political Cost)
[]Ban Paramilitaries: Allowing party-affiliated organizations to start organizing and having weapons needs to be cracked down on now before they can grow too large. Fragmentation in the commands has already led to several ideological groupings forming but something needs to be done to keep it away from the civilian sector. Establishing an absolute monopoly on force between the military and military police will not be popular but acting even-handedly will both be popular and reassure military leadership that the problem is being addressed. (High Political Cost) (Military Unity Gain)
[]Minimize Orbital Fatalism: The orbital crews have always had several traditions as have any sailors throughout history, but theirs are religiously insensitive and not great for force morale. The fleet has taken to a tradition of holding a funeral for their terrestrial selves when going out to a deployment and it has been raised as a source of discomfort by both station operators and several soldiers serving with them. The tradition itself is harmless and nowhere near the strangest thing a naval crew has done before deployment but something needs to be done to stop it being a political incident in waiting. (10B Or Cost) (Mild Political Gain)
[]Reorganize Department Four: The current string of failures from Department Four is a clear sign that something is wrong. Additional personnel have been allocated but operational success still has not been achieved to any large extent. Re-organizing the force with fresh young faces who are more capable of navigating the modern electronic environment will be essential. The leadership involved has proven trustworthy if challenged by the role of modern security policy. These improvements may reduce its capability but will at least ensure the department can look to the future. (50B Or Cost)
[]Universal University Standards: There are too many viable recruits who want to join the army and reducing standards degrades the quality of volunteers more than anything. There are more than enough viable candidates with the equivalent of university degrees applying to roles outside of basic infantry units, allowing all ranks to theoretically be filled only by those with adequate educations. This will not be popular as for many without a degree the military is one of the last employment options but force readiness cannot be compromised to chase social policy goals. (High Political Cost)
[]Ask for Additional Budget: The army needs additional funding to be made available across several industries as conventional civilian industrial growth has, if anything, outgrown the economy. Mobilization capacity is steadily more limited by funding for aspects of military life outside of direct production and by increasing allocations far more technical programs can be funded with better expertise. Getting more money to do something with the thirty percent unemployment and rising will involve an expansion of the armed forces but with the current threats on the horizon, more crews and soldiers are going to be needed anyway. (High Political Cost) (Immediate 500B Or)
[]Money-Free Orbital Zones: Evaluating the concept of eliminating money on the orbital stations and colonies will improve morale and allow troops to keep on station longer. Shifting the allocations to troops to ones based on their needs and delegating recreational activity on a voucher system will improve morale and allow a more responsive system. This would ostensibly improve the morale of the forces in orbit allowing them to trade recreational time and receive it for the performance of harder tasks as a bonus. (Possible Political Support Cost)
[]Mobilization of Equipment Reserves: Type 12 and 23 Tanks and Type 18 IFVs are obsolete in the extreme and mostly consist of rusted hulks, but their armor is still theoretically sound. Equipping them with laser-resistant foam on the front aspect along with mass production civilian quality systems will narrow some of the gaps, and assuming the guns function adequately they can be further brought into service. Programs to fully refurbish the old hulls will take a considerable amount of funding but the armored strength of the army can be returned. Further, old nuclear ships that have been partially retired can receive new cores, bringing the fleet to fighting strength, if with entirely obsolete vessels. (Political Support Gain) (400B Or Cost)
[]Study Wartime Issues(Select Specific Program): Committing some time to do a full literature report on a critical wartime piece of equipment and how it exactly failed is going to be a massive crawl through the archives but someone needs to do it. Working for a few continuous days on pulling the papers will take some extra leisure time but it's expected if one is to understand anything of what they are doing. (-5 to +15 depending on roll) (Wartime Equipment Only)
[]Study Theoretical Proposals(Select Specific Program): Taking the time to directly analyze theoretical designs and technical aspects of procurement can improve the performance of several systems. Without a wide basis of understanding little can be done and attempting to interpret theoretical concepts remains an open question. Pouring over a few hundred papers to get a surface-level understanding is still a good use of time especially for matters as important as procurement but there are limitations without large-scale experience. (-5 to +5 depending on roll) (All Equipment)
[]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.
Type 43 Combined Orbital Equipment: A set of systems built around a unified display helmet and standardized rebreather and pressure management system that has effectively transformed into five discrete systems. This has come with some compromises but all five share universal parts and the program offers an unquestionable improvement in every aspect over the Type 06 suit. Most models in use are expected to be the basic suit with few modifications, as it is adequate for light orbital combat and can be flexibly worn inside spacecraft that are depressurized. Combat variations incorporate new dynamic plastic-ceramic armor, allowing the abatement of alien laser blows to an extent, with the heaviest versions preferring conventional ceramics due to size constraints. Capable of up to two twelve hours of endurance in space, the suit itself is a revolutionary improvement both in reliability and duration of viable orbital work.
ATGM:
Type 35 Anti-Tank System: On the infantry end the Type-35 rocket system is an effective automated fire and forget that can fire on thermal or electro-optical signature acquisition from a polymer tube, coming in at a portable twenty-three-kilogram system loaded. Long-range and vehicle-based variations have been effectively constructed with the seventeen-kilogram terminal phase paired with a either thirteen or twenty-kilogram booster, providing long-range capability with an incorporated autonomous mode. Errant signature targeting remains a problem for the complex but all three are entering large-scale production to distribute anti-tank firepower. The forty-three-kilogram vehicle mount is to be standardized across the IFV force, providing a massive increase in long-range firepower. (Lunos Industries)
Wheeled Vehicles:
Type 38 8x8: Developed as an all-field improvement over the original Type 14 truck the Type 38 mostly delivers on several improvements. Moving to a reinforced frame made of more advanced materials along with improvements in development has allowed the new truck to carry eight tons offroad and seventeen tons on the road. Hill traversal capacity is limited and the engine is notably underpowered but the truck does incorporate several lessons learned for safety design compared to all that came before it. Variations capable of carrying artillery pieces and operating as a basic bed for the mounting of anti-aircraft systems have already been proposed. The entire truck only has armor along the cabin against small arms, but that has been judged as sufficient. (Milta Automotive Works)
Type 41 Light Truck: A compromise design that while failing to meet the ambitious specifications promised still meets most of them. Taking advantage of a mixed HEA frame for lightning it is resistant to gunfire from several approaches while avoiding an increase in weight outside of operational requirements. The use of an accompanying stacking system allows the tight packing of vehicles into a Type 39, letting the plane carry twelve cars. Weapon system options range from an externally loaded belt-fed 24mm autocannon, an internal belt-fed 15mm HMG, or several anti-tank systems. Learning from the group's mistakes with truck design the engine itself is far more capable, giving the truck performance arguably more appropriate from a sports car as the 400 kW turbocharged diesel has easily exceeded all expectations. Protection is of course negligible against alien weaponry but the ability for automatic response fire will give it a chance. (Sygner Automotive Group)
IFV/APC:
Type-36 IFV: A standardized 8x8 IFV built on a series of reliable technical concepts with novel engineering focused primarily on armor and protective systems. Improved HEA plating has been interspersed with ultrahard ceramics in a quasi-NERA array containing far more detailed ultra-hard elements with features. The shift towards materials lighter and stronger than conventional steels alone has ensured that protection is sufficient across the vehicle to resist conventional fire while the ceramics serve to break up threats from cumulative munitions. APS protection has also been extended with eight heavy charges and twenty-four light charges mounted across the turret. The armament is a combination of eight types 35 ATGM and an automated 24mm cannon effectively offering a direct continuation from older APCs. Amphibious capability on the vehicle has been maintained with space for eight dismounts creating several questions on optimal squad sizes. Mortar-carrying and artillery-carrying variants are already being considered though the lack of a power train precludes its use as a SPLAA. (UNISA)
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 autoloader, feeding shells into the system at an acceptable rate with long rod penetrators 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 nearly 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:
Type 39 Aircraft: The General Aerospace entrant that has been delivered to specification, if universally derided by pilots as the equivalent of operating a garbage truck. The plane is powered by two high-power 240kN turbofans with a capacity for climb-outs in most cargo regimes with only a single engine if necessary. Automatic landing has been incorporated into the plane and a significant degree of redundancy has been incorporated as hundreds of the lessons learned in the old passenger industry are relearned. Over a thousand units are expected to be purchased for the army with variations designed for transportation, low-intensity missile transportation, and several further roles as general-purpose airframes. Even the civilian sector has started work on adapting a copy for the rapid transportation of mail, allowing GA to recoup its costs. Poor surface takeoffs limit the ability of the airframe to operate in a safe mode with increased cargo allocation but even that has been judged as sufficient. (General Aerospace)
Medium Drones:
Type 43 Surveillance Drone: The AIT drone system is a simple straight-wing airframe powered by a conventional propeller engine, giving it adequate range for fast response to several conflicts and something of a technical base. The drone is neither stealthy, fast, or durable but it is incredibly cheap to manufacture and operate. Initial production lots of thousands have rapidly increased in scale with even lower manufacturing costs expected as production continues to increase. Onboard AI hardware is enough for independent missions in low-saturation areas with no communication needed from ground bases. Narrowband transmission of images along with astral guidance packages allow for limited functionality in a hostile orbital environment, providing adequate intelligence and support to troops in the field. (Avalon Industrial Trust)
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:
Type 44 SSAON: Designed as a series of highly ambitious technical programs the final product has come in over budget but as a functional boat that more than performs its task. The boats can operate sustainably at a depth of more than 1.5km underwater, making them immune to all but the heaviest orbital fire. In return, each ship has seventy-two nuclear-tipped missiles capable of ensuring that at least one can punch through point defense fire to deliver a killing blow. Crews have found the boats significantly more comfortable than previous submarines and orbital service but that reputation is unlikely to last as nine-month patrols are normalized to reduce vulnerability in dock and keep the boats at station for as long as possible. Anti-submarine armament has been found lacking, with sonar struggling to detect other Type 44 boats, but that is expected given the design priorities.
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 is 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 Auxiliary 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, afterward 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 be then 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.
40xType-41 Barge: Standardized mining barges built around the CASP standard of warships and designed around a gas core-MHD electric drive system have entered mass production. These are effectively unarmed mining ships with several built-in redundancies and a massive capacity for belt operations for ore extraction. Current programs have used them to crack asteroids followed by melting out the rubble and shipping refined metals to central launcher stations. These then further refine the material available before shooting it to Dannan, providing efficient transportation of material. Overall the Type-41 barge is an uncomfortable ship to serve on with much of the experience either heavy hot labor brought on by the mining equipment or cramped living at the edges of explored space. The class has something of a reputation as one of the worst commands to be assigned to as unlike Type-22 barges they are expected to stay in mining sites for months.
1xType-42 Explorer: The other component of the CASP program and also based on gas core-MHD electric drive systems but with a significantly greater number of features. An advanced sensor package of a long-range IRST system along with several high-power radars are onboard to allow for the detection of distant civilizations. Further, the quarters are comfortable for the reduced crew due to the inherent hull space offered by the FTL ring system. The acceleration of the explorers is negligible but is still more than sufficient for travel across star systems. Drive jump experiences have been regarded as poor, capable of causing significant psychological events, and unpleasant in the extreme. FTL communications are dysfunctional in the class, limiting them to narrow band single bit transmissions with current sets with a mid-life refit already planned to fix the issues involved.
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 by 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.
Enhanced Population-Facing Algorithms: Advancing population-facing machine learning models has only intensified with the state operation of social media interactions. It is still impossible to make a model that cannot be distinguished from a Seelie in all circumstances, but that is almost within reach. Basic chatbots have been refined so that one can be used with a focused set of goals and a solid general comprehension of information. Further advances in ensuring that models that fail can indicate a low-confidence answer, allowing for an improved user perspective. (30 AE)
Total Line Automation: Previous efforts at predictive logistics and advanced ordering programs have only developed further with improvements made to the autonomous operation of entire facilities. Current algorithms are insufficient to replace all staff but something as simple as balancing and troubleshooting basic parameter deviation has already been demonstrated with further gains expected on the direct testing level. There is little need for first-line employees when logistics can be conducted in an automated manner with a further simplification of most industries that require sterile standards. Continuous improvements are only expected to continue as more advanced algorithms can further reduce necessary labor. (35AE)
Technical Generative AI: Continued improvement in machine learning along with engineering-specific developments have continued to enhance the automation of industries. Previous generations of generative AI have been limited to non-technical low-risk applications but it has steadily gone towards a capability to act as an immediate reference and design optimization tool. Training datasets are still limited and the machines are nowhere near perfect but as a first-line tool for rapid prototyping and a second-line tool for assessing projects it is invaluable. Automation can now replace most positions that produce novel intellectual labor for conventional design work, with just a few needed to check the AI and ensure consistency in training datasets. (35AE)
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.
3D Electronics: Layering on a single integrated die was already practiced to a limited extent but with the latest lithographic techniques density of packaging can be further improved to allow for three-dimensional features. Thermal transfer limits still are the same as any other advanced silicon computer along with the inherent issues of electron tunneling but effective 1.2nm gates can be printed in a three-dimensional matrix. These are then underclocked to improve thermal stability, providing on-die performance gains without needing new technologies or a jump toward new types of computational hardware. (New 40 AE)
Immature Carbon Electronics: Following a parallel solution of maintaining conventional electronics despite significant issues in electron tunneling the use of carbon rather than silicon has been considered at points. A carbon circuit has inherently far fewer issues than silicon ones and can be developed to an even smaller feature size with far less leakage. Current techniques allow for the manufacturing of gates down to a 45nm feature size, significantly improving the performance of non-silicon computers even if the tech is still a curiosity. (New 40 AE)
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. Still, the application alone is sufficient to drive investment in the field and push for improved models.
Cybernetics/DNI
Dual-Band NI: Downband 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 apply to any number of military applications. (30 AE)
Basic Cybernetics: Continued advancements in both genetics and neural interfacing have brought forward a practical new era of implantation and dual-way linkages between neurons and computers. Using basic genetic modification to designate several metals as non-invasive to prevent an immune response along with advanced coatings, safe implants can be produced with few issues of rejection and minimal follow-on treatment. Direct neural control along with the direct splicing of nerves represents a further improvement in old techniques allowing theoretical direct control of larger machinery from a direct linkage. (35AE)
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.
CNT Filament Radiators: The use of carbon nanotubes as radiator surfaces has been proposed several times but issues exist in inner-tube connections along with the intensive thermal environment. If long chain tubes can be synthesized and placed on large rollers, centrifugal forces can keep the radiator array extended without much issue all while radiating a massive amount of heat. Even in an optimized configuration, new systems are expected to be heavier than contemporary liquid metal droplet radiators but they can be operated at theoretically hotter temperatures while being far more resistant to damage. (New 40 AE)
Currie Point Radiators: Taking an alternative track and basing the design of several proposals made for lower temperature circuits, something of a novel concept radiator has been proposed. Rather than using large emissive structures of liquid metal the curie point of several materials can be taken advantage of. This way iron or cobalt can be ejected and then re-magnetized and returned as it cools to under 1000K, providing a significant radiative effect. Such a technique will not work for systems made to operate far outside 1300K but for civilian power systems, this is more than sufficient. (New 40 AE)
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 speaker 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. (30 AE)
Ultracapacitors: The limitations of conventional capacitance are still notable but have been overcome through a new generation of designs. Even though the specific power of newer systems is only a fifth of electrolytic capacitors, new ultracapacitors have over one hundred times greater specific energy. The cells are hybrid capacitors based on a nitrogen-doped graphene nanocomposite with ZnCo2O4 that can be produced at some cost. The system itself is unlikely to replace batteries to any extent but the performance on offer has opened the way to several highly energetic systems. (New 40 AE)
Primitive Polymer Capacitors: Several prospective polymers have been developed to improve capacitance through the minimization of inductance and series resistance. These are nowhere near the capacity of alien systems, only capable of a "paltry" discharge of 2 MW/kg compared to alien systems that operate in at least 50 MW/kg but that does not prevent the manufacture of a viable laser weapon, only making it far heavier compared to alien examples. These capacitors are not inherently expensive, only requiring effectively thin plate engineering plastics and high conductivity elements to be constructed and used. Charge is only enough for around a millisecond of operation but that is sufficient for all but the most radical of laser designs. (Reverse Engineered) (New 43 AE)
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.
Third Generation MHD Generators: Through combined improvements in harvesting methodologies for power and better systemic thermal isolation significant gains have been made in thermodynamic efficiencies of power production. These mostly involve a more refined MHD cycle with some secondary thermal harvesting, bringing waste heat output down to a far more manageable twenty percent of the generative process. This in no way gets rid of radiators and further efficiency improvements will be a massive technical challenge but they can still be undertaken. The far greater scale of new unit generation systems will make refits challenging but new vessels can be built to far improved margins of thermal control. (35AE)
Non-Propulsive Dusty Plasma Reactor: Continued drives towards gaining efficiency and the modification of thrust systems have demonstrated significant further improvements to efficiency. By taking an ultra-light fissioning uranium plasma and confining it in a pinch between a dual-end MHD harvester an efficient method of power generation can be designed with few downsides. The power system will explicitly not be suitable for off-drive harvesting like previous generation gas-core MHD couplings but the gains from the new method will be massive. Thermal efficiencies in the order of eighty-five percent can be achieved with a hotter operating cycle, only limited by internal chamber materials, leading to more efficient radiative hot loops. (35AE)
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.)
Tech Obtained: Compact FTL Tachyon Systems: Alien improvements in antenna and focusing design along with innovations in the generation chamber are replicable without significant issues, allowing communication systems of greater specificity. The bandwidth is reduced to independent pulses of data at a rate of at best ten kb, but that is not a significant degradation compared to larger systems. The technology is miniturizable and current theoretical uses for it primarily rest in sensor networks and dedicated terrestrial communication vehicles, allowing a diplomatic or planetary team to talk back to Dannan in case of emergency. Further improvements are questionable as the techniques or why the specific tachyon generator geometry works so well are still poorly understood. (New 42AE) (Alien Derived)
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-than-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. (30 AE) (More unscientific carveouts from relativity)
FTL Jump Point Theory: The discrete detection of pockets of so-called jump-optimal space has proceeded logically from previous theories with the refit of a daring class destroyer to assessing pods. Initial guesses that the points would exist outside the orbit of the fifth planet and limitations of gravity have been confirmed though there is a curious phenomenon involved with most jump points in that some are significantly "deeper" dimensionally than others. It is believed that a jump conducted from a deeper point would both be easier and less intensive, leaving other areas of the system as more secondary. Confirmation of further points in the outer system will take time, but current mathematical understandings of jump space do indicate that there should be a few around the gas giant. (35AE)
Fusion
Optimal Band DT: Further improvements on the conventional fusion fuel cycle and a sustained temperature of 8 KeV can now be attained and maintained without a significant technical burden for reactors of the old scale. This effectively optimizes interaction cross-sections of the fuel, raising the reaction rate while maintaining a similar degree of plasma density. Improvements in the magnets involved have trickled down to smaller-scale reactors with the expectation that a positive 1 GWe reactor could be constructed. The largest improvements however come in the larger cores as once the optimal plasma temperatures are reached the reaction rate increases by almost five-fold making the largest cores economical for truly mass power-production applications. (35AE)
Toroidal DT Drives: The development of fusion drives has come as a logical progression from terrestrial fusion reactors, lightening the entire assembly and introducing several thermal and neutron management concepts through the use of lighter plasma blankets. The gain factor of the system is expected to be just short of a hundred, allowing large-scale fusion drives to be designed. The inherent limitations of the DT reaction limit what can be done sustainably and without irradiating the crew but for everything but maximum thrust it effectively obsoletes fissile propulsion. Current drives are at the smallest 10GW of effective fusion power, but efficiency gains are expected as systems grow in size even if cooling plasma jackets will become more complex. (New 40AE)
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.
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. (30 AE)
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. (30 AE)
CNT Mass Production: Improvements have been made in non-biological processes for producing long-chain carbon nano-tubes effectively making biological methods obsolete. Large-scale macro-catalytics have developed significantly on older techniques with scalable production of new materials. The changeover has forced the rapid adoption of new methods along with the increase of the chemical industry as simpler methods are steadily pushed aside. After some reconfiguration, it is expected that CNT incorporation can become a common factor for several industrial applications. (35AE)
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 life 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. (30 AE)
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 regardless of previous armoring attempts. The 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. (35 AE)
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.
Biological-Epoxies: Complete production chains for biosynthetic epoxies and resins have been developed with only some requirements remaining for molding. The material is not as cheap as conventional regenerative cement construction but it is better insulating and far more portable for logistically challenging areas. Molding is still necessary making the process not truly automated but some proponents of prefabricated resin paneling made in a factory as a light alternative to prefabricated panels especially for external insulation applications. (35 AE)
Macro-Structural Polymers: Biological mechanisms for twisting the exact localization of structures along with the pre-production of dead tissue have long been coded for. Taking advantage of the more primitive systems left to us by nature most trees can be brought to productive ends. The production of ultrahard wooden items competitive with some lighter plastics can be made without too much issue. Better yet ultrahard microstructures can be built into them allowing materials to be grown that significantly outperform their contemporaries on a similar weight allotment. The use cases for such ultralight materials are limited by their flammability and the limits of biological systems but they still offer a useful capability. (New 40 AE)
Need to at least get rid of the paramilitaries, and if they bitch about it then tell them we could likely just arrested and executed them under the laws that ban people from doing the same shit the old corporate hell Nations did.
The vast majority of the planet is an ocean, and I suppose we can always try to hide them over the horizon from any alien craft entering nuke range on their initial landing approach. Sure as the ship orbits around the planet they'll start getting picked off, but if they're in a position to safely sit up there and drop orbital artillery on us the ships likely aren't going to be the only things being wiped off the surface in numbers.
So yeah, I wouldn't say no to the fleet combatant, though I do put some things higher on the priority list. Right now I'm thinking about the New MBT and Loitering Munitions for the two slots that just opened.
Tentative attempts to genetically analyze the organic remnants left in each of the head trays that have remained have yielded concrete results if very confusing ones. Their coding sequences have been closer related to Lirrir ones than local ones with a massive degree of poor optimization and confusing integration of likely viral fragments and other unnecessary elements. Further, the basis for their construction is far worse and less reliable with an unreliable hydrogen bonding system only encouraging rapid mutations under the pressure of cosmic rays. Cloning attempts have gotten worse as cell differentiation is impossible to induce from sequence and local productive enzymes are worse than useless for any further analysis.
Hm. Is it just me, or is this a matter of our (unknowingly genetically engineered in the prehistoric past) elves being flabbergasted at how 'inefficient' the natural genetic processes of an evolved organism are?
The physical aspects have progressed far better than the biological ones, as the spiders of nano-scale wires have been analyzed under a microscope, noticing a series of ultra-fine connection surfaces further integrated into the wires. While the creatures were alive these likely formed close links deep into brain tissue across several areas, which if there is any similarity to theoretical domestic DNI linkages indicates a fine downband capacity several orders of magnitude greater than even theoretical designs. The lack of optical nerve use was not because of a lack of vision, but likely because of a lack of need with neurons treated more as flexible computing matter than a brain. This alone would enable on-sight modification of thoughts on a subconscious level along with effective neural integration with a computing system if a fine enough understanding of neural tissues was available.
Hm. That suggests that this was less like "separate, distinct people made into cyborgs and then wired into this thing" and more like "bodies grown to be dedicated wetware computer processors for this thing." Because if the severed heads we found in this cube were ever autonomous individuals, they would have had some kind of pre-existing brain structure that their cyberware would be forced to accommodate.
Sub-micron manipulation is possible with their tools but current generation domestic ones will struggle to break the micron barrier with any reliability. Still, ultra-fine printing tips on even standard printers have already been developed, allowing large-size monolithic integrated circuits to be made along with further reducing the demand for high-precision industries. Printing at the scale requires a specialized head using electromagnetic forces to direct sintering to any precision, but it can be done and can be done at scale.
Say what you will about Department Four, but I really love their operation names.
Sending direct infiltrators into the halls of power of the PSC has been proposed but lacking experience in infiltration has limited what could be done. Direct infiltration can be conducted by presenting several enthusiastic and ambitious supporters who are trying to enter the party as quickly as possible. With the current parliamentary shitstorm, they're going to be desperate for otherwise untainted personnel as both candidates and general workers. The overall goal of the operation will be the infiltration of the party's inner circle, providing actionable intel and ensuring some influence on policy.
Careful, careful. This is literally how Hitler got his career start- he was sent to infiltrate a far-right party as an agent and decided he liked the place.
[]Moon Defense Batteries: Digging in significant infrastructure into the lunar surface will offer a significant advantage in hardening and allow for even less efficient lasers to have a strong advantage over those of an alien attacker. The massive thermal capacity of the moon is a radiator like no other, enabling consistent shooting with few concerns over cooling. These batteries are going to be installed in standard triplicates with their power reactor, ensuring that the lunar orbit is not safe for any enemy. (200B Or Cost)
[]Pass an Internet Bill: The internet needs to be regulated if for no other reason than it becomes a toxic cancer for society and everything it touches. The communications aspect is perfectly fine but automated content has made it almost a parody of itself not to mention the anonymity issue causing problems in catching criminals and in any consistent account. It's well known at this point that the entire system is terrible for everyone involved to the point it was weaponized against people by the old regime, it needs regulations and strong ones. (High Political Cost)
[]Ban Paramilitaries: Allowing party-affiliated organizations to start organizing and having weapons needs to be cracked down on now before they can grow too large. Fragmentation in the commands has already led to several ideological groupings forming but something needs to be done to keep it away from the civilian sector. Establishing an absolute monopoly on force between the military and military police will not be popular but acting even-handedly will both be popular and reassure military leadership that the problem is being addressed. (High Political Cost) (Military Unity Gain)
The vast majority of the planet is an ocean, and I suppose we can always try to hide them over the horizon from any alien craft entering nuke range on their initial landing approach. Sure as the ship orbits around the planet they'll start getting picked off, but if they're in a position to safely sit up there and drop orbital artillery on us the ships likely aren't going to be the only things being wiped off the surface in numbers.
So yeah, I wouldn't say no to the fleet combatant, though I do put some things higher on the priority list. Right now I'm thinking about the New MBT and Loitering Munitions for the two slots that just opened.
Given the sheer expense of the fleet combatant, I wouldn't consider it top priority. Consider: against an opponent with orbiting starships, the question is not "what can the warship do," it's "what can the warship do that a fixed-mount defensive platform on land couldn't?" Systems like AEGIS Ashore are what I'm thinking of.
They are likely confused because they don't understand why there would be anything inefficient left on the aliens from the level of technology that has been shown, like our guys had to research how to even open it up and also admitted that the technology that we got the fancy new chips from might as well be magic from how much they just don't understand how it could even possibly work to begin with?
They are likely confused because they don't understand why there would be anything inefficient left on the aliens from the level of technology that has been shown, like our guys had to research how to even open it up and also admitted that the technology that we got the fancy new chips from might as well be magic from how much they just don't understand how it could even possibly work to begin with?
I'm referring fairly specifically to the alien heads' DNA. I don't think the idea of "a species might not intentionally optimize all their natural biological mechanisms through DNA alteration" would be that hard for the Seelie to grasp, if only because their own politicians are at least playing things bioconservatively enough that they wouldn't want to do radical alterations to basic biochemical stuff like "how does DNA replication work"
I think the Seelie are just having trouble grasping that naturally evolved species will tend to have weird shit in their DNA. But I could be wrong.
I'm referring fairly specifically to the alien heads' DNA. I don't think the idea of "a species might not intentionally optimize all their natural biological mechanisms through DNA alteration" would be that hard for the Seelie to grasp, if only because their own politicians are at least playing things bioconservatively enough that they wouldn't want to do radical alterations to basic biochemical stuff like "how does DNA replication work"
I think the Seelie are just having trouble grasping that naturally evolved species will tend to have weird shit in their DNA. But I could be wrong.
True, but still feel there is confusion in that there wasn't much done with how technologically advanced they look to have been that they still didn't do something like they didn't do anything to stop rapid mutations from space radiation for reasons as well by the elfs guess.
Well, we have officially started to enter the Cool Zone, its Weimar time bb!
Now, I think we need to act carefully here, its nice that Rós started going after the PSC, even if her accusations are mostly speculation or rely on evidence she can't really present. But I would caution us against involving her in our intelligence efforts in any way, she is waaaay more competent at it than us and her subverting the military intelligence would be really bad.
Now, Demonic Cart seems like a must. We have high support in the government and its imperative we can get them to expose the PSC. Us doing would make everyone ask questions and undermine our "apolitical" image which will be very important if the fascists do well next election and/or we need to coup.
Impartial Cart seems like its supposed to be done in tandem with Demonic Plant, since the latter will mitigate the downsides of the former. But it basically requires we give up on our most successful avenue of investigating them so far, so am not sure. And now that paramilitaries have formed, having our own SF group directly loyal to us is really important. So am torn between the two of those.
Anyway, as for our procurement, I think Space Capable Buggies provide a very important capability at a pretty low cost for a quick program. We probably rely on really scuffed platforms to lug things around that have no real mobility in the face of a threat. And it should make lunar/planetary infrastructure much less complicated. People have thrown about loitering munitions, which are quite useful as well, but we have just done a drone program so its a bit less urgent imo.
Given the sheer expense of the fleet combatant, I wouldn't consider it top priority. Consider: against an opponent with orbiting starships, the question is not "what can the warship do," it's "what can the warship do that a fixed-mount defensive platform on land couldn't?" Systems like AEGIS Ashore are what I'm thinking of.
Do remember we got a massive advancement to laser technology last turn, so much so that we have a option to comprehensively overhal our planetary grid and increased the price for our moon defense batteries by 50 billion. The capacitors we got are useless for small arms for now, but we can easily scale them up, so our surface combatants should get a really significant boost from them since they have the sea as a massive heat sink and can carry powerful reactors. Speaking of which, I think we should hold off on both the moon and planetary lasers for now, we still have 3 tech rolls for reverse engineering from the laser rifle (2 this turn and 1 the next, if I understood Blackstar correctly). I think these are projects that could really benefit from waiting a year or two.
What I do think could really benefit us though, and we can do in lieu of those two is []Unification of Orbital Datalinks, there's probably not going to be any massive shifts in technology in the near future that justify delaying it, and it sounds incredibly important. If we think we can spare that 200 billion Or, we should go for it.
[]Operation Classy Foot: Reaching out to Ros covertly and ensuring that she is on the side with future operations will keep her content and more importantly start working a case against her. She is almost certainly fighting the PSC for control of the right-wing and more generally of the right-wing narrative. Already two internal party officials have drowned from falling from boats and this has been something of her favorite tactic of political intimidation under previous governments. Temporary cooperation can benefit both organizations, but the case against her needs to be built in the same way as against the fascists.
Oh Ros you are so silly i will never once advocate to work with you as that only ever goes badly but i would never wish to have any other conservative in charge when you do so amusing things like dumping dissidents in a harbour with concrete shoes like a gangster from the thirties
Politics is interesting. The politicians are starting to do things, but without new social science developments its clearly threading water to some degree. The climate isn't getting any better any time soon, although ecosystem reconstruction shouls legitimately help normalize things somewhat. The big thing for us is the army infiltration scare and Ros deciding to use it to take a swing at the fascists. This has opened up one hell of an opportunity for us, which I'll expand upon when we get to Department Four.
Briefing: With the discovery of significant fascist cells operating in both politics and the army there is something of a temptation to burn them now for political gains, but that is hasty and over-wrought. They are still posting incriminating information believing their lines of communication are entirely secure, allowing far more to be gained. If something along the lines of Operation Demonic Plant can be done to smoke them out, massive numbers can be made immediately obvious as they scramble to more secure and preemptively compromised systems of communication. Catching the biggest catch possible is going to be key to solving the problem and avoids any possibility of the department getting noticed. The civilian government suddenly receiving a pile of intelligence will get far too many questions asked too quickly. (Choose Two)
Department Four's report is quite optimistic for a change, and they've cooked up quite a devious scheme. Operation Demonic Plant is genius on several levels, and is absolutely something we should do. First, it allows us to 'squeeze' the fascists. We've already infiltrated them in the cyberspace, so if we combine it with wiretapping there only safe communications they've got left is literally in person stuff (something we're also working on thanks to Purple Finger). In fact, Department Four is working under the assumption that Demonic Plant will leak at some point and drive more of the fascists into the already compromised elf-telegram servers and such. This will massively increase the rate of information gathering we're able to do.
In addition, this is us getting the government involved with the issue softly. Since the wiretapping will be overboard they'll receive some very real information on PSC misdoings, possibly even army connections. This gets them in on the action and makes sure that the shitstirring from Ros doesnt go to waste. This also completely changes one of the previous big political fears of a united civilian government defending the fascists from army overreach. Instead this would turn things into an army-civgov alliance against fascism, which is what we desperately want. Last but not least it starts letting us feed info to the civgov without exposing the fact that we're already spying on the PSC, which would invite unfortunate questions like was noted.
This does come with some downsides though. Some army unity decrease from fascist sympathizers, something we can compensate for with one of the other politics action that we desperately need to take, but more importantly this will definitely make Ricky much too problematic for the fascists. Not sure who they'll blame the most, but given our assumption that people will find out about this Ricky will definitely get their shitlist to some capacity. The gains make this worth it, however it also makes it more important to guarantee that Ricky is in no position to be ousted if the fascists manage to get into government- a perfect segway for what comes next.
Ros. As we've suspected, she's making moves. Ricky is flirting with the idea of making contact with her in order to coordinate and eventually stab her in the back, but thats not a good idea at all. Not because she's gonna run rings around department four; no, shes not that competent. The problem is that she'll understand the threat we pose immediately, and is probably gonna backstab us before we can backstab her. Dealing with Ros will require either a very light touch, or lightly touching her in the back of the head with a bullet. Informing her that a new player has entered the espionage battlefield is a terrible idea.
Other than that, its time to assemble the democratic killsquad. Its not gonna be hard, and if we need it we really dont want to have a full year lead-time.
Lots of interesting stuff. One of the things I think we desperately need to do now is reorganize department four. Its not too expensive, and importantly it will let us properly digest and learn from our two nat1 failures. Doing it at the same time as we assemble the democratic killsquad will be extra great, since a lot of the old hands can be shifted towards that stuff.
We also need to crack down on paramilitaries immediately. It will soothe over pissy army guys and prevent civil society from collapsing as fast. The internet regulation bill is needed, however from a political standpoint I think its worth holding off on that one somewhat. As things get worse and the politicians realise the need for it we shouldnt have to spend any of our political capital to push it. Ros and the PPP are opposition-maxxing with their arguments against it, I dont think that resistance will last too long. We have some other things we can be doing, like for example:
We dismissed this earlier, but I think with the extra context regarding how horrific elf internet is, the big thing here is simply having more military people using a lot less toxic social medias that are actually moderated and have mostly benign algorithms giving more positive messaging and such. In addition, we can also use this to increase our knowledge of how the average soldier feels, apart from the fascists we are already watching. This might also help to push the internet regulation bill later, if we can show some examples of how properly regulated and moderated social media things actually help societally, at a smaller scale.
Apart from that given Demonic Plant I don't care about Moon Communism anymore. We're getting put on a shitlist anyways. I actually think its lower priority to Harden Force Discipline, but I wouldnt be against it, especially since its free and we're still in the budget crunch.
Oh Ros you are so silly i will never once advocate to work with you as that only ever goes badly but i would never wish to have any other conservative in charge when you do so amusing things like dumping dissidents in a harbour with concrete shoes like a gangster from the thirties
You don't even need concrete shoes, elves have all the buoyancy of a leaden brick. Just knock them out so they don't swim back to the shore in a day or two.
"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"
Climate change isn't letting up, we're probably going to need a tougher surface fleet as the ocean conditions get rougher and important ports start to get knocked out for long periods by hypercanes.
"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"
Also...this is a guess, but the sort of skills needed to work in a surface navy full of those ships would probably map really well to the sorts of skills needed as we start expanding the space navy. We have a 40% unemployment rate, I'm sure at least some of those Elves would rather be sailing.
[X]Plan Strike The Agitators
-[X]Operation Demonic Plant
-[X]Operation Ethereal Summer
-[X]New MBT
-[X]Space Capable Buggies
-[X]Harden Force Discipline
-[X]Ban Paramilitaries
-[X]Reorganize Department Four
Current plan. Not completely sold on space buggies- I kinda want to do loitering munitions since the one 'soft science' tech we have (military doctrine lmao) is about drone warfare. Anyways Demonic Plant and Ethereal Summer are more organizational stuff that shouldnt be overly affected by Department Four reorganizing, Ban paramilitaries will make up for the unity impact and is also just necessary to slow down the collapse of civil soviety, and Harden Force Discipline should start reducing the damage elf internet does to the military and might give us some ideas for an internet bill for how to combat bots and such.
Once again, the cube opens up to us and generously provides us with knowledge. Can there be any question about how beneficial it is to us? How much its presence enriches our lives, our very being? And it asks for so very little in return.
[X]Plan Budget delays
-[X]Operation Demonic Plant
-[X]Operation Ethereal Summer
-[X]New MBT
-[X]Space Capable Buggies
-[X]Modernize Terrestrial Defense Grids
-[X]Pass an Internet Bill
-[X]Ban Paramilitaries
-[X]Reorganize Department Four
This plan goes big spender in the departement of political power which is why i supplement it with the "Terrestrial Defense Grids" as they give more political power allowing the option of going directly for the internet bill with less fear. This might delay some budget projects into the next cycle and the grids will maybe need another update but it gives the political power that is wanted to push the internet bill. The reason i want to push for it immediatly is i think it is going to be crucial in a lot of future efforts and the effect it will have on the political landscape is likely going to be earthshattering at least for radicals.
[X]Plan: Oh No, The Society!
-[X]Operation Demonic Plant
-[X]Operation Ethereal Summer
-[X]New MBT
-[X]Loitering Munitions
-[X]Money-Free Orbital Zones
-[X]Ban Paramilitaries
-[X]Reorganize Department Four
I want to poke at the Money Free Zones since Blackstar has said that they do increase the chances of us getting social techs
