First Command - Torchship Captain Quest

[open_sketch]

Vehicle Commander Smith​

Dakota "Kodi" Smith Kodi is fascinated with space travel, other cultures, and stories her mama told her about the war. She sees fighting as an unfortunate burden she is taking on to spare others. More of a cat person. Drives Investigate Everything, Pursue Truth Relentlessly, Be Merciful, Avoid Social Awkwardness Relationships Friend - Crush - Rival - Selena Green​

Montana "Monty" Smith Monty has always wanted to be an explorer, to tell his mom stories about far-away places. Though not inclined to violence, he never backs down. Loves dogs. Drives Make New Friends, Be Forward and Direct, Try New Things, Be A Show Off Relationships Friend - Crush - Rival -​

Traits
Void-Born: You never take complications from 0g or space suits, but take -2d6 to feats of strength and double complications from high gravity.
Shifting Gears: You can spend 1 Determination to switch profiles. Costs +1 Determination each time per episode.
Well-Connected: You can spend 1 Determination to create an old friend, comrade, instructor, etc on any appropriate ship, facility, station, etc you might visit. They are always willing to help if you help in turn.
Certifications
Wild Animal 5+, Physical Instrument 5+, Social Being 5+, Cosmonaut 4+
English 3+, Russian 5+, OSL 4+
Artillery Officer 4+, Drone Pilot 3+, Missile Plotter 4+, Space Marshal 4+
Diplomat +4, Leader +4, Bureaucrat +4, Social Scientist +4
Modern Small Arms 4+, Damage Control 4+
Hobbies: Animal Handling,

Star Patrol Vessel Yeager-1
Statline will be linked above when ready.

Features
Corvette Dock, Transmaterializer

Weapons
x1 Sandblaster, x2 250MW Laser, x2 Probe Bay

Crew
7/42 Crew Assigned!​

Person	Department 1	Department 2	Expertise	Other Certs & Notes	Traits
VC Smith	Tactical	Admin	Demolition	Modern Small Arms, Working With Working Animals	Spacer, Plural, Well-Connected
XO Evelyn Rosa Paz	-	Admin	-	Slugthrowers	Veteran, Cyborg
SPC Nyiko Shilubana-Bolonkin	Engineering	-	Jury-Rigging, Flashfab		Spacer
SPC Kroshtnyr Satkol	Research	-	Sensors		Augment (Mental/Medical), Heavyworlder
SPC Selena Green	Security	-	-	YOUR RIVAL	Heavyworlder
SPC Kerman Ó Caolaidhe	Astrogation		Orbits		-
SPC Ariadna Struna	Tactical		Drones		-

 

[Hestia&theCourt]

You could, and it wouldn't even use up any of their power to have them hanging out around you in the warp bubble; after all, nothing inside the bubble is actually moving. Building up a flight of drones or missiles while on approach is a solid tactic!

Your active energy screens will scramble the signal they get from you; they'll know where you are and have basic information about your heading and status, but not have detailed information about systems or crew so long as your screens are operational. You can bring the screens up to full to completely scramble anything other than There's Two Ships Here, but they'll blind you in turn. You'll also need to reduce your speed slightly to do so without draining your capacitors.

Click to shrink...

That being the case, I think our best strategy probably involves building up our resources and keeping our screens where they're at. Blinding the enemy does us no good if it blinds us too, and going out of our way to increase our resources is definitely better than just waiting for them to intercept us. Main question is, is there any reason to focus either on drones or on missiles, or do we want to build up a relatively even amount of each...? Hm. We forget, what are the tactical capabilities of the drones we can make? Firepower, armor, sensors?

If our goal is to find them we could potentially alter course at the 4 hour mark, then scan specifically along their approach vector for the periscope? Though expecting them to pick the earliest possible contact point, and a direct line…

Click to shrink...

Hm, adjusting our trajectory in an attempt to avoid or flank them is also a possibility... is there any reason why we can't do both, then? Build up resources during the hours before contact, but also try to duck their likely points of contact while doing so? Does that lead to any meaningful loss in efficiency or stealth?

 

[dragonkid11]

This could mean they can only do one pass at us, if they keep cloaking, and if they also aren't getting backup.

Might be best to launch some probes out to intercept incoming missile to keep our cargo ship from being cargo wreck

 

[Eater]

It's a bubble projected about 50 metres away from the hull.

Click to shrink...

Would a missile inside our screen be undetected at a distance, and could it move out of the screen under its own power? Or is there some part of the torpedo tube mechanism that allows the missile to leave our screens without disrupting the screen?

 

[open_sketch]

Hm. We forget, what are the tactical capabilities of the drones we can make? Firepower, armor, sensors?

Hm, adjusting our trajectory in an attempt to avoid or flank them is also a possibility... is there any reason why we can't do both, then? Build up resources during the hours before contact, but also try to duck their likely points of contact while doing so? Does that lead to any meaningful loss in efficiency or stealth?

Click to shrink...

You can make a variety of missiles (fragmentation, AP, atomic warhead, casaba howitzer, and antimatter, as well as FTL-disrupting bubble poppers) as well as drones armed with either lasers or railguns. You can also launch sensor probes to get closer looks at things. They can be either sublight or FTL equipped; right now FTL is the obvious pick.

The only cost to doing so would be a bit of speed, nothing major!

Would a missile inside our screen be undetected at a distance, and could it move out of the screen under its own power? Or is there some part of the torpedo tube mechanism that allows the missile to leave our screens without disrupting the screen?

Click to shrink...

The missiles would not be visible until they get fairly close, well within range for FTL missiles, and if you were spending power to disrupt sensors they'd be completely hidden.

 

[Hestia&theCourt]

You can also launch sensor probes to get closer looks at things. They can be either sublight or FTL equipped; right now FTL is the obvious pick.

Click to shrink...

In the considered opinion of our tactical advisors, how likely are they to notice these probes if we send them out? More info is usually good, but if it's likely to tip them off it comes at a cost that needs to be considered.

 

[Eater]

Hm, adjusting our trajectory in an attempt to avoid or flank them is also a possibility... is there any reason why we can't do both, then?

Click to shrink...

I think that's a good plan yeah. I feel like keep as if we haven't seen them until the last minute in case they decide to poke their head up on the way, then change course towards them and start building up missiles? That way, if they just jump on us as soon as possible we have the drop on them, and even if they don't then they're likely to overshoot us.

This could mean they can only do one pass at us, if they keep cloaking, and if they also aren't getting backup.

Click to shrink...

Right! So long as we can make it past them we should be able to get to the friendly system up ahead

 

[open_sketch]

In the considered opinion of our tactical advisors, how likely are they to notice these probes if we send them out? More info is usually good, but if it's likely to tip them off it comes at a cost that needs to be considered.

Click to shrink...

The moment their periscope goes out, they will see them. Stealth in space is hard; barring a few clever tricks like hiding near a star, if you don't have a cloaking device you can be seen from quite a ways away.

 

[Hestia&theCourt]

I feel like keep as if we haven't seen them until the last minute in case they decide to poke their head up on the way, then change course towards them and start building up missiles?

Click to shrink...

I'm mostly following you on this one, but I am a little confused why we're only building up missiles/drones once we change course. We were under the impression that our energy screens would hide a reasonable level of buildup. Have I missed something in my tactical analysis?

 

[Eater]

I'm mostly following you on this one, but I am a little confused why we're only building up missiles/drones once we change course. We were under the impression that our energy screens would hide a reasonable level of buildup. Have I missed something in my tactical analysis?

Click to shrink...

I was thinking that we want them to be unaware that we're on to them for as long as possible. I'm not sure how close 'fairly close' is, but if they put out the periscope an hour out from contact and can see a bunch of missiles we might not catch them off guard? I dunno, I might be overcautious and this is also planning for immediate contact, which might not be the case.

So how about this for a tentative plan?

[x] Plan gotcha
-[x] immediately begin fabricating 2 laser drones, launch them within the screens and task them to intercept enemy missiles
-[x] fabricate 1 bubble popper and an ftl probe, launching them within the screens when ready
-[x] fabricate 2 casaba howitzers
-[x] 15 minutes before earliest possible contact change course in the direction of the enemy, launch the probe along the original course
-[x] set screens to full and reduce speed slightly slower
-[x] if the probe detects the periscope use the bubble popper to disable their cloaking device

Edited to be less aggressive.

 

[dragonkid11]

Okay maybe like, not attacking them immediately as first option?

As far as this encounter has gone, the stealth ship is basically just observing us, until they actually showed their hostile intention, better not accidentslly start another fight

 

[Eater]

Okay maybe like, not attacking them immediately as first option?

As far as this encounter has gone, the stealth ship is basically just observing us, until they actually showed their hostile intention, better not accidentslly start another fight

Click to shrink...

I mean, they're almost definitely pirates. And if they aren't then they won't attack us, right?

"I agree, but-" Hyun said, then sighed. "Here's the bad news, and why I was just dealing with our Star Force counterparts. You may have heard about our piracy problem?"

"Vaguely. Aquillians, I hear?" I ventured.

"Probably funded by the Empire," Avuk added, shaking their head. "Being paid and encouraged to be very specific with their piracy. Hell, I bet all their officers are Starfleet."

"Star Force suspects the same. In any case, your starting point is going to take you through pirate territory to our last-charted system; it's just a trio of white dwarves surrounded by dust and asteroids. The locals mine it extensively and there's local defences, but their robot trains have been hit non-stop over the last few years, nevermind any passenger haulers for the work crews. Anything more valuable than ores has to go under escort."

Click to shrink...

 

[Hestia&theCourt]

-[x] 15" before earliest possible contact change course in the direction of the enemy, launch the probe along the original course

Click to shrink...

Fifteen... inches? Bit confused by your notation here.

That aside, the plan seems tactically solid to me.

Okay maybe like, not attacking them immediately as first option?

As far as this encounter has gone, the stealth ship is basically just observing us, until they actually showed their hostile intention, better not accidentslly start another fight

Click to shrink...

...yeah, you've got a point there. These guys could just be passing through. It's not likely, but they could be. Maybe only initialize hostilities if they start shooting at our drone?

 

[dragonkid11]

We have plenty of time to make decision if they do have hostile intention again us, this isn't like Gundam where radar doesn't work and you have like 3 seconds before you are dead

 

[Eater]

Fifteen... inches? Bit confused by your notation here.

Click to shrink...

Meant minutes. Apparently I've been using that wrong.

Edit: also, using a cloaking device in our vicinity is inherently hostile.

 

[Hestia&theCourt]

Edit: also, using a cloaking device in our vicinity is inherently hostile.

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Is it? I could easily see them cloaking specifically on the logic that we might be pirates and they don't want to draw our attention.

 

[Eater]

Is it? I could easily see them cloaking specifically on the logic that we might be pirates and they don't want to draw our attention.

Click to shrink...

Oh absolutely. In that case we're being overcautious and we can just disarm/deconstruct everything once we get to out destination. I can't think of a peaceful reason for coming right up to us with a cloaking device activated though, so I feel like jumping on someone who does is reasonable?

 

[beleester]

It could also be the equivalent of "Soviets send a submarine to follow an American carrier around" - not trying to kill us but trying to gather intel on our ship, our sensors, or our destination.

But regardless, I think we're still in our rights to hit them with a bubble popper and say "you've got some 'splainin to do."

(Attack actions happen last, so it doesn't really cost us anything to talk before opening fire.)

 

[Eater]

Yeah that's all fair. Even if they're pirates I was wrong to be so aggressive. Dialed the plan back

 

[CyberFemme]

They have to slow down to get sensor readings yeah? So what if we include randomly times course changes into our flight path that force them to *keep* slowing down or miss the intercept?

After all, the best thing to do is avoid the fight altogether.

Boring that, is it possible to detect their periscopes when they pop up? Or are they super chilled?

If we're intercepted, can our supply ship continue our at FTL while we provide covering fire against bubble poppers? (Via FTL missile I assume?)

If we do pre launch a drone/missile flight, do they just hang out in our FTL bubble, or do they have to expend some dV to match our randomized course corrections?

 

[samdamandias]

-[x] immediately begin fabricating 2 laser drones, launch them within the screens and task them to intercept enemy missiles

Click to shrink...

My only problem with this is that those are only useful if we fight at sublight, any FTL missile that succeeds in the merge is already within effective range for the payload and will go off before we can destroy it.

Boring that, is it possible to detect their periscopes when they pop up? Or are they super chilled?

Click to shrink...

It should be possible to detect them, but they are small and chilled so detecting them won't be easy. However, we have an idea where to look, so it certainly makes sense to try.

If we do pre launch a drone/missile flight, do they just hang out in our FTL bubble, or do they have to expend some dV to match our randomized course corrections?

Click to shrink...

To my understanding, we can only adjust course by so much while FTL, for hard turns or the space equivalent of a bootlegger turn we'd drop out of FTL, orient, burn, and then snap our bubble back up. But doing adjustments where we don't drop out of FTL is still going to increase the size of our probability cone and make any intercept harder.

 

[CyberFemme]

My only problem with this is that those are only useful if we fight at sublight, any FTL missile that succeeds in the merge is already within effective range for the payload and will go off before we can destroy it.

It should be possible to detect them, but they are small and chilled so detecting them won't be easy. However, we have an idea where to look, so it certainly makes sense to try.

To my understanding, we can only adjust course by so much while FTL, for hard turns or the space equivalent of a bootlegger turn we'd drop out of FTL, orient, burn, and then snap our bubble back up. But doing adjustments where we don't drop out of FTL is still going to increase the size of our probability cone and make any intercept harder.

Click to shrink...

So our defensive missiles also need FTL capability so they can hit enemy bubble poppers before those merge.

How long would such a handbrake turn take?

 

[Hestia&theCourt]

[X] Plan gotcha

 

[CyberFemme]

I was thinking that we want them to be unaware that we're on to them for as long as possible. I'm not sure how close 'fairly close' is, but if they put out the periscope an hour out from contact and can see a bunch of missiles we might not catch them off guard? I dunno, I might be overcautious and this is also planning for immediate contact, which might not be the case.

So how about this for a tentative plan?

[x] Plan gotcha
-[x] immediately begin fabricating 2 laser drones, launch them within the screens and task them to intercept enemy missiles
-[x] fabricate 1 bubble popper and an ftl probe, launching them within the screens when ready
-[x] fabricate 2 casaba howitzers
-[x] 15 minutes before earliest possible contact change course in the direction of the enemy, launch the probe along the original course
-[x] set screens to full and reduce speed slightly slower
-[x] if the probe detects the periscope use the bubble popper to disable their cloaking device

Edited to be less aggressive.

Click to shrink...

I like this, but we also need to account for our supply ship.
Could you add fabbing up two defensive bubble poppers and have them hand out in the supply ship's FTL bubble, tasked with intercepting enemy bubble poppers trying to knock them out of warp? That way the supply ship can keep retreating while we fight and we don't have to worry about protecting them.

Also, we can't pinpoint the vector the enemy will come along, so we actually want to make several rapid randomized turns to extend the time they spend under cloak chasing us down.

Finally, can I convince you to switch from Cassabas to a combination of flak and laser? I haven't run the math, but maybe @open_sketch can answer this: based on what we know about this type of ship, how many flak warheads would we need to shred their radiators?

The way I see it, cloaking means they have to rely on internal heat sinks, and if we extend the time they have to spend under cloak with random walks, they're likley to be nearly at capacity by the time they intercept us. A volley of flak that shreds their radiators will then leave them unable to engage in high intensity combat, and leaves them open to disabling by a flight of laser drones that mobility kill them.

 

[Talkos]

I like @CyberFemme 's modifications to the evasive maneuvers.

If we were purely exploration command, simply evading them would be ideal. But since we are Star Patrol and if I recall, have a mission to clear out any issues so that further ships aren't in danger, we definitely should deal with this cloaked vessel threatening the space lanes.

And even though they are threatening in their apparent actions, I'm more inclined to go for the mission kill/disable as opposed to termination with extreme prejudice. The former seems more aligned with our values at least.

 

[CyberFemme]

Mission kill also lots us beam paratroopers aboard to get into their computers so we can get an inside scoop on local piracy.