But we in control of Star League civilian departments. With forgery and bribes we can seize property to "pay off the debt". And then take out everything we need. And all this without the involvement of fleet...
Hm... this will open a window of opportunity, shifting their focus a little. Our operations in their space should become somewhat easier. At least this will buy expeditions some time.
[] Hidden on the Federated Suns regional capital of Robinson is a small SLIC base and supply cache, serving as a backup hub for all intelligence operations in the Federated Suns and with a copy of all recorded technological advancements by the power. If the site is captured, it would cause a bloodpath as SLIC assets are purged from the Federated Suns, and the technologies would be lost. But as a regional capital near the Draconis Combine, no less than a dozen warships protect the planet and it would require a substantial force to break through.
Btw why SLIC can't exfiltrate on their own? There must be significant civilian traffic there. They can transfer all the assets and then destroy facility? What fleet is supposed to achieve here anyway?
But we in control of Star League civilian departments. With forgery and bribes we can seize property to "pay off the debt". And then take out everything we need. And all this without the involvement of fleet...
The Capellan Confederation is a Sovietish nightmare state with limited economic activity at the best of times, and this is not the best of times. Pretty much any movement of money sticks out like a sore thumb to their intelligence agencies.
Correct. Though sadly it's only effective with fission weapons as they require radioactive materials while pure fusion weapons bypass them until it's too late.
Btw why SLIC can't exfiltrate on their own? There must be significant civilian traffic there. They can transfer all the assets and then destroy facility? What fleet is supposed to achieve here anyway?
SLIC is very effective but was still hit hard by the Amaris Coup. The site is a relatively small and unmanned location without much traffic. While SLIC has been running around the Inner Sphere putting out constant fires from funding collapse and Great House counter-intelligence causing a wave of turncoats and feeding agents lead, local agents are tied up elsewhere.
Technically you could tell them to just wait things out and get to it when they get to it, but that would risk the Federated Suns making a move if they find something out in the interim.
As for what Warships would do, that's up to you. The TEC can send everything or nothing. If you want to sneak in a single jumpship and dropship for a covert operation, that's fine. If you want to send a single Warship on official Star League agency business, but orbitally bombard the site and leave, causing an international incident, that's also fine. If you want to send a whole fleet, cause a standoff, then have a pre-positioned infiltration team move on the site to get everything out, and hope to leave before major combat, that's also fine.
[X] Plan: Riders on the Storm
-[X] SubPlan: Is it shortest path problem?
-[X] SubPlan: Tempest in a teapot
-[X] SubPlan: Kearny's Bell
-[X] SubPlan: Turmoil
[] SubPlan: Is it shortest path problem?
-[] Dispatch several task forces built around M-11.
--[] They must plot their route according to a priority list, but may act opportunistic if deemed necessary.
-[] Dispatch several smaller mobile task forces or individual ships.
--[] They will be used to optimize the M-11 route
---[] They will leave assets they have collected along the route of the larger task force.
---[] Or they will rush to a remote locations and will operate there.
----[] Depending on situation, they must either establish a forward operating base (and transport assets there) or swing between points of interest, waiting for the M-11.
-[] Use Black Boxes and relay ships (JumpShip + black box) for coordination.
-[] Use suitable JumpShips to reduce number of WarShips sent on the expedition or to increase load capacity of task force.
[] SubPlan: Tempest in a teapot
-[] Sell or leak information about the WMD storage facility to all parties interested.
-[] If possible, secretly visit facility in advance.
--[] Try to access storage.
---[] If successful, rearm the defense systems using stored weapons and take as many samples and nuclear weapons as the small expedition can carry.
---[] If this fails, try to lock the AI into "non-cooperative mode".
-[] Enjoy.
[] SubPlan: Kearny's Bell
-[] Prioritize station and drone deployment in systems of strategic importance, with particular attention to ship, AI and electronics production capacity.
-[] Gather a significant portion of your forces into Internal Quick-Reaction Fleets (IQRF).
--[] Prioritize fleets facing FWL, FedSuns and Draconis.
-[] Distribute remaining ships wisely between joint border systems and strategic locations.
-[] Early Warning System
--[] Deploy a network of early warning stealth satellites equipped with Black Boxes, neutrino detectors and other passive sensors.
--[] Use boxes to coordinate and alert ships while they are off HPG network.
--[] Use boxes sparingly and only in emergency situations to prevent "contamination" of hyperspace.
[] SubPlan: Turmoil
-[] Dispatch part of Draconis IQRF to Halstead Station to scare of DC fleet.
--[] Temporarily strengthen this direction by drawing forces away from other IQRFs.
-[] Reveal location of undercover chemical weapons production facility to CC in order to strengthen ties and goodwill that already exists between two states.
--[] Extract flora samples and data in advance. And get rid of any traces that could shed light on the production technology of this chemical.
-[] Use SLIC assets and special operations forces to infiltrate Hesperus research facility and copy/destroy data.
--[] Leak information to FWL and use them as cover for this operation if necessary.
-[] Send a JumpShip with several DropShips for a covert operation on Robinson.
--[] At the very least, all data should be purged. Copying of intelligence data and seizure of materials is permitted only if there is no threat of compromising facility.
Very high priority:
-[] The Long Baseline Radio Interferometry Array is a series of telescope stations put across the Inner Sphere in remote locations decades ago and linked with HPGs to gain an unprecedented view of the stars by sharing data. The project failed since HPGs weren't as useful as hoped, but they've been maintained by a Hegemony astronomical society regardless. In reality, they're a front for spying, and have sprung a leak after the Amaris Coup. Great Houses and the Periphery will be tearing the stations apart as soon as that news is spread, and DeChevilier doesn't have the forces to do anything about it. He would like as many stations as possible to be grabbed intact by M-11 Yardships, or if they can't be spared, at least have their valuable HPGs recovered before scuttling.
High priority:
-[] An automated ground vehicle project in the Taurian Concordat, from files found at Interstellar Business Computers
-[] Drone Germanium mining ships and space habitats operating them from a distance behind thick solar shades in the Magistracy of Canopus
-[] An automated and unmanned terraforming experiment in the Deep Periphery
-[] A hidden SLDF research outpost in Draconis Combine space
-[] A ship maintenance yard and supply depot in an empty Outworlds Alliance system
Medium priority:
-[] A terraforming and construction mission on a sparsely-inhabited frozen Taurian Concordat world
-[] A pair of incomplete moon Terraforming efforts in a single Federated Suns system
-[] A weather-control project damaged at the start of the Periphery Uprising a few years ago and with little population in the Magistracy of Canopus
-[] The hub of terraforming efforts for the newly colonized and poorly developed outer half of the Outworlds Alliance
-[] A small mining research outpost in the unclaimed Periphery
-[] The small Rim Worlds Republic world of Rosetta has been spared by DeChavilier from bombardment. Not out of mercy, but because there is an old Star League cache of top-secret Headhunter missiles buried under local volcanic activity. The Headhunter missile project has long since faded into obscurity, and DeChavilier doesn't care to waste time digging them up, but if the TEC is interested, the option is open.
Low priority:
-[] A combined long-distance outpost and atmospheric regeneration terraforming experiment in the Deep Periphery
-[] A space station running agricultural experiments in barely-inhabited Outworlds Alliance space
-[] A long-term observation and research colony in the Deep Periphery
-[] Two terraforming and research projects marked as destroyed by unknown pirate attacks in the Deep Periphery
-[] A waste dump and Chemical Weapons facility in the Deep Periphery that scouts failed to report back from
Go big or go home! We are sending out a large fleet to hunt for assets. I think we have a good chance of getting the vast majority of them.
At the same time, we do not leave TEC unprotected. And the Great Houses will be preoccupied with each other for now... I hope.
I didn't want to take any aggressive actions against CC and LC. I would like to see them as allies. Well... to the extent possible in BT.
But I'm not sure about the Black Boxes. Kearny is an expert in the field and TEC should have the technology... So I wrote it in.
P.S. Do TEC have special operations forces?
I didn't want to take any aggressive actions against CC and LC. I would like to see them as allies. Well... to the extent possible in BT.
But I'm not sure about the Black Boxes. Kearny is an expert in the field and TEC should have the technology... So I wrote it in.
P.S. Do TEC have special operations forces?
The specific chemical weapons made on that planet will be easily reverse engineered once the CC gets the site and analyzes the finished product, since it's a unique compound made from local plants.
Black Boxes barely exist at the moment, but they are known in the KF physics field, so you can rig them up for these special operations. SLIC has a few to share too. They aren't instant like HPGs though, so you can't really micromanage with them, only time things to line up or communicate from a system's edge.
Neutrino detectors meanwhile exist, but cost a lot. They're something you'd put on specialized warships. Though in that case you're in luck, because several Bug-Eye Spy Ships are kept in reserve in the SLDF's secret base near Terra, so if you ask the SLDF they won't say no to going on a mission with your forces.
You have retired SLDF and new recruits. Carver V's marine base survived Amaris' bombardment of the rest of the planet on the way out thanks to their own defenses, so they're a particularly good source of trainers and manpower.
As for your plans, I get you don't want to micro, but would appreciate at least a rough number of ships you want to send out. Like 'X hundred on home defense, Y on missions'. Also a distinction if you want to make one on manned ships vs AI.
s for your plans, I get you don't want to micro, but would appreciate at least a rough number of ships you want to send out. Like 'X hundred on home defense, Y on missions'. Also a distinction if you want to make one on manned ships vs AI.
I would be happy to give you a figure, but we don't even know exactly how many points we'll have to visit to collect all Interferometry Arrays. Or the approximate mass of all assets that we want to secure. The main problem is the M-11. Given the lack of information, it is difficult to say how many of them we should dispatch.
Overall, this will be a gamble rather than a rational decision...
But if this is the idea, then I can easily list ships.
Neutrino detectors meanwhile exist, but cost a lot. They're something you'd put on specialized warships. Though in that case you're in luck, because several Bug-Eye Spy Ships are kept in reserve in the SLDF's secret base near Terra, so if you ask the SLDF they won't say no to going on a mission with your forces.
I would be happy to give you a figure, but we don't even know exactly how many points we'll have to visit to collect all Interferometry Arrays. Or the approximate mass of all assets that we want to secure. The main problem is the M-11. Given the lack of information, it is difficult to say how many of them we should dispatch.
They're dispersed all over in uninhabited systems, but aren't really a secret. In practical terms, there's only time for a single trip before the information goes public and everyone races to take apart the stations with just cause. So really you're limited to however many M-11s you send on the mission.
I think I overdid it a bit... But we would like to get maximum result from presented opportunity and not lose such important ships as M-11 in the process.
M-11 Yardship x 3
M-6 Drone
M-5 Caspar x 40
M-5i Caspar x 40 (manned)
Carrack Military Transport x 8
Potemkin Troop Cruiser
Sovetskii Soyuz Heavy Cruiser
This, of course, does not include JumpShips and DropShips.
Then let one be assigned to each M-11 task force. The rest will monitor the movement of fleets near border. It is especially important to keep an eye on DC border given contents of the plan.
And 200 kilobytes is respectable. Using clever coding, all the necessary data can be transmitted. Considering ships recharge time and light lag, this should work. And it's usable for tracking routes and supply lines... Still hot-loading and lithium fusion battery will give chance to bypass it.
The real problem is network coverage...
I think I overdid it a bit... But we would like to get maximum result from presented opportunity and not lose such important ships as M-11 in the process.
M-11 Yardship x 3
M-6 Drone
M-5 Caspar x 40
M-5i Caspar x 40 (manned)
Carrack Military Transport x 8
Potemkin Troop Cruiser
Sovetskii Soyuz Heavy Cruiser
Yeah I'm pretty much not counting those at the moment because they're plentiful. Only the M-3s get counted for this phase for being vastly rarer assault dropships, and then the upcoming Behemoth Pocket Warships will get counted.
Outside of something weird happening, Jumpships and DropShips shouldn't be an issue right now.
[] SubPlan: Is it shortest path problem?
-[] Dispatch several task forces built around M-11.
--[] They must plot their route according to a priority list, but may act opportunistic if deemed necessary.
-[] Dispatch several smaller mobile task forces or individual ships.
--[] They will be used to optimize the M-11 route
---[] They will leave assets they have collected along the route of the larger task force.
---[] Or they will rush to a remote locations and will operate there.
----[] Depending on situation, they must either establish a forward operating base (and transport assets there) or swing between points of interest, waiting for the M-11.
-[] Use Black Boxes and relay ships (JumpShip + black box) for coordination.
-[] Use suitable JumpShips to reduce number of WarShips sent on the expedition or to increase load capacity of task force.
So, since collecting of stations has the highest priority, M-11 should focus on that, but if they flyby near other assets, then they must act on it too (other task forces will also recover HPGs and will act in same vein).
Given that SLIC knows the location of all the assets and has a rough idea of their mass, this allows them to plot a fairly optimized route that won't take too long to complete.
Okay, add the following into the mix to strengthen weaker task forces and provide some anti-ASF cover.
M-3 Drone Sloop x 60
M-10 Drone Carrier x 10
Flipped through Interstellar Operations. Got even more confused. But all these unmanned drones can be connected into a network regardless of how they are divided between task forces?
So, since collecting of stations has the highest priority, M-11 should focus on that, but if they flyby near other assets, then they must act on it too (other task forces will also recover HPGs and will act in same vein).
Given that SLIC knows the location of all the assets and has a rough idea of their mass, this allows them to plot a fairly optimized route that won't take too long to complete.
Flipped through Interstellar Operations. Got even more confused. But all these unmanned drones can be connected into a network regardless of how they are divided between task forces?
No, you do need ATACs to run the networks. But since I forgot to list the M-5C which has an ATAC, I'll just add those to the fleets real quick. There are also the smaller Howdah dropships which are pretty much ATACs for fighter squadrons.
Come to think of it, the M-11s and M-6 will also have an ATAC.
From 7 up to 15 task forces I guess? Three are relatively large. The rest are smaller but capable of holding on their own. Given that they have black boxes and are able to coordinate their actions (albeit to a small extent), they can join and split up depending on the circumstances...
From 7 up to 15 task forces I guess? Three are relatively large. The rest are smaller but capable of holding on their own. Given that they have black boxes and are able to coordinate their actions (albeit to a small extent), they can join and split up depending on the circumstances...
Alright, sounds good then. Last thing to note is that the Carracks suck in direct combat, and the Potemkin and Sovetskii are slow so they'll lag behind in fleet battles. As long as they're on transport missions they're good though.
Neutrino detectors meanwhile exist, but cost a lot. They're something you'd put on specialized warships. Though in that case you're in luck, because several Bug-Eye Spy Ships are kept in reserve in the SLDF's secret base near Terra, so if you ask the SLDF they won't say no to going on a mission with your forces.
Then let one be assigned to each M-11 task force. The rest will monitor the movement of fleets near border. It is especially important to keep an eye on DC border given contents of the plan.
My bad, Neutrino detectors are actually big and only fit on ~Heavy Cruisers and up. So the BugEyes only have other advanced sensors, DeChevilier would be using the Neutrino Detectors. Let's say the Neutrino detectors weight 100 kilotons or so.
My bad, Neutrino detectors are actually big and only fit on Heavy Cruisers and up. So the BugEyes only have other advanced sensors, DeChevilier would be using the Neutrino Detectors.
It just seems to me that we allocated too few M-5s for the expedition. It would probably be worth adding more... Maybe another 40? What are SLIC's overall assessments of the mission's chances of success?
And Elysium! We completely forgot about them. A few JumpShips with a couple of M-5i should do the job.
The assessment is that they can't give an accurate assessment. Most of the objectives you're headed to blind, and the ones you aren't are still volatile. Maybe they could have given more information if they knew what every site was, but if SLIC had that data on hand then it's probably locked up on Terra. The Amaris Coup means that the left hand doesn't know what the right was doing, so the current SLIC doesn't know about the previous top-secret projects anymore.
[X] Plan: Riders on the Storm
-[X] SubPlan: Is it shortest path problem?
-[X] SubPlan: Tempest in a teapot
-[X] SubPlan: Kearny's Bell
-[X] SubPlan: Turmoil
[X] Plan: Riders on the Storm
-[X] SubPlan: Is it shortest path problem?
-[X] SubPlan: Tempest in a teapot
-[X] SubPlan: Kearny's Bell
-[X] SubPlan: Turmoil
[X] Plan: Riders on the Storm
-[X] SubPlan: Is it shortest path problem?
-[X] SubPlan: Tempest in a teapot
-[X] SubPlan: Kearny's Bell
-[X] SubPlan: Turmoil
[X] Plan: Riders on the Storm
-[X] SubPlan: Is it shortest path problem?
-[X] SubPlan: Tempest in a teapot
-[X] SubPlan: Kearny's Bell
-[X] SubPlan: Turmoil
I was thinking... Ships like M-11 and upcoming Superhauler have huge bays... Why not to build ship in the size of a WarShip but without K-F drive and sail? Considering that our plan is supposedly a strategic defense, they would be very useful. How many of these "monitors" can we build for the price of one WarShip of the same tonnage? Same BV? Or would a stationary space station be a better option?
And what is the policy regarding custom 'Mech designs? Will there be any restrictions? I just looked through the list of strategic assets and even with the set of mechs that we have on hand we can abuse rules. Let's take Excalibur as an example. It weighs 70 tons. The same weight as Grasshopper, Thug and Warhammer. What's stopping players from taking powerful stat sheet of the listed mechs and building Excalibur variants with those specifications?
I was thinking... Ships like M-11 and upcoming Superhauler have huge bays... Why not to build ship in the size of a WarShip but without K-F drive and sail? Considering that our plan is supposedly a strategic defense, they would be very useful. How many of these "monitors" can we build for the price of one WarShip of the same tonnage? Same BV? Or would a stationary space station be a better option?
And what is the policy regarding custom 'Mech designs? Will there be any restrictions? I just looked through the list of strategic assets and even with the set of mechs that we have on hand we can abuse rules. Let's take Excalibur as an example. It weighs 70 tons. The same weight as Grasshopper, Thug and Warhammer. What's stopping players from taking powerful stat sheet of the listed mechs and building Excalibur variants with those specifications?
Monitors have the fundamental issue of tactical FTL use.
If they go to meet an incoming fleet at say, Mars, but then the enemy jumps to Luna, then they are left completely out of position. And that's the best case. Any attempt to defend Jupiter or Saturn or whatever is pointless because the entire area can be jumped around.
Monitors are basically just incredibly expensive ASF because of the effective range restriction.
Custom designs are encouraged, yes. And you very much can copy peer designs. Though in such a close copy I'd probably give them some unique quirks or whatever, or maybe make a small tweak to adjust for specific limitations or specialities.
