It's not the best ship that wins the contract, it's the cheapest among "good enough" ones. This goes doubly for the second- and third- rate powers we are going to supply. And that goes triple for emergency re-armament programs, like the one which is kinda happening now.
Weapon systems are a different mindset than rations. The real lowest bidder types are going to go after refurbished freighters with extra guns bolted on. We don't want to compete with used. Systems that can afford good ships can afford service contracts, space part inventories, and other post sale services.
[X] Let's improve …
-[X] the maneuverability! (1 Advantage for 1 Maneuverability)
-[X] the price! (1 Advantage for 1 Cost
If it's fast As think it Is it should be a nice little commerce raider on top of being a general menace to Mid weight but less maneuverable ships
Get up right behind the engines and just Pour the fire on
edit: Or perhaps just plaster It in flak guns and have it hunt down bombers
-[X] the maneuverability! (1 Advantage for 1 Maneuverability)
-[X] the price! (1 Advantage for 1 Cost
If it's fast As think it Is it should be a nice little commerce raider on top of being a general menace to Mid weight but less maneuverable ships
Get up right behind the engines and just Pour the fire on
edit: Or perhaps just plaster It in flak guns and have it hunt down bombers
my thinking is that (assuming we use the MCRN Corvette class as the starting point for weapon layout) we have 8 to 10 weapon mounts on the ship with at least with 50 to 60% of them dedicated to anti-fighter weapons and the remaining 4 mounts used for either multi-role turrets, torpedo/missile bays or utility (tractor beams and such).
>>A good point, but I still think that speed should be our priority with the engines. Naboo's battle has shown that fast and light units are capable of taking out slower, more heavily armed and armored ships. Most of the PDF's will judge our ships by that one engagement. If we give them what they expect, they will buy these ships faster than we can deliver them.<<
Shen looked critically at his colleague. "Yes, it might give us higher sales at the start, but in the long run, the customers will complain over the lack of speed if they start slapping weapons on the frames. When they realize that our ship can't hold that speed, they won't be too happy about it."
Based upon what our engineers were saying, it's not a bad idea from a contract perspective to make our Engines powerful. But, also have the ability to maintain that edge when they start putting weapons and other things on it.
[X] Uber Manuverability
-[X] the speed! (1 Advantage for 1 Speed)
-[X] the maneuverability! (1 Advantage for 1 Maneuverability) X2
[X] Let's improve …
-[X] the speed! (1 Advantage for 1 Speed)
-[X] the maneuverability! (1 Advantage for 1 Maneuverability)
-[X] the price! (1 Advantage for 1 Cost)
[X] Let's improve …
-[X] the speed! (1 Advantage for 1 Speed)
-[X] the maneuverability! (1 Advantage for 1 Maneuverability)
-[X] the price! (1 Advantage for 1 Cost)
Just a stab in the dark here but I think it's about how much this story follows Canon or not.
Having said that, how close to Canon are we keeping this?
Just a stab in the dark here but I think it's about how much this story follows Canon or not.
Having said that, how close to Canon are we keeping this?
Not quite, though we shook it up, since our vote meant that instead of a vote of no confidence, the queen recruited a pirate band to deal with the blockade and invasion.
Wait the no confidence vote didn't go through? Then... why did Shiv get elected to replace the ousted Chancellor? Out of three candidates? I thought that the result of telling the canon rails to take a hike was what resulted in her hiring pirates to retake her planet instead of doing it herself with a Jedi, his padawan come Knight (newly minted and fresh off the presses) along with a potential initiate. Not not achieving anything in the senate.
Wait the no confidence vote didn't go through? Then... why did Shiv get elected to replace the ousted Chancellor? Out of three candidates? I thought that the result of telling the canon rails to take a hike was what resulted in her hiring pirates to retake her planet instead of doing it herself with a Jedi, his padawan come Knight (newly minted and fresh off the presses) along with a potential initiate.
Not sure, but this timeline I think she did not initiate that, instead she built up a rapport with a decent pirate and he decided to help her. At least that is what I suspect happened.
This is Palpatine we're talking about. Every plan and gambit he's made, every outcome works to his benefit in some way if people aren't directly and consciously working against him.
Ah, no here we go. The vote of no confidence did go through, and Shiv still had to win the popular vote to replace the ousted Chancellor. So, yes our vote, from the options listed below, was what created the pirates instead of the canon ending of Phantom Menace.
"Besides the fresh feeling this young queen gives with her passionate speech?" your father asked, and you nodded. "Well, she just ended Valorum's career as Chancellor with an underhand move I, and everybody else hadn't expected. A vote-of-no-confidence hasn't happened in a long time. They are still counting the votes, but Valorum doesn't have many friends in the Outer Rim or Mid Rim. Let alone that any opportunist will do what they can to gain a grain of power. Our dear chancellor is history, he just hasn't realized it."
Stunned, you watched in silence as yet another recording of the whole deal was played. That the Senate was slow to respond to almost everything was known. That someone who was a victim of this spoke out and even removed the head of the whole Republic? Well, that was a radical move, to say the least. Indeed, it was so revolutionary that it almost wasn't possible to think about. In your head, more and more complications that would come about from such a move plopped up. This was either the most brilliant political move you had ever heard of, or the most suicidal.
*snip*
[ ] that he is right. (We will see a divergence from the canon plot)
[ ] that he is wrong. (We will follow the canon plot)
[ ] that this isn't sure. (We will mostly follow the canon plot but OC elements will play a significant role)
If a 1 had been rolled when the question of the chancellor was on the table, somebody else would've become chancellor. As it now stands, Amidala came to Coruscant. Took a look, realized that the senate wouldn't help her, and left. She was then contacted by the resistance who had connections to some pirates (Star Wars: Starfighter). She allowed said pirate to use the remaining funds to hire mercs and pirate. With that fleet, she attacked and destroyed the control ship. At the same time down on Naboo, Gungans and the resistance retook Theed.
If a 1 had been rolled when the question of the chancellor was on the table, somebody else would've become chancellor. As it now stands, Amidala came to Coruscant. Took a look, realized that the senate wouldn't help her, and left. She was then contacted by the resistance who had connections to some pirates (Star Wars: Starfighter). She allowed said pirate to use the remaining funds to hire mercs and pirate. With that fleet, she attacked and destroyed the control ship. At the same time down on Naboo, Gungans and the resistance retook Theed.
"That's it, gentlebeings. With the modifications we made to our initial engine design, we could actually lower the price and yet make the ship more maneuverable. Thanks to the secondary thrusters near the bow and the sides, she will move like a fish in the water, a large and slow fish perhaps, but better than other corvettes." You finished your presentation and turned the holoprojector off. Your audience was an interesting mix, to say the least. Minister Panaka was there, of course, right next to your father. Then there was Admiral Nym, the former pirate looked as if he was in love with your design. You could tell that he was already thinking about how he wanted to arm these corvettes. Maybe even what he could have done with such a ship under his command when he was still a pirate.
"You said that only the frame and engine are finalized. Why not the rest, why not give us a corvette properly built?" The question came from one of the other attendees at this meeting. It was a calm voice, almost flat in its tone. You looked at the questioner and tried to remember his name. The uniform helped.
"Well, Colonel Tarkin, we did so to allow different fleets to order ships that would suit them best. Naboo has other needs than Temaris or Outland Regions Security Force. One might need a patrol cutter, another a corvette ready to hunt down pirates and slavers. We plan to bring out some standard builds we think will suit most customers, but we also wish to retain this modularity in the building process. Standard configurations meet most customers' demands, but sometimes special situations need to be incorporated into a design."
"A good approach, it will surely gain you some customers who don't usually buy from the bigger corporations," Tarkin replied before his gaze wandered over to your father. "A commendable effort on your and your company's part, Mr. Frox. Especially the cost-saving nature will allow many poorer worlds to finally gain some means of defense."
"I gather that we will have your support, Colonel Tarkin?"
"More than that." The colonel gave your father a small smile that seemed to be utterly foreign to his facial muscles. He made a short pause to make a note on his datapad. "You will have a commission for three full squadrons. My staff will send you the specifications we want later."
All in all, the meeting was a success, and your family's company was benefitting much from it. Especially the orders from the Outland Regions Security Force and the Royal Naboo Fleet, which had kickstarted it all, bringing much prestige to the company. The ORSF had suffered a few setbacks in the last years that had made sure the Core didn't look too favorable to it or even made jokes about it. But in the Outer Rim, they were the best defense many smaller worlds had against pirates and other scum. Many of these worlds were only too happy to hear that there was a low budget alternative to the big-name companies. Even if most of them waited for the first battle reports before ordering, it was clear many of these smaller worlds were just waiting and gathering the needed credits. The RNF was also a significant boost to the company's reputation. Many saw them as THE expert for small ship warfare. For them, ordering a squadron of new light ships from an unknown company said much about the company in question.
This was a massive boost to your team as a small hype exploded from local shipbuilding holozines and other publications. The name Vulkan Shipyards was suddenly everywhere to be found in the Mid and Outer Rim. Your team was happy about this development as they saw it, rightfully, as a testament to the hard effort they had invested. This led to a small and spontaneous party in one of the cafeterias. It was a great evening you all enjoyed, mostly when Pinagg was so drunk, he started to fly in circles because he couldn't fly straight ahead anymore – as he sang the Genosian anthem.
Lost 2 Stress!
It was good that your team could let out some of the stress that had built up shortly before the engines were finished. Sith-spit, you had needed that release too! Three days after the party, the ORSF sent their requirements for the corvettes. The ORSF seemed to want a conservative build for their three squadrons.
Must be armed with at least 4 light laser cannons and 2 heavy laser cannons
[*]Double barrels are preferred; quads for the light once
[*]Needs strong Shields (Normal or Large)
[*]Cost shouldn't be over 25 but must stay below 30
>>Well, Shen, it seems you won't get to put your railgun into this corvette for the moment. At least not with this budget at our hand.<< Pinagg snickered as he sat on his unique chair that had finally arrived. He slowly stroked his face. >>But maybe a nice pair of launchers for rockets or torpedos? To add a bit of additional firepower that can be used universally in policing and military action?<<
"Not bad, but a rail gun or a heavy turbolaser would also be a good option. We three know that the ORSF is mostly used in a military role rather than a police role. I'm sure the captains would welcome a bit more power behind their punches." Shen was grinning at his idea, and you were beginning to think that the young Duros had a bit too much fascination for heavy weapons.
>>More punch and overkill are two different things. With two heavy laser cannons, the corvette will be armed well enough for most pirate bands. Add some launchers, and you give it the needed extra firepower in an emergency situation. There is no need to put two heavy weapons into the ship as it stands. Besides, don't forget that the ORSF is a large organization. A small navy would maybe be happy to have such a corvette in its ranks that can punch so far above its weight class. But large organizations most often want standard builds because they need to add the ships into their existing doctrines.<<
Shen made a dismissive hand gesture before he spoke. "Doctrine can be changed, and more firepower has never hurt anybody. I think a heavy turbolaser or a rail gun would add nicely to the weapons the ORSF wants."
"Aren't you getting a bit ahead of the project? The corvette doesn't even have a bridge yet, and you two are already bickering over the weapons layout. So, let's concentrate on that first, and then we take a look at the possible weapons we put into the corvette. So, what do you two think about our options? Pinagg?"
>>A classical approach should be good enough. I think CEC has two designs that are sold as universal kits. Excellent and reliable models, the ORSF will like them. Mostly because they are effortless to take care of.<<
"Bah, Pinagg, where is your mind for adventure! We have come up with the frame and the engine ourselves! Why stop now? Let us design our own bridge and let us continue to make this corvette a hundred percent Vulkan." Shen was grinning as he spoke. His enthusiasm for his idea was more than apparent. And you could understand it, you can appreciate his ambitions as it was your own. It would be fantastic to come up with a ship completely designed by your family company. But was this project the right time for such an endeavor, or should you still wait and gain more experience?
