The Clans of Earth (Battletech/Mechwarrior X Mass Effect)
- Thread starter Kadaeux
- Start date
- Crossover
- Location
- Queensland, Australia
Best guess would probably be that armoured divisions ran into all the issues of urban combat when the opposition has similarly potent armoured units that are a lot better at urban combat. By that I mean battlemechs which between allowing melee combat (which is distinctly noted as being extraordinarily effective against vehicles), jump jets for limited flight and being able to pull a lot of the tricks infantry can do such as pointing an arm mounted weapon around the corner and shooting accurately...
When you then remember that the SLDF had severe issues getting new soldiers and that combat vehicles use multiple soldiers as crew compared to mechs using only one, I wouldn't be shocked if a lot of (surviving) armoured units ended up getting cross-trained to mechwarriors and swapped over to salvaged or repaired machines. Possibly with a side element of armoured units getting spread out as supporting elements in other units or assigned to various garrisons across the Inner Sphere in penny-packets which don't show up as 'Armoured Unit' on the roster and suddenly things make... tolerable stupidity?
Look: it's the Battletech Setting so anything that doesn't involve Battlemechs is always going to have something really, really dumb involved to ensure that Battlemechs are the 'superior' option rather than just being equal-in-most-situations-and-sometimes-better choice. In other words, the people writing up that roster probably forgot to designate where all the combat vehicles that should exist were. Such as in the mechanised infantry divisions and the like. After you know, forgetting that there should be actual Armoured Divisions until someone noticed and crammed one in there as a 'good enough' last-day-before-print emergency measure.
Hopefully the sldf MERGE tech as opposed to replacing. Because getting rid of all of humanities advancements for that is basically handed to em has never set right me. From everything i could find from canon thats practically what ME humanity did. Them and just about everybody else to be honest. Replaced their particular tech trees with the eezo tree.
Luckilly this is also a force that hasnt lost their tech base like the sphere did during the succession wars. So they have folks that understand first principles and can apply that to eezo tech. Could make for some fun eezo+sldf tech modifications.
Tentative watch for now. Looking forward to more of this
Luckilly this is also a force that hasnt lost their tech base like the sphere did during the succession wars. So they have folks that understand first principles and can apply that to eezo tech. Could make for some fun eezo+sldf tech modifications.
Tentative watch for now. Looking forward to more of this
Arimai
Curmudgeon
I hope you succeed because Nicholas was a brain dead lunatic who only succeeded due to Fiat. The clans as designed in canon are nowhere near the manpower,Pfft. As a Clanner if I wanted that i'd have just force-subbed the Inner Sphere across(Special note: I ***nearly did this.***)
In any case (as will be seen) there will be a fair number of changes to the Clans reflecting the changed situation. (Zellbrigen for example will only apply to ritual trials in simulated combat. And expressly not actually apply to warmaking. And so while 'honourable' combat will still be important to the Clans, they're not going to go murderhobo on each other etc. Since they're all preparing for an external threat.
Other changes will be dismissing the 'stealth is bad' stuff.The Elemental Star Commander Shepard of Clan (either Wolf or Wolverine) must happen after all.
technology or firepower to challenge the Elcor much less the larger states.
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Yeah they're definitely not giving up their tech and will be merging. Indeed, WarShips with both a Compact Jump Drive, Lithium Fusion Battery *and* an Eezo based ftl drive would have tremendous range/speed advantages over others. Perhaps on par or better than the Reapers even.
(ME computing technology though is definitely replacing the 80s style Battletech computing.)
Specially if they can use eezo cores to recharge their jumpdrives while still making progress towards a destination plus i can see them making use of the kinetic barriers and then because it usually follows that weaponry breeds defense innovation they would make true shields and not just kinetic barriers. Kinetic barriers would be nothibg against lasers for example so of course the sldf would upgrade them to be proper energy shields. Which would lead to all kinds of potential advances. Brainstorming this if honestly fun lol
- Location
- Queensland, Australia
Pretty sure this is actually going to be another merge rather than replace. Because I believe Battletech computing is the same photonic crystalline computers Mass Effect computing is supposed to be with the references to using Eezo to accelerate light on them. It's just Battletech computers are built bulky and rock solid so they just do not break and age related deterioration is also negated.
The true killer for Battletech computing however being that they never managed to crack miniaturisation of all the internal components of said photonic crystalline (aka shining lasers through holographic crystal and the like, which is one of the 'next leap' techs we're currently investigating) so they are even more bulky. Don't have to worry about heat issues at least considering that's somewhere Battletech has limited mastery regarding internal components. Well, there's also the fact Battletech coding is probably still 'Computing of the 80s' instead of having picked up all the tips and tricks modern code has, whilst they probably also haven't skipped on the size bloat as memory increases as much as they should have...
In general: Battletech computing is actually good (for a century or two of advancement over the 80s). It just specced everything into durability, reliability and endurance. With not even a thought towards power, miniturisation or networking (beyond making sure their mainframe set up works well). Guess where IRL's improvements saw revolutions worth of improvement rather than mere iterative benefits?
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Chapter 3; The Threads of the Future
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Chapter 3;
The Threads of the Future
Sphere of Terra
2884
"It is my distinct pleasure esteemed colleagues of the Collegiate of Terra to be here presenting this class on the eve of our first century in the new universe in which we have found ourselves." The media program began as the current ilKhan of the Clans Martial stood in front of the cameras at the Founding Ceremony on Terra. "One hundred years ago, the catastrophic misjump of the Fuckening occurred that displaced the Star League in Exile into the universe we now know as home. One hundred years ago they began an attempt to resettle the Inner Sphere."
A dramatic pause as they looked down then up. "A century since the radical restructuring of our society began to bring about peace by preparedness. Since the civil branches were remodelled and the military was born into the Clans Martial, each to represent a different school of combat." She studied the cameras. "Since the discovery of the Prothean Archives, working with our scientist castes we have reinvigorated and accelerated the pace of discovery, finding ways to blend this alien technology with our own to produce heretofore unforeseen results. Today, I am host to people who will highlight the growth and development of the new Sphere of Terra. I leave you now to the Director of the Martian Institute of Technology."
A much younger man took the stage, clearly in his thirties, or early forties. "It is my distinct pleasure to be speaking with you all on this auspicious day. And we have achieved much, since the introduction of artificial gravity technology into our ships we have gained a reach among the stars never before achieved. And our achievements have not ended there, with mass effect cores and drive technology augmenting the Kearny Fuchida drive, we have the ability to surpass the speed of light in two ways giving us much more freedom to move, and the use of mass effect fields to conduct lightening of our ships has also allowed us to bypass previously thought hard limits to the amount of mass we could transport." He smiled, "Additionally, the technology has been used to augment our weapons technologies in many ways, heavier mechs are now less cumbersome due to their armour and ballistic technologies have been augmented with the weapons technology found in the Prothean ruins."
A display came up next to him.
"The Extended Range Ultra Autocannon system uses mass effect fields and magnetic loading technologies to produce velocities comparable to the Gauss Rifles prior to their own augmentation with the same, the ER-Gauss is augmented in a like manner, all ballistic weapons have been augmented with the same, from the ER-ME Machineguns to the ER-Gauss and ERUACs. Fortunately, these technological developments do permit the use of specialty or even programmed munitions." Each of his words highlighted by short footage of the weapons in question.
"In the field of defence our AMS systems have improved targeting systems owing to the improved computing power now available, and as many of you know we have begun rolling out kinetic barriers to all armour across the entire Terran Sphere, from individual combat armour, experimental combat armour, armored vehicles, battlemechs and the first units are being trialled on WarShips this month. It is also feasible, and being investigated, that we might use small scale high density mass effect fields to create a lensing effect that will improve our laser technology while testing has shown that we can certainly use mass effect fields to improve the effect power of particle projectile cannons." He smiled and turned, "Dana, I believe you were next."
The woman who took the stage was older than the man, by a fair margin, no less than ten years though a casual look had difficulty saying by how much. "Thanks Mr Arze."
"Please call me Jack." He said giving up the podium.
"Of course Jack Arze." She said nodding towards him, the slight tightening around his eyes the only giveaway at her action. "When we arrived in this galaxy, perhaps universe is a stronger term, we had a mere six million people. Through the genetic reforms and repopulation programs put forth by the Little Nicky Creche Connections Group." The name referred to the thought tank established by Nicholas Kerensky. "We have grown from six million, to ten million in the first ten years, to twenty in the second decade doubling every ten years. We now have a human population in excess of five billion and growing. The expansion of the educational creches, community growing and production of the Iron Womb have made it clear we can expect to maintain a similar growth curve of our population every ten years for next next century and beyond. But our work is not done, we all still have our parts to play, from partaking in the creche education programs, to maintaining the growth of our economic and agricultural support on this scale."
Other figures were displayed as she spoke. "Be aware. Be attentive. Be part of our future. The new Star League has been born from the ashes of disaster and many might see what we have achieved as a golden age, but now is not the time for complanceny. The Protheans created the constructs we see in several of our Star Systems, and yet all we find are the remains of their once great civilisation. We will not be caught unawares. We will not be unprepared. The Clans Martial stand as our shield, and we must support them."
With a bow towards the statue of Aleksandr Kerensky she moved onto the next speaker.
The Threads of the Future
Sphere of Terra
2884
"It is my distinct pleasure esteemed colleagues of the Collegiate of Terra to be here presenting this class on the eve of our first century in the new universe in which we have found ourselves." The media program began as the current ilKhan of the Clans Martial stood in front of the cameras at the Founding Ceremony on Terra. "One hundred years ago, the catastrophic misjump of the Fuckening occurred that displaced the Star League in Exile into the universe we now know as home. One hundred years ago they began an attempt to resettle the Inner Sphere."
A dramatic pause as they looked down then up. "A century since the radical restructuring of our society began to bring about peace by preparedness. Since the civil branches were remodelled and the military was born into the Clans Martial, each to represent a different school of combat." She studied the cameras. "Since the discovery of the Prothean Archives, working with our scientist castes we have reinvigorated and accelerated the pace of discovery, finding ways to blend this alien technology with our own to produce heretofore unforeseen results. Today, I am host to people who will highlight the growth and development of the new Sphere of Terra. I leave you now to the Director of the Martian Institute of Technology."
A much younger man took the stage, clearly in his thirties, or early forties. "It is my distinct pleasure to be speaking with you all on this auspicious day. And we have achieved much, since the introduction of artificial gravity technology into our ships we have gained a reach among the stars never before achieved. And our achievements have not ended there, with mass effect cores and drive technology augmenting the Kearny Fuchida drive, we have the ability to surpass the speed of light in two ways giving us much more freedom to move, and the use of mass effect fields to conduct lightening of our ships has also allowed us to bypass previously thought hard limits to the amount of mass we could transport." He smiled, "Additionally, the technology has been used to augment our weapons technologies in many ways, heavier mechs are now less cumbersome due to their armour and ballistic technologies have been augmented with the weapons technology found in the Prothean ruins."
A display came up next to him.
"The Extended Range Ultra Autocannon system uses mass effect fields and magnetic loading technologies to produce velocities comparable to the Gauss Rifles prior to their own augmentation with the same, the ER-Gauss is augmented in a like manner, all ballistic weapons have been augmented with the same, from the ER-ME Machineguns to the ER-Gauss and ERUACs. Fortunately, these technological developments do permit the use of specialty or even programmed munitions." Each of his words highlighted by short footage of the weapons in question.
"In the field of defence our AMS systems have improved targeting systems owing to the improved computing power now available, and as many of you know we have begun rolling out kinetic barriers to all armour across the entire Terran Sphere, from individual combat armour, experimental combat armour, armored vehicles, battlemechs and the first units are being trialled on WarShips this month. It is also feasible, and being investigated, that we might use small scale high density mass effect fields to create a lensing effect that will improve our laser technology while testing has shown that we can certainly use mass effect fields to improve the effect power of particle projectile cannons." He smiled and turned, "Dana, I believe you were next."
The woman who took the stage was older than the man, by a fair margin, no less than ten years though a casual look had difficulty saying by how much. "Thanks Mr Arze."
"Please call me Jack." He said giving up the podium.
"Of course Jack Arze." She said nodding towards him, the slight tightening around his eyes the only giveaway at her action. "When we arrived in this galaxy, perhaps universe is a stronger term, we had a mere six million people. Through the genetic reforms and repopulation programs put forth by the Little Nicky Creche Connections Group." The name referred to the thought tank established by Nicholas Kerensky. "We have grown from six million, to ten million in the first ten years, to twenty in the second decade doubling every ten years. We now have a human population in excess of five billion and growing. The expansion of the educational creches, community growing and production of the Iron Womb have made it clear we can expect to maintain a similar growth curve of our population every ten years for next next century and beyond. But our work is not done, we all still have our parts to play, from partaking in the creche education programs, to maintaining the growth of our economic and agricultural support on this scale."
Other figures were displayed as she spoke. "Be aware. Be attentive. Be part of our future. The new Star League has been born from the ashes of disaster and many might see what we have achieved as a golden age, but now is not the time for complanceny. The Protheans created the constructs we see in several of our Star Systems, and yet all we find are the remains of their once great civilisation. We will not be caught unawares. We will not be unprepared. The Clans Martial stand as our shield, and we must support them."
With a bow towards the statue of Aleksandr Kerensky she moved onto the next speaker.
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Should be million.
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Oof, definite typo
Chapter 4; Growing Pains
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Chapter 4;
Growing Pains
Sphere of Terra
2884 (2020)
The meeting was one held behind closed doors, with all too few present to discuss the events of note. The ilKhan of the Clans Martial was present, along with the First Lord and several other key figures in the new Star League's government. And they had not come together to discuss the patriotic nonsense that was broadcast to the rest of the people. They were here to discuss the harder truths.
"Our rate of growth is proving almost as problematic as poor growth would be. The majority of children are now being raised in the creches and educated in sibling companies, but we are still having to put the young to work in order to fuel our expansion, and while the oldest generations are passing on, there is still some opposition to the eugenics and genetic engineering programs, the most vocal being from the Clan Martial Wolverine." The ilKhan said plainly examing their datapad.
The First Lord nodded in response before the Director of the Martian Institute of Technology spoke up, the defacto Governor of Mars was plainspoken. "This is an issue in the civil branches as well, with the rate of growth sibkos as young as 12 are being directed into service in various fields, only the Scientist Caste has avoided the necessity of pressing their own children into service, the educational requirements simply cannot be skipped over. The idea of doubling our population every ten years is most certainly appealing, but it has left us with a population of predominantly children, children being raised by the state no less."
"What do you propose?" The First Lord asked turning to the Director.
"In truth, I do not know, at this stage we still need the growth and expansion. But we cannot sustain it forever, logistically or otherwise. I would actually suggest a conscious stepping back of growth to more manageable levels more than anything else, instead of doubling every ten years, adjust for fifteen years..." A raised hand cut off that line.
"I want to see you develop that into a hard proposal, at this stage I would be uncomfortable in reducing our population growth significantly, if at all. Just resettling Earth posed unexpected challenges, and it has taken some effort from genetic engineering to reintroduce domesticated life, and suitable crops, I understand that our growth curve is posing risks right now, but our population levels are still far too low for the safety of our species. What about the Mars Archives, and related discoveries?"
The irritation on the Directors face was masked and wiped away in moments. "We have found numerous reserves of element zero available for mining, but we are finding increasing evidence the Protheans civilisation was fairly expansive, until it was not. We are preparing for the activation of the Charon Relay to initiate a test connection, we believe it may be targeted at the Arcturus Relay." The First Lords face went stony. "We have requested the fleet under the ilKhan place a squadron of Battleships nearby in preparation, as well as requested a Bug-Eye to perform the first relay jump to test whether it performs as expected, we would be sending probes through first, and we have requested a fleet to wait by the Arcturus Relay to intercept, and return, them."
"So, you want us to step back our growth programs," The First Lords voice was low, troubled and perhaps angry, but not to a dangerous level yet... "Step back on the eugenics and genetic engineering reforms, all the while you play with the fire and hope whatever erased an entire civilisation before our arrival doesn't come to knock your teeth in?" The last words were hissed, an accusation.
The ilKhan stepped in by speaking, "No First Lord. We only wish to apprise you of potential pitfalls in our current course and ameliorate risks. My Lord, we wish to activate this relay to test the technology only, determine its limits and potential and then, and only then, perhaps activate one of the other relays near Arcturus and send through a recon expedition."
"It is our theory," The Director interjected, "That these relays were placed strategically either from an economic or military perspective, and will likely be found near clusters of habitable worlds. The faster than light travel the Protheans utilized as best as we can tell were quite significantly limited in range and speed, even without combining the technology with a Kearny-Fuchida Drive, on an individual level a JumpShip with access to recharging stations was faster than a mass effect drive vessel. We can reach further from the Relays in an acceptable amount of time than their own ships could."
The First Lord calmed. "An excellent point. But that does not address the risk of opening up such things, while we continue to have teething problems like our population growth. So this question I direct back at you ilKhan Drummond. Can we realistically secure our space well enough to protect it?"
The ilKhan nodded. "I believe that we can. With five percent of the population being assigned to the military caste and assigned to the various Clans Martial we do have a significant military force to call upon, and the improvements to our technology the Prothean technology has allowed us to enact has begin significant efforts to increase our military capability, the Omnimech projects are well underway, and powered Battle Armour has been demonstrated as far more feasible with the Clan Wolf Elemental design, we believe with the use of mass effect fields we might even be able to get sustained flight from their jump jets, and our WarShips are undergoing periodic cycling back to the Newgranges for upgrades to be installed, at least until the Martian Shipyards are fully completed."
"But, is it enough." The First Lord stressed.
"First Lord, I cannot answer that, we simply lack the knowledge of the enemy that eliminated the Protheans, or forced them to retreat from this region of space. But we cannot find out this information sitting back behind the inactive relays and waiting for an answer to appear." the ilKhan answered bluntly.
"I want proposals for the test on my table, in excruciating detail, by the end of the week. Until then, pending final approval, you have pre-approval to begin moving resources for a possible test. Good day."
Growing Pains
Sphere of Terra
2884 (2020)
The meeting was one held behind closed doors, with all too few present to discuss the events of note. The ilKhan of the Clans Martial was present, along with the First Lord and several other key figures in the new Star League's government. And they had not come together to discuss the patriotic nonsense that was broadcast to the rest of the people. They were here to discuss the harder truths.
"Our rate of growth is proving almost as problematic as poor growth would be. The majority of children are now being raised in the creches and educated in sibling companies, but we are still having to put the young to work in order to fuel our expansion, and while the oldest generations are passing on, there is still some opposition to the eugenics and genetic engineering programs, the most vocal being from the Clan Martial Wolverine." The ilKhan said plainly examing their datapad.
The First Lord nodded in response before the Director of the Martian Institute of Technology spoke up, the defacto Governor of Mars was plainspoken. "This is an issue in the civil branches as well, with the rate of growth sibkos as young as 12 are being directed into service in various fields, only the Scientist Caste has avoided the necessity of pressing their own children into service, the educational requirements simply cannot be skipped over. The idea of doubling our population every ten years is most certainly appealing, but it has left us with a population of predominantly children, children being raised by the state no less."
"What do you propose?" The First Lord asked turning to the Director.
"In truth, I do not know, at this stage we still need the growth and expansion. But we cannot sustain it forever, logistically or otherwise. I would actually suggest a conscious stepping back of growth to more manageable levels more than anything else, instead of doubling every ten years, adjust for fifteen years..." A raised hand cut off that line.
"I want to see you develop that into a hard proposal, at this stage I would be uncomfortable in reducing our population growth significantly, if at all. Just resettling Earth posed unexpected challenges, and it has taken some effort from genetic engineering to reintroduce domesticated life, and suitable crops, I understand that our growth curve is posing risks right now, but our population levels are still far too low for the safety of our species. What about the Mars Archives, and related discoveries?"
The irritation on the Directors face was masked and wiped away in moments. "We have found numerous reserves of element zero available for mining, but we are finding increasing evidence the Protheans civilisation was fairly expansive, until it was not. We are preparing for the activation of the Charon Relay to initiate a test connection, we believe it may be targeted at the Arcturus Relay." The First Lords face went stony. "We have requested the fleet under the ilKhan place a squadron of Battleships nearby in preparation, as well as requested a Bug-Eye to perform the first relay jump to test whether it performs as expected, we would be sending probes through first, and we have requested a fleet to wait by the Arcturus Relay to intercept, and return, them."
"So, you want us to step back our growth programs," The First Lords voice was low, troubled and perhaps angry, but not to a dangerous level yet... "Step back on the eugenics and genetic engineering reforms, all the while you play with the fire and hope whatever erased an entire civilisation before our arrival doesn't come to knock your teeth in?" The last words were hissed, an accusation.
The ilKhan stepped in by speaking, "No First Lord. We only wish to apprise you of potential pitfalls in our current course and ameliorate risks. My Lord, we wish to activate this relay to test the technology only, determine its limits and potential and then, and only then, perhaps activate one of the other relays near Arcturus and send through a recon expedition."
"It is our theory," The Director interjected, "That these relays were placed strategically either from an economic or military perspective, and will likely be found near clusters of habitable worlds. The faster than light travel the Protheans utilized as best as we can tell were quite significantly limited in range and speed, even without combining the technology with a Kearny-Fuchida Drive, on an individual level a JumpShip with access to recharging stations was faster than a mass effect drive vessel. We can reach further from the Relays in an acceptable amount of time than their own ships could."
The First Lord calmed. "An excellent point. But that does not address the risk of opening up such things, while we continue to have teething problems like our population growth. So this question I direct back at you ilKhan Drummond. Can we realistically secure our space well enough to protect it?"
The ilKhan nodded. "I believe that we can. With five percent of the population being assigned to the military caste and assigned to the various Clans Martial we do have a significant military force to call upon, and the improvements to our technology the Prothean technology has allowed us to enact has begin significant efforts to increase our military capability, the Omnimech projects are well underway, and powered Battle Armour has been demonstrated as far more feasible with the Clan Wolf Elemental design, we believe with the use of mass effect fields we might even be able to get sustained flight from their jump jets, and our WarShips are undergoing periodic cycling back to the Newgranges for upgrades to be installed, at least until the Martian Shipyards are fully completed."
"But, is it enough." The First Lord stressed.
"First Lord, I cannot answer that, we simply lack the knowledge of the enemy that eliminated the Protheans, or forced them to retreat from this region of space. But we cannot find out this information sitting back behind the inactive relays and waiting for an answer to appear." the ilKhan answered bluntly.
"I want proposals for the test on my table, in excruciating detail, by the end of the week. Until then, pending final approval, you have pre-approval to begin moving resources for a possible test. Good day."
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Ok time to catch up. Missed two updates thanks to work surprisingly.
*read the newest chapter*
The heck is goin on? Went from kerensky to wierdness to clans. In like...how long? A century? I cant even fathom why the clans even exist here really. In canon it made a little sense with folks settling different planets and such but from what i can see here its just....earth and mars. Im not sure the clans would develop the same way. Specially since resources are plentiful. I mean sure iron wombs to grow a more viable population for survival but with an untouched earth? And solar system? The ability to not make the same mistakes? Not understanding the reasoning of having the clans themselves. In history the concept of clans was litterally large extended family groups. Like the scottish clans. With intermarrying between the clans to keep their populations less inbred. Course there was that one highland clan that the hills have eyes movies are very super loosely based on but eh thats the exception not the rule.
Plus why bother with the relays at all?aside from scientific curiosity i guess. They have 2 to 3 types of ftl as it is. Jump drives,eezo ftl,and a hybrid of them both.
I am genuinely confused by whats happening. Ah well. Maybe future chapters will explain it.
Ummm is this a comedy fic now?
Really? I ask again. Is this a comedy fic now? Seems more naked gun then battletech with this stuff. I cant tell if this is serious anymore
*read the newest chapter*
The heck is goin on? Went from kerensky to wierdness to clans. In like...how long? A century? I cant even fathom why the clans even exist here really. In canon it made a little sense with folks settling different planets and such but from what i can see here its just....earth and mars. Im not sure the clans would develop the same way. Specially since resources are plentiful. I mean sure iron wombs to grow a more viable population for survival but with an untouched earth? And solar system? The ability to not make the same mistakes? Not understanding the reasoning of having the clans themselves. In history the concept of clans was litterally large extended family groups. Like the scottish clans. With intermarrying between the clans to keep their populations less inbred. Course there was that one highland clan that the hills have eyes movies are very super loosely based on but eh thats the exception not the rule.
Plus why bother with the relays at all?aside from scientific curiosity i guess. They have 2 to 3 types of ftl as it is. Jump drives,eezo ftl,and a hybrid of them both.
I am genuinely confused by whats happening. Ah well. Maybe future chapters will explain it.
Arimai
Curmudgeon
Still a stupid idea when they don't have access to the blueprints and OS. You never test the alien megastructure beside your Homeworld first. That is just incredibly brain dead. If the insist on this Lunacy. Test the Arcturus relay, preferably one of the secondary unitsThey already have settled the other end (Arcturus)
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Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
There will always be little pieces of crack in my fics
I'll reduce this down to 2 pieces specifically.
1: The Clans are not the Clans of old, the whole culture has not been molded into the clans, the "Clans Martial" are now military schools of thought, independent from one another, with a degree of competition with one another to drive innovation, tactics etc. The "civil" side of things is still predominantly Star League in style. (This goes into the caste system which exists in both the Clans Martial and Civil life, and is born from the creche education of large groups of children.)
As for the reasoning. Aleksandr and Andery serving as a moderating influence on Nicholas' more insane ideas, reducing/modifying it to something less likely to cause issues.
2: Relays are virtually instant, cover MUCH greater ranges and don't require power from the ship using them. (At least Primary Relays cover much greater ranges. Pretty sure the Charon relay is a secondary one, hence why it only covers 36.66 lightyears instead of a few thousand.)
Uhm. They *do* have the OS, that's how ME Humanity learned to activate them from the Mars Repository IIRC.
Arimai
Curmudgeon
That's different from canon. In canon they get how to operate the relays and it communications protocols but not the OS itself. If they have the OS they'd see it has override controls from a central repository. That it can be ordered to lock out anyone without the proper codes. Which makes their decision to open the things insanity.
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
IIRC those were physical level overrides not actually connected to the access layers other races knew about. (Until the Protheans figured out the Citadel send an override signal and sabotaged the Keepers.)
Saturnus Ouranos
Giant Ringed Ball of Hydrogen and Helium
- Location
- Middle of the Solar System
Ooh boy! The Turians are in for a truly NASTY surprise!
- Location
- Queensland, Australia
Huh, was this inspired by my comment about how Jumpdrives are better once you are an established interstellar civilisation (at least when you are talking about small quantities or priority transportation as Mass Effect FTL's better for making supermassive cargo ships that can slowly travel between systems) or were you already thinking along those lines as well?
I mean, let's be honest: the Star League-in-Exile Exodus Fleet was a heavily military veteran dominated group. Which more or less means that no matter what official name the Extreme Misjump Incident was called, no matter how badly the historians, politicians, parents and scientists wish otherwise...
It was always going to end up being called 'The Clusterfuck beyond all Clusterfucks'. Shortened to The Fuckening with great rapidity. They are military veterans, as I said. Ones that went through an apocalyptic war at that.
Actually you are wrong here as the Sol-Arcturus Mass Relay is one of the 'jokers' in the bunch. That connect is actually a Primary-Primary Relay link.
Because the crucial differential between a Secondary Relay and a Primary Relay is not how far they reach, but how they operate. Primary Relays only link to a single other Relay partner whilst Secondary Relays link to any Secondary Relay within a range of either fifty or a few hundred light years. This does mean that Primary Relays do tend to have a range of several thousand or tens of thousands of light years but it is not a requirement.
If Charon was a Secondary Relay that it would be able to connect to any other Secondary Mass Relay nearby instead of only connecting to it's partner in Arcturus.
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Was already thinking and discussing it on discord with others. But bear in mind, ideas are absolutely welcome.
👆👆👆
Yeah it's why I said "I think" I do tend to check when writing chapters, but when just conversing with folks I will usually go by memory.
Chapter 5; The First Forays
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Chapter 5;
The First Forays
Star League
2961 (2097)
Seventy seven years had passed since the reborn Star League had celebrated its century of revival as a new Star League. And now Diana Ryder of the Clan Wolverine stood on the bridge of her McKenna class WarShip as they hovered in front of the Charon Relay. The survey vessel Donetsk was significantly closer as its large lasers vaporised chunks of the ice that had been Charon away from itself and the relay, a new complex broadcast array had been in communication with the device for some hours now as they followed the instructions found in the Martian Archives.
"This is Galaxy Commander Diana Ryder of the SLS Alamo Avenger to SLSS Donetsk the fleet is positioned and ready for security, HPG uplinks to the SLS Montgomery have confirmed that they are in position at the projected endpoint relay in Arcturus." She broadcast to the survey vessel.
"Aff Alamo Avenger. Final protocols are being loaded into the Mass Relay. Prepare for... something." Came the only reply.
A young man manning one of the targeting arrays frowned. "Star Commander Ryder, with the speed of the Kearny-Fuchia Mass Drive, is there a reason we are bothering with this artefact? We can already jump thirty lightyeas instantly. Might not this allow for whatever wiped out the Protheans to.."
Ryder shook her head. "Neg. This relay pair, according to the information available, is relatively short ranged, and even so could allow short ranged Jumpships with only the Mass Effect Drive to transit longer ranges. But the current strategic intent is that we would prefer to open relays and explore to their other ends and face any enemy out beyond the reach of our homeworld, instead of having them activate the gates before we can prevent it."
"Permission to speak freely?" Williams asked.
Ryder frowned but had time so nodded. "Is that not kind of a flimsy reason?, one that leaves us with having opened the hellmouth ourselves potentially?" A flash of light erupted and their eyes were drawn towards the forward viewport. A lambent blue glow filled the heart of the rings that had just begun to rotate on their axes. Lights coming to life across the entirety of the device.
"All hands. Ready stations." Ryder said out of habit rather than necessity.
And... nothing. The rings continued to spin without end, the lambent blue glow of the devices mass effect core illuminating near space. It wasn't doing anything until... three probes shot from the Donetsk and hurtled towards the relay broadcasting the pre-programmed signals. Cerulean lightning leapt from the core to connect each of the probes and... they hurtled off into space.
There was a degree of sighs around the bridge as some of the stress bled out of the chamber. But Diana arrested that before the enthusiasm grew to a problematic level. She did so by simply leaning on the railing and frowning at the vision they were studying. The tension in her prevented the complete loss of preparedness and... five minutes later... the probes all returned carrying their affirmations of success.
"This is Captain Ryder to SLSS Donetsk, you are clear to attempt transit." She stood straight. "Good luck. And fair travels."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The experience of travelling nearly forty lightyears in moments was a new one to Captain Lawson. The sight of the barricade fleet appearing on their sensors as they slammed into the Arcturus system with the same velocity they had entered. "Ok. Everyone, status updates." It took nearly ten minutes for the reports to filter in as the crews worked overtime to check every single system with obsession to detail. They had arrived in another system. "This is Captain Marcus Lawson of the SLSS Donetsk to SLS Montgomery, I would like to confirm our clocks with you?"
"Congratulations Captain on a successful test. Our current shipboard time registers as 20:21:34." She was watching the clock as the Captain read it it, the numbers matched with the only variance being on the seconds which could have been explained by the time it took to say it.
"Thank you Montgomery, travel time confirmed to be as close to instant as makes no significant difference. Communications, spin up the HPG and report in to the SLS Alamo Avenger. Operation STARSHOT is a success. We will continue with Stage 2 and with escort from the SLS Montgomery will proceed to the nearest Secondary Relay and commence activation and testing." She began to turn to other tasks when the officer turned from her console.
"Captain, the First Lord has issued instructions that Stage 2 is to be held for further study." The words crushed Diana's hopes.
Once more the paranoia of the Clans Martial and First Lord were going to hobble her and the science castes from the voyages of discovery until they were content they knew everything they wanted before they'd be allowed to proceed. For all her hopes and dreams, this, this moment would forever be the capstone of her career.
She swallowed bitter words, and mentally threatened her tear ducts to hold their corrosive contents back. The crew need not see. "Understood. Standing down for orders." She stood, "XO, you have the conn. I am proceeding to my quarters for some sonic catharsis."
Her husband nodded knowingly. Screaming at the void in your soundproof quarters was always preferable to shouting at the crew.
The First Forays
Star League
2961 (2097)
Seventy seven years had passed since the reborn Star League had celebrated its century of revival as a new Star League. And now Diana Ryder of the Clan Wolverine stood on the bridge of her McKenna class WarShip as they hovered in front of the Charon Relay. The survey vessel Donetsk was significantly closer as its large lasers vaporised chunks of the ice that had been Charon away from itself and the relay, a new complex broadcast array had been in communication with the device for some hours now as they followed the instructions found in the Martian Archives.
"This is Galaxy Commander Diana Ryder of the SLS Alamo Avenger to SLSS Donetsk the fleet is positioned and ready for security, HPG uplinks to the SLS Montgomery have confirmed that they are in position at the projected endpoint relay in Arcturus." She broadcast to the survey vessel.
"Aff Alamo Avenger. Final protocols are being loaded into the Mass Relay. Prepare for... something." Came the only reply.
A young man manning one of the targeting arrays frowned. "Star Commander Ryder, with the speed of the Kearny-Fuchia Mass Drive, is there a reason we are bothering with this artefact? We can already jump thirty lightyeas instantly. Might not this allow for whatever wiped out the Protheans to.."
Ryder shook her head. "Neg. This relay pair, according to the information available, is relatively short ranged, and even so could allow short ranged Jumpships with only the Mass Effect Drive to transit longer ranges. But the current strategic intent is that we would prefer to open relays and explore to their other ends and face any enemy out beyond the reach of our homeworld, instead of having them activate the gates before we can prevent it."
"Permission to speak freely?" Williams asked.
Ryder frowned but had time so nodded. "Is that not kind of a flimsy reason?, one that leaves us with having opened the hellmouth ourselves potentially?" A flash of light erupted and their eyes were drawn towards the forward viewport. A lambent blue glow filled the heart of the rings that had just begun to rotate on their axes. Lights coming to life across the entirety of the device.
"All hands. Ready stations." Ryder said out of habit rather than necessity.
And... nothing. The rings continued to spin without end, the lambent blue glow of the devices mass effect core illuminating near space. It wasn't doing anything until... three probes shot from the Donetsk and hurtled towards the relay broadcasting the pre-programmed signals. Cerulean lightning leapt from the core to connect each of the probes and... they hurtled off into space.
There was a degree of sighs around the bridge as some of the stress bled out of the chamber. But Diana arrested that before the enthusiasm grew to a problematic level. She did so by simply leaning on the railing and frowning at the vision they were studying. The tension in her prevented the complete loss of preparedness and... five minutes later... the probes all returned carrying their affirmations of success.
"This is Captain Ryder to SLSS Donetsk, you are clear to attempt transit." She stood straight. "Good luck. And fair travels."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The experience of travelling nearly forty lightyears in moments was a new one to Captain Lawson. The sight of the barricade fleet appearing on their sensors as they slammed into the Arcturus system with the same velocity they had entered. "Ok. Everyone, status updates." It took nearly ten minutes for the reports to filter in as the crews worked overtime to check every single system with obsession to detail. They had arrived in another system. "This is Captain Marcus Lawson of the SLSS Donetsk to SLS Montgomery, I would like to confirm our clocks with you?"
"Congratulations Captain on a successful test. Our current shipboard time registers as 20:21:34." She was watching the clock as the Captain read it it, the numbers matched with the only variance being on the seconds which could have been explained by the time it took to say it.
"Thank you Montgomery, travel time confirmed to be as close to instant as makes no significant difference. Communications, spin up the HPG and report in to the SLS Alamo Avenger. Operation STARSHOT is a success. We will continue with Stage 2 and with escort from the SLS Montgomery will proceed to the nearest Secondary Relay and commence activation and testing." She began to turn to other tasks when the officer turned from her console.
"Captain, the First Lord has issued instructions that Stage 2 is to be held for further study." The words crushed Diana's hopes.
Once more the paranoia of the Clans Martial and First Lord were going to hobble her and the science castes from the voyages of discovery until they were content they knew everything they wanted before they'd be allowed to proceed. For all her hopes and dreams, this, this moment would forever be the capstone of her career.
She swallowed bitter words, and mentally threatened her tear ducts to hold their corrosive contents back. The crew need not see. "Understood. Standing down for orders." She stood, "XO, you have the conn. I am proceeding to my quarters for some sonic catharsis."
Her husband nodded knowingly. Screaming at the void in your soundproof quarters was always preferable to shouting at the crew.