That war at minimum is a decade away. Both because the Feds aren't in the position to challenge our naval supremacy (which will only grow as the other ORDI members expand their navies) and need at least a decade to challenge only us according to calculations done by other members of the thread and because of the peace agreement we signed with them to would make it none of us can attack each other for at least a decade.
Also we can build 3 ships per standard AP so even if we take quite a bit of losses we can reletivly easily replace those if where willing to spend standard AP (which last turn alone we used 4 standard AP to for the military so it's likely we can at least spend 1 or 2 for several turns in a row if necessary).
I don't really think the investment is great since it's virtually guaranteed we won't be able to engage more than 1-2 full armies in the Clan Invasion at a maximum, and we have more than enough mechs to fully support that many troops.
But if the chief complaint is 'lacking flexibility', as in, not wanting to keep one AP locked in for the next three turns, I suppose I can accede to demands for it. I even see some sense in it, since then we can pivot away toward another action next turn or the one after.
Maybe add an additional blurb saying you can mount a small portable dispenser with a very limited but still potent amount of mines on our hover bikes. It should work similarly to Starcraft vulture bikes.
Scheduled vote count started by prometheus110 on Jul 9, 2024 at 8:30 AM, finished with 26 posts and 12 votes.
[X] Plan: Build That Wall
-[X] The Rose and the Bull
--[X] A Solid Commitment. [-1 peacetime and -2 wartime AP indefinitely]
-[X] Construct 2 Battlemech Battalions: Task Fisher & Zulim Taw with constructing 2 battalions worth of mechs.
-[X] Continue NAIS Infiltration [Medium-Hard]: Continuing prior efforts to infiltrate the New Avalon Institute of Science is vital if we want access to their latest designs and most secure production sites.
-[X] Deploy Spy Ships: Though not as effective as they would be within, say, the Federated Suns, deploying Hyde-class surveillance vessels to Clan-held regions will improve the ORDI's ability to gather information substantially.
-[X] Operation Santiago Phase 8:
-[X] We have a laundry list of issues to address and not much time.
-[X] Firstly, continue reinforcing the line of defense as per last turn, preparing planets for apocalyptic fighting.
-[X] Second, greenlight deployment and transfer of a significant portion of Helghan's nuclear arsenal, reserved for use against the Clans' blackwater fleet only, in systems likely to face heavy assault.
-[X] Third, use the remaining Ground Capacity (about enough to support a brigade) and request the deployment of the Canopian and Capellans' cybernetic special forces divisions for a trial by fire.
-[X] Fourth, continue to sponsor the Dragoons' raiding activities as before and utilize our fleet to target JumpShip convoys carrying Clanner resupply and reinforcement, using spycraft and assets to maximize the results of both activities.
-[X] Finally, offer once again to the Lyran Commonwealth the partial deployment of the First Army (1-2 Divisions) to man the defenses they are currently building (and to make use of the Helghan Corps of Engineers accompanying them for the same) in exchange for supply lines for them, as well as additional MAWLRs if they can manage them. In addition, offer the Guided Missile Cruisers back to the table again in the terms of the lend-lease agreement, this time without the expectation of tech-sharing. They've virtually guaranteed that they're going to be hammered hard, and this may be their last chance to obtain either of these things with their supply lines still intact.
--[X] Military Requisitions:
-[X] Flechette Charges: Designed by the Helghan Defence Corporation out of Bloemfontein, Flechette Charges are little more than directional command-detonated anti-personnel landmines attachable to the outer armour of a Battle Armour suit. Inspired, on the one hand, by the Anti-Personnel Pod's seen on Clan mechs and, on the other, the needle weapons so prevalent throughout the Inner Sphere, flechette charges send out a spray of explosively formed polymer-composite flechettes able to shred flesh and penetrate some light armours upon detonation. Intended for use in close-quarters combat or to clear the area below a leaping BA unit, flechette charges are one-time-use items but offer little to no additional risk.
-[X] BA Spider Mine Dispenser: Essentially a scaled-down version of the mine dispensers used by Republic forces to deploy spider mines around secure areas, the BA Spider Mine Dispenser is securely attached to the back of a Battle Armour suit and allows its user to deploy more than a dozen mines on the battlefield at the click of a button. Easily reloaded via specially made cartridges and featuring a quick-release system for use if reload is unavailable or the backpack itself becomes a hazard, the BA Spider Mine Dispenser is a valuable bit of equipment for any Battle Armour squad.
-[X] BA-scale Irradiated Petrusite Projector: A midway point between the infantry and mech version of the IP Projector, the Battle Armour-scale IP Projector is a short-range but incredibly deadly weapon able to pose a threat to mechs and their pilots… as well as infantry squads hunkered down in cover.
[X] Plan: Build That Wall https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/the-lords-of-ruin-battletech-killzone.52819/page-1091?post=32116338#post-32116338 [X] The Rose and the Bull
-[X] A Solid Commitment. [-1 peacetime and -2 wartime AP indefinitely]
Having promised the Taurian Concordat substantial support in developing the nation's newly integrated systems last quarter, the October-December period saw the Helghan Parliament called on by its Taurian counterparts to begin delivering said support. Only moderately disgruntled at the chit getting called in so soon, the Republic's varied ministers nonetheless moved to make good their vaguely worded promise; various government-owned supply chains ordered to prepare for a significant diversion of production even as the Republic's Parliament argued amongst itself regarding what items would be dispatched and in what quantity. Though initially resembling nothing more than a grab bag of ideas, information garnered last quarter combined with the Republic's own experience bootstrapping backwater systems to acceptable quality standards quickly saw a single plan take the lead, its proponents rewarded with seeing it pass through the Pyrrhic Parliament in record time.
Representing both a solid commitment from the Helghan Republic and a respectable percentage of the nation's industrial output in a variety of areas, the agreed-upon plan saw the Republic agree to send everything from fusion powerplants to vaccines to the afflicted region, government-owned freighters collecting countless goods and setting off for the Concordat within days of the bill's passage. However, so great was the burden on Helghan industries that Republic economists quietly pointed out to their superiors that the nation would likely feel it both when carrying out national-scale infrastructure projects and when responding to crises such as the Clan Invasion, and estimations suggest that these restraints would continue for at least a decade, if not longer. Seemingly expecting a walk-back of the earlier promise, the reaction among both the Concordat people and its government to such a respectable response was, understandably, very positive, and Helghan's esteem rose higher with the Taurian public.
Effect
Helghan agrees to provide a sizable amount of goods to the Concordat; government directives and investments seeing a large number of goods beginning to flow to the outback region.
Not a silver bullet, but should help keep tensions in check.
-1 peacetime AP, -2 wartime AP. Both indefinite (at least 10 years)
[X] Construct 2 Battlemech Battalions: Task Fisher & Zulim Taw with constructing 2 battalions worth of mechs.
Effect
+2 Battlemech battalions
[X] Continue NAIS Infiltration [Medium-Hard]: Continuing prior efforts to infiltrate the New Avalon Institute of Science is vital if we want access to their latest designs and most secure production sites.
With the prior quarter's efforts to penetrate the Federated Suns' most sensitive areas succeeding without a hint of discovery, the year's final quarter saw Helghan's intelligence services double down on the decision; orders sent out to the myriad agents, catspaws, and no-goodniks operating in the region to make for New Avalon's Institute of Science. Boasting a lengthy history able to stand up to any scrutiny and aided by the heavily veiled spies already burrowed into the NAIS, a quintet of agents put their all into inserting assets into the top secret organisation's closely guarded research division, their domesticated scientists fed theory after theory and gifted (minor) breakthrough after (minor) breakthrough. Doing everything short of jumping up and down and waving their arms at the NAIS' recruitment division, these captive researchers—unaware of the true nature of their benefactor—published paper after paper for the Republic, the days turning to weeks and the weeks turning, in time, to months.
Alas, all these efforts soon proved for nought as the new year came and went; the surge of papers and brilliant new theories released into the wild unable to interest an organisation typically hungry for intellectual resources. Burned by the Republic's prior infiltration successes—though seemingly unaware of the Republic's role in said infiltrations—the Federated Suns has grown more protective of its one remaining gem than ever before, the intelligence cordon placed upon the NAIS the strongest it has ever been according to Helghan's spies. Fortunately for all involved, this increased protectiveness has not translated into Federated Suns' counter-intelligence agents gaining magical capabilities or preternatural competence, and no sign of detection has been uncovered by Republic agents embedded in either the government or palace networks. Undeterred by their quiet failure, the lack of discovery proving a heady wine, officials within Republic security services have understandably begun to push the Gemini government towards continuing the attempts.
Effect
Attempt fails with helghan spies unable to penetrate any further into the organisation
No indication that the FedSuns have noticed the attempt, though
[X] Deploy Spy Ships: Though not as effective as they would be within, say, the Federated Suns, deploying Hyde-class surveillance vessels to Clan-held regions will improve the ORDI's ability to gather information substantially.
Keen to repeat last quarter's success and with Operation Santiago's headquarters ever hungry for information on the Clans' activities and whereabouts, early October saw a slate of spy ships ordered to deploy into the wartorn coreward expanse; fifteen Hyde Class Surveillance vessels swiftly brought to the area of operations under the guise of secondary supply ships. Tended to by ever-vigilant crews and kept supplied by the constant stream of transports passing them by, the spycraft arrived in the region a mere two months after their deployment orders were writ and immediately set out for their destinations deep within Clan-held territory, their departure unremarked upon thanks to the cooperation of the Free Republic's space monitoring personnel. Carefully monitoring their progress from Skandia, headquarters' personnel watched with bated breath as ship after ship committed to the final plunge into their target system; days old messages dispatched by black box carrying final status updates before the crews warped their vessels into the frozen outer reaches of more than a dozen hostile systems. Mere hours later—a delay the more experienced staff knew was just long enough for Hyde's to deploy their surveillance gear from their recessed protective cavities and scan their local environment—all clear messages arrived from all the systems targeted. All, that was, except one.
According to the terse message broadcast by the HNS Fisher King before being scuttled, the would-be spy vessel had the astronomically poor fortune of arriving within five million kilometres of a Clan dropship, the Union-C halfway to a nearby trojan cluster when it entered the system. No doubt patrolling the system for stealth satellites, the Clan drop ship immediately detected the radiation pulse released by the Fisher King's warp drive and burned hard for the spycraft; the crew aboard elected to suffer bruises and other ailments from the sustained multi-G acceleration in the hopes of catching a supremely elusive prey. Following their training, the Fisher King immediately began preparations to evacuate the system only to have the delicate internals of the ship's warp drive quench catastrophically due to the rapid cycling of the FTL engine—the resulting explosion cracking one of its three fusion drives and damaging another. Finding his proud craft wounded and its engines only able to achieve a single gravity's worth of thrust, the Fisher King's captain ordered the vessel to flee from its pursuers and his crew to prepare for boarding; scuttling charges prepared throughout the ship, sensitive items and documents destroyed, and lifeboats prepped.
Twelve hours later, its black box having faithfully reported the launch of escape pods, the Fisher King went up in a flash of light as scuttling charges ruptured its fusion engine and allowed the raging sun inside to consume the vessel whole; the Union-C having long ago given up the chase in favour of the lifeboats it left behind.
Effect
Attempt to deploy spy ships sees most go well… but one finds a Clan dropship patrolling close enough to its emergence point that its arrival is detected.
Attempts to shake off the dropship fail, but crew prove able to torch everything sensitive before evacuating the craft and activating scuttling charges. Crew now in Clan custody, but at least the info isn't.
[X] Establish a continuing effort to provide propaganda relating to the Clan war effort (lock 1 AP to propaganda)
In contrast to earlier efforts, the October-December period saw a marked improvement in the attitude of Helghan citizens towards Operation Santiago; a revamped media campaign, fresh eyes added behind the scenes, and a spate of victories by Inner Sphere nations conspiring to bring about substantial change in the zeitgeist. Sourced from all over the recaptured systems, stories of liberation, aid, and gratitude filled the airwaves throughout the nation and appeared in newspapers and on posters. A profound divergence from the previous go-tos of terror, hardship, and brutality, the addition of such feel-good stories proved to be exactly the change needed by the program. Previously declining month by month before slowing thanks to the heroic efforts made last quarter, the changes instituted by those overseeing the AgitProp program and the acquisition of new stories proved well worth their cost in Marks and sweat, the hardening of popular sentiment petering out as memories of the Clans' earlier successes faded, and attention turned to the recent string of hard-earned victories.
Though still fragile, the renewal of interest in Operation Santiago—or, more accurately, the decline in disinterest—has nonetheless been taken as a sign by Republic politicians that the nation still has some fight left in it. Moreover, the end-of-quarter sentiment analysis conducted by the AgitProp program no longer speaks of a complete collapse in the popular will should the Clans prove reinvigorated and renew their assault; predictions by the best analysts the Helghan government can afford determining that it would merely be catastrophic. A minuscule but distinct difference, Helghan politicians and military figures alike have grasped the improvement like a lifeline, 3050's final weeks seeing a quiet increase made to the program's budget.
Effect
AgitProp uptake is a little better this quarter in large part due to the successes of other IS powers and refinement of message. Not amazing, just enough to keep public support from dropping this quarter.
[X] Lothan Factory Complex Construction: As expensive as it will be, constructing a factory complex on Lothan will provide ORDI forces with an additional source of spare parts. [Progress: 2/10] [Locked Until Completed] [+1 AP from Capellan Confederation]
Continuing from last quarter with no loss of momentum, Q4 saw Republic engineering teams throw themselves into the task of constructing Lothan's would-be factory megaplex; the legion of automata and workers brought over last quarter reinforced on an almost daily basis as more and more transports made the 1000-plus lightyear journey. Well-versed in the plan during the lengthy journey to Lothan and well-prepped besides, these workers streamed from the holds of their transports, immediately joining their Rasalhaugian counterparts in clearing the surrounding terrain and expanding the already extensive foundations. Though colossal by any reasonable metric, the ferrocrete plug sunk into Lothan's loamy surface to serve as the factory's foundations was nonetheless insufficient for the goal Helghan's leaders had in mind, October seeing the grey slab steadily expand as workers laid down plug after plug beside it; satellites in orbit witnessing the factory's footprint expand like a months-long oil spill.
Completed by the twilight of November, the final foundation proved a construct without equal on Lothan; entire city blocks could fit comfortably on the ferrocrete surface with room to spare. Rapidly curing by design, the year's remaining weeks saw the present labourers shift gear towards more complex, but not particularly more delicate work, the skeletons of buildings erupting across the slate-grey ferrocrete and reaching for heaven. Constructed out of prefabricated modular components manufactured across the Free Republic, the building frameworks arrived at the planet's spaceport in their hundreds and were shipped out via the purpose-built highway in equal numbers; so many trucks required to move the materials that—some soon joked—one could walk from the spaceport to the factory without ever touching the ground, the river of trailers all one needed. Despite the ease of assembling the buildings, however, the year's final days saw the planned completion date remain frustratingly out of reach, a mere quarter of the assembly halls and warehouses raised as December gave way to January. [Progress: 2/10] → [Progress: 4/10]
Effect
Solid progress.
[X] Operation Santiago Phase 8:
-[X] Firstly, continue reinforcing the line of defense as per last turn, preparing planets for apocalyptic fighting.
-[X] Second, greenlight deployment and transfer of a significant portion of Helghan's nuclear arsenal, reserved for use against the Clans' blackwater fleet only, in systems likely to face heavy assault.
-[X] Third, use the remaining Ground Capacity (about enough to support a brigade) and request the deployment of the Canopian and Capellans' cybernetic special forces divisions for a trial by fire.
-[X] Fourth, continue to sponsor the Dragoons' raiding activities as before and utilize our fleet to target JumpShip convoys carrying Clanner resupply and reinforcement, using spycraft and assets to maximize the results of both activities.
-[X] Finally, offer once again to the Lyran Commonwealth the partial deployment of the First Army (1-2 Divisions) to man the defenses they are currently building (and to make use of the Helghan Corps of Engineers accompanying them for the same) in exchange for supply lines for them, as well as additional MAWLRs if they can manage them. In addition, offer the Guided Missile Cruisers back to the table again in the terms of the lend-lease agreement, this time without the expectation of tech-sharing. They've virtually guaranteed that they're going to be hammered hard, and this may be their last chance to obtain either of these things with their supply lines still intact.
With the psychological pressure of the inevitable return of Clan offences bearing down on them, the year's final quarter brought further orders to Operation Santiago's command to dig in as deep and extensively as possible. A sentiment shared by Commodore Ostergaard himself—Clan prisoners chiming in in support—the orders found fertile soil among the international operation's leadership and backers, all agreeing that the present was the perfect time to entrench. Already building fortifications thanks to last quarter's change towards a defensive posture, October's first weeks saw ORDI engineering divisions and ground troops alike discover their workloads increased as ever more structures were added to their todo lists, hidden airfields, armoured supply depots, and discrete landing zones just some of the many works they were to complete before the new year.
Ill-contented by this conventional response posed by the Clan threat, a small but influential group of Republic politicians simultaneously moved to strengthen the already potent power of the ORDI fleet in the region. Meeting with Gemini Malkiewicz and several members of their government and the Republic's military, these politicians quietly made a case for the deployment of nuclear arms among Helghan Navy vessels, "Never Another New Bergen" becoming a watchword among them as they argued for the use of nuclear arms to devastate Clan warships. Convinced by their arguments and wary of the damage such warships could do to defensive efforts, not to mention public morale, these meetings soon bore fruit; October 11th the day the Prime Minister okayed the deployment of several dozen nuclear devices. Bare days later, a handful of boring freighters with boring cargo manifests and distinctly not-boring security contingents departed Helghan's Supra Memnonia space elevator for the frontlines, countless eyes tracking them at every step of their months-long journey.
However, despite the undoubtedly crushing anxiety afflicting its decision-makers at the thought of so many nuclear weapons traversing the Inner Sphere in secret, the Republic government was not idle in mid-October.
Eyeing its allies' cybernetic troop programs with no small amount of envy and eager to secure Operation Santiago every advantage it could get, the Helghan government reached out to its allies in the hopes of getting the Capellan Sardau—supposedly named for their secretive training grounds—and the Canopian Keres dispatched corewards. Fortunately for the Republic, which had been spending great sums of political influence over the past few months, these requests met with receptive audiences in both nations, their leaders proving inclined to support the joint military operation with some conditions. Expensive to develop in the first place and composed of the most elite troops in either nation, the Magistracy and Confederation alike made clear that they would not part with the Keres and Sardau if they were to be thrown into combat unthinkingly; both instead demanding that their special forces units covertly damage and disrupt Clan holdings in captured systems. Already inclined to agree to what they viewed as eminently reasonable conditions, Prime Minister Malkiewicz found their views further strengthened by support from Commodore Ostergaard, the man valuing the disruption they could cause Clan activities over any straight combat power they could provide, and agreed to the conditions presented.
However, even as these cybernetic soldiers began to make their way to join Operation Santiago, Jamie Wolf's Dragoons were already making life miserable for those Clan Wolf warriors who had the misfortune of being in jump range.
Well-equipped with Clan mechs and weapons thanks to last quarter's highly successful duels and supported with a seemingly infinite supply of ammunition and spare parts courtesy of the ORDI, Q4 3050 saw Dragoon raiding parties strike out from Valdis (also known as Wheel), Hyperion, and Thun against their Clan opposites; more than half a dozen units setting forth to do battle. Led by the inestimable Jamie Wolf and Natasha Kerensky, these forces fell upon the Wolf clusters across the anti-spinward front like their namesake, fearsome battles raging as brother fought brother in furious duels for warriors, equipment, and honour. Unfortunately for those hoping for a repeat of past days, the defending wolves proved more than ready to meet their Dragoon opponents in the year's final quarter, the Dragoon raiders winning only four out of seven engagements and only barely in two cases. Badly battered by December's close, the Dragoons nonetheless appear to have taken the bruising well, the bullheaded mercenaries and their belligerent commanders promising a return to form next year.
Likewise, attempts to raid Clan supply convoys and JumpShips met with only middling results despite Ostergaard's expertise in organising them and the information gleaned via spy satellites and Hyde class surveillance vessels. Initially starting strong with two convoys hit for no casualties, early November saw Clan jamming increase in coverage across the front and capability in general; black box enabled communications degrading as the jamming increased. No doubt the result of Clan scientists examining those spy satellites previously intercepted and reverse-engineering the messaging components—if they didn't already have the technology—the ensuing disruption resulted in a degraded ability to intercept convoys; several examples of ORDI warships arriving at a destination only to find their targets long since gone occurring over the quarter. Making matters worse, a pair of Capellan Carson II-class frigates acting on fresh intelligence arrived at the planned interception site only to find that not only was the expected convoy not there but that it had never been there—an investigation of the surrounding space uncovering a satellite of Clan manufacture containing ECM gear used to spoof the presence of a JumpShip convoy.
Though dampened by the string of failed convoy interceptions, Commodore Ostergaard's spirits were buoyed in late November when, after extensive negotiations with the Lyran Commonwealth, the state finally agreed to host a pair of Helghan divisions and accept a pair of Toxotai. Offered in the spirit of fraternal camaraderie—but primarily due to fears that the LCAF had dangerously overreached in its recent counter-attack—the First Army's Fifth and Sixth Divisions and the twin ships Victory and Constitution were hurried along the ORDI's command circuit and arrived in mid-December; the twenty-thousand or so troops garrisoned across the score of recently recaptured systems. Quite to the surprise of both the LCAF and Operation Santiago's command staff, the reaction of Lyran civilians to the sudden arrival of Helghan troops has been broadly positive. While naturally holding some reservations towards them—reservations at least partly engendered by the presence of Helghan villains in the recent releases of several popular film series—Lyran citizens have, on the whole, chosen to view the deployment of so many foreign troops in a positive light. How long such a view will last remains to be seen, but ORDI figures have thus far chosen to stay positive lest they create the future they fear.
Effect
ORDI forces continue to entrench throughout the region.
A solid chunk of Helghan's nuclear arsenal is deployed to the frontlines for use against naval assets.
ORDI allies agree to deploy spec ops forces, but only under the condition that they be used off the frontline. Good enough.
Dragon raiding is mixed. Win 4 out of 7 raids and take some supplies, but mostly just disrupted Wolf formations rather than loot much.
Anti shipping raids prove middling despite the degree of spyware deployed. Some jumpships were destroyed, but a number of convoys either evaded or simply weren't where they were expected. Looks like the clans are getting better at hiding their movements.
The Lyrans agree to provide enough support for 2 divisions without even requesting a treaty or anything be signed. Amazingly, the Lyran people are happy about foreign troops deploying on their streets and are quite welcoming. Lyrans also accept the Toxotai, but this puts the Helghan supply route for critical parts there at its limit.
Design and Requisition
[X] Flechette Charges: Designed by the Helghan Defence Corporation out of Bloemfontein, Flechette Charges are little more than directional command-detonated anti-personnel landmines attachable to the outer armour of a Battle Armour suit. Inspired, on the one hand, by the Anti-Personnel Pod's seen on Clan mechs and, on the other, the needle weapons so prevalent throughout the Inner Sphere, flechette charges send out a spray of explosively formed polymer-composite flechettes able to shred flesh and penetrate some light armours upon detonation. Intended for use in close-quarters combat or to clear the area below a leaping BA unit, flechette charges are one-time-use items but offer little to no additional risk.
[X] BA Spider Mine Dispenser: Essentially a scaled-down version of the mine dispensers used by Republic forces to deploy spider mines around secure areas, the BA Spider Mine Dispenser is securely attached to the back of a Battle Armour suit and allows its user to deploy more than a dozen mines on the battlefield at the click of a button. Easily reloaded via specially made cartridges and featuring a quick-release system for use if reload is unavailable or the backpack itself becomes a hazard, the BA Spider Mine Dispenser is a valuable bit of equipment for any Battle Armour squad.
[X] BA-scale Irradiated Petrusite Projector: A midway point between the infantry and mech version of the IP Projector, the Battle Armour-scale IP Projector is a short-range but incredibly deadly weapon able to pose a threat to mechs and their pilots… as well as infantry squads hunkered down in cover.
News and Rumours
Helghan
Coming as a surprise, a review of refugee numbers in the new year saw the number of refugees arriving in the Periphery decline somewhat compared to last quarter, with only 1.5 million more people entering ORDI space. Undoubtedly a result of the yearlong pause in Clan hostilities, the slight reduction has come as a relief to those systems between the frontlines and the Periphery; the refugee situation is far more critical than there within the ORDI.
Having stolen up on the Helghan Republic's ruling party thanks to the distraction of the Clan Invasion and the resulting scramble to organise a response, December 31st, 3050, saw the Helghan government enter its final year of rule before another national election. Having come to power during a special election in late 3047 following a no-confidence vote against the then-ruling party, Prime Minister Malkiewicz now finds themself left with the choice of whether to call the election early, hold it at its usual time between quarters two and three, or wait until the end of the year when various laws would compel them to hold it. Wildly successful in their efforts to free the people of the Outback from misrule by the Federated Suns, responsible for a vast increase in prosperity within the Helghan Republic, and having strengthened the Republic's alliance with its neighbours, Gemini Malkiewicz and their government enjoys broad support domestically and internationally and would ordinarily be considered a shoo-in for reelection. However, despite these successes and others, the Gemini government's repeated interventions in the Inner Sphere and the growing exhaustion of Helghan citizens towards the wars have left some wondering if a more dovish platform might prove more popular with the public.
As per the promises made in late August, the year's final quarter saw a series of referendums held across the former Trinity League to decide the ultimate fate of the systems there, millions turning out to vote in the first democratic movement seen in the region in countless years. The recipients of substantial support from the Helghan Republic, public attitudes toward Helghan ranged from merely positive to more patriotic than Helghan patriots, the only real question on commentators' lips being whether those positive feelings would translate to support for joining the Republic or if independence would win out. Prepared over three months and carried out in a mere week, the referendums on joining the Republic proved difficult, nerve wracking, and ultimately successful for Helghan, every single system in the region voting to join the Republic as member-states in a complete vindication of the Malkiewicz government's actions.
Greeted with celebration throughout Helghan space and the former Trinity League, the addition of so many backwater systems has nonetheless generated some concern within the Helghan civil service. Backwaters before the Capellan deserters arrived and only somewhat developed in the years between their takeover and Operation Telemachus, the half-dozen systems now represent an unprecedented drain on the Republic's coffers and a potential distraction during a critical time. Though the recently begun System Upgrade Program will undoubtedly shoulder the burden, the sheer number of planets and people added to the Republic may require additional expenditures so as to avoid a similar situation to what's currently occurring in the Taurian Concrdat's newly integrated regions.
Aurigan Coalition
In positive news from the Aurigan Coalition, the crew aboard the Wa'a Kaulua have reportedly completed the first 250-light year leg of their journey across the Outer Rim Defence initiative—the purpose-built long-range exploration vessel making good time despite the occasional layover to allow civilian astronomers time to image the craft. Gaining fans with every Taurian system visited and every interview held, the 200,000-ton explorer and its four hundred or so crewmembers have experienced few difficulties on their journey; every system aboard the craft working according to spec. Though expected to continue for a few dozen light years more next quarter, March 3051 will see the vessel well on its way to the Canopian fringe, that leg of the journey eagerly anticipated by Canopian (and Helghan) spaceflight enthusiasts.
Continuing earlier efforts to draw Herotitus into its warm embrace, Q4 3050 saw the Aurigan Coalition extend generous developmental loans to the nearby system; millions of C-Bills handed over to the planetary government under some quite generous terms. Designed to build up multiple areas of Herotitus' society, the loans feature low interest rates and few stipulations beyond the requirement to have a plaque thanking the Coalition on any structure built with the funds. A charitable gift by any measure, the move has brought the Coalition great popularity with the planetary government and population, and a sharp uptick in public sentiment has been noted by Helghan analysts. Done to increase the system's value and make the thought of union with the Coalition more palatable to even the most staunchly independent-minded inhabitant, it seems only a matter of time until the Republic's ally absorbed one of the region's few remaining independent governments.
Capellan Confederation
As expected by observers from across the Inner Sphere, late December bore witness to the opening of two additional 1,000,000-ton capacity slipways in the Capellan Confederation; the honeycomb structures are the product of countless millions of person-hours of labour by humans and machines alike. Opened to much fanfare by one of Tormano Liao's top deputies, the launch of the orbital slipways brings the total number in the Capellan Confederation to four, 33% more than what the Helghan Republic can boast. Unsurprisingly, within days of the slipways being opened, they were immediately put to work constructing another pair of Fenghuang class Cruisers for the ever-growing Capellan Navy, their estimated completion date hovering around June-July 3053.
In a move that is no doubt the culmination of many months of quiet negotiation between the Capellan Confederation and the Magistracy of Canopus, mid-November saw a joint announcement by the states informing their allies that they have signed a deal that will see Capellan tertiary educators provide long-term assistance to universities throughout the Magistracy. Having established many new universities in recent years to satisfy local demand and increase the general education level of her citizens, Magestrix Emma Centrella has spent vast amounts of effort and even more money seeking personnel to staff them. While Helghan has naturally proven her first port of call time and again and has provided many educators over the years, teachers from the Aurigan Coalition, Taurian Concordat, and even the Free Worlds League have been enticed to make the journey—permanently or otherwise. With the signing of the deal between the Capellan Confederation and the Magistracy of Canopus, it seems the Magistracy's education needs have been met for the foreseeable future, though it remains an open question if it will stay that way for long.
Magistracy of Canopus
Speaking of the Magistracy of Canopus, late 3050 saw a further six Canopus-class frigates launched from Canopian slipways; the half-dozen vessels brought the total number of Canopus class to eighteen and the total warship count of the Canopian Navy to twenty-four. Commanded by an increasingly capable officer corps and crewed by extremely well-educated enlisted personnel, the reputation of the Canopian Navy has grown by leaps and bounds over a mere handful of years, and their dress uniforms remain the envy of the galaxy despite what some Helghan personnel have claimed. Expected to continue investing in their navy given warships' obvious utility as warfighting and anti-piracy platforms, many within the ORDI look forward to the day Canopian vessels form a major component in ORDI task forces.
To the delight of fans of gladiatorial mech games throughout the galaxy— and Helghan fans, in particular—December 3050 saw Hardcore's yearly mech games won by Helghan native Constantin Riber. The second-place finisher of last year's games, Constantin piloted his mech, a 90-ton Highlander affectionately known as the Rusalka, to victory despite fierce competition by rival Bunny Giménez and a relative newcomer to the scene, the Capellan Dimka Ruan. The winner of Hardcore's 3049 games, Giménez was the crowd favourite to win the 3050 tournament but found Constantine and Dimka far more challenging to overcome than initially anticipated and placed third out of the three. Meanwhile, former third-place finisher Aubrianna Stone retired early from the games to serve in the Magistracy Armed Forces, and filtered propaganda footage of her unit in action has proven popular across the Magistracy, the MAF earning substantial financial support from the public.
Claiming the championship cup for his home stable, the Chimera Commandos, Constantin Riber will undoubtedly return next year to defend his victory and retain the trophy; Bunny Giménez and the newly-famous Dimka Ruan are certain to return as well.
In more scientifically minded news, late 3050 saw researchers in the Magistracy of Canopus unveil a technological breakthrough many years in the making, geneticists there having perfected the process of creating targeted gene plagues. A game changer for nations seeking to colonise planets with forms of life that are notably hostile to human biology—be they disease-causing microorganisms or man-eating plants—the Canopian gene plagues are capable of wiping out entire species with little to no blowback on more desirable forms of life. The organic equivalent of smart bombs, these precision biological weapons can reportedly be made so exacting in their targeting that the scientists responsible for their development have begun claiming that a Terran house cat could inhale a virus intended for European wildcats and not be infected—a bold claim from sources notorious for their conservatism when it comes to such things.
Seeking to showcase the effectiveness of their tool as a terraforming agent, the scientists responsible assembled a demonstration in which they exposed various life forms from Appian to virii engineered to seek out and destroy the recently identified brain-eating protozoa that has been the cause of so much misery on the planet. In just a few hours, much to the shock of the scientists' counterparts across the Periphery, 100% of the targeted protozoa had been killed by the virus, while all other life forms showed no sign of ever having been exposed. A joint venture between ORDI states, the research has already been shared with Canopus' allies, and many have begun to wonder when they can expect the colonisation of Appian to start and by who.
Taurian Concordat
In a surprise move by the Taurian Concordat, it appears that the militantly defensive nation has bowed to growing pressure in its recently absorbed coreward expanse, the Calderon government announcing a temporary pause on all new constructions for an unspecified length of time. Viewed as an unnecessary expense by many of the Concordat's newest citizens, the Taurian shipbuilding program had been the target of increasingly pointed criticism by an angered populace and a vulnerable point for the newly inaugurated Edward Calderon. While this pause on new ship constructions has not reached the nation's expansion of shipbuilding facilities—three more 500kt slipways opened in December—many within the Concordat are hopeful that the funds freed up will help expand rights and services in the nation's new backwater and the newly absorbed systems established by the Far-Lookers.
As if that wasn't sign enough of the seriousness with which the Concordat is taking complaints from the coreward reaches, December 3050 saw Edge Industries and Taurus Territorial Industries unveil a jointly designed hospital ship to a surprised public; the turn to medical shipbuilding very unexpected considering the history of both corporations as arms manufacturers. The brainchild of TTI CEO Brett Lambert, a close friend of Protector Calderon and Dr Eoin, the Nightingale class is a 150,000-ton warp-capable hospital ship intended to support frontier solar systems suffering from an acute lack of medical care, the aftermath of a natural disaster, or civil conflict. Able to provide top-of-the-line medical care thanks to the state-of-the-art medical technologies aboard and the ease of reconfiguring the vessel's loadout, the first Nightingale will launch sometime in the next three to four months and begin providing medical care shortly after.
With the habitat's outer shell completed late last quarter, the October-December period saw Far-Lookers in the Burton system begin to fill the cylindrical megastructure with soil, water, and air: a slew of asteroids positioned in advance descended upon by hungry mining craft that attached themselves like limpets to their icy surfaces. Though small by the heady standards of the O'Neill Cylinder's inventor, Gerard K. O'Neill, the Burton cylinder will require nearly 600,000,000 tons of soil, 260,000,000 tons of air, and many times that amount of water before it is complete. Though water and air are easy to acquire even in space's barren expanse—the substances both recoverable from the water ice covering the collected asteroids—the needed quantity of soil can only be provided by asteroid regolith, chemical plants and genetically engineered bacteria converting the waste product of ice and air harvesting into bioactive material. Expected to last many times longer than the cylinder's construction phase, making it habitable for human life will undoubtedly prove an absorbing challenge for the Far-Lookers, and its realisation will prove a fantastic feather in the cap of the Taurian Concordat.
United Rimward Collective
Once again proving the adage that no good deed is ever left unpunished, Q4 3050 saw the situation in the United Rimwards Collective continue to devolve as tensions between the Neo-Jacobnists and Maoist-Gaullists rose precipitously. Fellow travellers during the Outback crisis only in so much as they both wished to do away with Federated Suns' nobility, the Neo-Jacobinists' recent moves against URC Marxists and the Jacobinists' accusations of malfeasance against the Maoists have resulted in increasingly violent confrontations between supporters of the two groups despite the presence of Helghan peacekeepers across the nation's territory. Though not quite so bad as the situation between the Marxists and Neo-Jacobinists—the latter having successfully driven most of the former underground and the rest to the capital of Firgrove—battle lines are already being drawn between the Jacobins, whose support base primarily resides in the nation's urban regions, and the Maoists, whose supporters are largely rural. Though what the future may hold for the region remains unclear, many within the Republic worry that the power struggle between the nation's three major factions may devolve into open conflict should the worst come to pass.
Clan Invasion (Varied)
It began just as it began the last time, Kerensky's Children surging forth over previously static frontlines as they sought to overwhelm the Inner Sphere's defenders with their advanced technology and superior MechWarriors—warships laden with dropships arriving in two dozen solar systems in the blink of an eye. Striking forth in mid-December with the same aggression they've displayed throughout the invasion, Clan forces all but threw themselves at their foe across a front half as wide as the Inner Sphere itself, a year of rest seeing their vitality restored despite the bitter fighting that preceded it. Alerted to their arrival by the telltale flash of hyperspace travel, troops on a score of worlds found themselves rousted from their beds or pulled away from their labours by wailing sirens and blaring radios.
This time, however, the attack did not come out of the darkness of the wider galaxy, nor did its preparations go unnoticed by the nations of the Inner Sphere and Periphery. On Clan-held planets, hidden within restless populations cowed by the threat of force or cloaked in the depths of space, local guerrillas, spy satellites, and surveillance vessels reported the inevitable troop buildup despite the Clans' jamming efforts, images and sensor readings dribbling in across the occupied territories. Gifted to Spheroid governments and their rimward allies, this information—and a year's worth of fortification efforts—bought defenders precious time to prepare for the onslaught, a line of fortifications unsurpassed since the days of the Star League constructed on worlds as far apart as Baebeski and Echo, and troops placed on alert mere weeks before the invasion resumed.
Stationed in the Free Rasalhague Republic, ORDI troops and their commanders could only watch in mounting frustration as the long-anticipated Clan Invasion began once more with thrusts on either side of the heavily defended Free Republic, news channels bursting to life with reports of Clan warships spotted in the Lyran Commonwealth and Draconis Combine. In under two weeks, despite fierce resistance from the defenders and a bloody toll reaped by their defences, Clan forces seized control of two dozen Lyran and Draconis worlds before the New Year; the overwhelming number of warriors deployed against the defenders safeguarded from interception by yet more invader warships. Only in Shaula and Altenmarkt did the Clans dare show their faces against the ORDI, the former an attempted raid by Clan Wolf torn to shreds by the ORDI-Dragoon defenders, and the latter seeing a Clan Snow Raven Essex II jump in and wait for ORDI warships to make preparations to warp to the sun, before jumping out without ever engaging; the captains of the vessels electing not to follow for fear of being caught out of position.
However, despite not facing the fury of the renewed Clan assault, ORDI intelligence assets located throughout Clan-held systems and the increasingly communicative nature of Inner Sphere states soon provided Commodore Ostergaard and his superiors with several unpleasant revelations.
The first, and perhaps least surprising, discovery was that of the presence of several new Clans present in the conflict: analysis of hastily snapped pictures, dimly remembered logos, and overheard battle cries revealing that Clans Ghost Bear, Goliath Scorpion, and Steel Viper have joined the invasion; the first two attacking the Lyran Commonwealth, and the latter striking out against the Draconis Combine. The second revelation, meanwhile, was of Clan warship groups gathering at two distinct locations corewards of the frontline, analysis by military intelligence personnel suggesting that at least twelve warships of varying classes are busy mustering near Trell and at least thirty are mustering near Pomme De Terre. Finally, and perhaps the most bitter revelation, was the discovery of Clan warships equipped with Petrusite-based energy shielding—long-range surveillance footage taken by ORDI stay behind troops showing a McKenna class battleship surrounded by a telltale halo of blue light. Though doubtlessly primitive compared to modern energy shielding systems, the mere existence of Clan energy shielding is concerning for obvious reasons.
Federated Suns
Coming as a surprise to only those who have been living under a rock for the past half-decade, December 3050 played host to a slew of launch ceremonies in the Federated Suns: four Reynard Destroyers, two Chevalier Frigates, and two of the newly-named Reeve class leaving FedSun slipways with a few weeks of one another, and four 200-kt slipways converted into their 500-kt siblings.
According to the design notes intercepted by Helghan spies, the Reeve class is a 500-kiloton warship intended to combat certain unnamed rimward powers who utilise a preponderance of small craft in their naval doctrine. Featuring ten docking collars—the most a craft its size can boast—thirty-nine sub-capital lasers, over a hundred laser anti-missile systems, seventy medium lasers, and just enough BPL launchers to threaten a capital ship, the Reeve is clearly designed to support other AFFS warships in operations against the Outer Rim Defence Initiative. Though not a particularly threatening craft, the Reeve can effectively defend itself and its charges against sub-capital threats thanks to its armament and speed while delivering a bloody nose to any capital vessel that thinks it is easy pickings.
Worse still, at least from the point of view of Helghan warship captains, the same spies that delivered the Reeve's design notes have also uncovered evidence that FedSun engineers have devised a swath of new assault dropships for the explicit purpose of combating the Republic's small craft advantage. While details on the designs are lacking, unguarded comments made in earshot of ORDI spies indicate that these new dropships can outpace many aerospace designs in ORDI arsenals; an astonishing claim if proven true.
Free Worlds League
Likewise, the October-December period saw the Free Worlds League welcome four additional valour class warships into the ranks of its navy; the quarter of vessels reportedly suffered some minor issues during their shakedown cruise, but otherwise turned out well. Meanwhile, the same period saw League workers complete construction work on four 500,000-ton slipways across the nation's industrialised interior, reports from what few assets the Republic holds in the region suggesting that the League has started a staggered build program that will see six warships delivered every three months.
In substantially more interesting news than the Inner Sphere's continued naval buildup, the tail end of the year saw the comparatively well-liked Captain-General Thomas Marik take advantage of his reputation and political influence to deliver a coup to the Free World League Military. After a tough season of campaigning that featured many a public dinner and doubtlessly many more private ones, the latest leader of the Free Worlds League held a press conference in the nation's capital announcing the final abolishment of the Home Defense Act that had so hamstrung the FWLM's ability to prosecute a war in years past. Already reduced from its height thanks to an inconclusive 5th Succession War, the ever-encroaching forces of the Clans appear to have been the final shove needed to tip support for abolishing the act over the line, with League news sources indicating that vote for abolishment was split 60:40—an impressive showing for the Captain-General!
The product of many years of work by Thomas Mariks and those Mariks that came before him, the final dismemberment of the act has freed up a great many regional regiments for service in the nation's military; complaints against the move understandably quiet given the recent resumption of hostilities. Already a superior fighting force to what it had been only a few decades ago, the end of the Home Defence Act will turbocharge the military's ongoing restructuring—funded by arms sales across the galaxy—and improve the nation's ability to fend off the Clans should they somehow make past Terra.
Lyran Commonwealth
Much to the relief of those watching the Clan's progress with worry, the end of the year saw the Lyran Commonwealth launch four more Thor-class frigates to join the twelve already present; all sixteen cast towards the onrushing Clans. Simultaneously, the end of December saw work on four additional 500,000-ton slipways completed by Lyran workers, Tharkad, Donegal, Tetersen, and Eutin boasting three slipways each. Almost certainly going to prove vital in efforts to slow the Clans' advance, newly released propaganda pieces from the Commonwealth have reported a massive expansion of the nation's planned navy; construction on a slew of vessels reported.
Speaking of: the sudden restart of the Clan Invasion was met with a massive propaganda campaign by the Lyran Commonwealth—posters, flyers, radio programs, TV advertisements, pre-movie newsreels, speeches from the Archon, and a dozen other mechanisms exhorting the Lyran people into resisting the Clanners.
Painted, not unfairly, as fascistic eugenicists who seek to destroy all that the Lyran people hold dear, the Clans have been positioned as despoilers of peace and monsters that must be resisted at all costs; images from across the frontlines and recaptured territories used to support these claims. A dramatic evolution of the Lyran state's previous propaganda—which presented the Clans as a dangerous but relatively conventional foe—the change in tack has reportedly led to mass signups by Lyran citizens and a burst of war bond sales larger than any that came before it. Reminiscent of similar messages made for American audiences during Earth's Second World War, some within the Republic and beyond have begun to wonder—and hope—that a similar story will play out in the current age: The Clans having hopefully awoken a sleeping giant.
Draconis Combine
Coming just in time considering the recent relaunch of the Clan Invasion, late December 3050 saw the Draconis Combine open an astounding eight 500,000-ton slipways—four built across Luthien, two in Avon despite its neutral status, and two hastily finished in Asgard after delays imposed by the previous invasion by Clan Jade Falcon. Valuable to both Combine and Clans alike, the construction facilities had made it through the conflicts that tore through the repressive state more or less intact, and heroic efforts were made to complete them upon their recapture by House Kurita. Doubtlessly recognising that warships are a must for the nation's continued survival in the face of the Clan assault, reports made by ComStar's news service indicate that the Combine has begun a colossal shipbuilding program, all eight slipways roaring with the sounds of industry.
Operation Santiago (Clan Invasion Response)
Note: The Naval and Ground Capacities will improve as the Clans approach, so keep that in mind as you're making plans.
Note: Thanks to the Parthian-class Mobile Shipyard, ships can now make semi-major repairs in the field (this is intentionally left vague because I'm not simulating each ship)
Naval Support Capacity: 18/18 [Base: 6] (use the naval upkeep values) Ground Support Capacity: 3.95/4.0 [Base: 0.75] (use the transport size value) Navy (18/18 Naval Support Capacity)
Making matters worse, a pair of Capellan Carson II-class frigates acting on fresh intelligence arrived at the planned interception site only to find that not only was the expected convoy not there but that it had never been there—an investigation of the surrounding space uncovering a satellite of Clan manufacture containing ECM gear used to spoof the presence of a JumpShip convoy.
The second revelation, meanwhile, was of Clan warship groups gathering at two distinct locations corewards of the frontline, analysis by military intelligence personnel suggesting that at least twelve warships of varying classes are busy mustering near Trell and at least thirty are mustering near Pomme De Terre. Finally, and perhaps the most bitter revelation, was the discovery of Clan warships equipped with Petrusite-based energy shielding—long-range surveillance footage taken by ORDI stay behind troops showing a McKenna class battleship surrounded by a telltale halo of blue light. Though doubtlessly primitive compared to modern energy shielding systems, the mere existence of Clan energy shielding is concerning for obvious reasons.
Five C-Bills says they are planning a Kantai Kessen style Decisive Battle. They want to build a giant death ball of refit ships and create a situation where all our fleet is forced to come together for them to hammer.
The Draconis Combine and Lyran Commonwealth were throwing a lot of military into retake there lost worlds, and now the clans have retaken some of those worlds back, i wonder how the DC and LC trained and veteran military units most have lost a lot, would start thinking that they are start gonna send green untrained units to the frontlines
A joint venture between ORDI states, the research has already been shared with Canopus' allies, and many have begun to wonder when they can expect the colonisation of Appian to start and by who.
I have wanted to colonize Appian for so long, but we just got the former TL worlds. Though the Magistracy almost certainly doesn't want it, and the Taurian's have an even worse world absorption problem. So it's more of a question of if the Aurigan want it? I don't think they do, they'd probably rather get the last few populated independent worlds within their reach.
So we can probably still get it, but there won't be any development for a bit.
You know shit's hit the fan when the Clans do any type of espionage outside their home.
Five C-Bills says they are planning a Kantai Kessen style Decisive Battle. They want to build a giant death ball of refit ships and create a situation where all our fleet is forced to come together for them to hammer.
I do think we'd lose the BC if it had to fight at a numerical disadvantage, mostly because it's more likely theyd try to close in and pull a kamikaze. Still, this seems like the best opportunity for a set piece naval battle.
I do think we'd lose the BC if it had to fight at a numerical disadvantage, mostly because it's more likely theyd try to close in and pull a kamikaze. Still, this seems like the best opportunity for a set piece naval battle.
I'm less worried about Kamikaze attacks, depending on what Clan's involved. Probably the one of two ways that a multi-Clan battlefleet is going to happen, is:
1. They're existing and long-standing political allies.
2. The ilKhan is leading the fleet.
Other than that, they're going to split up to make individual engagements within the larger battle. I'd also say an issue will be how widespread energy shielding is. If it's only on a certain weight class or larger classes have superior shields, then we're going to have an advantage. But if it's a standard thing across the board, the math may swing back against us.
I´m having suspicions that the alliance (I hope there aren´t Helghans) may have traitors that are helping the Clans, this conjeture was made because of the question of how they are gaining Petrusite.
