To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)

[Briefvoice]

Captain's Log, USS Courageous, Stardate 25361.4 - Captain Rosalee McAdams

The engineering crew is running some tests of minor warp drive modifications. Nothing major, I fear, but nonetheless, they promise a measurable improvement in efficiency. A percentage point here and there does eventually begin to add up, after all. As a result, we are in high orbit around Torquedes V, with a number of our engineers making space walks to perform works on the currently vacuum exposed warp nacelles.

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A hint that travel times might eventually be reduced across the board?

Captain's Log, USS Odyssey, Stardate 25362.4 - Captain Langa Mbeki

We are examining the systems near our new potential friends, the Laio, and we have been met by one of their prospectors. We are hosting some of their scientists aboard at present. They are amazed by the facilities on the Odyssey, which despite the way they are slowly falling behind the state of the art in the Federation, are over a century beyond where the Laio are.

[Gain option for BR mining colony at Ulen Gao VII - 20 (25) br/yr]
[Gain +25 with Laio]

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A BR colony so not a top priority, but I agree this makes the Laio a much higher priority target for a diplomatic push. Having them, the Honiani, and the Yan-Ros on board makes for a strong 'line' of Federation affiliates coreward of Rigel.

First Officer's Log, SKS Basilica of Lakhept, Cathedral-Year 5355/2/5 - Commander Jennifer Zhang

A year has passed in a flash with the Honiani. I have visited the Koliate Tower, the Serene Arch, the Oun-Aankhat, and a bevy of other cultural places the Honiani hold dear. I spent a few months being drilled on Honiani systems and protocols, and had a brief stint aboard a little old Parish-class ship, the Forthright. I thought I was being taken unseriously for a while, actually, but after that, and a quick stint aboard a Reliquary-class cruiser, they have bestowed upon me a tremendous honour. The second year of my exchange with the Honiani will see me serve as first officer aboard their flagship, the Basilica of Lakhept.

This thing weighs in at four megatons. My last two postings were a Centaur and a Constellation, and I had gotten accustomed to cramped, utilitarian confines. And more than just big, this ship is beautiful, even to a species with a distinctly different sense of beauty.

Right now, I can say that we're heading back towards Federation space, to help conduct diplomacy with United Earth at the Vega Starbase. I have been assured I will not be required to do anything contrary to my oaths to Starfleet, and I'll be kept at arms length from the negotiations beyond making some introductions.

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Nice to see Zhang is doing well!

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 25633.6 - Captain Iorinn Grann

A passing Caitian Fathership noticed a few odd readings from a system where an old supernova occurred, and we have gone to investigate. The stellar debris, it seems, has been steadily cooling, and to our surprise a great deal of matter is falling into a steady, if distant, orbit around the remaining neutron star. Stellar wind from the degenerate matter is mixing with the decaying isotopes generated by the r-process and creating a number of interesting materials that can be harvested with some proper safety precautions.

[Gain SR mining colony: Peco Sigma system, +10 (15) SR /yr - Near Merfara]

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Very nice! In fact, specially so since this mining colony would be in the center of Ferasa sector rather than somewhere vulnerable off in unclaimed space.

Captain's Log, USS Torbriel, Stardate 25634.1 - Captain Diego Zaardmani

"Dammit, Commodore, I'm a scientist, not a snake-charmer."

Probably not the smartest thing I've ever said to a superior officer. In any event, it didn't help; I've still been sent on a diplomatic mission. With the arrival of Romulans at Sol, the Federation Diplomatic Service is frantically throwing missions out to check in with the member worlds and affiliates, even if they're largely doing so using as many different covers as they can At least, that's what the Ambassador indicated.

Our mission was attending an impromptu attendance at a tech-sharing seminar at Indoria. They have a very unusual approach to science, I'll say that much. They are very clever, however, and we picked up a few things we relay home.

[Gani +5pp]

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See, if our Science ships are going to be sent on diplomatic missions like this, that's why we need the Kepler.

Captain's Log, USS Courageous, Stardate 25634.7

A crewman is in custody now.

This has been a harrowing experience, coordinating with the JAG office, with the legal departments, getting advice from flag officers I know, and fighting for the truth and for the rights of my crew. I can't say that there were winners among the crew, but I feel confident that I can say that the truth won out in the end.

[Post-captaincy, Captain McAdams will have High Politics trait]

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McAdams has learned to play the game.

Sector Comamnder's Log, Gabriel BZ, Stardate 25640.4 - Rear Admiral Ainsworth

I'm wanting to properly investigate the remainder the of the Deva subsector, but I have been constantly positioning and repositioning Task Force 1 to react to the Cardassians. They demonstrate and fade away, but I after the intelligence reports I have been given, I am ill-inclined to go haring off after them. But I don't yet understand why they are continuing to test me like this if they refuse to offer battle.

However, our own mining colonies on Collie have completed, as have the Apiata's big tritanium mine on Sguirri. This let's us focus on some defensive emplacements. With those in place, I will be free to be more aggressive towards these Cardassian scout fleets.

[Collie mining colony complete, gain +10br, +15sr/year]

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'Ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go! I sure hope the Cardassians are merely testing and don't have some sneaky plan in place.

 

[Leila Hann]

I sure hope the Cardassians are merely testing and don't have some sneaky plan in place.

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Have you seen Star Trek?

 

[Kaizuki]

QM/N: ran a smidgen out of time for what I hoped to accomplish...

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Yeah this looks like it was pretty rushed lol.

Spoiler: grammar/spelling

to fall fail

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We are help fly the flag

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We are not such which ship

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different covers as they can At least,

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we picked up a few things we relay home.

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and full intend to drum

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, but I after the

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as have the Apiata's big tritanium mine on Sguirri

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This let's us focus on

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Cleanup list for whenever you get back.

 

[Forgothrax]

Well we found another sr colony last year as well so somewhat at least and thanks to the GBZ we are now getting another 15 SR a year.

I believe we will have 2 sr and 2 brigades colonies available this snakepit, I recommend both of sr with one or two br colonies depending on how much pp we have.

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If we can squeeze out the pp, grabbing the BR colonies means an extra +2pp and +4rp income from colony cores which is nice.

 

[Ato]

Softened at the very least.

Its also kind of heartwarming to see how similar to us the Honiani are despite first impressions. Gifting their technology to younger races who have just discovered warp travel, initiating officer exchanges with little known foreign powers (and making the foreign officer the XO on their flagship), the general attitude that they should leave the stars better than they found them. Their ideology is based on religious rather than secular philosophical precepts, but the end result is very, very Federation in practice.

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I'm now imagining a far future Honiani captain of a Galaxy class who refers to his ship as a cathedral.

 

[al103]

Softened at the very least.

Its also kind of heartwarming to see how similar to us the Honiani are despite first impressions. Gifting their technology to younger races who have just discovered warp travel, initiating officer exchanges with little known foreign powers (and making the foreign officer the XO on their flagship), the general attitude that they should leave the stars better than they found them. Their ideology is based on religious rather than secular philosophical precepts, but the end result is very, very Federation in practice.

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Heh. Materialist-Xenophile-Pacifist vs Spiritualist-Xenophile-?

 

[Void Stalker]

If we can squeeze out the pp, grabbing the BR colonies means an extra +2pp and +4rp income from colony cores which is nice.

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Which is the main reason to grab them, on the other hand two mining colonies is almost as much as a diplo push. It all depends on what our final pp total is and if there are new options.

Also if we do not gain any rp those quarter I would recommend not getting a new tech team this snakepit.

 

[Leila Hann]

Speaking of snakepit options, who else is excited for that heavy industrial park at Sol now that we actually have some pp?

 

[Void Stalker]

Speaking of snakepit options, who else is excited for that heavy industrial park at Sol now that we actually have some pp?

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Not this year at 120 pp it is a huge chunk of pp and we have the Betazed starbase to do, one or two shipyards, mining colonies, diplo pushes...

 

[Steven Kodaly]

I do feel problematic about the fact that this is a paid antidote,

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Surprise, captain! Trade goods are still useful in the 24th century.

The second year of my exchange with the Honiani will see me serve as first officer aboard their flagship, the Basilica of Lakhept.

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If you'll pardon the exceedingly technical terminology, holee shiiit! These folks ain't screwing around.

We are examining the systems near our new potential friends, the Laio, and we have been met by one of their prospectors.

. . .

[Gain option for BR mining colony at Ulen Gao VII - 20 (25) br/yr]
[Gain +25 with Laio]

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While Starfleet could use all the mining colonies it can get, it may be more diplomatic not to claim this one.

Our mission was attending an impromptu attendance at a tech-sharing seminar at Indoria.

. . .

[Gani +5pp]

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While I'm totally okay with this, are you sure we were supposed to be awarded political points for a scientific conference?

I have been constantly positioning and repositioning Task Force 1 to react to the Cardassians.

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Hmm, how can we help Ainsworth retake the initiative out there?

 

[Leila Hann]

While Starfleet could use all the mining colonies it can get, it may be more diplomatic not to claim this one.

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Sharing it 50/50 may be a better option still. Not because we need the BR, but because continually operating a mining colony alongside the Laio will help normalize our relations and create an opportunity for cultural diffusion.

 

[Ato]

Speaking of snakepit options, who else is excited for that heavy industrial park at Sol now that we actually have some pp?

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Indeed we must construct the great forge throne upon the slopes of Olympus Mons, from which the Fabricator General will watch over he vast and industrious orders of the Mechanicum.

 

[Leila Hann]

Indeed we must construct the great forge throne upon the slopes of Olympus Mons, from which the Fabricator General will watch over he vast and industrious orders of the Mechanicum.

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...okay, maybe we need to stop spending so much time around the Honiani after all.

 

[Iron Wolf]

Heh. Materialist-Xenophile-Pacifist vs Spiritualist-Xenophile-?

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I think the Fed could also be Materialist-Xenophile-Individualist. Hm, except that means, in Stellaris terms, more capitalism.

If it's pacifist as one of the triads we're probably taking a happiness hit for changing our policies to allow the GBZ.

Hopefully the Houianai (fuck) are fanatic xenophiles and not spiritualist

 

[Briefvoice]

While I'm totally okay with this, are you sure we were supposed to be awarded political points for a scientific conference?

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It was a stealth diplomatic mission disguised as attendance at a scientific conference. "How do you feel about us signing a non-aggression pact with the Romulans?"

 

[pbluekan]

Hmm, how can we help Ainsworth retake the initiative out there?

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I suspect once the Endurance, Saratoga, and the other one(can't remember which ship), come back she'll be sitting pretty.

On a different note, the Betazed star base opportunity is frankly fantastic and helps us alleviate our garrisoning issues.

 

[Iron Wolf]

On a different note, the Betazed star base opportunity is frankly fantastic and helps us alleviate our garrisoning issues.

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"We're not huge war fans but castles are pretty great! For this proposed lower-deck atrium can we perhaps have a dark, ancient ruins aesthetic? Gotta keep Second House happy."

 

[Ato]

A question. If we could theoretically satisfy the D requirements of a sector with starbases and outposts would we still get event responses?

Maybe there could be a later tech that would allow star bases to respond to events using small craft. As seen in DS9 with the runabouts.

 

[Void Stalker]

A question. If we could theoretically satisfy the D requirements of a sector with starbases and outposts would we still get event responses.

Maybe there could be a later tech that would allow star bases to respond to events using small craft. As seen in DS9 with the runabouts.

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No tech so far allows that. What we do have is mutual support under forward defense which allows ships in border zones to respond to adjacent home sectors.

 

[Nix]

Well we found another sr colony last year as well so somewhat at least and thanks to the GBZ we are now getting another 15 SR a year.

I believe we will have 2 sr and 2 brigades colonies available this snakepit, I recommend both of sr with one or two br colonies depending on how much pp we have.

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We should have 5 colony options:
Castor IV-2, Peco Sigma, Proxima Eridani, Kappa Tau and Ulen Gau VII.

Given that Starfleet Colony Command has 6 colony ships and only two of them are assigned to the GBZ it should be possible to claim four of them, pp allowing, and given that colony ship availability might be an issue in the next few years (three more discoveries this year and we'd be maxed out next year again even if we get four this year) we really should get all their worth out of them when we do have possible work for them. As pointed out many times even the br colonies are worth it for the pp and rp bonuses from research.

 

[Steven Kodaly]

I suspect once the Endurance, Saratoga, and the other one(can't remember which ship), come back she'll be sitting pretty.

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Assuming we don't poach them for other sectors.

It was a stealth diplomatic mission disguised as attendance at a scientific conference.

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That'll teach me to skim.

 

[Briefvoice]

So in my latest fleet distribution proposal, I actually don't sent the Endurance back, replacing it with other ships. In addition to its value for Event response, minimizing the number of Excelsiors means minimizing the number of ships that need bigger than 1mt berths to repair. 1mt berths are relatively easy to come by. Excelsior berths much less so. In addition, I pull all the Centaurs out of the GBZ in favor of as many Miranda-As as possible. Check it out. It's not reducing Ainsworth's combat strength, just swapping it out to be made up of different ships.

Spoiler: Fleet Distribution: All Miranda-As to the GBZ

Fleet Strength Changes
Endurance (Excelsior) returns from repair 2314.Q2
Shield (Miranda-A) returns from repair, 2314.Q2
2 Centaur-As complete, 2314.Q2
Constitution-B complete, 2314.Q2
Refit of Bon Vivant and T'Kumbra (now Miranda-A) complete, 2314.Q2
Renaissance complete, 2314.Q2
3 Miranda-As complete, 2314.Q3
Intrepid and Eketha (Mirandas) go into refit, 2314.Q3
Saratoga (Constitution-B) returns from repair, 2314.Q4

Sol Sector – Requires D1

• Current – 1 Constitution-B (5) [Hood], 2 Constellations (6) [Selaya, Vigour], 1 Miranda (2) [Dryad], Starbase 1 (5) = 18D
• 2314.Q2 – No change.
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: No change.

Vulcan Sector – Requires D12

• Current – 1 Constellation (3) [Sappho], 2 Mirandas (4) [Intrepid, Svai], Starbase I (5) = 12D
• 2314.Q2 - 1 Constellation (3) [Sappho], 1 Centaur-A (3) [Winterwind], 2 Mirandas (4) [Intrepid, Svai], Starbase I (5) = 15D
• 2314.Q3 - 1 Constellation (3) [Sappho], 1 Centaur-A (3) [Winterwind], 1 Miranda (2) [Svai], Starbase I (5) = 13D
• Notes: Winterwind sent here from GBZ in Q2, then Intrepid sent to refit in Q3.

Andor Sector – Requires D9

• Current - 1 Constellation (3) [Docana], 1 Miranda (2) [Calypso], Starbase I (5) = 10D
• 2314.Q2 – No change.
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• No change.

Tellar Sector – Requires D9

• Current – 1 Miranda (2) [Thunderhead], Starbase I (5), Extra Outposts (5) = 12D
• 2314.Q2 – 1 Miranda (2) [Thunderhead], 1 Constellation (3) [Stalwart], Starbase I (5), Extra Outposts (5) = 15D
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: Stalwart sent here in Q2.

Amarkia Sector – Requires D15

• Current - 2 Centaur-A (6) [Blizzard, Lightning], Starbase I (5), Extra Outposts (5) = 16D
• 2314.Q2 – No change.
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: No change.

Ferasa Sector – Requires D15

• Current - 1 Centaur-A (3) [Yukikaze], 1 Constellation (3) [Stalwart], 1 Constitution-A (5) [Cheron], Starbase I (5) = 16D
• 2314.Q2 – 1 Renaissance (5) [Renaissance], 1 Constitution-A (5) [Cheron], Starbase I (5) = 15D
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: Renaissance moved here when it finishes in Q2. Stalwart moved back to Tellar Sector, and Yukikaze sent to SBZ.

Rigel Sector – Requires D9

• Current – 1 Centaur-A (3) [Gale], 1 Oberth [Suvek] (1), Starbase I (5) = 9D
• 2314.Q2 – No change.
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: No change.

Apinae Sector – Requires D12

• Current - 1 Centaur-A (3) [Zephyr], 1 Oberth (1) [Torbriel], Starbase I (5) [Grand Hive of Apinae], Extra Outposts [5] = 14D
• 2314.Q2 – No change.
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: No change.

Romulan Border Zone – Requires D12

• Current - 1 Excelsior (6) [Excelsior], 1 Oberth [Hawking] (1), Starbase I (5) = 12D
• 2314.Q2 – 1 Excelsior (6) [Excelsior], 1 Centaur-A (3) [new SF build #2], 1 Oberth [Hawking] (1), Starbase I (5) = 15D
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: New Centaur-A SF build #2 sent here after completion.

Klingon Border Zone – Requires D6

• Current – 1 Excelsior (6) [Thirishar], 1 Oberth (1) [Inspire] = D7
• 2314.Q2 – 1 Excelsior (6) [Thirishar], 1 Centaur-A (3) [new SF build #1], 1 Oberth (1) [Inspire] = D10
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• New SF #1 Centaur-A build sent here in Q2.

Cardassian Border Zone – Requires D10

• Current - 1 Excelsior (6) [Salnas], 1 Oberth (1) [T'Mir], Starbase I (5) [Lapycorias] = 12D
• 2314.Q2 - 1 Excelsior (6) [Salnas], 1 Centaur-A (3) [Bull], 1 Oberth (1) [T'Mir], Starbase I (5) [Lapycorias] = 15D
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: Bull sent here from GBZ in Q2.

Sydraxian Border Zone – Requires D9

• Current – 1 Constitution-B (5) [Defiant], 1 Miranda (2) [Eketha], Starbase I (5) [Vega] = 12D
• 2314.Q2 – 1 Excelsior (6) [Endurance], 1 Centaur-A (3) [Yukikaze], 1 Miranda (2) [Eketha], Starbase I (5) [Vega] = 16D
• 2314.Q3 - 1 Excelsior (6) [Endurance], 1 Centaur-A (3) [Yukikaze], Starbase I (5) [Vega] = 14D
• Notes: Endurance and Yukikaze sent here in Q2, while Defiant is sent to GBZ. Eketha sent to refit in Q3.

Gabriel Border Zone – Requirement Left to Starfleet judgment

• Current – 2 Excelsiors (12) [Kumari, Avandar], 3 Constitution-B (15) [Korolev, Republic, Valiant], 1 Constellation (3) [Challorn], 2 Centaur-A (6) [Bull, Winterwind], 1 Miranda-A (2) [Fidelity] = 41C
• 2314.Q2 - 2 Excelsiors (12) [Kumari, Avandar], 5 Constitution-B (25) [Korolev, Republic, Valiant, Defiant, new Ana Font build #1], 1 Constellation (3) [Challorn], 4 Miranda-A (8) [Fidelity, Shield, T'Kumbra, Bon Vivant] = 54C
• 2314.Q3 - 2 Excelsiors (12) [Kumari, Avandar], 5 Constitution-B (25) [Korolev, Republic, Valiant, Defiant, new Ana Font build #1], 1 Constellation (3) [Challorn], 7 Miranda-A (14) [Fidelity, Shield, T'Kumbra, Bon Vivant, new 40E builds #1, #2, and #3] = 63 C.
• 2314.Q4 - 2 Excelsiors (12) [Kumari, Avandar], 6 Constitution-B (30) [Korolev, Republic, Valiant, Defiant, new Ana Font build #1, Saratoga], 1 Constellation (3) [Challorn], 7 Miranda-A (14) [Fidelity, Shield, T'Kumbra, Bon Vivant, new 40E builds #1, #2, and #3] = 68 C.
• Notes: In Q2: Shield return from repair, T'Kumbra and Bon Vivant come in from refit, Defiant from SBZ, new Ana Font Connie-B posted here, while Bull is pulled to be sent to CBZ and Winterwind pulled to be sent to Vulcan sector. New Miranda-A builds #1 and #2 and #3 sent here in Q3. Saratoga returns in Q4.

Anti-Syndicate Task Force – No fixed Requirement

• Current – 1 Constitution-B [Lexington], 1 Constellation [Kearsage]
• 2314.Q2 – No change.
• 2314.Q3 – No change.
• Notes: No change.

 

[lbmaian]

That's a decent haul. Good to see Jennifer Zhang make an appearance (we paid 10pp for this!).

[Collie mining colony complete, gain +10br, +15sr/year]

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[Gain SR mining colony: Peco Sigma system, +10 (15) SR /yr - Near Merfara]

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With our +5br/yr per BR colony tech bonus and +10sr/yr per SR colony tech bonus, are these:

Collie (built), +10 (15) br/yr, +15 (25) sr/yr
Peco Sigma (option), +10 (15) sr/yr

?

So in my latest fleet distribution proposal, I actually don't sent the Endurance back, replacing it with other ships. In addition to its value for Event response, minimizing the number of Excelsiors means minimizing the number of ships that need bigger than 1mt berths to repair. 1mt berths are relatively easy to come by. Excelsior berths much less so. In addition, I pull all the Centaurs out of the GBZ in favor of as many Miranda-As as possible. Check it out. It's not reducing Ainsworth's combat strength, just swapping it out to be made up of different ships.

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Don't have time to look at this in detail, but I did have a suggestion before that's still applicable:

Another optimization:

Swap Rigel's Gale with Amarkia's Blizzard, since the Gale is blooded and thus has P4.

Or equivalently, to optimize travel times as much as possible, a bit of musical chairs, this time to move the blooded Yukikaze to Amarkia:

Amarkia's Blizzard => Rigel
Rigel's Gale => SBZ
Ferasa's Yukikaze => Amarkia

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[Briefvoice]

Don't have time to look at this in detail, but I did have a suggestion before that's still applicable:

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I'd rather keep the Gale in Rigel. We're currently trying to corral a lot of low-rank affiliates and near-affiliates there, with new First Contacts possible at any time. Gale has been doing a lot of valuable Event response there. I'd rather keep a blooded Centaur-A on duty in that frontier over bringing it back for a mildly higher chance of passing a few anti-Syndicate checks.

 

[AlphaDelta]

2314.Q4 - 2 Excelsiors (12) [Kumari, Avandar], 6 Constitution-B (30) [Korolev, Republic, Valiant, Defiant, new Ana Font build #1, Saratoga], 1 Constellation (3) [Challorn], 7 Miranda-A (14) [Fidelity, Shield, T'Kumbra, Bon Vivant, new 40E builds #1, #2, and #3] = 68 C.

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Why not swap the Challorn for a Constitution or a pair of escorts?