Traveller, The Rise of Empire: A Naval Design, Procurement and Command Quest

4WheelSword · Jul 15, 2024

Home Space Warfare Service

At the time of writing, the Home Space Warfare Branch has begun rapid expansion. With the discovery of the Jump Drive, and the understanding that threats might not be as far away as they might have been, the HSWB has been granted hefty funding to construct new forces.
With the integration of Cassalonese forces in the 14th year through diplomatic methods, the HSWS is expected to grow significantly again.
Annual Budget: 3,980MCr
Dockyard Space: 18,150Dtons
Pilots: 80

Advanced Drive Layouts - TL 9
Improved Plant Efficiencies - TL 9
Quality Hull Construction - TL 10
High-Density Metals - TL 10
Electronics and Sensors - TL10
Command and Control systems - TL10
Enhanced Starship-grade Weapons - TL 9

Major Ships
Frigate, Fleet Escort - HSWS Alaz, HSWS Juno, HSWS Keres, HSWS Nike, HSWS Virtus, HSWS Wadjet, HSWS Zhurong, HSWS Homanos, HSWS Hysminai
Costs per annum: 4.53MCr.
Salaries per annum: 7.14MCr.
Required Pilots: 10

Military Assault Transport - HSWS Banka-Mundi
Costs per annum: 7.763MCr.
Salaries per annum: 25.944MCr.
Required Pilots: 2

Cruiser, Fast Attack - HSWS Kyzaghan (CFA-Bpt), HSWS Rongo (CFA-Apt), HSWS Maha Sona (CFA-Dpt), HSWS Maher (CFA-Cpt), HSWS Segomo (CFA-Bpt)
Costs per annum: 14.8MCr.
Salaries per annum: 21.41MCr.
Required Pilots: 10

Interstellar Cruiser block III - HSWS Apedemak, HSWS Apolake, HSWS Ninurta, HSWS Pallas, HSWS Sakumo, HSWS Tlaloc, HSWS Tohil, HSWS Apolake, HSWS Pallas, HSWS Korravai, HSWS Neto
Costs per annum: 8.496MCr.
Salaries per annum: 13.536MCr.
Required Pilots: 22

Carier, Escort - HSWS Hadad
Costs per annum: 4.5MCr.
Salaries per annum: 8.064MCr.
Required Pilots: 2

Multi-Mission Surveyor - HSWS Agni, HSWS Henshen, HSWS Pushan
Costs per annum: 2.283MCr.
Salaries per annum: 9.18MCr.
Required Pilots: 6

Cruiser, Fast Attack flight III - HSWS Gurzil (CFA-AfIII) (Under construction - 20y06m00w), HSWS Sopdu (CFA-BfIII) (Under construction - 20y08m00w), HSWS Wepwawet (CFA-BfIII) (Under construction - 20y08m00w)
Costs per annum: 8.36MCr.
Salaries per annum: 8.874MCr.
Required Pilots: 6

Frigate, Fast EWAR - HSWS Neit, HSWS Anat, HSWS Maahes, HSWS Menhit
Costs per annum: 2.08MCr.
Salaries per annum: 3.312MCr.
Required Pilots: 4

System Defence Monitor - HSWS Polyphemus (Under construction - 21y10m00w)
Costs per annum: 1.181MCr.
Salaries per annum: 1.83MCr.
Required Pilots: 2

Carier, Escort, block II - HSWS Shala (Under construction - 21y09m02w)
Costs per annum: 4.5MCr.
Salaries per annum: 4.22MCr.
Required Pilots: 2

Support Ships
Flotilla Supply Ship - HSLS Lakapati, HSLS Ikapati
Costs per annum: 4.168MCr.
Salaries per annum: 1.944MCr.

Corvette, Fast Courier - HSLS Calliope, HSLS Clio, HSLS Polyhymnia, HSLS Euterpe, HSLS Terpsichore, HSLS Erato, HSLS Melpomene, HSLS Thalia, HSLS Urania
Costs per annum: 3.646MCr.
Salaries per annum: 5.712MCr.
Required Pilots: 9

Merchant, Modular - HSLS Alakshmi, HSLS Nirriti
Costs per annum: 0.875MCr.
Salaries per annum: 0.888MCr.

Flotilla Supply Ship flight II - HSLS Shaushka
Costs per annum: 1.488MCr.
Salaries per annum: 1.836MCr.

Jump Tug - HSLS Atlas (Under construction - 20y08m00w)

Stationary Forces
Orbital Defence Station - ODS Camulus, ODS Macha, ODS Svetovid
Costs per annum: 1.617MCr.
Salaries per annum: 1.728MCr.

Staging Point Fuelling Station
Costs per annum: 0.237MCr.
Salaries per annum: 0.39MCr.

Heimdall Mining Station
Costs per annum: 0.843MCr.
Salaries per annum: 1.098MCr.

Heimdall Anchorage
Costs per annum: 1.159MCr.
Salaries per annum: 1.344MCr.

Modern Defence Station - Cassalon Platform, Heimdall Platform, Home Platform
Costs per annum: 1.755MCr.
Salaries per annum: 3.96MCr.

Heimdall Diplomatic Station - (Under construction - 20y06m00w)

Modern Defence Station flight II - Aslan Construction (Under construction - 20y06m00w)

System Boat (Mine Layer) - Cassalon, Home, Xyri (Under construction - 20y06m00w), Home (Under construction - 21y00m00w)

Naval Reserve
System Defence Destroyer - HSWS Deimos, HSWS Zelus

Interstellar Monitor - HSWS Caturix

Multi-Mission Vehicle - HSWS Perkūnas

Interstellar Surveyor block II - HSWS Janus, HSWS Culsans

Deep Space Surveyor - HSWS Aditi, HSWS Hanwi, HSWS Tishtrya, HSWS Uenuku

Interstellar Cruiser block IIa - HSWS Kartikeya, HSWS Ullr

Losses
Interstellar Surveyor - HSWS Heimdall
Diplomatic Courier - HSLS Bá Kim
Frigate, Fleet Escort - HSWS Ogun
Frigate, Fleet Escort flight II - HSWS Baal
Interstellar Cruiser block III - HSWS Apolake, HSWS Sekhmet
Deep Hope Mining Station

Total cost of Schools and Infrastructure: 400MCr.
Total ship cost per annum: 70.285MCr.
Total crew salaries per annum: 117.598MCr.
Current Pilot Usage: 75/100

4WheelSword · Jul 16, 2024

Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 16, 2024 at 8:30 AM, finished with 70 posts and 17 votes.

10 people have voted
[X] Plan Follow-Up
-[X] Wait with the mission until first contact package is prepared. Put our foremost diplomats and social scientists on it. It should contain an introduction, our linguistic data, assurance that we mean no harm, an explanation that the scout that dropped the package is part of astro-charting mission, a request to share their linguistic data and the date of the next arrival of the scout ship. That preparation ought to give us time to see whether Xyri visits our system, to do some data analysis from previous jumps and to catch up on Interstellar Cruiser construction.
-[X] Revisit Xyri to drop the first contact package in a buoy. This buoy should include passive sensors and a transmitter, so that we could download the data during our third visit in Xyri.
-[X] During S'taxu mission, aim for different points in the system in an attempt to mitigate the issues with coordination. Staying hidden is still preferred, but if the arrival was detected drop the first contact package as detailed above.
-[X] Build Interstellar Cruisers
--[X] Request a design for Logistical Support Ship, that should be able to drop navigation and sensor buoys, have the means to construct refuelling stations and mining operations, and haul cargo between systems. The first target for expansion should be Sector 00-01.
- Magnificate
- grimely
- Pinniped
- Theonetruelordke
- Tallhart
- Wiadi
- Doubloon
- 0t4n1z3r019
- KNakamura
- Mortenkam
4 people have voted
[X] Set up a diplomatic mission and actually stay long enough to talk this time.
3 people have voted
[X] Additional Interstellar Cruisers
2 people have voted
[X] Intill the issues with jump coordination are fixed, each ship should aim for a different point in system.
- Drahcir
- blankmask
2 people have voted
[X] Something else - write-in
-[X] A first contact (diplomatic) ship
- Drahcir
- blankmask
1 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Guarded Welcome
-[X] Write-In: Based on the current debriefings surrounding our survey of Xyri, tandem jumps of the kind we conducted are highly conspicuous and almost certainly place our new neighbors on a heightened alert that is, needless to say, not beneficial to a peaceful first contact. Therefore, we should conduct our scouting mission to S'taxu with a single ship and the expectation of contact, and do our utmost to appear either a non-threat or, given a hostile response, a novel enough problem that the Nightingale Protocol has time to be carried out. As such, Scout crews should prepare contact messages and simple, non-verbal overtures of friendship in advance of the next jump mission, along with plans for retreat or combat that are as detailed as possible given the intelligence we currently have. Which operational plan-diplomatic or military-is followed upon successful jump transit to S'taxu will be left in the hands of the Scout's crew, but to be unprepared as we were at Xyri will have only negative consequences-either a poor first impression or a decisive military loss.
-[X] Interstellar Scouts. Building more vessels to examine and understand our new neighbors, especially the advanced civilization we know inhabits Xyri, is a necessity. Engaging in an arms race with an unknown bogey will only add to the aggressive first impression they may have of us. No first meeting between worlds should end in gunfire.
- Coyote Niff

Based on the above events, would you like to make any changes to the operational mission doctrine, or should the same standards be maintained for penetration into S'taxu? Wait with the mission until first contact package is prepared. Put our foremost diplomats and social scientists on it. It should contain an introduction, our linguistic data, assurance that we mean no harm, an explanation that the scout that dropped the package is part of astro-charting mission, a request to share their linguistic data and the date of the next arrival of the scout ship. That preparation ought to give us time to see whether Xyri visits our system, to do some data analysis from previous jumps and to catch up on Interstellar Cruiser construction.
- Revisit Xyri to drop the first contact package in a buoy. This buoy should include passive sensors and a transmitter, so that we could download the data during our third visit in Xyri.
- During S'taxu mission, aim for different points in the system in an attempt to mitigate the issues with coordination. Staying hidden is still preferred, but if the arrival was detected drop the first contact package as detailed above.
2,000 tons of yard space are available to the Navy. What would you like to use that space for? Build Interstellar Cruisers
- Request a design for Logistical Support Ship, that should be able to drop navigation and sensor buoys, have the means to construct refuelling stations and mining operations, and haul cargo between systems. The first target for expansion should be Sector 00-01.

Return to Xyri
It takes a month of move-fast-break-things engineering and science for the diplomats, scientists and engineers of Home to put together a package that translates first contact protocols and recommendations into an automated probe that can be dropped into system. The realisation that neither side was willing to be the first to break radio silence and actually communicate leads to the rebuilding of a basic mining drone into a repeater platform. It will contain pre-recorded broadcasts of math equations, imagery, symbolism and basic linguistic models. It will not locate our home system in any way but it will contain a generic map of the local star cluster, etched onto the internal panelling. A 'golden disk' will contain the planform of humaniti, the location of several nearby pulsars that can be easily identified in the night sky and a recorded message of peaceful contact.

It is broadly considered to be the gentlest way to make contact and several mining drones are reconfigured for just such a mission - two for Xyri, and two for S'Taxu.

While the Navy holds its breath for six weeks, eagerly awaiting the deployment of their new cruisers and distributing their current warships amongst the planets in preparation for any kind of a response from the Xyri system, two new cruisers are laid down. Experience with the class will cut the construction time of the HSWS Tlaloc and HSWS Tohil down to sixty percent of the former class-members construction; they will require just seventy-two weeks rather than the one hundred and twenty of their predecessors. They should be completed in '03y08m00w' (Authors note: This is not a calendar date in use in Home. This is a calendar measuring time since the first Navy Day, in Solar years, as that is a useful metric for our purposes. At time of writing, it is '02y01m00w').

Of course, for as long as the scientists and the diplomats might hum and haw over whether or not a return mission is ready, at some point the Surveyors are going to have to make the jump and return to Xyri. Six weeks after their return home and two weeks after the completion of the 'welcome wagon' probes, Janus leads the way to the jumping off point, followed by Heimdall and the SDD Deimos. A time is logged, mission clocks are synchronised and both ships begin their jumps.

A record of the second Xyri mission, time stamped
- Mission Clock Set 0W0D00H-00
- 0W0D00H-33 - Jump Preparations aboard HSWS Janus Complete.
- 0W0D00H-42 - Jump Preparations aboard HSWS Heimdall Complete.
- 0W0D00H-45 - Jump Drives activated.
- 0W6D20H-45 - HSWS Heimdall arrives in Xyri, 106D from Xyri-6.
- 0W6D22H-05 - Drive plume detected amongst Inner planets. Estimated intercept time: 55 hours.
- 0W6D22H-17 - HSWS Heimdall deploys 'Welcome Wagon' probe, begins preparations for return to Home.
- 0W6D22H-24 - HSWS Janus arrives in Xyri, 111D from Xyri-8.
- 0W6D22H-28 - HSWS Heimdall departs Xyri system, less than two hours after arrival.
- 0W7D01H-04 - Drive plume detected amongst Outer planets. Estimated intercept time: 2.4 Days.
- 0W7D01H-31 - HSWS Janus deploys 'Welcome Wagon' probe, begins preparations for return to Home.
- 0W7D01H-57 - HSWS Janus departs Xyri system.
- 1W6D19H-21 - HSWS Janus arrives in Home.
- 1W6D19H-28 - HSWS Heimdall arrives in Home.

Jump Confusion
It is noted with some amusement, that HSWS Janus's time in Xyri was longer than HSWS Heimdall's, but both arrived in system later and returned to Home sooner. The oddities of Jump travel continues to escape our best scientists, but currently it at least seems to be only a minor issue that our strategies can be adapted around.

Four weeks later (02y02m02w), the two ships begin their preparations to jump into S'Taxu for the first time and, given the massiveness of the star at the centre of the system, both planets are forced to jump into the outer planetary orbitals. The HSWS Janus will be aiming to come out of jumps space close to S'Taxu-5, while HSWS Heimdall will be doing the same for S'Taxu-8. They jump, and the Navy holds its breath.

Two weeks later, HSWS Janus returns.

Interview report on the scouting mission into unexplored system S'Taxu, Captain Nuru commanding HSWS Janus
As ordered, the Heimdall and the Janus jumped into S'Taxu, seperated by millions of kilometres and only a little time. The following events were logged on the Janus' sensors several hours after they occurred. We came out of Jump Space not long after the Heimdall, according to our readings of their Jump Flash, close enough to S'Taxu-five that our sensors could give us pretty good images of a giant blue and white planet. Sensors flagged a warning about system traffic transiting close by - we could see drive plumes scattering away from our location, unlike in Xyri. They definitely knew where we were, and they didn't much like it.

I gave the order to prep our little friend and for engineering to start spooling the drives. I wasn't much interested in sticking around waiting for one of these ships to get brave. Nonetheless, I wanted to stick around for as long as possible, gather as much data as we could before we bounced. We spent a few hours with capacitors charged as the drive plumes disappeared behind the gas giant one by one by one. That's when we saw it.

We'd gotten the Heimdall's Jump Flash a couple of hours into our stay, but we saw a whole lot happen all at once. A bunch of tiny drive plumes. Missiles maybe? Couldn't tell at several light-minutes distance. Then Heimdall started burning hard, her grav-plates glowing. These ships are fast when you give them the chance to be. Wish she hadn't needed to be. She was random-walking, trying to throw off whatever was chasing her. At least a few missed. Then a few more didn't. Our sensors think whatever hit her was nuclear, but it was hard to tell. Might have been her fusion plant venting. Whatever else happened, the Heimdall was gone.

Didn't see any signs of escape pods. Couldn't have done much if there were. I ordered the jump back homewards. It was a sombre flight back.

Acquired Information
S'Taxu A : A single, massive A3V blue star
S'Taxu-1 : 466 - A potentially habitable planet scorching hot rock with a thick, humid atmosphere that's entirely unliveable.
S'Taxu-2 : Large Gas Giant
S'Taxu-3 : 345 - A strangely dense planet with an atmosphere that is unusually thick. Overly hot.
S'Taxu-4 : 533 - Inhabited main world, just far enough from the massive star to be temperate.
S'Taxu-5 : Large Gas Giant
S'Taxu-6 : Belt of planetoids and rocks with a highly eccentric orbit
S'Taxu-7 : 758 - An Ice ball with an extremely thing atmosphere.
S'Taxu-8 : 76A - A second ice ball, orbiting in retrograde compared to the rest of the system.

The S'Taxu system contains significant orbital and space traffic, concentrated around the fourth and fifth planets as well as the seventh and eighth. Analysis of weapons technology shows no outwards indications of anything more advanced than Home's technology, but they are clearly far more hostile with it than we would have hoped for.

Political Crisis
The loss of the HSWS Heimdall quickly develops into a crisis at home. Hawks in the Citizen's Council are immediately arguing that we should invade S'Taxu once the Interstellar Cruisers are ready. Doves are, on the other hand, proposing a closing of any thoughts of approaching S'Taxu at least until an understanding of Xyri is developed.

What is the Navy's recommendation for how to proceed?
[ ] We must investigate whether any of the crew survived the Heimdall's destruction. Send two cruisers as soon as possible to demand answers from the local government.
[ ] Refocus on Xyri. Be prepared for potential incursions from S'Taxu. Honour the lost.
[ ] Begin preparations for an invasion. A squadron of four cruisers will be a powerful scouting force and will pave the way for future violence.
The Logistic Support Ship should mass:
[ ] 1,000 tons, the same as the cruiser
[ ] 2,000 tons
[ ] 4,000 tons
[ ] 6,000 tons
It should be optimised for:
[ ] Prioritising fleet support, command and control and operational extension.
[ ] It should prioritise supply, fuelling and manufacturing of spares.
[ ] It should prioritise being a home away from home and a support ship.

4WheelSword · Jul 17, 2024

Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 17, 2024 at 3:49 AM, finished with 53 posts and 23 votes.

9 people have voted
[X] Plan Revisit
-[X] Honor the fallen. There is not much we can do for them now, but it is important to make at least an attempt to investigate their deaths so that our servicemen know that the Navy takes care of their own.
--[X] Send three Interstellar Cruisers and HSWS Janus. Squeeze in at least one government representative on board. The mission is ascertain whether the destruction of our ship was a mistake and open communications if able. The ships are to jump in some distance from S'Taxu, converge and burn in formation to the site where the welcome package was dropped. Do not initiate combat. HSWS Janus is to observe and if things go wrong again, jump to Home to bring in the news.
--[X] Rebuild the lost Interstellar Surveyor.
-[X] Logistic Support Ship should be around 4,000 tons and it should prioritise supply, fuelling and manufacturing of spares.
- Tallhart
- Pinniped
- Wiadi
- KNakamura
- Doubloon
- Magnificate
- Maxin_inc
- Apocal
- blankmask
6 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Mourning Wall
- 0t4n1z3r019
- Traveller76
- khan2012
- MordredRaal
- Raw90
- Rat King
4 people have voted
[X] It should prioritise supply, fuelling and manufacturing of spares.
- Random Member
- C_Z
- wanje
- blankmask
4 people have voted
[x] We must investigate whether any of the crew survived the Heimdall's destruction. Send two cruisers as soon as possible to demand answers from the local government.
3 people have voted
[X] 4,000 tons
- C_Z
- wanje
- blankmask
2 people have voted
[X] Begin preparations for an invasion. A squadron of four cruisers will be a powerful scouting force and will pave the way for future violence.
- Random Member
- always_confused
2 people have voted
[X] Refocus on Xyri. Be prepared for potential incursions from S'Taxu. Honour the lost.
- C_Z
- wanje
1 people have voted
[X] 2,000 tons
- Random Member
1 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Mourning Wall
-[X] Refocus on Xyri. Be prepared for potential incursions from S'Taxu. Honour the lost.
-[X] 4,000 tons
-[X] Prioritising fleet support, command and control and operational extension.
- Coyote Niff

What is the Navy's recommendation for how to proceed? Honor the fallen. There is not much we can do for them now, but it is important to make at least an attempt to investigate their deaths so that our servicemen know that the Navy takes care of their own.
- Send three Interstellar Cruisers and HSWS Janus. Squeeze in at least one government representative on board. The mission is ascertain whether the destruction of our ship was a mistake and open communications if able. The ships are to jump in some distance from S'Taxu, converge and burn in formation to the site where the welcome package was dropped. Do not initiate combat. HSWS Janus is to observe and if things go wrong again, jump to Home to bring in the news.
-- Rebuild the lost Interstellar Surveyor.
The Logistic Support Ship should be: around 4,000 tons and it should prioritise supply, fuelling and manufacturing of spares.

The New Fleet - 02y04m00w
Four weeks after the loss of the HSWS Heimdall, six new cruisers enter the fleet properly. Each with a crew of just twenty-five, they slip their moorings and three of the six immediately begin preparations for a 'diplomatic' mission into S'taxu. The other three take up positions around the Home system, wary of any potential attackers responding to our scouting missions with aggression and hostility. At least, it is thought, whoever occupies Xyri will surely understand that we come in peace now.

We also lay down a new ship to replace the Heimdall, the HSWS Culsans. A simple repeat of the surveyor design, yard experience means it will take just 58 weeks to complete, a little more than a year. It will be ready three months before the reinforcements to the Interstellar Cruiser class, in the middle of next year.

Meanwhile, yard space is being prepared for the laying down of a 4,000 ton flotilla support ship, the largest ship built since the construction of the System Defence Destroyers. The intention is to provide an extension to the range and capabilities of a cruiser division without the need for redeveloping a class that is currently (and newly) the mainstay of Home's fleet. A number of design concepts have been laid out for the heads of the Navy to select between:

- Flotilla Manufactory Ship - The most complex of the three recommendations, the FMS would outfit a 4,000 ton capital-grade hull with the shuttles, processors and plants to refine and produce both fuel and spares for a cruiser division of four ships functionally indefinitely. While it would require a massive crew, it would also extend the operational capacity of a division far beyond their onboard fuel and spares. However, it would require access to a gas giant and significant metal-heavy asteroids in order to produce these things, resources that thus far we have only truly identified in S'taxu.

- Flotilla Supply Ship - A far simpler design than the FMS, the FSS supports a cruiser division in its operations by simply moving resources back and forth between and extended position and Home (or other future supply base). With tankage for 1,500 tons of liquid hydrogen fuel and 500 tons of supplies and spares, half of the ships total tonnage is devoted to supplies that will massively extend the capabilities of any single cruiser group.

- Civilian construction yard - The third, and perhaps the cheapest design, would be to extend a partnership to a civilian yard. Purchasing tankers and freighters with UNREP equipment and military drives would be cheaper and likely have reduced crew requirements compared to a true military ship. However they would also be less well protected, less well defended and may take longer to build than something built in a military yard.

Please select one of the above recommendations to move forwards with:
[ ] Flotilla Manufactory Ship
[ ] Flotilla Supply Ship
[ ] Civilian Construction Yard

Military Expeditionary Force - 02y04m02w
Five ships assemble around Home-3, the gas giant that is quickly becoming the main gathering point for Home's jump ships. The SDS Zelus looms over a quartet of far smaller ships, the surveyor Janus and the cruisers Apedemak, Ninurta, and the Sekhmet. All five, flying in formation, set out for the 100 diameter limit of the small gas giant, a four hour transition at 2Gs, tension building aboard each ship. Finally they make their transition point, fan out and chart a course for the distant, massive blue star that sits at the core of S'Taxu.

With a simple message from the Zelus - 'For all the Sons and Daughters of the People, Godspeed' - the four ships slip into jump space and begin their lonely journey to the distant system. The Zelus begins her return journey alone, coming into her station across the swirling clouds of Home-3 to wait, like the rest of the system will be.

It is a long, long wait. Two weeks has never felt so long in the Home system and while most of the citizenry don't know what's happening in the space above them, the halls of power are tense to the point of breaking. Arguments break out over grain distribution, power strategies, the simplest of conversations that would usually be murmured through are instead the sources of outbreaks of verbal violence. Everyone seems to know what's happening, and the lack of updates - an impossibility - is only making things worse.

Finally, after what seems like eons, the HSWS Janus flashes into existence in the Home system without her escorts. She doesn't wait at the Jump Point for the cruisers to arrive, instead making full speed for Home, arriving in dock within a matter of hours. Her Captain descends down to the planets surface to make their report with all possible haste. By the time she arrives, the cruisers begin to flash back into existence, their drives slower than the quick little scout.

Outcome of the interview report on the diplomatic mission to S'Taxu, Captain Nuru commanding HSWS Janus - 02y05m01w
The following details have presented themselves about S'Taxu while the diplomatic mission was ongoing:
- The people of S'Taxu are humans, and they speak a mostly familiar language with some significant differences in verbiage and slang.
- The population of S'Taxu runs into the tens of millions, with a highly developed ground and orbital infrastructure.
- S'Taxu finds itself in the midst of a civil war with four distinct factions.
-- The main point of contact for the ships from Home are the last remaining members of the previously ruling monarchy who still maintain control over the Capital and the High port.
-- Two different democratic factions operate on the planet, one of which is the principal opposition to the nobility and styles itself as the true successors to the leadership.
-- A military junta controls the outer two planets, which have historically been the domain of S'Taxu's navy and marine services, a junta that presents itself as the true rulers of the system. They rarely operate inside the planetoid belt.
- It is considered highly likely that the Junta viewed the arrival of HSWS Heimdall as a threat coming from inside their own system and responded accordingly. The Dukes of S'Taxu have recordings of the engagement, but no information about potential survivors.
- While we have offered no information about the strength of our Navy, the monarchs have already suggested a cooperative alliance that would see the Home Navy conducting operations to crush the military Junta that is supporting the democrats on S'Taxu proper.
- While departing the system, Janus received a beamed transmission from the outer planets that contain a representation from the military council. They offer basing, negotiations and the return of several survivors from the Heimdall should we seek to support them.

We have been made several offers. What is the Navies advice?
[ ] We cannot trust such ill-offered negotiations. S'Taxu is not for us.
[ ] The Junta holds the strength on S'Taxu, and the Heimdall's survivors. Back them.
[ ] The Monarchy should hold sway over their home. Back them.
[ ] This civil war is a distraction - we are likely in a position to overwhelm our enemies and win the system for ourselves.
[ ] Write-in
What is the intention of the mission into Xyri?
[ ] To make contact and little more.
[ ] Write-in

4WheelSword · Jul 18, 2024

Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 18, 2024 at 7:05 AM, finished with 45 posts and 17 votes.

9 people have voted
[X] Plan: Simple Logistics and Democracy
-[X] Flotilla Supply Ship
-[X] The Junta holds the strength on S'Taxu, and the Heimdall's survivors. Back them.
-[X] To make contact. If matters proceed well, send a follow-up diplomatic delegation / first contact team to establish amicable relations and perhaps an embassy.
- Tallhart
- MordredRaal
- Random Member
- Rat King
- WallFly
- Coyote Niff
- Pinniped
- 0t4n1z3r019
- KNakamura
3 people have voted
[X] This civil war is a distraction - we are likely in a position to overwhelm our enemies and win the system for ourselves.
2 people have voted
[X] Plan Great Game
-[X] Flotilla Supply Ship
-[X] Contact both the Junta and the Monarchy with an offer to mediate negotiations between the parties and try to stem the violence in S'taxu. Our sizeable interstellar fleet will accompany such a diplomatic mission to back our words with an image of power.
-[X] To make contact and little more.
- Doubloon
- Maxin_inc
1 people have voted
[X] The Monarchy should hold sway over their home. Back them.
- KingCrimson1081
1 people have voted
[x] We cannot trust such ill-offered negotiations. S'Taxu is not for us.
- Raw90
1 people have voted
[x] Write-in: seek to establish an embassy on Xyri, and attempt to ascertain if some sort of entente would be possible in the future.
- Raw90
1 people have voted
[X] Plan: What's a Prime Directive?
-[X] Flotilla Supply Ship
-[X] The Monarchy should hold sway over their home. Back them.
-[X] That said, we will trade food and medicine for any side that asks in order to secure safe passage through the system. We will also offer refuge to any that wish to leave the system for our own.
-[X] To make contact and little more.
- Traveller76
1 people have voted
[X] Plan Partnership
-[X] S'Taxu: The Junta holds the strength on S'Taxu, and the Heimdall's survivors. Back them.
--[X] Ensure cooperation during the civil war. Namely, our warships ought to have the right to resupply using their infrastructure.
--[X] Ensure that after the civil war ends our dealings are to be with the Junta. It will be their job to maintain order and contain the democratic factions.
--[X] Have the Junta agree to tonnage limitations. We cannot allow their navy being bigger than our own.
-[X] Xyri: Aim to establish a permanent diplomatic presence on their mainworld.
--[X] Ask for transit rights to other systems. Ask to for the right to leave a sensor buoy in their system. Offer trade, but hold off on trading technologies for the moment.
--[X] Take a look at their military capabilities. If they're significantly weaker than ours, look into making them our protectorate, but not before the situation in S'Taxu is resolved.
-[X] Civilian Construction Yard
- Magnificate

Please select one of the above recommendations to move forwards with: Flotilla Supply Ship
We have been made several offers. What is the Navies advice? The Junta holds the strength on S'Taxu, and the Heimdall's survivors. Back them.
What is the intention of the mission into Xyri? To make contact. If matters proceed well, send a follow-up diplomatic delegation / first contact team to establish amicable relations and perhaps an embassy.

Extending Supply Lines
A key problem has been identified by the surveyors office of the HSWS in their work with the SIS. With current operational capacity, they are barely able to step away from Home in relation to the rest of the galactic cluster. Equally, as far as we know, our warships are currently limited to a stretch of just 3 systems, and expansion will require far more than just those three systems in the coming decades.

As such, a design has been assessed, based on the needs of supporting a full cruiser group (and the ship itself) in operating beyond the boundaries of space as it currently known. The Squadron Support Ship will be a 4,000-ton super freighter with the tankage, supplies storages and UNderway REPlenishment equipment to allow the transfer of those materials between the ship and her charges. With 1,500 tons of 'spare' fuel, 80 tons of spares storage and a 400 ton mission cargo bay, she will be a highly adaptable support ship.

She is, however, lightly armed and armoured for her size and will require significant protection in the event that she operates inside a combat zone. She is, at least, primed for defensive fire - studded with laser and sandcaster turrets, she has the densest defensive net yet deployed by the HSWB.

Does the Navy recommend any changes to the design before work begins?
[ ] No, she seems exactly what we need.
[ ] Yes - write in.

The S'Taxu Debates
The Halls of Power of Home are, unsurprisingly, split on how to proceed with operations into S'Taxu. The Citizens Council hears advice from all parts of the bureaucracy, the ship-descendants and the city leaders. Several city leaders receive strange looks when they argue for backing one of the two democratic factions on S'Taxu by forcibly deposing the Monarchy before dealing with the military Junta. The Citizen's Militia - or at least their Commander in Chief - proposes continued contact with and direct military support for the Monarchist elements that clearly still hold some sway over S'Taxu. Meanwhile, the community wardens and the Navy argue vociferously that the simplest measure would be to engage with the Junta, recover the survivors of the Heimdall, and take the inner system in conjunction with the greater military force.

The Citizens Council, to their credit, spend several weeks debating how would be best to respond, to the point that it's a full month since the return of the Janus by the time a decision is reached (02y06m01w). Their announcement - not made for public consumption, but kept entirely internal to the corridors of government - is frustrating to some and infuriating to others;

"We recognise the great sacrifices made by the Navy branch in their operations to make contact with and secure new allies for the people of Home. Sadly, those sacrifices are part of the job, and we cannot let the loss of a single ship guide our continued policy, no matter how valuable that single ship might have been. Thus we charge the Navy, and all branches of the government, with a mission when it comes to our operations in S'Taxu; Return to the system, make contact, and find out how we can best support the Chambrestrong Dynasty in maintaining rightful control over their system."

Please present a plan for the deployment of Navy assets to S'Taxu in support of the local monarchy. You may wish to consider Force on Station, Rules of Engagement, and a time-table to establish these forces.

Return to Xyri
With a month of downtime in Home, it's time for HSWS Janus to be on her way again. The halving of the scout fleet - at least for the next year - means that Janus is under significantly more pressure to complete operational requirements previously covered by both ships. At least there are only two systems nearby and now only one that needs the genteel scouting of a barely armed jump ship. Halfway through the year, Janus departs again for Xyri and hopes to find a far more welcoming disposition that they found in S'Taxu. When they return a month later (02y07m00w), they bring a wealth of information with them:
- Xyri is a balkanised and split system, with no clear system-wide leadership. There are three major factions, each of which have met with representatives from the Janus;
-- Controlling the Capital, the Space Port and the orbitals, a fading dictatorship which once ruled the entire mainworld has slowly but surely had its power chipped away. Founded by a remarkably charismatic woman, her inheritors held neither the vision nor the sway over the people that she did and her empire has slowly crumbled. It is this state that still maintains an orbital military force of several fast attack boats and fighters armed predominantly with missiles.
-- With sway over the other major continent on Xyri proper, a republican coalition of dome-cities (much like those on Home) has split from the main faction and now rules democratically. They have shown little interest in space development and maintain a ring of satellites purely for communications and mapping. They have, nontheless, met with representatives.
-- A handful of cities are part of a technocratic union that is earnestly chasing a future in space, planning to abandon the surface of Xyri entirely. Their main interest in talks is industrial support to chase their dream of becoming a fully space-going peoples - something that is currently beyond the capabilities of Home as well as Xyri.
- The full system code is updated to read C432678-9, as we now have a clearer idea of their government (balkanised), law level (strict control over all goods) and tech level (more advanced than Home).
- The systems trade codes are Non-agricultural, Non-Industrial and Poor.
- Xyri does not currently maintain any jump ships but they do have a theoretical understanding of the technology and were willing to share design concepts that prove they understand our technology prior to us allowing them access to the ship. They have hinted that they might be willing to share some ideas on how to improve our technology if we can find something to offer them in return.

What, if anything, would we advise offering to Xyri?
[ ] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janus to deliver enough of a embassy group.
[ ] Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.
[ ] A defensive alliance, leading to the deployment of Home ships to Xyri.
[ ] A military alliance, allowing us access to Xyri's small but capable yards.
[ ] Something else - write-in.

4WheelSword · Jul 19, 2024

Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 19, 2024 at 5:06 AM, finished with 48 posts and 17 votes.

7 people have voted
[X] Operation Solar Wind v1.1 + The Rest
- Rat King
- Coyote Niff
- Maxin_inc
- C_Z
- KNakamura
- WallFly
- Tallhart
5 people have voted
[X] Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.
4 people have voted
[x] No, she seems exactly what we need.
3 people have voted
[X] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janusto deliver enough of a embassy group.
2 people have voted
[x] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janus to deliver enough of an embassy group.
- Raw90
- Theonetruelordke
2 people have voted
[X] Plan Operation Searing Sun
-[X] S'taxu: Assign HSWS Janus and all six Interstellar Cruisers to the operation. Begin ASAP. Jump in near the mainworld, but not so close as to be in range of orbital defences. Reform squadron. Contact the Monarchists and extract concessions from them for our assistance, that should include at least basing rights and tonnage limitations for their fleet. Demand access to their intel and strategic evaluations, so we know the numbers and capabilities of enemy warships. Overall, the Fleet ought to evaluate two main points:
--[X] Is it feasible to get or conquer the means of refuelling and resupply directly at S'taxu? If at all feasible, the fleet ought to attempt to do so and all six ships should remain. If not, a rotation system needs to considered to refuel and resupply at Home.
--[X] Is it feasible to decisively win an engagement against Junta? If so, go for it. If the outcome is uncertain, aim for relieving the main world and stalemating the civil war until our reinforcements are built. If the Junta is overwhelming, consider harassment tactics or retreat.
--[X] HSWS Janus is to serve as a courier for periodic updates on the war. Fleet Commander has full operational control, including retreating to Home. Prioritize conservation of force and striking at targets of opportunity, especially Junta's shipbuilding capabilities.
--[X] Do not engage targets confirmed to be non-combatants. Accept surrenders. Turn over surrendered ships and personnel to the Monarchists so that our forces can be supplemented. Fleet Commander is authorized to bargain with the Junta for the handover of our survivors.
-[X] Xyri: Offer trade relations. Licence jump drives to chosen civilian contractors and insist that for the moment each jump-capable cargo ship needs to be approved.
-[X] Xyri: Offer defensive alliance, but not before news from S'taxu indicates that Home can spare ships to station at Xyri. If feasible, pressure Xyri to agree not to field jump-capable warships.
-[X] Squadron Support Ship: No, she seems exactly what we need.
- Magnificate
- Briefvoice
1 people have voted
[X] A military alliance, allowing us access to Xyri's small but capable yards.
- Warer
1 people have voted
[X] Operation Solar Wind v1.1 + The Rest
-[X] Operation Solar Wind
--[X] Contents: Squadron will consist of three (3) Interstellar Cruiser class vessels and HSWS Janus.
---[X] HSWS Janus will carry a civilian diplomatic contingent.
---[X] The Interstellar Cruisers will carry a token quantity of domestically produced military equipment (body armor, medicine, grenades, etc.) as a gift for the Dynasts. Nothing that requires supply lines for ammunition or long-term training by our own military personnel.
--[X] Mission: Primary objective: Assess the capabilities and war aims of all involved factions, as well as the origins and present state of the conflict. Secondary objective: Establish friendly diplomatic relations with the Chambrestrong Dynasty's government. Personnel will not have total freedom to make diplomacy, any terms for a military alliance must be relayed to the Citizens Council. Personnel will attempt to persuade Dynasty diplomats so any terms offered include basing concessions.
--[X] Rules of Engagement: Do not fire on any combatants except in self-defense. If combat occurs between local forces, but the squadron is not fired upon, do not engage. If circumstances force return fire, the squadron is to aid Dynasty forces until the conclusion of battle. Accept surrendering combatants, turn over prisoners to Dynasty forces but request an engineering inspection of battle remnants. HSWS Janus is to avoid engagement by whatever means necessary, including Jump retreat if hull loss is likely.
--[X] Timetable: Naval Date (02y07m00w) is defined to be Solar Wind Date (00y00m00w)
---[X] (00y00m00w): Begin preparations for departure. Selection and training of diplomatic personnel, requisition and stowing of aid, etc.
---[X] (00y00m03w): Begin jump to high orbit over S'Taxu-4, outside of orbital defenses.
---[X] (00y01m00w): Arrive over S'Taxu-4. Make immediate contact with the Dynastic government. Begin talks and intelligence gathering, and offer the provided military aid.
---[X] (00y01m03w): Wrap up initial talks, Jump back to Home.
---[X] (00y02m00w): End of Operation Solar Wind.
-[X] No, she seems exactly what we need.
-[X] An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janus to deliver enough of a embassy group.
-[X] Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.
- Doubloon

Does the Navy recommend any changes to the design before work begins? No, she seems exactly what we need.
What, if anything, would we advise offering to Xyri? An embassy, requiring a few trips by the Janus to deliver enough of a embassy group.
- Open trade between our worlds, requiring the construction of trade ships or the releasing of jump technology to civilian yards.

OPERATION Solar Wind
Plans are put in place, crews are readied and a diplomatic contingent is trained for space travel and what to do in case of an emergency. Munitions are loaded, ships are fuelled and drives are checked and double-checked in order to ensure absolute readiness. By the time the four ships set out for the Jump Point they are perhaps the most rigorously tested naval personnel ever sent into space by Home. They are certainly prepared for any eventuality.

HSWS Ninurta, HSWS Pallas, and HSWS Sakumo hold a defensive formation around HSWS Janus that ensures so long as one of the cruisers reaches S'Taxu first, the smaller scout will be under the safe-zone of her guns. All at once they jump away, on time and on schedule. According to the mission plan, we expect to hear back from them in five weeks.

The Navy Yards - (02y07m00w)
Already working on three ships with an expected completion time some time in the middle of next year, the yards have been ordered to fill the rest of their space with a single gigantic ship. The Flotilla Supply Ship will be a 4,000 ton capital grade hull, built along the same principles as that of the SDD but with enhanced design methodology and significantly less armour. This semi-spherical logistics ship will be the first word in squadron resupply over the next years, though the Navy fully expects to require more advanced versions of the same ship as the fleet grows in size and needs. This ship - named the HSLS (Home Space Logistics Ship) Lakapati - will be ready for commission and service on or around 05y01m00w.

At the same time, a civilian yard is reserved for an entirely new type of ship. Designed in parallel between the Navy and Bearings Machinery Firm, it will be the first Interstellar cargo ship ever imagined. Solely intended for trade between Home and Xyri, it will hopefully provide the basis for a thousand-thousand of its ilk in the decades to come, as Home expands its reach beyond the local cluster and into the stars. Planners project a throughput of around 500 tons per month initially and thus this ship - already named Kubera - will be a thousand tons in total to allow for such an enormous cargo load. It will also carry a reliable Fission plant and be capable of just a single G of thrust. The Interstellar Conveyor is, if you listen to the representatives of BMF, the wave of the future. We simply have to ensure their safety getting there.

OPERATION Solar Wind 2 - (02y09m00w)
Every sensor operator in Home holds their breath as they receive the report of a jump flash, though most are far too distant to actually do anything if it turned out to be a threat. Sakumo flashes her ident and holds position, waiting for her companions. Ninurta is next, coming back into the system two hours after the first cruiser. A full eleven hours later, HSWS Janus slips back into real space and several members of the admiralty let out breaths they didn't know they were holding. Finally, an hour after that, Pallas joins the formation and all four begin the slow burn back towards Home and the steadily growing fleet dock that orbits high above the capital.

Their reports contain the following information:
- Military aid was supplied to the Dynasts. Primarily this was in the form of small arms, combat medical systems and explosives of various kinds. These were warmly received and it was indicated that additional air would be most welcome in staving off any offensives by democratic forces.

- Significant information has been learned about the various factions involved in the conflict, including the distant Junta:
-- The Chambrestrong Dynasty maintains a series of nuclear weapons platforms in orbit that are not intended for surface bombardment. Rather they are torpedo silos and mine field dispensers, intended to automatically deny orbits to aggressors without needing confirmation from the ground. We are fortunate we didn't trigger any on our first visit, jumping so far from the home world as we did.
-- These are backed up by a small capacity of surface-to-orbit operated by all factions on S'Taxu proper. Neither democratic faction has seen fit to fire on us despite our cruisers passing over their silos several times. We can only presume they are smart enough not to engender additional violence against their planet.
-- The Junta has two capital ships and a series of smaller mobile platforms and war-rockets available to them. The two capital ships are both built from the shells of hollowed out asteroids and are principally armed with torpedoes and missiles, though they also have significant laser armaments as well. Many of their other ships are old and out-dated, but this does not stop them from being a threat.

- The conflict is in a state of 'cold' war, with no faction willing to make a decisive push and put an end to the fighting. It would seem, though this is unconfirmed supposition, that the three non-monarchist factions are simply waiting for the Dynasts to collapse rather than fighting them, at which point negotiations will continue without the main roadblock to peaceful resolution.
-- Once again, the above is based entirely on assumption. It may be that the Dynasts are unwilling to come to the table for good reason. We do not know what caused the split between the Dynasts and the Junta in the first place.

- While unwilling to admit a position of weakness, the Dynasts are able to ask for the following:
-- A indefinite stationing of two warships in S'Taxu, in order to allow for more aggressive pushes against Democrat and Junta positions. These will be fuelled and supplied by Dynast orbital infrastructure.
-- Reassurances of defensive support in the event of a Junta offensive, though there are no requests for ground support at this time.
-- The supply of significant aid including both food and military supplies to feed and arm the population.
- In return the Chambrestrong Dynasty is willing to offer some or all of the following:
-- Access to still functional orbital yards capable of ~2,000Dtons of construction.
-- Skilled pilots to serve with the Home Navy, for cross-training purposes, to develop skills S'taxu (And especially the Dynasts) don't currently have and to bolster Home.
-- Financial compensation of significant quantities.

Please craft a treaty recommendation as a plan
What will you recommend offering?
[ ] The stationing of X warships in S'Taxu.
[ ] A defensive alliance, specifically targeting the Junta.
[ ] Food Aid
[ ] Military Aid
[ ] Write-in
What would you recommend asking for in return?
[ ] Access to the yards
[ ] Pilots, crews and support staff to be filtered into the Home Navy's infrastructure.
[ ] Financial compensation.
[ ] Write-in.

4WheelSword · Jul 19, 2024

Small Craft Weapons
Ships of below 100 tons have Firmpoints instead of Hardpoints. Ships have the following number of Firmpoints:
- 10-35 tons: 1 Firmpoint.
- 36-69 tons: 2 Firmpoints.
- 70-99 tons: 3 Firmpoints.
One Firmpoint may mount a turret with a single weapon mounted in it. Instead, a barbette may be mounted using up 3 Firmpoints.

Star Ship Weapons
Ships of 100 tons or more have Hardpoints. They have one Hardpoint per 100 tons of volume. All weapons except for two use a single Hardpoint per mounting. Super-Large bays use 5 Hardpoints per mounting, while Spinal Weapons use 1 Hardpoint per 100 tons of weapon.

Turret Mountings
The following types of Turret can be mounted on a Hardpoint except for Capital Turrets. Capital Turrets require 3 Hardpoints for a Small and 6 Hardpoints for a Large Turret.

Mount	TL	Power	Tons	Cost	Notes
Fixed Mount	-	0	0	0.1	-
Single Turret	7	1	1	0.2	-
Double Turret	8	1	1	0.5	-
Triple Turret	9	1	1	1	-
Point Defence Mount	9	1	0.5	0.25	-
Pop-up Mounting	10	+0	+1	1	-
Small Capital Turret	9	4	55	2	Ship>5,000 tons
Large Capital Turret	9	6	110	5	Ship>10,000 tons

Turret-mounted Weapons
Turrets (except for the Point Defence Mount) can mount between 1 and 3 of these weapons depending on the type of turret.

Weapon	TL	Optimum Range	Damage	Fleet Combat	Power	Cost (MCr.)	Traits
Missile Rack	6	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	0	0.75	-
Pulse Laser	7	Short	2d6	2/1	4	1	-2DM to hit
Sandcaster	8	Defensive	-	-	0	0.25	-
Beam Laser	8	Medium	1d6	1/1	4	0.5	-
Particle Beam	8	Long	3d6	3/1	8	4	Radiation

Developments to be expected at TL10-11:
- Railgun
- Plasma Gun

Point Defence Weapons
Point Defence Mounts can mount one of the following weapons. (The Trailing Frontier)

Weapon	TL	Optimum Range	Damage	Fleet Combat	Power	Cost (MCr.)	Traits
Point Defence Laser	9	Short	1d3	-	1	0.25	-
Prototype Dual PD Laser	9	Short	1d3	-	2	0.75	-

Developments to be expected at TL10-11:
- Heavy PD Laser

Barbette Weapons

Weapon	TL	Optimum Range	Damage	Fleet Combat	Power	Tonnage	Cost (MCr.)	Traits
Missile Barbette	7	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	0	5	4	Shots (4)
Torpedo Barbette	8	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	2	5	3	Shots (1)
Particle Barbette	8	Long	4d6	4/3	15	5	8	Radiation
Prototype Beam Barbette	9	Medium	2d6	2/3	24	10	4.5	-

Developments to be expected at TL10-11:
- Railgun
- Plasma Gun

Bay Weapons
Bay weapons can either be mounted directly into the hull as Casemates or in Capital Turrets. A Casemate mounted bay has reduced accuracy against small targets.

Weapon	TL	Optimum Range	Damage	Fleet Combat	Power	Tonnage	Cost (MCr.)	Traits
Missile Bay	6	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	5	50	12	Shots (12)
Large Missile Bay	6	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	10	100	24	Shots (24)
Torpedo Bay	7	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	2	50	3	Shots (3)
Large Torpedo Bay	7	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	See Ordnance	4	100	6	Shots (6)
Mass Driver Bay	8	Short	8d6	-	15	50	40	Orbital Bombardment
Large Mass Driver Bay	8	Short	12d6	-	30	100	60	Orbital Bombardment
Particle Beam Bay	8	Long	6d6	6/10	30	50	20	Radiation
Large Particle Beam Bay	8	Long	9d6	9/20	60	100	40	Radiation
Prototype Railgun Bay	9	Short	3d6	3/10	20	100	45	AP 10
Prototype Light Mass Driver Cannon	9	Medium	1d6x10	10/10	50	100	75	AP4

Developments to be expected at TL10-11:
- Orbital Strike Bays
- Meson Bay

Spinal Mount Weapons
A ship of sufficient size may mount a spinal weapon. Any ship can only mount a single such weapon. A Spinal Mount is designed by selecting a type and then increasing the size by the base size repeatedly, increasing all other stats accordingly.

Weapon	TL	Base Size	Range	Damage	Fleet Combat	Power	Max Size	Cost (MCr.)	Traits
Prototype Mass Driver	9	5,000 tons	Short	+4d6	-	+500	100,000 tons	+2,250	AP 15, Orbital Bombardment
Prototype Railgun	9	3,500 tons	Medium	+4d6	+4/1000	+1,000	21,000 tons	+750	AP 20

Developments to be expected at TL10-11:
- Particle Beam

Ordnance - Missiles
Each ton of missiles contains twelve missiles. All missiles are considered Smart weapons unless otherwise noted.

Weapon	TL	Thrust	Damage	Fleet Combat	Cost/Ton (MCr.)	Traits
Standard	6	12	4d6	4	0.25	-
Nuclear	6	12	1d6x10	10	0.45	Radiation
Ortillery	7	6	1d6x10	-	0.3	Orbital Strike
Shockwave	7	12	-	-	0.2	Anti-Sand
Multi-Warhead	8	12	2d6x3	3	0.75	Penaid
Long-Range	8	15	3d6	3	0.5	-
Fragmentation	9	15	3d6	3	0.2	Anti-Squadron
Decoy	9	15	2d6	2	0.15	Penaid

Developments to be expected at TL10-11:
- None

Ordnance - Torpedoes
Each torpedo is 2.5 Dtons.

Weapon	TL	Thrust	Damage	Fleet Combat	Cost/Torp (MCr.)	Traits
Standard	7	10	8d6	8	0.15	-
Nuclear	8	10	2d6x10	20	0.225	Radiation
Ortillery	7	6	3d6x10	-	1	Orbital Strike
Multi-Warhead	8	10	3d6x3	6	0.4	Penaid
Bomb-Pumped	9	10	6d6	6	0.25	Penaid
Ion	9	10	-	150 (special)	0.23	EMP

Developments to be expected at TL10-11:
- None

Ordnance - Canisters
Each ton of sand-caster ammunition contains twenty missiles.

Weapon	TL	Damage	Fleet Combat	Cost/Ton (MCr.)	Traits
Sand Canister	7	-	-	0.025	-
Chaff Canister	8	-	-	0.03	-2DM to targeting
Pebble Canister	7	1	-	0.025	-

Ordnance Time on Target
The following table displays the turn after firing on which a missile or torpedo will intercept its target depending on the range at which it is fired.

Ordnance Thrust	Short Range (<12,500km)	Medium Range (<100,000km)	Long Range (<250,000km)	Very Long Range (<500,000km)	Distant Range (>500,000km)
Thrust 6	1-2 turns	3-5 turns	6-8 turns	9-11 turns	12 turns+
Thrust 10	1-2 turns	3-4 turns	5-6 turns	7-8 turns	9 turns+
Thrust 12	Immediate - 1 turn	2-3 turns	4-5 turns	6-7 turns	8 turns+
Thrust 15	Immediate - 1 turn	1-3 turns	4-5 turns	5-6 turns	7 turns+

4WheelSword · Jul 20, 2024

Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 20, 2024 at 4:37 AM, finished with 38 posts and 9 votes.

4 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Sub Rosa
2 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Sub Rosa
-[X] Food Aid
-[X] Military Aid
-[X] Write-in: Offer, as a "neutral" third party, to take advantage of the current "Cold War" detente to hold ceasefire talks, with food and military aid as a "carrot" for all sides.
-[X] Access to the yards
-[X] Write-in: as much information as possible via the Dynasts' military and civilian intel networks on all factions in the system, a sort of "World Factbook" of the war that we can use to plan our next moves.
-[X] Write-in: assistance in contacting the Junta and the Democratic faction planetside for negotiations regarding the loss of the Heimdall; we need our men and women back.
- Coyote Niff
- Briefvoice
1 people have voted
[X] Plan Hard Bargain
-[X] Offer: Station 3 Interstellar Cruisers in S'Taxu. On rotation.
-[X] Offer: Defensive Pact, with secret protocols allowing for coordinated assault on the Junta with more Interstellar Cruisers, with the possibility to retain the pact after the war.
-[X] Offer: Limited material or food assistance, due to our current cargo capacity. It could be expanded in the future.
-[X] Offer: Limited expertise and technological transfer to assist them with building their interplanetary warships.
-[X] Demand: Access to their Yards during the civil war, shares in their Yards after the civil war ends.
-[X] Demand: Basing rights and transit rights after the civil war ends.
-[X] Demand: Tonnage limitations on S'taxu fleets after the civil war ends.
-[X] Demand: Pilots transferred to Home's Navy.
-[X] Demand: Lucrative contracts for our business partners.
-[X] Demand: Access to intel and support in recovering potential Heimdall survivors from the Junta.
- Magnificate
1 people have voted
[X] Plan: Slow and Steady (Avoids Nuclear Armageddon):
-[X] Food Aid
-[X] Write-in: The stationing of 2 warships in S'Taxu, with RoE specifying they are to solely defend the spaceport and orbital infrastructure
-[X] Financial compensation.
- C_Z
1 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Sub Rosa (without miliary aid)
-[X] Food Aid
-[X] Write-in: Offer, as a "neutral" third party, to take advantage of the current "Cold War" detente to hold ceasefire talks, with food and military aid as a "carrot" for all sides.
-[X] Access to the yards
-[X] Write-in: as much information as possible via the Dynasts' military and civilian intel networks on all factions in the system, a sort of "World Factbook" of the war that we can use to plan our next moves.
-[X] Write-in: assistance in contacting the Junta and the Democratic faction planetside for negotiations regarding the loss of the Heimdall; we need our men and women back.
- Maxin_inc

What will you recommend offering?
- Food Aid
- Military Aid
- Offer, as a "neutral" third party, to take advantage of the current "Cold War" detente to hold ceasefire talks, with food and military aid as a "carrot" for all sides.
What would you recommend asking for in return?
- Access to the yards
- As much information as possible via the Dynasts' military and civilian intel networks on all factions in the system, a sort of "World Factbook" of the war that we can use to plan our next moves.
- Assistance in contacting the Junta and the Democratic faction planetside for negotiations regarding the loss of the Heimdall; we need our men and women back.

Deal Making - (02y10m00w)
Janus begins her slow journey back towards S'Taxu a month after her return, crew refreshed, ship maintained and engines humming a beautiful clear note. This time she takes only a single cruiser with her for escort, the HSWS Apolake, the cruiser crews getting vital interstellar experience in their repeated rotations to the gently warring system next door. They take with them a revised peace deal, an initial offering to the Monarchists that meets nobodies goals but will, at least, be a foot in the door.

Another month of waiting comes and goes, as the yards slowly build up the massive ships that sit in their cradles and operational warships conduct a series of manoeuvres in the outer system to ensure readiness in case an unknown enemy attacks - or in case the S'Taxu Junta discover how to reconstruct a Jump Engine and come hungry to our door. This doesn't happen, of course - not yet at least - and when the Janus and the Apolake slide back into real space with only a two hour seperation, at least one officer in the fleet pours themselves a large glass of bosun's spirit.

They come bearing good news. The Monarchists of S'Taxu have accepted the agreement as a preliminary step towards a future that includes greater cooperation. While they recognise that initially aid efforts will be slow - relying on the minimal cargo bays of a cruiser will do that - it is expected that this will soon increase to around 500 tons a month once the civilian cargo ships are available to Home (03y04m03w). Even that is a drop in the water compared to the needs of the Monarchists, but it is a signal of intent. In return, they offer as much information as they have:

S'Taxu - Factions and Interests
The Democratic Republic of Cassalon - The first of two representative factions on S'Taxu, the Democratic Republic of Cassalon lay claim to the Eastern continent and all the cities there, their limited militaries and their hungry population. Monarchist forces were driven from the continent several years ago, and has not yet managed to deploy enough forces across S'Taxu's shallow oceans to restart efforts to bring them back into the fold.
Population: ~12,000,000 spread across 17 self-contained cities.
Military: ~90,000 split between ground forces and city defence militias.
Commentaries: While the DRC has the potential to be a dangerous power bloc, they have no access to space infrastructure and seemingly little interest in developing it. Rather they seem far more interested in maintaining their iron grip on their own populous. A great deal of the governments time is spent producing so-called educational materials on completely fictional 'crimes' of the Chambrestrong Dynasty.

The Xyphon Federation - The smaller, but far more dangerous, of the two representative factions, the Federation is an interconnected group of six cities arrayed to the North of the planetary capital, which is far more interested in the collapse of the Monarchists than the DRC is. They maintain some level of communication with the People's Military Council that operates in the outer system and are occasionally supplied with weapons and other equipment by rapid insertion drone. Intercepting these packages would be something the Dynasts would hope for from any Home warships stationed in the system.
Population: ~5,000,000 spread across 6 self-contained cities.
Military: ~150,000, of which two-thirds are regulars and a third are reservists/second line troops.
Anti-Orbital Systems: The Xyphon Federation maintains two different kinds of anti-orbital weapon systems; silo-based laser weapons with enough power to punch through the thick lower atmosphere and mobile missile launchers which maintain nuclear warheads. They do not have enough of either to deny the Monarchists their control over orbital weapons platforms.
Commentaries: Not only is the Xyphon Federation better armed and better located to conduct attacks on the Monarchists, they also appear to be the most willing to use the weapons they have. There are regular skirmishes between Xyphon and Monarchist forces and we have been shown drone footage of tank-on-tank engagements in the cratered valleys between the Capital and the Federations six cities.
The representatives of the Chambrestrong House Guard believe that with a few well positioned cruisers (and their particle cannons), it would be possible to wipe out the Federations ability to respond to orbital threats, allowing ground forces to move in with the best artillery support ever invented. If (and its a big if) they have correctly identified all possible weapons sites, then they may well be correct.

The Peoples Military Council - The main threat to the Monarchists rule in S'Taxu, the People's Military Council is nothing but a well-named dictatorship of generals. Formed out of rebellious ground and space combat units, the PMC now occupies the two outermost planets in the system and while resources are limited and go almost entirely towards feeding their people, they still maintain a relatively large attack fleet that only doesn't occupy the main worlds orbitals due to the presence of the nuclear deterrent.
Population: ~2,000,000 total across four bases/cities.
Military: ~150,000 active duty, ~250,000 reservists. Most civilians have employment linked to maintaining the military force of the PMC.
Fleet: At the current time, it is understood that the PMC operates two ~4,000 ton capital ships built into hollowed out asteroids as well as a series of patrol boats, armed merchants and war-rockets. None of the latter group breaches 1,000 tons in mass and most are far smaller than that.
Commentaries: The Monarchists consider the PMC to be the main threat against their rule. Were they able to focus their full might on either of the democratic factions, they consider themselves fully able to develop a strategy that would end the war and re-unite the people of S'Taxu. However, the need to maintain an on-orbit deterrent at all times stretches military capacity to the limit and means that the Monarchists have little room to conduct a major offensive.

Further Negotiations
The representatives on the Chambrestrong Dynasty did leave our negotiators with a further question: Given all of the above, what support would the Home Navy need in order to agree to commit forces to the conflict zone?
What does the Navy think would be an appropriate concession?
[ ] Write-in

In addition, the Citizens Council would like to hear what the Navy would consider an appropriate plan to end the threat of the Xyphon Federation against our allies, given that it will likely engender aggressive moves from the Junta.
What plan would the Navy propose for the S'Taxu system?
[ ] Write-in

4WheelSword · Jul 21, 2024

Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 21, 2024 at 5:21 AM, finished with 29 posts and 6 votes.

5 people have voted
[X] Plan Operation Solar Storm (rapid strike variant)
-[X] Insist that Dynasts task their intelligence with confirming whether Heimdall survivors are alive and their location. Begin construction of 4 500 tonnes point-defense escorts in the S'taxu, based on the earlier MVP proposal, that drops the jump-drive to include more point defense meant to supplement our Interstellar Cruisers in combat.
-[X] Demand that Home gets shares in S'taxu yards after the war. Insist on tonnage limitations for their future fleet and secure basing and transit rights. In addition, secure lucrative contracts for our business partners, making it easier for them to achieve an economic foothold in S'taxu. Exact numbers are negotiable, we can afford to show flexibility so that the deal might be considered more reasonable.
-[X] Check if there are S'taxu pilots in Dynast employ that could be tempted to permanently transfer to our Navy.
-[X] Confirm whether it's feasible to use particle beams to strike at surface targets, if so employ all six Interstellar Cruisers to destroy Xyphon Federation's orbital denial weapons. Surprise strike, jump in to the system with remaining cruisers, proceed to S'taxu 4 orbit, take out silo-based lasers first. If possible outdistance the nuclear retaliation and arrange for Dynasts orbital weapons to perform point-defense tasks. Afterwards, if it doesn't seem like the Junta is going to make an immediate dash to contest S'taxu 4, retain 3 Interstellar Cruisers in S'taxu on rotation. Their job is to intercept rapid insertion drones that supply the Xyphon Fedation.
-[X] From there, we're content to take it slow. We don't to want to venture far from the relative safety of S'taxu 4 orbit until point-defense escorts are built. We might occasionally harass Junta ships and keep an eye on their construction efforts.
1 people have voted
[X] OPLAN Somewhere in the Heavens
-[X] Write-In: SPAFTA. 50/50 Mineral and Resource profit split between Dynasts and Home's private companies on all sites not currently under Chambrestrong control, with exclusive export rights to Xyri. We provide the jobs, they provide the rights, new S'taxi trade unions provide workers, everyone's happy.
-[X] Write-in: Recommendations on the Xyphon Federation are to prepare an orbital feint to prevent Junta space-to-space retaliation, then use Dynast surface forces deployed in the oceans in "Wild Weasel" strikes to eliminate orbital denial weapons. Our Fleet's role in this orbital feint will be to cause trouble, break things, and rescue our hostages from the Heimdall. However, this plan rests on the idea that the information provided by the Chambrestrong forces is correct. If they are lying to us to eliminate their rivals, an alliance with the Federation should be considered in its stead.
- Coyote Niff

What plan would the Navy propose for the S'Taxu system?
- Insist that Dynasts task their intelligence with confirming whether Heimdall survivors are alive and their location.
- Begin construction of 4 500 tonnes point-defense escorts in the S'taxu, based on the earlier MVP proposal, that drops the jump-drive to include more point defense meant to supplement our Interstellar Cruisers in combat.
- Employ all six Interstellar Cruisers to destroy Xyphon Federation's orbital denial weapons. Surprise strike, jump in to the system with remaining cruisers, proceed to S'taxu 4 orbit, take out silo-based lasers first. If possible outdistance the nuclear retaliation and arrange for Dynasts orbital weapons to perform point-defense tasks.
- If it doesn't seem like the Junta is going to make an immediate dash to contest S'taxu 4, retain 3 Interstellar Cruisers in S'taxu on rotation. Their job is to intercept rapid insertion drones that supply the Xyphon Fedation.
- From there, we're content to take it slow. We don't to want to venture far from the relative safety of S'taxu 4 orbit until point-defense escorts are built. We might occasionally harass Junta ships and keep an eye on their construction efforts.
What does the Navy think would be an appropriate concession?
- Demand that Home gets shares in S'taxu yards after the war.
- Insist on tonnage limitations for their future fleet and secure basing and transit rights.
- In addition, secure lucrative contracts for our business partners, making it easier for them to achieve an economic foothold in S'taxu. Exact numbers are negotiable, we can afford to show flexibility so that the deal might be considered more reasonable.
- Check if there are S'taxu pilots in Dynast employ that could be tempted to permanently transfer to our Navy.

Alliances are for making, not breaking
It takes another month before anything like a result emerges from the negotiations, and a further month for an actual plan of attack to come together (03y00m00w). What has been agreed to can be summarised by a single communique from Monarchist aide du camp Georges Masque:

"An alliance between powers of lopsided strength is a promissory note, a debt unpaid, an 'I-O-U' as it were. It brings with it certain expectations, an intertwining of futures and the understanding that somehow, one day, that debt will be repaid. What has been offered to us by these alien sailors, with their fine uniforms and interstellar ships, is not an alliance but a force majeure strike against recidivist positions and the offer of work for yards that have slept silent for overly long. We cannot in good conscience offer collateral that we are not certain we will have in order to return this. Thus, with no combined operations to ensure the swift end of this war, we can only promise that the system will exist, and that the Home Navy will not be limited in their transits or operations by us. Equally, we can promise that once we have operational yards, the Home Navy will be entitled to make good use of them. Anything more than that is simply wishes in the wind - unthinkably distant at this time."

With that being said, an arrangement has been made for the combined operations into Federation territory with orbital fire support from Home warships. Six cruisers will arrive at the 100D limit around S'Taxu-4 on or around 03y00m02w and begin a transit towards a low orbital position over the territory of the Xyphon Federation. The arrival of the sixth cruiser will be the signal for Monarchist ground forces to begin a general offensive Northwards. Once the cruisers are in position they will begin a bombardment with their particle beams, disabling or destroying any identified weapons silos and mobile launchers. Afterwards, the cruisers will switch targets and coordinate with ground forces to strike enemy positions of significant size with high precision. This plan should lead to the conclusion of at least one part of this ugly war.

System Defence Boats
The plan also calls for beginning work on four 500 ton streamlined anti-missile corvettes, point defence boats with most of their weaponry focused specifically on stopping enemy missile swarms and coordinating with larger forces. Four beam lasers and four sand-casters in four turret mounts allow for mixed defensive fire while twenty-four missile tubes give a solid offensive punch and the ability to disabled or otherwise limit any aggressors. It is a survivable little boat, fast, streamlined for atmospheric landings and launches and requires a crew of just fifteen sailors.

They will be bought and paid for by the budget of the Home Space Warfare Branch, but crewed by locals loyal to the Chambrestrong Dynasty. However, they will take over a year to complete, with a commissioning date scheduled for around 04y04m00w. It may be that the war is over by the time they are ready for service, at which point they will make for a decent and effective system security flotilla. It may be that the war will still be raging and they will be pressed into service alongside Home's cruisers, protecting them from missile attack. Only time - and decisive action - will decide their fates.

Beat to Quarters - 03y00m02w
Six cruisers sail into the black in a tight and practiced formation. Each is named for an ancient and vicious god of war; Apedemak, Apolake, Ninurta, Pallas, Sakumo, Sekhmet. Each carries the power of a sun beating at their hearts, and each carries four deadly particle accelerator cannons with which they hope to change the future of an entire star system. They blink out of existence within seconds of each other, and now a week of waiting must commence. A week of preparations and drills. A week of hunger.

Ninurta reappears in our reality and starts the mission clock. Two and a half seconds after arrival, the jump-flash reaches the S'Taxu main world and soldiers know its only hours before they are making one of the most decisive pushes of the war, with brand new weapons orbiting above them. First, however, they have to wait for the sixth ship to arrive. It is not long before a second pair join Ninurta, Apedemak and Pallas re-entering real space within twenty minutes of each other but two hours after Ninurta. The lead ship transmits the mission clock and the three ships synchronise. Apolake joins them four hours after that, then Sakumo an hour later. Finally, nine hours after Ninurta first made it into real space in the S'Taxu system, Sekhmet joins the formation and the operation begins in earnest. After a brief minute or two of preparations, each cruiser lights their manoeuvre drives and begins the two hour descent towards low orbit.

On the surface the engagements begin in earnest. Tanks roll out of their protective earth-works, advancing into enemy fire. Drones circle overhead, providing targeting information for missile and artillery teams, spotting ambushes and recording a litany of violence. Fighters dance above it all, dodging surface to air missiles and lasers, engaging each other with guns and missiles and fury. Through it all the infantry plod, witness to the grind of technologically advanced warfare and hardly able to think for the sounds of destruction. It seems apocalyptic and then, two hours after the battle is joined, the true apocalypse begins.

Credit: https://www.artstation.com/destrox

Guided by pre-planned targeting, air and ground observers and spotting the flight of missiles, the cruiser squadron deployed by Home begins their bombardment. Each lance of super-accelerated particles sounds like the sky being torn open as atmospheric molecules are torn apart by the high-energy protons are slammed into them before they can reach the ground. The opening salvo cripples or buries five out of six identified silos, collapsing internal supports and causing land slides as they set the air aflame. The enemy is not without recourse. Pallas takes a hard hit which shreds half her thruster plates and opens her two lowest decks to space. Ninurta is hit in the centre mass but the shot barely penetrates her armour.

The silos are dealt with in short order, cruisers random walking to make return fire difficult and then they turn to the mobile missile launchers. Swatting munitions is difficult work, and Sakumo is hit by a nuclear armed torpedo some forty minutes into the engagement, shredding her port side and holing one of her fuel tanks. Radiation exposure forces several of her crew to their quarters to await medical treatment, unable to continue fighting. A second detonates close to Apedemak, but does only minimal hull damage. Finally, the surface-to-orbit fire slows and peters out, and the cruisers are able to descend lower to target more specific targets.

-

None of this is known to Home until two weeks after the battle (03y01m01w), as Apedemak, Pallas and Sakumo return to the system, the latter pair limping and bearing clear signs of temporary repairs. We are informed of the excellent progress of the ground campaign to destabilise and remove the Xyphon Federation from play. The remaining cruisers in system - Apoloke, Ninurta, Sekhmet - are working in shifts, orbiting low over the planet to provide continuous fire support to ground troops that are still engaged in heavy fighting. It is also noted that, as far as these three ships know, the Junta has not yet made an aggressive move, seemingly content to sit back and allow the Monarchists free reign over the main world of S'Taxu.

Meanwhile, in Xyri
Diplomatic talks with Xyri continue, and we have been invited to utilise their fuelling platforms for our scouts. Thus, we have a choice; with four months left until we have the Culsans at our disposal, we must choose how to best deploy the Janus for exploration tasks.

What is the next step in exploration?
[ ] We should begin looking 'East', out beyond Xyri.
[ ] We should begin looking 'North', past Deep Hope.
[ ] We should begin looking 'South', past 00,01.
We have 1,300 tons of yard space available, and more coming free soon. What should we use that space for?
[ ] Additional Interstellar Cruisers
[ ] Refitting Interplanetary Cruisers into defence platforms.
[ ] Additional Surveyors.
[ ] Something else entirely - write-in.

Traveller76 · Jul 21, 2024

The Memorial Wall, also known as the Remembrance Wall, began construction in Year 2 using government funds allocated to the Navy. The well known architect and designer Said Kamon Vũ would submit a design to the Ministry of Defense/Navy which was selected by a Select Committee. Vũ would wave any fees for his work as contribution towards the country. The land for the Memorial would be purchased and donated by a private trust with additional corporate and private individuals providing donations during construction. The wall design would be minimalist, with the names of Naval Crew-members and Vessels engraved in Seeladium, one of the hardest stones specially selected for its durability to the elements. Even today additional panels and names are added every five years after a member of the military is confirmed missing and or killed. The families of those lost receive a certification and medal from the Ministry Of Defense/Naval Office for the sacrifice of their loved one.

Later on benches and various native plants, displays of various vessels and their histories would be added on the grounds. While the memorial is considered government property, the non-profit Memorial Trust is responsible for the maintenance of the grounds and facilities. The Wall is free to visit with monetary donations accepted, several groups and the Trust conduct fundraising throughout the year. Any visit to the Capital should include a visit here but please prepare for crowds on weekends and public Holidays.

Guide to the Capitol

OOC: Omake

4WheelSword · Jul 22, 2024

Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jul 22, 2024 at 6:54 AM, finished with 30 posts and 14 votes.

7 people have voted
[X] We should begin looking 'North', past Deep Hope.
- Magnificate
- Theonetruelordke
- Tallhart
- 0t4n1z3r019
- Maxin_inc
- Apocal
- Raw90
6 people have voted
[X] Refitting Interplanetary Cruisers into defence platforms.
5 people have voted
[x] Additional Surveyors.
3 people have voted
[X] We should begin looking 'East', out beyond Xyri.
2 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Silent Service
- Briefvoice
- Pinniped
1 people have voted
[x] We should begin looking 'South', past 00, 01.
- Traveller76
1 people have voted
[X] OPLAN: Silent Service
-[X] We should begin looking 'East', out beyond Xyri.
-[X] Write-in: an 800-ton "destroyer escort", the Crossbow-class, revived from an earlier MWO proposal. Equipped with the high-burn drives of the Surveyor class, but bypassing all exploratory equipment, replacing shuttles with military dropships, and adding 100 tons hull space in the design phase to mount large multi-mission torpedo racks, Fleet Landing Force quarters, and particle barbettes.
- Coyote Niff

What is the next step in exploration? We should begin looking 'North', past Deep Hope.
We have 1,300 tons of yard space available, and more coming free soon. What should we use that space for? Refitting Interplanetary Cruisers into defence platforms.

Defence Stations
With so few qualified pilots able to effectively control and command the massive warships we have now built a great number of, we must now begin the hard task of choosing which of our ships must cease operating as warships. The obvious choice are the Interplanetary Cruisers, the predecessors to the Interstellar Cruisers that have now proved themselves in combat proper. The three we currently have operational require six pilots that could be tasked with crewing inter stellar capable ships instead. So, these three ships that have served for the last decade or so, will now end their service as commissioned ships and be rebuilt as orbital stations.

Each ships will have its engine decks torn out and entirely rebuilt. Chemical Reaction rockets are replaced by gravitic plates that can hold the station in orbit for as long as they have power. A fusion plant a third the size of the fission plant that previously powered the ship will replace it. Fuel tanks are torn out and reduced in size, and large sections of the ship are simply left empty without the power or network capability to run additional weapon systems. At least the crew will have plenty of space for exercise and recreation while off-duty.

The first 'Defence Station' will be completed by 03y08m03w, the second will be taken into dockyard hands as the Culsans is completed and will be ready for the tugs by 04y00m02w, and the third and final station will be taken into docks as early as 03y08m00w and completed 04y03m02w. Tugs will position the first around Home-3, the gas giant where most fuelling operations are conducted, the second around Home herself and the third in a similar but retrograde orbit compared to the second. The whole operation, including the refits, will cost just 190.125 million credits.

Exploration Endeavours
The Janus jumps back to the system containing the rogue planetoid, the ice ball that's even now considered Deep Hope. One day mining operations will allow ships to refuel here, the quadrillion tons of ice and rock a fine source of hydrogen for our interstellar vessels. We just need to find a way to do that refining work in deep space, away from any infrastructure support.

Janus begins a long, slow search of the heavens, far away from the radio noise and signal traffic of Home. Each segment of sky is given a label, a multi-digit code, and days are spent with telescopes, radar, lidar fixed on miniscule objects, tracking ever so slowly, listening for every scrap of information. Weeks of mission operation time pass, data-banks filled to bursting with information, garbled noise, indifferent blinking lights at great distance from the tiny little ship.

When she returns (03y03m00w), the Janus brings with her a message. A deep space scout needs two things: better reconnaissance and sensor equipment, and the ability to refuel from asteroids and similar to improve deployment and loitering times. In short, this particular kind of exploration will require a more specialised ship than the Janus and her ilk.

How does the Navy respond to this result?
[ ] Continue explorations 'East', out beyond Xyri.
[ ] Continue explorations 'South', past 00,01.
[ ] Refit the Janus when yard space becomes available.
[ ] Refit the Culsans while she is still in the yards.
[ ] Plan and design a new deep space scout.

The Xyri Problem
While we have established some minimal trade agreements and fuelling rights with the government that holds Xyri's space port, there are murmurs amongst the Citizens Council that perhaps we should be encouraging the rise of another power to a position of prominence. While the Dictatorship holds the orbitals, the Technocrats are hungry for space-going capabilities of their own and could be supported to take greater power. It is more than possible that, with a power bloc that is supported into prominence, we will have greater ties with Xyri, with her people and especially with her ship yards and budget.

Several junior members of the Citizens Council have met with several junior members of the Home Space Warfare Branch senior leadership, and there is something akin to a plan forming to... re-orient the future of Xyri in a way that suits Home better.

Will the Senior leadership hear out the Citizens Council?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No

Traveller, The Rise of Empire: A Naval Design, Procurement and Command Quest

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