7-2: Developments and Choices
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
Would the HSWS consider a new main combatant and, if so, how should it be designed? A new class of 3,000 tons (Fast Attack Cruiser). Provide revised MMV design (Block II).
What secondary role should the station serve? It should be a purely defensive station.
Assessing the Lion
The MIC report arrives on the desks of senior personnel of the HSWS marked top secret, confidential, do no remove. Inside are eighty or so pages on the potential threat of the Aslan based on what has been seen of them thus far. What follows is a summary of the main thrust of the MIC report:
- As is already known, the Aslan people - at least in professional positions as we have seen thus far - are a sharply gender divided culture. Their men are warriors, fighters, leaders, they are strong and brash and bold. Their women are traders, diplomats and negotiators. Based on this understanding we have primarily sent women and non-men on our negotiation teams, but we believe there is at least some benefit to be found in 'surprising' the Aslan with men capable of negotiations as occurred at the first meeting.
- We think that this polity represents a tiny group split from the main Aslan settlement - as we can only imagine we are from the birthplace of Humaniti - and it shows in their warships. Based on repeating names seen coming and going from the system on public traffic logs, the MIC is of the belief that unless the Aslan are hiding significant strength elsewhere, we have an advantage in fleet strength.
- The Aslan are, however, technologically advanced and it may be that this advantage allows them to beat out an equivalent force in any engagement. We believe that acquiring an understanding of advanced shipbuilding techniques should be one of the first things we hope to achieve in any serious negotiations with the Aslan, though this may require direct conflict with one or more family groups.
- That being said, the Aslan practice a ritualised, negotiated form of conflict-as-dispute-settlement. When our negotiator was invited to war, it was a normal and casual question for the Aslan - it was an invitation to further negotiations, rather than a threat - it may be possible for us to engage in such ritualised conflict in order to acquire technology, examples of ships, or other useful results.
- We have not yet been beyond Keoiri and Lev, the two border systems of the Aslan technocracy. It may be that there is significant strength behind them, but based on trade and passenger travel, we believe that the population of their core systems cannot exceed the population of Keoiri by more than a factor of ten. This would match with our assumptions about their fleet, and would also imply that their are less Aslan in their systems than their are humans on Home.
Based on this intelligence report, how should we proceed with diplomacy with the Aslan:
[ ] Continue to negotiate trade agreements and work to establish safe ports in Xyri and Keoiri.
[ ] Propose a formal challenge for technology
[ ] Propose a formal challenge for resources
[ ] Craft a plan for a major fleet deployment to take Keoiri and Lev by force
[ ] Other - write in.
Where should the MIC focus their efforts next?
[ ] Assess the stability of Cassalon after the war.
[ ] Assess the penetration of the Daughters into life on Home.
[ ] Assess the people of Xyri, their governments and whether there should be concern over how quiet they have been.
[ ] Other - write in.
Hexos Quandries
Every cargo ship that makes the long run to Hexos brings with it a couple of hundred tons of much needed industrial machinery, supplies and a handful of workers who are willing to make the six week journey in ad-hoc steerage. It's rough, cramped, smelly and by the time they arrive on the tidally-locked world they are sorely in need of a shower. At least they are able to get to work, some helping the people of Hexos to rebuild their collapsing society and others heading for abandoned towns along the twilight border.
Their excavations reveal what everyone knew; a technologically advanced civilisation collapsed into the Hexos we know today and the remains of that civilisation can be harvested for its bones with relative ease. Computers are still semi functional, data-banks still hold caches of information and a great many things can be learned from the graveyards of a nation.
In these deep data banks, these treasure troves, we find enough information to advance our knowledge of (choose two):
[ ] Improved Plant Efficiencies
[ ] Quality Hull Construction
[ ] High-Density Metals
[ ] Enhanced Starship-grade Weapons
Note that these will be included in upcoming offered designs.
Please present any votes as a plan. Voting opens at
