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

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Wiadi said:
I think until we establish degree of linguistic drift (assuming they're even from the same original culture as we were, which seems probable but not certain) we should open with stuff like "APPLE [picture of an apple]." Only, y'know, a bit more sophisticated.
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Or perhaps, "please input your linguistical database and any additional information you wish to provide here, a ship will arrive to receive it in 6 months time".
 
[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.
 
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Local Cluster
  • Informational
    • The Local Cluster, at the time of writing, is understood to be made up of at least five inhabited star systems and a series of uninhabited sectors:

    Home
    System Code:     C954730-8
    Star: K7V Orange - 100D limit: 87.7Gm - Habitable Zone: 0.3AU-0.4AU/44.8-59.8Gm
    Orbitals: Home (Mainworld, Single Moon), Home-2 (Icy rock planet, Single Moon), Home-3 (Small Gas Giant, Two Moons)

    Xyri
    Survey Index:     9
    System Code: C432678-9
    Trade Codes: Na, Ni, Po
    Star: K5V-K4V Orange Binary with 27AU mean separation - 100D limit: 97.6Gm - Habitable Zone: 0.4AU-0.6AU/59.8-89.7Gm
    Orbitals: Xyri-1 (Scorched Rock), Xyri-2 (Mainworld), Xyri-3 (Small Gas Giant, Seven moons), Xyri-4 (Frozen Rock), Xyri-5 (Small Gas Giant, Two moons), Xyri-6 (Small Gas Giant, Five moons), Xyri-7 (Small Gas Giant, Single moon), Xyri-8 (Barren Rock), Xyri-9 (Barren Rock, Single moon)

    Cassalon
    Survey Index:     9
    System Code: C533748-8
    Trade Codes: Na, Po
    Star: A3V Blue - 100D limit: 259.2Gm - Habitable Zone: 3.9AU-5.7AU/583.4-862.7Gm
    Orbitals: S'Taxu-1 (Wet, Scorched Rock), S'Taxu-2 (Large Gas Giant), S'Taxu-3 (High-Density Terrestrial), S'Taxu-4 (Mainworld, Rocky planet), S'Taxu-5 (Large Gas Giant), S'Taxu-6 (Eccentric Orbital Planetoid Belt), S'Taxu-7 (Icy rocky Planet), S'Taxu-8 (Retrograde Orbital Ice planet)

    Heimdall
    Survey Index:     10
    System Code: -000000-0
    Star(s): K2V-K0V Orange Binary with distant M4V companion.
    Orbitals: -0202-1 (Small Gas Giant, Six moons), -0202-2 (Planetoid Belt), -0202-3 (Small Gas Giant, Five moons)

    Shambala
    Survey Index: 10
    System Code:     X9DA633-2
    Star(s): G7V with distant K3V companion - 100D limit: 129.1Gm - Habitable Zone: 0.82AU-1.18AU/122.7-176.5Gm
    Orbitals: -0102-1 (Rocky Planet), -0102-2 (Rocky Planet), -0102-3 (Rocky Planet, Two moons), -0102-4 (Planetoid Belt), -0102-5 (Planetoid Belt), -0102-6 (Planetoid Belt), -0102-7 (Temperate Oceanic Mainworld, One moon), -0102-8 (Transient Body, X466000-0, Two moons), -0102-9 (Planetoid Belt), -0102-A (Rocky Planet, Two moons), -0102-B (Planetoid Belt), -0102-C (Rocky Planet, One moon), -0102-D (Rocky Planet)

    Nova Refugio
    Survey Index: 10
    System Code:     D227222-8
    Star(s): M3V Red - 100D limit: 50.3Gm - Habitable Zone: 0.12AU-0.17AU/17.9-25.4Gm
    Orbitals: 0002-1 (Planetoid Belt), Nova Refugio (Mainworld), 0002-3 (Planetoid Belt), 0002-4 (Rocky Planet), Nova Refugio-5 (Highly Unusual Composition, XAAA000-0), 0002-6 (Rocky Planet), 0002-7 (Rocky Planet, Two moons), 0002-8 (Planetoid Belt), 0002-9 (Rocky Planet, One moon), 0002-A (Rocky Planet, Two moons)

    The Aslan Cluster
    A sector of space dominated by our barely understood Aslan neighbours it contains at least three inhabited systems.

    Keoiri
    Survey Index:     10
    System Code: B768554-A
    Star(s): Type F (Yellow-White Star) with distant binary companion
    Orbitals: Keoiri-1 (Rocky planet), Keoiri-2 (Mainworld, Rocky planet), Keoiri-3 (Small Gas Giant), Keoiri-4 (Rocky planet), Keoiri-5 (Large Gas Giant), Keoiri-6 (Rocky planet), Keoiri-7 (Rocky planet), Keoiri-8 (Small Gas Giant)

    03,00
    Survey Index:     8
    System Code: -323???-?
    Star(s): Type K (Orange Star) with distant binary companion
    Orbitals: 0300-1 (Rocky planet), 0300-2 (Small Gas Giant)
    Comments: Part of Aslan territory

    03,01
    Survey Index:     8
    System Code: -000000-0
    Star(s): Brown Dwarf
    Orbitals: 0301-1 (Rocky planet), 0301-2 (Rocky planet), 0301-1 (Planetoid belt)

    02,-03
    Survey Index:     8
    System Code: ?351???-?
    Star(s): Type M (Red Star) with distant binary companion
    Orbitals: 02-03-1 (Rocky planet, Mainworld moon), 02-03-1 (Planetoid Belt), 02-03-1 (Rocky planet), 02-03-1 (Rocky planet), 02-03-1 (Rocky planet in retrograde orbit)

    The Southern Cluster
    A series of worlds that string out from the identified threat on Hermosa.

    Equus
    Survey Index:     10
    System Code: D977589-7
    Star(s): Type G (Yellow Star)
    Orbitals: -0301-1 (Small Gas Giant),-0301-2 (Large Gas Giant), -0301-3 (Rocky planet), -0301-4 (Rocky planet), -0301-5 (Rocky planet), -0301-6 (Rocky planet), -0301-7 (Rocky planet), -0301-8 (Planetoid Belt), -0301-9 (Rocky planet)

    Sinone
    Survey Index:     8
    System Code: ?300???-?
    Star(s): Type M (Red Star)
    Orbitals: -0302-1 (Large Gas Giant),-0302-2 (Rocky planet), -0302-3 (Rocky planet), -0302-4 (Small Gas Giant), -0302-5 (Small Gas Giant), -0302-6 (Rocky planet)

    Hexos
    Survey Index:     10
    System Code: C42048C-9
    Star(s): Type M (Red Star) with distant Binary companion
    Orbitals: -0103-1 (Rocky Planet),-0103-2 (Rocky planet)

    Garda-Villis
    Survey Index:     10
    System Code: B978868-A
    Star(s): Type M (Red Star)
    Orbitals: 0003-1 (Planetoid Belt), 0003-2 (Rocky planet), 0003-3 (Planetoid Belt), 0003-4 (Planetoid Belt), 0003-5 (Rocky Planet), 0003-5-1 (Trojan Planet)

    -02, 05 - Fornice
    Survey Index:     10
    System Code: C554787-9
    Star(s): Type G (Yellow Star)
    Orbitals: -0205-1 (Mainworld), -0205-2 (Small Gas Giant), -0205-3 (Planetoid Belt)
     
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  • Informational
    • Magnificate said:
    Or perhaps, "please input your linguistical database and any additional information you wish to provide here, a ship will arrive to receive it in 6 months time".
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    I mean, that's basically supposed to be the implied message of providing our own linguistic information, but storage space permitting I don't disagree that making it explicit in case they manage to figure out a working translation would be nice.

    Mostly though I feel like that sort of detail is below our level of abstraction, hence why I voted for just putting our experts on it rather than any specific wording.
     
    You can't really fortify a system against being jumped into because you can jump essentially anywhere sufficiently distant from a gravity well. It's a bit of an issue!
     
    Magnificate said:
    That in turn means FTL communication doesn't exist, does it?

    As for diplomatic ships, would it actually be feasible to take an Interstellar Cruiser, pull out some supplies and include temporary accommodations for a diplomatic crew? Or do those guys need dedicated staterooms to do their jobs?
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    There is no FTL communication or sensor that you currently know of. The only thing that can go FTL is a ship equipped with a J-drive.

    Uhhh, I imagine you could by sacrificing some of the crew. So it would be a below strength cruiser.
     
    I'm not sure how viable shoving a diplomatic mission into our scout ships will be since the design philosophy of fuck you, pay me didn't reserve any space for them.
     
    grimely said:
    I'm not sure how viable shoving a diplomatic mission into our scout ships will be since the design philosophy of fuck you, pay me didn't reserve any space for them.
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    It was said that in a pinch we could refit an Interstellar Cruiser to serve as an ad-hoc transport for diplomats, but overall there's no rush. We still can and should be taking things slow. To that end, I think we should:

    [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.
     
    [X] Plan Follow-Up

    I really think we should be stealthy. We are the navy, first contect is not our job or our speciality. Our job is gathering information for the politicians, whose task it is to figure out what to do about our neighbours.
     
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    Home Space Warfare Service
  • Informational
    • 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
     
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  • Informational
    • we probably want to get more space/orbital infrastructure up before we look at making expanding the fleets, maybe look at mining asteroids in system.
     
    Magnificate said:
    1. What does HSWS stand for?
    2. Please include current Dockyard Space usage.
    3. Is a refit from Interplanetary Cruiser to Interstellar Cruiser possible? Would it be cheaper than building one from scratch?
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    1. Home Space Warfare Ship
    2. Gottit.
    3. Uhhh no. They're almost completely different ships bow to stern, and simply use the same hull form. Even that is slightly modified.

    Pinniped said:
    Will this change if we end up in a war? In wartime, far military infrastructure is usually ramped up significantly.
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    Budget changes in wartime. In TCS it's generally expected that the shipyard space does not change, though I may later decide to develop some rules for constructing new ones.
     
    [X] Plan Follow-Up

    Sounds good to me.
    Pinniped said:
    I really think we should be stealthy. We are the navy, first contect is not our job or our speciality. Our job is gathering information for the politicians, whose task it is to figure out what to do about our neighbours.
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    As far as I'm concerned, our job is whatever the politicians lack either the will or the wherewithal to prevent from becoming our job. Frankly if we don't present an unauthorized first strike as a fait accompli at some point I'll be mildly disappointed.
     
    Wiadi said:
    As far as I'm concerned, our job is whatever the politicians lack either the will or the wherewithal to prevent from becoming our job.
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    Cynical, but true.

    Anyways, we're already using 6K out of 8L tonnes of dockyard space. We'll likely finish building the current run of Interstellar Cruisers, perhaps one bigger logistical ship and that'll be all that we've got room for. This means, first, that we'll likely look at dismantling Interplantery Cruisers to make room for new designs, second, that we'll need to allow civilian and corporate interests into space to handle some of the burden. Of course, "Fuck You, Pay Me" that we established earlier still applies.
     
    4WheelSword said:
    Third, and perhaps most important, is that neither of the Janus' jumps, nor those carried out by the Ceridwen have ever been of the exact same length. They have all certainly been around a week in length, but the shortest has been as short as six and a half days, while the longest is closer to seven and a half. With an operational plan that calls for a six-hour stay in a potentially threatening system, the jump length is a vital factor in how plans are to be made.

    As the Janus translates out, the Heimdall arrives in system six hours after its sister.
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    I think we should investigate into if these are simply natural flaws of warp jumping that can be refined to reduce the amount of extra time each ships spends in warp space or if it's either something we have no hope of refining anytime soon or a natural law of warp jumping we can't change. If there's no way to easily change it I think making preliminary plans to construct jump-tugs that can deliver multiple ships into a system at once might be prudent.
     
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