9-7: Aslan Negotiations
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
While there are many questions, the first is simple; What missions are planned for? Strike - requiring a specialised Attacker, Patrol - requiring a specialised EWAR Vehicle, Other - Fleet Command and Control.
In the mean time, what is the HSWS's position? We should be approaching the Aslan about military coordination against Hermosa, We should be approaching the Aslan and Xyri about technology sharing agreements, We should be scouting 'around the back' of Hermosa, in as much as we can, in order to assess the enemies depth, It is too early for any sort of military co-ordination with Garda-Villis. Pursue diplomatic relations with Garda-Villis. Suggest an exchange of ambassadors and trade agreements. Seek clarity around their claimed sovereign territory and any allies / foes they may have, particularly whether they have any relations with Hermosa.
Available Budget: 598.725MCr
Current Dockyard Usage: 18,000Dtons
Capital Considerations - Carrier Battle
With a plan to craft a carrier that specialises in long range patrol and strike, utilising EWAR and strike platforms to extend the capabilities of the fleet while also providing command, control and communications to an entire Task Force, the architects and designers get to work. First off; designing those small craft.
While the F-40 strike bomber exists and is demonstrably capable as a long range, multi-role, CAS capable ship it is likely not the ideal for a true space carrier. After all, those capabilities use for strike in the vacuum of space can be found in a much smaller - and less defensible - platform which would reduce the size and scope of the hangers required. However, every decision is a trade off and thus we must prioritise what is required for the particular specialised role.
The strike fighter should be: (Choose Two to prioritise)
[ ] Capable of high-speed attack runs using a chemical rocket booster
[ ] Capable of defending itself against interceptors
[ ] Capable of multiple attack runs before returning to rearm
[ ] Capable of resisting enemy fire with armour
[ ] Capable of approaching an enemy with stealth
[ ] Capable of - write in
The EWAR craft will, presumably, be built off of the same platform with some of those same capabilities cut or reconfigured in order to ensure that it can both carry a package of capable sensors and conduct operations alongside a strike package. After all, a bomber without EWAR cover is just a dead bird by some accounts.
Approaching the Aslan
New orders are dispatched to the diplomatic mission on Keoiri, a sealed packet that contains all the requirements from negotiations that Home hungers for. The diplomats approach their contacts in the Aslan government - at least, those low enough on the rung to be on Keoiri rather than on whatever the Aslan main world is. It takes months to get a clear answer out of them, but once it's had its immediately transmitted back to Home. The proposal is two-fold:
- First, that Home will be enabled in hiring several capable Aslan warships and their crews as 'mercenaries'. The Aslan have no interest in getting directly involved in a conflict that is, by their count, six parsecs from the edge of their own space; however, they are also aware that their military is constantly hungry for fighting, honour and the chance to win accolades. They offer a handful of 1,000 ton 'cruisers' and their accompanying crews, so long as Home is willing to pay costs plus a bonus on top for the benefit of their service. The Aslan suggest 200Mcr per cruiser per year of service (or part thereof) with the HSWS
- Secondly, the Aslan are more than willing to provide Home with advanced technology and the knowledge with which to make use of it in developing new and more advanced fleet capabilities. of course, this will come with a price - land. Cassalon is still recovering from the devastation of war, but Aslan men are hungry for stakes. The award of several land grants on Cassalon, to be cleansed and redeveloped into something more suitable to their new inhabitants, would be of great benefit to the Aslan peoples. However, the Aslan diplomats are also more than aware of how contentious this option is - they are more than willing to wait for an answer. Home has all the time it needs to decide.
What is the HSWS response? (select all that apply)
[ ] We need those ships. Hire all three available to increase the number of hulls available to the service, they'll make fine escorts.
[ ] We should approach Cassalon about land grants for the Aslan, in order to improve everyone's defences.
[ ] We should counter-offer land grants on Home. We cannot guarantee that Cassalon will agree, after all.
[ ] Other response - write in.
Scouting About
While the Interstellar Surveyors (and the supply ship) are busy running scouting missions into Hermosan space, the Deep Space Surveyors take the opportunity to load up on Drop Tanks and head out into the deep black. Over the course of several months they slowly but surely extend the range of what can be considered known space, until we finally have definite confirmation of (most) of what lies beyond Hermosa.
Come 15y00m00w, we will have a little over 4kMcr and more than 7k dtons of yard space. How should it be filled?
[ ] Additional Interstellar Cruiser Refits (355Mcr each, 7 remain)
[ ] Another CFA (1280-1490Mcr based on variant)
[ ] Assess the vaibility of using this space for a capital carrier
[ ] Other - write in.
Please present votes as plans. Voting opens at
