[X] OPLAN: Catalog
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Establish a dedicated liason office and formal exchange progeam for the Militia, Cassalon ground forces, and various Xyrian ground forces. Host their officers and senior NCOs for better facilitation of HSWS "lessons learned", relevant tactics (orbit to ground, ground to orbit, boarding operations and ground), and ethics, ideals, and goals.
-[X] Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[X] Dispatch the Bá Kim to the 'Northern' systems, to make proper contact there.
-[X] No new stations at this time.
[X] Plan sparsity: two diplomacy targets; the best schools; no new commands/stations
-[X] Priority: Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[X] Secondary: Dispatch the Bá Kim to the 'Northern' systems, to make proper contact there.
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Write-in: No new command stations
[X] Plan the new border:
-[x] primary Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[x] secondary Dispatch the Bá Kim to Garda Villis, to finally make contact there.
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[x] Hexos - We could establish a force far to the 'South'.
[x] Plan: Lay claim and look further
-[x] primary Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[X] Secondary: Dispatch the Bá Kim to the 'Northern' systems, to make proper contact there.
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[x] Other - Establish a dedicated liason office and formal exchange progeam for the Militia, Cassalon ground forces, and various Xyrian ground forces. Host their officers and senior NCOs for better facilitation of HSWS "lessons learned", relevant tactics (orbit to ground, ground to orbit, boarding operations and ground), and ethics, ideals, and goals.
-[x] Scout Flotilla should be refitted with new ships - new large Surveyors and newer FSS ships. Inital Scout flotilla should have two task forces, each of one Surveyour + Supply ship.
-[x] Establish "garrison forces" at Xyri, Nova Refugio, Shambala and Hexos. Each should consist primarily of 1-3 MDS (1 at Shambala, more at others) and possibly of fighters. We would promote them into operational commands or demote them in future, as our situation would become more clear. Command at Heimdall would be responsible for keeping regular contact with Hexos, Shambala and Nova Refugio garrisons. Home - with Xyri garrison and with our presense at Deep Hope.
--[x] Cassalon force should be reformed into more of a garrison one, with most of its jump-capable ships to be moved to Expeditionary force, Home force or some future forces.
[X] OPLAN: Catalog
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Establish a dedicated liason office and formal exchange progeam for the Militia, Cassalon ground forces, and various Xyrian ground forces. Host their officers and senior NCOs for better facilitation of HSWS "lessons learned", relevant tactics (orbit to ground, ground to orbit, boarding operations and ground), and ethics, ideals, and goals.
-[X] Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[X] Dispatch the Bá Kim to the 'Northern' systems, to make proper contact there.
-[X] No new stations at this time.
[X] Plan sparsity: two diplomacy targets; the best schools; no new commands/stations
-[X] Priority: Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[X] Secondary: Dispatch the Bá Kim to the 'Northern' systems, to make proper contact there.
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Write-in: No new command stations
[X] Plan the new border:
-[x] primary Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[x] secondary Dispatch the Bá Kim to Garda Villis, to finally make contact there.
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[x] Hexos - We could establish a force far to the 'South'.
[x] Plan: Lay claim and look further
-[x] primary Dispatch the Bá Kim to Hermosa, for the delicate negotiations required.
-[X] Secondary: Dispatch the Bá Kim to the 'Northern' systems, to make proper contact there.
-[X] Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[X] Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school - Costs 200Mcr. per annum.
-[x] Other - Establish a dedicated liason office and formal exchange progeam for the Militia, Cassalon ground forces, and various Xyrian ground forces. Host their officers and senior NCOs for better facilitation of HSWS "lessons learned", relevant tactics (orbit to ground, ground to orbit, boarding operations and ground), and ethics, ideals, and goals.
-[x] Scout Flotilla should be refitted with new ships - new large Surveyors and newer FSS ships. Inital Scout flotilla should have two task forces, each of one Surveyour + Supply ship.
-[x] Establish "garrison forces" at Xyri, Nova Refugio, Shambala and Hexos. Each should consist primarily of 1-3 MDS (1 at Shambala, more at others) and possibly of fighters. We would promote them into operational commands or demote them in future, as our situation would become more clear. Command at Heimdall would be responsible for keeping regular contact with Hexos, Shambala and Nova Refugio garrisons. Home - with Xyri garrison and with our presense at Deep Hope.
--[x] Cassalon force should be reformed into more of a garrison one, with most of its jump-capable ships to be moved to Expeditionary force, Home force or some future forces.
With the return of the Bá Kim, we have the opportunity for additional diplomacy. Select one priority and one secondary target: Hermosa, the 'Northern' systems How much is the HSWS willing to invest? Develop a ground and space command school with no expense spared, Construct multiple ground schools for various specialities as well as an on-orbit school, Establish a dedicated liaison office and formal exchange program for the Militia, Cassalon ground forces, and various Xyrian ground forces. What is missing from this list? No new stations at this time.
Available Budget: 3692.649MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 7,000Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 79/80
A Year in Time
Most of a year passes with a hundred little changes. New schools are built on the surface of Home, new ships come out of the yards and new administrative structures are put in place to better command and control them. The first classes go into their new schools and the first members of the Cassalon, Xyrian and Militia ground forces meet on Home to establish a curriculum to better unify their various schools of thought on how to conduct ground warfare in an age of interstellar warships.
While the first class are entering a year long officer training program, we must still appoint commanders to various positions even without having the benefits of that learning. We will, as has been the case until this point, have to manage with the officers who have come up through our older, less well invested methods. As such, the following officers of at least Vice-Marshall rank have been short-listed for command:
Name
Time in Rank
Quality
Traits
Vice-Marshall Javier McNeal
<1 year
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Speed Demon, ???
Vice-Marshall Isa Burakgazi
1-2 years
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Well-Connected, ???
Vice-Marshall Anisa Mendoza
3-4 years
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Disciplinarian, ???
Vice-Marshall Matxalen Gebara
<1 year
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Jump Expert, ???
Vice-Marshall Amir Adabayo
2-3 years
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Sensor Expert, ???
Vice-Marshall Sophea Omarov
1-2 years
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Carrier Expert, ???
Vice-Marshall Amirkhan Kadyrov
<1 year
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Agressive, ???
Vice-Marshall Belinay Celik
3-4 years
??? - Estimated: Average to Good
Ordnance Expert, ???
We have five stations requiring someone of Vice-Marshall rank, and eight prospective officers who would be suitable for the role. Please select officer and station from the following list:
[ ] X should command the Home station
[ ] X should command the Cassalon station
[ ] X should command the Heimdall station
[ ] X should command the Expeditionary Flotilla
[ ] X should command the Scout Flotilla
We also have a huge void in our yards and not a great deal with which to fill them. Financially we are well off, but our pilot situation is complex. Even if we simply sent the last two non block III cruisers to the reserve, we would only have the capacity for a handful of new ships. As such, it would be appreciated if the HSWS Senior Command would set a schedule for ships to be placed into reserve. Select from the following list in order of priority:
[ ] Article-breaching ships - the Monitor and the MMV
[ ] Flight I Frigates
[ ] Block III Interstellar Cruisers
[ ] Other - write in
Finally, the last point on the Agenda for the coming year; what exactly is the HSWS going to spend its (reduced) budget building? Select ships from the following list up to the yard maximum (11,150 dtons):
[ ] A second Patrol Carrier (5,500 tons, 2,837.595Mcr)
[ ] Additional Interstellar Cruiser Refits (355Mcr each, 2 remain)
[ ] Another CFA (1280-1490Mcr based on variant)
[ ] Enhanced frigates using modern technology (500 tons, 271Mcr each)
[ ] An advanced replacement for the Surveyors
[ ] Other - write in
[x] Plan for a refit of the monitor into a carrier. It should have 2-jump range and serve fleet command, ewar and strike missions, maybe interceptors (see below)
[x] Look into our point-defence doctrine
-[x] Do war games and sims to see how our current fleets would fare versus a big Hermosan missile launch.
-[x] What are the trade-offs versus other point defence approaches?
--[x] Test if an interceptor design would be good versus missiles, torpedos and/or small-craft.
--[x] Are specialised point-defence escorts a good idea or would we be better with each ship handling its own point-defence?
[X] OPLAN: Revival
-[X] Command Postings
--[X] Isa Burakgazi (1-2 years, Well-Connected) should command the Home station
--[X] Anisa Mendoza (3-4 years, Disciplinarian) should command the Cassalon station
--[X] Belinay Celik (3-4 years, Ordnance Expert) should command the Heimdall station
--[X] Matxalen Gebara (<1 year, Jump Expert) should command the Expeditionary Flotilla
--[X] Amir Adabayo (2-3 years, Sensor Expert) should command the Scout Flotilla
-[X] Construction
--[X] First run of an advanced replacement for the Surveyors (1-2k tons each - build up to three);
--[X] Flight II FSS (find weight savings for more logistical capacity; revise weapons layout, etc). (4k tons)
--[X] Flight II diplomatic cruiser (1k tons)
-[X] Mothballs (From highest to least priority)
--[X] Article-breaching ships - the Monitor and the MMV
--[X] Flight I Frigates
--[X] Block III Interstellar Cruisers
[X] OPLAN: Crescendo
-[X] Command Postings
--[X] Isa Burakgazi (1-2 years, Well-Connected) should command the Home station
--[X] Anisa Mendoza (3-4 years, Disciplinarian) should command the Cassalon station
--[X] Belinay Celik (3-4 years, Ordnance Expert) should command the Heimdall station
--[X] Matxalen Gebara (<1 year, Jump Expert) should command the Expeditionary Flotilla
--[X] Amir Adabayo (2-3 years, Sensor Expert) should command the Scout Flotilla
-[X] Construction
--[X] A new fleet carrier (9000 tons)
--[X] 2 enhanced frigates using modern technology (500 tons, 271 MCr each)
--[X] Flight II diplomatic cruiser (1k tons)
-[X] Mothballs (From highest to least priority)
--[X] Article-breaching ships - the Monitor and the MMV
--[X] Flight I Frigates
--[X] Block III Interstellar Cruisers
Available Budget: 3692.649MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 7,000Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 79/80
The Future of Command
The first 'Major' stations of the HSWS will be further reinforced with each being assigned a Vice-Admiral who has the initiative and responsibility of action to avoid another crisis like that which we experienced with Hermosa. These stations will be: Home Fleet - Vice-Admiral Isa Burakgazi
- One CFA, acting flagship
- Two ICbIII
- Four FFE (various models)
Cassalon Station - Vice-Admiral Anisa Mendoza
- One CFA, acting flagship
- Two ICbIII
Heimdall Station - Vice-Admiral Belinay Celik
- One CFA, acting flagship
- Two ICbIII
Expeditionary Flotilla - Vice-Admiral Matxalen Gebara
- One CFA, acting flagship
- Two ICbIII
- Four FFE (various models)
- One FFS
Scout Flotilla - Vice Admiral Amir Adabayo
- Two ISbII
- Two DSS
- One FFS
Maintenance & Reserve - No Formal Command
- One CFA
- Four ICbIII
- Four FFE (various models)
- One MAT
This current structure is based on the available ships that the HSWS has, normalising each posting into a flagship, two escorts, and additional patrol ships where possible. Any single station can be reinforced by the Expeditionary Flotilla in a maximum of a month, though generally it will be rotated into one-jump range of a flashpoint depending on current experiences. For example, the ad-hoc force named 'Staging Point Reserve' in the Hermosan crisis would have instead been the purview of the Expeditionary Flotilla and that is how it will be from here on out.
These forces will fluctuate as new ships are constructed over the next five to ten years. With a third of the force in standard maintenance or training at any one time, this limits how much can be deployed in the 'standard' order of things, though it should be possible to improve those numbers during a time of particular need. This does, however, raise an obvious weak point - We have a requirement for four CFA postings and only five hulls. We need a sixth to ensure there can always be one on station at each required posting.
Hard Construction
There are choices to be made regarding the new versions of the redesigned ships. First is the advanced scout ship, the thus-far-named Multi-Mission Surveyor. Growing to 1,000dTons, this hull would be able to complete the mission of both the IS and the DSS in one platform, including:
- Carrying sufficient probes to create a dense net around several worlds.
- An observatory for long range scouting.
- Fuel, supplies and comfortable enough conditions for deployments lasting up to six weeks.
- The capacity to carry a diplomatic team and FLF honour guard, allowing the ship to act as an ad-hoc diplomatic vessel.
Comments from the Senior Command on the MMS:
[ ] This ship will do nicely. Order X of them (Write in X)
[ ] It would be perfect except for X (write in minor alterations or suggestions)
[ ] This is terrible. It must be capable of (write in major alterations or a new design)
Meanwhile, the flight II Flotilla Supply Ship is barely recognisable compared to its not 15 year old cousin. Performing the same role with greatly boosted capacity, the distributed hull of this newly planned replacement for the FSS would increase it's fuel supply (the main limit on long range operations) by a full 25%. With half of its tonnage given over to fuel and just under 10% of the hull for supplies, it is a remarkable development over the previous vessel. It does not, however, fit any armour, as the designers cannot imagine that an FSS engaged in direct combat is going to survive anyway.
It is also, vitally, half the price of the previous FSS.
Comments from the Senior Command on the FSSfII:
[ ] This ship will do nicely. Order X of them (Write in X)
[ ] It would be perfect except for X (write in minor alterations or suggestions)
[ ] This is terrible. It must be capable of (write in major alterations or a new design)
The design of the Multi-Mission Surveyor raises a third question. If the MMS can carry a diplomatic party when it is not busy scouting, should we simply build these instead of building a separate class of diplomatic ships?
Comments from the Senior Command on Diplomatic Duty Ships:
[ ] We should simply build a broad run of MMS ships to conduct diplomatic and survey missions.
[ ] We could build a variant of the MMS designed for surface landings and diplomacy.
[ ] No, we should continue to design a flight II Diplomatic Ship.
Please present votes as plans. Voting opens at
. One additional question just for me and not part of the main update. Would you like to start giving ship classes names or do you like the 'functional' system we have?
[x] Plan: Swiss army ride
-[x] MMS - This is not good enough. Since MMS would have to act alone, unlike previous scouts, it should have redundant capabilities. Modular-built ship could both act as an MMS and as a dedicated diplomatic ship - and maybe we would design for it som new roles in future?
--[x] As an MMS proper it should have: More internal (or external?) jump fuel; two shuttles with at least one full hangar (to run repairs in); two workshops to repair/modify/produce spare parts; more laboratory space; a second sensor station; a small gas scoop for research purposes;
--[x] As a diplomatic ship: large briefing room; gourmet kitchen; wet bar; hot tubs; enough stores and impressive common rooms to wine and dine foreing dignitaries and persons of interest. Both diplo-VIP and basic MMS should have a medbay, obviously.
-[x] FSS - With increasing autonomy periods, it would be beneficial to have at least one workshop on FSS ship. Could we also put gas mining/refining equipment on it? If it could produce and replenish fuel from gas giants on its own, this would be a great boon.
-[x] Modular MMS can conduct first contact and less important diplomatic work in basic configuration, and run more important diplomatic missions in the VIP-configuration.
[X] OPLAN: Renewal
-[X] MMS - it must be capable of its current capabilities, as well as carrying four jumps worth of fuel internally. Add a biosphere and some conference/meeting rooms to better reflect its diplomatic role (and to provide for crew comfort on longer surveys). It should be streamlined so it can land itself for diplomatic meetings. Increase tonnage to achieve this.
-[X] FSS - investigate whether self-refining capability is possible. Add fuel scoops for recovery of unrefined fuel and internal processing and storage, if possible, for up to 10% of refined fuel capacity per day (200 tons unrefined storage/processing). If possible, keep increased tonnage at or below 500 tons.
-[X] We should simply build a broad run of MMS ships to conduct diplomatic and survey missions.
Comments from the Senior Command on the MMS: it must be capable of its current capabilities, as well as carrying four jumps worth of fuel internally. Add a biosphere and some conference/meeting rooms to better reflect its diplomatic role (and to provide for crew comfort on longer surveys). It should be streamlined so it can land itself for diplomatic meetings. Increase tonnage to achieve this. Comments from the Senior Command on the FSSfII: investigate whether self-refining capability is possible. Add fuel scoops for recovery of unrefined fuel and internal processing and storage, if possible, for up to 10% of refined fuel capacity per day (200 tons unrefined storage/processing). If possible, keep increased tonnage at or below 500 tons. Comments from the Senior Command on Diplomatic Duty Ships: We should simply build a broad run of MMS ships to conduct diplomatic and survey missions.
Available Budget: 3692.649MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 7,000Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 79/80
Revisiting the Architects
Design school is open for business, and the Senior Command has some comments. With an interest in extended range, as well as combining capabilities into a single platform, the Senior Command requests an extension of the size, a redesign of the hull, additional crew comforts; essentially the architects have to return to the drawing board and re-build the ship concept from the ground up. The final result is, at least, significantly more capable:
With a 4-6 Jump Range and six months of on-board plant fuel and supplies, the Multi-Mission Surveyor will be able to conduct missions far more capably than any survey ship we have built previously. While it will require greater fuelling infrastructure than we may currently have given its capacious fuel tanks, it will be such a boon in capability - especially when matched with the new, higher capacity Flotilla Supply Such. It will also be a comfortable posting, with 10% of its tonnage devoted to a biosphere, crew common areas and various other more minor additions that ensure a crew of seventy can conduct a whole host of missions outside their designed remit.
It is, however, twice the cost-per-hull of the previous design; that is the price of that capability. Nonetheless, a price of almost eight-hundred-million credits - half the price of a line warship - may make fleet planners balk.
Comments from the Senior Command on the MMS:
[ ] This ship will do nicely. Order X of them (Write in X)
[ ] It would be perfect except for X (write in minor alterations or suggestions)
[ ] This is terrible. It must be capable of (write in major alterations or a new design)
In regards to the FSS, and the continuous supply of fuel out in the dark of space, there is some potential to convert capability that has previously been present only on Anchorage stations. The addition of a refinery would be a simple matter, the machinery required to out-put 200 tons of processed fuel would only require twenty tons of machinery, another twenty for the scoop drones and a further ten tons for the drone command and control systems. We could fit that to the current design plan for the FSS (with a commensurate increase in required crew) with only a small reduction in the available additional cargo space allocated for non-mission critical sundries.
What is the opinion of the Senior Command?
[ ] Enlarge the FSS to fit additional systems.
[ ] Reduce cargo allocation to fit additional systems.
[ ] Redesign the FSS to allow it to skim its own fuel.
With the dispatch of the diplomatic mission to Hermosa, travelling and refuelling in Hermosan space, the Scout Flotilla is at what might be considered a loose end. While the higher-ups are considering the fate of their service (and quietly planning a new class that no-one will be dissatisfied by) those currently commanding vessels are hungry for another deep space mission.
Two options present themselves:
- First, a mission to the 'South' of Aslan space, investigating the wide open patch of barren void between the lions and Garda-Villis. This would be as much a fact finding mission as anything else, exploring the potential for more systems in that area.
- Second, a mission to the 'South' of Hexos. While refuelling in Heimdall would limit the potential range of exploration, the full limits of the DSS haven't yet been reached and thus this mission is considered possible.
Which does senior command prefer?
[ ] South of Aslan
[ ] South of Hexos
[ ] Something Else
Please present votes as plans. Voting opens at
. One additional question just for me and not part of the main update. Would you like to start giving ship classes names or do you like the 'functional' system we have?
Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Oct 4, 2024 at 4:45 AM, finished with 20 posts and 9 votes.
[X] Plan Full Scout Replacement
-[x] This ship will do nicely. Order 3 of them.
-[x] Reduce cargo allocation to fit additional systems.
-[x] South of Hexos. Pay special attention to the system in -02 05
[X] Plan South of Aslan
-[x] This ship will do nicely. Order 3 of them (if funds allow)
-[x] Reduce cargo allocation to fit additional systems.
-[x] South of Aslan.
Comments from the Senior Command on the MMS: This ship will do nicely. Order 3 of them. What is the opinion of the Senior Command? Reduce cargo allocation to fit additional systems. Which does senior command prefer? South of Hexos. Pay special attention to the system in -02 05
Available Budget: 849.239MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 16,400Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 79/80
New Builds
The 17th year of the Home Space Warfare Service begins with the laying down of four new ships, none of them designed with war in mind. Three will be the new Multi-Mission Surveyor, a replacement for both the Interstellar Surveyor and the Deep Space Surveyor with updated equipment, facilities and crew comforts. These ships will also double as the replacement for the 'flying embassy' with similar crew comforts and facilities for a significantly sized diplomatic team. They will also, however, take two and a half years to build, and the same for the new self-fuelling Flotilla Supply Ship flight II.
Their names, selected by the SIS from a list provided by the HSWS, will be the HSWS Agni, the HSWS Henshen and the HSWS Pushan, while the FSSfII will be the HSLS Shaushka. These will be the last large ships laid down for some time unless someone comes up with a plan to access more yard space. With no other independent polity in the locale with any significant space infrastructure that can be leaned upon to provide access - unless Home decides to change its position in regards to the Aslan or Hermosa - it will take some level of ingenuity or remarkable discovery to change that situation.
Heading South
With the Scout Flotilla dispatched to Hexos, an operation in planned into deep space. All four ships - bar the FSS - will fly out from Hexos and as the DSS' are flying separately to investigate sectors a parsec removed, the IS pair are heading for '-02,05' to find out what's happening in that system. It takes a month for the group to get to Hexos, two weeks for them to complete preparations and refuel in system and then a further ten weeks to actually carry out their mission. This means that Home doesn't actually hear news of the missions completion until twenty-two weeks into their 17th year of operations, around 17y05m02w. With such missions now taking six months at a time, it is quickly becoming prohibitive to run such operations with direct input from Senior Command.
Nonetheless, the scouts persevere.
-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) Comments: The Crews of HSWS Culsans and Janus are invited to spend several weeks on the surface of the small, fat planet called Fornice. The people are welcoming, warm, friendly. They prize artistry, theatre, poetry, and all those other things. Cultural exchange is the first order of the day of the visit, and the people of Fornice are nothing but happy to feed and house our people, to refuel their ships, to give them gifts and other things to bring back to Home.
They also depart with a message. The warm welcome to Fornice hides a hidden under-side, an oppressive government that wants nothing more than to crush any dissent and rebellion. They would like nothing more than the support of Home to throw off the yoke of the government. Home's reward? Money, ships, supplies, whatever they want if they'll only support the rebels.
While this message is for the the Citizens Council, the HSWS will have a perspective on it. What is that perspective?
[ ] Why wouldn't we support the oppressed! Back them.
[ ] Weakness is an opportunity to us. Perhaps with the right fleet we could simply take the system.
[ ] We shouldn't get involved with something so far from Home.
[ ] Other - write in.
Diplomatic Outreach
While the scouts are busy south of Hexos, the diplomatic ship is headed to Hermosa. While their principal intention is to ensure peace between the two nations and to reduce friction along the border, they are also intending to create a framework for a future relationship.
What would the HSWS prefer is discussed as part of these negotiations? (Select all that apply)
[ ] Mutual anchorage agreements in Heimdall and Equus, to allow crews to spend some time off their ships
[ ] The sharing of star charts and other information on other powers
[ ] Float the potential of combined exercises or war games
[ ] Recommend the adoption of the Articles of War to Hermosa
[ ] Create a framework for limitations on system penetration - classifications of allowed ships for instance.
[ ] Other - write in.
Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Oct 6, 2024 at 4:13 AM, finished with 25 posts and 10 votes.
[X] Plan Take it Slow
-[x] propose a cultural exchange with Fornice. Have agents get an idea of the general disposition of the population, how their government works, and what general political groups are present.
-[x] request to establish an Embassy to Hermosa on Equus, and invite Hermosa to establish an Embassy on Heimdall.
-[x] propose an exchange of the history of our nations, to achieve a better understanding of the culture and politics of our two nations. Leave out the past 20 years, this is to get an idea of our foundations, not air out the dirty laundry
-[x] work out a formal treaty recognizing the sovereignty of our territories, and a system for trade to cross our borders.
-[x] The sharing of star charts and other information on other major powers.
[X] Plan Take it Careful
-[x] propose a cultural exchange with Fornice. Have agents get an idea of the general disposition of the population, how their government works, and what general political groups are present.
--[x] Our arguement to Citizen Council would be like this: "We should align with a the stronger side on Fornice. If their dissident movement is widespread and strong, backing the current government would mean that it could be overthrown. The new government would then oppose us and our interests". We know that otherwise they would back the bureucractic government, and that can produce another S'Taxu Incident in future.
-[x] request to establish an Embassy to Hermosa on Equus, and invite Hermosa to establish an Embassy on Heimdall.
-[x] Mutual anchorage agreements in Heimdall and Equus, to allow crews to spend some time off their ships
-[x] propose an exchange of the history of our nations, to achieve a better understanding of the culture and politics of our two nations. Leave Nova Refugio out of history lessons.
-[x] work out a formal system for trade to cross our borders, without our traders going deeper than Equus and without their traders going deeper than Heimdall.
[X] OPLAN: Odd Woman Out
-[X] Write-in: Conduct a careful review of the Fornice situation before offering any aid to the rebel forces, but offer nothing to the dictatorship-remember the last time we trusted a "reasonable" ally with authoritarian means?
-[X] Write-in: approach Hermosa with just the offer of embassies in Heimdall and Equus-but only if and when their illegal penetration of our territory stops. We cannot risk another tragic accident like the Glaive incident. Additionally, continue to fortify our borders with them, and share as little information as possible about other polities like Garda-Villis and Hexos. We will not aid in these imperialist schemes against our neighbors.
While this message is for the the Citizens Council, the HSWS will have a perspective on it. What is that perspective? Propose a cultural exchange with Fornice. Have agents get an idea of the general disposition of the population, how their government works, and what general political groups are present. Conduct a careful review of the Fornice situation before offering any aid to the rebel forces, but offer nothing to the dictatorship-remember the last time we trusted a "reasonable" ally with authoritarian means? What would the HSWS prefer is discussed as part of these negotiations? Request to establish an Embassy to Hermosa on Equus, and invite Hermosa to establish an Embassy on Heimdall- but only if and when their illegal penetration of our territory stops. Propose an exchange of the history of our nations, to achieve a better understanding of the culture and politics of our two nations. Leave out the past 20 years, this is to get an idea of our foundations, not air out the dirty laundry. Work out a formal treaty recognizing the sovereignty of our territories, and a system for trade to cross our borders. Additionally, continue to fortify our borders with them, and share as little information as possible about other polities like Garda-Villis and Hexos.
Available Budget: 849.239MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 16,400Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 81/80
Diplomatic Outreach
The HSWs waits for news from Hermosa with bated breath, hoping that this negotiation will find the end of what showed all the signs of a flashpoint that could throw at least six systems into interstellar warfare. When the HSLS Bá Kim returns after several long weeks of no-contact, it is to the relief of a great number of HSWS personnel who were at least somewhat concerned that this was going to end in an ad-hoc rescue mission deep into enemy space.
The negotiations were, in a word, successful. While not everything was achieved, or agreed upon, enough was to call the mission a roaring success and to celebrations and awards and promotions for a number of the officers involved in the mission. The diplomats and several officers who served through the crisis are recognised in a remarkable event in the streets of the capital dome in the Home system, with celebrations lasting for several days. Multiple major commercial entities and businesses give their workers a few days off to celebrate and fill the cities with debauchery and hedonism. It is one of the largest events seen on Home in several years. Even representatives of the Daughters are seen taking to the streets, engaging with the partying in ways that had not been expected by MIC officers.
But what, exactly, has been agreed that they are celebrating?
- Both Hermosa and Home will construct an embassy in the system closest to each other, one in Equus and the other in Heimdall. These will be continuously staffed, and available for ongoing negotiations, for raising diplomatic matters with the other party. Both will be constructed in the next five years, both will be built as part of space stations and each will be maintained by the opposite party once constructed.
- Once the embassies are operational, neither side will be allowed to penetrate the others space without permission as part of logged flight plans, though those logged flight plans must be accepted if they are part of ongoing diplomatic operations. This will, essentially, formalise the intelligence flights as visits to each others diplomatic stations.
- There will be, in the long term, free ports established in both Equus and Heimdall for merchants from either side to ply their wares. However, there is no timetable laid out for this and it may be many decades before home is able to ship expensive luxuries deep into 'enemy' space.
- We have also shared with them a very basic map of the polities known to Home, including the extent of their own star empire.
As for the history of the two nations, we share with them the timeline of colonisation, the events of the Great Plague that Home suffered with, and the first steps into space made by our intrepid explorers. They, in turn, have shared an obviously redacted history of their own efforts.
Hermosa began its life as a seed-world, a colony established via the dissemination of equipment, infrastructure and a few thousand humans by a slow-boat several hundred years previously. While the first decades were focused entirely on the engineering required to keep colonists alive on a mostly-ocean planet, this quickly bled into their political systems. As such, it is the engineers and the descendants of engineers who maintained the floating arcologies in which people live that became the rulers of the world. This continued as the people of Hermosa developed and reached out into space in the last half-century, with station chiefs and colony leaders selected from some of the best and brightest educated men.
And it is only the men. Women have other roles in Hermosan life, but they are notably not leaders, spacers or officers. Every indication is given that they would prefer our diplomatic teams not include women. The unspoken response is that that will not be happening, given that Home values every service member, not just the ones that consider themselves to be men.
We must plan for a diplomatic station. What are our guiding principles? (Pick two)
[ ] It must be comfortable.
[ ] It must be safe.
[ ] It must be limited.
[ ] It must be advanced.
[ ] It must be large.
[ ] It must host a permanent cadre.
[ ] Other - write in.
Fornice
With the return of the HSLS Bá Kim, the HSWS has the opportunity to conduct a true diplomatic mission to Fornice, at the expense of the previously planned mission North. This would serve to bring MIC officers into the Fornice sphere, to conduct a casual cultural exchange and to allow formal meetings with senior figures in the polity. However it would, once again, be a matter of delaying the mission North.
What of the diplomats?
[ ] Send them South, to Fornice
[ ] Send them North, to tour Menorb, Inthe and Natoko.
We must plan for a diplomatic station. What are our guiding principles? It must be advanced. It must host a permanent cadre. What of the diplomats? Send them South, to Fornice
Available Budget: 849.239MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 16,400Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 81/80
Diplomatic Outreach
While the HSWS has one plan for the diplomatic station that they will build for the Hermosan contingent, the Hermosan architects have other ideas. They agree that it must be permanently crewed and advanced in design, of course, but they also insist that it should have docking and crew facilities for a semi-permanent guard ship - that is, a rotating assignment wherein a warship will be docked and its crew housed aboard the station. This will ensure the safety and security of the diplomatic station without requiring a constantly active war-fleet on site.
As for the crew facilities, they hope that this will encourage others in the system to visit and meet with members of the Hermosan diplomatic and military corps, in order to engender trust between our two states.
As such, the Hermosan architects project a required tonnage of 200 tons for the visiting crew, a further 200 of docking facilities for the visiting ship, fuel supplies to last a significant time of at least 600-1,000 tons, and a probably final mass of 2-3,000 tons. This would include significant armouring and defensive weaponry (Sandcasters and PD lasers) to ensure the safety of the station even in times of crisis.
Are there any further modifications to this plan that the HSWS would like to propose?
[ ] It should host an FLF contingent
[ ] It should host a ceremonial fighter squadron
[ ] It should be able to source and refine its own fuel
[ ] It should be able to defend itself more aggressively against hostile action.
[ ] No, this is acceptable. Draw up the plans.
[ ] Other - write in.
Fornice and all its merits
The diplomatic ship - after several weeks of cooling off, minor repairs and a change of diplomatic staff to represent the varied needs of the destination - sets out South under escort from a cruiser and a Flotilla Supply Ship. They have a long trip to make, with six weeks just to get there ignoring all the built-up transit time between arriving and departing each system on the way. Then they plan to spend between a month and three months on Fornice proper, depending on how negotiations and intelligence operations go.
We expect to see the HSLS Bá Kim return to home between 18y00m00w and 18y02m00w at which point we can hopefully, finally, send a mission North to the curious states up there.
Deep Hope
A courier arrives in Home after just a weeks jump, bringing news from Deep Hope. A ship, large and shining, has arrived in the system and after a short transit towards the station has demanded fuelling. Apparently they have suffered some minor issue with their jump drive, and have requested the opportunity to effect repairs aboard the Deep Hope Mining Station before returning to where they came.
Where they have come from, as well as the design and make-up of their ship, have all been kept seemingly intentionally quiet. Sensor readings seemingly can't even get a good scan of the volume of the approaching ship, let alone any of the surface details. As such the courier made a sprint back to Home to request assistance, reinforcements or, frankly, anything the HSWS would feel appropriate.
What is the appropriate response?
[ ] Dispatch a task force (what forces?)
[ ] Dispatch a courier to ensure the unknown vessel receives what it requests
[ ] Dispatch a ship with our best sensors to get a read on the ship
[ ] Other - write in.
[X] Dispatch a task force, consisting of our Expeditionary force and the best signals intelligence craft we have to serve as long-range reconnaissance. Broadcast messages on all known frequencies stating our peaceful intent to support their repair and survival efforts, but be prepared for any eventuality, including a direct FLF boarding action.
Are there any further modifications to this plan that the HSWS would like to propose? It should host an FLF contingent. It should be able to source and refine its own fuel. What is the appropriate response? Dispatch a task force, consisting of our Expeditionary force and the best signals intelligence craft we have to serve as long-range reconnaissance. Broadcast messages on all known frequencies stating our peaceful intent to support their repair and survival efforts, but be prepared for any eventuality, including a direct FLF boarding action.
Available Budget: 849.239MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 16,400Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 81/80
Diplomatic Outreach
The plans for the Diplomatic station are presented to HSWS high command in the mid-to-late months of 17y, a meticulous redesign of the MDS that utilises the same hull-form but contains a vastly different internal layout. A full third of the platform is given over to comfortable accommodations for the crew, an FLF platoon and a full hundred additional visitors who can rest in relative comfort. This includes the largest biosphere ever built into a space platform, a series of disparate vegetation clusters and bio-vats providing not just oxygen, but also fresh produce for those aboard.
This relatively small station can host a single CFA or a trio of Interstellar Cruisers at any one time, and is capable of hosting the Hermosan Combat Platforms as designed, according to what we saw of them. All it needs now is a stamp of approval and yard space being assigned to its construction.
What does the Senior Staff make of it:
[ ] This is what was requested. Lay one down at the next available opportunity.
[ ] Actually, there are some minor modifications - write in changes.
[ ] No, this is awful. It should actually be - write in a new spec.
Deep Hope
The Expeditionary Force under Vice-Marshall Matxalen Gebara deploys on its first operation since the change of command staff. The HSWS Segomo leads six other ships on the one-jump deployment to deep hope with messages of kindness and peace. They depart on 17y08m01w for their week long transit through jump space and the best wishes of the HSWS go with them.
Post-Action Report, Vice Marshall Matxalen Gebara I was able to bring my forces out of jump space in formation and within ten hours of each other. From the first arrival (HSWS Neto) to the last we transmitted pre-assigned messages of goodwill to the unknown craft and standard log exchanges with the Deep Hope Mining Station. There was no reply from either.
Though we emerged from jump space well within sensor ranges our scans were only able to detect the mining station. We attempted several times to detect the unknown contact and though we could see it docked on visual sensors, we could not acquire it with any other systems - Radar and Lidar both assured us that either there was only the station, or that there was a void between us and the station. We can only assume that the unknown vessel was running some sort of passive stealth system. I ordered my crews to action stations and, with the last arrival, began the short descent towards the station.
It was at this moment that the enemy - and I feel confident calling them that - chose to act. The Deep Hope Mining Station was either targeted with close-in weapon systems or pre-placed charges were detonated, cutting the modular station into several pieces. Simultaneously, the enemy vessel activated its drives and began an erratic series of escape and evasion manoeuvres supplemented by a chemical rocket that they - you'll pardon the euphemism - used to 'goose' their course to retain a vector towards the jump limit.
We attempted to engage, but between the inability to get a reliable sensor reading and the enemy ships ability to almost keep pace with our munitions, we were not able to effectively create the conditions that would force then enemy to turn and engage us. They jumped away and we presume from their exit trajectory that they were heading towards the Northern systems though that is, of course, uncomfirmed.
Recovery efforts at the Deep Hope Mining Stations demonstrate casualties both before and during the enemy ships escape. Fourteen of the thirty-nine crew have been recovered alive with various injuries and other maladies. It would seem that the Mining Station was taken under enemy control shortly after the departure of the Courier. Debriefings for all recovered crew will follow, and I will be posting two cruisers on rotation in Deep Hope in case of the enemies return.
-
The above report was filed after the return of part of the Expeditionary Force, circa 17y09m00w.
What is the HSWS immediate response?
[ ] Demand additional resources from Home - what for?
[ ] Deploy forces - where?
[ ] Call upon your allies - to do what?
[ ] Other - write in. What is the focus of the debriefing of the DSMS crew?
[ ] What can we learn about the enemy crew?
[ ] What can we learn about the enemy ship?
[ ] What can we learn about where they came from?
[ ] Other - write in
[X] OPLAN: Retort
-[X] This is what was requested. Lay one down at the next available opportunity.
-[X] HSWS Response
--[X] Demand additional resources from Home for construction of additional defensive stations (using torpedoes, lasers, missiles, smallcraft, and mines) to prevent repeat raids on our outlying systems until such a time as additional hulls can be constructed for active fleetships.
--[X] Demand additional resources for reconstruction of the Deep Hope station and anchorage, with additional defensive capabilities.
--[X] Maintain the two cruisers in Deep Hope for the time being, along with a courier for flash traffic.
--[X] Deploy two frigates from the Home Force to Xyri to act as a tripwire until we can establish a defensive station for their orbitals.
--[X] Send what little information we have to the Aslan and ask if they have encountered such vessels before and, if so, if they would be willing to share information on it and its source.
--[X] Send what little information we have to the Xyri and ask if they have encountered such vessels before and, if so, if they would be willing to share information on it and its source.
--[X] Attempt further integration of Xyrian defense forces (such as they are) with the HSWS.
- [X] Crew debrief
--[X] What can we learn about the enemy crew?
What does the Senior Staff make of it: This is what was requested. Lay one down at the next available opportunity. What is the HSWS immediate response? - Demand additional resources from Home for construction of additional defensive stations (using torpedoes, lasers, missiles, smallcraft, and mines) to prevent repeat raids on our outlying systems until such a time as additional hulls can be constructed for active fleetships.
- Demand additional resources for reconstruction of the Deep Hope station and anchorage, with additional defensive capabilities.
- Maintain the two cruisers in Deep Hope for the time being, along with a courier for flash traffic.
- Deploy two frigates from the Home Force to Xyri to act as a tripwire until we can establish a defensive station for their orbitals.
- Send what little information we have to the Aslan and to Xyri and ask if they have encountered such vessels before and, if so, if they would be willing to share information on it and its source. What is the focus of the debriefing of the DSMS crew? What can we learn about the enemy crew?
Available Budget: 849.239MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 14,900Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 81/80
Deep Hope
With the deaths of twenty-five service and civilian personnel weighing heavily on the minds of the HSWS, they launch into action. A rotating mission profile is developed to ensure that both Deep Hope and Xyri are constantly guarded in case this visit was the beginning of concerted enemy action. Simultaneously, several ships make runs out to those that might be considered the allies or at least friends of Home to attempt to gather further information on the enemy.
Excerpts from debrief interviews with surviving members of the Deep Hope Mining Station crew: "As soon as they docked we had infantry coming aboard, armed men and women in full body armour. They shot three people for 'resisting'. They weren't resisting, they were just confused as to why we were being boarded. The captain ordered everyone to their bunk rooms and to stay there while he negotiated with them. I was there in the room when he refused to take apart a chunk of the mining rig to give them some quality cabling they needed to repair their drives. Their CO - a woman, I think, but she never took her helmet off - shot him without a second thought. That was casualty four, but it was only the start."
- Flight Lieutenant Nadege Droit
"They kept us in lockdown for two weeks. The rigs were shut down, the drones were silent. They tore apart what machinery they could get at for parts, filled their tanks with fuel and vented the rest into space. They never took their helmets off, but we got a couple guards talking - they're humans just like us. Or, probably like us? I don't know anything about genetic variance from baseline, but they spoke like us and walked like us and had guns that looked like we could use them. Barely thought about that though. Whoever they were, they were professionals. Never left us on their own with less than two of them."
- Shift Commander Serge Heimisson
"When the fleet arrived all hell broke lose. They went into crash preparations, running around lugging their gear back off the station. Left plenty at the segment locks though, turns out. We took advantage of it, what else could we do. Headed for the command stations, tried to get messages out to whoever had made them panic. Turned out it was all of y'all. Course, that meant that when they blew the charges, we were scattered all over the place. I think they tried to keep from breaching the crew sections. Fuck if I know. All I know is a bunch of my friends are dead and you all need to get off your asses and hit them back."
- Mining Drone Operator Neno Amiri
-
News from Xyri comes soon, and they report no contact with any ships quite like it. In fact, they - the tripartite government - agree that they would prefer additional protections and agree to a military and economic alliance with Home that will see Xyri functionally become a client state and a responsibility of the HSWS. This will be carried out on the same guidelines as was conducted with Cassalon with some small, notable changes to reflect local needs.
This wont mean much for the HSWS, but we will be entering our 18th year with a marginally larger ship yard capacity and a marginally larger supply of pilots. Nonetheless, the perspective of the HSWS going into that year is that every little helps.
The Aslan response is more concerning. They have encountered ships as described previously, ranging down from far North on long-range jump drives and harassing the Aslan border with scouting and even raiding missions. They are not peculiarly effective raiders - it would seem their ships are geared up for long range flight rather than direct battle, but that also means that they have the ability to strike into rear areas if an aggressor isn't careful. The Aslan have never pushed too far North due to a sheer unwillingness to engage an enemy that could cause them undue issues. They would rather develop the systems they already have and get paid to go elsewhere. That said, they are willing to provisions warships at their usual contract rate of two-hundred-million credits per year per ship if the HSWS would require additional patrol forces.
-
The HSWS will enter its 18th year with fresh resources, expanded yards and a new tranche of pilots even. While there will be 4,250Dtons of yards available, it is expected that 2,500Dtons of this will be devoted to the new diplomatic station for the Hermosan border.
Available Budget: 6,000MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 14,900/19150Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 81/100
What is the HSWS construction plan for the new year?
[X] Hermosan border station - 2,500 tons
[ ] Other - write in. What is the Scout Flotilla assigned?
[ ] Map out the other side of the Aslan
[ ] Map out the other side of Garda-Villis
[ ] Map out the North and find our Enemy.
[ ] Other - write in There are several ways we could build additional hulls simultaneously. Which ones appeal?
[ ] Paying the Aslan extortionate prices to build ships in their yards.
[ ] Converting civilian yards to war-use. We could build merchant cruisers and converted patrol ships here, though not line ships.
[ ] Other - write in
[x] OPLAN: Cold Noctocalling
-[x] Our yards:
--[x] Hermosan Station (2.5k tons)
--[x] Additional Flight II Frigates x2 (1k tons, 500 ton each)
--[x] CFA A flight II with enhancements from newest technology (armor, enhanced weapons packages) x1 (3k tons)
-[x] Paying the Aslan extortionate prices to build ships in their yards.
--[x] Additional modern defense station flight II from Aslan yards with upgraded armor and sensors x2 (2500 tons each)
-[x] Converting civilian yards to war-use. We could build merchant cruisers and converted patrol ships here, though not line ships.
--[x] Additional auxiliary minelaying craft x1
-[x] Scout Flotilla
--[x] Map out the North and find our Enemy.
-[x] Other - run training minelaying mission in Deep Hope. Determine how many mines our minelayer can lay and how quickly. Run exercises with mines "firing" inactive weapons on a pair of ICs - to check if there would be targetting issues, nd just how saturating would be a salvo from 1 minelayer's wotrth of mines. Check how well ICs and frigates can detect and target the mines.
-[x] Other - Select some suitable ship(s) (maybe un-mothball the MMV?) and contact Noctocole. Warn them about this sudden northern threat, with info both from our run-in with them and whatever we've got from Aslan. Exchange the starmaps, preferably on North (and brief them on Hermosa too). Inquire if they are interested in defence cooperation, such as a common ship project, since we have at least two "interesting" common neighbours. We can get their diplomatic team to Cassalon and discuss that there.
[X] OPLAN: Shipyard Growth, Stage 1
-[X] Hermosan border station - 2,500 tons
-[X] Other - write in: 4,000 ton subsection of the new construction facility
-[X] Map out the North and find our Enemy.
-[x] Paying the Aslan extortionate prices to build ships in their yards.
--[X] To build as large of a construction facility (minus the separate sections built in our yards) as we can afford and they can transport via jump tugs to Home
-[x] Converting civilian yards to war-use. We could build merchant cruisers and converted patrol ships here, though not line ships.
--[X] Whatever small subsections of the new construction facility they can manage
-[x] Other - run training minelaying mission in Deep Hope. Determine how many mines our minelayer can lay and how quickly. Run exercises with mines "firing" inactive weapons on a pair of ICs - to check if there would be targetting issues, nd just how saturating would be a salvo from 1 minelayer's wotrth of mines. Check how well ICs and frigates can detect and target the mines.
-[x] Other - Select some suitable ship(s) (maybe un-mothball the MMV?) and contact Noctocole. Warn them about this sudden northern threat, with info both from our run-in with them and whatever we've got from Aslan. Exchange the starmaps, preferably on North (and brief them on Hermosa too). Inquire if they are interested in defence cooperation, such as a common ship project, since we have at least two "interesting" common neighbours. We can get their diplomatic team to Cassalon and discuss that there.
What is the HSWS construction plan for the new year? See Update What is the Scout Flotilla assigned? Map out the North and find our Enemy. There are several ways we could build additional hulls simultaneously. Which ones appeal? Paying the Aslan extortionate prices to build ships in their yards. Converting civilian yards to war-use.
Available Budget: 6,000MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 14,900/21,500Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 81/100
Construction
With new yards coming online, new ships can also be laid down along side the massive vessels already under construction. The spine of a fourth and fifth escort frigate are tucked in on either side of the patrol carrier, the tiny vessels dwarfed by the two-thirds complete capital ship. The Hermosan diplomatic station (which will be placed in Heimdall) is sectioned off from the other construction by semi-permeable barriers in order to allow the MIC to crawl all over it without concern. Finally, the HSWS will begin construction of the first ever Flight II Cruiser, Fast Attack, an enhanced version of the CFA which uses the space saved from modern armour alloys in order to increase its number of missile tubes from seventy-two to one-hundred-and-twenty. This is a two-thirds increase in launch capability, and the ships magazine is increased commensurately.
The better protected and up-gunned CFA-AfII
Available Budget: 3,560.83MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 21,400/21,500Dtons
With half of the budget spent and the yards more full than they have any right to be, the HSWS turns to other polities for assistance in depleting its over-full coffers. The Aslan agree to build the first MDS flight II, a redesigned version with thicker armour , 25% more torpedo tubes and modernised crew spaces to ensure that the almost fifty crew of these deadly platforms will be relatively comfortable during their three-month tours of duty. This comes at a price, of course - while the hull costs just a little over 470MCr, the Aslan will be taking a full billion credits from the HSWS for the privilege of building it for us.
Half of the new MDS is devoted to torpedo tubes
Available Budget: 2,560.83MCr
Finally, 4,000Dtons of civilian yards is sequestered for military use, to build an additional Merchant, Modular with a Mine Warfare Module. The economic costs of reserving this space will be minimal, given that most of the civilian yards are still going to be open and it will allow crews to continue work while other ships are fitting out. This second Modular Merchant will increase logistic and mine-laying capacity of the HSWS by another 25%, assuming the correct modules are purchased.
Available Budget: 1,299.53MCr
Mine Training Operations
Five ships head to Deep Hope at the usual change over time, rather than the usual two. Once there, HSLS Alakshmi spends a week mining the debris field left behind around the trojan rock that the Mining Station once orbited. The mines it drops are not armed, instead using a dummy system that will allow safe training efforts. Each will essentially pretend it has a pair of torpedoes aboard and will use targeting and burst transmission software to declare shots fired on the targeted ship.
The cruisers and frigates find detecting the presence of the minefield relatively easy. Even spaced out, the field around such a small body as a trojan comet is absurdly dense, with deeply overlapping fields of fire even for those mines that rest on the edge of the field. A self-proclaimed 'mine warfare specialist' (Technical Sergeant Halim Burakgazi) notes that it would likely be more than possible for the field to be sewn much less densely and still provide active coverage to a very broad area. Nonetheless, the ships attempt an approach as scheduled in their orders.
It is less easy to detect individual mines. Running dark with passive sensors listening, each mine is a tiny metallic object in a hazy cloud of a thousand tiny metallic objects. Neither the cruisers nor the frigates are able to chart a path through such a dense field, and weapons fire simply places the rest of the field on active alert. Late in the course of the operation, an interstellar cruiser simulates 'stumbling' into the minefield. A rapid series of burst transmissions is detected between an entire cluster of the dense minefields and, shortly afterwards, the cruiser is informed that it has been targeted by a hundred and fifty torpedoes with an estimated impact time of twenty-three minutes. Through evasive action and precision fire, the simulated impacts are reduced to 'just' 75 torpedoes which would be sufficient in any universe to completely annihilate the cruiser.
A more 'fair' test is conducted a few days later, as a simulated minefield is deployed consisting of just fifteen platforms, estimating the density that the HSWS may wish to place around a gas giant to deny fuelling or around a planet that they wish to protect and defend. In this case, the frigate is able to slowly, painstakingly, inch its way through the minefield, detecting and evading several platforms. However, it is detected by the fourth it encounters and though neither of the two torpedoes slips through the frigates PD net, the field enters an active state and shortly after is able to saturate the frigate with sixteen simultaneous launches which do 'significant' damage to the frigate.
The HSWS currently maintains a single mine-laying platform which can lay and maintain almost 3,000 tons of mines. The current mine warfare doctrine is non-existent. That changes now:
What should be protected by mine fields? Select as many as appropriate:
[ ] Major populated planets
[ ] Stations and Orbital Infrastructure
[ ] Moons in occupied systems
[ ] Gas Giants What should the density of our mine fields be?
[ ] The maximum useful density
[ ] A moderate number, enough to dissuade approaches
[ ] Just enough to let an enemy know we don't like them. What sort of mines would we prefer to deploy?
[ ] Minimum torpedo launchers
[ ] Maximum size torpedo launchers
[ ] Nuclear proximity mines
[ ] Bomb-pumped lasers
With various missions dispatched - the Scout Flotilla to the North, an ad-hoc diplomatic force to Noctocole and the diplomatic courier in Ba Kim, the HSWS is in a holding pattern, waiting for news. Hopefully, whatever comes back is positive.
[x] Plan mission-based defence
-[x] Doctrine is that 1) very valuable locations should either be able to defend themselves or be able to hold out with few losses for 2 weeks; 2) raids on valuable locations should cost an attacker significantly more than their replacement costs us.
--[x] All populations of greater than 1 million people and critical military infrastructure (drydocks) are to be defended at all times by a combination of mines, defence stations and garrison ships such that they can fight any of these forces to at least a stalemate for 2 weeks with minimal population loss (preferably by destroying the attacker): 1) a lone ship of similar capacity to any of our patrol cruiser; monitor; or the deep-hope attacker jumping in at minimum distance and attacking; 2) a fleet of similar capacity to the expeditionary fleet or 8 Hermosan Broadsword-class vessels plus mothership jumping in at either minimum distance or at sufficient distance to regroup and then advance
--[x] Very high-value military and economic infrastructure, such as critical food, mining, and fuel operations; etc are to be defended at all times from from a lone ship jumping in at minimum distance of similar capacity to any of the deep-hope attacker; our current best cruiser; the best cruiser known to be used by the Hermosans
--[x] Lower value infrastructure is to be defended sporadically against such attacks such that an attacker cannot know if they will be opposed if they were to jump at short range.
--[x] Refuelling from gas giants in our territory is to be made risky for raiders or other unauthorised ships.
-[x] If this is not economically feasible then the strategy office is instructed to explain why and issue a counter-offer.
[X] OPLAN: 3deep6me
-[X] Stations and Orbital Infrastructure, as a first priority
-[X] Major populated planets and likely jump points (outer planets, especially if they are small and easy to cover) as secondary priorities
-[X] Minefields around stations should have low density, but have a large quantity of mines by dispersing the mines in a voluminous "shell" surrounding the station at long range
-[X] Minefields around planets and jump points should have just enough to let an enemy know we don't like them.
-[X] Since jump points will also see frequent friendly and civilian traffic, mines there should only activate if an unknown craft does not respond to automated warnings.
-[X] Fields should be a mix of torpedo launch platforms (whatever mix gets us the most torpedoes per ton without violating the treaty prohibition on nuclear weapons), tripwire probes with sensors to detect passing vessels, and inflatable decoys to frustrate demining/evasion.
-[X] Stations should have upgrades made to let them trigger the launching of torpedoes.
What should be protected by mine fields? Stations and Orbital Infrastructure, as a first priority, Major populated planets and gas giants, as secondary priorities. What should the density of our mine fields be? Minefields around stations should have low density, but have a large quantity of mines by dispersing the mines in a voluminous "shell" surrounding the station at long range. Minefields around planets should have just enough to let an enemy know we don't like them. What sort of mines would we prefer to deploy? Fields should be a mix of torpedo launch platforms (whatever gets us the most torpedoes per ton, using a mix of conventional, multi-warhead, and bomb-pumped torpedoes), tripwire probes with sensors to detect passing vessels, and inflatable decoys to frustrate demining/evasion.
Available Budget: 1,299.53MCr Current Dockyard Usage: 21,400/21,500Dtons Current Pilot Usage: 85/100
Mine Warfare
The establishment of a mine-warfare doctrine allows for the first steps to be taken in order to protect Homes yards, stations and planetary bodies. With a mine-layer expected to be able to lay and maintain up to around 4,500 mines and mine equivalent platforms (including sensors and decoys) per year, the following decisions are made.
- Home herself will receive a field of 600 mines and MEP's protecting not just the planet but also her dense field of ship yards, freight stations and other orbital infrastructure.
- Home-2, the icy rock ball with a single sad little moon, will receive half of Homes field, with just 300 mines and MEP's covering the smaller world in case an enemy decides to try to establish infrastructure or attack mining efforts on the surface.
- Home-3, the gas giant which is also the source of so much of the fuel required by the HSWS, will receive 1,000 mines and MEP's to protect not just the giant herself but also the fuelling and refining infrastructure in low orbit and the upper atmosphere.
Just protecting Home will thus require almost 2,000 platforms deployed from the HSLS Alakshmi. This will, however, ensure that the system will not be vulnerable to the kind of attack that Deep Hope suffered, even on the fringes of our deployments.
With that planned, the mine warfare division (three lieutenants and one office of logistics petty officer), begin drafting plans for protecting other systems with the current mine-layer. However, therein lies an issue:
- Cassalon is home to two massive gas giants and a secondary shipyard location which would thus likely require around 10,000 mines just to defend the principal objectives in the system.
- Xyri, meanwhile, has four small gas giants and the main world, which would again require around 5,000 mines and MEP's to protect and defend.
We are fortunate, then, that Home is a remarkably small system compared to her neighbours. It would be more useful, so says the Mine Warfare Division, to utilise the jump-capable merchant ship to mine distant targets such as Heimdall or Deep Hope, places that require only a relatively small number of Mines and MEP's and would benefit from a ship that can travel to those places when needed to maintain or re-lay the fields. For example:
- Deep Hope would require maybe 60-100 mines and MEP's in order to qualify as 'protected'.
- Heimdall, with her two undeveloped gas giants, would require perhaps 1,200 mines and MEP's - a greater number but not an insurmountable one.
- Staging point could also be mined, but it would likely have to be a thin field around what is considered the rendezvous point for HSWS ships. It might not be particularly useful for stopping enemy ships transiting through the local volume but it could potentially ward off attacks on assembling HSWS Task Forces.
What is the HSWS position? Select all that apply:
[ ] We should build a series of mine warfare ships that are limited to their system to protect the major inhabited volumes.
[ ] We should revisit our doctrine to reduce the mines needed in major systems.
[ ] We should mine [Deep Hope/Heimdall/Staging Point] (delete as appropriate)
[ ] We should switch to the smallest possible CAPTOR mines in order to extend our capability.
[ ] Other - write in
Fornice and all its merits
The return of the HSLS Bá Kim from Fornice - eighteen light years from home - is a feted moment even with the ongoing reactions to aggression from the North. They return with half their complement of officers and diplomats, the rest choosing willingly to stay on Fornice in order to establish an embassy and develop greater links with the local population. They expect that the HSWS will be back eventually, and if they have to spend two years on such a delightful planet then honestly they wouldn't complain.
What have they learned, however? Well, for a start, the rebels oppressed by the government are fascists who see the wealth of art and theatre on Fornice as the wasteful efforts of a degenerate peoples. They are not a minority group - in fact they hold significant power in several spheres of daily life - but the governing Council of Engineers has no interest in allowing them to flourish any further. Fornice is, in a word, a place of free thought and free association so long as the citizens continue to provide their labour to the state when required. It is hardly a post-scarcity world, but it is a healthy one.
Another notable piece of information; while the system maintains a small defensive and mining fleet, they have the yards and technology to produce a great deal more than they currently maintain. It is suspected that they might be able to produce ships of a similar size to those that could be built in the Home yards. They certainly have the population to support such an effort.
When the HSWS inevitably returns, what should be the focus of our efforts?
[ ] We should be angling for a military alliance
[ ] We should be pushing for access to their yards for construction
[ ] We should be asking them to sign the Articles of War
[ ] We should be pushing something else - what?
Scouting Around
The Scout Flotilla - still waiting for their new ships - have gone North and come back again. They had to go the long way, tanking at Keoiri and paying extortionate prices for the pleasure before heading into deep space. They spend several months scanning dark skies before returning with news of a system that is suspected to be the origin point of the attacker (based mostly on hope) as well as detection of several systems further out that may or may not be disconnected from the others. The scouts are running into the limits of their range, even when extended with tankers and drop tanks.
Any further investigation of these systems would have to be done in force, as the scouts are concerned about running into enemy forces if they attempt to penetrate unknown systems. No one wants a repeat of the Heimdall incident.
