Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
Honestly sounds stupid, want to go to spartan lifestyle because being a "High Class" asshole is terrible. Only the diplo effects and loyalty stop me.
-
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You Are: A sector admiral of a strained imperium.
- Thread starter Packrat
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi
Maragas
Nothing to see here.
- Location
- Tree House
To be honest, if you have trillions of cash, you don't care about few measly millions even if you are going spartan.
I mean, what are you going to do other than spend it?
Especially on our case.We earned our Wealth.
- Location
- canada
see thats the thing, those wealth options spend billions every year lol
Generally people dislike spending 5% of their wealth each year
Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
Because i want our guy not to throw money out the window for some shitty wine or spirits. That could go to charity!! Or something not completely stupid.
Or into investments or bribes!
WyrmofFrost
One whose Muse delights in being coy
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
I think in the scale of things for this verse that cash is chump change for investing. Didn't we spend like a dozen or more wealth in investing for a chance of at most a handful in units return. Sure it might add up over time but we don't have said time nor the standing to deal with self righteous nobles concerned with image. It is not worth it right now. Plus any bribes are for nobles who would need multiple units to accept any, what we are spending on upkeep of living is less then any potential bribes. It would be.more expedient as well to buy commoners rather then charity and then they would be expected to do something not live on the PC wealth for no reason
Last edited:
Maragas
Nothing to see here.
- Location
- Tree House
Yeah but in our case, we earned those trillions in less than a year or two. ( I think? I forgot the timetable we operate)see thats the thing, those wealth options spend billions every year lol
Generally people dislike spending 5% of their wealth each year
The Nobles, on the other hand, earn even more cash in just investments.
We don't throw away money you see, if it's throwing away in your eyes you don't get the scale we are talking about.
Yes, we spend billions of dollars equivalent in just a guest meeting but that's the bribe and the investment part you are talking about. We will get trillions from just those billions of dollars on entertaining our guests.
Charity? From what I get from the state of the Imperium, even if we give away a significant portion of the wealth we have, it wouldn't matter in the big picture.
Lastly, shitty wine? Please, we probably drink thousand-year-old wines every time we drink one
But I get what you are saying, you think we are spending outrageous amount of money on trivial things.
But the thing is, we are spending our equivalent of buying overpriced coffee or brand clothes.
Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
I don't drink at all. Because fuck that.Lastly, shitty wine? Please, we probably drink thousand-year-old wines every time we drink one
- Location
- canada
oh I am not saying I want us to avoid spending, just saying I understand the viewpoint of those who want to hoard the cashmoney and become stinking rich.Yeah but in our case, we earned those trillions in less than a year or two. ( I think? I forgot the timetable we operate)
The Nobles, on the other hand, earn even more cash in just investments.
We don't throw away money you see, if it's throwing away in your eyes you don't get the scale we are talking about.
Yes, we spend billions of dollars equivalent in just a guest meeting but that's the bribe and the investment part you are talking about. We will get trillions from just those billions of dollars on entertaining our guests.
Charity? From what I get from the state of the Imperium, even if we give away a significant portion of the wealth we have, it wouldn't matter in the big picture.
Lastly, shitty wine? Please, we probably drink thousand-year-old wines every time we drink one
But I get what you are saying, you think we are spending outrageous amount of money on trivial things.
But the thing is, we are spending our equivalent of buying overpriced coffee or brand clothes.
It's not wrong to want to live nice, and in the scale of being a sector Admiral or head of a planet(s) the sheer amount of output should more then justify some things. Even beyond what we're currently doing (and are technically putting to good use in aquiring political capital necessary to survive when the Powers That Be failed to give what we need officially). The problems start when every 'noble' does that, does it for the stupidest of reasons, wastes even more getting the luxury in the first place, and when the most powerful people in the Empire are literally thousands of times worse, even accounting for their 'Court' size. When literal slave-planets don't have the same output as a BB costs, but the Nobles hand them out as gifts or completely screw with design and strategy for 'honor' and personal glory? There is a big problem.
Let's take genetic modification. Empire stuff is the best around, because unlike NASP they don't care about being horribly inefficient or inducing exclusivity, and they can afford the tremendous cost. But technology doesn't just advance in the direction of 'more effective, but more expensive and difficult to maintain'. Where are all the safer, stabler enhancements? Where are the ones cheap and easy to deploy en Mass for reduced benefits? I truly doubt they don't exist. Even if focus was prioritized on the best possible enhancement and damn the costs, technological development doesn't work that way. At the very least, improvements in some areas are practically guranteed to be a side-effect of advancement in others. So are they just holding on to stuff in a stubborn insistince to maintain their power? Even if the real power has always been Shares and (semi) super-human laborers would make that easier to get more of? Or have they been deliberately hamstringing their own development (advancement of serfs could mean advancement for Nobles after all, or at least more Eggheads to crunch data) out of some idiotic longing for status quo...despite also believing in pseudo-meritocracy to the point of monstrosity, and feuding Nobles being perfectly willing to grab any advantage they can over others. And if this applies to the one thing that literally separates Nobles from (most) plebs...what have they been willing to neglect in other areas?
Let's take genetic modification. Empire stuff is the best around, because unlike NASP they don't care about being horribly inefficient or inducing exclusivity, and they can afford the tremendous cost. But technology doesn't just advance in the direction of 'more effective, but more expensive and difficult to maintain'. Where are all the safer, stabler enhancements? Where are the ones cheap and easy to deploy en Mass for reduced benefits? I truly doubt they don't exist. Even if focus was prioritized on the best possible enhancement and damn the costs, technological development doesn't work that way. At the very least, improvements in some areas are practically guranteed to be a side-effect of advancement in others. So are they just holding on to stuff in a stubborn insistince to maintain their power? Even if the real power has always been Shares and (semi) super-human laborers would make that easier to get more of? Or have they been deliberately hamstringing their own development (advancement of serfs could mean advancement for Nobles after all, or at least more Eggheads to crunch data) out of some idiotic longing for status quo...despite also believing in pseudo-meritocracy to the point of monstrosity, and feuding Nobles being perfectly willing to grab any advantage they can over others. And if this applies to the one thing that literally separates Nobles from (most) plebs...what have they been willing to neglect in other areas?
Voting looks to have settled upon:
[X] Guaranteed Share
[X] Mercenaries: Act As Cutout. The Governor General wants the situation on Imhotep dealt with, he also cannot be seen to be hiring mercenaries directly as a civilian official and member of the Imperial House. You however are a ranking military officer and could hire the colonel's mercenary regiments using his money to solve his problems. (Diplomacy check, may help resolve the Imhotep rebellion more quickly and thus earn some favour with the Governor General, may annoy him on a failure).
[X] Peregrine: Expedite Officially. Spend some of your sector budget on getting the Peregrine back into action faster, purchasing priority materials and running repair crews on triple shifts. (Spend 3 Sector Budget to restore 15% additional readiness, bringing the Peregrine to 75% as she returns to duty).
[X] Cutters: Full Patrol. Task every patrol cutter with policing trade, patrolling and interdicting smugglers across the sector.
[X] Imhotep: Nothing. Leave the task to the Imperial Army
[X] Fleet: Raid NASP Border Worlds. You have broken the core of the NASP sector fleet, independent worlds now know that no battlecruiser and strike cruisers can sally forth from New Theia to their aid. Now is the time to show them how worthless the 'Security Protocol' is, all invited by it's leaders lack of adherence to their own treaty.
[X] Intel Funding: No Additional Funding. Captain Sones will have to make do with his existing infrastructure.
[X] Intel Focus: NASP. You need to know more about the fleet strengths of the various signatory worlds across the border, their response to your successful raid on their fleet base, any planned response from the core worlds of the alliance.
[X] Lifestyle: Extravagantly. Maintain a mansion near the palace of the sector capital, entertain generously, add new luxuries and allow your officers or guests to enjoy moderate vices as part of your hosting them. (+2 Diplomacy, +20% all Political Capital gain, -4 Wealth a quarter after pay).
I will get started on the update.
[X] Guaranteed Share
[X] Mercenaries: Act As Cutout. The Governor General wants the situation on Imhotep dealt with, he also cannot be seen to be hiring mercenaries directly as a civilian official and member of the Imperial House. You however are a ranking military officer and could hire the colonel's mercenary regiments using his money to solve his problems. (Diplomacy check, may help resolve the Imhotep rebellion more quickly and thus earn some favour with the Governor General, may annoy him on a failure).
[X] Peregrine: Expedite Officially. Spend some of your sector budget on getting the Peregrine back into action faster, purchasing priority materials and running repair crews on triple shifts. (Spend 3 Sector Budget to restore 15% additional readiness, bringing the Peregrine to 75% as she returns to duty).
[X] Cutters: Full Patrol. Task every patrol cutter with policing trade, patrolling and interdicting smugglers across the sector.
[X] Imhotep: Nothing. Leave the task to the Imperial Army
[X] Fleet: Raid NASP Border Worlds. You have broken the core of the NASP sector fleet, independent worlds now know that no battlecruiser and strike cruisers can sally forth from New Theia to their aid. Now is the time to show them how worthless the 'Security Protocol' is, all invited by it's leaders lack of adherence to their own treaty.
[X] Intel Funding: No Additional Funding. Captain Sones will have to make do with his existing infrastructure.
[X] Intel Focus: NASP. You need to know more about the fleet strengths of the various signatory worlds across the border, their response to your successful raid on their fleet base, any planned response from the core worlds of the alliance.
[X] Lifestyle: Extravagantly. Maintain a mansion near the palace of the sector capital, entertain generously, add new luxuries and allow your officers or guests to enjoy moderate vices as part of your hosting them. (+2 Diplomacy, +20% all Political Capital gain, -4 Wealth a quarter after pay).
I will get started on the update.
Satar
Xetares, Third Redeemer; World Drinker
- Location
- Sesh
Update 23 - Trade Control
Sector Wide Strategy:
6 + 3 + 6 +22 Strategy = 37
You know that you are on the cusp of achieving a breakthrough, your name is being lauded publicly as well as in high circles, you know that the fleet facing you across the border has been dealt a perhaps mortal blow even as your own coffers swell with unimaginable wealth, half of the value of a capital ship yours alone. You have had significant wealth in the past, taking battleships during the war, but you always had to share the captain's portion with the commanders of other ships in the action not to mention the admiral's quarter never going your way. Right now you have more liquid cash than every credit that has ever passed through your hands put together.
Now is the time to seize upon the opportunity given you and go for the kill.
First, careful negotiations with the Governor General about retaining mercenaries to bolster the Imperial Army forces on Imhotep.
Diplomacy Roll:
1 + 5 + 1 + 12 Effective Diplomacy = 19, minor failure.
The Governor General does agree with your plan and acknowledge its merit but is not terribly happy about having to pay for additional troops out of his own resources while you move the fleet away from the ravaged planet. You have your orders from Fleet Command to show him but it has still cost you some sway and caused mild aggravation. The mercenaries do have forces equivalent to the marines of several cruisers though even if they will be lacking in orbital fire support.
-5 Political Capital.
Mercenaries will be despatched to Imhotep to aid suppressing the rebellion.
You also dip into the reserves of your sector budget to expedite work on the Peregrine, you need at least one light cruiser in flight even if she could probably do with more time in the yards. Whilst she has been out of action for a while the Peregrine does have the most experienced crew of any of your light cruisers now, having seen repeated action and avoided the devastating losses your smaller ships suffered at New Theia.
Sector Budget:
Budget 28, Reserves 13
Ships On Operation:
1 Heavy Cruiser 5.5 Wealth
1 Light Cruiser 3.5 Wealth
3 Escort Corvettes 4.5 Wealth
1 Fleet Corvette 1.8 Wealth
9 Patrol Cutters 9 Wealth
Ships in Reserve:
2 Light Cruisers 3.5 Wealth
Expedite Repairs: 3 Wealth
Total spent 31, reserves remaining 10
Your patrol cutters you send out across the sector, reinforced by the literally gold plated vessels leant you by the Governor General, Commander Grigonz now has a dozen ships. Not enough but far more than you have been able to provide him on any prior occasion. You do not leave any to scout or screen for your heavier vessels.
Trade Control:
Smuggler Suppression, Scouting & Patrolling: 12 Ships out of 30 Optimal
Lord Commander Jeffry Asim Grigonz managing Patrol Cutters:
1 + 1 + 5 + 13 Strategy = 20, +9 from you. 29.
House Arril Smuggling: 21
House Jamoor Smuggling: 21
NASP Smuggling: 23
Independent Smuggling: 23
Major Success vs all smugglers, 40% coverage.
Significant level of suppression for all smuggling activities, smuggling levels will be reduced in future due to attrition and fear.
Lord Commander Jeffry Asim Grigonz reports widespread success across the sector as, for the first time, he is able to make serious inroads into the issues of smuggling, tax evasion and illegal cargos. While he does not really have enough ships he is with your advise able to catch a very high proportion of vessels attempting to evade Imperial law before their ships and cargos are sold at prize court. He thinks that this is going to be a significant deterrent to future criminals both out of fear and because they are losing a great deal of money in seized vessels.
The Governor General is also pleased as his own contribution more than pay for themselves, though their presence does ensure you have no choice but to enforce Imperial Law even against ships owned (now formally owned) but representatives of great ducal houses.
+20 Personal Wealth from caught smuggler ships and cargo, +22 Political Capital
+10 Political Capital from reduction in smuggling volume.
Governor General gets +7 Wealth from catching smugglers. Governor General is pleased. +1 Sector Budget.
Houses Arril and Jamoor are both unhappy.
Crews of Patrol Cutters increase to Regular (0) competence.
Flotilla Commander: Lord Commander Jeffry Asim Grigonz Increases Loyalty from 10 to 11.
Whilst this has been extremely profitable are you sure you want to keep this relationship with the Governor General?
[] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
[] Governor's Ships: No, while the Governor General's aid has been welcome you think the back of the problem is now broken and their help will no longer be needed. Also you need the flexibility and would like the prize money for yourself.
Piracy:
Convoy Escorts: 3 Ships out of 10 Optimal
Baronet Commander Joyce Artis Rownett (Greyhound):
5 + 1 + 1 + 12 Strategy = 19, +9 from you, 28
Baroness Commander Kathra Ared Scolly (Whippet)
5 + 6 + 6 + 10 Strategy = 27, +5 from you, 32
Commander Lyna Ryante (Settler)
1 + 5 + 5 +10 Strategy = 21, +8 from you, 29
Obull Pirate Remnants = 18
Rogue Merchant Captains = 17
Overwhelming success vs both, 30% coverage. Every pirate raid intercepted with major advantage.
Every combat is one sided and so they will be abstracted:
Greyhound:
2 + 6 + 3 + 2 (Veteran Crew) +12 (Tactics) = 25
Whippet:
3 + 3 + 6 -2 (Green Crew) + 6 (Tactics) = 16
Settler:
2 + 5 + 3 -1 (Mediocre Crew) +13 (Tactics) = 22
The sheer volume of piracy seems to be seriously reduced compared to the last few months, no doubt due to the awful losses that anyone trying their hand at such things has continued to suffer.
All three of your escort Corvettes see combat and thanks to the really rather capable work of your captains and your own sublime planning every single attempt at a pirate raid finds itself countered by one of your ships, not a single pirate attack succeeds in landing unanswered despite your ships being desperately short-handed.
Baroness Scolly with the Whippet carries out a particularly adept ambush, dropping out of hyperspace on a pair of armed freighters as they assembled prior to even making contact with the convoy she was escorting. Less adeptly, she gets her freshly rebuilt corvette badly damaged whilst inflicting only minor harm to the pair of pirate vessels as they scatter, perhaps expecting reinforcements to follow or believing themselves to be lucky in fighting an Imperial Corvette.
The Greyhound and Settler both report more success with one armed freighter destroyed and one of the last of the Obull pirate's raiders captured.
Whippet suffers 40% Readiness loss driving off pirates, now 60%
Greyhound captures a pirate raider
Settler destroys an armed merchant vessel.
Greyhound:
Baronet Commander Joyce Artis Rownett gets +1 Tactics, +1 Loyalty
Whippet:
Crew of Whippet increases to Mediocre (-1)
Baroness Commander Kathra Ared Scolly gets +1 Tactics
Settler:
Crew of Settler increases to Regular (0)
+7 Political Capital from thwarted pirate raiders and destroyed or captured ships.
+2 Wealth from captured pirate ship.
Imhotep:
Colonel Damien Chalet:
2 + 2 + 1 +14 Strategy = 19
Imperial Army:
3 + 4 + 3 + 10 Strategy = 20
NASP Special Forces: 26
PDF Remnants: 18
Rebel Masses: 21
Imhotep continues to smoulder, the mercenaries bolstering the Imperial Army forces and providing them with heavy punch and fire brigade units, allowing them to mangle out much of the resurgent PDF remnants. The mercenaries do however suffer serious losses to continued action from illusive NASP special forces and there is a general failure to recapture significant territory from rebels.
Intelligence:
Captain Waltin Sones
6 + 3 + 5 + 15 Subterfuge = 29
NASP Commodore:
3 + 1 + 4 + 10 (Skill) +6 (No scout vessels) = 24
Minor Success
Relying upon reports from Imperial Intelligence and information bribed or gathered from independent merchant vessels, Captain Sones is able to put together a decent idea of the state of affairs across the border.
Essentially the NASP 'party line' is that Imhotep was never actually ceded to the Empire in the peace treaty because the Rana Salient delineates a continuous border, as such their actions were entirely legitimate and the Imperial occupation is in violation of the peace. This is being less stridently claimed now that you have cut the heart out of their local fleet, also the Governor General is holding the thousands of crew you captured from those three strike cruisers over the disputed planet.
Right now they are being held in sparse but comfortable conditions on one of his estates upon Illam, housed in temporary barracks, properly fed, he has however informed the NASP authorities that if they push too hard, or try to claim retaliatory Imperial action is in violation of the treaty, he will have them all tortured and executed as murderous criminals.
The personnel you captured on your raid into New Theia are by contrast being paroled, ransomed and treated quite well, some of the officers have been appearing at parties as exotic guests.
Right now though the NASP core worlds are rushing heavy reinforcements to the border, a dozen or more older cruisers and possibly a squadron of battleships to reinforce New Theia. They will not arrive for some time though and right now every planet along the border region is jealously hoarding what ships they have. Where do you plan to strike?
The NASP sector fleet is believed to have been reduced to two light cruisers undergoing refit and six attack skiffs, based at New Theia.
You have The Endeavour, your veteran crewed heavy cruiser, at 95% Readiness. The Peregrine, an experience crewed light Cruiser at 75% Readiness and the Cirrus, Ranca's regular crewed Fleet Corvette with 70% Readiness and a depleted marine complement.
[] NASP Raid: Pandora II: Pandora II is not a rich target, it is a poor, bleak world, but it has light planetary defences and you believe it's pathetic 'fleet' to consist of only a few elderly corvettes or even armed merchant vessels. It does however have a huge, veteran military and Pandora's dictator loans these personnel to other NASP signatory worlds to cover their mandatory military contributions, crewing ships and staffing marine battalions.
[] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
[] NASP Raid: Dispersed Raiding: You are not going to attack one target heavily, you are going to raid border planets, hitting their deep space infrastructure and trade, destroying or capturing isolated patrols.
You were right! Scolly did it again, though she apparently did learn from the experience. You also made an absolute fortune from catching smugglers though that well is drying up if you keep at it, that said the political benefits are significant.
Edit: Also I forgot about the increase of living standards and will have to fold that into the next update/s, I guess setting up the right level of utter luxury takes a while.
6 + 3 + 6 +22 Strategy = 37
You know that you are on the cusp of achieving a breakthrough, your name is being lauded publicly as well as in high circles, you know that the fleet facing you across the border has been dealt a perhaps mortal blow even as your own coffers swell with unimaginable wealth, half of the value of a capital ship yours alone. You have had significant wealth in the past, taking battleships during the war, but you always had to share the captain's portion with the commanders of other ships in the action not to mention the admiral's quarter never going your way. Right now you have more liquid cash than every credit that has ever passed through your hands put together.
Now is the time to seize upon the opportunity given you and go for the kill.
First, careful negotiations with the Governor General about retaining mercenaries to bolster the Imperial Army forces on Imhotep.
Diplomacy Roll:
1 + 5 + 1 + 12 Effective Diplomacy = 19, minor failure.
The Governor General does agree with your plan and acknowledge its merit but is not terribly happy about having to pay for additional troops out of his own resources while you move the fleet away from the ravaged planet. You have your orders from Fleet Command to show him but it has still cost you some sway and caused mild aggravation. The mercenaries do have forces equivalent to the marines of several cruisers though even if they will be lacking in orbital fire support.
-5 Political Capital.
Mercenaries will be despatched to Imhotep to aid suppressing the rebellion.
You also dip into the reserves of your sector budget to expedite work on the Peregrine, you need at least one light cruiser in flight even if she could probably do with more time in the yards. Whilst she has been out of action for a while the Peregrine does have the most experienced crew of any of your light cruisers now, having seen repeated action and avoided the devastating losses your smaller ships suffered at New Theia.
Sector Budget:
Budget 28, Reserves 13
Ships On Operation:
1 Heavy Cruiser 5.5 Wealth
1 Light Cruiser 3.5 Wealth
3 Escort Corvettes 4.5 Wealth
1 Fleet Corvette 1.8 Wealth
9 Patrol Cutters 9 Wealth
Ships in Reserve:
2 Light Cruisers 3.5 Wealth
Expedite Repairs: 3 Wealth
Total spent 31, reserves remaining 10
Your patrol cutters you send out across the sector, reinforced by the literally gold plated vessels leant you by the Governor General, Commander Grigonz now has a dozen ships. Not enough but far more than you have been able to provide him on any prior occasion. You do not leave any to scout or screen for your heavier vessels.
Trade Control:
Smuggler Suppression, Scouting & Patrolling: 12 Ships out of 30 Optimal
Lord Commander Jeffry Asim Grigonz managing Patrol Cutters:
1 + 1 + 5 + 13 Strategy = 20, +9 from you. 29.
House Arril Smuggling: 21
House Jamoor Smuggling: 21
NASP Smuggling: 23
Independent Smuggling: 23
Major Success vs all smugglers, 40% coverage.
Significant level of suppression for all smuggling activities, smuggling levels will be reduced in future due to attrition and fear.
Lord Commander Jeffry Asim Grigonz reports widespread success across the sector as, for the first time, he is able to make serious inroads into the issues of smuggling, tax evasion and illegal cargos. While he does not really have enough ships he is with your advise able to catch a very high proportion of vessels attempting to evade Imperial law before their ships and cargos are sold at prize court. He thinks that this is going to be a significant deterrent to future criminals both out of fear and because they are losing a great deal of money in seized vessels.
The Governor General is also pleased as his own contribution more than pay for themselves, though their presence does ensure you have no choice but to enforce Imperial Law even against ships owned (now formally owned) but representatives of great ducal houses.
+20 Personal Wealth from caught smuggler ships and cargo, +22 Political Capital
+10 Political Capital from reduction in smuggling volume.
Governor General gets +7 Wealth from catching smugglers. Governor General is pleased. +1 Sector Budget.
Houses Arril and Jamoor are both unhappy.
Crews of Patrol Cutters increase to Regular (0) competence.
Flotilla Commander: Lord Commander Jeffry Asim Grigonz Increases Loyalty from 10 to 11.
Whilst this has been extremely profitable are you sure you want to keep this relationship with the Governor General?
[] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
[] Governor's Ships: No, while the Governor General's aid has been welcome you think the back of the problem is now broken and their help will no longer be needed. Also you need the flexibility and would like the prize money for yourself.
Piracy:
Convoy Escorts: 3 Ships out of 10 Optimal
Baronet Commander Joyce Artis Rownett (Greyhound):
5 + 1 + 1 + 12 Strategy = 19, +9 from you, 28
Baroness Commander Kathra Ared Scolly (Whippet)
5 + 6 + 6 + 10 Strategy = 27, +5 from you, 32
Commander Lyna Ryante (Settler)
1 + 5 + 5 +10 Strategy = 21, +8 from you, 29
Obull Pirate Remnants = 18
Rogue Merchant Captains = 17
Overwhelming success vs both, 30% coverage. Every pirate raid intercepted with major advantage.
Every combat is one sided and so they will be abstracted:
Greyhound:
2 + 6 + 3 + 2 (Veteran Crew) +12 (Tactics) = 25
Whippet:
3 + 3 + 6 -2 (Green Crew) + 6 (Tactics) = 16
Settler:
2 + 5 + 3 -1 (Mediocre Crew) +13 (Tactics) = 22
The sheer volume of piracy seems to be seriously reduced compared to the last few months, no doubt due to the awful losses that anyone trying their hand at such things has continued to suffer.
All three of your escort Corvettes see combat and thanks to the really rather capable work of your captains and your own sublime planning every single attempt at a pirate raid finds itself countered by one of your ships, not a single pirate attack succeeds in landing unanswered despite your ships being desperately short-handed.
Baroness Scolly with the Whippet carries out a particularly adept ambush, dropping out of hyperspace on a pair of armed freighters as they assembled prior to even making contact with the convoy she was escorting. Less adeptly, she gets her freshly rebuilt corvette badly damaged whilst inflicting only minor harm to the pair of pirate vessels as they scatter, perhaps expecting reinforcements to follow or believing themselves to be lucky in fighting an Imperial Corvette.
The Greyhound and Settler both report more success with one armed freighter destroyed and one of the last of the Obull pirate's raiders captured.
Whippet suffers 40% Readiness loss driving off pirates, now 60%
Greyhound captures a pirate raider
Settler destroys an armed merchant vessel.
Greyhound:
Baronet Commander Joyce Artis Rownett gets +1 Tactics, +1 Loyalty
Whippet:
Crew of Whippet increases to Mediocre (-1)
Baroness Commander Kathra Ared Scolly gets +1 Tactics
Settler:
Crew of Settler increases to Regular (0)
+7 Political Capital from thwarted pirate raiders and destroyed or captured ships.
+2 Wealth from captured pirate ship.
Imhotep:
Colonel Damien Chalet:
2 + 2 + 1 +14 Strategy = 19
Imperial Army:
3 + 4 + 3 + 10 Strategy = 20
NASP Special Forces: 26
PDF Remnants: 18
Rebel Masses: 21
Imhotep continues to smoulder, the mercenaries bolstering the Imperial Army forces and providing them with heavy punch and fire brigade units, allowing them to mangle out much of the resurgent PDF remnants. The mercenaries do however suffer serious losses to continued action from illusive NASP special forces and there is a general failure to recapture significant territory from rebels.
Intelligence:
Captain Waltin Sones
6 + 3 + 5 + 15 Subterfuge = 29
NASP Commodore:
3 + 1 + 4 + 10 (Skill) +6 (No scout vessels) = 24
Minor Success
Relying upon reports from Imperial Intelligence and information bribed or gathered from independent merchant vessels, Captain Sones is able to put together a decent idea of the state of affairs across the border.
Essentially the NASP 'party line' is that Imhotep was never actually ceded to the Empire in the peace treaty because the Rana Salient delineates a continuous border, as such their actions were entirely legitimate and the Imperial occupation is in violation of the peace. This is being less stridently claimed now that you have cut the heart out of their local fleet, also the Governor General is holding the thousands of crew you captured from those three strike cruisers over the disputed planet.
Right now they are being held in sparse but comfortable conditions on one of his estates upon Illam, housed in temporary barracks, properly fed, he has however informed the NASP authorities that if they push too hard, or try to claim retaliatory Imperial action is in violation of the treaty, he will have them all tortured and executed as murderous criminals.
The personnel you captured on your raid into New Theia are by contrast being paroled, ransomed and treated quite well, some of the officers have been appearing at parties as exotic guests.
Right now though the NASP core worlds are rushing heavy reinforcements to the border, a dozen or more older cruisers and possibly a squadron of battleships to reinforce New Theia. They will not arrive for some time though and right now every planet along the border region is jealously hoarding what ships they have. Where do you plan to strike?
The NASP sector fleet is believed to have been reduced to two light cruisers undergoing refit and six attack skiffs, based at New Theia.
You have The Endeavour, your veteran crewed heavy cruiser, at 95% Readiness. The Peregrine, an experience crewed light Cruiser at 75% Readiness and the Cirrus, Ranca's regular crewed Fleet Corvette with 70% Readiness and a depleted marine complement.
[] NASP Raid: Pandora II: Pandora II is not a rich target, it is a poor, bleak world, but it has light planetary defences and you believe it's pathetic 'fleet' to consist of only a few elderly corvettes or even armed merchant vessels. It does however have a huge, veteran military and Pandora's dictator loans these personnel to other NASP signatory worlds to cover their mandatory military contributions, crewing ships and staffing marine battalions.
[] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
[] NASP Raid: Dispersed Raiding: You are not going to attack one target heavily, you are going to raid border planets, hitting their deep space infrastructure and trade, destroying or capturing isolated patrols.
You were right! Scolly did it again, though she apparently did learn from the experience. You also made an absolute fortune from catching smugglers though that well is drying up if you keep at it, that said the political benefits are significant.
Edit: Also I forgot about the increase of living standards and will have to fold that into the next update/s, I guess setting up the right level of utter luxury takes a while.
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- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
[X] NASP Raid: Dispersed Raiding: You are not going to attack one target heavily, you are going to raid border planets, hitting their deep space infrastructure and trade, destroying or capturing isolated patrols.
[X] NASP Raid: Dispersed Raiding: You are not going to attack one target heavily, you are going to raid border planets, hitting their deep space infrastructure and trade, destroying or capturing isolated patrols.
- Location
- Somewhere in the stacks
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I saw we keep the Governor's ships one more turn and really crack down on the smuggling and do dispersed commerce raiding OR hit Pandora II. If that monitor does turn out to be a battleship or those two light cruisers come to play, we may be in a tricky spot and if we take heavy damage in the raid, then we'd be rather seriously on the back foot.
- Location
- Derna
I think we can risk going for Chuang Mu. With that competent admiral out of the way, we can probably beat the local commander in a strategy roll to keep the light cruisers out of it, and bounce the monitor. Killing another capital ship would make us look even more awesome, and I don't see anything of value in Pandora. If we get tangled up, though, or have to fight the cruisers, we could be in trouble. Currently indifferent as to the cutters, will edit in a vote in a bit.
There's nothing to gain by raiding Pandora unless we stick around to attack the planet itself, which will be bloody and probably will end badly when NASP cruisers arrive. Dispersed raiding is also a "no reward" situation, we'll probably kill a couple small ships and get a tiny bit of political capital, but not worth the time spent. On the other hand, if Strauss gets a decent strategy roll, we'll be able to strike fear into the heart of the locals and get even more ridiculous feats to our name.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
There's nothing to gain by raiding Pandora unless we stick around to attack the planet itself, which will be bloody and probably will end badly when NASP cruisers arrive. Dispersed raiding is also a "no reward" situation, we'll probably kill a couple small ships and get a tiny bit of political capital, but not worth the time spent. On the other hand, if Strauss gets a decent strategy roll, we'll be able to strike fear into the heart of the locals and get even more ridiculous feats to our name.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
Governor ships are a way to keep him happy without further action, but it does damage relations with the ducal houses. I'm not sold on continuing our relationship. If we continue to crack down on smuggling we will see the sector recovery and an increase to our budget. If we let it persist we get more prize money. Reinhard can keep this up for another turn or two.
We should attack Chuang Mu. Our marine forces have been depleted and we're even more ridiculous in space combat compared to previous fights. Even when we got the third worst Strategy roll we ended up capturing a battlecruiser with no loss of ships or senior officers.
[X] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
We should attack Chuang Mu. Our marine forces have been depleted and we're even more ridiculous in space combat compared to previous fights. Even when we got the third worst Strategy roll we ended up capturing a battlecruiser with no loss of ships or senior officers.
[X] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
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- Location
- Yes
[X] NASP Raid: Pandora II: Pandora II is not a rich target, it is a poor, bleak world, but it has light planetary defences and you believe it's pathetic 'fleet' to consist of only a few elderly corvettes or even armed merchant vessels. It does however have a huge, veteran military and Pandora's dictator loans these personnel to other NASP signatory worlds to cover their mandatory military contributions, crewing ships and staffing marine battalions.
[X] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
[X] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
- Location
- Somewhere in the stacks
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
I'll vote for Chuang Mu, though I still have my reservations.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
I'll vote for Chuang Mu, though I still have my reservations.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
We now have 115 Wealth. That is enough to buy a Share and cover for our lifestyle over the next 3 turns. When I think more about it, cracking down on smuggling is going to hurt our bottom line. Some of us have mentioned we can afford to spend 4 or more Wealth a quarter, but we can't do that if the well of piracy dries up and NASP becomes too tough. Should play it safe and raid next turn when we have those heavy cruisers supporting us?
- Location
- Denmark
Is there a reason for why we cannot chose to raid Rana Salient?
SirLagginton
Shadow Cabal Caerbannog Bun-Bun
- Location
- Arrrghhh
[X] Governor's Ships: Yes, his experienced crews and additional vessels are key to continued success in one of your primary missions as sector Commodore.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
[X] NASP Raid: Chuang Mu: Chuang Mu is enormously rich, a densely inhabited star system with a population of over seven billion and extremely high productivity. You believe that it's defensive fleet contains at least one monitor as well as three modern corvettes but they also have a pair of light cruisers with veteran crews who patrol nearby systems and it would not be impossible that reports are wrong and the monitor is in fact a battleship.
Are we paying for it this turn? The increased lifestyle makes the difference between a failed roll and 7 or 8 Political Capital.
Read the description for it. Trying to attack it is suicide.