Prologue
In 2019, an international team provided conclusive evidence that the Sun was gradually increasing in luminosity. Unlike the somewhat stop-start global warming of the previous few decades, the increase in solar output would bring noticeable temperature rises in a far shorter period of time. The best estimate of the scientists was that the luminosity would continue to rise by more than one percent per year, which meant the habitable lifetime of the Earth could be measured in a few decades at most.
After initial panic, world leaders, scientists and engineers began to plan the greatest endeavour in human history. The preservation of Mankind. An exodus to Mars and the moons of the outer planets would be the first goal, buying time while scientists strove for some means of leaving the solar system completely. At this point there was little hope that more than fraction of humanity could be saved and political divisions soon fractured the fragile global consensus into five main power blocs.
The Colonial Alliance was dedicated to establishing off-world colonies to save as many people as possible and was composed of the group of nations that ran the international space station, including the United States, Canada, the European Union, Russia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The People's Republic of China effectively pressured all of South-East Asia and Indonesia into joining its own space program. India decided to go it alone. South and Central America combined in their efforts through the existing organization of the Union of South American Nations. The rest of the world, primarily Africa and the Middle East, formed the Non-Aligned States. The report is primarily from the perspective of the Colonial Alliance.
This is a conventional start and the balance of forces is shown below:
Colonial Alliance: 1500m, 3000 CI, 40 RL, Wealth 100%
China/East Asia: 2400m, 1600 CI, 25 RL, Wealth 40%
India: 1300m, 500 CI, 10 RL, Wealth 20%
USAN: 600m, 350 CI, 5 RL, Wealth 30%
NAS: 1500m, 300 CI, 3 RL, Wealth 15%
The Colonial Alliance is using the same Vehicle Designation System and Electronics Designation System as I have used in recent campaigns. It is included here for completeness but you can skip this if you have seen it before.
Vehicle Designation System (VDS)
Vehicle in this context referred to a any unmanned missile, drone, buoy or mine in use by the Colonial Alliance. The VDS allows easy identification of the type and purpose of each vehicle. The required format is as follows:
(Primary Launch Platform)(Mission)(Vehicle Type) - (Design Number)(Series Letter)(Popular Name)
Primary Launch Platform
A - Spacecraft powered by fighter engine
B - Multiple Launch Environments
C - Captor Mine
G - Planetary Defence Centre
L - Box Launcher
R - Spacecraft
S - Second Stage of Drone or Missile
U - Stealthy Spacecraft
Mission
D - Decoy
E - Special Electronics
G - Spacecraft Attack
I - Interception (of missiles or perhaps fighters)
L - Detection or Reconnaissance
M - Scientific Instruments (e.g. geosurvey buoy)
S - Delivery System
Vehicle Type
B - Booster or First Stage
C - Captor Mine
M - Guided Missile
N - Probe or Recon Drone
R - Submunition
S - Unarmed Satellite or Buoy
Design Number
Each vehicle type will have a design number based on chronological order of design. It is possible there could be multiple versions of the same vehicle type intended for different purposes or with different launch options. These versions would use the same design number with different letter combinations. For example would, the RGM-1A might be a spacecraft-launched spacecraft-attack missile while RLN-1A is a spacecraft-launched reconnaissance drone, which replaces the warhead of the RGM-1 with a sensor package but is otherwise identical.
Series Letter
Variants of a basic vehicle type are designated by a suffix letter. The first model always receives suffix "A" and subsequent series letters are assigned in strict sequence (omitting "I" and "O" to avoid confusion with numerals "1" and "0"). The series letter is a mandatory component of the VDS and therefore 'plain' designations such as 'RIM-12' always designate the general type of vehicle and never a specific model.
Popular Name
Most vehicles receive a 'popular name' or acronym early in the planning or development phase. While the name is not part of the official designation, many missiles and other vehicle types are almost exclusively referenced by their name, both in the popular press and in official government news releases and documents.
Examples
RGM-1A Falchion is a Spacecraft-launched (R) Guided-missile (M) intended to attack other Spacecraft (G)
RLN-2A Raven is a Spacecraft-launched (R) Recon Drone (N) used for reconnaissance (L)
Electronics Designation System (EDS)
The older US Joint Electronics Type Designation System provided a basis for the Colonial Fleet's naming scheme for its electronic systems, known as the Electronics Designation System. All designations are proceeded by LN/ for League Navy
Platform
A - Spacecraft powered by fighter engine
B - Stealthy Spacecraft
F - Planetary Defence Centre
G - Spacecraft powered by gunboat engine
S - Spacecraft powered by military or commercial engines
Equipment Type
A - Invisible Light
D - Radioactivity Detection
G - Gravitational Survey
L - Countermeasures
M - Geological Survey
P - Active Sensor
Q - Thermal Detection
Purpose
D - Missile Detection
G - Fire Control
N - Navigation
Q - Special or Combination
R - Receiving or Passive Detection
S - Active Search
Y - Surveillance (used for particularly large active sensors)
Examples:
The LN/SPS-7 Active Search Sensor is a Spacecraft-mounted (S) Active Sensor (P) used for Area Search (S)
The LN/SQR-1 Thermal Sensor is a Spacecraft-mounted (S) Thermal Detection sensor (Q) used for Passive Detection (R)
Campaign Diary - Colonial Alliance
As with most conventional starts, nothing much happens in the first few years so this initial post is more of a scene-setter for later events.
12th February 2020
The nations of the Colonial Alliance make the breakthrough into Trans-Newtonian technology and begin converting their industry
27th February 2020
China announces it has joined the Trans-Newtonian club.
25th March 2020
According to press reports, India is now a Trans-Newtonian power
22nd September 2020
The USAN begins conversion of its industry
2nd November 2020
The Colonial Alliance is the first to develop nuclear thermal engine technology
18th November 2020
The Non-aligned States complete their research into Trans-Newtonian technology.
3rd January 2021
The surface temperature of the Earth has risen 0.7 degrees since the crisis began. The surface temperature of Mars is up by 0.6 degrees whiles temperatures on Mercury and Venus have risen almost two degrees. While these changes are still relatively minor, they will grow over time, eventually leading to catastrophic environmental damage
18th April 2021
Over the course of three months, espionage teams from India, the Non-Aligned States and the PRC are killed while operating in the territory of the Colonial Alliance.
1st January 2022
Total Global Temperature Rises: Mercury: 3.5C, Venus: 3.7C, Earth: 1.5C, Mars: 1.1 C
21st May 2022
A pair of geological survey ships are laid down by the Colonial Alliance
21st July 2023
China launches two geosurvey vessels.
21st August 2023
The Colonial Alliance launches Charles Darwin and Louis Pasteur.
Darwin class Geosurvey Ship 1500 tons 139 Crew 326.5 BP TCS 30 TH 80 EM 0
2666 km/s Armour 1-11 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/2 Damage Control Rating 2 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 9% IFR: 0.1% Maint Capacity 272 MSP Max Repair 100 MSP Est Time: 7.28 Years
NPO Energomash Nuclear Pulse Engine (2) Power 40 Fuel Use 90% Signature 40 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres Range 200.0 billion km (868 days at full power)
Geological Survey Sensors (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour17th October 2024
Baikonur class Launch Complex completed. This ground base is equipped with a single PDC Drone Launcher and is designed to launch the recently developed GSB-2A Sensor Buoy Delivery System. The upper stage of the GSB-2A is a SLS-1A Passive Sensor Buoy, capable of remaining on station for two years. Given the range of the GSB-2A, the Baikonur will be able will be able to place a sensor buoy in orbit of any system body as far out as Jupiter and its moons. Fifty GSB-2A have already been built by the Alliance's ordnance factories
Baikonur class Launch Complex 2800 tons 352 Crew 289.52 BP TCS 56 TH 0 EM 0
Armour 5-17 Sensors 1/12 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 30
Magazine 300
PDC Drone Launcher (1) Missile Size 30 Rate of Fire 450
CF/SPG-2 Missile Guidance System (1) Range 5.9m km Resolution 50
GSB-2A Sensor Buoy Delivery System (10) Speed: 5,300 km/s End: 2.1d Range: 968.9m km Size: 30 TH: 8 / 5 / 2
CF/SPN-1 Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 600 Range 6.0m km Resolution 50GSB-2A Sensor Buoy Delivery System
Missile Size: 30 MSP (1.5 HS) Warhead: 0 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 5
Speed: 5300 km/s Endurance: 3047 minutes Range: 968.9m km
Cost Per Missile: 8.2167
Second Stage: GLS-1 Passive Sensor Buoy x1
Second Stage Separation Range: 0 km
Overall Endurance: 722 days Overall Range: 968.9m km
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 26.5% 3k km/s 5% 5k km/s 5.3% 10k km/s 2.6%
Materials Required: 4.8x Boronide 1x Uridium 2.1667x Gallicite Fuel x32500
Development Cost for Project: 822RPSLS-1A Passive Sensor Buoy
Buoy Size: 12 MSP (0.6 HS) Armour: 0
Reactor Endurance: 24 months
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 500,000 km
EM Sensor Strength: 0.5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 500,000 km
Cost Per Buoy: 5.675
Materials Required: 4.8x Boronide 1x UridiumTo test the new complex, a single GSB-2A is launched at Jupiter. Thirty-six hours later the drone successfully deploys the sensor buoy in orbit, where it will remain for two years. Large quantities of accessibility 1.0 Sorium have been discovered in Jupiter's atmosphere so control of the gas giant could prove vital in the years ahead.
23rd November 2024
Colonial geological survey ship Werner Heisenberg launched
8th December 2024
Colonial geological survey ship Marie Curie launched. The Alliance's single shipyard is retooled to build the Newton class gravitational survey ship.
1st January 2025
Total Global Temperature Rises: Mercury: 8.8C, Venus: 9.2C, Earth: 3.7C, Mars: 2.8 C
26th February 2025
Vickers-Armstrong Commercial Shipyard Complex completed. By this point, fifty-five percent of conventional industry has been converted to Trans-Newtonian.
11th March 2025
India launches a pair of geological survey vessels.
27th April 2024
Earth's supply of Corbomite exhausted
17th October 2024
A second Commercial Shipyard complex, the Bath Iron Works, is completed. The Vickers-Armstrong Commercial Shipyard Complex now has a capacity of 19,800 tons and is being retooled to build the Jamestown class Colony Ship.
Jamestown class Colony Ship 19700 tons 259 Crew 709.8 BP TCS 394 TH 700 EM 0
1776 km/s Armour 1-64 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maint Capacity 23 MSP Max Repair 25 MSP
Colonists 40000 Cargo Handling Multiplier 10
Commercial NPE (7) Power 100 Fuel Use 8% Signature 100 Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres Range 57.1 billion km (372 days at full power)9th March 2026
The People's Republic of China launches two jump-capable Jianghu class Gravitational Survey Ships. The first two units of the Colonial Alliance's equivalent Newton class are still three months from completion.
6th June 2026
Isaac Newton and Tycho Brahe are launched from the Alliance orbital shipyard complex and begin a gravitational survey of the Sol system
Newton class Gravitational Survey Vessel 2900 tons 282 Crew 544 BP TCS 58 TH 120 EM 0
2068 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-18 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/3/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 22% IFR: 0.3% Maint Capacity 352 MSP Max Repair 100 MSP Est Time: 5.12 Years
Rolls Royce RR375 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 3000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
NPO Energomash Nuclear Pulse Engine (3) Power 40 Fuel Use 90% Signature 40 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 137.9 billion km (771 days at full power)
Gravitational Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points Per Hour
21st June 2026
A jump point is discovered between Earth and Mars and only ninety million kilometers from Earth's present position. This bodes well for the evacuation of Earth if a suitable planet can be found in a nearby system. However, the Alliance leadership is extremely concerned by the presence of a jump gate. While Alliance scientists have already established that such a gate is possible, this gate is plainly not of human manufacture, which means there is intelligent alien life aboard in the universe and they have visited Sol in the past. Rather than recall one of the two gravitational survey ships into the inner system, Rear Admiral Jordon Williams, senior officer of the recently formed Colonial Fleet, decides to send one of his idle geological survey ships through the gate. While they lack jump drives, the presence of the gate means they don't need one, although they would need a gate on the far side to return to Sol. He also orders the Baikonur to launch a GSB-2A and place a sensor buoy at the new jump point, as well as replacing the one in Jupiter orbit.
The survey ship Charles Darwin, under the command of Captain Sophie Boenk, enters the gate and jumps into the Alpha Centauri system, 4.37 light years from Earth in Einsteinian space. The system is a binary with a G2-V primary similar to Sol and an orange K1-V companion at 23 AU. Alpha Centauri-A has three planets, the second and third of which are twin planets orbiting just 50,000 kilometers apart. Alpha Centauri-A II is a desert world with a breathable atmosphere and small seas although the temperature is 71C, giving a colony cost of 1.22. While this is far hotter than the Earth's current temperature of 26.8C, the system primary is stable and it will be possible to gradually reduce that temperature through terraforming. Its twin, Alpha Centauri-A III, which is also 16,000 km in diameter, is remarkably similar to Venus in terms of surface temperature and atmospheric pressure and therefore extremely difficult to terraform. Alpha Centauri-A I is a small, rocky world with a trace atmosphere and a temperature of 77C. Alpha Centauri-B has five planets, the second of which has a thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide and nitrogen and a temperature of -33C, making it a faint possibility for future terraforming.
There is a jump gate on the Alpha Centauri side so Darwin jumps back into Sol with the news. She is ordered to survey the inner system while Marie Curie and Werner Heisenberg transit into the system and head for the B component
[attachment=2:w72rqbr6]Alpha1.GIF[/attachment:w72rqbr6]
22nd June 2026
A second jump point is discovered, this time mid-way between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. No jump gate is in evidence so Isaac Newton is diverted from her survey mission to investigate. She transits on June 27th and discovers the system of Wolf 359, located 7.7 light years from Earth in the constellation Leo. Wolf 359 is a small, dim M-class red dwarf orbited by six planets, four of which are gas giants, and a large asteroid belt. While none of the planets, or their seventy-five moons, are even close to habitable, the system has a lot of real estate, which means the possibility of new mineral deposits. Newton is ordered to remain on the jump point while the geosurvey ship, Louis Pasteur, is dispatched from Earth. With no jump gate, Newton will be needed to escort Pasteur into Wolf 359.
4th July 2026
The buoy on the Sol - Alpha Centauri jump point detects a thermal contact transiting into Alpha Centauri and returning a few minutes later. This is assumed to be a Chinese gravitational survey ship but it isn't certain without an active contact. Rear Admiral Williams requests that research be diverted to providing active sensor buoys for more accurate intelligence.
10th July 2026
During the orbital survey of Alpha Centauri-A II, Charles Darwin finds scattered ruins, possibly from an ancient alien outpost. The geological survey vessel is immediately recalled to Earth to pick up a Xenology team and transport it to the ruins.
14th September 2026
A third jump point is found in Sol, just inside the orbit of Uranus.
9th September 2026
The Colonial Fleet's first colony ship, Jamestown, lands 40,000 colonists on Alpha Centauri-A II. Conditions are harsh due to the high temperatures and desert conditions and the attrition rate is high. No infrastructure is available for the moment due to the lack of freighters to carry it.
15th November 2026
Newton and Tycho complete their circuit of the second ring of survey locations, finding three more jump points and taking the total for Sol to six. They move on to the outer ring.
19th November 2026
A civilian mining colony is established on Saturn's moon Rhea. A week later, a second colony is established on Tethys. By mid-January 2027, a further two civilian mining colonies have been set up in the Mars - Jupiter asteroid belt.
24th January 2027
The Bath Iron Works Commercial Shipyard is large enough, at 36,650 tons of capacity, to be retooled to build the new Atlas class Freighter
Atlas class Freighter 36350 tons 277 Crew 442.8 BP TCS 727 TH 800 EM 0
1100 km/s Armour 1-97 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maint Capacity 8 MSP Max Repair 25 MSP
Cargo 25000 Cargo Handling Multiplier 10
Commercial NPE (8) Power 100 Fuel Use 8% Signature 100 Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 61.9 billion km (651 days at full power)29th January 2027
Colonial sensors detect the launch of two new Chinese Jianghu-class gravitational survey ships, which head for Alpha Centauri, presumably to begin a gravitational survey. The two Colonial gravitational ships are still engaged in a survey of the Sol system, as are the first pair of Chinese Jianghu. The launch sparks the first discussions within the Colonial Alliance leadership of staking claim to the Alpha Centauri system and building warships to defend it.
25th March 2027
The gravitational survey of the Sol system is completed, revealing a total of eight jump points, six of which are unexplored. Newton and Tycho begin a series of exploratory probes.
2nd April 2027
Tycho Brahe transits jump point seven and discovers the unremarkable system of Lalande 21185. The primary is a dim M2-V red dwarf, orbited by seven planets and a small asteroid belt.
9th April 2027
The Mifune Shipping Corporation launches the first civilian-built colony ship.
16th April 2027
Isaac Newton transits jump point five to find Luyten 726-8, an unremarkable binary of two red dwarfs with a total of thirteen planets and over eighty moons, none of which are habitable.
22nd April 2027
Tycho Brahe enters jump point three and appears in the Procyon system, which has an F5-IV yellow white sub-giant primary with three planets plus a planetless red dwarf. The second planet is ideal in terms of temperature and has an thin oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, with about half the oxygen pressure required for humans. In terms of terraforming effort required, it is actually a better prospect than Alpha Centauri II but it is approximately five times further away from Earth. One of the moons of the third planet, a small gas giant, is also a terraforming prospect, with a temperature of -7C and a similar atmosphere to Procyon II. Tycho remains at the Sol - Procyon jump point to await the arrival of a geosurvey ship. Alpha Centauri has virtually no accessible minerals so a large mineral find in this system might change the equation considerably, even given the distances.
30th April 2027
The Non-Aligned States launch their first two geological survey ships. They are 800 tons and capable of 1562 km/s. China builds it's third shipyard.
10th May 2027
Beyond jump point six, Tycho Brahe discovers the trinary system of EZ Aquarii. All three stars are red dwarfs, like many other systems close to Earth, and have a total of eleven planets. EZ Aquarii-B II is a faint prospect for colonization, with an atmosphere of carbon dioxide and nitrogen that is dense enough to support the addition of sufficient oxygen to make it breathable and a surface temperature of -60C. The geosurvey ship Marie Curie is escorted into the system then Tycho heads for Earth to refuel.
12th May 2027
Isaac Newton enters jump point four and finds another red dwarf system, this time Ross 128. The M4-V primary has seven planets, including an incredibly hot Venusian world orbit just half a million kilometers from the star. Ross 128 II is a reasonable prospect for terraforming, with a an atmosphere close to breathable and a temperature of 54C.
29th May 2027
Isaac Newton explores jump point eight of the Sol system and discovers Proxima Centauri, the closest star to Earth in Einsteinian space. Three planets orbit the small red dwarf, including one with a carbon dioxide and nitrogen atmosphere and a temperature of -30C. The survey ship heads for Earth to refuel
11th June 2027
The gravitational survey ships Johannes Kepler and Nicolaus Copernicus are launched from the Blohm + Voss Shipyard. Along with Tycho Brahe they head into the Alpha Centauri system to begin a new survey. The Republic of India completes construction of a commercial shipyard complex.
29th June 2027
A jump point is found in Alpha Centauri, just 123 million kilometers from the G2-V primary. Copernicus is diverted to investigate.
1st July 2027
The Colonial Alliance completes its third commercial shipyard complex. The USAN launches two small geological survey vessels.
10th July 2027
Copernicus transits the recently discovered jump point in Alpha Centauri and finds herself at Barnard's Star. The M4-V red dwarf has eight planets and an extensive asteroid belt. Although there are no possible colony sites, the system might provide the minerals that are sorely lacking in Alpha Centauri.
13th July 2027
The gravitational survey vessel Isaac Newton arrives in Procyon to meet Charles Darwin and escort her out of the system. There is no sign of the geological survey vessel, nor any sign of life pod beacons. Newton returns to Sol and raises the alarm. The Colonial leadership agrees to alert the other powers to the disappearance of their survey ship and warn that there is an unknown threat in Procyon. The other four powers are sceptical, with the Chinese going as far as to accuse the Colonial Administration of scaremongering tactics to prevent the other powers from exploiting the near-habitable worlds in the Procyon system. The Colonial leadership decides to leave them to their paranoia and simply avoid the system. In the meantime, the first plans are made for a Colonial warship class. Isaac Newton is dispatched to EZ Aquarii to watch over Marie Curie and begin a gravitational survey of the system.
27th July 2027
Research is completed into a new active sensor buoy, along with a long-range delivery system. The GSB-4A Sensor Buoy Delivery System has a longer range than the GSB-2A and can carry the new sensor buoy as far as the Wolf 359 jump point, midway between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. As soon as Colonial ordnance factories begin producing buoys, they will be launched at the four major planets and two jump points within range by the Baikonur launch complex.
GSB-4A Sensor Buoy Delivery System
Missile Size: 30 MSP (1.5 HS) Warhead: 0 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 5
Speed: 5300 km/s Endurance: 3482 minutes Range: 1107.3m km
Cost Per Missile: 9.7417
Second Stage: SLS-3A Active Sensor Buoy x1
Second Stage Separation Range: 0 km
Overall Endurance: 722 days Overall Range: 1107.3m km
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 26.5% 3k km/s 5% 5k km/s 5.3% 10k km/s 2.6%
Materials Required: 4.8x Boronide 2.4x Uridium 2.1667x Gallicite Fuel x32500
Development Cost for Project: 974RPSLS-3A Active Sensor Buoy
Buoy Size: 12 MSP (0.6 HS) Armour: 0
Reactor Endurance: 36 months
Active Sensor Strength: 2.4 Resolution: 20 Maximum Range: 480,000 km
Cost Per Buoy: 9.475
Materials Required: 7.2x Boronide 2.4x Uridium
Development Cost for Project: 948RP7th August 2027
China builds a naval shipyard complex.
8th August 2027
Newton investigates a new jump point in EZ Aquarii and discovers Tau Ceti, an unremarkable system with a yellow G8-V primary and seven undistinguished planets.
22nd August 2027
A Naval Shipyard Complex is constructed on Earth. The Colonial Alliance now has five shipyard complexes, two of which are naval and the rest commercial. Only three are active though, building Atlas class freighters, Jamestown class colony ships and Newton class gravitational survey vessels. One Atlas, one Jamestown and four Newtons are in service. One Atlas, three Jamestowns and two Newtons are under construction.
30th August 2027
A civilian-built Atlas freighter transits into Alpha Centauri carrying infrastructure for the small colony on Alpha Centauri-A II. Due to its transponder emissions, India, the USAN and the NAS (Non-aligned States), all detect the transit and discover the location of the jump point. As the jump point has a gate, this allows them to send non-jump-capable ships into the system. So far, only the Colonial Alliance and the People's Republic have jump-capable ships.
18th October 2027
China builds a commercial shipyard complex, giving it the same number and type of complexes as the Colonial Alliance.
1st December 2027
An active sensor buoy detects two Indian geological survey ships entering Alpha Centauri
19th December 2027
China launches its fifth and sixth gravitational survey ships. Along with a recently overhauled geosurvey ship they head for the Procyon jump point, despite further warnings from the Colonial Alliance.
3rd January 2028
The survey of Alpha Centauri is completed, confirming that the only two jump points are the Sol and Barnard's Star. The three Colonial grav survey ships in the system head for Barnard's star to begin a new survey.
3rd February 2028
Tycho Brahe explores a newly discovered jump point in Bernard's Star and finds the trinary system of Epsilon Indi. Although the smaller two stars are both planetless brown dwarfs, the inner planet of the K5-V primary has a very thin oxygen - nitrogen atmosphere (0.17 atm) and a surface temperature of 12C. Despite being three jumps from Earth, this terraforming target is closer to Earth than the near-habitable world in Procyon because the intervening jump points are all close to their parent stars.
[attachment=1:w72rqbr6]Galaxy1.GIF[/attachment:w72rqbr6]
15th February 2028
The Union of South American Nations builds a commercial shipyard complex.
12th March 2028
The average surface temperature of the Earth has risen more than six degrees over the last eight years. The luminosity of the Sun has increased by nine percent in the same period.
7th April 2028
The two Chinese gravitational survey ships return from Procyon without the geological survey ship. They report its destruction between the orbits of the second and third planets by an unknown alien force. No apology is forthcoming for their earlier rejection of the warning from the Colonial Alliance. The People's Republic announces it will be constructing warships and returning to the system to eliminate the threat. An invitation is extended to the other powers to support the effort under Chinese leadership.
24th April 2028
Colonial sensors detect the launch of a the first unit in a new Chinese class, designated the Claudius. It is 23,700 tons and assumed to be a colony ship, or possibly a small freighter. For the moment, it remains in Earth orbit. The other known Chinese ships are six Jianghu class gravitational survey ships and two Voltimand class geological survey ships, although one of the latter is reported as destroyed in Procyon.
30th April 2028
Galileo Galilei and Johann Franz Encke, a pair of Newton class gravitational survey ships, are launched by the Blohm + Voss shipyard. Their first mission is a survey of Wolf 359.
5th May 2028
Gravitational survey of Barnard's Star completed, confirming the only two jump points are those to Alpha Centauri and Epsilon Indi. The four Newton class ships assigned to the survey head for the Epsilon Indi jump point.
21st May 2028
Johannes Kepler locates and investigates a new jump point in Epsilon Indi. She finds herself just fifty million kilometers from Delta Pavonis, a yellow G8-V main sequence star with eleven planets and a substantial asteroid belt. Two planets are of some interest. The innermost is a terrestrial world with an oxygen - nitrogen atmosphere that has a density of 0.42 atm. Unusually, for this type of world, the temperature is over one hundred degrees Celsius and the water that would normally form oceans is in the form of water vapour. Delta Pavonis III also has an oxygen - nitrogen atmosphere, this time with a density of 0.63 atm but with only 2.6% oxygen and containing a small amount of toxic sulphur dioxide from the many volcanoes dotting the frozen surface. The temperature is -39C. Both worlds may be suitable for terraforming, although considerable effort would be required.
10th September 2028
The gravitational survey of Wolf 359 is completed, without finding any new jump points. This is the first 'dead-end' system to be surveyed.
15th September 2028
A team headed by the Alliance's leading scientist in the area of power and propulsion, Vincent Deel, has completed their work on Ion Engine technology. Several other projects have been awaiting this development, especially those relating to the planned warship class.
13th November 2028
A second ruined alien outpost is discovered, this time on Epsilon Indi II. A Xenology team is still trying to make sense of the alien language found in the Alpha Centauri ruins.
26th January 2029
Colonial scientists led by Susi Schein complete work on the Alliance's first anti-ship missile, the RGM-5A Javelin. Production of the new missile will begin immediately so that once a warship is eventually designed and built, sufficient ordnance will be available.
RGM-5A Javelin Anti-ship Missile
Missile Size: 4 MSP (0.2 HS) Warhead: 6 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 22500 km/s Endurance: 48 minutes Range: 64.3m km
Cost Per Missile: 3
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 225% 3k km/s 70% 5k km/s 45% 10k km/s 22.5%
Materials Required: 1.5x Tritanium 1.25x Gallicite Fuel x2500
Development Cost for Project: 300RP13th March 2029
The Vickers-Armstrong shipyard is retooled to build the Genesis class Terraformer. This ship carries a single terraforming module that can be used to improve the environment on worlds such as Alpha Centauri-A II. The Alliance's only colony now has a population of 8.8 million but still requires substantial infrastructure. Colonization would be made much easier by reducing the temperature. The first Genesis should be ready by the end of 2029.
Genesis class Terraformer 31050 tons 331 Crew 810.2 BP TCS 621 TH 600 EM 0
966 km/s Armour 1-88 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maint Capacity 16 MSP Max Repair 500 MSP
Terraformer: 1 module(s) producing 0.001 atm per annum
Commercial Ion Engine (4) Power 150 Fuel Use 7% Signature 150 Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 82.8 billion km (992 days at full power)21st March 2029
The Colonial leadership is informed by the Chinese government that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has lost a ship to an alien ambush in the Epsilon Eridani system. Epsilon Eridani is apparently two jumps from Sol, beyond a jump point in the Luyten 726-8 system. Two Chinese Jianghu class gravitational survey ships transited into the system and detected a dozen thermal contacts on the jump point. One Chinese ship was destroyed immediately but the other was allowed to leave after recovering survivors. Three alien ships followed the Jianghu into Luyten 726-8, remained for a few minutes and then retreated back into Epsilon Eridani. The Chinese survey ship initially headed away from the Sol jump point in case of pursuit and spent over a month circling around Luyten 726-8 before finally entering Sol. The ship remains at the Sol - Luyten jump point as a picket. A second Jianghu is still picketing the Sol - Procyon jump point.
Rear Admiral Williams, head of the Colonial Fleet, is concerned the Chinese may have been followed back to Sol and urges the leadership to concentrate all their research efforts on military technology. The first Colonial warship design is still several weeks away. He also recommends that all exploration should cease for the moment, or at least as soon as all Colonial survey ships can be contacted, and the leadership accepts that recommendation. The effort to move population, and eventually industry, away from Earth and the long-term threat from the Sun is still proceeding very slowly. A new alien threat provides added urgency.
14th April 2029
Retooling of the Blohm + Voss shipyard to build the first Colonial warship begins. Due to the diverse nature of the nations forming the Colonial Alliance, the leadership made a decision to use names without any specific national overtones for its major ship classes, which led to the names of historical scientists and astronomers for the survey ships. This policy continues with the Pegasus class destroyer, which will follow a naming convention of mythical beasts. The Pegasus is equipped with eight launchers for its Javelin anti-ship missiles, substantial armour and the best available electronics and sensor systems.
Pegasus class Destroyer 8000 tons 783 Crew 1139.6 BP TCS 160 TH 660 EM 0
4125 km/s Armour 4-35 Shields 0-0 Sensors 10/5/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 32
Annual Failure Rate: 128% IFR: 1.8% Maint Capacity 356 MSP Max Repair 96 MSP Est Time: 1.95 Years
Magazine 482
NPO Energomash Ion Drive (11) Power 60 Fuel Use 70% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 64.3 billion km (180 days at full power)
Mk 1 Guided Missile Launching System (8) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 40
CF/SPG-3 Missile Fire Control (2) Range 72.0m km Resolution 75
RGM-5A Javelin Anti-ship Missile (120) Speed: 22,500 km/s End: 47.6m Range: 64.3m km WH 6 Size 4 TH: 75 / 45 / 22
CF/SPS-4 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 7200 Range 72.0m km Resolution 75
CF/SQR-6 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
CF/SLR-5 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km25th May 2029
China launches two ships of a new class, designated as the Polonius. They have the same target cross-section, 2500 tons, and thermal signature as the Jianghu class gravitational survey ship.
6th July 2029
The Colonial Alliance's first troop transport, the Endymion, is launched from the Kawasaki Shipyard. Her first task is to transport a brigade of infantry to Alpha Centauri to quell unrest, which is partly caused by overcrowding and partly from a desire for more protection.
Endymion class Troop Transport 23650 tons 302 Crew 672.2 BP TCS 473 TH 1200 EM 0
2536 km/s Armour 1-73 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maint Capacity 18 MSP Max Repair 40 MSP
Troop Capacity: 5 Battalions Cargo Handling Multiplier 10
Commercial Ion Engine (8) Power 150 Fuel Use 7% Signature 150 Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 108.7 billion km (496 days at full power)20th August 2029
Due to the alien threat, some stocks of Trans-Newtonian minerals are being moved into the Alpha Centauri system. As population permits, key installations will also be moved, Alpha Centauri has very limited mineral deposits of its own so finding new sources of minerals within the Alpha Centauri chain is a key strategic goal for the Alliance. Minerals exist in large quantities in the Wolf 359 system but as that is on the far side of Sol from Alpha Centauri, any alien move into Sol would interdict the supply route. Once sufficient force is available, the Alliance plans to fortify the Alpha Centauri - Sol jump point so ideally any strategic mining colonies would be located within the Alpha Centauri chain rather than beyond the Sol side of the jump point.
As far as Colonial Intelligence can determine, the other four human power blocs have not yet established on any off-world colonies. Based on intelligence and press reports, the South Americans plan to colonize Mars, relaying on terraforming and its distance from the Sun to sustain their civilization. The Non-Aligned States, which is primarily a Muslim power bloc, plans to remain on the Earth and ride out the effects of the increase in solar luminosity, using infrastructure and terraforming. China seems determined to build up its forces and eventually defeat the aliens in Procyon and particularly Epsilon Eridani. Although they have not revealed the details of the Epsilon Eridani system, there is increasing evidence their ships discovered an ideal habitable world before being forced to retreat. Claiming this world for their own is probably the Chinese objective. India seems keen to follow the example of the Alliance but so far lacks the technology and shipping to launch an interstellar colonization effort. Alliance diplomats have quietly made it known to the Indians that they regard Alpha Centauri and the systems beyond as Colonial territory and would not welcome any Indian efforts to colonise Alpha Centauri.
2nd October 2029
India launches two ships of a new class. Designated by Colonial Intelligence as the Achilles class, they are 1450 tons and have a speed of 1724 km/s. India already has four ships in service, designated as the Ajax class, which are the same size and speed and appear to be geological survey vessels. The best estimated of Colonial Intelligence is that the new Achilles class is a gravitational survey vessel. The Non-Aligned States build a commercial shipyard complex, giving them two shipyards in total.
28th October 2029
The geosurvey ship Louis Pasteur finds a planet in the Ross 154 system, three jumps from Alpha Centauri via Bernard's Star and Epsilon Indi, which has substantial quantities of all eleven Trans-Newtonian minerals. Unfortunately all are 0.1 except for Duranium but it would make an excellent location for a fleet base. The planet also has limited potential for terraforming, albeit at a colony cost of 3.41 due to freezing temperatures, so normal manned mines could be used.
Ross 154-A II Survey Report
Duranium 65,253,890 Acc: 0.9
Neutronium 1,382,976 Acc: 0.1
Corbomite 31,674,380 Acc: 0.1
Tritanium 57,153,600 Acc: 0.1
Boronide 21,344,400 Acc: 0.1
Mercassium 1,192,464 Acc: 0.1
Vendarite 2,822,400 Acc: 0.1
Sorium 59,721,980 Acc: 0.1
Uridium 38,638,660 Acc: 0.1
Corundium 2,039,184 Acc: 0.1
Gallicite 42,928,700 Acc: 0.1
29th November 2029
Sufficient maintenance facilities are established on Alpha Centauri II to maintain and overhaul ships of up to 3000 tons. This provides a forward base for the Newton and Darwin class survey vessels and avoids them having to return to the Sol system for overhaul.
23rd December 2029
The first three Genesis class terraformers are built by the Vickers-Armstrong Shipyard. They are immediately dispatched to Alpha Centauri II.
1st January 2030
Ten years into the solar warming crisis, the luminosity of the Sun has increased by eleven percent and the surface temperature of the Earth has risen by seven point five degrees. Mars is five point seven degrees warmer while the temperature of both Mercury and Venus has increased by approximately eighteen degrees. From the perspective of the Colonial Alliance, there are twenty-four systems in known space, including eleven in the Alpha Centauri chain, which the Alliance increasingly regards as its own territory. Alpha Centauri II has a population of 16.4 million while the Colonial population on Earth has risen to 1724m.
The Colonial Fleet is still an entirely peaceful organization, comprising nine survey ships, seven freighters, six colony ships, three terraformers and a troop transport. Two warships, Pegasus and Minotaur, are under construction and due for launch in October 2030. As far as Colonial Intelligence can determine, none of the other human power blocs has any armed vessels, although they suspect the Chinese are working toward that goal. Known human ships include ten Chinese survey ships and three commercial ships of an unknown type, six Indian survey ships and two small ships each for the USAN and Non-Aligned States. Colonial civilian shipping companies are operating seven freighters and seven colony ships. No other human civilian shipping lines are in operation.
The primary concern for the Colonial leadership remains the unknown aliens in Procyon and Epsilon Eridani, although as yet no alien ship has appeared in the Sol system. While moving population and industry into the Alpha Centauri chain is a priority, the lift capacity of the Colonial Navy remains limited. Additional warship designs are under consideration and will be progressed once the required technology is available.
[attachment=0:w72rqbr6]Galaxy2.GIF[/attachment:w72rqbr6]
Steve
