The Babylon Project

[Aloriel (OP)]

And so it begins...

It was the Earth year 2156. With the creation of the first crewed planetary survey vessels, it was the beginning of a new age for humanity. One where we could finally reach for the stars and discover what wonders and dangers they might hold. Under the leadership of the President of EarthGov, Earthforce has been commissioned and ordered to explore. This is our story.

Rules
4 major alien powers (NPRs) have been created: Minbari, Narn, Centauri, and Dilgar
The Minbari are significantly ahead of the others
Each race should have approximately the weaponry expected, except the Dilgar who were already wiped out in the show so we have no idea (I set them to random!). Shields are used to represent defense grids from the show.
Humans start with virtually no tech (20,000 instant tech points) but 2000% of the minerals normally generated. I have never done a near zero tech start, so I am counter balancing it with extra minerals.
All post-start NPRs will be minors. Both major NPRs and players have a chance to create these minors. Minor races will be generated using images from the show (I have 13 images for these). I will SM them to their proper names when discovered. Unfortunately, flag selection is random and most of the members of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds have no flags from the show. I will do my best with these. Potential minors include: Abbai, Brakiri, Drazi, Gaim, Grome, Hurr, Hyach, Llort, Markab, Onteen, Pak'ma'ra, Yolu, and Vree.

The Vorlons, Shadows, and other First Ones are replaced by Precursors. The standard Precursor image has been replaced by the Walkers of Sigma 957 image from the "Zog" scene.
Raiders will affect everyone as everyone experiences piracy. The standard raider image has been replaced by a Zephyr fighter (the triangular ones). They will begin to appear at the usual 10 discovered systems moment.

50% research speed
30% survey speed

NB: For story purposes, I will be replacing the name Sorium with Quantium-40 or Q-40 as that is what jump fuel was called in Babylon 5.

Ship design rules:
* Warships will use lasers and particle beams (eventually particle lances) as their primary weapons.
* Warships will be equipped with some level of troop transport capability to represent security forces stationed aboard
* Warships will have fighter bays
* Fighters will have rail guns to represent plasma bolts.
* Defensively, shields will be allowed but renamed to Defense Grid which will also be combined with gauss cannons for anti-missile defense.
* Other ships can have almost anything
* As soon as possible, Interplanetary Expeditions (IPX) survey ships will be fitted with ground forces storage for survey, xeno, and construction teams. This is to represent how IPX ships would land on planets and deploy teams.
* There must be at least starliner operating between all colony worlds and stations. Most likely, it will not even be moving people. This is just for RP reasons because starliners arrived all the time on the show.

At the start, there is only one ship design, the Sagan class survey vessel. 5 have been instant built. These are the only instant ships I will create.

Code: [Select]

Carl Edward Sagan class Survey Vessel      3,000 tons       61 Crew       357.4 BP       TCS 60    TH 63    EM 0
1041 km/s      Armour 1-18       Shields 0-0       HTK 20      Sensors 0/0/1/1      DCR 4-13      PPV 0
Maint Life 12.05 Years     MSP 335    AFR 16%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 4    5YR 64    Max Repair 100 MSP
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 60 months    Morale Check Required   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (1)    Power 62.5    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 503,000 Litres    Range 269.8 billion km (2999 days at full power)

Geological Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour
Gravitational Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Survey Ship for auto-assignment purposes
These have been commissioned as the EAS Alíz Derekas, EAS Caroline Herschel, EAS William Wilson Morgan, EAS Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, and the EAS Vesto Melvin Slipher.

EDIT: Adjusted fighters to have rail guns instead of gauss, as per recommendations. Also adjusted warships to not have rail guns, since no Earthforce ships had rail guns in the show's timeline.
EDIT2: Added a requirement of having starliners running between colonies (with or without moving passengers).

[nuclearslurpee]

Looks cool, Babylon 5 is a classic and well-loved franchise so I am sure many will be happy to see this project.

One thing that could be a... concern?

* Fighters will have gauss cannons to represent plasma bolts

Mechanically, this is a really, really bad idea, because Gauss cannons on fighters are simply terrible. Without a turret mount, they offer no advantage over railguns while being much larger per shot (adjusted for the size/accuracy scaling) even with power plants taken into account, at least until ROF 8 tech which is endgame level. In other words, Gauss cannons have much worse expected damage than 10cm railguns until very high tech levels.

Since Steve always uses 10cm railguns to represent fighter weapons, such as WH40K lascannons, I would recommend doing the same unless you have a really good reason to want fighters heavily nerfed.

[Aloriel (OP)]

In the first few months, Earthforce reported nothing of consequence save for minor mineral deposits on several comets and asteroids. Only the Jovian moon of Callisto had a deposit of any reasonable size with about 1.75 million of one of the new minerals we've dubbed Tritanium. Jupiter also shows some promise with roughly 500,000 Quantium-40 that may be able to be more easily refined into usable fuel if we had some sort of system to harvest it. Dr. Blaine Swiler has been assigned the task of creating such a device. Fortunately, there is still much to explore in the outer planets.

On the 26th of August 2156, Commander Abel Rastorfer, the captain of the EAS Alíz Derekas, reported that there was some sort of anomalous readings on gravitational sensors while in deep space near Mars's orbital path. These readings were sent back to Earth for analysis. After studying them, Dr. Alton Kuliga theorized that this must be a weak point between normal space and what a few scientists have been calling hyperspace. He says it might be possible to construct some sort of stabilization device and reach other solar systems at similar weak points. All of this is still only theoretical of course, but he is looking into it.

After reading about the anomalous discovery on the Derekas, Commander Zachery Kenon of the EAS Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar steered his ship to survey areas near Mars's orbital path as well. Just two weeks after the initial anomaly was discovered, another was found. Extra funding has been granted to Dr. Kuliga's efforts to research stabilization of these phenomenon.

All of this talk of Mars has created quite a furor among the populace of Earth. Long have people wanted to colonize Mars. Finally, we have the technology to do so, but no ships to move people or infrastructure for domes. After much deliberation, the EarthGov senate approved an appropriations bill on the 12th of October 2156 for the design and commissioning of a space borne transport capable of carrying material goods between planets, for both space liners and mass colonist transports, and for transportation of GROPOS forces to protect new colonies.

Code: [Select]

Marco Polo class Transport      12,000 tons       70 Crew       210.8 BP       TCS 240    TH 250    EM 0
1041 km/s      Armour 1-46       Shields 0-0       HTK 32      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-0      PPV 0
MSP 10    Max Repair 20 MSP
Cargo 5,000    Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1   
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (4)    Power 250.0    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 711,000 Litres    Range 95.3 billion km (1059 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Freighter for auto-assignment purposes

Code: [Select]

Isaac Asimov class Spaceliner      6,500 tons       144 Crew       261.4 BP       TCS 130    TH 125    EM 0
961 km/s      Armour 1-31       Shields 0-0       HTK 20      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-1      PPV 0
MSP 25    Max Repair 100 MSP
Passengers 250    Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1   
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (2)    Power 125.0    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 302,000 Litres    Range 74.8 billion km (900 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Liner for auto-assignment purposes

Code: [Select]

Lightrunner class Colonist Transport      22,500 tons       122 Crew       669.4 BP       TCS 450    TH 375    EM 0
833 km/s      Armour 1-70       Shields 0-0       HTK 41      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-0      PPV 0
MSP 18    Max Repair 400 MSP
Cryogenic Berths 50,000    Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1   
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (6)    Power 375.0    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 832,000 Litres    Range 59.5 billion km (826 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Colony Ship for auto-assignment purposes

Code: [Select]

Royal Marine class Troop Transport      12,000 tons       73 Crew       269.6 BP       TCS 240    TH 250    EM 0
1041 km/s      Armour 1-46       Shields 0-0       HTK 42      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-0      PPV 0
MSP 14    Max Repair 80 MSP
Troop Capacity 5,000 tons     
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (4)    Power 250.0    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 1,206,000 Litres    Range 161.7 billion km (1797 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Troop Transport for auto-assignment purposes
Construction of these vessels will take at least a year or more. For now, the people will have to simply wait.

Elsewhere on Earth, Interplanetary Expeditions has its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IPX). Their primary purpose is to further explore the galaxy. This is the first time a space based company's stock has actually increased in value after its IPO. They have additionally proposed a new type of survey ship for deep space exploration that includes storage for surface reconnaissance vehicles, xenobiology and archaeology equipment, and even heavy construction vehicles for when a large quantity of regolith needs to be moved.

Code: [Select]

Argonaut class Deep Space Survey Ship      20,000 tons       251 Crew       943 BP       TCS 400    TH 500    EM 0
1250 km/s      Armour 1-65       Shields 0-0       HTK 99      Sensors 0/0/1/1      DCR 23-11      PPV 0
Maint Life 7.17 Years     MSP 677    AFR 139%    IFR 1.9%    1YR 23    5YR 346    Max Repair 100 MSP
Troop Capacity 3,000 tons     
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 60 months    Morale Check Required   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (8)    Power 500.0    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 3,494,000 Litres    Range 281.3 billion km (2604 days at full power)

Geological Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour
Gravitational Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Survey Ship for auto-assignment purposes
While the design is reasonable for its intended purpose, that purpose isn't really needed at the moment. EarthGov has asked them to be patient and wait for available shipyard space, as well as an active jump gate, before beginning construction.

Stock in Auricon (NYSE: AUCN) jumps significantly as Earthforce signs a major contract for large numbers of their new phased plasma guns (PPG) for security forces. These PPGs should prove incredibly useful in space, as ballistic weaponry tends to create hull breaches.

On the 13th of June 2157, Earthforce announces the commissioning of the first vessels since the original 5 survey ships: The EAS Antelope, EAS Mimosa, and EAS Snow Squall. These 3 new transports will serve as logistical support craft for the eventual colonization of Mars. They will immediately begin moving construction materials to Mars intended for use in manufacturing large domes and transit networks in the area of Solis Planum. Presently, the project is referred to as Mars Dome One.

August 29th 2157, Cole Mining Corporation is set up on comet Stephan-Oterma as the first off world civilian operation. The EAS Mimosa has been dispatched to deliver minerals back to Earth.

With the completion of the EAS Starliner Clifford D. Simak on September 13 2157, regular travel to and from Mars has begun. Humans have officially declared Mars as their home and Mars Dome One will be completed within the year.

Earthforce has finally completed its survey of Sol finding that only Uranus and Neptune have any significant supply of mineral wealth at 18 million Q-40 and 1.5 million Q-40 respectively, both in gaseous form. Research continues into methods to harness these gaseous deposits. Otherwise, the Sol system seems virtually devoid of these new found minerals aiding us in construction of spacefaring vessels.

There are now over half a million people living on Mars after just over a year of colonization efforts. Infrastructure development continues as quickly as it can be done. Another dome is already being constructed.

[Garfunkel]

Promising start!

[Aloriel (OP)]

At last, Dr. Alton Kuliga has successfully designed a jump gate for immediate use. Our ship designers say they will have a completed draft of a new ship carrying construction materials for such a jump gate within the week. They estimate that it will be the largest ship we've ever built. Teams are already expanding the slipways at Altom Shipyard and Machinery Works to fit such a design.

Code: [Select]

Pavel Cherenkov class Jump Gate Construction Ship      50,000 tons       208 Crew       1,068.7 BP       TCS 1,000    TH 875    EM 0
875 km/s      Armour 1-120       Shields 0-0       HTK 86      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-0      PPV 0
MSP 13    Max Repair 600 MSP
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   
Jump Point Stabilisation: 360 days

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (14)    Power 875.0    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 5,588,000 Litres    Range 179.9 billion km (2380 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Stabilisation Ship for auto-assignment purposes
Concerns have been raised that with all of the unprotected commercial shipping that piracy might start up again just like in the age of sail. We have been considering this fact and quietly researching weaponry with which to combat such piracy. It is possible that the first Earthforce warship will be online within a few years time. Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be any problems so far.

Despite this, engineers and R&D have been proposing new and innovative devices and weaponry. Now that we've been in space for 4 years, it is about time we fielded something with a little bite, just in case the various variables in the Drake equation are larger than we think. It's not much, but this is what they came up with:

Code: [Select]

Moon class Corvette      2,500 tons       68 Crew       190.9 BP       TCS 50    TH 156    EM 0
3125 km/s      Armour 1-16       Shields 0-0       HTK 16      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-4      PPV 4.2
Maint Life 1.61 Years     MSP 47    AFR 50%    IFR 0.7%    1YR 21    5YR 316    Max Repair 78.125 MSP
Troop Capacity 100 tons     
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Morale Check Required   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type-M  (EP156.25 25/125%/1.0L) (1)    Power 156.2    Fuel Use 110.49%    Signature 156.25    Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 249,000 Litres    Range 16.2 billion km (60 days at full power)

Single 10cm C1 Infrared Laser Turret (1x1)    Range 30,000km     TS: 8000 km/s     Power 3-1     RM 10,000 km    ROF 15       
Beam Fire Control R80-TS5000 (SW) (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 5,000 km/s    ECCM-0     88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Amtek PWR Plant Pro 1MJ (1)     Total Power Output 1    Exp 7%

Ground Forces
1x Platoon, Ship Security

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Warship for auto-assignment purposes
Several members of the senate were wowed by it. Others, particularly ones that fought in wars, were less impressed. Still, it narrowly made it through an appropriations bill and EarthGov has contracted Bednar Stellar Shipbuilding to make three. We still don't have a jump gate builder online, but we'll have warships! Isn't that great? Has anybody pointed out that the ship has no sensor array to lock its weapons on a target? Designers hadn't mentioned a sensor satellite in the works.

[nuclearslurpee]

Moon class Corvette      2,500 tons       68 Crew       190.9 BP       TCS 50    TH 156    EM 0
3125 km/s      Armour 1-16       Shields 0-0       HTK 16      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-4      PPV 4.2
Maint Life 1.61 Years     MSP 47    AFR 50%    IFR 0.7%    1YR 21    5YR 316    Max Repair 78.125 MSP
Troop Capacity 100 tons     
Hangar Deck Capacity 0 tons
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Morale Check Required   

If this ship wasn't already a monument to hilariously ineffective early-game roleplaying warship design, the carrier strike faction would be absolutely incensed by this blatant slight and might possibly even commit terror bombings. As it is, the carrier strike faction has no desire to be associated with such an under-armed monstrosity that cannot even find targets for its guns.

Well done.

[Warer]

Moon class Corvette      2,500 tons       68 Crew       190.9 BP       TCS 50    TH 156    EM 0
3125 km/s      Armour 1-16       Shields 0-0       HTK 16      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-4      PPV 4.2
Maint Life 1.61 Years     MSP 47    AFR 50%    IFR 0.7%    1YR 21    5YR 316    Max Repair 78.125 MSP
Troop Capacity 100 tons     
Hangar Deck Capacity 0 tons
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Morale Check Required   

If this ship wasn't already a monument to hilariously ineffective early-game roleplaying warship design, the carrier strike faction would be absolutely incensed by this blatant slight and might possibly even commit terror bombings. As it is, the carrier strike faction has no desire to be associated with such an under-armed monstrosity that cannot even find targets for its guns.

Well done.

Forget the Carrier Strike Faction the Beam Boat Brotherhood is here to avenge themselves on whatever monster made this xD

[Aloriel (OP)]

((I made it intentionally bad, as you can imagine))

Excerpts from the journal of LCDR Ellen Takahashi, captain of the Starliner Simak on the Earth-Mars run (great great grandmother of Laurel Takahashi from B5:The Gathering S1-Ep1)

February 23, 2161
It was announced today that our first jump gate builder has been commissioned. They named it after physics Nobel laureate Owen Willans Richardson. I had to look him up. Apparently, we have him to thank for Edison's eventual discovery of incandescent light bulbs, a technology that was abandoned about 150 years ago for being highly inefficient. We probably wouldn't have figured out better lighting systems if it wasn't for that, so thank you for lighting the way Mr. Richardson!

I am told that we shouldn't be too excited over the commissioning of this ship. It will still take a year to build the gate itself, plus travel time to the jump point. The ship is huge, so it doesn't move very fast. Government officials have announced that construction will begin on the third jump point that was found, out by Uranus. They say it is a safer bet to have more difficult access to Earth and Mars Colony just in case we meet aliens. Personally, I think they're just being paranoid and unintentionally delaying construction by forcing a long travel time of a slow ship.

June 19, 2161
Experts estimate 177 days until the first jump gate opens. IPX is champing at the bit to get their deep space survey vessel under construction, but their atmospheric shuttle design is still undergoing testing. Meanwhile, Earthforce has commissioned their three new Corvettes which are now undergoing space trials and COMPTUEX. I can't even imagine what they'll be used for. I've been making this run since the ship was commissioned four years ago, and the only issue we had was a meteor swarm that dinged up the outer hull a little. 10s of thousands of passengers safely moved from Earth to Mars or Mars to Earth.

Still, I guess it can't hurt to have some kind of defenses. Who knows what we'll find once the jump gate is finished?

July 25, 2161
I hear that Mitchell-Hyundyne finally nailed down the issues they were having with their multi-directional thruster system. That means that IPX's atmospheric shuttle should pass its next test. I suppose it is just a matter of days before they place yet another formal request for the construction of their ship. I managed to look up the updated specs last time I was on Earth. What is this? The fifth revision since the initial concept? Still, it's a nice looking ship! Maybe I'll put in a transfer order? It can get a little boring doing the same run of space over and over. Hey look! It's Mars again...

Code: [Select]

Argonaut class Deep Space Survey Ship      20,000 tons       255 Crew       967.1 BP       TCS 400    TH 500    EM 0
1250 km/s      Armour 1-65       Shields 0-0       HTK 97      Sensors 0/0/1/1      DCR 23-11      PPV 0
Maint Life 7.21 Years     MSP 695    AFR 139%    IFR 1.9%    1YR 23    5YR 352    Max Repair 100 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 250 tons     Troop Capacity 3,100 tons     
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 60 months    Flight Crew Berths 5    Morale Check Required   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE Type C (EP62.5 25/50%/1.0L) (8)    Power 500.0    Fuel Use 11.18%    Signature 62.5    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 3,097,000 Litres    Range 249.3 billion km (2308 days at full power)

Geological Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour
Gravitational Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

Strike Group / Ground Forces
1x Helios Atmospheric Shuttle   Speed: 4756 km/s    Size: 4.99
1x Company, Construction Team
1x Company, Survey Team
1x Company, Xeno Team
1x Platoon, Ship Security

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Survey Ship for auto-assignment purposes

Code: [Select]

Helios class Atmospheric Shuttle      250 tons       1 Crew       18.4 BP       TCS 5    TH 24    EM 0
4756 km/s      Armour 1-3       Shields 0-0       HTK 1      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0-0      PPV 0
Maint Life 11.87 Years     MSP 11    AFR 2%    IFR 0.0%    1YR 0    5YR 2    Max Repair 11.875 MSP
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 0.3 days    Morale Check Required   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE XS Multidirectional (EP23.75 3.8/125%/1.0L) (1)    Power 23.8    Fuel Use 283.39%    Signature 23.75    Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,000 Litres    Range 0.25 billion km (14 hours at full power)

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a None for auto-assignment purposes
December 15, 2161
The gate is open early! The captain of the Richardson must have had his crew working 24 hour shifts!

IPX must be seething. Their ships are still under construction. I've read that the Alíz Derekas has been given the honor of making the first jump, followed shortly by the gate builder.

March 23, 2162
The entire crew and passengers were all watching the ISN broadcast in silence. The gate activated in a stunning display of blue swirling light and the EAS Alíz Derekas engaged thrusters to enter the vortex. With a rather bizarre jolt, the ship appeared to be stretched to infinity and then disappeared. Dr. Kuliga said in a later interview that this was expected and that communications with the ship won't be possible until the gate on the other side is finished, and that we should send the gate builder through immediately to begin that process.

We won't know for a year what they've found! A year!

May 17, 2162
IPX finally launched their ships. The list of candidates didn't include my name. I would have liked that assignment, though I suppose my husband might not have. Years apart probably isn't good for a relationship. All for the best I suppose. They went through the gate despite not knowing if either the Derekas or the Richardson even made it to anywhere.

October 25, 2162
We have finally heard back from the other side of the gate. The image was distorted and the sound was bad, but the message is being played over and over again on ISN. It's from the captain of the Richardson, a lieutenant-commander Marvin Moats.
<<The log cuts to a video that is mostly static. Moats can be seen speaking in the clearer moments of the video>>
"Come in Earthdome. This is the Richa...n. Testing commu... ...stem. We ...fully compl... gate in Proxi... ...auri."

Not the most poetic words, but a significant achievement for all of humanity! We are now an interstellar species! Maybe I can snag a position doing a run to whatever worlds we decide to colonize there?

August 3, 2163
I was reading over the reports from Proxima Centauri now that there are some. It sounds like a mining colony is probably going to be formed on Proxima II. The place is nearly livable. Just needs to be warmed up and get a bit more oxygen balance. Should be quite a sight. I'm going to put my name in for the new route there.

Also, I've heard they've begun testing and training new pilots for our new fighter squadrons. Some sort of fancy single seat agile fighter craft. Very short range and very limited fighting ability. If we do meet anyone, I sure hope they aren't hostile because I can't see us winning a battle with one of these... Maybe if we had a hundred of them vs one of whatever they might have.

Code: [Select]

Katana class Starfury      500 tons       1 Crew       27.4 BP       TCS 10    TH 24    EM 0
2376 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 3      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0-0      PPV 3
Maint Life 2.07 Years     MSP 3    AFR 20%    IFR 0.3%    1YR 1    5YR 14    Max Repair 11.875 MSP
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 days    Morale Check Required   

Mitchell-Hyundyne NRE XS Multidirectional (EP23.75 3.8/125%/1.0L) (1)    Power 23.8    Fuel Use 283.39%    Signature 23.75    Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 2,000 Litres    Range 0.25 billion km (29 hours at full power)

Copeland JC10 Pulse Discharge Cannon (1x4)    Range 10,000km     TS: 2,376 km/s     Power 3-1     RM 10,000 km    ROF 15       
Mark I SR/TTS-20-5 (1)     Max Range: 20,000 km   TS: 5,000 km/s    ECCM-0     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Amtek PWR Plant Pro 1MJ (1)     Total Power Output 1    Exp 7%

Mark I Micro ST/MSS-1-1.4 (1)     GPS 2     Range 1.4m km    MCR 124.4k km    Resolution 1

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Fighter for auto-assignment purposes
July 11, 2164
And I thought Sol was a dry hole... Alpha Centauri, the next system over from Proxima, doesn't even have planets. Thankfully, what we have between Earth and all the various planets of Proxima should last us quite a while.

[nuclearslurpee]

((I made it intentionally bad, as you can imagine))

I usually go for the "bad doctrine" approach versus "bad engineering". Personally, I can find it easier to believe that a bunch of politicians or old, out-of-touch admirals would order the wrong kind of ship with only one pea shooter for armament than that the designers and engineers would forget to put a targeting system (active sensor) on a combat ship. Though certainly there are historical examples of the latter sort of thing.

[Warer]

((I made it intentionally bad, as you can imagine))

I usually go for the "bad doctrine" approach versus "bad engineering". Personally, I can find it easier to believe that a bunch of politicians or old, out-of-touch admirals would order the wrong kind of ship with only one pea shooter for armament than that the designers and engineers would forget to put a targeting system (active sensor) on a combat ship. Though certainly there are historical examples of the latter sort of thing.

You could justfity it by saying they attempted to integrate the tracking systems into the BFC and RP it so that they "found out" that didn't work during space trials.

[El Pip]

You could justfity it by saying they attempted to integrate the tracking systems into the BFC and RP it so that they "found out" that didn't work during space trials.

This makes sense because a BFC really should be able to detect things, admittedly at incredibly short ranges but still.

The Katana Starfury does indeed look terrible, I'm not even sure hundreds would do much good against a competent enemy, hopefully EarthGov never has to find out.