Theban Empire sf

[Paul M]

Over the last few months the Confederation has been busy refiting ships and moving colonists.  All slips both mobile and fixed have been completely occupied, the shipbuilding firms are estatic with the influx of government contracts.  Shipping firms have been reporting major share payouts as BuCol subsidies have been significantly easier to get of late.  The contracts with the Benthian's was signed and the first of the Pioneer Class has started construction in Sea, along with a 4th Foward Repair Ship.  Two FRS's will be completed in the time it will take to build the first Pioneer.  There has been discussions between the SCN and the Benthian Admiralte over a join development project on an assault Battleship class.  [ooc]One problem is that SFA doesn't have the refit of partner built ship in it...that is x4 speed rather than the regular x2.  I'll have to see if it will just accept a higher speed by rate settings.  Ah better solution just occured to me I can edit the task and give the ship 50% of its hull completed at the start which has the same effect...problem solved.  It is critical that it be done for all the ships though as the Shanirian engine rooms are actually telekinetic amplifiers.[/ooc]  The first of a new generation of vessels specifical intended to deploy buoys and ASDW patterns are just completing construction or are nearing completion.  The current plan calls for the formation of groups based around the Rego Auram class controller vessels.  A caltrop and 2 Boomer class ships will operate with the Rego Auram controller vessel.  Packmule transports can be used to provide buoy lift.  The SCN has secured funding to construct 3 such groups.

Financial Report (numbers approximate as final accounting figures from the Intersystem Revenue and Tax Agency are still being processed)
Production:  22 billion credits
Trade:  8 billion credits
SCN Fleet Maintenance Budget: 12 billion credits


WARBOOK UPDATE SECLEVEL PRIMUS

                                                      FLEET TRAIN

REGO AURAM MOD 1 class DD        6 XO Racks    30 Hull    TL 6
[3] S0S0AiAiH(BbM)(Ic)(Ic)(Ic)XrLhQ(MCS)(DCS)D(Ic) [4]
30 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  490/ 73.5
HTK 16   S0x2  Aix2  Dx1  
Notes:  A refit to the older buoy control ship adding in the capacity to control ASDW patterns.  Unfortuantely this reduces the space available for defenses.  A part of the design comprimise that the SCN accepted in standardising the support ships on the Destroyer hull was that they are individually very fragile.  This is most true for the control ships and associated layers/transporters.

CALTROP class DD        6 XO Racks    30 Hull    TL 6
[3] S0S0Ai(BbM)TfQs(ML)(MR)x4(Ic)(Ic)(Ic)HsQs(Ic) [4]
30 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  311/ 46.7
HTK 17   S0x2  Aix1  Tfx1  
Notes:  The SCN's military ASDW deployment platform.  It can carry 48 patterns of ASDW, the pair of boomers it operates with will carry a further 120 patterns.  Depending on the danger level the boomer can transfer ASDW patterns to the Caltrop during laying or else the Caltrop can move back and forth.

MINERVA class FT4       3 XO Racks    30 Hull    TL 6
[3] (IcIcIc)HTHPbH(ML)(MR)(Ic)(Ic)(Ic)HQs(BbS)(Ic) [4]
30 RCP  45 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  236/ 17.7
HTK 17   Tx1  
Notes:  Soon to be a common sight in any system with fortifications.  The Minerva is a general purpose tender vessel.  It can carry 12 ASDW patterns, plus 60 buoys and deploy both systems simultaneously.  It mounts sufficient tug engine rooms to allow it to tow a Tripwire or Sling class base at full speed.

PIONEER class FT8        9 XO Racks    100 Hull    TL 6
[4] S0S0AiZHx3(SY)(III)(III)(III)HsQs(BbM)(III) [4]
100 RCP  55 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  1037/ 47.8
HTK 32   S0x2  Aix1  
Notes:  The Pioneer is the first vessel that can mount a full capability yard in a mobile platform.  It's strategic speed is low but the designers felt that giving it commercial engines seemed pointless as the military grade engines can be stressed to provide higher overall tactical plus strategic movement at same speed as an equivelent mass of comerical engines.  The ship mounts a datalink to allow it to be tied into frontier base datanets.  The SCN has contracted with the Benthian Lords to build 3 of these ships for them.  The ship carries one XO rack less than it could since the racks are normally filled with 3 EDMs and BuShips felt the extra XO rack would fulfill no real function.  The Pioneer was the class name of the first mobile shipyards the SCN possessed.


                                                    SURVEY COMMAND

SURVEY SUPPORT VESSEL TYPE 2 class CL        9 XO Racks    45 Hull    TL 6
[3] S0x4Aix4(ML)(MR)x5(IcIc)H(BbM)Tf(Ic)(MCS)(IcIc)XrLhQ(Ic) [4]
45 RCP  5 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  589.5/ 88.4
HTK 27   S0x4  Aix4  Tfx1
Notes:  The second survey support vessel class adds the capacity to transport, lay and control up to 60 ASDW patterns to the survey groups defensive capabilities.   The ships is equiped with full military grade sensors to enable it to transmit via laser comm targeting data to the SSV 1's buoy control system.    

                                                    FORTRESS COMMAND

TRIPWIRE MOD 2 class BS1       5 XO Racks    25 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x6Aix5Hs(MCS)(DCS)DXrDQs(BbS) [-]
25 RCP       Trg:1        Cost =  472/ 23.6
HTK 19   S0x6  Aix5  Dx2
Notes:  A basic upgrade to the Tripwire class that adds in a control system for ASDW patterns.  The space had to come out of that allocated to passive defenses so the base is more fragile than the Mod 1 varient but it was clearly more economic to shoehorn the control system into the Tripwire than to develop and deploy an additional base class.

[Paul M]

The Confederation's Parliament passed a resolution dealing with the Bronze Age race found in Rubicon's companion system.  The star system is interdicted and travel to it of the planet with the race without express permission of the Parliament is prohibited.  This removes the temptation to meddle in the development of a race, something that had disastrous results when it was tried with the Barsomians.

The SCN's technical and engineering branches are getting significant praise as the refit wave is nearly complete, and a great many of the smaller support bases report that they are ready to begin new construction.  The dispersed support bases and their machine shops significantly sped up the process.  As it stands currently only the 6 Lancea Mod 3's of TF10 and a large number of Sling Mod 1's of the Shanir Warp Point defences are un-refit or not undergoing refit.  Looking at the remaining builds the Naval Procurement board has decided that Support bases with available construction capacity can prefabricate Sling Mod 3 bases and then ship them to a few central locations.  Onager Mod 4 bases are expensive and 6 more are required to complete the partial arrays so far constructed in Pisea, Virconium and Byzantium so the construction starts on them need to be spread out.  The refit of the Bastion class base is nearing completion and the new prototype Battleship hull has passed the two-thirds point.  The current plan is to start a second prototype Battleship when the first is completed and starts its refit.  This will give two functional Battleships a few months earlier then waiting for the first to complete its refit.

The SCN's newest frontier forces have arrived on station.  TG21.1 in Nova Vox begins routine patrols of a region of space that until now has had no naval presence.  A single Gladius Mod 4 is dispatched to rendezvous with the task group.  TG30.1 is also to receive a new light cruiser to strengthen the fleet presence there.  Two Drusus recon corvettes are completed in the yards this month and together with 3 Lancea destroyers will form TG31.1 and will patrol the warp chain behind SF1.

Construction is still focused in Shanir on clearing out the last heavy ships for refit but the Fleet Train is getting some welcome reinforcements.  Boomer, Caltrop, Corvus, Rego Auram, and Castorum support vessels are all to be built in 3 yards dedicated to filling out the support vessel ranks of the SCN.  One yard is building serial freighters which are leased to civilian firms.  A sequential start of battle cruisers (all to be built to mothballs) and heavy and light cruisers will begin as yard capacity is freed up.  Expansion of the Secondary Yard is as always continuously ongoing, with an expected 3 more interim refits necessary to get all the yards in place and then a finalization refit which will produce the Upgrade 1 version of the Secondary Yard.  The first of the more advanced support bases is nearing 50% prefabrication and Dust Bin Fleet base has started assembly in orbit with an expected completion time of 2 months.

The Survey Forces are under orders to limit their rate of advancing the frontier as the Parliament did not want to risk a war while the SCN was dealing with the chaos of a major refit.  Based on the current situation the moratorium on probes will be lifted in a few months but the survey forces are busy filling in the charts with systems that were bypassed in the original survey plan.  So far a large number of warp points has been found so all three survey forces will soon be busy.  The first of the Survey Support Vessel 2 class of ships is nearing completion and 2 more are authorized for construction.  It is likely the survey forces will be pulled back to the nearest support base to restock their holds with the latest buoys.  At least some IDEW-L types are going to be added to the mix carried by the SSV1's.  They do less damage then the DSB-L but can fire more than once, which may be critical if a survey force has to defend itself.

The tug of war between BuCol and the Naval Procurement Board continues unabated and is likely to return to its more normal level of political infighting.  The trouble for BuCol is that transit times to the new colony sites are now up to 3 months.  This makes large scale population transfers expensive and time consuming.  BuCol is currently focusing on finishing off a number of secondary sites before turning its attentions to the new colonies sites available at the border.  The Confederation government is currently spending over a billion credits per month on incentives for new industries, due to environmental laws this is largely confined to worlds not so ideal for Shanirian settlement.  At the moment 5 habitable worlds in 3 systems (Attica, Nova Vox, and Paxis) and the Herecles and Move Along Systems are on the primary colonization list.  Attica has 3 worlds to colonize so the effort is somewhat diluted there but the return is considerable.

To further enhance security DSB-Xr buoys have been moved to systems to be emplaced near warp points (at 7.5 LS) where they can track ships entering and exiting the warp point of the system.  Plus plans are being laid to build a chain of Communication stations linking Tarentum, Aggripina and Treveri.  Inside of 9 months a certain amount of the frontier nature of the frontier is likely to vanish as Fleet Support Bases and SCN naval patrol groups are established.

Basic research is continuing but no one anticipates a breakthrough any time soon.

The news from our partners the Drakes has been encouraging as well.  They stunned their trade partners a few months back when they dipped deep into their reserves and in two months duplicated their existing space station construction yard.  The economists were shocked as the cost of that one project was more than the monthly revenue flow of the Confederation.  But the High Council felt the increase in yard capacity was worth it.  The estimates that it would be nearly two years till the Drake effort to secure their home system had to be revised radically downward as they then used their new yards to build 15 bases and cut the time to a mere 11 months, with the bulk complete in 6.  They plan to have 9 bases at each secondary warp point and 18 at the main trade warp point plus a total of 3 tugs to move them around at need.  They have also started building 2 prefabricated bases every two months for deployment away from the homesystem.  They are adding a further 2 Joint Expeditionary Forces to their navy plus construction of their new cruiser and destroyer classes is proceeding.  They also intend to add a further 3 machine shop ships to their current total of 6.  Their exploration efforts have slowed as they wait for their military builds to complete so they can strengthen their frontier regions.  Their economy has been growing substantially but due to their environmental needs they have found few habitable worlds, though the chain beyond Londonium has so far yielded 3 such worlds.

Our newest partners the Benthian Lords are still suffering economically but the Alien Affairs office has been involved in extensive talks with the Council of Lords and so far they have not run into any problems.  The Confederation has honored our contract with regards to ship building and has just funded the second Fosh B class battleship.  They sent all their active Battlecruisers and a total of 2 heavy and 2 light cruisers into the yards.  This will give them a group of ships to use to trade around currently active ship groups to enable a staggered refit while giving them protection.  They have a large number of exploitable systems and once the burden of a massive maintenance bill can be removed they should be able to recover ground economically.  At the moment their maintenance budget is 67% of their income and they are just scraping by.  They are the most technologically advanced of the three races in the partnership but are the worst off economically.

Here is a map of known space:



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[Starslayer_D (OP)]

Moth 141 of stellar expansion.

The Theban empire unveiled the first in a new ship class, the Osiris Battleship. This immense hull takes an unprecedented time to construct, and a very expensive investment. Thus finding a role for the ship wich does not expose them to unecessary risks has been a challenge and BuShip so far decided to make them well rounded combatants able to fight at every range.

Refit of the Osiris begann immediatedly after completion to modernise equipment wich became obsolete over the long prototype construction time.

BB OSIRIS II class BB   AM  20 XO Racks  100 Hull  TL 6
[3]S0x13Aix13ZH(BbS)RcRcQ(III)?1RcRc(III)RcRcXr(III)M5DcWax3Dc(III)DcLhQWax3!1DcMgMg(III)[5]
100 RCP     Trg:6  Bmp +2  Tem -1      Cost =  2211/ 331.7
HTK 69 S0x13  Aix13  Dcx4  Rcx6  Wax6  Mgx2
140x SM, 120x CM, 4x EDM (Mg)

Another, similar sized class specialised for warp point assaults has been considered but rejected so far due to the long build times and expenses. especially given that just recently the Urt-Hekau and Dua class heavy cruisers ahve been develloped and constructed for such a purpose.

[Paul M]

Cardinal Garibaldio, head of the Sanctified Searchers for Unrevealed Truth, stared at the cringing project manager Sergio Laurenti.  "You parasite infested egg stealer!  By the Great Egg that brought forth the Prophet explain to me why though we have the fast strike craft." he pauses looking down at his monitor and then up, "We have the weapons for the fast strike craft." another pause, "We have our training vessels to train pilots for the fast strike craft in theory..." He suddenly thrust his head forward his fist smashing down on the table.  "IN THEORY BECAUSE WE LACK THE LAUNCH FACILITIES!"   He stared at the now shaking project manager.  "Why is that?"  The temperature in the climate controlled office seemed to descend at those last three hissed words.

"Your..your...emin..." Laurenti was swallowing convulsively his hands shaking.

"You will be silent!  I did not bring you here to listen to your excuses."   Laurenti's jaw snapped shut and he shrunk into himself.

"You have 2 months to deliever to the navy a working launch system for the fast strikers.  If they are not delivered by that time.  You will be executed as a traitor to the faith, your family will be sent to reeducation.  The next most senior people will be demoted and sent with their families to mine radioactives in an asteroid belt. The others will be sent to Bari to work on the restoration of the aliens industrial facilities."

Laurenti turned an even paler shade of green then he had been before, his mouth opened and then closed as he recalled the order to be silent.

"You are still here?"  Laurenti drew himself upwards baring his throat in salute before sweeping a shuddering bow to the seated cleric then turned and staggered for the door.

"Oh yes, one more thing.  There are a pair of Temple Police Officers outside, they will take you on a tour of the reeducation facilities and of course the Ministry of Devotion and Penance's working chambers."  The Cardinal took intense satisfaction as the project manager nearly stumbled at the door.   As it slid shut he could see the two hulking members of the Militant Arm of the Church seize the bureaucrat by his arms.  

"Send in my next appointment."

[Starslayer_D (OP)]

Lord Privy First Oracle Merha-Aptut looked up from the briefing papers layed out before him and gazed at the priests of Toth assembled around the table.
"Remind me... we just finished developing the osiris type hulls two months ago and layed down two aditional hulls for this new, revolutionary class. At a cost of allmost six billion credits for the prototype and another 4 billion for the other two ships? And now you want me to sign off on a new prototype hull wich will render it obsolete? For 9.3 billion credits?"

*The next budgetary council sure will be lively.* he thought by himself, wondering about progress, wich had him have very similar meetings in the past, when the battlecruisers, the heavy cruisers and the light cruisers were brought into service.




(The long prototype build times sure make it an allmost given that the prototype finishes about when the next TL is due as well. BTW, Sergio laurenti seems to have aquired a very focused team. Unless they roll negative, they can't miss the deadline.. Still, developping everything in record time (F0 in 3 turns) and then.. hangar bays.. launch catapults.. "Look into trebuchets, assistant!")

[Paul M]

The darkness of interstellar space is broken as a drive field flares; a Bolanzo class survey cruiser exits a fold in space time.  Moments later another ship appears behind it, then a third.  All three ships are performing a tight turn their crews and sensitive electronic systems dealing the sudden shock of being hurled unimaginable distances in an infinitesimally small amount of time.  They vanished one after another then five minutes later returned but their number was doubled and they spread out in a search pattern, long baseline arrays deploying from their hulls as they moved away from the warp point.

The bridge was quiet, the central holoprojector showing the on-line data analysis of the local gravitational field.  Dino Russo, the ships commanding officer was sorting out the last week's consumption report at his worktable.  
"SIR!  Contact, unknown drive field.  Bearing 320° absolute, range 72 light minutes."  The sensor watch stander sang out.  
"Put it on the tank."  Russo said, hitting save before moving to where the main view was now displaying a blinking blue threat marker.  
"Velocity consistent with an armed auxiliary or a ship with commercial engines." the weaponeer added.
"Message sir.  Confirms our contact." After listening to the messages from the other survey ships, "No other contacts seen by any other ship."  the signals officer reports.
Russo is studying the track and he shakes his head, "Project course..." the line intersects the warp point too precisely for it to be random chance.
"Picket force?" the weaponeer volunteers.
"No reaction?" Russo queries his sensor operator still looking at the plot.  If they could see the contact it could see them, drive fields were wonderful things but they were anything but subtle.
"Nothing, course and speed remain constant."  Of course so had theirs.
"Communications, order the ships to tighten formation to support range.  Survey operations are to stop."  "Retract the arrays." "Helm, course change 90° maximum combat velocity in 10 seconds."  Russo slipped his primary commlink over his head and settled it comfortably.  The survey cruiser swung away from the contacts and its speed doubled.
"No response, course and speed unchanged."  the sensor operator confirmed verbally what the plot showed 90 seconds later.

Russo had to restrain his urge to salivate, the prey was blind, and the likely small warships would hardly even be considered a challenge unless they were significant in number but he had a greater mission objective.
"Communications, launch a drone with our data and the message I just uploaded."
"Drone launched.  Confirm drone telemetry.  Confirm booster separation.  Confirm Drive Ignition.  Confirm drone is maneuvering."  The drone sprinted for the warp point.
"Communications order the squadron to return to Ascali.  Helm take us to the warp point at cruise and hold position 1.5 light seconds from the warp point with our drive field at minimum."

Russo clenched his fists to keep from tapping his impatience as the oncoming infidel ships neared the 15 light second mark.  There were 5 unknown contacts, drive field strength and speed consistant with armed auxiliaries.  They had different drive field patterns then the infidels that had been cleansed from Bari and Ascali but in a few seconds he would know if they had long range sensors.

"Range 14 light seconds, velocity unchanged."  the sensor operators voice was triumphant.
He waited till they were 11 light seconds out and ordered his ship drive field brought up and when the enemy did not react ordered a return through the warp point, the enemy apparently unaware of his survey forces existence.

=== Bari Fleet Flagship, Bishop Orso's Quarters ===

The gold robes of an ordained member of the Faiths ministry of Devotion and Penance with their rich embroidery were lit by the flickering light of faux torches mounted on the walls.  The same light bounced off the glittering steel edges of the double bearded axes held by the two white clad members of the Church Militant who framed him.  He turned to face the 4 naval officers.  "It seems we can not avoid this trial of faith, the teachings of the Prophet are clear on how a house divided against itself or in the face of adversity will fall.  So we must..." Orso's face twisted, "...negotiate with these unbelievers rather than smash their pathetic force."
  
All four naval officers relaxed, they would not be responsible for starting a second war with an alien race of, as yet, unknown capabilities.  "Very well your grace."  Greco's voice was more suited to shouting orders in the middle of a chaotic fight but anyone with sense kept on the good side of the ministry of Devotion and Penance.  "These are the commanding officers of the two scout corvettes we will use to make contact with the aliens."
  
The Bishop smiled at the youngest of the four officers and picked up a security reader and signed the page there.  "I have reviewed your files Captain Mancini, and yours as well Captain Romano.  I see nothing amiss but there is something that you must adhere to."  He pressed a button and the door opened to allow the entry of a Priest in a gold and white stripped tunic.  "This is Father Demetrio, he will be in-charge of all negotiations and communications with the Aliens.  Is that understood captains?"  He eyed the two naval officers as they assured him that it was.

"Excellent.  In the likely event that the Aliens inquire about the infidels that we purged from the universe...the Will of the Holy One is that we tell them that the aliens have been removed to deeper into our space as a gesture of good will to make up for the grievous error that occurred when we attempted to capture their planet."

"Grievous error?"  Greco's asked staring at the Bishop in surprise.

"Yes, we had planned to use a low level demonstration bombardment to force them to surrender.  Unfortunately due to a computer error instead of a single missile every 30 seconds for 5 min, our ships launched their entire broadsides.  Our stunned crews were unable to stop the program before catastrophic casualties had been inflicted.  So we have moved them...at great expense to ourselves...to a suitable colony world on the other side of our space so they would be removed from the horror we had inflicted.  It is our great sorrow this trajedy occurred, and it will, of course, not be repeated."

"You think they will believe this?"  Greco exchanged a look with his flag captain then stared shocked at the Bishop.

"Unlikely they will believe it completely, but on the other hand, there isn't anyone to disput it now is there?"  The Bishop looked radiant at the thought of so many unbelievers destroyed by neutron radiation.  "We can assure them we have no plans to bombard planets as the Holy One has been swayed by the Ministry of the Revelation that the unbelievers are to be occupied and their spawn removed to be raised in the faith, thus adding to our strength."  The bishops tone left little to doubt that he much preferred the idea of neutron warheads employed in saturation bombardment but that these small sacrifices had to be made from time to time and he was sophisticated enough to withstand even such a trial.  "The point is to confuse the issue sufficiently to buy us time to determine if the last warp point leads to a further infestation of those Egg smashing degenerates or not."

"And if it does?"  Greco asked, "We will occupy them?"  All four naval officers recalled the suicidal runs of the enemies unarmed ships in the last battle before the colony in Ascali was cleansed, and none would wish to be awarded the task of garrisoning one of their worlds.

Bishop Orso looked affronted.  "They will be cleansed.  The Holy One spoke of the next race...they are to be converted."

"Ahh...thank you for clarifying that your Grace."  Greco looked at his officers and back to the Bishop, "Let us then have the captains discuss the details with Father Demetrio in briefing room 3.  We should discuss the next step in the campaign."  The two corvette captains, braced themselves to attention baring their throats then bowed deeply to the Bishop before exiting the room followed by the Priest.

"Now that we have been reinforced...."  Greco begins after the three juniors had left.

  

[Starslayer_D (OP)]

Lord Privy First Oracle Merha-Aptut once again felt like asking the gods why they had settled him with such design teams. After a long discussion, the Anouke prototype has been laid down. Now this.. he skanned over the buzzwords wich generously sprinkled the design proposal... inexpensive.. quick to build. .. fearsome.. high yard throughroughput .. newest weapons.. able to cover the vast frontiers.. best way to cover all the known contact points..
He reached for his communicator. "Round me up the yahoos in the design team for the Gnat. They are hereby promoted to active service in the fleet. Khomnuptet, the design team head, is hereby promoted to lay magician and put in command of their contraption. They want that thing so badly, they get to fly it too.".

"Hopefully this will make the next team a bit more concerned about the warriors who'll actually have to fly such flimsies." He mused and turned his attention to the neverending flow of updates concerning his office.

SD ANOUKE class SD     AM    26 XO Racks    130 Hull    TL 6
[4]S0x18Aix18ZH(BbL)(IIII)?1Q(IIII)Dc(IIII)Rcx4DcRcx4DcXrQ(IIII)LxLxM4DcLxLx(Dec)!1LhQDcMgMg(IIII)[5]
130 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:5  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  2719/ 407.9
HTK 87   S0x18  Aix18  Dcx5  Lxx4  Rcx8  Mgx2  

EX GNAT class EX     AM        7 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0AiAiHs(I)Qs(I)Pg [8]
7 RCP  18 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  102/ 15.3
HTK 8   S0x1  Aix2  Pgx1  

[Paul M]

Shanir, Admiralty House Briefing Room 1, 0900

Decturion Jodi LaForge glanced down at the screen on the podium and then let out a near silent breath her shields damping down her nervousness.  Her wrench in a star cuff flash caught the light in the auditorium glinting against her deep blue full dress uniform as she tapped the screen and the first slide appeared on the screen behind her.  "Welcome to this briefing: Admiral Alexander."  She nodded to the SCN's senior officer who sat in the centre of the first row her aides on either side of her.  "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Naval Procurement Board, and Naval Oversight Committee plus our guests from the Colonization Bureau."  She nodded to them as she gave time for the emotional surge caused by so much focused attention to bleed through the room.  "Colleges."  she pauses, "BuShips and the Naval Engineering Branch of the Ess-Cee-Enn are pleased to be given the privilege of announcing the formal change of status of Task Group 20 point 1 to Task Force 20, Second Fleet.  The confirmation of the ceremony has been received at Admiralty House 4 hours ago."  Fierce satisfaction radiated from nearly every officer present in the room.

She taps the screen and the wall behind her changes to a system map, several systems highlighted.  "Our plans to establish a network of fleet support bases is nearing completion.  Tarentum, Byzantium, Virconium, Treveri, and Nova Vox have support bases in operation or in assembly, the last base for Aggrippina is nearly half complete in terms of prefabrication."  She pauses and looks at the civilians, "Our plans to upgrade Shanir's shipyards are also nearing completion of the stage I objectives listed in Report BS-07-143.  The secondary yard is now 2 months away from adding in its last shipyard.  After that remains the task of updating it and the Prime Yard with enhanced defensive and offensive systems.  Yard Tercius will enter construction when the Secondary yard finishes adding in the last yard."  Her voice is calm but she has to shield harder as the sudden spike of concern from the mid level functionaries of both civilian groups hits the room.  "We have just completed the prototype of the Battleship hull, and this month we started a second prototype vessel.  This was done to give us a second operational ship slightly sooner then would be possible if we refit and then started series construction."  Another tap of the screen and it splits showing a CAD model of the new ship type, "This is the Legionair class..." Specifications scrolled down the screen while in the other a time line shows up.  "We will be installing the particle beam bays and modifying some internal layouts.  It will enter service in seven months, eight months after that the second ship of the class will finish refit and in a further 10 months, or seventeen months from now a third vessel will end construction and enter the reserve."  She taps the screen and more arrows appeared under the time scale.  "The month Secondary Yard's last slip goes on line, we will start construction of Tercius Yard, the month after that Husplot Fleet Support base will be finished Prefabrication."  The worry from the civilians in BuCol was leaking badly, though their senior members shielded their feelings.  "This will unfortunately cause spikes in the Naval Requisition as the Fleet Support Bases cost over five billion credits and we will be starting two in rapid succession."

She taps the screen and a series of Slip Numbers appear each followed by names and dates.  "We in the Navy are also pleased to announce that the refit has entered its last stage.  Outside of the ships of the reserve, all Naval vessels have been refit to the latest approved standards or are undergoing refit."  There is applause from the Naval officers present.  "The refit went relatively smoothly and BuShips and the Engineering Branch are hopefully that in the future major refits will go even quicker."  She gestures at the wall behind her.  "BuShips construction plans are shown there."  A tap outlines two yards.  "We have two slips in full production of freighters that are then leased to civilian concerns...the subsidized merchant program.  Our current cost projections indicates that over the 3 months between a new start and the other slip completing its Type 3 freighter the income from the leases more than pays for the construction cost."  A wave of near silent tapping from the accountants as they confirm her figures.  "We haven't reached our goal of increasing our lift by 10% over what is available from civilian firms but we are approaching that, and so long as we can maintain the two slips in full production we forsee no difficulties with this project."

Another tap on her screen and a further box appears around 3 slips.  "These three slips are allocated to the Fleet Train upgrade."  Her voice acquires a significantly sharper edge, as this was the Naval Engineering branches main presence in the fleet.  "Currently one slip is finishing the second Corvus class assault transport to be built into mothballs, it will then produce a Signifer followed by a Survey Support Vessel Type 1, all ships built into mothballs."  Built into mothballs was the best way the SCN had found around budgetary concerns.  "The remaining two yards are building Boomer class ASDW transport vessels and when they are finished will build a further two colliers."  She pauses and the planing expands.  "The current plan for after that is to build to mothballs a complete ASDW deployment group:  Rego Auram, Caltrop and two Boomers.  Then three more colliers and a tug."  Given the costs of most auxiliaries getting budgetary approval for this had not been difficult, getting approval by the SCN admiralty for 3 yards devoted to the Fleet train had been a tougher proposition.

She tapped the screen and larger group of slips is surrounded by a box.  "The main warship production lines are now fully active.  A single vessel of each of the Hasta, Arbelist, Hastastii, Spatha, and Gladius classes and three of the Lancea class are under production."  She pauses and surveys the audience.  "We had hoped to be able to slow down Lancea production but all projections..." She taps the screen and the view changes to TOE charts of each fleet.  "First Fleet needs Task Groups 12.2 and 12.3, that is 6 Lancea.  Second Fleet also needs two more task Groups so that is another 6 Lancea.  And third fleet needs a great many of them."  She smiles briefly, third fleet was mostly an administrative shell and was in total an understrength Task Force, both 1st and 2nd Fleets while not at full strength were considerably closer to authorised.  "Unfortunately, due to the revised Fleet structure we will need to build Gladius class ships serially for the foreseeable future.  The Spatha class needs a further 5 more active ships and 4 more build to mothballs."  There was considerable stirring by the civilian members of the audience and emotions churned behind tightly held barriers.  "We are building the 5th of 12 authorised Hastastii class vessels.  All vessels of this class are built directly to mothballs."  "The Arbelist class is on three of the twelve authorised, also direct to mothballs."  Her finger moves up the list highlighting the last class.  "The Hasta class has 3 active ships and we are building the fourth and all future ships into mothballs."  Her finger traces a circle around the lot.  "That is a total of 8 slips, with two more used occasionally for Drusus class recon ships."

"Battleship construction is planned for 3 slips serially."  She shrugs, "This will use up a good fraction of our soon to be available 28 slips, which will make Yard Tercius welcome even though it is likely to 10 months before we see a yard available from it for other construction."  "The yards in the support bases are tied up in fortification efforts but believe that Byzantium's yards can assist in Gladius production as they have a sizable fraction of their required fortifications complete.  The same is true of Virconium's yards."  She taps a screen and a new production list appears.  "Our agreement with the Benthians is producing results.  Next month the second Forward Repair Ship and the first Pioneer class mobile yardship will be finished.  We then have to pay them for the next two ships, but this is producing 6 support vessels that are not tieing up our yards."

"Unfortunately," she spreads her hands, "Our discussions with their Admiralte over a joint assault battleship design is not going anywhere as they want to use their plasma gun and the SCN still feels the heavy sprint missile is a viable weapon system.  Based on this it is likely that the two classes will go into production.  We did secure an option for them to build us ships, as they have more yard capacity then they can realistically use."  The Benthian's total economy was less than half the Confederations and they had 5 more yards then Shanir did.  "The Drakes,"  calling their other partners 'drakes' was a lot more acceptable then calling the newest partners 'squids' or 'tentacle heads', "Are about to start their own battleships prototype and they are still in full scale production of cruisers and bases."  Jodi wondered what their refit plans would cost as they would need a major update to all their bases soon.  "A further briefing later this week will cover the status of the Partners Navy."

She touches the screen advancing the slide.  "We have been in discussion with Survey Command.  As it becomes possible to do so we will produce a 4th survey force into mothballs plus use our supply of surplus stock to build 6 additional Searcher class survey ships also into mothballs."  Jodi didn't think they would stay in there long as the Confederation's Survey Command ships were too few and the number of open, unexplored warp points growing...Tarentum itself could suck down a full two groups with two systems that connected to it even now unexplored.  There is considerable whispering for the civilian members of the audience as survey forces are not inexpensive.  "Over all our budget request numbers are as follows..."  Jodi triggers the second last slide with the SCN's estimates of the costs of the next three months production.

 

[Paul M]

Nuts and Bolts Bar, Prime Yards Rec Area,  Shanir Orbit  (21:35-day 10, month 152 SDW)

Jodi Laforge grins as she dumps a beer over Centurion Scott Montgomery's head.  "Let me be the first to salute our first Centurion!"  Engineering Branch was having a party to celebrate Scott Montgomery recent promotion.  
Scott sputtered as he laughed while the beer soaked into his undress blues.  "Damn it...I hear you are up to command one of the support groups...just you wait!"  He wiped the beer away from his face and thanked a junior who handed him some napkins to make clean off his face.  Getting "christened" was an Engineering branch tradition.  
"I look forward to it.  Still it is quite the coupe given how long it has been since anyone not in command of a ship has been promoted.  I hear even Fortress command has something to celebrate."  The emotional overtones of pride and happiness sang around the group in the bar as they all considered what this meant for their branch, and themselves personally.  
"Well it is hard to argue that the fleet train is now 16 ships strong and that is larger than even a survey force that has had a Centurion in charge for ages."  Scott grinned.  "But the Navy moves slowly...though Ivanova deserves it, she will take over command of the warp point fortresses here...nearly 30 bases, and if rumors are true they plan on thickening them even more...that new Balista base and possibly more O-P* data groups."

"I still can't get over the fact that last months requisition slid through the Naval Procurement Board with less than a major war."  Jodi shakes her head, her french braided brown hair catching the light and the groups empathic bond filling with her honest surprise.  
"You warned them something like that was coming."  Scott reminded her.  
"Hah...who expected they listened...political types never pay attention."  She raises a fresh beer and drinks.  "Just amazing what is going on in the stations currently."  
Scott nodded and gestured out the window which showed a view of the station sprawling structure the reflected light of the sun from Shanir competing with the flash of plasma cutters, and arc welders at work on components for a new space station taking shape further down orbit.  "When you think that not very long ago this would have been impossible...I still can't believe they are building two support bases at the same time plus able to build the ships we have in the other slips."  He had joined the navy when it would have been more than the yards capacity to construct the two stations.  "I understand the first pioneer is now in competition with 3 of our Mobile Workshop ships."  The others laughed as it was no competition really, the smaller mobile yard in the Workshop class was easily outperformed by the full yard available to the Pioneer.  He looked at Jodi, "We still have the 3 yards allocated to us?"  
She nods, "Yes.  They are fully scheduled from now till whenever.  The board likes that the ships are less expensive.  They even approved the Packmule update." She pauses, drinks and then shakes her head.  "Can you believe the damn things didn't even have courier drones?  They are ancient...but the refit is good upgrade.  Gives them a little bit of everything, we'll likely get a few more added to the fleet after the advantages catch the boards attention."  
"You are joking aren't you?"  Jim, one of the optio trainees asked shock running through the groups meld.  
"Oh no...those are some of the oldest ships we have in service...the Messenger class also lacks drones, they should be refit sometime." Jodi replied.  
The group laughed at that and the topic of conversation moved on...

*Onager-Pilum data groups consist of an Onager Command Base and two Pilum missile bases.

BALISTA class BS3       17 XO Racks    85 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x24Aix16ZH(BbS)QTQ(BbM)RcDRcDRcD!1M3!1RcMgRcMgRcMgXrDPbD(BbM)CLhQD [-]
85 RCP  65 MCP       Trg:4  Tem -1        Cost =  1310/ 65.5
HTK 71   S0x24  Aix16  Dx6  Rcx6  Tx1  Mgx3  
156x CM, 18x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  The SCNs Fortress Commands heavy missile base.  Designed with extra support to aid in search and rescue operations.

PACKMULE MOD 1 class FT4       3 XO Racks    30 Hull    TL 5
[3] SA(BbM)HTfHHTfHH(Ic)(Ic)Q(BbL)Q(Ic)MgMgLhQD(Ic) [4]
30 RCP  420 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  251/ 18.8
HTK 22   Sx1  Ax1  Dx1  Tfx2  Mgx2  
25x GM, 200x SM, 45x CM, 16x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  This is an upgrade of the packmule class.  It is intended to allow the ship to function as a jack-of-all-trades support vessel.  It is capable of carrying troops, buoys, maintenance supplies, and its magazines can reload most light task groups.  In troop carrier configuration it can carry 6 PCF-a and has 5 assault shuttles to air drop them.  The mod 1 varient has courier drone silos that the original ships did not have.  An increase in payload capacity could have been achieved at the cost of using more advanced armour on the ship but the decision was made to keep the original reinforcement intact.

[Paul M]

Rhoam, Milano System

Signore Montefiore walked though the sand garden of Monestary of the Revelation followed by his advisors.  The tread of his sandled feet was obscured by the sound of the chant of the Word coming from the Priory garden, each sentence marked by the sound of the two hollow wood staves being struck together.  "We have a problem...the cost of our warfleet has risen to crippling levels."  One of the others opened his mouth and Montefiore cut him off with a glare and pointed finger.  "Faith will not provide us with new ships, Arvin."  From anyone else such a bald statement would be a death sentence but a decendent of the Prophet was granted much licence. 

"Faith, however, has provided for us."  He pauses to admire the placement of several rocks and a branch then gestures with his hands causing a 3 dimensional map of the space claiimed by the People to appear in the air.  He tapped the Bari system and rotated his hand to make it expand.  "The Cartel want nothing more than to sell things...and they apparently don't care that their new customers occupy the planets their old customers once had."  He shrugs, "There was no need for falsehood when it turns out they simply don't care beyond the fact we are better customers." 

He circled the two systems Ascali and Bari with one finger.  "Let us be blunt, it costs 150 million credits for each billion credits in ships we have active."  He looked at the group around him, his aged skin duller and his scales more pronounced then most of the others.  "To match that cost requires nearly 2 billion in economic investment." 
He stares hard at the representives of the great houses.  "Faith has provided us with new planets to settle." 
He makes another gesture at the hanging map isolating a warp point.  "Faith has provided us with the Theban's, who it seems have an economy that surpases ours...and who wish to trade."  He frowns, "They are hideous beyond belief with their naked skin but at this moment and time we need them." 
His stare meets each of the people surrounding him slowly moving from one to the other.  "With the trade with the Cartel and the Thebans will we be able to develop our economy more, moving people to establish new holdings," he stares markedly at each great house reprensentive in turn, "And most importantly to allow us to resume our production of warships that we have been unable to do since we have no money for it." 

He pauses, a fist clenching, "That is 6 billion or more credits each month that will be invested in our economy to fund new colonies, and more industry." 
His finger stabed at a system.  "As faith has provided again for us.  The Egg stealers here thought they could take that system from us.  They are wrong.  We will take it back.  We will capture their mines, their factories and their people and we will make them ours.  And what we get from them will further strengthen our economy." 
He pauses, gesturing up a budget listing.  "Based on our re-use of the aliens infrastructure and factories in Bari and Ascalli we make now over 1 and half billion new credits...but that pales compared to what the aliens were making, and even half of that is more than we make off those systems now." 
He nods.  "The interlopers will pay, and we shall take their hearts and make them ours.  The mininstry of the Revealed Truth has made plans to convert their children, and of course some will "convert" for the advantage but that matters not, in the end we shall win." 
"And the "Thing of Odin"?" Querried Cardinal Xavier head of the ministry of Devotion and Penance. 
"We are studying them, there are points of convergence between our teachings...but so far the Bishops tasked with determining their status have failed to reach a consensus." 
"There would be an advantage to negotiating a trade agreement with them."  Renish, represnetative of the Great House Bael said, "They know of Bari anyway, but we would learn of what is beyond that rock and ice system."  He shrugs, the houses were less interested in matters of faith then they were in advancement in the game and that required support, which inevitably came with a credit cost.
Montifore nods slowly.  "First we will crush the interlopers, whatever they call themselves...then we will be able to clearly view the Thing in the proper light."  He gestures at the glowing map hanging in mid-air.  "Faith has provided us oportunity and tests.  Tests we cannot fail.  But we also cannot remain in this crippled state, and our only way out it via our own development and that takes money..."
 

[Starslayer_D (OP)]

Turn 150, defensive situation report

First Oracle Meruh-Atep once again looked up from his endless paperwork. “Ohh.. is it time allready? Please come in, Konsuh-Khaibet. It has been fifteen years since we first gained the stars. As you concured, it is time to review the disposition of the theban contacts with alien races and what measures have been taken to defend against possible hostilities.”

“First Oracle, my subordinates have compiled the following overview.” Konsuh-Kaibet said as he handed over a tablet with several datasheets.
“We need to establish a dedicated service for maintaining relashionships with other races. I maybe understood half of what the negotiators reported from the recent missions. I am more suited for designing a defensive network than talking with those beings.”.

First, we have a list of the currently known aliens, and how the points of contact relate to systems within the empire.”

Shanirain Confederation
Initial contact at the Minkhat system. The once slated for sector capital system of  Hamadi is the trade system and closest defensive line.
Padiament is a system we have a closed warp point in to a shanirian system. Next door is the Judah nexus in the Setau sector. No danger here.

Uroloki of Uduun
Contact point is the Menhkpere system, leading through several rock ball systems via Neusera to the Mekhu nexus, and on to the trade system of Setau.
A second contact opened while exploring SN 825 through one of the two WP leading into it. This SN belongs to the Uruloki. The WP we used leads directly to Judah. The other one leads via a small chain to the Neshphakered nexus, but was not revealed.

Caliphate of Catalipha
Contact was broken off, our vessel retreated at higher speed beyond a closed WP from Ptah. The Caliph had no long range sensor capacity at the time of contact.

Federated Suns
Our partners are covered by Amenhotpe. But we have no great security concerns here.

Cannon Cartel
Our first contact with an alien race. Their point of trade is Merymose, making a fortification of the system usefull, though we have a military agreement with them.
A second contact directly into their home system lies off the Amen system, wich leds to the Neshphakered nexus.

Squids (Bentian Lords)
This race proved to be fairly unfriendly on first contact, and our contact team retreated from contact. No enemy fleet was present, and thus our ship could retreat without interference. The system of contact was Irtisen, wich leads to Amenhat, our contact system with the Cannon Cartel, and Edfu, a dead end system wich is having a small defense emplacement due to it’s economic relevance. The last WP leads to the Merskemre Nexus, wich is blocked by Nesperenhat and Anlexander.

Sri Raj
A long time trade partner race of stunningly unagressice carnivores, we have recently included a military component to our relationship. They, like the Uroloki, have been contacted in the Neusera  rockball chain off Mekhu and trade in Setau.

Lemurian Hierarchate
We contacted them through Judah, with a trade point in Setau. They have become our second partner race, and apear to be slightly more advaced than us, having deployed technology we are currently developing. Recently we found another access point into their space off Ishaq, wich leads to the Merskemre Nexus.

Undine Conglomerate.
They contacted us through a Wp to Ptolemy, with a trade point in Setau. So far they continue to refuse a military relationship with us. Interrestingly enough, their ship crews contain a small percentage of Cannon Cartel crewmembers, hinting at close cooperation between the two races.

Buer Homestead
Another contact off Ptolomy, they are a small pocket empire currently engaged in a standoff with another race wich we know, the Regia Marina.

Unknown race (Thing of Odin)
We found aclosed warp point off Nun into their system. We retreated given our history with the other two races wich we found under such circumstances without establishing contact. The Squids and the Caliphat both proved unreceptive to our overtures.

Norse Yeti
They contacted us in the Caleb system. Akil next door became just established as point of trade, and was allready building up defenses as it guards the approach to Thebes from Hamadi. The Caleb picket will rejoin the home fleet once the defenses are in place.

Regia Marina
We are talking with them, but not going anywhere in negotiations. We have found them just off Rashidi, wich is a neighbour of Ptolomy, and leads to Setau. Thus, they are covered by the whole Setau defense complex.
Shortly after them, we found a closed warp point into one of their colony systems off Aksum. This is covered by the defenses building up in Kaka, and then Neferkhau. Our probe exited the system before any ships apeared on the scanner. We left a message idetifying us and pointing at the allready ongoing negotiations in Rashisi.

Andromedan Nautiloids
We are talking with them, but not going anywhere in negotiations.
We contacted them four months ago through Ka-Aper just off Nun. Ka-Aper currently has a small picket fleet while Nun’s defenses are being build up. The picket is 3 Cadace CA and 3 Aten CL.

Northern Lizards
We are talking with them, but not going anywhere in negotiations. They have been discovered off the Jebel Ali Nexus, wich in turn leads to Ishaq just of Merskemre Nexus.

“Defenitely things are getting more interresting, as we now have three races with open warp points into our space and who are, though communicative, are unwilling to enter a stable relationship. We should try to establish the needed defenses outlined bellow. Here we have the established system defenses by system and an estimate of each’s systems importance. Also included is my short term estimate on needed upgrades. Not included is a cost estimate of the 120 patterns of mines and 120 bomb pumped lasers the defenses of each guarded warp point should include.”

Thebes (3 WP)
Home of the Theban empire, and most productive system. The Theban Fleet is the central naval reserve of the empire. The recent WP into Pairy dicovered from Ishaq presents a convenient shortcut into the western arm, but also a security concern.
Theban Yards: 40 SY, 30 are armed. 3 BS3 Setekh, 4 Minelayer, 1 Tug
Theban Fleet: 3 BB Osiris, 4 BC bastet, 15 BS Busiris, 9 Ca Cadance, 9 Ca Dua, 6 CA Urt-hekau, 6 CL Aten, 3 Dd Mut, 6 DD Amon, 3 CT Amenthau
Thebes WP defence 1-3: each 3 BS4 Knuhm, 3 BS3 Setekh, 3 BS2 Nephet, 2 BS2 Enead, 2 BS1 Nut, 1 BS0 Amenti
Need: 6 Setekh, 3 Nut, 3 Nephet for the WPs. Arm the 4rth Ss Toth10

Merymose (2 WP)
Oldest Colony after the hostile world of Pairy, this sytem guards one of the approaches to Thebes and fields a substantial fleet base.
18 SY, 3 BS3 Setekh, 3 BC Bastet, 3 BC Busiris, 5 CL Aten, 1 CL Nekhbet, 4 BS1 Nut, 4 BS0 Amenti, 1 Tug
Needs 3 Setekh, 2 Nut

Monthuemet (2 WP)
Another very established colony, the hopes of it guarding a warpchan were swiftly dashed. Nevertheless, it now serves as a backup naval base just of Paisy, and thus with Merymose and Thebes frames that newly become nexus. Recently, most of the fleet here was dispatched to Setau to firm that system up.
18 SY, , 6 BS3 Setekh, 3 CA Candace, 2 CL Aten, 1 CL Nekhbet, 4 BS1 Nut, 4 BS0 Amenti, 1 Tug.
Needs 2 Nut.

Hamadi (2 WP)
Once considered as sector capital. Thus, a large yard complex. Put due to the warp chain dead-ending, this system now guards against the Shanirian Federation and from the other side, the Norse Yeti at Caleb with it’s fleet
18 SY, 3 BS3 Setekh, 1 BC Busiris, 3 CA Candace, 4 CL Aten, 1 CL Nekhbet, 1 BS1 Nut, 2 BS0 Amenti, 1 Tug
Needed: 2 Busiris, 1 Nekhbet, 1 Minelayer, 3 Nut
To consider: 3 more Setekh

Mekhu (7 WP)
This warp point nexus cannot yet be bypassed when travelling between various parts of our empire. Unfortunately, it contains only rockballs, making the construction of local yards difficult.
Mekhu is surrounded by the systems of Meryawy, Alexander, Setau and Neferkhau, all wich have defensive efforts underway, and Jeroen wich leads to a minor chain not yet fortified, nor considered for it. Ptah is a dead end and will be covered by Mekhu.
1 SY under construction, needs a full complex due to it’s strategic location.
7 Warp points will need at least 21 Nut and 7 Amenti. Other bases to be considered.

Meryawy (3 WP)
Guarding the shortest way from Mekhu to Thebes, this system will be fortified moderately.
5 SY, 1 under construction, 1 Nut, 1 Amenti, 1 Tug.
Needs a minelayer, 1 Nut, 3 BS2

Neferkhau (4 WP)
Sector capital and minor nexus between 3 rich chains and Mekhu, this system fields a growing fleet, numerous yards and heavy defenses.
30 SY, (+3) BS4 Knuhm, 7(+2) BS3 Setekh, , 3 BC Bastet, 6 BC Busiris, 3 CA Candace, 2 CL Aten, 1 CL Nekhbet, 1 BS1 Nut, 4 BS0 Amenti, 1 Tug
Needs 9 Knuhm, 3 Setekh, 12 Nephet , 11 Nut, 1 Minelayer, 8 Aten, 1 Nekhbet and arming the shipyards.

Akil (2 WP)
This system guards the acess to Thebes from the recent contact with the Norse Yeti, and the Shanirian Confederation further on.
4 SY, 3(+3) BS2 Nephet, 1 (+1) BS1 Nut, 1 BS0 Amenti
Needs 4 Nut, 1 Amenti, 1 Tug, 1 Minelayer

Alexander (2 WP)
Guarding the shortest route between the Mekhu Nexus and the Merskemre Nexus.
6 SY, 1 Nut, 1 Amenti, 1 Tug
Needs 6 Nephet, 5 Nut, 1 Amenti, 1 Minelayer

Setau Sector (2 WP in Setau, 8 in Judah, 4 in Ptolemy, 2 in Rashidi)
Setau – Judah – Ptolemy-Rashidi
This region has several contacts, and is a small pocket thus needing a lot of defenses, especially as Setau blocks the acess to Mekhu.

    Setau is the cork in the bottle, guarding the Mekhu approach in case any of the 4 races found here turns hostile.
6 SY, 4 Nut, 2 Amenti, 1 Tug, and the soon to arive fleet.

    Ptolemy is the contact point with the Udines and the Buer Homesteads. 6 SY, 3 BS2 Nephat, 4 BS1 Nut, 2 BS0 Amenti, 1 Tug. Needs 2 Nut.

    Rashidi is next door after Ptolemy, and guards the acess point with the Regia Marina. Negotiations for a trade treaty have been going on for a while now. 5 SY, 2 BS2 Nephat, 2 BS1 Nut, 1 BS0 Amenti, 1 Tug. Needs 2 Nephat, 1 Nut

Amenhotpe (3 WP, one into a dead end though)
As covering the contact to the Federated Suns is the only responsibility of Amenhotpe, and the warp chain ends with the Federated Suns, no great expansion on defenses is needed here, though it remains a backup fleet reserve base in a remote area.
10 SY, 3 BS3 Setekh, 2 Nut, 2 Amenti, 1 Tug. Needs 2 Nut.

Nun (4 WP)
A very rich system wich has recently become more important defense wise due to the discovery of the Andromedans nearby.
5 SY, 3 Amenti, 1 Nut.
 Needs 7 Nut, 1 Amenti, 6 BS2.

Kaka (3 WP)
The entrance system of a newly expanding region of nice systems, it will guard Neverkhau from that direction.
3 SY, 1 Amenti. Needs 2 Amenti, 6 Nut.

Preherwemeneth (1 WP)
A very bountyfull dead end system in the southers expanses in need of some inherent defense.
4 SY, 2 building. Needs 3 Nut, 1 Amenti, and later 3 Nephet

Edfu (1 WP)
A not quite so rich deadend system in the western expanses in need of some inherent defense.
3 SY, Needs 3 Nut,1 Amenti

Neferibe (2 WP)
An even richer system in the southern expanses slated for appropiate defenses.
8 SY, 3 BS2 Nephet, 4 BS1 Nut, 2 BS0 Amenti, 1 Tug
Needs 3 Nephet, 2 Nut

Alexandria (2 WP)
Just recently discovered, this may become the richest colony of all. Four thebes like worlds and a superheavy world orbit this double star system. We will build a yard as soon as possible.


Meruh-Atep winced and brooded about the sheduled budgetary council meeting he was to attend this afternoon. “ My thanks Khonsu-Khaipet, this is what I needed to convince Anechotep to divert funds from the continued colonisation and industrialisation budgets. If we can’t defend what we build, we risk loosing it all.”






(Infosheets on new ship classes not yet listed elsewhere.)

BS0 (MCS) AMENTI class BS0        3 XO Racks    15 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0S0AiAiHDcDcQsXr(MCS)

15 RCP  10 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  295/ 14.7
HTK 10   S0x2  Aix2  Dcx2  
Notes: To be deployed out of capital missile range from a warppoint, this bases guards passage through the minefields.

BS1 (DCS) NUT class BS1       5 XO Racks    25 Hull    TL 3
[1] Sx3Ax6HDDXr(DCS)Qs

25 RCP       Trg:1        Cost =  330/ 16.5
HTK 15   Sx3  Ax6  Dx2  
DCS control base, emplace out of standard missile range. Could be updated in passive protections.

BS3 SETEKH IV class BS3       17 XO Racks    85 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x20Aix40ZH(BbS)QLxLxLxLx(Dec)?0Lxx3M5T!1QLhLx(Dec)Mg

85 RCP  15 MCP       Trg:6  Bmp +1  Tem -1        Cost =  1307/ 65.3
HTK 81   S0x20  Aix40  Lxx8  Tx1  Mgx1  
Notes: Newest model of our Setekh bases, it now owns a considerable punch even at long ranges.

BS4 KHNUM II class BS4        24 XO Racks    120 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x28Aix28ZH(BbS)QQWax5DcWax5DcM5Wax5DcWax5!1LhQDc(DCS)XrsMgMgC

120 RCP  30 MCP       Trg:6  Tem -1        Cost =  2473/ 123.7
HTK 94   S0x28  Aix28  Dcx4  Wax20  Mgx2  
360x SM, 6x EDM (Mg)
Recent refit to include updates in launcher technology.

BS5 ANTAIOS class BS5     AM    36 XO Racks    180 Hull    TL 7
[1] S0x18Aix6ZHQRcx9DcQRcx6DcQRcx6DcM6Dc(BbS)?1Rcx6XrDcDcLhMgx4Q

180 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:7  Bmp +2        Cost =  2736/ 136.8
HTK 72   S0x18  Aix6  Dcx6  Rcx27  Mgx4  
Prototype base to be deployed in absolutely crucial systems.

FT5 (T) SETH class FT5           45 Hull    TL 3
[3] (IcIcIcIcIcIcIcIcIcIcIcIcIc)TT(IcIc)(Ic)(IcIc)(BbS)QsH(Ic) [4]
45 RCP  30 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  268.2/ 20.1
HTK 24   Tx2  
Tug for base movement.

FT4(ML) CHENTI-IRTI (ML) class FT4           30 Hull    TL 6
[3] (IcIc)Hx3THx3Pb(MR)(ML)(Ic)(Ic)(Ic)HQs(Ic) [4]
30 RCP  45 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  216/ 16.2
HTK 18   Tx1  Pbx1
Experimental minelayer for systems with established control bases.

CL (ML) ISIS class CL        9 XO Racks    45 Hull    TL 6
[3] S0S0AiAiHQs(II)(I)(II)(MR)x6(ML)TPb(I)(II)(MCS)XrQs(BbS)(I) [6]
45 RCP  5 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  660.5/ 99.1
HTK 28   S0x2  Aix2  Tx1  
Minelayer for fleet trains.

[Paul M]

[ooc]I'll work on this a bit more over the next few days to add in a bit of background on the Drakes and Squids[/ooc]

Roger Buck tapped the screen infront of him changing the slide displayed behind him.  "The Urloki,"  he smiles, "or as they are most often called the Drakes, are a reptilian species."  A picture forms behind him of a typical Urloki showing the wings, tail and other features that could only be called drakonian.  "Their homeworld of Uduun in the Angband system has a gravity level 1.8 times Shanir's and has a correspondingly thick atmosphere composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and high levels of carbon dioxcide from their industries."  He brings up a short movie of a Drake gliding, "The Urloki can glide, but only if they launch themselves from an elevated point.  They can't generate enough lift to get off the ground with their wings."  He taps a screen.  "The biology of the Drake's is covered in the appendix to the report and most of it is not important.  What is critical though is that due to them laying eggs and females being only a small fraction of their overall population they are markedly territorial."  

He pauses and brings up a map of Drake space.  "They have a government that functions on two levels.  The basic services are largely done by each..."  he pauses, "We actually aren't best sure how to call them, they use the term that translates as Pride, but our studies would place it somewhere between a racial division and clan structure.  They have clear and distinct visual differences between the prides, from bone structure to scale coloration but it is also at least in part determined by which leader you choose to follow, a trend becoming more common in the last few years."  He spreads his hands.  "Each pride provides for their own but also contributes to the overall society via trading.  This is handled by a...for the lack of a better work...professional class."  His emotions are guarded but a degree of confusion leaks through.  "We expected more opposition to our presence and we were originally worried any suggestions we made might be taken wrongly, but it seems the various Pride leaders of the High Council view us as form of their own bureaucrats and since we don't assasinate each other are more reliable."  He shakes his head a mixture of humor and confusion filtering through the groups meld.  "I don't know if we should be insulted or not but it has led to a large scale cooperation between our peoples."  

He taps again and series of graphs form behind him.  "From what our socialogical studies show contact with us has helped them immensely...or better put contact with other species...the "Joint Expeditionary Forces" or JEFs were orginally an emergeny expedient to solve the problem of policing the Trade Corridor worlds."  He smiles, "They now have at least 6 of them.  They represent an unprecedent degree of cooperation between the various prides.  Also their new colonies are, in the case of the non-raw materials extraction facilities, mixed Prides.  The studies are unsure how this will progress as the most common result is the creation of new Prides with the same social structure.  But how these will interact with the more traditional Pride structure and especially the High Council is completely unclear."  

His voice turns grim.  "In at least a few scenarios there are civil wars."  "High Councilor or General or Supreme Warlord...or well translation of his many titles is a complex business Angkelfauch is a willy old lizard to be sure.  We have no idea how much of what we see in terms of sociatal change he is behind.  We do know that since the development of that high frequency oscillation gravitational warp weapon...the err...Force Beam...he has been far less reluctant to arm the other Pride fleets."  He grins, "Even a civillian such as myself can't help but notice he has far more ships in the High Council fleet, not to mention the bulk of the heavy ships as well, then any two of the Pride Fleets."  "We are fairly sure the reason for his generocity is that you can't bombard planets with force beams.  It is our understanding that a great many of his policies stem from a desire to prevent nuclear blackmail."  

He brings up other graphs.  "Their economy is doing well though we have yet to see them accumulate the sort of reserves they had in the past.  This is due to  a combination of the greater number of shipyards they have now plus the result of their expanded defenses.  Our information is limited in the Old Expanses but it seems likely they have found several habitable or partially habitable planets there as freighters with support equipment and colonists routines head for the warp point that leads to them.  Considerable amounts of raw materials and a growing amount of manufactured goods are coming back.  So there is much more there than a lot of moon colonies.  Our recent discovery of a connection off Crossroads may give us a better view though that system was nothing more than gas giants and other rock and ice balls."  He pauses to change slides.  "Our information on what is going on in the new expanses is much greater as they transit our space and our customs inspections generally give us a good view of what is going in and out.  We know they have a group of machine shop ships operating there, likely engaged in assembly of pre-fabricated bases, plus a survey group and two JEFs are present.  Based on our best estimate that means three JEFs are operating in the Old expanses."


WARBOOK UPDATE SECLEVEL PRIMUS

URLOKI Warship Update

TRITHDRING-PROTO class BB     AM    20 XO Racks    100 Hull    TL 6
[3]ZT(III)(III)Q?1(III)(III)PbRcDRcDRcWMg!1DRcW!1DRcWDRcWD!1MgM3WWMgD!1CHXr(BbS)LhQD(III)[5]
100 RCP       Trg:4  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  2021/ 303.2
HTK 54   Dx8  Rcx6  Wx6  Tx1  Mgx3  
150x SM, 150x CM, 18x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  This is the prototype of the Trithdring class, after it is constructed the ship will be refit to include the advanced launcher systems and point defences the Drakes have newly developed.

PELALIL II class BC     AM    16 XO Racks    80 Hull    TL 6
[3]ZH(III)(II)QPb(III)(BbS)Pb(II)(III)RcDRc!1MgDRcRc!1MgWaDWa!1M3!1WaXrLhQ?1CDcWaMgDc(II)[6]
80 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:4  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  1734/ 260.1
HTK 47   Dcx2  Dx3  Rcx4  Wax4  Mgx3  
240x SM, 120x CM, 12x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  An update of the Drake fast combattent class.  It is dangerous at all ranges with a data group capable of launching 12 CM, and 24 SM's every 30 seconds.  Its powerful point defences are capabable of engaging over 20 inbounds making it a hard missile target.

BALTHASIL II class CA     AM    12 XO Racks    60 Hull    TL 6
[2] S0x8ZAix10H(BbS)Q(II)(II)Xr(II)TDF(II)M2DF!1(II)DC(CIC)(BbS)QLh?1DcF(II) [6]
60 RCP  40 MCP       Trg:3  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  1170/ 175.5
HTK 51   S0x8  Aix10  Dcx1  Dx3  Fx3  Tx1
Notes:  this class is their assault class.  But it also contains fleet command facilities as it is used by the various Pride Fleets as a command ship.

BANALIS III class CA     AM    12 XO Racks    60 Hull    TL 6
[2] ZH(II)(II)Q(II)(BbS)(II)(II)WaWaDWaWaDcMgWaWa!1M4XrMgWa!1LhQD?1WaMgDc(II) [6]
60 RCP  40 MCP       Trg:5  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  1412/ 211.8
HTK 38   Dcx2  Dx2  Wax8  Mgx3  
480x SM, 18x CM, 12x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  this class is a modernization of the Banalis class with substantially upgraded capabilities.  It is optimized for deep space warfare in the Drake style.  It has traded two launchers for enhanced electronics and powerful point defence suite.  The new "advanced" launcher systems double its launch capacity making it extremely deadly in any range where it can employ its missiles in sprint mode.

NARAITHSOL IV class DD     AM    6 XO Racks    30 Hull    TL 6
[2] ZHT(I)(I)(I)Qs(I)(I)D(I)Wa!1M2WaWaMgDcQs?1(I) [7]
30 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:3  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  649/ 97.4
HTK 21   Dcx1  Dx1  Wax3  Tx1  Mgx1  
150x SM, 6x CM, 4x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  an update of the standard light combat ship of the Drakes fleet.  It is now the smallest ship that the Drakes will produce.

NARTHAAS II class DD     AM    6 XO Racks    30 Hull    TL 6
[2] S0x4Aix9ZHsQs(I)(I)(I)D(I)(I)(I)M2!1FQsDF(I) [7]
30 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:3  Tem -1        Cost =  554/ 83.1
HTK 30   S0x4  Aix9  Dx2  Fx2  
Notes:  an update of the drakes assault destroyer retaining the older point defences.

GLAMATUS III class CT     AM    3 XO Racks    16 Hull    TL 6
[1] ZH(I)(I)(I)DcM1FXrQs(I) [8]
16 RCP  9 MCP       Trg:2        Cost =  300/ 45
HTK 11   Dcx1  Fx1  
Notes:  this is a refit of the older corvette into a beam armed scout.  The number of ships active is likely to drop but the Drakes have decided that in face of the increased power of modern fleets that a corvette is not a viable combat unit.

AUGCATING III class BS2        10 XO Racks    50 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x11Aix10ZHs(BbS)QsWaWaMgDWaWa!1XrWaWa!1DM3CDcQsWaMg [-]
50 RCP       Trg:4  Tem -1        Cost =  1037/ 51.9
HTK 43   S0x11  Aix10  Dcx1  Dx2  Wax7  Mgx2  
300x SM, 10x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  the latest upgrade of their standard warp point defence base.

AUGFARTHING II class BS2        10 XO Racks    50 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x11Aix10ZHsTDQsM3F!1Xr(MCS)(DCS)D(CIC)(BbS)DcQsF [-]
50 RCP       Trg:4  Tem -1        Cost =  932/ 46.6
HTK 38   S0x11  Aix10  Dcx1  Dx2  Fx2  Tx1
Notes:  this upgrade of the command base drops all missile weapons in favor of beam batteries.  Normal deployment is an Augfarthing with two Augcating bases.

AUGDURIS  class BS3       17 XO Racks    85 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x19Aix19ZH(BbS)QTRcRcMgDRcRcD!1MgRcDRcMgM3!1RcMgXrDcPbCLhQDc [-]
85 RCP  15 MCP       Trg:4  Tem -1        Cost =  1302/ 65.1
HTK 67   S0x19  Aix19  Dcx2  Dx3  Rcx7  Tx1  Mgx4  
210x CM, 12x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  the newest base in the Drake defence planning.  It is still being prototyped.

ALDURIL  class CL        9 XO Racks    45 Hull    TL 6
[3] HTPb(ML)(MR)x3(IcIc)D(Ic)Xr(MCS)D(IcIc)C(BbS)LhQDc(Ic) [4]
45 RCP  5 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  639.5/ 95.9
HTK 22   Dcx1  Dx2  Tx1
Notes:  this class is designed to deploy the Urloki version of the SCN ASDW patterns.  They elected to combine all functions into a single class, making it the sister ship to the Alcotal Collier/Buoy Tender.


BENTHIAN Admiralte Warships


FOCH B class BB     AM    20 XO Racks    100 Hull    TL 6
[3] S0x24Aix24ZHQ(III)(III)(III)(BbS)!1(III)EEM5!1RcEEDx3ELhQDD!1RcMgEEXr?1(III) [5]
100 RCP       Trg:6  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  2171/ 325.7
HTK 90   S0x24  Aix24  Dx5  Ex7  Rcx2  Mgx1  
68x CM, 12x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  The pride of the Squids navy.  Two of this class are in service.  It is a formidable short range combattent with a limited ability to engage targets at long range.  Mostly seen as useful for stopping plinking attacks by lighter vessels.


CLEMENCEAU B class BC     AM    16 XO Racks    80 Hull    TL 6
[3] S0x14Aix16ZHQ(II)(III)(II)(III)(BbS)!1(II)XrLELEM4LEDLhQDx3?1LE(III) [6]
80 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:5  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  1632/ 244.8
HTK 67   S0x14  Aix16  Dx4  Ex4  Lx4
Notes:  a purely beam armed short range combattent.  The SCN doesn't understand the intention of mixing shield and armour skipping weapons on the same hull.  

DUNKERQUE B class CA     AM    12 XO Racks    60 Hull    TL 6
[2] S0x12Aix12ZHQ(II)(II)(II)(BbS)!1(II)(II)!1EM3RaRaMgDx3LhQEEXr?1(II) [6]
60 RCP  40 MCP       Trg:4  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  1207/ 181.1
HTK 56   S0x12  Aix12  Dx3  Ex3  Rax2  Mgx1  
120x SM, 9x CM, 6x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  The heavy component to the Squids patrol squadrons.  Carries a mixed battery which is more beam heavy then the SCN's Spatha class but otherwise the ships are similar.

RICHELIEU B class CL     AM    9 XO Racks    45 Hull    TL 6
[2] S0x6Aix6ZH(I)(II)Qs(I)(BbS)!1(II)(I)RaRa!1M4DDQsRax3MgXr?1(II) [6]
45 RCP  5 MCP       Trg:5  Bmp +2  Tem -1        Cost =  910.5/ 136.6
HTK 39   S0x6  Aix6  Dx2  Rax5  Mgx1  
4x GXM, 160x SM, 6x CM, 4x EDM (Mg)
Notes:  deployed in pairs with a Dunkerque datagroup leader the Richelieu is a pure missile platform, relying on the Dunkerque for close range data group defence.

GLOIRE B class BS4    AM    24 XO Racks    120 Hull    TL 6
[1] S0x26Aix26ZHELQELELEL(BbS)QXrDELDELM4ELDELLhQDx3!1EL [-]
120 RCP  30 MCP       Trg:5  Tem -1        Cost =  1913/ 95.7
HTK 86   S0x26  Aix26  Dx6  Ex9  Lx9  
Notes:  standard warp point defence base.  For controlling the automatic weapon systems they use the TRIPWIRE class of base.

SUFFREN class FG     AM    4 XO Racks   22 Hull    TL 5
[1] Sx3Aix6ZH(I)XcXr(I)(I)(I)?0QsD(I) [7]
22 RCP  3 MCP       Trg:1  Bmp +1        Cost = 590/88.5
HTK 21   Sx3  Aix6  Dx1  
Notes:  The Squids unarmed, beyond 2 captial missiles in the external racks, exploration vessel.

[Five]

That is alot of races listed 

[Starslayer_D (OP)]

*grin* We haven't even really hit the independants. It's 155 turns into a campaign, and explorations start to really spread out. at the moment we got 5 races it'd call major powers, a bunch of intermediates, and the slush pile. I guess I should provide a small overview, wich we could expand into a racial boocklet.
I'm listing here in productivity order. Most of the intermediates are partnered to someone from the top stack.

Theban Empire
Regia Marina (Belingerent Theocracy on the move)
Shanirian Confederation
Thing Of Odin (Federal Theocracy, spread out but bad luck for planets)
Cannon Cartell (though they are pocketed)

Undines (Partners of the Cannon cartel)
Uroloki of Udun (Partners of the Shanirians)
Lemurian Hierarchate (Partners of the Thebans)
Benthian Lords (Partners of the Shanirians)

Federated Suns (2 system pocket, Partners of the Thebans)
Council of the Moon
Norse Yeti (agressive militarists, in war with the Thing)
Countess de Marquesa (2 system pocket, roped to the Thing)
Andromedan Nautiloids
Sri Raj (3 System pocket, in trade with 3 races thus doing better than productivity places them)
Northern Lizards (New on the galaxy, allready running into troubles with the Nautiloids and the Thebbans, on 3 fronts.... )
Buer Homesteads (Once 3 system pocket, just got reduced to the home system by the RM)
House Liao (home system only, blocked by lack of WP)
Cataliphate (home system only, no open WP)
Outback Confederacy (Oldest and poorest of the races, conten to stay at home and they don't dare to protest against all those Thing preachers leading their youth astray...)

Also two low techs, but ... they exist at the sufferance of their betters.

[Paul M]

[ooc]It is even more impressive when you consider I run 4 races and in the time it takes me to do those 4 Starslayer manages the rest.  I'm usually even the slower of the two of us.  Anyway before continuing on about the Confederation and its latest patners here is a bit of combat fiction...The RM Takes Them On The Run.[/ooc]

Entry Warp Point, RM Designed System Salerno, Day 3,  1st Shift

That point in space where strings twisted into a knot blazed with energy radiated from the drive fields of the transiting Aviere class assault ships of Blockade Force 2.  On board the 4th to transit, Squadcom Bono gritted his teeth as the shock to his nervous system hit him.  "Communications, laser links to the other ships!"  His work station was tucked into the back of his flagships bridge displacing the captains on watch workstation and his two staff were in jump seats hastily welded to the floor.  
"Arrival Drone launched."  
"Targeting coming on line."  
He ignored the chatter of the bridge crew as he strove to make sense of what the ships highly degraded sensors were telling him.  Thankfully the signals though light lagged were essentially constant.  Twenty-four small bases at a half a lightsecond orbited the warp point.  Three of them were wrapped in the extended arms of a tender ship.  
"Order to all ships.  Do not target tenders or the bases they are working on.  Squadcom out."  
"Order to all ships.  Maintain course.  Maximum speed."  
"Contacts!  Bearing 330° Absolute.  Range 5 light seconds.  Three groups.  Cruiser weight 6 contacts.  Destroyer weight 3 contacts.  Velocity 7500 km/s"  
"Squadcom.  Lead ship reports ranging systems from one contact all others emissions low."  
"Squadcom.  Targeting solutions all ships."  
"Order to all ships.  Engage the enemy with forward batteries."  Not that there were any real forward and aft batteries but the delay while the plasma launchers powered up their magnetic fields delayed fire so the standard practice was to fire half the 10 weapons each ship carried each turn.  
"Captain, engage only with missiles."  Bono wanted to see how effective they were.  
"Captain! Targetting sensor.  Radar and Lidar sweeps."  
"Squadcom!  Hull mapping scans reported by 15!"  Aviere 15 was the trailing ship,
"Multiple ranging contacts consistent with automatic weapons."  
"Captain.  Hull MAP!"  

They were being pinged by multiple sensors themselves.  Bono's display lit with fresh threat markers on the last three ships.  Then suddenly the enemy icons flashed and 4 of them vanished as his squadron volleyed fired their ship plasma guns.  Their ship launched extrenally mounted close assault missiles at one of the 5 bases to achieve firing status in the first moments of the invasion.  One of the bases was hit by five of the five launched magnetically confined plasma balls, another took 4, a third took 3, a fourth took 2, a fifth luckily took only 1, and the last trageted base was hit by 3 of 6 missiles the flagship launched at it.  Only the last two survived and the were rendered into twisted wrecks.  
"Orders all Ships.  Brace for impact!"  Bono secured his shock frame and flipped down his suits helmet and waited, but not long.

At two points in space including one just aft of that occupied by Aviere 13, Bono's flagship, sun bright detonations flared and each one powered multiple X-ray bursts focused and directed by the dieing satilites targeting systems.  Aviere 13 was struck by the wavefront and then the ship shook violently as its armour sublimated and boiled off into vacuum as the x-rays were converted into heat.  Structural members twisted and the ship rolled as the armour plumes spun it widely, its armour belt absorbed a portion of the energy but more struck deeper turning engine room, and crew spaces and the ships outer missile defences into a close approximation of a hellish inferno as from the outermost area a spalling mass of molten metal slammed inward.  The bridge damage control boards went instantly blue and the ships power surged up and down, the  emergency sirens started wailing.  
"Hull Breaches multiple."
"Enginerooms offline!"
"Drive field fluctuating!"  
"Switch to back up targeting systems."  

Bono ignored the crew working frantically to save the ship which had in the space of a second been turned into a cripple.  "Communications.  Fleet Status. NOW!"  
"Squadcom!  All ships reporting.  14 and 15 report massive internal damage.  Damage control is on it but both are reduced to minimal manuevering.  Both report weapons are nominal, 14 reports its aft batteries are operational."  
"Orders to 14 and 15.  Proceed on course."  
"Captain proceed at your best speed on course."  
"Orders to 10, 11 and 12.  Turn to bear 330° Absolute.  Maintain maximum speed.  Target heavy base grouping, each ship to fire individually and fire no more than two shots at a base.  Launch assault shuttles to engage the buoys."  
"Communications.  Launch drone with sensor data."  
"Sir." one of his aides spoke up, "Based on our firming sensor data that was 25% of the aliens deployed buoys.  They are deployed a quarter lightsecond out in a ring.  The fire came from this segement and this one."  The area near where his ships were heading away from the warp point glowed.  "There are now no bouys there." A part flashed directly aft of the flag ship.  "And this area 120° absolute from us is showing about half the density of the other parts of the ring.  That kind of fire indicates that they have an active control system somewhere...likely in those 6 bases they have 14.75 LS out."  
Bono agreed.  "They could have hit us harder."  
"Likely they didn't know how many to use sir."  [ooc]I based the intial amount on what it would take to kill one of the Buer own cruisers.[/ooc]  
"Well they know now."

Even as the lead elements of Blockade Force 2 were recovering from their insertion more ships were coming through: the last three Avieres of Bono's squadron and the three lead Carvour class battlecruisers of the Bari Fleet.  The new arrivals came in on the same heading as the original ships, while the enemy vessels hanging out of the fight began to modulate their drive fields but judging by sensor emmisons only another two of their ships managed to reach action stations.  Aveire 13 shook as its fully intact broadside weapons fired, in the resulting brawl 13 enemy bases were transformed into incandecent expanding spheres of plasma virtually wiping out the defending base force before most of them achieved action stations.  A few managed coordinated fire on the trailing BC Cavour 18 or the lead BC Cavour 16.  Aviere 13 limped away as Bono watched the fight develop on his plot.  His forces were curving around.  
"The Prophet bless you."  He stared at the ships still near the warp point, 3 Battlecruisers and two of his damaged cruisers and a newly arrived cruiser.  
"Squadcom..."  
"I know!"  His repeater has just updated and the icons for the last two Cavour's and Aviere 15 had just gone black.  
"Sir they expended most of them.  Sensors show only some 40 left."  His aide offered.
"Yes.  They learned from the first attack that was a lot more buoys per ship, 45 the first time on 3 targets," he glanced at his display, "105 the second time."  
"They had to use them for longer range shots this time as well." His other aide commented.

The fire had caught 2 BCs and two of his CAs, one crippled from the first attack.  Aviere 16 survived with only its outermost working spaces damaged.  "Orders to Aviere 16, 17, 18 turn 60° absolute, destroy targets of opertunity.  Ships to fire individually."  That would clear out the bases behind his ships.  
"Orders to Aviere 10, 11, 12.  Turn to engage enemy mobile forces.  Close at maximum speed."  Cavour 16 was doing the same thing.  "Captain bring us about to face the enemy ships."  The enemy ships had so far done nothing.

Fleetcom Greco grimaced as his Battlewagon transitted.  His repeater filled with the icons for destroyed enemy and friendly ships.  
"Fleetcom.  Squadcom reports buoys to the stern."  
Greco swore but there was nothing, for the moment, he could do about it.   Dardo 8, had transitted second and was currently 1.5 light seconds from the warp point.  He had turned to face the enemy squadrons.  Behind him a brief and majorly one sided battle was being fought where his Battlecruisers finished off several damged bases with energy beams.  Outside of those bases only slowly cooling plasma and squawking lifepods marked the enemy's close in defences...and 40 buoys.  One of the enemies lighter cruisers was showing a massive reducition in shield strength from the volleys of Cavour 16 and one of the Aviere's had its shields knocked down by a combination of missiles and beams from the two pairs of cruisers that had finally gotten active.  The detroyers had accomplished nothing with their fire.  His as yet undatalinked battlewagons in reply had bracketted one of the cruisers with missiles and its shields were noticably weaker, even if its point defences had gotten lucky on the first volley.  
"Fleetcom!  Cavour 21 reports massive internal damage!  Cavour 20 reports no internal systems damaged but her armour belt destroyed."  

That was all the buoys.  

He looked at the 9 enemy ships on his plot.  90 seconds into the battle and they were doomed.  They were moving on an intercept course.  His ships were as fast as they were, and he had 3 battlewagons in system.  In 2 minutes those three ships could reduce the enemy force to wrecks and any ship slowed by missile fire would be destroyed by the cruisers, even now the last six were coming through.  The enemy could not run and while they could fight they would have to close to do more than shield damage, and if they did that his cruisers would vapourise them, plus his force was more maneuverable.  Run, or charge their fate was sealed.
"Fleetcom!  Sensors reports that they have dropped their drive fields!"  

Surrender was a logical necessity at this point, though they could not communicate with the infidel egg stealers that was a reasonable course of action.  The Fleet had not fired on the defenseless tenders or their charges so the commander had elected to save as many crew as possible.  
"Get marines on those ships!"  Greco ordered.
"Fleetcom!  three cruisers just scuttled."  His display updated and each of the ships wreckage was surrounded by squacking lifepods.  
"Orders all ships.  Start search and rescue.  Secure those tenders and bases with marines."  Greco stretched mightly as the tension of the fight just left him, he felt like he should smile as it was a victory but it had cost him 3 ships outright and he had only one undamaged battlecruiser and 3 undamaged cruisers left.  
"Send to all ships.  The Prophet be praised, we are victorious.  Rejoice but do not forget your duty.  Remember our lost shipmates with honor, they have died in the service of our people."  That would have to do, he had hoped for less losses but that many buoys simply cost ships.

The combat had lasted 90 seconds.

Entry Warp Point, Heretical Alien System 1, Day 18, Start of 3rd Watch.

Three Dardo class battlewagons, the lead being Greco's fleet flag, drove from the curl of space time connecting this system to Salerno, behind them trailed 3 Aviere assault cruisers.  
"YES!"  Greco could not keep quiet as his plot updated.  He had gambled the aliens defences were a hard outer crust and he had just got the soft inner tissue.  3 Bases identical to the ones he had smashed just 15 days before, with two of the control bases also placed at a similar distance to the warp point.  6 of the barely mobile tender craft were in the process of building additional bases and no other mobile forces were present.  
"Orders Captain.  Launch one missile and destroy it a 1 light second from the command base I've designated."  He expected his message would be clear.  The three small bases near the warp point were even as he issued that order being reduced to twisted glowing metal and expanding plasma by the 3 cruisers to his rear.  
"Send to Dardo 9.  Bring that other base into your missile envelope and stop."  
"Fleetcom.  Explosions!"  
"Orders to all..."  
"Buoys have self destructed."  
"Belay that Communications."  Greco smiled.  "By the name of the Prophets holy sister!  Get those survey ships in here!  Get marines on those ships and bases.  Start search and rescue operations."  Greco knew Orso was furious, but he would not want to die slowly waiting for help that would never come himself and so he found ways to deflect his Bishop's less then sutle suggestions that he delay things just a few days.  There would be no need of subtrefuge and lies, the prisoners of war were being treated fairly and sent back to re-education camps.  Leaving them in the darkness of not knowing the Word was unacceptable, thankfully they were not run by Orso's order, a point of view Greco kept to himself.  
"Send to all ships.  Congratulatons, the Prophet has blessed our daring.  See to your duties with glad hearts.  Fleetcom out."  His heart was glad that he would not be writing and more letters to families that had lost sailors.

[ooc]The Buer have a RM of 33 and RD of 28.  In the first battle by the end of round 3 they faced 3.9:1 odds with a -90% on the break off roll, and as they could not escape the DNs (who were moving at speed 6 with tuners active) it became a surrender roll at 10%.  3 ships scuttled:  2 CL and 1 CA (one CL and one CA scuttling had not even activated).  Only 1 ship wiped its databanks, but given there is no communication between the RM and Buer they likely thought it pointless.  In the second battle only unarmed bases in range of DNs with only 30 DSB-L survived more than 30s.  The crews were inept and poor, they never activated.  Given the RM had not attacked their defenseless ship it was a risk to surrender but in each case they would have accomplished virtually nothing to continue the fight.  Starslayer and I talked about and he agreed with me on the results.  The DSB-L in the first battle were well worth it.  They cost 6300 MCr and destroyed outright ~4500 MCr in ships plus inflicted another ~2000 MCr in repair costs on the RM.  Their bases did little more than scratch shields in the short time they were present.  The big gain for the RM was the 9 SYM tenders though.  They also captured 6 Ratel command bases and 6 Coetzee bases (3 under refit, 3 damaged by E beams), in the second they captured 6 bases under construction (I assume 6 Coetze), and 2 Ratel command bases.  They picked up an inbound colonization convoy as well in Salerno.[/ooc]

Buer Ships and Bases

Coetzee Class BS0   3 XO filled with SM
[1] Sx3AAZHFFQs [-]
21 present in Salerno, 3 of them under refit.

Coetze Class BS0   3 XO filled with SM
[1] Sx3Aix3ZHsFM1FQs [-]
3 present in Salerno, shaking down after refit.

Bases at 2 hexs from warp point in groups of 3, with 6 bases in direction 1 and 4.  180 DSB-L in 6 groups of 30 at 1 hex from WP.

Ratel Class BS0    3 XO filled with SM
[1] SHXrQsD(DCS) [-]

Located at range 29 direction 1 and 4 from warp point.  6 present in Salerno in 2 groups of 3.  Activated 3 of them in round 1.

Haymans Class DD  6 XO filled with SM
[3] Sx5Ax6ZH(I)Qs(I)(I)(I)(I)(I)WGDMgQs(I) [7]
3 present in Salerno, direction 1 distance 21 hexs.

G-6 Class CL    9 XO filled with SM
[3] Sx6Ax7ZH(I)(II)Qs(I)(II)F(BbS)DF(I)FFM2Qs(II) [6]
3 present in Salerno, direction 1 distance 21 hexes.

Olifant II Class CA   12 XO filled with SM
[3] Sx9Ax9ZHQ(II)(II)(II)D(II)FF(BbS)D(II)Fx3M3Lh(II)Q
3 present in Salerno, direction 1 distance 21 hexes.

Best crew quality present was Green, several were poor in salerno.  In the second battle many were inept and the best was poor.

RM Forces

Blockade Force 2
Aviere CA x9 (all crews average) 
CO: Squadcom Bono

Bari Fleet (-)
Dardo DN x9 (all crews average)
Cavour BC x6 (all crews average)
Montecuccoli CA (Bari Fleet collier, crew average)
Doria CT (crew average)
Littorio II CT (crew average)
CO:  Fleetcom Greco

Also available as reserves:
Heavy Reaction Force
Mobile Construction Group 1
Special Escort Group 1
Blockade Support Group 3
Survey Force 2
Patrol Force 3