Author Topic: #3 National Updates  (Read 27684 times)

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Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #45 on: November 08, 2015, 07:44:22 PM »
United Kingdom - 4th June 2108

Colonies
Avalon: 595m
Earth: 70.4m
Pendragon: 33.1m
Barnard's Star III: 32.8m
Vega III: 1.81m
61 Cygni-A III: 1.75m
Tintagel III: 1.72m
Bedivere-A II: 1.03m
Caerleon-A I: 0.62m
Kuiper 79-A IV: 0.51m
Kuiper 79-B II: 0.50m
Gawain I: 0.4m
Merlin II: 0.24m

Mining Colonies
Pendragon-B Asteroid #27: 43x AM
Pendragon-B Asteroid #36: 20x AM
Pendragon-B Asteroid #70: 10x AM
Caerleon-B Asteroid #7: 25x AM
Tempel 1 (Sol): 7x CMC
Bernard's Star-A I: 3x CMC

The speed at which the United Kingdom is expanding the boundaries of the Avalon Arm has been significantly reduced since August 2106. Only three new systems have been discovered in that time. This is due partly to the distance to the frontiers and partly because several systems have proven to be cul-de-sacs or, in two cases, because new jump points connected to existing systems. Two new colonies have been established, both in the Caerleon system one jump out beyond Vega. The first is a settlement of six hundred thousand colonists on a colony cost 2.02 world with a thin nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere and deposits of all eleven minerals, including twelve million tons of accessibility 0.9 Duranium. The second is an asteroid mining colony with twenty-five automated mines, all of which were recovered from the alien ruin on Vega III. The survey reports for both colonies are shown below. The Vega ruins were fully exploited in April 2108 so attention is now turning to Rivalen-B II where a recent xenology survey identified forty-one installations for potential recovery.

Caerleon-A Asteroid #7 Mineral Survey
Duranium 273,657  Acc: 1
Neutronium 59,910  Acc: 0.8
Corbomite 43,957  Acc: 1
Tritanium 220,785  Acc: 0.8
Mercassium 140,482  Acc: 1
Sorium 193,485  Acc: 0.8
Corundium 25,485  Acc: 0.8
Gallicite 159,885  Acc: 0.8

Caerleon-A I Mineral Survey
Duranium 12,700,800  Acc: 0.9
Neutronium 4,120,900  Acc: 0.1
Corbomite 9,060,100  Acc: 0.1
Tritanium 8,037,225  Acc: 0.1
Boronide 765,621  Acc: 0.3
Mercassium 4,410,000  Acc: 0.2
Vendarite 7,452,900  Acc: 0.5
Sorium 8,850,625  Acc: 0.1
Uridium 122,499  Acc: 0.1
Corundium 5,499,025  Acc: 0.1
Gallicite 1,030,217  Acc: 0.5

The existing colonies of the United Kingdom continue to grow, with a recent emphasis put on increasing the populations of the more distant colonies. Vega III, 61 Cygni-A III, Tintagel III and Bedivere II all passed the million mark within the last two years. The original fifteen Mayflower class colony ships are all making the regular run between Earth and Avalon but the slower, more efficient Mayflower-Es, eight of which are in service, are now dedicated to transporting settlers to the outer colonies. Four more of the E-model will be produced before the Osbourne Shipyard changes production to the new Mayflower II. In contrast, the UK population of Earth is still shrinking and now stands at seventy million.

Since August 2106 the United Kingdom has completed one Dreadnought class battlecruiser, one Agincourt class escort cruiser, three Tribal class destroyers, four Mayflower-E class colony ships, three fuel harvesters, two terraformers and two Phoenix class salvage ships. The first Phoenix travelled to the Rivalen system with a pair of accompanying freighters and salvaged four alien wrecks in that system, recovering a worthwhile quantity of minerals plus technical data to aid the United Kingdom's ongoing research project into Magneto-plasma drives. A second mission was undertaken to salvage a pair of wrecks in Gliese 1, located five transits along the Russo-Manchurian Arm via Manchu and Novaya Rodina. Neither Russia nor Manchuria objected to the passage of the three British commercial vessels. Although another pair of alien wrecks is in orbit of Asgard, the United Kingdom has left them alone to avoid causing any tensions with the Centauri Federation.

The data found by the Phoenix accelerated the progress of the UK's propulsion research project and the breakthrough into Magneto-plasma technology was made in mid-2107. Development of new engines was delayed for several months due to a follow-up project to increase fuel efficiency by almost fifteen percent so the first Magneto-plasma engines were not designed and developed until April 2108. The first priority for UK shipwrights was to upgrade the Royal Navy's existing warships to use the newer engines. Therefore, several shipyards are currently being retooled to allow that process to take place. For the Dreadnought, Agincourt and Tribal classes, in order to carry out the fleet refit as quickly as possible, the upgrade is a straightforward engine replacement with no other changes. For commercial vessels, there will be no refits and the shipyards are being retooled to build completely new ships.

In June 2107, The Australian prime minister approached his British counterpart and requested that the restriction on Australia establishing mines on Avalon be lifted. Australia was struggling due to a lack of Gallicite and had insufficient automated mines to offset the continuing fall in Gallicite accessibility on Earth. As there were no suitable known habitable mining sites for Australia within the Avalon Arm, the alternatives for Australia were to accept a serious reduction in expansion while mines were converted to automation, or ask another power for assistance. Given the excellent relations and the large Australia colony on Avalon, the UK seemed the obvious choice. As the United Kingdom had found a number of habitable mining sites with very good potential deeper within the Avalon Arm and the mines on Avalon would have to be moved eventually, granting the Australian request just sped up that process.

As the agreement would essentially leave the Australians and British sharing the planets of Avalon and Pendragon as their two main colonies and using the same gas giant for Sorium harvesting, the United Kingdom proposed formalising a military alliance. The Australians quickly accepted and the two nations invited Canada to join the alliance, with the proviso that Canada could also place mines on Avalon in return for opening up the Acadia colony for mining as well. The alliance was cemented further by the United Kingdom lending Hercules class tugs to Australia and Canada so they could move their shipyards from Earth to Avalon.

The United Kingdom's diplomatic activity also included signing a trade treaty with the United States. The two nations had good relations historically and the issue of the border at EV Lacerte was settled amicably. With no competing interests, it was to the advantage of both nations to open their markets and ensure their civilian shipping did not lie idle. The United Kingdom has by far the largest civilian shipping sector. In total, six shipping lines operate one hundred and sixteen vessels with a combined mass of more than five million tons. The US-UK trade relationship was extended further in early 2108 with an agreement to exchange 3000 tons of UK Gallicite for 3000 tons of US Duranium.

The UK economy is in good shape with plentiful fuel and a large wealth reserve. Mineral supplies are good in general, with a stockpile comprising more than ten thousand tons of every mineral except Duranium. Duranium supplies had fallen to a few hundred tons when the mineral exchange was agreed with the United States. The US was in the reverse situation with more than ten thousand tons of Duranium but only a few hundred tons of Gallicite. The United Kingdom intends to continue with its strategy of diverse colonization and trade yet is steadily building up the Royal Navy to protect its holdings. The United Kingdom does lack missile combatants however, so now the propulsion projects have delivered their objectives, the emphasis of the UK's research establishment will change to missile warfare.

The United Kingdom has been monitoring the situation in Alpha Centauri via reports from a Canadian destroyer shadowing the advancing Brazilian task group, which has covered two-thirds of the distance from the Sol jump point to the Luhman 16 jump point. The UK has no vital interests at stake in Alpha Centauri and no points of contention with any of the involved parties. For the moment, the United Kingdom intends to remain neutral and observe. However, there are two Brazilian colonies within the Avalon Arm so if events do not go in Brazil's favour, the UK would perhaps reconsider its options.

« Last Edit: August 23, 2018, 11:12:26 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #46 on: November 10, 2015, 02:08:25 PM »
United States - 8th June 2108

Colonies
Earth: 669m
Columbia (Lalande 21185): 159m
Astoria (WX Ursae Majoris): 23.5m
Oregon-B II: 1.31m
Eta Cassiopeiae-A III: 1.27m
Gateway II: 1.13m
Gliese 205-A II: 0.75m

Mining Colonies
Stephan-Oterma (Sol): 82x AM
Lalande 21185-A II: 12x AM
WX Ursae Majoris-A Asteroid #40: 7x CMC
Luna (Sol): 5x CMC
Wolf (Sol): 4x CMC
Reinmuth (Sol): 3x CMC

Since September 2106, the United States has discovered eleven new systems within the American Arm. In addition, a link was found from Gliese 257, a system nine jumps out from Sol and two beyond the outermost American colony, to Gamma Leporis, a known system at the end of a jump chain that included Procyon and Sirius. American survey ships had visited Gamma Leporis as early as May 2101 but it was a considerable distance from Sol and further survey was abandoned in favour of the DX Cancri chain. With a connection to the DX Cancri chain the area is of interest once again and US survey ships have spread into the surrounding systems. Unbeknown to the United States, Argentina is also exploring the same area of space.

The Columbia colony has grown by almost forty million in the last twenty-one months and has recently solved the problem of under-manning. Even so, there are very few available workers due to the industry already in place, including one hundred and fifty construction factories, thirteen research facilities, sufficient maintenance facilities to support all existing US warships and all nine American shipyards. While the US population on Earth still has a larger industrial base due to the substantial number of factories, mines and refineries, Columbia now has almost forty percent of US workers in the manufacturing sector. Columbia still has the problem that it lacks accessible mineral deposits so resources have to be shipped in from Earth and the other colonies. The new colony on Eta Cassiopeiae-A III is helping, with thirty-two automated mines in place and a small population that can support perhaps ten manned mining complexes. Recent terraforming activities have brought atmospheric oxygen up to the level where it breathable by humans so Eta Cassiopeiae-A III is now an ideal habitable world. Even so, it will take some time before the colony can support a large number of manned mines so conversion of US mines to the automated variety is underway.

Unfortunately, the situation in Eta Cassiopeiae has become considerably more complex in recent months. On October 24th 2107, a convoy of US freighters delivering automated mines to Eta Cassiopeiae-A III detected a Caliphate geosurvey ship in orbit of the planet. Presumably the survey ship had been surveying along the Avalon Arm and followed an American ship through the EV Lacerte - Eta Cassiopeiae jump point. The US President was briefed that the Caliphate would now be aware of the alien race on the surface and might show less restraint than the United States given the mineral wealth on the planet. He agreed to a recommendation from the Joint Chiefs that the United States send military forces to prevent such an eventuality. Since the Second Mexican-American war, all US Presidents have traditionally responded favourably to any such recommendations from their senior military commanders.

On December 21st 2107, a US Navy task group comprising the heavy cruiser Shiloh, the escort cruiser Valley Forge and the destroyers John Rogers and Kinkaid entered orbit of Eta Cassiopeiae-A III. Two weeks later, the first sign of a Caliphate build-up began with the arrival of a troop transport that unloaded Caliphate ground forces in a remote area of the planet then headed back toward the EV Lacerte jump point. On January 17th 2108 two Caliphate FAC carriers, known to carry six fast attack craft each, and an ammunition transport moved into orbit. Neither side made any offensive moves as both were well aware of the potential consequences of a serious armed clash between the two powerful nations. Even so, the build-up continued and tensions rose accordingly. The United States made a formal protest to the Caliphate, stating that the planet was a US colony and Caliphate forces should withdraw immediately. The Caliphate responded that the US had no jurisdiction over an alien planet and that it would be establishing its own colony.

Next to arrive were US troop transports that substantially reinforced the existing US Army forces. The US ground combat element now comprised the entire First Mobile Infantry Division, with fifteen mobile infantry battalions, four headquarter units and a replacement battalion. They stood ready to counter any move by the Caliphate against the US colony or the alien population and a pre-emptive move to protect the alien population by moving US forces into their cities was considered. Six hundred thousand Caliphate colonists landed on February 21st and additional American colonists arrived in April. Another escort cruiser arrived to support the existing US Navy Squadron in March but that was followed by a report from the United Kingdom that tracking stations on the UK colony of Avalon had detected two more Caliphate FAC carriers and two troop transports moving up the Avalon Arm toward Eta Cassiopeiae.

US Naval Intelligence believes that some form of armed confrontation over Eta Cassiopeiae-A III is only a matter of time. Both sides are continuing to send additional forces to the system and if any attempt is made to subdue the alien population, it will almost certainly erupt into open conflict. Even without that danger, the strategic value of the minerals on the planet is considerable and the United States would be disadvantaged if it was forced to share them with the Caliphate. Finally, Eta Cassiopeiae-A III could provide a base for the Caliphate to venture further into the American Arm. If a battle does erupt, Naval Intelligence believes that it is unlikely to be confined to the Eta Cassiopeiae system. The American populations on Earth, Columbia and the other colonies would all be vulnerable, especially as the US sensor and fire control systems are designed to engage much larger targets than the small Caliphate fast attack craft. It is entirely possible that United States forces could be facing missile attack from an enemy they cannot even detect.

Therefore, after several weeks of research and analysis, Naval Intelligence recommends that a first strike against the Caliphate is the only reasonable option. To wait is to invite a similar, potentially crippling strike from a massed wave of Caliphate fast attack craft. The proposed strike would have to be against all Caliphate forces, not just those in Eta Cassiopeiae, as any survivors could inflict considerable damage on US assets. There are four known groups of Caliphate warships; in Earth orbit, in orbit of Medina, in orbit of Eta Cassiopeiae and the two FAC carriers reported by the UK in the Avalon Arm. US Navy forces are already in place at Earth and Eta Cassiopeiae, while the in-transit FAC carriers could be tracked down later as they are not an immediate threat. Medina could be attacked by forces moving from Columbia, although those forces would be detected on their approach. Naval Intelligence has proposed three options to deal with this problem; attack from Columbia anyway after the strikes at Earth and Eta Cassiopeiae, blockade the jump point between WX Ursae Majoris and Medina to wait them out or invite Germany to launch its own attack. The last option would probably be appealing to Germany as Medina stands astride their only route to their area of exploration. The Joint Chiefs accept the analysis and the President accedes to their request to execute the attack as soon as practicable.

The most immediate action is to order three troop transports and a jump freighter in Earth orbit to proceed to Columbia. The US colony fleet is already en route to Columbia and will remain in orbit once it arrives. The only US ships remaining in Earth orbit are four Shiloh class cruisers, three Ticonderoga class escort cruisers and five Spruance class destroyers. They face nine 12,000 ton Mersin class FAC carriers, each with six FACs on board, plus twenty-seven Matrah class FACs, ten Mecca class FACs, ten Ashdod class FACs, one Hebron class FAC, four Abadan class ammunition transports and one Mosul class FAC tender. Including the FACs on the carriers, that gives the Caliphate a strength of more than one hundred fast attack craft. A lengthy battle would involve significant casualties on the US side so the first strike will have to be decisive.

The German ambassador is informed of a potential US conflict with the Caliphate and a proposal is made that Germany ally itself with the United States in return for complete freedom to secure the Medina colony. Medina has a population of sixty million and is adjacent to two German colonies, although it doesn’t possess any accessible mineral deposits. The German government responds within twenty-four hours, agreeing to the American proposal and requesting a few days to make preparations. Within hours a Scharnhorst class battlecruiser and two German frigates break orbit heading for the Lalande jump point. Two battlecruisers and two frigates remain in Earth orbit. Their firepower will be added to that of the US Navy warships when the time comes.

Given the imminent war with the Caliphate, the events in Alpha Centauri are of secondary importance. Even so, the US destroyer Comte de Grasse is shadowing the Brazilian task group, which is now less than one hundred million kilometres from the Luhman 16 jump point. Whether the Brazilians transit the jump point or change course toward one of the Centauri home worlds will have major implications for the future of known space, rivalling those of the assault on the Caliphate.

Recent construction from United States shipyards includes a Ticonderoga class escort cruiser, three colony ships, three fuel harvesters, three terraformers and two freighters of a new class with fuel efficient engines. US civilian shipping comprises twenty-nine ships with a combined tonnage of 1,350,000. A second US shipping line has recently been formed but has yet to launch any ships. The United States economy is in good condition with reasonable stockpiles of fuel and minerals, boosted by three thousand tons of Gallicite from a recent trade deal with the United Kingdom, and a healthy wealth reserve. The future state of the US economy could be dramatically affected by the events of the forthcoming days and weeks.

« Last Edit: August 23, 2018, 11:17:11 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #47 on: November 10, 2015, 02:27:09 PM »
United Nations = 8th June 2108

Since the report on solar warming in May 2106, the average surface temperature of the Earth has risen by one point six degrees to 15.6C. This unprecedented increase has happened in just thirteen months. With that rate of change, scientists have estimated that the temperature will pass beyond the point at which humans can survive without a protective environment in less than fifteen years. The non-TN nations are therefore grateful to those powers that are transporting their citizens to new colonies. However, there is considerable concern that the current rate of transport will be insufficient in the available time frame.
 

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #48 on: November 10, 2015, 03:52:07 PM »
Orders of Battle: Part 1- June 8th 2108

Argentina
4x Capayan class Destroyer (6400 tons): Capayan, Salta, San Juan, Santa Cruz
2x Esperanza class Destroyer Escort (6400 tons): Esperanza, Rosales

3x San Luis class Gravitational Survey Vessel
1x San Martin class Geological Survey Vessel
1x Rio Quequen class Geological Survey Vessel

2x Cormoran class Troop Transport
1x Espora class Tanker 
4x Comodoro Rivadavia class Freighter 
1x Comodoro Rivadavia - J class Jump Freighter
4x Gomez Roca class Colony Ship
1x Almorante Brown class Terraformer
4x Dorado class Fuel Harvester


Australia
1x Sydney class Destroyer Leader (7800 tons): Sydney
3x Melbourne class Destroyer (7800 tons): Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth
1x Darwin class Scout (6000 tons): Darwin

2x Adelaide class Geological Survey Vessel   

1x Amphion class Tanker
7x Botany Bay class Colony Ship
6x Success class Freighter
7x Collins class Fuel Harvester
2x Perry class Terraformer 


Brazil
2x Antares class Kinetic Battlecruiser (15,000 tons): Antares, Almirante Maximiano
7x São Paulo class Kinetic Cruiser  (9000 tons): São Paulo, Brasil, Constituição, Independência, União, Júlio de Noronha, Jaceguai
8x Almirante Sabóia class Kinetic Frigate (6000 tons): Almirante Sabóia, Almirante Guilhem, Anhatomirim, Aratu, Atalaia, Araçatuba, Albardão, Abrolhos
2x Tridente class Jump Frigate  (6000 tons): Tridente, Tritão

2x Rio de Janeiro class Gravitational Survey Vessel 
5x Liberal class Geological Survey Vessel   

2x Guaporé class Troop Transport 
2x Comandante Varella class Tanker
9x Defensora class Colony Ship
9x Amapá class Freighter   
2x Amapá-J class Freighter


The Caliphate
14x Mersin class FAC Transport (12,000 tons): Al Riyadh, Makkah, Dammam, Al Madinah, Hofouf, Abha, Taif, Al-Yarmook, Badr, Hitteen, Tabuk, Al-Farouq, Abdul-Aziz, Khalid
6x Hebron class FAC Leader
72x Ashdod class Fast Attack Craft
36x Matrah class Fast Attack Craft
18x Mecca class Fast Attack Craft

6x Dubai class Geological Survey Vessel

4x Mosul class FAC Tender 
3x Ankara class Troop Transport
5x Abadan class Ammunition Transport 
11x Jiddah class Colony Ship
8x Beirut class Freighter
7x Muara class Fuel Harvester 
6x Shiraz class Terraformer


Canada
4x Halifax class Destroyer  (8100 tons): Halifax, Vancouver, Ville de Québec, Toronto
3x Protecteur class Destroyer (8100 tons): Protecteur, Calgary, Montréal
4x Kingston class Scout (5100 tons): Kingston, Edmonton, Yellowknife, Saskatoon

1x Restigouche class Tanker 
4x Mackenzie class Colony Ship 
5x Annapolis class Freighter
5x Saint Laurent class Fuel Harvester
4x Prestonian class Terraformer


Centauri Federation
2x Asgard class Jump Cruiser (10,200 tons): Asgard, Vanaheim
7x Grendel class Cruiser (10,200 tons): Beowulf, Grendel, Heorot, Hrothgar, Sceadugenga, Wealhtheow, Unferth
4x Tyr class Cruiser  (10,200 tons): Lokasenna, Sigrdrífa, Sigurðr, Tyr

6x Saga class Science Vessel (6000 tons): Biskupa Sogur, Hákonar Saga, Hungrvaka, Islendingabók, Kristni Saga, Landnámabók

1x Heimdall class Troop Transport
2x Garm class Tanker 
8x Kolga class Colony Ship
4x Galdsheim class Freighter
10x Gungnir class Fuel Harvester
12x Loki class Terraformer   
2x Norn class Construction Ship


France
1x Le Redoutable class Jump Cruiser (12,000 tons): Le Redoutable
4x Clemenceau-S class Missile Cruiser (12,000 tons): Clemenceau, Charles de Gaulle, La Fayette, Montcalm
1x Clemenceau class Missile Cruiser (12,000 tons): Jean de Vienne
4x Dunkerque class Frigate (6000 tons): Dunkerque, Casabianca, Aquitaine, Provence

2x Rubis class Science Vessel (8000 tons): Rubis, Saphir

2x Duguay-Trouins class Troop Transport
2x La Fantasque class Tanker
1x Normandie class Jump Freighter
5x Richelieu class Freighter 
3x Bisson class Jump Colony Ship
4x Suffren class Colony Ship 
3x Courbet class Terraformer
3x La Galissonniere class Fuel Harvester
1x Surcouf class Construction Ship 
1x Chacal class Tug


Germany
2x Konigsberg class Jump Cruiser (12,000 tons): Konigsberg, Nürnberg
4x Scharnhorst class Battlecruiser (12,000 tons): Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Derfflinger, Lützow
4x Deutschland class Frigate (6000 tons): Deutschland, Hannover, Orion, Schleswig-Holstein
2x Prinz Eugen class Frigate (6000 tons): Prinz Eugen, Blücher

5x Bayern class Scout (6000 tons): Baden, Bayern, Westfalen, Saschen, Wurttenburg
4x Rheinland class Geological Survey Vessel (6000 tons): Rheinland, Posen, Niedersachsen, Hessen

2x Bremse class Tanker 
3x Barbe class Troop Transport   
9x Von Roeder class Colony Ship
2x Emden class Jump Freighter
8x Nassau class Freighter
7x Koln class Fuel Harvester 
3x Scheer class Construction Ship
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:21:27 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #49 on: November 11, 2015, 01:36:22 PM »
Orders of Battle: Part 2- June 8th 2108

Japan
6x Akagi class Missile Cruiser (15,000 tons): Akagi, Kaga, Hosho, Ryujo, Soryu, Hiryu
6x Kongo class Escort Cruiser (11,250 tons): Fuso, Haruna, Hiei, Kirishima, Kongo, Yamashiro
15x Kagero class Destroyer (7,500 tons): Akigumo, Amatsukaze, Arashi, Hagukaze, Hamakaze, Hatsukaze, Hayashio, Isokaze, Kagero, Kuroshio, Maikaze, Natsushio, Oyashio, Tokitsukaze, Yuikikaze

4x Nagara class Gravitational Survey Vessel (7,500 tons): Isuzu, Nagaro, Natori, Yura
4x Sakawa class Geological Survey Vessel  (7,500 tons): Agano, Noshiro, Sakawam Yahagi

4x Kaiyo Maru class Troop Transport
3x Hayasui class Tanker
1x Kuma class Jump Freighter   
11x Seisho Maru class Freighter
15x Awazisan Maru class Colony Ship
10x Henkan Maru class Terraformer
20x Hyuga class Fuel Harvester 
2x Kochiku Maru class Construction Ship


Manchuria
4x Xian class Destroyer Leader (9000 tons): Ganzhou, Xian, Xiangtan, Yangzhou
9x Jianghu class Destroyer (9000 tons): Cangzhou, Dandong, Jianghu, Jinhua, Qingdao, Shantou, Shaoguan, Taizhou, Zhaotong, Zunyi
9x Jiangwei class Destroyer (9000 tons): Jiangwei, Jiaxing, Lianyungang, Mianyang, Putian, Xiangyang, Yichangm Huludao, Zhanjiang, Zhuhai

8x Yinchuan class Science Vessel (5000 tons): Haikou, Heifei, Kinming, Lanzhou, Shenyang, Shijiazhuang, Xinhui, Yinchuan

3x Changsha class Troop Transport
2x Huangwen class Tanker
2x Jinan class Jump Freighter 
7x Hegu class Freighter
10x Hainan class Colony Ship
10x Kaifeng class Fuel Harvester
14x Xining class Terraformer 
2x Dalian class Construction Ship


Martian Union
4x Lancea class Orbital Weapon Platform (10,000 tons): Dominus Astra, Justus Dominus, Vae Victis, Vigilanti Eternas
6x Spiculum class Orbital Weapon Platform (10,000 tons): Audacia, Carniflex, Exidium, Impavidus, Incepteris, Sanquinarius
4x Verutum class Orbital Weapon Platform (10,000 tons): Dies Irae, Ex Cathedra, Ferrum Aeternum, Gladius Martis
14x Trident class Patrol Ship (4650 tons): Aquila, Aries, Corvus, Cygnus, Delphinus, Draco, Leonis, Lupus, Monoceros, Orcus, Scorpii, Squalus, Ursus, Volantis

2x Cingulum class Geological Survey Vessel

1x Pyrrhus class Tanker
10x Gladius class Colony Ship
10x Martiobarbulus class Freighter 
9x Decius class Fuel Harvester 
1x Fabius class Tug 


Russian Federation
2x Project 1200 Atlant class Cruiser (12,000 tons): Chervona Ukrayina, Slava
5x Project 1201 Berkut class Cruiser (12,000 tons): Admiral Zozulya, Kronstadt, Sevastopol, Vize-Admiral Drozd, Vladivostok
2x Project 1214 Berkut-J class Cruiser (12,000 tons): Admiral Isakov, Admiral Nakhimov
12x Project 1202 Sarych class Destroyer (8,000 tons): Admiral Ushakov, Bespokoynyy, Bezuprechnyy, Boyevoy, Burnyy, Gremyashchiy, Otchayannyy, Rastoropnyy, Sovremennyy, Stoykiy, Vazhnyy, Veduschiy
8x Project 1203 Molniya class Destroyer (8,000 tons): Bditelnyy, Bodryy, Dostoynyy, Druzhnyy, Razumnyy, Razyashchiy, Storozhevoy, Svirepyy

6x Project 1205 Vishnaya-R class Gravitational Survey Vessel (4000 tons): Akademik A. Karpinsky, Akademik Aleksandr Nesmeyanov, Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko, Akademik Boris Petrov, Akademik Fersman, Akademik Sergey Vavilov
4x Project 1205 Vishnaya-E class Geological Survey Vessel (4,000 tons): Akademik Fyodorov, Akademik Korolyov, Akademik Kurchatov, Akademik Lazarev

5x Project 1215 Ropucha class Troop Transport
2x Project 1210 Lebedev class Tanker
11x Project 1206 Chirikov class Colony Ship
7x Project 1207 Antonov class Freighter
15x Project 1208 Olekma class Fuel Harvester
4x Project 1209 Fyodorov class Terraformer
2x Project 1216 Fyodorov - B class Terraformer
4x Project 1211 Moskva class Construction Ship
1x Project 1212 Sverdlov class Construction Ship


United Kingdom
2x Resolution class Jump Cruiser (12,000 tons): Resolution, Temeraire
6x Dreadnought class Battlecruiser (12,000 tons): Bellerophon, Collingwood, Colossus, Dreadnought, St Vincent, Vanguard
8x Agincourt class Escort Cruiser  (9000 tons): Agincourt, Balaclava, Blenheim, Quebec, Quiberon Bay, Salamanca, Trafalgar, Waterloo
18x Tribal class Destroyer (6,000 tons): Afridi, Amazon, Apache, Ashanti, Comanche, Cossack, Eskimo, Gurkha, Maori, Matabele, Mohawk, Nubian, Punjabi, Saracen, Sukh, Tartar, Viking, Zulu

4x Galileo class Gravitational Survey Vessel (6,000 tons): Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Tycho Brae
3x Darwin class Geological Survey Vessel (6000 tons): Attenborough, Bellamy, Brunel

4x Audacious class Troop Transport
2x Flower class Tanker
10x Atlas class Freighter
15x Mayflower class Colony Ship 
8x Mayflower - E class Colony Ship
21x Ambrosia class Fuel Harvester 
8x Avalon class Terraformer   
2x Phoenix class Salvager
2x Hephaestus class Construction Ship
2x River class Mobile Jump Gate
3x Hercules class Tug


United States
7x Shiloh class Heavy Cruiser (12,000 tons): Antietam, Appomattox, Chancellorsville, Chickamauga, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Vicksburg
6x Ticonderoga class Escort Cruiser (9000 tons): Bunker Hill, Lexington, Ticonderoga, Valley Forge, White Plains, Yorktown
12x Spruance class Destroyer (6000 tons): Comte de Grasse, Cushing, Fletcher, John Rodgers, John Young, Kinkaid, Merrill, Moosbrugger, Nicholson, Oldendorf, Peterson, Spruance

4x Nautilus class Gravitational Survey Vessel (6,000 tons): Barracuda, Dolphin, Narwhal, Nautilus
3x Skipjack class Geological Survey Vessel (6000 tons): Skipjack, Stingray, Sturgeon

3x Saratoga class Troop Transport
2x Ohio class Tanker
3x Knox class Jump Freighter
10x Liberty class Freighter
2x Liberty-E class Freighter
13x Roanoke class Colony Ship
22x Caldwell class Fuel Harvester
9x Gaia class Terraformer
2x Gateway class Construction Ship
3x Pegasus class Tug
 

Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #50 on: November 11, 2015, 02:10:42 PM »
Overall Comparison - 9th June 2108

 

Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #51 on: November 18, 2015, 04:55:06 PM »
The First Colonial War

9th June 2108
A Brazilian task group, comprising two Antares class kinetic battlecruisers, six Sao Paulo class kinetic cruisers, two Almirante Saboia class kinetic frigates and one Guapora class troop transport, arrives at the Luhman jump point. Instead of transiting, it immediately sets a new course for Vanaheim, the third planet of Alpha Centauri-A and home to the second largest Centauri population and a Martian colony. As the Brazilians have already attempted misdirection to disguise their true destination, it is possible that is still the case and the task group will at some point divert to the Lagrange point of Alpha Centauri II and jump to the Alpha Centauri-B system. The Centauri Federation demands the Brazilian ships state their intentions and warns them not to approach Alpha Centauri-A. The Brazilians do not respond.

10th June 2108
The heavy cruiser Chancellorsville and the destroyer Oldendorf depart Colombia en route to Earth to reinforce the US Navy task group in orbit, leaving a heavy cruiser, an escort cruiser and two destroyers at Columbia.

11th June 2108
A large Japanese task group has assembled in Edo. Both reinforcement groups have arrived from Earth and joined the destroyers already in the system. The combined force comprises three Akagi class missile cruisers, two Kongo class escort cruisers and eight Kagero class destroyers. As the Brazilian task group is still on its heading for Vanaheim and the threat to Edo is receding, three destroyers are detached to guard Edo while the rest of the task group heads back to Alpha Centauri via Luhman in case Japan can gain any advantage from the apparently imminent combat between Brazil and the Centauri Federation. The task group is fully fuelled after a rendezvous with a Japanese tanker.

In Alpha Centauri, a Tyr class escort cruiser and an Asgard class jump cruiser remain in orbit of Asgard while the rest of the Centauri Fleet, comprising one Asgard, three Tyrs and seven Grendel class cruisers, heads for the Alpha Centauri-B V Lagrange point to jump to the Alpha Centauri-A system and confront the approaching Brazilians.

12th June 2108
Based on the estimated time of travel since the recent UK sighting, two Caliphate FAC carriers and two troop transports will now be somewhere in the Eta Cassiopeiae system, although they are not on US sensors. Concerned that they may launch FACs strikes if alerted, the United States decides to wait until they are in orbit of Eta Cassiopeiae-A III before launching any attack.  The delay also gives Germany more time to moves forces into place. A Scharnhorst class battlecruiser that was already in Neu Brandenburg has moved to the Medina jump point. A second Scharnhorst and two frigates are en route from Sol and will arrive in Medina via the WX Ursae Majoris jump point

14th June 2108 00:10
The Brazilian task group is passing through Alpha Centauri-As outer asteroid belt seven hundred and fifty million kilometers from Vanaheim. The Centauri Fleet is moving to meet them from the direction of the Alpha Centauri-A II Lagrange point. The Centauri issue a demand that the Brazilians withdraw their ships from Alpha Centaur immediately or they will open fire. The Brazilians ignore the demands and continue onwards.

07:30
Chancellorsville and Oldendorf arrive at Earth.

12:00
With the Brazilians six hundred and fifty million kilometres from Vanaheim, the Centauri give a final warning before launching a full salvo of seventy Thor anti-ship missiles from the seven Grendel class cruisers at a distance of ninety-two million kilometres. Their target is the kinetic cruiser Júlio de Noronha. A second salvo follows forty seconds later targeting the cruiser União. The Centauri cease fire to observe the results of the first two salvos.



The Thor is a modern, fast anti-ship missile with a strength-6 warhead, speed of 24,000 km/s and a range of over one hundred million kilometers. One hour after launch the first salvo reaches its target. The Centauri are horrified when the powerful salvo melts like snow in the face of massed point defence fire from gauss cannon and railguns. Not a single missile survives. The second salvo of seventy missiles is equally ineffective. The Centauri also have three Tyr class cruisers in their force, each of which is armed with fifteen launchers for short-range anti-missile missiles. However the AMMs have a speed of 33,600 km/s so they cannot be launched in a combined salvo with the Thor missiles. The Centauri Fleet withdraws toward Vanaheim and the fourth Tyr, currently in Asgard orbit, is ordered to join them. A Martian patrol ship in orbit of Colonia Antium, a moon of Alpha Centauri-A II, also sets course for Vanaheim. Fortunately, the Brazilian fleet is moving relatively slowly due to the presence of the troop transport so the 400 km/s speed advantage of their warships is not in play. The ineffectiveness of missiles against massed point defence is observed by the ships of several other nations in the system, including Japan, Russia, Canada and the United States.

Halfway to Vanaheim, the commander of the Centauri fleet, Ulfhednar Moritz Bergstrasser, realises there is a way to get past the devastating Brazilian point defence. Any point defence system requires sufficient time to detect, track and engage incoming missiles. If the Centauri ships can launch close enough to the Brazilians, their point defence systems will not have time to shoot down the missiles. Therefore he orders his ships, designed to launch attacks from one hundred million kilometers, to close to just one hundred thousand kilometers from the approaching Brazilian task group. The disadvantage of this course of action is that the Brazilian’s own weapons may be able to engage the Centauri ships at that range, plus the Brazilians have a 400 km/s speed advantage if they choose to close the range further. However, to do that they would have to leave behind the troop transport, which would then be an easy target for Centauri missiles.

15th June: 10:00
The Japanese task group of three missile cruisers, two escort cruiser and five destroyers arrives in Alpha Centauri. A sixth Japanese destroyer has been in the system throughout and is shadowing the Brazilians at a distance of five million kilometres.

16:30
Conscious that some of his crews are inexperienced, Ulfhednar Bergstrasser gives the order to open fire when the Centauri Fleet moves within 200,000 kilometres of the Brazilian task group, reasoning that wasting missiles against the enemy point defence is less important than waiting too long to fire. Besides, the AMMs of the Tyrs are fast enough that launching within 150,000 kilometers should be sufficient to avoid the enemy point defence. As the Grendels only fire every forty seconds, Bergstrasser is concerned about wasting missiles through overkill. Therefore three Grendels target each of the Antares class battlecruisers with the seventh targeting the troop transport. All three Tyr class escort cruisers target the cruiser Brasil. The fourth Tyr, sent as a reinforcement, has only just arrived in the Alpha Centauri-A system and is four hundred million kilometres away

The Brazilian task group is commanded by Contra-Almirante Rafaela Ferreira, the senior office of the Brazilian Navy. As the Centauri close in without firing, she realises their intention. Unfortunately the maximum range of her ships’ railguns is 90,000 kilometers and she is well aware that the Centauri missiles are fast enough for them to be fired outside that range. Her task group is restricted to 2142 km/s due to the presence of the Guaporé class troop transport so it is unable to close the range if the Centauri decide to keep it open. Before departing Earth she warned the Brazilian civilian leadership that bringing the troop transport was too restrictive and that the Centauri defences should be eliminated before such a vulnerable vessel entered Alpha Centauri. She was overruled because the government wanted to launch an invasion as soon as possible after Brazilian intentions were revealed, to achieve maximum surprise. Faced with the destruction of her task group, Contra-Almirante Ferreira has little choice but to detach the Guaporé and its precious cargo of five thousand Brazilian troops so that her warships can achieve their maximum speed of 4400 km/s and charge the approaching Centauri. All the Brazilian ships lock their railgun fire controls on a Tyr class escort cruiser and wait for the range to fall.

At 153,000 kilometers, the Centauri launch forty Thor anti-ship missiles and fifteen Magni AMMs. The range closes fast enough that the Brazilian do not have time to track and engage the inbounds. With the two forces just 111,000 kilometres apart Almirante Maximiano, an Antares class battlecruiser, suffers eighteen strength-6 hits, penetrating her armour in two places and damaging engineering and fuel storage. Antares is struck nine times, suffering damage to twenty percent of her armour. The cruiser Brasil is struck by all 15 Magnis, causing relatively minor armour damage.

Due to their inexperience, the Centauri are a few seconds late in reversing course to maintain their distance. With the high closing speed, they suddenly find themselves just 69,000 kilometers from an opposing force designed to fight at close range. Tyr is struck by a barrage of railgun fire that penetrates her armour, destroying one of her missile launchers. All three Centauri escort cruisers launch a simultaneous salvo. Three of the Grendels have yet to launch their first missiles and it will be thirty seconds before the other four launch again. The ships yet to fire are all recent construction and their crews are still green. If he survives, Ulfhednar Bergstrasser intends to create an extensive training program for the Federation Navy.

The Centauri perform their course reversal but the damage has been done. The range falls to 67,000 kilometers as the 400 km/s speed advantage of the Brazilians start to tell. The Brazilian railguns have a fifteen second cycle time and the Brazilian warships are firing in sequence are so the Centauri are facing a continuous hail of kinetic projectiles. Many hits penetrate Tyr’s armour, striking one of Bóndison-Arnmundarson BA-400 Main Drives. The destruction of the engine triggers a strength-85 secondary explosion that rips the 10,200 ton escort cruiser to pieces. The kinetic cruiser Brasil is hit by forty-five AMM. Although her armour suffers substantial damage, nothing penetrates to the interior of the ship. The Grendel class cruiser Hrothgar finally joins the battle, launching a salvo of ten missiles against Almirante Maximiano. Six hit, causing extensive armour damage and destroying a reactor.

Sigurðr is the next Centauri ship to be hit by railgun fire. Her armour is holed in several places and remarkably unlucky internal damage takes out her active sensor and all three fire controls. She is out of the fight unless she can effect repairs. More AMMs hit the Brazilian cruiser Brasil, destroying one of her two gauss cannon turrets and her active sensor. Six Thor missiles from Unferth strike Antares, also destroying a gauss cannon turret. The Antares class has four turrets in total compared to two on the São Paulo class. Thor missiles from Wealhtheow pass the Brazilian force heading for the Guaporé class troop transport in its wake. All ten missiles strike their helpless target, killing forty percent of the troops on board and disabling one of its six engines. Given it has only strength-1 armour, it is surprising the transport survived at all.

With the range at 61,000 km/s, Sigurðr is hit again. Her armour absorbs most of the damage but she still loses three launchers and part of her fuel storage capacity. The Brazilians are concentrating on the fast-firing escort cruisers first as they launch every ten seconds compared to forty seconds for the Grendels. The cruiser Brasil is hit by missiles from Sigrdrífa, the last Tyr still in action, which damage one of her fire controls. Despite her damage, Brasil is still fighting at offensive capacity.

Sigurðr explodes with the two sides 57,000 kilometres apart. The Centauri are running for Vanaheim while the Brazilians pursue. Beowulf, Grendel, Heorot and Sceadugenga fire for the second time, sending forty Thor missiles toward the two Antares class battlecruisers. Antares is struck by six missiles that blast two large holes in her armour and destroy a second gauss cannon turret. Almirante Maximiano is devastated by twenty-five detonations that destroy most of her armour, three gauss cannon turrets, two railguns, two fire control systems and one of her engines. Most importantly, all four fuel storage bunkers are opened to space, leaving the battlecruiser with four intact engines but no fuel. She is left dead in space and rapidly falls behind the battle.

Brazilian targeting changes to Sigrdrífa, the last of the three Tyr class escort cruisers. A barrage of railgun fire from the six São Paulo class cruisers inflicts considerable damage and she loses several magazines, all of her fire control systems and one of her engines. Sigrdrífa’s last salvo, fired just before the loss of her fire control, hits Brasil and disables one of the cruiser’s three engines. Brasil’s speed falls to 2933 km/s and she begins to fall astern of the Brazilian main body. As the range falls to 49,000 kilometres, Antares and the two Brazilian frigates fire their railguns and Sigrdrífa is blown apart by a secondary magazine explosion. Due to Sigrdrífa’s reduced speed Brazilian railguns were within the range where they caused strength-2 hits, effectively doubling the firepower of the Brazilian warships.

Thor missiles from Hrothgar and Unferth score thirteen hits on Antares while a volley from Wealhtheow streaks past the Brazilians warships en route to the Guaporé class troop transport. Antares has several gaping holes in her armour, which allows one of the Centauri missiles to take out one of her five Vieira-Bastos VB-264 Ion Drives. The battlecruiser’s speed drops to 3520 km/s and the range begins to the remaining Centauri ships begins to open.

The new target of the Brazilian railguns is the Grendel class cruiser Beowulf. The first salvo from the five São Paulos still in range causes significant armour damage but does not penetrate. A follow-up shot from the frigates inflicts several strength-2 hits and knocks out three missile launchers. Now the entire Centauri fleet is within the range at which the Brazilian railguns double in effectiveness. The salvo from Wealhtheow reaches the Brazilian troop transport, destroying another thirty percent of its troop capacity. Only the fact that the transport’s engines are proving incredibly resistant to damage has prevented it from being destroyed entirely.

Beowulf, Grendel, Heorot and Sceadugenga launch thirty-seven missiles against the cruiser Constituição. The missiles arrive just as the São Paulos fire again. Beowulf is hit by sixty-three strength-2 railguns hits and is blown to pieces by two secondary magazine explosions. Constituição is destroyed simultaneously after being hit by thirty-two Thor missiles. Four São Paulo class cruisers and two frigates are now 37,000 kilometers from six Grendels and an unarmed Asgard class jump cruiser. Antares is falling astern but still just within weapon range. Brasil is out of railgun range and has reversed course to protect the troop transport as best she can.

Grendel begins to take railgun hits. The first volley is from the frigates and fails to penetrate. The follow-up five seconds later from the cruisers causes massive damage and she falls out of formation. Missiles are launched by Hrothgar, Unferth and Wealhtheow against União but only thirteen hit out of thirty and none penetrate the cruiser’s armour. Antares scores several strength-1 hits from long range that destroy Grendel’s remaining engine, leaving her dead in space. The frigates Aratu and Atalaia deliver the coup de grace. Five Grendels remain.

The range is 27,000 km/s and the Brazilian railguns strike Heorot with a devastating barrage of strength-3 hits, leaving her burning and dead in space. The defensive gauss cannon on the cruisers are also in range. Despite their limited power, they have a high rate of fire and begin blasting away at Hrothgar’s armour. Aratu and Atalaia destroy the crippled Heorot. Sceadugenga sends a single volley in response that damages an engine on União and causes the cruiser to fall out of formation. Another volley of railgun fire and Hrothgar explodes. Ulfhednar Bergstrasser, on board the jump cruiser Vanaheim, realises the battle is lost so he orders his three surviving cruisers to target the damaged troop transport. Even if the Brazilians win the battle, they cannot land on Vanaheim or Asgard without troops. He also orders the Centauri freighters, colony ships, terraformers and fuel harvesters to leave Asgard orbit and head for the Sol jump point directly, without jumping to Alpha Centauri-A. If they survive the trip they are to head for Mars.

Sceadugenga is next to die. Simultaneously Unferth and Wealhtheow launch a salvo of twenty Thor missiles at the Guaporé. Ulfhednar Bergstrasser gives his last three ships, including his own, the order to scatter, hoping the division of enemy forces will allow one of the Grendels to survive long enough to launch another salvo. While the scatter does cause some momentary confusion among the Brazilian forces, they split up and chase the Grendels, sending a single frigate after Vanaheim. Meanwhile the Centauri missiles arrive at the Brazilian troop transport, scoring nineteen hits. Amazingly the transport survives once again, although it is as good as destroyed. All the troop transport bays are wrecked, along with the fuel bunkers and all but one engine. The Brazilians will not be landing any ground forces on Centauri territory in the near future.

Both Grendels are quickly run down and destroyed. Unferth manages to launch five missiles but they lose tracking after her destruction. Vanaheim lasts a little longer but cannot escape and has no armament. Ulfhednar Bergstrasser refuses to surrender his ship and the Brazilians are forced to destroy it. He escapes in a life pod with sixty-five others from the crew. The Federation Navy now comprises the Tyr class escort cruiser Lokasenna and the jump cruiser Asgard. Lokasenna is recalled to protect the primary Centauri colony of Asgard, although she has little chance against the remaining Brazilian ships.

The Brazilian task group has only lost the cruiser Constituição but several other ships have serious damage, including both battlecruisers. The cruisers Independência, Júlio de Noronha and São Paulo and the frigates Aratu and Atalaia are all undamaged. The cruisers União and Brasil both have massive armour damage. The former has lost an engine while the latter has suffered significant internal damage. Almirante Maximiano has virtually no armour at all, serious internal damage and no fuel storage capacity, so she is currently dead in space. Antares has perhaps forty percent of her armour remaining and has lost all four gauss cannon turrets, two railguns, a fire control system and an engine. Contra-Almirante Rafaela Ferreira reorganises her force, deciding to send all the damaged ships home. While they can repair some of their damaged systems from their own resources, the armour damage requires a shipyard. The damaged ships are ordered to form a single squadron and to concentrate on repairing engines to speed their voyage home. Almirante Maximiano will need to repair her fuel storage first so that fuel can be transferred from another ship. The squadron will also pick up the life pods before leaving the battle area. The Guaporé class troop transport is dead in space and does not have sufficient engineering capability to repair an engine so the ship will have to be abandoned until such time as the Brazilian Navy has a tug that can tow the transport to a shipyard.

Contra-Almirante Ferreira transfers her flag from Almirante Maximiano to Independência and forms a second squadron with the five undamaged ships. Although she can no longer land ground troops, she has a sufficient force to cause havoc within the virtually undefended Alpha Centauri system. Her orders are not to target civilian shipping or commercial vessels, such as colony ships or fuel harvesters, unless absolutely necessary. Before her task group departed Earth, the intention of the Brazilian government was to eventually force a Centauri surrender and capture as much shipping as possible. Due to a shortage of ground forces the plan was to secure Vanaheim first and use that as a base to build up for an attack on Asgard. The ten infantry battalions lost on board the Guaporé represented the only available striking force. Only six garrison battalions remain on Earth to guard Brazilian territory. Four more infantry battalions are in training and should be available within three months. With no prospect of any offensive ground operations for at least three months, Brazil is faced with the prospect of a long war. Therefore, Contra-Almirante Ferreira seeks permission to destroy the naval shipyards in orbit of Asgard and to hunt down the any surviving Centauri warships. After some debate in the higher echelons of the Brazilian government, permission is granted.

The Centauri Federation is in a very difficult situation and requests assistance from the Martian Union. Mars has a single patrol ship in Alpha Centauri which is currently moving to protect Vanaheim, although her commander suspects it is a forlorn hope. Six patrol ships are guarding the Martian fuel harvesters against a squadron of three Brazilian frigates lurking in the moons of Uranus. The remaining seven patrol ships depart Mars orbit on course for the Alpha Centauri jump point. Mars has powerful orbital defences so the planet is safe against attack. Six of the fourteen orbital weapon platforms are Spiculum class, armed with the Apollo anti-ship missile, which has a range of two hundred and twenty million kilometres and is intended for interplanetary bombardment. Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun and currently three hundred and seventy-five million kilometers apart so any direct Martian retribution for the attack on the Centauri will not be possible for several months.

Twenty minutes after the battle, an offer of help arrives from a very unexpected source. The Japanese ambassador requests an urgent audience with the Centauri. He offers Japanese military assistance in exchange for two concessions. Firstly, permission for a Japanese colony on Vanaheim with full mining rights and no restrictions on military forces. Secondly, an agreement from the Centauri to withdraw from the rest of the Centauri chain, leaving it solely to the Japanese. The Centauri have only a single small colony outside of Alpha Centauri, on the inner planet of Delta Pavonis, so the Japanese offer that the colony can remain and may be visited by civilian traffic but no additional colony ships may visit. The Centauri are faced with the option of seeing their shipyards destroyed and having no ability to rebuild while the Brazilians conduct an eventual ground invasion or even carry out an orbital bombardment. In contrast, the Japanese terms are harsh but they preserve the Centauri Federation as a functioning state, along with its full industrial capacity and an ability to rebuild its military forces. The Alpha Centauri system is capable of sustaining the Federation for many years with no need for extra-system colonies so the restriction on exploration will affect the Centauri much less than the Earth-based nations. Therefore, despite considerable suspicion of the long-term motives of the Japanese, the Centauri agree to their terms.

The Japanese have a task group stationed at the Alpha Centauri – Luhman jump point, comprising three Akagi class missile cruisers, two Kongo class escort cruisers and five Kagero class destroyers. A sixth destroyer, Arashi, has been following the battle from relatively close range and is seven million kilometres from the damaged Brazilian ships. In Earth orbit are three more Akagis, three Kongos and four Kageros. A small Brazilian task group comprising a cruiser, two frigates and two jump frigates is also in Earth orbit. The problem for the Japanese is that the five intact Brazilian ships can reach both Vanaheim and Asgard long before any Japanese ships can intervene. The commander of the Combined Fleet, Kaigun Taisho Tagawa Masamura, decides the only way to prevent the Brazilian ships reaching their targets is to give them something more important to think about. He orders Arashi to close to within 200,000 kilometres of the damaged Japanese ships, which are spreading out to pick up life pods, and he puts the ships in Earth orbit on standby for a point-blank strike against the Brazilian task group. For now, the task group on the Luhman jump point remains in place to avoid giving any warning of Japanese intentions.

The damaged Brazilian ships have repairs underway. Almirante Maximiano has restored the integrity of one of her fuel bunkers and is mobile once again. As Arashi closes in Almirante Maximianorepairs her damaged engine, giving her a top speed of 4400 km/s. compared to 4000 km/s for the Japanese destroyer. The Japanese destroyer has an armament of four 15cm railguns and six 10cm railguns and her main armament has the same range as her larger Brazilian opponents. Arashi does have intact armour but that may no longer be sufficient if the Brazilians can choose the engagement range. Therefore Kaigun Taisho Tagawa orders her to back off but to keep the Brazilians on active sensors until reinforcements arrive. The Brazilians complete their rescue operation and the four damaged ships, Almirante Maximiano, Antares, União and Brasil, set course for the Sol jump point at 2933 km/s, the maximum speed of the latter three ships, with Arashi shadowing from a million kilometres. A Russian destroyer is a few million kilometers further away. The five intact ships, Independência, Júlio de Noronha, São Paulo, Aratu and Atalaia, are on course for the Alpha Centauri-A II Lagrange point.

Kaigun Taisho Tagawa waits eight hours to give the Brazilian more time to divide their forces. At 01:15 on June 16th 2108 he gives the order for his Earth-based task group to eliminate the Brazilian task group in orbit. All Japanese ships wait until every ship is ready to fire simultaneously to ensure maximum impact. Hosho, Ryujo and Soryu launch a total of forty-five Katana anti-ship missiles at the cruiser Jaceguai, Haruna, Hiei and Yamashiro launch sixty Wakazashi anti-missile missiles at the frigate Albardão while Hayashio, Isokaze, Maikaze and Natsushio open fire with railguns against the frigate Araçatuba. Two Tridente class jump frigates are not targeted by the first salvo as they are seen by the Japanese as the least effective Brazilian ships.

Araçatuba disintegrates under a hail of 15cm, and 10cm railgun fire from the four Japanese destroyers, which change their targeting to the Tridentes. The Brazilians desperately try to return fire as the first wave of missiles arrives. Albardão suffers significant armour damage from AMMs and loses one of her railguns. Jaceguai is simply obliterated by the heavy Japanese anti-ship missiles. The jump frigates Tridente and Tritão both take armour damage from 10cm railgun fire. Another wave of AMMs inflicts massive internal damage on Albardão, leaving the frigate with a single functioning railgun, then the Japanese destroyer recycle their 15cm railguns and both Tridente are blown to pieces. The destroyers’ secondary armament turns on Albardão and suddenly Earth’s skies are clear of Brazilian warships. Not a single shot was fired against the Japanese task group. Brazilian colony ships, freighters and tankers all break orbit, heading for the Bernard’s Star jump point. Japan issues an ultimatum to Brazil. Withdraw immediately from Alpha Centauri and cease all combat operations against the Centauri Federation and the Japanese Empire, or Japan will destroy all the Brazilian shipyards and commercial vessels.

The grand plans of the Brazilian government are suddenly in tatters. There is still no way for the Japanese to prevent the ships in Alpha Centauri from destroying the Centauri shipyards but that will not help Brazil if its own shipyards are destroyed and it has no way to invade Centauri territory. Plus the Japanese Navy is in a position to blockade the Sol – Alpha Centauri jump point and inflict huge losses on any Brazilian warships re-entering Sol. There is no choice but to accept the Japanese terms and find a way to exact revenge in the future. All Brazilian ships in Alpha Centauri are ordered to set course for the Sol jump point. The three Brazilian frigates threatening fuel harvesters at Uranus also head for home.

Japan has achieved a great victory with no loss of life and even appears to be a peacemaker rather than an aggressor. The problem of a rival for the Centauri Arm has been resolved, a colony closer to Earth can be created to speed up transportation of colonists and the mineral resources of Vanaheim will prove very useful. The Centauri Federation has been reduced to almost a client state of Japan and will be no threat in the short or medium term. The prime minister of Japan issues a statement on behalf of the Emperor, complimenting the Imperial Japanese Navy on its efforts to end war between human nations and highlighting that no further action has been taken against Brazil, beyond preventing its aggression against a peaceful neighbour.

Stunned by the swift destruction of the Brazilian squadron by the Japanese, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff become very concerned that, given the tension between the United States and the Caliphate, the Caliphate may disperse its forces to avoid a similar attack. Therefore, they abandon their planned timetable and order the task groups in orbit of Earth and Eta Cassiopeiae to begin combat operations immediately. This hasty attack causes a number of problems for the US-German alliance. Half the Caliphate forces in Eta Cassiopeiae are still en route to the planet and not in sensor range of the US task group in orbit of Eta Cassiopeiae-A III. Therefore the strike can only target the Caliphate ships already at the planet. Germany does not yet have its forces in place to move against Medina, although it can contribute to the battle in Earth orbit.

In Earth orbit five Shiloh class heavy cruisers, Antietam, Appomattox, Chancellorsville, Chickamauga and Vicksburg, each target a Mersin class FAC carrier. The Shilohs are armed with ten launchers for RGM-1 Sabre anti-ship missiles, each one of which has a strength-9 warhead. Given what is known of the Mersins they are unlikely to have more than minimal armour. Three more Mersins are each targeted by a pair of Spruance class destroyers while the three Ticonderoga class escort cruisers, Bunker Hill, Lexington and Yorktown, all target the ninth Mersin. Almost fifty independent fast attack craft are not targeted in the first salvo. They will be engaged as soon as the primary targets are eliminated. German ships will also begin firing as soon as possible after the initial US strike. As it would be difficult to coordinate the exact timing of multi-nation attack, the plan is for the far more powerful US Navy task group to fire first rather than risk a smaller German attack alerting the Caliphate.

The Spruance class destroyers fire first, destroying the FAC carriers Abdul-Aziz and Al-Farouq and crippling Khalid, with the latter’s FACs destroyed in their hangar bays. Moments later the first American missiles arrive, destroying Badr and Al-Yarmook and inflicting massive damage on Abha, Hitteen, Tabuk and Taif. Only five Ashdod class FAC make it out from the wreckage of their hangar bays. All US Navy ships begin targeting the independent FACs, ignoring the unarmed carriers. In Earth orbit the Caliphate has fifteen Ashdod class FACs armed with Scimitar anti-ship missiles, twenty-seven Matrah class with twin 10cm meson cannon and ten Mecca class with a single 15cm meson cannon. Most of the FACs destroyed in the hangar bays of the nine Mersin class carriers were Ashdods.

The Spruance class destroyers only have a single fire control system, so their powerful broadside of eight 15cm lasers can only be directed against a single target. Against FACs that represents massive overkill. Ten seconds after their attack on the carrier the destroyers annihilate six Ashdod class FACs. The Caliphate is already starting to respond. Four Meccas open fire on Oldendorf, scoring three hits. Three fail to cause damage but the fourth disables a laser. Three Ashdods launch a total of forty-eight missiles. Fletcher takes ten hits from the 10cm meson cannon of the Matrahs and loses her fire control system and one of her lasers. The fragility of the single fire control means the destroyer is out of the fight. The senior US commander, Rear Admiral Napoleon Pilsner, orders the destroyer to head for Lalande then orders the rest of his command to follow, trying to open the range against the deadly meson-armed FACs. The US crews are inexperienced and the orders will take some time to put into effect.

The destroyer Spruance suffers fourteen strength-4 hits from Caliphate missiles, which punch through her armour and take out her fire control and a laser. Two US destroyers are now out of the fight after suffering relatively minor damage. The lone fire control is proving to be a serious design flaw. Fletcher is hit again, losing half of her lasers. AMMs from the Ticonderogas destroy two Ashdods and cripple a third. The four combat capable destroyers fire again and four more Ashdods die. Oldendorf takes four hits from mesons and becomes the third destroyer to lose its fire control. American laser firepower is down by half since the start of the battle. Realising that Fletcher and Oldendorf have ceased firing, the Caliphate FACs choose new targets. RIM-2A Stiletto missiles from Bunker Hill, Lexington and Yorktown damage three Matrah class FACs. The five Shiloh class cruiser have a fifty second reload time and are still only halfway through that cycle. The destroyer Moosbrugger is hit several times by Mecca class FACs and loses a laser and her active sensor. Her sister ship Nicholson is battered by a large number of Matrah class FACs that disable an engine, a laser, three reactors and her active sensor. Despite the initial success, the battle is not going well for the US Navy with over thirty meson-armed FACs still in action. The Matrah in particular is proving to be a deadly opponent with twin 10cm meson cannon firing every five seconds.

Germany finally makes an entrance thirty seconds after start of the battle. The battlecruisers Derfflinger and Scharnhorst launch a total of twenty-four anti-ship missiles at four Matrah class FACs. The frigate Hannover launches ten AMMs while the lightly-armed jump cruisers Konigsberg and Nurnberg launch a further four missiles between them. Prinz Eugen, a laser armed frigate, is a new ship with an inexperienced crew and has yet to join the battle. The German attack destroys five Matrahs and cripples a sixth. The last Ashdod and another Matrah are destroyed by Moosbrugger and Peterson. The Ashdod launched before it was destroyed and Spruance suffers another twelve missile hits. Her armour is mostly destroyed and she loses two more lasers. Nicholson takes crippling damage from heavy meson fire and is left dead in space, her engines destroyed and her two lasers unable to fire due to lack of fire control. Moosbrugger also takes damage, losing an engine and another laser but she is still in the fight. Peterson is the only undamaged US destroyer.

The Ticonderogas launch another volley, destroying two Matrahs and damaging a third. The Matrahs return fire against Peterson, inflicting massive damage including five lasers and her fire control. Moosbrugger takes further damage and she too has her fire control knocked out. All six of the US destroyers are now out of the fight with varying degrees of damage. Fifteen Matrah class FACs and ten Meccas are still intact with several more damaged. The greatest problem for the USA and Germany is that their major warships are slow-firing and are now facing rapid-firing FACs at very close range.

The German frigate Hannover destroys a Matrah with a salvo of Adler anti-missile missiles. Peterson and Moosbrugger take further damage. As all the US destroyers seemed to have ceased fire, the remaining Matrahs target Bunker Hill and the Meccas target Hannover. Bunker Hill takes damage to an engine, a missile launcher, three magazines and her active sensor but she is still combat capable. Hannover suffers only minor damage. Return fire from the Ticonderogas damages three Matrahs. The German frigate Prinz Eugen finally joins the battle, eviscerating a Matrah with eight 15cm lasers.

The US and German ships suddenly pull away from Earth and the Caliphate FACs are slow to respond due to their own inexperienced crews, even though the Caliphate commander, Vizier Abdul-Mujid Amin, has already ordered his ships to follow any US ships moving away from the planet. A volley of missiles from Hannover destroys another Matrah. Hannover is struck by return fire, taking six hits from Mecca class FACs,. The last of the six triggers a secondary magazine explosion which itself causes two further magazine explosions. Hannover vanishes in a ball of flame. The sudden departure of the allied force takes it outside the 30,000 kilometre range of the Matrahs so Bunker Hill takes no further damage.

The five Shiloh class cruisers complete their reload cycle and prepare to open fire, each one targeting two of the remaining Matrahs. Unfortunately, in the confusion of battle, only those launchers assigned to the primary fire controls are activated, leaving half the missiles still in their launchers. The twenty-five Sabres that do launch are accompanied by the latest salvo of forty-four AMMs from the Ticonderogas. Seeing the allied forces pull away and the incoming wave of missiles, Vizier Amin orders his surviving ships to target whatever enemy ships are within range. Seven Matrahs are blown to pieces by the US missiles and an eighth damaged. Prinz Eugen picks off another. The Caliphate meson cannon strike the slow-moving Peterson, destroying the ship, and inflict further damage on Moosbrugger.

Antietam and Chancellorsville sort out their fire control issues and two more Matrahs die. The other three heavy cruisers still have fifteen ready launchers between them but in their haste to sort out the problem they have caused their fire controls to reset causing further delays. Three Mecca class FACs are hit by AMMs from the Ticonderogas but survive. Scharnhorst and Derfflinger reload and send a new wave of twenty-four Astra Anti-ship missiles toward the FACs now pursuing the allied force, killing three Meccas and damaging a fourth. The jump cruisers Konigsberg and Nurnberg pick off the sole Hebron class FAC – assumed to be some form of sensor platform. Moosbrugger is hit again as she is slower than the chasing FACs and is left dead in space with all engines destroyed.

Appomattox and Chickamauga launch their missiles and destroy a Mecca and a Matrah. Bunker Hill cripples the last mobile Matrah. Six crippled Matrah remain but they are out of range of all allied ships except Moosbrugger, which is unable to move further from Earth and continues to take sporadic fire. One Mecca is still underway and four more are crippled. Two Ashdod are intact but have launched their missiles. The damaged carriers and four ammunition transports are heading away from Earth at their best speed. The battle has been vicious and bloody but is now reaching its conclusion. Vicksburg is the last US cruiser to resolve its fire control problems and takes out the mobile Mecca.

The Shiloh class heavy cruisers and the German battlecruisers cease fire to assess the situation. Bunker Hill, Lexington, Yorktown and Prinz Eugen continue firing, picking off the remaining crippled FACs with AMMs and lasers. Less than a minute after the cruisers cease fire, there are no Caliphate FACs left in the Sol system. Two US heavy cruisers and the two German battlecruisers resume fire, targeting the ammunition transports which blow up spectacularly from a single salvo each. The Ticonderogas target the Mersins while Prinz Eugen moves in to eliminate a FAC Tender still in Earth orbit. Within a few minutes every combat-related Caliphate vessel has been destroyed. A large number of wrecks, including those from the Japan – Brazil engagement, are floating in Earth orbit or scattered across nearby space. Allied losses include the German frigate Hannover and the American destroyer Peterson. The escort cruiser Bunker Hill and the five surviving Spruance class all have varying degrees of damage.

Simultaneously with the action in Sol, the US Navy task group in Eta Cassiopeiae engages the Caliphate forces in that system. The American task group in orbit of Eta Cassiopeiae-A III includes the heavy cruiser Shiloh, the escort cruisers Valley Forge and White Plains and the destroyers John Rogers and Kinkaid. The Caliphate has two Mersin class FAC carriers in orbit, along with a Mosul class FAC tender and an ammunition transport. Both Mersins are destroyed by the opening US salvo without any chance to launch their fast attack craft. The three US missile combatants cease fire while John Rogers and Kinkaid target and destroy the FAC tender and the transport.

The Caliphate has several other ships in Eta Cassiopeiae. Two Mersin class FAC carriers, Al-Medinah and Dammam, transporting nine Ashdod, one Hebron, one Matrah and one Mecca, are one point two billion kilometres from Eta Cassiopeiae-A III. Two hundred and fifty million kilometres further in-system is a troop transport with six battalions of Janissaries while in the opposite direction, heading toward the EV Lacerte jump point, are eight freighters that have recently unloaded mines at the Caliphate colony in the system. Two Dubai class geological survey ships are also in Eta Cassiopeiae, one surveying the planets of the B component and one midway between the two stars. The troop transport immediately reverses its heading and sets course for the jump point to EV Lacerte. One of the survey ships does the same. The other is ordered to investigate an unexplored jump point in Eta Cassiopeiae, which was detected by observing a US transit. The FAC carriers engage their active sensors, which have a limited range of sixty million kilometres, to check for any nearby hostile ships. Detecting nothing, they launch their FACs toward the planet, then disengage sensors and set an evasive course. A single deep space tracking station deployed by the United States on Eta Cassiopeiae-A III, detects the short burst of sensor activity but the US squadron cannot leave the planet without endangering the US colony on the surface. Instead, they prepare for a Caliphate counterattack.

In Medina, the Caliphate has the FAC carrier Hofouf with one Hebron and five Ashdod embarked plus a FAC Tender in orbit of the Caliphate colony. Eleven colony ships are heading to the planet from the WX Ursae Majoris jump point. Seven fuel harvesters and another FAC Tender are in WX Ursae Majoris. After hearing the news from Sol they set course for the Medina jump point to seek protection from one of the few Caliphate military forces remaining, as do the terraformers in Sigma Draconis two jumps from Medina. Two troop transports en route to Eta Cassiopeiae are in the 61 Cygni system. They change course for the Manchu jump point, intending to head back to Sol via Proxima rather than Barnard’s Star.

In Sol, the United States and Germany have eliminated all opposition. They demand the immediate unconditional surrender of the Caliphate. The Caliph and his advisors are well aware the situation is grim. Not only has the bulk of their navy been destroyed, but they have committed almost all their ground forces to the operation in Eta Cassiopeiae. Seventeen battalions of Janissaries are still on troop transports and would make a significant difference if they could return to Earth. There is no way that can happen though with US and German warships in orbit. However, there are still active naval forces in Eta Cassiopeiae and Medina, despite being of limited capability, and there is still the possibility of assistance from other nations. The Caliph ignores the demand to surrender and begins to contact the leaders of the other major powers. The German frigate Prinz Eugen begins to systematically destroy the Caliphate shipyards.

Although the other major powers are not allies of the Caliphate, nor do they even have particularly friendly relations, some are concerned about a possible shift in the balance of power if the United States and Germany gain the total assets of the Caliphate. Russia, and Japan in particular are concerned about the United States while France does not want to see a major improvement in the fortunes of her long-time rival Germany. A joint communique is sent from those three governments to Washington and Berlin stating their concern about any major ground assault on Caliphate territory on Earth and requesting a cease-fire to allow negotiations. As Prinz Eugen has now completed the destruction of the Caliphate shipyards and there is nothing in space left to shoot at, Germany and United States agree to a ceasefire in Sol only.

Within twenty-four hours a peace conference is convened that includes representatives of every major nation and is hosted by the United Kingdom as a relatively neutral observer. The debate is complicated by the Caliphate releasing details of the alien race on Eta Cassiopeiae-A III, something of which even Germany was unaware. Although Russia and Japan both demand access to the aliens, the only known access route is through the Avalon Arm and the United Kingdom has announced that due to the recent widespread combat in Sol, Alpha Centauri and Eta Cassiopeiae, which represents a clear and present danger to its colonies and those of Australia and Canada, the Commonwealth nations are claiming the Avalon Arm and will no longer permit the forces of other nations to enter, with the exception of US commercial vessels due to an existing agreement. As the route through US territory to Eta Cassiopeiae is only known to the United States, this effectively cuts off the Eben from all other human powers, unless they want to fight their way through the Commonwealth naval forces and the United States Navy. Brazil is particularly incensed as it has two colonies within the Avalon Arm. The conference representative from the UK points out that Brazil is guilty of unprovoked aggression against the Centauri Federation and therefore it cannot be permitted to threaten Commonwealth colonies. The United Kingdom plans to annex the Brazilian colony on Novo Rio at the earliest convenient time.

The peace conference is fractious to say the least, with the representatives from the United States and Germany stating that they are content to eliminate the Caliphate industry by orbital bombardment if other nations are concerned about the balance of power. Russia, Japan and France are not entirely sure if the allies are serious but are much less interested in fighting to prevent the destruction of Caliphate assets rather than fighting to prevent them falling into US and German hands. Even so, they would prefer to avoid the environmental impact if possible. The Caliphate itself becomes rather more amenable to a peaceful resolution once it becomes obvious Russia, Japan and France are reluctant to support them in such circumstances. Eventually, a compromise is reached that allows the Caliphate to continue as a functioning state, albeit with significantly reduced power, gives the United States and Germany sufficient reward for their dominating position and does not alter the balance of power to the point where other nations feel it would be in their long-term interests to intervene. The main points of the settlement as are follows:

1)   The Caliphate population on Earth will be left intact and can rebuild its shipyards
2)   The remaining Caliphate military forces, troop transports and survey vessels may return to Earth by the shortest route possible. A troop transport may be sent to recover the Janissaries on Eta Cassiopeiae. The Commonwealth nations will permit this movement through their territory.
3)   All civilian shipping and the civilian mining complex on Hesperia in the Sol system will remain with the Caliphate.
4)   All Caliphate assets in Eta Cassiopeiae, the mining colony on the comet Faye in Sol and the fuel harvesters in WX Ursae Majoris will pass to the United States
5)   All Caliphate assets in Medina or anywhere within German-controlled territory will pass to Germany. Germany will transport an occupying forces to the Caliphate colony.

In essence, this means the Caliphate will retain 90% of its population, all its research facilities, ordnance factories and fuel refineries and almost all its manned mining complexes. The main losses are in automated mines, construction factories and commercial shipping. Thirty-eight automated mines are on Faye and a total of thirty-six more are deployed on two moons in Medina. One hundred and five construction factories are on Medina, leaving two hundred and thirty-one on Earth.

The United States has achieved its primary war aim of securing the Eta Cassiopeiae system and removed the Caliphate as a potential competing power in the American Arm. In addition, it has gained eight Beirut class freighters, seven Muara class fuel harvesters and thirty-eight automated mines. Troops will occupy the small Caliphate colony on Eta Cassiopeiae-A III. In many ways, Germany has perhaps gained the most from the brief conflict. The occupation of Medina-A II will remove the most immediate threat to the established German colonies in WX Ursae Majoris, Neu Brandenburg and Neu Bayern and will remove the threat standing astride the gateway to explored German territories beyond. In time, if the colony can be assimilated,  Germany will add sixty million citizens to its population. While the colony planet lacks mineral resources, there are thirty-six automated mines in the Medina system that can be moved to the German mining colony on the twelfth moon of Neu Bayern-B III, two transits away. Germany also gains six Shiraz class terraformers and eleven Jiddah class colony ships, which will speed up its colonization efforts considerably. The hundred construction factories on Medina will be useful in the long-term but it will take some time to transport them to locations that have a sufficient manufacturing population.

Another after-effect of the First Colonial War is that several nations follow the example of Russia and the Commonwealth powers in claiming areas of space as sovereign territory. The United States claims DX Cancri and all systems beyond, although this leaves its primary colony of Columbia in neutral space. This is unavoidable as Germany, France and Argentina all have to pass through the Lalande system. Japan claims all systems of the Centauri Arm beyond Alpha Centauri, which creates borders at the Alpha Centauri – Luhman, Proxima – Gliese 682 and Kyokai – WISE 0811-8051 jump points. The Proxima – Gliese 682 connection is to protect Kyoto, which is a cul-de-sac system adjacent to Gliese 682. Gliese 682 connect to Luhman, another border system, which in turn connects to the primary Japanese colony in Edo. The third border connection is between the Centauri and Russo-Manchurian Arms. So far this has been respected by Russia but not by Manchuria. Whether Japan will take issue with any further Manchurian traffic through this system remains to be seen. Finally, Germany claims all territory beyond Medina and Neu Brandenburg. These systems are connected to each other and to the adjacent neutral systems of WX Ursae Majoris and Wolf 358 systems respectively. The four systems form the corners of an interlinked square.

Other powers are more wary. Manchuria cannot claim the area of space that contains its primary colony as that would cut off Russia from its colonies, with predictable results. Based on a lack of traffic from other nations near its colonies, France does not believe such a move is necessary while Argentina is not yet in a position to defend any claimed territory. Brazil, the Caliphate and the Centauri Federation effectively have no colonies outside their home system, although Brazil is still disputing the recent UK statement regarding Novo Rio and the small colony in V1581 Cygni. The Martian Union is content to remain on the defensive.

One of the major long-term ramifications of the war is the reaction to the revelations regarding the Eben, a sentient, contemporary alien race, albeit at a relatively low tech level. Alien ruins, drifting wrecks and ancient jump gates heralded the presence of aliens in the distant past and changed mankind’s view of its place in the universe. Live aliens in the here and now present a completely different situation; one that includes the potential for higher tech, aggressive aliens attacking human colonies. All nations begin to think in terms of rivals or enemies beyond the current bounds of known space.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2018, 11:32:51 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #52 on: December 13, 2015, 10:08:14 AM »
First Colonial War - Lessons

Several nations observed the battle in Alpha Centauri and almost all nations witnessed the battles in Earth orbit. Analysis from the military intelligence agencies of each nation produced several similar conclusions. Most importantly, in a situation where one force surprises another at close range, the side that fires first has a huge, almost overwhelming advantage. Unfortunately, the obvious strategy derived from that conclusion was to always fire first, which only increased tensions in Earth orbit. In an effort to avoid a situation where they would be forced to attack any nation that posed even a possible threat, several powers made plans to base the bulk of their naval forces away from Earth, either at a major colony or elsewhere in the Sol system.

A second lesson was that taking lightly armoured and slow troop transports into harm’s way was dangerous for the transport and placed significant restrictions on the flexibility of the warships responsible for protecting the transport. With that mind, shipwrights of different nationalities began to consider designs for well-protected and fast planetary assault vessels. The Centauri attack on the Brazilian fleet gave a startling example of the effectiveness of massed energy-based point defence, even against an opponent with a strong offensive missile capability, while the subsequent close-range missile attack showed that such point defence could be circumvented by missile combatants willing to close to energy ranges. A further lesson from the engagement was that energy-armed fleets needed weapons with sufficient range to prevent a missile fleet taking advantage of a zone outside their energy weapon range, yet within the range at which missiles could strike without being engaged by point defence. Finally, several mistakes were during the engagements by ships with inexperienced crews. The value of fleet training exercises became apparent.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:25:29 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #53 on: December 13, 2015, 10:54:21 AM »
Argentina - 14th July 2109

Colonies
Earth: 139.1m
Díaz de Solís (Alpha Centauri): 18.4m
Sancti Spiritu (Procyon): 0.31m
Tucumán (Tau-6 Eridani): 0.25m
Rio de la Plata (Gl 231.2): 0.22m

Mining Colonies
Alpha Centauri-B V - Moon 5: 11x Automated Mine

Since the end of the First Colonial War, Argentina has adopted a more cautious attitude to colonization, concentrating on expanding the Díaz de Solís colony in Alpha Centauri rather than mounting further expeditions along the Procyon chain. The first ion-engined Argentine colony ship, the Gomez Roca II, was completed in April 2109. At 39,650 tons it was one third larger than the four units of the original Gomez Roca class and its 80,000 cryogenic berths increased Argentina’s total colonist transport capacity by forty percent. In the past, Díaz de Solís was seen as only a stop-gap due to the potential threat from the Centauri Federation, which resented the presence of the Argentine colonists. With the virtual destruction of the Federation Navy and a strong Japanese presence in Alpha Centauri, the colony became a better prospect. In fact, the Centauri-Argentine relationship is improving significantly as Brazil was the aggressor in the recent conflict and Argentina remains a long-term rival of Brazil.

In March 2109 Argentina launched Guerrico, the first member of the ion-engined Capayan II destroyer class. The ship is essentially a Capayan I with the four Vaca-Casillas VC-80 Nuclear Pulse Engines replaced by a pair of Vaca-Casillas VC-240 Ion Drives. Guerrico is equipped with a new anti-ship missile, the Vega-2, which also uses ion-technology. Compared to the older ships Guerrico has a fifty percent speed advantage, although due to the more expensive components the expected maintenance life has fallen to a little under one point five years. One of the existing Capayans is undergoing a refit to the new design.

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Capayan II class Destroyer    6,400 tons     163 Crew     890.52 BP      TCS 128  TH 480  EM 0
3750 km/s     Armour 3-30     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/12/0/0     Damage Control Rating 2     PPV 24
Maint Life 1.44 Years     MSP 174    AFR 163%    IFR 2.3%    1YR 92    5YR 1381    Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 5 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 312   

Vaca-Casillas VC-240 Ion Drive (2)    Power 240    Fuel Use 64%    Signature 240    Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres    Range 22.0 billion km   (67 days at full power)

Vega Engineering Company M3 Missile Launcher (8)    Missile Size 3    Rate of Fire 30
Medina-Casárez MC-70F Missile Fire Control (2)     Range 70.5m km    Resolution 150
Vega-2 Anti-ship Missile (104)  Speed: 21,000 km/s   End: 93.2m    Range: 117.5m km   WH: 4    Size: 3    TH: 70/42/21

Medina-Casárez MC70 Active Search Sensor (1)     GPS 14400     Range 70.5m km    Resolution 150
Medina-Casárez EM-12 Passive Detection Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 12     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  12m km

**************************************************************************************

In addition to the ships mentioned above Argentina has launched a fifth fuel harvester and two more of the very capable San Martin class geological survey ships, both of which are surveying in the Procyon chain. The first two units of the Rio Negro class, a gravitational survey equivalent of the San Martin, are under construction. Argentina maintains a healthy civilian shipping sector with twenty-six vessels totalling one point three million tons.

Argentina’s main challenges are economic. Fuel continues to be an issue, even with five fuel harvesters in orbit of Uranus, while falling mineral accessibilities on Earth (including Duranium 0.76, Gallicite 0.26) are limiting production. Deposits of Uridium have been completely exhausted. Eleven automated mines have been moved to a moon of Alpha Centauri-B V and further conversion of mines to automation is planned. Wealth is still a problem and debts are affecting Argentine productivity, The priority for the coming months and years is to stabilize the economy and to continue moving colonists off-world to avoid the growing environmental problems on Earth.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:26:27 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #54 on: December 13, 2015, 12:04:23 PM »
Australia – 19th July 2109

Colonies
Earth: 125.4m
Avalon: 82.1m
Pendragon: 10.8m

Mining Colonies
Pendragon Asteroid #27: 18x AM
Tempel-Tuttle (Sol): 3x CMC

In the year following the First Colonial War Australia concentrated all its efforts on moving important assets to the rapidly growing colony on Avalon. The Hercules class tug on loan from the United Kingdom completed the transfer of all Australian shipyards to Avalon in July 2108 and returned to UK service. Australian freighters continually shuttled between Earth and Avalon and by mid-2109 every manned mining complex, construction factory, fuel refinery and maintenance facility had been moved to Avalon, which became the primary Australian naval base. Two research facilities were transported to Avalon but the rest remained on Earth, along with ordnance factories and ground force training facilities. The colony on Pendragon has passed the ten million mark and an Australian warship is now permanently stationed in orbit.

The outbreak of hostilities in Sol, Alpha Centauri and other systems involving six different powers (seven if Martian intentions could have been transformed into action) made the dangers of retaining key assets on Earth obvious to all. While Australia and Canada were already moving settlers and mining complexes to Avalon before the war, the conflict speeded up the process and expanded its scope. The war also pushed the three Commonwealth nations even closer together than before, leading them to close the borders of the Avalon Arm and to carry out a trilateral technology exchange.

The United Kingdom provided technical details of magneto-plasma drives and stellarator reactors in exchange for a range of railgun-related technologies. Australia passed on jump drive technology, gravitational sensors and engine modifications to Canada and in return received various missile-based technologies. The most immediate use of the new technologies was to develop a commercial magneto-plasma drive for a new generation of colony ships. A new engine for the Melbourne class destroyers, the fourth unit of which was launched in July 2108, is under development. Other new Australian construction includes a fuel harvester and the first two Kanimbla class troop transports.

The initial impetus for an Australian colony on Avalon was a struggling economy and a lack of Gallicite. Those problems are now largely solved. Although the economy is still in debt, there is a budget surplus and Australian wealth will soon be back in positive territory. Fuel, which was a significant problem for several years, is now relatively plentiful. Eight Collins class fuel harvesters are in orbit of Barnard’s Star VIII and forty refineries are in operation on Avalon. Mineral stockpiles are still small but growing with seventy-seven manned mines on Avalon, eight more on the Pendragon colony and eighteen automated mines on an asteroid in the Pendragon system.

The strategic priority now for Australia is to move all remaining assets to Avalon where they will be safe from any future outbreaks of violence in Sol. While expansion beyond Avalon will not happen in the immediate future, two jump-capable Adelaide class geosurvey vessels are active in the Avalon Arm and will soon by joined by a third sister ship and the first Australian gravitational survey vessel. Relations with Canada and the United Kingdom are excellent and the foreign and domestic policies of the Commonwealth nations are closely aligned. A military alliance is in place and further technology exchanges are very likely. Given that the major colonies of the three nations are generally on the same planets, the first discussions are underway regarding a more permanent structure at the Commonwealth level.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:26:53 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #55 on: December 13, 2015, 07:11:57 PM »
Brazil – 27th July 2109

Colonies
Earth: 390m
Astoria (WX Ursae Majoris): 1m
YZ Ceti-A II: 0.59m

Mining Colonies
Stephen-Oterma (Sol): 32x AM
Herschel-Rigollet (Sol): 3x CMC

Despite the great success of the Brazilian Navy against the Centauri Federation in the Battle of Alpha Centauri, the overall campaign to expand the Brazilian colonial empire ended in disastrous defeat. Japanese warships launched a surprise attack in Earth orbit that resulted in the destruction of a São Paulo class cruiser, two Almirante Sabóia frigates and both Tridente class jump frigates, adding to the loss of the cruiser Constituição in Alpha Centauri. With their shipyards helpless under Japanese guns, the victorious Brazilian warships had no option but to accede to Japanese blackmail and return home without completing their mission. To make matters worse, many major units of the Brazilian ground forces were lost in the destruction of the troop transport accompanying the main battle fleet, leaving only a small force to guard Brazilian possessions on Earth.

The first post-war priority for Brazil was to consolidate its forces and ensure the safety of its industrial base. Three Almirante Sabóia class frigates had been dispatched to Uranus to provide a threat against Martian fuel harvesters intended to prevent any Martian intervention. Those were the first ships to return home, arriving on June 23rd 2108. Six days later the battle fleet returned from Alpha Centauri, although several ships were damaged, including both battlecruisers. Repairs were finally completed in mid-September 2108, giving the Brazilian Navy in Sol a strength of two Antares class battlecruisers, five cruisers and five frigates.

The subsequent actions of the United Kingdom added new indignities to Brazil. A pair of UK salvage ships completed the salvage of Caliphate wrecks that resulted from the brief war between the Caliphate and the United States then moved on to the Brazilian wrecks in Earth orbit. Brazil protested but did not have the technology or ships to complete the salvage and was in no position to fight the Royal Navy and its Commonwealth allies. Ultimately, Brazil could do nothing but watch as its ships were pulled apart in the search for intact components and technological data.

The Commonwealth nations also claimed the Avalon Arm following the First Colonial War and announced they would not allow ships from any other power to enter, with the exception of US commercial traffic, and would eventually annex the Brazilian colonies within the Arm. As those colonies were relatively minor and Brazil was considered guilty of unprovoked aggression, no other power was prepared to support it against the Commonwealth. On October 16th 2108 four Tribal class destroyers entered the Kruger 60 system and confronted a Brazilian frigate at the Novo Rio colony. The frigate was ordered to leave immediately and proceed back down the Avalon Arm to Sol. With no chance of prevailing against the four Royal Navy warships, the frigate commander complied and headed home. United Kingdom ground forces arrived on November 4th to secure the colony. No Brazilian ground units were in place on Novo Rio so the takeover was swift and casualty-free. The colony had a population of thirty million plus nineteen construction factories. Eleven Brazilian civilian freighters in orbit of Novo Rio also surrendered and were taken as prizes by the United Kingdom. Subsequent United Kingdom ground operations secured eight automated mines on the sixth moon of Kruger 60-B VII, eight more on GJ-1253 II, a civilian mining complex on Kruger 60-A III and a small colony of 240,000 in the V1581 Cygni system. A garrison unit on the civilian mining colony refused to surrender and it took UK ground forces three weeks to subdue the resistance. By the end of January 2109 there was no longer any Brazilian presence in the Avalon Arm.

With the litany of disasters apparently at an end, Brazil began to look outwards once again, seeking new colony sites. However due to a series of territorial claims by several powers, the choices were becoming increasingly limited. The Commonwealth claimed the entire Avalon Arm while Japan claimed the Centauri Arm beyond the Alpha Centauri system. In the American Arm, the United States claimed everything beyond the Lalande – DX Cancri jump point, Germany claimed all territory beyond the WX Ursae Majoris – Medina and Wolf 358 – Neu Brandenburg jump points and France, while not explicitly claiming territory, would obviously not welcome a Brazilian presence in New France or the systems further out. That still left a chain of systems that led to Procyon, where Argentina was known to have a colony. Brazil had not explored beyond Procyon but that remained a possibility.

In the Russo-Manchurian Arm, Russia claimed territory beyond the TZ Arietis – WISE 0254+0223 and Teegarden’s Star – Epsilon Eridani jump points while in January 2109 Manchuria announced a claim on Gliese 1 and all systems beyond. A chain of unclaimed systems remained running through the centre of the Russo-Manchurian Arm from Sol via Proxima, Manchu, Novaya Rodina, TZ Arietis and Teegarden’s Star. Although one jump point in Teegarden’s Star led to Russian-claimed territory the other two outward jump points connected to Tau Ceti and YZ Ceti, the former with a colony cost 1.37 world and the latter with a colony cost 2.56 world plus some potential mineral sites. The Brazilian leadership decided to avoid placing all its eggs in one basket and established small colonies in both YZ Ceti and on Astoria, a planet in WX Ursae Majoris that was already home to colonies from France, German and the United States. No nation had ever laid claim to Astoria as the planet lacked an atmosphere and had no mineral deposits. It did provide a convenient waypoint for further exploration and expansion. Brazilian survey ships concentrated on the Russo-Manchurian Arm.

Even with its losses the Brazilian Navy remained a capable force. That capability was boosted by the launch of the third Antares class battlecruiser on June 2nd 2109, restoring some of the combat power lost against the Japanese and Centauri. Brazil would be in difficulty against the major powers, unless it could achieve some form of strategic and tactical surprise, but would still be capable of defeating several of the smaller powers. Despite the failure of their last endeavour, some within the Brazilian leadership still believe that Brazil can attain its goals through military power. For now though, they are prepared to bide their time. In addition to the Antares, since the end of the war Brazilian shipyards have built a Rio de Janeiro class gravitational survey vessel, a colony ship and the first two Brazilian fuel harvesters.

The Brazilian economy remains weak due to a lack of fuel and Gallicite. The new fuel harvesters will begin to address the former but the latter needs new sources of minerals or additional automated mines. Unfortunately the Brazilian construction factories are still producing maintenance facilities to cope with the 15,000 ton Antares class battlecruisers. That process is likely to be completed in October 2109. Wealth is also an issue with the overall economy still in debt and affecting productivity, plus the crippling of the civilian sector due to the ships surrendered at Novo Rio. Only six civilian ships are in service. Fixing the economy and building up new colonies are the short-term priorities. Increasing military strength is still important though and a fourth Antares has recently been laid down.

« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:28:07 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #56 on: December 20, 2015, 05:12:04 PM »
The Caliphate - 16th August 2109

Colonies
Earth: 487m

Mining Colonies
Hesperia (Sol): 2x CMC

Of all the nations involved in the First Colonial War, the Caliphate suffered the greatest losses. The surprise attack by the United States and Germany destroyed all Sol-based military forces and all Caliphate shipyards. Germany captured the Caliphate’s primary colony on Medina-A II, along with a hundred construction factories, plus two mining colonies in the same system with a total of thirty-six automated mines. The United States captured the small Caliphate colony in Eta Cassiopeiae, ending any chances of the Caliphate conquering the pre-industrial alien race on the same planet, and the mining colony on the comet Faye in the Sol system. Every colony ship, freighter, fuel harvester or terraformer was captured by either Germany or the United States. Essentially, the Caliphate was reduced to its possessions on the surface of Earth, plus what military and commercial shipping could be salvaged from the disaster.

As part of the peace treaty with Germany and the United States, those naval and ground forces still in Eta Cassiopeiae and Medina were allowed to return to Earth as the core of a new, greatly-reduced Caliphate military. On August 3rd 2108 the Caliphate established a base on Icarus, a near-Earth asteroid. As Icarus took twelve percent longer than Earth to orbit the Sun, this created a fleet base that was safe from the type of surprise attack that devastated the Caliphate navy. By September 12th, the three surviving Mersin class FAC carriers, Al-Medinah, Dammam and Hofouf, were at Icarus, along with eighteen FACs comprising one Matrah, one Mecca, two Hebron and fourteen Ashdods. All Caliphate ground forces were back on Earth by February 10th 2109, making the Earth-based holdings relatively safe from a ground invasion as long as any attacking force did not use planetary bombardment against the defenders. Other surviving forces included three troop transports and the six Dubai class survey ships, all of which were recalled to Earth.

With their position weakened but consolidated, the Caliphate leadership began to plan for the future once again. An immediate requirement was new shipyards, the first of which was constructed in early April 2109. Even so, building up shipyard capacity  to any reasonable size would require several years. With that in mind, the Caliphate began research into orbital habitats. These could be built using construction factories rather than shipyards and then towed to their destination. A tug would be a high priority once the first new commercial shipyard reached a reasonable size. The availability of orbital habitats would also solve the problem of finding suitable new colony sites, as they could be used to provide living space for colonists in orbit of planets which were useless to other nations. Although colony ships would still be needed to found such colonists, the habitats could be built while shipyards were being expanded. However, with all its original colony ships and freighters captured by its enemies, the Caliphate would still not be able to found any new colonies for some time.

The two Caliphate shipping lines were still fairly intact. Although some ships were captured during the loss of the Caliphate colonies, sixteen ships remained with a total tonnage of 800,000. Unfortunately, all but one ship was in Kruger 60, which was home to the Brazilian colony of Novo Rio until it was captured by the United Kingdom. Those ships refused to return home unless their safety could be guaranteed. Given the scale of destruction in Sol and the state of the Caliphate navy, it would be some time before any such guarantee could be provided. The Caliphate economy was in reasonable shape, partly because the lack of production capacity reduced the amount of wealth and minerals that could be expended. Fuel was an issue in terms of production and total stockpile but not in practical terms given the small number of ships that required it.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:29:37 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #57 on: December 21, 2015, 03:00:01 PM »
Canada – 24th August 2109

Colonies
Earth: 128.9m
Avalon: 60.2m
Acadia: 15.6m
Manchu-B I: 2.1m
Kuiper 79 IV: 1.1m

Mining Colonies
Pendragon Asteroid #68: 21x AM
Stephan-Oterma (Sol): 2x AM

Since the end of the First Colonial War, Canada has concentrated all of its efforts on moving population and industry to Avalon. The Avalon population of sixty million is approaching fifty percent of Canada’s Earth-based population. As of August 2109, all Canadian shipyards are in Avalon orbit and all Canadian manned mining complex are on the surface, along with half the Canadian fuel refineries and thirty percent of the Canadian construction factories. With its task completed, the Hercules class tug on loan from the United Kingdom has been returned. The current priority for Canada is to move all maintenance facilities from Earth to Avalon with the aim of basing the Canadian fleet in Bernard’s Star rather than Sol.

As a result of the war, the warm relations with Australia and the United Kingdom became even closer. The three nations agreed to close the borders of the Avalon Arm to all non-Commonwealth traffic, with an exception for commercial traffic from the United States. In addition, the military alliance was expanded to include a major exchange of technology. Canada provided engine power and missile technologies to the United Kingdom in exchange for technical details of stellarator reactors and magneto-plasma drives. Australia provided a range of jump drive-related technology, gravitational sensors and some engine technology in exchange for missile technologies and improved shipbuilding. Canada is currently developing new engines based on the transferred technology.

Since June 2108, Canada has constructed a fifth Halifax class destroyer, a terraformer and a fuel harvester. With seven harvesters in operation, the fuel problems that plagued Canada in the past are now starting to ease. The Canadian economy in general is improving, with wealth reserves in positive territory and a small budget surplus. Mineral supplies are adequate for the current shipbuilding program, which includes two destroyers and a fuel harvester. Additional ships are on hold until the new engines are available. Canada’s civilian shipping sector is still the third largest with thirty-five ships totalling one point five million tons.

As Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom have based the bulk of their industry on Avalon, or will be in that situation in the near future, and share several other colony planets, the interests of the three nations are very closely aligned. Discussions have begun on a supra-national organization beyond the current military arrangements, using the existing Commonwealth structure as a base. All three nations already have the same head of state and have similar governmental systems; the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy while Australia and Canada both have federal constitutional monarchies. Given the significant number of colonies, a federal model along the lines of the Australian or Canadian system is the obvious choice for a Commonwealth-level organization. Under the proposal being discussed, the current national colonies on planets such as Avalon, Pendragon or Kuiper 79-A IV would be amalgamated to form a single planetary government with combined population and industry. The various planetary governments, including on Earth, would be represented in a bicameral Commonwealth government with a ‘House of Commons’ based on population and a Senate based on equal planetary representation once a certain threshold of population is achieved, most probably ten million. There is considerable public support for the proposal so the creation of the Commonwealth-level government may not be far away.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:30:03 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #58 on: December 24, 2015, 10:32:47 AM »
Centauri Federation - 13th September 2109

Colonies
Asgard: 231m
Vanaheim: 156m
Midgard: 74m

Mining Colonies
Alpha Centauri-A II – Moon 24: 44x AM
Alpha Centauri-A Asteroid #159: 6x CMC
Alpha Centauri-A Asteroid #97: 6x CMC
Alpha Centauri-B V – Moon 18: 5x CMC
Alpha Centauri-B V – Moon 9: 4x CMC
Alpha Centauri-A Asteroid #421: 2x CMC
Alpha Centauri-A Asteroid #318: 2x CMC

During the First Colonial War, the Centauri Federation suffered a catastrophic tactical defeat in a battle against an attacking Brazilian task group, losing almost its entire naval force. Only a single warship remained, plus an unarmed command ship. The defending Centauri forces managed to destroy the troop transport accompanying the Brazilian force, which prevented an immediate ground invasion of the Centauri home worlds, but left the Centauri shipyards and planetary industry completely open to attack. With the survival of the Federation at stake, the Centauri were simultaneously stunned and relieved by an offer of help from the Japanese Empire. In previous years the Centauri and Japanese had been rivals and Japan had been considered more of a threat than a potential saviour. However, the Japanese assistance came at a heavy price. Firstly, under the terms of the temporary alliance, the Centauri Federation had to agree to a Japanese colony on Vanaheim with full mining rights and no restriction on military forces. Secondly, the Federation had to withdraw entirely from the Centauri Arm beyond the Alpha Centauri system.

The terms would have been viewed as harsh and rejected out of hand if the situation had been less desperate. Given the difficulties in which the Centauri Federation found itself, they were relatively easy to accept. Alpha Centauri was one of the few systems that could sustain a high tech civilization for many years without the need for outside resources, so being prevented from accessing the rest of the Arm would not hinder Centauri industrial development in the short and medium term. Even then, there were other options beside the Centauri Arm. For now though the Centauri Federation would use the reprieve to rebuild its military forces and ensure any future invasion would face much stiffer opposition. With a Japanese colony and naval base on Vanaheim, that task would be difficult but critical to the future survival of the Federation. The Centauri had only one colony outside Alpha Centauri, a settlement of one point eight million in Delta Pavonis. After discussions, the Japanese accepted that civilian traffic could visit but no further Federation colony ships. That proved to be an unnecessary concession as the colony declared independence in July 2109, becoming the Republic of Pavonia.

With Vanaheim facing the much greater potential threat due to the presence of the Japanese and Midgard still relatively undeveloped, the Centauri concentrated their colonization and industrial efforts on Asgard. Key industries were transferred from Vanaheim to Asgard as the manufacturing sector grew. All Centauri shipyards were already in Asgard orbit. New construction in the year following the war included three colony ships, three terraformers and two fuel harvesters. The priority was warships though, with two Grendel class cruisers and the first pair of Valhalla class destroyers under construction and both naval shipyards working on additional slipways. In the meantime, inactive shipping was gathered at Asgard. As each Centauri science vessel or construction ship entered a system on the jump gate network, allowing them to contact Alpha Centauri, it was ordered to return home. By March 2109, the only ships on active operations were colony ships, fuel harvesters and terraformers.

In July 2108, three Martian patrol ships arrived in Asgard orbit to boost its defences while the Centauri rebuilt their military. On September 28th, a Martian tug delivered a Lancea class orbital weapon platform, equipped with thirty anti-missile launchers, to Asgard. The Lancea was transferred into Centauri service in exchange for four thousand tons of Duranium from the vast Centauri stockpile of almost sixty thousand tons. Although the base was provided with a full load of fourteen hundred Martian Janus AMMs, these will eventually be replaced by the higher performance Centauri Magni AMM.

In September 2109, the Centauri Federation signed a trade deal with Manchuria, allowing the shipping lines of both nations to access new markets. This not only boosted the Centauri economy but gave Manchuria, a long-term rival of Japan, an interest in the Alpha Centauri system. Overall, the Federation economy is in reasonable shape, with large mineral stockpiles, adequate fuel for the current needs, a small wealth reserve and a healthy civilian sector. The civilian mining operation in Alpha Centauri is particularly large, with twenty-five civilian mining complexes spread across two moons and four asteroids. Taxes on civilian mining account for fourteen percent of all Federation revenues. The current Centauri priorities are to rebuild their military and to invest in expansion within the Alpha Centauri system.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:30:53 PM by Steve Walmsley »
 

Offline Steve Walmsley (OP)

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Re: #3 National Updates
« Reply #59 on: December 24, 2015, 01:53:02 PM »
France – 23rd September 2109

Colonies
Earth: 249m
Astoria (WX Ursae Majoris-A II): 26.2m
New France-A II: 20.1m
New Quebec I: 3.4m

Mining Colonies
New Quebec-A II – Moon 1: 37x AM
Stephan-Oterma (Sol): 8x AM

Generally, France is content to build up its colonies in New France and New Quebec and ignore the squabbles between the other powers. That isolationist policy was interrupted during the First Colonial War when France formed a temporary alliance of convenience with Russia and Japan to prevent the complete collapse of the Caliphate. France’s primary motivation was to avoid any significant increase in the power of her long-time rival Germany. That attempt was only partially successful. Although Germany and its ally, the United States, did not gain any of the Caliphate’s Earth-based assets, Germany did gain control over the Caliphate colonies in the Medina system, increasing its long-term population and industrial base. France and Germany both have to pass through Lalande and WX Ursae Majoris to reach their extra-solar territories and both have colonies on Astoria in the latter system. French concern is growing that a more powerful Germany with expansion in mind might see the French territories as conveniently located for future annexation.

French construction ships recently completed a path of jump gates to New France, finally connecting the colony to the jump gate network. Given the potential for future tension with Germany, the French President decided to follow the example of several other countries and to begin moving key industries to more defensible locations. The single Chacal class tug towed the Maurice-Malet shipyard to New France and is currently returning to Earth. The French fuel harvesters are also heading for the main French colony systems, after abandoning their previous harvesting site in WX Ursae Majoris. The New France colony itself took an important step toward future expansion in July 2108 when the atmosphere became breathable. French terraformers are now removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to bring the temperature down into the tolerable range. As of September 2109, the colony cost of New France has been reduced to 0.49.

The French fleet is among the most modern in known space, with magneto-plasma engines and access to Delta-level shield technology due to discoveries in the ruins on New France. Four of the Clemenceau class missile cruisers are now equipped with the new shields and the fifth is undergoing a refit. In the year since the end of the war, a fifth Dunkerque class frigate has also joined the Marine Nationale, along with a colony ship and a third construction ship. Three colony ships are currently under construction but no more ships will be laid down in Sol. Shipbuilding will be disrupted for some time due to the planned movement of all shipyards to New France.

The financial problems that have affected France in the past have eased a little, although they are still restricting French productivity. Minerals stockpiles are reasonable and the fuel situation is good, at least for the moment. France gained a large stockpile of fuel from discoveries in ruins but the French fuel production infrastructure was neglected as a result and those large stockpiles are slowly diminishing. The single French shipping line, Breze Container Services, has only launched a single ship since the war and now has seventeen ships totalling 660,000 tons. However, it has built up a reserve of five thousand wealth so is expected to add new ships in the near future, which should improve the French financial situation.

« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 02:32:09 PM by Steve Walmsley »