Colonial CoalitionIn the years before the war, numerous countries had established mining operations on the dwarf planet Ceres and a number of different asteroids, with China and India having the largest colonies. Despite limited space, many of those colonies saw great expansion during the chaos of the post-war evacuations. The early arrivals came from organized evacuations but as governments collapsed most survivors were brought in by civilian-owned ships; their captains doing what they could to preserve as many humans as possible. Even after their arrival at the colonies, millions of survivors died in squalid, seething conditions. All available industrial capacity, either from the original colonies or recovered from Earth, was devoted to building infrastructure and orbital habitats.
With their parent nations largely destroyed and their situations desperate, the colonies banded together for support. A ruling council was formed with representation from each colony and the new organization became known as the Colonial Coalition. The Coalition is the most democratic of the five Solarian powers, as each colony votes for its representatives on the ruling council. The Coalition comprises a mix of different cultures and languages blended together to form something new, although Chinese and Indian ethnicities are still the most dominant.
The Coalition experienced a second population surge in the aftermath of the second French revolution, as Colonial ships rescued those fleeing the ravages of the ensuing civil wars. Even though construction of vast orbital habitats was well underway, they still struggled to cope with the new wave of refugees. The citizens of the Coalition have had to adapt to gravity well below human tolerance and to population densities that would have shocked even a pre-war resident of Mumbai or Dhaka.
Although they have not undergone the same genetic manipulation as the population of Titan, the conditions endured by the humans of the Coalition have caused rapid evolution over several generations, resulting in a new species, known as Homo Asteroides. While their temperature and atmospheric tolerances remain the same as homo sapiens, due to living in artificial environments designed with their original physiology in mind, the gravity tolerance of homo asteroides has fallen to a range between 0.02G and 0.5G, taking Earth out of their habitable range. Constant overcrowding, at least from a human perspective, for almost a hundred years has resulted in natural selection of those who thrive in such environments. As a result, homo asteroides can accept double the population density of homo sapiens.
Even with the advantages of their adapted physiology, the colonies of the Coalition face several challenges. Firstly, none of the bodies on which the colonies are based can retain an atmosphere, so the environment cannot be improved, and even with their tolerance for congested living conditions, there is a limited amount of surface space. By 2150 the population of the Coalition was eight hundred and eighty million, the highest of any Solarian power except Terra, with seventy percent of that population in orbital habitats and the rest living on the surfaces of Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, Hygeia and Euphrosyne. The sixty-two orbital habitats are all Xian class, a twelve point-five-million-ton design that holds ten million people, or five million with a human tolerance for population density. For those that live in the surface, between twenty-five and thirty percent of the population is dedicated to the environmental sector. On Ceres, which has half the entire Coalition population, the service sector is seventy percent, so without the orbital habitats there would be little manufacturing capacity.
Secondly, the Coalition colonies are spread around the asteroid belt, which makes coordinated defence difficult, and the habitats themselves are extremely vulnerable to hostile attack. Therefore, while each colony has its own orbital defences, the Coalition has followed a policy of deterrence. The Colonial Fleet is dedicated to achieving the maximum single strike capability, so that any attacker would suffer an overwhelming second strike in response to any attack on the colonies.
The third issue facing the Coalition is resource distribution. The primary mining site is Ceres, which has deposits of all eleven Trans-Newtonian minerals, including four hundred thousand tons of accessibility 1.0 Duranium. Vesta has deposits of ninety thousand tons of Duranium and forty thousand tons of Tritanium while Euphrosyne has four deposits of about ten thousand tons each. The two Hesperia class orbital miners have been deployed to the comet Swift-Tuttle, which has deposits of Duranium, Boronide and Corundium. Ceres has the Coalition’s construction factories and mines, Vesta has the shipyards, while Hygeia has the ordnance factories and fuel refineries. Pallas is a research and financial centre. Depending on orbital position, different colonies can be almost a billion kilometres apart. Resource distribution is not only a logistical challenge; it is open to hostile interdiction. Finally, due to its concentration on the asteroid belt the Coalition lacks both terraforming and Sorium harvesting technology.
Naval Forces of the Colonial CoalitionThe naval forces of the Coalition are known as the Colonial Fleet. They comprise a mixture of slow-moving monitors to provide colony defence, squadrons of well-armed fast attack craft for strike missions and four small general purpose warships. All Colonial ships and ordnance are named after asteroids.
Colonial Fleet Order of Battle5x Apollo class Defence Monitor:
Apollo, Apophis, Aten, Cruithne, Itokawa5x Concordia class Defence Monitor:
Concordia, Harmonia, Iris, Nysa, Victoria4x Kassandra class Patrol Vessel:
Ariadne, Icarus, Kassandra, Phaethon3x Magellan class Geological Survey Vessel:
Magellan, Aquitania, Laurentia72x Nemesis FAC
8x Proserpina class Fast Scout
3x Aurelia class Troop Transport:
Aurelia, Beatrix, Helena5x Kythera class Freighter
3x Odysseus class Colony Ship
2x Hesperia class Orbital Miner
2x Juno class Tanker
Ship DesignsThe Nemesis class fast attack craft is a pure offensive weapon, which sacrifices all other capabilities to achieve that goal. Armour and endurance are minimal, while fuel is sufficient only for strike missions. The navigation sensor is intended as backup for those cases when the Nemesis does not receive targeting information. Once in position however, the Nemesis can unleash a single salvo of fifteen Medusa anti-ship missiles. A full squadron of twelve fast attack craft can launch one hundred and eighty missiles, while the combined squadrons of the Colonial Fleet can deliver an overwhelming wave of more than a thousand, fulfilling the Coalition doctrine of a deterrent second strike capability. Whether that salvo could penetrate the growing defence capabilities of the other powers is a subject of intense debate within the Coalition and there is no doubt the number of Nemesis FACs will increase over time.
Nemesis class Fast Attack Craft 1,000 tons 15 Crew 137.6 BP TCS 20 TH 120 EM 0
6002 km/s Armour 1-8 Shields 0-0 HTK 6 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 60
Maint Life 0.62 Years MSP 8 AFR 80% IFR 1.1% 1YR 13 5YR 192 Max Repair 60 MSP
Magazine 60
Shao Xiao Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 0.36 months Morale Check Required
Kabadagi-Baidya KB-120B Ion Drive (1) Power 120 Fuel Use 560.00% Signature 120 Explosion 20%
Fuel Capacity 135,000 Litres Range 4.3 billion km (8 days at full power)
Medusa Box Launcher (15) Missile Size: 4.0 Hangar Reload 100 minutes MF Reload 16 hours
Artemis-45 Missile Fire Control (1) Range 45.2m km Resolution 105
Medusa Anti-Ship Missile (15) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 27m Range: 40.2m km WH: 5 Size: 4.00
Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 1440 Range 23.6m km Resolution 120
The Proserpina class Fast Scout was designed primarily to accompany a Nemesis fast attack craft squadron on strike missions and provide sensor support. It has a secondary function of fast reconnaissance and therefore has sixty percent greater range than the Nemesis.
Proserpina class Fast Scout 1,000 tons 30 Crew 191.7 BP TCS 20 TH 120 EM 0
6011 km/s Armour 1-8 Shields 0-0 HTK 7 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 1.34 Years MSP 30 AFR 32% IFR 0.4% 1YR 18 5YR 268 Max Repair 108 MSP
Shao Xiao Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 0.5 months Morale Check Required
Kabadagi-Baidya KB-120B Ion Drive (1) Power 120 Fuel Use 560.00% Signature 120 Explosion 20%
Fuel Capacity 215,000 Litres Range 6.9 billion km (13 days at full power)
Dhonsi-Rao DR-70 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 12960 Range 70.8m km Resolution 120
The Apollo and Concordia class defence monitors are orbital defence platforms equipped with a single engine for redeployment if required. The Apollo provides AMM coverage while the railguns of the Concordia, supported by any suitably equipped ground forces, act as the last line of defence. Vesta, Pallas and Hygeia each have one Apollo and one Concordia in orbit, while Ceres has two of each class. The relatively new colony of Euphrosyne does not have any orbital defences, at least for the moment.
Apollo class Defence Monitor 10,000 tons 200 Crew 1,347.7 BP TCS 200 TH 84 EM 0
420 km/s Armour 5-41 Shields 0-0 HTK 72 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 5 PPV 25
Maint Life 2.22 Years MSP 421 AFR 160% IFR 2.2% 1YR 115 5YR 1,722 Max Repair 108 MSP
Magazine 1,645
Zhong Xiao Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 20 months Morale Check Required
Monitor Engine (1) Power 84 Fuel Use 28.70% Signature 84 Explosion 7%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 6.3 billion km (172 days at full power)
AMM Launcher (25) Missile Size: 1 Rate of Fire 10
Artemis-15 AMM Fire Control (5) Range 14.4m km Resolution 1
Astraea AMM (1645) Speed: 34,600 km/s End: 0m Range: 1.9m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 149/89/44
Dhonsi-Rao DR-15A Missile Detection Sensor (1) GPS 108 Range 14.4m km MCR 1.6m km Resolution 1
Concordia class Defence Monitor 10,000 tons 426 Crew 1,910.9 BP TCS 200 TH 84 EM 0
420 km/s Armour 5-41 Shields 0-0 HTK 78 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 4 PPV 96
Maint Life 3.55 Years MSP 478 AFR 199% IFR 2.8% 1YR 58 5YR 873 Max Repair 108 MSP
Zhong Xiao Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 21 months Morale Check Required
Monitor Engine (1) Power 84 Fuel Use 28.70% Signature 84 Explosion 7%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 6.3 billion km (172 days at full power)
Jiang Kinetics JK-10 Railgun (32x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 RM 40,000 km ROF 5
Tsien-Ren TR-16M Beam Fire Control (8) Max Range: 48,000 km TS: 16,000 km/s 79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pamungkas-Rokhimah PR-24 Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (4) Total Power Output 98.4 Exp 5%
Dhonsi-Rao DR-15A Missile Detection Sensor (1) GPS 108 Range 14.4m km MCR 1.6m km Resolution 1
The Kassandra class patrol vessel is a small, general purpose warship which fills the gap between the defence-focused monitors and the offence-only fast attack craft. Within the constraints imposed by a relatively small hull, it can perform patrol, recon, strike and missile defence missions. Fifty Medusa anti-ship missiles can be launched in a single long-range strike, while three Jiang Kinetics JK-10 Railguns give the Kassandra an inherent anti-missile capability, plus a limited close-range energy combat capability. One Kassandra is assigned to each of the main four colonies.
Kassandra class Patrol Vessel 6,000 tons 112 Crew 787.3 BP TCS 120 TH 480 EM 0
4003 km/s Armour 4-29 Shields 0-0 HTK 29 Sensors 5/6/0/0 DCR 3 PPV 209
Maint Life 2.68 Years MSP 246 AFR 96% IFR 1.3% 1YR 49 5YR 734 Max Repair 120 MSP
Magazine 200
Zhong Xiao Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required
Kabadagi-Baidya KB-240 Ion Drive (2) Power 480 Fuel Use 49.50% Signature 240 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 320,000 Litres Range 19.4 billion km (56 days at full power)
Jiang Kinetics JK-10 Railgun (3x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,003 km/s Power 3-3 RM 40,000 km ROF 5
Tsien-Ren TR-16M Beam Fire Control (1) Max Range: 48,000 km TS: 16,000 km/s 79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pamungkas-Rokhimah PR-9 Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (1) Total Power Output 9.1 Exp 5%
Medusa Box Launcher (50) Missile Size: 4 Hangar Reload 100 minutes MF Reload 16 hours
Minerva-45 Missile Fire Control (1) Range 45.2m km Resolution 105
Medusa Anti-Ship Missile (50) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 27m Range: 40.2m km WH: 5 Size: 4 TH: 80/48/24
Dhonsi-Rao DR-40 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 4320 Range 40.9m km Resolution 120
Dhonsi-Rao DR-5A Missile Detection Sensor (1) GPS 12 Range 4.8m km MCR 521.3k km Resolution 1
E-6 Passive Sensor (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
T-5 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
The Magellan class were constructed to carry out the Coalition’s full geological survey of the Sol system, which is now complete so the Magellans are currently in orbit of Ceres. A battery of thirty-six box launchers provides a useful defence capability.
Magellan class Geological Survey Vessel 6,000 tons 100 Crew 784.7 BP TCS 120 TH 336 EM 0
2801 km/s Armour 2-29 Shields 0-0 HTK 32 Sensors 5/6/0/3 DCR 5 PPV 144
Maint Life 5.72 Years MSP 408 AFR 58% IFR 0.8% 1YR 21 5YR 317 Max Repair 100 MSP
Magazine 144
Zhong Xiao Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 48 months Morale Check Required
Kabadagi-Baidya KB-168E Ion Drive (2) Power 336 Fuel Use 20.29% Signature 168 Explosion 7%
Fuel Capacity 835,000 Litres Range 123.5 billion km (510 days at full power)
Medusa Box Launcher (36) Missile Size: 4 Hangar Reload 100 minutes MF Reload 16 hours
Minerva-45 Missile Fire Control (1) Range 45.2m km Resolution 105
Medusa Anti-Ship Missile (36) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 27m Range: 40.2m km WH: 5 Size: 4
Dhonsi-Rao DR-40 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 4320 Range 40.9m km Resolution 120
E-6 Passive Sensor (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
T-5 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Geological Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points Per Hour
Colonial Defence ForceThe ground forces of the Colonial Coalition are dedicated to the protection of the colonies and their organization reflects that goal. The Colonial Defence Force (CDF) does not possess any armoured vehicles and has limited ground combat capability, especially compared to the behemoth of the GFPR. Instead, the investment in the CDF is focused on surface-to-orbit weapons to protect the vulnerable orbital habitats. There are ten Colonial Defence Regiments, with one based on Euphrosyne, three on Ceres and two each on Vesta, Pallas and Hygeia. Each regiment comprises twelve Athamantis Point Defence Railguns, based on the Jiang Kinetics JK-10, eight Koronis Colony Defence Railguns, with a 20cm calibre for engaging hostile ships approaching the colony, twenty-four Helio Close Defence Weapons to protect against hostile small craft and two hundred Colonial Marines, plus a dozen squad automatic weapons, for local security.
The limited power projection capability of the CDF is provided by three Colonial Marine Expeditionary Forces. The core of each expeditionary force is six hundred Colonial Marines, with one squad automatic weapon for every ten Marines. As the expeditionary force is intended to secure and hold territory, it includes a number of weapon systems to defend against hostile counterattacks from any direction; specifically, four Athamantis Point Defence Railguns, a pair of Koronis Colony Defence Railguns, eight Helio Close Defence Weapons and eight Kleopatra Anti-Tank Weapons. The formation also contains sufficient logistics support for several days of combat.
