1/26/2122 The Montezuma is launched from the Titan Yards after completing her upgrade. She immediately sets out for U-02, the only system adjacent to the Solar System that has yet to be surveyed.
3/6/2122 The Rhea Mining Consortium, the corporation that owns and operates the mines on Mimas and Iapetus, agrees to sell some of their automated mines to a new corporation that intends to exploit the sorium deposits in the U-04 system. The new corporation, Intergalactic Mining Unlimited, renames the moon IMU-01. The Republic blocks the corporation?s bid to name the system, instead designating the system ?Perseus-02?.
12/01/2122 The first Gaia class terraformer is launched from the Titan yards. Commander Sarah Turner, one of the Republic?s foremost terraforming experts, is appointed to command of the massive ship. Commander Turner orders the Gaia to New America in the New Hope system. The trip will take more than two months because of the Gaia?s low top speed (821 kps).
12/7/2122 The Montezuma, which has completed its warp point survey of the U-02 system, probes the first of the four newly discovered warp points on this date. The new warp link leads to a single-star system with an M4 giant central star, ten planets and two asteroid belts. The fourth planet is habitable and very close to Earth-normal in some ways. Its gravity, atmospheric pressure, and temperature are all close to Earth?s at .87, and .75 and 16 degrees. Unfortunately, there is no oxygen in the atmosphere, meaning colonists would have to live in domed cities and wear breathing equipment out side. The Montezuma transits back to U-02 after spending a short time in the system.
12/8/2122 The Montezuma jumps into another system from U-02. The science team immediately becomes excited as the first readings come in from this system as it is the first extra-Solar system to be discovered with a G type star. The astrographic AI soon determines that this system is Lambda Serpentis, 38.9 light years from Earth. The system has seven planets and an extensive asteroid belt. In addition, the inner four planets are all easily colonized, requiring only domed cities for oxygen retention.
12/16/2122 The Montezuma jumps into the third of the new systems connected to the U-02 system, finding another G class star. The AI quickly identifies this system as the 61 Virginis system, 27.8 light years from Earth. The system has nine planets. Planet #2 is habitable with domed cities, but has an atmosphere largely composed of ammonia and will likely never be terraformed. The most exciting fact is that the inner gas giant, orbiting at 116 million kilometers, has twenty moons, six of which are easily colonized with minimal equipment (domed cities required). While they will likely never be terraformed, they are exciting finds, especially if they prove to have resource deposits. The next gas giant out from the sun also has two moons that are considered habitable, although their atmospheres are very limited.
12/22/2122 The Montezuma probes the last of the newly discovered warp points in U-02. This link leads to an M9 dwarf star that could barely be called a star. It has no planets and the Montezuma quickly departs after determining that it is a previously un-cataloged star. Commander Benjamin Carr, CO of the Montezuma, decides to return to Mars for refueling and to report the results of the survey of U-02.
1/10/2123 The Montezuma enters the Solar System and transmits its findings to Survey Command on Europa. The Survey Command agrees with Commander Carr about the potential importance of the 61 Virginis System and a geo-survey mission to that system is authorized.
4/9/2123 The second Gaia Class terraformer is launched from the Rhea yards, along with the first Gaia(J) class terraformer. The Gaia(J) is a jump-capable terraformer ship with only four terraforming modules instead of five, and slightly smaller engineering spaces. The new ships immediately set off to meet up with the Gaia, which is waiting at the warp point to the New Hope system. Once there they will all jump into New Hope and begin operations.
5/29/2123 The 1st (Geo) Survey Squadron completes its survey of the 61 Virginis system. Four of the more-or-less habitable moons have significant resource deposits, which will make the colonization of this system a high priority. Captain North orders the 1st to the Lambda Serpentis system next.
6/28/2123 The 1st Terraforming Group arrives in New America orbit. Operations begin immediately.
10/4/2123 The Fuel Harvester fleet is recalled from Jupiter to drop off fuel on Mars. The ongoing colonization effort has drained the supply of fuel on Mars and has sent the cost of fuel through the dome. In spite of new refining methods, the fuel situation remains critical.
11/29/2123 The 1st (Geo) Survey Group has completed its survey of the Lambda Serpentis system. One of the four low-cost habitable worlds has large deposits of duranium and tritanium at medium and low availability levels, respectively. The others have no trans-uranics. One of the moderate colony-cost moons of the innermost super giant has large deposits of duranium, tritanium, and corundum, with the first and last minerals available at high availability levels. Captain North orders the 1st out of the Lambda Serpentis system for Gliese-300.
2/5/2124 Captain North decides to cut short the survey of Gl-300 because the Group?s fuel and supply situation. The 1st turns back for Earth on this date, after being out of the Solar system for over a year.
4/5/2124 The Council approves Intergalactic Mining Unlimited?s proposal to found a colony on Perseus-02 III. This colony is intended to provide a base for collection of the resources produced by the automated mines on the moon of one of the system?s gas giants. Eventually, IMU plans to establish a refinery on the third planet to produce fuel for the Republic?s expanding economy.
On this date the Republic?s grav survey ship, the Montezuma, jumps into a new system from one of 61 Virginis? three newly discovered warp points. The new system has an F-1V primary, with two planets and three moons. The second planet and its moon appear to be fairly low-cost colony sites, using the standard atmospheric domes. The system is designated U-08.
4/17/2124 The Montezuma transits through the second of the three warp points in the 61 Virginis system. The system primary is a G7-V star with a single small almost moon-like planet orbiting just 48 million kilometers from the star. The system is designated U-09.
4/20/2124 The Vanguard, the Republic?s first jump ship, goes into the Titan yards for refit to Mk 2. The Vanguard Mk 2 includes more efficient jump drives and a higher top speed, making the ship a more efficient survey unit.
5/15/2124 The Montezuma enters the last of 61 Virginis? unexplored warp points. The new system primary is another G7-V, but this system has nine planets, one of which, the fourth, is fairly Earth-like. The system is designated U-10, and the Montezuma jumps back out after collecting preliminary data.
9/15/2124 The Rambaut Drive Corporation completes development work on their new magneto-plasma drive, which is a significant improvement over the older Ion drives. Engineering teams began work immediately on a working version of the drive so that it can be deployed throughout the fleet.
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Status Report, Jovian Republic (As of 12/2124)
Navy: 4xAgincourt Mk 1B Class Bombardment Cruisers, 5xVictory Mk 2 Class Cruisers, 14xTribal Class Escort Destroyers, 3xKing George V Class Scout, 2xTrafalgar Class Troop Transports
Harvester Command: 6xWork Horse Class Refinery
Survey Command: 1xCortes Class Geo-Survey Ship
Civilian Transport Fleet: 2xInterstellar Tramp Class Freighter, 24xTramp Class Freighter, 1xLunar Carrier Class Freighter, 1xColony Jump Ship Class Colony Ship, 4xColony Ship
Under Construction, Refit, or Overhaul: 2xWork Horse Class Refinery, 1xKing George V Class Scout, 1xColony Ship, 1xGaia Class Terraformer, 1xVangaurd Class Jump Survey Ship
Populations
Mars: 194 Million
1xNav Academy, 2xMaint., 4xDSTS, Commercial Freight Fac, 470xCF, 100xOrd. Fac., 14xMines, 217xAut. Mines, 2xGFTF, 130xSilos
Io: 61 Million
12xRL
Callisto: 61 Million
12xRL
Europa (Capital): 61 Million
2xNav Academy, 2xMaint., 5xDSTS, Commercial Freight Fac, 6xRL, 2xGFTF, 70xSilos
Rhea: 61 Million
1xMaint., 3xDSTS, Commercial Freight Fac, 2xSY, 20xCF, 50xSilos
Titan: 63 Million
4xSY
Iapetus & Mimas
500xAutomated Mines (Each)
Trans-Jovian Tech Systems Site #2 (Epsilon Eridani): 9 Million
4xRL
New America (New Hope): 14.2 Million
39xCF, 63xMine
New Hope A-I, Moon 10:
147xAutomated Mine
Interstellar Mining Unlimited, Site #1 (Perseus-02)
100xAutomated Mines
Perseus-02 A III (Perseus-02) 2.19 Million
The past three years have seen explosive growth throughout the Republic. The research labs on Io and Callisto have both been expanded, and the labs on Trans-Jovian Tech Systems Site #2 have doubled in size. New America continues to grow, and Perseus-02 has been colonized and will eventually become a new fuel producing center for the Republic. On the surface the Republic is booming and things appear to be going great in the nine years since the end of the war with Earth.
All of this growth has put the Republic under considerable strain. The fuel situation is critical. The Republic?s fuel reserves have been depleted, the harvester fleet is not keeping up with demand, and the new mining/refining colony in Perseus-02 is not producing as of yet. Several corporations have proposed approaching Earth with a request to trade for fuel, however, the Council is reluctant to allow the Republic to become dependent on the UNE.
The Republic?s finances are depleted as well. The Republic?s government has been operating at negative income levels for some time, living off excess accumulated during the early years of the Republic?s expansion. The surplus is almost depleted, meaning that the Republic will have to make some hard choices in the near future.
Finally, the Republican Navy has been engaged in a race against the UNE for technological superiority. While there have been nine years of peace, the Navy has been acutely aware that it only has a limited window of opportunity to upgrade its ships before the UNE closes the capability gap with either numbers or new designs, or both. Naval Intelligence reported that the first UNE warships launched after the war were immediately taken back into the orbital yards for an apparent refit, supporting the Navy?s contention that the Earthers would act immediately to close the gap in capabilities demonstrated by the final battle of the war, particularly the gap in relative speed between Jovian and Earth ships. The Navy did not request a re-design of its own at that time, secure in the numerical gap that existed between it and the UNE Navy, which was decimated in the war. However, in the nine years since the war the UNE Navy has grown explosively and now consists of approximately twenty destroyer sized units and thirteen cruisers. While the Navy remains confident that its units, when combined with planetary defenses in place throughout the solar system, can deal with any UNE attack, the Navy?s ability to deal with the UNE in deep space has become much less clear cut.
Rambaut Drive System?s development of the next-generation drive engine based on magneto-plasma technology is exactly what the Navy has been waiting for to upgrade their ships and ensure their superiority over the UNE. In order to ensure exceeding the UNE?s likely capabilities, the Jovian Navy is seriously considering establishing a minimum speed requirement for its fleet units of 4,000 kps. However, refits are going to be problematic. The fuel harvester program currently has priority at the yards, so that fuel continues to flow. Two harvesters are currently in the yards, consuming one third of available shipyard capacity, and three of the remaining six harvesters will require major overhauls as soon as yard space is available. In addition, the various corporations involved in out-system development will push as hard as they can for yard space to upgrade the colony and freighter fleet to the new drive systems to increase their efficiency. The Navy is going to be up against some stiff competition for yard space in the next couple of years.
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UNE
5/16/2122 The UNE Council approves the proposal for colonization of the Progress System, beginning with the planet of New Chicago. The Progress System has proven to contain significant resource deposits, so the current plan is for the New Chicago colony to be the hub of a large-scale system-wide mining effort. To support this operation, the Council has also approved the development of a larger jump drive, and the re-design of the freighter fleet to increase their speed. By building a dedicated FT(J) design with a speed and cargo capacity to match that of the standard Bulk Haulers, and by nearly doubling the speed of the freighters from just over 1,700 kps to a minimum of 3,000 kps, the colony effort should proceed much more quickly and efficiently.
The re-design of the Bulk Hauler class proves controversial, the new Mk 2 design has more than twice the number of engines as the old design, and the refit is costly. A refit from the Mk 1 to Mk 2 design costs 97% of the cost of a new Bulk Hauler, however, it only costs 67% of the cost of a new Mk 2 Bulk Hauler. The plan is given the go-ahead and the first three Bulk Haulers go into the yards on this date for refit.
8/10/2122 The freighter upgrade program has run into a major road-block. The new jump drive from Stardrive Systems is now available, but it is so big that there is no way to design a functioning freighter that is capable of 3,000 kps and is jump capable within the mass limit. That leaves the Bureau of Relocation, BuReLoc, the newly organized governmental department in charge of colonization, in a very difficult situation. Four freighters are already in the yards for refit to the new Mk 2 standard. The Mk 2 standard is too large for the standard Stardrive jump drive, which means that a new jump ship will have to be designed, or the refit program scrapped. After more than a little debate, and a complete reorganization of the Bureau of Naval Design, which hid the problem for six weeks while they struggled to come up with a solution, the decision is made to design and build a dedicated non-freighter jump ship capable of escorting the new freighters.
The new ship is a ten thousand ton behemoth, with shields and passive sensors, and a top speed of just over 3,000 kps. Two are ordered, and work will begin as soon as the yards are clear.
BuReLoc puts in an urgent request for research into either more efficient jump drives or jump gates, which would make jump ships obsolete, at least within a network of the gates. Unfortunately, the labs are occupied by a high priority request from the Navy to develop new engines capable of matching the Jovians, and will not be free until at least 2126.
9/14/2123 The 1st EXF jumps out of the UNE-001 system through the first of two newly discovered warp points. The new system has a G3-V central star, three rocky planets outside of the habitable area around the star, and a gas giant. The central star is distantly orbited by a dim brown dwarf failed star with no planets of its own.
11/4/2123 The 1st EXF jumps through the second of the two newly discovered warp points in the UNE-001 system, discovering a binary system with two yellow stars. The system contains one planet with a moderate colony cost, and three with fairly high colony costs. Unfortunately, the B component, which contains the relatively low cost planet, is approximately 7,400 AU?s from the primary, putting it out of reach for now. The system is designated UNE-004.
2/20/2124 The geo-survey ships of the 1st EXF complete the resource survey of the UNE-004 system. The system contains several significant deposits of trans-uranic materials. The inner planet has deposits of eight minerals, four of which are present in medium to high levels of concentration. The third planet, which is a moderate colony-cost world, has seven minerals, with two at high availability levels. Of particular interest is the fact that sorium is present on this world an availability level of 1. A moon of the fifth planet also has high concentrations of duranium, making this a very valuable system. JGM Wilcoxon decides to return to Earth with the news, in spite of the fact that the grav survey is not complete. This decision is made largely because the Fleet?s jump ship is low on spares and needs to be refitted.
7/21/2124 The 1st EXF returns to Earth to a wild reception. The Fleet has been gone for over a year and a half, and has added several valuable new systems to the UNE. The UNE Council, wishing to gloss over its failure to expand the struggling out-system colonies, turns the 1st EXF into a major media event celebrating the might and reach of Earth. Junior Group Manager Wilconxon is promoted to Group Manager on the spot, and most of his subordinates are promoted as well. A general holiday is declared throughout UNE territories to celebrate this momentous event.
Current Status:
Navy: 1xClinton Class CA, 19xSpruance Mk 2 Class Assault Ships, 5xSpruance Mk 2A Class Escort Assault Ships.
Orbital Defense Network: 12xOrbital Defense Base
Exploration Fleet: 1xCoontz Class Jump Ship, 2xEssex Class Grav-Survey Ship, 2xEssex Class Geo-Survey Ship
Transportation Fleet: 1xCoontz Class Jump Ship, 4xBulk Hauler Mk 2 Class Freighter, 16xBulk Hauler Class Freighter, 5xColony Ship, 1xTroop Transport
Under Construction: 7xSpruance Mk 2 Class Assault Ships, 1xSpruance Mk 2A Class Escort Assault Ships, 2xCoontz Class Jump Ship, 2xBulk Hauler Class Freighter, 2xEnglewood Class Large Jump Ships
Populations
Earth: 2.65 Billion
1xSector Command, 4xNav Academy, 2xMaint., 2xDSTS, Commercial Freight Fac, 14xSY, 1000xCF, 300xOrd. Fac., 200x Fuel Ref., 1100xMines, 35xAut. Mines, 15xRL, 10xGFTF, 150xSilos
Moon:
1xDSTS, 11xSilos
Gl-183 A-IV:
76xAutomated Mines
New Chicago (Progress System)
Infrastructure only, no population
The UNE has been having problems expanding beyond the solar system. A shortage of jump ships has crippled the out-system expansion plan, and several ill-fated attempts to increase the efficiency (speed) of the freighter fleet have been expensive failures. New jump ships are being built, and the research facilities are developing new engine technology, however, the colonization program is limping along and is embarrassing to the government, which had touted the program as a shining example of what the Earth?s citizens could achieve.
Making all of this particularly galling is the apparent success of the Jovian Republic. Intercepted news broadcasts have made it clear that the Jovians have successfully colonized three or four extra-solar systems, and Jovian convoys are constantly entering and leaving the solar system. All of this activity highlights the failure of the UNE government to achieve comparable success.
