Aurora 4x

Fiction => Aurora => Topic started by: MarcAFK on June 25, 2016, 02:06:46 PM

Title: Birth of the federation
Post by: MarcAFK on June 25, 2016, 02:06:46 PM
Note that much of what follows is slightly non-canonical StarTrek, but why should J.J.Abrams get all the fun of messing with the timeline.

Part 1: Prologue
In the early 21st century earth was ravished by war, a short brutal conflict waged with vintage but no less effective nuclear weapons, it was over swiftly, not through a triumph of rational minds, but rather as the chaos and destruction reaped was so wholesale that none of the sophisticated command and control infrastructure was left intact enough to continue the slaughter. 600 million people were lost in the initial conflict, but the decade long weather disruption caused crop failure and famine, which caused billions to be lost as the world slowly and literally degenerated into a dark age.
No government survived as the complex logistics needed to rule from afar was shattered, eventually all redoubts of command crumbled under internal pressure as food and material shortages tore apart the last vestiges of the old order , all reduced to tiny fiefdoms squabbling over meagre resources and the toxic irradiated landscape. Working technology became scarce and coveted as an entire generation grew up in the wasteland struggling with whatever could be made to work. Some groups managed to organise into communities with working electricity, education and electricity, becoming prime targets of warlords who scoured the hellscape for weapons and fresh recruits.
Deep within the ashes of the past however remained the remnants of the lost golden age, including the instruments of
the recent apocalypse. In one community living amongst the ruins of an old military base a brilliant man named Zephram Cochrane dared to dream of something greater, himself a relic of the old world he was once considered a lunatic for the outlandish ideas and dubious mathematical theorems he promoted, before the war he couldn't gain access to sophisticated research equipment, but was still able to gather relevent information as it was published.
Off-Topic: show
(http://www.startrek.com/uploads/assets/articles/77c8dbf01f7bf114cc64f8b484635fc2dcb75b69.png)

After the war he became a privateer of sorts using his knowledge of pre-war technology to trade for protection from the local warlords, while enriching his own position and continuing his research into exotic physics, eventually making the discovery which made him famous; Warp Travel.
During the eventful voyage he attracted the attention of a passing alien vessel, an envoy named Soval emerged from the ship and offered guidance and technological advancement, in return for the solemn promise that the newly discovered technology would be used peacefully and for the betterment of all mankind.
Now hailed as a hero, but reluctantly as Cochrane never forgave himself for the selfish manner in which he stayed alive after the war.
That was almost a century ago, and returning from the brink of extinction under the watchful gaze of Vulcan ambassador Soval humanity has once again achieved all manner of advancement, social, educational, medical, and technological.
Off-Topic: show
(https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e35/10533424_933188703384814_486319665_n.jpg)

The nascent martian colonies are thriving, and the charismatic CEO of the company which started the new commercial space race steps down in order to run as the first United Earth president, an office he wins in a landslide.
Off-Topic: show
(http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/09/320x320/square-1457023407-morgan-freeman-london-has-fallen.jpg)

After decades of research and exhausting study the first Warp Powered starship is finally commissioned, the sleek and terrifyingly powerful NX-01 enterprise which shall be commanded by the inexperienced captain Jonathan Archer, the first Starfleet officer to command a vessel outside the solar system, hopefully a journey that will be productive and enlightening.
Off-Topic: show
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e1/0f/1e/e10f1e1475b6dda121d745c04697f7a4.jpg)

His crew include a Vulcan officer, a concession to ambassador Soval who still believes we are unready to venture into the unknown, but ultimately that decision is up to us alone.
Now humanity takes it's great leap into the final frontier, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and civilisations, our mission? To boldly go where no-one has gone before.
End log. January 1st 2150 : 23:57
-Captain Jonathan Archer; commanding officer starship Enterprise
Title: Re: Birth of the federation
Post by: MarcAFK on June 28, 2016, 01:13:05 AM
Part 2: To boldly go...
Off-Topic: show
(http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/square_small/1/15598/595159-enterprise_nx_01.jpg)

As the Enterprise peeled away from the comfort of it's orbiting dock captain Archer considered the mission before him. An unavoidable consequence of how spacewarp works is that outside the protective gravity field of a star the warp field destabilises unless a carefully calculated path is chosen between stars, a result of this is that only 5 systems are available for travel to from the solar system, and each can only be reached from specific areas within its influence. These locations have been labelled Jump points for lack of a better term.
Jump point theory wasn't exactly discovered rather it was learned directly from our vulcan benefactors who chastened Zephram for his dangerous haste when he designed a vessel capable of producing the power needed to warp longer distances. Safely overcoming the limitations of jump points was the question that slowed down human space exploration, that and a lack of financial support.
However a few years ago a vessel was finally created which was capable of testing Jump Point theory, the robotic vessel was to scan the solar system for these jump points, and when ready make a short jump to the next system to verify the safety of the system.
Quote
Off-Topic: show
NX Alpha class NX Project    1,000 tons     26 Crew     181.4 BP      TCS 20  TH 16  EM 0
800 km/s    JR 1-50     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/1/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
Maint Life 10.45 Years     MSP 113    AFR 8%    IFR 0.1%    1YR 2    5YR 28    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months    Spare Berths 0   

Class 5 Warp Drive J1000(1-50)     Max Ship Size 1000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 1
16 EP NT Class Impulse Drive (1)    Power 16    Fuel Use 54.95%    Signature 16    Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 135,000 Litres    Range 44.2 billion km   (639 days at full power)

Gravitational Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
The first such safe point was discovered 360 million kilometers from the sun, within the asteroid field, nothing is known about that system except for gravametric readings indicating the presence of 2 feint M class stars, star charts verified the location as being Luyten 726-8 and also indicated the mass of various solid bodies within the system, after verifying the jump point was traversable as theorized the Zephyr returned to the solar system and continued to scan for more jump points, 5 were discovered in total, each was traversed to verify the accuracy of Jump Point Theory, after which the Zephyr returned to earth for overhaul and disassembly.
Archer had 5 choices before him, but the choice seemed obvious. "Helm, take us to Luyten, It's the closest to earth but far enough to stretch our legs."
"Course locked in Captain, we shall arrive in 5 days at maximum impulse speed."
The Enterprise was state of the art, not as large as the vessels making the run to Mars, but far more powerful and equipped with the best sensors and computer equipment available in order to further the limits of human knowledge. While not equipped with enough fuel to reach and return from the farthest bodies in the solar system under impulse power, jump point theory indicated that the average distance between Warp Points would be low enough to allow several systems to be explored during a 2 or more year journey.
Quote
Off-Topic: show
Discovery class NX Project    25,000 tons     725 Crew     3406.5 BP      TCS 500  TH 400  EM 450
800 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 2-76     Shields 15-300     Sensors 125/125/2/2     Damage Control Rating 20     PPV 36
Maint Life 2.95 Years     MSP 3703    AFR 250%    IFR 3.5%    1YR 634    5YR 9504    Max Repair 995 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months    Flight Crew Berths 3   
Hangar Deck Capacity 500 tons     Magazine 192   

Class 5 Warp Drive J25000(3-50)      Max Ship Size 25000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
200 EP NT Class Impulse Drive (2)    Power 200    Fuel Use 28.62%    Signature 200    Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 1,350,000 Litres    Range 34.0 billion km   (491 days at full power)
Alpha R300/240 Shields (15)   Total Fuel Cost  150 Litres per hour  (3,600 per day)

10cm C1 Infrared Phase Cannon (2)    Range 30,000km     TS: 1250 km/s     Power 3-1     RM 1    ROF 15        3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 Ghz Comms Array (2)    Range 15,000km     TS: 1250 km/s     Power 3-1     RM 1.5    ROF 15        1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Phase Cannon FC 30-1250 (1)    Max Range: 60,000 km   TS: 1250 km/s     83 67 50 33 17 0 0 0 0 0
Comms Targeting Array 15-1250 (1)    Max Range: 30,000 km   TS: 1250 km/s     67 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PWR A-4 Main Engine Core (1)     Total Power Output 4    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 6 Torpedo Launcher (4)    Missile Size 6    Rate of Fire 180
Torpedo Targeting Array FC84-R200 (2)     Range 84.8m km    Resolution 200
Spatial Torpedo NT-2-6 (32)  Speed: 4,800 km/s   End: 252.1m    Range: 72.6m km   WH: 6    Size: 6    TH: 16/9/4

Active Gravimetric Sensor MR84-R200 (1)     GPS 24000     Range 84.9m km    Resolution 200
Thermionic Sensor TH25-125 (1)     Sensitivity 125     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  125m km
Gravametric Sensor EM25-125 (1)     Sensitivity 125     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  125m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (2)   2 Survey Points Per Hour
Geological Survey Sensors (2)   2 Survey Points Per Hour

Strike Group
1x Mark 1 Shuttlepod Shuttle   Speed: 500 km/s    Size: 10

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Controversially the Enterprise was armed, Starfleet would not budge on that requirement no matter how much ambassador Soval argued against it. To counteract the risk of armed conflict the crew were well versed in first contact protocol which emphasised deescalation above all else, but the final decision to use weapons of course was at the captain's discretion. Ensuring first contact would be handled logically was the primary reason that Vulcan first officer T Pol was allowed onboard, despite the crews grumbling I'm sure her scientific and alien knowledge will prove very useful.

Edited due to minor changes from the restart
Title: Re: Birth of the federation
Post by: MarcAFK on June 29, 2016, 09:59:20 AM
The captains train of thought was cut short as a shrill bleep signalled an incoming communication which Commander Hoshi Sato promptly opened to the main screen. Commodore Maxwell Forrest's image filled the screen.
Off-Topic: show
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/c/cd/Maxwell_Forrest%2C_2154.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/270?cb=20120415192505&path-prefix=en)

"I hope you're not intending on scampering off directly to Luyten without so much as a farewell, Captain".
Archer turned to face the supreme commander of starfleet "My crew are eager to get underway as our orders are written, but if you have a better idea I'm all ears, perhaps Soval would like to detain us for a few more hours as he explains once more the nuances of first contact protocol?"
The ambassador from Vulcan was standing directly behind the commodore, but no emotion registered on his face.
"No, captain, your first officer is amply capable of holding your leash in that regard"
Both starfleet officers smirked at that, each had privately joked about Vulcan finally letting Earth some freedom as if it were a misbehaved puppy. T'Pol raised an eyebrow apon hearing the metaphore.
"I'm sure you intend on following your entire mission brief Captain, including the flyby of Mars and docking with the CSS Aquarius? "
"I wouldn't rob President Dupris of the Photo op, he needs to remind the public who's company built those ships, how else would he get re elected?"
"Cynical as always captain, but you know politics are important when you're a product of a navy which takes so much public resources we as we do." "I have additional orders, which you're not going to like, but trust me this isn't just about getting Dupris more votes"
"Go on commodore"
"As you're aware captain the enterprise is equipped with gravametric impulse drives, for the life of me I don't understand how they work, but I sure as hell know how important they are". "These drives allow your ship to travel at an astounding speed, a hundred times what was possible a generation ago when we used chemical rockets burning hydrogen"
"I'm well aware of this" Archer replied dryly.
"Well I'm sure you know what's in your fuel tank". "The Sorium within powers your impulse reactor, but it's also responsible for those martian cargo ships being able to make the journey within a month, even using old fashioned chemical rockets". "The Zephir is supposed to be modified to search the gas giants for sorium deposits, but it's looking like that could take 6 months or more, it seems like a shame to wait that long when the Enterprise has the same sensors, and can reach Saturn in 18 days".
Archer frowned "It's a little bit out of our way"
"Relatively speaking it's out of everybody elses way but yours Captain, the thing is the civilian sector is on the cusp of a major fleet expansion, everyone wants to get involved in the jump to the outer system, but until a sizable reserve of sorium is discovered they're just sitting on their asses."
"That's not exactly starfleets problem though is it Commadore?"
"You're right, but we're planning on major fleet expansion too, the powers that be have decided to halt production of the Challenger until more sorium is found, while the Columbia will finish as planned in Feburary 2052, elsewise the yard will sit motionless until somebody can guarantee long term fuel security."
"That's crazy, Challenger is paid for and theres more than enough fuel for 3 starships"
The bridge remained silent for a moment as the 2 Starfleet officers considered the ineptitude of bureaucrats.
At this point Sub-Commander T Pol interjected.
"Captain the Dupris shipping company plan on making 12 ships for the martian colony"
The Vulcan science officer brought up the ships schematic to each crew member stations personal display.
Quote
Off-Topic: show

Constellation class Colony Ship    32,000 tons     468 Crew     933 BP      TCS 640  TH 62  EM 0
96 km/s     Armour 1-89     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/5/0/0     Damage Control Rating 16     PPV 6
Maint Life 9.39 Years     MSP 1292    AFR 512%    IFR 7.1%    1YR 26    5YR 397    Max Repair 10 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Flight Crew Berths 1   
Hangar Deck Capacity 250 tons     Cargo 10000    Cryogenic Berths 20000    Cargo Handling Multiplier 5   

6.25 EP Chemical Rocket Engine (10)    Power 6.25    Fuel Use 131.02%    Signature 6.25    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres    Range 1.7 billion km   (205 days at full power)

27 Ghz Comms Array (2)    Range 15,000km     TS: 1250 km/s     Power 3-1     RM 1.5    ROF 15        1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Comms Targeting Array 15-1250 (1)    Max Range: 30,000 km   TS: 1250 km/s     67 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PWR A-2 Main Engine Core (1)     Total Power Output 2    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Gravimetric Hazard Avoidance Sensor MR0-R1 (1)     GPS 10     Range 500k km    MCR 55k km    Resolution 1
Gravimetric Shipping Sensor MR5-R100 (1)     GPS 1000     Range 5.0m km    Resolution 100
Thermionic Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Gravametric Sensor EM1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
"While individually burning less fuel than a Discovery class vessel, the number of vessels they plan on producing will quickly outstrip global sorium fuel production even before the second ship of the discovery class is completed" "I know that fuel production is being increased to cope with this, but global sorium reserves will certainly drop down to 10 years at the most by the time fuel supply is sufficient for the combined fleet of both Commercial and Starfleet operated vessels." "Furthermore when we consider the possibility of additional civilian shipping companies getting involved...."
Archer thankfully cut the Loquacious Vulcan's lecture short.
"That's sufficient information Sub-Commander"
"Yes Captain" T Pol raised an eyebrow and glanced towards Ambassadore Sovals image on the viewscreen, he alone recognised the un-intended insult the interruption could have been interpreted as, but both Vulcans were used to working with humans and were unfazed.
Soval stepped forwards to stand equally as close as Forrest
"Commodore the wastefulness of your species never ceases to amaze me, no less than 5 years after being shown how to access sorium and you've already managed to deplete it."
"We're not out of fuel yet Ambassador"
"Semantics Commodore, at current growth in production and consumption you will run out in a very short time". "While I reluctantly supported the Discovery program, I was adamantly against the Commercial application of the technology". "Theres insufficient oversight, control and regulation, space travel should not be managed by people willing to compromise on logic in order to make a profit."
The commodore took command of the situation once more.
"Thank you all for pointing out the severe Sorium shortage which until 5 minutes ago was considered a matter of high security, I'm sure I can trust your bridge crew captain, but this should not leave this room, am I clear?"
The crew responded to the affirmative.
"Anyway captain, Starfleet and President Dupris have been assured by our Vulcan friends that Sorium does exist in our system in great quantities, they just asked us to find it ourself, so theres no real need for concern, is there ambassador?"
The Vulcans reply was indignant.
"Maybe not, but you shouldn't be investing so heavily in such inefficient ships."
"So captain" The Commodore continued
"Your order is to flyby the Aquarius enroute to mars to perform the Enterprise's first docking, fly to mars enroute to Jupiter, check for sorium then head directly to Saturn to confirm the presence of sorium, before heading back down towards the asteroid belt to meet the Luyten 726-8 jump point".
The Commodore pressed a button on his desk and the orders were sent aboard.
Captain Archer sat down and browsed them on his command chair's console.
"Well at least we'll set a few speed records on the way"
"That's the spirit, Forrest out"
The main viewscreen blinked back to the serene starscape ahead of the vessel.
Archer glanced towards the helm officer.
"Your thoughts Travis?"
Commander Mayweather analysed the new orders.
"63 days until we reach Luyten 726-8, not counting time spent docked, in orbit or surveying, in fact I have no idea how long a survey may take,"
T Pol interjected
"For gas giants that size the scans should take several weeks captain."
The bridge groaned.
"Need I remind everyone that this is a science vessel, this is what we're here for". "Fuel consumption Travis?"
"3 billion kilometres, about 10%".
"I would call that a sufficient shakedown cruise, I'm sure we're get all the bugs worked out before we make the jump, Travis set a course for the CSS Aries, Hoshi notify the captain of our time of arrival and that he's invited to join us at my table. T' Pol? See if you can find a way of speeding up our geologic sensors."
The respective crew responded.
"Right away", " Aye aye, " I'll see what I can do Captain"
"If anyone needs me I'll be in engineering".
Archer left the bridge.