2050
While generally resistant to change, the Federation Council votes to begin full-fledged research of TN technology in the hopes that it will stop the seemingly inevitable slide towards oblivion that humanity seems locked into.
January, 2050
All conventional industry is devoted to producing mines capable of extracting TN resources from Earth’s crust. Research is begun on technologies needed to build a TN tech spaceship.
June, 2050
Research is complete on the bare-bones systems needed for a small ship to conduct a survey of the solar system for useable resources. Unfortunately, this ship, designated the Drake, is too large for the shipyard painstakingly built in orbit and construction will have to wait until the yard is expanded. In the meantime researchers are focused on improving our mining and construction techs, as well as engine technology.
October, 2050
Research is completed on a new ground unit which will utilize TN tech. Work is begun on converting several civil guard infantry units to this new and extremely effective unit.
June, 2056
R&D is completed on technologies that will drastically increase the capabilities of our prototype survey ship. The new General Atomics nuclear pulse engine is 60% more powerful and expensive, but uses only 80% of the fuel that the original design used. The Drake’s design is changed to incorporate this new technology. The result is a design that is 625 KPS faster with an 11.8 billion km range increase.
October, 2056
Construction is started on the Drake. The ship is scheduled to be launched in April of 2058.
Drake Mod 2 class Geosurvey Ship 2,400 tons 56 Crew 417 BP TCS 48 TH 80 EM 0
1666 km/s Armour 1-15 Shields 0-0 Sensors 15/1/0/3 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maint Life 3.09 Years MSP 109 AFR 46% IFR 0.6% 1YR 17 5YR 257 Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 0
Gen. Atomics Nuclear Pulse Engine (2) Power 40 Fuel Use 12.73% Signature 40 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 58.9 billion km (409 days at full power)
Alliant GR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 15 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 15m km
Geological Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
April, 2057
Research teams complete development of new techs to increase productivity at the shipyards. Implementation of this tech has reduced the build time of the Drake by four months.
Jan., 2058
The Drake is launched to fanfare and celebration. The ship immediately sets out on its maiden voyage to survey the solar system. The Federation government has gone to great lengths to promote the launching of the Drake as the “Start of a New Dawn” for the human race, in the hopes that the great mass of humanity will see this as the result of their hard work. In part the government succeeds in this as many in the middle and lower class hope that this new age will mean better conditions for them are coming.
June, 2058
Pratt & Whitney completes development of its new commercial drive system. The new drive is based on the latest Ion technology, and is intended for use on new commercial ship designs, such as the planned freighter design intended to transport mines and infrastructure to other planets and moons. The new engine is five times larger than either of the General Atomics designs, but thanks to the new technology it is 7.5 times more powerful. Even better, it uses only 41% of the fuel that the older nuclear pulse engine design uses. Construction is begun immediately on a shipyard capable of building large commercial ships.
Jan., 2059
The Drake has been surveying the Solar System for the last year and has been recalled to give its brave crew a chance to recuperate on Earth before finishing their mission. So far only Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto have not been surveyed, along with other Kuiper belt objects and the outer comets. So far, it appears the Solar System’s comets will be the best targets for mining. Both Mercury and Mars have large deposits of duranium at good availability levels, but each only has a scattering of other resources available.
April, 2059
In spite of the fact that the conversion of the conventional industry is not complete, work is begun on converting newly constructed mines to incorporate automation both to reduce dependence on scarce workers and so that they can be deployed to cometary mine locations.
August, 2059
The Drake, while conducting surveys in the Kuiper Belt, suffers a failure of its geo-sensor array. While the ship carries enough maintenance supplies and engineers to fix the array, its maintenance situation is critical after the repair. The ship is in dire need of an overhaul, so the AeroSpace Command approves Captain Klier’s request to return to Earth for overhaul. Unfortunately, the overhaul is delayed while AeroSpace Command expands its maintenance facilities.
October, 2059
The Drake sets out for the outer system again, fresh from its overhaul.
Dec., 2061
The Federation’s first freighter is launched. After shakedown it will begin transported automated mines to the comet Wild.
2062
Federation Council President Warren Pellerito gives his annual address to the Federation. In this address, President Pellerito extols the Federation as the most socially and culturally advanced government in the history of mankind, and uses as justification for this statement the fact that the Federation has no official armed forces and that the old scourge of nuclear weapons were finally eliminated by the Federation government. The speech is well received by the upper and middle classes. The down-trodden lower classes, exploited to maintain the lifestyles of the upper classes in the new world brought about by the Federation, see this speech as cynical self-delusion, especially in light of the recent Lima and Delhi incursions by the newly founded Council Guard force.
Current composition of the Federation’s ground forces:
Civil Protection Group
5xMobile Infantry Brigades
Council Guard
1xAssault Infantry Brigade
Civil Protection Group
While not official acknowledged as an “Army”, the Civil Protection Group fills the same role. Because the Federation’s enemies are all internal, the Civil Protection Group is equipped accordingly. Civil Protection soldiers are equipped with partially powered armor (see below), 8mm gauss rifles, and 4mm gauss pistols. The Civil Protection Group is organized and equipped as a rapid reaction force, with light armored units and light mobile artillery. All Civil Protection Group soldiers are augmented with cybernetic and computer implants commonly referred to as “soldier boosts”. These implants boost speed, strength, and reaction times, as well as providing short-range communications and data services. These boosts, coupled with the advantages conveyed by hi-tech armor made with trans-Newtonian materials, makes the average CPG soldier a “super-soldier” capable of dealing with large crowds of rioters or poorly armed insurrectionists all alone or in low numbers.
Initially, at the formation of the Federation, the Civil Protection Group was intended to be a break from the professional militaries of the past, and was intended to be more focused on internal security duties. The “true believers” that hated the old militaries and who created this line of propaganda may have believed what they were saying, but certainly the military leaders on the Council and members of the old militaries who became a part of the Civil Protection Group hadn’t changed. Therefore, in the decade since the founding of the Federation the Civil Protection Group has evolved into a professional military force that, while it has performed well in its civil suppression duties, has not performed those duties with the zeal that the Council would like to see.
Council Guard
The Council Guard force was formed by the Federation Council to fill two roles. The first role was to be a dedicated security force loyal only to the Council. Once that need is filled, the Council intends for the expanded Council Guard force to begin filling the population control duties that the Civil Guard now performs.
The Council Guard is organized and equipped as a security and assault force. Therefore the Guard emphasizes striking power at the expense of endurance or heavy combat ability. The average Guardsman is equipped with unpowered armor (see below) and either a combat shotgun or advanced assault rifles. The Council Guard employs large numbers of personnel carriers optimized for combat in built up areas. Many of these armored personnel carriers are equipped with non-lethal riot suppression weaponry. The Guard does not employ tanks or other heavy weapons, instead relying on pre-built strong points to provide heavy weapons when needed for the security duties.
Council Guard soldiers have their own versions of soldier boosts. The Council Guard augments include most of the same advantages given to the Civil Protection Group, as well as “loyalty enhancements”. These additional features amount to conditioning to obey orders from their superiors without question.
Federation Personal Armor
The Federation government issues several different types of armor to its police, security units, and military:
Police Body Armor: This armor is similar to armor issued to Police in the 20th century, although it is much lighter and improved over past models, especially once TN materials like duranium come into common use.
Unpowered Military Armor: This is the standard armor issued to the Council Guard. It is much heavier than Police armor and makes extensive use of TN materials to increase its effectiveness. The armor includes built-in enhancements to the soldier’s basic data-processing and sensor capabilities.
Partially-Powered Armor: This is the standard armor issued to the Civil Protection Group. It offers superior protection against projectiles, shrapnel, and other battlefield dangers. The armor includes power enhancements to offset the additional weight. This armor covers approximately 90% of the soldier’s body.
Feb., 2063
The Drake returns from its final voyage. AeroSpace Command has declared its survey mission completed, as the only remaining un-surveyed bodies are small and distant.
In the meantime, mercassium has run out on Earth, and while there is enough stockpiled to meet Earth’s needs for quite a few years, it is a worrying sign of things to come.
Finally, the Federation Council has ordered that preparations begin for the massive Mars Colonization Project.
The Drake’s survey has uncovered large deposits of TN resources scattered throughout the Solar System. The best targets for future exploitation are Mercury, Venus, Mars, and several comets.
March, 2063
The Drake, its mission completed, is converted into a scout, with advanced engines and a very large thermal sensor array.
Drake Mod S class Geosurvey Ship 2,400 tons 56 Crew 256 BP TCS 48 TH 120 EM 0
2500 km/s Armour 1-15 Shields 0-0 Sensors 144/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maint Life 1.68 Years MSP 67 AFR 46% IFR 0.6% 1YR 28 5YR 425 Max Repair 144 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 0
Gen Atomics Ion Drive (2) Power 60 Fuel Use 9.55% Signature 60 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 78.5 billion km (363 days at full power)
Alliant ER-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 144 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 144m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
June, 2064
The first colony ship is launched and begins runs between Earth and Mars.
The Federation Council has decided that Mars will be a good place to use as a “dumping ground” for political undesirables. These undesirables include rabble-rousers and labor leaders, as well as nationalist agitators and regular criminals.
Nov., 2066
The first Federation troop transport is launched. The Federation Council has been growing increasingly concerned about persistent unrest on Mars. Worker riots over poor work and living conditions are nothing new, but what is happening on Mars seems like it is something new, and more disturbing. It is a growing independence movement, something the Council wants stamped out before it can spread. Almost immediately after launching the transport begins loading elements of the 5th Brigade of the Civil Protection Group. Mars will be secured at all costs.
April, 2067
Earth’s fuel refineries have been relocated to Mars in their entirety, reducing demand on Earth’s dwindling population. Fortunately, radiation has been decreasing across the globe, but population levels are still decreasing.
May, 2068
Conversion of the Earth’s conventional industry is complete.
Nov., 2068
The Federation Bureau of Relocation, commonly known as BuReLoc, discontinues colonist transfers to Mars. The population of Mars has grown to 38.6 million, and the current infrastructure level on Mars will only accommodate 39.5 million colonists. Unfortunately, industry on Earth has been diverted to producing financial centers in an effort to shore up the Federation’s sagging economy.
March, 2070
The Federation Council has been growing increasingly concerned with events beyond Earth’s atmosphere. In response to these concerns the AeroSpace Command has decided to build a massive command and control bunker complex. The Aegis complex will includes the Command’s latest sensor designed specifically for the complex, a command and control bunker, and barracks for the Council Guard force.
Aegis class Planetary Surveillance Base 49,400 tons 250 Crew 4814.4 BP TCS 988 TH 0 EM 0
Armour 29-119 Sensors 330/630 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0
Intended Deployment Time: 36 months Spare Berths 1
Flag Bridge Troop Capacity: 10 Battalions
GE SL-1 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 63000 Range 693.0m km Resolution 100
Alliant ERL-2 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 330 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 330m km
Alliant ERL-2 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 330 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 330m km
This design is classed as a Planetary Defence Centre and can be pre-fabricated in 20 sections
June, 2070
The Federation Council approves the opening of an automated mining site on Venus, which has large concentrations of corbomite, vebdarite, and corundium.
There are widespread celebrations as the Federation Council confirms that the background radiation has decreased to the point where the population is now increasing. Ironically, this announcement will ultimately result in an increase in general unrest. The Federation has long justified the harsh measures it takes to secure order as being necessary in the “New World”. While the environmental reasons for the harsh environment have been easing, there has not been a concomitant easing in the Federation’s repression of the lower orders. This will not go unnoticed over the next several years.
Sept., 2070
The orbital yards finish work on the Federation’s first two tugs. The tugs are ordered to begin moving the Federation’s shipyards to Mars, to reduce the burden on Earth’s overworked labor force. After the yards arrive over Mars work begins immediately in the Walsh-Kaiser yards to retool them to produce the Federation’s new terraformer design.
Workhorse class Tug 16,750 tons 172 Crew 756.4 BP TCS 335 TH 1800 EM 0
5373 km/s Armour 1-58 Shields 0-0 Sensors 8/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
MSP 28 Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 2
Tractor Beam
Pratt & Whitney Commercial Ion Drive (6) Power 300 Fuel Use 5.3% Signature 300 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 300,000 Litres Range 60.8 billion km (131 days at full power)
Alliant SR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 8m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
Gaia class Terraformer 85,550 tons 387 Crew 2241.8 BP TCS 1711 TH 900 EM 0
526 km/s Armour 1-172 Shields 0-0 Sensors 8/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
MSP 16 Max Repair 500 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 36 months Spare Berths 0
Terraformer: 3 module(s) producing 0.009 atm per annum
Pratt & Whitney Commercial Ion Drive (3) Power 300 Fuel Use 5.3% Signature 300 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 19.8 billion km (436 days at full power)
Alliant SR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 8m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
May, 2071
The Earth’s deposit of duranium has been mined out.
July, 2072
The Federation Council, in a closed session, hears testimony from experts from Martin Marietta Materials, the leading company in TN mining efforts. The Council is shocked at the state of the Earth’s reserves. Earth has now run out of five out of the eleven TN resources, and of the remaining six TN resources, all will be mined out within eight years. While most of Earth’s and Mars’ needs are supplied by mines placed throughout the Solar System, those mines will also begin running out within several decades. The shocking part was the analysis supplied by the experts, which showed that the Solar System’s resources would run out even faster once Earth’s mines were relocated away from Earth.
Once the experts had been dismissed the Council voted unanimously to unseal the data on the original research on FTL jump tech.
Feb., 2073
Conditions are improving on Earth. Radiation and atmospheric dust have been steadily decreasing, the annual population growth rate has increased to .85%, and there are finally enough workers for all existing installations.
June, 2073
Work has begun on converting the Naval Yard orbiting Mars to construct the Magellan, the Federation’s first jump-capable starship. The Council has declared this project to be top secret, and no announcements are made.
Magellan class Deep Space Survey Ship 10,000 tons 230 Crew 1415 BP TCS 200 TH 420 EM 0
2100 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 5-41 Shields 0-0 Sensors 330/1/4/0 Damage Control Rating 16 PPV 0
Maint Life 2.5 Years MSP 531 AFR 133% IFR 1.9% 1YR 118 5YR 1776 Max Repair 330 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Spare Berths 0
Boeing J10000(3-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 10000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Gen Atomics Ion Drive (7) Power 60 Fuel Use 9.55% Signature 60 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 510,000 Litres Range 96.1 billion km (529 days at full power)
Alliant ERL-2 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 330 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 330m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (4) 4 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
October, 2074
The Council, in another sealed hearing, agrees to restart military systems research. This type of research has been prohibited by Council orders since the formation of the Federation. The Council has heard testimony from several leading military specialists and corporate leaders who are concerned that an expansion into interstellar space would bring exposure to warlike and regressive races that had not learned the same lessons that mankind had. While the Council has not approved the construction of military units, it has approved research for systems to be used in warships, should they be needed.
Dec., 2074
The Magellan is launched in secrecy over Mars this month. After shaking down the ship sets out to survey the Solar System for jump points.
Feb, 2075
The Magellan finds a jump point in the middle of the asteroid belt in between Mars and Jupiter. The Council is rocked by the news, as many had hoped that no jump points would be found.
June, 2075
The Magellan finds a second jump point. This one is just outside the orbit of Uranus.
July, 2075
The Magellan finds a third jump point, just inside of the orbit of Uranus.
Oct., 2075
The Magellan finds a fourth jump point, outside of Neptune’s orbit. The Magellan is recalled shortly after the discovery of this jump point to be refitted. It will be replaced by the Walter Raleigh, which will complete the survey. The Raleigh is being built with the latest technology, including the latest General Atomics Internal Fusion drive.
Magellan Mod 2 class Deep Space Survey Ship 10,000 tons 240 Crew 1544 BP TCS 200 TH 600 EM 0
3000 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 5-41 Shields 0-0 Sensors 330/1/4/0 Damage Control Rating 19 PPV 0
Maint Life 3.86 Years MSP 868 AFR 88% IFR 1.2% 1YR 92 5YR 1380 Max Repair 330 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 36 months Spare Berths 2
Boeing J10000(3-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 10000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Gen Atomics Internal Fusion Drive (3) Power 200 Fuel Use 5.66% Signature 200 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 750,000 Litres Range 238.5 billion km (920 days at full power)
Alliant ERL-2 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 330 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 330m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (4) 4 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
April, 2076
The Raleigh completes its portion of the gravitic survey of the Solar System, discovering a fifth jump point just inside of Neptune’s orbit. The Raleigh is ordered back to Mars to refuel and rest its crew. Later in the month the Magellan completes its survey by discovering the sixth and last jump point in the Solar System, located in between Uranus and Neptune. The Magellan is recalled to Mars as well.
May, 2076
The Council authorizes exploration of the jump points. The Magellan and the Raleigh are ordered to explore the six jump points, with their missions being conducted under absolute secrecy.
