[center:32msts6f]Struve 1280[/center:32msts6f]
With the loss of six GEVs in the last few years to enemy action the Admiralty Strategy Board now put in place the requirement for an escort to be assigned until all the major system bodies had been surveyed in an effort to stop the loss of ships and morale of the planetary survey crews. The reload capability of the Formidable and Indomitable it was noted had been stretched during the Gliese 109 deployment, another engagement and half the FAC would have been without missiles. Thus five munitions transports were authorised. In addition the strike rate of the Asp while creditable was now causing a little concern. With the majority of existing stocks of the AST3-1 model deployed it was time to consider the development of the AST3-2, which should have an increased range and velocity. This it was hoped would coincide with the development of a new sensor and electronic warfare suite, with the whole package forming the core of the new Brave class FAC. The order for the fifth units of the Battle and Sea Monster classes was a delayed due to economic circumstances, the Solar Union budget had entered a mini recession, which could be weathered using current reserves for a while but not if it extended out past three years. Earth was increasing the number of financial centres on the planet by 200.
29th November 2097
Tau Ceti, Alpha Centauri Arm. 1st FAC Squadron arrives in system to ride shotgun on the 3rd Geo-Survey Squadron reassigned to survey this system. As the sensors stabilise four wrecks are evident, a lone one at a distance of 183 million kilometres and a bearing of 156 degrees from the Gate and the other three, clustered together, slightly closer at a distance of 127 million kilometres and a bearing of 109 degrees from the Gate,. These were not small ships; two wrecks massing 21,600 tonnes while the other two massed 14,400 tonnes. Salvager 003 was brought forward to begin salvage operations. But it was further evidence of widespread warfare throughout the systems surrounding Sol.
The rest of 2097 passed of peacefully. The Admiralty re-examined the positioning of a naval base on Inferno (Kapteyns Star-A I) in the light of a failure to find adequate sorium deposits, making the fuel supply unreliable in the long term. The base was therefore to be moved to Camelot (Luytens 1726-8-A II), which was also closer to the core colonies and already had access to some 5 million tonnes of accessibility 0.9 Sorium.
5th February 2098
The 2nd FAC Squadron arrives in Struve 1280 to escort the 2nd Geo-Survey Squadron. Nothing shows up on scanners. However, since this system is slated to receive a colony in the near future the Squadron moves in towards Struve 1280-AVIII. Struve 1280 is in the Wolf 359-Procyon Arm that lies next to the Wolf 359-Proxima Centauri Arm, where so much trouble was found in Ross 154. It was noticed that the jump point to Giglas 111-47 had a Gate of alien design almost identical to that found in Gliese 109
11th February 2098
Struve 1280. The 2nd FAC Squadron moved in system towards Struve 1280-A VIII. As the edge of the Callisto’s sensor envelope brushed Struve 1280-A III, every alarm in the ship went off! Three hostile contacts were located in orbit of Struve 1280-A III, all of 7,200 tonnes, at a range of 1400 million kilometres. Two were of a known class, Demolishers, the third; a new class designated Silencer 001. Illustrious and Victorious began launching their flights, as a report was transmitted to Admiralty Operations.
[attachment=0:32msts6f]Struve Detection.jpg[/attachment:32msts6f]
The fleet closed to six billion kilometres to bring the hostiles within the combat radius of the Grey class FAC. The first strike launched from both carriers and proceeded to close to 10 million kilometres. Unfortunately a number of inexperienced crews turned their craft away too soon; losing sensor lock on the alien ships, which themselves had started to move away from the strike group. The upshot of this was only six salvos managed to home on their targets. None of the hostiles were even streaming atmosphere after the attack. A second strike was required, so the FAC returned to their carriers to rearm and refuel.
The FAC were soon launched again, once more missiles were launched when the strike group reached 10 million kilometres from target, but this time the FAC followed them in, making sure they stayed in contact. Thus nine minutes later the alien ships dissolved under a blizzard of 5-kiloton detonations, interspersed with secondary explosions as magazines and power plants went off. Of the 180 Asps launched 78 found their target, while three of the salvos failed to maintain target lock after the targets were reduced to so much coarse metallic gravel. On return to the carriers there were only sufficient missiles to rearm eight of the FAC fully.
Later analysis of this operation revealed the vulnerability of the carrier group when all the FAC were away. If a quartet of enemy Silent Death FAC had been present in system it could have been very embarrassing. Thus doctrine was formulated that where assets allow then investigation of new star systems should be carried out by sufficient forces to allow some to be retained with the carriers and jump cruiser, it is thought that three escorts and three missile cruisers would be sufficient. The utility of small craft would also be investigated
30th May 2098
Salvager 002 arrives to begin salvage operations on what remains of the alien ships.
2nd Geo-Survey Squadron arrives in system to begin survey.
23rd June 2099
Kapteyns Star, Addition of Safe Greenhouse Gas to the atmosphere of Kapteyns Star-A II has been halted as specified atmosphere has been reached. The Wyatt Development Corporation has chartered this planet. They believe it can be terraformed in a few years, and indeed it only now requires an increase in oxygen. The planet has been named Wyatt’s Planet.
22nd October 2098
A ruined outpost has been found on Struve 1280-A III.
12th January 2099
Research has been completed on Earth for the improved jump drive for the Moon Class Mk III, a J12800(3-50) unit.
Kapteyns Star. The Governor of Comet #2 mining colony has been found dead, an investigation failed to attribute the death to natural causes. Officially the death has been described as in mysterious circumstances.
18th January 2099
The research into internal confinement fusion drives has finally paid off. All classes will be redesigned were economic to use the new engines now being designed. This will mean several years of refits before the fleet is again fully combat ready. The decision has already been taken to replace the Grey class FAC with the Brave class, once funding streams stabilise.
20th February 2099
A team on Earth led by David Chandler has completed research into Internal Confinement Fusion Drive E6. The first of the new drives becomes available
26th February 2099
Megalodon, Nothosaur, Liopleurodon (Sea Monster Mk II class) built on Earth emerged from the ‘Yards only to immediately re-enter them to be refitted to the re-engined Mk III version
4th March 2099
A team on Earth led by Ding Cai Yun has completed research into GB Internal Confinement Fusion Drive E60. The drive for the Brave class is now available.
21st March 2099
Survey of Struve 1280 completed. Colony site prepared on Struve 1280-A III. This is quite a rich system and a priority for the Relocation Bureau, but being six jumps from Earth is a drawback.
Minerals available in Struve 1280 system:-
Struve 1280-AI: Uridium 25,371,370 (0.9)
Struve 1280-A III Fargone: Neutronium 1,245,386 (0.8 ), Venderite 3,415,104 (0.9)
Tritanium 77,840 (0.8 ) Corundium 18,252 (1) Gallicite 5,281 (1)
Struve 1280-A IV Tritanium 3,415,104 (0.9) Duranium 9,539,712 (0.6)
Struve 1280-A VII Moon 2: Duranium 2,798,978 (0.7) Corundium 152,100 (0.8 ) Galacite 184,041 (0.7)
Struve 1280-A VIII: Tritanium 2,205,225 (0.6)
Struve 1280-A IX: Sorium 37,815,000 (0.7)
Struve 1280-A IX: Moon 21: 2,905,284 (0.9)
Struve 1280-A IX: Moon 16: Tritanium 1,664,100 (0.7)
Struve 1280-A Comet #2: Neutronium 40,822 (0.7) Corbomite 18,893 (0.9)
Struve 1280-B V - Moon 1: Duranium 952,200 (0.8 ) Neutronium 950,625 (0.7) Corbomite 455,625 (0.9) Trititanium 2,073,600 (0.4) Boronium 632,025 (1) Venderite 260,100 (0.4) Uridium 497,025 (0.9) Corundium 32,400 (0.9) Gallicite 1,102,500 (0.8 )
Only Mercassium was present in low amounts, although there was in excess of 20,000 tonnes at 1.0 availability in the asteroid belt.
26th May 2099. Retooling for Furious Mk II class completed at Portsmouth Naval Shipbuilding on Earth. First units taken in hand.
6th July 2099
The Hsieh Hua Zhu xenology team reach Struve 1280-A II, now known as Fargone.
26th September 2099
The next three units of the Moon class emerge from the ‘Yards only to immediately re-enter them to be refitted to the re-engined Mk IV version.
24th October 2099
Mars completes its commercial spaceport.
14th November 2099
First five units of the Battle Class CL come off the ways, but again return to the ‘Yards to be refitted to the Mk III version.
22nd November 2099
The Hsieh Hua Zhu xeno team report back on the ruins on Fargone (Struve 1280-A III). The Santiago Empire formally occupied this planet. There are sixteen possible installations that may be able to be reactivated. The real question though, is why were ships of the Gliese 832 aliens sitting over this planet, which was clearly not theirs. It begin to look more and more like there is, or was a truly xenophobic race out there which will brook no competition, as once again the landscape is dotted with the craters of megaton sized impacts. As for the wrecks above Fargone, once more there was no evidence of organic life forms or life pods being used. Opinion was starting to swing towards the computer controlled, no crew hypothesis, was Earth really facing Saberhagen’s Berserkers?
