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C# Fiction > Gyrfalcon's Fiction
The Kingdom of Avalon
Gyrfalcon:
The Ancients
Little is known of those now called the Ancients except that in the distant past, the fractured nations of Earth banded together as a polity known as the Terran Federation. They succeeded in quelling warfare on the surface of the Earth, and expanded into space. Through their mastery of science, the flag of humanity spread out into the stars through a series of Gates of some form. It seemed to be a golden age for Humanity, though there were enemies that tested the Ancients. The stars were not peaceful, and their borders were contested on several fronts by enemies foreign and domestic.
Yet the Ancients were strong, and it seemed that it was an age that would last forever. But then the Cataclysm came. The Gates were abruptly shut, and could not be reopened. Earth was dependent on its daughter colonies and could no longer survive without them. As famine gripped the planet, the fragility of the Federation was shown. Nations turned on each other, and the space fleet burned in orbit as mutiny ripped through the ranks. In an act of madness or salvation, the fleet burned most of its own shipyards, ending the struggle for their contents as the burning pieces deorbited, crashing into the continents and oceans below as nuclear missiles rained down indiscriminately.
The conflict ended not with victors, but with survivors. No nation was left standing, no army left intact. What ships survived the battle in orbit were left to rot and degrade, eventually ending their lives as comets streaking through the night sky and disasters where they struck. Only one monument to the Ancients survived the Cataclysm - the Tower of Babel reaching into the heavens, connecting Earth to a geostationary artificial moon in orbit named Selene.
The Rise of Avalon
Centuries passed as the world slowly recovered from the devastation. Villages became cities, communities became nations, and nations went to war with each other. Wars were fought over land, resources- and the ruins of the past. On one island, off the coast of Europa, a pair of mercenaries fleeing a lost battle made a discovery that changed the course of the world.
Beneath the white cliffs once called Dover, the two discovered gates forged of a strange metal that neither had ever seen before. One of them, who came to be called Merlin, was a genius that only appears rarely in the pages of history. He managed to restore function to the gates and break through their security, opening the first vault of what would become Castle Camelot.
Within the vaults were the untainted and pristine artifacts of the Ancients. Among them were suits of armor many times the size of a man that no blade nor bullet could pierce, wielding guns that could destroy even armored vehicles with blazing bolts of plasma, spears of light or rounds that pierced the air.
Merlin’s companion took the name Arthur Pendragon, and reached out to the loyal companions he had made in his days as a mercenary. To these men he gifted possession of the magnificent suits of armor that became known as Armiger. These men became his Knights, and clad in their invincible armor and wielding their unstoppable weapons, they marched forth and founded the Kingdom of Avalon. In time, Merlin managed to reproduce the arcane heart that powered and supported the armor, and many more Armiger were created. Crude and clanking things compared to the work of the Ancients, none the less they were a force to be feared on the battlefield and supported the armsmen of the Kingdom. In time, possession of an Armiger became synonymous with the nobility and knightly orders of the Kingdom.
On the white cliffs of Dover, the great city of Camelot was founded. While Arthur fought battles and made alliances, Merlin labored to divine the secrets of the Ancients, and then translate those secrets to working technology. Aided by his Order of the Magi, Merlin created sources of pure water and bountiful fields. The Magi created roads to link the cities that Arthur conquered with the rest of Avalon. The Knights of the Round table defeated the bandits that sought to haunt those roads, and the Kingdom experienced a peace that had been missing from the world for long centuries.
No foe could defeat Avalon, for even as the last Armiger left the Castle, their presence on the battlefield provided the Royal Army an unbeatable counter to the tactics of their enemies. As the reputation of the Kingdom grew, more and more warlords bowed to the inevitable and joined the Kingdom as nobles rather than seeing its flag rise over their fortress as they hung from the gibbet.
King Arthur did not live to see his dream of uniting the world fulfilled, but his eldest daughter would ascend as Queen of Avalon. Queen Guinevak would unite the last holdouts in the world-spanning Kingdom, once more making true the old claim of the British that the sun never set upon the Kingdom.
Under Queen Guinevak and her successor, Queen Eigyr, the Kingdom of Avalon was united by more than the sword as they worked tirelessly to build an identity as one people and share the bounty of the Kingdom with all of its citizens.
Opening the Tower of Babel
Centuries passed, and the Earth recovered to the heights of the Ancients. As the Kingdom celebrated its population passing 500 million citizens, Magus Camelot Ver discovered a way to access the Tower of Babel. No mere tower, it was an orbital elevator connecting the ancient spaceport at its base and the shipyard of Selene above. The Magi also discovered that the spaceport contained a Deep Space Tracking Network, though there was nothing detected in the solar system.
Much of the data stored on the ancient computers of Selene was lost entirely or corrupted by memory errors. But what could be gleaned was troubling - for if the simulations run by the Ancients were correct, then the phenomenon that had closed the Gates and cut off Sol from the rest of the galaxy had passed. For all the Kingdom knew, the enemies of the Ancients could be poised to invade Sol once again.
But all was not lost, for the computers also gave clues to the final secrets of the ancients. Foremost were notes and equations that proved that another dimension closely overlaid our own, one in which the Newtonian laws that humans were so familiar with worked differently. The Ancients dubbed this dimension the Aether.
The second were tantalizing hints of something monumental uncovered on Mars just days before the Cataclysm. But whatever was found, there were also great indications of danger.
Through the gift of the Ancients, the way to the stars were once again open, and the Kingdom would claim their destiny on distant worlds.
Gyrfalcon:
Starting Information
Known Star Systems OFF
Allow Human NPRs ON
Generate Precursors, Star Swarm, Rakhas, Aether Raiders ON
Generate Invaders OFF
Limited Research Administration ON
Difficulty Modifier, Research Speed, Terraforming Speed, Survey Speed - 100%
Humanity:
Population: 500m
Determination 58 / 100
Diplomacy 38 / 100
Expansion 50 / 100
Militancy 55 / 100
Trade 40 / 100
Translation 0 / 25
Xenophobia 81 /100
Terra
Population: 500m
Naval Shipyard Capacity: 1,000t
Commercial Shipyard Capacity: 10,000t
Repair Yard Capacity: 0t
Conventional Industry: 800
DSTS: 1
GFCC: 1
Maintenance Facility: 5
Military Academy: 1
Naval Headquarters: 1
Research Facility: 8
Spaceport: 1
The Formation of the Royal Navy
King Eliwlod was an old man, and in poor health. It was well known that he was transferring more and more of his duties and responsibilities to his son, Crown Prince Kyduan. Because of this, he gave his son free reign in determining how the Kingdom would respond to this mess, knowing that it would be the coming generation that would bear the burden of the changes to come. The old King knew that it would make his son’s tasks easier if he did not have to navigate dealing with loyalists to the old King in important positions of power.
The Prince’s greatest concern from the data discovered in the Tower was that for an unknown period of time, the Sol system has once again become accessible to outside powers. It was well documented historically that the Ancients had struggled against multiple alien powers, and that the stars were not safe for humanity.
Crown Prince Kyduan directed that a crash program to begin the construction of Aether voidships should be undertaken with all haste. Preliminary experiments with the Aether indicated the dimension had properties that crossed between conventional knowledge of space and underwater environments.
The Kingdom still had little in the way of a space tradition, but they did have a lively flight and naval community including a number of submarines that engaged in undersea exploration and recovery of Ancient wrecks and ruins. Officers for the Aether Navy (quickly displacing the blue water navy as simply the Royal Navy) were drawn from the submarine service alongside the air force. Given the Kingdom’s long centuries of peace, the first generation of officers in the Royal Navy would have only theoretical knowledge.
Kyduan appointed Peredurus Auvray as the first Admiral of the Royal Navy. Formerly part of the blue navy’s submarine command, the admiral was known as a courageous man whose quick and decisive thinking had saved the crew of his submarine when a ruptured ballast tank threatened to kill them all. He was also known to be passionately devoted to his work, with no outside interests beyond his martial arts hobby.
The First Naval Designs
Admiral Auvrey and the senior officers of the Navy sat down to design a workable void ship. The Aether engine constructed by Merlin proved a crude basis for a ship, though the performance in such a large vessel was atrocious.
Project BROADSWORD
--- Code: ---Broadsword class Gunship (P) 3,997 tons 44 Crew 192.2 BP TCS 80 TH 24 EM 0
300 km/s Armour 1-22 Shields 0-0 HTK 13 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 24
Maint Life 6.16 Years MSP 130 AFR 128% IFR 1.8% 1YR 6 5YR 88 Max Repair 20 MSP
Magazine 160
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Morale Check Required
Louet-Addinell Engines Limited CE-12 Aether Engine (2) Power 24 Fuel Use 91.29% Signature 12 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres Range 2.5 billion km (95 days at full power)
Type VI External Rack (22) Missile Size: 6 Hangar Reload 122 minutes MF Reload 20 hours
Type I External Rack (28) Missile Size: 1 Hangar Reload 50 minutes MF Reload 8 hours
RN/MGM-4 80/10.9M Torpedo Fire Control System (1) Range 10.9m km Resolution 80
RN/MGP-5 1/227K Anti-Torpedo Fire Control System (1) Range 2.5m km Resolution 1
RN/MGA-3 80/10.8M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 320 Range 10.9m km Resolution 80
RN/CER-2 EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/CTR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
--- End code ---
Massing nearly 4000 tons, the only viable armament for Project BROADSWORD were externally-mounted racks for nuclear-tipped weapons. There was a lively debate between the naval and air force officers on what to call them - to the sailors, they were torpedoes, while the pilots called them missiles. Eventually, the debate was solved by dividing them by size - weapons smaller than 10t in displacement were missiles, while anything larger was a torpedo. It was a solution that pleased no one, which probably meant that it was the best solution possible.
The Project BROADSWORD ships would be equipped with two types of weapon system, the SGT-1A ‘Pernach’ Light Torpedo and the MIM-3A ‘Maduvu’ Anti-Torpedo Missile.
SGT-1A ‘Pernach’ Light Torpedo
--- Code: ---Missile Size: 6.00 MSP (15.000 Tons) Warhead: 4 Radiation Damage: 4 Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 1,100 km/s Fuel: 200 Flight Time: 165 minutes Range: 10.9m km
Active Sensor Strength: 0.03 EM Sensitivity Modifier: 5
Resolution: 80 Maximum Range vs 4000 ton object (or larger): 941,529 km
Cost Per Missile: 1.240 Development Cost: 176
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 11.0% 3k km/s 3.7% 5k km/s 2.2% 10k km/s 1.1%
--- End code ---
MIM-3A ‘Maduvu’ Anti-Torpedo Missile
--- Code: ---Missile Size: 1 MSP (2.5 Tons) Warhead: 1 Radiation Damage: 1 Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 1,000 km/s Fuel: 25 Flight Time: 52 minutes Range: 3.12m km
Cost Per Missile: 0.27 Development Cost: 82
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 10% 3k km/s 3.3% 5k km/s 2.0% 10k km/s 1.0%
--- End code ---
A second, larger ATM had been designed, but while it theoretically had a better chance to hit its target, the probability wasn’t so much greater to justify its use.
MIM-4A ‘Ninjato’ Anti-Torpedo Missile
--- Code: ---Missile Size: 2.00 MSP (5.000 Tons) Warhead: 1 Radiation Damage: 1 Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 1,500 km/s Fuel: 25 Flight Time: 31 minutes Range: 2.75m km
Cost Per Missile: 0.33 Development Cost: 90
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 15.0% 3k km/s 5.0% 5k km/s 3.0% 10k km/s 1.5%
--- End code ---
Notably, the design was unarmored - attempts to armor the hull consumed nearly all the available mass. Magos Avalon Gillain, a materials specialist, posited that with modern techniques a lighter composite armor could be created.
Regardless, the Gunship was designed to carry nearly two dozen light torpedoes which could be ripple fired in a massive alpha strike. Defensively, it carried 28 interceptors - this required that the ATMs achieve nearly one for one interceptions against enemy torpedoes, which no one expected to be the case. However, it provided the design some measure of defense against hostile fire.
Like many aspects of BROADSWORD, the designers were aware of the limitations they were working around and could only do their best to address them.
While void ships of BROADSWORD’s displacement could only be built in orbit, the Air Force lobby pointed out that smaller Aether Engines were capable of being constructed and used planetside - Armatures being a prime example. Experiments had proven that up to around 500t, the Aether Engine could function in a gravity well, which opened the possibility of producing smaller Aether ships planetside to complement the orbital building program.
After consideration, the Admiralty agreed to this proposal, and project CATFISH was implemented alongside its larger brother.
Project CATFISH
--- Code: ---B-1/A Catfish class Bomber (P) 475 tons 1 Crew 17.5 BP TCS 9 TH 2 EM 0
252 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 1 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 1.2
Maint Life 5.73 Years MSP 7 AFR 18% IFR 0.3% 1YR 0 5YR 5 Max Repair 5 MSP
Magazine 8
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days Morale Check Required
Couci Turbines FTR-24 Starburst I (1) Power 2.4 Fuel Use 204.12% Signature 2.4 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,000 Litres Range 0.2 billion km (8 days at full power)
Type IV External Rack (2) Missile Size: 4 Hangar Reload 100 minutes MF Reload 16 hours
RN/FGM-6 Missile Fire Control System (1) Range 4.9m km Resolution 80
RN/FGA-7 80/4.9M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 32 Range 3.4m km Resolution 80
--- End code ---
FUM-2A ‘Zhanmadao’ Heavy Missile
--- Code: ---Missile Size: 4.00 MSP (10.000 Tons) Warhead: 3 Radiation Damage: 3 Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 1,250 km/s Fuel: 25 Flight Time: 24 minutes Range: 1.78m km
Cost Per Missile: 0.87 Development Cost: 147
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 12.5% 3k km/s 4.2% 5k km/s 2.5% 10k km/s 1.2%
--- End code ---
The design was notably lacking compared to the BROADSWORD - it was slower, with a much more limited range and deployment time. However, the FUM-2A ‘Zhanmadao’ Heavy Missile designed for the Catfish packed three quarters of the punch of the larger ‘Pernach’ in a package two thirds of the size. More importantly, the bomber could be produced on the ground, supplementing the planned construction in orbit.
Research Efforts and Economic Efforts
Lord Gringgolet Brinon was assigned as the Governor of Earth, a position that allowed him to put his skills in managing production of new factories to good use. His skill bled into the area of ground force construction and shipbuilding. Highly educated and calm, he was a good match for more excitable elements of the Royal Council.
Magos Camelot Ver was assigned a quarter of the Kingdom’s research capacity to discover the Ancient’s secrets of Trans-Newtonian Technology. His work was projected to be completed by the start of April, 453 - over six years from now. This left 6 labs available to the research projects necessary to make the two designs a reality.
Research projects were assigned, quickly dividing up the Kingdom’s research capacity. These were:
RN/FGA-7 Gravitational Sensor - Magos Baldulf Chartres - 14 February, 447
Type IV External Rack - Magos Pellean Bursigni - 23 May, 447
Louet-Addinell Engines Limited CE-12 Aether Engine - Magos Drystan de Hattes - 24 May, 447
Type VI External Rack - Magos Ban Venois - 24 June, 447
Conventional Composite Armor - Magos Avalon Gillain - 16 January, 448
Trans-Newtonian Technology - Magos Camelot Ver - 31 March, 453
Heavy Crew-Served Anti-Personnel Weaponry - Magos Dechtere D’Auvay - 7 February, 458
While prototypes were turned into actual technology, Lord Brinon tasked engineers to expand Selune’s Aleph yards. The first 1000t expansion of the military yard was slated to be completed by the end of the year.
Once the designs were finalized, the Admiralty planned to build at least one squadron of 4 BROADSWORD gunships and a squadron of 12 B-1/A Catfish bombers. These would have a combined total of 22,000t, quite a bit more than the limited maintenance facilities the Babel installation could support. Construction effort began on adding a further 20 facilities, slated to be completed May the following year. Plans after that were to build another Research Facility, followed by another Naval Shipyard Complex and a Ground Force Construction Complex.
Gyrfalcon:
The Royal Army Reactivated
At the same time that the Navy was busy organizing itself, the Royal Army was dusting off old production lines and sourcing suppliers of needed materials. With centuries of peace behind it, the Army had atrophied until it consisted of a few ceremonial units. With a generally peaceful populace, the police was largely unarmed, with only a few armed units to deal with the occasional lunatic that produced their own crude homemade explosives and firearms.
While the Major Generals of the army were jockeying for position to be the first to be promoted to Lieutenant General and given full control of the Kingdom’s military efforts, they could agree that the security and safety of the royal family was of paramount importance. Because of this, the first production would not go to Armigers, but instead to infantry weapons and equipment to equip the Royal Life Guards.
The Royal Life Guards were one of the ceremonial units that had retained some practical function as the Royal Family’s bodyguards were drawn from the unit. They consisted of four battalions of infantry - the King’s Own, the Queen-Consort’s Own, the Prince’s Own, and the Royal Bodyguards, rounded out by a command battalion that included a construction company, fire support direction, supply company and fixed defenses for the Palace.
Training and equipping the Life Guards would take until August of the next year, after which it was all but guaranteed that the next unit would be an Armiger unit.
--- Code: ---Infantry Regiment
Transport Size: 14,967 tons
Build Cost: 419.7 BP
1x Regimental HQ
4x Armsman (FFD) '47
1120x Armsman (PW) '47
40x Armsman (LB) '47
80x Armsman (LAV) '47
40x Armsman (CAP) '47
160x Destrier APC
20x Combat Supply - 500GSP '47
4x Construction Vehicle
4x Fortification - MAV
8x Fortification - CAP
--- End code ---
The First Years
October 25, 447 - All drive components have been designed for both projects, and Magos Glais Saint-Germain successfully lobbies to use the research facility that is freed up to improve the Kingdom’s maintenance facilities. They project a 25% increase in efficiency per facility.
December 15, 447 - The Aleph shipyards are expanded aboard Selune. Work continues to ready the military slipway for the Project BROADSWORD design. The yard workers anticipate that the Aleph way will be ready in August, 449. The continued construction for the Civilian yard will be completed earlier.
The Army requests a design capable of deploying a Regiment from Earth to another planet, with the expectation that it will be needed in the future. While no production work will go into the design, plans are created under Project RECONQUISTA for a troop transport capable of reaching Neptune and returning… eventually.
--- Code: (Project RECONQUISTA) ---Reconquista class Troop Transport (P) 45,900 tons 263 Crew 609.6 BP TCS 918 TH 88 EM 0
95 km/s Armour 1-114 Shields 0-0 HTK 83 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 2 PPV 0
MSP 116 Max Repair 20 MSP
Troop Capacity 15,000 tons Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Moron-Moyaux C/25CE Aether Engine (7) Power 87.5 Fuel Use 11.18% Signature 12.5 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 290,000 Litres Range 10.1 billion km (1235 days at full power)
RN/FGA-7 80/4.9M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 32 Range 3.4m km Resolution 80
RN/CTR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/CER-2 EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
--- End code ---
Someone in the Ship Bureau sneakily added a few small fuel tanks to round its tonnage to the nearest hundred tons.
January 2, 448 - The Kingdom’s first missile completes its design and prototyping. Production began on 200 interceptors to equip the first flight of BROADSWORD gunships with one set of reloads.
February 1, 448 - Avalon Gillain delivers examples of his new composite armor for consideration by the Navy. The advantages are clear as the redesigned Catfish drops nearly 170t from its frame, and BROADSWORD sees nearly 600t of weight savings.
In the case of BROADSWORD, that weight saving is returned as a layer of composite armor on the design, while the Catfish receives a significant update.
--- Code: (B-1/B Catfish) ---B-1/B Catfish class Bomber (P) 493 tons 1 Crew 25 BP TCS 10 TH 5 EM 0
487 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 2 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 1.8
Maint Life 5.29 Years MSP 8 AFR 19% IFR 0.3% 1YR 0 5YR 7 Max Repair 5 MSP
Magazine 12
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days Morale Check Required
Couci Turbines FTR-24 Starburst I (2) Power 4.8 Fuel Use 204.12% Signature 2.4 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,000 Litres Range 0.2 billion km (4 days at full power)
Type IV External Rack (3) Missile Size: 4 Hangar Reload 100 minutes MF Reload 16 hours
RN/FGM-6 Missile Fire Control System (1) Range 4.9m km Resolution 80
RN/FGA-7 80/4.9M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 32 Range 3.4m km Resolution 80
--- End code ---
A second engine and a third external rack means that the small Bomber is now significantly faster than the BROADSWORD, and an equal tonnage has a slighter greater throw weight in missiles.
Magos Avalon Gillain is praised for his work, and receives authorization to continue experimenting as he believes that he can improve on his work.
April 22, 448 - The SGT-1A ‘Pernach’ Light Torpedo is completed, and a production run is authorized to arm the BROADSWORDs.
August 27, 448 - The Royal Life Guards complete training, and Colonel Madoc Tabraham has the honor of assuming their command. Work begins on training and producing Armigers for a Medium Regimental Combat Team.
--- Code: (Medium Regimental Combat Team) ---Medium Regimental Combat Team
Transport Size: 14,987 tons
Build Cost: 786.6 BP
1x Regimental HQ
4x Construction Vehicle
42x WSP-1 Wasp
24x TR-A-1 Toro
18x FRB-1E Firebee
48x ICR-1X Icarus
24x KY2-D-01 Kyudo
24x NH-1A Rook
4x Armsman (FFD) '47
280x Armsman (PW) '47
10x Armsman (LB) '47
20x Armsman (LAV) '47
10x Armsman (CAP) '47
40x Destrier APC
22x Combat Supply - 500GSP '47
--- End code ---
A Medium RCT consists of two medium Armiger battalions, a light Armiger battalion, and a battalion of infantry for security and to hold ground seized by the armor. The command battalion, as with the infantry Regiment, includes the supply company, fire direction for artillery, and integral construction capability to fortify the infantry positions.
September 26, 448 - All components for BROADSWORD and the B-1/B ‘Catfish’ are completed, and production is underway for their missile and torpedo armament. Unwilling to wait for the promised advances in composite armor, the first squadron of bombers enters construction, to be completed in February, 450.
August 4, 449 - King Eliwlod passes in his sleep after his long struggle with cancer. After a week of mourning, his son will ascend the throne as King Kyduan II.
Earlier that week, the Selune Military Aether Yard Aleph reached 4,000t capacity and began work on adding a second slipway. King Kyduan II decided to delay the construction of the first ship of Project BROADSWORD for a short while as Magos Avalon Gillain promised the finished results of the Conventional Advanced Composite Armor by the end of the month, which would allow a final redesign of the project before it went to the builders.
September 8, 449 - The final revision of the Project BROADSWORD is complete. Armored with Advanced Composite Armor, which saved an additional 339t of space over the last design. While it was possible to thicken its armor, the designers chose to use the reduced weight of the hull to add more launchers, increasing its throw weight to 30 light torpedoes and 30 ATMs. The first ship, to be named the HMS Arnica is laid down, giving name to the class.
--- Code: (Project BROADSWORD) ---Arnica class Gunship 4,000 tons 44 Crew 244.9 BP TCS 80 TH 24 EM 0
300 km/s Armour 2-22 Shields 0-0 HTK 13 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 31.5
Maint Life 6.48 Years MSP 138 AFR 128% IFR 1.8% 1YR 6 5YR 85 Max Repair 20 MSP
Magazine 210
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Morale Check Required
Louet-Addinell Engines Limited CE-12 Aether Engine (2) Power 24 Fuel Use 91.29% Signature 12 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 51,000 Litres Range 2.5 billion km (96 days at full power)
Type VI External Rack (30) Missile Size: 6 Hangar Reload 122 minutes MF Reload 20 hours
Type I External Rack (30) Missile Size: 1 Hangar Reload 50 minutes MF Reload 8 hours
RN/MGM-4 80/10.9M Torpedo Fire Control System (1) Range 10.9m km Resolution 80
RN/MGP-5 1/227K Anti-Torpedo Fire Control System (1) Range 2.5m km Resolution 1
MIM-3A 'Maduvu' Anti-Torpedo Missile (30) Speed: 1,000 km/s End: 52m Range: 3.1m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 3/2/1
SGT-1A - 'Pernach' Light Torpedo (30) Speed: 1,100 km/s End: 165.1m Range: 10.9m km WH: 4 Size: 6 TH: 3/2/1
RN/MGA-3 80/10.8M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 320 Range 10.9m km Resolution 80
RN/CER-2 EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/CTR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
--- End code ---
In addition to the Arnica-class Gunships, the B-1/C Catfish was designed to take advantage of the weight savings Advanced Composite Armor offered. Unlike the B-1/B model, instead of simply slapping another engine on, the bomber was fully redesigned to make use of a single, larger engine. With a fourth added rack point, and an engine 10% larger than the combined engines of the B-1/B, the B-1/C is slightly faster and has a longer range than the older design.
--- Code: ---B-1/C Catfish class Bomber (P) 497 tons 1 Crew 22.4 BP TCS 10 TH 5 EM 0
523 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 2 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 2.4
Maint Life 4.70 Years MSP 7 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 1 5YR 8 Max Repair 5 MSP
Magazine 16
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days Morale Check Required
Couci Turbines FTR-52 Starburst II (1) Power 5.2 Fuel Use 138.68% Signature 5.20 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,000 Litres Range 0.3 billion km (5 days at full power)
Type IV External Rack (4) Missile Size: 4 Hangar Reload 100 minutes MF Reload 16 hours
RN/FGM-6 Missile Fire Control System (1) Range 4.9m km Resolution 80
FUM-2A 'Zhanmadao' Heavy Missile (4) Speed: 1,250 km/s End: 23.7m Range: 1.8m km WH: 3 Size: 4 TH: 4/2/1
RN/FGA-7 80/4.9M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 32 Range 3.4m km Resolution 80
--- End code ---
May 5th, 450 - The lead ship of the Arnica-class Gunships is launched, marking the Kingdom’s fist Aether Warship,. A second ship, the HMS [i[Scoparius[/i] is laid down, with two more successors planned to follow.
Two B-1/C ‘Catfish’ of a planned squadron of 8 have also been constructed, and the first Bomber squadron composed of B-1/B models has been assigned to 1st Fleet.
October 2, 451 - The Royal Army’s 1st Medium RCT becomes operational. With two units already produced for the Royal house and the Army, construction turned to a unit of infantry for House Lanval.
March 29, 452 - Research into improved maintenance support per facility has been completed, increasing the effectiveness of the Kingdom’s facilities by 25%.
May 10, 453 - Camelot Ver completes his six year research project into Trans-Newtonian technology and releases his findings. The possibilities are immense and far-reaching for every aspect of life in the Kingdom, from civilian applications to infrastructure, from simple infantry weapons to the mightiest Armiger. Most of all, Trans-Newtonian technology and proper access to the Aether opens the way to exploit space and the Solar system for the first time in the Kingdom’s history and promises to open the way to follow in the footsteps of the Ancients.
Gyrfalcon:
Economic Overview and 5 Year Plan
Earth
Population: 584.45m (+84.45m)
Naval Shipyard Capacity: 8,000 tons (+7,000 tons)
Commercial Shipyard Capacity: 50,000 tons (+40,000 tons)
Maintenance Capacity: 31,250 tons (+26,250 tons)
Research Facility: 9 (+1)
Ground Force Construction Complex: 1
Conventional Industry: 800
Maintenance Facility: 25 (+20)
Deep Space Tracking Station: 1
Military Academy: 1
Naval Headquarters: 1
Spaceport: 1
The Kingdom has seen a great deal of growth over the last six years, with a burgeoning population growing quickly as their standard of living reached that of the Ancients of the past. A great deal of work has gone into expanding the shipyards and creating the necessary support facilities for the Kingdom’s small navy.
This hasn’t been without its own pain - the Kingdom experienced a financial crash as the breakneck pace of spending on research, ground unit construction, shipbuilding and shipyard expansions outpaced its income. While the Kingdom has since recovered, it was a sobering reminder that it couldn’t afford to finance everything it wanted at the same time.
However, Trans-Newtonian technology promised to radically change that. Converting the Kingdom’s existing economy to use TN technology promised to double the output across all sectors of the economy. This will be a decades-long process, but it promises to more than double the Kingdom’s production capability even before expanding its industrial base.
While plans were laid down to start the process, the King demanded that a second naval shipyard be added to Selune, which would slow the conversion process significantly. The shipyard is slated to be completed in 458, at which point more resources can be turned to the Kingdom’s TN conversion.
Research Goals
Once the breadth of possibilities opened up by the TN revolution became known, the Magi nearly engaged in physical brawls over whose research projects had priority. Eventually the Crown stepped in and stunned them all by canceling all current research projects and making each scientist submit their proposal. With 9 research facilities, the Kingdom couldn’t research everything desired at the same time, and eventually the King and the Admiralty submitted a set of requirements to focus towards.
Specifically, one of the near-term challenges that the Kingdom faced was that the Earth did not have endless amounts of resources available - enough for the next few decades, but then new sources of Trans-Newtonian materials would need to be secured.
Therefore, research needed to be focused on producing an effective survey ship to find more sources of TN minerals in the Solar system. As a secondary goal, researching which beam technologies are available with an eye towards combat and point defense systems, and a method of internalizing (and better protecting) a ship’s missile armament.
Within the 5 year plan, the following technologies are slated to be researched:
PP - Maximum Engine Size - 40, followed by Radioisotope Thermal Generator
SC - Auxiliary Control, followed by Geological Survey Sensors
DS - Duranium Armor
EW - 15cm Plasma Cannon, followed by Infrared Laser and 10cm Laser Focal Size
MK - Magazine Neutralization System - 70% chance
MK - 10cm Railgun, followed by Railgun Launch Velocity 10,000
LG - Fuel Storage - Very Large
GC - Troop Transport Bay - Standard
CP - Research Rate 240 RP
The last two are longer term projects that fall outside the 5 year plan.
Military Buildup
Unit Breakdown
The Kingdom’s armed forces consists of 3 regiments, one each of Royal (House Pendragon), Army and House units.
IRGT Royal Life Guards
IRGT 1st Lanval House Guard
MRCT 1st Medium Regimental Combat Team
A Construction Regiment is being trained for the Royal Army.
Currently the Army is waiting on results of the Trans Newtonian research programs - they believe that the Duranium armor and plasma weapons entering research will require a massive overhaul of the Kingdom’s military forces, but believes that they will be key to producing Armiger on par with the Ancients.
The General Staff were lobbying for another GFCC, but lost the battle with the Navy over the priority of the naval shipyard.
Naval Strategy
Naval Organization
Royal Navy
- Sol Fleet
- - 1st Fleet
- - - Task Force 2
- - - - Bomber Squadron #1 (8x B-1/B ‘Catfish’)
- - - - Bomber Squadron #2 (8x B-1/C ‘Catfish’)
- - - - Gunship Squadron #1 (4x Arnica-class Gunships - Arnica, Scoparius, Datura, Pulsatilla)
- - 3rd Fleet
- - - Task Force 1
Somewhat grandly named and organized, the Royal Navy consists of three squadrons, two of bombers and one of Gunships, organized under 1st Fleet.
The 2nd Fleet currently does not exist, but will concentrate on the Kingdom’s survey efforts.
3rd Fleet is the training fleet, and ships in workup and newly built construction will belong to this fleet before being passed on when ready.
The Aleph shipyards are currently busy with an ambitious 5,000t expansion plan for their two slipways. Once complete, the Admiralty wants to lay down a second series of larger missile combatants that make full use of the TN technology currently being developed. The second shipyard will focus on a geological survey ship that is currently in the planning stages. The Admiralty also hopes to win the King’s favor for a third shipyard to focus on building further light combatants to supplement the Arnica-class Gunships.
September 26, 454 - Research is completed into Duranium Armor and a Sorium-fueled Radioisotope Thermal Generator.
February 1, 455 - Research into plasma weaponry is completed, and a raft of new Armiger designs taking advantage of plasma weaponry and Duranium armor are released. As promised, they at least come close to matching the formerly peerless designs of the Ancients.
While half of the Armiger designers won with their upgraded models, a number were replaced with new designs Specifically the Icarus, Kyudo and Wasp designs lost against newly founded Armiger companies.
The Icarus was replaced by the ugly but effective QSM-3D Quasimodo, which was instantly recognizable by the ugly cluster of plasma cannons on its shoulder that provided a withering hail of burning plasma.
The Kyudo was replaced by the solid SHD-2H Shadow Hawk design whose mix of armaments for all ranges made it a solid workhorse design.
Finally the Wasp lost out against the better armed and harder hitting COM-2D Commando design.
November 8, 456 - Magos Drystan de Hattes completes his ground-breaking work in producing the first Trans-Newtonian Aether engine. Based on his work on Nuclear Radioisotope reactors, it promises massive improvements in the speed of the Navy’s vessels.
The new Duranium armor and Nuclear Radioisotope engines were a boon to the Navy’s strike craft program. A new and far sleeker design then the B-1 ‘Catfish’ was designed. Designated the ‘Black Ghost’, the B-2/A design was more or less similar to the B-1/C model, retaining the four racks with two on each wing, though it took advantage of the Duranium hull’s weight savings to once again increase the size of the engine. The far more powerful FTR-2800 Starfire I engine required an increase in fuel and maintenance supplies to allow the new bomber model to retain a 3 day strike range.
--- Code: (B-2/A ‘Black Ghost’) ---B-2/A 'Black Ghost' class Bomber (P) 498 tons 2 Crew 32.3 BP TCS 10 TH 28 EM 0
2811 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 2 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 2.4
Maint Life 4.27 Years MSP 14 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 1 5YR 19 Max Repair 14.00 MSP
Magazine 16
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days Morale Check Required
Couci Turbines FTR-2800 Starfire I (1) Power 28.0 Fuel Use 133.63% Signature 28.00 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 3,000 Litres Range 0.8 billion km (3 days at full power)
Type IV External Rack (4) Missile Size: 4 Hangar Reload 100 minutes MF Reload 16 hours
RN/FGM-6 Missile Fire Control System (1) Range 4.9m km Resolution 80
RN/FGA-7 80/4.9M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 32 Range 3.4m km Resolution 80
--- End code ---
More than 5 times as fast as the ‘Catfish’, the Navy immediately put its engine into research with an eye towards reequipping the Bomber squadrons with it.
The new missile and torpedo designs were also impressively faster than their conventional counterparts, though the anti-torpedo missile was embarrassingly slower than its target - the main issue being that the 1MT warhead cost half of the missile’s space. Improvements in warhead yield would do much to improve the Navy’s interceptor.
Missile NameSpeed (km/sYieldFUM-5A ‘Flyssa’ Heavy Missile6,2003 MTMIM-7A ‘Tekko’ Anti-Torpedo Missile4,8001 MTSGT-6A ‘Mughal’ Light Torpedo5,8334 MT
September 8, 457 - The second military shipyard is constructed, and immediately goes to work on expanding its slipway. With the possibility of building an exploration ship now close to becoming a reality, the Admiralty settles down to design an appropriate survey ship.
Its requirements were fairly simple - it would need to be a reliable, robust design that could handle up to 2 years in space away from Earth. The designers opted to only give it enough fuel for one year of travel with the expectation that much of its time would be spent in orbit of the planetary bodies as it searched for signs of Trans-Newtonian materials.
The first revision of the design was nearly 4,000 tons in displacement, but after a few rounds of redesign, the Naval Board managed to trim 1,100t from the design while retaining nearly the same capacity.
--- Code: (Project TEMPLE) ---Temple class Survey Craft (P) 2,850 tons 59 Crew 361 BP TCS 57 TH 86 EM 0
1500 km/s Armour 1-17 Shields 0-0 HTK 23 Sensors 5/5/0/2 DCR 1 PPV 0
Maint Life 5.51 Years MSP 308 AFR 65% IFR 0.9% 1YR 17 5YR 256 Max Repair 100 MSP
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Louet-Addinell Engines Limited NRE-9 Aether Engine (2) Power 85.5 Fuel Use 92.72% Signature 42.75 Explosion 9%
Fuel Capacity 728,000 Litres Range 48.3 billion km (378 days at full power)
RN/MGA-3 80/10.8M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 320 Range 10.9m km Resolution 80
RN/CTR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/CER-2 EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/MOA-8 Geological Survey Sensor (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
--- End code ---
The Engines were an interesting point - LAE Limited managed to wring nearly the same fuel efficiency from the 450t engines than the initial 600t engine prototype offered, though at the cost of a minor performance penalty. For a design with no combat applications, this was seen as an acceptable tradeoff. Project TEMPLE otherwise carried the same sensor suite as the Arnica-class with the addition of two dedicated geosurvey sensors.
With the necessary upgrade to the Bet shipyard already underway, the first ship of Project TEMPLE could be laid down in August, 459.
October 8, 457 - Research is completed on Active Grav Sensor Strength 10 technology, significantly improving on the performance of the conventional sensor technology currently in use. While reviewing sensor systems for replacement, they discovered that the Arnica-class is in fact unable to acquire missiles in time to launch counter missiles reasonably, as its sole active sensor system is optimized to track other 4,000t vessels and larger.
While embarrassing, it adds impetus to an overhauled model of the Arnica-class before construction begins on a larger model. The Aleph shipyard will be done expanding September, 458 at which point a refit of the Gunships can take place.
Meanwhile, construction on the B-2 ‘Black Ghost’ is temporarily canceled while an updated model with improved electronics is produced. As the first model had not yet left the production lines, the delay is acceptable.
September 30, 458 - Work is complete on the Selene Aleph yards, increasing their capacity to 9,000 tons. While the Admiralty is itching to create a new and larger combatant, the technology simply isn’t ready yet. The Magi promise results by the end of next year or the start of the year after in a variety of fields, and the Admiralty is reluctantly forced to wait. Instead they turn their focus to the required improvements for the Arnica-class.
The Arnica-B-class Gunship is a radical refit of its progenitor. After some debate, it was decided given the modeled poor performance of the ATMs that it was better to remove them entirely from the design rather than try to fit an extra sensor package into the design. Instead, they leaned into the combat capability of the design.
A complete stripdown of the hull and rearmoring with Duranium, alongside removal of the ATMs freed up space to add an auxiliary bridge and two extra light torpedo racks. The sensors were upgraded to new models, and the original engine block was removed entirely and replaced with three NRE-9 engines from Project TEMPLE, saving on research costs. These are fed by much larger fuel tanks, increasing the design’s range markedly.
Unfortunately, each refit will take 5 months and 60% of the cost of the original Gunship. The Admiralty eventually approves it as the refits will be done or nearly done in time for retooling the ways for the new design to come.
--- Code: (Arnica-B Gunship) ---Arnica-B class Gunship 4,000 tons 49 Crew 314.3 BP TCS 80 TH 128 EM 0
1603 km/s Armour 2-22 Shields 0-0 HTK 20 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 28.8
Maint Life 4.32 Years MSP 149 AFR 128% IFR 1.8% 1YR 13 5YR 192 Max Repair 20.30625 MSP
Magazine 192
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Morale Check Required
Louet-Addinell Engines Limited NRE-9 Aether Engine (3) Power 128.2 Fuel Use 92.72% Signature 42.75 Explosion 9%
Fuel Capacity 238,000 Litres Range 11.5 billion km (83 days at full power)
Type VI External Rack (32) Missile Size: 6 Hangar Reload 122 minutes MF Reload 20 hours
RN/MGM-4 80/10.9M Torpedo Fire Control System (1) Range 10.9m km Resolution 80
SGT-6A 'Mughal' Light Torpedo (32) Speed: 5,833 km/s End: 32.1m Range: 11.2m km WH: 4 Size: 6 TH: 19/11/5
RN/MGA-9 80/17.2M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 800 Range 17.2m km Resolution 80
RN/CER-2 EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/CTR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
--- End code ---
Unfortunately, the Kingdom was on the cusp of another financial crisis.
The Kingdom earned 354.7 MCr per month, but was spending 414.1 MCr. The largest expenditures by a large margin was the research and construction programs, which while vital, consumed over 270 MCr alone per month together.
After some consideration, the Kingdom suspended the warhead production program as the Royal Council expected that shortly newer models would need to be created as research was nearly complete on improved engine performance.
This would only cover the shortfall temporarily as once the new missiles went into production, the issue would only return. Plans were made to create new dedicated financial centers, but with the resources that could be dedicated to the project, they were projected to be complete in 484.
Cutting down on the Kingdom’s research program was also unpalatable - there was simply so much technology that was immediately necessary and useful.
The eventual decision is to temporarily halt research on one project for two months, focus research towards improving the Kingdom’s financial methods once the current research programs are completed, and cut the B-2 program short at one squadron, to be completed in December
August 9, 459 - The financial crisis is weathered for the moment, and the first of the Emerald-class Survey Craft has entered construction. The reconstruction of the HMS Pulsatilla and HMS Scoparius will be completed in December, allowing the Aleph shipyard to retool for the forthcoming TN design.
Project STRONGHOLD had the following design goals: To produce a ship of up to 9000 tons of displacement that was faster, longer ranged and better defended than the Arnica-class. It should have a deployment time of at least six months and be able to deliver a similar level of firepower.
The final design wasn’t entirely satisfactory - they had also wanted to include a beam turret for handling the threat of a fighter, but lacked the space while being able to deliver the desired missile broadside. The armor belt was also lighter than desired, though supplemented by the newly designed shield generator.
To its credit, the design was 25% faster than the gunship with twice the operational range and deployment time. The destroyer design could deliver six volleys of six light torpedoes, and was defended against counterfire by a trio of 10cm railguns.
To the designers' frustration, they couldn’t round the design’s weight satisfactorily on paper.
--- Code: (Project STRONGHOLD) ---Stronghold class Destroyer (P) 8,999 tons 213 Crew 657.8 BP TCS 180 TH 360 EM 300
2000 km/s Armour 2-38 Shields 10-300 HTK 52 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 5 PPV 30.6
Maint Life 3.46 Years MSP 328 AFR 130% IFR 1.8% 1YR 42 5YR 628 Max Repair 60.00 MSP
Magazine 216
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Morale Check Required
Moron-Moyaux M/120NRE Aether Engine (3) Power 360.0 Fuel Use 64.55% Signature 120.00 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 733,000 Litres Range 22.7 billion km (131 days at full power)
Piquiri Defence Industries Alpha S10 / R300 Shields (1) Recharge Time 300 seconds (0 per second)
Piquiri Defence Industries 10cm Railgun V10/C1 (3x4) Range 10,000km TS: 2,000 km/s Power 3-1 RM 10,000 km ROF 15
RN/MGB-12 Point Defense Fire Control (1) Max Range: 20,000 km TS: 2,000 km/s 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
de Bailleul Turbines Radioisotope Thermal Generator R3 (1) Total Power Output 3.1 Exp 5%
Erquemboure Armaments Mark I Light Torpedo Tube (6) Missile Size: 6.00 Rate of Fire 370
RN/MGM-13 80/18.8M Torpedo Fire Control System (1) Range 18.8m km Resolution 80
SGT-6A 'Mughal' Light Torpedo (36) Speed: 5,833 km/s End: 32.1m Range: 11.2m km WH: 4 Size: 6 TH: 19/11/5
RN/MGA-9 80/17.2M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 800 Range 17.2m km Resolution 80
RN/MGP-14 1/359K Torpedo Defense Sensor (1) GPS 10 Range 4m km MCR 359k km Resolution 1
RN/CTR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/CER-2 EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
--- End code ---
Alongside Project STRONGHOLD, the designers made use of some of the technology developed for the project to produce a space superiority design, the F-3/A ‘Heron’. The design is as fast as the B-2 design and carries a single 10cm railgun with a rate of fire of one round every 5 seconds
--- Code: (F-3/A ‘Heron’ Fighter) ---F-3/A 'Heron' class Fighter (P) 500 tons 5 Crew 35.9 BP TCS 10 TH 34 EM 0
3379 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 2 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 0.98
Maint Life 5.15 Years MSP 24 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 2 5YR 23 Max Repair 16.875 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days Morale Check Required
Couci Turbines FTR-3375 Starfire II (1) Power 33.8 Fuel Use 237.73% Signature 33.75 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 7,000 Litres Range 1.1 billion km (3 days at full power)
Piquiri Defence Industries 10cm Railgun V10/C1/S1 (1) Range 10,000km TS: 3,379 km/s Power 0.75-1 RM 10,000 km ROF 5
RN/FGB-15 Fighter Railgun FCS (1) Max Range: 20,000 km TS: 3,500 km/s 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
du Bailleul Turbines Radioisotope Thermal Generator R1 (1) Total Power Output 1 Exp 5%
RN/FGP-16 1/227K Fighter Point Defense Sensor (1) GPS 4 Range 2.5m km MCR 227.1k km Resolution 1
--- End code ---
And so 459 came to a close, with a raft of technologies in research to turn Project STRONGHOLD into a reality.
Gyrfalcon:
Economic Overview and 5 Year Plan
Earth
Population: 688.81m (+104.36m)
Naval Shipyard Capacity: 21,000 tons (+13,000 tons)
Commercial Shipyard Capacity: 50,000 tons
Maintenance Capacity: 31,250 tons
Research Facility: 9
Ground Force Construction Complex: 1
Conventional Industry: 564 (-236)
Construction Factory: 98 (+98)
Ordnance Factory: 19 (+19)
Fighter Factory: 19 (+19)
Mine: 62 (+62)
Fuel Refinery: 19 (+19)
Maintenance Facility: 25
Financial Centre: 21 (+21)
Deep Space Tracking Station: 1
Military Academy: 1
Naval Headquarters: 1
Spaceport: 1
The Kingdom’s population has exploded over the last six years, with over another hundred million citizens born. While some are worried about overpopulation, modern technology (and especially the Trans Newtonian advances) have been easily keeping up with the population’s needs in a sustainable fashion.
The Kingdom’s economy continues to struggle under the strain of the conversion efforts, often flirting with going into debt on a monthly basis.
Lord Escanor Emory has been appointed the Governor of Earth after his predecessor retired, bringing a focus on improved wealth creation that will help balance the Kingdom’s coffers.
In the next five year period, the conversion of conventional industry to construction factories will be complete, alongside another shipyard complex and conversion of conventional industry to fighter factories.
A project to create maintenance facilities to cover the upcoming squadron of destroyers is begun, though it won’t be fully complete in the next five years.
Research Goals
Research is in full swing for the various prototype technologies in Project STRONGHOLD, all of which will be complete within half a year. Afterwards, the focus will be split between civilian projects and improvements to military hardware, specifically focusing on attempting to make a better ATM possible through improved warhead and engine technology.
Ground Forces
The Kingdom’s armed forces has grown to six regiments, split between one Royal, 3 Army and 2 House units.
These are:
IRGT Royal Life Guards
IRGT 3rd Infantry Regiment
MRCT 1st Medium Regimental Combat Team
CRGT 1st Construction Regiment
IRGT 1st Lanval House Guard
MRCT 1st Palmades Hussars
Currently the GFCC is busy training command elements to create the Kingdom’s command structure - an Army HQ, Corps HQ and three Divisional HQs. Once done, it will return to building more combat units.
The armed forces are 33% equipped with TN equipment.
Naval Forces
Naval Organization
Royal Navy (FADM)
- Sol Fleet (ADM)
- - 1st Fleet (VADM)
- - - Task Force 2 (RADM)
- - - Bomber Wing #1 (CDRE)
- - - - Bomber Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 8x B-1/B ‘Catfish’
- - - - Bomber Squadron #2 (CAPT) - 8x B-1/C ‘Catfish’
- - - - Bomber Squadron #3 (CAPT) - 8x B-2/B ‘Black Ghost’
- - - Task Group 1 (CDRE)
- - - - Gunship Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 4x Arnica-B - Arnica, Datura, Pulsatilla, Scoparius
The Admiralty plans to lay down an initial squadron of four destroyers, and once the new Naval shipyard is completed and expanded, create an ATM-armed escort class for the destroyers to thicken their defenses.
Once the new technologies are researched, the first two Bomber squadrons will be refitted with B-2s and the original B-1s will be scrapped.
In the meantime, the first Emerald-class Survey Ship is under construction with another three slated to join her.
March 17, 462 - The first two years passed quietly, with the launch of the HMS Emerald and her sister ship the HMS Iridium marked with little fanfare. Initial explorations of the inner system and the asteroid belt have found few points of interest. This state of affairs changed when the HMS Iridium approached Mars on a routine survey mission.
The sensors aboard HMS Iridium detected a series of intact, deserted cities scattered in locations all across Mars… as well as over half a million tons of ground forces defending them.
Attempts to contact the Martians failed, all attempts to signal them were ignored. When Iridium attempted to land a shuttle nearby, it was shot down by a particle weapon - something that was only just being researched back on Earth. Aside from warding off their airspace, the forces on Mars took no further action except to transmit a signal of their own that pulsed outward through the Solar System. Whatever its purpose was, the Deep Space Tracking Station on Earth discovered an increase in thermal activity on the Moon. The Fleet was ordered to bring its active sensors to full power and investigate. Gunship Squadron 1 was dispatched and shortly after reported nearly 30,000 tons of previously undiscovered ground forces protecting what looked to be a well hidden underground base.
The discovery threw the Council into an uproar - who knew how many planets and moons in the Solar system were occupied by hostile forces?
The King demanded that the Army and Navy work together to propose a solution, but they had few options to offer him. Research efforts could be focused on creating a more effective version of Project RECONQUISTA, but the Kingdom’s Army simply wasn’t ready to take the fight to orbit. The entirety of the armed forces - Royal, Army and House alike, totaled only 75,000 tons of combat troops, most of which were still equipped with conventional weapons, while the hostile forces were obviously equipped with some level of TN technology.
It would likely take at least a decade before the force on Luna could be faced, and far longer to deal with the problem on Mars. In the meantime, once the latest Naval Shipyard was complete, the Generals would finally get an expansion to the GFCC they had long desired.
February 26, 463 - Construction of the third Naval shipyard for the Selune complex is completed. It begins the process of adding tonnage for the planned 4,000t escort design. The industrial capacity freed up goes to work creating new GFCCs to speed the Army’s expansion.
November 2, 463 - Two additional enemy forces are discovered on the moons of Jupiter. Given that they’ve been discovered around ruins on both the Moon and Mars, they have gained the name Tomb Guardians.
February 24, 464 - More ruins have been discovered on the moons of Saturn. What is odd is one of them is built around a strange construct, completely unlike the ruins around it. As with the other ruins, Tomb Guardians are present at all three sites.
May 12, 464 - the first Conventional Industry conversion project completes, with 40 fighter factories serving the Kingdom’s needs. The construction effort freed up goes towards maintenance facilities that are desperately needed as the destroyer squadron has overstretched Earth’s capabilities.
June 29, 464 - A Trans-Newtonian technology troop transport bay has been developed, which promises to significantly slim down the size of the Project RECONQUISTA troop transport.
--- Code: (Project RECONQUISTA) ---Reconquista class Troop Transport (P) 25,250 tons 155 Crew 548.4 BP TCS 505 TH 400 EM 0
792 km/s Armour 1-76 Shields 0-0 HTK 65 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 513 Max Repair 80 MSP
Troop Capacity 15,000 tons Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Moron-Moyaux C/100NRE Aether Engine (4) Power 400.0 Fuel Use 7.95% Signature 100.0 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 256,000 Litres Range 22.9 billion km (335 days at full power)
RN/FGA-10 80/7.7M Gravitational Sensor (1) GPS 160 Range 7.7m km Resolution 80
RN/CTR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RN/CER-2 EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
--- End code ---
The difference between the new revision and the original are night and day - more then 20,000 tons have been shed from the design while carrying the same regiment of troops. The range is doubled, and the speed of the vessel (not very speedy compared to the Redoubt-class destroyers) is nearly eight times the original specification.
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