C# Fiction > Gyrfalcon's Fiction

The Kingdom of Avalon

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Gyrfalcon:
Economic Overview and 5 Year Plan
Earth
Population: 768.59m (+79.78m)
Naval Shipyard Capacity: 26,000 tons (+4,000 tons)
Commercial Shipyard Capacity: 100,000 tons (+50,000 tons)
Maintenance Capacity: 52,500 tons (+21,250 tons)
Research Facility: 9
Ground Force Construction Complex: 1
Conventional Industry: 327 (-237)
Construction Factory: 194 (+96)
Ordnance Factory: 43 (+24)
Fighter Factory: 40 (+21)
Mine: 110 (+48)
Fuel Refinery: 43 (+24)
Maintenance Facility: 42 (+17)
Financial Centre: 57 (+36)
Deep Space Tracking Station: 1
Military Academy: 1
Naval Headquarters: 1
Spaceport: 1

The Kingdom’s population continues to expand quickly, having increased 50% over the last two decades. This is matched by their growing TN industry as more and more facilities are converted to TN standards alongside new construction efforts.

The Kingdom’s treasury stands at 1,543MCr - a sensible buffer, but one that the Council is all too aware can easily disappear in only a few months of overenthusiastic building.

The major milestone of the conversion process, the creation of construction factories, is nearly complete and should be done in April. At that point a significant amount of industrial effort can be poured into finishing the maintenance facilities the Navy requires before being reinvested into completing the conversion effort, much of what is remaining still requiring decades at the current level of effort put towards them.

The other major construction project is the massive expansion of the Kingdom’s GFCC, with another four slated to be built, the last to be ready within the next four years at current levels.

Research Goals
The Council had relaxed its grip on the Magi after the technology that went into the Redoubt-class destroyers was completed, resulting in a scattershot of projects seeing progress.

With the Kingdom’s goal of dealing with the Tomb Guardians and exploring the ruins scattered throughout Sol, those efforts are slated to be narrowed towards four focuses.

1 - Research the necessary technologies to make Project RECONQUISTA a reality - this one is already underway.
2 - Research technologies to further increase the effectiveness of the Kingdom’s ground forces - an improvement to Duranium armor is already being researched, and more advanced beam weapons will likewise be developed.
3 - Research technologies that improve the speed with which ground units can be trained and deployed
4 - Research xenoarchaeology technology and produce at least one regiment.

Ground Forces
- 1st Kingdom Corps
- - 1st Army Division
- - - 1st Construction Regiment
- - - 3rd Infantry Regiment
- - - 1st Medium Regimental Combat Team
- - 1st House Division
- - - 1st Lanval House Guard
- - - 1st Palmades Hussars
- - - 1st Percival Light Horse (under construction)
- - 1st Royal Division
- - - Royal Life Guards

The Army’s efforts prior to the discovery of the Tomb Guardians was to raise command and control elements for the regiments already in existence. The Generals have authorized another House unit based on the Light Regimental Combat Team formation and have finally received the King’s blessing to significantly expand the Kingdom’s ability to raise troops. When the project is done, a full Division will be able to be raised at the same time.

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-2/C
- - - - - Bomber Squadron #2 (CAPT) - 8x B-2/C
- - - - - Bomber Squadron #3 (CAPT) - 8x B-2/B
- - - - Fighter Wing #1 (CDRE)
- - - - - Fighter Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 8x F-3/A
- - - - Task Group 1 (CDRE)
- - - - - Gunship Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 4x GS Arnica-B
- - - - - Destroyed Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 4x DD Redoubt
- - 2nd Fleet (VADM)
- - - Task Force 3 (RADM)
- - - - Task Group 2 (CDRE)
- - - - - Survey Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 3x SS Emerald
- - 3rd Fleet (VADM)
- - - Task Force 1 (RADM)

Over the past five years, the Navy has reequipped all of its bomber squadrons to fly B-2 bombers and added its first fighter squadron to the roster. Additionally, four Redoubt-class destroyers and three Emerald-class survey ships have joined the fleet.

This has proven to be a problem as Earth’s maintenance facilities have been badly overstretched, and plans to build a second squadron of destroyers have been shelved. Likewise, the proposed class of escorts remain on the drawing table, especially as improved warheads are needed to give ATMs a fighting chance at completing their mission.

Once the necessary engines are prototyped and ready, the Navy will begin production of troop transports, with two squadrons of five planned for production.

Ruins Report
Earth (Luna) - Ruined Settlement
Mars - Deserted Intact Cities
Jupiter (Metis) - Partially Intact Colony
Jupiter (Io) - Ruined Settlement
Saturn (Mimas) - Ruined Outpost
Saturn (Dione) - Partially Intact Colony
Saturn (Titan) - Partially Intact Colony and Unknown Construct
Saturn (Skathi) - Destroyed Outpost
Uranus (Umbriel) - Ruined Outpost
Neptune (Nereid) - Ruined Settlement

Scans from orbit indicate that the Tomb Guardians are present guarding all of the ruins, from the hidden complex on Luna to the destroyed outpost on Skathi. The most heavily defended yet alluring prize are the cities on Mars, but the General Staff believes that multiple Corps will be needed to fight the forces arrayed there.

The initial plan is to produce sufficient transport capability to transport at least one division at a time, and at least two combat-ready TN divisions before landing on Luna to engage the hostile forces there.


April 9, 465 - 200 Construction Factories have been converted from conventional industry, representing around 2.5x the available construction effort available through conventional industry standards.  The effort has been redirected to the maintenance facilities, which are now projected to be completed within a year.

July 8, 465 - Construction begins on the first two Rio Grande-class troop transports.

December 8, 465 - The HMS Iridium discovers another destroyed outpost on Orcus, and the signature for the remaining Tomb Guardians there is 2,300 tons.

February 20, 466 - Research is completed in High Density Duranium armor. Magos Apollo de la Champagne believes that a Duranium composite alloy would provide yet better results and begins research into the matter.

July 15, 466 - Research is completed on Implosion Fission Warheads, which provide 50% more nuclear potential for the same weight. With the technology in hand alongside further engine performance improvements, the Kingdom’s ranged options are revisited.

September 29, 466 - the first two Rio Grande-class troop transports are completed, and another two are immediately laid down.

November 7, 466 - Research is completed on the MIM-8A ‘Cestus’ ATM. With a speed of 10,000 km/s, it is solidly faster then even the upgraded versions of the ‘Flyssa’ Heavy Missile and ‘Mughal’ Light Torpedo that are currently in the works.

January 4, 468 - A decades-long project to increase research efficiency across the  board is completed, giving the Kingdom’s research establishment a noticeable boost.

May 18, 468 - HMS Iridium finishes investigating the last interesting asteroid in the Oort cloud. The Sol system has been completely surveyed, and the results are that the Kingdom will have to fight for most of the interesting real estate.

Venus has massive deposits of Duranium, Neutronium and Uridium but at very low levels of accessibility. Mars has large deposits of six elements, but is guarded by massive numbers of Tomb Guardians. The few moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune that have deposits are also likewise guarded.

Neptune itself has large amounts of gaseous Sorium, but the Kingdom will need to develop the technology to extract and refine the element. Otherwise mining prospects are limited to a small number of asteroids and comets that can provide a limited amount of minerals.

Around this time, the Royal Navy submits a Corvette design for consideration. Envisioned as an escort for the Redoubt-class destroyers, Project SKJOLD produced a design with the same range, deployment time, armor and shield capabilities as its larger sibling, while carrying a single 10cm railgun and four newly designed light missile tubes that allowed it to fire volleys of MIM-8A ‘Cestus’ ATMs at approaching torpedoes every 30 seconds. It carries enough missiles for 16 volleys before running dry. To cut down on the R&D needed, the power plant for the railgun is a modified version of the one used in the F-3/A ‘Heron’ fighter.


--- Code: (Project SKJOLD) ---Skjold class Corvette (P)      4,000 tons       94 Crew       322.4 BP       TCS 80    TH 160    EM 300
2000 km/s      Armour 2-22       Shields 10-300       HTK 34      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 1      PPV 7
Maint Life 2.17 Years     MSP 100    AFR 128%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 29    5YR 428    Max Repair 40.00 MSP
Magazine 64   
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines CT-8000 Solar Wind I (2)    Power 160.0    Fuel Use 71.15%    Signature 80.00    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 324,000 Litres    Range 20.5 billion km (118 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 (1x4)    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
du Bailleul Turbines Radioisotope Thermal Generator  R1 (1)     Total Power Output 1    Exp 5%

Mark I Light Missile Tube (4)     Missile Size: 1    Rate of Fire 30
RN/MGM-17 1/718K ATM FCS (1)     Range 8m km    Resolution 1
MIM-8A 'Cestus' Anti-Torpedo Missile (64)    Speed: 10,000 km/s    End: 2.5m     Range: 1.5m km    WH: 0    Size: 1    TH: 33/20/10

RN/MGP-14 1/359K Torpedo Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 10     Range 4m km    MCR 359k km    Resolution 1
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 ---

Around the same time, the strike craft faction of the Admiralty floated ideas for a carrier for the  bomber squadrons - which were currently limited to deployment around Earth. Unfortunately, any carrier would be far larger than anything the Selune shipyards could manage to create.


--- Code: (Project SAVO ISLAND) ---Savo Island class Escort Carrier      17,250 tons       316 Crew       1,455.5 BP       TCS 345    TH 600    EM 600
1739 km/s      Armour 1-59       Shields 20-300       HTK 96      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 18      PPV 0
Maint Life 4.76 Years     MSP 949    AFR 132%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 69    5YR 1,031    Max Repair 100 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 4,000 tons     Magazine 660   
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Flight Crew Berths 80    Morale Check Required   

Moron-Moyaux M/120NRE Aether Engine (5)    Power 600    Fuel Use 64.55%    Signature 120    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,294,000 Litres    Range 20.9 billion km (139 days at full power)
Piquiri Defence Industries Alpha S10 / R300 Shields (2)     Recharge Time 300 seconds (0.1 per second)

FUM-5B 'Flyssa' Heavy Missile (165)    Speed: 8,800 km/s    End: 21m     Range: 11.1m km    WH: 4    Size: 4    TH: 29/17/8

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

Strike Group
8x B-2/C 'Black Ghost' Bomber   Speed: 3438 km/s    Size: 9.82
--- End code ---

November 20, 468 - Research is completed on 20cm Plasma Carronades - once the current units being trained complete doing so, a new generation of Armigers will be rolled out to the production lines.

March 25, 469 - the 1st Royal Light Horse is activated, marking the last line unit to be deployed with 1st generation TN technology. An artillery regiment for the Army is currently being trained, but as it will not see direct combat, the jump in technology is judged less important.

Competition for the new Armiger designs is fierce, and only the solid Rook design receives an upgrade, with the rest of the designs being replaced by entirely new models. A standout design is the INI-02 Initiate, a homage to those who enter the knightly orders still and their humble position when they first begin their service. Armed primarily with anti-infantry weapons, the Initiate remains one of the first designs a Knight will pilot before advancing to a model that is geared towards fighting its fellow Armigers.

May 19, 469 - The HMS Ural leaves the shipyard, marking the last troop transport of the 1st Squadron.

The Army, after careful consideration, has decided to first test the Tomb Guardians at a location where there is minimal resistance. With four TN regiments available, a joint task force is organized between Royal, Army and House troops supported by the Navy’s Destroyer Squadron.

Joint Expeditionary Force #1
Naval Element
- Destroyer Squadron #1 - Defender, Fairy, Hostile, Redoubt
- Troop Transport Squadron #1 - Carpathian, Mount McKinley, Rio Grande, Ural, Zambezi

Ground Element
DIV 1st Royal Division
- LRCT 1st Royal Light Horse
- LRCT House Galahad Light Horse
- MRCT 1st Palmades Hussars
- IRGT 3rd Infantry Regiment

The transports begin loading the ground force, a 31 hour process with the shuttles working around the clock. Once loaded, the expeditionary force departs at the stately speed of 792 km/s for Skathi, a 19 day trip.

May 27, 469 - The expeditionary force closes on Skathi, less than an hour out. The sensors aboard the destroyers detect 2,300t of ground forces, which the 60,000t of the expeditionary force should be able to sweep aside.

As the transports begin the nearly three day long process of ferrying their troops to the ground, the destroyers move into close orbit to provide fire support for the landings.

While the landings are unopposed, within a day the expeditionary force meets the enemy. Initial estimates suggest that they face between three and four hundred enemies, mostly infantry with personal weapons, heavy crew-served support weapons, mortars, and transports. They are obviously TN equipment as the Kingdom forces trade 11 infantry and 3 vehicle kills for the loss of 6 armsmen and 8 Armigers.

Battle continues over the next several days on a non-stop basis, with the Kingdom taking 2 to 1 losses against a far numerically inferior force. That said, the outcome is also not in doubt as those same numbers mean that the Kingdom can absorb the losses better than the Guardians.

Their basic infantry unit has been designated the Legionnaire, and has an armor value of 16 and toughness value of 10. It carries a bulky railgun rifle with a penetration value of 12.5 and damage of 10. The Kingdom’s own Armsmen with the latest gear have an armor value of 6 and toughness value of 6. Their plasma rifles have a penetration value of 6 and damage of 6.

It is quite obvious that the Guardians are still quite far ahead of the Kingdom technology-wise.

After several days, the enemy resistance weakens significantly as their supplies run out.  Despite this, unwary armsmen and knights alike are pulled down and killed as the Tomb Guardians fight with untiring ferocity.

15 June, 469 - Brigadier General Galatyn Briqueville declares that combat operations on Skathi are complete. Aside from the ruins of the outpost the Tomb Guardians were defending, only a Deep Space Tracking Station was found, which had no doubt alerted them to the Kingdom’s approach.

Without Xenoarcheology capability, the Kingdom has no further business on Skathi and the weary soldiers of the expeditionary force begin to return to their transports.

Losses for the units involved ranged between 3 and 7%, with the 3rd Infantry Regiment taking the worst casualties - their body armor simply wasn’t effective against enemy weapons that more closely resembled anti-tank rifles.

Combat Losses:
Armsmen: 114
Light Armiger: 23
Medium Armiger: 14

Construction Vehicle: 4
Destrier APC: 12

Fortification - MAV: 1
Fortification - CAP: 1

Combat Supplies Expended: 69

It is estimated that around 550 enemy units were destroyed, the vast majority being heavily armored combat robots, alongside a small number of mechanized infantry fighting vehicles. Like the Kingdom, they had been organized in squads centered on a squad support weapon such as a heavy needler, particle projection cannon or plasma mortar.

However the General Staff does caution that two important factors played a part in the battle - first, the Guardians were heavily outnumbered whenever encountered and second, they had only a limited amount of supplies. Against a larger and better supplied force the casualties were likely to be far greater.

Most of the combat supplies brought by the involved units were expended, though the Army had already thought of this and was building a Supply Regiment, but the inclusion of such a unit was a requirement for any future invasions to keep units in fighting condition.

Gyrfalcon:
Economic Overview
Earth
Population: 855.16m (+86.57m)
Naval Shipyard Capacity: 45,000 tons (+19,000 tons)
Commercial Shipyard Capacity: 100,000 tons (-)
Maintenance Capacity: 88,750 tons (+32,250 tons)
Research Facility: 9 (-)
Ground Force Construction Complex: 3 (+2)
Conventional Industry: 133 (-194)
Construction Factory: 200 (+6)
Ordnance Factory: 73 (+30)
Fighter Factory: 40 (-)
Mine: 208 (+98)
Fuel Refinery: 73 (+30)
Maintenance Facility: 71 (+29)
Financial Centre: 102 (+45)
Deep Space Tracking Station: 1 (-)
Military Academy: 1 (-)
Naval Headquarters: 1 (-)
Spaceport: 1 (-)

The Governor projects that the TN conversion project should be completed within the next five years - most tasks will be completed next year, with only the conversion of conventional industry to financial centers lagging behind, at least until more resources can be diverted to that process.

Construction of ground force complexes continues, and another two will be completed within the next four years.

However, the Governor has noticed a disturbing trend that a number of TN minerals are quickly being depleted from the stockpile, which would impact the construction program, fuel refining and ground unit production. After investigation of usage and production, the following information was generated.

Usage
Duranium: Usage 200% above production - stockpile depletion in 3 years
Neutronium: Usage 200% above production - stockpile depletion in 4 years
Corbomite: Usage 400% above production - stockpile depletion in 3 years
Tritanium: Usage 25% of production
Boronice: Usage 10% of production
Mercassium: Usage 1% of production
Vendarite: Usage 200% above production - stockpile depletion in 5 years
Sorium: Usage 125% above production; stockpile depletion within the year
Uridium: Usage 25% of production
Corundium: Usage 25% of production
Gallicite: Usage 66% of production

Sources
Top 3 Sources
Duranium: Venus (67.5m/0.1); Io (1.3m/1.0); 2002 TC302 (0.5m/1.0)
Neutronium: Venus (17.4m/0.1); Titan (0.7m/0.1); Io (0.3m/0.5)
Corbomite: Io (3.1m/0.5)
Tritanium: Titan (3.8m/0.5); Faye (0.1m/0.8)
Boronide: Titan (2.2m/0.4); Venus (0.2m/0.1); Orcus (0.1m/1.0)
Mercassium: -
Vendarite: Umbriel (0.1m/0.9); Halley's Comet (0.1m/0.9)
Sorium: Neptune (19.9m/0.7)
Uridium: Venus (4.7m/0.3)
Corundium: Titan (0.1m/0.5)
Gallicite: Chernykh (0.1m/1.0)

Proposal

Sorium: Gas miners are needed at Neptune. Technologies: Sorium Harvester (5k) Fuel Storage - Ultra Large (5k), Ship to Ship Tractor Beam (5k); Civilian dockyard (2); Designs: Sorium Harvester Station, Tanker, Tug

Corbomite: Clear Io of resistance and create a mining colony. Technologies: Cryogenic Transport (1k) Civilian dockyard (2); Designs: Freighter, Colony Ship; Production: Infrastructure, Mines, Mass Driver
Duranium - Handled by Io
Neutronium - Handled by Io

Vendarite: Create a mining colony on Umbriel. Production: Automines, Mass Driver

Venus is in the top 3 of 4 resources (overlaps Io on 2, Titan on 2, sole source of 1)
Io is in the top 3 of 3 resources (overlaps Venus on 3, sole source of 1)
Titan is the top 3 of 4 resources (overlaps Venus for 2, Faye for 1, sole source of 1)
Neptune is the sole source of Sorium
Chernykh is the sole source of Gallicite

The Governor cannot stress enough the precarious situation the Kingdom is in. While none of the minerals have run out, mining on Earth would have to be doubled to match current requirements, and work will begin on that project in the short term. In the middle to long term, other sources of TN minerals need to be secured and ferried to Earth, and the necessary civilian shipping needs to be designed and built to support those efforts.

Research Goals
A variety of technologies are being researched, mostly with an eye towards improving the Kingdom’s ground forces - either in the speed they can be raised or their effectiveness on the battlefield.

Ground Formation Construction Rate - 320, 25com Carronade, Genome Sequence Research, Heavy Crew-Served Anti-Personnel Weapons, Composite Armour and Xenoarchaeology Equipment are all in various stages of completion and all expected to be completed within the next four years.

Taking the Governor’s proposals in stride, as current projects are completed some research effort will go towards the required technology.

The Navy is looking forward to the potential of the Nuclear Thermal Engine being researched by Magos Drystan de Hattes, and a raft of engine refits and new strike craft is expected in the next five years.

Ground Forces
- 1st Kingdom Corps (G1TN)
- - 1st Army Division (G1TN)
- - - 1st Construction Regiment (PTN)
- - - 3rd Infantry Regiment (G1TN)
- - - 1st Medium Regimental Combat Team (PTN)
- - 1st House Division (G1TN)
- - - 1st Lanval House Guard (PTN)
- - - House Galahad Light Horse (G1TN)
- - - 1st Palmades Hussars (G1TN)
- - 1st Royal Division (G1TN)
- - - Royal Life Guards (PTN)
- - - 1st Royal Light Horse (G1TN)

Construction
1st Supply Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment (G1TN)
Replacements/Upgrades (combat losses and pre-TN technology; G2TN)

The Kingdom’s line units are 57% equipped with TN technology, and 2nd generation designs are currently in the pipeline. The fighting on Skathi showed that while inferior, the Kingdom could face the Tomb Guardians. The General Staff would prefer to wait for the delivery of a few 2nd generation units before facing a larger force.

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-2/C
- - - - - Bomber Squadron #2 (CAPT) - 8x B-2/C
- - - - - Bomber Squadron #3 (CAPT) - 8x B-2/B
- - - - Fighter Wing #1 (CDRE)
- - - - - Fighter Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 8x F-3/A
- - - - Task Group 1 (CDRE)
- - - - - Gunship Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 4x GS Arnica-B
- - - - - Destroyer Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 4x DD Redoubt
- - 2nd Fleet (VADM)
- - - Task Force 3 (RADM)
- - - - Task Group 2 (CDRE)
- - - - - Survey Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 4x SS Emerald
- - 3rd Fleet (VADM)
- - - Task Force 1 (RADM)
- - 4th Fleet (VADM)
- - - Task Force 3 (RADM)
- - - - Task Group 3 (CDRE)
- - - - - Transport Squadron #1 (CAPT) - 5x TT Rio Grande

Construction
2x Steil-class Corvettes - Steil, Glimt

The Admiralty plans to build one squadron of Steil-class Corvettes, expand Troop Transport Squadron #1 to six ships, and build a second squadron of six ships. However, with new engines available shortly, the fleet will be overhauled and a modernization project for the strike craft squadrons is also in the works.


July 6, 470 - Magos Drystan de Hattes completes his research into Nuclear Thermal Engines, delivering a working prototype that promises a new generation of engine technology for everything from missiles to capital ships.


--- Code: (Emerald-B Refit) ---Emerald-B class Survey Craft (P)      3,100 tons       65 Crew       421.4 BP       TCS 62    TH 154    EM 0
2477 km/s      Armour 1-18       Shields 0-0       HTK 21      Sensors 5/5/0/2      DCR 1      PPV 0
Maint Life 3.64 Years     MSP 309    AFR 77%    IFR 1.1%    1YR 36    5YR 541    Max Repair 100 MSP
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines CS-15360 Lightspeed Max I (1)    Power 153.6    Fuel Use 58.09%    Signature 153.60    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 729,000 Litres    Range 72.8 billion km (340 days at full power)

RN/MGA-9 80/17.2M Gravitational Sensor (1)     GPS 800     Range 17.2m 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 original engines are replaced with a single CS-15360 model which has the advantage that it can be shared across almost all current designs, simplifying logistics immensely. This increases the mass of the design to 3,100t and includes a hull replacement in high density Duranium to keep the mass increase somewhat in check.


--- Code: (Arnica-C Refit) ---Arnica-C class Gunship (P)      4,000 tons       46 Crew       344.3 BP       TCS 80    TH 154    EM 0
1920 km/s      Armour 2-22       Shields 0-0       HTK 15      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 1      PPV 32.4
Maint Life 2.44 Years     MSP 153    AFR 128%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 35    5YR 532    Max Repair 76.80 MSP
Magazine 216   
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines CS-15360 Lightspeed Max I (1)    Power 153.6    Fuel Use 58.09%    Signature 153.60    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 223,000 Litres    Range 17.3 billion km (104 days at full power)

Type VI External Rack (36)     Missile Size: 6    Hangar Reload 122 minutes    MF Reload 20 hours
RN/MGM-13 80/18.8M Torpedo Fire Control System (1)     Range 18.8m km    Resolution 80
SGT-6C 'Mughal' Light Torpedo (36)    Speed: 7,733 km/s    End: 40.2m     Range: 18.6m km    WH: 6    Size: 6    TH: 25/15/7

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 ---

In addition to the engine replacement, the FCS has been updated and the number of external rack points has been increased to 36.


--- Code: (Redoubt-B Refit) ---Redoubt-B class Destroyer (P)      9,000 tons       213 Crew       708.2 BP       TCS 180    TH 461    EM 300
2560 km/s      Armour 2-38       Shields 10-300       HTK 52      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 5      PPV 30.6
Maint Life 3.22 Years     MSP 350    AFR 130%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 51    5YR 765    Max Repair 76.80 MSP
Magazine 216   
Captain    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines CS-15360 Lightspeed Max I (3)    Power 460.8    Fuel Use 58.09%    Signature 153.60    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 733,000 Litres    Range 25.2 billion km (114 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: 2,560 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%

Mark I Light Torpedo Tube (6)     Missile Size: 6    Rate of Fire 370
RN/MGM-13 80/18.8M Torpedo Fire Control System (1)     Range 18.8m km    Resolution 80
SGT-6C 'Mughal' Light Torpedo (36)    Speed: 7,733 km/s    End: 40.2m     Range: 18.6m km    WH: 6    Size: 6    TH: 25/15/7

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 ---


--- Code: (Steil-B Refit) ---Steil-B class Corvette (P)      4,000 tons       94 Crew       369.4 BP       TCS 80    TH 230    EM 0
2880 km/s      Armour 3-22       Shields 0-0       HTK 34      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 1      PPV 9
Maint Life 2.25 Years     MSP 107    AFR 128%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 29    5YR 428    Max Repair 38.40 MSP
Magazine 66   
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines CS-7680 Lightspeed I (3)    Power 230.4    Fuel Use 82.16%    Signature 76.80    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 337,000 Litres    Range 18.5 billion km (74 days at full power)

Piquiri Defence Industries 10cm Railgun V10/C1 (1x4)    Range 10,000km     TS: 2,880 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
du Bailleul Turbines Radioisotope Thermal Generator  R1 (1)     Total Power Output 1    Exp 5%

Mark I Light Missile Tube (6)     Missile Size: 1    Rate of Fire 30
RN/MGM-17 1/718K ATM FCS (1)     Range 8m km    Resolution 1
MIM-8A 'Cestus' Anti-Torpedo Missile (64)    Speed: 10,000 km/s    End: 2.5m     Range: 1.5m km    WH: 0    Size: 1    TH: 33/20/10

RN/MGP-14 1/359K Torpedo Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 10     Range 4m km    MCR 359k km    Resolution 1
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 ---

The Steil-B is the most controversial of the refits. The three Lightspeed I engines were larger than its original engine block, and put the design nearly 300t overweight. The only major weight savings available to the engineers was to remove its shield generator. However, the space freed up allowed the designers to increase the hull armor and add two more light missile launchers to the design.


--- Code: (Rio Grande-B Refit) ---Rio Grande-B class Troop Transport (P)      25,250 tons       155 Crew       576.4 BP       TCS 505    TH 512    EM 0
1013 km/s      Armour 1-76       Shields 0-0       HTK 65      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 1      PPV 0
MSP 514    Max Repair 80 MSP
Troop Capacity 15,000 tons     Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1   
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

Couci Turbines CIV-12800 Sunbeam I (4)    Power 512.0    Fuel Use 7.95%    Signature 128.00    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 256,000 Litres    Range 22.9 billion km (261 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 ---

One of the simplest upgrades, the new Couci Turbines engines (marking a clean sweep of Navy contracts) increases the design speed by 20% while retaining the same range.


--- Code: (B-4/A ‘Triggerfish’) ---B-4/A 'Triggerfish' class Bomber (P)      487 tons       2 Crew       47.8 BP       TCS 10    TH 48    EM 0
4928 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 2      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0      PPV 3
Maint Life 5.08 Years     MSP 26    AFR 19%    IFR 0.3%    1YR 2    5YR 25    Max Repair 24.00 MSP
Magazine 20   
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines FTR-4800 Flare I (1)    Power 48.0    Fuel Use 350.74%    Signature 48.00    Explosion 15%
Fuel Capacity 15,000 Litres    Range 1.6 billion km (3 days at full power)

Type IV External Rack (5)     Missile Size: 4    Hangar Reload 100 minutes    MF Reload 16 hours
RN/FGM-11 80/10.9M Missile Fire Control System (1)     Range 10.9m km    Resolution 80
FUM-5B 'Flyssa' Heavy Missile (5)    Speed: 8,800 km/s    End: 21m     Range: 11.1m km    WH: 4    Size: 4    TH: 29/17/8

RN/FGA-10 80/7.7M Gravitational Sensor (1)     GPS 160     Range 7.7m km    Resolution 80
--- End code ---

A completely new design, the Triggerfish manages to increase the speed, range and throw weight of the B-2, while reducing the weight by four tons.


--- Code: (F-3/B ‘Heron’) ---F-3/B 'Heron' class Fighter (P)      460 tons       5 Crew       43.3 BP       TCS 9    TH 48    EM 0
5223 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 2      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0      PPV 0.98
Maint Life 5.11 Years     MSP 25    AFR 17%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 2    5YR 24    Max Repair 24.00 MSP
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines FTR-4800 Flare I (1)    Power 48.0    Fuel Use 350.74%    Signature 48.00    Explosion 15%
Fuel Capacity 13,000 Litres    Range 1.5 billion km (3 days at full power)

Piquiri Defence Industries 10cm Railgun V10/C1/S1 (1)    Range 10,000km     TS: 5,223 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 ---

Unlike the Triggerfish, the Heron’s design did not change significantly - the new High Density Duranium hull and slightly smaller engine allowed it to drop weight by 40 tons, but otherwise no changes were made. A new railgun waits on better capacitor technology.

Gyrfalcon:
October 4, 470 - As warned, Sorium shortages begin to impact fuel production as refineries simply can’t be supplied fast enough.

February 15, 471 - The new engines for the Rio Grande-B design are complete, the shipyard begins retooling for the design.

July 19, 471 - the Kingdom mourns the loss of Magos Drystan de Hattes. The father of its TN engine program, he was killed when a prototype FTR-4800 Flare I engine exploded.

November 10, 472 - Another research accident claims the life of Magos Isoude Vauville, best known for his work with high energy plasma that has led to the newest generations of Armigers.

June 25, 473 - Magos Apollo de La Champagne presents a Duranium Composite Armor that, alongside the plasma weapon advances pioneered by the late Drystan de Hattes means a series of 3rd generation Armigers will soon be ready to deploy.

RoleGen 0 (Pre-TN)Gen 1Gen 2Gen 3Light HybridFRB-1E FirebeeFRB-2E FirebeeFRB-3E FirebeeJVN-10N JavelinLight Anti-ArmigerTR-A-1 ToroTR-A-6 ToroMTS-S MantisBH-K305 Battle HawkLight Anti-InfantryWSP-1 WaspCOM-2D CommandoOSR-3D OsirisOSR-4D OsirisMedium HybridKY-2-D-01 KyudoSHD-2H Shadow HawkSTH-1D StealthSTH-2D StealthMedium Anti-ArmigerNH-1A RookNH-1B RookBEO-12 BeowulfBEO-14 BeowulfMedium Anti-InfantryICR-1X IcarusQSM-3D QuasimodoINI-02 InitiateINI-04 Initiate
The Firebee chassis has run its course, marking an end to the Kingdom’s longest-running design given its pre-TN origins. It is replaced in the newest generation, alongside the Mantis, while the other four designs in use are upgraded with better armor and more advanced plasma weapons.

While the Kingdom has experimented with the use of lasers, particle beam weapons and railguns on the battlefield, the ease of use, physical impact and extreme temperatures of plasma weapons makes them the Army’s weapon of choice. Lasers are easily defeated by reflective chaff systems, and while railguns are consistent, plasma weapons likewise carry a physical impact with the addition of long-term problems as the plasma weaponry continues to sear the target and create fires where it impacts.

April 19, 475 - There are minor celebrations as the last conventional industry on Earth is converted to TN technology, marking the beginning of the era that the Kingdom is truly a Trans-Newtonian power.

February 25, 477 - The Army inaugurates the 1st Xenoarchaeology Division. Currently composed of two regiments training to uncover and handle the ruins of the Terran Federation, they embark on transports for Skathi.

The current round of training is winding down for now - as soon as the last unit clears the training facilities, facilities will be converted to train infantry equipped with powered armor, similar to what the Kingdom had faced on Skathi. Given their prevalence through every type of regiment, it was considered worthwhile to hold off training new units until the facilities were ready for them.

August 31, 477 - To great fanfare, the 2nd Expeditionary Force departs for Io to clear the Tomb Guardians from the moon and allow the Kingdom to investigate the strange construct there. Unlike the previous force, this force is composed entirely of forces from the Orders of the noble Houses.

Expeditionary Force #2
Ground Element
CORP Noble Orders (2nd Gen)
- DIV The Brave Lancers (1st Gen)
- - IRGT House Lanval Guard (PreTN)
- - LRCT House Galahad Light Horse (1st Gen)
- - LRCT House Pellinore Light Horse (2nd Gen)
- - LRCT House Feirefiz Light Horse (3rd Gen)
- DIV The Templars of the Hydra (2nd Gen)
- - IRGT House Bagdemagus Foot (2nd Gen)
- - IRGT House Sagramore Guard (3rd Gen)
- - LRCT House Lamorak Light Horse (2nd Gen)
- - MRCT House Griflet Lancers (2nd Gen)
SRGT 1st Supply Regiment

The expeditionary force is 92% equipped with TN technology, and 75% equipped with 2nd generation or better equipment.

Unfortunately, the Tomb Guardians on Io were better equipped and the mountainous terrain worked against the Knights. Three regiments were forced to retire from the field when their HQs were wiped out, belonging to House Feirefiz, Lanval and Galahad. The remaining five regiments continued to battle grimly, but were trading losses at a 3 to one or worse ratio. After several days of hard fighting, Major General Gwendlolen Vatteville managed to convince her counterparts in the Orders to send for reinforcements. Transport Squadron #1 was busy loading the three regiments who were making a fighting retreat, so Transport Squadron #2 was sent to Earth to take aboard the 1st Army Division and 2nd Supply Regiment.

As soon as TransRon1 was loaded, they too left for Earth with orders to return with the House Palmades Division and the Royal Division (except for the Life Guard).

In the meantime, the remaining forces fought with the knowledge that any relief was a month’s time away. Their morale waned as the command staff of the House Griflet Lancers were killed, decapitating their most powerful unit.

Unfortunately, reinforcements were not available in time and on October 14, the battered rear guards of the Orders were lifted clear under heavy fire from the Tomb Guardians. Of the eight combat regiments that dropped, only House Lamorak managed to maintain its command structure.

The aftermath of the First Battle of Io was brutal for the Orders politically - the Light Horse regiments of House Galahad and Pellinore and the Guard regiment of House Sagramore were scrapped entirely as they were reduced to complete combat ineffectiveness, and the rest of the Orders would need several years to rebuild.

They would have a hard time getting the needed materials as the King castigated them for their vainglory. More priority would go to raising Royal and Army units instead of feeding materials towards the Noble Orders. It took the last of their political capital to secure replacements to make good for the losses in the remaining regiments, and it would be years before those replacements would be ready.

June 13, 478 - The Xenology units managed to crack the Federation encryption and survey the site on Skathi. 8 buildings were still salvageable, and the Kingdom directed that its single Construction Regiment be dispatched to begin the work.

February 22, 479 - The recovery of the Skathi ruins is complete. There is very little of interest left to recover - a few buildings, a fuel depot and some infrastructure. Of interest is the terraforming station - the best guess, combined with the extensive infrastructure, was that the colony was in the process of being terraformed when the Cataclysm cut off the Sol system. Without maintenance, the environment on Skathi reset itself over time to its natural state.

5.6 ML Fuel
2x Mine
1x Construction Factory
320x Low-Grav Infrastructure
1x Terraforming Installation
320x Infrastructure

14 June, 479 - Thinking they were clever, a civilian conglomerate establishes a mining complex on Mars, based as far as possible from the nearest cities. Unfortunately, while they managed to evade Kingdom oversight (who would have told them that this was a terrible idea), the first the Kingdom became aware of the installation is when the owners started screaming for help as the hapless workers and PMC mercenaries were overrun and slaughtered to a man.

The only useful information gained from the sorry experience was a rough estimation that the Guardians on Mars consisted of 20,000 or more robots, and that their forces included what the grainy footage suggested was a main battle tank.

October 25, 480 - The long-awaited expansion of the Aleph yards on Selune is complete, allowing construction of ships up to 14,000t in displacement. While the Admiralty wished to build a larger missile-armed successor to the Redoubt-class destroyers, their influence has steadily waned. In the 33 years that the Kingdom has been aware of the possibility of alien contact, there has been no sign of extraterrestrial activity in the Sol system. Meanwhile, many of the most interesting planets and moons from a terraforming and mineral perspective are in the control of the Terran Federation’s Legions.

The First Battle of Io three years ago showed that the Kingdom’s armed forces could not take the Tomb Guardians lightly. While they continue expanding with five GFCC running non-stop, it was also clear that the limited railgun armament of the Redoubt-class is simply insufficient for orbital fire support purposes. Therefore, the General Staff prevailed on the King to direct that the new design be purpose-built to provide orbital fire support.

The result is Project GLADIATOR, designated as an Armored Cruiser design. Powered by the same Couci Turbines engine block as the Redoubt-class, the 14,000t design is significantly slower, though still faster than the troop transports it would escort. One thing the Navy did manage to push through was a raft of technology improvements to be built into the design.

Built around a broadside of six 25cm Plasma Carronades, it also carries two triple 10cm visible light laser cannon turrets, four new faster-firing railguns, and a pair of experimental Particle Beam Weapons. Defensively, the design is armored in four layers of Composite armor and carries two new Beta shield generators, providing triple the shield coverage of the older Alpha-series of the Redoubt-class.

A command version of the design drops the PBWs and makes some minor adjustments to make space for a flag bridge, marking the first time a squadron command staff will be with their ships.


--- Code: (Project GLADIATOR) ---Gladiator class Armoured Cruiser (P)      14,000 tons       417 Crew       1,136.1 BP       TCS 280    TH 461    EM 900
1645 km/s      Armour 4-51       Shields 30-300       HTK 101      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 9      PPV 94.12
Maint Life 4.93 Years     MSP 856    AFR 174%    IFR 2.4%    1YR 58    5YR 876    Max Repair 76.8 MSP
Captain    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Couci Turbines CS-15360 Lightspeed Max I (3)    Power 460.8    Fuel Use 58.09%    Signature 153.6    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,000,000 Litres    Range 22.1 billion km (155 days at full power)
Beta S15 / R300 Shields (2)     Recharge Time 300 seconds (0.1 per second)

25 cm C2 Plasma Carronade (6)    Range 80,000km     TS: 2,000 km/s     Power 16-2     RM 10,000 km    ROF 40       
Triple 10cm C2 Visible Light Laser Turret (2x3)    Range 60,000km     TS: 6000 km/s     Power 9-6     RM 20,000 km    ROF 10       
Particle Beam-2 (2)    Range 60,000km     TS: 2,000 km/s     Power 5-2    ROF 15       
10cm Railgun V10/C2 (4x4)    Range 10,000km     TS: 2,000 km/s     Power 3-2     RM 10,000 km    ROF 10       
RN/MGB-18 80K/2000 FCS (2)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 2,000 km/s     44 38 31 25 19 12 6 0 0 0
RN/MGB-19 80K/6000 FCS (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 6,000 km/s     88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Pressurised Water Reactor R18-PB10 (2)     Total Power Output 36    Exp 7%

RN/MGP-14 1/359K Torpedo Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 10     Range 4m km    MCR 359k km    Resolution 1
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 ---

Development of the new technology for the project will take seven or eight months. Once the designs are finalized, the Aleph shipyard will be retooled and construction on the first squadron can begin. In the meantime, construction begins on the maintenance facilities needed to cover the new naval tonnage.

August 4, 484 - After many years, the Kingdom is ready to face the Guardians once more at Io. Preparations begin to move the Kingdom’s Army, Royal and House units to prepare for the assault, supported by the newly created Task Group 2, four of the Ceres-class armored cruisers.

Expeditionary Force #3
ARMY 1st Army
- CORP 1st Army Corps
- - DIV 1st Army Division
- - - ARGT 1st Artillery Regiment
- - - IRGT 3rd Infantry Regiment
- - - IRGT 5th Infantry Regiment
- - - MRCT 3rd Medium Regimental Combat Team
- - DIV 3rd Army Division
- - - IRGT 10th Infantry Regiment
- - - MRCT 4th Medium Regimental Combat Team
- - - MRCT 6th Medium Regimental Combat Team
- CORP Noble Orders
- - DIV The Brave Lancers
- - - IRGT Lanval Guard
- - - LRCT Feirefiz Light Horse
- - - MRCT Caradoc Lancers
- - DIV The Templars of the Hydra
- - - IRGT Bagdemagus Foot
- - - LRCT Lamorak Light Horse
- - - MRCT Griflet Lancers
- - DIV House Palmades Division
- - - IRGT Palmades Guard
- - - MRCT Palmades Hussars
- - DIV The Legion of the Pyre
- - - IRGT Bors Guard
- - - IRGT Brunor Guard
- 1st Royal Division
- - IRGT 1st Royal Infantry
- - LRCT 1st Royal Light Horse
- - LRCT 2nd Royal Light Horse
2nd Supply Regiment
3rd Supply Regiment

Unlike the 2nd Expeditionary Force, which consisted of only 8 front line regiments, the third is the vast majority of the Kingdom’s military might, consisting of 19 front line regiments equipped to a much higher level of TN technology.

The first step of the invasion is establishing a rally point on the nearby moon of Europa. Once all the participating units are based there, the spearhead units can make the initial assault on Io and secure a beachhead for the following units to land and support the assault. The cruisers of Task Group 2 will provide orbital fire support with their batteries of energy weapons.

The initial wave consisted of the nine infantry regiments of the combined force alongside the three medium RCTs of the Army. Unlike the disastrous 1st Battle of Io, losses against the Guardians were closer to 2 to 1. The Kingdom forces faced around 2,000 robots with limited fire support from IFVs. Fire support was provided by the cruiser squadron in orbit to one of the Army’s medium RCTs.

While the first wave battled with the Guardians, the transport squadrons returned to Europa and began loading a second wave of reinforcements consisting of the rest of the front line units, the artillery regiment and the supply regiments. In the days it took for those units to be transported and unloaded, the Wave 1 units managed to mostly crush the Guardian’s resistance, slashing their numbers in half. The arrival of Wave 2 ensured the downfall of the Guardians, with resistance ending before Wave 3, consisting of the command elements, even managed to land.

In the aftermath of the Second Battle of Io, the Kingdom’s army had a number of tactical lessons to digest before another major invasion. The short summary was the following

1 - Supplies became an issue at the end of battle. Even with supply regiments present, units engaged in active fighting were not able to draw replacement supplies from them, with a number of Wave 1 units running out entirely.

2 - The loading and unloading cycle took too long with the current generation of troop transports. Two complementary solutions were identified that would serve to correct the issue. For loading units, the current cargo shuttles relied on conventional technology with only crude Aether engines. Replacing them with true TN shuttles would greatly increase their speed, as well as adding more shuttles to each troop transport.

For unloading units, single-use drop pods would allow for extremely quick deployment of units, expediting the deployment of troops.

The Army plans to produce a logistics unit for the command level that can provide supplemental supplies. This necessitates a different drop sequence where command elements are dropped alongside their frontline units. Those command elements would also be expanded in size from their current 5k drop tons to the same 15k of a frontline element, with the extra drop weight going towards supply elements for their frontline formations.

On the Navy side, research will be turned towards replacements for the current cargo shuttles and troop bays, which will result in an updated version of the Rio Grande or a new troop transport model.

Gyrfalcon:
The Prince’s Rebellion

On the face of things, what came to be called the Prince’s Rebellion was absurd. Masterminded and launched by Crown Prince Adeluf to overthrow his father, King Kyduan II, the Crown Prince was his father’s favorite and heir, popular with the enlisted and lower officers of the Navy and Army, as well as the citizens of the Kingdom. He was the face of the Crown’s efforts to improve the Kingdom’s standard of living with TN technology.

The official line during Adeluf’s reign was that his actions were a regrettable necessity, and that he and his loyalists had crushed a plot by the noble houses to take control of the Kingdom from House Pendragon, a conspiracy that had infiltrated the highest echelons of the Army and Navy. 

Exhaustive research by historians after his reign proved that there was no such conspiracy - while many of the Admiralty and General Staff were noble-born, many others were commoners or had achieved noble rank as a result of their own efforts.  There was a seed of truth to Adeluf’s accusations - under King Kyduan II and his father, King Eliwlod, the noble houses had been granted increasing amounts of authority and power in political trades for support for the policies the Kings supported.

The economic crises that the Kingdom suffered under Kyduan II led directly to the explosive growth in the power of the noble houses and from there of the Orders, which were bulwarks of noble power. By the time of the Second Battle of Io, almost half of the Kingdom’s armed forces no longer answered directly to the Crown, including a large number of modern Armigers.  Would that have eventually led to the noble houses conspiring against House Pendragon? The general conclusion is likely not - though after Adeluf’s actions, the shattered nobility certainly had no love for him.

However, what weighted as heavily was the Prince’s deep-seated hatred of the Army and Navy - he despised the officer corps of both services, an enmity that festered since the Prince’s time at the Academy. As was customary, Adeluf attended the Camelot Academy on the Army track under an assumed identity. While details of what occurred remain sealed to this day, there are suggestions that the Crown Prince was involved in a scandal that was hushed up at the highest levels. However, he was dismissed from the Army track for behavior unbecoming of an officer.

Denied the traditional track to military service in the Army, the Prince turned to the nascent Navy track. While no scandals marred his record, Adeluf turned out to be one of those rare people who were adversely affected by an active TN field, particularly the crude fields that the first B-1/Bs and Arnica-class Gunships projected.  While his dismissal from the Navy track was medical in nature, he nursed a grudge against the Navy ever after, that was only compounded over the years as he begrudged the resources that were poured into the Royal Navy, even as the threat of an alien invasion waned.

The Prince instead turned to the business and administration track of the Academy, and graduated with honors. In truth he came into his own in this track, and displayed an intense charisma that swayed others to his viewpoint.  After his graduation, Adeluf spearheaded the Crown’s support of the transition to TN technology, while building personal support in the Army and Navy, particularly among the enlisted forces and the commoners at the lower ranks of the officer corps.

Over the years, he developed an intricate network of cells operating throughout the Kingdom, bound by their loyalty to the Prince and his vision. He successfully co-opted the heads of the Kingdom’s intelligence services as well as the commanding officer of the Royal Life Guards, ensuring that a blind eye was turned to his activities. Beside that, the Loyalists were remarkably circumspect, and even now there are questions as to how many were secretly members of Loyalist cells that were never identified, even in victory.

The Second Battle of Io proved the turning point in the Prince’s Rebellion. With the vast majority of the House forces off world, Crown Prince Adeluf moved to seize power. Loyalist cells within the Army were activated, taking the General Staff into custody and disarming the Orders, whose Armigers, loaded into the troop transports at Io, were disabled by their commoner support staff where they tried to resist.

The main point of concern was the Navy. While the members of the Admiralty were seized planetside, the individual ship captains had the ability to unleash nuclear devastation across Earth. Crown Prince Adeulf ordered that any ship not in possession of the Loyalists would need to be disabled or destroyed.

The prelude to the battle was the triumphant return of the first wave of armed forces from Io. Escorting the troop transports was the squadron of Ceres-class cruisers that had provided fire support. The rest of the Navy was sortied when the transports were a few days out from Earth to provide an honor escort. Each of the Loyalists was provided with instructions that once the fleet was escorting the transports, at a predetermined time their ships would break from the convoy to a position at 180 degrees, 10,000 km distance and pulse their IFFs in a specific manner. Any ships that did not repeat the same actions within a minute were to be engaged and destroyed.

Because of the cell systems, many of the officers were unsure of how many ships stood with them, though the Prince assured them that the majority of the Navy was with the Loyalists, and the element of surprise would ensure their success.

When the time came and the Loyalists revealed themselves, it became clear that the Prince had been perhaps optimistic by number of ships, though truthful in weight of metal. Commodore Girard Fresle was the highest ranked ship commander, and led the majority of his squadron. Among the destroyer squadron, only two ships broke away, trading the Defender, whose Loyalist XO killed his Captain and took control with the support of the rest of the bridge staff for the Fairy, where the situation was reversed as the Captain’s attempt to murder his XO went awry.

Among the small craft, only a single Corvette and Gunship declared for the Loyalists, alongside a little more than a squadron of bombers and most of the fighter squadron.

The Navy forces were caught flat-footed by the maneuvers and the reports from the Fairy and Datura of murder attempts.  The Loyalists began raising their shields and fired the first shots of the battle a minute later, launching 48 torpedoes and 35 missiles. At the same time, railguns and lasers rained fire on the bombers, destroying 2 and crippling 2 more in the first moments. Plasma cannon fire from the Ceres lashed the corvette Skjold, visibly damaging its engines.

At this point, AIs aboard the Navy ships took over, ATMs and railguns engaging the incoming warheads while ships danced into a flurry of evasive maneuvers.  Automated point defense fire took out half the salvo targeting the lone cruiser, Scout, but the remaining 20 torpedoes landed 14 hits, including two breaching hits. The destroyer Fairy suffered three hits, including one penetrating and the destroyer Redoubt took a single hit.

At such close ranges, the AI aboard each ship on both sides continued to fight the battle for their crew, beam combat at such close quarters overwhelming human reaction times.

Among the Loyalists, their bombers and the gunship Scoparius disengaged and headed to Earth at best speed, their part in the battle done. There was a dawning realization that the three Gunships were not engaged at all in the first moments of battle, an oversight that was punished severely as the Gunship AIs coordinated their fire and belched over a hundred torpedoes at the Dido and Ceres, including a missile strike from the bombers against the command cruiser. Meanwhile the Navy destroyers fired on the Defender. As the thunder of nuclear detonations faded, both sides took stock.

Among the Loyalists, the Dido was dead in space, the armored cruiser having lost all of its engines, 3 of its 4 fuel tanks and its fire control systems. The Ceres was likewise crippled, with only one working engine and both of its battle reactors disabled. The destroyer Defender has suffered an engine hit, but was still fairly mobile. The armored cruiser Topaze, destroyer Hostile and corvette Glimt were all undamaged.  Meanwhile the bombers and gunship Scoparius were withdrawing to Earth at best speed to rearm.

As for the Navy, they had nowhere to go - for now the bombers and gunships made best speed to Mercury with the two destroyers escorting. Two of the three corvettes were crippled and slowly tried to follow the rest of the fleet to Mercury. The remaining armored cruisers moved to clash, but the Loyalists had the advantage that their ship was pristine, while the Scout was badly damaged.

A lagging volley of missiles tore into the Ceres, one of the explosions ripping through the bridge, killing Commodore Fresle.  Moments later, a volley from one of the Gunships wiped out the Dido, and the Navy Corvette squadron finished the Ceres.

The Loyalist forces concentrated on destroying the Scout, blasting away at the armored cruiser, even as its own weapons reached out to cripple the destroyer Defender. The Navy cruiser managed to destroy its target before fire from the Topaze overwhelmed it.  The small task force ran down the corvettes, fire from the Topaze destroying two corvettes outright and leaving the last dead in space.  The Loyalists then set out in pursuit of the remaining Navy ships, but the slow speed of the Ceres-class meant that even the gunships could remain ahead. The Glimt used its ATMs in offensive mode to attempt to slow the gunships, but quickly ran dry without managing to inflict engine casualties.

The destroyers exchanged volleys during this time - the twelve missiles from the Navy arrived in separate volleys due to inexperience. The Topaze continued to prove the surprising value of its laser turrets as they wiped the salvos from the plot, aided by railgun fire from the rest of the small squadron. In return, the Loyalist salvo lost only half of its torpedoes to railgun fire, evasive maneuvers saving its target from any hits.

The captains of the Navy destroyers quickly conferred. There was no chance they would be able to take the Topaze, but it wouldn’t be able to catch them either. They could flee into the outer system beyond the range of the Loyalist bombers, though the gunship could still engage them, but… what then? There was nowhere to go, and the Loyalist destruction of crippled ships showed that there was no quarter to be expected.

They decided to make their remaining torpedoes count and turned for Earth, planning to do as much damage to the shipyards as possible. The Loyalist fleet raced after them, firing torpedoes as they went.

The first salvo struck the Fairy, killing its captain and crippling an engine, though the ship remained faster than the cruiser pursuing it. The second salvo destroyed part of the ship’s sensors and disabled a torpedo tube. The third was wiped out by railgun fire entirely. The fourth and final salvo lost five torpedoes to defensive fire, but the last struck home and triggered an engine overload that blew the destroyer apart.

With its companion lost, the last Navy destroyer, the Redoubt accelerated to its maximum speed and made for Earth. The Loyalist fleet had run out of torpedoes and pursued in vain. The Loyalist bombers raced ahead of the Destroyer and started the slow process of reloading their external racks in orbit. As soon as the Redoubt entered range, it opened fire with its torpedoes at the Selene shipyards, four salvos of 6 torpedoes racing towards their target.

Loyalist fighters did their best, destroying three torpedoes out of the first six, but losing a slipway from the Alpha docks. 4 torpedoes of the next salvo fell to defensive fire, but another slipway of the Alpha complex went up in a nuclear fireball. The third salvo lost 2, but destroyed the Beta shipyard entirely. The final torpedo attack struck the Gimel shipyard with five torpedoes, but miraculously no major damage was sustained.

Bereft of torpedoes, the Redoubt continued its charge. Loyalist fighters and bombers waited grimly for its approach, hoping that the bomber’s missiles would be ready in time to take out the destroyer. With hours remaining before their missiles would be ready, the F-3/B Herons sortied, firing their railguns into the approaching destroyer, even as its own railguns began swatting them from space. Two fighters were destroyed, and another crippled as they brought the destroyer’s attack to a halt short of Earth.

With no armed ships remaining, the Navy ships gathered at Mercury struck their flags and abandoned their ships as demanded by the Loyalists. The first Naval Battle of Mercury was over.


King Kyduan II was killed by a member of the Royal Life Guard, supposedly as part of the coup attempt that Prince Adeluf put down. While nothing has ever emerged linking the Crown Prince to his father’s murder, historians generally agree that he must have arranged the event, as the timing was too coincidental.

The aftermath of the battle is a bloodbath. Trials were swiftly arranged and the entirety of the Admiralty and General Staff were convicted of treason and executed. At the King’s direct orders, life pods from the ‘Rebel’ ships were left to float in the void until their life support ran out, the pleas and curses of their occupants petering out one by one as they fell silent to loss of oxygen and suicide.

The Navy was left a shell of its former self, the highest ranking officers remaining being the Captains of the Topaze and the Hostile/.The Navy itself consists of a cruiser, destroyer, corvette, gunship, three fighters and six bombers.  Still reeling, the Navy suffers another blow as one of the King’s first decrees is that deployment of nuclear weapons will be placed under royal control, and any ship bearing nuclear weapons would require a Royal Commissar and detachment of Marines onboard.

On his orders, the bombers and gunship were scrapped immediately, and the corvette and destroyer were impounded until such time as they can be refitted without missiles or with appropriate quarters for a Commissar and his guards.

Extensive purges devastate the Army as well, with the Noble orders being disbanded and their assets seized. King Adeulf announces a reorganization will take place that will streamline the efficiency of maintaining and supplying the Kingdom’s armed forces, organizing units into homogenous forces that will engage in combined armed operations at a strategic level instead of relying on doing so organically. The original regimental system was replaced with a series of homogenous brigades that were designed to make resupply and replacements far easier to manage.


--- Code: (Infantry Brigade) ---Transport Size: 14,775 tons
Build Cost: 900 BP
1x IHQ-G1 Infantry Brigade HQ
1000x IPWI-G1 Armsman
200x ILAV-G6 Armsman
200x IHCAP-G1 Armsman
30x ILOG-G6 Local Combat Supply
--- End code ---

Gone are the APCs, light bombardment weapons, forward fire direction and more. Each infantryman of the new brigade is equipped with heavy powered armor that provides enhanced strength, stamina and reflexes. The general armsmen are equipped with improved personal weapons capable of penetrating the armor of the robots of the Legions. Supporting them are armsmen equipped with anti-vehicle weapons and heavy anti-personnel weapons.


--- Code: (Light Armiger Brigade) ---Transport Size: 14,947 tons
Build Cost: 636.9 BP
1x LVHQ-G1 Light Brigade HQ
140x LVAA-G4 Battle Hawk
120x LVGEN-G4 Javelin
30x ILOG-G6 Local Combat Supply
--- End code ---

The light Armigers equipped for anti-infantry work had proven ineffective against power-armored equivalent targets. The new brigade focuses on bringing highly mobile firepower to the battlefield with a mix of anti-Armiger designs and autocannon equipped models that can face either Armigers or heavy infantry.


--- Code: (Medium Armiger Brigade) ---Transport Size: 14,831 tons
Build Cost: 1,179.5 BP
1x MVHQ-G1 Medium Brigade HQ
80x MVAA-G4 Beowulf
80x MVGEN-G4 Stealth
25x ILOG-G6 Local Combat Supply
--- End code ---

The medium Armigers follow the same pattern, relying more on their heavy armor and heavier weapon systems to carry the day. Comparing the Javelin and the Stealth, the medium Armiger is equipped with a heavy anti-personnel plasma weapon in addition to its medium autocannon, while the Beowulf doubles the number of anti-Armiger weapons that the Battle Hawk carries.


--- Code: (STO Battalion) ---Transport Size: 4,992 tons
Build Cost: 604.5 BP
8x STOAS-G1 - PBW/2 Emplacement
8x STOPD-G1 - 10cm V10/C2 Railgun Emplacement
--- End code ---

The bombardment of the Selene shipyards proved the necessity of planetary defenses for Earth. Each STO battalion provides a mix of anti-missile and anti-ship weaponry.

Currently existing units are stripped down and used to fill Auxilia units to supplement new brigades built and trained from the ground up in the new system.

By early February 485, work was well underway on the sweeping transformation of the Kingdom’s Army. Six Auxilia brigades were once again combat ready, their soldiers a careful mixture from the Royal, Army and Noble units, watched over by Royal Commissars.  Plans were underway to raise a total of 17 Auxilia brigades to support the politically loyal regulars that would become the Kingdom’s frontline forces.

Gyrfalcon:
February 20, 485 - Camelot Ver retired from his research position at the age of 62. The father of the Trans-Newtonian era, his brilliance will be sorely missed by the Kingdom.

April 8, 485 - Work on retooling the Kingdom’s sole remaining civilian shipyard is complete, and two Aberdeen-class freighters are laid down. They will be used to move recovered TN buildings and supplies.

April 23, 485 - the 1st Construction Regiment recovers what appears to be an advanced engine from the ruins of Io. Once an Aberdeen is cleared for flight, it will be sent back to Earth where it can be disassembled for study.

June 16, 485 - A cache of eight 31.25cm Far Ultraviolet Lasers is discovered. The massive beam weapons are far more advanced than anything the Kingdom has built. Disassembling them for study could lead to a number of advances in several fields.

September 22, 485 - The ruins on Io have been fully excavated and a number have been restored to functionality. The first two Aberdeen-class freighters have been assigned to transfer infrastructure from the ruined colony on Skathi to Io, in preparation for the Kingdom’s first offworld colony.


--- Code: (Io) ---Population: 0m
Ground Force Construction Complex: 1
Construction Factory: 2
Mine: 2
Automated Mine: 7
Fuel Refinery: 2
Financial Centre: 1
Terraforming Installation: 1
Deep Space Tracking Station: 1
Mass Driver: 1
Infrastructure: 560
--- End code ---

Once the newly reconstructed Selune Beta shipyard has expanded sufficiently, it will begin laying down the keel for the first Bainbridge-class Colony Ship, capable of transporting 50,000 colonists in cryogenic suspension to the new colony.

12 January, 487 - While no breakthroughs are generated, the disassembly of the Ancients’ technology has provided a great deal of insight into larger laser calibers, near-ultraviolet lasers, better capacitors, damage control technology, nuclear pulse engines and engine efficiency.

February 12, 487 - Research is completed on TN dropship equipped transport bays. They significantly speed up the process of deploying troops, but weigh 20% more than a regular troop transport bay.

The Rio Grande class is beginning to show its age, though well suitable to transport troops in a non-combat situation. Therefore, the Navy is directed to devise a new troop transport, capable of carrying two brigades into combat and deploying them at once. The result is the Crete-class transport. More than double the mass of the [i[Rio Grande[/i], the Alpha yards are already capable of building the massive ship.


--- Code: (Crete-class Troop Transport) ---Crete class Troop Transport      49,600 tons       330 Crew       1,710.4 BP       TCS 992    TH 640    EM 0
645 km/s      Armour 1-120       Shields 0-0       HTK 122      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 1      PPV 0
MSP 521    Max Repair 200 MSP
Troop Capacity 30,000 tons     Drop Capable    Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 3   
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

Couci Turbines CIV-12800 Sunbeam I (5)    Power 640    Fuel Use 7.95%    Signature 128    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 558,000 Litres    Range 25.4 billion km (456 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 drawback of the massive design is its slow speed, but the Crown considers the design otherwise sufficient and orders the Alpha shipyard retooled to produce it. The first three will be laid down in April, 489.

February 14, 489 - The first colonists are awakened on Io, marking the founding of the Kingdom’s first colony.

February 22, 489 - A long-running research project finishes with the first viable nuclear pulse engine prototype. The Navy drafts a set of new proposals for designs and upgrades based on the new engine technology.


The top proposals, and the only ones King Adeulf looked through thoroughly were simple upgrades of the Kingdom’s freighters and troop transports to make use of the new technology. The only standout from the proposal is that the first Crete-class transports will be delayed as the slips immediately start retooling from the original model to the upgraded version before the first keels are laid down.

Buried further down in the proposal are the upgrades for the Ceres, Redoubt and Steil classes under the heading of ‘Project Phoenix’.. Commodore de Balon held his breath, but the King’s eyes skimmed over the section names and otherwise ignored them entirely. Buried in the technical language of the proposals was the fact that the ships were far different beasts then their names and misleading descriptions would suggest.

--- Code: (Rio Grande-C) ---Rio Grande-C class Troop Transport (P)      28,450 tons       202 Crew       999.7 BP       TCS 569    TH 640    EM 0
1124 km/s      Armour 1-83       Shields 0-0       HTK 73      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 1      PPV 0
MSP 521    Max Repair 200 MSP
Troop Capacity 15,000 tons     Drop Capable    Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 2   
Commander    Control Rating 2   BRG   AUX   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

Bouchard NPE/C 168.00 (4)    Power 640    Fuel Use 7.07%    Signature 160    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 267,000 Litres    Range 23.9 billion km (245 days at full power)

RN/CGA-25 80/18.8M Gravitational Sensor (1)     GPS 960     Range 18.8m 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 most radical change of the civilian designs, the Navy converted the design to use dropship equipped bays like the new Crete class. Limited to transporting one Brigade and with limited loading capacity, it allows the Army to drop significantly more troops in an initial landing wave.


--- Code: (F-5/A ‘Osprey) ---F-5/A 'Osprey' class Fighter (P)      500 tons       6 Crew       61.5 BP       TCS 10    TH 55    EM 0
5524 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 3      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0      PPV 1.65
Maint Life 6.23 Years     MSP 47    AFR 20%    IFR 0.3%    1YR 2    5YR 31    Max Repair 27.6 MSP
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days    Morale Check Required   

Bouchard NPE/F 55.20 (1)    Power 55.2    Fuel Use 325.04%    Signature 55.2    Explosion 15%
Fuel Capacity 13,000 Litres    Range 1.4 billion km (3 days at full power)

10cm Railgun V10/C2/S2 (1x2)    Range 10,000km     TS: 5,524 km/s     Power 1.5-2     RM 10,000 km    ROF 5       
RN/FGB-24 20K/6000 Fighter FCS (1)     Max Range: 20,000 km   TS: 6,000 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bouchard PBR/2MW (1)     Total Power Output 2    Exp 10%

RN/MGP-22 1/393K Point Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 12     Range 4.4m km    MCR 393.3k km    Resolution 1

--- End code ---

The Heron had proved itself in the first battle fought by the fleet, both engaging Rebel fighters, a destroyer and taking out torpedoes. However the design was already showing its age. The Osprey carries a heavier 2nd generation railgun with improved capacitors that doubled the Heron’s rate of fire. The heavier weapon necessitated a smaller engine, but despite that the nuclear pulse engine gave the Osprey a higher maximum speed then its older predecessor and helps maintain the design’s speed advantage over even the fast corvettes and destroyers.


--- Code: (Steil II-class Corvette) ---Steil II class Corvette (P)      4,000 tons       126 Crew       475.6 BP       TCS 80    TH 269    EM 0
3360 km/s      Armour 3-22       Shields 0-0       HTK 28      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 1      PPV 12
Maint Life 2.28 Years     MSP 174    AFR 128%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 45    5YR 679    Max Repair 75 MSP
Captain    Control Rating 3   BRG   AUX   CIC   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Bouchard NPE/M 134.40 (2)    Power 268.8    Fuel Use 71.45%    Signature 134.4    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 346,000 Litres    Range 21.8 billion km (75 days at full power)

10cm Railgun V10/C2 (4x4)    Range 10,000km     TS: 3,360 km/s     Power 3-2     RM 10,000 km    ROF 10       
RN/MGB-23 80K/3000 FCS (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 3,000 km/s     66 56 47 38 28 19 9 0 0 0
Bouchard PBR/8MW (1)     Total Power Output 8.1    Exp 5%

RN/MGA-20 80/26.6M Gravitational Sensor (1)     GPS 1920     Range 26.6m km    Resolution 80
RN/MGP-22 1/393K Point Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 12     Range 4.4m km    MCR 393.3k km    Resolution 1
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 ---
The Steil II class was the first ship in the proposal’s military projects because it was least controversial. Like its progenitor, the corvette weighs in at 4,000t displacement. Gone is the missile armament, but it still embraces its role as an escort vessel with an array of four second generation 10cm railguns.

During the First Naval Battle of Mercury, the navy discovered during the fratricidal battle that their railguns had around a 20% hit rate against missiles and torpedoes. The Ceres-class with its ‘Triple 10s’ laser turrets scored a far superior 70% hit rate engaging enemy projectiles.

The results of the battle has spurred the navy to invest in gauss weaponry research which could likewise be placed in turrets - initial models were promising compared to the laser turrets, but fell short of a railgun array of the same displacement. Navy planners expect that second generation gauss cannons will make gauss turrets the superior choice for point defense, but such technology is years away from becoming a reality.


--- Code: (Redoubt II-class Destroyer) ---Redoubt II class Destroyer (P)      10,000 tons       291 Crew       1,026.6 BP       TCS 200    TH 672    EM 450
3360 km/s      Armour 3-41       Shields 15-300       HTK 65      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 5      PPV 39.12
Maint Life 2.41 Years     MSP 320    AFR 160%    IFR 2.2%    1YR 76    5YR 1,137    Max Repair 84 MSP
Captain    Control Rating 3   BRG   AUX   CIC   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Bouchard NPE/M 168.00 (4)    Power 672    Fuel Use 63.91%    Signature 168    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 788,000 Litres    Range 22.2 billion km (76 days at full power)
Beta S15 / R300 Shields (1)     Recharge Time 300 seconds (0.1 per second)

Triple 10cm C2 Visible Light Laser Turret (2x3)    Range 60,000km     TS: 6000 km/s     Power 9-6     RM 20,000 km    ROF 10       
10cm Railgun V10/C2 (5x4)    Range 10,000km     TS: 3,360 km/s     Power 3-2     RM 10,000 km    ROF 10       
RN/MGB-23 80K/3000 FCS (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 3,000 km/s     66 56 47 38 28 19 9 0 0 0
RN/MGB-19 80K/6000 FCS (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 6,000 km/s     88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Bouchard PBR/13MW (2)     Total Power Output 25.3    Exp 5%

RN/MGP-22 1/393K Point Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 12     Range 4.4m km    MCR 393.3k km    Resolution 1
RN/MGA-20 80/26.6M Gravitational Sensor (1)     GPS 1920     Range 26.6m 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 Redoubt II is a marked divergence from the original model. Massing 1,000t more than the original Redoubt, the designers dubbed it a ‘pocket cruiser’ as its armament has more in common with the Ceres-class. Equipped with twin triple-barreled laser cannon turrets and a 5 railgun defense array, the Redoubt II is equipped with heavier armor and a stronger shield generator than the original design.

The Redoubt/C is the first flag bridge equipped destroyer. It drops a railgun and swaps the twin battle reactors for a single larger model along with minor changes to the fuel storage to fit a flag bridge onboard.


--- Code: (Topaze-class Escort Carrier) ---Topaze class Escort Carrier (P)      14,000 tons       275 Crew       1,462.5 BP       TCS 280    TH 672    EM 450
2400 km/s      Armour 4-51       Shields 15-300       HTK 77      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 4      PPV 24.12
Maint Life 1.13 Years     MSP 293    AFR 348%    IFR 4.8%    1YR 234    5YR 3,505    Max Repair 100 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 4,000 tons     
Captain    Control Rating 3   BRG   AUX   CIC   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Flight Crew Berths 80    Morale Check Required   

Bouchard NPE/M 168.00 (4)    Power 672    Fuel Use 63.91%    Signature 168    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,000,000 Litres    Range 20.1 billion km (97 days at full power)
Beta S15 / R300 Shields (1)     Recharge Time 300 seconds (0.1 per second)

Triple 10cm C2 Visible Light Laser Turret (2x3)    Range 60,000km     TS: 6000 km/s     Power 9-6     RM 20,000 km    ROF 10       
RN/MGB-19 80K/6000 FCS (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 6,000 km/s     88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Bouchard PBR/13MW (1)     Total Power Output 12.7    Exp 5%

RN/MGP-22 1/393K Point Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 12     Range 4.4m km    MCR 393.3k km    Resolution 1
RN/MGA-20 80/26.6M Gravitational Sensor (1)     GPS 1920     Range 26.6m 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

Strike Group
8x F-5/A 'Osprey' Fighter   Speed: 5524 km/s    Size: 9.99
--- End code ---

The Navy was originally unsure of what to do with the last Ceres-class Armored Cruiser. While the Topaze had carried the day at the First Naval Battle of Mercury, its flaws were clear - it was very slow compared to the destroyers and corvettes that it was facing, and it was unable to bring the Redoubt-class destroyers to combat outside of the initial ambush. With the Army’s swing away from desiring naval fire support, the design seemed destined for the scrapyards.

However, the Navy envisioned a radical change to the layout of the Topaze. By gutting the ship’s broadsides entirely, they managed to install a larger engine block that brought it more in line with the Ceres II. It retains the armor belt and laser turrets of its armored cruiser origins, though the second shield generator was also removed to make space. Its broadsides are instead occupied by hanger ports that allow for the launch of a squadron of the new F-5/A ‘Osprey’ fighters.


--- Code: (Ceres II-class Heavy Cruiser) ---Ceres II class Heavy Cruiser (P)      20,000 tons       441 Crew       2,010.9 BP       TCS 400    TH 1,008    EM 1,350
2520 km/s      Armour 5-65       Shields 45-300       HTK 128      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 5      PPV 68.8
Maint Life 1.14 Years     MSP 314    AFR 640%    IFR 8.9%    1YR 246    5YR 3,695    Max Repair 84 MSP
Troop Capacity 250 tons     Magazine 961   
Captain    Control Rating 3   BRG   AUX   CIC   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Bouchard NPE/M 168.00 (6)    Power 1008    Fuel Use 63.91%    Signature 168    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,553,000 Litres    Range 21.9 billion km (100 days at full power)
Beta S15 / R300 Shields (3)     Recharge Time 300 seconds (0.2 per second)

10cm Railgun V10/C2 (5x4)    Range 10,000km     TS: 2,520 km/s     Power 3-2     RM 10,000 km    ROF 10       
RN/MGB-23 80K/3000 FCS (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 3,000 km/s     66 56 47 38 28 19 9 0 0 0
Bouchard PBR/6MW (2)     Total Power Output 13    Exp 5%

Mark I Heavy Missile Tube (28)     Missile Size: 4    Rate of Fire 1200
Mark I Light Missile Tube (9)     Missile Size: 1    Rate of Fire 30
Missile Fire Control FC26-R80 (2)     Range 26.6m km    Resolution 80
Missile Fire Control FC11-R1 (3)     Range 11.1m km    Resolution 1
FUM-5C 'Flyssa' Heavy Missile (196)    Speed: 11,250 km/s    End: 16.4m     Range: 11.1m km    WH: 4    Size: 4    TH: 37/22/11
MIM-8B 'Cestus' Anti-Torpedo Missile (177)    Speed: 12,600 km/s    End: 2m     Range: 1.5m km    WH: 0    Size: 1    TH: 42/25/12

RN/MGP-21 1/963K Point Defense Sensor (1)     GPS 72     Range 10.7m km    MCR 963.4k km    Resolution 1
RN/MGA-20 80/26.6M Gravitational Sensor (1)     GPS 1920     Range 26.6m 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

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

--- End code ---

The centerpiece of Project Phoenix, the Ceres II-class heavy cruisers are the largest ships the Aleph shipyards are currently capable of building. Slower than the destroyers and corvettes of the fleet, the heavy cruisers can instead devote that space to their expansive missile armament.

The Ceres II is capable of firing volleys of 28 heavy missiles every 20 minutes, and their expansive magazines allow them to fire seven such barrages. Defenses are also not skimped on - they have the thickest armor belt in the Navy and the heaviest shields, while carrying a five railgun array for point defense work and nine AMM missile tubes tied to three fire control systems.

The Ceres II/C command cruiser sacrifices four heavy missile tubes alongside some layout changes to include a flag bridge.

Both designs have quarters for a marine detachment to oversee the Royal Commissar in charge of their nuclear capability.


Speaking of nuclear capacity, the new leadership of the Navy had come up out of fighter and bomber squadrons and considered the missiles carried by the bombers superior to the torpedoes espoused by the old blue-water admiralty that came before them. This, alongside the necessity of swamping a hostile force’s point defense pushed the navy to switch to heavy missiles as the primary ranged strike option rather than torpedoes.


--- Code: (SUM-8A ‘Epee’) ---Missile Size: 4.00 MSP  (10.000 Tons)     Warhead: 4    Radiation Damage: 4    Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 12,850 km/s     Fuel: 900     Flight Time: 35 minutes     Range: 26.87m km
Cost Per Missile: 2.405     Development Cost: 245
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 128.5%   3k km/s 42.8%   5k km/s 25.7%   10k km/s 12.8%
--- End code ---

The Epee boasts a modest speed increase over the Flyssa used by the Kingdom’s bomber squadrons. However it has double the range of the previous design, allowing the Ceres II-class heavy cruisers to engage targets from much farther away.


--- Code: (SIM-9A ‘Tekko II’) ---Missile Size: 1.00 MSP  (2.500 Tons)     Warhead: 0    Radiation Damage: 0    Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 15,800 km/s     Fuel: 25     Flight Time: 105 seconds     Range: 1,659,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 0.6475     Development Cost: 127
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 158.0%   3k km/s 52.7%   5k km/s 31.6%   10k km/s 15.8%

--- End code ---

The Tekko II continues to increase its speed advantage over the missiles it targets, though greater improvements will only be possible with better warheads as the current generation still requires a third of the missile’s mass to achieve critical mass.


Commodore de Balon envisions growing the Navy beyond its original size as part of Project Phoenix. Taking advantage of the King’s obsession with the Io colony, the Commodore cheekily manages to slip a number of orders into the Naval proposal that temporarily redirects the Kingdom’s research establishment to finish prototyping the raft of new technologies going into the new designs. Once prepared, those designs will lead to two task groups as the combat arm of the Royal Navy.

TG1 will consist of a three ship heavy cruiser division, the escort carrier, a squadron of destroyers and two squadrons of corvettes.TG2 will consist of a destroyer squadron and a corvette squadron.


While the Navy planned to once again expand beyond the sad remnants left behind by the First Naval Battle of Mercury, the Army had also been busy in the last years. The utter devastation of the senior officer corps had led to the disbanding of the already existing divisions, corps and army as functional organizations. Rebuilding the officer corp and the professional capacity was a long and ongoing process.

Currently 10 brigades are once again fully functional and combat ready, and an 11th will be ready soon. Training the remaining Infantry Auxilia is delayed mostly by the construction of heavy weapons to round out the formations. Enough rifle-equipped Armsmen remain in the reserves to raise eight further auxilia units.

Alongside the Auxilia efforts, two STO battalions have been raised and a third is in training - once complete, it will be deployed to Io alongside at least one infantry auxilia as a planetary garrison.

Two infantry brigades are also being raised, and the King has authorized a massive expansion of Earth’s GFCC as he is impatient to clear the rest of the habitable worlds in the solar system for recolonization.


--- Code: (Royal Army OoB) ---CORP Corps V
- DIV Division XII
- - IAUX Infantry Auxilia I
- - IAUX Infantry Auxilia II
- - LAUX Light Armiger Auxilia I
- - MAUX Medium Armiger Auxilia I
- DIV Division XIII
- - IAUX Infantry Auxilia III
- - IAUX Infantry Auxilia IV
- - LAUX Light Armiger Auxilia II
- - MAUX Medium Armiger Auxilia II

CORP 1st Corps of Engineers
- DIV 1st Xenoarchaeology Division
- - XRGT 1st Xenoarchaeology Regiment
- - XRGT 2nd Xenoargaeology Regiment
- DIV 1st Engineers Division
- - CAUX Construction Auxilia I
- - CRGT 1st Construction Regiment
- - CRGT 2nd Construction Regiment

IAUX Infantry Auxilia V
IAUX Infantry Auxilia VI
SRGT Supply Regiment I
STOB STO Battalion I
STOB STO Battalion II

CAUX Construction Auxilia II (47% understrength)
MAUX Medium Armiger Auxilia III (26% understrength)
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