The Quiet Before the Storm
10th February 2040
The geological survey of Alpha Centauri has been completed, revealing several bodies with extensive mineral deposits. Both survey groups are sent back to Earth for refuelling, resupply and overhauls. At the same time the cruiser group is pulled back to Earth for refits having spent much of the past year guarding the colonies in Alpha Centauri. In addition 2 more Nelson-Class Cruisers are laid down at NavYard Alpha.
Given recent technological advances the design for the Audacity-class Escort Carrier is updated. In order to allow the carrier to keep up with current fleet units the designs tonnage is increased to 15000tons to allow a top speed of 4800kps.
Audacity class Escort Carrier 15,000 tons 741 Crew 1899.48 BP TCS 300 TH 1440 EM 0
4800 km/s Armour 3-54 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 2 PPV 0
Maint Life 2.15 Years MSP 1158 AFR 900% IFR 12.5% 1YR 337 5YR 5052 Max Repair 40 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 6000 tons Magazine 582
MilSpec MPD E7 (18) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 600,000 Litres Range 102.9 billion km (248 days at full power)
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
In order to secure the Alpha Centauri colonies without requiring the deployment of main fleet units Federal freighters begin transporting maintenance facilities to Alpha Centauri A-1, though currently there is not any population to staff them.
8th October 2040
The 6 Enterprise class Science vessels are refitted to the MkII standard incorporating magneto plasma drives. They will now begin exploring the jump points discovered in Alpha Centauri.
Enterprise II class Science Vessel 7,500 tons 672 Crew 1384 BP TCS 150 TH 800 EM 0
5333 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 2-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 60/60/2/2 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 0
Maint Life 4.64 Years MSP 1346 AFR 150% IFR 2.1% 1YR 102 5YR 1532 Max Repair 156 MSP
J7500(3-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 7500 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
MilSpec MPD E7 (10) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 700,000 Litres Range 240.0 billion km (520 days at full power)
Thermal Sensor TH10-60 (1) Sensitivity 60 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 60m km
EM Detection Sensor EM10-60 (1) Sensitivity 60 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 60m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
Geological Survey Sensors (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
21st October 2040
The system of Proxima Centauri is discovered beyond Alpha Centauri
23rd October 2040
Mars becomes the 2nd habitable planet in the Federation and now has a population of almost 22 million. This is expected to increase rapidly now that there is no requirement for environmental infrastructure. Once the population reaches 25 million it will be eligible to join the Federation as an allied nation state similar to any other nation on Earth. Meanwhile a jump point in Alpha Centauri is discovered to lead to Lacaille 9352.
25th May 2041
The binary system of Gliese 109 is discovered by Survey Group 2. Immediately upon transit the survey groups passive sensor detect a large population on the innermost world of the nearby B-component. A thermal reading of 31708 and an EM reading of 85777 indicate both a smaller population and much less industry than Earth, which is good news to the passive Federal council. The Commonwealth reluctantly confirms that this is their home system and that the inhabited body detected is Dishian, their races homeworld.
13th July 2041
Diplomatic efforts on the part of the Federation results in the Commonwealth granting trade access, though currently there are no jump gate network and no civilian owned jump freighters to allow trade between Gliese 109 and Sol.
17th October 2041
Fleet command begins an extensive review of the current fleet capabilities. While the Nelson-class Cruiser has proven more than capable in Alpha Centauri the discovery of the Commonwealth of Bigdish and their 12900ton warships has prompted the Federal Council to request the design of a new, heavier main fleet combatant to ensure that the Terran Federation maintains its apparent lead. Therefore the King-class Heavy Cruiser was designed, being essentially an enlarged Nelson-class with more missile launchers and heavier armour. In addition the existing Resolution-class Destroyers, while still useful in detached roles, have been found to be overshadowed in main engagements. Therefore a new destroyer class has been designed, the Warrior. An uncompromisingly offensive vessel the Warrior-class carries no active defences, instead relying on 4 layers of Composite Ceramic armour. For offensive power the Warrior mounts 60 size 5 box launchers, equal to the firepower of 1.5 Resolution-class or an entire FAC group, tied in to the same 100mkm sensor array carried by the Nelson-class Cruisers and all mounted on a 5000ton hull. While the Resolve- and Resolution-classes will still continue to serve in a support role they will no longer escort the cruiser group into battle. To reflect their new detached role the Resolve- and Resolution-classes have been redesignated as Frigates.
Warrior class Missile Destroyer 5,000 tons 207 Crew 747 BP TCS 100 TH 480 EM 0
4800 km/s Armour 4-26 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 45
Maint Life 1.66 Years MSP 93 AFR 200% IFR 2.8% 1YR 40 5YR 603 Max Repair 119 MSP
Magazine 300
MilSpec MPD E7 (6) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres Range 77.1 billion km (186 days at full power)
Size 5 Box Launcher (60) Missile Size 5 Hangar Reload 37.5 minutes MF Reload 6.2 hours
Missile Fire Control FC103-R120 (1) Range 103.1m km Resolution 120
ASM-N5-StarburstB Anti-ship Missile (60) Speed: 26,400 km/s End: 35.7m Range: 56.6m km WH: 5 Size: 5 TH: 167 / 100 / 50
Active Search Sensor MR104-R120 (1) GPS 14280 Range 104.3m km Resolution 120
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
King class Heavy Cruiser 15,000 tons 1376 Crew 2455.78 BP TCS 300 TH 1440 EM 0
4800 km/s Armour 8-54 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 68
Maint Life 2.38 Years MSP 1307 AFR 600% IFR 8.3% 1YR 315 5YR 4727 Max Repair 119 MSP
Magazine 750
MilSpec MPD E7 (18) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 370,000 Litres Range 63.4 billion km (152 days at full power)
20cm C3 Ultraviolet Laser (3) Range 256,000km TS: 4800 km/s Power 10-3 RM 4 ROF 20 10 10 10 10 8 6 5 5 4 4
Fire Control S06 128-6000 (1) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 6000 km/s 96 92 88 84 80 77 73 69 65 61
Stellarator Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 (10) Total Power Output 30 Armour 0 Exp 5%
S5-R40 Missile Launcher (10) Missile Size 5 Rate of Fire 40
Missile Fire Control FC103-R120 (1) Range 103.1m km Resolution 120
ASM-N5-Supernova Anti-ship Missile (150) Speed: 35,200 km/s End: 24.3m Range: 51.4m km WH: 5 Size: 5 TH: 270 / 162 / 81
Active Search Sensor MR104-R120 (1) GPS 14280 Range 104.3m km Resolution 120
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
At the same time a new series of missiles using magneto plasme propulsion drives are developed to repalce the aging sentinal and starburst missiles currently in service. Both the new AMM-N1-Shield and the ASM-N5-Supernova boast greatly improved speeds and accuracy, though warhead sizes and range remain the same.
6th December 2041
Ruins are discovered on a distant planet in Gliese 1061 A-III. The Troop Transport group is dispatched with Engineering Brigades and a ground escort detachment.
29th July 2042
The 1st Frigate Squadron is refitted to the new Type III standard incorporating Magneto Plasma drives, increasing the former destroyers speed to 4800kps
1st august 2042
Colonisation of Alpha Centauri A1-M7 and AIV begins with the first wave of colonists dropped off
12th December 2042
Ross 154 officially colonised. 1000 units of infrastructure are deployed to support 5.5 million colonists. This is now the 3rd solar system and the 4th planetary body claimed by the Federation outside of Sol.
16th August 2043
First Audacity-Class Escort Carrier Audacious is laid down at NavYard Alpha
17th September 2043
The 2nd Frigate Group is refitted to the Type III standard
15th June 2044
With Commonwealth survey vessels detected throughout human space the decision is made by the Federation to reciprocate, and in due course the 1st Survey Group is deployed to Gliese 109. While the initial transit by the 3 science vessels is uncontested 5 days into their gravitational survey of the system all 3 ships are followed by what appear to be Commonwealth warships. A small diplomatic crisis ensues and trade access is revoked by the Commonwealth. Despite harsh protests from the Commonwealth government and certain elements of the Federal Council the Federation resolves not to withdraw the survey units and points out to the Commonwealth that their survey of Sol has gone unchallenged. Though unhappy with the situation the Commonwealth acquiesces and trade relations are soon restored
[OOC: I knew it was a bit of a gamble so I had a saved file prepared for if this went badly. All seemed to be going well until the AI cancelled trade rights but I wanted to see how far it would go and after a few days of my ships being followed by warships with active sensors on trade access was granted again...]
3rd October 2044
With survey of Gliese 109 almost complete and diplomatic relations proceeding smoothly since the incident in June the Federal Council decides to build network of jump gates to Gliese 109. However both the Admiralty and certain factions of the Council opposed this move, despite the obvious economic advantages that increased trade would bring, and after much wrangling a compromise is reached. The jump gate network will only be extended into 107 Piscium, the system between Alpha Centuari and Gliese 109, after which Beta-Class Jump Freighters will be responsible for escorting vessels through into Gliese 109 itself. As a further sop to the military they received assurances that once full trade is established further funds would be approved for a new round of cruiser construction.
1st January 2045
State of the Federation in 2045 - after 20 years of spaceflight the Federal Council has overseen the spread of humanity across half a dozen star systems and the defeat of an advanced alien menace. The standing of the Federations worlds is as follows:
Earth: pop 1463m, 1400 construction factories, 500 ordinance factories, 8 shipyards with 30 slipways
Mars: pop 38m, 140 construction factories, 50 mines, 50 automated mines
Sol: Also contains a further 175 automated mines across Lunar, Mercury and Titan in addition to 39 civilian mining complexes
Mercia: pop 7.5m, 25 automated mines, 25 terraforming stations, 5 DSTS
Ross 154: pop 2.2m, 5 DSTS
Alpha Centauri: pop 1.2m, 10 maintenance facilities, 10 DSTS
21 known systems, 20 surveyed
20 Alpha II freighters (and a further 9 civilian owned freighters)
2 Beta II jump freighters
5 Hope II colonisers
2 Frigate Groups
3 FAC groups
1 FAC Carrier
1 Cruiser Group
2 Brigade troop transports
2 salvage vessels
6 Enterprise II Science Vessels
Castle-B PDCs on Earth, Mars and Mercia. 3 more are being constructed for Alpha Centauri and Ross 154 on Earth.
With Alpha Centauri secured GJ 1156 has been selected as the next goal for human expansion. In total GJ 1156 is within 1 jump of 8 colonisable worlds spread over 6 systems and the jump point network forms a choke point at GJ 1156 between Sol and the rest of the universe. Accordingly GJ 1156 has been selected both for civilian colonisation as well as becoming the first extrasolar Fleet Base, the first time any military forces larger than FAC’s have been deployed outside of Sol on a permanent basis.
21st march 2045
The atmosphere of the Mercia colony in Barnards Star becomes breathable. Temperatures are still at -45oC but 25 terraforming stations are now at work to introduce safe green house gases to the atmosphere.
26th march 2045
Whilst surveying the suspected Commonwealth of Bigdish homeworld passive sensors on the science vessels detect over 40 ships in orbit. Most appear to be commercial vessels but at least 12 have been detected using active sensors in the past and are assumed to be armed.
24th July 2045
The ruins on Gliese 1061-AIII discovered in December 2041 have all been fully explored. 1 DSTS, 2 maintenance facilities, 1 ordinance factory and 4 mines were recovered. Currently all Federal cargo vessels are fully engaged in supporting the colonisation efforts, and given the distance from Sol troops transports are sent to recover all troops. At a later date efforts will be made to recover the facilities discovered.
13th March 2046
The first sector command station is built on Earth and the Earth Sector is established covering Sol, Alpha Centauri, Barnards Star and Epsilon Eridani. Stephanie Dunn, the Federations highest ranking civilian administrator, is appointed to the governance lending her expertise in ship production and wealth generation to all of the colonies.
23rd March 2046
Two important research projects are completed – an improvement to missile launcher reload rates, allowing a size-5 launcher to reload in 30 seconds, and Gamma shield technology. No Federation vessels currently use shields and new designs are laid down to take advantage of both the new technologies, updating the King-Class Heavy Cruiser and the Hood-Class Light Cruiser designs. The addition of more compact sensor arrays allows the Hood-class to boost its speed to over 7000kps and add larger laser arrays for an increase in size of only 1000tons.
King class Heavy Cruiser 15,000 tons 1349 Crew 2619.18 BP TCS 300 TH 1440 EM 1500
4800 km/s Armour 8-54 Shields 50-300 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 5 PPV 55.5
Maint Life 2.04 Years MSP 546 AFR 360% IFR 5% 1YR 174 5YR 2616 Max Repair 119 MSP
Magazine 750
MilSpec MPD E7 (18) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 450,000 Litres Range 77.1 billion km (186 days at full power)
Gamma R300/12 Shields (25) Total Fuel Cost 300 Litres per day
20cm C3 Ultraviolet Laser (3) Range 256,000km TS: 4800 km/s Power 10-3 RM 4 ROF 20 10 10 10 10 8 6 5 5 4 4
Fire Control S06 128-6000 (1) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 6000 km/s 96 92 88 84 80 77 73 69 65 61
Stellarator Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 (10) Total Power Output 30 Armour 0 Exp 5%
S5-R60 (75% Reduction) (10) Missile Size 5 Rate of Fire 60
Missile Fire Control FC103-R120 (1) Range 103.1m km Resolution 120
ASM-N5-Supernova Anti-ship Missile (150) Speed: 35,200 km/s End: 24.3m Range: 51.4m km WH: 5 Size: 5 TH: 270 / 162 / 81
Active Search Sensor MR104-R120 (1) GPS 14280 Range 104.3m km Resolution 120
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Hood III class Light Cruiser 11,000 tons 1039 Crew 2021 BP TCS 220 TH 1600 EM 600
7272 km/s Armour 4-44 Shields 20-300 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 56
Maint Life 2.24 Years MSP 459 AFR 242% IFR 3.4% 1YR 124 5YR 1856 Max Repair 230 MSP
MilSpec MPD E7 (20) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 46.7 billion km (74 days at full power)
Gamma R300/12 Shields (10) Total Fuel Cost 120 Litres per day
Single 12cm C3 Ultraviolet Laser Turret (8x1) Range 160,000km TS: 30000 km/s Power 4-3 RM 4 ROF 10 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1
Fire Control S12 96-16000 (1) Max Range: 192,000 km TS: 16000 km/s 95 90 84 79 74 69 64 58 53 48
Stellarator Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 (8) Total Power Output 24 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Active Search Sensor MR15-R1 (1) GPS 196 Range 15.7m km Resolution 1
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
9th April 2046
A Beta-II class Jump Freighter transits into Gliese 109, completing the jump chain to the Commonwealth of Bigdish.
