The first attempt at this campaign bogged down when it began taking me longer than real time to progress events. So I have started again, ship designs will be in a seperate post. There are no Precursors in this campaign
Following the shock of the Martian invasion in 1897, the world was in chaos , Martian forces had landed and attacked cities across the globe bringing down governments and ruining infrastructure. The red weed still choked many rivers and fields despite the deaths of those who had brought it to Earth. England had been the centre of that Invasion but here the Martians had died first, here they had built the largest of their bases and here it would be that the secrets of their technology would be cracked.
In Europe even the death of the Martians did not bring peace, France torn by factions plunged into civil war between Bonapartists, Republicans and Royalists, Germany a new state was in chaos following the death of the Kaiser in the destruction of Berlin and plagued by refugee's from neighbouring lands seeking sanctuary, The Austro Hungarian empire was dead with all of the minor nations rising up to seek their independence , Russia torn by revolution collapsed the survivors of the Tsar's family fleeing to England while the various rebel groups killed each other and the peasants starved.
In Asia chaos reigned as the rice crops proved particularly vulnerable to the red weed, only in Japan Australia and India did government survive. North America and South America had been particularly hard hit with Atomic weapons being detonated at several points across South and Central America. North America was fairly hard hit by landings near major cities but remained sufficiently intact to try to take advantage of England's misfortune and seize Canada although they rapidly bogged down against fierce Canadian resistance. In the Middle East and Africa the last bastions of stability where the colonies of the European powers the Ottoman's had disintegrated , and the Suez canal was blocked following the destruction of the Great Pyramids by Martian atomic bombs.
Many worried that the downward spiral into anarchy would soon affect the whole world. In England only the firm example of King Arthur the second oldest surviving son of the Queen killed by the Martians , held by many to be a hero for his leadership of the troops from Aldershot against the Martians. In January 1899 the great breakthrough came when English scientists discovered the basics of the Martian technical miracle and managed to recover some of their existing technology the program under the leadership of the 3rd Sea Lord Admiral Jackie Fisher lead to Britain deploying the surviving Martian Tripods. The Tripod Squadrons of the Royal Navy able to restore order in the colonies and end the conflict with the Americans. Further successes in decoding Martian technology soon allowed for the production of chemicals which targeted the Red weed, initially available in only limited supplies it was still enough to save agriculture and water supplies across the British Empire. Further technological progress would be made in 1900 cumulating in the development of one the Martian flying machines and it’s use to produce the first Spaceship the HMS Victoria to be sent to see what the threat from Mars was , the same technology used to build the HMS Victoria had allowed the production of what where probably crude by Martian standard missiles to defend Earth against any return visit by the Martians.
While this technological development had been ongoing events in the world of politics had not stood still. In March 1899 surviving members of the Russian royal family had decided to offer the crown to King Arthur in return for the British restoring order in Russia after years of turmoil , starvation and even it was rumoured cannibalism. After consultation with the Prime Minister and Parliament King Arthur accepted on the condition that governance of his Majesties dominion of Russia would be in the legal tradition established by the dominions of the Empire granting civil rights to the Russian peasants. When the Russians agreed the Tripods moved in followed by cargo’s of grain and engineers to rebuild the infrastructure , the moderates and the starving in Russia welcomed them in, the radical Marxists could not face the Tripods in battle . Impressed by the power of the British and aware that King Arthur’s son was arguably the legitimate claimant to the German throne as a result of the death of the Kaiser and his immediate family , the German government sought terms for recognising Arthur as Regent and his heir as Heir to the thrones of Germany and Britain, given access to the Martian technology and equality with Britain within the Empire the Germans accepted. By the time of the launch of HMS Victoria the Northern states of the former USA, Portugal, Sicily and Austria had joined the empire and negotiations with other states was ongoing. Perhaps the most controversial decision forced through by his majesty was to grant self governing Dominion status to the provinces of India granting them equality with the White dominions.
By the start of 1902 when HMS Victoria was finally completed the British Empire and Commonwealth dominated the world controlling most of Europe, India, North America, Australia, Russian Asia and Southern Africa. Outside of these domains there where organsied nations in the form of the French Empire, Japanese Empire and a few nations in South America. China beyond the control of Japan was a total mess with agriculture still a fraction of its pre invasion level. The martian technology was still limited to England with production of Martian technology slowly spreading to the dominions now that there was a firm base in England.
The arrival of the HMS Victoria at Mars was something of an anticlimax most people expected it to be attacked by the Martians however it arrived to find Mars a dead world with ruined cities and no atmosphere or signs of Life. Careful investigation eventually revealed a Martian base there but the Martians seemed to be very few in number and had died about the same time as those on Earth. Teams of Scientists where ferried to Mars to study the ruins and the HMS Victoria set off to search the other planets of the Solar system soon joined by HMS Albert the second ship built by man. Clearly the Martians where not in fact Martians in the end it was concluded they where aliens from another solar system who had traveled here in a large ship. The Government decided to study the ruins on Mars to determine what they where. In the meantime infrastructure on Earth was built up to allow larger ships to be built to defend the Earth against further visits from the ‘Martians’. Initially there was a great rush to build up the fleet but as the years went by without further sightings of the Martians and with the problems on Earth the fleet would shrink and receive little further construction , as it was known that the drive flare of an approaching ship would be seen several years before it reached the solar system.
As the years passed Earth grew more united , the Scandinavians joined the Empire after the Crown prince of Sweden married Princess Margerat heir to the Imperial throne. The rest of Europe was brought into the empire sometimes by force as the Empire decidedthat their actions threatened the stability of the realm. Noticeably in 1909 France was conquered after French agents where caught trying to stir up trouble in Ireland and India. By 1912 all of Europe was part of the Empire and mining operations had required the occupation of several areas of Africa , Asia and South America.
The Martian ruins where still a mystery , as they seemed designed for humans , a large colony had grown up there although the industry found there had been transported to Earth and as the planet was already mined out mines where moved to Rhea, Titan and Mercury where extensive mineral deposits where found, indeed by 1930 with Earths minerals exhausted all of the Empires mining was on there 3 bodies. The answer to this mystery came in 1929 when in one of the last ruins to be explored on Mars a data cache was found , the first to be found since 1915 revealing the existence of Warp points allowing FTL travel. This caused an Uproar.
On Earth there had recently been scandals about the weakness of the Royal Navy their ships where at least a generation behind current developments . In 1928 During the fleet exercises the young Captain Andrew Cunningham of the Royal Navy commanding the simulated Martian force had successfully reached bombardment range of Earth after achieving the simulated destruction of the Mercury mining colony. This has given fuel to the opposition politician Winston Churchill who has been a voice in the wilderness calling for the strengthening of the fleet. Now there was a real threat the Martians could come back any day , and appear only days from Earth. Public Hysteria went wild , the Navy published a requirement for 6 New Battleships to defend Earth as well as an immediate development of Jump technology and Cruisers to expand into the stars, the government offered 4 Battleships and a smaller exploration program. When the dust settled the new government with its 1st Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill serving under Prime minister Neville Chamberlain was committed to building 8 Battleships and expediting the survey program.
1st January 1930
Mankind and the British Empire stand on the brink of the discovery of the stars, over the protests of the Admiralty so far the fleet build up is only partially complete, however the public is clamoring for progress and the Prime minister giving in to the public mood has ordered the navy to begin the exploration program. The status of the Navy is below.
1st Battle Squadron
HMS Lancelot
HMS Gawaine
HMS Leonidas
HMS Roland
HMS Huygens (Galileo Scout)
The 2nd Battleship squadron is under construction consisting of 4 more Champion class Battleships, HMS El Cid, HMS Galahad, HMS Siegfreid , HMS Beowulf.
Both Squadrons will have a Galileo class Scout assigned.
1st Cruiser Squadron
HMS Illustrious (Illustrious CA)
HMS Blucher (Illustrious CA)
HMS Inflexible (Illustrious CA)
HMS Invincible (Invincible CLE)
HMS De Ruyter (Invincible CLE)
HMS Riccioli (Galileo Scout)
2nd Cruiser Squadron
HMS Colbert (Illustrious CA)
HMS Indefatigable (Illustrious CA)
HMS Santiasma Trinidad (Illustrious CA)
HMS Delhi (Invincible CLE)
HMS Rawalpindi (Invincible CLE)
HMS Cassini (Galileo Scout)
The 3rd Cruiser Squadron is under construction
There are four Survey Squadrons, each assigned to one of the Jump points the Atlantic, Pacific, Baltic, and Mediterranean Squadrons. A fifth Survey Squadron is under construction. Each Survey Squadron consists of an Agincourt class Jump Ship, 2 Cornwall class Geo Survey Ships. 3 Newton class Grav Survey Ships and a Galileo class Scout.
A number of freighters and colony ships left over from the colonization of Mars have been upgraded to the latest engine technology they have little to do except for regular mineral runs to the mining colonies.
There is also a single troop transport the HMS Cromwell.
A fleet command has been assigned to each of the Jump points, initially each of these fleets has only a survey Squadron under command but it is intended that as each arm is explored additional forces consisting of Survey Squadrons and Cruiser Squadrons will be assigned . However pending the development of Jump gates or a Jump Drive capable of transporting a cruiser the Cruiser Squadrons remain assigned to Home Fleet.
2 Gibralter class PDC’s have been completed on Earth and Thermopylea class PDC’s are under construction for assembly to guard Mars and the mining installations on Venus, Io, Titan and Tephys. A Verdun class PDC armed with heavy Railgun batteries will be built on Earths moon.
1st January 1930
4 Survey Squadrons are dispatched through the 4 warp points.
The Atlantic warp point opens into a Nebula , with one planet orbiting a small sun the system is designated Dublin.
The Baltic Warp point opens into the Kiel System, which has a K5 Star and a number of planets and asteroids
The Mediterranean warp point opens into the Naples System an F8 Star with a number of planets including one with a thin Nitrogen/Oxygen atmosphere.
The Pacific warp point opens into the Los Angeles system an F2/G2 Binary with 2 borderline habitable planets around the primary one with a Sulpher Dioxide contaminated atmosphere and the other frozen and with a thin atmosphere.
Survey work commences while on Earth research into improved jump drives continues and Mars starts work on Jump Gates
7th February 1930
The Geological Survey ship HMS Somerset locates more ruins similar to the ‘Martian; ruins on the habitable planet in the Naples system , the Jump ship HMS Magellan immediately returns to the Sol system and is ordered to collect a XenoArcheology team from Mars and take then to Naples.
17th April 1930
The 1st Baltic Survey Squadron has completed a gravitational survey of Kiel has been completed finding 3 more warp points. The Jump ship and attached scout are ordered to probe the warp points
4th September 1930
Research into a Cruiser class Jump Drive has been completed and Two Drake class Jump cruisers are laid down immediately
1st January 1931
Report to the Admiralty
Fleet Status
Currently the operation warships are limited to 1st Battle squadron , 1st Cruiser Squadron and 2nd Cruiser Squadron.
The five cruisers of 3rd Squadron are due for completion at the end of February 1931 with the 4 Battleships of 2nd Battle Squadron due in April. 2 Jump cruisers are due for completion in November
Fortifications
4 Prefabricated Thermopylea class PDC’s have been completed with 2 more being constructed . Assembly of one is underway on Mars.
Civil Ships
10 Freighters and 2 Colony ships are available, future building includes 1 Freighter, 2 Colony Ships and a Gate construction ship.
Survey forces
A fifth Survey squadron has been completed and will be allocated as 2nd Pacific Survey Squadron.
6 Terraformable worlds have been located including Naples A II which has ‘Martian’ ruins on it several facilities have been recovered from this system. One perfect world has been found in the Sydney system.
The Atlantic sector linked back into the Mediterranean sector after the first system along that chain, after being refitted the 1st Atlantic Survey Squadron will take over exploration of some warp points along the Pacific arm.
The Mediterranean sector is a chain of 3 systems , linking to Dublin in the Atlantic sector, There is one unsurveyed system
The Baltic arm has 5 unexplored systems
The Pacific arm has 8 Unexplored systems.
Survey policy will be 2 probe 2 transits beyond any world being colonized.
Colony Policy
The Current intent is to colonize the Naples and Sydney systems, although one Naples has been terraformed the terraforming efforts will be transferred to the Los Angeles system. This awaits the completion of suitable jump capability.
Domestic
There has been much criticism about the slow pace of colonization , due to the lack of suitable jump ships , hopefully this will be ameliorated once jump ships are in place. Enthusiasm for the cost of the Military build up has decreased as no sign of hostile aliens has been located however there should be sufficient support for the 3rd Battle squadron and 4th Cruiser Squadron after that the shipyards for the cruisers may have to be diverted to Merchant ship production
10th September 1931
FIRST CONTACT!
HMS Magellan returns from the Toulouse system where it has been leading the 1st Mediterranean survey squadron , while probing the new jump points out of Toulouse on 3rd July the scout HMS Brahe detected an inhabited world . closing in to investigate it detected Nine ships moving at about 1600kms, neither the ship nor the inhabited world answered communication hails. The Scout then detected missiles closing at 6900kms and easily managed to avoid them as their overtake velocity was so low. It took some time for the scout to return to the Jump point as it took a detour to try and hide the location of the jump point , it appeared that the Aliens did not detect the Scout until it approached the planet so it seems the location of the Jump point we entered from may still be unknown.
The Admiralty assesses that the threat is low , the detected ships where slow and their missiles slow suggesting they have only a fairly low technological level. Immediately the HMS Magellan is ordered back to Toulouse to picket the warp point along with the HMS Brahe .
The Public and Media react with a fair degree of Hysteria dragging up all the incidents from the Martian invasion and implying a second invasion is imminent, they demand immediate action which is awkward . The Gate construction Ship HMS Brunel has been completed but the Jump Cruisers are not yet operational.
The Gate ship is diverted from building a Jump gate to Naples and instead dispatched to the Los Angeles Warp point to start building a Jump gate there and eventually to Sydney.
The Admiralty decides to dispatch the 1st and 2nd Cruiser Squadrons to the Constantinople system as soon as the Jump Cruisers are available
