6 March 2052The Indian orbital survey of Alpha Centauri-B I reveals deposits of all eleven minerals, although most are at low accessibility. The data also indicates that a ground survey would have a good chance of finding additional deposits. Unfortunately, no nation has yet developed the technology to conduct such a survey. In Sol, a second shipping line is created for the Russian Federation
Alpha Centauri-B I Survey ReportDuranium: 57,802,752 0.10
Neutronium: 9,144,576 0.10
Corbomite: 35,569,296 0.50
Tritanium: 7,056 0.10
Boronide: 24,561,936 0.10
Mercassium: 7,683,984 0.30
Vendarite: 9,659,664 0.20
Sorium: 3,111,696 0.50
Uridium: 53,406,864 0.10
Corundium: 8,643,600 0.10
Gallicite: 39,690,000 0.50
16 March 2052The Federative Republic of Brazil is the sixth and final nation to lay down a gravitational survey ship. The Comandante Varella has a good combination of speed and endurance, along with two survey sensors. The ability to build those capabilities into a 4500-ton hull was made possible by Brazilian research into improved jump drive efficiency.
Comandante Varella class GSV 4,500 tons 105 Crew 557.3 BP TCS 90 TH 179 EM 0
1990 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-24 Shields 0-0 HTK 27 Sensors 5/0/2/0 DCR 4 PPV 0
Maint Life 5.12 Years MSP 309 AFR 40% IFR 0.6% 1YR 20 5YR 295 Max Repair 100 MSP
Capitão-de-Corveta Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 48 months Morale Check Required
MJD-4500 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 4500 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Veloso-Castro VC-180 Nuclear Pulse Engine (1) Power 179 Fuel Use 20.63% Signature 179 Explosion 7%
Fuel Capacity 610,000 Litres Range 118.4 billion km (688 days at full power)
Commercial Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
19 March 2052Vidyut discovers a second jump point, located only seventy-four million kilometres from Sol, between the orbits of Mercury and Venus. Given the size of the solar system, it is surprising to find a jump point so far inside the inner system. Vidyut heads sunward to investigate.
20 March 2052The survey of Alpha Centauri-B II reveals two million tons of accessibility 1.0 Mercassium, along with 160,000 tons of accessibility 0.4 Duranium and four minerals at minimal accessibility.
Alpha Centauri-B II Survey ReportDuranium: 165,888 0.40
Tritanium: 7,683,984 0.10
Boronide: 8,088,336 0.10
Mercassium: 2,286,144 1.00
Sorium: 1,016,064 0.10
Gallicite: 8,714,304 0.10
Another survey in Alpha Centauri, this time on the fourth planet of the primary, reveals substantial mineral deposits. In this case Vendarite and Gallicite are accessible and eight other minerals are at minimal accessibility. Indications are that a ground survey would have a good chance of locating additional deposits.
Alpha Centauri-A IV Survey ReportDuranium: 5,094,432 0.10
Neutronium: 7,800,849 0.10
Corbomite: 18,766,224 0.10
Tritanium: 8,785,296 0.10
Mercassium: 28,708,164 0.10
Vendarite: 9,474,084 0.90
Sorium: 3,538,161 0.10
Uridium: 32,490,000 0.10
Corundium: 6,007,401 0.10
Gallicite: 19,263,321 0.70
2 April 2052Vidyut transits the recently discovered jump point and emerges five hundred and fifty million kilometres from the planetless red dwarf star Lalande 21185. Apart from three comets, there is no real estate in the system. Vidyut transits back into Sol to continue her survey.
26 April 2052The Russian gravitational survey ship Doblestnyy is launched from the Pavlov General Shipyard. The Vidyut now has some competition.
27 April 2052Vidyut discovers a third jump point, just outside the orbit of Jupiter, and moves to investigate All three jump points found so far have been detected from the inner ring of survey locations. Vidyut transits and finds the red dwarf system of V1216 Sagittarii. The system has two terrestrial worlds and a dwarf planet, all of which are tide-locked, plus a gas giant with thirty-eight moons. One of the terrestrial planets is a cold desert world, with 4% liquid water and a thin nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, while the dwarf is -125C with no atmosphere but does have a significant amount of water in ice sheets. So far, no ideal world has been found, but there are a number of possible terraforming candidates. Vidyut escorts an Indian geosurvey ship into Sagittarii then returns to her survey of Sol.
10 May 2052Alpha Centauri is proving to have excellent mining potential as well as several terraforming prospects. The ninth moon of Alpha Centauri-B V has almost ten million tons of accessibility 0.8 Duranium, as well as much smaller deposits of Boronide and Corundium. There is a minimal chance a ground survey may find other deposits. A few days later a second discovery is made on the thirty-first moon of the same gas giant; four million tons of accessibility 1.0 Neutronium, one point seven million tons of accessibility 0.9 Sorium and one eight million tons of accessibility 0.9 Gallicite. So far, only India is aware of the value of Alpha Centauri. Her leaders realise that as more nations learn about the system, there may be competition over the best colony and resource sites. India is therefore dedicating research efforts to a large commercial jump drive that will allow the large Indian freighters and colony ships to enter the system.
Alpha Centauri-B V – Moon 9 Survey ReportDuranium: 9,768,200 0.80
Boronide: 295,936 0.30
Corundium: 10,404 0.70
Alpha Centauri-B V – Moon 31 Survey ReportNeutronium: 4,276,624 1.00
Sorium: 1,742,400 0.90
Gallicite: 1,800,964 0.90
17 May 2052A second Brazilian shipping line is founded.
27 May 2052The Colonial Alliance launches Atlas, the first tug to be constructed by any nation. No other nation is currently building a tug, although most have at least some research capacity dedicated to tractor beams.
Atlas class Tug 42,900 tons 440 Crew 1,246.2 BP TCS 858 TH 3,200 EM 0
3730 km/s Armour 1-109 Shields 0-0 HTK 150 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 18 Max Repair 100 MSP
Tractor Beam
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
NPD-160 Commercial Nuclear Pulse Drive (20) Power 3200 Fuel Use 7.95% Signature 160 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 13.2 billion km (40 days at full power)
EM Sensor (5) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor (5) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
4 June 2052The Russian survey ship Doblestnyy detects and probes the jump point to V1216 Sagittarii. A Russian geosurvey ship is sent into the system to conduct a survey.
7 July 2052The Colonial Alliance establishes a fourth civilian mining colony, this time in the Kuiper Belt. So far, only one other nation, the Russian Federation, has created its own civilian mining colony. Taxes from its civilian colonies account for 4% of Colonial Alliance income.
13 July 2052The People’s Republic of China launches Mianyang and Xiangyang, its first pair of gravitational survey ships. At almost the same time, the Russian ship Doblestnyy transits the recently-discovered jump point into Lalande 21185. As it does so, the comet Van Biesbroeck is passing close by. The Colonial Alliance civilian mining colony on the comet has a single deep space tracking station, which detects the transit and reveals the jump point location to the Alliance. Although the Alliance’s own jump-capable gravitational survey ship will not be available until the end of the year, a small space station has been designed that will be able to open the jump point for the Alliance freighters and colony ship. Once this is available, the newly detected jump point can be explored.
23 July 2052The Colonial Alliance completes its first Ambrosia class Fuel Harvester Base. The base will be towed to Jupiter by the recently launched Atlas class Tug, where it will harvest Sorium from the atmosphere and refine it into fuel.
Ambrosia class Fuel Harvester Base 128,450 tons 530 Crew 1,884.3 BP TCS 2,569 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s No Armour Shields 0-0 HTK 274 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 9 Max Repair 30 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Fuel Harvester: 50 modules producing 2,000,000 litres per annum
Fuel Capacity 1,500,000 Litres Range N/A
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 30 hours
1 August 2052The People’s Republic detects the jump points to Lalande and Sagittarii. Mianyang is ordered to investigate both while Xiangyang continues the survey of Sol.
21 August 2052The Russian Federation survey ship detects the jump point to Alpha Centuari and moves to investigate. The Colonial Alliance completes the first Gateway class Jump Tender Station, a small and inexpensive station that can be towed to a jump point to allow transit for commercial vessels up to 45,000 tons. The Alliance’s Atlas class tug is allowing considerable flexibility in terms of space station construction. The new station is towed to the jump point that was detected during the Russian transit so that a Colonial freighter can transit and see what lies beyond. The thermal signature of the freighter is so large that tracking stations on Earth can detect the transit, which means the European Union and Brazil also learn the location of the Lalande jump point.
Gateway class Jump Tender Station 15,450 tons 74 Crew 178.7 BP TCS 309 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s JR 2-25(C) No Armour Shields 0-0 HTK 12 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 7 Max Repair 114 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
JC45K Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 45000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
31 August 2052China establishes a civilian mining colony on Iapetus, which is already home to civilian colonies from Russia and the Colonial Alliance.
11 September 2052A Chinese survey ship transits into Alpha Centauri. Three nations are now aware of the potential colony sites, although only India has conducted a full geological survey.
10 October 2052India establishes a civilian mining colony on Iapetus
3 December 2052The European Union launches Antarès, its first gravitational survey ship. Antarès investigates the known jump point in the inner system, which leads to Lalande, then begin a survey of the Sol system
3 December 2052The Colonial Alliance is the fifth nation to launch a gravitational survey ship. Isaac Newton begins a survey of the Sol system.
16 January 2053Isaac Newton probes the Alpha Centauri jump point. Unlike the other powers that have discovered Alpha Centauri, the Colonial Alliance has the capability to send colony ships and freighters into the system once it determines the best colony site. The other nations are working on different ways to create that same capability. The European Union is building a single 74,000-ton Jaguar class jump freighter while China is building the smaller 35,000-ton Type 008 jump tender, which has a jump capability of 51,000 tons. Both will be ready in February 2054. Brazil, with more limited shipyard options, is researching the same tractor technology as the Alliance with the intention of building a tug and a jump capable space station. India has designed and laid down the Bangaram class Jump Tender, which is similar in size to the Chinese Type 008 but had the same 75,000-ton jump capability as the European Jaguar. The Bangaram will be ready in September 2053. Finally, the Russian Federation is constructing a Project 007 class jump tender, with similar capabilities to the Bangaram, which will be completed in October 2053. For the moment though, the Colonial Alliance has a window during which it will be the only nation able to create extra-solar colonies.
11 March 2053The Russian Federation launches Azov, the first Project 006 ‘Peresvet’ class Landing Ship. Azov loads all four Russian Research Companies, with a total of forty Xenoarchaeology Vehicles and transports them to Mars to begin an investigation of the ruined alien city.
20 March 2053The Colonial Alliance probes V1216 Sagittarii. Every nation except Brazil now has knowledge of the three systems discovered so far. The gravitational survey of Sol is continuing, although no new jump points have been detected since April 2052.
21 March 2053The Colonial Alliance launches the troop transport Nagara, which loads the Alliance’s own Xenoarchaeology expeditions to compete with the Russians on Mars.
31 March 2053Brazil launches its first troop transport. The first Xenoarchaeology ground forces are in training and will be ready within a few days.
23 April 2053The Colonial Alliance establishes two small colonies in Alpha Centauri, each with 100,000 settlers. The first is on Alpha Centauri-B III, a terrestrial world slightly larger than Earth. Conditions are not ideal, with a temperature of -74C and a nitrogen-CO2 atmosphere of 0.275 atm. However, the ice sheets that cover 75% of the surface provide all the water that will be needed. Once the temperature starts to increase through terraforming they will melt, forming great oceans and improving the albedo. Minerals deposits include large accessible deposits of Tritanium and Corundium, plus a small inaccessible deposit of Boronide. Colony cost is currently 2.66.
The second colony is on a much harsher world – the ninth moon of Alpha Centauri-B V. There is no atmosphere or water present and the colony cost is 6.85. What the moon does have is almost ten million tons of accessibility 0.8 Duranium, plus it is smaller at 6800 km in diameter so it would be easier to terraform. For the moment, the two colonies represent a territorial marker, rather than the start of a serious attempt at large-scale colonization. The Alliance intends to colonise what is available with its limited resources and consider other alternatives as they become available. The formation of the second colony is noted by the European geosurvey ship Pluton, as it was surveying the moons of the gas giant when the Alliance freighters and colony ships arrived.
30 April 2053The Chinese survey ship Xiangyang discovers a fourth jump point in Sol, almost exactly on the orbit of Neptune, and moves to investigate.
3 May 2053Vinash, the sister ship to Vidyut, is launched from India’s Kanmuri Naval Shipyard.
10 May 2053Xiangyang transits the recently discovered jump point and appears six hundred million kilometres from Bernard’s Star, an M4-V red dwarf with six planets. Four of the planets are terrestrial, with the other two being gas giants. While there are two colony cost 2.00 worlds, both have atmospheres containing toxic gases. In the case of Barnard’s Star II, this is only 0.075 atm of methane and ammonia, but for Barnard’s Star III, 0.72 atm of carbon dioxide would need to be removed, which would be a considerable task, especially as the planet has a diameter of 15,600 km. If the toxic gas was removed from Barnard’s Star II, the cold desert planet is a terraforming prospect due to sufficient water and a temperature of -23C. The downside is that the planet is tide-locked and only 8800 km in diameter, which restricts the maximum population to 1.1 billion. Not enough for all nations on Earth.
The fourth planet, although colony cost 4.44 and with a temperature of -117C, is also a potential terraforming prospect. It has 76% water coverage, although it is currently locked in ice sheets, and has a nitrogen – methane atmosphere of 0.86 that is 99% nitrogen. Making the atmosphere breathable would be straightforward and sufficient Aestusium could be added to bring the temperature into the human-tolerable range. Xiangyang returns to Sol and waits for a Chinese geosurvey ship.
19 May 2053The Colonial Alliance launches its first Midway class Jump Tender Station. The Midway provides a military jump drive capability and acts as a small refuelling base, complementing the commercial jump drive of the Gateway class. The Atlas class tug tows the Midway to the V1216 Sagittarii jump point so that the geological survey ship Galileo can return to Sol without having to divert the sole Newton class jump-capable survey ship.
Midway class Jump Tender Station 4,900 tons 94 Crew 242.3 BP TCS 98 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s JR 3-50 No Armour Shields 0-0 HTK 23 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 30 Max Repair 114 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
BAE Systems M600 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 6000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Fuel Capacity 2,500,000 Litres Range N/A
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 50 hours
EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
25 May 2053The European Union establishes a civilian mining colony on Iapetus. Every nation except Brazil has a civilian colony on the moon. Unlike the others, the European Union decides to buy the minerals rather than tax the colony, as the European Duranium stockpile is at 2400 tons and falling. While the European Union has benefitted from a planetary governor who is boosting wealth by approximately forty percent, the industrial output that the extra wealth allows is using up a lot of mineral resources.
30 May 2053The People’s Republic of China launches its first Type 006 troop transport and uses the ship to move two Research Companies to Mars to investigate the ruins.
25 June 2053A Chinese geosurvey completes the survey of Bernard’s Star II, revealing mineral deposits of limited usefulness; eight million tons of 0.3 Duranium, seven million tons of 0.4 Neutronium and two minimum accessibility minerals. However, the survey also indicates a high chance that a ground survey will find additional deposits. For the moment, no nation has developed ground survey technology due to the other demands on research capacity. As existing mineral deposits are depleted, the priority for development will rise.
26 June 2053The Colonial Union establishes a colony of 250,000 on the third planet of V1216 Sagittarii. The dwarf planet is of minimal long-term value as the mineral resources are confined to accessible deposits of Neutronium and Uridium, there is no atmosphere and the maximum population capacity is eighty-five million, due to tide-locking. However, it provides a Colonial presence in the system and could serve as a forward base for any further exploration beyond V1216 Sagittarii. Brazil launches Comandante Varella, its first gravitational survey ship.
1 July 2053India has run out of fuel. More accurately, filling the fuel storage tanks of new freighters and colony ships has used up the stockpile of fuel and highlighted a problem that faces every nation. With the emphasis on building large numbers of freighters and colony ships, plus the many demands on research time, little time and effort has been to devoted to building up a fuel production infrastructure or to creating fuel efficient engines. No nation has improved their fuel efficiency technology by more than 10% and no nation has invested in lowering the minimum engine power modifier. The recent Colonial Alliance colony expeditions to Alpha Centauri and Sagittarii used up almost a year’s production from the Earth-based refineries and the station in orbit of Jupiter and it is the only nation to have deployed fuel harvesters. Before the Colonial Era can truly get underway, all nations have to address the imminent fuel crisis. The current state of colony ships, freighters and fuel production is shown below.
12 July 2053A European civilian mining colony is created on the comet Van Biesbroeck. As with Iapetus, the EU decides to purchase the minerals.
1 August 2053India discovers the Bernard’s Star system and begins a geological survey.
2 August 2053The People’s Republic of China completes the gravitational survey of the Sol system. Four jump points have been found in total. Mianyang heads to Earth to refuel and resupply before beginning a survey of Lalande, which lies beyond the closest jump point to the Sun. Xiangyang is waiting for the geological survey ship Taizhou to complete her survey of Bernard’s Star, so she can escort the geological survey ship back into Sol, before joining her sister ship.
3 August 2053The Russian Federation trains two company size formations equipped with construction vehicles. Once the Research Companies on Mars decipher the alien language and symbolism, the construction vehicles will attempt to recover or repair any identified alien installations.
8 August 2053The People’s Republic completes its research into the ruins on Mars and identifies one hundred and seven installations that could be recovered. China cannot take immediate advantage however, as it is still a couple of weeks away from developing its own construction vehicles. It will then require some time to train a formation equipped with those vehicles.
24 August 2053The Russian Federation launches Revnostnyy, its second gravitational survey ship.
4 September 2053The Federative Republic of Brazil completes its research into the ruins on Mars. Construction technology is at least six months away so Brazil is unable to take advantage of its breakthrough for the moment.
9 September 2053The Colonial Alliance launches the tanker Rappahannock. The tanker is intended to transfer fuel from the Ambrosia class station at Jupiter and to provide support for future survey operations.
Rappahannock class Tanker 13,250 tons 94 Crew 366.9 BP TCS 265 TH 480 EM 0
1811 km/s Armour 1-49 Shields 0-0 HTK 49 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 17 Max Repair 40 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
NPD-160 Commercial Nuclear Pulse Drive (3) Power 480 Fuel Use 7.95% Signature 160 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 6,000,000 Litres Range 1,024.5 billion km (6547 days at full power)
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 120 hours
EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
12 September 2053The Russian Federation discovers Bernard’s Star.
19 September 2053India launches its first Bangaram class Jump Tender. The Bangaram has a 75,000-ton capacity commercial jump drive that is capable of escorting India’s freighters and colony ships through jump points. Until the fuel situation is resolved and India can support a colony expedition, the Bangaram will lie idle.
Bangaram class Jump Tender 35,600 tons 226 Crew 677.7 BP TCS 712 TH 1,100 EM 0
1545 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-96 Shields 0-0 HTK 75 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 11 Max Repair 191.3 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
JC75K Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 75000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (11) Power 1100 Fuel Use 10.06% Signature 100 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 25.1 billion km (188 days at full power)
Commercial EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Commercial Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
24 September 2053The Russian Federation completes its research into the ruins on Mars. Russia already has fourteen construction vehicles on Mars with more under construction, so is now in pole position to take advantage of the ruins.
30 September 2053India launches its first Nicobar class Troop Transport. India has a Xenoachaeological formation in training which will be ready is approximately six weeks. Until then, the Nicobar will remain in Earth orbit.
Nicobar class Troop Transport 20,000 tons 148 Crew 531 BP TCS 400 TH 700 EM 0
1750 km/s Armour 1-65 Shields 0-0 HTK 64 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 16 Max Repair 25 MSP
Troop Capacity 10,000 tons
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (7) Power 700 Fuel Use 10.06% Signature 100 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 280,000 Litres Range 25 billion km (165 days at full power)
Commercial Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Commercial EM Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
21 October 2053Russia launches the first Project 007 Jump Tender, which will allow Russian freighters and colony ships access to potential extra-solar colony sites. For the moment, Russia decides to hold off on creating its first colony. While there are potential sites in Alpha Centauri, V1216 Sagittarii and Bernard’s Star, none are ideal. It is also possible that planets in future systems could actually be closer than those in Bernard’s Star or Alpha Centauri, depending on the jump point layout.
Project 007 class Jump Tender 42,450 tons 292 Crew 829.7 BP TCS 849 TH 1,600 EM 0
1885 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-108 Shields 0-0 HTK 81 Sensors 5/0/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 12 Max Repair 191.3 MSP
Kapitan vtorogo ranga Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
JC75K Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 75000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (10) Power 1600 Fuel Use 7.95% Signature 160 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 26.7 billion km (163 days at full power)
Commercial Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
The European Union launches its first Mistral class Troop Transport. In line with the European principle of building higher quality ships, rather than building quickly, the Mistral is the largest troop transport built by any nation. She transports three Xenoarchaeology Expeditions to Mars with a total of sixty Xenoachaeological Vehicles.
Mistral class Troop Transport 41,650 tons 270 Crew 960 BP TCS 833 TH 1,500 EM 0
1801 km/s Armour 1-107 Shields 0-0 HTK 128 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 14 Max Repair 80 MSP
Troop Capacity 20,000 tons Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 2
Capitaine de corvette Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (15) Power 1500 Fuel Use 10.06% Signature 100 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 21.5 billion km (138 days at full power)
7 November 2053The Russian Federation recovers an alien installation on Mars but it is damaged beyond repair.
20 November 2053The Chinese survey ship Xiangyang detects a jump point in Lalande and moves to investigate.
22 November 2053The Russian Federation recovers 5.2m litres of fuel on Mars. Given the fuel problems faced by all six nations, this is a useful find.
22 November 2053Xiangyang transits into Luyten 205-128, a system with a red dwarf primary, six planets, twenty-nine moons and almost two hundred asteroids. The only terraforming candidate is a terrestrial world with acceptable gravity, temperature just inside the low end of the tolerable range and sufficient water locked up in surface ice. The CO2 – Nitrogen atmosphere is 0.011 atm and the CO2 would have to be removed.
