Sadly, I am vastly overqualified for my current job but hey, it pays the bills while I keep trying to get into academia. Fingers crossed!
Should I take this to imply that there will be mucking about with ground support fighters at some point in the campaign?
Yes, it will happen. I have never done them before so I definitely want to get some first-hand experience.
1957In January, Soviet scientists manage to create Geological survey sensors that utilize TN-materials, making them five times more effective than previous survey sensors. Vostok-M2 will carry such a sensor and also the more powerful Glushko RD-103 engine to boost its speed to 300 km/s. Its range is thus shortened to mere 4.4 billion kilometres but there is no helping it. Better armour will not become available until 1961 due to poor Soviet competence in that field and Stalin wants the survey program to continue. Earth also runs out of Mercassium. On the American side, the design for the colonist transport shuttle is locked down:
Aphrodite class Shuttle 500 tons 2 Crew 39.8 BP TCS 10 TH 4 EM 0
375 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 6 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0-0 PPV 0
Maint Life 3.05 Years MSP 4 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 1 5YR 10 Max Repair 5 MSP
Cryogenic Berths 1,000
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 18 days Morale Check Required
Rocketdyne C-125/9 Engine F-3 (1) Power 3.8 Fuel Use 287.05% Signature 3.75 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 44,200 Litres Range 5.5 billion km (171 days at full power)
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Colony Ship for auto-assignment purposesFinally, the Jamestown colony will get inhabitants and it only took until 12 March when the first colonists stepped inside the half-buried dome of their new home. Sure, the Soviet Union had over half a million people in their colony but at least the Americans were back in the race. And with a bang, because already in mid-April the Jamestown population passed one million mark. And in May, the USMC commandant finally realized their wet dream - the USMC Assault Company. Armed with 8 M25 medium machine guns, 20 M26 assault rifles and 18 M27 submachine guns, the Marines were clad in menacing gray-black armoured suits that allowed them to survive the vacuum of space, assault a Soviet vessel through its hull, defeat the crew and bring the captured prize back to a friendly port. The Hermes class security shuttles had been waiting for this moment and training of the companies started immediately. By late August, the first ten companies were ready.
Both NASA and Soviet Survey Bureau resumed limited geological survey of the inner system. Neither had vessels with the endurance or range to fully explore the asteroid field between Mars and Jupiter, not to mention the outer system, so they contended themselves with the planets, comets and asteroids inside or near Mars orbit. In September, the Soviets opened a new research laboratory complex but production of DSTS had to be paused as the budget had gone deep into the red and thus a crash build program of financial centres was started. After a brief investigation, the KGB declared that several hundred counter-revolutionaries had infiltrated the Soviet system and these enemies of the state were promptly purged. Earth also ran out of Uridium.
In December, Glushko Design Bureau celebrates their triumph of breaking into the next level of engine technology as they showcase three new engines:
RD-105 is only a modest increase in power compared to the previous fastest engine, RD-104, but it is vastly more fuel efficient. In fact, it is the most fuel-efficient engine the Soviet Union has ever created. It will power the next generation of survey and transport shuttles, allowing them to reach previously unheard-of distances. The RD-106 is twice as powerful yet still more economical than all the older engines. It will be employed by sensor shuttles. Finally, the RD-107 is a thirsty beast but that thirst comes with incredible power, allowing future Soviet gunships to easily outperform any American vessel.
For example, the Vostok-M3 will, in comparison with the M2 model, increase its endurance from one to four months, its speed from 300 km/sec to 500 km/sec, and most importantly, its range explodes from paltry 4.4 billion to a whopping 51 billion kilometres! Similarly, Luna-M2 can carry the same number of troops but faster and much farther and in greater comfort. Progress-M2 increases its cargo hold size from 250 tons to 300 tons, while also gaining in speed and endurance, though only a modest increase in range. Soyz-M2 carries more colonists, faster and slightly farther, in greater comfort and with increased maintenance capability. Finally, the Krivak-M2-10B1 leaps ahead at the speed of 3500 km/sec, a revolutionary step since the previous model could only reach 700 km/sec.
The year ends with NASA surveying the comet Encke but disappointingly, no TN minerals are found. The military buildup on Luna continues.
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