Author Topic: The Martian War (dead by bug)  (Read 3755 times)

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Offline Garfunkel (OP)

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The Martian War (dead by bug)
« on: February 06, 2015, 11:49:12 PM »
The Red Planet! Named after the God of War from Roman mythology. A source of inspiration and curiosity for humanity, Earth's neighbour: Mars. The ancient Egyptians and Babylonians observed Mars coming periodically closer. Aristotle realized that Mars was occluded by the Moon, meaning that it was farther away. Chinese and Indian astronomers measured its diameter. Centuries later, Tycho Brahe measured the diurnal parallax of Mars, allowing Johannes Kepler to make a preliminary calculation of the distance between Earth and Mars. And in 1610, Galileo Galilei observed Mars through his primitive telescope.

By 19th century, astronomers saw "canals" on the surface of the planet, inspiring further speculation on life. It was thought that Mars had extensive vegetation and several seas. Yet no telescope was powerful enough to truly discern any details of the surface. Thus, when the Space Race between United States of America and the United Socialist Soviet Republics started, one side goal was Mars.

On 1st November 1962, the Soviet 2MV-4 No.2 probe, colloquially known as Mars-1, launched from Earth. While roughly hundred million kilometres from the Red Planet, it stopped transmitting. Soviet engineers chalked it up as an equipment failure.

On 28th November 1964, NASA attempted a close fly-by with Mariner 4. Seven and half-months later, the probe was closing in as communications again stopped. Unaware of the result of the earlier Soviet probe, NASA engineers were disappointed but also chalked it up as an equipment failure.

On 30th November 1964, Soviets tried again, with 3MV-4A, colloquially known as Zond-2. Yet the result was the same - complete loss of communication during approach.

This phenomenon continued throughout the 60's and 70's - Mariner 6 and 7  in 1969 and Mariner 9 in 1971 were lost by NASA and the Soviets lost 4M No.171 and 4M No.17 in 1971 and 3MS No.52S, 3MS No.53S, 3MP No.50 and 3MP No.51P in 1973, in addition to the numerous launch failures. Both agencies were disappointed and perplexed - similarly equipped and built Lunar and Venus missions had worked. Some astronomers speculated that an unseen micro-meteorite "cloud" between Earth and Mars could be responsible, yet the various probes had utilized different trajectories, always with the same outcome.

In 1975, NASA tried once more with the Viking 1 and 2 missions. Both missions were failures. Yet by this time, many telescopes were trained at Mars, in hopes of spotting any of the four craft closing in. While the crafts themselves were not seen, a small explosion was spotted by sheer dumb luck. This information caused tremors in NASA and it was quickly declared a national secret in the USA. NASA did not inform the Soviets. Arguments raged for years - was this an unlucky head-on collision with a meteorite or was it something more? In any case, future Mars missions were scrapped.

In 1988, the Soviets in turn attempted once more, this time to inspect Phobos with the 1F No.101 (Fobos-1) and 1F No.102 (Fobos-2) probes. The outcome was the same as for NASA. While Fobos-1 was lost due to software error soon after leaving Earth orbit, Fobos-2 was on a successful path to Mars when communications ceased. The VSK TV imagining system on the probe had returned a single picture just before contact was lost. Soviet imagining analysts were shocked to discover something that looked like an missile. As outlandish as it seemed, Occams Razor now mandated the Soviets to accept that Mars had intelligent life and that his life was hostile. NASA was not informed.

But in early 1989, Mars responded. Before humanity could react, large missiles appeared and wrecked large swaths of the planet. Curiously, they hit seemingly random locations: one missile struck the uninhabited Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia, while another irradiated the Gobi desert. Still, many countries were thrown back to the Dark Ages - especially as background radiation skyrocketed and immense amounts of dust were thrown in the atmosphere. Millions had died in the nuclear holocaust while millions more died afterwards due to radiation sickness, disease and starvation.

The surviving governments, even amid recovery operations, vowed revenge and to protect Earth from further strikes. The Earth Defence Alliance was formed, to operate as a global agency with supra-national powers and to co-ordinate future efforts. EDA would draw personnel and resources from all member nations and it immediately absorbed the remnants of NASA, ESA and the Soviet space program, that had survived. Its first task was to examine the remains of the Martian planet-busters, few of which had been duds. The discovery of Trans-Newtonian materials shocked the scientific community - but one outcome was that an effective defence and eventual revenge would be possible in a much shorter timeframe than what had been believed possible.

On 1st January 1990, EDA came into existence with a dual-purpose mission:
  • 1. To protect humanity and Earth from Martian aggression
  • 2. To wage war upon the Martians

With meagre resources, its first chairman - Kane Flynn - faced an insurmountable task. Would the Martians repeat their attack before any defences could be enacted? Only future would tell.
« Last Edit: October 24, 2019, 12:29:44 PM by Garfunkel »
 

Offline Garfunkel (OP)

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Re: The Martian War
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2015, 02:59:03 AM »
01.01.1990

EDA begins to convert conventional industry to TN-standards. Admiral Rachel Osborne assumes command of Joint Force, the military wing of EDA. Brigadier Oscar O'Donnell assumes command of EDA ground forces.

The leadership troika - Flynn, Osborne and O'Donnell - ratify the preliminary plan for Earth's Defence. Joint Force will have two sub-divisions: Planetary Defence Command (PADCOM) and Orbital Defence Command (ORDCOM). The former will consist of missile bases that could intercept future Martian missiles far from Earth, while the latter will consist of laser-armed orbital satellites as the last line of defence. Commander Luke Lloyd is assigned to command PADCOM and Commander Isaac O'Connor is assigned to ORDCOM.

Passive surveillance systems on Earth - upgraded with prototype TN-tech - reveal that Martian cities have a thermal signature of 52,710 and an electro-magnetic signature of 55,010. By contrast, EDA facilities on Earth have the following signatures: TH 9020 and EM 32,385.

06.04.1991

Kieran Flynn is killed in a traffic accident. Morgan Riley takes his place.

11.10.1992

Raytheon creates the first working laser, a 10cm IR one meant for point defence - tentatively titled Raytheon PD IR Laser-3/10. EDA scientists immediately start working on a prototype turret armed with one.

21.06.1993

EDA starts building LII-100 Sparrow, the first defensive missile. Powered by a tiny nuclear thermal engine, the scientists hope that its unprecedented velocity of 4000 km/sec is sufficient to intercept Martian missiles.

During 1994, telescope sighting of Mars confirm that the planet's atmosphere is thickening. This is an issue that has perplexed many - with an atmosphere mere 10% of Earth's, how can life survive? Now it has become clear that the amount of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in the Martian atmosphere is increasing.

06.05.1995

EDA has finished converting conventional industry to TN-standards but is hampered by the lack of trained workforce. Background radiation has finally returned to pre-Fall levels as have atmospheric dust.

Through the remainder of 1995 and 1996, EDA constructs orbital shipyards. Some analysts have warned that this might prompt the Martians to launch another attack but so far, humanity has been spared. The way the Martians have utterly ignored Earth since the Fall is perplexing but for the EDA planners, who know how vulnerable their planet still is, it is a great relief.

01.08.1997

EDA scientists prototype LII-101 Super Sparrow. Thanks to its revolutionary Nuclear Pulse Engine, the missile velocity has been increased to 6400 km/sec. The original LII-100 Sparrow never went into mass production and thus becomes a historical curiosity.

21.09.1997

Phalanx, the first component of ORDCOM, is finally ready for full scale production. Fox-Brady SY, with its 6 slipways, gets the project.
Code: [Select]
Phalanx class Orbital Weapon Platform    950 tons     8 Crew     111.4 BP      TCS 19  TH 0  EM 0
1 km/s     Armour 2-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 11     PPV 6
Maint Life 10.69 Years     MSP 73    AFR 7%    IFR 0.1%    1YR 1    5YR 18    Max Repair 25 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.001 months    Spare Berths 42   

Single Raytheon PD IR Laser-3/10 Turret (1x1)    Range 30,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 3-2     RM 1    ROF 10        3 1 1 0
Raytheon SPG-100 (1)    Max Range: 40,000 km   TS: 8000 km/s     75 50 25 0
Siemens Pressurised Water Reactor (2)     Total Power Output 2    Armour 0    Exp 5%

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

21.03.1998

The first six Phalanx OWPs enter service, soon followed by another group of six. ORDCOM wants to have 36 OWPs to achieve some semblance of security. Unfortunately, the performance of Martian missiles is not well known.

11.07.1999

A momentous day for EDA - the ten Vanguard planetary defence centers, situated in remote locations all over the globe, come online. Earth finally has a sense of safety.

Which leads the leadership troika to another issue - revenge. Opinions differ on the various methods:
  • 1. A missile bombardment from Earth
  • 2. Building fast-attack craft armed with missiles
  • 3. Building laser-armed heavy craft
  • 4. Assault with ground forces

All agree though, that more information on Martians and their capabilities are needed - but how to gain this information without provoking another attack?
« Last Edit: February 07, 2015, 04:01:51 AM by Garfunkel »
 

Offline Garfunkel (OP)

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Re: The Martian War
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2015, 06:39:59 AM »
01.01.2000

The year starts with a modification for the Phalanx. The old reactors will be replaced with more powerful ones and the laser capacitor is improved, increasing rate of fire.

Code: [Select]
Phalanx Mod.1 class Orbital Weapon Platform    900 tons     8 Crew     109.8 BP      TCS 18  TH 0  EM 0
1 km/s     Armour 2-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 11     PPV 5
Maint Life 11.84 Years     MSP 76    AFR 6%    IFR 0.1%    1YR 1    5YR 15    Max Repair 25 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.001 months    Spare Berths 42   

Fast Single Raytheon PD IR Laser-3/5 Turret (1x1)    Range 30,000km     TS: 33400 km/s     Power 3-3     RM 1    ROF 5        3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Raytheon SPG-100 (1)    Max Range: 40,000 km   TS: 8000 km/s     75 50 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Siemens Pebble Bed Reactor (2)     Total Power Output 3    Armour 0    Exp 5%

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

21.09.2000

Having completed the refit, Fox-Brady SY returns to constructing new Phalanxes.

30.01.2001

Breakthrough with ion engines leads to FII-103 Hawk missile, with a stunning velocity of 12,000 km/sec.

01.05.2002

Construction of Retribution class missile bases is finished. EDA is now set on seeking revenge, as soon as Mars gets as near to Earth as possible.

Code: [Select]
Retribution class Planetary Defence Centre    3,700 tons     175 Crew     503.6 BP      TCS 74  TH 0  EM 0
Armour 6-21     Sensors 1/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 50
Intended Deployment Time: 1 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 110   

PDC Size 10 Missile Launcher (5)    Missile Size 10    Rate of Fire 50
Marconi FPG-103 (1)     Range 154.5m km    Resolution 80
LGI-103 Trident (11)  Speed: 7,200 km/s   End: 347.6m    Range: 150.2m km   WH: 12    Size: 10    TH: 31/18/9

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 Planetary Defence Centre and can be pre-fabricated in 2 sections

11.05.2003

The first Victory class patrol vessel rolls off the shipyards.
Code: [Select]
Victory class Patrol Vessel 2000 tons     52 Crew     239.4 BP      TCS 40  TH 120  EM 0
3000 km/s     Armour 4-14     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control 1     PPV 10
Annual Failure Rate: 0%    IFR: 0%    Maintenance Capacity 75 MSP
Spare Berths 3   

McDonnell-Douglas 30 EP Ion Drive (4)    Power 30    Fuel Use 119.84%    Armour 0    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 275,000 Litres    Range 20.7 billion km   (79 days at full power)

Fast Single Raytheon PD IR Laser-3/5 Turret (2x1)    Range 30,000km     TS: 33400 km/s     Power 3-3     RM 1    ROF 5        3 1 1 0
Raytheon SPG-100 (1)    Max Range: 40,000 km   TS: 8000 km/s     75 50 25 0

This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes

With two fast firing laser turrets, the Victory will initially bolster the defence of Earth, and will eventually escort any offensive vessels against Mars.

06.06.2003

The day of retribution! With less than 80 million kilometres of separation between the two planets, EDA commences Operation Vengeance.

At 0400 hours, Space Control turns its massive FPY-104 sensor array on. The information received is staggering as six Dracon class vessels (5600 tons), five Poseidon class targets (15,950 tons), five Lykourgos class ships (35,750 tons) and two Cypelus class objects (12,050 tons) are spotted. Each Retribution targets a different object, all of which are assumed to be sensor or missile bases that the Martians used in their attack. In five hours, humanity will have its revenge.

Less than a minute later, two active sensor contacts are spotted on Mars - one for missile detection, the other for general surveillance. Few minutes later, the Dracons are charging shields. This is an unpleasant surprise for EDA, as their scientists had merely speculated with the possibility of shields. The shields reach strength 30.

Twenty minutes after EDA opened fire, Martian missiles are spotted. Either the Martian sensors can detect human missiles as soon as they are launched or they did not wait around. Traveling at 32,000 km/sec, PADCOM officers are dismayed - it is quite unlikely that their Hawks can intercept the incoming vampires.

Another twenty minutes pass before the missiles are in range of the Vanguards. At 04:40:31 the Vanguards spring into action, launching four Hawks for each incoming Martian missile. Two minutes later, Super Sparrows join the flight. Across the planet, people look into the skies, as the missiles fly off against their invisible enemies.

236 Hawks and 32 Super Sparrows attempt to intercept the incoming missiles but only 11 Hawks hit. The Phalanx destroy six more missiles and then nuclear destruction is once more unleashed upon Earth. Both PADCOM and ORDCOM are destroyed, as are Vanguard Tunis, Mongolia, Japan, Iceland, Alaska and Chile. Vanguards Australia and Canada are radioactive ruins. Multiple ground units are wiped out and over 34 million people lose their lives.

As if that wasn't enough, a second wave of Martian missiles is spotted at 04:46. Phalanx 001-006, 011, 012 and Vanguard Canada are destroyed, alongside 15 million civilians. To rub salt into the wound, all Triton missiles were intercept hours short of Mars.

Surviving EDA leadership would have to return to the drawing table and figure out a way to save the human race from the mess that they had created.
 

Offline MarcAFK

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Re: The Martian War
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2015, 03:45:58 AM »
I'm watching this one, also my current game is named "The red planet" and is based on a ruined city being discovered on mars, I've tried to limit myself to researching technologies recovered from the planet, but a lack of recovered sensors is somewhat concerning.
" Why is this godforsaken hellhole worth dying for? "
". . .  We know nothing about them, their language, their history or what they look like.  But we can assume this.  They stand for everything we don't stand for.  Also they told me you guys look like dorks. "
"Stop exploding, you cowards.  "
 

Offline Garfunkel (OP)

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Re: The Martian War
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2015, 11:22:08 PM »
Oh, I completely forgot this - my old laptop died on me and took this game with it. I was inspired by the old Twin Moons campaign and sought to try something similar.
« Last Edit: October 24, 2019, 12:37:32 PM by Garfunkel »
 

Offline Sematary

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Re: The Martian War
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2015, 12:24:34 AM »
Its an enjoyable read, you should restart it if you can.