Posted by: IanD
« on: May 03, 2011, 05:18:31 AM »Part 3: May you live in interesting times!
2067
7th January 2067. Sol.
The munitions supply vessel Fort Cheyenne completed at the Qiuxin Shipyard and joined Battle Group Atlantic.
17th January 2067. Sol.
Salvage Group #2 found evidence of Evidence of ECM-6 in the wreck of an Invader Orion class survey vessel.
The JaingYang Naval Orbital Shipyard laid down the first of the Island class escort cruisers, the Malta, Cyprus, Azores, Barbados, Cape Verde, Faroe, Hebrides, Madeira, Tierra del Fuego and Tristan da Cunha.
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Island Mk I class Escort Cruiser 14500 tons 1500 Crew 8421.6 BP TCS 290 TH 840 EM 3000
8275 km/s Armour 5-52 Shields 100-375 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 60 PPV 68
Annual Failure Rate: 84% IFR: 1.2% Maint Capacity 7260 MSP Max Repair 1350 MSP Est Time: 3.1 Years
Magazine 604
Rolls Royce Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5 (15) Power 160 Fuel Use 50% Signature 56 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 420,000 Litres Range 104.3 billion km (145 days at full power)
Xi R375/20 Shields (20) Total Fuel Cost 400 Litres per day
Triple 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (2x3) Range 420,000km TS: 33300 km/s Power 18-18 RM 7 ROF 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
Triple R15/C6 Meson Cannon Turret (1x3) Range 150,000km TS: 33300 km/s Power 18-18 RM 15 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Fire Control S04 75-40000 (1) Max Range: 150,000 km TS: 40000 km/s 93 87 80 73 67 60 53 47 40 33
Fire Control S12 225-40000 (2) Max Range: 450,000 km TS: 40000 km/s 98 96 93 91 89 87 84 82 80 78
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (7) Total Power Output 56 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Size 1 Missile Launcher (10) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 5
AMM-5 Spartan (604) Speed: 76,000 km/s End: 1.3m Range: 6.2m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 1748 / 1048 / 524
Active Search Sensor MR9-R1 (1) GPS 300 Range 9.6m km Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor MR128-R20 (1) GPS 4000 Range 128.0m km Resolution 20
Compact ECCM-3 (3) ECM 50
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
The River class survey cruisers Danube, Mekong, Amazon, Tiber and Nile were completed at the General Dynamics ‘Yard. These will be the only examples of the class to be built. The more capable Lake class Independent Survey Cruiser will take their place.
Wolf 629.
Five Port Mk VB freighters were built in the Sutama Co-operative Commercial ‘Yard at Wolf-A II.
24th January 2067. Gliese 507.
Salvage Group #2 found evidence of advanced grav sensors in the wreck of an Invader Orion class survey vessel. Examination of the technology significantly advanced research on this sensor for the EDA.
28th January 2067. Sol.
Professor Steven Letcher’s missiles and kinetic weapons research team completed development of a tri-cobalt warhead which will improve the yield of missile warheads. A redesign of the Star Flash and Longbow Missiles is underway.
The Marcelinoi Dekay diplomatic team had, with the recent Invader incursion been attempting to establish contact with the Invaders. Unfortunately they reported the failure to establish communications with the Invaders. They state that these aliens are so different in so many ways that communications will never be possible. They appear to be extreme xenophobes and exhibit implacable hostility.
Gliese 507.
At 23:39 Orion 028 was detected exiting the wormhole. Hunting Group #2 (CGs Hampshire, Suffolk and Hefei) was detached from Battle Group Hornet to intercept her. The Hunting Group caught up with her and launched a single thirty missile salvo at the survey vessel at 00:30 on the 1st February. Thirty-seven minutes later Orion 028 was overwhelmed by the missile strike and destroyed.
3rd February 2067. Gliese 507.
Salvage Group #2 found evidence of maximum jump squadron size three in the wreck of an Invader Orion class survey vessel.
4th February 2067. Gliese 507.
Salvage Group #2 found evidence of jump drive efficiency 10 in the wreck of an Invader Orion class survey vessel.
Wolf 629.
Professor Gordon’s energy weapons research group completed work the would enable the development of a half-size laser, the drawback being it would take twenty times longer to recharge than normal sized lasers.
9th February 2067. Sol.
The Qiuxin Shipyard completed the munitions supply vessels Fort Denison and Fort Fincastle. They will join Battle Group Atlantic, although there were insufficient missiles available to fill their magazines.
19th February 2067.
Commodore Shí Feng Li has retired from the service at the age of 61. Heath Staley has taken over Commodore Shí’s highly experienced geological survey team, the first time a civilian has taken on this role.
26th February 2067. Sol.
The Northrop Grumman Ingalls ‘Yard completed the Weapon Mk I Mod 1B battle cruisers Blunderbuss, Boomerang, Bowie Knife. The ‘Yard started the Carbine, Catapult, Cestus, Cleaver and Club in vacant construction bays.
5th March 2067. Sol.
The Yokahama Dock Co. completed the second batch of the Cimarron class tankers, the Kennebec, Chiwawa, and Saranac. They joined Battle Group Atlantic.
The Northrop Grumman Ingalls ‘Yard completed the Weapon Mk I Mod 1B Battle Cruisers Cannon and Caltrop.
12th March 2067. Gliese 414.
Terraformers at Bryan’s World completed terraforming the atmosphere. The planet now has an atmospheric pressure of 1.005 atmospheres and surface temperature of approximately 10oC. Governor Bryan is pleased with the garden planet which bears his name.
Wolf 629.
The Bastion and Barbican, Planter class minelayers have been completed by the Sutaman Continental ‘Yard.
18th March 2067. Sol.
Professor Yu Jian Qing’s sensor research group completed the prototyping of a PDC S16 45-40000 fire control for the next generation PDCs.
28th March 2067. Wolf 629.
The Tian-Peng Yi missiles and kinetic weapons research group completed development and prototyping of the Star Flash 9 LR missile providing a marginally larger warhead and improving performance so that it is much nearer that of the Star Flash 8 AS with no sacrifice in range.
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Star Flash 9 LR Missile Size: 3 MSP (0.15 HS) Warhead: 12 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 43
Speed: 56000 km/s Endurance: 10 minutes Range: 34.5m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.12 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 120,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 6.745
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 2408% 3k km/s 774% 5k km/s 481.6% 10k km/s 240.8%
Materials Required: 3x Tritanium 0.12x Uridium 5.03x Gallicite Fuel x575
Development Cost for Project: 674RP
13th April 2067. Wolf 629.
The Tian-Peng Yi missiles and kinetic weapons research group completed development and prototyping of the SIM-3 Longbow. The weapon has substantially improved speed and warhead yield compared to the SIM-2 model along with a small, 8% decrease in range from 122.4 to 112.4 million kilometres.
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SIM-3 Longbow Missile Size: 4 MSP (0.2 HS) Warhead: 14 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 34
Speed: 43700 km/s Endurance: 43 minutes Range: 112.4m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.168 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 168,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 7.1835
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 1485.8% 3k km/s 476% 5k km/s 297.2% 10k km/s 148.6%
Materials Required: 3.5x Tritanium 0.168x Uridium 5.0655x Gallicite Fuel x2500
Development Cost for Project: 718RP
Sol.
Darr Trading is the first of the commercial shipping lines to commission a Queen class colony transport in to service. These vessels have twice the capacity of the venerable Nueiw Amsterdam class and can offer cost savings delivering double the number of colonists faster. The EDA Bureau of Relocation operates twenty of this class.
The General Dynamics ‘Yard laid down the first batch of Lake class survey cruisers, the Victoria, Tharthar, Constance, Huron and Derwent.
29th April 2067. Sol.
In an overhaul of Sol system defences the first of the Hurricane F1 fighters were consigned to the scrap heap. Astrobases will replace the Astrodromes and modern fighters will eventually replace the antique Hurricanes.
15th May 2067. Gliese 507.
Salvage Group #2 found evidence of Electronic Counter-countermeasures-6 in the wreck of an Invader Orion class survey vessel.
15th May 2067. Gliese 507.
Salvage Group #2 found evidence of AS Radiation Rate per HS per Minute: 2.5 in the wreck of an Invader Orion class survey vessel. Examination of the wreckage provided some insight into this alien technology.
29th May 2067. Gliese 507.
At 12:20 Battle Group Hornet witnessed the Invader wormhole disappear. This could not come at a better time for the EDA as it was running out of several strategic minerals and needed a large boost in its Gallicite mining operation in Beta Canum Venaticorum to meet ballooning demand. The Gallicite crisis had never entirely disappeared and was now back with a vengeance.
There is a Gallicite crash looming in Sol system and this mineral is necessary for all advanced propulsion systems. With the immediate threat over time has to be taken to stabilise mineral supply and then build the fleet at a slower pace. All new construction but a trickle of A-5C Star Furies has been halted. Earth is down to just over six thousand tonnes, but with a requirement of 23,000 tonnes. Mars has a little over 38,000 tonnes remaining, but a requirement of 80,000 tonnes, due to the continuing Star Fury construction. There are large deposits of Gallicite on Mars and 30 million tonnes on Venus but they only have accessibilities of 0.3 and 0.1 respectively. Beta Canum Venaticorum however has in excess of 30 million tonnes at an accessibility of 0.7, but there are currently only 16 mines and 1018 automines emplaced there, not sufficient for current production targets.
10th June 2067. Wolf 629l.
Professor Agustin Merk’s energy weapons research group completed development and prototyping of an improvement to the focussing of meson cannon, increasing the range of the weapon by 25%.
GJ 1156.
The EDA Resource Commission reported that the Shura Ulyanov geological survey team carrying out a geological survey of GJ 1156-A IV – moon 22 had found a new deposit of 100,000 tonnes of Boronide (0.1), the total for this mineral on this body now stands at 119,044 tonnes.
6th July 2067. Sol.
The first five Sword class close action combatants, the Broadsword, Claymore, Falchion, Foil and Gladius, left the construction bays at the Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding ‘Yard. They are likely to be the last for a couple of years.
14th July 2067. Sol.
The Bill Hardy power and propulsion research team completed work increasing the maximum jump radius for a jump engine by 50% to 750,000 kilometres, although it does increase the bulk of the jump engine.
21st July 2067. Sol.
The Viktor Lenac ‘Yard completed ten Gomati Mk VB missile boats to complete the 11th Flotilla.
3rd August 2067. Wolf 629.
The Shoa Yab Ai energy weapons research team completed development work on a 35cm focal aperture laser.
6th August 2067 Gliese 414.
Alien transit detected in Gliese 414. vessel of an unknown class of 3000 tonnes from the Rodez Commonwealth entered Gliese 414, given the reporting name of the Anzone class.
Sol.
The Kawasaki Orbital ‘Yard completed the Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko, Akademik Boris Petrov, Akademik Fyodorov, Akademik Loffe, and the Akademik Korolyov. These were the first of the Akademik class completed and sent on their way to spy out the alien Star Gate network. The Akademik M.A.Lavrentyev, Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, Akademik Oparin and Akademik Sergey Vavilov were laid down.
16th August 2067. Sol.
Professor Yu Jian Qing’s sensor research group completed development work on an advanced gravitational sensor.
21st August 2067. Hussey 644.
The Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko survey vessel was the first to find a new system out of Hussey 644 as it probed jump point #1. It found Gliese 532, a K5-V star, approximately 46 light-years from Sol, alone in the firmament. A Star Gate was found around the jump point.
22nd August 2067. Xi Ursae Majoris.
The Akademik Loffe probing the first of two unexplored jump points out of Xi Ursae Majoris found Gliese 483, a K3-V star, a little over 49 light-years from Sol. Once more a Star Gate was present at the jump point. The planets orbiting the star were of little immediate interest so staying in low emissions mode the Akademik Loffe commenced a jump point survey.
Struve 3121.
Akademik Fyodorov probed jump point #1 out of Struve 3121 and located EG 182 a white dwarf star (D6-VII) 66.59 light-years from Sol, again accompanied by the ubiquitous Star Gate.
Wolf 629.
The Sutama Ship Repair Co-operative ‘Yard finished the construction of five Port Mk VB freighters.
The EDA Resource Commission reported that all deposits of Boronide have been exhausted on Wolf 629-A II, although the planet has plentiful reserves at present.
25th August 2067.Struve 3121.
The Akademik Korolyov probed jump point #2 out of Struve 3121 and located Gliese 353.The sensors once stabilised revealed returns from a number of wrecks scattered about the system. The reason was readily apparent, as two were Precursor wrecks of the Anubis and Amon classes. There were others of unknown classes from 2000 tonnes up to 69,200 tonnes. There were also Rodez Commonwealth wrecks of the Nyati class (7450 tonnes), though to be warships. Again there was a Star Gate on the jump point. Lieutenant commander Catherine Dixon, Captain of the Akademik Korolyov immediately dispatched a sighting report, including the fact that there was a planet with an HI of 1.8 within the system. Commander Dixon decided to conduct a system body survey before looking for more jump points.
28th August 2067. Gliese 353.
The flaw in the Akademik class was cruelly revealed, as the Akademik Korolyov approached the second planet out from the star six orbital mines appeared on the sensors, rotating about the planet. Lieutenant Commander Dixon ordered an immediate course reversal. The drives strained to pile on velocity as the missile warning alarms were shrieking their message of doom. Time stretched out, no nuclear warheads materialised as the vessel sped away from the planet. Lieutenant Commander Dixon put their survival down to the power of their vessel’s drives, and thanked the designers.
Gliese 414.
The Akademik Korolyov had been transmitting data over a live feed to the Star Gate for transmission on. Battle Group Illustrious currently stationed at Gliese 414 to protect Bryan’s World intercepted the signal on its way to Fleet HQ at Sol. The report of the orbital mines was immediately shown to Commodore Cai Chan Meng. Commodore Cai decided on his own authority to order Cruiser Squadron 1 currently stationed at Gliese 414 Jump point to Beta Canum Venaticorum with the 10th Flotilla to proceed to Gliese 353 and assist the Akademik Korolyov by removing the mines. Cruiser Squadron 1 had within it the fleet scout Sentinel.
Sol.
The Howakistwerke Naval ‘Yard completed the last of the Japan Mk IB escort cruisers, the Sendai and Jintsu which departed for Cruiser Squadron 2 currently stationed in Wolf 629.
17th September 2067. Gliese 353.
Cruiser squadron 1 arrived Gliese 353 and the Sentinel illuminated the system with its search sensor to reveal a Chennai Commonality battle fleet already present in Gliese 353, consisting of Bulldog 001-003, Rattlesnake 001-005, Lynx 001-002 and Komodo Dragon 001, all 7450 tonnes, all capable of 8389 k/s. In addition there was a Shark class of 70,300 tonnes. The Rodez Commonwealth was also present, represented by one of the Boghammer class, but not one that had been seen before. Two Star Gates were detected in the system in addition to the one at the squadron’s arrival point. The Akademik Korolyov had been completely oblivious to the alien shipping in system until the active sensor of the Sentinel illuminated it. Two of the wrecks were identified as Rattlesnake class and thus a target for EDA salvage.
The cruisers moved to Gliese 353-A II closely watched by the Chennai Commonality fleet. Cruiser Squadron 1 closed to six million kilometres of Gliese 353-A II. It was at this point that squadron commander, Commander Ian Imdieke, found to his consternation that due to shortages his brand new Japan class escort cruisers were equipped with obsolete AMM-1 Spartans and the range would have to close to give them a chance. Finally at 4.5 million kilometres the squadron was close enough and the Haguro fired six AMM-1 Spartans at the six orbital mines. The missiles intercepted their target unerringly, passing straight through them. The Weapons officer blamed the obsolete interceptors and fired another spread, but again, no detonations, nothing. With all systems closed up the squadron moved in, to find the mines were very close aggregates of wreckage, but on the EDA sensor systems they still appeared as active hostiles. Later analysis showed the mines had already expended their ordnance and had not been a threat. The mines had probably shot their bolt destroying the small vessel whose wreck forlornly orbited the planet. [These mines were in fact sensor “ghosts” and could not be shot down – note to self compact database more often]. The Akademik Korolyov moved in and surveyed the planet revealing a ruined alien settlement.
19th September Gliese 353.
As the Akademik Korolyov moved towards the outer planets of the system a fourth previously unknown Star Gate was located.
14th October 2067. Gliese 532.
The Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko found a Star Gate around an unexplored jump point in Gliese 532 as it performed a gravitational survey.
24th October 2067. Gliese 414.
A new vessel from the Rodez Commonwealth entered Gliese 414 designated as the Bakassi class of 69,950 tonnes, probably a Star Gate construction vessel. Four wrecks in Gliese 353 were identified as of this class; another had been identified as the wreck of a Shark class.
30th October 2067. Sol.
The defensive systems research team lead by Malcolm Stenzel completed work enabling a cloaking device to be designed for a vessel of 400 tonnes.
13th November 2067. Gliese 353.
The Su Qiong Shu xenoarchaeological team had arrived aboard Salvage Group #2 and completed a survey of the alien settlement. The ruins belonged to an entity known as the Helsinki Empire and were TL 1. The ruins date from the same time as the Precursor ships. The team though that up to 25 installations might be recovered from the ruins of the settlement.
Salvage of the Nyrati class wrecks was disappointing, only revealing they had a jump drive and an EM1-6 and TH1-6 sensor.
18th November 2067. Sol.
The Jimmie Fresh logistics research group completed the development of a class 1000 salvage module.
22nd November 2067. Gliese 353.
Salvage of the Rattlesnake class wrecks was as equally disappointing as that of the Nyrati class; recovered wreckage only revealed they had magnetic confinement drives, missile fire control FC201-R20 (indicating a possible range of 201 million kilometres) plus an EM1-14 sensor.
4th December 2067. Gliese 532.
Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko completed its gravitational survey of Gliese 532 and then explored one of the newly found jump points. The Sidorenko emerged into the light of 36 Ursae Majoris, it was immediately apparent that this was an unusual system, there were dozens of wrecks littering the system. Some were of the Rodez Commonwealth Boghammer class, while others were of the Chennai Commonality’s Barracuda class, yet others were of unknown classes. The planet second out from the star had an HI of 0.49, the only reason it was this high was the megatonnes of dust in the atmosphere. The probable cause of that dust was glowing maliciously on the sensor screens of the Sidorenko, an Invader wormhole. There was a Star Gate at the jump point so Lieutenant Commander Patrick Rice made his report and began a jump point survey before moving in to look at the planets.
May hours later the unwelcome news that there was an Invader wormhole only three systems from Gliese 414 reached the Admiralty. There was considerable discussion, Vice Admiral Pelz was unhappy to leave the system alone, there was no real idea what could come out of it and it wasn’t that far to Gliese 414. The argument was made that there was a Gallicite crisis and the Navy was short two full Battle Groups worth of strike fighters. But after shuffling fighter squadrons around, Admiral Pelz found there were just enough Star Furies of all types to equip Battle Group Europe to guard Sol system. There were also just enough Thunderbolts available to make up three squadrons of thirty-two fighters each, two with A-6Bs and one with the short-legged A-6As. There was another squadron of thirty-three A-9A Attackers available. These squadrons were embarked on the carriers of Battle Group Forrestal and the force despatched to conduct an overwatch of the 36 Ursae Majoris system. Admiral Pelz assured Director Karamchand that the force she had dispatched would be able to deal with any Invader fleet it encountered. It was an ambitious plan but better it be done at a distance than in an inhabited system. Further she had given the command to the experienced Rear Admiral Kuznetsov, who had never failed to come through for the Authority.
10th December 2067. Gliese 532.
The Akademik Boris Petrov probed the unexplored jump point #2 out of Gliese 532 system on the line of Gliese 414 – Hussey 644 and found Gliese 521, a lone red dwarf 43 light-years from Sol. The jump point had a Star Gate and the planetary system contained a planet, third out from the star, with an HI of 4.08. The Akademik Boris Petrov began a gravitational survey.
Sol.
The Steven Letcher missiles and kinetic weapons research team reorganised the work stream for ordnance production increasing it by twenty percent. Unfortunately it could not be taken advantage of due to the continuing Gallicite crisis.
19th December Gliese 353.
A previously unseen Barracuda from the Chennai Commonality entered Gliese 353 from jump point #4.
22nd December 2067. Gliese 353.
The transit of another Barracuda from the Chennai Commonality entering the system from jump point #4 was detected
Commercial Digest 2067.
Darr Trading added four vessels to its fleet; two were the workhorse Krivak freighters while the other two were a Nieuw Amsterdam and Queen class colony transports. Darr Trading is the first company to utilise the 43,300 tonne Queen class design capable of transporting 100,000 colonists. The Balducci Colony Group added a further three vessels to its fleet, a standard Port Mk V Freighter and a Krivak freighter and Udaloy colony transport from the Sutaman ‘Yards. The Maggart Corporation launched a single Nieuw Amsterdam colony transport this year after its freight arm posted disappointing results. The Ryzkhov Shipping Company was the only other company to purchase new construction, buying a Nieuw Amsterdam colony transport.
The EDA Resource Commission reported that the civilian mining operation on Callisto has been increased from 168 to 173 civilian mining complexes, while that on Gliese 526-A asteroid #292 has been increased from 79 to 82 civilian mining complexes.
Recovery of installations on Gliese 353-A II also commenced this year with a construction factory and fuel refinery being recovered.
2068
2nd January Gliese 353.
The transit of a third Barracuda from the Chennai Commonality entering the system from jump point #4 was detected
10th January 2068. Gliese 353.
A CIWS-500 was salvaged from the wreck of a Shark class construction vessel from the Chennai Commonality. This system is in advance of anything the EDA currently possesses.
18th January 2068. 36 Ursae Majoris.
Battle Group Forrestal arrived in 36 Ursae Majoris. Rear Admiral Kuznetsov was flying his flag in the Shokaku. The Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko was blithely surveying the jump points in the system, about 9.6 billion kilometres away, but glaring red on the screens of the fleet scout Sentry at 3.99 billion kilometres was the largest Invader fleet ever seen! Even the experienced Kuznetsov was shocked by what he saw. The planners had talked about a wormhole opening in Sol and disgorging a fleet of Invader dreadnoughts, but no one really believed it could happen. But on the screen before him was the shocking proof. There were three 64,000 tonne Rakshasa class dreadnoughts, twelve 12,800 tonne Wasp class cruisers and two new classes, two 32,000 tonne Phoenix Hawks and four 19,200 tonne Sentinels. Kuznetsov knew he did not have enough forces within the Battle Group to prevail this time, his blood ran cold as he recalled his first run in with a Rakshasa class dreadnought in V1581 Cygni. Then he had two squadrons of eighteen Typhoon F1s each, and a single launch had been insufficient to take out a single Rakshasa class dreadnought. Now he had 128 fighters, but there were three dreadnoughts and eighteen large cruisers. It was also a good bet that all those vessels were capable of 10,000 k/s, twice the speed of his current command, now if he had a battle group of the new Europe class carriers, but there was only one of those fully equipped protecting Sol at present. Still his staff group reckoned they could give it a bloody nose and then break off. The strike wing mounted 870 Star Flash missiles; the carriers each had 306 Star Flash missiles and the munition carriers a total of 1080 more. Thus he could get in three to four strikes. The real risk was the short range of the A-6As at only 350 million kilometres. But if the whole wing launched together they could extend the range to between 500 to 600 million kilometres, but the Invader fleet would have to approach the Battle Group, which could not afford to move to far from the Star Gate. On that basis planning for the strike went ahead, it was thought the principal problem would be getting the strike wing turned around for the next strike and how many would fail to return. Six hours later it was apparent that the Invader fleet had seen the battle Group and was on its way. Kuznetsov had days at most to plan his campaign. He first dispatched his strike fighter wing to loiter 550 million kilometres from the Battle Group.
But then at 12:53 on the 19th January the fleet scout Scanner made a report that the drained the blood from Kuznetsov’s face, twenty-six 12,800 tonne Guillotine class cruisers had just entered scanner range! This new fleet totally altered the picture. They were too close to the first Invader fleet, and would be in a position to overhaul and destroy in detail the Battle Group. The Battle Group was totally outclassed, the decision was taken to recall the strike wing and leave the system. Rear Admiral Kuznetsov tight beamed the Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko to try and creep back through the Star Gate at a later time.
Sol.
When news reached the Admiralty of the debacle it was obvious that a new defensive position was required. Strategically as long as Sol and Beta Canum Venaticorum were secure all was not lost, but lose Beta Canum Venaticorum and its Gallicite reserves and all would be lost. Thus a new defensive line was drawn and Rear Admiral Kuznetsov was directed to take his fleet to Shon’jir in the Beta Canum Venaticorum system, it would be joined by whatever forces could be spared from the defence of Sol including Battle Group Illustrious from Gliese 414. However, Battle Group Téméraire would still be required to cover Wolf 629.
23rd January 2068. 36 Ursae Majoris.
The Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko ducked into a Star Gate it had just discovered, hoping to put any intercepting Invader ship off the track, it appeared in Struve 1280, 36.9 light-years from Sol, a K6-V orbited by a K5-V, the K6 was planetless, but the K5 B component had a planet with an HI of 0, another of 1.8 and yet another of 2.99. Lieutenant Commander Rice decided to investigate the planets before returning to 36 Ursae Majoris. The three planets noted above all held high tech colonies of the Rodez Commonwealth, and this may even be their home system. The B II, HI 0 planet had a shipyard complex in orbit. There was a Star Gate at the jump point, so the Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko was still in contact with Fleet HQ, even if the messages took many hours to reach them.
30th January 2068. Struve 1280.
The Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko detected a Chennai Commonality Bulldog in Struve 1280.
7th February 2068. Gliese 353.
The Akademik Korolyov entered jump point #3 in Gliese 353 and found CU Canceri. An uninteresting binary with a pair of red dwarfs, an M5-V and an M8-V. The M8-V had a planet with an HI of 5.75 orbiting it. There was a Star Gate and wreck of a Chennai Commonality Shark class construction ship at the jump point.
30th February 2068. Sol.
The JaingYang Naval Orbital Shipyard completed the first ten of the Island class escort cruisers, the Malta, Cyprus, Azores, Barbados, Cape Verde, Faroe, Hebrides, Madeira, Tierra del Fuego and Tristan da Cunha. They will join Battle Group Europe after loading missiles at Mars
26th April 2068. EG 182.
The Akademik Fyodorov completed the gravitational survey of EG 182 finding only one other jump point, with no Star Gate.
2nd May 2068. EG 182.
The Akademik Fyodorov entered the unexplored jump point in EG 182 and found an F6-V star with 5 planets circling it, one with an HI of 1.8. XNAV identified the system as Chi Canceri
Gliese 483.
The Akademik Loffe completed the gravitational survey of Gliese 483 (out of Xi Ursae Majoris) finding three jump points, none with Star Gates, since the aliens had not penetrated this far they were unlikely to lead to alien territory. The Akademik Loffe turned back to Struve 3121 and Gliese 353 to seek out the alien home worlds.
Sol.
The Kawasaki Orbital ‘Yard completed the survey vessels The Akademik M.A.Lavrentyev, Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, Akademik Oparin and Akademik Sergey Vavilov. The Survey vessels left orbit on their individual missions to explore the alien reaches.
After several weeks Gallicite supplies have been restored to Beta Canum Venaticorum and Gliese 414 to enable routine maintenance to be carried out on orbiting vessels.
7th May 2068. Sol.
The Shao Yab Ai energy weapons research group completed work on soft X-ray laser warheads.
The EDA Resource Commission reported that all known deposits of Corundium have been exhausted on Comet Luken and the Comet will now be abandoned, Corundium being the last accessible mineral on the Comet.
18th May 2068. Struve 3121
Akademik Loffe probed unexplored jump point #3 in Struve 3121 and emerged into Woolley 9301, a binary system consisting of a G9-V and an M8-V both with their own solar system of orbiting planets, but nothing of immediate interest.
Struve 3121.
Akademik M.A.Lavrentyev probed jump point #4 in Struve 3121 found itself in 20 Leonis Minoris a G2-V star 49.1 light-years from Sol and two jumps from Gliese 414. No sooner had it arrived in system than the collision alarm was going off and the passive sensor threat board went red. The captain, a young Lieutenant Commander Cai Xian Ning looked at the repeater screens on his console and his bowels turned to water. The Akademik M.A.Lavrentyev was closer than any human vessel had ever been to an Invader fleet, or ever wanted to be. 35,000 kilometres on a bearing of 163o from the ship were three Rakshasa dreadnoughts, one sentinel class cruiser, two Phoenix Hawk class cruisers and twelve Wasp class cruisers. At 181,000 kilometres were four Guillotine class cruisers on a bearing of 271o and finally at 197,000 kilometres on a bearing of 282o were two more Guillotine class cruisers. Unnervingly there was no wormhole detectable with in the system; there were however the wrecks of six Nyrati class vessels and two Bakashi class construction ships of the Rodez Commonwealth. Lieutenant Commander Cai barked out “Pilot, take us back through the Gate. Now!” The Lavrentyev flipped end over end and burned for the gate, the command deck echoed with the “enemy fire control locked on” warble from the electronic warfare desk, the Sensor officer counting off the seconds before they could transit out of the system and the Comms officer frantically sending a sighting report out via the Star Gate, expecting the ship to explode about him any second. Fortunately the Invaders must have been as surprised to see the Lavrentyev as they were to see them, space rippled in front of the ship, a hole in space opened to swallow it and it re-emerged into Struve 3121 unscathed.
See 20 leonis minoris attachment.
19th May 2068. Struve 3121.
Akademik Mstislav Keldysh explored the last un-probed Star Gate in Struve 3121 and materialised into the blue-white light of a triple star system, soon identified as that of Regulus. The stars were a B7-V with an asteroid belt and a couple of rocky planets while a K1-V and a ubiquitous red dwarf, (M8-V) pair were some 635 billion kilometres distant, it would be a while before anyone visited those stars and their attendant planets. There was a Star Gate around the entry jump point. Regulus is 77.5 light-years from Sol, which makes this system the most distant so far visited.
25th May 2068. Gliese 353.
Akademik M.A.Lavrentyev recovering from its shock in 20 Ursea Minoris went into Gliese 353 and explored jump point #3 in Gliese 353 and found 10 Ursae Majoris an F3-V and a G5-V, 54 light years from Sol. One planet around the B component had an HI of 1.8, but it was an ice ball.
30th May 2068. Sol.
The news today carried the report of the death of the prominent missile and kinetic weapons expert Professor Steven Letcher, who died after a short illness. His family have requested privacy at this time of grief.
Professor Emanuela Maya Segovia’s expert power systems research team completed the theory required to turn Solid Core Anti-Matter drives into a reality.
2nd June 2068. Sol.
The report of a second large invader Fleet plunged the Admiralty into despair. This second fleet was a jump closer to Gliese 414 and it was right on top of the jump point and the jump point had a Star Gate! The only concrete thing the Admiralty could do was revise its ship designs while waiting for the mining industry to catch up with demand. One step was the commissioning of the smallest possible fire control designed to detect vessels of 6000 tonnes or greater, which was the bottom limit for Invader vessels seen to date. The new fire control would be added to all new designs, especially fighters to give the possibility of achieving lock on at a reasonable standoff range. Since the new fire control would only massed five tonnes it would not add much mass to warship or even a fighters all up weight.
8th June 2068. Gliese 353.
The Akademik Sergey Vavilov found Wolf 433 out of the final unexplored jump point in Gliese 353. Wolf 433 was a lone M4-V with a clutch of planets. The captain, Lieutenant Commander Joshua Hughes, decided to carry out a gravitational survey maintaining a low emissions profile before considering a planetary survey with active sensors.
10th June 2068. Sol.
Rolls Royce finished development of the new military SCAM E4 Drive for warships, While Aviadvigatel completed development of the new fighter propulsion unit, the SCAM E400 Drive. Both companies drew upon the expertise of Professor Emanuela Maya Segovia’s expert power systems research team.
15th June 2068. Sol.
Professor Mao Wei Song’s industrial analysis research group completed an investigation into research institutions and made several recommendations that improved productivity by 20%.
Brooke Macdonald’s sensor research group completed work on the new FC115-R120 fire control, dubbed the Invaderscope, designed to lock on to Invader ships at longer ranges than current fire controls designed to engage fast attack craft. This would require a new version of the current fighter classes, giving rise to the A-5D Star Fury and A-9B Attacker.
Wolf 629
The Sam Rakoski defensive systems research team completed work that improved shield regeneration to 5 per 300-second period, a 25% improvement.
The Micah Farron Logistics research group reorganised the logistics of ground combat and improve the combat ability of troop formations by 20%.
21st June 2068. Sol.
Pratt & Whitney, shut out of the commercial engine design this time round picked up the fast attack craft propulsion unit manufacturing contract for the GB E40 SCAM engine, as a consolation, again aided by Professor Emanuela Maya Segovia’s expert power systems research team.
Wolf 629.
Five Port Mk VB freighters completed at the Sutama Co-operative Commercial ‘Yard at Wolf-A II.
26th June 2068. Sol.
Professor Adharma Ahmed’s defensive systems research group managed to improve the efficiency of cloaking systems. This will enable the development of smaller cloaking modules.
General Electric won the Commercial E4 SCAM propulsion unit manufacturing contract and with the help of Professor Emanuela Maya Segovia’s expert power systems research team turned it into a viable drive system.
The General Dynamics ‘Yard completed the Lake class survey cruisers, the Victoria, Tharthar, Constance, Huron and Derwent. More will be laid down as supplies of Gallicite allow.
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Lake Mk I class Independent Survey Cruiser 15000 tons 1391 Crew 9276.5 BP TCS 300 TH 441.6 EM 3750
6133 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 6-54 Shields 125-375 Sensors 42/1/2/6 Damage Control Rating 42 PPV 69
Annual Failure Rate: 81% IFR: 1.1% Maint Capacity 8503 MSP Max Repair 1350 MSP Est Time: 3.42 Years
Magazine 200
J15000(3-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 15000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Rolls Royce Overdrive ICF Drive E5.2 (10) Power 184 Fuel Use 52% Signature 44.16 Armour 0 Exp 12% Hyper Capable
Fuel Capacity 630,000 Litres Range 145.4 billion km (274 days at full power)
Xi R375/20 Shields (25) Total Fuel Cost 500 Litres per day
Triple 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (1x3) Range 420,000km TS: 33300 km/s Power 18-18 RM 7 ROF 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
30cm C12 X-Ray Laser (2) Range 600,000km TS: 10000 km/s Power 24-12 RM 7 ROF 10 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 20 18 16
CIWS-400 (2x10) Range 1000 km TS: 40000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Fire Control S12 225-40000 (1) Max Range: 450,000 km TS: 40000 km/s 98 96 93 91 89 87 84 82 80 78
Fire Control S04 300-10000 (1) Max Range: 600,000 km TS: 10000 km/s 98 97 95 93 92 90 88 87 85 83
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1) Total Power Output 1.6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (13) Total Power Output 41.6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Size 4 Box Launcher (50) Missile Size 4 Hangar Reload 30 minutes MF Reload 5 hours
Missile Fire Control FC192-R20 (2) Range 192.0m km Resolution 20
SIM-2 Longbow (50) Speed: 40,000 km/s End: 51m Range: 122.4m km WH: 9 Size: 4 TH: 453 / 272 / 136
Active Search Sensor MR128-R20 (1) GPS 4000 Range 128.0m km Resolution 20
Active Search Sensor MR672-R70 (1) GPS 21000 Range 672.0m km Resolution 70
Active Search Sensor MR9-R1 (1) GPS 300 Range 9.6m km Resolution 1
Thermal Sensor TH3-42 (1) Sensitivity 42 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 42m km
Improved Gravitational Sensors (1) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
Advanced Geological Sensors (2) 6 Survey Points Per Hour
ECM 40
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
15th July 2068. Sol.
Rolls Royce updated their range of military grade drive units by completing the development of an Overdrive SCAM E4 Drive for warships, capable of ten times the normal velocity once outside a stars hyper limit. Once more Professor Emanuela Maya Segovia’s expert power systems research team played a significant role in its development.
20th July 2068. Wolf 629.
The Aulus Papirius Tanicus kinetic research group completed work on a 25cm railgun. This project was started before the fall of Sutama to the EDA and was allowed to continue after the occupation. Akademik Tanicus has now retired from his post.
17th August 2068. Wolf 433.
The Akademik Sergey Vavilov was enroute to the next survey point, point #4 on a bearing of 239o, just about in the seven-o-clock position in the Wolf 433 system. Then at 18:55 the quiet of the command deck was broken by the thermal sensor alert. The Scan officer reported to Lieutenant Commander Hughes, “ twenty-seven thermal contacts, strength 160, range 7.3 million kilometres, bearing 243o,” This was quickly followed by “positive ID, Brood Gunboats!” This put the Vavilov in a difficult position, she was on a course away from the distant safety of the jump point, the Gunboats might intercept her if they changed course to anticipate were she would be in a short while, and there was no Star Gate on the jump point by which to summon help. Hughes looked at the plot on his repeater screen, “Pilot, maintain course and velocity, Lets see how clever they are.”
Hughes watched the repeater screen as he considered his options, he could burn directly away from the Gunboats, as he had a 500 k/s advantage, but there were no know jump points out there, so that would entail a long chase during which the ship would have to make three course changes, he could alter his course to burn directly for the jump point, but that would almost certainly allow the Gunboats to intercept him, or he could continue his present course to survey point #4 then having built up a small lead over his pursuers change direction to a bearing of 338o and head directly for the jump point. The latter course seemed to give the fastest route home with the minimum risk. The red icons on the screen obediently turned onto the course of the Vavilov without trying to cut the corner, the closest they came was 6.9 million kilometres.
Hughes now felt they were safe but had better be sure. Hughes issued his orders in a calm voice “Pilot, maximum thrust to survey point #4, change course at that point to bring us on a heading of 338o. Scan, go active please, lets see what else is out there.” There was a chorus of acknowledgements, followed by the Scan officer reporting ”five Miners in orbit of Wolf-A VII-moon 16, Mothership on intercept course, bearing 308o, range 81.8 million kilometres” The Mothership was no threat, she could never catch them. It was now a case of just waiting while safety drew ever closer the only thing that could stop them were more Gunboats positioned ahead, but none had appeared so far.
See first attachment
Struve 1280.
It was 18:55, the Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko was quietly conducting a gravitational survey of the Struve 1280 system. Sensor alarms went off as a radiation front washed over the vessel. There had been one hundred and sixty one-megaton detonations within the Struve 1280 B component, at Struve 1280-B III, which had a Rodez Commonwealth population on it. The wrecks of a Chennai Commonality battle fleet similar in composition to the fleet seen in Struve 3121 previously now surrounded the planet. More explosions rocked the planetary system, now about Struve 1280-B II and yet more wrecks began appearing on sensors. Every fifteen seconds there were over a hundred detonations detected, none larger than one-megaton. It had been assumed that the Rodez Commonwealth and Chennai Commonality were allies, having been detected in the same systems previously with no hostile action being observed. However, it appeared that the Rodez Commonwealth and the Chennai Commonality were at war!
19th August 2068. Wolf 433.
00:41 Akademik Sergey Vavilov finally pulled far enough ahead of the trailing Gunboats that they fell off the sensor screens, the MR672-R40 Sensor not having enough resolution to pick them up.
22nd August 2068. Gliese 353.
The Akademik Sergey Vavilov escaped from Wolf 433 into Gliese 353, safe at last. Lieutenant Commander Hughes now shaped a course for the recently discovered CU Canceri and the remaining unexplored jump point in that system, sending off a report on his escapade via the Star Gate.
30th August 2068. CU Canceri.
Akademik Sergey Vavilov found Gliese 295 a lone G5-V out off CU Canceri with the usual gaggle of planets, but nothing immediately noteworthy.
1st September 2068. Struve 1280.
The Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko revisited Struve 1280-B, and this time detected a fleet of Rodez ships. Lieutenant Commander Hughes decided to rescue the crews of the destroyed vessels as a humanitarian gesture. All the crews rescued were from the Chennai Commonality and to show their gratitude some of the rescued officers provided useful intelligence on Chennai Commonality weapons and ships, such as details on the Metcate AS missile design, particle beam strength 4, the Wazhani Bodi class and Murusso Tomo class,
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Wazhani Bodi class Missile Destroyer 7450 tons 655 Crew 1673.75 BP TCS 149 TH 1250 EM 0
8389 km/s Armour 4-33 Shields 0-0 Sensors 14/14/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 25
Annual Failure Rate: 111% IFR: 1.5% Maint Capacity 562 MSP Max Repair 240 MSP Est Time: 1.55 Years
Magazine 472
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Drive E5 (10) Power 125 Fuel Use 50% Signature 125 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 48.3 billion km (66 days at full power)
CIWS-500 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 50000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 5 Missile Launcher (5) Missile Size 5 Rate of Fire 30
Missile Fire Control FC221-R66 (1) Range 221.8m km Resolution 66
Mogami Anti-ship Missile (94) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 125m Range: 180m km WH: 6 Size: 5 TH: 80 / 48 / 24
Active Search Sensor MR221-R66 (1) GPS 15840 Range 221.8m km Resolution 66
Thermal Sensor TH1-14 (1) Sensitivity 14 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 14m km
EM Detection Sensor EM1-14 (1) Sensitivity 14 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 14m km
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
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Mirusso Tomo class Jump Escort Cruiser 14900 tons 1075 Crew 4213 BP TCS 298 TH 2500 EM 0
8389 km/s JR 4-50 Armour 2-53 Shields 0-0 Sensors 28/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 8 PPV 112
Annual Failure Rate: 222% IFR: 3.1% Maint Capacity 1414 MSP Max Repair 562 MSP Est Time: 1.07 Years
J15200(4-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 15200 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 4
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Drive E5 (20) Power 125 Fuel Use 50% Signature 125 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 48.3 billion km (66 days at full power)
Single Gauss Cannon R3-100 Turret (7x3) Range 30,000km TS: 50000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 3 ROF 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S04 75-50000 (2) Max Range: 150,000 km TS: 50000 km/s 93 87 80 73 67 60 53 47 40 33
Active Search Sensor MR6-R1 (1) GPS 480 Range 6.7m km Resolution 1
Thermal Sensor TH2-28 (1) Sensitivity 28 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 28m km
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes.
Second attachment - map of the known Galaxy.