Posted by: Bryan Swartz
« on: March 15, 2015, 02:10:03 PM »
JULY - DECEMBER 2091
On July 13th, there was a little more news on the geosurvey front. While nothing has yet been heard from the teams in Barnard's Star, the other two have finished the overhaul period at Earth and are outbound for YZ Ceti. There are eight bodies, most expected to be large projects and take months to years to complete. That is not to mention that it will take some weeks to get in position, but mining cannot commence until the initial survey is complete. There will be a mix of automining and standard mines in the system eventually, but the richest, prohibitively hot A-I, will be the first to have a team. Director Woznicki has been busy this month as well. After working on her substantial political connections, for what reason I don't know since she's finished her last election, she has developed a bit of skill in population growth, one of her weak points.
On the 28th there was more significant news, with the latest efficiency leap for jump drives being completed(Dr. Alejandro Otteson). SPACE was waiting on this advance before putting into motion research projects aimed at new commercial jump drives. Currently we have operational versions for the North Carolina at the top end, and also for the Arleigh Burke recently developed. Two more are desired, one to fit a jump-capable Fletcher standard freighter, and another to fit the small Gato for smaller runs. The option of a Long Beach-sized drive was considered but rejected, as it is not believed they will need to make jumps often enough to justify the investment. A North Carolina can escort them through the jump when needed, and most of the time they will simply be on station in whatever system they are posted in. Otteson himself will handle the new jump drives. The freighters will have the same cargo capacity but will be significantly slower than their present counterparts, so they will only be used when needed to transport between systems. In the case of the Gato's drive, it will be soley a single-ship drive as the small freighters are too small to mount a multi-ship jump drive given current capabilities.
The very next day another task group returned from New Genesis. This time, however, they will not be going back. The colony has all that it needs. It's time to head to YZ Ceti, which means the long debate about where to settle first, the 'primary' colony in the system, needs a resolution. It's the kind of decision that is made only at the Director's desk.
There are eight bodies in the system that are in the 'marginally habitable range', with colony costs from 6.77-8.65 with current technology. At that level they are hostile enough that there will be some population available for manufacturing work but a minority. Titan, for example, is nearly the low end of that range and has just under a quarter of it's population available for similar duties. All of them will probably be developed eventually, but there are important mineral deposits on a couple of them. Director Delois Woznicki decided not to make the choice on the availability of minerals since automines would need to take the lead early while available population focuses on terraforming and construction(esp. infrastructure). Much later in the system's development, as more people become available a switch to standard mining may well occur ... but that would be a very long-term concern. Given that reality, the fifth moon of the sixth planet, a super jovian, was preferable due to it's already thick atmosphere(nearly twice Earth's) and resulting somewhat more tolerable temperature.
It was decided to go with a compound name for the various locations in the system, beginning with Quarry Hub for that moon as it would serve as SPACE's headquarters and control in YZ Ceti. With that decided, over a hundred sections of infrastructure and a pair of mass drivers departed on a max cargo group the next day. The trip to Quarry Hub is longer than the one to New Genesis, an average trip of about 9.3b instead of 5.7b kilometers. Put another way, it's almost exactly a five-month trip each way, so the process of getting equipment in place will definitely take longer than before. The promise is worth it though, many times over.
After a quiet August, on September 18 a new logistical issue became apparent. With a new squadron of Guardian corvettes readied, the total is now 17 of the 20 planned, and the final three will now enter production. The process of reassigning was slowed because officers needed to be exchanged in multiple systems(Luyten and ESF Alpha which was by now a couple systems away), a situation which revealed the need for more Caldwell J VIP jump shuttles. There are currently only two. The order went out for four more, tripling to a total of six. Efficiently moving personnel from one place to another is a necessity to ensure smooth operations throughout SPACE.
By early October a new commercial shipyard had been finished and maintenance supply stockpiles reached the desired level, as Earth continues to clear up it's backlog of industrial projects. As the calendar reached November, the Guardian project reached a crucial milestone with the deployment of the second squadron, this time to the Lalande 21185 jump. Both dangerous jump points should be under the watch of the corvettes indefinitely from here on out.
The first shipment to 2004 XA192, Sol's latest mining outpost, departed Earth ten days later. It is nearly a three-month journey by freighter, so it won't actually be operational until next year.
The first week of December brought significant industrial news from Earth. Governor Evelyn Kaczor has made a significant breakthrough which will increase production significantly. Over the next couple of weeks, SPACE celebrated a pair of population milestones. Mars became the first colony to reach 100 million, and then within days Earth crossed the two-billion threshold.
Personnel
July 1 -- Luna-born Stella Yon is sent to New Genesis to take command of the sensor base there.
July 28 -- Lt. Cmdr. Misora Hinonami has already improved her training skill, jumping into the accomplished range. Her determination, health issues notwithstanding, is showing through here as she works to build a resume that will allow her to move up in the Navy.
December 6 -- Earth gov. Evelyn Kaczor has achieved a breakthrough in factory oversight, significantly increasing her accomplished ability in that field. A noticeable, if marginal, decrease in required production times is being seen across the board.
Late December -- Dr. Leonel Wessels, currently working on a larger meson cannon, steps up to elite status. There are now a record nine elite scientists who command half the available laboratories between them. Wessels in the second in energy weapons, along with Salsgiver.
Earth
Early July -- Retooling for the jump-capable Arleigh Burke is finished a bit ahead of schedule. The first two of three planned are expected to be finished next May.
August 4 -- Sol is back up to it's complement of two Fletcher 84i standard freighters as the new one is completed.
Early August -- The second squadron of Guardians has completed its training, and returns to Earth for maintenance.
September 18 -- Another four Guardians built, and a fourth squadron will soon begin training exercises.
September 29 -- New commercial shipyard is finished, the Astilleros Espanoles. At least one more will be constructed. Astilleros Espanoles will expand to at least 30kt.
October 4 -- Earth has reached the desired reserve of five kilotons of maintenance supplies. About two dozen factories will be switched to shipyard construction.
October 18 -- New research lab completed.
October 27 -- Final pair of GW's finished.
November 1 -- The second squadron of Guardians is deployed, there is now one at each of the dangerous jumps.
November 5 -- The sensor base for YZ Ceti has been completed. It probably won't be shipped out for quite a while but it's ready now.
November 24 -- The colonization group returns to Earth. The only thing left now is more colonist shipments to New Genesis. They depart with another 30k souls a couple days later.
December 10 -- KCI Naval SY, Kaiser Company Inc. in full, has been finished on Earth and the remaining factories are diverted to the commercial shipyard.
Research & Development
** July 28 -- Alejandro Otteson finishes a significant advance in jump drive efficiency. The practical effect is miniaturization, allowing a jump drive to be less than 17% of a ship's mass instead of the current required 20%. On large ships, this can be a significant savings.
** October 25 -- Elliot Monks is in the news again with the announcement that we can now cloak a kiloton-sized ship. Wrapping up a project on improving shield strength will be his next task.
Colonial Developments
Early December -- Mars becomes the first colony to reach 100 million population.