A/N: This chapter covers a bit less time wise, but there's lots of events, and Part Five will start off with a bang
(or at least a major event that deserves to head the chapter)
January 10th 2041: Duke Brule vacates his command to take a more active political role. The original captain, of the Leif Ericson takes his spot on the Discovery. On the same day it finishes it's overhaul and departs to finish system survey.
January 21st 2041: TES Leif Ericson returns home. Duke Osbourn awarded exploration medal, but with less pomp then the Discovery's return. Geologists consider the lack of results a failure.
February 5th 2041: TES Yuri Gagarin completed. Militarists insist Duke Brule command the Discovery II Class vessel. He agrees "reluctantly".
February 23rd 2041: The final design for the Outreach class Jump Scout is revealed. Has advanced sensors and the ability to find new jump points on its own. However, the shipyard not ready to produce it.
Outreach class Jump Scout 5,000 tons 459 Crew 661 BP TCS 100 TH 150 EM 0
1500 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-26 Shields 0-0 Sensors 10/10/1/0 Damage Control Rating 6 PPV 0
Maint Life 4.4 Years MSP 496 AFR 33% IFR 0.5% 1YR 41 5YR 619 Max Repair 289 MSP
Raye Military Jump Engine Mark I Max Ship Size 5100 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Raye Thermal Engine Mark I (6) Power 25 Fuel Use 100% Signature 25 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres Range 54.0 billion km (416 days at full power)
Misiak Sensor Net Mark I (1) GPS 2880 Range 13.1m km Resolution 120
SBTS-01A (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
SBEMS-01A (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (1) 1 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes March 18th 2041: The Nelson class planetary missile defense base is unveiled in 2 flavors, ready for construction, though industry and ammo lags enough that immediate construction is not viable.
Nelson Type A class Missile Defence Base 5,350 tons 458 Crew 427 BP TCS 107 TH 0 EM 0
Armour 8-27 Sensors 10/24 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 40
Magazine 40
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres Range N/A
Ground Based Size 4 Silo (10) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 30
Omni Missile Control (1) Range 39.4m km Resolution 120
M-AS-01A (10) Speed: 9,400 km/s End: 80m Range: 45.1m km WH: 3 Size: 4 TH: 31 / 18 / 9
Misiak Sensor Net Mark I (1) GPS 2880 Range 13.1m km Resolution 120
SBTS-01A (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
SBEMS-01A (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km(Type B similar design, but Anti-Missile focused)
June 22nd 2041: First run of Anti-missile missiles completed. Navy orders 1000 anti-ship missiles for second run.
September 7th 2041: Continuing the poor safety record of the Empire, Lyman Misiak is killed in an accident while inpsecting the Imperial Shipworks. Unlike the previous deaths, Misiak had no enemies, and thus no conspiracy theories pop up.
October 7th 2041: TES Yuri Gagarin finishes survey of inner 3rd jump point possibilities. On the last day it finds a jump point just inside Venus' orbit. The Militarists are highly concerned, as Venus has the highest mineral concentrations of any body in the Sol system. The planet gets bumped to the top of priority list, not just as a mining outpost, but with plans for a military and sensor outpost.
November 17th 2041: Probing into the second region for jump points, TES Yuri Gagarin finds a point about 100 mkm outside of Uranus orbit.
January 5th 2042: With recent developments, the public is much more receptive to the Militarists. The Geologists are so discredited due to their recent PR blunders that their faction effectively ceases to exist in the coming months. Duchess Ruz and Duke Osbourn are still highly active in politics, though.
Results
Council: 2 Geologists - 2 Militarists - 2 Apolitical
Senate: 855 Geologists - 1274 Militarists - 75 Apolitical (Mil +419 adv)
May 7th 2042: The Senate passes the Military Funding Act of 2042. Despite having no expert in the field, the Militarists push through major funding for missile technology. It is expected that the technology and designs will exist for a small missile cruiser by 2045. The next battle will most likely be over preparing shipyards for military ships.
July 17th 2042: The first four Nelson type A Defense Centers begin construction, to be spread out over the glove for greatest coverage. This was not part of the previous act, but achieved via loopholes. No objects are raised, a the public, high level officials, even the Emperor are eager for the project to get underway.
