Solar Hegemony

[Garfunkel (OP)]

SOLAR HEGEMONY

It is the year 1946. The greatest conflict in human history, Second World War, has barely ended. Most of the world is picking up the pieces, yet a new conflict, possibly even greater than WW2, is already brewing. The looting of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei scientific establishment had revealed the existence of Trans-Newtonian minerals and their near-magical properties. Luckily, the atomic bombing of Berlin had prevented the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterparteis from utilizing these miraculous discoveries to their advantage. Seeing the utter destruction that the American A-Bombs had done to Berlin and Hamburg, the Japanese had surrendered in short order. But now politicians, soldiers and scientists in Moscow and Washington DC were putting their heads together to figure out how to nest exploit this new knowledge. The fragile wartime alliance between the two new superpowers was about to fall apart. But could this new Trans-Newtonian science provide a way for the fading Great Powers of yesterday to make a comeback? And could they accelerate the rise of the emerging powers? The battle for the Solar hegemony is about to start!

Off-Topic: show

Conventional start, 1946. Both USA and USSR start with 1 billion population, 6225 wealth, 16 research facilities, 5 GFCC, 1600 conventional industry, 5 maintenance facilities, and one level of military academy and naval headquarters. As you might have guessed from the brief description, this takes place in an alternate timeline of Earth hence the numbers don't exactly match with reality at the end of WW2.

[nuclearslurpee]

You can call this AAR anything you want but I will still read it as "NATO vs. Soviet: C# Edition"   

By the way, is there any way to turn off the word filter that changes the name of the erstwhile evil German party to "####s"? It's not a big deal since the word is obvious in context but it does look a little bit silly. I've seen people mention changing the forum language options but that never worked for me.

[Garfunkel (OP)]

1946

In March, Soviet scientists come up with a Conventional Composite Armour, promising increased performance for the Red Army. This led to a new table of organization and equipment for the venerable Rifle Battalion, the backbone of the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War. While their weapons were not to be upgraded, the introduction of personal armour in the vein of better helmets, bulletproof vests, arm- and leg-guards promised significantly increased fighting power. The Red Army would replace its war-era forces with this new organization, though the possibility of even more advanced composite materials loomed on the horizon. In April, Americans make the same breakthrough but decide to wait until the advanced composites are possible before reforming their ground forces which have just about finished their demobilization process.

In June, the Soviets crack how to make even more Advanced Conventional Composite Armour. This time STAVKA decides that this justifies a complete overhaul of their primary armoured fighting vehicles. The new types would be T-34/85M, the mainstay of tank units, ISU-152 Zveroboy, a self-propelled double-barrelled howitzer, and IS-4, which replaced the old heavy gun of the IS-3 with a medium calibre autocannon. This last tank would be introduced to compliment the venerable T-34 as a breakthrough tank. In October, the Americans made the same discovery. Pentagon authorizes re-armouring of all their primary combat vehicles as well as the introduction of personal protective garments for their infantry. This led to the introduction of the M26E1 Pershing, that would become the main American tank, the M37B1 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage for the field artillery, the M24A2 Chaffee light tank for reconnaissance units, and three different versions of the M113 armoured personnel carrier.

1947

In July, Soviets opened another ground force construction complex and in November, the first human Spaceport opened in Utah.

1948

Nothing particularly interesting happened.


Thanks nuclearslurpee! The hope is to get more neutral countries involved too as the time goes by but since 2.4.0 is on the horizon who knows how long this'll last. Plus, while I was smart enough to boost the populations to get enough factories and research labs to start with, I went with limited research admin and didn't realize how much it would slow the initial research that is absolutely mandatory in a conventional start. Might be that I'll restart this once 2.4 is out.

[nuclearslurpee]

Thanks nuclearslurpee! The hope is to get more neutral countries involved too as the time goes by but since 2.4.0 is on the horizon who knows how long this'll last. Plus, while I was smart enough to boost the populations to get enough factories and research labs to start with, I went with limited research admin and didn't realize how much it would slow the initial research that is absolutely mandatory in a conventional start. Might be that I'll restart this once 2.4 is out.

Yes, I am planning a multi-race conventional-start AAR once the release cycle slows down and the current version is stable with most early bugs squished, and I will use limited admin and 50% research rates. In that case my plan is to mostly skip the early game and start writing once the interesting bits happen, in that case the conventional start is used to develop an interesting setting rather than being the setting itself. 

[Garfunkel (OP)]

1949

In March, Soviet scientists completed the Trans-Newtonian Theory. This earthquake reverberated through all the Soviet scientific and industrial structures, causing some projects to be abandoned and others to be re-prioritized, thanks to Comrade Stalin making control of the orbit a high priority for the Soviet Union. Comrades Dubinin and Cherkasova were assigned to lead teams researching ways to boost the engine power of current Soviet engines and to utilize the electric power from a Radioisotope Thermal Generator to power any engines put in space. Comrade Kryuchkov was leading a project to create sensor that could detect these new TN minerals from space. Finally, Comrade Kiselyova was leading a team investigating the feasibility of utilizing the new material called Duranium to make armour, which promised significant weight-savings for Soviet rocket ships as well as improvements for the Red Army Tank Corps.

In April, Comrade Stalin's good mood evaporated instantly when Mercury One, the first American satellite, was launched into Earth orbit. Especially when Soviet telescopes confirmed that the satellite was carrying a sensor system that was activated. Champagne glasses were raised in the White House as satellite data poured in, confirming that while the Red Army was larger than the US Army, the difference was small. Lieutenant Commander Man Ganley became the first American, and first human, in space. After three days, the little craft landed at Hill AFB, Utah, soon to be renamed Space City and expanded to facilitiate the growing American space-related infrastructure. After a quick maintenance break, it was launched again. To Soviet dismay, it was now clear that America would have a permanent 'eye in the sky' and there was very little they could do about it.



Immediately, the Soviets started the Sputnik program, with the aim of putting a similar recon satellite in orbit. Simultaneously, the Americans wanted to expand the capability of Mercury, now dubbed Mercury-A, and the Mercury-B model would have full spectrum capability.

Code: [Select]

Mercury-B class Recon Satellite (P)      204 tons       1 Crew       15.5 BP       TCS 4    TH 0    EM 0
1 km/s      Armour 1-3       Shields 0-0       HTK 3      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 0-0      PPV 0
Maint Life 0 Years     MSP 0    AFR 40%    IFR 0.6%    1YR 1    5YR 19    Max Repair 5.0 MSP
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days   


Raytheon  SN/SPY-1 Orbital Monitoring System (1)     GPS 2     Range 1.8m km    MCR 160.6k km    Resolution 1
Raytheon  SN/SAR-3 Heat Detecting System (1)     Sensitivity 5.0     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  17.7m km
Raytheon  SN/SRR-2 Communications Listening System (1)     Sensitivity 5.0     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  17.7m km

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a None for auto-assignment purposes

In May, United States expanded their ground force construction complexes while the Soviet Union opened its spaceport at Baikonur, Kazakstan. Both powers began construction of their first Deep Space Tracking System and, in an amazing coincidence, both finished them in early August. Late in August, the first Sputnik satellite, Generalissimus Stalin, launched to the dismay of the Americans who thougth they had the upper hand in orbit.

Code: [Select]

SCP Sputnik 'Generalissimus Stalin'  (Sputnik class Sensor Platform)      159 tons       1 Crew       12.5 BP       TCS 3    TH 0    EM 0
1 km/s      No Armour       Shields 0-0     HTK 3      Sensors 5/5/0/0      DCR 0-0      PPV 0
Maint Life 0 Years     MSP 0    AFR 31%    IFR 0.4%    1YR 1    5YR 15    Max Repair 5.0 MSP
Kapitan tret'yego ranga    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days   

SKB Pegmantit-1 Area Monitor (1)     GPS 2     Range 1.8m km    MCR 160.6k km    Resolution 1
SKB Duga-2 Signal Monitor (1)     Sensitivity 5.0     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  17.7m km
SKB Volga-3 Heat Monitor (1)     Sensitivity 5.0     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  17.7m km

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Space Station for auto-assignment purposes

While this was an impressive turnaround, it was not enough for Comrade Stalin, who ordered that the next satellite should be fully armed. Luckily for the Soviet design team, KGB spies had successfully brought over detailed knowledge of the atom bomb, making the creation of a nuclear missile armed weapon platform feasible. Still, it meant delays for other projects as precious research and design resources were prioritized for Comrade Bushuyev and his OKB-1 team.

In October, the first Soviet Mass Driver became operational, making construction projects in orbit possible. However, Moscow had laid down strict rules on how the transformation of Soviet industry to TN standards was an overriding priority and any orbital constructions would have to wait. On the last day of October, Americans launched Mercury Two into orbit and now also had full spectrum capabilities in space. Thus ended 1949.

[nuclearslurpee]

It is a weird twist to the space race for the Americans to be first into space in this timeline!

[Zed 6]

I would like to know what really happened in 1948. Coverup, Conspiracy, everyone on holiday.   

[Garfunkel (OP)]

1950

January opened with Soviets working up a functioning geological survey sensor. Eager to test it out, Comrade Bushuyev designed a missile that could carry such a sensor to Luna and thus prove Soviet superiority. Stalin agreed and work proceeded to prototype R-2 Geodezist. It would be launched from the same R-10 Desna launcher as the nuclear-tipped R-1 Desna missile.

In April, Americans finally formulated a comprehensive Trans-Newtonian Theory and the White House, together with the Congress, announced massive subsidies and incentives for industry across the board to convert and upgrade to TN-standards as quickly as possible. This government program was accompanied by a massive propaganda campaign created by the best minds in Hollywood and advertising, to ensure swift and as comprehensive compliance as possible. Decisionmakers were growing concerned with the way the USSR was pulling ahead.

Near the end of May, the first Krivak was launched from Baikonur. Kapitan Dubinin was commanding the 4 man crew:

Code: [Select]

OWP-01 Krivak 001  (Krivak class Orbital Weapon Platform)      479 tons       4 Crew       37.4 BP       TCS 10    TH 0    EM 0
1 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 5      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-20      PPV 3
Maint Life 30.55 Years     MSP 48    AFR 2%    IFR 0.0%    1YR 0    5YR 1    Max Repair 10 MSP
Magazine 20 / 0   
Kapitan tret'yego ranga    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days    Morale Check Required   


OKB-1 R-10 Desna (2)     Missile Size: 10    Hangar Reload 158 minutes    MF Reload 26 hours
OKB-1 SON-3 Fire Controller (1)     Range 6.2m km    Resolution 1

SKB Pegmantit-1 Area Monitor (1)     GPS 2     Range 1.8m km    MCR 160.6k km    Resolution 1

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Fighter for auto-assignment purposes

Though the Americans did not know it, its two launchers were empy as no missiles had been built yet. Nine more Krivaks would be constructed before the program would pause for review and evaluation. This would change soon as in June, Comrade Bushuyev came through with a functioning R-1 missile, production of which started immediately. In the same month, Americans figured out how to create a backup control deck inside a satellite in case of emergency or battle damage. This was something that the Admirals of the US Navy had been adamant on based on their experience fighting the Japanese across the Pacific and as the Navy was taking a larger and larger role in this new area of military, the admirals got their wish despite protestations from the Army Air Forces which still had not gained its independence from the Army. This was not a surprise as everyone wanted to control the branch that would become the most important one in space and the Army generals correctly estimated that if the Air Force became independent, the Army would be relegated to a lesser importance vis-a-vis the other branches. The bureaucratic fight between the Navy admirals and the reluctantly united Army-Air generals continued.

25 August 1950 would go down in history books as the first Nuclear Scare. Without informing Washington, the Soviets launched two missiles from Krivak 'Moscow'. The missiles were exactly the same size as the R-1 Desna nuclear missiles, that CIA had heard of but had not seen. It was only the fact that that the other two Krivak satellites, 'Leningrad' and 'Stalingrad' remained quiet that the White House did not launch their conventional nuclear bombers into air. In just ten seconds it became clear that the missiles were headed towards Luna and not anywhere on Earth.



The missiles reached Luna in just few minutes and stayed in orbit for several hours before going silent and tumbling against the Lunar surface. On 30 August, the 'Moscow' launched two more missiles. This time Kreml had informed the White House beforehand and the world watched in wonder. Despite pleas from the international scientific community, the Soviets did not release any information publicly. In private, Comrade Stalin was furious that four valuable missiles had been wasted in a very public manner, although Russian geologists pleaded with the Politbyro that just few more missiles would do the trick. Instead, the manned Luna program was approved of. Stalin was mollified when Comrade Zaytsev informed him that the prototype for the DKT 100mm C1 IR Laser would be tested before the end of the year. And indeed, on 29 October, the members of the Politbyro were dazzled to see a giant laser cannon in action.

[Garfunkel (OP)]

1951

January began with heated debate among the top brass of the Worker's and Peasant's Red Army. Comrade Yefimova had just delivered the up-armoured version of their mainstay tank, the T-34/85M2 and was starting work on the IS-4M version. However, there was a real possibility of making an entirely new tank, armed with a more compact version of the dazzling laser cannon that had been introduced to the Politburo recently. Similarly, the recently introduced AK-47 could be replaced with a laser rifle that would certainly increase the firepower of the Red Army, albeit at a cost. Eventually it was decided that old units would not be upgraded with new equipment but that new units would only receive the newest equipment. The IS-4M was cancelled and new vehicles would be designed - the T-44 would become the new main battle tank of the Red Army, supported by IS-5 infantry tank and the 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer. This would cause a significant delay in the research of new abilities for the Red Army. The month was eventful for the Americans as well. With the invention of Duranium Armour, focus was now on making a working railgun prototype. The M26 Pershing would be replaced with the M47 Patton that would have Duranium armour and a railgun instead of a conventional cannon.

In June, a new type of satellite was launched from Baikonur. Most of the world was already quite alarmed that the Soviets had twelve satellites in orbit, ten of which seemed to be carrying missile launchers and the appearance of a new type did not calm anyone down despite Soviet rhetoric that these were all 'peace satellites'. Poltava would be joined by 19 other satellites of the class, ensuring that the Soviet Union would absolutely dominate near Earth space:

Code: [Select]

ODP-01 Poltava  (Poltava class Orbital Defence Platform)      400 tons       6 Crew       25.1 BP       TCS 8    TH 0    EM 0
1 km/s      Armour 1-4       Shields 0-0       HTK 3      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 1-25      PPV 3
Maint Life 65.88 Years     MSP 64    AFR 1%    IFR 0.0%    1YR 0    5YR 0    Max Repair 10 MSP
Kapitan tret'yego ranga    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days    Morale Check Required   


DKT 100mm C1 IR Laser (1)    Range 30,000km     TS: 1,250 km/s     Power 3-1     RM 10,000 km    ROF 15       
OKB-1 SON-4 Fire Controller (1)     Max Range: 80,000 km   TS: 625 km/s    ECCM-0     14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 0
AMB-0.75 Radioisotope Thermal Generator (2)     Total Power Output 1.5    Exp 5%

SKB Pegmantit-1 Area Monitor (1)     GPS 2     Range 1.8m km    MCR 160.6k km    Resolution 1

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Fighter for auto-assignment purposes

In response, Pentagon launched Gemini and Apollo programs to supplement the existing Mercury program. Gemini would be an armed satellite whereas Apollo would take America to the Moon and hopefully discover additional TN minerals there. Both programs required more scientific work before they could launch, however.


Situation at the end of 1951.

[Garfunkel (OP)]

1952

The space race intensifies this year as the British Empire throws their bowler hat into the game. Intensive talks between Great-Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were concluded last year and the four countries have decided to join forces to explore and exploit the Solar system. Naturally, Washington expects London to remain as their 'special friend' but this is by no means a given. A new faction emerged after 1945 in the British politics and they correctly predicted that the Empire was not sustainable and without expansion into space, Britannia would slowly fade away into nothingness. God forbid, they might be forced to join Continental European policy clubs! This faction, the neo-Imperialists, have successfully championed the cause of the Commonwealth and this new polity is now ready to take its first steps forward.

In September, the world is stunned when the USA unveils their Apollo program, which had remained hidden under the shadow of the Mercury and Gemini programs. Apollo-1 has a crew of nine and is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Justin Serrao. It launched on 4 September at 04:00 in the morning and arrived at Luna barely 20 minutes later. Sorium-burning Douglass Engine CON-3 is certainly impressive.

Code: [Select]

SCT Apollo 1  (Apollo class Shuttlecraft)      490 tons       9 Crew       63.8 BP       TCS 10    TH 3    EM 0
306 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 2      Sensors 0/0/0/0.2      DCR 0-0      PPV 0
Maint Life 0 Years     MSP 0    AFR 97%    IFR 1.4%    1YR 24    5YR 358    Max Repair 50 MSP
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 1 months    Morale Check Required   

Douglass Engine CON-3 (1)    Power 3    Fuel Use 182.57%    Signature 3    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 5,000 Litres    Range 1 billion km (38 days at full power)

Conventional Geological Survey Sensors (1)   0.2 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Survey Ship for auto-assignment purposes

History is about to made.

Serrao became the first human to step on the surface of Luna, ensuring that the United States won the race to the Moon. Shocked, Stalin suffered a heart attack and passed away the following night, though rumours abounded that his death was hastened by members of his inner circle. President Truman was quite ecstatic. Not only was this a major PR coup for his administration, the mission had also discovered that there were TN-minerals on the Moon, albeit only three of them. But the discovery proved that venturing outside Earth was not only profitable, it was mandatory for the mineral resources here would eventually run dry. At the same time, the Gemini program was proceeding nicely, meaning that the Soviet dominance in orbit would soon be challenged. Apollo One returned to Earth on 6 October, having spent almost a month on Luna and its crew became heroes and celebrities.

On 12 November, NASA announced that the Apollo Program, now 2 shuttlecrafts strong, would undertake an even more ambitious program - planting the Stars and the Stripes on Mars. In mere 5 days, the two vessels made the journey to the Red Planet and now the US had two important firsts to celebrate. The two crews set to survey Mars for TN minerals but this operation would take a long time. Not to be outdone, the Soviets launched Luna One on 13 December and Captain Valenta Sidorova became the first Cosmonaut and the first woman to step on Luna surface. Soviet propaganda made a big deal how their vessel was more capable and advanced but this held little sway over the public opinion of the world. Being second was a loss, no matter what.

Code: [Select]

SCT Luna 1  (Luna class Shuttlecraft)      500 tons       11 Crew       118.2 BP       TCS 10    TH 4    EM 0
375 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 2      Sensors 0/0/0/1      DCR 0-0      PPV 0
Maint Life 4.25 Years     MSP 36    AFR 8%    IFR 0.1%    1YR 3    5YR 48    Max Repair 100 MSP
Kapitan tret'yego ranga    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 1 months    Morale Check Required   

Glushko RD-101 (1)    Power 3.8    Fuel Use 287.05%    Signature 3.75    Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 20,700 Litres    Range 2.6 billion km (80 days at full power)

Geological Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Survey Ship for auto-assignment purposes
On 19 December, Luna One returned to Earth, having successfully surveyed Luna but the Soviet celebrations were cut short when on Christmas Eve, 24 December, the two Apollo shuttlecraft landed and their crews, proudly carrying rock samples from Mars, were interviewed by every news station on the planet. Except Soviet ones, of course. Thus the year came to an end.

[nuclearslurpee]

Soviet militarization of space is very concerning... I have a feeling that if Steve releases 2.4.0 "early" there will be a sudden Soviet declaration of war and the entire Western world will go up in nuclear and laser hellfire. 

Hopefully the sudden and unexpected death of Stalin leads to much infighting and a lack of direction for the Soviet space weapons program, so the West can have time to catch up and build defenses.

More, more! Enjoying the faster pace of updates here compared to the, ah, majestic pace of the previous work. 

[Garfunkel (OP)]

Yeah, I decided to make this a no-frills story with as many updates as possible before the next version drops. I'm doing the bare minimum research for component names and so on, so that makes it faster for sure. Plus, having just 2, well now 3, factions also speed things up.

1953

The future of the Soviet survey program, still named Luna, was stuck in limbo as the power struggle continued. Ongoing projects continued on inertia but no new projects could be started while the heavy-weights duked it out behind the scenes. So, the two Luna shuttlecraft returned to Earth after surveying Mars. NASA had no such problems and was busily planning missions to both Venus and Mercury. Due to orbital mechanics, Apollo program would target Mercury first as Venus was on the other side of the Sun. White House had ordered a re-organization of how space assets and the various programs would be administered. At the top, a new agency called Federal Space Forces Administration was created. Under it was attached the civilian National Air and Space Administration (NASA) with the responsibility of running the Mercury and Apollo programs and the task of peacefully and scientifically exploring the Solar system for the benefit of the American people. The other branch of FSFA was the military Joint Planetary Defence Command, a special project of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This Command brought together the various TN-projects that the Army and the Navy had, as well as the newly independent Air Force. It also had representation from the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. This was due to its dual tasks - firstly, it was to safeguard America from Soviet aggression in Earth orbit, but secondly it was to plan and prepare for the expansion of American infrastructure across the Solar system. Currently, it managed the Gemini program that aimed to counter-balance the Soviet weapon satellites in orbit but the Command had many ambitious staff members with lofty plans.

Mercury had loads of TN-minerals but exploiting the finds would be a difficult task. One lucky break was that the orbital paths of Mercury and Venus were extremely close together on 18 February when the survey of the former was completed, so the two Apollo craft hopped over to Venus, to continue their work. This was the first time that the astronauts would not be landing on the planetary surface - on Mercury the terminator, the twilight zone between scorching light and frozen dark, had been safe to land on. But the hellscape of Venus offered no such relief. The crews could not finish their survey mission, however, as the living conditions radically deteriorated onboard the tiny vessels once their safe deployment time had been exhausted.

In July, the SKB-3 Heat Monitoring System on Sputnik 'Generalissimus Stalin' malfunctioned and could not be repaired. The Red Banner Space Navy staffers realized that they had completely neglected the construction of maintenance facilities to keep up with the number of satellites they had. More such facilities were ordered immediately but, due to the ongoing political turmoil, they were not prioritized.

In November, Apollo program completed surveying Venus, discovering vast deposits albeit at a horrible accessibility. Sadly, Mars was devoid of minerals but all the other surveyed bodies had at least some which was quite promising. However, NASA was not happy with the endurance of the little Apollo craft. The conventional survey sensor needed to be replaced with TN-version to speed up surveying and the lifesupport system needed bolstering so that the crew could stay 'out in the dark' for longer periods in a relative comfort. Especially as future survey targets would be farther and farther away.


Inner Solar System minerals

At the same time, Nikita Khrushchev was crowned as the new Premier of the Soviet Union and the First Secretary of the Communist Party, making him the de facto rules of the USSR. His position was deemed secure by both Washington and London as they noted the disappearance of Georgy Malenkov and Lavrentiy Beria and the exile of Vyacheslav Molotov as the Soviet ambassador to North-Korea. Khrushchev immediately kicked the Red Banner Space Navy into high gear - the construction of maintenance facilities was prioritized and further ordnance factories could wait their turn. The Science Directorate was ordered to fully survey the inner Solar system, a task that the Luna shuttlecrafts were much better equipped than their American counterparts.

[nuclearslurpee]

Yeah, I decided to make this a no-frills story with as many updates as possible before the next version drops. I'm doing the bare minimum research for component names and so on, so that makes it faster for sure. Plus, having just 2, well now 3, factions also speed things up.

See, every time I try to do that I end up going into baroque levels of detail before killing the AAR with a naval conference. I admire your restraint. 

In July, the SKB-3 Heat Monitoring System on Sputnik 'Generalissimus Stalin' malfunctioned and could not be repaired. The Red Banner Space Navy staffers realized that they had completely neglected the construction of maintenance facilities to keep up with the number of satellites they had. More such facilities were ordered immediately but, due to the ongoing political turmoil, they were not prioritized.

Me, in every conventional start I do ever.

Inner Solar System minerals

Please tell me this is the work of SM mode...

[Black]

See, every time I try to do that I end up going into baroque levels of detail before killing the AAR with a naval conference. I admire your restraint. 

But ARR composed of reports from naval conferences is completely valid ARR...

In July, the SKB-3 Heat Monitoring System on Sputnik 'Generalissimus Stalin' malfunctioned and could not be repaired.

Poor satelite simply suffered from high level of stress after its namesake died...

[El Pip]

But ARR composed of reports from naval conferences is completely valid ARR...

nuclearslurpee is justly famed as the inventor of the ACR (After Conference Report) style of fiction writing.