NC Part 12: July 2047 - December 2047

[Steve Walmsley (OP)]

9th July 2047
For several months a group of four Terran freighters, escorted by a jump carrier and a Gloire class frigate has been moving back and forth through the Athens jump point. They visit Earth and unload a small quantity of minerals then move to the Terran mining colony on an asteroid they have named Cortez, pick up automated mines and vanish through the Athens jump point. Several weeks later they return and repeat the process. It would seem the Terran Union has set up an out-system mining colony and is moving the bulk of its automated mines to the new location.

12th July 2047
Centaur arrives in Earth orbit along with the three Udaloy class gravitational survey ships. All the Udaloys enter the shipyards for an overhaul while Centaur is temporarily mothballed. As we are starting to mothball ships while we concentrate on building up Thebes, the number of jump cruisers and jump tenders can also be reduced.

14th July 2047
The Fast Convoy Fleet leaves Earth orbit bound for Thebes.

15th July 2047
The second Chinese Hegu class cruiser is completed.

25th July 2047
The Terran Union completes its eighteenth Research Facility, once more moving ahead of the Asian Alliance

4th August 2047
The First Gravitational Survey Squadron returns to Earth. Although the four Achilles class survey ships are placed in mothballs, the jump-capable survey cruiser Menelaus will remain in service and await the completion of the Udaloys

[Erik L]

With all of the Battle Fleet in Lunar orbit, one must wonder what is picketing the hostile alien warp points.

[Steve Walmsley (OP)]

With all of the Battle Fleet in Lunar orbit, one must wonder what is picketing the hostile alien warp points.  Its probably time Thebes had a warship in orbit anyway.

Steve

[cornmj]

Of course that fleet in lunar orbit is going to be very valuable if the Chinese decide to step out of line. It seems like they are beginning to build up a pretty large fleet.

[MWadwell]

10th August 2047
Bacchus and the three Kongo class geological survey ships return to Earth. All four ships are placed in mothballs. As so many ships have recently been taken out of service, an overview of our current dispositions is in order. Our fleet now comprises:

Commonwealth Battle Fleet
Agamemnon, Helios

[Steve Walmsley (OP)]

Kaga will be upgraded to an Akagi-E at some point. I think it was lack of shipyards or resources that prevented it at the time. She can be refitted while in mothballs so now you have reminded me I will probably tackle it soon.

Due to the way the refit rules work, it would cost to convert Mayflower into an Artemis than to build a new Artemis.

Steve

[Kurt]

9th July 2047
3rd December 2047
The Commonwealth

[Steve Walmsley (OP)]

Hmmm...I forgot.  Would Earth be considered a relatively average planet in terms of mineral wealth?  If so, it seems odd that it would run out of a critical mineral like Duranium so quickly.  In an epic scale game, it seems to me that is should take longer.  

If minerals are as scarce as they seem, you have a built in drive for expansion.  It seems to me that no race will be able to take a "Stay at home" strategy, because they must always hunt out new mineral supplies.  Of course, this is all based on a limited example.  

Kurt

For a terrestrial world, Earth is pretty limited in minerals. If you have a look at the campaign and check out some of the other similar worlds, you will see a lot more minerals. However, it would be rare to find a world with all minerals easily accessible so some off-world or out-system mining will usually be required.

Steve

[MWadwell]

Kaga will be upgraded to an Akagi-E at some point. I think it was lack of shipyards or resources that prevented it at the time. She can be refitted while in mothballs so now you have reminded me I will probably tackle it soon.

Would it be worth upgrading other items (i.e. engines) on the Kagi as well as the firecontrol systems??

Due to the way the refit rules work, it would cost to convert Mayflower into an Artemis than to build a new Artemis.

O.K. then - what about scrapping the Mayflower then?

[MWadwell]

Hmmm...I forgot.  Would Earth be considered a relatively average planet in terms of mineral wealth?  If so, it seems odd that it would run out of a critical mineral like Duranium so quickly.  In an epic scale game, it seems to me that is should take longer.  

If minerals are as scarce as they seem, you have a built in drive for expansion.  It seems to me that no race will be able to take a "Stay at home" strategy, because they must always hunt out new mineral supplies.  Of course, this is all based on a limited example.  

Kurt

For a terrestrial world, Earth is pretty limited in minerals. If you have a look at the campaign and check out some of the other similar worlds, you will see a lot more minerals. However, it would be rare to find a world with all minerals easily accessible so some off-world or out-system mining will usually be required.

Steve, why was Earth given such limited minerals?

I mean, with Nemesis on the way, it's not like there's a viable "stay at home" tactic - is there.....

[Steve Walmsley (OP)]

Steve, why was Earth given such limited minerals?

I mean, with Nemesis on the way, it's not like there's a viable "stay at home" tactic - is there.....   It is creating an interesting situation though.

Steve

[MWadwell]

Steve, why was Earth given such limited minerals?

I mean, with Nemesis on the way, it's not like there's a viable "stay at home" tactic - is there.....   It is creating an interesting situation though.

Steve

Yes - it is an interesting situation - in a chinese sense (if you pardon the pun - as the Asian Alliance is feeling the pinch the worst....)