AD 2289 (January to June) It is a long slow way to Callisto...
This period had the completion of the telepresence operated mines for Venus as a high point. Once operational the flow of Gallicite, while not sufficient for long term security, was sufficient with the Gallicite from Hestia and Faewald to stop the downward trend of the stockpile. It also unblocked the development effort for the colony on Callisto to mine Corundium. The NCCs concept for this colony underwent several changes over the next 12 months, principly scaling back the initial number of mines to be produced. Also it has become obvious that the secondardy mining initiative, developed to aid in Extra-solar colonization efforts needs to change its typical cycle. Currently it produces a refinery, then colonial housing, then converts one of the older Earth mines to operation via telepresence, and lastly produces more colonial housing. The mines on Earth though are mostly converted or removed so the cycle will change after a total of 5 telepresence operated mines are ready replacing the convertion of an older mine with construction of the parts for a conventional mine, then more housing, and then parts for a construction factory.
For the NCN they have been steadily replacing the missiles expended in Hat Trick plus they have replaced the PDCs magazines with newer missiles. This leaves them in a better state than before Hat Trick. The colliers are all now fully loaded with missiles and while their reserve stockpile is clearly too small for operations, Commadore Frasier is adament on halting production to conserve Gallicite for the Lake replacements. He also halts production of the Fairmile C1 pinnaces as a sufficient number now exist to replace all the older B2 models. The NCN as well keeps its formations away from Earth giving each squadron plenty of training time. This is only possible due to the current fuel situation and the Navy takes advantage of it. This will correct one of the issues raised in the review of Hat Trick where the poor training of the ships resulted in long delays between the issuing of and acting on orders.
Taking a longer view the NCN thinks it can replace its lost Tribals starting in 3 years as by then the Gallicite situation should be in hand assuming the development plan the NCC is pushing goes forward reasonably on schedule. The next concern will be to replace the older frigates. Operations with the heavy frigates are showing them to efficient ships and they have better endurance than the older ships. The NCN isn't sure how easy it will be to do this, as you have to replace the entire squadron so there is a steep Gallicite cost to this activity. However, the long range planning is focusing on the the Tribal replacement program.
BuSurvey and BIC are also looking at the current situation. BIC has secured agreement for 4 new Petrol Class fuel harvesters and a further 4 Amazon Class terraformer ships. After that it is clear that more freighters are a requirement but one that will be harder to sell as the current freighter fleet at full utilization is stressing the overall production system of Earth to maintain a steady flow of mines, factories and housing off planet. How much more can be handled at the moment is unclear. BuSurvey is also looking at a situation where it is likely to go into a bit of a hiatus as all easily reached target systems have been surveyed.
It is also clear that everyone is waiting on the expected new engine development as these will speed up everything, but they will not be available for several years and the Gallicite issue at that point will have to be factored in.
Industrial Efforts, Earth, Sol
Primary Industrial Tasks
AD 2289 (April 4) Construction of 10 telepresence operated Mines ends. They are shipped to Venus by civillian contract and are shortly producing vital Gallicite.
AD 2289 (April 19) Lifesupport and housing prefabs for the new Callisto colony are produced and stockpiled [ooc]Infrastructure x100[/ooc] and fabrication of the equipment for 10 Mines begins
Secondary Industrial Tasks
AD 2289 (February 24) A new Fuel Refinery starts production (Current production on Earth is 4.32 m litres per year)
AD 2289 (April 09) Lifesupport and housing prefabs for BIC are produced [ooc]Infrastructure x32[/ooc] and the convertion of an older mine to telepresence operation begins.
Missiles and Fighters
AD 2289 (January 12) Construction of 120 Falcon Counter Missiles (Batch 2) completed
AD 2289 (February 13) Construction of 120 Falcon Counter Missiles (Batch 2) completed
AD 2289 (March 14) Construction of 120 Falcon Counter Missile (Batch 2) completed
AD 2289 (April 14) Construction of 120 Falcon Counter Missile (Batch 2) completed this marks the end of Batch 2 production.
AD 2289 (January 2) Fairmile C1(EW/SAR) 024 joins her squadron
AD 2289 (March 9) Fairmile C1(EW/SAR) 025 finishes space trials
AD 2289 (May 20) Fairmile C1(EW/SAR) 026 recieves a favorable grade from NCNQM
AD 2289 (May 20) Fairmile B2(EW) 002, 003, 004, and 005 are scrapped. (Salvage from scrap: Wealth: 7.5. Gallicite: 7.5 tonnes) There are now no more B2 pinnaces in service.
Naval Yard: Victorias-Esquimalt Graving Yard, Sol
AD 2289 (February 29) Steadfastness, Loyalty, Hope, Valour, Integrity, and Faith (Virtue class OWPs) are constructed. They move under their own power in a day or so to their assigned positions in Earth orbit and are formally named as the Orbital Weapons Platforms: Earth Squadron. [ooc]For those curious, it is possible to give orbiting bases a task force training order and they still remain in orbit but train as usual. I had some concern they would end up "lost in space" but they don't.[/ooc]
Civillian Operations in Sol
AD 2289 (April 4) The civilian mining colony on Encke has been expanded to 15 civilian mining complexes
AD 2289 (May 25) The civilian mining colony on Haumea has been expanded to 15 civilian mining complexes
AD 2289 (June 11) Williamson Logistics has launched a new Williamson H2 class Fuel Harvester, this brings the total number of harvesters to 10 and the NCCFB is very happy. The Petrocan tankers are now making reqular trips to Jupiter to skim off the cream of the civillian production for the Farm on Earth.
BIC Operations in Alpha Centauri
Faewald's industrial park is still running full out and falling behind. Even though it again produced housing and lifesupport of over 160,000 people [ooc]~Infrastructure x50[/ooc] the colonies population is growing faster. The NCC though is promising 5 new factories which will go a long way towards improving the situation. However much the typical colonist "grins and bears it" there is a never ending stream of protests and rallys against the efforts by Governor House which keep the Peacekeepers busy. ICG II departs for Earth on January 2. ICG III arrives at Faewald on March 27 after having droped off a new telepresence operated mine on Banshee and loaded the minerals the mines there have extracted. Onboard the ships for delivery to Faewald are 20 000 new colonists and the typical load of housing prefabs and lifesupport machinery. The ships of ICG III leaves Faewald orbit on April 24 after giving its crew time for shore leave and loading the output of Faewald's mines including nearly 800 stardard cargo units worth of Boronide and Gallicite. FHG II is in orbit with its crews on leave from April 17 until May 30 when they depart for Doinenann arriving in orbit there on June 7. Heavy Lift Group I arrives at Faewald on June 3 with 40 000 new colonists plus their housing and lifesupport needs and a new factory for the park. On the way to Faewald, the group had dropped off a telepresence operated mine on Banshee bringing the total there to 10. The ships departs for Earth on June 21.
One plan tossed about to help alivate the problem is to start shipping infrastructure to Calheme and then use the population of Faewald to fill it, relieving the stress on Faewald's infrastructure. But there is worries that this will only end up burning the candle at both ends so for the moment the NCC is focused on moving parts for construction factories and a single mine. The NCC is keeping a close watch on this issue inorder to prevent it happening in its other colonies.
BIC Operations in AD Leonis
Forge Traffic control is as usual busy. The sensor buoys on the systems 4 jump points make their job considerably easier as ships are now in continous contact with traffic control and there is no need to rely on scheduling. The crews of FHG V are fully rested by January 18 and the ships return to Deeper Sky to harvest more fuel. FHG III enters Forge orbit for shore leave on January 24 and returns to Deeper Sky on Febuary 18. ICG VI's crews are enjoying a break from their journey to Earth from January 26 to February 8. ICG VII arrives on April 27 and leaves on May 10 for Biforst. FHG VI arrives at Forge or R&R on May 21. The Farm is struggling to keep up with the constant demands on it but although it is often below 500 000 litres the constant flow of FHGs to and from Forge has kept the system balanced. It is clear though that another FHG or two would be a big assist to this effort.
BIC Operations in FL Virginis
The colony on Biforst continues to grow as ICG V arrives with 20 000 new colonists, equipment for a mine and housing and lifesupport gear, the fully refueled ships leave on April 14 for Forge. They also start up their industrial park in January which given the severe worker shortage of the colony is capable of producing only sufficent housing for 15 000 people over a full year, but still represents an investment in the colonies future growth.
BIC Operations in Gliese 526
Rosetta gets a big boost when Heavy Lift Group II arrives in orbit on May 30. It has 50 000 new colonists, mining equipment, and full load of housing and lifesupport prefabricated modules. The ships depart for Forge on June 16 after a full rebunkering. The NCC Xenoarcheology team reports no signficiant progress on the alien ruins although they have now explored and mapped the city and its underground complexes fully. The 1st Extra-solar Brigade is now able to rotate troops guarding the ruins though for the most part the colony is largely busy with its own concerns.
Outsystem Survey Efforts and Naval Operations
Gliese 1061
By the end of February the work of Interstellar Survey I is completed and the BuSurvey ships together with their NCN escorts jump back to Epsilon Indi on March 1. The BuSurvey ships have enough fuel onboard to continue on to Earth (arriving on May 14). The NCN ships of 1st Squadron have to pause at the Sol-Alpha Centauri jump point on April 4 as by now the Edmonton's fuel state is critical with only 3145 litres onboard. The Petrocan is dispatched from Earth and on April 29 the squadron is refueled sufficiently to make it home. 1st Squadron makes Earth orbit on May 18.
AD 2289 (January 2) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A VI - Moon 14: Duranium 5 (1) Tritanium 174 (1) Vendarite 11 (1)
AD 2289 (January 10) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A IV: Vendarite 374,544 (0.3)
AD 2289 (January 13) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A III: Uridium 127,449 (0.7)
AD 2289 (January 17) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A Comet #1: Duran 10,658 (1) Neut 14,220 (0.9) Trit 12,379 (0.9) Merc 7,497 (1) Vend 18,066 (0.7) Urid 7,679 (0.8 ) Corun 2,904 (0.8 )
AD 2289 (January 27) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A II: Uridium 30,813,600 (0.1) Gallicite 28,164,250 (0.1)
AD 2289 (February 2) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A Comet #3: Duranium 5,392 (1) Neutronium 45,360 (1) Tritanium 5,951 (1) Corundium 3,763 (0.9) Gallicite 40,180 (1)
AD 2289 (February 12) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A V - Moon 1: Duranium 242 (1) Corbomite 625 (1)
AD 2289 (February 22) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A V - Moon 11: Corundium 385,641 (0.1)
AD 2289 (February 27) Minerals Discovered on Gliese 1061-A V - Moon 15: Duranium 4,681,800 (0.8 ) Boronide 1,742,400 (1)
GJ 1154
The BuSurvey ships return to this system on January 19 to resume survey operations. Interstellar Survey II tackles the inner ring of survey points and the geological survey of the star systems planets. The two Oberons will cover the outer system to see if there is any further outgoing jump points.
AD 2289 (March 10) Minerals Discovered on GJ 1154-A VI: Sorium 9,120,000 (1)
AD 2289 (March 10) Minerals Discovered on GJ 1154-A VI - Moon 3: Duranium 5,639 (1)
AD 2289 (April 28) Minerals Discovered on GJ 1154-A IV: Neutronium 50,979,600 (0.1) Mercassium 53,406,860 (0.1) Vendarite 57,153,600 (0.1) Uridium 63,504 (0.1)
AD 2289 (May 18) Minerals Discovered on GJ 1154-A II: Duranium 36,980,000 (0.7) Tritanium 8,549,776 (0.1) Vendarite 72,488,190 (0.1) Gallicite 8,054,244 (0.1)
AD 2289 (June 1) Minerals Discovered on GJ 1154-A I: Corundium 27,225 (0.5)
Sol and then Groombridge 34
Based on the sucess of the Wild Rose detachment another is formed composed of the Pacific Dogwood (Cmdr Billy Bell), Ortona (Cmdr Rachel Lawerence) and Stormness. Interstellar Survey III (Cmdr Max Parker) is assigned to do the actual survey operations after the NCN finishes the probe. The small force is assembled on the jump point by May 18 and the next day the P.Dogwood detachment conducts a probe spending 5 minutes on the other side before returning. The jump point goes to a system named Groombridge 34 in the old starcharts. The full force then jumps back in and the Scout (Lt. Cmdr David Chambers) conducts a probe of the system. By May 25, Scout confirms no Wolvers are present in the A component of the system and the Thor Hyerdahl commences survey operations. A comm/sensor buoy is laid on both sides of the jump point.
The Groombridge 34 system is binary system with 2 red stars (A: M2-V and B: M4-V). Unfortunately the seperation of the stars is a massive 157 AUs. The A component consists of a Super Jovian orbiting a mere 1.14 m km from the primary. It is trailed by a ring of debries making an asteriod belt of 19 major chunks. Next are two terrestrial worlds. The first is of interest as it has a surface temperature of 25°C, water in liquid form, a gravity of 0.53 G and a thin atmosphere (0.17 atm) of Nitrogen (79%), Methane (16%) and Amonia (5%). The second is a larger world with a surface gravity of 1.08 G, a surface temperatue of a frigid -125°C, no water and a slightly more substantial (0.31 atm) atmosphere of Nitrogen (88%), and Oxygen (0.5%) with deposits of frozen CO2.
The B component is of more interest with 4 Terrestrial worlds, followed by a gas giant with 20 moons caped by a dwarf planet. The second Terrestrial world has a gravity of 0.85 G, a surface temperature of -80°C, water is present in the form of ice sheets covering around 10% of the planet (making it much like Mars) and a thin (0.36 atm) atmosphere of Nitrogen (76%) and Oxygen (24%) that is nearly breathable (Oxygen level is 0.09).
Based on the distance seperating the two components there will be no effort to probe the B component until better drives are developed as the combined distance makes its practical exploitation nearly impossible. Cmdr Max Parker suggests that it is sufficient to do the geological survey as this system will be low on the list of exploitation due to the distance to the jump point.
AD 2289 (May 19) An exploration of a jump point in the Sol system has revealed the new system of Groombridge 34
AD 2289 (June 9) Minerals Discovered on Groombridge 34-A III: Duranium 132,323,900 (0.1) Gallicite 14,607,680 (0.1)
AD 2289 (June 19) Minerals Discovered on Groombridge 34-A I: Sorium 312,187,000 (0.9)
