2075 - Nation summaries European UnionResearch Priorities
The EU does not have any experts in the critical field of Power and Propulsion and is lagging behind in that area. Otherwise there are no deficiencies in facilities or personnel.
There are no critical technologies or capabilities missing for the EU. Current efforts are directed towards ground support capabilities for the existing Eurofighters and increased ship maintenance capacities.
Military Analysis
The EU maintains the largest space navy. Nine 8k railgun frigates are in service as well as 36 Eurofighter box launcher fighters. One squadron of six is permanently stationed on Mars. The fighters have a competetive speed of 4000, but the warships are held back by their INTE engines from exceeding 2700.
Another expansion of maintenance facilities to support up to 120k of naval tonnage is underway.
Economic Situation
Wealth is not an issue due to civilian shipping. Mineral stocks are short on Corundium because of investments into more mines and secondarily Mercassium as the fleet of state-owned colony ships has been increased to 5.
Mining operations are in progress on Mars and through 4 CMCs on two comets. This will be insufficient in the long term and leadership is entertaining alternative options of acquiring minerals from asteroids or extrasolar sources. Exploration of nearby systems will dictate future strategy.
Ground Forces
With five divisions the unified European army is relatively small, but so is the principal threat's force, Russias. The expanding armies of other nations are viewed with concern, however, and expansion is slated for after the next technological breakthrough.
Russian FederationResearch Priorities
Through ELINT, the Russian Federation is now capable of building it's own jump drives. These are four expensive techs totaling 10k RP alone. You're supposed to quit while you're ahead, and so the operation aboard the diplomatic space station was shut down. It is quite a feat for the technologically behind nation to achieve parity in jump drive capability (all other nations have developed the requisite techs at this point) without needing to invest into expensive R&D.
In other regards tech is lagging behind the other nations. Even with the stolen jump drive techs gravitational sensors and a concrete Casartelli Device to open the jump points must still be designed, while other nations are already building or operating exploration ships.
Military Analysis
Sensor research over the last 10 years has born fruit and two dedicated armored sensor ships are under construction. Six box-launcher Krivak missile frigates are in operation, three have their own ship-detection sensors, three have been refit with targeting systems capable of hitting small bombers like those the EU employs.
Because of fears that this doctrine will consume excessive fuel the plans to have ships take permanent station off of Earth were never implemented, but are still called for in times of war or heightened tension.
AMM technology has advanced and plans are that dedicated AMM frigates be built soon. The sensor ships already provide powerful missile dection capabilities, but competing interests for military yard time may delay construction of the AMM frigates.
With most nations starting to employ NPE drives the Russian INTE-based ones are starting to lose their edge, but are predicted to remain comptetitive for the near future because of their high boost factors.
The nation does not have refueling capabilities or jump ships, limiting deployment to Sol for the years to come.
Economic Situation
Through the still recent establishment of the Callisto colony the nation is now supported by a budding civilian shipping industry. Only a handful ships are in operation yet, but the effect is already being felt in the state treasury.
The mineral situation is not urgent as it is for some other nations. Leadership has during the conversion to TN industry decided to invest in a disproportionally large amount of mining industries, foreseeing this situation. Current Earth deposits are only yielding scraps at this point, so mining locations for all minerals must be located and secured in the medium term - even if Russian need is not as immediate as that of some other nations, it is important not to fall behind in that race.
Sorium harvesting technology will hit maturity soon and enable the construction of refining ships or platforms to be deployed around Jupiter, freeing the nation from dependence of ground-based Sorium deposits.
Dwindling mineral deposits on EarthGround Forces
Six infantry divisions. Expansion is underway as more advanced high-density duranium armor and powered infantry gear has just been developed.
STO capability, particularly for the defense of Callisto or other future mining colonies would be desirable, but Russia does not have the ability to produce any energy weapon systems but basic plasma carronades. As research capabilities are already stretched it is unlikely that advanced regular troops or a functional direct-fire weapon system for STO use will be built anytime soon.
Corporate Congress of the United StatesResearch Priorities
Currently investing into Improved Nuclear Pulse Engines (INPE), the first nation on the planet to do so.
Number of research labs has been expanded to 10, equal to the EU and Japan.
There are no pressing military or strategic needs for research, so general technological advances - like engines - can be made.
Military Analysis
Owns six, soon nine plasma frigates. Americans love their big guns, and these ships have the biggest around. By nature they are unsuited to missile defense and rely on a powerful first strike. If trouble is on the horizon current doctrine states to attack the other nations military assets in Earth orbit first. Assaulting ships and installations at distance may prove difficult. INPE engine refits would help the existing ships in fulfilling their role.
Stationing one or two ships on Mars is a short-term goal to help having ships already in position where trouble is brewing. The establishment of maintenance facilities on Mars requires a ship capable of carrying supplies there.
Experiments with point-defense capabilities in the form of turreted light lasers are being made.
The fleet has no support ships or jump capability, but currently American companies have no rush to expand outside of Sol.
All in all the nation is considered blessed with wealth in money and minerals, technologically advanced and well-protected.
Economic Situation
Civilian shipping makes wealth not an issue. Continuing investments into mining industries made Mars as productive a producer as Earth. Mars and the 7 CMCs on three different bodies provide streams of all minerals except Neutronium, Boronide and Gallicite. There are 10k+ units of each mineral in stock except Corundium due to that being re-invested into mines. The 128 mines on Mars mining 0.5 Accessibility Corundium will prevent a shortage.
Aside from the few as of yet untapped minerals, there is no immediate need to claim many more resources, but defense and expansion of the civilian-controlled comet mines may prove challenging.
Ground Forces
The US maintains the largest ground force on Earth and has the best technology for ground troops (8/8, whereas most have 6/5), owed to TL3 plasma carronade research.
More forces with these better technologies will be built, and upkeep on the older units is no problem.
JapanResearch Priorities
Spent a lot on ground force technology. Still lacking a lethal weapon system, Otherwise technologically solid. Priority over the next few years will be the development of a mobile space-based doctrine.
Military Analysis
Current forces amount to a flight of 10 microwave fighters. The future will require larger investments into warships to protect Japanese interests in space, but there are no concrete plans yet.
Large troop transport bays are available to all nations, including ours. A ground-based deterrence doctrine is an option if the developments in the field turn out capable.
Economic Situation
Civilian shipping makes wealth not an issue. Like with all nations, mineral stocks are dwindling and Corundium is of special interest as it's needed for construction of more mining installations.
The Venus colony does not allow for a workforce large enough for manned mines on the planet. Instead, 10 automated mines are deployed there, mining Duranium and Gallicite. A civilian operation supplies Duranium and Corundium. These incomes will avoid immediate shortages of a critical element, but the numbers mined in total are grossly insufficient compared to consumption. Large-scale expansion of mining operation of all minerals must happen.
The deployment of orbital habitats to support more efficient manned mining operations on Venus is an option, but interstellar exploration has just begun. Future decisions will depend on there being exploitable deposits outside of Sol.
Ground Forces
MECHA. Do you hear me? Giant frakking robots.
With the advent of TN tech, the direction ground forces would evolve in was clear. 20 meter tall bipedal robots and the equipment for them is actively being developed in Japanese laboratories.
The first units, termed TSF (Tactical Surface Fighters), are entering production by the end of the year.
Type-01 Kiyomune
Transport Size (tons) 324 Cost 38.88 Armour 36 Hit Points 72
Annual Maintenance Cost 4.9 Resupply Cost 90
Heavy Autocannon: Shots 3 Penetration 25 Damage 10
Heavy Autocannon: Shots 3 Penetration 25 Damage 10
Heavy Autocannon: Shots 3 Penetration 25 Damage 10
Vendarite 38.88
Development Cost 1 944
People's Republic of ChinaResearch Priorities
Base technology was falling behind, current research projects are duranium armor compression and Nuclear Pulse Engines (NPE).
Chinese investment into terraforming technology yields a spaceship-mountable version of the terraforming plant. Future worlds can be terraformed from orbit if necessary, but there are no plans for immediate deployment of such technology as the ground-based installations on the moon are doing just fine.
Lunar terraforming is progressing well. The average temperature has been raised to human comfort levels and the atmosphere is reaching almost livable levels of pressure. There is no oxygen in the atmosphere yet (starting with it would make for a very flammable atmosphere) and no hydrosphere has been created yet.
Military Analysis
The Chinese space navy is a powerful one, employing 6 laser-destroyers. Two tankers support the fleet and three armed and armored jump destroyers provide jump capability. Only one of these jump tenders has been built yet.
The laser armament is powerful and flexible, but it's vulnerability to massed missile strikes from EU or Russian doctrine has been called into question.
The nation also keeps a stash of anti-ship missiles (but currently lacks a launch platform) and a flight of slow, laser-armed patrol fighters.
The jump-capable main fleet can be expected to project power for years to come as interests will expand into other star systems, keeping the will of China a constant point that has to be considered. This is the result of Chinese early and independant research into jump technology.
Economic Situation
A majority of national income is gained by taxing shipping from and to the moon. Wealth is not an issue.
Chinese mineral stockpiles look big, but the appetite of their super-scale industry is just as large. There are no minerals on the moon. 50 automines have been deployed on the comet Faye, giving the nation an income of all minerals but Boronide, Vendarite and Gallicite together with the civilian complexes on other bodies.
The nation hungers for more though, and it's outdated small survey craft doctrine leaves it behind in the race to the stars. What it can't explore and claim first it may have to take from others.
Ground Forces
Eight divisions and a large STO division. Another STO division with a defending infantry division is under construction for deployment on the moon.
More units for the regular army will be built in the future as Vendarite and Wealth are non-issues. Individual superiority of rival's units is no concern.
Argentine RepublicResearch Priorities
A light railgun system has been developed, with improvements in fire control tech queued before it's first deployment.
Military Analysis
Space-based military capacity is sorely needed to defend assets in other star systems, and may have to be concentrated there to be powerful enough to withstand the will of other nations. This may leave Earth and Sol largely undefended.
A pure ground military as currently does not work for the defense offworld colonies. Ground forces on other worlds could simply be cut off from reinforcments from home and conquered at the leisure of an invader.
Economic Situation
Compared to the blooming economies of the other spacefaring nations the space program of Argentina has failed to bring wealth to the nation so far. Argentina is the only nation who still does not control an offworld colony, even Russia has recently reversed policy and founded a colony on Callisto to stimulate the civlian sector and is already better off for it.
The Argentine government operates a cargo and a colony ship, so they can found a colony. The dream was always to found a colony outside of Sol, but holding off so long gave the other nations an advantage, and the small nation can't afford to give away any advantages if it intends to stay competetive.
Either way, exploration has finally yielded a candidate colonization target outside Sol and the technology for it in form of civilian jump tenders, able to be stationed at jump points and helping cargo ships transit through, is already there with two such ships deployed.
The target in question is the Santa María system, two jumps from Sol. The second planet of the primary has a size similar to Mars, average temperatures well within human tolerance and has a surface covered in 31% liquid water. The Chinese are already demonstrating on the moon that it is entirely possible to generate a new atmosphere for a body of this size, if such a feat could be duplicated this planet would easily become just as habitable as Earth. The planet itself has good accessibility deposits of Duranium and Uridium, two important minerals, and trace deposits of five more. Not a second Earth, but the general mineral wealth of the rest of the system is quite impressive, on paper. Exploitation may turn out to be a wholly different issue.
Santa María-A I
Duranium 39 002 112 Acc 0.1
Corbomite 2 518 569 Acc 0.1
Tritanium 804 609 Acc 0.8
Mercassium 41 177 889 Acc 0.1
Asteroid #88
Duranium 18 779 Acc 0.9
Boronide 229 249 Acc 1.0
Mercassium 812 Acc 1.0
Vendarite 292 Acc 0.8
Uridium 141 526 Acc 1.0
Corundium 113 098 Acc 0.8
Gallicite 23 685 Acc 0.9
Asteroid #56
Duranium 32 942 Acc 1.0
Corbomite 33 226 Acc 1.0
Vendarite 10 088 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #36
Duranium 6 050 Acc 1.0
Sorium 2 916 Acc 1.0
Uridium 2 916 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #69
Duranium 62 403 Acc 1.0
Tritanium 6 816 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #42
Duranium 134 Acc 0.9
Neutronium 46 989 Acc 0.9
Tritanium 2 024 Acc 0.9
Corundium 75 092 Acc 0.9
Asteroid #34
Duranium 72 Acc 1.0
Sorium 900 Acc 1.0
Corundium 1 936 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #61
Duranium 7 200 Acc 1.0
Tritanium 2 209 Acc 1.0
Corundium 5 041 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #82
Boronide 10 791 Acc 0.9
Asteroid #20
Mercassium 3 854 Acc 0.9
Sorium 11 803 Acc 0.9
Asteroid #28
Uridium 9 216 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #8
Duranium 98 Acc 1.0
Mercassium 6 084 Acc 1.0
Uridium 2 500 Acc 1.0
Corundium 7 056 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #72
Corbomite 19 915 Acc 1.0
Boronide 25 472 Acc 1.0
Mercassium 914 Acc 0.9
Vendarite 3 074 Acc 0.9
Uridium 15 455 Acc 1.0
Gallicite 1 908 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #66
Duranium 14 744 Acc 1.0
Neutronium 16 180 Acc 0.9
Vendarite 2 430 Acc 1.0
Sorium 12 036 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #51
Duranium 4 418 Acc 1.0
Neutronium 2 304 Acc 1.0
Boronide 196 Acc 1.0
Sorium 10 000 Acc 1.0
Uridium 529 Acc 1.0
Asteroid #70
Duranium 6 498 Acc 1.0
Tritanium 676 Acc 1.0
Boronide 144 Acc 1.0
Mercassium 3 721 Acc 1.0
Santa María-A II
Duranium 12 300 800 Acc 0.7
Neutronium 3 844 Acc 0.7
Tritanium 1 860 496 Acc 0.1
Boronide 8 133 904 Acc 0.1
Mercassium 3 844 Acc 0.1
Sorium 47 089 Acc 0.1
Uridium 7 107 556 Acc 0.8
Santa María-A IV
Sorium 3 096 000 Acc 0.4
Santa María-A V
Sorium 304 000 Acc 1
Santa María-A IV - Moon 12
Duranium 1 280 000 Acc 0.6
Santa María-A IV - Moon 2
Duranium 11 007 432 Acc 0.4
Neutronium 4 443 664 Acc 0.8
Corbomite 8 749 764 Acc 0.9
Tritanium 1 498 176 Acc 0.1
Santa María-A IV - Moon 5
Duranium 2 312 Acc 1.0
Corbomite 529 Acc 1.0
Boronide 9 216 Acc 1.0
Vendarite 6 724 Acc 1.0
Sorium 1 225 Acc 1.0
Gallicite 4 225 Acc 1.0
Santa María-A V - Moon 1
Corbomite 5 776 Acc 1.0
Santa María-A V - Moon 10
Duranium 16 245 000 Acc 0.1
Boronide 21 622 500 Acc 0.1
Uridium 490 000 Acc 0.1
Santa María-A V - Moon 4
Duranium 1 789 832 Acc 0.9
Neutronium 1 069 156 Acc 0.5
Corbomite 698 896 Acc 0.6
Tritanium 7 744 Acc 0.4
Boronide 1 162 084 Acc 0.1
Vendarite 2 509 056 Acc 0.8
Sorium 774 400 Acc 0.2
Uridium 4 840 000 Acc 0.7
Gallicite 698 896 Acc 0.1
Santa María-A V - Moon 6
Duranium 14 905 800 Acc 0.6
Neutronium 777 924 Acc 0.1
Boronide 3 572 100 Acc 0.5
Comet #1
Neutronium 54 497 Acc 0.5
Mercassium 125 511 Acc 1
Uridium 70 704 Acc 0.8
Corundium 21 488 Acc 0.6
Other nations are now also racing to explore the stars and may stumble upon this system sooner rather than later. Efforts are being made to get the first colonists there as early as next year. The immediate roadblock is the lack of suitable infrastructure to accommodate the settlers before an atmosphere can be established. For now staking the claim is most important. Figuring out the defense of the colony will have to come later, hopefully not too much later.
Argentine exploration as of 2075In recent years the Argentine economy has experienced a Neutronium crunch. The mineral is needed for construction facilities, mass drivers, maintance facilities and shipyard operations, in amounts that proved too much for the feeble 50 mines of Argentina. Since then 10 automines have been deployed on the comet Machholz (containing Neutronium), which is already being mined by several other nations. Current international agreements allow anyone to mine the comets of Sol in a first-come-first-served fashion; anyone is allowed to mine to any degree they wish. Comets don't have very large, but still substantial, deposits of minerals, so there is no conflict arising from their exploitation at this time.
Other mineral stocks aren't necessarily looking solid, especially duranium. Civilian mining operations would help the Argentine economy much more in their proportion than they would do for other nations.
Ground Forces
Feeling somewhat threatened the national military has seven divisions strength. They are not considered particularly advanced or capable, and building and maintaing more units may prove a strain on the budget.
The nation only has facilities to assemble one unit at a time though, so expansion is a lengthy process.
Race comp 2075