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C# Fiction > Gyrfalcon's Fiction
Terra Invictus
Gyrfalcon:
--- Quote ---I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
-- attributed to Albert Einstein
--- End quote ---
Einstein was not far wrong in his vision. World War III was indeed fought with nuclear weapons. The origins of the conflict were lost along with so many records of the days before and after the brief, destructive conflict was waged. What is known is that of the more than 8 billion people who lived, more than three quarters died in the conflict, or as a result of starvation, disease and internecine fighting over scarce resources that followed. To those who followed the old religions, it truly seemed to be the end of days.
The continents of North America, Europe and Asia were hardest hit, but South America, Africa and Australia were not spared the nuclear devastation. Yet despite the widespread destruction, humanity survived. It looked like the survivors would continue their internecine squabbling, even during an apocalypse, but a new philosophy changed the world - and launched World War IV, also called the Unification War.
The new philosophy was led by a mysterious woman known only to history as the Midwife, Maria. She was charismatic, decisive, brilliant, and utterly ruthless. Her teachings spread like wildfire, and the Children of Gaia were the result. Many joined the Children and became devout believers after listening to just one of her impassioned speeches, but not all were so easily convinced. Those who did not join freely were inducted against their will, and sprawling reeducation camps were common. Those who took up arms against the new faith were executed without mercy, and their families were slaughtered alongside them.
In the end, the world was united under one government and one faith. Once all were Children of Gaia, the focus shifted from conquest to rebuilding, and in the years that followed swords were beaten to plowshares. Maria passed of old age, and the First Disciples of the Midwife spread a philosophy of pastoral simplicity, with little reliance on the technology that had so fouled Gaia in the past and made the horrors of world war possible.
Calling for total pacifism, it preached living as one and in harmony with nature in a luddite agrarian lifestyle. Each was to follow their talents and desires, as long as they did not intrude on the rights of others. While initially it was only an ideal that a few could achieve, as Earth was restored following the devastation, more and more could live in utopian luxury, their every desire (within limits) catered to.
Not everyone was or could be satisfied with this lifestyle. Those who could not accept the strictures, whether due to ambition, restlessness, dissatisfaction or physical or mental troubles were labeled Aberrants and were shunned and cast out to prosper or perish on their own. As populations grew and therefore the number of outcasts as well, the Aberrants began to band together into their own societies on the fringes of Gaian communities, disturbing the tranquility and harmony of the Children.
Rather than force Children to abandon utopia to purge these Abarrants as was done in previous decades, the First Disciple of the time instead hit upon a solution - Aberrants would no longer become only outcasts, but would instead join a new society better suited to their nature - and this society would exist to serve the Children, providing for their needs and allowing greater luxury for the faithful.
As the population of Terra bloomed once more, the servitors were forced to become more and more industrialized to meet the needs of the far larger population of the Children that they supported. Eventually they formed their own government, modeled on the Roman Republic. They became the Republic of Terra. Divorcing themselves from their original roots, all those who were outcast or born into the Republic took Roman names.
In time, the two societies have more or less diverged. While the Children of Gaia occupy the vast majority of the Earth, their lack of education, drive and industrialization keeps things more or less stable. Those who cannot accept the lifestyle naturally tend to join the Republic. The servitors meanwhile live in enclaves, cut off from the Children. They have continued to provide for the Children of Gaia, though the sense of obligation drilled into their ancestors have long faded - most of the Republic resents the burden of caring for billions of lazy layabouts (as they see the Children), but acknowledges the sheer scale of the humanitarian disaster if they ceased doing so. Indolent and uneducated, the Children would descend into complete chaos if the Republic’s aid was cut off or limited.
As the Republic approached the level of technology that their ancestors before the Collapse once enjoyed, their eyes turned once more outward. Satellites were once more launched into orbit, and probes visited the planets and asteroid belt once more. More were sent out to explore the edges of the solar system and deep space. These explorations were conducted for scientific research, as well as practical exploration with an eye towards long-term solutions for the eventual exhaustion of mineral resources on Terra.
It was a matter of luck more than anything that one of those deep space probes caught sight of the mysterious and long sought for Planet Nine. Choosing the name Minerva for it, long years passed as a probe was sent to directly observe the distant planet for the first time.
They discovered a super-Jovian planet, with a diameter slightly larger than Jupiter itself, but a crushing gravity of 5.1g in the outer reaches of the atmosphere. It was orbited by 18 moons, two of which were large enough to pass as small planetoids in the ninth and tenth orbits. While the ninth possessed traces of a hydrogen-helium atmosphere, peculiarities with the tenth drew the attention of the probe’s team.
As the probe drew near, excitement turned to shock and horror as the first scans and images were transmitted the long distance back to Terra. The moon, dubbed Arachne, was covered in a mathematically precise grid of craters that covered it from pole to pole, whatever features it had possessed long pounded to ash and dust. In fact, strong traces of radioactivity still hung around the planet, and whatever atmosphere the planet had ever had was long lost.
In the midst of the devastation, angular shapes were found around one particularly tall and battered mountain. Closer scans from orbit revealed what appeared to be structures, and the probe was risked to confirm the theory, dispatching its only survey drone to investigate. Entering the mountain, it encountered pockets of atmosphere poisoned with virulent mixtures of chemicals and acids, as well as radioactive remnants. However, the structures were confirmed to have once been inhabited, and the alien city extended into the mountain.
The drone survived nearly a full week in the hellish environment under the mountain before expiring to the toxic and radioactive atmosphere, exploring the ruins. One of the last images it managed to transmit was the central chamber of the mountain, a massive open space centered around a strange pylon that seemed to break the rules of Euclidean geometry.
The findings of the probe’s mission was considered, studied, investigated and analyzed for months as debate raged in the Senate about the findings. Eventually, the following conclusions were made:
First, Minerva was not a natural part of the solar system. As was theorized, it was thrown clear of another nearby solar system millions of years ago, only to drift close enough to settle into a precarious and distant orbit around Sol.
Second, Arachne had once been home to a technologically advanced society, one that made use of materials that were unknown to humanity at this point. The materials sampled by the probe had properties that defied Newtonian physics as they were currently understood, and had made it possible for the city, which had been built into and under a massive mountain to survive despite the horrific damage inflicted to the moon.
Third, that the Arachnians had been the victims of a deliberate genocide of multiple steps. The first step were the weapon damage found within the city, clear signs of short range combat with directed energy and kinetic weapons. The second was the excessive bombardment using enhanced yield atomics to leave as much long-lasting radioactive fallout as possible. The third was that there were clear signs that the atmosphere of the moon had been deliberately poisoned with many types of toxic gas.
Whether the Arachnians had fought among themselves or been attacked by a third party, the aggressors had gone to absurd lengths to ensure that any survivors of the attack would die of radiation or the toxic slurry the atmosphere had become.
The resolutions from this discovery were simple, but would profoundly change the Republic’s destiny.
First, none of this would be leaked back to the Children. Their First Disciple was considered a particularly ignorant and capricious figure, even in light of his predecessor, who had been forced to ‘retire’ after he had attempted to order the Republic to end all space activity because he found the artificial satellites disruptive to his stargazing.
Second, all research efforts would turn towards analyzing these Trans-Newtonian materials and determining if there was any way to find, synthesize or make use of them.
Third, the space program would turn its efforts towards three goals - exploring the Sol system, establishing colonies on Luna, Mars and beyond, and preparing for the possibilities of hostile alien species.
Fourth, military forces would be raised to defend humanity - while the fate of the Arachnians was millions of years old, it was also proof positive that alien races existed, and that at least one of them was or had been genocidal. A pacifistic society such as the Children would be wheat before the scythe in the face of such a species, and the Republic’s duty to humanity was to ensure that the species would survive and prosper. To do so, the Republic would need the strength to defend themselves and the Children from whatever they faced.
Gyrfalcon:
The Government of the New Roman Republic
The Republic is led by a House of Tribes and the Senate, with executive authority held by the Consul and Co-Consul.
The House of Tribes represents the average citizens of the Republic. Each Tribe arranges and handles the necessary government functions for one million citizens, the area arranged by an independent commission utilizing computer mapping to keep the tribal districts as compact and square as possible. One candidate is elected from the Tribal government to the House to advocate for the needs of their constituents.
The Senate consists of 100 members, its members are made up of the political parties of the Republic. Based on the results of the popular vote, each party controls a number of seats equaling their popular support.
The Consul and Co-Consul are elected from the two largest parties. The government is usually formed by those two parties and any others needed to assure a majority in the senate, though there have been times where the Consul ruled with an alliance of smaller parties, cutting out the Co-Consul’s party. As both Consuls possess the power to veto a bill unless overruled by a two thirds majority, these minority governments were often ineffective.
After the revelations of Arachne, the government went through an election cycle as many splinter parties merged together, new parties formed and existant parties reshaped themselves. The six parties are:
The Boni, representing the traditionalists and status quo in the senate.
The Pius, the most fervent worshippers of Gaia. They demand that control of the Republic be given over to the First Disciple, total disarmament and the end of scientific research and exploration of space.
The Populares, representing the people. Their focus is industrial growth and expansion.
The Quaesitor, pushing for exploring the scientific possibilities of Trans-Newtonian technology and exploration of the solar system.
The Optimates, who believe that a strong central government is needed and that the Republic should take control of the Children for the good of humanity.
The Tutela, who are concerned with the expansion of the military and the defense of the human race.
Of the parties, the Pius are seen as a fringe party, their goals completely at odds with every other party. They have always been a party in opposition to the government, and have never served as part of a ruling coalition.
The Tutela are a newly formed party with a mix of new members and former members of the Optimates and the Populares. With what is currently known of Arachne, it is clear that intelligent and advanced life has existed in the universe, and that life has taken part in space-based warfare. Safeguarding humanity and Terra from suffering the same fate is their primary goal.
The Quaesitor were a small party, an offshoot of the Populares. However with the amazing potential of Trans-Newtonian technology, they have been catapulted to the largest party in the Senate by a wide majority based on their platform of researching and exploiting this new area of science.
The Boni, Populares and Optimates are all long-standing parties, representing driving interests in the status quo, improving the lot of the average citizen, and the ambitions of the state respectively.
January 1, 367 AF (After Founding)
After the discovery of Minerva and its moon Arachne the previous year, it was with a bit of surprise that Galerius Urgulanius Lucullus of the Quaesitors took his place as the Consul of the Republic, with Sextus Flavius Clement of the Populares as his Co-Consul.
The results of the election places the Quaesitors as the largest party with 32 seats, followed by the Populares with 20. The Pius had grown significantly to 14 seats, followed closely by the new Tutela with 13. The Optimates and Boni were hard-stung by the new order of things, trailing at 11 and 10 seats respectively.
While in the normal order of things a government composed of the Quaesitors, Populares and Pius would have formed a stable government with the votes needed to pass their agenda on a 2/3rds majority, the strident demands by the Pius that the Republic turn inward instead of look outward meant that Galerius and Sextus had instead looked to the new Tutela. Not enough on their own to secure the two-thirds majority, they managed to convince two of the Optimates to join their party until the next elections - a task that proved easy as the founding of a standing army would do much to strengthen the Republic’s position in regards to the teeming multitudes of the Children of Gaia in the Optimates eyes.
The first order of business was authorizing the founding of the Armed Forces of the Republic, consisting of the Fleet and the Legions. The vote went as expected - 86 to 14.
The Legion was initially authorized to raise one Legion of forces with two units of auxiliaries. Two scientists had volunteered their expertise in matters relating to ground combat, Galerius Galenus Pompolussa and Spurius Calatorius Fimus. They were equally matched, rated at 10% more effective in their chosen field and capable of coordinating up to 10 labs - though it was unlikely they would have that kind of resources available any time soon.
The Quaesitors next order of business was allocating research effort towards investigating Trans-Newtonian technology. While the Republic lacked a dedicated scientist in the field of Construction / Production, an adventurous Biologist by the name of Galerius Lusius Crispus volunteered to switch his specialty. He would only be 101% effective in the field, but hoped to grow his expertise in a field that looked to be critical in the coming years.
After the lobbying was finished, the Republic’s science efforts were laid out:
9 labs researching Trans-Newtonian Theory under Galerius Lusius Crispus, slated to be done around September 1, 369
1 lab researching TN-Assisted Construction Equipment under Gaerius Galenus Pompolussa, slated to be done late 384.
1 lab researching Conventional Composite Armor under Spurius Manlius Trailus, done in November of 367
1 lab researching equipment for the legions under Spurius Calatorius Fimus, slated to take roughly two and a half years
Vibius Secundinius Ventor, an avid science fiction buff was confirmed as Rear Admiral and leader of the Roman Republic Navy - though the position was mostly ceremonial, as the Republic had no idea how a space navy could be achieved with their current technology.
Appius Septimus Florus was confirmed as the first Dux of the Legions, and Legate Appius Papirius Nelius was assigned as Commandant of the Campus Martius, the Republic’s first military college.
Finally, the government’s construction efforts for the next few years were determined - an expansion in the military factories, financial centers to grow the economy, a new research facility, and expansion to the space industry to support the next missions into space.
The Navy commissioned a team to begin Project TRIBAL, a manned survey craft capable of reaching and returning from Minerva. Estimated to be a trip of 25.7b km one way, the resulting design was disappointing:
--- Code: ---Tribal class Survey Craft (P) 6,252 tons 60 Crew 131.2 BP TCS 125 TH 38 EM 0
299 km/s Armour 1-30 Shields 0-0 HTK 25 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 13 Max Repair 20 MSP
Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Lieutenant Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Quatruus Marine Commercial Conventional Engine EP12.5 (3) Power 37.5 Fuel Use 11.18% Signature 12.5 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 51.3 billion km (1987 days at full power)
RR/SQR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RR/SAD-2 Electromagnetic Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
--- End code ---
The design would be expected to take 995 days to reach Minerva, where its crew could take a shuttle to the ground. However, it was incapable of carrying large amounts of equipment with it, or extra personnel dedicated to the work on the ground.
The design was shelved for the moment, to be revisited once the possibilities presented by Trans-Newtonian technology could be explored.
March 17, 367
The first graduate of the Campus Martius programs joined the Legions. Vibius Milonius Reginus joined with strong marks indicating aptitude in archeology work that may translate to the ruins found on Arachne.
May 15, 367
Galerius Galenus Pompolussa increased his research effectiveness to 115%, shortening the timeframe needed to create new rapid construction equipment.
November 18, 367
Research was completed into the formation of the infantry Cohort and the necessary equipment and training needed for its Centurions. Research begins on the supplies needed for a combat unit.
November 23, 367
Research is completed into Conventional Composite Armor. Research begins on Conventional Advanced Composite Armor, scheduled to be completed in March of 369.
As a result of the new armor technology, plans are revised for the gear for the Legionnaires already in queue to be designed.
February 16, 368
The ancillary gear for the legions is designed, and work begins on the equipment and training needed for a legionnaire.
April 21, 368
The AR-1 is approved for service. A simple design, it is heavily influenced by the ancient AK-47 of the pre-Collapse society, examples of which could still be found in working order during archeology expeditions.
Work begins on a larger, crew-served machine gun to serve as a squad support weapon.
July 30, 368
Work is completed on SSW-2, a light machine gun. Work begins on an anti-vehicle weapon.
October 24, 358
Gnaeus Vagionius Faustus is the first naval graduate of the Campus Martius. The Navy has been bleeding officers over the last two years due to a series of deadly accidents in their daily lives, and a new member is well received.
November 23, 368
The TOW-3 anti-tank missile is developed. It is designed to be effective against heavily armored vehicles, though its capabilities are largely theoretical as it can only be tested against up-armored dummy vehicles.
Work begins on a man-portable mortar.
March 7, 369
Spurious Manlius Trailus, busy with Conventional AdvancedComposite Armor increases his administrative abilities further. He could now comfortably coordinate 39 labs, more then three times the amount available to the Republic.
In other news, one of the current administration’s ambitions is achieved as maintenance facilities are completed for up to 10,000 tons of space ships. The resources freed up are directed towards the commercial shipyard complex and the ground force construction complex.
March 29, 369
Trailus completes his research into Conventional Advanced Composite Armor. Unfortunately, he has reached the limits of Newtonian materials.
Publius Curius Servatius, a biologist, successfully petitions the Senate to allocate the research facility to his project mapping the human genome and the comparison of its differences from pre-Collapse data available. The project is expected to be completed in early 383.
The Vectura IFV receives a new (and hopefully last) revision to incorporate the better armor technology.
April 3, 369
The MPM-4 (Man Portable Mortar) is completed, and Fimus’ science team begins working on the last component of the proposed Legion cohort, the Vectura Infantry Fighting Vehicle Mk III.
September 6, 369
Galerius Luscius Crispus goes into history as the father of Trans-Newtonian physics. The work of his teams over the last two and a half years has borne fruit, and humanity will never be the same.
Roman Republic Statistics - September 369
Population: 512.58m (+12.58m)
Annual Growth Rate: 0.91%
Manufacturing Sector: 74.8m employed, 53.35m available, 128.14m total.
Research Facilities: 12
Ground Force Construction Complex: 1
Conventional Industry: 1,200
Maintenance Facility: 10 (+10)
Financial Center: 6 (+6)
Deep Space Tracking Station: 1
Military Academy: 1
Naval Headquarters: 1
Spaceport: 1
Fuel Available: 7,404,740t
Maintenance Supplies: 1,361
Gyrfalcon:
--- Quote ---Excerpt from the introductory lecture to Trans-Dimensional Physics 101
“...what is the Aether you ask? It surrounds us and penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together… no, wait, that is the Force.” Galerius Luscius Crispus laughed, and the auditorium full of students politely laugh with him.
“My poor joke aside, the Aether does surround and penetrate us - at its simplest, the Aether is our name for a dimension that is similar to our own and coexists in close proximity. Our dimensions share many of the same rules, but also have many critical differences. One of the most obvious is that the Aether is not a Newtonian universe, and laws that are absolute here do not apply there.”
“In practical regards, this has the potential to open up practical mass space travel to us within our lifetimes. A ship traveling within an Aether bubble will be many times faster and infinitely more agile than one relying on conventional technology.”
Galerius paused to take a sip from his glass of water.
“The key to TN technology are eleven minerals that are present in the Aether, but not our dimension. We’ll cover those materials in depth in a later lecture, but what is important is that the gravity well of a planet - like Terra - serves to attract those minerals. This allows opening rifts into the Aether and extracting those minerals to our reality, where we can refine and process them to useful purposes. We are fortunate that all eleven that were first discovered used in the alien ruins on Arachne are also present on Terra itself.”
“Now we’ll take a look at the enabling equations that allow us to open stable rifts to the Aether. If you open your books to page 27…”
--- End quote ---
September 6, 369
The new possibilities provided by TN technology forces the Senate to overhaul its plans for the next few years. The first order of business is reordering construction priorities.
Present tasks are given just 10% of the capacity available, except for the Research facility, which remains at 20%. The remaining 50% is put towards beginning to upgrade the Republic’s industrial base to use the new technology. It is believed that upgrading the industrial base fully would increase productivity almost 250%, something that appeals to the Populares in the Senate.
The scientists have a dizzying array of avenues to pursue in Trans-Newtonian research, but there is a problem - the scientific base is limited in their areas of skill. Critically, there are no specialists at all in the critical fields of Energy Fields, Logistics, Power and Propulsion and Sensors and Control Systems.
The solution for the moment is that Galerius Luscius Crispus will be made Commandant of the Campus Martius, to identify potential lead scientists among the STEM classes there.
The Quaesitors in the Senate push to build systems that would allow project TRIBAL to produce a survey vessel, based on Dr. Crispus’ assertion that properly tuned sensors should be able to detect concentrations of TN minerals from orbit.
The Navy proposes that before construction of a vessel (already dependent on the shipyards being finished first) is possible, gravity and geological sensor technology would be needed, along with first generation TN engine technology. Dr. Trailus believes that a hull composed of Duranium would also provide significant weight savings to the design and would be easy to design, so his requirement is added to the proposal.
Dr. Servatius is pulled off his Genome Sequence research and retasked to research the sensor technology, while Dr. Quietus begins working on the engine technology and Dr. Trailus researches creating a hull composed of Duranium.
Research Projects:
Active Grav Sensor Strength 10 - Publius Curius Servatius - 1.2x, 4 labs - done September 370
TN Construction Equipment - Galerius Galenus Pompolussa - 1.6x, 3 labs, done January 374
Pressurised Water Reactor - Manius Volumnius Quietus - 1.2x, 3 labs, done in July 370
Duranium Armor - Spurious Manlius Trailus - 1.4x, 1 lab, done in June 371
Vectura IFV Mk III - Spurious Calatorius Fimus, 1.4x, 1 lab, done in December 369
December 4, 369
The Vectura IFV Mk III is complete, and the design for the Infantry Cohort is finalized.
--- Code: ---Legion Cohort
Transport Size: 5,746 tons
Build Cost: 168.9 BP
6x Centurion
420x Legionnaire '67
24x Legionnaire '67 (CAP)
18x Legionnaire '67 (LAV)
18x Legionnaire '67 (LB)
60x Vectura IFV Mk III
37x Cohort Combat Supplies
--- End code ---
480 legionnaires divided into six centuries of 80. Each century is divided into ten contubernium of 8 legionnaires, with one carrying a heavy support weapon, and the others helping share the load of ammunition and equipment to support it. Each contubernium is carried into battle by a light autocannon-equipped Vectura IFV, which carries supplies to allow the Cohort to operate independently for more than a week of constant fighting.
The first Cohort begins training immediately, while research begins on the command equipment needed to organize five cohorts.
May 28, 370
The Republic’s first graduate from the leadership program for scientists is Oppius Volusenus Catullus, with an admin rating of 20 and research bonus of 20%, he would be a prime candidate… if he wasn’t their third Ground Combat specialist.
Nonetheless, he is selected to replace Spurius Calatorius Fimus as the Republic’s ground forces weapons and equipment designer.
July 7, 370
Research of a Sorium-fueled Pressurised Water Reactor is completed successfully, and work begins on adapting that technology to produce Nuclear Thermal Engine technology, slated to be completed in late 371.
September 8, 370
The first Legion Cohort is commissioned today, and Senior Centurion Spurius Talmudius Musa has the honor of being the first commanding officer in the Legions.
September 23, 370
Research is completed on both Active Grav Sensor technology and mobile supply formations for the Legion, necessary for the Vexillatio project. Work begins on geological survey sensors and the Vexillatio command post.
June 21, 371
Research is completed on Duranium armor - as expected, it is a massive boon to Project TRIBAL - updating the hull material used in the design trims 1,500t of weight from the ship with no other changes.
This also presents a challenge for the Legions - the Centurion equipment was designed before any technology improvements and updating their equipment to use Duranium would quadruple their protection. The same goes for the Legionnaire equipment, which would be doubled.
Ultimately the decision is made to hold off on refreshing the technology, as there are plans to produce new weapons based on TN technology, and there are no threats present at the moment.
Dr. Trailus begins working on an innovative project to energize the inner surface of the warp bubble used to enter the Aether. He believes that it would be possible to create a shield of sorts that would protect the ship from damage. He begins research, though it will be years before his work will bear any fruit.
August 15, 371
The challenge of his new work has spurred Dr. Trailus to several innovative new techniques, improving his research bonus to 15%.
October 9, 371
Work is completed on the technology for Geological Survey Sensors, and Dr. Servatius’ teams begin creating working designs for Project TRIBAL of the necessary sensor technologies.
December 1, 371
Dr. Quietus has completed research into Nuclear Thermal Engine technology. Based on the requirements for Project TRIBAL and the disruptive effect of the Geosurvey Sensor built into the design, they begin work on a military-grade engine, far more compact and powerful then the civilian-grade engine it was originally designed with.
While work is underway on the sensors and engines of the vessel, the updated specification for Project TRIBAL is far different then its first incarnation.
--- Code: ---Tribal class Survey Craft (P) 1,877 tons 36 Crew 232.6 BP TCS 38 TH 50 EM 0
1331 km/s Armour 1-13 Shields 0-0 HTK 22 Sensors 5/5/0/1 DCR 1 PPV 0
Maint Life 7.46 Years MSP 202 AFR 28% IFR 0.4% 1YR 6 5YR 96 Max Repair 100 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 18 months Morale Check Required
Hilario-Priscillianus Marine NTE-50 (1) Power 50.0 Fuel Use 100% Signature 50.00 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 600,000 Litres Range 57.5 billion km (500 days at full power)
RR/SPN-3 Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 1000 Range 18.5m km Resolution 100
RR/SQR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RR/SAD-2 Electromagnetic Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Geological Survey Sensors (1) 1 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Survey Ship for auto-assignment purposes
--- End code ---
January 1, 372
Over the past five years, the coalition government of the Quaesitors, Populares and Tutela have worked hard to roll out Trans Newtonian technology, the army initiative, and prepare for space flight. In the last months, their efforts have been judged in the polls as the political parties campaigned and jockeyed for position.
Now the results of the election were confirmed.
The Boni lost two seats, from 10 to 8
The Pius gained a stunning 6 seats, from 14 to 20
The Populares lost 3 seats, from 20 to 17
The Quaesitors remained the largest party, but went from 32 to 29 seats.
The Optimates gained one seat, taking them to 12.
The Tutela gained one seat as well, taking them to 14.
The losses to the Pius could be traced to dissatisfaction with the unemployment level. The Pius campaigned on creating more jobs, and unease with the break with tradition that was establishing a military. The new jobs that the Quaesitors and Populares had promised were slow in coming, and the Pius hammered hard on that during the election.
This meant that the Consul remained Galerius Urgalanius Lucullus, while the Co-Consul became Timerius Didius Crassus, a noted and bitter foe of the government of the past five years.
To Consul Lucullus, a government with the Pius was unthinkable, but it meant that any government formed would have to include four parties instead of three, straining the government’s stability.
That the Quaesitors, Populares and Tutela would continue working together was not the issue, but the question was whether to approach the Boni or the Optimates.
The Boni were quite uncomfortable with the rapid changes taking place in the Republic, and would require that the programs in place be heavily curtailed, particularly the plans for the Legions.
The Optimates on the other hand were perhaps easier to appease. They are fully in favor of the current economic policies, but will demand that the Legion mandate be expanded to four, and that more priority be given to constructing a second GFCC.
In the end, the coalition with the Optimates was formed, and the government plans proceed as usual, except with a more tedious step as Co-Consul Crassus vetoes each proposal and the senate majority votes to override his veto.
Party Goals:
Quaesitors - Construct the first scientific spacecraft and begin exploring the Sol system
Populares - Continue the conversion of industry to TN standards and lower unemployment
Tutela - Construct the first military spacecraft, expand the Legions
Optimates - Expand the Legions significantly and increase ground force training capability.
Roman Republic Statistics - January 372
Population: 523.29m (+10.71m)
Annual Growth Rate: 0.88%
Manufacturing Sector: 74.9m employed, 55.92m available, 130.82m total
Research Facilities: 12
GFCC: 1
Conventional Industry: 1120 (-80)
Construction Factories: 16 (+16)
Fighter Factories: 16 (+16)
Mine: 16 (+16)
Fuel Refinery: 16 (+16)
Maintenance Facility: 10 (-)
Financial Centers: 24 (+18)
DSTS: 1 (-)
Military Academy: 1 (-)
Naval Headquarters: 1 (-)
Spaceport: 1 (-)
Fuel Available: 14,374,328
Maintenance Supplies: 3,494
Legions:
1,212 legionnaires in service
Legion Cohort I
Legion Cohort II
Gyrfalcon:
Timerius Didius Crassus threw himself into his chair behind the wide desk in his new office with more force than was strictly necessary, but the disaster that was the last week in general and the last day in particular stoked his frustrations to a fever pitch.
The gains the Pius had made during the election were a clear remit that the people were with them. For the first time in its history, the party had elected one of its own to a Consulship! But the Apostates (as the Pius termed the seculars that rejected Gaia) had rejected his offered hand in negotiation. They scorned his lectures on the clear dangers their reckless rush headlong into uncharted waters brought to them all. The purpose of their society was to serve the Children humbly, to redeem themselves of their sins, and to labor that they be reborn as Children of Gaia anew!
Until his election, he had not known the sheer scale of the Romans' rejection of the ways of the righteous. The plans to raise a military force had been presented as theoretical, but in the past years they had begun to break the precept of pacifism with wild abandon. And now the thrice-cursed Optimates sought to compound the sin, the price of their votes to quadruple the number of Legions raised.
To add to the disaster, Crassus himself had entered the history books already as having given the most vetos in one term, and it was but his first day. He also held the record on the most vetos overruled - 57 in all. His face burned with anger and humiliation as he recalled some of his colleagues laughing as they once again flouted his authority.
As he stewed in his frustration, he swept his eyes across the austere chamber that was his new office. He had few decorations, but one that stood out was the symbol of the children - two hands cupping a stylized depiction of Gaia in browns and greens. The Children… of course.
Timerius straightened as he realized what must be done. One of the first laws reaffirmed in the first session was that contact with the Children about the Romans’ advances was to be curtailed, but he had his own channels to reach out to them without suspicion. The Pius were the first to volunteer with outreach duty with the Children, serving humbly at the community centers across the world where they listened to the needs of the Children and arranged that they received what they wanted as quickly and efficiently as possible.
With a steady hand, Timerius tapped the communication terminal and arranged to meet with Adept Abel Jakobson at the Adapt’s earliest convenience, to discuss matters of the Republic’s service to the Children.
If the Republic’s leaders sought to lead its people into sin, it was the duty of the faithful to turn that path aside for the good of all.
February 19, 372
The research bonus of Dr. Publius Curius Servatius increases to 25%. He is currently busy creating working examples of the sensors to be used in Project TRIBAL.
March 5, 372
Research is completed on the RR/SPN-3 Navigation Sensor, and work begins on the RR/SQR-1 Thermal Sensor. Once work on the sensor is done, Dr. Servatius can be retasked to other work.
May 1, 372
All sensor technology is completed for Project TRIBAL. The four labs under Dr. Servatius are retasked. The current state of research is as follows:
TN Construction Equipment - 4 labs - August 373
Hilario-Priscillanus Marine NTE-50 - 3 labs - May 372
Vexillatio Command Post - 2 labs - September 372
Genome Sequence Research - 1 lab - June 384
Troop Transport Bay - Standard - 1 lab - August 386
Alpha Shields - 1 lab - August 374
May 27, 372
A new scientist joins the Republic’s R&D establishment. Servius Herminius Marinus is a Logistics expert and can control up to 20 labs, but provides no research bonus to his work yet.
June 1, 372
Dr. Pompolussa increases his research bonus to 25%. Meanwhile, Dr. Quietus completes the engine for Project TRIBAL, and begins work on the first Trans-Newtonian weapon - a 10cm railgun.
September 18, 372
The command and control equipment needed for the Vexillatio Command Post are complete, allowing for the creation of the Vexillatio formation.
--- Code: ---Legion Vexillatio
Transport Size: 5,958 tons
Build Cost: 259.9 BP
1x Vexillatio Command Post
93x Legion Combat Supplies
--- End code ---
The unit is nothing more than the command necessary for its component cohorts and supplies to support them.
Work begins on a larger headquarters to command an entire Legion, scheduled to be complete in May of 375.
November 16, 372
The construction of Financial Centers that began before the advent of TN technology is completed. The resources from the project are directed towards the construction of the second GFCC.
December 31, 372
Closing out the year, Dr. Lucius Sergius Typhoeus joins, a Missiles / Kinetic Weapons expert with 20% research bonus and capable of organizing 20 labs. While his proposals in the area of Gauss Cannons are interesting, there are simply no resources available at the moment to pursue them.
March 14, 373
Dr. Galerius Duccius Minianus joins the Republic. Another Missile / Kinetic Weapons expert, his specialization and research bonus of 10% makes it unlikely that he will lead projects of his own.
May 3, 373
Research is completed on the 10cm railgun. While its companion research is still underway, the technology has direct applications to weapons and armor. The Optimates push for the creation of a main battle tank utilizing the new technology and for work to begin on Auxilia units to match the first legion. The fact that the legion is not even half formed only dampens their enthusiasm slightly.
May 8, 373
The long-running research into TN Construction equipment is completed. The Munitor Construction Vehicle is designed and work begins on turning that design into reality.
September 15, 373
The Munitor Construction Vehicle is completed, and work begins on a mobile command vehicle and a main battle tank design.
October 20, 373
The first part of the conversion project started years ago is complete, with 30 small craft factories providing as much output as the whole pre TN industrial base. The Populares win the debate on what to do with the freed up industrial output, putting it back into converting newtonian industry to Construction Factories under the point that increasing the production base will speed all the projects along faster.
January 19, 374
Research is completed on the Praetorium Mobile Command Vehicle, intended to serve as a front line command vehicle for mobile cohorts.
The Architecti Cohort is the first planned type of Auxilia, intended to bolster its attached Legion.
--- Code: ---Architecti Cohort
Transport Size: 5,784 tons
Build Cost: 241 BP
18x Munitor Construction Vehicle
1x Praetorium Mobile Command Vehicle
--- End code ---
Work begins on a Main Battle Tank design.
April 8th, 374
Research is completed on the complete workings of a railgun, enabling prototypes to launch four rounds every five seconds, at a velocity of 10,000m/s.
April 13th, 374
Researchers complete the prototype of the Essedum Main Battle Tank. Equipped with a smoothbore railgun and a coaxial machinegun and armored in Duranium, it is an advance over any tank that the Ancients manufactured.
--- Code: ---Ala Cohort
Transport Size: 5,716 tons
Build Cost: 469.3 BP
6x Praetorium Mobile Command Vehicle
78x Essedum MBT
52x Cohort Combat Supplies
--- End code ---
The cavalry Ala cohort is made up of six 13-tank Centuries, with the Centurions commanding from Praetorium Command Vehicles. Equipped with a coaxial machine gun and a false weapon barrel, the design externally resembles the Essedum, while the turret is mostly filled with the command and control equipment needed to coordinate a Century and the Cohort as a whole.
July 17, 374
The Laenas Kinetics 10cm Railgun prototype is complete. Dr. Quietus takes his team and begins work on a larger 12cm model.
July 27, 374
Work is completed on the design for the Scorpio Field Artillery, a medium static artillery piece. A Cohort consists of six Centuries of these weapons, and each Century contains 16 artillery pieces.
--- Code: ---Artillery Cohort
Transport Size: 5,992 tons
Build Cost: 284.5 BP
6x Praetorium Mobile Command Vehicle
96x Scorpio Field Artillery
64x Cohort Combat Supplies
--- End code ---
At the same time, work is completed on the RR/SPG-4 20/1250 Fire Control System. Very quietly, the Navy has been working on a design for an armed space vessel based on the possibilities Trans-Newtonian technology offered. They had so far managed to keep the project from the Co-Consul’s attention, and the goal was to keep it that way.
Project VICTORY called for a 2,000t vessel, lightly armored, armed with railguns and with a higher speed then Project TRIBAL has.
--- Code: ---Victory class Sloop (P) 1,990 tons 63 Crew 152.9 BP TCS 40 TH 63 EM 0
1570 km/s Armour 2-14 Shields 0-0 HTK 16 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 9
Maint Life 6.42 Years MSP 72 AFR 21% IFR 0.3% 1YR 3 5YR 45 Max Repair 31.25 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Morale Check Required
Hilario-Priscillanus Marine NTE-62.5 (1) Power 62.5 Fuel Use 89.44% Signature 62.50 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 10.1 billion km (74 days at full power)
Laenas Kinetics 10cm Railgun V10/C1 (3x4) Range 10,000km TS: 1,570 km/s Power 3-1 RM 10,000 km ROF 15
RR/SPG-4 20/1250 Fire Control System (1) Max Range: 20,000 km TS: 1,250 km/s 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Orissus Drive Systems Pressurised Water Reactor R3 (1) Total Power Output 3.1 Exp 5%
RR/SPN-3 Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 1000 Range 18.5m km Resolution 100
RR/SQR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
RR/SAD-2 Electromagnetic Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a c for auto-assignment purposes
--- End code ---
The initial design fit the design requirements, clocking in just under the size cut off, with a layer of Duranium armor over the hull, a larger engine and three 10cm railguns powered by a small pressurised water reactor. The tradeoff is a much shorter range as the design is not intended to make a round trip to Arachne, and a much shorter operational duration.
Roman Republic Statistics - July 374
Population: 534.80m (+11.51m)
Annual Growth Rate: 0.84%
Manufacturing Sector: 75m employed, 58.7m available, 133.7m total
Research Facilities: 12 (-)
GFCC: 1 (-)
Conventional Industry: 1,020 (-100)
Construction Factory: 42 (+26)
Fighter Factories: 30 (+16)
Mine: 36 (+20)
Fuel Refiner: 36 (+20)
Maintenance Facility: 10 (-)
Financial Center: 46 (+22)
DSTS: 1 (-)
Military Academy: 1 (-)
Naval Headquarters: 1 (-)
Spaceport: 1 (-)
Fuel Reserves: 23.7m liters
Maintenance Reserves: 5,859t
Legions:
3,636 legionnaires in service
Legion Cohort I
Legion Cohort II
Legion Cohort III
Legion Cohort IV
Legion Cohort V
Legion Cohort VI
Gyrfalcon:
Formation of the Army
After hundreds of years of worldwide peace and pacifism, the Republic had absolutely no native military traditions. Even law enforcement was only a minor part of society and largely armed with only non-lethal and defensive weapons. Therefore, the Armed Forces Committee had to reach back in history for a source of inspiration for the formation and naming of the Republic’s nascent Army.
It was perhaps completely unsurprising that their choice was the Legions of the Roman Empire, which had been considered one of the finest fighting forces of the ancient times and had thematic links to the older Roman Republic, the source of inspiration for the modern incarnation. What they discovered was that up to a certain point, the Legion doctrine meshed well with more modern tactical doctrines that were also considered, lacking mostly a certain degree of flexibility once formations became larger - for example, a classic Legion had no formal subdivision between the company-sized Cohort and the brigade-sized Legion. On a modern battlefield, it was assumed that it would be common that Cohorts would be spread out and would need to be able to organize at a smaller level then the full Legion.
At the most basic level was the Contubernium, an 8 man unit consisting of a Decurion in command, supported by an Optio as the senior enlisted, and 6 regular enlisted. Tactically, the unit could split into two 4-man elements as needed, led by either the Decurion or the Optio. The Contubernium is armed with seven personal infantry weapons, and one squad support weapon such as a machine gun, mortar or anti-tank weapon. Extra ammunition for this weapon would be carried by the unit as a whole.
Ten Conteburniums form a Century, commanded by a Centurion. Each Century would also be assigned ten Vectura Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The Vectura IFV is a light vehicle equipped with a light autocannon as a compromise between different designs with dedicated anti-vehicle and anti-infantry weapons and could carry a Contubernium and their associated equipment.
Six Centuries form a Cohort, commanded by the Primi Ordines, or more commonly referred to as the Senior Centurion, the longest-serving Centurion in the Cohort. The Cohort would also handle supplies for its associated Centuries. While each Contubernium would be expected to carry enough food, water and ammunition to sustain three days of active combat, the Cohort would have enough supplies on hand to supply them three times over - giving a total active combat time of 12 days before supplies would be exhausted.
Five Cohorts form a Vexillatio, commanded by a Tribune. Also called a Demi-Legion, the Vexillatio would likewise manage the supply train for the Cohorts under its command, providing another nine days of supplies - enough for 21 days at this point.
A legion is composed of two infantry Vexillationes and up to two auxiliary Vexillationes, once again managing another reserve of supplies.
Two to four Legions form a Corps, commanded by a Dux.
Two to four Corps form an Army, commanded by a Magister Militarium, or simply Magister.
Finally, a General can be appointed as the final authority of the army before the Senate.
Of course, much of this was highly theoretical to start with. After converting what industry was suitable, the Republic only had enough factories and facilities to train and outfit a single Cohort at a time. Even after years of work, that capacity has only been doubled. Likewise, all of the officer candidates originally only had only a theoretical knowledge of their duties - for the first years, the Army’s officer corp consisted of talented amateurs while fully trained officers worked their way up the chain of command while earning practical experience.
August 6, 374
Dr. Titus Herennius Urbicus joins the Roman Republic’s R&D department. A long-awaited expert in Power and Propulsion, he begins working on boosting the potential of engines and reactors beyond their current limits.
August 16, 374
Dr. Trailus completes the first half of his research into energy shielding, managing to create a sustained energy field on the inside of the warp bubble of a probe in the Aether. However, that field still needs to be capable of being reinforced, and work begins on solving that issue.
October 7, 374
The design for the Legion Headquarters is completed, allowing the last elements of the Legion to be designed.
--- Code: ---Legion
Transport Size: 5,966 tons
Build Cost: 372.6 BP
1x Legion Headquarters
92x Legion Combat Supplies
Supply Cohort
Transport Size: 5,952 tons
Build Cost: 238.1 BP
96x Legion Combat Supplies
--- End code ---
The Legion command post can command up to 180,000t of troops - 36kt more than a full legion with attached auxilia would need. In temporary cases, a fifth Vexillatio could be attached, though senior Legion officers believe that they will make use of that capacity to attach Supply and Architecti cohorts to the legion command, with their services filtering down to the combat cohorts themselves.
Work begins on updating older equipment designs to take advantage of the advances offered by TN materials.
December 31, 374
Dr Tiberius Lusius Mercurialis joins the research effort., a Construction/Produiction specialist, the Quaesitors immediately jump on having him research improvements to research efficiency.
March 6, 375
A new research facility opens its doors, the first expansion of the Republic’s capabilities in the modern era. The event is marked by celebrations by many as the facilities require a huge amount of supporting infrastructure, and a million new jobs are now available.
There is a small protest by the Pius - though given their nature, they organize themselves in such a way that disruption for their fellow citizens is minimal. They hope to use the event to remind the rest of the Republic that their duty is to care for the Children of Gaia, and this research draws them further away from that task.
The lab is tasked to support the research rate project, trimming years from the project’s expected end date.
The resources freed up are put into finishing the GFCC. One that is done, the Optimates plan to put significant resources into establishing a naval shipyard for TN vessels so that the keel for an exploration vessel can be laid down.
April 20, 375
Research is completed on the design for a STO battery that makes use of the 10cm railgun design. Meant for dual purpose defense of the surface from hostile ships approaching and defending against missile attacks, 23 of the batteries can be formed into a cohort-sized unit.
May 20, 375
The project refreshing the standard equipment of the Roman legionnaire is complete, and the standard formation has been updated.
--- Code: ---Legion Cohort
Transport Size: 5,996 tons
Build Cost: 173.9 BP
6x Centurion '74
420x Legionnaire '74
24x Legionnaire (CAP) '74
18x Legionnaire (LAV) '74
18x Legionnaire (LB) '74
60x Vectura IFV Mk IV
62x Cohort Combat Supplies '74
--- End code ---
While for the most part it is simply a straight across upgrade, Centurions did manage to wrangle that the Cohort would carry more supplies, making maximum usage of the tonnage available.
June 24, 375
Research is completed on a 3 MW pressurised water reactor needed for Project VICTORY. The team begins working on the larger engine for the design.
September 23, 375
The government fulfills its campaign promise to the Optimates, doubling the Republic’s military industrial base and allowing equipment and training for two units to be conducted simultaniously.
The resources are split between construction factory conversions and working on the naval shipyard.
September 28, 375
Dr. Urbicus completes a breakthrough in engine design, allowing for engines with up to 25% more power than previously possible. His next project is to create more powerful reactors.
January 1, 376
Consul Galerius Urgulanius Lucullus’ second term as Consul comes to a close. He can be satisfied that he and his administration have done their best to fulfill their campaign promises for the last five years.
Queasitors - Construct the first scientific spacecraft and begin exploring the Sol system - Incomplete - Shipyard scheduled to be finished in early ‘378
Populares - Continue to convert industry to TN standards and lower unemployment - Partially successful - while the conversion continues full speed ahead and has achieved its first milestone with two more milestones (Construction Factories and Fuel Refineries) planned to be completed in ‘377, unemployment continues to creep upward despite the two million jobs added in the past five years.
Tutlea - Construct the first military spacecraft, expand the Legions - Partially successful - Project VICTORY has been designed and the final design work is underway. However the first shipyard is reserved for Project TRIBAL, and the resources needed for shipyards mean they have a long fight ahead to realize their vision. Expansion of the Legion is ongoing, however.
Optimates - Expand the legions significantly and increase ground force training capability - Successful - The Republic’s military industrial base has doubled, and five Cohorts have been added to the first Legion. Training is underway for the first Vexillatio and the eighth Cohort.
After the votes are tallied, the parties stand as such:
The Boni lost 1 seat, from 8 to 7.
The Pius lost 2 seats, from 20 to 18.
The Populares gained 3 seats, from 17 to 20.
The Quaesitors also remained unchanged with 29 seats.
The Optimates rode their success to an extra seat, taken from the Tutela, leaving them with 13.
The Tutela lost a seat, now with 13 as well.
While the Quasitors and Populares are gratified to return to their original ruling coalition, neither had been able to achieve as much of their agenda as they had wanted due to needing to cater to the Optimates and Tutela to keep their ruling coalition working. Thus they were surprised when they were approached by Timerius Didius Crassus with an offer to bring the Pius into the government as a junior partner, allowing them to form a more stable 3-party government.
The negotiations were contentious, but in the end a Queasitor-Populares-Pius government was formed, surprising the Tutela as they were frozen out of the government for the first time since their formation.
Party Goals:
Quaesitors - Construct the first scientific spacecraft and begin exploring the Sol system. Expand the Republic’s R&D capabilities.
Populares - Finish the first phase of TN conversion, begin building new TN industry alongside.
Pius - Limit Legion training to one Legion and two Auxilia Vexilliones, suspend all military research in favor of peaceful avenues.
Roman Republic Statistics - January 376
Population: 541.16m 534.80m (+6.36m)
Annual Growth Rate: 0.82%
Manufacturing Sector: 77m employed, 58.29m available, 135.29m total
Research Facilities: 13 (+1)
GFCC: 2 (+1)
Conventional Industry: 957 (-63)
Construction Factory: 69 (+27)
Fighter Factories: 30 (-
Mine: 48 (+12)
Fuel Refiner: 48 (+12)
Maintenance Facility: 10 (-)
Financial Center: 58 (+12)
DSTS: 1 (-)
Military Academy: 1 (-)
Naval Headquarters: 1 (-)
Spaceport: 1 (-)
Fuel Reserves: 29.6m liters
Maintenance Reserves: 7,167t
Legions:
4,242 legionnaires in service
Legion Cohort I
Legion Cohort II
Legion Cohort III
Legion Cohort IV
Legion Cohort V
Legion Cohort VI
Legion Cohort VII
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