The Union for Cooperation in the Cosmos

[Wiggles (OP)]

1979
^-Berlin-

Decades have passed since the end of that calamitous war in the 1940s.        From a scathed Europe emerged a bloc of socialist polities, such as Lenin's SFSR; Yugoslavia; and the Worker's Republic in France; and the Worker's Democratic Republic in Germany.        In the tumult of the post-war world, the union of these nations oversaw the spark of revolution flare up the world over, and not without cost or conflict.       

In this period of relative peace, something has the world's foremost scientists as well as dignitaries gather in Berlin for some scientific congress.       

1980
^-Kigali-

The discovery of elements not yet recorded in our scientific tables had in a short six months consolidated relations between most, though not all, nations of the world.        Millions of workers set about laying the foundations for a new world, and for a new age.        Solidarity has been mostly-achieved, and the Union for Cooperation in the Cosmos (U.    C.    C.    ) serves as a representative council for humanity, having been formally announced and established in Kigali, 1980.        We look to the stars, with lofty dreams of exploration and child-like wonder.       .       

"On Mars there will be Apple Blossoms.       "

I haven't written any fiction in a long, long time, but since I've started delving back into Aurora 4x and actually learning the mechanics and being able to leave my solar system, I had an urge to create my own little narrative!
My hope is to keep a little fictional story or log going of a campaign I'm about to start.        Once I figure out how to paste my ship designs into the forum, I'll do that too!

Current Fleet Designs: [updated 2036]


Chicago Class Corvette
Single-System patrol craft and fleet support vessel.    Main role as picket-craft for larger vessels in taking down anti-ship missiles, as well as basic system defence.   

Off-Topic: show

Chicago class Corvette      4 374 tons       119 Crew       859. 4 BP       TCS 87    TH 211    EM 0
4828 km/s      Armour 4-23       Shields 0-0       HTK 25      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 2      PPV 18. 85
Maint Life 2. 76 Years     MSP 245    AFR 77%    IFR 1. 1%    1YR 46    5YR 696    Max Repair 158. 4 MSP
Kapitan vtorogo ranga    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Morale Check Required   

Tsang-Qiu Magneto-plasma Drive  EP211. 20 (2)    Power 422. 4    Fuel Use 46. 34%    Signature 105. 60    Explosion 11%
Fuel Capacity 750 000 Litres    Range 66. 6 billion km (159 days at full power)

Maykov Armaments 20cm Railgun V50/C3/S2 (1x2)    Range 200 000km     TS: 4 828 km/s     Power 6-3     RM 50 000 km    ROF 10       
Arbeiter Flak Gun (4x4)    Range 40 000km     TS: 10000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Beam Fire Control R240-TS5600 (50%) (1)     Max Range: 240 000 km   TS: 5 600 km/s     96 92 88 83 79 75 71 67 62 58
Arbeiter PD Fire Control (4)     Max Range: 43 200 km   TS: 16 000 km/s     77 54 31 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
Voronov-Nikolsky Stellarator Fusion Reactor R6 (1)     Total Power Output 6. 4    Exp 5%

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Warship for auto-assignment purposes
__________________________________________________________________

Arbeiter Class Frigate
Multi-role craft with sensors; dual-missile defence systems; and offensive weapons system in the form of 20cm railguns.    For general security and defence purposes.    Possible future candidate for overhaul as fleet anti-missile defence: Such as stripping sensors and offensive weaponry for increased PD.   

Off-Topic: show

Arbeiter class Frigate      9 562 tons       233 Crew       1 959 BP       TCS 191    TH 422    EM 0
4417 km/s      Armour 8-40       Shields 0-0       HTK 53      Sensors 11/11/0/0      DCR 4      PPV 24. 93
Maint Life 2. 43 Years     MSP 512    AFR 183%    IFR 2. 5%    1YR 119    5YR 1 792    Max Repair 158. 4 MSP
Kapitan pervogo ranga    Control Rating 3   BRG   ENG   CIC   
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Morale Check Required   

Tsang-Qiu Magneto-plasma Drive  EP211. 20 (4)    Power 844. 8    Fuel Use 46. 34%    Signature 105. 60    Explosion 11%
Fuel Capacity 1 750 000 Litres    Range 71. 1 billion km (186 days at full power)

Maykov Armaments 20cm Railgun V50/C3/S2 (3x2)    Range 200 000km     TS: 4 417 km/s     Power 6-3     RM 50 000 km    ROF 10       
Arbeiter Flak Gun (2x4)    Range 40 000km     TS: 10000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Arbeiter Quad-CIWS (Gauss) (4x8)    Range 40 000km     TS: 10000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Beam Fire Control R240-TS5600 (50%) (1)     Max Range: 240 000 km   TS: 5 600 km/s     96 92 88 83 79 75 71 67 62 58
Arbeiter PD Fire Control (6)     Max Range: 43 200 km   TS: 16 000 km/s     77 54 31 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
Voronov-Nikolsky Stellarator Fusion Reactor R6 (2)     Total Power Output 12. 8    Exp 5%

Bushman-Rubin Sensor Systems Active Search Sensor AS42-R120 (50%) (1)     GPS 2520     Range 42. 3m km    Resolution 120
Bushman-Rubin Sensor Systems Active Search Sensor AS8-R1 (50%) (1)     GPS 21     Range 8. 6m km    MCR 771. 7k km    Resolution 1
Pletnyov Electronics Industries EM Sensor EM1. 0-11. 0 (50%) (1)     Sensitivity 11     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  26. 2m km
Pletnyov Electronics Industries Thermal Sensor TH1. 0-11. 0 (50%) (1)     Sensitivity 11     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  26. 2m km
ELINT Module (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  17. 7m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Warship for auto-assignment purposes
__________________________________________________________________

[Wiggles (OP)]

1983
^{-To the stars!-}

Viktor Andreyev, a relatively young scientist is known to his colleagues for his unwavering sense of morality, and his warm laughter.   A mathematician by profession, but dreamer by heart, Andreyev headed a team of scientists and was instrumental in the development of the world's first engine utilising trans-newtonian elements.   He, and his comrades were awarded the medal for "Distinguished Labour" in 1981 when the theoretical engine was proposed.       

It is now 1983, and in only two short years, these engines went through rigorous, if hastened, testing.   The first craft to use them, the 'Luhu' class is a scientific vessel that comes from the minds of Beijing, and from the hands of the workers of an undisclosed location in China where the first three vessels were built; and launched.       

The event was televised in urban centres from the province of Sichuan even to the state of Pennsylvania, and for his efforts, today the 10th of June, Andreyey is rewarded as a "Hero of Socialist Labour".       

His name will be taught for decades to come.       

1993
^-Akmoly-

As the 20th century enters its final few years, uncertainty spreads amongst the Union's admiralty.    While most of humanity looked outward still with a sense of joy, the discovery of several entrances into the Sol system was of a major concern.    The brows of humanity's finest creased with worry.   There were six documented 'jump points' that lead into, and out of, the Sol system.       

Though the existence of extra-terrestrial life was still argued, the potential danger of so many jump points - the closest of which was less than 1bil.    km from Earth - was clear.    'JP 1' was the primary concern, and so the long-awaited terraforming efforts on Mars would have to wait, until humanity could field space-worthy warships. 

1995
^{-The Disaster of Luhu 001-}

Now is come the inevitable: Death.       

The mystery of the loss of the survey craft "Luhu 001" under Captain 2nd Rank Fedya Kurakin served as a cold reminder to the world of the danger of that beautiful cosmos.   While the details have eluded officials and civilians alike, what is known, is that in late December of 1994, The Luhu 001 reported a major malfunction in one of the crew quarters of the ship, which was not deemed as a danger to the craft's mission of surveying Sol's asteroids.       

Then, on the 18th of January, 1995, the vessel inexplicably exploded.   36 souls, including Kurakin, jettisoned into an escape pod.   Communication with the pod was difficult, and neither crew nor captain were able to explain the events of that day.       

The 18th of January marked Kurakin's twenty years of service after receiving a commission on the 3rd of January, 1975, and was alongside his crew posthumously rewarded with "Medals for Courage" for their sacrifice in pursuit of exploration.     

[Wiggles (OP)]

2000
^{-A new Millennium-}

The old Andreyev engines and the first 'Luhu' class vessel are now considered outdated, after not even two decades.    Earth has shown its commitment to make a safe place for itself amongst the stars.    The old 'Luhu' vessels were recalled after the tragedy in '95, and were subsequently examined, evaluated, and scrapped for fear of safety concerns.   

In the proceeding few years, no more ships came from the berth of Humanity's cradle.    Attention was given to the revised 'Luhu' vessels, which was improved in most respects, particularly in regards of safety and fail-safe systems.   

Then, in 2001, captains Channa Sangupta; Pasha Borisova; and Kira Baranova of the second generaton 'Luhu' vessels set out.     Captain second-grade Borisova was awarded the medal for "The development of new lands" in recognition for their being the first ship and captain to enter a new solar system: Barnard's star.   

2007
^{-Shortening our Horizons-}

In the past seven years, UCC command has ultimately decided not to explore further solar systems until a safety net of sensors and buoys have been established within Sol.    The shift of focus from peaceful scientific vessels towards the development of the Jiangwei class Corvette in 2005, has left much of the civilian populations dismayed.   

Long-held dreams of colonising and terraforming Mars throughout military and administrative personnel alike has resulted in some internal discourse.    Many officers, officials, and civilians were not eager to see this dream abandoned, and amidst this discord, the UCC has seen fit to dedicate some token efforts to at least begin the process.   

In 2005-2007, Luda class cargo vessels began the arduous process of transporting infrastructure as well as terraforming installations to the red planet, and construction had begun on the 'Chernaya'.    Humanity's first colony ship, utilising newly-researched cryogenic chambers.    It has now set off under Captain Third Rank, Fedor Ponomaryov.    These first few thousand colonists will man the terraforming installations.   

Our first brave pioneers and dreamers to themselves set foot on the red planet.    To become a symbol of humanity's bravery and wonder.   
Even if the planet is otherwise mineral-barren.   



Once again winning the design contest - in theory only - the Mongolian-Chinese "Ministry for Space-faring Vessels" proposed the 'Jiangwei'.   
A vessel with shortcomings that had been obvious to all but the civilian bodies within the UCC approval council.    Lacking any sensors of its own, it would have to
rely on an auxiliary vessel to acquire targets, and concerns about the effectiveness of any CIWS systems without active sensor support have been criticised.   

However, all concerns had been put aside, rushing the small vessel into production.    The importance of having /any/ military vessel stationed above the planet
being more important than a perfect design twenty-years later.    Iterations are sure to come, as well as the development of more reliable and effective military
vessels.   

Jiangwei class Corvette      4 741 tons       88 Crew       718.   9 BP       TCS 95    TH 194    EM 0
2043 km/s      Armour 10-25       Shields 0-0       HTK 31      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 2      PPV 9
Maint Life 3.   78 Years     MSP 260    AFR 65%    IFR 0.   9%    1YR 29    5YR 428    Max Repair 96.   875 MSP
Magazine 164   
Kapitan vtorogo ranga    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 36 months    Morale Check Required   

Kharlamov Aeromarine Ion Drive  EP193.   75 (1)    Power 193.   8    Fuel Use 40.   16%    Signature 193.   75    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 200 000 Litres    Range 18.   9 billion km (107 days at full power)

Lenoir Armaments Gauss Cannon R300-50.   0 (3x4)    Range 30 000km     TS: 4 000 km/s     Accuracy Modifier 50.   0%     RM 30 000 km    ROF 5       
Ignatyev-Larionov CIWS-160 (2x8)    Range 1000 km     TS: 16 000 km/s     ROF 5       
Moravčević-Kitić Beam Fire Control R32-TS8000 (70%) (2)     Max Range: 32 000 km   TS: 8 000 km/s     69 38 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Warship for auto-assignment purposes

During this period of the playthrough, I decided to reduce the rate of research in the game across all races to 30% from 100%, to create a more realistic timeline.    Also more importantly to force myself to design ships and use them, rather than waiting years for the research of any newer modules or better techs.    Any engagement on this thread is absolutely welcome, whether its criticism of designs/advice, or anything else!

One thing that does irk me about my posts is that I feel the courier font is not very readable/reader-friendly.  I have increased the font-size but made the reading appear even less readable by having too much space between letters it feels like.  I have used bold on the information about the Jiangwei, and any opinions on whether this is more preferable to the current font would be appreciated.

[Wiggles (OP)]

2016-2029
^{-Sol Civilian Mining Efforts-}

It was only a matter of time before cosmic travel became an opportunity for bodies outside of UCC Naval Command.  With much fewer resources at hand to devote to the funding and creation of space-craft and off-world mining equipment, it is only now that national bodies have set up mining efforts on Sol's asteroid belt.  The first successful of these attempts were made by the "Komarov Worker's Union" and the "Zeng Mining Group". 




The early 2020s oversaw the design and creation of new classes of UCC warships.

The 'Arbeiter' class Frigate's design was presented to the usual review panel at the UCC and was praised for its ability to function without a supporting sensor-vessel,
as well as the homegrown German-designed weaponry: A pair of twin-cannoned Flak guns, one dorsal and one ventral; as well as the back-up personal defence turrets
under half the size of its larger flak counterpart.  The flaw in its design: Lacking any meaningful offensive weaponry was supplemented with the Maykov Armaments-designed
 20cm Railgun, which were then incorporated into the design, and then pushed into production.

Arbeiter class Frigate      13 634 tons       258 Crew       3 088. 6 BP       TCS 273    TH 422    EM 0
3098 km/s      Armour 25-50       Shields 0-0       HTK 67      Sensors 11/11/0/0      DCR 6      PPV 28. 78
Maint Life 4. 04 Years     MSP 1 849    AFR 248%    IFR 3. 4%    1YR 181    5YR 2 721    Max Repair 158. 4 MSP
Kapitan pervogo ranga    Control Rating 4   BRG   ENG   CIC   SCI   
Intended Deployment Time: 36 months    Morale Check Required   

Tsang-Qiu Magneto-plasma Drive  EP211. 20 (4)    Power 844. 8    Fuel Use 46. 34%    Signature 105. 60    Explosion 11%
Fuel Capacity 350 000 Litres    Range 10 billion km (37 days at full power)

Maykov Armaments 20cm Railgun V50/C3/S2 (4x2)    Range 200 000km     TS: 4 000 km/s     Power 6-3     RM 50 000 km    ROF 10       
Arbeiter Flak Gun (2x4)    Range 40 000km     TS: 10000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Arbeiter Quad-CIWS (4x8)    Range 40 000km     TS: 10000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Beam Fire Control R240-TS5600 (50%) (1)     Max Range: 240 000 km   TS: 5 600 km/s     96 92 88 83 79 75 71 67 62 58
Smirnov-Sokolov Beam Fire Control R64-TS12000 (50%) (3)     Max Range: 64 000 km   TS: 12 000 km/s     84 69 53 38 22 6 0 0 0 0
DeBrosse & DeRose Stellarator Fusion Reactor R8-PB20 (2)     Total Power Output 15. 4    Exp 10%

Bushman-Rubin Sensor Systems Active Search Sensor AS42-R120 (50%) (1)     GPS 2520     Range 42. 3m km    Resolution 120
Bushman-Rubin Sensor Systems Active Search Sensor AS8-R1 (50%) (1)     GPS 21     Range 8. 6m km    MCR 771. 7k km    Resolution 1
Pletnyov Electronics Industries EM Sensor EM1. 0-11. 0 (50%) (1)     Sensitivity 11     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  26. 2m km
Pletnyov Electronics Industries Thermal Sensor TH1. 0-11. 0 (50%) (1)     Sensitivity 11     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  26. 2m km
ELINT Module (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  17. 7m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Warship for auto-assignment purposes

A revision of previous inadequacies in the 'Jiangwei' corvette by American-based designers resulted in the 'Chicago' class Corvette, boasting a 60% thicker armour belt
compared to its predecessor.  Its weaponry, like the 'Arbeiter' was found lacking, and thus was supplemented with the Ukrainian-developed Railgun, as well as a strong
complement of four flak guns to bolster a fleet's personal-defence net.  Without sensors of its own, the corvette is intended to support, and rely on, the 'Arbeiter'. 

Chicago class Corvette      5 940 tons       133 Crew       1 350. 2 BP       TCS 119    TH 211    EM 0
3555 km/s      Armour 16-29       Shields 0-0       HTK 32      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 3      PPV 18. 85
Maint Life 3. 14 Years     MSP 426    AFR 94%    IFR 1. 3%    1YR 65    5YR 972    Max Repair 158. 4 MSP
Kapitan pervogo ranga    Control Rating 2   BRG   CIC   
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months    Morale Check Required   

Tsang-Qiu Magneto-plasma Drive  EP211. 20 (2)    Power 422. 4    Fuel Use 46. 34%    Signature 105. 60    Explosion 11%
Fuel Capacity 150 000 Litres    Range 9. 8 billion km (31 days at full power)

Maykov Armaments 20cm Railgun V50/C3/S2 (1x2)    Range 200 000km     TS: 4 000 km/s     Power 6-3     RM 50 000 km    ROF 10       
Arbeiter Flak Gun (4x4)    Range 40 000km     TS: 10000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Smirnov-Sokolov Beam Fire Control R64-TS12000 (50%) (2)     Max Range: 64 000 km   TS: 12 000 km/s     84 69 53 38 22 6 0 0 0 0
Beam Fire Control R240-TS5600 (50%) (1)     Max Range: 240 000 km   TS: 5 600 km/s     96 92 88 83 79 75 71 67 62 58
Voronov-Nikolsky Stellarator Fusion Reactor R6 (1)     Total Power Output 6. 4    Exp 5%

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Warship for auto-assignment purposes

Unfortunately some few real life snags have caused a lag in my updates to these posts.  Yet here is one, finally. 

[Andrew]

Just some thoughts on the ship designs
-- The combination of Gauss turrets and CIWS is odd, the Gauss turrets can protect other ships in the squadron the CIWS cannot,
-- That armour is massively thick particulary for small ships
-- The combination of 2-3 years crew endurance and only 30-40 days fuel is also odd, they are going to spend most of the time in orbit around a colony not using up crew endurance

[Wiggles (OP)]

Just some thoughts on the ship designs
-- The combination of Gauss turrets and CIWS is odd, the Gauss turrets can protect other ships in the squadron the CIWS cannot,
-- That armour is massively thick particulary for small ships
-- The combination of 2-3 years crew endurance and only 30-40 days fuel is also odd, they are going to spend most of the time in orbit around a colony not using up crew endurance

That's really useful actually, thank you!
-- The CIWS named there is actually just another Gauss Turret that just has a lower hit chance and is a smaller tonnage than the Flak Gun, being 10% with 8 shots rather than 50% with 2 shots.
I'm not sure yet what is effective and what is not, but I liked the flavour of having multiple types of PD weapons.

-- I didn't know that, thank you! I suppose some fear got to me with not knowing some decent armour amounts, so I just went overboard, haha.  I'll be decreasing decreasing each design's armour belt to about half of their current values.

-- Also another really good point! I didn't think much about how deployment time should scale with the days worth of fuel, and likewise I'm going to reduce each class to about 12 months of deployment with at least a year's worth of fuel-travel.  The reduction in armour looks to have saved me a lot of space tonnage-wise to compensate for the increased fuel.

Again, thank you for the comments! I'm still relatively very new to the game!

[Wiggles (OP)]

2025
^{-Post-Newtonian Sociological Thought-}

"Homogeneity is the death of learning.   That we are all different has allowed us to come this far; where we had only dreamed of".   

Andreyev's writing had pivoted from the mathematical and into the sociological with the second decade of the 21st Millenium, and although to this day applies his still-keen mind to the sciences and the research and development of space-flight; Andreyev writes on what he considers to be the "underappreciated" field of Sociology, and he and others like him hope that the key to a stable society and a stable future lie in the past. 

2030
^{-A Protective Net-}

Although many years has passed since the UCC's statement regarding the expansion of Sol's listening posts and unmanned deep-space tracking stations, the long-awaited early-warning sensor system has achieved completion, according to a spokesperson from the UCC.   According to the details provided: Stations are in place across several asteroids across the solar system, within sensor range of the various as-of-yet unexplored jump points.   These asteroids are 'WW24'; 'Asbolus'; 'Elatus'; and 'Nessus'.   With the completion of this project the UCC has stated that it hopes to move onto larger and more promising projects, such as the exploration of further systems, and Naval tests to be conducted off the spacial-coast of Saturn where weapons-systems and crews will be put to the test and assessed. 



<sup>Wiggles' Note: While I am quite a fan of the courier font for helping with the tone or atmosphere of the writing, and implying that one is reading snippets from a newspaper; pamphlet; or notice; I have found its readability frustrating since the first post.   Instead I will only be using Courier for the title and subtitle, whereas the body will be in arial since readability is more important than anything else.   I have attached a poll just to gauge the opinion (if any) of this change.   Though it is a pretty unimportant poll, I am curious!

Additionally my notes have changed to distinguish it from the diagetic text.</sup> 

[Wiggles (OP)]

26 March 2050
^-Birmingham-

The Wolverhampton Theatre was to be host to a different manner of drama altogether.   Yet another press-conference had been announced by the UCC, but there had been something unusual about it.   Journalists and attendees would regularly be informed weeks, if not months, ahead of the planned date, and would be hosted in some small official room or hall.   This had been different: Diplomats and delegations were marshaled to action, and to travel to Birmingham.   There had been about only a week for the press representatives to make plans for travel to the English city. 

What's more is that the remaining empty seating was open to the public.   Faces of all kinds squashed together in amongst the red seating.   Some standing, some sitting on a chair or its armrest, others hoisting up a child or friend onto their shoulders to get a better view.   It was rare enough for the public to rub shoulders with their governing officials - and those of other countries.   Only when the theatre had been filled to bursting did someone approach the podium placed just off-centre on the stage.   Families and friends and strangers; over a thousand people and all of them not making a sound.   

On the 13th of February of this year, Captain Second-Grade Julie Piccard of the 'GEV-12 Houjian' - a geological survey craft - was performing standard scans of the celestial bodies of the newly-explored Alpha Centauri system.   Hovering at a regulation twelve-thousand kilometres above 'Alpha Centuari-A II', a planet roughly half the diameter of Earth, Captain Piccard's scientific team picked up readings of artificial structures on the planet's surface.  .  .  "

The clearing of his throat filled the space of the theatre.   He shook, fumbling with his papers:

As per regulations, 'GEV-12' held itself in orbit to perform more thorough scans.   At 7:29am Beijing Time, we received a report from Captain Piccard confirming the existence of artificial structures on the barren plan--"

The theatre crowd drowned out even the speakers.