The Solar Union. The GenesisIt started in the 2030’s a silent killer that swept through humankind. Equine ‘flu, which had originated from a bird ‘flu strain, passaged though the equine reservoir to give it greater virulence and lethality. The virus was then vectored back through the avian population, which spread it far and wide along their migration routes. It had a long infectious incubation period. Because it had only very recently crossed over to infect the human host, humans had extremely limited resistance, those not killed outright fell victim to opportunistic infections, pneumonia was rampant. Modern travel aided its spread. Very few of the billions on Earth had any resistance, the undernourished or those with underlying health problems stood no chance. The developed countries fared no better than the developing nations, the populations still crashed. Only those truly isolated populations survived unscathed and there were extremely few of them.
The UN tried to organise an effective relief effort, but when the industrialised countries closed down it was thrown on its own resources. How ever many of the UN staff died there always seemed someone to take over. It still had the authority that was the UN and once it started organising its own security arm and then running countries when there was no one else left to do it, it became a defacto government. It also took care of the worst of the warlords who fancied their chances in the developing catastrophe; one of its most effective weapons was withholding what little aid was available, which brought many to heel. The UN security arm eventually became an effective force equal to many of the remaining first world armies. By the time the industrial countries of America, Europe and the Far East began their recovery the UN held sway over most of what had been the Third World and a good deal of the Second World. It is estimated that the world’s population dipped below 500 million for a decade before starting to recover and much of that population was under UN control. The world had changed. There were so few people left in Europe that most of Western and Middle Europe turned the EU into a functioning federal government. North America came together; Much of South America was under UN control as was most of a depopulated Middle East and Africa. China had been particularly hard hit. Only strong central control prevented complete fragmentation. The Far East was still in turmoil, India was riven by small separatist enclaves, but the UN was making inroads into bringing them into the fold.
The remnants of Mankind came together at the New York Conference of 2044 where the first United World Government was formed. The UN not only had an effective security arm but also controlled most of the Worlds available resources and thus was in a position to dictate terms to countries that badly needed access to those scarce resources to kick-start their economies. By 2052 this United World Government had become the Union of Terran Nations. The world’s standing armies were an expense which few nations wanted with so much to rebuild and so little manpower to do it with. It was 2058 before the last national army was subsumed into the Union of Terra Armed Services, which by then had demonstrated it was effective in protecting member nations from the blatant aggression of neighbours.
By 2075 the population had once again hit seven figures. A Mars colony had been started and a terraforming project begun, with the terraforming station commissioned in 2074. This great installation at the South Pole took in the frozen hydrosphere, separated out the water for later use, released the CO2 into the atmosphere to initially increase the surface temperature and thicken the atmosphere. The installation also took in great quantities of basalt, crushed it, mixed it with organic matter seeded with bacteria and symbiotic fungi to modify it and began to make great fields of genetically modified plants to further alter the Martian climate. Later these organisms would be altered to add oxygen to the atmosphere. But the process was not going to be completed in a few years. A second plant was to be constructed at the North Pole to speed up the process.
The Mars colony was granted representation in the UTN Parliament in 2073. However the levers of power were mostly retained in the Union House of Governors, which contained the leaders of the five most advanced (and populous) national entities and ten representatives elected from the floor of the Union Parliament. There was also a Union President who was elected by a combination of the popular vote, the votes of the Union Parliament and the votes of the House of Governors, each with a differing weighting and in the two latter stages each representative having an individual weighted vote depending on the region they represented. In essence it meant that getting elected was difficult, but assuming you didn’t make too much of a hash of it you could retain power (and it was substantial) almost as long as you wanted due to the immense amounts of horse trading required to set up a successor. The accession of Mars to the Parliament did have one notable effect. The name of the Union changed, from the Union of Terran Nations to the Solar Union to encompass the off world colonies which where sure to follow on the heels of the finding of substantial amounts of TN elements around the Solar System late in 2074.
Research while no priority (except for ‘flu research) had trickled along, much of it theoretical. It was only in the aftermath that the hypothesis of the “Trans-Newtonian Elements” received any attention. It was based on the old idea of islands of stability in the heavier elements of the periodic table beyond atomic number 164 (
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 114739.htm). This hypothesis and the results of the Earth Core-Drilling programme came together to make scientists realise that in that molten iron core (or at least close to it) these elements were still present in very substantial amounts. These new elements, once the difficulties of mining and isolating them had been overcome (a process which took some 15 years) proved to have some fascinating properties that revolutionised the World by 2067.
Thus by 2070 the exploration of the Solar System was well under way. The finding of alien structures buried on Mars in 2073 (particularly at the North Pole where the second terraforming unit was to be constructed) prompted the formation of the Solar Union Star Command. One of the driving forces was that many of the sites had been subjected to a nuclear bombardment before being covered by the drifting sands. The black glass of the ground bursts was only a few tens of thousand years old at the most. The favourite hypothesis was that in the time when Mars could support life it was the home to an advanced civilisation that had come into conflict with another civilisation, which had ended in the destruction of Mars as a living planet. Thus the argument ran the Earth should be ready to defend itself, since who knew how long a Starfaring Civilisation could last? The nascent force was small, consisting of two missile frigates (Dido Class), one Escort, (Shark Class) and six missile armed fast attack craft (Dark Class).There were a couple of auxiliaries, a Deep Space Minelayer Abdiel (Abdiel class) and a Munitions Transport Blue Rover (Rover class). There were also three Deep Space Survey Ships and three Planetary Survey Ships of Survey Command in addition to the freighter and colony ship of Logistics that serviced the nascent Mars colony.
Dido class Missile Frigate 7500 tons 731 Crew 1066.5 BP TCS 150 TH 450 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 3-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 16/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 5 PPV 30
Annual Failure Rate: 90% IFR: 1.2% Maintenance Capacity 444 MSP Max Repair 80 MSP
Magazine 465
Ion Engine E7 Mil (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 70% Signature 45 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 120,000 Litres Range 41.1 billion km (119 days at full power)
Size 6 Missile Launcher (5) Missile Size 6 Rate of Fire 60
Missile Fire Control FC32-R100 (1) Range 96.0m km Resolution 100
AST6-1 Viper (78) Speed: 18,400 km/s End: 66m Range: 72.9m km WH: 6 Size: 6 TH: 86 / 51 / 25
Active Search Sensor S80-R100 (1) GPS 8000 Range 80.0m km Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 16m km
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purpose
Ships in Class: Dido, Theseus
Shark class Escort 7500 tons 614 Crew 1061.15 BP TCS 150 TH 450 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 3-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 6 PPV 14
Annual Failure Rate: 75% IFR: 1% Maintenance Capacity 531 MSP Max Repair 80 MSP
Magazine 365
Ion Engine E7 Mil (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 70% Signature 45 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 34.3 billion km (99 days at full power)
Twin 10cm C3 Near Ultraviolet Laser Turret (1x2) Range 90,000km TS: 12500 km/s Power 6-6 RM 3 ROF 5 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
CIWS-50 (1x2) Range 1000 km TS: 5000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Fire Control S12 72-5000 (1) Max Range: 144,000 km TS: 5000 km/s 93 86 79 72 65 58 51 44 37 31
Stellarator Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (5) Total Power Output 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Size 1 Missile Launcher (5) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Missile Fire Control FC32-R1PD (1) Range 960k km Resolution 1
Ships in Class: Shark
Dark class Fast Attack Craft 1000 tons 117 Crew 162.5 BP TCS 20 TH 90 EM 0
6000 km/s Armour 1-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 6.75
Annual Failure Rate: 16% IFR: 0.2% Maintenance Capacity 51 MSP Max Repair 38 MSP
Magazine 39
GB Ion Engine E70 (1) Power 120 Fuel Use 700% Signature 90 Armour 0 Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 60,000 Litres Range 15.4 billion km (29 days at full power)
Size 3 Missile Launcher (75% Reduction) (3) Missile Size 3 Rate of Fire 60
Missile Fire Control FC32-R18 (1) Range 17.3m km Resolution 18
AST3-1 Asp (13) Speed: 17,600 km/s End: 16.2m Range: 17.1m km WH: 5 Size: 3 TH: 117 / 70 / 35
Missile to hit chances are vs. targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in Class: Dark Adventurer, Dark Aggressor, Dark Avenger, Dark Buccaneer, Dark Clipper, Dark Fighter.
Scout class Fast Scout Craft 1000 tons 89 Crew 245 BP TCS 20 TH 90 EM 0
6000 km/s Armour 1-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 16% IFR: 0.2% Maintenance Capacity 77 MSP Max Repair 80 MSP
GB Ion Engine E70 (1) Power 120 Fuel Use 700% Signature 90 Armour 0 Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 110,000 Litres Range 28.3 billion km (54 days at full power)
AST3-1 Asp (13) Speed: 17,600 km/s End: 16.2m Range: 17.1m km WH: 5 Size: 3 TH: 117 / 70 / 35
Active Search Sensor S80-R100 (1) GPS 8000 Range 80.0m km Resolution 100
Active Search Sensor S80-R20GB (1) GPS 1600 Range 16.0m km Resolution 20
Missile to hit chances are vs. targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in Class: Scout 001, Scout 002.
Abdiel class Minelayer 7500 tons 627 Crew 1042 BP TCS 150 TH 450 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 1-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 16/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 7 PPV 12
Annual Failure Rate: 60% IFR: 0.8% Maintenance Capacity 651 MSP Max Repair 80 MSP
Magazine 916
Ion Engine E7 Mil (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 70% Signature 45 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres Range 51.4 billion km (148 days at full power)
Size 16 Missile Launcher (75% Reduction) (1) Missile Size 16 Rate of Fire 320
DSM15-2 Stonefish (61) Speed: 0 km/s End: 540d Range: 2m km WH: 0 Size: 15 TH: 0 / 0 / 0
Active Search Sensor S80-R100 (1) GPS 8000 Range 80.0m km Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 16m km
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in Class: Abdiel
Rover class Collier 7500 tons 534 Crew 1025 BP TCS 150 TH 450 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 1-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 16/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 8 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 56% IFR: 0.8% Maintenance Capacity 683 MSP Max Repair 80 MSP
Magazine 1080
Ion Engine E7 Mil (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 70% Signature 45 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres Range 51.4 billion km (148 days at full power)
Active Search Sensor S80-R100 (1) GPS 8000 Range 80.0m km Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 16m km
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in Class: Blue Rover
Pioneer class Geological Survey Vessel 16750 tons 336 Crew 791.5 BP TCS 335 TH 675 EM 0
2686 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-58 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/3 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maintenance Capacity 30 MSP Max Repair 100 MSP
JC17K Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 17000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
Ion Engine E0.7 Commercial (6) Power 150 Fuel Use 7% Signature 112.5 Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 307.0 billion km (1322 days at full power)
Geological Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points
This design is classed as a commercial vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in Class: Pioneer 001, Pioneer 002, Pioneer 003.
Astronomer class Gravitational Survey Vessel 4350 tons 431 Crew 878.5 BP TCS 87 TH 225 EM 0
3448 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-23 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/3/0 Damage Control Rating 5 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 27% IFR: 0.4% Maintenance Capacity 694 MSP Max Repair 225 MSP
J4500(3-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 4500 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ion Engine E7 Mil (5) Power 60 Fuel Use 70% Signature 45 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 118.2 billion km (396 days at full power)
Gravitational Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in Class: Patrick Moore, Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimov.
There were two new auxiliaries just completed in late 2074, which embodied the newly developed Theory of Universal Interconnectivity. (This was one reason the idea that the conflict was between two civilisations one of which was interstellar, gained so much credence.) This posited that everywhere in the Universe was interconnected and if sufficient potential could be raised at a point where the fabric of the Universe was sufficiently stressed, then it should be possible to temporarily open a connecting wormhole to another place within the Universe allowing the passage of a ship. The TNEs provided the power to achieve the required potential and the strength for the ship to survive passage. This in effect was an interstellar drive (or so it was hoped). For a more permanent connection a station anchored in space to this weak point with sufficient generating potential could substitute for the ship and be made a purely automatic facility or Gate. Research was being pursued to develop just such a Gate.
Fort class Jump Cruiser 7500 tons 705 Crew 1478 BP TCS 150 TH 450 EM 0
4000 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 16/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 9 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 50% IFR: 0.7% Maintenance Capacity 2108 MSP Max Repair 625 MSP
J7500(3-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 7500 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ion Engine E7 Mil (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 70% Signature 45 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 910,000 Litres Range 312.0 billion km (902 days at full power)
Active Search Sensor S80-R100 (1) GPS 8000 Range 80.0m km Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 16m km
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in Class: Fort Worth, Fort Sumner.
This explained how on January 4th 2075 the SUSC Battle Group consisting of SUS Dido, SUS Theseus, SUS Shark and the Jump Cruiser SUS Fort Worth left Earth orbit and shortly found themselves millions kilometres from home in deep space just inside Saturn’s orbit preparing for the first ever extra solar jump. The fabric of space rippled in front of the ships like ripples in a pond, appeared to clear, the four ships applied thrust and all emerged into a new solar system. It was a double Star system; spectrographs identified it as Alpha Centauri. Both stars had rocky planets surrounding them. As the instruments settled down it was apparent that Component A had three suitable worlds on which to found a colony, Alpha Centauri AII being a near perfect match for Earth with a colony cost of 0.18. The task force proceeded as per standing instructions to investigate both Alpha Centauri AII and found a pristine empty world which showed none of the detritus of civilisation, however primitive. The battle Group also visited Alpha Centauri AIV and AV (colony cost 2.47 and 4.57 respectively), which again failed to show the presence of anything above the invertebrate level. On the 16th January the Battle Group reappeared in Sol System and announced that they had found two good colony prospects on the first try.