The Years of Expansion: 2059–2060 

Strategic Priorities in 2059 
With humanity’s sights set on solidifying its place among the stars, 2059 saw significant logistical and research efforts. Freighters began transferring automated mines to Venus, a planet rich in mineral potential but inhospitable to human life. The goal was ambitious: construct 1,000 automated mines, though Corundium shortages meant this could not be fully realized. 

Simultaneously, manned mining operations and colonist transfers continued to Mars, establishing the red planet as humanity's primary off-world mining hub. These developments underscored humanity's reliance on minerals for technological and industrial expansion. 

In January, groundbreaking advancements were made in the biological sciences with the complete mapping of the human genome. This achievement enabled a shift in focus toward more efficient mining and shipbuilding methods, critical to conserving dwindling mineral reserves. 

Technological Progress and Military Enhancements 
By early March, research into 12cm railguns concluded, setting the stage for humanity’s energy weaponry to become a viable defense against missile threats. Enhancements to beam fire control range and railgun launch velocity were completed by October, extending the effective range of UEF’s weapons systems to 48,000 kilometers. This technological leap made energy-based point defense systems a promising alternative to traditional kinetics. 

The shipyards were also active. The venerable Idlev 001, humanity's first spaceship, completed its refit to the Idlev II class, enhancing its role in the UEF's growing shipping fleet. A second slipway at the Idlev yard neared completion, with a third following close behind, signaling a commitment to scaling commercial shipping operations. 

Jump Point Stabilization and Its Strategic Implications 
The stabilization of jump points remained a high priority. In February, Farreach’s jump point into Farreach was stabilized on the Sol side, enabling one-way missions into new systems. By June, the stabilization project was completed on both ends, allowing two-way traffic between Farreach and Sol. 

Later in the year, the Abilene, humanity's pioneering jump stabilization platform, was towed to Thengo’s jump point. Stabilization on the Sol side was completed in November, and by March 2060, the Thengo side was stabilized as well. This breakthrough opened a permanent corridor between Sol and Thengo, enabling secure colonization and resource exploitation. 

Building the Thengo Colony 
The Thengo system had been identified in 2057 as humanity's next great frontier, and by 2060, this vision began to materialize. Thengo III’s Moon 5 became the site of the first extrasolar colony. By December 31, 2060, the colony housed 400,000 settlers, supported by infrastructure capable of accommodating 800,000. The colony’s success was bolstered by civilian shipping efforts, with Virgil Shipping & Logistics delivering their first load of infrastructure on Christmas Day. 
https://imgur.com/VgtbBxY

Even as Moon 5 thrived, the larger Moon 8 loomed as a tantalizing opportunity for future colonization. Its Earthlike conditions and capacity to support billions made it a natural target for long-term expansion. 
https://imgur.com/EfehAMt

Fleet Expansion and Preparation for Future Challenges 
The launch of Alexandria-class light cruisers was a defining moment in late 2059, signaling the maturation of UEF’s naval capabilities. Production continued into 2060, with three more Anaconda-class destroyers and two additional Alexandria cruisers slated for completion. The fleet was further bolstered by new survey vessels, which left the docks in February, resuming exploration duties across known and newly accessible systems. 

The UEF also worked toward faster and more efficient freighters. The Idlev III class, designed with Thengo’s logistical demands in mind, promised to accelerate colony development. By October, retooling efforts began to upgrade existing freighters to the Idlev III standard, emphasizing both speed and efficiency. 

Idlev III class Freighter      75,000 tons       290 Crew       1,301.8 BP       TCS 1,500    TH 2,880    EM 0
1920 km/s      Armour 1-158       Shields 0-0       HTK 70      Sensors 1/1/0/0      DCR 1-0      PPV 0
MSP 10    Max Repair 120 MSP
Cargo 50,000    Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 18   
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

MK II Freighter Engine (6)    Power 2880.0    Fuel Use 2.89%    Signature 480.00    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 1,167,000 Litres    Range 97 billion km (584 days at full power)

MK I Commerical EM Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 1.2     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8.7m km
MK I Commerical Thermal Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 1.2     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8.7m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Freighter for auto-assignment purposes

Aberdeen III class Colony Ship      75,000 tons       400 Crew       2,827.3 BP       TCS 1,500    TH 2,880    EM 0
1920 km/s      Armour 1-158       Shields 0-0       HTK 72      Sensors 1/1/0/0      DCR 1-0      PPV 0
MSP 23    Max Repair 400 MSP
Cryogenic Berths 200,000    Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 18   
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months   

MK II Freighter Engine (6)    Power 2880.0    Fuel Use 2.89%    Signature 480.00    Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 1,007,000 Litres    Range 83.7 billion km (504 days at full power)

MK I Commerical EM Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 1.2     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8.7m km
MK I Commerical Thermal Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 1.2     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8.7m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Colony Ship for auto-assignment purposes


A Promising Future 
The years 2059 and 2060 marked a period of accelerated growth and bold ventures for humanity. The advancements in weapons systems, shipbuilding, and colonization logistics laid the groundwork for deeper exploration into the stars. 

As the year closed, humanity stood poised for its next leap forward. The successes of Moon 5, the promise of Moon 8, and the military strength embodied by the Alexandria cruisers underscored humanity’s resilience and determination to carve a place for itself among the stars. 

Our Galaxy so far

https://imgur.com/ZGq2CN4

Sorry for using links, I have now discovered that adding .png to the end will display the picture but I havent figured out a way to shrink the picture yet. Heres what I mean by that

December 3, 2148: The Europa Detachment is operating in the 111 Virginis system, placing sensor buoys close to all of its jump points to warn of movements by Hive Fleet Kraken in the Omega Ceti System one jump away.  When the strike carrier and her escorts reach thirty-two million kilometers from the jump point to the Omega Ceti system a group of Kraken ships appear on the jump point.  There is a single 20,583 ton Anubis class ship, a 10,153 ton Mors class ship, a 3,296 ton Charon class ship, and two new ships, designated as the 93,890 ton Mania class.  The Kraken ships are divided into two groups, sitting just off of the jump point itself, as if they are guarding against an incursion from the far side. 

Captain Boddy decides against launching an attack with his fighters, as he is tempted to do.  He only has eleven fighters, and has no wish to provoke the swarm ships, which can outrun his squadron, and given the presence of the Anubis class, outranges his ships as well.  Instead, he orders his fighters to launch and deploy a sensor buoy at a point 100,000 kilometers from the jump point, as a test to gage the swarm’s reaction.  He also orders his ships to deactivate their active sensors, so as to not draw the attention of the swarm ships.  With their sensors down, the swarm ships disappear off of the squadron’s displays. 

Just over two hours later the delivery vehicle arrives on target and deploys the sensor buoy, which begins to send data back to the squadron.  Unfortunately, the buoy shows nothing.  This is somewhat alarming, as the buoy’s thermal sensors are powerful enough to detect the larger swarm ships far beyond its current range to the jump point.  Captain Boddy then orders his squadron to activate their sensors, out of fear that the swarm ships might be charging his squadron, but nothing shows up on their screens either. 

After consulting with his sensor chief, Captain Boddy orders his fighters to deploy a second buoy closer to the jump point, just in case, and for his fleet to begin retreating to their entry jump point.  It is clear the swarm ships detected his fleet and retreated through the jump point.  He has no desire to wait until they are reinforced. 

December 5, 2148: While traveling back to the jump point to the 111 Virginis system, the Europa Detachment detects a 3,298 ton Charon class Kraken ship forty-four million kilometers ahead of them.  The Charon class is suspected to be a survey/scout.  Captain Boddy immediately orders his fighters into space to chase down the Kraken ship.  The fighters race away from the strike carrier towards the swarm ship, which is moving on a tangent across the squadron’s course.  Twenty-two minutes later they launch twenty-three Sparrow IIb ASM’s at the target.  Twenty seconds later the missiles intercept the target, swatting it from space.  The fighters turn back to their carrier and the squadron continues on towards its exit point. 

December 21, 2148: The Europa and her escorts jump into the Lalande system and set out for Terra Nova.  The strike carrier sends off a report on its mission to the naval base on the colony as they get under way.  Several hours later the squadron receives a response.  The group is ordered to proceed to Shield Base, and from there establish a sensor network to cover the operational territory of the original swarm.  Their ETA is just over nineteen days. 

January 9, 2148: The terraforming of Terra’s moon is nearly complete.  It will take some time for the water vapor in the atmosphere to settle out, but in all other respects the terraforming is finished.  Colonization will wait until more of the vapor has settled, but for now the terraformers are moving on to Mars. 

January 11, 2149: The Europa is at the jump point to Barnard’s Star in the Monoceri system.  This is the first location that they will leave a buoy.  They will be following the following path to plant their sensor buoys:

Monoceri(Shield Base) – Barnard’s Star – Luhman – 25 Ursae Minoris – Gamma Carinae – Chi Draconis

Their actions from Chi Draconis will be determined by various factors they find when they arrive in the system. 

February 11, 2149: The Europa Group jumps into the GJ 1128 system, located adjacent to the Omicron Tucanae system, home to an ancient construct.  As the strike carrier prepares to launch her fighters to deploy the sensor buoys, the ship’s sensors pick up anomalous readings from an area of space just outside the orbit of the system’s outermost gas giant.  Captain Boddy orders the fighters to deploy a sensor buoy close to the anomaly.  The Anomaly is over thirteen million kilometers across, so the fighters will place four buoys around the outer perimeter.  In addition, the fighters send a buoy bus towards the third planet, which is a colony cost 0.83 world with an oxygen nitrogen atmosphere. 

Unlike the previous systems, where the group moved on after launching the drones, this time the Europa and her consorts waited for the drones to reach their targets and deploy their buoys. 

February 14, 2149: The buoys have been deployed throughout the GJ1128 system and no ships of any type have been detected.  The Europa group continues on to their next target. 

February 16, 2149: The Europa Group sends its last two buoy carrier missiles on their way to seed the jump points in the Tau Cephei system’s jump points with sensor buoys and then sets out for Terra to reload more buoys. 

March 23, 2149: The Europa Battlegroup departs Terra, rearmed with missiles and their crews rested.  They will proceed along the line Sol - Wolf 359 – Alpha Centauri – Groombridge 34 – Beta Antliae – 68 Andromeda – HIP 48659, laying buoys along the way.  The HIP 48659 system is particularly important as that is the only system known to be exploited by the Bobruisk.  Once that line of buoys is complete, the battlegroup will return to the Beta Antliae system to begin laying another line of buoys through the chain that connects to the frontier beyond the Monoceri system. 

 May, 2149: The Europa Battlegroup is approaching the jump point to the 68 Andromeda system when it detects ships belonging to the Bobruisk on the jump point.  There are two, a 72,000 ton ship suspected to be a stabilization ship, and a 17,755 ton ship equipped with shields and believed to be some sort of warship.  The Bobruisk acknowledge the Terran ships’ presence, but aren’t interested in talking.  The Europa launches her fighters, which then launch a buoy carrier missile towards the selected observation point.  The Bob ships watch as the missile races away and places its sensor buoy 65,000 kilometers away.  Once the buoy is placed the Europa’s fighters land and the Terran group jumps out to the 68 Andromeda system. 

The ships arrive in the 68 Andromeda system to find all three local jump points stabilized, apparently by the Bobruisk.   This system is adjacent to the original contact point with the Bobruisk, so it appears they are expanding towards Imperial space.  The Europa continues its mission to seed the jump points with buoys. 

Late in the month the Europa and her escorts arrive in the HIP 48659 system, home of the contact point with the Bobruisk.  The Europa launches her fighters and dispatches buoys to picket the only known jump point and the four planets of the system. 

June, 2149: The Europa Battlegroup has completed its mission to seed sensor buoys in the areas frequented by the old swarm.  The group sets course for the Terra. 

July 2149: The 2nd Long Range Survey Group arrives at Victory Base in the Groombridge system.  The survey ships give their crews R&R after the long trip from Shield Base and begin refueling from the base’s fuel tanks.  Once the R&R is complete, the group will move on to the HIP 48659 system to begin a survey.  The system is claimed by the Bobruisk, but the Empire has grown tired of the Bobruisk Corporation’s standoff nature.  Several diplomatic ships have been stationed close to the Bobruisk forward base on a moon in the system for several years, but have made no progress in getting the Bobruisk to open up.  Despite their continued attempts at diplomacy, the Bobruisk continually reply with requests for our ships to leave the system.  The Imperial government is particularly interested in the extent of the Bobruisk nation, and the Navy is concerned about the Bobruisk expansion towards Shield Base and Bastion Base in the old swarm’s territory.  So, the survey group is being dispatched to the HIP 48659 system to begin probing the Bobruisk territory.  Reinforcements from the Solar System will be dispatched to Victory Base in the near future. 

July, 2149
Overview of Known Threats to Imperial Security

Hive Fleet Leviathan: Thought to be decimated and scattered after the last battle in Chi Draconis in May of 2144.  The Retribution Fleet destroyed 210 Hive ships in multiple battles.  Twenty-seven ships are unaccounted for, including the 130,000 ton Hive Queen.  Just one Hive Fleet Leviathan ship has been spotted since then, an Alpha class ship of unknown type and capability. Most recently in the Omicron Tucanae system in the far frontier. 



The spotting of the Alpha class ship in Omicron Tucanae suggests that Hive Fleet Leviathan may not have left the local area as originally thought, and may be active in the far frontier, or just beyond known space.  As a result, sensor buoys have been deployed to every jump point in the following chain:

Monoceri(Shield Base) – Barnard’s Star – Luhman 16 – 25 Ursae Minoris – Gamma Carinae – Chi Draconis – Hip 31292 – Omicron Tucanae – GJ 1128 – Tau Cephi (linking back to Gamma Carinae)

There have been no further sitings since the buoys were placed. 

Hive Fleet Kraken: Hive Fleet Kraken is known to be active in Omega Ceti and 111 Virginis, and is suspected to be active in an unknown number of systems beyond Omega Ceti.  The Retribution Fleet destroyed one hundred and twelve Kraken ships in the Retribution Fleet’s attack on Omega Ceti, however, the remaining Kraken ships, including the 60,000 ton Osiris class ship that seems to be their Hive Queen, forced the Retribution Fleet to retreat and the Kraken fleet remains a serious threat in the area around Omega Ceti.  Thirteen Hive Fleet Kraken ships are known to still be active in and around Omega Ceti, and the Imperial Navy has no information on the size of the hive’s remaining force. 



To keep track of Hive Fleet Kraken’s expansion towards Imperial territory, the Imperial Navy has laid a series of sensor buoys at the jump points of the following systems:

Lalande(Terra Nova) – Tau Ceti – Sigma Eridani – 111 Virginis

The Bobruisk Corporation: The Bob’s, as they are commonly known in the Empire, are an isolationist race discovered in the HIP 48659 system in August of 2135 by survey ships working in the system.  The system survey was never completed as the survey ships immediately withdrew.  Eventually communications were established and the aliens identified themselves as the Bobruisk Corporation.  Although standoffish, the Bobruisk confirmed that they had suffered something like our Raid Years, however, the scientists and negotiators communicating with them were given the impression that the Bobruisk had been at least somewhat successful in fighting off the raiders that struck their system. 

In the years since communications were established the Bobruisk have tolerated the presence of our diplomatic ships in their frontier system, however, they have been unwilling to be more forthcoming with our ambassadors or make any agreements with the Empire.  In the years since contact the Bobruisk have expanded towards the Empire.  They have stabilized the jump point in HIP 48659 that leads to 68 Andromedae and then to Beta Antliae, and based on the traffic in the 68 Andromedae system they have expanded into the chain beginning there and leading through 7 Centauri.  That chain was surveyed by Imperial ships some time ago and deemed of little interest at the time, due to its distance from Sol and its proximity to the unknown threat of the Bobruisk, as well as the chain’s connection to the frontier beyond the base at Monoceri.  Of the four systems beyond 68 Andromedae, one is planet-less, and the next two are of limited interest due to containing only minor resource deposits.  The fourth, 58 Cassiopeiae, has not been surveyed, but possessed only two planets, one of which was a gas giant. 

As the Bobruisk have been contained to the 68 Andromedae – 7 Centauri chain, the Empire has been content to leave them alone, however, the establishment of a stabilized jump point pair between 68 Andromedae and Beta Antliae is of concern, as it implies that the Bobruisk have the intention of expanding towards territory the Empire considers its property. 

Over the years Imperial ships have observed a total of twenty-seven Bobruisk ships in and around HIP 48659.  Eight of these ships were obviously military, and range in speed from 1,769 km/s to the astounding Caustic class ships that were only observed at a distance, but were seen to be moving at 20,294 km/s.  Seventeen of the ships were commercial in nature, with the largest being the 158,876 ton Belligerent class.  Most of the commercial ships have speeds in the 1 to 1,500 km/s range.  Two of the ships were only observed briefly and at a distance, and could not be determined to be either commercial or military.   

Currently, the Bobruisk have five 32,261 ton commercial Calamitous class ships, one 12,105 ton Corpulent class warship, an 36, 029 ton Effulgent class commercial ship, and a 158,876 ton Bellicose class commercial ship stationed at their forward base in the HIP 48659 system, and one of their fast Caustic class warships in the 68 Andromedae system at the jump point to HIP 48659. 

July 30, 2149: The 2nd LR Survey Group enters the HIP 48659 system and begins surveying for additional jump points and resources.   

August 4, 2149: One of the 2nd LR Survey group’s ships determines that the 7th moon of the 4th planet, the location of the Bobruisk outpost, is the site of large deposits of seven TN resources, all present at high availability levels.  In addition, the Bobruisk Corporation has stationed a large ground force at their moon base. 

September 6, 2149: The LR Survey Ship Jarvis jumps out of the HIP 48659 system through a newly discovered stabilized jump point and discovers the Mu Delphini system.  The system has a small red primary star and seven planets, five of which are gas giants.  One of the inner terrestrial planets has an atmosphere of CO2 and Nitrogen.  There are no Bobruisk ships within detection range of the jump point.  The Jarvis jumps back to the HIP 48659 system to report its findings. 

September 7, 2149: The Resnik, another LR survey ship with the 2nd, jumps out of HIP 48659 through a second newly discovered jump point, this one also stabilized.  The survey ship discovers the Gliese 835 system.  The system primary is a small red star orbited by three dwarf planets and a single terrestrial planet.  None of the planets have atmospheres and no Bobruisk ships are detected in the system. 

On that same day another of the 2nd’s survey ships jumps through a third newly discovered jump point, finding itself in the Iota Pegasi system.  This system has a hot F5-V central star, orbited by four terrestrial planets and a dwarf.  None of the planets has an atmosphere, and as before, the jump point is stabilized and no Bobruisk ships are in sight of the jump point. 

September 10, 2149: The Onizuka jumps through the fifth and final jump point found in the HIP 48659 system and finds itself in a planet-less brown dwarf system.  Clearly none of the systems connecting to the HIP 48659 system are the home system of the Bobruisk, although some may be exploited by them.  The survey group’s commander orders the 2nd to move to the Mu Delphini system and begin a survey. 

September 14, 2149
The Imperial Navy commissions an upgrade for the Galaxy class dreadnoughts.  The upgrade includes improved EW systems and the navy’s newly developed soft x-ray laser weaponry and theta class shielding.  In addition, the navy decides to remove the DN design’s extra engine, reducing the class to the fleet standard speed.  While the increased speed was originally intended to give the DN a better ability to chase down enemies, and redundancy to withstand internal damage, the Andromeda’s performance in Omega Ceti was judged to not be worth the 8,000 tons that had to be devoted to the additional engine, or 10% of the mass of the entire vessel.  By removing the engine, the designers were able to significantly increase the design’s shielding, and its laser weaponry.  In fact, between the new class of shield generators and the increased tonnage devoted to them, the Flight Ic’ shielding is twice as powerful as the Ib’s, and its laser weaponry is much more powerful than the Ib’s. 

Galaxy Flt Ic class Dreadnought      80,000 tons       1,964 Crew       19,262.1 BP       TCS 1,600    TH 12,000    EM 32,400
7500 km/s    JR 5-500      Armour 9-165       Shields 1080-400       HTK 442      Sensors 108/84/0/0      DCR 78-9      PPV 206.47
Maint Life 1.51 Years     MSP 12,803    AFR 875%    IFR 12.2%    1YR 6,337    5YR 95,049    Max Repair 2,000 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 4,000 tons     Troop Capacity 1,200 tons     Magazine 900 / 0   
Commodore    Control Rating 5   BRG   AUX   ENG   CIC   FLG   
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Flight Crew Berths 80    Morale Check Required   

J80000(5-500) Military Jump Drive Mk II     Max Ship Size 80000 tons    Distance 500k km     Squadron Size 5

DN IC Fusion Drive   (3)    Power 12000    Fuel Use 10.0%    Signature 4000    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 5,330,000 Litres    Range 119.9 billion km (185 days at full power)
Lg Theta Shield Generator (27)     Recharge Time 400 seconds (2.7 per second)

45.0cm Spinal Soft X-ray Laser (1)    Range 320,000km     TS: 7,500 km/s     Power 53-8     RM 60,000 km    ROF 35       
30cm Soft X-ray Laser (11)    Range 320,000km     TS: 7,500 km/s     Power 24-8     RM 60,000 km    ROF 15       
15.0cm Soft X-ray Laser (4)    Range 320,000km     TS: 7,500 km/s     Power 6-6     RM 60,000 km    ROF 5       
Twin 10cm FUV Laser Turret Mk II (3x2)    Range 150,000km     TS: 25000 km/s     Power 6-6     RM 50,000 km    ROF 5       
Twin Gauss Cannon Mk II Turret (2x8)    Range 40,000km     TS: 25000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 40,000 km    ROF 5       
Miain Battery Fire Control MK III (4)     Max Range: 320,000 km   TS: 6,250 km/s    ECCM-2     97 94 91 88 84 81 78 75 72 69
Turret Fire Control Mk III (1)     Max Range: 200,000 km   TS: 25,000 km/s    ECCM-2     95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50
Capital IC Fusion Reactor  (4)     Total Power Output 320    Exp 5%

Sparrow IIb ASM (300)    Speed: 41,267 km/s    End: 1.3m     Range: 3.3m km    WH: 8    Size: 3    TH: 192/115/57

AM Active Search Sensor Mk III (1)     GPS 180     Range 28.3m km    MCR 2.5m km    Resolution 1
Standard Active Search Sensor Mk II (1)     GPS 2016     Range 61.1m km    Resolution 14
Capital EM Sensor  (1)     Sensitivity 84     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  72.5m km
Capital Thermal Sensor Mk II (1)     Sensitivity 108     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  82.2m km

Electronic Warfare Jammers:   Sensor 4    Fire Control 4    Missile 4   

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

The Andromeda is currently in overhaul, and will move into the yards as soon as a yard is reconfigured to handle the refit.  The Pegasus is currently exercising her fighters and will move into refit once the Andromeda is released from the yards. 

November 15, 2149
The Chi Draconis Naval District is declared operational.  A quartet of orbital maintenance bases have been towed to the system, along with a recreation base, and a fuel dump and maintenance supply warehouse have been placed on the surface, along with fueling equipment, a naval headquarters unit, an ordnance transfer station, and a cargo shuttle station.  In addition, an extensive deep space tracking network has been established on the surface.  All of this is protected by the 12th Imperial Guard Division and a large contingent of STO batteries.  Finally, an interceptor group is on its way from Terra to protect the system. 

March 11, 2150: A sensor buoy placed in the Omicron Tucanae system, at the jump point to the unexplored far frontier system of Lambda Volantis, detects a Hive Fleet Leviathan ship jumping into Omicron Tucanae.  The ship is previously unseen Aggravator class ship, 4000 tons, known speed of 10,469 km/s.  The buoy immediately sends off a burst communication to the other buoys in the system, updating their logs.  Unfortunately, the two patrol ships that covered this section of the sensor network were about as far from the system as they would get, and would take around ten days to return to strip the logs.  The Hive ship soon disappeared off of the buoy’s sensors. 

March 15, 2150: A second sensor buoy in the Omicron Tucanae system picks up the Hive ship, this time at the jump point to the Zeta Doradus system, another system beyond Omicron Tucanae in the far frontier.  The Hive ship soon jumps out. 

March 22, 2150: The buoy at the Zeta Doradus jump point in Omicron Tucanae detects a previously identified Alpha class ship from Hive Fleet Leviathan entering the system.  The buoy tender is eight hours away.  The Hvie ship soon moves away from the jump point.

March 23, 2150: A buoy tender ship jumps into the Omicron Tucanae system and strips the logs from the nearest buoy.  The ship’s commander is immediately alerted to the contact report, and the ship turns and jumps out as soon as her jump engines recharge. 

March 24, 2150: The Alpha class is reacquired by buoys picketing the inner system.  The Alpha class ship, a suspected warship, may be on its way to the jump point to the HIP 31292 system.  A second patrol tender is approaching that jump point from the far side. 

March 26, 2150: The Alpha class Hive ship transits from Omicron Tucanae to HIP 31292, appearing on the sensors of buoy’s stationed on both sides of the jump point.  Both buoys send out updates to the other buoys in the system, and to any other Imperial ships in the system.  Thus, the buoy tender five hundred and twenty-five million kilometers from the jump point is warned about the appearance of the hive warship and immediately turns back to warn Bastion Base in Chi Draconis.  The Alpha class sets out on a course that is either a pursuit course for the buoy tender, or headed in the same direction but towards one of the three other jump points in the same general direction. 

After a short period of consideration, the buoy tender’s commander orders his ship to detour away from their current course, as the Alpha class is 5,000 km/s faster and if it isn’t pursuing them, it may overtake and detect them on its way to whatever its target is. 

March 30, 2150
The buoy tender that received the original warning of hive ships in the Omicron Tucanae system arrives in Chi Draconis and sends off a warning transmission to Bastion Base.  The base commander immediately dispatches a courier to warn Shield Base and fleet command on Terra of the incursion.  It will take 16 days for the courier to arrive in the solar system. 

March 31, 2150
A Hive Fleet Leviathan ship arrives in the Omicron Tucanae system through the jump point to Lambda Volantis.  The ship is a previously seen Aggravator class unit which immediately heads away from the jump point. 

     Humanity’s Reach Beyond Sol: A Galactic Dawn (2053–2054)

     2053: Pushing the Frontiers of Technology
The year began with a monumental achievement: humanity’s first operational jump drives. By January 26, 2053, scientists had crossed a threshold that transformed interstellar dreams into reality. This technological leap allowed the construction of the first jump-capable survey ships. Although slightly slower than their predecessors at 4,000 km/s, these vessels boasted unmatched range, capable of reaching 40 billion kilometers—a feat that heralded humanity’s leap into the unknown.

While engineers labored to retrofit existing survey ships for interstellar exploration, the Solar System's gravitational survey reached its conclusion. The discovery of these four interstellar doorways filled humanity with both wonder and trepidation, offering a glimpse into the uncharted vastness of the galaxy. The discovery of significant mineral reserves on Neptune’s moons underscored the Solar System’s enduring value as humanity’s resource base.

Shianzpla A II class Geosurvey Ship      3,500 tons       81 Crew       542.6 BP       TCS 70    TH 280    EM 0
4000 km/s    JR 3-50      Armour 1-20       Shields 0-0       HTK 24      Sensors 1/1/0/2      DCR 1-2      PPV 0
Maint Life 4.37 Years     MSP 596    AFR 98%    IFR 1.4%    1YR 50    5YR 756    Max Repair 100 MSP
Captain    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months    Morale Check Required   

MK I Survey Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 3500 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3

MK I Survey Engine (2)    Power 280.0    Fuel Use 67.61%    Signature 140.00    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 529,800 Litres    Range 40.3 billion km (116 days at full power)

MK  I ASS 6000T 23.6m KM (1)     GPS 1440     Range 23.6m km    Resolution 120
MK I Commerical EM Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 1.2     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8.7m km
MK I Commerical Thermal Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 1.2     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8.7m km
Geological Survey Sensors (2)   2 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

Infrastructure within the Solar System also progressed. Mars became the focus of mining expansion, with 75 automated mines operational by the year’s end. Venus, with its inhospitable atmosphere, was designated a future hub for automated mining. Plans were also finalized to launch humanity's first colony ship by September 2056, though setbacks in shipyard expansion delayed its construction.

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     2054: Humanity’s Leap Into the Galaxy

By March 2054, the jump-capable survey fleet was ready to depart. Each crew member carried the weight of history as they prepared to chart the stars. Within days, humanity’s explorers pierced the veil of Sol, stepping into a galaxy brimming with promise and peril.

March 20, 2054 – Querion System: The first system beyond Sol revealed three planets and a large moon. Querion II, with its temperate conditions and minimal atmospheric adjustments required, emerged as a beacon of hope for humanity’s first interstellar colony. 
 

March 25, 2054 – Farreach System: Farreach was home to two gas giants and nine moons. However, its vast distances, with planets nearly 5 billion kilometers from the jump point, posed challenges for immediate exploitation. 
 

March 28, 2054 – Shayou System: Shayou hosted a terrestrial planet and a gas giant with ten moons. The planet’s extreme heat and low gravity rendered it unsuitable for habitation. 
 

March 30, 2054 – Plianzhnzhi System: The most unique discovery, this system contained a black hole orbited by a star and seven planets. Two terrestrials and two gas giants orbited the star, but the closest planets lay over 25 billion kilometers from the jump point—far beyond humanity’s reach at current technological levels. The stark beauty of Plianzhnzhi—a black hole commanding its celestial ballet—left explorers awestruck, even as its vast distances presented formidable challenges to exploration. 
 

Geo-survey operations in Querion revealed immense mineral wealth:
- Querion I: Rich in Duranium (11 million tons, 0.7) and Gallicite (2.1 million tons, 0.9).
- Querion II: An unprecedented motherlode of minerals, including Duranium (68 million tons, 0.1), Tritanium (33 million tons, 0.9), and Uridium (46 million tons, 0.5).

A promising jump point in Querion led to the discovery of the Ninjar System on September 29, 2054. Among its terrestrial worlds, one stood out with 0.55 gravity and an atmosphere requiring only minor adjustments, marking it as a strong candidate for future colonization. Together with Querion II, this planet offered humanity a glimpse of the possibilities for life beyond Sol, each world holding the promise of becoming humanity's first true off-world home. 


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     Challenges and Setbacks
Despite these breakthroughs, challenges persisted. By August 29, 2054, corundium shortages had halted automated mine production. This resource bottleneck served as a stark reminder of humanity’s dependence on strategic minerals, even as it reached for the stars. The solution was clear: infrastructure and manned mines would be shipped to Mars to ramp up mineral output, with resources transported back to Earth via mass driver.

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     A Glimpse of the Future
As the year closed, humanity stood on the brink of a new age. On November 11, 2054, powered infantry armor research concluded, a step towards safeguarding humanity’s fledgling interstellar presence. Research shifted to thermal signature masking, ensuring that when alien eyes turned toward us, our ships would be harder to detect.

By 2055, the construction of a Tug and Jump Stabilization Station would allow for secure travel between Sol and other systems. Colonization efforts remained on track for 2056, with Mars as the first destination. The Querion and Ninjar systems promised habitable worlds, abundant resources, and the possibility of a stable interstellar foothold.

As the galaxy unveiled its mysteries, humanity’s resolve to carve a place among the stars burned brighter than ever.

A salvager moving at 71 km/s? I hope youre towing it somewhere haha

Started following this and it helped me with some shipbuilding stuff since I havent played since VB6 Thanks as always Steve
Your story telling is wonderful, I love the pacing