Early Exploration, 2110-2130GEC-1 class Geological Survey Craft 500 tons 12 Crew 122.5 BP TCS 10 TH 5 EM 0
500 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 2 Sensors 0/0/0/1 DCR 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 5.56 Years MSP 135 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 7 5YR 110 Max Repair 100 MSP
Lieutenant Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Nuclear Thermal Engine EP5.00 (1) Power 5.0 Fuel Use 39.53% Signature 5.00 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 24,000 Litres Range 21.9 billion km (505 days at full power)
Geological Survey Sensors (1) 1 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
The Endeavour-class, being equipped with conventional rocket engines, were slow and limited to operating within Jupiter's orbit. The GEC-1-class survey craft, while similar in size, are optimized for long-duration survey missions and capable of reaching the Kuiper Belt. Ten ships are ordered, with the first entering service in March 2110.
Unrest on LunaThe colonization process has not always gone smoothly, and keeping order from Earth is not always easy. The colonies, particularly Mercury, have on occasion suffered from lawlessness and civil disorder. In August 2110, the Colonial Marshals are established as an armed, paramilitary wing of the Alliance Space Command, tasked with law enforcement and maintainig civil order. Detachments of colonial marshals will be trained on Earth over the coming months.
In order to facilitate the movement of troops to the colonies if necessary, construction begins of five troop transports:
TT-1 class Troop Transport 8,764 tons 59 Crew 221.1 BP TCS 175 TH 125 EM 0
713 km/s Armour 1-37 Shields 0-0 HTK 26 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 15 Max Repair 80 MSP
Troop Capacity 5,000 tons Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Lieutenant Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine EP62.5 (2) Power 125.0 Fuel Use 11.18% Signature 62.5 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 18.4 billion km (298 days at full power)
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
These ships will share a common hull form with a planned freighter design, to be constructed later.
The foundation of the Colonial Marshal Service is timely, as weeks later, Allied intelligence learns that certain elements on Luna are agitating for independence. This is seen as a long shot, at best, and a lunatic gambit by most, considering the moon lacks all mineral resources and industry and has no hope of being self-sustaining. But at the same time, there is a risk that such a movement could spread to other human colonies. At the moment, the Allies have no plans for armed spacecraft, even on paper, but it's becoming clear that an armed space force is required in order to maintain order and protect trade in the solar system. The inner planets are already buzzing with civilian craft that the Allied governments have trouble policing.
The Colonial Marshals arrive on Luna in 2111 and foil the separatist plot. After the troop transports enter service, construction begins of five freighters designed along a derivative hull form.
FT-1 class Freighter 8,743 tons 46 Crew 149.1 BP TCS 175 TH 125 EM 0
714 km/s Armour 1-37 Shields 0-0 HTK 17 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 10 Max Repair 20 MSP
Cargo 5,000 Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Lieutenant Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine EP62.5 (2) Power 125.0 Fuel Use 11.18% Signature 62.5 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 18.4 billion km (298 days at full power)
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
The JSC perceives a future need to construct orbital infrastructure. In particular, Earth has only a very limited fuel refining capacity. In the solar system, Uranus has a decent amount of atmospheric Sorium that could be harvested and refined into fuel. In order to construct a future harvesting operation, five tugs are ordered in December 2113:
TG-1 class Tug 23,319 tons 212 Crew 544.7 BP TCS 466 TH 1,000 EM 0
2144 km/s Armour 1-72 Shields 0-0 HTK 99 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 14 Max Repair 100 MSP
Tractor Beam
Lieutenant Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine EP62.5 (16) Power 1000.0 Fuel Use 11.18% Signature 62.5 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 1,500,000 Litres Range 103.6 billion km (559 days at full power)
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
While slow, these ships will be more than capable of towing fuel harvesters or the like to Jupiter or Saturn.
In September 2117, the first civilian comet mining operation is established on Stephan-Otema, with several more comet or asteroid mining operations springing up soon after.
In August of 2119, construction begins of a Europa colony. Europa is well-endowed with TN minerals, and capable of self-sustaining its own industry. It is chosen for colonization despite the harsh environment. Settlers arrive early the next year.
The Rijkers IncidentThe Allies have been seeking out volunteers for resettlement in the many war refugee camps scattered around Earth. Most are happy to find a new, better life off-world, but not everyone adapts to living in a new, foreign culture on a strange planet where no one can survive outside. Conditions can be harsh. Crime, madness, and terrorism are unknown. In mid-2120, Martian terrorists attempt to hijack the
Hassan Rijkers, a civilian cryo liner, but are foiled -only narrowly- by ship's security. The Allies now recognize the immediate need for an armed space police force. The Allied Joint Space Command is expanded into a multinational Joint Space Force, and given authorization to maintain a fleet of armed patrol craft in order to ensure the safety of the spacelanes. The Allies contribute military personnel from their own navies and space branches to staff the new, expanded JSF. Several designs are submitted for armed patrol craft.
In January 2122, the final design is selected for an armed space vessel. The contract winner is a British Spacecraft design firm. As a nod to British military history, the names selected for the 15 authorize police patrol vessels are taken from historical Royal Navy destroyers. The
Daring-class is designed as a very fast, rapid-reaction unit with a range to reach any point in the inhabited solar system. They will be armed with a mix of railguns and anti-ship missiles. Although the JSF greatly desired a boarding combat capability in a 'police' vessel, the technology to facilitate boarding a noncompliant vessel doesn't yet exist. The class are euphemistically called 'patrol vessels', but the
Daring is, first and foremost, a warship. There is concern among the Allied leadership that a non-allied nation will acquire Trans-Newtonian technology and challenge the allies for space dominance. They are also aware that alien life exists, and has visited Earth in the recent past.
Daring class Patrol Vessel 5,865 tons 130 Crew 580 BP TCS 117 TH 264 EM 0
3000 km/s Armour 3-28 Shields 0-0 HTK 30 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 2 PPV 25.2
Maint Life 3.46 Years MSP 523 AFR 138% IFR 1.9% 1YR 67 5YR 1,001 Max Repair 110.0000 MSP
Magazine 108
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Morale Check Required
Improved Nuclear Thermal Engine EP176.00 (2) Power 352.0 Fuel Use 106.00% Signature 132.0000 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 673,000 Litres Range 19.5 billion km (75 days at full power)
10cm Railgun V10/C1 (3x4) Range 10,000km TS: 3,000 km/s Power 3-1 RM 10,000 km ROF 15
Beam Fire Control R40-TS3000 (1) Max Range: 40,000 km TS: 3,000 km/s 56 38 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Improved Pressurised Water Reactor R9 (1) Total Power Output 9 Exp 5%
Size 6 Box Launcher Mk I (18) Missile Size: 6.00 Hangar Reload 122 minutes MF Reload 20 hours
Missile Fire Control FC28-R100 (1) Range 28.7m km Resolution 100
Size 6 ASM Mk I (18) Speed: 9,600 km/s End: 45.5m Range: 26.2m km WH: 4 Size: 6.0 TH: 38/23/11
Active Search Sensor AS3-R1 (1) GPS 10 Range 4m km MCR 359k km Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor AS26-R100 (1) GPS 2000 Range 26.2m km Resolution 100
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m 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
Fifteen ships are authorized, entering service between 2123 and 2126:
Daring, Brilliant, Charger, Rattlesnake, Wolf, Gallant, Hurricane, Nemesis, Tempest, Venturous, Albatross, Chivalrous, Griffin, Intrepid, and
Ready.The first
Daring-class ships enter service just as Esteban Bode formalizes his theory of FTL travel through 'jump' points. He believes that, by manipulating a Trans-Newtonian drive field at certain points in space, it is possible to open an artificial wormhole and travel instantaneously between points in space. These points would occur naturally within powerful gravity wells and could be calculated by measuring the interaction of gravitational fields. The theory is initally closely-held by the Allied powers as a state secret.
July of 2123 also sees the start of construction of the TK-1 class. Being able to replenish a fleet in space is a critical logistic need. Five ships are ordered.
TK-1 class Tanker 10,205 tons 72 Crew 237.9 BP TCS 204 TH 240 EM 0
1175 km/s Armour 1-41 Shields 0-0 HTK 29 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 14 Max Repair 20 MSP
Lieutenant Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Improved Nuclear Thermal Engine EP80.00 (3) Power 240.0 Fuel Use 10.06% Signature 80.00 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 5,250,000 Litres Range 919.6 billion km (9058 days at full power)
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 105 hours
Active Search Sensor AS3-R1 (1) GPS 10 Range 4m km MCR 359k km Resolution 1
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
Five GSC-1 class survey ships are launched by May of 2124. These are a simple adaptation of the GEC-1-class, now equipped with sensitive gravitometric equipment. They immediately begin a gravitational survey of the solar system.
GSC-1 class Gravitational Survey Craft 500 tons 12 Crew 122.5 BP TCS 10 TH 5 EM 0
500 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 2 Sensors 0/0/1/0 DCR 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 5.56 Years MSP 135 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 7 5YR 110 Max Repair 100 MSP
Lieutenant Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Nuclear Thermal Engine EP5.00 (1) Power 5.0 Fuel Use 39.53% Signature 5.00 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 24,000 Litres Range 21.9 billion km (505 days at full power)
Gravitational Survey Sensors (1) 1 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
The first confirmed jump point is identified only three months later, fixed at a point within the asteroid belt. Construction of a pair of experimental jump ships begins in July 2125.
JS-1 class Jump Scout 494 tons 12 Crew 41.5 BP TCS 10 TH 10 EM 0
971 km/s JR 1-50 Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 5 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 7.40 Years MSP 25 AFR 20% IFR 0.3% 1YR 1 5YR 12 Max Repair 10 MSP
Lieutenant Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Morale Check Required
J500(1-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 500 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 1
Improved Nuclear Thermal Engine EP9.60 (1) Power 9.6 Fuel Use 98.03% Signature 9.60 Explosion 7%
Fuel Capacity 95,000 Litres Range 35.3 billion km (420 days at full power)
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
They are launched in August 2125, and soon afterwards the first JS-1, under command of LT Arnulfo Eichner, makes the first FTL jump in human history. After taking astrological measurements, they fix their position in the Wolf 359 system, almost 8 light years from Earth. The system is an unremarkable red dwarf star, with no orbiting planets and only a few scattered comets. Nonetheless, a hugely important mileston in human history has been reached.
It is theoretically possible to 'stabilize' a jump point, making it transitable by any ship equipped with a TN drive field, without the need for a specialized jump drive. In order to accomplish this, five jump point stabilization stations are ordered in late 2126.
Jump Stabilization Station class Jump Stabilisation Station 50,836 tons 123 Crew 1,117.1 BP TCS 1,017 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s No Armour Shields 0-0 HTK 15 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 13 Max Repair 1000 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Jump Point Stabilisation: 180 days
Active Search Sensor AS3-R1 (1) GPS 10 Range 4m km MCR 359k km Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor AS18-R100 (1) GPS 1000 Range 18.5m km Resolution 100
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
This design is classed as a Space Station for construction purposes
The fourth and final jump point in the solar system is charted in August 2127. By the end of that year, the the first stable jump point link has been created. Exploration of the solar jump points leads human explorers to the Luhman 16, WISE 0350-5658, and Luyten 726-8 systems, in addition to Wolf 359. Wolf 359 and Luyten 726-8 are red dwarfs, while the other two are brown dwarf systems. None possess planets.
By the end of the decade, human survey ships have surveyed every system save Luyten 726-8, whose Sol jump point 6 billion km from Earth. Five more jump points have been identified, but not yet explored. The GEC and GSC-class survey ships were never designed to operate outside the solar system, and thus, a new, dedicated high-endurance science ship is required. That ship is the
Armstrong-class.
Armstrong class Science Vessel 3,000 tons 84 Crew 424.4 BP TCS 60 TH 56 EM 0
1248 km/s JR 1-50 Armour 1-18 Shields 0-0 HTK 21 Sensors 5/5/1/1 DCR 1 PPV 0
Maint Life 8.28 Years MSP 532 AFR 48% IFR 0.7% 1YR 14 5YR 207 Max Repair 100 MSP
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG SCI
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
J3000(1-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 3000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 1
HE Improved Nuclear Thermal Engine EP37.44 (2) Power 74.9 Fuel Use 32.32% Signature 28.0800 Explosion 6%
Fuel Capacity 264,000 Litres Range 49 billion km (454 days at full power)
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Geological Survey Sensors (1) 1 Survey Points Per Hour
Gravitational Survey Sensors (1) 1 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Five ships are part of the initial order:
Armstrong, Aldrin, Gagarin, Glenn, and
Shepard.
Jump Network, 2130By 2130, There are 1.03 billion Alliance citizens on Earth, 50.5 million on Mars, 39.1 million on Europa, 24.6 million on Mercury, and 20.3 million on the moon.