Author Topic: Gothic II Campaign Updates Thread (Read 2510 times)

Steve Walmsley · « **on:** August 02, 2023, 06:43:35 AM »

In 2032, Earth was attacked without warning by an alien armada, which bombarded the surface from orbit. The aliens were apparently only interested in devastating the planet as there was no follow-up invasion. Only pockets of humanity remained, living in near-medieval conditions in a cold, irradiated wasteland. In the centuries that followed, some semblance of civilisation returned with the emergence of villages, towns and eventually small city states. Even though knowledge of the Fall was part of collective human memory in the form of myths and legends, humanity was fractured and small wars still broke out over territory or resources. One state, known as the Imperium, expanded as a result of conquering its neighbours with swift and effective military campaigns. Those campaigns were aided by propaganda from the Imperium claiming that humanity must unite and prepare for another alien attack. This was effective enough to bring some small powers into the fold without military action.

As The Imperium developed into the most powerful state on Earth, it became an economic, scientific and military powerhouse. Trans-Newtonian physics were re-discovered, leading to the construction of factories, research facilities and orbital shipyards. Spacecraft were built, although remained close to Earth to support combat on the ever-expanding Imperium frontiers. The leader of the Imperium, known only as The Emperor, did not wish to venture into space, even to the rest of the solar system, until humanity was ready. Concern was high that the aliens had left some form of monitoring system to alert them to humanity venturing forth from its home.

By the dawn of the forty-first century, almost two millennia after the alien attack, Earth was united under the banner of the recently renamed Imperium of Man. Earth itself was named Terra in High Gothic, a derivative of Latin that had become the official language of the Imperium. It was accepted wisdom across the globe that aliens were an existential threat and that the Imperium had to be ready for their return. On the symbolic date of January 1st 4000, the Emperor gave the order for the first survey frigates to leave orbit.

This campaign uses the WH40k Imperial Navy and Imperial Guard as a guiding theme, with minor elements of the Space Marines. Ship classes mirror the general capabilities of classes of the Imperial Navy, based on the type of weapons specified for the ship classes in the Battlefleet Gothic board game. There are some changes, such as light weapon batteries instead of defence turrets, but the role of the ship will remain the same.

I had to make exceptions for jump-capable and survey ships, as they don’t exist in BFG, so I chose a design and reduced weapons to allow room for the drive and/or sensors. I also designed the carrier-hybrids, such as the Defiant and Dictator, as full carriers, because ‘fighters’ are relatively larger in Aurora vs WH40k and its is the ‘carrier’ aspect that distinguishes those ships. Finally, there is a much wider variety of non-warships in Aurora compared to BFG so I created most of those from scratch using names appropriate to the theme.

For the Battlefleet Gothic ship lists, I am primarily using the Expanded Revised edition, plus I may use the Additional Ships Compendium for roles not covered by the standard ship lists. Ground forces will be based on the equipment of Imperial Guard, Space Marines and other Imperial forces from the WH40k 8th edition codices. In order to utilise the nomenclature of the Imperial Navy, railguns on major warships will be named weapon batteries, gauss turrets will become defence turrets, CIWS are commercial defence turrets, 10cm railguns on small craft will be lascannon, particle beams will be lance batteries, lasers will be bombardment cannon and missiles will become torpedoes. There are various attack craft in WH40k which are harder to replicate exactly, but I will stay true to their intended roles.

To reflect the theme and to allow me to include all the listed weapons, I have ‘gone large’ with the ship design, with light cruisers at 18,750 tons and cruisers at 37,500 tons. This fleet doctrine and weapon mix will not produce ‘efficient’ ships, but good design is not the intention. This is a role-play campaign based on a WH40k Imperial Navy theme.

With all the above in mind, I made the following changes to the starting setup:
•   Starting population is two billion with standard installations for that population size, except for 800 Maintenance Facilities instead of 600.
•   Research Points are double normal to allow for the variety of starting weapons.
•   Starting Build Points are double normal, on the assumption the Imperium has been building up the largest army and fleet it can support before venturing into the galaxy.
•   Shipyards are customised for the ship classes. This results a larger than normal number of shipyards, although many have only a single slipway. Also, the Imperium doesn’t have the resources to use them all.
•   Ruin chance is increased from 20% to 25%.
•   All spoilers active except Rakhas. NPRs can activate Precursors and Raiders
•   8 NPRs. 75-150 LY
•   NPRs can generate other NPRs with a 10% chance.
•   Limited Research Admin
•   Hostility Modifier +20
•   Survey Speed 25%

Imperial Navy Ship Designs
The Sword class frigate is a workhorse for the Imperium, capable of independent operations, functioning as part of a frigate squadron or acting an escort for larger warships. The primary armament comprises four Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Batteries, with each battery firing four projectiles every fifteen seconds out to a range of 160,000 kilometres. The secondary armament comprises six Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapons Batteries, a rapid-fire weapon system intended to engage inbound torpedoes or hostile ships within 40,000 kilometres. Passive defences include armour and a single Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield. With a full suite of sensors, the Sword can locate hostile ships with her active augur array at fifty million kilometres, detect incoming torpedoes and conduct passive searches with both thermal and electromagnetic augur arrays.

Sword class Frigate 9,375 tons 306 Crew 1,521.3 BP TCS 187 TH 750 EM 1,380
4000 km/s Armour 4-39 Shields 46-368 HTK 65 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 5-5 PPV 46
Maint Life 2.36 Years MSP 507 AFR 141% IFR 2.0% 1YR 125 5YR 1,870 Max Repair 187.50 MSP
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-375B Gas-Core Drive (2) Power 750.0 Fuel Use 70.60% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 650,000 Litres Range 17.7 billion km (51 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (1) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.1 per second)

Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (4x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (6x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-17 Gaseous Fission Reactor (2) Total Power Output 34.5 Exp 5%

MK I Frigate Active Augur Array (1) GPS 5760 Range 54.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Firestorm class frigate is a modification of the original Sword, replacing four of the light weapon batteries with a pair of V4-200 Lance Batteries. Although the Lances generate far less raw damage than the weapons they replace, they reach out to 200,000 km and maintain their damage output across that range. The significant reduction in defensive firepower makes the Firestorm more suited for ship-to-ship engagements than an escort role. Due to their similarity, the Firestorm can be constructed in the same shipyard as the Sword class frigate.

Firestorm class Frigate 9,375 tons 306 Crew 1,537.1 BP TCS 187 TH 750 EM 1,380
4000 km/s Armour 4-39 Shields 46-368 HTK 67 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 5-5 PPV 46
Maint Life 2.34 Years MSP 512 AFR 141% IFR 2.0% 1YR 127 5YR 1,912 Max Repair 187.50 MSP
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-375B Gas-Core Drive (2) Power 750.0 Fuel Use 70.60% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 650,000 Litres Range 17.7 billion km (51 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (1) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.1 per second)

Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (4x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Valentinian-Ventris V4-200 Lance Battery (2) Range 200,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 10-3.5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (2x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-17 Gaseous Fission Reactor (2) Total Power Output 34.5 Exp 5%

MK I Frigate Active Augur Array (1) GPS 5760 Range 54.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Falchion class is a jump-capable ship based on a modified Sword hull. To create space for the 1575-ton Ravenor Drive Systems RM-945 Military Jump Drive, half the weapon batteries and two-thirds of the light weapon batteries have been removed. The loss of firepower is made up by the tactical and strategic flexibility the Falchion provides to frigate squadrons. The Falchion can be constructed in the same shipyard as the Sword class frigate.

Falchion class Frigate 9,375 tons 279 Crew 1,320.6 BP TCS 187 TH 750 EM 1,380
4000 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 4-39 Shields 46-368 HTK 58 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 5-5 PPV 20
Maint Life 2.13 Years MSP 462 AFR 134% IFR 1.9% 1YR 136 5YR 2,047 Max Repair 187.50 MSP
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required

RM-945 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 9450.0 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-375B Gas-Core Drive (2) Power 750.0 Fuel Use 70.60% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 664,000 Litres Range 18.1 billion km (52 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (1) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.1 per second)

Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (2x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (2x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (1) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (1) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-8 Gaseous Fission Reactor (2) Total Power Output 16.2 Exp 5%

MK I Frigate Active Augur Array (1) GPS 5760 Range 54.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

Although the Tempest class survey frigate is based on the Sword hull, there is little similarity between the two ships. The Tempest has minimal armour and no weapons or shields. Instead, the interior hull space is dedicated to sensors, endurance and the same jump drive as the Falchion. With three gravitational survey sensors and three geological survey sensors, the frigate can handle either survey mission. The passive arrays and the recon capability provided by four drone launchers increases the chance of avoiding hostile forces in unexplored space. Finally, the extensive crew accommodations, large engineering deck and considerable fuel capacity allow the Tempest to operate without support for up to five years.

Tempest class Survey Frigate 9,375 tons 246 Crew 1,376.1 BP TCS 187 TH 450 EM 0
2400 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-39 Shields 0-0 HTK 59 Sensors 6/8/3/3 DCR 11-11 PPV 3.6
Maint Life 5.58 Years MSP 1,055 AFR 61% IFR 0.8% 1YR 57 5YR 855 Max Repair 168.7500 MSP
Magazine 24 / 0
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 60 months Morale Check Required

RM-945 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 9450.0 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-450E Gas-Core Drive (1) Power 450.0 Fuel Use 13.92% Explosion 7%
Fuel Capacity 1,026,000 Litres Range 141.5 billion km (682 days at full power)

Drone Launcher (4) Missile Size: 6.00 Hangar Reload 122 minutes MF Reload 20 hours
Drone Launch Control (1) Range 19.9m km Resolution 120

MK I Frigate Active Augur Array (1) GPS 5760 Range 54.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
Geological Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points Per Hour
Gravitational Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points Per Hour

Imperial light cruisers lie halfway between true capital ships and the escort classes and are intended to form the core of a light task group. The Dauntless class is the ‘standard’ light cruiser class of the Imperial Navy and is armed with eight Weapon Batteries, four V4-200 Lance Batteries and eight Light Weapon Batteries. The shield strength and total armour is double that of the Sword and the Dauntless also has a more capable sensor suite.

Dauntless class Light Cruiser 18,750 tons 623 Crew 3,023.7 BP TCS 375 TH 1,500 EM 2,760
4000 km/s Armour 5-62 Shields 92-368 HTK 120 Sensors 18/24/0/0 DCR 10-5 PPV 104
Maint Life 2.14 Years MSP 1,507 AFR 281% IFR 3.9% 1YR 439 5YR 6,592 Max Repair 375.00 MSP
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750B Gas-Core Drive (2) Power 1500.0 Fuel Use 49.92% Signature 750.00 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 948,000 Litres Range 18.2 billion km (52 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (2) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.3 per second)

Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (8x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Valentinian-Ventris V4-200 Lance Battery (4) Range 200,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 10-3.5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (8x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (3) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-23 Gaseous Fission Reactor (3) Total Power Output 70.3 Exp 5%

MK I Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 9600 Range 70.4m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Large Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 18.00 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 33.5m km
MK I Large Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 24.00 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 38.7m km

The primary function of the Endeavour class light cruiser is to provide jump capability. The design is based on the Dauntless, with half of the armament removed to provide space for the drive. The passive defences and sensor suite are all retained. The Endeavour is intended to operate as part of an expeditionary fleet or light cruiser squadron, although it is capable of independent operations.

Endeavour class Light Cruiser 18,750 tons 577 Crew 2,861.9 BP TCS 375 TH 1,500 EM 2,760
4000 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 5-62 Shields 92-368 HTK 106 Sensors 18/8/0/0 DCR 11-5 PPV 52
Maint Life 1.85 Years MSP 1,549 AFR 256% IFR 3.6% 1YR 574 5YR 8,608 Max Repair 427.1 MSP
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required

RM-1875 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 18750.0 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750B Gas-Core Drive (2) Power 1500.0 Fuel Use 49.92% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 896,000 Litres Range 17.2 billion km (49 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (2) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.3 per second)

Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (4x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Valentinian-Ventris V4-200 Lance Battery (2) Range 200,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 10-3.5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (4x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-17B Gaseous Fission Reactor (2) Total Power Output 35.5 Exp 5%

MK I Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 9600 Range 70.4m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Large Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 18.00 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 33.5m km
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km

The Defiant class light carrier is based on the same hull as the Dauntless, but with massive internal changes. All the weapons have been removed, along with half the shields and sixty percent of the armour. In their place is a large hangar bay, which holds a strike group of eight Starhawk bombers and eight Fury interceptors, plus sufficient magazine storage to reload the bombers twice. The eight Starhawks are capable of launching ninety-six light torpedoes in a single salvo, while the interceptors can escort the bombers, provide anti-torpedo defences for the carrier or launch their own independent strikes against soft targets. The significant reduction in defences for the Defiant is based on a doctrine of operating at stand-off ranges.

Defiant class Light Carrier 18,750 tons 356 Crew 2,270.4 BP TCS 375 TH 1,500 EM 1,380
4000 km/s Armour 2-62 Shields 46-368 HTK 94 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 15-8 PPV 0
Maint Life 2.15 Years MSP 1,135 AFR 187% IFR 2.6% 1YR 330 5YR 4,952 Max Repair 375.00 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 6,250 tons Magazine 485 / 0
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 125 Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750B Gas-Core Drive (2) Power 1500.0 Fuel Use 49.92% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,003,000 Litres Range 19.3 billion km (55 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (1) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.1 per second)

MK I Light Torpedo (192) Speed: 24,960 km/s End: 4.9m Range: 7.3m km WH: 5 Size: 2.50 TH: 83/49/24

MK I Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 9600 Range 70.4m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km

Strike Group
8x Starhawk Bomber Speed: 10009 km/s Size: 9.99
8x Fury Interceptor Speed: 10265 km/s Size: 5.6

The Lunar is the standard cruiser class of the Imperial Navy. With a hull twice the size of the Dauntless class, the Lunar has sufficient internal space to add a hangar bay, four weapon batteries, four light weapon batteries, six torpedo launchers and magazine space for over fifty torpedoes. Passive defences are substantially increased for the Lunar, with double the total armour volume and shield strength of the Dauntless. The MK I Cruiser Active Augur Array replaces the smaller active augur array on the Dauntless, extending sensor range by twenty million kilometres. Finally, the fuel storage, engineering systems and reactors have all been upgraded in line with the larger hull. The hangar bay allows the Lunar to carry a single Thunderhawk assault transport.

Lunar class Cruiser 37,500 tons 1,120 Crew 5,623.2 BP TCS 750 TH 3,000 EM 5,520
4000 km/s Armour 6-99 Shields 184-368 HTK 220 Sensors 18/24/0/0 DCR 18-4 PPV 187.2
Maint Life 2.03 Years MSP 3,191 AFR 625% IFR 8.7% 1YR 1,034 5YR 15,512 Max Repair 375.00 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 1,000 tons Magazine 650 / 0
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 20 Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750B Gas-Core Drive (4) Power 3000.0 Fuel Use 49.92% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,603,000 Litres Range 15.4 billion km (44 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (4) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.5 per second)

Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (12x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Valentinian-Ventris V4-200 Lance Battery (4) Range 200,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 10-3.5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (12x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (4) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-24B Gaseous Fission Reactor (4) Total Power Output 98.1 Exp 5%

MK I Standard Torpedo Launcher (6) Missile Size: 12 Rate of Fire 175
MK I Small Target Fire Control (1) Range 27.5m km Resolution 10
MK I Torpedo Fire Control (1) Range 89.1m km Resolution 120
MK I Standard Torpedo (54) Speed: 25,000 km/s Range: 8m km WH: 12.0 Size: 12.0 TH: 83/50/25

MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 15360 Range 89.1m km Resolution 120
MK I Large Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 18.00 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 33.5m km
MK I Large Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 24.00 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 38.7m km

Strike Group
1x Thunderhawk Assault Transport Speed: 9504 km/s Size: 19.99

The Dominator class is a jump-capable conversion of the Lunar. To create space for the Ravenor Drive Systems RM-3750 Military Jump Drive, the torpedo launchers, magazines, lance batteries and hangar bay have been removed. The weapon batteries, shield generators and full armour belt are all retained. Due to their similarity, the Dominator and Lunar classes can be constructed in the same shipyard. The huge jump drive, which provides the Imperial Navy with considerable strategic flexibility, has the same cost as a Sword class frigate.

Dominator class Cruiser 37,500 tons 1,165 Crew 6,306 BP TCS 750 TH 3,000 EM 5,520
4000 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 6-99 Shields 184-368 HTK 209 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 21-5 PPV 120
Maint Life 1.55 Years MSP 4,712 AFR 536% IFR 7.4% 1YR 2,234 5YR 33,503 Max Repair 1487.2 MSP
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required

RM-3750 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 37500 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750B Gas-Core Drive (4) Power 3000.0 Fuel Use 49.92% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,603,000 Litres Range 15.4 billion km (44 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (4) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.5 per second)

Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (12x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (12x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (3) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-24B Gaseous Fission Reactor (4) Total Power Output 98.1 Exp 5%

MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 15360 Range 89.1m km Resolution 120
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km

The Dictator class carrier is another variant on the Lunar hull. All of the weapons and two of the shield generators have been removed and the armour has been reduced by fifty percent. The result is a scaled-up version of the Defiant class light carrier with a strikegroup of sixteen Starhawk bombers, sixteen Fury interceptors and a single Aquila lander. Sufficient ordnance is available for two full reloads of the bombers.

Dictator class Carrier 37,500 tons 685 Crew 4,485.4 BP TCS 750 TH 3,000 EM 2,760
4000 km/s Armour 3-99 Shields 92-368 HTK 180 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 28-7 PPV 0
Maint Life 1.96 Years MSP 2,093 AFR 402% IFR 5.6% 1YR 717 5YR 10,750 Max Repair 375.00 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 12,750 tons Magazine 970 / 0
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 255 Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750B Gas-Core Drive (4) Power 3000.0 Fuel Use 49.92% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 2,010,000 Litres Range 19.3 billion km (55 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (2) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.3 per second)

MK I Light Torpedo (384) Speed: 24,960 km/s End: 4.9m Range: 7.3m km WH: 5 Size: 2.50 TH: 83/49/24

MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 15360 Range 89.1m km Resolution 120
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km

Strike Group
16x Starhawk Bomber Speed: 10009 km/s Size: 9.99
16x Fury Interceptor Speed: 10265 km/s Size: 5.6
1x Aquila Lander Speed: 3007 km/s Size: 4.99

The Dread Argent class Strike Cruiser, which is midway between a light cruiser and a cruiser in size, carries a Space Marine boarding assault company, along with its four Thunderhawk assault transports. The strike cruiser is also a capable ship-to-ship combatant, with a similar armament to the Dauntless class light cruiser, except for the replacement of the lance batteries with bombardment cannons. The Dread Argent has the same armour thickness as the Dauntless class, albeit with one third more armour volume overall due to the size difference, and an extra shield generator.

Dread Argent class Strike Cruiser 28,125 tons 778 Crew 4,089.7 BP TCS 562 TH 2,250 EM 4,140
4000 km/s Armour 5-82 Shields 138-368 HTK 162 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 15-5 PPV 104
Maint Life 1.84 Years MSP 1,863 AFR 422% IFR 5.9% 1YR 696 5YR 10,446 Max Repair 375.00 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 4,000 tons
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 80 Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750B Gas-Core Drive (3) Power 2250.0 Fuel Use 49.92% Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,300,000 Litres Range 16.7 billion km (48 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-46 Void Shield (3) Recharge Time 368 seconds (0.4 per second)

Gothicus-Agna GA-20 Bombardment Cannon (4) Range 256,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 10-3.5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (8x4) Range 160,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 12-4 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Light Weapon Battery (8x4) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK I Energy Weapon Fire Control (3) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
MK I Light Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s ECCM-0
R-23 Gaseous Fission Reactor (3) Total Power Output 70.3 Exp 5%

MK I Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 9600 Range 70.4m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 574.5k km Resolution 1
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km

Strike Group
4x Thunderhawk Assault Transport Speed: 9504 km/s Size: 19.99

The vast capacity of the Cetaceous class Troop Transport provides the Imperial Navy with the means to transport and combat drop an entire Imperial Guard corps, including four full regiments and the corps assets. Given the high potential for hostile fire as it approaches the drop zone, the Cetaceous is well-armoured for a commercial-engined vessel and equipped with four commercial defence turrets. That capability comes at a price, as the construction cost of a Cetaceous is thirty percent more than a Lunar class cruiser.

Cetaceous class Troop Transport 227,407 tons 1,178 Crew 7,261.3 BP TCS 4,548 TH 7,200 EM 0
1583 km/s Armour 6-331 Shields 0-0 HTK 363 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1-0 PPV 0
MSP 19 Max Repair 800 MSP
Troop Capacity 100,000 tons Drop Capable Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 5
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (30) Power 7200.0 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240.0 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 1,500,000 Litres Range 41.1 billion km (300 days at full power)

Commercial Defence Turret (4x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16,000 km/s ROF 5
MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

While the mainstay of the Imperium’s offensive troop lift capability is the Cetaceous class Troop Transport, the smaller, jump-capable Orca is designed for transportation of garrison or expedition forces within Imperium space and has a transport capacity sufficient for a single infantry regiment of the Imperial Guard. The Orca has no drop capability and lacks any defence beyond its minimal armour, due to the lower priority of its primary task.

Orca class Troop Transport 60,532 tons 342 Crew 1,148.6 BP TCS 1,211 TH 1,920 EM 0
1585 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-137 Shields 0-0 HTK 121 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1-0 PPV 0
MSP 11 Max Repair 94.3 MSP
Troop Capacity 20,000 tons Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 2
Captain Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Ravenor RC-60 Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 60750 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (

Power 1920.0 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240.0 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 600,000 Litres Range 61.7 billion km (450 days at full power)

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

Imperial Navy Attack Craft
The Thunderhawk class Assault Transport, used by Space Marine boarding assault companies, is a 1000-ton vessel designed to launch a Space Marine Assault Force against hostile ships. Even with a speed of 9500 km/s, the Thunderhawk is not fast enough to successfully assault warships with similar speeds to Imperial designs, at least not without heavy casualties among the boarding parties, so the ideal target ship is a lower moving commercial vessel or a damaged warship.

Thunderhawk class Assault Transport 1,000 tons 4 Crew 126.3 BP TCS 20 TH 190 EM 0
9504 km/s Armour 1-8 Shields 0-0 HTK 4 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 0 Years MSP 0 AFR 199% IFR 2.8% 1YR 78 5YR 1,175 Max Repair 95.00 MSP
Troop Capacity 500 tons Boarding Capable
Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 0.3 days Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems AC-190 Attack Craft Drive (1) Power 190.0 Fuel Use 793.49% Explosion 25%
Fuel Capacity 10,000 Litres Range 0.23 billion km (6 hours at full power)
MK I Fury Augur Array (1) GPS 2 Range 2m km MCR 181.7k km Resolution 1

The Starhawk bomber is the primary long-range strike weapon of the Imperial Navy and is equipped with twelve launching tubes for light torpedoes. The Starhawk includes an integral active augur array and fire control system, allowing torpedo launch from up to ten million kilometres. The bomber’s endurance is sufficient to attack targets up to five hundred million kilometres from its parent ship.

Starhawk class Bomber 500 tons 2 Crew 80.5 BP TCS 10 TH 100 EM 0
10009 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 2 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0-0 PPV 4.56
Maint Life 0.38 Years MSP 5 AFR 100% IFR 1.4% 1YR 13 5YR 199 Max Repair 50.00 MSP
Magazine 30 / 0
Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 2.4 days Morale Check Required

Ravenor Drive Systems AC-100 Attack Craft Drive (1) Power 100.0 Fuel Use 1093.75% Explosion 25%
Fuel Capacity 29,000 Litres Range 0.96 billion km (26 hours at full power)

Light Torpedo Launcher (12) Missile Size: 2.5 Hangar Reload 79 minutes MF Reload 13 hours
MK I Light Torpedo Fire Control (1) Range 9.7m km Resolution 14
MK I Light Torpedo (12) Speed: 24,960 km/s End: 4.9m Range: 7.3m km WH: 5 Size: 2.50 TH: 83/49/24

MK I Starhawk Augur Array (1) GPS 192 Range 10m km Resolution 120

The Fury class Interceptor has three different missions; long-range interception of hostile targets, providing an escort for bomber attacks and fleet defence against torpedo attack. The Fury is armed with the MK II Lascannon, a small, rapid-firing weapon, and is equipped with an augur array capable of detecting torpedoes.

Fury class Interceptor 281 tons 2 Crew 59.4 BP TCS 6 TH 58 EM 0
10265 km/s Armour 1-3 Shields 0-0 HTK 1 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0-0 PPV 1.65
Maint Life 2.49 Years MSP 25 AFR 56% IFR 0.8% 1YR 6 5YR 84 Max Repair 28.75 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 0.6 days Morale Check Required

Ravenor AC-57 Attack Craft Drive (1) Power 57.5 Fuel Use 1442.39% Signature 57.50 Explosion 25%
Fuel Capacity 8,000 Litres Range 0.36 billion km (9 hours at full power)

MK II Lascannon (1x2) Range 40,000km TS: 10,265 km/s Power 1.5-1.5 RM 40,000 km ROF 5
MK I Fury Fire Control (1) Max Range: 44,800 km TS: 10,000 km/s 78 55 33 11 0 0 0 0 0 0
R-1B Gaseous Fission Reactor (1) Total Power Output 1.5 Exp 15%

MK I Fury Augur Array (1) GPS 2 Range 2m km MCR 181.7k km Resolution 1

The Aquila class Lander is a workhorse small craft, used for transporting key personnel, scouting missions and even fleet defence in desperate situations. The Aquila is armed with a MK I Lascannon, capable of a single shot every five seconds.

Aquila class Lander 250 tons 5 Crew 35.5 BP TCS 5 TH 15 EM 0
3007 km/s Armour 1-3 Shields 0-0 HTK 1 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0-0 PPV 0.98
Maint Life 6.27 Years MSP 30 AFR 50% IFR 0.7% 1YR 1 5YR 20 Max Repair 7.50 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 1 months Morale Check Required

Shuttle Engine (1) Power 15.0 Fuel Use 180.74% Signature 15.00 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 36,000 Litres Range 14.4 billion km (55 days at full power)

MK I Lascannon (1) Range 40,000km TS: 4,000 km/s Power 0.75-0.75 RM 40,000 km ROF 5
MK I Aquila Fire Control (1) Max Range: 64,000 km TS: 4,000 km/s 84 69 53 38 22 6 0 0 0 0
R-0B Gaseous Fission Reactor (1) Total Power Output 0.8 Exp 5%

MK I Shuttle Active Augur Array (1) GPS 768 Range 19.9m km Resolution 120
MK I Shuttle Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 0.6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 6.1m km
MK I Shuttle EM Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 0.8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 7.1m km

Imperial Navy Starting Forces
4x Lunar class Cruiser: Agrippa, Imperial Wrath, Iron Duke, Retribution
2x Dictator class Carrier: Archon Kort, Rhadamanthine
2x Dominator class Cruiser: Ferrum Aeterna, Ultima Praetor
4x Dread Argent class Strike Cruiser: Angelic Blade, Dread Argent, Eternal Defiance, Holy Execution
12x Dauntless class Light Cruiser: Advocate, Aegis, Bellerophon, Bloodhawk, Cerberus, Dauntless, Divine Crusade, Guardian, Hammer of Truth, Luxor, Ravenor, Unbroken Vow
4x Endeavour class Light Cruiser: Endeavour, Leonid, Sacrament of Judgement, Sanctis Legate
4x Defiant class Light Carrier: Archangel, Bellator Stoicus, Defiant, Imperial Ghost
12x Sword class Frigate: Destiny's Hand, Excalibur, Final Silence, Heroic Endeavour, Order Absolute, Pegasus, Raven's Spear, Rubicon, Silent Fire, Strident Virtue, Triumph of Juno, Valiant
6x Firestorm class Frigate: Cape Wrath, Firestorm, Kraken, Medusa, Vengeful, Vortex
4x Falchion class Frigate: Claymore, Falchion, Katana, Scimitar
8x Tempest class Survey Frigate: Acta Sanctorum, Ascension, Constantia, Covenant, Emperor's Light, Evening Star, Morning Star, Tempest
4x Cetaceous class Troop Transport: Cetaceous Andromedae, Cetaceous Aurigae, Cetaceous Draconis, Cetaceous Leonis
6x Orca class Troop Transport: Orca Andromedae, Orca Aurigae, Orca Draconis, Orca Leonis, Orca Pavonis, Orca Velorum
64x Fury class Interceptor
64x Starhawk class Bomber
2x Aquila class Lander

Steve Walmsley · « **Reply #1 on:** August 02, 2023, 06:55:17 AM »

Imperial Guard
The primary ground combat forces of the Imperium are known as the Imperial Guard, or more formally as the Astra Militarum. There are several different types of Imperial Guard formation, the largest and most numerous of which is the Imperial Guard Infantry Regiment. The standard infantry regiment requires 20,000 tons of transport capacity and comprises two thousand four hundred guardsman armed with lasguns, two hundred and forty Chimeras (light vehicles armed with crew-served anti-personnel weapons), four Vox Caster squads for liaison with orbital fire support, twenty-four supply vehicles and the Regimental HQ.

When multiple regiments are deployed together, they are organised into Corps formations. Each corps consists of up to four regiments plus corps-level assets including one hundred and twenty Earthshaker Cannon, ninety-six supply vehicles, twelve Trojan construction vehicles and the Corps HQ. The corps assets require similar transport capacity to a regiment. In total, the Imperial Guard in January 4000 has six infantry corps, each of four regiments.

These large infantry-based formations are supported by the Heavy Armour Regiment, which comprises seventy-two Leman Russ Battle Tanks, twenty-four Hellhound anti-infantry tanks, two Salamander Command Vehicles and twenty-four supply vehicles. As of January 4000, there are eight heavy armour regiments.

The final combat formation is the Planetary Defence Regiment, intended to guard colonies against hostile torpedo attack or bombardment by energy-armed warships. This formation comprises four Planetary Weapon Batteries four Planetary Light Weapon Batteries and four Planetary Lance Batteries. Eight regiments are in service.

In addition to the combat forces, there are three other Imperial Guard formations; the Ordo Xenos, the Ordo Mineralis and the Ordo Machinum. The Ordo Xenos is intended to investigate any alien artefacts or ruins that are discovered during the re-survey of the galaxy. The Ordo Machinum comprises sixty Land Crawler construction vehicles for various tasks, including recovery of any alien installations identified by the Ordo Xenos. Finally, the Ordo Mineralis will conduct ground-based geological surveys where the orbital survey finds evidence to suggest further mineral deposits may be located. Two formations of each type are available in January 4000.

Imperial Guard Starting Forces
6x Imperial Guard Corps (each with 4x Infantry Regiment): Cadian Shock Troops, Catachan Jungle Fighters, Death Korps of Krieg, Elysian Drop Troops, Phantine Skyborne, Tallarn Desert Raiders.
8x Heavy Armour Regiment: Armageddon Steel Legion, Death Korps Armoured Regiment, Dnieper Tank Regiment, Jantine Patricians, Konig Armoured Regiment, Teutonian Armoured Regiment, Vitrian Dragoons, Vostroyan Firstborn
8x Planetary Defence Regiment
2x Ordo Machinum
2x Ordo Xenos
2x Ordo Mineralis

Commercial Ship Designs
The Jericho class colony ships provide the means by which the Imperium will colonise the galaxy. It is capable of transporting half a million colonists and is equipped with a full commercial sensor suite. The Jericho is more expensive to construct than even cruiser-class warships.

Jericho class Colony Ship 218,938 tons 1,088 Crew 6,271.6 BP TCS 4,379 TH 6,720 EM 0
1534 km/s Armour 1-323 Shields 0-0 HTK 258 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1-0 PPV 0
MSP 17 Max Repair 400 MSP
Cryogenic Berths 500,000 Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 10
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (28) Power 6720.0 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240.0 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 1,500,000 Litres Range 42.6 billion km (321 days at full power)

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Universe class Mass Conveyor is the primary cargo transport of the Imperium. It is capable of transporting up to five factories or mines over considerable distances.

Universe class Mass Conveyor 218,526 tons 803 Crew 2,389.2 BP TCS 4,371 TH 6,720 EM 0
1537 km/s Armour 1-323 Shields 0-0 HTK 243 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1-0 PPV 0
MSP 6 Max Repair 200 MSP
Cargo 125,000 Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 10
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (28) Power 6720.0 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240.0 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 1,500,000 Litres Range 42.7 billion km (321 days at full power)

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Carrack class freighter is the much smaller companion to the Universe class and is used for tasks where the vast capacity of the mass conveyor is not required, such as transporting minerals or establishing sensor outposts.

Carrack class Freighter 45,488 tons 185 Crew 616.5 BP TCS 910 TH 1,440 EM 0
1582 km/s Armour 1-113 Shields 0-0 HTK 59 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 8 Max Repair 50 MSP
Cargo 25,000 Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 2
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (6) Power 1440 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres Range 54.7 billion km (400 days at full power)

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Empyrean class Jump Tender provides jump support for the Imperium’s large, commercial-engined craft, such as the Cetaceous, Universe and Jericho classes. It can also function as a tanker, although this is generally for emergency use only.

Empyrean class Jump Tender 109,183 tons 634 Crew 2,448.7 BP TCS 2,184 TH 3,840 EM 0
1758 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-203 Shields 0-0 HTK 177 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1-0 PPV 0
MSP 14 Max Repair 1124.2 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Ravenor RC-240 Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 240750 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (16) Power 3840.0 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240.0 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 5,000,000 Litres Range 285 billion km (1876 days at full power)
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 100 hours

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Gateway class is intended to stabilise jump points within Imperium space, opening up systems to colonisation and mining and providing access to civilian shipping.

Gateway class Stabilisation Ship 85,666 tons 380 Crew 1,891.1 BP TCS 1,713 TH 2,640 EM 0
1540 km/s Armour 1-173 Shields 0-0 HTK 101 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 13 Max Repair 1000 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Jump Point Stabilisation: 180 days

Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (11) Power 2640 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 1,000,000 Litres Range 72.6 billion km (545 days at full power)

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Gaia class terraforming station has been designed and built on the premise that the Imperium will find worlds that are not immediately ideal for human habitation, but could be transformed over time. The Gaia will be towed into place by the Atlas class tug.

Gaia class Terraforming Station 126,557 tons 516 Crew 2,720.2 BP TCS 2,531 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s No Armour Shields 0-0 HTK 69 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 13 Max Repair 500 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Terraformer: 5 modules producing 0.0016 atm per annum

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km

The Ambrosia class Fuel Harvester Stations have been constructed to refine fuel from the atmospheres of gas giants. While the Sol system has yet to be surveyed, Imperial scientists are hopeful that at least one of the four gas giants in the system will contain gaseous Sorium. If not, there will be many other gas giants in the galaxy that could serve as the Imperium’s long-term source of fuel.

Ambrosia class Fuel Harvester Station 129,596 tons 536 Crew 1,786.4 BP TCS 2,592 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s No Armour Shields 0-0 HTK 281 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 8 Max Repair 30 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Fuel Harvester: 50 modules producing 2,400,000 litres per annum

Fuel Capacity 2,500,000 Litres Range N/A
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 50 hours

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km

The Atlas class Tug was constructed to tow the Gaia and Ambrosia class stations, plus any future Imperial stations that may be designed and built.

Atlas class Tug 125,291 tons 986 Crew 2,622 BP TCS 2,506 TH 9,600 EM 0
3831 km/s Armour 1-223 Shields 0-0 HTK 326 Sensors 6/6/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 13 Max Repair 100 MSP
Tractor Beam
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (40) Power 9600 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 2,000,000 Litres Range 99.4 billion km (300 days at full power)

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1440 Range 23.6m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Brigantine class provides jump-capable logistics support to the Imperial Navy, as well as transporting fuel and maintenance supplies from colonies and harvesting stations.

Brigantine class Replenishment Ship 52,334 tons 318 Crew 1,094.9 BP TCS 1,047 TH 2,160 EM 0
2063 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-124 Shields 0-0 HTK 127 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1-0 PPV 0
MSP 10,013 Max Repair 76.3 MSP
Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months

Ravenor RC-54 Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 54000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (9) Power 2160.0 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240.0 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 10,000,000 Litres Range 1,189 billion km (6670 days at full power)
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 200 hours

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

The Phoenix class has been developed on the assumption that hostile alien races will be encountered and defeated, allowing the Imperium to salvage their wrecked ships.

Phoenix class Salvager 78,970 tons 624 Crew 1,800 BP TCS 1,579 TH 2,880 EM 0
1823 km/s Armour 1-163 Shields 0-0 HTK 130 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 1-0 PPV 0
MSP 14 Max Repair 200 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Salvager: 4 module(s) capable of salvaging 2000 tons per day

Commercial Nuclear Gas-Core Engine (12) Power 2880 Fuel Use 2.89% Signature 240 Explosion 4%
Fuel Capacity 1,000,000 Litres Range 78.8 billion km (500 days at full power)

MK I Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 1920 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km

Commercial Shipping
4x Empyrean class Jump Tender: Empyrean Maelstrom, Empyrean Storm, Empyrean Tempest, Empyrean Vortex
4x Gateway class Stabilisation Ship: Arch of Constantine, Arch of Titus, Golden Gate, Meridian Gate
4x Brigantine class Replenishment Ship: Brigantine Amethyst, Brigantine Diamond, Brigantine Emerald, Brigantine Sapphire
4x Phoenix class Salvager: Aethon, Gryphon, Phoenix, Roc
4x Atlas class Tug: Atlas, Cronus, Hyperion, Tethys
5x Universe class Mass Conveyor: Aldebaran, Antares, Arcturus, Rigel, Vega
5x Jericho class Colony Ship: Alexandria, Antioch, Jericho, Jerusalem, Troy
5x Carrack class Freighter
5x Gaia class Terraforming Station
5x Ambrosia class Fuel Harvester

Steve Walmsley · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2023, 09:41:55 AM »

The first priority of the Imperial Navy was a survey of the Sol system, a task that proved to have disappointing results from a geological perspective. None of the inner planets and moons, with the exception of Terra, had any mineral deposits. The only substantial deposits were anywhere in Sol were found on Ganymede, which had eight million tons of accessibility 0.8 Duranium, and on the comet Tempel 1, which had relatively small deposits of seven minerals, at medium to high accessibility. Gaseous Sorium exited on Uranus, which had two hundred thousand tons at 0.8 accessibility, and on Neptune, which had a substantially larger deposit, but at 0.7 accessibility.

Ganymede Survey Report
Duranium: 8,014,727 0.80
Corbomite: 2,753,675 0.40
Corundium: 399,626 0.10

Tempel 1 Survey Report
Duranium: 101,935 0.80
Neutronium: 15,233 1.00
Corbomite: 17,802 0.70
Tritanium: 52,323 0.50
Vendarite: 27,230 0.90
Sorium: 18,064 0.50
Gallicite: 70,698 1.00

The gravitational survey revealed six jump points. Four were in an arc covering ninety degree between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. The innermost lay between the orbits of Earth and Mars, while the outermost was at three point seven billion kilometres, inside the orbit of Neptune. With one exception, the systems beyond those jump points were as disappointing as the geological survey of Sol. In order of ascending distance to Sol, the jump points connected the following systems

•   Alpha Centauri: A G2-V / K1-V binary with four unremarkable planets
•   Proxima: A planetless red dwarf
•   Wolf 359: A red dwarf with single barren planet.
•   Orpheus: A red dwarf with ten planets, sixty moons and ninety asteroids.
•   Meridian: A brown dwarf with a single gas giant
•   Sirius: An A-class star with a single barren planet

In July 4001, a survey frigate discovered a lifeless, but partially intact alien colony on Orpheus III, an ice planet with an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere of 0.4 atm, including 0.06 atm of oxygen. The dominant terrain was Tundra, although ninety-seven percent of the surface was covered in an ice sheet, and the surface temperature was -62C. Both Ordo Xenos formations were dispatched to investigate. The discovery was very welcome, but overshadowed by events elsewhere.

A month earlier, the survey frigate Ascension, surveying the sole, barren planet in the Gothic system, two transits from Sol via Proxima, detected an alien ship designated as Kestrel 001. It was slightly larger than a Dauntless class light cruiser and travelling at 3704 km/s. A second vessel of the same type appeared then both ships moved out of sensor range.

The moment that the Imperium feared had arrived – contact with an alien race and only two transits from Sol. The only positive was that the alien ships were not immediately hostile. The Emperor demanded more information on the threat, so a frigate squadron, comprising two Swords, a Firestorm and a Falchion, was dispatched to Gothic to investigate. A more powerful light cruiser force, comprising two Dauntless, an Endeavour and a Defiant class light carrier, was moved to guard the Proxima – Gothic jump point against any further alien incursion. Finally, a Carrack class freighter and an Orca class trop transport, carrying a deep space tracking station and four Planetary Defence regiments, were dispatched to the lone planet in the system to establish an outpost.

Frigate Squadron Alpha
Sword class Frigate: Destiny's Hand, Excalibur
Firestorm class Frigate: Firestorm
Falchion class Frigate: Falchion

Battlefleet Proxima
Dauntless class Light Cruiser: Advocate, Dauntless
Endeavour class Light Cruiser: Leonid
Defiant class Light Carrier: Archangel
8x Fury class Interceptor
8x Starhawk class Bomber

Two weeks later, on June 22nd 4001, Frigate Squadron Alpha was en route from the Proxima jump point to the lone planet in Gothic when it detected sensor emissions from a ship of a second alien race, designated as Mako class, that was moving at almost 5000 km/s. The contact was brief as alien ship disengaged its sensors shortly thereafter. The squadron arrived at the planet without any further contact with either alien race.

The Mako reappeared three weeks later and joined the Imperial ships in orbit of the planet, where active sensors could determine its size as 26,373 tons. There was no sign of hostility and the aliens plainly wished to establish communications. This was unexpected, as the Imperium had assumed alien races would all be hostile. The Emperor was informed and he agreed to communication efforts. After all, if the Imperium was to eliminate any threat to Terra, learning as much as possible about those threats first could only be beneficial.

On August 10th, Ascension discovered a stabilised jump point in Gothic and moved to investigate. To the considerable shock of her crew, she encountered a vast fleet from the first alien race, comprising over seventy ships and totalling two and a half million tons. The entire Imperial Navy was less than one million tons. Whether they were warships was unknown, as the survey frigate was unable to detect engine emissions while the alien ships were stationary.

1x Red Kite: 117,596 tons
5x Solarhawk: 49,270 tons
19x Stormhawk: 40,456 tons
2x Darkhawk: 37,768 tons
19x Stormfalcon: 36,518 tons
5x Star Eagle: 33,081 tons
19x Storm Eagle: 23,932 tons
2x Sunhawk: 21,881 tons
1x Nightfalcon: 15,860 tons

Ascension transited the new jump point and discovered the system of Prospero, which had a G1-V primary, similar to Sol, orbited by four planets. Prospero IV was the same size as Terra, with a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere of 1.06 atm and seventy percent of the surface covered with oceans. The only factor preventing Prospero IV from being a virtual twin of Terra was the temperature of 26.5C, resulting in jungle being the dominant terrain. There were three ship wrecks located eight hundred million kilometres from the primary, all of unknown classes. There was no sign of any alien ship near the Prospero side of the jump point, so Ascension moved in-system on an indirect course with the intention of launching an Augur Drone once she was within range. Meanwhile, given the size of the alien fleet in Gothic, substantial reinforcements were dispatched to Battlefleet Proxima.

Proxima Reinforcements
1x Dictator class Carrier: Rhadamanthine
2x Lunar class Cruiser: Agrippa, Imperial Wrath
1x Dread Argent class Strike Cruiser: Dread Argent
6x Thunderhawk Assault Transport
16x Fury class Interceptor
16x Starhawk class Bomber

Four days after Ascension entered Prospero, with the Augur drone still en route to the fourth planet, she detected over a hundred strength-3 energy weapon impacts at the site of the alien wrecks, followed by the appearance of a new wreck of 68,459 tons. Ascension launched a second Augur drone, this time toward the area of the wrecks.

The Augur drone arrived at the habitable planet on August 17th and found a population signature similar to Terra, which strongly suggested this was the home world of the first aliens to be encountered in Gothic. Six ships were at the planet, three War Talons and three Strike Hawks, all of which were the size of Lunar class cruisers. However, their shields were three times as strong as the Lunar. Shortly after the drone arrived, an alien fleet was detected moving toward its home world. This time, the ships were definitely military. The core of the fleet was seven Warbirds of 56,654 tons, fifty percent larger than a Lunar class cruiser. They were accompanied by a Condor, three Darkhawks and two Sparrowhawks, all of which were around 37,700 tons, plus three War Eagles of 18,860 tons. The Warbirds had twice the shield strength of the Lunar and the shield strength of the cruiser-sized ships was over two hundred.

This new fleet was in addition to the huge fleet detected in Gothic and their approach vector suggested that they were responsible for the shipwrecks. The Imperium was obviously facing a formidable alien race, located within three transits of Sol, which had similar population, a much larger fleet and apparently superior technology. The Prospero aliens appeared to have warships in similar size ranges to the Lunar cruiser and Dauntless light cruiser, but the Warbird was an even larger type that Imperial Intelligence quickly designated as a Battlecruiser. The Imperium was seriously outmatched and a massive military build-up was required. The problem would be finding the resources to support that build-up, as every system so found had proved disappointing in terms of mineral resources. In the meantime, the Emperor declared that the planet in the Gothic system would be built up into a fortress to act as a forward outpost against the aliens. The only small light in the darkness was the speed of the alien warships, which was 3700 km/s, slower than the 4000 km/s speed of the Imperial Navy.

Twenty-four hours later, the assumption that the alien fleet arriving at the home world was responsible for the recent battle proved to be incorrect. The second augur drone arrived at the wreckage and found an even larger alien fleet present. Seven Warbird class battlecruisers, twelve cruiser-sized ships and eight light cruisers.

A hundred and thirty-four ships of the Prospero aliens had now been identified, totalling four and a half million tons. One point eight million tons was confirmed to have military engines, with the rest unknown. A day after the detection of the latest fleet, one of the wrecks disappeared, indicating that at least one of the unknown ships at the wreck site was a salvage vessel. Shortly thereafter, the Firehawk moved and the drone identified it had commercial engines. Both drones eventually expired, but had provided a wealth of information.

Ascension continued her survey of a single survey location near the Gothic jump point, intending to return to Gothic afterwards to avoid being discovered in the alien home system. Ten days after the previous detection of energy weapon fire, she detected one hundred and sixty-four weapon impacts in the same location. Three new wrecks appeared. There was no way to tell if this combat was against the second alien race encountered in Gothic, or a third alien race that the Imperium had yet to detect.

On September 11th 4001, Orca Aurigae, a troop transport carrying four planetary defence regiments to the new colony on Gothic I, transited into the Gothic system and detected two new ships of the Prospero aliens stationed on the Proxima jump point. One was a previously undetected War Eagle light cruiser while the other was a Flamehawk, a new class of 72,793 tons equipped with commercial engines. Given the location and size, Imperial Intelligence believed the Flamehawk was potentially a stabilisation ship.

By this point, only one ship of the second alien race encountered in Gothic has been detected, a 26,373 ton Mako with military engines and a speed of 4976 km/s. On September 12th, the recently emplaced tracking station at the Gothic Colony detected a second ship. Designated as Barracuda class, it was a military-engined vessel of 9607 tons with a speed of 2927 km/s. The Barracuda moved into orbit of the planet where it remained for several weeks, enabling sustained progress on translating the alien language. Full communication was established on October 25th. The aliens identified themselves as the Talaemario Cartel, which Imperial diplomats learned was a business organization so successful it ended up running the planetary government. Throughout negotiations, the Cartel representatives conducted themselves in a very non-threatening manner and seemed keen to build a relationship with the Imperium.

In contrast, Imperial linguists were struggling to translate the language of the aliens from the adjacent Prospero system. Amidst those communication efforts, led by the crew of an Emissary class Diplomatic Station which had been recently towed into orbit of the Gothic colony, two separate unintelligible messages had been directed to Imperial ships in Gothic that were entirely unconnected to the main dialogue. Imperial Intelligence believed the Prospero aliens were tolerant of the diplomatic station, but potentially warning other ships to stay out of the system. Establishing communication was becoming more urgent. Meanwhile, in an effort to monitor the events in Prospero, an Aquila lander was ordered to transit and hide in the outer system, where it could detect any further signs of conflict without risking detection itself. On arrival, the lander detected nine wrecks now in the same location, which gradually disappeared over time. A third unintelligible message was received in mid-November and a fourth in early January, both directed at ships in Gothic. The Aquila remained undetected.

On January 15th 4002, the Gothic – Proxima jump point was stabilised by the Prospero aliens, confirming that the Flamehawk was a stabilisation ship. The Flamehawk and its light cruiser escort, a War Eagle, transited into Proxima, where Battlefleet Proxima was stationed at the Gothic jump point. The Proxima side of the jump point had already been stabilised by the Imperium. The two alien ships remained for a few hours, then transited back into Gothic and headed toward the outer system for a few hours before reversing course and entering Proxima again.

Battlefleet Proxima
Dictator class Carrier: Rhadamanthine
Lunar class Cruiser: Agrippa, Imperial Wrath
Dread Argent class Strike Cruiser: Dread Argent
Endeavour class Light Cruiser: Leonid
Dauntless class Light Cruiser: Advocate, Dauntless
Defiant class Light Carrier: Archangel
6x Thunderhawk class Assault Transport
24x Starhawk class Bomber
24x Fury class Interceptor

In February, the survey frigate Constantia discovered a new jump point in Gothic and moved to investigate. Passing a pair of Talaemario ships on the Gothic side of the jump point, Constantia transited and discovered the Caliban system, comprising an orange K2-V primary, five planets and twenty-six moons. Caliban II was a large terrestrial planet with gravity of 1.11G, a breathable atmosphere of 1.24 atm and a surface temperature of -67C. Large ice sheets covered eighty-six percent of the surface. The orbit was highly eccentric, resulting in a temperature of -77C at its apogee of one hundred and twenty million kilometres and 115C at the perigee of forty million kilometres. During the six month orbital period, the ice sheets would melt into seas, then begin evaporating before the process reversed again. As the arrival jump point was just four million kilometres from the primary, the frigate immediately launched an augur drone toward the planet, which revealed it was uninhabited. Constantia began a geological survey of the planets and encountered the same Mako class ship of the Cartel that was detected in Gothic.

A fleet from the Prospero aliens entered Proxima in early March 4002. The intruding force comprised a Darkhawk class cruiser, a War Eagle class light cruiser, five 33,000 ton commercial-engined Star Eagles, the Flamehawk stabilisation ship and two other ships that had yet to be classified; a 35,000 ton Skyhawk and a 22,000 ton Sunhawk. Given the overall size of the alien fleets in Gothic and Prospero, Battlefleet Proxima was operating under rules of engagement that only permitted action if directly provoked. The Imperium was trying to establish a well-defended base on the single planet in the Gothic system before any open hostilities commenced. A week later, full communication was finally established with the Prospero aliens. They identified themselves as the Raptor Empire, a name that did nothing to dampen Imperial concerns regarding potential future conflict.

On March 20th, nineteen 40,000 ton Stormhawk class ships entered Proxima and join the other Raptor ships on the Gothic jump point. Battlefleet Proxima moved four hundred thousand kilometres back from the jump point to avoid the consequences of a potential point-blank surprise attack. Meanwhile, in the Gothic system, the Imperial population had passed five million, so the Imperium issued a request to the Talaemario Cartel and the Raptor Empire to accept Imperial sovereignty and depart. The Talaemario Cartel accepted the request. There was no response from the Raptors.

Steve Walmsley · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2023, 05:27:13 PM »

In September 4002, the survey of the ruins on Orpheus III was completed. Two hundred and sixty-four sites of interest were identified. Meanwhile in Prospero, the Aquila lander monitoring events from a safe location observed another engagement in the same area before. Six new wrecks appeared.

On December 24th, the survey frigate Black Star discovered Lalande, a system three jumps from Sol via Alpha Centauri and Damocles. The red dwarf primary had eight planets, one of which was an ideal habitable world. Lalande II was larger than Terra, with gravity of 1.32G, a breathable atmosphere of 1.77 atm, oceans covering seventy-five percent of the surface and a temperature of 15C. The orbit was stable. Black Star had no drones loaded so she moved cautiously in-system. As she approached the seventh planet, a gas giant with eleven moons, she detected eight ships in orbit from a new alien race. Six 77,673 ton ships were designated as Canoptek class and the other two, at 14,452 tons, as Scarab class. The Scarabs had a shield signature, which confirmed them as warships. Black Star abandoned her approach and headed back to the Damocles jump point.

Three months later, Battlefleet Damocles, comprising three light cruisers and the light carrier Ad Liberis, arrived in Lalande to investigate the newly discovered alien race. The four ships moved within fifty million kilometres of the eight alien ships and attempted to establish communication. After ten days with no response, the fleet’s senior officer, Commander Viktor Vandis, decided to take his four ships in closer. As they moved within two million kilometres of the planet, the alien ships launched a wave of thirty torpedoes.

Battle Fleet Damocles
Endeavour class Light Cruiser: Sanctis Legate
Dauntless class Light Cruiser: Bellerophon, Unbroken Vow
Defiant class Light Carrier: Ad Liberis

Battlefleet Damocles reversed course immediately. Ad Liberis launched her eight Furies, with orders to assist the three light cruiser in defending the fleet, and her eight Starhawks with orders to launch torpedoes against the alien ships. The bombers launched a wave of ninety-six light torpedoes within a few seconds of leaving the hangar bay.

Ten inbound torpedoes of the first wave were destroyed by the ships of Battlefleet Prometheus and two more by the escorting Furies. The remaining eighteen struck the Bellerophon. Each missile had a pair of strength-1 warheads, sufficient to reduce the light cruiser’s shields by forty percent. Half the missiles from the second wave reached Unbroken Vow, dropping her should strength by a third.

Meanwhile, the Imperial light torpedoes were engaged by another wave of alien missiles, losing nine of their number. Battlefleet Damocles used the distraction to retreat so that Bellerophon and Unbroken Vow could recharge their depleted shields. Four more defensive salvos reduced the number of light torpedoes to half their original number, by which time the alien ships had moved away from the planet and were heading for the inner system at 411 km/s.

Sixteen of the forty-eight remaining torpedoes, which had strength-5 warheads, struck one of the two Scarab class ships. Three were attracted to a decoy launched by the alien ship. The remainder took down the shields and inflicted minor armour damage. As Battle Fleet Damocles did not have the defences required to survive closing on the alien fleet and the Starhawk salvo was not sufficient to inflict significant damage, Commander Vandis decided to withdraw to the jump point and request reinforcements.

At the other side of known space, the survey frigate Constantia encountered eight Talaemario ships in Helios, two jumps beyond the Gothic system via Caliban. This was the first significant Talaemario fleet to be found, which suggested their home system lay somewhere beyond Helios. Shortly after detecting the alien ships, Constantia received a message suggesting she should leave the system.

Six weeks after the brief engagement in Lalande, a strongly reinforced Battlefleet Damocles approached Lalande VII and found no trace of the alien ships. The fleet moved toward Lalande VI and detected a single 7200-ton ship of a new type, designated as Mephrit class, travelling at 5771 km/s. As the alien ship began to withdraw, the fleet detected short-lived sensor emissions from two more ships, designated as Scythe class, which were outside of active sensor range.

Battle Fleet Damocles
2x Lunar class Cruiser: Agrippa, Imperial Wrath
1x Dominator class Cruiser: Ferrum Aeterna
1x Dictator class Carrier: Rhadamanthine
1x Dread Argent class Strike Cruiser: Dread Argent
6x Dauntless class Light Cruiser: Advocate, Aegis, Bellerophon, Dauntless, Ravenor, Unbroken Vow
1x Endeavour class Light Cruiser: Sanctis Legate
1x Defiant class Light Carrier: Ad Liberis
2x Firestorm class Frigate: Kraken, Medusa
4x Sword class Frigate: Final Silence, Heroic Endeavour, Order Absolute, Pegasus
24x Starhawk class Bomber:
24x Fury class Interceptor:

The lone Mephrit maintained position at the edge of sensor range, shadowing the Imperium fleet. The new fleet commander, Captain Romulus Vash of the cruiser Imperial Wrath, dispatched two attack craft, a Fury interceptor and a Starhawk bomber, in the general direction of the Mephrit to test its defences. Both attack craft had their sensors inactive. The Mephrit moved outside sensor range of the main fleet revealing itself occasionally via sensor emissions, which allowed the attack craft to close within the bomber’s ten million kilometre sensor range. The Starhawk engaged its sensors to maintain a track on the alien ship while the Fury closed in to attack

The Fury opened fire without any response from the Mephrit, except for an attempt to escape. The emissions from the two Scythe class ships began moving straight toward the Imperium interceptor, but they were more than forty million kilometres away. After five minutes of constant lascannon fire, during which time the Fury almost ran out of maintenance supplies due to the strain on the weapons, the Mephrit exploded. Both attack craft headed back to the fleet.

The Scythes attempt to intercept the retreating attack craft brought them within sensor range of Battlefleet Damocles. Six ships were identified in the alien force: three Scythes of 21,724 tons and three Reapers of 14,455 tons.

Captain Vash ordered the deployed Starhawk to change course and shadow the alien fleet. The other twenty-three Starhawks launched and headed to join it. Once all the Starhawks were in a single fleet, they closed to within five million kilometres and launched two hundred and eighty-eight light torpedoes. During the previous engagement, a Scarab class ship had shrugged off a forty-eight torpedo attack, with sixteen hits barely penetrating the shields. Because of that experience, Vash decided this attack would focus on just two of the smaller ships, as the point defence capability of the alien fleet was unknown.

As the torpedo wave approached the alien fleet, there was no sign of the small torpedoes used to attack inbounds by the Scarabs. Instead, seventy of the missiles were struck by point blank defensive energy fire. Of the rest, twenty-seven were attracted to decoys and twenty-nine hit their targets. Both ships lost their shields but only suffered minor armour damage. The combination of shields and decoys was making the alien ships difficult to attack effectively. The alien ships initially pursued the Starhawks but then reversed course once the Starhawks landed on their carriers.

Battlefleet Damocles held position at Lalande VI while the alien fleet manoeuvred, approaching to within ten million kilometres and moving outside sensor range, a pattern that was repeated several times. The aliens pulled back as soon as the Imperial ships attempts to pursue. After seven or eight close passes, the aliens moved within four million kilometres, so Captain Vash decided to try a new torpedo attack, this time with the two Lunar class cruisers launching their own torpedoes in support of the Starhawks. The targets were as the same as the previous salvo, with each cruiser launching six standard torpedoes against one of the two targeted Reapers. The cruiser torpedoes were much larger and had six decoys each. They were also 20 km/s faster so they would run ahead of the light torpedoes and attract defensive fire.

The alien energy point defence fire destroyed five of the twelve standard torpedoes and even that required a large commitment of fire due to the decoys. Unfortunately only one struck its target. However, the reduction in defensive fire against the light torpedoes meant that only forty-seven are destroyed. Of the rest, thirty hit Reaper 001 and six of those hits penetrated both shields and armour. The ship slows to 4316 km/s. Reaper 002 still had at least one decoy, which distracted seven missiles. Sixteen hit, along with one standard torpedo, which took down the shields and inflicted six armour hits, but no internal damage.

All six alien ships immediately charged toward Battlefleet Damocles, which moved out to meet them. Abruptly, all but the damaged ship suddenly reversed course and ran, leaving the lone ship to face the Imperial Fleet.

The first hits were scored by the Dread Argent at 230,000 km, using her long-range bombardment cannon, followed by massed fire from the fleet’s lance batteries at 200,000 km. With no hard information on the weapons of the damaged Reaper, Battlefleet Damocles reversed course and continued firing both weapon systems. The weapon batteries were still out of range, but would open fire if the alien ship survived long enough to reach 160,000 km. Several penetrating hits slowed the ship to 1438 km/s, so Captain Vash ordered the fleet to close to 150,000 km. Massed fire from weapon batteries rapidly destroyed the alien ship. Unexpectedly, there were no life pods.

A few days later, the other five alien ships moved within five million kilometres. Captain Vash ordered a torpedo launch from just the two cruisers. The bombers remained in their bays as they had sufficient torpedoes for one further strike and Imperial reinforcements had just entered the system, including a second Dictator class carrier. Only three of the twelve torpedoes were destroyed by defensive fire. Four of the remainder hit, but all were absorbed by the shields. A follow salvo lost six to defensive fire and five missed, resulting in a solitary ineffective hit. The standard torpedoes seemed to be effective at penetrating the alien defensive, but a larger salvo was needed, as well as improved accuracy.

Substantial reinforcements arrived in late May, giving Battlefleet Damocles half the available tonnage of the entire Imperial Navy. With another strong fleet required in Proxima, Terra was covered by a relatively week fleet only half the size of Battlefleet Damocles. Captain Vash was ordered to use the power at his disposal to crush the alien and force a battle by attacking their home base, which was likely to be on Lalande II, the ideal habitable world.

Battle Fleet Damocles
2x Dictator class Carrier: Fortitude, Rhadamanthine
3x Lunar class Cruiser: Agrippa, Holy Flame, Imperial Wrath
2x Dominator class Cruiser: Ferrum Aeterna, Ultima Praetor
2x Dread Argent class Strike Cruiser: Angelic Blade, Dread Argent
1x Endeavour class Light Cruiser: Sanctis Legate
7x Dauntless class Light Cruiser: Advocate, Aegis, Bellerophon, Dauntless, Havock, Ravenor, Unbroken Vow
1x Defiant class Light Carrier: Archangel
4x Firestorm class Frigate: Firestorm, Kraken, Medusa, Vengeful
8x Sword class Frigate: Destiny's Hand, Excalibur, Final Silence, Heroic Endeavour, Order Absolute, Pegasus, Raven's Spear, Strident Virtue
10x Thunderhawk class Assault Transport
40 Starhawk class Bomber
40x Fury class Interceptor

As Battlefleet Damocles moved into the inner system, they detected sensors emissions from a new ship type, designated as Tesseract class, in orbit of the fourth planet, rather than the expected location of Lalande II. An hour later, two Scythe class ship also begin emitting from the fourth planet, then a shield signature is detected in orbit of the ideal habitable world; another new type designated as Shroud class. Captain Vash ordered Battlefleet Damocles to move between the two worlds so it could pinpoint all the various alien ships. Once within range, a considerable alien force was discovered.

Only two ships, a Shroud and a Cartouche, were in orbit of the ideal habitable world, both of which were 14,500 tons. Twenty-six ships were in orbit of Lalande IV, a frozen terrestrial world with a nitrogen atmosphere, carbon dioxide frozen on the surface and a surface temperature of -125C. Eighty-five percent of the surface was covered in ice sheets The alien fleet included the three Scythes and two Reapers that were recently engaged by Battlefleet Damocles, plus the six Canopteks and two Scarabs originally encountered by the Black Star. In addition, the fleet contained a third Scarab, two Shrouds and two Cartouche, a Monolith of 17,800 tons, a Tesseract of 14,500 tons, an Ankh, a Phaeron and two Khopesh, all of which were 7245 tons, and two Cairn of unknown size that were only detected via their sensor emissions.

Captain Vash ordered his fleet toward Lalande II, content to destroy the two isolated ships in orbit. As the fleet moved away, it come under torpedo attack from the direction of Lalande IV, with inbound waves of thirty-seven size-4 torpedoes travelling at 31,250 km/s. Despite eleven hundred and sixty individual defensive shots from weapon batteries, two inbound torpedoes with strength-7 warheads evaded all defensive fire and impacted on the shields of the light cruiser Bellerophon. The main reason for the two hits was that over eight hundred of the point shots were directed against torpedoes that were already destroyed.

All the torpedoes in the second, third and fourth waves were shot down, but with massive overkill and a significant number of weapon failures that consumed maintenance supplies to rectify. Captain Vash ordered the fleet to only defend using light weapon batteries in order to reduce the failure rate. The next six waves each registered a single hit each, after which the light cruiser Advocate and the frigates Destiny’s Hand and Firestorm were ordered to cease fire as their maintenance supplies were below sixty percent. Longer-term, the Imperial Navy would need to develop a point defence doctrine that reduced overkill to avoid depletion of maintenance supplies. A total of fourteen waves arrived before the attacks ceased, with a single hit each from the twelfth and thirteenth waves and two strikes on the frigate Order Absolute from the fourteenth. All damage was absorbed by shields. With the attack over, the focus of Battlefleet Damocles turned to the two ships in orbit of Lalande II.

Author Topic: Gothic II Campaign Updates Thread (Read 2510 times)

Steve Walmsley (OP)

Gothic II Campaign Updates Thread

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