Ascension - an AAR

[Desdinova (OP)]

Setup
Starting year: 2018.  Standard conventional start.  I didn't go to the trouble of messing with population size or add a neutral NPR, so we'll have to accept that 500 million isn't the 'real' population of Earth, merely the fraction that is industrialized and participating in the labor force.  Real stars, difficulty is at 150%, NPR chances at 60/90 (I never seem to get NPRs in real starts games. . . ), no starting NPR.  Spoilers on (no invaders).

2018
The United Nations Space Agency is formed, part of a renewed multinational push towards space exploration.  At its inception, the agency’s budget and scope is limited to serving as go-between with  participating national space agencies on several international exploration missions.  Mohammed Crumby named first agency head.

May 2022
Dr.  Hung Metheney’s research team publicizes their discovery of several stable trans-uranium elements with exotic matter properties.  Their breakthrough ushers in what will become known as the era of “Trans-Newtonian” science.  Their work will have far-reaching implications across all fields of science and industry.  The first visible application of this discovery is an experimental device the team calls an “intertial nullifier” - a device which uses TN elements to generate negative mass and neutralize most of an object’s inertia and the effects of gravity on that object.  The discovery makes conventional orbital rocketry obsolete overnight. 

The scientists and engineers responsible for the discovery insist that the technology be used for the betterment of all mankind, and given its obvious potential military applications, it is too powerful a force to leave in the hands of any nation.  They zealously guard the details of their research until a multinational organization is set up to oversee its application and distribution, to prevent reverse engineering.  One of the consequences of this policy is that the UNSA is given exclusive rights to the technology for space exploration.  This forces the last holdouts among the national space agencies to join the UNSA, which will form an umbrella organization managing the exploration and exploitation of the solar system using Trans-Newtonian technology.

December 2023
The first spacecraft built in orbit using TN technology is launched.  The Armstrong, and her sister ships Gagarin, Glenn, Shepard, and Tereshkova are the first manned vessels operated by the UNSA.  While TN technology gives them unprecedented range and endurance, they rely on conventional electrical propulsion.  While very fuel-efficient compared to chemical rockets, this means they devote more than 3/4ths of their mass to the drive section.  The equipment and crew size required necessitates a total mass greater than a fully-fueled Saturn V rocket.  The mission of these five spacecraft is to survey the inner solar system, scouring planets and asteroids for the exotic elements Earth will need to fuel its nascent trans-Newtonian industry.

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Armstrong class Geological Survey Vessel    4 900 tons     56 Crew     189.6 BP      TCS 98  TH 8  EM 0
81 km/s     Armour 1-25     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/1     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 24    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 0   

2.5 EP Hall-Effect Thruster (3)    Power 2.5    Fuel Use 13.26%    Signature 2.5    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 10 000 Litres    Range 2.7 billion km   (392 days at full power)

Geological Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

2025
For the last two years, the UNSA has been planning for the exploration and eventual colonization of the moon and Mars.  To support this, plans are drawn up for a fleet of transport and colony ships.  With Trans-Newtonian technology, the round trip to Mars can be made in a matter of weeks rather than years, and there is no requirement for a favorable launch window.

Trans-Newtonian industry is finally making construction of a permanent lunar colony practical, but do so will require a fleet of transport and colony ships.

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Ganymede class Freighter    14 150 tons     84 Crew     159.2 BP      TCS 283  TH 15  EM 0
53 km/s     Armour 1-52     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 7    Max Repair 5 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 2   
Cargo 5000   

2.5 EP Hall-Effect Thruster (6)    Power 2.5    Fuel Use 13.26%    Signature 2.5    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100 000 Litres    Range 9.6 billion km   (2094 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes


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Hyperion class Colony Ship    14 200 tons     102 Crew     352.2 BP      TCS 284  TH 15  EM 0
52 km/s     Armour 1-52     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 16    Max Repair 5 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 2   
Cryogenic Berths 20000   

2.5 EP Hall-Effect Thruster (6)    Power 2.5    Fuel Use 13.26%    Signature 2.5    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100 000 Litres    Range 9.4 billion km   (2094 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

December 2025
A civilian-operated mining colony is established on the comet Wild, shortly after Trans-Newtonian drives are made available for lease by civilian entities.

June 2026
The first 20,000 civilian colonists arrive on the moon.  It is agreed that, as international law prevents any government from claiming territory beyond Earth, that all extraterrestrial colonies will be  managed by the United Nations.

August 2026
The Kells Line launches its first space liner, offering fast and luxurious service between Earth and the moon.

May 2027
The first permanent settlers arrive on Mars.

2028
Renewed interest in nuclear propulsion leads to the first practical nuclear thermal rockets built to take advantage of TN materials.  This renders all existing spacecraft obsolete, but also opens up the outer solar system to exploration.  The first spacecraft to use atomic propulsion is the freighter Prospero, followed by the colony ship Phobos.  Ten Prospero-class freighters and five of the Phobos-class will be constructed in all.  The Hyperion- and Ganymede-class ships will soldier on for five more years, servicing the lunar colony, but are then scrapped once the initial wave of development is complete.

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Prospero class Freighter  8 700 tons     36 Crew     131.85 BP      TCS 174  TH 125  EM 0
718 km/s     Armour 1-37     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 9    Max Repair 15.625 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 2   
Cargo 5000   

General Atomics 62.5 EP Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine (2)    Power 62.5    Fuel Use 13.26%    Signature 62.5    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100 000 Litres    Range 15.6 billion km   (251 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes


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Phobos class Colony Ship    8 750 tons     54 Crew     325.05 BP      TCS 175  TH 125  EM 0
714 km/s     Armour 1-37     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 23    Max Repair 15.625 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 1   
Cryogenic Berths 20000   

General Atomics 62.5 EP Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine (2)    Power 62.5    Fuel Use 13.26%    Signature 62.5    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100 000 Litres    Range 15.5 billion km   (251 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

2031
The Armstrong-class survey ships are decommissioned, replaced by the Antares-class survey vessels.  Twelve ships will be built over the next three years.   

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Antares class Geological Survey Vessel    2 500 tons     42 Crew     297.025 BP      TCS 50  TH 62  EM 0
1240 km/s     Armour 1-16     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/2     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 74    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months    Spare Berths 1   

General Atomics 62.5 EP Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine (1)    Power 62.5    Fuel Use 13.26%    Signature 62.5    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100 000 Litres    Range 54.3 billion km   (506 days at full power)

Geological Survey Sensors (2)   2 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes


[Desdinova (OP)]

Chapter 2

2038
Scientists theorize that Trans-Newtonian technology allows the stabilization of natural wormholes to allow faster-than-light travel between points in space.  The work is initially kept secret.

2039
A method of detecting these wormholes by studying the interaction of large gravitational fields is devised, while scientists begin work on a “jump drive” capable of traversing them.  The wormholes themselves become known as jump points.

2041
The Aries is launched as a testbed for this gravitational survey equipment.  Almost immediately, a stable jump point is detected between the orbits of Earth and Mars.  Four more ships are commissioned, and soon, a total of six such jump points are mapped throughout the solar system.  Knowledge of their existence is kept highly classified.

2042
With the burgeoning numbers of civilian TN spacecraft and increasing incidents of TN technology being reverse-engineered, it is seen as only a matter of time before a nation-state, pirate, or terrorist organization exploits TN technology for nefarious purposes.  Privately, the decision makers who know of the theoretical possibility of interstellar travel are also wary of the possibility of a hostile alien power.  After much deliberation, the UN votes to amend the Outer Space Treaty to allow the construction of armed spacecraft to patrol the spacelanes.  The UN Space Agency is reconstituted along paramilitary lines into the United Nations Space Force, with the permanent members of the UN security council all directly contributing personnel and material.  The force’s mission is singular: protect Earth and her colonies from spaceborne threats.  RADM Laverne Muranaka is named UNSF commander.

2044
The design of the first armed TN spacecraft is finalized.  Their primary mission will be to patrol the space lanes to prevent piracy and terrorist action.  They have a secondary missile-defense role.  Four ships are initially ordered: Sirius, Arrow, Dragon, and Jupiter.

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Sirius  class Patrol Vessel    4 000 tons     114 Crew     466.5 BP      TCS 80  TH 125  EM 0
1562 km/s     Armour 2-22     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 13
Maint Life 2.48 Years     MSP 73    AFR 128%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 16    5YR 247    Max Repair 60 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 9 months    Spare Berths 1   
Magazine 190   

Aerojet Rocketdyne 31.25 EP Nuclear Thermal Engine (4)    Power 31.25    Fuel Use 132.76%    Signature 31.25    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 330 000 Litres    Range 11.2 billion km   (82 days at full power)

GE 10cm Railgun V2/C3 (1x4)    Range 20 000km     TS: 1562 km/s     Power 3-3     RM 2    ROF 5        1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Honeywell Fire Control S00.6 10-1562.5 (1)    Max Range: 20 000 km   TS: 1562 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
General Atomics Pressurised Water Reactor PB-1 (3)     Total Power Output 3    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 1 Missile Launcher Mk 1 (10)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 15
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC3-R1 (2)     Range 3.6m km    Resolution 1
Barracuda Mk 2 AMM (190)  Speed: 6 900 km/s   End: 9.8m    Range: 4.1m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 30/18/9

Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR3-R1 (1)     GPS 60     Range 3.6m km    MCR 392k km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m 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

March 2045
The first Sirius-class patrol ship is commissioned.  The last decade has been a period of rapid colonial expansion and development.  By now, over 22 million people are living on the moon, and 10 million on Mars.

August 2045
A further six Sirius-class ships are ordered, bringing the total to ten.  Ships ordered: Achilles, Battleaxe, Brilliant, Dauntless, Diamond, Lynx.

January 2046
Four Phoenix-class jump ships are ordered: Phoenix, Orion, Hercules, and Aquarius.  Equipped with the first top secret experimental jump drives, they will be the first true “starships”. 

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Phoenix class Jump Scout    1 000 tons     27 Crew     96 BP      TCS 20  TH 15  EM 0
1000 km/s    JR 1-50     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/18/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
Maint Life 14.23 Years     MSP 60    AFR 8%    IFR 0.1%    1YR 1    5YR 8    Max Repair 18 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 0   

BAE J1000(1-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 1000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 1
General Atomics 20 EP Nuclear Thermal Engine (1)    Power 20    Fuel Use 43.5%    Signature 15    Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 120 000 Litres    Range 49.7 billion km   (574 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM3-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

April 2046
Trans-Newtonian technology has revolutionized Earth's industry.  While not a "post-scarcity" society by any means, the TN revolution has solved some of the most pressing problems of the 21st century: clean energy, climate change and the availability of water.  While the benefits haven't been universal and conflict hasn't been eliminated on Earth by any means, the great powers of Earth agree to renounce their first-strike ability and place Earth under the aegis of an internationally-run, global missile-defense network.  The possibility of FTL travel persuades the more paranoid among them that such a system is necessary to guard against an extraterrestrial threat.  Work begins on four Missile Defense Bases.  Each base is designed to protect near-Earth space from spaceborne threats.  Meanwhile, an automated mining colony is being established on Mercury.

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Missile Defense Base class Missile Defence Base    24 650 tons     547 Crew     2351.4 BP      TCS 493  TH 0  EM 0
Armour 16-75     Sensors 1/200     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 115.28
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 0   
Troop Capacity: 2 Battalions    Magazine 800   

Quad GE R3/C3 Meson Cannon Turret (4x4)    Range 30 000km     TS: 8000 km/s     Power 12-12     RM 3    ROF 5        1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Raytheon PDC Fire Control S02 15-8000 (4)    Max Range: 30 000 km   TS: 8000 km/s     67 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
General Atomics Pebble Bed Reactor Technology PB-1 (4)     Total Power Output 48    Armour 0    Exp 5%

PDC Size 1 Missile Launcher (50)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 10
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC14-R1 (2)     Range 14.4m km    Resolution 1
Barracuda Mk 2 AMM (800)  Speed: 6 900 km/s   End: 9.8m    Range: 4.1m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 30/18/9

Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR12-R1 (1)     GPS 200     Range 12.0m km    MCR 1.3m km    Resolution 1

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 Planetary Defence Centre and can be pre-fabricated in 10 sections

June 2046
The Phoenix-class jump ships are launched.  After a short shakedown, they embark on their pioneering mission.

7 June 2046
Jump scout Aquarius makes the first experimental FTL jump to the Ross 154 system; lieutenant commander Brent Valadez commanding.

27 June 2046
Jump scout Phoenix jumps to Alpha Centauri, and identifies several potentially habitable worlds.  Another scout is sent in to search the system but discovers no signs of habitation.  The decision is made to publicize the existence of the jump drive and the historic discovery.

April 2047
Interstellar exploration and colonization will require an entirely new infrastructure.  To that end, the Hudson-class jump tender is designed, to allow civilian ships access to the worlds beyond a jump point.

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Hudson class Jump Tender    22 500 tons     116 Crew     754.55 BP      TCS 450  TH 375  EM 0
833 km/s    JR 2-25(C)     Armour 1-70     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 21    Max Repair 33 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 1   

Northrop Grumman JC22K Commercial Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 22500 tons    Distance 25k km     Squadron Size 2
General Atomics 62.5 EP Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine (6)    Power 62.5    Fuel Use 13.26%    Signature 62.5    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 6 540 000 Litres    Range 394.4 billion km   (5480 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

21 November 2047
JSC Hercules, upon transiting to the Lacaille 8760 system, detects an anomalous object in orbit around the star.  The red dwarf lacks any natural satellites.  Sensor readings indicate the object is made of an unknown material.  What is the object? Is it a starship? Where did it come from? Lacking any answers, but faced with the strong possibility that the object is artificial, fleet command decides to classify the report until such time it can be more thoroughly investigated.

After the discovery, the security council authorizes another eight Sirius-class ships: Alacrity, Amazon, Avenger, Broadsword, Charybdis, Daring, Leander, and Leopard.

May 2049
Scientists have devised a way to stabilize jump points so that they can be transited without the use of a jump drive.  The Andromeda-class construction ship is designed to construct these “jump gates”.  Three ships are ordered: Andromeda, Perseus, and Virgo.

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Andromeda class Construction Ship    65 800 tons     239 Crew     1576.45 BP      TCS 1316  TH 625  EM 0
474 km/s     Armour 1-145     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 15    Max Repair 31.25 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 48 months    Spare Berths 0   
Jump Gate Construction Ship: 180 days

General Atomics 125 EP Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine (5)    Power 125    Fuel Use 7.07%    Signature 125    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 1 000 000 Litres    Range 38.6 billion km   (942 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

July 2049
For the past decade, scientists have postulated that Trans-Newtonian technology could enable the terraforming of the moon and Mars.  An installation in lunar orbit could process the lunar regolith into its component elements and release the oxygen, creating a breathable atmosphere.  Furthermore, discovery of a gaseous compound with excellent greenhouse properties - and nontoxic in any practical concentration – would allow temperature stabilization at a level compatible with human life.  Constructing such an installation would be no mean feat of engineering, however, and terraforming on a time scale above centuries would require many such installations.  After a lengthy design process, work begins on two such terraforming bases.

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Terraforming Base class Terraforming Base    155 400 tons     614 Crew     3894.4 BP      TCS 3108  TH 0  EM 0
1 km/s     Armour 1-257     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 16    Max Repair 500 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 120 months    Spare Berths 0   
Terraformer: 6 module(s) producing 0.0072 atm per annum


Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

Deploying these stations to lunar orbit, however, will require a vehicle capable of towing them.  Plans are drawn up for three Indianapolis-class tugs.

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Indianapolis class Tug    53 450 tons     520 Crew     1091.6 BP      TCS 1069  TH 2500  EM 0
2338 km/s     Armour 1-126     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 13    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 0   
Tractor Beam     

General Atomics 125 EP Commercial Nuclear Thermal Engine (20)    Power 125    Fuel Use 7.07%    Signature 125    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 1 000 000 Litres    Range 47.6 billion km   (235 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

May 2050
Settlers arrive on Alpha Centauri-A III and IV, Earth’s first extrasolar colonies.  Alpha Centauri-A III is a relatively Earthlike planet two thirds the size of Earth, with an average surface temperature of -21. 1 degrees, gravity of . 68 g, an Earthlike magnetic field and a nitrogen atmosphere thick enough to walk outside with only an oxygen mask.  It has a 22 hour day, 327-day year, and an extreme axial tilt of 66 degrees that causes extreme seasonal variations.  However, it lacks a hydrosphere.  After arriving, the colonists decide to name the world Terra Nova – New Earth.

Alpha Centauri-A IV is colder, has a very thin nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere, gravity of . 48 g, and a trace magnetic field.  It also has a 22 hour day, 5 degree axial tilt, and plentiful water in the form of ice over 41% of the surface.  The colonists name their new world Hope.

A third world, the third moon of the gas giant Alpha Centauri-B I, is marked as a candidate for future colonization.  It has gravity, magnetic field, and a breathable atmosphere almost identical to Earth, but is too cold to make current colonization practical.

[Desdinova (OP)]

Chapter 3
April 2051
While surveying the Lalande 21185 system, the geosurvey ship Neptune is fired upon and destroyed by an unknown alien force.  Some of the crew escape in life pods, but no rescue is possible or attempted.  Fleet command is not informed until the rest of the survey group returns to Sol some two weeks later.  All at once, humanity is confronted with the knowledge that not only is man not alone in the universe, but that there exists a hostile alien power on Earth’s doorstep.

Public reaction across Earth and her colonies is one of near panic.  The UN security council makes the immediate decision to arm for war.  The current fleet of Sirius-class escorts were never designed to stand toe-to-toe with an enemy fleet.  They entirely lack long-range sensors and standoff weaponry.  A new fleet will need to be constructed.  A moratorium on exploration is imposed until the threat can be assessed and dealt with.

June 2051
The first mobile terraforming bases are constructed; terraforming of the moon begins.  The Sirius-class ships begin refitting with newly-developed nuclear pulse engines.  No longer euphemistically labeled “patrol vessels”, they are now designated as guided missile frigates, as their only suitable role will be to serve as screens and escorts for larger warships yet to be built.

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Sirius  - 2051 Refit class Missile Frigate    4 000 tons     114 Crew     529 BP      TCS 80  TH 150  EM 0
2500 km/s     Armour 2-22     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 13
Maint Life 1.88 Years     MSP 83    AFR 128%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 30    5YR 453    Max Repair 62.5 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 9 months    Spare Berths 1   
Magazine 190   

Rolls-Royce 100 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (2)    Power 100    Fuel Use 125.78%    Signature 75    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 330 000 Litres    Range 11.8 billion km   (54 days at full power)

GE 10cm Railgun V2/C3 (1x4)    Range 20 000km     TS: 2500 km/s     Power 3-3     RM 2    ROF 5        1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Honeywell Fire Control S00.6 10-1562.5 (1)    Max Range: 20 000 km   TS: 1562 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
General Atomics Pressurised Water Reactor PB-1 (3)     Total Power Output 3    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 1 Missile Launcher Mk 1 (10)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 15
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC3-R1 (2)     Range 3.6m km    Resolution 1
Barracuda Mk 4 AMM (190)  Speed: 15 600 km/s   End: 4.6m    Range: 4.3m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 78/46/23

Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR3-R1 (1)     GPS 60     Range 3.6m km    MCR 392k km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m 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

April 2053
The fuel supply would be vital to expansion and to any war effort.  Unfortunately, the Sol system severely lacks in Sorium, so it must be harvested elsewhere.  Fortunately, most surrounding systems have Sorium-bearing gas giants.  This Sorium must be harvested.  Plans have been drawn up for a Sorium-harvesting space station that can be left in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant almost indefinitely.  Three harvesters begin construction in April, with many more to follow.

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Fuel Base class Fuel Harvester Base    152 800 tons     514 Crew     3678.4 BP      TCS 3056  TH 0  EM 0
1 km/s     Armour 1-254     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 15    Max Repair 30 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 1200 months    Spare Berths 0   
Fuel Harvester: 50 modules producing 2000000 litres per annum

Fuel Capacity 20 000 000 Litres    Range N/A

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

May 2053
The Fearless-class destroyer mounts a similar anti-missile armament to the existing Sirius-class frigates, but also includes the newly-devised Tigershark anti-ship missile system.  The Fearless’ sensors are optimized towards anti-fighter and anti-FAC use, however, and she lacks a large long-range sensor.  In May, three ships are laid down: Fearless, Conqueror, and Liberator, along with five additional Sirius-class frigates.

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Fearless class Missile Destroyer    8 000 tons     180 Crew     1021.5 BP      TCS 160  TH 400  EM 0
2500 km/s     Armour 3-35     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 2     PPV 20.94
Maint Life 1.3 Years     MSP 160    AFR 256%    IFR 3.6%    1YR 100    5YR 1496    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 9 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 480   

General Atomics 200 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (2)    Power 200    Fuel Use 111.8%    Signature 200    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 755 000 Litres    Range 15.2 billion km   (70 days at full power)

GE 10cm Railgun V2/C3 (1x4)    Range 20 000km     TS: 2500 km/s     Power 3-3     RM 2    ROF 5        1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Honeywell Fire Control S00.6 10-2500 (1)    Max Range: 20 000 km   TS: 2500 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
General Atomics Pebble Bed Reactor Technology PB-1 (1)     Total Power Output 3    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 1 Missile Launcher Mk 1 (12)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 15
Size 3 Missile Launcher (33% Reduction) (6)    Missile Size 3    Rate of Fire 900
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC17-R16 (2)     Range 17.3m km    Resolution 16
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC3-R1 (2)     Range 3.6m km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC43-R100 (1)     Range 43.2m km    Resolution 100
Barracuda Mk 4 AMM (267)  Speed: 15 600 km/s   End: 4.6m    Range: 4.3m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 78/46/23
Tigershark Mk 1 ASM (71)  Speed: 12 000 km/s   End: 58.7m    Range: 42.3m km   WH: 4    Size: 3    TH: 64/38/19

Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR17-R16 (1)     GPS 1152     Range 17.3m km    Resolution 16
Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR3-R1 (1)     GPS 60     Range 3.6m km    MCR 392k km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m 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

June 2053
The Dunkirk-class expands on the anti-missile and anti-ship armament of the Fearless class, with more anti-ship missiles and launchers, and a 40m km search radar.  She has a small hangar, intended for an early warning or rescue craft.  Three ships are laid down: Dunkirk, Gettysburg, and Jutland.

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Dunkirk class Missile Cruiser    12 000 tons     253 Crew     1522.2 BP      TCS 240  TH 600  EM 0
2500 km/s     Armour 3-46     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 4     PPV 26.88
Maint Life 1.65 Years     MSP 317    AFR 288%    IFR 4%    1YR 137    5YR 2060    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 9 months    Flight Crew Berths 21   
Hangar Deck Capacity 250 tons     Magazine 723   

General Atomics 200 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (3)    Power 200    Fuel Use 111.8%    Signature 200    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 1 240 000 Litres    Range 16.6 billion km   (77 days at full power)

GE 10cm Railgun V2/C3 (1x4)    Range 20 000km     TS: 2500 km/s     Power 3-3     RM 2    ROF 5        1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Honeywell Fire Control S00.6 10-2500 (1)    Max Range: 20 000 km   TS: 2500 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
General Atomics Pebble Bed Reactor Technology PB-1 (1)     Total Power Output 3    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 1 Missile Launcher Mk 1 (12)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 15
Size 3 Missile Launcher (33% Reduction) (12)    Missile Size 3    Rate of Fire 900
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC3-R1 (2)     Range 3.6m km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC17-R16 (2)     Range 17.3m km    Resolution 16
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC43-R100 (4)     Range 43.2m km    Resolution 100
Barracuda Mk 4 AMM (267)  Speed: 15 600 km/s   End: 4.6m    Range: 4.3m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 78/46/23
Tigershark Mk 1 ASM (152)  Speed: 12 000 km/s   End: 58.7m    Range: 42.3m km   WH: 4    Size: 3    TH: 64/38/19

Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR43-R100 (1)     GPS 7200     Range 43.2m km    Resolution 100
Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR17-R16 (1)     GPS 1152     Range 17.3m km    Resolution 16
Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR3-R1 (1)     GPS 60     Range 3.6m km    MCR 392k km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m 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

The LCU is a small, inexpensive landing craft intended to rapidly deploy ground troops to the colonies in the case of unrest or alien invasion.  Until recently, the colonies have not been garrisoned, but recent unrest in Alpha Centauri has shown the UNSF the value of rapid-response peacekeeping forces.  Six boats are ordered.

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LCU-100 class Landing Craft Utility    1 000 tons     11 Crew     125 BP      TCS 20  TH 50  EM 0
2500 km/s     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 0
Maint Life 3.43 Years     MSP 39    AFR 16%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 5    5YR 76    Max Repair 60 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 2   
Drop Capacity: 1 Battalion   

BAE 50 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (1)    Power 50    Fuel Use 132.76%    Signature 50    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 90 000 Litres    Range 12.2 billion km   (56 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

July 2054
RADM Laverne Muranaka retires and is succeeded by RADM Erich Fowles.

September 2054
Phoenix-class scouts are decommissioned.  Their first-generation jump drives are now obsolete, and the force requires a jump ship with more capable passive sensors to serve a fleet reconnaissance misison.

October 2054
The replacement for the Phoenix class scouts, the J-100 is faster, with a more advanced jump drive and a significantly more advanced passive sensor suite.  Six ships are ordered.

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J-100 class Jump Scout    1 000 tons     29 Crew     120.8 BP      TCS 20  TH 50  EM 0
2500 km/s    JR 1-50     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 18/18/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 0
Maint Life 5.54 Years     MSP 38    AFR 16%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 2    5YR 31    Max Repair 25 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 5   

Northrop Grumman J1000(1-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 1000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 1
BAE 50 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (1)    Power 50    Fuel Use 132.76%    Signature 50    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 120 000 Litres    Range 16.3 billion km   (75 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH3-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM3-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes


November 2054
Two Houston-class troop transports, Houston and Geneva, are laid down.  The Houston is designed to serve as a brigade transport, but not intended for an assault role.

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Houston class Troop Transport    18 650 tons     114 Crew     456.4 BP      TCS 373  TH 400  EM 0
1072 km/s     Armour 1-62     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 15    Max Repair 50 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 0   
Troop Capacity: 5 Battalions   

BAE 200 EP Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (2)    Power 200    Fuel Use 7.07%    Signature 200    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250 000 Litres    Range 34.1 billion km   (368 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

December 2054
Three more Dunkirk-class cruisers are ordered, Ypres, Waterloo, and Kursk.

January 2055
The first three Fearless-class destroyers are commissioned.  Three more, Capable, Sentinel, and Valor, are laid down.

12 March 2055
A J-100 jump scout is sent to investigate the anomalous contact in the Lacaille 8760 system.  An initial scan of the system reveals nothing. On reaching the vicinity that the contact was reported, the ship detects an enormously powerful electromagnetic contact.  The scout avoids detection and manages to fall back to the Ross 154 jump point.  First contact is attempted using message buoys to disguise the entry jump point, but no communication received.  The system is declared off-limits. 

Elsewhere, six new GEV-100 class survey ships are ordered.  The Antares class has served admirably, but they are now over 20 years old and due for refit or replacement.  The decision is made to replace them with a much smaller vessel equipped with passive sensors and their own jump engine.

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GEV-100 class Geological Survey Vessel    1 000 tons     28 Crew     179.8 BP      TCS 20  TH 24  EM 0
1200 km/s    JR 1-50     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/1     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 0
Maint Life 4.59 Years     MSP 56    AFR 16%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 4    5YR 65    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 0   

Northrop Grumman J1000(1-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 1000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 1
BAE 24 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (1)    Power 24    Fuel Use 37.41%    Signature 24    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 105 000 Litres    Range 50.5 billion km   (487 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Geological Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

May 2055
The first three Dunkirk-class cruisers are commissioned.  A J-100 scout ship on a reconnaissance mission to the Lalande 21185 system detects a massive thermal contact in orbit of Lalande 21185 II.  As Lalande 21185 II is apparently barely hospitable to life, it is thought that the planet may be some sort of forward base.  The UN security council has been deadlocked on the issue of whether to try to take the system, due to the risk that an attack may provoke some vastly superior alien power.  For now, Earth's space forces will focus on training and reconnaissance.

Three Valley Forge-class assault ships are laid down: Valley Forge, Saipan, and Iwo Jima.  It has been considered that an attack on Lalande 21185 may involve ground combat; this requires some method of transporting soldiers and their equipment into battle.  The Valley Forge class is an assault ship capable of transporting an entire brigade  of mobile infantry and has a hangar deck for dropships or landing craft.

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Valley Forge class Assault Ship    30 000 tons     282 Crew     1263.8 BP      TCS 600  TH 800  EM 0
1333 km/s     Armour 1-86     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 10     PPV 0
Maint Life 0.94 Years     MSP 250    AFR 757%    IFR 10.5%    1YR 265    5YR 3975    Max Repair 50 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 9 months    Flight Crew Berths 35   
Hangar Deck Capacity 5000 tons     Troop Capacity: 5 Battalions   

BAE 200 EP Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (4)    Power 200    Fuel Use 7.07%    Signature 200    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250 000 Litres    Range 21.2 billion km   (184 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

July 2055
Colonists arrive on Gliese 682 II.  The planet is a frozen world almost entirely covered with water ice.  It has a thick oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere and gravity of 1. 7 g.  The planet is approximately twice the size of Earth, and tidally-locked to its red dwarf sun.  The colonists choose the name Pacifica for their adopted homeworld.

October 2055
The Antares class geosurvey ships are decommissioned as the first GEV-100 class ships enter service.

October 2056
Survey ships are able to recon the Lalande 21185 system, finding no sign of alien presence beyond the second planet.  Despite being extremely minerally rich, there is no sign of mining activity.  Fleet intelligence surmises that the alien presence on Lalande 21185 II may be a forward operating base or outpost.

December 2056
The GSV-100 class enters production, as a replacement for the Aries-class, which are decommissioned and sent to the breakers.  They are closely based on the GEV-100 class geosurvey ships.

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GSV-100 class Gravitational Survey Vessel    1 000 tons     28 Crew     179.8 BP      TCS 20  TH 24  EM 0
1200 km/s    JR 1-50     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/1/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 0
Maint Life 4.62 Years     MSP 56    AFR 16%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 4    5YR 64    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 0   

Northrop Grumman J1000(1-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 1000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 1
BAE 24 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (1)    Power 24    Fuel Use 37.41%    Signature 24    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 105 000 Litres    Range 50.5 billion km   (487 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (1)   1 Survey Points Per Hour

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

January 2057
A J-100 jump scout is lost with all hands while on a recon mission to Lalande 21185. It manages to close within 13.8m km of Lalande 21185 before being detected. While tragic, it does establish a useful baseline for how far away FAC-size craft must be able to engage.

June 2057
For the last six years, the UNSF's focus has been entirely on preparing for the possibility of interstellar war.  25 Sirius-class frigates are now in service, along with six each of the Dunkirk-class cruisers and Fearless-class destroyers.  But there's been no sign of intrusion from Lalande 21185, or any sign of activity at all in the system, despite regular patrols by small craft.  Colonization has been advancing rapidly, with 80 million people now living on Mars, and over 70 million on the moon; 17 million more call Alpha Centauri home, and another million people have settled on Pacifica.  Terraforming of the moon is rapidly progressing as well.  The colonies have almost reach the point of being self-sustaining; the next step in the UN's development plan is to set up their own domestic industry; to support this aim, the UNSF's spacelift division will require significantly larger transport capability.  To that end, the Minsk-class of freighter is developed:

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Minsk class Freighter    36 750 tons     129 Crew     510.4 BP      TCS 735  TH 800  EM 0
1088 km/s     Armour 1-98     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 9    Max Repair 50 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 2   
Cargo 25000    Cargo Handling Multiplier 5   

BAE 200 EP Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (4)    Power 200    Fuel Use 7.07%    Signature 200    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 500 000 Litres    Range 34.6 billion km   (368 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

Three ships are ordered in 2057.

In order to project power beyond the jump gate network, the UNSF requires a jump ship.  The Orion class is based on the Dunkirk class, but with the long-range sensors and most of the anti-ship armament deleted to make room for a jump drive.  Three ships are laid down: Orion, Auriga, and Hydra.

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Orion class Jump Cruiser    12 000 tons     313 Crew     1501.7 BP      TCS 240  TH 600  EM 0
2500 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 3-46     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 5     PPV 20.94
Maint Life 1.38 Years     MSP 391    AFR 230%    IFR 3.2%    1YR 221    5YR 3316    Max Repair 266 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 9 months    Spare Berths 1   
Magazine 405   

Northrop Grumman J12000(3-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 12000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
General Atomics 200 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (3)    Power 200    Fuel Use 111.8%    Signature 200    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 1 190 000 Litres    Range 16.0 billion km   (73 days at full power)

GE 10cm Railgun V2/C3 (1x4)    Range 20 000km     TS: 2500 km/s     Power 3-3     RM 2    ROF 5        1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Honeywell Fire Control S00.6 10-2500 (1)    Max Range: 20 000 km   TS: 2500 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
General Atomics Pebble Bed Reactor Technology PB-1 (1)     Total Power Output 3    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 3 Missile Launcher (33% Reduction) (6)    Missile Size 3    Rate of Fire 900
Size 1 Missile Launcher Mk 1 (12)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 15
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC3-R1 (2)     Range 3.6m km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC43-R100 (1)     Range 43.2m km    Resolution 100
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC17-R16 (2)     Range 17.3m km    Resolution 16
Barracuda Mk 5 AMM (267)  Speed: 20 800 km/s   End: 1.7m    Range: 2.2m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 104/62/31
Tigershark Mk 2 ASM (46)  Speed: 16 000 km/s   End: 42.9m    Range: 41.2m km   WH: 4    Size: 3    TH: 80/48/24

Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR3-R1 (1)     GPS 60     Range 3.6m km    MCR 392k km    Resolution 1
Raytheon Active Search Sensor MR17-R16 (1)     GPS 1152     Range 17.3m km    Resolution 16
Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m 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

August 2057
A million settlers arrive on V577 Monoceri-B II.  The most inhospitable planet yet colonized, it has a very thin oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere and gravity 45% of Earth's, but lacks a hydrosphere or a magnetic field.  The colonists name the new world Acheron.


Ten years after the first FTL jump, exploration has stagnated as the UNSF focuses on building up its military strength and developing the existing colonies.  Several jump points are mapped but unexplored.


Alpha Centauri and Gliese 682 are home to human colonies; the Ross 154 jump point is just outside Earth's orbit and the system has several gas giants rich with Sorium, making it a natural location for a fuel harvesting base.

[Desdinova (OP)]

Chapter 4
October 2057
One of the ramifications of jump drive is that jump points are natural choke points; one method to control these choke points would be deep space mines. The minelayer Newcastle is laid down in October to explore this concept, but her first mission will be to lay sensor buoys throughout explored space for early warning purposes.

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Newcastle class Minelayer    5 000 tons     74 Crew     381.4 BP      TCS 100  TH 200  EM 0
2000 km/s     Armour 1-26     Shields 0-0     Sensors 18/18/0/0     Damage Control Rating 2     PPV 6
Maint Life 2.54 Years     MSP 95    AFR 100%    IFR 1.4%    1YR 21    5YR 308    Max Repair 36 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 384   

BAE 100 EP Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (2)    Power 100    Fuel Use 10.61%    Signature 100    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 115 000 Litres    Range 39.0 billion km   (225 days at full power)

Size 24 Missile Launcher (25% Reduction) (1)    Missile Size 24    Rate of Fire 24000
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC43-R100 (1)     Range 43.2m km    Resolution 100
Mk 1 Size 24 Sensor Buoy (16)  Speed: 0 km/s   End: 0m    Range: 0m km   WH: 0    Size: 24    TH: 0/0/0

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH3-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM3-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m 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

January 2058
Several members of the UNSF's senior leadership are proponents of small, lightly-armed but fast strike craft. The FAC-100 fast attack craft is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of this concept, with plans for two squadrons.

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FAC-100 class Fast Attack Craft    900 tons     4 Crew     141.8 BP      TCS 18  TH 160  EM 0
8888 km/s     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 3.6
Maint Life 0 Years     MSP 0    AFR 180%    IFR 2.5%    1YR 65    5YR 972    Max Repair 80 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 24   

Rolls-Royce 160 EP FAC Nuclear Pulse Engine (1)    Power 160    Fuel Use 407.3%    Signature 160    Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 65 000 Litres    Range 3.2 billion km   (4 days at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (8)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Raytheon Missile Fire Control FC43-R100 (1)     Range 43.2m km    Resolution 100

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

March 2058
Along with these new fast attack craft, the FPC-100 will provide long-range sensor capability, allowing them to work in tandem as hunter/killers.

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FPC-100 class Fast Patrol Craft    900 tons     5 Crew     184 BP      TCS 18  TH 160  EM 0
8888 km/s     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 0
Maint Life 0 Years     MSP 0    AFR 180%    IFR 2.5%    1YR 114    5YR 1705    Max Repair 80 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months    Spare Berths 5   

Rolls-Royce 160 EP FAC Nuclear Pulse Engine (1)    Power 160    Fuel Use 407.3%    Signature 160    Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 65 000 Litres    Range 3.2 billion km   (4 days at full power)

Honeywell Active Search Sensor MR48-R100 (1)     GPS 8000     Range 48.0m km    Resolution 100

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

April 2058
Terraforming of the moon is completed.

August 2058
A vital component of any navy's ability to project force is underway replenishment. The Myrmidon-class can resupply and rearm a task force while maintaining their speed. Ships ordered: Myrmidon, Helios, Minotaur.

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Myrmidon class Replenishment Ship    12 000 tons     190 Crew     1079.65 BP      TCS 240  TH 450  EM 0
2500 km/s     Armour 1-46     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 11     PPV 0
Maint Life 12.7 Years     MSP 5619    AFR 104%    IFR 1.5%    1YR 65    5YR 968    Max Repair 140.625 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 1050   

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 300 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (2)    Power 300    Fuel Use 19.48%    Signature 225    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 825 000 Litres    Range 63.5 billion km   (294 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

The Ontario class fleet oiler, based on the same hull as the Myrmidon. can triple the range of a cruiser squadron. Three ships are laid down - Ontario, Vulcan, and Cyclops.

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Ontario class Oiler    12 000 tons     128 Crew     799.65 BP      TCS 240  TH 450  EM 0
2500 km/s     Armour 1-46     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 9     PPV 0
Maint Life 1.71 Years     MSP 375    AFR 128%    IFR 1.8%    1YR 155    5YR 2319    Max Repair 140.625 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 3   

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 300 EP Nuclear Pulse Engine (2)    Power 300    Fuel Use 19.48%    Signature 225    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 5 800 000 Litres    Range 446.6 billion km   (2067 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

December 2059
Improvements are being planned to Earth's orbital infrastructure, including three new orbiting docking platforms to service the expanding UNSF fleet.

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Spacedock class Space Station    24 300 tons     333 Crew     2471.4 BP      TCS 486  TH 0  EM 0
1 km/s     Armour 1-74     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 2     PPV 0
Maint Life 0 Years     MSP 127    AFR 2361%    IFR 32.8%    1YR 0    5YR 0    Max Repair 8 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Flight Crew Berths 315   
Hangar Deck Capacity 20000 tons     Magazine 450   

Fuel Capacity 250 000 Litres    Range N/A

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

May 2060
The Indianapolis-class tugs are showing their age, so a new class, equipped with current drive technology, is needed. Three ships are planned.

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Chicago class Tug    48 150 tons     474 Crew     1356.6 BP      TCS 963  TH 3600  EM 0
3738 km/s     Armour 1-117     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 18    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 0   
Tractor Beam     

BAE 200 EP Commercial Nuclear Pulse Engine (18)    Power 200    Fuel Use 7.07%    Signature 200    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 1 000 000 Litres    Range 52.9 billion km   (163 days at full power)

Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes


[Desdinova (OP)]

Chapter 5

The Battle of Lacaille 8760
28 September 2060
The order goes out: Task Force 14 will proceed at once to the Lacaille 8760 system. Once in-system, they will sweep the system for alien activity. If contact is made, they will attempt communication and initiate no hostile action, although the commander is authorized to use any force necessary to ensure the safety of his task force, at their discretion.

The force will consist of the Dunkirk-class cruisers Dunkirk, Gettysburg, Jutland, Kursk, Waterloo, and Ypres, the Orion-class jump cruisers Auriga and Hydra, and the Sirius-class frigates Achilles, Apollo, Arrow, Avenger, Boxer, Brilliant, Broadsword, Cleopatra, Dragon, Juno, Jupiter, Leopard, Lynx, Minerva, Scylla, and Sirius. The fleet oilers Ontario, Cyclops, and Vulcan are tasked for underway replenishment.

At best speed, Lacaille 8760 is only 11 days from Earth; determining the nature of the anomalous contact and alien sighting is seen by the UNSF admiralty as a high priority to ensure Earth’s safety. The fleet has spent years preparing for combat, and now the time has come for their first patrol outside of the Sol system under real combat conditions.

10 October 2060
In position at the Lacaille 8760 jump point, task force commander Captain Guo Qing Hui detaches her replenishment ships, before squadron jumping the Auriga and Hydra, escorted by Avenger, Boxer, Lynx, and Scylla. Once the rest of the fleet is safely through the jump point, she detaches her frigates to screen the main force in a hexagonal configuration, with two rings at intervals of 350,000 km, the maximum range at which they can reliably detect enemy missiles. The task force gets underway in the direction of the last sighting of the alien vessel.

12 October 2060
The UNSF crews, while well trained, have never seen combat. The mood aboard ship is light and jovial, with most of the crew and officers treating the patrol as just another exercise. While rumors have been circulating the fleet about the sighting in Lacaille 8760, most have dismissed them. Even those who know the reason for the patrol don’t believe anything will come of it; if an alien ship was sighted, the system is devoid of planets – surely they must have moved on?

Then, after 34 hours in system, all hell breaks loose. Sensor operators detect 36 contacts of approximately 750 tons, bearing straight ahead and closing at a speed of 10,666 km per second. The contacts are assigned the codename “Barnard” by the tactical computer. The fleet reacts swiftly and professionally, as battle stations is sounded. The task force commander takes immediate evasive action, reversing course, and makes the judgement call that this is almost certainly a hostile response. For the preservation of the task force, she orders her fleet to engage.

As they are responsible for fleet defense against fast attack craft, the destroyers open up first. But the anti-ship missiles they engage with are only slightly faster than the enemy, so most of the first salvo misses. Those that do hit seem to do little to deter the advancing vessels. The Dunkirk-class cruisers then open up with their own anti-ship launchers; as the sound of the missiles leaving their launchers reverberates through each cruiser, the reality of the situation sets in for the men and women aboard.

The second salvo is more successful, with a higher hit ratio, and one enemy vessel is destroyed and another crippled by a secondary explosion. Sensors show the vessel as venting some sort of fluid into space.

With the enemy now closing to within 6 millon kilometers, those ships equipped with the latest generation of Barracuda anti-missile open fire with those.

By 3 million kilometers, the entire fleet is shooting everything that they can throw at the advancing vessels. Slowly their numbers are whittled down, but they keep closing the range in the face of dozens of anti-missiles. The final vessel is destroyed less than 200,000 km short of the frigates Apollo and Cleopatra.

After dispatching any disabled stragglers, the commander is able to take stock of her situation. About 25% of the fleet’s missiles have been expended. No damage or casualties have been reported. Bizarrely, what remains of the enemy doesn’t register as metallic – the sensors can’t make heads or tails of it. The  36 enemy contacts have been reduced to a cloud of vapor and what appears to be some sort of organic material. But the captain is not a scientist, and she orders the fleet to resume its original course.

24 November 2060
After almost a month on patrol since the battle, Captain Guo Qing Hui is close to declaring the system clear of hostile contacts. But during one final sweep, the fleet detects a massive active sensor contact in the vicinity of the star, near where it was originally reported. She orders the fleet to close within active sensor range.

Upon closing in, there can be no doubt that the vessel is the same contact reported five years earlier. Furthermore, the drive signature matches that of the small craft that were previously destroyed. This thing, therefore, must be some sort of mothership. She is authorized by fleet command to engage it.

But the strange vessel is protected by an energy shield too strong for even all 15 cruisers and destroyers combined to bring down, at least from range. Shortly after the first salvo lands, a second wave of 20 Barnard-class contacts appears on the screen, confirming the larger vessel to be a carrier or mothership of some sort. The captain orders her escorts to rejoin and maintain a tight formation as they allow them to close within anti-missile range. Once again, the enemy are stopped, but only just short of the fleet.

With the enemy attack wave stopped, the captain orders her fleet to close to 2 million kilometers, so that all armament may be brought to bear. The waves of anti-missile and anti-ship missiles begin to have an effect, but barely. The captain decides to close in even closer, to achieve even higher saturation. At 150,000 km, the missiles start to do real damage, with a more than one secondary explosion appearing on the scope. But the shields are still regenerating, so once the contact’s active sensor ability is knocked out, they close even closer, to less than 10,000 km, to engage point-blank with their secondary railgun armament.

At such close range, it is just barely possible for a ship’s onboard visual scopes to resolve the 60,000 ton vessel. And what they see is monstrous – a hulk of apparently living matter, writhing and scored by hundreds of missile impacts. It’s not just venting fluid – it’s bleeding. Without its energy shield, half a minute of railgun bombardment is all it takes to blast the entity apart.

After the battle, the remains are analyzed, but the analysis raises more questions than answers. Their means of propulsion and ability to generate energy fields cannot be explained. The scientific consensus is that such a species could never have evolved naturally in deep space. Somehow, these beings were engineered. But by whom, and for what purpose? The only thing that is certain is that they did not originate from Lacaille 8760. While not officially named except with a numeric designator, throughout the fleet, the Lacaille 8760 entities become known as the “Star Swarm”.

The crews of the task force, on their return to Earth, receive a hero’s welcome. 23 year old CDR Arina Yefimov, C.O. FFG Cleopatra, is singled out for heroism, destroying four enemy vessels while maneuvering at point-blank range with the enemy. She is awarded the Sol Cross, the UNSF’s first combat decoration.

Analysis of the battle raises some questions about the UNSF’s ships and doctrine. 208,000 tons of Earth spacecraft took on 102,000 tons of space monster and won without casualty, but only prevented them from closing by the narrowest of margins. The biggest point of criticism is the missiles used; the fleet was mostly equipped with a mix of current- and previous-generation missiles, and the previous generation of anti-missile has only a 2.1 million km range. Several salvos were wasted after being fired from beyond their maximum range due to mid-battle confusion. The anti-ship missiles used did not have a uniform speed, giving the enemy’s shields time to regenerate, and the rate of fire was too low. Neither AMM or ASM was wholly effective against the enemy fast attack units. Furthermore, a single battle depleted almost the entire supply of modern anti-missiles.

Railguns proved extremely effective against a disabled target, but would have been too short-ranged to be useful against a “boom and zoom” attack. The fleet’s detection and early warning systems were inadequate; the mothership should never have escaped detection on the initial pass through the system. One final criticism would be that the Sirius-class frigates, being designed as patrol vessels, lack the speed to maneuver with fleet assets. Future escorts should be faster than the ships they’re escorting.

On the positive side, the use of intermediate-resolution sensors and fire controls proved crucial. Having an extra fire control system allowed the cruisers and destroyers to engage enemy fast attack units with both short- and long-range missiles. Crew performance was excellent, and the fleet-wide focus on training over the last several years made a great deal of difference. The presence of replenishment oilers capable of keeping up with a task force at full speed was also a major asset.

August 2061
With the terraforming of Mars complete, the UNSF Corps of Engineers moves to deploy terraforming bases to Pacifica and Alpha Centauri.

May 2062
Earth is facing a critical shortage of Neutronium within the next ten to twenty years. The UNSF Corps of Engineers identifies asteroid mining as the best way to meet that demand.

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Mining Base class Mining Base    112 300 tons     1014 Crew     4795.2 BP      TCS 2246  TH 0  EM 0
1 km/s     Armour 1-207     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 27    Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 1200 months    Spare Berths 0   
Asteroid Miner: 20 module(s) producing 240 tons per mineral per annum


Raytheon Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes


[Desdinova (OP)]

Chapter 6
Attack on Lalande 21185
July 2062
RADM Erich Fowles retires, and is succeeded as fleet commander by RADM Renee Marlow. For some time, the UN Security Council has been wrestling with the Lalande 21185 issue, and the more bellicose members have finally swayed the vote in their favor with the recent victory in the Lacaille 8760 system. The goal is twofold: reprisal for the destruction of the survey vessel Neptune, and to reliably ascertain the number and disposition of alien forces in the system. The admiralty is confident that by using the system's jumpable Lagrange points, they can make it impossible for the enemy to determine the attack's origin. In late July, plans are finalized raid on the Lalande 21185 system. Attack Squadron 1, operating off of the assault carriers Iwo Jima, Valley Forge, and Saipan, will launch from the vicinity of the Lalande 21185 jump gate, refuel in-system from a task group that will have infiltrated the system, and then perform a maximum-range missile strike on Lalande 21185-II.

September 2062
The squadron creeps into position, testing the endurance of their crews, and activates their targeting sensor. They detect three contacts; two are what appear to be planetary defense complexes, the third is a 15,500 ton orbiting cruiser. They fire their Tigershark anti-ship missiles at the cruiser and run. They successfully evade the enemy, which is hit by 47 of the 80 missiles fired, to no apparent ill effect.

January 2063
With no reprisal forthcoming, the decision is made to repeat the attack on Lalande 21185, and if possible, take the system. A task force of five cruisers, one jump cruiser, 6 destroyers, and 18 frigates is assembled.

March 2063
A scout ship performs reconnaissance and finds no evidence of enemy reinforcements, just the presence of the Provider-class cruiser that was attacked earlier.

10 April 2063
The FAC squadron executes its attack successfully. RADM Jung Fishbaugh, task force commander aboard Auriga, orders the squadron to allow the Provider to chase them towards the jump point. She intends to lie in wait and let them close within missile range, since the recon ship reported detecting no active sensor emissions.

But when the contact reverses course at 120 million meters, she knows they’ve been detected, and orders active sensors activated and evasive action taken. Only minutes later, cruiser Bastogne is struck by a salvo of missiles too fast for the fleet’s anti-missile sensors to even detect. A missile penetrates her armour and sets off a series of secondary explosions in her drive section, which in turn detonates her magazines, destroying the ship. 177 crewmembers make it to lifepods. 76 are killed, including Bastogne’s CO, RADM Guo Qing Hui, hero of Lacaille 8760.

Running at flank speed, with the fleet’s frigate screen trailing as far as possible to extend their missile detection range, they are only barely able to detect the incoming enemy missiles in time to counter-fire. The enemy missiles are travelling at over 46,000 km per second, more than twice as fast as the human AMMs. They engage effectively, although a few missiles get through. Agincourt is hit several times, causing serious damage and four casualties. After initially turning away, the Provider-class cruiser turns back and begins pursuing the Earth fleet, at nearly three times their speed, undeterred by return fire. It manages to close all the way within anti-missile range before finally succumbing.

With the immediate threat dealt with, the fleet sees to the rescue of Bastogne’s life pods, before RADM Fishbaugh decides to press the attack. The recon ship, a J-100 class jump scout is sent on another sweep, but passes too close to the planet and is destroyed by short-range missiles with 20 of her 29 men lost. The fleet moves into anti-ship missile range and finds the enemy are unable to reply. The task force turns the planetary defenses on Lalande 21185 into smouldering ruins.

After the victory at Lacaille 8760 the loss of Bastogne is a tough blow to take, and the obvious technological superiority of the alien ship is a rude awakening. An investigation is launched, and determines the loss of Bastogne was attributable to a number of factors. Most obviously, the alien anti-ship missiles were far beyond anything her weapons or sensors were designed to defeat. But this only allowed her to be hit; her actual loss was the result of flaws in her design and construction. Her armour was too thin, her magazines were vulnerable, and her internal compartmentalization insufficient. The destruction of one of her engines led to a chain reaction that she had little hope of surviving. That Agincourt was not disabled or destroyed despite being similarly hit can be put down as a miracle. Following the investigation, Agincourt CO CPT Rayhan Turk is awarded the Sol Cross for saving his ship and crew. Plans to modernize the Dunkirk, Fearless, and Sirius classes are quietly shelved in favor of a new family of warships that take into account the hard lessons learned at Lacaille 8760 and Lalande 21185.

July 2063
Orbital scans reveal that Lalande 21185 II is home to a long-destroyed outpost. The planetary and orbital defenses were apparently automated and long-abandoned. No trace of life exists on the planet. A xenology team is dispatched to study the ruins. The team will eventually be able to decode and translate the language of the previous inhabitants - the planet was once home to an outpost of a culture that called themselves the Ascendancy of Milungera. No explanation is found for the outpost’s abandonment, and the Ascendancy’s technology appears distinct from and far more primitive than that the guardians left in orbit. With the threat of a hostile alien empire put to rest, the UNSF authorizes a second wave of exploration.

[Desdinova (OP)]

Chapter 7
The Federation

Pictured is the state of the explored jump point network at the end of 2063. Several likely candidates for colonization are identified during this second wave of exploration; no fewer than 7 terraforming candidates orbit 70 Opiuchi, 1 in orbit of Wolf 1061, and two highly mineral-rich, terraformable worlds orbit Wolf 359.

At this point, over 250 million human beings call a world other than Earth home, across four different inhabited star systems. But the rapid pace of colonization has led to overcrowded and overworked colonists, and for nearly fourty years tensions have been steadily rising across human space. The UN forces in colonial space have not always been delicate in their handling of the colonists; reprisals and terrorist violence inevitably follow. Tensions soon become a crisis as Alpha Centauri and Acheron riot, calling out for home rule. The compromise solution, negotiated and finalized in early 2064, is to create a Federation of human worlds, with each planet having equal representation in a new Federation of United Systems. Each planet will have broad authority over its internal affairs, with a federal assembly deciding foreign policy, all space-based armed forces, and interstellar trade policy. The UNSF will form the backbone of a new United Systems Navy. The federation will not maintain a standing army; each world, or on Earth, each nation, will be permitted to maintain its own ground self-defense forces which may be called to federal service.

With internal tensions easing, the newborn federation ramps up for a second wave of human colonization.

22 June 2064
 A survey vessel is destroyed in the 70 Opiuchi system. EM emissions match those of the Lalande 21185 aliens. Some portion of the crew abandons ship, but their rescue beacon cuts out immediately afterward. With the navy restructuring and the combat effectiveness of their ships under question, no attempt at rescue or counterattack is made and the system is quietly declared off-limits.

August 2064
The El Paso-class salvage ship is designed in order to recover any usable technology from the remains of the battle of Lalande 21185. An initial three ships are laid down in August.

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El Paso class Salvager    21 200 tons     156 Crew     547 BP      TCS 424  TH 600  EM 0
1415 km/s     Armour 1-68     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 16    Max Repair 200 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 0   
Cargo 5000    Cargo Handling Multiplier 5   
Salvager: 1 module(s) capable of salvaging 500 tons per day

BAE 300 EP Commercial Ion Drive (2)    Power 300    Fuel Use 5.3%    Signature 300    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250 000 Litres    Range 40.0 billion km   (327 days at full power)

Raytheon SAR-1B (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon SCR-1 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

Meanwhile, the terraforming of Terra Nova is declared complete.

September 2064
Colonists arrive on Lalande 21185-A II. The planet itself is about two thirds Earth’s diameter, with gravity of about 44%. It has a very thin oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere, but lacks water and is tidally locked to a dim red dwarf. The settlers name the new world Horizon. Over two months’ journey from Earth, it is the most distant colony yet established.

June 2065
Terraforming of Pacifica concludes. Colonists arrive on Alpha Centauri-B I moon 3. The planet is earthlike in every respect, except for an average temperature of -95 degrees and being tidally-locked to its star. The gas giant it orbits was named Asgard during system exploration, and its moons given the names of the different realms of Norse mythology. This colony is named Jotunheim, after the domain of the frost giants in norse mythology.

August 2065
Pushing the frontier outwards will require a great deal of new infrastructure farther away from Earth than ever before, and the existing nuclear-engined tugs are now obsolete with the development of ion propulsion. The United Systems authorizes three new Mount Everest-class tugs for the Corps of Engineers.

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Mount Everest class Tug    48 150 tons     474 Crew     1806.6 BP      TCS 963  TH 5400  EM 0
5607 km/s     Armour 1-117     Shields 0-0     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 23    Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 0   
Tractor Beam     

BAE 300 EP Commercial Ion Drive (18)    Power 300    Fuel Use 5.3%    Signature 300    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 1 000 000 Litres    Range 70.5 billion km   (145 days at full power)

Raytheon SAR-1B (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
Raytheon SCR-1 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

July 2067
Terraforming efforts finish on Hope. The United Systems are forced to delay their plans for expansion, due to shortages of minerals and funds. The focus returns to local development, industry, and infrastructure, including many new asteroid mining facilities.

August 2067
A ruined alien settlement is detected on Procyon-A III Moon 10, later identified as belonging to a race known as the Elric Commonwealth. Earth xenologists believe now that this region of space was home to a confederation of multiple species that spanned many star systems, but died out millenia ago after some sort of war or internal catastrophe. The exact cause remains unknown. The Sol system is centrally located between the three systems with confirmed alien presence, so must have been a hub of interstellar transit. No alien presence or interference has yet been detected in Sol, despite widespread conspiracy theories.

March 2070
Plans are finalized for the first class of ion drive warships. The Vega class will serve as a fleet escort, and to show the flag in the colonies. It is faster, more survivable, and better-armed than the Sirius class it will replace, despite being 25% smaller.

Due to continuing budget and resource shortfalls, four of the oldest Sirius-class frigates, Sirius, Jupiter, Dragon, and Arrow, are decommissioned as construction begins.

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Vega class Missile Frigate    3 000 tons     90 Crew     618.88 BP      TCS 60  TH 120  EM 0
4000 km/s     Armour 2-18     Shields 0-0     Sensors 8/8/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 7.4
Maint Life 2.41 Years     MSP 129    AFR 72%    IFR 1%    1YR 31    5YR 459    Max Repair 96 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 1   
Magazine 96   

Rolls Royce 120 EP Ion Drive (2)    Power 120    Fuel Use 96.43%    Signature 60    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 335 000 Litres    Range 20.8 billion km   (60 days at full power)

Mk 13 Single Mount Gauss Cannon Turret (1x3)    Range 30 000km     TS: 16000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 3    ROF 5        1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Raytheon SYQ-4 (1)    Max Range: 32 000 km   TS: 16000 km/s     55 29 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mk 1 Mod 1 Missile Launcher (Size 1) (6)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 10
Raytheon SPG-5 (1)     Range 7.7m km    Resolution 1
SIM-1G Barracuda AMM (96)  Speed: 31 200 km/s   End: 4.2m    Range: 7.9m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 197/118/59

Raytheon SPS-6 (1)     GPS 96     Range 7.7m km    MCR 836k km    Resolution 1
Honeywell SAR-5 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km
Honeywell SCR-4 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km

ECM 10

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
August 2070
The Portland class will be the United Systems Navy's frontline anti-ship combat vessel. Due to improved jump drive technology, the philosophy of separate jump ships accompanying task forces will be abandoned, in favor of combining both roles into a slightly larger vessel. New USN doctrine is that a jump drive will distinguish all capital ships; each capital ship will be able to jump itself and any escorts. Due to the low numbers of cruisers initially planned, this will be less expensive overall than a separate jump cruiser.

The Portland class is considered a great advance over the Dunkirk class. The initial design kept the 12,000 ton mass of the Dunkirk, and was increased to fit a jump drive without sacrificing weaponry or armor. Survivability, sensors, fire control and electronic warfare capabilities are all far ahead of the Dunkirk class. Due to the relative effectiveness of point defense fire vs. anti-missiles seen at Lalande 21185, anti-missile stores have been reduced in favor of additional kinetic armament. Her main armament will be four large-diameter missile tubes. This will allow the class to deploy mines, long-range sensor buoys, and survey probes in addition to anti-ship missiles. Her standard loadout will be 16 multiple-warhead missiles, each with four independent submunitions themselves more than twice the yield of existing anti-ship missiles.

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Portland class Missile Cruiser    14 000 tons     341 Crew     2586.58 BP      TCS 280  TH 525  EM 0
3750 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 4-51     Shields 0-0     Sensors 8/8/0/0     Damage Control Rating 6     PPV 50.88
Maint Life 1.44 Years     MSP 693    AFR 261%    IFR 3.6%    1YR 369    5YR 5540    Max Repair 393.75 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 1   
Magazine 518   

Northrop Grumman J14000(3-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 14000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 525 EP Ion Drive (2)    Power 525    Fuel Use 68.13%    Signature 262.5    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 1 085 000 Litres    Range 20.5 billion km   (63 days at full power)

Mk 11 Single Mount Mk 5 Gauss Cannon Turret (2x3)    Range 30 000km     TS: 16000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 3    ROF 5        1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rockwell Collins SYQ-3 (2)    Max Range: 64 000 km   TS: 16000 km/s     84 69 53 37 22 6 0 0 0 0

Mk 6 Missile Launcher (Size 24) (4)    Missile Size 24    Rate of Fire 4800
Mk 1 Mod 1 Missile Launcher (Size 1) (8)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 10
Raytheon SPG-8 (2)     Range 168.2m km    Resolution 120
Raytheon SPG-5 (1)     Range 7.7m km    Resolution 1
SIM-1G Barracuda AMM (134)  Speed: 31 200 km/s   End: 4.2m    Range: 7.9m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 197/118/59
SIM-6 Ballista MWM (16)  Speed: 10 500 km/s   End: 199.5m    Range: 129.2m km   WH: 0    Size: 24    TH: 35/21/10

Raytheon SPS-8 (1)     GPS 17280     Range 126.2m km    Resolution 120
Raytheon SPS-9 (1)     GPS 64     Range 5.1m km    MCR 558k km    Resolution 1
Honeywell SAR-5 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km
Honeywell SCR-4 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km

ECM 10

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

November 2070
The 2070 naval procurement budget leaves a little left over for experimentation - the result of which is the Bremen class. Inspired by the wet-navy gun cruisers of the mid-20th century, the Bremen class is designed to screen and provide close range area defense for a task force against fighters, drones, and missiles. The Bremen class represents a shift away from a pure missile force to a mixed missile/laser armed fleet, mostly due to the time and cost involved in maintaining a large supply of missiles. An initial three ships are ordered.

Code: [Select]

Bremen class Light Cruiser    8 000 tons     263 Crew     1976.88 BP      TCS 160  TH 300  EM 0
3750 km/s     Armour 3-35     Shields 0-0     Sensors 8/8/0/0     Damage Control Rating 2     PPV 38.12
Maint Life 1.37 Years     MSP 386    AFR 204%    IFR 2.8%    1YR 223    5YR 3343    Max Repair 307 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Spare Berths 1   
Magazine 95   

Northrop Grumman 300 EP Ion Drive (2)    Power 300    Fuel Use 83.85%    Signature 150    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 725 000 Litres    Range 19.5 billion km   (60 days at full power)

Mk 14 Twin GE 10cm / Mk7 Ultraviolet Laser Turret (4x2)    Range 120 000km     TS: 16000 km/s     Power 6-6     RM 4    ROF 5        3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
Raytheon SYQ-5 (2)    Max Range: 256 000 km   TS: 16000 km/s     96 92 88 84 80 77 73 69 65 61
Westinghouse Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 (1)     Total Power Output 27    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Mk 1 Mod 1 Missile Launcher (Size 1) (5)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 10
Raytheon SPG-5 (1)     Range 7.7m km    Resolution 1
SIM-1G Barracuda AMM (95)  Speed: 31 200 km/s   End: 4.2m    Range: 7.9m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 197/118/59

Raytheon SPS-6 (1)     GPS 96     Range 7.7m km    MCR 836k km    Resolution 1
Honeywell SAR-5 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km
Honeywell SCR-4 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km

ECM 10

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

July 2071
The Sirius-class frigates Achilles, Diamond, Dauntless, Lynx decommissioned as Vega-class production ramps up.

November 2071
Indianapolis class tugs Capetown, Cardiff, and Indianapolis are scrapped.

June 2072
As the edge of explored space pushes outward, the J-100 class's short range is a critically limiting factor. The surviving ships are decommissioned in favor of the J-200, which will replace it in the fleet reconaissance and jump point scouting role.

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J-200 class Jump Scout    800 tons     24 Crew     145 BP      TCS 16  TH 30  EM 0
3750 km/s    JR 1-50     Armour 1-7     Shields 0-0     Sensors 24/24/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 0
Maint Life 7.95 Years     MSP 57    AFR 10%    IFR 0.1%    1YR 2    5YR 24    Max Repair 45 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 2 months    Spare Berths 3   

General Atomics J800(1-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 800 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 1
Rolls-Royce 60 EP Ion Drive (1)    Power 60    Fuel Use 100.62%    Signature 30    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 90 000 Litres    Range 20.1 billion km   (62 days at full power)

Raytheon SAR-6 (1)     Sensitivity 24     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  24m km
Raytheon SCR-6 (1)     Sensitivity 24     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  24m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

January 2073
As the frontier will continue to grow, the United Systems Navy's plan for defense of the Federation's colonies is to forward-deploy frigates for missile defense and patrol, and squadrons of fast attack craft for the anti-ship role. Capital ships will be home-ported at Earth, thus minimizing the maintenance infrastructure required. Orbital maintenance facilities will have to be constructed at colonies and key points throughout Federation space.

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Maintenance Base class Maintenance Base    26 000 tons     264 Crew     1191 BP      TCS 520  TH 0  EM 0
1 km/s     Armour 1-78     Shields 0-0     Sensors 8/8/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
MSP 29    Max Repair 200 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months    Spare Berths 2   
Maintenance Modules: 5 module(s) capable of supporting ships of 1000 tons


Honeywell SAR-5 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km
Honeywell SCR-4 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes


[Desdinova (OP)]

March 2074
Attack on 70 Opiuchi

A raid on the 70 Ophiuchi system is ordered. A task force is assembled from the new cruisers Rio de Janiero, Vladivostok, Yokohama, light cruisers Bremen, Nashville, Osaka, and frigates Aldebaran, Alpha Centauri, Canopus, Deneb, Epsilon, and Vega. They arrive in-system on the 15th.

At 08:48 on 18 MAR 2074, four enemy contacts are detected bearing straight ahead; two 15,500 ton Anticosti-class, one 7,750 Protecteur-class, and one 7,750 Town-class.

At 09:30, the task force achieves ECM burn-through. Each cruiser shoots a full salvo of long-range missiles. The fleet reverses course, to try to maintain the range. At 5:32, the first salvo separates its submunitions. The first wave destroys one of the Anticosti-class cruisers, and causes serious damage to the second. The enemy continues pursuit. Several more waves of anti-ship missiles are fired, with no reply; although the surviving Anticosti-class shoots many down with point-defense missiles, it appears that the enemy lacks long-range antiship missiles. This allows the human fleet to pick apart and destroy the aliens ships at their leisure. The Protecteur-class destroyer is still intact, but deprived of power and drifting. The fleet takes up station at close range to the crippled vessel.

8 April 2074
The minelayer Hamburg detects a massive thermal contact of unknown origin at the Epsilon Indi-Gliese 1061 jump point. As per first contact protocol, Hamburg drops a message relay buoy and withdraws from the system.

28 April 2074
Communications are formally established with the Merskemre Aristocracy. Strikingly humanoid appearance with greenish-brown skin and reptilian features, their ruling oligarchs claim to be amenable to peaceful coexistence and trade.

Meanwhile, the alien vessel that was crippled in the 70 Ophiuchi system is boarded by marines operating off the assault ship Iwo Jima. No resistance is encountered; the boarding party finds the ship to be under completely automatic control, as suspected. The ship's computer, while heavily degraded, does confirm some theories of human xenologists: the federation that ruled this region of the galaxy millenia ago became engaged in a massive interstellar war, a war that they apparently lost. With their population centers, industry, and agriculture destroyed, their colonies and minor worlds fell into barbarism, starvation, and finally died out. Their surviving warships reverted to automatic control as their crews slowly starved. Their prime directive: to defend their space against any and all vessels of alien origin.

Code: [Select]

Reaper-J class Jump Destroyer    7 750 tons     220 Crew     1717.6 BP      TCS 155  TH 990  EM 0
6387 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 7-34     Shields 0-0     Sensors 22/11/0/0     Damage Control Rating 4     PPV 24
Maint Life 3.84 Years     MSP 554    AFR 120%    IFR 1.7%    1YR 59    5YR 888    Max Repair 126 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months    Spare Berths 0   

J8000(3-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 8000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
165 EP Magnetic Fusion Drive (6)    Power 165    Fuel Use 59.65%    Signature 165    Exp 11%
Fuel Capacity 900 000 Litres    Range 35.0 billion km   (63 days at full power)

20cm C4 Ultraviolet Laser (4)    Range 256 000km     TS: 6387 km/s     Power 10-4     RM 4    ROF 15        10 10 10 10 8 6 5 5 4 4
CIWS-160 (1x2)    Range 1000 km     TS: 16000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Fire Control S02 128-4000 (1)    Max Range: 256 000 km   TS: 4000 km/s     96 92 88 84 80 77 73 69 65 61
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 (2)     Total Power Output 20    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Active Search Sensor MR132-R91 (1)     GPS 11466     Range 132.2m km    Resolution 91
Thermal Sensor TH2-22 (1)     Sensitivity 22     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  22m km
EM Detection Sensor EM1-11 (1)     Sensitivity 11     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  11m km

ECCM-4 (1)         ECM 40

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

Unfortunately, shortly after capture, the destroyer explodes - either the result of battle damage, or some sort of self-destruct device designed to prevent capture. The salvage crew aboard takes heavy losses.

November 2075
Colonists arrive on Alpha Centauri-B II as the second wave of human colonization begins. A dwarf planet with gravity only one tenths of Earth, it is nonetheless a marginal terraforming candidate. The planet is named Tyre, after the ancient Phoenican city.

January 2076
Colonists arrive on Niflheim, 9th moon of the gas giant Asgard, formerly known Alpha Centauri B-I.  Niflheim has been in the process of terraforming for most of the last decade. It is considerably less dense than its sister, Jotunheim, with gravity 22% of Earth’s, but it also has abundant water ice.


February 2076
Capturing the precursor destroyer leads the admiralty to request a design for a vessel capable of boarding and capturing enemy ships during battle. The Anzio-class assault ship is designed to supplement and replace the older Valley Forge-class in some roles. Unlike the Valley Forge, the Anzio is capable of keeping up with and jumping with a fast task force. She will carry up to a battalion of marines or heavy infantry, and a battalion-sized or five company-sized drop ships for planetary assault or boarding actions. Six ships are planned.

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Anzio class Assault Ship    7 200 tons     105 Crew     872.9 BP      TCS 144  TH 270  EM 0
3750 km/s     Armour 1-33     Shields 0-0     Sensors 8/8/0/0     Damage Control Rating 2     PPV 0
Maint Life 1.35 Years     MSP 170    AFR 184%    IFR 2.6%    1YR 99    5YR 1491    Max Repair 101.25 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Flight Crew Berths 7   
Hangar Deck Capacity 1250 tons     Troop Capacity: 1 Battalion    Cargo Handling Multiplier 5   

Rolls-Royce 135 EP Ion Drive (4)    Power 135    Fuel Use 95.38%    Signature 67.5    Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 765 000 Litres    Range 20.1 billion km   (61 days at full power)

Honeywell SAR-5 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km
Honeywell SCR-4 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km

Strike Group
5x UD-1 Dropship   Speed: 10572 km/s    Size: 4.54

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

April 2076
Colonists arrive on Wolf 1061-A II. The planet is about the diameter of Earth, with gravity of 78%, covered in water ice, with a methane/ammonia atmosphere, tidally-locked to a dim red dwarf star. Terraforming operations have been underway for some years, and are expected to take another decade. The colonists name the world Medusa.

May 2076
Earth's current survey fleet is reaching the end of their useful life as the boundary of explored space pushes the limits of their maximum range and endurance. The winning proposal for a replacement is a fleet of survey carriers, each carrying a complement of small grav- and geo-survey boats. Additionally, the Taurus-class survey ships might be pressed into service during time of war as light carriers.

Code: [Select]

Taurus class Survey Command Ship    20 000 tons     389 Crew     2612 BP      TCS 400  TH 600  EM 0
3000 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 1-65     Shields 0-0     Sensors 8/8/0/0     Damage Control Rating 18     PPV 0
Maint Life 3.67 Years     MSP 1469    AFR 177%    IFR 2.5%    1YR 170    5YR 2544    Max Repair 286 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months    Flight Crew Berths 151   
Hangar Deck Capacity 6000 tons     

Northrop Grumman J20000(3-50) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 20000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 300 EP Ion Drive (4)    Power 300    Fuel Use 45%    Signature 150    Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 3 255 000 Litres    Range 65.1 billion km   (251 days at full power)

Honeywell SAR-5 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km
Honeywell SCR-4 (1)     Sensitivity 8     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  8m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

Colonists arrive in the Wolf 359 system. Wolf 359 has two worlds that are decent terraforming candidates, Romulus and Remus. Romulus has a breathable oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere and earthlike gravity. Remus has 69% gravity and a nitrogen/methane atmosphere. Both planets are covered in water ice, but are too cold to easily support human life.

July 2076
A ruined alien colony is located on 70 Ophiuchi-B I.

September 2076
Gliese 832 III colonized. The planet has been undergoing terraforming for some time, and the atmosphere is now breathable. It is a “super-Earth” with gravity 1.17 times Earth’s, a strong magnetic field, and a day of 4.4 Earth days. The planet lacks a hydrosphere and is prone to severe tectonic activity. The colonists name the new world Sunrise.

[Garfunkel]

Good stuff, keep it up! Remember you can rename entire systems. It helps with the Gliese/Lalande spam

[Desdinova (OP)]

22 September 2076

Lieutenant JG Aloysha Chernov sighed and looked at his watch. He watched the second hand sweep smoothly around the giant face of the thing, mentally checking off one more minute until he’d be relieved. It occurred to him that it was an absurd anachronism, here, hurtling through space at over a thousand kilometers per second, light years away from Earth. No one he knew back on Earth ever carried a timepiece. But shipboard life adhered to a strict schedule, and the hefty mechanical watch was an ancient tradition among spacefarers. This one had been a graduation present from his father, just three months ago. Like the watch, this ship, his first posting, was a relic. USS GEV-005 was a second-generation geosurvey ship; no name, just a number. Expendable. But the ship had survived most of the last twenty years at space, although now he was showing his age. The 28-man crew was constantly fighting equipment breakdowns, and the recycled air smelled strongly of two decades of accumulated funk and cigarette smoke – survey captains tended to allow such creature comforts, with tours lasting two years or more. For lieutenant Chernov, months or years at space and small crews meant a lot of time standing watch. Chernov was the junior officer on board, one of only four; the XO, lieutenant Bacarin, was on the bridge tonight, but Chernov was nominally officer of the deck. Usually, Bacarin would find a tactical drill or three to torture him with. Those usually didn't have a good outcome, on an unarmed and unarmoured survey vessel. There was an old joke that the only thing a survey ship's lifepod needed in its survival kit was a bottle of cyanide tablets.

“Conn, sensors!”

The voice of petty officer at the sensor console immediately brought his mind back into focus.

“New active sensor contact, zero zero three mark negative two degrees, range, one million kilometers!”

This could mean two things. A drill – he gave a quick glance to Lieutenant Bacurin, whose terse expression betrayed nothing – or it could mean they were certainly about to die.

“Chief, sound general quarters! All stop! Sensor, can you identify it?”

“No sir, no signature matches in EDIS. Signal strength is practically off the scale!”

Chernov took another quick look at Lieutenant Bacurin, who shook her head, answering the unspoken question.

This isn’t a drill.

The skipper was already partway through the pressure hatch.

“I've got it, Al. Chief, prepare the first contact protocol. Tightbeam the entry relay, transmit the log and notify we’ve encountered an unknown alien signal in the Xi Bootis system. Right now.”

23 September 2076

“Alright, keep trying, all codes, all frequencies.”

Lieutenant Commander Sydney Moralez, GEV-005’s CO, gave the petty officer a pat on the shoulder that was meant to be reassuring, but you could cut the tension in the control center with a knife. For the  last day they’d been falling back towards the jump point, with the unknown alien contact tailing them. They hadn’t been instantly obliterated, which was something, but that ship out there was like nothing in Earth’s starfleet. Even at point-blank range, the ship’s optics were unable to register anything visually, which meant it wasn’t very big – but the thermals were showing a signature fifteen times more powerful than anything they’d seen before. And this thing could move.

“Captain, I’m getting a response. Ascendancy language and protocols, or something close to it. The computer’s working on it.”

It was part of the first contact procedure to attempt communication in any known language or code; the Ascendancy of Milungera, the long dead race from Lalande 21185, was one of the few alien cultures whose language had been decoded by human xenologists. If they had a presence in this part of the galaxy, maybe it would be a common link?

“It’s coming through. Not all of it, but it’s intelligible”.

The translation computer output its message on Moralez’s display.

“...OR BE DESTROYED. YOU ARE TRESPASSER… DOMAIN KINGDOM SPACE AND AWAIT FURTHER COMMUNICATION.”


November 2076

Rear Admiral Renee Marlow settled back in her chair as the briefing began. This was an emergency meeting; as the Federation Navy’s chief of staff, the admiral was of course present, but so were the Federation president, and representatives from most of the Federation’s largest member states and colonies.

Hollis Capasso, one of the Federation’s top civilian diplomats, had begun the briefing.

“The Domain Kingdom, that’s a literal translation of their name, a corruption of the Milungeran word for realm, or domain - now what they call their entire race - claims this region of space. They claim descent from one of the Ascendancy’s constituent races, and to be its successor.”

The screen behind him was showing a depiction of what the alien race would probably look like, based on the remains found on Lalande. It was saurian, hunch-backed, looking like something between a bipedal alligator and a snapping turtle.

“The Ascendancy was a multi-species federation, but this is the only surviving race we can identify. At this moment, they’re willing to agree to diplomatic exchange, and claim to be amenable to peaceful coexistence. But that could change. It appears to us, that, while highly technologically advanced, the Domain haven’t expanded for several thousand years. Their society is militarized and highly stratified, and almost stagnant in its current state. We can't predict what first contact, with us, or the Merskemre, is going to do to them.”

The Federation president turned towards Admiral Marlow.

“Can we put an estimate on the military threat?”

Admiral Marlow cleared her throat.

“At this time, it appears that Domain sensor and drive technology is multiple generations ahead of ours. I think that if hostilities do occur, if we allow them to break into deep space, we have little chance of defending Earth or the colonies. I think our best option is to hold the Ophiuchi-Gliese jump point. Ophiuchi is close enough to Earth to allow for resupply and rapid reinforcements, and there are several good candidates in the system for a fleet base.”

“As I recall, we have forces in-system?”

“Yes, sir. Task Force 12 is completing its survey of the 70 Ophiuchi system as we speak. As you may recall, we’ve already identified a precursor listening post; Iwo Jima is already underway to capture that moon.”

“Good. I think, perhaps, we should increase her escort. This afternoon, I’m urging the Federation senate to authorize an immediate and rapid colonization effort in the 70 Ophiuchi system. That system is within striking distance of Earth, and I want to stake our claim before anyone else gets there.”

[Desdinova (OP)]

21 January 2077

“Suit seals look good.” Sergeant Miller ran his hands over PFC Yoshimura’s armor, tugging on the laminate outer plates, checking the fit, and pulling the slack out of any straps. A few quick slaps to the chest to make sure the PFC’s ammo pouches and breaching kits were attached and loaded. “Datalink’s up. Look at the deck for me. Okay.” One last check that the PFC’s air, water, and comm hookups were locked in and not binding. Miller glanced at his team leader, Corporal Dawkins, who gave him the “all OK” hand signal. He gave Yoshimura a final slap on the shoulder and stepped back towards the hatch.

“Alright Marines, see you on the hangar deck! You’ve got 60 seconds! Go!”

The Marines’ armor was a thin layer of duranium laminate plates over a form-fitting vac suit. It was designed for close-quarters, tight spaces, and boarding actions. The slim profile was a far cry from the power armor that was being rolled out to line infantry units back on Earth; the surface of the armor was imprinted with an adaptive camouflage that right now was in highly-reflective antilaser mode. The chromelike surface made each Marine look something like a 15th century knight, if knights had ever carried mag rifles and pulse grenades.

The hangar was four decks down. The moon the Iwo Jima was orbiting was only 4 percent Earth gravity, so the artificial gravity on this side of the ship had been tuned accordingly for pre-drop acclimatization. Standing at the head of the line, he checked off his squad one by one, giving them a shove as they launched themselves through the hatch. Peake. Dwyer. Chen.Van Dyke. Mendoza. Ahmad. Nguyen. Yoshimura. Dawkins. Finally, it was his turn through, and, grasping the handrails on either side of the hatch, he flung himself forward, sailing feet-first through the short corridor that led to the ladder, which he grabbed with both hands. The ship’s microgravity started gently pulling him down, and he started pushing himself down faster with his hands, his feet locked on either side of the ladder.

Four decks down, Miller and his squad formed up with the rest of their platoon in the Iwo Jima’s hangar bay, the battalion’s dropship squatting over them. The platoon sergeant was on the comms, asking for final checkoff from his squad leaders. Miller counted off his squad a final time, and fourty-five minutes later they were up the gangway, into the dropship, then down and into their capsule. Miller stowed his weapon and reclined into the acceleration couch. Then a petty officer in a blue pressure suit climbed on top and cinched the harness tight enough to make him pretty sure he’d never have a second child.

There was a loud thump that reverberated through the dropship at undocking. It would be a short flight to a lower orbit over the target, and then the ship would spit out a cloud of drop capsules like a fish laying eggs. This was the dangerous part of descent. Each capsule would deorbit itself by rocketing dirtward, hopefully avoiding any enemy ground fire, then perform a max-G deceleration just before slamming into the surface, a maneuver rocket scientists used to call a “suicide burn”. A voice came over the intercom; the battalion commander, Colonel Meng, was giving a few last-minute words about honor and duty. Then the maneuvering engines kicked in.

[Desdinova (OP)]

The braking rockets fired and the drop capsule slammed into the moon’s surface, cushioned by a skirt of airbags. To Miller, it felt like he was being pushed into the couch by a giant with his foot on his chest. As the shock dissipated, he saw the explosive bolts fire, blowing the capsule’s structural panels outwards like a flower opening. The cabin filled with dust and smoke; the pod would deploy a smokescreen to cover the squad during egress. He released his harness with one hand, as the other scrambled for his weapon, and then rolled out of the couch and began crawling through the dark towards where the bulkhead had been. The biometric datalink in his helmet feed was showing him that his squad was conscious and moving.

“Move it, Marines! Markpoint one! Get on line!”

The helmet was showing him a radar image of the terrain as he bounded through the smokescreen, easily clearing boulders and debris in the weak gravity. He cleared the smoke, arresting his forward momentum right on the markpoint and crouching behind a boulder for cover. His squad was right beside him.

“Get on line, face east, ten meter spacing!”

The moving map picture in his helmet showed his squad deploy, and he switched his vision to true color. The methane gas giant 70 Ophiuchi-A IX was filling the horizon, bathing the moonscape in a pale bluish-white light. Two clicks ahead, he could see the spidery silhouette of alien structures spitting out of the rock.

“Movement!” Miller heard Ahmad shout. Miller ducked low behind the boulder as the datalink came through, and he scanned the location with his helmet’s magnified optics. The infrared and UV were clear, but in the visible band he could just make out the glint of something scuttling across the moonscape, at least a click out.

Suddenly, Miller’s face and chest felt like they were on fire. He flinched instinctively, his eyes closed, and he could see a spray of white-hot sparks behind his eyelids. He dropped low behind the boulder, hugging the dusty surface. He opened his eyes, and saw only a dim blur. In a moment of near panic, he grabbed at his face with his left hand; he could feel the heat of the helmet through his glove. He also realized he wasn’t blind; two thirds of his visor was just warped and frosted from tremendous heat. Through the remaining third, he could see his hand covered with soot. There was another flash. This one behind him; turning his head, he saw one of his Marines, paused mid-stride as if running in slow motion; a glowing yellow-hot line traced across his waist like a sash. Sparks were billowing out around him like from a bonfire. Miller watched the man’s torso come away from his lower body and slowly tumble in the microgravity. He’d been cut in half.

[JacenHan]

I don't know how I didn't catch this AAR before, but I really enjoyed reading it through now! Very nice work, I really like the amount of detail you have put into the Federations decision-making and design strategy.

[Desdinova (OP)]

September 2078

Captain Brent Valadez stepped out of the lift and into the lobby. He was a North American of medium build and height, and a dark complexion. At 53, he might have been a little greyer and carrying a bit of a paunch, but his face still shined with a boyish, friendly exuberance that put people at ease, and he had a plain-spoken, pragmatic demeanor that cut through bullsmeg like a shovel. Talking to him, it would be easy to forget that he was a symbol and hero of the Federation, commander of the Aquarius, first faster-than-light jump ship. Right now, his name was being printed in school books right next to Armstrong and Gagarin. Valadez didn't like to think about that. He was returning from giving a farewell speech to the first wave of colonists headed out towards the Luyten 205-128 system; at four jumps from Earth, it would be mankind’s newest and most distant colony. He was unsettled to find himself reaching the point in his career where he spent more time talking about the past than working towards the future.

Fleet HQ was a sprawling glass ziggurat; this was one of the highest and smallest floors, home to the upper echelons of the United Systems Military. It was about lunchtime; a few clumps of uniformed personnel were chatting amongst themselves or ambling in the direction of the cafeteria. All the Federation personnel working this high would be Admirals or on an Admiral’s staff. A few unfamiliar uniforms stood out to him, liaison officers from the Federation’s constituent states; an olive green-suited British colonel, a Terra Novan Major in starched and pressed Alpha Centauri Defense Force fatigues, a lieutenant in the crimson dress uniform of the Martian Guard. This many soldiers here betrayed that a major joint operation had to be in the planning stages.

Valadez walked to the edge of the lobby, gazing out into the grounds beyond, where the desert was blooming. The complex looked something like a recreation of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. He couldn’t see it, but he knew that beyond the outer wall was nothing but hundreds of miles of sand and naked rock. The site had been selected fifty years ago; nuclear drives left a radioactive plume trailing behind them on liftoff, all the way to orbit. Most launches were done from the ocean, but for anything that required shore facilities, the middle of the Sahara was a logical choice. No one lived here, or for hundreds of miles downwind. After the ground launches ceased, it was a natural place to test the terraforming technologies that had turned almost a dozen worlds into new Earths. Now it was the world’s largest walled garden, as well as the center of military power in the known galaxy.

He was alerted by the sound of footsteps; he turned to greet Admiral Marlow and her coterie.

“Hello, Brent.” Marlow’s tone was warm and friendly. They’d known each other for more than two decades, now.

“Afternoon, Admiral.” She was still the boss, and commander of the United Systems Navy.

“How was the send-off?”

“Pretty good, Admiral, I put everything I had into this one. Nothing like hearing an old man talk for two hours to make you want to flee the solar system.”

The Admiral gave a little laugh. “Well, when they arrive on...” Marlow stumbled and laughed at herself. "Help me out."

“Cicer. It’s latin for Chickpea. If you’ve seen the planet, that’s kinda what it looks like. You read the classics? Cicero, that’s how his family made its fortune. Sellin' beans.”

“That’s how he made a name for himself, huh?”

The Admiral’s aide glanced at a timepiece, clearing her throat and politely interrupting. The Admiral waved her hand towards the hallway. “Well, speaking of old people rambling on for hours… shall we?”


They entered the conference room and took their seats. Most of Fleet Command’s staff officers were present, as were representatives from other branches of the government and military. The Federation president’s Chief of Staff was running the show remotely, his upper body blown up to gigantic proportion, occupying the screen that made up an entire wall. Valadez thought he looked like a Bond villain. Valadez had already forgotten his name, but he knew he had pull, and anything he was going to say had come through the president or the Federation Council.

The first item on the agenda: first contact had been made a year ago with a new alien race, the Belasco Kingdom. They had been discovered in the SFT 1321 system, and appeared to be roughly on-par with humanity in technological progress. Their system was three jumps out from Lalande 21185, making it one of the most distant systems yet explored. The Belasco were so far eager to open peaceful trade relations with the Federation; as the freshly-minted head of Naval Intelligence, Valadez was here to help lay out the plan of action in case those intentions changed. But that part of the meeting was over quickly.

The real reason for the meeting was 70 Ophiuchi. Last year, Federation Marines had seized a precursor base on a nameless moon of one of 70 Ophiuchi-A’s gas giants; afterwards the system had been cleared for colonization. There was now a small but thriving human colony on 70 Ophiuchi-B I, or Prospero as it was named now. There were five more planets in-system slated for colonization and terraforming.

But 70 Ophiuchi linked Federation space to systems claimed by the Domain kingdom, by way of the Gliese 526 jump point. Unlike the Belasco, the Domain had never assented to trade negotiations, and didn’t maintain an embassy. Communications from the Domain tended to be terse and bellicose, usually warning to stay out of their space. The last thing the Federation wanted was to pick a fight with a technologically-superior alien race, and so the Gliese 526 jump point had been restricted to all ships, and had remained dormant. Until now.

“Here’s what we know. On 9 September, seven Domain ships were detected transiting the Gliese 526 jump point by the precursor array.” Valadez began. “The array on Prospero picked up a return shortly afterward. The observed speed is about two-thirds that of known Domain military craft, and the ship’s thermal signatures would correspond to a ship about 25,000 tons in mass. So we think these are freighters of some kind. Contact was lost here, indicating their course was taking them near the inner planets.”

“What are they up to, Captain Valadez?” It was the giant bureaucrat on the wall.

“We have to assume they’re building something. They could be colony ships, but the inner planets are pretty hostile to all known forms of life in their current state. They’d be shipping in infrastructure first. Terraformers, maybe. It’s also possible that they’re constructing a base, so they can project power farther out into the system. Or into Federation space.”

“What’s our disposition?”

“Task Force 15 is on station.” Admiral Marlow was speaking now. Valadez fought back the urge to grimace. Task Force 15 was the eight Dunkirk-class Missile Cruisers, designed a quarter of a century ago. With their slow nuclear engines, they'd be unable to catch an attacking enemy force, and unable to retreat. They’d be escorted by Sirius-class patrol ships that were even older, predating the Federation by twenty years. There hadn’t been enough time to build up ordnance; most of them would be packing older generation missiles. Might as well be unarmed.

“Task Force 14 is getting underway in a week to relieve them. That’s Portland, Coventry, Yokohama, Rio de Janeiro, and every fleet oiler, replenishment ship, and escort we can spare. San Diego, Cherbourg, Belfast and Auckland are mid-overhaul. We want them defending Sol. Maintenance facilities in Prospero orbit are still under construction, but within two years, we'll be able to keep a task force there on a permanent basis.”

“So, Admiral, what course of action do you suggest?”
Admiral Marlow folded her hands in front of her and frowned.

“We have two options. We leave 70 Ophiuchi to the Domain, and hope that they stop there.” Her voice had a hint of irony to it. “Or we stay. Defend the colony. We fight, if we have to.”

The Federation President’s representative cleared his throat.

“Up until now, it’s been the government’s policy not to challenge the Domain Kingdom’s territorial claims. This is different. There are two hundred thousand men and women on Prospero. If we abandon them, every human colony will see it as a sign that Earth can’t - or won’t - protect its colonies. It’ll be the end of the Federation. The president, the council, and I all share this view. We aren’t abandoning Prospero. Now, we’re making overtures, see if we can share the system. But the we need to know, what happens if the Domain try to take it?”

“I think we lose. From what we know, their drive and sensor technology is several generations ahead of ours. We can’t beat them in open space.”

Valadez coughed.

“Do you have something to add, Captain?”

“There’s a third option, we’re not considering. The Gliese jump point. Every ship has to pass through there. We can sweep the system while we have the element of surprise, and then hold that point with everything we’ve got.”

“You’re talking about a first strike.”

“We might pull it off. We’ve worked out a way to adapt the cache of missiles we recovered from the precursor base to fit our launchers. We have enough to equip most of our newest ships. That’ll put us on more or less equal footing, but just for the first exchange, and only if we get to pick the range. After that, we just need to hold the point.”

“The Federation will not strike first. I shouldn't have to tell you that this government was founded on the principles of nonaggression and peaceful coexistence. You’re not the first person to suggest this, and the president has made it clear to me that he will not entertain the possibility of a first strike on an alien race, no matter how opaque their intentions.”

Valadez sat back in his chair, a slightly deflated. Marlow tried to come to his rescue.

“So if we’re not going to fight, and we’re not going to leave, what does that leave us?”

“We’ve got all of our best and brightest working on this issue.” Valadez could see right through his confident, authoritative front, to the uneasiness everyone else in the room was feeling. “We’re optimistic that we still have time to find a diplomatic solution. In the mean time, the council feels that we should withdraw the fleet to the other side of the Barnard’s Star jump point.”

“You just said we wouldn’t abandon...”

“We’re not abandoning the colony. This is how we save it. We can stay close enough to respond if they attack the colony, but we’re not provoking any hostile action.” He was speaking slowly, and Valadez could feel his gaze burning a hole right through him. “We let them know we strive for peace.”

Valadez couldn’t resist the urge to glance at Marlow. She was sitting as tight and as motionless as a statue, then let out a barely audible sigh.


“Brent, hold up.”

“Admiral?”

“You’ve put in a good two weeks here, but after giving it some thought, I’ve decided that your services here will no longer be required.”

“You’re firing me?” Valadez tried to keep his face blank, but the shock must have registered. “Is this...”

“Transferring you.” The Admiral smiled, genuinely. “I’m the one who decides these things, remember? I know how much you miss space, and I knew you’d be too proud to ever ask me. I don’t need you here pushing papers. Admiral Yefimov is taking the Orion, which leaves Portland without a CO. The slot’s yours, if you want it.”

“Admiral, I...”

“If this kicks off, we need our best people up there. You’re underway in four days. Give ‘em hell.”