Quest Deep Periphery Quest (Battletech Sandbox Empire Builder)

Wageslave

Well-known member
[X] Evolving Our Armed Forces Due to Drop Capacity Limitations (AKA, why not work from the least to the most as our resources allow for maximum flexibility and development?)
-[X] Rapid Assault
--[X]Flexible Response
---[X] Steel Wall

[X]Ensign Training Dropship
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
[X] Evolving Our Armed Forces Due to Drop Capacity Limitations (AKA, why not work from the least to the most as our resources allow for maximum flexibility and development?)

As far as the three plans go, I would point out that because Drop Collar capacity is our major point of bottlenecking, a "least to the most" approach would actually place the heavy Steel Wall plan ahead of the SLDF-style Flexible Response plan. Star League tactics *and* economics were always built around the assumption that they would always have JumpShips and WarShips available in excess, which was certainly true for the SLDF but isn't for us.
 

Thors_Alumni

Well-known member
As far as the three plans go, I would point out that because Drop Collar capacity is our major point of bottlenecking, a "least to the most" approach would actually place the heavy Steel Wall plan ahead of the SLDF-style Flexible Response plan. Star League tactics *and* economics were always built around the assumption that they would always have JumpShips and WarShips available in excess, which was certainly true for the SLDF but isn't for us.
I was copying Wage's write in @ShadowArxxy Tag him not me.
 

Jarow

Well-known member
[X] Rapid Assault
I'm thinking go for the quicker to produce raiders first, then go for one of the others

[X]Ensign Training Dropship
Going for the cheaper option here. I went ahead and budgeted for the Magic Feathers which were winning last time I checked, but if they end up losing it should be fairly simple to fix in the budget.


[X] Plan: Aerospace Superiority and Infiltration Preparation
-[X] Military [$ 4,546,972.29 ]
--[X] Construct Armed Defense Stations Nadir* [90]
--[X] Construct Mark 1 Naval Defense Station* [->2]
---[X] Griffin's Roost
---[X] Griffin's Roost
---[X] Griffin's Roost
---[X] Griffin's Roost
---[X] Nowy Gdansk
---[X] Nowy Gdansk
---[X] Nowy Gdansk
---[X] Nowy Gdansk
---[X] Nadir
---[X] Nadir
---[X] Nadir
---[X] Nadir
---[X] Zenith
---[X] Zenith
---[X] Zenith
---[X] Zenith
---[X] Griffon IV
---[X] Griffon IV
---[X] Griffon IV
---[X] Griffon IV
--[X] Expand Orbital Factory 36 (DHS) [95]
--[X] Build Orbital Factory for DHS Griffon IV [105]
--[X] Build Orbital Factory for DHS Griffon IV [105]
(Lots of designs use DHS, so we'll need more)
--[X] Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]

--[X] Lay Down Major Unit [Construction - 3,751,871.12 ]
---[X] Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
---[X] Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
---[X] Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
---[X] Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
---[X] Devastation Parasite Cruiser [80]
---[X] Devastation Parasite Cruiser [80]
---[X] Tarawa Regimental Assault Transport [80]
---[X] Defiant [80]
---[X] Defiant [80]
---[X] Defiant [80]
---[X] Defiant [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Troodon [80]
---[X] Tyrannosaurus [80]
---[X] Tyrannosaurus [80]
---[X] Tyrannosaurus [80]
---[X] Tyrannosaurus [80]
---[X] Megaraptor [80]
---[X] Megaraptor [80]
---[X] Lightning [80]
---[X] Lightning [80]
---[X] Lightning [80]
---[X] Lightning [80]
---[X] Osumi [80]
---[X] Osumi [80]
---[X] Osumi [80]
---[X] Sosumi [80]
---[X] Sosumi [80]
---[X] Sosumi [80]
---[X] Magic Feather [80]
---[X] Magic Feather [80]
---[X] Magic Feather [80]

--[X] Purchase New Units [$ 220,533.80 ]
---[X] 1 Mechanized Assault Regiment [75]
---[X] 1 Training Regiment [75]
---[X] 1 Light Garrison Force [75]

-[X]Interior [$ 14,577,500.00 ]
--[X] Focus Development on Griffin IV [65]
--[X] Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [120]
--[X] Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]
--[X] Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]
--[X] Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]
(Our FA supplies have pretty consistently been the most stressed resource we have. Given we're going to need a lot of ASFs along with the dropships, we'll need more production)
--[X] Expand Refit and Repair Yard [100]
--[X] Expand Orbital Shipyard Griffons Roost [100]
---[X] As large dropship yard
--[X] Expand Orbital Shipyard Nowy Gdansk [100]
--[X] DOME - O'Neill Cylinder at Griffin's Roost* [80]
--[X] DOME - Nowy Gdansk Arcology* [->1]
--[X] DOME - Planetary Sculpting - Artificial Oceans - Griffin IV* [->7]
--[X] DOME - Planetary Sculpting - Artificial Riverbeds - Griffin IV* [->7]
--[X] DOME - Planetary Sculpting - Artificial Lakes - Griffin IV* [->7]
--[X] DOME - O'Neill Cylinder at Griffin II* [->8]
--[X] DOME - Arcology Cluster - Griffon IV* [->8]

-[X] Diplomatic [$ 30000 ]
--[X] Have Exploration Fleet Survey Griffon VI* [75]
--[X] Have Exploration Fleet Survey GOAB* [->1]
--[X] CULTURE - Benefit Concert [75]

-[X] Political [$ 1,510,000 ]
--[X] Build Relations with Chamber of Delegates* [60]
--[X] Continue to expand DoME* [65]
--[X] Civil Service Reform [->1]
(Overall worth it, adn we have the free slot)

-[X] Research [$ 26,300,000.00 ]
--[X] Hyper-Pulse Generators - Theory* [45]
--[X] Subcapital Laser/2* [75]
--[X] Life-extension therapy Lvl 3* [65]
--[X] Full Survey - SLS Morristown [85]
(Does anyone not want to explore the warship?)
--[X] Power Armor - Light Battle Armor - Improved [75]
(Given how people are voting, raiding plans seem fairly popular. Stealth suits are going to invaluable for insurgency work. As for the improved PPCs, that takes 2 turns so we won't be able to stick it in the NRI dropships anyways. Doubt we'll have the slots for the other near certain Clan ERPPC prerequisites next turn anyways, so delaying getting improved PPCs now probably won't do much to delay them.)
--[X] Advanced Standard Core Theory* [->2]
--[X] Advanced Standard Core Design* [->2]
--[X] Advanced Standard Core Construction* [->2]


-[X] Intelligence [$ 500000 ]
--[X] Counterintelligence Surveillance [?]
--[X] COINTEL - Security Monitoring of all Public Employees* [65]

-[X] Justice [$ 0 ]

-[X] Miscellaneous [$ 2,263,151.61 ]
--[X] All the Dropships [->1] [2000000]
--[X] Olympics Trip [200000]
--[X] ASF upgrades [63151.61]

$58,899,447.08 leftover, several slots we can't use for anything (and intelligence a few I'm choosing not to use). If people would prefer the improved PPC, it takes two turns and changes research costs to 17050000.
 
Last edited:

Artifex

Well-known member
My options I've already chosen, so just adding
/edit

[X] Magic Feather Training Dropship

[X] Rapid Assault

[X] Plan: Aerospace Superiority and Infiltration Preparation
 
Last edited:

LordSunhawk

Das BOOT (literally)
Owner
Administrator
Staff Member
Founder
The main spreadsheet for the quest has all the relevant information for planning purposes
 

Jarow

Well-known member
Here's a link: Deep Periphery Quest - Google Sheets
It's also linked in some of the early posts. The first section, Rules, also has links to the military unit tracker (so Home Fleet, Aerie Cadre, etc) and TRO. The most important sections for planning are the orbital factory page (see the top right for current special materials), Finances (see how much money is available to spend), Ground/Aerospace/Major Unit Tracker to see prices for various purchase units, And Military/Interior/Diplomatic/Political/Research/Intelligence/Justice for the action lists. Empire page also has the number of actions, but I think I organize a bit differently.
 
Turn 50 - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

LordSunhawk

Das BOOT (literally)
Owner
Administrator
Staff Member
Founder
Turn 50 - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Meta-Event - 1, confirmation roll- 1
Dynasty Luck - 17

Imperial Approval - 0
Approval Change - 0
Politics - 0

Economy Rating - 2
Economic Event - 0
Research Event - 7 (critical)

Griffin’s Roost Economy - 11
Griffin’s Roost Population - 5
Griffin’s Roost Rating Change - 8

Nowy Gdansk Economy - 8
Nowy Gdansk Population - 12
Nowy Gdansk Rating Change - 4

Griffon Inner Asteroid Belt Economy - 2
Griffon Inner Asteroid Belt Rating Change - 0

Griffon 2 Orbitals Economy - 0
Griffon 2 Orbitals Rating Change - 2

Griffon IV Economy - 4
Griffon IV Population - 6
Griffon IV Rating Change - 5

Military [$ 4,546,972.29 ]
Construct Armed Defense Stations Nadir* [90]
Target - 90
Roll - 36
Result - SUCCESS

Expand Orbital Factory 36 (DHS) [95]
Target - 95
Roll - 74
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory for DHS Griffon IV [105]
Target - 105
Roll - 64
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory for DHS Griffon IV [105]
Target - 105
Roll - 49
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]
Target - 105
Roll - 26
Result - SUCCESS

Lay Down Major Unit [Construction - 3,751,871.12 ]
-Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 92, Jarow reroll - 56
Result - SUCCESS

-Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 100, edcalaban reroll - 42
Result - SUCCESS

-Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 4
Result - SUCCESS

-Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 6
Result - SUCCESS

-Royal Sovereign Parasite Battleship [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 69
Result - SUCCESS

-Devastation Parasite Cruiser [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 58
Result - SUCCESS

-Devastation Parasite Cruiser [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 77
Result - SUCCESS

-Tarawa Regimental Assault Transport [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 38
Result - SUCCESS

-Defiant [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 40
Result - SUCCESS

-Defiant [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 23
Result - SUCCESS

-Defiant [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 45
Result - SUCCESS

-Defiant [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 59
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 78
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 62
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 4
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 79
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 78
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 49
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 46
Result - SUCCESS

-Troodon [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 38
Result - SUCCESS

-Tyrannosaurus [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 73
Result - SUCCESS

-Tyrannosaurus [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 43
Result - SUCCESS

-Tyrannosaurus [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 43
Result - SUCCESS

-Tyrannosaurus [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 49
Result - SUCCESS

-Megaraptor [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 53
Result - SUCCESS

-Megaraptor [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 49
Result - SUCCESS

-Lightning [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 9
Result - SUCCESS

-Lightning [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 25
Result - SUCCESS

-Lightning [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 17
Result - SUCCESS

-Lightning [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 50
Result - SUCCESS

-Osumi [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 6
Result - SUCCESS

-Osumi [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 72
Result - SUCCESS

-Osumi [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 17
Result - SUCCESS

-Sosumi [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 26
Result - SUCCESS

-Sosumi [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 72
Result - SUCCESS

-Sosumi [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 50
Result - SUCCESS

-Ensign [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 25
Result - SUCCESS

-Ensign [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 44
Result - SUCCESS

Purchase New Units [$ 220,533.80 ]
-1 Mechanized Assault Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 72
Result - SUCCESS

-1 Training Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 21
Result - SUCCESS

-1 Light Garrison Force [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 24
Result - SUCCESS

Interior [$ 14,577,500.00 ]
Focus Development on Griffin IV [65]
Target - 65
Roll - 7
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [120]
Target - 105
Roll - 3
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]
Target - 105
Roll - 81
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]
Target - 105
Roll - 17
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory for Ferro Aluminum Griffon IV [105]
Target - 105
Roll - 54
Result - SUCCESS

Expand Refit and Repair Yard [100]
Target - 100
Roll - 29
Result - SUCCESS

Expand Orbital Shipyard Griffons Roost [100] As large dropship yard
Target - 100
Roll - 79
Result - SUCCESS

Expand Orbital Shipyard Nowy Gdansk [100]
Target - 100
Roll - 29
Result - SUCCESS

DOME - O'Neill Cylinder at Griffin's Roost* [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 28
Result - SUCCESS

Diplomatic [$ 30000 ]
Have Exploration Fleet Survey Griffon VI* [75]
Target - 75
Roll - N/A (overridden by meta-event)
Result -

CULTURE - Benefit Concert [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 56
Result - SUCCESS

Political [$ 1,510,000 ]
Build Relations with Chamber of Delegates* [60]
Target - 60
Roll - 18
Result - SUCCESS

Continue to expand DoME* [65]
Target - 65
Roll - 52
Result - SUCCESS

Research [$ 26,300,000.00 ]
Hyper-Pulse Generators - Theory* [45]
Target - 45
Roll - 5
Result - SUCCESS

Subcapital Laser/2* [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 24
Result - SUCCESS

Life-extension therapy Lvl 3* [65]
Target - 65
Roll - 12
Result - SUCCESS

Full Survey - SLS Morristown [85]
Target - 85
Roll - 16
Result - SUCCESS

Power Armor - Light Battle Armor - Improved [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 10
Result - SUCCESS

Intelligence [$ 500000 ]
COINTEL - Security Monitoring of all Public Employees* [65]
Target - 85
Roll - 84
Result - SUCCESS

-----

You decide that you really hate jumping, but it is still totally worth it. Seeing smells, hearing colors, and smelling musical notes gets old after the first time. But you are back home, jumping into the Nadir jump point.

HMS Renown promptly detaches from the Tramp-class jumpship that is now your first actual honest to god Jumpship. You haven’t yet decided what to call the 3 collar vessel, but she would need quite a bit of work to get completely up to snuff. The K-F drive was fully functional, but HMS Renown had had to supplement the defective main reactor with power from her own reactors and the jump sail was… difficult to work with at the best of times, twice requiring small craft to deploy to support suited up techs to get recalcitrant systems to behave themselves in order for them to deploy or retract.

You had intended to spend the trip back to Griffin’s Roost proper reviewing what has been going on, but are promptly distracted by a message from your son… you are a grandma again! So instead of reading briefing documents and watching the news you are engaged in the far more important activity of cooing over baby pictures of a pair of fraternal twins cradled in the arms of your youngest daughter.

It doesn’t take long after you arrive at Griffsport and the Palace to realize that your son had cunningly distracted you. He actually met you at the Palace drop port, officially handed over command to you, then rather than accompanying you to see your new grandbabies he almost fled, saying he had promised his wife and kids to take them on a cruise on SS United States and that he was late.

So he was out of range when you walked into your daughter’s room to see the new grandbabies and promptly got ambushed with your history geek daughter wailing about her heartless brother and husband keeping her from visiting SLS Morristown.

What.

Back up. Hold on… WHAT?

Thus you discover that while you were away your beloved son and heir had presided over the discovery and salvage of the Potemkin-class ‘troop cruiser’ that had served as the primary colony transport for your ancestors… and the fortuitous breakthrough in missile technology that led to a production ‘Manta Ray’ missile system… and he had been so afraid you’d decide that this meant he should stay on the throne that he’d cunningly distracted you with grandbabies, handed you back the crown, and skedaddled before you found out.

You love your son, and your husband, who is currently howling with laughter at the expression on your face as you realize just what is going on, while your daughter continues to complain about the menfolk keeping her away from the new discovery.

You love them a great deal.

You are going to check to see if the special window is still installed for proper defenestrations of both of them at the first opportunity.

Because this is worthy of the Window Of Tyler Defenestration.

After an appropriate amount of grandbaby time, however, it was time to finally get to work and to actually read the reports.

You had seen the completed mass of the replacement Star Fort at the Nadir, combined with the reinforced patrol squadron the jump point was reasonably secure. You also have reports of two clusters of ferro-aluminium and double-heat sink orbital factories in Griffon IV orbit. From the assessments you are seeing it looks like the biggest deficit in terms of production will soon be Ferro-Fibrous armor for ground forces, followed by Endo-Steel for mechs.

Your son had handled going to the various keel-laying ceremonies and such for the massive tranche of new production dropships that were coming online, which was one of the more annoying chores that you normally had to handle. Perhaps you’ll make him continue to do that, but that would require him to give up 3rd Armored and stop handling ground forces for you overall. Decisions, decisions.

You do receive a briefing on the progress for the future ground forces upgrades and to your surprise they are not, in fact, fully ready yet.

“Your Majesty, we are at a point of crossroads. Right now, the bulk of our ground forces are functionally behind the curve of our state of the art, the impact is most severe in our conventional forces, but we are seeing issues with several of the older mech designs as well. We have units in service still using non-extended range lasers, regular PPCs, and even conventional autocannons, in some cases we are already starting to have issues with spare parts for some of them due to original equipment manufacturers going out of business or changing their product lines too much.” the crisp young officer giving the briefing is one of your son's top subordinates for operational planning, and she is obviously quite good at giving briefings.

“We have contracted with a number of consulting companies to add to our in-house analysis, and have been in discussions with the prime contractors for the various units and have a solid plan for simultaneously upgrading our existing units, adjusting our force structure to accommodate tactical and strategic realities, and doing so without wasting too much money.”

“First of all, we have upgrade plans for just about every vehicle in service. As of right now, the only combat vehicles not in line for an upgrade are those that have either been determined to have no practical combat role going forward, like the Phalanx, the Weasel and the Foxhound 2, or are weapon systems that are due to be transferred in full to planetary authorities, such as the remaining Tritons, Cutlasss and Persistences. The Legionnaire is a special case, as while there are no remaining vehicles of that type in our service we have received inquiries from the NRI embassy about possible export for a tank in that weight class, and an upgraded version of the Legionnaire using similar tech to the NRI has been mooted by the Royal Tank Factory.” she checked her notes, so far she’d been mostly speaking from memory.

“In terms of adjusting our force structure, the lack of dedicated command and control vehicles for our armored forces, the lack of an artillery platform for our rapid reaction forces, and the vestigial nature of our VTOL units have been addressed. In addition, field experience from various exercises has determined that the initial enthusiasm for mounting long-range missile tubes on battle armor was, to be frank, excessively optimistic. Even with TAG support the relatively small number of actual missiles that the infantry could carry proved less than useless. A Mk II standard suit has been designed and is in the final phases of testing, replacing the long-range missile launcher with a twin pack of short-range missiles mounted on the shoulders, with the laser rifle mount being shifted to the left arm and the anti-personnel gauss rifle remaining on the right arm.” she grins slightly, shifting one shoulder to cause a bit of light to glint from her Infantry badge. “I’ve actually been part of the test, Your Majesty, the new suit has identical controls to the current one, but feels more balanced when jumping plus firing the two big FU missiles on the shoulders is a trip.”

You can’t help but laugh at that.

“As to not wasting money, the new technology that we have access to thanks to the NRI has resulted in all of the last rounds of upgrades to our ASFs and Dropships to be already slightly behind the curve. We in Ground Forces would rather not have that happen as dramatically to us so we’d rather take a bit more time and get it right than rush ahead and have to come to you, sheepishly, cap in hand, and ask if we could pretty please have an upgrade pass authorized. Sergeant Flieschman hammered it into my skull when I was a dumb second louie that while an ounce of sweat in training would save a gallon of blood in combat, proper planning and preparation saved on both.”

Ahhh, Sergeants Wisdom, you glance over to Sergeant-Major Ngo and have to resist a laugh at the proud ‘ahh, an officer who could be taught not to make messes!’ expression on her face.

“Therefore, instead of racing ahead, we have a two year upgrade plan prepared. It will require a complete pause in ground forces acquisitions for the period, and will have some significant up-front costs for changing long-term contract terms and supporting industry while it retools to the new standards, but in the end we will have a far more capable ground force ready to be deployed offensively against our enemies.” she then pauses, looks up, and grins slightly. “I’m afraid that I’ll need to put up a slide, Your Majesty, but I assure you it is for visual reference only.”

And then she does so, and you can’t help but to laugh as the slide is simply the hand-drawn AFGR logo your loving son had drawn as an eight year old.

“Yes, General Griffith put me up to that, Your Majesty.” she smirks a little. “During the upgrade period we will be doing the following. First, 1st Armored will be reorganized on a new ‘Light Division’ model, consisting of three brigades, each consisting of 1 Standard Armored Regiment and 2 Light Horse Regiments. 2nd Armored will be reorganized as a new ‘Divisional Combat Team’ model, consisting of 3 brigades, 1st and 2nd brigade consisting of 2 Standard Armored Regiments and 1 Armored Cavalry Regiment while 3rd Brigade would consist of 2 Mechanized Standard Mech Regiments and 1 Mechanized Assault Regiment. 3rd Armored will be reorganized as an “Assault Combat Team’ model, consisting of 3 brigades, 1st Brigade consisting of 2 Standard Armored Regiments and 1 Mechanized Assault Regiment, 2nd and 3rd Brigades would consist of 1 Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1 Mechanized Standard Mech Regiment, and 1 Mechanized Assault Regiment.”

She again consults her notes. “Other changes of note, 2nd Rapid Reaction Force will be redesignated 1st Special Operations Group, the existing Rapid Reaction Regiments assigned to the force will be administratively redesignated as 2nd Brigade, 1st Rapid Reaction Force and will remain on Nowy Gdansk. 1st Special Operations Group will be a dedicated raiding and special ops unit making use of VTOLs equipped with the new stealth armor. The intention is that when we start raiding the Dracs that these units will be the bleeding edge of the spear, linking up with resistance groups, engaging in supply raids, and generally making the Dracs really regret their life choices. Considering how the stealth battle armor looks… I know I’d be terrified if I had to fight them, unless, of course, I was wearing a Mk 2 suit.” she grins and brings up an image… and it is quite terrifying indeed.

iAhkfsgXg0T3E4QNs8_Rl4thgPkmWYXElc8G5FtXmMiUq2HDm6o04SFP1bL99nCCVSSv8xuvbahZ1hbLl8gpA3X0GsS2Vai9KzTSScUa_hNBCUAZWQksyspUyE7wmvwhpo4W79DA


“Finally, the entire upgrade and reorganization plan is intended to avoid impacting actual unit readiness during the process, units will be phased through the requirement phase during normal training rotations, receiving the new kit at the start of the rotation and thus being qualified on it by the time they finish without impacting combat readiness, the old kit will not be taken in for refurbishment until the end of that cycle.”

You’d already authorized the upgrade cycle several years ago, this was simply a briefing on the progress of it and it looked like they were merging the combat vehicle and mech phases they had initially envisioned. The price tag is a bit steep at first glance, but compared to the possible costs associated with redoing the dropship and ASF upgrade cycles? A bargain, especially considering the sheer size of the ground forces.

QM NOTE - this is an event, not a decision.
  • Next 2 turns
    • No procurement of any ground forces
    • 5 million per turn expense
  • After 2 turns, all units upgraded to new standard, including procurement of required equipment. Will not consume strategic materials.
A number of economic incentive plans have been enacted for Griffon IV, subsidizing shipping costs for manufactured goods from Griffon IV to markets on other planets in order to spur manufacturing on the new colony. Several small factories have begun operation to take advantage of the subsidies and the economy indeed grows measurably.

The new O’Neill Cylinder (and you still need to find somebody who can explain just why they are called that, you do not believe Jane’s explanation that it is because you ‘kneel’ in awe at seeing it) is completed in Griffin’s Roost orbit. The massive structure is incredibly impressive and results in a massive boom as many wealthy people spend enormous amounts of money to purchase ‘land’ on the interior of the station. Economic activity is good.

With all of the major events going on you almost completely miss the report on the benefits concert that was held in parallel with the opening of the Cylinder. It appears to have gone quite well.

Jake was finally able to get around the recalcitrant leadership of the Chamber opposition and meet directly with those members who had been loyal to them, boosting the crown’s image amongst them quite effectively.

The Department of Mega-Engineering has expanded yet again, although this time you get a begging note from Mary over at Griffin’s Roost University pleading with you to please stop poaching her best and most innovative engineers for, in her words, ‘glorified ditch digging’.

Other than that complaint, Mary’s reports to you are filled with excellent news.

Work on the theory behind Hyper-Pulse Generators has concluded. While it’s a long way from creating practical hardware, the math behind how something like that would work appears sound, and researchers are highly optimistic that they can eventually actually build the things.

The Subcapital Laser/2 project has also concluded successfully. The individual mounts are heavier, primarily out of a need for more robust focusing equipment to allow even greater concentration of energy upon the target. As a consequence of the increased focusing the weapon system suffers somewhat in terms of absolute range, but the greater punch appears to be an acceptable trade off.

The work on life extension technology is a bittersweet triumph. Sweet because there are significant benefits in terms of, well, life extension, bitter because it means you have less of an excuse to retire soon. And that it came too late for Tyler so you can’t throw him out the window of Tyler Oppression, of course. The research teams are very enthusiastic about multiple avenues of research that are now open to them, ranging from improving the anti-agathics themselves to ways of slowing the effects of aging itself, so that you aren’t spending so many decades suffering the aches and pains of age.

And then you get to the full survey of SLS Morristown. The ship had been mostly properly shut down and ‘safed’ prior to being abandoned in orbit, with appropriate measures taken to seal off and preserve everything. According to the last log entry recovered by the survey team the ship had been abandoned on the grounds that the K-F Drive had failed multiple inspections and could not be certified as safe for operation.

Unfortunately time had taken a great toll on the mighty vessel. Orbiting in an orbital plane filled with small bits of debris had resulted in multiple minor hull breaches as well as abrasive damage to the entire exterior. The report lists page after page after depressing page of system failures, faults, and problems.

Ultimately it will require a great deal of R&D work, the completion of at least a minimally capable yard to house her for the actual work, and some truly eye-popping sums of money to get the old girl back up and running, but the surveyors are very confident that it can be done and that she can in fact be brought fully back up to spec.

The report from Mary is in her usual style.
  • New Research Projects Available
    • Naval Lasers
    • Capital Missiles
    • Naval PPC
    • Warship Sub Light Drives
    • Warship Armor - Ferro-Carbide
  • Existing Projects that will benefit
    • K-F Drive Theory Tier 2
The survey report also indicates that there are large amounts of information that they still do not know about the ship. Additional surveys will be required to discover all that there is to know about her. The report cites hundreds of items that the crews have absolutely no idea the relevance of. Therefore there will need to be more surveys in the future.

Finally you get a short memo from Harry detailing the successful implementation of security screening for all public employees accompanied by a recommendation to hold off on further COINTEL projects for now.
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
We should send Jane and Michele to hunt down Jeremy and hand deliver a letter gleefully pointing out that since he has trumped our historic acquisition of our nation's very first actual JumpShip with the even more historic acquisition of an honest to goodness WarShip, it's clearly time for this washed-out old Ba to retire to a peaceful life of contemplating grandbabies.

Ooooh, we could pass it off as a field test of the shiny new stealth armor. Which they haven't been issued and are totally in the wrong chain of command to get their hands on, but We have a Royal Feeling this somehow doesn't matter.

. . .

. . .

. . .

Alas, Jeremy thought of that first and seems to have beat you to the friendly bribery. Your best agents have been suborned and are off doing. . . you're not actually sure what.

---

As far as sexy new weapons unlocks, I'd recommend researching them in this order: Capital Missiles, Naval Lasers, Naval PPCs. Even though NPPCs are the long term win, Capital Missiles are usable on DropShips whereas other naval weapons only fit on WarShips and Stations, and between the two naval energy weapons, Lasers are actually better until you get to the really big capital WarShips.
 

Decim

Chronic on/off lurker
We'll be in a position to start raiding the Dracs once we have the first tranche of Royal Sovereigns in service and the Tramp refitted.
Probably just as well that it takes a year for dropships to work up. That'll give a chance to repair the Tramp as best we can. Though I wouldn't be opposed to dropping by the Rasalhagueians before the Tramp sets into drydock and letting them know about our fortune and to invite them to send a plenipotentiary ambassador to negotiate a trade deal of some sort if they'd like.
 

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