namar13766
Well-known member
That's interesting. Who are these people invading from the South of the IS?
Battletech BattleTech discussion thread: May the light of Hanse Davion guide us
- Thread starter PsihoKekec
- Start date
Building on what @PsihoKekec said, the implications of this tech were huge. Short version is that everything got a lot more punch, but didn't get a great deal tougher and in some cases weakened.
DHS made energy weapons far more effective and allowed energy based mechs to massively increase their firepower. For example, the classic AWS-8Q Awesome mounts 3 PPCs, but can't fire all three constantly without serious heat issues, it has to fire in 3-2-3-2 pattern (or maybe 3-2-2-3, I'm not totally sure, I've never used one). The AWS-9Q uses a slightly smaller number of DHS, which saves enough weight to mount a 4th PPC, and it can fire all 4 for several rounds before it has to drop one to cool down. The jump in firepower was massive.
XL engines, endosteel, and FF armor also had a massive shift, as they freed up a massive amount of weight on designs that could be used for more weapons, armor, ammo, sinks, etc, though generally mechs will only use one or two of those techs and not all three, because the IS version of those are very bulky and if you overdo it, you can run out of space to actually mount a worthwhile amount of weapons. Also, XL engines are so bulky they extend into the side torsos, so killing either side torso will destroy the mech, though XL engines also saved so much weight it was fairly common for mechs to get much faster as well. 3/5 was a fast assault mech in the succession wars era (actually the fastest assault, I think), XL engine proliferation meant that as of the current timeline, 4/6 is closer to the norm for that weight class.
ER, LBX, and Ultra weaponry was very powerful and opened up some options, but I wouldn't call it a game changer in and of itself. Likewise with streak and artemis, which increased the effective firepower of mechs, but they're not a direct upgrade over conventional systems, particularly because they didn't address the two biggest downsides of IS missiles, they're very heavy, and they have a large-ish minimum range (now, clan missile tech, on the other hand.....). Gauss rifles, on the other hand, did change things. Gauss rifles can take a mech's head off from long range, far longer than what AC20s (the only other IS head-capper widely available at the time, as binary lasers were a rather niche weapon and thunderbolt missiles were not invented yet). When the clans invaded, the gauss rifle was one of the few IS weapons that could really stand up well against clan equipment, and there's a reason a lot of the anti-clan mechs the IS designed use them.
The ECM stuff is....there, I guess. I can't really speak it it's effectiveness, I hate using it because it slows the game down (and battletech is already a slow, slow game) and when it over proliferates it can suck the fun out of the game if you like using some of the more advanced missile tech or C3 systems, so I generally don't.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
I'll elaborate it a bit lately, but it won't be fully explained, leaving it open.
I finally managed to get ahold of Iron wind and get that custom Ares superheavy I've been talking about ordered in the last, the with twin LRM 20s, CERPPCs, and C3i, and it only look like 4 months to get in touch with someone and buy one.
Given it was a such a pain to get the first one ordered, I decided to pick up the second config I was considering at the same time, rather than have to go through this whole mess again later. This one Is mostly a stock hades, but swaps the ultra AC for the left arm of the Hera, giving this build two manipulator arms. I'll tinker with the precise build later, might end up running it as a Poseidon to get it greater speed (if anyone has suggests, feel free to chime in).
In the meantime, I need names for both. The first one I'm thinking of calling Athena, not sure about the second. Emperor Crab sorta fits the look and inspiration of the mech, but doesn't fit the previous greek naming convention for the other mechs (also, why does the Republic, which is otherwise extremely Roman, use Greek gods for the mechs?).
Given it was a such a pain to get the first one ordered, I decided to pick up the second config I was considering at the same time, rather than have to go through this whole mess again later. This one Is mostly a stock hades, but swaps the ultra AC for the left arm of the Hera, giving this build two manipulator arms. I'll tinker with the precise build later, might end up running it as a Poseidon to get it greater speed (if anyone has suggests, feel free to chime in).
In the meantime, I need names for both. The first one I'm thinking of calling Athena, not sure about the second. Emperor Crab sorta fits the look and inspiration of the mech, but doesn't fit the previous greek naming convention for the other mechs (also, why does the Republic, which is otherwise extremely Roman, use Greek gods for the mechs?).
Iron Winds Metals just updated thier release scedule for the first quarter of 2021:
Minsk: Clan Ghost bear heavy design vaguely based on the Hammerhands/Warhammer, with either two gauss rifles or two ER PPC with capacitors, plus secondary weapons. Nice.....well, nice for anyone who has one, not so nice for anyone downrange.
War Crow: Snow Raven heavy design with an ER PPC, capacitor, and twin LRM 15s in the primary config. I'm seeing a theme here. Oh, and it's got ferro lamellor armor, because a 20 damage PPC wasn't mean enough.
Heirofalcon: Jade Falcon medium, primary config packs a HAG 20 and heavy medium lasers, plus the jump jets and partial wings most Falcon mechs sport these days.
Typhoon: Lyran assault aerospace fighter with a heavy energy loadout.
Buffalo: unarmored logistical truck, has an alt config that's rigged as a car bomb.
Overall, seems neat, I'll definitely be grabbing a Minsk and probably a war crow. Was hoping the hammerhead would get a release as well, but I guess I'll have to wait on that.
Minsk: Clan Ghost bear heavy design vaguely based on the Hammerhands/Warhammer, with either two gauss rifles or two ER PPC with capacitors, plus secondary weapons. Nice.....well, nice for anyone who has one, not so nice for anyone downrange.
War Crow: Snow Raven heavy design with an ER PPC, capacitor, and twin LRM 15s in the primary config. I'm seeing a theme here. Oh, and it's got ferro lamellor armor, because a 20 damage PPC wasn't mean enough.
Heirofalcon: Jade Falcon medium, primary config packs a HAG 20 and heavy medium lasers, plus the jump jets and partial wings most Falcon mechs sport these days.
Typhoon: Lyran assault aerospace fighter with a heavy energy loadout.
Buffalo: unarmored logistical truck, has an alt config that's rigged as a car bomb.
Overall, seems neat, I'll definitely be grabbing a Minsk and probably a war crow. Was hoping the hammerhead would get a release as well, but I guess I'll have to wait on that.
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PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
War against Unity part 2
Preliminary report of the Provisional Interdisciplinary Research Department of the Taurus University
As the Clans invaded Inner Sphere, almost 90 years ago, it was feared this was an alien invasion and it was a great relief to all involved that it wasn't. With this invasion came the same fears, but realization that these foes are humans is downright horrifying. While Clanners are still human, their elementals and aerospace pilots approximately look like members of Homo Sapiens species, these ''Unitarians'' have abandoned all pretexts of looking like humans.
The technology they utilize is nothing special, almost everything could be replicated easily by our industry. It is the operators of these machines that cause such consternation, making it understandable why those who first seen them thought them to be alien creatures, as even scientist with decades of experience have a hard time accepting the fact that these are, our, shall we say cousins? Operator of each type of unit was genetically modified in order to best fit the role, with very little genetic variety within individual roles. Point has been raised that this might be still an alien invasion, using such foot soldiers as cannon fodder and while we can't fully disprove such notions, it is of little dispute that extent of genetic modifications and cybernetic enhancements is fully within capability of Star League tech, no aliens needed. Not all Star League exiles followed Kerensky.
It seems armor and protomech pilots are grown similarly, with biggest difference probably in the brain itself, as demands of piloting a protomech are different from those of armor, however both phenotypes are devoid of any bodily function not related to piloting through direct neural interface, so basically they are but a brain with support organs. It seems there is possibility for removing them from their rides fairly quickly, but this action probably demands special tools that Commandos were not able to capture.
Battle armor troopers still have all of their extremities, but they are completely fused with their armor. While armor and protomech pilots could probably be removed from their machines alive, there is no way to remove trooper from his armor, without killing him and wrecking the armor.
All three phenotypes are hooked into support system providing them with nutrients, supplements and behavior controlling chemicals along with direct stimulation of andreanal, pituary and pineal glands.
We assume that fighter pilots and dropship bridge crews are similarly ''optimized'' for direct neural control of their machines and tolerating higher G-forces. We will be able to learn more when TDF captures examples of these units, same with mechs.
Most of their machines utilize lightweight ECM units and are capable of broadcasting much greater stream of data than usual military communication systems, indicating wide scale networking, which would partially explain their accuracy and reaction times.
------------------------
We were sent to Burton in order to establish forward defense beyond the borders of the rump Concordat. Diplomats smoothed matters somewhat before we deployed, we got multiple lengthy debriefings on proper relations, but it was still tense. Many people there believed this was but a ruse for armed takeover of the world and many of our guys were sore about people of the world supposedly betraying the Concordat in its darkest hour. Weird how these hours seemed to be consistently the darkest throughout entire Concordat existence and yet I happened to notice sunlight on most days. Me, I consider myself a levelheaded thinker and I tried to keep out of it, but captain decided that I, being such a swell guy, am the perfect for the role of intermediary, smoothing the relations between our guys and the militia. It did wonders for my popularity with the colleagues, it's a small miracle I wasn't made a guest of honor at a blanket party.
Anyway, the idea of joint training with the militia didn't go so well, we were close to shooting on multiple occasions, so eventually we got separated, with us given shitty accommodations in some backwater, with plenty of room for training, locals trying to scam us with damage claims notwithstanding. Apart from usual dynamiting of dead cattle, some crafty bastards even got some infantry SRM launchers to shoot up some clunkers they towed near the training range, trying to make it look like we blew up brand new vehicles. They would probably start blowing up deceased relatives if the devil didn't take joke. Well the Unity, but then, there isn't much of a difference, isn't it?
There was a lot of speculation on how many units their dropships carried, we reckoned they surely made some savings with their non-adherence to creature comforts, but they were still subject to basic laws of physics so it wouldn't be too big of a difference and they wouldn't outnumber us by too large margin. Especially once our fighters took their toll with anti-shipping missiles. This seemed to elucidate them on the state of affairs on the world, so while they broadcasted their droning ''peacfully join the unity'' speech they took several hours in orbit before landing considerable distance from Burtondown.
Mixed militia battalion went with us as we advanced towards enemy LZ and we pressed them hard, they soon gave up on attempts to capture our units and switched to ranged skirmishing, delaying us long enough for their dropships to escape, then it all devolved into running fight through wilderness. We knew from scientific report that bastards could go without rest for prolonged periods of time, perhaps even weeks, but their equipment needs maintenance just like ours, so we tried to wear them down by keeping them on the move, while identifying and eliminating whatever technical support remained with them. It was quite grueling fight they were always ready to pounce at any sign of weakness, many times our boys had to run so they wouldn't be overwhelmed, not always successful. Our flyboys found and blasted their support vehicles and we finally had them on the ropes, but then the second wave arrived.
This was larger contingent than the first and had more aerospace fighters so our flyboys couldn't touch them, but we quickly pushed towards their LZ and tried to open way with some Alamos. Well, it turned out they had nukes as well and weren't shy about using them. We fell back towards Burtondown and tried to hold the line on the Chemie river, but the relentless bastards pushed as back in matter of days. We were holding the final hills before Burtondown when Gordon's Armored Cavalry arrived and together we threw the fuckers over the Chemie river. We didn't cross it though, as we really needed rest and machines needed repairs. And by the time we were ready for offensive again, the third wave arrived. So it was on the Chemie river defense line that we first encountered zombies. We thought it was just infantry that was like this, but then our lance blasted a Stinger on our side of Chemie. I saw infantry boys prying the cockpit open and flicked the radio onto the frequency of the infantry company we were with and could hear the report to their captain. My mind went to the Eugenio's empty cockpit. Did they snatch him to turn him into one of these things? Is an empty shell of man he used to be somewhere out there as cannon fodder for Unitarians? The realization that they could do this to you was not something I needed. I promised to myself back on Carthage that I'd shoot myself rather than let them capture me and after encountering zombies some people started carrying hand grenades in addition of sidearm. After that Stinger we all found a way to scrounge a hand grenade, with Hare pilfering a satchel charge somewhere. I was jealous, I really was. We were holding them back but it was doubtful Defense Force could scrounge more reinforcements for us while Unitarians were getting them albeit at increasing intervals, so the atmosphere was rather glum. We learned when Gordons arrived that our diplomats were laughed out of Sian and Canopus, despite the evidence of abominations they brought along. There was even a talk about sending delegation to Federated Suns, but we doubted our government would go that low, bastards would probably demand Pleiades in exchange. I think it was first time I heard Dogass saying something more than just ''Yes Sir'', when he droned during the lunch how he hopes that if Canopians and Crapellans threw us to the wolves, the maybe at least Fedrats will see the reason. Normally such unpatriotic behavior would warrant severe beatings, but no one amongst us had in us to do it anymore, we were just to weary. I think I said something about how we will see zombies dancing flamenco before we would see their assault guards riding to our rescue, while captain told him to stop wasting hope on the hopeless and finish his food. We were cracking.
Bastards got some three or four waves of reinforcements before they managed to breach our defenses on Chemie, pushing us steadily towards Burtondown. They tried several swift maneuvers, but we always kept some reserves and managed to cut off and wipe out several of their vanguards, so they settled for gradually pushing us back and wearing us down. I became aware of the plan that on the final defensive line command would pull parts of both regiments, along with as many civilians they could cram into dropships and try to break out to jumpship at pirate point. Rearguard would fall back to factory where remaining civilians would be gathered and with assigned nukes enact Masada option. I hoped I would be assigned to the rearguard, I didn't want to be the one who leaves people and comrades behind. Though being dead on my feet might have impacted my thinking.
We were on the same hills as when Gordons arrived when history repeated itself. Well, it didn't exactly repeat itself, it more rhymed. I heard it was a magnificent sight, seeing that many dropships in the night sky, but I had my eyes only for the snatchers who tried to push us off the hills, so they could get in the missile range of the LZ, probably to nuke it. We held the line, I don't know how, but we did. I can't really tell you much about the fight memory of it was is a blur for me, I only remember Skulky falling at some point, perhaps he blew himself when they came for him or he died when I and Dogass blew snatchers and the cockpit, we all promised not to let a comrade fall in their hands. I think my mech was in rather poor condition when we got the order for phased disengagement. And that the incoming friendlies won't show on our IFF. Still with eyes on the bastards I nearly jumped out of my skin when Battlemaster came from behind me and Victor on another side, with whole lot of firepower being poured into snatchers, who tried to close in despite the suddenly much worse odds. I think they have problems with sudden changes of situation. I turned and walked my mech to our camp like I was on autopilot with my sleeping bag being my only thought. Bastards could be problem for someone else for a while. My chain of command actually had a decency to let me sleep, but then they probably hit the bag as well.
Preliminary report of the Provisional Interdisciplinary Research Department of the Taurus University
Abstract
As the Clans invaded Inner Sphere, almost 90 years ago, it was feared this was an alien invasion and it was a great relief to all involved that it wasn't. With this invasion came the same fears, but realization that these foes are humans is downright horrifying. While Clanners are still human, their elementals and aerospace pilots approximately look like members of Homo Sapiens species, these ''Unitarians'' have abandoned all pretexts of looking like humans.
The technology they utilize is nothing special, almost everything could be replicated easily by our industry. It is the operators of these machines that cause such consternation, making it understandable why those who first seen them thought them to be alien creatures, as even scientist with decades of experience have a hard time accepting the fact that these are, our, shall we say cousins? Operator of each type of unit was genetically modified in order to best fit the role, with very little genetic variety within individual roles. Point has been raised that this might be still an alien invasion, using such foot soldiers as cannon fodder and while we can't fully disprove such notions, it is of little dispute that extent of genetic modifications and cybernetic enhancements is fully within capability of Star League tech, no aliens needed. Not all Star League exiles followed Kerensky.
It seems armor and protomech pilots are grown similarly, with biggest difference probably in the brain itself, as demands of piloting a protomech are different from those of armor, however both phenotypes are devoid of any bodily function not related to piloting through direct neural interface, so basically they are but a brain with support organs. It seems there is possibility for removing them from their rides fairly quickly, but this action probably demands special tools that Commandos were not able to capture.
Battle armor troopers still have all of their extremities, but they are completely fused with their armor. While armor and protomech pilots could probably be removed from their machines alive, there is no way to remove trooper from his armor, without killing him and wrecking the armor.
All three phenotypes are hooked into support system providing them with nutrients, supplements and behavior controlling chemicals along with direct stimulation of andreanal, pituary and pineal glands.
We assume that fighter pilots and dropship bridge crews are similarly ''optimized'' for direct neural control of their machines and tolerating higher G-forces. We will be able to learn more when TDF captures examples of these units, same with mechs.
Most of their machines utilize lightweight ECM units and are capable of broadcasting much greater stream of data than usual military communication systems, indicating wide scale networking, which would partially explain their accuracy and reaction times.
------------------------
We were sent to Burton in order to establish forward defense beyond the borders of the rump Concordat. Diplomats smoothed matters somewhat before we deployed, we got multiple lengthy debriefings on proper relations, but it was still tense. Many people there believed this was but a ruse for armed takeover of the world and many of our guys were sore about people of the world supposedly betraying the Concordat in its darkest hour. Weird how these hours seemed to be consistently the darkest throughout entire Concordat existence and yet I happened to notice sunlight on most days. Me, I consider myself a levelheaded thinker and I tried to keep out of it, but captain decided that I, being such a swell guy, am the perfect for the role of intermediary, smoothing the relations between our guys and the militia. It did wonders for my popularity with the colleagues, it's a small miracle I wasn't made a guest of honor at a blanket party.
Anyway, the idea of joint training with the militia didn't go so well, we were close to shooting on multiple occasions, so eventually we got separated, with us given shitty accommodations in some backwater, with plenty of room for training, locals trying to scam us with damage claims notwithstanding. Apart from usual dynamiting of dead cattle, some crafty bastards even got some infantry SRM launchers to shoot up some clunkers they towed near the training range, trying to make it look like we blew up brand new vehicles. They would probably start blowing up deceased relatives if the devil didn't take joke. Well the Unity, but then, there isn't much of a difference, isn't it?
There was a lot of speculation on how many units their dropships carried, we reckoned they surely made some savings with their non-adherence to creature comforts, but they were still subject to basic laws of physics so it wouldn't be too big of a difference and they wouldn't outnumber us by too large margin. Especially once our fighters took their toll with anti-shipping missiles. This seemed to elucidate them on the state of affairs on the world, so while they broadcasted their droning ''peacfully join the unity'' speech they took several hours in orbit before landing considerable distance from Burtondown.
Mixed militia battalion went with us as we advanced towards enemy LZ and we pressed them hard, they soon gave up on attempts to capture our units and switched to ranged skirmishing, delaying us long enough for their dropships to escape, then it all devolved into running fight through wilderness. We knew from scientific report that bastards could go without rest for prolonged periods of time, perhaps even weeks, but their equipment needs maintenance just like ours, so we tried to wear them down by keeping them on the move, while identifying and eliminating whatever technical support remained with them. It was quite grueling fight they were always ready to pounce at any sign of weakness, many times our boys had to run so they wouldn't be overwhelmed, not always successful. Our flyboys found and blasted their support vehicles and we finally had them on the ropes, but then the second wave arrived.
This was larger contingent than the first and had more aerospace fighters so our flyboys couldn't touch them, but we quickly pushed towards their LZ and tried to open way with some Alamos. Well, it turned out they had nukes as well and weren't shy about using them. We fell back towards Burtondown and tried to hold the line on the Chemie river, but the relentless bastards pushed as back in matter of days. We were holding the final hills before Burtondown when Gordon's Armored Cavalry arrived and together we threw the fuckers over the Chemie river. We didn't cross it though, as we really needed rest and machines needed repairs. And by the time we were ready for offensive again, the third wave arrived. So it was on the Chemie river defense line that we first encountered zombies. We thought it was just infantry that was like this, but then our lance blasted a Stinger on our side of Chemie. I saw infantry boys prying the cockpit open and flicked the radio onto the frequency of the infantry company we were with and could hear the report to their captain. My mind went to the Eugenio's empty cockpit. Did they snatch him to turn him into one of these things? Is an empty shell of man he used to be somewhere out there as cannon fodder for Unitarians? The realization that they could do this to you was not something I needed. I promised to myself back on Carthage that I'd shoot myself rather than let them capture me and after encountering zombies some people started carrying hand grenades in addition of sidearm. After that Stinger we all found a way to scrounge a hand grenade, with Hare pilfering a satchel charge somewhere. I was jealous, I really was. We were holding them back but it was doubtful Defense Force could scrounge more reinforcements for us while Unitarians were getting them albeit at increasing intervals, so the atmosphere was rather glum. We learned when Gordons arrived that our diplomats were laughed out of Sian and Canopus, despite the evidence of abominations they brought along. There was even a talk about sending delegation to Federated Suns, but we doubted our government would go that low, bastards would probably demand Pleiades in exchange. I think it was first time I heard Dogass saying something more than just ''Yes Sir'', when he droned during the lunch how he hopes that if Canopians and Crapellans threw us to the wolves, the maybe at least Fedrats will see the reason. Normally such unpatriotic behavior would warrant severe beatings, but no one amongst us had in us to do it anymore, we were just to weary. I think I said something about how we will see zombies dancing flamenco before we would see their assault guards riding to our rescue, while captain told him to stop wasting hope on the hopeless and finish his food. We were cracking.
Bastards got some three or four waves of reinforcements before they managed to breach our defenses on Chemie, pushing us steadily towards Burtondown. They tried several swift maneuvers, but we always kept some reserves and managed to cut off and wipe out several of their vanguards, so they settled for gradually pushing us back and wearing us down. I became aware of the plan that on the final defensive line command would pull parts of both regiments, along with as many civilians they could cram into dropships and try to break out to jumpship at pirate point. Rearguard would fall back to factory where remaining civilians would be gathered and with assigned nukes enact Masada option. I hoped I would be assigned to the rearguard, I didn't want to be the one who leaves people and comrades behind. Though being dead on my feet might have impacted my thinking.
We were on the same hills as when Gordons arrived when history repeated itself. Well, it didn't exactly repeat itself, it more rhymed. I heard it was a magnificent sight, seeing that many dropships in the night sky, but I had my eyes only for the snatchers who tried to push us off the hills, so they could get in the missile range of the LZ, probably to nuke it. We held the line, I don't know how, but we did. I can't really tell you much about the fight memory of it was is a blur for me, I only remember Skulky falling at some point, perhaps he blew himself when they came for him or he died when I and Dogass blew snatchers and the cockpit, we all promised not to let a comrade fall in their hands. I think my mech was in rather poor condition when we got the order for phased disengagement. And that the incoming friendlies won't show on our IFF. Still with eyes on the bastards I nearly jumped out of my skin when Battlemaster came from behind me and Victor on another side, with whole lot of firepower being poured into snatchers, who tried to close in despite the suddenly much worse odds. I think they have problems with sudden changes of situation. I turned and walked my mech to our camp like I was on autopilot with my sleeping bag being my only thought. Bastards could be problem for someone else for a while. My chain of command actually had a decency to let me sleep, but then they probably hit the bag as well.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
War against Unity part 3
I was kind of miffed when I was told that I was to attend presentation by NAIS on the whatever the Bulls brought with their diplomatic mission. It was above my pay grade, but I was the lowest ranking officer with high enough security clearance that my department could find, as the idea of Bulls seeking aid from us was simply preposterous. Seriouly, if Cappies told them to pound sand it couldn't be too serious. To be young and oblivious again.
The NAIS representative was about to start the presentation when the hungover First Prince with gaggle of sycophants in tow, delaying it until they got settled, chit-chatting like a pack of spoiled brats they were. So I tried to focus on what the boffin was saying and didn't notice that the running commentary by the upper-class delinquents behind me has ceased. It seemed that the boffin was winding down towards conclusion of presentation when our leading light decided that the issue most pressing to him be cleared up, namely whether this is a work of aliens. It took me all the will power, I could amass on such short notice, not to facepalm. Boffin tried diplomatically to explain to him that they had no evidence that there any aliens behind this, which the Prince in turn took as evidence that they didn't have evidence that aliens are not behind this, with boffin extracting himself from the argument with the skill of an veteran of academia, ceding the argument to the First Prince. Thus everyone at the presentation was dragooned into planning group for defense against the aliens, reporting directly to the First Prince, or, if he was indisposed, to the his Champion.
And indisposed he was, because straight out of the meeting he hit his wine and booze stocks with gusto, embarking on perhaps the most epic drunken bender in the history of the Federated Suns. We did perfunctionary job, expecting to be sent back to our departments once he sobers up, but still we made outlines for four different options, so nobody could accuse us of slacking. Based on available information we came to believe that the threat is real and it's better for Federated Suns to get involved sooner than later, so we produced three plans for scalable response and one for full commitment. The problem would be selling the idea to our hidebound superiors. Or so we thought.
We were supposed to do presentation of our work to the First Prince and heads of departments, with me doing the talking. No pressure. Well, most heads of departments just sent their seconds and the First Prince was hour and half late, looking like he just crawled out of the gutter and put on a fresh uniform, without bothering to shower. He thanked the heads of departments for being there and when someone pointed that most of the heads are not here, he just angrily growled, now well known phrase ''All heads of departments are here!'', muttered something to Sandoval and then had me give him the short version. I had a slight inclination of which way the wind is blowing and by that I don't mean the odor emanating from the First Prince, so I skipped straight to the big option, which he greenlit halfway into my ad hoc presentation, gave us all an unreasonable time-table to make it happen and then signed a bunch of paperwork that an aide rushed in with, retiring all non-show officers and promoting the present colleagues in their places. I don't think even Mad Kat did such an axe job in a single go.
So no shit, AFFS was in the middle of the biggest upheaval since Jihad, embarking on campaign in Periphery with next to no preparation, minimal intelligence on the enemies, our allies were the Bulls and I was made the poster boy for the organizational clusterfuck that this turned into. Fortunately there were still some competent ranking officers left in the sea of mechwarriors-turned-military-bureaucrat. Swear to god all other branches take transition to staff posting infinitely better at least the fear of axe made it a little easier to work with them. And Erik Sandoval was of great help, basically taking over for the First Prince, having him sign the needed paperwork during his increasingly rare periods of lucidity. This way were able to roll back several earlier reforms that proved rather detrimental to AFFS as even if HPG network was functioning you can't have every little thing decided by the first prince, especially when he is dead drunk most of the time and had no intention of going anywhere near the enemy. Another problem was that Amanda Hasek sought to actively undermine the efforts and wasn't even subtle about it, we had route all logistics through Crucis and Periphery march and she made a massive stink over it in media, not shutting up even Burton and Spitz. Death Commandos really did us favor there. Not to mention that Taurians could also be bloody prickly at times, never letting go of the centuries old grudges and acting like we were going to stab them in the back any moment. Although to be fair, Amanda Hasek planned just that.
Gathering together two RCTs and two LCTs, naval combat group and NAIS expedition, sending them to the edge of civilization is a considerable undertaking and so is keeping them supplied, not to mention scratching together reinforcements to form a second such task force (minus the NAIS expedition). At least I was spared participation in the committee that coordinated with Ministry of Ways and Means on how to best to ramp up industrial support of war efforts. And no, it wasn't me who came up with the idea to dig up every ARAM missile in our depots and deliver it to Task Force Thunder Child, but I did recommend Stevenson for promotion, for coming up with this idea. Anyway we were getting things done, despite all the obstacles, when the First Prince and his flunkies started moderating their alcohol intake, leaving him free to involve himself in the matters of the state again, with disruptive effect, so when the detailed reports came of victory on Burton came, we hoped that details of these ''zombies'' would send him fathoming the depths of his wine cellar again. Thankfully it did, because I shudder at the thought of damage he could have done in his semi lucid state when Dracs and Cappies struck.
I was kind of miffed when I was told that I was to attend presentation by NAIS on the whatever the Bulls brought with their diplomatic mission. It was above my pay grade, but I was the lowest ranking officer with high enough security clearance that my department could find, as the idea of Bulls seeking aid from us was simply preposterous. Seriouly, if Cappies told them to pound sand it couldn't be too serious. To be young and oblivious again.
The NAIS representative was about to start the presentation when the hungover First Prince with gaggle of sycophants in tow, delaying it until they got settled, chit-chatting like a pack of spoiled brats they were. So I tried to focus on what the boffin was saying and didn't notice that the running commentary by the upper-class delinquents behind me has ceased. It seemed that the boffin was winding down towards conclusion of presentation when our leading light decided that the issue most pressing to him be cleared up, namely whether this is a work of aliens. It took me all the will power, I could amass on such short notice, not to facepalm. Boffin tried diplomatically to explain to him that they had no evidence that there any aliens behind this, which the Prince in turn took as evidence that they didn't have evidence that aliens are not behind this, with boffin extracting himself from the argument with the skill of an veteran of academia, ceding the argument to the First Prince. Thus everyone at the presentation was dragooned into planning group for defense against the aliens, reporting directly to the First Prince, or, if he was indisposed, to the his Champion.
And indisposed he was, because straight out of the meeting he hit his wine and booze stocks with gusto, embarking on perhaps the most epic drunken bender in the history of the Federated Suns. We did perfunctionary job, expecting to be sent back to our departments once he sobers up, but still we made outlines for four different options, so nobody could accuse us of slacking. Based on available information we came to believe that the threat is real and it's better for Federated Suns to get involved sooner than later, so we produced three plans for scalable response and one for full commitment. The problem would be selling the idea to our hidebound superiors. Or so we thought.
We were supposed to do presentation of our work to the First Prince and heads of departments, with me doing the talking. No pressure. Well, most heads of departments just sent their seconds and the First Prince was hour and half late, looking like he just crawled out of the gutter and put on a fresh uniform, without bothering to shower. He thanked the heads of departments for being there and when someone pointed that most of the heads are not here, he just angrily growled, now well known phrase ''All heads of departments are here!'', muttered something to Sandoval and then had me give him the short version. I had a slight inclination of which way the wind is blowing and by that I don't mean the odor emanating from the First Prince, so I skipped straight to the big option, which he greenlit halfway into my ad hoc presentation, gave us all an unreasonable time-table to make it happen and then signed a bunch of paperwork that an aide rushed in with, retiring all non-show officers and promoting the present colleagues in their places. I don't think even Mad Kat did such an axe job in a single go.
So no shit, AFFS was in the middle of the biggest upheaval since Jihad, embarking on campaign in Periphery with next to no preparation, minimal intelligence on the enemies, our allies were the Bulls and I was made the poster boy for the organizational clusterfuck that this turned into. Fortunately there were still some competent ranking officers left in the sea of mechwarriors-turned-military-bureaucrat. Swear to god all other branches take transition to staff posting infinitely better at least the fear of axe made it a little easier to work with them. And Erik Sandoval was of great help, basically taking over for the First Prince, having him sign the needed paperwork during his increasingly rare periods of lucidity. This way were able to roll back several earlier reforms that proved rather detrimental to AFFS as even if HPG network was functioning you can't have every little thing decided by the first prince, especially when he is dead drunk most of the time and had no intention of going anywhere near the enemy. Another problem was that Amanda Hasek sought to actively undermine the efforts and wasn't even subtle about it, we had route all logistics through Crucis and Periphery march and she made a massive stink over it in media, not shutting up even Burton and Spitz. Death Commandos really did us favor there. Not to mention that Taurians could also be bloody prickly at times, never letting go of the centuries old grudges and acting like we were going to stab them in the back any moment. Although to be fair, Amanda Hasek planned just that.
Gathering together two RCTs and two LCTs, naval combat group and NAIS expedition, sending them to the edge of civilization is a considerable undertaking and so is keeping them supplied, not to mention scratching together reinforcements to form a second such task force (minus the NAIS expedition). At least I was spared participation in the committee that coordinated with Ministry of Ways and Means on how to best to ramp up industrial support of war efforts. And no, it wasn't me who came up with the idea to dig up every ARAM missile in our depots and deliver it to Task Force Thunder Child, but I did recommend Stevenson for promotion, for coming up with this idea. Anyway we were getting things done, despite all the obstacles, when the First Prince and his flunkies started moderating their alcohol intake, leaving him free to involve himself in the matters of the state again, with disruptive effect, so when the detailed reports came of victory on Burton came, we hoped that details of these ''zombies'' would send him fathoming the depths of his wine cellar again. Thankfully it did, because I shudder at the thought of damage he could have done in his semi lucid state when Dracs and Cappies struck.
Every once in a while I browse Sarna.net in preparation for a Taurian AU fic set right after the Exodus that, in all likelihood, will never actually be written. And I just groan at the batshit numbers the writers throw out there for planetary populations. I mean, we know that BTech and quantitative logic in world building have been on a war path with each other ever since the setting's inception, but it becomes all the more blatant when you delve into the specifics. Especially when you pick a place with a relatively modest number of systems that you can actually look at.
Case in point, Ishtar. One of the oldest Taurian colonies, apparently a perfect habitable planet and the main agricultural planet for a nation controlling several dozen star systems. Population: 90,000. For a whole planet, running intensive agriculture, which even today is a labour-intensive task, and even more so would be that in BTech's "Future of the 80ies" universe. 90,000, that's less than the county I live in, which is a rural county.
The Concordat is full of these places where you have perfectly viable and established colonies that have existed for five hundred years or more - and yet coast by on a couple thousand to a couple million people, allthewhile boasting major, labour-intensive industries.
If you don't have the correct basic numbers, this has repercussions for everything, starting at simple data collection for statistics, to financial planning, the infrastructural and scientific policy initiatives, defense, and even medical and disaster relief contingencies. At least those'd be some suitable in-universe reasons...
I'm at a point where I've started to rationalize these unrealistic numbers as deliberate fuckery with the reported census and economical data perpetrated by the Star League, and later C*. It'd at least in part explain why the Concordat has basically been treading water for centuries despite not being involved in any major conflicts pre-Jihad and post-SL, the other reasons being major corruption and power plays behind the freedom-loving frontiersmen facade. Local nobles and power cliques competing for influence against the central government, deliberately fudging their numbers to siphon money into their own pockets rather than into the national treasury, putting short-term gains over long-term advantages, allthewhile presenting themselves at home as men and women of the people and independence-minded true citizens of the Concordat.
All exacerbated by an absent monarch - Nicoletta Calderon, who did put playing interstellar grand politics first - and her even less qualified son Semyon whose accomplishments include starting a brushfire war for no good reason and loosing the last operational Concordat WarShip during his reign. Also for no good reason. We know preciously little about Semyon Calderon, but I imagine him as someone eaten up by ambition and the desire to match his mother, who at the same time is wholly unqualified for the task since the same mother has neglected him and her home rule for most of their lives. Someone who probably was a decent enough soldier and mech warrior, and had the charisma to impress the rank and file he came into contact with. But who also was completely unsuited to the difficult task that actually rebuilding the Concordat after the Amaris Civil War and during the 1SW was.
In part it's also because their typical laissez-faire frontiersmen persona came back to bite the Concordat in the ass since you can't conduct national reconstruction on that scale without a plan and dedicated national leadership that keeps the planets on track. We need to remember that most of the human capital to rebuild vital industries, especially space industries, was still available to the Concordat at that time. The institutional knowledge for orbital construction and industry still existed. Functional WarShips still existed. The Snowdens, while diminished, still existed, and could be used as springboards for station designs. And that's just two points out of many. But you'd need a skilled administrator, not a glory hound like Semyon to actually put it all to good use. And a Concordat that's a bit deeper characterized than just "Damn you, Fed Rats!"
Case in point, Ishtar. One of the oldest Taurian colonies, apparently a perfect habitable planet and the main agricultural planet for a nation controlling several dozen star systems. Population: 90,000. For a whole planet, running intensive agriculture, which even today is a labour-intensive task, and even more so would be that in BTech's "Future of the 80ies" universe. 90,000, that's less than the county I live in, which is a rural county.
The Concordat is full of these places where you have perfectly viable and established colonies that have existed for five hundred years or more - and yet coast by on a couple thousand to a couple million people, allthewhile boasting major, labour-intensive industries.
If you don't have the correct basic numbers, this has repercussions for everything, starting at simple data collection for statistics, to financial planning, the infrastructural and scientific policy initiatives, defense, and even medical and disaster relief contingencies. At least those'd be some suitable in-universe reasons...
I'm at a point where I've started to rationalize these unrealistic numbers as deliberate fuckery with the reported census and economical data perpetrated by the Star League, and later C*. It'd at least in part explain why the Concordat has basically been treading water for centuries despite not being involved in any major conflicts pre-Jihad and post-SL, the other reasons being major corruption and power plays behind the freedom-loving frontiersmen facade. Local nobles and power cliques competing for influence against the central government, deliberately fudging their numbers to siphon money into their own pockets rather than into the national treasury, putting short-term gains over long-term advantages, allthewhile presenting themselves at home as men and women of the people and independence-minded true citizens of the Concordat.
All exacerbated by an absent monarch - Nicoletta Calderon, who did put playing interstellar grand politics first - and her even less qualified son Semyon whose accomplishments include starting a brushfire war for no good reason and loosing the last operational Concordat WarShip during his reign. Also for no good reason. We know preciously little about Semyon Calderon, but I imagine him as someone eaten up by ambition and the desire to match his mother, who at the same time is wholly unqualified for the task since the same mother has neglected him and her home rule for most of their lives. Someone who probably was a decent enough soldier and mech warrior, and had the charisma to impress the rank and file he came into contact with. But who also was completely unsuited to the difficult task that actually rebuilding the Concordat after the Amaris Civil War and during the 1SW was.
In part it's also because their typical laissez-faire frontiersmen persona came back to bite the Concordat in the ass since you can't conduct national reconstruction on that scale without a plan and dedicated national leadership that keeps the planets on track. We need to remember that most of the human capital to rebuild vital industries, especially space industries, was still available to the Concordat at that time. The institutional knowledge for orbital construction and industry still existed. Functional WarShips still existed. The Snowdens, while diminished, still existed, and could be used as springboards for station designs. And that's just two points out of many. But you'd need a skilled administrator, not a glory hound like Semyon to actually put it all to good use. And a Concordat that's a bit deeper characterized than just "Damn you, Fed Rats!"
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Bear Ribs
Well-known member
Taurians need their space. You can't just cram the population in to where you've got a person per state-sized section of planet, there isn't room to breath.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
Burton is the center of computer industry in Concordat and is supposed to have population of only 55.000. In my headcanon it is a deliberate false reporting by Taurians and the actual population is at least 15-20 million in the main settlement area.
Doomsought
Well-known member
That, or the numbers just represent the population of the primary spaceport and not the entire planet.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
That could be explanation for worlds of other nations, but Taurians, always paranoid about Spheroids (Feddies in particular) coming to steal their shinies, would be quite likely to pull off such disinformation intentionally.
I expanded a bit on my original post above.
That seems a lot more likely, yes.
While that would be a somewhat logical explanation it runs counter to some of the numbers we have from other planets, where we do have populations in the hundreds of millions or more.
It would at least fit their paranoia, true.
ParadiseLost
Well-known member
Battletech Mercenary Edition is on a historic sale on IndieGala.
Comes with all past and future DLC for the video game.
Only for Steam users, which really sucks for me as a GOG user.
ParadiseLost
Well-known member
So...why not both?
There probably isn't. Still, it means if there is, you get it.
Bear Ribs
Well-known member
12 Fighters and 364.5 tons of cargo. The fighters are distributed a bit oddly as it has 2 in a bay by themselves (these, I believe, are the same two the 'mech carrier Union has), 4 in a separate bay, and then one large bay with 6.
Thank you very much!