Quest Deep Periphery Quest (Battletech Sandbox Empire Builder)

IceWing_mk1

Well-known member
One thing that pops into my mind - Communications \ Sensor Lag when dealing with theaters of operations the size of solar systems.

Can we continue researching HPG in order to figure out how to miniaturize them and reduce power requirements, so that, potentially, we can put them on smaller, stealthier platforms?
 

Knowledgeispower

Ah I love the smell of missile spam in the morning
One thing that pops into my mind - Communications \ Sensor Lag when dealing with theaters of operations the size of solar systems.

Can we continue researching HPG in order to figure out how to miniaturize them and reduce power requirements, so that, potentially, we can put them on smaller, stealthier platforms?
HPGs aren't that hard to power and the smaller ones only weigh 10 tons they just cost a fortune to make
 

IceWing_mk1

Well-known member
HPGs aren't that hard to power and the smaller ones only weigh 10 tons they just cost a fortune to make

Well, let me ask it this way.

Would it be more economical to:
  1. build a series of stealthy observation platforms which can notify of the presence \ direction of movement for unknown\potentially hostile forces, to be able to vector (or jump in) our resources where we have real time comms and sensors, and the opponents don't
  2. deal with pirates \ raiders who can get inside our defenses and hit us before we can react?
 

Jarow

Well-known member
Next level of HPG research:
NameDCTimeCost
HPG Theory Tier 2601 $ 150,000,000.00
Note the cost for the research is as much as all three compact core research combined. Presumably, that level gets us mobile HPG, and a third option after that gets us the ground mobile version.

On the other hand, we have the sensor ability in our home system to detect when and where incoming groups come in. Don't think HPGs are necessary, though improved sensors would probably be helpful so we can build them in our other systems. Note that "deep" strikes like the Dracs tried to hit us with are really rare, and you can't jump into the middle of a system (except pirate points), so surprise attacks aren't really issues we have.
 

IceWing_mk1

Well-known member
It's not the 'sensor ability' that's actually the most important, it's the ability to get the data to C3 facilities and make decisions faster than the intruders can AND get that data back to our forces.

The light speed latency cycle is REAL.

Let's say that we have an invading force, and they start to change direction. It'll take the light traveling to the standard jump points which are , according to Sarna, something like 150 million miles away, which, by my quick math, will take something like 15 minutes to travel back to the planetary HQ. 15 minutes may not sound like a lot, but being inside of the enemies turning radius, so no matter what they try, we've got nearly real time data on them and can course correct so they CANNOT avoid action OR cannot force action until they get to the planet AND in that case, we'll know their approach vector and can just continuously spam gauss cannon rounds at them until we get lucky.

Sir Isaac Newton is the deadliest SOB in space, and a planet has MUCH deeper ammo reserves than incoming drop ships or jump ships that think they're sitting safe at the jump point until our out system forces get their EXACT coordinates and jump in within boarding distance.
 

Jarow

Well-known member
Let's say that we have an invading force, and they start to change direction. It'll take the light traveling to the standard jump points which are , according to Sarna, something like 150 million miles away, which, by my quick math, will take something like 15 minutes to travel back to the planetary HQ. 15 minutes may not sound like a lot, but being inside of the enemies turning radius, so no matter what they try, we've got nearly real time data on them and can course correct so they CANNOT avoid action OR cannot force action until they get to the planet AND in that case, we'll know their approach vector and can just continuously spam gauss cannon rounds at them until we get lucky.
I'd point out that to/from the jump point takes about a week, an extra 15 minutes really is pretty much irrelevant (or 30 minutes, taking in data from a jump point then sending it back to a jump point). We're already at the point we can choose where the engagement occurs. Now, having mobile HPGs with our forces definitely will be helpful, but it's not a game changer, and seeding the system with "stealthy" HPG scanners is going to get exorbitantly expensive really quickly. Mobile HPG at each jump point? Probably already overkill, but not completely unreasonable eventually. Spread out enough to provide accurate targeting data anywhere in the system? Not happening. Given any rounds fired at beyond long range can be dodged between when it fires and when it hits... That last part is not a terrible idea, but getting lucky is still getting lucky.

As for needing extra sensors for sending our own jumpships to arrange a boarding action... you do know the jumpships don't move, right? Bigger problem is going to be finding something to actually send to handle a boarding action, because we need all the jump ability we can get too much to just leave a reaction forces posted so there's at least one within a 1 jump radius of all of our worlds (though admittedly that's only 2 needed right now)
 
Turn 61 - We Are The Varangian Guard

LordSunhawk

Das BOOT (literally)
Owner
Administrator
Staff Member
Founder
Turn 61 - We Are the Varangian Guard

Meta Event - 58
Dynasty Luck - 15

Imperial Approval - 4
Approval Change - -3
Political Event - 7

Imperial Economy - 0
Economic Event - 4
Research Event - 1

Griffin’s Roost
Economy - -1
Population - 3
Rating Change - 3

Nowy Gdansk -
Economy - 2
Population - 2
Rating Change - 1

Griffon Inner Asteroid Belt
Economy - -1
Rating Change - 0

Griffon II Orbitals
Economy - 5
Rating Change - -4

Griffon IV
Economy - 2
Population - 6
Rating Change - 3

Nowa Warszawa
Economy - 4
Population - 2
Rating Change - 1

Calliope IV
Economy - 2
Population - -2
Rating Change - 1

TTP
Economy - 2
Population - 0
Rating Change - 2

[X] Plan: Networking
-[X] Military [$ 23,479,710.39 ]
Build Orbital Factory Ferro-Carbide Griffons Roost [110]
Target - 110
Roll - 27
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory Ferro-Carbide Griffons Roost [110]
Target - 110
Roll - 49
Result - SUCCESS

Build Orbital Factory Ferro-Fib Nowa Warzsawa [110]
Target - 110
Roll - 92
Result - SUCCESS

Lay Down Major Unit [Construction - $5,918,460.10 ] (85)
-24 Bainbridge [85]
Target - 85
Roll - 44
Result - SUCCESS

-8 Independence [85]
Target - 85
Roll - 3
Result - SUCCESS

-5 Shannon [85]
Target - 85
Roll - 84
Result - SUCCESS

-5 Majestic [85]
Target - 85
Roll - 46
Result - SUCCESS

Purchase New Units [$ 2,092,152.11 ]
-1 Planetary Defense Wing [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 70
Result - SUCCESS

-2 Assault Carrier Wing
Target - 75
Roll - 72
Result - SUCCESS

-1 Training Wing [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 61
Result - SUCCESS

-3 Light Horse Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 25
Result - SUCCESS

-1 Assault Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 78
Result - Bare FAILURE (auto success next turn)

-3 Standard Mech Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 77
Result - Bare FAILURE (auto success next turn)

-1 Pathfinder Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 29
Result - SUCCESS

-4 Armored Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 54
Result - SUCCESS

-4 Mechanized Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 43
Result - SUCCESS

-7 CAS Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 31
Result - SUCCESS

-6 Colonial Mechanized Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 35
Result - SUCCESS

-6 Colonial Cavalry Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 69
Result - SUCCESS

-12 Colonial Infantry Regiment [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 10
Result - SUCCESS

Interior [$ 175,085,000 ]
Focus Development on Griffin's Roost [65]
Target - 65
Roll - 1
Result - Critical SUCCESS

Build HPG Station Nowa Warzsawa* [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 33
Result - SUCCESS

Build HPG Station Griffon's Roost* [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 50
Result - SUCCESS

Build HPG Station Calliope IV* [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 30
Result - SUCCESS

Build HPG Station Kuroisora* [80]
Target - 80
Roll - 42
Result - SUCCESS

Expand Refit and Repair Yard [100]
Target - 100
Roll - 25
Result - SUCCESS

Expand All Shipyards [100]
Target - 100
Roll - 12
Result - SUCCESS

DOME - Plant Tropical Forests* [90]
Target - 90
Roll - 65
Result - SUCCESS

Diplomatic [$ 10,010,000 ]
Begin negotiations concerning future HPG placement in the NRR [65]
Target - 65
Roll - 14
Result - SUCCESS

Begin negotiations concerning future HPG placement in the NRI [65]
Target - 65
Roll - 93, ShadowArxxy reroll - 80, Jarow reroll - 49
Result - SUCCESS

CULTURE - Benefit Concert [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 100, ShadowArxxy reroll - 32
Result - SUCCESS

Political [$ 60,020,000 ]
Build Relations with Senate [60]
Target - 60
Roll - 63
Result - Bare FAILURE (auto success next turn)

Build Relations with Chamber of Delegates [60]
Target - 60
Roll - 88, Jarow reroll - 43
Result - SUCCESS

Improve Educational System on Nowa Warszawa* [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 17
Result - SUCCESS

Research [$ 35,050,000 ]
MASC* [auto]

Improved SRM* [55]
Target - 55
Roll - 75, Jarow reroll - 81, KnowledgeisPower reroll - 38
Result - SUCCESS

Improved Large Pulse Laser* [55]
Target - 55
Roll - 85, ShadowArxxy reroll - 52
Result - SUCCESS

Intelligence [$ 0 ]

Justice [$ 25,000,000 ]
Integrate Calliope IV into Imperial Legal System* [75]
Target - 75
Roll - 61
Result - SUCCESS

Review TTP laws* [85]
Target - 85
Roll - 60
Result - SUCCESS

Develop regulatory framework for private production of Jumpships [85]
Target - 85
Roll - 49
Result - SUCCESS

Miscellaneous [$ 2,000,000 ]
Exploration Efforts [2000000]

------

Initial Survey Report - New Capricorn
Stellar Type - M4
Number of occupied orbits - 7
  1. Giant Terrestrial
    1. Very low density, no atmosphere, highly irradiated
  2. Gas Giant
    1. 7 major moons, 12 minor moons
    2. Very extensive ring system
    3. Extremely vibrant colors with severe atmospheric storms
  3. Gas Giant
    1. 2 marginally habitable moons rich in heavy metals
    2. 5 major moons, 18 minor moons
    3. No significant ring system
    4. Deep blue in color, with light banding of white and red, no major storm activity, unusually weak radiation belts
  4. Terrestrial
    1. 1 major moon
    2. High gravity, approximately 1.3 times Earth standard
    3. Extensive shallow seas and gentle terrain
    4. Native flora - ferns
    5. Native fauna - amphibians
  5. Asteroid Belt
    1. Initial survey indicates mostly rocky asteroids unsuitable for commercial mining
  6. Asteroid Belt
    1. Initial survey indicates mostly rocky and icy asteroids. Ice asteroids may be valuable for terraforming purposes if a means of transport can be devised

There are three colonizable locations in this system. Both of the habitable moons show signs of previous failed colonization attempts that appear to have been destroyed by some 3rd party. New Capricorn IV shows signs of having once been colonized as well, but likewise all that is left are ruins, all indications are that the population was wiped out by some 3rd party. Analysis of damage is consistent with the sorts of weapons used by local pirates

New Capricorn IV is easily colonized, however the two moons would require environmental domes. Samples show no obvious biochemical threats to human life, the ferns are not themselves edible but there are wild fields of crops that appear to be descended from various grains and leafy vegetables which are completely edible. Local fauna is not aggressive, the largest of the local amphibians are about the size of a donkey and appear to be herbivorous. Indications are that the local fauna is able to consume human crops.

Initial Survey Report - GX-C9
Stellar Type - M4
Number of Occupied Orbits - 9

  1. Gas Supergiant
    1. Nearly as energetic as the dim star, gives off significant thermal and radioactive emissions
    2. Extremely violent storms visible
    3. 15 major and over a hundred minor moons
    4. Triple ring system, easily visible with the bare eye
  2. Asteroid Belt
    1. Rich in metallic asteroids, higher than average incidence of Germanium ore make this commercially viable
  3. Terrestrial
    1. Marginally habitable
    2. Slightly below Earth standard gravity (approximately .9g)
    3. Thick atmosphere with a relatively high CO2 and water vapor content, breathable but unpleasant
    4. Deep oceans, highly volcanic land masses
      1. 4 actively erupting volcanoes detected at the time of survey, no sign of any supervolcano activity
    5. Highest flora - moss on land, seaweed in the oceans
    6. Highest fauna - nothing on land, trilobyte analogs in the oceans
  4. Gas Giant
    1. Nearly as violently active as GX-C9-I
    2. 10 major, 28 minor moons
    3. Prominent ring system
  5. Asteroid Belt
    1. No sign of commercially viable ores
  6. Asteroid Belt
    1. No sign of commercially viable ores
  7. Gas Giant
    1. An ice giant, vibrant blue in color
    2. Thin ring
    3. 12 Major, 17 minor moons
  8. Dwarf terrestrial
    1. Indications of methane oceans underneath methane ice.

GX-C9 has a single colonizable planet, however significant terraforming will be required due to the basic unsuitability of the soil to support crops. The presence of significant germanium deposits, however, makes this an economically viable location.

There is no sign of previous occupation of the planet, however a number of wrecked mining stations were adrift in the innermost asteroid belt, all shattered as if destroyed in combat. Examination of the wreckage shows damage patterns consistent with local pirates.

A small space station was found hiding in the outermost asteroid belt. The station was occupied by pirates and slaves, and was easily stormed by the attached Marine units. The station appears to be a resupply base for pirate bands. Prisoners have been transported to designated holding facilities, the freed slaves are in the hands of medical professionals and are very grateful for their liberation. None are Drac, Kilburrough, or NRI in origin, all are from a primitive society which evidently is used as a raiding target by the pirates, they do not know where their homes are, only that it is at most three jumps away.

-----

You get a really good laugh when you read the reports about the latest shenanigans out of the Department of Periphery Studies. Evidently somebody thought it was a good idea to screen the ancient ‘Star Wars’ movies to the tenured faculty, and at least some of them had decided that they were Jedi and were waving around toy ‘lightsabers’ and making ‘profound’ statements that sense did not make.

Luckily the staff at the Department are able to confine the shenanigans to their own facilities, so there aren’t any actual injuries from ‘acrobatic battles’ and such. So it’s literally all fun and games.

Fighting on Ravenna has wrapped up with the fall of the final stronghold of the Pugnus Deorum on the planet. Friendly casualties have been exceptionally light, mostly thanks to the highly methodical tactics that Jeremy has been employing which have ground down the enemy forces without exposing his own to excessive risk. The local rebel leaders have chosen to commit suicide rather than be captured, but computer files have been recovered giving additional insight into the Pugnus Deorum as a whole.

Planning has begun for a final push to liberate Nova Roma itself from the rebels, while the legitimate government fully establishes control on Ravenna.

There was an attempted Drac raid on Kuroisora, a single Monolith jumped in and released 9 Achilles which thrust in to attempt to strike the planet, evidently carrying nuclear payloads. The single squadron of Bainbridges present in system intercepted the attackers well short of the planet and utterly annihilated them, taking only a few dings and dents in return as the swift parasite destroyers completely outmatched the enemy despite being outnumbered. Unfortunately the Monolith was able to recharge and jump clear before it could be captured.

Pirate activity along the jump route to the NRI is continuing to increase, with every convoy being attacked at either Griff’s Leap or New Capricorn. Escorting forces so far have proven equal to the task of defending the convoys, but the attacks are escalating. Thanh has stationed squadrons of Bainbridges to picket the two systems’ Zenith points to provide additional protection, but in the long run this will not be sustainable due to the logistics requirements.

HMS Morristown has been moved into the Refit and Repair Facility at long last. Preliminary reports are in line with previous survey reports, and work has begun at bringing the old ship back up to fighting trim.

The company that supplies critical components to the life support systems used in many Heavy and Assault class battlemechs has missed their delivery deadlines. A contract dispute with one of the unions at the company has escalated into a full strike action, which has completely disrupted production. Interestingly, the union directly involved in the dispute is one of the smaller ones at the company, representing janitorial personnel, but the other unions have gone on strike in solidarity even though the demands of the janitorial union are completely unreasonable. They claim that they are demanding a ‘living wage’ for their members, but the company has pointed out that this ‘living wage’ is higher than that of the engineers involved in designing the components, and is roughly the same as the salary of a junior vice president at the firm. The other unions acknowledge that the janitorial union is being ridiculous in their demands, but are unwilling to break ranks. Mediators have been brought in from the Imperial government and it is expected that the dispute will be resolved in a month or so, but meanwhile production of Assault and Standard Mech regiments is on hold.

You spend several days visiting the various yards, attending ceremonies for all of the new construction that has been laid down. You also are present at the mass decommissioning ceremony for the Troodon class. The crewmembers of the decommissioned vessels have been shifted to the Bainbridges that are now under construction, providing solid cadres for the vessels and easing the pressure on the Aerie to provide sufficient crews. Several of the old craft have been snapped up by various museums, others have been transferred to planetary defense squadrons run by the various planetary governments in the Griffon system.

The new Planetary Defense Wing has been dispatched to Sukashi to supplement the defenses there. The two new Assault Carrier Wings have mated up with their assigned carriers and have completed working up, and the TTP has welcomed the training wing.

Second Infantry Division is now up to full strength, while 3rd Armored has been affected by the delivery delays of Heavy and Assault mechs, although they have integrated their Pathfinder regiment. The 3rd Infantry Division has stood up and should be at full strength next year. Fourth and Fifth Colonial Divisions have also been fully activated and deployed to their areas of operation, strengthening the defenses of Nowa Warszawa and the TTP.

The economic development staff catches a bit of a break on Griffin’s Roost, as their investment program seems to set off a massive bull market that had been completely unanticipated. Economic growth in the capital world has taken off far beyond even the best case scenarios for the development plan.

The first message sent over the new HPG network, well, apart from the automated test messages, was sent from your desk. A short letter extolling the benefits of improved interstellar communication and congratulating everybody involved in the effort to establish the HPG network. Your economists are already seeing a small but significant economic growth boost thanks to improved communications, benefits which can only rise as the network expands.

The engineers remind you in a memo that it is not only possible but beneficial to build multiple HPG stations on any given world, on the grounds that this increases available bandwidth and throughput, thus strengthening the network as a whole.

Your shipbuilding capacity is continuing to expand, bringing you closer to additional jumpship slips and your first warship capable yard.

DoME has completed work planting and balancing a massive jungle ecosystem on Griffon IV. The trees are still young and nowhere near their full glory, but the beginnings of a jungle are still gloriously beautiful. The effects on the planetary ecosystem are excellent, and the terraforming teams are eager to continue their work fine tuning and shaping the planet's ecology.

Negotiations have been concluded with the NRR and NRI for the future emplacement of HPG stations under Griffon Empire control.

A large benefit concert for the victims of violence on Nowa Warszawa is a success despite some technical challenges when the main stage sound system shorted out during pre-show sound checks. Engineers and technicians scrambled to solve the problem and managed to do so mere minutes before the concert was scheduled to begin, to the enthusiastic applause of the gathered crowds.

The Imperial Senate has proven remarkably immune to being schmoozed, setting back efforts to improve your relations with the body, but the Chamber of Delegates is quite happy to engage with your political team. Jake is frustrated with the Senate, but happy with the Chamber.

The overall improvements and integration of the Nowa Warszawa educational system have been successfully carried out, with results already obvious across all levels. Simply building a robust planetary education data network has yielded enormous results. The educational infrastructure on the planet is now robust enough to potentially support new R&D labs in the future.

Speaking of research and development, work on the improved Short Range Missile has concluded, along with work on MASC. The Improved 8cm Pulse Laser project has also concluded.

Janet shows up in your office, tired but happy. She reports that integration of Calliope IV into the Imperial Legal System has concluded successfully, that the review of the legal system in the TTP has been concluded with the local leadership proving very accommodating with the changes needed to bring it fully in line with Imperial law, and that her legal teams have a preliminary legal and regulatory framework to license private companies to build Caravel class jumpships for commercial purposes.
 

edofthesquid

Well-known member
Pirate activity along the jump route to the NRI is continuing to increase, with every convoy being attacked at either Griff’s Leap or New Capricorn. Escorting forces so far have proven equal to the task of defending the convoys, but the attacks are escalating

This smells like state sponsored piracy, doesn't make sense that they'd spend themselves and their ships for no return otherwise
 

Val the Moofia Boss

Well-known member
I don't understand why pirates would blow up mining platforms and wipe out colonies. Wouldn't they want the people they rob on to survive and to continue producing stuff of value that the pirates can rob again later? Only explanation I can think of is that the pirates were hired as mercenaries by someone else to wipe those people out.

EDIT: also what @edofthesquid said.
 

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