Quest Deep Periphery Quest (Battletech Sandbox Empire Builder)

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
While the Black Steel remain our primary enemy and are more dangerous by far, the RogNoir really have put themselves firmly on our list for a nice Nanoha-style BEFRIENDING.
 
Turn 98 - In All Affairs Of State

LordSunhawk

Das BOOT (literally)
Owner
Administrator
Staff Member
Founder
Turn 98 - In All Affairs Of State

You spend several lovely weeks with your kids attending the Pan-Griffon Games, which are being held in the Calliope system this year. Of course, this also means that your kids wind up adopting some ‘cute’ lystrosaurus, and the family raptors are having a grand old time of things.

The most surreal part was playing fetch from the cockpit of an assault mech with a Rex. Evidently young Rex’s loved to play fetch, and even had favorite colored balls when there were more than one youngster in a particular territory. Rex populations were slowly rising, now that the issues with the Allosaurus packs had been dealt with quite decisively, but thankfully the birthrate was low enough that there was little risk of overcrowding. Interestingly, Rex’s that lived near the human outposts on the planet tended to have territories a fraction of the size of Rex’s further out, giving some interesting insights into just how smart the massive predators really were.

The Games were enjoyable as well, with a number of surprises as some Peripheral colonies managed to win medals, including a few golds, in sports previously dominated by the Core worlds. The celebrations by those teams are quite nice, and you have strong hopes for the next Olympics, especially in these sailing events that the Bourbons are insisting on.

You have a quiet word with the current head of the Special Branch, setting out the parameters for what you want done with the infiltrators from the Rouges Noir. You are assured that they will handle the situation with maximum discretion. Meanwhile, you arrange with General Messerschmidt that any future ‘refugees’ from there will be quite courteously brought to the ‘new refugee center’ in Griff’s Roost, which just so happens to be the maximum security orbital prison there.

You also direct the General Staff to update all war plans related to the Rouges Noir, as they had effectively declared war upon the Empire and you have no intention of letting this pass without consequences. Unfortunately the Black Steel is your primary focus right now, but once your production reaches the point where you can divert forces… you anticipate with a certain cold glee the reaction you’ll get. They like mass swarm attacks? You have all the artillery.

Speaking of the Black Steel, your navy manages to chase off an honest-to-god Bugeye spy ship from Feurstem. Otherwise the Black Steel hasn’t shown up, although the NRI reports a few sightings of light units.

Your suspicions about the silence from Periphery Studies are fulfilled when they suddenly declare themselves to be ninjas, dress in ridiculous ninja suits with absurd hairstyles, and are running around doing ‘ninja things’, generally with foam rubber throwing stars, nunchakus, and truly hilarious attempts at martial arts. They seem quite enthusiastic about this latest pastime.

Of course, they then promptly stage an assault on the Imperial Senate, seeking to accomplish an S-ranked mission to kidnap the Eldest, or so they say as they besiege the poor security staff with foam rubber shurikens and run at them in a truly ridiculous pose. The Eldest finally comes out, lays down, and informs everybody that the Periphery Studies ninjas ‘petting jitsu’ is quite enjoyable, but they are missing spots and need to train more.

Which prompts them to charge back to campus for MOAR TRAINING. Periphery Studies, gotta love ‘em.

And now it is budget time!

General Jenkins leads things off. “Your Majesty, next year we’ll be starting procurement of ground forces again, so these meetings will take a bit longer in the near future. For now the Army just wants more strategic materials for maximum construction rates. The Aerospace Force is wanting to replace the old Falcon trainers as well as get authorization for a mass upgrade of several of their units, and the Navy is doing obscure, obscene, and possibly heretical things in hopes of getting more ships.” He nods to General Bradley.

“Your Majesty, the funds spent on SLEP efforts over the last several years will soon bear fruit. Much of it has been devoted to our production capabilities, allowing us to make the transition without any additional expense to the Treasury. However, we will need to continue to focus on building up our strategic material production capabilities. Thanks to the significantly improved efficiency, we will be able to procure a pair of Infantry Divisions, plus potentially a pure Mech division, each year, which is a significant improvement to the situation, but we hope to increase production enough to be able to procure even more forces.”
  • Imperial Griffon Army
    • Production
      • Strategic Materials
        • Upgrade all DHS Orbital Factories
        • Upgrade all Ferro Fibrous Orbital Factories
          • Highest priority
        • Upgrade all EndoSteel Orbital Factories
    • Procurement
      • 30 Garrison Regiments
      • 30 Militia Rating

General Romanov is up next. “Your Majesty, the Falcon ASF has served as our trainer for over 75 years and is, by far, the oldest piece of equipment still in service with the military. While we have been updating it over the years, the fact remains that it is an old design of very limited relevance. Worse, the 3cm and 5cm lasers used by the design are painfully obsolescent and out of production. We are fortunate to have a fairly substantial stockpile of these weapons, but that stockpile is starting to run low. In addition the airframes are useless in terms of training maintainers, due to the complete lack of anything even resembling modern systems.”

She brings up a slide, showing two different proposals. “We have two proposals to address this. One would completely retire the Falcon platform, replacing it with a dedicated training variant of the Sparrowhawk interceptor. The advantage of this approach is a significant simplification of our logistics system due to the extremely high commonality of parts with the base model, while the proposed Sparrowhawk-T is deliberately designed to allow trainees to be trained with a mix of lasers and missiles. The disadvantage is a nearly 50% higher cost to procure the Sparrowhawk-T over the other design.”

“The other option is to simply update the Falcon platform to the modern era, making use of modern materials, systems, and equipment. The Falcon III is significantly cheaper than the alternative, while keeping a rather loved airframe in service. The Falcon was our first front-line ASF, Your Majesty, and there are plenty of people in the Aerospace Force who would much rather see it remain in service.”
[]NameCostMaterialsHPA/DSpdSpecials
[]Sparrowhawk-T Trainer$3,213.33DHS, FAA231317
  • Armored 1
  • Missile 1
  • AMS 1
  • Swift
[]Falcon III Trainer$2,165.87DHS, FAA111118
  • Swift

“As far as procurement goes, we do need to expand our training establishment, Your Majesty, but we also have sufficient stockpiles to build the existing trainers if need be.”
  • Imperial Griffon Aerospace Force
    • Procurement
      • 30 Heavy Carrier Wings
      • 30 Attack Wings
      • 30 Training Wings

Admiral Fisher had been giving General Jenkins a stink eye for a while, but now he takes the podium. “Yes, we need lots of ships, yes we need more shipyards, yes we’re going to cost the Treasury more money, no I don’t think they’ll like it, and no I don’t particularly care. The Navy is the front line of defense against those Black Steel bastards, and we need to make sure it is strong enough to finally crush them like the rats they are.”
  • Imperial Griffon Navy
    • Production
      • Orbital Shipyards
        • New Shipyards
          • Stahlfurt
          • Olej
          • Nox
          • Calliope
          • New Capricorn
        • Upgrade All Orbital Shipyards
      • Refit & Repair Yards
        • New Yards
          • Raj
        • Upgrade all Refit & Repair Yards
      • Escort Yards
        • Bohren
        • Iskra
        • Stahlfurt
        • Skala
        • Chuma
        • Bari
      • Small Warship Yards
        • New Castor
        • New Pollux
      • Medium Warship Yards
        • Griffon
        • Calliope
        • Nowa Warszawa
        • Okusawa
        • New Phoenix
        • New Port Royal
        • Nya Kopenhamn
        • Kainga
        • Edelsteine
        • New Capricorn
    • Orbital Defenses
      • Jump Point Defenses
        • Glorreich
        • Pryyemnyy
        • Novalar
        • Shin Tōkyō
      • Black Tower
        • Stahlfurt
        • New Port Royal
        • Kainga
        • New Pollux
        • Nox
        • Iskra
    • Procurement
      • Standard Dropships
        • 100 Bainbridge-class Parasite Destroyers
        • 40 Trenton-class Transports
        • 18 Ensign-class Training Dropships
      • Large Dropships
        • 30 Saipan-class Parasite Carriers
        • 17 Meteor-class Parasite Missile Battleships
        • 34 Aetna-class Parasite Missile Battleships
        • 1 Canopus-class Parasite Battleship
      • Jumpships
        • 7 Windjammer-class
      • Escorts
        • 30 Fubuki-class Destroyers
        • 30 Lyr-class Corvettes
      • Small Warships
        • 20 Dido-class Light Cruisers
        • 5 Hosho-class Light Carriers
      • Medium Warships
        • 20 Prinz Eugen-class Heavy Cruisers

Elizabeth Lee is up next for Interior. “Your Majesty, unfortunately all but the dedicated planetary optimization DoME teams are hard at work on various projects. For the planetary optimization team, we recommend dispatching them to the Pieklo system this year.”

She checks her notes as she brings up a display. “Prospects for economic investment and growth are generally solid this year, Your Majesty, and with a new Core world we have an opportunity to massively invest in that system's infrastructure with corresponding benefits.”
  • Economic
    • Economic Focus
      • Core
        • New Capricorn
      • Periphery
        • Bohren
    • Massive Investment
      • Core
        • New Castor
      • Periphery
        • Awha
    • Investment
      • Kainga
    • Major Investment
      • New Castor
“In addition we have three systems that we can begin colonization efforts in immediately, and a fourth that will have to wait until next year. We strongly recommend initiating colonization of all three. In addition, it is important for us to continue expanding the colonial office in order to handle this growth.”
  • Colonization
    • Glorreich
    • Pryyemnyy
    • Novalar
  • Establish System Government
    • Glorreich
    • Pryyemnyy
    • Novalar
  • Establish Justice System
    • Glorreich
    • Pryyemnyy
    • Novalar
Leila is in the NRR coordinating with them for hosting the Olympics in two years, according to her dispatches they are hoping to make it a statement Games and have heavily invested in putting on a superb show. You can’t wait to see what they manage.

You had wondered why Tiberius was handcuffed to his chair, looking mulish, but you discovered that your husband had figured out his next prank and preempted it. It’s nice to see the tables turned!

“Yes, yes, laugh it up. We’re ready to establish those system governments that Elizabeth mentioned, and I have all sorts of wonderful places to trot you out for PR work.” His eyes glitter with a bit of malicious glee, and with a sinking sensation you realize that it is likely you’ll be spending time at the most embarrassing events the stinking prankster can find in revenge for this.

Totally your husband’s fault.

Grace is off in her labs, since there are no teams available for any projects, but she does send a memo detailing some interesting theoretical work that a small engineering firm in the Kaiyo system has come up with, potentially allowing more compact heat sinks for use in battlemechs. Your Mechwarrior soul leaps in joy at the news.

General Messerschmidt is off scheming with the Special Branch, and you leave him to it.

“Your Majesty, it’s time to revisit streamlining Imperial laws and regulations again. I’ve got teams ready to get started on it.” Martina tells you, smiling a little at your sigh. It’s always so much paperwork when this happens!
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
[X] Falcon III Trainer

There's really no concern for a trainer to be incredibly combat capable, and we have room for nostalgia points.

Also, Naruto is the best ninjas ever! Yesssss!
 

Artifex

Well-known member
Wouldn't it be better to have the flight academy train the recruits on an airframe that is actually in use? I mean, isn't the Falcon-Series Airframe by now mostly a trainer only one atm?

[x] Sparrowhawk-T Trainer
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
Wouldn't it be better to have the flight academy train the recruits on an airframe that is actually in use? I mean, isn't the Falcon-Series Airframe by now mostly a trainer only one atm?

[x] Sparrowhawk-T Trainer

There's a reason every real-life military uses dedicated trainer aircraft, and the United States military sets the gold standard by having separate designs for basic, intermediate, and advanced flight training.

Two-seat trainer variants of front-line combat fighter are used only for type specific training, and even then are very rare.
 

The Whispering Monk

Well-known member
Osaul
One of the reasons I'm leery of the Falcon III refit is because it puts more time on an aged frame. Course, this is BattleTech, the King of apocolypse-proof tech. So...I MAY be letting RL experiences color things for me.

Hmm...

[X] Falcon III Trainer

Okay, FINE, you can keep yer Falcons! Sheesh!
 

Jarow

Well-known member
[X] Falcon III Trainer

No need to switch to a more expensive design.

[X] Plan: Colonies!
-[X] Procurement [$ 2,224,514,687.79 ]
--[X] Lay Down Major Unit [Construction - $227,149,323.80 ] (95)
---[X] 100 Bainbridge [95]
---[X] 40 Trenton [95]
---[X] 18 Ensign [95]

---[X] 34 Aetna [95]
---[X] 17 Meteor [95]
---[X] 30 Saipan [95]
---[X] 1 Canopus [95]

--[X] Lay down Jumpship [Jumpship Construction - $3,262,009.49 ] (85)
---[X] 7 Windjammer [85]

--[X] Lay down Warship [Warship Construction - $952,650,520.00 ] (85)
---[X] 20 Dido*
---[X] 7 Hosho*

---[X] 10 Prinz Eugen*
---[X] 20 Prinz Eugen*

---[X] 30 Fubuki [85]
---[X] 30 Lyr [85]

---[X] 20 Dido [85]
---[X] 5 Hosho [85]

---[X] 20 Prinz Eugen [85]

--[X] Purchase New Units [Minor Unit - $ 26,535,268.80 ] (90)
---[X] 0 Fighter Wing [auto]
---[X] 30 Attack Wing [90]
---[X] 30 Heavy Carrier Wing [90]
---[X] 30 Training Wing [90]

---[X] 30 Garrison Regiments [90]

--[X] Increase Militia Rating of System [$ 14,917,565.70 ] (95)
---[X] 30 Militia Regiments [95]

--[X] SLEP [$ 1,000,000,000 ] (100)
---[X] SLEP all Mech Units* [100]
---[X] SLEP all Conventional Units* [100]

-[X] General [$ 194,555,383,994.00 ]
--[X] Construct Oasis II Heavy Recharge Station Raj Zenith* [90]
--[X] Construct Oasis II Heavy Recharge Station Feurstem Zenith* [->1]
--[X] Construct Oasis II Heavy Recharge Station Nox Zenith* [->2]
--[X] Construct Oasis II Heavy Recharge Station Griffon's Eye Zenith* [->2]
--[X] Construct Oasis II Heavy Recharge Station Kaiyo Nadir* [->2]
--[X] Build Jump Point Defenses in Glorreich [90]
--[X] Build Jump Point Defenses in Pryyemnyy [90]
--[X] Build Jump Point Defenses in Novalar [90]
--[X] Build Jump Point Defenses in Shin Tokyo [90]
(Need to protect our new systems from minor attacks, and make sure no one steals them from us)

--[X] Colonize Glorreich [80]
--[X] Colonize Pryyemnyy [80]
--[X] Colonize Novalar [80]
--[X] Establish System Government - Glorreich [80]
--[X] Establish System Government - Pryyemnyy [80]
--[X] Establish System Government - Novalar [80]
--[X] Establish Justice System - Glorreich [80]
--[X] Establish Justice System - Pryyemnyy [80]
--[X] Establish Justice System - Novalar [80]
(Colonies!)
--[X] Expand Colonial Office (per level) [75]
(Don't want to overstress our ability to administer colonies)

--[X] Focus Development on Core World New Capricorn [80]
--[X] Focus Development on Peripheral World Bohren [80]
--[X] Massive Peripheral Investment Awha [75]
--[X] Massive Core Investment New Castor [75]
--[X] Economic Investment Kainga [90]
(Money to fund our colonies)
--[X] Major Economic Investment New Castor [85]
(Expensive, but makes the system a lot better)
--[X] Upgrade All DHS Factories [90]
--[X] Upgrade All Endosteel Forges [90]
--[X] Upgrade All Ferro Fibrous Forges [90]
(Not sure how important multiple divisions/turn is, but it's not a bad thing to have options)

--[X] Rationalize Legal Codes [85]
(Expensive, but I don't want an overly complex legal system)
--[X] Construct Escort Yard Bohren [90]
--[X] Construct Escort Yard Iskra [90]
--[X] Construct Escort Yard Stahlfurt [90]
--[X] Construct Escort Yard Skala [90]
--[X] Construct Escort Yard Chuma [90]
--[X] Construct Escort Yard Bari [90]
--[X] Expand Orbital Shipyards [105]
--[X] Upgrade Refit & Repair Yard [105]

--[X] Build Light Warship Yard New Pollux [85]
--[X] Build Light Warship Yard New Castor [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard Kainga [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard New Port Royal [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard Edelsteine [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard Nya Kopenhamn [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard New Phoenix [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard Okusawa [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard New Capricorn [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard Nowa Warzsawa [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard Calliope [85]
--[X] Build Medium Warship Yard Griffon [85]

-[X] DoME [$ 24,500,000,000.00 ]
--[X] Terraform Catachan - Stage 0* [->2]
--[X] Make Kaiyo a Logistics Hub* [90]
--[X] Terraform Calliope II - Stage III* [->3]
--[X] Terraform Feurstem - Stage 0* [->2]
--[X] Terraform Iskra - Stage 0* [->2]
--[X] Terraform Pinball - Stage 0* [->2]
--[X] Terraform Kaiyo - Stage 0* [70]
--[X] Terraform Bohren - Stage 0* [70]
--[X] Terraform Grand View - Stage 0* [70]
--[X] Terraforming Bari - Stage 1* [70]
--[X] Terraform Raj - Stage 0* [->2]

--[X] Planetary Optimization (Peripheral) - Pieklo [->1]
(I'm willing to accept advisor advice as to where to put this)

-[X] Research [$ 141,020,000,000.00 ]
--[X] <Blocked for this turn>
--[X] <Blocked for this turn>
--[X] <Blocked for this turn>
--[X] <Blocked for this turn>
--[X] Advanced Ground Combat Doctrine* [->4]
--[X] Improved Germanium Refining Lvl 3* [->4]
--[X] KF Drive Theory Tier 4* [90]
--[X] Improved Anti-Aging Treatments Lvl 2* [75]
--[X] Commercial R&D [-]
--[X] Industrial R&D [-]

-[X] Miscellaneous [$ 198,100,200,000.00 ]
--[X] People Purchase [100,000,000]
--[X] Local Sportsball [200,000]
--[X] Orbital Modernization [198,000,000,000]

Little under $20b remaining, but lots of important stuff that was expensive.
 

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