Quest Deep Periphery Quest (Battletech Sandbox Empire Builder)

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
One thing I'll note about the warrior is that outside ComStar's hidden fleet it is the most powerful combat platform available that's not in Clan Space. Basically if an enemy dropship gets inside weapons range of a warrior it will die very quickly and not do much in return

That's the trick with Capital and Sub-Capital weapons -- their battle value and actual damage per ton is much poorer than that of mech-scale weapons, but their sheer range allows them to score hits from well beyond the envelope that any other weapon system reaches. Normal "long" range is only equal to *short* range in capital scale!

You really need *big* DropShips around the 10,000 ton mark to efficiently carry Sub-Capital Weapons, but once you reach that size bracket, you can carry a decisive battery of the big guns while still having enough mech-scale weapons to decently defend yourself in close.
 
Turn 35 - Wild Boys Wonder Where Is Glory

LordSunhawk

Das BOOT (literally)
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Turn 35 - Wild Boys Wonder Where Is Glory

The Free Folk are in the system for a few months this time while they gather fuel from Griffin VI and perform some maintenance work on their home.

And they evidently are quite good at noticing things.

You get a com call from the leader of the Free Folk. They’ve evidently noticed the K-F Research Station that has just been completed and would like to make an offer.

Specifically, one of the engineering apprentices who basically grew up in the drive room of their modified jumpship is wishing to expand her knowledge base to include the new fusion tech, and the Free Folk offer to trade her expertise and knowledge of K-F Drives in exchange for allowing her to attend your ‘mud side’ school.

[]Yes+5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain
[]NoNo changes

Of course, now that news of said ‘secret’ K-F research facility has gotten out, the result is a great big fat nothingburger of epic proportions as the vast majority of the population just goes ‘meh’ with a side of ‘bleh’. Then go back to arguing about the weather.

Well, that vast majority excludes Periphery Studies, who promptly start panicking and running around claiming that aliens will now be able to read everybody’s minds and hold classes on ‘Basic Tin Foil Hat Construction’.

They send you a sample to ‘protect your brain from being probed by little grey aliens’, it’s a rather fetching silver, and would probably fit if you deigned to wear it. Evidently it was paint day at the Department because somebody painted a rather fetching crown on the foil.

Of course they also want to have their latest ‘lesson plan’ on ‘Aliens And You’ to be included in the K-12 curricula. You happily ignore that.

There was a severe storm on Nowy Gdansk, but thankfully the improved infrastructure and precautions against just that prove more than adequate to handle it. In the aftermath the locals describe the skiing as ‘quite good’. A number of grifftigers petition to visit the planet, which is duly granted, and there are now lovely videos of ‘tigers in the snow’ of young adult tigers romping in the deep snow drifts.

In somewhat related tiger news, Bastet evidently has found a boyfriend. A slightly larger, although he’s a year or two younger, tiger who’s taken the name ‘Anubis’, evidently because he found it amusing. Sekhmet has informed you that courtship rituals among tigers can last up to a decade, and will likely involve a number of paired hunts back on Capricorn ‘since only there can we find a good challenge’.

There is a disaster at one of the major vacation spots on Castor, however. A pair of large passenger smallcraft collided on the runway, resulting in almost a thousand dead. One of the two began its takeoff roll and, just as it rotated, the second encroached on the runway and was struck by the main landing gear of the first, resulting in a massive crash and the deaths of everybody onboard both craft. The planetary government is investigating the tragedy.

You have two new grandbabies. In fact, you now have as many grandbabies as you have kids. Which is very nice, but you are a greedy greedy ba and want more, and three of your kids have so far failed to provide you with any.

Thanh has promised that as soon as it is possible she’ll be happy to give you grandbabies, and she does have the very valid excuse that she’s waiting on the advance of biomedical technology, thank you very much. The twins, however, have no excuses whatsoever, the little playboys. You really wish they’d settle down!

But they’re racing, and still doing quite well. They’re not quite as dominant this year, but that is primarily due to a new rules package that the various teams are still getting used to.

Jeremy has written a memo that he copies to you recommending the gradual retirement and replacement of the Pathfinder mech and its replacement with Orb Weaver mechs in the scouting role. He points towards the lack of flexibility in the design, the highly cramped internal layout, the poor combat efficiency combined with the heavy drain on strategic materials for construction, and pilot reports of lack of stability at high speed.

He specifically cites the fact that the Orb Weaver has a superior electronics fit, is faster, has significant jump capability, is very stable even at full speed, and would only require Double Heat Sinks from the strategic materials pool, rather than Endo-Steel and Ferro-Fibrous. He also notes that as capable as the Orb Weaver is as a Scout, it would be equally capable as a Scout Hunter, the speed, probe, and long range primary weapon make for a lethal combination.

The memo then goes into some speculation about whether or not the design of the Orb Weaver may permit squads of power armored infantry to ride on top safely, although he notes that this would require jump jet equipped suits to be practical in combat.

This is evidently part of the work he is doing for post-graduate studies in Military Science.

You pass the memo on to General Potter, who is quite intrigued by it and promises to look into this. A few weeks later you get a memo from his office verifying some of the statements made about the Pathfinder itself.

[]Retire the PathfinderExisting Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
[]Retain the PathfinderNo change

And now it’s that most boring time of year, budget time.

Not boring, wonderful. Wonderful.

If you tell yourself that often enough you might even believe it.

General Jackson starts things off. “Your Majesty, we have a few priorities. First of all, we would like to procure a full regiment set of Power Armor. More specifically, we’d like to convert the Imperial Guard Regiment to a power armor regiment. This would require us to purchase 81 platoons of Power Armor (Light) to fully equip the regiment, the projected cost would be 3,732.58.” she pauses and gets a bit of a grin. “This would mean that you’d be issued your own suit, Your Majesty, as the regimental CO.”

“Second, right now we are very thin on ground forces on Nowy Gdansk. We would like to start to address this by procuring a full battalion of Chasseur hovercraft to form the core of a 2nd RRF Division to be based on Nowy Gdansk. We would be able to build all of them on the planet, with corresponding benefits to the planetary economy.”

“Finally, we would like to finish off the Light Fire Battalion, so far it appears to be a fully viable force composition and we’d like to continue work on such composite units in the future.”

General Reyes then takes over. “Right now the only units not at 100% Establishment strength are the 2nd Interceptor Wing for Gyrfalcons and the 1st Training Wing for Falcon IIs. Other than that we are at full strength, Your Majesty.”

Admiral Benjamin then takes the podium. “We have HMS Warrior under construction and are working on HMS Diadem. We would like to start production of either a Microraptor or a Velociraptor this year, along with a third Enterprise and a second [/i]Haskell[/i]. Other than that, we’re good to go, we are hoping for results from Enterprise’s survey of Griffin IV by the end of the year.”

General Potter then takes over in his gravelly voice. “Your Majesty, I endorse my subordinates' proposals, and also remind you that we can procure special operations troops. Moreover, the General Staff would like to propose standing up a 2nd Armored Division to be based on Nowy Gdansk. I know our defensive plans are to beat back Drac attacks in space, but a robust ground defense would protect from surprises as well as form the nucleus for any offensive operations against the Dragon. 2nd Armored will also allow us to test out several organizational concepts based on work carried out by 1st Armored.”

Bridget is Bridget. Which is rather appropriate, since she’s Bridget. Which means that whatever Bridget does is Bridget. That sounded better in your head.

“Your Majesty we’ve got some great ideas although we’re kinda stuck in some ways with those DoME projects but we’ve got so much else we can do like expanding our orbital assets even more like space stations and factories especially double heat sinks and armor and structure and we can now do some more planet surveys with the new exploration ship I’d recommend Griffin II because it’s close even though it’s not habitable or maybe Griffin VI since we don’t have good eyes on it from Sarah or even doing a more thorough survey of the Inner Asteroid Belt in conjunction with the commercial interests which might be profitable.”

One. Breath. Only.

Isoroku is back from overseeing the Olympics last year. “Your Majesty, while Foreign Affairs doesn’t have much to do, Cultural Affairs is open for business, may I recommend a benefits concert for the families of the victims of the Castor runway disaster?”

Jake is looking a bit disgruntled “Your Majesty, everytime I try to arrange a meeting with the Chamber of Delegates they cancel on me on the grounds that they are afraid I’ll be bringing the Department of Periphery Studies down upon them again. I’ll keep trying, but seriously this is getting old.”

Mary doesn’t even bother with her usual introduction, instead firing up the old projector and getting started on the new projects that are available.
  • HarJel
    • We are calling it this due to it being a rapidly hardening jelly that has mild antiseptic qualities that are being investigated.
    • It appears this would be highly useful as a sealant and impact absorber on power armor, as well as a hull sealant on any space based asset.
  • Subcapital Laser/2
    • Shorter ranged than the current subcapital laser weapon
    • Makes up for the shorter range by possessing a wider beam guide of 11cm, allowing for more powerful shots
  • Medium Subcapital Cannon
    • Likewise shorter range than the 204mm variant, this 220mm weapon uses the same propellant charge as the smaller weapon but fires a larger and more potent shell
  • K-F Drive Theory Tier 1
    • Would establish a solid baseline of knowledge about K-F mechanics and theory, permitting further research into developing usable hardware
She then puts up the charts for her recommendations.
  • Military
    • Heavy Battlemechs
      • We currently have a relatively light Mech force, Heavy mechs would massively increase our tactical options
    • CASE
      • Significantly improves the survivability of any unit equipped with explosive weaponry and ammunition.
    • ER Medium and Small Lasers
      • Analysis indicates that extended range variants of the 3cm and 5cm laser would be tactically highly useful
  • Non-Military
    • K-F Drive Theory Tier 1
      • For obvious reasons, this will eventually allow us to strike back at the Dragon
    • Terraforming Equipment Lvl 3
      • With the increase in scope of DoME, having a broader range of available projects would be a fundamental advantage going forward
    • Industrial Mechs Tier 3
      • Synergises well with the above by making it easier to complete DoME projects on time and on budget
Harry is at this meeting. “Your Majesty, your Intelligence service’s only request at this time is for funding to produce an orbiting black site to handle POW interrogations and holding.”

Janet has also made it, along with some of her fantastic coffee that helps keep you going. She’s also got baby pictures, and you spend a few hours comparing grandkid pictures and cooing over them. You’ve both become ba. She does find time for some serious talk, however. “Your Majesty, it’s been 35 years since you’ve taken the throne, and in that time hundreds if not thousands of new laws and regulations and rulings have been made, likewise for your father, your grandfather, etc. The law books at this point are titanic messes. We did some work early in your reign rationalizing things, I’d like to do that again, on a more systematic basis, and fully audit the entire corpus of law and precedent in our legal system.”
 

Lightwhispers

Well-known member
Things I want, assuming actions and budget permit:
Interior- expand Ferro-Aluminium and DHS factories
Justice: start the Audit.
Research: (besides everything) IndustrialMechs looks good, but not vital. KF Research is vital, but has a worryingly low target number. Life Extension level 2 would be nice. CASE is probably a very good idea, and relatively cheap.

As for the Pathfinder... not sure. Orb Weaver is better, but does cost a bit more.
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
[X] Yes

This is an absolutely priceless opportunity. The Free Folk are literally the only allies we currently have who have hands-on experience with K-F drives.

They send you a sample to ‘protect your brain from being probed by little grey aliens’, it’s a rather fetching silver, and would probably fit if you deigned to wear it. Evidently it was paint day at the Department because somebody painted a rather fetching crown on the foil.

The tabloids subsequently go berserk over pictures of the Royal Family wearing fetching aluminum foil hats.

In somewhat related tiger news, Bastet evidently has found a boyfriend. A slightly larger, although he’s a year or two younger, tiger who’s taken the name ‘Anubis’, evidently because he found it amusing. Sekhmet has informed you that courtship rituals among tigers can last up to a decade, and will likely involve a number of paired hunts back on Capricorn ‘since only there can we find a good challenge’.

Sekhmet gives you a Cat Look when you cheerfully declare that this totally counts as more grandbabies. On the other hand, she's not actually disagreeing. . .

There is a disaster at one of the major vacation spots on Castor, however. A pair of large passenger smallcraft collided on the runway, resulting in almost a thousand dead. One of the two began its takeoff roll and, just as it rotated, the second encroached on the runway and was struck by the main landing gear of the first, resulting in a massive crash and the deaths of everybody onboard both craft. The planetary government is investigating the tragedy.

*wince* Ouch. Space Tenerife.

The memo then goes into some speculation about whether or not the design of the Orb Weaver may permit squads of power armored infantry to ride on top safely, although he notes that this would require jump jet equipped suits to be practical in combat.

Sergeant Major Ngo gets this "oh no, my Officer is getting An Idea" look when you read that.

[X] Retire the Pathfinder
 

Chaeronea

Well-known member
[X] Yes +5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain

As is said in Hellsing Abridged, "Oh, fuck the hell yes!"


[X] Retire the Pathfinder Existing Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
 

kashim3

Texan, Mandalorian, Alabamian.
[X] Yes +5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain
[X] Retire the Pathfinder Existing Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
[X] Plan: Start all the big projects
 
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Vilegrave

Well-known member
Research: (besides everything) IndustrialMechs looks good, but not vital. KF Research is vital, but has a worryingly low target number. Life Extension level 2 would be nice. CASE is probably a very good idea, and relatively cheap.
The thing to remember though is that some benefits are not explicitly stated, like how Orbital infrastructure lvl 4 + building a lot of stations drastically increased the amount of Advanced materials we could produce (which is why DHS and FF production is so high now).

Industrialmechs + Terraforming will likely get us something similar if it's being recommended by our advisor, if nothing else it could reduce the amount of turns needed for DoME actions which would be well worth it.
 

Panzerkraken

Well-known member
[X] Yes +5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain
[X] Retire the Pathfinder Existing Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
 

Culsu

Agent of the Central Plasma
Founder
[X] Yes +5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain
[X] Retire the Pathfinder Existing Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
A question, how many years until the sequel of Magic Bushido Hands?

A twenty year armistice was agreed to as of Turn 28, and we've since had seven years of peace. We fully expect that the Dracs will break the armistice without hesitation when they decide the time is right, but right now they seem to be busy with their second planetary conquest. As a medieval society has no way of meaningfully resisting, I rather expect they'll be back sooner rather than later, which is part of why I pushed the Velociraptor DropShip forward now as opposed to waiting for us to unlock the next size of aerodyne so we could have the more optimal 5900 ton size.
 

Ridli Scott

Well-known member
A twenty year armistice was agreed to as of Turn 28, and we've since had seven years of peace. We fully expect that the Dracs will break the armistice without hesitation when they decide the time is right, but right now they seem to be busy with their second planetary conquest. As a medieval society has no way of meaningfully resisting, I rather expect they'll be back sooner rather than later, which is part of why I pushed the Velociraptor DropShip forward now as opposed to waiting for us to unlock the next size of aerodyne so we could have the more optimal 5900 ton size.

I know that they are going to break the dealdeal.

Seven years without them waving their MBHs? That must be a record
 

Thors_Alumni

Well-known member
[X] Yes +5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain
[X] Retire the Pathfinder Existing Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
 

kelgar04

Well-known member
[X] Yes +5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain
[X] Retire the Pathfinder Existing Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
 

PeaceMaker 03

Well-known member
[X] Yes +5 Target Number for K-F Theory Tier 1, Improves Relations with Free Folk, Opens potential event chain
[X] Retire the Pathfinder Existing Pathfinder factory converted to Orb Weaver, existing Pathfinders transferred to 1st Aerie Cadre for training.
 
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Jarow

Well-known member
The Free Folk are literally the only allies we currently have who have hands-on experience with K-F drives.
Also our only allies period- everyone else is either non-contacted, hostile, or integrated. Definitely something we want though.
 

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