Quest Deep Periphery Quest (Battletech Sandbox Empire Builder)

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
Well, considering as things stand that we're about to engage into conflict with the first mini boss ( Kurita ) I'd say we should focus on the ability to achieve Air superiority, which in turn means the ASFs to me, therefore I'd suggest to focus on them first in order to provide more punch and survivability to our crack pilots.

Some of our DropShips are actually dedicated aerospace combat platforms and they are a much more decisive superiority asset than ASFs.
 
Turn 49 - On a Dark Desert Highway

LordSunhawk

Das BOOT (literally)
Owner
Administrator
Staff Member
Founder
Turn 49 - On a Dark Desert Highway

You are on the horns of a dilemma. You have in front of you a number of excellent refit designs for the various dropships, which in most cases focus on seriously increasing firepower, although in one case it instead focuses on taking an already quite deadly escort carrier and making it, in the words of the review board, ‘fit for human occupation’ as the original was extremely crowded.

The problem is that in order to properly implement the upgrades across the board you’ll need to shuffle the various in-service dropships through the yards to be refit. In the future it may be necessary to have technically obsolete, at least in terms of the bleeding edge tech, ships remain in service without overhauls for extended periods of time, but for now it is just possible to cycle the entire existing fleet through the yards within the year… but it would preclude being able to lay down new construction this year.

Bridget has a long term solution for you, to start building refit yards separate from the building yards. But that doesn’t help you right now.

[]Refit now
  • Cost 1,463,384.91
  • No new dropships may be laid down this year
[]Defer to later
  • Can continue to build current designs
  • Costs for the refit program will go up

However the refits are, in general, worth it.

NameCostMaterialsHPA/DSpecials
Defiant II Assault Dropship42164.64FA, DHS285155
  • Armored 8
  • Swift
  • Missile 5
  • AMS 16
  • Armor-Piercing
Warrior II Assault Carrier84267.68FA, DHS488218
  • Armored 22
  • Capital 3 43
  • Missile 8
  • AMS 12
Lightning II Parasite Destroyer104442.24FA, DHS535305
  • Armored 18
  • Swift
  • Capital 3 39
  • Missile 20
  • AMS 24
Devastation II Parasite Cruiser399253.12FA, DHS12621002
  • Armored 21
  • Capital 2 190
  • Capital 3 218
  • Missile 48
  • AMS 36
  • Command 2
  • Armor-Piercing
Megaraptor Refit Parasite Escort Carrier100578.24FA, DHS452252
  • Armored 15
  • Missile 8
  • AMS 12
  • Armor-Piercing
Tyrannosaurus Refit Parasite Destroyer129741.84FA, DHS666456
  • Armored 16
  • Capital 3 63
  • Missile 14
  • AMS 60
  • Armor-Piercing
Langley II Parasite Carrier295886.64DHS519289
  • Armored 18
  • Capital 3 40
  • Command
  • Missile 6
  • AMS 48
Velociraptor Refit Aviation Dropship90879.84FA, DHS555305
  • Armored 20
  • Missile 6
  • AMS 20
  • Armor-Piercing
Troodon Refit Parasite Missile Boat100931.04FA, DHS610410
  • Armored 15
  • Capital 3 20
  • Missile 6
  • AMS 58
  • Armor-Piercing

A solid upgrade proposal is also received for the Microraptor, but with those being relegated to training roles it is ultimately decided to set those plans aside for the time being.

Interestingly, the Devastation refit turns the vessel into a flagship on top of being your most lethal combat vessel. Expanded accommodations, separate flag facilities, and enhanced communications systems allow the vessels to command entire fleets if need be. As such, there is talk about reorganizing the fleet once more into a larger number of smaller task forces led by Devastations. These task forces would then, as needed, be assembled into larger fleet units.

You decide that you haven’t given your eldest daughter enough paperwork lately, so you have Admiral Benjamin assign Thanh the task. You do sweeten the deal, however, and when your beloved and feisty daughter complains to you about Yet More Staff Paperwork, you note that you are considering her for command of the fast wing of the fleet. Then you shoot down her hopes by noting that she’d still be barred from the cockpit of an ASF.

You still got it.

There’s one other bit of naval news, Lee Aerospace and the Royal Aerospace Werks have unveiled the Sentinel-class Parasite Scout Cruiser, a 35,000 ton high speed monster of a scouting platform. It is actually equipped with an updated version of the Enterprise-class’s sensor suite, expanded and made even more capable, and hosts a pair of the survey shuttles the current explorer uses, although it lacks the vehicle bays for ground exploration.

The thought is that you pretty much lack a good, solid, combat reconnaissance platform, and the Enterprise-class is almost certainly not up for the job no matter how many upgrades you try on the basic frame. The older bird is too slow, too small, and too fragile. It is hoped that by the time you are building jumpships and beginning to act more aggressively, that you’ll have at least 2-collar designs in service. One collar would be occupied by a Devastation to defend the jumpship, the other by a Sentinel which would commence a high-speed survey of the target system, singing the troll song while leading the defenders on a merry chase.

NameCostMaterialsHPA/DSpecials
Sentinel-class Parasite Scout Cruiser388666.08FA, DHS748598
  • Armored 10
  • Capital 2 76
  • Capital 3 90
  • Swift
  • Command
  • Missile 16
  • AMS 32

In a somewhat surprising bit of news a small startup company has emerged in the Griffon II Orbitals, building a compact building platform that provides a pair of construction docks sized for small dropships. Indeed, the only current military dropships in production that could be built there would be Defiants, and the company evidently planned for that by purchasing production licenses for the upgraded design. As such, starting next year, you’ll have a pair of dedicated Defiant slips available, assuming you go forward with the refit programme this year.

A scandal erupts in the Griffon Inner Asteroid Belt stations when it is learned that an unscrupulous mining company has been engaging in highly unethical workplace behavior, resulting in a short strike and then a full investigation of the company by the authorities. Fines have been levied against the company and several corporate officers are facing prosecution on top of a major shareholder lawsuit against the board which looks like it will result in a complete clean sweep at the top for the firm.

You check with Janet, evidently the only reason the company had gotten away with it as long as they did was that they’d bribed the union official who was responsible for actually filing any complaints with the authorities, said official had then lied to the workers that complaints had been filed while, in fact, not doing any such thing. That particular official is currently in protective custody and is also facing prosecution. The actual authorities acted within hours of finally receiving a complaint, resulting in commendations being placed on their records for their diligence.
 

Jarow

Well-known member
[X] Refit now
We have to do this now. Not because it'll increase in price later (as there'll be more things to improve), but because we're getting new yard space every turn expanding the shipyards. Sooner we do this the less production we lose overall.
 

Thors_Alumni

Well-known member
[X] Refit now

I'm with Jarow on this, The sooner we get this done the better since we don't know when the Drac's will return for another round.
 
ShadowArxxy - Canon Omake - Look at the size of that thing!

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
[X] Refit now

Also, OMAKE!

As deadly and effective as the entire series of new refits is, improved versions of existing craft just doesn't have the spectacle of a new ship reveal, especially Majeure Electrique's dinosaur-themed showcases. Unfortunately, the trend towards larger and larger DropShips strongly favors spheroid pattern vessels over aerodynes, and this shift seems to have left the company on the back foot. They've stayed afloat by collaborating with the Imperial Griffin Works on the Devastation class and the entire series of new combat transports, but they haven't introduced anything new in several years.

"Palace Control, this is private DropShip Shamu One-One on Special Flight Permit ST-321. We are approaching your controlled airspace, transmitting security codes."

"Shamu One-One, we have confirmation of your code transmission. You are clear to proceed." The Palace spaceport controller switched to the guard channel with the smoothness of several decades of experience. "Palace Control to Ajax Lead. We have a DropShip authorized to land at the Palace, proceed with standard intercept and escort."

Two of the four brand-new Eagles of the security air patrol broke away from the standby racetrack and went to full throttle, accelerating sharply into the clear blue sky to meet the incoming vector. Seconds later, they broke through the cloud layer.

"Ajax Lead to Palace Control, we have visual contact with the incoming DropShip." There was a slight hitch in the ASF pilot's radio voice. "Please confirm landing authorization for superheavy class assault DropShip."

"Landing authorization is confirmed." echoed the space controller smoothly. "Majeure Electrique brought a shiny new breakfast treat for the Queen."

------

Code:
Renown-class Parasite Battleship/Imperial Yacht
Type: Military Spheriod
Mass: 100,000 tons
Battle Value: 103,826
Cost: 11,420,332,000 C-bills

Armor
    Nose: 1322
    Sides: 1127/1127
    Aft: 934

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Fighter (12)            4 Doors  
    Bay 2:  Small Craft (2)         1 Door   
    Bay 3:  BattleArmor (CS) (12)   1 Door   
    Bay 4:  Cargo (1024.0 tons)     1 Door

Specials:
    Armored 22
    Capital 2 456
    Capital 3 218
    Command 3

(Note: the Renown is a special flagship variant of Majeure Electrique's new Godzilla-class parasite battleship. This one-off vessel was jointly developed by Majeure Electrique and the Imperial Griffin Works, with Lee Aerospace handling interior fitment.)
 
Last edited:

namar13766

Well-known member
Note: the Renown is a special flagship variant of Majeure Electrique's new Godzilla-class parasite battleship. This one-off vessel was jointly developed by Majeure Electrique and the Imperial Griffin Works, with Lee Aerospace handling interior fitment.)
So this isn’t what the actual Godzilla class will look like? It’s going to be more of a combatant than a command design?
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
So this isn’t what the actual Godzilla class will look like? It’s going to be more of a combatant than a command design?

That is correct. Note that "Godzilla class" is the internal company name for the design; per @LordSunhawk, they will be commissioned as the Royal Sovereign class (plus the corporate design doesn't yet reflect the new 'official' classification scheme). Here are the specs:

Code:
Godzilla Superheavy Escort Missile Boat / Royal Sovereign class Parasite Battleship
Type: Military Spheriod
Mass: 100,000 tons
Battle Value: 129,183
Cost: 3,914,820,000 C-bills

Fuel: 250 tons (2,500)
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Heat Sinks: 420 (840)
Structural Integrity: 142

Armor
    Nose: 1171
    Sides: 1001/1001
    Aft: 828

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Fighter (36)            3 Doors 
    Bay 2:  Small Craft (4)         2 Doors 
    Bay 3:  BattleArmor (CS) (2)    1 Door  
    Bay 4:  Cargo (2000.0 tons)     1 Door  

Ammunition:
    4,320 rounds of Anti-Missile System [IS] ammunition (360 tons),
    4,608 rounds of Improved Gauss Rifle ammunition (576 tons),
    1,728 rounds of Improved LRM 20 ammunition (288 tons),
    360 rounds of Piranha ammunition (3,600 tons),
    480 rounds of Heavy SCC ammunition (480 tons)

Escape Pods: 35
Life Boats: 0
Crew:  21 officers, 3 enlisted/non-rated, 78 gunners, 104 bay personnel, 92 passengers, 28 marines, 12 BA marines      

Notes: Mounts 511 tons of ferro-aluminum armor.

Weapons:                                       Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)                                 Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV     ERV   Class     
Nose (290 Heat)
6 Sub-Capital Missile Launcher (Piranha)   54   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  Sub-Capital Missile
    Piranha Ammo (60 shots)
4 Sub-Capital Cannon (Heavy)               168  28(280) 28(280)  0(0)    0(0)  Sub-Capital Cannon
    Heavy SCC Ammo (80 shots)
12 Improved Gauss Rifle                    12   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  AC        
    Improved Gauss Rifle Ammo (768 shots)
6 Improved LRM 20                          36   7(72)   7(72)   7(72)    0(0)  LRM       
    Improved LRM 20 Ammo (288 shots)
20 Anti-Missile System                     20   6(60)    0(0)    0(0)    0(0)  AMS       
    Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (720 shots)
RS/LS Fwd (290 Heat)
6 Sub-Capital Missile Launcher (Piranha)   54   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  Sub-Capital Missile
    Piranha Ammo (60 shots)
4 Sub-Capital Cannon (Heavy)               168  28(280) 28(280)  0(0)    0(0)  Sub-Capital Cannon
    Heavy SCC Ammo (80 shots)
12 Improved Gauss Rifle                    12   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  AC        
    Improved Gauss Rifle Ammo (768 shots)
6 Improved LRM 20                          36   7(72)   7(72)   7(72)    0(0)  LRM       
    Improved LRM 20 Ammo (288 shots)
20 Anti-Missile System                     20   6(60)    0(0)    0(0)    0(0)  AMS       
    Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (720 shots)
RS/LS Aft (290 Heat)
6 Sub-Capital Missile Launcher (Piranha)   54   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  Sub-Capital Missile
    Piranha Ammo (60 shots)
4 Sub-Capital Cannon (Heavy)               168  28(280) 28(280)  0(0)    0(0)  Sub-Capital Cannon
    Heavy SCC Ammo (80 shots)
12 Improved Gauss Rifle                    12   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  AC        
    Improved Gauss Rifle Ammo (768 shots)
6 Improved LRM 20                          36   7(72)   7(72)   7(72)    0(0)  LRM       
    Improved LRM 20 Ammo (288 shots)
20 Anti-Missile System                     20   6(60)    0(0)    0(0)    0(0)  AMS       
    Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (720 shots)
Aft (290 Heat)
6 Sub-Capital Missile Launcher (Piranha)   54   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  Sub-Capital Missile
    Piranha Ammo (60 shots)
4 Sub-Capital Cannon (Heavy)               168  28(280) 28(280)  0(0)    0(0)  Sub-Capital Cannon
    Heavy SCC Ammo (80 shots)
12 Improved Gauss Rifle                    12   18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  0(0)  AC        
    Improved Gauss Rifle Ammo (768 shots)
6 Improved LRM 20                          36   7(72)   7(72)   7(72)    0(0)  LRM       
    Improved LRM 20 Ammo (288 shots)
20 Anti-Missile System                     20   6(60)    0(0)    0(0)    0(0)  AMS       
    Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (720 shots)
 
Last edited:

namar13766

Well-known member
That is correct. Note that "Godzilla class" is the internal company name for the design; per @LordSunhawk, they will be commissioned as the Royal Sovereign class (plus the corporate design doesn't yet reflect the new 'official' classification scheme). Here are the specs:
So it’s the Castrum made almost a century earlier?
 

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
So it’s the Castrum made almost a century earlier?

Yeah, only my design is a *lot* more optimized -- it has almost twice the BV of the Castrum *plus* 36 ASFs backing it up. The only advantage the Castrum has is it has full-fledged capital missiles versus only Piranhas on ours, but the Piranhas actually give more firepower for the tonnage, and the stupendously-massive AMS battery on the Royal Sovereign is actually capable of stopping multiple Killer Whales cold.
 
Turn 49 - Up Ahead In The Distance

LordSunhawk

Das BOOT (literally)
Owner
Administrator
Staff Member
Founder
Turn 49 - Up Ahead In The Distance

You are absolutely certain that Willis knew about this, but hadn’t warned you. The massive bulk of the new Imperial Yacht, HMS Renown, loomed over the palace from the nearby dropship pad, evidently the ‘essential renovations’ work that had been done there had been a cover to prep it for a hundred thousand ton monster of a dropship. The ship was impressive enough, but the detailed work… There was actual gilt filigree and designs adorning the vessel, including a fifty foot tall enameled Imperial Crest that seemed to have the blacks done in sheets of jet, actual gold, and artificial rubies for the eyes. The bottom third of the hull seemed to be solid gold, for God’s sake, and as you watch you see the carbon scoring from reentry and landing fall away under the water curtain of the pad cooling system, leaving the gold pristine. Above the gold, and providing a backdrop for the filigree and the enormous Imperial Griffon, the hull seemed to be an enameled eggshell white that positively glistened in the sun. It looked like somebody had seen an image of one of those ancient Faberge eggs and got inspired.

“The entire hull has a centimeter thick layer of transparent armor of the same sort used on ASF cockpits.” is a wholly inadequate explanation for why somebody thought this was a good idea. Then you realize that it had to be Willis, and the Lee family is infamous for their flamboyance.

Later that day you tour the interior. The crew spaces are well enough appointed and somewhat oversized, but when you reach the entire three decks set aside for the Imperial party it again gets ludicrous. Luscious hardwood paneling everywhere, with plush and gloriously scarlet velvet padding. More gold filigree work, acceleration couches that look like they could double as massage tables… oh wait, they all have individual heating, cooling, and massage functions, not to mention built in drink cabinets. The ‘deck’ is covered with luxurious carpeting, although Thanh is able to point out all the clever tricks used to conceal service hatches without blocking them. There are mirrors everywhere, conformal video screens… then you find the zero g pool... the bathrooms feature gold plated convertible toilets (with regular and zero-g modes)... there’s a proper old style lounge, a full-service beauty salon, a private and public dining room… it is all far too much.

Sergeant Ngo takes the time to show you the security features, your personal suit of power armor is in a discrete charging cubicle with automated gear to help you put it on in an emergency, for example. From her smirk, you know full well that she was also in on this, and didn’t bother to tell you about it.

Then you peak into the hangar decks and have to resist the urge to throttle your laughing daughter as your jaw nearly drops… gold plated Eagle ASFs? A pair of shuttles that faithfully mimic in miniature the ridiculously gaudy exterior of the ship itself?

This monstrosity has to cost more than a dozen regular combat dropships! And just as you are winding up to complain about the sheer extravagance and waste of money, Willis pulls the most treacherous move yet and reveals that the entire thing was paid for via a subscription campaign conducted by schoolchildren throughout the Empire and the decoration scheme had been the one the darling little demons, including some of your own grandchildren you realize, voted for.

So you grit your teeth, smile broadly, and pretend to be totally fine with it all, even as the economist in you curls up and sobs in the corner joined by the infantrywoman you once were. At times like this you miss the mud.

Parliament, especially the Lords, is being unusually helpful, working with your advisors to make final arrangements for Jeremy to temporarily hold down the fort as Regent while you are absent from the Empire and on your trip to the NRI.

They are also conducting some actual business this year. The scandal from the Griffon Inner Asteroid Belt is spreading, as several other instances are discovered of corrupt union officials taking bribes from corrupt corporate officers to conceal worker abuses. A pattern soon emerges, showing that one of the largest and most powerful unions in the Empire seems to be quite thoroughly corruptible, at least at the upper ranks. Arrests and prosecutions are showing up in the news feeds on a daily basis, mostly of union bosses, but also a good number of corporate officers who’ve been bribing them to look the other way.

Janet wants to unleash the Special Branch on the unions. That could get… spectacular.

[]Cry Havoc and let slip the Jane of War
  • Progresses the event chain
[]Can’t we all just get along?
  • Progresses the event chain

Parliament, meanwhile, wants To Act And Be Seen Acting. Oh boy. There are two competing proposals, both of which have at least some bipartisan support between your supporters and opponents. One is to impose stricter Imperial oversight over unions, the other is to establish independent Imperial ombudsman offices outside both union and management control for individual employees to report abuses to without needing to first go through union or management channels.

[]Imperial oversight over unions
  • -5 Politics
  • +2 support Chamber of Delegates
  • +2 support Imperial Senate
  • +1 Approval Change
  • Prevents certain events
[]Imperial Ombudsman Service
  • Upkeep of 50,000 a year
  • +3 support Chamber of Delegates
  • +3 support Imperial Senate
  • -5 Economy Rating
  • -5 Economy Event
  • +1 Approval Change
  • Prevents certain events
[]Why not both?
  • Upkeep of 50,000 a year
  • -5 Politics
  • +4 support Chamber of Delegates
  • +4 support Imperial Senate
  • +2 Approval Change
  • -5 Economy Rating
  • -5 Economy Event
  • Prevents certain events

You hadn’t noticed, with how busy you’ve been, but now that it’s reached the headlines you do pay a bit of attention, mostly for the sheer… impact. And that was a bad pun, because the event in question is the collision of a small train of asteroids into Griffon VI’s atmosphere resulting in some absolutely glorious imagery. Astronomers estimate that this is something that happens roughly once every ten thousand years or so, as the supergiant acts as a gigantic broom sweeping up orbital debris before it can threaten the inner system. The extra-system comet that hammered Griffon II is a stark reminder of what could happen absent such protection, and seeing impact features in the atmosphere of the supergiant larger than Griffin’s Roost itself is… mind-blowing.

Some scientists do bring a troubling supposition to you, however. Griffon VI is a failed star, a supergiant that is just barely short of igniting into a full fledged star in its own right. They are a bit concerned, what happens if Griffon VI ever accumulates enough mass from debris to cross over that threshold and ignite into a second star in the system?

[]That is worrisome, put DoME on the case!Event Chain VI-D
[]Time for Science!Event Chain VI-S
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top