Dominion & Empire Turn 53
Turn 53
Imperial Income = 25094.4 Mcr
For the third consecutive month, the Imperium's income has dropped. The loss
of 3 populated systems and their income, combined with the extensive selling
of government owned industries, has seen our monthly income slip back to the
level of 12 months ago.
Colonization has also been at low levels. In an effort to minimize costs,
all efforts have been focused on in-system colonies, rather than the
choicer, more productive terrestrial planets. This trend continues, with
another 6 million colonists shipped to various asteroid belts.
On the shipyard front, a Squall class space station is finally completed in
Heaven, freeing Construction 01 for duties in the Zanzibar system.
Construction 01 will proceed to Zanzibar, and assist in construction of the
first Zanzibarian home-built space station.
SS SQUALL class SS 424 Hull TL 1
[1] HHHQQLh(BbS)(CHS)(SYx)x5 [0]
424 RCP 76 MCP Trg:1 Cost = 3205/ 24.1
HTK 60
In Eternity, 12 Nelson destroyers are refitted to Mod 2 status, and 6
Pegasus Mod 1 heavy cruisers are finished.
DD NELSON MOD 2 class DD 6 XO Racks 30 Hull TL 3
[3] SS AAA ZH(I)(I)Q(I)(I)W(I)W(I)LhDW(I)WMg [7]
30 RCP 20 MCP Trg:1 Cost = 403/ 60.5
HTK 22 Sx2 Ax3 Dx1 Wx4 Mgx1
CA PEGASUS MOD 1 class CA 12 XO Racks 60 Hull TL 3
[3] SSSSSSS AAAAAA ZH(II)W(II)W(II)W(II)M2WD(BbS)(II)WD(II)WMgLhQ [6]
60 RCP 40 MCP Trg:3 Cost = 852/ 127.8
HTK 43 Sx7 Ax6 Dx2 Wx8 Mgx1
Tying in with refitting, the DSB control system is developed this month. The
DCS allows control over up to 100 laser buoys, providing flexibility in
usage, and far superior safety in deployment. The DCS requires a large
amount of mass and space aboard a vessel, and in the long term bases will be
constructed with the DCS to safe-guard warp points. However, as the ongoing
war with the Draconis calls for quicker solutions, a refit of the System
Defense Boat corvette hull has been approved.
CT DCS class CT 16 Hull TL 3
[2] SA H(Ic)(Ic)Qs(DCS) [4]
16 RCP 9 MCP Trg:1 Cost = 170/ 25.5
HTK 7 Sx1 Ax1
The CT SDB design has proven to be a disappointment, lacking both the
numbers and firepower to effectively protect a system. As such, all
remaining such vessels are to refitted to the new design, for use in
defending the Hector-Kowloon and epsilon Eridani-Timor warp points. QRF 01,
currently in Eternity begins refit to the new design, with QRF 02 entering
the yards next month.
With 5 such vessels at each warp point, we will be able to deploy 500 laser
buoys at each, fully controlled by the CT's. To this end, 500 laser buoys
are shipped to Epsilon Eridani, and a further 380 to Hector.
Additionally, another 16 Discovery vessels begin refit to the EX(FT) design,
and once completed will load 60 laser buoys each, and be added to the
attacking fleets, to cover warp points leading to Draconis space as we take
back systems. As part of this strategy, 790 laser buoys begin construction
this month.
This strategy is the only effective way of safe-guarding our systems from
attack. In addition, we shall be only attacking via the Hector-Kowloon warp
point, so as not to reveal the closed warp point in Timor. Needless to say,
no attacks are planned until sufficient defenses are ready.
While the laser buoys are an extremely effective defense, the problem of
attacking against a warp point seeded with the buoys has also been
considered. To this end, the Imperial HQ has been studying tactics to
minimize losses in such an attack.
News from our allies is again minimal. Zanzibar has finished development of
the CIC module, and now started on the Shuttle. The Chosen have finalized
work on the Gun launcher, and begun colonization of the Athens system.
Both of our allies have agreed to our proposition of limiting further
expansion. In effect, we have made a fair trade. We shall not ask for
assistance in the Draconis war, if they agree not to explore any further
then current borders.
Turn 54
Imperial Income = 26800.9 Mcr
Reports from our allies indicate the Zanzibarians have completed development
of Science Instruments, and almost completed construction of their space
station. Construction 01 has arrived in system, and is assisting in the
work.
The Chosen have almost finished the research on upgrading the technical base
to a level equivalent of the Imperium's 4 years ago. Much work needs to be
completed before either of our allies have reached the same technical and
economic levels are ourselves.
Our newest, and strangest allies continue to puzzle. In a complete reversal
of the last few months, our fleets have been ordered out of Novoya Rodina,
and are expected to return to Siebold. Since this is certain death, an
appeal is made to the commander of the Rodina fleet, and he promises not to
pass along to the Rodina high command that we have not returned to Siebold.
Instead, the Rodina commander instructs our fleets to go into hiding in the
outskirts of the system.
Our fleets comply, but are facing a new problem. Being out of contact with
the Imperium also means being out of supply. Critical breakdowns, and
various minor malfunctions, have left 50% of the vessels in dire straits.
The fleets need immediate resupply, or our vessels will fail totally.
Another plea is sent to the local commander, and our fleets await a reply.
The downward spiral in Imperial income has reversed, with a slight upswing
this month. While by no means is this a full recover, at least the economy
is no longer falling in value. A strong economy is vital to the Imperium,
for without it there is no chance of long term survival.
16 more Discovery EXs are refitted to the EX(FT) design, and load laser
buoys. For the time being, these vessels are attached to the Home Fleet,
until a more organized structure for the fleets is organized.
5 more CT SDB vessels are refitted to the DCS design, and are immediately
sent to Epsilon Eridani, to defend the Timor warp point.
15 more Scipio Mod 2 vessels are finished, and attached to the Home Fleet.
Combined with the Pegasus CAs finished last month, these vessels will form
the core of any attacking force to retake the Kowloon system. Additionally,
a single Pegasus vessel is also completed.
Going by current construction speed, it is expected that within 2 month the
vast majority of the heavy ships intended for combat with the Draconis will
be completed, and have undergone shakedown cruises. Therefore, combat
operation should begin no more than 4 months from now.
Concerning the Laser buoys problem, of attacking a defended warp point, an
initial theory has been developed. By mounting large numbers of assault
shuttles, to be deployed after transit, an attacking fleet can then let the
Assault Shuttles target and destroy the laser buoy. This is by no means a
perfect solution, as it will still engender severe casualties on the first 2
waves of attackers at least, but offers the best methodology currently.
To this end, the surfeit of Discovery vessels is again modified. While no
longer useful for surveying, the basic hull type is proving surprising
useful.
EX(AST) DISCOVERY class EX 7 Hull TL 1
[2] H(I)(BbS)(BbS)(BbS)(I)Qs [8]
7 RCP 18 MCP Trg:1 Cost = 73/ 11
HTK 7
Carrying 3 Assault Shuttles on each vessel, it is theorized that transiting
16 of these vessels should provide an adequate "soaking" of any deployed
laser buoys. As with most warp point assault tactics, the true efficiency
will not be known until it is tested in actual combat.
Another new design has been asked for, arising out of the Draconis attack on
Niven. The Draconis vessels come in two distinct "flavours", armed with
either long range or short range weapons. It has been pointed out that the
majority of Imperium ships are more suited to a long range battle, and thus
not as effective in a short ranged battle, such as a warp point assault.
Therefore, the following modification to the Light Cruiser hull has been
approved.
CL CAESER class CL 9 XO Racks 45 Hull TL 3
[3] SSS AAAAAAAA ZH(BbS)(I)(II)L(I)(II)LD(I)LhLM2LD(II)Q [6]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg:3 Cost = 618.5/ 92.8
HTK 32 Sx3 Ax8 Dx2 Lx4
10 such vessels are laid down this month, and will form the last new
construction vessels to be used in the attack on the Draconis
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