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Solomani Confederation (Military)
- Thread starter Condottiere
- Start date
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Just covering my bases, though I have to take a closer look at the bay variants, I think that the Confederation Navy wouldn't be interested, and once you have molecular armour, pointless.
On the other hand, super lasers are under development by the Imperium Navy.
On the other hand, super lasers are under development by the Imperium Navy.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
L. You can't hit anything still manoeuvrable under two kilotonnes.
M. Under fifty hundred and one tonnes, it's minus eight, which makes it a rather precarious choice between having a distributed array, or needing to stop and do sensor sweeps.
N. Minus four for ten kilotonnes and under, so that's probably the upper boundary for fleet escorts.
O. Medium range seems the optimal engagement range, without needing to calculate
how the mass of the firing platform effects accuracy of the spinal mount.
P. One advantage of keeping the fifty hundred and one kilotonne hull is that volume adjustment is plus five, rather than the capped plus six which would start at six kilotonnes; anything under one kilotonne wouldn't be subject to targetting in most cases.
L. You can't hit anything still manoeuvrable under two kilotonnes.
M. Under fifty hundred and one tonnes, it's minus eight, which makes it a rather precarious choice between having a distributed array, or needing to stop and do sensor sweeps.
N. Minus four for ten kilotonnes and under, so that's probably the upper boundary for fleet escorts.
O. Medium range seems the optimal engagement range, without needing to calculate
how the mass of the firing platform effects accuracy of the spinal mount.
P. One advantage of keeping the fifty hundred and one kilotonne hull is that volume adjustment is plus five, rather than the capped plus six which would start at six kilotonnes; anything under one kilotonne wouldn't be subject to targetting in most cases.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
Q. The mass driver short range would be against manoeuvrable spacecraft, under twelve and a half hundred klix.
R. Orbital bombardment starts off with minus twelve, short range is plus one, tempered by platform mass of at least minus one to at most minus four, since you have to wonder if there's much point in building a Death Star.
S. Under ten kilotonnes, it's basically like a howitzer with open sights; no, a mortar.
T. Likely minus eleven, plus six for six kilotonne plus target, advanced fire control fourteen plus three, so minus two; or fire control five, which would be zero (since I don't think they should stack).
U. At close range it's dogfight mode, and then it's probably over.
Q. The mass driver short range would be against manoeuvrable spacecraft, under twelve and a half hundred klix.
R. Orbital bombardment starts off with minus twelve, short range is plus one, tempered by platform mass of at least minus one to at most minus four, since you have to wonder if there's much point in building a Death Star.
S. Under ten kilotonnes, it's basically like a howitzer with open sights; no, a mortar.
T. Likely minus eleven, plus six for six kilotonne plus target, advanced fire control fourteen plus three, so minus two; or fire control five, which would be zero (since I don't think they should stack).
U. At close range it's dogfight mode, and then it's probably over.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
V. At some point, the Confederation must have figured out they will need to dislodge dirtside Imperium resistance.
W. I'd say they would have wanted to invest in a platform larger than a hundred kilotonnes, for ease of transportation.
X. Technological level thirteen factor twelve mass driver gun, so forty eight kilotonnes.
Y. Ammunition costs the same and takes up the same amount of space, a semimegastarbux, whether shot from a factor one mortar, or a factor twelve bombard.
Z. The difference between the two would be, that the mortar could be deployed widely, and is an implied threat to low priority worlds, while the bombard is a lethal promise to strategic ones.
V. At some point, the Confederation must have figured out they will need to dislodge dirtside Imperium resistance.
W. I'd say they would have wanted to invest in a platform larger than a hundred kilotonnes, for ease of transportation.
X. Technological level thirteen factor twelve mass driver gun, so forty eight kilotonnes.
Y. Ammunition costs the same and takes up the same amount of space, a semimegastarbux, whether shot from a factor one mortar, or a factor twelve bombard.
Z. The difference between the two would be, that the mortar could be deployed widely, and is an implied threat to low priority worlds, while the bombard is a lethal promise to strategic ones.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
1. Though, the mortar could be more of a reference for the bay variants of the mass driver.
2. Now I wonder what kind of defences you can have dirtside against someone dropping a mass driven rock on your position, besides armour plating it.
3. Or, underneath a mountain.
4. Repulsor bays, once you calculate in relative energy as mass.
5. Or, at least, slight deflection, so that it wouldn't be a direct hit.
6. Though damage could be collateral.
7. We do seem to have the option for deflector screens at technological level ten.
8. Could be that repulsor/deflector actions might be more effective against actual physical ordnance.
9. Whereas deflector screens would be more geared towards energy weapons.
1. Though, the mortar could be more of a reference for the bay variants of the mass driver.
2. Now I wonder what kind of defences you can have dirtside against someone dropping a mass driven rock on your position, besides armour plating it.
3. Or, underneath a mountain.
4. Repulsor bays, once you calculate in relative energy as mass.
5. Or, at least, slight deflection, so that it wouldn't be a direct hit.
6. Though damage could be collateral.
7. We do seem to have the option for deflector screens at technological level ten.
8. Could be that repulsor/deflector actions might be more effective against actual physical ordnance.
9. Whereas deflector screens would be more geared towards energy weapons.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
A. A railgun costs three times less than the mass driver, and uses double the power, for the same amount of damage.
B. About a third less mass, a third more armour piercing, and slightly more range.
C. Real comparison would be against particle accelerators and meson guns.
D. The mass driver only engaging an enemy starwarship, only if they somehow managed to close to short range.
E. The railgun would need to close with enemy, since it's unlikely they would try to engage at medium range, voluntarily.
F. So, the platform should be configured as a brawler.
A. A railgun costs three times less than the mass driver, and uses double the power, for the same amount of damage.
B. About a third less mass, a third more armour piercing, and slightly more range.
C. Real comparison would be against particle accelerators and meson guns.
D. The mass driver only engaging an enemy starwarship, only if they somehow managed to close to short range.
E. The railgun would need to close with enemy, since it's unlikely they would try to engage at medium range, voluntarily.
F. So, the platform should be configured as a brawler.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
G. The meson gun is a good allrounder, but the mass driver is pretty specific as to optimal use.
H. The mass driver is only used in space combat as a last resort, and is too expensive to be expended in that role.
I. The railgun should, in theory, be capable of orbital strike.
J. Being physical, the railgun penetrates hull armour fifty percent better than the particle accelerator.
K. But range is medium, compared to very long, giving it more time to do so, assuming it manages to hit the opponent.
G. The meson gun is a good allrounder, but the mass driver is pretty specific as to optimal use.
H. The mass driver is only used in space combat as a last resort, and is too expensive to be expended in that role.
I. The railgun should, in theory, be capable of orbital strike.
J. Being physical, the railgun penetrates hull armour fifty percent better than the particle accelerator.
K. But range is medium, compared to very long, giving it more time to do so, assuming it manages to hit the opponent.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
L. I decided that the upper limit for the Confederation Navy would be fifty kilotonnes.
M. Not to say they couldn't manufacture larger spinal mounts, it's more a question of how large a platform they want to install it on, and, as far as it goes, economies of scale.
N. The latest and most powerful being technological level fifteen factor eight meson gun at forty eight kilotonnes, for the Mercury class fast dreadnought, Bonaparte class battle rider, and planetary defence.
O. Antebellum Navy Staff would be well aware that at some point they'd have to deal with besieging heavily defended planets, so they came up with the forty eight kilotonne technological level thirteen factor twelve mass driver spinal mount.
P. Outside of customization capping at technological level thirteen, fourteen being cutting edge for the Confederation at that point, and they'd need to develop something for their Promethii.
L. I decided that the upper limit for the Confederation Navy would be fifty kilotonnes.
M. Not to say they couldn't manufacture larger spinal mounts, it's more a question of how large a platform they want to install it on, and, as far as it goes, economies of scale.
N. The latest and most powerful being technological level fifteen factor eight meson gun at forty eight kilotonnes, for the Mercury class fast dreadnought, Bonaparte class battle rider, and planetary defence.
O. Antebellum Navy Staff would be well aware that at some point they'd have to deal with besieging heavily defended planets, so they came up with the forty eight kilotonne technological level thirteen factor twelve mass driver spinal mount.
P. Outside of customization capping at technological level thirteen, fourteen being cutting edge for the Confederation at that point, and they'd need to develop something for their Promethii.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Spinal Mounts
Q. The lower end would be the technological level twelve factor one meson gun.
R. This would be a comparatively cheap spinal mount to maintain, especially for planetary defence.
S. Spare parts would be widely available, and the difference of fifteen hundred tonnes could be more easily digested in that regard.
T. The Confederation Navy has a cruiser gap, so having a standardized model is going to help logistics and training, since they aren't going to have that many spacegoing platforms available.
U. Let's say the five hundred tonne version is the nine point two incher, but's only available one technological level higher, eight times cheaper, one fifteenth the volume, about one eighth the power requirement, and one tenth the damage.
Q. The lower end would be the technological level twelve factor one meson gun.
R. This would be a comparatively cheap spinal mount to maintain, especially for planetary defence.
S. Spare parts would be widely available, and the difference of fifteen hundred tonnes could be more easily digested in that regard.
T. The Confederation Navy has a cruiser gap, so having a standardized model is going to help logistics and training, since they aren't going to have that many spacegoing platforms available.
U. Let's say the five hundred tonne version is the nine point two incher, but's only available one technological level higher, eight times cheaper, one fifteenth the volume, about one eighth the power requirement, and one tenth the damage.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
1. The Imperial x-boat service has been gradually replaced by two parallel courier systems and what an Imperial citizen would take for x-boat routes on star charts are actually the main courier arteries.
2. The fleet of express boats inherited by the Solomani Confederation when it declared independence has not entirely worn out but the remaining craft have been kept in service only by cannibalising others.
3. Actually, I had an idea that what they would do is replace them with jump factor three upgraded Scoutships, since they could manufacture them at technological level twelve.
4. Today, there are few worlds served by an x-boat service.
5. I'd go more for the hub and spoke model.
6. Instead, information moves by way of the Confederation Courier Service (CCS), a network of contracted vessels capable of carrying mail in the same manner as an x-boat but not requiring tenders and pickup tugs.
7. Or provide them with the possibility of cheaply acquiring these jump factor three Scoutships.
8. I'm pretty sure that the Confederation Navy has to operate and maintain the remnants of the ecks boat network.
9. Probably the opportunity to assign the frack ups there.
1. The Imperial x-boat service has been gradually replaced by two parallel courier systems and what an Imperial citizen would take for x-boat routes on star charts are actually the main courier arteries.
2. The fleet of express boats inherited by the Solomani Confederation when it declared independence has not entirely worn out but the remaining craft have been kept in service only by cannibalising others.
3. Actually, I had an idea that what they would do is replace them with jump factor three upgraded Scoutships, since they could manufacture them at technological level twelve.
4. Today, there are few worlds served by an x-boat service.
5. I'd go more for the hub and spoke model.
6. Instead, information moves by way of the Confederation Courier Service (CCS), a network of contracted vessels capable of carrying mail in the same manner as an x-boat but not requiring tenders and pickup tugs.
7. Or provide them with the possibility of cheaply acquiring these jump factor three Scoutships.
8. I'm pretty sure that the Confederation Navy has to operate and maintain the remnants of the ecks boat network.
9. Probably the opportunity to assign the frack ups there.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
A. The Confederation Courier Service makes use of a great variety of vessels. Huge superfreighters, humble trade ships and specialist courier vessels are all tied into the network.
B. Jump factor three Scoutships, or Flea Traders.
C. Some are operated by the Confederation government but most are privately owned commercial vessels or are the property of a member government.
D. A lot of private contracting, possibly buffered with subsidization, since you probably wouldn't want to get isolated in the communications network, or lagged.
E. This system requires extensive bureaucratic oversight but it does save money.
F. I'm not quite sure about efficiency, but it does seem to be susceptible to pork barrelism, corporate welfare, and a deliberate policy to slow down non military and intelligence communications within the Confederation.
A. The Confederation Courier Service makes use of a great variety of vessels. Huge superfreighters, humble trade ships and specialist courier vessels are all tied into the network.
B. Jump factor three Scoutships, or Flea Traders.
C. Some are operated by the Confederation government but most are privately owned commercial vessels or are the property of a member government.
D. A lot of private contracting, possibly buffered with subsidization, since you probably wouldn't want to get isolated in the communications network, or lagged.
E. This system requires extensive bureaucratic oversight but it does save money.
F. I'm not quite sure about efficiency, but it does seem to be susceptible to pork barrelism, corporate welfare, and a deliberate policy to slow down non military and intelligence communications within the Confederation.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
G. Its other benefit is an open secret – SolSec has inserted a number of vessels into the mix and uses them for covert intelligence operations.
H. Not sure if this can be described as a trojan horse, or a worm.
I. Sometimes this means springing a trap on raiders who think they are about to raid a mail ship; on other occasions the ‘mail ship’ is actually carrying a strike force sent to eliminate a threat to the Confederation.
J. Who's dumb enough to raid a packet ship within Confederation space?
K. And who's providing security?
G. Its other benefit is an open secret – SolSec has inserted a number of vessels into the mix and uses them for covert intelligence operations.
H. Not sure if this can be described as a trojan horse, or a worm.
I. Sometimes this means springing a trap on raiders who think they are about to raid a mail ship; on other occasions the ‘mail ship’ is actually carrying a strike force sent to eliminate a threat to the Confederation.
J. Who's dumb enough to raid a packet ship within Confederation space?
K. And who's providing security?
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
L. Information thus moves between the Confederation’s major worlds at an average speed of two parsecs per week.
M. So they could rejuvenate the ecks boat system with a jump factor three courier, but there's no political will.
N. Busy systems will have a mail ship every few hours from other major ports, whereas backwaters may not receive CCS vessels on a regular basis at all.
O. So I guess you pay a tramp steamer Captain to deliver it.
P. Or a bush pilot.
L. Information thus moves between the Confederation’s major worlds at an average speed of two parsecs per week.
M. So they could rejuvenate the ecks boat system with a jump factor three courier, but there's no political will.
N. Busy systems will have a mail ship every few hours from other major ports, whereas backwaters may not receive CCS vessels on a regular basis at all.
O. So I guess you pay a tramp steamer Captain to deliver it.
P. Or a bush pilot.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
Q. Instead, whatever minor traffic is headed in and out of the system carries electronic mail and physical items to a larger port that does have a CCS connection.
R. So backwater planets do not have internet.
S. The CCS operates a flotilla of small ‘backwater boats’, which serve the minor ports on an as-often-as-possible basis.
T. Hard to believe this would work with subcontractors.
U. Konföderation, Konföderation über alles im Weltraum.
Q. Instead, whatever minor traffic is headed in and out of the system carries electronic mail and physical items to a larger port that does have a CCS connection.
R. So backwater planets do not have internet.
S. The CCS operates a flotilla of small ‘backwater boats’, which serve the minor ports on an as-often-as-possible basis.
T. Hard to believe this would work with subcontractors.
U. Konföderation, Konföderation über alles im Weltraum.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
V. This civilian courier network is paralleled by the Naval Communications Office, a specialist division of the Confederation Navy that provides high-jump couriers to the fleet and for official internal communications.
W. SolSec envies the navy’s direct control of the courier system; negotiations between the two organisations can sometimes hinge on the navy’s willingness to give SolSec access.
X. The navy has jurisdiction over not only its own courier network but also over civilian and corporate assets carrying information between worlds.
Y. This kinda changes the complexion of this arrangement.
Z. Unless it's more administrative, and they don't have to pay to support the civilian network.
V. This civilian courier network is paralleled by the Naval Communications Office, a specialist division of the Confederation Navy that provides high-jump couriers to the fleet and for official internal communications.
W. SolSec envies the navy’s direct control of the courier system; negotiations between the two organisations can sometimes hinge on the navy’s willingness to give SolSec access.
X. The navy has jurisdiction over not only its own courier network but also over civilian and corporate assets carrying information between worlds.
Y. This kinda changes the complexion of this arrangement.
Z. Unless it's more administrative, and they don't have to pay to support the civilian network.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
1. It's quite possible that the Confederation Navy has a communications detachment at each starport that monitors traffic and all incoming and outgoing communications.
2. Something I would have thought that Solomani Security would have been tasked to.
3. Communications Office vessels typically carry a liaison officer and a team of bodyguards, delivering information directly to on-station naval commanders and world governments without transmitting it in any form.
4. Communications security seems to have been carried out to an extreme degree.
5. The ‘comms case’ carried by the liaison officer is typically expected to contain all manner of secret information but its data is mostly dull statistics and reports on mundane matters across the Confederation.
6. This could reflect a paranoia of infiltration of their security apparatus by enemy agents, or possibly by superior technology.
7. It might also isolate where any leaks occur, and then send in the plumbers.
8. Still, it is never possible to say for certain whether a courier’s arrival is business-as-usual or the delivery of orders to start a war.
9. It might also be a possibility to assess the local command personnel and the readiness of the unit in general.
1. It's quite possible that the Confederation Navy has a communications detachment at each starport that monitors traffic and all incoming and outgoing communications.
2. Something I would have thought that Solomani Security would have been tasked to.
3. Communications Office vessels typically carry a liaison officer and a team of bodyguards, delivering information directly to on-station naval commanders and world governments without transmitting it in any form.
4. Communications security seems to have been carried out to an extreme degree.
5. The ‘comms case’ carried by the liaison officer is typically expected to contain all manner of secret information but its data is mostly dull statistics and reports on mundane matters across the Confederation.
6. This could reflect a paranoia of infiltration of their security apparatus by enemy agents, or possibly by superior technology.
7. It might also isolate where any leaks occur, and then send in the plumbers.
8. Still, it is never possible to say for certain whether a courier’s arrival is business-as-usual or the delivery of orders to start a war.
9. It might also be a possibility to assess the local command personnel and the readiness of the unit in general.
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Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
A. Support Operations Command is the supply and logistics arm of the Confederation Navy and also provides a number of other functions.
B. Basically, everything mobile that Fleet Operations, and Internal Security, don't directly control.
C. Many of its assets are tankers, transports and supply ships, with a modest number of escort vessels of up to cruiser size.
D. I'm a little vague on the escort aspect, and upto cruiser size.
E. SOC also operates the flotillas of couriers that keep official information flowing between the member worlds of the Confederation.
F. That's the relevant part.
A. Support Operations Command is the supply and logistics arm of the Confederation Navy and also provides a number of other functions.
B. Basically, everything mobile that Fleet Operations, and Internal Security, don't directly control.
C. Many of its assets are tankers, transports and supply ships, with a modest number of escort vessels of up to cruiser size.
D. I'm a little vague on the escort aspect, and upto cruiser size.
E. SOC also operates the flotillas of couriers that keep official information flowing between the member worlds of the Confederation.
F. That's the relevant part.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
G. Dedicated courier vessels are used for official communications and will often carry civilian
messages as well.
H. I'm guessing it would need someone influential to push that through the (long range) courier network, since even Solomani Security hasn't gotten guaranteed access to that.
I. SolSec does not always need to ask; it tries to have trusted open and sleeper agents at key facilities.
J. Open would be the assigned Commissar suggesting priority to the local Navy commander.
K. Sleeper seems a bit more clandestine, slipping in Solomani Security packages without anyone else noticing, or questioning it.
G. Dedicated courier vessels are used for official communications and will often carry civilian
messages as well.
H. I'm guessing it would need someone influential to push that through the (long range) courier network, since even Solomani Security hasn't gotten guaranteed access to that.
I. SolSec does not always need to ask; it tries to have trusted open and sleeper agents at key facilities.
J. Open would be the assigned Commissar suggesting priority to the local Navy commander.
K. Sleeper seems a bit more clandestine, slipping in Solomani Security packages without anyone else noticing, or questioning it.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Confederation Navy: Internal Communications
L. Typically the navy wields this message interdiction capability as means of concealing fleet movements from foreign agents or, at the direction of the Secretary General, punishing misbehaving worlds.
M. Operational security, though that implies that the Confederation Navy is clamping down on more than just the formal lines of communication, but likely all space traffic, military, commercial, private, and possibly, even Solomani Security.
N. Blockading or slowing down communications with sanctioned worlds is a political decision.
O. Interrupting a system or alliance’s courier service can cause great financial harm without the need for overt intervention or physical blockade and can deny information to potential rebels.
P. Suspect that Solomani Security agents are going to be busy dirtside as well, this seems to imply technical and bureaucratic difficulties and speedbumps, rather than just shutting down the communication network(s).
L. Typically the navy wields this message interdiction capability as means of concealing fleet movements from foreign agents or, at the direction of the Secretary General, punishing misbehaving worlds.
M. Operational security, though that implies that the Confederation Navy is clamping down on more than just the formal lines of communication, but likely all space traffic, military, commercial, private, and possibly, even Solomani Security.
N. Blockading or slowing down communications with sanctioned worlds is a political decision.
O. Interrupting a system or alliance’s courier service can cause great financial harm without the need for overt intervention or physical blockade and can deny information to potential rebels.
P. Suspect that Solomani Security agents are going to be busy dirtside as well, this seems to imply technical and bureaucratic difficulties and speedbumps, rather than just shutting down the communication network(s).
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