Collace: Expansion, Promotion, Logistics

[BackworldTraveller]

If we want to be able to get a good view of the inside of the Zho ship, a densitometer would be useful...Standard issue to the Scouts.

Now, if the logistics officer at the scout base was not looking...just about anyone could wander one out with the right papers.

[shaidar]

Some initial thoughts on the various offers:

ImpInt/Van Owen

Imp mercenary bond: Not really interested, it would put off some potential clients. Plus it's clear that Van Owen seems us as a pawn and he wants to owe nothing to the man.

Willis Bryce: Not willing to provide any info against Ms Vitt for this.

Vladimir Mikhailov: Best not to tell them about our part in his death.

Urvash Gudrun: The Man Who WIll Not Die

Surveil the Zho: Also against this. The Zho assisted the SEMC on Inchin and Avastan (and likely in taking the Bartizan), and so he is not willing to replay this by spying on them.

SuSAG

Obviuosly there is some kind of internal power struggle going on. It is tempting, but he is quite happy to not get involved and let them sort it out amongst themselves. Although getting on their good side might be useful for his revenge.

Polly

None of your business

Zho

I'm expecting the ambassador to put forth something at the meal this evening. There must be a reason for their visit.

[The Bindoner]

I was under the impression “Urvash Gudrun“ was a “cover identity” – more a title/position than a name. Now I wonder if it is a “personality” that can be imposed on someone. Kind of like the Imperial Agent in Marc Millers book. Only, being a Joe, with Woo instead of honest ImpTech

As to the rest, I broadly agree.

[Tiglath]

"Woo" is now adopted as a "technical term of art".

[gurusql]

Like the Dread Pirate Roberts?

[BackworldTraveller]

Like the Dread Pirate Roberts?

Nothing like the Dread Pirate Roberts

[Tiglath]

Like the Dread Pirate Roberts?

If you are suffering the same "wonky incoherency" of notifications/posts as I am and you're referencing this:

I was under the impression “Urvash Gudrun“ was a “cover identity”...

Well...

[gurusql]

Here is the story from A Princess Bride on the Dread Pirate Roberts and it being a long line of people that have used the same name.

[Tiglath]

Must confess to being a big fan of the film!

For interest only below is a "theatrical fight coordinator's" take and background on that swordfight. Start at about 6 mins in to avoid the plot explanation (and to discover who else was Darth Vader... apart from Dave Prowse and James Earl Jones).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0rkUbrPo3k

[The Bindoner]

Reviewing the spending options, I came up with this proposal:

12.5MCr budget:

Refinery: 575K

Ship Repair: 500K (nice to have, maybe not now?)

Dumb-bot: 100k (x3 = 300K)

Ship repair bot: 100k (x3 = 300k)

Stealth recon bot: 250K

Essor Recon drone: 875K (nice to have, maybe not now?)

Bartizan missile defence w. autoloader: 1.25MCr

10 troopers (Klaus + 9 Marines/Cavalry): 3.5MCr

Firefly Cannon IFV: 2.7MCr

Punisher MLRS: 4.8MCr (+ammo +carrier) (too expensive to buy, support and resupply)

IFV "battle taxi" cost is 2.4 MCr (we already have one "spare")

The trader already has ten low berths and so if you install 60 low berths (30 tons) you get sufficient to carry all your troops with about 10 as "spares" for prisoners/redundancy/servicing/expansion/whatever. Cost: 3 MCr


EMS Active Array (Planetary) 280 Kcr - with Jammer = 560K
EMS Active Array (Far Orbit) 600 KCr (nice to have, maybe not now?)
EMS Jammer doubles the cost above and defeats Active sensor suites of lesser range.


12.435MCr spent

We will need some CES and PDFs for the vehicle crews, and any extra drone ops, which will probably eat the spare change.

If we cut back on drones and/or the EMS Jamming we could invest in the Spaceship Repair Facility (which is an earner as well as an asset)


Also:

Yes indeed you could probably join the PDF (although most seem to see it as more of a "loose association" on Collace) and get paid for feeding data to ISS on Kirkton Orbital Defence Command. Likewise you could likely get a standing defence contract if you put your battery (magazine fed version only for this) at their disposal or (as a negotiated minimum) at least "on call".

We ought to consider these options. Earning cash and making friends are good, but how closely do we tie ourselves to the gov'ment?

EDITED

[shaidar]

Nice list, looks good.

Were we planning to 'rent' the missile defenses and Ems array to the PD to assist in the event of an emergency? Might get us a bit more income and some brownie points. Depending on the details of any contract, of course.

I guess we'd get more income from the starship repair facility and could always have the jammer fitted later.

[The Bindoner]

Nice list, looks good.

Were we planning to 'rent' the missile defenses and Ems array to the PD to assist in the event of an emergency? Might get us a bit more income and some brownie points. Depending on the details of any contract, of course.

I guess we'd get more income from the starship repair facility and could always have the jammer fitted later.

I think renting out our facilities is a good idea. We are based on Collace, we ought to help defend it, or, rather, whoever it is currently profitable for us to support in controlling Collace

I'm happy to put off the jammer, lose a dumb and repair drone, and buy the repair yard.

I was editing the above to cover some of this as you posted

[joertexas]

Reviewing the spending options, I came up with this proposal:

The trader already has ten low berths and so if you install 60 low berths (30 tons) you get sufficient to carry all your troops with about 10 as "spares" for prisoners/redundancy/servicing/expansion/whatever. Cost: 3 MCr

VIper's Nest can carry everyone in a troopship configuration without resorting to low berths, I believe. Klaus and his Marines would be berthed on Deliverance, though.

[The Bindoner]

Ah, I thought that, but couldn't spot the relevant post. Well, an extra 3MCr means we can afford the repair yard and more drones/troops.

[joertexas]

Ah, I thought that, but couldn't spot the relevant post. Well, an extra 3MCr means we can afford the repair yard and more drones/troops.

The troopship configuration has ten staterooms and up to 78 bunk spaces.

[Tiglath]

More than happy to go with making the Viper's Nest a "troopship".

This will cost a cheap 500 KCr and some refitting time.

Low/No risk low berths are the "High Guard" design solution. However, the designers already acknowledged/admitted the failings of that system via the "Sword Worlds/Das Boot Exception" (halving required stateroom tonnage). Nevertheless, we get to the same effect in game.

So, in short and to avoid getting tangled up, I'm good with the "bunks" option - which is I believe from a later and (more functional) ship design iteration.

[The Bindoner]

I assume that we still have (most of) the cargo deck for vehicles and other supplies?

[Tiglath]

Yeppers and its nearly all re-configurable - given time and spanners.

Luxury transport it is not - there's no way it's not going to smell of "troop deck"!

[BackworldTraveller]

Yeppers and its nearly all re-configurable - given time and spanners.

Luxury transport it is not - there's no way it's not going to smell of "troop deck"!

High-Tech deodorisers won't be available? Shocked!

[shaidar]

I'm not comfortable feeding sensor data to Kirton, but I'd be interested in the differences between an 'on-call' contract and an 'at their disposal' contract.