JNES- Space NES

[GeneralTacticus]

Hi all - having just returned from holidays and found a PM from Jack_www inviting me to participate, I'd like to join this NES.

With regard to nations, my preference would actually be for something not on the list - a space-based "Belter" type faction (vaguely similar to the Ousters from Dan Simmons' Hyperion novels, for those who have read them). If that's not acceptable, I'll take Japan.

A couple of other questions/comments/suggestions:

- I'm not sure I see the need for a magic light-speed drive at all. If this was a game about interstellar colonisation and politics, then some sort of FTL drive would be needed to make it work, but this seems to be focused on events in our own solar system. For that, travel by conventional means should be perfectly adequate. And if we did want to make this an interstellar NES, we'd need a much faster drive, because even a lightspeed drive would take years to reach the closest star systems.

- Given that this is set in 2105, what sort of general tech level are we looking at here? For instance, do we have AIs? (My preference would be for yes, because I like AIs.) Do we have magic-tech items like energy shields? Approximately how fast do our spaceships move (light-speed drive aside) - would they travel between planets in dayS? Weeks? Months?

In particular, if we're going to be having large-scale space combat going on, I'd expect nuclear weapons to be fairly ubiqitous - after all, they are pretty much the most efficient weapon available short of antimatter, and they're not that hard to make.

[foolish_icarus]

to Martian Empire :

We respect your commitment. However, out here, as you well know, it only takes one failure of an inferior system for millions of lives to end. We have no conventional system that can equal the effectiveness of nuclear devices. In this era of advanced chemical, biological, and spacefaring propulsion knowledge we all know nuclear weapons are hardly a greater threat than any other.
Yet we are a peaceful people, and we hope you will trust in our responsible use of our technology.

[Cyclotron]

The Martian Empire to the United Lunar States

Though we are interested in any hydrogen, we will eventually require a more plentiful source. We are planning to build Sabatier reactors that will convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide (which we have a great deal of) into water and methane, which will assist us in terraforming our environment.

With the availability of fusion reactors and the possibility of conventional techniques for asteroid deflection, we cannot condone the practice of nuclear warhead use and development even for ostensibly peaceful applications. While nuclear power plants are not harmful if well managed, anti-asteroid warheads are easily weaponized, and no human government should be entrusted with such destructive power. We remain committed to developing a conventional defense against such weapons and discouraging other nations from pursuing nuclear arms.

[foolish_icarus]

United Lunar States to the Martian Empire :

Indeed! We spacefarers ought to help each other as much as possible. Our research institutes will always be available to exchange information, equipment, and personnel with yours.

Regarding your need for hydrogen, we have some small quantities of H and He3 blown onto the surface of our world in long years past by the solar wind. We are rapidly exhausting the supply of easily mined deposits, but we recognize that the more hands there are working to find new sources the better off we'll be, so we'll sell some of our supplies to you at the lowest possible cost. We should look towards opening up new mining facilities, perhaps as joint projects, in the asteroid belt and the Jovian system.

We understand your opposition to nuclear devices as weapons designed to be cruelly turned against the brothers of their makers, but nuclear power also has the capacity to save mankind. Not only can it be used as a source of domestic energy, but nuclear explosions are one of the most effective ways to deflect dangerous impactors, which you will certainly appreciate the importance of as a fellow world without much of a protective meteorite-ablating atmospheric shell. We, for example, are designing a program to put nuclear devices into operation for these very reasons.

[Jack_www]

From: People's Republic of China
To: Mars

What concern it is of yours what we do with our miltary forces and arms? As for your request for hydrogen, we will not give one atom to Mars!

[Cyclotron]

The Martian Empire to All Nations of Earth

We regret the neccessity of terminating our relationship with our Terran administrators, but we hope that an amicable relationship can continue between all humans. In the interest of diplomacy and mutual benefit we would be interested in purchasing large quantities of hydrogen, in exchange for valuable minerals and metals. On a separate note, we solemnly condemn the production, development, and use of nuclear weapons and call upon all nations of Earth to confront this dire threat to all mankind through measured disarmament. We are willing to sign preferential trade agreements with nations that are verifiably free from nuclear arms.

The Martian Empire to the United Lunar States

As you are also embarking on a terraforming mission of your own, we suggest an exchange of technology between our scientists and engineers and yours. Perhaps mutual cooperation and technical assistance will benefit both of our endeavors.

[Cyclotron]

Program starting up…
Broadcast incoming on all Martian channels
Compensating for solar interference…
Decrypting identification markers…
Signal identified: Martian Broadcasting Syndicate, Olympus Mons transceiver
Source identified: Colonia Olympia, Imperial Seat
Broadcast identified: Imperial Communiqué to All Martians
Receiving…

Hail Mars! Hail Humanity! Hail the Future!

The years since our independence have given we Martians a chance to look back on all that humanity has achieved and the unique place we hold in the history of our race. From the descent of our ancestors from the trees of Earth to our first ascent into the heavens, we have never been content with stagnation. We have ever been moved by our deepest impulses to grow, explore, produce, invent, develop, and work towards a society in which the evils of the past are supplanted with the ideals of the future.

Yet the Terrans, our kin on Earth, have long since fallen into decadence. The petty nations of man on Earth still scheme against each other, denying their true mission – the propagation of humanity to the stars – and placing the onerous demands of a dying world on the noble colonists of our new world. It pains all of us to think that thought, but we cannot deny that the Earth is dying; mismanagement and overpopulation have doomed it to stagnation, conflict, and despair. It falls to us, the vanguard of human civilization, to grow new hope from Martian soil. It is our sacred duty to build a new society in which the drive and energy of our citizens is not shackled by the base interests of the Terran hordes. We, along with our Lunar brethren, represent the new pride of humanity, the most favored children of Earth that have left their mother behind to venture into the endless opportunity of space.

A new beginning must be made. Mars must be made “Terra Nova,” the New Earth, that we might create a new cradle of our civilization. We have learned from Earth’s own past and will ensure that the new capital of mankind lives eternally. I am proud to announce the beginning of the Terra Nova Project, a comprehensive multi-generational terraforming plan to gradually make Mars a place where we need not confine ourselves to the sealed complexes of the Coloniae. We will produce and launch reflective film into space, which will be unfolded and assembled into immense orbital mirrors. This mirror array will be the first stage of the Project, trapping Martian heat and melting Martian icecaps, creating liquid water and adding more greenhouse gases to heat our world. The shapes you will soon see floating overhead are the harbingers of a new era for Mars – indeed, for all of humanity.

Let us welcome this new era with joy and hope, but let us at the same time remember the steadfast resolve that we must maintain to carry us through these turbulent times. The fate of our people depends on you.

Emperor Tharsis Magnus, Sovereign of Mars, Phobos, and Deimos, Guiding Light of Humanity, Protector of All the Martians, Elect of the Praefectii Coloniae.

Broadcast terminated
Request protocol initiated
Your request “Martian News Items” is being processed
Searching…
4 Items found. Displaying results (summary only):

Martian Emperor Announces “Terra Nova Project”
In a cross-frequency broadcast to the Martian people, Martian Emperor Tharsis Magnus has announced the beginning of an ambitious terraforming project, the first stage of which is to increase atmospheric heat retention and icecap melting through the use of a mobile orbital mirror array.

Martian Probes Visit Asteroid Belt
The Martian government has begun sending a series of probes and manned survey missions to various asteroids in the main asteroid belt of our system, carrying out the Martian government’s stated aim of securing valuable mineral resources in the belt. Experiments and field tests with automated mining equipment are reported to be ongoing.

Evidence of Sensor and Weapons Tests on Phobos and Deimos
Observatories on Earth and the Moon have reported significant low-level radiation and radio wave signatures from the two moons of Mars. A leaked Martian government report indicates that these may be tests of new sensor equipment for detecting incoming vessels quickly and at a long range. In a related story, the Martian government has repeated its often stated opposition to nuclear weapons, citing their danger to the entire human race, and has admitted that it is researching and engineering an orbital missile interception system to deal with “rogue Terran states.”

Martian Officials Conclude Planet-Wide Council
The civic heads of each “Colonia” (self-sustaining colony) on Mars, the Praefectii Coloniae (Colonial Prefects), have concluded their meeting at Colonia Olympia after outlining a new Martian Constitution. This constitution provides for an elective Imperial monarchy, to be selected by the Prefects, and a deliberative technocratic body called the Senate of Engineers (elected by scientists, engineers, mission specialists, and other technocrats) to administer civil and technical affairs for the planet. The right of the people of each Colonia to elect their own local council to administer the internal affairs of their Colonia has also been recognized.

End of results
Program terminated.

[foolish_icarus]

Firefly style pseudoscience might be appropriate: Their spaceship engines make things go fast not by expending massive amounts of energy but by artificially and temporarily reducing the inertia of the ship, allowing it to accelerate to a sizable fraction of c with not much energy. Turn the inertia field off, and the ship goes back to more or less its original speed. Pretty low impact solution.


Lunar States to China

Suit yourselves. Your shortsightedness is why we took our independence into our own hands. We hope you outgrow it and come to trust us.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Cyclotron
Possible sci-fi workaround: The light speed drive uses some kind of delicate graviton field which becomes unstable and inoperable around the massive gravitational fields of planets, moons, stars, and so on.

Possible sci-fi workaround 2: The engine "bends" space rather than just going really fast, so its kinetic energy never gets that high.

I would think it does not work well arround planets one is a good idea.

[Cyclotron]

Possible sci-fi workaround: The light speed drive uses some kind of delicate graviton field which becomes unstable and inoperable around the massive gravitational fields of planets, moons, stars, and so on.

Possible sci-fi workaround 2: The engine "bends" space rather than just going really fast, so its kinetic energy never gets that high.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by foolish_icarus



Mostly I'm concerned about their potential as a weapon--such a spaceship would have enough kinetic energy to destroy a planet.

ooc:
That is true, I never though about that before.

[foolish_icarus]

Originally posted by Jack_www


I would imagine they use fusion reactors to power them. The only problem with them is that they consume massive ammounts of energy when in use, so they cant be used for very long periods of time. Also if they are in a war ship, they most likely wont be able to use their weapons while at light speed.

Mostly I'm concerned about their potential as a weapon--such a spaceship would have enough kinetic energy to destroy a planet.

[Jack_www]

News and Events from the People's Republic of China

War Games show off Chinese Millitary

Last month the Chinese millitary stage war games for training purposes and to show the world that China can indeed defend itself and her allies. The games involved serveral divisions from the Chinese army, the First Space Fleet, 300 warplanes, and 345 surface ships. It was a grand sight to take in as the Chinese Millitary Showed it can crush any enemy that dares to attack China!

China Sends Millitary Adivisors to South America
In order to help our South American allies, China has sent 10,000 millitary adivisors to South America in order to help train the South American army. Much of their army are conscripts with little training. China's goal is to transform the South American army into a professional fighting force. Our South American allies have accepted our help and we hope that with the next 10 years that they will be trained to a level where they will no longer need China's help.

China plans to close the Missile Gap
The NATO alliance has far more nuclear weapons then the Chinese Alliance. This cannot stand! This is a grave danager to the security of the Communist Alliance. To that end China is starting a nuclear weapons build up program. This is the only way to ensure that the Communist Alliance survives!

China to send survey teams to the moons of Saturn
China is send survey teams to the moons of Saturn to see if any of them would be able to support a human colony. After the loss of our colonies on Mars and the Moon, China is looking for more places in our solar system where China can establish its own colonies for scientific research.

[Jack_www]

From: People's Republic of China

To: United Lunar States

China does not trust a word out of your mouth. We will do what we please with out future space colonies and you will have no say in how they are governer. After the chaos that you caused when both our Mars and Moon colonies rebelled we will not have anything to do with you!

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by foolish_icarus
How do the light speed engines work? What are their limitations?

I would imagine they use fusion reactors to power them. The only problem with them is that they consume massive ammounts of energy when in use, so they cant be used for very long periods of time. Also if they are in a war ship, they most likely wont be able to use their weapons while at light speed.