Beyond Alpha Centauri:: Discussion Thread 2

[Kassiopeia]

Firstly, a question about the infamous method of Quantum Tunneling.
Can a ship with this device go at any speed? I mean, can it go at "only" 1 lightyear / day instead of the five or ten? Can it have a "maximum" speed and a spesific, slower "cruise speed"? Or does it have to move at sublight drives when not in Quantum Tunneling, and when Quantum Tunneling the ship travels automatically at 5/10 LY per day, no chance of less?

Originally posted by Mellian
Kass, isn't there SSH's in Jupiter and Saturn region?

Yeah, I would guess so. Probably orbiting the moons, perhaps the planets themselves. Gotta think that through.

How does one take out a hover tank, however? Looking back on Alpha Centauri, they look like tough little fellows.

Err, you trap it on a gravitic mine? Can you create artificial gravity on such small sizes? I dunno, it would probably be pretty expensive to spend grav generators on exploding mines. Maybe it would be a reusable trap that holds it still and then it can be taken out with a fixed gun placement?

And there is no haste with the message from Sol to Sparta.

[Mr. President]

How does one take out a hover tank?

I would guess that a heat-seeking missile could do the trick. Maybe one of those neat Delta Force-ish devices where you paint the vehicle with a laser beam or something and a plane or a munition locks on to it. Maybe if you were clever enough, you could set a terrain trap for it: block its path with boulders and fallen trees, dig large holes, force it to slow down or change course any other way, giving you a chance to shoot it.

On a different note, you may see the first part of my new story later today. It's entitled The Hunt, and is a story of espionage, intrigue, and maybe even romance, set in the universe of Beyond Alpha Centauri. For those who care, the date is around the launch of the first University FTL ship.

[Mellian]

Originally posted by History Guy
OK, LMP, I edited the post to conform. All dreadnoughts belonging to Terra are now battlecruisers. Besides that, though, was my post OK?

No, but a ship-buster missile is like 10-20 metres long... that poor Heavy Corvette surely dead Anyway, was okay I have to find sometime to do a post concerning a TAF task force, so people have an idea how one is operated and the basic TAF tactics.

LMP, on Callisto, I believe you have overlooked areas where I mentioned oxy-masks and battle armor, and there are several mentions. In fact, one character is taken out by a "shot through the oxy-mask".

I haven't... but there was details of scraped flesh or something like that? With an environment with no air, a body becomes a balloon and splat.... so any exposure of flesh means instant kill... and the temperature on the Callisto wouldn't be to high either

Now, for the part where the InEn troops caught in various forms of undress? if they were, they would be dead due to the environment.

Anyway, can be complete suited Battle Armor...but there was no indication that they were Power Armor.

Thanks, LMP, for the OOB, I'm working on my new post now. It'll be a long one. I think we'll capture Manson's flagship, but several battlecruisers shall escape, and in fact one shall take down a transport, scattering my 2nd Division all over Terra Nova. How does one take out a hover tank, however? Looking back on Alpha Centauri, they look like tough little fellows.

Okay, but the Battlecruiser would be useless as Computer systems and important hardware will be trashed as per the procedure when facing capture.... Can make it that the BC was heavily damaged too.... easily preventing the success of self-destructing the ship.... Can nock a BC, or any ship for that matter, out of commission without completly them. Can be floating, completly wrecked...which is common to happen with BCs then completly blow apart and so on...does have Reinforced Hull, meaning Reinforced Structural skeleton And there may be survivors in a wrecked BC to.... A TAF ship may lose life support, but the crew will be ready in such situations and me suited up in basic skin suits and helmet like ala Honor harrington, but more advance looking then the front of one of the covers... required when entering combat and there would be enough time for the TAF to gear up.
So Manson's battlecruiser could be trashed, and whats left of internal systems trashed by the surviving crew....... Manson could be found geared up in the airless Bridge, with indications that there was a breached, but quickly sealed.

As for how to hunt down a Hover Tank, well, with other hover tanks if you don't have any, then better to try to fight them in non-open fields like a Rocky area and a forest (which i doubt will have any on a barren world, with barely an atmosphere i may add too, like present Mars). Can use Proximity Mines, Missile Launchers (we are in a sci-fi universe, odd they will still be using heat seeking missiles....why not simpy targetting lock by a mini cpu in the missile? would be possible in this day and age of BAC. call them Smart Missiles if you want), and some good darn tactics. Ever played Battlezone 1 or/and 2? they won't be ultra fast TAF ground forces will be like the ISDF in BZ2....... and they will be Biometal armoured.... not life like looking thought. Don't forget the Siege Tanks like Starcraft, where they can be either mean tread moving Assault Tank or a Shock Cannon artillery, which will have longer ranges then what they have in SC. Actually, will finally do the TAF Ground units stats........

[Mellian]

Originally posted by kassiopeia
Firstly, a question about the infamous method of Quantum Tunneling.
Can a ship with this device go at any speed? I mean, can it go at "only" 1 lightyear / day instead of the five or ten? Can it have a "maximum" speed and a spesific, slower "cruise speed"? Or does it have to move at sublight drives when not in Quantum Tunneling, and when Quantum Tunneling the ship travels automatically at 5/10 LY per day, no chance of less?

Going slower then the maximum speed, of course, by putting less power into the FTL, how else can then do easy in-system jumps? as for slowing down or going faster when in transit i am not sure.... maybe if the FTL drive is sophiticated enough... and would need a more advance FTL Drive as well to allow alteration in course while FTLing.

Two main things that about how fast a FTL can go, its range and so on.... how much power it goes into it and how efficient the FTL Drive uses that power.... some FTL drives could burn out when given to much power into it too.....

Another detail, not current Human technology allow to send or receive FTL Communications outside during a Transit.... but a fleet using the same FTL Quantum tunnel when travelling together may communicate among each other, but not via radio thought, but some other means which by now Humanity figured out.

Yeah, I would guess so. Probably orbiting the moons, perhaps the planets themselves. Gotta think that through.

mixture of Babylon 5 and Gundam Wing colonies styles? They would be able to orbit anywhere i would think.

Err, you trap it on a gravitic mine? Can you create artificial gravity on such small sizes? I dunno, it would probably be pretty expensive to spend grav generators on exploding mines. Maybe it would be a reusable trap that holds it still and then it can be taken out with a fixed gun placement?

Proximity Mines will good decent blast coverage?


And there is no haste with the message from Sol to Sparta. [/QUOTE]

[Sprayber]

Hello everyone.

Thanks for all the expressions of sympathies. It has been really difficult the last few days. In a way we all expected it but when it finally came time, no one was ready.

Thanks for giving me a good story to read. I have read all the various independent stories as well. Very good stuff there guys. I'll be sure and read more. Mr. President, Its good to see more independent stuff from you.

I'm going to Germany week after next and will be gone for three weeks. I'm not really looking forward to going, but don't really have a choice. I will be back god willing and I hope to see lots of wonderful things in the story. Depending on how things go. I'll try and post something.

Once again, thanks for the kindness. And keep up the outstanding work being done here.

[Mellian]

How about the majority of TAF's Gear Units survive the Morganite/Soldiers of God invasion, along with other military survivors, and end up waging Guerilla warfare with Gears? Will be interesting indeed.

Hey, would like to have the TAF revolutionize space and ground combat during the "Unification War" while smarting the Terran Alliance up after a quick little Terran Civil War involving the down fall of the Coalition Government and replaced with a more TA Friendly Earth Goverment? just ideas.......................



-LMP

[Kassiopeia]

Originally posted by Mellian


Going slower then the maximum speed, of course, by putting less power into the FTL, how else can then do easy in-system jumps?

Infallible reasoning. I was just thinking they would keep the device activated for a shorter period of time...

as for slowing down or going faster when in transit i am not sure.... maybe if the FTL drive is sophiticated enough... and would need a more advance FTL Drive as well to allow alteration in course while FTLing.

So, you would rather not give this ability to Terrans? (The possibility for a beforehand calculated speed is enough, though)

Two main things that about how fast a FTL can go, its range and so on.... how much power it goes into it and how efficient the FTL Drive uses that power.... some FTL drives could burn out when given to much power into it too.....

That's what I had in mind..

"Full speed!"
"But Sir! The strain might be too much! I can't tell if I can keep her in one piece"...

Another detail, not current Human technology allow to send or receive FTL Communications outside during a Transit.... but a fleet using the same FTL Quantum tunnel when travelling together may communicate among each other, but not via radio thought, but some other means which by now Humanity figured out.

Nice to know. This can be quite important story-wise.

mixture of Babylon 5 and Gundam Wing colonies styles? They would be able to orbit anywhere i would think.

*nods* I'm still somewhat unprepared in the SSSH section, but it's a really decent idea and worth pursuing.

***

Enjoy Germany, Sprayber. The language is a killer, but otherwise.

[Kassiopeia]

Oh and Mellian, thanks for all that stuff on Terran vehicles, unless you object, the Coalition equipment will be quite the same. We do share manufacturers, right?

[Mellian]

Okay, i read 2/3 of the second page of the Story thread....

Lonestar,

in some of your first posts in the story mentions Altair..... (which originally thought the Free Drones would control). I also like the pics, but the second looks more Bio looking then the first

In General,

TAF is largely ignored i am sure they are not anymore later in the story, but they sure wasn't considered early on

Bug in the story is the military sizes and military units sizes.......... EC as plenty of ships to play around, and technicly not straining resources, yet Hive/Morganites think it would? then the Believers and Morganites play around with how many ships the morganites is paying for...... a very small fraction in comparison to how many ships EC as
I hope fleet ratio disconsistancies bug will be remove later on

EC seem to fond of having large amount of soldiers/ships under one military unit label............ Amount Ships that can make up a Task Force or even a fleet is considered a Battle Squadron.... which i brought up before..... why not Battle Group? (maybe you did use that, don't remember and not time to check). Then you have 20-50k of troops as a Battalion? geez

I haven't got to point of the counter-attack on Callisto, but definatly hope you people made the TAF Ground Forces look barbaric and evil like it is rumoured to happen in the story and what i read before in the discussion thread

Another note, don't expect 20th or early 21st century clothing fashions to last until 2700 I like how Babylon 5 simply got rid of the darn tie............but dislike it how Startrek have silly 60s sci-fi style clothing with corny uniforms, then have Jump-suits as the most common styles in TNG Startrek was better off keeping the red uniforms in startrek....... or dislike it how starfleet keep changing their uniform, bleh!

Anyway, i may be picky about story bugs and silly details, but this is the 28th century darn carnit and we may know collectively that bugs and so on not to repeat.... maybe good to fix obvious ones from past posts... as there will be people reading the story and maybe no bother reading the Discussions. that can get confuse

Need to fix the map I probably will when i can, like maybe next monday when my wokrplacement is closed and if i don't have more imporant stuff to do..... lwhich i should of done today, like a database on quattro pro,

got to go now.......

-LMP

[Kassiopeia]

Originally posted by Mellian
EC seem to fond of having large amount of soldiers/ships under one military unit label............ Amount Ships that can make up a Task Force or even a fleet is considered a Battle Squadron....

Is the 300 ship Battle Squadron - error still somewhere there? A Battle Squadron of 30 ships is quite in the range of a Battle Squadron.

which i brought up before..... why not Battle Group? (maybe you did use that, don't remember and not time to check).

I recall using the term "Battle Fleet". So there. I'll check and possibly fix it. As we agreed, there are 12 Battle Fleets in the Coalition, each Battle Fleet is divided to 6 Battle Squadrons. The total number of CSN ships is between 1700 and 1800.

Then you have 20-50k of troops as a Battalion? geez

Look, I don't know of the largest Earth military unit. In Finland, a Battalion, a Pataljoona, is the largest one. So there. Cultural differences!

I haven't got to point of the counter-attack on Callisto, but definatly hope you people made the TAF Ground Forces look barbaric and evil like it is rumoured to happen in the story and what i read before in the discussion thread

I am sorry, but I effectively left them out, just saying "that they were there" and that they were doing most of the job, and that it was TAF ordering the assault.

[Mellian]

Originally posted by kassiopeia
Oh and Mellian, thanks for all that stuff on Terran vehicles, unless you object, the Coalition equipment will be quite the same. We do share manufacturers, right?

At first maybe, but most of the TAF Ground Units and Air Units are built on Pluto, with help Scions, using Biometal

maybe can have non-biometal versions TAF acquired the Power Armor technology from the Coalition after all, and few others.

Maybe tonite, i can finally do the proper stats for the Terran Battlecruiser and the other space units....... starting to rethink about the Starfury and Thunderbolt......... well, atleast the Thunderbolt...... needs design changes in comparison to the one in Babylon 5.

kass, I also have story ideas for the Terran Alliance in general, and what to do in response to Capella (such a good system to lose to 100 hundred years left before Terra Nova, another good name use on a Barren world, gets engulf by the Sun..... why not dump the sun engulfing part, but Capella system proving not to have much value except for mining....and terraforming a barren world........ anyway, will PM ya......... have you done the Terran Alliance structure in general? I got some details from the story so far.....probably on your site which i need to go back to find the link for

anyway,m later......


-LMP

[Kassiopeia]

Originally posted by Mellian
have you done the Terran Alliance structure in general?

The Coalition has kept me so far preoccupied

I got some details from the story so far.....probably on your site which i need to go back to find the link for

http://personal.phpoint.net/nortti/bac.htm

And, my profile has my homepage, of which my BAC site is a part of (just follow the links!).

About Capella: Ok, why not, the engulfment part is practically irrelevant as we are not likely to write for 100 years (but who knows? )

maybe can have non-biometal versions

Well, duh!

[History Guy]

Well, I intend to have my post up by tomorrow. The scene in which we destroy a hovertank may look a little odd, but that's because I'm not too sure on how we are supposed to do these things in anyway. Admiral Manson will be dead, Lord MP. Silence can do his post however he likes, but he should note that his men are attacking the right flank of the Terran line.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Mellian


Lonestar,

in some of your first posts in the story mentions Altair..... (which originally thought the Free Drones would control). I also like the pics, but the second looks more Bio looking then the first

Guess you haven't seen B5: Legend of the Rangers yet. The second ship is a Minbari Ranger ship, built 12 or so years before the Shadow War. Countrary to appearences, it is not organic.

In the case of the Protectorate, "Ranging Ships" as they are the deep space patrol vessels, are designed to look advanced, so to confuse races they may encounter.


Wew! That's a run-on sentence!

[Mellian]

Originally posted by Lonestar


Guess you haven't seen B5: Legend of the Rangers yet. The second ship is a Minbari Ranger ship, built 12 or so years before the Shadow War. Countrary to appearences, it is not organic.

Thats what happens when you don't have a TV available with Cable or Satellite or Digital and not being able to fit into the schedule of life Currently with my billeting family which as satellite, but all of the good channels are not available