Beyond Alpha Centauri::: Discussion Thread 3

[Sovereign]

Ok. I'll provide my reasoning for three topics.

I won't use the Warlock ships. I'm getting a little annoyed, because I honestly don't know who has dibs on which ships.

LMP just wrote down his list of dibs, so it would be a good idea if everyone else could do it. That way we can avoid stepping on each other's toes.

I'd like to have two ship standard designs. One is the Imperial star destroyer style, and the other... I have to find a way to take a pic and then paste it here. Its a more circular version of the star destroyers, in a tubelike shape. When I manage to download a free photoshop (Like hell I'm paying 400 dollars for one !!!) I can try and make a rough sketch of the tube-like star destroyers, and post it here (If I manage to get the computer to post the pics here )


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Ok, next topic.

About the Prometheus.

I thought that University would have had a lead in FTL research and technologies. They invented FTL in the late 24th century, a full 100 years before Protectorate tested its FTL drive. Yet the Protectorate has 15 ly per day rate while the Chironians had almost a century head start over Protectorate. And all Chironians except University has 10 ly per day FTL rate.

Granted, the other Chironian factions don't research FTL or develop it as much as University does. University has the 15 ly per day FTL drives installed in all their ships like the Protectorate.

Prometheus is an EXPERIMENTAL SHIP, with the very latest in new technologies, including new sensors, weaponary, only ship to have AI, experimental new propulsion systems, new types of equipment, etc. Some of these new systems will flop and fail, while others may become successes.

University is experimenting with a new propulsion core seeing that University should be in the fore-front of new FTL technology research (meaning research into ways to increase FTL speeds). The new reactor provides 10 - 15% more power than regular antimatter reactors, thereby giving a 1 - 3 ly per day boost.

I know you guys said no quantum or singularity engines or reactors, so the experimental reactor will be somewhere between Antimatter and Quantum. Prometheus is the only ship to use the new experimental reactor, and the rest of the space-fleet won't get the upgrades to the new reactor for 10 - 20 more years.

Some of you are probably thinking I want a "Super ship that is undefeatable and unbeatable". You can rest easy, because I have absouletely no intention of involving Prometheus in invasions and taking over worlds. It will play a purely explorationary and defensive role. It won't kill 100 ships in 1 volley or go 100 ly per second, that kind of nonsense.

Prometheus will be exploring several new star systems for a potential 6th or 7th colonization venue. In addition, it will serve as Randius's new base of operations where he'll be safe from assassins, poison, sabotage, etc. So it will be his personal ship, transporting him to important events, political, civil, or military. (It will only defend Randius in the military events, it won't take the offensive or attack enemys unless attacked first.)

So, Prometheus won't be a *big* factor in military events and wars. It would be similiar to the Hive Emperor class battleship that FC posted in his ships homepage.

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Next topic.

Berrik Metallic hydrogen ruins.

I was planning to base the Berrik Metallic hydrogen ruins found there on the ones found in Gas Giant Nona in the Lalande system that the Cyborgs currently occupy.

Let me ask you. In the Civ 2: ToT Sci-Fi game, there is a "Mysterious Long Dead Empire" that left orbital platforms, metallic hydrogen cities and bases in a gas giant, and left technological wonders like the monopole magnets all over the Lalande system. Surely an empire capable of these feats is capable of colonizing other star systems, wouldn't you agree?

The Spira solar system happens to be one of the few solar systems that this "Long dead mysterious empire" had colonized, including the Lalande system. The metallic hydrogen just found in Berrik would share extremely similiar, if not exact same, properties of the metallic hydrogen found in the Lalande system.

Don't worry. University will send a team of scientists and researchers to investigate the metallic hydrogen ruins. However, they will spend 10 - 20 years to work on applications of metallic hydrogen such as ship hydrogen plating, metallic hydrogen skycrapers, metallic hydrogen bridges, and so forth.

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Basically, the new 18 ly per day engines and the metallic hydrogen won't be widely used in University until 2720 - 2730, or later. Thats a good 20+ years from the current time in the storyline. By then, overall human technology would have improved.

Also, keep in mind the Prometheus is an experimental ship, not meant to go on the offensive war, but rather for a "base of operations" and a defensive ship.


Hope that clears things up.

[Cybergod]

Oh oh I think I am about to cross-post with Sovereign...

BTW, History, what should we say to Morgan? Should send him a recording of Mr Sym in action?

[Frankychan]

Cybergod-

I think that the use of psych-whips is acceptable. In the game manual, they use a psych whip on Executive Officer Yang when he wakes up from cryo-sleep.

Yeah, Officer Shantoi should be eliminated! His job is done so he should be thrown away like a used tissue.


History Guy- We would gladly welcome Mr. Ku.

We would also like to talk with him.....before sending him to one of our enhanced punishment sphere's.

For my pics, I'll try posting them in the BAC Datalinks Thread. Maybe you'll be able to see them there. Sorry!

Wow! Its a busy day today!

Sovereign-

Got a little worried...haven't heard from you in days....(Silence and General Tacticus too). Anyway, sorry for not sending a reply to your message. I'll get on that ASAP.

As for your argument, I think it has a valid basis. The University would have better tech than the rest of us, Terran, Chironian, Protectorate, or GHE. I would think that since the University developed FTL travel before anyone else did, they would have more time to modify and enhance FTL concepts. But to be fair, I would say that it wouldn't be a BIG difference. So, if Chironian travel is the fastest, University scientists would have discovered a way to make their FTL engines move slightly faster...maybe 3 or 4 increments faster.

How I view the Prometheus is that since it obviously is the flagship of the UCSS, it should be unique and have experimental University technology on it. Like Sovereign says, some of their technology would fail...maybe because the theory behind it's concept was flawed and the tech would be removed or replace with slightly lower level tech.

Remember that we are trying to create a new world based on SMAC, so some of the factional elements should remain.


Ok now its time to talk about my ships-

I just want to explain basic concepts about my ships...even though this part should be under the Datalinks Thread.

The Emperor-Class Hive ship is not an unbeatable weapon (SSD in Star Wars or Death Star, for example). I plan on using this ship for very important parts of the Hive story. This isn't just a regular Corvette! But it will take a lot of manpower to engage and damage this vessel.

Using idea's from Mellain/LMP, Sprayber, and History Guy:

Engagements and battles will usually result in HEAVY casualties for the Hive (directly resulting from quantity over quality idea). This isn't to say that we will always succeed, but in a protracted battle, the war of attrition will favor the Hive.

Whew! K, I think I've covered what I wanted to say. My bad if it seems like I'm ranting or -ing!

[History Guy]

Cyber-- Ah, yes, that'd do splendidly.

Franky-- That's right, the Spartans did use a psych whip on old the old Yanglet. Man...if only they'd flattened his cerebral cortex...

Oh man, Franky, you'll never get your paws on Mr. Ku, I'm afraid, but he might just get his on Mr. Sym. In fact, I should say that Mr. Ku will personally be making a visit to him in about seven hundred posts from now... I've got some plans for Ku and M.I.A. Mr. Ku has always been a source of grief for old Yang. He was trouble back on Chiron, he did in poor old Ehud, and the lot. He knows the Hive better than anyone in Morgan-land next to Nwabudike himself.

All-- I'll be posting in the datalinks sometime in the very near future. I'm just about to edit the characters page to include several more fellars. I'm working on a piece on the different political parties in Morgan Interstellar, the Sea Peoples (Cepheleens), and the Black Shadow group.

[Mr. President]

If it wasn't for the recent addition to The Hunt,, you wouldn't guess I was still alive, would you? But I'm on a mid-semester break starting today, and I might start doing the next Drone Republic story addition, cryptically entitled "The Temple Speaks" later this afternoon.

[Cybergod]

Like my reply?

Even if you don't - ts NOYB!

[Silence]

Sorry for not posting, coupled with school work with half the time I try to connect here it doesn't work I can see what is going on.

I was thinking, what does Morgan want to the SoG to do now?

[Sovereign]

Guys,

1. I've FINALLY managed to post a picture attachment in the datalinks. I posted a pic of my general idea of the cylinder shaped second variation of the star destroyer.

2. I've given some thought to the name of the new FTL reactor. It will be called Hypermatter, which is slightly advanced than antimatter. For a more detailed explaination of this, either search Lycos, or this good Star Wars v.s. Star Trek webpage

http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/index.html


What do you guys think of these two things, the ship design and the hypermatter reactor?


3. Expect an post by this weekend or next week when I try and plan out who, what, how, etc. to do the next stage of the robot terrorism and whatever replies to Hive and any other factions.

Don't worry, I'm still alive and kicking, fellow authors

[Sovereign]

I finished posting the rest of the ship pics in the data-links thread.

I also made adjustments and changes to my ship info list in that thread to reflect the new changes, like no Warlocks, dropping the Defiant class in favor of another destroyer type, additional stats, etc.

Some of you may wonder "what the hell is up with having 45,000 people in a 2,500 meter long ship"

Well, I'm using the rough figures from the Star Wars universe. My 2,500 kilometer ships are based on the the Star Destroyer. But the Star Destroyer in Star Wars is 1,600 meters long, and has 37,000 people on it. So I made a rough estimate and ratio of a 2.5 km Star Destroyer.

Then I based the rest of my estimates on that scale, to 180,000 people on a 6.1 kilometer carrier hybrid, to 2,000 people on a 300 meter long destroyer. Keep in mind, the destroyer is like 50 meters by 300 meters for a rough volume of 15,000 square meters. A person is about 1 square meter or less, depending on a person's height... 6 feet tall person and only 2 feet wide, approx. 1 sq. meter if the person is scrunched tight like in yoga 2,000 people can fit in that 15,000 square meter destroyer space easily based on the Star Wars crew ratio and real life human "cubic" size for a total of 2,000 square meters. That leaves 13,000 square meters for armor, weapons, engines, etc. which usually accounts for 75% or more of a ship's volume.


Whew, hope that makes any sense at all

Let me know what you guys think!

Meanwhile... (Prepares himself for more criticism from our beloved Mellian)

[History Guy]

Sounds good Mr. Prez.

Where's Lonestar?? I want to know what happened to Lord Protector Ian!!

It's a good post, Cyber. Of course, it's not something the CEO wants to hear!!

Silence-- Nothing really, at the moment. He may consider splitting the SoG fleet, and sending several patrols to protect some colonies and space stations on the Terran borders. The smaller ships he will keep in Capella to help whip the remaining Terrans there.

The pictures look good, Franky and Sovereign. Franky, the CEO would like to shoot down some of them ships about now!

[Cybergod]

Just rewised my latest post - while I reread it found many bugs. Like not telling Morgan that Mr Sym has escaped etc.

Love all of your people's ship designs.

History, I hope Quantum Shadow arrives unharmed...

[Kassiopeia]

*surfaces*

Has anyone ever actually taken a shot at explaining what exactly is Quantum Tunneling? Just asking.

*heads back down to lay low*

[History Guy]

No!!! WAIT!! Get back up here, Kass!!

You shall now have to declare war on Morgan and hook up with old Sheng-ji for an attack on Samnos and Naxos. Samnos will fall first, and will be taken quickly, at minimal loss to you and Franky. It is only defended by two fighters and twelve orbital platforms/cannons. Naxos, on the other hand, has several orbital platforms, cannons, and other defenses, as well as a full squadron of Morganite ships, including two battleships. You'll lose a greater amount of ships and men there.

[Kassiopeia]

Oh... tomorrow? 'tis Easter holidays, thank god.

And HG, how is it that you seem to always be here simultaniously with me?

[Mellian]

My billet family invited me for supper tonite...so using their computer so don't expect much of a reply from me for a week or two after this.... unless i find net accessible computers

Are my ships o.k. Thread Enforcer? I just put their role in the Hive Navy, rather than having exact specifications. I kept with your idea that we wouldn't have much ships larger than Corvette-class...but also put in that one grand ship for the Emperor (*sniff* I smell Star Wars here *sniff*)...anyway, R they ok?

I didn't play wing commander, but that megacarrier is a beauty thought anyway, it is okay.... just wondering about the sizes of the carriers and the emperor ships. Hive can have more then corvettes you know

-LMP