XXVI. TONG-921 (Shyruken)

A. Purpose: Space Superiority Fighter

B. Design Type: Disc Form

C. Faction: Dynastic Navy

D. Crew Requirement: NA

E. Life Support: NA

F. Communications

1. Standard EM Transmitter & Reciever

2. Tachyon Transmitter & Reciever

G. Sensors

1. Passive EM

2. Active EM

3. Passive Tachyon

4. Active Tachyon

5. Magnetic Field Tracker

6. Whisker Drones

a) Gravity Barometers

b) Passive EM

H. Armament

1. 2x EM Field Claws

2. 4x Mass Driver Cannons (4 firing arcs)

3. 1x Particle Accelerator Cannon (turret mounted)

4. 2x Standard Missle Tubes

I. Reactor

1. Dense Matter Reactor (Lvl 7)

J. Consumables

1. Fuel: 19 Hours

2. Lifesupport: NA

K. Cargo Space: NA

L. Computer Rating: A.I. (Lvl 6)

M. Hull

1. Forced Key (Lvl 6)

N. Atmospheric Flight: NA

O. Interstellar Drive: C-Drive (lvl 4)

P. Sublight Drive: Mass Driver

1. Acceleration (Lvl 8)

2. Maneuverability (Lvl 6)

Q. Airlock: NA

R. Secondary Power System: Battery

S. The principle fighter of the Dynastic Military during the migration war. The TONG had replaced the TAK-499, trading out the human pilot for an aggressive but patient A.I. and a stronger reactor with a more efficient prow to thrust relationship leading to better acceleration and maneuverability in addition to a C-drive for in system travel. It never saw a lot of true dog fighting during the war, its active tachyon sensor array meant that it almost always got the first shot off against 1^st Migration forces, and with the particle accelerator cannon, a C-drive, and standard missile tubes that carried smart missiles: few migration space fighters ever got close to a TONG.-Tangent

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XXVII. Thunderclap

A. Purpose: Bomber

B. Design Type: Blended Fixed Wing

C. Faction: Union of Worlds

D. Crew Requirement: 2-4 (Pilot, Bombardier & can accommodate 2 gunners

E. Life Support: Modular

F. Communications:

1. Standard EM Transmitter and Receiver

G. Sensors

1. Gravity barometer (Lvl 8)

2. Passive EM (Lvl 8)

3. Neutrino Sink (Lvl 5)

4. Telephoto

5. Radar

H. Armament

1. Gamma Radiation Wave Generator

2. 2x Fission Warhead Rocket banks

3. 2x Depleted Uranium Mass Projectors (Turret mounted)

I. Reactor

1. Matter/Anti-Matter Reactor (level 5)

J. Consumables

1. Fuel: 60,000 hours

2. Life Support:NA

K. Cargo Space

1. Two Cryo-pots

2. 1000 liters (shielded Cargo)

L. Computer Rating: Modular (Lvl 2-3)

M. Hull

1. Conventional (Lvl 3)

2. Mass Ablative Shield Generator

N. Atmospheric Flight: Mass Driver

1. Acceleration (Lvl 3)

2. Maneuverability (Lvl 1)

O. Interstellar Drive: C-Drive (Lvl 8)

P. Sub-light Drive: Ion Drive

1. Acceleration (Lvl 6)

2. Maneuverability (Lvl 2)

Q. Airlock: No

R. Secondary Power System: Battery

S. The Thunderclap bomber is a flying wing designed around the model of traditional cockpit style aircraft. It utilizes a powerful antimatter reactor to operate an extremely forceful ion drive. The Thunderclap also carries a mass drive converter, that allows its ion drive to converted to a mass driver for atmospheric flight. Use of this conversion uses fuel reserves of the reactor at 100 times the normal rate. She is a deep space capable craft with a late generation C-Drive and modular life support system. The crew are required to wear breathing suits while operating the ship, and a special pressure suit was designed specifically for the Thunderclap to be compatible with the ship's cryogenic system. The Thunderclap is a restricted or illegal craft on dynastic, FTO and Union star systems. The modular computer system can operate the belly and tail mounted mass driver guns to try and eliminate incoming ordinance and a separate computer can angle the deflector shield. A third programable pilot control computer can operate the ship while using C-drive or when the human operators are in cryo-sleep. -Tangent

Developed by the Union of Worlds during the later third of the Migration Wars, the Thunderclap was designed to attack population centers, using the gamma wave generator to poison populations that it could not destroy with its fission rockets. It was a desperate measure, and I admit it was of questionable tactical value. But perhaps it did force the Dynastic Interests to share a bit of the existential threat born of war. The Thunderclap's actions during the war should never be forgotten least we forget how terribly pointless it is to try and compel by force what should be earned by merit. I have seen a wing of Thunderclaps descend from space flight to atmospheric flight leaving golden trails of sunset from the crest of twilight to the dying horizon. -V.Y. Black

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XXVIII. Ulysses

A. Purpose: Space Superioty Fighter

B. Design Type: Aeronautical fixed wing

C. Faction: Union of Worlds

D. Crew Requirement: 2 (pilot and gunner)

E. Life Support: Internal-Atmospheric-Sustaining

F. Communications

1. Standard EM transmitter and Receiver

2. Laser Link Data Stream

G. Sensors

1. Magnetic Field Tracker

2. Gravity Barometer

3. Telephoto

4. Passive EM

5. Matter Sampler

H. Armament

Linked Laser-Anti-Matter-Mag Field Projector Cannons

1a. 8x Anti-Matter ProjectorsCannon

1b. 4x 80 Mw Fluorine Laser Cannons

1c.4x Magnetic Field Projectors

2. 4 xMass Projectors (Forward Arc Firelinked)

I. Reactor: Anti-Matter/Matter Reactor (Lvl 5)

J. Consumables

1. Fuel: 1,000-10,000 hrs

2. LifeSupport: 90 hours

K. Cargo Space

1. 100 liters

L. Computer Rating: Module (Lvl 7)

M. Hull

1. Conventional (Lvl 7)

2. Energy Ablative Armor (Lvl 5)

3. Matter Ablative Shield Generator (Lvl 10)

N. Atmospheric Flight: Mass Driver

1. Acceleration (Lvl 6)

2. Maneuverability (Lvl 1)

O. Interstellar Drive: NA

P. Sub-light Drive: Mass Driver

1. Acceleration: (Lvl 7)

2. Maneuverability: (Lvl 8)

Q. Airlock: Yes

R. Secondary Power System: Battery

S. The Ulysses was a late addition to the Union forces and was an innovative and risky design. Union High Command had not been able to develop an efficient and accurate particle accelerator weapon, but they wanted weapon that carried the same destructive power. Anti-matter tipped projectiles had been some what effective, but were expensive, not easy to produce in mass, and easily avoided by small Dynasty craft. Thus, the idea of firing pure anti-matter at the enemy was realized in the Ulysses. The idea was that the Laser Cannons and Magnetic Field Projectors could be fired picoseconds before the anti-matter canons were fired to clear the path of stray particles and debris. As we all know the Ulysses had both startling success and dramatic failures during the war. I got to take a test flight in the gunners well of a Ulysses once, and it was amazing if challenging experience. The gunners well is completely separate from the pilots cabin and sits in the very nose the ship. It floats free in zero gravity and has an independent gyro pivot, so that no matter which way the pilot moves the ship you have complete control of were you and your the mass projector guns are facing. The gunner or the pilot can fire the anti-matter projectors. While I did enjoy a joy ride in a Ulysses. I was not brave enough to live fire the anti-matter cannons.

-V.Y. Black

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XXIX. Vanderbelt-33 (Rasputin)

A. Purpose: Ground Support

B. Design Type: Multi-Pod

C. Faction: FTO

D. Crew Requirement: 3 (1 pilot & 2 Gunners)

E. Life Support: Internal-Atmospheric-Sustaining-Cyrogenics

F. Communications

1. Standard EM transmitter and Receiver

2. Deep Space Microwave Transmitter

G. Sensors

1. Passive EM

2. Active EM

3. Radar

4. Magnetic Field Tracker

5. Neutrino Sink

H. Armorment

1. 1x 30Mw Plasma Cannon

2. 2x 20Mw Argon Laser Cannons (2x turrets)

3. 2x Depleted Uranium Mass Driver Guns (2x turrets)

I. Reactor: Micro Fission Reactor (Lvl 9)/Matter Converter(afterburners only) (Lvl 5)

J. Consumables

1. FUEL 970,000 hours (reactor)

2. Life Support: 32,000 hours

K. Cargo Space: 2000 liters

L. Computer Rating: System Wide (Lvl 3)

M. Hull

1. Conventional (Lvl 10)

2. Mass Ablative Shield Generator (Lvl 5)

N. Atmospheric Flight: 2x Jet turbine plus External Mass Drive Afterburner

1. Acceleration (Lvl 2)

2. Maneuverability (Lvl 4)

O. Interstellar Drive

1. C Drive (Lvl 8)

P. Sub light Drive: Internal Ion drive/External Mass Drive Afterburner

1. Ion Drive

a) Acceleration (Lvl 1)

b) Maneuverability (Lvl 4)

2. Mass Driver

a) Acceleration (Lvl 4)

b) Maneuverability (Lvl 1)

Q. Airlock: No

R. Secondary Power System: Solar Panel

S. I had a Vanderbelt-26. That was the last model with the anti-matter reactor and I loved it. The Vanderbelt was the only commercially available interstellar craft made by the FTO that was also capable of atmospheric flight. Back then the Micro Fission reactors made by the FTO were not efficient enough to power a C drive. Thus she required an anti-matter reactor. While traveling on a ship with anti-matter reactor may strike many as foolish risk, the freedom the Vanderbelt provided me was essential. She was billed as a ground support vehicle, but we used her primarily as a scout and courier ship. The jet turbine on these rugged and versatile craft could work some of the densest methane atmospheres I ever encountered, and the hull could handle some upscale pressures. I actually don’t know what the design specification on the craft are regarding pressure. Considering the abuse I put her through though maybe I happier not knowing. She was perfect for scouting; the two side mounted jet turbines could pivot so you can fly her as VTOL craft and land anywhere. I don’t know anyone that uses the C drive for interstellar travel now but local law enforcement and private militias are still buying the Vanderbelt. The C-drive can be used to whip a small crew around star system in minutes. She is a tough ship, and if you can handle the time distortion it pays to have a craft that will knock around a solar system at the speed of light.

-V.Y. Black

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XXX. ZARCA/MAX (Horseman/Snail Mail)

A. Purpose: Propaganda and Psychological Warfare/Drone Launcher

B. Design Type: Single Wedge

C. Faction: Ska’Rugg

D. Crew Requirement: 7

E. Passenger Space: 10

F. Life Support: Internal-Atmospheric

G. Communications:

1. High-Power Multi-Channel EM transmitter

2. Extend Range EM Receiver

3. Audio Generator

4. Pheromone Propellant System

H. Sensors

1. Telephoto

2. Passive EM

3. Gravity Barometer

4. Magnetic Field Tracker

I. Armament

1. 800 Mw Hydrogen Laser

2. Drone Launching Bay

J. Reactor:

1. Fission Reactor Lvl 9

2. Mass Converter Lvl 3 (Jump Drive and Afterburners Only)

K. Consumables

1. Fuel: Fission Reactor 1,200 hours

2. Fuel: Mass Converter (6 Jumps/200 Hard Burns)

L. Cargo Space

1. 4x Drones

2. 50,000 Liters

M. Computer Rating: Module (Lvl 1)

N. Hull: Conventional Lvl 6

O. Atmospheric Flight: Anti-Gravity Drive

1. Acceleration: Lvl 5

2. Maneuverability: Lvl 2

P. Interstellar Drive: Jump Drive

<3> Q. Sublight Drive: Ion Drive with Mass Driver Afterburner

1. Acceleration: Lvl 1-4

2. Maneuverability: Lvl 1

R. Airlock: Yes

S. Secondary Power System: Deployable Solar Sail

T. The ZARCA/MAX was the first Ska'rug craft observed by human intelligence services via long range scan, and it was originally believed to be scout craft or skirmisher. While it may certainly play this role from time to time, the ZARCA/MAX’s primary function is more equatable to courier ship. But in actuality there is not equatable family of craft in human fleets. The Ska'rug lack any central media outlets and there is a developed bureaucracy The ZACRA/MAX is designed to influence the behavior of planetary population through propaganda and direct mood manipulation through the use of pheromones. However, like most pre-human contact Ska’rugg spacecraft, she is generalist. The powerful laser cannon was an effective weapon against against most of its contemporaries during the Ska’rugg civil wars and its drone bay made it something of a light carrier. Unlike the Hatefist command of these crafts are restricted to chieftains directly linked to the Ska’rugg High King.

-V.Y. Black

It is unclear if any of these craft are still in existence, but they remain rooted in the cultural mind set because of the large roll this class of ship played in initiating the Ska’rugg-Dynastic conflict. This ship was used by the Ska’rugg monarchy to spur the populace to war and to make the first organized raids into human space.

-Tangent

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LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY

Modular life support refers to life sustaining clothing. This could be an autonomous space suit but it also may be a suit that links into and is supported by an onboard system. But when a ship is described as having Modular Life support it is assumed that consumables are brought with the crew when they board. The internal life support systems are part of the ship design and means that a passenger or crew member can survive in the cabin without protective clothing or his/her own source of breathable atmosphere. Internal Life Support is further broken down into standard or atmospheric. Atmospheric life support provides air pressure, a stored breathable air mixture, temperature control and radiation shielding. A standard life support system, referred to as standard because it is the required system on all dynastic spacecraft, includes gravity, nutrients and water. Within this category you also have sustaining life support. This is system by which the ship's life support purges itself of impurities created by passengers and actively produces new consumables. This includes waste recycling and a CO₂ to O₂ cycle. Cryogenic life-support means that there is a stasis chair or cryopot on the ship that can suspend life functions using minimal power.

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IGood point.

I tossed out so many so as to give a variety sensor pallets that could be placed in ships. In addition to Navigation this I imagine sensor systems being used as much for observation and information gathering.

I imagine these pressurized devices being pretty small, and the explosive part I added just so I could give PCs (sadly I will likely never run a Dynastic Migration game) something to utilize when they improvise. But what is important with the deep neutrino telescopes they have now is the number atoms in the detector. By pressuring the water to a level not realistic with current material engineering you get the same sensitivity in a smaller area

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Tachyons, is that how hyper pulse generators are supposed to work? I have read at least seven battletech novels and have at least a battalion in minis and never knew that. Go to Comment

well I still believe you Go to Comment

I thought about doing a list like you say. But I have a vision. Thus, I may recognize that It would would be sensible to put these into one list; particularly if I was gaming the citadel for averages or if somebody wanted to quick reference them. It would be better that way a stand alone post.

But I have a vision. A lame vision, an esoteric vision, but it is mine. I am not saying I don't want advice or critiques cause I do. But I am not looking at the thousand pieces of Sci-fi Minutia, but at what I might duck board across it. I forsee a post, a post not yet even drafted, in which there is hypertext under ever stone. In my vision the discrete will meet the expansive 100 words at a time and without stubs.

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I am not sure. I imagined this being much more sensitive as well as being able to give you absolute readings on gravitational force and not serving a replacement for gyroscopeThe real sci-trick to this would be to have these exquisitely perfect readings on the bubbles location and morphology. But I suppose in a sci-fi setting you could a really sensitive gyroscope that responds to even minor changes in gravity that would not cause noticeable changes and use the changes in the gryoscope to determine the likely location of different gravity wells as they are encountered. Go to Comment

This is fantastic. It makes me want to play with it, and it could easily be adapted to other settings. However, I like the connection to petrol era nation states and how that brings some nice traditional cloak and dagger stuff to the cosmic era.

I have heard a rumor (from guys who think they understand world better than their education and life experience truly allows) that the KGB had a plan for the fall of communism and that Putin is part of that plan’s realization. Could this be them…..

I love the different perspectives you give in the block quotes, how it takes us from rumor to fact. I can only imagine that you are had formatting to finish up or maybe some personality profiles. Because this seems very complete. I am a little sad that you didn’t finish it because it seems so awesome as it is. Also when writing in the cosmic era this society would give a straight shot back to present day, help the reader feel a little more connected to the setting and its players.
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What is the thought with the Golden Silencer? Are we thinking the users own sounds will be turned to heat or light? Go to Comment

This is fun. We could write this up as a pulp story and you publish it in the Battletech fiction zine.

You could turn it into a Battletech or Battleforce campaign module. With you character vignettes fleshing out the story.

I look forward to the eventual conclusion. Go to Comment

Even "incomplete" I like the little story that is threaded through the write up.

What is really great about this, and what gives it so much potential in my wee mind is that it is both extremely general (a planetary raid is the go to Battletech event) and extremely specific with bits of world building and characterization. Thanks for writing this up.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nabNdHO6lYk Go to Comment

4.5 that is a good score cheka...teasing cheka not scars ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnie2iY3dOU

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Mourngrymn's point is well taken. A list of facts and roughly sorted recollections would be better received in the forums. So would this back and forth you are trying to initiate with your readers. Perhaps a more formal personal essay or magazine style article is what this topic deserves. Write it like you love it and respect it.

Another option would be to put forth some kind of interactive timeline that will help organize the Citadel Content you derived from the campaign.

You could include you little recollection and tributes to your friends. I do find this really interesting, but do you have a goal in mind for the finish product of this write-up?

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Yeah sorry about that, I was imaging some sort of Rolling Stone type memoir article that upon conclusion would leave me with a misty smile and slow agreeable head nod saying to myself "Damn, that is really how it was, I am not alone."

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While this may not be as polished (or dare I say self-important) as some other subs. It has heart! Or truth! Or perhaps it has the type of self aware sincerity you find in high school year books. At the end the day we couldn't honestly say the year book staff was doing it for the school, cause us kids in gen-pop could care less. It was all about the yearbook, and the Yearbook (putting all the pictures together, making pages for each group) was a justification in and of itself.

And though the year book was small in a scope, short on originality and put together by wildly over confident amateurs I would wager it held more personal weught for its publishers than the last issue of playboy or the new yorker did their own. It had sincerity.

So there are few things as tender or as sincere as well done year book. So I salute this post.....*sniff*

Because this is about gaming, and damn it I gamed.

Because the way Aramax puts it is how it was man, that is really how it was.

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