Turn 29 - Autumn 2181/3031
WCDC Defense Council:
[] Com Buoy: active (1 turn)
It is to be expected that at some point, the WCDC is going to have to conduct offensive operations. For such an eventuality, it is a requiorement to have a near real time communication between the expeditionary force and command. This in turn speaks for the design of Caldran Ansible communication buoys that can be placed along the line of advance towards the objective to supply a near real time com channel between various forces.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 55%, Reward: compact com buoys to mbe placed along the line of advance
[] Project Chop Shop: active (1 turn)
It might have been some time now, but with the potential of a natively designed 'Mech being about, There should be a look or two taken at some of the 'Mechs that have been recovered from the Black Warrior attack. Mainly to take a look at mech scale weaponry, as well as trying to find more weaknesses of the general design. In the end it might be useful to put them back together and sell them off afterwards, and maybe copy the weapons to sell later on, or adapt to WCDC standarts.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Rewards: New military options, +10 on ground operations against 'Mechs, new economy options
[] Offensive Defense Planning:
Interrogation of the Black Warrior prisoners taken in 61 Virginis have allowed the Survey Office and the Military Intelligence wing to gather some information about the Circinus Federation, in addition to the initial signal intelligence. True, they are currently unlikely to send more Jump Ships after their now failed attack, as they are preoccupied with a growing conflict in the Inner Sphere, but there are voices that call for a retaliatory attack on the Circinus Federation to make them and others think twice about attacking the Walker Cluster again. Either way Plans should be drawn up.
Time: 5 turns, Chance of success: 50%, Reward: Plans for an offensive operation against the Circinus Federation, in space and on the ground
[] Improved System Defense & Forward Operation Base:
While the Raytan Jump Point Defense Stations do their job for system defense, there are ideas how to improve on the system, giving it FTL capabilities, so that they can be emplaced in systems without existing interplanetary infrastructure. Additionally, such a station could potentially act as a mobile Forward Operation Base for offensive operations. Together with the Caldran Ansible, it would also allow the operations command and staff to remain protected bhind the potential front lines. Potentially, such a design might be equipped with the new Jump Drive.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 45%, Reward: New FTL cpable Defensive Station
[] Project Byzantium:
With the successful recovery of the SLS Belisarius it should be a priority to put this large spacecraft back into service and take the time to take a look at its weaponry and other systems, as they are replaced by their WCDC equivalent. This would potentially allow the design of heavy weapon systems, including lasers and kinetics, a vessel of similar size might be equipped with. At the least, it should be possible to determine, whether a massive combat spacecraft of this size makes any sense. At the very least it might be possible to carry a number of dropship collar equipped conventional combat spacecraft to be carried into combat, backed up by a lot of firepower and even act as a Forwards Operations Base.
Time: 6 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Reward: Belisarius put into service for the WCDC, new research options for large scale weaponry and large scale combat spacecraft
[] Project Hunter Killer:
Some of the Project Teams have started to think that since there are now AutoWars in the space forces, it might be a good idea to ask AIs whether they would be willing to operate ground combat vehicles and compact mechs of some sort, so that the ground forces can operate on a similar level as the space forces.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 50%, Reward: AI controlled ground combat vehicles, 50% chance of specialized compact mechs for use by AIs
[] Operation Market Garden:
The Circinus Federation has attacked the WCDC and the forces at Circinus might plan to attack the WCDC, possibly on the behest of Comstar. As Circinus has technically attacked the WCDC first, it would only be prodent to launch a preemptive strike at Circinus to destroy the potential attackers and remove the problem at the root.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 35%, Reward: Destruction of the Mercenary/pirate Forces at Circinus, several negative effects by Comstar and possible IS contacts
If this option is option is chosen Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick cannot be chosen and gets removed
[] Operation Mekong Delta:
The various planetary government around the WCDC have asked that they wished some protection from the WCDC againsts possible Pirate Raids, which may or may not come from Circinus. It might be a good idea to set up patrols that cover those systems, which could double as communication beacons for the local ambassadors.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 50%, Reward: Permanent Patrol Routes through the 60ly Zone and part of the 90ly zone, possible protection of planets against pirate attacks
WCDC Survey Office:
[] Deep Cover Intelligence: active (6 turns)
With the Preparations successful, it is time to send the Deep Cover Intelligence mission out into the Inner Sphere and begin trading with the Lyran Commonwealth and the Free Worlds League. And while doing so, gather information about the economy and military of the two Inner Sphere nations. It might also be possible to place some deep cover agents into both nations to gather long term information.
Time: 10 turns, Chance of Success: 60%, Reward: Information about the Lyran Commonwealth and the Free Worlds League, 75% chance of emplacing an intelligence network
[] Further Survey IV:
Following the Initial Survey, more information should be gathered further outside of the Walker Cluster and the already known space.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 65%, Reward: (10+2d20) systems from 60 to 90 ly discovered, followup action allows surveying the remaining space
[] Abandoned Settlements:
The initial Survey has discovered several previously habitated worlds where the initial settlers seem to have died out of left for greener pastures. Maybe it would be a good idea to take a closer look at these worlds and seek for anything the early habitants might have left behind. Maybe it would also be possible to resettle these worlds, if the ecology allows it.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of Success: 60%, Reward: Discovery of 1d10 valuable artifacts, 1d4 of these worlds can be resettled
[] Marian Intelligence:
While the Deep Space Signal Intelligence Network is slowly growing towards the Marian Hegemony, it might be a good idea to start a one off survey of the Marians to get a good image of the capabilities, should they prove to be more belligerent than they currently appear.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 50%, Reward: One off information about the Marian Hegemony
Deep Space Signal Intelligence Network
[] HumInt: (12 turns)
Find a way to emplace HumInt agents into places of interest.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 40%, Reward: A way to insert agents to planets where they can gather human intelligence
[] Real Time Deep Space Signal Intelligence:
Creation of a deep space FTL communcation network to link all Surveillance Sites to FOB Pine Gap and Berlin.
Time: 5 turns, Chance of success: 40%, Reward: Real Time Data avaiable for Survey and intelligence work
WCDC Diplomatic Corps:
[] Charm Offensive III: actice (3 turns)
In the wake of the Black Warrior Attack and the fears that are still around in the nearby systems, it would be a good idea to alley their fear.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Reward: Better diplomatic relations to the ten known worlds, +5 to diplomatic actions with the ten worlds
[] We need new members:
There are 8 nations in the Three Systems that have declined to become members of the WCDC. The Three Systems can't effort to have some nations working on cross purposes and endanger the entire rest of the Walker Cluster. So there is a need to get them aboard and into the WCDC.
Time: 2 turns, Chance of success: 25%, Reward: 1d6 nations of the 8 nations that declined WCDC membership initially, become WCDC members
[] Invite Others III:
The WCDC was working out nicely and maybe it was time to invite one of the other worlds outside the Three Systems into the WCDC?
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 35%, Reward: The selected world joins the WCDC as a member
Please select a world from the list of Known Habited Worlds neat the Walker Cluster
[] Humanitarian Aid III:
With the formation of the Prometheus Foundation, it would be a shame not to make use of it. As such, it might be advantageous to send out a diplomatic mission to one of the neighboring systems discovered recently, and offer the planet some humanitarian aid. Rumors within the Foundation note they have been able to produce a couple of Planetary Settlement Kits, usually meant to establish new settlements on habitable worlds.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 50%, Reward: +10 on diplomatic action on targeted world, targeted world is slowly brought up to a Walker Cluster tech level
Please select a world from the list of Known Habited Worlds neat the Walker Cluster
[] Long Range Diplomacy - Illyrian Palatinate:
In the wake of the raids of the Marian Hegemony on thge Palatinate, it might be preferrable to open diplomatic contact to the nation and potentially offer some support.
Time: 6 turns, Chance of success: 50%, Reward: Diplomatic Contact with the Illyrian Palatinate
[] Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick:
With the growing threat of a possible attack of pirates and mercenaries under Circinan and Comstar control, it might be a good idea to get together a couple of squadrons of the new advanced combat space craft and pay a diplomatic visit to the Circinus Federation and inform them that it would be a bad idea to attack the WCDC. Maybe a few hints should be dropped concerning Comstar involvement.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 45%, Reward: Diplomatic Contact with the Circinus Federation, reduction of the pirate/mercenary threat
If this option is option is chosen Operation Market Garden cannot be chosen and gets removed
WCDC Trade Organization:
[] Interstellar Communication Network: active (1 turns)
With the Caldran Ansible Node Network available for construction, it is a project that should be places high on the list of priorities. As such, a lot of money shouzld be put into setting up an Ansible Network for real time communication between systems.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Reward: +10 to internal trade, +10 on defensive actions, +10 to research actions
[] Arms Export: active (2 turns)
With the development of new ground combat vehicles and other systems to improve the WCDCs defenses, some arms companies have begun to think about exporting some older weapon systems and vehicles to worlds and entities outside the WCDC, including worlds around the WCDC, the Lothians, the ANZAC Union and later on other nearby polities. This would give those worlds and polities a better chance of defense against pirates and the Marian Hegemony, as well as improve the diplomatic situation.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Reward: +10 to defenses of selected world, +10 to external trade with selected world, +10 to diplomacy with selected world
Select a world or polity to export to
[] New Settlement Initiative:
The recent attack of the Black Warriors on 61 Virginis has brought the vulnerability of the Three Systems and the WCDC into focus, even if the forces in the system have been able to defeat the invaders. There are also many virgin, uninhabited planets nearby discovered by the initial survey missions. So it is only natural that the Trade Organization should offer a few incentives to send out a few new settlement missions. Perhaps one or two Planetary Settelment Kits for free would do for settling an additional planet or two.
Time: 6 turns, Chance of success: 50%, Reward: 1d4 newly settled planets
[] Heavy Combat Space Craft:
After the success of the previous projects to build light and medium space craft with the new technologies, it is not time to begin with the development of heavy combat space craft to replace the current classes of Bombard type spacecraft
Time: 6 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Reward: One design of a heavy combat spacecraft, 30% chance of a working prototype
[] Von Neuman:
AIs of various stripes have been a fact of life for all nations of the Three Systems for some time now and there had always been ideas of space craft that could reproduce by themselves and to a degree the Planetary Settlement Kits were a version of such a Von Neumann machine. Now, with both the economic and military situation somewhat in the balance, concerning the Inner Sphere, maybe it would be time to make use of the available technology and create fully automated factory space craft that could go into a system, begin mining raw materials from asteroids and then produce just about everything with its fabricators, from shoes over shuttles to combat space craft and even a copy of itself. The military would be interested in such a spacecraft to produce munitions, replacement parts and entire stations.
Time: 6 turns, Chance of success: 40%, Reward: Design of a Von Neumann Factory Spacecraft, 5% chance of a working prototype
[] Industrial Export:
Some surprising things have come up during historical research, including the Terran Hegemony flooding the Periphery with cheap goods and systems that killed off local suppliers and left worlds in the cold, following the Amaris Crisis and the following Successor Wars. Now some companies believe they could make a profit selling power generation, atmospheric processors, water purification and other similar systems to the worlds and polities surrounding the WCDC. Some even propose to set up factories for these things on other planets and polities. This would certainly improve the economic situation of these worlds, diplomatic contact with them, as well as improve the WCDC economy.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Reward: +10 to external trade with selected world, +10 to diplomacy with selected world
Select a world or polity to export to
[] MBT & Battemech Development
With the Combined Arms Doctrine continuing to be used, it is time to develop a new Main Battle Tank and the Fusilier Battlemech for general use by the WCDC militaries.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 70%, Reward: New MBT & Battlemech designs, +5 to ground combat
[] Combat Vehicle Development
With the Combined Arms Doctrine continuing to be used, it is time to develop the designs for IFVs, Self Propelled Artillery, High Moblility Vehicles and Armored Logistics Vehicles.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 70%, Reward: Combat Vehicle designs, +5 to ground combat
[] Interstellar Jump Trader:
There are several large jump ships now available as a base to design a large jump capable trade space craft that would allow carrying dropships and cargo. It might be a good idea to give some incentives to some dock yards to begin with the development of large jump capable vessels that can operate like the jump ships of the Inner Sphere and either use or sell them on the open market of the Inner Sphere, using a conventional jump drive.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 60%, Reward: 1d4 Jumpship designs that can be used locally or sold
WCDC Office for Science and Development:
[] Hypercom III:
With the Caldran Ansible Node Network available, it would be a shame to let the research on the other FTL com technologies go to waste. So the research should be continued.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 70%, Reward: FTL communication system, 50% for Improved Black Box, 50% for Improved Hyper Pulse Generator
[] Superliminal Wave Detector:
The new N Field Theory tells about the possibility of a form of n-dimensional waves that move at faster than light speeds for a certain distance. It should be possible to build some sort of detector for such waves. Already there are some possible uses for such a detector, such as detecting the use of jump drives over a certain distance. Though how long the distance will be is to be determined. Certainly, it would help detecting the emergance of jump drives inside a solar system and react faster for defensive purposes.
Time: 5 turns, Chance of success: 55%, Reward: Superluminal wave detector, (10+3d20)ly detection range
[] Advanced Dropship Collar:
With N Field Theory being bandied about and some good experiences made, it might be possible to create an advanced Dropship collar. Potentially it might be possible to build a collar that could be used to design a jumpship that could carry a squadron worth of light combar craft into a combat zone.
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 55%, Reward: Advanced Dropship Collar
[] Project Blue Danube:
With the construction of the two Advanced Jump Core Prototypes Just Testing and Size Isn't Everything to modern specifications, it might be a good idea to test how the Heim-Feynman Event Generator influences the Jump Core and vica versa, as it would be beneficial to equip a jump ship with a HFE Generator for short range FTL jumps or to move through Heim-Feynman Space while the jump core is charging, speeding up long range FTL travel.
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 75%, Reward: In the future jumpships may be equipped with a HFEG based secondary FTL drive
[] Project Heavy Mysterious Mustard:
With the completion of the Jump Drive Project, it might be a good idea whether or not it would be possible to burn some research time to further improve the Jump Drive, Improve the range, materials, allow faster charing from a fusion reactor, this kind of thing.
Time: 5 turns, Chance of success: 40%, Reward: Improved Jump Drive
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2 Action for:
Science
1 Action for:
Survey
Deep Space Signal Intelligence Network
Diplomacy