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[Kashyyk]

2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Aether Tunnel, 2 dice saved for revision : (2) Jerick, Rockeater
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Topaz Coronation, 2 saved for revision : (1) Twinwolf
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 4 dice (reroll Cost) to start Topaz Coronation, 1 saved for revision : (2) Doomblade, Kashyyk

[NAV]

2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Aether Tunnel, 2 dice saved for revision : (1) Jerick, rockeater
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Topaz Coronation, 2 saved for revision : (1) Twinwolf
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 4 dice (reroll Cost) to start Topaz Coronation, 1 saved for revision : (3) Doomblade, Kashyyk, NAV

I want to spend our revision die on comms officer training. It is NECESSARY for a large effective fleet.

[Rockeater]

2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Aether Tunnel, 2 dice saved for revision : (1) Jerick
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Topaz Coronation, 2 saved for revision : (1) Twinwolf
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 4 dice (reroll Cost) to start Topaz Coronation, 1 saved for revision : (4) Doomblade, Kashyyk, NAV, Rockeater

Really hope that will work

[Jerick]

2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Aether Tunnel, 2 dice saved for revision : (1) Jerick
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 3 dice to start Topaz Coronation, 2 saved for revision : (1) Twinwolf
2 dice to med lift (12c 2o), 4 dice (reroll Cost) to start Topaz Coronation, 1 saved for revision : (5) Doomblade, Kashyyk, NAV, Rockeater, Jerick

Guess we're going coronation then. I have no objections. Hopefully Draig won't be tightfisted with the topaz and screw us.

[NAV]

The Topaz Coronation should mention that out highest priority is a version of topaz that can be used in production lines. We would much rather have an inferior but unlimited type of crystal than higher or non-random topaz production that can't be used in the production lines. It also makes the most sense since not everywhere has the aether purity of the top of the spire, but everone can benefit at least a bit from Natalie's techniques and formula.

I am still hoping for unlimited full power topaz.

[Draignean]

Medium Lift
[Progress: 11/10 (6, 4; One die refunded)]
The medium lift crystals, simple extensions that they are, are finalized and ready for production- with guilded workers ready to amortize the costs of mass production.


Topaz Coronation
[Time:3 Progress:3 Cost: 4 (4,2)]
It's a delicate thing for an Engineering department to persuade royalty, particularly when that persuasion is to tug free a royal secret by insinuating that the Princess needs to take the throne. Eventually, the promises of lavish galas and the desire for all of the engineering bureau to attend Princess Natalie's coronation so that she may be finally crowned- and in the process relegate the work she's been doing with the Topaz crystals to others.

After much wheedling, the Princess finally sends a letter to the head of the war engineers, elucidating her situation. She had hoped to ascend when the topaz crystals she helped create were perfected, to step up with success under her heels instead of the crumbling ash of a project left unfinished- but she is reluctantly forced to agree that the good of Kasgyre at large outweighs her personal presence on the project. Following with the letter is a series of packages, including not only generous samples of topaz crystals in various stages of growth, but extensive scribed notes and hundreds of trials.

It would appear that the issues with the Topaz at the moment are two-fold. One, it requires aetheric concentrations reachable only by the Princess's personal hanging gardens, flying high above the top of the Spire. Second, in order to grow crystals with clarity and structure capable of channeling the aetheric energy, the Princess made use of an unorthodox growth reagent- chloroauric acid, created by dissolving a considerable portion of the royal jewelry into aqua regia. The reagent does provide the needed effect, but the noble nature of gold causes the reaction's kinetics to be wildly unpredictable. Sometimes the crystals form quickly enough, but other times they can take years to form. It's the reason the princess has never been able to keep a steady supply of anything- she's never been able to predict when something will 'ripen' and has been forced to grow a bit of everything and hope for the best. 

In exchange for ascending to the throne and leaving her crystallography pursuits behind, the Princess proposes a bargain. If the engineering team can come up with a way at least guarantee a reasonable maturation rate for the crystals, she'll take the throne and continue to provide gold for the project straight from the imperial treasury. Needless to say, the engineer assent vigorously if it means getting to work on the Topaz crystals.

Topaz Coronation: 3/16 | 4C + 4O + 2S + 5 from COS | Rushed 0 Times | Nothing Invested

Prototype
[Efficacy: 5 Cost: 1 Bugs: 2]
So, here's the thing. Our engineers were completely successful in tackling problem 1. Upping the Aetheric concentration to grow the crystals in was achieved by lacing the vats themselves with strands of silk, buffered from the growing crystals themselves by copper cradles. This refit can be applied to any vattery we have, and will allow any crystallographer with the requisite knowledge (and a supply of chloroauric acid) to create topaz crystals.

The issue is the time it takes. The engineers have managed to reduce the time required to being, at most, 4 years- but still not less than one. This does not please the princess, but if it's the best we can do, she's willing to accept it. We can attempt to hasten the process with additional reagents, but this also runs a steep risk of either degrading or completely ruining the crystal.

Prototype Bonus: Topaz insight: adds another +4 to the number of Topaz items generated per year.

Completion Bonus: Topaz Growing: Any crystal containing technology can be designated as Topaz at the time that it's paid for. When bought, each item rolls a hidden number between 1 and 4, which is the number of turns it takes for that crystal to mature. 1 Indicates it comes into supply on the following year, and so forth. Any item on the growing list can be hastened to decrease the number of turns it has left to grow by 1-4 turns, but this runs a 25% chance of destroying the crystal, and 50% chance of degrading it to 75% of its original power. Hastening costs half of the item's original crystal cost in ore.

You will still receive random ready made Topaz. Production lines are capable of producing Topaz vessels, however, it will take them 4 years of work for the ships produced to 100% topaz in their construction.


Spire Kasgyre's Production stands at
12(+12)/y Crystal, 25/125 Banked
12(+2)/y Ore, 13/95 banked
17/y Wood, 18/95 banked
10/y Silk, 16/55 banked

It is now the revision phase. You have 2 dice to spend.

Spoiler: Projects (click to show/hide)

Viper Production Line: 1/35 | 7C + 5O + 5W + 2S, +15 From any combination of any resource | Rushed 0 Times | Nothing Invested
Vertical Envelopment 2/10 | 3 from each of COWS + 4 from Any combination of COWS | Rushed 0 times | Nothing Invested
AIM (Special Project) 16/27 | - | Rushed 0 times | Nothing Invested
Imperial Marine Armory: 1/24 | 10C+15O+15W | Rushed 0 Times | Nothing Invested
Topaz Coronation: 3/16 | 4C + 4O + 2S + 5 from COS | Rushed 0 Times | Nothing Invested

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

The Calm: The calm is a region of the aerosphere with almost no wind beyond fleeting turbulence, and absolutely no aetheric currents. It's frigidly cold, and filled with fine red 'snow' that barely moves. Traversing it with a conventional vessel is impossible due to the lack of energy to fuel the lift and trim crystals.
The Everstorm: As the name suggests, the everstorm is a region of the aerosphere dominated by an enormous and eternal thunderstorm. It's a chaotic region of raging winds and surging aetheric energy that manifests in terrible bursts of prismatic flame. No conventional vessel could hope to survive the nightmarish storm conditions.


Kasgyre Territory
Blackstone
Marine Presence: K 10/14 |  W ?/14
Territory: 2/4 | 2/4
---> Squad A:  1/4 Tpz. Pistols | 1/4 Pistols | [50%]
---> Squad B:  1/4 Tpz. Pistols | 1/4 Pistols | [50%]
-Cavalry 1: 4 witch-hunters,
-Cavalry 2: 8 witch-hunters,
-Cavalry 3: 4 witch-hunters,
-Cavalry 4: 4 pistols, 4 Tpz. Pistols
-Cavalry 5: 4 pistols
-Cavalry 6: 4 topaz pistols, 4 bronzewood witch-hunters
-Cavalry 7: 4 topaz pistols, 4 bronzewood witch-hunters, 4 topaz grenades
-Cavalry 8 [50%]: Topaz Bronzewood Light Mobile Cover
Resources: 1C, 5O, 2W, 0S
Conditions: Rocky, large caverns, very dark

The Hive
Marine Presence: K 0/10 |  W 0/10
Territory: 4/4 | 0/4
Resources: 1+2C, 2O, 1W, 4S
Conditions: Spider Nursery, narrow and twisting tunnels
—> Hanging Gardens x2

Glowcove
Marine Presence: K 0/20 |  W 0/20
Territory: 4/4 | 0/4
Resources: 1C, 2O, 6W, 1S
Conditions: Verdant galleries, significant bio-luminescence


The Belt

Three Captains
Marine Presence: K 0/20 |  W ?/20
Territory: 0/4 | 4/4
Resources: 1C, 6O, 2W, 6S
Conditions: Kinetoluminescent Ores, Heavily Infested

Wrackspire
Marine Presence: K 0/12 |  W ?/12
Territory: 0/4 | ?/4
Resources: 3C, 4O, 4W, 2S
Conditions: Unstable Aetheric Phenomena, Broken Spire

Burned Mountain
Marine Presence: K 7/24 |  W ?/24
Territory: 4/4 | ?/4
--->Marine Squad Siegmeyer: 1/4 Tower Shields | 3/4 Aetheric Pistols | 1/4 Witch-Hunters | Aetheric Grenades (1 per squad)
--->Marine Squad Sieglinde: 1/4 Silk Vests | 3/4 Aetheric Pistols | 1/4 Witch-Hunters | Aetheric Grenades (1 per squad)
--->Marine Squad Siegward: 3/4 Aetheric Pistols | 1/4 Witch-Hunters | Aetheric Grenades (1 per squad)
--->Marine Squad Siegfried: 1/4 Aetheric Pistols | 1/4 Witch Hunters | 2/4 Cutlasses
--->Marine Squad Sieghard: 4/4 Cutlasses
--->Marine Squad Siegbald: 2/4 Cutlasses
--->Marine Squad Siegrun: / [25%]
Resources: 1C, 10O, 1W, 0S
Conditions: Inexplicably Molten Core, Hundreds of narrow tunnels and small galleries.

The Unfinished
Marine Presence: K 0/0 |  W 0/0
Territory: ?/4 | ?/4
Resources: 0C, 0O, 0W, 0S
Conditions: Destroyed.

Spoiler: Ships (click to show/hide)

RKNV Viperidea - Viper Class
Loadout
1 Communications Officer
4 Light Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun) [2 front, 2 rear]
1 Light Topaz Aether Cannoń+ (Kettlegun) [Front]
1 Topaz Lance Cannon [Front]
1 Topaz Vanguard Cannon (Top Brz. Trim-Turret, Med Mount)
Bronzewood Hull
2 Sections Light Copper Armor
1 Medium Topaz Core Crystal 
1 Small Topaz Lift Crystal
2 Topaz Trim Crystals
8 Topaz Trim Webs Bronzewood reinforced
6 reams of webbing
Location: Blackstone
Status: Shipshape

RKNV Anguis - Viper Class
Loadout
8 Light Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun) [6 front, 2 rear]
1 Topaz Vanguard Cannon (Front)
Viper Hull | Web Converted 10
1 Sections Light Copper Armor
1 Medium Topaz Core Crystal 
1 Small  Lift Crystal
2 topaz trim webs
8 trim webs
2 topaz trim crystals
6 reams of webbing
Location: Spire Kasgyre
Status: Shipshape


Natalies - Skyskiff Class (x1)
Loadout
Comms Officer
2 Light Topaz Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun)
1 Very Small Topaz Core Crystal
1 Very Small Topaz Lift Crystal
4 Topaz Trim Webs
2 reams of webbing
Location:  Blackstone
Status: Shipshape

Natalies - Skyskiff Class (x1)
Loadout
2 Light Topaz Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun)
1 Very Small Topaz Core Crystal
1 Very Small Topaz Lift Crystal
4 Topaz Trim Webs
2 reams of webbing
Location:  Glowcove
Status: Shipshape

RKNV Jupiter - Battlebarge Class
Loadout
4 Light Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun) [2 front, 2 rear]
Bronzewood Hull
Medium Topaz Core
1 Small Topaz Lift Crystal
12 Standard Trim Crystals
5 reams of webbing
Carrying: 0/12
Location: Spire kasgyre
Status: Shipshape

Dionysus - Transport Class
Loadout
1 Small Topaz Core Crystal
1 Small Lift Crystal
2 Topaz Trim Crystals
1 ream of webbing
Carrying: 0/6
Location: Spire Kasgyre
Status: Shipshape

Ocker - Transport Class
Loadout
1 VS Topaz Core Crystal
1 S Lift Crystal
2 Topaz Trim Crystals
1 ream of webbing
Carrying: 0/6
Location:  Spire Blackstone
Status: Shipshape

Colubridae - Viper Class
Loadout
Bronzewood Hull, Medium Mount
6 Light Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun) [4 front, 2 rear]
1 Vanguard Cannon [Medium Mount, forward]
1 Medium core
1 Small Lift
10 Trim Webs
6 Reams Webbing
2 Copper Plating (Forward)
Location:  Spire Kasgyre
Status: Shipshape

Crotalinae - Viper Class
Loadout
Bronzewood Hull, Medium Mount
6 Light Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun) [4 front, 2 rear]
1 Vanguard Cannon [Medium Mount, forward]
1 Medium core
1 Small Lift
10 Trim Webs
6 Reams Webbing
2 Copper Plating (Forward)
Location:  Spire Kasgyre
Status: Shipshape

Epicrates - Viper Class
Loadout
Bronzewood Hull, Medium Mount
6 Light Aether Cannons+ (Kettlegun) [4 front, 2 rear]
1 Vanguard Cannon [Medium Mount, forward]
1 Medium core
1 Small Lift
10 Trim Webs
6 Reams Webbing
2 Copper Plating (Forward)
Location:  Spire Kasgyre
Status: Shipshape

Spoiler: Goods Stockpile (click to show/hide)

Topaz trim crystals x2
Kettleguns x2
2 comms officers (2c, 2o, 2 squads)
1 topaz S core

Spoiler: Infantry (click to show/hide)

Marines x4
Redshirt 1 [25%]
Cavalry 8 [50%]

Current Technology

[NAV]

The Royal Aeronautical Academy teaches many distinguished courses. Command, piloting, engineering, gunnery, navigation, etc.

For some reason Comm Officer training is taught in the Royal Marine Academy, despite being an aeronautical role. This strange arrangement worked fine when we had a small fleet, maybe even fostered cooperation between the forces. However the Marine Academy was not expanded to handle the demands of the new medium docks like the Aeronautical Academy was, so it can no longer afford to train enough comms officers for our ships. We should add comms officer training as a new official specialization in the aeronautic training course and stop having it compete with marine training and recruitment.

Otherwise we need to use literally all our marine training to train enough comms officers to equip our fleet, or go without communication completely.

Comms officers we can actually afford are 100% necessary to having a strong large fleet.

Our other revision should probably go towards fixing flaws of the widespread topaz. Or maybe a new skiff pattern with lance cannons.

Edit: Or putting two dice towards the comms officer one hecause it is actually necessary to our fleet, not just useful like a regular revision. Nah, better to put one die in and try again next turn if it doesn't work.

[NAV]

Royal Topaz's secret ingredient is Chlorauric acid, which causes both the extraordinary quality and the unpredictable growth times.

Maybe, if we add small amount of the chemically similar but even nobler and more valuable Chloroplatinic acid (made my dissolving Platinum in Aqua Regia), it will have a positive effect on the crystal matrix.

While we're at it we should also try using the Tetrahydrate and Trihydrate versions of Chlorauric acid separately. Maybe the different hydrate levels are the root cause of the variation in growth time?

Quicksilver and Copper Sulphate Crystals are also worth a try.

If none of those likely chemical suspects produce results, then lets just try throwing any chemical compount we can get our hands on into the vat and see what sticks.

I don't know if any of these will stabilize the growth time, reduce the cost or chance of error while hastening, create an even more powerful Super-Topaz, or something else entirely. Who knows what will happen until we try? But we're really really hoping it will stabilize the growth time.

Schola Communicae: (1) NAV
Chloroplatinic Acid: (1) NAV

[Kashyyk]

Expanding on NAV's idea, basically the same thing using silver instead of platinum. In exchange for being a cheaper option it risks making a lesser form rather than a greater form.

Royal Topaz's secret ingredient is Chlorauric acid, which causes both the extraordinary quality and the unpredictable growth times. Maybe, if we add small amount of the chemically similar but more common Chloroargentic acid (made my dissolving Silver in Aqua Regia), it will have a positive effect on the crystal matrix.

I don't know if it will stabilize the growth time, reduce the cost or chance of error while hastening, create some sort of lesser-Topaz, or something else entirely. Who knows what will happen until we try? But we're really really hoping it will stabilize the growth time.

Schola Communicae: (2) NAV, Kashyyk
Chloroplatinic Acid: (1) NAV
Chloroargentic Acid: (1) Kashyyk

[NAV]

One problem with that: There is no such thing as chloroargentic acid. Aqua Regia can't dissolve silver beams!

[Kashyyk]

Honestly, I thought they were all made up words to add flavour until I just googled it. I'd still like to try out some resources that aren't so ridiculously expensive though.

[NAV]

I still think that chloroplatinic is our best bet since it is by far the closest chemically to chlorauric.

We should also try using the Trihydrate and Tetrahydrate versions of Chlorauric separately, since thats a variation within Clorauric and thus a likely explanation for the variation in growth time.

I can add a final sentence to my revision to just try random chemicals and see what sticks if neither of those work. Or any other chemicals that people think are likely leads.

[Doomblade187]

Hmm. Any chemists here who know a chemically similar substitute to chloroauric tat's cheaper?

Shiiit: Mercury may be viable.

[NAV]

MercuryQuicksilver is worth a try.

[Doomblade187]

I had an idea for a better revision:

Topaz Growth Charts:

Currently, the ability to determine how long a crystal will take to grow is lacking- we would simply have to throw chemicals, or seed extra crystals. However, the princess currently has a set of crystals in progress up in her tower-top vata, and that data set is invaluable.

By training the princess in the use of the synchronization tools used by our ship-board engineers, we can, without violating the sanctity of the royal vats, get the "heartbeat" measurements of the crystals growing at different rates. With this data, we can then predict when the seeds we plant now will grow to maturity by using this reference.

By seeding several crystals and culling all but those with the fastest growing heartbeat, we should be able to achieve faster topaz growth. In addition, the culled seed crystals may be able to be recycled for the reagent.

Schola Communicae: (3) NAV, Kashyyk, Doomblade
Chloroplatinic Acid: (1) NAV
Chloroargentic Acid: (1) Kashyyk
Topaz Growth Chart: (1) Doomblade