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[Jilladilla]

A good point was made.

CRATER: (2) Flabort, Happerry
Use Aratam's Space Elevator to help with construction/logistics: (2) TricMagic, Flabort

CAVE: (4) Madman, DGR, AC,Failbird

COM Operation: ()

ORE: (1) TricMagic

WEREMINE: (3) NUKE9.13, Powder Miner, Jilladilla

[Atomic Chicken]

CRATER: (2) Flabort, Happerry
Use Aratam's Space Elevator to help with construction/logistics: (2) TricMagic, Flabort

CAVE: (3) Madman, DGR, Failbird

COM Operation: ()

ORE: (1) TricMagic

WEREMINE: (4) NUKE9.13, Powder Miner, Jilladilla, AC

[TricMagic]

CRATER: (2) Flabort, Happerry
Use Aratam's Space Elevator to help with construction/logistics: (1) Flabort

CAVE: (3) Madman, DGR, Failbird

COM Operation: ()

ORE: ()

WEREMINE: (5) NUKE9.13, Powder Miner, Jilladilla, AC, TricMagic

We have a lot. Solving MARIA's uniqueness will let us deploy it elsewhere though.

[Failbird105]

CRATER: (2) Flabort, Happerry
Use Aratam's Space Elevator to help with construction/logistics: (1) Flabort

CAVE: (2) Madman, DGR,

COM Operation: ()

ORE: ()

WEREMINE: (6) NUKE9.13, Powder Miner, Jilladilla, AC, TricMagic, Failbird

[flabort]

CRATER: (1)  Happerry
Use Aratam's Space Elevator to help with construction/logistics: (0)

CAVE: (2) Madman, DGR,

COM Operation: ()

ORE: ()

WEREMINE: (7) NUKE9.13, Powder Miner, Jilladilla, AC, TricMagic, Failbird, Flabort

Choo choo!

[Chiefwaffles]

Wonderful Establishment for Resource Extraction, Mineral Identification, & Negating Enemies
MARIA was a giant leap for mankind. But here at Mereth, giant leaps are not enough. There are unexploited resources on the Moon, and that just won't do. WEREMINE is more or less just an upgrade to MARIA, more thoroughly integrating HOPE technology, along with a few other tweaks.
Living quarters are expanded somewhat, to support a larger population. FIG and BREATH modules are likewise scaled up. Solaris arrays are to be constructed on the surface, along with banks of Magmatite batteries to store energy during the lunar night. HOPE integration, in other words.
However, that's not all. The crucial thing that makes WEREMINE special is the Powerful Recogniser Of Subterranean Prosperity & Excavation Centre Treasurer (PROSPECT), an ICE-cooled computer system that is installed within the base. Based on our extensive experience with ORACLE, PROSPECT is a less ambitious computer (as in, smaller & less flexible), which thanks to years of progress should not pose a major challenge to create. It uses predictive algorithms, taking Earth-Ear and core sample data as input, to direct mining efforts towards high-yield pockets of Ore/Magmatite. It can also be used to manage the day-to-day operation of WEREMINE, reducing the administrative burden on the crew.
WEREMINE also has a number of RAILSTATIONs around the surface entrance to the base, connected by underground cables to the central battery bank. Not enough to stop a dedicated assault, but enough to deter probing attacks or drive away unprepared enemies.

Revision: WEREMINE
(Easy) (2+2)+1 = 5: Average

Alright, let's get this first part over with.

WEREMINE? Great. Good job all around. Very nice. We told those engineers in space to stick the HOPE modules together but in different configurations and throw in extra Magmatite and make everything somewhat bigger. A WEREMINE operation is still very much not self-sufficient, but it doesn't require constant babysitting from Earth and we can actually host a proper team on site to deal with more formal mining operations. MARIA is to WEREMINE like a man sleeping naked on an island under a big leaf is to an established camp. Overall, WEREMINE is kind of like a tiny "colony", housing a constant team for fairly long periods of time and serving as a minor base of operations for lunar activity. Solaris panels provide a decent amount of power, and a handful of RAILSTATIONs are installed on the base's perimeter, to quote, "just in case". It has 3 lunar Excavator docks, and 2 external Starknight landing pads (which makes transfer of cargo somewhat annoying, though SERFs help).
PROSPECT takes up a good portion of the base -- still much less space than ORACLE-A -- and (while it doesn't handle day-to-day operations) compiles Earth Ear data and core sample data and more into fairly accurate predictions of mineral deposits.

But... that's the thing.
There shouldn't be mineral deposits on the Moon. At least, nowhere near this frequency and concentration. We don't know too much about the moon, but numerous factors point to this being the case. Now, normally when a theory or fact or whatnot is flatly disproved, that means it's wrong. That tends to be how things work. We're pretty sure about it. Or were.
Because we weren't wrong. We've looked at past data collected and gathered a good amount more. There should not be mineral deposits like this on the moon. We've looked at the deposits we've found so far in prototyping, and data from that almost seems to prove that those deposits shouldn't exist.

So we're at a bit of an impasse. Logic says this is wrong. The Moon laughs at our logic. It has these deposits anyways.
We'll be here trying to figure out what's up with the Moon. You go enjoy your factually-inconsistent ore.


WEREMINE has a Construction Cost of 1 Magmatite due to the infrastructure required for the live-in team (though it's not like we can have them commute from a nearby region right now, so this is the only option). Luckily for us, we've developed a plan to upgrade MARIA to WEREMINE for free effectively instantly, making use of the old tunnels and existing (albeit mild) infrastructure there.
MARIA is obsoleted and will be phased out as soon as a WEREMINE Operation is in play.

WEREMINE provides 2 Magmatite OR 2 Ore. Due to PROSPECT limitations in what to look for, it cannot provide 1 of each. Just 2 of one or 2 of the other.

Spoiler: Designs (click to show/hide)

Transport Capacity: 2/3 (2/2 Oil, 0/0 Ore Imported)
Space Transport Capacity: 1/2 (1/1 Magmatite Imported) (+1 STC from Aratam's ANGEL Project)
Resources: 4 Ore, 3 Oil, 2 Magmatite

Moon Region Rating: 2/2
Moon Resources: 1 Magmatite (Succesfully imported Moon Resources are included in "Resources" as well)

Weapons

• ME-CLAW-63: A Magmagel-using laser gun. Can be dual-wielded by Bear soldiers. Uses Magmagel canisters inserted into barrel to fire. Has a beam mode and pulse mode -- beam capable of cutting unarmored people in half. Can easily melt through current Aratamite infantry armor, though not instantly. Damage is precise; it can do a lot of damage in very small areas -- best used against vital organs. Beam mode, when concentrated on the exact same spot of a Tank/heavy armor for a few seconds, can melt through the armor and damage directly behind it. Has optional port to pump in/out Magmagel for continuous use. Terrific accuracy at any range, though damage scales with distance (making it Long-ranged). Comes with 3x scope for sniping.
  [Cheap] 2 Ore, 1 Oil, 2 Magmatite
• ME-GWS-63 'TALON': A variant of the ME-CLAW-63 with expanded Magmagel tanks and capacitor arrays, that works on a controlled overload. Takes 5 seconds to charge a laser pulse which turns everything in its path to plasma, then a large chunk of its target to plasma. Needs a 30 second cooldown period between shots, and has an extensive STABIL-ICE cooling system. If cooling is damaged or overheated otherwise, weapon explodes violently. Can shoot 10 times before recharge (which can be done in-field by external connection or by using its host's power supply) Very heavy, and currently only fit for deployment as the primary weapon of a Grizzly.
  [Expensive] 3 Ore, 1 Oil, 4 Magmatite
• UF-MRL-40 'SARUKH': The Sarukh is a multiple rocket launcher, which fires rockets one meter long to deliver 6kg warheads at a maximum range of 12000 meters. The rockets have impressive destructive power, compared to shells they do not need thick metal casings, so most of the weight of the rocket is either warhead or propellant. The rockets are launched electrically off of rails, and the rails are in a 4x2 array. The rockets can be fired all at once, but it takes about four minutes to reload the whole launcher, so the sustained rate of fire is not better than regular artillery. However, a rocket array is extremely light compared to a cannon, and can move very quickly, firing all at once and retreating before fire is returned from the enemy. Accuracy is poor compared to shells; to reliably hit a single target with a volley they should be used within 8km. Currently available as a truck trailer.
  [Cheap] 1 Ore, 3 Oil
  
  • ICE Rocket: A rocket for the Sarukh equipped with an ICE non-explosive warhead. Instant lethalities within 5m, very high fatalities within 10m, serious injuries (and occasional fatality) along with (usually temporary) vehicle non-operation to 50m. The cold dissipates quickly outdoors.
• ICE Thrower: A 20m-ranged pressurized ICE thrower that can rapidly cool an area in front of the operator to (eventually) lethal levels or outright kill/severely harm those directly hit by ICE. The ICE doesn't naturally react until roughly 10m out from the barrel, though it can hit other things in its way and react with whatever it hits. Prolonged use is discouraged, due to close proximity with ICE and ICE-affected areas being very dangerous even with the extensive insulation operators wear.
  [Cheap] 2 Ore, 3 Oil
• ME-MO-62 "Nameless Death": A large mortar that uses rocket-propelled ammunition to give it a more than respectable range, with the ability for ICE or HE warheads. Its advantage lies in its versatility and ease-of-use: it can be mounted on Bear Armor's rear mount, deployed on the ground, and an automatic version exists for mounting on the Grizzly. Though the infantry version is somewhat hard to use without Bear Armor. Bear Troopers can fire their rear-mounted mortar at any time, without deployment, using a button on the suit's arm, though they have to aim through their posture, and the mortar has to be manually reloaded by another person. Grizzly mech versions are fired via the CAT interface, but are harder to aim and the CAT interface can't do anything other than "fire".
  [Cheap] 2 Ore
• ME-AEM-63 'Shrike': A 100kg missile with a 15kg ICE/HE warhead. Its associated "Birdbrain" computing pod allows for real-time target detection/analyzing, giving pilots a simple holographic reticule overlay in the cockpit and allowing effective tracking of any kind of target. Its warhead can be adjusted in real time by the computer for optimum damage against the selected target (air-bursting,  shaped charge, etc.) and it has high-res sensors with a relatively-thin viewing angle to find targets. On-board missile computer is simple and enacts out orders given by Birdbrain pre-launch, but can wirelessly receive new orders/communicate intel. Not specifically long-range.
  [Cheap] 2 Ore, 2 Oil
• ME-LDT-64 'RAILSTATION': Autonomous WARnet-Ravenmind CLAW turret. Fueled for 12h non-combat, 30min combat. Towed and deployed via WARTHOG (automatic w/ human supervision) or Excavator (manual). STABIL-ICE cooling keeps manageable temps in expectable conditions. If manually calibrated by trained human to a point on our maps, can act as navigational waypoint in its WARnet. Unarmored and fairly large pyramid shape. Sensors convey data across WARnet and allow for independent targeting of hostile ground assets and very rarely ballistic projectiles. 2m tall, 1m diameter, very roughly pyramid shaped.
  [Cheap] 3 Ore, 3 Oil, 1 Magmatite

Armor

• ME-PA-59 'Bear Armour': Powered infantry armor w/ full body COMBAT plating coverage, albeit with fairly frequent gaps in the joints. Lasts 8 hr, charge monitored by dial in the helmet. Stands ~2m tall, with bulletproof glass visor for limited visibility. Pilots boast slightly increased speed and slightly decreased agility over regular unarmored individuals while in the Armour and hold twice the strength of average soldiers. Contains advanced shock/recoil-dampening capabilities in gauntlets. Fit with Magmagel.
  [Cheap] 4 Ore, 2 Oil, 1 Magmatite
  
  • ME-PA-65 SPACEMARINE: Overhauled PA-59; external+internal ceramics protect COMBAT plating from heat and user from melted COMBAT plating. Sealed suit w/ air filter, can last 20m in space without external tanks. Controlled via improved CAT, eliminating small movement of arms due to breathing/etc. and giving more control. As agile as a regular soldier, can run at a consistent 20 MPH / 9 m/s, can carry about 3-4x as much mass. STABIL-ICE cooling keeps user cool in warm temperatures, and floods breached areas to prevent cascading damage from melting COMBAT plating. Coolant can run out with heavy use. User sees via feed from miniaturized cameras on sides of head projected onto internal faceplate with IV capability; internal WALK-TALK allows for handsfree communication and, if near a Ravenmind, highlighting of targets detected by that Ravenmind.
    [Expensive] 5 Ore, 1 Oil, 2 Magmatite
• "Drop Bear" Armor: Bear Armor with 2 large fuel tanks attached to back with nozzles placed around the suit. Launches a Bear Trooper high into the air 50 m forward before landing unharmed. Single-use, and prohibits use of heavy weaponry.
  [Expensive] 4 Ore, 3+1 Oil, 1 Magmatite
• ME-MAS-62 'Grizzly Armor' v2: ~4m-tall mechanized combat suit, based on Bear Armor. Heavy COMBAT plating covering chest - where the CAT-using pilot is, ooking at a fiberscope connected to the head. Mangalloy plating covers external of COMBAT armor. Can tank huge hits, and is relatively agile for something as dangerous as it is. Can equip any vehicle-suited or heavy weapon held by Mereth, an upscaled Bear Shield, or a 6-rocket Sarukh pod in either(/both) of its two arm modules. Fit with Magmagel, and a charging port that allows charging in five minutes w/ dials in cockpit. "Ursine Vision" system has 4 cameras relayed to the pilot (who can choose to ignore them in favor of the fiberscope) as well as a dedicated Handler at the nearest ORACLE-A node, who points out important things, gives tactical advice, and relays intelligence to ORACLE-A. Cameras are obvious targets and delicate, but not essential to operation.
  [Expensive] 6 Ore, 3 Oil, 1 Magmatite
• ME-AGV-64 WARTHOG: 6m-long angular autonomous ground vehicle powered by a Ravenmind. A squadron communicates in very short range "WARnet" to/from a Commander designated WARTHOG receiving general orders from the nearest Node (destruction of Commander leads to 1-3min of interrupted general commands while network rearranges itself). Covered in infantry-grade COMBAT plating, with AWD heavy duty wheels placed relatively far up into chassis for protection. GOFAST engine gives Fast speed, and a WARTHOG has a Very Long (entire theatre) range w/o weapon firing and Short range if deployed for combat. Twin-CLAW turret controlled by Ravenmind is placed on top. Can't track absolute location and must follow a human(-operated vehicle) or stay close to calibrated RAILSTATIONs for general travel. A squadron can coordinate to a limited degree, focusing fire on specific enemies and spots and the like though proper in-squad tactics aren't used. Basic STABIL-ICE cooling allows for continued operation while firing turret. Has foot/hand holds for 4 Bear troopers on outside.
  [Expensive] 3 Ore, 4 Oil, 2 Magmatite
  
  • WARTHOG-H: Variant with heavier cooling systems, external Magmagel+STABIL-ICE tanks, and less armor to mount a TALON turret instead. Does not sacrifice speed.
    [Expensive] 3 Ore, 4 Oil, 3 Magmatite

Spacecraft

• ME-STS-64 'Starknight': A larger completely unarmored variant of the Skyranger designed for space and lunar travel. A Turbopumped-GOFAST rocket combustion engine powers multiple thruster nozzles all over the craft, all with good vectoring, allows for very good maneuverability, speed, and fuel efficiency. It can land and take off form/into space just using landing gear on its bottom and can hover, though that's not recommended due to fuel usage concerns. ICE-cooling and ablative plating allows for relatively-low-maintenance atmospheric re-entry. Power provided by engines during burns and auxiliary GOFAST generators in other times. Panoramic electric display screen replaces window in cockpit, showing large amounts of data derived by the Birdbrain-based "Swallow" guidance system. A cramped pressurized crew compartment allows for a maximum crew of 6 for up to 2 weeks on its life support, with integrated CAT stations leading into a central Datalink conduit for every crewmember. Much larger unpressurized cargo hold has 2 HAUNTERs and 4 SERFs, and 2 GOFAST generators (used to power the craft or anything else). Has covered ports on outside of hull and on inside of cargo bay to connect Datalink conduits to, for uploading/downloading information and flight plans with ORACLE-A and letting the crew control any plugged-in remote controlled robot using the craft's integrated CAT stations. Rest of cargo hold has enough space for about half a dissembled Excavator. Requires a comprehensive flight plan from ORACLE-A via Datalink wires for orbital navigation. Equipped with radio.
  +1 STU, +1 Moon Region Rating
  [Very Expensive 5 Ore, 5 Oil
• ME-ORMA-64 'Firestorm': Based on the Blizzard, extremely sleek obsidian black & bronze chassis with damascus steel-like details. Blizzard-style wings are placed further to the back, but are much stubbier and feel like an extension of the chassis. Covered in COMBAT plating, with the cockpit canopy having a COMBAT plating shutter. Powered by the "Ravenmind" Combat Assistive Computer which can give likely enemy flight patterns, analyze and target all enemies, assist in flight and maneuvers, communicate with other Ravenminds and ORACLE-A over radio, and give every possible piece of pertinent information to the pilot via the 4-color canopy HUD (where most information is conveyed rather than through physical instruments). Ravenmind controls CLAWs by default, and can control TALON and/or flight systems if allowed. Combat is still very possible when shutters are closed thanks to Ravenmind-provided data. A slightly downscaled nose TALON with minor gimballing can fire to a small cone of fire at the front (air-cooled for poor rate of fire, ICE-cooled for better RoF at cost of re-entry/Mach 3 speed capability before refueling), and two CLAW "bubbles" on the sides with interior mirror gimballing can fire practically anywhere short of 90 degrees in any direction. 4 hours of oxygen and 8 MREs are provided, allowing for extra-atmosphere operations. Full docking with crew, fuel, power, Datalink, and life support 2-way transfer can be made by docking the top of the craft with other spacecraft. Transports like the Starknight can refuel the Firestorm in orbit and transport it to places like the moon, allowing for full orbital fighter operations. Powered by a single multimodal GOFAST-M rocket engine with a primary thruster and powerful RCS thrusters all along the craft. STABIL-ICE cooling and ablative plating for re-entry and Mach 3 speeds, though a max of 5 minutes at Mach 3 is allowed before maintenance will be required to do it again. Mach 2 cruising speeds, Medium range.
  [Very Expensive] 6 Ore, 4 Oil, 4 Magmatite

Air Vehicles

• ME-LRMA-60 "Blizzard": A two-engine jet "Long-Range Multi-Role-Aircraft" based off of the Lightning Streak that uses a 4 "X"-shaped wing configuration via the "Tereshkova Effect" for slightly increased aerodynamics, improved redundancy, and greatly improved coolness. Its two aT-J60gi ICE "freezing stovepipe" ramjet engines allows it to be a fair bit faster than the Lightning Streak. Has one large GOFAST tank and a small STABIL-ICE tank allowing for Long range. Equipped with a single 15° rudimentary CLAW turret integrated with Birdbrain (and a small amount of Magmagel "ammo"), and 8 Shrike missiles.
  [Expensive] 5 Ore, 4 Oil, 1 Magmatite
• ME-EAP-63 "Skyranger": A two-multimodal-propulsion-unit suborbital transport craft. With four wings. It can propel itself out of the atmosphere and "fall" towards its destination at extremely fast speeds, making it a practical fireball (the heat of which is mostly countered through ICE circulation cooling). It can hold a full Bear squad or the equivalent weight in cargo/personnel, and using its suborbital travel method it can arrive anywhere on the continent in ~30 minutes. Its landing is extremely obvious and it requires heavy maintenance, and unless handling very light loads it has to take the long way back home, not using suborbital travel. Uses Magmagel-powered fans mostly in the atmosphere, and Magmatite-GOFAST Rockets/Ramjets at higher speeds and to get sufficient suborbital velocity. Has a CLAW hardpoint that cannot be used if suborbital travel is expected.
  [Very Expensive] 6 Ore, 2 Oil, 3 Magmatite

Navy

• UFN-CA-41 Catraphract: The Cataphract is a cruiser built to rival Cannala's ships. It is armed with 3x3 150mm gun turrets, each using a fully electrified loading system. Each gun can fire 8 times a minute. It has an armored citadel with 300mm of nickel-steel armor (Heavy), and a torpedo belt. The deck is heavily armored, at 120mm (Light) to defend against plunging fire, plus an extra splinter deck. The turrets are similarly armored. Additionally there are three turrets with two bumblebees on each side of the ship, capable of firing on aircraft or ships. It is powered by oil-burning steam turbines yielding a moderate speed.
  [Expensive] 5 Ore, 4 Oil
  
  • ME-MV-61 "Makeshift": A modification of the Cataphract with shooty-bits and unnecessary "crew livability" components removed.
    Provides 2 TC
• ME-DDG-61 "Chillwind": A Guided Missile Destroyer equipped with a 2x-Bumblebee turret, eight Velociraptors divided amongst both sides of the hulls, all slaved to a 150km aircraft/30km ships radar system. Uses a Mostly Vertical Launch system to house 40 Penguin missile launch tubes - 20 each side - angled 30 degrees down vertically. Crew and equipment requirements mean that only four missiles can be launched and guided at a time. Has a very thin metal hull covered by Pykrete and crisscrossing pipes of STABIL-ICE to keep the Pykrete layer cool and supposedly repair any damage, though it proves ineffective at damage repair and the STABIL-ICE often runs out quickly enough such that a Chillwind's first engagement is usually without any Pykrete armor still intact.
  [Cheap] 3 Ore, 3 Oil

Underground Vehicles

• UT-60 Excavator: A tracked medium-sized tunnel boring machine using GOFAST. Can go down to Moderate and Shallow depths, moves at Very Slow speeds while underground and at Moderate speeds aboveground. Possesses limited (but notable) agility underground. Contains space for 6 soldiers and small amounts of equipment of the equivalent amount of cargo in the back, in addition to the 2 crew in its cockpit. Light armor. Equipped with Earth Ear for basic subterranean navigation.
  [Cheap] 3 Ore, 3 Oil; Provides 1 Ore.
  
  • ME-CM-56 'Instant Roads': A fast-acting sprayable concrete mixture very useful for reinforcing tunnels when sprayed by trailers hooked to a Burrower. Allows use of Burrower tunnels for logistics.
    Provides 1 TC.
• UT-60-L Excavator-L: Variant of Excavator with 8-hour life support and a 2-person crew cabin designed to remain pressurized outside of Earth's atmosphere. Airtight door can be docked with a temporary inflatable connector.

Other

• GATE/HAUNTER: A large ring-shaped device with surrounding outer transparent chamber of Magmagel that, with assistance of N-Sensitive Volunteer, can create a tear in the fabric of reality (induces insanity if looked at) leading to the "N-Dimension". It must spend time "Locking" coordinates, where Volunteer forces section of the N-Dimension to be stable and known enough to lock it to a position in our dimension where we can enter it. Emerging point in N-Dimension can be up to a mile away from GATE, with instant travel time. Complete ORACLE-A coverage of or very recent Volunteer visit to target area required. 15 min for lock to adjacent position, 2 hours for a mile away. SERF-based Datalink-controlled drone equipped with a sword and thrusters piloted by the Volunteer, the "HAUNTER", travels into N-Dimension where Aratamite astral activity can be located and an attempt can be made to stop/disrupt them. Tear remains open for 15m-1hr depending on Volunteer skill on maintaining N-Scape stability, though Volunteer can break lock prematurely if needed. GATEs are constructed in 2 days on site with premade parts shipped to site beforehand. HAUNTERs can not be recovered after deployment, making design Complex.
  [Very Expensive] 3 Ore, 2 Oil, 4 Magmatite, [Complex]
• GOFAST-Fuel: A special type of more energy-dense and stable fuel. Greatly increases fuel efficiency of anything it's in, doesn't require an oxidizer, and can rarely leak out of compromised containers.
  Adds 1 Oil to cost.
• WALK-TALK: The Wireless Audio Local Kommunicator-Transistor Assistance Lowers Kost Radio. A small hand-held two-way transistor radio..
  [Cheap] 1 Ore
• Electrogel: A very thick blue gel that creates and transmits electrical current corresponding to the amount of pressure applied to it. Comes with the "Electrogel Motor" - a very small motor with embedded Electrogel that works with power corresponding to Electrogel pressure. A patch of Electrogel can last roughly 8 hours when powering its corresponding motor nonstop at max power.
  
  • Rechargeable Electrogel: A variant of Electrogel that can be charged with very precise pressure applied. As a general rule, the time needed to charge is 3x of how long it was used at max power usage.
  • Magmagel: Electrogel enhanced with specially-ground Magmatite that allows very-fast charging.
• UF-SM-57 'Earth Ear' Mk. IV: A set of small attachments to be put on all available sides of a subterranean vehicle. The use of precise vibrations sent through the earth and analyzed by an onboard computer allow for identifying of earth and entities in a 20km area. Cube 3D-projected interface in red and blue shows layout of the land and distinguishes between earth, buildings, vehicles, and infantry (all allied and enemy). Magnetic disks store gathered data to be fed back to the ORACLE.
  
  • GASOLINE: The Great Acoustic/Seismic Oil Location Initiative and Extraction device, which fits onto an Earth Ear systems allowing for relative easy surveying of underground oil deposits. Merethan regulation forbids surveying underneath Mereth for alleged safety reasons, meaning oil found as a result of GASOLINE has to be imported using our transport capacity.
    Provides 1 Oil (Import)
• ICE: A chemical that very quickly reacts with the air to massively reduce heat in the surrounding area, often to the point where nearby things are frozen (ones in the epicenter frozen brittle), vehicles disabled or destroyed, and people killed.
  
  • STABIL-ICE: A variant of ICE that relies on an added catalyst to only react when it's above a target temperature, specified during synthesization of the STABIL-ICE. Useful for ice cream and also maybe cooling of machinery and the like. Slowly decays over time in storage, making it unsuitable for anything not expecting routine maintenance.
• C.O.M.B.A.T. Plating: Composite armor plating using a thin manganese layer and a ceramic layer sandwiching a Tungsten-Bronze/Molybdenum-Bronze layer arranged to, in layman's terms, convert kinetic and electric energy into heat. The outer layers easily melt when tanking particularly impactful hits such as coilgun shots and Lvl3 Tesla blasts, but prevent death or (usually) injury in the process.
  Adds +0 Ore to cost. (+1 cost nullified by ME-RID-61 'SERF")
• Cerebral Action Translator A system wherein a series of jacks are implanted into the upper spine and lower brain -- roughly the neck and lower half of the back head, from the outside -- to allow for communication between computers/machinery and the human brain. Use of Electrogel as very-primitive "neurons" allows a bridge between the Electrogel and actual neuron growths, providing a channel to receive input from the neural system and a channel to send information to the neural system. It has low bandwidth, meaning it can't do a  huge number of things at once, but what it does do, it does nearly seamlessly.
• ME-RID-61 'SERF': An unmanned thinner suit derived from Bear Armor, with near-human dexterity and a camera-like head. Remote controlled via cable connection to a pilot elsewhere hooked up via CAT, seeing via a television monitor and hearing via speakers. The SERF-2 version makes it much more skeletal, cheaper, and allows it to compact itself into a small cube-ish square in about 30 minutes and uncompact in about 3 minutes; all autonomously.
  Reduces the cost of COMBAT plating from 1 Ore to 0.

Operation Plans

• MARIA: Set up a mining outpost with Starknight landing pads surrounding an unpressurized warehouse with space for ores, oxygen, and fuel that has underground docks for lunar Excavators. Resupplies Excavators and facilities transport of humans into Excavators for piloting. Two humans per Excavator accompanied by a SERF mine in underground tunnels and bring the ore back to the warehouse for transport to Earth.
  Potentially Provides 1 Ore OR [/color=darkred]1 Magmatite[/color]
  Lunar Operation, No cost, Unique, Takes up 1 Region

• WEREMINE: Establish a live-in base with a semi-permanent team controlling and manning mining operations in the area with Lunar Excavators. Has 3 docks for Excavators for resupply and crew/cargo transfer. Minor ORACLE-A-based "PROSPECT" takes Earth Ear + Core Sample + etc. data to provide predictions on the impossible-but-existing mineral deposits on moon. Makes full use of HOPE, namely upscaled FIG/BREATH for partial self-sustainability and Solaris for power. Has a few RAILSTATIONs at base perimeter connected to power grid. Reliant on shipments from Earth for operation. 2 Starknight landing pads.
  Potentially Provides 2 Ore OR [/color=darkred]2 Magmatite[/color]
  Lunar Operation, [Construction Cost: 1 Magmatite], Takes up 1 Region

Infrastructure

• Division of Unusual Chemistry: A fully funded department & lab under the Design Division specializing in more unusual chemistry.
• M.A.G.M.A.: A giant very deep borehole used for industry, mining, and housing.
  Provides +1 Ore
• ORACLE-A: A microprocessor-based STABIL-ICE-cooled supercomputer charged with processing gathered relevant intelligence & data to create very accurate predictions of enemy strategy, and more. Duties have increased over time; use of large ORACLE-A "Nodes" across the territory help coordinate logistics, serve as forward bases, and increase the computer's capabilities. Input via keyboard, output via vector screen graphics and audio.
• H.O.P.E.: A laundry list of things very useful for doing things in orbit, the moon, and potentially beyond.
  
  • Solaris System: Magmatite-enhanced solar panels with attached good energy storage and 20% solar cell efficiency.
    Costs 1 Magmatite to add to a design.
  • Nanoseal Concrete: Variant of Instant Roads; material once applied slowly moves to create airproof seals. Requires multiple applications between waiting for it to clump together into sealed bits. Repairs nano breaches (micrometeroids or smaller), but bigger breaches require re-application. Must be sprayed on a medium/framework, e.g. bricks made from regolith. May cause cancer.
  • B.R.E.A.T.H. Module that regulates atmosphere in a closed environment, ensuring optimum oxygen/nitrogen mix. Recycles CO2 to good but not perfect efficiency, and can electrolyze water for more oxygen. Recycle of waste to recover most (not all) water and nutrients useful for plants.
  • F.I.G. Simple hydroponics system module growing plants with nutrients from BREATH and water, in addition to long-lasting rations from Earth. Hydroponics currently is not recommended to sustain humans independently, but to supplement rations.
  • Zephyr Modular airlock with own atmosphere tanks, solar panels, electronics, and sensors. Can be shipped in parts or as a whole (fits nicely as main cargo of a Starknight). Contains two lockers for Polaris suits.
  • A.L.W.V. Ambiguous Lunar Wheeled Vehicle, a smallish flat bed battery-powered vehicle with good suspension and 8 wheels. Can fit an inflatable pressurized "cabin" to fit driver and 6 passengers, a cargo hold, a towing system, storage+laying for cables and conduits of all types, tanks for liquid/gaseous substances, etc..
    [Cheap] 3 Ore, 1 Magmatite
  Provides +1 Region Rating

• Embassy "Vast Underground Forenian Embassy": An extensive and mildly luxurious underground Forenian embassy dug underneath around the center of Mereth using improvements in excavation technology designed 100% solely for civilian use and definitely nothing else.

The Combat Phase of Spring 1965 has begun. You have a new Lunar Region to deploy an Operation on if you wish. You have a Lunar Region with an obsolete Operation in play. (You are capable of upgrading MARIA to WEREMINE instantly)

[TricMagic]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Maria to WEREMINE
Set up a Maria if possible .

So 2 Ore and 1 Magmatite. Though we can only bring 2 of those resources in, so Ore and Magmatite.


For the record, I think this makes Starknights Expensive, so... We really need a way to get these resources back home.

This would at least make our Polar Bears Cheap. Skyrangers go down a level, which might prove useful in the desert for quick deployments without having to cross the sands.

SOLARIS- Solar Oversight Laser Assembly Radio Interstellar Station

SOLARIS, an observatory slash radio network slash defense station. Hosting a specialized Swallow/Ravenmind computing system, these systems form an Assembly, using radio, Radar and Ladar, and top-tier cameras capable of observing the ground below and space around them, they can not only triangulate targets, but determine their own flight paths and other objects. Along with the use of a single specialized Talon Cannon, they can strike any target within sight or Ladar Range with amazing accuracy. This effectively allows them to completely outrange the Plasma based STOPs, and destroy any target.

Other than that, their armor is a mix of combat plating as found in SPACEMARINESs, protecting them from heat, and ceramics. They also have a full-blown Hope Module ready to be installed while they are in space, though a Solaris can do without one for a while. As well as docking stations for refueling Firestorms and Spaceknights alike with air, fuel, ICE, and ordinance.

This is mostly due to it being a full-blow space station, capable of crewing a total of 10 to 20 people at a time comfortably, with 10 being on staff at all times. It likewise makes full use of the Solaris System after which this has been named to provide power to itself for life support and computing.


Last is the fact that a SOLARIS, without an installed Hope Module and the Solaris System panels being tucked inside for launch, is completely capable of launching itself into orbit, and traveling to the Moon. It does not have a reentry option however, being meant to stay in orbit 24-7 of the Celestial Body it has been assigned to. Overall, it's expected to grant a lot of longevity to those that perform Space Operations as a resupply point, as well as Orbital Defense of the Moon and Earth. Beyond that, SOLARIS can also make use of it's Talon Cannon to strike at enemy Lunar Operations and ship, as there is no atmosphere to prevent it from doing so.

Meant to be a design taking full advantage of our future Ore Supplies, while improving all aspects of our operations in space. With Starkinghts becoming Expensive, we can expect an additional STC, and certainly more Region Rating. And Firestorms will no longer need to conserve ICE with a place to resupply there weapons and systems.

Spoiler: Quick Paint Image (click to show/hide)

Meant to be launched, and panels added on in space. After that, the rocket and a few boosters are used to steer, move, and keep orbital positions. It can remain in either GSO, GEO, MEO, or LEO.


A general list for what an orbital station should have.

Thrusters capable of moving the Station to other orbits.
A Computer that can link with others, as well as calculate trajectories and control all the minutiae. Radio Transmission as well.
Ladar/Radar. As well as cameras.
Spacemarine-grade ceramics and cooling, as well as combat plating.
HOPE module allowing 24/7 operation for 10 to 20 people in the Space Station. As well as resupplying other spaceships. This includes a Solaris System on wings to catch the sunlight and store it's power.
Talon Cannon for making use of it's Ladar/Radar along with communication with others(triangulation) to successfully shoot down anything within range, with the proper ICE stores to make use of it.

A somewhat simple list of things, but these 6 would let us create something that would prove extremely useful. And with all the ORE we'll going to have, making it big enough shouldn't be too much of a chore.



Votebox.


We really need Oil... You know that? Or an alternative fuel source, but mostly just 1 more Oil. We are swamped in other materials.



Time to Mine
Maria > WEREMINE
Mine 2 Magmatite
Use Angel STC
Set up WEREMINE in Empty Controlled Region. -1 Magmatite for turn. +2 Ore next turn.
Benefit from being able to use Skyrangers as cross-desert sub-orbital transports.


Operation Eclipse
Upgrade MARIA to WEREMINE.
Do not use Aratam STC. Or show any sign of having upgraded anything. Simply keep sending 1 Magmatite back for now and pretend MARIA is still our only operation.
Next turn, set up WEREMINE in the empty region and earn 2 Ore, and reap the benefits of a Spaceship design for transport of materials.
We'd have 3/3 STC on our own, ideally, maybe 4 if we're lucky.

Time to Mine: (1) TricMagic
Operation Eclipse: (0)

[NUKE9.13]

Upgrade Maria?
Yes, to Magmatite WEREMINE: (1) NUKE9.13
Yes, to Ore WEREMINE:
No, for some reason:

New operation:
Ore WEREMINE: (1) NUKE9.13

[TricMagic]

Upgrade Maria?
Yes, to Magmatite WEREMINE: (2) NUKE9.13, TricMagic
Yes, to Ore WEREMINE:
No, for some reason:

New operation:
Ore WEREMINE: (2) NUKE9.13, TricMagic


Secret Action Investigation
Send Researchers and Contractors to ANGEL to determine how it works. It is open to the public after all: (1) TricMagic
Investigate the President's Friend: ()

I did create one already. Oh well.

Time to vote, so we can get to making an National Expense Spaceship. Cause it being big would mean plenty of STC, which could mean it might become VE as a result of it's creation. Or later on when we've colonized more of the moon.

We still need Oil at some point. Or a revision to incorporate GOFAST-M as an option for everything, replacing 1 Magmatite Cost for 1 Oil Cost.

Likewise, investigation action. Which one should we do?


Idea here.


Polar Star Drive

The PS-Drive came about from one question by DUC. What would happen if Magmatite were to be refined to a crystal form?

Well, the result, after many tests, are conclusive. Energetic. Just about any form of energy entering the crystal produces a huge amount of side effects. Lasers superheat the air to fusion levels, ICE approaches absolute zero in seconds when such a crystal of sufficient size is used. And electricity pumped through it produces a huge amount of electromagnetic energy around it.

Needless to say, we ended up with quite a few destroyed labs and equipment. Including chucking it into N-Space, we think. Not sure what happened in that situation other than part of the lab disappearing.

Well, we do have 3 options. We went with the easiest, the Polar Star Drive. It makes use of a ship's own magnetic properties and propels an object magnetically, as well as producing a field to block radiation. The Polar Star Drive is a crystal about the size of a car, surrounded by smaller diamond sized crystals, and a lot of electrical work and proofing. This room is connected through beams(of the structural variety) into the rest of the ship, and those beams are magnetized through contact, and then have the same magnetic charge field applied to one side, with the opposite charge in the direction we want to go. This effectively takes the (Opposites Attract/Same Charges Repel) approach to acceleration and lift. It takes plenty of electricity, but we can easily accelerate in space. It also makes it far easier for rockets in the back and bottom of the ship to escape orbi due to being able to reduce the ship's weight. More over, the size of the ship almost doesn't matter, other than maybe having secondary Polar Star Drives.


To make use of this....

It goes on to describe the ship being built with this Polar Star Drive as the principle.

[Powder Miner]

Upgrade Maria?
Yes, to Magmatite WEREMINE: (3) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner
Yes, to Ore WEREMINE:
No, for some reason:

New operation:
Ore WEREMINE: (3) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner


Secret Action Investigation
Send Researchers and Contractors to ANGEL to determine how it works. It is open to the public after all: (1) TricMagic
Investigate the President's Friend: ()
Use GATE/HAUNTER to perform recon on the hidden facility draining ICE in MAGMA: (1) Powder Miner

[m1895]

Upgrade Maria?
Yes, to Magmatite WEREMINE: (4) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895
Yes, to Ore WEREMINE:
No, for some reason:

New operation:
Ore WEREMINE: (4) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895


Secret Action Investigation
Send Researchers and Contractors to ANGEL to determine how it works. It is open to the public after all: (1) TricMagic
Investigate the President's Friend: ()
Use GATE/HAUNTER to perform recon on the hidden facility draining ICE in MAGMA: (2) Powder Miner, m1895

[/quote]

[Madman198237]

Alright fine I've got myself kind of stuck on the idea of the nuclear reactor, how about:

ME-ICFR-65 'Inertial Confinement Experiment Creating Unbelievably Brilliant Explosions' (ICECUBE)
We've successfully cracked the power source of the Sun, and have used one of Mereth's favorite passtimes and some lunar samples to successfully sustain an energy-positive nuclear fusion reaction in a reaction. We are talking, of course, about the "shooting patriotically blue lasers at anything that defies our will" and those lunar samples contained some Helium-3, the bottleneck in a particularly effective fusion fuel combination.

We have utilized a large array of Magmatite-based laser weapons emitters, and focused their extremely powerful output onto a small pellet of fusion fuel in the middle of a chamber capable of converting the immense amount of radiation emitted into extreme amounts of heat in a water jacket around the explosion chamber, which has walls of a DUC-invented carbon-based material that doesn't absorb many neutrons (the water obviously does absorb almost all of the neutrons), but is still capable of keeping the reaction contained, while also transferring some amount of thermal energy to the water. The reaction takes place in a vacuum so that no shockwaves are produced which could otherwise destroy the reaction chamber.

Overall, the cheap use of Magmatite lasers' immense power combined with our ability to easily acquire large amounts of He-3 fusion fuel as well as our experience with such things has allowed us to produce a commercial source of energy that is even more capable than MAGMA's geothermal differential while also being useful on other bodies of the solar system.

It's light on details for the fusion reactor and glosses over many of the present problems of such reactors right now since I don't think anyone is going to be that concerned with them....also it's obviously not exactly the ideal time to be proposing something for next turn but the idea got stuck in my head.

Upgrade Maria?
Yes, to Magmatite WEREMINE: (5) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895, Madman
Yes, to Ore WEREMINE:
No, for some reason:

New operation:
Ore WEREMINE: (5) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895, Madman


Secret Action Investigation
Send Researchers and Contractors to ANGEL to determine how it works. It is open to the public after all: (1) TricMagic
Investigate the President's Friend: ()
Use GATE/HAUNTER to perform recon on the hidden facility draining ICE in MAGMA: (2) Powder Miner, m1895
Utilize Earth Ear scans to determine the extent of the hidden ICE-stealing facility: (1) Madman

And I'm still not sure what to do with the investigation action...

[TricMagic]

Ideas ideas.


Direct Fusion Drive


Effectively, I'll go over it in parts, and let you pick out the flaws.


DUC Materials needed:
Fusion Grade Ceramics to withstand the heat. These Ceramics, other than being nearly impervious to heat, are made with a sort of ICE Derivative, that has been boiled away and used in the creation of ceramics. They are capable of maintaining a cool temperature no mater what heat is applied to them, and soak up any ICE that is applied to them directly in cases where heat does increase. Note they are very much below freezing.
Magmatite Crystal(s). A cylinder-type crystal that when two lasers meet in the middle, self-combustion, generating heat on the scale of Nuclear Fusion. Effectively the starter for the Fusion Drive. He-3 serves as the propellant.
Magmatite Electricity Gathering Array. Other part, where electricity pumped into them generates a magnetic field. Effectively self-working, the electronics capture the stray particles before they irradiate everything, and gives us energy from the reaction. Can be replaced or removed in final design.

Have These Already:
Purified Magmatite Lenses. Effectively a crystal focus which can direct lasers. 2 are needed for every Fusion Drive Start, and a sufficient magmagel canister for each. Can be found in Claws, so we already have these. They are effectively lost due to being inside the reaction next to the Magmatite Crystal. Likely to be a overall construction using that.



Fusion Starter
A Cylinder Purified Magmatite Crystal made by DUC, surrounded by two lasers charged and ready to fire through the middle. When activated, it will produce enough heat to jumpstart a fusion reaction, igniting and fusing He-3 used as the mass for the reaction. Looks like a cylinder itself, with not much thought put into the material the support structure is made of other than low-atomic number metals. Likely regular Iron.


Radiation Catcher
Made in the same manner of the Solaris System, this array of electronics makes heavy use of Magmatite to catch the output from a Fusion Reaction, and turn it to electricity.


Fusion Grade Ceramics
Fusion Grade Ceramics to withstand the heat. These Ceramics, other than being nearly impervious to heat, are made with a sort of ICE Derivative, that has been boiled away and used in the creation of ceramics. They are capable of maintaining a cool temperature no mater what heat is applied to them, and soak up any ICE that is applied to them directly in cases where heat does increase. They caqn maintain their temperature a very long time in fusion level heat.

They are effectively just the holder for when the thrust from Fusion occurs.

[FallacyofUrist]

Upgrade Maria?
Yes, to Magmatite WEREMINE: (6) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895, Madman, FallacyofUrist
Yes, to Ore WEREMINE:
No, for some reason:

New operation:
Ore WEREMINE: (6) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895, Madman, FallacyofUrist


Secret Action Investigation
Send Researchers and Contractors to ANGEL to determine how it works. It is open to the public after all: (1) TricMagic
Investigate the President's Friend: ()
Use GATE/HAUNTER to perform recon on the hidden facility draining ICE in MAGMA: (2) Powder Miner, m1895
Utilize Earth Ear scans to determine the extent of the hidden ICE-stealing facility: (2) Madman, FallacyofUrist

For once I'm going to have to agree with Madman. Earth Ears will be much less likely to be discovered if we utilize them for our investigation action.

~~~

BIG-BRAIN: Big Interpretation Generator - Brain Repeating Advanced INtelligence:

ORACLE-A is an amazing machine, but it's starting to reach its limits. The sheer amount of data we are gaining and feeding to it is straining its system, and unless we improve it we're liable to run into the limits, hard. Fortunately we've come up with an innovative way to feed data to ORACLE and at the same time, receive data from ORACLE. The BIG-BRAIN system takes advantage of our CAT technology as well as a new invention of the DUC, Neurogel, to create a new module we've hooked up to ORACLE to allow it to process data better and faster, as well as delivering better results.

Neurogel is a more advanced Electrogel designed by the DUC to simulate human neural tissue, and when used in a CAT, it effectively creates a direct brain connection between man and machine, rather than the cruder connection normal Electrogel allows for. Neurogel works by processing normal, formless, Electrogel into 'threads' that mimic human neurons and then suspending those 'threads' in Nullgel, a gel that does the opposite of normal Electrogel and blocks electricity. This forces the charge to propagate only through the connected threads instead of through the gel in general. The density of threads suspended in Nullgel and connected together isn't even close to true human brain tissue, but it's much closer than the crudeness of Electrogel.

Using Neurogel, the CAT system gains much more 'bandwidth', allowing for much stronger sending and receiving of data to and from a human brain. The BIG-BRAIN system allows human minds to use their upgraded CATs to link up to it, and in turn, the BIG-BRAIN links up to ORACLE-A. After a good amount of training, we've gotten ORACLE-A to use the attached human minds as 'filters'. Humans can see things in a way computers cannot, and ORACLE can use the BIG-BRAIN to take advantage of that to filter out meaningless data or take data that seems meaningless and determine meaning from it. This will also allow ORACLE to gain a better understanding of Aratam through a personal lens. ORACLE can now learn from the perspective of a single soldier if their experience is relevant to the war, by hooking them up to the BIG-BRAIN.

The BIG-BRAIN should enhance ORACLE's performance under stresses, increase its tolerance to junk data, and allow it to learn to a much higher degree than before. Perhaps by learning directly from human minds, ORACLE may learn to think like a human, when it is needed.

[NUKE9.13]

Upgrade Maria?
Yes, to Magmatite WEREMINE: (6) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895, Madman, FallacyofUrist
Yes, to Ore WEREMINE:
No, for some reason:

New operation:
Ore WEREMINE: (6) NUKE9.13, TricMagic, Powder Miner, m1895, Madman, FallacyofUrist


Secret Action Investigation
Send Researchers and Contractors to ANGEL to determine how it works. It is open to the public after all: (1) TricMagic
Investigate the President's Friend: ()
Use GATE/HAUNTER to perform recon on the hidden facility draining ICE in MAGMA: (2) Powder Miner, m1895
Utilize Earth Ear scans to determine the extent of the hidden ICE-stealing facility: (3) Madman, FallacyofUrist, NUKE9.13

Throwing a vote behind the Earth Ear plan.