Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[TricMagic]

Judges

We can try and make something so different in revision sure. Or go with simple. Still going to do so tomorrow though.


Project Railway

With the Warthog, we now have a good base for an autonomous vehicle.

So, we take out the weapons systems, up the armor by a tier, and modify the WARnet. This will reduce the cost to cheap. Likewise, the new SUPPLYnet will have the same basic framework as WARnet, having a Leader, and being able to communicate with each other in the group. A new addition is the use of a command system, in which if the leader is destroyed, the next in line will take over.

These SUPPLY Caravans will be fairly simple, meant to go from one point to another with supplies they tow. This is their purpose. The heavier armor along with more power in the engine will boost it's ability to tow things. Moreover, we don't quite need them so small, they can be slightly bigger if absolutely needed for towing.

As for what trailers they tow, there are two. The first is a simple Trailer, with Combat Plating on the sides to prevent what is inside from taking damage. It's meant to carry supplies for weapons. Or regular supplies and cargo. It can also carry 6 Bear Troopers, without supplies. Good for troop transport.

The other trailer is the RAIL Trailer. Made from our experience in the field, these RAILs work off the same WARnet system's command protocol, called a RAILnet, able to coordinate to take down missiles. This is in fact it's only task, to take down airborne objects before they can hit the ground. Being tow-able, it has the cooling needed to keep up with it's fire, and the fuel. The experience making the Warthog most certainly helps with this. It can be towed into position, then locked in place with simple brakes.
Other than that, the RAIL Trailer can also be towed by the new SUPPLYnet vehicles to offer simple on the move cover against Missiles. Likewise, it can also be connected to a Warthog, though at the cost of it's speed. In either case, the RAIL network will not interfere with the others, and only communicate simple information between the two leaders. It should be noted the connection between SUPPLYnet and WARnet. Most particularly, WARnet will have a new mission type, SUPPLY Caravan guarding. The same rules apply in this case, only simple information will be exchanged between leaders.

This is effectively the final piece to our Ground Forces. For a long time, troops have often been forced to march, and Excavators had to carry supplies. With this dedicated system for towing trailers, this is a thing of the past. Being able to tow the RAIL Trailers will also mostly remove the need to fear current missile systems.

Project Railway (1): TricMagic

Simplification of Project Railway Goals
Strip Warthog to Cheap CW says they may be reconsidering Gel Costs, so we might have a cheap one already, greatly reducing difficulty.
Create Simple Armored Trailer. Cheap, can carry supplies and Bear Troopers.
Fix RAILs, use a tow-able trailer to drag them into position. Focus entirely on Anti-Air support. This is so they can be of great use on all ships we have.

[10ebbor10]

RAILS-Station MKII

Our RAILS project was ambitious, but unfortunately a failure. The Rails-Station project aims to resolve most of the designs flaws.

The first major change made is the integration of a lot of the WARTHOG's advancements, especially in regards to networking, target tracking and communication. We aim for an efficient system where local RAILStations form into groups that pool their data, and where only 1 communicates with the local node. In order to avoid disruption, a secondary leader is pre-emptively selected and ready to go live when the original leader is destroyed. As a side advantage, the common code base between Rails and Warthog allows the Rails to serve as navigational beacons and sensor stations for nearby WARTHOG operations.

The second issue, deployment, is resolved by shifting the RAILS mission from an infantry deployable turret to a slighly more stationary fixed installation. Fitted on a simple carriage, the Rail-STATIONS are towed by vehicles over roads and where possible, through our underground instant-road network. Instead of sitting on the ground, the installation is partially buried. This can be done by pushing the thing up from within a shallow Excavator tunnel, or by using some explosives to blow a hole and tipping the rails thing into it. In harder train, rocks and dirt can be stacked around and against the installation.

This buried deployment not only provides the RAILS-Station with ready made dirt fortifications, it also partially resolves the resupply issue (easy resupply from beneath the earth or even permanent hookup to underground generators) and the cooling issues, by utilizing the ground as a heatsink. A small stabil-ice system ensures that Rails can fire even with the heatsink disrupted or missing.

[Madman198237]

ME-LDT-64 Ravenmind Area Interdiction Laser System, Target Acquisition, Tactical Information, and Operations Network (RAILSTATION)
RAILS problems: It's big, it's heavy, it can't cool itself, it's ineffective at targeting infantry, it can't hit missiles or artillery, it runs out of fuel, and it can't properly coordinate amongst itself.

Luckily, most of these problems can be fixed with the simple application of WARTHOG experience. The WARnet and WARTHOG targeting programming can easily be adapted to be used in RAILS allowing it to target most things of interest, solar panels applied to the outside reduce fuel use especially when not engaged in active combat, the WARTHOG's cooling system can be directly ported to the RAILS, and the reduction of the armor plating to "none" reduces the size, weight, and also makes it easier to exchange heat with the outside world. An added set of wheels that can be folded down to act like legs for the stationary turret (Allowing air flow underneath the system to provide just a little more cooling) and a towing setup allows it to be towed by WARTHOGs or Excavators before being set up in the field.

This means that RAILSTATIONS will be integrated into the WARnet and capable of acting as fixed navigational beacons for WARTHOG groups, or can be directly integrated into those groups for more localized operations.

Any remaining time is used to work on reducing the size of the Ravenmind components (mostly by reducing processor power and memory that we aren't using anyway) and spreading them around the casing to fill gaps and generally reduce the size (and thus the weight) of the system.

Well, I did it. Not only did I write up a RAILS revision, I also managed to backronym RAILSTATION. I'm sorry. Slightly.

[andrea]

Project Railway (1) : TricMagic
ME-LDT-64 RAILSTATION (1) : Andrea

I would like to present arguments for it, but it is late and this is basically what I want from RAILS.

[Madman198237]

Project Railway (1) : TricMagic
ME-LDT-64 RAILSTATION (2) : Andrea, Madman

My argument in favor of RAILSTATION: I worked so hard on that backronym, and Chief hates it.

[flabort]

Project Railway (1) : TricMagic
ME-LDT-64 RAILSTATION (2.5) : Andrea, Madman, Flabort(1/2)
Ground Shark: (0.5) Flabort(1/2)

[TricMagic]

ASTRA
Atmosphere/Space Tracking Review Assembly

An ASTRA is based off our work with various systems. The Swallow itself is meant to maintain a course and correct itself, but it always needs Oracle to plot a Course. The Ravenmind and WARnet, meanwhile, are good at ranged and group coordination, but are focused on working together with each other.

ASTRA meanwhile puts the processing power to work. It can note targets in space through LIDAR, using simple lasers to detect objects in space and their distances. Likewise, it has Radar for detecting radio signals like IFFs. It's last sensors are cameras that can look at objects and model them in it's own systems.

From all of these, the LIDAR can detect position and distance, the cameras can spot the target, and a prediction can be made to determine where the tracked object is going to be in the future should it maintain it's current trajectory. Another advantage is that the cameras can use their sight to determine where something is in space that way, through simple trigonometry, so long as they have other reference points.

This is where other nodes come in. ASTRA can communicate in real-time with other such systems, and has a dedicated program to prevent overload, and leaders meant to store the current positions of every system in their Databanks in relation to the earth for passing out to the needed ASTRA system. LIDAR and Radar comes in here, being able to determine where earth and other satellites are.


All this boils down to a system that is very good at determining positions of itself and other objects. Beyond that, it can also calculate trajectories for firing on-board weapons so that their target is hit. 

For ASTRA, their are three satellite types. The simple kinetic rod, with X-wings and a simple system for guiding it to it's target. And the TALON Cannon, meant to fire to hit a target in space. As well as the RAIL Defense Satellite, which makes use of RAILs along it, and acts as a simple dock for spacecraft.


ASTRA written. Put it in a satellite, and let it go to work killing sats.

[Chiefwaffles]

ME-LDT-64 Ravenmind Area Interdiction Laser System, Target Acquisition, Tactical Information, and Operations Network (RAILSTATION)
RAILS problems: It's big, it's heavy, it can't cool itself, it's ineffective at targeting infantry, it can't hit missiles or artillery, it runs out of fuel, and it can't properly coordinate amongst itself.

Luckily, most of these problems can be fixed with the simple application of WARTHOG experience. The WARnet and WARTHOG targeting programming can easily be adapted to be used in RAILS allowing it to target most things of interest, solar panels applied to the outside reduce fuel use especially when not engaged in active combat, the WARTHOG's cooling system can be directly ported to the RAILS, and the reduction of the armor plating to "none" reduces the size, weight, and also makes it easier to exchange heat with the outside world. An added set of wheels that can be folded down to act like legs for the stationary turret (Allowing air flow underneath the system to provide just a little more cooling) and a towing setup allows it to be towed by WARTHOGs or Excavators before being set up in the field.

This means that RAILSTATIONS will be integrated into the WARnet and capable of acting as fixed navigational beacons for WARTHOG groups, or can be directly integrated into those groups for more localized operations.

Any remaining time is used to work on reducing the size of the Ravenmind components (mostly by reducing processor power and memory that we aren't using anyway) and spreading them around the casing to fill gaps and generally reduce the size (and thus the weight) of the system.

Revision: ME-LDT-64 RAILSTATION
(Normal)  (3+2)+1 = 5: Average

Well the last members of the department watchdog assigned to prevent excessive acronym usage resigned in the typical fit of rage upon receiving the proposals. We had to disguise the celebration party as a retirement party for those eight formerly-remaining members, all of whom were not invited. We're not sure the higher-ups bought it. Regardless!

The RAILSTATION is a straightforward application of since-developed technology and software experience along with a plethora of tweaks to the unfortunate RAILS. As they're both based on the Ravenmind, getting the software changes was fairly easy. Only a few explosions happened, much to the continued dismay of the Forenian delegates. This means every RAILSTATION will be a part of a new or existing local WARnet, much like WARTHOGs. We had a feeew issues where the network thought a RAILSTATION was a WARTHOG and tried ordering movement. The hardware did noooot like that, oh no. But we fixed it in good time.
RAILSTATIONs work together and with WARTHOGs sharing targets and intelligence and coordinating fire. As was the case before, "advanced tactics" isn't exactly known to any extent so the most the system can do is "shoot this spot" or "shoot these things", and generally avoid overkill. Past issues with target recognition are of course fixed. All (known) hostile ground assets should be targetted fine. Unpowered ballistic projectiles like artillery shells are unlikely to be recognized and intercepted, but there is a small chance of interception in this case.

Armor is completely removed, veeerry basic solar panels are implemented, and a basic STABIL-ICE coolant system is added. We did not take the cooling system from the WARTHOG because that makes no sense considering how different they are and how straightforward cooling systems are in general. STABIL-ICE is circulated around most heat-sensitive areas, etc., adding a bit of oil cost due to ICE manufacturing requirements. Air flow is improved a bit as well. Overall, heat throttling shouldn't be an issue in any conventional setting. Surely they'll only ever be used in conventional settings. A RAILSTATION should be able to last for about 12 hours at moderate WARnet use and no weapons fire. Combat situations bring it down to about 30min or less.
Basic wheels are added. They can be manually folded to act as "legs" for the turret for stability and airflow. This and a towing hook allow for, well, towing. So far only the WARTHOG and Excavator can tow the RAILSTATION. Human oversight is recommended for the WARTHOG (it can automatically unhook but some stuff like the wheels has to be handled). Excavator needs complete human control because there's nothing automated there.

If a human calibrates a stationary deployed RAILSTATION manually to specific map coordinates then it can act as a waypoint for all WARTHOGs within WARnet range. This does of course require someone specifically trained in messing with the knobs and dials (uncommon but not especially rare) at the RAILSTATION after it's deployed, and it does require for us to track where the RAILSTATION is manually via maps.
We did not manage to reduce the parts needed or the general mass of the Ravenmind, though we did re-arrange some parts to make more sense in a deployable turret-thing situation. So its form factor is improved, at least.


Ultimately, the RAILSTATION is an effective tool compared to the useless RAILS. Our commanders expect to mainly use it for forming the backbone of our logistics system from MAGMA to the front lines to allow for WARTHOGs to be deployed up to the front line or any other places with RAILSTATIONs without human supervision. Could be useful for more in this area in the future too, who knows. It should also be useful to some extent for reinforcing areas the ORACLE-A is able to predict as expecting imminent attack.

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
Moon Resources: 1 Magmatite (Succesfully imported Moon Resources are included in "Resources" as well)

Weapons

• ME-CLAW-63: A Magmagel-using laser gun. Bit unwieldy for regular soldiers, but easy to carry (and can be duel-wielded) by Bear soldiers. Uses Magmagel canisters inserted into the barrel to fire. Has a beam mode and pulse mode, with the 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 -- it's 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 whatever's directly behind it. Has a(n unused) 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.
  [Cheap] 3 Ore, 3 Oil, 1 Magmatite

Armor

• Standard Uniform: A plain blue featureless uniform. The blue's mild enough that it doesn't really stick out.
• ME-PA-59 'Bear Armour': Powered infantry armor w/ full body coverage, albeit with fairly frequent gaps in the joints. Armor plating is semi-manually removed from the outside through a series of switches to enter/exit/perform maintenance. Lasts 8 hr at consistent high-power use, charge is monitored by a dial in the helmet. Embarking/disembarking from the outside takes about 30 s, disembarking without assistance takes a few minutes. Stands at [~7 ft/~2m] tall, with small 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, and equipped with a charging port to charge in 1 min.
  Equipped with COMBAT plating.
  [Cheap] 4 Ore, 2 Oil, 1 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 pilot resides connected via a Cerebral Action Translator looking at a fiberscope connected to the head, and that COMBAT plating is covered by further Mangalloy plating to protect more effectively against small arms. Faster than most/all soldiers, but still relatively slow in vehicle standards. Pilot has basic sense of "touch" from the suit, allowing for a good degree of coordination. Can generally tank a single Hydra cannon shell with no internal damage -- just a moderately-sized patch of damaged COMBAT plating. A second shell in the same spot would pierce front armor and embed itself in the back, potentially causing internal damage (most notably severing of Electrogel conduits to some motors), and a third shell - also in the same spot - would destroy the suit. Has 8 hr of charge using Rechargeable Electrogel, and a backup battery providing another 8 hr of charge but that has to spend time charging the Electrogel while not moving. 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. Charge monitored by dials in the cockpit. "Ursine Vision" system has 4 television cameras relayed to the pilot in the cockpit (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.
  Equipped with COMBAT Plating.
  [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) 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 Heavy: Variant with heavier cooling systems, external Magmagel+STABIL-ICE tanks, and less armor to mount and operate a TALON turret instead of the twin-CLAW turret. Does not sacrifice speed, and can be in a squadron with other variants.
    [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 manueverability, 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 manuevers, 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 heavily-modified tunnel boring machine, most notably using GOFAST-fuel. 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 the ME-SM-57 '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 minutes required for a lock to an 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 the N-Dimension where Aratamite astral activity can be located and potentially an attempt can be made to stop or disrupt them. Tear remains open for 15m-1hr depending on how good Volunteer is at keeping the local landscape of the N-Dimension stable, though Volunteer can break the lock prematurely if needed. GATEs have to be constructed on site with premade parts shipped to site beforehand allowing construction in two days. HAUNTERs can not be recovered after deployment, making the 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. A basic Cube-contained 3D-projected interface in red and blue shows the layout of the land and distinguishes between earth, buildings, vehicles, and infantry (all allied and enemy). Magnetic disks store gathered data to also 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

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 borehole made and maintained using Excavators, Bear Armour, Earth Ears, and many more instances of our tech. Uses ad-hoc STABIL-ICE cooling systems fitted onto Bear Armour and excavators to maintain suitable temperatures. The deepest borehole in the world, and brings up notable amounts of ore from existing land.
  Provides +1 Ore
• ORACLE-A: A microprocessor-based STABIL-ICE-cooled supercomputer with >100 MB of RAM and >1,000 MB of storage space using magnetic disks, and relatively blazing fast speeds using a generally advanced CPU with other cores handling peripheral tasks. Input is primarily via keyboards, and output is via vector-drawn screen graphics. When given adequate intelligence regarding known enemy activity in an area, the ORACLE-A can compile a prediction of future enemy activity over a set time period up to a week. However, we must have really good intelligence in an area for the best predictions, and the ORACLE-A can only handle a relatively few areas at a time (that must be chosen in advance by humans) due to processing power limitations. Despite this, its predictions are (when given adequate intelligence) very effective.
• 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.
  • Ursa Polaris: A space power suit. Based off of Bear armor, but with much less armor and plating and DUC-provided fabric wherever it can go. Not too outwardly big (especially compared to Bear armor) and doesn't hurt agility. Provides 3 hours of air (8 hours of power), and can be tethered with an optional oxygen connection. Troublesome to get in/out off without assistance.
  • 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.

Strangely, a Lunarnaut visiting the Design Division for debriefing on general things recognized the new RAILSTATION instantly without even seeing the former RAILS or anything relating to Project Railroad. Says he saw eight of them in 1951. Records indicate he was in the Merethan Garrison at the time. The Lunarnaut in question was held for testing and questioning until we got requests from multiple governmental entities to transfer him into their care. We wouldn't have voluntarily listened but eventually they stacked up enough and got demanding enough that the very-high-ups had him transferred into their temporary custody.

The Combat Phase of Winter 1964 has begun. You may optionally vote on an Intrigue action.

[TricMagic]

I'll note while I'm here that ALWV can also tow them, CW?

[Madman198237]

So I guess we need an Intrigue action...anything else?

I'm not sure what to do for Intrigue right now.

[Failbird105]

Well I mean, there's been all sorts of strange goings on. Surely we could look into those?

[TricMagic]

Investigation of ICE flow from Production, to Shipment, Arrival, and Use.

Over time, it seems more and more ICE disappears. This investigation is meant for us to help out. We need to find out where the ICE is going, and where it has disappeared to. Study the path of it, and Use the RAILSTATION's communication network to keep track of ICE shipments. Indeed, making sure all of the ICE goes where it needs to to keep MAGMA cool is a priority. In the Process, we should see if the reduced amount of ICE is normal, or if someone has been siphoning it. At the least, it will convince our citizens their protection and living conditions matter to us.

Investigation of ICE flow from Production, to Shipment, Arrival, and Use. (1): TricMagic

[flabort]

I have returned from a camping trip, and I approve of this action.

Investigation of ICE flow from Production, to Shipment, Arrival, and Use. (2): TricMagic, Flabort

[m1895]

Investigation of ICE flow from Production, to Shipment, Arrival, and Use. (2): TricMagic, Flabort
investigate the PEACE party. (1) m1895

[TricMagic]

Once again, not sure what PEACE is. And how does it help to know where ICE flows. That is top-tier info for ferreting out secrets within our own government, everything runs on it.