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[Cnidaros]

That wasn't in the above plan, but eh.

Relations with the infantry aren’t too good, but they agree to send stocks of the recently-obsoleted Beehive Grenade over for your inspection. A forest-green army truck drives up to the aerodrome and soldiers begin unloading crates plastered with warning signs.

Beehive Grenade: A ten-inch long stick grenade for throwing, activated by twisting and pulling a safety cap on the end of the stick to ignite the five-second fuse. A small TNT explosive creates a concussive blast which is deadly up to 15 yards away.

[piratejoe]

Noble planes for Noble pilots.
Seeing how our engineers made a glorious and beautiful aircraft, we have realized that such high quality in both terms of preformince and design would be hard to make and maintain. However, we shouldn't let our designers work go to waste. Simply put, the current elaborate and beautiful VRAC A.1 aircraft design will be limited to only a few specific nobles who buy the aircraft and to one or two pilots for propaganda purposes. However aces, and other such people who deserve a beutiful aircraft will be given a different option listed below. Pilots will receive a much less fancy version, a VRAC A.1 that forgoes the hand crafted emu head and lapis lazuli encrusted sheaths. This will drastically cut down on costs without harming the aircraft's performance, but possibly will also make our pilots demoralized resulting in poorer effectiveness. As such, we will allow special pilots, specifically aces, to design their aircraft's paint job to whatever they see fit so long as the emblem of our airforce stays visible. Squadrons should also have distinct aircraft colors and smaller emblems on the fuselage for easier identification purposes. Lastly a copper bage will be given to pilots who survive their first mission.

Sky Eye stability beams.
The Sky Eye has been noted to be unstable in windy days, so, by adding a few beams with cloth sails we can make the balloon always remain upright and stable in high wind. It will still move the balloon a bit, but its better than swaying wildly around.


Rhino's feet.
Despite what the name may imply, Rhinos feet is actually just aileron's added onto the Rhino for better maneuverability than wing warping, partly designed with the knowledge of how they work on the VRAC A.1 Emu as to make them work better and be more maneuverable than they would without such knowledge.

Hawk eye Camera
Quite simply the best camera we can find on the market with a few additional things added onto it for better use in an aircraft. It should be able to create high quality pictures much better than the chicken scratch that our pilots produce by hand.

[evictedSaint]

No!!!! No jewel-encrusted fighter planes, period. It sets a horrible precedence and it leaves the chance of Emu's being more expensive after the revision that if we just did away with it all to begin with.  Whatever bonus you think we'd get for handing out gemstones and artesanal engravings, I assure you - you are dramatically overestimating the impact.

[piratejoe]

I rewrote it so we don't have to worry too much about costs with said revision.

Noble planes for Noble pilots (1): Piratejoe
Sky Eye stability beams (0):
Rhino's feet (1): Piratejoe
Hawk Eye Camera (1): Piratejoe

[UristMcRiley]

Light Aerial Explosive Device (LEAD)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The LEAD is a simple revision to the Beehive grenade adding a longer timed fuse so that our pilots dont have to be a scant few meters above the deck to use the weapon to its full potential. Not only would it allow pilots of all of our vehicles from the Sky Eye, and Rhino to our brand new EMU's to deal damage to the enemy directly, rather then depending upon our artillery to take advantage of targets of opportunity hours after they have moved to a new location. But allowing our knights of the sky to strike down the foes of our glorious nation

[UristMcRiley]

Noble planes for Noble pilots (1): Piratejoe
Sky Eye stability beams (0):
Rhino's feet (1): Piratejoe
Hawk Eye Camera (1): Piratejoe, UristMcRiley
LEAD: UristMcRiley

[/quote]

[Happerry]

Spend Three Dice, Bank one for next turn (1): Happerry
----
Noble planes for Noble pilots (2): Piratejoe , Happerry
Sky Eye stability beams (0):
Rhino's feet (2): Piratejoe, Happerry
Hawk Eye Camera (3): Piratejoe, UristMcRiley, Happerry
LEAD: UristMcRiley

[evictedSaint]

Alright, that's a much more reasonable version.

Spend Three Dice, Bank one for next turn (2): Happerry, eS
----
Noble planes for Noble pilots (3): Piratejoe , Happerry, eS
Sky Eye stability beams (0):
Rhino's feet (3): Piratejoe, Happerry, eS
Hawk Eye Camera (4): Piratejoe, UristMcRiley, Happerry, eS
LEAD: UristMcRiley

[Sensei]

Did we forget to requisition something during the design phase? We really should try requisitioning a radio if we still can, we can't waste opportunities to requisition equipment.

[piratejoe]

We requisitioned a grenade. And I think a radio might be a bit heavy for what we have for aircraft at the moment but if we make a dedicated recon/light bomber/fighterbomber we might be able to put it in that.

[Happerry]

We really should have gotten a camera instead. Oh well.

[Jerick]

Also, can we requesition civilian cameras?

You can't requisition cameras because the army doesn't issue them as equipment, but sourcing for civilian ones would be a revision-tier action.

Nah sorry Happerry getting a camera wasn't an option, we need to do a revision to get one.

Spend Three Dice, Bank one for next turn (3): Happerry, eS, Jerick
----
Noble planes for Noble pilots (4): Piratejoe , Happerry, eS, Jerick
Sky Eye stability beams (0):
Rhino's feet (4): Piratejoe, Happerry, eS, Jerick
Hawk Eye Camera (5): Piratejoe, UristMcRiley, Happerry, eS, Jerick
LEAD (1): UristMcRiley

[Cnidaros]

Verusa Revision Phase, Early Autumn 1915

Noble planes for Noble pilots.
Seeing how our engineers made a glorious and beautiful aircraft, we have realized that such high quality in both terms of preformince and design would be hard to make and maintain. However, we shouldn't let our designers work go to waste. Simply put, the current elaborate and beautiful VRAC A.1 aircraft design will be limited to only a few specific nobles who buy the aircraft and to one or two pilots for propaganda purposes. However aces, and other such people who deserve a beutiful aircraft will be given a different option listed below. Pilots will receive a much less fancy version, a VRAC A.1 that forgoes the hand crafted emu head and lapis lazuli encrusted sheaths. This will drastically cut down on costs without harming the aircraft's performance, but possibly will also make our pilots demoralized resulting in poorer effectiveness. As such, we will allow special pilots, specifically aces, to design their aircraft's paint job to whatever they see fit so long as the emblem of our airforce stays visible. Squadrons should also have distinct aircraft colors and smaller emblems on the fuselage for easier identification purposes. Lastly a copper bage will be given to pilots who survive their first mission.

Efficacy: 1

Several suggestions on cutting down the exorbitant cost of the Emu are floated around the office, and eventually a compromise proposal that keeps the current artful design but limits it to nobles and ‘selected pilots’ is reached, with an alternative less costly variant for the common pilot. Unfortunately, some engineers, disgruntled that their hard design work will be limited to the rich and unavailable to the common airman, leak plans for this proposal to the pilots. A storm of protest letters drowns out any attempts to draw up the less costly version of the Emu.

Rhino's feet.
Despite what the name may imply, Rhinos feet is actually just aileron's added onto the Rhino for better maneuverability than wing warping, partly designed with the knowledge of how they work on the VRAC A.1 Emu as to make them work better and be more maneuverable than they would without such knowledge.

Efficacy: 5

Simple ailerons are added to both upper and lower wings of the Rhino, improving its ability to roll and turn. The small but vocal minority of engineers complains about the increasingly inaccurate anatomy of the Rhino, but pilots are looking forward to matching Kolechian manoeuvres in the air.

Future Rhino biplanes will have ailerons at no extra cost, and you can spend 1 PP per squadron to upgrade existing Rhino squadrons with this capability.

Hawk eye Camera
Quite simply the best camera we can find on the market with a few additional things added onto it for better use in an aircraft. It should be able to create high quality pictures much better than the chicken scratch that our pilots produce by hand.

Efficacy: 2

Some engineers are dispatched out to the city to source for civilian cameras, but the vague requirements given to them cause several disagreements over what constitutes the ‘best’ camera. In the end, they settle on a popular model of civilian handheld camera.

Vodak Camera: A film camera the size of a large purse, taking pictures on 120 film to be later developed. A focal length of 3 inches means it’s good for taking cool pictures of aviators posing in their planes, but pilots must fly low to get pictures with sufficient resolution to be of use. Cost 1 PP


It is now the Production & Deployment Phase, Early Autumn 1915. You have 12 production points remaining and 1 die banked to the next turn.

Spoiler: Projects (click to show/hide)

VRAC A.1 “Emu” | 7/15 progress | 2 PP per die | Rushed 1 time | 4 PP invested

Spoiler: Designs and Technology (click to show/hide)

Planes:
-‘Rhino’ Biplane: A unarmed, single-seater reconnaissance plane. Very misleadingly named, as its fragile wood-and-canvas frame can’t withstand the slightest collision. On the other hand, it’s about as easy to turn as a charging rhino. At least it gets up to a good speed, powered by a five-cylinder rotary engine. Now comes with 'feet' on the wings. Cost: 3/1
-VRAC A.1 “Emu”: A two-seater biplane with a water-cooled engine in the pusher configuration. The Emu mounts two Bolt machineguns, in front and rear-facing swivel mounts, operated by the observer sitting forward of the pilot. Is reasonably fast and maneuverable for its size. Comes with shiny gemstone sheaths for the pilots to store their swords in flight. Cost 6/3. (In Development)
Balloons:
-Sky Eye Observation Balloon: A three-man hot air balloon for aerial observation. Two observers sketch out enemy dispositions, while a phone operator relays information to the ground and controls the balloons’ altitude. Comes with spiffy gold-rimmed monocles to help the observers see ‘further’. Cost 1/1
Equipment:
-“Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials”: A set of gear for aerial observers. Currently consists of a set of high-quality binoculars, sketchpad and drafting pencils. Cost 1 PP for 2 squadrons.
-Bolt Machine Gun: A belt-fed machinegun capable of accurate firing out to 2000m. It is air-cooled and operates on a closed-bolt firing cycle. Cost 1 PP.
-Vodak Camera: A film camera the size of a large purse, taking pictures on 120 film to be later developed. A focal length of 3 inches means it’s good for taking cool pictures of aviators posing in their planes, but pilots must fly low to get pictures with sufficient resolution to be of use. Cost 1 PP
Pilots:
-Daring: For King and Country! Verusan pilots are more aggressive and willing to take risks in combat.
-Uniforms: Blue with purple accents. Pilots are commissioned with a ceremonial sabre, which they bring along for every mission, stored in a sheath in the cockpit.
Technology:
-Basic/Intermediate biplane design
-Basic monoplane design
-Basic pusher configuration design
-Basic balloon design
-Wooden frame construction
-Basic control surfaces: ailerons, elevator and rudder
-Rhino Horn mount technology
Resources:
-1 Air Academy: Trains new pilots how to take off. Landing is left as an exercise for the student.
-1 Experimental Aerodrome: Designs new planes and other air-related equipment. Produces five dice worth of progress every turn.
-14 production points base.

Spoiler: Squadrons (click to show/hide)

Squire 1 | Rhino Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to patrol Verusan lines over Derboise

Squire 2 | Rhino Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to patrol Verusan lines over the Demisonne-Dreidansk Road

Squire 3 | Rhino Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Aerial Reconnaissance | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to patrol Verusan lines over the Demisonne-Dreidansk Road

Rook 1 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting in Derboise

Rook 2 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting in Derboise

Rook 3 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at the Demisonne-Dreidansk frontline

Rook 4 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at the Demisonne-Dreidansk frontline

Rook 5 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | No Equipment | Navy Experimentation | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to naval balloon testing

Spoiler: Statistics (click to show/hide)

Prestige: Extremely Little
Status: Auxiliary Service
Army Relations: Lukewarm
Navy Relations: On Talking Terms

Production Points: 12
Total Maintenance: 8

[Jerick]

Well that could have gone better...next turn I propose we round up any pilots who complained and the butt hurt engineers and give them all a free six hour lecture on war time economics. Said lecture will be as condescending as possible while explaining the simple idea that war time weapons run on cost verses effectiveness and that such planes are too expensive and command would never order construction of such lavish planes no matter how they belly ache. Seriously do either the engineers or pilots expect us to make gem encrusted planes? If that doesn't work we'll tell the pilots that any repair costs will come out of their salaries and will be relative to the total cost of the plane.

Manufacture
1x Rhino Squadron 3pp
1x Bolt Machine gun 1pp

Maintence 8pp
Total cost: 12pp

Equipping
All craft are to get some grenades
Squire 4 is to equip bolt machine gun

Deployment
Squire 3-4 are to be deployed to Derboise and preform air superiority actions. They are to focus on engaging armed enemy planes in an effort to keep them away from both our balloons and Squire 2
Squire 2 are to be deployed to Derboise and are to penetrate enemy defenses and get behind enemy lines in order to take out hostile balloons and use grenades to take out supply depots, artillery pieces enemy command posts and anything else they can find to disrupt the enemy advance. The use of grenades in such a manner requires our pilots to fly low, but out pilots are daring and I feel they can pull it off.
Rook 1,2 and 5 are to deployed at Derboise for the purpose of artillery spotting.
Rook 3 and 4 are to remain deployed in the south at the Demisonne-Dreidansk frontline
Squire 1 is to be deployed at the Demisonne-Dreidansk frontline with orders to preform air superiority actions.
There is one finial order to the forces defending Derboise you must prevent the enemy from reaching the city by any means necessary, hold nothing back.

[piratejoe]

The plan seems good, and yes that could have gone much better... maybe next turn we can give all our squadrons fancy paint jobs after and other stuff like that as it's own thing, probably would help strike fear into our enemies too.