OBT Forum

... are there any intresting technical fallout in JHS Terra that might ripple all the way back to SD?

Only just how much more complicated the original SDS system was.

The Republic will be hard pressed to replicate a similar system. Without the monetary resources of the Star League, the full manufacturing capabilities of the old Terran Hegemony, the loss of so many scientists to Kerensky, the other Houses and to the war, and the death of the Nirasaki gents responsible for the original work I doubt it'll ever make a come back.

Still, the Blakists put together a fairly decent system in a short period of time. For the man-power strapped Republic, the partially manned SDS solution created by the Blakists is a real alternative and possible god-send to keep the Republic afloat during those crucial early years.

You figure the Wobbies had about a decade to produce the system (not counting the years spent researching it on Gibson) once they conquered Terra and between eight-to-ten years (from 3069-3076) to start building similar systems on some of their other Protectorate worlds like Roche. Mind you the Wobbies are a super small organization (in terms of manpower) and can really only draw on the awesome manufacturing power of Terra, which is still just a single world. The Republic would be in a far better position (even after the Coup) to reproduce a similar system since their worlds will not have suffered 250+ years of constant conflict beginning with the Succession Wars.

Assuming one of the first orders of business (and governments can have more than one order of business at a time) is to look to the defense of the Republic against possible invasion. Then I would expect that immediately after stabilizing some of the chaos left in the Coup's wake the Republic would probably authorize research into possible reclamation, reconstruction or replication of the Terran Hegemony's existing SDS systems (if any actually survived) and reproduction of alternative systems.

An SDS is the best means of defense for any group of people hemmed in on all sides, (like the Republic) suffering from man power shortages or a finite amount of resources at their disposal (especially human resources.) If I was running the Republic, I'd work the same angle as the Wobbies. Worse case scenario, partially manned and partially finished SDS systems will help slow a House invasion and allow me to concentrate my limited resources to reinforce the weak spots or counter attack. Plus an SDS has the dual benefit of drowning an attacker in their own blood. For morale purposes, the fear of a functioning SDS can not be overstated and can be worked into any type of offensive or defensive strategy.

Quote from: CJvR on July 21, 2010, 06:00:29 AM

... are there any intresting technical fallout in JHS Terra that might ripple all the way back to SD?

Only just how much more complicated the original SDS system was.

Now this sounds interesting!!!
And if I am not mistaken JHS Terra also contains information regarding the Brian Castles?

Ciao
Hessian

Possibly, but I do not believe there would be too many escapees. I guess that when the SLDF (re-)conquered the Terran Hegemony they were probably looking for known war criminals trying to escape the Hegemony. So a possible escapee would have to avoid the SLDF and his or her vengeful compatriots to just get off-planet. In space the situation is possibly the same since the SLDF would probably search all civilian small craft, dropships and jumpships to prevent war criminals and other wanted individuals from fleeing the Terran Republic.

Again, I'm not so sure about this. A lot of these "supposed" criminals will have means at their disposal. With the Hegemony's infrastructure and law enforcement in disarray, things like Fake IDs, cosmetic changes and such will have an easier time passing rudimentary inspection or even some intense scrutiny. We also know that the Terran population fled Terra in droves after the liberation, so between pacifying the last pockets of resistance on Terra and elsewhere in the Hegemony and providing humanitarian efforts, the SLDF might be far more hard pressed to control fleeing space traffic AND search every ship. And I hate to say it, but human trafficking is a lucrative vocation, as is smuggling, so don't discount successful efforts along that front.

Try to keep in mind that the worst offenders, those individuals with time, power, money and/or influence will have the best chance to escape the authorities. Consequently these same individuals are probably the same people the authorities are trying their best to apprehend. Mid-level persons of interest, well they'll have a tougher time scrambling the means necessary to "disappear," but they're also lower on the "catch" list, which in the confusion of the liberation will work in their favor. It's hard to check the ID's for a couple hundred thousand refugees streaming from a war zone, let alone every compartment of every Dropship or Jumpship leaving the system.   

Only just how much more complicated the original SDS system was.

So it is more than sticking HNPPCs in old missile silos? Or is it just the space based parts of the SDS that are that impressive?

EDIT:

There are no real manpower shortages even though the TR has only about 2/3 of the population of a SS that is more than enough to fill the ranks of the relatively small militaries of the SW era. There shouldn't even be a mineral shortage if mining tech was better developed than walking around looking for nuggets on the ground...

Hi I am wondering is this only on pdf or will it also come out book form??? If not can someone send me a copy. I would owe you a huge favor. Thanks

Quote from: Knightmare on July 21, 2010, 09:28:36 AM

Only just how much more complicated the original SDS system was.

So it is more than sticking HNPPCs in old missile silos? Or is it just the space based parts of the SDS that are that impressive?

Based on what JHS:Terra says, the ability to build Castle Brians is gone. Kaput. And frankly, I agree. CB's are incredibly intricate, with each example almost one of a kind. Plus, building them when slim resources can be directed elsewhere seems like a bit of a waste.

Now, that being said the original SDS system was incredibly complicated. It was a totally automated system from the M-5 Drones down, all the way to the robotic ports that serviced the vessels. However, it was the control system of the SDS that's irreplaceable. The artificial intelligence of the SDS really was cutting edge. Perhaps, the most advanced piece of equipment ever designed by the Terran Hegemony and one of a kind. Unique as the dead scientists who designed it. 

The Word's "low-tech" successor was based around small, human controlled drone systems that were either directed through a local control ship or station. However, the human element was present in heavy doses. People were necessary for everything, but it allowed the "punch" of the SDS (Drone DropShips & Fighters) to be unmanned. Given a little more time, the Word would probably have been able to blanket Terra with an unbreakable system by late 31st century standards.

For the Republic, they have an abundance of WarShips, (more so than the Word at any rate) so they'll have plenty of mobile control and/or carrier vessels (although using manned warships as carriers should be a secondary option.) The Republic should also have plenty of manufacturing capability required to mass produce drone fighters. They own more factory worlds (even damaged) than just Terra. Forget about the drone Dropships or WarShips, which take too long and cost too much. Drone fighters can be built with ground facilities, so you'll be saving yard space for other projects. You don't even need to build space-based facilities or create the Star League's integrated infrastructure. And forget about building hardened static SDS facilities planet-side. Those are luxury facilities. Meaning, you build those when you have the luxury to spend time, money and resources on them. I'm not saying your existing static SDS facilities should be ignored, I'm just saying that for every hardened HNPPC silo built you could have just as easily built a dozen or more drone fighters....each one capable of maneuvering and then attacking or ramming something as valuable as a 'Mech carrier or WarShip. 

I'd just build these little ships en-masse on each planet with a couple of drone controllers. Any invasion force closing with the planet will have to face the swarm. This could provide the Republic with an overwhelming aerospace advantage. Coupled with the Republic's mobile reserve, the space assets of the Great Houses will face being pressed against a planet's SDS and Republican WarShips at their rear.

As for manpower. I was referring to the Republican military. In its infancy, the RA is very much a one trick pony. For a couple of years, it can't afford to sustain heavy losses. Many of its soldiers are hardened veterans, but until the university system and reconstruction are complete, any major incursion into the Republic has to be handled carefully. If bled too much, the Republic's already weakened position weakens even further...making additional invasions a more likely proposition.

Again, don't underestimate the fear of the word "SDS," or the benefits even a partial system could impart to help bolster the Republic military and recovery effort.   

Im thinking more along the line of long range missiles. Sure build a nice little drone fighter - but add an internal 5MT shipkiller nuke... Just in case an oppertunity presents itself. Suddenly the KW with the nuke warhead becomes the standard AAS missile!

I see what you're saying and the Word's use of nuke-equipped capital missiles launched in orbit on a parabolic to destroy an invading Ghost Bear ship would support what you're saying. The problem is two fold. One, a planet covers a lot of square mileage and not a lot of sky in relative relation. You have to time the launch and course just right to take advantage of an incoming WarShip...and that's assuming the ship entered at a standard jump so you can account for transit times and relative vector. The Word's destruction of the Clan ship amounted to a lucky shot, a one in a million kill given the vast distances of space and the targeting equations involved.

Now with a hoard of little fighter drones. You can post those robotic monsters in orbit in a "drift" mode or at speeds relative to a geo-syn orbit and forget about them. Set the drones to silent, so they'll only use passive sensors and they'll only activate and attack when either they're given a signal, someone takes control, or something passes by. Since space is such a "huge" place the likelihood of them being seen before going active is remote. Besides, you only send half into space to play "wait and see." You keep the remainder ground bound. Since drones can travel at Gs that'll kill a human pilot with zero effective loss, they can be launched from anywhere on the planet with minimal notice.

Plus, though your nuke equipped AAS missile is scary nasty, if it misses you're boned. This is before the age of Teleoperated missiles. A drone however, once it expends its weapons or is damaged, can be used to ram a target vessels as a massive solid missile. Remember, most drones have huge engines, (since they can handle the thrust) so a 35 ton drone moving 8Gs is likely to cause as much damage as a Peacekeeper AND have the ability to course correct.   

Perhaps they should mass deploy simple exo-skeletons to the infantry. The tech is quite simple and a 400 kg suit with 2 AP & 3MP would only cost 120.000 CBs and have a 170 kilo pay load and be quite a force multiplier to the infantry - one trooper can take a MG blast that would have gutted an entire platoon.

Not a bad idea, but a few orbital bombardments and your fancy exo-skeleton equipped PBIs are melted slag. This is why an SDS (no matter how unsophisticated) wins this thread. []

Scary orbital and aerial assets like an SDS are the ultimate in invasion prevention.