Motivational Poster

Trivia

The words "ULTIMA RATIO CIVITUM" is engraved on every personal weapon, crew served weapon, and on a special plate installed on all military vehicles and spacecraft of the Freyan armed forces and the armed forces of the Confederation of Ursa Major.

Yes, I know (Ayn) Rand said that a gun is not an argument two centuries ago...

My grandfather once told me that were it not for the distance and the vacuum of space (between Eos and Freya) it would have been possible to hear the Eosians sneering at us for that particular practice.

Of course that sneering ended after their world was invaded and occupied by the Neomarxists.

-- Admiral Elizabeth Weymouth, Lectures on History and Moral Philosophy.


Now some people think it is a bit silly of us to engrave a phrase in ancient Latin on our weapons, vehicles, and spacecraft.

But consider this, all of our g-carriers, tanks, and other military vehicles are designed to carried aboard standard commercial starships. The dimensions of the cargo holds are in turn determined by the dimensions of the old Terran ISO-cargo containers which are still in common use. The dimensions of the standard cargo containers were originally determined by the requirement that they be carried on a standard railroad flatcar. The dimensions of the railroad flatcar was in turn determined by width of the wheels and tracks. This standard was adopted in imitation of the standard width of carts and wagons built in the British Isles, which used wagon trails first marked out in the time of the Roman Empire. Which in turn used a standard width chosen by a wagon builder in Ancient Rome.

Now, given the influence that a unnamed Ancient Roman wheelwright had on the design and deployment of military technology in the twenty-third century, is it really that silly of us to adopt an Ancient Latin slogan for our own use?

-- Ibid.

A Message From Rob Devenport

Hello,

Yes, the TML and all of TravellerCentral.com are down. I'm using an
old subscriber list to notify everyone, so if you've unsubscribed in
the last several months, I apologize for sending this to you. And if
I've missed anyone that you know of, please let them know the status.

A couple days ago, a cracker penetrated the TravellerCentral.com
server and deleted all files, possibly in retaliation for Tod stopping
an attack a month ago where someone tried to usurp the server and set
up their own rogue mail server. The recent backups are lost (and Tod
had been within a week of putting a new backup system online too).
He's going to go back to an older backup and rebuild the system (with
tightened security measures).

Since he doesn't believe the attacker overwrote files but just mucked
up the inodes, he's hopeful that much of the user data can be
recovered - it will just take a good deal of time.
The plan is to get the server and basic services (mail server) back up
as soon as practical, I think maybe within a few days, then get user's
data back if possible, which may take a few weeks.

I'll send more details as they become available, or if you have
questions, let me know. With luck you won't hear from me, but from the
list when it's up again.

And as for that cracker miscreant, I just hope they get within range
of my FGMP...

Rob Davenport
TML listmom2
_

Quote of the Day

More intellectual background stuff.

As a rule when all other factors are equal it is the numerically larger military unit that will prevail. Therefore it is the task of those who raise, train, and deploy the armed forces of a nation to see to it that all other factors are never equal.

-- E.N. Keller, The Concept of War

_

Quote of the Day

In literature and cinema there is a concept, the idiot plot, a scenario that only occurs because one or more characters behaved like idiots.

Of all the worlds of the Human Union one world had the industrial might, and thus the potential to create military power, to stop the Freyani.

March¹, the oldest and most populous of the Human colonies, the capital of Humanity in the post-Yellowstone² era, did nothing.

Nothing was done when the Freyani secretly build a navy and cut loose from Humanity.

Nothing was done when the Freyani and their Objectivist allies hunted down and murdered the Progressive activists and the Gordonian³ warriors who liberated the planets Konkin and Eos from capitalist oppression.⁴

Nothing was done when the Freyani sent the fleet carrier Victorious across Human Union space -- unimpeded -- to commit the Gordonian Holocaust.⁵

Nothing was done when the Freyani mercilessly crushed the Republic of Aurore.

When Oliver Richard Kaiser, and the last and greatest leader of Humanity, tried to rouse the people to resist the Freyani, it was too late.

Because the leaders of the planet March and Humanity in General refused to act a new dark age has descended upon us as we now live under the grinding oppression of the Freyan Empire.⁶


-- Anthony Ellsworth, The Empire of Greed

Sounds like the fellow is a bit biased...


1. Alpha Centauri A-Three. Named for President John March, the successor to President Dick Cheney and founder of the Omaha Pact.

2. Extinction event. The super volcano in Yellowstone National Park erupted on September 4, 2182, burying most of North America in ash, and effectively terminating agriculture on the planet for at least five years. Roughly 99 percent of the Human Race died in the subsequent disorders.

3. A morally darker version of the Dorsai.

4. Needless to say the folks on Eos and Schwartz (the renamed planet Konkin) have a different view of the relevant events.

In the decades following the Yellowstone Event a practice had evolved where if a resource extraction firm could not obtain a sufficiently favorable deal from a local government they would invent a "liberation front" -- usually a handful of crackpots in the back room of a leather bar -- and hire a Gordonian military contractor to put the liberation front into power.

Armand Marteau, the owner of Spinward Mining, wanted control of lanthanum deposits on Eos, a planet settled by descendants of the Peikoff Faction of the Objectivist Movement. Because his agents could not create a front on Eos, they instead created one on the planet Konkin, a Libertarian Anarchist colony named after Libertarian Anarchist author Samuel Edward Konkin III. The new "sovereign" state then staged a "liberation" of Eos.

The first Freya Pact, an alliance of three worlds -- Freya, Galtswelt, and New Texas -- carried out the liberation of Eos. The red stooges were hunted down and given no quarter. On the other hand the Gordonian mercenaries immediately surrendered and attempted to redeem their repatriation bonds.

The Interim Committee that governed Eos refused to the honor the bonds. In their view the mercenaries were not soldiers of a legitimate state but were instead paid members of a homicidal conspiracy. In other words, they were willing capital criminals.

The ground troops from Freya and Galtswelt carried out the order to execute the mercenaries. The contingent from New Texas refused to carry out the execution of mercenaries in their custody. The New Texas forces and their prisoners were then ordered off the planet Eos. Thus breaking the first Freya Pact.

To this day the Eosians see the government of New Texas as accessories after the fact of the mass murder of Eosian citizens.

The remnant of the pact forces went on to liberate the planet Konkin.

5. The Gordonian private military contractors and their corporate sponsors carried out a vendetta against Eos and the remaining members of the first Freya Pact through legal and other means.

It was after the judicially staged murder of two members of the Eos Interim Committee, who were on a diplomatic mission to March, that drastic action was taken.

A chain of fuel caches was secretly created which allowed a task force centered on the newly built light fleet carrier Victorious to make on unimpeded transit to Gordonia and carry out a high yield nuclear bombardment of the planet's industrial and population centers.

This effectively terminated the vendetta.

6. Riiiiigt. The Society of Consent is sooooo oppressive to some people...
_

UMCS VALLEY FORGE

Yes, I've seen the film SILENT RUNNING... No, we don't allow lunatic greenies aboard our ships.

-- Commodore John Weymouth, Commander of Valley Forge Task Force.

Although the Poor Richard class escort carrier could do a fairly good job of supporting their big sisters, the Victorious class light fleet carriers, they still had the tactical disadvantage of being two-gee ships in an otherwise four-gee fleet. The Navy Department decided to replace the Poor Richard with a vessel that could carry the same fighter-group and accelerate at four gees in a thousand displacement-ton hull. Thus was born the Valley Forge class support carrier.

A dispute arose within the Navy Department and the Confederation Senate over the number of Valley Forge support carriers (which some wags referred to as an ultra-light carrier) that were to be built. Four or six? A compromise was eventually reached where the navy would build eight support carriers.

Part of the reason for building eight support carriers was the reorganization of the Main Force or Battle fleets.

The Main Force of the Ursa Major Confederation Navy was originally divided into three battle fleets: The Coreward Fleet based at Eos; The Central Fleet based at Galtswelt; And the Rimward Fleet based at Freya. Each battle fleet was originally centered on a Victorious class light fleet carrier and its group of escorts.

Under the reorganization, the Rimward Fleet at Freya which was closest to the most likely potential belligerent, the Auroran Empire, would have two Victorious class and two Valley Forge class carriers. The Coreward Fleet at Eos, facing the potentially hostile Republic of New Texas, would get one Victorious class and two Valley Forge class carriers. The Central Fleet at Galtswelt would receive the four remaining Valley Forge class carriers. The old Poor Richard class escort carriers would be independently based, one at Freya, two at Galtswelt, and one at Eos, in support of convoy escort or Marine landing forces as required.

Valley Forge-Class Support Carrier

Ship: Valley Forge
Class: Valley Forge
Type: Support Carrier
Architect: UMCN Bureau of Ships
Tech Level: 11

USP
CVS-A7244E2-050000-30000-0 MCr 717.593 1 KTons
Bat Bear 4 2 Crew: 60
Bat 4 2 TL: 11

Cargo: 28, Fuel: 270, EP: 40, Agility: 3
Craft: 1 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T Fuel Module, 8 x 15T Kurnass Fighter-Interceptor, 12 x 6T Dagger Attack Fighter
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 6.856 Cost in Quantity: MCr 580.474

Detailed Description

HULL: 1,000 tons standard, 14,000 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Navigator, 8 Engineers, Medic, 6 Gunners, 29 Flight Crew, 14 Other Crew
ENGINEERING: Jump-2, 4G Manuever, Power plant-4, 40 EP, Agility 3
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/5fib Computer
ARMAMENT: 2 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 2 Batteries (Factor-3)
DEFENCES: 8 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 4 Batteries (Factor-5)
CRAFT: 50 ton Modular Cutter (Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30), 30 ton Fuel Module (Cost of MCr 2), 8 x 15 ton Kurnass Fighter-Interceptors (Crew of 2, Sold Separately), 12 x 6 ton Dagger Attack Fighters (Crew of 1, Sold Separately)
FUEL: 270 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 30 tons of additional fuel), No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 30 Staterooms, 28 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 692.448 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 6.856), MCr 548.474 in Quantity, plus MCr 32.000 of Carried Support Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 120 Weeks Singly, 96 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: The Valley Forge class support carrier (sometimes called an ultra-light carrier) was constructed to replace the Poor Richard class escort carrier in the role of supporting main fleet operations. There is additional accomodation for a task force commander and 13 support staff

A total of eight units were constructed. Valley Forge, Ticonderoga, Cowpens, and Bunker Hill were built at Galtswelt. Waterloo, Blenheim, Salamanca, and Agincourt were built at Freya.
_

UMCS BONHOMME POOR RICHARD

Poor Richard-Class Escort Carrier

Ship: Poor Richard
Class: Poor Richard
Type: Escort Carrier
Architect: Galtswelt Shipbulding
Tech Level: 11

CVE-6722222-050000-30000-0 MCr 293.268 600 Tons
Bat Bear 2 2 Crew: 35
Bat 2 2 TL: 11

Cargo: 11, Fuel: 158, EP: 12, Agility: 1
Craft: 50T Modular Cutter, 30T Fuel Module, 6 x 15T Kurnass Fighter-Interceptor, 12 x 6T Dagger Attack Fighter
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 2.613 Cost in Quantity: MCr 241.014

Detailed Description

HULL: 600 tons standard, 8,400 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Navigator, 3 Engineers, Medic, 4 Gunners, 25 Flight Crew
ENGINEERING: Jump-2, 2G Manuever, Power plant-2, 12 EP, Agility 1
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: 2 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 2 Batteries (Factor-3)
DEFENCES: 4 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 2 Batteries (Factor-5)
CRAFT: 50 ton Modular Cutter (Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30), 30 ton Fuel Module (MCr 2.000), 6 x 15 ton Kurnass Fighter-Interceptors (Crew of 2, Sold Separately), 12 x 6 ton Dagger Attack Fighters (Crew of 1, Sold Separately)
FUEL: 158 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 26 tons of additional fuel), No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 17.5 Staterooms, 11 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 263.881 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 2.613), MCr 209.014 in Quantity, plus MCr 32.000 of Carried Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 99 Weeks Singly, 79 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: Even with the construction of the Victorious class fleet carriers there was still a perceived need in the UMCN for ships to replace the ageing and less than ideal units of the Ranger class in the escort carrier role.

All four units of the Poor Richard class ("Bonhomme" was considered to be a bit too Froggish) were built at Galtswelt and were named for old American or British aircraft carriers.

The four units of the class were:

Poor Richard
Warrior
Enterprise
Hornet

UMCS VICTORIOUS

Victorious-Class Light Fleet Carrier

Ship: Victorious
Class: Victorious
Type: Light Fleet Carrier
Architect: Freyaspace Corporation
Tech Level: 11

USP
CVL-B7244E3-050000-32000-0 MCr 1,655.287 2.4 KTons
Bat Bear 8 62 Crew: 175
Bat 8 62 TL: 11

Cargo: 47, Fuel: 676, EP: 96, Agility: 3 Shipboard Security Detail: 2
Craft: 3 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T General Purpose Module, 15 x 15T Kurnass Fighter-Interceptor, 30 x 6T Dagger Attack Fighter
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 15.633 Cost in Quantity: MCr 1,342.629

Detailed Description

HULL: 2,400 tons standard, 33,600 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: 12 Officers, 163 Ratings
ENGINEERING: Jump-2, 4G Manuever, Power plant-4, 96 EP, Agility 3
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/5fib Computer
ARMAMENT: 6 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 6 Batteries (Factor-3), 2 Single Plasma Gun Turrets organised into 2 Batteries (Factor-2)
DEFENCES: 16 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 8 Batteries (Factor-5)
CRAFT: 3 x 50 ton Modular Cutters with Fuel Modules(Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30), 30 ton General Purpose Module (Cost of MCr 2), 15 x 15 ton Kurnass Fighter-Interceptors (Crew of 2, Sold Separately), 30 x 6 ton Dagger Attack Fighters (Crew of 1, Sold Separately)
FUEL: 676 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 100 tons of additional fuel), No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 90 Staterooms, 47 Tons Cargo (Includes 20 additional berths for the Task Force commander and staff.)
COST: MCr 1,578.919 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 15.633), MCr 1,250.629 in Quantity, plus MCr 92 of Carried Support Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 135 Weeks Singly, 108 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: The Victorious class light fleet carrier was the first effort by the navy of the newly formed Confederation of Ursa Major (a.k.a the Freya Pact) to build a true multi-role carrier that could keep up with its own escorts.

There were some critics who believed that the embarked fighter group of 45 fighters was too small to be truly effective. This lead to calls to build a larger ship that could carry 75 fighters in three "full" squadrons, or to trade off maneuver drive and power plant capacity in order to carry a larger force.

The problem with building a larger ship was that the existing design for the Victorious class had already come close to the upper allowable size, -- fifty-percent of shipyard capacity -- for construction in the yards on Freya and Galtswelt at that time in the early years of the Confederation. The navy, especially its Freyani cadre, also had extensive experiece with the slow merchant vessels that had been converted to "escort" carriers and had strongly objected to building any new ships that were slower than the escorting frigates and destroyers. This objection was reinforced by the inclusion of twenty additional personnel berths on board in order to allow Victorious class ships to used as the flagships of the carrier task forces.

Of the three units of the class, Victorious and Intrepid were built at Freya, and Glorious was built at Galtswelt.
_

Before And After

Starjammer Procyon-Class Bulk Cargo Carrier

Ship: Starjammer Procyon
Class: Starjammer Procyon
Type: Bulk Cargo Carrier
Architect: Eurospace
Tech Level: 11

USP
MH-A711121-000000-00000-0 MCr 306.099 1 KTons
Bat Bear Crew: 7
Bat TL: 11

Cargo: 540, Passengers: 8, Fuel: 212, EP: 10, Agility: 1
Craft:, 1 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T Fuel Module
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 2.741 Cost in Quantity: MCr 251.279

Detailed Description

HULL: 1,000 tons standard, 14,000 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Navigator, 2 Engineers, Steward, Medic, 1 Flight Crew
ENGINEERING: Jump-1, 1G Manuever, Power plant-1, 10 EP, Agility 1
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: None
CRAFT: 1 x 50 ton Modular Cutter (Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30.000), 1 x 30 ton Fuel Module (Cost of MCr 2.000)
FUEL: 212 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 2 tons of additional fuel), No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 15.0 Staterooms, 16 Low Berths, 8 High Passengers, 540 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 276.840 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 2.741), MCr 219.279 in Quantity, plus MCr 32.000 of Carried Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 120 Weeks Singly, 96 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: The Starjammer Procyon was designed and constructed by Eurospace Industries as a replacement for the Procyon Conveyer class bulk cargo carrier.


Ranger-Class Escort Carrier

Ship: Ranger (ex-Freyaspace Starjammer Dubhe)
Class: Ranger
Type: Escort Carrier
Architect: Eurospace Industries - Converted by the Freyaspace Yards on Freya
Tech Level: 11

USP
CVE-A711122-050000-40000-0 MCr 325.965 1 KTons
Bat Bear 4 1 Crew: 67
Bat 4 1 TL: 11

Cargo: 24, Fuel: 270, EP: 10, Agility: 0
Craft: 1 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T Fuel Module, 14 x 15T Kurnass Fighter-Interceptor, 28 x 6T Dagger Attack Fighter
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 2.940 Cost in Quantity: MCr 267.172

Detailed Description

HULL: 1,000 tons standard, 14,000 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Navigator, 2 Engineers, Medic, 5 Gunners, 57 Flight Crew
ENGINEERING: Jump-1, 1G Manuever, Power plant-1, 10 EP, Agility 0
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: 2 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-4)
DEFENCES: 8 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 4 Batteries (Factor-5)
CRAFT: , 50 ton Modular Cutter Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30), 30 ton Fuel Module (Cost of MCr 2), 14 x 15 ton Kurnass Fighter-Interceptors (Crew of 2, Sold Separately), 28 x 6 ton Dagger Attack Fighters (Crew of 1, Sold Separately)
FUEL: 270 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 60 tons of additional fuel), No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 34 Staterooms, 24 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 296.904 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 2.940), MCr 235.172 in Quantity, plus MCr 32.000 of Carried Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 120 Weeks Singly, 96 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: The Starjammer Procyon was designed and constructed by Eurospace Industries as a replacement for the Procyon Conveyer class bulk cargo carrier.

The Starjammer Dubhe and the Starjammer Alkaid were the only two members of the class owned by Freyaspace. both ships were turned over to the Freyan Navy for conversion to escort carriers and were renamed FNS Ranger and FNS Goddard.

Both ships participated in the campaign to liberate the planets Eos and Konkin.

Two More Ships

Procyon Lifter-class bulk carrier

Ship: Procyon Lifter
Class: Procyon Lifter
Type: Bulk Carrier
Architect: Eurospace Industries
Tech Level: 11

USP
MH-B721232-000000-00000-0 MCr 868.838 2 KTons
Bat Bear Crew: 26
Bat TL: 11

Cargo: 1,000, Passengers: 8, Fuel: 450, EP: 40, Agility: 1 Shipboard Security Detail: 2
Craft: 2 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T Basic Module
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 8.068 Cost in Quantity: MCr 707.470

Detailed Description

HULL: 2,000 tons standard, 28,000 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: 10 Officers, 16 Ratings
ENGINEERING: Jump-2, 1G Manuever, Power plant-2, 40 EP, Agility 1
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/3 Computer
ARMAMENT: None
CRAFT: 2 x 50 ton Modular Cutters (Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30), 1 x 30 ton Basic Module (Cost of MCr 2.000)
FUEL: 450 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 10 tons of additional fuel) No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 34 Staterooms, 10 Low Berths, 8 High Passengers, 1,000 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 814.906 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 8.068), MCr 645.470 in Quantity, plus MCr 62 of Carried Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 132 Weeks Singly, 106 Weeks in Quantity
COMMENTS: Jump-2 commercial bulk cargo carrier.


Merak-Class Missile Boat Carrier

Ship: Merak (ex-Freyaspace Merak Lifter)
Class: Merak
Type: Missile Boat Carrier
Architect: Built by Eurospace Industries/ Rebuilt by Freyaspace Yards on Freya
Tech Level: 11

USP
AVB-B721232-090000-40000-0 MCr 907.243 2 KTons
Bat Bear 1 5 Crew: 65
Bat 1 5 TL: 11

Cargo: 10, Fuel: 470, EP: 40, Agility: 0, Shipboard Security Detail: 2
Craft: 2 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T Basic Module, 2 x 400T Missile Boat, 10 x 15T Kurnass Fighter-Interceptor
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 8.452 Cost in Quantity: MCr 738.194

Detailed Description

HULL: 2,000 tons standard, 28,000 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: 11 Officers, 54 Ratings
ENGINEERING: Jump-2, 1G Manuever, Power plant-2, 40 EP, Agility 0
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/3 Computer
ARMAMENT: 10 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 5 Batteries (Factor-4)
DEFENCES: 10 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-9)
CRAFT: 2 x 50 ton Modular Cutters (Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30), 1 x 30 ton Basic Module (Cost of MCr 2.000), 2 x 400 ton Missile Boats (Crew Embarked On Boats, Sold Separately), 10 x 15 ton Kurnass Fighter-Interceptors (Crew of 2, Sold Separately)
FUEL: 470 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 30 tons of additional fuel) No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 30 Staterooms, 10 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 853.695 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 8.452), MCr 676.194 in Quantity, plus MCr 62 of Carried Support Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 132 Weeks Singly, 106 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: A Terran built Jump-2 bulk carrier which was converted by the Freyan Navy to carry two of its standard 400-dton missile boats and ten of its 15-dton Kurnass class fighter-interceptors for self defense.

Merak Lifter, Alioth Lifter, and Mizar Lifter were part of a group of seven ships named for the stars of the Big Dipper owned by Freyaspace Lines. Four of the ships were seized by the Terran authorities for use in the "Great Evacuation" from Earth of politicians and other important or needed people after the eruption of the Yellowstone Supervolcano. The other three ships sucessfully returned to Freya and were transferred to the newly formed Freyan Navy for conversion to missile boat carriers.

After conversion the ships were renamed FNS Merak, FNS Alioth, and FNS Mizar. All three ships and their boats and fighters took part in the campaign to liberate the planets Eos and Konkin from Neomarxist control.

_

Not Quite A Repost

Dagger-Class Attack Fighter

Ship: FA-6 Dagger
Class: FA-6 Dagger
Type: Attack Fighter
Architect: Freyaspace Corporation
Tech Level: 9

USP
FA-0106611-000000-00002-0 MCr 15.745 6 Tons
Bat Bear 1 Crew: 1
Bat 1 TL: 9

Cargo: 0.040, Fuel: 0.360, EP: 0.360, Agility: 6
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops
Architects Fee: MCr 0.157 Cost in Quantity: MCr 12.596

Detailed Description

HULL: 6 tons standard, 84 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge Configuration
CREW: Pilot
ENGINEERING: 6G Manuever, Power plant-6, 0.360 EP, Agility 6
AVIONICS: No Bridge Installed, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: 1 Triple Missile Turret organised into 1 Battery (Factor-2)
FUEL: 0.360 Tons Fuel (28 days endurance), On Board Fuel Scoops, No Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 1 Acceleration Couch, 0.040 Ton Cargo
COST: MCr 15.902 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 0.157), MCr 12.596 in Quantity
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 2 Weeks Singly, 2 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: A very light weight missile armed fighter simular to the EADS F-9 Gnat. Some critics go as far as to accuse the Freyani of ripping off the basic design of the Gnat for their own use.

The Dagger is carried as the primary anti-ship and ground support fighter aboard the fleet and assault carriers of the Confederation of Ursa Major (Freya Pact) Navy.
_

Usually A Nice Thing To Have In Your Sky.

Kurnass-Class Fighter-Interceptor

Ship: FI-15 Kurnass
Class: FI-15 Kurnass
Type: Fighter Interceptor
Architect: Freyaspace Corporation
Tech Level: 9

USP
FI-0106D11-000000-10001-0 MCr 31.425 15 Tons
Bat Bear 1 1 Crew: 2
Bat 1 1 TL: 9

Cargo: 0.650, Fuel: 1.950, EP: 1.950, Agility: 6, Pulse Lasers
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops

Architects Fee: MCr 0.314 Cost in Quantity: MCr 25.140


Detailed Description

HULL: 15 tons standard, 210 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Gunner
ENGINEERING: 6G Manuever, Power plant-13, 1.950 EP, Agility 6
AVIONICS: No Bridge Installed, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: 1 Pulse Laser (Factor-1), 1 Missile Rack (Factor-1).
FUEL: 1.950 Tons Fuel (28 days endurance), On Board Fuel Scoops, No Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 2 Acceleration Couches, 0.650 Ton Cargo
COST: MCr 31.739 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 0.314), MCr 25.140 in Quantity
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 8 Weeks Singly, 7 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: Freyani heavy fighter interceptor. Originally developed by the Freyaspace Corporation as a planetary defense fighter-interceptor under the designation of Project J-15 (Jäger, 15 tons). The Kurnass was deployed as the primary heavy fighter aboard fleet carriers of the Confederation of Ursa Major (Freya Pact) Navy and as a planetary defense interceptor for all member worlds of the Confederation. The Kurnass saw action in all three of the space battles over Freya.

The latest version in service is built to the Tech Level 11 standard.

A slightly lighter laser-only version was built as a prototype, but was rejected for service.

Kurnass (Hammer) was the Israeli designation of the McDonnell Douglas F-4E fighter-bomber in Israeli service.
_

Something You Don't Want To See In Your Sky.

Viking-Class Assault Shuttle

Ship: Viking
Class: Viking
Type: Landing Craft Assault (LCA)
Architect: Freyaspace Corporation
Tech Level: 10

USP
LCA-0104421-000000-30000-0 MCr 63.650 95 Tons
Bat Bear 1 Crew: 2
Bat 1 TL: 10

Cargo: 0.350, Fuel: 3.8, EP: 3.8 Agility: 0
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops

Architects Fee: MCr 0.637 Cost in Quantity: MCr 50.920

Detailed Description

HULL: 95 tons standard, 1,330 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Gunner
ENGINEERING: Jump-0, 4G Maneuver, Power plant-4, 3.8 EP, Agility 0
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: 1 Triple Beam Laser Turret organized into 1 Battery (Factor-3)
FUEL: 3.8 Tons Fuel (28 days endurance), On Board Fuel Scoops, No Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 16 Acceleration Couches, 0.350 Ton Cargo
USER DEFINED COMPONENTS: 1 Assault Module (40 tons, Sold Separately)
COST: MCr 64.287 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 0.637), MCr 50.920 in Quantity
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 37 Weeks Singly, 29 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS:

A rapid interface craft designed for use by the Marine Corps and Navy of the Confederation of Ursa Major (a.k.a. the Freya Pact).

The Viking-class assault shuttle (LCA) carries a 40-dton rapid deployment module (RDM) in its cargo hold which carries a "stick" of four standard (8-ton) G-Carriers or similar sized military grav-vehicles. The dorsal cargo compartment hatch opens to release the stick of G-Carriers. The RDM is often dropped in space for later recovery while the Viking picks up the next RDM for the next wave of the planetary assault.

The Viking may also carry a 40-dton bulk cargo module or a combination of standard military shipping containers up to 40-dtons which may be loaded through the rear cargo hatch.

The military standard bulk cargo module is a 40-dton pressurized box which is manufactured in quantity for the Freyani armed forces for MCr 1.6 each. The standard Freyani military 5 and 10 ton shipping containers are also designed to fit together in the place of the bulk cargo module. One of the odd consequences of this is that Freyani merchant vessels are now designed to carry the Freyani military standard shipping containers, much to the annoyance of non-Freyani port masters and ground crews.

A 40-dton fuel tank container for refueling operations by the Viking is also available for MCr 0.4 each.


Postscriptual Comment

Actually, it would have made more sense to bundle together a bunch of standard cargo containers to form a 40-dton block and then design the G-Carriers so that 4 of them could fit inside the block with enough room for tactical embarkation and deployment.

Perhaps the Freyani aren't always right...
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An Intellectual Foundation

Many of the colonies that were settled in the Private Universe Mark II were established by philosophical groups seeking to follow their own distinct way of life.

The planet Freya in the 10 Ursae Majoris system was discovered and settled by members of a group called the Wayfarer Society. The Wayfarers followed an ethical and political philosophy laid out in The Way Of Being and other works by American author Evelyn Keller.

Keller, who was heavily influenced the the works of Ayn Rand and Robert A. Heinlein, was originally a blogger who gained an audience in the political chaos after the events of September 4, 2008 and the civil and global wars that followed.

During his lifetime Keller wrote extensively on many topics.

The words liberty, security, and order are in a civilized society simply three ways to describe the same condition, a state where the ordinary individual is free to live his own life in accordance to his best rational judgment.

-- On Government


Democracy doesn't work if everyone else wants a piece of you.

-- Ibid


It really helps when the enemy is being stupid.

-- The Concept Of War


The term "creative nonviolence" is a typical example of the abuse of language that is normally practiced by the parasite mentality. In reality it is a form of coercion. It is in practical effect a mode of combat.

-- Moral Decisions In Warfare

And so on...
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Quote of the Day

One thing that we've noticed is that in most cases the politicians who are dumb enough to pick a fight with us are also dumb enough to systematically oppress the most rational and productive part of their own planetary population. This allows us to carry out an operation in the Liberation Paradigm and adding that world to the Pact, instead of merely carrying out a reprisal in the "bomb them back into the stone age" mode.

-- Admiral Elizabeth Weymouth, Combined Fleet of the Freya Pact.

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Another Ship

People's Navy Ship Ward Churchill

Ship: Ward Churchill
Class: Procyon Conveyor
Type: Escort Carrier
Architect: Eurospace Industries
Tech Level: 10

CVE-A711122-050000-40000-2 MCr 326.934 1 KTons
Bat Bear 4 1 Crew: 71
Bat 4 1 TL: 10

Cargo: 20 Fuel: 344 EP: 10 Agility: 0
Craft: 60 x 6T Fighter, 1 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T Fuel
Module
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 2.949 Cost in Quantity: MCr 267.947


Detailed Description

HULL: 1,000 tons standard, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Navigator, 2 Engineers, Medic, 5 Gunners, 61 Flight
Crew
ENGINEERING: Jump-1, 1G Manuever, Power plant-1, 10 EP, Agility 0
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: 2 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 1 Battery
(Factor-4)
DEFENCES: 8 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 4 Batteries
(Factor-5)
CRAFT: 60 x 6 ton Fighters (Crew of 1, Cost not accounted for in
this design), 1 x 50 ton Modular Cutter (Crew of 1, MCr 30), 1 x
30 ton Fuel Module (MCr 2.000)
FUEL: 292 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 56 days endurance, plus
62 tons of additional fuel) No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel
Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 36 Staterooms, 20 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 297.883 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 2.949),
MCr 235.947 in Quantity
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 120 Weeks Singly, 96 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: The PNS Ward Churchill was originally constructed by Eurospace Industries as a Procyon Conveyor class bulk cargo carrier, the Cygnus Conveyor.

In the chaos following the Yellowstone Extinction Event on Earth the Cygnus Conveyor was taken over by the authorities on Aurore and converted to an interim fighter carrier, the Aurore. After the completion of Auroran navy's first purpose built fleet carrier, the Emperor Napoleon I, the Aurore was declared surplus and put up for sale. "Somehow" the Aurore ended up in the hands of the People's Democratic State of Konkin under the new designation of PNS Ward Churchill. Named after a famous socialist academic who was executed in the early days of the Omaha Pact.

The PNS Ward Churchill was used in the invasion of the Objectivist colony world of Eos. It was destroyed off of Eos by a Freyani Stormbringer class missile boat, the Vassar's Bane.


Ship: F-9
Class: F-9
Type: Fighter
Architect: European Aerospace Defence Systems
Tech Level: 9

F-0106611-000000-00002-0 MCr 15.745 6 Tons
Bat Bear 1 Crew: 1
Bat 1 TL: 9

Fuel: 0.360 EP: 0.360 Agility: 6
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops
Architects Fee: MCr 0.157 Cost in Quantity: MCr 12.596

Detailed Description

HULL: 6 tons standard, 84 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge
Configuration
CREW: Pilot
ENGINEERING: Jump-0, 6G Manuever, Power plant-6, 0.360 EP,
Agility 6
AVIONICS: No Bridge Installed, Model/2 Computer
ARMAMENT: 1 Triple Missile Turret organised into 1 Battery
(Factor-2)
FUEL: 0.360 Tons Fuel (28 days endurance)
On Board Fuel Scoops, No Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 1 Acceleration Couch, 0.040 Ton Cargo
COST: MCr 15.902 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 0.157), MCr
12.596 in Quantity
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 2 Weeks Singly, 2 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: A basic fighter that was designed for construction and maintenance in colonial facilities.

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Quote of the Day

If anything the forces of the Freya Pact have proven one thing, you don't find atheists in foxholes, you find them in orbit bombing your home planet back into the stone age.

-- Former Captain George Dubya Smith, Republic of New Texas Navy.

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And Now...

An addition to the Traveller Imperial Tarot deck:



Basically, I fiddled around with Photoshop to make this card.
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This Is Interesting

Monty Python Day at Doune Castle. One of the primary locations for the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

It's a special event with only 500 (not three) tickets available.

Apparently it also features an appearance by the Spanish Inquisition. (And don't tell me you didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.)
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Behold!

The cutting edge in Soviet transportation technology!

From the 1930's...

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