Turn 5 - Autumn 2175/3025
WCDC Defense Council:
[] Jump Point Defense: - 4 votes
Time: 3 turns, chance of success: 70%
Roll 1 of 3, Roll 1d100: 8 - Failure
As the initial studies to shore up the defenses of the Three Worlds was largely dependent on the development of strategies to defend a systems Nadir and Zenith jump points, it was only logical for the military that they should go and go to their contractors and begin an official Request for Designs.
The Defense Council did still have teething problems however and miscommunication as well as insufficient bureaucracy within the new organization (rather than too much of it) delayed the Request for Designs from being given out. And by the time the RFDs were sent out, the deadline for the designs was just six months away...
[] Standartized Equipment (Ground):
active
Time: 4 turns, chance of success: 70%
Roll 1 of 4, Roll 1d100: 92 - Success
Roll 2 of 4, Roll 1d100: 37 - Marginal Success
Roll 3 of 4, Roll 1d100: 89 - Success
Roll 4 of 4, Roll 1d100: 82 - Success
Combined: 75 - Success
The remaining time of the look into standardized ground equipment was needed to write up the report for the Defense Council, as well as making a few recommendations.
For kinetic assault rifles, the Think Tank recommended using the Quetzal 5.4 mm sabot coil gun ammunition, making use of copper drive rings integrated into a 5.4 mm self forging tungsten penetrator dart in a polymer sabot, with muzzle velocities of up to 3430 m/s, capable of penetrating Type V personal protective armor over a distance of 1.5 km, and 20 mm of rolled homogeneous armor over a distance of 750 m. Against soft targets, hydrostatic shock would have devastating effects.
While a Tiaunt laser rifle was recommended, it would be less effective against hardened targets, but more successfully deployed in specialist applications against soft targets and sensory equipment.
Artillery was recommended to make use of either human 155 mm or 205 mm calibers with its various sub munitions, from conventional explosives, over armor penetrating to terminal guided ammunitions. Similar was true for the various missile systems developed by various human nations, from 75 mm guided short range missiles to large long ranged theater artillery missiles.
For tanks, no fixed design was recommended, rather noting these vehicles should be developed based on the final role. Here, both laser and 135 mm mass drivers have been recommended as weapons.
In the end, suggestions were made to compare Inner Sphere armor to the present composite armor employed by the Three Systems. Potentially reactive armor would be useful against weapons employed by Battlemechs.
Reward: Initial Designs for standardized ground force equipment, weapons and weapon delivery platforms, +5 to ground weapon development
WCDC Survey Office:
[] Initial Survey 2:
active
Time: 2 turns, Chance of success: 75%
Roll 1 of 2, Roll 1d100: 55 - Success
Roll 2 of 2, Roll 1d100: 53 - Success
Combined: 54 - Success
The time of the remaining survey of the space up to 60 lighyears around Sol and the Walker Cluster was successful and the twenty squadrons of survey craft returned to their previous posts. With their return, the number of habitated worlds around the Walker Cluster increased by three.
Santa Alvarez, with a Latin American population, Washington, a world with a population of Native and African American Settlers from the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and Solidarność with somehow is the home of a Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
To these planets, two more worlds were found to have been previously settled, but there were no people around when the shuttles landed and there was no time to look further into the abandoned settlements.
Reward: All systems outside of the Walker Cluster surveyed (up to 60ly), followup action allows surveying of the space out to 90ly
[] Rimworlds Research:
active
Time: 8 turns, Chance of success: 25%
Roll 1 of 8, Roll 1d100: 24 - Fail
Roll 2 of 8, Roll 1d100: 65 - Marginal Fail/Almost Success
While the plans for the Forwards Research Mission to Erdvynn continued to be made, but as before, the higher ups on the Survey Office did not think that the mission would be of any use for the moment.
There was some hope for the mission to get off the ground as there was a vote in the Survey Offices Control Council, but the Mission to Erdvynn lost by 4 to 7 votes.
active for 6 more turns
WCDC Diplomatic Corps:
[] We want to help:
active
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 65%
Roll 1 of 3, Roll 1d100: 60+5 = 65 - Success
Roll 2 of 3, Roll 1d100: 75+5 = 80 - Success
Initial talks successfully begin on the planets of Llyn Ogwen, Hannover and Ammann.
While the Amish of Ammann are skeptical about their contact with the WCDC and fear it would bring in influences that might destabilize their world, they do note they would be grateful concerning help against any pirate raid. They were also informed the discovery of their world by the WCDC made it likely that Amish from Earth would like to immigrate to their world, something they were surprised by, but would welcome any new immigrants.
On Llyn Ogwen the contact went more geared into the direction of helping the population with their limited arable land, with farmers interested in any crops, bio-engineered or not, as well as fertilizer. When asked about that, one diplomat notes it might be possible to set up a plant for modern fertilizer, which was surprising for the Llyn Ogwen representatives, who noted it was unusual for a more advanced world to import production plants onto a lesser advanced one. There was of course also the problem of pirates to consider.
Hannover finally welcomed the diplomats with open arms, with Kaiser Hiroshi von Hohenzollern himself giving a party to welcome them himself, as well as taking part in the talks along with the Bundestag. Talk largely feature support with technology that would help supply the industrial complexes that stabilize the planets' ecosphere, while simultaneously going into more direct help improve the planets' industry itself. Pirates are less of a problem to the Hannoverians, though there has been at least one raid targeting one of the industrial complexes, heavily damaging it and abducting many technicians.
active for 1 more turn
[] Humanitarian Aid: Hannover (3 votes)
active
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 50%
Roll 1 of 3, Roll 1d100: 29+5 = 34 - Fail
Roll 2 of 3, Roll 1d100: 77+5 = 82 - Success
Compared to the beginning, the Prometheus Foundation was finally able to get their problems squared away, the refit of their second transport craft complete. Some logistics support was given by the WCDC, before the two transports and two passenger craft were finally on the way to Hannover.
The arrival of the four space craft was taken with some trepidation by the diplomatic mission already on the planet, but after being informed about the mission itself, Kaiser Hiroshi von Hohenzollern giving his support to the Foundation. Allowed landing at a military airfield near Döhren, the capital of Hannover, the Foundation landed two large single use 5000 tonne cargo pods, containing not just one, but two Open Source Planetary Settlement Kits, containing all systems needed to set up a settlement on a 'virgin planet'. Additionally, some technicians were provided to support the local industrialists to make use of them.
To top it off, the Foundation would support a set of one thousand students with stipends in universities and other technical campuses on Earth. It was made clear any other planet would be getting the same help from the Foundation.
active for 1 more turn
WCDC Trade Organization:
[] Agile Economy: - 4 votes
active
Time: 2 turns, Chance of success: 60%
Roll 1 of 2, Roll 1d100: 68+10 = 78 - Success
Roll 2 of 2, Roll 1d100: 12+10 = 24 - Fail
Combined: 51 - Success
The attempt to make the economy of the Three Systems more agile and help the various companies to adapt to any external commercial threat from the Inner Sphere was taken up by the companies with almost insufficient enthusiasm.
While many of the companies had asked for some support from the WCDC in monetary incentives, initially most instead used them to invest into anything but their R&D departments. Especially Chinese companies were adept in this, receiving most of the Trade Organizations ire.
It took the heavy hand of the Trade Organization to inform the various companies that taken up the support, that the contracts contained various sanctions against any corporation that would not follow the contract to the latter.
So with a measure of grumbling, the companies were made to see sense and adapt their organizations to be more agile.
Reward: +10 on external trade actions, +5 on adaption of new products
[] Diversifying Economy: - 4 votes
active
Time: 2 turns, Chance of success: 60%
Roll 1 of 2, Roll 1d100: 46 - Marginal Success
Roll 2 of 2, Roll 1d100: 85 - Success
Combined: 65 - Success
Other than the incentives to make the economy more agile, the encouragements for companies to diversify their offerings to the less developed planets surrounding the Walker Cluster, were taken up much more enthusiastic. Cynics would of course note this was largely due to the greater potential to make more money from those new markets on the newly discovered planets.
In the end, many corporations began to produce the first items meant for the new markets, even though most were mostly old technology, slightly refurbished, needing less development than entirely new designs.
Reward: +5 on external trade actions with Llyn Ogwen, Hannover and Ammann, +5 on diplomatic actions on Llyn Ogwen, Hannover and Ammann
WCDC Office for Science and Development:
[] Kearney-Fuchida Fusion Thruster
active
Time: 4 turns, Chance of success: 65%
Roll 1 of 4, Roll 1d100: 37 - Marginal Success
Roll 2 of 4, Roll 1d100: 69 - Success
The challenge of Kearney-Fuchida Fusion Theory was taken up willingly by the various scientific institutions of the Walker Cluster. Insufficient fast communication between the various teams on different systems was making cooperation harder however, making most of the scientists wish for a viable FTL communication system, like the Hyper Pulse Generator used in the Inner Sphere.
Still, the theory slowly was worked on and the various teams did manage to set up some communication links through the courier craft currently linking the Three Systems.
active for 2 more turns
[] Big Stompy Robots:
active (1 turns)
Time: 3 turns, Chance of success: 70%
Roll 1 of 3, Roll 1d100: 31 - Marginal Success
Roll 2 of 3, Roll 1d100: 51 - Success
While Doctor Sandoval of Köhler Military Services still gave air to her grievances concerning her perceived treatment at CERN, work on inspecting the various systems and designs of the Battlemechs were coming along nicely. Eventually it was possible to get the Chief Engineer to shut up, after telling her that this was helping out KMS as well, as it might allow various Earth companies to supply KMS with replacement part, maybe even upgrades.
Additionally, some observers were present during some training maneuvers of the Battlemech pilots, allowing the technicians to get a feel for the capabilities of the Battlemechs themselves.
active for 1 more turn
Random Event:
Roll 1d100: 68 - Political scandal at newly discovered World with Survey Squadron present - Planet: Washington
New Portland Daily Telegraph said:
Senator Aliston Oronhiatékha Arrested for Murder amidst WCDC Contact
Today, Iroquois Senator Alliston Oronhiatékha (WIG) had been arrested by the New Portland Police, after FOI investigations have linked her to the Bearfoot Blood Cult. From the evidence collected Oronhiatékha is alleged to have taken part in at least ten of the Cults murders (blood offerings) and in three cases is alleged to have been the killer.
...
This comes with bad timing, as Senator Oronhiatékha has been part of the delegation dealing with the arrivals from the 'Walker Cluster Defense Committee'. This might present our world as being primitive to the newcomers.
...
It is expected the President and the State Department will work harder with the WCDC following this revelation.
Chance of the Washington State Department working on better relations following the scandal: 50%
Roll 1d100: 3 - Failure
New Portland Daily Telegraph said:
Walker Cluster Delegates Leave Amidst Bearfoot Blood Cult Scandal
Today, the representatives of the Walker Cluster Defense Committee have left New Portland aboard their shuttle craft and even now their starships are on the way out ouf our system.
This presents a failure of President Williams, after the revalation that former Senator Oronhiatékha is alledged to be a member of the Bearfoot Blood Cult.
...
It is hoped that future contact with the WCDC will be able to alleviate the views the representatives might have of our world.
Result: -5 in diplomatic actions with Washington
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