Paul was yet again reclining in his office, staring boredly at his console’s screen. There was a report from Lokur Renelv that he and his team had managed to create a working containment field generator. They were currenty drawing up plans for use on it, but the current plan was to initially just use it to keep the planetary shield focused. The work crews for Cresseda Station were given information on how to install the shield and containment field generators. Lokur and his science team would go up and tune them once the construction of the station was finished. While they were doing so the work crews would move over to South Tip Station and install the generators there. The construction crews estimated it would take (three more posts) to complete the new work.

Paul sent acknowledgements of the reception and reading of the messages. He opened his agenda and noted he had an appointment with a representative from ‘Zig Outfitters, Inc.’ His receptionist told him that they had ideas for improving the designs of the ships they were producing. He sent a notice to his receptionist that he was ready to hear their presentation and to send them in.

Five minutes later a tall Miranu entered his office. She, and it was most definately a she, walked slowly across the intervening space between the door and his desk. He rose and shook her hand and offered her a seat. She introduced herself as Kirana Lyrren.

“So, I understand that your company has an idea on how to improve our ship designs,” he stated. She nodded sleightly and opened a folder. She pulled out some sheets of white plastic and handed them across the table. “A few of the desk jockeys in our company came up with a game that would pit computer designed ships against eachother. Each of the lazy louts got a budget in the game and got to spend it on ships and outfits before they let the ships loose on eachother. So, eventually a few outfit sets made themselves obviously better than others. A week or two ago I found out about what they were doing and thought it might be a good idea to show you some of the designs they came up with.”

Paul nodded listlessly and looked at the sheets. There were two designs for Crescent Warships, one for an alternate to Arada’s, and one for an alternate to Crescent Fighters. From what Paul could tell, all that had been done to most of them was the outfits stripped and replaced with a different set. “Not only could you use these on your ships, but more trade could be attracted if we offered upgrade kits to independant captains,” Kirana commented.

The designs showed that the ships costed more even when the outfits were stripped and sold. But then again they also increased the effectiveness of the ship in combat. He thouight for a moment and then asked, “How much?”

She smiled. “Only thing is that you must grant us the right to outfit all government ships and allow us to be the only ones to offer such upgrade kits. I am sure that you can imagine that it would be rather detrimental to our business if other companies were to offer things like this at a lower price than ours.”

Paul nodded and agreed to the deal. He quickly wrote out a contract, signed it, and handed it to her. She left his office, and he sent the designs over to the shipyards. They told him that the latest batch of ships had been finished, and that they would not have any of the upgrades that these entailed without sending them through a major reift. Paul commented that that was fine and told them to start building the next set of ships with those outfits and to purchase them from Zig Outfitters, Inc.
<-> <->
Post 40
Cresseda Station Construction
Begun:7 Length:35 End:42
Planetary Shield Generator Installation
Begun:42 Length:3 End:45
<-> <->
New Fleet Stats:
90 Milita Arada’s
190 Crescent Fighters
<-> <->
Zig Outfitter’s Crescent Battleship
(Crescent Warship Basic)
-3 CF’s(750k Credits)
-1 CF Bay(80 tons)(2m Credits)
+1 Phase Turret(20 tons)(180k Credits)
+1 SAD Module Launcher(30 tons)(200k Credits)
+45 SADs(45 Tons)(90k Credits)
+2 Shield Boosters(10 Tons)(100k Credits)
+1 ECM System(150k Credits)
+1 Sensor Upgrade(250k Credits)

Final Stats:
Shields: 2600
Armor: 250
Speed: 175
Accel: 300
Manuever: 60 deg/sec
Fuel: 5 jumps
Shield Recharge: 1.25 points per second
Cargo: 70 tons
Space: 0 tons
MaxGuns/Turrets: 4/4
Cost: 8.27m credits
Mass: 100 tons
Length: 120 meters
Crew: 61
Special: Initiates hyperjump fast
Outfits:
4 Phase Turrets
3 SAD Module Launchers
60 SAD Modules
2 Shield Boosters
1 ECM System

Zig Outfitter’s Crescent Fighter
(Crescent Fighter base)
+1 Phase Cannon(5 Tons)(50k Credits)
+4 Shield Boosters(20 tons)(200k Credits)
+1 ECM System(150k Credits)
+1 Sensor Upgrade(250k Credits)
+1 Pursuit Missile Launcher(15 tons)(120k Credits)
+5 Pursuit Missile Lauunchers(5 tons)(10k Credits)

Final Stats:
Shields: 400
Armor: 0
Speed: 450
Accel: 1000
Manuever: 180 deg/sec
Fuel: 3 jumps
Shield Recharge: 2.5 points per second
Cargo: 5 tons
Space: 0 tons
MaxGuns/Turrets: 5/1
Cost: 1.58 million credits
Mass: 8 tons
Length: 15 meters
Crew: 1
Availability: The Crescent and parts of Miranu Space
Special: Initiates hyperjump VERY fast
Outfits:
5 phase cannons
1 Pursuit Missile Launcher
5 Pursuit Missiles
4 Shield Boosters
1 ECM System
1 Sensor Upgrade

Zig Outfitter’s Crescent Command Ship
(Crescent Warship Base)
+4 Mass Expansions(60 Tons Cargo)(200k Credits)
+1 Phase Turret(20 Tons)(180k Credits)
+1 ECM System(150k Credits)
+1 Sensor Upgrade(250k Credits)
+4 Shield Boosters(20 Tons)(200k Credits)
+15 SAD Modules(15 Tons)(45k Credits)

Final Stats:
Shields: 2700
Armor: 250
Speed: 175
Accel: 300
Manuever: 60 deg/sec
Fuel: 5 jumps
Shield Recharge: 1.25 points per second
Cargo: 10 tons
Space: 0 tons
MaxGuns/Turrets: 4/4
Cost: 10.925m credits
Mass: 100 tons
Length: 120 meters
Crew: 61
Availability: South Tip Station
Special: Initiates hyperjump fast,
Outfits:
4 Phase Turrets
3 Crescent Fighters(Upgraded Crescent Fighters can be carried, but they have no reloads for their missiles)
30 SAD modules
2 SAD Launchers
1 ECM System
1 Sensor Upgrade
4 Mass Expansions

Zig Outfitter’s Arada Gunship
(Militia Arada Base)
-10 Dispersal Rockets(10 Tons)(10k Credits)
-2 Dispersal Rocket Launchers(40 Tons)(150k Credits)
-4 Phase Cannons(20 Tons)(200k Credits)
+2 Phase Turrets(40 Tons)(360k Credits)
+2 Swivel Phase Cannons(12 Tons)(150k Credits)
+1 ECM System(150k Credits)
+1 Sensor Uograde(250k Credits)
+2 Shield Boosters(10 Tons)(100k Credits)
+1 Pursuit Missile Launcher(15 Tons)(120k Credits)
+20 Pursuit Missiles

Final Stats:
Shields: 600
Armor: 100
Speed: 300
Accel: 600
Manuever: 120 deg/sec
Fuel: 5 jumps
Shield Recharge: 1.5 points per second
Cargo: 40 tons
Space: 3 tons
MaxGuns/Turrets: 4/2
Cost: 1,770,000 credits
Mass: 30 tons
Length: 35 meters
Crew: 3
Availability: South Tip Station
Special: Initiates hyperjump VERY fast
Outfits:
2 Phase Turrets
2 Swivel Phase Turrets
1 Pursuit Missile Launcher
20 Pursuit Missiles
2 Shield Boosters
1 ECM System
1 Sensor Upgrade

<edit>Post 40, not 20</edit>

------------------
"Doritos:The official currency of fat people."-My friend
"All your bandwidth are belong to us."
(url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/webboard/Forum26/HTML/005710.html")Shameless(/url) (url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/mandrillen/PhotoAlbum1.html")Advertisement(/url)

(This message has been edited by Admiral Benden (edited 09-04-2002).)

Miranu Saga of the Guild—Chapter 4

When looking at the Miranu as a species, one must understand two of their greatest ambitions. The Miranu consider the acquisition of wealth through well-done and honorable trade to be a great virtue. The same can be said for the research and development of new technologies. In the ancient days of Miranu prehistory, much oral tradition that was later chronicled by Miranu historians speaks of the development of products for barter with the native Miranu tribes on each of Mira’s islands. As each tribe was confined to a small island, it was to the benefit of all that the goods be small, so as to use the least amount of resources to the highest possible mark of efficiency. Thus, miniaturization became a high ideal for Miranu scientists throughout the ages, and still holds sway today. Yet above that, there was the history of working with metals at an early time, and the Miranu metallurgists of old catalogued precise procedures for making strong yet miniature metal products. Thus the mines of Zeldra, the utopian mining colony in the Zeldair system, were normally thought of with respect by the Miranu citizenry. The same would be so for the Miranu High Council today.

“The chair recognizes the high councilor from Himgro,” said Trademaster Corzun Dah in signal of the commencement of another conclave of the Miranu High Council. The Emalgha situation was yet to evolve into something tangible, but on the battlefield, the Zeldair theater looked promising, as there was optimism among the high councilors regarding the Zidagar task force and their augmented fighters coming to reinforce Zeldra’s defense force.

High Councilor Neve Ashak of Himgro stood in front of his network console, his palms pressed together before his chest. He looked at each of the high councilors in turn, waiting patiently until all side conversations and muttering died off. It was a mark of the efficiency of the Miranu government that High Councilor Ashak’s wait was quite short, on the level of a few seconds. He brought his hand up to his chin, and slowly pulled on his beard, a rare facial decoration for a Miranu. Finally, after he was sure that he would have free reign on his speech, the high councilor from Himgro spoke.

“The plague-curers of Himgro implore the esteemed growers of the Dewe system to send another, somewhat larger shipment of Munb leaves for our research. The Himgro Medical Institute has authorized me to report that they will cover any monies in excess of the normal allotted shipping costs under the terms of the Munb-Himgro Health Treaty,” assured Councilor Neve Ashak, turning to look at High Councilor Qwaad Xohh, the representative of the people of Munb.

Looking disappointed as well as somewhat taken aback, High Councilor Qwaad Xohh turned to stare directly into the deep, fathomless black pits of Neve Ashak’s eyes. He tapped his temple with his hand, the sign of deep contemplation among the Miranu. Eventually, the high councilor looked up from his thinking, and responded to the high councilor from Himgro.

“The people of Munb would be enthusiastic to oblige in the continued cooperation between our two states to further the noble goal of advanced and sophisticated medical technology. I will instruct the Dewe Shipping Guild to contact their Himgro embassy and work the details out from there, so as to ensure that your doctors receive the required materials for their fieldwork. Let there be no more strife between us on this issue.”

Councilor Neve Ashak was satisfied. He tactfully thanked Qwaad Xohh, and then went respectfully silent to signal the trademaster to continue with the other pressing issues facing the Miranu Star League. Corzun Dah took the hint, and proceeded to recognize High Councilor Lelos Somm, representative of the elite science community of Station Pybin. Lelos drew himself up to his full height, an imposing two meters, and turned up the gain on his microphone. The point was taken by all present, and soon the Priati high councilor spoke.

“My colleagues, work on the Guided Defense Pods is almost complete. However, that issue shall be addressed at the next meeting of this council. Today we must consider the completion of the Zidagar fighter upgrade program. All of the Zidagar fleet’s fighters are now equipped with up to fifteen pursuit missiles. The invention of the trademaster is now much more available for our defense, and for the utilization thereof by our Zidagar allies. As the ugrade program is now behind us, the Zidagar have requested that we direct our efforts to developing a new form of enhanced armor. The Miranu armor outfitting will incorporate the newest miniaturization techniques from Station Pybin, along with the power and skill of the famed metallurgists of Zeldra. As the Zidagar shall soon lift the siege on your world, High Councilor Marig, we, the science community of Station Pybin, inquire as to whether or not your planet is willing to provide the various metals we will require for the Miranu armor project.”

Councilor Marig looked thoughtfully troubled. The Miranu High Council understood his sentiments, as he had recently returned from a fact-finding mission to his home world to find the extent of the damage done by the renegades. However, Marig was known for his charisma, and thus was able to supply a response to High Councilor Lelos Somm in reasonable order.

“The Metallurgist Guild of Zeldra would be pleased to assist with the creation of an armor upgrade. Our top geologists and metalworkers shall be dispatched to Priat in short order to set the groundwork for the Miranu Armor Program. We shall outfit both the Miranu Defense Forces and the Zidagar Theocracy’s fleets in due time. Let our continued cooperation lead to a more peaceful age,” finished High Councilor Marig.

“I do believe we have covered all the major details on today’s agenda,” supplied Trademaster Dah. “I now close this session of the Miranu High Council. We shall reconvene when High Councilor Lelos Somm has more word of the Guided Defense Pod Program for our scrutiny.”
-----------------

Miranu Armor Plating Statistics:

Armor Points: +100
Mass: 15 tons
Maximum: 1 plating/vessel

-----------------
Project Update, Thread 1, Post 41
NPD. Started Post 14. ETC: Post 54.
Guided Defense Pods. Started Post 14. ETC: Post 44.
Zidagar Fighter Upgrade. Complete
Miranu Armor Upgrade. Started Post 41. ETC: Post 71.
Miranu Gunship. Prototype ETC: Post 64. Post 84 marks final version.

OOC:C'mon people. Its not that hard.
<-> <->
Paul decided that pie's should be used as emergency rations on their ships instead of the usual junk. Immense pie factories replaced several other factories that made emergency rations. After making this decision he sat down and had some Ambrosia and Apple Pie.
<-> <->
Cresseda station complete. New building stats as follows:
4 Crescent Battleships
15 Arada Gunships
10 Zig Fighters
<-> <->
The captured renegade CW was being refitted as a Crescent Command ship. It was not expected to take long, as it was merely a matter of buying and selling outfits.
<-> <->
Research was started on a new weapon, the Packet Blaster Cannon/Turret. It would use a containment field to package explosive materials into a small, condensed shot. This would then be accelerated out at tremendous speeds. After a while the field will disperse, making the shot useless. Range:A little Shorter than Neutron. Reload:A Little Faster than Neutron. Power:Almost as much as Neutron.
<-> <->
Post 42
Planetary Shield Generator Installation
Begun:42 Length:3 End:45
Crescent Command Ship Refit
Begun:42 Length:1 End:46
Packet Blaster Research
Begun:42 Length:40 End:82

------------------
"Doritos:The official currency of fat people."-My friend
"All your bandwidth are belong to us."
(url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/webboard/Forum26/HTML/005710.html")Shameless(/url) (url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/mandrillen/PhotoAlbum1.html")Advertisement(/url)