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Considering alternate world generation

LOL, I don't use the Megacorp Houses much, so I skipped that. IIRC, the seizure of Feri Starport is way waaaaay back in CT, possibly in the c1980 Library Data.
Ah: A1 Kinunir Rumor Z "A recent uprising at Feri has cut the Imperial Communication Jump Route from Regina to Efate." There might be more stuff scattered about, or maybe the highport seizure is just my personal headcanon that I misremembered as true canon. It still makes sense, attacking the downport shouldn't cut the xboat route.
Thanks!

Can't imagine anything that'd "...cut the...Jump Route..." NOT getting it at least a Yellow Zone. There's a Scout Base there!
 
So if a Starport is technically Imperial territory, how does this not trigger a ton of Imperial Marines dropping on people's heads? Feri is TL 11. TL15 Marines would pacify the hell out of a TL11 planet. Or at least break loose the Starport.
Yeah, that's what I have wondered as well; like I say where others see a problem, the smart people see an opportunity. For some reason the Navy cannot or will not send in the Marines. And since this is a Imperial Communication problem, the Scouts haven't rounded up a team of troubleshooters to deal with it either.
 
So if a Starport is technically Imperial territory, how does this not trigger a ton of Imperial Marines dropping on people's heads? Feri is TL 11. TL15 Marines would pacify the hell out of a TL11 planet. Or at least break loose the Starport.
Yeah, that gets you a demonstration of the Marines doing their trademarked Fist of an Angry God routine.
 
Thanks!

Can't imagine anything that'd "...cut the...Jump Route..." NOT getting it at least a Yellow Zone. There's a Scout Base there!
Besides, it doesn't cut the route. Skip Feri, route J-4 directly from Boughene to Roup. You lose a week's worth of xboats that'll need recovery and rescue on two route legs, but comms still get through.

18 hours after the first no-show xboat at either Roup or Boughene, redirect the next outbound one across the gap to the other end of the J-4. Boughene sends for reserve boats from Efate's way station, Roup calls on Regina. And the Navy comes in a week later with task forces from Regina and (after a delay) Pixie -- and is NOT amused. Keep in mind that an XBoat route segment going dark looks an awful lot like someone's just kicked off that Frontier War everybody's been worried about...
 
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Besides, it doesn't cut the route. Skip Feri, route J-4 directly from Boughene to Roup. You lose a week's worth of xboats that'll need recovery and rescue on two route legs, but comms still get through.

18 hours after the first no-show xboat at either Roup or Boughene, redirect the next outbound one across the gap to the other end of the J-4. Boughene sends for reserve boats from Efate's way station, Roup calls on Regina. And the Navy comes in a couple of weeks later with task forces from Regina and Pixie -- and is NOT amused.
Boy is this thread drifting, but it's a fun drift: ;)
Here is where the referee gets to abuse that detached duty scout.
"Welcome to Roup system Scout 3432312322, code name "Hunk O Junk." The needs of the service require you to rendezvous with an adrift xboat, pick up the pilot, and give the boat a slight nudge putting it on a cometary course to the inner system."
Hunk O Junk replies something sulpherous.
"Don't complain too loudly Hunk O Junk. The last detached duty scout has been sent to Feri to find out what is going on there."
 
Looks like it has been discussed before:
 
Actually, in GT/Behind the Claw, the world listing for Feri says "the Imperium retook the starport in 1106".
Okay. A1 starts on 001-1105. So the starport is under hostile control for an entire year?

XBoat service can resume as soon as they can get tenders back in place with suitable Naval support to defend them. Maybe. It can also be done with Scout/Couriers with drop tanks (Jump in while discarding tanks, send/receive message traffic, continue on with internal fuel).
 
Can't imagine anything that'd "...cut the...Jump Route..." NOT getting it at least a Yellow Zone. There's a Scout Base there!
Essentially, you'd need to have a LOT of "rebel sympathizers" in positions of authority (in system) and a way to pull off a bloodless coup off world. The objective isn't DESTRUCTION (of the "if I can't have it, no one can!" variety) but rather a STAND DOWN type of condition until tensions can ease.

Also, the LBB A1 days were when planets aside from the mainworld only existed if they were gas giants ... and Feri/Regina HAS NO GAS GIANT. 🪐

Therefore, the "only" source of (starship) fuel would have been either the starport or the lakes/oceans of Feri. This means that the cadence of operational tempo will necessarily tether the Express Network to operations local to Feri itself. If the rebel forces arrange a circumstance in which "fuel shuttles" are unable to wilderness refuel OR obtain fuel from the starport ... then the Express Network communication relay through the Feri system would be forced to Stand Down simply due to fuel starvation needed to support operations.

No need for destruction ... just a bottleneck in logistical support (fuel) would be sufficient to "cut" Feri off the Express Network ... without any shots being fired/craft damaged or destroyed. The Scout Base would still be operational, but it would be subsisting on reserves only without any local resupply.

No need for explosives ... just fuel starvation ought to suffice for this.

The anti-Imperial rebels don't even need to be overtly hostile to the IISS. Instead, it could be a circumstance of "things are Too Hot™ down here" dirtside for any unauthorized entries into atmosphere. Authorized is fine, but the "authorities" who would sign those authorizations do not have complete control of the situation under atmosphere and cannot guarantee the safety of ANY craft that wants to make a wilderness refueling touchdown on water. Tensions are simply Too High right now, so for your own safety (IISS), treat Feri as something of a No Go Zone until the boil over in tensions passes.

Basic idea here is that the situation on Feri is ... CHAOTIC ... with rebel command structures not completely in control of their own rebellion. There could be a lot of "freelancers" and mercenary situations going on out there, in which coordination with political objectives remains stuck at the "lip service" level while taking advantage of the situation. The whole political environment is a stew of tensions that has been brought to a boil ... but not a roiling boil (yet) ... and even the rebel command is trying to keep their most extreme elements from running wild (and doing stupid things that "feel good" in the moment, but which will have long lasting repercussions that no one really wants).

In other words, Feri is "flirting" with needing an Amber Zone trade classification. The situation is "right up to the line" on what it would take, without crossing over that line which would mandate an Amber Zone.

THREATENING the Scout Base there would definitely do it.
WARNING the Scout Base to "steer clear for the time being" until the circumstances on Feri itself can move in the direction of a resolution, producing a Stand Down Of Normal Operations in the Express Network ... would not necessarily (in and of itself) be enough to warrant an Amber Zone classification. Informing the Scout Base Director to "stay out of this mess, our complaints are not with YOU" in order to preserve the infrastructure, lives and resources of the Scout Base would be both a prudent move and a highly practical one on multiple fronts.

When that Stand Down condition starts "taking too long" ... re-negotiations of subsistence logistics would have to take place, so the Scout Base doesn't "starve in place" ... but if any logistical support deliveries to the Scout Base "inflame tensions" down on Feri, there's going to have to be a very complicated dance going on (either legal and/or extralegal) to keep a minimum level of subsistence supplies of logistics flowing to the Scout Base without letting such dealings become public knowledge.



And what once felt like a "reasonable and prudent precaution" in the first place turns into a New Normal™ as the conflict on Feri drags on ... with no end in sight.

The problem is that the rebels DO have a legitimate grievance against the Oberlindes Megacorporation.
The situation could potentially be resolved by "reshuffling the Imperial Nobility" responsible for Feri, which would essentially allow the rebels to "win" against their oppressors and sanction the divestiture of Oberlindes from controlling the economic fortunes of Feri (thereby, "throwing off the shackles" that have been put upon the population by corporate cronyism). This COULD be a maneuver that the Duke of Regina has in his back pocket ... but isn't willing to use until the situation on Feri develops more fully, in a "keep your powder dry" opportunistic way depending on how the rebellion plays out.



In other words, the whole thing's a MESS which NO ONE wants to take credit for creating, but there are plenty of parties who would like to take credit for ending it (even if it really isn't over yet).

"Defeat is an orphan. Victory ... has a thousand fathers." :sneaky:
 
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Essentially, you'd need to have a LOT of "rebel sympathizers" in positions of authority (in system) and a way to pull off a bloodless coup off world. The objective isn't DESTRUCTION (of the "if I can't have it, no one can!" variety) but rather a STAND DOWN type of condition until tensions can ease.

Also, the LBB A1 days were when planets aside from the mainworld only existed if they were gas giants ... and Feri/Regina HAS NO GAS GIANT. 🪐

Therefore, the "only" source of (starship) fuel would have been either the starport or the lakes/oceans of Feri. This means that the cadence of operational tempo will necessarily tether the Express Network to operations local to Feri itself. If the rebel forces arrange a circumstance in which "fuel shuttles" are unable to wilderness refuel OR obtain fuel from the starport ... then the Express Network communication relay through the Feri system would be forced to Stand Down simply due to fuel starvation needed to support operations.

No need for destruction ... just a bottleneck in logistical support (fuel) would be sufficient to "cut" Feri off the Express Network ... without any shots being fired/craft damaged or destroyed. The Scout Base would still be operational, but it would be subsisting on reserves only without any local resupply.

No need for explosives ... just fuel starvation ought to suffice for this.

The anti-Imperial rebels don't even need to be overtly hostile to the IISS. Instead, it could be a circumstance of "things are Too Hot™ down here" dirtside for any unauthorized entries into atmosphere. Authorized is fine, but the "authorities" who would sign those authorizations do not have complete control of the situation under atmosphere and cannot guarantee the safety of ANY craft that wants to make a wilderness refueling touchdown on water. Tensions are simply Too High right now, so for your own safety (IISS), treat Feri as something of a No Go Zone until the boil over in tensions passes.

Basic idea here is that the situation on Feri is ... CHAOTIC ... with rebel command structures not completely in control of their own rebellion. There could be a lot of "freelancers" and mercenary situations going on out there, in which coordination with political objectives remains stuck at the "lip service" level while taking advantage of the situation. The whole political environment is a stew of tensions that has been brought to a boil ... but not a roiling boil (yet) ... and even the rebel command is trying to keep their most extreme elements from running wild (and doing stupid things that "feel good" in the moment, but which will have long lasting repercussions that no one really wants).

In other words, Feri is "flirting" with needing an Amber Zone trade classification. The situation is "right up to the line" on what it would take, without crossing over that line which would mandate an Amber Zone.

THREATENING the Scout Base there would definitely do it.
WARNING the Scout Base to "steer clear for the time being" until the circumstances on Feri itself can move in the direction of a resolution, producing a Stand Down Of Normal Operations in the Express Network ... would not necessarily (in and of itself) be enough to warrant an Amber Zone classification. Informing the Scout Base Director to "stay out of this mess, our complaints are not with YOU" in order to preserve the infrastructure, lives and resources of the Scout Base would be both a prudent move and a highly practical one on multiple fronts.

When that Stand Down condition starts "taking too long" ... re-negotiations of subsistence logistics would have to take place, so the Scout Base doesn't "starve in place" ... but if any logistical support deliveries to the Scout Base "inflame tensions" down on Feri, there's going to have to be a very complicated dance going on (either legal and/or extralegal) to keep a minimum level of subsistence supplies of logistics flowing to the Scout Base without letting such dealings become public knowledge.



And what once felt like a "reasonable and prudent precaution" in the first place turns into a New Normal™ as the conflict on Feri drags on ... with no end in sight.

The problem is that the rebels DO have a legitimate grievance against the Oberlindes Megacorporation.
The situation could potentially be resolved by "reshuffling the Imperial Nobility" responsible for Feri, which would essentially allow the rebels to "win" against their oppressors and sanction the divestiture of Oberlindes from controlling the economic fortunes of Feri (thereby, "throwing off the shackles" that have been put upon the population by corporate cronyism). This COULD be a maneuver that the Duke of Regina has in his back pocket ... but isn't willing to use until the situation on Feri develops more fully, in a "keep your powder dry" opportunistic way depending on how the rebellion plays out.



In other words, the whole thing's a MESS which NO ONE wants to take credit for creating, but there are plenty of parties who would like to take credit for ending it (even if it really isn't over yet).

"Defeat is an orphan. Victory ... has a thousand fathers." :sneaky:
Reasonable.
Doesn't keep the XBoat route from Regina to Efate closed, but it does take Feri out of that loop.

Once the interruption is discovered, re-send everything from a week back (up to present time) by the direct J-4 routing. Outging messge traffic across the 2-jump span isn't actually delayed from either end! (Well, maybe by a day or two if you wait to be sure. Maybe.) You risk wasting a boat or two (if the problem is far worse and up the line), but you'll be sure what happened (Feri dropped off the network) when the first boat comes in from Boughene or Roup.

This only works because it's a 2J2 span, but would not if either or both legs were longer than 2 parsecs.

Reconnaisance from Boughene takes a ship with 2J2 range. "We see you have a Far Trader. Have we got a job for you -- and you get to keep the collapsible tanks!" if you don't assume drop tank fittings are standard on a Type S (or easily installed). Roup would do likewise.

Network inefficiency can enable resilience.
 
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Essentially, you'd need to have a LOT of "rebel sympathizers" in positions of authority (in system) and a way to pull off a bloodless coup off world. The objective isn't DESTRUCTION (of the "if I can't have it, no one can!" variety) but rather a STAND DOWN type of condition until tensions can ease.

I disagree with that as a blanket statement.
On worlds where the population are disassociated from their government, a sudden move of strength could very well succeed without any death or injury.

Say, you have a world where reaction to an orbital threat is difficult to achieve.
Then, as I recently had happen in one of my story arcs, a small group of people manage to take control of the one key orbital station.
They then use "rod of God" style weapons to make a "demonstration" strike in an unpopulated territory.

Where the government was, shifting stances" and where one party wanted to take full control, those pulling off the coup could well take control with the world's military and major governmental machinery simply accepting a situation they had no power to resist.

I grant you, in my story-line, there was some minor combat aboard the station and they used a single 'rod of god' to take out the compound of a major opposing party leader. So, the act was not bloodless. But it still could have been if that had been the NPC leadership's intent.
 
Based on the rumor table from A1, the "xboat route cut" rumor has 2/36 (1/18) odds, checked weekly (and is available to all characters regardless of prior service or SOC stat). Therefore, it's triggered within 4.5 months of the 001-1105 start date (~126-1105), and the event could have happened no sooner than a week prior (if the party is at either Boughene or Roup -- otherwise, it happened earlier than that).

This isn't to say that Feri got bypassed by XBoats for the at least 8 months until GT says the starport was retaken; though it could have been, based on @Spinward Flow 's observation that Feri itself is the only source of fuel in the system. It could be handled by through-traffic ships of 2J2 range (Type S with drop tanks, A2 with auxillary tankage of some sort, etc.). XBoats as such might not have been viable for that ('77 rules ones burn all fuel each jump, my '81 rules ones only have power plant fuel for one jump, HG'80 ones could jump twice though).

The through-traffic ships pop in at the 100D line, send message traffic to Scout Base Feri (or its backup location), wait for the reply, and jump out again to the next stop. At that distance out, and without needing to meet with a tender, they can't be intercepted by the locals (if that's a risk by then).
 
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It could be handled by through-traffic ships of 2J2 range
... until the Imperial Navy starts rotating a few fleet tankers through to support the replacement XBoat Tenders the Scouts send in, along with combatant vessels to defend them*. Then we're back in the game.



----------
*only needs to be one Type T Patrol Cruiser or Gazelle Close Escort per tender as a tripwire, plus a Type S or two standing by. Anyone makes a move against the Imperial Navy, and the Scouts run home with the info. Hilarity ensues -- and by hilarity I mean near-apocalyptic Naval retaliation.
 
Reasonable.
Doesn't keep the XBoat route from Regina to Efate closed, but it does take Feri out of that loop.
It's certainly an "after the facts" explanation that can be used to "fit" the rumor. 😅
Reconnaisance from Boughene takes a ship with 2J2 range. "We see you have a Far Trader. Have we got a job for you -- and you get to keep the collapsible tanks!"
Ideally speaking, you're going to want J2+2 with some margin left over for a variety of revenue tonnage supplies to deliver as part of the round trip.

Getting "there and back again" (4 parsecs unrefueled round trip) is merely the You Must Be This High To Ride This Ride™ threshold.
Being able to accomplish that feat and still have revenue tonnage margin left over (that's worth a damn) then becomes the deciding factor.

Modified (from stock) Type-S Scout/Couriers CAN DO that job ... but they can't haul much per round trip. They're good as data couriers in that role, but if you're "needing to relieve the siege" on the Scout Base by bringing in supplies and rotating personnel, using (modified) Type-S Scout/Couriers for that job is going to be like trying to quench your thirst through a coffee stirrer straw.

Same deal with the 200 ton J2 Far Trader.
You'll be able to use a slightly larger soda straw ... but it's still a soda straw ... in terms of the logistics mobility granularity when it comes to "needing to relieve the siege" on the Scout Base's regular operations in terms of supply vs demand.

Even working "bucket brigade" style, you're going to need a LOT of starships (and crews) to move a remarkably small quantity of relief supplies via low end merchant starships that really aren't optimized for this kind of mission profile. It CAN be done, but it's hardly an "efficient" way of doing business. :unsure:
 
Ideally speaking, you're going to want J2+2 with some margin left over for a variety of revenue tonnage supplies to deliver as part of the round trip.
The mission is straight-up reconnaissance from each end of the gap: "why did the boats stop, and what needs to be done about it?" There's no assumption that landing is even possible. [ETA: it's a "sneak and peek" mission, hence the need to be able to jump back to the origin.]

Running the "externally-supported" version of an XBoat relay station is separate, and does not need to rely on commercial ships (though as you note, it can).
 
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