The Evil Overlord
31-05-2004, 20:25
Evil Overlord Enterprises announced today the development of the Type 406 reactor- sometimes called the pocket reactor due to its slightly smaller size.
Darth Norm, Chief Scientist for Evil Overlord Enterprises, held forth on the development at a press conference in the lobby of the Amida Hotel in FreePort, Amida Island.
"I'd like to reiterate that this is not a new technological breakthrough, or anything like that. The R&D team under Doctors Polyardny, Escobar, and Noruichi has spent the better part of a decade refining the engineering processes involved in the safe operation of nuclear reactors. Their successful design reduces the moving parts within the reactor significantly, and furthermore has reduced the weight requirements of the shielding."
Senior EOE management officials, speaking off the record, indicated that this design makes it practical to place full-scale reactors on operational satellites and other spacecraft. Several prototype models were tested over the last few years, and the press conference was scheduled after the final design was activated in orbit aboard the new Molnya-III satellite array.
Foreign intelligence personnel who may have missed the announcement need not fear, since plans and working documents for some prototypes were freely handed out to the press. Engineers at Edinburgh University who examined the hand-outs noted that the weight reduction also makes it possible to install nuclear reactors on smaller ships than was previously practical. Everyone involved in the project ignored questions on this subject.
"Since Evil Overlord Enterprises is a major producer of all manner of fissionables and related equipment, this means the Evil Overlord has basically doubled the combat effectiveness of his Navy." said an unnamed foreign military liaison, who requested anonymity. "The only restrictions on their operations now are food, ammunition, and aircraft fuel."
Many Pacific states have reason to be concerned. Dark Torch shipyards in Kaligrad have been in continuous operation for several years, with new vessels- especially logistics ships- being commissioned weekly. EOE announced reaching the 1000-ship milestone before the recent spate of shipbuilding. No one is willing to speculate on what the Dominion's current naval strength is, but publicly-available satellite imagery of the EOE base in New Caledonia reveals enough warships for at least three carrier battle groups with the traditional Dominion overabundance of escorts and supply vessels. Other Navy ports show similar increases, and the OE operations tempo has been significantly increased due to the numerous territories seized before the recent incident with Argyllia, as well as the current crisis in the Marshalls.
"If all of those ships were converted to nuclear-powered platforms," mused another anonymous Military Attaché, "it could seriously affect the balance of naval power across the Pacific."
He went on. "It isn't just the lack of fuel requirements for the ships, you understand. It's the entire logistical infrastructure. Let's assume that over half the EOE fleet is logistics ships- that's 500 ships, minimum. The escort requirement for those 500 ships is enormous. Each escort requires fuel and the supply ships require fuel- all this in addition to the fuel carried for the combatant fleet. This frees up a lot of tonnage for transporting aviation fuel, food, and ammo."
Another senior naval official suggested other effects. "Take a look at warship design. A lot of internal space is given over to fuel bunkers, as well as piping systems and all the other hardware associated with 'em. All of that junk can be done away with.
Normally, using a nuke plant takes up slightly more space than an equivalent fossil-fuel plant. If this 'kettle' is significantly smaller and lighter than the standard reactor, the EOE Navy has just increased its weapons load out, electronics systems, and armour tonnage at one stroke."
Attendees at the press conference were advised that a major political announcement would soon be forthcoming.
For NationStates News Network, this is Archibald M'Zangwe in FreePort, Amida Island.
Darth Norm, Chief Scientist for Evil Overlord Enterprises, held forth on the development at a press conference in the lobby of the Amida Hotel in FreePort, Amida Island.
"I'd like to reiterate that this is not a new technological breakthrough, or anything like that. The R&D team under Doctors Polyardny, Escobar, and Noruichi has spent the better part of a decade refining the engineering processes involved in the safe operation of nuclear reactors. Their successful design reduces the moving parts within the reactor significantly, and furthermore has reduced the weight requirements of the shielding."
Senior EOE management officials, speaking off the record, indicated that this design makes it practical to place full-scale reactors on operational satellites and other spacecraft. Several prototype models were tested over the last few years, and the press conference was scheduled after the final design was activated in orbit aboard the new Molnya-III satellite array.
Foreign intelligence personnel who may have missed the announcement need not fear, since plans and working documents for some prototypes were freely handed out to the press. Engineers at Edinburgh University who examined the hand-outs noted that the weight reduction also makes it possible to install nuclear reactors on smaller ships than was previously practical. Everyone involved in the project ignored questions on this subject.
"Since Evil Overlord Enterprises is a major producer of all manner of fissionables and related equipment, this means the Evil Overlord has basically doubled the combat effectiveness of his Navy." said an unnamed foreign military liaison, who requested anonymity. "The only restrictions on their operations now are food, ammunition, and aircraft fuel."
Many Pacific states have reason to be concerned. Dark Torch shipyards in Kaligrad have been in continuous operation for several years, with new vessels- especially logistics ships- being commissioned weekly. EOE announced reaching the 1000-ship milestone before the recent spate of shipbuilding. No one is willing to speculate on what the Dominion's current naval strength is, but publicly-available satellite imagery of the EOE base in New Caledonia reveals enough warships for at least three carrier battle groups with the traditional Dominion overabundance of escorts and supply vessels. Other Navy ports show similar increases, and the OE operations tempo has been significantly increased due to the numerous territories seized before the recent incident with Argyllia, as well as the current crisis in the Marshalls.
"If all of those ships were converted to nuclear-powered platforms," mused another anonymous Military Attaché, "it could seriously affect the balance of naval power across the Pacific."
He went on. "It isn't just the lack of fuel requirements for the ships, you understand. It's the entire logistical infrastructure. Let's assume that over half the EOE fleet is logistics ships- that's 500 ships, minimum. The escort requirement for those 500 ships is enormous. Each escort requires fuel and the supply ships require fuel- all this in addition to the fuel carried for the combatant fleet. This frees up a lot of tonnage for transporting aviation fuel, food, and ammo."
Another senior naval official suggested other effects. "Take a look at warship design. A lot of internal space is given over to fuel bunkers, as well as piping systems and all the other hardware associated with 'em. All of that junk can be done away with.
Normally, using a nuke plant takes up slightly more space than an equivalent fossil-fuel plant. If this 'kettle' is significantly smaller and lighter than the standard reactor, the EOE Navy has just increased its weapons load out, electronics systems, and armour tonnage at one stroke."
Attendees at the press conference were advised that a major political announcement would soon be forthcoming.
For NationStates News Network, this is Archibald M'Zangwe in FreePort, Amida Island.