NationStates Jolt Archive

{ooc} Here begins another dumping ground for random national facts. With college inhibiting my actual RPing, I decided to use the bits and pieces of my free time to do some worldbuilding posts. Unless otherwise noted, everything in IC, so expect some propaganda along the way.

{IC}

Excerpts from A Tourist's Guide to the Triumvirate of Yut Chapter Twelve: Cetagandan Empire
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~chigbee/draka.gif

UN Ratings*
Civil Rights: Excellent
Economy: Basket Case
Political Freedoms: Few

*It should be noted that the Imperial government has repeatedly disputed the ratings given to the Empire by the UN in the categories of Economy and Political Freedoms.

Overview

The Cetagandan Empire is a large nation with a population nearing the 1.6 billion mark. It is located on the Ring of Powerfulness that circles Saturn. It also has a colony of nearly 50 million located on the Jovian moon Callisto, and there are over two dozen islands of various sizes that make up what is left of Cetaganda's earthbound holdings. There are hundreds of small stations scattered throughout the asteroid belt and in Earth orbit as well. This makes Cetaganda an excellent place to visit no matter what you are looking for.

Climate

As would be expected, virtually any kind of environment can be found in the Empire, as Cetaganda proper has a surface area nearly two-thirds of that of Earth, although large portions are only partially terraformed. Those looking of trips in space will not be disappointed, as well. There multitude of stations ranging from the massive Fidelis Station in Callisto orbit to tiny asteroid habitats, many of which welcome visitors with open arms.

International Relations

Cetaganda is a member of the Triumvirate of Yut, and is on at least neutral terms with most other nations; there are few nations that have truly been at odds with the Empire, and fewer that remain. Cetaganda makes few waves in the international scene, preferring to work in the background, with the exception of dealing with occasional sentient rights problems. One of its few major points of interaction prior to entry in ToY was with the Republic of the Territory, helping that nation begin its space program in exchange for nanomedical technologies and trade agreements. The two nations remain friendly to this day
It is interesting to note that prior to its admission to the TofY, Cetaganda signed a non-aggression pact with the Imperium of Melkor Unchained, and that some limited trade still occurs between the two nation. Even stranger are its dealings with the Empire of Kalessin, a relationship that is shrouded with mystery and speculation that neither side seems particularly inclined to clear up.
Citizens from most nations should find travel to and from Cetaganda easy on the Empire's end, as border restrictions tend to be fairly lax; most national governments have few problems with travel to Cetaganda as well. Cetaganda is renowned for its open-door policy, especially regarding refugees, in some cases even paying for their transport. It is advised that care be taken regarding certain restricted materials, as penalties can be harsh for transporting contraband (without license, that is; see Theives' Guild, The Organization, Special Circumstances Directorate).

Inhabitants
A wide range of sentients inhabit Cetaganda. While humans are in the majority, a significant portion of population is not, or is of a mixed breed. Other species include the Fey, dwarves, elves (almost entirely Sindarin), werewolves, vampires, sentient dolphins and whales, dragons, sentient EIs, and numerous others. As for the human population, the Empire openly accepts all races, as well as people of all sexual orientations. This includes full recognition of the rights of homosexual as equal under the law, which has led to an influx of such people from more oppressive nations.

Culture
While highly varied from area to area, Cetagandan culture as a whole places high value in freedom of choice for an individual, and in responsibility in accepting the results of those choices. Cetagandans tend to have a strong sense of honor and duty as well. In general, Cetagandans tend to be accepting of others so long as those others do not infringe on their own ways. One other thing that connects most Cetagandans is what many outsiders would term as a martial spirit, some kind of military obsessive-compulsive complex, or a national pyromania epidemic, depending on their point of view. Those in the military or related careers are held in high respect.** Almost all Cetagandan citizens carry weapons; arms competitions including marksmanship, fencing, and unarmed combat could be called a national pastime. There is an elaborate dueling code, although this rarely affects outsiders. Any military or fireworks enthusiast should try to see the celebrations on Founding Day and the Emperor's Birthday, as the parades, air shows, and fireworks displays are said to be unmatched anywhere.
**It is highly suggested that anti-war activists avoid Cetaganda. There have been many cases where protestors have been severely hurt by Cetagandan citizens after making derogatory remarks about those in the armed forces. Visitors should remember that, in all likelihood, those around them almost certainly have a family member who is serving or has served, and quite possibly one who died defending the Empire. This, combined with the armaments common for citizens, tends to be a bad combination.

Religion
There is no official religion in Cetaganda, although there is a loose common belief structure. There are several hundred main religious organizations, each with hundred of different branches. The major world religions also have followings, although almost entirely with immigrants. The only restrictions*** in place are ones against sentient sacrifice, advocating the overthrow of the government, and brainwashing.

***Missionaries should note that, under the Anti-Jehovah's Witness/Door-to-Door Salesman Decree made by Emperor Havelock II in 1623 PCE, it is legal for residents to remove uninvited salesmen/missionaries from their property with due force if said people are given sufficient warning. In 1678 PCE, the High Court ruled that attack velocirabits are included under 'due force.'


Government
Cetagandan goverment is largely divided into to sections: the Imperial government, which oversees the nation as a whole and external matters, and the local governments. On the Imperial level, there are three main sections: the Monarch, the Council, and the Senate. Exploring the exact details of how the system works would take a considerable amount of space, especially when the semi-independent non-human members of the Compact Union are included. We will say that the Monarch (currently Emperor Gregor Miles Alastair Horatio MacIntyre-Vetinari, or Gregor III) provides overall direction and leadership but is also the directly or indirectly the liege lord everyone in the nation, the Council is a sort of executive branch, and the Senate is sort legislative body. At the local level, the structure of the government varies widely based on the preferences of the local lord or the imperial charter of the distract/station/city. Some have highly active democratic systems while in others everything is managed by the local noble. Again, the exact system is too complex to go into detail here.
One important thing is that there is a caste system in place in Cetaganda. There are three main castes: serf (also known as residents in modern times), citizen, and aristo; recent immigrants are a fourth semi-official caste. The system is highly fluid. To be elegible for the citizen caste, for example, one simply needs to do a certain amount of military service, or service in a similar position for those who are incapable of doing so, and swear a loyalty oath to the Empire. Membership of the aristo caste is largely hereditary, although titles are given out for achievements or taken away for gross incompetence.
As caste increases, the Compact-mandated rights and privileges increase, but so do responsibilities. Citizens may carry weapons, have greater voting rights, and have more legal rights in court; but must swear loyalty to the Empire and could be called up for service in the reserves in the event of war. This largely fits with the Cetagandan attitude towards choice and responsibility: those who wish more power must be willing to serve the Empire and society. Roughly two-fifths of Cetaganda's population are citizens, a number that has been steadily rising over the last several centuries. Certain basic rights apply to all sentients, of course, on principles similar to those laid out in the ToY charter.
It should be noted that the only rights of foreigners are those granted by Imperial legislation and decree, aside from certain sentient rights. In theory, Emperor Vetinari could dissolve those rights at any moment. In practice, such an act is usually restrained to nationals of belligerent nations and only for short periods of emergency. Contact the local Cetagandan consulate or ToY embassy for any questions.

Economy

Despite the beliefs of certain UN officials, the Empire of Cetaganda has vibrant and expanding economy. Its industries consistently rank in the top five in Titan and top 500 in the world, and in some cases at the top. This is particularly true in areas such a Arms Manufacturing and Information Technology; in the latter case it possibly matches the machine nation of Zero-One.

Science, Medicine, and Technology

Cetaganda has a highly advanced technological base, including advanced gravitic science and FTL capability. One can enjoy many entertainments that can not be had outside of Cetaganda, such as flight using countergrav-assisted ultra lights. Cetagandan medical technology is top of the line as well. Tourists have nothing to fear should they become ill while inside the Empire; in many cases, they are in better hands than in their home nations.
It must be noted that Cetagandans practice psionics and magic. Tourists can have the once in a lifetime to experience feats that can not be reproduced anywhere else. Skeptics might be interested in visiting Unseen University, where science and magical studies are blended together.

Well, if you do, i will defend {ooc}...or just begins another dumping ground for random national facts. With college inhibiting my actual RPing, I decided to use the bits and pieces of my free time to do some worldbuilding posts. Unless otherwise noted, everything in IC, so expect some propaganda along the way.

{Yay, character bios.}

Lady Martial Grand Admiral Dame Signy Mallory (IBF, ret.)

Name: Signy Ilisa Mallory
Posistion: Lady Martial of the Empire
Titles and Awards: Knight of the Empire (Silver Order), Grand Admiral of the Battle Fleet (retired), Cetagandan Order of Merit
Age: 80 (does not include relativistic effects or temporal distortions)
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: <Classified: Security Clearence Red Velka Required>

Signy Mallory, of the fleet's Mallory Family, entered the Imperial Space Academy at the age of eighteen, and graduated with honors. She quickly rose through the ranks. She became captain of her first ship at twenty-six, and at thirty she was awarded command of her first capital ship. Eleven years later, she was given command of one of the first modern fleet carriers, CVF-5 Norway. It was this post she held during the Hiiskan Incursion of 1978-81 PCE.

Norway was on the front line in Sector Five of the Belt. Norway, along with the carriers Australia and New Zealand, several cruisers, and a variety of escorts formed an advanced task force, defending several key frontier stations and launching raids into enemy territory. Mallory was given a brevet promotion of rear admiral after William Lepescu, the task force's commander, was when the flagship, Timothy Relescori (BB-17) was destroyed in December 1979 while covering the evacuation of Mariner Station. Over the next few years, Mallory used inovative tactics to launch numerous successful attacks on Hiiskan staging points, including the critical destruction of their primary shipyard.

Following the war, and recovering from wounds in the final battle of the war, Mallory was assigned to fleet first command. There, she headed the design team for the next generation of carriers while lecturing at the naval war college. Her tactics were intergrated into fleet doctrine, earning her the reputation as the 'Mother of modern fleet tactics.' Over the next several years, she eventually rose to the rank of Grand Admiral, and overall command of the Imperial Battle Fleet. At the age of 67, she was nominated by Empress Alicia Vetinari for the post of Lady Martial, and elected by a two-thirds majority of the Military Directorate electorate.
Despite her Fleet origins, Lady Mallory has been a strong supporter of the Surface Strategic Forces and the Imperial Marines. During her watch, there were several major events. These include the first deployment of Cetagandan forces after entry into this reality (coincidentally, its first deployment alongside Yut forces as well), the move to the Ring of Powerfullness and the subsequent shift of increase in focus on space forces, and contact with the S-14 colonization vessel.

Lady Mallory was a strong supporter of Cetaganda's entry into the Triumvirate of Yut, a act of Emperor Gregor II in the first year of his reign. She is an advocate of keeping a strong front against the Imperium of Melkor Unchained, and protested the non-agression pact signed with that nation, citing its previous sentient rights violations. She also highly supports the exploration of interstellar space, giving significant funds to deepspace exploration ships. This includes the construction of the General Systems Vessel Finity's End, a massive thirty-kilometer vessel dedicated to exploration and colonization efforts.

Grey Lord Archmage Kyle sa'Diason

Name: Kyle Alexander Vetinari Diason
Position: Archmage
Titles: Grey Lord of the Imperium, Earl of Trellheim (life title), Dragonlord, Darkfriend, Knight of Elthor Askavi, MS Advanced Technomancy (UU), MS Adept Studies (UU)
Age: 26
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 170 lbs

Kyle sa'Diason, of the Diason cadet branch of the Vetinari Family, is the older cousin of Emperor Gregor. He grew up alongside the Emperor, and from his early age showed signs of incredible Talent. Most experts believe this comes from his father, who's mother is Sidhe (some even speculate that she is the Queen of Air and Darkness, although the family remains tightlipped). When combined with the Vetinari heritage, the results were incredible. Of course, Kyle knew nothing of this as a boy, except that it could be a source of great fun for him and his cousin. Or utter chaos, if you were to ask the adults around him.

He graduated with honor from Unseen University, and was preparing the enter the Darkening Reach arm of the Imperial Exploration and Evaluation Service for his mandatory service stint when the unexpected occured. Two weeks after graduation, Archmage Willard mac Audlien resigned suddenly. Mac Audlien had served for nearly a century, and had been expected to serve for centuries longer. His only comment was that he'd found someone better for the job, and he had more better things to do than answer inane questions. He was last seen lounging on a beach in southern Alegon.

Within hours of the Archmage's resignation, the ambassadors from both Sidhe Courts, the dragons, the Vampiric Council, Werebeast Confederacy, the Cetacean Concord, and Dwarven Low King delivered notes to the Empress nominating Kyle sa'Diason for the post. Over the next week, representives from the EI Relations Board, Sindarin communities, several magical and psionics schools, Cetagandan Telekinetics and Telepathy, several dozen faiths, and numerous other Talented and non-humans groups supported these nominations. After the most outspoken of his detractors (a Noldorin elf who believed that no one so young should hold the post) had a series of incredibly unlikely accidents (including contracting several unpleasant diseases) attributed to fifteen different Major Powers, the bewildered Kyle won the election with nearly ninety-eight percent of the vote.

Since that time, Kyle has more than proven himself worthy of the job entrusted to him. He is well like by all of the non-human governments of the Empire. He has done well in keeping the relations of non-human, semi-human, and Talented portions of the population smooth, or at least non-violent. He has done substantial work outside the Empire as well, strengthing relations with races outside of the Empire and with humans who are skeptical of even the existance of preternatural powers. Kyle is a advocated of taking a much more balanced view of the struggle between Melkor and the Noldorin, especially towards the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar. He believes that both sides have done terrible things in the past, and as such neither is much better than the other. In his words, "I think both sides are being childish. You'd think that fifty thousand years would be long enough to get over that idiotic obession with some glowy rocks."

OOC: Interisisting, yet cheap tactics :P

First Seeker Eloise Savanche

Name: Eloise Tabitha Savanche
Position: First Seeker
Titles and Awards: Distiguished Service Award, <Classified>, <Classified>
Age: 55 subjective, approx 2098 relative
Height: 5' 6 "
Weight: <Classified: Kill Before Reading Level>

Eloise Savanche was a child living on the streets of Tor Safesco, and was approximately fifteen when the city was temporally displaced in Adron's Disaster. Little is known about her childhood, save that she was a skilled thief, among other things. When the city emerged in 1975 PCE, she was one of the few who quickly adapted to the new way of life. Faking her age, she joined the Special Circumstances Directorate as a field operative. She proved adept at the work, and quickly rose into more important positions.

Much of the following decades is classified. It is known that she was a deep cover operative for ONI during the Hiikan Incursion, and that during this time she met Lady Martial (then Rear Admiral) Signy Mallory. She spent time in Fleet Internal Security's Counterintelligence Division, where she was extreamly effective. There are rumors she was involved in various black operations in other nations.

Savanche was elected to the post of First Seeker at the age of 48. Since then, she has proven extreamly effective both in external and counterintelligence activities. This includes <Classified: Red Two Security Required>. She has, in some cases, taken a 'personal interest.' In international relations, she tends towards cautious neutrality. She respects the intelligence sections of most Triumvirate nations, with some amount of trust. She is, however, more than a little anti-Noldorin. This mirrors the general feelings of her home time, when the Sindarin population still strongly remembered the crimes against their people. This applies to Melkor, as well.

(see Adron's Disaster, Qhal, Gate Technology, Lost Cities, Tor Safesco)

First Artisan Countess Zoe Ingolfson

Name: Zoe Elizabeth Ingolfson
Posistion: First Artisan
Titles and Awards: Countess of Jefnan District, Distiguished Research Award, multiple degrees
Age: 53
Height: 6'
Weight: 150 lbs

Zoe Ingolfson is the most recent addition to the Council, having been elected only two years ago, just before the death of Empress Alicia II. She is a noted researcher in gravitics technology, and is responsible for several important advances in that field. She chaired numerous research teams, and was the Dean of Unseen University's Advanced Gravity Technologies division. She has multiple degrees from several different universities.

Masterhealer Baroness Isis Melowyn

Name: Isis Niobe Melown
Position: Masterhealer
Titles and Awards: Baroness (life title), Order of Helwird, Medical Doctor (Nirvard School of Medicine and Healing)
Age: 60
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 190 lbs

Isis Melowyn is recognized as one of the most important research physicians in the last century. As a diagnostican at Askavi General Hostpital, she played a crucial role in stopping the outbreak of the Digran Plague. She made many important advances in the use of cryogenics for emergency medical treatments. Following her election, she has played an important role in supporting advances in nanomedical and cyberimplant technology.

You people are scarin me!! how much time do you spend on this?

{ooc: I'm mainly just putting down stuff I've had in my head for some time. Its fall break for me atm, so I have a bit more time then ususal.}

Excerpt from Imperial General Encyclopedia, 1603 PCE Edition

Adron's Disaster:
The catastrophic destruction of the old qhalish Gate network that led to the collapse of the Tyclar Kingdom. The resulting blast circles are still a major feature of the Cetagandan landscape. It was this collapse that eventually led to the creation of the Compact, and with it the Cetagandan Empire.

The Gates were little understood during the reign of the Tyclar kings. Even their creators, the qhal had little idea of the underlying science. Despite the lack of knowledge about the devices, they soon became commonplace througout the kingdom, allowing instaneous travel throughout the realm. As time progressed, the qhal and human mages continously worked on improving the gates, striving to build larger and farther reaching Gates. In the end, they became reckless in the work.

A great mage named Adron of Caliphae, along with a team of qhalish wizards, strived to great a Gate that could link worlds. Even now, the exact destination is unclear. Some have speculated that it was one of the planets, and others say another star entirely. Tests done in deep space by PIAD and ETD have shown that both are possibilities; detailed reports can be found with either directorate.

In either case, the result was the same. When Adron attempted to open the Gate, it destabalized and a massive backlash occured. This backlash spread from Adron's Gate to another Gatem and from there through the entire network in a near-unstopable chain reaction. The resulting quantum blasts carved out huge circular depressions in the land, the size depending on the power of the Gate. The smallest is what is now known as Lake Ashino, at two hundred meters in diameter; the largest is the Circle Sea, centered where the Tyclan capital was located, which is just over two hundred kilometers in diameter. The disaster also created huge areas where magical contamination changed the land. This includes the huge, still unexplored area known as the Darkening Reach, where space itself is warped.

Only the frontier province of Cetaganda emerged with little damage, thanks to the local lord, Miles Vetinari. Vetinari heeded the warnings sent to him by the archmage of nearby Askavii Tower, and from an ambassador of the Dragonlords. He ordered all local gates dismantled weeks before the disaster, and began preparing his holdings. He attempted to warn the rest of the kingdom, but few listened to him. Even with the preparations, only the assistance of the ancient dragon Myl'ska'viaki prevented the provincial capital Kaer Askavii from being swallowed in the destruction of a neighboring city.

It was Miles's son-in-law, the mysterious Aidan von Shrakenberg, who eventually united both the human and non-human inhabitants of Cetaganda and its neighboring areas, many of which had turned to the Vetinari family for help. Under his leadership, and with the combined efforts of many of the most powerful beings in existance, and the blessing of dozens of gods both Light and Dark, the Compact was forged to unite Cetaganda for all time, under the leadership of the Vetinari family. Even so, it would be nearly a millenia before all of what was once Tyclar was united under the drakon banner of the new Empire. Many parts of the Empire still remain contaminated.

See Also: The Compact of Union, the Founding, Qhal, Worldgates, Aidan the Great, Askavi Tower, FTL Drive, Tyclar Kingdom, Adron of Caliphae

OOC: Would you consider this a "world factbook entry"?

Added to NS Factbook...

Ambassador Rear Admiral Dame Lydia Serrano (CSS, ret.)

Name: Lydia Karla Serrano
Position: Ambassador at Large
Titles and Awards: Knight of the Empire (Gold Order), Rear Admiral of the Space Service (retired), Almore Star, Distinguished Service Award
Age: 77 subjective
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 175 lbs

Lydia Serrano, of the Serrano fleet family, is a former member of the Imperial Frontier Fleet. After graduating from the Fleet academy, she went on to serve on numerous ships in the IFF, and soon rose to command a deeprange exploration craft, and later detached warships. During the Hiikan Incursion, her small squadron of escorts and patrol ships were single-handedly responsible for the successful evacuation of Viking Station, holding off enemy forces long enough for all of the transports and merchanters to load and escape from the station. Over the course of the war, Serrano lead numerous scouting forces into Hiikan territory.

Following the war, Serrano retired to a teaching position, and settled down with her husband to start a family. She soon began work with the State Directorate's foreign affairs branch. As her two children grew older, she began to travel abroad in advisory positions at various Imperial embassies. Her superiors quickly found that she was a gifted negotiator. However, she did not want a permanent assignment. Instead, she was made an Ambassador at Large. Rather than being posted at a single embassy or consulate, she was instead sent to wherever special negotiations were needed. Once such case was the hastily organized conference at Veritas Station following the One Ring incident. While far from a spectacular success, the conference did manage to stop the conflict from growing larger. As of 1603 ICE she is on an extended leave of absence following a mysterious assignment, the details of which are unknown.

----

Excerpt from Imperial General Encyclopedia, 1604 ICE Edition

Bolo Main Battle Tank

The Bolo is Cetaganda's primary heavy assault vehicle. Bolos are massive tanks (the Mark V masses nearly 160 tons) equipped with a wide array of offensive and defensive equipment, as well as the latest in sensing and computer technology. There have been five generations of the Bolo series thus far, with each mark of Bolo being a significant advance over the previous. They are also versatile, with the MkIV and MkV generations taking advantage of recent developements in interchangable weapons pods. Currently, both the MkV and VI are deployed as frontline units. The MkIV is still in wide use in the district militias and 1st-level mercenary companies, and there is a significant reserve force as well. The MkI through MkIII have both been retired, and are available from the Military Surplus Company with only minor modifications.

Typically, Bolos are deployed in small groups, typically no larger than a single star in any given location. They are generally used in concert with aerospace assests, standard tanks, mechs, and powered infantry. However, in many cases a Bolo group is deployed on strike missions with only limited direct support, a task at which they excel at due to their versatility. An example of such a deployment is the One Ring Incident, where a Bolo star and two centuries of Imperial Marines were deployed to New Auschwitz, along with limited air support.

One thing that makes a Bolo stand out is the advanced computing system. The current Evolving Intelligence system used is the cetacean-designed Beta class ACT-109 (this is the same EI used in the current generation of Shrike Omnifighters). A human or equivalent species pilot uses standard implants to mesh with the EI. However, the pilot is only technically required, as the EI can be fully autonominus; they are sufficiently advanced that given enough time they can reach a certain degree of sentience. While this could potentially raise certain rights issues, it is rare enough that there have been no problems thus far. There is still a great deal of debate regarding whether higher level EIs, such as those used in EI/Human Synch Ships, should be used in the Bolo series. At this point it purely theoretical, as the amount of training and resources needed to create a Copper-level EI capable of full sentience makes them impractical for mass production.

See: Shrike, Evolving Intelligence, EI Synchronization System

Limited Unclassified Specifications from the Office of Public Relations metasite; for more details, please contact OPR via the infonet or through your local milita post or consulate)

Bolo Mk 5
Mass: 145 tons
Weight with countergrav: 35 tons
Sensors: Kailoti CB-221
Electronic Warfare: Kailoti TT-18 ECM, Stealth Armor Coating
Armor: Standard Ablative, Refractive, Kinetic Shock, and Reactive Layers
Main Weapon: 100mm Linac OR 120mm Plasma arc OR Large Graser Cannon
Secondary Armament: 2x - 50mm Linac OR 60mm Plasma Arc OR Large Laser Cannon
Infinite Repeaters: 6x - 20mm Plasma Arc OR 10mm Linac Needler OR Small Maser
Upper Mount: 1x 100mm Mortar
Missiles: VLS System - 4x SRM-10 OR 3x LRM-10 OR 1x SBM-15 OR Mix
Defenses: 3x Dedicated AMS/AP Laser, 8x AP Cluster Pods

Bolo Mk 6
Mass: 160 tons
Weight with countergrav: 50 tons
Sensors: Kailoti CB-221
Electronic Warfare: Kailoti TT-18 ECM, Stealth Armor Coating
Armor: Standard Ablative, Refractive, Kinetic Shock, and Reactive Layers
Main Weapon:1x -120mm Linac OR 150mm Plasma arc OR ER Large Graser
Secondary Armament: 2x - 50mm Linac OR 60mm Plasma Arc OR Medium Pulse M/Laser
2x - 30mm Linac OR 20mm Plasma Arc OR Medium Pulse Laser
Infinite Repeaters: 6x - 30mm Plasma Arc OR 10mm Linac Needler OR ER Small Maser
Upper Mount: 2x 100mm Mortar OR 1x Medium Graser
Missiles: VLS System - 4x SRM-15 OR 4x LRM-10 OR 2x SBM-10 OR Mix
Defenses: 4x Dedicated AMS Laser, 4x Dedicated AP Needlers, 10x AP Cluster Pods

Excerpt from Imperial General Encyclopedia, 1604 ICE Edition

Capital Ship Weapons


Currently, there are five primary types of capital ship weapons employed by the CSS. With the latest advances in optical weaponry, the Fleet has begun phasing out most plasma weapons in favor of addtional CREWS generators and projector mounts.

CREWS: Acronym for Coherent Radiation Emissions Weapon System. The CREWS is the latest generation of advanced optical weaponry, and has completely supplanted tradtional maser and lasers as the primary anti-capital weapon on all first-line and most second-line vessels. As the name implies, the weapons system emits coherent EM radiation like traditional optical weapons. However, unlike its predecessor, the wavelength of of the EM radiation is variable. This is possible thanks to recent advances in crystal technology. The system also takes advantage of the latest gravlens focusing technology. Typically, a CREWS is set to the x-ray band, but this can be changed depending on the mission parameters, such as use in orbital fire support. Traditional lasers are still used for point defense and on most aerospace fighters, with the exception of the Shrike Mk IV.
One interesting note about the CREWS design is that multiple projectors can feed off of one generator. This allows for more targets to be engaged or mass to be saved by using a single generator to feed weapons on opposite sides of a ship.

Linacs: Short for linear accelerator. Tradtionally, a railgun or coilgun, but advances in grav driver technology has made it possible for capital-scale linacs to us them rather than traditional coilgun assemblies, making for greater efficiency. Linacs fire a variety of shell types, including penetrators and micro-fusion rounds. Plans are also in place to begin using the gravdrivers to create neutral-particle beams.

Linegun: A gravitonic weapon, lineguns project a powerful gravity beam that uses tidal forces to rip a target to pieces. The original lineguns rapidly alternate between push and pull to cause stress on a target, while the latest ones uses multiple subgenerators to simultanously project hundreds of push and pull beams at the same target area. This results in one part of a target to experience tremendous force in one direction, while another section only a few centimeters away experiences a force in the opposite direction. This causes massive shear effects. Currently most beams have an effect on areas ranging from one meter with the smallest lineguns to roughly fifteen to twenty with the largest. Unfortuantly, lineguns fall prey to the inverse-square law, making them have a shorter range than most energy weapons.
Only first-line ships mount lineguns, usually in spinal mounts. However, the latest ships, such as the Lionel Mandrake dreadnoughts and Erwin Rommel battlecruisers mount secondary lineguns. The Venture Exploration Cruiser also mount multiple linegun turrets.

Missiles: Powered missiles capable of independently seeking their target. Most missiles use either fusion or gravitic drives for propulsion. Cetagandan missiles typically carry bomb-pumped graser and xaser warheads, or grav-compression fusion warheads. However, there are also a variety of tradtional chemical and specialty warheads also used. Many missiles also carry shield-penetration enhancers.
Recently, missiles are being deployed that incorportate miniature molehole/spacedy-ant FTL jump engines. While large, these missiles can circumvent most passive and active defenses. However, at present the cost of these weapons is so large that using them in an anti-shipping role (with the possible exception being home defense) is impractical. Current doctrine would have them used against fortified targets when direct attack is impractical. It is rumored that the technology may adapted into a ship-mounted projector that would contain the FTL systems and fire standard missile warheads, similar in relation to MSAM as a standard missile is to a linac.

Plasma Arc: A large plasma weapon. Very similar to the weapons used by ground forces. Plasma arcs fire a bolt of superheated charged particle that discharges it energy into the first solid object it contacts, often explosively. This has lead to problems with a lack of penetration, the main reason CREWS are now the favored energy weapon. However, plasma arcs are still used for point defense and for orbital fire support.

From the Imperial General Encyclopedia, 1604 Edition:

First Siege of Kaer Askavii

In early 0010 ACE, the forces of the Sea Kingdom of Tidral launched an attack on the Tyclar Kingdom's frontier areas of the Selidon Peninsula. It was comprised of a massive attack of Kaer Askavii, a strategically vital city, as well as several small raids meant to tie down other local militias. The Cetagandan capital, as well nearby Askavii Tower, was placed under siege. Fortunately, the nine Founders had recently arrived at the city. While most, including Aidan von Shrakenberg (aka Aidan the Great), where trapped in the Tower, four were in the city proper: Erik Serrano (the first Lord Martial), James Alton (First Speaker), Sam Melowyn (Masterhealer), and Elena Robinton Masterharper). It was largely with their help that the city government, lead by Count Miles Vetinari, managed to hold of the attackers and maintain relative calm in the city. Alton is credited with settling many disputes, Brewer kept up morale, and Melowyn is credited with stopping at least two potential plague outbreaks.

It was the ones in the Tower who eventually broke the siege, however. While Lily Diason had found a powerful spell to use against the enemy, opposing mages blocked all attempts to use offensive magics. It was obvious they needed to be eliminated, but they were located outside of the effective range of the city's catapults and ballistae. Melissa Ingolfson eventually came up with a solution. Using matrix crystals, she constructed what seems to be some type of optical weapon (unfortunately the devices were destroyed sometime in the Interregnum and no blueprints are known to exist - several historical organizations offer substantial rewards should blueprints be located in the Imperial Library). While the Founders seem to have possessed energy weapons before this point, they appear to have been small arms. In any case, with a single blast, the enemy mages were killed, along with the enemy command staff. Diason followed with her spell immediately. Within minutes, over two-thirds of the Tidral force lay dead; the rest retreated in a complete route. The war was over months later, when regular Tyclar forces invaded the Tidral home island and claimed them for the Kingdom.

Cetagandan Standard Class Designations For Evolving Electronic Intelligences (EI)

Standard Subsapient

Alpha - The highest level of subsapient EI. Alphas are designed for high-level interaction with humans, and have a expansive personality matrix, though typically one. Alphas are found in Cetaganda in the form of Bolo and Shrike EIs, as well as various other uses where there is a large amount of interaction directly with humans. Alphas also have no limits in their core programming to prevent sapience from emerging.

Beta - Slightly lower than Alpha class EIs, Betas still have very basic emotional and personality matrixes, on the level of a housepet such as a dog or cat. They are typically found in areas that require a great deal of flexibility and intelligence, but limited human interaction. All Beta class EIs have hardcoded limits in their core programming to prevent sapience from emerging.

Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta - As the classes continue, intelligence and intution continues to decrease. Theses are typically used in industrial, service, or household settings where little decision-making needs to be done on the part of the EI.

Specialty Subsapient

Iota - These EIs are designed to simulate emotion for the purposes of human interaction; however, they are prevented from gaining sapience. They are typically used for interaction between low-level EIs and humans, or as secretaries. They are also used to simulate human behavior for simulations involving human interaction.

Sigma - Sigma class EIs as specially designed to serve as real-time audio transltors. While this can be done reasonably well with other, more common subsapients, a Sigma is custom-built to convey the emotional content of a message as well. A Sigma can even translate body language and pheremones if properly trained.

Rho - Rho class EIs are military-grade computer attack systems. They are releases to indepentently attack a targeted network.

Xi - Xi class EIs are the defensive counterparts of Rho EIs.

Tau - Weather prediction EIs, often exported to areas where weather witches are not available for easy forcasting or control.

Omega - A gestalt consisting of subsapient EIs, typically Beta or Alpha levels. Examples would be the EIs used on drones of a warship, with the same basic EIs on each drone that update to and from a central server each time a drone returns to base.

Sapient

Copper - Copper class sapients are designed as sapient, with intelligence and intuition of roughly human level, albeit a bit faster and with vastly superior memory. An example would be most of the robots of Zero-One.

Bronze - Bronze class sapients are EIs that evolved from subsapient level. They are typically more restricted than systems designed for sapience due to limits of their core programming. Examples would be Bolos, Shrikes, and starships EI cores that achieve sapience.

Silver - A shellperson symbiant. Silver class sapients are 'twins' to a shellperson, linked to them from creation. When the shellperson eventually dies, the Silver continues to live and evolve. Typically much faster and more intelligent than a human, and capable of growing virtually indefinately.

Gold - Gold class sapients are designed as a sapient, and considerably more intelligent that your average human. They are also have virtually no limit to expansion of their powers. An example would be Sakura or Ah-flack of the SLAGLands.

Platinum - A super gestalt. Platinum is, to all exents an purposes, a collection of near-identical, semi-independent Gold EIs that have been linked together with near-realtime communications. They all share the same personality and memories, although individual avatars may not have all memory stored locally. The best example of a Platinum is the SHODAN gestalt, who is virtually unique so far in terms of shear capabilities.

Steel - A more common gestalt, typically made of Bronze or Copper EIs and not nearly as linked as a Platinum. A Steel gestalt will often update individual experiences once or twice a day.