NationStates Jolt Archive

Zoogiedom Logistics Air & Sea Storefront

OOC: Yes, this will be my only storefront. No, combat aircraft are not for sale. Yes, this is work-in-progress. Yes, this will replace all my individual storefronts that I can't keep track of all the time.

Amid a wild array of various structures and odd modern-art experiments there arises a tall, monolithic building with the words Zoogiedom Logistics Storefront written in dark blue letters on one side of it. Entering through revolving doors, you find yourself in an almost empty room, save for a couple of seats and an LCD screen off to one side and a reception desk. The music from IBM's cafe society commercials play in an infinite loop in the background.

Clutching your briefcase, you walk towards the reception desk and are greeted by ... an engraved statement. It reads as follows:

Welcome to the Zoogiedom logistics storefront.
It's official federal policy to not offer any combat products for sale;
however, if you're seeking transports and auxiliaries, you've come to the right place.
Ring and we'll get to you as soon as possible.
Those with weak wallets, be advised.

On what may only be called as random impulse, you ring the bell...a man dressed in business attire and slightly resembling the guy on the Ask Jeeves logo comes and says, "Hello, my name is Jeeves. What are you interested in?" Bewildered, you follow him into one of the building's interior wings, and walk down a long corridor, the walls of which are decorated with scores of pictures of the aircraft and ships for sale.

C-71 'Progeny' strategic airlift

http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/idr/idr000704_8_p.jpg

The C-71 is a large transport; one of the largest in our inventory. Its goal? To provide nations with reliable strategic mass-transport capabilities at the highest technology level, cost be damned. The Progeny features bleeding-edge box-wing technology, a variant of the blended wing body (BWB) concept, handily reducing air interference problems at the wingtips. The Progeny also offers advanced systems and avionics for enhanced performance and reliability.

The C-71 relies primarily on navigation avionics and realtime streaming data from friendly forces to guide it to its destination. It's able to receive threat data from whatever allied RWR receivers are in the area, and relay similar data it finds itself through its own passive radar and RWR systems. This on-demand [(c) IBM] data transfer helps ensure the early detection and elimination of threats.

Fly-by-optics is the wave of the future. Again in the Mark II evolution, the inside of the C-71 was torn out, hammered together, blowtorched, tossed, evolved, zoogiefied, and integrated back into a better, more effective and streamlined system. The newest control systems offer smoother, calmer, safer flights with quickened response.

Active electronic countermeasures are integrated with an already capable ECM suite to cancel out and distort incoming enemy radar, bluffing or eliminating completely the aircraft's position to enemy eyes. Once the missile is fired, it's the target aircraft's job to dodge it; there's nothing that its escort wing can do. As such, we've created a suite such that those bogeys on the radar screen will have one hell of a time bringing it down - if they succeed at all.

The Progeny has been further enlargened to compensate for Zoogiedom's growing rapid deployment needs - and perhaps, yours as well. It stands over seventy feet tall and measures 280 feet long, roughly the length of the legendary An-225 Cossack. The colossus can carry three tanks or two helicopters in its loads, as well as other types of artillery and vehicles. Its official capacity is some 400,000-lbs or around 200 tons. In an on-demand world, you can't always wait for the next shipment of fresh troops to land - so why wait? With the C-71, you have the capacity of transporting nearly 480 combat-ready soldiers soldiers.


Function: Long range strategic transport
Crew: 6
Powerplant: Four 52,000-lb dry thrust turbofan engines
Cargo capacity: ~200 tons
Service ceiling: 58,000-ft
Max/econ speed: Mach 0.84/0.67
Dimensions: Height 72ft; Length 326ft
Takeoff distance: 2,800 meters fully loaded (compare to 3697 C-5)
Landing distance: 970 meters fully loaded (compare to 1485 C-5)
Estimated unit cost: ~$200mn, depending on contract size.


XC-240 'Pallas' Series

http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/idr/idr000704_7_p.jpg

The X240 is more than a cargo. It's an entire series of aircraft in various purposes based on the same joined-wing aircraft chasis and carried by the same top-tier United Elias engines. The Pallas serves, in various extensions, as a fine military assault transport, a dual-refuelling-boom tanker, a deadly deliverer of cruise missiles, and an advanced electronic warfare platform...as well as a few more covert uses that you don't know about. The aircraft offers two key unique technologies: the streamlined, delta-esque joined wing airframe and sonic boom suppressing. That's right - this cargo can achieve speeds of over Mach 1.

http://airtransportbiz.free.fr/Aircraft/777/GE90115B.JPG

The X240 powerplant varies from model to model, all others deriving from the airlift cargo variant. Designed by United Elias, the twin monstrous aft-placed 96,000-lb rated turbofan engines propel the aircraft into an unprecedented class of thrust, as well as supersonic speeds. These engines deliver uncompromised power, sustainability, and reliability, feautinrg:

-Integrally bladed rotors : in most stages, disks and blades are made from a single piece of advanced alloy for better performance and less air leakage;
-Long chord fan blades, reducing danger of heat-related emergency and contributing to engine efficiency;
-Low-aspect, high-stage-load compressor blades - wider blades offer greater strength and efficiency;
-Alloy high-strength burn-resistant titanium compressor with innovative titanium alloy, increasing durability, allowing the engine to run hotter and faster for greater thrust and efficiency;
-Floatwall combustor - thermally isolated panels of oxidation-resistant, high-cobalt material make the combustion chamber more durable, which helps reduce scheduled maintenance and again, improve safety.

The X240 is capable of short take-off and landing in even the rough field environments, thanks to the advanced engine features, aircraft design, and very sturdy gear tires.

As with our other cargo, the X240 was fitted with an integrated avionics and systems package. The object, as before, is to sheild the aircraft from prying eyes and to alert whatever escort or air defenses there are in the area to eliminate any and all threats. If simply masking the aircraft is impossible, the active ECM suite is responsible for bluffing or eliminating incoming radar signals. Once a missile is fired, an X240 is well equipped to evade it. It's an on-demand world. Are you ready? [(c) IBM]

As previously said, the X240 is alone not an aircraft (sh!). It actually exists as multiple derivatives, different aircraft serving different purposes but under the same family. The C-240 aircraft is around 180 feet in length, and with its unique fuselage width and height, it's considerably more roomy than the C-17 Globemaster III, the frontline cargo for many nations indeed. It's cargo capacity exceeds 90 tons and is able to store an MBT, something few cargoes of its class are able to do. Often used for rapid soldier transport, the C-240 can ship roughly 180 fully equipped soldiers, or 120 paratroopers.

The TC-240 features dual refuelling booms and extended on-station service times. A smaller, adjusted model of the base C-240 aircraftused to replenish friendly aircraft in any combat theatre whenever needed. The SC-240 is a cruise missile platform, able to quickly fly to the launch point and unleash its payload of fifty cruise missiles stored internally.

The EC-240 is the smallest of the models and features an even more delta structure, serving as an all-purpose EW platform. Whether you're distributing propoganda, jamming, broadcasting messages, or providing surveillance information, this is the model that fits your bill.

Other models? Indeed. The X240's endless extensibility has proved most useful, serving as VIP transports as well as the President's personal transport/command center. In Artitsa, the Pallas serves also as an air defense aircraft, and within Zoogiedom spec-ops, it serves as a highly covert, stealthy infiltration plat---er, did I just say that? Excuse me...


C-240 cargo
X-240 ‘Pallas’ series
Crew: 3
Powerplant: Two UE dry thrust turbofan engines @ 96,000-lbs
Max/Econ speed: Mach 1.44/0.86
Estimated price: $140m, depending on contract size

Note that length, speed, price and thrust rating vary based on model, with the cost progressing from the C-240 up to the EC-240.


Jeeves turns to you after explaining about the model available and concludes, "That's all we've got available for procurement now, although more are expected to be approved for export. When you've decided on procurement, call me. For now, I've got another potential customer to talk to.

And he whizzes off at lightning-fast speeds down the corridor back into the main reception room to heroic music.

[If one day in the distant future I decide to stop being lazy, there shall be ships here.]

(No, really.)

A short, dumpy man with a bad comb-over, dressed in an expensive suit about two inches too small around the waist, and two inches too long in the leg, pushes his milk-bottle glasses back up his nose, and turns to Jeeves.

"How much would it cost for the production rights to the C-71, the C-240, the TC-240 and the EC-240?"

Jeeves opens his briefcase and gives the short dumpy man of most awkward proportions a large chocolate chip cookie. "Complementary of Chocolate Chip Cookie Corp, Ltd.," he said cheerfully. "As for the production rights, we'll give you the rights to the C-71 and all [public] versions of the C-240 for a even $15bn, sound fair?"

http://www.seethru.co.uk/funny_stuff/images/jeeves.gif
And would you like a drink with that, sire?

"Certainly. Thankyou very much. Does that give us the right to create a new version of the C-240 for our own needs as well, or would that require some further negotiation?

"Nah, go ahead. Screw with it as you please." And Jeeves zoomed off to triumphant world-saving music.

The man watched the retreating man with interest. Then he shrugged his shoulders, left a cheque for 15 billion dollars with the receptionist, and walked off, munching on his cookie.

A word on Logistics Storefront Employees

Currently employed as salesmen are hundreds of identical-looking men, all named Jeeves. But we wouldn't be so politically incorrect. And as such, there is a precisely equal number of women, all of whom happen to be named Jeeva. Thank you, and have a nice day.

To: The Logistics Storefront
From: Roach-Busters

I wish to purchase 4,500 C-71 'Progeny' strategic airlifts for $900,000,000,000 and 10,000 XC-240 'Pallas' Series for 1,400,000,000,000. Money will be wired upon confirmation. Thanks.

*cough*

That's...a big order. ;)

There was a giant poof of smoke, of a color that may be described as light and somewhere between those of green and blue, and from it walked out a Jeeves in a businesslike manner, towards the writer of the telegram.

"We've been having some technical difficulties sending telegrams, so I've come here in person, courtesy of Greenish-Blue Smoke Service, to confirm your order. The total procurement of 4,500 C-71 Progeny aircraft will come out to $700 billion and the total procurement of 10,000 C-240 Pallas aircraft will come out to an even $999.99 billion and 99 cents. Good day sir or madam, and here's your cookies."

He whipped out a large wheelbarrow of giant chocolate chip cookies, and offered a 20L carton of orange juice to go with them.

To: Jeeves
Subj: Purchases
From: Air Commodore Micheal Tucker

Dear sir:

As you may well be aware, your storefront offers one of the few logistically minded areas in the International Community. As such, with your corporation being a pillar of such shining light, we here at the Samtonian Ministry of War wish to ascertain the cost to production rights of these fine products. We wait only on your reply.

According to tradition, or (according to Jeeves) according to the status of their telegram-sending systems, one of the Jeeves workers made a personal appearance in front of Commodore Tucker.

"Well, commodore," said Jeeves making a quite sudden entrance in a dazzling *poof* of smoke, "That'll be $15bn for production rights to all versions of both aircraft. Thanks."

Today, the Commonwealth of Taiwanese Islands dispatched Senator Jayech Erneri to Zoogiedom Logistics Storefront for negotiations on purchases.

"The Taiwanese Islands military has long since been searching for adequate means of supply. NSA, our principle intellegence agency, has determined that C-71 and XC-240 are just what our nation needs," the young Senator said. "We wish to purchase the production rights for the C-71 and all avaliable XC-240 models.

"In addition, we are also seeking to procure the following: 40TC-240, 50 C-71, 160 SC-240 and 630 C-240." Senator Erneri finished. "How much will all of these take?"

[O_o You're making me...do...arithmetic...] ;)

The procurement of all the aircraft of the X240 class will come out to $100bn, while the procurement of the 50 C-71s will come out to $44, totally to $144bn. Thank you.

3 Turbo Nitro Boosters attached with a Turbo Engine.
MAX Speed: 400 MPH.
Arments: 3 Torpedo-Drop torpedos, 2 Side Air-To-Air Missiles, and 1 Air-To-Ground Missile.
Crew: 2
Air Advances: Stealth to Radar, has a Stealth Radar Tracker (track down stealth air jets). Titanium Steel Armor: Bullet Proof (for those who use Anti-Air Guns). Bullet Proof Windows. Enabled to float on seawater.

$45 million dollars.

(No Warranty. If wanted a Warranty, the price would be $125 million dollars)

[OOC: Anytime you wish to contact me on AIM and tell me what the heck is going on, feel free...]

And Jeeves zoomed by from his latest errand, and said shortly..."No."

[O_o You're making me...do...arithmetic...] ;)

The procurement of all the aircraft of the X240 class will come out to $100bn, while the procurement of the 50 C-71s will come out to $44, totally to $144bn. Thank you.

"The money is being wired as we speak," Senator Erneri says. "However, what about the production rights we have requested? My nation is willing to pay up to $15 billion for these rights, as you have apparently offered McLeod03."

[ooc] O_o Apologies for the late reply, I have no idea how I missed that.

[ic]

Jeeves was hastily sent back to Taiwanese Islands, with an apology and a confirmation note. 'We'll offer you the same price, $15bn, for production rights. Sorry for the tardiness in the reply; here, have a cookie.'