NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is top secret IC

The crisp, cold, wintry night air over Layarteb was something that wasn't out of the ordinary, it was winter, after all. Things were quiet in the airspace of the main province of the Empire. Civilian air traffic was moving around as normal, flying to their destinations both inside and outside of the country. At military airfields, bombers sat in their hangars, fighters sat on moderate alert, and everything was as if the Empire was in a state of peace, not complete peace but not war.

However, at an undisclosed airbase inside of West Virginia, there was activity. An ILAF B-1B Lancer was sitting inside a closed hangar, the heating systems keeping it 72°F. Lights turned the otherwise pitch black hangar into a near whitewash as soldiers walked around, many armed. Guards and watchmen had their rifles loaded, safeties off, this was far too important for them to see a failure.

The B-1B was empty except for fuel, which was still pumping, and a mysterious cargo. Inside its forward bomb-bay, a special platform had been lifted into the bay and secured. The platform had three major components: a guidance system, a processing system, and a special object, which was a Bromide-Argon laser, with a 6 megawatt output. The laser could shine an intense, focused laser beam as far as 600 km and for a duration of up to 8 seconds. This was to be its first operational test, albeit a highly classified one.

The target was a simple moving vehicle, sitting 480 km away. The B-1B would climb to altitude, which was 40,000 feet, set itself to cruise speed, Mach 1.19, and engage the target at 400 km. The laser would shine its beam for a total of 4 seconds, which would be enough to vaporize the target, a single individual inside of a moving vehicle, a convertable without its top up. The vehicle was moving at only 5 mph and thus it would be an easy shot. This was more of a test of the guidance system than of the actual laser. They knew the laser worked. It had been tested in a laboratory and it bored a hole in the underground rock face of a mountain for a total of 4,900 meters. The laser would, unfortunately, use its full Bromide-Argon fuel in a single shot, which made this weapon a precision, surgical, decapitation strike, meant to kill the leader of a country during or before a war, to prevent an actual war.

OOC: Layatreb, what the hell? I thought EII was supposed to be MT, and even if somehow you can make this work in MT, this is simply abuse of a technicality, this laser of yours is just as much of an RP killer as a nuclear weapon. But hell sure, since you own EII and can manipulate laws of nature i'll bring one just like that into orbit. Actually i already have 8 satelites with lasers like that in the orbit, i had them since a while ago but once i came to EII i abondoned having them cause i thought that EII was MT, guess not, guess they are back online then.

I also had/have laser-armed defense satellites.

OOC: Actually Pushka the laser on the aircraft is very MT. The US Military are currently experimenting with it and, as rumour goes, have working prototypes. A nation like Layarteb has much more money and would be better able to finance such a project.

As for me I've had Laser Systems on aircraft for years now. The main platform is the AL-52 'Dragon', which is essentially a very heavily modified B-52H. We also have a Star Wars like anti-ICBM system, that actually deals in lasers. It isn't PMT, its on the upper end of MT i assure you.

OOC: Layatreb, what the hell? I thought EII was supposed to be MT, and even if somehow you can make this work in MT, this is simply abuse of a technicality, this laser of yours is just as much of an RP killer as a nuclear weapon. But hell sure, since you own EII and can manipulate laws of nature i'll bring one just like that into orbit. Actually i already have 8 satelites with lasers like that in the orbit, i had them since a while ago but once i came to EII i abondoned having them cause i thought that EII was MT, guess not, guess they are back online then.

OOC: E2 is MT. This is very MT. It's actually Past Tech from the 1980s. You are always so quick to throw out something baseless and ridiculous without actually know anything, next time just do a little more research before you start throwing accusations.

Hell this laser is definitely past tech. The whole ABL project is underway to take out airborne missiles. I am blowing up a dummy in a car, on the ground, moving at 5 mph. The lasers we are working on will blow up missiles moving at 15,000 mph and definitely not on the ground moving in a straight line.

OOC For a look at what's considered MT, PMT and FT in Earth II, you really should check out the new phpBB forums that Layarteb's made instead of whining here. Here's the link.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=56

The B-1B Lancer taxiied to its position at the end of the runway. It was quiet, for a massive bomber, but loud enough to shake one's head loose. The bomb bay doors were closed and the weapon safely inside.

The massive, 310,000 pound aircraft sat by the end of the runway, waiting for clearance, its four, powerful, roaring afterburning engines which were all sitting at idle. Clearance came seconds later and all four engines were throttled up to maximum thrust. The aircraft roared down the runway and, at 140 mph, it lifted off the ground and into the air, the beginning of the mission.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/That%20Strange%20Light/b1b-takeoff.jpg

The wheels were retracted shortly after take off and the aircraft banked upwards and to the right as it came about on its course. The wings slowly swept inwards and the bomber took on its menacing, gorgeous shape, that of a beast, which still held sway, even in the face of much stealthier aircraft.

The bomber lumbered on and climbed upwards to 40,000 feet, where it would be at its cruise altitude and accelerate to its cruise speed. The mission was about to begin...

OOC: This definitely isn't public.

OOC: Ok. Still, you could send me an encrypted message saying what the progress is, thats if you want the research staff. No biggie if you don't. I'll delete my above post anyway. I had a feeling this wasn't public as I was typing though.

OOC: Ok. Still, you could send me an encrypted message saying what the progress is, thats if you want the research staff. No biggie if you don't. I'll delete my above post anyway. I had a feeling this wasn't public as I was typing though.

OOC: Yeah, technically the test hasn't happened yet but when it does it'll be TOA announced.

OOC: E2 is MT. This is very MT. It's actually Past Tech from the 1980s. You are always so quick to throw out something baseless and ridiculous without actually know anything, next time just do a little more research before you start throwing accusations.

Are you talking about star wars? Because last time i checked that project gave no satisfactory results.

Hell this laser is definitely past tech. The whole ABL project is underway to take out airborne missiles. I am blowing up a dummy in a car, on the ground, moving at 5 mph. The lasers we are working on will blow up missiles moving at 15,000 mph and definitely not on the ground moving in a straight line.

The lasers that might be complete some time in the far future, defenetly not before 2010, plus their effictivness is againt under question. Either way, this is an RP killer, why do it?

Are you talking about star wars? Because last time i checked that project gave no satisfactory results.



The lasers that might be complete some time in the far future, defenetly not before 2010, plus their effictivness is againt under question. Either way, this is an RP killer, why do it?

OOC: The Airborne Laser will be operational by 2008 with seven Boeing 747s converted to the task. SDI itself was very effective for the time but the project cost insane amounts of money, so it was stopped. With more money they could have had bigger and better lasers.

OOC: Yes, and I have more money and bigger lasers. Actually, read a Dale Brown book, his ideas are MT and very interesting, thats where my inspiration comes from.

Also, check out the web-link below if you want to know about laser development.

www.ionatron.com

and if you have time read this article and search the follow site for more info:

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001563.html

OOC: Yes, and I have more money and bigger lasers. Actually, read a Dale Brown book, his ideas are MT and very interesting, thats where my inspiration comes from.

Also, check out the web-link below if you want to know about laser development.

www.ionatron.com

and if you have time read this article and search the follow site for more info:

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001563.html

OOC: I'll do that, thanks. I read Dan Brown ;) but that is Da Vinci Code & Angels & Demons :)

The B-1B was airborne and flying at its cruise speed of Mach 1.19. The bomber was breaking the sound barrier, 40,000 feet up, and it was barely noticible from ordinary means. The night sky made the bomber invisible to the nake eye. There were no flashing lights, no glowing from the cockpit, it was just a dot.

As the aircraft banked to its initial point, the bomber crew went to work with the targetting system, which began to take readings of the weather. The targetting system had a sensor sticking out of the bottom of the bomb bay, which captured air pressure, temperature, wind velocity, humidity, and just about every other necessary piece of data to fire the laser.

The laser was ground linked for this test and all the bomber crew had to do was fly through their waypoints. The next test, should this one succeed, would have the bomber crew doing the firing. Both the ground link and the bomber crew would fire using a very simplistic yet accurate targetting system. First, the gryo sensors went to the exact GPS setting that was enabled. Using a very powerful visual sensor, which could magnify an image several thousand times, the system could be fine tuned and targetted visually. Then, once the target was acquired, the system could be locked onto it and the system would rotate with the target and move with the target. Should a drastic course modification be necessary, it read out on a display in the cockpit what they should do, exactly.

The system was very state-of-the-art. At the IP, the bomber crew opened the bomb bay doors and the laser lowered slightly. The targetting system was already at work and, on the ground, the weapons officer was targetting the moving vehicle and the dummy in the vehicle. Other dummies were placed around it to test the effects on them. Once the gimble was locked and the gyro stabilized, the bomber maintained its course and flew at Mach 1.14, slowing down because of the open bomb bay doors.

Then, at the precise range of 400 km from the target, the laser fired a full 6 megawatt burst of energy for 4 seconds. The beam of light travelled 299,338 kilometers per second, reaching the target instantly. The 4 second burst was enough to cause the target to literally boil from the inside and burst into flames. The target was vaporized before the laser system had been retracted and the bomb bay doors closed.

The ground team cheered at the resounding success and called back the bomber. The target had literally vaporized and the dummies around it had registered some effects but none fatal. Mostly they had vision problems because of the intense beam of light and slight flash burns from the heat of the vaporization. They were also extremely traumatized, although that wasn't going to be registered by any dummy.

Encrypted Message to October Alliance Members

Members of the October Alliance, the Empire has, today, successfully tested a megawatt class laser that is fully capable of "vaporizing" an individual from a range of 600 km. The airborne system is a single-shot system, which uses advanced guidance and electro-optics to sight and target the system. The laser is unfortunately not powerful enough to destroy any types of vehicles except civilian, unarmored cars, although destruction is very unlikely. The laser is more geared for taking out very high-value targets, quite possibly the commander of an attacking army or the leader of a foreign, hostile country.

We thank thee.

OOC: Dan Brown, lol, I'm reading 'The Da Vinci Code' at the moment, got the name mixed up with Dale Brown.;)

IC:


OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF HIRGIZSTAN

ENCRYPTED [TO EMPIRE OF LAYARTEB]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

HIRGIZSTAN CITY, HCCV


The Commonwealth would like to congratulate the Empire on their successful Airborne Laser test.

The COH, as you know, has had ABL systems in operation for some time now. The two models currently in use are the ABL-3, aboard the EB-1C Vampire, and the ABL-5 aboard the AL-52 Dragon. Both lasers are powerful enough to cut through reinforced metal and the ABL-5 has been known to knock out APC's with ease.

Both laser models are highly capable of destroying aircraft and missiles in mid air with maximum accuracy. This is the role which the first ABL systems were developed for, namely the ABL-X and ABL-1. The AL-52 provides an extremely effective last line of defense against ICBM's that pass through the numerous anti-ICBM systems, ranging for the space-based SAAMDS to the MEADS and Patriot Systems. If these are comprimised the AL-52 can be called upon to shoot down the missile.

The EB-1C, on the other hand, is more suited to taking out targets of high value, such as cars, slow helicopters, power stations, radar sites and can even be targetted for precision use against human targets.

The COH would be willing to fly one EB-1C and one AL-52, along with research and development staff, to the Empire to help the ILAF conduct further tests and develop the ILAF's ABL systems further.

COH

Encrypted Communique

The Empire would appreciate the assistance of the Hirgizstani government in our project. Our future with the ABL project is a viable one but any assistance will much lower the amount of time it takes to complete our project.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF HIRGIZSTAN

ENCRYPTED [TO EMPIRE OF LAYARTEB]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

HIRGIZSTAN CITY, HCCV



Naturally, the Commonwealth is only too pleased to help an ally in the development of these weapons.

With permission we will send the following aircraft and personnel:

1x AL-52 Dragon, 10th Bomber Sq.

1x EB-1C Vampire, 9th Bomber Sq.

2x C-18A Galaxy II, 7th Airlift Sq. with crew chiefs and equipment from the 9th and 10th Bomber Squardrons.

2x AN-225 Cossack, 6th Airlift Sq., with two test labs for various ABL systems.

2x C-17A Globemaster III, 9th Airlift Sq., with Scientists and ABL development personnel from Hirgizstan General Electric Corp. and Hirgizstan General Dynamics Corp. All Top Level Secruity Cleared.

The personnel and aircraft should help the Empire better develop their ABL systems by examning the current Hirgizstanian Models. The Labs should enable hypothetical models to be built and added to perfect aircraft simulations so that all necessary plans can be made before physical plans are begun.
The AL-52 will also be able to demonstrate new computer technology taken from the EB-52 Megafortress that enbales a crew of only two to fly the Bomber, a pilot and Systems Officer/Co Pilot. The size of the ABL-5 system dictates this, as it takes up much room inside the bomber itself.

COH

OOC: I can RP the aircraft flying to somewhere in the EOL if you want?

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF HIRGIZSTAN

ENCRYPTED [TO EMPIRE OF LAYARTEB]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

HIRGIZSTAN CITY, HCCV



Naturally, the Commonwealth is only too pleased to help an ally in the development of these weapons.

With permission we will send the following aircraft and personnel:

1x AL-52 Dragon, 10th Bomber Sq.

1x EB-1C Vampire, 9th Bomber Sq.

2x C-18A Galaxy II, 7th Airlift Sq. with crew chiefs and equipment from the 9th and 10th Bomber Squardrons.

2x AN-225 Cossack, 6th Airlift Sq., with two test labs for various ABL systems.

2x C-17A Globemaster III, 9th Airlift Sq., with Scientists and ABL development personnel from Hirgizstan General Electric Corp. and Hirgizstan General Dynamics Corp. All Top Level Secruity Cleared.

The personnel and aircraft should help the Empire better develop their ABL systems by examning the current Hirgizstanian Models. The Labs should enable hypothetical models to be built and added to perfect aircraft simulations so that all necessary plans can be made before physical plans are begun.
The AL-52 will also be able to demonstrate new computer technology taken from the EB-52 Megafortress that enbales a crew of only two to fly the Bomber, a pilot and Systems Officer/Co Pilot. The size of the ABL-5 system dictates this, as it takes up much room inside the bomber itself.

COH

OOC: I can RP the aircraft flying to somewhere in the EOL if you want?

Encrypted Message

All aircraft are cleared into Layartebian territory and airspace and are instructed to land at Louisville AFB in Kentucky. We appreciate the help of the Hirgizstani government and will be able to assist them in any way possible to assist us in our endeavor. Our ABL program will mainly revolve around an airborne Boeing 747 or Airbus 380, depending on the configurations we may choose. However, our previously demonstrated laser system will be deployed on a stealth bomber for the purpose of high-value-individual-target-elimination or HiVITE (pronounced "High-Vite").

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF HIRGIZSTAN

ENCRYPTED [TO EMPIRE OF LAYARTEB]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

HIRGIZSTAN CITY, HCCV


Thank you for the permission and directions for landing in the Empire. The aircraft group will be followed over the Atlantic by 20 COH Fighter planes and Escorts, along with two Tanker Aicraft. They will not enter EOL airspace, but instead turn back before entering territorial waters.

COH






Somewhere in Cape Verde...

From a freshly laid runway on an island in Cape Verde several planes lifted off into the sky, one after the other.

The heavy AL-52 lead the way, the AN-225 bringing up the rear of the formation, while the other aircraft formed up in a diamond shape, awaiting a Wing of F/A-22A Raptors, two KC-135R tankers and F-4SX Phantom II Blackstar escort aircraft to RV with them west of the balearic islands.

It would take several hours for the aircraft to reach the safe airspace over Ireland and then it would be a smooth ride out to the mainland US, via the Atlantic where the planes could refuel in relative safety. The Fighters and Tankers would turn back some miles away from the East Coast, while the other aircraft would continue across the country to Louisville, Kentucky, a picturesque destination if there ever was one. Some of the Eastern European science team on board the C-17A were happy to be finally leaving the still sweltering heat of the African coast and journeying to stay for a while in more temperate climes.

OOC: Coolness. Just FYI. It's winter in Kentucky lol!

OOC: Exactly, I think the Eastern Europeans would appreciate that. ;)

Encrypted Communique

The main goals of our project are to construct a viable airborne laser system with the ability to destroy satellites, theater ballistic missiles, and to have limited capability against ICBMs. The radar signature of the aircraft will be a problem but it can be countered with active EW aircraft and fighter guards at all times.


To use the C-26 Condor (http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Nation-States/LDC/Air/c26.htm) as the main body of use for this system.
To make a High Energy Laser, at minimum, of 8 MW, with a range of 800km to 1,200km.
To get at least 60 - 80 shots against "soft" targets such as liquid fueled rockets and 30 - 40 against "hard" targets such as solid fueled rockets.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF HIRGIZSTAN

ENCRYPTED [TO EMPIRE OF LAYARTEB]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

HIRGIZSTAN CITY, HCCV



The C-26 looks like a viable platform for such a laser. Keep in mind the entire bottom of the aircraft will likely be taken up by the Laser Module.

The AL-52 incorporated an aiming system for the laser. It looks like a rather large gun that sits flush under the nose of the aircraft, which on the AL-52 is pointed, and can be rotated 360 degrees to fire at any targets anywhere.
The same could easily be mounted on the C-26 with minimal change to the overral shape of the aircraft.

COH


Kentucky, morning...

The bright day in Kentucky was just beginning as the rather large air formation began its descent to Louisville AFB, a gigantic and sprawling military base.

The first plane onto the ground was the AL-52, followed by the EB-1C and the rest followed at slow intervals, circling the airfield until called down by the ATC's.

The aircraft taxied to a secluded area of the base, away from prying eyes, to a number of large hangars and buildings. The AL-52 and EB-1C were rolled into hangars while the larger transport planes sat outside in parking spaces.

Within an hour the ground crews had secured the two special aircraft and were already talking to the EOL development personnel about where to offload the research material aboard the transport aircraft.

OOC: Shoul we RP two Officers speaking, i.e. the people leading the projects?

OOC: Yes. My lead guy is Major Carlson of the Imperial Layartebian Air Force.

Major Carlson saluted the Hirgizstani officer. "It is most grateful that you have come with your technology so that we may learn from you and advance our project. I am sure you have been brought up to speed but we have scheduled a short refresher meeting in five hours. Perhaps you will want to rest or eat before that? It must have been a long journey."

OOC: My lead guy is Colonel Mike Berg. There's also a lead scientist but I'll name him when we need him.

IC:

Colonel Mike Berg dismounted from the giant C-17A and was immediately met by a frosty and fresh gust of Kentucky air. The sound of jet engines was all he could hear as he strode out of the hangar, toward the approaching ILAF men and Officers. The Colonel looked up into the gloomy dawn, wondering if it would snow.

The Colonel fastened up his black trench coat, only the tie, lapels and hat of his blue HAF uniforn showing.

The Colonel strode across the tarmac, two aides in tow, and shook hands with the ILAF Major, listening to him for a second.

"Indeed it was a long journey Major, the pilots and ground crews could use some food and rest, and we have to sort out their billets for the next while, but I'm sure that will be sorted in good time. I ate on the plane and had a sleep so I'm ready to have a talk with you about what we want to achieve here."

"Very well. I shall speak with you of the briefing now though it shall be held later for the remainder of the team. Our goal is to construct a megawatt class laser for airborne, anti-missile operations. We are fully aware that the range of such a system cannot make ICBM targets likely but our main concern are theater launched missiles, which give very little warning. ICBMs give warning, we can take those out with ground-based interceptors mostly.

"These theater missiles, being the primary target, allow for two types, liquid and solid. We understand the skin on a liquid is thinner so we can destroy more of them. The laser will simply heat up the skin and warp it, causing it to fall apart inflight. We can achieve at least 60 shots against liquid and 30 against solid with our design in the C-26 or the Airbus A380 as it is called. However, we need to achieve this at a rapid pace. We cannot be IOC in three years, we need to be IOC this year."

The Colonel and the Major were walking toward one of the admin buildings as they talked. Colonel Berg listened intently to the Major, nodding every now and then.

He was thinking about what the Major was saying. The Colonel was glad they had come, they could help the ILAF get their project up and running IOC within a month if they hurried, and it sounded like they needed it.

The Colonel thought for a moment after the Major stopped talking.
"Well Major, it looks like we came at the right time. Both the ABL-3 and ABL-5 were designed primarily to take out Theatre Launched Missiles and be a last line of defense against ICBM's. The ABL's target the engine/thruster compartments of the missiles, causing them to spin wildly out of control and fall harmlessly out of trajectory. We can also hit the guidance systems with the laser, which has been known to have quicker and less volatile effect on the missile itself. With both of our design teams working together we should be IOC within the month, nevermind the year!"

"A month is far more than we could hope for. At this present time we have four A-26C aircraft modified with our COIL laser system. Once this is finally achieved, we plan on having a fleet of some twenty aircraft, including these four. Any other laser designs may be incorporated into future Blocks.

IC:

"Ah I see. Anyway Major, what is it exactly that you want our team to do. We have a testing lab with us, as well as two working lasers of differing sizes on two different aircraft, including a modified B-1B. I presume your team will want a tour of these aircraft, while our lab sets up somewhere?"

OOC: The picture below is what the EB-52 Megafortress looks like. The AL-52 Dragon looks the same, except that the laser module has a firing pod under the nose-cone. The advanced wing shape actually allows more speed and better stability, essential for the laser.

http://www.megafortress.com/newsletter/mega32.jpg

"Most certainly we would love to see. Our B-1 program will sit on our Argon-Bromide laser, which will be of limited range against human targets. We see this as a possible way to end a war quickly. Assassinating the leader of an army or a country from 600 kilometers away could mean the aversion of a war."

"This is our proposed strike unit. We shall have a single Condor, escorted by two Vigilante electronic-warfare jamming aircraft, and protected all by four to eight F-37A Razor fighters."

Airborne Laser Group

A-26C Condor ABL

One COIL laser


EA-5F Vigilante EW

AIM-120D-2 AMRAAM: 2
AIM-204A Escape: 2
AGM-88F AARGM Block I: 8


F-37A Razor

AIM-120D-2 AMRAAM: 4
AIM-179C BVRAAM: 6
AIM-202A Dodsengel: 6
AIM-204A Escape: 4
600 Gallon Fuel Tank: 2

OOC: Been watching Real Genius lately, the test was the same on in the movie.

OOC: Been watching Real Genius lately, the test was the same on in the movie.

OOC: Perhaps ;). About time someone got it.