Hyperspatial Travel
19-10-2007, 05:20
OOC: This is only open to members of the Hard-Science Future-Tech (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=541078) universe. No-one else may enter. At all.
The Kadoz Commission is an intensely corporate state. That is, monetary concerns beat all others. As such, these newly-commissioned cadets can be hired by anyone who is interested for cheap spaceship labour, so to speak.
IC: The dreadnought wheeled round clumsily, a giant that attempted to swat a thousand stinging bees. Lasers, illuminated by bright red lines, shot towards it, and, blue lines ran away from it, pulsing constantly. The careful observer would've noted that the massive dreadnought, dwarfing the hundreds of ships attacking it by perhaps fifty times, was taking little damage, as it managed to maintain a decent range, its more powerful guns easily outranging those of the smaller craft.
Frigates and corvettes fell like flies, what had once been a two-hundred strong armada now merely fifty ships. The great dreadnought, it seemed, had managed to defeat the finest fleet of the Kadoz Commission. But it was not to be. They had withheld their trump card until the last, using a screen of smaller, laser-armed ships to provide ECM and missile-defence for them, and slowly advancing on the dreadnought with all of their might. It was at this point exactly that the dreadnought would be at the closest range - it was steadily accelerating away from them, and their fuel that could be used for acceleration was all but spent.
"Fire."
Captain Elis gave the order, and hundreds of missiles, tiny beyond anything else on the battlefield, shot out, rocketing towards the dreadnought. Thousands, after the third volley. The crew of the dreadnought seemed to recognize their danger, and attempted to shoot them down. But their numbers were so great that it could not be done. Although lasers pulsed through space, and scatterguns gave anti-missile volley after volley, almost a tenth of the missiles reached their target. A deadly amount.
The bomb-pumped lasers exploded, x-rays wreaking havoc on the dreadnought, almost instantaneously disabling all of the vital systems, and damaging the fusion-bottle engines heavily.
The battle was over. No more responses came from the disabled dreadnought, and it could no longer accelerate away from the victorious Kadoz fleet. All that remained was to salvage it, see who it was from.
"Good, good!"
The instructors's voice broke through the simulation room, each cadet intensely focused on the simulation. They knew not to answer, even when the simulation had seemed to end.
The instructor raised a hand, and clicked his fingers. The computers simultaneously shut down, each cadet turning to face the instructor.
"As you can see, even a larger craft can be brought down, provided you know its weaknesses beforehand. Class AB66, you have successfully passed your battle exam. Congratulations. I will recount your status, so that you may know no error has occurred. This exam is the culmination of a campaign simulation thirty-nine simulations long, the majority of which were conducted individually. Your team commander was appointed by random selection, and you then followed him remarkably well. Only 8% of classes are capable of completing Mission 37, in which you gain the data and location of the alien dreadnought. The successful destruction of the dreadnought marks you all as future commander material. The completion of missions past Mission 12 allows you entrance into the Fleet, and you have all performed admirably. The eight of you who have passed, congratulations. Following this success, you will be transferred to cutters of your own, where you will be dispatched for service for either the Commission or whoever they choose to give your services to. Your pay will be at the starting level of five hundred thousand monetary credits per year, 80% of which will be garnished until your debt to the Academy is repaid. You have three revolutions to prepare for your transfer onto your ships. Good luck, cadets."
The cadets saluted, their hearts thumping with excitement. To go out into the sector - they were the best of the two hundred thousand cadets who applied for the Academy each year, one in twenty-five thousand. Others would command eventually, but they, they would be transferred onto older corvettes immediately, and take command in three days.
They all knew the difficulties. As the smartest and best, they were often envied and hated by their crews, who had been serving far longer than them. But charisma was an inevitable part of success, and if they could not calm their crew's concerns, they would not retain their commands for long.
Eisfar, Jan, Maurice, Hoka, Geresfar, Iona, Jane, and Robert were the eight Kadoz Elite Cadets. The crop of elites each year was general one in a hundred thousand - this year had yielded a much larger group of elites.
As such, their services would be offered to the universe, at a premium. The Kadoz had learned that one of the best ways to advertise their military prowess was to rent it out. If people saw the efficiency and deadliness of the Kadoz military firsthand, they would be less likely to strike at them.
The contract for these Kadoz forces were put out on the 'nets. Although patchy between worlds, Kadoz freighters were paid to carry contract information with them, and transmit them from system to system. Considering that not many Kadoz were available to be hired, the elite forces they offered were often snapped up by governments who needed outsiders to hunt down rebels, or rebels who desired raiding forces capable of helping supply them. Any group in good standing with the Kadoz could hire them.
Contract: Eight Artificer-class corvettes. Patrol group. Experienced combat crews, capable of policing small areas, and hunting renegades.
Cost: $200 million per six months. Includes upkeep and crew payment, as well as insurance costs.
Limitations: Kadoz forces have a surrender policy when confronted with overwhelming enemy speed and firepower. Kadoz mercenaries are required to stay only whilst being paid, no longer. The deliberate useage of Kadoz forces as bait in a trap or to be sacrificed to further your cause will immediately cancel all Kadoz contracts with you, and bounties will be placed on the offending commander's head.
Contact: Kadoz Fleet HQ, High Orbit, Irrala.
The Kadoz Commission is an intensely corporate state. That is, monetary concerns beat all others. As such, these newly-commissioned cadets can be hired by anyone who is interested for cheap spaceship labour, so to speak.
IC: The dreadnought wheeled round clumsily, a giant that attempted to swat a thousand stinging bees. Lasers, illuminated by bright red lines, shot towards it, and, blue lines ran away from it, pulsing constantly. The careful observer would've noted that the massive dreadnought, dwarfing the hundreds of ships attacking it by perhaps fifty times, was taking little damage, as it managed to maintain a decent range, its more powerful guns easily outranging those of the smaller craft.
Frigates and corvettes fell like flies, what had once been a two-hundred strong armada now merely fifty ships. The great dreadnought, it seemed, had managed to defeat the finest fleet of the Kadoz Commission. But it was not to be. They had withheld their trump card until the last, using a screen of smaller, laser-armed ships to provide ECM and missile-defence for them, and slowly advancing on the dreadnought with all of their might. It was at this point exactly that the dreadnought would be at the closest range - it was steadily accelerating away from them, and their fuel that could be used for acceleration was all but spent.
"Fire."
Captain Elis gave the order, and hundreds of missiles, tiny beyond anything else on the battlefield, shot out, rocketing towards the dreadnought. Thousands, after the third volley. The crew of the dreadnought seemed to recognize their danger, and attempted to shoot them down. But their numbers were so great that it could not be done. Although lasers pulsed through space, and scatterguns gave anti-missile volley after volley, almost a tenth of the missiles reached their target. A deadly amount.
The bomb-pumped lasers exploded, x-rays wreaking havoc on the dreadnought, almost instantaneously disabling all of the vital systems, and damaging the fusion-bottle engines heavily.
The battle was over. No more responses came from the disabled dreadnought, and it could no longer accelerate away from the victorious Kadoz fleet. All that remained was to salvage it, see who it was from.
"Good, good!"
The instructors's voice broke through the simulation room, each cadet intensely focused on the simulation. They knew not to answer, even when the simulation had seemed to end.
The instructor raised a hand, and clicked his fingers. The computers simultaneously shut down, each cadet turning to face the instructor.
"As you can see, even a larger craft can be brought down, provided you know its weaknesses beforehand. Class AB66, you have successfully passed your battle exam. Congratulations. I will recount your status, so that you may know no error has occurred. This exam is the culmination of a campaign simulation thirty-nine simulations long, the majority of which were conducted individually. Your team commander was appointed by random selection, and you then followed him remarkably well. Only 8% of classes are capable of completing Mission 37, in which you gain the data and location of the alien dreadnought. The successful destruction of the dreadnought marks you all as future commander material. The completion of missions past Mission 12 allows you entrance into the Fleet, and you have all performed admirably. The eight of you who have passed, congratulations. Following this success, you will be transferred to cutters of your own, where you will be dispatched for service for either the Commission or whoever they choose to give your services to. Your pay will be at the starting level of five hundred thousand monetary credits per year, 80% of which will be garnished until your debt to the Academy is repaid. You have three revolutions to prepare for your transfer onto your ships. Good luck, cadets."
The cadets saluted, their hearts thumping with excitement. To go out into the sector - they were the best of the two hundred thousand cadets who applied for the Academy each year, one in twenty-five thousand. Others would command eventually, but they, they would be transferred onto older corvettes immediately, and take command in three days.
They all knew the difficulties. As the smartest and best, they were often envied and hated by their crews, who had been serving far longer than them. But charisma was an inevitable part of success, and if they could not calm their crew's concerns, they would not retain their commands for long.
Eisfar, Jan, Maurice, Hoka, Geresfar, Iona, Jane, and Robert were the eight Kadoz Elite Cadets. The crop of elites each year was general one in a hundred thousand - this year had yielded a much larger group of elites.
As such, their services would be offered to the universe, at a premium. The Kadoz had learned that one of the best ways to advertise their military prowess was to rent it out. If people saw the efficiency and deadliness of the Kadoz military firsthand, they would be less likely to strike at them.
The contract for these Kadoz forces were put out on the 'nets. Although patchy between worlds, Kadoz freighters were paid to carry contract information with them, and transmit them from system to system. Considering that not many Kadoz were available to be hired, the elite forces they offered were often snapped up by governments who needed outsiders to hunt down rebels, or rebels who desired raiding forces capable of helping supply them. Any group in good standing with the Kadoz could hire them.
Contract: Eight Artificer-class corvettes. Patrol group. Experienced combat crews, capable of policing small areas, and hunting renegades.
Cost: $200 million per six months. Includes upkeep and crew payment, as well as insurance costs.
Limitations: Kadoz forces have a surrender policy when confronted with overwhelming enemy speed and firepower. Kadoz mercenaries are required to stay only whilst being paid, no longer. The deliberate useage of Kadoz forces as bait in a trap or to be sacrificed to further your cause will immediately cancel all Kadoz contracts with you, and bounties will be placed on the offending commander's head.
Contact: Kadoz Fleet HQ, High Orbit, Irrala.