Sorry, double post. My bad. How to delete it ?
Good speculation, guys. Here's my $0.03 (1 1/2 times as long):
Bischof is right, in that capture of a Battle Platform is out of the question due to self-detonation. KKV shots should work, though. I'd send the Celestia on a recon/sapper mission to survey all the known Jung systems, and shoot down just the Battle Platforms when seen. They would return with a complete map of Jung forces, and also eliminate the stationary Platforms. That mission would be commanded by Cam, with new Earth recruits including some Intrepid staff.
Nathan's father will never quite forgive his younger son for killing his eldest son. The relationship will be strained, making the Earth-Alliance relationship strained. Nathan needs to focus on the battles to come, though, so he needs someone to run Earth while he is away.
Nathan will be confirmed as at least Commodore, maybe Admiral. Make Cam a Captain, reporting to Nathan officially. Politics and fleet arrangements demand it. The Admiral Kirk quandary will rear its head, as Nathan's best usage is commanding a ship, not ordering ships around. One possible answer is to let Admiral Gallardi take over the over-arching fleet concerns and let Nathan command the Flagship. Galardi's mental state remains an open question, though.
The Celestia will have to rebuild by herself, or possibly with help at Tanna. No help will be forthcoming from the PC or Earth, except possibly staff. With her energy turret, though, she is capable of taking on most smaller targets. That might be needed, if even a single ship emerges from FTL at Tanna.
Speaking of Tanna, I'd like to see a few folks from there join the fleet. That would help balance out the Takarans, Corinari, & Terrans, making a more well rounded Alliance. The Alliance needs to station at least a Jump Shuttle or two there.
The PC is in chaos, so Tug will be unable to provide much support. I have been a big fan of the Avendahl arriving at Earth, but that may be delayed. Tug can probably send more Ghatazak and a few shuttles, and they can start comm relays with Earth. This will open Earth's eyes to the wider universe.
Over and over we've heard the Falcon's class of ships were retired years ago. What do we do with retired airplanes? We mothball them in the desert for later use if needed. Un-mothball the fleet of several hundred Falcon-class interceptors, add the Jump Drives, and send them to add to Nathan's fleet. Station a dozen in Tanna and a dozen in Sol, and you've got a pretty good defence network.
The Jung Battleship will be refitted, and at least become Earth's main defense ship. It probably can't get Jump tech, but it can replace the Intrepid as a sub-light defender. Along with whatever else can be scrambled, it will form the bulk of the Earth's defenses for the attack in 4-5 months.
Putting the Avendahl & the Jung Battleship together would make a much more formidable fleet than Nathan has had access to so far. Perhaps he will transfer his flag there?
Lt. Telles will become Nathan's primary Security Advisor & Tactical Officer. Jessica will be out of action for a while, and he has already proven himself as intelligent and capable. This will also start the integration of Ghatazak into the normal military & society. Tug will find this an interesting example, and will provide more Ghatazak to Nathan to continue this experiment.
One idea I always liked was that of Propaganda. Playing the routing of Jung forces to other systems in the Empire might inspire rebellions there, making the Jung use forces back in their own systems.
Six more books to go, right? 🙂
Over and over we’ve heard the Falcon’s class of ships were retired years ago. What do we do with retired airplanes? We mothball them in the desert for later use if needed. Un-mothball the fleet of several hundred Falcon-class interceptors, add the Jump Drives, and send them to add to Nathan’s fleet. Station a dozen in Tanna and a dozen in Sol, and you’ve got a pretty good defence network.
That would make quite an impact to the Story. Even having 3 to 5 more of them (even Number for the Celesta and Aurora). From the view of the Takaran Politicans (in the case Tug hands would be tied after eventually reinstating a senate) it might look like only giving up some old equipment which anyhow is just standing around.
Bischof has an excellent point about that class of fighter. However, I'm also inclined to think that several hundred of them is rather optimistic/excessive. They seem like they might be rather specialized, so I doubt several hundred of them were even made. My guess is probably closer to 100-200 maybe a bit more. The reason for this estimate is that it seemed like they were scout, and frankly the PC seems kinda small in terms of the number of systems. It's unlikely that you'd need more than a few for each system, and each ship that carried them probably didn't have many of them. It also seems like a lot of them would be destroyed. So it seems more likely that there are only around 50-100 on the high end of the ships, and a lot of those might be damaged ones that have been disassembled for parts rather than mothballed.
It should however be noted that those fighters would likely have to be restored at a Takaran facility, which might have political issues as even if Tug may have on paper given the Alliance a number of pieces of "old equipment". It'll be rather obvious that by the time the Alliance obtains them, likely seen as the point they report to Captain Scott, they'll be high quality super-jump fighters (as they'll likely mount the new, faster jump drive on them since it works for the jump shuttle). There are likely those who would prefer to have them as Takaran fighters rather than Alliance fighters.
Nuc, you have valid points, and of course I don't know what Ryk's plans are, but I think my point was not to release hundreds of long range interceptors into the fight, but at least some. If they prove useful (which they have) then the Takarans will want to use most of them for themselves.
I would think at least SOME should be available for operations in the Sol sector, though. Due to the lack of ships there, they would add a tremendous amount of flexibility to Nathan's forces. Kind of like the Calvary addition to the Civil War era forces. Highly maneuverable, lightweight, recon/quick strike. In fact, the more I think about it, the closer the analog to Calvary seems to me.
Imagine Josh's failed attempt to take out that cruiser if there were instead 6 of the Falcon-class ships in the attack. 🙂
The big thing is that if Nathan could get even 5 of the Falcon class interceptors would be a GREAT help. They can be used for long and short range recon. Also, as a quick reaction or diversionary force, and long range combat air patrol for the fleet. They could be modified to carry the KKV's for long range strike on the Battle Platforms of the Jung in the various core systems. With the KKV's they currently have (I think they have 4) they load up on the Falcon's and go to the systems with the platforms, launch from a right angle position to the planet, jump to a new location to record and recon for battle damage.
The Celestia could be used as the main strike platform for the new modified Falcons.
To put it in military speak of my youth... A Great Force Multiplier!!!
Another thing to consider for the next book is that some of the resistance was re-programmed by the Jung to infiltrate the resistance. I think this was done to Tony. Will there be a way to determine who has been re-programmed? will there be a list left over in the Jung computers that list who was re-programmed?
In the short term, I think that Tug can at least send the Ghatazak that he has laying around back to the SOL system. I'm not sure what else he may be able to do. However, between the Takarans and the Corinari, some ships may be spared.
For Earth, I think the first order of business is re-building the Orbital Dock so that repairs to the Aurora and Celestia can start in earnest. Next, would be the Battle ship left over from the Jung.
Someone will have to try to translate Jung into English. Naralina may be useful there. That will also help with Intelligence gathering as well.
-Eric
I am sure there are some translators left on Earth.
Maybe send Intrepid crew to the Jung Battleship? They would have to get familiar with a new ship anyway, so why not make it that one? Plus, if the Jung ships stays as a large old style FTL ship, then the similarity to the sub-light Intrepid seem pretty close.
Who to Captain it, though?
As to Aurora & Celestia repairs - I bet the Celestia can do most of it herself, since they are internal fittings. If they can get back some of the crew from the Orbital Assembly Platform it would go faster. As to the Aurora, yes, she needs external assistance for emitters, long distance comm, etc. I would do the emitters and then go to Tanna. That would also allow them to dump propellant into Celestia and top off at Tanna, and perhaps the refueling rig at Tanna can also help with the repairs.
Plus, it would help cement the anti-Jung forces in that system, and let Tanna contribute to the cause. They would probably like to get a few licks in against the Jung as well. I'll bet they have other resources they haven't revealed yet, too. Maybe a small shuttle fleet. They could start jumping to Earth to assist, like the farming planet did for the Corinari in the PC.
Additionally, we could check in on Captain Dubnyk. 😉
Captain Dubnyk... That guy is REALLY shady... with they way he left the Aurora and just being dumped on Tanna, I'm thinking he will hold a little grudge... but not to big of one... He is an opportunist, always looking for a good angle to run on... He may be of some help, but not with out a little bit of a price to pay himself to ensure his own survival...
As for repairs for the ships... I think they will fully repair Aurora at Earth. They will do enough repairs to make Celestia space worthy enough and outfit with jump emitters and send her to Tanna to finish her build out and logistical support from a planet base. This will also solidify relations with the people of Tanna politically in that they are regarded as essential allies for the Alliance.
If Tug can send a few refurbished Falcons or older Falcons retrofitted with jump drives will be a GREAT help... I'm thinking that they would could base those on the Celestia. Celestia can be refitted easier due to her current lack of internal structure. A combat wing of Falcons on Celestia could be a great all purpose platform (i.e. combat strike, long range combat patrol, Long/short range recon, planet defense/early attack warning). The Falcon is a versatile air/space frame for many uses.
That Jung battleship left at Earth will most likely be manned with left overs from the Intrepid crew and others with space experience. some of the Intrepid crew will also be sent to Celestia to man her during her refit.
One problem with that eric g. KKV's are as big as a bus. Won't fit on the falcon. Maybe just get the aurora or celestia to drop one off and let the falcon program its coordinates for the strike. I also agree with eric n that the avendahl isn't coming to earth anytime soon. I have more thoughts but at work and lunch is over.
Yeah the KKV's are big but the Falcon most likely can be fitted with external hard points to ferry them to needed areas and use Celestia & Aurora at other places to sow confusion due to slower communications of the Jung...
How do you think the Alliance is going to keep jump drive tech from falling into Jung hand with all theses jump capable shuttles and fighters jumping around.. self destruct circuits.
Not sure a self destruct would be ideal... maybe an ejection system for the jump drive to eject it from a stricken ship in space along with a explosive charge to destroy it... That way the ship could possibly escape and evade intact until the crew can find a good place to hide out...
If the ship is damaged beyond repair and grounded then blow the charges on the jump drive and wipe the computer core... the crew can use escape and evade tactic to stay alive and not get captured.
I'm not sure why everyone wants more Falcons. I want more of the Rebel-modified ship/missiles with oversized engines from books 1-3! They could be shipped without jump drives in a jump freighter, and then modified with follow-up components. Those things can take hits, unlike the fighters.
It is not that I WANT more Falcons, just that it seems like if this were real life, that there would be several Falcons for the taking.
What I WANT is the Avendahl to show up with ZPED on and Shields flaring, spitting electric death. What I WANT is both the Celestia and the Aurora, both fully equipped, jumping in on either side of a Jung Battle Platform. I WANT Nathan to be promoted to Commodore, at least, commanding a squadron of ships including the Aurora, the Celestia, the Jung Battleship, and the Avendahl, plus 20+ smaller ships, as they attack the Jung home world.
But I'll settle for whatever Ryk wants to dish out. 🙂
Hey, a thought about Na-Tan. We seem to agree that someone from this story gets time-shifted back 1000 years or so to write the story. Who would that person best be? Someone who lived the whole adventure, I would think. Someone who saw his climb to greatness, from lowly Ensign to the greatest military hero Earth had seen in over a thousand years. Someone who could speak with authority about his foibles and his abilities... And I think only one person fits the bill: Cam.
Commence discussion. 🙂
