I think a logical step for Karuzara is to wire all of the jump controls with charges. The only reason they almost lost it was because the Jung were about to take the control room. There were more than enough Ghatazhak to take the asteroid, they just needed the time. If you just designed it so that all the control consoles could be destroyed, this would be less of a problem in the future. Additionally, the asteroid should have a rotating (so they don't get too bored) contingent of Ghatazhak protecting all jump drives and the control room. I would have done this from the moment it arrived in Sol.
As a former US Marine, the question of loyalty seems like an old one to me. You may have heard us use the phrase "Loyal to God, Country, Corps." If you are loyal only to the organization to which you belong, then there is a very real possibility of the organization going off on a tangent. When they owe loyalty to higher powers (God and a moral compass, Civilian authority [i.e. The President], some/any source outside of the organization) then you have a much lower chance of the organization going off the rails.
And it also seems like a routine question, one that would have been asked and answered many centuries before. Sorry, that one seemed to ring untrue to me.
Nice Episode. What a Battle! It felt not that tight to fail since they boarded the Aurora.
Specially as the 3 Falcons nearly escaped.
In terms of ratio ... you think the the following does kind of match it ?
Thinking of making myself a T-Shirt
I guess kids on Earth played afterwards - Aurora, Battle-Platform, Karuzara
-
Battle-Platform destroys Aurora
Karuzara crashes Battle-Platform
Aurora Immobilizes Karuzara
Like in ... instead of Rock Paper Stone 😉 ... at least that's what I imagined while reading the book.
Good Job regarding:
- Chronology. I guess its getting more difficult and difficult to keep all the little details in order the further you get into the story. So, l guess your systems works.
- Writing Style. As I read a couple of Ian Douglas books in between Episode 11 and 12 to bridge the time, I have to say that it did really good to be able to emerge my self in a smoother, more flowing writing style again. Well done.
(Btw. Rather agree that Dumar's promotion to Admiral and Leader of the Alliance felt kind of as the most logical thing to do. I mean, this guy has the most experience in leadership, planing of interstellar warfare and is loyal to the Alliance.
+
When your plan was to introduce with Roselle a Character whom everyone would enjoy to use as a Punching bag, than congratulations ... I was surprised that Nathan did not demoted him down to XO, when he called him a softy for looking after his crew. I would have.)
My personal extrapolations for following Episodes because of EP12:
- Earth: The President is the Spy and Nathan has to put his Father into Prison.
- Tanna: Either Abby gets Kidnapped or our old and devious Captain Dubnyk will steal a BoxCar and Jump it to the Jung for personal Gain.
- Civilisations around Earth: They are going to destroy the Jung Battle Platforms and Ships in Orbit and 5 out of 6 Civilisations will hate them for it.
I thought it was 20Km vs 60Km and the aurora is 1477m. It would take 40 Aurora's nose to tail to make the diameter
Another awesome book. Battle action, character development, expanded story threads, new tactics, more of everything that makes the Frontiers Saga great reading. Keep up the great work Ryk. Thought I would do a little data mining to baseline what has been going on over 12 episodes (and counting). So here goes.
THE JUNG
1. The conversations between Gen Bacca and Adm Toliva are the first insights into the Jung military mind set.
- We found out that the Jung have a 1000 year plan for conquest and are "ONLY" 200-300 years into it. I'd say they have been fairly successful and can not be underestimated. They know military operations!!
- Gen Bacca confirmed that Eli was the source of the initial STS test jump that led to the ambush.
- They know about the Alliance and the PC. Their discussion regarding logistics is illuminating.
- Who are the Ton-Gar? The 2 battle platforms names were Ton-Tori and Ton-Conoc so how does Ton-Gar fit in? I believe they are the supreme military rulers of the 6 core systems within 20 light years of Sol.
2. The Jung are fast learners and develop/employ new tactics as threats emerge. Mini-FTL jumps, employing kill zones, incendiary rail-gun projectiles, kamikaze FTL jumps are a few examples.
3. What about assets and ship loses in the SOL/AC area of operations [Nomenclature: Gunboats (G/B), Frigates (F), Cruisers (C), Battleships (B/S), Battle Platform (B/P), Troopship (T/S), Orbital Bomber (O/B)]
Bk 1 "Aurora CV-01"
* Jung Ships: 2 (G/B) Total = 2
* Destroyed: Aurora - 2(G/B)
Bk 7 "The Expanse"
* Jung Ships; 2 (F), 3(C), 1(B/S) Total = 6 (Note: Others may have been in the SOL system but not used to try to ambush the Aurora upon her return. These include some assets that Gen Bacca had to hold Earth at the start of Bk 9 "Resistance")
* Destroyed: Aurora - 2(C)
Bk 8 "Celestia CV-02"
* Jung Ships: 8 (F), 10(C), 4 (T/S) Total = 22 (Note: This is the composition of the first invasion fleet)
* Destroyed: EDF - 1(F), 1(C),1(T/S); Intrepid - 6(F), 2(C), 1(T/S) Note: The Intrepid's impressive kill ratio lends credence that for near earth defense non-FTL ships can be very effective; Reliant - 2(C); Volkov - 1(C); Lhang-Ti - 2(C); LGRA - 1(C).
Bk 9 "Resistance"
* Jung Ships: 2(G/B), 4(F), 4(C), 1(B/S) Total = 11 (Note: These assets are mentioned in a discussion between Eli and Gen Bacca. Also, there is an OAP comprised of 2 surviving troop ships)
* Destroyed: None - no engagements
Bk 10 "Liberation"
* Jung Ships: 2(G/B), 4(F), 4(C), 1(B/S), 1(OAP) Total = 12
* Destroyed: Aurora - 2(G/B), 3(F), 4(C), 1(B/S), 1(OAP); Celestia - 1(F) Note: As she was sitting on the moon Metis
Bk 11 "Born of the Ashes"
* Jung Ships: 8 (G/B), 6(F), 4(C), 2(B/S), 24 (O/B) Total = 44 (Note: Includes 2 Frigates that entered the SOL system ahead of the re-inforcement fleet. 1 damaged cruiser and 3 gunboats escape)
* Destroyed: Jar-Keurog - 1(F); Airwing/402's - 4(G/B) Unk (O/B) Note: There were 11 (O/B) in orbit after the (B/P) is destroyed. The Celestia/402's engaged these (O/B); Aurora - 3(F), 2(C), 1.5(B/S), .5(B/P); Celestia - 1(G/B), 4(F), 1(C), .5(B/S), .5(B/P) 13+(O/B) Note: Celestia had destroyed 13 of 24 (O/B) before the destruction of the (B/P)
Bk 12 "Rise of the Alliance"
* Jung Ships: 24+ (G/B), 3(F), 3(C), 1(B/S), 1(B/P) Total = 32+
* Destroyed: Aurora - 1(F), 3(C), .5(B/S) Note: Even though the Jung blew up the Jar-Pontahk, I credited it to the Aurora & Celestia. The Aurora probably gets credit for at least 23 (G/B). The Falcon took out one); Celestia - 2(F), .5(B/S); Alliance - 1 (B/P)
4. Total Jung Ships = ~114 vessels of various classes and capabilities throughout the SOL/AC area of operations. Total Jung Ships Destroyed = ~ 106 (4 escaped, 2 Troop ships get counted twice as the OAP and separately in different episodes). The Aurora has killed 27+(G/B), 7(F), 11(C), 3 (B/S), .5 (B/P) and 1 OAP. The Celestia has killed 1(G/B), 7(F), 1(C), 1 (B/S), .5(B/P) and 13+(O/B). Total between the two = 74+ ships.
5. Jung assets still within 20 light years of SOL = 68 ships including at least 6 battleships and 7 battle platforms. There should be some serious engagements over the next 3 books.
THE AURORA/CELESTIA
1. Both ships are taking a pounding. The Karazara will have to work miracles.
2. Both ships have lost a lot of crew KIA/WIA. I couldn't keep track of the actual figures but they are significant. I'm assuming that all the WIA are returned to duty after nanite treatment. But how have they been replacing the KIA? Most significant death in this episode was Lt. Jacoby, the Celestia's navigator.
3. Of 21 Falcons (The original Falcon and 20 402's that jumped from the PC) only 3 survive. The loss of the pilots is the most damaging factor. I believe there are still 16 Talons and 21 Eagles.
THE GHATAZHAK
1. Without these guys the Jung would have won a long time ago! Lt. (CDR) Telles is a military tactical wizard. The use of the combat jumpers to defend Porto Santo was brilliant.
2. They lost 2 of 14 combat jumpers. Actual numbers are not available but they took some serious personnel loses fighting the Jung on the Karazara (now something < 1032 combat ready troops).
THE KARAZARA
1. I'll take a 60KM rock over a 20KM battle platform any day. They lost at least 4 Falcons, a lot of personnel, the main docking platform was damaged, the main tunnel pressurized doors were destroyed and 187 jump field emitters were knocked out. They have 37 days till they return to earth orbit and it will take a lot of that time to repair the base. The 6 boxcars that were in system all survived.
Keep writing them Ryk.
Tomcat, I LOVE your analysis. Keep 'em coming.
It looks like you are crediting 1/2 B/P to each of Aurora and Celestia, but that only adds up to 1 B/P and with episode 12 they have killed two, right?
Eric,
You are correct there have been 2 Battle Platforms destroyed. I gave .5 to each the Aurora and Celestia in Bk 11 and then gave the Alliance the credit in BK 12. I figure between the Karazara jumping in front of the BP as she was going FTL, ripping off 2 arms and significantly damaging the central spine coupled with the final destruction done by the Aurora/Scout 3 KKV that it was a group effort.
Now I'm losing sleep over speculating about BK 13!!!
Just finished the book and I loved it, just like the first 12 books. The only down side is having to wait for the next one to come out. That said, I don't want them rushed where it would affect quality of the story. Keep up the great work.
aw hell, Ryk. Just throw 'em out there. We need 13, 14 & 15 now!
Great Episode! Been wanting to see what others think will happen next. I believe the spy is Captain Nash and that Jess will kill him just like Nathan had to kill his older brother. I think he murdered his captain during sleep.
I think we'll start to see more practical applications for the jump drive and ZPED. We've seen them used heavily in tactical scenarios. I think we'll start to see logistical applications for them in the coming episodes. These applications, whatever shape they may come in, will ensure rapid expansion of the Alliance. We've already seen them used in large scale with the asteroid and large transport ships. I think we'll soon see miniaturization as well. Micro ZPED and Blink Device if you will. I'm still hoping for ghatazak with blink (micro jump) ability 🙂 For instance.. Ghatazak with precalculated blink coordinates in a battle field. Shoulder mounted laser with predetermined firing angle and duration prior to subsequent blink. Who can stop 'em?!
I have read the complete 12 books in a week, what a feast it has been!!
About Capt Dubnyk, my money is on him being that Capt Jung who started it all all those centuries ago
I recon Capt Dubnyk would make a great Alliance asset he knows Sol space like no one else. Ask the man about smuggling routes/tricks that could be used against the Jung.
Captain Jung would have to have been operating in the early few years after the plague. Capt Dubnyk was asleep and orbiting a frozen rock.
I recon Catpain Jung is dead, but his descendants and followers have 300+ year lives and live on a planet that due to a dying star had to be rendered portable and that is why no one knows where it is. It would also explain why they pushed for space folding warp (I recon planetships would hit all the space debris). also because it is moving, they hollowed it out and live in it. Thing Karuzara but oh so much bigger and they use it as a Battle Platform construction facility.
I can't wait for when Nathan says "We need bigger KKV's."
One insignificant minor detail about the ep 12..have i understood well that Porto Santo Island is referred as being part of Açores Archipelago? if i did its a geographic error Porto Santo belongs to Madeira islands not Açores 🙂
With so many ships, even small ships equipped with the jump drive i think it will be harder and harder for the Jung eventually not being able of getting their hands on one..and as they are so mighty, that is messing up with my nerves lol. How is Rick going to deal with this matter? i don t like enemies so might and then being defeated easily. The Jung having a battle platform on every system they control and hundreds or thousands of war ships plus the jump drive seems very hard to defeat.
I would agree that the “spy” (if any) has to be either Captain Poc or Captain Nash. That would make a lot of sense. Ryk seems to be setting up Roselle as an unlikely mentor to Nathan (see the last scenes).
None of the three Captains are likely to be spies for a simple reason, each one of the already has or will shortly have access to a jump capable ship. What would be the advantage of spying for the Jung if they already do posess the thing the Jung desperately want? If any one of them is the spy they could just jump away, shoot their crew and go to a Jung controlled system and there is absolutely nothing the Alliance could do.
