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[Haspen]

You're the new director!

The SPAMFLEET HEADQUARTERS is keeping an eye on your developments; do well and they will keep you, do bad and they will replace you.

SPAMFLEET needs you especially now that the existence of civilized aliens (the insectoid Glorks, and the reptilian Rambaduntani) have been confirmed and the Warp Theory has been proved (SFHQ is still trying its hardest to recover the experimental warp ship).

January 2200

Your secretary presents to you the SPAMFLEET Roster and SPAMSHIP Component List.

Spoiler: SPAMFLEET Roster (click to show/hide)

Spamtacus (Escort, d.2190)
Warp: 0
Impulse: 3 (Fissile Pulse Thrusters x3)
Weaponry: 1 (Slug Battery x1)
Point Defense: 1 (Red Point Laser x1)
Cargo: 0
Science: 0
AVG.RATING: 0.83
COST: 11 MegaCredits

Spoiler: SPAMSHIP Component List (click to show/hide)

WARP:
Fusion-Driven Warp Torus (Rate/Cost: 1/3)

IMPULSE:
Fissile Pulse Thrusters (Rate/Cost: 1/1)

WEAPONRY:
Slug Battery (Rate/Cost: 1/1)
Salt Missile Launcher (Rate/Cost: 2/3)

POINT DEFENSE:
Red Point Laser (Rate/Cost: 1/1)
Scrap Flak (Rate/Cost: 0.5/0.5)

CARGO:
Cargo Hold (Rate/Cost: 1/1)

SCIENCE:
Generic Lab (Rate/Cost: 1/2)

"Our facilities are the Utopia Spamitia Yards on Mars, for construction and testing of new prototypes, and the Europa Warlab, for testing developed technologies and making up new ones." He puts down a datapad on your desk.

"The first commission from SFHQ is that we need to determine whether Spamtacus-class Escort is viable for refit or should they nag the Government about approving a new ship class. As you know, refits allow to install new equipment on old ships to prolong their service span, while a new ship needs to be designed, built, tested and approved."

A) "Spamtacus is a warp-less, costly design that will be a pain to refit. A brand new design is needed!"
B) "Refitting Spamtacus saves us valuable time and resources, given the existence of potentially warmongering aliens!"

[m1895]

A

[Haspen]

The secretary writes down your decision.

"I will pass it to the HQ, sir."

Mid-January 2200

"Great news, sir!" Your secretary arrives with a pad in his hands. "The HQ and the Government have agreed with your idea and Spamfleet has sent its expectations for new design. They want a warp-capable escort within reasonable amount of costs."

NEW ESCORT DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
Cost: 10 or less MegaCredits
Uses Fusion-Driven Warp Torus
Weaponry rating at least 2

"I wish to remind you, sir, that multiples of the same equipment will require more hull space and hardware, therefore, higher costs than a compact design."

"So that's why Spamtacus is so costly, huh?"

"Yes, your predecessor thought that triple impulse engine will make it go, to quote 'nyooom harder than any other', which made the impulse and fuel systems account for more than three-fourths of its cost..."

A) (DESIGN SPAMSHIP HERE)
B) "These requirements are too tough! I can't design good ships with such harsh limitations!"

[m1895]

Is this done correctly?

spammibal (Escort, d.2200)
Warp: 1 (Fusion-Drive Warp Torus x1)
Impulse: 1 (Fissile Pulse Thrusters x1)
Weaponry: 3 (Slug Battery x1, Salt Missile Launcher x1)
Point Defense: 1.5 (Red Point Laser x1, Scrap Flak x1)
Cost: 3+1+4+1.5=9.5

[Haspen]

Couldn't be more correct.


You come up with a design you believe should be satisfactory, and send it to the SFHQ.

2200, Few days later

The SFHQ sends back its approval, and you are greenlighted to build the prototype.

The Yardmaster at Utopia Spamitia estimates that the Spammibal should be out of the drydock and ready for test cruises in about 6 weeks.

Meanwhile, Chief Science Officer of Europa Megalab asks for a holo-conference with you.

"Here at Europa we've finished our Warp theory post-experiments and are ready to actually dedicate our resources to your department, sir. Is there any specific topic we should pursue?"

A) "Yes, get me some new stuff in the category of..."
*A) Warp!
*B) Impulse!
*C) Weaponry!
*D) Cargo and Equipment!
B) "Yes, spearhead some breakthroughs in..."
*A) Energy and Physics!
*B) Shipbuilding!
C) "No, just keep trying random things until something interesting shows up."

[m1895]

A*B

[Haspen]

You ask for better impulse thrusters - after all, the Warp Torus works on fusion, so thrusters should do too!

"Fascinating. I will have my team begin our experiments immediately."

Late January, 2200

6

Report has arrived from Utopia Spamitia Yards; apparently, the Spammibal design is quite 'easy to assemble', according to the Yardmaster. This has pushed the prototype schedule by one week earlier, to Late February 2200

February, 2200

Chief Science Officer of Europa Megalab has requested a holo-conference with you, and the Yardmaster of Utopia Spamitia.

"Sir, here are Europa Megalab we've begun our tests on fusion-based thrusters, and it has come to our attention that instead of building a new fusion reactor, we could use Spammibal to run some output tests. I just need to send the local engineers some specs."

Yardmaster and the Science Officer go over the files, and the Yardmaster grimaces.

"Sir, this will delay the Spammibal by a week, or two even, if we are to install this experimental hardware and run tests for Europans."

A) "Delays? I cannot afford any delays, HQ will have my head!"
B) "A week or two should make zero difference in the long run, proceed!"

[Kashyyk]

B - We'll use that time saved from ease of assembly

[Haspen]

"A week or two should make zero difference in the long run, proceed!"

The holo-conference ends soon, and the Spammibal's test launch was rescheduled to March 2200.

Mid-February, 2200

6

Not only the experiments were concluded within a single stellar week, the Chief Science Officer is ecstatic at the results.

"A number of theories has been proven correct! Thrusters will be the first of many things we can run on fusion power, if Megalab's experiments will also yield such good results!"

"First of many things?"

"Heavy defense lasers! Upscaled red lasers for long range combat! Sustainable blue and UV laser weaponry! Power systems drawing power directly from Warp phenomenon and the Torus' fusion reactor! And more! Here at Europa we will experiment will all these, sir! Of course, your request for thrusters has priority."

March, 2200

6_wtf

The launch of Spammibal is a great success; its versatility in weaponry as well as the Warp Torus has given the United Earth Government a first true Warp-capable military ship. Spamfleet HQ is very satisfied with your work so far.

SFHQ Council has a holo-conference with you in the evening of Spammibal's launch.

"Our talks with Government will surely proceed smoothly given how well the Spammibal has been performing. They will surely agree to raise Spamfleet's budget by quite a bit, and while most of it will go for infrastructure expansion and actual construction of new Spammibals, there should be some left for the Design Bureau." Says the shadowed Councillor.

"In less words: anything your department might fancy?" Adds the Vice Councillor.

A) "A new shipyard dedicated to prototypes would let us test twice as much designs as before!"
B) "A dedicated laboratory would help us test new technologies and thus speed up design-making a lot!"
C) "I believe we're fine; the extra funds would be better spent by military shipyards and stations you guys have."

[m1895]

B

[Haspen]

"A dedicated laboratory would help us test new technologies and thus speed up design-making a lot!" The Councillor, Vice-Councillor, Assistant Councillor, Secretary Councillor and Earth Government Officer Attached to SFHQ Council all murmur in agreement.

"Got it. We will have one ready for you within a half year or so. Until next time, Design Bureau Director."

Mid-March 2200

The uneviling of Spammibal and the schematics of Warp Torus being available to the scientific community has started a small boom in spaceship making.

SFHQ has notified your Bureau that whilst civilian and corporate yards might be producing spaceships of their own, Spamfleet, too, will soon require dedicated cargo and science vessels.

They're currently butting heads with the Government about what should come first.

5

Meanwhile, the work at Europa Megalab is progressing extremely well, says its CSO during a holo-conference with you.

"Our thruster system is almost complete, utilizing fusion power at smaller scale than one needed for the Warp Torus. And my department heads all clamor that we are allowed to pursue energy weapons next."

"How so?"

"Particle accelerators running on fusion power can be utilized to produce energy for both closed and open circuits - as in, laser arrays. Our current prototypes and experiments could be easily utilize to work on new classes of lasers as well as upscaling our current point defense systems into proper laser cannons!"

A) "Space lasers! Finally we can have some proper sci-fi in here!"
B) "Nah, finish the thrusters first and then I will think what topic to pursue next."

[m1895]

A

[Kashyyk]

Agreed

[Haspen]

You greenlight immediate pursuit of fusion-based lasers and other such weaponry.

Late March, 2200

The secretary bursts in with the pad in his hands.

"Sir director! HQ has sent a request for two design specs this time!"

You review the data the HQ has sent.

NEW SCIENCESHIP DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
Cost: 8 or less MegaCredits
Uses Fusion-Driven Warp Torus
Science at least 1

NEW ARMED CARGOSHIP DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
Cost: 8 or less MegaCredits
Uses Fusion-Driven Warp Torus
Weaponry at least 1
Cargo at least 1

As for the Scienceship...

A) (DESIGN SPAMSHIP HERE)
B) "I can't have a proper science vessel at such a small budget!"

As for the Armed Cargoship...

C) (DESIGN SPAMSHIP HERE)
D) "Transport with weapons? With that kinda budget? No way!"

[Iris]

Hrm. Are we going to do a straightforward armed merchantman, or do we want a Q-ship?