>>25098728

We shall enjoy the current festivities. If there is someone who could provide funding for the RRC's projects, we shall make them company.

If not, then try to discover who sent our gift.

We're still ahead, although they now have the heaviest rocket -- something that surely won't be missed by anyone's military.

Even so we've earned a party for being first in space this past year and all that; let's just enjoy the evening...

... and call a staff meeting with the trusted people early in the afternoon tomorrow (to give everyone inclding ourselves a chance to get presentable) and decide where to go from here.

>>25099173
A meteorite, especially one this large, is a rare and expensive gift. Whoever gave it to you must be either wealthy, or have a lot of land upon which a meteorite could have fallen.
This narrows the field down to Harker, Klaus, or Minerva.

>>25099199
The Cheribum will be the largest rocket once it is ready for testing.

Harker advises a sub-orbital test of his Meteor, followed by the development of a much larger orbital version to put on the Cheribum.

Smith advises building a network of small satelites using the pathfinder capsule and MiniVAC.

Klaus is eager to build a Radio-Reactive pile.

>>25099450

Are the satelloons still there? Given how light and large they are they should deorbit fairly quicklyish.

>>25099580
Some of them have indeed fallen out of orbit and burned up in the atmosphere. However she has been replacing them. Currently there are 4 up there. 6, evenly spaced, are required for complete coverage of the equator.

>>25099450

We should inquiry Minerva first, about the gift. If Klaus is with her, he should be the next. Otherwise, Harker, then Klaus.

>>25099647
We should enjoy the festivities, then get back to work.

>>25100266
You also receive two other presents. Firstly from your parents, you recieve a fancy new dress, and from the RRC itself, a sword suitable to be worn in uniform.

Not just any sword however. This one is gradated with notches, and has a slider fitted into the blood-groove, as well as a transparent section in the scabbard. With the slider and the scabbard, it can function as a very large (and very sharp) slide rule. A regular slide rule is probably more practical, but this is definitely an interesting novelty nonetheless.

Soon, it will be the new year. You have 40 points to spend for the Turn 1 budget.

>>25100603

No talking with the others?

We should at least speak with Klaus. We asked for his participation, and yet have not interacted with him at all yet.

>>25100603

That's insanely cool.

>>25100674

Let's not have the guy under surveillance, if at all psisble.

>>25100795

What? We will only talk with him.

>>25100603
Turn 1 Budget:
24RP - Cherubim 10/14
6RP - MiniVAC 10/15
1RP - Construct Waylight Prototype (because physical is needed for more development)
6RP - Construct Arcangel Rocket
2RP - Hawtrey Assembly for Orbital Insertion attached to the Meteor
1RP - Lydia Gates - Improve Engineering

>>25100674
"Goe-good more-ing" Klaus says, his Anglish slipping slightly as he is startled by your entrance. "I didn't see you, your highness"

>>25101038

I second this plan.

>>25101101

Ask him how he likes the RRC. What are his expectations with the program and his contributions.

Then ask him about himself. Silly thing slike dreams and family, what gift he received and what he gave.

>>25101253
"The SSC doesn't have Radio-reactive power." Klaus blushes as if caught doing something shameful. "I've always been interested in energy."

Capacha
>aThister archvillian

>>25101721
"Then you're in luck. While we cannot say when exactly, it is our desire to have a small radio-reactive pile for experiments soon, and a full-sized radio-reactive power turbine by the beginning of the next storm season."

>>25101721

"Nobody does yet, that's your job, no? Admit it, you've always wanted to wield greater energies than anyone before you, while safely esconced in a bunker in a tropical island."

>>25101721

"Good, we will be needing some of that power."

Ask him about the party and gifts now.

Also, there is no need for him to be embarassed just because royalty is speaking with him about something he likes about. I'm sure the can have similar tastes.

>archvillian

Hmm, foreshadowing?

>>25101770
>>25101921
"I can't wait to work on that, but Vrau Palas is just making me work on boring sums. I'm getting frustrerend."

When the topic turns to gifts however, he blushes and tries to change the subject. "So, what are you planning to do to keep up with that Merikan girl?"

>>25102404
"In a few more months, we shall have ready an active radio retransmitter, which we will use to create an artificial radio network that can be used by ships and planes to orient themselves and to determine their location by triangulating their position.
"And then there is the Cheribum, which shall allow us to send up a much greater payload than ever before."
Starting next turn, we should get the experimental radio-reactive pile up and working.

>>25102404

"Actually something that'll need a lot of math. We have to work out a reliable way to make capsules catch up with each other, this will let us build a proper Void Fort."

>>25102404

"Finish our current project; it should be the largets rocket ever, bigger even than hers. Some computing power too. Then we will begin work on your project, which I have big hopes for."

Then, with a smile, we will press the matter of the gifts again. And this time, ask if he knows who send us our gift, which we absolutely loved. After all, we're trying to reach space, but someone brought us a piece of space. That's so romantic.

Yes, the last line is supposed to be said.

>>25102595
First people were all over Prince Orion, and now they're after this Suthlander boy?
A Princess does not do such things.

>>25102630

Orion is uncivilised. I see no reason why people wanted him at all.

Klaus, however, is not a bad match. He's smart, civilised, and has the knowledge and potential to help the princess achieve her goals.

Considering she is not the heir, and that was not a real suggestion to propose to him or something (just teasing), I see no problem with it.

>>25102734
Both are a poor choice, one because of savage birth, the other due to low birth. We are goddamn nobility. Marriage to such low born folk would be scandalous. Even if we were interested, both parties would need achievements sufficient to put themselves outside the realm of question.

>>25102845

Being amongst the first people in space or helping invent clean (or so we think) energy counts.

Moving on!

>>25101038
24RP - Cherubim 10/14
6RP - MiniVAC 10/15
1RP - Construct Waylight Prototype (because physical is needed for more development)
6RP - Construct Arcangel Rocket
2RP - Hawtrey Assembly for Orbital Insertion attached to the Meteor
1RP - Lydia Gates - Improve Engineering

Budget confirmed. You spend the rest of the turn studying engineering as work continues on the Cheribum. Sir harker however wonders why you are attaching an engine onto the Meteior. It's designed for sub-orbital flight, and he doesn't think it's quite ready for a full orbital flight just yet. At least not this model.

>>25102976
He is sure that the Meteor is not ready for orbital insertion? Originally he said that it was designed for spaceflight and atmospheric re-entry.
If he feels that it is not ready, however, as its lead designer, then we shall have the thruster assembly removed and stored for the next object we launch into orbit.

>>25102976
"Better to have it and not need it than vice versa. A good shakedown flight then we may attempt orbital insertion. Do you have any specific misgivings?"

>>25103051

Plus, the weight needs to be there, no?

>>25102845
>>25102942

If Klaus work is good enough, we could ask the King to consider giving him a noble title.

But of course, before he can receive a title, he must change nationality to midlander. Which can be done with a marriage.

>>25103051
"Well I suppose" He starts to do some calculations in his head. "Weight will be tight, but it should be able to launch on the Archangel. It would have the same mission plan as the pathfinder but with less margin for error." Remember we haven't tested either Hawtry's engines or the Meteor."

>>25103274

"Isn't it better to have an engine than to be forced to glide down?"

>>25103274
Given the Reliability of the Meteor, we shouldn't risk it with the Thrusters as well. It's far too dangerous, and Harker only has Stamina 2.

>>25103274
" You may be right then. No need to have too many untested systems up in the air. Both you and Lady Cobham are incredible pilots, but I had ought not press our luck"

>>25103376
The engine will be completely out of fuel during the descent. It will need the RCS system to de-orbit, and then glide down without power no matter what. Hauling jet fuel into space would be useless.

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>>25103378
>>25103466


.... point.

>>25103466
Detach the thruster assembly from the Meteor and put it in storage. We will have Harker take the Meteor up without it this time.

>>25103572
"I must be getting old," Harker jokes as he talks you down from launching him into orbit in an untested space-plane. Opting instead for the slightly less risky mission.

Current Inventory.

>1x Mk4c
>1x MiniVac
>1x HA Meteor
>1x Hawtry engine.

End turn?

>>25103715

That looks about right!

>>25103715
Can we launch the Meteor this turn? Or is it changed so that a launch cannot be done in the same turn as when the rocket to be launched is built?

>>25103834
You could launch it on the Cherubim if you wanted, but that would be unsafe and excessive. A Barachiel would be enough for a sub-orbital flight, if the Meteor was launched without any cargo, just a pilot.

>>25103970
Ok then. Only one risk needed per round. Lets put it off till next round.

>>25103970
We have an Arcangle, though. We don't need to use the Cheribum prototype.

>>25103970
>>25103715
You're missing the Arcangel Rocket from the Turn 1 Budget.
>>25102976
>6RP - Construct Arcangel Rocket

>>25104097
Oh derp. You could launch now then if you wanted.

>>25104107
Let's launch it now. We are in a race, and the alien threat is still out there.

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>>25104107

Launch nao!

You load sir Harker and the waylight prototype into the meteor and load it on top of the Archangel for it's first sub-orbital test flight.

Where shall the target be?

>The SSCs ranch, west of the Merikan city state.
>Fort Adler in Midland
>Halcon manor in Midland
>Somewhere else?

>>25104290

Probably the manor; it'll make it easier for him to return and there's probably things in palce for an emergency there already, without using military assets.

>>25104290
We shall get Ms. Kenaway's leave to land in her airfield before launching. If we are unable to collect this, could Harker make it back here without issue?

>>25104290
>Halcon manor in Midland
Knowing Harker, there's probably already a landing strip there.

>>25104350
He does have an aerospace company named after him. Where do you think he BUILT the Meteor?

Capacha,
>stchared buisness

>>25104378
Exactly.
His manor is the perfect place to make him land.

>>25104392
Seconding manor.

Harker loads the Meteor with the radio equipment and the glider is mounted on top of the Archangel.
It's overkill, but Harker is used to these kinds of flights, and it's hardly the most dangerous part of the spacecraft.

>Meteor 5/10
>Harker 2/3/2 - 1
>Radio equipment 5/9
>Archangel 18/19

The rocket is fueled, leaded and awaiting your order to launch. You have 3 luck points.

>>25104713
Wish Harker the best of luck and then proceed to countdown.

>>25104713
Proceed to countdown!

Rolled 8, 1 - 2 = 7

>>25104780
>>25104799
Five
Four
Three
Two
One
Ignition!

>>25104817

captcha: 7:26 bblees

Rolled 9, 9 - 2 = 16

>>25104817
The rocket soars up into the sky on wings of fire and thrusts out of the atmosphere before falling back down to earth in a slow graceful ballistic arc. Harker will have no way of controlling the aircraft until it hits the atmosphere, and if if hits at the wrong angle, it will burn up.

But while he coasts in micro-gravity, he tests the radio equipment.

>>25104927
Failure, then.

>>25104927
For some reason, Harker's radio signal isn't coming through...

You are tracking Harker with active radar, but there is no telemetry coming from the spacecraft's own transponder.

>>25104954
That's a boom actually. Do you want to spend one of your three luck points? He still needs to pass a re-entry and landing check.

>>25104962

Radio his staff and have them keep resuscitation gear ready, just in case!

>>25104988
We shall use a luck point. Landing had ought to be easier for him due to his prodigious flying skill.

Rolled 6, 5 - 2 = 9

>>25104992
You send an emergency wireless to Halcyon Manor. The capsule is rapidly lousing altitude, and should be re-entering the atmosphere right now.

Dame Cobham bursts into the blockhouse as you track the spacecraft. "WHAT'S THAT SCOUNDREL DOING RIGHT NOW!" She demands angrily.

>>25105036
"He is attempting re-entry momentarily."

>>25105036
This is a fail roll, but not a boom, The capsule will be damaged beyond repair and Harker will be injured during re-entry, his piloting skill is not sufficient to downgrade this to a success.

Will you spend one of your three luck points for a re-roll? Harker still has to make a landing roll, if he fails that as well he might die.

>>25105150
Yes, spend on of our Luck points.

>>25105150

yes

Rolled 7, 1 - 2 = 6

re-rolling re-entry, the lower of the two rolls will be selected.

>>25105150
Luck it. But be prepared to spend another one.

>>25105195

Either way the Meteor isn't ready for prime time.

>>25105213
We told Harker it wasn't ready. But he just wouldn't listen. Maybe now he'll respect the safety guidelines that we put out.

Rolled 8, 8 - 2 = 14

>>25105189
Harker's piloting skill makes that a success. He manages to maintain level flight while re-entering the atmosphere.
Now he just has to land an underpowered glider traveling at supersonic velocity.

>>25105071
"Then why isn't his radio on?" Cobham stares daggers straight at you as she understands the severity of the situation.

Rolled 7, 6 - 2 = 11

>>25105256
Automatically re-rolling,

>>25105266
Harker's piloting skill reduces that boom to a fail. The Meteior is destroyed in the crash, but Harker survives with "Minor" injuries. At least until Cobham finds him.

>>25105266
Is that enough to make a landing?

>>25105291
Define landing?

He'll survive if that's what you are wondering.

>>25105288
"Further developement is needed."

>>25105328

As long as nobody dies... Any pilot death at this point would be a PR disaster. Besides, Harker is good.

Got to wonder if having been able to do a powered landing would have helped....

We explain the situation to Dame Cobham in technical terms. She's a professional and can go tsundere on Harker all she likes, but only after the crisis is over.

>>25105288
Once Lady Cobham has left the room, we had ought to warn Sir Harker so that he might book a flight elsewhere. We also must have that flight telemetry such that we can prevent problems of that sort from arising on production versions of the vehicle."

>>25105328
Yes, as long as he survives long enough for Cobham to kill him.

Keep in mind that Harker's survival is ~metaknowledge~ all you know is that the radio wasn't working and that he dropped off radar.

You spend an hour or so reminding Cobham that she is a knight and must conduct herself with dignity, before you get a wireless from the mainland.

"RRC GLIDER CRASHED NORTH OF HAFENSTAD stop PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES end of message"

>>25105502

We relay that to Cobham and when she's gone, figure out how to spin this. It was a test flight; it was Sir Harker doing it; people will hopefully assume that it was hotdogging on his part rather than lack of planning on ours.

>>25105502
"Dame Cobham, we order you to go and fetch Sir Harker and bring him back, alive. A reasonable amount of injury is to be expected. Have we made ourselves clear?"

Mk3 Capsule 'Comet'
Manned Capsule/Satellite Vehicle
Mass 6 Reusable
Payload 4
Takes advantage of Tech Transfer from the Mk2 Pathfinder, and will be the testbed for the Mk4 Explorer.

Mk4 Capsule "Explorer"
Mass 12 Reusable
Payload 9

>>25105585
The public will no doubt assume that. And it's not untrue after all, the Meteor was his project, the RRC did not contribute to it at all.

>>25105615
"Oh i'll get him back you're higness!" Cobham storms off and commandeer's Harker's comet and redlines it for Hafenstad. You are able to arrange a mid-air refueling from one of the RAF's flying fortresses.

>>25105784
Now, let's advance to Turn 2 unless we're going to be speaking with Harker when he returns.

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>>25105854
Harker returns with a his arm in a sling. Fortunately no more burns due to the glider's lack of fuel. He had put down in a fallow field.

When you first see him, he still has that shit eating grin on his face, and Cobham's expression is still stuck in a semi-permanent scowl. "Well, I think I got the hang of it." Harker tries to draw schematics for a larger improved version with his remaining hand. "The wings ought to be bigger. A larger glider would have more drag and more lift, making it easier to control. Also an RCS system is absolutely mandatory. I couldn't fix the radio because I was trying my best to keep it level. Had to throw my weight around to adjust the attitude." Cobham mumbles something about adjusting HIS attitude using the same method.

>Meteor 2
>Mass 8 reusable
>Payload 5
Tech transfer from Meteor (It still flew successfully, technically)

It would be able to be mounted on top of the Cherubim with two units of engine and 2 units of fuel.

Smith on the other hand thinks this is a bad idea, and instead suggests the following.
>Big Pathfinder
>Mass 6 non-reusable
>Payload 5
Tech transfer from Pathfinder

Would use the same engines, but Cary twice as much fuel, allowing it to enter polar orbit with 1 unit left over for emergencies.

You have 40 RnD points and 2 luck points remaining. (+1 for a "successful" manned mission)

>>25106036

Much as we're impressed with Harker's attitude, the Big Pathfinder seems a safer option. A modified version of that could be used for leaving someone in orbit for a while, if they don't go stir crazy by themselves.

>>25106036
The Big Pathfinder is more useful in sending up the scientific equipment we want with a permanent satellite.

The Meteor 2, however, is a better capsule for manned missions.

I believe both have their uses.

>>25106036
Voting Big Pathfinder (perhaps Trailblazer?) for now. Getting a patron might allow for the development of the Meteor 2, but for now, it will need to be put on hold. Not saying no, just not right now.

>>25106036
Turn 2 Budget:
15RP - Test Radio-Reactive Pile (built underground)
10RP - Radiolight Beacon 10/14
3RP (Pathfinder) + MiniVAC + Hawtrey Engine + 1RP (Photovoltaic Power Cells) + 1RP Radiolight Beacon = 5RP
7RP Radio-Reactive Power Cells 10/15
1RP Prototype Radio-Reactive Power Cells

We have 2RP left; I suggest we start training up one of the second-line Void Knights now.

>>25106194

Besides, Sir Harker wouldn't want it to be ready before he's healed, no?

>>25106212

Very this

>Entrols sheriff

>>25106212
Healing Harker will cost 1 RnD point. Smith also advises you that the cherubim is currently at 10/14 and only 12 points from being finished.

>>25106223
Harker is initially disappointed to see the Trailblazer design approved, but his mood lightens up when you put it in those words.

>>25106212
What about
12 Cherubum 10/15
15 Test Radio Reactive Pile
10 Radiolight Beacon 10/14

I want to get the Cherub up, dammit!

>>25106212
2RP
1RP Dame Palmer Engineering improvement
Stamina 3, Piloting 1, Engineering 1

1RP Heal Harker

>>25106264
Yes, but is 1 point of Boom enough to delay the testing of the radiolight beacon, photovoltaic power cells, MiniVAC, a working test pile, and radio-reactive power cell prototypes?

>>25106294
12RP's only gets 1 Boom point, and prevents a whole slew of other developments.
And we have to start investing in the Cheribum again next turn anyway once the test succeeds.

In fact, since it's only a 10/14, we can launch the prototype Cheribum now without a payload just to confirm that it works, and not risk a valuable Capsule.

>>25106312
No but finishing the rocket is. We need to do so to get a prototype made next turn. Our budget: >>25106294
would Have sufficient surplus to allow harkers healing and the training you outlined for Lady Palmer

>>25106343
The slew of other development is serving as an impediment to our immediate need, which is a larger lifter. We need something bigger to lift things into polar orbits.

>>25106362

Agreed on this. Surely the wellbeing of our pilots is a priorirt.

>>25106362
Do you realize that the Cheribum will not be actually finished, even if you spend 12RP? All it does is hit us up against the 10/15 Reliability limit until we have a successful launch of a Mk4c Rocket.
We have a Mk4c Rocket in our inventory RIGHT NOW. We can launch RIGHT NOW.
Delaying until next turn only provides a single point of Boom Reliability, which considering the 10 Failure rating is kind of pointless.

>>25106377
>need a larger lifter
We don't have anything that requires a larger lifter right now.
Look at the designs we have! We don't even have the Big Pathfinder invented yet, and it'll take 18RP just to invent it at 5/10.

>>25106444
That is fine, a capsule will take less time to develop than this rocket has. Sinking the 12 now will delay some of the other projects, certainly, but we must strive to complete this most grand of lifters, however incrementally.

>>25106532
Have you even run the numbers?
It'll still take 7 turns before the Cheribum is safe for sending up manned capsules, 8 if we invent the Big Pathfinder, and then an additional 1 turn to actually build a physical prototype to get past the 5/10 limit, then another turn to launch one with a Cheribum to get past the 10/15 limit.

You don't get it, do you? 12RP now delays all other projects for absolutely no gain.

Alright, I think this is the first thread in this quest to break 100 replies. Thanks guys!

It's getting late though, so confirm turn2's budget so I can go to bed, and we'll pick up a new plot arc on turn 3 this Wednesday.

>>25106669
I'm sticking with this:
15RP - Test Radio-Reactive Pile (built underground)
10RP - Radiolight Beacon 10/14
3RP (Pathfinder) + MiniVAC + Hawtrey Engine + 1RP (Photovoltaic Power Cells) + 1RP Radiolight Beacon = 5RP
7RP Radio-Reactive Power Cells 10/15
1RP Prototype Radio-Reactive Power Cells
1RP Dame Palmer Engineering improvement
Stamina 3, Piloting 1, Engineering 1
1RP Heal Harker

>>25106669
We can launch the Cheribum prototype we have now, with a 10 Failure, a 14 or a 15 Boom isn't going to matter.

>>25106698
With or without Pathfinder payload?

>>25106725
Without. The Pathfinder can be launched next time using an Arcangel First Stage and the rest of the way with Hawtrey's Engine.

>>25106649
The Cherubim is alrady at 10/14. We should complete it, test it, and then improve it.

budget:
12 - complete cherubim design
6 - build cherubim
10 - Radiolight Beacon 10/14
3 (Pathfinder) + MiniVAC + Hawtrey Engine + 1 (Photovoltaic Power Cells) + 1 Radiolight Beacon = 5
1 - Dame Palmer Engineering improvement
Stamina 3, Piloting 1, Engineering 1
1 - Heal Harker
with 5 left over by my count.

>>25106761
Cherubim is already built, just needs to be test fired.

>>25106691
>15RP - Test Radio-Reactive Pile (built underground)
>10RP - Radiolight Beacon 10/14
>3RP (Pathfinder) + MiniVAC + Hawtrey Engine + 1RP (Photovoltaic Power Cells) + 1RP Radiolight Beacon = 5RP
>7RP Radio-Reactive Power Cells 10/15
>1RP Prototype Radio-Reactive Power Cells
>1RP Dame Palmer Engineering improvement
Stamina 3, Piloting 1, Engineering 1
>1RP Heal Harker

Budget confirmed, updating wiki.

>>25106761
We already have the Mk4c in our inventory. Why don't we launch that?
And your budget leaves Minerva and Minerva with nothing to do AGAIN, even as we need to perform radio-reactive experiments and get a radio-reactive turbine built.

>>25106796
She and Klaus are building a test Radio-Reactive pile. That is pretty awesome work.

>>25106789
End of this turn, let's test launch this prototype.

>>25106818
>She and Klaus are building a test Radio-Reactive pile
Which requires RnD Points, and which isn't budgeted for in this budget >>25106761
which means it doesn't get built or worked on.
Do you understand?

>>25106789
As the last act of the turn, test-launch the Cheribum Rocket prototype we have so next turn the 10/15 limit will be gone.

>>25106833
That's not the budget. >>25106789 is.

>>25106853
Yes, they're getting to work on the test pile now, because the budget that had it was confirmed.

The post >>25106796
was saying that >>25106761
is a bad budget because it doesn't include the test pile.

The response in >>25106818
saying that they're building a pile doesn't make sense since it's responding to a post about why the second budget doesn't allow for them to build a pile.

Wiki updated. I'll open the next thread with the Cheribum's test and then start with turn 3. Have a good night and see you Wednesday at 1600 UTC-7

>>25106989
>and then start with turn 3
Don't you mean Turn 2?
That's the budget we were deciding on, and this entire thread was still Turn 1.

>>25107010
No, that was turn2. You can tell when a new turn starts, because it says so on the post subject
>>25106036

>>25106989
>>25106669
I'm sorry, I mean Thursday derp. Wendsday is a day I don't run because I have class late.