Space STGOD planning.(2k9)

[Dahak]

About communication: it is all just STL, or do we have short-range "in-system" communication with FTL?

[Darkevilme]

It's all done at lightspeed in system. There people have a grand project to start researching, short range FTL com.

Overview
The Network, as they refer to themselves when asked, are a "race" of true AI. Individual drones possess intelligence roughly equivilent to a human three or four-year-old, and tend to have limited initiative and no real individuality. The aptly-called Network's true intelligence emerges in how they interact with each other: a networked AI, they share processing power when committing themselves to higher decisions, planning, invention, and socializing with outside sapients. Individual groups of Network drones can adapt a sort of group personality, though these tend to vary little across the species. The Network has offered and knows little about their origin: when their ancestor-drones first achieved networked sapience on their homeworld, their creators had long since abandoned them or somehow else disappeared. The Network found nothing on who had created them, and quickly lost interest in the question. Unlike most AI, the Network was raised in the "wild" with no encounters with any biological sapients until they achieved space flight. They are widely regarded as naive or even entirely moronic: when first encountered, the proper practice of war baffled them entirely, and they still do not comprehend biological sapients' individuality except in the most academic sense. The perception of them as mostly-benign pests is also common: the Network rarely seeks open conflict and quickly ceases aggression upon achieving its goals. As more learned minds know or suspect, these perceptions are not entirely fair: the Network is adapting and evolving constantly, and their peacefulness should never be confused with any sort of altruism. Recent times have marked a more active Network, both in interactions with other species and in terms of expansion.
In the recent past, the Network acquired a client-species of sapients, who self-identify as the Yuli. Apparently uplifted by the Network to give them insight into the thoughts of biological sapients (as both the Network and Yuli attest), the Yuli have increasingly replaced specialized Network drones as diplomats and go-betweens with biological sapients, a process that has rather improved their ability to relate with other species. For their own part, the Yuli seem satisfied in the relationship with the Network and the highly advanced technology and protection this affords them. They are led by administrators appointed (and monitored) by the Network, which is preferrable to the feudal warlords they suffered under previously.

Sounds good. No reason we cant have two AI nations and i think there's a good deal of potential for comedy and amusement in these ones. Four year old like robots in a starship in battle? gold.

[Thirdfain]

Wow, very interesting. So everything is lightspeed? That means, for instance, if a stealthed ship opens fire with, say, a laser at a target, it will know it is being fired upon pretty much exactly when it gets hit. Fun.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Oh yeah... definitely getting some stealth ships...

[Darkevilme]

That'd be one big ass laser to kill anything important in one hit. Though i suspect patrol boat and freighter duty just became frought with sudden peril.

[Thirdfain]

A ship standing down for combat, shields off? One well-aimed hit and you could certainly cripple it; though I suppose to avoid setting off their sensors prematurely you'd have to aim via passive systems only, which would be incredibly difficult.

[White Haven]

The other disadvantage is that a laser fired from a stealth vessel is going to have a really /big/ thermal signature coming from a hole in space. Perfect surprise, yes, but you /will/ be seen instantly as a counterpoint, whereas other weaponry might not provide such an instant 'there it is!' beacon.

[Thirdfain]

Of course, you'll detect the thermal signature AS the beam hits you; or in fact, a few tiny moments after.

BTW, how is stealth dealt with? I'm operating under the assumption that "submarine" hunting tactics apply- that groups of escorts spread out, pinging with active sensors can detect stealthed vessels. Is this a fair analysis?

[Thirdfain]

[Nephtys]

Of course, you'll detect the thermal signature AS the beam hits you; or in fact, a few tiny moments after.

BTW, how is stealth dealt with? I'm operating under the assumption that "submarine" hunting tactics apply- that groups of escorts spread out, pinging with active sensors can detect stealthed vessels. Is this a fair analysis?

It'll be dealt with in a judged manner. You can fan out to try and detect stealthed vessels more easily, but that opens up your screen to being destroyed in detail. But they at least won't get off a first strike on your main element then...

[SirNitram]

Assuming the last spot is still there and I'm the other AI race..

DRAELON Protectorate

A single system sitting quietly in space, when the Nodes in were finally surveyed, there was considerable surprise:

It was occupied.

DRAELON and it's host of machines occupy only a single star system, but they are stripping it bare. Even the star's vast mass is tapped in a few high-energy satellites, siphoning energy and reactant away for the designs of the mechanicals. The most heavily mined area is the asteroid belt between the second and third planet, as smaller rocks vanish by the day into the unquenchable need for more. Only the second planet is untouched by the massive strip-mining, as it floats in and out of the asteroid field. Potent theatre shields and orbital guns shield it now, though the native life is surprisingly hardy, thanks to the natural selection against anything which can't compete.

There's no signs of the local life being sentient, but the same force that keeps away rocks now keep out prying lifeforms. The DRAELON units assigned to diplomatic efforts have consistantly denied any request to investigate the planet's surface.

DRAELON units are either fully sentient, like the massive core rumoured to sit in the system, seven duplicates tucked within a few light seconds of each other to allow reliable updates and backups. Rumours persist that each backup is increasingly diverging, developing unique personalities. Underneath DRAELON, Programmers of the Master, First, and Second class are largely immobile drones which are completely sentient. Protocols require that each Programmer report in regularly, or be cut off from the network until full diagnostics are performed at a shipyard.

Below the Programmers, the Drones are unintelligent machines. Without guidance, they simply continue their last orders.

[Darth Raptor]

If you guys don't mind adding more space to, erm, space, I'd like to play.

Tathessi Democratic Imperium

The people of Tathess were human, once. More precisely, the leader of the first expedition to the planet had once, during her ancient, interminable life, been of the human species. But by the time Doctor Essany Tathess and her followers settled a lifeless system as far from Sol as their drives would take them, they had already changed. Not through simple genetic manipulation, but a complete mastery of organic chemical engineering. No longer human, no longer animal, they had improved on both concepts to become a new form of life altogether; the Organic Veriform Humanoid, more commonly known as bioroids. Together, they harnessed the material resources of the vacant system, terraforming the world now known as Tathess and filling its skies with glittering, orbital habitats. The planet itself is a paradise, a vibrant world teeming with artificial life based on species from Terran prehistory and mythology. Outside the capital city of Meridia (and a few, much smaller permanent installations elsewhere on the planet), the overwhelming majority of the so-called Tathessi live in space.

Slowly, but surely, TDI has begun spreading out into the greater galaxy, which they do almost exclusively by proxy. Very few have the inclination to abandon their endless lives of infinite luxury. And so, they send out fleets of heavily-automated ships crewed by robots and overseen by what few intrepid souls deign work for a living into the great unknown, to build a vacant civilization the idle majority can then occupy at their inalienable leisure. While this expansion is intellectually recognized as a necessity for the long-term survival of their civilization, it is done so with every effort taken to avoid armed conflict, as the Tathessi abhor war for both moral and more self-serving reasons. Should conflict prove unavoidable, they fight as one might expect; by proxy. And the armies of bioroids, cyborgs and robots are not nearly as concerned with ethics and personal safety as are their commanding officers.

It might surprise one to learn that what is effectively a rare instance of a functional, direct democracy is theoretically an absolute monarchy. Doctor Tathess has long since retired from public service, but the state's sovereignty is derived, in whole, from her. She retains the right to pass or veto any law, revise the constitution (authored exclusively by her) or dissolve the government in its entirety. Obviously, she does none of these things. The TDI is governed by the Universal Assembly, a congress of all citizens that is permanently in session and acts immediately (after lightspeed lag) on any issue of governance that may present itself. Participating citizens are always connected via neural implants and can argue and cast their votes without interrupting their daily lives or even while sleeping. The executive officials that maintain the bureaucracy are appointed and promoted by merit, or created specifically for the job.

***

I'll have a more in-depth writeup and an OOB if/when I get wedged into the map.

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

I was considering tossing my hat into the ring, but I simply haven't had the time or the creative spark, and it looks like space is currently at a premium right now. From what I've seen of the setting, even if I could fit myself in somehow, I doubt I could be able to suitably repurpose my "Haruhi Suzumiya IN SPACE" faction from STGOD 2k8, and while my Code Geass schtick may have worked just fine in SDN World, I doubt it'd work as well here. I'd probably be able to think of something good and original if given enough time, but with the space situation, well...

[Darkevilme]

Tanasinn has been placed. The map has been expanded. There's five or so new spots to choose from, let it never be said we dont live in an expanding universe.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

The lines at each node represent strictly the only possible hyperspace routes at that point, right?

[Darkevilme]

The lines represent pairings of the FTL nodes in starsystems(one in one system, one in the other). The actual dots are starsystems.

edit: As an example see the voyage of the vessel proof of concept, battleship class.

1. POC starts in the lower system, there are two nodes on the edges of this system one leading to system 2 and another to some other system. This is represented by the lines. Now assuming POC is starting somewhere near the star it being a battleship and heavy element it'll take 1.5 days to cross to the node to system 2. The node is moving around constantly so POC will be on an intercept course for where it's going to be. Upon reaching the node area POC activates its node drive and disappears.
2. POC appears instantly in the other system at the node linked to the node in system 1 and sets course for the node for system 3, the vessels destination. It'll take 3 days for this ship to cross the system and enter the node. If POC was a light element it would of taken two days to do this. system 2 as shown has three nodes on its periphery.
3. POC arrives at system 3 and goes to take up planetary orbit.

Edit: Map with Draelon and TDI placed. Is Draelon really one system?

[Master_Baerne]

A question about the Space UN: Is it merely a place for nations to gather, or does it ever undertake police actions and such? Is it an organization, or a forum?

[Ohma]

A question about the Space UN: Is it merely a place for nations to gather, or does it ever undertake police actions and such? Is it an organization, or a forum?

I think that it may not have been extant long enough for anything like that to be worked out yet.

The exact function of Space UN could depend on the decisions of its participant states.

[Thirdfain]

I'm going to slightly move the 23rd Arm; the new map places it too far away from the main Ouster invasion for my comfort.

[Ohma]

I also may reconsider the size of Guymelus. If I do it will be pared down to three stars, possibly that line near Unity Station.

[Dark Hellion]

There are still about 5 or so decent open spots if people want to be creative.

[The Romulan Republic]

I am likewise considering downsizing. I sometimes enjoy playing a minor power. Its more interesting if you can't throw your weight around and have to get creative.

[Darkevilme]

I add more space and people start deciding to downsize themselves. Fun, ah well just need two more to make the space around Union not look empty and we can trim the map edges perhaps.

[Beowulf]

Assuming the last spot is still there and I'm the other AI race..

I'm pretty sure you're AI race 3.

So, I've got a question: what defines a light element, and what defines a heavy element? Are there very light elements that only take 1 day to cross the system? Ultra light elements that take even less? Very heavy ones that take more than 3 days? Is it a logarithmic function for speed? Does a 20 pt ship travel faster than a 25 pt ship?

[Ohma]

Okay, downsized and moved a bit, there is now rather a lot of room to the "north" of Guymelus