Tharkad System
Lyran Commonwealth
October 25th, 3025
I am once again outbound to the jump point with time on my hands to think about what has been accomplished and what is to come. I am not looking forward to the next seven months of travel from here to New Avalon. We are taking a less efficient route, twenty-six jumps, to keep within the borders of the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns due to our cargo.
I am traveling with my new merchant fleet consisting of the Invader class Jumpship the WAS (Warrior Arms Ship) Spartacus, The Vengeance class Dropship WAS Beowulf, The Mule class dropship WAS Styx and the Mammoth class Dropship WAS Arminius. The Beowulf is fully loaded with fighters and pilots most of them on their way to exchange billets with Federated Suns units, but at least we will be well protected. The cargo is all the equipment going to the NAIS for evaluation, along with some of the Helm cache and regular Lyran manufactured equipment for the Suns.
I will be doing a lot of studying to pass the time as I need to prepare for my sudden introduction to the Engineering curriculum at NAIS (New Avalon Institute of Science) and the Officer training at NAMA (New Avalon Military Academy).
Me thinks there be a conspiracy to wed me to a Steiner as Nondi's daughter Lisa became my escort for the rest of my stay at the palace and was with me during the ceremony anointing me the Duke of Loxley. It was probably a good thing she was there as I almost fainted due to the overwhelming stress. She supported me until I could recover from my near panic attack. Lisa is an Aerospace pilot and has been assigned to accompany me on this mission which furthers my suspicions of a conspiracy. She is a beautiful woman with the typical Blonde hair and blue eyes of the Steiner's, and she is only five years older than I am. I enjoy her company so perhaps we would make a good match. I will obviously have the time to get to know her better during our trip to New Avalon. Only time will tell if we are compatible and whether my suspicions are correct.
The negotiations and strategizing went well as I kept most of what I wanted from the Cache. Late Star League and Royal refits along with some of the non-refit equivalent designs as I want to try to build as homogenized a force as possible. Even more important was all the spare parts and supplies I have managed to keep. I have most of the equipment required to form a regimental combat team, now all I need are the proper personnel. On a positive note Katrina and Hanse's people are clearing potential hires before my people get involved.
Logistics is a real pain in the ass in this universe, no standards amongst the same weapon types really fucks things up. I can't wait for Omni technology to become common as it will have a tremendous effect on logistics. I have proposed that in the interim any recovered or new technology must be made to a standard so that parts can be interchangeable across both realms.
I mean how hard is it to design one Gauss rifle and then have all the manufacturers produce the same one. The manufacturers already license designs, weapons and equipment from each other. I was surprised when they looked at me in shock when I suggested such a strategy. It was as if they had never thought of the idea. They did however have some concerns over my suggestion as certain manufacturers have divisions in unfriendly nations which could lead to unsanctioned technology transfers.
I replied that we could try to purchase the local facilities and merge them with existing loyal non international firms or form new companies. The facilities could also be seized if such traitorous actions could be proven.
They are considering my suggestion and plan to test the security and loyalty of each realm's military manufacturers. The plan is to offer incorrect information on how to build LosTech weapons to the companies and watch what happens with the information.
The main reason we are transporting such a large quantity of advanced equipment to NAIS is so that they can evaluate the technology and choose which pieces of equipment and weapons will become the standard design. We will then release the mechs and vehicles along with knowledge from the library core to the companies that originally manufactured them, as long as they agree to the standards required and sign the appropriate licensing and technology agreements.
This will be done through the shell company FCV (Federated Commonwealth Ventures), which we created for this purpose. I like the idea of a steady income stream from the licensing agreements and the control this allows us in enforcing standards.
The companies can then reverse engineer the units and have them evaluated by NAIS or the Quarter Master Command if appropriate at the time to ensure they meet the qualifications for purchase by the armed forces of the realm.
Katrina also plans to start an equivalent to NAIS on Tharkad to lessen the work load placed on NAIS and spread out the Technologies to avoid having a single point of attack for Comstar or others.
Part of the process in handing over the advanced equipment for reverse engineering, will be agreements to license designs and or assist my company or others selected by Hanse or Katrina with bringing mothballed or nonfunctioning facilities back on line whether through technical assistance or training of personnel. I will need the help getting my factories and infrastructure up and running.
I will also need to setup schools to educate my people and start improving their standard of living. I have so much to do and not enough time to do it.
If I can acquire the rights to the mechs from Kong Interstellar, the Ostsol 4D will be the first mech to be produced as it has no LosTech and the factory line only needs minor repairs for damage caused while sitting idle for over two hundred years.
I will need access to endo Steel in order to produce either Black Knight model. Same with the Ostscout as the line on Loxley was producing the royal model.
Good news is the Vlar 300 fusion engine plant is capable of producing single or double heat sink equipped models. I love the Vlar 300 as it can be fitted to such a variety of chassis. If I can produce the XL version, I can use it for thirty and fifty-ton chassis while the standard engine can be used for sixty-ton, seventy five-ton and one hundred-ton chassis. It would be awesome if I could eventually outfit my unit with designs I manufacture.
If I can't get the rights to the Ostsol, I will have to start with the Ymir factory and see what I can do with the ninety-ton monstrosity. Either way it will be a low tech mech to start as my employees will need to learn how to run things properly before I introduce any LosTech into the designs.
I might be able to use Multiple Missile Launchers if they are available quick enough as they should not pose to much of a challenge to work into a design. I enjoyed playing around with the various design programs in my original life and now I get to learn how to do it for real.
My plans going forward are to leverage the assets I have to build the necessary infrastructure to support my military force and the people I am now responsible for. This means I need to setup factories for aerospace fighters, small craft, combat vehicles and small arms to go with the mech production. I will also need the supporting infrastructure to supply my forces with armor and ammunition as well as the factories with materials like Endo Steel. If at all possible, I want to be self sufficient for the materials to construct and support my military forces. I can dream can't I.
I sometimes find myself overwhelmed with the thought of how many people I am responsible for at the ripe old age of twenty. Even my original fifty plus years of life have not prepared me for this kind of responsibility. I will have to find the right people to help me govern the populations I now have the responsibility to look out for.
I will have to invest vast sums of money to not only defend them but also to improve their education and living standards. Most people dream of being a president or a king until like me they find out how much work and responsibility it takes to be a proper leader for the people. I only hope I can handle my new position properly as it all seems so daunting at times. Perhaps Lisa can help teach me the things I need to know to be a good governor to my people. I would not mind conversing with her now but she is flying her fighter to meet the Vengeance class carrier Beowulf.
Being a Duke sure changes how people react to you. It can be quite lonely at times what with people avoiding me out of concern for my title and status. Oh, how I sometimes long for the simple life I used to lead. I now find myself suspicious of the intentions of the people I meet, are they just trying to get into my good graces to use me for their own ends? I have so much to learn in order to be a proper Duke to my people and I have very few people I can trust to help me. I can only hope I choose my advisors well and do right by the people I am responsible for.
Here I sit with thoughts rambling away inside my head as the unapproachable Duke. I might as well start studying the material Provided by the NAIS and NAMA to pass the time.
Arriving aboard the Invader class jumpship Spartacus, I check in with her Captain Robert Gysae. I will need to meet and greet all my new employees during this trip. I will never be able to remember everyone but I will try to remember the people in important positions at least. Hopefully I will be able to convince Lisa to help me be a proper Duke while we are stuck aboard the vessels for this trip to New Avalon.