Turn 93 - Leaving My Family Behind Me
Turn 93 - Leaving My Family Behind Me
The largest naval armada in Griffon Empire history has been assembled in the Okusawa system. It has been dubbed the Grand Fleet by a history minded admiral, but Admiral Fisher is not in command, rather Operation Bump, as it has been dubbed, is being led by Rear Admiral Michael von Falkenrick. The Grand Fleet is made up of the following task forces.
The current planning for Operation Bump is that the initial strike will be at the Griffon’s Eye, to destroy any Black Steel forces still present in the system. Once the system is cleared, Task Force 3 and 4 will remain to engage in salvage while Task Force 1 and 2 proceed to New Eden to resupply. Once Task Force 3 and 4 rejoin the fleet, Task Force 1 and 2 will then proceed to Stahlkampfauge, jumping in well off axis from the usual Zenith/Nadir arrival.
The intention is to jump in far enough out to remain undetected. The fleet will carry along multiple Sentinel-class recon dropships on board the lone conventional jumpship, which will proceed to make a high speed pass through the system, hopefully drawing Black Steel forces out of position while Task Force 1 and 2 creep in under minimal power, the Windjammer will jump out in hopes of fooling the Black Steel into thinking this is a simple recon mission.
Task Force 3 and 4 will be prepared for an immediate jump if needed from New Eden, however the plan is that they will wait for two weeks then jump in together on the opposite side of the system, ostensibly to pick up the Sentinels. As soon as they jump in, Task Force 1 and 2 will go to maximum acceleration and head directly for the main Black Steel base in the system. Task Force 3 will likewise go to full acceleration at the repair yards in the system. Effectively the Black Steel should be caught betwixt and between, with a pair of serious threats that they need to honor, but which would require them to either split up their forces to deal with both or attempt to overwhelm one or the other. Task Force 3 has more than enough acceleration to lead any attempt to intercept them by heavy forces on a merry chase throughout the outer system, while Task Forces 1 and 2 should be able to easily deal with any enemy heavy forces that confront them.
At least that is the plan, and while it is somewhat complicated you have the advantage of the initiative and solid communications, so adjustments can be readily made on the fly as it were.
The overall economy of the Empire has entered a bit of a slump. It’s still growing, just at a very low rate, and revenues are down significantly as economic activity slows. The Core worlds are pretty heavily hit, although in a bit of welcome economic news Kainga has been officially designated as a Core system, which spurs a small rally in the markets, although nothing massive.
You get a report from the Bourbon battle against the Rouges Noir. The odd behavior observed has been quantified and isn’t nearly as foolish as you’d first thought. The seemingly primitive ‘line up in ranks and fire volleys’ came from stations that were effectively a small caliber naval autocannon, a large magazine for same, minimal attitude control and station-keeping thrusters, and detachable crew modules wrapped in a thin layer of cheap armor and used to deny areas of advance. All of the ‘easy’ routes into the system are covered by these cheap stations, forcing the Bourbons to advance via a round-about route that leaves them vulnerable to constant harassment attacks from flotillas of missile-armed corvettes, combat dropships, and ASF strikes. By the time the Bourbon fleet reached the planet itself they were pretty badly battered, and unable to decisively claim orbital supremacy. They managed contested landings, but it is quite obvious that far from being fools, the Rouges Noir have a very sophisticated and capable defensive scheme in place that relies on a solid reading of the character of the Bourbons. Your forces would be able to break it, mostly because the Bourbons are far more obsessed with individual ‘honor’ and ‘glory’, and thus are rather easily baited into ambushes and distractions.
The fallout from the disastrous Olympics continues. The head of the Griffon Olympics Committee has resigned, along with many of the other senior officials. There are no indications of, nor allegations of, any wrongdoing, but in a statement they take full responsibility for the failures and state that the only honorable thing to do in this case is to resign and allow fresh blood to take over.
There is a tragedy a bit closer to home. Your Political Advisor, Vinh Thuy Lien, was on vacation skiing at a resort on the Phoenix continent of Griffon when she suffered a catastrophic accident, killing her instantly. As far as investigators are able to determine she simply lost control while skiing downhill, hit a tree, and broke her neck.
You attend the funeral, which is a very somber occasion indeed. However, as much as you’d like to take the time to mourn, you need to find a replacement for her as quickly as possible.
Dr Daniel Mitchell (PhD) is the dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and holds the Eleanor Chapman Chair in the Political Science Department, named after your great-grandmother’s first political advisor. He’s an academic, well-regarded in the field but prone to both the vices and virtues of the breed. For what it’s worth, your great aunt Lisa is lukewarm about him, telling you that he’ll give you solid advice, as far as it goes, but will not be able to keep his own opinions out of it.
Kornelia Zarzycka is your current press secretary. She’s done a solid job, but is very young for the full Political Advisor position, plus has a somewhat adversarial relationship with the press which is excellent for a press secretary, less so for a political advisor.
Fujita Toshiaki is currently the Eldest’s chief of staff in the Senate. The Eldest has playfully threatened to eat you if you poach his chief of staff, but then again, the Eldest was the one who put his name in the nomination pile in the first place. You’ve met the man, and he’s quite competent but in your opinion rather… bland and colorless.
Finja Mayr has recently finished her term as the governor of the Calliope system, and brings with her a host of business contacts. She is fairly well known, but has a number of political enemies even among your supporters due to her history of hard nosed negotiations with the Imperial Parliament.
Tiberius Artorius Luccius is, as the name strongly suggests, an immigrant from the NRI who actually was Lien’s senior deputy. He’s rather young for it, but has already built very strong relations with the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. He’s also already been roped into babysitting duty a time or two, and you’ve known him for years, as he was in your class at Griffin's Roost University and you’d partnered with him on a number of class projects at the time.
The largest naval armada in Griffon Empire history has been assembled in the Okusawa system. It has been dubbed the Grand Fleet by a history minded admiral, but Admiral Fisher is not in command, rather Operation Bump, as it has been dubbed, is being led by Rear Admiral Michael von Falkenrick. The Grand Fleet is made up of the following task forces.
Name | Composition & Mission |
Task Force 1 |
|
Task Force 2 |
|
Task Force 3 |
|
Task Force 4 |
|
The current planning for Operation Bump is that the initial strike will be at the Griffon’s Eye, to destroy any Black Steel forces still present in the system. Once the system is cleared, Task Force 3 and 4 will remain to engage in salvage while Task Force 1 and 2 proceed to New Eden to resupply. Once Task Force 3 and 4 rejoin the fleet, Task Force 1 and 2 will then proceed to Stahlkampfauge, jumping in well off axis from the usual Zenith/Nadir arrival.
The intention is to jump in far enough out to remain undetected. The fleet will carry along multiple Sentinel-class recon dropships on board the lone conventional jumpship, which will proceed to make a high speed pass through the system, hopefully drawing Black Steel forces out of position while Task Force 1 and 2 creep in under minimal power, the Windjammer will jump out in hopes of fooling the Black Steel into thinking this is a simple recon mission.
Task Force 3 and 4 will be prepared for an immediate jump if needed from New Eden, however the plan is that they will wait for two weeks then jump in together on the opposite side of the system, ostensibly to pick up the Sentinels. As soon as they jump in, Task Force 1 and 2 will go to maximum acceleration and head directly for the main Black Steel base in the system. Task Force 3 will likewise go to full acceleration at the repair yards in the system. Effectively the Black Steel should be caught betwixt and between, with a pair of serious threats that they need to honor, but which would require them to either split up their forces to deal with both or attempt to overwhelm one or the other. Task Force 3 has more than enough acceleration to lead any attempt to intercept them by heavy forces on a merry chase throughout the outer system, while Task Forces 1 and 2 should be able to easily deal with any enemy heavy forces that confront them.
At least that is the plan, and while it is somewhat complicated you have the advantage of the initiative and solid communications, so adjustments can be readily made on the fly as it were.
[] | Approve Operation Bump |
[] | Back to the drawing board boys |
The overall economy of the Empire has entered a bit of a slump. It’s still growing, just at a very low rate, and revenues are down significantly as economic activity slows. The Core worlds are pretty heavily hit, although in a bit of welcome economic news Kainga has been officially designated as a Core system, which spurs a small rally in the markets, although nothing massive.
You get a report from the Bourbon battle against the Rouges Noir. The odd behavior observed has been quantified and isn’t nearly as foolish as you’d first thought. The seemingly primitive ‘line up in ranks and fire volleys’ came from stations that were effectively a small caliber naval autocannon, a large magazine for same, minimal attitude control and station-keeping thrusters, and detachable crew modules wrapped in a thin layer of cheap armor and used to deny areas of advance. All of the ‘easy’ routes into the system are covered by these cheap stations, forcing the Bourbons to advance via a round-about route that leaves them vulnerable to constant harassment attacks from flotillas of missile-armed corvettes, combat dropships, and ASF strikes. By the time the Bourbon fleet reached the planet itself they were pretty badly battered, and unable to decisively claim orbital supremacy. They managed contested landings, but it is quite obvious that far from being fools, the Rouges Noir have a very sophisticated and capable defensive scheme in place that relies on a solid reading of the character of the Bourbons. Your forces would be able to break it, mostly because the Bourbons are far more obsessed with individual ‘honor’ and ‘glory’, and thus are rather easily baited into ambushes and distractions.
The fallout from the disastrous Olympics continues. The head of the Griffon Olympics Committee has resigned, along with many of the other senior officials. There are no indications of, nor allegations of, any wrongdoing, but in a statement they take full responsibility for the failures and state that the only honorable thing to do in this case is to resign and allow fresh blood to take over.
There is a tragedy a bit closer to home. Your Political Advisor, Vinh Thuy Lien, was on vacation skiing at a resort on the Phoenix continent of Griffon when she suffered a catastrophic accident, killing her instantly. As far as investigators are able to determine she simply lost control while skiing downhill, hit a tree, and broke her neck.
You attend the funeral, which is a very somber occasion indeed. However, as much as you’d like to take the time to mourn, you need to find a replacement for her as quickly as possible.
Dr Daniel Mitchell (PhD) is the dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and holds the Eleanor Chapman Chair in the Political Science Department, named after your great-grandmother’s first political advisor. He’s an academic, well-regarded in the field but prone to both the vices and virtues of the breed. For what it’s worth, your great aunt Lisa is lukewarm about him, telling you that he’ll give you solid advice, as far as it goes, but will not be able to keep his own opinions out of it.
Kornelia Zarzycka is your current press secretary. She’s done a solid job, but is very young for the full Political Advisor position, plus has a somewhat adversarial relationship with the press which is excellent for a press secretary, less so for a political advisor.
Fujita Toshiaki is currently the Eldest’s chief of staff in the Senate. The Eldest has playfully threatened to eat you if you poach his chief of staff, but then again, the Eldest was the one who put his name in the nomination pile in the first place. You’ve met the man, and he’s quite competent but in your opinion rather… bland and colorless.
Finja Mayr has recently finished her term as the governor of the Calliope system, and brings with her a host of business contacts. She is fairly well known, but has a number of political enemies even among your supporters due to her history of hard nosed negotiations with the Imperial Parliament.
Tiberius Artorius Luccius is, as the name strongly suggests, an immigrant from the NRI who actually was Lien’s senior deputy. He’s rather young for it, but has already built very strong relations with the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. He’s also already been roped into babysitting duty a time or two, and you’ve known him for years, as he was in your class at Griffin's Roost University and you’d partnered with him on a number of class projects at the time.
[] | Name | Known Advantages/Disadvantages |
[] | Dr Daniel Mitchell PhD |
|
[] | Kornelia Zarzycka |
|
[] | Fujita Toshiaki |
|
[] | Finja Mayr |
|
[] | Tiberius Artorius Luccius |
|