Arioch wrote:CrimsonFALKE wrote:Well is there any chance to use drones to boost Loroi numbers or are drones to cowardly for Loroi taste
An unmanned starship would not be less expensive to construct than a manned starship, (it might be more expensive, due to the automated systems that would need to replace the crew's function), and it would be less capable in combat. The Loroi are at times experiencing shortages of trained crews, but not to the point where it would make economic sense to construct unmanned ships.
If unmanned warships could fight as effectively and more cheaply than manned ships, then all the ships would be unmanned. Since both sides use crews, it seems reasonable to suppose that they do so for a practical reason.
As long as we're talking about drone and unmanned weapoons, are Relativistic Kill Vehicles a viable strategy? Sure they take years or even decades to do their thing, but I don't think that's an issue when the Loroi/Umiak War has been going for 25 years and seems to be a two-way war of extermination that will likely go on for decades or centuries. In this situation a long-term strategic weapon like a swarm of RKVs could be a viable way to force capitulation, the major problems being the matters of targeting and timing. (Basically, finding worthwhile targets that may be several lightyears away, and relying on those targets being there years from now.)
Some advantages RKVs would have within Outsider:
-Stealth: An RKV needs only a relatively quiet low-thrust, high-impulse engines. Assuming the preferred long-range detection method is to look for the Gamma/X-Ray/Thermal signatures of starship drives, the low-power ion engine of an RKV is incredibly stealthy, with only a low-level thermal signature that could easily be masked by keeping the thrusters behind the bulk of the vehicle. Another bonus is that an RKV can shut down or jettison its drives and coast silently towards its target from outside easy detection range. The only signature in this case would be the occasional random flashes as chunks of interstellar medium impact the leading edge of the weapon, but other than this it would be down to luck; looking in the right place at the right time to spot a tiny target in time to do something about it, which is only frustrated by...
-Unpredictability: Most of the strategy that's been shown in the comic revolves around the defense of known and largely predictable hyperspace entry vectors. (It's mentioned somewhere that both sides are constantly exploring and looking for new systems or jump-points in order to outmaneuver a system's defenses or find a hyperspace backdoor into their rear lines.) Since an RKV has an amount of maneuverability en route and doesn't need to take a "straight" path between one system and another, an RKV could be programmed to attack a system from unpredictable vectors, as well as "safe" systems far behind the front lines; this becomes even worse for the defender when you realize that they may only detect the RVK at the last second, giving them precious little time to mitigate their damage, which brings up...
-Unstoppable: As far as I can tell, there is no good way to stop an RKV near its terminus. Attempting to destroy the RKV merely turns a solid lump into a cloud of relativistic shrapnel, and even a small portion of it hitting its target will be a significant disaster. The only realistic is to deflect it, but even this is no easy feat; any interception would need to take place well outside the targeted system, which would necessitate early detection- assets would then need to be moved to intercept the RKV and since there isn't a good way for those assets to match its velocity, they'll likely get a single shot at an intercept.
-Mass-Producible: Considering that the RKV is just a mass, full, a high-impulse engine, and basic guidance you can probably afford to mass-produce them; while it is theoretically possible to stop a single RKV, dozens could be launched at a single system, guided along unpredictable courses to attack a system from several directions. With some patience and calculation, you could theoretically launch multiple swarms against several systems so that every swarm hits at roughly the same time, wiping out large sections of the targeted species/faction and affording a significant strategic advantage, especially if you're able to his large, "static" targets like shipyards, mining operations, agricultural and population centers, etc.
If nothing else, RKVs could be an effective terror weapon, forcing opponents to divert energy and resources to protecting their systems that could otherwise be used defending jump points or pushing into enemy territory.
Is there any particular reason why RKVs wouldn't be a viable strategic weapon?
"But notice how the Human thinks. 'Interesting... how can I use this as a weapon?'" - Arioch