Well of Souls Forums

On the subject of what happens when a mass-driver round misses its target - I present the following from Mass Effect 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCoHT_cHPzY

fredgiblet wrote:How stable is the political situation on Earth in this timeframe?

Reasonably stable. There are always local tensions and conflicts, and every new generation always seems to think that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, but for the most part it is peaceful and prosperous. The news of the coming war surely has everyone on edge, but at the same time it has given them an incentive to cooperate.

On the topic of weapons, what kind of lasers are the ships armed with? The sort of 'scarring-the-hull, cutting-armor-open, possibly-see-some-bubbling-at-edges' sort of lasers (akin to high-powered industrial laser cutting tools) or the kind of laser where there's enough power in the beam that, despite lasers seen as cutting or welding tools, the armor just explodes due to the sheer energy transfer?

And, on a somewhat related note, are the Scout ships essentially long-ranged frigates with beefed-up sensors?

I remember hearing there were populations off these 6 worlds how large are these populations? Are they not even worth mentioning? Population wise

Murica wrote:I remember hearing there were populations off these 6 worlds how large are these populations? Are they not even worth mentioning? Population wise

The answers are in the beginning of this page.

http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/forum_terrans.html

Also, I haven't been there for a while. Re: Sagan

How big is the TSC? I'm taking military wise you already told us space based but what about the rest (ground troops, technicians, and other support personnel ? What is the percentage that goes to the fleet versus those that go for other careers?

Jakelope13 wrote:On the topic of weapons, what kind of lasers are the ships armed with? The sort of 'scarring-the-hull, cutting-armor-open, possibly-see-some-bubbling-at-edges' sort of lasers (akin to high-powered industrial laser cutting tools) or the kind of laser where there's enough power in the beam that, despite lasers seen as cutting or welding tools, the armor just explodes due to the sheer energy transfer?

Lasers heat the surface of the target; whether this cuts or causes an explosion would, I think, depend on the composition of the target.

Murica wrote:How big is the TSC? I'm taking military wise you already told us space based but what about the rest (ground troops, technicians, and other support personnel ? What is the percentage that goes to the fleet versus those that go for other careers?

By TSC do you mean the Scout Corps? It is large enough to crew, maintain, and support about 10 starships and operate a few outposts and training facilities. There are no Scout Corps ground troops.

If you're talking about the TCA, they have some administration and support people on the ground, and operate a number of bases and space stations, including the TCA Academy and the TCA HQ on Earth. Beyond the Fleet's Colonial Marines, and whatever security forces are in their few ground-based buildings, the TCA doesn't have any ground troops.

What kind of trade goes on inbetween the worlds of Humanity? Is it mostly immigration (more people for the colonies), refined ore to processing facilities, or does each colony have their own production sites, and ship out finished products instead. For example, would there be a market for Proxima-built vehicles on Earth?

Since the TCA is restricted to interplanetary affairs, does that mean that they aren't allowed to interfere if a conflict arose between Yinghao and the AIC? And is there some form of physical boundary that the TCA are not allowed to cross (e.g. geostationary orbit, Low Planetary Orbit, or beyond the reach of natural satellites)?

Arioch wrote: Beyond the Fleet's Colonial Marines, and whatever security forces are in their few ground-based buildings, the TCA doesn't have any ground troops.

Would the Marines have any ground vehicles or, because they're a part of a space-going force, would they have a dedicated smallcraft, akin to a pinnace, for use in boarding actions or quelling a conflict that concerns TCA interests? (I'd assume such a pinnace would be capable of maneuvering within an atmosphere)

Jakelope13 wrote:What kind of trade goes on inbetween the worlds of Humanity? Is it mostly immigration (more people for the colonies), refined ore to processing facilities, or does each colony have their own production sites, and ship out finished products instead. For example, would there be a market for Proxima-built vehicles on Earth?

Many of the colonies are not self-sufficient, and require a constant stream of food and supplies from Earth (or elsewhere). A few colonies (such as those on Mars) were set up for industrial production, but most do not yet have significant local production and so also depend on imports for equipment and finished goods. Raw materials are most of what a typical colony exports. Some colonies are research-oriented and produce only science. A few were settled for political or ideological reasons, and don't export anything of value.

It's hard to imagine many colonies competing with the industrial might (extensive infrastructure and huge labor pool) of Earth. Where Mars would have an advantage would be in industrial processes that would be heavily regulated on Earth due to pollution or other concerns. And, being in the same system as Earth, Mars can benefit from Earth's extensive shipping infrastructure.

Jakelope13 wrote:Since the TCA is restricted to interplanetary affairs, does that mean that they aren't allowed to interfere if a conflict arose between Yinghao and the AIC? And is there some form of physical boundary that the TCA are not allowed to cross (e.g. geostationary orbit, Low Planetary Orbit, or beyond the reach of natural satellites)?

As with the US Federal vs. State authorities, jurisdiction has more to do with subject matter rather than location; if you commit certain types of crimes or cross state lines in the commission of a crime, then the Federal authorities gain jurisdiction. Similarly, the TCA can go after a den of interstellar pirates even if they're hiding in a ground base (though there may be issues of local sovereignty to navigate). Also, on a world that's still under the administration of a colonial governor, the governor can call for action against a colony that has violated its charter in some way. And any sovereign entity can voluntarily ask for a TCA intervention in their territory. But if two independent sovereign nations decide to have a ground war, it's not the TCA's business to interfere. Though the TCA does have ground installations in AIC territory (the TCA Aerospace Academy, for one), so in a hypothetical Yinghuo attack on AIC, the TCA could have some say in the matter.

Jakelope13 wrote: Would the Marines have any ground vehicles or, because they're a part of a space-going force, would they have a dedicated smallcraft, akin to a pinnace, for use in boarding actions or quelling a conflict that concerns TCA interests? (I'd assume such a pinnace would be capable of maneuvering within an atmosphere)

Sure, Colonial Marines would need shuttles, dropships, and armored fighting vehicles that can operate in and from space.

However, as the TCA has very little in the way of ground forces, most TCA action is in the form of trade sanctions. Nearly all of the colonies are heavily dependent on imports and/or exports, and so the threat of an embargo or blockade must be taken very seriously.

How well armed are human ground troops in comparisons to lorii or umiak ? I mean its pretty obvious that a human soldiers gear isn't going to be as good as lorii but is it early 1800s vs 21st century or is it 1960s vs 21st century

Ground combat has very little, if any, use in the Outsider universe, since most of the time ground troops are only deployed after spatial superiority has been established.

Yes but if a human platoon went agianst the lorii equivalent would humans stand a chance

Perhaps during a boarding party or near something really important

The Colonial Marines have weapons that are capable of penetrating Soroin armor, so anything is possible, but I think they would have trouble matching up against Umiak hardtroops or Loroi Teidar.

In the background of the bottom panel of page 2 I saw someone in what looked like armor was this a colonial marine?

Murica wrote:In the background of the bottom panel of page 2 I saw someone in what looked like armor was this a colonial marine?

Nope.

Has humanity yet have a spaceship vs spaceship war?

Arioch,

In page 6, center panel, Captain Hamilton muses that the unknown vessel is too far out to be a picket vessel. I am wondering, Earth having no previous alien contact (besides the Orgus), and no battle experience (except their own drills and simulations), how would he know that to be true? Is he just guessing based on Earth-centric simulations?

CJSF

Murica wrote:Has humanity yet have a spaceship vs spaceship war?

No, but there have been "police" style engagements in which weapons were fired.

cacambo43 wrote:In page 6, center panel, Captain Hamilton muses that the unknown vessel is too far out to be a picket vessel. I am wondering, Earth having no previous alien contact (besides the Orgus), and no battle experience (except their own drills and simulations), how would he know that to be true? Is he just guessing based on Earth-centric simulations?

Hamilton was relying on his own judgment. Bellarmine was at that time a very great distance from the engagement.

Arioch wrote:No, but there have been "police" style engagements in which weapons were fired.

Like Korea was a "Police action?"