From: Randall L Joiner <rljoiner@m...>
Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 22:11:33 -0400
Subject: Free Cal-Tex RE: [FH] IF, PAU, FSE and ESU
The fluff I use is based a bit further into the future than the formation... And made some assumptions due to the group around here's love of the SDN. Quick run down of (admittedly my) FCT ships: Break-away: NAC ships, FCT crews. Some minor varients. First years: In order to build their economy very quickly, mining, specifically asteroid, was adopted, and large amounts of autonomy and benefits (tax breaks, gov't funds, etc) were given to businesses. Larger vessels (Cruisers and higher) were purchased from NAC and NSL shipyards as is. Smaller ships, when possible, were built locally, or contracted out to NAC and NSL shipbuilding yards, but with FCT specifications. Merchant vessels were built locally, but in order to save costs, were armed so that they wouldn't need large escorts. This had the side effect of several merchant "wars" and pirating. Many varients are seen here on ships of all sizes, as refitting is easier and requires less resources than building. Later years: Ships built at FCT yards whenever possible, contracted out to NAC and NSL yards but with FCT specs when necessary. Merchant fleets and piracy reigned in by military intervention whenever possible; However, Claim jumping, piracy, and the occasional merchant fight still occurs frequently. I'll also note that my designs tend to mount P-torps where you would find Class 3's on NAC and NSL ships, this being a first major refit of many of those ships. (I was looking for flavor, where ESU=big beams, NSL=slow tanks, FSU=Salvo's, and NAC=fast and beams, thus FCT=P-torps and medium to fast speeds (5 is fleet average)) Rand. > At 04:51 PM 5/31/02 -0700, you wrote: > --- Beth.Fulton@csiro.au wrote: