MOD:WCU:bgMiscellanea

Miscellaneous Tidbits: Mostly from http://www.wcnews.com/encyclopedia/showlist.php?section=misc

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• An Aquifier is a formation of permeable material. A pump draws up water from the aquifer, and sends it into a network of pipes that then force the water into the soil where plants can reach it. This method of getting water directly to plant roots is essential on hot planets where spraying water directly on the plants would cause the plants to fry.
• Using a jump drive leaves a trace that can still be detected hours later, and to detect where that jump trace leads to, you use a trace analyser. It's an essential tool if you are attempting to follow an enemy ship. Trace analysers can be mounted on Broadswords.
• A ship's tactical computer handles defensive weaponry and can also be set to autofire on enemies.
• The warbook contains data on all known ships. It can use sensor data from an unidentified craft to find a match.
• A simulacrum can create a video overlay, for example it can be used to make humans look like Kilrathi over communications. The simulations can be interactive (on the fly) or pre-programmed. Interactive simulacrums are more realistic in movement.
• Cloak:

Generators create a distortion field that bends most radiation around the vessel. That includes most visible light. A small amount is allowed to get through, or the pilot would be blind. This is why there is a black and white effect when cloaked. The frequencies that are let through are constantly modulated, but you might still spot the ship if you're lucky. Cloak requires a lot of power, and a ship can't stay cloaked for a long time in a combat situation. In some cases, targetting systems don't work when a ship or missile is cloaked. You either need someone piloting the ship, or the missile needs to drop out of cloak every now and then to update its target information. A good example of this is the Kilrathi Skipper missile. The Kilrathi were the first to develop stealth technology around 2654/2655, though the technology didn't become widely used until around 2667. In 2668, the Confederation was able to develop its own stealth ships by using captured Kilrathi technology as a guide, but were unable to completely understand the technology themselves. Cloaking requires the use of a crystal that has a limited life. The first Confed Stealth Fighter prototype was unveiled in the Selyan Sector at the 2669 GCM competition. It featured an integral MX-27BC guided-proton warhead. Stealth gear was used on the Light Smuggler (Bannockburn) is intended to be used for short periods of time. It is a huge drain on the ship's energy and sending a narrow band translight pulse required dropping out of stealth. The Kilrathi seemed not to be able to detect the Bannockburn (Plunkett class cruiser which was based in Sirius system as of 2681) when it was in stealth mode.

• The Ether is a 2669 version of the internet. Ether Support was tasked with fixing problems with net connections concerning the Ether.
• In 2669 a Confederation solar shadow ring station in the Trafalgar System observed a jump point formation inside the Tanhauser nebula. Due to the potential strategic value of such a discovery, the CID classified all information gathered on the occurrence.
• Platolum is a laser and durasteel shard proof alloy discovered on Ghorah Khar during excavations of the old Kilrathi base. Bryce Alloys found it when they found argonized platinum containers storing Xanius Moloride. The Xanius Molaride emitted above-infrared rays that contacted nickel-cadmium generators. The rays plus nickel made a new alloy. We're not sure if the platinum containers were involved, but the name seems to imply it. In the month of 2669.217, the alloys made an appearance on the UNXhange market.
• The APSP is a sensor pod that carries cameras, imaging systems and various surveillance gear. It is useful in longe range scans or when identifying a target from an atmosphere. The APSP can be mounted on most fighters, in exchange for a few missile slots. In the case of the Hornet, two missiles are exchanged for an APSP. The Mark VI APSP was the current model as of 2670.313.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Goddard Reserve is an alcoholic drink.
• The God Squad is a slang term for the people on the Ways and Means Committee.
• Oil and carpets were two industries that enjoyed temporary fortune, but then plummeted in the stock market in 2669.
• The Exploratory Service is responsible for charting unexplored systems. They often employ privateers in the Gemini sector through the standard base mission computer and/or Mercenaries' Guild. Exploratory Service agents such as Taryn Cross also employ privateers in person.
• First to Kilrah! was a low-grade movie made about the Tarawa and the raid on Largkza. The makers of the movie promised Jason Bondarevsky that it would be a true to life documentary, but instead focused mainly on the relationship between Jason and Svetlana Ivanova. Jason donated all of the money that he made from the movie to a scholarship fund for the children of the service people killed during the raid.
• Commodore Christopher Blair was abducted from the H'hrass System Communications Relay in 2681.
• TCS Devereaux: Confederation Copernicus Class planetological research vessel.

TOLWYN, BLACK OPS, BLACK LANCE

• Sent on 2668.191:

From: C-in-C ConFleet To: Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn "To Tolwyn, commanding Task Force 45, Armistice agreement and cease fire has been reached with Kilrathi Empire, to be effective upon reception of this signal. All offensive operations to cease immediately and to withdraw to navigation point detailed below. Repeat, all offensive operations to cease at once. Fire only if fired upon. Signed, Noragami, commanding, Confederation Navy."

• Hugh Paulsen's family was part of the Remin-Krug weapons consortium, but following the Battle of Earth, Remin-Krug's facilities were all but destroyed. Paulsen moved to to liason work for Confederation R&D. He worked for the Bureau of Weapons as program manager, where he was involved with the Mark V torpedo and third generation Mass Driver. These projects got him promoted. At this point he was a junior lieutenant on the TCS Potemkin.
• Paulsen had access to black funds, which he used to buy influence by funding the Black Lance project. Paulsen's lack of combat experience prevented him from being promoted, so he was desperate for a command position so that he could be promoted to rear admiral. So persons unknown had Paulsen replace William Eisen on the Lexington. Once assigned to the Lexington, he no longer had access to the funds, and was considered expendable.
• When people started defecting from the Lexington to the BWS Intrepid, Paulsen sent the Lexington in after the Intrepid without her escorts. This move resulted in the Lexington being disabled and out of action for a month, and meant a setback and time-delay for the Black Lance. For this Paulsen was executed and thrown out the airlock by Seether.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

• First contact procedures with an alien race involve transmitting a wide-band, non-verbal greeting and awaiting a response. The procedures may have been changed after first contact with the Kilrathi by the Iason on 2629.105.
• Emergency Decree 242 is a Martial Law declaration. It grants extraordinary powers to the military, even the power to suspend the Articles of Confederation. Declared during the Kilrathi war, it was not revoked after the war ended.
• The Wartime Emergencies Act would allow the Confederation to take over handling of mining and refining operations to support the war effort.
• Priority 3 clearance was required to see fleet mission type rundowns.
• The Admiralty Court dealt with court cases during the war. Its authority was never lifted after the war. Many considered the Admiralty Court a joke, something to keep wayward admirals busy handing out fines.
• Emergency Decree 394A allows pilots from the Confederation's active reserves to be called back to active duty. The decree was declared before the Battle of Earth in 2668 and had never been lifted.

HONORS AND CEREMONIES AND MILITARY LIFE

• Wingman's Oath:

Together we fight, united by a bond - A band of courage, A band of daring, A band of friendship, Without my wingman I am nothing. Without me my wingman is nothing. Only together can we achieve What our cause has called us to complete. For our beliefs we fight Against the menace that has risen. My wingman is my guardian, And I am my wingman's guardian. With my wingman by my side, I will not fear death or destruction, I will not feel the eyes of hate resting upon us. I will fly my ship strong and straight, Never doubting that my wingman is there to protect me

• Shipboard Orientation Kits are issued to officers who join a new ship. A personalized copy of Victory Streak was issued to Christopher Blair when he first joined the TCS Victory.
• A Full Wing Landing refers to when an entire wing is recalled to base with craft landing at 30 second intervals. Such a landing is very demanding on the flight deck crew.
• The Ace of Aces Ribbon awarded after 25 kills.
• The Century Award is given to pilots to mark their 100th confirmed kill.
• The Confederation Flying Cross is a special medal awarded to distinguished pilots.
• The Confederation Medal of Honor is awarded to distinguished pilots.

ZINES AND PUBLICATIONS

• Joan's Fighting Spacecraft is a publication designed to educate people about every aspect of any spacecraft, both Confederation and enemy. A supplement was issued in 2654.092 containing specifications revised specifically for forces in the Vega Sector.
• Global News was a newspaper available around 2654.
• Victory Streak is the shipboard magazine of the TCS Victory. Christopher Blair's personalized Victory Streak Shipboard Orientation Kit was compiled by the Quanntum 3 Artificial Publisher and the Electronics Cretive Services aboard the TCS Victory.

A 2669 issue of Victory Streak did an article on the origins of replicated food from the mess hall in a previous issue. Double-Digit Delight Pie was one of a number of foods made from pristine chemicals, though the chemicals came from less than savory sources. Nutrtion is a high priority. The Quanntum 3 Artificial Publisher system was used by Electronic Creative Services to make Victory Streak using LS-c2 information.

• Pilot's Weekly is a VidZine available to crew on the TCS Victory at a cost of 24 credits per month
• Traveler is a VidZine available to crew on the TCS Victory at a cost of 24 credits per month.
• Claw Marks was the name of the TCS Tiger's Claw's shipboard magazine. TCS Hornet's Nest was a comic that featured in the TCS Tiger's Claw's Claw Marks magazine. Production of the comic halted when the artist, Lt. Larry "Tooner" Dibbles, was killed in action.
• Pilot's Weekly is a VidZine available to crew on the TCS Victory at a cost of 24 credits per month.
• Eco-Year in Review is an annual document about ecological issues in the galaxy. The 2669.220 issue was about Veratek.
• Galactic Monthly was a monthly publication that covered financial options such as Platolum's introduction to the UNXhange.

Other media:

• The Terran News Channel was the Confederation's favorite news channel between 2669 and 2673. Their best known anchor-woman is Barbara Miles. Barbara Miles is TNC's best-known anchorwoman and lead correspondent. So good looking that some wonder if she's computer-generated. She interviewed Christopher Blair on 2669.218 over a holo-link.

Her email address is bmiles@earth.tcc.news

• The Galaxy News Network is a Holovision news channel.
• ISN a Terran news channel which broadcasts in the Sol System, though nothing else is known about their coverage.
• Waypoint! is the shipboard newsletter sent to pilots and flight crews of TCS Midway. Midway's marines have their own newsletter.

KILRATHI

• The Heart of the Tiger was the "hero" name used by the Kilrathi to refer to Christopher Blair.
• Felix is a large rock in an asteroid belt in the Locanda System. The Kilrathi had an Imperial base on it until about 2669.200, when they cleaned it out completely when the Kilrathi operation Unseen Death began to take form.

The base housed three squadrons and had a supply depot that was big enough for a carrier to do a refit in the field.

• Kilrathi surveillance drones monitor the Kilrathi frontier. When one is destroyed in an accident, it can take days or weeks for a picket ship to get out there and investigate, replacing it if necessary.

LANDREICH

• The Order of Nova is the highest decoration available in the Landreich.

BORDER WORLDS

A forum post by LOAF regarding the Border Worlds fleet strength:

This is the Border Worlds fleet data Bob and I put together:

Durango-c (2)

• BWS Intrepid, CV-6 & BWS Tango.

CVE (2)

• Admiral Wilford commanded two escort carriers (novel).

Transport-c (2)

• Intrepid battlegroup includes "a pair of fast transports with flared ore-shuttle decks", p.167.

Tallahassee (Min 2, Max 5)

• Two make up enemy convoy in Masa 2.
• Two appear in FMV sequence 2180A.
• BWS Johns Hopkins.

L. Cruiser (1)

• Intrepid battlegroup includes "an ancient light cruiser", p.167.

WC3 Destroyer (1)

• Appears in FMV sequence 2180A.

Caernaven (Min 6, Max 11)

• Three appear in FMV sequence 2240F.
• Two make up the convoy Maniac escorts to the Intrepid (novel).
• "a couple of the frigates bought it" at Speradon (novel).
• Four are then destroyed attacking the Vesuvius (novel).

Corvette (5)

• Intrepid battlegroup includes "a fistful of corvettes", p.167.

Cutter (6)

• Intrepid battlegroup includes "a half-dozen old revenue cutters", p.167.

WC3 Transport (3)

• Three make up the friendly convoy in Orestes 1.

Spacelab (4)

• Tyr System, three appear in Tyr 1/2a/2b, PSX only.
• Masa System, one appears in Masa 1.

NEPHILIM

• Nephilim artifact: Major Leeward Washington found an alien object 1.88 meters by 1.33 meter by 28 centimeters in size during his recon mission on 2681.019 and tractored it in.

The artifact had an odd sheen like a fish's scales or the inside of a seashell with a dark color, almost black with a bit of purple or red. The artifact was primarily silicon with a glossy surface which displayed moire or "shimmer" effect under direct light. The substance was 1.8 times as hard as Confed fighter hull metal, but slightly more brittle. The concave side of the artifact had one large and three small depressions. The depressions resembled a hand-print or claw-print and may have represented controls or switches of some kind.

FIREKKANS

• Fire-Temples can be found on Firekka. During midnight ceremonies, Firekkans fly around the temples' rolling flames in intricate patterns.
• Firekka's Finest, or Kika'li to the Firekkans, is a strong alcoholic drink. Made from Kika seeds mixed with alcohol, the alcohol brings out the natural flavor of the seeds, which Firekkans eat to relieve stress or pain. Humans in the Diplomatic Corps liked Kika'li because of the alcohol, so the Firekkan Red Flower bar started serving the beverage to visiting Humans. The drink itself is served in a hollowed out plant which Firekkans like to eat when it is empty. The drink smells spicy, like Jalapenos, and tastes like a mix of Whiskey and Tabasco sauce. Delicious.
• The Flame Winds is a Firekkan doctrine that says that the universe is in a constant state of change. Any occurance can undo any plans. That is why the Firekkans don't believe in planning ahead.

PRIVATEER 2 / TRI-SYSTEM

• 7212BC [Karatikus, Isaac System] The Crian Megalodon, a transplanted egg laying reptile, becomes extinct.
• 212 BC Human civilization first appears on Anhur.
• 790 [Tri-System] The Irrulan, Isaac and Hom systems begin to co-exist.
• 2190 [Hephaestus, Irrulan System] The political seat of the Tri-System is moved to Hephaestus, where it will remain to this date.
• 2234 [Hephaestus, Irrulan System] A fusion powered slowship leaves for Bex to set up a colony.
• 2304 [Anhur, Hom System]
• A D-Drive colony ship carrying Humanists leaves for Bex. It arrives in four weeks, and successfully starts a colony.
• 2353 [Bex, Irrulan System] A fusion powered slowship from Hephaestus arrives to set up a colony, finding that the planet has been colonized for over 30 years thanks to the D-Drive.
• 2370 [Crius, Hom System] Vrootle Pigfididrin is born.
• 2490 [Tri-System] The first All-System Rugby Challenge Cup Final is held.
• 2490 [Anhur, Hom System] Anscestors of William Maddox begin a long history of military service through a number of conflicts.
• 2515 [Opulus Plaza, Hephaestus, Irrulan System] The Yovas-Clerkson family opens the Galactic Gourmet Hotel.

• Larn Regis, AGE: 52, born on Janus IV. Before his death, when the transport ship Canera crashed into Mendra City, Larn Regis was one of the richest men in the Tri-System. He was the Chairman and major stock holder of Richmond Intergalactic, a corporation with a net worth of 345,679 Billion Credits. Since his death, however, his financial dealings have been scrutinized by the CIS in connection with Ricaud Interplanetary, the largest industrial concern in the Tri-System.