Brief
One of the first Mustang Technologies projects, project HADRIAN will design, test and prototype a planetary defence array with the defencive requirement of planet Nauru in mind.
The desired outcome is to provide APM with functional prototypes and blueprints with which they can reproduce our works to further develop the defensive capabilities of planet Nauru lowering the strain the Core| patrol wings.
Outline
Project "HADRIAN" features the following phases to be completed for a defence array to become fully operational:
1. Field study - incomplete. Agents are to fly out to Nauru alongside Core| Strategists to identify the performance requirements the HADRIAN defense array will need to meet.
2. Control Network - incomplete. In order for the future prototypes to function coherently, they will need to be connected to a mutual control node. Yaren base, being easily accessible makes it the ideal location for the MCN. After project HADRIAN is completed this infrastructure will need to be ported planetside.
3. Concept design. - incomplete. Two initial draft designs are to be proposed and debated before processing to the development stage. Each concept is to come with an estimated material requirement list which should be no more than 10% out from actual requirement.
4. Initial Prototyping - incomplete. One or both of the proposed designs (depending on feedback) will be prototyped and deployed within range of Yaren. Where their durability and basic functions will be tested.
Nota bene: Before deployment of HADRIAN prototypes safety precautions must be taken and test fail safes must be active. The above process is to be repeated until results are satisfactory
5. Complete final prototype - incomplete. After the final prototype is a success the HADRIAN Arrays are to be showcased in action around Nauru to APM and Core where their directors will decide which prototype meets the requirements set out by the Core|
After an Array has been confirmed the MCN is to be moved to planet Nauru and prints are to be handed over to APM| for production.
• OBJECTIVE: Produce prototype planetary defence arrays. • STATUS:Assigned
Update
File access Granted Chantal Noel.
John Garcia appoints Chantal Noel as project lead. ■
Reason
Lack of results from APM associate Liezl Molito caused this project to be delayed, as such APMs latest recruit, Chantal Noel Associate 3rd Class has been assigned the project. This is a new recruit whose work will be monitored closely over the duration of this project to provide whatever support necessary for them to succeed and reach the expected standards.
Shortly after receiving this project I concluded it to be prudent to split the first step of planning into two. This report will address the first one which is a survey of Omicron Delta and identify which locations are high risk in order to more effectively use our resources. After that is done we then discuss the actual physical requirements of Project Hadrian in deterring hostile forces.
I have identified two areas of high risk from my survey of Omicron Delta, and one particular approach that is the most likely to be used by hostile forces. That being sector F5, and to some extent sector E5. The Palau Ice cloud can cover any build up of forces and prevents our scanners from spotting any traffic in and out of the Omicron Minor Jump hole. The Omicron Kappa Jump Hole in that sector is also a cause of concern, allowing any force to appear in system relatively close to Nauru.
The other approach risk is from the D6 sector though I believe it to not be as major as a problem as the F5 vector. Main risks would be Order raids staged from the occupied Dabadoru Station, however from my research they are not nearly as major a threat as the Nomad who are much more likely to go through F5 than D6. Allied reinforcements from the Omicron Rho Jump Hole further alleviate any pressure brought through the D6 vector.
In light of all of this I propose installation construction to be primarily focused on coverage towards sector F5 with a small contingent of installations maintaining watch over the D6 sector. For the actual specifications in what the platforms themselves require I will need input from someone who has actually fought our enemies for an extended period of time.
Apologies for the delay in this report, most of my effort was in having to survey the system properly as mass figures and distance were extremely erroneous and I had to do most of the surveying myself.
Preamble My discussion with Jack Daniels has lead to me to further refine my initial projections, our current plan of action will be a grid of 5 main defense installations in orbit of Nauru. There will also be a sensor satellite installed at Lagrangian point 3 of Tuvalu to Nauru. I have also decided to further pursue the idea of Drones as one of the weapon systems for the grid.
Positions The coordinates of the installations were suggested to me by monsieur Daniels, these will provide the maximum amount of coverage from approaches, this will include 3 installations on plane with Nauru’s rotation and 2 will be in highly polar orbit running directly from pole to pole of Nauru insuring complete coverage of Nauru from all angles on all axes.
Key:
On-plane Installations: Yellow
Early Warning Satellite: Blue
Armament : I will subdivide this into two further sections, that being the Drones which warrant a project entirely on their own in my opinion and more traditional armaments. Artillery Weapons: Each platform will have two distinct primary batteries, consisting of 2x500mm railguns and Particle cannons. Point defense weapons will be rather simple, we will utilize the secondary batteries already employed by the Mako
Railgun Concept
The Railgun’s large bore allows us to introduce specialty ammunition depending on the situation. A particular idea I have is canister shot, like an old ballistic shotgun you have a shell of smaller projectiles that spread out. With the velocities a railgun fires these flechettes would inflict massive damage on smaller craft and even larger unshielded vessels, the shot would severly compromise its outer hull due to the sheer volume of hypervelocity impacts if they get hit by a concentrated cloud of the flechette at closer ranges. Ferrous slugs would be the primary ammunition, its an ancient concept, but its effective and powerful.
Ultimus Turret Concept
The particle cannon is specifically for the threat that the Nomads present, they are by far and away the most dangerous entity to Nauru’s safety. The ‘Ultimus’ particle cannon developed for the Pleco is particularly effective against organic matter, of which the Nomads are exclusively comprised of. Whilst the Pleco’s status as a Gunship limits the Ultimus’ destructive potential, when you place a similar design on a large stationary emplacement we can scale it up to take advantage of the greater space and power supplied by the stations reactor. Its monstrous effectiveness against Nomad vessels does not preclude its deadliness against more traditional foes however. Though due to the nature of particle cannons often losing containment and energy the range of this weapon will be of limited range compared to the Railgun.
Drones: Arguably the most complicated aspect of the defense systems. A screen of drones. This will be a particularly difficult since it has never quite been done to this scale. We must implement a system that allows dozens, if not hundreds of autonomous craft to coordinate with each other and not be vulnerable to any cyber warfare attempts from our enemies. Especially the Artificial Intelligences seen roaming around the edge worlds whom are known to be hostile, their very nature makes any Cyber warfare attempts from them particularly dangerous and hard to defeat.
We have two solutions to this, one is to make the drones completely closed loop and not respond to any external communications sans a few very basic ones such as return to base functions. This will limit the ability to hijack them purely due to the limited amount of remote access they possess. This will be rather simple and easy to implement but will severely hamper the effectiveness of the drones since they will be unable to act as a cohesive unit, merely being a mob of drones shooting hostiles.
The second solution is a lot more complex and would be something I would have to outsource to someone much more learned than I am in the relevant fields. Monsieur Daniels referred to Quantum-Entanglement Communications, this would eliminate any attempts at hostile remote access. My concerns would be its actual implementation, Quantum mechanics are unfortunately one area of physics I am woefully ignorant of and would not even know where to begin in its implementation. However the benefits are obvious, it provides a direct link to the drones, meaning there are no wireless communications to hijack. QEC may also extend the effective range of the drones to the entire system of Delta. We perhaps may be able to also integrate this system into the Mutual Control Network necessary for the entire defense grid, effectively consolidating our work by using the same tech for both CiC and combat purposes.
For the actual drones themselves I propose re purposing our snubcraft, appropriate the cockpit and implement it with electronics and other internals to facilitate autonomous function, most ship’s autopilots can effectively control the engines and thrusters of the ship so we would merely have to expand upon that basic function to include combat maneuvers and weapons. Our current craft work more than well enough already, there is no need for us to design a drone from scratch.
Closing Statements: I can deal with the Railgun and the Particle turret parts by myself, Electromagnetism and Plasma are my fields of expertise, the Drones will need to be outsourced to someone experienced in AI and Quantum Entanglement. I just need a quick sign off on this document before we continue further.