A high-speed, high-action dogfighting RP inspired by Ace Combat, and other works
RP IS NOW CLOSED, AS IT HAS BEEN PUT ON HIATUS INDEFINITELY
2018:
Earth has changed.
Following the impact of an asteroid with Earth's surface (the event later coming to be known as the 'Heavenfall' by those who survived), the world has changed - Earth's axial tilt and orbit has changed. Summers are longer, winters are fleeting and warm. The sea level has risen, and now everyone is competing for what's left.
The United Nations, once nothing more than a regulatory body, has become a global government. But the nations that once lead it have been crippled by the Heavenfall - many of their major cities have been swamped by the oceans and by the following epidemics of starvation, disease and resulting violence. Not to mention rampant unemployment, and destruction of vast areas of industrial infrastructure.
In the wake of these events, other nations have banded together to form their own alternate power block, a competing Unified New World Order - the UNWO - sponsored and backed with materiel and economic power by a conglomeration of powerful new corporations that have provided them with the weapons they need to back up their rising challenge to the UN's traditional leading place.
Tensions over territory, human rights and freedoms and more grow as the UN and UNWO find themselves standing off. Finally, a misunderstanding on a border erupts into a violent skirmish, and shots are exchanged. Lives are lost, and the line cannot be stepped back.
On November the 12th 2018, exactly twenty years to the day that the asteroid impacted, the UNWO attack the UN Headquarters in Geneva, simultaneously attacking numerous other front-line facilities of the United Nations Forces and wiping out much of their first-strike and most modern forces.
Crippled and reeling, the UNWO declare that the UN Government is an anachronism of the old era, and should be wiped aside to allow the UNWO to take control and erase their previous mistakes. Negotiations have failed, and only wiping out the previous world order will do the job - and eliminating their military strength and centers of control and command is the path to doing so, allowing the UNWO to institute their own control.
With nowhere else to turn, and their forces in disarray, the UN looks to unconventional sources to fight back. An answer comes from an unlikely quarter:
The Avalon Institute, a technological research group and defence contractor. Having already accepted a contract to refit and upgrade older models and marks of aircraft to more modern standards, they offer a strong chance of launching an effective counter-attack with the few kits they have ready to apply to aircraft. Not to mention, they also have the prototype 'submarine strike carrier', Nimue ready to launch for a shakedown cruise.
Wary of the idea but lacking in options, the UN authorise the creation of Excalibur Squadron, a unit of hand-picked pilots from the remaining armed forces under UNF command, equipped with upgraded and refitted aircraft to take on the UNWO's aces and high-tech forces in combat, acting as the spearhead for the regular UNF forces as they make their counterstrike.
The Excalibur Squadron will have to learn to work together in the face of their enemy, and to learn about the extent of what they're up against and find out where the real power behind the UNWO lies - before it's too late, and whatever plans and weapons they have are put into action - and the skies themselves are broken, and rain down in pieces upon the world.
As stated above, the game takes place in an alternate 21st Century Earth.
In 1994, instead of the Shoemaker-Levy comet impacting Jupiter, it instead impacted one of Jupiters' moons, shattering it into numerous fragments. These prompted extensive scanning of the outer reaches of the solar system. This resulted in the detection of a formation of cometary bodies that were on numerous impact vectors toward the inner planets of the Solar System, some travelling at extremely high speed. One in particular, named 'Heaven' by the astronomer that located it was theorised to be travelling at a significant proportion of the speed of light. With little recourse to intercept the object, the United Nations convened and drew up a plan for the survival of the human race.
However, the plan was flawed, and many security leaks allowed it to be leaked - incomplete - to the public, and mass panic followed. While some order was restored, it came at a cost, and ended in the plans not fully being followed through. As such, the UN itself was weakened and fractured, with many member states removing themselves from the assembly.
Private corporations, previously unheard of, stepped up to the plate and presented their own alternatives, adopted by many countries in return for allowing controversial research projects (such as those into human and animal enhancement and other restricted technologies, as well as issues related to patent laws and manufacturing rights) to be carried out on their soil.
All of this was swept aside, however, as the asteroid impacted Earth on November the 12th 1998. The asteroid released the equivalent to several billion megatons of TNT. Hitting in Antarctica, the impact immediately caused catastrophic Earthquakes and Tsunamis that wiped out over two billion people on the planets' surface. Global sea levels rose dramatically, and many industrial, economic and population centers were wiped out in the chaos and devastation, resulting in a huge shift in global economic priorities and population levels.
Almost immediately after this, more people died due to increasing riots over food, medicine and aid shortages. Many of these conflicts exploded into ethnic and other conflicts, before the United Nations began to mobilize itself as a global government, following a hastily signed treaty in September 2004 (the September Agreement).
Obviously, not all nations agreed on this, and many split away, leaving the UN Government as something of a less-than global initiative.
Ocean power and transport became a much more important commodity in the water-logged world, and naval power received a new focus as part of the UN Forces (UNF). The UNF managed to bring some kind of stability to many territories, while others turned to the corporations that had established themselves and the nations they held territory in for guidance, forming their own alliances.
Meanwhile, the UN continued to attempt to rebuild, slowly piecing together the bare bones of the world. By 2010 the world had begun to return to some form of normalcy, but the butchers' bill was devastating: almost half the world's population had been killed by the Heavenfall and the following violence, disease and starvation. The UN approached former members for aid and assistance and to offer membership, but the efforts were rejected, often resulting in clashes and tense standoffs.
The situation grew worse over the following years as the non-UN Nations began to build new facilities for research, power generation, defence and other such concerns, and often lead quiet initiatives to recruit other nations, as well as sending spies and other agents to gather information on the UNF. The concerns about hostile takeovers, pollution and the like result in further brushing up between the groups, especially as the non-UN nations begin to adopt increasingly large and advanced armed forces.
Finally, a conflict over land and resources turned into a shooting war, which ended in an all out battle between UNF naval forces and non-aligned nations aircraft. Civilians from both sides were injured, and the crises was turned to a meeting in Geneva. Shortly after this began, the Geneva UN HQ was attacked by an orbital strike. Simultaneously, numerous Strategic Weapons sites, such as bomber and ICBM launch sites were attacked, along with many front-line aircraft and naval bases, wiping out much of the UNF's key military units in one strike.
Simultaneously, the non-aligned nations declared themselves as the United New World Order, or UNWO, and declared themselves out to remove the UN's control of the world, and institute a new and forward-looking government over the UN's, one that would seek to remove the problems of the past, such as the failings of the UN in the aftermath of the Heavenfall, and the numerous other failings of the UN over the years. They intend to do this by eliminating their military, political and financial power, and taking over the control and guidance of international government in their own image.
The world itself is thusly shaped by the Heavenfall incident. A vast majority of the worlds' low-lying and coastal cities are now underwater, or at least partially so. Many capital cities have been relocated to inland cities, and industries have similarly moved on to new places. The earthquakes and volcanic activity have further resulted in great devastation, along with the massive conflicts and violence in the first decade of the 21st century.
Many well-known cities and regions of the world have now been consumed by flooding, leaving much of the worlds best known art, architecture and skylines ruined by flooding, and the skeletons of buildings rising from the seas off shore.
The global population has also decreased vastly, leaving large areas of land unclaimed and empty, with many cities and towns empty shells that are decaying and wasting away, damaged or destroyed by conflict and the global upheavals. Nonetheless, what is left habitable is at a premium, with many areas in competition for healthy farming, fishing or building land, and massive projects underway to irrigate huge areas, build new cities and more.
High technology and science are believed widely to be the way to help mankind out of it's current spiral toward extinction by both governments and individuals - but there is also an undercurrent from some more radical or fanatical quarters (i.e the more out-there religion sects) that humanity has transgressed somehow, and is only receiving what is 'expected' for so many sins.
Others still see survival as a gift and a free pass to live a hedonistic lifestyle, while others see it as a chance to make a new start at life. All in all, everyone is scrabbling to survive.
New technology is emerging at a furious pace. Computer technology has advanced in leaps and bounds, with networking and data storage capacity growing almost monthly. Processing power is also increasing exponentially, and physical media is virtually obsolete as the Internet has linked up almost everyone worldwide, especially via the use of satellite capability to transmit data.
Power generation and storage has been increasingly focused on renewable energy, with solar, geothermal and tidal power being increasingly looked to for solutions to new building projects, such as the up-and-coming Arcology concepts for cities.
The UN Government
The UN Government and UNF is a coalition of the member nations of NATO, the EU, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, most Central American and Carribbean countries, Columbia, Israel, India, South Korea, Argentina, Peru, Taiwan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE and South Africa, as well as a number of other countries of note. They have organized into a unified command structure for their military forces, and have a loosely democratic government based on a senate of international leaders and politicians. While it is rough around the edges, it is beginning to work.
The UNWO
The UNWO consists of the majority of other non-UN countries, especially including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Egypt, Libya, Cuba, Nicuragua, Vietnam, Burma/Myanmar, Laos, and the Phillipines, among others. While they are more numerous than the UN, they also have more internal conflicts and - apparently, at least - a lower overall level of technology and sophistication, though this assumption is in part what lead to the victorious strikes on the UN forces and their later crippling in the face of the UNWO, as their equal and in some cases greater level of sophistication is revealed in one fell swoop.
Independent Countries
Not all countries are part of one group or the other, or do not play an active or engaged part of one group or the other, remaining neutral or providing only logistical or material support, rather than engaging in open combat.
This RP is inspired by works such as the Ace Combat series of games, numerous techno-thriller books, and various comic books (especially Twilight X and Titanium Rain).
While it has realistic elements, such as the fighter aircraft and their weapons, the world it takes part in (or at least, it's geography and much of its' history), and the structure of the military and the operations, it also incorporates elements of science fiction, in order to add flavour and colour, and a greater challenge.
It will not be an ultra-realistic military RP, but will not be a 'Hollywood' action feel either - you won't be facing down a horde of enemies and coming through unscathed, but neither will you be living a meticulously rendered version of military life.
There will be briefings, military terminology and ideas, real-world technology, weapons, operations and regulations, but they will be somewhat relaxed in the name of fun, playability and flow of the game.
- Don't be an ass to each other, be nice to your fellow players, and to the GM
- Silverwind Blade is the GM. Other players are free to make suggestions and recommendations, but the GM has final say on all plot and rules related decisions
- Similarly to the above, while I do appreciate suggestions, I am running the game and the plot and I have ideas and plans. So if you want to introduce something, run it by me first on the OOC or in a PM. It could mess up my plans otherwise, and thus the game. Same goes for 'hidden' parts of a background. If I don't know it happened, then as far as the game world is concerned, then it doesn't exist.
- This game is an original work - it is inspired by other settings, but is not one of those settings. As such, the background info of Ace Combat, Yukikaze, Area 88 and so on are not necessarily applicable in this setting.
- This game is a light military sci-fi setting, as opposed to an in-depth military one. As such, there is no need to get into the deep, gritty and rigidly accurate details, especially if it gets in the way of fun. However, behaving idiotically and out of character or too 'comic book' is also not really accurate or appropriate for the setting either.
- You may play a character with any kind of personality you like; however don't be surprised when, if you choose to play an abrasive and unpleasant character, nobody likes your character much.
- Each player may play two characters, either a pilot and WSO/Co-pilot etc, or two characters with two separate single-pilot aircraft. However, no more than two per player.
- Characters must be part of the Excalibur Squadron and allied to the UN government, rather than the UNWO. You may play a mercenary-type character, or a pilot from the independent nations, but they ultimately are sided with the UN, work with Avalon and fly as part of the Excalibur Squadron.
- If you wish to have a side-plot or storyline related to your character's past, then PM the details to the GM - if I don't know about it, I can't work it in, and if it comes up in the middle of something else I've planned, I'll ignore it and move on; if I didn't know about it, then it's a disruption to whatever I've already planned. In other words: If I don't know about it, it doesn't exist. This is the same for any other details as well.
- Bearing this in mind, however, side-plots will not be allowed to take over the main thread or storyline. They'll be tied into it, tangentially or otherwise, as it goes along and when I see an appropriate opportunity to do so. Badgering me about your side-plot won't make it come up any sooner though, and I'll decide how to fit it in, with your input.
- God-modders and power-gamers will be ejected from the game.
- Equally, any Mary-Sues/Marty-Stu's will be mercilessly stamped out of existence, and bought down to Earth with a crashing bump. Your character cannot be the best at everything, and win every fight they're in with no challenge. Even the best mecha pilots in anime take hits and damage, and find their opponents hard to beat. If there's no challenge, then it's boring and pointless, and there's nothing to overcome.
- On the other side of this argument, this does not need to be a gritty, miserable slog. A strong sense of adventure, heroism, fun and excitement are also part of this genre, and I play to get away from miserable things, not to have them rammed into my skull in my free time. Keep it balanced out; seriousness is the general tone, but there's moments of levity and joy too.
- If you are going to be busy or away, please notify the GM and other players by PM or on the thread, so we can work around your character. If you intend to come back, then this can be covered.
- If you wish to drop out, then please let someone know, so you can be written out, and so people aren't waiting for your post. It's just polite. If you do not post to say anything, you'll be considered to have dropped out of the game.
- Please try to post at least once a week In the IC to remain active, so that people aren't waiting for you. If you're having trouble, let people know so things aren't dragging too much. If you do not post within a week and offer no explanation in the OOC or via PM to the GM of the game, then your character sheet will be removed and the game will move on.
- Additionally, if you disappear when things aren't combat and don't post, and then magically re-appear when combat starts again, I will be grossly unimpressed. This not an all-action game. A good story, let alone a good RP, has moments of character interaction, and not just action all the time. If you feel this is a problem for you, then I'd rather you didn't join in the first place.
- Posting is your responsibility. I have better things to do with my time than chase you around and badger you into posting. If you are interested in the game and want to participate, then post. It is literally that simple. If you cannot 'be bothered', if you're 'too lazy', or 'easily distracted', then I'm not going to chase you down. Being interested should be enough to keep you coming back. Don't get pissy with me when I move on without you, or boot you from the game if you can't be arsed to keep up.
The Avalon Institute has lead an initiative in rebuilding and upgrading obsolete or previous-generation aircraft with modernised avionics and components.
After the Heavenfall destroyed so much global infrastructure and the following wars ruined many industrial sites and set back a lot of development, many countries have large inventories of older aircraft, with comparatively small numbers of more modern craft.
In the face of the UNWO upgrading a lot of their own craft and building new ones, the Institute looked a cost-effective ways of rapidly creating a formidable force to counter the buildup for the short term.
Fighter aircraft (which includes attackers, multirole, etc) are split broadly into 'Generations'. What defines a 'Generation' of aircraft are the sophistication of its' onboard systems and the materials used in its' construction.
Most current aircraft in our world are Fourth Generation, with modifications and new versions making them 4.5th Generation. Aircraft currently coming into service, such the T-50, F-22 and other are Fifth Generation aircraft. Some on the drawing board (or at the 'back of napkin' stage) could be considered Sixth-Generation.
In this setting, many of the UN's Fifth and 4.5 gen aircraft have been destroyed or greatly reduced in number, leaving a large number of Third and early Fourth generation aircraft around the world, hence the reason for the list of available aircraft in the OP not including many 'modern' aircraft.
To keep these aircraft competitive with those used by the UNWO, Avalon has begun a crash-program of refitting them with systems used by 4.5th and 5th gen aircraft.
(N.B. this does not mean that all 4th gen aircraft are available, and I am not debating this! If you don't like it, then tough!)[
In addition, the Avalon Institutes' Automated Rapid Production Systems (or ARPS) allow the production of aircraft from existing plans over a short time frame, or modification of existing aircraft to existing plans, meaning that aircraft with projected variants are able to be produced, especially so if a prototype or extensive plans exist. This means many older and unproduced variant designs are being revisited with new technology in mind in the face of the oncoming war.
These new technologies include, but are not limited to, newer, more powerful engines (potentially with thrust-vectoring), rebuilding with advanced materials (such as carbon composites, greater use of lightweight alloys), reprofiling edges (like on the F-35, F/A-18F, etc) for increased stealthy characteristics, increased automation and replacing of avionic systems with modern components to save weight and increase processing speed, power and functionality and using helmet-mounted sights. Changing cockpit systems from dials and analog 'tape' style readouts to focus on a more Glass Cockpit layout with multi-function touch-screen displays and adding new systems like modern AESA radars, targeting and navigation systems (like laser/IR targeting pods such as SNIPER and LITENING) would also be possible and likely.
Adding an in-flight refuelling capability would also be common, as would adding the capability to take-off and land from an aircraft carrier. Things like additional conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) could also be added.
Additionally, the upgrading of these aircraft could also lead to expanding their range of weaponry, adding modern weapons such as laser or GPS-guided bombs, advanced models of air-to-air missiles and a wider range of air-to-ground missiles or other ordnance.
In gameplay terms, this means an Avalon aircraft can be assumed to have the following mods at minimum:
- HOTAS
- Helmet-mounted sights
- Upgraded weapons - more modern weapon options
- Increase in general speed/agility, up to 25%
- Upgraded radar and avionics systems
- Navalized modification for carrier-based ops
Others are possible, including things such as one-piece canopies (for increased visibility), additional navigation and sensor systems (such as targeting pods and low-light/bad weather navigation gear) and more.
While the aircraft available are not as modern, they are still very competitive. The list below is not exhaustive, and will be added to, but acts as a guide of sorts:
- [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-4_Skyhawk]A-4 Skyhawk[/url]
- A-5 Vigilante
- A-6 Intruder
- A-7 Corsair II
- Hawker Siddeley Harrier (All variants, including AV-16, Harrier III and big-wing harrier and the P.1154 Supersonic Harrier)
- AMX International AMX
- Alpha Jet
- Avro Arrow
- English Electric Lightning
- F-4 Phantom II
- F-5 Tiger
- F-8 Crusader
- F-14 Tomcat
- F-20 Tigershark
- F-111 Aardvark
- IAI Kfir
- L-39 Albatros
- Mirage F1
- Mirage III
- Dassault Mirage 5
- Dassault Mirage 'G'
- Dassault Etendard IV
- Mitsubishi F-1
- MiG-21 Fishbed
- MiG-23 Flogger
- MiG-25 Foxbat
- Saab Draken
- Saab Viggen
- Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon
- Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter
- Sukhoi SU-24 Fencer
- Sukhoi SU-25 Frogfoot
- SEPECAT Jaguar
- Yak-38 Forger
Hey, Blade! Where's My F-22/Flanker/T-50/JSF/etc?!
While they are all very cool aircraft, I'm deliberately avoiding allowing players to use any of the most modern aircraft - only the aircraft from the OP on the OOC thread are available for beginning players. You may well get the chance to upgrade to something more modern down the line, but it's part of the storyline and background that more modern aircraft are currently out of reach, and older aircraft with modifications to make them more competitive are where we're starting out.
I mainly did this to avoid the 'same old aircraft' being picked - when I've tried to run other games like this, I've just ended up with a handful of F-22's, Flanker variants, and a couple of reluctant F-15 or -16 pilots, rather than anything imaginative, different or exciting (and then inevitable tremendous flame-wars about which is 'better' the F-22 or the T-50 or Flanker family).
I was kind of hoping to inspire a bit of interest in something different, rather than just seeing the same things wheeled out again and again, and to make people consider and look at some of the 'older' generations of aircraft with a new eye for appreciation of what they could do, given a bit of modern technology injected into them.
Aircraft in the game will carry more realistic weapon loads than in Ace Combat, as targets will be lesser in number, and the missions will be less 'target rich' environments, and will require more planning, and judicious and sparing use of warloads, than spamming missiles at dozens of targets.
All modern aircraft have hard points or bays for air-launched weaponry, as well as - in most cases - an onboard cannon.
Most aircraft are capable of at least rudimentary air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, with many specializing in one area or another.
Weapon Systems
Cannons:
Most aircraft cannon range from 20-30mm, and are used to attacks against other aircraft and 'soft' ground targets. Some ground-attack aircraft, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt and the SU-25 Frogfoot are designed with heavier cannon for use against armoured targets.
Aircraft cannon have a high rate of fire, as they are designed to get the maximum amount of fire on a target in the shortest time possible, due to the comparative speed of aircraft vs. their target.
Generally, an aircraft carries enough ammunition for around thirty seconds of continuous fire, leading to bursts of under a second each. However, with the firing speed and the calibre of the ammunition, this is more than enough to ruin someone's day.
Air-to-Air missiles
- Long-range Air-to-Air missiles. Long-range radar-guided missiles. These would include the US AIM-54 Phoenix, European MBDA Meteor, and Russian Vympel R-33 and R-37.
- Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air missiles. The most advanced of mid-range radar-guided missiles. Examples would include the US-Manufactured AIM-120 AMRAAM, Russian Vympel R-77, British-made BAe Skyflash, French MBDA MICA, and Japanese Mitsubishi AAM-4
- Short-range missiles use IR - or 'heat-seeking' - guidance to home onto the hot areas of a target. Traditionally, this would mean the engines, but modern missiles can pick out the leading edges of an aircraft as hotter than their surroundings, and lock on from multiple angles. Examples would include the US-Manufactured AIM-9X Sidewinder, European ASRAAM and Magic, Rafael Python, and Russian AA-11 Archer, all coupled with helmet-mounted sights and other high agility features. Range is approximately .5-1 miles
- Semi-active radar-guided missiles have a longer distance lock-on and radar-guidance, but require the target to be constantly illuminated (i.e., within field-of-view of the nose of the aircraft). Examples would include the US and NATO AIM-7 Sparrow, French Matra Super 530D, and Russian Vympel R-27.
Air-to-surface Missiles
Air-to-surface missiles incorporate air-to-ground and anti-ship weapons. They are used to destroy both armoured and unarmoured targets, and have a variety of guidance systems.
- SOD - Standoff Ordnance Dispenser. A cruise missile or other bomblet dispenser which is launched at a locked-on target or cluster of targets, through optical or laser-guidance. It then flies ahead of the aircraft under it's own power, and dispenses numerous bomblets over the target area to destroy a cluster of structures or vehicles. Examples include the European MBDA SCALP-EG and MBDA-Storm Shadow.
- LASM - Long-range Anti-Ship Missile. A missile launched at long-range after a lock-on through optical guidance. Flying at low altitude and high-speed after launch, an anti-ship missile will penetrate the side of the target through high-velocity and an armoured nose-cone, and then detonate its' warhead inside a ship for maximum damage. Examples include the US and NATO AGM-84 Harpoon, European Sea Eagle and Exocet and Russian Kh-29.
- Anti-Radar Missiles - These missiles lock onto transmitting radar arrays and home in on them, destroying the transmitter to disable the radar. Usually used to destroy surveillance radars or SAM targeting radars, they usually have the ability to store a transmitters' location and home in on it even with the radar turned off, and some can even 'loiter' in an area if the radar does not resume transmitting. Examples include the AGM-88 HARM, Kh-31, ALARM,
- Long-range Air-to-ground Missiles. A missile launched after a lock on through optical, laser or IR guidance. It has a powerful explosive warhead that can destroy a hardened or toughened target at long range while the launch aircraft can remain at a stand-off distance. Many of these weapons are designed to destroy ships, bunkers or other large structures. Examples include the AGM-88 SLAM, Storm Shadow, HOPE/HOSBO, AGM-154 JSOW, Kh-29 Kedge, and Taurus missiles among others.
- Short-range Air-to-ground missiles - IR, Optical or Laser-guided, these are individually small missiles that are designed for the attack of pin-point targets, such as vehicles, small sea vessels and other similar targets. Examples would be the NATO AGM-65 Maverick, European AS.30 and Brimstone missiles and the Russian Kh-29.
Bombs
Bombs are both guided and unguided. Unpowered but capable of gliding in some guided models, they have a high area-of-effect, and a massive destructive power, but are relatively indiscriminate in their destruction.
- Unguided bombs are the most basic of air-to-ground weapons. Using no guidance beyond a simple bomb-sight on the aircrafts' HUD, they use simple gravity to hit a target. Often equipped with a variety of fuses, such as 'airburst' fuses for covering a wide area, or impact fuses for dealing with simple targets, they can range from 250lb to over 2000lb warheads, the sizes changing accordingly, and the number carried similarly decreasing with the size of bombs.
- Cluster Bombs. These weapons disperse a large number of bomblets over a wide area after release. Most employ a mix of softball-sized anti-personnel and anti-armour munitions to deny an area to passage by the enemy, or to cover a wide area with explosive destruction. As such, they are effective against both hard and soft targets. Examples include the CBU- series of US and NATO cluster bombs
- Fuel-Air Explosive Bombs. An explosive unguided bomb that distributes a vapourised cloud of fuel, and then ignites it over a large cluster of targets. The resulting change in pressure and heat can rip targets apart through the massive changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure. Such weapons are massively destructive, and highly restricted in their deployment. The largest weapons, dropped from cargo aircraft or heavy bombers are comparable in effect to small nuclear weapons.
- Guided Bombs. A guided bomb, designed for pin-point accuracy on a single target. Guided by GPS or laser-guidance, the bomb glides to it's target after lock-on from a mid-range distance. Examples of such ordnance would be the Paveway family of laser-guided bombs and the JDAM GPS-Guided bomb family, as well as similar laser or other guided bombs.
Other Weapons
Other air-to-ground weapons or other weapons that do not fit in these families, and are not 'special' weapons such as lasers or burst-missiles do not always fit into the other families and are listed here.
- Rocket Launcher. An unguided short-range weapon designed for barrage-fire against lightly armoured targets. By using rudder or stick movements, the rocket launchers' barrage can be spread across a cluster of targets. A wide variety of rocket munitions are used by many nations, and rockets can be fitted with a variety of warheads.
- Bomblet Dispenser. A fixed weapon, consisting of two large pods with holes honeycombed across the sides. Each tube launches a single sub-munition designed to spread over a wide area along either side of the aircrafts' path at low altitude. Especially effective against runways and large areas of buildings. The JP233 is the only widely-used type, and can be loaded with anti-runway and anti-personnel bomblets (to discourage repairs of the damaged target). JP233 dispensers can be fitted to Tornado, Jaguar, Harrier and FB-111 aircraft, with other potential carriers.
- Gun Pod. Otherwise known as 'gunpods' or 'cannon pods', these are self-contained units of a cannon and it's ammunition, as well as a power-source of some kind if also necessary. Generally used to augment an existing cannon, or if an aircraft has no internal cannon, they are not widely used other than against heavy concentrations of soft targets. Numerous types are available, from 7.62mm minigun pods, all the way up to 30mm cannon pods.
The Nimue is a masterpiece of engineering, whilst also being a white elephant.
Designed during the later years of the Cold War for the Russian Navy as a successor to the Typhoon and Red October classes of submarines, and considerably larger than both, the Nimue is the only known vessel of her type.
Purchased by the Avalon Institute after the fall of communism in the mid-90's when Russia was desperately trying to avoid bankruptcy, the Nimue went through many phases of life as a testbed for numerous submarine technologies.
In dry-dock at the time of the Heavenfall incident, she was thankfully spared too much major damage, and was rebuilt over the following years with modern technology to demonstrate possible cutting-edge technologies to naval customers for the coming century.
Further to this, the concept of submarine aircraft launches was growing in the face of the international unrest, and Avalon intended to put the concept to the test. Through extensive testing and development, they managed to combine a number of technologies in a significant re-work to the vessels' hull that allowed it to launch and recover a small number of aircraft and helicopters. While still much less than a normal aircraft carrier (of a similar size), it is nonetheless a potent package of firepower to deliver onto a target that is otherwise unsuspecting aerial attack.
The Nimue also has advanced propulsion systems in the form of a relatively conventional pump-jet for low and standard speed operations under stealth, and a Supercavitation propulsion system for high-speed dashes and long cruises where stealth is not a necessity.
Power is generated from an extremely temperamental fusion reactor that draws seawater for it's fuel, and supplies the resulting oxygen as part of the ships' life-support system. However, the plant requires extensive and meticulous maintenance, and is exceedingly finnicky and somewhat fragile, ruling it out from mass-production, much like many of the ships' other technologies.
Space aboard ship is at something of a premium, though some element of privacy remains due to the extensive automation of systems keeping crew numbers low.
As such, while the bunks are relatively luxurious compared to those aboard a regular vessel, they are still in a shared compartment with other crew members.
Each persons' bunk features a movable mattress with a lot more head-space than previous versions. They also feature closing sound-proofed privacy screens, a LCD flat-screen built into the top with headphones to access music, TV, films, video games and the Internet through the ships' network, and a number of small closing compartments for personal effects.
Each person also has access to storage lockers for their personal effects and clothing in the compartment, enough for about one large suitcases' worth of personal items.
Each compartment has about twenty bunks (so, one compartment serves the air squadron), and while cramped, is clean and well-lit with 'daylight' bulbs. They are also well ventilated and sound-proofed. A compartment also has two rather cramped but modern bathroom/washrooms, and a common area with a TV and other relaxation facilities.
The ship itself also features a small gym, a small PX store, laundry and the mess hall also has frequent 'beer and movie' nights, and numerous themed food evenings.
Aircraft and tactical ops occupy the majority of the upper deck, the forward third of which splits open as the launch/recovery area for aircraft, using EMALS launching systems.
The centre section is home to the bridge and ATC area, while the rearmost section contains the ships engine area.
The lower deck has the aircraft hangar and maintenance area, a tight and busy space in the middle third of the ship. The forward contains the torpedo/missile tubes, armory and crew quarters, and the rear third has the mess hall, infirmary and other support areas, with storage and other systems crammed into every other nook available.
Defensive weapons consist primarily of a quartet of torpedo/missile tubes in the bow for anti-ship missiles, such as Harpoon and SLAM missiles, as well as torpedoes and decoys. Other armament consists only of a pair of remote-operated 30mm chainguns that are only usable on surface to defend against close-range threats, as well as shoulder-fired Stinger missiles for defence, and small-arms stored aboard, including anti-armour heavy weapons and heavy machine-guns, grenade launchers and miniguns that can be mounted on deck railings to further defend the ship. The Nimue relies primarily on it's aircraft for defence and attack of heavy targets. There are no marines as such aboard, but there are personnel who are trained in ground combat, and in boarding and counter-boarding operations, as well as ships' security.
The Nimue does not have power and capabilities of a standard supercarrier, or even some smaller 'escort' carriers, but it is not designed to act as such, and is instead a 'strike carrier' designed to deliver one particular unit of aircraft to attack a target, and then fade away, using its' speed and stealth to escape.
The unit patch for the Nimue depicts a woman's hand rising from the water holding a sword. Around the edge of the shield-shaped patch are the words 'A mari usque ad caelum', or 'From the Seas to the Skies', accurately describing the subcarriers' mission.
A non-official and alternate patch, used when on-shore and on liberty, and frequently in 'time-off' functions, such as parties and dances, depicts more or less the same insignia, but with the sword changed for a cartoon Saturn-V rocket - though still being grasped by the hand - and the text changed to the english 'Fuck you, we have a rocket-powered submarine'.
Aircraft Complement:
Up to a maximum 16 Fighter/Attack/Etc aircraft of various types
1 Support aircraft (COD/Tanker/ETC)
2-4 Helicopters of various types for support operations
-or-
2 medium utility helicopters and 1 tilt-rotor or 'heavy' helicopter, 1 Support aircraft, with 14-16 attack aircraft, the tilt-rotor acting as a second utility aircraft for COD, tanker and other purposes.
Crew Complement:
Approx. 150 crew members, roughly 75 of which serve the air operations, or have dual duty toward them.
Please copy this format, including headings in bold. Links to a picture for physical description and aircraft profile are fine.
Character Sheet
Name:
Nickname/Callsign:
Age:
Nationality:
Appearance:
Bio:
Service Record:
Aircraft Details
Name of Aircraft:
Profile Link:
Modifications:
Personal Colour Scheme:
Weapon Systems:
- Silverwind Blade - Ariella Yosef Excalibur One
- Driving Park - Miyoshi Ohira Excalibur Two
- Skythikon - Everett Yang Defei & Zola VermaakExcalibur Three
- Keyblade87 - Jason LewisExcalibur Four
