
-------- TML Message #1982 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1982
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 90 20:21 EDT
From: METLAY@vms.cis.pitt.edu
Subject: Grant and Co. Part 4: The Plot Sickens



Muan Gwi, in the Vegan Autonomous District: late 1118

	He was tired. The exhaustion fogged everything, made images and 
memories somehow hazy and indistinct. They drifted past him, flashes of color 
and life, close enough to touch if only he had the strength....
	"Captain Khagariilian Grant?"
	"Yes?" Grant looked up from the landing strut he was inspecting. A man 
in his mid-forties or so was standing there, wrapped in a black coat against 
the chill wind of the Muan Gwi plateau. He held a small briefcase in one hand, 
and the other was extended for a handshake. Grant took the hand, cautiously.
	"He's clean, sir," came O'Connor's voice in his ear. "I scanned him
from the ship. There's a shotgun in his briefcase, but he can't trigger it
from the outside."
	Grant nodded. "What can I do for you, Mister....?"
	"Cameron." The man flashed a winning, perfect smile. "J. J. Cameron,
Ling Standard Products. Might I have a few moments of your time? I have a 
business proposition that you might find very interesting."
	What is your name?
	The voice intruded on the memory, blotting it out.
	Go away, he said wearily. I was remembering.
	What were you remembering?
	He frowned, or tried to. I don't remember, he thought. Why not?
	What is your name?
	He struggled for a moment, then answered. Grant?
	No good. Turn up the gain another point, he's almost there....
	Grant's mind crackled like a candle in rain and went out.

	"Have you ever heard of Dag, Captain?" Cameron poured a glass of water 
for himself and handed the pitcher to Grant. 
	"Dag? Nope, not offhand," Grant said mildly, pouring a sip for 
himself. He looked around the conference table. "Any of you?"
	"Not me," Jaeger said mildly, accepting the pitcher.
	"Nor me," Kherkhoulloth said, stuffing another fistful of canapes into 
his mouth and chewing vigorously.
	O'Connor was silent, thoughtful.
	"I'm not familiar with the word either," Fell muttered, grabbing the 
canape plate from in front of Kherkhoulloth. "GIVE me those, you philistine!"
	"Sanchez?"
	I know. I know! I know that I know. At least I think I know. Do I 
know? I don't know WHAT I know any more. It's so confusing....
	"Hmm? Oh, well, I know what *I* mean when I say 'Dag,' but I doubt 
that's what Mr. Cameron means....Dag is a kind of electrical insulation for 
vacuum-sealed high-current devices. It's sort of a blackish-grey gunk, kind
of like modeling putty. You dilute it with ethanol and paint it on, and it 
dries to a film...."
	"That's the stuff I mean, Mr. Sanchez," Cameron nodded. "There are 
thousands of different uses for Dag in the Imperium, and thousands of 
different formulations to meet those uses. Most of them have been around for 
centuries, and all of them are public-domain. Nobody's bothered to try to 
patent a new form of Dag since the Third Frontier War or thereabouts; there 
simply hasn't been a market for it." Cameron leaned forward across the table 
earnestly. "What would you say if I told you that a chemical engineering firm 
is preparing to issue a radical new Dag formulation that could drastically 
alter the way in which Jump drives are constructed?"
	Yow! What a concept! A new kind of Dag....
	Good evening, and welcome to another episode of This Old Starship, 
with your host, Wu-Shun Sanchez. Hello, I'm Wu-Shun Sanchez, and welcome to 
the show. Tonight, we're going to see what we can do about cleaning up this 
crufty old Jump drive. We'll need our basic tools, some ethanol and Dag
							and Dag
						and Dag
					and Dag
				and Dag
			Dag
		Dag
	Dag
	What is your name?
	TerraDag.
	No, that's the answer to the SECOND question....
	Blue. I think. Or maybe pink.
	That's the THIRD question. Focus! What is your NAME?
	I don't know. Do I have one?
	Yes. Learn!

	"TerraDag." Sniff. Sniff. Smells like he's telling the truth....
"Funny name for it...."
	"That's only our codemark for it, Mister, er, Kirkowloth." Kae! What 
pus-awful pronounciation. Humans! "We don't know what its makers call it. In 
fact, we don't know anything at all about it, other than the fact that it 
reportedly exists, and that the place that manufactured it was located on 
Terra." 
	Terra? Kakh TSAKHA! No go, bro. No no no! No way. I didn't ship 
halfway across the Universe to hobnob with my genetic predecessors and 
eighteenth cousins....
	"Acheson Chemicals, the company that manufactures most of the Dag 
formulations currently in use in the Solomani Rim, was reportedly quite close 
to a breakthrough at the time of the Solomani invasion. They later claimed 
that the experiments were failures, but sources close to the lab think 
otherwise. We need to make sure."
	"Why?" All this fuss over some black gunk. Go figure.
	"Because if it does exist and the Solomani have it, then the Imperium 
must have it as well. Even little things like a new Dag formula can mean big 
differences in military buildup and resupply. Suppose this stuff DOES allow 
them to refit damaged ships faster than we? Then what?"
	"Then it's strategically important to learn about it for sure." I 
smell money here all of a sudden....
	"Precisely. Which brings us to the matter of payment." KA-CHING!
	"If you come back with evidence of the new Dag's existence, you'll be 
granted a free voucher for your next annual maintainance check at any starport 
with a Ling Standard shipyard. For greater degrees of success than that, the 
pay scale slides upward accordingly." Hrrrrr. Annual maintainance, on a ship 
like the Torch, comes to-- whoa! Carefully now, don't let this fish off the 
hook....
	"Um, what would we get for a, er, a COMPLETE success?"
	"Well, I'd define that as being a sample of the new Dag, or notes on 
how to make it, along with a reasonable idea of the Solomani's knowledge of 
what it is and can do, or lack thereof. If the overall picture were favorable 
enough, I could probably write up a Form 662 as part of the 'reasonable 
expenditures' for this mission, and send it off to Hortalez et Cie...."
	"A F-F-Form Six S-Sixty Two?" Sniff. Whew! What's got into the Captain 
all of a sudden? He's sweating like a Bwap! "You're not SERIOUS!"
	"Of course I am, Captain. This is a risky job; it should carry the 
largest practical reward if well done."
	"'Scuse me, but for the ignorant among us, what's a 'Form 662'?"
	"A lien forgiveness. He's saying he'll pay off our lien on the SHIP!"
	"Say WHAT?"
	Roukh! That's worth over, uh, hmm, uh, SIXTY MILLION CR--
	What is your name?
	Kherkhoulloth. Now where was I? Remortgage the ship, and--
	WRONG ANSWER.
	Shut up. Remortgage the ship, and with the money we could-- could--
	Turning it up another two points.
	Be careful. This isn't a human you're dealing with here.
	<snicker> It isn't much of a Vargr, either.
	HEY! What's the idea? What are you doing to me? Where am I?
	What is your name?
	Kher-- Kh-- Kh-- Mama! I feel sick! MAMA!
	What is your name?
	MAAMAAAAAAAAA!
	What is your name?
	...
	What is your name?
	...
	WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
	Snarl. Grit. Spit. Name? Name. Name--
	Tsssssssohhhhhhhhhhhhhh-- GUKH!

	"How's this one sound," Grant said, shuffling through the papers on 
his lap. Selecting one, he began to read aloud. "Captain James Hudson. 
Smuggler and small-package trader, skipper of the IMSS Inexplicable. Runs 
drugs, guns and occasional refugees back and forth across the Frontier with 
the Solomani. Not well-known, and likes it that way; on Terra to scope out new 
connections." He looked up at Jaeger. "OK?"
	"Very nice." A sharp one, our Captain. Leaves his own story flexible 
enough to include us all. He could've been something, without that damned 
ethical streak. Speaking of which.... "How's his profile compare with yours?"
	Grant shifted uncomfortably. "He's, uh, well, he's sort of what I 
think I would've become if I'd had a rougher start and a few more bad breaks."
	"Excellent." This is going to be fun, after all.
	Fell finished jotting notes with a flourish. "Hristos von Newton, 
small package broker, pickpocket, cardsharp and second-story man. Utterly 
without scruples or loyalties, other than to himself or to money." He looked 
thoughtfully over at Grant, and began to write some more. "Why does he stick 
with, ah, Hudson? Hmmm. Not loyalty, that's for sure. Perhaps mobility? Yes.
Mobility and availability of useful cash flow and muscle. A good base of 
operations. Yes. Yes. It'll work...." His voice trailed off and he continued 
scribbling.
	Kherkhoulloth looked over the neat lines of script, and sighed. "Not a 
lot can be done to hide a Vargr in the Rim, but maybe if I go on the mental 
end of things it'll turn out OK...." He cleared his throat. "Tsogukh. He's an
ex-Corsair and Imperial Marine, discharged dishonorably for excessive cruelty 
to prisoners of war in the Fifth Conflict. A grunt-- reckless, tough, and mean 
as the Ancients." He chuckled weakly. "That oughta get me killed well enough."
	"What'll we do for a navigator?"
	"Oh, he does that as a hobby. Self-taught."
	"Eesh." Where does he come UP with these things?
	"I've got Chief Engineer Edison, obsessive-compulsive gearhead and 
certified cybersicko," Sanchez chuckled.
	"I thought we were trying to be DIFFERENT," Fell grinned.
	Sanchez returned the smile. "If you think I'M bad, wait'll you meet 
this guy! He talks in subsections and paragraphs rather than sentences...."
	"I think I'm going to have to create a virulently pro-Solomani 
identity," O'Connor said abruptly. "It makes the most sense."
	"YOU?" He's lost what's left of his mind! "You HATE the Solomani!"
	"Precisely." O'Connor's artificial voice was as coldly efficient as 
ever. "My psych profile will be well-known to the Solomani Security people we 
may run into. It's vital that it be buried far deeper than any of yours, and 
covered by something that will deflect all suspicion." He paused. "Wolf 
Nyborg, I'll call him. Raised on Scaramouche, arrested for pro-Solomani 
terrorism and forced to enlist in the Imperial Marines as an alternative to 
jail. Nurtured a violently anti-Imperial attitude through his career, learned 
enough about killing to rebuild himself as a death machine, and cashiered."
He flexed a steel hand carefully. "I hope the cybergear they give me can match 
this stuff. What about you, Jaeger? You're going to be toughest to explain."
	"Not really. I have researched the Solomani political records in the 
region where we're going, and have selected a suitable world for my origins:
Hasdrubal, in the Kukulcan subsector. It's a charismatic oligarchy, the family
Tchorgin occupying a position of absolute power and commanding unswerving 
loyalty from the populace. Lord Mikhail Tchorgin of the Family Tchorgin, a 
gadabout and dilettante, was kidnapped by Hudson's crew in an attempt to get 
away from pursuing authorities. He fell in with his captors, and his aplomb, 
suave manner with the Solomani authorities, and skill as a negotiator led them 
to keep him on. In exchange for his aid, the crew abides by his behavior and 
gives him the treatment due a Tchorgin, namely respect and deference at all 
times, as befits one of noble birth--"
	That's enough. He's ready. Shut him down before he makes us all sick.
	Jaeger, or what once was Jaeger, slept.

	What is your name?
	Hmm. Infinite possibilities. Identities as easily shed as a suit of 
old clothes. If it works, of course, but I would be surprised if it didn't.
That fellow Cameron seemed quite confident-- of course, it isn't HIM in the
chair right now....
	What is your name?
	Oh, bother. It's THEM again. What do they want now?
	Can you hear me?
	This is quite amusing. All my lives, lined up like index cards, ready 
to be shuffled and read back at random. Buried original intellect, indeed! If 
they only knew....
	WHAT IS YOUR NAME!
	Ach, this is getting tedious. I suppose I should answer them, if only 
to shut them up. Let's see, now....
	I beg your pardon?
	Getting a response now, sir. We must have been off tune a bit.
	Excellent. Hello, can you hear me?
	Of course I can hear you, you fool. You're yelling in my ear!
	Ah. Hm. Allright, let's try it again. What is your name?
	Ah, tada, tada. Hmmmm. Clovis Cruikshank, Imperial News Network. 
Specialist in tawdry tales of slime and debauchery. You know the type? 
"Innocent Alien Girls Sold to Human Slavers For Houses of Sin," that sort of 
thing.
	WHA-AT? What the hell is he talking about!
	I don't know, Doctor. There's no "Cruikshank" in the profile!
	There isn't? Oh, dearie me. Well, how about Tibor Trench, Private Eye? 
Meanest, rattiest private dick what ever walked the streets of Cairo, hoping 
to score big on his next case....
	Trench? TRE-- Has he gone crufty on us?
	Um, no sir. No. I got a lock on that last name. Tibor Trench was a 
real PI all right; he was in the news a while back as being wanted by both the 
Imperium and the Solomani for smuggling. Crossreferencing-- ah! And Cruikshank 
was the name of the scandal sheet reporter who wrote about him selling slaves 
in one of the INN off-titles. He must've been reading the paper just before we 
came in, or something.
	Ah, that explains it.
	Hook, line and sinker. You fools!
	Did he say something?
	Negative, Doctor. Just random noise.
	Random noise? Don't you wish. Hurry it up, I'm growing bored....
	Let's try it again... What is your name?
	Sigh. Hristos von Newton. Or Doctor Christoph Fell. YOU pick one.
	WHAAAAT?!
	Good lord, sir, he must be balanced EXACTLY on the Threshold! We've
never gotten anyone to stabilize there before. We ought to study this while we 
can....
	No time. Give him another half point.
	....Done, sir.
	What is your name?
	Newton. Newton, Newton, Newton. Please go away.

	Memory access. Recent movements and time lapse since last conscious 
period. Repeating request. Repeating request. Respond. Respond!
	O'Connor frowned; something was very wrong. His internal time scale 
should have kept the time flawlessly while he was out. But now it wasn't 
answering at all.
	Run basic diagnostics. Run basic diagnostics. RUN--
	He gave up. There was no answer. All of the systems were shut down. 
Every last one of them. Whoever was working on him had to have been half 
cyberneticist, half brain surgeon. Fortunately he hadn't told anyone about his
internal backups. Just a few moments to activate them....
	What is your name?
	Daryavayush Michael O'Connor. Imperial Marines, Free Space Ops.
	Good, very good. Now relax. We're going to increase power.
	Increase power? To what? I don't like the sound of that! Let me get 
the backups going, so I can get the hell out of here! 
	He fumbled in the darkness for the backups. They weren't there.
	Oh my God, he realized, with sick horror, they've cut them off. 
LITERALLY CUT THEM OFF! My arms-- my, throat, my ear, my EYE-- my, my BRAIN--
	THEY'VE MUTILATED ME! 
	O'Connor screamed. He screamed and screamed, until the rising tide of 
blackness dissolved the screams into meaningless gibberings, then into static. 

	"Captain Hudson?"
	"Yo." Hudson's eyes flew open. He was lying on a couch in what smelled 
like a hospital ward. His head ached. He sat up, slowly and painfully. "Where 
am I?" He glared at the white-haired man standing by the bed. "Who're you?"
	"I'm J. J. Cameron, of Ling Standard Products," the man replied 
anxiously. "It was our comsat that hit your ship. This is terrible, terrible!"
	"Hit the--" Hudson remembered with a jolt. The crash! The Inexplicable 
had spun in, flailing like a harpooned daghadasi... dagha... Dag? 
	Hudson frowned. Dag?
	"Are you all right? You took a pretty hard hit to the head...."
	"I'm FINE!" Hudson threw himself angrily out of bed, and looked around 
for his clothes. They were lain neatly over a chair by the bed, and he threw 
them on, ignoring Cameron. "Where's my crew?"
	"Waiting for you outside. Please come with me." Cameron led Hudson out 
to the lounge, where four men were sitting and sipping at hot drinks, 
conversing in low tones. They got up hastily as Hudson entered.
	"Back among the living, eh, Cap'n?" Newton's voice had lost none of 
its usual sneer. 
	"Yeah, looks that way. Anyone seen the ship?"
	"I've looked it over extensively, Captain," Edison snapped. "It 
requires (1) minor repairs to forward landing struts (2) extensive stress 
check of Jump drive components (3) rehulling of port fuel tank section aft."
	"Lovely. Just damned LOVELY!" Hudson turned on Cameron with a snarl.
"Your corporation's paying for those repairs, mister."
	"Of course, of COURSE," Cameron soothed him. "We wouldn't THINK of not 
doing so. We're so terribly sorry about what happened...."
	Hudson ignored his plaintive bleatings, and looked hard at Nyborg, who 
was still sitting on the couch, head in hands.
	"Wolf? You all right?"
	Nyborg looked up at Hudson, then stood up. He rubbed his eyes, 
scratched one hand with the other and said, "My hands itch. Sir. And I've got 
a headache. And my eye hurts, the left one. And my ear, too. And I have a sore 
throat. And my mouth tastes like someone went to the bathroom in it. Otherwise 
I'm OK. Sir."
	"Bitch, bitch, bitch," Newton grinned. "You'll be fine, you louse."
	"Of course he will," Tchorgin said indignantly. "Stiff upper lip and 
all that, after all. We shall perservere; what does not kill us shall only 
serve to make us stronger."
	"Yeah, yeah, right," Hudson sighed. "Where's Tsogukh?"
	Edison began, "They were having some trouble with him--"
	"RRRRRAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHH!" The bellow of rage and pain split the air of 
the hallway. A door splintered open with a crack, and an orderly came flying 
out backwards into the hallway. After him came an apparition in a hospital 
gown, two-plus meters of tautly stretched, growling Vargr muscle, spotted
dirty brown and black, bandaged about the head. For the barest instant, Hudson
paused. That's not right, something inside him said. He was a LITTLE guy. 
	Wasn't he?
	"CAPTAIN!" Tsogukh roared. "WHERE THE FTAKHN ARE MY CLOTHES?"
	"Settle down, before you hurt someone," Hudson rapped out. "Your 
clothes ought to be right back in your room, you stupid furball."
	Tsogukh looked over his shoulder, turned and walked back into the 
room, and came out a moment later, zipping up his jumpsuit. "Sorry," he 
rumbled to the orderly, who was just getting up.
	"Okay, that's all of us," Hudson nodded. He turned to Cameron. "Take 
us to our ship!"
	"At once. Follow me, gentlebeings," Cameron said smoothly, leading the 
crew of the Inexplicable toward the exit. "And as we walk, let me explain a 
little job opening I have, for a crew that's not afraid of working the border
regions...."

TO BE CONTINUED


-------- TML Message #1983 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1983
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 90 10:23:10 -0500
From: wrgate.wr.tek.com!tnc!m0068@uunet.UU.NET
Subject: Designs from Scott Kellogg 12/10/90

From: m0068@tnc.UUCP (Stephen D Smith)
Organization: personal mailbox at The Next Challenge
 
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
Scott is in the processing of moving so his access is
even more limited. His previously given address and
phone will be of dubious use, depending on the US Snail.
Anyone wishing to contact him should leave a message
with me and I'll forward it to him.
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
 
Light Tanker TL11 "Cow" Class
 
CraftID:  Light Tanker, TL11, MCr 427.4227
Hull:     (891/2228) Disp=990, Config=4SL, Armor=40E,
          Unload=10678.95, Load=11398.4
Power:    (45/90) 3665.73 Mw, Dur=30/90 @ 1G, 14days @2G
Loco:     (45/90) Manuver=2G, (27/54) Jump=2, NOE=150,
          Cruise=750kph, Top=1000kph, Agility=0
Commo:    Radio=System*3, Maser=System*3
Sensors:  EMM, P-EMS=Interstel*3, A-EMS=FarOrb*1, Neutrino=1Gw*2,
          Densitometer=1m*2,
          ActObjScn=Rout    ActObjPin=Rout PasObjScn=Form 
          PasObjPin=Form PasEnScn=Rout  PasEnPin=Form
Off:      HPoints=10
          Missile=xx2
          Batt        1
          Bear        1
Def:      DefDM=+5
          SCaster=xx4
          Batt        9
          Bear        9
Control:  Computer=5/Fib*3, HUD*23, DynLink*23
Accom:    Crew=7(Command=1, Bridge=2, Eng=2, Gunner=2) Env=Basic
          Env, Basic is, Extend is, Inertial Comp, Grav Plate
Other:    Fuel=9820.65Kl,(7420Kl for distribution, sufficient for
          2 'Wolf' class carriers) Cargo=32Kl, PurePlant=24hr,
          Objsize=Lrg, EMlevel=Faint
 
Remarks:  Because of their small size, low cost and high fire power
'Wolf' class carriers are often called upon as commerce raiders. 
A problem with the 'Wolf' class carriers shown in operation is
their slow refueling and low jump capacity.  While their irregular
configuration allows them to launch their fighters rapidly, they
can not skim fuel.
 
    The 'Cow' class tankers were concieved as a supplement to
'Wolf' operations.  A 'Cow' can easily support two 'Wolves'.  More
often it is called upon to support more by making multiple fuel
runs.
 
    When performing as commerce raiders, a single 'Wolf' and 'Cow'
will typically travel alone conserving fuel as much as possible to
allow multiple jumps giving the two ships sufficient fuel to travel
a total of jump 3 without refueling.
 
    Ships in class include:  Holstein, Kou, Doe, Mare, Jersey,
Heifer, Nanny, Vixen, Manatee, Bitch, Hen and Goose
 
 
Tanker TL11 7-11 Series
 
CraftID:  Tanker, TL11, MCr 3778.176
Hull:     (8910/22275) Disp=9900, Config=4SL, Armor=40E,
          Unload=105894.4, Load=114050.6
Power:    (415/830) 37297.78 Mw, Dur=30/90 @ 1G, 14days @2G
Loco:     (446/892) Manuver=2G, (268/536) Jump=2, NOE=150,
          Cruise=750kph, Top=1000kph, Agility=0
Commo:    Radio=System*3, Maser=System*3
Sensors:  EMM, P-EMS=Interstel*3, A-EMS=FarOrb*1, Neutrino=1Gw*2,
          Densitometer=1m*2,
          ActObjScn=Rout    ActObjPin=Rout
          PasObjScn=Form    PasObjPin=Form
          PasEnScn=Rout     PasEnPin=Form
Off:      HPoints=99
          Missile=x02 Blaser=xx3
          Batt        4           1
          Bear        4           1
Def:      DefDM=+6
          SCaster=xx5
          Batt        47
          Bear        47
Control:  Computer=5/Fib*3, HUD*214, DynLink*214
Accom:    Crew=69(Command=9, Bridge=12, Eng=19, Gunner=24, Maint=3,
          Stew=2) Env=Basic Env, Basic is, Extend is, Inertial
          Comp, Grav Plate
Other:    Fuel=98275.66Kl,(74200Kl for distribution, sufficient for
          20 'Wolf' class carriers) Cargo=1277Kl, PurePlant=24hr,
          Objsize=Lrg, EMlevel=Faint
 
Remarks:  In order to use the heavy firepower of the 'Wolf'
carriers, they travel in large numbers.  Fleets of one hundred to
one thousand 'Wolves' are common.  These fleets are supported by
large numbers of '7-11' series tankers.
 
    Like the 'Wolf' carriers, the '7-11' tankers prefer to use
their emergency agility to their laser battery.  Normally, they
stay out of the fray and do not fight unless they can not run.
 
    Ships in class include:  Seven-Eleven, Gulf, Chevron, Mobil,
Shell, Merit, Exxon, Esso, Sunoco, Texaco, Amaco, Liberiya Maru,
Manaport, and BP
 
Scott Kellogg
 
    via  Stephen D Smith   USENET: m0068@tnc.UUCP
                           BIX: sdsmith
- - --Name = STEPHEN SMITH  Mailbox # = 68

-------- TML Message #1984 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1984
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 90 10:25:19 -0500
From: wrgate.wr.tek.com!tnc!m0068@uunet.UU.NET
Subject: Designs from Scott Kellogg 12/11/90

From: m0068@tnc.UUCP (Stephen D Smith)
Organization: personal mailbox at The Next Challenge
 
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
Scott is in the processing of moving so his access is
even more limited. His previously given address and
phone will be of dubious use, depending on the US Snail.
Anyone wishing to contact him should leave a message
with me and I'll forward it to him.
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
 
Light Intruder TL 15 "Fox" Class
 
CraftID:  Light Intruder Type LI, TL 15, MCr 528.1209
Hull:     (360/900) Disp=400 Config=1AF, Armor=40G,
          Unload=5480.682, Load=5676.819
Power:    (74/99) 13186.98 Mw Fusion, Dur=30 days @ low power (No
          fusion guns, Agility=0) or 10 days @ full power.
Loco:     (91/124) Manuver=6G, (27/36) Jump=4, Agility=6 NOE=190,
          Cruise=750kph, Top=1000kph,
Commo:    Radio=System*7, Maser=System*7, RadioJam=System
Sensors:  EMM, P-EMS=Interstell*3, A-EMS=FarOrb*3,
          Densitometer=250m*3, Neutrino=10kw*3, EMS-JAM=FarOrb
          ActObjScn=Rout    ActObjPin=Rout PasObjScn=Rout 
          PasObjPin=Rout PasEnScn=Simp  PasEnPin=Rout
Off:      HPoints=4   Missile=x04 FusionGun=x06
          Batt        1                   1
          Bear        1                   1
Def:      DefDM=+12
Control:  Computer=9fib*3, LrgHoloDisp=1, HoloHUD=3, HoloLink=7,
          Electronic Circuit Protect,
Accom:    Crew=4 (Bridge=2, Engineer=1, Gunner=1) Staterooms=4.5,
          Env=Basic Env, Basic is, Extend is, Inertial Comp, Grav
          Plate, Airlock*6
Other:    Fuel=2616Kl, Mag=18.6Kl, 34B-rds, B-rd=6missiles, Scoops,
          Fuel Pure=18hr, ObjSize=Avg, EMlevel=Faint (None at
          reduced power)
 
If black globe not installed, the craft has an additional magazine
of 135Kl containing (225B-rnds) and the 3 unused staterooms are
used for cargo and additional magazine storage with 150Kl available
(Those staterooms equiped with fold down furniture.)  Fittings
installed to mate with 6 other 400 ton ships simultaneously.
 
Remarks:  The 'Thunder Fox' class light intruder is the Imperial
Navy's equivalent of the attack sub.  They operate in wolf packs
of 6 intruders and a core intruder.  The core is identical to the
other intruders with the addition of a factor 1 black globe set to
enclose all 7 ships in the field when they are docked together. 
Together they have a configuration of 0SL.  What's it look like? 
Picture seven pencils tightly packed together...
 
 0 0
0 0 0
 0 0
 
History:  The best known engagements by the 'Thunder Fox' class
were the raids by Rainbow squadron under the command of Lt.
Catherine Dragoon (known as Black Cat), in the relief of
Jewell{Spinward Marches 1106} during the Fifth Frontier War.  The
Zhodani 10th fleet were orbiting the planet protecting their
beachhead on the minor northern continent.  Imperial SDB's and
other fleet elements from the 125th Imperial fleet were making
small raids on the 10th fleet.
 
    Rainbow squadron would power down to minimum and use long range
sensors to locate targets in orbit.  Then they drifted in with the
black globe up.  SDB's would continue to monitor the targets while
the squadron closed in.  Using Maser communicators locked on the
surface of the black globe the SDB's could continue to transmit
tactical information to the closing hunters.  With this
information, and by monitoring the light and gravitational energy
input from the black globe in conjuction with inertial navigation
the squadron knew the exact location of the enemy when they dropped
the screen, dispersed and opened fire.
 
    The Zhodani had no warning of these raids.  The raiders could
bring their reactors up to full power with no neutrino emmissions,
all being absorbed by the black globe.
 
    Without any warning, the Zhodani had no defences operating. 
They were sliced up by the quick and agile opponants.  When they
managed to start returning fire the raiders would quickly jump and
escape.
 
    The Zhodani were forced to keep defences powered and manned at
all times, forcing them to keep refueling at a furious rate.  This
put a large strain on their crews.
 
    The psionic officers were hardest hit.  The only way to locate
the squadron with its black globe up was with psionics and scanning
empty space at long range quickly exhausted them.  It is rumored
that many became dependant on psi-drugs from this mindbreaking
labor.  The pressure to find the raiders was heavy; Zhodani society
places strong obligation on psionic officers to protect their
crews.  But as their psi powers deteriorated, the pressure of the
raiders increased as Rainbow squadron got more experienced in the
operation.
 
    In mid 1108 the 'Rainbow Leader' recieved extensive damage. 
Lt. Dragoon transferred the black globe generator and her command
to the 'Rainbow Vixen' and continued the raids.  Slowly, Rainbow
squadron was being eroded as the individual ships took damage in
thier raids.  Eventually, after several transfers of command the
black globe was damaged beyond repair.  Lt. Dragoon then took her
last three ships and on 59-1109 broke the blockade out of system
and brought out the first indication to the rest of the Imperium
that Jewell continued to hold out.
 
    Lt. Cdr. Dragoon then returned to Jewell in command of
'Lightning' Squadron manned by the veterans of 'Rainbow' Squadron
where they continued their siege breaking efforts till the end of
the war.  Captain Dragoon was awarded the Starburst for Extreme
Heroism for her actions in the war.
 
Design:  The 'Thunder Fox' chief designer was John Kellison with
the assistance of a young Dr. Hloch.  Nevertheless, it is known for
the 'Hloch Touch' ie:  Strong emphisis on agility and simple
control systems such that the pilot need not be distracted by odd
positioning of controls.  The large holo display is only used by
the squadron commander and the black globe screen crew.  This was
the first project Dr. Hloch really got his talons into.  He was
strongly influenced by the exceptionally capable designer John
Kellison.
 
 
Light Intruder TL 15 "Thunder" Class
 
CraftID:  Light Intruder Type LI, TL 15, MCr 528.1209
Hull:     (360/900) Disp=400 Config=1AF, Armor=40G,
          Unload=5610.682, Load=5806.819
Power:    (74/99) 13186.98 Mw Fusion, Dur=30 days @ low power (No
          fusion guns, Agility=0) or 10 days @ full power
Loco:     (91/124) Manuver=6G, (27/36) Jump=4, Agility=6 NOE=190,
          Cruise=750kph, Top=1000kph,
Commo:    Radio=System*7, Maser=System*7, RadioJam=System
Sensors:  EMM, P-EMS=Interstell*3, A-EMS=FarOrb*3,
          Densitometer=250m*3, Neutrino=10kw*3, EMS-JAM=FarOrb
          ActObjScn=Rout    ActObjPin=Rout
          PasObjScn=Rout    PasObjPin=Rout
          PasEnScn=Simp     PasEnPin=Rout
Off:      HPoints=4   Missile=x04 FusionGun=x06
          Batt        1                   1
          Bear        1                   1
Def:      DefDM=+12 Black Globe-1
Control:  Computer=9fib*3, LrgHoloDisp=1, HoloHUD=3, HoloLink=7,
          Electronic Circuit Protect,
Accom:    Crew=9 (Command=1, Bridge=2, Engineer=1, Gunner=5)
          Staterooms=4.5, Env=Basic Env, Basic is, Extend is,
          Inertial Comp, Grav Plate, Airlock*6
Other:    Fuel=2616Kl, Mag=18.6Kl, 34B-rds, B-rd=6missiles, Scoops,
          Fuel Pure=18hr, ObjSize=Avg, EMlevel=Faint (None at
          reduced power)
 
Remarks:  Fuctions as squadron coordinator and houses the
squadron's black globe.
 
    The squadrons are named after the core.  Each ship therein
carries the name of the core as part of its own name the ships of
different squadrons have the same secondary name as well.
Thunder Leader        Rainbow Leader          Bright Squadron
Thunder Fox           Rainbow Fox             Light Squadron
Thunder Wolf          Rainbow Wolf            Lightning Squadron
Thunder Jackal        Etc.                    Flash Squadron
Thunder Vixen                                 Electric Squadron
Thunder Lynx          Fire Squadron           Donner Squadron
Thunder Tiger         Snow Squadron           Blitzen Squadron
 
Just to show what a dinosaur I am...
Light Intruder  LI-4146B91-000000-06004-0  Mcr 413.5  400 ton
Crew=7 TL=15 Fuel=204 Agility=6 EP=44   "Fox" class
 
Light Intruder  CF-4146B91-000010-06004-1  Mcr 813.5  400 ton
Crew=7 TL=15 Fuel=204 Agility=6 EP=44   "Thunder" class
 
Scott Kellogg
 
    via  Stephen D Smith   USENET: m0068@tnc.UUCP
                           BIX: sdsmith
- - --Name = STEPHEN SMITH  Mailbox # = 68

-------- TML Message #1985 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1985
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 90 10:26:46 -0500
From: wrgate.wr.tek.com!tnc!m0068@uunet.UU.NET
Subject: Designs from Scott Kellogg 12/12/90

From: m0068@tnc.UUCP (Stephen D Smith)
Organization: personal mailbox at The Next Challenge
 
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
Scott is in the processing of moving so his access is
even more limited. His previously given address and
phone will be of dubious use, depending on the US Snail.
Anyone wishing to contact him should leave a message
with me and I'll forward it to him.
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
 
Dreadnaught TL 15, "Tigress" Class
 
CraftID:  Dreadnaught Type BB, TL 15, MCr 665803.5
Hull:     (450000/1125000) Disp=500000 Config=5SL, Armor=85G,
          Unload=15243147, Load=15730390
Power:    (57484/76646) 10347030 Mw Fusion, Dur=30 @ low power (no
          offensive wpns except BLasers, Agility=0) Combat power
          consumes 2 days reduced fuel per day)
Loco:     (114750/153000), Manuver=6G, (33750/45000) Jump=4,
          Agility=1, NOE=190, Cruise=750kph, Top=1000kph,
Commo:    Radio=System*50, Maser=System*50, Meson=System,
          RadioJam=System
Sensors:  EMM, P-EMS=Interstel*3, A-EMS=FarOrb*3,
          Densitometer=1km*3, Neutrino=10kw*3, EMS-Jam=FarOrb*3
          ActObjScn=Rout          ActObjPin=Rout
          PasObjScn=Rout          PasObjPin=Rout
          PasEnScn=Simp           PasEnPin=Rout
Off:      HPoints=5000
          Meson Gun=T0x   Missile=x90     ParticleAcc=x70
          Batt        1           215               5
          Bear        1           430               10
          BLasers=x09 FGun=x06
          Batt        5           25
          Bear        10          50
Def:      DefDM=+8 Meson Scn-7, NucDamp-9,
          SCaster=x04       Repulsor=x09
          Batt        5           11
          Bear        10          22
Control:  Computer=9fib*3, LrgHoloDisp=138, HoloHUD=3042,
          HoloLink=3042, Electronic Circuit Protect
Accom:    Crew=3648 7*500 (Command=499, Bridge=120, Engineer=752,
          Gunner=68, Flight=900, Maintain=1157, Medic=30,
          Steward=122) Env=Basic Env, Basic is, Extend is, Inertial
          Comp, Grav Plate, Subcraft=50 ton*600, Launch Tube*3
Other:    Cargo=898.3, Magazine=364425Kl (341batt-rnds) Batt
          Rnd=10750 missiles, Fuel=3301636l, KScoops, Fuel
          Pure=72hr, Cargo=1030.8Kl ObjSize=Lrg, EMlevel=Mod
 
Remarks:  "Although some older battleships of greater displacement
remain in service, the 'Tigress' class dreadnaught is the largest
line-of-battle vessel currently in service with the Imperial Navy
in the Spinward Marches.  Each BatRon of 'Tigress' class vessels
is virtually a fleet unto itself, as each ship carries thirty
squadrons of heavy fighters (with ten FHs per squadron). A BatRon
of eight ships carries 2,400 heay fighters.
 
    At present, only one 'Tigress' class BatRon is deployed in the
Spinward Marches, assigned to the 212th Fleet, at Rhylanor. 
Additional 'Tigress' class BatRons  are generally assigned one per
sector.
 
    Deployment:  In war, the ideal deployment of any BatRon is
together, as a unit.  In peace, various 'Tigress'es are often
scattered throughout a region on peacekeeping missions, or to show
the flag.  Several individual 'Tigress'es have been deployed among
the worlds of the Five Sisters subsector to enforce the amber zone
blockade of Candory and Andor.
 
    Similarly, 'Pantheress' was dispatched (much to the chagrin of
the Zhodani government) to recieve the body of the Imperial
Ambassador to Chronor upon her assassination in 1104.  Given the
circumstances of her death, it was difficult for the Consulate to
object.  The ship's weaponry was ceremonially sealed, but that
would mean little in an actual fight.  Imperial newstapes treated
it as a propaganda coup for months.
 
    Construction:  The 'Tigress' class is produced using an armored
spherical hull with the single spinal meson gun mounted centrally. 
A large armored port protects the gun during non-combat operations;
the port itself contains the focussing equipment for the weapon
beam.
 
    Within the sphere, layered decks hold the various on-ship
functions such as quarters, computer and electronic equipment, fuel
treatment, and maintainance areas.  Appended to the back of the
sphere is a large heavy fighter launch and recovery installation. 
Fighters are launched to the rear, to starboard, and recovered from
the rear, to port; this arrangement prevents them from entering the
meson beam when it is in use, as well as providing some armored
bulk between the fighters and the enemy."
 
    -Supplement 9:  Fighting Ships
    Somebody was dispairing that the 'Tigress' class wasn't redone
for Shattered Ships of the Squabbling Imperium so I took a whack
at it.
 
Original High Guard Design by Tim Brown, Frank Chadwick & Marc
Miller
Reprinted without permission            (Hold your fire!)
 
Scott Kellogg
 
    via  Stephen D Smith   USENET: m0068@tnc.UUCP
                           BIX: sdsmith
 
- - --Name = STEPHEN SMITH  Mailbox # = 68

-------- TML Message #1986 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1986
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 90 10:28:17 -0500
From: wrgate.wr.tek.com!tnc!m0068@uunet.UU.NET
Subject: Designs from Scott Kellogg 12/13/90

From: m0068@tnc.UUCP (Stephen D Smith)
Organization: personal mailbox at The Next Challenge
 
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
Scott is in the processing of moving so his access is
even more limited. His previously given address and
phone will be of dubious use, depending on the US Snail.
Anyone wishing to contact him should leave a message
with me and I'll forward it to him.
*********************************************************
*********************************************************
 
Ballistic Missile Sub TL8 "Typhoon" Class "Red October" subclass
 
CraftID:  Ballistic Missile Submarine, Type SSBN, TL8, MCr
          1006.52445 (!*!Book version +52,000 Cr)
Hull:     (1800/4500) Disp=2000, Config=3AF, Armor=46C,
          Unload=19000.789t, Load=21600t, Dived=27000t,
          SafeDepth=430m, CrushDepth=645m
Power:    (20/26) (20/26) 392.5 Mw Fission*2, Dur=3yrs
Loco:     (40/53) (40/53) Twin Screw, DiveTop=48Kph,
          DiveCruise=36kph, Surface=37kph,
!*!Book   (39/52) Ducted Hydrojet, DiveTop=28kph, DiveCruise=21kph,
!*!Movie  (13/18) Magneto-Hydrodynamic, DiveTop=28kph,
          DiveCruise=21kph
Commo:    Radio=Cont*3, Reg*3, RadioJamm=Cont*3
Sensors:  Active Audio*3, Passive Audio*40, Magnetic Sensor*3,
          Radiation Sensor*10, Environmental Sensor*3,
          AllWeatherRADAR=Cont*3, RDF*3, Image Enhancement*1,
          Passive IR*1, AdvActive IR*1, Headlight*1, Video
          Camera*1, RadarJamm=Cont*3
          ActObjScn=Diff    ActObjPin=Diff ActAudScn=Form 
          ActAudPin=Form PasAudScn=Form PasAudPin=Form
          PasEngScn=Diff
Off:      533mm Torpedo Tubes*4
          650mm Torpedo Tubes*4
          Ballistic Missile Tubes*24
                                  Max
                Rnds  Warhead     Range Speed Hit%  Dia
Torpedo C       8     300kg 15km        92kph 65%   533mm
Torpedo C Nuc   2     20kton      15km        65kph       533mm
SS-N-15         2     15kton      37km        2100kph           
533mm
Type 65         8     500kg 100km 89Kph 65%   650mm
SS-N-16         4     Type E      93km        2100kph           
650mm
(Type E         -     150         8km         24kph 60%   450mm)
SS-N-20         24    9*300Kton   8300km                        
2.2m
 
The type C is a wire guided torpedo.
The SS-N-15 is a tube launched missile carried depth charge.
SS-N-15 Minimum range is 9km
The type 65 is a Wake homing torpedo with active sonar.
The SS-N-16 carries a Type E torpedo, SS-N-16 min range is 19km.
SS-N-20 is a MIRVed ballistic missile with up to 9 warheads.
 
Def:      DefDM=+2  Clusterguard Anechoic coating,
Control:  Computer=2fib*3, ElectronicLink=7391, Electronic Circuit
          Protect,
Accom:    Crew=150, SmallStateroom=25, Bunks=125, Env=Basic Env,
          Basic is, Extend is, AirLock*2
Other:    Fuel=3.14Kl Fissiles, 533mmMag=9Kl*2: 12 rnds,
          650mmMag=18Kl*2: 12 rnds, MissileMag=1440Kl: 24 rnds,
          Telescopicmasts*5, Electronic sensors mounted on masts,
          Cargo=921.4484Kl (!*!+260Kl in movie version),
          ObjSize=Lrg, EMlevel=Faint
 
Remarks:  If you haven't read the book, READ IT!  GOOD STUFF! 
Honest!  The above is meant to simulate either the book or movie
version.  Where differences come up I have noted them.  You have
your choice of either a ducted water jet, or a Magneto-Hydrodynamic
drive as the 'Caterpillar'.  For those who don't know about MHD,
essentually, it works by passing a current through a tube of water
running through the ship and using magnetic fields to move the now
'magnetic' water.  (Yes, I know that's not a very good explanation,
but that is my limited understanding of the process.)  Both drives
are much quieter than normal propellers.
 
    I threw this one together from Harpoon and "Modern Submarine
warfare"  along with George Herbert's design notes. (TML-V1:19?). 
For the different drives I used the following.
 
    I got the speeds from Harpoon and used George's formula for sub
speed to calculate that 195 Mw would produce the desired speeds.
 
    Ducted hydrojet:  I simply doubled the requirements for the
screws.
 
    For the MHD drive I took the weight, volume and cost of a tech
9 195Mw fusion plant and used that.
 
    For the 650mm Torpedo tubes, I used the following, .5MW, 6Kl,
12 tons, 2MCr.
 
    For the missile tubes I used .1MW, 60 tons, 80Kl, 10 MCr.
 
    The 'Typhoon' has two interior hulls, these divide the
powerplant and screw drives up.  The Torpedo rooms are similarly
divided with 2*533mm and 2*650mm per room.
 
    In the Traveller universe, the 'Typhoon' class sub represents
a formidible system defence boat @ TL 8.
 
Scott Kellogg
 
    via  Stephen D Smith   USENET: m0068@tnc.UUCP
                           BIX: sdsmith
- - --Name = STEPHEN SMITH  Mailbox # = 68

-------- TML Message #1987 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1987
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 90 10:52:05 -0500
Subject: Apologies to the TML
From: wrgate.wr.tek.com!tnc!m0068@uunet.UU.NET (Stephen D Smith)
Subject: Apologies


To All TML'ers,
    Please forgive the multiple postings of Scott Kellogg's
designs. I realize some people are bothered by them, especially in
large amounts. I'm leaving for Xmas vacation soon, and wanted to
get all of his stuff to the TML before I leave, and since Scott has
moved recently, (maybe out of my local area soon), there will
probably be fewer postings from Scott in the future.
 
          Stephen D Smith   USENET: m0068@tnc.UUCP
                            BIX: sdsmith
- - --Name = STEPHEN SMITH  Mailbox # = 68

-------- End of TML Messages --------

