			    TRAVELLER Digest 112

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Attacking deep-site meson guns	by erich@bush.cs.tamu.edu (Erich Schneider)
  2) Re: TRAVELLER digest 111	by sinbad@metronet.com (Sam Thomas)
  3) APAWS	by KenHagler@aol.com
  4) Eight characters. (Long)	by Alvin Plummer <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
  5) Re: Ship designs	by James Kundert <james@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>
  6) anti-neutrons....	by Nrunner@ix.netcom.com (Archie Tindell)
  7) Re: Deep site meson guns	by roger.myhre@niva.no (Roger Myhre)
  8) Deep Site Meson Guns	by A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
  9) Size of AM explosions	by "Les Howie"  <lhowie@192.219.29.90>
 10) TRAVELLER digest 111	by Hugh Foster <100326.446@compuserve.com>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 94 16:08:04 CST
From: erich@bush.cs.tamu.edu (Erich Schneider)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Attacking deep-site meson guns
Message-ID: <9411242208.AA04955@ bush.cs.tamu.edu>

Lewis Roberts writes:

>While fellow TMLer Tariq Rashid and I were waiting to get into Star
>Trek, we started talking about Planetary assualts in Battle Rider. 
>Tariq had just made up a meson gun designed as a Deep Site Meson gun,
>ie one to be buried deep underground in a planet, for planetary
>defense.  We started to wonder how to fight one of these.  
>Sensors won't be able to see it, sense it is buried under ground, I
>assume it is deep enough to damp out all E-M radiation.  So you won't
>be able to simply shoot it.  

Well, it's still vulnerable to meson gun attack, and if it has a meson
screen active, it can't fire, which is exactly what the invader wants.
One would think one could use triangulation-type techniques to locate
it based on its firing patterns. Human intelligence is also useful -
let those spooks in Naval Intelligence earn their paychecks! Find
someone in the Department of Planetary Defense who has a debt problem
or something.

>The buried meson gun will need sensors on the surface to see enemy
>ships so it can shoot them.

Not only on the surface of the planet - off the planet as well, if the
sensors have meson communicators installed.

>The only thing I could think of was to drop troops on to the surface,
>basically below the senors, and have troops run around trying to find
>the dishes and blow them up.  
>Can anyone figure out another angle of attack.

One might figure out what technique the sensors are using to locate
targets, then "blind" them appropriately, for example, using EMP
devices. This is probably necessary if one wants to land troops on the
planet (transports make nice targets). It probably will also have 
bad effects on the planet itself (sensor-blinding weapons probably do 
nasty things to the local technology base), but one has to expect the
enemy to take extreme measures if one has an "unassailable" defense...
-- 
Erich Schneider  erich@bush.cs.tamu.edu  http://tamsun.tamu.edu/~ers0925

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 16:21:37 -0600
From: sinbad@metronet.com (Sam Thomas)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: TRAVELLER digest 111
Message-ID: <199411242217.AA09531@metronet.com>

Les Howie,

One piont that I would like to make neutron radiation is barely attenuated
by lead, but compounds high in hydrogen content attenuate it to the extreme.
So those liquid hydrogen fuel tanks make great shielding for neutron
weaponry. Density of the material is not at factor as concentration of
hydrogen. Current shielding for material like americium is parafin.

Sinbad Sam


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 17:38:15 -0500
From: KenHagler@aol.com
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: APAWS
Message-ID: <941124173813_6568774@aol.com>

Les Howie writes on anti-nueutron PAWS:

> That is, wouldn't it blow a boody great hole in the hull?

Yes, that's exactly what it does. The High Guard rule for it is that for
every factor over the targets size, it destroys two factors of armour (I
think--I don't have the tech file in front of me). 

Ken

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 21:20:18 -0500 (EST)
From: Alvin Plummer <plummera@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Eight characters. (Long)
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.941124211737.22578A-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>



---------- Forwarded message ----------

A while ago, someone asked for extra character's and plots.  Well, here 
are eight characters, with built-in plotlines, waiting to jump into your 
campagin... or take it over by force!

Count Dietrich von Schunamann
CEO, Schunamann und Sohn, AG  (the SuSAG megacorp)

Statistics: Schooling 1 term                   Rank CEO
            Manager   6 terms      
            Human                              Gender Male
            UPP 537467-E                       Age 43     
            Height  163 cm                     Weight  90 kg
            Hair  Balding salt & pepper

            Birth + Residence: Mora, capital of the Regency
(Mora: Spinward Marches/3124  AA99AC7-F  A  Hi In Cx 112 Re M4 V )

Skills:    Admin/Legal  5 (11)         Carousing    2 (9)
           Liaison      4 (11)         Willpower    3 (7)
           Marketing    3 (9)          Leadership   1 (8)
           Bargain      3 (10)         Pilot (Grav) 1 (4)
           German       2 (9)          Gambling     1 (5)
           Ground Vechile (Legged)     4 (7)

Possessions: Anything he want's.  

             His most famous possessions include ancient German 
             memorabelia (including the only known surviving East German 
             flag in existence), and a Sio Moff zero-G glass sculpture, 
             presented to his ancestors by Crown Prince Cleon, son of 
             Cleon IV (born 423, crowned 475, assassinated 555).
 
             Most of his families' treasured possessions is feared 
             lost, somewhere in Magyar sector. 

             The possessions that von Schunamann most loves, however, are 
             his collection of TL F battle mecha.  These 12-15 m high 
             vechiles/androids, armed with explosive devices (which cause 
             more flash than damage)  are used in a variety of "Mechasports".

Background:  von Schunamann is the achnowledged head of the Schunamann 
             family.  The 60 acknowledged family members form the core of 
             SuSAG; once a megacorp with interest's across the Imperium, 
             it's now restricted to the Regency providing chemicals, 
             pharmaceuticals, biogeneered products, and 
             semi-legal psi boosters. 

             von Schunamann is only an adequate CEO, delegating much of 
             his duties to trusted aides and pulling the regins only when he 
             needs to.  He spend's much of his time either meeting 
             figurehead duties, enjoying himself in very high social circles
             or playing Mechwarrior with other profoundly wealthy men.  
             [Mechawar is to the Regency what Polo was to the British
Empire].

             von Schunamann is happly married - maintaining not even one 
             concubine, to the astonishment of Court circles - and 
             delight's in his eight children.

--------------------------------

[Mini-info update: (info from: archive info by David Johnson) 
  A: Ling Standard Products (mining, electronics & computers, small arms, 
                             starships, starship systems, power generation) 
      
Ling Standard is probably the megacorp most directly involved in 
fighting Virus.  They are also major contributer's to the Regency 
Quarrentine Service, and invented the 150-Disp stretch scout.

  B: Hortalez et Cie (Banking and investment)

Pre-Rebellion, Hortalez et Cie was the most powerful megacorp in the 
Domain of Deneb.  Now, they probably _the_ force in the Regency (only the 
Government itself is more powerful) and have complete control of Regency 
banking and financial services... excluding the scraps, of course.

-------------------------

Pidiris Razlehmehid
Religious Hymnist

Statistics: Entertainer  2 terms             Rank  "Obscure Unknown"
            Darrian Human
            UPP  A69A78-4                    Gender Male
            Height 175 cm                    Age  28
            Hair   Silver Brown              Skin  Bronze
            Eyes   Black

            Born: Darrian 
               (Darrian: Spinward Marches/0627  A463955-G Hi 225 Da G1V M1D)
            Resides: currently touring the Spinward Marches

Skills:   Song               6 (14)    Willpower 1 (11)
          Music - acoustics  2 (12)    Carousing 1 (9)
          Enviromental Suit  1 (10)    Computer  1 (8)
          Zero-G gravity     1 (10)    History   1 (8)

Possessions:  Two Middle Passages
              A personal translator, with a Darrian/Anglic memchip
              An expensive (80 000 Cr) set of Tl C 'Acoustic enhansers'
                    (needed to modify any room to the correct acoustics)
              A duffel bag "with all my worldly possessions"
              2000 Cr... in Darrian currency

Background:  Pidiris Razlehmehid is a large, rather gregarious fellow, 
             both strong and intelligent.  He lives to sing, but also 
             enjoys a bit of roughhousing and carousing wherever he 
             goes.  Like about 30% of Darrians, he doesn't believe that 
             humans originated on Terra, putting that belief down to typical 
             Solomani supremist dogma. 

             Razlehmehid is a strong, powerful tenor, and a member of a 
             Darrian 'Tengobhes' group of singers.  Tengobhes groups 
             specialize in Ancient Darrian Hymns and chants in a style 
             most closely resembling Islamic forms of singing, often 
             spin-dancing at the same time.  Of course, Razlehmehid himself 
             is not a believer in the long-dead Yalema faith.

             His Tengobhes group is composed of four men (including 
             himself, there's Dulyunal Zgehngehbher, Pune Mbalzihrer, and 
             Zlaneyr Nyeghihndihligh).  After several marginally 
             profitable tours in the Darrian Confederation, they have 
             decided to take their first tour in the Regency, where 
             Tengobhes singing is still a rarity.  Because they can't 
             speak Anglic - and are still in culture shock - the other three 
             singers have unofficaly made Razlehmehid their leader.

             Razlehmehid is married, and has two young daughters - and a 
             nephew - to care for.  Whenever possible, he visit's them 
             back on Darrian.

--------------------------

Charolette Stanley
Infamous Personality

Statistics:  Housewife  1 term                  Rank "Notorious across
             Wealthy Traveller  1 term                the subsector"
             Human                              
             UPP  746777-9                      Gender  Female
             Height  154                        Age  27
             Hair  Mousy Brown                  Weight 67 kg
             Eyes  Brown                        Skin   White        

             Born & Resides on Treece 
                (Lanth: Spinward marches/2311  D232866-8  Na Po 610 Re M1 V)

Skills:     Childcare   5 (14)         Persuasion  3 (10)
            Streetwise  1 (8)          Liasion     1 (8)
            Psychology  1 (8)          Riding      1 (7)
            Admin/Legal 1 (8)

Possessions:  Four High Passages, Two Middle Passages
              70 000 Cr in the bank
              A large, beautiful underground home in the capital of Treece
              A "Child Alloeance" of 1000 Cr / month

Background:   A rather bland, stout woman, Mrs. Stanely is infamous 
              subsector-wide as the sole survivor of the doomed shuttle 
              Wayrith. 

              The Wayrith was en-route to an insystem mining colony when 
              an engine malfunction occurred.  Because of the loss of fuel, 
              the best the captain could do was put the shuttle in an 
              elliptical orbit around the colony, and await rescue.

              Rescue was long in coming.  Meanwhile, food ran out, and 
              eventually lots were drawn to determine who get's eaten.  Mrs. 
              Stanley - the sole woman on-board - managed to excempt 
              herself on the basis of her pregnacy and persuading the men 
              not to kill her. "Imagine what the press would say!  You 
              wouldn't last a day in court!"

              When the rescuers finally arrived, only Mrs. Stanely and 
              her newborn infant lived.  When they spotted her - in a 
              haze of bones, split for their marrow - her first words were 
              "Look, darling!  Food!  Food!"

              She arrived home in a wave of sensationalism and notoriety.
              Aquitted of all charges, she became very wealthy and a 
              major figure of controversy.  Most of her money she blew in 
              buying a large home in a prestigous ungerground location, but 
              she still has enough to tour the subsector with her 6-year old 
              son.

-------------------------

Breziavrverp Eriench Zavtienzhvlaz
Zhodani Graduate Student of Naval History

Statistics:  Schooling (to Masters) 2 terms          Rank  T.A.
             Zhodani Human
             UPP A69873-8                            Gender  Male
             Height  168 cm                          Age  29
             Hair  Black                             Weight 145
             Eyes  Brown                             Skin  Lt. Brown

             Birth:  Fia'epkiar (Ievrnie'tlieadl: Yiklerdanzh/2124
                     B682757-C  Ag Ri  202 Zh  G8V M1D)
             Resides: Rhylanor  (Rhylanor: Spinward Marches/2716
                     A434934-F  A Hi Cp  810   Re M2VI)

Skills:      History   7 (14)       Anglic    2 (5)
             Research  4 (12)       Robotics  0 (7)
             Native Zhodani speaker

Possessions:  Zhodani & Regency ID
              81 000 Cr
              A "Chtoteshtier" ultraexpensive travel pass, good on any 
                Zhodani ship going to Fia'epkiar, to Middle Passage 
                accomodations (worth more than 290 000 Cr)
              An Upper Class suite at the Baron Dang Bao Residence at MRO 
                University, Rhylanor
              A Zhodani-made Translator, Zhodani/Anglic memchip
         
Background:  A portly, arrogant man from a rich agricultural world, 
             Zautienzhvlaz is a walking turn-off to his fellow graduate 
             students at MRO University.  With his thich accent and 
             less-than-perfect command of Anglic (he refuses to use his 
             translator outside of class, perferring to pratice his 
             incomprehensable Anglic instead), Zautienzhvlaz endlessly 
             preaches the superiority of Zhodani civilization to anyone 
             within striking distance.

             He hates the Nobility.  He hates the Democratic reforms.  He 
             hates the immoral entertainment districts.  He hates the 
             clumsiness of Regency design.  He hates Regency art.  He 
             _vocally_ hates anything that suggests either greed or deceit.
             About the only thing he likes is the psionic reforms, that 
             he feels will inevitabily lead to the Regency becoming  
             Just Like Zhodane.  And whenever possible, he will rub the 
             PC's noses into the fact that the Collapse was caused by 
             Imperials, and the Consulate was untouched by it.

             Why is Zautienzhvlaz in the Regency at all, over 110 
             parsec's from home?   Mainly because he cannot believe that 
             the Imperials crushed the Zhodane navy at Rhylanor, ending the 
             Fifth Frontier War (1107 - 1110).  His doctorate, focusing 
             on the battle, is his intellectual attempt to explain away this 
             defeat.  He also has an interest in robotics, and was 
             profoundly dissapointed to learn that the Rhylanor Institute of 
             Technology was closed down, giving him one more thing to whine 
             about. 

-----------------------

BTW: Yiklerdanzh is two sectors spinward of the Spinward Marches, so:

Yikler.  |  Far Frontiers  |  Foreven  |  Spinward Marches.

-----------------------

Mai Hyi Hui
Field Representative, Deneb Starguild of Mercenaries

Statistics: Army Officer  3 terms              Rank  R1 (1st class rep)
            Bureaucrat    2 terms
            Solomani Human (Clone, #3 of 18)
            UPP 476774-8                       Gender  Female
            Height  142 cm                     Age   33
            Hair  Black                        Weight  58 kg
            Eyes  Dark Brown                   Skin    Yellow

Skills:     Admin/Legal     3 (10)      Persuasion  2 (6)
            Investigation   1 (8)       Liasion     2 (6)
            Psychology      1 (8)       Streetwise  3 (7)
            Pilot-Grav      1 (8)       Vargr (Urzaeng)
            RCV Ops         2 (9)                   2 (6)
            Enviro Suits    1 (7)       Recruiting  1 (5)
            Parachute       1 (7)       Leader      1 (5)
            Slug Pistol     1 (5)       Service     2 (6)
            Slug Rifle      1 (5)       Map         1 (8)
            Unarmed MA      1 (5)       G. Tatics   1 (8)
            Autogun         1 (5)       Trauma Aid  1 (8)
                                        H. Artillery   1 (5)

Possessions:  4 800 Cr in service bank account
                 20 on person (bankcard)
              A collection of Vargr suveniours
              Four Low Passage tickets
              One Gauss pistol
              A small apartment in an unsavoury neighbourhood
              A fair supply of illegal soft drugs.

Background:   Ms. Hiu is a small, somewhat overweight woman  (about 10 
              lbs) from Kubishush.  After serving 13 years with the local 
              army (rising to Lieutenant), she mustered out to join the 
              Mercenaries Guild, as a 2nd class Field Representative. 

              She spent most of the last five years in Ziafrplians 
              Sector, as an Assessor: insuring that the legal terms of 
              mercenary contracts are met in the field.  Hui enjoyed 
              herself immensely there, with her favourate experiences being 
              with the Urzaeng Merc companies (including the famous 
              Errgh Okzarsdaem battalion).

              But after being transferred back to Regina for the last 2 
              years, she realized that her carrer has ground to a halt.
              Coupled with a lack of excitement and friends, she has become
              depressed & irritable, alienating those around her.

              Currently, she is saving for a trip back home, to Kubishush.

------------------------

BTW:  the location of Ziafrplians
             Ziafrplians  |  Gvurrdon
             Foreven      |  Spinward Marches

Urzaeng Vargr's are _big_ (they can take on male Aslans!), and not too 
bright.  They can be found throughout the Vargr Extents.

------------------------

Mother Superior Edith Witherspoon, O.H.S.
Imperial Catholic Nun (Deneb Rite)

Statistics:  Schooling  2 terms              Rank  Mother Superior/
             Medicine   2 terms                    Hospital Administrator
             Bureaucrat 1/2 term
             Solomani Human                  Gender  Female
             UPP  355875-9                   Age     37
             Height  163 cm                  Weight  59
             Hair  Black, greying            Skin    Purple/Black 
             Eyes  Hazel

             Born on Uakari (Antra: Deneb/1701  C5348AA-6 912 Re K6VI)
             Resides on a 25,000 Disp Starship

Skills:      Biology     7 (14)        Willpower    2 (10)
             Diagnosis   5 (12)        Observation  2 (10)
             Trauma Aid  5 (12)        Instruction  2 (10)
             Chemist     2 (9)         Theology     1 (8)
             Psychology  1 (9)         Liasion      1 (6)    
             Zero-G      1 (6)         Vilani       1 (6)
             Enviro Suit 1 (6)         Service      1 (6)

Possession:  Gov't and Catholic ID papers
             Historical works on the Catholic Church (books)
             Medical references (books, electronic holochips)
             Always travels with a TL D First Aid kit
             Made an oath of "Poverty, Chasitity, Obedience"

Background:  Mother Superior Witherspoon is an imposing and forthright 
             woman, even in her Order's white habit with ornate gold & black
             trim.  She considers her command of the 25,000 Disp jumpship 
             _St. Degaaka of Aladon_ to be a trust from God, and is 
             relentless in preserving that trust. 

             Born on a backward world on the edge of the Quarrentine 
             Zone, Witherspoon became a Catholic nun at 12.  Educated at 
             Antra, capital of the subsector (Astra: Deneb/1808 
             A53789C-E  Cp 501 Re M0D K5D), she became a doctor at the 
             Free University of Immin Shishadiim and joined the Order of 
             Holy Succor, a medical order.

             As a member of that order, she was posted to _st. Degaaka of 
             Aladon_, a medical/convent jumpship.  With a crew of 130, the 
             73-year old ship is equipped to TL D standards, with 700 
             beds and medical facilities to match. 

             Sister Witherspoon was only elevated to Mother Superior two 
             years ago, and her hands-on style conflicts with the 
             administration & bureaucratic needs of the convent.  Moreover, 
             she has only limited leadership qualities, tending to ram her 
             way through problems and expecting that everyone will 
             automatically do her duty, scolding those who don't meet her 
             detailed standards. 

             Currently the _St. Degaaka of Aladon_ is posted to District 
             268, a backward subsector troubled by Aslan/Human 
             conflicts.  The _St. Degaaka_ is desprately needed here, as so 
             many systems have no access to TL D+ medical care.   But 
             money is tight and Collace (District 268: Spinward Marches/1237 
             B628943-D S Hi In 101 Na F1V M6D), the only port that can 
             repair the aging _St. Degaaka_, is harrasing the convent to 
             please the Aslans, who oppose a Regency hospital ship in 
             the subsector.

---------------------

Gannon Carmick O'Connor
Professional Assassin, SuSAG

Statistics:   Undercover Agent  11 terms            Rank "Respected"
              Human       
              UPP 354858-7                          Gender  Male
              Height   176 cm                       Age   64
              Hair   Grey                           Weight  65 kg
              Eyes   Grey                           Skin   White

              Birth & Resides: Porozol (Rylanor: Spinward MArches/2715  
                     A867A74-B  Hi  201  Re  M1V  M9D), one parsec from 
                     Rylanor itself.

Skills:       Act/Bluff     4 (12)    Streetwise  3 (11)
              Slug Rifle    2 (5)          [4 in Porozol System]
              Small Blade   7 (2)          [5 on Porozol itself]
              Psychology    5 (13)    Research    1 (10)
              Observation   4 (12)    Stealth     4 (9)
              Persuasion    2 (10)    Intrusion   3 (8)
              Liasion       2 (10)    Tracking    1 (9)
 
Languages:    Native speaker of : Anglic   (10)
                                  Ess'oun  (10) the native lang. of Porozol

              Also knows:         P'nnji  0 (8) the language of Aldiss
                                          (F330814-A), an gas giant moon
                                  Vilani  1 (9)

Possessions:  A variety of ID's, all forged
              800 000 Cr in various deposits and paper companies
              Several disguise kits, hand computer, IC binoculars
              Several high-power slug rifles, with scopes
              A variety of daggers, knives, stilletos (some ornamental)
              A 'hold-out' body pistol, of TL G plastic
              A comfortable residence in an orbital station

Background:   Mr. O'Connor is a slim, kindly old man with a warm voice.  
              His long face - graced with laugh lines - and gracious manners 
              hardly seems to belong to a professional psychopath, but it 
              does.

              Born in the corrupt Kingdom of Siev perogy, his 
              intelligence and lack of scrples eventually landed him a 
              place in the local Secret Service.  However, while a majjor 
              revolt seemed about to topple the Kingdom, he judiciously sold 
              out several of his fellow agents while refining his image as 
              "The Wise Old Man" to his subordinates, thus protecting his 
              safety in both camps.
 
              At 1177, after the Kingdom was 'unexpectedly' overthrown, 
              O'Connor found a new position as an enforcer for SuSAG.
              Reliable and discreet, he would carefully research and 
              observe his target before striking, by either gliding a blade 
              across the unsuspecting victim's jugular or by flicking a 
              monofiliment pumpknife into the base of the skull, again from 
              the back.  Only rarely would he resort to the rifle, an 
              "inelegant instrument", not quite as fine a kill as the knife.

              O'Connor usually is sent after "white collar" criminals 
              who threatened the company (both employees and otherwise).  
              Even though the divided and (largely) corrupt local police 
              looked the other way, a "posting to Porozol" is quietly 
              dreaded by SuSAG managers in Rylanor subsector.

-----------------------

Baron Pedro Khugiili del la Arellano
Pertender to the Throne: Time Traveller

Statistics:  Bureaucrat  1 term             Rank   Baron
             Corsair     1 term
             Vilani Human                   Gender   Male
             UPP 527469-C                   Age   26 (well, sorta)
             Height   132 cm                Weight  79 kg
             Hair   Black                   Skin    Light Brown
             Eyes   Dark Green

             Born: Regina (stats for 592, from the First Survey)
(District 259: Spinward Marches/1910 A788505-9  N  Ag Ni 203  Im F7V M8D M6V)
             Resides: 728-907 (in Low Berth)
(Vilis: Spinward Marches/1214  D955000-0 Lo Ni Ba 610 Re F1V M4D)

Skills:      Admin/Legal       3 (9)    Act/Bluff   2 (11)
             Recruiting        1 (10)   Liasion     1 (10)
             Bribery           1 (10)   History     1 (7)
             Old High Vilani   1 (10)   Ship's Eng  1 (10)
             Vilani            1 (10)   Psychology  1 (5)    
             Persuasion        1 (10)   Zero-G      1 (3)

Possessions: (in his Low Berth ice cavern)
             1 TL D, 100-Disp scout
             50 000 Cr [with early 600's Design; a variety of Imperial 
                        profiles]
              4 000 ounces of gold
             access keys to other stashes of loot
     [NOTE: all items are locked with top-of-the-line retina and DNA locks]

             a TL D computer, w/terminal
             a private office & bunk
             two TL D warbots
             four TL D starship crew androids

Background:  Locked away in his low berth, Baron Arellano is probably the 
             last of the Civil War era combatents (604 - 622)

             A flightly, vainglorious man with a fixation on "My Destiny 
             of Greatness", he was an eccentric noble on the raw frontier of 
             the Spinward Marches.  Half of the systems were still 
             unsettled, and he spent most of the time acting as defacto 
             judge on lawless Regina.

             As Emperor battled Emperor back in Core, Arellano got the 
             idea that his Calling has arrived.  He declared himself 
             Emperor, and managed to raise up a ragtag fleet of armed 
             merchants and patrol cutters before leaving for Core.

             He never left the Marches.  Grand Admiral Arabellatra Alkalikoi
             sent a minor task force to stop the Baron. Althought they 
             never quite caught him, they did force him to abandon his 
             half-baked plans and live the pirate life.  Time after time 
             he'd devise a Rube Goldberg scheme to get past the task force, 
             and time after time it would blow up in a wild and wolly 
             manner.

             Finally, he was forced to abandon his fleet, and in 618 
             retired to his hideaway on 728-907.  On a whim, he set the 
             controls to 1201 and retired to see what the glorious future 
             would hold.

---------------------------

BTW: Baron de la Arellano is dedicated to the memory of the French 
Emperor Napoleon III, who once tried to conquer France by loading a ship 
with about 50 ruffians, and crossing the Channel to France and Glory!

Well, it didn't _quite_ work out... but he later did get himself elected 
Persident, and two years later proclaimed himself Emperor.

P.S. at the time of the Civil War...
    - the top Imperial TL was 13
    - the Solomani Confederation was part of the Imperium
    - the Imperium included Foreven Sector
    - there were no x-boat routes
    - the closest anti-grav cities were in Vland Sector
    - the 2nd Frontier War was raging (615 - 620)
    - there were no Aslan's this side of the Great Rift

--------------------------

Sherali Daya
Bioform Artist

Statistics:  Entertainer  4 terms       Rank: Known in 'conniseour'
             Solomani Human                   circles only
             UPP 697B74-7               Gender: Female
             Height   84 cm             Age  34
             Hair   Black               Weight   59 kg
             Eyes   Dark Brown          Skin  olive

             Birth: Mora, capital of the Regency
(Mora: Spinward Marches/3124 AA99AC7-F  A  Hi In Cx 172  Re M4V)
             Resides: Ansirk, basically one big naval base
(Lamas: Deneb/1609  B100100-F  N  Lo Ni Va 122 Re F2V) .. note: no 
                                                     _pernament_ population.

Skills:      Genetics     5 (12)      Act/Bluff   1 (8)
             Biology      3 (10)      Persuasion  1 (8)
             Xeno-Biology 1 (8)       Willpower   1 (12)
             Painting     4 (15)      Liasion     1 (8)
             Sculpture    4 (15)      Map         1 (8)
             Guard/Hunting Beasts     Survival    1 (12)
                          2 (9)       Enviro Suit 1 (8)
             Zero-G Env.  3 (10)

Possessions:  2 000 Cr
              A special line of credit, granted by Fleet Admiral Dame Mary
                E. Hofstetter (213th fleet), for use for her project
              Typical Regency and Naval (civilian-class) ID's
              A truly expensive, 200-year-old prayer mat from the 
                   Julian Protertorate
              Offical head of the Ansirk Biosculpting Project

Background:   Born and raised in the Kairovan community on Mora, Miss. Daya
              is one of the very few who can claim to be a pure-blooded 
              Arab.  From her youth she wanted to follow in the footsteps of 
              her ultra famous great-grandfather Ali Daya (1088 - 1150).  
              Ali Daya's suite of four interconnected biosystems under the 
              themes of "Loyalty, Trial, Victory" ranks with the best of the 
              Old Masters in Dasudashag, and had the same effect on the 
              Deneb artistic community as the 1118 tri-v film "Stand on 
              Rhylanor" had on the general populance, or the Connie 
              Chung series "Why We Are Imperials", or Norris' Ascension 
              Speech when he was formally proclaimed Archduke.

              Sherali Daya stayed away from the epic-scale work of her 
              great-grandfather for years, focusing instead on doing regular 
              commission work.  But as her reputation & skill grew so did 
              her aspirations, and in 1192 she accepted a commission from a 
              Fleet Admiral to create a new biosphere for the Naval Base at 
              Ansirk, home of 7 million Naval personnel.

              The biosphere - to reside strictly within the installation, 
              as the world is airless - is to emphasise the motif 
              "Controlled Fury".  This theme is sympolized by the Terran 
              lions, Vilani anshuui, and Reginian LiClok which stalk 
              some of the corridors and parks of the station.  The predators 
              (actually as safe as dogs) are simply at the top of the 
              station's "biosystem", which extends down to the carefully 
              bred rats and tailored airborne viruses.  

              Probably the most charming change to the station has been the 
              introduction of perenay's; a geneered variation of the white 
              dove, with rainbow-coloured wing feathers.  The ones at the 
              station have been bred for low-G flight, and are 'wired' to 
              preform complex aerobatic flight patterns and make a most 
              haunting call.

------------------------

Alvin Plummer
(You mean, you _don't_ have lion's on your naval bases?)


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 94 18:34:28 PST
From: James Kundert <james@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Ship designs
Message-ID: <9411250234.AA12464@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>

merrick@RT66.com (Merrick Burkhardt) says:

>I've been making some 1:1000 scale ship miniatures, as well as bashing
>some in the same scale from model kits. I have a couple of designs for
>Zhodani ships based on some earth defense force (Starblazers) ships.
>
>Does this seem like a Zho, or Imperial aesthetic to you (if it matters)?


 Based on every Zhodani ship picture to see print, I've seen a few
consistent factors.

 -The Zhodani almost always mount maneuver drives as a pair or set of
  smaller thrusters, instead of one large central thruster.

 -The bridge is always in the classic jet airliner spot: Front-High.
  The bridge is usually built within the basic hullform instead of standing
  out from it.

 -Overall width of the hull will be greatest on the lower decks. The
  paired engines are often set in distinct nacelles which form the widest
  part of the ship (see the Vlezhdatl).

 -There are three basic hull formats: beveled box (typified by the
  Vlezhdatl in BL), flowing (The Ninz scout and the Zhdits), and sharp
  and needle-like (the Chatl scout and the Stedlas SDB). Of these three,
  the boxy form is used mostly for larger ships and the flowing form
  and needle mostly for the smaller ships. The flowing and needle forms
  are sometimes combined in one ship (see the Stedlas).

 -Zhodani ships rarely have flat tails. They are almost always tapered
  to a point (Zhdits), or have a ridge running across the back (Ninz).
  Box-form ships have the engines protrude aft slightly, and the main
  hull will be beveled instead of flat-backed.

 -Many Zhodani ships are "necked" in shape, having a narrow portion
  between two main hull sections. The proportions of the two halves
  to each other varies considerably (see Vlezhdatl and Chatl for
  extremes), but is always either balanced or tail-heavy.

 -The Zhodani do not gratuitously streamline. If a design does not need
  streamlining, it won't be built with it. Their fleet refueling doctrine
  apparently depends on gas giants, so we can expect capital ships to be
  streamlined.

 -Ships of the flowing or needle types generally have one or more forward
  swept fins. These are more common on starships than on subcraft. It
  is my opinion (backed up by the original Vargr Module) that the Vargr
  taste in finned ships came from their first contacts with the Zhodani.

 -Civilian ships intended for use within the Consulate are rarely armed
  or capable of carrying arms.

 -Civilian ships intended for use within the Consulate rarely have
  internal security based on bulkhead divisions, as Zhodani are all
  "completely trustworthy".


  Those with Brilliant Lances will have recognized some of the
ship names I've used above. All originated with FASA and the Keith
brothers many years ago, and can be found in Adventure Class Ships Volumes
One and Two. The Vlezhdatl appeared in a seperate package from FASA.
  The oldest Zhodani ship in print is the Shivva Patrol Ship from
Adventure 4: Leviathan. The edition that I have has a picture that _might_
be a Shivva, but it is a rather eccentric picture. I prefer to consider
the Shivva to be unpictured to date.

 To answer the specific question, I view the tapered cylinder with flying
bridge (ala Star Blazers and Captain Harlock) to be a Solomani thing
(though not the ONLY Solomani thing, obviously). The flying wedge is
Sylean (see the Type S). Combining these two (as happened in the early
3I period) produces very Star Destroyer-like ships as seen in both
editions of Fighting Ships. The Vilani prefer rounded shapes, now seen
mostly in the Type R, Imperiallines TI/TJ, and the Tukera Long Liner
(mentioned in the Traveller Adventure and seen in the early Traveller's
Digest from DGP).
 The Vargr prefer ships that look vaguely like a canine head or muzzle,
with some fins added just 'cause they're cool. The K'kree do flying saucers.
Aslan go for the organic, bubbly look. Hiver ships used to be boxes with
a vaguely melted or softened look (like the automobiles of 5 years ago),
but the Collapse caused them to go for simplicity and drop the soft look.
They now do sharply defined boxes (see the RCEG for examples).


James Kundert <j.kundert@genie.geis.com>
              <james@dumbcat.sf.ca.us>

There was a young lady named Bright,
Whose speed was much faster, much faster than Light.
She departed one day in a relative way,
And returned on the previous Night.
   --Albert & the Heart of Gold

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 20:58:48 -0800
From: Nrunner@ix.netcom.com (Archie Tindell)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: anti-neutrons....
Message-ID: <199411250458.UAA21109@ix.ix.netcom.com>


	Anti-neutrons do NOT exist, because the negative of a neutral 
charge is a neutral charge.... the neuton is it's own anti-particle. It 
may be created through different means, but a neutron is a neutron. The 
TNE book FFS describes NPAWS as a neutralized atom beam, but this has 
the problem of being able to be hit by a laser and deflected (except if 
travelling at light-speed ......
	(anti-protons can absorb and store neutrons, for that little 
extra FIZZ in fission material.........:^)


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 1994 08:43:56 +0200
From: roger.myhre@niva.no (Roger Myhre)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: Deep site meson guns
Message-ID: <eaca9920@smtplink.niva.no>

lewis@chara.gsu.edu wrote:
 
 [Lot of stuff about deep mesonguns deleted
 
 >Can anyone figure out another angle of attack.
 
 1. Send a giant rock into one of the planets oceans.
 2. Detonate several nukes in the upper atmosphere. This will destroy 
 most electronic hardware. And sensors are very hard to shield against 
 these types of attack. Their antennas have to be disconnected 
 *before* the Electromagnetic Pulse arrive. Circuit breakers may 
 protect the process units against EMP, but the antennas will most 
 likely be fried.
 
 
 StarWolf

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 1994 08:50:41 +0000
From: A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Deep Site Meson Guns
Message-ID: <199411250854.DAA05939@Mithril.MPGN.COM>

>Can anyone figure out another angle of attack.
MISSILES
Just direct ARMs (Anti-Radiation Missiles) or a higher tech equivalent at
the planet's surface. If the missiles are tuned to the frequencies used by
the meson gun's sensors then you won't go hitting every single military
sensor, just the important ones. You'd still need an excess of missiles (vs.
number of sensors) to allow for anti-missile laser defences, etc. but it
ought to work.
JAMMING
Jam the meson gun sensors from a starship (probably disguised as a merchant
ship) or, better still, from one or more covert teams operating on the
ground (requires far less power than from space because the jammers are so
much closer to the sensors).
SABOTAGE
Destroy selected sensor sites using covert ground teams. Perhaps they might
even gain access to the meson gun site?
SABOTAGE 2
Gain access to any one sensor site using a covert team - try not to let
anyone else know you've got in. Implant a virus (not 'The Virus') in their
software - preferably in the communications section; watch as all
communications between the gun and the sensors are cut off at a
predetermined time (just before your ships get in range). Attack!
LOSE POWER
The meson gun must require a substantial power plant with a fuel system. By
the use of covert ground operatives, either (a) contaminate the fuel, (b)
disable the power plant by infiltrating the engineering staff, sending a
sabotage robot down an airshaft, drop a nuke down an airshaft, direct a
nuclear damper at the power plant, etc., etc.

Note the use of 'covert' above; I do not generally mean this to be troops
dropped from a starship but rather infiltration teams delivered to the
planet in the preceding days under civilian guises.

Now for less subtle approaches:
NUKE 'EM
Drop a swath of nukes on their capital cities (you only need a few to
actually hit). Now tell 'em to turn off the meson gun and let you land or
you'll turn the whole planet into Death Valley.
SIEGE 'EM
Seal the system (with ships and mines). Wait for planet to starve (assuming
it is dependent upon something from outside). Tell 'em to turn off the meson
gun... etc.

Any use?
Cmdr Lilly, PITS (Political Intelligence Team, Scout)
PITS Team motto: "We are never outgunned."
* Nothing I say or do in any way reflects the views of my very kind
  and generous employers who have no interest in outgunning anyone. *


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 94 09:52:21 AST
From: "Les Howie"  <lhowie@192.219.29.90>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Size of AM explosions
Message-ID: <9411251352.AA00305@Prograph.Com>

Hugh Foster <100326.446@compuserve.com> wrote
> Yet more AM burble: Another reason for supposing that "canonical" AM 
> explosions
> aren't massively big is that MT ship designs allowed the fitting of AM 
> missile
> warheads (and provided -er- proton screens I think to defeat them). Now if 
> the
> explosion was gonna be as big as some folk here suggest, this would be a 
> weapon
> of similar usefulness to the plasma grenades developed by one of my players

> (a
> normal man can't throw one far enough to get it out of the danger space...)
> 

That rather depends on how much AM you use.  The common definition of "a lot
of 
anti-matter" is anything approaching a gram.  The Alliance ships posted on
xboat
were carrying multiple hundred of tonnes as a fuel source.

Even then, 1000 km is NOT very far in space.



------------------------------

Date: 25 Nov 94 15:09:27 EST
From: Hugh Foster <100326.446@compuserve.com>
To: "INTERNET:traveller@mpgn.com" <traveller@MPGN.COM>
Subject: TRAVELLER digest 111
Message-ID: <941125200926_100326.446_BHG110-1@CompuServe.COM>

>>The only thing I could think of was to drop troops on to the surface,
basically below the senors, and have troops run around trying to find the
dishes and blow them up.  <<

Sensors ? Spaniards get in everywhere. Seriously, though, this situation makes
for a smashing evening's play - just put your favourite misfits in the boots of
the troops with this unenviable job, and throw nasties at them. As to attacking
DM sites, the only thing I could think of is neutrino homing atomic missiles -
the DM site must have a whopping great powerplant associated with it somewhere
and destroying this has the dual benefit of stopping your enemy shooting at you
with it and leaving it relatively intact for you to re-commision at leisure
after conquering the planet. Of course, you'd have to use a _lot_ of missiles to
defeat the defences and that would stiffen up the local guerilla resistance. Ah,
me, the tribulations of interplanetary conquest...

------------------------------

End of TRAVELLER Digest 112
***************************
