SD.Net World Redux Comment Thread II

[PeZook]

I don't want to sound like a tight ass, but how the hell can duchies pledge 10 billion/year each to a superflous project like FASTA?

It's between 15-30% of your budget, depending how much of the GDP you spend...

Not that I don't like it, mind you. With so much moneys, there's no doubt we can make it to the moon

Also, I have some comments on launch sites:

1) Frequesque sounds good, except we'd be developing the area from scratch. That means we'd have to build everything, from the launch pads themselves to roads and railway tracks leading up to them. On the other hand, it would be pretty secure

2) The IRT...well, it's developed area, which means cheapness. We could contract plenty of local companies for the job, there'd be a developed transport infrastructure and little nasty tropical diseases to worry about.

Of course, the IRT is unscrupulous and likes to cozy up to Team Psycho, so...

[phongn]

2) The IRT...well, it's developed area, which means cheapness. We could contract plenty of local companies for the job, there'd be a developed transport infrastructure and little nasty tropical diseases to worry about.

Of course, the IRT is unscrupulous and likes to cozy up to Team Psycho, so...

No, no, everything we do is for a profit motive, simply remember that. Japanistan and Shepistan are offering sales. We have another opportunity for this space launch initiative, and frankly, nowhere is better. We have an equatorial launch site, highly developed infrastructure, trained workforce, etc. etc. Do you require contracts or other such assurances?

[PeZook]

No, no, everything we do is for a profit motive, simply remember that. Japanistan and Shepistan are offering sales. We have another opportunity for this space launch initiative, and frankly, nowhere is better. We have an equatorial launch site, highly developed infrastructure, trained workforce, etc. etc. Do you require contracts or other such assurances?

Obviously

Myself I'd be more inclined to build the launch site in the IRT, yeah. Seriously: we'd need to literally ship everything to the Frequesqian site, from toilet paper to guidance systems. A trip to buy, say, Vulpesblad Data Cameras would take hours by train

But I'd like to hear opinions of the rest before making the decision.

On another note, with Marina's new proclamation on the state of space technology, we're back in 1955, so FASTA is speculatizing now. Of course, this also means we can just launch initial rockets off dirt patches practically anywhere.

[Shroom Man 777]

Wrong.

San Dorado is super New York Singapore and DOES have the facilities for the job.

10. The Camp Kittyhawk Rocketfields - The rocketfields neighbor the Camp Kittyhawk air force base and are used to launch rockets, which is quite a spectacle (particularly when they blow up on the launch pad, which happens with some regularity).

We need satellites to target our bombs and beam televisions to the world and shit.

Or else ShroomSatTV won't exist! OH SHIT!

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Obviously

Myself I'd be more inclined to build the launch site in the IRT, yeah. Seriously: we'd need to literally ship everything to the Frequesqian site, from toilet paper to guidance systems. A trip to buy, say, Vulpesblad Data Cameras would take hours by train

But I'd like to hear opinions of the rest before making the decision.

On another note, with Marina's new proclamation on the state of space technology, we're back in 1955, so FASTA is speculatizing now. Of course, this also means we can just launch initial rockets off dirt patches practically anywhere.

I don't see why it can't be done. I'll even loan the services of Constantinople Shipping, along with the construction resources of Byzantine Heavy Construction, and do a fast build within a year. All we need is a port, roads and what not. If Jungles are a problem, I'll happily Greek Fire the whole lot, even if the Greenies come out to protest.

[Shroom Man 777]

I repeat, San Dorado has a functioning rudimentary rocket facility.

Besides that, MacMillan Maritime Mercantile can match whatever Constantinople Shipping can do!

[PeZook]

Well, I guess the IRT has some serious marketing to do before they can get the launch site

[Shroom Man 777]

And don't forget - we can have a failed launch result in some San Dorado casualties, and then they'll protest at the Shroomanian Embassy - another Super Spectacle Sight!

9. The Arch of Victory and the Shroomanian Embassy - This 150 meter high arc commemorates the landing of Sir Siegfried Schrom on the shores of Frequesue, as well as the many Shroomanian colonial victories. Often the target of terrorist attacks; Shroomania is granted permission to station Mushroom Marines at the arch to guard it. It is aligned exactly so that if you look through it from the waterside you look at the Shroomanian Embassy, a huge and rather ghastly neo-Victorian affair that does not fit at all between the art-deco buildings that surround it.

Then my Marines can waste some motherfuckers, get court martianed and discharged, and then find new jobs in San Dorado as trigger-happy biker police officer Judge Dredds!

Yes!

It'll be better than an exploding space monkey!

[phongn]

We have superior launch kinematics, more engineers, more infrastructure, more banks for superior financing, indigenous aerospace industry ... we're not next to third-world shitholes who might take a potshot at it ... the list goes and on!

EDIT: Plus we're willing to work with you on prices for that proposed FUN missile sale, Shroom, HINT HINT.

[Steve]

If Cascadia does start dabbling in rocketry (money has to come from somewhere), we might end up with working with IRT due to proximity and existing trade tries.

That said... bleh, still ambivalent over "no satellites".

[phongn]

Also, should the MESS or the Slavics be interested in our launch sites, we will of course be open to it. The same benefits are also extended to our fraternal research partners in UART.

[PeZook]

Yeah...Shroom, arguing that in San Dorado, our rockets could be blown up by terrorists really doesn't look very good on the "pro" side of the list

[Shroom Man 777]

We have superior launch kinematics, more engineers, more infrastructure, more banks for superior financing, indigenous aerospace industry ... we're not next to third-world shitholes who might take a potshot at it ... the list goes and on!

San Dorado's supposed to be a highly amoral version of Switzerland, so banking isn't a concern

(Every other point you raise is valid, though.)

Why not two sites? One in the IRT for stuff, and another in San Dorado for explosions.

EDIT: Plus we're willing to work with you on prices for that proposed FUN missile sale, Shroom, HINT HINT.

I've brought it to PeZook's attention.


PeZook

I am NOT arguing about having terrorists blow up San Dorado rockets. I'm talking about San Dorado launched rockets malfunctioning and BLOWING UP SAN DORADO'S PEOPLE!

That looks better on the "pro" side of the list (than the terrorist thing).


(Seriously, many might be concerned that the IRT's ties to Shepistan and Japanistan might compromise security, or might lead to corporate espionage or something. At least San Dorado, being smaller, will have to play nice. Whereas the IRT, being an Imperium or something, can be total dicks. )

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Also, should the MESS or the Slavics be interested in our launch sites, we will of course be open to it. The same benefits are also extended to our fraternal research partners in UART.

How do we know whether our technology won't be shared with ... our competitors?

[phongn]

Yeah...Shroom, arguing that in San Dorado, our rockets could be blown up by terrorists really doesn't look very good on the "pro" side of the list

Of course, should the FUN require an alternate launch site in San Dorado as well as in the IRT, we would have little objection. We believe our launch services will, in the end, provide superior availability, reliability and affordability to our customers. Our large contractors are also available to construct sites in San Dorado if needed.

[PeZook]

If we decide to have a second launch site, it should be on the Old Continent, not in San Dorado. We'll need larger rockets for that, but the only purpose of a second launch site is security, anyway.

[Shroom Man 777]

Comona, here we come!

The San Doradoans could just shoot rockets with the FTO bozos. Then their rockets can crash and burn and they can still protest the Shroomanian Embassy if they want (for no reason)!

Then my Marines can pop them.


PeZook, Coyote

How about we buy a couple of HUEG IRT radars so we can watch Japanistan and Shepistan from afar?

[PeZook]

Here are the sites which seem viable, but all of them have pros and cons:

1) Jerusalem or thereabouts. Close to OC, but also to terrorist assholes.

2) Somewhere in the southern parts of the CSR: secure, close to developed infrastructure

3) Comona Island: very, very gay but also secure and with good infrastructure

All three of the above are far away from the equator, though, which means we'll need bigger rockets. It can be done, of course.

4) Frequesquian jungle: closer to the equator, and that's pretty much the only good thing about it

5) San Dorado: all the pros of no. 4, and closer to good infrastructure. Also, San Dorado is an unstable shithole full of angry people with pirate ancestry who like to get into fights for no reason.

6) IRT: good infrastructure, local contractors, right on the equator, missile deal thrown in. The CSR hates them, though and they're money grubbing assholes a lot of other people don't like

7) Wilkonia: further away from the equator, than the IRT: friendly country, good infrastructure.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

There is a rather massive army base for not one but two army divisions, along with anti-air brigades at Jerusalem. I would like to dare any terrorist to play games over there.

[Shroom Man 777]

I wonder if "very, very gay" counts as a pro for Comona (and Shroomania).

Guys, we totally need HUEG radars to watch other people with.

EDIT:

Jerusalem is full of Mohammedians. I would be wary of it.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I wonder if "very, very gay" counts as a pro for Comona (and Shroomania).

Guys, we totally need HUEG radars to watch other people with.

EDIT:

Jerusalem is full of Mohammedians. I would be wary of it.

Bull shit, it's been a Byzantine City for the last 300 years after conquest, and also for hundreds of years before conquest. It's a mixture of Greek and Muslims and Jews. Relatively safe, high security, region. How do you think I was able to keep the two Caliphates in check? Place 2 Army divisions, along with two at Antioch.

As for radars, I have an X-Band radar in the works. It will be constructed by the end of the year, or middle of the next.

[Shroom Man 777]

Um... where is Jerusalem (in the map)?

Holy shit! You're building one of these?!

Awesome!

Um... can I has uplink so I can get radar informations for defense too?

[phongn]

What do you need that radar for unless you're building a heavy missile defense system?

[Shroom Man 777]

Maybe we can get a few Director of FASTA Operations. Someone with vision! Someone utterly loopy, from Shroomania!

(Yes. Someone utterly mad. And probably German. Like the bastard reincarnation of a Nazi rocket scientist.)

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Duchies cannot commit that much of their money to space launch.

Yet.

The Moderator has noticed this, and has a cunning plan to escape the eyes of Q. More later.