OOC: A long time ago, I created a "structure" of Comstar, after the massive reorganisation seen in 3056 as background for a Battletech campaign I wanted to run, modelled after the C&C missions..... It never went off the ground, indeed, I never did delve into the story aspect for the Ghost Bear campaign I was then running and obviously, the Comstar campaign never took off. Nevertheless, I updated it on and off as part of Comstar background, even though it was obvious that I would never grandmaster a game. The background fluff was based on ingame sources, but had a large dose of speculation and outright invention, although "logical" one based on in universe data.
Its interesting though, the Jihad series and Fanpro desire to reuse old elements of Battletech actually incorporated a lot of my fictional background, although my cyborg genetically engineered soldiers were fighting for Comstar against the WOB:D
And I kept it at EI, not VR pods from unbound. So, obviously,my speculation wasn't that far off:D
So, I thought I flesh this out further and present it as a fanfic.
Analysis of Comstar: New Avalon Press
Moderator: LadyTevar
Analysis of Comstar: New Avalon Press
Let him land on any Lyran world to taste firsthand the wrath of peace loving people thwarted by the myopic greed of a few miserly old farts- Katrina Steiner
Foreword by Professor Kureneko
The publication of this project has been a grand project that would not have been possible without Lars Dressel, Captain of Comstar Analysis Division Wolfnet and Chris Hartford, Comguard. Precentor Eliza Phereson of Comstar Historical Archives dilligence in editing and censoring highly sensitive information is much appreciated. Despite the new transparency in Comstar, members of the Star League still do not know much about the organisation , much less its past incarnation pre Reformation.
Comstar is the last existing agency from the old Star League, and its influence and impact on the current Star League is enormous. While the Light Horse form the nucleus of the SLDF, it is Comstar which makes its possible for the Star League diplomatic corps, it is Comstar which operates the HPGs and other Star League facillities in Clan space and it is Comstar which coordinated the Star League effort to invade Clan Smoke Jaguar.
In order not to duplicate efforts, the SLDF readiness report would only be obliquely referred to.
Organisation:
The official organisation of Comstar is based on 4 tier structure, authority resting in the Primus, flowing down to individual precentors. Adepts form team leaders, with acolytes forming the bulk of the rank and file, an official act from the Karpov Doctrinal edict. The Reformation Act IV realigned management, recognising the unofficial rank of demi-precentor, junior managers, although demi-precentors do head minor branches of Comstar.
Comstar management is complicated by the interaction between different Comstar branches. The major branches of Finanicial Affairs, Stellar Relations, Terran Affairs(Defunct), Comguards, Archives and History, Science & Research, Communications, News Bureau,(realigned as a corporate service, INN with public ownership and leadership),Explorer Corps and ROM are responsible for the basic adminstration and operation of their respective organisations . However, Comstar is organised along the 12 o clock sphere doctrine(albeit, much modified post Reformation) with lines of command running to the Comstar First Circuit. The Primus is the "Primary" Precentor of Comstar, heading the First Circuit. Their lines of authority technically leads directly from the Primus, to the council of the First Circuit and then down to station head and personnel. In reality however, the increased need for adminstrators post 3050 as well as increased advocacy roles for the Advocate Precentors(New Avalon, Tharkad, Sian, FRR and Dieron) has changed this significantly. Stellar Relations often enjoy an elevated role, their advocate role for minor Houses and other powers lend them authority for operations within their respective realm. Similarly, the First Circuit authority also radiates down to other A station heads, with senior Precentors performing as lesser leaders responsible for the other B and A stations under their aegis. Due to House control of the local HPGs, the non House Aligned First Circuit had seen decreased influence both within Comstar as well as operations in their respective regions.
Therefore, Sigma personnel assigned to Tharkad may be under the organisational aegis of Stellar Relations or under Adminstration, a branch with no official head. However, they would also report directly to the precentor heading the local HPG station who would be responsible for their operational duties. Ultimately, all Comstar personnel report to Primus and the First Circuit. It could be said that branches are responsible for the training, adminstration and overall organisation while their operational duties is overseen by the respective Precentor in charge of their operational area.
The Comguards and ROM are the noticeable exception, with the Armies Precentor head replacing the role of the respective realm and A station precentor adminstrator. ROM is internally self-contained, reporting to the Precentor Martial or the First Circuit only. Intelligence for the consumption of non Comguards leaders is either filtered down through the First Circuit or gathered through Delta personnel although the needs for speed gives local operatives considerable discretion.
Compared to the Great Houses ,Comguards leaders enjoy lesser powers, although they have less oversight from higher authorities. HPG transmission lags have meant that Inner Sphere military leaders enjoy considerable power to deploy forces. However, the Comguards are bound by internal protocol to defend HPG stations and external agreements to defend Inner Sphere territory against the Clans. Focht agreement with the various Sphere powers still stands, proscribing Comguards deployment without full or prior disclosure. Their mandate to defend Comstar facillities is seperated however from any operational control by station heads or other team leaders. Comguard leaders, within the limits placed on them by soverign powers could mobilise and deploy forces without purview by station heads or army commanders, insofar as these deployments are done to support Comguards missions to defend either Comstar facillities or against Clan aggression. Unlike House commanders, their abilities to draw on supplies, lean on civilian organisations or commandeer Comstar assets is extremely limited.
The Hyperpulse network organises itself around the First Circuit, stations that were the Terran Hegemony worlds. Terra and these stations form the "control" node for the network, with alternate primary networks collasacing around A stations that form secondary nexus. The last link in this organisation chart would be the A station that form the tertiary nexus, responsible for worlds within its transmission range. The Succession wars and abandonment of hundreds of worlds mean that the network is complicated in organisation, with some A station nexus governing tens of worlds while other primary nexuses only has 12 worlds under its aegis. Thier operational authority extends to every agent working to maintain and operate Comstar facillities in this region, from finanicial clearing houses and banks, jumpships to hospitals and hospices. Finanicial Affairs often has precentors operating as liason to Communications.
Kappa adminstrators may be assigned to either Comguards or local Comstar authorities, although Comstar Mercy fleet of Condor hospitals was budgeted under Finanicial Affairs. This has since been taken over by Stellar Relations.
Lastly, Comstar backed guilds, merchants and banks, in particular Comstar accounts supporting the mercenary trade is run directly by Finanicial affairs adepts and demi-precentors. The now defunct Mercenary Review board still has substantive personnel assigned to such accounts. The mail services and other services/products are set up by Finanicial affairs, although operational control of services supporting Comstar often fall under Alpha/Chi. Adminstrative Affairs departments report directly to the First Circuit and Primus.
The publication of this project has been a grand project that would not have been possible without Lars Dressel, Captain of Comstar Analysis Division Wolfnet and Chris Hartford, Comguard. Precentor Eliza Phereson of Comstar Historical Archives dilligence in editing and censoring highly sensitive information is much appreciated. Despite the new transparency in Comstar, members of the Star League still do not know much about the organisation , much less its past incarnation pre Reformation.
Comstar is the last existing agency from the old Star League, and its influence and impact on the current Star League is enormous. While the Light Horse form the nucleus of the SLDF, it is Comstar which makes its possible for the Star League diplomatic corps, it is Comstar which operates the HPGs and other Star League facillities in Clan space and it is Comstar which coordinated the Star League effort to invade Clan Smoke Jaguar.
In order not to duplicate efforts, the SLDF readiness report would only be obliquely referred to.
Organisation:
The official organisation of Comstar is based on 4 tier structure, authority resting in the Primus, flowing down to individual precentors. Adepts form team leaders, with acolytes forming the bulk of the rank and file, an official act from the Karpov Doctrinal edict. The Reformation Act IV realigned management, recognising the unofficial rank of demi-precentor, junior managers, although demi-precentors do head minor branches of Comstar.
Comstar management is complicated by the interaction between different Comstar branches. The major branches of Finanicial Affairs, Stellar Relations, Terran Affairs(Defunct), Comguards, Archives and History, Science & Research, Communications, News Bureau,(realigned as a corporate service, INN with public ownership and leadership),Explorer Corps and ROM are responsible for the basic adminstration and operation of their respective organisations . However, Comstar is organised along the 12 o clock sphere doctrine(albeit, much modified post Reformation) with lines of command running to the Comstar First Circuit. The Primus is the "Primary" Precentor of Comstar, heading the First Circuit. Their lines of authority technically leads directly from the Primus, to the council of the First Circuit and then down to station head and personnel. In reality however, the increased need for adminstrators post 3050 as well as increased advocacy roles for the Advocate Precentors(New Avalon, Tharkad, Sian, FRR and Dieron) has changed this significantly. Stellar Relations often enjoy an elevated role, their advocate role for minor Houses and other powers lend them authority for operations within their respective realm. Similarly, the First Circuit authority also radiates down to other A station heads, with senior Precentors performing as lesser leaders responsible for the other B and A stations under their aegis. Due to House control of the local HPGs, the non House Aligned First Circuit had seen decreased influence both within Comstar as well as operations in their respective regions.
Therefore, Sigma personnel assigned to Tharkad may be under the organisational aegis of Stellar Relations or under Adminstration, a branch with no official head. However, they would also report directly to the precentor heading the local HPG station who would be responsible for their operational duties. Ultimately, all Comstar personnel report to Primus and the First Circuit. It could be said that branches are responsible for the training, adminstration and overall organisation while their operational duties is overseen by the respective Precentor in charge of their operational area.
The Comguards and ROM are the noticeable exception, with the Armies Precentor head replacing the role of the respective realm and A station precentor adminstrator. ROM is internally self-contained, reporting to the Precentor Martial or the First Circuit only. Intelligence for the consumption of non Comguards leaders is either filtered down through the First Circuit or gathered through Delta personnel although the needs for speed gives local operatives considerable discretion.
Compared to the Great Houses ,Comguards leaders enjoy lesser powers, although they have less oversight from higher authorities. HPG transmission lags have meant that Inner Sphere military leaders enjoy considerable power to deploy forces. However, the Comguards are bound by internal protocol to defend HPG stations and external agreements to defend Inner Sphere territory against the Clans. Focht agreement with the various Sphere powers still stands, proscribing Comguards deployment without full or prior disclosure. Their mandate to defend Comstar facillities is seperated however from any operational control by station heads or other team leaders. Comguard leaders, within the limits placed on them by soverign powers could mobilise and deploy forces without purview by station heads or army commanders, insofar as these deployments are done to support Comguards missions to defend either Comstar facillities or against Clan aggression. Unlike House commanders, their abilities to draw on supplies, lean on civilian organisations or commandeer Comstar assets is extremely limited.
The Hyperpulse network organises itself around the First Circuit, stations that were the Terran Hegemony worlds. Terra and these stations form the "control" node for the network, with alternate primary networks collasacing around A stations that form secondary nexus. The last link in this organisation chart would be the A station that form the tertiary nexus, responsible for worlds within its transmission range. The Succession wars and abandonment of hundreds of worlds mean that the network is complicated in organisation, with some A station nexus governing tens of worlds while other primary nexuses only has 12 worlds under its aegis. Thier operational authority extends to every agent working to maintain and operate Comstar facillities in this region, from finanicial clearing houses and banks, jumpships to hospitals and hospices. Finanicial Affairs often has precentors operating as liason to Communications.
Kappa adminstrators may be assigned to either Comguards or local Comstar authorities, although Comstar Mercy fleet of Condor hospitals was budgeted under Finanicial Affairs. This has since been taken over by Stellar Relations.
Lastly, Comstar backed guilds, merchants and banks, in particular Comstar accounts supporting the mercenary trade is run directly by Finanicial affairs adepts and demi-precentors. The now defunct Mercenary Review board still has substantive personnel assigned to such accounts. The mail services and other services/products are set up by Finanicial affairs, although operational control of services supporting Comstar often fall under Alpha/Chi. Adminstrative Affairs departments report directly to the First Circuit and Primus.
Let him land on any Lyran world to taste firsthand the wrath of peace loving people thwarted by the myopic greed of a few miserly old farts- Katrina Steiner
Re: Analysis of Comstar: New Avalon Press
Assets:
Comstar is the single most largest organisation in the Inner Sphere. While the Great Houses may individually control more resources and people, no other organisation operates over so vast a territory or influences more people and areas. A short discussion of their various assets include their
1. Interstellar Communications Network. The HPG stations are now no longer under the control of Comstar, however, Comstar personnel are still contracted to service, maintain and run the communications network. As such, Comstar is now removed from the finanicial constraints of maintaining and rennovating HPG stations, while remaining the sole source of supplies and spare parts. On top of that, Comstar is similarly paid an additional sum in contract fees to man the stations, being paid on top of the fees they charge for interstellar messages. As Comstar continously adjusts its transmission fees based on rental fees, the Federated Commonwealth has given up any further attempt to increase rental mark-ups, causing a reversal to the same prices as the rest of the Sphere.
2. Interstellar Mail(Pony Express), which may serve as the sole source of news and communications in the Periphery, and provide mailcall and parcels for Spheroid worlds. Many jumpships are contracted by Comstar to provide temporary or permament jumps calls, with an equal number of Comstar owned jumpships servicing the outer reaches of known space.
3. Planetary communications network. To collate and batch communications for instellar transmission, Comstar often acquire a series of communications services on a planet, thus removing the need to physically enter the HPG service station. Planets which retain a high personal technological base such as New Avalon or Tharkad have their own planetarywide communications service grid. Thus, for convienence sake, Comstar often purchase service time on such advanced worlds, although they tend to refrain from contracting private services for their communications needs. The economic downturn post Tukayid has however forced Comstar to hive off parts of the telecoms services on such advanced planets and allow increased private ownership on others.
4. Hospices, hospitals and other medical services. Surprising unnoticed, Comstar has always retained a small presence in the medical industry. While focused heavily in hospice and terminal care, the fleet of Mercy Condors as well as other medical teams servicing the HPG stations ofter provide primary care for a small fee, boosting Comstar public image. Post reformation, Comstar has opened its medical technology and facillities, renovating ancient derelict hospitals and refurbishing their ancient Star League equipment. The underside of this move is voiced by the Cappellan Confederation, which launched a diplomatic inquiry on why Comstar had held back advanced medical technology that could had saved countless citizens lives..... Even on wealthier worlds such as Tharkad, many question what miracles Comstar knowledge, as well as their advanced technology might have done to save many lives. Unfortunately, the economic crisis affecting Comstar prevents Comstar Medical from expanding further into this industry, delivering vital life saving technologies to the public. The loss of Terra and affliated companies/technology had crippled any attempts to expand Comstar services into the medical field.
5. Comstar Banking. Inarguably the largest bank in the Inner Sphere, Comstar finanicial accounts are the key to any interborder trading enterprise. Their services are myriad, from the issuing of Comstar scrip, banking accounts, finanicial transactions, cash & carry, credit associations and loans & savings....... Indeed, the only major finacial product not offered by Comstar rests in the risky business of insurance and stock brokering........ although a Comstar brokerage service exists, which is an interstellar communication link . This serves to link distant worlds to stock exchanges and commodities markets, although such markets and the like are owned by the individual Houses.
The power of Comstar finanicial insitutions is immense. The need for Chinese walls as well as the sheer distance of space has required the splintering of Comstar finanicial insitutions spherewide.... Distressingly, this has led the Word of Blake to assume direct control over parts of this finanicial network and to infiltrate or manipulate others. Accusations by Comstar that this has caused insider trading within the Free Worlds League, as well as other white collar crime goes unheeded in the League, although it has led other Houses to begin closer examination of Comstar and Blakist interference in their own finanicial exchanges. Even with the MRBC assuming Comstar traditional role as arbiter of mercenary contracts, said contracts are still housed in Comstar accounts, giving Comstar banks the largest warchest available to make loans, investments and purchases. The survival of New Earth Trading Company probably has much to do with their reliance on Comstar banks goodwill.
6. Comstar News Bureau. The only spherewide news network, this network has seen much change in recent years. From a propaganda mouthpiece of Comstar, the reformation has led to CNB to become more commercialised and divorced from Comstar general services.
Only Mercnet is believed to be as widely read throughout the sphere, and CNB recent drive into lifestyle, entertainment and other "lighter" aspect of news has been frowned upon by old CNB heads. To emphasise its seperate existence from Comstar, there has been a recent proposal by department heads to insitute a name change.
While the above services are spherewide, Comstar similarly offers other commercial or government services on an ad hoc basis. Rescue services from the Comguards, computer and other IT upgrades are more recent services, rivalling ancient services such as education and F&B. An interesting story has Comstar architectural firms being a fad in Steiner Space several decades ago. Comstar owned small enterprises not only service Comstar, but may extend their services into the general public. Of this, the only corporations which has reached insterstellar notice are the mining firms of Mars.
On top of services, Comstar retains other assets in the Inner Sphere. Comstar used to be the largest commercial owner of real estate in the Sphere, but the loss of her HPG holdings as well as Terra has called this into question. Nevertheless, Spheroid space is dotted with Comstar warehouses, buildings and satellites, communications and computer grids which support Comstar interstellar network as well as her Comguards. Primus Mori has generously donated the use of all Comstar holdings to the Star League. Many SLDF recruiting offices are based directly in Comstar HPG stations or other Comstar offices. Previously, Comstar massive landholdings used to be frowned upon by houses such as Liao and Davion due to the Comstar Neutrality Act. "Sanctuary" has been claimed by many dissidents and criminals as under the Act, Comstar territory is inviolate to the Great Houses.
Lastly, Comstar is perhaps the largest private owner of artworks in the Sphere. Many sculptures and pieces have been comissioned by previous Comstar leaders to commenorate Comstar saints such as Toyama and Blake, as well as those glorifying the lost Star League. In addition, as preservor of the ancient Star League, Comstar has purchased or acquired ancient Star League relics and pieces, preserving them for future generations to view the lost glory of old. Some of these artworks have unfortunately been descrated, following Operation Scorpion and the return of the Clans. In particular, "Kerensky Will Return" and "Kerensky and the Light of Blake", great masterpieces of the artist Dontello, has been destroyed.
Without any resources other than Terra, Comstar has finanicial wealth equivalent to some of the lesser Houses and certainly outrivals any Duke of the realm. Fees from Comstar patronage, donations and sales, interest and profits all form the bulk of Comstar finanicial treasury. Adept manipulation of transmission rates has also allowed Comstar "C-Bills" to remain a viable currency in the Sphere, remainding the last fiat currency in general usuage.
Comstar is the single most largest organisation in the Inner Sphere. While the Great Houses may individually control more resources and people, no other organisation operates over so vast a territory or influences more people and areas. A short discussion of their various assets include their
1. Interstellar Communications Network. The HPG stations are now no longer under the control of Comstar, however, Comstar personnel are still contracted to service, maintain and run the communications network. As such, Comstar is now removed from the finanicial constraints of maintaining and rennovating HPG stations, while remaining the sole source of supplies and spare parts. On top of that, Comstar is similarly paid an additional sum in contract fees to man the stations, being paid on top of the fees they charge for interstellar messages. As Comstar continously adjusts its transmission fees based on rental fees, the Federated Commonwealth has given up any further attempt to increase rental mark-ups, causing a reversal to the same prices as the rest of the Sphere.
2. Interstellar Mail(Pony Express), which may serve as the sole source of news and communications in the Periphery, and provide mailcall and parcels for Spheroid worlds. Many jumpships are contracted by Comstar to provide temporary or permament jumps calls, with an equal number of Comstar owned jumpships servicing the outer reaches of known space.
3. Planetary communications network. To collate and batch communications for instellar transmission, Comstar often acquire a series of communications services on a planet, thus removing the need to physically enter the HPG service station. Planets which retain a high personal technological base such as New Avalon or Tharkad have their own planetarywide communications service grid. Thus, for convienence sake, Comstar often purchase service time on such advanced worlds, although they tend to refrain from contracting private services for their communications needs. The economic downturn post Tukayid has however forced Comstar to hive off parts of the telecoms services on such advanced planets and allow increased private ownership on others.
4. Hospices, hospitals and other medical services. Surprising unnoticed, Comstar has always retained a small presence in the medical industry. While focused heavily in hospice and terminal care, the fleet of Mercy Condors as well as other medical teams servicing the HPG stations ofter provide primary care for a small fee, boosting Comstar public image. Post reformation, Comstar has opened its medical technology and facillities, renovating ancient derelict hospitals and refurbishing their ancient Star League equipment. The underside of this move is voiced by the Cappellan Confederation, which launched a diplomatic inquiry on why Comstar had held back advanced medical technology that could had saved countless citizens lives..... Even on wealthier worlds such as Tharkad, many question what miracles Comstar knowledge, as well as their advanced technology might have done to save many lives. Unfortunately, the economic crisis affecting Comstar prevents Comstar Medical from expanding further into this industry, delivering vital life saving technologies to the public. The loss of Terra and affliated companies/technology had crippled any attempts to expand Comstar services into the medical field.
5. Comstar Banking. Inarguably the largest bank in the Inner Sphere, Comstar finanicial accounts are the key to any interborder trading enterprise. Their services are myriad, from the issuing of Comstar scrip, banking accounts, finanicial transactions, cash & carry, credit associations and loans & savings....... Indeed, the only major finacial product not offered by Comstar rests in the risky business of insurance and stock brokering........ although a Comstar brokerage service exists, which is an interstellar communication link . This serves to link distant worlds to stock exchanges and commodities markets, although such markets and the like are owned by the individual Houses.
The power of Comstar finanicial insitutions is immense. The need for Chinese walls as well as the sheer distance of space has required the splintering of Comstar finanicial insitutions spherewide.... Distressingly, this has led the Word of Blake to assume direct control over parts of this finanicial network and to infiltrate or manipulate others. Accusations by Comstar that this has caused insider trading within the Free Worlds League, as well as other white collar crime goes unheeded in the League, although it has led other Houses to begin closer examination of Comstar and Blakist interference in their own finanicial exchanges. Even with the MRBC assuming Comstar traditional role as arbiter of mercenary contracts, said contracts are still housed in Comstar accounts, giving Comstar banks the largest warchest available to make loans, investments and purchases. The survival of New Earth Trading Company probably has much to do with their reliance on Comstar banks goodwill.
6. Comstar News Bureau. The only spherewide news network, this network has seen much change in recent years. From a propaganda mouthpiece of Comstar, the reformation has led to CNB to become more commercialised and divorced from Comstar general services.
Only Mercnet is believed to be as widely read throughout the sphere, and CNB recent drive into lifestyle, entertainment and other "lighter" aspect of news has been frowned upon by old CNB heads. To emphasise its seperate existence from Comstar, there has been a recent proposal by department heads to insitute a name change.
While the above services are spherewide, Comstar similarly offers other commercial or government services on an ad hoc basis. Rescue services from the Comguards, computer and other IT upgrades are more recent services, rivalling ancient services such as education and F&B. An interesting story has Comstar architectural firms being a fad in Steiner Space several decades ago. Comstar owned small enterprises not only service Comstar, but may extend their services into the general public. Of this, the only corporations which has reached insterstellar notice are the mining firms of Mars.
On top of services, Comstar retains other assets in the Inner Sphere. Comstar used to be the largest commercial owner of real estate in the Sphere, but the loss of her HPG holdings as well as Terra has called this into question. Nevertheless, Spheroid space is dotted with Comstar warehouses, buildings and satellites, communications and computer grids which support Comstar interstellar network as well as her Comguards. Primus Mori has generously donated the use of all Comstar holdings to the Star League. Many SLDF recruiting offices are based directly in Comstar HPG stations or other Comstar offices. Previously, Comstar massive landholdings used to be frowned upon by houses such as Liao and Davion due to the Comstar Neutrality Act. "Sanctuary" has been claimed by many dissidents and criminals as under the Act, Comstar territory is inviolate to the Great Houses.
Lastly, Comstar is perhaps the largest private owner of artworks in the Sphere. Many sculptures and pieces have been comissioned by previous Comstar leaders to commenorate Comstar saints such as Toyama and Blake, as well as those glorifying the lost Star League. In addition, as preservor of the ancient Star League, Comstar has purchased or acquired ancient Star League relics and pieces, preserving them for future generations to view the lost glory of old. Some of these artworks have unfortunately been descrated, following Operation Scorpion and the return of the Clans. In particular, "Kerensky Will Return" and "Kerensky and the Light of Blake", great masterpieces of the artist Dontello, has been destroyed.
Without any resources other than Terra, Comstar has finanicial wealth equivalent to some of the lesser Houses and certainly outrivals any Duke of the realm. Fees from Comstar patronage, donations and sales, interest and profits all form the bulk of Comstar finanicial treasury. Adept manipulation of transmission rates has also allowed Comstar "C-Bills" to remain a viable currency in the Sphere, remainding the last fiat currency in general usuage.
Let him land on any Lyran world to taste firsthand the wrath of peace loving people thwarted by the myopic greed of a few miserly old farts- Katrina Steiner
Re: Analysis of Comstar: New Avalon Press
Space Assets
Comstar remains the largest and most diverse private operator of space facillities in the Sphere. These range from military facillities, manufacturing assets, communications to 'intelligence' sats. Prior to 3056, Comstar owned the only facillities capable of manufacturing the large space drives required for warships. This along with Earth endosteel and ferro fibrous armour facillities made Comstar a important source of components for the Sphere, cut off by the WoB invasion of Earth.
Military facillities
Comstar retains key orbital facillities dedicated to the support of the Comguards. The most vital assets would be the twin shipyards of Earth. Prior to the defection of the Titan yards, these assets provided the manufacturing support required to sustain Comstar vast jumpship and warship fleet. Post 3060, the ComGuards warship and Exploration Corps has used her mobile Faslane yardships and Draconis shipyards to sustain operations. Apart from Explorer Corp planet based facillities, Comstar retains a classified space station dedicated to supporting the ComGuards warships. The details of this station was not made available but it apparently has significant repair capabilities, if not construction abilities. Wolfnet suggests that it may very well be the equivalent of the defunct Camelot Command hidden in the Dark Nebula of the Jade Falcon OZ.
The vulnerability of Tukayid to Clan Warships has prevented Comstar from investing more facilities along the border. However, the Explorer Corps has rennovated other such facillities in the Deep Periphery, namely, Columbus and its attached facillities. A series of minor space stations house supplies for the Explorer Corps, provide deep space rescue and even minor repairs. Sphere-wide, Comstar operates/rent several recharge stations dedicated to her jumpship fleet.
Communication facillities
To meet her primary mission, Comstar retains the largest privately owned network of communication satellites in the Sphere. These served two functions. The first assist collation of HPG messages from interstellar sources. Radio messages emnating from K-F space may be marred by stellar phemonena such as solar flares and mishaps, such as the misalignment of communication dish causes messages to be missed. Orbital satellites, free from the limitations of ground based receivers allow for a greater laxity in sending stations and allow for greater volume of receiving messages to be collected.
The second fuction is planetary in nature and are simple communication satellites, meant to assist in batching messages for the HPG generator. Occasionally, these satellites also form part of the system communications networks. Comstar has taken to contracting more private satellites as increased availability make it cheaper to offshore such capabilities.
Much rarer are orbital HPG relays. Scattered throughout the Periphery, these are HPG stations based in space.
Communications facillities are often used for episonage purposes by ROM and other Comstar agencies. In particular, ROM and Explorer Corps created an intricate system of spy and hyperpulse generators intended to determine the Clan Homeworlds. Expanded upon, this HPG network served Task Force Bulldog in the Great Refusal, allowing the latest Clan intelligence to be relayed back to the Sphere including the discovery of Protomechs. For the normal volume of Star League work, the Star League contracts Clan networks, leaving only classified information to the Explorer Corps HPG network.
Comstar remains the largest and most diverse private operator of space facillities in the Sphere. These range from military facillities, manufacturing assets, communications to 'intelligence' sats. Prior to 3056, Comstar owned the only facillities capable of manufacturing the large space drives required for warships. This along with Earth endosteel and ferro fibrous armour facillities made Comstar a important source of components for the Sphere, cut off by the WoB invasion of Earth.
Military facillities
Comstar retains key orbital facillities dedicated to the support of the Comguards. The most vital assets would be the twin shipyards of Earth. Prior to the defection of the Titan yards, these assets provided the manufacturing support required to sustain Comstar vast jumpship and warship fleet. Post 3060, the ComGuards warship and Exploration Corps has used her mobile Faslane yardships and Draconis shipyards to sustain operations. Apart from Explorer Corp planet based facillities, Comstar retains a classified space station dedicated to supporting the ComGuards warships. The details of this station was not made available but it apparently has significant repair capabilities, if not construction abilities. Wolfnet suggests that it may very well be the equivalent of the defunct Camelot Command hidden in the Dark Nebula of the Jade Falcon OZ.
The vulnerability of Tukayid to Clan Warships has prevented Comstar from investing more facilities along the border. However, the Explorer Corps has rennovated other such facillities in the Deep Periphery, namely, Columbus and its attached facillities. A series of minor space stations house supplies for the Explorer Corps, provide deep space rescue and even minor repairs. Sphere-wide, Comstar operates/rent several recharge stations dedicated to her jumpship fleet.
Communication facillities
To meet her primary mission, Comstar retains the largest privately owned network of communication satellites in the Sphere. These served two functions. The first assist collation of HPG messages from interstellar sources. Radio messages emnating from K-F space may be marred by stellar phemonena such as solar flares and mishaps, such as the misalignment of communication dish causes messages to be missed. Orbital satellites, free from the limitations of ground based receivers allow for a greater laxity in sending stations and allow for greater volume of receiving messages to be collected.
The second fuction is planetary in nature and are simple communication satellites, meant to assist in batching messages for the HPG generator. Occasionally, these satellites also form part of the system communications networks. Comstar has taken to contracting more private satellites as increased availability make it cheaper to offshore such capabilities.
Much rarer are orbital HPG relays. Scattered throughout the Periphery, these are HPG stations based in space.
Communications facillities are often used for episonage purposes by ROM and other Comstar agencies. In particular, ROM and Explorer Corps created an intricate system of spy and hyperpulse generators intended to determine the Clan Homeworlds. Expanded upon, this HPG network served Task Force Bulldog in the Great Refusal, allowing the latest Clan intelligence to be relayed back to the Sphere including the discovery of Protomechs. For the normal volume of Star League work, the Star League contracts Clan networks, leaving only classified information to the Explorer Corps HPG network.
Let him land on any Lyran world to taste firsthand the wrath of peace loving people thwarted by the myopic greed of a few miserly old farts- Katrina Steiner