Another update for The Serpent’s Garden. Red One gets to show us the power of human technology. Meanwhile, we also get a better look at something I’ve been teasing at until now: the Calnians might be overconfident in their technology, but they have reason to be. Red One has given them some data on the Compact as a way to nudge them towards preparations for the inevitable conflict. If they have no idea of what’s coming, they’ll be swept aside. If they’re forewarned then perhaps with her help, they can defy the Compact.
(Wait, why does that sound familiar…)
Below is a snippet from that conversation; for the whole story click on the links above and enjoy!
~
“Prelate. If we were to find ourselves in a conflict with this pride, how do you rate our chances?”
“As a single unit or as a polity?”
“Begin with the former.”
Uljak tipped his head towards his overseer. “Very well, administrant. At range, I feel the threat is minimal. Though obviously numerically superior and carrying much larger payloads than our own, Compact missiles are inferior to ours in tracking, evasion capabilities and accuracy. I feel confident that Radiant Endeavour could maintain a pride-standard ninety-five percent accuracy and neutralization rating against even a… what did Red One call it when those vessels roll?”
“A double broadside,” Omaw-Kresz told him.
“Thank you, hierarch. Yes, I am certain we could absorb as many of those as necessary to close the range. Direct-fire engagement becomes more uncertain. The variety of weapons at their disposal makes any single countermeasure ineffective and at mid-range, I start to become worried about their mass drivers. Their sensors are not as good as ours, but I have no doubt that they can plot an incoming unit’s vector accurately enough to place mass rounds in its path. How much will that effect the engagement? There are too many variables to give an accurate answer at this time, but once we can bring direct-fire armaments to bear, we regain the advantage.
“Core release cannon have sufficient range to successfully neutralize any vessel before it can use its own weaponry effectively,” the Tactics officer continued, “and the weakness of the opposition’s shields make penetration much easier.” His tail swished once. “This is where the durability of their hulls comes into play. A single ignition core release should be enough to eliminate any of their smaller interstellar units, but that,” he nodded towards the image of the Compact carronade vessel, “is more questionable. It would require the coordination of several minor-grade core release systems or a stepped ignition release from a major-grade conversion core, such as Radiant Endeavour’s own or those of border sentinels.” He paused. “A host vessel should be able to disable a Compact carronade vessel of that scale with a single ignition.”
~
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