[The E]

Shivan rush, kekekekeke.

BP is too hipster to do that.

We might do it ironically.

[NGTM-1R]

We might do it ironically.

I admit, I can see you guys doing something like "we called the Shivans" "you idiots now we all die" "no we can talk to them" "HI WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY DIE NOW AND GIVE US YOUR LUNCHES"

[FireSpawn]

We might do it ironically.

I admit, I can see you guys doing something like "we called the Shivans" "you idiots now we all die" "no we can talk to them" "HI WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY DIE NOW AND GIVE US YOUR LUNCHES"

That won't happen, the UEF will just bribe them with Laporte's space lesbian porn. Then, with the Shivan fleet as their vanguard, they will show the GTVA the might of Holy Terra!

[General Battuta]

That won't happen, the UEF will just bribe them with Laporte's space lesbian porn. Then, with the Shivan fleet as their vanguard, they will show the GTVA the might of Holy Terra!

[CT27]

Yeah, can we try to stay at least relatively on topic and serious please?

The "Laporte lesbian porn!!!" stuff may have been funny the first few times it was posted...

[-Norbert-]

I kinda expect the "shivan rush" to be something like "Mr Snuggles" was for WiH1.

[FireSpawn]

To be completely serious I can barely wait to see the conclusion of the conflict and the reasons behind why whatever ends it, happens.

[QuakeIV]

To be completely serious I can barely wait to see the conclusion of the conflict and the reasons behind why whatever ends it, happens.

Yeah, the war between the UEF and GTVA is about to end one way or another pretty freaking soon.  (well, in terms of in-game continuity.  damn i hate waiting...)

[General Battuta]

We could've had it done by now if work had proceeded at the same pace it did on R1.

If it appears that we've hit a fatal morass with no prospect of recovery, we will write the story up as a series of fiction pieces and release those over the course of a month or two.

[DireWolf]

(Kind of unrelated to subject at hand, apologies in advance)

I always wondered about the logistics behind using subspace missiles in the Sol theater.  They have the potential to be extremely useful, and I'm not quite sure why they aren't used more often. A couple of well placed SSM strike can do a considerable amount of damage to an unprepared Karuna or Narayana, possibly forcing the ship out of the conflict for several days or forcing it to operate in less than optimal capacity.
Actual delivery is not much of an issue (to my knowledge). An AWACS or an Aurora jumping in at long range probably has time to vector in at least one or two strikes before being forced out of the engagement zone. Also, the Pegasus. The GTVA have demonstrated the capability of keeping several pegasii hidden in UEF Space for extended periods (in "One perfect moment", granted the operation was planned out far in advance). A pair of these loaded out with TAG-Cs have the potential to wreak havoc on UEF supply lines or patrolling warships before anyone really knows what is happening. In this case the only way I can see this tactic failing is if the UEF's subspace detectors are sensitive enough to pick up two fighters designed to minimize their subspace profile.

I kind of assumed that SSMs have about the same logistical drain as modern Tomahawks. They are expensive, but considering the amount of money and supplies that are being devoted to Sol, this seems to be somewhat of a non issue (Although the loss of the Agincourt may change this). An SSM strike probably costs less than fielding a squadron of Artemis bombers with escort to the same effect. And if an SSM strike is unsuccessful, it is far less of a loss than that of experienced pilots and equipment.

[General Battuta]

They are super duper uber expensive. That is pretty much the balancing factor. Bear in mind that each missile needs its own ridiculously specialized subspace drive, plus you need to shoot them out of the Atreus or Imperieuse.

There is good reason they didn't show up in the campaign much. In the future, of course, SSMs may play a larger role in combat; the GTVA is extremely keen on them as a system defense option.

[DireWolf]

Are there two versions of the Eos, then? One that the Atreus / Imperiuse use for SSMs and another for tactical engagements?

Edit:

In the future, of course, SSMs may play a larger role in combat; the GTVA is extremely keen on them as a system defense option.

 

[General Battuta]

Yes, the SSM Eos is not identical to the standard Eos.

[NGTM-1R]

There is good reason they didn't show up in the campaign much. In the future, of course, SSMs may play a larger role in combat; the GTVA is extremely keen on them as a system defense option.

I remember suggesting that if the GTVA had any surface-to-orbit missile batteries they'd probably first in line for SSM conversion once upon a time.

[Drogoth]

On another tangent, I've always been kind of curious about.

If this can't be answered for story reasons I understand, but if it can:

Was the capture of the Agincourt all part of the plan (Steele's plan to moustrap the UEF strike on the Carthage) from the beginning? Or did he create the plan afterwards?

Was the agent actively working for Steele and misleading the UEF? Or was Steele feeding misinformation to the agent?

The only reason I ask this is because the Agincourt plan was predicated on the absence of the Imperiuse... and if you think about it, when the toutatis jumps in to wreck the hood, the Imperiouse and a couple of well places strike corvettes could've jumped in and wrecked the **** out of the Toutatis. Maybe not outright killed it.. but a flank jump with all that forward firepower would've done some major damage.

[-Norbert-]

There is good reason they didn't show up in the campaign much. In the future, of course, SSMs may play a larger role in combat; the GTVA is extremely keen on them as a system defense option.

I remember suggesting that if the GTVA had any surface-to-orbit missile batteries they'd probably first in line for SSM conversion once upon a time.

Unless the planets gravity prevents launches from the surface. Do we have any information of wether surface/atmospheric jumps are possible in BP? All we know for sure is that they are possible from the Moon's surface. Maybe we'll see dedicated SSM launching platforms in high orbit.

The only reason I ask this is because the Agincourt plan was predicated on the absence of the Imperiuse... and if you think about it, when the toutatis jumps in to wreck the hood, the Imperiouse and a couple of well places strike corvettes could've jumped in and wrecked the **** out of the Toutatis. Maybe not outright killed it.. but a flank jump with all that forward firepower would've done some major damage.

The situation in the battle against the Hood had too many unknowns and was simply too dangerous to risk the Imp in. Remember the UEF had the GTVAs beams jammed (maybe even for the first time ever?). Jumping in the Imp would have left her without her main armament and unless it got a sprint drive, she would have ended up a sitting duck and easily destroyed by the Toutatis. The same goes for any strike corvettes, except perhaps Diomedes, since their slashers were unaffected by the jamming, but they already lost the Medea and the Valerie at that point, so they probably didn't have another Dio available.
It's also possible that the Imp simply wasn't battle-ready at the time (or simply didn't have their jumpdrives charged up). Remember it got mauled earlier in the war so badly that the UEF assumed they'd been pulled back to Delta Serpentis for repairs.

[NGTM-1R]

Unless the planets gravity prevents launches from the surface. Do we have any information of wether surface/atmospheric jumps are possible in BP? All we know for sure is that they are possible from the Moon's surface. Maybe we'll see dedicated SSM launching platforms in high orbit.

I wasn't suggesting they jump from the surface (and being surface-to-orbit missiles originally they don't have to), simply that they'd be a logical first refit or development once you got the SSM concept to work. You can have missiles the size of fighters or bigger and launching them from a ground base one stage to space, one stage to target, is just easier than hauling them up to space during which they are vulnerable and can't be used and doing one stage to target. It also offers the possibility of some concealment from first strikes.

[X3N0-Life-Form]

Remember it got mauled earlier in the war so badly that the UEF assumed they'd been pulled back to Delta Serpentis for repairs.

On that last point: I don't think the UEF actually touched the Imperieuse, it is simply said that it retreated to Delta Serptentis to resupply.

[MatthTheGeek]

Are there two versions of the Eos, then? One that the Atreus / Imperiuse use for SSMs and another for tactical engagements?

Yes, missile launchers on Tev destroyers are specifically said to be able to launch different kind of missiles. ("One of a number of munitions that can be launched from the Raynor's multiple missile batteries, the Eos is a long-range weapon..." quote : Eos tech room description).

Was the capture of the Agincourt all part of the plan (Steele's plan to moustrap the UEF strike on the Carthage) from the beginning? Or did he create the plan afterwards?

Opinions diverge on that point, but my personal opinion is that the Agincourt's capture was NOT part of Steele's plan. However, he DID have contingencies in place for this or a similar kind of event, in this case, asking for Vasudan support, which leads to free supplies that can't be actively targeted by the UEF for diplomatic reasons, so don't need heavy escort like his own supply chains. Which means Steele is actually in a better position strategically AFTER the Agincourt capture than he was BEFORE.

tl;dr : Steele didn't plan it, but he masterfully used it to strengthen his position.

Was the agent actively working for Steele and misleading the UEF? Or was Steele feeding misinformation to the agent?

The mole was, or at least is strongly hinted to be, former Rear Admiral Thea Carey, former commanding officer of the GTD Temeraire during AoA (see Conversations from War in Heaven, the "Bergher-Tanikawa Suites" part). She gets arrested, probably after they found out she was the one leaking the intel on the Agincourt's jump schedules ("You gave them the ****ing jump schedules, you traitorous piece of ****. There were ten thousand people in that -") (which is one of the main reasons for my opinion above), and Steele then faked her identity as a mole to feed the UEF misinformation about the Carthage.

The only reason I ask this is because the Agincourt plan was predicated on the absence of the Imperiuse... and if you think about it, when the toutatis jumps in to wreck the hood, the Imperiouse and a couple of well places strike corvettes could've jumped in and wrecked the **** out of the Toutatis. Maybe not outright killed it.. but a flank jump with all that forward firepower would've done some major damage.

Well, Steele probably thought it was better to keep the Imperieuse for a better opportunity strike where it hurts. Sure, loosing the Big T would have been a huge victory for the GTVA, but arguably striking the master blow to the Wargods was a much, much stronger blow to UEF morale. Besides, heavy jamming in the Aristeia combat zone from both sides probably means Steele didn't had an accurate or reliable intel to send the Imperieuse in. Did he even know the Toutatis was there ? How could he know the UEF didn't have a couple of Narayanas or something ready to wreak the first destroyer that would show its blue nose into the fray ?

Not to mention that Steele might already have decided by that point that it was actually better on the strategic point to loose the Agincourt, and gain Zod support, than unveiling his master card.

On that last point: I don't think the UEF actually touched the Imperieuse, it is simply said that it retreated to Delta Serptentis to resupply.

The Imperieuse led Darkest Hour's blitz ("Galactic Terran forces of the GTD Imperieuse battlegroup have overwhelmed our defences at several key positions." quote : DH briefing, "The GTD Imperieuse's squadrons blitzed the entire Sol Sector in a single, massive coordinated strike. " quote : DH debriefing).
"The Imperieuse has withdrawn to Delta Serpentis to restock its squadrons." quote : DH debrief.
"The GTD Imperieuse has withdrawn to Delta Serpentis to replenish its squadrons after spearheading the Blitz against Earth." quote : The Plunder brief.
"The Hood is still undergoing repairs from the thrashing we gave it, and our source says the Imperieuse is still in Delta Serpentis resupplying from the Blitz." quote : DE brief.

So yes, nothing says anywhere the Imp took a significant beating. Since the Imp didn't have access to a drydock during her time in hiding, if she was wrecked, she wouldn't seem intact at DE. She could have taken a few shots they managed to repair in-field during all that time though.

[General Battuta]

The question of exactly whether the Agincourt capture was part of Steele's plan can probably be answered by careful examination of 'Conversations from War in Heaven'.