[-Sara-]

If they ever find out about it, the GTVA may badly want that shielding technology of the Custos-X. It'd be best applied on a Cain-esque cruiser, giving it a swiveling single heavy beam-cannon to hit fast and hard, while its shields would give major protection against UEF capital long-range gauss and mass-driver weapons. Or on a satelite network, capable of erecting a 'shield screen' to block UEF gauss and mass-driver projectiles.

[Phantom Hoover]

The GTVA probably won't be fielding any new ships before the end of the war, and they don't want ships that are good against the UEF anyway; they want ships which are good against the Shivans.

[CT27]

Wouldn't that idea Sara mentioned work against the Shivans too?

[-Sara-]

No, beams pierce through shields. The purpose isn't good shields, it's showing "Look, your one offensive weapon is useless now, it's time to sit around the table and hammer out a rather disfavourable agreement for you." In reverse, it'd be interesting if the UEF gets their hands on a beam cannon. If they already had some insight on maybe one of the Lucifer's cannons, filling in the missing bits of info with GTVA beams might make for a superior beam, if both are compatible.

[Aesaar]

No, beams pierce through shields. The purpose isn't good shields, it's showing "Look, your one offensive weapon is useless now, it's time to sit around the table and hammer out a rather disfavourable agreement for you." In reverse, it'd be interesting if the UEF gets their hands on a beam cannon. If they already had some insight on maybe one of the Lucifer's cannons, filling in the missing bits of info with GTVA beams might make for a superior beam, if both are compatible.

I don't see why the UEF would be able to build a superior beam.  Yes, the UEF probably has the Lucifer's beam cannons stored somewhere.  The GTVA, on the other hand, probably has SReds and LReds taken from the wrecks of countless Shivan destroyers and cruisers, not to mention the BFReds off the Sathanas (not saying they have the BFReds for sure, but it's just as likely as the UEF having the Lucifer's HReds).

More importantly, the GTVA has been actively developing beam technology for the past 50 years.  Reverse engineering just can't make up for that kind of experience.

[Klaustrophobia]

The UEF DOES have the beams of the GTVA defectors.

[Aesaar]

So?

[Damage]

It seems to me the UEF just might manage to field a warship (maybe even a few) with beam cannons--and those might even be the equivalent of anything the GTVA has in the field.  They probably have salvaged parts, either from the Lucifer, GTVA ships destroyed in Sol, or defectors.  They have GTVA personnel with working knowledge of GTVA technology who defected at the beginning of the war.  (More on this later.)  But it's highly likely that beyond a ship or two that might have the tech, beam cannons are just not going to be in the UEF's wheelhouse anytime soon.

BP lore and word of god suggest that reverse-engineering beam weapons would be cost-prohibitive for the UEF, especially as regards the newer "blue beams" Terran ships use; it's not just a matter of swapping out a few parts in the weapons turrets.  They lack the tech base for beam cannon production on any scale, though as I said, they might salvage a few as "prototypes."  It's a whole different tech tree they may have never considered.

A Word Regarding GTVA Defectors:

  After Age of Aquarius, three ships and an unspecified number of personnel defected to the UEF.  This included a cruiser, a corvette, one logistics ship, and at least some high-level command personnel.  There were several examples of blue-beam technology available to study*, and at least point UEF researchers in the right directions.  Repair technicians might be forthcoming about information concerning these weapons and their predecessors.  Higher level personnel such as Bei Sr and Jr might have known enough to point the research teams to even more specific things.  (I'm assuming that GTVA officers have at least some cross-training in the science and engineering of their ships, not unlike modern naval personnel.)

Admiral Bei has been in Sol for 18 months and change.  He's on speaking terms with at least one Council member.  I find it likely that if Bei, the Council Elders, the UEF Admiralty, the Fedayeen, and whatever others would be privy to the information he has--if most of those people thought beam weapons would save the UEF from the GTVA's invasion, they would have fast-tracked its development as quickly as they could.


*Did GTVA planners specifically not include older designs to keep older beam weapons away from the UEF--on the off chance those beam weapons could be easily swapped in?

[Klaustrophobia]

So?

Well I kept seeing "if they were able to get their hands on a GTVA beam."  Just pointing out that they already have.

[procdrone]

*Did GTVA planners specifically not include older designs to keep older beam weapons away from the UEF--on the off chance those beam weapons could be easily swapped in?

Lopez battlegroup doesn't have any post cappella warship in it. (so consider it old ships green beams)

[Damage]

*Did GTVA planners specifically not include older designs to keep older beam weapons away from the UEF--on the off chance those beam weapons could be easily swapped in?

Lopez battlegroup doesn't have any post cappella warship in it. (so consider it old ships green beams)

I meant in the 14th BG, during AoA--before the invasion.  Orestes, Temeraire, etc--those were all newer designs with newer weapons, etc.  Yes, there are several older ships with older systems in-system as part of the war effort (we see that in the first few missions of WIH) but that's months later and during an ongoing campaign with losses, replacements, etc, all thrown in the mix.

But my question was regarding the original "invasion plan" before Age of Aquarius screwed it up--Did the GTVA planners intend it to work out that way, or was it more because the 14th was one of the more advanced battle groups in the fleet, and thus selected on that basis?  (Or am I just reading too much into it?)

[niffiwan]

I reckon it was selected because, being more advanced it was better able to enact the "surrender at gunpoint" plan. i.e. they were planning for success, not for failure

[procdrone]

14th plan was to quickly enter Earth orbit using supreme firepower, technology, and make FEDs to surrender under threat of orbital bombardment (as far as im remember, could be wrong)

[CT27]

In act 4 (or even post-war), what direction do you think the GTVA will go in regards to bombers?

[Scotty]

Mixed light strike bombers for surgical warship disarmament and super-heavy fortress bombers that can survive anti-fighter screens to deliver massive, punishing payloads that kill destroyers.

I know this because it has been discussed in threads passed.

[CT27]

super-heavy fortress bombers that can survive anti-fighter screens to deliver massive, punishing payloads that kill destroyers.

So the GTVA will try to come up with a Dugra/Vadra equivalent?

[Scotty]

Think less Durga/Vadra, more B-29.

In role, not in shape.

[crizza]

So...the Stehno?

[CT27]

Think less Durga/Vadra, more B-29.

In role, not in shape.

So a potential GTVA superbomber could be like the B-29 "Enola Gay" and deliver a 'superbomb' to a UEF destroyer?

[JerichoDeath]

IIRC, the B-29's role was to travel further than any other bomber of the time, covered by its own turrets, without needing a fighter escort... and completely failed at that. They were re-purposed for other things afterward, though they could certainly take a beating.

EDIT:
Oh, wait. That's wrong. I was thinking of the B-17 before the redesign.