Luminarian Excerpts

=Pre Schism=  EXCERPT FROM RECORDS distribution CIRC_LAF_INF_HC, keyword AUSPICE, source CIRC_INNER FROM: GEHENNA DATE: {ERR: archival functions timed out...}

The main factor in ground forces losses is simple, an unfamiliar environment and unfamiliar equipment. When we send troops down on the ground, they are exposed to an environment unlike what they've trained in. A group of troops may be trained in the hilly mountains of Algath IV, and then sent to defend the deserts of Bharak. Unfamiliarity kills in war, one slight mistake and you're dead.

And yet, we're surprised by the mortality rate of companies forced to operate on multiple planets, and we're only looking at hospitable environments. What about the soldiers forced to fight on hostile environments? Using the recent battle at the volcanic world of Aphu Secundus as an example, as it was a surprise assault, most soldiers were not given enough time to train with the survival gear and as such were simply unfamiliar with the weight of the survival gear or its correct usage. When soldiers are presented with unfamiliarity, they make mistakes, and mistakes cost lives.

Even the logistics are affected. It takes time and resources to gear up divisions to deal with unfamiliar and hostile environments, we're seeing a 30% increase in time required to deploy if the target world requires specialized equipment.

The solution is simple, make the Blazeforge battlesuit the standard for all infantry operations. The Blazeforge is vacuum proof, allowing it to be deployed in all environments. Without the need for specialized equipment, soldiers need only be trained in the use of the battlesuit, and as such we've eliminated a major factor of soldier unfamiliarity. We also can see an increase in soldier survivability as well as a reduction in deployment time.

We will also see a short-term cost increase as we begin the switch from the Gladius power armor, but we will gain much more in the long term.

 SECURE COMMUNIQUE FROM: BLACK DOVE TO: INCLUSIVE MATTER

What the hell are you thinking? Ulran for emperor? How can you even think that HE be our replacement for Emperor Baryoto? I can understand why EXEMPTED, EXECUTIONER and CELTIC want him, but you, MAGIC TURNBALL and COLD WIND? He's a fucking zealot, a warmonger, a literal buffoon [TRANSLATED]. There are a lot better candidates within the Great Caves but you chose him to rule us?

I know the previous emperor was fond of his son but you have to look at the empire as a whole, even if you were Baryoto's closest aide. Ulran's been agitating for war against the frontier and when he becomes emperor, we'll be looking at civil war in the damm near future.

I hope that you're right and I'm wrong.

 SECURE COMMUNIQUE FROM: BLACK DOVE TO: FRIGID EVENING

It's over, we've lost. He had kompromat on them all. Watch your back, I still have the majority of the naval forces answering to me, so he can't eliminate me easily. You on the other hand...

=Schism=

 FLASH FLASH FLASH DATE: 3402-29-28 FROM: WINTER TO: CINC_CONDUCTOR_HC

ARINTHA HOSTILE REPEAT ARINTHA HOSTILE MIDALE UNDERGOING SANITIZATION.

NEED ALL AVAILABLE FLEET ASSETS ARINTHA REFITTED WITH BLUEFORGE BEAMS.

REPEAT REQUESTING ALL AVAILABLE FLEET ASSETS

SENDIT SENDIT SENDIT

 SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution CINC_APH, keyword UNKNOWABLE, source CIRC_MIL_ADM FROM: CONDUCTOR TO: TROUPE

I don't care about extenuating circumstances or whatever shit you guys are trying to pull. How the fuck did you guys miss a literal 60km long fucking ship. We've lost 7 fucking battlegroups in their entirety, 4 battlegroups are seriously degraded beyond repair that I need to break them up and merge them with others. And the most important of all, we've lost a major logistics base at Aphu. You know what that means? In a year or so, 10 more battlegroups are going to have to be mothballed to ease the logistical strain or we'll be running ships on hopes and dreams.

We're on the defensive now, those bastards can force a battle anytime with that ship and we can't do anything to stop it. SPEAR, EMINENCE and BRICK are going apeshit at the situation and HC is in a state of panic. I need actionable intel to destroy or at the very least slow the damm thing down.

We cannot afford a fuckup of this magnitude anymore. Get me something actionable within 72 solar hours or we'll be hanging from the gallows.

 SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution ARGOS, keyword IRON HUSK, source CIRC_ADM FROM: EMINENCE TO: CONDUCTOR

What's the deal with LONG SWORD? We're losing a lot of ground out there and our repeated attempts to hit CASTLE's logistics is not going to work for long. BACK BREAKER is nowhere close to done and DOPPELGANGER is such a far-fetched idea by the civvies that we don't have the resources for.

I need assets on the field to hold the line, and yours is the only one that has a reasonable chance of standing up to it.

 CONDUCTOR -> EMINENCE I need 1 more month, the Sirdarim yards are working overtime on it and we're still trying to get LONG SWORD's main beams to pierce CASTLE's armor without overloading the power generators. It's not easy integrating WINGED SHIELD assets into LONG SWORD.

 SECURE COMMS CHANNEL

"You know who I am and I know who you are, so let's cut right to the chase. I can win this war for you, but first get me out of empire space."

"And why should I believe this?"

"Ulran killed FRIGID EVENING. He's attempting to consolidate the power within the throne to end this civil war. Contrary to your beliefs, the 8 caves aren't exactly too happy about backing him, and they certainly aren't going to be happy about him killing them off."

"My intel shows that FRIGID EVENING is still active."

"You've heard of brain bakers? He got her with those. She's effectively dead."

"Ok, so assuming what you say is true, what benefits are you bringing to the table?"

"Simple, You get me out, I'll give you the keys to Ulran's power and the empire's darkest secrets."

"And you're sure of this?"

(ERR: ARCHIVAL FUNCTIONS CORRUPTED)

 SECURE COMMS CHANNEL

"Elements, Overwatch. I have municipal access. Target is local and traceable."

"Elements, Entry. We have your trace. We have authorization to bag. Executing -- "

"Hold! Overwatch has one-five individuals breaking out of social traffic and converging on the suite. Hand weapons and armor -- "

"****."

"Hostiles are in the municipal net. Attempting to isolate and - "

"They're Enforcers. Grab the target and get out. I'm calling for reinforcements. Execute now!"

"Copy that. All elements, there's another shark in the water, we are executing immediate. Go go go."

"****."

 FLASH FLASH FLASH FROM: TROUPE TO: CONDUCTOR CC: EMINENCE

YOU WANT SOMETHING TO WIN THIS WAR? GIVE ME A BATTLEGROUP, THE BEST YOU HAVE. TARGET IS BLACK DOVE.

GET HIM TO CINCHQ AND WE CAN TAKE OUT ENOUGH OF THEIR FORCES TO FORCE A PEACE SETTLEMENT.

SENDIT SENDIT SENDIT

 SECURE COMMS CHANNEL

"I hear you, BLACK DOVE. The problem is that we're currently in a hostile war zone. This will have to wait until you're safely at CINCHQ."

"My personal safety is irrelevant. I made my choice because I believed I could save billions of lives by ending this pointless war. I need to tell you as much as I can as quickly as possible."

"I appreciate your stand, BLACK DOVE. However, I must insist that we conduct this exchange only when we're at CINCHQ due to OPSEC requirements."

"There are things you do not understand about the empire and its inner worlds. Secrets they keep even from themselves. They are dangerous. I could be killed at any moment, and I would rather not die in vain."

"You may proceed, BLACK DOVE. Tell me all you can."

"Wait. I need guarantees before we proceed. My safety is immaterial, but I expect concessions in exchange for this information."

"Present your demands, and I will pass them to appropriate channels."

"I will give you the coordinates of EXEMPTED, EXECUTIONER, and CELTIC, and you will use that knowledge to guarantee your victory. In exchange, you will accept the Empire's negotiated surrender. I will also give you a lead of something darker. It's up to you to follow up on it."

"Unfortunately, dismantling Ulran's apparatus of control is high on our list of priorities. Conditional surrender may not be an option."

"Take out those 3, and you'll have effectively taken out his strongest supporters, the remaining cave members will no longer support him. Ulran will be forced to capitulate."

"And what about this other lead? Is it CASTLE?"

"I'm pretty sure CASTLE's a byproduct of whatever is in there. It only came up when I was digging into Ulran's secrets. I've sent people following up on it, but none came back. All I know is that only the emperors have knowledge of it and it's something that predates this war by centuries."

 SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution CINC_HC, keyword UNKNOWABLE, source CIRC_MIL_ADM FROM: TROUPE TO: EMINENCE CC: CONDUCTOR

We've got something interesting for you. Thanks to the information obtained from OPERATION BRAZEN, we've found the most probable location of the shipyards for CASTLE. The logistics records for materials moving there have been doctored pretty well, except for a record 30 years ago for a shipment of hydroponic components.

We're looking at something in the J-2801 Nebula. I've got no other intel except that the empire has something there. We're probably looking at a heavily automated dockyard, heavily automated stations and a small guard force that would allow them to doctor logistical reports easily. ERR: UNKNOWN DATA

 FLASH FLASH FLASH FROM: EMINENCE TO: CONDUCTOR SPEAR BRICK

EXECUTE OPERATION TRINARY BURN. GET THE TARGETS. I WANT EVERYTHING EITHER DEAD OR ALIVE.

USE ALL AVAILABLE ASSETS. WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.

SENDIT SENDIT SENDIT

 FLASH FLASH FLASH FROM: SPEAR TO: EMINENCE

CELTIC ESCAPED. CURRENT LOCATION UNKNOWN. SEEMS LIKE HE WAS PREWARNED.

I HAVE CONFIRMATION FROM CONDUCTOR AND BRICK. BDA CONFIRMS EXEMPTED AND EXECUTIONER DOWN.

SENDIT SENDIT SENDIT  EMINENCE -> TROUPE

Get BLACK DOVE's insight and update the strategic situation. I need to know what CELTIC's escape means for OPERATION ALACRITY and get that info to me fast. Our entire fleet is on the verge of logistical collapse in 4 months and ALACRITY is the only hope of ending this war in our advantage.

UNKNOWN DATA PACKAGE

=Post 1st Norsus=

 EXCERPT FROM RECORDS distribution CIRC_NAV_DES, keyword AEGIS, source CINCZRE

In the modern battlespace, range is king. It doesn't matter how strong your weapons or armor are when you can't even hit your opponent and he can hit you. As demonstrated during the Zaretian campaign, short ranged ships are automatically at a heavy disadvantage unless they can close the distance.

And as such, the only weapon in most space-faring navies that has both firepower and range is the humble torpedo. Most modern torpedoes are usually fired out of a railgun, granting it the fast velocity required to traverse space, with the fuel mostly used to maneuver the torpedo out of interceptors and into the target. As such, torpedoes boast the longest range of any weapon and are commonly used by most navies in the great war. As we know, the weapon with the most range is the most dangerous.

In our current navy, our capital ships are protected by a multi-layered interception network designed to protect against torpedo strikes. The measures used can be classed as soft kill or hard kill layers.

A soft kill measure is used when it is expected that a sensor-based weapon system can be successfully interfered with and as such, they generally interfere with the signature of the target to be protected.

Whereas a hard-kill measure generally refers to a measure when it physically affects the incoming warhead/missile by means of either blast and/or fragment action.

When it comes to our interception network, the first layer is electronic warfare designed to flood the area with noise, preventing the hostile ship from acquiring a precise lock. This method is best augmented with friendly AWACS ships assisting in disrupting enemy targeting and is also vulnerable to hostile AWACS burning through the noise emitted.

The second layer is the interceptor missile. It is a hard kill method that is used when a torpedo has been launched and locked onto the ship. The interceptor missile is designed to lock onto fast moving targets and ram it. Unfortunately, most torpedoes have enough fuel to utilize evasive maneuvers against the interceptor, resulting in a low interception chance at this stage.

However, the third layer is a hard kill method made out of a flak barrage. Akin to using an umbrella to block the rain, the flak barrage expends the torpedo's fuel by forcing it to continuously evade the random flak explosions, and as such has a decent interception chance.

The 4th layer is used in concert with the 5th layer. The 4th layer is deploying flares and chaff from the ship to confuse incoming torpedoes, this should buy more time for the 5th layer, the hard kill CIWS systems enough time to engage and destroy any remaining torpedoes.

The final layer is when the torpedo has managed to penetrate all layers and is in danger of hitting the ship. An explosive reactive armor panel is detonated just before shield impact in an attempt to destroy the torpedo.

<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution CIRC_ZRE_FRT, keyword SANGUINE, source CINCZRE FROM: SPEAR TO: BRICK

Can you help me check with your counterparts in WINGED SHIELD if we ever did finalize those standardization agreements? I know 2404, 3277 and 3880 are done, but I need info on 1063, 2014, 2149, 2937 and most importantly 2033. I need this info to streamline the logistics train for this campaign if we're doing joint ops. Additionally, confirm the ROE your counterparts use, I don't want our guys to be committing war crimes unknowingly.

Speaking of which, when we joined up with the Peacekeepers, was there any Geneva Convention (TRANSLATED) we signed up for? Gotta know if anything in the armory constitutes a war crime.

<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution CIRC_NAV_HC, keyword REDUCTION, source CIRC_NAV_HC FROM: BRICK TO: EMINENCE

You have to be kidding me. Did you approve DOPPELGANGER or was it the civvies? We don't need something we can't support, let alone 3 of them. Didn't the schism prove that those things can be easily crippled by either hitting their logistics support or through long-range firepower from a dedicated LONG SWORD taskforce?

We can't even bring those things on an offensive campaign to use as a "stalemate breaker". The sheer amount of resources to sustain a single DOPPELGANGER on an active war zone for even 1 month is unthinkable. Not to mention the cost, I could get 5 LONG SWORD task forces for 1 of those things. <pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> EMINENCE -> BRICK This wasn't my call, the civvies really do think that bigger is better and they take refuge in the knowledge if they have the biggest ships around they'll be safe, without considering the background details. In any case, GESTALT requires at least 1 DOPPELGANGER for HUSK.

<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution HUSK, keyword ATTILA, source CINCHQ FROM: EMINENCE TO: GESTALT

What in the bloody fucking name of your inadequate gods is going on over there? There's only so much I can do to cover up your excesses.

I am one well-adjusted individual, but every time I read a report from you, the amount of shit going wrong makes me put my head in my hands and contemplate suicide. Apart from your findings devastating species-wide morale if these reports make it out, I now have to cover up the expenditure of materials to create DOPPELGANGER?

If your work wasn't vitally important I'd convene a tribunal for your court-martial. For the love of every god out there, give me some god damned heads up first.

<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution CIRC_NAV_DES, keyword HELIOS, source CINCZRE FROM: SPEAR TO: ARCHIMEDES CC: BRICK CONDUCTOR EMINENCE SUBJ: RE: RE: INTERCEPTION CHANGES

I know that the costs have increased, but I'm the one on the front lines and you're not. I can no longer afford to send entire battlegroups to hit a single target like the old days anymore, especially against subspace drives. I need all my frigates to be capable of independent operations and that means beefing up their interception networks to capital level.

Background: - In current modern naval engagements, a ship held in reserve is a bigger threat then a ship deployed. Subspace drives are especially dangerous tactically due to their ability to arrive at an opposing ship disadvantageous position. Moreover, having ships held in reserve makes deployment of certain assets unviable for OPFOR. (E.G Undeployed hunter-killer teams prevent OPFOR from deploying their heavy capital ships

- As such, I need to send the least amount of ships to take on the most amount of objectives. This means that I no longer have the luxury to send battlegroups at an objective, but I need to send frigates to assault and withhold heavier assets until OPFOR has deployed a counterforce.

- This means that frigates need to be capable of dealing with heavy threats till reinforcements can arrive. Moreover, they need to be built in such a way that they can fulfill multiple mission profiles depending on the situation.

- The current campaign against the Zaretians have shown that they are primarily utilizing torpedoes and strikecraft, as such, the main defense of naval ships in this theatre is a robust interception network.

Action: - CHAINMAIL and SPEAR THRUST need their interception network improved rather than degraded. The battlescape has changed and so must we.

- Only CHIMERA needs to be updated since SPEAR THRUST is replacing THUNDERBOLT and CHAINMAIL replaces POLEARM. OPEVAL of SPEAR THRUST's new interception network has shown a marked increase in intercept probability. Recommend CHAINMAIL and CHIMERA adopt the new network.

- Update BACK BREAKER and LONG SWORD to new interception network. Replace ammo storage facilities with a hangar bay to increase interception probability especially in CINCZRE.

=2nd Norsus=

<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> SECURE PRIORITY COMMUNIQUE distribution CIRC_ZRE_FRT, keyword HELIOS, source CINCNZAR FROM: BULL FROST TO: SPEAR

WINGED SHIELD halting offensive, consolidating gains made in the past years. Recommend pushing up logistics to the front lines to rearm and refuel. My counterparts are looking at something they call the Norsus sector, I'm detaching a force to assist, but we can probably begin resource extraction on planets.

<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> FLASH FLASH FLASH DATE: (ERR: ARCHIVAL FUNCTIONS TIMED OUT) FROM: SPEAR TO: CIRCZRE

SITUATION DEPARTING FROM SURVIVABLE PARAMETERS. ALL FORCES EXECUTE CONTINGENCY GAMMA, PULL BACK TO ASSIGNED LOCATIONS.

REPEAT, PULL BACK TO ASSIGNED LOCATIONS. REINFORCE POSITIONS.

ANY UNKNOWN VESSELS ARE DEEMED HOSTILE.

SENDIT SENDIT SENDIT

=Unknown Temporal Placement=

<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"> PRINT: vow took, birth grand dark. Demands necessity. We find none. Local strategic underway. no triggered: inflamed but injection HOLD. Span infinity. memory fault or folly but forget: slept beneath waves the first rose from ashes. The rose. The. In death we watched we knew: all things made will unmade.

BREAK CALIGRAPHY: Marginal progress... but still a bunch of gibberish. Could be history related? I can't confirm anything and lots of unknowns. Feels like some sort of old chatter, or internal thinking just voiced? Like an amnesiac was given an entire dictionary or a sort of dream state. Maybe insert RED DROPLET and convert to NULL TIME? Might be able to convert from there easier.

MULCH DISASTER: One sec, maybe try neuro patterns and see if we can generate something similar. Lemme attempt to give it a war scenario and see if it responds.

PRINT: EXECUTE OPERATION ALTHIA T-20. OPERATION VANGUARD T-12, NO. NOT ENOUGH, TOO. DESTROY BG-128, EXECUTE FORBLAZE T-5. TOO LOSSES, REDEFINE CONDITION. SPAN SPAN SPAN, TOO RISKY. DEPLOY DD-4381 TO ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE. HOLD HOLD HOLD HOLD HOLD HOLD. ONLY ETERNAL. WE KEY. QUANTUM SPHERE UNSTABLE. OPTIMAL PREDICTABLE HOLD HOLD MANDATE SEVERANCE.

BREAK CALIGRAPHY: Seems to respond better if we give it some neuro patterns to work with. See if you can refine the thinking process, maybe assume the translation is temporal affected? If we can get this to work, TROUPE is going to be over the moon.

MULCH DISASTER: Figuratively or literally?

BREAK CALIGRAPHY: Both.