From JLAIHO@cc.Helsinki.FI Mon Oct 15 17:52:26 1990 id AA00610; Mon, 15 Oct 90 17:52:07 +0200 Date: Mon, 15 Oct 90 17:51 EET From: Trucker Subject: Other Suns, parts 6/7 To: k34280e@puukko.hut.fi Message-Id: <1C3127F0F15FA06F75@cc.Helsinki.FI> X-Envelope-To: k34280e@puukko.hut.fi X-Vms-To: IN%"k34280e@puukko.hut.fi" Status: O From: IN%"grant@portia.stanford.edu" 14-OCT-1990 20:59:10.03 To: jlaiho@cc.Helsinki.FI CC: Subj: Other Suns 6/7 Received: from Portia.Stanford.EDU by cc.Helsinki.FI; Sun, 14 Oct 90 20:58 EET Received: from Bianca.Stanford.EDU by portia.stanford.edu with SMTP (5.61/25-eef) id AA06177; Sun, 14 Oct 90 11:58:27 -0700 Received: by bianca.Stanford.EDU (5.57/Ultrix3.0-C) id AA01119; Sun, 14 Oct 90 11:58:25 PDT Date: Sun, 14 Oct 90 11:58:25 PDT From: grant@portia.stanford.edu Subject: Other Suns 6/7 To: jlaiho@cc.Helsinki.FI Message-id: <9010141858.AA01119@bianca.Stanford.EDU> X-Envelope-to: jlaiho N'Aberdeen The Imperial Sector Capital world of N'Aberdeen was colonized in the 3nd century by caucasians of northern European stock. A typical N'Aberdeener is 10 centimeters taller than the Human average (add 10 to LEN) and somewhat slimmer (deduct 2 from BLD). The typical N'Aberdeener has red hair, green eyes, and fair skin. Technology The technological level on N'Aberdeen is at normal Imperial levels in all the sciences save one: biology. Even there, the N'Aberdeener's have managed only one advance, but that one ad- vance is a major one: formchange. Using engineered viruses, biofeedback and Human-computer linkage techniques, and organ regeneration technology, the N'Aberdeener's developed a method of changing a man's shape and body functions without killing him. To perform any "significant" modifications requires time and a fair amount of expensive equipment but per- forming minor alterations (such as hair color, eye color, finger- prints, or voice patterns) is possible within a few days using a minimum of equipment. Formchange technology has not, as of the current date, been extended to non-Human races by the N'Aberdeeners, and the Empire has prevented all Hegemonic attempts to acquire it. Formchange machines: Type I Formchange Machine Permits minor modifications to appearance and physical character- istics (sufficient to confuse most commonly available physical identification systems). Mass 2 metric tons, will accomodate any Human up to size 25. A Grade 10 computer is needed to run a Type I formchange machine, as well as a power source capable of gener- ating 0.001 E/hr. Type I Maintainer units mass 20 kilograms, have in-built computers capable of operating them safely, and can be "hooked up" to a Human subject in 1 hour (requires a success- ful Human medical skill roll). A standard portable generator is required to operate a Type I Maintainer unit. A Type I form- change machine costs 10 million Imperial Marks, a Type I Main- tainer unit costs 10 thousand Imperial Marks (4 Imperial Marks = 5 System Monetary Units at the current rate of exchange). Limits for Type I machine Modifications permitted to character- istics (together with times required to force the changes and time required to maintain the changes) are as follows: Char Max Delta To Change Required Maintenance ==== ========= =========== ==================== STR 3 1 day/point 4 hours/week/point CON 2 2 days/point 6 hours/week/point END 8 4 hours/point 2 hours/week/point DEX 2 3 days/point 12 hours/week/point LEN 30 5 days/point Not Applicable BLD 2 10 days/point Not Applicable Cosmetic change 1 day Not Applicable Change times and maintenance times are cumulative. Thus, an individual who wished to increase his strength by 2, his consti- tution by 1, increase his height by 15 centimeters, and reduce his build by 2 would have to be "in the tank" for 2 + 2 + 75 + 10 = 89 days. To maintain his increased strength and constitution, he must use a properly programmed Type I Maintainer unit for 8 + 6 = 14 hours per week. If a modified subject fails to use a maintainer, he reverts to his original characteristics at the same rate he acquiried the new ones. In our example, it took 2 days for the added STR, so our subject would lose one point of strength at the beginning the 8th day, and then again at the start of the 9th day since his last maintenance. While charac- teristics are changed serially (first one, then another) they are lost in parallel (all at the same time). Smaller computers may be used with a Type I machine, but there is an added risk. For each grade below 10, there is a 10% cumula- tive chance of fatal malfunction of the unit per day of opera- tion. Type II Formchange Machine Permits significant modification to appearance and physical characteristics. Within limits of size change, a Human may be changed, to all outward appearances, into a member of another species. Genetically, the result is still vaguely Human (assum- ing that the definition of Human is "anything that a formchange machine can modify"). A genemap will still uniquely identify the "changed" individual. Changes resulting from modifications by a Type II system are reversible. Mass 10 metric tons, will accomo- date any Human up to size 40. A Grade 60 computer is needed to run a Type II formchange machine, as well as a power source capa- ble of generating 0.001 E/hr. Type II Maintainer units mass 30 kilograms, have in-built computers capable of operating them safely, and can be "hooked up" to a Human subject in 1 hour (requires a successful Human medical skill roll). A standard portable generator is required to operate a Type II Maintainer unit. A Type II formchange machine costs 100 million Imperial Marks, a Type II Maintainer unit costs 100 thousand Imperial Marks. Limits for Type II machine Modifications permitted to characteristics (together with times required to force the changes and time required to maintain the changes) are as fol- lows: Char Max Delta To Change Required Maintenance ==== ========= =========== ==================== STR 9 1 day/point 4 hours/week/point CON 5 2 days/point 6 hours/week/point END 20 4 hours/point 2 hours/week/point DEX 10 3 days/point 12 hours/week/point LEN 60 3 days/point Not Applicable BLD 10 5 days/point Not Applicable Cosmetic change 4 hours Not Applicable Conversion to 15 days/point Not Applicable Non-Human shape of SIZE Type III Formchange Machine The Type III machines permit the widest and most permanent modi- fication to physical characteristics. Using one of these ma- chines, a Human can be changed into a member of another species. While a Type III machine can be used to modify a genetic Human, the primary use for such machines is to create perfect spies. The process of producing a genetic H'Rel or a genetic Korli from a genetic Human is NOT, however, a reversible process (or, at least, not until the N'Aberdeeners figure out how to modify other races than Humans). Type III machines mass 40 metric tons, will accomodate any Human up to size 80. A Grade 60 computer is needed to run a Type III formchange machine, as well as a power source capable of generat- ing 0.001 E/hr. Type III Maintainer units mass 40 kilograms, have in-built computers capable of operating them safely, and can be "hooked up" to a Human subject in 1 hour (requires a success- ful Human medical skill roll). A standard portable generator is required to operate a Type III Maintainer unit. Type III form- change machines are currently all in Imperial Government hands, but the governmental cost of these machines is 5 billion Imperial Marks for a Type III Formchange machine, and the Type III Main- tainers cost the government 50 million Imperial Marks each. Limits for Type III machine Modifications permitted to charac- teristics (together with times required to force the changes and time required to maintain the changes) are as follows: Char Max Delta To Change Required Maintenance ==== ========= =========== ==================== STR 18 1 day/point 4 hours/week/point CON 15 2 days/point 6 hours/week/point END 40 4 hours/point 2 hours/week/point DEX 20 3 days/point 12 hours/week/point LEN 120 3 days/point Not Applicable BLD 30 5 days/point Not Applicable Cosmetic change 1 hour Not Applicable Body converstion 5 days/point Not Applicable to Non-Human of SIZE (NOT REVERSIBLE!) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enforcer/Deep Space Engagement Frigate (Crew complement of 50) CO Specialty from Tactics, or Weapons Systems Bridge Staff XO As per CO + possible Admin specialty ACO Xenopsych preferred. STO Senior Tactical Officer Weapons Weapons Specialist TGO Tactical Group Officer (In-system Fighters) Comm. Xenolinguist preferred Support Groups TacStaff Naval Tactical Group (3) WeapStaff Weapons Group (10) EngStaff Engineering Group (14) ComStaff Communications Group (4) MedStaff Medical Group (6) TGroup Fighter Pilots (6) Enforcer/Planetary Space Engagement Frigate (Crew complement of 50) CO Specialty from Tactics, or Weapons Systems Bridge Staff XO As per CO + possible Admin specialty ACO Xenopsych preferred. STO Senior Tactical Officer Weapons Weapons Specialist TGO Tactical Group Officer (In-system Fighters) MUC Marine Unit Commander Comm. Xenolinguist preferred Support Groups TacStaff Naval Tactical Group (2) WeapStaff Weapons Group (6) EngStaff Engineering Group (8) ComStaff Communications Group (6) MedStaff Medical Group (5) TGroup Fighter Pilots (3) MarGroup Marine Detachment (12) Survey Frigate (Crew complement of 50) CO Specialty Pilot, Tactics, Contact or Weapons Bridge Staff XO As per CO + possible Admin specialty ACO Contact Xenologist preferred. Weapons Weapons Specialist Comm. Xenolinguist preferred Other Personnel MedGrp Senior Medical Officer Medical Officers (3) EngGrp Senior Engineering Officer Engineering Specialists (7) SciGrp Senior Scientist Biologists (8), Sapientologist (4), Planetol- ogists (4), Computer Scientist (2), Mathema- tician. GSGrp Ground Support Group Team Leader Survival Experts (9), Soldiers (4) Some of the medical specialists, it is to be noted, will also possess skills useful in support of the biologists' work on planet. Hegemonic Rules of Engagement (Part 1 of 2) Alpha May fire only when fired upon. Warning shots "across the bow" do not constitute being fired upon. If the incoming fire is of insufficient strength to do damage through peacetime-in-port shield levels, fire may not be returned. Ground installations may not be fired upon if damage to civilian facilities result. Bravo May fire at any positively identified warship operating under the flag of a hostile power that approaches within a distance specified by the current standing orders. Warnings are required before any weapons systems may be used on warships that approach too closely -- the opposing warship must be provided with the opportunity to "strike its colors". Any incoming fire may be returned. Civilian facilities may not be directly targetted. Ground installations situated in or near civilian facilities may be fired upon if they open fire. Charlie May fire at any positively identified warship operating under the flag of a hostile power that approaches within a distance specified by the current standing orders. Warnings MAY be required before firing upon warships that approach too closely (opportunity for the warship to "strike its colors" MAY be required). Orders plac- ing a ship under ROE Charlie will include cover the "options" regarding warnings. Civilian facilities may not be directly targetted. Ground installations situated in or near civilian facilities may be fired upon if they open fire. Any incoming fire may be returned. Hegemonic Rules of Engagement (Part 2 of 2) Delta May fire at any positively identified warship operating under the flag of a hostile power. Civilian facilities may not be directly targetted. Military ground installations situated in or near civilian facilities may be fired upon; however, such installations must be given the opportunity to surren- der before they may be fired upon. Military ground installations situated far from civilian facilities may be fired upon without warning. Any incoming fire may be returned. Echo May fire at any hostile warship. Civilian facilities may be directly targetted. Howev- er, warnings to civilian authorities are required: opportunity must be provided for them to surrender. Military ground installations situated near civilian facilities may be fired upon without warning; those situated far from civilian facilites may, similarly, be fired upon without warning. Those situated in other- wise civilian facilities must be given the opportunity to surrender before they may be fired upon. Any incoming fire may be returned. Foxtrot May fire without warning on ANY craft not positively identified by IFF as friendly. Civilian facilities may be directly targetted; no warnings are required before bombardment. Any military ground installations may be fired upon without warning. Any incoming fire may be returned. Shipboard terminology (Commonality Navy) Threat Profiles: Green: Positive identification as friendly craft, weapons powered down, not in attack configuration, not engaging in combat maneuvers. Blue: Identified as friendly or neutral craft, not part of same formation, weapons and/or shields powered at wartime cruising levels (estimated), not in attack configuration, not engaging in combat maneuvers. Yellow Unidentified craft, in position or manuevering into position consistant with an attack. Usually "trailing hot" (weapons and shields at full power). Red Unidentified or known hostile craft, in a position to attack without further warning (point blank range). Other terms in common use: Trailing Hot: Indicates that the ship so designated as brought its weapons and shields to full power. Also may be used when sensors indicate that the ship has deployed missile launchers. Generally considered a hostile or at the very least provocative action. Growler: Indicates that ship has locked on with targeting sensors (active sensors used for target acquisition). Usually a notice promptly followed by... Birds are flying!: Missiles inbound. or Fireball: TC battery fire inbound. Not usually heard, as the delay between discharge and impact is usually measured in a very small number of milliseconds. Most commonly heard on the Bridge or in the CIC of a ship not yet taking fire in a squadron that is being fired upon.