Re: Deep Space Stations

Chuck Hamilton writes:

> However, how are a planet's big system defense fleets and large planetary
> defense batteries perceived by its Larger Political Entity (Imperium or Con-
> sulate)?  I think they do not like them at all.  First I'll give some
> Traveller facts and then I'll do some interpretation.

You will forgive me, I hope, if I dispute with some of your facts...

> Fact 1: Planetary defense forts are not covered in Traveller literature.  The
> closest thing is "planetary defense battalions" from the boardgame "Invasion:
> Earth", which are not that effective.

Since it is getting late, and I don't want to root through my pile of
Traveller stuff just before going to bed, I won't try to cite page numbers.
However, we do know that "deep meson gun sites" are the preferred method
of ground-based planetary defense, and that these are supplemented by
ground-based missiles and lasers.  I agree that these devices do not show
up in 5FW, which I _do_ have in front of me as I type.

> Fact 2: System defense boats are the accepted mechanism for system defense.
> But, the quantities for these seem very low.  I think a Traveller News
> Service brief from the JTAS "War" issue read something like "the ten heavy
> SDBs in the Regina system were sent to defend the system gas giant, which
> would be the first priority of an attacking fleet."  This seems like a
> very small number for a world at the edge of the Imperium.

Regina has only 10 SDBs, according to the 5FW map.  However, the numbers of
boats are strongly dependent on population, and Regina is not a high-population
world.  Jewell has 120 TL12 boats, Efate 150 at TL13, Rhylanor has 200 at
TL15, Zivije 120 at TL11, Louzy _500_ at TL8, Rethe has another 500, and
Porozlo has 1000 SDBs at TL10. 5FW does not distinguish between TLs for SDB
efficiency, so those 1000 Porozlo boats are quite a menace to any invading
Zho fleet.  Checking the population levels produces the following:

Population A: 500-1000 SDBs
           9: 100-200
           8: 10-12
           7: 1
          6-: 0

Note that some of the worlds in the population 8 or higher category also
contribute local jump-capable squadrons to the Imperial forces in 5FW.

I don't really think that the Imperium (as depicted) is all that hostile
to local forces.

This reminds me--someone posted a few weeks ago that they didn't think that
the Imperium allowed multi-planet governmental bodies.  Go back and check
Adventure 7: Broadsword, for an example of a world (Garda Vilis) ruled from
the neighboring world (Vilis).  Also, there are quite a few type 6 governments
in the Spinward Marches.  I play that _some_ of these may be under direct
Imperial control, but the majority are in situations like that of Garda
Vilis.

Rob Dean
(creaky oldtimer making special guest appearance)