Read Online Empery by Michael P. Kube-McDowell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael P. Kube-McDowell
Tags: Science-Fiction
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lances are virtually useless. Only a weapon of mass destruction could be effective. And there is no such weapon in our arsenal.
“We have the Sentinels and the Shield to monitor our frontier. We have the Defenders to secure our homeworlds,” Wells Said. “But we have no sword. We have no way to persuade our enemy not to pick a fight—or to punish him if he does. We can defend—but we lack the power to destroy.
“Nearly two years ago my office circulated to the Directors a proposal for a new weapons system that would fill this strategic gap and give us, for the first time, a deterrent threat. Recognizing that the first priority had to go to direct defense of the major Worlds, we offered the plan for consideration, not action. But now that the Defenders are in place, we must move forward.”
“It’s time for us to forge a sword. It’s time to build the Triad Force.”
You’re quite a salesman, Harmack Wells , Sujata thought, her fingers dancing over her touchboard and filling the tiny display with data. Now let’s see what it is you’re selling .
Chapter 4
----
Triad
FOLLOWING FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY:
Origin—Strategic Operations Study Circle
Affirmative Review
—Subdirector for Strategic Planning
—Technology Verification Board
—Assistant Director for Perimeter Operations
—Command Board
—Director of Defense
FOLLOWING FOR RESTRICTED RELEASE—LIST 1A:
PROJECT PROPOSAL: TRIAD FORCE
Section 1: Summary Overview
1.0 Strategic Role of the Triad Force
1.1 Triad would provide a long-range planetary assault option not currently available to Unified Space Service planners. This option is seen as essential to establishing a credible deterrent posture.
2.0 Composition of the Triad Attack Group
2.1 A Triad attack group would consist of three vessels:
* Two (2) supercee-capable lineships equipped with AVLO-S main drive and AVLO-C translational drive
* One (1) supercee-capable carrier.
3.0 Armament of the Triad Attack Group
3.1 Triad lineships would be equipped with a compound neutral-particle/laser lance of at least one (1) terawatt (measured at aperture).
3.2 Triad carriers would be equipped with appropriate surface assault weapons, including, but not limited to, static mass bombs, fission weapons, fusion weapons, and/or other technologies that may become available (see section 6.0).
4.0 Mission Outline
4.1 Triad strategy requires a high-velocity short-duration assault commencing immediately after the attack group elements drop to subcee velocities.
4.2 The lineships will employ direct approach vectors diverging no greater than sixty degrees, providing a central zone of overlapping coverage. After deploying decoys and other countermeasures the lineships will engage any and all planetary defense systems and attack surface-point targets related to planetary defense.
4.3 The carrier will employ a direct approach vector to the central target zone, decelerating to the appropriate entry velocity of the armaments prior to release.
5.0 Parameters and Procurement
5.1 The initial size of the Triad Force is proposed at five attack groups.
5.2 The following shipyards are accredited at the required technical level and would be candidates for construction contracts: Boötes Center, Lynx Center, Perseus Center, Journa (Yard B), Earth (Yards 102 and 105), Maranit.
6.0 Alternative Weapons Technologies
6.1 Maximum effectiveness of the Triad concept depends on successful development of the Danfield Device, a nonexplosive weapon of mass destruction based on AVLO technology. It is theorized that in the absence of flux coils and other moderating devices, an AVLO spindle tap of unrestricted size opened for one nanosecond or less would yield an intense burst of energy across the electromagnetic spectrum. The yield is estimated to be two orders of magnitude greater than the largest available fusion weapons.
6.2 Basic research
“We have the Sentinels and the Shield to monitor our frontier. We have the Defenders to secure our homeworlds,” Wells Said. “But we have no sword. We have no way to persuade our enemy not to pick a fight—or to punish him if he does. We can defend—but we lack the power to destroy.
“Nearly two years ago my office circulated to the Directors a proposal for a new weapons system that would fill this strategic gap and give us, for the first time, a deterrent threat. Recognizing that the first priority had to go to direct defense of the major Worlds, we offered the plan for consideration, not action. But now that the Defenders are in place, we must move forward.”
“It’s time for us to forge a sword. It’s time to build the Triad Force.”
You’re quite a salesman, Harmack Wells , Sujata thought, her fingers dancing over her touchboard and filling the tiny display with data. Now let’s see what it is you’re selling .
Chapter 4
----
Triad
FOLLOWING FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY:
Origin—Strategic Operations Study Circle
Affirmative Review
—Subdirector for Strategic Planning
—Technology Verification Board
—Assistant Director for Perimeter Operations
—Command Board
—Director of Defense
FOLLOWING FOR RESTRICTED RELEASE—LIST 1A:
PROJECT PROPOSAL: TRIAD FORCE
Section 1: Summary Overview
1.0 Strategic Role of the Triad Force
1.1 Triad would provide a long-range planetary assault option not currently available to Unified Space Service planners. This option is seen as essential to establishing a credible deterrent posture.
2.0 Composition of the Triad Attack Group
2.1 A Triad attack group would consist of three vessels:
* Two (2) supercee-capable lineships equipped with AVLO-S main drive and AVLO-C translational drive
* One (1) supercee-capable carrier.
3.0 Armament of the Triad Attack Group
3.1 Triad lineships would be equipped with a compound neutral-particle/laser lance of at least one (1) terawatt (measured at aperture).
3.2 Triad carriers would be equipped with appropriate surface assault weapons, including, but not limited to, static mass bombs, fission weapons, fusion weapons, and/or other technologies that may become available (see section 6.0).
4.0 Mission Outline
4.1 Triad strategy requires a high-velocity short-duration assault commencing immediately after the attack group elements drop to subcee velocities.
4.2 The lineships will employ direct approach vectors diverging no greater than sixty degrees, providing a central zone of overlapping coverage. After deploying decoys and other countermeasures the lineships will engage any and all planetary defense systems and attack surface-point targets related to planetary defense.
4.3 The carrier will employ a direct approach vector to the central target zone, decelerating to the appropriate entry velocity of the armaments prior to release.
5.0 Parameters and Procurement
5.1 The initial size of the Triad Force is proposed at five attack groups.
5.2 The following shipyards are accredited at the required technical level and would be candidates for construction contracts: Boötes Center, Lynx Center, Perseus Center, Journa (Yard B), Earth (Yards 102 and 105), Maranit.
6.0 Alternative Weapons Technologies
6.1 Maximum effectiveness of the Triad concept depends on successful development of the Danfield Device, a nonexplosive weapon of mass destruction based on AVLO technology. It is theorized that in the absence of flux coils and other moderating devices, an AVLO spindle tap of unrestricted size opened for one nanosecond or less would yield an intense burst of energy across the electromagnetic spectrum. The yield is estimated to be two orders of magnitude greater than the largest available fusion weapons.
6.2 Basic research
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