SCMR Chpt 54

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==Chapter 54 - Self Configuring Modular Robot==
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The drawings weren't crude...
...they were carefully refined, with estimated costs listed, a list of sources, materiel requirements, and everything a planner needs.
"You want us to build that?" General of the Armies Natasha Kerensky scoffed.
"No, I want permission to build it." Duke Patrick Ngo clarified, "The design exceeds the legal limits for Militia several times over, Her Majesty told me I'd need you to endorse the waiver on those laws, before she would sign off on said waiver-she wants her General of the Armies to say it's acceptable and not a waste of what could be potentially national resources."
"Ah." Natasha picked up the file again, and opened it with a stylus. "My first instinct is to say it's a waste of resources. Convince me it isn't."
"Okay, the RX-79 program stalled because of a lack of engines-because the engine units that were specced, were outside the Federated Suns ability to fabricate. Which meant importing from a Terran source...this doesn't have that problem. We don't have to spool up new engine lines to build it-because the sublight engines are already in production for use on the Mammoth class bulk-hauler DropShipss. The core's a compact core, but it's on a smaller ship, so we can use efficiencies in production."
"It doesn't have dropship collars" She countered, "and the weapons-fit would be damned close to useless for orbital fire support."
"It's not meant to be an orbital bombardment platform." He parried. "This is a ship designed to secure jump points or engage in pursuit outside the gravity well."
"Naval engagements and interception-something almost nobody's done reliably outside of planetary orbit." her verbal thrust was on-point. "Navies are there to support ground forces."
"Most of the time, yes," He said, "but the thrust curve lets this design get up to speed against an opponent moving from the jump point-they have to either put the soldiers aboard at risk of excess-gee-force loading, or be intercepted-but this ship? It's designed to keep the crew healthy under hard Gee-force loading-which means they CAN intercept, because they'll have a safe thrust curve that's a lot deeper and wider than either an invading task force or an enemy picket. That means these kind of ships can dictate the terms of the engagement, even against dedicated battlewagons like the Clans are bringing."
She narrowed her eyes, then, smiled. "If they can't land, they can't fight."
"Succinctly put." he agreed.
"Alright, if you can build them, you can build them." she said, "The Commonwealth will demand first choice on the actual hulls, and you'll need to find a way to staff them out of your pocket unless, or until, they're proven effective. I look forward to reading your doctrine before approval, Herr Duke."
"Thank you, Madame Feldmarshall."
They shook hands.
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