04.433.M39

Great! Off to the races and I can finally start my own adventure right?..right? Unfortunately not. We spent the next year and a half being attached to various convoys as escorts.

We did have the pleasure of fending off 1 group of pirates during that time. It wasn’t much of a battle really.

I’m sure my Exo (Naomi) could regale you with a tale of true inspirational heroism. She has the gift of spinning tall tales. Fantastic body too.. I would know. Pretty sure she was mother’s choice to keep an eye on me.

We were escorting a Universe-Class Mass Conveyor and 2 Vagabond-Class Merchant Traders. With my clipper and 2 frigates rounding out the convoy. As we were approaching the asteroid belt of the system 7 assorted raiders and a light cruiser made their presence known by burning hard in our direction. I’m sure we looked like a juicy target: 2 escorts and 4 transports.

I can imagine their greed filled grins and cackles as they approached and 2 frigates broke to one flank and I the other leaving the 3 other transports behind. From their perspective it must have looked like we were cutting our losses.

They should have worn brown pants because it wasn’t long after that the 3 of us reached maximum weapons range.

That day we were finally able to bring to fruition the years of work my father, Magos Delta, myself, all the officers and crews have put into making this moment a reality.

The first salvo from each of our ships hulked a raider. After which it quickly deteriorated into the pirates breaking into a disorganized mess of trying to evade and disengage. Oh sure there was the one brave (or stupid) bastard that tried to close the distance. They died not long after.

We were able to quickly run down the remaining 3 raiders. They managed to evade and reach the Mandeville point. That didn’t work out too well for them..

I didn’t see much point in trying to “capture” them. Thus no vox transmissions were sent or answered. Their souls were summarily offered as tribute to Big E and their ships hulked.

By this point the light cruiser had seen the writing on the wall and very passionately offered their surrender without a shot fired. Can’t match our range, can’t catch us, and it’s a wolfpack of 3 vs 1.

We’d do to them exactly what their raiders intended to do to our transports. What what in the butt.

Our Focused Augury of the light cruiser showed they were at least smart enough to understand the superiority of energy weapons. They had a dorsal laser battery and prow lance battery. Not what I would choose but still better than macrocannons.

We stuck around long enough to police the raider hulks and station a frigate on the backside of the light cruiser.

The light cruiser was ordered to power down all non essential systems and keep the reactor at minimum output, drives off, bla bla. With the warning that any outgoing astropath messages would be met with extreme prejudice.

After which I and the other frigate finished escorting the transports to their destination in system. Their captains were overflowing with praise. Sure sure, just doing our duty to the Imperium etcetera etcetera. I made sure to send an encoded astropath message to daddy dearest.

We only had to wait a month for my father to arrive with a Cruiser, 2 light cruisers and 6 frigates. To say that everyone was pleased would be an understatement.

When myself and some of the officers from my frigates were greeted on father’s cruiser we were received as if we were heroes. It was a little humbling. I’m glad all those noble etiquette and bearing lessons kicked in. I don’t particularly enjoy the limelight.

I still haven’t wrapped my head around why the lore always talked about how unreliable warp travel is. Sure there is a decent amount of variability +/- to any route. So long as you have a decent navigator, reliable warp engine and stick to established routes it’s actually quite reliable.

If that’s a concern there are relatively inexpensive upgrades you can have installed to further increase the reliability or for when you’re going off the beaten path.

Maybe it’s because most of the lore is taking place in extremely dangerous areas or under highly suspect conditions? At the edge of the Astronomican’s range. Near warp phenomena. Probably makes for good story writing. Not really a desirable place to operate though.

Magos Delta’s forces didn’t take long to sweep through the light cruiser. They did surrender after all. I simply wasn’t going to risk my men boarding it when we needed to wait for reinforcements to haul away our prizes anyway.

If any of them had ideas about resisting they rethought that real quick when the first boarders were some of Delta’s skitarii.

If you’re a normal meatbag you don’t fight skitarii. Just… don’t. One of the only remaining things that activate their pleasure centers is thinking about how efficiently they can kill everything around them and fulfilling their Magos’ orders.

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I later found out that some of the officers decided that suicide was the better option than surrendering to skitarii. Can’t say I blame them. They would have been turned into servitors or harvested for neurons or whatever Magos do.

When father asked what I wanted to do with the prizes I suggested perhaps a 3rd frigate being refitted or a 2nd clipper. Whichever hull is available or cheaper to acquire as they can both fill the same function.

My rough estimation put the total prize value at least being able to cover the total ship+refit cost of my 3 ships and maybe the refit of an additional frigate. He happily agreed. So make it so!

The crews of my ships were pleased with the ‘bonuses’ they all received from the harrowing, nail biting engagement with these dastardly pirates. At first you’d think they might be upset with such a small % of the prize value. However, compared to their regular compensation it’s a hefty bonus.

I did what any rogue trader worth their salt would do. I offered a list of equipment and services that would improve their performance or increase their comfort. I even offered it at a considerable discount. Even if my margins on the goods and services are almost nonexistent I’m saving money and gaining a more proficient crew!

I think the ideal ratio of frigates to clippers as a standard unit is ~3:1. Sure there are situations where more or less have advantages. Generally speaking though it’s a good middle of the road unit size. Has flexibility, doesn’t always require the clipper to engage, retains a high level of endurance for long missions.

Father was a little surprised I didn’t want the light cruiser for myself but readily agreed to an additional frigate. I might have if it were a Dauntless and went through refit. It’s some Lathe pattern which I agree is a good hull.

However a lathe pattern doesn’t fit my personal force organization right now. Besides, it would be put to better use by the dynasty being used as an armed transport or escort for our larger ships.

I’m angling to be more of a conqueror type trader. I understand and respect the need for trade but that niche is already covered. If I can cover the aspects that we’re ‘weak’ at then it can only be to the benefit of the dynasty.

Also it’s not like father is going to die of old age anytime soon. Sure, shit happens but he’s not going to die of old age. Even if he were getting ‘old’ we can without a doubt afford rejuvenate treatments to keep him going for a couple more centuries.

I still learn the ropes of the trade game but getting too involved and putting too many cooks in the kitchen is a bad idea as far as I’m concerned.

Not that there was much doubt about the efficacy of my fleet doctrine. It was approved and funded by my father after all.

Since it has begun proving itself in application father has tasked me with presenting a combined fleet doctrine that includes light cruisers, cruisers, battlecruisers and grand cruisers. Not that we have the latter 2 yet but it’s good to be prepared. Might as well while waiting on that 3rd frigate.

I won’t bore you with the details but generally speaking everything should be fast and faster with max range weapons. If you can’t fight it, flee. If you can catch it, flank it. If it’s willing to chase you, kite it.

Oh, and if you’re fast enough and you see torpedoes or fighter craft being sent your way you can maintain distance long enough that they run out of fuel. Still have to watch out for Nova Cannons though….

Sure they’re still a threat if you’re close when they launch but why would you be close when you’re supposed to be keeping distance? Besides most tactics using attack craft and torpedoes are centered around long range engagements.

Really long range. Their max range is ~280-300+% that of my highly upgraded laser batteries. The problem is their acceleration, top speed and range.

Given these limitations even at our max weapons range. We are in simulations, reliably able to ‘outrun’ them. We of course usually have to break off our attack run unless they were launched at an angle that doesn’t let it track properly.

It honestly didn’t take that long to whip something up. I had been off and on working on it for years. The tricky part was working on an action plan for our fleet to swap out undesirable hulls with desirable ones. Then a refit plan that still allows the Dynasty to meet its commitments.

Luckily that side of things isn’t ultimately my decision. I see it and weigh in here or there. Mostly revolving around which ships to prioritize based on the risk level of where they’re operating. Ultimately it’s up to my father.

He’s still leery about too many upgrades too fast and the fleet becoming too capable. Still worried about the possibility of traitors or drawing the attention of other factions. Infighting historically happens in the Imperium more often than anyone would care to admit.

Fortunately the upgrades for speed can be done without raising concerns and still reduce the risk to our ships. Make sure you have the good plasma drive installed, spare power and a conversion matrix. These upgrades alone should see a significant increase in the survivability of our fleet. Assuming captains don’t use it as a tool to charge into fights instead.

I haven’t really touched on this topic yet but since we’re sitting here filling time until my last frigate arrives it should probably be addressed. Like I said previously father always has been and continues to be adamant about me producing a lot of kids.

With the continued success of using Mechanicums as replacement command thrones that pressure has only increased. I don’t mind too much. All the ladies are sexy as fuck and exceedingly willing.

It does feel a bit weird sometimes to have my sex life be treated as if I’m a prized stud. It’s not as if I have a team of cheerleaders or anything egging me on. It does get hard to have a romantic relationship though.

Naomi continues to be there for me though. Even if she’s been assigned by mother she’s admittedly pretty cool and seems to genuinely enjoy her role.

I’m not really given time to be a father nor is it expected of me. My mother approves of the women that are allowed in my ‘harem’. It’s not even that really. They are around for a while until they’re confirmed pregnant and then they’re sent back to mother. It has been this way since after my 18th birthday and my successful ritual of becoming.

I’d question why I don’t have any siblings but it seems mother absolutely fucking hated being pregnant with the utmost vehemence. Oh well I guess. Tiger grandparents go go go! I imagine they also had concerns about inheritance infighting. It’s really common among Rogue Trader Dynasties and nobility in general.

Still not sure how father plans to handle having so many Knights built. It’s one thing to have some Magi building them. It’s another to build them at a rate that can keep up with reproduction rates. As disturbing as it is to say a significant fraction won’t have the necessary aptitude and or will die during the bonding ritual.

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